"I can't go."
Just before separating those who were leaving from those who were staying, Krais was the first to decline. Encrid hadn't planned to take him along in the first place.
"There's too much work left here. Don't go off getting beaten up somewhere just because I'm not around."
Krais said it so confidently that Encrid naturally felt like he had to nod in agreement.
"Yeah, I should try not to get beaten up."
After making a renewed vow, Krais took a step back.
"Why are you looking at me like that, all scary? Are you going to hit me?"
"Why would I?"
He only responded out of concern.
"Anyway, I can't go. I need to get the outpost in order, and though I trust Leona, merchants, by nature, will clear out the storehouse if you leave them alone, so you'll need to watch out."
Just as he said, Krais couldn't leave.
He still had to deal with those who had yet to come to their senses—nobles in name but idiots in reality.
It seemed like even ten bodies wouldn't be enough for him, but that wasn't quite the case. Krais managed to do everything that needed to be done.
He took his breaks, met the people he needed to meet.
For about ten days now, he had even been going on what looked like dates with Nurat, who had arrived in the city.
Nurat was a Black woman, the bodyguard and adjutant of Garrett, the Battalion Commander of the Green Pearl garrison.
Krais had sent a letter tied to a raven's leg to Garrett, requesting personnel in advance, claiming there was something urgent to discuss, which was why Nurat had come.
But surely that urgent discussion wasn't supposed to involve meals and walks through the market, was it?
Given that there were days he didn't even return to his lodgings, it was possible to speculate that they'd already done everything.
Of course, this was none of Encrid's concern.
"Commander Garrett wants to retire, so we need to select a successor."
Krais had made up his mind to take control of the entire city.
Seeing his passionate attitude, Encrid felt something.
'He's caught the Krona bug.'
It was true.
Krais had plans to make this city prosperous.
The city would grow so large that the leftovers falling through the cracks would be more than enough for him to feast on.
He also wouldn't stop making money in preparation for the civil war that seemed likely to erupt.
That was Krais' goal.
In fact, he was already establishing outposts and setting his sights on the herbs and poisons coming from the swamps.
For these reasons.
"I'm anxious, sending you off on a long journey without me."
Sinar remarked.
There was no one more skilled than her at exploring the swamps, distinguishing between herbs and poisons, and discovering useful materials.
"Is that so."
Her doll-like face, not just beautiful but with an expressionless demeanor, gave nothing away.
"It's a joke."
"Yes, I know."
"I thought you wouldn't."
So, all this time, it wasn't a joke?
No, it had all been jokes.
There was no point in distinguishing them.
It was always difficult to adapt to a Fairy's jokes.
Encrid shook his head inwardly.
Sinar aside, Audin and Teresa were also staying behind.
"I've still got too many soldiers to train, Brother."
Audin said with a kind smile, though that wasn't the whole reason.
Encrid instinctively felt that Audin was reluctant to go to the Capital, specifically to the Royal Palace.
But it wasn't something to press him on. As always, Encrid respected the choices of his company members.
The reason for his reluctance didn't matter to him.
"I'll stay and help, too."
At some point, Teresa had stuck closely by Audin's side.
No soldier was brave enough to call them the 'Giant Siblings' to their faces, but the nickname suited them well.
"Alright then."
Encrid said.
That settled things.
"Ugh, the weather's looking gloomy."
Said the fierce barbarian, Rem.
"When we arrive at the Capital, I have personal business to attend to."
Said the sly stray cat, Jaxon, who openly hinted at his hidden motives.
"Do what you need to."
"Reaching the Capital? That'll take about half a year."
Jaxon added.
With horses and good weather, the trip along the road should take no more than 15 to 20 days, so how it would take half a year was anyone's guess.
Then there was the lazy swordsman, who, if left alone, seemed like the kind of person who'd quickly go missing, only to reappear somewhere else, carving a legend with a single sword.
"Travel, huh? It's the pleasure of a dull life."
The unpredictable wizard said, who had transformed into a woman today for some reason.
"Will there be a lot of fighting? I hope there is."
The beastkin said, who had no interest in the person they were meant to guard, only hoping for more attackers to ambush them along the way, utterly unconcerned with propriety.
"Hiiiing."
A wild horse whinnied with different-colored eyes, carrying the blood of a beast.
"Are you guys serious?"
The whip-wielding guard asked.
He looked at each of them one by one, his expression growing serious.
They had to serve their Lord and carve a path through treacherous terrain. Nothing about the journey could be taken lightly.
Marcus had even gathered a unit to serve as bait for this mission, yet he had left early the previous night, claiming urgent business.
'Disloyal.'
The whip-wielding guard thought, cursing Marcus silently. But Krang didn't seem to mind.
"He's a busy man."
Krang defended him.
How were they supposed to reach the Capital without him? They would have needed his escort forces, but since that wasn't an option, they would have to rely on the plans laid out, even if the 'seeds' they had sown so far were still merely saplings.
For example, the Language Restoration Guild. That was one of the seeds their Lord had planted.
But that wasn't a viable option either.
'What on earth...?'
The Language Restoration Guild hadn't managed to build up any strength within the Border Guard. At least in terms of military power, they were terribly lacking.
Hadn't someone once said that a mad Frog took out all the warriors by itself?
'What the...'
Was that just some absurd story, or had some idle Frog really gone around doing such a thing?
Just like there are strange humans in the world, maybe there were Frogs like that too. But for one to stay here and take on all the troublesome tasks?
'Bound by a pact?'
It was a reasonable suspicion.
In any case, with Encrid's Mad Company stepping in as their guard, things were looking good.
At least, that was how it seemed.
'But it feels... unsettling.'
The intuition honed over years of life-threatening guard duty told him one thing:
These guys aren't normal.
If he relied on them alone, there'd be no hope.
Every single one of them seemed to breed unease.
Why would it take half a year to reach the Royal Palace? Why do none of them seem to care about their guard duties?
And why are they grinning while estimating the number of attackers that might ambush them?
"So, everyone knows how to ride a horse, right?"
Encrid asked, addressing the group.
"No carriage?"
"A carriage would draw too much attention! We need to move without being seen, and you want a carriage?"
The whip-wielding guard erupted in anger midway through, but Rem nonchalantly picked at his ear.
"What's with this guy? Did he eat something bad? Why is he yelling this early in the morning?"
This son of a bitch…
"Enough."
Krang intervened just as the guard was about to lose his temper for real.
His eyes gleamed, more alert than ever.
These people were peculiar, even in his eyes.
While Krais had vaguely picked up on it, Encrid knew instinctively, and Krang had incredible insight.
In short, he had an exceptional eye for people.
It wasn't some magical ability to see through everyone's hearts.
'Interesting individuals.'
He could tell instantly. These people were anything but ordinary.
The rumors about them seemed to have underestimated them.
'Madmen.'
Krang thought.
Whoever gave them that name deserved an award.
He couldn't think of a better way to describe them.
And that's despite having enjoyed poetry and writing since childhood.
'Uncontrollable forces.'
It was obvious at a glance. These weren't people who moved at anyone's command.
But then why were they gathered here?
To protect themselves? Not a chance.
"Stop talking about carriages. Get it together. This is a mission. You're going to escort the person right in front of you to the Capital."
Encrid scolded Rem, who then glanced over at the two people standing there.
"Those two?"
"I'm the guard."
Said the whip-wielding guard, finding it particularly difficult to keep his composure today.
At first, he managed to calm himself down somehow.
But the unfamiliar appearance of his Lord, and the events that followed which defied all logic, shook his equilibrium.
On top of all that, he just didn't like any of this.
Everything added up, making him unusually agitated.
Responding, the guard took deep breaths to compose himself.
'This is bad.'
If things went awry, he might have to escort his Lord to safety by himself. He couldn't afford to be rattled.
The guard took a few deep, deliberate breaths. He wasn't an ordinary man, either.
And then it happened.
"Guard?"
"Not a guide?"
"Who?"
The gray-haired bastard.
The blonde with the droopy eyes.
And finally, the mad beastkin trio chimed in.
'Ah, these guys... seriously.'
"Stop teasing me."
The guard muttered.
Encrid stepped in to stop them. Rem and the others naturally followed his command. Seeing this, Krang's eyes gleamed even brighter.
'They can be controlled?'
These people, like whirlwinds who could spin out in any direction? How? Through power? Skill? No, that wasn't it.
'Influence.'
Just as Krang himself had been influenced, these people, too, were influenced by Encrid.
They followed his words. They respected his will. Encrid was the key that controlled them.
'Ah.'
Krang's insight was indeed extraordinary. He could grasp the process by seeing the result.
'If they were mere amateurs, Enki would just seem like a madman.'
To the average person, Encrid's behavior was hard to understand. Standing by his side would be even harder.
He was a difficult person to be around.
But at the same time, he was not someone who could be ignored.
Whatever he did, it would inevitably draw attention, and his way of life often felt like it was silently reprimanding others.
Many people must have crossed paths with Encrid over time.
Some would have criticized him.
Some would have tried to ignore him.
And some, no doubt, would have admired his persistence.
But none of them could have stayed by his side.
That's just the kind of person Encrid was.
So, who were the ones left?
'Definitely madmen.'
Or people with extraordinary talents in certain areas.
Those who wouldn't crumble in the face of Encrid.
"Interesting."
Krang concluded aloud.
"You hear that? He said it's interesting. The guy's got an eye for people. What did you say your name was again?"
Rem asked as he approached Krang, throwing an arm around his shoulder. It was a casual gesture, but not one you'd make toward someone destined to be King.
If Krang had been a noble, Rem would've had his arm cut off by now. But Rem didn't care about such things.
And neither did Krang.
Before the guard could have a fit, Krang waved his hand and answered.
"Krang."
"Good. I'll protect you. Let's go."
Recently, the weather had been bright and sunny, but today, the sky was overcast.
Gray clouds blocked out the morning sun.
"Why are you coming?"
Encrid asked the odd-eyed horse trailing behind them.
"Hiiiiing."
Of course, there was no one who could communicate with a horse.
The guard wondered,
'What in the world is he doing, trying to talk to a horse?'
"Ah, you're bored. I guess you've explored all the surroundings by now. Fine, come with us."
It really looked like Encrid was talking to the horse. As he spoke, he stroked the mane of the odd-eyed wild horse. It had no saddle and no horseshoes.
'That guy's not normal either.'
The guard thought.
Encrid only appeared normal in comparison to the others.
Determined to stay alert, the guard resolved to keep his wits about him.
The odd-eyed horse followed along but didn't allow anyone to ride it.
"Good luck."
Graham said as he bid them farewell, handing over the reins.
"Do you know the direction?"
He asked.
Of course, Krais also came out to see them off at the city's edge.
"If you're not sure, should I lead the way?"
Ragna chimed in.
"You madman, do you want to wander the continent for half a year?"
Rem scolded him, and Ragna turned his head away.
"Shut up, barbarian who can't even fight."
"…Did I just lose?"
Rem muttered.
Jaxon reacted to the exchange.
Rem's cheeks trembled, and a not-so-friendly smile crept onto his face.
Encrid smoothly stepped in between them.
He was also an experienced rider. The horse with a saddle moved exactly as he directed.
"We follow the main road."
"What?"
The guard was the most surprised by this statement.
Krang was a little surprised too.
It wasn't that he doubted their skills.
But wasn't this just asking for trouble?
"Oh, had you thought this through in advance? Or were you just about to mention it?"
Krais nodded as he spoke.
"Yeah. It seemed like the right thing to do."
"Instinct?"
"Half."
"And the other half?"
"I thought it over."
Encrid ran his hand through his short-cropped hair. It was the haircut Krais had trimmed for him not long ago.
Krang mulled over their conversation.
He wasn't a fool.
'We've already been exposed. They know.'
Krang had faced life-threatening situations in many places.
He was quick to grasp the situation, thanks to his experience.
It was clear that, even before they had set out, those targeting him were already in position.
Whether they took the main road or wandered the mountain paths, the result would be the same.
Better to stick to the main road and push ahead at full speed.
If they abandoned the carriage and chose horses, that would be the fastest route.
Having traveled the continent, Krang wasn't someone who would easily fall behind anyone else.
In his mind, a path began to form.
The fastest route from the Border Guard to the Capital.
"I know a few shortcuts."
Krang said.
Encrid nodded. A guard target who understood him well—there was nothing wrong with that.
Kwaarrung!
At that moment, thunder rumbled in the distance, followed by a lightning strike.
A blue bolt of lightning crashed down over the Pen-Hanil Mountain Range.
If a mountain ranger had been there, they would've faced terrible danger.
Of course, with weather like this, they would have come down from the mountains long ago.
Soon, raindrops began to fall, lightly at first, then more steadily.
"Well then."
Dududu.
Encrid led the group forward, and soon everyone was on the move.
They were all proficient riders.
Esther ran in her panther form.
Watching them disappear into the distance, Graham muttered under his breath.
"Will they be alright?"
"Who are you worried about?"
Krais responded.
These were some of the strongest forces in the region.
An assassination attempt?
If these people were the kind to die from something like that, they would have all held hands and crossed the so-called River of Death a long time ago.