Encrid had previously faced blades that came from beyond his perception.
Jaxon had often done that.
And now, it was the same.
Beyond his perception. It was so fast that he felt Oara's words reached him belatedly.
"Stomach."
A single word reached his ears. And the blade that came before it slashed his stomach.
Focus Point and The Sense of Evasion were activated.
Encrid shifted his weight, pushing back with his heels as if to push the floor away with his soles. It was the moment he thought he had evaded. He saw Oara's face.
A faint smile, her lips curled up even more than before.
"Knee."
Encrid realized that the blade that seemed to be cutting across his stomach was an illusion.
It was like magic conjured by will.
No, he had experienced this before.
It was similar to the sword made of energy that Sinar had shown him.
But this time, it was done purely with momentum and suggestion.
It happened simultaneously with Oara's words.
The blade aiming for his knee plunged vertically from above.
Instead of evading, Encrid swung his sword in a diagonal line.
From below to above, the whip-like sword slashed through the spot where Oara had been.
Even as Oara dodged the slash from Encrid, she didn't alter the trajectory of her sword.
It was still a vertical thrust. She only twisted her body while keeping her right hand steady.
Thud.
The tip of the sword struck his knee.
There was no wound. It only left a mark on the hem of his clothes.
"That's enough for today!"
Oara exclaimed.
"Huff, huff."
Encrid exhaled the breath he had been holding back.
Oara sheathed her sword with a swift motion and approached him. As she looked at Encrid, she gave a playful smile and tapped his cheek.
"Do you feel like you fell for an easy trick?"
Encrid realized that his opponent had only shown him two strikes.
One was a slash aimed at his stomach.
That was the feint.
The other was a vertical thrust aimed at his knee.
The outcome was decided on the second move.
Encrid felt a lot, but he knew what was most important.
'The difference in experience.'
Oara was skilled.
She hadn't just recently ascended to the rank of Knight, she had lived this life for many years. Her experience was evident.
"How old are you?"
Encrid responded with a question in the style of the Thousand Bricks method. He adapted quickly.
It was a question laced with humor.
Oara's eyes showed a hint of laughter but then hardened.
"You're lucky you're good-looking. Haven't you learned that asking a lady's age can get you killed?"
Encrid remained silent, and Oara laughed as she passed by.
"Ah, I'm hungry."
As she walked away, Luagarne approached.
"Since your knee was struck, you would have lost mobility. You would have lost even if the fight continued."
"I know."
"The two moves may seem simple, but they carry a fundamental truth."
Luagarne paused to let him think. Encrid pondered and then answered.
"If the opponent is faster and stronger, you can't block them."
That's what Knights were like.
Thinking further, it was probably about having the confidence to subdue someone with just simple movements.
Simplicity doesn't mean the lethality of the blade is diminished.
Just because you strike softly doesn't mean the blade turns into cotton. He had already understood this principle.
In other words, if you can win with efficient strikes, then that's the way to do it.
"Exactly."
Luagarne nodded.
Despite losing, Encrid didn't feel despair. But he wasn't satisfied either.
After roughly washing up and filling his stomach, he sought out the tavern owner.
"At least there are no bugs."
In the middle of the meal, Luagarne complained about the food. It seemed reasonable since there was nothing suitable for a Frog to eat.
Encrid gave a glance at the owner sitting at the bar, and the owner approached.
The tavern was quiet. It was because of the prohibition.
"Do you know the location of those cultists or whatever they are?"
"More importantly, go ask Sir Oara to lift the prohibition. I'm starving to death here."
Most of life was managed through contribution, but there were a few exceptions. Naturally, Krona was involved.
When merchants came to stay, they paid in Krona, and the same went for drinks or the red-light district.
The tavern owner lamented his situation, and Encrid ordered something special.
"I'd like a plate of well-cooked larvae, please."
"...I have no idea where to even get... but I'll figure it out, of course."
Clatter.
In the middle of the owner's speech, a small pouch landed on the bar table, its mouth slightly open, revealing a glimpse of its silver contents. The tavern owner was quick to react.
"You can deliver it by noon tomorrow."
About a dozen silver coins gleamed on the bar. The tavern owner pocketed the Krona and shared what he knew.
The information wasn't particularly valuable.
Asia had mentioned roughly where they might be, but she said they wandered around like nomads.
Why would they roam around here? When you think about it, the reason is simple.
It was likely to gather cult followers. Among them, a few deserters, a few people struggling to survive in the Demon Realm.
They would approach those whose minds had weakened and insert their ideology into the cracks.
If their group grew large enough, they could then flee far away and live comfortably.
But it wasn't important why those bastards were here.
What mattered was that they were targets that needed to be dealt with.
The day's effort of wandering around the city didn't yield much.
"You'll probably have to find them on foot."
This was the most useful piece of advice he got, and it came from Milio.
He had also watched the sparring between Oara and Encrid.
"How about a match with me too?"
He was an eager fellow. Encrid agreed to spar with him.
Milio used a heavy and sturdy hammer as his weapon. It was great for smashing enemies in one blow, but if the opponent dodged or blocked, the next move became too slow.
"What if you grab it like this and twist it like that?"
"Ouch, that hurts."
Encrid taught him a few useful footwork techniques and joint locks to use between moves. It wasn't really Valaf-Style Martial Arts.
This would allow him to exploit the openings created when swinging wide, catching the opponent off guard.
While they spent time like this, Rem woke up.
Waking up late in the afternoon, Rem spoke.
"Those cult-like guys? They're about a day's journey away."
It was an unexpected lead. Rem had seen them while out to get a whetstone.
"You saw them?"
"They were gathering from a distance. At first, I thought they were bandits, but after listening, they seemed more like cultists."
"Do you know where that is?"
"Do I look like some dumb swordsman who can't find his way or tell directions?"
Rem, wide-eyed, expressed his annoyance, ready to draw his axe at any moment.
Seeing this, Encrid wondered if this was something that needed to be delayed.
After all, this was his mission.
Wasn't he here as reinforcement to catch deserters and deal with the colony?
'A deserter who became a cult leader.'
Even if this person had gained some notoriety in the area, there was no way they were on par with a bishop of a cult.
At best, they might have the combat skills of a Squire.
A small elite force, including himself, Rem, Dunbachel, and Luagarne, would be more than enough to handle them.
Even though they supposedly used strange spells, he instinctively felt it wasn't a real threat.
It would likely just be an annoying trick.
With this level of force, it was practically overkill.
Encrid had a clear understanding of his current abilities.
And if it got dangerous, couldn't they just retreat?
This wasn't a mission where they had something to protect—it was closer to an ambush. If they let it drag on, those people would be harder to find, and it would become a bigger headache.
That's why he said it.
"Shall we go now?"
It was a question with the answer already decided.
The sun had begun to set. There's a saying that the sun is on the side of humans, while darkness favors the beasts.
It was a time advantageous to monsters, who had bright night vision and hated light.
That was the case now. The sun was setting.
Of course, no one here cared about such things.
"Just the four of us?"
Dunbachel asked.
"Do you know anyone else here?"
Encrid countered. The point was there was no one else to bring. Were they going to conscript soldiers to come along?
It was obvious they wouldn't be of any help.
So, they left the city. A soldier guarding the gate tilted his head in confusion.
"Are you going out now?"
"Is there a problem?"
The person he was addressing was the Demon Slayer, a hero of the civil war. The soldier shook his head.
The soldier assumed Encrid and his group were just going out for a short walk.
Even that barbarian Rem had gone out briefly yesterday and returned.
So the soldier taught them the password to use upon their return.
"No, sir. Just shout, 'Red is the best color for a cloak', in front of the gate."
They couldn't let just anyone into the city at night.
The soldier passed this information onto the next guard, who nodded, and when the group didn't return by the end of his shift, he relayed the same instructions to the next guard.
"They're a bit late, huh?"
"Is there anything to worry about?"
* * *
To ordinary soldiers, a Junior-Knight was like a lofty figure.
Encountering a few monsters on the road wouldn't be a problem for such people.
Besides, there was a Frog and a beastwoman with them.
Dawn broke.
The morning shift guard saw them returning with the first light of dawn at their backs.
It was Encrid and his group.
"Open the gate."
Armor stained with blood was noticeable. Black and red blood mixed together.
"Did you encounter monsters?"
"Something like that."
Encrid replied as he entered the city.
* * *
When they first set out from the gate, Encrid thought it would be easy once they found the target.
Finding them was the hard part, dealing with them would be easy, or so he believed.
"Which direction?"
"This way."
Rem led the way. The moon was obscured by clouds, making the surroundings dark, but the faint moonlight was enough for the group.
"Do you want to learn how to track people?"
"Now?"
Encrid responded to Rem's sudden question. It wasn't a refusal.
Rem believed that finding the cult group here would be easy.
He had a reason for thinking so.
Rem's gaze turned to the beastwoman. Dunbachel's eyes glowed golden even in the dark.
He had always thought they were unique-colored eyes.
This beastwoman's sense of smell was also far superior to that of an average beastman. Rem knew this.
As soon as Dunbachel sensed Rem's gaze, she placed her hand on her nose.
"Sniff it out, you crazy beastwoman. This isn't a duel."
"This is how you plan to find them?"
Encrid asked in the middle.
"Is there a reason to take the hard way when the easy way is right in front of us? We have a beastwoman with us, and she's freakishly good at smelling things, except for her own scent."
There was no flaw in his logic. Even Dunbachel agreed.
She sniffed in one direction and spoke.
"I smell something from over there."
The group moved and soon spotted a group of people. They really did look like they had makeshift tents.
"Who's there?"
One of them, who had been picking his nose in front, noticed them.
Instead of answering, Encrid took action. He stepped forward and swung his sword upward.
The vertical slash created a red line from the man's chin to his forehead.
Thud.
Blood splattered as the body collapsed forward.
"Are you crazy bastards?"
A spiky-haired blonde nearby spoke in a startled tone. His voice trembled.
Thud.
A blade flew straight into the man's face.
As he stared in shock, Dunbachel asked,
"What's the matter? Hesitating?"
"No."
Encrid replied and continued to stab and slash anyone he saw. He didn't bother with those who tried to flee.
"The servants of the demon have come!"
A man who looked like the cult leader appeared. At a glance, he seemed like someone who had honed his skills through banditry. Encrid sized him up with his instincts.
He wasn't a wizard.
But he did something that looked like a spell.
The man closed the distance and reached out his hand. An invisible blade flew from his hand.
Encrid had already encountered similar attacks from Sinar and earlier today from Oara.
Just because it's invisible doesn't mean it's not there. The energy was still present.
Ting.
Encrid drew his Gladius, twisted it, and deflected the attack. The cult leader's hand twisted as if holding an invisible sword.
It was fascinating. It really seemed as if he was holding a transparent sword.
Without hesitation, Encrid raised his sword and struck down on the man's shoulder. It was a nonchalant slash, as if he were splitting firewood.
Slash!
"Argh!"
The cult leader rolled backward as his shoulder split open, blood gushing out. He was incredibly quick on his feet. Even now, the strike had been aimed at his head, but he had dodged it.
"Please, spare me. Spare my life."
His demeanor had completely changed from when he was shouting about the servants of the demon.
"I heard the cult is backing you up?"
"That was a rumor I spread."
The man rolled his eyes as he spoke, and Rem, who couldn't understand why Encrid was talking to such a scumbag, threw an axe while Encrid exchanged a few more words.
Whoosh!
Thump!
The thrown axe became an ornament above the man's forehead, and his body fell backward, lightly flying through the air.
Encrid saw something drop from the man's hand.
Upon closer inspection, he noticed something faintly reflecting the torchlight.
"This isn't something you can obtain even with dozens of gold coins. Do you know who Carmen is? They don't earn the title of master craftsman for nothing. If that sword were to appear on the black market, it would spark a deadly battle. In fact, a few years ago, when the third piece of the Carmen Collection, a Katar, appeared, it caused quite a commotion among the Assassins' Guilds."
Jaxon's words came to mind. He had explained what the Carmen Collection was and had even mentioned the name of the last dagger in the collection.
The Invisible Blade.
It was an unexpected gift.
Encrid pocketed the gift and headed back to the city. Along the way, a few beasts attacked.
It was as if an entire pack of wild dogs had transformed into beasts. There were quite a few of them, but he cut and stabbed them all to death.
Before he knew it, dawn had broken. It was time to return to the city.
Back in the city, he ate, washed, slept a little, and then headed toward the city gate again.
"Finding the colony? That's even easier. Just look at the surrounding terrain—it's obvious."
As they set out, Rem spoke. The sweltering heat remained oppressive. This area was more humid and hotter than others.
They had already seen firsthand how troublesome it was when a flock of harpies formed a colony.
Encrid and his group moved out immediately.
As it happened, they had returned during the day to rest and were now heading out again in the evening.
"Heading out again?"
By chance, the same guard was on duty at the same time as yesterday, experiencing a similar situation.
The guard, grumbling about having to work two shifts in a row, saw Encrid's group appear.
"Is there a problem?"
"No, sir."
Encrid and his group left. Rem had extensive experience hunting monsters. Dunbachel had an excellent sense of smell, and Luagarne was knowledgeable in various aspects.
They weren't people who had trained and lived within some organized group.
They were individuals who had spent more time surviving in the wild.
These were the people who had banded together, and Dunbachel's sense of smell was almost supernaturally sharp.
With their combined experience, finding the harpy's nest was no difficult task.
"A foul smell."
"It's perfect for hiding and living together. This has to be the place."
Dunbachel and Rem took turns speaking. Encrid looked up at the towering cliff.
The terrain in the Demon Realm was chaotic and unpredictable.
Should this be called a cliff, or should it be referred to as a natural tower?
The circular rock formation was so tall that Encrid had to crane his neck to barely see the top.
Judging by his rough estimate, even ten Rems stacked on top of each other wouldn't reach the top. In other words, it was high.
Up above, they could see a few harpies fluttering about.
They used spells, but it was nothing significant—just some trivial wind spells.
"I'll go first."
Rem said, pulling out his sling. While it was difficult to use a spear in this situation, there was a barbarian who could hurl stones with his sling more fiercely than a spear.
Today was brighter than yesterday.
Two moons alternated in shedding their light. The large moon and the small moon.
Under the two moons, the sound of something cutting through the air began.
Soon, that noise turned into a deafening roar as it tore through the sky.
Whizz!
Rem began spinning his sling under the moonlight.
Soon, a third moon rose above Rem's head—a full moon created by his sling.
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