Juol couldn't help but laugh while crying.
Yeah, if he only got beaten up, he wouldn't be Rem.
He wasn't sure what would happen if he truly found his own magic, but for now, it seemed he could still hang out with him.
"Alright, Boss, this should be fun, right?"
After Rem spoke with his axe, Enkrid had to respond.
He gripped Aker and assumed his stance.
Ever since battling giants and mages, Enkrid had been obsessively replaying his past experiences.
It was a habit.
This was the conclusion he'd come to.
Every fight felt slightly lacking.
None were satisfying.
"Disappointing."
The giant was just strong.
The mage wasn't a swordsman.
He had felt some pleasure, even a thrill, but those were the results of past experiences.
So, if he didn't want a worthy opponent to clash swords with, he would be lying.
The giant's strength was threatening, but its technique was terrible.
Strength alone couldn't win; it wasn't enough.
Timing and precision were far more important.
The difference between a correct strike delivered with the proper posture and a random slash was huge.
How to corner an opponent with the correct stance.
The correct form, refined by Luagarne's experiences, combined with Enkrid's time and effort.
This was the sword that would trap Rem.
Top-down strikes, sweeping cuts, diagonal cuts, horizontal overhead strikes, and mid-sword spinning strikes.
Every movement conveyed one message:
He would thrust with one hand.
This was the final and most important attack of their duel.
Rem was ready.
Of course, why would he be caught off guard when he was shown the move?
While Enkrid pressured him with a proper stance, he mixed in a trick.
A deceitful blade.
The feint had begun.
Enkrid, with every move he made in this swordplay, had set up a trap.
He made it seem like he would thrust with one hand, only to suddenly close the distance.
In an instant, he lunged forward, catching Rem off guard.
Seeing Enkrid close the distance, Rem swung his axe with his fist.
Enkrid readied his left hand, positioning the blade forward.
If they stayed like this, Rem would strike with his fist against the blade.
Though Rem could break most blades with his fist, the blade in Enkrid's hand was enchanted.
Instead of striking with his fist, Rem bent his wrist, extending the axe's blade and pressing it against Enkrid's.
The clash of blade and axe resounded, both tangling and separating repeatedly.
The sound of metal clashing echoed with a satisfying spark.
In that brief moment, Enkrid released Aker from his hand and extended his finger, aiming for Rem's eye.
A typical Valah fighting technique, blinding the opponent.
It was a quick move, faster than before, targeting Rem's moment of vulnerability.
Still, Rem tilted his head back to avoid it.
The fingertip grazed his chin, drawing a drop of blood, and a few grey whiskers flew up.
Enkrid's finger had torn a bit of Rem's skin.
Rem stepped forward to kick, but Enkrid absorbed the strike with his knee.
The two exchanged blows, then retreated, and before long, Enkrid brought his sword down vertically.
Ayul, watching from behind Rem, thought it looked like two blue meteors falling from above.
Enkrid's eyes had created that illusion.
It was a full-powered downward strike with his sword, a knight's blow.
This entire fight had been building to this one moment.
Their duel had been fought with about eighty percent of their power.
If they had used their full strength, one of them would be at risk of death.
But now, both were fully invested, and without realizing it, they had given it their all.
When Rem saw the approaching sword, he raised his axe to meet it.
It looked like he was about to clash brute force against brute force.
Just before the two weapons collided, Rem's wrist gently bent as he raised the axe.
The sword, in a mid-sword downward cut, was redirected by the axe's edge.
It was a flowing blade.
And just like that, they both froze.
Enkrid, with his sword held at an angle, and Rem, holding his axe in front of his stomach.
If they fought any longer, one of them might die.
It was that deadly.
No, could this even be called a duel?
Juol had unconsciously held his breath, then exhaled loudly.
Despite the intense fight, both were smiling.
"Heh, how was that?"
Rem asked.
"This is serious," Enkrid replied with a smile creeping onto his face.
"It's damn fun," Rem chuckled.
He didn't need to say it aloud; it was already clear.
The captain would smile if he really enjoyed something, but he didn't seem to realize it himself.
It was pure, like a child receiving a gift.
"Both of you are crazy," Juol said.
"I almost fell."
Ayul marveled as well.
"That's a bit scary," Rem remarked.
Dunbakel nodded silently.
They were exactly the type of people who did that.
Luagarne shuddered again.
She was starting to feel as though she was watching Enkrid simply to be amazed.
"He's terrifyingly strong now."
When Rem got serious and fought with all his might, it became clearer how much Enkrid had grown.
"And he'll grow even more."
For the first time, it seemed like Enkrid wasn't at his limit but was still improving.
If Luagarne's talent reading sense wasn't malfunctioning, it was certainly true.
She thought this because of a small realization.
Looking at the smiling Enkrid, a sudden understanding flashed in her mind.
"He's smiling."
Grins, joy, exhilaration.
Enkrid chases his dreams.
And he enjoys the process.
That's why he doesn't stop.
When Luagarne saw that smile, the realization hit her all at once.
"If we fight like this again, I might leave my child without a father. Let's do it again after I find some magic. And I need to replace this axe," Rem said, raising his axe, which had cracks all over it.
It looked like it might break with just a tap.
Enkrid nodded in agreement.
If they fought like this one more time, one of them might die.
"Yeah," Enkrid replied, nonchalantly packing up his things.
It was time to continue the journey.
They encountered monsters and unique landscapes along the way.
"This is where the black meteors fell. From here south, they say it's called the Horizon Land," Rem, Juol, or Ayul would often explain as they traveled.
The monsters were no match for them, so the hunting route became a leisurely one.
It was no surprise, given their lopsided strength, with Enkrid and Rem included.
Horizon Land was dry, with almost no grass.
Large trees, rocks, and hills dotted the landscape, but it was mostly just vast land.
It was so wide that if your eyesight was good enough, you could see moving dots far in the distance.
Though it looked barren, with the sunlight and breeze, it also felt peaceful.
They traveled on, eventually reaching the site of their previous battle.
"This is called the Sandbar Gorge. It's where you can pass through and end up in the Sand River, the desert, you know?" Rem explained.
"I've heard of a desert—it's just land made of sand. I haven't been to one, though."
"That place is the most dangerous for Frogs," Rem added.
Luagarne had always felt uncomfortable in dry places, though she managed to endure.
Some Frogs went into a frenzy when wounded in the heart, but Luagarne stayed calm unless dealing with heretics.
Juol remarked how hard it was to explore the desert.
"Once you go in, you get lost and die," Ayul added.
Enkrid agreed, not eager to enter.
Although they expected traces of a recent battle, everything had vanished, including the giant's corpse.
The gorge was deep.
As they passed the cleared entrance, they saw many caves on one of the walls.
They had to look up to see the high cliffs filled with cave openings.
"This is a sacred place," Juol said.
It was a holy site in the west, symbolizing magic and acting as a graveyard.
When asked if she felt a divine energy, Luagarne wasn't sure.
It was strange, though.
The many caves and animals climbing the cliffs were fascinating.
"Is that a monkey?" Rem asked, but Juol explained that it was a cross between a bear and a monkey.
"Bear-monkey."
Juol went on to explain that it was a sacred animal, one that shouldn't be harmed.
Even though it appeared clumsy with its pointy ears and round body, it didn't seem to have any problem with humans.
One even came up, left something, and walked away—a small red fruit.
When split, it revealed tiny seeds inside, much like pomegranate seeds.
"Everlasting life. Sour, but sweet and delicious. Since we've received a gift, we should return the favor," Juol said, offering pieces of lucky fish or grain snacks.
The bear-monkey cautiously approached and took the food, eyeing them suspiciously.
Though it seemed wary, it didn't seem entirely untrusting.
"Cannibal tribes attack even bear-monkeys, but by the looks of it, it doesn't seem like they're hiding here," Juol remarked.
"Those who ran away at that time?"
"Yeah, our people probably still chase them. Hunters have gathered and are moving together, so they should catch them soon. The west is wide, but there's nowhere to hide."
Enkrid remembered the moment when he plunged his dagger into the back of the last man who had wielded the spear. The wound was deep, so it would be hard for the man to move properly, wouldn't it? Were the cultists' healing techniques as powerful as holy magic? If so, he might be able to walk on his two legs, but otherwise, he'd have become immobile. He had stabbed the area around the back, near the spine. It was a serious wound unless he was wearing some artifact like the bandage armor that Enkrid himself wore. If not, it would be a fatal injury. Yet, somehow, that man had managed to keep fleeing. He hadn't been caught or imprisoned, nor had he died already. Just that fact alone suggested he wasn't an ordinary person. His skills were extraordinary.
"Let's go."
The road of Grime was far from over.
They continued their journey while discussing various things, sparring, cooking, and even throwing Dunbakel into the lake.
Most of the time, they rode Belopters, but compared to the continent, the land felt much wider.
There were no mountain ranges blocking their view.
Out of nowhere, a ghoul appeared during their westward journey.
Grrroooaaar!
The ghoul, a monster that was rare to see in the west, symbolized the demonic domain.
Dunbakel took action, drawing her curved sword from her waist and swiftly slashing its neck.
With a dry thud, the head flew off and tumbled to the ground, blood spilling.
After a few more ghouls appeared, Ayul spoke in a serious tone.
"Rem, from here on, this is a forbidden zone."
"I know."
"We shouldn't go any further."
"I know."
Despite that, Rem kept walking forward. As he did, he spoke.
"I said we would follow the road of Grime."
Grime, the legendary hero, had not met a happy ending. He had sought the demonic domain and died fighting the monsters that emerged from there. His end was not happy but brutal, and yet it was a testament to his greatness.
There is a demonic domain in the west too.
Rem said. The demonic domain stretched across the continent. The largest was the southern demonic domain, but that wasn't the only one. This was something he had heard over time.
And there are demonic domains with names as well.
Rem knew more than Enkrid did.
He had seen one during his rite of passage in the west.
It was a secret known to only a few.
During the rite of passage, Rem had approached the boundary of the demonic domain and had seen inside.
The demonic domain here is called Silence.
With those words, Rem stopped walking and then, with a smile, asked:
Would you like to take a look?
Enkrid nodded without hesitation.
He would draw his sword to protect.
That had been his dream—to be a knight.
One of the obstacles to that dream was the demonic domains.
It was also the demonic domain's fragment of Beelrog who had killed Oara.
Ayul, it'll be fine. You know why it's called Silence, right?
Juol, after a long pause, tried to reassure Ayul.
She reluctantly nodded in agreement.
They had been riding Belopters for over twenty days, not at full speed, but they had still covered a lot of ground.
Their destination was the demonic domain.
As they traveled further, the light soil gradually darkened.
But it wasn't just dark; a foul stench started to fill the air.
Grrroooaaar!
They encountered a few more ghouls and mutated Ratmen. However, the numbers were still small.
The amount was too few to be called a demonic domain.
The grassy fields that had surrounded them disappeared, and small hills began to block their way.
The hills were low but stretched far on either side, all covered in black.
They climbed the hills, and by the time they reached the top, Ayul said nothing more.
Some of the westerners claimed that merely setting foot here would lead to death, but those in the know understood there were no such curses.
Entering further would have adverse effects on the body, but this was merely the outskirts.
They hadn't even reached the true demonic domain.
Beyond the hills was the real demonic domain.
Once they reached the top of the hill, they saw that the dark, murky colors were interrupted by occasional lighter hues.
The gray trees, the symbol of the demonic domains, had a bizarre shape.
Their branches and leaves seemed to form the silhouette of a disheveled woman.
The rocks, dark brown in color and shaped like human hearts, stood without any light.
The air, thick with a heavy and oppressive atmosphere, was no longer cool but suffocating.
The gray forest demonic domain was a curse that had once fallen on the city of Oara.
It was a curse that had been split and destroyed by the knight Oara.
And now, the curse that had descended on the western lands was right before their eyes.
The black mist spread out in all directions, making the horizon impossible to see clearly.
"This is the second time a something has appeared from this demonic domain, and both times, the west almost fell apart," Rem said. It was a past event.
"Boramain was one of them. They say that, from a magical perspective, names imbue power, but that's why the curse was named that," Rem continued.
Was Boramain the name of the curse cast by the fortune-teller tribe?
Enkrid noticed a certain fire in Rem's eyes.
There was a determination to put an end to the demonic domain.
There must be a reason for that.
Did someone you know or a family member suffer from it?
When Boramain had appeared, that could have been the case.
And Rem's dying father might have said: "Run away, don't fight, leave the demonic domains alone."
People living in the western continent wouldn't try to fight the demonic domain, for doing so would only lead to death.
That didn't sit well with Rem.
He must have considered it the enemy of his family, the enemy of his father.
Rem scoffed at Enkrid's question and replied:
What's that supposed to mean? I just didn't like it being so close.
It was a response that showed he didn't want it nearby.
Is that all?
Enkrid asked.
What else should there be?
Rem, as expected, had a way of replying that sounded like a challenge.
But it was no surprise.
It was classic Rem.
He just didn't want it near him.
You didn't come here to charge in, right? Hold back.
Why?
Well, when you see demonic domains or monsters, your eyes tend to get a bit wild. It's like how the Frog gets when she sees the cult.
Me?
Yeah.
Enkrid didn't like the way Rem was looking at him, as if he were some kind of madman.
If we charge in now, it's suicide. Get a grip. If not, we'll stop you by force. Ayul, be ready.
Rem's seriousness made Enkrid curse under his breath.
That bastard...
Don't die! Get a grip! Rem shouted, not letting up.
Unable to hold it in, Enkrid swung his Aker.
They had a bit of a tussle in the demonic domain and the forbidden zone, but they didn't get serious.
The sparring stopped when Enkrid struck Rem's side with his fist.
Since Rem didn't use magic, Enkrid had the upper hand.
Both of them, covered in sweat, suddenly burst into laughter.
It was clear they were joking.
They weren't going to risk their lives just to erase the demonic domains right now.
It was a declaration of their determination, but they weren't going to do anything foolish.
Anyway, we'll be back here next time.
Yeah, let's take care of it when we do.
Agreed.
They stood up, and Ayul carefully watched the surroundings.
It seemed her mind was a little disturbed.
She thought about the demonic domain, about erasing it, and laughed.
Juol's heart was pounding.
The things they said were so absurd, yet there was a strange excitement.
Now, he understood why so many people were drawn to someone like Enkrid, the renowned hero.
Were they good at fighting?
There were plenty of people like that.
Rem was one, and there had been heroes in the western lands before.
Were they handsome? That wasn't it either.
Dream.
The way they chased after their dreams was what shone.
Their approach to life was what made them so bright.
That was why people gathered around them.
This moved Juol, and without realizing it, he started crying.
If you're scared, just piss yourself. That's better than crying.
Rem scolded him.
Juol, still crying, laughed.
It felt like what they were saying was already coming true.
Should we bring a priest to check on this guy?
Rem muttered with concern.

Comments

Loading...