344 - A Knight Who Eternally Regresses

344. Dividing Sides “Do people actually drink this as tea?” Marcus remarked as he lifted the teacup before him. The taste was dreadful. It was at a level where he’d be grateful if it even had the scent of grass. “If that’s your opinion, why didn’t you come to my office instead?” Lord Graham responded to Marcus’s words. “The route here was closer, and I heard the sounds of a fight, so I stopped by first. Did that offend you?” “Not in the slightest,” Graham replied. So what if Marcus visited Encreed first? How did that matter? Graham remained unbothered. Lately, he had been utterly engrossed in the thrill of swinging a sword. As the lord, should he expect deference to himself first? What was he, some noble? It didn’t matter to him. More than that, if time allowed, he too wanted a chance to spar with Encreed. Though it seemed he had just come from a bout, would it be okay to ask for another? While he would accept a duel at any time, now wasn’t the moment, with Marcus present. Seated in the dining hall were only Graham, Marcus, Encreed, and Kreis. The squad members showed no intention of getting involved in the troublesome conversation. “It looks like you came here with nothing better to do, so entertain him a bit and come back,” Lem said before turning away. While Marcus was expressing his dissatisfaction with the tea, Encreed was aware of the two guards standing behind Marcus. Especially the one standing to the left. He was a tall man with long arms and a whip coiled at his waist. With a spiked ball affixed to the end, it looked like getting hit by it would be more than just painful. How would he react if someone tried to close the distance? Curiosity piqued Encreed. The whip was a long weapon, advantageous at a distance. Since it was a weapon designed to maintain a hit-without-being-hit range, the skillful handling of it made it particularly menacing. Thus, Encreed wanted a chance to face such a unique weapon. “You, didn’t even glance at our Keene, did you?” Marcus suddenly addressed Encreed, who couldn’t make sense of the comment. He didn’t even know who Keene was. “The beautiful lady our family sent before. Don’t you remember her?” “Oh.” How could he forget? He just hadn’t paid her much mind at the time. “Keene was quite upset you didn’t even ask her name.” Marcus took a sip of the tea, then set the cup down, pushing it aside without the intent to drink more. Encreed acknowledged Marcus’s words. He had indeed not asked for her name. He had told her to leave almost as soon as she arrived after waiting two days. “Is that so?” “Not interested, are you?” “Am I supposed to be?” “You don’t have to be.” Marcus chuckled. Did he come merely for a leisurely visit? That didn’t seem likely. Silently observing, Kreis remained seated beside Marcus, attempting to decipher his intentions. His sharp mind whirred, alternating between posed questions and answers. Why come here at this moment? To halt the city’s expansion? That didn’t seem probable. ‘No, he’s probably using that as an excuse to distance himself.’ As the previous lord, Marcus would have stepped in, asserting he’d explain things comprehensively. That would be a reasonable point, justifying the excursion. More importantly, what was the reason Marcus was summoned back from the Border Guard previously? It was because his increase in military forces raised suspicions of rebellion, leading to a summons to the capital. Yet here, without Marcus’s presence, the city expanded further. The forces grew and continued to swell. This could be seen as the formation of a threatening military power. "See, it’s not my fault! So I said I'd come and give him a good talking to!" He might have spoken elegantly on the surface, but the actual intention likely diverged. Pushing a bit, declaring an excuse wouldn’t have been difficult. So, did he truly come to warn? It doesn’t seem that way. Kreis’s instincts told him so. What was the real reason for coming here at this timing? There would be a reason for distancing himself from the capital. What does he want? What is he aiming for? What does the Border Guard have to offer? Kreis’s gaze naturally shifted sideways. He could see the side profile of Encreed, a dangerous and eccentric captain with black hair and piercing blue eyes. From the royal court’s perspective, he was an unexpected and sharp blade. ‘Ah.’ Only then did Kreis begin to comprehend part of the situation. ‘The captain is here.’ Encreed’s presence was as impactful as a meteor falling from the sky. A glowing meteor drew all attention, increasing the number of gazes instead of diminishing them. Among them were both friendly and hostile ones. Marcus leaned towards being cordial, yet trusting someone entrenched in politics was as foolish as one could get. Kreis knew that through the books he’d read, his experiences, and his instincts from a young age. Likewise, Marcus wouldn’t easily trust Encreed, either. ‘Thus, confirmation.’ What did this imply? While Graham, Marcus, and Encreed exchanged trivial words, Kreis continued his contemplation. Formulating hypotheses, he continually aligned them with unfolding events. The known, the confirmed through inference. The unknown, now graspable through current understanding. And those shrouded in mystery, needing to remain blanketed in black. These elements arranged in his mind, stacking to form a conclusion. Only after reflecting on what he knew did Kreis finally speak once more. The captain required awareness to react accordingly. Leaving things be would lead to repercussions. The captain might not easily sway, but leaving visible threats unattended wasn’t an option. Why did thoughts of the captain’s silhouette blocking his path resurface? It was a mystery. Nonetheless, issues need addressing at the right moment. Failure to do so brings disadvantage. Kreis knew this. Hence, he spoke. He moved his tongue. “Are you here to confirm something?” At the sudden question, Graham's gaze shifted first. Aside from training, the lord mostly indulged in rest. All responsibilities had been thrust upon the lieutenant. In reality, Kreis managed everything lately, with the lieutenant merely assisting. Under the lord’s tacit approval, Kreis even recruited a few subordinates to aid him. The extra personnel were all for administrative purposes. The assistance from the Lockfried merchant guild was significant as well. At least in terms of numbers, there was no one more adept than them. Thanks to the restful time, Lord Graham’s eyes sparkled with clarity. His gaze turned to Kreis. "What do you want to say?" the lord inquired. Marcus hadn’t placed him in the lordship for no reason. Graham knew precisely when to intervene. Marcus simply looked on in silence. “Why does he leave a pretender to the throne unchecked? Why is the territory's defense left wanting?” Kreis slightly raised his voice. At those words, Graham’s brow furrowed. Such remarks were perilously close to treason. This was troublesome. They were already under scrutiny and pressure due to their expanding military. The fact that they had held out until now was largely thanks to Marcus. He had appropriately shielded them from the central powers. But what was this about? Kreis placed his hands on the table, interlocking his fingers, and leaned forward slightly as he spoke. “Even if we muster forces here, the central government won’t send an army. No, they can’t.” Marcus watched Kreis intently. Before Graham could say anything, Marcus posed a question. “Why do you think that?” “Didn’t I mention it earlier?” “Leaving a pretender to the throne unattended? Allowing territorial defenses to be weak?” Despite the constant threats from marauders and beasts, as well as rumors of low-level chaos, they did nothing. A chaos tackled by mere madmen not even knighted could surely be handled by the knightly order. Previously, he had seen semi-knights Aisha and Frock Luagarne. If they could be sent, then couldn't they handle the chaos? But they didn’t. No, they couldn’t. Sending a single semi-knight was one thing, but dispatching part of the knightly order’s personnel was impossible. The reason? “They’re overstretched.” That was Kreis’s conclusion. “Something is happening at the central government—a situation more dangerous and threatening than combating a pretender or dealing with marauders.” Was this guy for real? Marcus’s eyes appraised Kreis. Had he been like this all along? Truth be told, Marcus was impressed. Upon visiting the Border Guard, he could see the city had grown significantly. The augmentation of a squad’s worth of forces at nearby outposts was particularly striking. Was it merely a measure against marauders and beasts? No, it had several additional benefits. First, it instilled trust in passing merchants. Once stabilized, these outposts could pave the way for even small-scale pedlars. If they increased the number of checkpoints to make them even more contiguous, that is. And it seemed that was likely to happen. Marcus himself had noted the bottleneck effect causing people to flock to this place. Merchants’ trust would make the gold coins flow vigorously through the city’s veins. The more vigorously coin circulated, the larger and richer the city would grow. So it wasn’t surprising. “That neighboring lords are protesting isn't unexpected.” The populace is the strength of a territory. But when peasants leave to cultivate elsewhere, that spells trouble. Adjacent domains were sending their folk over. The Border Guard had enough resources to accommodate such people. Wasn’t Greenpurl at their disposal? It was merely a matter of insufficient manpower and resources for cultivation—no other reasons. Krona could solve all of these issues. “Earn gold through trade.” Lure people through rumor. It was an extraordinary strategy. That’s not all the outposts achieved. The second benefit was crystal clear. “It’s an excuse.” The expansion of forces would catch the central government’s attention. This gave them a rationale. Due to marauders and beasts, they needed manpower. Meanwhile, they could provide a safe trade route, could they not? They weren’t amassing soldiers for combat. These outposts allowed such explanations. It wasn’t about amassing forces, but about distributing them, wasn’t it? Would the one who initiated all this stop at this point? No, not if they were like him. They’d expand and link the trade routes further. They’d tie outposts to neighboring territories. Not all could be connected—that was impossible. “Instead, they could establish a few more frontier cities.” Envision territories sprawling like a spider's web with the Border Guard at the nexus. Behind them, vast farmlands like Greenpurl, with a military force not to be underestimated: a grand dominion. A land broader and more fruitful than Count Molsen’s domain, known as the king of the outer regions, and one that stockpiled strength. Did he see this far? “Of course.” Why do something like this otherwise? Whose idea was this? He figured it originated from the wide-eyed fellow before him. Having seen the results firsthand, he understood, but couldn’t have conceived it himself. Marcus also placed his elbows on the table, interlacing his fingers and resting his chin upon them. “You said there’s trouble at the center. What do you think it is?” “I wouldn’t know.” Kreis shrugged dismissively, leaning back. He won’t speak out of turn on what he claims to not know? Despite likely having some guesses? This guy’s intriguing. “You’re being insolent towards your lord.” Marcus’s guard stepped forth as Kreis shrugged offhandedly, not even looking at them. But instead of keeping quiet, Encreed interjected. “Something seems reversed here.” It seemed more typical for his subordinate to stand up before him and say such things. Well, irrelevant matters really. Encreed continued speaking. “Don’t get involved, or you might lose your head.” With the casual comment, veins bulged on the back of the guard’s hand. He placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, readying his stance as if prepared to strike at any moment. A semi-knight? No, but he seemed to have scraped through dangerous paths before. Encreed realized they underestimated his abilities. No matter how widely rumors spread, there would always be nonbelievers. Hadn’t he seen enough? Even on Frock Maellun's days off, or when people were reluctant to face him, challengers surfaced occasionally. Individuals more skilled than the average soldier but at a level akin to semi-knights. They were often not your typical mercenaries but more like bodyguards for merchant guilds or noble families. Just like the one standing before him. "If you draw, you’ll really get hit. Even if you blabber, you'll get hit." Encreed warned again. Marcus, observing with amused interest, made no move to stop his guard, who decided to teach the insolent man a lesson. He intended to strike with the flat of the blade, not the edge. With a click, he released the scabbard’s latch. His intention wasn’t to attack Encreed but to deliver a strike to Kreis’s cheek. "Stop it." Graham spoke with concern, but it was to no avail. The guard drew his sword, aiming to thrust forward with a swish. Encreed pushed back his chair and stood. The chair scraped back and toppled over with a clatter. In the moment the chair tipped over, Encreed vanished from the guard’s sight. It appeared that way to the guard's eyes. This was the essence of ‘instant’ movement. Encreed closed the distance to stand right in front of the guard. "What!" The shocked guard attempted to pull his sword back. Encreed lightly pressed down on the hand holding the sword and drove his opposite elbow into the guard. Thunk. The elbow struck the area between the guard’s lower abdomen and heart. "Ugh!" He had struck the passage for air to pass through—a vital point learned from Audin. The guard, making a choking sound, stumbled before collapsing to the floor. The other guard did not attack. He seemed to have a steadier demeanor than his comrade. He simply stood behind Marcus, watching keenly. Having dealt with his friend, Encreed straightened his posture. Now, he had room to add his voice to the conversation. Kreis had asked if they came to confirm something, but Marcus hadn’t replied. What was this confirmation for? Though Kreis had preferred not to voice his final thought due to its potential risk, Encreed didn’t hold back. Frankly, he didn’t care. “Is it a civil war?” He asked anyway. What was the purpose of this confirmation? It was about dividing sides. Are you on my side or theirs? And why divide sides? War, a civil conflict. If it were against an external enemy, there would be no need for this. Thus, it suggested an internal conflict—a civil war. “You’re quick to catch on.” Marcus commented. Encreed glanced at the collapsed guard to see if he’d try anything else, but he merely stood, rubbing his abdomen. His fierce eyes showed he wasn’t a fool—he had realized the difference in skill. “No wonder you turned down Keene.” Marcus added. Encreed found himself wondering why that mattered. He wasn’t concerned.