Eternally Regressing Knight-Chapter 498 - Autumn Arrives

Chapter 498 - Autumn Arrives

The way back was similar to when they had come.

Watching the crackling campfire, they occasionally trained with Rem.

In the meantime, Enkrid focused on repeating what he had learned and reflecting on his previous realizations.

Had he really mastered something just because he understood it?

That wasn't the case.

'How can I use Will in every moment, even while sleeping?'

It required contemplation.

He needed to think, experiment, and try various things.

Not everything would go as planned, but there was no need to rush.

It was one of those nights spent camping in the wilderness—surrounded by the warm fire, people, the bright moon and stars, all casting their light, while they sat around the fire, speaking softly.

"It'll rain in a few days, maybe three or four at most," Rem said.

Translated into the continent's language, it meant it was going to rain.

It was the season when the heat faded and seasonal rains fell.

The rain would likely fall in sporadic drops over several days before pouring down heavily again.

The heaviest downpour was still a little way off.

"Ugh, rain," Dunbakel grumbled.

She disliked rain. Not because she had a condition like combat fatigue, but simply because she didn't like water.

It was just her preference.

Most beastkin didn't enjoy washing, but Dunbakel seemed to be especially averse to it.

They had already finished their sparring, and as they walked along, they came across a small stream, cleaned their dishes, and even took a quick bath.

They could have stopped by Thousand Stone, but since they were on their way back, they chose to camp.

There were no issues with that.

Luagarne took care of his own meals, and Dunbakel diligently hunted animals.

She even managed to catch a large deer, so they feasted.

The cooking was handled by Rem or Enkrid, making it quite a nice meal for a field ration.

"You sent someone west, right?" Rem asked after the talk about the rain.

"Because they said food was running low," Enkrid replied, slicing off a piece of roasted deer thigh from the one he had caught yesterday and placing it in his mouth.

With some salt and seasoning from the west, the meat became savory and flavorful.

It made Rem realize once again that Enkrid was surprisingly meticulous.

He had been like this even back when he was a squad leader—taking care of the bothersome tasks and always starting by respecting others.

'He also listened well,' Rem thought.

Was it just that Enkrid endured and that was why everyone accepted him as their leader?

No, it wasn't just that.

Enkrid was good at listening to others, whether it was his own words, or those from lost travelers, stray cats, or even religious zealots.

Even now, he listened carefully.

It was a calm night under the stars with the moon shining brightly, and there had been no monsters to deal with, so they had all spent the day without needing to use their bodies.

They hadn't spoken much but, when Rem asked about the person Enkrid had sent to the west, he explained that it was to bring back food.

By now, the person should have arrived, and the chieftain was probably lamenting, since he had always been someone who became sentimental easily.

"And I'm thinking of heading back first," Dunbakel suddenly said.

Enkrid didn't ignore her words, listening carefully.

Rem, who had been reflecting on how he had beaten up a beastkin during their sparring the previous day, wondered if Dunbakel had just been tired of being hit.

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'Does she just want to stop getting hit?'

Though he wanted to dismiss it, Enkrid was the first to respond.

"Are you?" His tone was casual.

The firelight cast a red glow on Dunbakel's face, her white hair and golden eyes illuminated by both the fire and the bright moonlight. The flames seemed to reach up toward the sky as the night grew still.

"The east. I'm going to the east," Dunbakel said.

"Why the east?" Enkrid asked, turning the skewer with the deer's thigh over the fire.

Dunbakel wasn't exactly fluent in speech, but she was direct in her response.

"I think I can learn something by going under the king of the east."

She wanted to learn more.

Who would understand her best ?

Did she really need to go there?

Couldn't she do everything she wanted here?

Enkrid thought of many things to say but could tell from the thoughtful look on Dunbakel's face that she had likely been considering this for some time.

He wondered if she had been contemplating it during their earlier silence.

"Go ahead," Enkrid said, nodding after meeting her gaze.

"Do you think there won't be anyone nagging you there?" Rem chimed in.

"It's not to escape the nagging. And I'll be back," Dunbakel replied.

She had built up her sense of self-worth, using her days of fleeing, surviving, and denying herself as a way to prove she wasn't wrong—that she had the right to be born, to live, and to keep living.

She wanted to show the world that.

It was a form of proof.

Dunbakel had always only known how to fight, so she had to be good at it.

But simply being good at it wasn't enough.

The reason she was leaving was clear—it was Enkrid who had provided the motivation.

She had initially seen him as a man to be desired, but now, it wasn't that at all.

Now, he was the unquenchable light.

The problem was that her own skills weren't enough.

What good was a beastkin whose fighting ability was weak?

Was she still hoping to prove herself as a "woman"?

'No, I don't want that.'

Dunbakel was honest with herself.

She didn't want to prove herself as a woman—not at least right now.

Her experience in the city of Oara had helped her grow, and that was the reason she was leaving.

In the east, there was a monster who had risen to become a knight as a beastkin.

Dunbakel instinctively realized that the king of the east was a beastkin, and he would be the perfect role model for her.

She would learn his skills, even if she had to steal them.

It would be the right opportunity.

There, in the harsh terrain, she could face death and survive.

That was her short-term goal.

Once she returned, she would stand by Enkrid, proving herself.

Enkrid's dream was grand and difficult, but no matter the result, she wanted to stand by him, a sword in hand.

It was her long-term goal.

That was the way she would prove herself.

"Good luck with that," Rem said with a sneer.

"Unhinged barbarian," Dunbakel muttered bluntly.

"Fine, let's just fight again then. A sparring match, huh?" Rem said, getting up and cracking his knuckles.

"Let it be," Enkrid interjected.

Rem wasn't really intending to strike Dunbakel.

Her complaints were something that could be indulged once in a while.

"The road to the east is long."

Enkrid explained the path he knew.

Dunbakel had her own plan.

"I'll stop by Martai to resupply," she said.

"Sometimes you actually use what's above your neck, huh?" Rem remarked, impressed.

"Yeah, unlike some people."

Dunbakel finally got hit on the head.

Enkrid chuckled.

"Laughing at others getting hit is a bad habit."

Was it from the time of Oara?

At some point, Dunbakel started blurting out her thoughts.

"If you do that in the East, a lot of people might try to kill you,"

Enkrid honestly expressed his concern.

"If I couldn't say anything, I wouldn't even go to the East," Dunbakel replied, her resolve unwavering.

"True. If you've chosen a path, you should walk it."

Luagarne, while rummaging through the campfire, spoke up.

The crackling of the fire sent sparks soaring into the night sky.

Some dreams were like those sparks—flashing brightly for a moment before fading away.

But knowing that wouldn't stop anyone.

That's why Enkrid supported Dunbakel's choice.

Whether she went East or anywhere else, if that's what she desired, then that's the right path.

The night grew deep.

The three humans, one beast, and one Frog lay down by the fire to sleep.

The moonlight was especially beautiful and bright tonight.

If someone were to capture this moment in a painting, it might look like a poetic scene.

Amidst that warmth, Rem spoke.

"Smelly beastkin, want to die? It's your watch."

Dunbakel groaned and got up.

"I forgot."

"Prideful."

"Not prideful, anyone could forget."

"...You're not wrong, but why do I feel like hitting you?"

"Because you're violent by nature. You can't be satisfied without hitting someone."

"Rem."

Before Rem could reach for her axe, Enkrid intervened and closed his eyes.

Despite just narrowly escaping death, Dunbakel hummed a tune.

The soft melody merged with the crackling of the fire, a perfect lullaby.

When is the peak of a typical human's life?

Giants are said to be at their peak from birth to death.

Frogs are most faithful to their desires in their prime.

That was true.

Luagarne recently noticed an improvement in her combat style and overall abilities.

Humans are said to have a short peak, but their fire burns bright. Fairies or dwarves may not find the idea of a prime meaningful, but for humans, given their short lifespans, youth is often considered the peak.

More specifically, for humans and beastkin, youth is considered the peak of life—between their twenties and thirties, or at most by forty.

But do humans continue to grow after thirty?

'Yes.'

That's why Luagarne considered that every peak was different.

And there was proof right in front of her.

Enkrid, though in his mid-thirties, was still growing and shining brighter than ever.

The peak of a knight's career would have different standards, and perhaps that would define Enkrid's future.

This thought continued to fuel Luargrne's 'thing'—her drive.

"It's fun," she said while walking.

"What's fun?" Enkrid asked.

Instead of answering, Luagarne began to teach.

"Is every knight the same?"

The question sparked a glimmer in Enkrid's eyes.

It was an interesting question.

He wasn't really curious about what was fun, but that could be asked later.

If Enkrid didn't want to answer, he wouldn't have to.

"Each one is different," Enkrid replied, drawing from his own experiences.

"It's what the Knight of Writing established. Want to hear about it?"

The Knight of Writing was a historically famous knight, known for both writing and composing poetry. He was a bit of an eccentric who was more passionate about teaching writing than swordplay.

"I'll listen."

Enkrid slowed his pace as the story began.

Rem, walking alongside them, also paid attention.

It was an intriguing topic, with plenty of room for reflection, especially when comparing it to magic.

"When a knight is made, what's the first major difference they'll feel?"

"Sight," Enkrid answered immediately.

He felt this shift himself.

The difference between when he was an Squire knight and where he was now was clear. Each day brought more changes, and it wasn't just a visual change—he meant a more profound perception of everything. Rem nodded.

"The first distinction is sight. It's called Future Sight."

It was like the ability to see a step ahead, to read the opponent's movements and intentions.

It wasn't just vision, but the ability to sense, to understand the opponent's nature.

That was why it was also referred to as insight or foresight.

"After sight comes the body, the armor."

Luargrne looked at Enkrid's side, where Rem's kick had torn his armor.

Enkrid's body was far tougher than an ordinary human's, a result of rigorous training under Audin's teachings.

"Armor refers to when Will permeates the entire body, toughening the skin."

Rem nodded again.

There were some similarities with magic here.

"Next is strong legs, firm foundations."

Then more concepts emerged.

Insight, a firm body, stronger legs—muscles that became unyielding.

After that came expansion, transfer, language, and time.

Expansion meant spreading Will throughout the body, while transfer was the ability to send Will elsewhere.

Language referred to making speech carry Will, which even Rem thought was odd.

Time described walking in two different times, a concept that half made sense but was difficult to grasp.

"It's hard to explain in words. You understand it by doing it," Rem added as they walked.

There were sensations of omnipotence, delicate feelings that couldn't be explained by mere words.

Enkrid nodded quietly, feeling like the flame inside him was still burning brightly.

He had longed to be a knight, and now, with each passing day, he was getting closer.

"The writer also wasn't sure about two things," Luargrne continued.

"What are those?" Rem asked, interested but still skeptical.

He hadn't found any absurdities in the tale so far.

"He said there were two stages that never dry up or cease—called Usucera.

And another stage where one's possessions change entirely, called Indules. These are ancient terms."

This was new to Rem.

He let it go, but Enkrid engraved it in his mind.

He realized, once again, that no matter what talent or ability one had, they had to work through each step to reach higher levels.

Meanwhile, Enkrid had already started training in Future Sight and Armor.

"That training method came from a religious knight's unit, right?" Luagarne commented.

Enkrid and Rem had a rough idea of where Audin had learned it.

Judging by his actions, it was easy to guess his origins.

"I'm going," Dunbakel said as she reached a crossroads.

She wouldn't die from being attacked by a monster here.

Even if she often took beatings from Rem, her skills would make her a monster in small towns.

Her sharp ears would keep her alert even while sleeping, so there was little risk.

"Go ahead," Enkrid said.

"If you die on the way, I'll kill you myself," Rem added.

"If you walk as you've chosen, that's your true step," Luagarne commented.

Dunbakel waved her hand and left.

Enkrid, Rem, and Luagarne continued walking, reaching the Border Guard territory.

Enkrid, stepping onto land he had received as a general, saw a construction site.

New walls were rising and a city was under construction where there had once been nothing.

Workers and soldiers were setting up tents.

The sound of raindrops began as they quickly picked up their pace.

"How long has it been since it rained?" Luagarne asked, delighted.

As a frog, she was fond of rain.

Enkrid, now aware of the autumn's arrival, felt the chill and the seasonal rain.

It welcomed him back.

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