His hair had more white than black, and his beard was short. His body was moderately trained but had passed its prime. There was a bit of hidden flab left. It wasn't the kind of body trained with full dedication.
There was an air of nobility about him, even while he was still. It seemed as if he was saying, 'This is what it means to be a noble.'
This is how Encrid perceived him, both in appearance and aura.
So, when he mulled over what the man had said, a thought occurred to him.
'Marquis, indeed.'
Encrid calmly acknowledged that he had fallen for the provocation.
But it wasn't a big deal since nothing would change because of it.
Above all, he had been planning to act on it from the start.
In fact, he was almost grateful the Marquis had said just the right thing.
Even so, there was no need to act immediately. His sweat had cooled enough for the breeze to feel chilly.
Encrid set down the halberd he had been holding to one side. He placed the rest of his weapons, one by one, in the armory next to the training grounds, careful not to let any dew form on them.
At that moment, all thoughts aside, he was hungry. He had trained, dealt with the Marquis, and now hunger was gnawing at him. It was time for lunch.
"Let's eat."
Encrid spoke as he closed the armory door.
Kin lifted her head at that. Perhaps she was hoping for an invitation to join them for the meal.
No one extended one. No one even glanced her way.
'Are these people blind?'
She was starting to feel a dip in confidence about her appearance. Therefore, she had no desire to linger any longer.
"I'll be going."
Kin left, accompanied by five guards waiting outside. Each of them stood in immaculate posture. They seemed fairly skilled.
Encrid glanced at them and thought to himself.
Dragging an entourage around like that.
Well, with the recent rumors about the Capital's security being a disaster, it was probably necessary.
The Marquis had brought unusually few guards with him earlier.
Once Kin had turned away, Encrid started walking back into the mansion and spoke.
"Weren't you interested?"
Andrew was right next to him.
Encrid had seen Andrew glancing a few times toward Kin as he let her leave, so he asked.
"I'm busy trying to save my family. I don't have time to be distracted."
Encrid nodded as if to say, 'Fair enough'. There was no right or wrong in life. Where would you even find such a thing?
It was all just one's own choices.
Encrid respected Andrew's decision.
"You're still unique, Captain."
Andrew said. But Encrid had heard this enough times that he let it go in one ear and out the other.
It was a better remark than being told to visit a shrine for treatment.
"Ah, I was hungry too."
Dunbachel approached from behind, speaking as she did. Encrid firmly told Dunbachel that if she didn't wash up, there would be no meal for her.
Naturally, she washed up as well.
After a while, everyone gathered at the dining table, and the meal was served.
The maid who had made a mistake earlier had composed herself by now and was diligently bringing food and drinks to the table.
Soon, a hearty meal filled the table.
Today's menu consisted of carrots, broccoli, potatoes, and beef stew cooked with wine.
It was one of the traditional dishes of Naurillia.
Monsters and beasts had generally driven humans to live in castles, and as a result, food culture had flourished.
The technology to build fortresses had also advanced rapidly for similar reasons.
Thus, the culinary culture within the castle had developed in various ways. And no wonder, for this was the Capital city of Naurillia.
Even the chef Andrew had hired would be considered top-class outside the Capital.
Slurp.
Encrid tasted the stew first.
A rich, savory flavor enveloped his tongue and slid down his throat. The taste awakened the hunger he had temporarily forgotten after washing up.
He picked up his fork and placed the diced beef and carrots onto his plate, taking a bite.
After setting aside the bay leaves, he pierced the meat and brought it to his mouth.
With a single bite, the well-cooked beef offered a soft texture and practically melted apart.
It was tender and fluffy, breaking down in the mouth. The beef's richness harmonized with the umami, flowing down his throat like a waterfall.
The carrots were soft, and the broccoli, having absorbed the seasoning, had transformed into something new.
It was a satisfying meal. His hand handling the fork started to move faster.
Everyone else was eating much like Encrid.
Even Esther had taken a human form and joined at the table.
"It's always fascinating to see."
Andrew remarked as he watched Esther.
Since the five apprentices and Mac were dining separately, the only people at the table, aside from Andrew, were Encrid's people.
Esther noticed where Andrew's gaze was and spoke.
"Is this your first time seeing a witch?"
Esther asked, which was uncharacteristic of her. It was a gesture of goodwill, offered because a proper meal had been served.
Of course, it didn't really seem like goodwill to anyone else, but to Esther, it was.
"This is the first time I've seen such a beautiful sorceress."
Esther didn't particularly react to the comment.
Andrew hadn't meant anything by it. He just thought it was natural that Encrid wouldn't be swayed by Kin Visar. Esther cut her broccoli with a knife and popped it into her mouth. Her beauty was almost otherworldly.
Her long, flowing hair, blue eyes, and mysterious aura made her seem like an untouchable presence.
Yet, everyone around her treated her casually.
Rem asked a question, and Esther nodded.
"Does food taste better when you eat as a panther or as a human?"
Dunbachel asked as well.
"Why don't you transform and find out for yourself?"
Esther answered without expression. She wasn't angry, this was just how she was.
Andrew, having spent several days observing her, had finally started to get used to it.
'That panther was a witch?'
But what surprised him even more was Encrid. Compared to when he had served under him, Encrid had become a completely different person.
'Is he really going to become a Knight?'
The thought crossed his mind.
Andrew dismissed his idle thoughts and focused on his meal.
Watching the others eat, it became clear that if he didn't start soon, he might not even get to see the meat.
Even though they had prepared plenty, this was how it always turned out. These people ate about three times as much as a normal person.
Everyone seemed to have forgotten about the incident with the Marquis.
Andrew found that remarkable as well.
No one asked or questioned what had happened. It was the difference between following someone and trusting them.
As he watched Encrid, Andrew subconsciously realized what he needed to earn from his subordinates. It was an unexpected revelation.
Andrew was lost in thought when, after everyone had filled their stomachs, Dunbachel asked with her mouth still smeared with sauce.
"What do you think it is? And for the record, it's not a beastfolk."
Even though she skipped over a lot of context, everyone understood.
He was referring to whatever it was that had been prowling the streets of the Capital at night, kidnapping people.
Whether it was an assassin or a monster, they first needed to know what it was before they could hunt it down.
Rem agreed with that sentiment.
They had to figure out what their prey was before they could track it.
'A beast prowling at night?'
Even if the Capital's security was in shambles, it didn't make sense for a monster to be running wild.
Which meant it was something that hid during the day and only acted at night, and only once every few days. Even with this information, it was hard to deduce its identity.
Ragna also nodded slightly, indicating that he understood and shared the same curiosity.
Encrid found it surprising that no one was questioning why they had to be the ones to hunt it down.
The fact that even Dunbachel asked what it was without any complaints was impressive.
It was fascinating how they followed without any grumbling.
In truth, they were all a bit bored. Harassing trainees and sightseeing in the Capital could only entertain them for so long.
Rem had already started sharpening the edge of his axe, which was a signal that he was eager to fight. The atmosphere in the Capital was also intense, similar to the feeling on a battlefield. After chewing and swallowing what was in his mouth, Encrid finally spoke.
"A wizard who controlled lightning, a cave, an alchemist's experimental subjects."
It was a string of words.
Encrid had an excellent memory. He had also heard about the events that had taken place in the Capital.
Andrew had even helped organize the information for him.
The sound of a beast howling at night, causing people to disappear every few days.
A presence that couldn't be felt during the day.
When Encrid pieced all the information together, something came to mind.
His mouth opened again.
"And Black Blade."
Jaxon was also present at that gathering, where everything Encrid had just said had come together.
It was the place where they overturned the location where the Black Blade Bandits had been producing drugs, revealing clear evidence of human experimentation.
Was it the alchemist named Laban? There was a madman with that name.
There, they also saw a human, half turned into a ghoul, lying sprawled out.
Encrid organized the information, recalling the events and piecing them together.
What kind of creature runs rampant at night and hides during the day?
What could it be related to?
How would the current situation tie into this?
The leader of the Black Blade Bandits is in the Capital.
He has lost the sword called Laikanos, and those he would call enemies have come close to him. No, they haven't just come close—they are already here.
"Does Jaxon not know he's being hunted?"
Of course, he knows. If he didn't, he wouldn't have been able to hide his identity and pull off these schemes for so long.
"Is that correct?"
Jaxon furrowed his brow and asked. Encrid nodded. He didn't stop there and continued explaining for the benefit of those who followed without question.
The traces are close to that of a monster, but the fact that it hides during the day is proof that this being has reason. If it didn't, it would mean someone is controlling it and releasing it at specific times, but that's not feasible.
The Capital's security forces aren't completely incompetent. They couldn't pull off something like this without getting caught.
Encrid recalled the head of the guard he had seen when entering the Capital. The man with the feathered hat had left a strong impression.
Regardless of his skills, he didn't seem like someone to be easily fooled.
The fact that they hadn't caught this creature meant that its strength and movements were difficult to deal with.
Encrid rested his right elbow on the table and raised his index finger as he spoke.
"The conclusion is a human undergoing a monster transformation."
What kind of thought process does it take to arrive at such a conclusion?
Even Esther only understood after hearing it explained.
When Encrid contemplates swordsmanship, he considers everything from start to finish.
His exceptional memory aids him in this.
He also adds a creative and flexible mindset.
Creativity and flexibility aren't just innate—they require constant training and repetition.
For Encrid, swordsmanship and physical techniques were always like a cliff with no clear path forward.
He had to constantly think and strategize to climb that cliff. Otherwise, there would be no progress.
This is what allowed him to expand his thoughts. Because anything was possible, he could consider all possibilities.
When he gathered all the information, he arrived at the answer.
"It only appears when the moon is up."
Jaxon added to the conversation.
Jaxon had taken an interest in all the strange happenings in the Capital.
Naturally—who knew where a clue might surface?
However, this particular case had caught Jaxon off guard.
To be honest, he had forgotten about it.
There were so many mad alchemists performing human experiments in this world, after all.
But now that he was piecing things together, it made perfect sense.
If the human was undergoing a monster transformation, then what kind of monster was it?
It only appeared on nights when the moon was out, and it couldn't resist its instincts in the dark.
'Lycanthrope.'
If Jaxon had deduced it, then his Captain surely had too. But there was no need to say it out loud. He kept his mouth shut.
"Now there's only one thing we need."
Encrid continued.
Rem, who had been quietly listening, nodded and spoke.
"We don't have the authority."
"Exactly. If we investigate the scene of the incidents starting tomorrow, the constables will be overjoyed to see us. They'll jump at the chance to challenge us, asking who gave us the right to act."
"And we can't just knock them down every time they get in our way."
Rem responded, and Encrid nodded.
Rem wasn't a fool. Sometimes his troublemaking was just that—trouble for its own sake—but other times, it was calculated.
'Troublemaker, either way.'
Encrid thought to himself, organizing his thoughts.
If the Marquis hadn't just been making empty promises, he would send them something useful.
If Encrid had the ability to handle this, where would the authority come from? Who could grant it?
A noble's permission would make things easier.
All they needed was a shield strong enough to fend off the constables.
Encrid thought this far and spoke.
If Marcus or Krais had been there, they would have stood up and applauded.
"You should go into politics!"
Marcus would have said in advance,
"You're using that gift of gab to steal women's hearts. A woman's heart is fickle by nature, so thinking everything through like that is a talent!"
Krais would have said something along those lines.
They had quite different ways of looking at things.
Of course, since neither of them were here, there was no one to admire Encrid's words.
Rem just wanted to swing his axe around for a while.
Ragna felt similarly.
Dunbachel was no different.
Esther had no intention of casting any spells either.
However, she was interested in the idea of experimental subjects.
A fusion of human and monster?
That's what they call a chimera. She had no intention of dabbling in such things.
It was entirely separate from her world of spells. It wasn't necessary, and the thought disgusted her.
For a sorceress, feelings are important. If something repulses you, it means it's not in harmony with you.
If you continue doing something that repulses you, you'll eventually lose control over your own spell world, and in the end, lose your magic. Esther had made a similar mistake in the past, which is why she stepped away from this situation.
"I'm going to rest. This cushion suits me."
"Do as you please."
Losing Esther wouldn't change anything.
Encrid raised his second finger on the hand resting on the table.
"Second conclusion: Since it's a moonless night, all we need to do is sleep well."
Andrew, who had been watching from the side, at some point couldn't keep his mouth closed, staring in shock.
Then he shut his mouth at Encrid's words and asked,
"How are you so smart?"
"Haven't we had plenty of time to think?"
By that, did he mean anyone could have figured it out? Is it really just a matter of having enough time?
"So, you're saying the constables and guards in the Capital are all idiots?"
Andrew muttered in disbelief, but everyone let it slide. After all, that was mostly true.
No, it was more that Encrid was exceptionally brilliant. But no one reacted to it.
"Why is no one surprised?"
Only Andrew mumbled, but soon even he closed his mouth.
This was just the kind of man Encrid was, and this was the kind of unit they were.
That night, Encrid and his crew slept soundly. As usual, Encrid woke up at dawn and began practicing the Isolation Technique. Andrew joined a bit later.
It was a morning like any other, nothing out of the ordinary.
Amid their morning training, an unfamiliar voice rang out.
"Was it really you?"
A guest had arrived. More accurately, it was a gift from an organization.
He had requested proper authority to handle matters.
They sent Asia, a Squire of the Red Cape Knights, and naturally, she recognized Encrid.