The fact that the roaming gray ghouls had settled in this land was due more to political reasons than geographical ones.
Naturally, the Border Guard Reserve Unit hadn't gone out of its way to hunt down monsters and beasts, so they could survive.
"Why should I?"
According to the previous Border Guard Lord, who had left before Marcus, hunting monsters like gray ghouls was an unnecessary measure and a waste of military strength.
As a result, they only dealt with monsters in a piecemeal fashion to maintain a few trade routes around the Pen-Hanil River and some other areas.
Even now, while the main road around Green Pearl had been cleared and a road connected to Martai was opened, it was still far from perfect.
"Is someone tossing monsters somewhere?"
This was one of Marcus's complaints when he took office.
'Tossing monsters' referred to the act of luring hordes of monsters to a neighboring territory, but of course, that wasn't happening.
Still, his complaint was understandable.
It looked as if the monsters were endlessly pouring out of some bottomless pit.
When the northern settlement of the Border Guard was established, a knoll colony even appeared.
Even though a Cult had been involved, it was only possible because they had the capacity to handle it.
This showed just how many monsters existed in this region.
It also meant that the area around the Border Guard wasn't exactly an ideal place to live.
For these reasons, they had mainly focused on defensive strategies when dealing with monsters, avoiding preemptive measures to wipe them out.
The reason for sticking to a defensive strategy was clear.
Losing troops would make it difficult to fend off the threat from Aspen.
The monsters surrounding the area weren't weak enough to avoid losses either.
Around the Border Guard alone, there were more than three places that were considered no-go zones for any merchant, even though it wasn't quite a Demon Realm.
These areas earned the nickname 'Low-Class Demon Realm'.
When a centaur colony settled in Grateful Forest, they had to deal with it early on, fearing the area might become a breeding ground for monsters and beasts.
This was what Krais had been trying to explain to Encrid.
Though there were plenty more reasons to deal with the situation, Encrid didn't care to listen properly.
What did past circumstances matter when you could simply slice through and eliminate the problem?
And that wasn't entirely wrong either.
* * *
The ugly ghoul was dead.
The story could be infinitely long, but to put it simply:
"I got it first."
"My club struck first."
It was the end of the moment when two superhuman-level forces were competing.
Rem, armed with two axes and a flanged mace, used all three weapons.
The most impressive moment was when he used the mace.
After throwing his axes to the ground, he unslung the mace from his back and swung it down.
Whoosh—Boom!
A loud explosion erupted, and the mace proved what the word 'violence' meant.
It not only smashed the ghoul's head but obliterated the upper body as well.
It was a perfect harmony of brute strength and technique.
It felt as though a heavy boulder had plummeted from the sky.
The combination of strength and the destructive power of the weapon created an unnatural level of devastation.
From the ghoul's perspective, it was nothing short of annihilation.
Rem bulldozed through everything that stood in his way, whether they were ghouls or anything else.
His powerful strikes shattered everything in his path.
Audin, too, wasn't idle.
"I send you to the side of the Lord."
Despite being a living weapon himself, he wielded two clubs in both hands.
The clubs, which originally had a reddish-brown hue, soon turned black as they absorbed the blood of the ghouls.
"Lord."
With one shout, he took two steps.
Between the two steps, the clubs swung left and right, crushing the ghouls' heads.
It was precise, controlled strikes that delivered the necessary amount of force.
Despite his large build, there was a surprising degree of finesse in his movements.
Yet, this didn't detract from the sheer thrill of the moment.
This blend of finesse and brute force created a clear path to the ghoul leader.
It felt as though their roles had switched, but Encrid thought that both Rem and Audin suited their current actions well.
The ghoul leader, despite its intelligence and setting up some sort of trap, was defeated.
They broke through.
They smashed it.
They crushed it.
The ghouls had gathered and attacked, thinking they could create a trap, but what could they do?
They were simply crushed by brute force.
Moreover, it wasn't just those two who had come here.
"I'll fight too!"
Dunbachel was rampaging as well.
"This is unsettling. Unsettling."
Sinar had also drawn her swords.
"Just watch. The Wandering Teresa is stepping in."
Teresa, too, swung her shield and sword, drenching the ground in the blood of ghouls.
This time, there was no need for Encrid to step in.
Unbeknownst to him, from the moment he had started enthusiastically swinging his sword and awakening to the Correct Sword Technique, everyone had already been inspired.
Encrid's battles, his way of fighting, just by watching, made others want to join in and heated their blood.
Why wouldn't it?
Even someone who had never held a sword before might think, 'Could this be fun?' and would end up gripping a sword just to try it out, captivated by the joy of watching him fight.
It was as if he was dancing with his shoulders while fighting.
How excited must he be to fight like that?
It was no surprise that it influenced others.
After meeting the Knight, Encrid's growth had been a source of motivation for everyone, and their combat abilities had far surpassed the average Squire.
At that level, they had put in even more effort.
When Rem and Audin first heard of the Knight, they realized they could no longer afford to fight halfheartedly.
The same was true for Sinar.
'Deeper.'
She delved further into swordsmanship.
Thinking it was complete, was a mistake. There was no end.
She had changed her mind—now she had to walk and progress with her sword.
It was the same for Dunbachel and Teresa.
Some grew, while others finally unleashed their hidden strength.
Fighting like that, even areas dubbed 'Low-Class Demon Realms', where it was once thought impossible to resolve without a Knight's intervention, couldn't last a day.
Even though the Gray Forest was vast, it was cleared in no time.
Krais had estimated that at least two companies would need to fight for ten days, enduring losses, to clear the battlefield. Yet, it was completely dealt with in just one day.
Many monsters had fled, but chasing after each one wasn't feasible.
"Is it over now?"
Rem asked as he wiped the black blood off his axe on the ground.
In response, Encrid shook his head.
"Since we're already out, let's finish everything before we head back."
This wasn't part of Krais's original plan.
"It would be better to handle them one at a time. There's no rush."
That's what he had said.
There were still two more areas nearby that posed a 'Low-Class Demon Realm' level of threat.
Krais' plan was to return for supplies and rest, then take care of them one by one.
But Encrid changed the plan.
Since they were already out, they might as well patrol and take care of everything before heading back.
There was no reason to hesitate.
The ground around them was littered with the corpses of ghouls.
The surviving ghouls couldn't come near them, they were too busy fleeing.
"Let's go."
Encrid took the lead, and the others followed behind him.
They made their way out of the forest.
As they walked, Encrid kept talking to whoever was near him.
"What was that sword technique earlier?"
The first person he approached was Rem.
"What do you mean?"
"When you swung the mace, the way you did it was different from usual."
"Do you want to learn that too?"
Rem had hit the nail on the head.
That's right.
Encrid wanted to learn.
He didn't respond directly but waited for the next words. It wasn't like an answer was necessary.
Rem stared straight into Encrid's blue eyes.
They were steady eyes, eyes that showed a strong will to learn.
Was this just excessive ambition, or was he simply a madman?
Rem thought it was the latter and replied.
"The destructive power changes depending on where you place the axis when you swing a weapon. Especially with blunt weapons like the one I use. I told you before, every type of weapon has a different way to wield it."
Encrid was startled.
Rem wasn't usually this articulate.
Such a smooth explanation.
"Are you possessed? A demon?"
"What?"
"Why are you explaining so well?"
"You damn—"
Rem suddenly threw a punch, which Encrid caught and deflected, causing a minor scuffle, but it didn't slow their pace.
As Encrid briefly reflected on what he'd learned from Rem, he approached Audin next.
"That technique where you cut clean through...?"
"It's about controlling force. I'm more used to doing it with my fists, but just because you're holding something in your hands doesn't mean the technique disappears. You mix heavy techniques with speed and only apply force at the moment of impact. You have to know how to control your grip and manage the relaxation and tension in your muscles at will."
Audin answered even before being asked.
"Is that Valaf-style martial arts?"
"It's just weaponry."
Encrid sensed that Audin was hiding something behind the word 'just'. But he didn't pry. What did the name matter anyway?
"How do I master the technique?"
"Repetition. Practice when we return."
That was all Encrid needed. If he could learn it, that was enough.
Afterward, he asked Dunbachel how to use a beastman's body, but Dunbachel was worse at explaining than Rem.
No, considering today's performance, Rem could have been mistaken for an academy instructor.
While Rem's explanation wasn't exactly that eloquent, it had left a strong impression.
Everything is relative, after all.
"Why are you looking at me?"
Rem asked.
"Begone, demon!"
Came the reply.
But it wasn't Encrid who had said it—it was Dunbachel.
Having watched Encrid and Rem bicker earlier, it seemed Dunbachel had wanted to make a comment as well.
Beastmen were vulnerable to their desires.
If there was something they wanted to do, they had to do it to feel satisfied.
While the Frogman was dedicated to one clear desire, beastmen were more swayed by momentary urges.
The results of that were, naturally, not always good.
This was one of those moments.
Dunbachel couldn't suppress her urge to speak.
"Here, I've got an axe. Just block it with your forehead."
When Rem spoke so politely about smashing an axe into her forehead, Encrid scrutinized him again, wondering if anything strange was emanating from him.
"There are no demons here, brother."
Audin remarked, noticing Encrid's wariness.
Rem didn't actually swing the axe.
"When we get back, let's spar continuously. Yes, let's do that."
Encrid said, intervening just in time, before turning back to Dunbachel to demand further explanation.
"Just run well and stab properly."
Dunbachel replied when asked about handling a scimitar.
Encrid didn't seem fazed. This was fine.
He was, after all, an excellent listener.
After a few questions and answers, he came to a conclusion.
'A sword technique that uses footwork and the whole body to strike.'
It was a style that utilized the movement of elastic muscles. At the start, it was quick like a light sword, but since the attacks carried weight, the finish was more like a heavy sword.
Such was the nature of the swordsmanship.
"I don't know the name. I learned it as a child and refined it in my own way since then."
With Rem's involvement in Dunbachel's training, her swordsmanship had improved drastically.
Encrid had heard and seen parts of that swordsmanship and felt it was worth learning.
It wasn't something that could be fully learned just by words, though.
Encrid continued walking.
"Is there something you want to learn from me as well?"
Teresa asked.
Her skills in wielding a sword and shield had always piqued Encrid's interest.
When they returned, getting a shield to learn from her might not be a bad idea.
"If you seek to learn, then the path is before you."
Teresa said.
It was a saying from the Holy Scripture. She had been following Audin around so much that she'd even picked up his mannerisms.
"A shield is a tool for blocking, but depending on how you use it, it can also be an excellent blunt weapon."
Teresa spoke well, and Encrid was grateful for that.
As they exchanged questions and answers, they noticed on the map that they were nearing their destination.
A swamp appeared before them.
"Bugs?"
Dunbachel asked.
Encrid nodded.
The pale green swamp was a treasure trove of herbs. It was home to a wide variety of plant species, both terrestrial and aquatic, as well as many amphibians and reptiles.
"A fertile land."
Sinar remarked , her eyes gleaming as she gazed at the swamp. She dealt with poisons and medicines, and for someone like her, this swamp was of immense value.
This was why Krais had been so adamant about reclaiming the land.
"We must reclaim the swamp. We can't allow monsters to take it. This is a wish that belongs to everyone born on this land who calls it home!"
Krais had fervently argued.
"What, is this a herb-growing area?"
Encrid asked.
"Yes!"
Krais replied, his passion unfeigned.
"If we restore just this area, we could not only secure a trade route but also develop special products. Of course, we'll have to 'persuade' some decent alchemists to join us."
Although Krais said 'persuade', he really meant convincing them to come willingly. Recruitment was one of Krais's specialties, just like acquiring goods.
That valuable swamp now lay before them.
The problem was that someone had already claimed it.
"There are way too many of these bug bastards here."
Rem muttered under his breath.
The bugs were the real masters of this place.
There are countless types of monsters, and this was one of them—an insect monster.
Whiiiiing!
The buzzing of the bugs' wings pierced their ears.
Sinar's hand rested on her swords.
Dozens of flies, each about the size of a fingertip, flew right at them.
They were bloodsucking flies.
Sinar drew her blades and sliced through the air and the flies with precision.
Her strikes weren't too fast, nor too slow, but they flowed smoothly and continuously. Each strike was more delicate than the last, showing an impressive finesse.
The sound of slicing air echoed from her Fairy blades.
She had demonstrated this level of skill while facing the ghouls, but this time, it was even more pronounced.
Her swordsmanship, seemingly part of the Fairy race's techniques, displayed an extreme level of refinement.
'She could probably slice through a leaf.'
Encrid thought.
And indeed, it was true. Her swordsmanship was rooted in the delicate practice of cutting through leaves.
Her blade slashed, curved, pierced, and cleaved, accurately cutting, breaking, and splitting the bugs' bodies.
Sinar soon dispatched the bugs and turned back to the others.
"If you're not confident, you should step back. My fiance can hide behind me if he likes."
With an emotionless face, the inhuman beauty of the Fairy spoke.
"Are you on drugs?"
Rem scratched his ears at her comment.
"The Lord watches over us, and thus even the smallest of creatures shall be sent to Him."
Audin replied with a prayer.
Dunbachel raised her claws and, instead of using her scimitars, poked and killed the insects.
Bloodsucking flies were a nuisance.
One bite from them would drain your blood at ten times the rate of a typical leech.
However, they weren't particularly difficult to deal with.
Even regular merchants could either avoid or swat them if they had the courage.
If one wore layers of thick leather clothes, they weren't much of a threat.
Of course, if you could stab and kill them with a sword or claws as soon as they appeared, thick clothing wasn't necessary.
Even Teresa, who seemed the slowest of the group, knew how to crush the bugs with short swings of her shield.
Encrid used the same method while moving closer to Sinar.
Her swordsmanship was delicate.
He observed the trajectory of the bugs, visualized their path as a line, and struck through the middle, killing them.
Since sweeping them down in wide arcs was more efficient, he did so, and then spoke to the Fairy beside him.
"That sword technique..."
"Shall I teach it to you as an engagement gift?"
"When are we getting engaged?"
When he responded to her joke with a joke of his own, Sinar's lips twitched.
It was barely noticeable, but her mouth seemed to lift ever so slightly.
Of course, her expression quickly returned to its usual stoic state.
"You are very greedy."
Whatever she said, his desire to learn hadn't changed.
And his eyes were filled with determination.
He wasn't asking for secret techniques or hidden knowledge.
The basics were enough.
'I know what I lack.'
He knew how to move forward.
Encrid was a seeker, driven by his desires. He had seen the direction his ambition pointed and wanted to walk that path.
What was it that had led him to develop his own swordsmanship?
It was because he had learned, practiced, and observed.
And even now, Encrid continued to do just that.
"That's it."
Sinar said, turning her gaze forward after offering to teach him her swordsmanship later.
Before her—and the rest of the group—stood the King of the swamp.
A monstrous creature, five times the size of a wasp, with six wings and sharp fangs. It had a stinger similar to a bee's, a bloated abdomen, and a mouth that split open on both sides. Its name was Bell.
Bzzzzzzzzzz.
The sound of its wings echoed all around.
The creature was a terrifying sight, and behind it, a swarm of similar-looking insects followed. They moved as a collective—essentially one entity.
They were far more troublesome to deal with than the ghouls.
Pop-pop-pop!
But as they charged, they burst and died one after another.
The largest one, the so-called King, was killed by a rock thrown by Rem.
"This time I really killed it, right?"
Rem asked, still seemingly in competition with Audin as he turned around.
Audin responded with a cheerful smile.
Encrid figured the religious bear would graciously let him have the victory, probably saying something like, 'So be it.'
It was in his nature, after all.
"I didn't see it."
Whoops.
Encrid almost stumbled mid-battle, but instead of falling, he used it as part of his footwork, turning it into a step forward.
With a short horizontal swing of his sword, he struck two of the bugs, killing them with the flat of his blade. What could have been a mistake turned into a precise move.
"Claim what's worth claiming."
"I'm not making claims. I really didn't see it, brother."
Audin was truly one of the madmen in their unit.
Encrid didn't pay it much attention. No point in arguing with people like that.
"Let's move."
And so, Encrid and the group finally arrived at the third and final 'Low-Class Demon Realm' area.
It was the last stop on their patrol.