A Knight Who Eternally Regresses

It was really no big deal.

City patrol duty was something we did all the time.

In fact, it was a rotating duty we had to perform three or four times a month.

And where were we?

Border Guard.

A city under direct control of the King, where any trouble was not tolerated.

It was not for nothing that this place was regarded as a prime trading spot by major merchant guilds.

Naurillia, on the eastern edge, was a border city adjacent to Aspen and the front lines, but its security was second to none.

With a large number of stationed troops, we were on duty day and night.

Border Guard had a well in the center, surrounded by four inns, and the crossroads where the four inns met was the marketplace of Border Guard.

Built on a basin, when you went to the outskirts, you could see a gentle slope below, and beyond the northern slope, a river flowed.

The Pen-Hanil River.

It was the water source responsible for most of the surrounding cities.

Around the river, there were farmlands, with farms scattered here and there.

This summer, the river overflowed and broke one side of the levee, and a group of workers was busy rebuilding it.

Most accidents happen among people; though we occasionally patrol farmlands or deal with monsters, today’s duty was market patrol.

“I’m Jack, and this is Bo.”

Since they moved in groups of three, two soldiers joined Encrid.

Encrid, Jack, and Bo.

The three of them were heading towards the market.

“Was that fog a spell? Damn, I almost died because of those Aspen bastards, but thanks to you, I survived. Thanks!”

Jack spat on the ground as he spoke. Holding his infantry spear, his demeanor didn’t really show much gratitude.

Encrid nodded indifferently.

“I almost couldn’t use the Krona I saved up.”

Bo also expressed his gratitude. He was a particularly light-footed soldier.

I had heard from Big Eyes that he was quite talented.

‘But where have I heard of this combination before?’

No specific memory came to mind. It wasn’t something important, so Encrid didn’t try to remember.

The three of them walked towards the market, and the atmosphere was good. Encrid didn’t talk much, but Jack and Bo were in the same squad.

They would chat and praise Encrid.

“An elite soldier, huh? Your skills must be amazing. Damn, let’s have a spar sometime. I want to see what an elite soldier can do.”

Jack tapped the ground with the back of his spear blade.

“Sounds good.”

Encrid did not refuse a sparring match. He believed that sparring, no matter who it was with, always offered something to learn.

“It’s a promise then. Damn.”

Jack always punctuated his sentences with curses.

“I heard you were successful in your scouting mission. Squad Leader Andrew couldn’t stop praising you.”

Bo also praised Encrid.

“Just lucky.”

“And humble too.”

Bo even gave him a thumbs-up.

No one dislikes compliments. Encrid was no different.

The two chatted and laughed as they walked along.

They reached the edge of the market, passed a few single-story buildings, and entered the market.

On one side, someone was picking and selling wildflowers.

On the opposite side, tanned leather goods were being sold.

From the opposite entrance, the sound of metal clanging echoed from a distance, centered around the market.

It was the sound from a blacksmith’s forge.

Even though it was on the outskirts of the market, the sound of metal striking metal softly filled the air.

“No, if we sell it at that price, there’s no profit left.”

A merchant’s voice.

“Freshly baked bread!”

A boy standing by the roadside, calling people to his shop.

Rumble.

Even the carts passing through the center of the market.

It was chaotic. Markets were naturally like this, so it was a familiar sight.

“Dried apples are delicious.”

As Encrid walked, he made eye contact with a vendor selling various dried fruits.

“No, thank you.”

The vendor quickly turned away.

It was an ordinary day.

After the patrol, maybe he would coax Jaxon into a sparring match today.

Or perhaps, it would be fun to hang out with Jack right after returning.

The weather had gotten quite cold, and his body kept stiffening. Walking was better than standing still.

“Shall we walk a bit more?”

“Yes, yes.”

Jack and Bo came closer, sticking to either side of him. He thought they were doing it because of the cold.

A kid in rags came running from the front and suddenly fell forward.

Encrid instinctively caught the kid.

He felt a sudden, searing pain.

He tried to twist his body immediately, but the cold had stiffened him, making his reaction slow.

If he had twisted just a little, it might have been okay, but the dagger mercilessly tore into his innards.

Right after piercing his guts, the blade was thrust into his heart without hesitation.

A terrible pain struck his brain.

As the knife was stabbed, a scream or groan tried to escape his lips, but someone behind him covered his mouth with thick cloth.

The market was bustling.

People barely noticed someone collapsing.

Jack and Bo shielded Encrid with their bodies.

“Ah, having a drink this early in the day, huh?”

Jack joked.

“Exactly.”

Bo echoed.

What the hell is with these bastards?

Encrid couldn’t understand what was happening.

The final touch was from the kid who had stabbed his belly and heart.

“A persistent lover never forgets.”

It wasn’t a kid. Inside the rags were large ears and eyes shining like jewels.

It had a unique appearance.

One eye was green, the other brown.

Heterochromia. The green eye was as clear as a jewel, making the brown eye look very dull in comparison.

It was like dirty oil mixed in clear water.

The skin was mottled, like a spotted cat, with deep wrinkles around the mouth and eyes.

The features alone might have been considered pretty, but together, they gave an unsettling impression.

‘A half-blood fairy.’

Encrid recognized the identity of his attacker. Not that it changed anything.

With his mouth gagged, blood was flowing onto the ground.

Encrid’s arms were held tightly.

Jack and Bo didn’t give him any chance to move.

“Farewell.”

The half-blood fairy said. Judging by the wrinkles and the way he spoke, he wasn’t young.

Though he looked like a boy of about twelve or thirteen.

‘I really didn’t see this coming.’

An assassination?

And a persistent lover, at that.

Isn’t that the name of Aspen’s independent company?

They were rumored to be persistent, and now they’ve sent an assassin after the battle is over.

‘These guys are truly insane.’

Considering the Krona and effort it takes to send an assassin, doing this just to kill a single soldier was undoubtedly madness.

From the perspective of the victim, it was even more infuriating.

As Encrid tried to tilt his head back with force, the person gagging him tightened their grip.

“Let him go. It seems he has something to say.”

Was it the fairy’s intuition? The small, old half-blood fairy somehow read Encrid’s intent.

Soon, the thick cloth gagging his mouth loosened.

“Did Aspen send you? Are Jack and Bo spies?”

Encrid swallowed the pain that surged up as he asked.

“Something like that.”

“Who’s behind this?”

“Do you really want to know that as you’re dying?”

“If I go without knowing, I’ll be resentful. I’ll be waiting in hell.”

“Rotten.”

The last word was whispered from behind.

Rotten?

That name sounded familiar too.

Jack, Bo, Rotten.

Aren’t they all from the scouting unit?

As death approached, his mind spun, memories resurfacing automatically.

The reason for the scouting mission at the Green Pearl battlefield.

Jack had a broken arm, Bo had a broken nose, and Rotten had been bitten by a snake.

These bastards all deliberately avoided the scouting mission?

“Damn it.”

A hollow laugh escaped him.

“Persistent, weren’t they?”

The fairy said that and then stepped aside like a picture.

The fairy moved quickly towards the outskirts and then disappeared into an alley.

Jack and Bo subtly released their hold and quietly stepped away.

As for Rotten, there was no need to mention him.

He had spent all his energy talking.

He didn’t even have the strength to scream.

Even if he had strength left, he probably wouldn’t have screamed.

Instead, he tried to look behind him as he fell.

Even though he was called Rotten, he wondered if it could be someone else.

But what did Rotten look like again?

He couldn’t remember his face.

At the moment he thought it wouldn’t matter even if he saw him, Encrid let his strength drain away.

Blood flowed continuously from his mouth, and his insides felt like they had been stirred with kindling.

The pain soaked his body and the blood soaked the floor.

The cold gripped him even more intensely. His body was shaking uncontrollably.

‘Damn bastards, if you’re going to do this, at least finish it off.’

Dying from bleeding out like this was the worst. It would be better to go all at once.

“Aaaah!”

A passing maid saw the blood pooling on the ground and screamed.

That was the last thing Encrid heard. He closed his eyes and faced death.

* * *

In the morning, with a flash.

As he suddenly woke up and sat up, Rem, wrapped in a blanket, asked from the side.

“Nightmare?”

“No. I just wanted to start the morning with energy.”

“It’s damn cold today.”

Rem grumbled from the morning. Although a large bonfire was lit in the barracks’ training ground and the night guard placed heated stones inside the barracks every night, it was far from enough to fend off the cold.

If there were an abundance of Krona, they could bring in fur or magical heaters.

But an ordinary soldier didn’t have that kind of Krona.

In fact, they didn’t even need a magical heater. The hide of a magic beast that emitted a gentle heat would be perfect.

Even that was an expensive item, though.

To put it simply, it was all just wishful thinking.

“Krais, aren’t you cold?”

“Cold? Very.”

Rem asked Krais out of nowhere. Big Eyes was the only one around here with an abundance of Krona.

“How about a magical heater?”

“Us using something meant for nobles? That’s rich. Why don’t you try becoming a noble from tomorrow?”

“Huh? Want a massage with an axe blade?”

“Resolving everything with violence is a bad habit, Squad Leader!”

At the end of the conversation, Big Eyes turned to Encrid.

“Don’t bully him.”

Encrid’s gaze, having preemptively stopped bullying in the squad, turned to the muscular religious soldier who was getting up.

His name was Audin Plumray.

For some reason, this muscular soldier had ended up in this troublesome squad.

It was an especially cold day.

Jaxon was on leave for some reason, but Rem, Big Eyes, and Ragna showed no intention of getting out of bed.

Even wrapped in blankets, they were still cold.

“Since you’re up, Squad Leader, bring us some stones.”

Even a few stones heated by the bonfire overnight would help a bit.

“Okay.”

Even as he replied, Encrid didn’t move.

Instead, Audin stepped out of bed, striding over as he spoke.

“Brother, if you stay in bed because it’s cold, your body will stiffen. Moving around to generate heat can help you overcome the cold. Come, try it.”

“Screw off before I carve you up and warm myself with your blood.”

“That’s not good, Brother. Such words can be unpleasant to hear.”

“Unpleasant? Then I’ve succeeded. That was the intention.”

“Brother, do you want to go to heaven?”

How consistent he is.

Encrid, who would have normally stopped this long ago, silently watched Audin before speaking.

“You mentioned a training method to preserve body heat, right? Teach it to me.”

Audin, who had been looking steadily at Rem, turned his head.

“Barehanded training method, you mean?”

Audin wasn’t immune to the cold either. But he certainly endured it better than the others.

He had mentioned a training method to keep the body from stiffening due to the cold.

For some reason, that came to Encrid’s mind now.

It seemed useful.

Since he couldn’t just jump up and down in place to keep warm.

Learning a method to keep the body from stiffening didn’t seem like a bad idea.

It was impulsive, but also logical.

Encrid was always eager to learn.

“Yes, that one.”

“Teaching it is not difficult. Do you have time now?”

“Now is fine.”

“In a day or two, you’ll grasp the basics. It’s not hard.”

Audin smiled, seemingly pleased that Encrid wanted to learn.

Seeing Encrid get ready to start right away, Rem mumbled from the bed.

“No, Squad Leader, bring us the stones first. I’m cold.”

Ah, he had forgotten.

Encrid fetched the stones first.

There were still two hours before duty.

It was a good time to have breakfast and train.

That’s what Encrid did.

The barehanded training method was painful but effective.

And then he went back on duty.

“How did I end up on duty with you guys?”

Someone must have pulled some strings.

“Ah, damn, it’s an honor. Serving on duty with the Spellbreaker.”

Jack answered. Encrid nodded.

After entering the market and preparing himself, he stared at the fairy kid before he could approach.

When Jack and Bo tried to grab his arms, Encrid punched out to either side.

Whack, thud!

Jack was hit in the jaw, and Bo reflexively dodged. Bo was quick. He sidestepped swiftly.

While doing so, he placed his hand on his waist. A short sword was strapped to his belt.

The fairy was still far off. That meant Bo had to be dealt with first.

Encrid also grabbed the hilt of his longsword.

He drew and swung it. He sharpened the blade of his senses, using boldness as his weapon.

At the same time,

Whoosh!

He heard a strange sound. He tried to dodge, but whatever was coming was faster.

Thump!

Encrid’s breath was momentarily taken away. Looking down, he saw the tip of a blade embedded near his heart.

It was a throwing knife, with no handle or decorations, just a blade on both sides.

This type of knife was notoriously difficult to handle.

“A persistent lover never forgets their prey.”

The fairy, who had approached without him noticing, whispered and stepped aside.

‘I was prepared.’

He hadn’t anticipated something being thrown. Even if he had, it would have been difficult to block such a skillful throw.

Encrid thought he needed to prepare more thoroughly as he closed his eyes.

And then the third day began.

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