334 - A Knight Who Eternally Regresses

334. What occupies your mind? Upon waking in the morning, he engaged in the techniques of isolation with Audin, followed by slow-motion sword exercises, meticulously controlling every movement of his muscles. He then continued his sparring sessions with Rem. During breaks, he would have meals and occasionally snack on things like herbal pies. Given his intense activity level, eating and, consequently, digesting were not ordinary for him. Consuming large amounts was a given. Apart from eating, excreting, and sleeping, Enkried relentlessly pushed his body to its limits. As soon as he fully recovered, the first thing he did was demolish the barracks. And after that? Knowing how to observe himself, Enkried would constantly contemplate and train himself once more. Whatever Kreis did, it certainly worked, as no one else came to see him. This was a relief. Thus, he declared he wouldn't even accept the proceeds from the Gilpin guild's offerings. In the midst of this, he was told to meet just one person, and when he went out to the front of the barracks, an unexpected face appeared. “Have I become more handsome?” He spoke this to himself with a smile. The smile and face were familiar. Leona Lockfreed. The owner of a trading group and a friend with whom he'd once spent a night talking. When Enkried gazed silently, Leona smiled and asked, “You haven’t forgotten my name, have you?” “How could I possibly forget?” She was indeed an unforgettable person. She’d asked once if he’d become her friend. A friend, she suggested, having displaced the previous trade leader’s son to take over. Her words were surprising coming from a woman of such standing. They ate herbal pies and drank pumpkin soup, exploring the market together. They stayed up all night exchanging jokes and sharing various thoughts. Becoming close just because someone asked to be friends wasn’t easy. Yet, a sense of goodwill remained. It was a regard for her as a human, not linked to any romantic inclinations. Now the trade leader, Leona appeared in smart leather trousers, a white shirt, and a fur vest. The shirt, notably thick, was made from a fabric that Enkried had never seen before. Looking at it, he thought it’d be good to weave that cloth thicker to use as a lining for a gambeson. Entirely typical of him, always contemplating combat, battles, and swords. Nonetheless, the two met in front of the barracks, with Kreis mumbling beside them. “What’s this about becoming more handsome?” Enkried hadn't shaved, was drenched in sweat, and hadn’t bathed. His hair needed trimming, but it was left unkempt, damp with sweat that had half-dried. In short, he looked quite disheveled. Kreis wrinkled his nose. He didn’t even emit a pleasant scent. To Kreis, the best way to allure a woman wasn’t with just one’s face. The first, undoubtedly, was the atmosphere. Even a remarkably handsome man with large eyes, a high nose bridge, and full lips couldn’t surpass the power of atmosphere. So, what creates that atmosphere? It's a complex affair. ‘Scent, gaze, manner, appearance, a well-toned body.’ Of course, appearance plays a role but it isn’t everything. That’s the aura Kreis believed in. So, was Enkried’s aura dangerously alluring to women at the moment? Perhaps for women enamored with sword-obsessed duelists, but otherwise, not at all. It was almost an insult to label it as charismatic. “Get cleaned up a bit, will you?” “Don’t want to waste time.” Enkried responded to Kreis without turning his head. He was reflecting on his past, revisiting past experiences. To say he had no time to turn his head would be more accurate. ‘One night of rest.’ There was no signal of romance with her, nor any physical contact. They just conversed. Rested. At the end of that restful night, what did Enkried gain? He couldn’t forget. Tactile sensation. Recalling the trajectory of wielding a sword, stepping forth, and the movement of his shoulders, he realized how to swiftly connect dots with lines. It was when he grasped a part of the concept of speed. What he mastered wasn’t the point. The process was what mattered. Recollecting the process, he remembered that sense. Not that he intended to act upon it immediately. This was, so to speak, about making fine adjustments to his direction. Since he was already on the right path, it was just a matter of getting a little help. So now, it was time to greet a friend he hadn't seen in a while, Enkried thought. “You really have changed.” Leona, gazing intently at Enkried, said. She was a trade leader. A merchant. It was natural for her to have a keen eye for people. The comment about him becoming more handsome was half a joke, half a truth. His outward appearance wasn’t the issue. The aura was different from the last time she saw him. ‘Intriguing.’ He had changed. It was hard to pinpoint. Leona sensed it purely on intuition. It was a woman’s intuition, her intuition as a trade leader. Had he not changed, could he have achieved such great feats and made his name known far and wide? Not only in the capital but in every nearby city, there wasn’t a place without whispers of Enkried’s name. “Have I gained more wrinkles?” Enkried calmly joked. “Are you teasing me now?” Leona retorted. The two exchanged glances, smiling. Should they grab a cup of tea somewhere? As soon as Enkried thought about it, Kreis gestured, and a few soldiers prepared a table and chairs. What was this preparation about? Enkried’s intuition was sharp. It made him think Kreis had a particular reason for calling him here. “You can’t very well stand and chat forever, and the captain's also busy, you know.” Kreis mentioned as he mimicked wielding a sword with both hands. Leona knew well that Enkried was a man obsessed with training. Even during a transport operation with her trading group, hadn’t they had an unexpected sparring session? Afterward, Leona personally watched some of Enkried’s training. Enkried glanced at Kreis. The bug-eyed fellow even came up with suitable excuses. There was indeed something going on. Leona, as if she didn’t mind, sat in the chair the soldier prepared. Her gaze remained fixed on Enkried. Behind her stood Matthis, the bodyguard she'd seen before. Another man appeared. He was a strikingly handsome man with blond hair and blue eyes. By Kreis's standards, he was someone who knew how to create an atmosphere. He stood calmly behind Leona with a gentle smile on his face. “What brings you here?” “Would you believe me if I said I came to see a friend?” “No way.” “Yes, it's for business with the trading group. But catching up with a friend is a joy too, isn’t it?” Leona smiled as she spoke, and Enkried returned the smile. He found it to be a really pleasant meeting. Just that the tea was awful. It was the kind of tea served when you wanted to drive away visitors. It was meant to send the message, "Hurry up and leave after drinking this." ‘Deliberate, perhaps?’ It was clear Kreis had something up his sleeve. His tactic wasn't entirely loathsome, even when he pretended not to notice when their eyes met for a moment. Enkried focused on Leona. They exchanged a few words about trivial matters. “It's fascinating, isn't it? Do you know how famous you've become? I knew it! I should’ve somehow convinced you to join the trade group back then.” “Are swordsmen that frequently needed in a trade group?” “We need them often. We’re not a settled group, after all.” A random piece of knowledge. It was amusing to listen to. Trading companies could be itinerant or settled, and while many mix both styles, Lockfreed's trading group leaned heavily toward the itinerant type. There were many issues because of this, but not having a place to depend on meant they mainly took on wandering work. Enkried wasn’t foolish and could read the undertone in Leona’s words. It wasn’t that they had nowhere to rely on, but rather no mutual relationships beneficial to both parties. Even if there was one, the other side might have tried to swallow them whole or betrayed them. Those are the circumstances that shaped the current Lockfreed trading group. Not having a permanent base meant it was harder to exert influence in any given region. In many cases, they had to link with local trading companies to make profits. To secure profits, Lockfreed had established trade routes and connections with groups like the Glacier Rangers, the Black Leather Guild, and the Shepherds of the Wilderness. It wasn't common to trade with those three groups. That had been the case for the Lockfreed trading group so far. But should it remain that way? No, they needed a permanent base. They needed to secure stable profits. Especially in times when the continent was shrouded in ominous energy. So where should they establish roots? ‘Somewhere with rapid changes.’ A place ripe for profit. A country with domestic unrest where civil war might break out and cities with rising prominence. In other words, a place like the Border Guard. It was an ideal spot to set up a base of operations. Enkried had roughly grasped the situation. However, he remained silent on the topic. Leona did the same. If Kreis had arranged this meeting to gain an advantageous position in negotiations, he had miscalculated. They were here as friends. “What about marriage?” “Haven’t married yet.” “What about that fairy?” Leona whispered softly. “I often joke about having a fiancée.” “Boring.” “How about you, Leona?” “I am married to the trade group.” “Really?” “Just kidding. I do have a fiancé, but I'm not sure yet. It's more of an arranged situation, and if things go well otherwise, it might not happen. But don’t think I’m going to start chasing after you, Enkried. If I'm rejected once, that's it for me. So just live with the regret that you didn’t fall for my charms back then.” “I’ll do that occasionally.” “No, you should wallow in that regret daily.” “I’m busy.” “Swinging that sword?” “You know me well.” Their playful banter made them both giggle. Enkried felt as if he’d traveled back to his younger days. Leona knew how to put others at ease. Was that a talent of hers as a merchant, or a sign of her thoughtful consideration for others? That wasn’t important. The moment was simply enjoyable. As they exchanged these few words, Kreis abruptly interrupted. “An arranged marriage, is it? Does that even seem right?” Here? Out of the blue? “Yes, exactly. I really don’t want it.” “That's what I’m saying. What do you think, Captain?” “…About what?” Kreis gave a slight kick to Enkried's foot while making a show of sipping the tea. Kreis, who swore he wouldn't drink that awful-tasting tea, acted otherwise now. Enkried caught on immediately. ‘A relationship of transaction.’ That summed up the situation between Kreis and Leona. Serving unpalatable tea wasn’t just random. It was their way of indicating the nature of their meeting. Lockfreed needed a permanent base. The Border Guard needed protection from surrounding disturbances. Their needs aligned. Enkried found it amusingly ridiculous. The reason for calling him became clear. It was akin to using the allure of a handsome face and leveraging personal connections to gain an upper hand. Look, your friend is also here, so what are you going to do about it? The tactic was undeniably petty. Kreis only acted like this for one reason. “How much did you agree on?” Enkried asked. There would’ve been promises from the lord. Though he laid it bare, Kreis showed no signs of fluster. When gold coins were at stake, he was an excellent actor, a brilliant strategist, and a prominent conversationalist. “Eh? What do you mean by that?” “They came as a friend.” If you’re going to leverage a relationship for superiority, think about the counterbalance too. Enkried was also Leona's friend. “If you speak in a way that could cause misunderstandings….” “Oh, it’s alright. Transactions should be clean and clear.” Leona sided with him. To Enkried, her statement sounded like, ‘I won't fall for cheap tricks, nor will I employ them.’ “I’m leaving.” He stood up. It wasn’t his place to intervene anymore. “See you next time.” Leona flashed a bright smile and waved her hand in farewell. Enkried gently took Leona’s hand, lightly touched his lips to the back of it, and then turned away. It was a proper gesture of etiquette. He had picked this up here and there during his time as a mercenary, especially from days when he earned gold escorting noblewomen at parties. “Indeed, it suits a salon.” Kreis murmured as he watched, but before Enkried could walk away, someone else stopped him. “Hey, you.” It was Matthis. He tried to mask his astonishment, but it was clear as day. Even after hearing the stories, he couldn’t fully believe them. Matthis had seen Enkried before. Could this be the man who had gained all that notoriety? He thought half of it might be exaggeration, but seeing him again, Enkried exuded a distinctive confidence. He truly seemed formidable. Unless his eyes betrayed him, that is. “Could we spar?” Matthis asked. Enkried had emerged right in the middle of training. Three swords still hung from his waist: a gladius, a long sword with a silver blade, and Firebrand. “Anytime.” There was no refusal. Nor did Leona intervene. She knew Matthis well. For him to step forward before she could speak meant something had provoked him. Ting. Their swords were drawn, and after a brief staring contest, they simultaneously brought their blades together with a subtle connection, as if it were planned. The two swords met cleanly in the center, just as intended. Thud. Tadak. Three times, they exchanged tentative strikes. The sparring implied granting each other time to loosen up. After the third exchange of strikes, Matthis swung his sword with resolve. He was a city-level expert familiar with how to exude force. “City-level expert? That’s nonsense. Get hit by any sword, and you’d die all the same.” Rem would criticize, but it was undeniable that Matthis was recognized for his skills. And yet. Ting. As their blades clashed, Matthis realized his opponent's sword was not slower than his. He attempted to press down with his weapon. His technique involved subduing a mixed sword style of light and heavy swordsmanship. However, Enkried’s sword moved faster than Matthis could react. Enkried’s sword deflected Matthis’s strike and shot forward. It was a snake-like maneuver, parrying and thrusting simultaneously. A visual deception made it appear as if the sword bent towards him. Matthis saw the silver blade halt just before reaching his neck. With such ease, despite the effort. Moreover, Enkried’s mastery of swordsmanship appeared superior to his own. “Ha.” He could only feel a sense of hollowness. Compared to when he had last seen him, it was as if Enkried had transformed into a different person. The difference in skill was clear. Even if he hadn’t let his guard down, losing was inevitable. Enduring the match longer meant nothing. “Well then.” Enkried didn’t know how to console a defeated opponent. He simply turned away. But Matthis was a warrior of the trading group, not a knight. Once reminded of his duty, he’d handle it himself. Behind him, Kreis initiated the negotiation. Hearing those discussions unfold. ‘That bastard.’ Enkried realized what Kreis had been aiming for from the start. “So, the tasks you need to complete, and what we’ll offer from the Border Guard, are all sorted now.” Kreis never planned on engaging in lengthy negotiations with the merchants. He meant for Leona and him to reveal their hands by showing his support openly. Because if they didn’t, neither could face Enkried later, agreeing to maintain trust between each other. Essentially, he called Enkried to act as a judge. ‘The scheming genius.’ It might well be the best on the continent. Indeed, this way, he could handle various tasks without hindrance. Following this, the Lockfreed trading group established a guild at the Border Guard. Naturally, there were objections from neighboring merchants, but they managed to find a balance, accepting what they had to and rejecting what they could. One month was enough for that. During that time, Enkried wielded his sword. He did it as if every day was a repetition of the last. Even without a sense of progress, Enkried could persevere. Yet, now he did feel progress. In other words, the month hadn’t been wasted. “Are you enjoying yourself?” While sparring, Rem asked, and Enkried responded with a grin. “Of course. What else?” If he didn’t enjoy it, how could he maintain this? Rem acknowledged it. Their captain was truly a madman. Hadn’t he nearly passed away to the underworld only moments ago, nearly meeting his end through Rem’s axe? That unexpected repetition seemed plausible. Perhaps the boatswain even glimpsed Enkried’s death, yet he hadn’t died. It was bizarre. Watching it all, the rower had no choice but to bestow a third accolade. “What fills your mind?” It was clear enough. What could possibly occupy the mind of someone who wielded his sword all month long? It was a question for which the answer was already known.