The moment Enkrid stepped into the barracks, he was greeted by a familiar quip.

“The squad leader definitely isn’t normal,” Rem remarked casually.

Enkrid felt a strange sense of disbelief at the statement. Why was it always this guy, of all people, who said things like this without ever considering his own outrageous behavior?

“And you think you’re the one to say that?” Enkrid shot back, half in jest.

Rem responded with his signature grin, a mischievous smirk that seemed to enjoy the chaos of the world.

What’s he so happy about now?

That grin was irritating. Enkrid briefly entertained the thought of telling him off—complaining that his smile was annoying or unsettling—but he dismissed it as pointless.

With a shrug, Enkrid let it go.

“So, have you finished your training, brother?”

It was Audin who spoke next, his presence radiating a calm, bear-like warmth. The large man’s demeanor was serene, though his towering figure seemed to glow faintly under the flickering lamplight behind him.

“Yeah, something like that.”

In truth, Enkrid had combined his morning and afternoon routines, compensating for the time lost earlier. Despite the extended session, he didn’t feel particularly drained.

Thinking back, he wondered, When did I stop feeling completely spent after training?

It wasn’t always like this. He used to collapse after every session, barely able to stand. Now, it felt manageable—unless he pushed himself recklessly while using the Beast’s Heart technique.

As Enkrid mulled this over, Jaxon brushed past him.

“I’ve got things to do,” Jaxon said nonchalantly, exiting the barracks with barely a glance.

That guy spends more time outside than here, Enkrid thought. Doesn’t he have better things to do?

Meanwhile, Esther, the sleek and elegant leopard-like creature, stretched out comfortably on Enkrid’s bed. With a lazy wave of her paw, she seemed to beckon him.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m here,” Enkrid muttered, humoring the gesture as he approached.

If someone else were to witness this, they might think he was insane, chatting with a mystical feline like it was an old friend.

Then again, what’s crazier?

“Probably the fact that I’m still chasing this dream of knighthood,” Enkrid thought wryly.

He wasn’t blind to how the world perceived him—especially those who met him for the first time.

Half-crazy, he figured.

He might appear normal on the surface, but his actions and ambitions were often incomprehensible to others. At least, he reassured himself, I’m not as crazy as Rem.

That thought was only a small comfort.

Better to be a half-mad dreamer than a full-blown lunatic swinging an axe at his superior’s head.

“What’s with that weird look in your eyes?” Rem asked suddenly, breaking into Enkrid’s musings.

“You’re imagining things,” Enkrid replied flatly, averting his gaze.

“Shall we eat?” Audin suggested with a smile, his voice cutting through the awkward pause.

“Good idea,” Enkrid agreed.

Kraiss was the first to move, declaring he’d secure their usual table in the mess hall. Meanwhile, Enkrid took a quick detour to wash up, scrubbing the sweat and grime from his body.

Soon, they all made their way to the dining hall, with Esther perched in Enkrid’s arms.

Border Guard’s mess hall wasn’t luxurious, but it wasn’t bad either. While picky eaters might complain, most soldiers were content with the hearty meals provided.

“Where’s the bread?” Ragna grumbled, his tone as blunt as ever.

“You look like someone who’d eat dirt and be fine with it. Why are you so picky all of a sudden?” Rem retorted.

The squad was gathered at a large table near the center of the hall, drawing plenty of attention.

Normally, the Mad Squad wouldn’t cause such a stir. But tonight, Frokk was with them, and the frog-like man’s presence was impossible to ignore.

The bulging eyes of Frokk turned toward Rem and Ragna, as if studying their interaction with great interest.

“I’d rather not waste words on uncultured barbarians tonight,” Ragna replied curtly.

“Oh? Would you like me to shove the food directly into your stomach? I could cut you open and skip the whole chewing part,” Rem shot back, miming a slicing motion with his hand.

The group was as chaotic as ever.

“Lamb’s good tonight,” Enkrid interjected smoothly before the exchange could escalate further.

Both men paused, their heated glares cooling slightly.

“…Fair enough.”

“Indeed.”

Enkrid found it curious how readily they listened to him these days.

Why do they always stop when I intervene?

He couldn’t help but wonder. What had made him the leader of this unpredictable group?

All he had ever done was treat them honestly and directly, speaking plainly while showing respect.

Is it really that simple?

Perhaps they weren’t listening to him, specifically. Perhaps they had simply grown closer as comrades.

They’re like predators on a prairie, learning to coexist, he thought.

Frokk, meanwhile, was chewing thoughtfully on a salad, his croaking voice breaking the silence.

“Fresh vegetables? This city must be quite prosperous.”

“Trade routes, not farming,” Kraiss replied. “They prioritize imports over cultivation.”

Frokk nodded, setting his fork down before speaking again.

“There’s room in the barracks. I’ll stay for a few days.”

“...What?”

The announcement caught everyone off guard.

Enkrid, in particular, found the idea absurd. Frokk wasn’t part of their squad—he was a returning emissary with no obligation to remain here.

“Where exactly do you plan on staying?” Enkrid asked cautiously.

“Your room will do,” Frokk replied nonchalantly.

No matter how others treated him, Enkrid maintained a minimum level of courtesy.

After all, he was the squad leader. To those unfamiliar with him, he might seem like a half-crazed lunatic.

But those who knew him closely would understand.

That he was probably the only sane person in the so-called “Mad Squad.”

This was why polite speech naturally came to him—it was second nature, part of the respect he extended to everyone.

Enkrid assumed the frog-like Frokk would leave soon.

Frokk wasn’t even part of their squad.

From Enkrid’s perspective, the time Frokk had already spent here, simply to tell him he could never become a knight, seemed unnecessarily drawn out.

It had already been a day since Frokk’s arrival. If he was going to leave, he should have done so long ago.

The squire knight, Aisia, had already departed. The fact that Frokk remained behind was, frankly, odd.

Of course, the squad had their suspicions.

Both Ragna and the others seemed to understand that Frokk’s interest was centered on Enkrid.

But no one questioned Frokk about his intentions.

Rem and the other squad members, in particular, didn’t care in the slightest.

If Frokk wanted to stay, so be it. It wasn’t their problem.

“Is it necessary?” Enkrid asked, his voice calm but laced with curiosity.

Hiding nothing, Enkrid asked directly.

A peculiar silence settled over the dining hall.

The only sounds came from other tables, where soldiers were chattering about gambling, battles, and women—typical conversations.

Enkrid let the noise drift past one ear and out the other, focusing his gaze on Frokk.

Frokk shrugged nonchalantly and said no more.

Enkrid watched him for a moment, then set aside his curiosity. More precisely, he decided to leave it alone. His gut told him that Frokk harbored no hostility toward him.

Moreover, Frokk’s presence could only be an asset, not a hindrance.

While the idea of Frokk staying in the barracks was unusual, there was no reason to oppose it.

"I want to stay at the barracks too!" Finn chimed in, raising her hand. Her lips were smeared with lamb marinade, betraying her complete lack of table manners.

She was a ranger, someone who made the moon her companion and the night sky her blanket. Expecting perfect etiquette from someone like her was absurd.

This was a military mess hall, after all. Nobody here adhered to high dining standards.

Only Frokk exuded an air of refinement.

Enkrid didn’t know much about him, but he imagined that if Frokk were a noble, this was how they might eat: transferring greens onto his plate, cutting them neatly, and placing them into his mouth.

Of course, Frokk’s peculiar dining habits—using his tongue to snatch up food—were unmistakably his own.

“Do as you like,” Enkrid replied.

Although Frokk wasn’t officially part of the squad, letting him stay in the barracks wouldn’t be an issue.

Should I report this?

Probably. If Frokk wanted to stay, there was no harm in letting him.

Enkrid mulled it over internally while continuing to eat. The lamb marinade was particularly good, with a subtle blend of herbs, a balanced amount of fat, and a sweet and spicy undertone that filled his mouth.

The meal felt unusually harmonious compared to their usual dining experiences.

"Brother, today’s lamb is truly excellent," Audin remarked, laughing heartily.

"Is it even to your taste?"

"Mind your own business and keep your hands moving. By the way, the thing next to your plate is called a fork. If you don’t know how to use it, just leave it be."

Rem and Ragna bickered, but without any lethal intent. It was civil enough to pass as camaraderie.

Enkrid couldn’t help but feel the air seemed less tense than when he first entered.

“This is entertaining. You’re all completely nuts,” Finn muttered. As a seasoned ranger, she had met all sorts of people in her travels.

But she had never encountered a group as eccentric as this so-called "Mad Squad." Their skills and personalities were anything but ordinary.

Finn kept chewing her lamb, savoring the well-marinated flavor.

“By the way, what about Andrew and Mack?” Kraiss asked while munching on his food.

Quick to inquire, as always.

Enkrid recalled his sparring session with Andrew the night before and answered.

“They said they’re retiring.”

“What?”

Andrew was originally the heir of the Gardener family, bound by duty to restore his family’s name.

Before leaving, he had said something to Enkrid.

"Watching you, I’ve learned how not to give up. I’ll do the same. Someday, under the Gardener name, we’ll meet again."

His tone was full of confidence.

His gaze burned with ambition.

His movements brimmed with determination.

So Enkrid had let him go. That night, Andrew and Mac left the unit.

Reporting their departure had been Enkrid’s responsibility.

The fairy company commander had approved it with surprising ease.

"If the reduced headcount bothers you, I’ll send replacements. What do you say, Squad Leader?"

Enkrid had shaken his head.

Being called an "independent squad" sounded nice, but taking in just anyone would only make survival harder.

Someone like Andrew was the bare minimum for keeping up in this squad.

All the previous squad leaders had been crushed under the pressure.

Maintaining the current roster was preferable to adding more bodies just for show.

"I’m fine as we are," Enkrid had replied.

The commander had joked about joining himself, but Enkrid had politely declined and left it at that.

Pushing away memories of the previous night, Enkrid continued.

"They won’t be returning, so the roster will stay as is for now."

"I see," Kraiss said, seeming to accept it.

"What? My favorite toy ran off without even saying goodbye?" Rem exclaimed, suddenly standing up.

"Hmm?"

"I’ll go check on something," Rem said before rushing out.

“I’m feeling sleepy,” Ragna announced, leaving after finishing his meal.

“It’s time for prayer,” Audin added, excusing himself as well.

After finishing his own plate, Enkrid washed it down with cheap tea from the mess hall before stepping outside.

Instead of heading toward the barracks, he made his way toward the training grounds.

"Where are you going?" Frokk asked from behind.

"Training isn’t over yet," Enkrid replied nonchalantly.

It was time for his evening training.

Hearing that, Frokk paused for the first time.

"You’re training again?"

Frokk’s voice carried a hint of incredulity, the first such reaction Enkrid had seen from him.

"Of course," Enkrid said indifferently.

Whether Frokk stayed, left, or anything else happened—it didn’t matter.

People could say he’d never become a knight all they wanted.

Work was work. It simply had to be done.

Putting off today’s tasks until tomorrow?

Enkrid wasn’t the type.

If anything, he was the kind of lunatic who would bring tomorrow’s work into today.

This guy is the craziest one of them all.

Frokk thought privately.

The so-called Mad Squad? This man was undoubtedly its maddest member.

Enkrid believed himself to be the most normal among them.

But that was merely his perspective.

To everyone else, it was clear: he was the craziest of them all.