Rem finished his work and returned to the Border Guard, while the Viscount, who had nearly lost his land due to the scorched-earth tactics, let out a sigh of relief.
"Doesn’t it still seem like there’s a threat remaining? Well, since it looks that way, we’ll stay and guard you for a couple of months."
The Border Guard reinforcements even stationed themselves there. At first, it was a bit unsettling.
Could the Border Guard be planning to quietly claim this land for themselves?
This era was rife with cases where lands were subtly taken over like this.
Even if not, the mere presence of such a large number of available combat personnel raised concerns about feeding, drinking, and clothing them.
However, they pitched tents to set up camp, brought along their own provisions, and later, supplies even arrived directly from the Border Guard.
Even though it felt uneasy, it wasn’t something one could outright reject. Among those supplies, a letter from Encrid was included.
–Are you cultivating the land well?
Viscount Harrison held the letter, standing frozen like a puppet for a moment after reading it.
The militia captain cautiously glanced at him. Could the Border Guard be up to some trick? But would the Iron Wall Knight really have a reason for that?
No matter how alluring the viscounty’s land was, it couldn’t compare to Green Pearl, where even fallow fields, untouched for over a decade of war, would yield a bumper harvest with just a handful of seeds.
The captain was curious about the letter’s content.
The kingdom had granted Encrid holy spring water, and the Viscount didn’t think that was wasteful.
Despite some sarcastic remarks from others, he ignored them.
People wondered why he didn’t ask the Border Guard for help when they’d likely give anything he asked for.
The Viscount thought he had already received enough. He had their support and trust in his words. That alone was sufficient.
Though he avoided acting on whims, he had no regrets.
Even now, despite his urgency in requesting reinforcements, he hadn’t held much expectation, knowing the Border Guard was already preoccupied with numerous issues.
Yet reinforcements came, stationed themselves, and even promised protection.
Could there be ulterior motives behind this?
‘If so, I should pluck out my own eyes for misjudging someone.’
It was only later that the Viscount realized it had been Rem. Was it fortunate or not that he hadn’t greeted him?
Wasn’t his nickname "The Noble Hunter"?
The news that he had wiped out a band of bandits on his way back arrived belatedly.
Only after understanding everything, the Viscount had received the letter. He read its contents three times, then let out a long sigh, lifting his head.
Encrid seemed not to have forgotten the words spoken at the banquet.
This steadied the Viscount's briefly shaken resolve. A fiery passion ignited within him.
"Ah."
The Viscount felt his chest heat up. Warmth surged from his very core.
Someone had listened to his hopes, remembered them, and was supporting him.
There wasn’t a trace of malice in that.
"I will repay you, no matter what."
The Viscount spoke aloud, his voice filled with determination.
The militia captain remained curious about the letter’s content.
The stationed troops, though rough in speech, maintained strict discipline and caused no trouble, apart from fights during training.
This was to be expected.
According to Krais, if they heard anything strange from the land’s owner while deployed as reinforcements, they were to return immediately.
The soldiers didn’t want to return.
Being under Rem’s command had improved their skills and taught them the way. They didn’t deny that. But anyone stuck in grueling training would naturally want out.
That was why they were stationed in the viscounty.
The Viscount couldn’t possibly know these internal circumstances.
The Border Guard hadn’t only sent Rem’s Assault Unit as reinforcements.
When the Holy Order withdrew its personnel, issues arose everywhere.
There were reports of cultists acting up in waiting, and in the south, they faced danger when monsters surged after enemy forces deliberately provoked them.
The tactic of provoking monsters into a frenzy and then redirecting the wave into neighboring territories forced those territories to deal with the aftermath, often groaning in frustration.
Even though the Knights responsible for the southern front managed to hold firm, there were always gaps.
Clearing out some of the monsters that had slipped through these cracks became an additional task.
Using the guise of the soldier-mercenary system implemented by Naurillia, Krais frantically mobilized the Border Guard reserve forces.
They killed monsters, eradicated bandit gangs, and pursued and executed cultists wherever they arose.
The Border Guard reserve forces’ competence became evident in all these activities, surprising even those observing them.
The nobles in the royal court were especially astonished.
The reserve forces seemed to rival the entire Red Cape Knights at full strength.
Naturally, this stirred discussions about unease, but—
"If you’ve got nothing better to do, why not farm like Viscount Harrison?"
Marquis Marcus, the king’s closest confidant, remarked.
"If they come to attack me, I’ll hand over all my land and even my daughter."
The Duke of Octo laughed and added.
"If they intended to overthrow the Royal Family, would the Iron Wall Knight still be wielding his sword over there? If it were me, I’d become the King’s close friend and the leader of his Royal Guard. It’d be so easy to fill this place with my people. Why would he risk his life for some peasants?"
Marquis Visar offered a practical perspective. The nation’s greatest nobles dismissed such worries with snorts of derision.
At this point, Krais’s operation to purge corrupt nobles in Krang was nearing its conclusion, leaving only the relatively upright nobles.
Thus, discussions of unease were short-lived, replaced by unanimous support for the Border Guard.
From Krang to the rest of the nation, it was as if they were all saying the same thing:
No matter how great the Holy Kingdom’s influence, they stood by the Iron Wall Knight.
Signs of this support were evident across the land.
No matter what schemes the Holy Kingdom employed, new monsters or beasts wouldn’t suddenly appear out of nowhere.
With the Border Guard reserve forces demonstrating their strength and bringing order, the region became more peaceful than ever.
Shepherds could now freely lead their flocks, as monsters, beasts, bandits, and cultists had been eradicated.
Meanwhile, the city of Rockfreed was completed, and preparations for trade routes with the western regions were laid out.
The Holy Kingdom could no longer ignore the sheer power of the Border Guard.
Their influence now extended beyond military might, with commerce and overall strategic positioning seeing marked improvement.
The conclusion was clear: though challenges arose, the Border Guard’s responses were swift and precise.
Even their efforts in paving roads and infrastructure were progressing smoothly.
While Krais’s leadership played a role, the collective effort of those who believed in their commander and his righteous cause made these accomplishments possible.
With everyone’s hands busy, prioritizing tasks became essential.
Krais implemented a system to address the most urgent matters first, gradually working down the list.
The current conversation was one such issue. A matter put off until there was time to look into it further.
"Where?"
Encrid’s question came in response to Krais’s earlier remarks about threats, dangers, and cultists.
"Cross Guard."
The Cross Guard was a city northeast of the Border Guard, beyond the gravel fields and the Pen-Hanil River.
There wasn’t anything particularly special about it.
Encrid’s questioning gaze prompted Krais to elaborate.
"There seems to be some trouble with cultists. The city’s internal situation has reportedly deteriorated."
However, he added that it wasn’t something they needed to be concerned about immediately, so they had left it alone for now.
Encrid, though preoccupied with his training and thoughts of Will, felt his progress was frustratingly slow despite grasping the basics.
It wasn’t that he was impatient, but he knew he needed a change of pace, so he had been drinking tea when Krais brought this up.
"Trouble with cultists? Mere cultists causing trouble?"
Luagarne chimed in from the side. This Frog had an intense hatred for cults and always took an interest in such matters.
Today, Esther was in her human form, so there were four teacups on the table.
"It seems a few of them are hiding and holding gatherings. Meanwhile, there’s also organized crime gaining ground. Various groups appear to be stirring up trouble, and it seems the city lord reported it to the temple for assistance but was ignored."
The Aspen Kingdom was still an adversary on the surface.
It was a pretense, as they had drawn a line on the Green Pearl border without even building a low wall, let alone a fortification.
Recently, crossing this imaginary line to interact with Aspen cities had become commonplace.
So, in practice, they were more like allies.
While the Border Guard was building two fortress cities and a massive agricultural hub centered on Pen-Hanil River, Aspen was constructing a similar city on the opposite side of Green Pearl.
Both nations were gradually beginning a beautiful exchange, all sparked by a festival Krais had orchestrated.
Despite this growing camaraderie, the Cross Guard couldn’t openly seek the Border Guard’s help.
They were meant to be like brothers, but reality dictated that they had been adversaries, swords drawn against each other until now.
"The temple ignored the city lord’s request, and attempts to reach the mainland for aid have been fruitless. The city lord must be quite troubled. They even sent people through a guild, but contact has been lost."
Krais wasn’t sharing this to request help but simply to inform.
Encrid, however, recognized that the guild Krais mentioned was the Gilpin Guild.
If they had lost contact, it likely indicated internal strife.
The Gilpin Guild had recently expanded into information brokering and training under Jaxon’s tutelage, so their inability to send even a single letter was a clear sign of trouble.
"I’ll go for a stroll and check it out."
Encrid declared.
"I’m coming, too."
Luagarne immediately added.
Encrid wanted to move to clear his mind, while Luagarne, driven by her hatred of cults, felt it natural to accompany him.
"Really?"
Krais tilted his head in curiosity.
Though the Cross Guard hadn’t formally requested reinforcements, they had subtly conveyed their desire for assistance through Avnair.
Krais knew this and had already begun making moves.
Still, it wasn’t a matter for the Iron Wall Knight and the leader of the Mad Knights to personally intervene.
"There’s no harm, is there?"
"Well, no, not really."
All of this was casual. There wasn’t much weight to it.
Given the situation, Krais even considered publicizing the Border Guard’s involvement to highlight how cultist threats were a continent-wide problem.
This would bolster the justification for immediate responses to such threats.
Building these justifications was always advantageous.
You never knew when they might come in handy.
"Then go ahead."
Krais said, and Encrid immediately prepared for the journey.
"Hmm, I sense ominous vibes. If it feels overwhelming, don’t hesitate to run."
Esther advised, handing Encrid a small mirror.
"For a brief moment, this mirror will let you see my face. It might give you strength."
"How does looking at your face give me strength?"
"It’s only natural to feel empowered when gazing upon the face of a beautiful being, isn’t it?"
Esther was a witch who had realized this truth.
Encrid looked at her, concern etched into his expression.
"Stop spending time with Sinar."
Clearly, Fairy humor had rubbed off on her.
"Hmph."
Esther snorted and chuckled. Compared to when he had first met her, her expressions had grown significantly more varied.
For this journey, Encrid carried a sword imbued with black gold, having broken his previous one.
Krais had also procured a scale armor for him.
Equipped with a sword belt, a light backpack, and provisions, Encrid got ready while Luagarne packed her insect pouch.
Frogs rarely carried heavy loads on their travels, thanks to their resilience and regenerative abilities.
Even going a couple of days without food wasn’t an issue for them.
The two set off for Cross Guard.
Crossing the Pen-Hanil River wasn’t difficult, thanks to the large docks recently built there.
The journey would require camping out for a few nights, but that wasn’t a challenge.
Encrid walked briskly, chatting with Luagarne along the way.
They encountered a merchant caravan that initially seemed startled to see them but soon nodded and spoke.
"Traveling alone? Oh, you’re Frogs. Anyway, this area’s been quite safe lately, probably thanks to the Border Guard wiping out all the monsters. Glory to the Iron Wall Knight!"
The merchant, not recognizing Encrid, blessed him warmly.
The merchant chuckled, commenting on how pleasant times like these made life worth living, while quietly complaining about the Holy Kingdom.
"Not that I’m a heretic or anything. Don’t report me. I even donate to the monastery every month."
The merchant’s nervous chatter ended as Encrid reassured him.
"I’m not reporting you. I don’t get along with the temple myself."
Hearing this, the merchant cautioned against speaking so freely, warning that even criticizing cultists could invite trouble.
Still, the merchant’s smiling demeanor didn’t waver.
"Times are good these days."
After the merchant departed, Luagarne spoke.
"Isn’t peace meant for people like him to thrive?"
"It’s a good sight to see."
"Indeed, it is."
When the sun set and twilight turned to darkness, they stopped to find a place to sleep.
Although Encrid wore layered clothing and a heated leather cloak, the cold still bit at him.
Luagarne, unfazed by the temperature, casually sipped water, indifferent to the chilly dryness.
Frogs, generally unaffected by temperature changes, found such conditions manageable.
Encrid lay down and closed his eyes. His mercenary training had taught him to sleep whenever possible.
As he prepared to sleep, the clear night sky caught his attention.
Stars blanketed the dark expanse, with two blue moons scattering light like shimmering lakes.
The sight was breathtaking.
Enchanted by the starry night, Luagarne broke the silence.
"Beautiful."
"Indeed."
They shared a few lighthearted remarks about the night sky before Encrid drifted off to sleep.
As soon as he fell asleep, he felt his body sway and opened his eyes.
Instead of the glowing river of stars, he was greeted by black waters rippling gently.
"So, are you ready for eternal life?"
The ferryman, seated at a stone table on a narrow wooden boat under a violet lamp, asked him.
Encrid gazed at the ferryman, whose face was clearer than before.
The ferryman’s face resembled a mask, with skin like cracked gray clay and lifeless, colorless eyes.
Encrid hadn’t noticed before, but now it was apparent.
Nevertheless, he decided to play along with the ferryman’s conversation.
"What eternal life?"
"Not dying—that is eternal life."
"Are you telling me to live trapped in today, never dying?"
"Exactly. That is your eternal life."
Naturally, Encrid wasn’t convinced. He stared at the ferryman intently.
The ferryman didn’t blink or twitch his lips. Instead, he said something unexpected.
"Turn your steps back. I shall reveal a new path to you."
Encrid couldn’t help but wonder what the ferryman meant by this.
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