Bang!
Encrid blocked Andrew's first attack.
A straightforward vertical slash.
The blades clashed. Encrid's eyes met Andrew's gaze beyond the blade.
Tightly clenched lips and wide, determined eyes.
'Has he improved?'
He couldn't tell just yet.
After all, Encrid's memory of how well Andrew fought in the past was faint.
Instead of attacking again, Encrid pushed away the blade and stepped back.
Andrew immediately thrust his sword forward. Encrid gently deflected the thrusting sword and shifted his footwork.
He stepped forward with his left foot.
Andrew didn't notice. His slashing sword was blocked by the Ember in Encrid's left hand, causing it to glide off.
Encrid had been recently training to deflect swords solely by timing and instinct.
It was a movement that resembled the swordsmanship of the Fairy race. Naturally, it was a Fluid Sword Technique based on Sinar's finesse.
It hadn't fully become second nature, but given the skill gap, deflecting the sword wasn't difficult.
Andrew's sword clashed with the Ember, and with a resounding thud, the force misaligned and slid away.
"Ugh!"
Andrew inhaled sharply and forced the flowing sword to a halt.
In the meantime, Encrid pressed his left foot down, as if gripping the ground with his toes.
Crunch.
Using his left foot as a pivot, he sent his body forward. There was no need for even the slightest willpower.
He closed the distance, stepping forward with his right foot and shifting his weight. Simultaneously, with a motion from his ankle to his waist, he thrust his palm forward.
It was a strike combining the thrusting technique of Valaf-Style Martial Arts with the Concentrated Burst technique from Audin-Style.
He didn't use full force. That would have ruptured Andrew's intestines and killed him.
He didn't add extra force using his grip, nor did he tense and release all his muscles.
He only applied the technique with a sense of cutting precision.
And so, Encrid's palm met Andrew's abdomen.
Bang!
The sound was like a leather drum being struck.
"Ugh!"
Andrew's body flew backward. His feet lifted off the ground.
'Was that too strong?'
Maybe it was a bit strong. Andrew, having been knocked back, gagged and spit out bile. It took him a while to catch his breath.
But he didn't let go of his sword.
'He has improved.'
Encrid was quietly observing when it happened.
"Andrew, sir!"
Mac rushed over in shock. Once Andrew's nanny, Mac was now his butler.
When positions change and situations differ, one must adapt.
Mac had become a loyal servant to Andrew.
As Mac, pale-faced, hurried to his side, Andrew waved his hand.
It seemed to be a gesture that he was fine, though he continued to cough.
"Are you trying to kill him?"
Rem asked.
"I'm not, am I?"
Encrid replied.
"He's coughing up his guts like that."
"Looks like he choked."
"…And that's your excuse?"
The last comment was added by Ragna, who had been watching.
Why did these two seem so in sync at times like this?
After taking a few more breaths, Andrew waved Mac away.
"I'm fine."
His voice was slightly strained, but the impact wasn't severe.
It was like being hit by a cotton mallet.
Of course, that 'cotton mallet' referred to the one Audin used to wrap in cloth and strike Encrid with.
"It feels like a shame to end it here, don't you think?"
Andrew caught his breath with a deep sigh and waited for Encrid's response.
From the look in his eyes, Encrid sensed that Andrew had something hidden up his sleeve.
And that made him curious.
"Sure, let's continue."
"Yes, let's."
Andrew had also crossed the line of danger to get this far.
Adjusting his stance slightly, Andrew took a step forward.
Several exchanges followed, but naturally, Encrid won.
At one point, Andrew closed the distance and even tried to shoulder tackle him, but Encrid skillfully countered.
"Have you learned wrestling or some form of martial arts?"
"Do you remember Audin?"
"The soldier who resembles a bear?"
"Yes."
"Audin taught you, didn't he?"
Andrew knew that Encrid learned things from his subordinate soldiers.
Despite having his technique, which he had spent years developing, broken, Andrew felt a sense of relief.
Honestly, there hadn't been anyone lately who could push him like this.
Since surpassing Mac, there was no one left to spar with in peace.
Even as a Baron, after aligning with Krang's faction, he had found himself isolated like on an island.
Everyone around him formed cliques and factions, but he was alone.
He was desperate to compete with Knights or skilled warriors.
Lately, his abilities seemed to have stagnated as well.
In this situation, Encrid's arrival was like rain during a drought. It went beyond relief—he felt a surge of excitement.
"Stay a few more days before you leave."
This proposal came out naturally.
The eyes of the five Gardner family trainees watching also lit up.
It was a sparring match from which they could learn a lot just by observing.
Even if they couldn't fully grasp it, it was clear that a skilled person like Encrid had some connection to their Lord.
Surely, they could glean something, even if only scraps.
Encrid glanced at the five eager-eyed trainees.
From his perspective, at their current level, they should be spending their days swinging practice swords.
It wasn't time to learn techniques yet, they needed to master the basics first.
But should he ignore their enthusiasm?
Old memories stirred in him.
Specifically, memories of when he had first come to the Capital.
"You want to learn swordsmanship? That'll be ten gold coins."
The swordsmanship instructor had been an arrogant bastard, too busy sneering.
He had boasted that he was one step below platinum in the mercenary world and that if he had stayed a mercenary, he would have become a platinum-ranked one.
Though it wasn't entirely boasting, the instructor was indeed highly skilled.
"Hey, I'll teach you one technique, but bring that serving girl from earlier to Van's house tonight."
He had also proven the saying that skill and character don't always go hand in hand.
Encrid had refused, and he had been beaten nearly to death for it.
No, the instructor had intended to kill him, but by sheer luck, Encrid had survived.
He was fortunate. A few passing guards had seen and intervened.
It had been pure luck that those guards happened to be passing through that alleyway.
In those memories of the past, Encrid saw his former self in these young men.
Turning away from someone with such a desire to learn was something Encrid couldn't do.
Just as Andrew was now showing his passionate eyes, the five Gardner trainees seemed to burn with the same enthusiasm.
Encrid couldn't bring himself to ignore them.
"Alright, I'll stay."
"What? You're staying? Then make us something tasty. You're a noble, after all."
Dunbachel reacted the moment she heard.
As for the others, they seemed indifferent whether they stayed or left.
Thus, they decided to stay a few more days.
Encrid respected their eagerness. And so, he began right away, determined to respond to their passion and enthusiasm.
"One thousand downward slashes."
"...What?"
One of the trainees, a freckled girl with a ponytail standing at the front, asked again.
"One thousand one hundred."
Andrew had experienced Encrid before. These people weren't called madmen for nothing. He quickly caught on.
"...Do as he says. Begin."
At Andrew's command, the trainees began to pick up their swords one by one.
As they all started to clumsily swing their swords, Encrid opened his mouth again.
Somewhere between instruction and admonishment, with a hint of harassment.
At least, that's how the trainees perceived it.
"Swing with the resolve to cut down your opponent with full strength. Got it? Your stance is sloppy. Are you even putting strength in your thighs?"
Whack.
As he spoke, he struck the trainee's thigh with the flat of his Gladius. The trainee let out a yelp of pain.
"And you scream over this?"
Encrid knew the pain of wanting to learn but being unable to.
He had decided to stay here and do something for these trainees.
This was the first step: drilling them in the fundamentals.
The harsher it was, the easier their next step would be. He knew that from experience.
A lack of determination? That could be fixed.
With hands, feet, and Rem.
"Rem?"
"I'll help out."
Dunbachel, sensing the atmosphere, grabbed one of the trainees.
"Hey, is now the time to be rolling your eyes? Should I pluck them out for you?"
She did as Rem had taught her, extending her nails and pretending to pick at them in front of the trainee's face. The trainee's complexion turned pale.
"Uh, Captain?"
Andrew couldn't understand why things had suddenly taken this turn.
And the idea that this was out of goodwill? He found that even harder to believe.
But now wasn't the time to tell them to stop.
He glanced over the trainees for a moment and then gave up.
After all, if they could endure this torment, they would improve. They would grow stronger.
He had personally experienced how much things changed after being beaten up by Rem, that barbarian.
And so, Encrid settled in at Andrew's estate for a while.
* * *
Each morning, he practiced The Isolation Technique, followed by training and sparring.
Encrid quickly established his routine.
"Ragna, come out. I've chosen you."
"Very well."
They had built a large training field behind the mansion, and because of this, there seemed to be no garden.
It was impressive. Encrid was satisfied.
The mansion's cook prepared meals every day, and the food wasn't bad.
Esther had become infatuated with a wool cushion.
She had transformed into a panther and refused to leave the cushion.
The odd-eyed horse also seemed quite pleased with the place.
He had taken to acting like the leader among a few horses and even seemed to be roaming between the mares at night.
He was truly a stallion.
Encrid maintained his routine—eating, drinking, resting, and training all day.
In the meantime, a few trainees contemplated desertion.
"This kind of opportunity doesn't come often."
Andrew managed to talk them out of it. Even he was pale-faced from the relentless training.
Since Encrid had been putting Andrew through intense training from dawn, it was no surprise.
The sight of Andrew trembling as he spoke gave his words a sense of credibility—and sincerity.
The training Andrew was undergoing was no joke either.
It all began with a single comment from Encrid.
"Your body seems a bit scrawny. You've gained some flab."
Though it was a ridiculous statement, Andrew couldn't argue.
Having seen Encrid's body during their shared baths, Andrew knew it was a weapon in itself.
Especially that 'third leg'—it was truly like a weapon.
"This isn't fair."
Andrew muttered to himself.
"What?"
"Nothing."
And so, the grueling training continued.
Two days later, Rem finally asked.
"But is it right to come all the way to the Capital just to train?"
Truthfully, Rem knew Encrid well enough to understand that this was exactly something he'd do.
So why bring it up now?
"Why?"
"Aren't you going to check out the Capital?"
"I was thinking of going out this afternoon to get some armor."
Ragna chimed in.
Wasn't it enough fun to just train and spar?
Encrid thought so, but he respected everyone's wishes.
"Ragna, make sure to take a servant with you. Stay within five paces at all times."
"That's unnecessary."
"I'm saying this because I don't know when I'll see you again if you go out now."
"The Capital may be complicated, but I've already memorized the streets."
Ragna shook his head, attempting to refuse.
"Sure, you have."
"Is he insane?"
"Did you hit your head?"
Jaxon, Rem, and Dunbachel all chimed in.
"When he says take someone, take someone."
Encrid was firm. Ragna had no choice but to agree in the end.
"I'm going out for a bit of fun too. What are we doing just sitting here?"
"Do as you like."
Encrid planned to stay for another three or four days before leaving.
Jaxon had gone out on the first day, claiming he had some business to attend to.
Dunbachel, after watching silently for a while, also decided to move.
"I'm going to find a sword. Mine's in bad shape."
Her scimitar's blade had become quite damaged—far beyond the help of a whetstone.
Since they were in the Capital, there would be good steel and plenty of weapons.
Even if she couldn't have a new one made, she could probably find a sword that suited her hand.
Encrid thought it would be hard to find a weapon better than the one he already had.
Besides, today wasn't his only opportunity.
More importantly, he felt it was right to spend time with these people, filled with passion and desire, much like he had been in the past.
"You live here, so I suppose you don't need to go out."
Encrid gave the remaining trainees what felt like a death sentence.
"Aren't you going to check out the Capital?"
One of the trainees gathered the courage to ask.
"Aren't you going?"
"I'm not."
Encrid responded firmly once again.
'Progress.'
Moving forward—that was the key. Even though he was teaching these trainees, Encrid never neglected his own training.
In fact, it was quite the opposite.
They say you learn by teaching.
'Basics.'
He never forgot the importance of the basics.
When he first came to the Capital, he had heard it so much it felt like his ears would bleed.
"The basics. If you don't even have those down, what can you do?"
A solid foundation was necessary to move forward, and Encrid stuck to that principle.
While teaching the five trainees, he reinforced his own knowledge.
It was an unexpected stroke of fortune.
Teaching allowed him to reflect and realize a direction better than mere pondering.
Moreover, he had recently learned a lot: Audin's Concentrated Burst technique, Ragna's swift yet heavy sword style, Rem's mastery of any weapon, Dunbachel's full-body flexible swordsmanship, and Teresa's shield techniques.
He had absorbed much. There hadn't been time to fully digest it all.
But did he really need to master everything?
His thoughts spiraled from one to the next. He was getting lost in this mental flow, eager to dive deep into what he was realizing.
Ping.
His Sense of Evasion from the Gate of Sixth Sense triggered.
There was no need to turn his head.
An arrow. He tracked its trajectory by sound and twisted his body halfway.
Tock.
The incoming arrow landed in Encrid's hand.
He looked up at the wall. In broad daylight, there stood a madman brazenly aiming at him.
"What do you want?"
Encrid asked.