A Knight who Eternally Regresses - Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Is This a Punishment or an Opportunity?

Under the gentle glow of a full moon, Enkrid had just returned to the barracks after completing his usual rigorous training. He followed it with a thorough wash. Despite the arrival of spring, the nights were still cold, and steam rose from his shoulders as he entered the room.

After two days, he would have to cross the river for the reconnaissance mission, yet the intensity of his training remained unchanged.

There was no need for it to change. No matter what awaited him, the fact that he had to accumulate today to face tomorrow would never change.

Enkrid’s routine was the same, just as the Ferryman had derisively described him— a creature of habit.

Returning to the barracks, Enkrid noticed Enry, who had been talking with Kraiss, pause and glance at Enkrid’s bed.

Esther had already claimed her spot on Enkrid’s bed. After playing with the magic book, she would always settle in her place when it was time to sleep. Esther lay on the bed, resting her head on her paws.

Her gaze shifted momentarily from Enry back to her paws, a clear sign of her indifference. Enry, wary of the Lake Panther, hesitated to approach the bed.

It was said that Lake Panthers were revered as sacred guardians on the Green Pearl Plains. Keeping the bed as a barrier between them, Enry raised his voice slightly and asked:

“Have you ever received Pathfinder training? From what I’ve seen, you seem to know a bit about it.”

Enkrid hadn’t. He had barely learned to navigate, let alone anything more advanced. However, he understood why Enry might have misunderstood.

‘I learned it from him.’

There was no need to feel awkward about it. Enry wouldn’t remember anyway.

During a previous mission in the tall grass of Green Pearl, Enkrid had received help from Enry’s knowledge. Repeating the day had allowed him to learn a few things, and that was all.

Scratching his forehead, Enkrid replied, “Not at all.”

“Then, do you know much about the path upstream of the river?”

The Pen-Hanil River led up north, near the Northern Great Plains, a place Enkrid had never visited, even as a mercenary.

“Even though spring is here and the ground is starting to thaw, it’s still pretty solid. I’ve traveled that way a few times, so would you like me to share what I know?”

Enry was considerate, always thinking ahead and doing what was necessary. It made sense for him to become a hunter, or perhaps hunting had shaped him into this cautious person.

This tendency made him naturally blend into the unit. He had just been discussing something with Kraiss before coming over. Even Rem didn’t bother Enry much. Apart from Rem, the others either ignored him or didn’t bother to pick a fight.

“You must have been around, hunter,” Rem said, perched on his bed, sharpening his axe with a whetstone. His gaze shifted toward the corner where Andrew and Mack were.

Andrew flinched and hunched his shoulders under the pressure of that gaze.

“Cut it out,” Enkrid warned Rem.

“Oh, so now you’re playing favorites? Taking care of the newcomers? That’s how you get a knife in the back. First, you bring in a new wife, and then you neglect the old one until she stabs you.”

His words made no sense. Furthermore, who was the old wife and who was the new one?

“Crazy bastard,” Enkrid dismissed him with a single phrase that encapsulated Rem’s entire personality and lifestyle as he walked over to Enry. Enry hesitated to approach Enkrid’s bed, knowing Esther was there.

“Grr…”

As Enkrid passed the bed, Esther tapped his thigh with her paw and growled softly. It felt like she was telling him to hurry up and get to bed.

‘Are you jealous too?’

It wasn’t just Rem who was a problem. A strange tension hung in the air. It had started after Enry, Andrew, and Mack joined the squad.

This was no ordinary squad, after all. They weren’t known as the Troublemaker Squad for nothing. There wasn’t a welcoming atmosphere for newcomers.

Enkrid didn’t try to force them to integrate either. He knew it wasn’t something that could be done just because one wanted it.

Besides, he didn’t believe they needed to move as one cohesive unit. On the battlefield, everyone fought their own battles.

Following others to stay in sync was a surefire way to die prematurely. Everyone should look after their own lives. That was the only rule in the Troublemaker Squad.

“I’m sweating bullets here.”

That was what Enry had said upon joining, as he carefully observed the atmosphere.

But did he know this was the better version? The last time new members joined, the atmosphere had been truly murderous.

Some of those newcomers had ignored the squad leader, Enkrid. They inevitably ended up injured or broken and were sent back to the rear.

Sometimes it was Rem’s doing. Other times, it was someone else.

‘Most of it was probably the work of the squad.’

Enkrid was perceptive.

At least this time, things were somewhat better. The new members were familiar faces, and for some reason, they seemed to like him.

That meant they were unlikely to end up broken and sent away, right? It was just a guess, but it seemed plausible.

“There are a few things to watch out for upstream of the Pen-Hanil River. You probably already know most of it, but it’s better to be informed. For instance, have you ever seen flat stones? There are many of those upstream…”

The things Enry shared were all bits of practical knowledge. Things he had learned from experience, passed down from previous generations of hunters.

For example, most flat stones would explode when heated, except for those with a yellowish tint. Yellowish stones often had venomous snakes hiding underneath them. There were also sections of the river where the water was deep, and the current was strong.

He couldn’t memorize everything in a day, but knowing even a little was far better than being completely ignorant.

As he listened and tried to absorb this knowledge, the time to rest came. At some point, Mack had taken the spot beside him.

Mack leaned in and whispered, “I have a favor to ask.”

The rest of the squad, except for Ragna, who was on duty, seemed to have their eyes on him. It was a warning from his Sixth Sense.

‘Should I tell them to leave him alone?’

What would happen if he just let this go? He might return from the mission only to find Andrew and Mack shriveled up.

“Could you request a transfer for me?”

Mack finally said it, despite the hostile gazes.

“Hmm, brother. You know, it’s easy to join, but leaving… that’s not so simple.”

Audin’s response was laced with humor. Teasing those who showed fear was practically a tradition in the Troublemaker Squad. But to the listener, it hardly seemed like a joke.

Mack muttered, “So, you heard everything.”

Before Rem could say anything, Andrew suddenly stood up and shouted:

“Do you have a problem with me? Then fight me! No matter what anyone says, I’ll learn from the Platoon Leader, not leave!”

Boldness. He had the courage of youth, or perhaps, naivety. Did Rem appreciate this show of spirit?

“I go first.”

Rem shot up, holding the axe he had been sharpening. He ran his tongue along the blade in a threatening gesture.

“Which part should I cut first?”

Even Enkrid found the display unnerving.

Rem’s foreign appearance, his grey eyes, and his words all conveyed sincerity. If Andrew fought him, he would lose an arm at the very least.

“If you go first, what does that leave me? Just to fight a cripple? No, I’ll go first.”

Jaxon shook his head, voicing his displeasure. This was the first thing he had said directly to Andrew since his arrival.

“Brothers, you know I don’t kill. I just give a good squeeze. So, let me go first.”

All three were eager. Seeing this, Mack grabbed Enkrid’s sleeve, pleading with him.

“For fuck’s sake, stop them! What’s wrong with Andrew?”

He needed to stop this before Mack started crying. No one wanted to see a grown man in tears.

“Enough.”

But perhaps this was fortunate. Rem wouldn’t treat someone he didn’t like this way.

‘Which part should I cut?’ really meant, ‘Let’s spar.’ It was an act of kindness.

Jaxon, too, was someone who usually ignored people. So the fact that he was speaking to Andrew was a sign of goodwill.

The same went for Audin. If he wasn’t being friendly, he would’ve said something like, ‘Brother, control yourself.’

If they didn’t like Andrew, they wouldn’t even make jokes like this. So, how should Enkrid explain this?

“Hey, kid, I’m a bit busy right now. How about we settle this after our Platoon Leader heads out on his mission? I’ll have plenty of free time then. You can cry and beg to leave, but I won’t let you.”

Rem said with a chilling smile. Andrew’s face turned pale, but he didn’t back down. Should Enkrid admire his mental fortitude?

“Come at me anytime! I’m Andrew of the Gardener family. I won’t run!”

His resolve seemed as though it was life or death, and Enkrid knew it wasn’t just his imagination.

Kraiss shook his head. Enry took a step back to watch from a distance. Rem grinned, creating an atmosphere of fear.

Audin merely muttered, “Brother, calm down. It’s something he’ll have to experience eventually.”

Jaxon, his face expressionless, was sizing them up. He even whispered softly, “Maybe a few fingers should be cut off.”

The fact that this could be serious made it even more terrifying. Enkrid finally spoke up.

“Don’t hurt him. He’s one of us and he’s about to head into battle.”

It was both a warning and a promise. He couldn’t forbid them from sparring. He didn’t have the power to stop them anyway.

“Keep it quiet. No loud noises.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll cut out his tongue first.”

Could he please stop with the jokes?

“Come on! Bring it!”

Andrew’s panicked outburst delayed Enkrid’s bedtime.

After finally getting the situation under control and settling into bed, Esther crawled into his arms, lightly tapping his chest.

She seemed to be scolding him for being late, so Enkrid stroked her forehead with his fingers and said, “I’m sorry.”

In response, the panther began to purr, snuggling closer into his embrace. A comforting warmth spread through him.

Enkrid couldn’t say he had no concerns about the coming days. Especially when the Ferryman occasionally whispered terrifying things in his dreams.

Tonight was no different.

As he drifted off, he saw a dark, winding river.

“Cry out in despair, for your wails will be my sustenance and joy.”

Caw, caw, caw!

How could someone laugh like that?

Being trapped in today was painful and terrifying. What would happen if he couldn’t move on to the next day?

Even thinking about it filled him with anxiety, but…

What could he do?

When Enkrid woke from the nightmare, he shook it off. That was the end of it.

‘Whatever happens will happen.’

He had things to do. The path remained unchanged.

“Good morning.”

Waking up at dawn, Enkrid muttered to himself before beginning the same routine. Starting with Isolation Techniques, then Valaf-style Bed Combat.

Next, a spar with Rem, followed by sword training with Ragna. Then, practicing killing intent and honing his Sixth Sense with Jaxon.

“Instincts can be a dangerous weapon. If the opponent knows how to deceive, you can be easily fooled.”

That was Jaxon’s advice. So how could one avoid being deceived? It was the same as ever. Training, experience, and sharpening his skills through real combat.

Andrew, Mack, and Enry managed to get by relatively well while Enkrid was around. From what Enkrid could see, even if the methods were rough, the rest of the squad seemed to show some goodwill.

For those on the receiving end, though,

‘It must be tough.’

But they would likely come out of it better for it just as he had. Two days passed like this.

“Let’s go.”

At dawn, Enkrid quietly slipped out of the barracks, stepping past his sleeping squadmates. It was the day to cross the Pen-Hanil River and begin the reconnaissance mission.

This was a direct order from the Battalion Commander. Failure would be troublesome. Success would bring rewards.

The new Battalion Commander was said to be that kind of man. Kraiss had eagerly shared this information.

“They say his name is Marcus, a war fanatic. But if you achieve something, he’ll reward you, and if you commit a crime, he’ll definitely punish you. It’s like he’s a monster created by the military policies of the Kingdom of Naurillia.”

Rewards for those who succeed. An unforgiving blade for those who fail. He was a commander who embodied the kingdom’s military ethos.

So, what was this mission?

What was the purpose?

‘Is this a punishment?’

Or was it an opportunity?

Enkrid saw it as an opportunity. Whatever it was, it was a chance to prove himself and build his reputation. That was what he desired.

“We meet again.”

Before leaving the gates, he was joined by the person leading the river-crossing mission. To be precise, Enkrid was the one who joined him.

It was Torres, the platoon commander from the Frontier Slaughterers.