A Knight Who Eternally Regresses - Chapter 452

Chapter 452: CHAPTER 449

“My grandfather carved it himself, with a sword. Impressive, isn’t it?”

As Oara spoke, Encrid responded appropriately.

“I see.”

“Ah, I miss my ex-husband.”

“…Suddenly?”

Oara often spouted unpredictable things. She seemed like an impulsive person. From what Encrid had observed so far, she didn’t seem to be someone who planned things carefully.

“If I just kill that bastard ex-husband of mine, this Demon Realm business would be over.”

Though it was a story he couldn’t understand, Encrid responded calmly. His previous experiences dealing with Rem and others hadn’t been for nothing.

“Does your ex-husband live in the Demon Realm?”

Oara laughed heartily at his calm question. He was the first person to respond like that.

“Ah, it’s just someone with the same name.”

Roman, who had approached unnoticed, spoke from the side. The short blonde had also brought a bottle of liquor and metal cups. A few drinks were passed around.

“What are you drinking? Give me some too.”

Rem appeared.

“Go ahead.”

Oara nodded.

The usually noisy barbarian from the West just moistened his lips and quietly listened.

Oara did most of the talking.

They used a tree stump as a table and sat down wherever. Perhaps because the weather was nice, nothing felt uncomfortable.

The breeze was cool, and the drink was decently good.

The only snack they had was jerky, but it wasn’t bad.

“His name was Jerix.”

After hearing the full explanation, Encrid thought it was in poor taste.

Why would someone name a monster living in the Demon Realm?

But it wasn’t his place to question it, so he didn’t add any sarcastic comments.

That was back in Oara’s Squire days.

She had fallen in love and wanted to get married and live a life together, but the man suddenly developed a wanderlust and left.

He was a very handsome bard, she said.

Oara then proudly claimed that she was the type to go for looks.

Encrid held back from asking if that was something to brag about.

“Men should look like me.”

Roman said, and Rem nodded, but Oara didn’t seem to care.

“It was because of that bastard that I became a Knight.”

If one could become a Knight for such a reason, Encrid thought he could endure heartbreak a thousand times.

Of course, Oara becoming a Knight wasn’t solely because of that foolish fiance.

There were rumors that Jerix had made dozens of women cry as he wandered around afterward.

The conversation continued for a few more sentences, with pauses to drain their cups.

The liquor wasn’t strong. It was just right for relaxing and drinking.

A cool breeze after days of humidity, the sight of the beautiful city walls that morning, the conversation, the drinks—everything came together to make it a pleasant night.

“Before I die, I’m going to wipe out that Demon Realm.”

Oara suddenly said. To Encrid, it sounded like this: Even if I die, I’ll finish off that Demon Realm before I go.

It struck him as a strange interpretation, but Oara stood up, dusting off her bottom.

“Good night.”

With her words, the two Junior-Knights left.

“Don’t you think that woman looks like she could storm into the Demon Realm at any moment?”

Rem was perceptive. He felt the same thing Encrid did.

“Yeah.”

But the Demon Realm, can it be closed just because one wants to close it?

If killing the central monster would do it, then would that monster be easy to deal with?

Probably not.

If it were that easy, people would have armed themselves, gone into the Demon Realm, and swiftly dealt with it long ago.

It seemed like Oara was waiting for the right moment.

And it looked like she was hoping that moment would come soon.

But it wasn’t something to think about right now.

Encrid also dusted himself off and got up. He brushed off the dirt and washed up quickly at the well next to the house they were using as lodging.

After washing up, he saw that Dunbachel had been lying on the bed for days without washing.

Her boots were caked with dirt, and her clothes were in a similar state. She was practically naked, wrapped only in a thin blanket.

Sensing Encrid’s gaze, Dunbachel opened her eyes.

“Want a hug?”

“Should I wash you up?”

“I’m sleeping. I’m already asleep.”

Dunbachel said with her eyes tightly shut.

Since it had been such a good day, Encrid decided to save his scolding for tomorrow.

It was a lucky break for Dunbachel.

“You seem to be in a good mood.”

Luagarne, who had become adept at reading Encrid’s expressions, said. She was in the process of lying down after finishing her meditation on the bed.

Luagarne prayed to the God of Frog every few days, and today seemed to be one of those days.

If it weren’t, she would have joined them for a drink and added to the conversation.

Luagarne enjoyed being with humans, especially Encrid. Watching them was entertaining, talking to them was fun, and their actions were full of anticipation, so there was no reason not to enjoy it.

At least, that was how Luagarne saw it.

“Do I really?”

Encrid nodded as he asked back. It had indeed been a pretty good day, even by his own reckoning.

Encrid replied and lay down. Sleep was quickly overtaking him. Thinking it had been a lucky day, Encrid soon fell asleep.

And then, not long after, he woke up.

It wasn’t his usual wake-up time. It wasn’t even midnight yet.

Kiiiiiaaaaa!

A scream echoed in the distance. It wasn’t a human scream, it was undoubtedly the scream of a monster.

* * *

“Enjoy this as well.”

The ferryman appeared in his dream, but it was only for a very brief moment.

He didn’t know about the reality, but it felt that way.

As soon as Encrid heard the scream, he sprang up, grabbing his sword.

Then, he quickly prepared his gear. Starting with his armor, followed by his dagger sheath, three swords, shield, and javelin.

“What the hell was that?”

Rem had also woken up. He, too, quickly geared up at a similar pace to Encrid.

Dunbachel and Luagarne did the same.

When they stepped outside, they saw a Commander leading twenty soldiers.

All of them were armed with longbows, and at their waists, they carried either shortswords, axes, or clubs reinforced with iron tips.

“Did the noise wake you?”

The twenty soldiers were marching in step, but not in a hurry. The Commander at the front raised his fist and asked. At his signal, the soldiers’ pace slowed.

Encrid thought the soldiers were being strangely calm.

He answered while thinking.

“I heard a strange scream.”

It had been an odd sound, even for a scream.

“It’s probably a Screaming Spider. Recently, the number of spiders has been increasing, so something must be happening in the Demon Realm again.”

The Commander remained composed. It was clear this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.

Boooooo.

In the distance, the cry of an owlbear could also be heard.

“Seems like the Owlbear’s here too.”

The Commander’s demeanor remained unchanged. He was calm and unshaken.

“Then.”

He placed his right hand on his waist and saluted before moving forward.

The soldiers’ pace quickened slightly, but their formation remained intact.

Encrid followed behind them.

“They’re pretty calm, aren’t they?”

Rem said from behind.

“Well, it’s understandable. This place borders the Demon Realm, and battles like this are a daily occurrence for them.”

Luagarne added. She looked up at the two moons hovering over Encrid’s head. Clouds were gathering on one side, soon to obscure the moons.

It’s going to get quite dark, Encrid thought.

As they continued walking, they reached the western gate.

“Hey, over there.”

Dunbachel, walking close beside Encrid, spoke up.

“What is it?”

Dunbachel’s nose twitched repeatedly. She was picking up a strange scent—no, more like a signal rather than a scent.

It was a smell that no one but herself had ever noticed, one that had once gotten her labeled a liar.

Though beastfolk used scent as signals, they couldn’t easily accept this particular one.

Sometimes, certain monsters use scent as signals, much like how humans use sound.

After all, scent was just another sense like hearing.

So, just because the others couldn’t smell it didn’t mean it wasn’t there.

She had been treated as a fool for mentioning it once. Since then, she had never spoken of it again, not even saying anything remotely similar.

She didn’t want to be treated like an idiot again.

‘Should I say it now?’

Encrid’s gaze fell on Dunbachel. It was the same as usual. The eyes of a madman marching forward with determination.

If she mentioned this concern, how would this man react?

“Believe it or not, it doesn’t matter. If I want to say it, I’ll say it.”

Encouraged by the imagined response from Encrid, Dunbachel opened her mouth.

“There’s something out there, something that uses scent as signals.”

Dunbachel spoke, and Encrid did not question it. He absorbed the necessary information and didn’t bother verifying the truth of what Dunbachel said.

He decided to believe her. She was one of his own. If he didn’t believe in her, who would?

Dunbachel felt relieved at Encrid’s response, and then Luagarne spoke up.

“It’s not uncommon for monsters to communicate with each other.”

The answer came from her wealth of experience.

Cawww!

At that moment, a crow flew overhead.

The bird’s cry sounded like a terrifying scream.

It almost seemed as if it was fleeing from something.

Just as the group reached the western wall.

“Fire!”

As Encrid had anticipated, the soldiers on the wall were launching a volley of arrows.

With the wall, Knights, and Squires in place, this kind of battle was to be expected.

“Draw arrows!”

“Hold your fire! Hold!”

“Shoot only the flaming arrows! Maintain visibility! Maintain visibility!”

The Commander’s shouts echoed.

The surroundings were pitch black. It was natural, given the time of night. The red glow from the torches cast shadows that rippled across the wall.

It almost looked as if the shadows themselves were monstrous claws attacking.

Encrid reached the base of the wall and began climbing the stairs.

He saw a soldier carrying a bundle of arrows up the narrow steps.

The soldier’s steps were quick but not frantic. He remained calm and composed.

“Seems like there’s no major issue.”

Rem said.

Encrid silently assessed the situation.

Once he reached the top, he saw the Commander, veins bulging in his neck as he shouted orders.

“Fire!”

At the Commander’s shout, the sound of bowstrings twanging filled the air.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

More than twenty archers released their arrows simultaneously.

Whuuuuush!

The arrows arced through the air, cutting through the moonlight as they fell.

Relying on the moonlight, Encrid could see a mass of spiders crawling in the distance.

They were as large as humans. Definitely monsters.

“Giant Spiders.”

Luagarne said.

Though it was his first time seeing them, Encrid had heard of these creatures.

But weren’t Giant Spiders supposed to be no taller than a person’s knee at most?

Encrid tried to gauge the spiders’ size.

From the top of the wall, they appeared small, but in reality, they were much larger. The heads of the spiders crawling on the ground seemed to reach up to his waist.

As Encrid observed the spiders—

“You made it?”

It was Oara. She was standing on the wall, arms crossed, calling out to him.

Encrid approached her.

“Looks like there’s no chance of a good night’s sleep?”

“It certainly seems that way.”

Despite the alcohol, there was a hint of fatigue. Everyone feels tired when they don’t sleep at the proper time.

Oara was no exception.

Knights are those who have surpassed their limits, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need to sleep or eat.

They are skilled killers, not beings who can live without sustenance or rest.

Encrid understood this as well.

However, he thought this much was manageable.

If necessary, he could stay awake for two nights in a row and still pretend to be fine.

His balance might falter slightly when wielding his sword, but he was confident it wouldn’t happen.

Shouldn’t a Knight be even more resilient?

Encrid looked at Oara’s face. The shadows under her eyes, the bloodshot eyes, the roughened skin.

She looked like a peasant woman who had spent the entire day working in the fields. Her face clearly showed signs of fatigue.

Was it because of a few low-alcohol drinks? Or because she hadn’t slept properly?

For something like that, wasn’t this a bit too much?

“Today was supposed to be the Sabbath.”

Oara muttered. The necklace symbolizing her religion swayed near her chest.

Even in the darkness, the blue gemstone shimmered with light.

Encrid’s thoughts raced.

Sabbath, Knight, Demon Realm, dream, Jerix, back to the Demon Realm, Thousand Bricks, Roman mimicking the Knight’s sword.

“I’ll wipe out that Demon Realm before I die.”

The words he heard before closing his eyes were the final piece of the puzzle.

“Are you unwell?”

So he asked, and Oara blinked a few times.

“Hmm?”

“Are you not?”

When it comes to perception, he’s the best on the continent. Oara realized once again that this man, despite his outwardly calm demeanor, was incredibly observant and persistent.

“Sharp, Roman didn’t notice for half a year.”

Although Roman was also attentive, he was slow to pick up on things. Oara had hidden her condition that well.

She discreetly spread her cloak to shield herself from the other soldiers’ view and lifted her shirt. She wasn’t wearing armor underneath.

Beneath the soft fabric, blue veins bulged on her abdomen.

“Poison.”

Oara said.

As she spoke, the clouds that had been slowly creeping in covered the moon.

Darkness descended.

Fwoosh.

A gust of wind caused the torches to flicker, making Oara’s shadow appear as though it was tearing apart.

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