Chapter 93: A Coincidence, or a Moment of Overlapping Inevitability?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 93: A Coincidence, or a Moment of Overlapping Inevitability?
"In Valaf-style martial arts, your pivot foot feels awkward on a bed. So, what should you do to make it comfortable?"
Audin asked the question, and Encrid gave it serious thought before answering. Atop the narrow bed, the two men were dead serious.
"Apply more force?"
At first, Encrid thought he was learning how to throw punches in a deliberately cramped and uncomfortable space, but...
"No. You can't. A bed is a place for lying down. We are going to practice grappling techniques from a lying position."
A bed was a place for lying down, apparently.
After their first session, Encrid realized Audin washed himself much more often than expected. When his head was locked under Audin’s armpit and his limbs were pinned, there wasn't even a hint of a sour smell.
They moved hands and feet on the narrow mattress, locking joints and grabbing to subdue. Or rather, Encrid was the one being subdued.
"A bed is narrow. Use fast movements rather than complex ones."
It was learning. It was teaching. It was a sip of water given to a thirsty man wandering the desert. To Encrid, it felt exactly like that. Therefore, he focused with an intensity that went far beyond mere attentive listening.
Of course, these were difficult techniques to apply in actual combat, but he had still managed to use them here and there while traveling on commissions—for instance, when grabbing and twisting the wrist of a stray pickpocket.
"Since Gilpin claims to be the guardian of the night, there seem to be more drifters around."
If a pickpocket was caught, their wrist was usually cut off. The kid Encrid caught looked young—twelve at most. So, Encrid had handed him over to the Gilpin Guild instead of the guards. He heard later that the kid had been thrashed black and blue, but that was still better than having a hand severed.
Aside from that, he always tried to apply the techniques wherever they could be useful. But there would never be a better opportunity than right now.
The moment his hand-blade clashed with the Company Commander’s, Encrid stepped back with his right foot. Keeping his left foot forward, he pulled his right foot up to his left, bent his knees, and then kicked off the ground as he straightened them.
This motion created an explosive charging step. Utilizing his entire body's elasticity, he thrust his right hand straight out.
It was a thrust. Though executed with a hand-blade, its core essence remained unchanged. It was just like the moment he saved Krang. When the Company Commander had ripped through the medical tent, Encrid had held a dagger; now, it was merely replaced by his palm.
The Company Commander reacted exactly as she had back then. Swinging her right hand from the inside out, she deflected Encrid’s wrist. With that gesture, the trajectory of his thrust was thrown off. Her foot swept toward Encrid’s heel.
Back then, he had been utterly helpless against it. But not today.
Just before his foot could be swept, he lifted it to evade. Using his left foot as a pivot, he leaned his body in the direction his posture had been thrown, pushing forward.
What was the greatest difference between the elven Company Commander and himself?
Weight.
"Identify your opponent's weakness, and crush them with your strength, Brother."
Encrid followed Audin’s advice. Instead of clumsily trading blows, he lunged to tackle her.
"Mgh!"
The Company Commander let out a sharp groan. She kicked Encrid’s thigh with the sole of her foot, but Encrid endured the impact and ultimately pinned her beneath his weight. As he went down, he grabbed her wrist, pushing it outward, and wrapped his legs around hers.
The Company Commander was pinned on her side, her left hand stretched forward and her legs tangled with his—completely immobilized.
"I believe I’ve won," Encrid said, catching his breath.
The Company Commander merely turned her head. They were close enough to feel each other’s breath.
Soon, she spoke. "Human proposals are quite different from those of elves."
A floral scent drifted from her mouth. It was another elven joke. Staying pinned together like this, the Company Commander’s lips came into view. They certainly looked soft, but...
"...It’s nothing like that."
Encrid tried to release his hold and get up, but this time, the Company Commander did the opposite, wrapping her legs around his waist to hold him down. He faltered for a split second, but because Encrid’s lower back strength was exceptionally good and the elf was light, he held his ground.
"You have a strong lower back."
Was it the listener’s fault that the Company Commander’s words didn't sound entirely innocent? Or was it the speaker’s?
Not that it’s worth overthinking.
"Please let go."
The Company Commander, who had been half-clinging to him, finally stepped down. She stood up straight and brushed herself off. She had gotten covered in dirt from wrestling on the training ground floor. She slapped her own buttocks with her palms to brush the dust off her trousers. She happened to be wearing tight-fitting trousers today, making the action look rather peculiar depending on how one viewed it.
"You’ve improved."
"Yes, I have."
Encrid readily agreed. After all, hadn't he started this to show his actual progress? Seizing victory by exploiting a momentary opening and the opponent’s weakness, combined with Valaf-style grappling—it was all proof of his growth.
The Company Commander remained silent for a brief, very brief moment. Then she spoke.
"First, let me say I’m sorry for not being able to stop it."
When he tilted his head at her out-of-nowhere remark, she continued. "Just know that the platoon reinforcements will arrive by today."
Encrid was about to ask what she meant, but decided against it. The Company Commander had already turned around and was walking away. Would she even tell him if he pressed her? Probably not. Judging by what she said, it was likely something he would find out as time passed anyway.
Since she said she was sorry for not being able to stop it...
It was clear that some order had come down from higher up. When it came to quick wits, Encrid was second to none. It had been an essential tool for survival back when his skills were mediocre.
I’ll find out soon enough.
He decided it was better not to worry. Rather than wasting his mind on useless things, it was better to swing his sword one more time.
*
The Battalion Commander was replaced.
It made sense. This was no longer a battlefield of localized skirmishes; an all-out war had been declared. The events of the previous battle had escalated, expanding the theater of war. Thus, a Battalion Commander specialized in combat had to be appointed.
"My name is Marcus."
Battalion Commander Marcus. A man who had once aspired to the rank of knight but ultimately failed to scale the wall of talent. Having served in various units after his time in the Border Guard, he was a core officer under Cypress. He didn't care about the foolish things the previous Battalion Commander had done.
"The only ones worth calling our main force are the Border Guard and the Turtle Company, correct? The rest of the grunts are just there to fill the numbers. We will formulate our strategy accordingly. You can manage that, right?"
He was a man whose head was filled with nothing but war. And the rumors circulating within the unit eventually reached his ears.
"The Troublemaker Squad Leader? Is he a Platoon Leader now? Peculiar. They say he was lucky?"
This was after he had received a full report on everything that had transpired. It didn't seem like something that could be dismissed as mere luck. Anyone would think so. And here, Battalion Commander Marcus took it a step further.
"Why don’t we test that luck one more time?"
If a mere soldier were to be sacrificed, so be it. But if the Goddess of Fortune truly had her eye on him and kept him alive, there was no reason not to exploit that. What if it wasn't luck? Would he die? Even so, he was just a single soldier. Either way, there was nothing to lose.
This was the full story behind what the elven Company Commander had said—that she was sorry for not being able to stop it.
"Send him."
It was a unit deployment for espionage and covert operations. It was a direct order from the Battalion Commander. There was no way to block it.
I hope he comes back alive.
It wasn't because she actually considered him her companion, like in her jokes.
He is quite a talent.
His background was clean, and he was connected to Krang. Krang had made a request, and she herself felt it would be a waste to lose him. His skill, his grit, his courage—he was a fellow she liked in every aspect.
Therefore...
Come back alive.
That was all she could hope for.
*
"This isn't just a support mission."
Encrid knew Rem was just as quick-witted as he was. The mission had come down while they were handling various commissions. They were ordered to cross the Pen-Hanil River north of the Border Guard and scout the surrounding terrain.
Encrid drew a mental map. Heading east from the Border Guard led to Greenpearl. Above that was the Pen-Hanil River. And after crossing the river and heading northeast, a certain territory appeared.
Cross Guard—a fortress territory of Azpen built purely for military purposes. The destination of the mission was where Cross Guard stood. So, while it looked like a terrain scouting mission on the surface...
...it’s actually espionage.
A note had been appended stating that detailed instructions regarding the mission would be provided once they crossed the river.
"Specifically, just the Captain?"
Sachsen also frowned after reviewing the details. Was it a headache? Yes. Encrid knew it too. Moreover, it wasn't even the kind of task that should be assigned to someone of his rank.
So this is what it was.
What the Company Commander had meant.
"Why? Scouting the terrain? Rumors are rampant that an all-out war is about to break out, so where are we supposed to go?"
A newly arrived platoon member spoke. It was a face Encrid knew well: Enri, a soldier who used to be a plains hunter. He had mentioned wanting to return to the plains once the previous battle ended. Yet, he was still here.
"Even if I want to go back, if an all-out war breaks out, living on the plains is out of the question anyway," Enri muttered.
Two others had also joined. Andrew, the once-immature squad leader, had now become a proper squad leader. Naturally, Mac was right by his side. With those three joining, Andrew officially became the squad leader of this unit.
Of course, it was a command structure that Rem and the other squad members would never respect. With only nine members in total, what was the point of even having a squad leader? Besides, who would actually listen to him?
"If it’s something like this, I think I’d be a better fit," Enri said.
"That is because it is not a simple terrain scouting mission, Brother."
Audin spoke with a gentle smile, causing Enri’s shoulders to flinch. It was a natural reaction for anyone seeing Audin for the first time—a giant of a man speaking in a soft tone while his intimidating fists and massive build dominated one's vision. It would take some time to get used to.
"A direct order from the Battalion Commander? Can’t we just ignore it?"
Ragna, who had been hovering nearby, threw out a thoughtless remark.
If we ignore it, it’s insubordination, you bastard.
Normally, one would think they had been dealt a terrible hand. It was a highly dangerous mission by any standard. It was the fortress territory of an enemy nation where an all-out war was about to erupt. Just going near it was a gamble.
Is the goal to retrieve information from a spy inside the territory?
Encrid roughly deduced the objective. It seemed plausible. It was a necessary task. Someone had to step up. Normally, it would be right to employ specialists for this kind of mission...
...but seeing how the Company Commander said she couldn't stop it...
...it meant the Battalion Commander had personally intervened. That must be why the Battalion Commander’s official seal was stamped on this.
"What are you going to do?" The Platoon Leader, who had come to deliver the mission, asked hesitantly while glancing around.
"What else is there to do?"
Encrid didn't hesitate. It was something that had to be done anyway. And if it was real combat... he would always welcome it. Above all, he had reached a point where he reminded himself that as long as he did his best in any situation, there would always be something new to learn, practice, and realize.
In fact, his heart even fluttered with anticipation. What on earth would happen? Was this a wall erected by the Ferryman? Or was it merely a passing event? Was it the result of coincidence? Or a moment of overlapping inevitability born from his past actions?
None of it mattered. If something blocked his path, he would simply smash through it. That was Encrid’s life.
"I accept the mission."
At Encrid’s words, the expressions of the squad members soured.
"I should tag along," Ragna spoke, but that wasn't going to be easy either. Although they couldn't know the Battalion Commander’s exact intentions, an additional order had been attached: the rest of the squad, excluding Encrid, was to stand by under the command of the new squad leader.
Deducing from the order...
...he left behind those who are guaranteed to perform well on the battlefield and singled me out.
He had no idea what kind of thinking lay behind such instructions. Who could have guessed that upon hearing rumors of a soldier blessed with luck, the commander had made the crazy decision to test that luck?
This Battalion Commander named Marcus was not sane. But that was only natural. A war-crazed officer—that was the nickname that followed Marcus. He was a man who would do anything to win. Encrid was merely the starting point.
"Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it and come back safely."
There was no way he would die. As long as "today" kept repeating, and as long as he took overcoming this "today" for granted.
When Encrid spoke so casually, Rem’s brow shot upward.
"Take care of it? Saaaafely? You think it’s that easy? You’ve still got a long way to go. This won’t do. We’re doing special training today. Special training!"
Ragna, Sachsen, and Audin’s reactions weren't much different.
"Have you caught the rhythm?"
"Let’s learn how to stab someone from behind."
"Haha, it seems it is time to delve deeper into Valaf-style bed martial arts."
Standing there, Andrew glanced at everyone’s reactions before speaking up. "Now, since I’m the squad leader, I think you all need to follow my orders."
It was an order from above. Andrew wasn't acting arrogant like before; he was simply trying to follow the chain of command. That was all, but...
"Don’t make me laugh!"
Rem threw a fit. It was his usual fit, nothing out of the ordinary. He lunged forward in a flash and smacked Andrew right on the head. His fist was so fast it was practically invisible. He had rushed in and struck before Andrew could even react.
With a loud thwack, Andrew’s eyes rolled back, and he collapsed sideways. Mac, who was standing beside him, caught him.
"What?" Seeing the fallen Andrew, Mac raised his head in irritation.
Rem merely stared back. Assaulting a superior officer. That was the label that followed Rem’s name.
Rem glared, and Mac stared back at him for a moment. After confirming that Andrew had only fainted, Mac spoke.
"I didn't say anything."
What could he do? The difference in martial power was just too vast. He already knew that clumsy resistance would only be met with violence. It was a fact he had long since accepted. That was why he hadn't wanted to come here. But he couldn't stop Andrew from volunteering either.
Sigh. Life sure was complicated, Mac lamented.
Enri watched the situation unfold and came to a firm conclusion. If I run my mouth carelessly, I’m dead.
Only now did he understand why this was called the Troublemaker Squad. He had joined solely because of Encrid, but at this moment, he was starting to regret it just a little.