Chapter 22 - Reconnaissance
The 4th Platoon leader threw out a casual remark.
Enkrid responded indifferently, sensing that this man had something to say.
"If you have something to say, go ahead."
He was currently enjoying the cool breeze after being drenched in sweat.
The timing was perfect—a moment of relaxation accompanied by a pleasant breeze.
So, he hoped the man would quickly say what he needed to and leave.
"...We'd like you to join the reconnaissance unit and carry out missions," the 4th Platoon leader said, crossing his arms.
It wasn't the firmness of a commander that came through but rather a defensive posture.
Enkrid thought for a moment.
Reconnaissance unit...
This wasn't a typical request. Moreover, Enkrid was well aware of his ambiguous position.
The only reason he could remain at a squad leader's level was because this was the 444th Squad.
And now, they wanted to move him to the reconnaissance unit?
"Is it alright to take our squad leader?"
Rem suddenly interjected from behind, leaning his chin on Enkrid's shoulder.
Given the small height difference, it was a somewhat natural posture for leaning.
"Are you serious?"
Half-laughing, Rem's question sounded more like a protest against taking Enkrid away.
"It's an order, Rem."
The 4th Platoon leader glared at him, but it was clearly just posturing. Enkrid noticed immediately.
Rem was a troublemaker, a reckless berserker who swung his axe at the slightest provocation.
Invoking the authority of a commander on someone like Rem was meaningless—both Enkrid and the 4th Platoon leader knew this.
"Rem."
Before his axe-loving squad member could say anything further, Enkrid called his name and shrugged him off his shoulder.
"Well, do as you like."
Rem grumbled and backed away.
"I can go instead," Ragna said nonchalantly, observing the scene.
"...You want us to find ourselves behind enemy lines?"
Hearing this, Rem chuckled, and Ragna flared up momentarily but swallowed his anger.
It wasn't a wrong observation.
Ragna had no talent for navigation.
Even with a map and directions, he would still end up in the wrong place.
Nor was he particularly skilled at coordinating with others.
Wasn't that why he ended up here, ignoring orders and fighting his own way in every squad he'd been in?
He had too many shortcomings to be selected for a reconnaissance role.
"You're not an option, Ragna," the 4th Platoon leader said, shaking his head.
While the entire situation gave Enkrid a bad feeling, he thought:
All things considered, I might be the most suitable for this.
His ambiguous position had significance only among the 444th Squad members.
Even during the week he was away due to injury, his absence caused considerable commotion.
And now, they were specifically calling for him? That implied they had no better option.
The talk of a curse had quickly died down, but its effects lingered.
Bo, Jack, and Rotten—all former members of the reconnaissance unit—were gone, leaving them short-staffed.
"Sigh, it's a headache for me too. One of the squad leaders has food poisoning and can't move," the 4th Platoon leader said.
It almost seemed reasonable to believe in a curse—especially since this was happening exclusively to the reconnaissance squad.
The 4th Platoon leader looked utterly drained, clearly not enthusiastic about calling Enkrid.
This feels oddly off.
As Enkrid stared at him, the 4th Platoon leader finally relented.
"Don't look at me like that. I'll explain everything."
"Huh?"
"I said stop looking at me like that."
What did I do?
He had just been staring, but the 4th Platoon leader sighed heavily, overreacting.
"Seriously, stop glaring like that. It's unsettling. Sometimes you need to consider how the person on the receiving end feels, especially if they're your superior," Rem said, snickering.
Reacting to Rem's joke would lead nowhere, so Enkrid decided to listen to the 4th Platoon leader instead.
"To reinforce the reconnaissance unit, they promoted a squad leader to platoon leader. But we're still short on numbers, so we were ordered to draft suitable individuals from other squads. Your name came up during the selection process."
"From the higher-ups?"
"The new company commander. You're not in trouble, are you?"
Could this be about silencing me for knowing too much?
If they wanted to eliminate him, there were simpler ways.
No, there was no need for such measures.
It seems like a casual suggestion.
Enkrid judged it to be just that.
"It's an order from above. Just go along with it."
Behind him, Rem sharpened his axe while Ragna insisted again that he could go.
Meanwhile, another squad member stood in front of the barracks, head raised to the heavens, praying fervently.
"Oh holy Lord, do not take my small and precious squad leader from me. Do not test your fragile servant."
The 4th Platoon leader was dumbfounded.
Who's taking him? And who's small and fragile here?
The praying soldier's bulging arm muscles seemed to flex with every word. His arms alone were the size of an average soldier's thighs.
If this devout warrior was considered "fragile," then few in the world could be deemed sturdy.
"This is just a one-time thing. Winter will arrive soon, and this campaign will likely end with it," the 4th Platoon leader explained.
By the next campaign, the reconnaissance unit's roster would be reshuffled, and the 444th Squad leader wouldn't likely be included.
Enkrid understood the reasoning.
Wars rarely continued through winter.
So, there was no need to overthink it.
These temporary assignments were common.
While he lacked exceptional talent for combat, he excelled in other areas, including reconnaissance missions.
However, due to his recent absence, his squad seemed particularly unwilling to let him go.
I really am the best fit for this.
It wasn't baseless confidence.
If he ended up in a dangerous situation, he could always reset the day.
This mission was uniquely suited to him.
"Your orders, Squad Leader," the 4th Platoon leader said.
His words sounded less like a command and more like a plea for help.
Enkrid glanced back.
Rem was sharpening his axe.
Ragna was again offering to go.
And the last squad member continued murmuring prayers to the heavens.
What a sight.
If he came back injured, these guys might riot together.
Were things always like this?
No, it hadn't been this way when he first joined.
When did it change?
Did they struggle a lot while I was gone?
Even Big Eyes shook his head in exasperation.
But orders were orders, and no matter how unruly his squad was, Enkrid wasn't like them.
"Looks like I have to go."
He exhaled deeply as he spoke.
The higher-ups had decided, and defying orders wasn't an option.
While there might be ways to get out of it, they weren't worth the trouble.
With Enkrid's single statement, the atmosphere settled. It was only natural.
No matter how much of a mere title it may be, he is the leader of this squad of only six.
"Do as you like," Rem said, puffing up and letting out a huff, responding.
"I told you I can go," Ragna insisted, but that wouldn't change anything.
How could a scout, who gets lost even within the camp, possibly be trusted?
Enkrid found it more surprising how Ragna had managed his life of wandering.
Hadn't he claimed to have gone all the way to the easternmost sea?
Wasn't it possible he got there by getting lost?
It was a reasonable question, but it was one that didn't need asking.
As always, Enkrid kept a certain distance from the group.
If they didn't want to talk about it, he wouldn't pry.
That was the nature of Squad Leader Enkrid.
"Fine, whatever," the platoon leader said and turned to leave.
His steps were lighter than when he had arrived, as though the burden on his shoulders had been lifted.
While platoon leader was away washing and resting, a small stir began in the barracks, starting from an innocuous remark.
"Have you been practicing what you learned?"
The question was posed by Jaxen, who lay half-reclined on his bed.
Jaxen's bed was at the farthest end of the barracks, while Enkrid's was at the front.
Everyone in the barracks could hear Jaxen's voice.
Enkrid reflexively nodded.
Having learned the discipline of enhancing hearing from Jaxen, he had spent each repetitive day training. He thought it was the right time to ask.
But then, Rem showed a displeased reaction.
"What did you learn?"
Throughout this time, Enkrid had learned a little from many of the squad members.
He had picked up bits and pieces from Rem, Ragna, and even the devout squad member.
All of them were survival techniques for the battlefield.
Enkrid had learned eagerly, though he never mastered it all, and mostly just used what he picked up.
Some things were too difficult to learn perfectly.
At least, now, the Hearth of the beast seemed to have finally settled within him.
But he had never learned anything from Jaxen.
"What did you teach him?"
Rem, who had been lying down, sat up and asked.
"Keep at it. It will help," Jaxen said, fully ignoring Rem.
Flames of anger flickered in Rem's eyes.
"Is this guy serious?"
"Stop it."
Enkrid grabbed Rem's shoulder, which was now ablaze with fury.
"What could you have learned from that sly bastard? You can't learn anything good from just anyone."
"Heh."
Jaxen, who had been listening to their conversation, let out a laugh.
"Oh, right. I suppose it's your time to die. Today's the day. You want to become food for the monsters wandering the plains, right? Isn't that so?"
Jaxen remained indifferent.
Enkrid sighed deeply and pulled Rem's arm.
"Just cool it. We're not here to kill each other."
"Don't worry. I'll survive," Rem said, as if nothing could stop him.
No, that's not what I meant.
"Who's going to survive?"
"Oh, lord, should I send this foolish, faithless soul up to be comforted by the divine? If you allow it, I will do so,"
"Don't do anything unnecessary and don't waste your energy."
Enkrid began to regret whether taking the reconnaissance mission was the right choice.
Is it right to leave them behind?
"Don't worry too much. It'll never come to an end. They just clash a few times with their weapons," Krais said, counting silver coins from his pocket.
That's the problem. The "few times" with weapons.
To an outsider, it would seem like a deadly fight.
Despite being such troublemakers, their commander still didn't dismiss them.
Why?
Because of their exceptional abilities.
In battle, they were certainly soldiers with superior combat capabilities, worth more than ten ordinary soldiers.
So it was right to pull them into the reconnaissance unit.
'I won't be a drain on their strength,' Enkrid thought.
But they weren't the same.
As soon as this thought crossed his mind, Enkrid became acutely aware of his own shortcomings.
'I have no talent.'
He had even lost to a twelve-year-old child.
No matter how much of a genius the child was.
A grown man who couldn't even handle the weight of a sword properly, stumbling while wielding it, lost to a child holding a sword.
It wasn't a matter of pride.
There was no reason to despair.
It was simply a moment that made him reflect on himself.
But had he given up?
No.
He had just rethought the situation, thoroughly understood it, and accepted himself.
Was that the end?
No, that wasn't it.
If there's no talent...
'Someday,'
If one step is too much, take half a step.
As long as you don't stop taking steps forward, it'll be fine.
And Enkrid had never once stopped moving forward.
Feeling like sleep wouldn't come, Enkrid grabbed his sword and stepped outside.
He thought swinging his sword and breaking a sweat might make him sleep.
Ragna saw this and got up to follow him.
"Let me see your stance after a long time."
"Am I not here?"
Rem, who was late to stand up, said.
Their eyes met, and a fierce tension filled the air.
At the point where their gazes met, it seemed like a vortex would form.
"Consistent practice will help. More than any half-baked swordplay," Jaxen, who had been lying in bed, said.
The moment their eyes locked, both of them shot their glares at Jaxen.
"Half-baked?" Rem said.
"Swordplay?" Ragna continued.
"You both, didn't you say you'd watch my stance?" Enkrid interrupted, standing between them.
After finally calming the two, Enkrid went outside the barracks.
Following their half-compliments, half-lectures, he swung his sword repeatedly.
The day passed, drenched in sweat.
When the morning sun rose, Enkrid had to temporarily switch to the reconnaissance unit and head out.
He wasn't too worried.
He didn't think it would be difficult.
After sweating it out, it seemed like everyone's discomfort had passed.
Having sweated and bathed by the stream, Enkrid fell into a peaceful sleep.
***
"Platoon leader, why did that guy choose to join the reconnaissance unit?"
The fairy platoon commander, noticing the first platoon leader standing near the signal pole, asked.
"Step away from the signal pole. It could cause a fire if you fall."
"Yes?"
"Move to the side."
"Yes."
The first platoon leader took a few steps to the side.
The platoon commander's tent was taller and wider than the usual tents. It had a signal pole in the middle to light a fire.
Although rudimentary, there was also a table for meetings.
This was the place where they decided the route for the reconnaissance mission.
Meanwhile, the first platoon leader had asked a question.
He had every right to ask.
The first platoon leader also served as the platoon commander's assistant, a long-standing tradition in the Cypress Division.
"He's quick-witted and knows how to look after himself. Thought he'd fit in well."
"Ah, I see."
It wasn't a heavily weighed judgment.
It was based on intuition.
No further explanation was needed. If anyone asked, the answer would simply be, "Just because."
Of course, the judgment was correct.
The fairy's intuition was sometimes sharper than a prophet's words.