Chapter 566 - Why
The thod of pursuing the pursuer instead of the target proved far more effective than Enkrid had initially thought.
Things had changed significantly compared to the old days, when he would chase down rumors alone and investigate on his own.
Krais had established a network of information while breaking through safe trade routes and dabbling in comrce. It wasn't anything grand—he simply gathered local stories through cafeterias set up in various cities.
The owners and patrons of these cafeterias, wandering rchants, storytellers, and others brought new tales in exchange for a few copper coins.
Although copper coins weren't a significant reward, telling a story wasn't a particularly burdenso task either.
Moreover, the structure of the information circulation was so simple that the speed at which stories spread was remarkably fast.
To add to this, the agents dispatched from the Holy Nation were distinctive in appearance, making them relatively easy to locate.
They didn't even bother hiding their identities.
"Who would even think they're being pursued?"
Probably no one.
Naturally so.
Why had they requested a search for the Saintess from the Kingdom of Naurilia?
Or rather, why had they not requested but rely notified them?
"We're heading into your kingdom and will be roaming around, so cooperate, will you?
No?
Are you out of your mind?
Do you want no more potions?
Or do you not need them anymore?
Fine, then we'll stop selling them to you.
Open your borders quietly and let our forces pass through, and no one gets hurt—everyone stays happy."
When you boiled it down, that was essentially the ssage.
Not that they would have said it so blatantly, at least outwardly.
"We simply hope you'll assist us in fulfilling the revelation bestowed by the Mother of the Earth."
They probably even presented a neatly packaged set of a dozen potions as a gift.
High chances they did.
Enkrid's prediction was spot on.
The envoy from the Holy Nation had indeed delivered a beautifully wrapped box containing ten potions, which Krang promptly accepted.
And with it ca the statent:
"We will be sure to lend our strength."
The specifics of the gift didn't matter.
What mattered was the Holy Nation's expectation of this charade.
They didn't require a grand welco or fully opened borders—just basic compliance.
If needed, checkpoints could be opened upon request.
From Naurilia's perspective, the Saintess was nothing more than a young girl.
Would the kingdom go so far as to mobilize its forces for her?
At most, so warnings about unusual activities in cities would be circulated.
Deploying troops for such an event?
That was unheard of.
It shouldn't happen.
Typically, it wouldn't.
But Krang had made the request, and Enkrid had accepted it.
As for Krang's intentions?
One letter sufficed to explain:
"A child is crying, and I want to help."
And so, here they were.
But from this point forward, things beca increasingly unsettling.
Chasing?
Sure, that was doable.
But the details were puzzling.
It was rare for Enkrid to feel such intense curiosity—akin to a broth simred for days, extracting every ounce of flavor from pig bones.
"How are they managing to escape?"
Even if the kidnapper was one of the few knights on the continent, this made no sense.
The Holy Nation's strength wasn't to be underestimated.
Its reputation as a powerhouse wasn't for show—there was even a saying that the Empire, which rarely intervened in central affairs, deferred to the Holy Nation.
Stealing away a child—no less, a Saintess—from such a power?
Even more baffling was how they managed to evade capture while traveling with an unwilling companion.
Were there other collaborators?
Enkrid tried imagining himself in their shoes, but he couldn't muster much confidence.
"It doesn't seem easy."
Audin's words alone shed light on the difficulty.
The Saintess was an imnsely valuable resource.
There was no way the Holy Nation's priests would leave her carelessly managed.
While ordinary soldiers might complain of fatigue when assigned three-shift rotations, devotees ard with faith would gladly take on the duty.
Could soone really abduct the Saintess from such a heavily guarded environnt?
And even if the ones protecting her weren't just ordinary followers, wouldn't the thought of abduction be unthinkable?
So how was it accomplished?
And how had they remained uncaptured?
"I'd really like to catch them."
The questions were mounting.
Yet, Enkrid had no intention of being a passive observer.
Too much was bothering him.
Audin's words weighed heavily on his mind.
He had spoken of the past, and Enkrid had listened.
But was it just a recounting of old events?
Nothing more than regret and remorse?
No.
The bear-like man's words carried not only faults, reflections, and regrets but also determination and resolve.
Enkrid had seen that sa spirit before—in the past, during the process of understanding Will.
He rembered Audin radiating light as blood poured from every orifice in his face.
The energy and deanor Audin displayed when speaking of the past mirrored that mont.
The only difference now was that he wasn't dying, bleeding while shining like a beacon.
What Audin's intentions were or what thoughts he held, Enkrid didn't know.
He wouldn't have received an answer even if he asked.
But one thing was certain—he wasn't going to just sit back and watch.
If the child truly had been kidnapped, and if that was all there was to the story, Enkrid had every intention of treating the kidnapper's skull like a roast to be split apart.
With those thoughts and a head full of questions, Enkrid arrived at his first destination.
The city whose Wall was nad Mad Wall Enkrid.
As soon as he entered and sought out the mayor, the man bolted out barefoot.
The sight of him sprinting across the dirt path, dust flying up in his wake, was remarkable.
"Welco!"
The man's shout greeted Enkrid enthusiastically.
This scene unfolded the mont Enkrid asked for the mayor's residence and revealed his identity.
The overly enthusiastic welco raised suspicions.
The man before him had a rugged face, a well-trained body, and a missing eye—a man who clearly knew how to fight.
His posture betrayed a preference for heavy weapons, and his calloused hands and muscular build confird his prowess.
His hair was cropped short above the ears but longer on top, and his face bore several scars.
Though unfamiliar, Enkrid recognized him.
He couldn't recall the man's na no matter how hard he tried.
He had seen this face during one of the many loops through the day.
"Long ti no see. You're..."
As Enkrid trailed off, the man filled in the blank.
"Deutsch Pulman."
The man smiled as though it was only natural for his na to be forgotten.
This city had once been ho to a mad architect who nad the walls after Enkrid.
Why na the walls?
Because Enkrid had shattered a gnoll colony created by cultists while repeating the sa day over and over again.
Although the walls had been nad after him, the moniker didn't catch on. Instead, people preferred to call it "gnoll's lant."
Enkrid, too, thought that na was more appropriate.
The frontier town was now known as Felheim, a na derived from the surrounding terrain.
According to legend, during the age of myth, a fire-breathing divine beast had once lived here.
Felheim ant "City of Flas."
No matter how intimidating soone's face may seem, a sincere smile can make it look pleasant.
That was exactly the case with Deutsch Pulman's face at that mont.
"Yes, that's how it turned out."
This man had now beco the most powerful figure in Felheim, recognized by the kingdom.
Despite that, his attitude remained respectful.
Was it due to his reputation?
That may have played a part, but more than that, the impression that Enkrid had left on the city when he erased the forr colony still lingered, especially for Deutsch Pulman.
"Please, help yourself!"
Deutsch led the group into the sitting room.
As the maid glanced at Enkrid before serving tea and snacks, Enkrid asked.
"I have a question. Did people from the Holy Kingdom pass through here?"
Deutsch paused for a mont, recalling, then replied.
"They did, but they left almost imdiately."
"I see. Do you know where they went?"
Deutsch answered promptly, as one who had been a hero and benefactor.
"No, I don't. But there was sothing strange about them."
"Strange?" Enkrid inquired.
"There were three individuals more skilled than ."
Was that such a big deal?
Enkrid thought to himself, but he barely restrained himself from saying it out loud.
Instead, the words ca from another voice.
"Is that really a big deal?"
Enkrid hid his thoughts, but Shinar was not so reserved.
Though it could have been a subtle insult, Deutsch did not dare respond to the fairy's face.
After all, he was traveling with Enkrid.
"Brother, the world is wide, isn't it?"
Audin chid in as well.
After hearing them, Enkrid adjusted his perspective.
'A mistake.'
Audin and Shinar, being naturally gifted, wouldn't know, but Enkrid, who had climbed up from humble beginnings, realized that Deutsch Pulman's abilities were not average.
Surrounded by so many monsters, he had montarily mistaken him. Deutsch Pulman might not even make it as a knight's squire, but he could still be called a skilled person.
"Three, you say?"
Enkrid responded appropriately, his words asured. Deutsch couldn't get angry nor could he press further, so he nodded in agreent as soon as Enkrid spoke.
"Yes. One of them seed really angry, but they didn't say a word. The atmosphere was... how should I put it?"
"How should you put it?"
Though he had beco a knight, Enkrid was still an excellent listener.
He nodded as if signaling Deutsch to continue, indicating that anything could be said.
His gesture reassured Deutsch, making him feel comfortable enough to speak his mind.
"It felt like they were going to scold a child who had done sothing wrong... that sort of vibe, I guess? It seed strange to ."
Deutsch Pulman had been a rcenary for a long ti, aning he had survived for years as a swordsman.
What that implied was that his sharpness in perception was likely more valuable than any martial skill.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have risen to beco the mayor of the city.
He had good instincts.
This ant that his feeling about the atmosphere could very well be accurate.
Moreover, since he had no reason to spread false information and clearly felt goodwill, his intuition was likely on point.
His eyes were sharp.
This made Enkrid pause again, filled with questions.
'How strange, really.'
Sohow, she or he had managed to kidnap the saintess and, through so miracle, had obtained her agreent, making the escape smooth.
Yet, despite all this, sothing still felt off.
"Why kidnap her?"
And here ca another question.
There was no reason to kidnap the saintess at all.
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