Eternally Regressing Knight-Chapter 515 - Everything Has Changed

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Chapter 515 - Everything Has Changed

Rem thought about it many times after spending time with Enkrid.

"It's too rough."

Having trained Enkrid before, Rem knew that the commander didn't change easily.

More precisely, this man always gave the impression of being at his limits, no matter how much he achieved.

That hadn't changed even now as a knight.

He seemed to have consumed everything within him, completely spent.

The fact that he had come this far was already remarkable.

But would this man stop here?

That seemed unlikely.

"But can he really change?"

Even though Rem's foundation was sorcery, he understood the concept of knighthood.

From his perspective, the Will that Enkrid possessed now felt dull.

Could something so blunt become sharp again?

"It won't be easy."

Not that Enkrid was someone who would give up, but there was something nagging at Rem.

"Has he become complacent?"

There was a subtle shift in Enkrid's demeanor.

He was someone who had always sought more, but was that still true?

Was the fire of his desire still burning as brilliantly as before?

His gaze was as steady and forward as ever, but could it really be said that his yearning was the same as it used to be?

To Rem, the answer was no.

It was admirable that Enkrid hadn't fallen into arrogance or complacency.

His Will, like an unending spring, was equally commendable.

But that wasn't all there was to being a knight.

Knighthood wasn't just about awakening Will; it was about mastering it.

Rem didn't bother to explain this in words, as it wasn't something that could be taught verbally.

Instead, he conveyed it with his axe, facing Enkrid time and again. From here on, it was up to Enkrid.

Ragna also saw something similar in Enkrid.

Unlike Rem, Ragna didn't analyze it as deeply.

"He seems sluggish."

It was like watching someone walk when they could run.

Why?

It was just a feeling.

But Ragna was a genius knight, so it wasn't entirely baseless.

Did it warrant a comment?

For someone who had lost their way, what was needed was the will to find the path again.

With that will, they could eventually reach their destination.

But without it, they would remain lost forever.

To Ragna, Enkrid now resembled someone wandering without a clear path.

Jaxen saw something similar.

"Are you perhaps satisfied?" he asked.

Enkrid only blinked his blue eyes at the question. "Satisfied with what?"

Jaxen clarified, "Do you feel satisfied just because you've become a knight?"

"I do not," Enkrid replied firmly.

Becoming a knight had made him equal to his unit members and brought him closer to the moment he had always dreamed of.

But did that mean he was content?

No, he said, he wasn't.

"I see," Jaxen responded indifferently.

Enkrid's journey to knighthood had not been a typical one.

Things that came easily to others might have been difficult for him.

Conversely, he could accomplish things others could not.

To put it simply, if he and Enkrid were to duel head-on right now, Jaxen believed he would lose.

In a life-or-death fight, the result might differ, but in a straightforward duel, Enkrid would have the upper hand.

If someone were to ask whether Jaxen could kill him, the answer was yes—technically speaking.

But that only highlighted how different Jaxen was from ordinary knights.

Therefore, careless advice wasn't necessary.

He simply felt uneasy about it.

Normally, Jaxen wouldn't ignore such feelings, but this was Enkrid.

Somehow, Enkrid would figure it out.

He would surprise him yet again.

It was trust, built through countless experiences together, that allowed Jaxen to leave it alone.

Audin, meanwhile, prayed as he watched Enkrid.

"Father, have you predetermined the end for this elder brother of mine? You once said no one's fate is sealed, and I believe those words, O Lord."

Audin knew that his current limitations, bound by his own restrictions, prevented him from stepping forward.

He couldn't convey his thoughts through words or actions in his current state.

Despite that, he said nothing.

He also trusted Enkrid.

"He hasn't faltered, but it's curious," remarked Luagarne, who had the ability to discern talent.

Though Enkrid continued to spend his days training and dueling, those observing him shared a similar view.

Yet no one told him anything.

Words wouldn't change him.

If he showed signs of truly stagnating, they would step in, but for now, they all agreed to simply watch.

Aker was a sword imbued with a knight's Will.

"Why was I created, you ask? Even I don't know. I simply awakened under certain conditions."

The sword's vibrations conveyed its thoughts directly to Enkrid's mind.

It was fascinating, though that was all it was—there was little to learn from it.

Why had a sword been given a consciousness?

It didn't cast spells on its own or perform any grand feats.

Its awareness merely existed to maintain the Will infused within it.

Aker's awakening had three conditions:

Learning the swordsmanship created by the knight Aker.

Awakening one's Will.

Fully claiming ownership of the sword.

"Who determines whether these conditions are met?" Enkrid had asked.

The sword had answered, "By wielding me, it is recognized. Awakening your Will sustains me. The recent degradation of the blade and the draining of power are inevitable. When I am dormant, I do not consume Will, but once partially awakened, I draw upon it. For now, I survive on what you supply, but the sword's lifespan is nearing its end."

At best, Aker could remain active for a month.

But it did not express regret or fear of vanishing; it simply accepted it as natural.

Enkrid also understood and moved on to the next question.

Regarding ownership, the sword had said, "With your Will now at the level of a knight's, you must already know. Your weapon is influenced by your intent. Ownership means using the blade roughly—when the blade shows signs of wear, it signifies full ownership."

Aker answered all of Enkrid's questions dutifully.

As a construct of thought left behind by the knight Aker, it was meant to teach.

But Enkrid had little to learn.

Everything Aker tried to impart, Enkrid had already engraved into himself—through years of experience with Rem, Ragna, Jaxen, Audin, and most recently, Luagarne.

"You're diligent," Aker remarked, observing Enkrid's rigorous daily routine.

From the isolation technique that meticulously trained specific muscles to the steel-hardening techniques, Enkrid covered every basic and advanced method.

Even Aker found it monotonous to watch, but Enkrid seemed to enjoy it.

Between all of this, he dealt with visitors, read and wrote letters, and now made his way to the city's central market, specifically to a forge on its outskirts.

The grip of his gladius had loosened, Aker needed adjustments, and he also intended to acquire a few daggers.

"Should I look for new armor as well?"

It wasn't a bad idea. Enkrid walked slowly, unhurried.

"Should I accompany you?" asked Shinar as he prepared to leave.

Enkrid declined.

He occasionally wondered what the fairy remained here for.

Becoming a fairy knight meant she could have returned to her hometown and no longer needed to fight for Naurilia.

Was she loyal to the country?

'No way.'

Even so, she stayed.

Of course, only a handful of people knew that Shinar was a fairy knight—just himself and a few members of the Madmen unit.

Even Graham, the lord of Border Guard, probably had no idea.

At first, she stayed like a mercenary, holding her position, but now she remained naturally as a soldier.

Considering her connection to Krang, she must have some sort of agreement with the royal family.

'A reward?'

Was that why she stayed?

Enkrid didn't really care.

Even if he asked, she likely wouldn't answer.

"If you think you'll get lost, I can guide you. It must be confusing to return after so long."

Ragna also offered to accompany him, but Rem stopped him.

"This crazy bastard really knows how to get on my nerves."

Even if Ragna hadn't said that, Rem wouldn't have held back. He was always looking for an excuse to fight. Fortunately, the two didn't leap at each other to kill.

Being a knight and understanding the nature of their fights, Enkrid knew that if they seriously clashed, one of them would likely die. That's what battles involving Will were like—unless there was a clear disparity in skill.

"Wolf Spirit."

Rem invoked a spirit summoning. Using the enchantment etched into his body as an offering, the strength of the wolf's legs imbued his own.

"With legs strengthened, pin my opponent."

Things were serious today.

Leaving behind their quarrel, Enkrid set off on his path.

Jaxen excused himself, saying he had urgent business, and Krais was genuinely busy.

Preparing for war, perhaps.

He seemed to have plenty to do.

Though everyone spoke of war, the next few months might only involve observing the situation. It wasn't an immediate battle, or so Enkrid believed.

In any case, he walked alone.

The sunlight warmly embraced the earth, and a gentle breeze danced in the air. Birds sang in the distance.

Though the sun and wind were the same as ever, they felt warmer and fresher now.

The wind seemed to pierce through his chest and flow out behind him.

The sunlight filled his body entirely before leaving again.

The concept of knights had shifted from a position of nobility to a demonstration of strength.

Enkrid realized how much everything had changed.

The sunlight felt different, the wind felt different.

'I've changed in how I perceive them.'

Everything was different.

He could now see the path his sword should follow and knew how to move.

Hearing the wind and the chirping of birds, Enkrid walked. It was a bright, sunny day.

He enjoyed every step on his way to the market, savoring the present moment.

It was almost enough to wish this leisurely stroll, which could be called a walk, would last forever.

—You seem to be enjoying yourself.

Aker spoke to him.

Was that so?

Enkrid responded casually and kept walking, passing by a few soldiers he knew who saluted him.

"I want to be like you!"

One soldier boldly exclaimed.

Becoming someone's idol—it would be a lie to say it wasn't enjoyable.

"How can I achieve that?"

As the soldier's question continued, Enkrid noticed their commander glaring sharply at them.

Judging by their uniform and discipline, this group was well-trained.

Still, the soldier had recklessly spoken to Enkrid, likely knowing that physical punishment disguised as training awaited him afterward.

Enkrid looked at the soldier, brushing aside trivial thoughts.

As always, there was only one thing he could say to those who asked how.

"Find your own motivation. While comrades may share your work, no one can resolve themselves or make decisions in your place."

Behind the fiery eyes of the soldier, even the commander's irritation softened, and his eyes gleamed.

All ten soldiers marching in formation had eyes that sparkled like that.

It wasn't a bad sight.

"The flower of war is..."

"Infantry."

Parting with the group after their common chant, Enkrid neared the bustling market.

The city had grown, the market had grown, and even Vanessa's Pumpkin Soup Inn had expanded.

Yet it was still filled with people, maintaining order amidst the crowd.

The streets allowed no carriages, reserved only for pedestrians. The dirt roads had been replaced with neatly laid blue stones.

Some buildings stood over five stories tall, rising with sturdy masonry.

They said war with Aspen was imminent, and even among merchants, such rumors spread.

No one knew where the talk began, but most accepted war as inevitable.

Some doubted it, but those who understood the situation saw it as a certainty.

Years ago, whenever the word "war" circulated, merchants would vanish, turning Border Guard into a ghost town.

Now, it was nothing like that.

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