Some might grasp a gold coin fallen to the ground and still wish for something better.
Even when encountering strange fortune, they might feel that the luck they received is insufficient.
But Encrid was not like them.
‘Clear.’
The air was different. The sunlight was different.
Through the changes brought by the magic of twilight, Encrid felt content.
It was the season when warm air returned.
Even Zaun, clawed and battered by storms, had now reached the time to stand firmly on both legs.
"I will inherit Millestia’s will. That doesn’t mean I’ll neglect swordsmanship."
Everything Millestia left behind had been entrusted to Magrun. His body had become severely ill, leading him to deepen his knowledge of various medicines.
Though he remained interested in swordsmanship itself, someone had to shoulder the responsibility.
If that burden felt like a heavy stone, it would become nothing more than a burden.
But if one accepted it as joy instead, they could carry it willingly.
Magrun was clearly the latter.
"It’s fun. Zaun’s herbalism will develop even further."
"Healing arts. It’s not just about handling herbs."
Ann had gifted him a notebook she had written herself. She said it contained treatments and responses for various ailments.
From the contents and level of detail, Encrid thought that if it spread across the continent, it could cause more deaths than save lives.
In other words, it was no exaggeration to call it a treasure.
People fought, killed, and died over just a single artifact in this world.
When exploring ruins, even nations sometimes dispatched Knight Orders.
Besides, treasure hunters knew well that not all treasures were mere artifacts.
"...If you gave me this because you’ve taken a liking to me."
Magrun had once entertained that hopeful thought.
"Have you looked in a mirror? Doesn’t Zaun have clear water? Even if you just glanced at your face reflected in a stream, you’d know."
He was swiftly rejected.
With her delicate features, Ann seemed like a modest lady at first glance.
But she was a resolute woman who had crossed the continent carrying just a few potions.
Besides, she had already promised a future with Ragna.
In any case, one must stretch and rise when it’s time, just as Zaun was doing now.
When Encrid had more or less finished preparing to return, carrying a sense of clarity and refreshment, Schmidt, who had often claimed the Empire held many rare things, brought one of those rarities.
Encrid had neither expressed disbelief nor asked him to prove it, yet here it was.
"Schmidt, is that the friend? The one you said you wanted to bring along?"
The man had very short hair at the sides and back, as if shaved with a razor, with the top and front left moderately long.
He was large and carried a squared, dangling blunt weapon at his waist.
It was a club with a strikingly square head.
He wore specially modified armor—chest mail, shoulder guards, vambraces on his forearms, and thin iron plates wrapped like tubes around his thighs.
The joints weren’t connected, making it look like a plate mail broken down and distributed across the body.
Yet somehow, it formed surprisingly smooth curves, a marvel of craftsmanship.
Back when they fought that Panito fellow or whatever his name was, he too wore unique armor, but this surpassed even that.
The armor blended naturally with his body, almost like a part of his skin.
‘Why does it look like that?’
Perhaps it was because of Encrid’s calm and clear state of mind.
Strangely, he was more curious about that than about what the man had said or who he was.
"Encrid of the Border Guard, is it?"
The man asked.
Encrid hadn’t finished observing him yet, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t speak.
Though the man showed neither killing intent nor hostility, Encrid could tell he was ready to fight at any moment.
Even without moving his hands or feet or emitting any aura, it was clear.
This man could fight whenever he wished. He wore that readiness like armor. That too was fascinating.
Still, Encrid’s response wasn’t exactly polite.
"Who are you?"
He didn’t tilt his head sarcastically, but it was the kind of response you’d expect when mercenaries picked a fight.
If this had been the corner of some tavern, with a few drinks in them and the smells of vomit, alcohol, and smoke all around, it would’ve been perfect.
But for Encrid, this was the natural reaction.
When asking another’s name, one should state their own first. That was courtesy.
"...It’s been a while since I’ve gotten a reaction like this. It’s rare when you mostly operate within the Empire."
The man spoke, raising his left hand, fingers spread, halting it over his chest horizontally to display a symbol.
A large circle with a smaller one inside it.
The symbol of the Empire.
Also the insignia used by the Imperial Knight Orders.
Within the Empire, such insignias served as passes and proof of identity, receiving respect and symbolizing authority.
But this was not the Empire.
"So who are you?"
Encrid asked again.
At that, the man’s lips curled upward. His crooked smile resembled that of a tiger. He smiled, but killing intent rose with it.
Seeing the killing intent take form, Encrid judged the man to be a warrior no less skilled than the Head of the House.
The shape of the pressure he exuded was that of a spiked club.
Savage and rough, that was his nature.
It was like a spiked club smeared with blood and flesh, wielded without even wiping it clean.
A fighter comparable to the Head of the House, no doubt.
Perhaps that was why, Encrid’s eyes filled with expectation.
Shall we have a bout? There were many curious things.
The armor clinging to the man’s body like skin. The way he wielded Will, always prepared.
Most of all, it was impossible to predict what kind of attack might come.
"Valphir Valmung."
The man introduced himself.
Encrid simply moved his lips in response.
"Encrid of the Border Guard."
Over the basin where the storm had passed, only a peaceful wind now blew.
Within that peaceful breeze, two beasts stared at each other.
At any moment, it seemed they might swing their swords at each other.
Three Iron rang out.
Ziiing.
As the sword sang, the man’s hand silently reached his waist. Grasping the grip of his club, he revealed his fangs.
They were unusually sharp.
"Sir Valphir."
Schmidt said something from the side, but it was not the time for him to intervene.
Still, a fight didn’t immediately break out.
Many stood to prevent it, quite biasedly at that.
"That’s far enough, Valmung. Go any further and it won’t end peacefully."
"If it’s a sparring match, fine. But if you show killing intent, it’s a different matter."
"You should stop now. If you don’t, I’ll swing my sword without warning."
The first three to speak were, in order: the Head of the House, Lynox, and Alexandra.
Even so, Valphir did not suppress his momentum.
Instead, he built it up even further.
Did he feel even more threatening than the Medusa he had recently slain?
The form was somewhat different, but there was no doubt he was a dangerous opponent.
‘Why had the mood suddenly turned so hostile?’
He didn’t know. It had just turned out that way.
"You cannot raise your sword against our hero within Zaun, even if you are a Knight of the Empire."
Odinkar stepped forward, his gaze sharp and resolute.
"If you want to swing your sword, go play with some beasts."
Magrun also stepped up, his expression hardened.
Even a blank face could carry many emotions, but right now, it clearly showed contempt.
"Hey, who do you think you are?"
Without fear, Zaun’s greatest beauty of the giantfolk, Riley, who once called himself a slave, and Kato, along with the children who had learned swordsmanship from Encrid, also stepped forward.
Before they knew it, all of Zaun had gathered, pressuring the Imperial Knight.
"Who is that guy?"
"Why’s he acting like that toward our Enki?"
"Is this a threat? He’s practically radiating killing intent."
"Just because he’s a Knight doesn’t mean swords won’t cut him, right?"
Truly fearless.
But it wasn’t a bad feeling.
They were reacting to the situation itself, someone displaying murderous intent toward their hero.
Anyone would respond when something precious to them was threatened.
To these people, Encrid had become someone precious.
Of course, Encrid could handle the fight himself, but they simply couldn’t stand by and watch someone recklessly provoke him.
So, there was indeed something about this that stirred his heart.
Valphir Valmung, having revealed his name, looked steadily at Encrid before he was the first to release his pressure.
"Sir Valphir."
From the side, Schmidt wiped cold sweat and grabbed his arm.
"I am Valphir Valmung, Knight of the Empire."
He repeated himself and even smiled as he extended his hand.
Reflexively, Encrid moved to extend his hand, but the Head of the House, Alexandra, and Lynox each stepped forward a pace.
"I came to help Zaun and bear no ill will toward this man. Hmm?"
Valphir Valmung spoke to the three. From the look of it, they were already familiar with each other.
"And besides, none of you seem to be in perfect health, so don’t push yourselves."
Just as he finished speaking, Odinkar interrupted.
"I am perfectly fine."
Before anyone noticed, he had taken his place beside Encrid.
Seeing all of Zaun standing together, Valphir let out a small, awkward laugh.
"Schmidt, when you said this man had saved Zaun, I half thought you were spouting nonsense, but it seems you weren’t."
Schmidt shook his head firmly.
"I already told you, didn’t I?"
"In any case, I mean no harm."
With that, he finally extended his hand again.
When Encrid clasped it, Valmung used his Will to grip firmly.
But Encrid had trained under Audin.
In terms of sheer grip strength, he was second only to Audin within the Mad Knights.
Crack crack crack.
A strange sound came from their clasped hands, but neither Knight’s bones broke.
"You’re strong."
Valphir Valmung remarked, frowning slightly from the pain.
"This is the first time I’ve met an Imperial Knight."
Encrid replied casually as he released his hand.
As they continued talking, Valphir explained that one reason he had come to Zaun was to offer assistance.
"Isn’t it a bit early for that?"
Odinkar asked.
Valphir answered that when he had received Schmidt’s message, he had already been pursuing the leader of some bandit group.
That leader had fled, causing Valphir to alter his route and arrive here instead.
Why would a Knight chase down a mere bandit leader?
When asked, Valphir explained the man was also Knight-level in skill.
"Originally, he was a soldier in the Imperial army. Woke up to his talents, but then started causing trouble. He’s got a hobby of killing people."
In other words, the type of scum who made you curse out loud when you met him.
That’s how it sounded to Encrid.
Valphir had intended to finish off the fugitive first, but the man had suddenly changed direction near here.
Since he could circle around and continue the chase later, he had come here first.
Now, he still had to resume the pursuit. He could have just left quietly then.
"Want to come with me?"
He suddenly asked Encrid to accompany him.
"I’m waiting for someone, so I can’t leave right away. Don’t you need to hurry after him?"
Encrid asked in return.
Valphir smiled and shook his head.
"A day or two won’t matter."
From the way he spoke, it didn’t sound like an urgent chase.
‘So why had his assistance to Zaun been delayed?’
Well, that wasn’t something to nitpick about now.
‘Looking at the bigger picture...’
Had he planned to appear with a flourish if Zaun’s strength had faltered?
But because of Encrid, that plan had been disrupted. He also learned something more.
‘Zaun is in an implicit alliance with the Empire.’
Otherwise, this kind of exchange wouldn’t be happening.
That was why the Head of the House and the others already knew Valphir.
So, who had arranged this situation?
‘Hescal.’
This was the third contingency Hescal had prepared for Zaun’s survival.
If all else failed, Zaun was to come under the Empire’s protection.
They were not people to become enemies with.
Yet, despite that, all of Zaun had been ready to charge the Imperial Knight for Encrid’s sake.
When the Head of the House looked at him, Encrid spoke first.
"If Ragna doesn’t come, I have no intention of leaving. If I go without him, we might never meet again."
If he told Ragna to come find him, they’d probably only meet in the next life.
Then, Valphir, who had said he would wait, threw out a very tempting bait.
"Don’t you want to see Imperial swordsmanship? I wasn’t originally from the Empire, but the man I’m after is well-versed in Imperial swordsmanship."
For a fish like Encrid, it was a very difficult lure to refuse.
‘Should I leave Ann behind?’
That would be enough for a guide.
Ragna had said he would need at least another week.
Gathering the Sunrise would take that long, apparently.
Valphir seemed to have a habit of speaking provocatively, poking at people’s nerves with every word.
But Encrid actually found that amusing.
What a rare personality for a person, especially an Imperial Knight.
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t intrigued.
Moreover, he didn’t get the sense that this man intended him harm.
"So, what do you say? And the rest of you, don’t worry. I give you my word on the honor of the Imperial Knight Order that no harm will come to this man."
It was a statement Valphir offered readily to quell everyone’s discontent.
He wasn’t exactly a grand orator, but he was skilled at managing situations.
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