A Knight Who Eternally Regresses - Chapter 305

Chapter 305: CHAPTER 303
“What kind of person is he?”

At the adjutant’s question, Graham adjusted his posture. A sharp pain shot up from his spine to his head.

‘Sinar.’

He’d heard that the Fairy had given Encrid an ointment for his wounds.

He was the Lord, wasn’t he? Even if not, wasn’t he at least a longtime comrade?

Why was there not even a single root of medicinal herbs coming his way, let alone ointment?

Pushing aside these trivial thoughts, Graham answered.

“Who?”

“I’m talking about Green Pearl.”

One of them is clueless and stupid, while the other is more than ordinary. Even the questions are different.

‘Or maybe it’s just relative.’

It could be that the adjutant next to him is so dumb that the other one seems smarter by comparison. Not that he could afford to dismiss the clueless one.

How far can a person go for another?

That adjutant might not risk his life, but he’d put an arm on the line to save him. So, he couldn’t be dismissed.

“Garrett Cairo.”

Graham said the name of a man who had once been his superior but was now of equal rank.

The name didn’t exactly roll off his tongue.

Garrett’s battalion had originally been the second reserve unit of the Border Guard, but thanks to their victory at the Battle of Green Pearl, they had become a new battalion stationed at the Green Pearl Plains.

“He’s an opportunist, willing to do anything for his own gain. There’s a rumor that the reason Aspen hasn’t invaded is that Garrett’s already defected.”

Was this just a rumor only Encrid had heard?

Suddenly, Graham’s ear itched, and he scratched it with his pinky.

“Is someone badmouthing me somewhere?”

He found himself suspicious of the adjutant he’d just kicked out of the room.

“If Aspen pushes in, the city is in danger too, Commander.”

Graham, the Commander and Lord, nodded.

“Who doesn’t know that?”

What should he say about Garrett Cairo?

“Did he betray us? I don’t think so. If I had to bet on it, I’d say he didn’t.”

Garrett was the exact opposite of the adjutant who was probably cursing him at this moment. Cunning and sly, yes, but not a traitor.

“Why do you think Marcus left him there?”

* * *

The Battalion Commander was a rather handsome man with dull blonde hair.

He looked to be about middle-aged. He approached with long strides.

Encrid instinctively measured the distance.

‘Two and a half steps.’

If he wanted, he could close the gap with half a breath.

“If judged as an enemy, you either cut him down or subdue him, grab his head first, and take control of his troops immediately.”

This was what Krais had said before leaving. Encrid agreed with him.

He subtly extended his left foot, completing his ‘readiness’.

He could either thrust quickly, or if the enemy attacked first, he would deflect with the Snake Sword.

His right arm had recovered enough that he could handle a parrying and striking technique.

The right hand would deflect while the left hand struck. Even his mind was prepared.

He kept all his options open as the Battalion Commander approached.

Behind the Commander, a group of archers, infantry, and guards were visible.

They all seemed oddly tense.

Garrett approached in large strides.

“Marcus, you dirty bastard!”

Then he shouted.

There was a strange tone in his voice.

“I missed you!”

Garrett called out in a booming voice.

A man meticulous in all things, opportunistic, and willing to do anything for his own gain.

That was how people described Garrett.

But that didn’t seem quite right.

“You’re really more handsome than me, Nurat! What do you think?”

“He’s very handsome.”

Someone in the guard responded to Garrett’s shout. It was a black-skinned woman.

The Battalion Commander, Garrett, was a man who knew how to laugh. And he smiled very brightly.

Then he said,

“Now you’re the most handsome man in the Border Guard.”

“Agreed.”

Krais mumbled from behind. He had been tense and worried, but now he let out a deflated remark.

Encrid also relaxed a little.

If the enemy had calculated even this, then it was fair to say he was even more cunning than Jaxon.

Of course, Jaxon would never admit to that if he heard it.

“Let’s go inside.”

Garrett turned his body. What could it mean to show his back, even if he was hiding his true abilities?

There was no betrayal from Garrett. Encrid understood this from both reason and instinct.

“Still, be careful.”

Krais said from behind.

What if he planned to pull them in and trap them after the betrayal?

For a betrayal, though.

‘He seems too careless.’

Encrid scratched his chin and followed Garrett.

If Rem were here, he’d probably say what a straightforward fellow Garrett was.

Rem, Audin, and Teresa had been left behind.

“We also need someone to guard the rear. If things go south, we’ll need to make a quick getaway.”

That was Krais’ reasoning.

Encrid’s reason was a bit different.

“Unless you’re planning to die in battle, why bother?”

They were all injured. Resting was the best option when it was time to rest.

“This would heal just by spitting on it.”

Rem had protested, but despite his words, he had slathered the Fairy’s ointment on quite liberally.

He had almost gotten into a fight with Jaxon over coveting some of his herb collection.

“Your body can’t even handle the Fairy’s ointment. Why don’t you go mix some mud and smear that on?”

Jaxon had teased him with his sharp tongue.

At this point, breaking up fights between the two of them was something Encrid could do in his sleep.

After separating the two, Encrid gave his order.

“Stay behind.”

It was a single phrase to cut off any insistence on coming along. He had even mustered the willpower to forcibly pull up a refusal.

That showed just how much determination he had.

“If you go and die, I’ll personally take up the axe of vengeance.”

Rem was the first to give up, and Audin merely chuckled, though it didn’t seem like a laugh born of good cheer.

“It’s a problem that arose because this body of mine is too weak.”

He tried to dig into Encrid’s conscience with self-deprecating words.

“Yeah. So, how about you train your body a bit more?”

Encrid playfully responded to the joke. His tongue had always been Knight-level, after all.

“If you think you can win an argument with words, you’ll get the tables turned on you. Don’t you know that, you big oaf? I know it, so don’t wag your tongue in front of me.”

Rem gave some advice from the side. Naturally, Audin didn’t listen. He simply started praying.

“Did you see the arrogance of this pitiful and small Commander, Father? Even if he ascends to heaven, don’t be too hard on him.”

It was a prayer that walked the fine line between blessing and cursing.

“Thanks for the holy prayer.”

With one final comment, Encrid claimed a complete victory.

Audin shook his head, laughing.

Encrid refrained from saying more, concerned that if he pushed further, Audin might actually challenge him to a fight, regardless of rank.

If not for that, he would have had plenty more to say.

Only Teresa didn’t resist. In any case, she was too injured to put up a fight.

Still, she’d said she felt satisfied after killing the Wolf Bishop.

He didn’t know the full story between the two of them, but it was clear their relationship wasn’t a good one.

“You did well.”

He had praised her, and left Rem and Audin behind with a show of force.

So now, he was with Esther the wizard, Krais with his plan to run at the first sign of trouble, Ragna walking silently with unknown thoughts, and Jaxon, who, without a hint of humor, said he was glad to have left Rem behind.

“Looks like someone poured oil on your face.”

Ah, Sinar was with them too. The Fairy Company Commander had no serious injuries, just a few scratches on her arm.

“You look greasy.”

Sinar muttered.

Sinar approached and whispered again. It was directed at Garrett, though he didn’t seem greasy but more on the handsome side, no matter how you looked at it.

“Is that so?”

Should they be thankful that Garrett didn’t hear it?

Even if he did, he seemed like the type to brush it off easily.

He was hard to figure out.

“Right now, you’re my superior.”

“This tone feels more comfortable.”

Sinar had been insisting the whole way that Encrid speak in a commanding tone.

“Do you enjoy being ordered around and pressured by your superior?”

Unable to hold back, he finally spoke up.

“The pressure of my fiancé—how intriguing. I wonder how it would feel.”

What kind of crazy talk is this?

Even if it was a Fairy-style joke, wasn’t that crossing a line?

“Just a joke.”

Sinar still showed no trace of a smile. It wasn’t as though there was a strange or bizarre reason for asking him to change his tone. In reality, it wasn’t even forced.

“It could be problematic if the chain of command breaks down.”

That was the real reason.

“It won’t be a problem.”

Sometimes, it seemed like Sinar wasn’t aware of the impact her appearance had.

She always gave off an air of someone who deserved respect. From her gestures, her steps, and her tone, she constantly reminded you she was a Fairy.

“How old are you? If you’re younger than me, I’ll start speaking informally.”

“I couldn’t care less about the chain of command.”

Sinar turned away, still as expressionless as ever.

Encrid entered the camp Green Pearl had set up.

What is this?

“It’s like a small village.”

They had cut down large trees to build a stockade, and while most of the people were living in tents, some wooden houses were visible here and there.

There were signs of construction that had been halted midway.

It was probably because of the war and winter.

“Just one more winter, and we could have built a proper village.”

Garrett said this as they entered the largest tent in the center.

He sat down at a wide table, with a few guards standing behind him, including the black-skinned woman from earlier.

In the eastern part of the continent, black people were not uncommon, but in this region, they were a rare sight.

“Do you know how much I’ve been wanting to meet you?”

Garrett suddenly said. Encrid could only tilt his head in confusion.

“Ah, that battle, I heard all about it. The Battle of Green Pearl, the soldiers after the war—what an exciting story. Tell me more about that…”

“Commander.”

Garrett was seated, and Nurat stood behind him.

The black-skinned woman, Nurat, bent forward slightly and called to the Commander.

“Ah, this isn’t the time to talk about that, is it?”

“No, it’s not.”

“Aspen is right at our doorstep, Commander.”

Another guard spoke up. He was a large man, and just by looking at him, you could tell he was the quiet type.

With a square jaw and tightly clenched mouth, he projected a sense of gravity.

“Yeah, that’s just my personal business.”

Garrett’s mood shifted in an instant.

His smile didn’t change, nor did his expression.

But something had changed. The atmosphere was different. The aura he projected twisted in a subtle yet noticeable way.

Like the way Krais reacted when something important was at stake.

Like how Audin confronted those who blasphemed against his God.

Like when Ragna showed his passion for the sword.

Like when Rem went crazy, leaving his brain behind in a reckless frenzy.

“I believe the best option is to retreat and abandon everything, don’t you?”

Encrid could feel Krais flinch at Garrett’s words.

He must love this. The mere mention of retreat always got him excited.

“Why?”

Encrid asked.

“Because I can’t predict what the enemy will do.”

“Is that the only reason?”

“That’s the reason.”

Krais cut in, thinking this was his moment to shine. Encrid didn’t stop him.

In fact, he even nodded slightly, encouraging him to continue. Garrett’s gaze shifted to Krais as well.

“A sharp-minded one, huh? What’s your name?”

“It’s Krais.”

“In all my life, I’ve never asked a pretty boy’s name first when two beautiful women were present. Go ahead, explain your reasoning.”

Garrett’s tone had a certain rhythm to it. It wasn’t unpleasant to listen to—it was almost like a musical voice.

Krais had explained this once before, but he thought it was worth summarizing again.

“Whether it’s the Black Blade Bandits or the Cultists, when we fought up front, Aspen just watched.”

“Is that enough reason?”

Sinar, who had been silently observing, spoke up. Though Encrid was the Official Commander, it wouldn’t be wrong to say Sinar was of a similar rank.

“The Fairy’s voice sounds like an instrument.”

Garrett muttered, as if his tongue would grow needles if he didn’t spout nonsense.

Sinar easily ignored him.

“It is a reason. If everything was as it seemed, Aspen would have attacked us first. It’s winter now. We’ve connected the supply lines to Green Pearl, and while it’s not perfect, we can hold the line. Even without a fortress, defending isn’t that difficult. How many watchtowers do we have?”

“Eight.”

“Spread out?”

“Tightly packed.”

It was hard to follow the conversation between Garrett and Krais. Encrid waited. They’d explain again eventually.

“What about Aspen? Their supplies? Their advance? Their camp setup?”

Krais asked again. It wasn’t really a question, more of a rhetorical emphasis.

Supplies, marching, and camp construction—none of it was easy. There was a big difference between those who had prepared when the weather was warm and those who hadn’t.

“Time and the situation are on our side, yet Aspen just watched us.”

Krais thought privately that there must be a genius tactician on the enemy side.

Otherwise, it didn’t make sense.

“They’ve prepared something.”

“Exactly. Honestly, I thought they’d just sit and watch, but no. They’re not.”

“Are they coming?”

“They’re coming.”

“How fast?”

“Slow.”

“That’s not good.”

“No, it’s not.”

Nurat, who had been listening from behind, bent down toward her Commander and said,

“Nobody understands a word of this.”

“Krais, speak in the common tongue.”

Encrid interrupted appropriately.

Garrett gestured with his eyes, and Krais began explaining.

Aspen hadn’t secured a favorable high ground, nor were they moving hastily.

They were steadily pushing forward, deliberately.

There were two reasons for this.

“First, they’ve fully assessed our strength.”

Krais said first.

“And second, they’re confident they can win.”

Garrett followed.

Krais and Garrett exchanged glances, then, without needing any cue, reached out and lightly clapped their hands together.

The sound echoed inside the tent.

“Commander.”

Nurat bent forward again.

“Oh, right, now’s not the time to be celebrating, is it?”

“No, it’s not.”

Garrett was an odd fellow, but he seemed sharp. It didn’t appear that he’d betrayed them either.

Encrid refrained from smacking the back of Krais’s head.

“So, if we retreat? If we just run?”

“The city falls, we become war criminals and are dragged into a Royal Court. So, running is the answer, but not really.”

Encrid had asked Krais, but it was Garrett who answered.

When the two raised their hands to high-five again, Encrid pushed down on Krais’s head.

Then he said.

“Then, we need to figure out how to win.”

Thinking wasn’t his strong suit.

That was Krais’s job.

“That’s not something you can just come up with on the spot. First, we need to consider the surrounding terrain…”

“Nurat.”

At Garrett’s command, a map was brought out. It was a rough military map showing the general topography.

“Any issues with our supply lines?”

“None at all. To interfere with our supply, they’d have to break through four narrow watchtowers.”

As Krais and Garrett dove back into their private discussion, Encrid stepped back entirely.

He observed for a while, but he’d be lucky to understand even half of what they were saying.

Sinar had already slipped outside at some point.

Encrid stepped out of the tent as well, craving the fresh mountain air.

Inside, the fire in the brazier had filled the tent with an uncomfortable, stuffy heat.

Outside, he saw Ragna, who had already been standing there.

Ragna stared blankly at Encrid.

It seemed like he had something to say.

When Encrid approached, Ragna tilted his head slightly, looking beyond the wooden palisade at the sky, and asked,

“Why do you want to become a Knight?”

It was an abrupt question.

But also, an enjoyable one.

He didn’t ask, “Do you really want to become a Knight?” but rather, “Why do you want to become a Knight?”

The meaning embedded in the question was entirely different.