Chapter 202 - What Is He Counting On? (2)

"Let's kill them all!"

The First Company Commander roared like a tiger. Encrid had heard that a comrade who had served alongside him since he joined the army had died in the fighting against Martai. "We will."

Having answered that, the Battalion Commander ordered an extremely defensive formation. Their forces numbered six infantry Companies. Originally, they had only one Battalion, but the Battalion stationed on the Green Pearl plains had sent two Companies as reinforcements. Even that had stretched the other force considerably. There was no telling what Aspen might do if they withdrew all their troops from Green Pearl. "If they approach the south gate, we can defend the walls, but we cannot avoid a decisive battle on the plains," the Second Company Commander said. "How many horsemen did you say?"

"Fifty." Fifty horsemen. That did not sound like a small number to Encrid. Warhorses devoured gold coins, not just while being raised but in their upkeep as well. They needed iron barding, and the cavalrymen who rode them required separate training. For all the Krona poured into them, cavalry were a fearsome force on open plains. A simple charge with lances would let fifty riders chew through hundreds of infantry. Their six Companies totaled roughly twelve hundred men. 'Fifty cavalrymen are a major variable.'

That was Encrid's assessment. Yet Marcus remained unperturbed. "They've done well to build a force like that behind our backs."

More than unperturbed, he actually sounded impressed. "They have a considerable number of archers, too."

That was more troubling news. To Encrid, it meant the enemy had prepared thoroughly. "Urgent report!"

A scout who came running in delivered the finishing touch. He burst into the meeting room with blood dripping from his left arm. He had barely survived a reconnaissance mission deep behind enemy lines. Fighting back the pain, the soldier spoke. "Troops with their insignia concealed have joined the enemy." Martai's forces had been substantial to begin with: one infantry Battalion and a contingent of cavalry. They also possessed a Company-strength force of missile troops. Though their troops were somewhat inferior in quality to Border Guard's, the difference in numbers was clear. Even so, Border Guard had repeatedly won its clashes with Martai. They had wrested victory from them. "This isn't good."

Those victories had been possible because of the man who had just spoken. The Border Guard was an elite unit composed entirely of special-grade soldiers. Their fighting prowess was truly exceptional. Still, one could not help wondering whether they could do it again. One piece of news after another was enough to make them falter before the fighting even began. "Independent Company Commander."

Having taken stock of the situation, Marcus spoke. Encrid was a little slow to realize that the title referred to him. "... Yes?"

"Do you know what authority an Independent Company holds?" There was such a thing? Marcus continued. "Its Company Commander may requisition troops from other Companies if he wishes. Whether a squad or a Platoon." 'Is he sane?'

Encrid remained composed outwardly, while inwardly questioning Marcus's mental state. Those words meant the Independent Company could act as a superior formation to the other Companies. Quite literally. 'Hey, hand over your Platoon. I'll give them back when I'm done. Oh, half of them died while I was using them.'

What would happen then? Besides, who would accept an order like that? Encrid looked over the other Company Commanders. None had a particularly gentle temperament. These were men who wore officers' epaulets and lived with the battlefield at their doorstep. Their positions were not ones a pushover or a soft touch could hold. So even coming from the Battalion Commander, a suggestion like that... "For you, I could offer even more than that."

The Fairy Company Commander was the first to speak. Well, he could expect that from her. "If you need the Border Guard."

The border defense captain spoke up next. Well, he might feel indebted over what had just happened. "First Company acts as one body, but we can still do our part when divided."

Why the First Company Commander? Wasn't he considered a candidate for the next Battalion Commander? The border defense captain might hold the real power, but this man wielded considerable influence, too. "What, we're joining the Lunatic Company? I wouldn't mind bringing my whole Company over."

Had the Second Company Commander always been such a spineless bastard? Encrid considered it carefully and concluded that he had not. Wasn't this the man called 'Foaming Palto' because he frothed at the mouth and threw a fucking fit whenever anyone took men from his unit? The Third Company Commander, who had replaced Rayon after his death, and the commanders who had brought reinforcements reacted little differently. "Mm. We can trust the Independent Company."

Even a reinforcement Company Commander from Green Pearl whom Encrid had never met nodded at him, his eyes full of faith, hope, and trust. "Since when have I had that authority?"

Encrid rarely showed his emotions, and his tone was level. The Company Commander nodded heartily and answered in a voice full of laughter. "Since right now, of course!" 'Has this bastard been cursed or something?'

Or perhaps he'd eaten something he shouldn't have. Had the heat gone to his head? The weather was certainly getting hotter. Once again, Encrid kept his expression carefully masked. He might not be able to act, but he was a master at hiding his expression. "I've never had much imagination," Marcus continued.

Wondering what on earth he was talking about, Encrid stared at him. Meeting his eyes, Marcus spoke again. "If I let you run wild as you please, outside any strategy or tactics, how far could you go? Could you subdue the enemy cavalry? Or strike down every enemy you see coming?" Heat began to enter Marcus's voice. Perhaps it was because Encrid had seen him acting earlier, but he could see there was no pretense in these words. That was how it felt. Genuine conviction rang through his earnest tone. It reminded him of Krang's speech. That speech had possessed the power to command an audience. There had been a majesty in his gestures, voice, and bearing that made people see visions. In Marcus, he saw heat rather than majesty. Burning passion. Something a person possessed regardless of age. The voice of a man consumed by that passion reached Encrid. "From reconnaissance missions to striking at an enemy city, and above all your exploits on the battlefield, you have brought our forces victory. And is that all?" BANG! Marcus slammed his palm against the table, sending the pins tumbling again. Yet no one looked away from him. They all watched his mouth, listened to his words, and were caught up in the atmosphere he created. "You proved yourself by surviving alone among a thousand Knolls, and secured your position as Captain of a force no one could control. Above all, I stand in admiration of your outstanding skill and ability, Company Commander. So I ask you: what could you do if I gave you unlimited authority on this battlefield?" What was Marcus counting on? Why did the Battalion Commander feel no threat? Why had no one objected to accepting a Beastman who had belonged to Black Blade? Why were the Company Commanders so calm about him taking their troops at will? Why did their eyes hold faith, hope, and trust? 'The things I've accomplished.'

A knight was made of skill and distinguished service. Encrid felt as though everything he had done was being affirmed anew. He had not been wrong. Pride? That word could not begin to express it. A dream long forgotten had become part of reality and reached him. At the same time, Encrid found what he needed to do. He had been asked a question. Shouldn't he answer? Krang's speech had ended after he displayed his majesty and drew everyone in, but Marcus was asking Encrid for an answer. 'A small elite force.'

On the continent today, the course of a battle depended on the presence or absence of knights, or knight-level forces. When a knight entered the battlefield without another knight to oppose them, a massacre followed. Duels were far more common than massacres, but sometimes clever maneuvering could set a knight against an entire unit. Conversely, that could be turned into a trap: sacrificing the unit's strength to kill the knight. 'The enemy doesn't know me.'

Nor did they know the Lunatic Company. Marcus had seen to that. A small elite unit with strength the enemy could not predict. Five people with at least proto knight-level strength. Facing how much he had changed, Encrid spoke.

"I don't know. I'll try everything I can." In truth, Encrid had never held such authority before, and this absurd strategy was likely a first for Marcus as well. Instead of a knight order, he had established an Independent Company of fewer than ten people and concentrated battlefield authority in its hands. It sounded as if he were staking the fate of the battle on Encrid alone. Encrid thought his answer inadequate, but Marcus smiled, apparently satisfied. "Then."

If he had been given authority, he would use it. His pounding heart spurred him into motion. Just as he was heading outside, a sound rang out. BWOOOOOO! As if on cue, the distant call of a horn and the faint pounding of drums reached him from beyond the walls. The enemy must have arrived. "All troops, assemble!"

Marcus emerged from the meeting room after him and shouted. Encrid moved at almost a run. There was a battlefield where he would fight alongside his allies, the core members of his Company. As always, though, getting them to come along would be a task in itself. It had been that way since their days as the troublemaker squad. As he headed toward the quarters, he saw his Company members coming out, already armed. "We're heading out, right? Marcus must have gone all out to give you his backing, Captain. Did he ask you to sweep away the cavalry or something?"

Krais spoke with his leather helmet sitting crooked on his head. 'He predicted it.'

Encrid had thought he might. "No."

"Then what? Did he ask you to take the enemy commander's head? That's asking a bit much."

"No."

"Hmm? He didn't give you anything to do?"

"He asked me a question." Encrid fell in with them and naturally took the lead. As he spoke with Krais, Rem cut in. "That bastard Big-eyes said it was time to go fight. Is it really?"

It was. But had Rem always come along without a word of complaint? Gone was his usual bullshit about whether they ought to smash their own commander's skull first. Then again, Encrid was now the commander whose skull would be smashed. In truth, there was nothing surprising about Rem. He was usually quite willing when it came to the battlefield. The surprises began next. "I heard Martai and troops without insignia have arrived."

It was Ragna. The man who never cared about anything around him had assessed the enemy forces. Encrid briefly lifted his head to see whether the sky had split in two. It was perfectly clear. There were hardly any clouds. "That's right."

As he lowered his head and answered, Audin spoke from behind him with a smile.

"Let us go, brother. Those we must send to the Lord await us outside." It hardly sounded like something a priest should say, but worshippers of the God of War were always like that. Jaxon merely tipped his head without a word. These were not men who would move simply because Krais told them to. Then why had they moved? Encrid realized once again that his relationship with them had subtly changed. A Squad Leader who was merely there to take the abuse. A Squad Leader who was curious to watch. A Squad Leader who did not make trouble for them. Then, a Platoon Commander who knew a thing or two. A Platoon Commander who had improved a little with their teaching. And now, further still. 'If I lead them.'

A man and a commander who had earned their recognition. His heart pounded, as hard as when he yearned for his dream. "So what did he ask you?" Krais asked again.

"He asked what I could do."

"... Wow. The shameless bastard." From that single sentence, Krais deduced the tangled story behind it. Marcus was asking Encrid to show the full extent of his abilities. "So I said I'd try everything I could."

"Are you going all out?"

Encrid gave a faint smile at Krais's question. He did not know. Was this a time for confidence, or not? Was this arrogance, or something else? Was the feeling boiling in his chest simply the desire to fight? Or was it the thrill of realizing that, standing on the battlefield with these men, he occupied a different position than before? He did not know. Nor did he try to find out. Right now, he simply wanted to swing his sword. He wanted to show the enemy what he could do by doing it. Urges and ambitions mingled in his chest. A burning desire filled Encrid to make the enemy aware of his existence and leave them with a fitting impression. He had never been so eager to take the initiative. Striding along, he noticed Dunbachel's eyes as she hung a little behind the others, and asked,

"What happened to your eyes?"

"I'm fine. I can still pull my weight." The skin around her eyes was blue. Her golden eyes did shine against the blue bruising. He did not need to ask whose handiwork it was. A man who could paint a body blue without using paint. Wasn't that Rem's fucking specialty? "Stop beating up the kids."

"It was a simple sparring demonstration. She said she wanted to fight me." Well, kids did grow up taking a few beatings. Encrid let it pass. If a beating like that were enough to make her run away or scheme behind his back, she would never have said she wanted to serve under him in the first place. DONG! A bell rang from the belfry. It must mean the enemy was coming into view. Through the open city gates, he could see the people who worked the land outside the walls coming in. They were residents who farmed for a living. Whatever their numbers, the enemy would attack the walls first. That meant siege engines were essential. "They'll have mangonels, won't they?"

Krais answered Encrid's question.

"Of course they will." "Get a few sets of clothes from the people coming in. Ones that fit us. Right now."

"... That is quite a plan." Krais answered at once, without even needing an explanation. Encrid appreciated not having to explain at length. Krais hurried off after answering, while Encrid headed for the gates rather than the gathering place for commanders atop the wall. Soon, Krais returned with clothes. "Nothing will fit Audin's build."

Yes, that was fair enough. "Brother, a single piece of sacking will suffice for me."

Audin waved a hand, then tore the awning off a nearby stall and draped it around himself as a cloak. It suited him surprisingly well. "So what are you planning to do?"

Rem asked. Encrid considered whether a detailed explanation was needed, then decided it was not. "Come along and see."

With that, Encrid and the Lunatic Company stepped outside the city gates.