364 - A Knight Who Eternally Regresses

Marquis's Gift His hair had more gray than black, and his beard was short. His body was moderately trained, but he was past his prime. There was some residual flab that made it clear he hadn't dedicated himself wholly to training. Even when standing still, his noble dignity seemed to radiate. It was as if he exemplified what it meant to be a noble. To Enkried's eyes and senses, this is how the man appeared and felt. Thus, as he carefully mulled over the man's words, a thought arose. 'The Marquis.' Enkried calmly acknowledged that he'd fallen for the provocation. But that did not change anything; it was of no concern. After all, it was something he intended to pursue from the start. It was almost gratifying that the marquis had said just the right thing. However, there was no need to act immediately. The sweat had cooled just enough to allow the chill of the wind to be felt. Enkried set his axe spear down to one side. He then carefully placed each weapon in the training ground's adjacent armory to keep them free from moisture. With everything aside, he was simply hungry. He had trained and dealt with the marquis. His stomach growled. It was time for lunch. "Let's eat," Enkried said, closing the door to the armory. Quinn raised his head at the words, hoping for an invitation to join. No one extended such an offer. It seemed he went unnoticed by everyone. ‘Do they not see me?’ He felt his self-confidence dwindling. Consequently, he had little desire to linger there. "I’ll be off then," Quinn said as he departed. Five guards were waiting outside, each standing poised. They appeared quite competent. Enkried glanced at them and thought, What a spectacle to drag around. Considering the rumors of deteriorating security in the capital, it was understandable they needed to be on their guard. The marquis had notably fewer escorts. After Quinn turned away, Enkried began his walk back into the mansion and spoke. "Were you not interested?" Andrew was beside him. Enkried had noticed Andrew sneaking glances at Quinn but inquired as he let him leave quietly. "I'm too busy trying to save our family. There's no time to be distracted." Enkried nodded. Right or wrong wasn't the issue. There's no such thing in life. It's all just choices one makes. Enkried respected Andrew's decision. "The leader is unique as always," Andrew remarked. Enkried, hearing this often, let it roll off his back. At least it was better than being told to go get treatment at the temple. "Oh, I was hungry anyway," Dunbaikel said, approaching from behind. Enkried bluntly told him that there would be no meal unless he washed first. Of course, he planned on washing himself too. Once they gathered at the table, the meal was promptly served. The maid who had made a mistake with the marquis had since found her composure and diligently busied herself with serving food and drinks. Soon, the table was laden with a sumptuous spread. Today's menu featured a stew made with carrots, broccoli, potatoes, beef, and wine—a traditional dish of Naurilia. With humans mostly residing in castles due to monsters and beasts, naturally, culinary culture flourished. The art of constructing fortresses had also advanced remarkably for similar reasons. Consequently, the internal culinary culture of the fortress diversified, especially here, in Nauville, the very capital of Naurilia. Even the chefs Andrew hired could be considered top-tier if they were in a provincial city. Slurp. Enkried began with a taste of the stew broth. A rich savory flavor enveloped his tongue and flowed down his throat, reminding him of the hunger he'd momentarily forgotten while washing. He used his fork to pick up the beef, carrots, and other ingredients neatly cut into cubes and placed them on his plate. Pushing aside the bay leaves, he pierced the meat and brought it to his mouth. With one bite, the well-cooked beef offered a soft texture and promptly tore apart. It was tender and fluffy, practically shredding and dispersing in his mouth. The juicy, savory flavor of the beef harmonized with the broth's taste, smoothly cascading down his throat. The carrots were cooked to a soft texture, and the broccoli had absorbed the flavors, transforming into a new kind of vegetable. The meal was satisfying. His hand skillfully handling the fork grew increasingly brisk. Everyone seemed to share Enkried’s appreciation. Even Aster had shifted into human form to join the table. "It amazes me every time I see it," Andrew commented upon seeing Aster. Since the five trainees dined separately, apart from Andrew, everyone at the table was under Enkried's command. Aster followed Andrew's gaze and responded. "Is this the first time you've seen a witch?" It was uncharacteristic of Aster to ask. A courtesy perhaps, because the food served was to her liking. Of course, anyone would hardly perceive it as kindness, but for Aster, it truly was. "This is the first time I've seen such a beautiful sorceress." Aster didn’t respond to the remark. Andrew hadn’t said it with much intent. He simply thought it was natural that Enkried wouldn’t be swayed by Quinn Baisar. Aster cut a piece of broccoli with a knife and popped it into her mouth. Her appearance was indeed almost ethereal. Her long, flowing hair and blue eyes coupled with an aura of mystery rendered her an unapproachable figure. Despite that, everyone treated her with ease. Lem asked, and Aster nodded, while Dunbaikel chimed in, "Is it tastier to eat as a leopard or as a human?” Aster answered expressionlessly, suggesting Dunbaikel try shapeshifting to find out. Her demeanor was typical; she wasn’t upset, just being herself. Andrew, having observed for a few days, was starting to get used to them. ‘So the leopard was a witch.’ What surprised Andrew more was Enkried. Compared to when Andrew had last seen him, Enkried seemed like an entirely different being. ‘Could he really become a knight…?’ Such thoughts arose naturally, to the point where he wondered. Lost in thought, Andrew redirected his attention to the meal. Judging by the eating spectacle, he thought he might not even get a glimpse of the meat if left unattended. Even with ample preparation, it would end up like this. These people ate at least three times more than the average person. Seemingly, everyone had forgotten about the marquis. Even that was surprising to Andrew. No one asked or probed about anything. This was the distinction between following and believing. Andrew, as he observed Enkried, subtly realized what he needed to gain from his subordinates. It was an unexpected stroke of luck. So it was, after Andrew was deep in thought and everyone had satisfied their hunger, that Dunbaikel, with sauce smeared around his mouth, asked, "What do you think it is? Just to be clear, it's not a beastman." Though he cut to the chase, everyone understood. He was asking what could be prowling the city's night streets causing kidnappings. Be it a cunning trap or an elusive prey, identifying what they're dealing with is crucial. Rem agreed with this line of thinking. To hunt, one must first speculate about the prey's identity. 'A wild beast rampaging at night?' Even with the capital's security in disarray, rampaging monsters didn't align with reason. This meant it was something that hid during the day and only acted occasionally, every few nights. Even with these details, guessing its identity proved difficult. Ragna nodded lightly as well, signaling she understood and shared the same curiosity. Enkried found it remarkable that none here questioned why they should be the ones to capture it. With Dunbaikel's abrupt inquiry, it was clear he had no complaints or grievances. It was fascinating to see them follow without grumble or resistance. Admittedly, they too were quite bored. Teasing trainees and sightseeing in the capital only held interest for a day or two. Rem was already sharpening his ax blade—a sign he was eager for a fight. The air hanging over the capital was similarly stimulating. It carried a charged tension reminiscent of a battlefield. Enkried savored his mouthful, chewed, swallowed, and finally spoke. "A wizard wielding lightning, a cave, an alchemist's test subject." These were merely words in Enkried's mind. He possessed an excellent memory and had absorbed tales about incidents happening in the capital. Hadn't Andrew even organized and shared some of these accounts? The beasts that abducted people every few days, how their presence was imperceptible during the day. He gathered all this information, and something came to mind. Enkried's mouth opened again. And the black knife. Jaxen had been present at the location Enkried described. A place where traces of biological experiments were blatantly evident, discovered when overturning a site producing black knives. Wasn't it alchemist Raban? There was a madman with a name like that. He had even seen humans half-ghoul sprawled about there. Enkried pieced together the information, recalled and revisited memories, and thought deeply. What kind of existence rampages at night and hides during the day? And what could it be associated with? How would this align with the current situation? The capital houses the leader of the black knives. He lost a sword named Lycanos, and those he calls adversaries have drawn near him. No, they've done more than approach. "Does Jaxen not know he’s being pursued?" He knows. If he did not, he couldn’t have hidden his identity and played such tricks until now. "Is that right?" Jaxen asked with a furrowed brow. Enkried nodded, and without stopping, he explained further for those who followed him in silence. While the trace resembles that left by monsters, hiding during the day suggests this being has intelligence. If it didn't, it would be impossible for someone to control and release it intermittently. The entirety of the city's security forces hadn’t been reduced to incompetence. Such acts couldn’t go unnoticed. Enkried recalled the watch captain he met upon entering the capital. The man with the feathered hat left a strong impression. Regardless of skill, he didn’t seem an easy target. That they failed to detain it indicated the strength and movements of the target were challenging to counter. Enkried rested his right elbow on the table and held up a finger. "One conclusion: a human undergoing monsterization." What line of thought leads to such a conclusion? Aster, too, could only understand after hearing it. When pondering swordsmanship, Enkried was meticulous, considering every factor from one to ten. His excellent memory assisted him. To this, he added a creative and flexible mindset. This creativity and flexibility weren't mere innate traits. They demanded continual training and repetition. To Enkried, swordsmanship and physical techniques were always paths leading to dead-end cliffs. He had to continually devise ways to climb those cliffs in order to progress. Thus, he was capable of such expansive thought. He contemplated possibilities in every situation. Having compiled the information, he arrived at an answer. "It only appears when the moon is out." Jaxen added his observation. Jaxen took an interest in all the peculiar events occurring in the capital. It was only natural. Clues might arise from anywhere. However, this had slipped past his expectations. Truthfully, he'd forgotten. The world had plenty of mad alchemists conducting biological experiments. But when the pieces connected, it made perfect sense. If a human was transforming into a monster, what kind would it be? One that emerges on moonlit nights, unable to suppress its instincts. ‘Lycanthrope.’ Jaxen had deduced it as well. But there was no need to voice it; he kept silent. "Now we need only one thing," Enkried continued. Rem, who had been listening attentively, nodded and spoke. "Authorization is needed." "Exactly. If we investigate the incidents starting tomorrow, the peacekeepers will be overjoyed. They'll likely challenge us, wondering who dares step into their territory." "Won't do to knock them down one by one." Rem remarked. Enkried nodded in agreement. Rem wasn't a fool. His antics, while sometimes mere pranks, were sometimes calculated provocations. 'Whatever the case, they’re the same.' Enkried gathered his thoughts internally and spoke. If the marquis's words weren’t empty, surely he'd send something useful. If Enkried possessed the ability necessary for this task, where would the authorization come from? Who could grant it? If they had a noble’s permission, the task would be easier. Especially if they had a shield to stave off the peacekeepers' nonsense. Enkried anticipated up to that point and spoke. If Marcus or Crais had been present, both would have stood up and clapped. “Go into politics!” Marcus would have declared preemptively, “With that gift of gab, steal a woman's heart. A woman's heart is nothing but fickle. Being able to think ahead and consider everything is a talent!” Crais would have chimed in. Their perspectives were quite different, to be sure. Of course, neither was present, so there wasn’t anyone to express such admiration. Rem just wanted to swing his ax around. Ragna felt similarly, And Dunbaikel wasn’t much different. Aster had no intention of casting any spells, Yet the mention of a test subject piqued her interest. A fusion of human and monster? That’s called a chimera. It wasn’t something she intended to dabble in. It was separate from her realm of magic, unnecessary, and frankly repulsive. For a sorcerer, feelings are essential. If something evokes disgust, it’s not a good fit. Continuing with such distasteful actions would eventually diminish her influence over the world of spells she crafted, ultimately leading to a loss of magic. Having made a similar mistake once, Aster distanced herself from the matter. “I’ll rest. I like this cushion.” “Suit yourself.” Aster's absence wouldn’t change anything. Enkried raised his second finger from his hand resting on the table. “Conclusion two: tonight, with no moon in sight, just getting a good night's sleep is enough.” Andrew, who had been observing quietly, found his mouth hanging open at one point and promptly shut it upon Enkried's words. “How are you so smart?” “Haven’t you had ample time to think?” Did that mean anyone could know if they just had the time? Could anyone discover this with just a bit more time? “That sounds like you’re calling the peacekeepers and guards in the capital complete fools,” Andrew muttered incredulously, but everyone let it pass. After all, facts were facts. No, this just meant Enkried was exceptionally brilliant. Yet nobody reacted particularly to this. “Why is no one surprised?” Andrew muttered, though he soon fell silent. This was just how they were—both the man and his unit. That night, Enkried and his companions slept soundly. As usual, Enkried awoke at dawn to begin his isolation techniques, joined shortly thereafter by Andrew. As such, they began a morning that was like any other. Amidst their morning training, the voice of an outsider rang out. “Was it really you?” A visitor had arrived. More accurately, it could have been called a gift sent by an organization. To properly undertake the task, he sent for authority. By dispatching Aizia, a junior knight from the order, and naturally, she recognized Enkried.