Eternally Regressing Knight

“All troops have assembled.”

This was the gathering of all forces, except for the soldiers on patrol.

Enkrid stood on the platform set up at one end of the parade ground.

He looked at the assembled troops with a neutral expression.

‘Can this really work?’

He had doubts. Part of him thought this was a pointless endeavor.

A speech, out of the blue?

It was Krais’ request.

Just before the strategy meeting ended, Krais had asked:

“What does a group in crisis, facing danger, need?”

Then he answered his own question.

“It’s simple. What our territory needs right now is a focal point.”

As he said this, he made a sweeping gesture with his arm. His movements were theatrical, almost like a stage actor, but it seemed fitting.

It was a gesture that drew everyone’s attention.

As Krais explained, Enkrid’s gaze drifted to one side, towards the head of the meeting table.

At the far end sat the unfortunate officer, his face shadowed with exhaustion.

“Commander Graham?”

One of the platoon leaders muttered, his tone uncertain, as though even he questioned the words he was speaking.

“Well, to be fair to Commander Graham, no one has gained more recognition around here than the Madmen’s unit commander. And there are still those who stay in the territory only because of you, Commander Enkrid. They haven’t exactly promised that they’ll fight for us.”

Krais didn’t waste time making the point, keeping the conversation concise to avoid undermining Graham’s reputation.

And Krais was right.

Thanks to Marcus’s gold, mercenaries had been incorporated into the army, but not all of them were committed.

Some were still half in, half out.

They could watch for a while, and if things went wrong, they might just run or even join the enemy.

How many swordsmen live like bats, waiting for an opportunity to turn?

“Then there’s the morale issue.”

Krais raised his right hand, fingers forming a gesture beside his face.

Rumors spread by the socialites and the Black Blade had worsened the situation.

There were rumors that Aspen would attack immediately, that Marcus was planning a rebellion and would be executed, and that the socialites would bring monsters with them tonight.

The constabulary had been using clubs to suppress rumors within the territory.

Would that really be effective?

‘No,’ Enkrid thought to himself.

You can’t silence people by force.

You can’t shut them up with your hands.

So how should it be stopped?

Krais lowered his hand, making a fist, and with a swift motion, he spoke again.

“Rumors can be countered with more visible actions.”

And that’s where the focal point came in.

To put it in a way that might sound embarrassing, like something out of an old myth or legend, it was a hero.

In the last battle, and especially for those who fought alongside him, Enkrid probably seemed like that hero.

The man who was once stumbling beside them was now the commander of the Independent Unit, a symbol of power.

It felt like a scene from a hero’s tale.

A few soldiers who knew how to compose music had even written a few songs.

They weren’t anything too impressive, though.

“I see.”

Vengeance, who had been listening, muttered without thinking, then quickly turned his eyes away. He was careful not to meet Graham’s gaze.

It wasn’t something you said in front of the commander.

But Graham seemed to acknowledge it too.

Honestly, he had thought a few times that maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if that guy became the commander instead.

Did he lack ambition?

No, that wasn’t it.

‘With this crazy guy…’

Wasn’t it exactly someone like him who was needed?

And above all, Enkrid was acceptable. If Enkrid became the commander, he could even hand over the responsibility of the territory without hesitation.

There was no great reason for it. It was just that Enkrid’s success seemed to matter to him more than anything else.

If you asked if that meant he’d be willing to give up his position, he wasn’t sure, but at least the Madmen’s commander wasn’t someone who couldn’t do the job.

If you looked only at managing the territory, it wasn’t a bad choice.

It was just a stray thought.

“Proceed.”

Graham’s tired face softened a bit, a sense of relief in his words.

It was something that felt like it could ease the situation.

Also, there were no nobles interrupting with irrelevant chatter, which helped keep his mind at ease.

“Are you sure about this?”

Paltor hesitated for a moment, but it was just a formality.

He too felt that something had to be done immediately.

Whether it would work or not, who knew.

And so, Enkrid stood on the platform.

“Let’s just fight as hard as we can. That’s all I need to say.”

Just before stepping up, Krais had given his advice, and Enkrid nodded in agreement.

“What we need now is to stop as many spies from entering as possible and to show the outside world that we’re still strong. Then we have to show our soldiers something they can believe in. Commander Graham, you should rest for now. After you’ve had a good rest, just show your face with no worries and clap behind me during the speech. After that, I’ll take care of the rest.”

It felt like a theatrical performance. It was all about raising the morale of the soldiers and undermining the enemy’s intentions.

Enkrid joined in on the plan.

And so, he stood at the platform.

Amidst the murmurs of the soldiers, there were some seasoned veterans, familiar faces and strangers alike.

It hadn’t snowed yet, but the sky remained dark.

For a brief moment, the clouds parted, and sunlight broke through, and that was when Enkrid spoke.

“Do you think we’re going to lose?”

The soldiers didn’t respond. They just stared blankly at Enkrid.

There were many soldiers gathered. Even if they shouted, their voices wouldn’t carry properly.

Esther, in her human form, made a hand gesture behind Enkrid.

It was a spell to amplify the voice.

Not just listening well, but something that bent the surroundings.

Thump.

His heart pounded, and something hot boiled deep within his abdomen.

“I don’t think I’ll lose.”

The simple and clear statement spread widely.

It was filled with conviction.

How could he be like this?

The question about Enkrid matched the thoughts he often had.

How could he endure such grueling training every day?

How could that man do this?

“I won’t lose. Hold the Border Guard!”

One soldier shouted after Enkrid’s third line.

“How do you endure it? How do you train like that?”

He was a new recruit who had been terrified by the training and struggled to keep up.

He had been a thief and troublemaker, eventually joining the guild, and later saw Enkrid fighting in the territory.

He enlisted in the military after that.

Enkrid thought he wasn’t a suitable speaker, so he only spoke honestly. Because of that, he was happy to hear the question. It allowed his feelings to spill out unintentionally.

“The pain that kills me only makes me stronger.”

The deeper meaning of those words didn’t matter.

Silence fell. Many soldiers were reflecting on Enkrid’s words.

The sunlight broke through the clouds, and it felt like a ray of light was shining from the dark sky.

The soldiers who stood in the sunlight felt a gentle warmth.

This silence lasted only a moment.

Just as someone was about to speak again, one of the soldiers shouted.

“I’ll endure the pain too!”

What was that supposed to mean?

Enkrid stared down, his expression unchanged. Despite his indifference, the soldiers felt a strange sense of relief and confidence.

“I’ll overcome the pain!”

Another soldier shouted.

“I can do it too!”

Another one shouted.

“The pain that kills me!”

“Only makes me stronger!”

An odd cheer was born.

Fortunately, it went as Krais had predicted.

The soldiers’ morale began to rise visibly.

Rem, who had been watching, blinked and asked,

“Isn’t it ‘the pain that doesn’t kill me makes me stronger’? I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere.”

That’s right. The words had come out wrong.

It was because he knew that pain that could kill would make him stronger.

“As long as the desired result comes out, that’s fine.”

Paltu muttered under his breath.

The soldiers, who had once been on the verge of desertion, now cheered enthusiastically, fueled by Enkrid’s speech.

Pain only makes them stronger.

Pain that could kill would make them stronger.

In reality, pain that could kill would indeed make them stronger, but that wasn’t important.

The soldiers were captivated.

Their training had also helped, shaping them little by little.

They had begun to notice the changes in themselves.

Some of them knew Enkrid, and some knew his infamous “Madman Unit.”

Even those who hadn’t known about his exploits had heard of them.

It was the words of such a man.

As the cheers and roars briefly stopped, an ominous atmosphere spread between the soldiers.

“Not all spies can be stopped. We can only push them out as much as possible.”

Suddenly, Krais’ words came to mind.

Even Enkrid couldn’t find every spy hidden among the troops.

But maybe he could exert a strong influence over them, he thought.

It was a moment of quick insight.

In the midst of the cheers, Enkrid’s voice rang out, loud and clear.

“My name is Enkrid! Madman Unit Commander! From now on, I’m going to chop off the enemy commander’s head! Tonight, it happens! Look forward to it!”

It was a madman’s act.

At those words, Rem whispered from behind.

“Are we really going tonight?”

The soldiers’ cheers echoed loudly, shaking the stage. Jaxen, hearing Rem’s question, thought it over and made a decision.

He had also sensed the uneasy atmosphere among the soldiers.

“No, we’re not. You’re a fool, barbarian.”

Jaxen quickly understood his commander’s intentions.

Rem, not even pretending to listen, replied,

“Let’s leave that bastard behind. He’s useless, right?”

Ignoring Rem, Enkrid unsheathed his sword.

Ching!

A subtle blue light sliced through the sunlight, rising high.

“All units, forward!”

The cheers grew louder.

“Pain!”

“Give us pain!”

“Pain!”

The cheer grew even louder.

Graham wondered if this was right, but in the end, the morale had already been lifted.

It was more than expected.

Krais sometimes thought that Enkrid didn’t understand his own position.

But when he thought about it, it made sense.

The Enkrid they had seen at the Border Guard was twice as mad and twice as monstrous compared to what they saw outside.

And what would it be like to hear that this madman, this monster, was fighting alongside them as an ally?

They’d probably go insane.

Morale would rise.

Everything had gone as expected.

Graham didn’t care about Krais’ internal thoughts.

But he did understand this now.

The morale was up, and the madness was on display as the soldiers cheered.

Now, more than anything, passion was needed.

The calmness would be left to the veteran soldiers who led the charge.

Graham shouted.

“All units, prepare for battle!”

The soldiers moved in formation without hesitation.

It was the beginning of the day and night operations

***

Gilpin shot a brief glance at the Frog’s face, showing clear wariness.

If things went wrong, it would be himself who would end up hit and dead.

“It’s fine. The deal’s done. You’re a guild member now.”

Despite everything, Krais, the actual guild master, accepted the Frog into the guild.

Gilpin wondered, “Is this really the right move?”

This was the same Frog who had caused havoc at the guild mansion twice.

But it was an order. Gilpin had been loyal. Was there ever anything wrong with following Krais’ orders? No.

He dug holes when asked.

He took the Frog in when instructed.

He was loyal to Krais.

“This way.”

Meanwhile, the Frog, Meelun, showed no suspicion.

“I’m hungry.”

“Here.”

Meelun, who had just come out of prison, ate bug stew while looking at a bald man.

As he chewed on the larvae, he felt a sense of happiness.

He ate fruits and human food, but nothing matched bug stew.

It was both nutritious and delicious.

After three days of eating and resting, Gilpin carefully spoke.

“Could you watch the people passing by?”

“Sure.”

Meelun immediately stood up.

He liked Krais’ offer.

What he liked most was the absence of a pact.

‘That bastard Fromshell made me sign a pact first.’

He had taken advantage of the Frog’s weaknesses.

But Krais was different.

“Eat what you want, do what you want, just stay within the territory.”

“Why?”

“What do you want to do? I just want to make sure you can do it without restraint.”

Meelun hesitated.

The Frog was driven by desire. Krais, however, was clever and observant.

He understood Meelun’s reluctance.

“Why do I have to tell you?”

“You can leave as soon as you tell me. It’s no trouble, is it? I’ll open the prison door immediately.”

Krais took a step back, and Meelun finally spoke.

“My desire is to experience achievement, to feel the rush of victory.”

Krais, sharp as ever, understood immediately. Meelun longed for victory and accomplishment, not the fight itself.

Many people wanted results, not the effort.

The Frog was no different.

“It’d be nice to face many weaker opponents.”

“Fighting anyone won’t satisfy me.”

Meelun said, sticking out his long tongue with irritation.

He enjoyed the raw thrill of a hard-won victory.

“Ah, that’s great. There are lots of people like that in the Border Guard. If it gets out of hand, just tell me. We have people who deal with that.”

People like Rem, or people like Rem.

They liked crazy challengers.

Other martial artists or swordsmen would be under Enkrid’s command.

There were still many swordfighters, mercenaries, and traders coming to the village.

Half of them came because of Enkrid’s fame.

‘They could serve as a good filter.’

If the Frog beats most of them, it would work.

“Can I freely roam the territory?”

“Wouldn’t it be better if you find someone hiding their skills and defeat them? Right?”

Raw combat was about the opponent.

The ones who would truly challenge you.

Defeating them would bring satisfaction.

Meelun felt exhilarated just imagining it.

His skin responded, slick with oil.

“Without a pact?”

“Without one.”

Krais smiled. What did a pact have to do with anything?

The Frog had a pact to control his desires.

If desires and urges came first, a pact wasn’t needed. Meelun was naive.

And so, Meelun became part of the guild and roamed the territory.

Gilpin noticed the movements in the back alley suggesting they were being excluded.

New faces appeared, claiming to form a new guild.

Among them, a swordsman with thick scars on his face stood out.

He wielded a heavy mace, and if hit, the pain would not be easily dismissed.

This scarred man was no ordinary fighter.

However, a knight-grade fighter wasn’t that rare, and he was just so-so.

At most, he seemed like a former frontier defense soldier?

But he wasn’t a match for the Frog.

“Oh, really? You’re gonna fight?”

Meelun laughed. The opponent’s skill seemed perfect for playing with him before winning.

“Why is the Frog here?”

The opponent squinted.

“Does it matter?”

Meelun responded while drawing his loop sword.

The unexpected appearance of the Frog took the man by surprise, and the result of the fight was clear.

“Failure?”

The wolf bishop leading the heretics paused while chewing his meat.

A piece of half-chewed meat flew across the table.

“Yes. The group sent to seize the back alley has lost contact.”

“Send more.”

The bishop thought the situation was boring but knew he couldn’t just wait and let it finish.

‘Are they going to wait until it’s over?’

The one who started the job should draw the sword first.

Besides, he’d gotten word of an assassination squad targeting the commander tonight.

Would he sit back and take it?

“How dare they target us?”

It would be amusing to cut off their heads and mount them on poles.

The wolf bishop chuckled.

But the expected attack never came that night.

The following morning, the Border Guard’s standing army marched out.

Their direction was toward the camp of the Black Blade Corps.