In the morning, Encrid practiced the Isolation Technique with Audin. After that, he trained by slowly swinging his sword, controlling every muscle movement, followed by sparring with Rem.
He took meals in between, sometimes snacking on herbal pies.
Given his extraordinary activity level, his eating and digestion were also extraordinary.
Eating a lot was just the beginning.
Aside from eating, sleeping, and other basic needs, Encrid pushed his body to its limits.
As soon as his body fully recovered, the first thing he did was break down the barracks.
What happened after that?
Knowing how to observe himself, Encrid continuously pondered and refined his training.
Krais had really done something, as no one else came looking for him.
That was a relief.
In fact, Encrid even declared that he wouldn't accept any more payments from the Gilpin Guild.
During this time, he was told to meet just one person, so he went out to the front of the barracks, where he saw a familiar face.
"Have you gotten even better-looking?"
He muttered to himself with a smile.
That smile and face were familiar.
It was Leona Rockfreed.
She was the owner of a Trading Company and a friend who had once spent the night with him.
When Encrid looked at her silently, Leona smiled and asked,
"You haven't forgotten my name, have you?"
"How could I forget?"
She was a person who left a strong impression.
She had once asked if they could be friends.
Friends, she said. Coming from a woman who had taken over a Trading Company after disposing of the previous leader's son, it was a surprisingly fresh statement.
They spent time together, eating herbal pies, drinking pumpkin soup, and browsing the market.
They stayed up all night, exchanging jokes and talking about various things.
Even though she had suggested becoming friends, it wasn't easy to become close immediately.
But there was a mutual liking.
It was an affection unrelated to gender, a human connection.
Now that Leona had become the leader of the Trading Company, she appeared in neat leather pants, a white shirt, and a fur vest.
Her shirt was unusually thick, and to be honest, Encrid had never seen such fabric before.
Seeing it made him think that it would be great if the fabric was woven thicker and used as the lining for a gambeson.
As expected, his thoughts were only about fighting, battles, and swords.
Anyway, they met in front of the barracks, and Krais, who was watching from the side, muttered,
"Where does she see that he's gotten better-looking?"
Encrid hadn't shaved, was drenched in sweat, and hadn't bathed.
His hair was due for a cut, but he hadn't touched it, so it was a mess, half-dried with sweat.
In short, he looked ragged.
Krais wrinkled his nose.
Moreover, he didn't smell good either.
In Krais' opinion, the most important thing in seducing a woman wasn't the face.
The most crucial thing was undoubtedly the atmosphere.
Even if a man had exceptionally large eyes, a high nose bridge, and full lips, he couldn't surpass a certain atmosphere.
So what creates that atmosphere?
It's a combination of factors.
'Scent, gaze, attitude, appearance, a well-trained body.'
Of course, appearance is included, but it's not everything.
That's how Krais viewed the atmosphere.
So, is Encrid's current atmosphere deadly attractive to women?
Maybe to a sword-obsessed maniac, but not in a way that would appeal to a woman.
Definitely not.
It was almost embarrassing to associate him with the word 'charisma'.
"Why don't you take a bath?"
"It's a waste of time."
Encrid replied to Krais without even turning his head.
He was recalling his past and reflecting on his experiences.
Saying he didn't have time to turn his head would be more accurate.
'A night's rest.'
There were no signals of romantic interest, and no physical contact either.
They just talked.
They rested.
At the end of that rest, what did Encrid gain?
He could never forget it.
It was the feeling.
He recalled the trajectory of swinging his sword, the step he took beforehand, the movement of his shoulders, and then he learned to quickly draw a line connecting dot to dot.
It was when he grasped a part of the concept of speed.
What he learned at that time wasn't important.
The process was important.
By recalling the process, he remembered the sensations of that time.
That didn't mean he was going to do something about it right now.
This was more about making slight adjustments in direction.
Since he was already on the right path, it was more about getting a little extra help.
So now, he thought it was time to greet the friend he hadn't seen in a while.
"You've really changed."
Leona said, staring into Encrid's eyes.
She was the leader of a Trading Company.
It was only natural that she had a unique eye for people.
Although her comment about his looks changing was half-joking, half-serious.
It wasn't about his appearance.
The atmosphere was different from the last time she saw him.
'How intriguing.'
He had changed.
It was hard to pinpoint exactly how.
Leona simply felt it by intuition—both a woman's intuition and that of a trade leader.
Well, considering how he had changed, it wasn't surprising he had achieved such feats and spread his name far and wide, was it?
There wasn't a single place in the Capital or nearby cities where Encrid's name wasn't known.
"Have I gotten more wrinkles?"
Encrid casually joked.
"That's just you trying to tease me, isn't it?"
Leona responded with a quick retort.
The two exchanged smiles, their eyes crinkling in amusement.
Should they go have some tea somewhere?
Before Encrid could even think about it, Krais gestured, and a few soldiers set up a table and chairs.
Such preparedness.
Encrid's intuition was sharp.
He sensed that Krais had a reason for summoning him here.
"You can't keep standing and talking, and the Commander is busy."
Krais said, gripping his sword with both hands and mimicking a swing.
Leona knew well about Encrid's obsession with training.
When the Rockfreed Trading Company had dealings with the Border Guard before, hadn't he spontaneously asked for a sparring match?
After that, Leona had even watched Encrid's training sessions.
Encrid glanced at Krais.
That Big-Eyed rascal always found a convenient excuse.
There was definitely something going on.
Leona didn't seem to mind and sat down in the chair that the soldiers had prepared for her.
Her eyes still hadn't left Encrid.
Behind her was Mathis, the bodyguard Encrid had seen before.
There was also another man.
He was a strikingly handsome man with blonde hair and blue eyes.
By Krais' standards, he was someone who knew how to create an atmosphere.
He smiled softly, lifting the corners of his mouth, and stood respectfully behind Leona.
"What brings you here?"
"Would you believe me if I said I came to visit a friend?"
"No way."
"It's true. It's business with the Company. But, seeing a friend in the process is always a pleasure, isn't it?"
Leona smiled as she spoke.
Encrid returned the smile.
He thought it wasn't a bad meeting, really.
Except, the tea was terrible.
It was the kind they served to get rid of unwanted guests, a clear signal to finish up quickly and leave. And here it was, being served now?
'Was this on purpose?'
Of course.
Krais' intention was clear.
Even though they occasionally made eye contact, he pretended not to notice, which was infuriatingly sly but not in an unpleasant way.
Encrid refocused on Leona.
They exchanged a few casual words.
"It's still amazing to me. Do you realize how famous you've become? I knew this would happen. I should have dragged you into the caravan back then."
"Do caravans really need swordsmen that often?"
"All the time. We aren't a settled caravan, after all."
It was random information, but interesting nonetheless.
Leona explained that caravans come in two forms: roaming and settled.
While many caravans used a combination of both, the Rockfreed Trading Company leaned heavily toward being a roaming one.
Because of that, they encountered many issues, but ever since the previous leader's time, they had no real patronage and had no choice but to rely on roaming trade.
Encrid wasn't foolish. He understood the hidden meaning behind Leona's words.
It wasn't that they didn't have any patrons, but rather that there was no mutually beneficial relationship.
Even if there had been, the other party likely tried to swallow the entire Trading Company or betray them.
All of those situations had shaped the Rockfreed Trading Company into what it was today.
Not having a settlement or a home base makes it difficult to exert influence within a region.
In many cases, to gain benefits, one would need to connect with local trading companies.
Given this situation, the Rockfreed Trading Company likely established the Rockfreed Trade Route to secure profits and began trading with groups like the Glacier Rangers, the Black Leather Guild, and the Shepherds of the Wilderness.
There aren't many caravans that would trade with those three groups.
That's how the Rockfreed Trading Company had operated until now.
But should they continue like this?
No.
They also needed a home base.
They needed to secure stable profits, especially in times like these when ominous vibes were spreading across the continent.
So, where should they establish a home base?
'In a place where the situation is rapidly changing.'
A place ripe for profit.
Somewhere with unstable internal politics, possibly on the brink of civil war, or a city that has recently risen in value.
In other words, a place like the Border Guard.
It was perfectly suitable as a home base.
Encrid had roughly grasped the situation.
However, he didn't speak about it.
Leona also remained silent on the matter.
If Krais had called them together thinking he would gain an advantage in negotiations, he had misjudged the situation.
They were simply meeting as friends.
"What about marriage?"
"I haven't done it."
"What about that Fairy?"
Leona whispered.
"She mostly jokes about being my fiance."
"Tch, how boring."
"What about you, Leona?"
"I'm committed to marrying the Trading Company."
"Really?"
"No, that's a lie. I do have a fiance, but I'm still unsure. It's more of a strategic marriage, so if other things go well, it might not happen. But don't worry, Enki, I'm not planning to flirt with you. When I get rejected once, that's it for me. So, you can just live with the regret of not giving in to my advances back then."
"Yes, I'll regret it occasionally."
"Regret should be deep and constant."
"I'm busy."
"Busy with swinging your sword?"
"You know me well."
As the jokes flowed, both of them burst into laughter.
For a moment, Encrid felt like he had returned to his childhood.
Leona was the kind of woman who knew how to put others at ease.
Was that a talent as a merchant, or was it an expression of genuine consideration for others?
It didn't matter.
What mattered was that this moment was enjoyable.
As they exchanged a few more words, Krais suddenly interjected.
"A strategic marriage? Does that even make sense?"
Here? Suddenly?
"Oh, exactly. I really don't want it."
Leona replied.
"That's what I'm saying. Commander, don't you agree?"
"...About what?"
Krais suddenly kicked Encrid's foot, then mimed being thirsty as he took a sip of the tea.
This was the same Krais who swore he'd never drink it, saying it tasted like dung.
Encrid understood the situation well enough.
'A relationship that needs a deal.'
That's what the relationship between Krais and Leona was.
There was a reason they were served such terrible tea—it was a signal. This meeting was about business.
The Rockfreed Trading Company needed a settlement.
The Border Guard needed someone to act as a shield to handle nuisances in the area.
Their needs aligned.
Encrid found it amusing.
He realized why he had been called here.
It was the classic 'charm tactic', using their friendship to gain the upper hand.
Hey, your friend is here. Are you going to act like this?
It was pretty underhanded.
But when Krais acted this way, there was always one reason.
"How much are they paying you?"
Encrid asked directly.
There must have been a promise made by the Lord.
He saw through everything, but Krais wasn't flustered.
When gold coins were involved, Krais could become a brilliant actor, a skilled schemer, and a sharp-tongued joker.
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"She's here as a friend."
If they were going to use friendship to gain the upper hand, they needed to consider the other side too.
Encrid was also Leona's friend.
"You might be misunderstood by saying such things…"
"Oh, it's fine."
Leona actually took his side.
To Encrid, her words meant, 'I won't be fooled by silly tricks, but I'm not here to play games either.'
"I'm leaving."
Encrid stood up.
He figured that from this point on, it wasn't his place to get involved.
"See you next time."
Leona smiled warmly and raised her hand in a casual farewell.
Encrid took her hand, lightly kissed the back of it, and then turned to leave.
It was proper etiquette.
He had learned and practiced this, even as a mercenary, during those times when he escorted noblewomen at parties and earned gold.
"He really does fit the salon life."
Krais muttered as he watched Encrid leave. But before he could get far, someone else stopped him.
"You there."
It was Mathis.
Though he tried to hide his expression, the surprise was obvious.
Even after hearing the rumors, he hadn't believed them.
Mathis had seen Encrid before, yet couldn't believe the fame surrounding him.
He had thought half of it was exaggerated, but seeing Encrid now, there was a distinct air of confidence about him.
He really did seem like a master swordsman—if his eyes weren't deceiving him.
"Can we spar?"
Mathis asked.
Encrid had come out in the middle of his training. Three swords still hung from his waist: a gladius, a long sword with a silver blade, and Ember.
"Anytime."
There was no refusal.
Leona didn't stop it either.
She knew Mathis well. If he stepped forward without her saying anything, it meant something had stirred him.
Ping.
Their swords were drawn, and after gauging each other for a moment, both moved in without needing to say a word.
As if agreed upon beforehand, the two blades met cleanly in the center.
Thud, thud.
Three times, their swords tested each other, the blades moving back and forth.
It was a sparring session, and giving the other time to warm up was a courteous gesture.
After the third exchange, Mathis made his move.
He decided to swing his sword with full intent.
Mathis knew how to display power, he was a formidable warrior of city-level strength.
"A city-level warrior? That's nonsense. If a sword cuts you, it'll kill you just the same."
Rem would sneer.
Still, being recognized as a strong warrior was a fact.
And yet...
Ping.
The moment their swords collided, Mathis realized his opponent's blade was no slower than his.
He immediately tried to press down on Encrid's sword.
It was a sword technique that combined the Fluid Sword Technique and the Middle Sword Technique, meant to suppress the opponent's blade.
However, Encrid's sword was faster than Mathis' reaction.
His sword deflected Mathis' blade and swiftly thrust forward.
It was the Snake Sword, a strike that simultaneously blocked, deflected, and attacked. The way the blade curved almost created an illusion, as if it was truly bending in.
Mathis saw the silver blade stop just before it touched his neck.
Without any apparent effort, Encrid had done this?
Moreover, the level of swordsmanship seemed far superior to his own.
"Hah…"
A sense of futility washed over him.
If he compared Encrid now to the last time he'd seen him, he would believe this was a completely different person.
The gap in skill was clear.
Even if he hadn't let his guard down, the result would have been the same.
Holding out any longer would have been meaningless.
"Then…"
Encrid didn't bother with comforting the defeated. He simply turned away.
At the same time, he thought that Mathis would surely find a way to pick himself back up.
Mathis wasn't a Knight, but a warrior of the Trading Company.
As long as he remembered his duty, he would handle it.
Behind him, Krais began negotiations.
As Encrid overheard the words being exchanged, he thought to himself.
'That bastard.'
Encrid finally understood what Krais had been planning from the start.
"Well then, the tasks you're to handle and what the Border Guard will provide have all been settled."
Krais had no intention of having long, drawn-out negotiations with these merchants.
By bringing Encrid here and making him seem like an ally of Leona, Krais forced both sides to reveal all their cards.
That way, neither could betray each other, as they would both lose face in front of Encrid. They had to uphold their honor and keep the deal fair.
In other words, Krais had called him to play the role of arbitrator.
'That cunning mind.'
It really seemed like he was one of the sharpest on the continent.
No wonder he managed to handle so many tasks without running into any major issues.
After that, the Rockfreed Trading Company opened its shop in the Border Guard's territory.
Naturally, there was pushback from other local merchants, but the Rockfreed Trading Company found its footing by accepting what they needed to and pushing back where necessary.
It only took about a month.
During that time, Encrid continued swinging his sword.
Day after day, repeating the same motions as if today was no different from yesterday.
Even without a sense of progress, Encrid was the kind of person who could continue like that.
But now, there was also a sense of progress.
In other words, the month had not been wasted.
"Having fun?"
Rem asked during a sparring session, and Encrid responded with a grin.
"Of course."
How could someone keep this up if they didn't enjoy it?
Rem acknowledged it—his Commander was definitely a madman.
Hadn't he nearly sent Encrid to the afterlife with his axe just a moment ago?
It was almost as if they were fated to repeat today's unintended incident.
The ferryman watching over them had even seemed to glimpse Encrid's death, but he hadn't died.
It was absurd.
The ferryman, having witnessed everything, couldn't help but leave his third and final praise.
"What in the world do you have inside your head?"
After all, what could possibly be going through the mind of someone who spent an entire month doing nothing but swinging a sword?
It was a question to which the answer was already known.