A Knight Who Eternally Regresses

Enkrid looked at Roman.

Why had Roman ended up here, helpless and tormented by the Parasitic Beast?

'Because there were no threats to the City of Oara.'

That must be why he was able to leave his post.

The City of Oara is the legacy of Knight Oara.

If Roman had left even though the city was in danger, it would be grounds to cut off his head.

But Roman couldn't be that much of a fool.

So, the City of Oara must be safe now.

And what does that imply?

'There's no Demonic Domain left in Oara.'

They must have swept away even the remnants of the Gray Forest.

So, is there any reason for a concentration of asymmetric forces to remain in Oara?

No.

In conclusion, it means that part of Oara's military strength could be dispatched here.

That would make it possible to both protect and help the villagers here become self-sufficient.

Oara is a city where those who know how to fight have gathered.

In fact, portions of the Border Guard Standing Army's training methods were modeled after those of Oara.

A fortress city, built for battle—its former name was Thousand Stones.

If we built a Thousand Stones here, modeled after that city?

Of course, we couldn't just whip up a fortress overnight, but humanity's construction techniques had advanced dramatically over the years.

If we could get help from the Kingdom of Naurilia—

'It probably wouldn't even take a year.'

If things went quickly, six months would be enough.

As long as we focused on putting up the outer walls first, that would be plenty of time.

Then, we'd see a brand-new city wall rising here—facing the Demonic Domain, no less.

It would mark the birth of a new fortress city, and at the same time, the expansion of the kingdom's territory.

Since the monsters and Beasts in the area had already been wiped out in one sweep, there was currently a kind of monster void around here.

Normally, when founding a frontier city, clearing out the surrounding monsters is the first step, but in this case, we'd already accomplished that.

'At the same time, if we redirect part of the trade route with the Western Region to run through this place, it'll open up new trade channels and expand the sphere of commerce.'

In short, it meant turning this place not into a city of the Demonic Domain, but into a truly human city.

That had been the plan from the moment I first met the Demonic Domain's residents.

"You really thought it out that far?" Rem exclaimed in surprise.

"For the finer details, I'll just have Krais handle it. He'll figure it out."

Besides, the manpower could be sent from the City of Oara, so we wouldn't even need to use the kingdom's army.

"Sometimes, I really wonder what goes on inside your head, Captain," Audin said in awe.

Even if he hadn't been as skilled with a sword as he was now, the Captain would have made his mark somewhere, somehow.

But for Enkrid, it hadn't required any deep contemplation.

The moment he decided he would protect this place no matter what, the path forward simply revealed itself.

Perhaps it was thanks to living through countless days like this—repeating today over and over—that he'd developed the ability to always choose the best course of action.

Enkrid, arriving at this thought naturally, wondered to himself,

'Should I be thanking the Ferryman for this?'

But since this wasn't a dream, the Ferryman didn't answer.

With that thought, Enkrid lifted his head to gaze at the sky.

It had been several days since he'd arrived here; at this point, it felt like they'd gone beyond a simple Dance of Courtship and had thrown a full-on Ball of Courtship.

'Still hasn't shown up.'

Beelrog wasn't coming.

It wasn't hard to figure out why.

Clearly, they just weren't enough of a threat yet.

So he'd have to set an even bigger fire, one so large that everyone would see it—even demons watching from afar.

The rumors had to spread until no one could remain unaware.

In the end, even the demons themselves would be whispering about it, unable to ignore what was happening.

Enkrid's gaze shifted to one side.

He hadn't drawn an actual line, but it was clear that beyond his line of sight lay the interior of the Demonic Domain.

He tried to recall what was inside there.

"As humans have frontier outposts and cities, the Demonic Domain has similar places too."

To put it in perspective: if the Gray Forest of the Demonic Domain near the City of Oara was like a small lake, then this place was an ocean.

A jet-black sea, whose depths and lurking terrors were impossible to predict, beckoned to Enkrid.

This was merely a gap formed where even the broad Southern Front failed to hold—but even if the most breathtaking beauty in the world stood before him, naked and enticing, he would not have felt this kind of thrill.

"What are you grinning about?" Rem asked, watching Enkrid.

"It just seems like it's going to be fun."

"Ha, don't tell me you're cooking up another dangerously crazy idea."

Enkrid looked at Rem as he spoke.

Surely, Rem's eyes must have mirrored his own.

"Are you going in?"

"Yeah."

He answered the question the very moment it was asked.

***

"I'm glad we didn't try to fight."

The mayor of the Trade City nodded at the Mercenary Captain.

When he'd first realized that the group was headed away from his city, he did feel a twinge of regret—but that feeling hadn't lasted long.

"We need to find out why they're going there. Use every resource the Information Guild has if you must."

Even for the Information Guild, which had a long tradition on the Continent, Enkrid and the Madmen Knights were a dangerously unpredictable group.

Several Assassin Guilds had tried to target them in the past, only to vanish without a trace.

It was literal annihilation.

Every group that went after them was wiped out to the last man, and not just those directly involved—the entire contracted guilds were eradicated.

And since Information Guilds usually handled assassinations on the side, it was only natural that they feared these men.

Every time someone challenged them, the mark of Geogr's Dagger—the legendary assassination group—would be left behind, and after that, there was no point in going after them anymore.

As a result, no one targets the Madmen Knights now.

At least, not anywhere in what is called the Central Continent.

Given how things stood, it was nearly impossible to plant spies among them through any ordinary means.

The only saving grace was that these people didn't bother to hide their movements.

Even better, the Gilpin Guild sold extremely pure, exclusive information on their activities.

The only problem was that this cost quite a bit of Krona, but the Trade City was, quite literally, the richest goldmine on the Continent.

They spared no expense to get the information they wanted.

That's how they heard about the Madmen Knights marching right up to the Demonic Domain and exterminating every last monster there.

"I told you. Surrender, just surrender. If fighting were our only choice, I'd retire on the spot."

The Mercenary Captain spoke.

Still, it's a bit irritating to see someone who's earned the nickname "Unyielding" act like that.

The Mayor felt a pang of regret.

'If only I could command a knight order like that...'

The Trade City could become a kingdom.

"Tch."

The Mayor let out a pointless sigh at his wandering thoughts.

He had no desire to become a king.

He'd only come this far hoping to build a good life for his family and those close to him.

Plenty of people accused him of being extremely self-preserving, but just as many died chasing after reckless ambition.

"I started as a peddler when I was seventeen. Of the people who started with me back then, hardly any are still around. How did I make it this far? I watched from behind as the hotheaded ones jumped in headfirst, dodged the fools who risked their lives without thinking, and outlasted them all. Isn't that enough? Well, if nothing else, I have a keen eye for people. That's how I weeded out the backstabbers and got to where I am now."

"What are you suddenly rambling about?"

The Mercenary Captain was practically a close friend in private.

He listened absentmindedly to the Mayor's drunken complaints. It was the same speech he always gave once the alcohol started flowing.

"My gut tells me this: now's the time to keep our heads down and weather the storm. Just look. The ones who endure, who stick it out for the long haul—they're the ones who win. The last man standing is the victor."

The Mercenary Captain agreed with this sentiment. Which was why he was giving in.

"So, are you going to make that contract with the Border Guard?"

The Mercenary Captain asked.

The Mayor nodded. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"I have to."

It wasn't much of a contract, really. It was just a promise for military support.

Not immediate reinforcements—just an agreement that help would come if something happened.

The offer had come from someone named Krais of the Border Guard.

'What's Lord Graham doing, anyway, that he won't even show his face?'

Still, they had some history with that side.

To be honest, Graham had always been easy to take advantage of—but this Krais fellow wasn't like that.

The situation had changed.

Their positions had reversed.

Now, just securing a simple military support agreement cost dozens of bags of gold.

It felt like a waste, but it was something that had to be done.

Was it because of the monsters that had been spotted recently along the riverside?

"That's nothing—the mercenary company can handle it easily."

The Mercenary Captain spoke up with confidence.

Yes, that part could be managed. No, this was something more like an Alliance Oath.

At first, there had been talk of sending a lovely woman over to the Border Guard to try to forge a blood tie.

But once everyone saw those two women—the Golden Flower and the Black Witch—any enthusiasm they had completely vanished.

Not that Enkrid was embracing every woman sent, anyway.

'If only that were the case, people would be scrambling just to become the Third or even the Fourth Concubine.'

Now, this was the only way left to avoid becoming enemies.

It wasn't entirely reassuring, but according to the Border Guard,

"This is an oath derived from a Knight's Oath. We don't break it—as long as you don't turn your back on us first."

Stripping away the flowery words and displays of courtesy, this was the gist of the agreement they'd received.

"Right, we'll just have to trust them."

Enkrid's renown was immense.

It seemed reasonable to place some trust in him. And there was fear, too.

'That madness that descends when he enters the Demonic Domain.'

No matter what happened, he was not someone they wanted to have as an enemy.

***

Overdier, Commander of the Holy Knights, also heard the news about Enkrid.

"The God of the Scales granted him madness but took away his fear."

He expressed his admiration with a laugh, though he was clearly half-apprehensive.

At his words, Noah—who had become the Pope—smiled.

"More than that, I think it's a desire to save those standing before the Demonic Domain. If there is any way we can help, I hope we do so."

"There is a way, but I doubt it would benefit your political standing, Your Holiness."

This time, it was the Ragged Saint who answered.

"I believe protecting people is more important than my own position."

Overdier let out a hearty laugh at that. Yes, that's the kind of person a Pope should be.

"Let's do it!"

There are things more important than politics, position, power, or influence.

Isn't it the will to protect and save people?

And so, the Cult Extermination Brotherhood set itself in motion.

At Noah's request, they readily agreed, saying they owed a debt.

***

"He's my friend, but he's honestly insane."

Krang said the same thing as before. Just because he now sat on the throne didn't mean he had to change the way he spoke in private.

"I don't think that's something a King who once considered going to war with the Empire over his friend's disappearance should be saying."

Seated across a small drawing room table, Krang narrowed his eyes.

"I could accuse you of insulting your sovereign, Count Marcus."

A King's wrath always comes with fear.

Yet the Lord of Nauril, capital of Naurilia, though quiet and soft-spoken, put a cold edge in his voice.

No matter how informal the setting or how close their relationship, it was audacious for a mere count to dare criticize the king's actions.

"I'm so scared I might wet myself, so let's drop it," Marcus replied with a bored air.

He knew perfectly well that Krang wasn't someone to joke with.

In truth, he'd done it deliberately.

"Oh, fine, let's drop it then. So, is there anything you need help with?"

"If you consider the fight with the Demonic Domain simply their personal escapade, then it's your call. But if the royal family gets involved, it becomes something else entirely. Not to mention, you know perfectly well you have no one to spare—the Order of Knights is tied up defending the Southern Region."

We can't mobilize the Order of the Crimson Cloaks just because we want to help. Marcus was firm about that. There's the matter of the royal family's position, and besides, they already had their hands full with major affairs over here.

"To begin with, I doubt they're even expecting military support."

Krang knew Enkrid well.

Even if they didn't see each other every day, there was an understanding between them—that's why he called him a friend.

"They're busy eradicating monsters and beasts while holding their ground, right? If we made that corrupted city part of the royal territory now, despite knowing where it is all this time and leaving it alone, what do you think would happen? If Enki sees us trying to claim it, he won't just let it go."

Whether to wipe it out or save it—he's the kind of man who would choose one or the other.

He was never someone who could just leave things as they were.

The people of Naurilia already know there are residents from the Demonic Domain living in that corrupted city.

They claim there was nothing they could do because they lacked the resources, but, at the end of the day, that's just an excuse.

Now that there's someone determined enough to break through those excuses and push forward, maybe it's time to tack this matter onto the list and deal with it together.

"If we're going to send anyone, Andrew Gardner and the Private Troops should suffice. After all, what we need right now isn't more swordsmen."

"Then let's send them."

***

Just because you said you'd enter the Demonic Domain didn't mean you should rush in headlong.

They still needed a bit of time for things like repairing weapons.

They also had to rescue the courier who had delivered the message to Anne.

'For now, I'll leave Roman behind.'

They would also need to check whether any monsters or beasts remained in the nearby area.

"The Demonic Domain is another name for the Corrupted Zone. You've heard of that, haven't you?"

At this, Luagarne, who was well-learned, chimed in.

"To even set foot in there, you'll need the stories known by those who've lived in this region."

Most of these tales were half superstition, but Luagarne figured there had to be some useful hints among them.

After all, even if they once served the Demon God, these people had lived here since their ancestors' days, before the Demonic Domain took hold.

After that, Enkrid was his usual self.

In other words, day after day, he steadily marched toward his goal, just as he always did.

At dawn, he trained; in the morning, he pondered Ragna's demonstration of manifesting the Will Blade; in the afternoon, he listened to stories passed on by the residents.

"Want to see it again?"

From time to time, Ragna would swagger and boast, and Enkrid had to indulge him a little.

"Let's get rid of that guy. I can't stand watching him anymore."

He let Rem's complaints go in one ear and out the other.

"The air here is downright unpleasant."

He even responded to Shinar, who constantly grumbled from his side.

Just like Luagarne said, the stories they gathered from the residents here and there were truly fascinating.

Half of the tales were made up out of fear, and the other half were more like oral traditions passed down over time, so you couldn't really say the information was very reliable.

Still, thinking of them as stories told by a bard made them enjoyable.

***