"So, it’s called the Heart of the Beast? Teach me."
There was once a man who asked to learn that.
Rem had thought he wouldn’t last more than a month. When the next battle was two weeks away, he thought the man would die then.
Ragna had no interest. As long as he wasn’t disturbed, that was enough for him. He figured their unruly squad would stay as they were and leave when the time came.
When that time would come, he did not know.
The lost swordsman, who didn’t know what he had to do or what he wanted, only began to move forward after meeting Encrid.
Until then, he had been like a wagon without wheels, a child stuck in stagnation, a statue frozen in place.
Only after he began moving did Ragna develop his own will. That beginning was thanks to their squad leader.
To Audin, Encrid had been no different from a messenger sent by the gods, though that belief had since changed.
"He’s not a divine messenger, just a man living his life."
There are people like that in the world, and just realizing that had brought a great change within Audin.
"The important thing is your mindset!"
It no longer mattered if his prayers to the gods were met with silence.
‘Why do I fight?’
It didn’t need to be noble or sacred. There was no need for the meaning to be lofty or revered.
Only those who believed in themselves wouldn’t waver.
Even if they wavered, it wouldn’t be a sin. If something was wrong, they could correct it, and if it was late, they could act now.
Even when the gods’ words didn’t reach him, their will seeped into him.
This all started with their mad squad leader.
"Does memorizing that give you peace of mind?"
When Teresa first asked him that, Audin replied,
"No, it doesn’t."
"Then why do you read it?"
"Because it’s fun."
"Fun?"
"Yes, I read it because it’s fun, Sister. Now, what would you like to say?"
Teresa shared her worries.
"Do you think the world is trying to crush you? Do you believe that the giant’s blood within you will eventually erode your reason and turn you into a beast driven by instinct? And if death is inevitable, would you prefer to die by Encrid’s blade?"
That’s what Teresa had said.
Her words weren’t only directed at herself, they were also aimed at Audin.
He wandered the battlefield, sealing his divinity. Did he seek life, or death?
During that time, he saw Encrid.
A madman walking a tightrope over the cliff of death.
"What drives you to move like that?"
"Hmm?"
"Why do you fight?"
"Because I want to become a Knight."
A simple dream, neither hidden nor exaggerated.
That was when Audin first realized what he wanted to do.
‘Lord, were you watching over me?’
As they each pondered their thoughts, Jaxon dropped from the roof.
"Aside from killing him, I don’t see any other option. And it’s not like we can kill him right now."
He was the master of Geor’s Dagger from the Assassination Guild and the owner of Morning Dew.
Anyone who knew Jaxon’s background would be shocked by what he just said, it meant he was admitting that, at the moment, he had no way to kill Encrid.
If his subordinate or lover had heard, they would’ve thought he was joking.
They had all been pushed back and defeated. Whether they verbally admitted it or not, they accepted the loss in their hearts.
These were people who had made a habit of fighting tooth and nail to avoid losing, but ironically, none of them seemed upset. Jaxon was the same.
They stood before the man who had shown them a path not drawn by blood, steel, and poison, but by life, dreams, and purpose.
A man who, by all expectations, should’ve died long ago, had become a Knight, swung his sword with vigor, and killed a demon.
He had killed demons, slain cultists, and learned something along the way to get to where he was now.
"So, how do you feel?"
Jaxon asked again.
Not just the four of them, Lawford and Teresa were watching too. Alongside the six pairs of eyes, a panther stood upright on all fours near the roof.
Encrid sheathed his sword with a ching and raised one hand above his head. They all waited for him to speak.
The fact that he had become a Knight was surprising, but now he had gone one step ahead of even his own companions.
They all wanted to know how it felt to have come this far. United in thought, they watched him closely.
Their usual competitiveness faded, replaced by a warm sense of anticipation in their gazes.
Scratch, scratch.
Encrid furrowed his brows, awkwardly looking around as he scratched his head before saying,
"So, this isn’t just a joke, huh?"
No one could respond.
What did this bastard just say?
If that was a provocation, it was a sharp blade indeed.
The vein on Rem’s forehead bulged, and Ragna clicked his tongue.
Audin quietly prayed, "Lord, shall we send one now?" while Jaxon had somehow drawn his Silence Dagger.
"…Should I just kill him?"
Rem asked.
"We don’t even need all four of us. Two will be enough."
Ragna answered.
Their relationship had deteriorated so much during Encrid’s absence that people joked one of them might die soon.
The two squads had even shed blood once.
While competition could drive improvement, anything in excess cast a shadow.
Without control from above, intense rivalries often led to accidents.
This was especially true for young, hot-blooded soldiers.
And in Rem’s squad, whether young or old, they were all hot-blooded individuals.
Ragna’s squad wasn’t any calmer, which made conflict inevitable.
It had reached the point where Krais had to step in and adjust their activities to keep the two squads from crossing paths.
Now, the two squad leaders, who had been at each other’s throats, were perfectly aligned in their opinion.
"One of us distracts him from the front, and the other stabs him from behind."
Rem suggested.
"Sounds good. You take the left, and I’ll take the right."
Ragna agreed.
"Take whichever side you want. Just keep his attention."
"Sure."
Rem and Ragna coordinated seamlessly. If Krais were watching, he’d feel both relieved and bitter.
If they were going to cooperate this well, they could’ve gotten along earlier. Why had they been so eager to tear each other apart before?
Ever since nearly killing each other during sparring, the tension between them had grown unbearable, making it hard for anyone to intervene.
Without Encrid, the Mad Knights had been quiet.
Although they trained their units and maintained their operations, the energy wasn’t quite the same.
There were plenty of underlying problems, but Krais had known that all they needed was for Encrid to return.
"Let’s talk about this later. It’s overwhelming right now."
Encrid said, observing his companions' reactions. He still couldn’t fully grasp the reality.
Rem, Ragna, and even Audin thought they had left something undone. And they weren’t wrong.
"If we take this any further, it’ll become a fight to the death. Even then, I wouldn’t guarantee victory right now."
Watching silently, Luagarne read Encrid’s mind. If it were a matter of skill and deciding victory, they’d have to actually fight to know the outcome. But the atmosphere was already telling enough.
Rem, Ragna, Audin, and Jaxon—all of them refrained from making any guarantees about winning.
"There’s a gap between what you sense and what you know. Let’s refine that and talk again later."
Encrid had intended to visit Eitri as well, but it seemed he needed to organize his thoughts before sharing his experiences.
And so, right after returning, Encrid unpacked roughly and began swinging his sword.
In a way, it was very typical of him, and in another way, it was quite stubborn. He was working his body to bridge the gap in his perception.
But strangely, it wasn’t unpleasant to watch.
"Hey, you lost wanderer. This great me will personally guide you. Join the training."
Rem said with a grin.
Seeing his captain’s mad determination, even Rem felt excited. That crazy man who never gave up.
"I was about to suggest the same thing. Follow me to the mountains."
Ragna added, sharing the same mood.
He wanted to fight Encrid again right away, but sparring wouldn’t do. If they fought, it wouldn’t end until blood was spilled. That was the conclusion.
'Why am I so excited?'
Ragna was intoxicated by a thrill he had never felt before. He wanted nothing more than to grab his sword and dive headfirst into insane training.
He intended to postpone it for now.
Audin adjusted his clothing as he watched the two of them. He would soon gather his belongings and get moving too. Training the squad would take a brief pause.
"Sister Teresa."
Startled by Audin’s call, Teresa, who had been watching with a mix of surprise and joy, responded.
"Will I be of any help?"
"You will."
Audin intended to use Teresa as a training partner. Though she was unaware of it herself, Audin saw her potential as more than astonishing, it was groundbreaking.
Teresa had briefly experienced an emotional shift upon hearing news of the Apostle’s death but quickly suppressed it.
She had long since ceased to be the Teresa of the cult and had become Teresa of the War God, Teresa of the Mad Knights.
That identity became an anchor within her, keeping her steady and unshakable.
They enjoyed seeing Encrid’s growth, but that didn’t mean they were happy about being overtaken. Was that the end, just because they were overtaken?
"If you think it’s too late and do nothing, then nothing will happen."
That was something Encrid often said, and it rang true. As such, they were filled with renewed determination to move forward once more.
"I have someone I’d like to introduce you to later, so let me know once you’re settled."
Audin said.
Encrid, who had been quietly refining his senses, nodded in response.
"Got it."
Although he had returned, life remained unchanged.
Not long after, Krais came to visit. Encrid asked what he needed to and delivered the necessary messages.
"A cult squad? If something like that existed, we’d have heard about it already. Oh, sure, cultists often sneak in by hiding their identities. Just recently, Commander Vengeance nearly got killed because of them. But catching each and every one of those bastards isn’t easy."
There was no such thing as a cult squad sent by the Rebirth Apostle, who kept shouting even when only their head remained after death.
Even if they did invade, it wouldn’t have been a concern, but it turned out that statement was merely a response to provocation.
"So, what exactly is coming?"
Krais asked again.
"Fairies."
"And what exactly should we be cautious about?"
"Don’t be alarmed and attack when you see walking trees."
"…Is there time for an explanation?"
"By the latest, they’ll be visible on the safe highway within two days."
As if to confirm his words, Zero approached and added further explanation. Krais listened to everything before nodding and asking again.
"So, we’re supposed to be careful of giant walking trees?"
"Not careful—just don’t be alarmed."
Encrid corrected him, and Krais resolved not to be surprised for the time being.
'Let’s save the surprise for when we actually see it.'
By suppressing emotions, one could focus on reality. For Krais, it was natural to assess the situation and respond, rather than succumb to anxiety and overthinking. Suppressing emotions was his specialty.
'The fairy city.'
The hot spring of the fairies was known to provide a sense of comfort once entered.
Although their food primarily consisted of fruits and leaves, settling there never posed a problem since they had ample supplies of nuts and fruits.
‘Now that entire fairy city is migrating.’
The trees were walking to relocate. Was this for real? No, this wasn’t the time for emotions. Save the shock for later.
It was astonishing enough to warrant another moment of resolve.
Krais refocused and organized his thoughts.
'They’re excellent archers, and the walking trees themselves act as impenetrable walls. Instead of monsters, the forest is full of fairies and teeming with life. You could even say it’s brimming with energy, in their terms.'
There were skilled artisans, and the fruits they treasured could replenish the body’s energy.
Among them were alchemists called Druier, as well as Woodguards who smoked herbs, so there was no need to be overly shocked.
Yes, the fairy city was coming. The whole city.
'What’s the benefit?'
What advantages would they gain from accepting them as neighbors? What potential issues might arise?
The benefits were the first things that came to mind.
First, it would be like gaining a natural fortress on the southern border.
A forest inhabited by fairies, rather than monsters, would act as a natural barrier against beasts and monsters.
'Trade.'
There were valuable goods they could obtain through bartering with the fairies.
Although Encrid’s statement was offhand, Krais had gleaned enough of what he needed.
'They have skilled artisans, and if they use fire, they’ll need metal. Since they’re moving the forest, it’s unlikely they’ll have their own ore deposits. Metal could be a highly valuable commodity for trade.'
Crops from farming would also be valuable to them. Unlike fruits and leaves, cultivated grains would be rare.
He had learned this from observing Sinar.
So, what could they receive in return?
'Ann.'
She was both a healer and an alchemist. According to her, the materials found in the fairy forest were like treasures to alchemists.
"Ask any healer you know. If they could obtain fairy spring water, it wouldn’t just be a treasure—they’d be willing to kill each other for it."
For some reason, Ann would often nap at the training ground, where the Mad Knights practiced.
Her behavior was strange, though the exact reason was unknown.
Maybe it helped her recover from fatigue? Or maybe she was infatuated with Encrid. When he mentioned the Golden Witch and the Black Flower, she had only scoffed.
"I wouldn’t take them even if you gave them to me."
Everyone had different preferences, so it wasn’t something to dwell on.
'Not just the fairy spring water—looking at it from an alchemical perspective, the city is full of treasures.'
As soon as he began calculating, reality came into focus.
'A gold mine.'
A figurative one that didn’t require any evaluation of its profitability.
Though the exact resources buried there were unknown, there was no need to hire miners.
'Instead of hiring miners with Krona, we can simply provide them with what they need.'
It was a gold mine driven by trade. While it wouldn’t literally yield gold, it had comparable value.
"Jackpot."
Krais muttered. That was his conclusion.
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