Chapter 173 - Speaking with His Eyes

What had the original wall been?

'Overcoming the Knoll leader despite my injuries.'

The Knoll leader had been astonishingly fast, and it carried poisoned daggers. 'A fight where I couldn't afford even a graze.'

A fight decided by a single scratch. It had seemed like a wall prepared specifically for him. Reflexes that let him react to what he saw, coordination that moved his body the instant his eyes registered something. Without mastering those things, victory had seemed impossible. Encrid had regarded his opponent as a wall, then introduced a slight change to the approach. He could have called it something of a shortcut.

'What if I faced it uninjured?'

There was a way, though it would drain his stamina. As a bonus, most of the Pioneer Village's people wouldn't have to die. So that was what he had done. Now it was time to see what results his actions would bring. In short, Encrid needed to find out whether he had cleared the wall or merely wasted his effort. Checking was easy. He only had to let time pass.

And the conclusion?

'I'm not going back.' He blinked, and blinked, and blinked, and blinked. No matter how many times he did it, nothing changed. The night was deep, and the time for returning had already passed.

Thus, he had cleared the wall. "What are you doing?"

It was Krais, who had been watching him, sprawled nearby. His was also the voice Encrid had been hearing for some time.

What a world, what a mess. Hah, was this his unlucky year?

After rambling on like that, he had looked at Encrid and asked. "I think this is my lucky year."

"I can't really argue with that. If you'd been unlucky, you probably wouldn't have made it back alive. But what's with your eyes? You look possessed by an evil spirit. It's scary. Let's stop that."

"Oh, did I?"

Then Encrid blinked several more times anyway. As he blinked, he thought. Could he get past a day using a shortcut like this? Or was this the intended path? Or did he simply need to overcome the obstacle called a wall?

He didn't know. In truth, there was no end to the things he couldn't understand. Ever since today had begun repeating, it had been one inexplicable thing after another. 'Will he show up in my dreams tonight?'

Perhaps he could ask the ferryman. He doubted the answer would be pleasant, but it might still be better than not asking.

It was all pointless, really. There was no sense wasting mental energy on this. He would rather swing his sword once more. In the midst of his thoughts, Esther, cradled in his arms, pressed firmly against his chest. Perhaps it was the price of making such free use of her earlier, but she hadn't left his chest since they returned. Even when he washed, she had joined him in the wooden tub a few laborers had filled with hot water. "Rrraah."

She had apparently enjoyed it quite a bit. Instead of her usual sharp cries, she had made something like a sighing groan, kneaded his chest for no particular reason, then dozed off purring. Worried she might fall asleep and drown, he had held her as he finished washing and got out. Not that Esther seemed likely to drown, of course. At any rate, only now did Encrid fully register that an entire day had passed. He had overcome the wall and survived. The today in which he had learned something new through his dodging sense was over.

It was tomorrow. "Is it tomorrow now?"

He murmured, intoxicated by the night, the moonlight, the breeze.

"It's still the middle of the night."

Soft footsteps approached. The speaker was the Frog returning with moonlight at her back, dirt all over her body and bits of grass clinging here and there. Luagarne. "You're back?"

He had wondered when she would return. So it wasn't until the entire day had passed. Whatever she had been doing all that time, she didn't even know about the attack by monsters and demonic beasts.

"I ran a long way beyond the quarry. That man, the one you mentioned, really was a Cultist. He got away." Encrid and Luagarne caught up on what they hadn't had a chance to discuss. And so she told him she had lost the Cultist.

"You let him get away?"

A Frog? Lost a human? A mere human? Even if he was a Cultist priest? A Frog had let one human escape?

Those words kept appearing and disappearing in Encrid's eyes. An odd irritation rose in Luagarne. It opened her mouth of its own accord.

"There were good reasons he got away."

"Ah, I see. Of course."

She must have let her guard down. Or was she only half a Frog? That could explain it. That must be why she was still here, right? Otherwise, wouldn't she have returned to the capital long ago? "How strange."

"Pardon?"

"Those eyes of yours keep saying something else."

"Mine?"

Encrid remained perfectly matter-of-fact. Only his eyes told a different story.

Half a Frog, but quick on the uptake. "Hey."

"Yes?"

"Never mind."

It was true that she had lost him. Surely Encrid hadn't gone so far as to call her half a Frog. His gaze was quite insolent, but surely he hadn't meant it.

She had let the man escape, after all.

But why did it feel so... "He must be connected to the horde of monsters and demonic beasts."

Luagarne nodded at Encrid's words.

"Then the ones that retreated today might not scatter."

She nodded at that as well. A Cultist priest could easily take the colony leader's place. The attacking monsters and demonic beasts were hardly legendary creatures, and Knolls were merely low-tier monsters, after all. Low-tier monsters were stupid by nature.

Ghouls belonged to the same category. Considering how commonly people said Ghouls had no brains, Knolls weren't particularly clever either. They simply had a habit of fighting in organized groups and attacking from behind. One-on-one, a Knoll was actually easier to handle than a Ghoul.

Of course, it was another story when they were armed and organized into an army like this. "I wondered why those Knoll bastards were so well equipped. The Cultists supplied them. In that case, they might return tomorrow."

Encrid reached his conclusion. And at that moment, his eyes seemed to tell Luagarne something else again.

'So this is happening because you let him escape?' "Those eyes of yours..."

She was about to say something when Deutsch Fullman approached at just the right moment.

"You're saying they haven't retreated for good?"

He had been lingering nearby, but with such crucial matters being discussed, he couldn't simply stand there listening. "That's how it looks."

"Why?"

At Deutsch's question, Encrid's gaze flicked ever so briefly toward Luagarne. Then he said,

"The one controlling the monster horde is still out there."

"Someone controlling them? Yes, something did seem wrong." Deutsch nodded. It made sense. An armed monster horde. An abnormal number of monsters and demonic beasts gathered together. And there had been something like spies among their allies, among his own men in particular.

"Oh, that missing adjutant was a Cultist."

Encrid's addition came as quite a shock.

'That bastard?'

Deutsch shook his head, intending to clear away distracting thoughts for now. "I've sent a pigeon, but it'll take at least seven days for reinforcements to arrive. There's no one nearby to help."

This was no job for some second-rate mercenary corps. Even if he could hire one, using mercenaries in a battle of this scale would cost an enormous sum of Krona. Gathering that many mercenaries would be difficult in itself.

Deutsch had only one option: request aid from the noble backing the village. He had already sent a pigeon, but he thought even the swiftest response would take seven days. "Will we need a whole week?"

Encrid murmured in response. His words were barely audible, apparently not meant for anyone else. His thoughtful eyes suggested he was talking to himself.

Deutsch didn't question what he meant. There were far too many other things to worry about. For a start, he would have to change the way they defended the palisade. If the retreating horde was connected to the evil cult, they would have to account for spell attacks as well. A Cultist might use curses that ravaged the mind.

There was truly no telling what those bastards might do. Some even went into mountain valleys and ruled villages as though they were gods. Above all, if the man was still out there, they would have to prepare for whatever orders he might give the Knolls. "I'll handle the Cultist."

Luagarne's words offered Deutsch some reassurance, at least.

"Thank you."

He meant it sincerely. Having spoken, Luagarne looked into Encrid's eyes. Beneath his black hair, those bright blue eyes gave off another peculiar gleam.

'Clean up your own shit?'

That was the thought that came to her. CROAK.

Her cheeks moved involuntarily, but she had nothing to say. She had let the Cultist escape, after all.

Still, capturing someone who used summoning was difficult to do alone. He only seemed to think that way because he had never faced it. Summoning wasn't something people who fought with steel alone could handle. Without spells to help, it was difficult even to block or knock aside. "Is something wrong?"

Encrid's eyes remained blue and clear. Rather than hold a pointless conversation with those blue eyes, Luagarne decided she would prove herself if the Cultist refused to give up on the village and returned the next day leading monsters and demonic beasts. "No sparring or anything today?"

She asked as she started to leave.

"I had Esther do a few things, and now she's like this. Today won't work."

Encrid stroked the head of the panther settled against his chest as he spoke. There was nothing more to say.

"I see." Luagarne withdrew without further ado and went to wash. She had spotted a stream on her travels. That should do. Frogs were naturally at home in water.

She felt like taking a dive in the cool water. "Can we hold out?"

Krais asked, watching the Frog leave. Encrid, who had been standing idly, tilted his head.

"Hold out?"

"You said the Knoll horde would return tomorrow."

"Oh, it probably will." That vacant air, that matter-of-fact tone. He was clearly thinking something strange.

What was wrong with this bastard of a Platoon Commander now?

Krais spoke with his eyes, and Encrid didn't let it slide. An attitude like this had to be nipped in the bud. THUD.

Encrid planted a kick in Krais's chest as he lay propped at an angle.

"Urgh!"

Krais rolled sideways from the blow.

"Wh-why?"

"Wasn't there something odd about your eyes?" Krais knew all too well that once his Platoon Commander made up his mind, he followed through. Above all, Encrid was about as perceptive as he was. In other words, he had caught what Krais's eyes were saying. Usually he took all sorts of jokes in stride, but when he thought someone had crossed a line, he wasn't shy about using his feet. Like now. "Your eyes."

"Yes, I'll watch them."

Only then was Encrid satisfied. Good. Now it was time to sleep. A good night's rest would put him in peak condition for tomorrow. He had applied ointment to his few scratches. His muscles had been strained a little, but they would be fine when he woke.

'How well does a provoked Frog fight?'

That night, he was very curious. While Encrid slept soundly, Deutsch Fullman, his men, and the other villagers swung between heaven and hell.

"Didn't they say they'd all retreated?"

"They're coming back?"

"Cultists are involved? Oh, Master of the Sun, my lord."

"Watch over us, Lord."

"Aagh, demons are coming! Demons!" The frightened wept and babbled. The faithful offered prayers. The coolheaded considered the danger, and those in command considered what needed doing immediately.

It was a night in which everyone tended to their own worries and duties. Most had no choice but to stay awake. Sentries kept watch through the night and the hours before dawn. They had survived the day thanks to Encrid's efforts. In Deutsch's view, the battle would have been lost without him. He had watched how Encrid fought. He couldn't do that again.

It had been nothing more than a chance outcome born of tangled circumstances. Otherwise, what man would leap alone into a horde of demonic beasts? As the day passed and dawn broke, the militiaman standing guard outside Encrid's house saw the hero with blue-black hair emerge. Encrid was starting his morning later than usual.

He warmed up, then trained and trained, sweating profusely. Wasn't that a little excessive? Was it all right to expend so much stamina? Concern prompted the militiaman to speak. "Excuse me, don't you rest even on a day like this?"

He had overdone it yesterday, and today might bring more danger. Encrid nodded at the militiaman's words.

"I had a good dream."

Hmm? Hadn't he asked whether Encrid was going to rest?

Encrid said only what he wanted to say. He focused and trained. The Frog emerged behind him.

"A good dream? You were thrashing around. A great deal."

"I must have been talking a lot in my sleep."

That was the exchange between the Frog and Encrid. With nothing more to say, the militiaman stepped back. Soon the panther and the big-eyed soldier came out as well. The soldier was yawning when he met the militiaman's eyes and gave a slight bow of his head. The militiaman returned it.

Last came the female ranger.

"Whew."

She emerged with a great exhalation. The way she walked alone made it clear that she wasn't well. "Why are you coming out?"

Encrid asked when he saw her.

"I can at least shoot a bow."

The female ranger answered. "Don't bother."

"You said they'd come again today."

"Probably."

"Good, if they do."

That was Encrid, Pin, Encrid, and then the Frog. The militiaman found their conversation hard to follow. "It'll be good if they come."

Amid all this, the Frog repeated herself. There was force behind the words. Presence, killing intent, fighting spirit. Things like that.

Merely looking at her made the militiaman's knees tremble. CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

While the militiaman's balls momentarily shriveled, the alarm bell rang, piercing the ears of everyone in the village.

Wasn't there a saying that the worst situation you could imagine always came to pass? Or was it that the thing you least wanted to face always appeared before you?

Those sounded like the same thing. "Knolls!"

A messenger shouted as he ran from the front. It was time to begin the defensive operation Deutsch had stayed up all night preparing.

Encrid moved as well. He was fully warmed up. All he needed was his equipment. Krais had cleaned both swords before going to bed, wiping off the blood and polishing them to a shine with oil made from rendered sheep fat.

Some of the mail inside the armor's leather covering was dented, but that was hardly a problem. He might be a little short on throwing daggers, but perhaps today he would only need to swing his swords.

With that, his preparations were complete. "Well then, Luagarne?"

Encrid called to the Frog as he put on his armor, and she nodded. It was time to make up for her mistake and show Encrid, with those insolent eyes of his, what she was worth.

"Let's go." At Luagarne's answer, the group set off. Pin came along too. If she couldn't help, she intended at least to watch.

Krais sighed deeply and kept muttering about his bad luck, but that wouldn't change anything, so he hurried his steps. He had no idea what would happen next, but one thing was certain: he had to stay with them. CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Above their heads, the alarm bell rang without pause.