Eternally Regressing Knight-Chapter 502 - General Store, Inn, Mercenaries, Trading Company

Chapter 502 - 502 - General Store, Inn, Mercenaries, Trading Company

Chapter 502 - General Store, Inn, Mercenaries, Trading Company

During the sparring session, Audin became aware of Enkrid's current state.

"Not a knight, but not a semi knight."

What was clear was that Enkrid's skill had improved—and it wasn't just a little improvement. His movements were more precise, his judgments swifter, and his reflexes sharper.

But there was something else as well.

As Audin exchanged blows with him, his gaze drifted to Enkrid's eyes.

Even in normal circumstances, those eyes radiated a kind of fervor—a will to push forward toward goals like becoming a knight.

Yet now, there was something more, a certainty that resembled the confidence of a man who had finally found a clear road after wandering aimlessly.

And that wasn't the only surprise.

Smack, thunk, crack!

While Audin was deep in thought, Enkrid's punch came barreling toward him.

Audin blocked it with his elbow, then countered with a sweeping strike of his hand.

Enkrid deflected it with a shake of his arm and thrust his fist forward, which Audin caught in his palm.

Enkrid didn't stop there; he shifted his footing constantly, aiming for advantageous positions mid-exchange.

Was fighting just about raw strength?

If it were, giants would reign as the strongest on the continent.

But battles weren't like that.

Combat involved numerous elements working together, like how understanding accuracy and leverage was far more effective than relying on brute force.

The Valah martial arts style had originated as a means for the weak to subdue the strong.

Audin had added his own insights to it, making mastery of leverage and technique essential.

Was Enkrid naturally skilled at this?

Not really.

He had been far below average.

Yet now, not only did he grasp the essence of technique, but he also adapted and applied it creatively.

He used his fists to distract, shifted to secure a superior position, and subtly twisted Audin's forearm, attempting to disable him.

Instead of overpowering him, Audin pushed off the ground and flipped in midair, performing a somersault.

Though his massive frame resembled a bear or a giant, his agility was more like that of a squirrel.

As Audin descended, Enkrid lashed out with a whip-like kick aimed at his shin.

Thud.

This time, Audin couldn't deflect it and had to endure it head-on.

His solid muscles were like armor that couldn't be breached by a single kick.

Still, what amazed him was how Enkrid had developed to this point—his understanding of leverage, his strategic instincts, and his ability to dive deep into the core of techniques.

"Are you enjoying this?" Audin asked, noting Enkrid's broad grin as he lunged forward.

"Yes," Enkrid replied with a nod.

A bead of sweat dripped from his brow, landing on his chin.

Audin chuckled and stepped back.

If he fully committed to grappling techniques, he could still hold his own, but in terms of striking, dominating in a short time had become difficult.

What if Enkrid picked up a sword? What if he fought with everything on the line?

"I'd lose."

Audin admitted this to himself without resistance.

Of course, in a life-or-death battle, outcomes could vary.

Everyone here understood that much.

But as far as their current abilities were concerned, it was undeniable that Enkrid had surpassed him.

Audin found this both astonishing and satisfying.

Not far away, Rem persistently teased Jaxen, while Luagarne trained with a whip and a sword. Teresa, spinning her shield idly, observed the sparring session with interest. Her turn was next.

"I've learned a lot from Brother Audin," Teresa said, holding her shield.

Enkrid exhaled deeply and nodded. "I've improved a bit too."

A bit wasn't accurate.

He'd improved immensely.

They fought, rested, and fought again.

Ropord stood off to the side, marveling at the sight.

Meanwhile, Fel, who had been watching from the corner of the training grounds, was shaken to his core.

"What... is this?"

Never before had Fel been disheartened by another's skill.

He had always believed himself to be the most talented.

He prided himself on his ability to assess not just the present but the potential of the future.

With time, he thought, he could surpass anyone here.

"I'll start with the leader."

He even devised a plan, deciding to target the gray-haired one next.

Seeing Ragna become a knight had almost broken him, but he had overcome it, advancing to the next level.

Fel thought he had escaped the mire of despair.

He believed he could do it too.

Yet here he was, staring at Enkrid, feeling his confidence crumble.

To predict defeat from the outset of a duel—what did that mean?

Fel's keen eyes assessed Enkrid's overwhelming skill: the power in his strikes, his tactical acumen, and his swift reflexes.

"Could it be that my talent is worthless?"

A crack formed in Fel's self-belief.

It had started with Ragna and was now splitting further.

His face grew rigid, unknowingly, to the point where even the funniest jokes couldn't make him smile.

"Fiancé, are you going to spar with me too?"

Sinar now stood before Enkrid, her emerald eyes and golden hair shimmering.

Even Fel noticed the exquisite beauty of her inhuman features as she tied her hair back.

The golden strands cascaded like a silken waterfall, captivating everyone's gaze.

Enkrid turned to her with a smile but couldn't help glancing at the despondent Fel, who sat in a pit of his own despair.

If you're a shepherd of the wilderness, aren't you someone who takes on tough challenges by nature?

"Is that all you got?"

Though his instincts didn't activate, tracing the flow of events often revealed the bigger picture.

Enkrid's eyes gleamed with clarity.

"Going forward, you might want to avoid calling me your fiancé."

Though he had become a general and occasionally spoke informally in urgent moments, he still preferred to maintain formality with Shinar. Shinar, tying her hair mid-motion, tilted her head in curiosity.

"Why?"

"It's just better that way."

"What if I don't want to?"

"Well, there's nothing I can do about that."

If she didn't want to comply, what could he do?

Forcing her through brute strength wouldn't change her mind.

Shinar's stubbornness might be unrivaled among the people he knew—perhaps even more so than Rem, who endlessly sent Jaxen challenges for duels.

"You should visit a temple," remarked Jaxen, glancing at Enkrid knowingly, as if understanding his peculiar statement.

There he goes, missing the mark again.

Jaxen's gaze flickered between Enkrid and Fel, accompanied by a faint grunt.

"Someone sheds tears over even a single word," Enkrid commented to Shinar again, showing he cared in his own way.

Even during training, he could spare this much attention.

Fel, meanwhile, stared blankly into space, mumbling incoherent words—shop, inn, mercenary, trading company—like a broken record.

"Brother, why don't we spar instead?" Audin proposed cheerfully.

Enkrid agreed.

This was as far as he could intervene.

Silently, he rooted for Fel.

After all, Enkrid had always respected those who dared to dream.

"Hang in there, Fel."

To him, nothing in the world was truly impossible.

Rem, Audin, and Jaxen had a fair idea of Fel's state.

He was overwhelmed by a sense of inadequacy, unable to measure up to someone superior.

Among those present, no one understood that feeling better.

They had witnessed such breakdowns countless times.

Back in the west, Rem had seen several individuals fall apart in similar ways.

He had tried consoling them at first but eventually gave up.

Some managed to overcome it; others disappeared entirely or gave up their lives as warriors or shamans.

Jaxen had faced countless challengers aiming to prove themselves by killing him, only for them to meet their end.

As a result, no one dared linger near him for long.

Audin had attempted to mentor everyone he could, but his efforts often ended the same way as Rem's.

Anyone could fall, but there were two kinds of people: those who stood up again and those who didn't.

That was all there was to it.

And none of the three believed Fel would crumble.

Feeling defeated by Enkrid?

That might be the initial reaction.

But after a week?

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

A month?

Enkrid wasn't someone you could wallow in comparison with.

He was insane—obsessed with swords and relentless in training.

Observing Enkrid would naturally inspire Fel to rise again.

Yet there was a possibility, given Fel's snake-like mindset.

His envy might consume him, leaving him unable to recover.

Not that it mattered to the trio—it wasn't their concern.

Rem, however, had an amusing thought about Fel.

"Surprising," he mused.

"I thought shepherds from the wilderness would tough it out, but here he is, floundering without much resistance."

It was like watching someone drown in a shallow puddle.

In contrast, Ropord, who seemed delicately raised, showed a different side.

"Teach me, please!" Ropord shouted eagerly. Even now, he pushed himself forward, relentless.

When Ragna had been around, Ropord had charged in recklessly yet survived.

Not only that, but his skills had improved, and his determination to grow hadn't waned.

The difference between the two?

Rem neither knew nor cared.

It was their personal struggle.

Instead, he turned his attention to Shinar and Enkrid's sparring match.

Shinar had recently ventured into the forest, returning with energy brimming in her veins.

No one knew the details, but it had been a life-risking endeavor.

"If you don't like 'fiancé,' how about 'betrothed' instead?" Shinar teased.

"Have you improved your skills?" Enkrid replied habitually.

That single phrase brought a faint smile to Shinar's face, as if enchanted by its magic.

"Be cautious with your smiles too."

Why he suddenly said that, she didn't know.

But she didn't care.

Picking up her sword, she prepared herself—it was time for action, not words.

The elven sword, shaped like leaves, partially obscured her face.

Everyone, including Jaxen, was well aware:

Shinar had ascended to the rank of knight.

She was now an elven knight.

The duel ended in Enkrid's defeat, yet his expression was brighter than ever.

He had learned something valuable.

He had blocked the energy sword he couldn't before and exploited gaps to apply wrestling techniques.

In close combat, Shinar moved faster than ever.

The greatest strength of an elf was their light, agile body.

Shinar proved this beyond doubt.

As she circled Enkrid with swift footwork, her movements left behind afterimages.

For a moment, there seemed to be twelve Shinars.

From the sidelines, Lua the Frog puffed her cheeks indignantly.

Coincidentally, Shinar's sword struck Enkrid at the same time, leaving no room for error.

Among the twelve sword leaves, none were fake.

Only those at a knight's level could discern subtle differences in timing.

Enkrid could see one step ahead now, but he couldn't block it.

He saw it, but his body couldn't keep up.

"You've unlocked foresight," Shinar observed.

Jaxen and Audin exchanged surprised glances, then looked at Rem.

"Bet you knew this from your time in the west?" their gazes implied.

"Damn, he's improving so fast now," Rem muttered, equally astonished.

It meant even Rem had not known either.

Everyone present—except for Fel—knew they were witnessing Enkrid breaking through to a new level.

Enkrid was evolving by the day.

"Captain!"

At that moment, Krais returned, as expected.

"You're late," remarked Enkrid, seated calmly.

Krais, wearing a cloak and hood, smiled broadly.

Behind him were Nurat and eight armed escorts, each of them elite warriors.

One even seemed like a squire knight.

But what stood out the most was the change in Nurat.

"It's been a while," she greeted, bowing slightly. Her presence was markedly different from before.

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