The storm raged on for another day and finally stopped when it seemed like it couldn't get more tiresome.
It was truly a miserable rain.
"Let's rest for a bit."
Encrid said after the rain stopped. Water was still dripping off him, and through the clouds, the sun barely peeked, as if it couldn't decide whether to come out.
But that would soon tilt westward as well.
The gloomy weather was fading, about to give way to true darkness.
"Let's do that."
Rem nodded.
The Madmen Platoon wasn't the problem. Krang held up well too, but the horses were a concern.
They still had ten more days of riding ahead, and the horses were already getting tired. That wouldn't do.
Above all, if they didn't deal with their soaked bodies, they were bound to catch a cold.
If anyone started coughing, it'd become a hassle.
And if the horses got sick, that would be an even bigger headache.
Because of the storm, they hadn't slept properly and just kept walking.
"Are you really going to spend the time we gained on this?"
The bodyguard muttered to himself.
They had killed all the ones sent to kill them, buying some time.
Shouldn't they be moving now, getting outside the enemy's expected range?
Encrid nodded at his words.
Yes, that's exactly what we're going to do.
It was like he was answering. The bodyguard with the whip said nothing further.
What was there to say?
His best bet was to focus solely on protecting his Lord.
It wasn't like arguing would make a difference anyway.
'He'll figure it out.'
A certain respect, or perhaps a kind of trust, had started to form.
"Rem, let's light a fire."
"You always make me do the annoying jobs, don't you think?"
"Do I? Should I send Ragna instead?"
If they sent Ragna to gather dry wood, they might see him again around this time next year.
"That's enough."
Rem waved his hand dismissively.
"Dunbachel, come along."
Encrid assigned someone to help him.
"...Fine."
Dunbachel joined, clearly not happy about it. Rem noticed and commented:
"You wanna die?"
"I want to live. No one wants to die."
Their banter slowly faded as they moved away. It was just pointless jokes.
The two stepped off the road and headed toward the forest.
In the meantime, Encrid, Jaxon, and Ragna dug into the ground.
The odd-eyed horse, who had followed them while soaked, helped out too.
"Quite the skill you've got."
Krang commented as he watched.
The Odd-Eyes kicked at the ground, making a hole.
Encrid placed a flat stone over the hole.
Even though the rain had poured heavily, their supplies wrapped in oilcloth and leather hadn't gotten wet. But there were no cooking utensils among them.
Instead, they had salt and dried jerky.
Encrid took some salt and jerky from their stash.
The flat stone would serve as a good tool to grill the jerky.
Rem and Dunbachel returned, carrying some branches that, despite the storm, hadn't gotten soaked through.
Encrid took the half-wet branches and split them into kindling by hand. He then took out a flint from the supplies and started a fire.
With a few sharp clicks, sparks flew, and soon, flames came to life.
As he blew gently on the fire, it grew stronger. He added a few more branches.
If it weren't for the rain, they could have made a bigger fire, but this was the best they could do for now.
"Let's dry our clothes."
Other than Esther, the only woman here was Dunbachel, but when she transformed, she could cover her whole body with fur.
She would easily strip down without care for who was watching.
It was ridiculous for a beastwoman to be embarrassed about their nakedness, after all.
"It's not about you, it's about other people's eyes. Cover up."
Encrid taught Dunbachel a bit of consideration.
"Am I too attractive for them?"
"Pfft."
The panther snorted at that remark.
Dunbachel didn't pay much attention to it.
Encrid found that somewhat curious once again.
It suddenly struck him—Esther wasn't on bad terms with anyone in the company. In fact, you could say she got along well with everyone.
Why?
Was there really a reason?
There was. It was because of the way everyone treated Esther.
They didn't ostracize her for being a wizard.
The world's usual view of witches didn't apply to this group.
Especially to Rem, who dabbled in spells himself. To him, she was practically a kindred spirit.
Even though their roles and abilities were entirely different, there was a sense of camaraderie.
That's why Rem was so friendly.
Ragna didn't care whether Esther was a wizard or a sorceress.
Audin, in the past, would have condemned her as a heretic, but not anymore.
He had learned from watching Encrid and had opened his mind.
He now addressed Esther respectfully, even calling her 'sister'.
As for Teresa, there was no need to even mention it.
She had seen many wizards within her own Cult.
Compared to them, Esther was a remarkably sociable wizard.
Dunbachel was no different.
Esther didn't cause her any trouble, and she was quite attractive.
The only thing that bothered Dunbachel was that Esther sometimes monopolized their Captain.
Aside from that, Dunbachel actually liked Esther's long hair.
It was incredibly soft to the touch.
And even Esther didn't mind when Dunbachel played with her hair.
It wasn't fear in her eyes, nor was it curiosity.
Everyone simply recognized her as a person and respected her as such.
How could anyone dislike that?
'Am I starting to like people?'
It was rare for Esther to feel this way, but she took it as a good sign.
Wizards, after all, existed to explore and study.
Even this moment was worth exploring for Esther.
How would these relationships affect her magic?
It was definitely something worth researching.
"Esther, dry your fur too."
Encrid said.
At his words, Esther quietly settled down beside the campfire.
Everyone was drying their clothes. They wore only their undergarments, which were thin enough to dry while still being worn.
It was supposed to be a journey that would take a month at most, but on the very first day, right at the start, they were attacked by a group of about thirty assassins.
It wasn't exactly what you'd call an ideal beginning.
"Want a drink?"
Rem asked, rummaging for alcohol.
Jaxon had already taken out a flask and was sipping from it.
Encrid was in the middle of asking if Jaxon had any intention of sharing the drink.
Everyone acted as if they didn't have a care in the world.
"Got any alcohol?"
Krang, also caught up in the mood, asked.
The bodyguard shook his head. Alcohol? Here? It was surprising that anyone would even think about drinking in a place like this.
Jaxon handed a small bottle to Encrid.
Encrid took a sip and nodded.
"Apple cider."
"I met a master brewer in one of the towns we passed through."
"Excellent."
Encrid expressed his admiration.
"Are you just going to drink it all yourself?"
Rem walked up to Jaxon, boldly extending his hand.
Still sitting, Jaxon unsheathed a small dagger and swung it at him. Rem quickly pulled his hand back to avoid it.
"What are you doing?"
"Weren't you offering your wrist to be cut off?"
"Captain, mind if I kill this stray cat?"
Rem asked with a grin.
Encrid took another sip of the apple cider and watched the two bicker. Then, he sealed the bottle with its cap and tossed it.
Rem caught it.
Jaxon didn't mind if the Captain shared his drink. That was the end of their squabble. Once things cooled off, they both turned away from each other, barely acknowledging the other's presence.
Rem didn't grumble any further.
"Hey, let's eat together."
He said, approaching Dunbachel.
Dunbachel wasn't drinking, instead, she was gently grilling some seasoned jerky on the stone.
"Ugh, alright."
She agreed.
The special seasoning kept the jerky tender. Dunbachel thought it was the best food she'd had while camping.
Encrid felt the same as he ate.
Krang took a bite as well and nodded approvingly. If he ever became King, he'd probably give the person who made this jerky an award.
Ragna, meanwhile, was lost in thought, watching the storm. It reminded him of an old memory.
Back then, there had also been a storm.
The rain had fallen so heavily that he couldn't see an inch in front of him.
The downpour had struck his body with such force that it felt like it might leave bruises.
There was a day like that.
Remembering that moment from the past, Ragna turned his head in the direction of his homeland.
He looked north, using the stars to guide him.
"What are you doing?"
Encrid came over, sensing that something was off about Ragna's mood.
Ragna answered honestly.
"I'm looking north."
Toward the place where his family and his land used to be.
To where his people, his tribe, still lived—north.
Was this homesickness? Regret? Or maybe hatred?
As he stared in the direction of his homeland, it almost felt like he could sense their presence beyond the horizon.
"That's south."
Encrid said.
Ragna quietly turned his head. That was enough reminiscing. After moving through the storm, he was hungry.
It was time to eat.
"Don't even go to the bathroom alone."
Rem quipped, watching him.
Ragna ignored him.
As the night deepened and it was time for everyone to sleep, Encrid set the watch order.
"Jaxon, you take the first shift."
They quickly established the order: Jaxon, the bodyguard with the whip, Rem, Encrid, and finally Ragna.
Even if the enemy tried something with spells, they'd be fine.
Esther's eyes were glowing faintly in the dark.
At some point, the panther had fallen asleep beside Encrid.
Encrid wrapped his arms around the sleeping panther.
If something happened, she would wake up on her own.
Krang watched this and spoke up.
"A wizard who turns into a panther."
The bodyguard still flinched whenever he looked at Esther.
At first, he had been shocked by her transformation, and then later by her appearance.
But he wasn't the type to let his principles waver.
'Not bad.'
He was close to Krang, which meant he had to be a decent person.
He seemed a bit uneasy about resting, but he didn't say anything out loud.
Was his newfound trust in Encrid overflowing?
Maybe it was from watching him fight, but it was more about respect than anything else.
Encrid had proven his abilities, and since the bodyguard's Lord respected him, so did he.
He really wasn't a bad guy.
Lost in his thoughts, Krang's question finally registered.
"What do you think about becoming a Knight?"
"It's fun."
"Fun?"
When asked if everything was fine, the answer came back as 'fun'. Encrid nodded.
He had stuck some branches into the ground at an angle to hang his clothes for drying.
Jaxon was poking the campfire with a long stick.
Crackling sounds came as the partially wet branches burned, sending sparks into the air. The sparks danced in the night sky before vanishing.
Disappearing sparks, the rising flames, and the comfort that came as their damp bodies dried out.
Krang and Encrid sat facing each other with the campfire between them.
Beyond the comforting flames, Krang's eyes appeared red, reflecting the firelight.
Encrid stared directly into Krang's eyes.
Krang, in turn, gazed into Encrid's eyes.
Then Krang's mouth opened.
"What's your reason for helping me?"
First, he had called him a friend and spoken about his dreams while looking him straight in the eye.
But at no point did he ask for Encrid's help.
Krang was asking earnestly now, and his voice carried a certain force.
It felt like there was a commanding power behind his words.
Was this what the 'Word of Power' used by Dragon kin felt like?
Perhaps there was Dragon blood mixed into his ancestry.
It was as if the words themselves pressed upon him, demanding an answer.
'Interesting.'
Encrid felt something similar to when he was confronted with overwhelming force.
But it didn't trigger a refusal of will in him.
This wasn't an actual technique based on willpower.
And besides, Encrid wasn't intimidated by Krang's aura.
"Someone told me you're not a man to die here."
That's why he could answer so calmly.
"I won't die even without your help."
Krang said without even pausing for breath.
What confidence.
But Encrid didn't feel the need to deny his words either.
Even if Krang had to take a longer way around, he would have found a way to survive.
If he didn't have that kind of resolve, he wouldn't have survived this long.
Encrid had thought about it before helping Krang, after deciding to help, and even on that night after talking with Krais.
'Why am I helping him?'
Because he want to fight? Because being around him makes it seem like assassins and challenges will come their way?
Courage was certainly one of the core elements that made up Encrid. That much was true.
But that wasn't all. There was something deeper, something more fundamental that prompted him to act.
It was because he wanted to become a Knight.
A Knight is someone who protects.
So what must a Knight protect?
They protect the ones behind them.
And who will you allow to stand behind you?
Encrid wasn't serving Krang, and he hadn't sworn any oaths.
But—
He knew Krang wasn't someone unworthy of protection.
"Whether or not you're worth protecting."
Even under the oppressive force of Krang's aura, Encrid didn't falter.
He easily overcame it.
"I don't know yet."
Then, he continued after a brief pause.
It's because he doesn't know. That's why he helps. Lending a hand doesn't mean much will change in the long run.
Who knows? Only time will tell.
That's all there is to it—he helps because he doesn't know. He helps to learn who Krang really is.
Krang smiled again through the campfire. It wasn't a loud, fierce laugh like before, but a deep, quiet smile.
Encrid remained impassive.
"A Knight choosing a King."
Neither of them were Kings or Knights just yet.
"To be chosen by such a person… that would truly mark the beginning of my royal path."
The bodyguard frowned at what Encrid said, but quickly returned his expression to normal.
Seeing his Lord speak with such sincerity left him with no unease.
Encrid was speaking from the heart.
He was talking about the start of his royal path.
If the man before him was the beginning of that path, so be it.
The bodyguard had already made his choice.
"And besides, I just want to do things that'll annoy Count Molsen."
Encrid added, mentioning his small grudge. He hadn't forgotten how that man had refused to send reinforcements and pulled underhanded tricks.
"Count Molsen?"
"Yeah, a man like the genitals of a stray dog."
Encrid's ability to use vulgar language with a touch of elegance was a skill in itself.
This time, Krang chuckled.
"Stray dog's genitals, huh."
He thought it was a very fitting description.
Their nighttime conversation was nothing more than a light-hearted farce.
Rem, Ragna, Jaxon, and Dunbachel had enjoyed watching the two talk, finding some entertainment in their exchange, but that was all.
The next day, Krang's escort group hit the road again, and this time, they encountered a group of monsters.
Kaaaaah!
Starting with a pack of human-faced dogs, they were met with a monstrous assortment—truly a twisted gift set of creatures.