Why must we wage war?
It would be a lie to say that the thought had never crossed his mind.
Why must we kill?
Why must we die?
"If you’ve decided to live off the sword, then being prepared to die is only natural. On the contrary, if you're thinking of saving only yourself, then you're the real scum."
That's what an honorable mercenary once said.
"If they wish to meet God, I merely send them on their way."
That’s what a priest of the War God said.
Everyone has their own thoughts.
Of course, there are those who swing their swords thoughtlessly or simply follow orders.
"There’s nothing else I can do but swing a sword."
There might also be talented monsters like this.
On the other hand,
"I'm doing this to earn money, what's there to say?"
Someone said this, making a coin shape with their thumb and index finger.
"I kill to prove myself through slaughter. No other reason is needed!"
He once saw a Giant shout this on the battlefield.
"There’s a heat that rises in the middle of battle. That heat is the only proof that I am alive."
Who said this again? Ah, yes, it was Frog.
The Frog species always chased something. Whether it was desire or a goal, it was unclear. It made sense for them to say such things.
"They come at me, so I fight them."
There were also beastfolk who fought with a passive attitude.
Encrid had seen many people, fought beside them, nearly died by their hands, and thanks to the curse of repeating each day, he had actually died and killed his opponents in return, leading him to the present.
So, why do they fight wars?
He don’t know.
From the perspective of those in power, the purpose might be clear.
For example, to expand their land. To gain more.
As the continent, populated with monsters and beasts, became more urbanized, it faced the growing pains of increased population.
There wasn't enough space to live, eat, or dress.
So those in power needed to fill that void.
They needed land with water, land that was good for farming, in other words, land that was good for living.
But when they tried to step foot on that land, the neighbor said,
"Hey, that’s my land."
So the ruler had no choice but to ask,
"Since when?"
"Since my father’s father’s father."
"I’ve never heard of that."
"Well, it’s still my land."
"Hmm. So, how many times do you want me to hit you before you step aside? Or will you just back off quietly?"
"You wanna fight?"
"Yeah."
"Bring it on, you bastard."
Maybe actual curses weren’t exchanged, but perhaps the conversation went something like that.
Now, if a war breaks out, does the one who cursed and got angry die? Do the kings or nobles holding power die?
'No, that's not how it works. The ones who die are the soldiers. The people under the ruler’s command. But should we resent those who started the war? I don’t know that either.'
The truth that Encrid knew and understood was this: if you go out there holding steel, you must be prepared to die.
If you don’t like it, you could shave your head, become a monk, and live quietly, hiding from people on your days off and flirting with women, secretly wetting your lips with wine behind the temple.
If that didn’t suit you, then you should just sit quietly and let yourself be exploited.
'But wouldn’t you naturally want to fight back after being exploited for so long?'
That might also be true.
Well, you can’t know the reason behind everything that happens in the world.
So, Encrid grabbed his sword.
Since he couldn’t know the reason, he had no choice but to jump in.
Since words wouldn’t work, fists had to be thrown.
‘The Knight of the truce.’
The moment the minstrel’s song pierced his ears and sank into his heart, it became a dream.
Part of that dream had now been realized.
So, what did he want to do after achieving that dream?
He had no desire to send soldiers to the battlefield and cheer them on as they all died.
Then how should one fight?
Encrid thought about how to reduce sacrifices.
Though war and battle were inevitable, he didn’t want to be dragged around.
He wasn’t avoiding death. He wasn’t hesitating to kill either.
He just thought it was right to aim toward something, even if he couldn’t end every battle with a single stroke.
Whether this path was right or wrong, he still didn’t know. Even after walking far down the road and looking back at his own steps, it would be difficult to judge right from wrong.
That’s just how life is.
Even when you look back at the past, you can’t know everything about what was right or wrong.
But since there was no chance to walk a different path, once you chose, you had to keep going.
Encrid had to do the same. And that’s what he wanted to do.
"Aspen will not advance easily."
Before departure, Krais explained everything he had prepared, step by step.
It was a strategy, but Krais called it simply a trick to deceive the enemy.
"How?"
Encrid asked.
A lamp soaked in oil emitted a faint smoke. It was evening, in an office that was rarely used.
"What would you do if you were walking through an open field and suddenly a wall appeared in front of you?"
"Jump over it, break it, or go around it."
Krais lost his words for a moment.
Yeah, the Captain was always like this. No matter what, he was a crazy guy who found a way.
"Normally, people stop. And if they know that the wall in front of them is thick, solid, and has fists that punch you if you get too close..."
"And if they know that?"
"They’ll stop. And they’ll either stare at it or think about it. Maybe they’ll pretend to be staring while they’re really thinking."
Did he really need to explain something so obvious?
Krais didn’t think like that.
It wasn’t that Encrid was clueless and pretending not to understand. This was like adding a follow-up comment.
Krais knew that, so he wasn’t flustered and continued speaking.
"When they stop, we gain time."
"And then?"
"Our main force will go around."
A map was spread out over the desk.
The wide map marked key locations, such as the Pen-Hanil Mountains and several major cities and strongholds.
Krais placed his finger on the map and traced a line.
The light from the lamp stretched Krais’s shadow long across the map.
"Are you saying to go around and strike the rear?"
Normally, that’s what most people would think.
But that wasn’t it. Krais knew there was a cunning foe beyond the Green Pearl.
With all the information he’d gathered, Aspen’s reactions, and the current situation, Krais mixed it all up in his head, kneading it like dough, and a freshly baked loaf spoke to him.
"There’s someone in Aspen who uses the same kind of strategy. I’m sure of it. While they haven’t explicitly promised to buy time, it’s become an unspoken rule."
When asked if he intended to strike the rear, Encrid looked at Krais with a blank expression.
In the lamp’s light, Krais’s large eyes held a glint of anxiety.
Krais was always like this. Even when he felt relieved, he never let his guard down easily.
Anxiety was like a finger or toe to him—a part of his body that was always attached.
He was afraid, scared. The worst possible moments automatically replayed in his head. This time was no different.
Krais agonized as he always did.
What if I’m wrong? What if the enemy doesn’t act as expected? What if everything goes wrong? Even if everything goes according to plan, what if we lose? What then? Should we just run away?
Though he had prepared escape routes,
"Do you think it’s cowardly?"
It was a few nights ago, while he was digging multiple rabbit holes to escape through. Krais had asked Nurat, thinking it was fine to hear some criticism.
"Not at all."
Nurat shook her head.
"Why not?"
"When the moment of truth comes, you won’t be the one to run away."
"But I will run."
"Yeah, but having an escape plan makes you feel more at ease."
“I really will run away though.”
Nurat didn’t seem to hear that at all.
Krais erased the memory of that night and spoke again.
"We’ll intercept them."
"Intercept?"
"The unspoken rule is this: we say we want to fight, but we avoid a full-on battle. Instead, we say, 'Let’s see who wins when we clash our main forces. Whoever wins takes it all'."
Though Krais’s eyes still flickered with anxiety, there was a strange heat emanating from him as he spoke.
Anxiety was the mask he wore. The confidence came from doing everything possible to minimize variables.
Whether they won or lost, this was how things would unfold.
Well, it could go wrong, but Encrid usually trusted Krais’s predictions or foresight. So he asked.
"So, we just need to win?"
Interception meant to meet and fight the advancing enemy.
"Yes. But if, just if, you think the situation is too unfavorable or dangerous, then flee into the mountains."
"What kind of monster do you think might be hiding in the Pen-Hanil Mountains?"
The path Krais had traced on the map went around the Pen-Hanil Mountains.
It was a treacherous and highly dangerous route that most commanders would avoid.
Even though Krais had picked an outer route, he was telling them to go deeper if things went wrong.
"Finn and the Rangers have secured a few safe paths. Of course, I can’t guarantee complete safety."
"Can’t guarantee?"
"Even in the worst situation, we need to get out alive."
This was how Krais was by nature. He had an obsession with preparing for the worst.
"Alright."
Encrid’s response was casual, without any particular weight. It was just as plain as when he’d mentioned how tasty the marmalade was the other day.
That calm demeanor made Krais anxious, but it also provided a bit of reassurance.
Knowing that there was someone who wouldn’t run when things got serious. Krais knew that person wasn’t himself, but the man in front of him.
Encrid wasn’t the type to run away or avoid danger.
Frankly, Krais thought it was a wonder he had survived this long.
Even when they were at a similar skill level, Encrid would have risked his life to stand his ground.
Without realizing it, Krais had been influenced by this and, without realizing it, was starting to act similarly.
Nurat, who was close by, had noticed, but others were unaware of this shift.
"The enemy strategist’s name was Avnair, right? I think that guy is making a return."
Krais had already felt the limitations of just sitting at a desk, spinning his head with ideas.
So he entered the Pen-Hanil Mountains himself.
"Sinar, I need your help!"
He utilized the Fairy Company Commander, the leader of the Rangers, and moved the unit, led by Finn, into action.
"Do you know which blacksmith the Captain frequents? What’s the Captain most interested in these days?"
Although he was always focused on swordsmanship and training, he had finer interests within that.
"Interesting."
Sinar nodded without much difficulty. That’s how Krais hooked the big fish, Sinar, using Encrid as bait, and safely scouted the terrain and paths inside the Pen-Hanil Mountains, which were said to be a playground for beasts and monsters.
After that, he went out to Green Pearl to survey the site of a new fortress city.
He had envisioned three cities but had slightly shifted direction.
Now it would be three fortresses surrounding Green Pearl, a large city.
In time, it might be called Green Pearl, guarded by three swords.
It would align with the symbol of Naurillia, not only giving it real strength but also planting a strong impression in people’s minds.
The three swords that protect the Royal Family.
The three cities that guard Green Pearl.
Doesn’t it sound similar?
When Krais told Esther that he wanted to carve protection spells into the three fortresses, she had said something.
Magic and spells are also influenced by people’s perceptions, she said.
Her single comment had sparked the city's structural transformation.
Of course, all of this was in the future. Right now, blocking Aspen’s advance was the priority.
"We need to kill their forces. They’re probably at a Knight-level power."
Krais spoke with eyes still full of anxiety.
There was no need to erase that anxiety with words, nor could it be erased.
His obsession wasn’t something that could be easily erased. Encrid thought as much.
"Got it."
He seemed to understand why they needed to kill the Knights and intercept the enemy.
They would threaten a full-scale battle, but instead, they’d send a small force around to fight.
It would probably be a battle with no one watching and no bards to sing songs about it.
But does that mean it won’t be honorable?
After pushing aside his conversation with Krais, Encrid issued the command to march and now stood at the entrance of the Pen-Hanil Mountains.
As he looked toward the mountains, Encrid reflected on the path he was about to walk.
'What is honor?'
Honor is something decided in your own heart.
If this reduces needless sacrifices, that alone will make it honorable enough.
More than anything, he liked the strategy Krais had chosen, a way to reduce sacrifice.
* * *
Krais guided the enemy’s thoughts in a specific direction. To do that, he subtly leaked information to the enemy.
‘Look, I’ve caught on to your plan. So come at me.’
Krais spoke of manipulating information, and Avnair, of course, noticed it.
Should he twist it once more and explore another path?
Not a chance. They would pass through the Pen-Hanil Mountains.
The enemy cleared the beasts and monsters from the path, making it easier to travel. So what should he do?
Originally, he would have planned to see through the enemy’s intentions and bypass them.
But now that the strategy was exposed? Just getting angry wouldn’t change anything, so he had to act according to the new situation.
"It seems the enemy will come out to meet us."
Avnair spoke calmly to the beast General and added,
"Win for us."
Words carry power. Words contain magic. Some words are like that.
Avnair’s words carried such power.
They held faith and trust. In contrast to the anxiety Krais displayed.
One side with anxiety, the other with confidence.
Who was right?
Of course, the one who wins is always right.
"Yeah, this feels right."
The beast General laughed instead.
Whether it was the Demon Slayer or that mad murderer, he was curious to see them.
If he had to choose, he was more interested in seeing the mad killer who had dared cross the border and killed two Junior-Knights.
He was curious to see what kind of face that lunatic had.
Thanks for the Chapter Bro!!! :DD
Thanks for the Chapter.
Is it updated regularly? Also what is release schedule
Creo que he leído el manhwa, talvez lo esté confundiendo.. 🤔