Waaaaaahhh!
A loud cheer erupted from behind Rem, Teresa, and Audin.
It was only natural. The news from the Green Pearl garrison had spread like wildfire to the Border Guard.
The return of the hero who had defeated the Black Blade Bandits, the Cultists, and even the Aspen forces.
It would have been stranger if there had been no cheering at all.
Encrid noticed something similar to flower petals falling over his head.
There weren't many.
Just a few scattered dried petals.
He also saw who had thrown them.
A few small children and some women.
One child and one woman in particular seemed familiar to him.
The child's bright eyes were fixed on him.
'He said he wanted to be an herbalist.'
It was winter now, so they must have searched for flowers that bloom even in the cold.
After finding those petals, they would have picked them and dried them carefully.
How much effort must they have put in for this?
White and pink dried petals fell softly over his head.
There weren't many, but the sentiment behind them was clearly conveyed, and Encrid smiled.
He showed a smile.
The child, whose dream was to be an herbalist, saw Encrid's face.
Seeing their hero smile brought the child immense joy.
Even though their fingers had blistered and cracked from gathering winter petals, it would remain a fond memory.
Encrid walked past the child.
He walked further in.
As he stepped forward, Rem came up on his right.
"Had a good time out there?"
Rem asked.
"Quite."
Even though the news had spread, they wouldn't have known every single detail of what happened.
"Brother, your body's taken quite a beating."
Audin said from behind.
Beating? It was more like he'd been on the brink of death.
He'd been pierced all over with quarrels, bled profusely, and just when he thought he could rest, a Knight had come along and cut him again.
The fact that he was even this well after eating and resting at the Green Pearl garrison was remarkable.
"I'm just a bit bruised."
He answered with a half-joking tone.
"My Lord, Father above... Why have you given me such a fragile body?"
Audin's prayer was clearly directed at Encrid's condition.
Objectively speaking, Encrid's physique was almost as developed as a beastman's.
Even without working out, his natural muscle definition was impressive—enough to call him a beastman.
Being comparable to them meant his body was strong.
But in Audin's eyes, it might still have looked lacking.
After all, Audin, the giant bear-like priest, had the physique of a mix between a beastman and a Giant.
"There's still room for improvement."
Audin muttered, but Encrid just kept walking.
Ragna soon joined on his left.
His right arm was still wrapped in bandages, not yet healed, but the wound on his thigh had mended well enough that he could walk normally.
Though Ragna had his own injuries, aside from his arm, he was in relatively good shape now.
Following behind Rem was Dunbachel, and Teresa limped along beside Audin, adding to the group.
The cheering grew even louder.
"Rem the Immortal!"
Even the soldiers, along with the citizens, vividly remembered the fight against the Black Blade Bandits and the Cultists.
So it wasn't surprising to hear someone call 'Rem the Immortal'.
There were also occasional cheers directed at Audin and Teresa.
The nickname 'Giant Siblings' was amusing, but no one laughed out loud.
Dunbachel, meanwhile, complained about why she didn't have a nickname.
As they walked along, more shouts rang out.
"Take me!"
A madwoman shouted at them from the crowd.
"What do you want me to take?!"
Rem shot back.
"Not you!"
"I wouldn't take it even if you gave it to me!"
The fact that Rem could exchange banter like that amidst the cheering crowd showed that the shouting woman was no ordinary person herself.
Upon closer inspection, Encrid recognized her as a merchant who was raising two children on her own in the marketplace.
He'd seen her a few times in passing.
The skills honed from a life of relentless survival hadn't left him.
That resilience and toughness were certainly worthy of respect.
Cheers continued to erupt from all around, and the name "Encrid" was chanted over and over.
Half of the preparations for this triumphant return had been organized by the Lord of the castle, while the other half was the spontaneous participation of the townsfolk.
In truth, even the Lord's participation was as voluntary as the townspeople's.
It was a welcome born from the heart.
As Encrid thought about his return to the Border Guard, he wondered, What if Aspen had won?
How would anyone cope with such a terrible outcome?
What would the Royal Court think of a Lord who got beaten so soon after being appointed?
No, more importantly, what action would they take?
He'd be lucky if his head wasn't chopped off for the failure.
"Uoooh!"
This was why even the Lord himself was cheering wildly like a beast.
"So handsome!"
"The Sword of Endurance!"
"The Greatsword!"
Hearing the variety of nicknames thrown at him, Encrid was reminded once again of how fast words spread—faster than anything that left the mouth.
Hadn't the news reached them before the carriage did?
Of course, this was partially because a forward scouting unit had been sent ahead to the Border Guard, and they had spread the word.
The rest of the battalion, apart from those wounded like Encrid, had already returned, so it made sense that the news had spread quickly.
Walking through the cheers, Encrid patted the head of the child who dreamed of becoming an herbalist.
Then, he nodded politely to a middle-aged woman selling spiced jerky.
And when the innkeeper Vanessa shouted, "Marry me!" he retorted with,
"Are you crazy?"
The whole way back, Encrid had been busy reflecting on the lessons and experiences he'd gained from these 'days of today'.
Perhaps that's why he hadn't anticipated the warm reception.
Maybe that's why it felt all the more welcoming.
It would be a lie to say that, when he first set out to become a Knight, he hadn't dreamed of a moment like this.
There were children he had protected.
Mothers who had thanked him for saving their sons.
There was even a craftsman who had gifted him boots.
Inside the walls of the city, there were people.
People living their daily lives.
And it was his sword that had protected them, so it would be a lie to say that didn't bring him satisfaction.
Yet the world would still be ruthless.
In the Demon Realm, monsters would emerge endlessly, and those monsters would spawn more beasts. Wars fueled by the interests of various races would always be accompanied by death.
Victory, the Knight who ends battles.
The end, the Knight who stands at the world's last moment.
Encrid thought about his dreams as he walked into the barracks.
It was the middle of winter, so it would be some time before spring arrived.
For others, the days ahead might not seem long, but for Encrid, it had been a grueling return from the battlefield, where three days had felt like a lifetime.
* * *
"Did you finally get rid of that stray cat?"
While Encrid was resting in the barracks, Rem came up to him and suddenly asked.
Before he could answer, Rem nodded to himself.
"You did good. You did good."
He was referring to Jaxon, and if Encrid had really abandoned him, Rem would have been even more pleased.
Though, judging by his tone, he didn't seem to believe it.
It didn't seem like Rem cared much, he was just asking for the sake of it, so Encrid gave a vague reply.
"Do I really have the power to get rid of him?"
"Then if you didn't abandon him, where did that prickly cat go?"
In fact, the feline-like panther, Esther, was nowhere to be seen.
She must have been busy since she disappeared as soon as they arrived.
"Could it be that he's dead?"
Encrid asked, curious about Rem's reaction.
Why hadn't anyone considered the possibility that Jaxon was dead?
After all, Encrid had faced death countless times in his battle with Aspen.
Rem snorted in disdain.
"Like that bastard would die so easily."
It was roundabout, but it meant he recognized Jaxon's skill.
"Hm."
Thinking about it that way, did Rem think the same about him?
That he wouldn't die easily?
As if reading his thoughts, Rem continued speaking right after.
"The Captain has some sort of... 'thing' with the Goddess of luck. So I figured you'd make it out alive."
It was a ridiculous statement, but from another person's perspective, it might have seemed true.
How had he survived?
If someone asked him that, honestly, he would struggle to give a proper answer.
"Just lucky."
He could usually brush things off with a single line like that, but this time it didn't feel right.
Rem quickly lost interest in Jaxon, the stray cat.
Instead, he started poking Encrid's side, urging him to explain what had happened.
Encrid began recounting the events.
Every now and then, Audin would interject to add his own comments.
"Dislocated? It's because you lack muscle, Brother."
"Just build back muscles thick enough that quarrels won't pierce through them, Brother."
Muscles that couldn't be pierced by arrows? What was he talking about?
Unless you had the hardened skin of a Giant, that was impossible.
It wasn't just Rem and Audin who were listening. Everyone was paying attention.
Even Ragna was keenly focused.
Surprisingly, the one who seemed most engaged was Krais.
For Krais, it made sense.
He had wanted to ask Encrid back at the Green Pearl, but there hadn't been an opportunity.
That annoying guy Garrett had kept the Captain busy the whole time.
He had wanted to ask during the carriage ride, but Encrid had been resting, his eyes closed, not opening them once.
There had been no chance to interrupt.
So now was his moment.
'How did he manage to escape?'
Krais had mentally retraced the battlefield where Encrid had escaped.
He had scoured it thoroughly, inspecting every detail.
What had Aspen's Commander done?
He'd analyzed the traces and tried to reverse-engineer what had happened.
'Sorcery. Magic.'
Though he hadn't caught every detail, Krais had heard enough to piece things together.
The conclusion was simple.
They had thrown everything they had to try and take out one person.
Krais blamed himself for not foreseeing it.
'I almost got the Captain killed with my own tactics.'
It had been his idea to introduce more variables, after all.
Even though it was Encrid who had taken action, the choice had ultimately been his.
Krais realized he had been completely outplayed.
'They saw right through me.'
His intentions had been fully read by the enemy.
It was an embarrassing realization.
He often wondered what exactly went through the minds of the Commanders within his unit. Why couldn't they see the obvious?
At first, Krais had thought they were just pretending not to notice, but now he understood.
Everyone thinks differently.
'I was arrogant.'
His self-reflection was brief.
Encrid had already assured him it was fine, so he didn't dwell on negative feelings.
Still, one question lingered in his mind.
"How did you manage to escape?"
Krais finally voiced the question that had been on his mind.
The enemy had prepared a trap that was inescapable—a hunting ground where the very earth was like a net.
With a thousand soldiers and terrain shaped to their advantage, they had created a situation where 'no one could escape'.
Unless, perhaps, they were a Knight.
But was Encrid a Knight?
No, he wasn't.
There had been a Knight, though—someone who had once crossed swords with him. Krais had been somewhat relieved to see that the Knight had left with a look of satisfaction, but still, he had been on edge, worried that the Knight might return half-mad, seeking to finish the job.
The fear had clung to him, tightening around his heart.
How many Knights did Aspen even have?
Three?
But for one of them to come here just to fight the Captain?
It was hard to believe.
That's why he had to ask.
How did Encrid escape?
He wasn't a Knight, and he hadn't predicted the enemy's strategy.
He had walked right into their trap.
He had fallen into their snare.
Was it really possible to escape just through luck?
'Unless the Goddess of luck herself had grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him out.'
It didn't make sense.
Krais had always been a realist, grounded in logic since childhood. His cold, rational mind assessed the situation.
Luck couldn't have been enough.
Krais's eyes were serious.
It wasn't a big deal to explain it, was it?
Since Encrid had nothing to hide, he answered honestly.
"Instinct."
Silence followed.
The winter wind howled outside the barracks.
Rem was the first to react.
He burst into laughter.
"Haha! I knew it would be something like that."
The others began to react as well.
"...Instinct?"
Krais tilted his head in confusion, while Audin began to pray.
"Father above, did you watch over him?"
Dunbachel twitched her nose and asked in a cautious tone.
"And how exactly do you train this 'instinct'?"
Of course, no one answered.
Teresa just stared at Encrid.
He had never once lied to her since they'd met.
So, she knew he was telling the truth now, too.
It was astounding.
Where did this man's abilities end? Was it really possible to escape a battlefield like that on pure instinct?
Even though her body was injured, Teresa's desire surged within her.
She wanted to swing her sword.
She wanted to stand opposite him with her shield raised.
As her spirit flared up, Audin gently intervened, speaking in a soft tone.
"Sister."
He said, placing a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.
The message was clear: if she didn't control herself, she would get hurt.
Teresa knew that, in her current state, she couldn't fight to her full potential.
She also had no intention of picking a fight with Audin, knowing full well he could easily overpower her.
She wasn't a beast, after all—just a half-blood Giant.
"Yes, I know. Wanderer Teresa can restrain herself."
She replied, referring to herself objectively and acknowledging that this was a moment where she needed to hold back.
Meanwhile, Ragna had dozed off in a corner at some point.
He'd seemed interested in the conversation for a moment, but as usual, Ragna had returned to his indifferent self.
Despite the cheers they had just received and the fact that his name had been among them, he remained unchanged, uninterested in the world around him.
Krais, deep in thought over Encrid's words, finally spoke up again.
"Could you explain in more detail?"
It wasn't a story that could be summed up with just the word 'instinct'.
Encrid calmly elaborated, and Krais finally understood.
"You're talking about a sense of detecting danger, a sense of seeing the flow of the battlefield? Does that kind of thing actually work?"
Krais muttered, and inwardly, Encrid nodded in agreement.
Yes, it did work.
But it wasn't easy.
To develop that 'instinct', he had to face death in countless ways.
Not that he had any complaints about it.
He was satisfied with what he had gained from it.
On the journey back, during his light sleep, Encrid had been busy organizing what he'd learned from the experience.
There were even more things he had realized and understood.
"That's incredible."
Though it hadn't directly involved him, Krais's eyes gleamed with admiration.
It was curious, really. There was no reward like gold involved, yet his interest was piqued.
As days flew by after Encrid's return, there were talks about holding a banquet. But for now, everyone was too busy cleaning up after the battle.
First, they had to deal with the bodies of the fallen soldiers and the carcasses of the beasts.
The hides of the wolf-like beasts could be worth something if skinned properly.
Although tanning was required, the Border Guard had a leatherworking guild right there within the garrison.
Still, it was a task that required much effort.
They had to deliver condolences and compensation to the families of the dead soldiers, bury or cremate the bodies.
For a while, the fires outside the Border Guard's perimeter would not stop burning.
Graham genuinely wanted to host a banquet, but there was simply no time.
Letters came in relentlessly, and unexpected guests started arriving as well.
Among the visitors, two particularly prominent ones had come to see Encrid.
The problem was...
"He can't come right now."
The adjutant's words made Graham break into a cold sweat.
"Why?"
"His subordinates are stopping him. They're saying he can't be interrupted right now."
Damn it.
Graham decided he would do his best to stall for time.
If those madmen started causing trouble, there would be no stopping them.
Rather than deal with that chaos, it was best if he kept them occupied himself.
Being the Lord of the castle was no easy task.
"Ugh..."
For a brief moment, Graham missed his days as the Commander of the Heavy Infantry.
A deep sigh escaped him.
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