บท 70: Chapter 235 - The Fairy's Joke Echoed Through the Bath
'Is he insane?'
All the rapier swordsman could think was that.
Could it be that his head has finally broken for good?
The speed at which his skills had improved in such a short time indicated that it had to be a result of both hardship and luck.
Had the combination of intensive training and luck ruined his mind?
Rem had similar thoughts.
'Is he mad?'
His hand trembled instinctively. There was a great difference between resisting the pressure and accepting it.
Ragna gripped his sword.
He judged it was futile. He was about to charge forward, swing his sword, and 'cut' through.
In other words, he intended to break the 'pressure' his opponent was applying.
Audin prepared his healing magic.
As long as the person didn't die, he could heal them.
Jaxen quietly drew a stiletto from behind the swordsman.
He would strike and kill. No matter what the opponent was doing, he could kill them.
Jaxen was confident, whether his opponent was a knight, a pseudo-knight, or anything else.
Everyone was about to react when the intangible blade came close to Enkrid's body.
In that split second, Enkrid focused his will towards the intangible force within him.
'I refuse.'
The will embedded in the blade would be cut.
Then, what of the will behind the pressure?
'Step back.'
Enkrid rejected it. He rejected the intangible pressure pressing on his shoulders, and the blade that was about to strike him.
'Will' is the act of manifesting one's will outwardly.
Soon, some intangible force would manifest.
If the pressure was that force, then rejecting it was also a manifestation of that force.
The pressure, which had caused pain akin to real suffering, now felt like nothing more than an unseen momentum.
Enkrid could ignore it.
It was easier than resisting the sword of Shepherd Pell.
Thus, there was no doubt that his actions were not over-exerting himself.
Enkrid demonstrated this in his actions.
The intangible blade shattered into dust as it approached. It was a blade that had only appeared in his imagination.
Thud.
Enkrid took a step forward and casually spoke.
"What are you doing, Ragna? Jaxen?"
Ragna, who had approached, was holding his sword vertically beside him, while Jaxen stood behind the rapier swordsman.
The two, who had been startled, blinked their eyes.
The first to react was Jaxen.
Without a sound, he silently stepped back.
The rapier swordsman had no idea someone was behind him.
Ragna stood frozen with his sword raised.
Perhaps he had thought of a reasonable excuse, as Ragna spoke up.
"It's a good day to hold a sword."
Was Enkrid's statement about today being a good day that impressive?
Before the words could finish, the sound of thunder roared, followed by rain starting to fall.
Pitter patter, patter.
"...Huh?"
The rapier swordsman didn't seem to notice the rain falling, his eyes locked on Enkrid.
He couldn't speak properly, his mouth open in disbelief.
It seemed he had gone mute from shock.
"Huh?"
All that came out of his mouth was a confused exclamation.
Enkrid tilted his head.
"Is there something you want to say?"
"Huh?"
The swordsman repeated the word "huh," still unable to speak. Enkrid had seen people stunned before, but never like this.
The opponent was still staring, mouth agape, unable to say anything.
Enkrid spoke carefully.
"We should find a healer."
Those who suffer mental harm do not recover easily. Even if a healer arrives, they might refuse treatment.
"I think your head is broken."
Enkrid finished.
"Pff."
At that, Rem burst into laughter. It wasn't meant to be a joke, but it certainly came out that way.
Enkrid had spoken seriously, but…
"Huh?"
The rapier swordsman only repeated "huh."
He was deeply shocked.
"That sword will rust if it gets wet. Is today really a good day to be holding a sword like that?"
Enkrid asked, looking at Ragna.
Ragna, having said something earlier, was still holding his sword, but soon enough, he agreed with Enkrid's statement.
"Yes. Today is good enough for this."
"Right, better oil the sword."
If left as is, it would rust.
"I'll do that."
Ragna sheathed his sword and stepped back. Behind him were three individuals as startled as the rapier swordsman.
All of them were staring at Enkrid with their mouths agape.
"How?"
The somewhat composed half-giant asked.
"Will."
Enkrid kindly answered. There was really nothing else to add.
It was something that could be explained as 'will.'
"Will?"
Javikal muttered. It wasn't really a question, but Enkrid answered willingly.
"Yes."
The guard furrowed his brow.
It was hard for him to accept or understand the situation, so he couldn't continue speaking.
The rain, which had started pouring heavily, soaked his hair.
Of course, it soaked everyone else as well.
"Perhaps we should avoid the rain for now?"
Enkrid suggested.
"Huh?"
The rapier swordsman responded. Of course, it seemed like the man had completely lost his mind.
"Someone help him."
Enkrid spoke and turned away. Rem and the others followed behind.
No matter how accustomed they had become to their leader's changes, this had gone beyond any reasonable limit.
This was not simply about wielding a sword well and controlling one's body.
"Is it 'Will'?"
Ragna, who possessed the 'Will' of cutting, asked. His voice was higher and quicker than usual. It was clear he was shocked.
Due to the pouring rain, Ragna's blonde hair hung down, blocking his view.
"You need a haircut. Yeah."
Enkrid answered nonchalantly. While he was pleased and didn't mind enjoying himself, this wasn't the end of it.
This wasn't why he had come this far.
The 'Will' of an actual knight was not about rejection, but naturally displaying one's will.
To suppress, to reject, to cut—it all happened naturally.
After realizing some things, he understood.
The pressure of Aesia, the pressure of the rapier swordsman.
Both were developed and specialized in this manner.
From the same perspective, Ragna's cutting was similar.
Even if one had mastered lion-cutting or steel-cutting, his 'cutting' was beyond imitation.
In the end, it was a matter of realizing the 'Will.'
"What's this? Where did you learn it? Or did you train to the point of almost dying in your dreams?"
Rem was equally shocked.
Enkrid responded to his words.
"In my dreams, there's more of a perverted boatman than training."
"Huh? A perverted boatman? What's that?"
It was a question Enkrid couldn't answer, so he ignored it.
Rem would likely treat it as a joke anyway.
Then Audin muttered.
"It's as if you're running a different time altogether, brother."
Like the rapier swordsman, Audin had sharp insight, being a religious, devoted bear.
His words were spot on.
"Did you train while time stood still, brother?"
Though his appearance was dull, he was sharp. Enkrid thought to himself as he replied.
"Something like that."
Instead of answering, Audin quietly began chanting a prayer.
He assumed Enkrid's answer was just a joke.
Who would doubt it?
Jaxen remained silent as usual. But his gaze was intense. He kept looking Enkrid up and down.
"I trained normally, and didn't use any drugs."
Enkrid said, causing Jaxen to flinch, a rare reaction.
It was an unusual sight.
"Why did you think I suspect you used drugs?"
Jaxen asked.
"There's suspicion all over your eyes."
It seemed Jaxen, known for his skill with drugs, was the one with doubts, but it turned out to be true.
"Hmm, have you also mastered telepathy?"
It wasn't telepathy; it was more that the sharpness of the blade Jaxen had taught him had heightened his senses.
He could easily read an opponent's intentions or emotions.
Especially when something was hidden.
For example, Jevikal, who had hesitated earlier—he had spoken with a smile, but...
"I'm good. I can tell if I try to charge, I'll get beaten."
But what was hidden behind those eyes?
It was malice and hostility.
There was also the opposite.
The half-giant, who outwardly displayed fighting spirit and competitiveness.
After being thrown, what did the woman's eyes reveal?
It was a feeling of regret and sympathy.
Of course, it wasn't directed at Enkrid. It was self-deprecation.
'Well, maybe I'm not completely right.'
At least that was the general feeling. Enkrid, as he was about to enter the lodging, stopped and undressed.
He placed his equipment neatly aside under the eaves, and Krais came out of the building.
"Dry off the equipment and organize it."
Enkrid instructed, and others began piling their equipment on top.
"Isn't this too much?"
On top of it, Rem tossed a pouch.
"Payment."
"Anytime, come visit Krais' Equipment Cleaning Service!"
Krais quickly changed his tone. Since Rem frequently used krona, the amount of money in the pouch was likely not small.
"If we go in wet, the place will get all messed up. Let's head to the bath."
It was Enkrid's suggestion. The Border Guard barracks had many great facilities, including a well, but since they had become an independent company, they had access to the private bath for the unit.
There were large wooden tubs filled with water, and the staff constantly boiled more water.
In other words, they could wash with hot water.
The place was built with a well covered by a roof, so there was no shortage of water.
Steam filled the room, as they kept boiling water on one side.
"Let's go."
Everyone went to the bath, stripping down casually, and the maids boiling water greeted them with laughter.
"Wow, after only looking at our husbands, coming here feels like heaven!"
One of the rough-voiced maids said, and everyone burst out laughing.
"Be good to your husband. Living with a woman bigger than yourself isn't easy for him either."
Rem laughed teasingly, and the maid splashed cold water on him in retaliation.
"Oh, that's cold."
Rem wasn't startled by the cold water and simply laughed as he spoke, to which the maid responded with a laugh.
"You grey-haired guy, your tongue is sharp."
It seemed they were familiar with each other.
Later, when they were in the bath, Enkrid asked how they knew each other.
"Well, Dunbakel kept passing out and rolling around in the dirt, so I often tossed her into the bath, got used to her face. She's a cheerful lady."
Talking like that with Rem was impressive.
Come to think of it...
'Rem, huh?'
He's kind to women. It's rare that he picks a fight with anyone, but when it comes to women, he hardly ever resorts to violence.
'Then, Dunbakel is...?'
"Dunbakel? She's a soldier, not a woman."
Just to make sure, Enkrid asked, and Rem replied casually.
"By the way, now when we're up against the leader, I really think we'll need to use some serious 'strength.'"
Rem said while submerged up to his neck in the bathwater.
Enkrid ignored the fleeting glances of the maids and looked at Rem.
What was in his grey eyes?
Rem, too, had the spirit of competition and fighting.
This was something new—something Enkrid hadn't seen before.
Even though he had been reckless in the past, had Rem ever shown such feelings towards him?
Had he ever displayed such intensity?
There had been times when Rem said it was difficult to hold back his strength, fearing he might accidentally kill him.
"Seriously?"
Splash.
With a flick of the water, Rem answered.
"It'll be fun."
At that, Enkrid laughed. The eyes of a mad trainer and a mad ax-wielder met.
It was the first time such intensity had turned towards each other. Jaxen, observing this, spoke up.
"Are you all insane?"
Audin laughed as usual, while Ragna said nothing.
But it was clear that his eyes were constantly shifting, lost in deep thoughts.
"Is it really 'Will'? Really? No lies? Not a trick?"
Krais, who had hurriedly undressed and joined the bath, asked.
Krais, with his big eyes, never stopped training, so there was a lot to observe.
Some of the maids commented that their tastes were more aligned with the others.
"If you want to watch, it's one copper coin each!"
Krais's joke caused a few of the maids to laugh.
Krais, still maintaining a friendly attitude towards everyone, posed his question.
Amidst the rising steam, all eyes turned to Enkrid.
They say he overcame the pressure.
It was no longer just a rumor, but something that could be heard by those who knew.
Enkrid initially told the truth.
"Today is just the same day repeating over and over."
"Not a novel, next."
The response came from Jaxen. It was such an unrealistic story that it felt like a lie.
Enkrid scratched his head and responded again.
"Just lucky."
It was the same answer as always. Honestly, there was no better excuse.
Everyone, including Rem, fell silent.
Was that really an excuse?
Could this guy actually be a genius?
It didn't seem likely.
He had been taught, but there was no talent, no special ability.
Everyone had doubts in their eyes, but there was no suspicion.
In truth, there was nothing to say except luck.
"Did you sleep with the goddess of luck or something?"
Rem muttered, and that was likely the right answer.
Just then, another guest entered the bath.
"Will? Really? Is it true?"
It was Marcus, dressed in casual clothes.
His face was red, possibly from the rain, and his clothes were soaked.
"Since you're here, why not join for a bath?"
Enkrid said casually, and Marcus swiftly stripped off his clothes and dove into the bath.
His body was more trained than Enkrid had expected, though not as scarred as his.
"Really?"
Markus's eyes sparkled. It seemed like he was asking, "What are you? How far are you going?"
"Yes."
Enkrid acknowledged.
He had said he wanted to become a knight, that it was his dream, and he had shown his will.
But could Enkrid really become a knight?
How many people had wondered the same?
Markus, too, had his doubts.
Though he believed Enkrid would advance, hearing that reality close at hand still caught him by surprise.
"Heh."
A chuckle escaped Marcus, and then he asked,
"Fiancée?"
The Fairy Company Commander entered the bath, and immediately greeted by Krais.
"It's all men here, but you sure are full of confidence. Want to join us?"
The commander shook her head.
"Anyone who sees my naked body, other than my fiancée, will have their eyes plucked out. Are you sure you're fine with that?"
Her fairy's joke echoed through the bath.
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