A Knight Who Eternally Regresses - Chapter 424

Chapter 424: CHAPTER 422
The ferryman sensed an ominous presence, though he couldn’t pinpoint its source.

The source of such ominousness didn’t necessarily have to be a person, but this time, it was indeed a person.

In the Sacred Cult of the Demon Realm, if someone overseeing a small parish was a Bishop, then someone overseeing several parishes was an Archbishop, and above them was a figure known as an Apostle.

In other words, one of the few Apostles of the Cult had personally taken action.

His name was Reddit.

‘I will turn you into worm food.’

He steadied his mind, thinking of that bastard Encrid.

With his willpower focused, his power was ready to erupt, but Reddit restrained it, accumulating the force for the sole purpose of killing that one man.

The Apostles of the Cult of the Demon Realm were those who were born with powers.

Reddit was born in a village adjacent to the Demon Realm, and before he even turned ten, he had massacred not only the villagers but also their livestock.

His innate ability was a curse.

With just a glance, he could cause someone’s heart to explode or make insects swarm under their skin.

Originally, he wasn’t an Apostle.

He became one thanks to a meeting when he was fifteen years old.

While wandering the continent, being called the incarnation of a demon, Reddit encountered someone his power couldn’t affect.

“You’re an interesting one.”

The person’s heart should have exploded, but it remained intact, and even though insects burst out from under the skin on his arm and swarmed across his limbs, he didn’t even frown.

He smiled as flies gnawed at his skin.

“Do more.”

No matter what Reddit did, it had no effect.

“If you follow me, I’ll make your insignificant power worthy of being called an ability.”

The man who spoke with a smile radiated a halo of light. He was a man who shone. He was Reddit’s savior.

“Who are you?”

Reddit asked.

The man smiled and said,

“I am the advocate for those betrayed by false Gods, and I walk a thorny path for my master.”

Reddit wept.

He could feel it. He had been living for this man all along.

“Follow me, and I will open a new world for you.”

The one who found him was an Apostle of the Cult of the Demon Realm.

Reddit accepted his teachings.

He trained so that his ability would be called a power.

Thus, he became an Apostle of curses.

“Father, I shall return.”

The Wolf Bishop had died, and the Cult’s plans had been repeatedly thwarted.

Who was to blame? Now, there was no one in the Cult’s higher ranks who didn’t know the name Encrid.

It could no longer be overlooked.

The Apostle who had brought Reddit in, whom he now called Father, nodded.

Reddit clenched his teeth and clasped his oozing hands together in prayer.

Seeing this, the Father Apostle spoke.

“Go and show them. No one should dare to stand in our way.”

This conversation took place on a sunlit road.

By the time the civil war in Naurillia had ended, the Apostle was already within the Kingdom.

Due to his innate power, Reddit couldn’t ride a horse or keep people near him for long.

Anyone who stayed with him for more than a week would inevitably be struck by misfortune.

If his curse of heart-crushing and insect-swarming was something he could control, being near him brought uncontrollable disasters like being struck by lightning or caught in a landslide.

The curse was so severe that a simple scratch from a branch could fester and kill.

He was, quite literally, a walking curse.

Despite not having learned anything specific, his natural condition allowed him to cast more powerful curses than any other sorcerer.

He had even trained to ensure that his power was worthy of being called a blessing.

Thus, he learned how to strengthen his curse.

The more he isolated himself, the stronger his heart curse and insect curse became.

However, he had to be very careful when accumulating the power of his curse.

If he gathered too much power over a long period, the backlash would affect him.

For this mission, Reddit had gathered his curse power to the limit.

He had stored up so much that it was nearly causing a rebound in his own body.

As a result, his skin had softened, pus oozed from his body, and his face had become so scabbed that it looked like the very definition of hideousness.

At a glance, one might think him a brother to a ghoul.

Considering his opponent was someone of Knightly prowess, this level of preparation was necessary.

To cast a single curse, Reddit wandered along deserted roads, accumulating the power of his curse.

He did this with the devotion of a monk fasting and praying.

After completing all these preparations, his skin was as pockmarked as a leper’s, his body creaked with every step, his bones were so frail that they would break under any strain, his digestive system couldn’t process any food properly, and his muscles were so withered that they barely functioned.

This was the curse of someone born with such a power.

He arrived at the Border Guard, his body concealed by a large cloak and hood.

“Who are you, and where have you come from?”

“Just a traveler. Cough, cough.”

Just speaking a few words made his throat itch and his lungs feel as if they were burning.

‘I’ve overdone it this time.’

Reddit realized that he had gathered too much of the curse’s power.

But it was almost over. Just a few more days, and this pain would be something he could forget, even if only for a while.

His cursed body would find temporary relief by unleashing its curse on another.

For him, using this power was the only way to survive.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have killed all the villagers, wandered the continent, or gained the nickname of a demon who cursed and killed people repeatedly.

Now, as an Apostle of curses, it was enough.

“You seem to be in a lot of pain.”

“There’s a medical clinic inside, you should visit it.”

The guard at the gate of the Border Guard nodded as he looked at Reddit’s appearance.

He didn’t seem interested in accepting a bribe.

The Border Guard was recently developing into a trading city. The guards could have easily asked for a handout, but they all seemed focused on their duties.

Reddit nodded and passed through.

One of the guards frowned as he noticed the pus dripping down Reddit’s nose.

“Make sure you get treated.”

The soldier said to him. Reddit nodded slightly and entered the gate.

He didn’t need to find an inn. He planned to head straight to the barracks.

That bastard Encrid was said to always be obsessed with training.

“Encrid, sir!”

Just then, a voice caught his ear.

Turning his head, he saw someone with black hair and blue eyes.

It was in front of a forge, radiating heat.

The person was putting on a pair of metal gauntlets.

It was clear evidence that the God of the Demon Realm was looking after him.

‘The Gods are watching over me.’

Reddit thought.

The true God resided in the Demon Realm, and he did not reject those who were called demons.

Reciting a prayer, Reddit gathered all his power.

A wave of the curse, unnoticed by anyone, surged toward Encrid.

No, a wave alone wouldn’t be enough.

Reddit moved forward. His cursed body, a burden of his fate, screamed in pain.

But it would be over soon.

He reached out his hand as he approached.

Encrid noticed Reddit’s approach.

“It is an honor.”

Reddit said, playing the role of a mere citizen as he reached out to touch Encrid, who did not defend himself. Finally, Reddit’s hand made contact with Encrid.

* * *

“I ask you, Apostle of the War God, is it true that you let heretics go without punishing them? You must know that this is no different from declaring yourself a heretic as well, right?”

Audin was dreaming.

It was a scene from the past. The face of the person speaking to him twisted.

The distorted face soon transformed into something like a monster made of mud.

The monster dragged itself forward, alternating between two stumps that could barely be called feet. Watching it, Audin felt as if it had traveled a long way.

The monster slithered toward a man, melting and crushing him.

Looking closely at the crushed man, Audin realized it was his brother, the General.

‘Lord?’

Audin believed this was a prophetic dream. He didn’t know what the mud monster represented, but it felt certain that some danger was approaching.

Audin woke up and realized he had dozed off while sitting in broad daylight.

It must have been arranged by the Gods to convey a message through his dream.

Audin saw a crazed barbarian in his view.

“Where has the General gone?”

“He went to the city to meet with the blacksmith.”

Rem had just received his axe and was now swinging it to get accustomed to it.

After all, it was different from the weapon he had used until now.

However, it was similar enough to the weapons he had used in the past, so it wouldn’t be too difficult to adapt. Rem repeated this process.

Audin sighed as he spoke to Rem.

“If I am late, it is because my Father is lazy.”

Audin moved his body with words that were unimaginable for him, expressing resentment towards God.

Rem wondered why he was acting like that all of a sudden.

* * *

What is foreboding?

Encrid anticipated—no, awaited—the moment the ferryman’s foreboding words would come to pass.

But no news arrived.

Still, he wasn’t anxious. He just continued his daily routine.

“Once I’ve adjusted, let’s have a match.”

Rem said as he entered, holding his new axe. The steel from Lewis Mountain glimmered softly in the sunlight.

Anyone could see it was no ordinary axe.

“How long will you need to adjust?”

“Just give me a day, so be patient. Why are you so eager to get beaten up?”

It was their usual trivial banter.

“Oh, and the blacksmith said he has something to give you.”

“Why didn’t you bring it with you?”

“He wanted to give it to you personally.”

Rem recalled the blacksmith, who had wanted to give his axe an odd name.

He considered taking it by force, but he was too pleased with the axe to do so.

The weapon would pair well with the new Aker sword Encrid had acquired, and it wouldn’t break easily.

Encrid nodded.

The blacksmith, sent from the Royal Palace, wanted to hand over his creation personally.

The ability to understand the intentions and feelings of others was probably the biggest difference between himself and Rem.

“Very well.”

What was the harm in a short visit?

Becoming a General hadn’t changed his daily life.

Only the attitude of other Commanders had changed.

Especially Battalion Commander Graham, who maintained a respectful demeanor.

Others like Platoon Leader Vengeance and Squad Leader Bell had also adjusted their behavior.

There were also more looks of admiration directed at him, beyond mere respect.

Of course, there were those who hadn’t changed.

His subordinate soldiers were an example, as was Sinar.

They were just as they had always been.

As Encrid walked, lost in thought, he noticed Audin sitting off to one side, dozing off. It was remarkable how he maintained perfect posture even while asleep.

Seeing this, Encrid descended into the marketplace and made his way to the blacksmith.

The day was hot. It was the season of the salamander.

The salamander, one of the fire-breathing beasts, was sometimes called a fire spirit and other times a fire beast.

During particularly hot seasons, people would use the salamander’s name as a metaphor.

The summer sunlight filtered through the trees, casting patterns on the ground.

As Encrid walked, he pondered new techniques, how to train, and how to use them.

If he received what he needed and then sparred with Rem, today would be another productive day, no different from any other.

When he arrived in front of the blacksmith’s shop, sweating slightly, the blacksmith greeted him with beads of sweat on his own brow.

“The iron from the sword you used previously was quite good. The core was damaged, so I couldn’t forge another sword, but here.”

The blacksmith was a man with extraordinary pride. He handed over the gauntlets he had made.

They were forged from the melted-down metal of his old sword, Silver.

The metal gauntlets were lined with leather on the inside, with several layers of cotton beneath the leather.

Pure metal wouldn’t absorb impact well.

The outer surface was polished, forming smooth curves, which made it effective for deflecting or parrying most weapons.

“Your craftsmanship is impressive.”

Encrid didn’t hold back his praise. He thought it was a fine gift.

He was turning to leave when someone called out to him.

“Encrid, sir!”

Someone who recognized him approached, and he realized it was the shoemaker he had met once before.

A certain wizard had been hiding under his shop, and it was then that Encrid had opened the Gate of the Sixth Sense.

It was an event he could never forget.

“Oh, I was just so happy to see you.”

The man’s tone was more respectful than it had been before. The Encrid who had explored his shop’s basement was now in a completely different position.

The shoemaker, despite his joy, was worried that the person who had now risen to the status of a noble might reprimand him.

“How is your daughter doing?”

“Are you interested in my daughter?”

“It’s not like that.”

As they exchanged simple greetings, someone approached Encrid.

“It’s… it’s an honor.”

The person said, reaching out his hand. Encrid thought nothing of it.

There were quite a few people who recognized him and behaved like this—some came to see him under the pretense of wanting to spar, others, like this one, extended their hand in greeting.

It never crossed his mind that this person could be the source of the ominous feeling the ferryman had mentioned.

It would be difficult for anyone to think that.

Despite his unimpressive appearance, it was clear at a glance that this person was incapable of any real aggression.

His posture and demeanor lacked any strength or authority.

Encrid knew that even a fifteen-year-old boy could easily overpower someone like this.

The man’s hand touched Encrid’s arm.

“How dare you touch him?”

The shoemaker exclaimed in anger.

Encrid waved it off, signaling that it was fine.

Although he had felt something the moment the man’s hand touched him, the sensation disappeared as quickly as it had come.

Only an indefinable feeling remained.

“Wha… what is this?”

The man’s voice trembled, clearly shocked.

Encrid blinked, surprised by the sudden change in the man’s demeanor.

‘He seems to be very ill.’

Encrid thought as he gently clasped the man’s hand. Is it right to scorn someone just because they appear shabby?

He didn’t think so.