A Knight who Eternally Regresses - Chapter 82

Chapter 82: It Seems Like Something’s Changed

Over time, Enkrid had seen a lot. Especially things related to speed. While the swordsman behind the fool Polid had been a trigger, Enkrid had always seen these things before.

He encountered such moments every time they sparred. The axe that swung like a whip, the swordsman who followed the fool Polid, and Rem’s axe strikes.

Things he experienced and learned on the battlefield and things he trained and pondered over by himself.

Even his body, which had changed through the Isolation Technique. All of it condensed and settled in his mind. An indescribable sensation took root in his body.

Enkrid entered a state of complete concentration. A world where only he and his sword remained. Even the feeling of holding the sword became distant. All he saw was a line connecting point to point.

What he needed was the strength to draw that line. The moment he looked into Rem’s eyes, he released it. The tip of his sword traced the shortest line connecting the points.

The sword pierced through Rem’s neck. An illusion appeared. An illusion so vivid it seemed real. In the illusion, Enkrid’s sword pierced Rem’s neck.

Rem fell with a hole in his neck. Blood flowed and soaked the ground. Rem lay on the ground, eyes wide open, foaming at the mouth. There was no resentment in those eyes. Only pure surprise.

“Shit, that was really fast this time.”

Startled enough to swear, Rem’s exclamation shattered Enkrid’s illusion. The scene that remained as an illusion crumbled like shattered glass. Beyond the broken glass, he saw Rem’s surprised eyes. But only for a moment. Soon, Rem’s eyes softened.

His eyes were like those of a child who had found a fascinating toy.

“What did you do?”

Rem asked, a bloodstain visible on his neck. It was because the blade had grazed him.

“I almost died there.”

Enkrid opened his mouth to respond.

“Sorry, I almost killed you.”

“I never thought I’d say this, but you’re really something, our squad leader.”

“I’m actually older than you, aren’t I?”

Enkrid was taller, too.

“What a funny guy.”

With those words, Rem thrust his axe. As Enkrid reflexively turned his head to dodge, the axe blade started to follow the line of his cheek.

The spar continued.

Afterward, Enkrid had to hover between life and death against Rem’s axe.

“Did you realize what swinging quickly means? Good. Let’s keep going.”

What is this? Is it because I grazed his neck? It seems there’s a bit of resentment in him. Yet Enkrid didn’t back down.

“Are you hesitating because you think you’ll kill me again? Don’t worry. I’ll kill you first.”

Rem’s eyes gleamed fiercely. His arm turned into a ray of light instead of a whip. The axe blade, which Enkrid barely managed to dodge and block, suddenly touched the back of his neck without even leaving a scratch on the skin.

The axe blade lightly tapped his neck and pulled back. Because it wasn’t sharp, there was no wound. Only the cold touch of the axe blade remained.

“If you can’t control the weapon in your hand perfectly, you’re only half there.”

With those words marking the end of the spar, Rem left Enkrid, who lay on the cold ground, to contemplate what he had gained from the match.

What is speed? The conclusion he reached was trajectory and movement. It was the action of drawing a line connecting point to point in an instant.

What was needed to draw the line in his mind and realize it immediately? His body. His body needed to follow. Therefore, physical training was necessary. Why did the axe seem to swing like a whip?

‘Strength, trained muscles, and physical ability.’

These were the things Audin had told him to accumulate in his body. The same things he gained through the Isolation Technique.

Strength was the foundation. The foundation for stabbing or swinging the sword faster than ever. That’s where he incorporated the concept of movement.

The moment after drawing the line connecting the points in his mind, he realized it in an instant.

‘This is speed.’

The Swift and Fast Sword. It was part of the technique known as Quick Sword Style. Enkrid laughed as he lay there.

“Heh.”

Even though he hadn’t repeated today. Even though he hadn’t repeated death. Even though he hadn’t met the boatman of the black river.

‘A sword for tomorrow.’

He felt his growth. More than anything, he was proud that he had realized it himself, not learned from someone else.

He had always been told he had no talent. When had he ever imagined he would have such an experience in his life?

‘I can do more.’

Seeing the path forward, Enkrid’s heart raced. Then he delved into Rem’s words. Review and contemplate. It was time to sink inward.

“You should come inside if you don’t want to freeze to death.”

The voice directed at Enkrid, who lay sprawled on the ground, belonged to Jaxon. He seemed to have just returned from outside. Jaxon, with his usual indifferent expression, approached with his thermal leather cloak billowing in the wind.

Enkrid nodded from where he lay and stood up. He sheathed his drawn sword, loosened his stiff neck from side to side, and then stood and headed back to the quarters when suddenly he felt goosebumps all over his body, and a chill ran down his spine.

His entire body’s muscles tensed. It was a response that arose from the realm of instinct. He reflexively turned around and drew his sword again.

Clang!

The sound of the blade scraping against the scabbard echoed. Enkrid realized he was holding his breath and only then exhaled as he looked at his opponent.

The source of the murderous intent was three steps behind him. Jaxon stood there as usual. The only difference was that he had let his right arm hang low.

“Not bad.”

Jaxon said, looking at Enkrid. What did he mean by not bad? Enkrid couldn’t understand at all. He only knew that Jaxon had done something. Could the act of exuding killing intent be so terrifyingly constricting?

“Carmen’s Stiletto is an excellent dagger.”

Jaxon spoke again. Only then did Enkrid realize Jaxon intended to keep his word.

“Why do you keep training your senses? How can you dodge a dagger flying at your back without seeing it?”

Jaxon had once said. What he showed now must be the pinnacle of the stiletto.

“When you resolve to kill someone, your momentum naturally follows. That’s what we call killing intent.”

Momentum, killing intent, fighting spirit, and willpower. All were similar concepts. Enkrid thought of the escort swordsman named Matthias. He had raised his momentum simply by stating his name. That alone drew everyone’s attention.

Jaxon had judged the man to be a city-level powerhouse.

“It’s about sensing killing intent. What I showed you was intense enough that even a passing child could feel it and be scared, so it’s natural that you sensed it. Keep feeling it. Sense it with everything, including your senses. That’s the next stage after the Blade Sense, the ‘Gate of the Sixth Sense.’”

Thump.

His heart started racing again. Just as when he had established the concept of speed.

“I understand.”

He replied calmly, though his heart, filled with boldness, kept pounding. He was nearly driven mad with excitement. The biggest change for Enkrid, since he had started repeating today, was this.

Every day had become incomparably enjoyable. The pleasure of growth, which he had never felt before, became the whip and carrot that pushed Enkrid forward. It told him he could do more, that he didn’t have to stop here.

‘For what purpose?’

The goal was also clear.

A knight. The dream shone like a bright star, lighting up Enkrid’s heart.

“Let’s go inside.”

With those words, Jaxon entered the quarters first. Enkrid soon followed him in.

“Have you finished today’s training?”

Audin asked.

“Not yet.”

This, too, was something he had to do. Although it was painful to throw his whole body into a sea of pain before starting, it was not torturous.

The fruit that would fall into his mouth after crossing the sea of agony was so sweet. The pain he squeezed out of his body turned into joy.

“Let’s begin.”

After that, he started the Isolation Technique with Audin.BAfter completing his training and washing his exhausted body, as he was about to lie down on the bed, he noticed Esther was already lying on her bed.

She had gathered her front paws in front of her chest and rested her head gently on them. Enkrid reached out to stroke Esther’s head.

Ka-ang!

Just as his fingertips were about to touch the top of her head, Esther scratched his hand, forcing him to withdraw.BIf Esther had seriously swung her claws, she could have severed his wrist instead of scratching his hand.

So what was happening now was probably just cute sulking.

However,

“Why are you doing this again?”

He just didn’t know the reason. Kraiss chuckled from the side.

“Indeed. She’s been like that ever since she heard the song about the Alluring Squad Leader.”

Apparently, those idlers had enthusiastically sung the song about the Alluring Squad Leader.

“Ooh, making every woman in the city lie down!”

“A hunter targeting every passing woman!”

“Alluring, alluring, alluring Squad Leader!”

Kraiss started the first verse, and Rem joined in. The lyrics and melody were a mess. It was hardly a real song.

“Caw.”

For some reason, Esther seemed to really, extremely, absolutely hate that song. As soon as she heard it, she immediately let out a hostile cry.

‘Is it because of Kraiss?’

Kraiss was incredibly bad at singing. Surprisingly, Rem, with his masculine voice, was quite decent to listen to.

“What about the company commander? Another woman? Alluring Squad Leader.”

Ragna asked from the side. He looked genuinely curious, but he was also sincerely teasing him.

“Shut up.”

It was better to wait quietly for the rumors to die down rather than trying to clear up every misunderstanding. Bringing it up again would only make the fire burn bigger.

“So did you or didn’t you?”

But this one needed an answer. It was a matter concerning Leona’s honor.

“I didn’t.”

“……Is that, um, really true?”

“I have no reason to lie about this.”

Even if he had, so what?

That’s true. There’s no need to cover this up with a lie. Knowing Enkrid’s character, Rem also knew that what he said was the truth.

“Are you impotent? When did it get cut off? Is that why?”

This bastard.

“It’s alright. Alluring brother, God loves everyone. Even if it’s cut off, He still loves you.”

Then Audin added a comment.

But why did the word ‘Alluring’ come before ‘brother’?

“Pfft.”

Kraiss laughed.

Jaxon suppressed a smile as he looked away.

Ragna even brought up, “Then how did you manage with the company commander?” to rarely provoke Enkrid’s anger.

“Crazy bastards.”

None of the squad members were normal. Enkrid felt sorry for himself, being the only sane person among them.

What use was getting angry?

They wouldn’t even blink an eye. Enkrid found comfort in thinking that this was better than them fighting amongst themselves and lay down on the bed.

After teasing Enkrid together for a while.

“It seems like something’s changed.”

Rem said suddenly, looking at Enkrid, who was lying down.

“I feel the same way.”

Ragna added, and the others just listened. Changed? Enkrid thought about Rem’s words. Had he changed? If so, in what way?

“It seems like you’ve been smiling more often. But that’s not all.”

Hadn’t he smiled before?

Enkrid suddenly recalled his past self. How was he? He couldn’t remember well, but one thing was certain. He struggled just as desperately then as he did now.

But back then, he was groping his way through darkness where he couldn’t see a step ahead. Now, he could vaguely see the path ahead of him. Seeing the path brought a joy that those with talent could never imagine.

“I knew you were crazy about swords, but lately it seems worse. You’re smiling more, your skills have improved. Anyway, something’s changed.”

His reasoning was flimsy, but the other squad members agreed.

“I think you’re a little crazier than before.”

Kraiss concluded. Enkrid couldn’t agree with that at all. Where else could you find someone as indifferent and ordinary as he was?

He just invested a bit more time in training and honing his skills and had slightly bigger dreams than others.

“Not that it’s a bad thing.”

Rem added. Enkrid ignored him. It was night. It was time to sleep, not for chattering. Afterward, Jaxon and Kraiss left the quarters for their shift.

Enkrid quickly fell asleep. As he had felt every day, as much as he got used to exhausting himself, he always felt tired.

Yet, in the morning, his body felt quite light. Had his stamina increased? He didn’t know. It seemed more so recently than before.

‘When was it?’

He couldn’t remember precisely, but it was recently. Not long after returning to the battlefield.

Esther found her opponent detestable.

‘Every time he goes out, he has affairs with women.’

He even had incidents while within the squad. They were together because of those incidents, but how could he turn his eyes to another woman while leaving her alone?

She had once been called the epitome of allure and attraction without any spells. Just passing by was enough for men to line up, offering their souls.

‘Even that elf ended up disgraceful.’

She continued her thoughts and suddenly gasped. The moment she realized she had transformed into a leopard. What man would fall for her in this form?

Moreover,

‘Why would I?’

She felt it was a completely unnecessary and trivial thought. Her goal was clear. To neutralize the cursed thing on her body.

Esther moved for that purpose, so she thought she should push such trivial thoughts aside. Esther stepped down from her spot on the thermal leather and lightly crossed the center of the tent.

“Going out again?”

It was the barbarian beside the sleeping Enkrid.

“She’s like a sulking kid.”

The barbarian said something disrespectful, but Esther ignored it. She was clearly aware of what she had to do.

Therefore, there was no room for personal feelings. The leopard leaped silently into Enkrid’s embrace. In his arms, she poked his chest lightly with her claws.

“Ouch. Let’s sleep, Esther.”

Enkrid embraced her.

‘This shameless man.’

Esther glanced at Enkrid’s face and then, touching his bare skin, absorbed some of the fatigue left in his body and released it into the air.

It wasn’t an easy trick. In truth, it wasn’t an immensely helpful level. But for a man who tirelessly exhausted himself daily, it could be quite meaningful.

There was one more thing. She had worked some magic on his leather armor. Though it was only good for one use, it would block a magical attack once.

This caused a delay in her quest to reclaim her body.

‘This guy needs to stay okay.’

Therefore, this was an act of necessity. Viewed from a long-term perspective. Even as she thought this, Esther was intoxicated by the comfort and warmth of the man’s embrace and continued some foolish thoughts in her sleep.

‘I’ll believe those words.’

That he hadn’t done anything with another woman, leaving her, because those words seemed true.

In fact, she wasn’t feeling too bad about it.