A Knight who Eternally Regresses - Chapter 77

Chapter 77: When Bored, Spar

“Then, we’ll stay here for two more days, and if the matter isn’t resolved, we’ll escort both of you to the unit and deal with it once evidence or witnesses are gathered,” Torres declared.

Polid tried to protest, standing up, but the brown-haired man by his side whispered something in his ear, stopping him.

Leona remained indifferent.

“Fine,” she said, nodding as if she had been hoping for this outcome. Watching the situation unfold, Enkrid poked Jaxon in the ribs. Jaxon, ever sensitive, blocked Enkrid’s finger with his palm.

“What is it?”

“Did you have a hobby of collecting knives?”

Enkrid had no idea. He had never seen Jaxon show any interest in such things before. After all, in their lodgings, all of Jaxon’s belongings were standard issue. He never cared for personal items.

“It’s Carmen’s stiletto,” Jaxon replied.

As if that was answer enough.

Enkrid didn’t know much. He had only heard that the Carmen Collection was famous and expensive. Seeing Enkrid’s ignorance, Jaxon spoke again.

“It’s not something you can buy, even with dozens of gold coins. Do you know who Carmen was? You don’t get called a master craftsman for nothing. If that knife appeared on the black market, people would kill for it. A few years ago, there was an incident where assassin guilds fought over the third piece of the Carmen Collection, a katar.”

Enkrid didn’t know about that, but the truth was, it wasn’t just a commotion; several assassins had died.

It was a story unknown to those living in the light. Only the tale of the Dagger of Georg, the most notorious assassin group on the continent, recovering it remained.

“The stiletto is Carmen’s fourth creation.”

The first was a pocket knife. Since it was the first knife he used to kill, it was named ‘First Murder.’ It was already broken and gone according to reports.

The second was a thin and long sword, the cane sword. The third was the katar, and the fourth was the stiletto.

The fifth was a hunting dagger with a single-edged blade, and the sixth was a sword breaker. The seventh was the invisible blade, which could not be seen when drawn in broad daylight.

Seven weapons, and seven stories. That was the reason why Carmen’s name had endured until now. He made exactly seven weapons for his seven targets, and they were all for revenge.

He used ‘First Murder’ to kill his former owner, a slave trader.

With the second, the ‘Cane Sword,’ he stabbed the back of the soldier who violated his sister.

With the third, the ‘Katar,’ he killed the squire of the noble who led that soldier.

With the fourth, the ‘Stiletto,’ he pierced the heart of the squire’s master, the noble.

With the fifth, the ‘Hunting Dagger,’ he slit the throats of all who served the noble.

With the sixth, the ‘Sword Breaker,’ he shattered the noble’s cherished sword, completing his revenge.

There was a rumor that the seventh, the ‘Invisible Blade,’ never fulfilled its purpose.

Another said his final target was himself, and he drove it into his own heart. The truth was forever unknown. Wasn’t it a story from decades ago?

“You memorized all of that?”

Jaxon calmly recited the entire story.

Enkrid couldn’t interrupt. Though Jaxon spoke in a calm tone, a strange heat rose in his eyes throughout his recount.

It was a passion akin to madness.

Unable to stop him, all Enkrid could do was make a simple remark. Did he memorize all of this?

Jaxon replied indifferently.

“I just know it. It’s not memorization.”

Only then did he return to his usual self.

“So we’re stuck here for two more days.”

He wanted to rush out immediately, but his escort duty held him back. Duty had to come first. To Enkrid, it seemed like Jaxon was changing the subject.

‘Could it be?’

Enkrid looked at Jaxon and had a peculiar thought.

‘Is he embarrassed?’

His face wasn’t red, and there was no sign of embarrassment, but he seemed determined to change the topic.

“I’d like to go catch him myself, but I can’t abandon my escort duty, can I?”

It seemed like he wanted to steer the conversation quickly in this direction.

“If you get the Carmen Collection, will you sell it?”

Intrigued, Enkrid prodded him.

“Why would I sell it?”

Jaxon replied, opening his eyes wider than usual. He really seemed to like it. It wasn’t because of Krona; he purely wanted the stiletto. His taste was unique. Well, to someone, it would be a remarkable item.

Kraiss would probably drool over it, thinking of how rich he’d become if he sold it. But having it purely as a collectible, wasn’t that a peculiar taste?

‘It’s a dagger used by an assassin to kill.’

Regardless of its fame, wanting to keep it— what was he thinking? Not that it was an idle rich man’s eccentricity.

Enkrid didn’t ask further or press him on it. He simply maintained his usual demeanor. He didn’t involve himself too much in his squad members’ personal lives.

That was the secret to maintaining his position as a squad leader.

Leaving Jaxon be, Enkrid turned his gaze to Polid’s side. He saw the plain-looking man, the brown-haired joker, and the droopy-armed swordsman talking.

They whispered, and the man with the rapier met eyes with Enkrid. The man’s gaze swept over Enkrid. Enkrid also stared back.

He still wanted to face him.

“The situation’s gotten complicated.”

“We made a wrong choice.”

“It was an inevitable choice.”

“Was it?”

The plain-faced man began, and the swordsman replied. His tone was indifferent.

He had little interest. His eyes scanned the elf and her companions.

‘Interesting people.’

Especially that elf woman. Their ‘Naidhl’ is said to be a sword of speed. He wanted to test himself against her.

Even before that, the ones beside her seemed quite capable. What if they were under his command?

‘They’d be worth nurturing.’

Both weren’t bad. Particularly, the one with reddish-brown hair had a walk he liked. Quiet and ready to draw his sword anytime, anywhere.

“What do we do now?”

“What do we do when things get complicated?”

The swordsman’s question made the man grin. It wasn’t an unpleasant smile.

“We solve it with force.”

“Then do that.”

The swordsman looked at the soldier whose eyes he had just met. He was a delicate-looking soldier.

He didn’t seem young.

He felt like he was looking at a kid who had just picked up a sword and was excited. His desire to compete was so openly displayed.

It would have been a lie to say he wasn’t drawn to it. When someone showed such bravado, wasn’t it a swordsman’s fate to want to face them?

“I’ll leave it to you.”

The brown-haired man nodded slightly and went to comfort Polid.

“Don’t be agitated. There’s nothing to worry about. Without evidence, it’s over. Besides, once we return to the city, who will the company people side with?”

“But what if they bring him in?”

“It’ll be fine.”

The brown-haired man smiled with his eyes. Polid still looked uneasy, but left with no choice, he forced a smile.

“Trust me.”

His words made Polid muster up some courage and add,

“Once we’re back, it’s over. They’re all my father’s people; they’ll support me. Then that whore is done for. It’s a shame, but I might take her as a concubine.”

Would that really happen?

The brown-haired man thought Polid was an idiot, but he didn’t show it. Leona quietly watched them. She couldn’t hear their conversation.

The brown-haired man trusted the swordsman’s strength. The swordsman wondered if he could fight the elf after knocking down the soldier who showed bravado.

Jaxon overheard their conversation but wasn’t interested. It seemed like a play to reassure the idiot, Polid.

He just wanted Carmen’s stiletto.

‘Kraiss.’

He hoped that Kraiss had managed his guild members properly.

He secretly believed so. Though he was terrible at physical work, Kraiss had exceptional skill. He had seen it during their time in the squad.

There was nothing to worry about.

‘If worse comes to worst.’

The dagger could be acquired through other means. Once Enkrid respected Jaxon’s interests and withdrew, Torres, who had organized the situation, approached.

“Been well?”

“No reason not to be.”

“That’s true. Looks like we’re stuck here for two days, killing time at the inn?”

Torres was right. But did they really have to waste their time?

Enkrid believed that Kraiss would do his job. There were rules in the underworld. It was best to leave things to the experts.

What kind of person was Kraiss? He willingly stepped into the Troublemaker Squad.

The reason? There were many, but there was one clear reason. In the Troublemaker Squad, he didn’t have to fight.

The atmosphere was entirely different from other squads. He found his place. When he decided to take over the guild, he must have had his thoughts. Enkrid believed that.

Sure enough, by that evening, someone sent by Kraiss arrived.

“Is Enkrid here?”

It was a boy, barely thirteen or fourteen. His voice was just starting to deepen.

He seemed scared, rolling his eyes and looking around nervously. A soldier guarding the inn gestured inside with his eyes.

Even as he was training his body with the Isolation Technique using chairs and tables in the hall, Enkrid heard and stepped forward.

Since he was shirtless, he wrapped a large cloth around himself. As he stepped outside, the cold wind quickly cooled the sweat on his forehead.

It was freezing.

“That’s me.”

The boy, wearing a thin coat over his tunic, looked at Enkrid and said,

“I have a message.”

The boy spoke firmly.

Enkrid took out a few copper coins from his pocket. Seeing him trembling and glancing around, it seemed he needed a few coins.

He also liked his firm tone.

However, the boy refused the coins.

“No, I’ll get my payment from the guild.”

The boy handed over a small note. It was impressive. It looked like Kraiss had perfect control over the guild.

A boy delivering a message refused coins.

“Who was that?”

A soldier surrounding the inn approached and asked. Enkrid honestly replied that it was someone sent by Kraiss.

“What’s he up to outside?”

Kraiss was a resourceful person, dealing in various things, selling cigarettes, and arranging prostitutes.

Hiring a kid to run errands was nothing unusual. Enkrid returned inside and unfolded the note.

— By the morning of the second day.

Though brief, it was clear. It meant they’d bring him in soon.

“Can I ask what you do all day?”

As he tossed the note into the fireplace, Torres asked from behind.

“Training.”

“During escort duty?”

“It doesn’t look like anyone’s attacking right now.”

“Doesn’t the client have anything to say about that?”

“As you can see.”

“Looking good.”

Leona was watching too. Enkrid didn’t care who was watching.

Hadn’t Audin mentioned it?

“Isolation Technique adds a day to another. Think of building the fortress of your body with today’s efforts.”

He thought it was a splendid way to say not to skip a single day. He decided to adhere to that. When Enkrid set his mind to something, he did it.

He incorporated the Isolation Technique into his daily sword training.

“Aren’t you tired of it?”

How could he be? It was fun. It was fun watching himself change day by day. During training, he maintained the Blade Sense. He also used Focus Point.

The Heart of the Beast was the only technique he couldn’t easily use during training.

He resumed the technique, shirtless.

“Is it because she’s the daughter of a trading company, she has no reservations.”

Torres chuckled and said, sitting with his chair turned around. Leona responded with a light smile instead of words.

She observed Enkrid.

That face and that body. Even the sweat running down during training. He perfectly fit her taste.

Enkrid continued to move, ignoring the gazes around him. Watching this, the elf company commander sat on the inn’s stairs and asked Jaxon,

“Does your squad leader usually enjoy attention?”

“I don’t know.”

Jaxon was curt, and the company commander didn’t ask further or probe. She was also closely observing Enkrid.

A handsome face and a trained body were always welcome.

Enkrid pushed his feet forward while pressing down on the chair with both hands, putting weight on his forearms. Every time his body dipped below the chair and rose, the outer muscles of his arms twitched.

As Torres watched, two more Frontier Slaughterers joined him.

“Is that him?”

“The one who insulted us, the Sorcery Breaker? Yes.”

They spoke as if for him to hear. Enkrid had just finished a cycle of the technique and offered Torres,

“If you’re bored, how about a spar?”

They had time to kill anyway. Behind the inn, there was a large open space. It was a facility for those visiting the inn.

It was a space for mercenaries and swordsmen escorting the trading company.

Occasionally, when disputes arose, fights would happen there.It was more than enough for a spar.

“Your lady is generous.”

Torres spoke, looking at Leona again, and she nodded without hesitation.

“It’ll be a good show.”

Torres was asking if she was okay with it, and Leona immediately approved. Torres was itching for some action.

More than anything, the two Frontier Slaughterers behind him were even more eager.

“He’s a high-rank soldier.”

“Is Captain Torres going first? Shouldn’t this go from the bottom up?”

They seemed quite interested in Enkrid. Enkrid was pleased to have more opponents.

“Let’s have them all.”

From then on, an unexpected sparring frenzy began. Knowing that drawing real swords could end the spar dangerously, they broke suitable branches to use as swords but remained serious.

“I’m joining.”

Even the company commander joined, making everyone in the inn spectators.

“They’re crazy.”

The only one who clicked his tongue was Leona’s escort. They were all insane. What was the point of sparring during an escort mission?

Of course, he couldn’t stop them. After all, Leona, his master, had permitted it.