A Knight Who Eternally Regresses

"Why don't you try me?"

A soldier stepped forward. His appearance was ordinary. He was a bit shorter than Enkrid, but he looked sturdy. The sharp blade of the shortsword in his hanging hand reflected the light.

The Frontier Slaughterers of the Border Guard were an elite force. They were a direct force of only two hundred, but the battalion commander and the commander of the direct force held the same rank.

According to Naurillia’s organization, they were part of the royal army. This meant their chain of command was separated from the infantry of the 1st and 2nd units stationed in Border Guard.

The Frontier Slaughterer looked at Enkrid with indifferent eyes. It wasn't a provocative gaze. Rather, it was closer to a contemptuous one, as if looking at someone inferior. This provoked Enkrid's competitive spirit, making him feel it was worth trying.

Enkrid was pleased.

'I can fight.'

Unlike the past, when he would collapse immediately due to lack of skill or be crushed by talent before even starting, how was he now?

He was savoring the joy of this change for a moment. People around him started murmuring, perhaps thinking that Enkrid hesitated.

"Sorcery Breaker."

"Troublemaker Squad Leader."

"Give it a go."

"How special can he be?"

Even though he had only sparred three times briefly, everyone cheered for Enkrid.

It was a peculiar experience. He had never experienced anything like this in his life. It was a first for Enkrid.

"Let's go!"

"Show them!"

"The flower of the battlefield is!"

"The infantry!"

They were even shouting the infantry’s motto. It was amusing because his opponent was also part of the infantry. Regardless, their support was clearly conveyed.

The desire to fight. The thirst that couldn't be satisfied with just mid-rank soldiers. The discipline of the infantry behind him gathered. A thrilling sensation surged through his entire body from his toes.

Vengeance, watching the situation from outside, understood the support for Enkrid.

'It makes sense.'

Even Vengeance himself had shouted to show support to Enkrid. A low-rank soldier who swung his sword even in his sleeping hours. The squad leader who controlled the Troublemaker Squad.

His rank was insignificant. His skill was poor compared to his effort. That was the evaluation until now. Everyone would have thought similarly.

But what about now?

Enkrid, the Troublemaker Squad Leader, showed a completely different side. He proved himself by demonstrating excellent skills. By breaking the sorcery, he saved the lives of his allies and changed the course of the battlefield. That moment became a reality.

It was something that they knew but doubted.

That doubt became reality, and now everyone knew. Who was the most meritorious in the previous battle?

The battalion commander’s commendation and a pouch of krona replaced the merit. As in any army, this one also had a culture of upper ranks benefiting. Especially now, the battalion commander’s reputation was not good.

There were rumors that he saw his soldiers merely as expendables. Many soldiers who had noticed Enkrid’s skills subtly included themselves.

Among them was Bell. The soldier Enkrid had protected from the arrows of the Hawk's Talon with his shield.

‘I knew it!’

He had recognized him since he saved his life. The Troublemaker Squad Leader was capable of anything.

‘Of course.’

That wasn't all. The hearts of all those who had unknowingly become connected with him came together. Enkrid was now representing the ordinary soldiers of Border Guard.

With their support, Enkrid kicked the tip of his sword with his foot, taking his stance. At the same time, he suppressed the thrilling excitement and controlled his breathing.

"You want to fight?"

"I don't see a reason to avoid it."

Seeing Enkrid stepping forward indifferently, Torres, one of the Frontier Slaughterers, thought inwardly.

'Interesting?'

The Frontier Slaughterers.

Despite the fearsome reputation of his unit, his opponent did not avoid him. Instead, he stepped up to fight. There was even a faint smile on his face. It was amusing. It was enjoyable. At the same time, it was unpleasant. He wanted to show the difference between a regular soldier and a special forces soldier.

Whoosh.

Torres lunged first. His feet moved frighteningly fast. Enkrid waited and then thrust his sword towards the center. It was a good move.

Whether left or right, up or down, his opponent would have to dodge. The moment he dodged, a heavy blow would follow.

Torres did not dodge. He raised his sword to meet Enkrid's incoming blade.

The moment the blades met, Enkrid tried to press down with his strength, but his opponent performed a skillful move.

Clang!

As their blades clashed, Torres twisted his sword upwards, making their swords form a diagonal line. The downward force went astray. It was the basic technique of deflecting with the flowing sword style.

Sparks flew as their blades met. As the downward force deflected to the side, Enkrid didn't hesitate and brought his right foot, which was behind, forward to kick.

Pak!

Before the kick reached its target, Torres blocked Enkrid's shin with his palm. The distance closed in. It was even closer than the range of the swords. Torres abandoned his shortsword and lunged further into Enkrid's space. He crossed his hands and grabbed Enkrid’s collar, aiming to choke him.

Enkrid, indifferent to being choked, pulled his sword upward between his legs. It was a move targeting the opponent's back with a backhand strike. Even if he was choked, he wouldn’t pass out immediately, and in the meantime, he could leave a significant scar on the special forces soldier's back.

Torres twisted his body. Instead of grabbing the collar, he pushed Enkrid's chest with both hands. Enkrid resisted the push. Instead of retreating, he changed the direction of his sword and swung it horizontally.

Since Torres had abandoned his shortsword, his defeat was inevitable. One side had a weapon, and the other did not.

Which side had the advantage?

But here, Enkrid experienced something new. His opponent suddenly disappeared.

‘Disappeared?’

His concentration broke. His opponent vanished from his sight. There was no sound either. Instinct then moved Enkrid. Countless deaths had ingrained this instinct into him.

It was the survival instinct earned by struggling countless times each day to see tomorrow. He instinctively grasped his sword with only his right hand and bent his head back, exposing his chest.

At the same time, a flash of light rose from below Enkrid’s chest.

Flick!

The flash grazed his cheek. In that brief moment, Enkrid reactivated his Focus Point. If he missed, he would die. His instincts left a vivid warning. The rising flash suddenly dropped.

Enkrid didn’t miss it. He caught the flash with his left palm and raised his knee.

Pak-Puk!

A burning pain shot through his palm. He saw Torres’ eyes twitch as he got closer. Blood trickled from Enkrid's left palm, which had caught the dagger’s blade. The result of Torres’ lethal stab with a dagger he had drawn after abandoning his shortsword.

A drop of blood fell to the ground.

Then, more drops followed, and Torres sighed before making a gesture to pull out his dagger. Enkrid let go of the blade. Pain surged through his left hand. A burning pain. He felt a throbbing pain and blood flowing from his cheek.

His cheek had been cut earlier. If he hadn't dodged, his chin would have split. He could consider himself lucky. It was not because of instinct.

‘That was close.’

Enkrid thought.

"You're lucky. Right?"

Then, Rem’s voice was heard. Rem was standing right behind Torres, with his axe on his shoulder. He was within striking distance if he swung the axe.

Beside Rem, Ragna stood with his left hand on his sword, taking half a step forward. It was the stance he took when demonstrating his sword-drawing technique.

"You can't go further than this."

Ragna muttered. If these two had Torres covered, there was another person standing next to Torres.

It was Jaxon, the squad member with auburn hair. He wasn’t holding a weapon, but he looked more dangerous than Rem and Ragna. The instincts that had surged during the spar told him so.

And these three were not the end.

Enkrid's gaze fell to the ground. Between him and his opponent, a blade was blocking the gap. It was a fairy sword resembling a leaf, the Naidhl sword.

"That's enough. I’m the fourth company commander. Any more and it’s killing an ally."

It was the elf company commander. Her sword had intervened between them.

"Why so hostile? It’s just a spar. A few more strikes, and someone would have ended up with several holes."

Torres retrieved his dagger. He rubbed his stomach, which had been hit by Enkrid, and raised both hands. Only then did those who had been holding their breath watching the spar exhale.

"He's damn good."

"No way, how is he a low-rank soldier?"

There was no need for a judge.

"At least a high-rank!"

They had an eye for it too. Who was the opponent?

"I'm Torres, the platoon leader of the Frontier Slaughterers."

He tapped his insignia and extended his hand. Enkrid sheathed his sword and extended his uninjured right hand.

"I'm Enkrid, squad leader from the fourth platoon, fourth company."

Since his opponent spoke formally, Enkrid also saluted properly.

"I've heard of the Troublemaker Squad Leader."

Everyone in the city who knew Enkrid, knew him well. Torres showed a friendly smile. He didn't look like someone who had just fought for his life.

"You fight well. Let's meet again."

Torres said and turned away. As he walked through the crowd of onlookers, the soldiers made way for him. The Frontier Slaughterers were highly regarded even among their allies.

A platoon leader from such a unit acknowledged Enkrid, the soldier who had broken the sorcery and saved the battalion in the previous battle.

"Why is he good-looking too?"

Someone remarked, seeing Enkrid brush his sweat-soaked bangs back. Everyone in the training field had their eyes on Enkrid. Though unintentional, it became a turning point in changing everyone's perception.

Oddly, after this event, no one spoke ill of Enkrid.

"Who? That squad leader? Isn't he a sly fox relying on his squad?"

If a soldier who hadn't witnessed the sparring said this, they were reprimanded instead.

"That’s nonsense. Didn’t he save our lives in the last battle?"

"What?"

The soldier who had been on leave was taken aback by his comrade’s reaction.

"Don't you know the Sorcery Breaker? Do you think that sorcery broke itself, you idiot!"

Before his leave, hadn’t they all cursed the Troublemaker Squad Leader together? The change in his comrades was too drastic. And it wasn't just this one person. The soldier who returned from leave got swept up in the atmosphere.

He felt it was right.

'Didn't they say he broke the sorcery?'

He even received recognition for it. He thought the Troublemaker Squad Leader might have done something extraordinary. Those who said it was thanks to his squad disappeared. Bell was at the forefront.

"I almost died from an arrow, and he appeared and blocked it."

Vengeance naturally played a part.

"There was a fire. Although I hadn't been friendly, he saved me. I heard he carried me out of the flames and collapsed. It was Enkrid who broke the sorcery. I saw him charge at the front with my own eyes!"

Andrew joined in.

"I always thought he was exceptional. It wasn’t me who led the reconnaissance, but Enkrid."

‘Mr.’ was sometimes added to his name.

Andrew's caretaker, Mack, also contributed.

"During the reconnaissance mission, he threw himself into the most dangerous positions. His swordsmanship? I’m not qualified to comment."

Mack was one of the best among the regular soldiers. The atmosphere changed completely.

However, this did not change everyday life. There was much talk about the Troublemaker Squad Leader’s skills, but not much else changed.

"A high-rank soldier?"

To the battalion commander, a soldier being promoted to high-rank wasn’t a big deal. To him, the Troublemaker Squad Leader was just a slightly annoying presence. So he ignored it.

Enkrid didn’t get caught up in the atmosphere. He just tended to his wounds and did his best on guard duty.  Two days after the promotion ceremony, Enkrid was on guard duty at the south gate of the Border Guard with Rem.

"Was this all planned? You're cunning, Squad Leader."

Rem said.

"What?"

"These days, the kids are all over you, pretending not to notice."

Enkrid had ears and eyes. Especially with Kraiss, who loved gossip, around. He knew everything.

At first, he was proud. Even if it was a desperate struggle to survive, it was true that he had broken the sorcery. But pride was just pride. Enkrid soon returned to his usual self. Training and honing his skills.

"Aren’t you bored?"

"No. How about a spar after duty?"

"Sure."

Rem chuckled. He liked the squad leader’s consistency.

After duty, as they were returning to the barracks, someone blocked their way.

It was an unfamiliar face.

"Can we talk for a moment?"

Before Rem could raise an eyebrow and ask who he was, Enkrid responded.

"Sure."

Enkrid knew this face. It was clear that it wouldn’t be good to act friendly in front of Rem.

"Go ahead."

Enkrid sent Rem off.

"Do you not need me to stay?"

"Just go away."

Enkrid said, horrified at Rem trying to act like a caretaker.

"You complain even when I look after you."

"Don’t."

"I’ll sulk if you abandon me. I’ll sulk like a teenage girl!"

Rem kept nagging till the end. Annoying guy.

Enkrid patted Rem’s back, signaling he understood. Rem went in obediently. The man, who had been watching this, shook his head slightly.

"Your discipline is a mess."

"Why do you think we’re called the Troublemaker Squad?"

It was right in front of the barracks. The man started walking along the low wall of the military base. Enkrid walked beside him.

"You know who I am, right?"

"You're the company commander of the 1st Company, aren’t you?"

The man nodded.

1st Battalion, 1st Company.

He was the commander of the heavy infantry, the pride of the Border Guard.