‘Got stabbed while sleeping?’
Encrid was so bewildered that he couldn’t even laugh.
‘Was I that oblivious?’
Even if I got stabbed and died while sleeping?
Could that even happen?
If I were that oblivious, I wouldn’t have survived until now.
It was hard to guess how he died.
Encrid recalled the moment before falling asleep.
There was nothing unusual.
He didn’t feel any signs.He fell asleep.
And after that, he never woke up. Did he hear the sound of insects during his sleep? Was he restless in his sleep?
No.
He slept soundly.
It was a return after just one day. He slept without thinking.
He thought it was his final rest.
After that?
He felt like he was possessed by a ghost.
But he didn’t foolishly panic.
If he froze his head in shock, he would die.
It was just another day beginning.
Since he had already done it once, Encrid knew what he had to do, what he had to think about.
There were two things to think about.
One is ‘how’.
Whether it’s cutting the throat or covering the nose and mouth.
How can you kill a person without feeling any pain?
The other is ‘why’.
‘Why me?’
He died without even knowing when it happened.
It’s not some clumsy trick.
If the opponent is an assassin, they would be top-tier or beyond.
If it’s an enemy soldier.
‘Probably someone more than a top-tier assassin.’
The infirmary is in the rear.
If they’ve come this far without being noticed, they must be assassins capable of slitting a knight’s cheek and returning unscathed.
The answer to the question ‘why’ is practically already somewhat apparent.
Apart from myself, there’s only Krang and Vengeance in the tent.
‘No one else could aim for Vengeance.’
So there’s only one answer.
Krang.
A soldier who says he forgot about his own unit.
Such a person couldn’t just be a soldier.
The answer to ‘why’ came out.
And ‘how’ was resolved.
You’ll understand tonight when it happens to you.
Funny thing is.
When I was stabbed by that pervert, I thought it was tough because of the damn pain I felt each time I died.
And looking into that pervert’s eyes made me feel like crap.
‘Here’s more crap.’”
It felt disgusting.
To die without even knowing what’s what.
Truly, it felt incredibly disgusting.
It wouldn’t even feel like this rolling around in shit.
‘Feels really.’
Like crap?
But saying that won’t change anything.
Encrid forgot about feelings like that.
Instead, he recalled what needed to be done and organized his thoughts.
‘Checking how it will be tonight, and assuming why came aiming for Krang.’
Another question arose here.
Beyond ‘how’ and ‘why,’ it’s about ‘who.’
Who is the assassin?
Assuming it’s not an enemy soldier.
Someone who knows the position of theinfirmary, knows how to hide their body, and is capable of assassination.
Someone whose target is already identified and who has easy access.
One figure immediately came to mind.
‘Company Commander?’
It was a reasonable suspicion.
Fairies move quietly, with subtle and swift movements.
A perfect race for assassination.
Moreover, since he himself is here, there’s a reason to come and go here.
If the purpose was this direction, wasting time with pointless talk a few days ago also makes sense.
It fits like a puzzle piece.
“What are you doing?”
Vengeance asked beside him. Encrid reflexively answered.
“Thinking.”
“Thinking? That was one hell of a short sentence. Are you really crazy, you lunatic?”
Checking how much his thigh injury had healed, Vengeance, hobbling, stood up.
“Oh, I thought you were Krang, sir. My mistake.”
“If you call it a mistake, is that all?”
“I apologize.”
“Is an apology all it takes?”
Caught him by the tail.
“Bring some food for me.”
Encrid ignored Vengeance as usual and walked out of the tent.
Behind him, amidst Vengeance’s muttered curses, came a voice.
“I’m not eating!”
Krang’s voice rose quietly.
He wasn’t bitter about his friend getting him killed.
It felt disgusting.
And it was irritating because of him.
But Krang didn’t kill him.
In the end, it wasn’t because of his lack of skill.
Or maybe just really bad luck.
Encrid thought that.
‘If you know, you won’t be attacked.’
An assassin who sneaks up on him. Just causing a disturbance will make nearby allies gather.
It was enough to catch a cat sneaking in at night.
No need to catch it personally.
Soon, a soldier responsible for the infirmary approached, rubbing his eyes.
Dragging his feet, he looked really annoyed.
This guy was always the same.
“Because of you being late, the platoon leader is really pissed off.”
“Because I’m late? It’s because you, as the squad leader, keep messing around, isn’t it?”
Officially, this soldier was also of squad leader rank.
So, we were of the same rank.
“You’re complaining even though you’re just a low-ranking soldier with swollen legs?”
As we met on the way back together, the lazy soldier asked.
It was a question that cut both ways, but it wasn’t hard to understand.
He kept asking why he didn’t rush in without fear.
“Vengeance?”
“He’s a mid-ranking soldier.”
Not only the Cyprus Division but also the Naurillian Kingdom’s army divided soldiers into grades.
It was practically a reward system for boosting morale.
Prove your skills and you’ll be awarded an appropriate grade.
I heard there’s a bonus each time your grade goes up.
Encrid also found this system useful in many ways.
Lowest, low, mid, high, top.
With five grades, soldiers were motivated to train fiercely.
Naurillia respected martial prowess, so most commanders had at least a high rank in the military.
And knights were excluded from the ranks.
Knights were just knights.
They were beyond human limits.
They couldn’t be bound by such a system.
So a platoon leader was at least a mid-ranking soldier.
A squad leader was either a low or mid-ranking one.
Of course, even if they were skilled, they wouldn’t disrupt the command structure.
When it came to platoon leaders or above, they were somewhat selectively chosen.
But exceptions always existed.
Encrid was a low-ranking soldier and a squad leader.
His squad members were at least mid-ranking soldiers.
“You seem like a peculiar person.”
The soldier said thoughtlessly.
Encrid felt strange.
‘Me?’
I’ve only ever heard that I’m ordinary all my life.
Or that I lack talent.
“Two servings will be enough for the meal.”
Encrid said.
The soldier looked at him and muttered, “He’s definitely a bit strange,” but prepared only two portions.
Returning to the tent, Encrid calmed Vengeance down a bit.
After sorting out breakfast, they trained as usual and reviewed past battles.
Krang didn’t eat breakfast and was absent.
So, only Encrid and Vengeance were eating.
“Krang said he was going to be absent?”
“Well, yeah.”
The infirmary soldier responded to Encrid’s question with a nonchalant nod.
Although the fairy company commander was considered a suspect,this side was also plausible.
“This soldier can come and go here anytime, right?”
There were guards in front of the infirmary, but they wouldn’t stop the medic.
‘Let’s not jump to conclusions.’
Even if the guess is likely to be correct, making a decision on it will make your head stiff.
It’s better to keep the possibility open.
Krang returned after lunch.
It was the same day.
Of course, only Encrid moved differently.
“Are you busy?”
When Encrid spoke, Krang, who returned, nodded his head and asked with a slight smile.
“Do you know that?”
Suddenly, what are you talking about?
“What?”
“You’re the first to speak.”
‘Did I?’
Now that I think about it, it seemed like that.
I didn’t particularly notice it.
“Maybe I did.”
What a logical thing.
Krang laughed and sat on Encrid’s bed.
Encrid wasn’t particularly curious about Krang’s identity. No, he hadn’t been.
But because of the soldier who concealed his identity, today began to repeat itself, and he became curious.
What is he doing that the assassin approaches?
It was okay to coax him gently and reveal his identity.
He was someone who sincerely listened to his dreams.
Sometimes it’s better to convey sincerity to the other person rather than ask back.
Encrid did that.
He sat beside him and looked straight into his eyes.
“What’s your identity?”
Vengeance woke up, seeing the two of them together and stopped muttering anything.
Because he too had heard Encrid’s question.
Vengeance was also curious.
Encrid calmly waited for an answer.
Krang smiled.
But it wasn’t as relaxed as before.
He looked at Encrid’s eyes without erasing his smile for a while.
‘Is he asking for an eye duel?’
Encrid patiently waited for his mouth to open.
When Vengeance, unable to bear it, tried to say something.
“Um, I can’t say.”
“Why?”
“If I tell you, it won’t be fun. Plus, I have a promise to keep.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Encrid nodded at Krang’s reluctance to reveal more.
Vengeance, watching the two from the back bed, had heard the entire absurd conversation.
And he thought.
What kind of nonsense is this?
Why is he nodding over there after asking the question himself?
So, is there a hidden identity?
If there’s a reason he can’t reveal it?
Is he an enemy? A spy?
Vengeance’s thoughts ended, and his mouth opened simultaneously.
“Are you a spy?”
“I’m just a Squad leader.”
“Not you, idiot.”
“Me? No.”
Krang shook his head.
Hearing Vengeance’s question, Krang immediately denied it, made a short humming sound, and then stood up from the bed.
Encrid quietly watched him.
He walked a few steps and stood in the middle of the infirmary.
The soldier guarding the infirmary, half-asleep, looked at him and squinted his eyes.
“I can’t reveal my identity, but there’s one thing I can say.”
It was a strange feeling.
His steps as he walked to the center of the tent, his manner of speaking, his gestures, his smile, his gaze, his breath.
Everything seemed to fit perfectly, creating a strange feeling.
It was as if he was an actor walking on a prepared stage.
A peculiar aura that naturally drew everyone’s attention flowed from his body.
Encrid unconsciously focused on Krang’s lips.
If you know how to listen with all your heart,maybe you can speak words that captivate the ears and hearts of others.
“I cannot betray this kingdom.”
A statement neither too fast nor too slow.
Just a simple statement.
Sometimes it can be a lie.
Sometimes it can be meaningless noise.
Sometimes it’s used to whisper a love that will soon fade.
It’s just such a simple statement.
But it changes drastically depending on whose mouth it comes from.
Krang’s words sounded like the inevitable law that flowers bloom in spring, leaves turn in autumn, and leaves fall in winter.
It sounded like an indisputable law.
Encrid saw a vision.
The tent suddenly seemed to widen dramatically.
Krang appeared to stand in the very center.
It felt vast. He remembered passing through the granary plains of the Kingdom of Naurillia while mercenarying.
The surroundings opened up like those vast grasslands.
Even with the expanded surroundings, Krang stood vividly in the center.
His presence seemed to encompass the wilderness.
‘Not just an ordinary person.’
He was the type that couldn’t be classified by rank.
‘A knight?’
No, could a knight-level warrior have such mediocre skills?
Even if a knight-level warrior hid his true abilities, no one would be able to tell.
It was just a hunch.
He probably wasn’t a knight.
“Well, if you don’t believe me, that’s fine.”
As Krang casually threw out this remark, the vast grasslands and wilderness disappeared.
Krang, who had appeared so vividly, returned to his usual appearance.
“I’d appreciate it if you believed me, though.”
“I think I should believe you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Because you said so.”
Encrid couldn’t even guess the true identity of his counterpart.
‘It doesn’t really matter.’
As long as he could fend off the assassin, that was all that mattered.
It was just curiosity.
It would be nice if the other person would tell him, but if not, it wasn’t a problem.
“Phew.”
Vengeance, who had been holding his breath, finally exhaled deeply.
Then he looked at Encrid and Krang, trying to say something.
“Damn it.”
That was all he said before turning away.
Krang’s identity seemed to be quite extraordinary, and Vengeance couldn’t find any more words.
Seeing this, Krang burst out laughing and said,
“Don’t worry, PlatoonLeader. I’m just Krang for now.”
“…Who said otherwise?”
Tch, he’s really scared.
Encrid found Vengeance almost endearing.
It was fascinating how he constantly picked fights with him yet shut up entirely in front of Rem.
He didn’t really bother any of the other squad members either.
‘Come to think of it, I’m curious why he only does it to me.’
Encrid glanced at Vengeance and killed time.
Another ordinary day passed.
“Sleep well, Encrid.”
“You too.”
“Ahem.”
Squad Leader Vengeance, perhaps fearing future repercussions, skipped his usual evening greeting.
It left Encrid feeling oddly empty.
Soon, the assigned night guard stood in front of the tent.
Encrid didn’t sleep.
He could fall asleep quickly if he wanted to, but if necessary, staying up all night for a day wasn’t a problem.
His survival as a mercenary was more due to his stamina and wits than his swordsmanship.
Time passed.
Night deepened.
The night guard changed twice.
Vengeance snored loudly beside him.
Encrid lost himself in various thoughts, forgetting sleep.
‘If I keep lying here, I’ll end up dozing off.’
Just as he considered getting up to go relieve himself,
A prick.
His neck felt a slight sting.
Thinking he might’ve been bitten by a bug, he scratched his neck.
Then, he felt something catch on his hand with a tick.
‘A needle? A poisoned needle?’
He carefully pinched it between his fingers and pulled it out.
It was a thin needle made of wood.
‘Well, this is unexpected.’
He had planned to scream when the attacker appeared.
But soon after the sting, a dull pain started at the pierced area, and then he couldn’t feel anything.
It was as if his neck and body had been cut off and taken away.
He knew they were there, but he couldn’t feel anything below his neck.
‘What is this?’
Soon, dizziness hit him, and his head spun.
‘A poisoned needle.’
He had been hit.
This was the answer to the ‘how’.
No matter how dull a person was, no matter how deeply they slept, how could they not know if their neck was cut or their heart pierced?
The answer was right here.
It was a severe paralytic poison.
Encrid tried to keep his eyes wide open until the end.
He couldn’t afford to waste this day.
A blurry shadow came into view.
The figure was small.
Unless they had an unusual physique, it wasn’t an adult male.
It appeared to be a woman or a child.
The shadow approached and swung an arm, and that was the last thing he saw.
“Cyprus! Cyprus!”
The praises to Cyprus rang out.
A new day had begun.
To be precise, it was the third day.
“Are you slacking off? Why haven’t you brought breakfast?”
It was the same. Platoon Leader Vengeance was complaining about the soldier who hadn’t brought breakfast.
Since there was no need to waste time today.
“I’ll go out and check.”
Without confronting him, Encrid stepped outside.
First, he needed to fetch the soldier.
Let’s start anew.
To be honest, he didn’t even know where the poisoned needle had come from.
So what should he do?
The answer was to stay awake and be prepared, not just lie down.
What he needed now was a plausible excuse.
An excuse to stay awake and up at night.
Even though this was the rear, it was still a battlefield.
Excuses to stay awake were plentiful.
‘Let’s try again, assassin.’
Encrid began his preparations.
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