A Knight Who Eternally Regresses

The Queen of Naurillia had no children.

In other words, she had no heir.

So, who should be the next ruler?

Why hadn’t the Queen produced an heir?

This situation naturally led to various contenders vying for the throne.

Of course, the biggest reason was that the Queen’s central authority was weak.

As a result, individuals like Count Molsen declared themselves rulers of frontier regions.

Others within the capital sought to become the Queen’s consort.

Some even arrived from foreign nations, offering their princes as potential successors.

Countless figures aimed for the throne.

Crang was one of them.

Kraiss hadn’t seen all of the contenders vying for the throne, but even comparing Crang to Count Molsen was enough.

Right now, Crang was the most threatening candidate for the usurpation of the throne.

Based on that alone, Kraiss had a realization.

‘His ambition is different.’

Enkrid felt the same.

Even when compared to Count Molsen, the difference was clear.

It was purely instinct, but Count Molsen’s sole desire was to sit on the throne.

His goal ended there.

But Crang was different.

A royal bastard didn’t merely fixate on the throne—he looked beyond it.

‘He sees the nation’s fundamental problems.’

Count Molsen likely had plans for after he seized control of the country.

However, the difference was where the weight of their priorities lay.

Did the throne come first, or did the responsibilities that followed take precedence?

What was the purpose of his ambition?

Where did his goals lie?

Between the sunlight filtering through, vines clung to the right-side barracks wall. Green moss and ivy growing between the cracks exuded a sense of life.

It was a day in the peak of spring, with temperatures gradually rising.

Still, it wasn’t warm enough to break a sweat while walking.

Amidst the tranquil sunlight, a man who had captivated everyone’s attention let out a quiet chuckle.

“That’s why I hated it.”

His final words bordered on irony.

“Is that so?”

“What about you? Have you never felt the same? Have you never been sick of the road you walk? Have you never questioned whether you truly had to go down this path?”

Enkrid mulled over Crang’s words.

No.

He had never been sick of it. Never once had he questioned it.

Swinging his sword brought him joy.

The path he walked through it was thrilling.

Every moment of becoming a knight was exhilarating.

Even though Crang’s words carried a touch of humor, the unique atmosphere he exuded remained unshaken.

His gaze locked onto Enkrid’s.

At that moment, Enkrid felt as if everything around them had vanished, leaving only the two of them.

‘Could I really say I never felt burdened?’

Crang seemed to be asking just that.

It felt as though he had to say yes.

It wasn’t pressure, but the atmosphere he created made it seem like the only acceptable answer.

That was Crang’s unique presence. Within it, Enkrid became a sharpened blade.

He responded with the resolve he had built within himself.

There was no hesitation.

“Not even once.”

Enkrid answered.

At those words, the smile vanished from Crang’s face.

His blue eyes, now expressionless, bore into Enkrid.

Time passed—the kind of time one would spend savoring a sip of tea, enjoying its depth before swallowing.

Then—

"Hahahahaha!"

Crang burst into laughter, tilting his head back as he laughed freely.

***

Crang’s personal guards had never seen their lord laugh like this before.

Laughing so hard that he tilted his head back, tears forming in the corners of his eyes—

It was a strange and unfamiliar sight.

Considering how he had lived until now, it was astonishing that he could laugh at all.

Worrying about poison was just the beginning—

He was constantly plagued by assassination attempts.

Identifying the culprits was a never-ending struggle.

He had to evade threats, grow his power, and turn whatever fortune he could to his advantage.

“Why should we support you?”

That was a question once asked by a noble, and the guards had agreed with it.

What exactly was there to trust?

“Faith? Loyalty? Have you ever relied on such things?”

Their lord had always altered situations with mere words and his natural charisma.

He drew people in. He changed the tide of events.

And yet, he never crossed the line.

There were things one should never do. And those, he upheld.

That was the life he had chosen.

It was ruthless. Ruthless and more ruthless still.

His standards were too high.

And that was precisely why he shone.

To shine meant to draw attention, to captivate people’s eyes, to stand out no matter where he was.

Perhaps that was why colorful gemstones held more value than food, drink, or clothing.

The noble who once questioned him had become one of his strongest supporters.

“How can one achieve their goals by only walking the righteous path?”

That was the question asked by a wise man.

Crang had responded.

“Sometimes, I may step into the mud, and the filth on my boots may dirty the room. But I won’t let those who walk with me frown at the sight.”

The wise man fell into deep thought.

“That is a fair point.”

“And so is yours.”

Crang and the wise man had grown close.

His guards had witnessed it all.

They knew the years he had endured.

And that was why they understood—

Never before had they seen their lord laugh like this.

To see him genuinely laughing was jarring.

“Haah, so that’s how it is.”

Crang wiped away the tears forming in the corners of his eyes.

Tears brought on by laughter.

“Yeah. That’s how it is.”

The other man didn’t ask why he was laughing.

He simply responded, unfazed.

From there, their conversation continued without the weight of Crang’s usual commanding presence.

Just a few idle remarks.

“Why did you charge into enemy lines alone back then?”

“It wasn’t a charge. I planned to strike and retreat, but I got stuck.”

It was about the time he had fallen into the trap set by the strategist Abnaier.

“Wouldn’t it have been easier if you had led your forces?”

The question wasn’t meant to critique the past.

It was meant to reflect on it, to ensure the same mistake wasn’t made again.

Kraiss found Crang’s approach wise.

There was always something to learn, even from past battles.

Crang wasn’t criticizing; he was listening.

It was a trait similar to Enkrid’s ability to truly hear others. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“If I had brought my forces, the casualties would have been catastrophic.”

Enkrid had survived only because he had died and resurrected countless times.

If he had led his troops in?

They all would have perished. At best, half would have been wiped out.

Ultimately, his decision had been the right one.

“But you didn’t know that at the time.”

Crang pressed further.

“I knew that drawing enemy attention would give my allies more freedom to move.”

“So, a battle of elites.”

And with that, the spring afternoon passed with their idle conversation.

“See you again, my friend.”

Enkrid narrowed his eyes.

“Are we friends?”

“Aren’t we?”

“...Fine. Let’s say we are.”

His guards clenched their jaws in frustration.

“If this keeps going, I feel like that guard’s whip is going to fly at my head.”

“Then dodge well.”

Crang chuckled again, his laughter laced with another joke.

Enkrid also let out a small smirk.

He had already become friends with Leona, the owner of the Lockfried Trading Company, so getting along with someone who might one day claim the throne wasn’t a bad thing either.

Though, to be honest, that wasn’t really the reason.

He simply liked Crang as a person.

“Well then.”

“Yeah.”

Enkrid and Kraiss turned and left.

Crang quietly watched them go.

One of his guards finally spoke up.

“You’re aware of how dangerous it is for you to be here, aren’t you?”

“Of course.”

Crang placed a hand on his waist and tilted his head up.

Once again, he found himself thinking—the weather was really nice today.

The sunlight was warm, and the air was calm. It was the kind of day where lying down in a field and taking a nap seemed like the perfect idea.

His guard watched him and decided to ask a fundamental question.

It was something Crang had repeated countless times.

Unanswered doubts led to misunderstandings.

And misunderstandings, if left unchecked, eventually led to drawn swords.

A simple question and answer could prevent unnecessary conflict.

So, the guard asked.

“Then why did you come here?”

“Curiosity.”

He was talking about the man who had just left. That much was obvious.

So naturally, the guard voiced the next logical question.

“His skill?”

Should they have fought, then?

The guard wondered.

Crang raised a hand to shield his eyes from the glaring sun as he looked up at the sky.

Clouds dotted the vast blue expanse.

Not bad.

With that thought, Crang answered.

“I was curious whether he’d changed.”

Then, suddenly, Crang let out a short, amused chuckle.

His guard tilted his head, puzzled, but that was as far as his curiosity went.

He couldn’t question everything.

There was no need to fully understand every thought Crang had.

His lord had come here for a reason.

He had confirmed whatever it was he needed to confirm.

And he was satisfied.

That was enough.

There was no misunderstanding to be had here.

“I see.”

“Yeah.”

Crang placed great value on Enkrid.

More than anyone else did.

More than Enkrid did himself.

‘To remain unchanged like that...’

To walk forward without wavering, to move ahead without losing oneself—such a person captivated those around them.

They drew people in. Inspired them. Left an impact.

For Crang, who valued influence above all else, that was an incredible feat.

‘If only he had pursued politics instead.’

A man who could have built an empire instead chose to wield a sword.

A man who could have formed a household chose to become a knight.

Knighthood stood at the pinnacle of martial power.

So what would happen if someone like him became a knight?

It didn’t matter. It wasn’t his concern.

Enkrid simply walked his own path.

Crang had confirmed it, and that was enough.

Enkrid remained unchanged.

He sought to become a knight.

Crang sought to rule a kingdom.

“Do you think a continent without war is possible?”

“If that is what you desire, my lord.”

“Easier said than done.”

Crang smirked and clapped his guard on the shoulder.

He was back to his usual self.

Though... was it just an illusion, or did his shoulders seem a little more at ease?

Crang began walking.

“Let’s go. If we don’t want to die, we still have to keep struggling.”

His guard knew that all too well.

“Yes, my lord.”

With the sun at their backs, the guard followed after Crang.

***

"The throne should be given not to those who want it, but to those who hate it."

Enkrid spoke as they walked back.

Kraiss corrected him.

"More accurately, it should go to someone who understands it. A man who doesn’t even know what he’s doing wouldn’t be able to beg properly, let alone rule."

His words were mixed with an old proverb.

Even a beggar had to know what they were doing in order to survive.

It was a saying well known across the continent.

Enkrid’s words had been his response to Marcus’s earlier question.

It wasn’t about wanting something desperately—it was about understanding the weight of it and walking the path accordingly.

"In that sense, he’s quite something."

"You’re saying he’s not an idiot, then?"

Enkrid’s question carried a different meaning, and Kraiss understood it.

Which was why he gave his answer.

"No. He’s not."

Kraiss pondered why Crang had come here in the first place.

What was his reason?

‘He came to see this bastard, of course.’

And why would he want to see Enkrid?

Because Enkrid was becoming famous?

That alone wasn’t enough of a reason.

What had he sacrificed just to see him?

Time, location, security, and position.

“It’s dangerous, isn’t it?”

Enkrid suddenly asked.

He had already sensed the dangers surrounding Crang’s visit.

Or rather, he had analyzed and figured them out.

Kraiss thought, Of course he’d figure it out.

He nodded and replied.

“Yes. I don’t even know if he’ll make it out alive. He’s headed back to the palace, right?”

That was what Crang had said. He would return to the palace, and the road ahead would be perilous.

And yet, he had gone out of his way to visit this border garrison.

Whatever his reason, he had taken a massive risk.

The border garrison built under Kraiss’s direction had rapidly expanded trade.

And with the Lockfried Trading Company involved, commerce had exploded.

All of this had happened within a couple of months, and the city was already bustling.

Which meant... a massive influx of people.

And where there were crowds, it was easier for spies and assassins to hide.

‘We can’t stop all of them anyway.’

Kraiss had only fortified the most critical locations.

Everything else? He let it be for now.

Later, he planned to expand his information guild to better control the situation.

But that wasn’t a priority yet.

If Crang was still under threat?

It was only logical to assume so.

Even now, Enkrid was casually listing off his observations—things that had led to his conclusion.

“His guard changed his stance. He adjusted his posture so he could react immediately.”

“He didn’t eat or drink anything unless it was something he had prepared himself. He’s clearly used to being wary.”

“He doesn’t have any hidden guards watching over him. That means he doesn’t have many people around him.”

Then there was no place more dangerous for Crang than the border garrison.

The moment he left, assassins might attack his carriage outright.

Kraiss nodded as he listened to Enkrid.

He knew why his commander was saying all this.

The reason was simple.

“If you want to do it, then just do it.”

Who was the commander of the Mad Platoon?

A blue-eyed madman with black hair.

Enkrid.

“I know. But I still need to understand why.”

“Well, {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} at least we can agree that he’s too valuable to die just yet.”

By the time they returned to the barracks, Marcus was already there.

Enkrid, fully expecting assassins, their brothers, fathers, and grandfathers to attack at any moment, spoke first before Marcus could start his serious monologue.

“I’ll escort him to the palace. Talk to Kraiss about my fee.”

Marcus, mouth open mid-sentence, just stood there, stunned.

The speed at which Enkrid’s mind worked had once again outpaced Marcus’s expectations.

“Huh? Where are we going?”

From behind, Rem asked, already restless.

I’ll have to bring him along.

Enkrid thought with a nod.

If I don’t, he’ll just cause trouble anyway.