CHAPTER 436

Rem observed Encrid's desperate efforts but didn't particularly intervene.

He rarely participated in the discussions about swordsmanship that occurred between duels.

"If you're hurt, take a rest."

Rem didn't step in enough to hear such words from Encrid.

"Mind your own business."

Even at that, Rem kept just enough distance not to seem too sensitive.

After seeing Luagarne step in, it became even rarer for him to put much effort into dueling with Encrid.

He only sparred with Encrid occasionally.

"Do you want to fight? Come on out."

During those times, he would even teach a little.

His teaching style was still more about action than words.

To Rem, Encrid still seemed the same. His progress was frustratingly slow, but at least he wasn't regressing.

He was making progress.

Rem limited his involvement to that. He stopped at merely observing.

Even without him, there were plenty of others who would spar with Encrid.

There was no need to push his way into spar.

He only helped Encrid a bit by teaching him to control his breathing.

Even that, he stopped once Encrid had gotten the hang of it.

So lately, all he did was swing his axe alone and occasionally bother Dunbachel.

Or he would go to the Pen-Hanil mountain range, which was a kind of walk he took when his body felt stiff.

On one such walk, the blood of the monsters in the Pen-Hanil mountain range would soak the earth, but it was still just a walk to him.

It was on one of these walks.

"If you're going, could you take care of the pack of human-faced dogs?"

Krais approached Rem, who was walking along, and spoke. He was wearing a feathered hat that would have looked ridiculous on anyone else, but it suited Krais perfectly.

"Got it."

Rem nodded casually.

As he watched Rem's departing back, Krais asked his adjutant and lover, Nurat, who had just come to stand beside him.

"Has something been up with him lately? Why is he so quiet? It makes me uneasy. Really uneasy."

"Isn't it good if he's quiet?"

The dark-skinned lover tilted her head, wondering if it wasn't a problem when Rem was noisy.

"Hey, I'm bored. Let's have a match."

Rem would frequently bother the soldiers or Commanders of the neighboring unit.

"Is that what you call swordplay? Come here, I'll teach you from the beginning. Consider it an honor. I am the immortal Rem. Now, with one swing of the sword, you will shout 'Immortal', and with the second swing, 'Lord Rem'. Hahaha!"

He would also crazily ramp up the intensity of training.

"Is this supposed to be cooking? The chicken is so undercooked it's about to lay eggs. Get out of the way. I'll show you what cooking is."

He even tormented the soldiers' taste buds with a Western-style stew.

According to Encrid, Rem could actually make decent food, so it was just spiteful behavior.

Of course, Encrid still ate it well.

"It's nutritious. A healthy food."

He would say as he ate.

Ragna overturned the pot as soon as he smelled it.

Audin, saying, "Is this also a trial?", took a few spoonfuls and then sealed his lips in prayer.

Jaxon would simply leave the camp lightly whenever Rem was in one of his moods, and Krais would do the same.

Having witnessed all this, Nurat naturally thought this: Wasn't it better now than back then?

She hadn't said 'It's good when he's quiet' for no reason. She had asked while recalling what Rem had done.

Krais gave a short grunt and said:

"That's true, but just watching him makes me think the next incident is going to be big. Really big."

Recently, the number of human-faced dogs had significantly increased, but it wouldn't be a problem for Rem. They wouldn't pose any threat.

Despite Krais's concerns, Rem simply did his job.

Even as he balanced an axe handle on his forehead as a trick while deep in thought.

Even when a colony of human-faced dogs attacked him in the Pen-Hanil mountains, it was the same.

"Kraaa!"

With a grating metallic sound, the human-faced dog that had become the colony leader spewed fire from its mouth.

It seemed as if it had swallowed flint.

Rem read the direction of the flames and dodged. It wasn't difficult.

This creature didn't even have the sense to gauge its opponent's skill level.

'The West, I miss it.'

In the West, many monsters and beasts used cunning as their weapon.

This one, though, would just serve as a warm-up.

With that thought, Rem positioned himself to the side of the human-faced dog and swung his axe.

The axe fell and severed the monster's neck.

The blade, made of Lewis Mountain steel, sliced through the skin, muscle, and bone.

Splat!

Black blood splattered everywhere, and the severed head rolled down the slope.

Kraaa!

The remaining human-faced dogs that lunged at him were easily dispatched with a few swings of his axe.

It wasn't difficult.

Rem casually swung his axe a few more times and returned to the camp.

At that moment, Encrid was in the process of choosing who would accompany him on a mission he had just been assigned.

"Let's go together."

The mission destination was near the West.

He had already decided to go, but he hadn't fully committed to leaving until now. Now, he was certain.

If he stayed like this, he would continue to be overshadowed by Ragna.

'That, I can't tolerate.'

* * *

Krang sat in the Great Hall, deep in thought as he listened to the vassals talk about cherishing Krona.

'They said this happens about once every few years?'

Marcus had mentioned some things, and there were others that Krang had seen for himself.

The Demon Realm borderlands were dangerous in many ways and often lacked sufficient manpower.

It was a place struggling with both a shortage of talent and people, all while being dangerous.

Who would want to go to such a place?

'In some ways, it's like a leaky pot that just drains the budget.'

It would be fortunate if it were just an ordinary pot, but this one was a magical pot that would spew poison if water wasn't poured into it.

If they didn't stop it, they would soon lose part of their land to the monsters and beasts pushing in.

This was also why they couldn't pull out the Knight as a trump card during the civil war.

'And there's also the issue with Rihinstetten in the south.'

So, it wasn't just the Demon Realm borderlands that were short on people, the situation was the same elsewhere.

The situation in Naurillia was worse than Krang had anticipated.

If things went wrong, they would have to worry about being overrun by the south or an invasion from the Demon Realm, and Aspen hadn't completely backed down, which remained a concern.

"So what?"

It was as if he could hear Encrid asking that question.

'Yeah, so what?'

He was already seated on the throne. Krang had to do what needed to be done.

Oara, the Knight guarding the Demon Realm borderlands, had sent the usual request.

They were short on hands and needed people who could fight.

"If possible, send over five hundred troops, if not, at least send three to four trained rangers or Junior-Knight level combatants. This request is difficult to fulfill. Consider what's happening in the Capital right now. Both options are too much. It would be best to just send Sir Asia with ten soldiers."

The Border Guard had been inspired by the security policies and had begun construction on the surrounding roads, lining them with outposts. It was a simple task but required a lot of manpower.

While doing this, they also had to eliminate the monsters and beasts in the area and keep in check the bandits that seemed to pop up like baked bread from nowhere.

There was no room to divert troops.

Was this the end of it?

Though Krang had earned the people's recognition, some fools were beginning to entertain other thoughts.

Was it right for a bastard to hold that position?

Of course, most of these people were influenced by foreign machinations.

The true nobles and officials were all on Krang's side.

Krang brushed aside the complicated thoughts.

He focused his thinking on the most urgent matters and tasks at hand.

If he didn't take big strides, he wouldn't even manage to walk a few steps before his death.

'Whose dream is bigger, mine or yours?'

It was a question he wanted to ask that bastard Encrid.

Krang looked out the stained-glass window. The sky was dark and gloomy with storm clouds.

"Or there's another option."

It was Marquis Visar.

"What is it?"

Krang shifted his gaze from the window to the Marquis.

"The Border Guard has a force stronger than a Junior-Knight, do they not?"

"Do you think they'll go if asked?"

"If the King commands it, they must go, mustn't they?"

"But isn't that the Demon Slayer?"

"Are you saying they would defy the King's command?"

The nobles quickly chimed in after the Marquis's words.

"In Naurillia, there's a system of mercenary recruitment for soldiers, Your Majesty."

Marcus added.

"Have it take the form of a contract and offer compensation."

The Marquis followed up with his suggestion.

"The treasury is empty."

Krang spoke the moment the Marquis finished his sentence.

The three of them continued the conversation like actors in a play, their lines flowing seamlessly.

"We've managed to secure trade rights and bring in revenue from Krona, but it will still be difficult to breed valuable stallions or cultivate crops for self-sustained food production. On the surface, everything seems to be running smoothly, but there's still a lot we're lacking." 

The Marquis continued.

"And we just happen to have someone here with deep expertise in that area..."

Marcus picked up the conversation, and the Marquis added a few more words.

Krang thought that the two of them were quite alike when he looked at them like this.

They worked together flawlessly, after all.

Of course, Krang himself had played his part in this seamless collaboration.

One of the southern nobles, renowned for breeding excellent stallions over generations, listened to the conversation and was inclined to agree, but something felt off.

'So we're the ones footing the entire bill?'

While it's true that nobles have a duty to serve the country, the law has long recognized the right to private property for the nobility.

He was expected to provide the stallion seeds, and another noble was supposed to share flood control techniques for managing farmlands.

But no one had forced them into this.

It had just happened through conversation.

"Well then, we should send the request, Marquis Visar?"

"Yes, I'll take care of it."

With that, the meeting concluded.

The request for support from the Demon Realm borderlands was more about a shortage of hands than actual danger, so Krang thought it wouldn't be a bad task for Encrid.

'Wouldn't he want to meet a Knight?'

Krang knew that Encrid had already met the Mercenary King, but a Knight from the order would be something different.

Krang was unaware that Encrid was already mingling with Ragna and Sinar.

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