Krais walked up to Encrid and knelt on one knee. Then, still kneeling, he raised one arm and bowed his head. His demeanor was solemn and dignified.
It was as if he were swearing an oath of loyalty, and indeed, his words echoed that sentiment.
"I pledge my utmost loyalty."
Encrid stared at Krais. He knew enough about the man standing before him.
Was this because of something he had done?
Had he ended the civil war? Was Krais moved by that? Was he swearing his loyalty because of it?
Not even close.
Krang had given him the title of General instead of a noble title. Along with that came control of this entire region.
'The Border Guard isn't small either.'
How much could he fill his pockets if he managed the entire territory?
Krais, still kneeling, looked down at the dirt ground. To his eyes, the dirt particles appeared as gold.
This wasn't just a dirt floor, it was a floor of gold.
'A vast territory. How many hidden corners will produce Krona?'
There was no need to raise taxes. If he could connect the trade routes of all the cities under the General's name and take a commission from the merchant guilds?
There was no need for bribes either.
If he could establish larger trade routes and invest in the rising Rockfreed Guild and other emerging merchant guilds, securing shares?
He could make a fortune.
And if he could make such a fortune, what would he do with it?
The answer was already set.
Krais had already mapped out the stages of his dream. First, he would build a small salon. Then, he would create an entire street of salons. Ultimately...
'A city of pleasure.'
He wanted to build a city dedicated entirely to indulgence.
A place where every need—from food, drink, and clothing—was handled by merchants, while inside, people would indulge in nothing but pleasure.
It would be known as Krais' Salon City.
Krais' dream was no smaller than Encrid's.
After all, he was planning to turn an entire city into a place of leisure and entertainment.
And he didn't think it was a bad business idea either.
Building such a city would cost an astronomical amount of money, but it wouldn't just be an investment. He expected it to yield returns beyond the initial cost.
Who in the world didn't want to indulge in pleasure?
Especially if he created a place for wealthy and powerful people, merchant lords, and those swimming in gold coins to gather and revel in?
Until now, they had to attend grand balls hosted by high-ranking nobles to enjoy such luxuries. But if they could indulge in these pleasures anytime at Krais' Salon City?
'This will work.'
All he needed was capital. Krona. Gold coins.
Originally, his plan had been to make some quick money and start with a small salon in the Capital, but if he could earn more, he could build a castle and create an entire city...
"…Hey, you."
Lost in his grand dreams, Krais finally heard someone calling him and raised his head.
Encrid met his gaze with his wide eyes. In those large eyes, Krais could see ambition burning like the flames of hell.
"…Yes, pledge your loyalty."
There was no point in trying to stop him.
Encrid had a sudden realization.
He was the only sane person left in the Mad Company.
"Oh, I have a gift from His Highness."
Krais quickly collected himself and stood up to speak.
"Two sets of Drake Scale Armor, a bar of Lewis Mountain Steel sufficient for a sword, and a block of Black Gold. Also, I brought the famed sword Aker, though I think it might be wise to have it appraised."
By 'His Highness', Krais was referring to Krang.
In other words, even when plundering the national treasury, Krang had made sure to set aside gifts for Encrid.
'Is this really okay?'
The thought crossed Encrid's mind for a moment, considering the high value of the items.
But to Krang, this was only natural.
"I think it's only fair to take care of my own people first, right? It's not like this is too much."
Drake Scale Armor was known for being lightweight and more durable than regular plate armor.
Lewis Mountain Steel was even harder to come by than Valyrian Mountain Steel.
Though much lighter than regular steel, it was just as strong as Valyrian Mountain Steel.
Black gold, also known as 'God's Trial', was a metal that couldn't be bought even for five times its weight in gold.
Its nickname came from its properties: five times heavier than regular steel, but with superior hardness, malleability, and every other useful trait.
If not for its weight, Black Gold would be considered a gift from the Gods. But its weight was an issue.
If it couldn't be properly forged, it was useless. Most often, it was used only in engraved weapons specifically designed for Knights.
Among Black Gold, the highest quality came from the Uver Mountains, though even Black Gold from other regions was something most people would never see in their lifetime.
Lastly, there was Aker.
'Wasn't that the royal treasure?'
Encrid had heard of it as well.
Indeed, Aker was the name of a famous sword used by a Knight from a previous generation.
There was even a story, known to all, that the sword had cut through a giant stone gate built by Giants with a single stroke, without using any force. It was so well-known that it had been turned into a fairy tale.
"I wondered if His Highness was bankrupting the treasury to send this gift."
It was that valuable of a present.
Encrid nodded in agreement with Krais. Krang was already draining the treasury to fix the financial crisis caused by the civil war.
These were extraordinary items, but since they were given, there was no reason not to accept them. Encrid nodded calmly.
"There's much to discuss. A lot."
Luagarne, who had approached from behind, spoke. Her eyes burned as fiercely as Krais's.
And why wouldn't they?
She had always been drawn to the unknown.
'How could this be possible?'
Even seeing it with her own eyes, she could hardly believe it. No genius could achieve such growth.
Especially since, through her talent of discerning abilities, Encrid's potential still appeared unimpressive.
Even though he had improved, it was still nothing extraordinary. Luagarne had never mentioned this to anyone, but among the talents that Frog possessed for 'recognizing abilities', hers was so exceptional it bordered on the mystical.
Because of this, she could see not only what someone had already accomplished but also what they would achieve in the future.
Encrid seemed to always be just half a step beyond his limits.
In other words, he was running past the boundary of his talent.
And in that state, he had risen to become one of the top Junior-Knights.
'How did he do it?'
For the first time, Luagarne felt an intense urge to understand. The unknown was moving vividly before her eyes.
Encrid wasn't bothered by Frog's intense gaze. Just as he had been indifferent when Riervart spoke of despair and hopelessness, he brushed this off just as casually. Instead, he asked how she had come to be here.
"My pact was with the Queen. That's now over."
Normally, she would have moved on to pursue other unknowns, but here, right in front of her, was a being she couldn't comprehend, someone who defied belief. This had been inevitable. To her, it felt like fate. Luagarne believed that deeply.
"Why? Should I make a pact if necessary?"
Luagarne was willing to pledge herself to the man in front of her for life. She would even accept a spiritual bond of love if that was what he asked.
"No need."
Encrid saw no reason for such a thing. His mind was filled with other thoughts.
"Were you upset because I arrived first?"
At Sinar's question, Encrid turned to her and asked,
"Did it go well?"
Sinar smiled in response. It was rare for her to smile. The people around them, who knew the Fairy Sinar, were surprised, but Encrid remained unbothered.
"Were you worried?"
"I'm glad it went well."
That was the end of their conversation. Sinar returned to her usual cold expression, proving she was not of human origin, and Luagarne followed behind Encrid.
As they walked, Encrid became lost in deep thought. Seeing this, Rem tapped him on the shoulder and asked,
"What are you thinking about?"
Encrid, who had been frowning in thought, finally spoke.
"When transitioning from a diagonal slash to a thrust, what if I stopped for a moment and used that pause for a sudden acceleration?"
The brief stop would create a shift in speed that could confuse the opponent's eyes. If the attack slowed and then sped up, it would change the rhythm, making it seem even faster. It would be harder to block as a result.
"…You've been thinking about that all this time?"
Rem asked.
"What else?"
Was there something more urgent? Encrid asked with his eyes.
"We really are the Mad Company for a reason."
Rem thought the craziest of them all was the man standing in front of him. Encrid wondered why Rem was suddenly making such a statement now. Wasn't it like spitting in his own face?
"If you try that, you'll tear your tendons, or your muscles will rupture."
Rem warned.
Using willpower to push your body is a form of self-abuse.
If you stop mid-swing and then quickly thrust, it's not just overexertion—it's akin to asking your body to die.
"Take it easy, will you? Easy. If you understand, just nod your head. Easy, easy."
Rem repeated 'easy' several times.
Audin, who had been listening nearby, smiled and added.
"It seems some special training is in order, General Brother."
No one was quicker to change titles than Audin. He casually tossed out the word 'General'.
"Special training?"
Encrid showed interest. Audin was delighted—never before had anyone followed his training this closely.
He remembered those he had trained in the past.
"Please spare me."
"Is today the day I finally meet Father in heaven?"
"...Are you serious? You're going to raise the intensity even more? Just fight me instead."
Recalling those times, now felt different.
"What kind of training?"
Encrid asked, not just with interest but with enthusiasm.
It would be a lie to say Audin wasn't satisfied. The man in front of him was one of the most upright and diligent individuals he had ever met.
When Audin had heard about what this man had done during the civil war, he had felt a chill down his spine.
'Dear Father, I have to ask.'
He had thought.
'Is this man a manifestation sent by you, unable to bear the suffering and evil of this world any longer?'
That's how remarkable Encrid's deeds were.
When he advanced, rather than retreating before the final wave of specters, Audin had nearly wept.
And to make things even more astonishing, their enemy had been a pawn possessed by a demon.
This was clearly the Will of the Gods.
Shedding his idle thoughts, Audin spoke.
"Training the body is endless. We practiced striking techniques to forge ourselves like steel, didn't we? Now, it's time to learn control."
Striking techniques involved repeatedly hammering the body like a steel mallet. While Encrid had been diligently practicing it, it hadn't yet shown significant results.
But it wasn't something he found tedious. There were countless other tasks like that.
Even if results didn't come immediately, giving his all each day and repeating the process endlessly—that was all Encrid had.
"Control?"
Encrid asked again.
By now, he had mastered his body to the point of performing somersaults while wielding a sword.
The level of a Junior-Knight was no joke.
Even martial arts masters would bow their heads in the presence of a Junior-Knight.
"If you can't control every single muscle fiber in your body, how can you truly call it yours?"
Audin explained. Pel, listening nearby, blinked a few times.
'Is such training really necessary?'
Pel, a genius in his own right, questioned its purpose.
Normally, that level of body control would come naturally. It wasn't something you specifically needed to learn.
Rem and Ragna, however, had no such doubts. Wasn't their Captain
is full of strange quirks?
Even the tricky move Encrid had mentioned earlier—stopping mid-swing and then restarting—was something Rem could do.
But not Encrid.
Audin, who could gauge someone's physical state just by watching them, knew exactly what Encrid needed.
With finer control over his sword, he could achieve more.
Not just tricks, but moves approaching the realm of the miraculous.
What else was needed? The ability for the body to endure it. To make sure that, even when performing the movements drawn in his mind, his body wouldn't feel strained.
For someone called a genius, these things would come naturally. But not for Encrid.
"Good."
Of course, Encrid didn't care about any of that.
He was simply satisfied with the prospect of a new type of training.
From the evening he returned to the Border Guard, Encrid began working on strengthening his body.
Two days later, a blacksmith arrived from the Capital.
He was none other than the man known as 'Iron and Pure Gold', one of the most esteemed blacksmiths in the guild.
"Not just anyone can handle Black Gold."
He said.
Though he had come partly due to a royal request, the instruction to forge weapons for the hero who had saved the Kingdom made him drop all other work to come.
Encrid allowed anyone to take whatever they wanted from the gifts he had received, keeping only the famed sword for himself. The moment he held the legendary sword, Aker, he knew.
'This sword is mine.'
When Encrid uncharacteristically expressed his feelings about the sword, Rem responded.
"When you get your hands on something expensive and high-quality, it always feels like it's yours."
He wasn't wrong.
Whether it was a Silver or Valyrian Steel sword, it had always felt like his weapon from the moment he held it.
In any case, this was Aker, a legendary enchanted weapon used by a Knight from a previous generation.
Even the sword's name was derived from that Knight, which made it all the more satisfying.
"I'll take the Lewis Mountain Steel bar."
Rem coveted the steel, while Ragna, after looking at the Black Gold, claimed it for himself.
"I'll take this."
"Go ahead."
Encrid had no reason to stop them.
"You're not planning on selling them, are you?"
Krais, watching this exchange, asked. But everyone ignored him.
Why would they sell something like this?
They were people who didn't care about Krona or gold.
Krais felt a little bitter.
Aker couldn't be sold, but if they sold the Lewis Mountain Steel bar or the Black Gold, he could have more than half the amount needed to open a salon in the Capital.
'Actually, if I sold it, I'd get even more.'
Despite the bitterness, what could he do? He had to accept it as the price for what they had accomplished.
For these reasons, the blacksmith from the Capital had to meet with Rem and Ragna.
"The Lewis Mountain Steel bar would make an excellent weapon if we fashioned it into a spearhead and attached it to a shaft made of ironwood."
"Let's make an axe instead."
"But an axe head would be too light since its weight distribution is toward the head…."
"How about making it solid? The handle should be about this long. Make two axes."
Rem spread his hands to indicate the length. It was still in the form of a long-handled hatchet.
The blacksmith couldn't believe it. When he looked into Rem's eyes, he saw the playful grin of a barbarian.
He didn't seem particularly stubborn, but he had the look of someone who would throw a fit if things didn't go his way.
Deciding not to argue with Rem, the blacksmith turned to the other.
"Black gold is best used in daggers or as an alloy at the tip of blades. If you balance the weight properly, it won't feel as heavy as you'd expect. You could coat the blade and make... let's see, twenty swords. If you want spears, you could make more than thirty!"
"Greatsword. I'd like it this big."
Ragna wasn't listening, only speaking his own thoughts.
"I've got Manticore leather, and I'm planning to wrap the hilt with it."
The blacksmith looked into Ragna's eyes. There was no intention to listen to anything except what he wanted.
'This guy doesn't seem normal either.'
The blacksmith's apprentice noticed the hesitation. His master was the kind of person who would usually blow up if someone ignored his advice.
But this time...
"Let's do it."
The blacksmith backed down in the face of madness.
There's no cure when dealing with lunatics.
"Master?"
The apprentice asked, stunned.
"Stoke the fire."
Following his master's orders, the apprentice worked the bellows of the borrowed forge.
The blacksmith quietly watched the flames rise. Although those two hadn't listened to him, this was a challenge.
To craft the weapons they had requested would require him to push his skills to the limit.
A Black Gold Greatsword and a solid Lewis Mountain Steel axe.
When would he ever get another chance to make such things?
The blacksmith poured all his energy into the task.
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