A Knight Who Eternally Regresses

‘How did it come to this?’

The rapier master was used to teaching.

When teaching was a familiar task, observing was beyond familiarity, it was a skill.

While Frog’s talent detection was a unique ability of his race, the rapier master’s eyes were of a distinctly different nature.

It was a combination of personal talent and accumulated experience.

From what he saw with those eyes, there was definite improvement.

It was hard to believe he lacked ‘Will’.

Occasionally, his eyes would shine as he executed a flurry of continuous sword strikes, cutting off his own retreat.

‘Correct Sword Technique.’

The opponent exceeded his expectations.

Originally, there was not even a sliver of hope.

His talent and skills were of that level.

Undoubtedly, this was the first time his judgment had been so wrong.

That stirred something in the rapier master’s heart. It touched his heart and moved his mind.

‘Guidance, sparring.’

That was his intention from the beginning.

He had walked the path of a Knight but turned back when his talent fell short.

But he had never been defeated by someone without Will. Even now, that remained true.

‘Improvement.’

It was indeed surprising and his skills were outstanding. However, the black-haired man before him still couldn’t face a genuine Junior-Knight.

That was his judgment.

Tatatatatatata!

Swords clashed repeatedly, sparking as they met.

Through the relentless strikes, blue eyes elongated.

‘Footwork too.’

It was impressive. He had surpassed human limits. That was certain.

If his opponents were lazy individuals relying on mediocre talent?

The man before him would win.

Then, how had he been beaten by Swift Blade?

Having seen that fight and faced him now, he knew.

‘If the goal was a fight rather than killing, if sparring came first.’

Swift Blade was the opposite. He fought to kill.

And yet, it was just by a hair. In his view, it was only a matter of who took the first step. Swift Blade had not even realized it.

His skill improvement was truly remarkable.

It was surprising enough to warrant repeated amazement.

That was why.

The words telling him to give up lingered, prompting him to draw his sword.

Starting slowly and evenly.

He wouldn’t need to exert his full strength in wielding the sword.

Even so, fast and strong, with mixed in techniques. It was the Fluid Sword Technique, blending speed with smoothness. Striking while flowing, flowing while striking.

It was to show that such swordsmanship existed in the world.

Along with engaging in mind games.

‘Even if it’s advised to master a single form like Correct Sword Technique, that’s flawed teaching.’

While specializing in one form is possible, it’s proper to learn all five sword techniques. At the very least, a superficial knowledge of them is necessary.

Why is that necessary?

To block, to evade, to do anything, you must know.

That’s why.

In that regard, the rapier master emphasized the diversity of swordsmanship. He showed that mind games didn’t always occur in the form of Correct Sword Technique.

For instance,

‘Flow.’

As he tried to flow with the sword, Encrid’s eyes gleamed. It was a bait.

Encrid delivered a vertical slash that seemed capable of cutting through anything. It was a lightning-like strike.

The rapier master, facing it, seemed to block but twisted his body aside.

Fluid Sword Technique, flowing without contact.

The lightning-like sword cut through empty space.

Hwoong!

The sound of air being sliced was clear.

Was it advanced swordsmanship or skilled swordsmanship?

After raising the sword tip to thrust, Encrid’s posture naturally faltered.

The ensuing advantage belonged to the rapier master.

He pressed on. Slowly, bit by bit, it was like the art of killing a frog.

The method of killing a rog with boiling water starts with cold water and gradually heats up.

The essence of this swordsmanship was pressure.

It was a message conveyed through the sword.

‘You cannot surpass this. This is your limit.’

After relentless pressure and relentless attacks, he was trapped and forced to stop.

Encrid encountered a wall he couldn’t surpass with the Heart of Great Strength, the Sense of Evasion, or all the sword techniques he had learned.

Did he despair because of this?

There was no time for that, and even if there was, he wasn’t the type to think that way. Encrid simply continued to swing his sword heavily.

But the rapier master, watching this, wasn’t entirely pleased.

The sparring session had continued in a completely different manner than expected.

In conclusion, he didn’t see any flashes of brilliance from his opponent.

‘Was he not the genius I had overlooked?’

If not, his growth rate didn’t make sense.

So why was there no spark? Why was his talent so dull?

He expected the frog to jump out of the pot. At the very least, he hoped to see it stretch its leg, but it was just slowly drying up.

“Let’s stop here.”

“Phew, phew, it was good instruction.”

Encrid expressed his gratitude.

It was a sparring session worth it. This person didn’t aim for his neck nor was he after his fame. He just appeared out of nowhere to give guidance.

“I’ll go next today.”

A half-blood Giant with a sword and shield stepped forward.

The current sparring hadn’t taken a toll on him. He just needed to catch his breath. Encrid nodded.

Their fight was similar to the previous one.

The intensity and violence were dizzying to watch.

If the fight with Swift Blade was a battle where he could get holes or be cut at any moment.

The fight with the half-blood Giant seemed like something could be crushed or smashed at any moment.

Encrid endured it.

He suffered injuries similar to the first day.

This time, the half-blood Giant performed a trick by gripping the sword’s tip and swinging it like a blunt weapon. She also shook her shield up and down to deceive the eyes.

Encrid countered by mixing the Middle Sword Technique and the Correct Sword Technique to pressure his opponent.

It seemed he was applying what he had just learned from the rapier master.

Of course, the rapier master watching wasn’t satisfied.

‘He hasn’t improved.’

A genius would show improvement after just one sparring session.

But this friend Encrid, at best, was just ordinary.

That annoyed him.

The master’s eyes naturally narrowed.

“Alright, that’s it for today. If you’re bored, you can take on some monster subjugation requests around here. The rewards are substantial, and it’ll clear your frustrations.”

“That sounds good.”

Swift Blade responded with delight to Krais’s words.

He was itching to do something.

Most of all, the two opponents he saw today didn’t seem easy.

One was his polar opposite, and the other seemed to be hiding his true skill.

‘Troublesome bastards.’

Even so, running away now was not an option. If he fled under these circumstances, the Black Blade Bandits might send their assassination squad after him.

Hadn’t he recklessly used the Krona of the bandit group all this time?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Now was the time to risk his life.

Moreover, his murderous impulses were making his blood boil. If he ran away now, it would be difficult to wield his sword as he pleased for a while.

‘Ah, I want to kill.’

He longed for the sensation of piercing through tender flesh.

But he couldn’t just kill a vagrant in the city and get beaten to death, so he couldn’t kill just anyone.

If he did something, the people around him would foam at the mouth and attack him.

All of them had sharp eyes and outstanding skills.

‘What a mess I’ve gotten into.’

He hadn’t thought it would be easy, but it had become a tangled mess.

‘I might as well cut down some monsters.’

It was a reasonable decision.

Krais nodded and spoke to the soldier who had joined him.

“Yes, this way.”

The soldier led Swift Blade, marking the end of today’s sparring session.

Encrid had to be half-carried. His thigh muscles were trembling, making it difficult for him to walk.

“This will heal after a little rest.”

Encrid said.

“Yeah, right.”

“It might heal, but if it repeats, you could end up with chronic injuries. Brother, having faith is good, but don’t be overconfident.”

Audin recited words from the Holy Scripture. Believing in one’s body was good, but doing it in moderation was better.

“Hmm, I suppose.”

Encrid nodded. Of course, it was something even a dog wouldn’t believe.

“When we get back to the quarters, let’s have a quick hand-to-hand sparring session.”

Ragna said.

“Sharpening the senses makes it easier to anticipate a move ahead.”

Jaxon added from the side.

Everyone seemed to have a lot to say.

More precisely, they didn’t seem to like seeing Encrid getting beaten up.

Was it different from when they were the ones beating him up?

Encrid didn’t care.

What did it matter?

There was so much to do right now.

He had learned and practiced, but it still wasn’t coming together all at once. It couldn’t be helped.

Then, he just had to take it one step at a time again.

At least some semblance of talent remained in his body now, so he wasn’t stuck like before. This in itself was a significant improvement.

Encrid returned to the quarters with his idle thoughts and continued his hand-to-hand sparring with Ragna.

“Even with an injured body, you still…”

Finn shook her head as she watched.

These days, Finn seemed quite busy too. After whispering with the Fairy Company Commander, she frequently went out at dawn.

“Where have you been sneaking off to lately?”

Rem asked out of boredom. Finn gave a vague answer, not even looking up as she organized her belongings.

“Morning dew is good for the skin.”

“…I think she’s mocking me.”

Rem muttered. Encrid inwardly agreed but decided to side with Finn.

“That’s a victim mentality. You have a habit of taking others’ words the wrong way.”

It wasn’t revenge. It definitely wasn’t because Rem kept saying his brain was broken.

“Hmm?”

As Rem furrowed his brows, Ragna pushed Dunbachel forward.

“Go, do your job.”

What was that job?

“Huh?”

Dunbachel approached Rem reluctantly.

“Oh, right. Time to train. Haven’t done much of that lately, have we?”

She had managed to reduce her daily beatings from twice a day to once, but it had only been two days.

So, what did she mean by ‘lately’?

When Dunbachel glared at him, Rem looked pleased.

“Yes, that look, that fierceness! Good. Today, let’s have a spirited, I mean, training session!”

Dunbachel wanted to cry, but her pride held back her tears.

So the two of them went outside.

Encrid continued his sparring sessions.

After spending some time training, once his body was fully healed, he would grab someone staying at the inn for a sparring match again.

Swift Blade excelled in sharp, unpredictable, and unconventional attacks.

There was much to learn from him as well.

The half-blood Giant swung her sword and shield heavily.

It was a combination of the Middle Sword Technique and shield techniques.

Though mixed with the Correct Sword Technique, the deeper he delved, the more varied the Middle Sword and shield techniques became.

Moreover, the initial shield charge he experienced was still threatening.

Even a small opening allowed the half-blood Giant to press on with her monstrous strength.

In terms of stamina, Encrid was not lacking either, but the opponent’s sheer size made her a formidable weapon.

The rapier master was still the same.

He repeated the same actions every time.

Edin Molsen also attacked relentlessly, but he wasn’t a match. After being harshly knocked out in their third sparring session, he no longer dared to challenge easily.

Instead, his guard stepped forward.

“Your name?”

“No need to know.”

He was a gruff and stern man.

Encrid didn’t care. He didn’t care why the guard stepped up only now.

He was just glad to have another worthy opponent.

So he smiled.

“Definitely not normal.”

The guard said. Encrid ignored him.

The guard’s swordsmanship was based on the Fluid Sword Technique. He flowed, targeted openings, and stabbed with precision.

Encrid was familiar with this technique. He had seen it before. It was no illusion.

He had reviewed and reflected on it countless times, ensuring he wouldn’t forget it.

‘This.’

It was the technique used by someone from the Aspen faction.

Specifically, it was used by the person he had cut down with his left hand—Mitch Hurrier. The Hurrier family symbolized Aspen’s military prowess.

So, was the guard a spy?

Encrid didn’t care.

He only cared if the opponent was a good match.

So they clashed.

They fought and collided. Their skills were evenly matched, and he couldn’t easily win. Encrid wasn’t focused on winning.

“If he had wanted to kill, he could have done so a hundred times over.”

Rem gave a sarcastic remark because he didn’t think Encrid was just a man with straightforward swordsmanship.

“What’s left after killing?”

This wasn’t a battlefield. These were people who came to test their skills.

When it was time to speak through swordsmanship, that’s what he wanted to do.

“Is he smiling again? Do you enjoy this?”

Swift Blade often laughed. His smile deepened, and his tone became harsher.

He himself often laughed and commented on Encrid’s smile.

In that situation, Swift Blade and Encrid faced each other repeatedly.

At some point, Swift Blade’s mind was filled only with thoughts of Encrid.

He was entirely focused on killing his opponent, with no other impulses interfering.

Only one person remained.

All his murderous intent was directed at Encrid. This was a first for Swift Blade as well.

The half-blood Giant had a similar experience. But instead of murderous intent, she felt something else.

‘Why does he keep challenging me?’

She was certain of her superiority. If Encrid really wanted to kill, yes, he could probably take down Swift Blade.

But the rest? That was impossible.

In reality, even Swift Blade likely had a hidden trump card, so if they fought to the death, the odds were fifty-fifty.

That was her judgment.

So, was there anything to gain from this sparring?

But why was he so happy about it?

“Alright, today it’s you.”

Why was he so happy despite being beaten so badly?

He lifted his sword with a subtle smile, and the emotion on his face was crystal clear.

Even someone as emotionally inept as her could see it clearly.

He looked like a child.

A child experiencing a moment of sheer joy.

A child filled with innocent delight, as if it was their birthday party.

She had heard that this man wasn’t that young.

So why did he have that look on his face?

“Let’s begin.”

How could he speak so brightly?

She didn’t understand. One thing was certain though, everything about this man made her blood boil.

It was the fighting spirit, the competitive urge. The Giant’s blood mixed within her was boiling.

In this moment, she wasn’t a cultist but a warrior. For the first time, she wanted to be a warrior rather than a cultist.

It was a moment where the indoctrination and something ingrained in her since childhood began to crack.

A moment where she recognized and understood desire, beyond the teachings and commands of the cult.

It was a moment where what she had subtly felt throughout her life started to overflow.

The inner feelings she had never shown on the surface, feelings no one knew about, not even the bishops, tangled within her heart.

“You’re really strange. You know that?”

The half-blood Giant spoke.

Her words were awkward, but the meaning was clear.

“I told you from the start. This part’s broken.”

The gray-haired subordinate behind Encrid spun his finger around his temple.

Initially, she ignored this gesture, but now she understood it.

“Yes, you’re broken.”

The half-blood Giant said. And so was she.

Encrid, unconcerned, extended his sword.

“Let’s fight.”

He just craved battle. He showed his desire. He enjoyed the moment.

A smile similar to one slowly appeared on the half-blood Giant’s face.

Enjoying the fight itself was a first for her.

It was filled with novelty. Finding fulfillment in seemingly meaningless sword swings.

She couldn’t help but smile as well.

Thus, countless sparring matches ensued.

Each opponent faced over a dozen times.

At some moments, Encrid was severely injured.

At others, he escaped with minor injuries.

After many sparring sessions, the rapier master shook his head.

“It’s still not right. There’s a limit. But maybe I was wrong, so I have to test it. Can he overcome this? That’s all I’m curious about.”

Muttering nonsensically to himself, the rapier master faced Encrid.

At that moment, blades surged from the rapier master’s body.

Encrid had experienced this before.

From Asia, a member of the Red Cape Knights.

The intangible blades imbued with Will battered Encrid’s entire body.

It was overwhelming.

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