Eternally Regressing Knight
Chapter 331 - 331 - Where The Madness Began
How did the madness begin? It was just before Энкрид was assigned to the troublemaker squad.
The squad leader who had forcefully ordered everyone to follow him had died.
Next, the nobleman's son who was assigned as the new squad leader got beaten up by Джаксен for being overly cocky.
Then, the one who had been throwing fits was mentally trained under the name of a "re-education" by Рем, and left soon after. One after another, squad leaders were replaced.
It was natural that the ones in charge of the unit, including the lieutenant, had their say.
"If you want to stay in the military, you need to stick to the rules," said the lieutenant as he approached, and Рем nodded in agreement.
"That's right! It's all because of that damn lynx brat!"
"The biggest problem is the mouth of the one who blames others," Джаксен responded.
Рагна, watching the exchange, spoke indifferently.
"I can move to another unit."
Рагна's response caused both Рем and Джаксен to turn their heads in surprise.
It seemed as if he was saying that he had nothing to do with it, like it was none of his concern.
His languid tone only made it more irritating.
"This guy?" Рем's voice raised in anger.
The most recent squad leader had tried to correct Рагна's lack of seriousness — or more precisely, mistook his stillness for weakness — and ended up with his skull cracked, leaving.
Yet, what was this attitude?
Рем bristled, and Джаксен shot a sharp glance.
It had already been twenty days since the squad leader's departure.
The lieutenant was having a headache.
The higher-ups in the battalion were telling him to manage things himself, but were these soldiers really the kind that could be managed easily?
Should he just admit that he couldn't handle them?
That would be acknowledging that he didn't have the ability and was an idiot.
What would the battalion commander say?
"Can't you control one soldier?"
Blaming others was exactly the kind of thing the battalion commander would say, considering his personality.
"Maybe I should just send them all to die."
Even if they were sent into a dangerous battlefield, the most they would come back with were a few scrapes. Was that a good thing?
Why was such a capable person in this kind of unit?
Looking at their actions, the answer seemed clear.
Рем had been sent to the first heavy infantry unit, only to crack the commanding officer's skull and end up back here.
Now, every time the first heavy unit saw Рем, their teeth ground together in frustration.
Yet, Рем seemed to enjoy hearing that grinding, almost like he was listening to a symphony.
"There's nothing I can do."
The lazy man immediately followed up.
"If your head's all messed up, take some medicine."
The next one to speak was the best-looking man in the unit.
"Do you want to die?"
Джаксен, was getting along well with other soldiers, why was it that inside the unit things were always a mess?
What a headache.
"Stop it."
The lieutenant spoke up, praying that the new squad leader, who would arrive later that afternoon, would keep things from getting worse.
What else could he do?
He had no other choice but to bring in someone in a hurry.
They weren't a noble, and didn't have any particular special talents; they were just average at fighting.
He only hoped they wouldn't cause trouble.
Even after the lieutenant left, the air remained tense.
Рем had ended up here by coincidence.
Looking at his goals, he had entered temporarily after killing a nobleman's son to lay low for a while. He planned to leave in about six months.
But for some reason, he ended up in a unit full of these troublesome people.
"All of them seem to live for their own egos."
They didn't know how to bow down and yield.
Of course, Рем was the same.
The current battalion commander had gathered all these troublesome people, likely because he didn't care if they lived or died in battle, but Рем couldn't know that backstory.
"I should just kill them all and move to another unit."
Рем muttered aloud.
It was a remark meant to provoke, more than a mumbled thought.
"Do you want to die?" Рагна shot back.
"If you want to go by be a part of God unit, I can pray for you."
But that prayer was not one spoken idly.
"Fools."
Джаксен chimed in.
Until now, they had all exchanged insults without crossing the line, but that was because they knew that if a fight broke out, they needed to do it properly.
That said, they weren't the type to hold back either.
It wasn't anything serious, but it was clear that such a situation had been inevitable.
Hadn't they all been subtly aware of each other from the start?
Рем glanced at Джаксен's position and let his arm drop.
He instinctively knew that giving his back to Джаксен was dangerous.
Рагна, without warning, stood up.
The noise he made as he got up revealed his position, but was it truly a weakness?
Рем knew the lazy bastard could draw his sword in that position.
Аудин, hands clasped in front, got into his praying form.
The heavy atmosphere only grew thicker around them.
If anyone faint-hearted stepped inside, they would likely collapse from the pressure.
They had been given a temporary shelter, staying in a tent that felt like it might burst from the tension.
At that moment, the tent flap flapped open.
Someone stood at the entrance, someone none of them recognized.
A man with black hair and blue eyes, the kind of face that stood out even at a glance.
After entering, he looked around at them.
If he had any sense, he would turn around and leave; if he were weak-hearted, he might faint right there.
"Yeah. Is this, uh... Yes, this is the squad barracks. It would be best if we came later."
The person behind the new squad leader, Крайс, spoke up.
He was quick-witted.
The atmosphere was more tense than ever.
Крайс tugged at the back of the new squad leader's jacket, urging him to avoid getting involved in any trouble.
But the man didn't move.
No, he took a step forward and spoke.
"I'm Squad Leader Энкрид. Don't fight."
Рем was just waiting for an opening.
His arm hung loosely, but it was ready to swing an axe at any moment.
Аудин, too, was prepared to counter any attack that came his way.
Рагна positioned himself to strike all three of them in one move, while Джаксен had already pulled out a hidden dagger from his sleeve, ready for a quick strike.
The air was thick with the sense that stepping in would mean death, but through that tension, an unfamiliar face stepped forward.
"Enough."
It was a reckless move.
Энкрид pushed his way between them.
He was lucky.
Рем had flinched, ready to pull his axe, but stopped short, his hand twitching.
If he had flinched any more, he would have split whatever was in front of him vertically with his axe.
Аудин shuddered, and Рагна had already gripped his sword.
Джаксен looked as though he was doing nothing, but in reality, the dagger handles were already pressed against his palms.
"...Did a slightly mad person come?" Рагна muttered.
"Are you insane?"
Even someone who lacked all sense would know better than to step in here, right?
No.
He knew exactly what he was doing.
Рем could see it in his eyes.
So he was throwing his life away?
No, that wasn't it.
Рем sensed his resolve, but Энкрид didn't fully understand the situation.
Still, to step in here? What kind of person had the nerve?
Later, when Рем would swing his axe and shut his eyes, he would wonder how someone could act so recklessly, but for now, this was his first impression.
"As long as we don't fight, that's fine. I'm Энкрид."
The new squad leader didn't ask for a handshake.
He just introduced himself.
He didn't ask for anyone else's names either.
He made it clear that each person should just do their job in their place.
Even Рем thought he was a really, really crazy guy.
"Looks like an interesting person came." Рем muttered, intrigued despite himself.
By then, everyone thought that Энкрид wouldn't last a week.
Энкрид thought back to his first days in the troublemaker squad.
Why had he stepped in back then?
Ah, he thought he had to do his duty as a squad leader.
At the very least, it was his duty to prevent fighting among his troops.
The tense atmosphere reminded him of his early days.
The pressure had weighed on his shoulders then too.
It felt like his heart would tear apart.
Even though he closed his eyes in the face of the incoming blades, he could endure the constant pressure and suffering.
So, he had stepped between them.
'I was such an idiot back then.'
Рем stood with his arms hanging loosely, the axe still hanging at his waist. 'Ready' was the word.
Рагна stood to his left, both hands gripping his sword hilt gently.
On the opposite side, Аудин stood like a statue, his fists clenched in front of his abdomen, smiling.
Everyone was 'ready.'
If anyone entered with hesitation, they would die. They would definitely die.
The pressure was like a sharp stab to the heart.
Even though they didn't consciously realize it, the oppressive effect was undeniable.
It wasn't something he could see before, but now he could.
So did it make a difference?
Whether they were being pressured or not, it didn't matter.
Энкрид was desperate to show what he had learned, what he had been waiting to demonstrate.
His sword, his swordsmanship, everything he had studied and mastered, he was ready to display.
He didn't care whether they fought or not.
Энкрид drew his sword.
A silver blade in place of his usual gladius.
The sword slid smoothly out of its scabbard with a soft ringing sound.
He held it with both hands.
It was the sword Рагна had given him.
The one he had taken after killing a certain knight.
The sword was sharp, and the craftsmanship impeccable.
After all, it had been the personal weapon of a knight from Aspen's King's Order.
The grip was wrapped in beast hide, making it fit perfectly in his hand.
After focusing, Энкрид confidently walked into the space between them.
Тереза and Дунбакелььь frowned as they watched. 'Through that gap?'
Эстер had stepped out for a moment, and Крайс had gone to the market.
So no one would be in danger of being hit by an unseen sword.
Before, Энкрид wouldn't have understood what he was walking into, but now, he understood the pressure of the three around him.
He was fully aware of it, but he still walked straight through.
He positioned himself facing Рагна, with Аудин to his right and Рем to his left.
Then, in that stance. "It's not bad."
Энкрид spoke, and then... He pivoted on his left foot and swung his sword.
It started with a "momentary will."
His waist turned, and the sword, which had been gripped by only his right hand, became a point that flew through the air.
It was smoother and more fluid than before.
Ping!
The sharp sound marked the end of the brief clash.
The blade suddenly aimed for Рем's temple.
"Damn!" Рем's axe moved.
His axe, too, became a beam of light.
Light against light. Clang!
Steel met steel, and the harmony began. Yes, this was just the beginning.
The tense air exploded.
Энкрид had shown Рем the moment, and then he threw his body to the right. He seemed to give them some distance, only to stop abruptly.
A Valen-style mercenary sword, a step to mislead.
He feigned an approach and then stopped, cutting vertically from above.
It was his Pressing Sword. A sword based on 'Will,' 'pressure,' that forced the opponent down.
As the sword pressed down, Аудин let out a shout. "Father!"
The shout was as typical of Аудин as ever.
The air trembled. The pressing sword was pushed back.
But that wasn't the end. Everyone reacted, and Рагна, who had been centered, was the one to act.
Энкрид turned his focus from Аудин and lunged at Рагна.
He had used the pressing sword to buy time and pulled back.
"Are you just going to watch?"
He taunted as he played with his sword.
It was a nameless swordsmanship move.
A path to ensnare Рагна within his intent. A sword that forced specific movements from his opponent.
He intentionally aimed at Рагна's right shoulder.
By not hiding his intent, he forced Рагна to dodge.
If Рагна dodged, Энкрид would start with a sideways slash, but Рагна parried the strike, not letting Энкрид begin his maneuver.
Энкрид sensed a dissonance in Рагна's movement.
He wasn't fighting properly, or rather, his sword was limiting its own power.
Even so, Энкрид could easily block it. Thud!
"Did you read me?" "Too obvious."
No, it wasn't obvious. It was just that Рагна had changed.
Now, his sword could carve the path, cutting through the opponent's intentions from the start.
"Damn." Энкрид laughed as he blocked Рагна's incoming sword.
It was a snake-like sword technique.
He deflected the strike and immediately struck again, this time stabbing sideways. Again, it was 'a momentary Will.'
It was aimed at Рем.
He pulled Рем back into the fray as he blocked and retreated.
Then, he made a move toward Аудин, who had been watching.
It was a step that Аудин had taught him. A snake-step.
A strategy that was now interpreted and re-learned with his own personal style when trapped in the present moment.
Without lifting his feet off the ground, his body slid forward like it was gliding.
It was fast.
He struck with his sword.
Once again, the pressing sword met Аудин's response. "Lord!"
Crash! Another strike shattered.
Аудин's voice rang out.
"You're kidding me!" Рем shouted.
It was a reasonable thing to say. Why not?
Энкрид was trying to fight all three of them. He was challenging a fight with three people at once.
"Are you insane?" Рагна tilted his head, confused.
"You might need a prayer for your head, brother." Аудин quickly understood Энкрид's intent.
He wanted to fight all of us! He said it with his whole body.
Энкрид laughed.
Ah, this is really fun.
Why not? Everything he had learned, everything he had figured out, was becoming clear.
One by one, it was all visible.
He saw it, said it, and did it.
How about it, my sword?
He was having the time of his life, and whether there were three or four opponents, it didn't matter.
"This is enough." Тереза, who had been watching from the corner, finally stood up.
"Yeah, I'm about to lose my mind. I've been so excited I could almost faint."
Дунбакелььь's face contorted, and her fur grew, turning her into a white lioness.
Everything had become chaotic.
The barracks inside shattered.
Bang! In the end, part of the wall was broken, and the door was destroyed.
By the time Крайс returned, he saw a crowd gathered around the broken barracks.
"What's going on here?"
"They're trying to kill each other," Грэхем said in disbelief.
Even the lord didn't dare intervene, only watching.
The atmosphere was that intense.
"Crazy people." Крайс was just as confused.
To cause such chaos right after healing?
This was why everyone kept calling them madmen.
But there was no stopping them.
It was who they were.
The fight ended by the evening.
By the time the sun was setting, the squad was covered in steam from their injuries.
They all emerged from various places, bleeding.
The half-destroyed barracks had turned into a ruin.
It was almost a wonder how the ceiling had been split.
"Did you come? I think I'll sleep somewhere else tonight."
Энкрид said, and Крайс could only laugh at the absurdity of it all.

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