The calm before the storm was only calm because the storm hadn't arrived yet. So it was with Encrid.
‘There’s really nothing in particular to do right now.’
It felt like something was brewing, yet no clear threat had revealed itself.
Grida seemed busy, but Encrid had no reason to go poking around. And so, he spent the entire day swinging his sword.
It had been the same in the Border Guard, but here in Zaun, Encrid took it even further. Besides, this was the kind of place that encouraged such behavior.
No one looked at Encrid oddly—in fact, they questioned why an outsider was so passionate and relished the moment.
The things Encrid taught were fresh and exciting, and there was no reason not to enjoy them. Everyone in Zaun was hungry for new techniques.
“Sabbath’s over! Time to fight!”
So cried a boy who lunged at Encrid before dawn as he warmed up.
“And will you melt in the arms of this beauty?”
That came from the most beautiful woman of the giant tribe—at least by Zaun’s standards—who also came charging in.
Beside her was Lynox, an old swordsman who let out a chuckle so coarse it was hard to imitate.
“Hey, this is my house. You won’t get to fight here with your ‘calculations’ like you used to.”
There was also a swordsman pretending to be calm, though he’d spent days sweeping the area and was convinced something was amiss within Zaun. He even suspected the head of the house.
Grida appeared again after being gone for a couple days, acting like everything was normal.
“You’ve got dark circles under your eyes. Are you sleeping alright?”
“...Sleep’s been rough lately. Maybe because I’m back home after a while.”
Though, truthfully, it was more like the tension had been eating away at her.
If you keep a bow tightly strung for too long, both the string and the bow eventually break.
Humans are no different. Even if Knights had thicker nerves than most, they were still human.
And given the current unrest within Zaun, it’d be hard for any Knight to rest easy.
Well, at least for a normal person.
Encrid slept like a log, ate well, and relaxed deeply. So did Ragna.
“You said you were going to get the Sunrise, did you forget to bring it back?”
Encrid asked Ragna, who was loitering beside him. Ragna wiped sweat from his brow and turned his head toward where the head of the house might be.
Of course, he was wrong—it was the road leading out of Zaun.
“Mm.”
Ragna took a moment to choose his words. Not something he used to do. Back when he was part of the disaster-prone squad that later became the Mad Knights, he’d just blurt out whatever came to mind.
Now, he actually thought. It tugged at something deep in the heart.
As Ragna chose his words, a kid nearby mumbled,
“My muscles are really tightening up. It’s hitting just right. Oh, this is good. Real good.”
During his time here, Encrid had spread the Audin-style Physical Training Method.
Some kids in Zaun immediately adapted to it, and that kid was living proof. He murmured to himself while lifting a rock, flexing his back muscles. His body had already developed to a solid degree, and now he was increasing the weight.
Zaun had its own training methods, and Encrid had learned a lot from them too, but when it came to pure physical development, nothing beat Audin’s method.
Audin had taken the orthodox martial training of the Holy City Legion, modified and refined it, and added a few theories to tailor it for Encrid.
It was a testament to Audin’s genius. If he saw this now, he’d probably beam with pride.
“Well done, brother! Excellent work! Sister! Have I told you yet? You possess superior strength compared to most men!”
He might shout something like that. That’s how well they’d adapted to Audin’s torture—ahem, training.
Their drive to compete and improve was so intense that seeing a peer train harder made them grit their teeth and push themselves even further.
There was no way they wouldn’t improve.
As Encrid watched in silence, Ragna finally spoke.
“I was sure it was urgent, but… the feeling just isn’t there.”
“Why?”
Encrid asked because he couldn’t guess the reason either. But Ragna himself didn’t know where his heart was pointing.
“I’m not sure either.”
He said plainly.
To Encrid, it seemed like he was either displeased or maybe angry. Ragna gave a vague answer and continued swinging his sword. So did Encrid.
Meanwhile, Ann was always fiddling with something off to the side. Encrid would glance over now and then.
“Did you extract the poison from the corpse? No—did you keep the infected alive to harvest the seed? Look. That’s what you did, right?”
She’d ask questions like that.
“Yeah.”
Encrid nodded, even though he had no idea what she was talking about. Ann had that kind of pressure, she made you answer.
She sat in the corner of the training yard, table set up in front of her, and worked at something.
Mixing solutions, pouring them, sniffing their scents, manipulating delicate items with green-hide gloves.
From behind, all you could see was her back, but her entire body radiated her resolve.
You could feel she was doing something important. Encrid’s sharp senses picked up on the intensity rolling off her.
‘That’s Will.’
So naturally, Encrid concluded that Ann was a genius.
“This much… I can handle this.”
She whispered, completely absorbed. She didn’t even notice Encrid watching.
“I’ll do it. I’ll get rid of this damned thing.”
Ann muttered to herself again and again.
If you looked into her eyes now, you’d probably see them blazing.
“How many days has she been like that?”
Encrid asked Ragna, who stood guard outside the lodging. Ragna replied casually.
“Ever since she arrived. Non-stop.”
Ragna even practiced his swordsmanship by her side, rarely leaving her alone.
Encrid just nodded and started heading outside, when Ragna said—
“She said she liked me.”
“...Rem?”
“She apologized.”
“Ann said it.”
“Even if it’s a joke, I find it so disgusting I want to cut out your tongue.”
Encrid recalled the Ann he had seen back at the Border Guard.
She used to frequent the Knights’ training yard, always complaining about how busy she was. She’d bring food, drinks, sometimes even stamina potions.
All of it went into Ragna’s mouth first. Whatever she did, she stayed closest to Ragna.
Krais had realized it long ago. So had Encrid. Even Rem knew.
Ann liked Ragna. But Ragna was completely oblivious.
That bastard didn’t just lose his way on roads, he couldn’t find his way into people’s hearts either.
“Come to think of it… I guess I was like that too.”
Ragna spoke in a quiet voice, low enough that Ann wouldn’t hear.
He was saying that he, too, had grown fond of her kindness, but he said it in the most unromantic way possible.
“It’s not like I want you to pass the message on.”
“I’m just saying, that’s how I feel.”
It would be nice if someone understood how he felt. Ragna’s thoughts were simple.
He didn’t know why, but he had no desire to go out and fetch the Sunrise. Maybe that’s why his chest felt heavy. Or perhaps his illness had worsened.
Just last night, he coughed up blood in his sleep. He’d been fine on the way here.
‘Is the end near?’
Maybe.
That’s probably why he was like this at the moment. When part of your heart is fogged and heavy, maybe you want to show clarity in another part.
“That doesn’t mean I’m going to get close to Ann.”
And then—
“Unless something changes in the future.”
He mumbled.
Encrid nodded and replied.
“Alright.”
He says he harbors affection, but won’t get close. Yeah, that’s crazy talk. The kind of thing only a madman would say.
No need to try and understand it.
Since the days of the disaster-prone squad, Encrid had long given up trying to understand Ragna or the others.
So he went outside and started swinging his sword again.
The black storm clouds still hung above like a pitch-dark wall. It looked like a black ceiling had formed in the sky.
Is that really just a cloud? No way.
Someone might say something like that.
Encrid himself remained unfazed. Sunshine would’ve been nice, but he wasn’t about to complain.
He just kept swinging his sword, same as always.
So that’s what he did.
The ferryman never reappeared, but his words lingered.
—Protect Ann.
Encrid left out the talk of ferrymen and simply passed the message to Ragna.
Something might happen to Ann. So protect her.
He’d seen a demon beast targeting her on the way here. Ragna didn’t ask questions, he simply followed the instructions.
The day masquerading as ordinary had passed. In the meantime, Encrid found himself lost in thought.
Who had stirred up the family? Someone had made a move. That much was undeniable.
And more than that, someone had used a coincidental event as a tool.
That’s as far as Encrid let the thoughts go. He didn’t wander in search of answers.
There was no need for Encrid to act the part of a problem-solver.
Even with everything he’d seen and heard since, his thoughts hadn’t changed.
“Is the head of the house really planning to do nothing?”
One day, Encrid saw Hescal confronting the head of the house after returning from the Retirees’ Village.
Lynox also requested a private audience with the head of the house to press his own opinions, but nothing changed.
While spending time with Encrid, Hescal muttered—
“Sigh… If only the head of the house were a little more assertive.”
It came after a lackluster sword swing, clearly lacking focus. Encrid retrieved his Three Iron and said—
“You mean accept that guy Schmidt’s proposal?”
“That could work too. The Empire’s embrace is wide.”
Empty words. Even Hescal didn’t believe them. That’s how it sounded.
Encrid didn’t know what the head of the house was thinking.
But he had a sense of what Hescal wanted. His eyes were filled with the desire to achieve something.
“Can I ask what it is you want to do?”
Hescal’s eyes carried dreams and hopes.
“I’ll tell you someday.”
He smiled as he spoke, but Encrid got the feeling his dream was something incredibly difficult to achieve.
Still, he knew Hescal would keep chasing it. It was an intuition born of kinship.
“Damn it, I can’t find a trace of Odinkar.”
Even after that, Grida spent several days rummaging through every part of Zaun.
With no sign of Magrun or Odinkar, she seemed anxious.
One evening, an old woman named Millestia came to see Ann. She was Zaun’s healer.
“What is all this?”
After hearing about part of Ann’s research, her eyes widened, and she seemed genuinely excited, saying this might actually work.
She greeted Encrid warmly when she passed him later.
Then came a certain morning before dawn. Encrid was jolted awake.
BOOM!
Lightning struck with an earth-shaking roar.
KRAAAAAASH!
No sooner had the thunder rolled than rain began pounding the ground like a hammer.
When he turned to look out the window, the downpour looked like falling steel rods. He feared the earth might give way.
“Encrid of the Border Guard.”
And someone called out his name from outside the door, someone he hadn’t expected at this hour.
Encrid got up and immediately checked his gear.
Three Iron, Penna, a short sword, a horn-hilted dagger, cloth gauntlets, the fairy’s gifted undershirt, and over that, leather armor covering his shoulders and torso.
‘I can’t wear the cloth armor.’
The rain was too heavy—if it got soaked, it would hinder his movements. He knew this from experience and trusted his instincts.
There was no clear reason to gear up, but Encrid fully armed himself before calmly opening the door.
The head of the house stood there, soaked to the bone.
He spoke.
“Come with me. Millestia is dead.”
Of course Encrid had no idea, but the head of the house looked like he’d come to demand answers.
“Isn’t now the time for you to ask me why?”
Encrid asked while standing still. Rain pooled at the head of the house’s feet. He spoke in his usual cold, emotionless tone.
“Just come quietly.”
Creak.
The room next door opened. It was Ragna.
“Who are you interrogating?”
In the pitch-black night, the candlelight flickered and cast Ragna’s shadow dancing wildly across the wall.
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