Chapter 281: Chapter 348 - Who Are You Worried About?
Chapter 348 - Who Are You Worried About?
"I can't go."
Before deciding who would leave and who would stay, Krais was the first to opt out. Enkrid hadn't intended to bring him along anyway.
"There's too much work to do here. Don't go around getting yourself beaten up just because I'm not there."
The sheer confidence with which he spoke made Enkrid instinctively nod in agreement.
"Right, I shouldn't be getting beat up."
Having made that promise, Krais stepped back a little, wary.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Are you going to hit me?"
"Why would I?"
Enkrid had only responded out of concern.
"In any case, I can't go. There's the outpost to maintain, and while I trust Leona, merchants are the sort to empty out a storeroom if you're not careful."
That was reason enough for Krais not to go. He was busy building trade routes and dealing with those who still clung to outdated, arrogant notions of nobility.
Despite appearing overwhelmed, Krais managed everything just fine. He made time to rest, meet people, and, oddly enough, had even started dating.
About ten days ago, Nurat, a tall black woman who was the bodyguard and deputy to Greenpearl's garrison commander, Garrett, had come to the city. Krais had called for Garrett's men via messenger raven, saying there was urgent business, but that 'business' seemed to involve dining, strolling through the market, and occasionally disappearing from the barracks altogether.
It wasn't Enkrid's place to pry.
"Garrett is considering retirement, so I need to help select his replacement."
Krais had taken it upon himself to influence the entire city's development. His enthusiasm was evident, and Enkrid had his suspicions.
"Krona's gotten to him," Enkrid thought.
It was true. Krais intended to make the city flourish, generating so much wealth that even if he took a portion, no one would notice or care. Preparing for a potential civil war, he ensured the coin flowed steadily.
That was Krais's vision.
He even began developing the swamps, extracting medicinal herbs and poisons from the murky terrain. Naturally, this caught Shinar's attention.
"You must be in agony, prowling off on a long journey without me."
The fairy commander spoke with a tone that might have been sincere or mocking—it was hard to tell.
"Is that so?"
Her doll-like face, unchanging expression, and impeccable beauty made her true feelings difficult to read.
"I'm joking."
"Yes, I know."
"I didn't expect you to."
So, was she serious before? Or joking all along? It didn't matter; distinguishing between the two was pointless. Fairy humor was always hard to adapt to, and Enkrid shook his head inwardly.
While Shinar wasn't going, Audin and Teresa also stayed behind.
"I still have far too many soldiers to train, Brother," Audin said with his usual gentle smile, though that wasn't the whole truth. Enkrid instinctively sensed Audin had his reasons for avoiding the capital, particularly the royal palace.
Still, it wasn't his place to question it. He respected the choices of his unit members and didn't press for explanations.
"I'll stay and help," Teresa added. She had stuck close to Audin lately. Their towering statures earned them the nickname "Giant Siblings," though no one dared to call them that to their faces.
"Alright."
With that, the matter was settled.
The group that would accompany Enkrid was an odd mix. There was Rem, the fierce barbarian warrior; Jaxen, the sly mercenary with his own hidden agenda; a lazy swordsman with a reputation for wandering off and creating legends wherever he went; and even a whimsical mage, currently in human form, for reasons no one dared to ask.
To top it off, Dunbakel, the beast-woman, joined the party, eagerly hoping for frequent battles. "The more fights, the better!" she said, unconcerned about their mission or their charge's safety.
Finally, there was a wild horse with heterochromatic eyes, bearing the blood of some ancient beast.
"Are you serious about this?" asked one of the royal guards assigned to their protection. His grim expression betrayed his unease as he looked over the group.
They were supposed to escort a royal family member—a perilous task requiring precision and discipline. Even Marcus, who had initially agreed to accompany them, had left the previous night, citing urgent matters.
'What a traitor,' the guard thought, though Krang brushed it off.
"He's a busy man," Krang said, almost in defense of Marcus.
The guard, however, couldn't shake the weight of responsibility. Without Marcus's forces, they would have to rely on their own preparations—no matter how fragile or haphazard they seemed.
For example, consider something like the Language Restoration Guild.
That place is one of the seeds the lord had planted.
But such a thing was not possible.
'What on earth.'
The Language Restoration Guild hadn't managed to consolidate any power within the Border Guard. At least in terms of military strength, it was woefully lacking.
Wasn't there talk of a crazed Frog who had taken down anyone attempting to use force?
'What kind of—'
It sounded ridiculous. Could some idle Frog really do such a thing?
Just as there are strange humans in this world, there might be Frogs like that too. But for one of them to just so happen to linger here and conveniently take on all the trouble?
'Were they bound by a pact?'
It was a reasonable suspicion.
Even in such a restrained situation, it was fortunate that Enkrid's Madmen Unit had been deployed as escorts.
That much was certain.
'But it's unsettling.'
The instincts honed through years of life-or-death escort work were speaking up.
These guys were not normal.
Relying solely on them would be a disaster.
Each one of them stirred unease.
Why would it take half a year to reach the capital? Why did they seem indifferent to the escort mission?
And why did they smirk while speculating about potential attackers?
"Alright, everyone knows how to ride a horse, right?"
At that moment, Enkrid addressed everyone.
"No carriages?"
"Carriages draw attention! It's already risky moving while avoiding eyes, and you want a carriage?"
The whip-wielding escort burst out angrily, but Rem nonchalantly picked at his ear.
"What's wrong with that guy? Why's he shouting first thing in the morning?"
This bastard...
"Enough."
Just as the escort was about to truly lose his temper, Krang intervened.
His eyes sparkled more brightly than ever before.
Even he found these people remarkably peculiar.
Krais had vaguely picked up on it, and Enkrid's intuition had confirmed it, but Krang possessed exceptional insight.
In other words, he was remarkably perceptive when it came to people.
Not in the sense of having some magical ability to see through every person's soul.
'Interesting talents.'
He knew it instinctively. None of them were ordinary.
The rumors about them seemed to underestimate their abilities.
'Madmen.'
Whoever came up with that name deserved an award.
Because it was hard to find another word that captured them so perfectly.
Even for someone who had dabbled in poetry and writing since childhood.
'An uncontrollable force.'
It was obvious at a glance. These were not people who moved at the orders of others.
But then, why were they gathered here?
To protect themselves? Not a chance.
"Stop talking nonsense about carriages. Stay focused. The mission is to escort the person you see in front of you to the capital."
As Enkrid chastised Rem, the latter glanced at the two standing awkwardly nearby and asked, "Those two?"
"I'm the escort."
The whip escort found it particularly difficult to control his emotions today.
At first, he had managed to suppress his frustration.
But the unfamiliarity of his lord's demeanor, combined with the events that had unfolded—far beyond the bounds of common sense—unsettled him deeply.
Moreover, none of it sat well with him.
All of this compounded to leave him uncharacteristically agitated.
As he answered, he took deep breaths to calm his nerves.
'This isn't good.'
If things went awry, he might have to escort the lord alone. There was no room for agitation.
He took a few deep, steadying breaths. He wasn't ordinary himself, after all.
And then it happened.
"An escort?"
"Not a guide?"
"Who?"
The gray-haired punk.
The golden-haired slacker.
And the lunatic beastkin's trio.
'Oh, these bastards are unbelievable.'
"Stop teasing."
Enkrid intervened, and everyone, including Rem, naturally heeded his words. Seeing this, Krang's eyes sparkled even brighter.
'They can be controlled?'
This swirling storm of unpredictable individuals? How? Through competence? Through skill? No, it wasn't that.
'Influence.'
Just as Krang himself had been influenced, these individuals had also been swayed by Enkrid.
They listened to his words. They respected his intentions. Enkrid was the key that controlled them.
'Ah.'
Krang's remarkable insight kicked in. He discerned the process by observing the result.
'If they were half-hearted, Enkrid would just seem like another lunatic.'
To most people, Enkrid's demeanor would be incomprehensible. Standing by his side would be even harder.
He was a difficult man to associate with.
Yet ignoring him wasn't easy either.
Whatever he did, he made an impression, his way of life seemingly admonishing those around him.
Various people must have crossed paths with Enkrid over time.
Some would have criticized him.
Some would have tried to ignore him.
And some might have admired his tenacity.
But none of them could stay by his side.
Such was the man Enkrid.
So, who were those who remained?
'Undoubtedly madmen.'
Or individuals possessing extraordinary talent in some area.
People who wouldn't crumble under Enkrid's gaze.
"Interesting."
Krang concluded aloud.
"See? He says it's interesting. This guy has an eye for people. What's your name again?"
Rem approached Krang, slinging an arm over his shoulder—a gesture entirely inappropriate for someone destined to be king.
With any other noble, such behavior might warrant losing an arm. But of course, Rem couldn't care less.
And neither could Krang.
Before the escort could have a fit, Krang waved it off and replied, "Krang."
"Good. I'll protect you. Let's go."
Lately, the weather had been bright and clear, but today, the sky was overcast.
Dull gray clouds blocked the morning sunlight.
"But why are you coming along?"
From behind, Enkrid asked the one with the crossed eyes.
"Hehe."
There was no one who could communicate properly with the horse.
The escort was wondering why this guy was having a conversation with a horse again.
"Ah, bored, huh? Have you checked out the surroundings? Alright, let's go together."
Enkrid seemed to be talking to the horse. He stroked the mane of the strange-eyed horse, a wild one with no saddle or horseshoes.
'That guy's not normal either.'
The fact that this person seemed normal was only relative.
The escort decided to stay sharp.
The one with the crossed eyes followed, but he wasn't carrying anyone on his back.
"Muun."
Graham bid farewell as he handed over the horse.
"Have you decided on the route?"
Naturally, Krais also came out to the front of the city.
"If you're unsure, should I lead the way?"
Ragna butted in.
"You madman, are you going to wander the continent for half a year?"
Rem scolded him, and Ragna turned his head.
"Barbarians who can't even fight should keep their mouths shut."
"…Did you lose?"
Jaxen responded to that remark.
Rem's cheek twitched. A smile that didn't look like a smile lingered on his face.
Enkrid casually slipped between them.
He was an accomplished horseman. The horse with a saddle moved smoothly under his direction.
"We'll follow the road."
"What?"
The escort was the most surprised by this statement.
Krais was a bit taken aback as well.
It wasn't that they doubted their abilities.
But wasn't this like courting danger?
"Oh? Did you think of that beforehand? Or were you going to tell us?"
Krais nodded, saying, "Yeah. I thought we should do it this way."
"Is it intuition?"
"Half of it."
"What about the other half?"
"I thought it through."
Enkrid ran a hand through his short hair. It was the same haircut Krais had given him recently.
Krang pondered their words.
He wasn't an idiot.
'They've already figured it out. It's been discovered.'
He had faced threats to his life from many directions.
Krang was quick to recognize the situation. His experience made him sharp.
From the beginning, those who were after him had already positioned themselves.
Whether they took the main road or wandered through mountain paths, the result would be the same.
It was better to stick to the road and pick up speed.
Choosing horseback riding and abandoning the carriage was the fastest way.
Krang's experience wandering the continent was no less valuable than anyone else's.
Soon, a line of thought formed in his mind.
The fastest route from Border Guard to the capital.
"I know a few shortcuts."
Krang spoke. Enkrid nodded.
He was someone whose words could be understood. Nothing wrong with that.
Rumble!
At that moment, thunder rumbled in the distance, and lightning struck.
Blue bolts of lightning streaked down from the Pen-Hanil mountain range.
If a mountain ranger were in that spot, they'd be facing a deadly danger.
Of course, given the weather, they would've descended from the mountains already.
Then, raindrops began to patter down lightly.
"Then…"
Thud thud thud.
Leading the way, Enkrid set off, followed by everyone riding on horseback.
Everyone was proficient enough to ride a horse.
Esther even transformed into a leopard and raced ahead.
As they began to fade into the distance, Graham muttered.
"Will they be alright?"
"Who are you worried about?"
Krais responded. At this point, they were talking about the strongest force in the area.
An assassination attempt?
If they were the kind of people who could be killed by that, wouldn't they have already crossed the river of death hand in hand by now?
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