“Valaf-Style Martial Arts, it’s uncomfortable to balance on the bed. So how do we make it comfortable?”
Audin asked. Encrid thought for a moment before answering.
The two men on the narrow bed were utterly serious.
“Apply force?”
At first, he thought it was about learning how to throw punches in deliberately narrow and uncomfortable places.
“No, you can’t. The bed is a place to lie down. We will train in lying techniques.”
A bed is a place to lie down, he says.
After the first martial arts training, Audin was found to bathe more frequently than expected.
Despite being pinned down with his head under Audin’s armpit, there was no sour smell.
On the narrow bed, they moved hands and feet, twisted joints, and pinned each other down. Or rather, Encrid was pinned down.“A bed is narrow. Use quick movements rather than complicated ones.”
It was learning. It was teaching. It was like a sip of water given to a thirsty person wandering in the desert.
For Encrid, it was just that.
Therefore, he focused more than ever, beyond just the posture of listening attentively.
Of course, it was a technique difficult to use in actual combat.
But he used it here and there while taking on various tasks.
For example, when grabbing and twisting the wrist of a petty thief.
“Gilpin claims to be the guardian of the night, so it seems like the number of petty thieves is increasing?”
If a pickpocket gets caught, their wrist is cut off.
This one still looked young. At most, twelve years old? So he handed him over to the Gilpin Guild.
Later, he heard the boy was severely beaten but didn’t lose his hand.
That was probably better than losing a wrist.
He always tried to apply what he learned wherever possible.
But there wouldn’t be a better opportunity than now.
The moment Encrid placed his hand edge-to-edge with the Company Commander, he stepped back with his right foot.
Placing his left foot forward, he pulled his right foot up to the position of his left foot, bent his knees, and then straightened them to push off the ground.
This could create an explosive charging step.
Using this full-body momentum, he extended his right hand straight.
A thrust. It was executed with the hand edge, but its essence remained unchanged.
It was like when he saved Krang.
When the Company Commander burst into the infirmary, Encrid had a dagger in his hand then, now replaced by his hand edge.
The Company Commander reacted the same way as back then.
Swinging his right hand from the inside out, he struck Encrid’s wrist. The trajectory of the thrust was deflected.
The Company Commander’s foot swept against Encrid’s heel.
He had been helpless then.
But not now.
Just before his foot could be swept, he lifted it to avoid the kick and used the momentum from the deflected thrust to pivot on his left foot, pushing forward.
The biggest difference between the Fairy Company Commander and himself was:
‘Weight.’
“Identify your opponent’s weaknesses and exploit them with your strengths. Brother.”
Encrid followed Audin’s advice. Instead of exchanging clumsy moves, he charged in.
“Ugh!”
The Company Commander let out a short groan. She kicked Encrid’s thigh with her foot.
Encrid endured the impact and eventually pinned her down with his body.
He grabbed her wrist and pushed it outward while entangling his leg with hers between her legs.
This put the Company Commander in a sideways position, her left hand stretched forward, and her limbs bound.
“I think I’ve won.”
Encrid said, catching his breath.
The Company Commander turned her head. They were close enough to feel each other’s breath.
Soon, she spoke.
“Human proposals are quite different from Fairy ones.”
There was a floral scent from the Company Commander’s mouth.
Another joke from the Fairy.
As they stayed close, Encrid could see the Fairy Company Commander’s lips.
They looked soft, but…
“…No, it’s not like that.”
Encrid tried to get up, but this time, the Company Commander wrapped her legs around his waist.
Although he wobbled for a moment, Encrid’s strong core and the light weight of the Fairy Company Commander allowed him to hold steady.
“You have a strong waist.”
Is it the listener’s fault for taking the Company Commander’s words literally?
Or is it the speaker’s fault?
‘There’s no need to dwell on it.’
“Please get down.”
The Company Commander, who was half hanging on him, stepped down. She stood straight and dusted herself off.
The dirt from the training ground had gotten on her.
She slapped her bottom with her palm to shake off the dirt on her pants.
Today, she was wearing pants that clung to her body, making the stance somewhat awkward depending on how you looked at it.
“You’ve improved.”
“Yes, I have.”
Encrid agreed obediently to her next words.
Wasn’t it to show his actual skills that he started this?
He exploited a momentary gap, targeted the opponent’s weakness, and seized the advantage.
The Valaf-Style martial arts were mixed in.
All of this was proof that his skills had improved, so he could agree with the Company Commander’s words.
The Company Commander was silent for a moment, a very brief moment.
Then she spoke.
“First, let me apologize for not stopping it.”
Encrid tilted his head at the abrupt statement.
“You should know that the platoon reinforcements are arriving today.”
He was about to ask what she meant but stopped.
The Company Commander had already turned around and was leaving.
Would she tell him even if he asked?
Probably not.
Judging from her words, it seemed like something that would naturally become clear with time.
‘She apologized for not stopping it.’
This indicated that it was an order from higher up.
Encrid’s sense of intuition was quite sharp.
It was a necessary skill for survival with his modest abilities.
‘I’ll find out soon enough.’
He decided it was better not to worry.
Rather than wasting time on unnecessary concerns, it was better to swing his sword one more time.
* * *
The Battalion Commander was replaced.
It made sense. It wasn’t a series of skirmishes but a full-scale war that was being predicted.
The events from the previous battlefield had continued, expanding the scope of the conflict.
The battle had grown larger.
So, the Battalion Commander needed to be someone specialized in combat.
“My name is Marcus.”
Battalion Commander Marcus.
A man who once aspired to rise above the rank of knight but ultimately couldn’t overcome the wall of talent.
Having served in various units, including the Border Guard, he was a key officer under Cyprus.
He had no interest in the foolish actions of the previous Battalion Commander.
“The main forces are the Border Guard and the Turtle Heavy Infantry Company, correct? The rest are just to make up numbers, right? So, we formulate strategies accordingly. Can we do that?”
He was a man entirely consumed by thoughts of war.
And the rumors within the unit had reached his ears.
“A Troublemaker Squad Leader? Now a Platoon Leader? Interesting. Was it luck?”
He had received reports on everything that had happened.
It didn’t seem like something that could be chalked up to mere luck.
Anyone would think that.
But Battalion Commander Marcus took it a step further.
“Why not test that luck one more time?”
If just one soldier is sacrificed, it can’t be helped.
But if the goddess of luck truly keeps him alive, there’s no reason not to exploit that.
If it’s not luck? Will he die? After all, it’s just one soldier.
Either way, there was nothing to lose.
This was the full extent of what the Fairy Company Commander had meant by apologizing for not stopping it.
“Send him.”
It was a unit formed for scouting and espionage. It was a direct order from the Battalion Commander. There was no way to stop it.
‘I hope he comes back alive.’
It wasn’t because she genuinely thought of him as a partner, like in a joke.
‘He’s a valuable asset.’
His record was clean, and he was connected to ‘Krang’.
She had received a request from him and thought it would be a waste otherwise.
His skills, ambition, and courage.
She liked all of it.
So.
‘Come back alive.’
That was all she wished for.
* * *
“This isn’t just a support mission.”
Encrid knew that Rem was as perceptive as he was.
This mission came down while they were handling various tasks.
They were tasked with crossing the Pen-Hanil River north of the Border Guard and surveying the surrounding terrain.
Encrid pictured the map in his mind.
To the east of the Border Guard lies Green Pearl.
Above that is the Pen-Hanil River.
And after crossing the Pen-Hanil River and heading northeast, there is a city.
The fortress city of Cross Guard, built purely for military purposes, belonged to Aspen.
The mission’s destination was where Cross Guard is located.
So, on the surface, this is a terrain survey mission.
‘But it’s actually scouting.’
The detailed explanation of the mission was that they would understand more once they crossed the river.
“Specifically targeting just the leader?”
Jaxon, who was next to him, furrowed his brow after understanding the mission details.
Is it a troublesome task?
Yes. Encrid knew that too.
This wasn’t the kind of task that should be handed down to him.
‘This is it.’
What the Fairy Company Commander had meant.
“Why? Terrain survey? Rumors are rife that a full-scale war is imminent, so where are we going?”
A newly joined platoon member spoke. Encrid recognized the face well.
Enri, a soldier from the plains hunter background.
He had said he wanted to return to the plains once the previous battle was over.
Yet he was still in the city.
“Even if you want to go back, if a full-scale war breaks out, you won’t be able to live on the plains anyway.”
That was the reason.
Two more joined as well.
Andrew, the former immature squad leader, had now become an actual squad leader.
Naturally, Mac was with him.
So, three new members joined, and officially, Andrew became the squad leader of this unit.
Of course, this arrangement wouldn’t sit well with Rem and the other squad members.
There were only nine of them in total, so what was the point of having a squad leader?
Moreover, who would listen to him?
“If it’s like this, I think I might be better suited.”
Enri said.
“It’s because it’s not just a terrain survey, brother.”
Audin spoke with a gentle smile, which made Enri’s shoulders flinch.
It was a natural reaction for someone seeing Audin for the first time.
A giant man speaking gently with a smile was quite intimidating due to his massive fists and build.
It would take some time to get used to it.
“A direct order from the Battalion Commander? Can’t we just ignore it?”
Ragna, who had been peering around, made a thoughtless comment.
Ignoring it would be insubordination, you idiot.
Normally, one would feel that this was an incredibly tough assignment.
It’s an extremely dangerous mission, anyone could see that.
The fortress city of an enemy country on the brink of a full-scale war. Just getting near it is an adventure.
‘The purpose is probably to receive information from a spy within the city.’
Encrid roughly envisioned the mission’s objective. It seemed plausible.
It was a necessary task.
Someone had to step up.
Usually, it would be right to use specialists for this kind of mission.
‘Given that the Company Commander said she couldn’t stop it…’
It meant the Battalion Commander was directly involved.
That explained why the mission had the Battalion Commander’s seal.
“So, what do we do?”
The Platoon leader who came to relay the mission, looked around nervously before speaking.
“What do you mean, what do we do?”
Encrid didn’t hesitate. It was a task that had to be done anyway.
‘If it’s a real operation…’
He always welcomed it.
Above all, he reminded himself that any task, if done with utmost effort, would lead to new learning, understanding, and realization.
He even felt a thrill.
What exactly was going to happen?
Was this a wall set by the ferryman?
If not, was it just something that would pass by?
Was it a result of coincidence?
Or a moment of inevitability built upon accumulated actions?
It didn’t matter.
If something blocked his way, he would just push through.
That was Encrid’s way of life.
“I accept the mission.”
With Encrid’s words, all the squad members’ expressions turned grim.
“We have to go with you.”
Ragna said, but it wasn’t an easy task.
Although the exact intentions of the Battalion Commander weren’t clear, orders had come down for all squad members except Encrid to stay behind and follow the new Squad leader’s commands.
Judging by the orders:
‘Leave behind those who are sure to perform well in battle. Only take me out.’
He didn’t know the reason behind such instructions.
Who could understand?
Perhaps the Battalion Commander wanted to test the so-called lucky soldier by putting him in a dangerous situation.
Marcus, the Battalion Commander, wasn’t normal either.
But that was to be expected.
A nickname that followed Marcus, a war-crazed officer.
He would do anything to win.
Encrid was just the beginning.
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it and come back safely.”
There’s no need to fear death. As long as today repeats itself, he would naturally surpass it.
Encrid’s casual remark caused Rem’s eyebrows to shoot up.
“Handle it? Reeeally handle it? Do you think that’s possible? You’re still far from it. This won’t do. Let’s have a special training session today. Special training!”
Ragna, Jaxon, and Audin reacted similarly to Rem.
“Have you gotten into the rhythm?”
“Let’s learn how to stab someone from behind.”
“Haha, it’s time to dive deeper into Valaf-Style Bed Martial Arts.”
Andrew, observing everyone’s reactions, finally spoke up.
“Alright, since I’m the Squad leader, I think everyone should listen to me.”
It was an order from above. Andrew was no longer being arrogant, he was simply trying to follow orders.
That was all.
“You’re hilarious!”
Rem exploded. It was his usual outburst. Nothing extraordinary.
He lunged forward and immediately struck Andrew on the head.
His fist was so fast it was almost invisible.
Before Andrew could react, Rem had already closed in and landed the blow.
With a thud, Andrew’s eyes glazed over, and he collapsed sideways. Mac, who was next to him, caught him.
“What?”
Seeing Andrew collapse, Mac looked up angrily.
Rem’s words followed.
Assaulting a superior.
A title that followed Rem’s name.
Rem glared, and Mac, after briefly staring back, checked that Andrew was merely unconscious before saying,
“I didn’t say anything.”
What can you do? The difference in strength is just too great.
Half-hearted resistance only leads to violence.
It was a fact everyone already knew.
That’s why he didn’t want to come here.
But there was no way to stop Andrew from volunteering.
‘Sigh.’
Life is really twisted, Mac lamented.
Enri, observing, became certain.
‘If you speak carelessly, you’ll end up dead.’
Only now did he understand why this was called the Troublemaker Squad.
He had come here only because of Encrid, but he was beginning to regret it a little.
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