Running and laughing, this time the opponent wasn't from the Demon Realm but a monster active on the slopes of the Pen-Hanil mountain range.
Wasn't this monster one of the three great calamities of the Border Guard?
It was a serious problem for the Royal Palace and even for the Border Guard itself, but they didn't consider it a full-blown calamity.
It was a nickname whispered by the villagers and merchants in the area.
For them, it truly was a calamity.
It was located two days away if they included breaks.
"Shall we run?"
Encrid asked, but the answer was already determined.
What's the point of wasting time?
If it takes two days on foot, running without resting should do the trick.
In that case, it would take half a day.
"Let's do it."
Rem, leading the group, nodded, and so did everyone else. Encrid started running.
It wasn't a full sprint but a moderate pace.
Everyone else followed him.
Sinar once again marveled at this man's decisiveness.
'Running there, huh.'
It was a method most wouldn't even consider.
They had the stamina and sheer will to reduce a two-day journey to half a day, and they actually did it.
The intense running he made his soldiers do during training wasn't without reason.
Fast marching was a priority in any army.
Those who ordered it had to be better at running themselves, naturally.
Who would follow someone who couldn't prove their own ability?
They kept running and quickly reached the northeastern edge of the Border Guard, near the base of the Green Pearl mountain range.
The master of the third Low-Class Demon Realm was a group of five Trolls.
These creatures used the Pen-Hanil mountain range as their base and wandered around.
In reality, it wasn't the Demon Realm but the fact that these five Trolls roamed the vast mountain range, using it as a hiding place, that was the problem.
Although it was called a Low-Class Demon Realm, the five monsters acted as if the entire region was their territory.
They watched the merchant caravans, and if the group seemed even slightly weak, they would kill and loot them. At night, they also raided homes built near the city.
Last year, three merchant groups were wiped out.
These creatures had an uncanny ability to spot when the number of escorts was even slightly insufficient.
On the other hand, if you chased them down with a well-prepared team, they would vanish like smoke.
They were a monstrous group of natural hunters.
According to those who had seen them, they were armed with sturdy wooden clubs and camouflaged themselves with foliage.
These were intelligent monsters that knew how to hunt.
Such creatures were the most troublesome to deal with.
Even finding them was a task in itself.
Encrid recalled Krais's words.
It was about how to deal with the five Troll brothers.
"We'll probably lure them out with bait."
Naturally, Krais had a plan in mind.
'Too complicated.'
Encrid thought .
"Can you track them?"
He chose a simpler method.
He asked the question while looking at Dunbachel.
"I can't do it by smell. There's a nasty mix of odors."
Beastmen were born trackers.
Their sense of smell was even more acute than that of the Fairies.
However, Dunbachel shook her head.
The Troll brothers masked their scent by scattering their waste all over the mountain range and smearing sap on their skin to blend the odors.
"If I keep tracking, I could eventually sort out the smell."
"How long will that take?"
"Well, maybe a month?"
She wasn't sure.
It could take more than a month.
"I'll track them."
Rem stepped forward, casually picking at his ear while scanning the edge of the mountain range.
Encrid didn't know much about Rem's past.
He knew a little, but not in detail.
However, if Rem said he would do something, it meant he could do it properly.
Encrid himself had some experience with tracking and bounty hunting, but just because he'd done it didn't mean he had better skills than others.
He had only learned the basics.
In the past, the tracking skills learned from a hunter named Enri at Green Pearl would have been more helpful, but even that wouldn't be enough to instantly find the five Trolls that had been on the run.
These five monsters didn't fall under the general category of typical creatures.
Just as not all humans are the same, monsters are all different too.
Not all ghouls are the same.
The same goes for Bell insects.
Why would the Human-Faced Dog be any different?
There is variability among individuals.
Among them, these five Trolls seemed specialized in hiding and hunting.
"I'll chase and drive them out, so you just kill them."
Rem spoke simply and casually, but it was neither an easy nor simple task.
"I'll help too."
Sinar promptly offered.
Fairies are specialized in the environments where they were born and raised.
For her, forests and mountains were 'easy' environments to operate in.
For example, if she had met that Knight back in the forest, she wouldn't have been so easily overpowered.
She wouldn't have been able to beat him or overpower him with brute strength, but at least she wouldn't have been taken down easily.
Every battle is unpredictable until you clash swords.
Sinar realized this as she looked at Encrid.
He never gave up, even when the outcome seemed inevitable.
Thinking back now, maybe that was why she liked him from the start and suggested they spar right away.
"No need."
Rem shook his head.
Their methods were different.
If Sinar joined, they'd need time to synchronize their movements.
That would be a waste of time.
Sinar nodded in agreement.
If Rem said he could handle it alone, then that was enough.
Even if the Trolls were exceptional, this group was beyond exceptional.
"How long?"
Encrid was starting to smell musty.
Spring had come, but the mornings and nights were still cold.
He washed his face, hands, and feet, but hadn't bathed his body.
It felt unpleasant.
He wanted to finish this quickly and return.
Enduring discomfort, including the smell, was possible, but not bathing made them more susceptible to disease.
So, bathing was important.
Everyone likely felt the same.
Except for Dunbachel.
Despite being a beastwoman with a keen sense of smell, she disliked bathing.
The fact that those two traits coexisted baffled Encrid, but he had no way of convincing her otherwise.
In the end, he'd have to force her to bathe by sheer strength.
The rest of the group, however, agreed with Encrid.
"Light a fire and relax. I'll finish before dawn."
Rem said as he began walking toward the mountain range.
It seemed like he was walking slowly, but before long, he had completely disappeared into the forest.
"Let's grill some jerky."
Encrid said, watching Rem vanish.
Rest time should be used effectively, after all.
"Let's do that."
Audin and the others also found suitable spots to settle down.
Sinar dug a hole beneath a large tree and filled it with dry leaves and other kindling. Thanks to her habit of gathering dry twigs whenever she saw them, there was no need to search for kindling separately.
Traveling is easier when you're diligent and well-prepared.
In that regard, everyone was a prepared traveler.
Even after the squad that had come to greet them left, none of them experienced any discomfort with camping.
There wasn't a single person here who hadn't roamed the continent at least once.
Everyone took care of their own tasks.
Audin brought back a long branch and stripped the bark with a swipe of his hand. It was always a fascinating skill to watch. The skewers he made were cleaner than if they had been washed with water.
Meanwhile, Dunbachel sniffed the air and ventured into the forest at the edge of the mountain range, returning with a few squirrels.
At this point, Encrid took over.
He pulled a small pot from his backpack, and while Dunbachel skinned the squirrels and drained their blood, Sinar started a fire. She dug a hole and lit a smokeless fire—another skillful trick of the Fairy.
"Fire is truly mystical."
She said.
Encrid found it odd since she was always the one warning everyone to be cautious with the flames, yet now she spoke of its mysticism.
Encrid placed the blood-drained squirrels into the pot, then pulled out a clean cloth and began mashing them whole. He crushed everything, including the brains and intestines, then sprinkled a bit of salt and pepper, forming the mixture into meatballs. After that, he poured just enough water from his canteen into the pot and set it over the fire to boil.
Once the water started boiling, he added the meatballs along with some torn pieces of seasoned jerky. The jerky served as a natural seasoning.
As the broth reached its peak, a rich aroma filled the air.
This was a recipe he had learned from Rem.
It was said that the western tribes could eat an animal from head to toe.
"Looks good."
Audin smiled, more warmly than usual.
No matter how inhuman your strength, you still need to eat well.
Encrid believed this.
Even a Knight feels hunger, right?
Willpower is remarkable, but it doesn't solve hunger.
The more muscle training adds to your body, the hungrier you become.
"Let's eat."
The well-cooked squirrel meatballs, along with the jerky and seasoned broth, were excellent.
With the first bite, the flavors filled his mouth.
There was no unpleasant taste, just pure umami.
The tender meatballs and warm broth warmed his insides, and the softened jerky was satisfying to chew.
It had become a stew worth eating on the spot.
"It really clings to the tongue."
Dunbachel remarked.
Everyone agreed.
Encrid drank the broth and chewed on the meatballs.
The umami and rich flavor of the meatballs were complemented by the jerky, which asserted its identity in the dish.
It wasn't bad at all.
He wasn't particularly gifted in cooking, but he had eaten so much good food over time that his skill in making things naturally improved.
Everyone ate their fill.
Afterward, they kept warm by the fire and passed the time.
Encrid, reflecting on what he had learned from each person, repeatedly gripped and released his sword.
He was currently pondering the weapon technique that Audin had just taught him, a method focused on cutting with precision.
'The key is grip strength.'
He thought.
Loosen the grip, then apply force at the moment of impact.
It's more about transferring power than speed.
Thinking about it again, it was a difficult technique to break down into precise categories.
You can't describe everything in the world as straight, heavy, deceptive, fast, or soft.
The swordsmanship pioneered by the past genius, Leonesis Oniac, has since branched off in many directions.
Some even reorganized the sword techniques in their own unique ways.
This technique seemed like something that had evolved in a similar way.
'Focus the striking force into a single point.'
Is that all there is to it?
Then how do you concentrate the force?
What exactly is the striking force?
As he pondered, more questions arose.
Instead of asking for answers, Encrid immersed himself in solitary contemplation and research.
It was difficult, but he felt he was beginning to grasp it, however roughly.
It was different from before.
He was now at a level where he could create his own sword techniques from his experience.
He had even touched upon the fragments of Will.
Encrid had reached a point where his past talent was no longer a relevant topic of discussion.
But that didn't mean he understood all the principles.
He had faced a Knight's sword before, but he hadn't grasped everything behind the blow.
Does that matter, though?
No, it's not a problem.
'There's no need to understand everything.'
It's enough to grasp part of it and move forward from there.
This is the path he walked even when he had nothing.
Now, it was like walking on a well-paved road with signposts to guide him.
Encrid swung his sword into the air repeatedly, trying to grasp the technique.
It wasn't just grip strength that mattered.
It was about causing a burst of muscle power in an instant.
How should he do it?
He had to relax his muscles and then tighten them again.
How does that transfer to the weapon in his hand?
By applying tension to his muscles and then tightening his grip on the sword in one smooth motion.
'Without the Isolation Technique, this can't be learned.'
That was the conclusion.
Thus, he could learn it.
He already had the body built through the Isolation Technique.
"Amazing."
Audin muttered as he watched.
Encrid lifted his head and met his gaze.
The soldier, usually smiling like a bear, now had a serious, straight expression.
He was genuinely surprised.
The technique he had taught was one of the martial techniques of the Order.
In the Order of War, various sects' skills had been incorporated, and this was one that had been restored and mastered.
It was called 'Concentrated Burst'.
It was a modified version of an ancient technique, and Audin had thought it would be quite difficult for anyone to grasp its principles, but from what he saw, Encrid had already figured it out.
"Can you do it?"
Audin asked.
"It'll require repetitive training."
Encrid replied.
Knowing it and being able to immediately execute it with your body are two different things.
Still, knowing itself was impressive.
Audin had thought there was nothing left to surprise him, but this truly shocked him.
Hadn't he already seen Encrid learning martial techniques from Rem?
His talent was unbalanced.
It was the pinnacle of irrationality.
A bizarre contradiction.
He was terrible when it came to learning and mastering things, but then, at inexplicable moments, he would suddenly leap ahead in skill.
There was no way to explain that process in words.
It literally made no sense.
Is he incredibly gifted?
No, you couldn't say that.
It was something peculiar and unique.
It bordered on the mysterious.
But this time, it was different.
He was struggling, digging deep, and exploring the process.
Audin could see it.
He didn't stop thinking, even when he had grasped the principle.
It was a sustained force.
From the moment Audin demonstrated the 'Concentrated Burst' technique, Encrid must have been keeping it in his mind the entire time.
Though he had been asking various questions and learning different things, his main focus had been on perfecting the Burst technique.
What was surprising was that he prioritized his own technique while learning. It was a wise, intelligent, and commendable approach.
"Haha."
Audin chuckled.
"There's still a long way to go."
Encrid replied.
The sun was setting, and it seemed like they might spend another night here.
Just as Encrid finished speaking, a distant, guttural roar echoed from afar.
It was the sound of a Troll unleashing its cry.
Sinar, who had been poking the campfire with a twig, scattered the flames and muttered under her breath.
"Be careful with the fire."
What was with this Fairy and her constant obsession with fire?
Encrid stood up, but before he could react, someone else darted off like the wind.
"I'll go first, brother."
The voice was unusually cheerful and bright.
Hmm?
He didn't even have time to respond.
"Haha!"
Audin burst into laughter.
For some reason, Audin was in high spirits.
"What's going on, you crazy guy?"
Rem reacted from the other side.
Suddenly, his voice could be heard close by as he quickly approached.
In the distance, the Trolls came into view.
Two of them wielded clubs, while the other three held spears in reverse grips.
It seemed that Rem was luring them by keeping his back exposed just enough, making it look like they were ready to throw their spears at any moment.
Audin's burst of laughter seemed to have caught Rem off guard, causing him to halt, and the two Trolls immediately took the chance to throw their spears.
The spears, propelled by the full force of their bodies, sliced through the air with a sharp whistling sound.
A loud 'swoosh' followed.