366 - A Knight Who Eternally Regresses

366. Not All Squires Are Alike In the Red Cloak Knights, there are three knights, each with a squad named after them—a testament to their remarkable renown, which goes without saying. However, a knightly order cannot function with only three knights. The true core of any knightly order is its squires, numbering over twenty in this case. Of these, fewer than five remained in the capital. While there were more than fifty squires in total, less than ten were left in the capital. That was according to Aesia’s explanation. “Well, there are a few who are on the level of a squire. The Royal Guard Captain is from the order, and there are the renowned twins who serve as the marquis’s guards.” “Were they twins?” Encreed interjected during the conversation. “You mentioned meeting the Marquis of Octo, right? Yeah, they’re fraternal. They don’t look alike, do they? I was surprised to learn they were twins too.” Aesia was unpretentious. At least, that’s how she appeared to Andrew. Her orange hair, though a bit split at the ends, only seemed to emphasize her liveliness. Unpretentious and lively. Like a country lass who grew up without a care in the world. That’s what he thought. In terms of looks, Ester the sorceress or Kin Vicer might be more striking, but when it came to charm, Aesia the squire seemed capable of igniting a fever in the hearts of many men. ‘That cheerful nature with those looks.’ She felt incredibly attractive. Moreover, she showed no concern for distance, easily establishing closeness. The word “unreserved” immediately came to mind. She naturally joined the table, eating and drinking as if she had been there just yesterday. “Pass me that bread, would you?” The funny thing was that even Lem and the others treated her casually. And she was a squire of the esteemed Red Cloak Knights. Andrew found it difficult to adapt, but soon dismissed all seriousness. ‘I give up.’ Things always seemed to go awry when Encreed was involved. It was no different from the first time he went on an operation with the captain. Back then, everything was unbelievable. ‘He acted like he knew the enemy’s position from within the bushes.’ Moreover, they fought while setting fire to the camp and only realized after escaping that this guy was somehow different. Now, though the scale of things had grown and their positions were higher, nothing had changed. Andrew decided to see it that way. “Here.” Aesia sliced a round loaf and tossed it. Lem caught it in mid-air and spread marmalade on it before taking a bite. Ragna sliced preserved ham and removed the rough crust from the bread, only eating the soft inside. “You picky brat,” Lem remarked. “Well, if picking fights with her means you’re itching to get beaten, just wait until after the meal, you wild animal.” Ragna replied nonchalantly. “It’s not ‘her,’ it’s Aesia.” Aesia raised her hand and interrupted in the middle. “Oh, right. Aesia.” Ragna naturally dropped the formal speech as well. Aesia even thanked Andrew, the owner of the mansion, for the invitation. Of course, there had never been an actual invitation. She had simply barged in, sparring and joining the meal. Andrew responded with, “Not at all,” sparing her any awkwardness. “That guy suits my taste,” Aesia remarked as she glanced at Saxon. “Most women say that, but don’t fall for it. He’s met more than a couple of ladies,” added Lem. “They’re all friends.” Saxon responded smoothly for once. Seeing him, Aesia thought he likely had many female admirers. Declaring someone her type didn’t mean she’d fallen for him right away. Aesia looked at Encreed, who was leisurely chewing bread. He was a fascinating man to watch, time and again. “I don’t even have many women friends,” Encreed, feeling her gaze, remarked. “I didn’t ask.” “Hey. How about a spar after this?” Instinctively, Aesia nodded. “Once my food’s settled.” The tasks to accomplish could be organized within this period of digestion. Aesia wasn’t just there for leisure. “We’ve agreed to capture the Moonlight Beast, remember?” “Already named it, have you?” “It only appears under the moonlight, after all.” Not everyone in the capital was a fool, idiot, or simpleton. They had managed to specify the beast’s appearance, location, and timing. Listening to the explanation, Encreed asked, “Why hasn’t it been dealt with?” She mentioned there were five remaining squires. There were also squires and guards. It was the capital of a nation. Wouldn’t there be enough people to handle such a task? Of course, there were. Yet it had been left unchecked. There were several reasons for this. Firstly, they underestimated the threat. Secondly, those outside the knightly order were reluctant to employ their power. “Everyone’s too busy watching out for their own safety. But I sort of get it.” Aesia spoke candidly and then elaborated. “One squire got attacked. Wounded badly. Not sure if he’ll even survive.” A squire being attacked underscored how dangerous this Moonlight Beast truly was. “What about the priests?” If they were attacked, why was the treatment inadequate? A squire is a person recognized for their talent, chosen among hundreds, if not thousands. A symbol of martial strength. And the knightly order, in essence, were those preparing to become knights. Naturally, they were well-treated. Exceptionally so. Having a designated cook was a given, and they could at least receive the prayers of priests. With divine powers, a serious injury could be healed. They’d at least ensure one wouldn’t die. “Well, the priests in the capital have vacated their positions. The palace-exclusive priest claimed they couldn't exert divine powers due to other reasons.” Encreed recalled the temples he’d seen scattered throughout the capital. There were several, not just one. Naurlia didn’t persecute religions, so there were a few temples in the capital, Naurl. It wasn’t quite like Legion, a holy city, but there were considerable temples here too. And yet, not a single priest? “To be precise, there are no priests wielding divine power. One had already fallen to the beast.” When the Moonlight Beast first appeared, the response was slow. It immediately targeted a priest enlightened in divine power. As a result, that priest was now left gasping for breath. She was hanging on by a thread, they said. Some of the other priests who could wield divine power had gone to the border. “Divine power is rare, after all.” At least a healer from the palace was tending to the situation with everything they could muster. There were alchemical potions too. “She won’t die,” Aesia stated. Her casual declaration almost carried a deep-seated grudge, or rather, a palpable determination that she would absolutely capture it. “We will catch it,” Lem reinforced her statement, as if it were a given. And it might as well be, since hunting such creatures was nothing new to Lem. “Yeah, thanks. Your name was Lem, right?” Aesia replied. Encreed found Aesia quite fascinating. Had she always been this sociable? Previously, they hadn’t had the time or the circumstances for deeper conversation, so he hadn’t known. Yet, even back then, the impression she left wasn’t a bad one. “The sky is overcast again today,” Saxon commented in a nonchalant tone. And he wasn't wrong. The moon wouldn’t rise tonight either. Moreover, even if the moon did rise, it didn’t guarantee an appearance. Why was that? It was a mystery but one worth pondering. Delving into it might lead to formulating a hypothesis. “In any case, after the squire was killed, one junior knight gave chase but lost sight of it. It moves incredibly fast, you see. It's hard to catch up chasing from behind like before.” “Is there a reason why the knightly order isn’t stepping in?” Having roughly finished his meal, Encreed cleared his leftovers, and a maid brought him tea. Aesia made a face as she bit into an apricot. It seemed overly tart. “What do you think?” There was no need to ask twice. It was due to the situation in the palace. “We serve the queen.” They didn’t leave the queen’s protection solely to the Royal Guard. It was about safeguarding the throne. “Then what about you?” “With the marquis’s power, it’s easy to divert a few junior knights. They say he nurtured so many snakes in his belly that he’s called the Hydra’s innards.” At that, Andrew gave a knowing look. See? Everyone calls him that. That was the implication. Encreed gave a slight nod. He recognized at first glance that the marquis was someone who concealed his intentions. So what did it matter? What was crucial was determining that this Moonlight Beast was somehow connected to the Black Sword and finding the leader of the Black Sword. ‘Because he’s Saxon’s nemesis.’ Whether he caught it to kill, torture, or dry into jerky, that was up to Saxon. But finding the leader would be a deliberate pursuit. It was a matter concerning a comrade. Though unspoken, it was an accepted request. That was the primary reason for capturing the Moonlight Beast. The second was to protect those suffering the consequences. The marquis’s request trailed as a distant third. It didn’t matter if this opponent was the Hydra’s innards, the reproductive organ of a snake, or anything else. “So, you’re free until tomorrow?” Encreed asked. They could only wait for the moon to rise. Unless the clouds unexpectedly cleared at night, Aesia wouldn’t have much to do in the meantime. “Yeah.” “Then what?” “How about we spar some more?” Aesia’s eyes blazed with excitement at the suggestion. Encreed was eager to face her sword once more. “I’d like to take on the rest of you too.” Aesia’s enthusiasm was infectious, her fire spreading brightly. If Sinar saw it, he might be tempted to put it out with water. Lem and Ragna responded to that energy. “Sounds good.” “Anytime.” Neither was one to shy away. “Leave me out of it.” Saxon shook his head. “Count me in too.” Dunbakel joined in, his usual deep voice even lower. “Great!” Aesia exclaimed, heading outside with zeal. A sparring session was imminent. Everyone moved, and Andrew joined them. The five trainees who had been exercising on the side stopped to watch as soon as the sparring began. Even Mack took the time to observe. It was a duel between squires. Missing out would be a mistake. Of course, witnessing it wouldn’t improve their skills overnight. But even seeing the spectacle offered the chance to experience the imagined outcome firsthand. That was a significant difference. For them, it was akin to a stroke of luck. Encreed approached everything with seriousness. Aesia was more animated than ever, sparring, eating, drinking, and eventually taking over a room in the mansion. The skies grew overcast, and rain poured down. For now, it seemed hard to catch even a glimpse of moonlight. Amidst it all, Encreed learned and learned again. “Hey, are all squires the same? Are all knights alike? Were all mercenaries identical? Should I talk in terms of Naurlia’s military ranking? Are all lower-tier soldiers the same?” No, they aren’t. Even among lower and mid-tier soldiers, skill differences were stark. The higher rank one ascended to, the clearer the disparities became. “When it comes to squires, the differences can be quite pronounced. And I’m somewhere in the middle.” Her talent was recognized, but by skill, she was mid-level. “There are squires who might fall short but can still contend with knights over a few bouts.” Aesia’s eyes gleamed, as if to say she too would keep advancing. “Right, I didn’t know.” It was too far and high to see. Only after climbing could he discern their differences. For instance, to Andrew, Aesia, Encreed, Lem, and Ragna were all equally monstrous. During sparring, Aesia never managed to best Lem or Ragna. Whenever Lem and Ragna clashed, Lem never managed to overcome Ragna. Encreed, on the other hand… “Is it right to insist on real swords to break through phantom swords?” He was repeatedly bested by Aesia. Encreed concluded that defeating her in sparring was difficult. ‘Phantom sword.’ He understood the gist of her technique. Through analysis and review, he grasped her method. She implanted illusions, clouded her opponent’s vision, and disrupted their sense of distance, all while incorporating speed. Or rather, not just speed. He’d targeted that aspect before, only to be caught by her wide swordplay. Hidden within the phantom sword was an unpredictable strike. That was deceit itself. She had mastered it thoroughly, turning it into a formidable weapon. Encreed found himself laughing at the challenge. The more difficult it was, the more motivated he felt. That was the core of Encreed’s character. The rain poured relentlessly for four days. Contemplation, reflection. Sparring, training. By the time the fourth day passed, the weather cleared up splendidly. Rolling in the mud during sparring, washing up, and chatting away. While they discussed strategies to capture the Moonlight Beast, Aesia had become well-acquainted with everyone. “Wow, a sorcerer? That’s fascinating.” She even managed to build a tolerable relationship with Ester. “Hey, this is your horse? Why are its eyes like that? Wait, do you understand what I’m saying?” She made friends with the cross-eyed horse too. Her sociability seemed not just impressive; it felt like her special skill. Encreed found himself occasionally listening to her stories. “I'm from a commoner's family, the usual tale. Picked up a sword by chance as a child. Realized my talent.” “I have another dream besides becoming a knight.” “It’s not something I usually tell others. What am I blabbering about? You’re a bit odd. You have this knack for making people lower their guard.” On that fourth day, just before dusk, as the sun began to set, the late afternoon came. “The full moon will rise tonight,” Saxon announced. It was skyward, just before sunset. Encreed lifted his head from the middle of the training ground. A clear, high sky stretched above, devoid of a single cloud. Saxon was right. Even though the sun hadn’t set yet, the faint outline of the moon was visible. A full, round moon.