A Knight Who Eternally Regresses-Chapter 255: What Does the Dwarf See?

“So, what’s the deal?”

The dwarf ignored the barbarian, and Rem didn’t react with anger but instead let it slide nonchalantly.

Enkrid had sensed it right away—though the words were harsh, the intention wasn’t serious.

Appropriately, Enkrid interjected and spoke.

“If you’ve got a good sword, I’d like to buy it.”

Enkrid didn’t beat around the bush. Frankly, he found the dwarf quite an interesting character.

Could the dwarf fight? Probably not, judging by posture, hand movements, and overall behavior.

That was Enkrid’s overall assessment.

“Really?”

The dwarf wasn’t picky. He simply scanned Enkrid from head to toe.

It’s said that dwarves don’t judge by human appearance.

Yet, for some reason, the dwarf’s gaze lingered on Enkrid’s face, not leaving.

Kraiss, watching from behind, thought to himself:

‘Could it be? Has he fallen for him too?’

He felt an uneasy thought arise.

As everyone knew, dwarves didn’t care about the appearance of humans, whether handsome or ugly. Instead, they were said to judge by the inner qualities: their eyes, attitude, habits—everything.

Dwarves who had wandered the continent for a long time had learned to discern a person’s nature by how they spoke and moved.

While not a spell, the unique ability and experience of the dwarf helped her catch a glimpse of some part of Enkrid’s soul.

And what she saw was vast, pure, and beautiful.

Refining ores meant extracting and purifying metals.

Mastery of a trade meant heating metals and hammering them to form tools.

Over time, through creating stones and iron, among other things, their sight had sharpened.

To her, Enkrid was like a stone.

But not just any stone. Definitely not.

‘What is this?’

A stone that wouldn’t break, no matter how much it was chipped, a stone that wouldn’t age or wear down.

It was incomprehensible—something the dwarf had never encountered before. A human, an ore, both at once.

It was a strange sensation.

Simultaneously, it was the reason why the dwarf felt moved. Mystery, novelty, and something new always caught a dwarf’s interest.

“Hey, I won’t kill you, but could you take a look at my axe?”

The impudent barbarian spoke from the side.

He swaggered over and immediately offered a suspicious axe.

Wasn’t he just about to say he was going to kill him?

It didn’t seem serious. The dwarf’s insight easily detected the truth in his words.

And still, the dwarf felt something strange about him.

He wasn’t serious, but there was still the hint that the axe could be swung at any moment.

The dwarf’s gaze then swept over him.

‘What’s up with this one?’

He seemed like a self-igniting stone. A dawn that burned everything around it.

If you didn’t want to get burned, you had to either be as solid as that flame or have someone block the fire and endure it.

Who would stop that?

No need to say more.

A stone that didn’t burn nor decay.

A stone with black hair and blue eyes was exactly that.

The dwarf’s eyes swept over the group.

And the humans around her were all equally unusual.

One, a person who seemed like they had hammered and refined truesilver for countless hours.

Another, a sword made of sharpened, hardened steel.

And there was even ashen gold, which could only be faintly seen after melting countless stones.

Ash gold. Even she, in all her years, had only seen it once.

No, truesilver, hardened steel, ashen gold—all were precious metals.

And here they were, right before her.

Had she really thought of this the moment she saw them?

The dwarf’s eyes didn’t waver. Their hearts were solid, unshaken by anything.

They were immune to most mind-affecting magic.

The dwarf took a moment to observe everyone.

Among them, the strangest thing was simply a stone.

A stone that wouldn’t wear down, wouldn’t break, and wouldn’t age.

That stone was blocking the flames, embracing the truesilver, pushing away the darkness of the steel, and even encompassing the ashen gold.

The individuals standing with their unique qualities stood out to her.

It was truly a fascinating sight. The dwarf’s curiosity prompted her to ask.

“What’s your name?”

Enkrid thought the dwarf was probably much older than she seemed. He could tell from her tone.

“Enkrid.”

“Hmm, let me take a look at your hand.”

When Enkrid calmly extended his hand, the dwarf carefully examined his calluses and finger joints.

“Not bad.”

It wasn’t an inaccurate observation.

Enkrid thought about it. He had honed various techniques, and that showed in his hands.

He had learned everything he could.

Sensing techniques, Beast’s Heart, Heart of Might, Isolation Technique—plus the swordsmanship derived from Jeong Junhwan’s teachings.

When he thought about it, he had tasted a bit of every sword style.

And lately, he had been particularly immersed in Yu-Gyeom.

Beyond the Will technique, his body had absorbed many styles over time.

“Hmm, okay. I’ve got a good sword I can work on for you. I’ll fix it up and give it to you. And what about you? The axe handle, I’ll balance that for you. Why are you carrying this around anyway? The metal’s good, I’ll melt it down and remake it for you. As for you, hmmm, you don’t need anything, do you? Ashen gold, what about you?”

The dwarf wasn’t particularly talkative, but her insight was clear.

If Frokk sought talent, the dwarf was a master of insight.

She instantly figured out what each of them needed.

The nickname for Ragna was odd, but they all let it slide, not making a fuss.

“Long, thick, well-balanced sword.”

Ragna answered. He was always focused on what he needed, ignoring any other remarks.

Even when the Black Blades came around, he had the same attitude.

It didn’t matter, so he ignored them.

Jaxon moved, and Rem remained the same.

Audin just smiled lightly.

The dwarf nodded.

“Got it.”

So, Enkrid’s sword and the flame axe would be worked on, and the spear used by the centaur leader would be melted down and remade.

And Ragna’s sword? She’d make him a new one.

Enkrid had heard the dwarf was a picky artisan, but she didn’t seem so at all. This confirmed that rumors couldn’t always be trusted.

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“Eh, you used to say even a dagger was too much for me?”

Kraiss muttered from behind.

“You’re too much, really. I can’t bring myself to give you something I’ve made. Just take one of those random ones the humans made.”

He was really discriminating against people.

Kraiss grumbled, looking hurt. He had no attachment to weapons, so why was he suddenly asking for a dagger?

“Buy me one?”

Enkrid asked.

“No, it’s fine.”

But why was he so hung up on it?

“It’s just been so long since I’ve been dumped.”

“Dumped?”

“Later.”

Kraiss said, and the dwarf smiled.

A cute one. Her expression seemed to say just that.

“But, to do all this, you’ll have to wait about a week. Maybe a bit quicker.”

The dwarf said.

Enkrid looked around the smithy.

Everyone who had been hammering stopped, glancing over at them.

There were two artisans, the anvil standing on one side, and the forge’s heat was pushing away the cold.

It wouldn’t be long before the heat would make them sweat.

“Give them some silver coins. You have to pay for using the smithy.”

The dwarf’s words were repeated, and Kraiss handed over a few silver coins.

Enkrid added a few more.

He wasn’t asking for favors. There was no such thing as an appropriate amount of money.

Enkrid never hesitated to spend silver in such cases.

Kraiss didn’t mind.

Given the amount of Krona the leader had earned on this trip, they wouldn’t be lacking for a while.

Not that they had ever lacked before.

The man who seemed to be the owner of the smithy gave a subtle nod.

“Use whatever you need.”

“And the payment? You, King Eyeball, the gem pouch in your pocket, give it to me.”

The dwarf immediately pinpointed Kraiss’s nickname with her insight.

“You want this?” Kraiss asked, as he kept the valuable gems close to him, even carrying a few in his pocket.

“Yeah, it’s a deal. You’re getting a discount.”

The dwarf spoke with a casual tone, one that hinted at her age.

“Give it.”

At Enkrid’s command, Kraiss grumbled but nodded.

He then stopped as he was about to hand over the pouch and asked:

“How did you know I had it?”

“Dwarves have keen noses. The scent of precious stones is unmistakable.”

Could the dwarf really smell something like that?

It didn’t matter.

Enkrid casually dismissed it. So, they would stay here for about a week.

They returned to the market, the warmth from the smithy still lingering in their bodies, temporarily warding off the cold.

But as they moved through the town again, the chilly air quickly seeped back in, though Rem still wore a grin.

“I’ve decided to love this stone.”

It was thanks to the heated stone he carried. After all, he hated the cold with a passion.

Ragna, on the other hand, kept walking silently without paying attention to the surroundings.

“Need a decent sword? Suddenly?”

Enkrid asked, curious.

“Yes, I do.”

The reason behind it piqued his curiosity, but he didn’t ask further.

Of course, the reason was Enkrid himself.

What remained from the night of challenges was the desire for motivation and growth. Though unachieved, knowing it was possible brought joy to them. Ragna enjoyed it too.

A feeling and experience he hadn’t had before.

What had once felt like a tiresome task now turned into the opposite.

Thus, he needed a good sword. One that fit his hands and body.

And the dwarf’s craftsmanship would make it happen.

They continued to wander the market.

Though smaller than the Border Guard’s, this place was also bustling.

The trade zone connecting to the East was thriving.

Kraiss spoke with some of the merchants along the way, and some of them spoke to him comfortably, as if they had done business before.

Among those passing by, there were soldiers who recognized Enkrid and saluted him.

They had seen the sword he wielded and the battle with the centaur leader.

There were plenty of patrolling soldiers.

The group of four seemed to be keeping an eye on the internal security.

They bought some bread, a few with raisins in them.

As they wandered the market, a young woman suddenly blocked their way.

“All you had to do was deliver the message, just the message.”

She trembled, so nervous that her hands shook.

“What message?”

Kraiss asked gently. It seemed like he was trying to calm the woman down.

“The Black Blades won’t just let this go.”

Her anxious gaze swept over them. She even trembled, and it was clear just how terrified she was.

“It’s alright. It’s alright.”

Kraiss reassured her and asked a few questions.

Someone approached, throwing two silver coins and asking for an errand. She claimed that her younger sibling was sick, and she desperately needed those coins.

After asking her name, Kraiss handed her three more silver coins.

When it comes to Krona, you save when you can, but you spend when you must.

“If anything happens here later, please let me know.”

With his characteristic smile, he reassured her before sending her off.

Kraiss exhaled deeply and, after casting a quick glance down the alley where the woman disappeared, said:

“I don’t think she’s giving up just yet. What should we do?”

Kraiss asked.

Enkrid answered without a pause, as if it were obvious.

“Think about it.”

“...What?”

“I don’t know, so I said think about it.”

Enkrid spoke matter-of-factly.

Kraiss felt that, in some way, the leader had certainly changed.

Had he been this efficient before?

He had definitely made requests like this before, but...

His attitude had changed.

Being the one responsible for the unit, it was probably for the best.

“If they come at us, we just crack their skulls.”

“We’ll probably just send some stupid assassins.”

“I ask the god of war, is it alright to bring such dangerous people to our side?”

“I’m a wandering Teresa, I’ll just cut down any thief.”

Rem, Jaxon, Audin, and Teresa spoke in turn.

Enkrid’s gaze shifted to Dunbakel.

“What’s this debt?”

“I borrowed about fifteen gold coins at the end.”

“Why?”

Kraiss, curious, asked.

“Just for fun.”

He spent fifteen gold coins on fun? Did he buy some young man in the capital for a good time?

And washed it down with expensive alcohol?

No, he probably ate some extravagant food as well.

“All of it?”

“Ah, I spent about two coins, and the rest I gave away.”

“To whom?”

Kraiss, seeing the condition Dunbakel was in, shortened his words, but Dunbakel didn’t mind.

For beastmen, etiquette meant only not stealing their meat.

“Some passing kids, or some monks raising orphans.”

He really spent the borrowed gold coins however he pleased. Dunbakel didn’t care, since he was going to die anyway. Of course, he sympathized with the abandoned children, feeling his own situation mirrored theirs, but he didn’t bother to say that.

Kraiss was dumbfounded.

“You borrowed money from thieves and thought you’d get away with it?”

Was he insane? Borrowing fifteen gold coins for what? If things went wrong, his own head would be on the line.

“Well, yeah, I guess so.”

This woman wasn’t quite normal either.

After that, Enkrid’s group headed for the market.

This place had a strangely different atmosphere compared to the Border Guard.

The things for sale, and the people as well.

Some of them stopped and stared at Enkrid.

With his standout appearance and unique characteristics, it was strange if anyone didn’t notice them.

But no one in Enkrid’s group cared about the looks from market vendors, patrolling soldiers, wandering merchants, or a few petty criminals who resembled the ones they had knocked out earlier.

“That looks like fur.”

Everyone was focused on what caught their own attention.

Rem’s eyes lingered on the fur.

Enkrid’s attention was fixed on some leather pants spread out by a merchant.

Audin bought a small wooden figure from a child sculptor; it looked like a rabbit, but it wasn’t finely done.

As they were looking around, three ruffians approached.

Were they about to pull the same stunt as before?

Kraiss’s gaze turned with interest.

He was curious about what these fearless fools were going to do.

To his surprise, things didn’t go as he expected.

Thud!

The ruffians dropped to the ground in front of Enkrid, face-first, without caring that their clothes got dirty, showing their boldness.

“That guy wasn’t part of our crew! He’s been leeching off the territory for about six months now, his name was Vento.”

Enkrid looked at them with a “who?” expression, and the ruffian explained.

He was referring to the idiot who had tried to challenge them at the tavern earlier.

“Hans didn’t know anything, so, uh, please forgive us. I’ll punish that knight on his behalf.”

Their words were scattered, but it seemed like they had some sense of loyalty.

Enkrid nodded.

The man who had been under the influence of drugs and hypnosis and tried to challenge him must have been Hans.

“Take care of it. But it’s not over yet.”

“...Huh?”

Enkrid spoke while walking past them, heading toward the leather pants that had caught his attention.

Rem was also holding some fur.

“Hey, King Eyeball, give me a few gold coins!”

“Don’t buy without haggling!”

Kraiss shouted as he ran toward them. Audin, who had been watching, turned to the ruffian leader and said:

“So, you’re not a knight yet, huh? Little gangster brother.”

He spoke while patting the ruffian’s right shoulder with a hand like a bear’s paw.

On the other side, Teresa did the same, adding:

“If you keep messing around, you’re dead.”

A brief warning. Depending on who said it, the threat could feel different, and to the ruffians, Teresa looked like someone who could sever their head in an instant.

Kraiss was haggling, and the others were buying what they wanted when Ragna suddenly said he would go back first. Enkrid told him to stay quietly since it would be bothersome to go look for him.

Rem added a comment, and there was a brief ruckus with Ragna.

Dunbakel asked for pants similar to what Enkrid had bought, but the merchant said there were no exact matches, so Dunbakel settled for something as close as possible.

Of course, everything was bought at the right price, thanks to Kraiss’s bargaining.

After thoroughly scouring the market, they saw a man with a shaved head standing in front of their lodging.