CHAPTER 281

"Hey, Big Eyes."

Encrid called out to Krais, who was mumbling to himself.

Blink.

The one staring back at him blinked.

What is it that is eating away at him with anxiety?

It's because he's been beaten down since he was a kid. One wrong step, and he could either die or get seriously injured.

'I've heard that if things go south, some people will even target their own.'

Encrid scratched his cheek.

The world doesn't welcome those who are untainted.

The pure are easily corrupted.

If you spill ink on a white canvas, you can't erase it. Krais is no different.

To avoid the worst-case scenario, he always predicts the worst.

But when he imagines the worst, Krais' mind shuts down when he's cornered. It stops working properly.

Even the first time on the battlefield, when he was just standing there dumbfounded, right before he almost died, it was the same.

Encrid knew this because he had experienced it. This bastard's head has broken down again.

Of course, it's all speculation, but if it's not true, then fine. If it is, it would make convincing him easier.

"Shut up. If we fight, we fight. If we die, we die."

Dunbachel, who had been listening nearby, spoke up. Her tone and attitude were straightforward.

It must have been annoying. After all, they were talking as if they were all going to die.

Well, that could happen.

Dying from a stray blade on the battlefield is a common occurrence.

Encrid knew that too.

They might die, but they might not.

Not everything goes the way you want. You just try to make it happen as much as possible.

For that, Big Eyes was necessary.

More precisely, a functioning Big Eyes was necessary.

"He's lost his mind. Slap him, that'll bring him to his senses."

Rem, lying on one side of the bed like a caterpillar, said.

Winter had turned the barbarian into a caterpillar. It was a sight they saw every year.

It was a reasonable suggestion, but there was no need for violence.

They had already tried it.

Even slapping him in the face on the battlefield didn't snap him out of it.

Next to him, Audin clasped his hands together and said,

"Pray. If you pray, everything will be fine."

Of course, prayer wouldn't solve it either.

Even with Divine Power, there was nothing they could do about Krais' current state.

Fortunately, Encrid knew what to do and acted on it.

He opened his mouth.

"Hey, if things go south, let's run together."

"...What?"

Krais stopped blinking in disbelief and looked at him. His trembling legs stopped shaking as well.

"If the situation gets really bad, getting you out and running away is no big deal. Not to mention Rem and the others. Do you think the rest of the guys will die here?"

What he needed to give him, instead of anxiety, was reassurance.

The fingers that were hesitating near his lips, debating whether to bite his nails, lowered.

Krais turned his head to the side.

His gaze traveled from Rem to Ragna, Jaxon, and Audin.

No matter how much he thought about it, it didn't seem like they were going to die.

What about Teresa?

Even inside the barracks, wearing an iron mask, and mumbling, "I'm Teresa the Wanderer", could that half-blood Giant die so easily?

Lastly, Dunbachel—well, she might die, but...

"Even if one of the beastfolk dies, it doesn't concern you."

Encrid's words chimed in at the right moment. The mind that had been spiraling into anxiety and worst-case scenarios started to return to normal.

His vision cleared. The fog that had clouded his mind lifted.

His trembling legs and uncertain hands stilled. The blinking eyes began to sparkle as usual.

His trembling pupils returned to their proper position, and his focus sharpened. At the same time, his eyes, tinged with light brown, softened.

"Ah, you're right. Still, Dunbachel, hang in there. If you don't want to die, you've got to try."

He said it with a smile.

"Should I kill you first?"

Dunbachel nonchalantly pulled out her claw.

"Rem, the beastfolk is bullying me."

"So what."

Krais was back to his usual self. Big Eyes Krais complained to Rem about how he could let this happen, but when the caterpillar seemed about to wriggle up, he hid behind Encrid.

"Commander, aren't you going to the military meeting? Commander Graham is going to blow his top."

"I have to go."

"Let's go together."

"Okay."

If he left Krais behind, he might end up with a stylish claw mark on his face.

Encrid quickly took Krais with him and left.

Among those remaining, Audin was the first to laugh softly and speak up.

"The Company Commander brothers are truly fascinating people."

When had he realized that praying alone couldn't solve everything?

It wasn't when he served as an Inquisitor.

The beginning of everything was here, on the battlefield, and in the barracks. It all started with one person.

He was a man who wouldn't back down and could take care of those around him.

His sword wasn't just for himself.

'What is a Knight?'

What is a priest? What does it mean to be a servant of God?

These sudden realizations led Audin into deep contemplation.

None of the soldiers here were preoccupied with the upcoming battle or war.

Someone attacks? Then we'll just fight.

Most of them thought in such simple terms.

And so Rem, having turned into a caterpillar, quietly sank into a nap.

Ragna, on the other hand, took out his sword again.

It seemed like he couldn't stand not swinging it right now.

It wasn't because he'd seen the Commander training like a madman.

He'd just watched him calm Krais down with a few words and leave.

That was all. Yet, he felt something. Something indescribable tickled his chest.

Everyone was lost in their own thoughts.

Teresa suddenly felt the urge to fight boiling up inside her.

'I want to fight.'

At this moment, it didn't matter if it wasn't Encrid. The Giant's blood was guiding her to the battlefield, and the gradually changing atmosphere was stimulating every single hair on her body.

"Screw it."

Dunbachel still looked like she wasn't thinking about anything, but somehow that seemed like a good thing right now.

Jaxon remained as expressionless as ever.

Of course, deep down, he agreed with Audin's words.

'A fascinating person.'

Esther had slipped into the barracks at some point and was lying in the corner, watching everything unfold.

Of all the people here, she was the most surprised by Encrid's mysteriousness.

With just a single word, he had restored someone's sanity.

If the word he'd spoken earlier wasn't a spell, then what could be called a spell?

Krrrr.

Esther licked her front paw, a habit she had developed after transforming into a panther. She then stretched out her front paw and lay down. The warmth from her fur pleasantly heated her body.

* * *

Everyone in the Company could feel the air in the territory changing.

No, the entire barracks felt it.

But nothing was going to change. The cowards who would flee before the upcoming battle had already run off long ago.

As they entered the military meeting room, it was obvious.

"It seems there are some empty seats."

Commander Graham reorganized the Heavy Infantry Company into an Independent Company under his direct command.

Instead, he appointed Palto as the Commander of the 1st Company, and also appointed Commanders for the 2nd and 3rd Companies.

As a result, Vengeance was made the Commander of the 3rd Company.

Previously, they had recruited a lot of people, so there was room in the organization.

There was enough flexibility to turn the core of the Heavy Infantry Company into an Independent Company.

As soon as Vengeance, the new Company Commander, entered, he said:

"Most of the people I saw in the previous meeting are gone."

"They fled."

"What?"

"They took their possessions and ran away during the night."

Palto responded. He was currently the Company Commander in charge of maintaining order within the territory.

"Did you let them go peacefully?"

Vengeance asked in return. Just let them go? Shouldn't they be punished or even killed?

Nobles who abandon their territory in a time of crisis.

How could they let such trash go?

Vengeance's motto was to repay grievances tenfold.

Palto's eyes narrowed at his words.

Was he questioning his actions?

The air was already thick with tension. It felt like a spark could ignite a blaze at any moment.

In the midst of this sharp and tense atmosphere, a bright voice broke through.

"We have to let them go."

It was from behind Encrid. All eyes turned to Krais as he spoke. Krais thought there was no need to waste time on pointless arguments or conversations.

'The Commander said he'd save me if things went south.'

He wasn't going to die. At the very least, his safety was secured.

Even if it wasn't the Commander, he had a way out of the territory planned.

But the assumption of the worst-case scenario had just caused his anxiety to spike.

'It was a ridiculous thought.'

Like imagining dozens of wolf beasts guarding the secret escape hole, or an assassin sent by the Black Blade Bandits guarding the exit, waiting to kill him.

'It was all strange.'

But at the time, the foreboding thoughts had shaken and battered his mind. Now? He was fine.

Thanks to that, his mind was sharp.

"Do you think the three will truly join forces?"

"What?"

He abruptly brought the conversation back to the core issue from the story of the fleeing nobles.

Then he smoothly continued the previous discussion. Encrid thought Krais had a remarkable way with words.

"If they were a threat to internal unity, it was right to send them off early. Didn't Commander Marcus want to kick them all out? Didn't you know?"

Vengeance didn't know. He wasn't particularly smart. He was persistent and loyal, but not particularly sharp.

"That's a valid point."

Graham nodded in agreement. He looked like he hadn't slept for days. There were dark circles under his eyes. He looked at Krais.

"You belong to the Independent Company."

"Krais, sir."

Encrid's Independent Company was well-known for many reasons, but most notably for its combat strength.

Krais, overshadowed by that strength, was only known to those familiar with him.

Graham was aware of him too.

And that was the extent of it—until just now. What did Krais say earlier?Graham's interest shifted to Krais.

Krais calmly spoke.

"Aspen won't move immediately. The cost would be too great to break through each of the stockades and other defenses they've built up at Green Pearl."

"But the Battalion Commander stationed at Green Pearl requested immediate support, saying it's a critical danger."

Naturally, Krais stepped forward to stand beside Encrid.

With Marcus gone, the situation was very, very, very, very, very bad.

Krais knew he had to do his part to avoid the worst of the worst.

That's what this meeting was for.

At the very least, he needed to understand what the military leadership was thinking.

'Although, it seemed like they weren't thinking at all.'

At the very least, they weren't thinking strategically.

In reality, Graham had done his best.

He had gathered the troops, worked to maintain morale by quelling rumors, increased patrols, and utilized scouts.

If any soldier in charge of maintaining order within the territory spread unnecessary rumors or spoke out of turn, they were immediately beaten with a club.

Not only was security being enforced, but makeshift squads were also observing the surroundings.

Beyond that, their job was to wait.

"The Battalion Commander stationed at Green Pearl is only saying that because Aspen is right in front of him. But the more urgent issue is over here. And, well, I don't think those three are all that friendly with each other."

Before anyone realized it, the discussion had shifted to focus on what Krais was saying.

Encrid pulled up a chair and sat down.

It was next to Vengeance.

"Who is that guy?" 

Vengeance asked.

Encrid, arms crossed, replied, "Krais."

"Wasn't he just some guy who sold stuff?"

In Vengeance's eyes, Krais was just a soldier who made pocket money through black-market deals.

"Yeah, that's right."

Vengeance, persistent and curious, tilted his head, but his expression remained sullen.

Fine, let's hear what he has to say.

Most of the people were like that.

Only Graham and Palto's frowns deepened.

At least those two were thinking clearly.

"When I say they're not friendly, I mean they're wary of each other. In such a situation, what we need to do is, well, make ourselves look a bit more formidable."

It's time to let the enemy know the state of affairs on this side.

Are they cowering in fear of the threats from the Black Blade, the Cult, and Aspen?

If so, they would just be easy prey for those who encroach bit by bit.

But what if they're sharpening their fangs? What if they're hiding a blade and waiting for the right moment?

"They won't attack us so recklessly."

"And what can we do with that time we buy?" 

Graham asked.

Krais blinked his large eyes and then smiled.

A dimpled, soft smile curved his lips and eyes, a smile that had made many women cry, as he responded.

"We can gain real combat experience. And maybe even take out some key leaders."

What was Krais thinking right now?

Encrid also saw it as a necessary course of action.

Combat experience.

There were those among them who had been tempered and hardened by relentless training.

The force they formed wasn't weak.

Marcus hadn't scoffed at the idea of the Black Blade forces gathering for no reason.

He figured it was only a matter of time before they slit the throat of the Tarnin pig.

However, there were still many among them who lacked battlefield experience.

The Border Guard Reserve Unit was a force that had been trained harshly under Encrid's command.

They were strong soldiers forged through rigorous drills.

Krais knew this well.

The only drawback was that they had little real battle experience.

There were veterans who had survived battles with Aspen, as well as mercenaries who had joined after hearing about the exploits of Encrid's Independent Company. Among the new recruits, many still had little battlefield experience.

After all, isn't the battlefield a place where people die easily?

'You need to know your weaknesses.'

Only then can you conceal those weaknesses and fight with your strengths.

It's like swordsmanship, Encrid thought as he listened to the discussion.

It's obvious that you should hide your weaknesses and fight by emphasizing your strengths, but putting that into practice is easier said than done.

In this situation, there weren't many people who could think so clearly.

The continent's tactics often boiled down to brute force or sending in spies.

Krais took it a step further.

If they lacked experience, they needed to gain it.

If they had weaknesses, they needed to eliminate them.

"We'll split the forces into two. A day force and a night force. The day force will fight while the night force rests. Then the night force will fight while the day force rests. They will take turns fighting, but they won't engage in full-scale battles."

"... You're suggesting we focus on small-scale skirmishes?" 

Graham interjected in a serious tone. He might have just appeared that way due to exhaustion.

"If we jump straight into large-scale battles, the damage will be too great. We need to 'prepare' first."

At some point, Krais had placed his hand on the table.

He spread his fingers and pointed to a spot on the military map.

"We fight here. Then we fall back to here."

He was simply expressing what was in his mind. There was no hesitation in Krais' words.

Encrid, too, found himself drawn into Krais' plan and realized what he needed to do.

There was no role for Encrid in small-scale skirmishes.

More precisely, there was no role for the Independent Company.

"The Fairy's Company and the Madmen Platoon will operate separately."

Krais had envisioned the worst-case scenarios out of anxiety, driven by his fears.

These scenarios were based on information. He used that information to predict what might happen and how the enemy might react.

A strange intensity began to emerge in Krais' words.

It was the first time he had taken such a direct hand in unit operations, but he showed no signs of hesitation.

"One more thing—there's something my Commander needs to do." 

Krais said, turning to Encrid.

Encrid nodded.

Whether it was wielding a sword or going out alone to slay dozens of beasts, he was ready to do whatever was necessary.