A Knight who Eternally Regresses - Chapter 98

Chapter 98: Doghole

The ghouls here were hunched, but they were fast. Their claws were even longer than the ones he’d seen before.

However, they weren’t faster than the harpies, nor were their claws sharper than Rem’s axe.

‘Point to point.’

He connected the lines, bringing the tiniest movement in his surroundings into the realm of the Gate of the Sixth Sense. There was only one thing to do as the ghouls approached.

Draw his sword and swing.

Shing.

The blade, freed from its scabbard, did its job.

Kaaa!

As the stench of rot filled the air, Enkrid calculated the ghoul’s steps and brought his sword down.

Thud. Crack!

A blow to the crown of the head.

In a forward stance with his left foot planted, the sword came down from above, splitting the ghoul’s skull. Retrieving the sword by pulling it back was all part of one seamless motion. He repeated it three times.

With the tip of his sword angled toward the sky, he slashed downward in quick succession. Three ghouls collapsed to the ground, their skulls split open.

At the same time, Torres hurled a dagger.

Thwack!

The dagger embedded itself in the head of a ghoul that had tried to flank them from the left.

Enkrid’s feet moved faster. He stepped forward, slashing the next ghoul’s neck. Then, as another ghoul closed the distance, he punched it in the head.

Finally, he thrust his sword with one hand, driving it through yet another ghoul’s skull. Brutal? No. There was nothing brutal about it.

In an instant, thirteen ghouls lay dead. As Enkrid cut them down, he noticed something odd.

‘Their pattern.’

It was almost as if the ghouls had learned how to fight, attacking in a consistent formation. That made them easier to handle.

However, for anyone without overwhelming skill, it would have been easy to get surrounded and killed.

‘What is this?’

These ghouls were different from the ones he’d seen in the sewers or near the river. Ghouls were the most common type of flesh-eating monsters. They didn’t use their heads like animals did.

‘Could these things even use tactics?’

No. It wasn’t possible. Unless they had formed a colony. When a monster pack had a leader, it was called a colony, but there were no signs of that here.

There was no need to dwell on it. His Gate of the Sixth Sense had simply picked up on something strange. Maybe he could wash the ghoul blood off his blade in the stream.

He turned to report that the situation was under control. Before he could speak, Finn approached him.

“What the hell are you?”

She stared at him intently.

Her question carried many layers of meaning, but for now, she seemed to be asking about his ability to handle the ghouls.

Enkrid opened his mouth to reply.

“I told you I was in charge of an independent platoon. It’s an extreme combat unit.”

It wasn’t a lie. He had expected the Company Commander to assign them such a role. Who would believe the platoon consisted of only nine members?

And yet, they functioned as a unit.

Each member’s skill far surpassed the average soldier, even if the Frontier Slaughterers overshadowed them in reputation.

But from Enkrid’s perspective, that wasn’t the case at all.

‘They can’t compare.’

Rem, Ragna, Audin, and Jaxon.

Even now, their skills were beyond his reach. Even with his ability to slaughter ghouls like this.

‘I’m still far off.’

Even knowing the direction he needed to go, those four seemed like they were still on the other side. What about Torres from the Frontier Slaughterers?

He was within reach. While it might be a life-or-death battle, Enkrid didn’t think he would necessarily lose.

“You’re really good at fighting.”

“Damn impressive.”

A soldier who had been on watch during the early hours chimed in after Finn. A few other soldiers approached, looking at Enkrid with admiration. He found it strange.

He wasn’t used to receiving such attention, and it made him feel awkward. That’s why he spoke the next words.

“No need to relocate the camp, then.”

“True.”

Finn agreed.

They decided to head back to camp, and along the way, a soldier with droopy eyes pointed them toward the stream.

It wasn’t far from the temporary camp, which also served as their dining area.

“I killed three myself, you know.”

On the way back, Torres mumbled beside him, though no one seemed to care. Well, no one except Enkrid. He gave Torres a light tap on the shoulder.

“You made it easier.”

Torres knew the truth. The most he had done was reduce some inconvenience.

‘He would’ve killed them all by himself anyway.’

It suddenly dawned on him.

‘He was holding back.’

No, Torres reconsidered. It wasn’t that Enkrid had been hiding his skills— there was just a difference between training and a real fight.

If they went all out in a real life-or-death battle, what would happen?

‘I think I’d lose.’

Within the elite ranks of soldiers, even the Frontier Slaughterers had their own internal hierarchy. In terms of pure combat ability, Torres was somewhere in the middle.

Enkrid, on the other hand, seemed to be higher than that. As this thought crossed his mind, Torres regretted teaching him the Hide Knife.

“Hey, stop practicing that.”

Seeing Enkrid absentmindedly fiddling with a thin stone, as if preparing for another Hide Knife drill, Torres complained.

“Weren’t you the one who taught me?”

“…I was just saying.”

Of course, Enkrid had no way of understanding Torres’ feelings. It wasn’t pleasant to be surpassed by someone you had considered far beneath you.

Naturally, Enkrid had no concept of what that felt like.

He had always been passed over, overtaken, and left behind due to his lack of talent. No one had ever looked back at him.

But even so, he had never given up on his dream. He had continued to swing his sword until his hands bled. That was who Enkrid was.

“Let’s wash our swords.”

Ghoul blood reeked. Not only was the smell unpleasant, but the blood was also oily and would damage the blade if left uncleaned.

“Alright.”

Torres, sounding drained, followed Enkrid to the stream. Both of them were excused from further hunting duties.

“We’ll handle the meal. Why don’t you go and wash your clothes?”

That allowed them to wash their sweat-soaked clothes by the stream. The only issue was drying them, but since they would be back at the campfire by nightfall, they could let them dry by the fire all day.

Enkrid had already washed the leather armor he wore underneath yesterday, so he didn’t need to worry about it.

Although he’d sweated during the march, it wasn’t as if they could maintain cleanliness like they would in a city.

It was common sense that failing to wash led to illness. Especially in the army, cleanliness and hygiene were paramount. The stream water was clearer than expected, and it flowed fast enough to carry away any dirt downstream.

Finn had said the water was safe to drink, so Enkrid filled his leather canteen, took a drink, and felt his stomach rumble.

“You too? Me as well.”

Torres, overhearing, grinned. The two gathered their freshly washed clothes and wrung them out as much as possible before heading back to camp.

“Here, let me take those.”

One of the soldiers, now much friendlier after the ghoul incident, brought over a long stick to hang their clothes.

By the campfire, another soldier was skinning a snake they had caught.

“Quite a catch, huh?”

The soldier skinning the snake commented. Despite the appearance, Enkrid’s mouth watered. Snake meat, rich in protein, was a highly nutritious food.

Even Audin had said that it was a delicacy you couldn’t get enough of if you were lucky enough to find it.

“Indeed.”

Enkrid responded, sitting down nearby. Torres sat beside him, while Finn took a seat across from them. The fire crackled softly, with almost no smoke rising from it.

‘That’s a skill.’

Enkrid had seen hunters and recon soldiers light fires like this before. They would start with bark and leaves, then add small pieces of dry wood.

Of course, there was a technique to it.

Enkrid had never been able to pull it off, but for them, it seemed like second nature. Smoke would only rise for a moment before disappearing completely.

Soon, one of the soldiers stacked some charred logs under the fire, ensuring it burned steadily.

“When you burn logs, they produce a lot of smoke.”

That was why they were careful when lighting the fire and continued to be cautious as they added more logs.

It wasn’t likely that the smoke would reach Cross Guard, but it was a habit among the recon unit to remain vigilant. Eventually, two soldiers grilled the snake meat, while others roasted some jerky.

One of them brought out a large pot to boil water, adding various fruits and herbs. A little while later, they scooped out the ingredients.

“He’s got the nickname ‘Chef.’”

Finn remarked, sitting cross-legged while sharpening her handaxe with a whetstone. The sight reminded Enkrid of Rem.

‘I hope she’s not causing trouble.’

He gave a slight nod, and before long, it was time to eat.

The snake meat turned out to be surprisingly tender, and the salt they sprinkled over it made it just right. To be honest, it was delicious, especially the tail.

“When I get back, I’m going to open a restaurant.”

The soldier responsible for cooking announced, his face illuminated by the fire. He looked younger than Enkrid had expected, and when asked his age, he said he was twenty-two.

“Kid, you should be focusing on becoming a great Ranger.”

“I’d rather be a chef, Commander.”

The soldier, known as the ‘Chef,’ replied to Finn, who laughed and nodded in approval. A close camaraderie flowed among them.

Enkrid chewed on the snake meat and roasted some jerky. When he shared a bit of his seasoned jerky with the Chef, the young soldier’s eyes lit up.

“Wow, what’s this? It’s so good! Where did you get it?”

“In the city. I’ll tell you when we get back.”

At Enkrid’s words, the Chef nodded enthusiastically.

“Deal.”

After eating their fill, they split up to rest in shifts.

“Getting proper rest is part of a Ranger’s duty. Besides, patrolling the surroundings here is meaningless. The priority here is survival, and for that, you need stamina.”

Finn explained. The rest spots were well-established. Some took shelter inside a large, hollowed-out tree.

Others climbed up to rest in the branches.

Meanwhile, a few stayed by the campfire.

After they split shifts and rested, the sun was already setting in the west when Finn finally brought up the mission. Standing in front of Torres and Enkrid, she began.

“There are three ways to get inside the walls. Let’s go over them together. The first option is the doghole.”

She continued explaining.

“It’s a route used by smugglers in the city, so some people know about it. But it’s not heavily guarded. Still, it’s risky because of who knows about it.”

“Next?”

Torres asked.

Finn listed the second option— scaling the walls under the cover of night. The third was to disguise themselves as part of a trading company moving at dawn and sneak in.

“The quickest is the first option, the safest is the second and the most convenient is the third.”

It was obvious just by listening.

The level of danger went from the third, to the first, and finally, the second.

But judging by the way Finn spoke, it didn’t seem like she thought any of them were that dangerous.

Her tone wasn’t serious at all.

“Honestly, getting inside the walls isn’t the hard part. The real challenge is meeting up with the cat.”

Enkrid agreed that would be the difficult part. What if the cat had been captured? If they were imprisoned, they wouldn’t be able to leave any signals.

Would they have to go all the way to the dungeons to find out?

“If we can’t find any traces inside the city, we’ll retreat immediately. The entire recon unit will return to the main force.”

“Figured as much.”

Torres said, and Finn confirmed it. Torres seemed to have received a few additional instructions from the main force.

“We three will be the only ones going in. So, which route do you want to take?”

Finn asked.

“That’s your call, isn’t it? You know the situation here better than anyone.”

Torres replied, and Finn crossed her arms, nodding in agreement. It made sense. Enkrid also agreed, and Finn made her choice.

“We’ll take the doghole. Unless we’re really unlucky, we won’t get caught. We leave at dawn.”

“Not at night?”

Torres asked, surprised. Infiltration traditionally happened at night, didn’t it?

“Mornings are better. They’re more alert at night. If we’re going to scale the walls, tomorrow night would be better.”

Enkrid quietly observed the discussion.

After that, they ate, trained, and Enkrid spent the day practicing how to hide and retrieve the stone in his sleeve.

The day passed quickly, and soon it was time to sleep again in the cave. There was less danger than anticipated, and the situation felt surprisingly peaceful.

‘Does that mean there’s no recon unit from Azpen in this area?’

That thought crossed his mind. The next morning came quickly.

“Let’s go.”

With Finn leading the way, the three of them set out toward Cross Guard. He thought they might take a wide detour, but it wasn’t necessary.

“The western side of Cross Guard is already considered a natural barrier, thanks to the monsters and beasts. Recon units? They patrol around, but it’s rare. If we run into one, it won’t end well. Unless they’re highly skilled, Azpen doesn’t send recon units into this area.”

It seemed Finn was implying that without a clear objective, Azpen’s recon units didn’t venture into this part of the region.

Her pace was quick, unsurprising for a Ranger. Her skill in identifying and avoiding signs of monsters and beasts was remarkable.

Enkrid also noticed something about her steps. She pressed her heels into the ground first, moving in a distinctive manner that caught his eye.

“We’ll need to go around here.”

They came across a small hill covered in thick brush. Finn cleared the path with the axe on her belt. Enkrid swung his sword, cutting through the branches blocking their way.

‘I forgot to inspect my blade.’

He should have checked his equipment in the morning. What had he been thinking, skipping that task? He’d been too absorbed in his training.

‘A mistake.’

Not a big one, but still a mistake. It wouldn’t affect the current situation much. As they cleared the brush, a few red berries came into view.

“They’re poisonous. Don’t eat them.”

Finn joked.

“Got it.”

“Feel free to speak casually with me.”

Finn said.

“Sure.”

Enkrid never turned down a suggestion unless it was something unreasonable like sharing a cave.

As Finn eyed him, she couldn’t hold back a question.

“When the job’s done, want to sleep with me?”

“No.”

“Ugh.”

“Hey, I’m walking here too, you know.”

That was Torres chiming in.

“I know.”

Finn replied confidently. Her bold personality likely explained her behavior. They finally arrived at a small hill with a view of the wall.

Beyond that hill, the city gates would be visible. In the distance, they saw the wall, but there was no moat.

“They probably don’t need a moat. Even getting through the monsters and beasts to reach here is next to impossible without serious skill.”

In other words, Finn wasn’t your average Ranger. Of course, if she were, she wouldn’t be in charge of this area.NEnkrid thought as he followed Finn through a narrow passage.

“The Ranger leads first.”

Finn declared the Ranger’s code as she went in. It was akin to the infantry’s motto of being the ‘flower of the battlefield.’

Finn glanced back at Enkrid.

He could see her smile, the thin leather helmet on her head, and the orange hair peeking out from beneath it.

Enkrid and Torres followed her into the passage. What came next was a series of unexpected events.

“You idiots.”

After they had been walking for some time, they were met by a unit armed with long spears and shields.

It was a wide enough passage for three people to stand side by side. Plenty of room for a spear-and-shield formation to hold their ground.

And behind them…

Creak.

The sound of bowstrings being drawn reached their ears. Looking back, Enkrid saw a group of soldiers armed with shortbows. They hadn’t even walked for half an hour after entering the doghole.

It was a trap.

Spearmen and shieldmen blocked the front. Archers with drawn bows blocked the rear. It was a perfect trap— one that not even a knight could escape.

“Son of a bitch.”

Torres’ voice was filled with despair.

“I’ve been dying to catch you, you wildcat.”

The enemy commander’s words. Hearing that, Finn’s expression darkened.

“You bastard!”

That was the last thing she said. Arrows flew, spears thrust. Enkrid fought back.

He raised his buckler with his left hand and swung his sword, but what could he do? They were outnumbered and had lost the advantage of position.

Thwack! Thunk!

A spear pierced his thigh, and soon, one struck through his skull. He could feel it all, the agony swelling up. But there was no avoiding death.

Of course, he didn’t go down without a fight.

“You relentless bastard.”

Even in this situation, his sword and Whistling Dagger claimed several lives. Though he wouldn’t be joining them in death. As pain and darkness consumed his vision…

Heh heh heh.

The ferryman’s laughter echoed in his ears as Enkrid woke up. At dawn, death waited to greet him once again— the start of another day, another repeat.

Today had begun again.

The mission was to confirm the spy’s status, but they had encountered obstacles even before scaling the wall.

‘There were three ways to get past the wall, right?’

One thing was clear; the doghole was blocked. What about the other two? Enkrid rose as he greeted the start of another today.