Chapter 93 - A Result of Coincidence or a Moment of Overlapping Inevitabilities?
"Valaf-style martial arts. It's inconvenient to maintain your footing on a bed. So, what would make it more comfortable?"
Audin asked, and Enkrid pondered deeply before answering.
The two men, perched on the narrow bed, were nothing short of serious.
"Add more force?"
At first, Enkrid thought it was a method to learn the knack of striking in deliberately tight and uncomfortable conditions.
"No, that's not it. You can't. Beds are for lying down. We'll focus on techniques suited for lying down."
Beds are for lying down—so he said.
It was after their first martial arts training that Enkrid discovered Audin bathed more often than expected.
After all, when Enkrid's head was caught under his arm while his limbs were subdued, there wasn't even the faintest hint of sourness.
On the cramped bed, they practiced hand and foot maneuvers, joint locks, and submission holds.
Or rather, Enkrid was the one being subdued.
"Beds are narrow. Quick movements work better than complex ones."
It was learning.
It was teaching.
A sip of water for a parched soul wandering the desert.
For Enkrid, it was exactly that.
And so, he focused with more than just the posture of a listener.
Although the techniques were tricky to use in real combat,
they came in handy as he traveled to fulfill various requests.
For example, when twisting the wrist of a petty pickpocket.
"It seems there are more pickpockets since Gilpin has taken on the role of the Night Guardian."
Pickpockets who got caught had their wrists cut off.
This one seemed young, no older than twelve.
So, he handed the boy over to the Gilpin Guild.
Word later reached him that the boy had been thoroughly thrashed, though it was undoubtedly better than losing a hand.
He tried to make use of the techniques whenever the opportunity arose.
But no chance seemed as good as the present.
As soon as Enkrid matched hand edges with the company commander, he stepped back with his right foot.
Placing his left foot forward, he pulled his right foot to the position of his left, bent his knees, and kicked off the ground, propelling himself forward with explosive force.
Using the momentum of his whole body, he extended his right hand in a straight thrust.
It was a stab—delivered with the edge of his hand, though the principle remained unchanged.
It was like the time he saved Krang.
Back when the company commander burst into the medic tent, tearing through its canvas, Enkrid had a dagger in hand.
Now, it was just his hand edge, but her reaction was the same.
She swung her right hand outward, striking Enkrid's wrist and diverting the thrust's trajectory.
Then her foot hooked at his heel.
Back then, he had been utterly outmatched.
But not this time.
Before her foot could connect, Enkrid lifted his own, evading the attack.
Using the awkward position from the deflected thrust, he pivoted on his left foot, tilting his body to counter her.
What was the greatest difference between himself and the Fairy Company Commander?
'Weight.'
"Identify the opponent's weakness and exploit it with your strengths, brother."
Enkrid followed Audin's advice.
Instead of exchanging blows awkwardly, he overwhelmed her.
"Mm!"
The company commander let out a short grunt.
Though she managed to kick Enkrid's thigh with her sole,
he absorbed the impact, using his body weight to pin her down.
As he did so, he gripped her wrist and forced it outward, entangling his legs with hers.
In this way, the commander, lying on her side, had her left hand extended forward while her limbs were bound.
"I think I've won," Enkrid said, catching his breath.
The commander turned her head, so close their breaths mingled.
Soon, she spoke.
"Humans propose in ways quite different from fairies."
Her breath smelled of flowers—a fairy's joke once more.
Remaining in place, Enkrid's gaze fell on her lips.
They looked undeniably soft.
"...It's not like that."
Attempting to shake off the thought, Enkrid started to rise, only for the commander to wrap her legs around his waist in turn.
Though he wobbled slightly, Enkrid's solid core and the commander's light weight allowed him to stay upright.
"You have a strong core."
Was it the listener's fault that her words sounded suggestive?
Or was it the speaker's?
'Not something worth debating.'
"Please, get down," he said.
The commander dismounted, brushing herself off.
She slapped the dirt from her fitted pants, drawing Enkrid's attention despite himself.
"You've improved," she remarked.
"Yes, I have," he replied readily.
It was why they started this match, wasn't it?
Spotting an opening, exploiting the opponent's weakness, and seizing the upper hand—all enhanced by the Valaf-style techniques Audin had taught him.
[TL: Please keep in mind that valah mercenary swordsmanship and valaf style techniques are not the same. The names are very similar, which is confusing but what can you do, this is the way the author wanted it.]
Her acknowledgment of his growth was something he could accept without hesitation.
The commander fell silent for a moment before speaking again.
"For now, accept my apology for failing to stop it."
Puzzled, Enkrid tilted his head.
"Reinforcements for your platoon will arrive by today. That's all you need to know."
He thought to ask for clarification but stopped himself.
The commander had already turned and walked off.
Would she reveal anything more if he pressed her?
Unlikely.
Her words suggested he'd find out soon enough.
'She did apologize for failing to stop it.'
It was clear the directive had come from higher up.
Enkrid's sense of discernment, honed by years of survival, told him it was better not to dwell on it.
Instead, he decided to spend his time swinging his sword.
***
The battalion commander had been replaced.
It was expected, given the shift from skirmishes to all-out war.
The battlefield had expanded, escalating the scale of the conflict.
Naturally, the battalion needed a combat-specialized leader.
"My name is Marcus."
Battalion Commander Marcus.
Once a knight aspirant who failed to overcome the wall of talent,
he had served in frontier defense units and numerous other postings, becoming a key officer under Cypress.
He had no interest in the foolish actions of his predecessor.
"The main forces here are the frontier defense troops and the Tortoise 1st Company. The rest are cannon fodder for headcount. Plan your strategies accordingly. Understood?"
His mind was solely occupied with warfare.
And he had heard the rumors within the unit.
"The troublemaking squad leader, now a platoon leader? Unusual. Lucky, was he?"
After reviewing reports of past events,
he found it hard to believe luck alone could explain them.
Marcus decided to push further.
"How about we test that luck once more?"
If the soldier perished, so be it.
But if fortune truly favored him, there was no reason not to exploit it.
If it wasn't luck?
He'd die—just a soldier lost.
It was no loss either way.
The company commander's cryptic apology made sense now.
"Deploy him."
It was a mission combining espionage and covert operations—an order from the battalion commander himself.
No one could prevent it.
"I hope he survives," she muttered.
Not because she saw him as her partner,
but because 'he's that talented.'
His record was clean, and he had ties with Krang.
She had been asked to do it, and she agreed because it was too valuable to waste.
Skill, courage, and nerve.
Everything about him was appealing.
Thus,
'Come back alive.'
That was all she could hope for.
***
"This isn't just a support mission."
Enkrid knew that Rem was as quick-witted as he was.
This mission had come through amidst various requests.
The directive was to head north of the Border Guard, cross the Pen-Hanil River, and scout the surrounding terrain.
Enkrid sketched a map in his mind.
To the east of the Border Guard lay Green Pearl, above which flowed the Pen-Hanil River.
Crossing the river and heading northeast, one would reach a city—a military stronghold of Aspen known as Cross Guard.
The mission's objective was located at Cross Guard.
On the surface, it appeared to be a simple reconnaissance mission.
'But in reality, it's espionage.'
The orders hinted that further details would be disclosed after crossing the river.
"Why only the commander?"
Jaxen frowned as he went over the orders, sensing trouble.
He wasn't wrong.
Enkrid understood as well.
It wasn't the kind of mission he was typically assigned.
'So, this is it.'
This must have been what the Fairy Company Commander had hinted at.
"Why reconnaissance now? Everyone's saying a full-scale war is imminent. What's the point?"
A newly assigned squad member spoke up—someone Enkrid recognized.
It was Enri, a hunter from the plains, who once mentioned wanting to return home after the last battlefield. Yet here he was, still stationed in the city.
"Even if I wanted to go back, a war would make life on the plains impossible."
That explained his presence.
Two others had also joined.
Andrew, once an immature squad leader, had officially become the squad leader.
Of course, Mac was still at his side.
With three new additions, Andrew officially assumed leadership of the squad.
Not that the squad structure mattered much to Rem and the others.
The squad only consisted of nine people, and assigning a leader seemed unnecessary.
Who would follow orders anyway?
"This seems more like my kind of task."
Enri commented.
"It's not just terrain reconnaissance, brother," Audin replied with a gentle smile.
The sight of Audin's massive frame coupled with his calm demeanor was intimidating for anyone seeing him for the first time.
Enri flinched involuntarily, needing time to adjust.
"A direct order from the battalion commander? Can't we just ignore it?"
Ragna nonchalantly threw out the idea.
'Ignoring orders would be insubordination, you crazy bastard.'
Normally, such a dangerous mission would have been irritating to receive.
After all, the objective was near an enemy fortress city, a place soon to be engulfed in war.
Approaching it was an adventure in itself.
'The real purpose must be to gather information from an informant in the city.'
Enkrid guessed the mission's objective.
It seemed plausible.
It was necessary, no doubt.
Someone had to do it.
Usually, this type of task would be assigned to specialists.
'The fact that the company commander couldn't stop it means...'
The battalion commander had intervened directly, which explained the official stamp on the orders.
"What do we do?"
The platoon leader delivering the mission hesitated, looking around nervously.
"What else can we do?"
Enkrid didn't need to think it over.
It was a task that had to be done.
'If it's a real battle...'
He always welcomed such opportunities.
After all, every challenge offered a chance to learn, grow, and discover something new.
He even felt a sense of anticipation.
What kind of events would unfold?
Was this a wall placed by fate, or merely a passing occurrence?
Was it a coincidence?
Or a moment brought about by layered inevitabilities?
It didn't matter.
If something blocked his path, he would simply break through.
That was how Enkrid lived.
"I accept the mission."
The squad members' expressions darkened at his decision.
"Looks like we'll have to follow him," Ragna remarked, though that wasn't going to be easy.
While the battalion commander's intentions were unclear, the orders explicitly instructed the rest of the squad to remain under Andrew's command.
Based on the orders, it was clear.
'Those who are bound to excel on the battlefield were left behind. I was singled out.'
Why such a directive was issued was anyone's guess.
Who could know?
Maybe someone wanted to test the luck of the soldier famously known for it.
The battalion commander, Marcus, wasn't exactly normal either.
It was fitting, really.
Marcus was a war-obsessed officer with a reputation for doing anything to secure victory.
This mission was just the beginning.
"Don't worry. I'll handle it and come back."
There was no way he would die.
As long as today repeated itself, he accepted going beyond it as a matter of course.
When Enkrid spoke casually, Rem's eyebrows shot up.
"Handle it? Properly? You think that's possible? You're not ready! Let's do some training today. Training!"
Ragna, Jaxen, and Audin shared Rem's sentiment.
"Have you found your rhythm?"
"Let's practice stabbing someone from behind."
"Ah, it's time to delve deeper into Valaf-style bed grappling techniques."
Meanwhile, Andrew tried to assert his authority, looking around nervously.
"As the squad leader, I think everyone should listen to me."
But before he could finish,
"Let me show you my respect, squad leader!"
Rem erupted, his usual reaction, nothing out of the ordinary.
He lunged forward and punched Andrew squarely on the head.
So fast it was nearly invisible.
Andrew collapsed before he could even respond, with Mac catching his falling form.
"What?"
Seeing Andrew unconscious, Mac snapped his head up in anger, but one glare from Rem made him back down.
He realized Andrew was merely knocked out and muttered, "I didn't even say anything."
What could anyone do?
The power difference was overwhelming.
Any weak attempt at rebellion would only end in violence.
That was the harsh reality they had already accepted.
Reluctantly, Mac sighed.
Life sure was a mess.
Meanwhile, Enri nervously observed and realized one thing:
'If you speak out of turn, you'll die.'
He finally understood why this was called a squad of mad bastards.
He had only been focused on Enkrid, but now he was starting to regret his decision.