A Knight who Eternally Regresses - Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Just One Word

‘Did I get killed in my sleep?’

Enkrid was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t even laugh.

‘Was I that dull?’

So dull that I could die from being stabbed in my sleep without even knowing it?

That couldn’t be right. If he were that dull, he wouldn’t have survived until now. He couldn’t even guess how he died. Enkrid recalled the moment just before he fell asleep. There was nothing unusual. He didn’t feel any signs. He fell asleep. He didn’t wake up afterward. Did he hear insects in his sleep? Did he have a restless sleep?

No.

He slept soundly. He was supposed to return after just one more day. He slept without thinking about anything. He considered it his last rest.

After that?

He felt like he was possessed by a ghost, but he didn’t let himself stupidly be overwhelmed by astonishment. Freezing up in confusion would get him killed.

Another today had just started. Having done it once already, Enkrid knew what needed to be done and what to ponder. There were two things to think about.

One was ‘how.’

Whether his throat was slit or his mouth and nose were covered. How could someone kill without causing any pain?

The second was ‘why.’

‘Why me?’

He didn’t even know the moment of his death. It wasn’t done clumsily. If the assailant was an assassin, they were at least first-rate or better. If they were an enemy soldier.

‘They’d be worse than a first-rate assassin.’

The medical tent was at the rear. If someone could sneak in here and slit throats, they were an assassin who could slap a knight and still return unscathed. The answer to ‘why’ was practically obvious. In the tent, apart from him, there were only Crang and Vengeance.

‘No one of such caliber would come for Vengeance.’

So, there was only one answer.

Crang.

A soldier who claimed to have forgotten his own unit. There was no way someone like that was just a soldier. The answer to ‘why’ was clear. ‘How’ would be figured out tonight.

Strangely enough, he thought the pain he felt each time he was killed by the stabbing maniac wasn’t the worst part. Seeing that bastard’s eyes was the worst part.

‘This is worse.’

It was disgusting. Dying without knowing what was going on. It felt incredibly disgusting. Rolling in shit wouldn’t feel as bad as this.

‘I really feel like…’

Like shit?

But nothing changed because of that. Enkrid dismissed his feelings. Instead, he thought about what he needed to do and organized his thoughts.

‘I’ll figure out how they killed me tonight. As for why, it’s because they came for Crang.’

Another question arose. Beyond ‘how’ and ‘why,’ there was ‘who.’ Who was the assassin? Assuming they weren’t an enemy soldier. Someone who knew the location of the medical tent, could hide, and was skilled at assassination. Someone who had already confirmed their target and had easy access. One person came to mind.

‘The company commander?’

It was a reasonable suspicion. Elves had quiet footsteps, stealthy movements, and were quick. A race perfect for assassination. Moreover, she had a reason to come here. Wasting time with trivial talk a few days ago made sense if her goal was him.

It all fit together perfectly.

“What are you doing?”

Beside him, Vengeance asked. Enkrid responded reflexively.

“Thinking.”

“Thinking? Your words are really short. Have you gone mad, you crazy bastard?”

Vengeance stood up, limping, his thigh wound somewhat healed.

“Oh, I thought you were Crang, sir. My mistake.”

“Is it all fixed if you call it a mistake?”

“I apologize.”

“Does it end with an apology?”

He’s caught me.

“Shall I get some food?”

Enkrid ignored Vengeance as usual and stepped out of the tent. Behind him, Vengeance’s angry voice mingled with Crang’s lazy shout.

“I’m not eating!”

He wasn’t annoyed at Crang for causing his death. Sure, it felt disgusting. It certainly made him irritated, but Crang didn’t kill him. Ultimately, he died due to his own lack of skill or incredibly bad luck. Enkrid thought so.

‘If I know, I won’t get caught.’

An assassin snuck up on him. Making a fuss would bring allies running. Catching a cat that sneaked in at night would be enough. There was no need to catch it himself. Soon, the soldier in charge of the medical tent came, rubbing his eyes. Dragging his feet, he looked incredibly bored. This guy was consistent.

“The platoon leader is really pissed off because you were late.”

“Because I was late? Isn’t it because you keep teasing him?”

Officially, this soldier was also squad leader level. So, we were of the same rank.

“Are you getting bold for a low-ranking soldier?”

As they met and walked back together, the lazy soldier asked. His question was cut short, but it wasn’t hard to understand. Why do I keep provoking without fear?

“Vengeance?”

“He’s a mid-ranked soldier.”

Not just the Cyprus Brigade, but the entire Naurillia Kingdom army classified soldiers by rank. It was a kind of incentive system to boost morale. Prove your skill, and you’d be given an appropriate rank. I heard there was a bonus for each rank increase.

Enkrid thought it was a useful system in many ways.

Low, lower, mid, high, highest.

Five ranks made soldiers train fiercely. Since Naurillia valued martial arts, most commanders had at least high-level martial prowess. And knights were excluded from the ranks.

A knight was simply a knight. They surpassed human limits. They couldn’t be confined within this system.

So, a platoon leader would be at least a mid-ranked soldier. A squad leader would be lower or mid. Of course, no matter how skilled, they wouldn’t be promoted to disrupt the command structure. Platoon leaders and higher were carefully selected.

But there were always exceptions. Enkrid was a low-ranked soldier yet a squad leader; however ,his squad members were at least mid-ranked soldiers.

“You’re quite a peculiar person.”

The soldier spoke without thinking. Enkrid felt a strange sensation.

‘Me?’

He had always been told he was ordinary or lacked talent.

“Two servings will be enough for the meal.”

Enkrid said. The soldier looked at him, muttered something about him being odd, but prepared only two servings. Returning to the tent, he placated Vengeance a bit.

After breakfast, he trained and reviewed past battles as usual. Crang didn’t eat breakfast and had left. So, only Enkrid and Vengeance ate.

“Crang left without saying anything?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

To Enkrid’s question, the medic nodded indifferently. He suspected the elf company commander. This guy was also a strong suspect.

‘This soldier can come and go here anytime, right?’

There were guards outside, but they wouldn’t stop the medic.

‘Let’s not jump to conclusions.’

Even if it all fits perfectly, deciding would make the mind rigid. It’s better to keep options open. Crang returned only after lunch. It was the same day, but Enkrid moved differently.

“You’re busy?”

When Enkrid spoke, Crang tilted his head. Then he smiled and approached.

“Do you know?”

He suddenly asked.

“Know what?”

“It’s the first time you’ve started a conversation.”

‘Really?’

Come to think of it, maybe that was true.

He didn’t really think about it.

“Maybe.”

What’s the big deal?

Crang chuckled and sat on Enkrid’s bed. Enkrid wasn’t really curious about Crang’s identity. He wasn’t, until now. But since this mysterious soldier started repeating today, he became curious.

What did this guy do to attract assassins?

He could trick him into revealing his identity, but he was also the one who had sincerely listened to his dream. Sometimes, it’s better to convey sincerity directly than to beat around the bush.

Enkrid did that. Sitting beside him, he looked Crang straight in the eyes and asked.

“What’s your identity?”

Vengeance, who had been dozing, woke up and was about to say something but stopped. He had heard Enkrid’s question. He was curious too.

Enkrid waited calmly for an answer.

Crang smiled.

But it wasn’t the relaxed smile from before. He continued smiling as he stared into Enkrid’s eyes for a while.

‘Is he trying to have a staring contest?’

Enkrid waited leisurely for him to speak. Vengeance, who couldn’t hold it in, was about to say something.

“Uh, I can’t tell you.”

“Why?”

“Because it would be boring. I also have a promise to keep.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Enkrid nodded at his reluctance. Vengeance, watching from the back, heard the entire bizarre conversation.

He thought.

What kind of monster fart conversation is this?

He asked, and then why is he agreeing? There’s definitely something he’s hiding. Is there a reason he can’t reveal it? Is he an enemy? A spy? Vengeance finished thinking and spoke.

“Are you a spy?”

“I’m the Fourth-Fourth Squad Leader.”

“Not you, bastard.”

“Me? No.”

Crang shook his head. He denied it immediately but then stood up from the bed. Enkrid watched him quietly. He walked to the center of the medical tent. The medic, who had been dozing, saw him and opened his eyes sleepily.

“I can’t reveal my identity, but I can say one thing.”

It was a strange feeling. His steps, attitude, gestures, smile, eyes, and breathing as he walked to the center were all perfectly in sync. It was like watching an actor on a prepared stage. He naturally drew everyone’s attention. Enkrid unconsciously focused on Crang’s lips.

If one knows how to listen wholeheartedly perhaps they can also speak words that captivate others’ ears and hearts.

“I can’t betray this kingdom.”

His words were neither fast nor slow. It was just a single sentence.

Sometimes it becomes a lie.

Sometimes it becomes meaningless noise.

Sometimes it’s used to whisper fleeting love.

It was just such a sentence.

Depending on whose mouth it comes from, it changes drastically. Crang’s words sounded like the inevitability of spring blooming, autumn coloring, and winter falling. It sounded like an unchallengeable law.

Enkrid saw a vision.

The tent seemed to expand suddenly. Crang appeared to be standing in the exact center. It was wide. When he was a mercenary, he had passed through the breadbasket of the Naurillia Kingdom. The surroundings opened up like that vast plain. Even with such an open view, Crang stood vividly. His presence seemed to encompass the wilderness.

‘He’s not ordinary.’

A type that couldn’t be ranked.

‘A knight?’

No. Would a knight of that level hide their skill? It was intuition. He wasn’t a knight.

“Well, you don’t have to believe me.”

When Crang casually said that, the vast plain and wilderness vanished. Crang, who had been vivid, appeared as he originally did.

“I’d appreciate it if you believed me.”

“I think I have to.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, because you said so.”

Enkrid couldn’t guess Crang’s identity.

‘It doesn’t matter much.’

As long as he stopped the assassin, that was enough. It was just curiosity. It would be nice if he told him, but it didn’t matter if he didn’t.

“Whew.”

Vengeance, who seemed to have been holding his breath, exhaled deeply. Then he looked at Enkrid and Crang and was about to say something.

“Damn.”

That was all he said, then turned around. It seemed Vengeance thought Crang’s identity was extraordinary, and he couldn’t say more. Seeing this, Crang laughed and said.

“Don’t worry, platoon leader. I’m just Crang right now.”

“…Who said anything?”

Tsk, he’s really scared. Enkrid found Vengeance cute. It was curious how he still picked fights with him, even though he acted like this. And he fell silent when facing Rem. He didn’t pick fights with other squad members either.

‘Come to think of it, why does he only do that to me?’

Enkrid thought about it while passing time. Another same day passed.

“Sleep well, Enkrid.”

“You too.”

“Hmph.”

Platoon Leader Vengeance seemed to fear future repercussions, so he skipped his nightly greeting. It felt empty. Soon, the assigned guard stood outside the tent.

Enkrid didn’t sleep. He could fall asleep easily if he wanted, but staying up for a night wasn’t hard either. When he was a mercenary, his stamina and wits saved him more than his swordsmanship.

Time passed. The night deepened. The guard changed twice. Vengeance snored beside him. Enkrid lost himself in various thoughts.

‘If I stay lying down like this, I’ll fall asleep.’

He was about to get up to pee when.

Prick.

His neck stung. Thinking it was a bug, he rubbed his neck. He felt something small.

‘A needle? A poisoned needle?’

Carefully, he pulled it out with his fingers. It was a thin wooden needle.

‘This is unexpected.’

He planned to make noise if someone showed up, but a dull pain started from the pricked area, soon numbing all sensation. It felt like someone had cut off his neck and body. It was there, but he couldn’t feel anything below his neck.

‘What is this.’

Soon, he felt dizzy, and his head spun.

‘Poisoned needle.’

He was caught. It was the answer to ‘how.’ No matter how dull a person, no matter how asleep they were, how could they not know their neck was cut or heart pierced?

The answer was here. It was a severe paralytic poison.

Enkrid tried to keep his eyes open to the end. He couldn’t waste this day. He saw blurry shadows. The figure was small. Unless it was someone with a peculiar build, it wasn’t an adult male. A woman or a child. It looked like such a figure. The shadow approached and swung its arm, and that was the end.

“Cyprus! Cyprus!”

He heard the praises of Cyprus. A new day started. Technically, it was the third today.

“Is he slacking off? Why isn’t breakfast here?”

It was the same. Platoon Leader Vengeance complaining about the missing breakfast. There was no need to delay today.

“I’ll go out.”

He stepped outside without dealing with anyone. First, fetch the soldier. Let’s start anew. Honestly, he didn’t even know where the poisoned needle came from.

So what to do?

Don’t lie down and be prepared. What was needed now was a suitable excuse. Even in the rear, it was a battlefield. There were plenty of excuses to stay up and alert.

‘Let’s try again, assassin.’

Enkrid began his preparations.