A Knight who Eternally Regresses - Chapter 74
Chapter 74: Because I Trained Every Moment (3)
Even though it was the second floor, it wasn’t very high. However, falling with the weight of an adult man while wearing armor was a suicidal act.
Enkrid drove his head into the assassin’s stomach as they fell, managing to maintain his balance. The sudden tackle caught the attacker completely off guard.
They hit the ground with a heavy thud, their bodies entangled. Enkrid was on top, and the assassin was underneath.
“Cough!”
The assassin coughed up blood upon impact.
Enkrid pushed himself up off the fallen opponent and exhaled deeply, checking his body for injuries.
‘No injuries.’
No joints or ligaments seemed strained either.
That was good enough.
The primary task was to create distance between the assassin and the escort target.
Jaxon was blocking the way to the second floor and the elf company commander would handle any remaining minor issues.
As he assessed his body, Enkrid realized there were no significant injuries to his back. He had calculated that he could block the opponent’s blade with his body to some extent.
‘Armor.’
It was the armor he obtained from raiding the Gielpin Guild. Rem was the one who truly understood its value.
“It won’t tear with ordinary cuts. Hmm, it’s made from rare beast leather, so use it well. The materials alone are worth a fortune. What kind of idiot dies without wearing something like this?”
Originally, the box containing the armor was cursed. The deceased guild leader couldn’t break the curse, so he just held onto it.
For some reason, the curse didn’t affect Enkrid. He was able to block the enemy’s blade without shedding a drop of blood.
However, the armor could only block sharp metal objects, not the impact, so he was thankful to Audin.
The technique of isolation built his body and he learned wrestling to use his strengthened body.
Enkrid protected himself with the skills he learned and honed. It was all possible because he trained diligently every moment. Dodging blades, subduing opponents, all of it.
Would today exist if he had wasted any day?
No, he was certain it wouldn’t.
“You’re insane.”
The assassin’s mask was soaked with blood from his mouth. He removed it, finding it suffocating.
It was an unfamiliar face.
And naturally so. With over 5,000 people residing in the Border Guard, how could he know every face?
However, he felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had passed this person before.
“Cough.”
The man coughed again, blood mixing with his sputum, staining his beard as it dripped to the ground. Yet he continued to glare at Enkrid.
His eyes were filled with a murderous intent. The determination to kill was evident.
Srrng.
Enkrid drew his longsword.
The enemy drew a gladius in one hand and a shortsword in the other.
‘Dual-wielding.’
He maintained his balance without swaying to either side. Judging by the blood he coughed up, his internal organs were likely damaged, but his gaze remained fierce.
He was a man who had experienced battle. Enkrid’s instincts signaled this.
The wrinkles on his face suggested he was well over thirty. Having survived that long, he likely had a few tricks up his sleeve.
‘He’ll probably use a Ki Blade technique.’
His attacks would be more bizarre than standard swordsmanship. This prediction was based on what Enkrid could see.
“Khrrk, ptuh.”
The man sucked in his nose with a sound like a pig’s grunt, spat a phlegm mixed with blood, and asked Enkrid,
“What’s your affiliation?”
“Why do you care?”
“If you’re with the standing army, then you’re my junior.”
Junior?
Enkrid expressed doubt with his expression while continuing to scan the man’s entire body with his eyes.
There weren’t as many openings as he expected. His stance was solid.
“I made it to Platoon Leader.”
He said. Enkrid believed him. Not that it changed anything. How many ex-military men were there?
Some were left disabled. Some were dead, with only their names remaining. Some were discharged intact but with a criminal record.
Countless.
Among them were those who managed to discharge honorably. If someone chose military service over prison, they could opt for discharge when their mandatory service ended.
“Are you with the Frontier Slaughterers?”
The man asked again.
Enkrid shook his head lightly. There was only one reason he answered; to find a gap in the man’s defense.
But it was still there, with no apparent openings.
Not bad, he thought.
Enkrid subtly lowered his sword tip. As he did, the opponent adjusted the position of the swords in his hands. He was a formidable opponent; both instinct and reason agreed.
“Phew, now that I’ve got it, I can kill you and then her upstairs.”
The man said, as if picking up a coin from the ground, making it sound as easy as that.
This time Enkrid didn’t respond. There was no time to.
The man charged as he spoke. He was fast. The gladius and shortsword twirled through the air like dancing leaves.
Both hands moved to different rhythms.
‘The Vallen Style Duet.’
It was a technique he knew. Though he had never attempted it due to his lack of talent.
Two blades in different rhythms, both aiming for lethal blows. The opponent’s footwork and swordplay were formidable.
Enkrid gripped his sword with both hands as the opponent charged, lowering the sword tip and extending it behind his left hip.
The approaching attacker’s eyes gleamed.
Enkrid wasn’t flustered. The Heart of the Beast gave him courage. He couldn’t predict the opponent’s moves. The Vallen Style Duet was a feat he couldn’t achieve with his body.
That didn’t mean he couldn’t face it.
Thump.
He stepped forward with his left foot. He moved according to his own rhythm, independent of the opponent’s.
Two blades traced arcs in the air. Before they could reach him, Enkrid moved.
“You’ve got great strength.”
Audin had often criticized his dullness but acknowledged his strength.
Enkrid knew how to break the opponent’s Ki Blade technique with strength and the Heavy and Fierce Sword.
Hooong.
The longsword cut through the air. The blade, mixed with Valeri Mountain steel, sliced horizontally.
Of course, it didn’t just cut air.
Thwack, splurt!
A mid-level horizontal slash.
Power over finesse.
He had sparred dozens of times.
Since the repetitions started, his skills had improved significantly, expanding the range of what he could gain through sparring.
Things he had overlooked, hadn’t seen, or felt, were made aware to him through the Heart of the Beast, the Blade Sense, and Focus Point.
He replicated and trained what he perceived. His body, which didn’t cooperate, was reshaped through the technique of isolation.
It was like dodging a knife with a simple nod. The only difference this time was that he swung the sword with intention.
Using his crafted body, he pivoted on his left foot and twisted his muscles to drive the sword.
The entire process happened in an instant.
The blade that sliced through the midsection cut the opponent’s body nearly in half.
The opponent attempted to block with one of his swords and slide in, but skill was overpowered by strength. It was a clear victory for brute strength.
Enkrid watched the man, who was cut in half and spilling hot entrails steaming into the cold air.
“Farewell, senior.”
Even half-severed, the man showed remarkable resilience. His eyes were filled with regrets. His lips quivered as he muttered. Enkrid read his lips.
“Glory to the homeland.”
Was all this the result of loyalty to his country? Had it led to assassination?
He didn’t know.
But it seemed worth investigating.
After swinging his sword to shake off the blood, he sheathed it with a srrng sound. Only then did the elf company commander and Jaxon come out.
“You fight noisily.”
Jaxon’s eyes scanned Enkrid from head to toe as he spoke. He didn’t appear to have any serious injuries. There were only minor scratches from crashing through the window.
“If you’re my lover, you’d better be able to do this much.”
The elf company commander spoke in her usual blunt tone, but her words were chilling.
“Misunderstanding… if someone else hears…”
Embarrassed, Enkrid spoke the word “misunderstanding” first. His words were awkward.
“Is that so?”
The commander brushed it off lightly.
“You captured a few alive?”
“Yes.”
Jaxon answered, and Enkrid nodded before heading inside. When he got to the first floor, he saw those already tied up.
Looking around, a few of the trading company’s guards were missing. Some had been killed.
‘The attackers’ skill.’
It wasn’t high. But that was only by Enkrid’s standards.
For regular trading company guards, they would have been formidable opponents. Most notably, the last opponent he killed was a retired soldier.
He could have sliced through a couple of mediocre mercenaries in an instant.
Where did such a group come from?
The question arose naturally.
As he entered the first floor, the escort target, the young lady of the trading company, was already there.
The surroundings were filled with blood and corpses, some of which belonged to their allies. It was like the heart of a battlefield.
There had been at least twenty attackers. More than half of them were killed or captured by the company commander and Jaxon.
Several members of the trading company were vomiting, understandably so.
The scene was filled with corpses, blood, and entrails, Yet the young lady only frowned slightly, remaining composed. She approached the scene, tapping her boot heels.
“What’s your name?”
The woman asked as she drew near. Enkrid pointed to himself.
Nod.
The woman nodded, and Enkrid opened his mouth to answer.
“Enkrid.”
“Are you alright?”
She gestured toward his back as she asked, and Enkrid nodded. It was all thanks to the leather armor. As Rem had said, it wouldn’t tear with ordinary cuts.
He had assessed the opponent’s skill and decided he could block the attack with his body. If he hadn’t, how would he have blocked it?
He could have used other means. He wouldn’t have foolishly tried to block with his body, but at the time, he thought it was the best option.
“Alright. We’ll compensate you later.”
He hadn’t done it for a reward.
“It’s fine. It was my duty.”
The woman pursed her lips a few times before speaking.
“I’m Leona.”
“Yes.”
He already knew her name. After introducing herself, she glanced around and took a deep breath.
“Compensation for the families of the deceased.”
“Yes, miss.”
Her nanny, trembling, approached and replied. The nanny seemed more shocked than Miss Leona.
Judging by the vomit around her mouth, she had already retched at the sight. She consciously avoided looking at the floor.
In contrast, Miss Leona…
‘She’s composed.’
Was she more resilient than expected?
No, it was her determination that set her apart, or perhaps she was prepared.
Enkrid surveyed those tending to the scene and stepped back. Leona didn’t speak to him further.
Enkrid moved to one side of the inn, noticing the innkeeper’s distressed face. This was probably his first experience with such an event. He couldn’t help but wonder what kind of madman had orchestrated this.
‘Glory to the homeland.’
It sounded like there were Azpen spies within the Border Guard.
“The ringleader fled.”
Jaxon said beside him.
“Why didn’t you catch him?”
“Why should I?”
He was here to escort, so he would escort. That was the proper attitude for a soldier fulfilling a commission.
Jaxon conveyed his intentions through both words and actions. Enkrid didn’t reprimand him for it. It was better than bringing in Rem or other squad members.
“Well done.”
“Two days remain.”
It sounded like a reminder to stay focused on the escort mission. Work was work, and Jaxon was right.
‘I am curious about who’s behind this.’
It was an early evening occurrence. As darkness fell, the scent of blood lingered.
Most of the remaining guests left the inn. When the innkeeper’s face became more twisted, Miss Leona spoke.
“The trading company will cover the losses.”
Looking at her back as she spoke, she didn’t seem frightened like a scared bird. She was confident. She wasn’t just some girl raised in luxury.
Enkrid silently watched her back and asked,
“Are we staying up all night, Commander?”
“Do you want to?”
“No.”
“We’ll take shifts. Rest first.”
“Yes.”
Without hesitation, Enkrid climbed to the second floor. As he ascended, he opened and closed his hand.
What level was the opponent he killed?
At least on par with that thrusting freak he met on the battlefield when he first repeated today.
Because he ambushed him while falling from the second floor, the opponent had to fight injured.
‘His organs were damaged.’
He wouldn’t have been able to put strength into his limbs. Still, the light of victory was undiminished.
‘I would have won even at full strength.’
Confidence, a word he had never truly embraced. It began to bloom in his heart. He would still walk like a tortoise, but his steps would be different from before.
Enkrid felt he had taken a step closer to his dream. It might be too slight to notice, but it was progress. The fact that he had advanced gave him satisfaction.
“Thanks to you, we survived.”
One of the escorts said as they descended the stairs, crossing paths with him.
“If we hadn’t requested an escort from the Border Guard…”
The female escort who spoke was pale. She had been Leona’s close guard. Despite a hole in her abdomen, she was walking.
Was she eager to die?
“It was shallow. It was close. My organs are fine.”
The escort said, perhaps feeling Enkrid’s gaze.
“That’s fortunate.”
They awkwardly faced each other, then Enkrid moved past her and continued up.
“Thank you.”
The female escort said again. Enkrid accepted it casually. It was his duty. That was the mission and the commission.
Enkrid rested for half a day and woke at dawn.
“It’s your shift, Squad Leader.”
The Commander’s call. He was already awake. They shared a room with the company commander and Jaxon.
There was no issue since they took turns. They were soldiers first, regardless of gender.
Even with the Border Guard standing army escort, there was an attack. That was the outcome of the attack.
Two platoons were dispatched in front of the inn. It was the 2nd Company’s forces.
“I’ll catch the bastard who did this and kill him.”
One of the platoon leaders of the 2nd Company spoke confidently.
They had taken those captured.
Enkrid went down alone.
Though they had cleaned up, the hall smelled faintly of blood and other unpleasant odors.
The dim light from the candlesticks illuminated the hall. It was empty. The regular guests had long since moved to other inns.
As a result, the main hall was empty.
Enkrid took a seat at a table and began his review. It was natural for him. Even if he didn’t repeat today, it was something he always did.
As he reviewed and trained in things he could do while sitting, just before sunrise, someone descended the stairs.
“You’re up early.”
It was Leona, the escort target.