Eternally Regressing Knight
Chapter 628: Chapter 628 - The City of Fairies
Splitting time and expanding the realm of perception—beyond sight to hearing, smelling, and feeling through the skin.
Thanks to this, when the projectile came hurtling toward him, Enkrid could easily calculate its trajectory and the exact moment of impact.
He raised his arm, adjusted it into the path of the incoming arrow, and clenched his fist.
Tak. Brrr.
The flying arrow was caught mid-flight. Its target was clear—just below his shoulder.
"Not intended to be fatal."
It all happened right after the sound of wind passed his ears.
Enkrid paused, holding the arrow in his raised hand as its shaft and feathers quivered.
He could vaguely sense the intent behind the arrow but couldn’t pinpoint its source.
While his logical mind identified the trajectory as coming straight ahead, his senses conveyed a conflicting impression.
The dissonance between what he understood mentally and what he felt was strangely fascinating.
"I can’t detect any presence."
Fel commented.
Enkrid, still gripping the arrow, scanned the surroundings but saw nothing.
As he observed further—
Fiiing!
Three more arrows came flying toward him.
The synchronized breathing of the shooters was so precise that the sound of the arrows cutting through the air blended into one.
But only the sound did.
Enkrid’s expanded perception clearly discerned there were three projectiles.
He had caught one before, so why not three now?
Releasing the arrow in his hand, he caught two others mid-flight with both hands and deflected the last with his foot.
Tak!
The arrow he kicked veered off to the side.
Catching arrows was impressive enough, but deflecting one with a kick was nothing short of a spectacle.
It was a skill only a knight could hope to master.
"Likely magic at play,"
Fel remarked from behind, placing his hand on the grip of his sword.
He referred to their inability to detect the assailants.
Enkrid nodded in agreement, waiting for the next move.
It seemed their arrival was not warmly welcomed.
Should he act more forcefully?
The intentions of the assailants were hard to gauge.
Would they rain down arrows in response to a threat?
If so, would deflecting them all open the door for conversation?
"Isn’t this a bit too lively for a welcome, my dear fairies?"
Lugarne spat venomous words at their unseen adversaries.
"Outsiders are not allowed here,"
a voice replied from beyond the green mist.
Enkrid, despite hearing it clearly, could not pinpoint its source.
The sensory dissonance persisted.
There were options available despite the lack of precise location.
Cutting down the prominently visible trees within the mist was one.
"They’d hate that, wouldn’t they?"
Undoubtedly.
Even without Shinar’s influence, Enkrid knew from past encounters that fairies detested such actions.
Yet, fairies didn’t always lay down their lives to protect the trees—they valued their homeland more than the forest itself.
Like any species, survival and prosperity were their priority, and forests were simply their optimal habitat.
Their diet of leaves, fruits, and dew depended on the vitality of the forest.
The essence of the forest itself was integral to their being.
Thus, they revered the massive tree at the center of their cities, calling it the
World Tree
Sometimes the World Tree held mystical powers; other times, it was just an extraordinarily large tree.
Regardless, after Luagarne’s sharp comment, the fairies could have responded with their own cutting words, but they stuck to their point instead.
"This is not a place for outsiders."
"Understood."
Enkrid replied casually.
Would calling for Shinar prompt her to appear?
Probably not.
Would barging in and causing chaos work?
That option was under consideration as well.
Holding arrows in both hands might be intimidating enough to convey intent.
"Even if you kill us, the barrier won’t fall,"
the fairies added, demonstrating a rational and logical response despite the threat to their lives.
Their calm demeanor reminded Enkrid of Shinar’s introduction.
Though a conversation was ongoing, it felt as if he were speaking into empty air.
Despite their clear voices, their positions remained elusive.
Since mastering his sensory techniques, Enkrid could determine the wind’s direction from the faintest flutter of a flag.
He’d also imbued his body with Will, yet he still couldn’t determine the source of the voices.
He wasn’t here to intimidate or antagonize them, though if the situation soured, he might have to draw his sword.
If these fairies oppressed Shinar, then perhaps they would need a "conversation" with blades.
Enkrid had cleaved through paladins and blazing creatures with a few swings of his sword—such a conversation would be far from pleasant.
After several thoughts crossed his mind, Enkrid spoke.
"Shinar Kiraheis."
By mentioning the name he’d learned earlier, he made his purpose clear.
Still, no presence emerged from the forest.
"I’m here to find her,"
he continued, giving them ample time to respond.
"...Who are you?"
At last, a semblance of a proper greeting arrived.
Enkrid found himself at a loss for how to introduce himself.
He doubted the fairies would recognize him.
In truth, they already did.
Despite their seclusion, the fairies weren’t entirely cut off from the world.
Fel, having experienced similarly insular communities in his shepherding days, understood this well.
Famous figures like Enkrid couldn’t go unnoticed.
Before Enkrid could speak, Fel stepped forward and introduced him with a booming voice:
"The Lord of Border Guard, the Guardian of Border Guard, the Unyielding Knight, Demon Slayer, Heartbreaker of—oh, let’s skip that one—Enkrid of the Madmen Knights!"
His words resonated clearly, carrying the meaning through the green mist shrouding the forest.
On the way here, Fel had been pummeled during training matches, which left some annoying remarks in the introductions.
But the results were undeniable.
"The Steel-Wall Knight?"
A voice from another fairy, not the one who had stepped forward earlier, echoed.
"The Knight of Demonic Charm?" Yet another fairy spoke.
Great, now the nicknames are getting mixed up.
Enkrid considered saying something but decided against it.
After all, changing one’s titles wasn’t done through words—it was through actions.
The fairies spoke in their usual calm, quiet tones, though faint traces of emotions—small admiration or surprise—could be detected.
It was subtle, barely perceptible unless one was particularly sensitive.
"The Heartbreaker? Then does that mean Lady Shinar returned alone...?"
Some unnecessary remarks cropped up in the middle, but Enkrid chose not to address them now.
There would likely be an opportunity to discuss Shinar later.
From the way they spoke, it didn’t seem like she was locked or restrained somewhere.
Despite a few misunderstandings, the fairies seemed to have a good grasp of who he was.
"May I visit?"
Enkrid’s question was direct.
Fairies only allowed invited guests into their domain—such was the rule of their city.
"If you truly are the Unyielding Knight." The response came again.
The fairies didn’t take his words at face value.
A few more questions and answers followed, but Enkrid’s display of strength—catching arrows and deflecting one with his foot—served as proof enough of his identity.
After all, if a fight broke out, being hidden beyond the mist wasn’t necessarily safe.
The fairies knew this as well.
In conclusion, someone of his caliber had no reason to impersonate another.
"It is an honor, Demon Slayer."
This was their response after deliberating.
The clear voice of a male fairy replied, followed by another:
"I’ve never seen anyone catch an arrow like that.
Human knight, you are truly remarkable—to even deflect arrows with your foot." This time, it was a female fairy whose tone made it difficult to gauge her age.
As their voices became clearer, the mist thinned and spread wide.
That was when Enkrid realized—the mist hadn’t been moving all this time.
"A perception-disrupting spell," he noted.
He only figured it out after the mist shifted.
Enkrid filed the strange sensation he had felt away in his "library of experience."
It wasn’t a conscious decision; it was simply a habit born from training his sensory techniques.
As the mist dispersed, faint silhouettes emerged.
The mist didn’t vanish entirely, but as shadows stretched with the setting sun, five fairies appeared, their forms taking shape.
One might imagine fairies as uniformly slender and delicate, but the reality was slightly different.
Three of the five were short.
They were taller than dwarves but shorter than adult human males, appearing like children yet to fully grow.
Their builds were slight, and they carried longbows larger than their bodies.
Despite their frail appearance, their arms bore defined muscles, making them anything but childlike.
These three fairies were women—the ones who had shot arrows at Enkrid.
The other two were male.
One was relatively large, and the other had white hair.
As Enkrid’s gaze swept over the group, it lingered momentarily on the white-haired fairy.
The fairy noticed immediately, speaking up as Enkrid’s eyes remained fixed on his hair.
"Curious? When fairies age, their hair loses its color," he said.
"It’s the first time I’ve seen it," Enkrid replied.
"When it’s time for us to die, we return to our homeland to pass on. It’s rare to see this, I suppose. I apologize for shooting arrows at you earlier. They were meant as a warning—I didn’t expect you to catch them."
Enkrid nodded to show it was fine.
As the fairy said, the arrows hadn’t been aimed at any vital spots.
They had been intended as a warning, not for killing.
The last three arrows seemed more like a test of his skills.
In short, there was no harm done.
Enkrid’s goal was Shinar, and he was satisfied to have met someone who could provide answers.
He stared at the white-haired fairy.
This fairy seemed to be the one in charge.
Shinar had once mentioned that fairies respected age.
She’d emphasized repeatedly that with age came wisdom, and their words should be heeded. "Come inside, then."
The white-haired fairy extended the invitation, and Enkrid nodded.
Fel and Luagarne followed him.
"Demon Slayer."
The large male fairy addressed Enkrid.
His strong jawline and fierce eyes suggested he might be picking a fight, but there was a faint glimmer of respect in his gaze—so faint it required careful observation to notice.
These fairies had trained to suppress and control their emotions since childhood.
In human terms, this subtle show of respect could equate to running over in excitement with sparkling eyes.
It wasn’t just this fairy; the other three had similar looks in their eyes, though one could also detect a hint of desperation in theirs.
It was so faint that only someone like Enkrid, who had spent much time with Shinar and trained his senses, could notice it.
Still, it was remarkable that they knew his name and even looked at him with admiration.
The large fairy spoke again in a deliberate, measured tone, his words carefully chosen.
"It is an honor to meet you."
The content wasn’t particularly remarkable, but the sincerity was clear.
Enkrid nodded, reading the emotions behind the words.
This fairy had been the one who first expressed honor at meeting him beyond the mist.
"If the chance arises, may I spar with you?" The fairy asked, his tone still controlled.
Enkrid had already grown used to it.
"A duel?"
"Yes."
"Anytime."
As the two exchanged words, the white-haired fairy admonished him.
"Do you think this is the time for that, Zero?"
Despite the admonishment, his tone remained calm.
"Apologies, Elder."
Zero—the large fairy—lowered his head slightly.
If they were humans, this dry response might have seemed insincere.
The other three fairies remained silent, saying nothing after revealing their faces.
They appeared to be taciturn by nature.
Enkrid remained silent, having nothing particular to say.
"Quite the aggressive fairy," Fel remarked, his tone dry and seemingly laced with irony.
The phrasing left it unclear whether he meant it sincerely or not.
The fairy who heard Fel’s comment turned to look at him, and Fel met his gaze.
For a moment, it felt as if a faint spark flickered between them, but the fairy quickly averted his eyes, extinguishing any tension before it could escalate.
"So anticlimactic," Fel muttered.
It was true; Fel wasn’t one to shy away from fights or provocations.
Had it not been for Rem to overshadow him, his reputation for stirring trouble might have been more pronounced.
"I need to stay grounded," Enkrid thought to himself, resolving to use Fel as an example of what not to do.
"This way," said the white-haired fairy as he began to walk ahead.
His steps were so light and quiet that they were barely audible—a trait unique to fairies, who were naturally gifted with agility and stealth.
It was no wonder they were often referred to as born assassins.
As they continued deeper into the mist, visibility worsened.
The green fog surrounding them seemed to function as an impenetrable barrier, likely some sort of magical ward.
Thanks to Esther, Enkrid had picked up a bit of knowledge about magic and could recognize such phenomena.
Gradually, the terrain began to slope downward, and before long, a peculiar passage came into view. It resembled a long tunnel, entirely enveloped by leaves.
The floor, walls, and ceiling were all made of overlapping foliage.
The sight left Enkrid in awe.
How do they even create something like this?
He wondered.
Following the fairy inside, Enkrid walked through the leafy tunnel.
As time went on, he realized he had lost track of it entirely.
The endless pattern of leaves and the pervasive scents of grass and flowers made the experience feel surreal, almost dreamlike.
He was so engrossed that he didn’t even consider it might be the result of some enchantment or mysticism.
Then, suddenly, the tunnel vanished, and before him lay the fairy city.
"Welcome to our city," the white-haired fairy said.
"What are you staring at? Never seen someone smoking before?" the tree giant grumbled.

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