Chapter 53 - The Turtle and The Frontier Slaughterer (2)
"Don't you want to transfer?"
It was just five steps outside the barracks.
Transferring personnel directly within a unit wasn't a common occurrence.
'Is it because I've been promoted to a higher rank?'
That might be it.
There weren't many senior or elite soldiers within the unit.
Or perhaps there was another reason.
The Spell breaker.
Currently, that name was the most talked about within the unit.
Being noticed and receiving attention was a new experience.
But it wasn't something to get all giddy and wild about like a fifteen-year-old kid.
It was enjoyable, yes, but there were times when you had to let certain things slide precisely because they were enjoyable.
Enkrid had experience.
Surviving on the battlefield and eating soldier's meals up until the age of thirty was no small feat.
"Do you mean the First Company?"
"Do you think I'd come all the way here to assign you to that idiot Palto's company or Rayon's company?"
Palto and Rayon were the captains of the Second and Third Companies, respectively.
"Join my company."
Enkrid's promotion duel had left a deep impression on everyone.
Among them, Graham, the comander of the First Company responsible for the heavy infantry, had taken a particular liking to Enkrid.
Graham was already well-known within the army for valuing talented soldiers.
He was even considered a candidate for the next battalion commander.
Coming from someone like him, this proposal was no small matter.
The First Company, famous for its heavy infantry, was the core of the Cypress Division and an elite unit within the army.
But Enkrid shook his head.
"I'm sorry."
It was a polite yet unmistakably firm rejection.
"Rejection? Why? If you're worried about souring relations with your current commander, I can smooth things over."
"It's not that."
Enkrid's reply was so calm that it bordered on detached.
There wasn't even a hint of hesitation.
Graham furrowed his brow before relaxing it again.
"You don't seem the least bit interested."
"Do I?"
Graham gazed at Enkrid, who returned the look as if wondering if there was more to say.
"You really don't."
Graham realized this wasn't a matter to be resolved through pressure or persuasion.
"Very well, then."
Enkrid placed his left hand on his left waist and gave a military salute with a slight bow.
Graham mirrored his gesture precisely, as if reflecting Enkrid's actions in a mirror.
Placing his left hand on his waist, he returned the salute.
Then he spoke.
"Thanks."
Thanks?
As Enkrid looked at him quizzically, Graham added,
"For saving my life. It's only right to say thank you."
The Spell breaker.
That mist had been horrifying.
The more capable a commander was, the more its power struck them to their core.
The fairy company commander had cursed the battalion commander profusely during the battle.
Graham, too, had hurled insults at the commander, just as harshly.
"Idiot! Absolute moron!"
He'd shouted it openly in the middle of the battlefield.
When there was no immediate danger, a commander could get away with only looking out for their own interests.
But in a crisis, a leader's true competence became evident.
The battalion commander was incompetent.
At least, that was what Graham thought.
The most infuriating part was that the commander had subtly claimed credit for the recent battle's achievements.
Everyone in the unit who needed to know was well aware of the truth.
The top contributor to the battle wasn't the battalion commander.
The two men holding their salutes silently relaxed their postures.
Graham extended his hand first, and Enkrid took it, shaking it firmly.
Their handshake carried gratitude, lingering regret, and a mix of emotions.
"Go on, and don't forget how disappointed I am."
"Should I send Rem in my place?" Enkrid joked.
"That bastard? No way!"
Graham feigned anger, glaring exaggeratedly.
Both men parted ways with smiles.
'He seems like a decent guy.'
It was the first time Enkrid had exchanged such words with the commander of the heavy infantry.
He felt a sense of affinity with Graham.
Although the barracks were right behind him, Enkrid decided to walk a bit more.
He strolled through the city, taking in its sights for the first time in a while.
Before he realized it, he had reached the edge of the marketplace at the city's center.
Even in a military city, it was natural for merchants and farmers to come and go.
In reality, there were far more wandering merchants than people working in agriculture.
Border Guard was known as a military city near the frontier.
The stationed troops alone exceeded a thousand.
For every soldier, the city should ideally have at least ten civilians, meaning a population of over ten thousand.
But that was unrealistic; the actual population barely reached five thousand.
Even so, the city operated just fine.
This was a royal territory under the direct control of the royals.
Thanks to royal support, Border Guard could sustain itself as a military city.
That didn't mean the city could rely entirely on the kingdom. Agriculture and trade also played a part.
The effort to attract trade caravans had reportedly been quite successful.
Recently, even a few royal-sanctioned trade caravans had arrived, which might explain the marketplace's unprecedented bustle.
The innkeepers must have been thrilled.
Big Eyes had been going on about it non-stop.
'No wonder they're so happy.'
The influx of people was obvious.
More trade meant more joy for innkeepers.
After all, one of Border Guard's main industries was lodging.
'A key trading hub.'
One of the city's strengths was its robust security, made possible by the overwhelming number of professional soldiers.
The surplus of patrols and guards ensured safety, making the city a prime location for major trade transactions.
Though the population wasn't large, the city saw a constant flow of people.
A military city with the characteristics of a trade hub—this was the true nature of Border Guard.
Enkrid glanced briefly at the entrance to a narrow alley where disorganized buildings created a chaotic maze.
Feeling as if someone was watching him, he turned back to look.
But there was nothing there.
Turning away, he returned to the barracks.
Shortly after he left, a filthy beggar with a ragged blanket pulled over their head crawled out from the depths of the alley.
The beggar sat down on the ground and began to beg, but the sharp gleam in their eyes under the shabby blanket was far from ordinary.
If someone were to take a closer look, they wouldn't see a mere beggar.
***
Before Enkrid even stepped into the barracks, Rem's voice hit his ears like a whip.
"Our squad leader is planning to ditch us. Everyone, prepare yourselves."
That madman.
"Is that true?"
As soon as he entered, Big Eyes scurried over, his face full of concern.
"No."
Enkrid denied it outright and was about to explain, but the sharp, accusing gazes from the others made it clear that words alone wouldn't suffice.
Ragna, half-opening his eyes, spoke in a calm tone.
"If you're going, let me come along too."
His tone was indifferent, almost natural.
Yet, Ragna, being inherently lazy, wasn't the kind to follow orders readily, let alone suggest such a thing.
Was there any squad that would willingly take in someone like Ragna?
"Squad transfers are a common thing," Jaxen chimed in, casually checking his belongings as if ready to pack up and follow at a moment's notice.
Jaxen was slightly better, but still...
'Not by much,' Enkrid thought.
After all, there was a reason why they were in this troublemaker squad.
Though Jaxen adhered to his duty hours, he often skipped training or disappeared without notice, making him a frequent subject of search efforts.
'He's friendly, sure, but only to a select few.'
Jaxen's selective warmth made it clear he wasn't someone who easily blended into a unit.
Unsurprisingly, few commanders welcomed him.
"You're all mad. Who's going to accept you lot? Even if they take the squad leader, you're poison to his career. Stay here. I'll follow him alone and clear the way for him."
Rem puffed out his chest and stood in front of Enkrid, his booming voice filled with bravado.
'No, you're the biggest problem here,' Enkrid thought, stifling a laugh as he watched Rem's broad back.
No commander, especially the captain of the heavy infantry, would accept Rem—a man infamous for assaulting his superior officer in the 1st Battalion.
Many in the unit didn't just dislike Rem; they outright hated him.
As for Ragna and Jaxen, they probably wouldn't be accepted either, but if someone were to rank liabilities, Rem topped the list.
"You're definitely not right in the head," Ragna remarked lazily, scratching his hair, which looked like it hadn't been washed in days.
"I've seen guys like you before. They never make it past thirty."
"Does that mean he's about to die?" Jaxen quipped, picking up Ragna's comment effortlessly.
Strangely, the two were in perfect sync during moments like this.
'Was Rem really thirty?' Enkrid glanced sideways at him.
The man, a rugged migrant from the western tribes, was clearly annoyed, his lips twitching with barely contained anger.
"Squad leader, how about we kill those two and leave together?" Rem asked, deadpan.
Where would they go?
And why kill anyone?
"No," Enkrid said firmly.
It was best to de-escalate things before a full-blown fight broke out.
"I'm not going anywhere."
As he tried to calm the situation, Big Eyes nodded.
"Really?"
Despite his assurance, the others were slow to back down.
Just as Enkrid was preparing to physically intervene, there was a knock at the door.
The squad's religious member wasn't in, but it wouldn't have been him knocking on his own door.
That meant it was a visitor.
Enkrid signaled Big Eyes to open the door.
"Who is it?" Krais asked.
Turning toward the door, Enkrid saw Torres, a member of the Frontier Defense, standing beyond the flimsy wooden frame, his uniform adorned with the eagle insignia.
"We meet again," Torres greeted, raising a hand casually.
Enkrid saluted with his left hand, pressing it to his waist.
"Can we talk for a moment?"
"With me?"
"Who else?"
Enkrid blinked a few times, pointing at himself, then nodded.
As he turned to tell the others to stay put, he froze.
Rem, Ragna, and Jaxen had silently risen and stood behind him.
Their movements were so quiet and swift that even Enkrid hadn't sensed them.
"It's that grabby guy from before," Rem growled.
Ragna and Jaxen simply stared, silent but watchful.
Raising both hands in mock surrender, Torres said, "I'm not here to fight."
The air between the four men grew tense, heavy with the unspoken threat of violence.
Torres was the first to break the silence.
"So this is the infamous troublemaker squad. No hesitation, no reasoning—just ready to pounce, huh?"
Annoyance flickered across his face, but Enkrid stepped between them, shielding his squad from Torres' gaze.
"Let's talk outside," Enkrid said, keen to avoid any unnecessary chaos.
As they left the barracks, Rem let out a derisive snort behind them.
Walking a few paces ahead, Torres frowned and muttered, "What's wrong with them? They all seem pent-up. If they're so worked up, send them to the red-light district instead of spilling blood."
Torres had seen something Enkrid hadn't—the moment the door opened, Rem had moved first, his steps heavy with menace as he positioned himself behind Enkrid.
Next, the man who had been lounging on the bed stood, gliding silently into place.
In that instant, Torres saw an impenetrable shield form before Enkrid.
And the last one, the red-haired man, had moved so quickly that even Torres missed it.
By the time he realized, he too was standing guard, his gaze drilling into Torres.
The killing intent was palpable, slicing through the air like a blade.
'From mere foot soldiers?'
The troublemaker squad's reputation was well-known, but their skill had caught Torres off guard.
Had Enkrid not intervened, the situation could have spiraled out of control.
"Let me be direct," Torres said, steadying his breath.
He delivered his mission with confidence.
"Join the Frontier Defense."
The offer wasn't just any transfer—it was a chance to serve in the kingdom's elite forces, a step above the cumbersome heavy infantry.
"Well? What do you say?"
Torres' pride as a member of the Frontier Defense was evident in his tone.
Enkrid studied him silently before asking, "What does the Frontier Defense stand for?"
What could he achieve as a soldier there?
Where would it lead him?
Enkrid wanted to know.