A Knight Who Eternally Regresses

Unable to maintain his laughter any longer, Enkrid stopped smiling.

Seeing this, Rem caught Enkrid's wrist and skillfully wrapped it with the bandages he pulled out from his belongings.

"Stay behind me today. With your hand like this, you're just asking for trouble. If you got this from sparring, the Squad Leader bastard will throw a fit."

"It's fine."

"What do you mean 'it's fine'? If you go into battle with that hand, you'll die. Is suicide your future ambition? If so, I won't stop you."

He wasn't wrong. Going into battle with his hand in such a state would indeed be asking for death, but to Enkrid, it wasn't a significant issue. If he died, it would just be one more death.

After death, the hundred and twenty-fifth morning would dawn.

'It's not tedious.'

As it would mean that he would end the repetitive cycle of today. His time hadn't been spent solely on honing his swordsmanship. During the one hundred and twenty-four days of repetition, he'd also devised strategies for surviving 'today.'

People say that an ordinary soldier returning from the first battle alive was like picking up a coin dropped by the goddess of luck. If you were not exceptionally talented, luck played a significant role in staying alive. Enkrid figured he'd need such luck a few times to avoid death.

'But I can't rely solely on luck.'

He didn't need to. He knew what would happen on the battlefield, especially around him. Therefore, he could prepare and he could be ready.

On the hundred and twenty-fourth time, Enkrid died again, impaled by a thrust. His palms were in such bad shape that he couldn't even properly parry the sword. Still, not wanting to waste even a single day, he memorized the enemy's thrust. He regulated his breath and held on until the very end. And he managed to accomplish it.

"That must hurt. What mercy."

He endured the searing pain of the blade through his neck, hearing the enemy soldier's voice. Something caught in his throat, and right before he died, he spat it out— it was a broken molar. A consequence of clenching his teeth too hard in pain.

Yes, it wasn't tedious. Even the repetition of today was valuable, and thus, enjoyable.

But no matter what reason he attached to it,

'I don't want to die.'

Dying couldn't possibly be enjoyable. Especially not at the hands of a perverted bastard who reveled in others' pain. If he could end it, he would. The moment he realized he was trapped in the cycle of a day, Enkrid resolved to do so.

And then.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The hundred and twenty-fifth morning dawned.

***

Getting up, Enkrid first shook out Rem's boots.

"What are you doing? Those are mine."

"I know, they stink. If we throw them at the enemy like this, we could take out fifty of them with just the smell."

"Judging by your pissy mood this morning, did you have a nice dream or something?"

Thud— a bug fell out as he shook Rem's boots. Enkrid crushed it under his foot.

"Saw it go in this morning."

"...Thanks for that."

Rem chuckled and slipped his boots on. Leaving Rem behind, Enkrid pushed aside the tent flap and stepped outside. Dawn was just breaking, blending the blue of early morning with the yellow of the rising sun. The guards on duty were busy stirring the pot, while the soldiers who had just woken up either grumbled while rubbing their eyes or quietly went about their tasks.

"Damn it, stop banging. My head's gonna split open."

"That's what you get for guzzling down booze last night."

It was from the tent behind.

"Will you shut it? If they find out about the booze, it's disciplinary action."

"Bloody hell."

The exchange was between the guard on duty and a comrade who had overindulged in alcohol the previous night. Listening to this, Enkrid glanced back briefly to catch a glimpse of the face of the soldier who had drunk too much. He was a Decurion from another unit and a Squad Leader. That chap had a good mother.

On the sixty-sixth day, Enkrid had spoken to this fellow just to make the day memorable, pretending to be chummy with him for no reason.

"Aren't you on morning duty?"

"You do it."

While Enkrid was checking the back, he suddenly said to Rem who had followed him out.

"Why should I?"

"You could do it just this once. I've done it for you more than five times."

"You're petty, counting stuff like that?"

"Yeah, only yours."

"Why only mine?"

"Because you're annoying, that's why."

During the hundred and twenty-five times, Enkrid had never allowed a single scratch on that bastard Rem. Not that he harbored any resentment. If anything, he felt gratitude.

Anyway, Rem would do it. Assigning morning duty to Rem was the pattern that resulted in the highest survival probability and best condition to start the day among the repeatedly experienced todays.

"Fine, damn it. I'll do it."

Half-heartedly moving around to warm up, the chill of the morning air didn't make him shiver. Twisting and turning his body, Enkrid didn't stray far from the front of the tent. One by one, the Squad members started to come out.

The first was Jaxon, a member known for his diligence. Jaxon greeted him with a nod as their eyes met. Enkrid responded with a slight nod. After a few more members came out, Enkrid caught the last one who appeared, his eyes still half-closed.

"Big Eyes."

"Huh?"

Big Eyes was his nickname, his real name being Kraiss Olman. A Squad member with a delicate appearance. And the only one among the Fourth-Fourth Troublemaker Squad members, known for being a collection of troublemakers, whose combat skills were below average.

More precisely, he was someone Enkrid could beat to a pulp.

"Yawn, why so early in the morning? Early wake-up is torture for a high-class resource like me."

Yawning wide, Kraiss spoke. His face was still smeared with sleep, not a drop of water on it, yet it was quite handsome. The sort that would attract those interested in men.

"I need you to get me a few items."

Kraiss tilted his head at Enkrid's request, puzzled since this wasn't typical of him.

"Cigarettes? Or booze? Can't do women. Even I can't bring them here at a time like this."

Kraiss was the go-to guy for anything illicit within the unit.

"Do I look like I'd ask for women?"

"No. So, what do you need?"

"Five throwing knives, oil-treated leather and a large needle, deerskin gloves, and lastly, about ten white hellebore flowers and a handful of alum."

Enkrid gestured with his hands to show the size of the leather he needed. It was enough to wrap around an adult man's torso.

"...What on earth are you planning with such an odd assortment?"

"That's for me to know. Can you get them or not?"

Kraiss paused for a moment, looking at Enkrid, then nodded.

"There's nothing I can't get. But even for the Squad Leader, nothing comes for free, you know?"

"How much?"

"Seventeen silver coins."

The guy's a rip-off. Five throwing knives would cost one or two silver coins at the blacksmith's. Granted, if steel prices spiked, it might go over three coins, but that was generally the case. And whatever Kraiss would bring wouldn't be purely made of steel anyway. Still, he'd likely fetch knives that were somewhat usable. Good quality leather could be expensive, but it's not like he'd be bringing material from a renowned workshop.

The only items that might really cost something were the needle and the deerskin gloves. Even being generous, that would be three silver coins at most. White hellebore flowers could be picked up for a few pennies in the village. Alum could also be obtained without much expense if there was a leather workshop nearby.

Enkrid was quite discerning in these matters, but he didn't argue. Firstly, because they were within the military camp, these items would be hard to obtain if not through Kraiss. Secondly, the ambiguous price of seventeen coins suggested it was probably a fair asking price by Kraiss's standards.

There was another reason, too.

"I can get them right after breakfast, right?"

"Are you implying I should skip breakfast for this?"

"You hardly eat well anyway."

"Well, that's true. But, um, I hear the Squad Leader might find this a bit short?"

Kraiss made a circle with his thumb and index finger.

"I don't have it now."

There were times he saved up his salary, but recently he had spent it all on a new sword. He was indeed penniless at the moment. He would receive his salary after the battle, but asking for it now would label him a deserter.

"See, this puts me in a tight spot."

At Kraiss's words, Enkrid smiled. It was the kind of ease only someone with a solid backup plan could show.

"Just lend me five copper coins."

Kraiss usually didn't trust people easily, but if the person in question was Enkrid, it was a different story.

'After all, he's the Squad Leader.'

The Enkrid he had observed over time wasn't one to engage in folly. Above all, wasn't he the one who had saved his life?

Kraiss handed over five copper coins to Enkrid. Clutching the jingling coins, Enkrid headed straight to the adjacent tent. Inside, he saw a group who had started a game early in the morning. It was a dice game table joined by the last watch of the night and a few who preferred gambling over sleep. The surprised eyes that saw Enkrid soon recognized him and expressed curiosity.

"What's this? Isn't this the noble lord of the Fourth-Fourth Squad?"

"Quite the early bird today."

Kraiss, witnessing this, was impressed. He disliked gambling. Not only did he detest getting fleeced by swindlers, but he also hated the idea of leaving his hard-earned money to chance, whether to multiply it or lose it.

Multiplying would be great, but once you get a taste of it, it's easy to get hooked. And losing meant watching your money bag vanish into thin air.

To Kraiss, gambling was a fool's game. Yet, Enkrid joined in.

"Mind if I join?"

"Here?"

It was the night watchman of the adjacent tent. He rolled his eyes, glanced at his gambling buddies, then nodded.

"Sure, why not."

A sucker is always welcome anywhere. As Enkrid was about to squat down, Kraiss grabbed his collar.

"You're going to throw away my five copper coins here?"

His eyes were crusty, but they shone brightly as they looked at Enkrid.

'He must have made quite a few girls cry.'

Enkrid thought to himself as he pushed Kraiss's wrist away.

"If I've borrowed it, it's now my money."

With that, Enkrid secured his spot. The gamblers shuffled around to make room for him.

"Do you know how to play dice?"

A soldier, rolling dice made of pig bones in a wooden cup, asked.

"If the same number comes up, it's double. Bet on higher or lower numbers, and you get what you bet on, right?"

He had glimpsed it over someone's shoulder, but having seen it a hundred and twenty-five times, it was impossible not to know. There were three dice in total. The sum was eighteen. So, you just had to call a number higher or lower than nine.

The guy sitting in the middle was the dealer. He rolled the dice, and the rest placed their bets.

"Let's start with the first round then."

It was just a quick game before breakfast. The stakes weren't high. The minimum bet was five copper coins, and the maximum was two silver coins. Enkrid bet his five copper coins.

"Lower."

"Higher."

"Lower."

"Lower."

"Higher."

"Higher."

"Lower."

In less than ten minutes, Enkrid had two silver coins in his hand. The thrill of dice games lies in their speed. It's all about the quick hits in a short amount of time.

And so they played.

Initially, Enkrid memorized the numbers for fun. Would the dice always roll the same numbers every day? Even though the days repeated, things around him tended to change slightly.

So he knew.

The dice always rolled the same numbers. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Looks like the goddess of luck didn't just drop a coin but gave a kiss as well."

When the coins in Enkrid's hand exceeded ten silver coins, the soldier acting as the dealer commented.

"Isn't this cheating?"

Normally, the comment would come from the soldier sitting next to the dealer, but the dealer spoke up.

"Cheat? I'm just lucky today. Feels like the goddess is whispering in my ear."

Enkrid shrugged off the suspicious glances. They couldn't really argue. After all, the dealer was the one rolling the dice. Even if they had conspired, this would be too much. Besides, halfway through, they subtly started betting alongside Enkrid, profiting from it.

"Cheat? You're the one rolling the dice."

"Thought you might be casting some damned spell."

"Wouldn't dream of it."

"On other days, even when losing like mad, they kept playing, no stopping for bad luck."

A soldier who made a bit of money thanks to Enkrid chuckled. The dealer acknowledged it and suggested a few more rounds before concluding.

"Let's make this the last one. We're running out of time."

Breakfast time was approaching. Enkrid rolled the ten silver coins in his hand. He started with five copper coins and ended up with this. It was all the dealer's money.

"That was fun. For the last round, how about ten silver coins? I'd like to clean up and leave."

The maximum bet was usually five silver coins. At that, the dealer frowned. Given today's accuracy, there was no reason to agree.

"Then I'll bet on triples and leave."

Enkrid spoke before the dealer could respond. What were the odds of all three dice showing the same number? The soldier rolling the dice had rarely seen such an outcome in his life, and never in an actual game. He'd only seen it while messing around alone.

So, to him, Enkrid's bet seemed like a joke, essentially saying he was willing to lose all the silver he had won. At least, that's how it sounded to him.

Chuckle.

Kraiss poked Enkrid's back from behind. Moving his mouth , Kraiss said,

'Are you crazy?'

No, not at all. Enkrid wasn't crazy.

"Triples for ten silver coins."

"...Fine."

Rattle!

The soldier spun the dice and set them down with a clatter, just in case softly rolling them might lead to any mishap.

"Let's see."

The dealer, with a mix of anticipation and a smile, opened the cup.

"...Wow, fuck."

"The goddess of luck must have blessed you, truly."

"Damn, is this even possible?"

Everyone was astonished, except for Enkrid. Three of a kind. The dice showed the same number.