A Knight Who Eternally Regresses - Chapter 413



Only Noblemtl

413. The Grand Coronation

Encred noticed that there was a musty smell on her body, perhaps because of the last ghost the Count had summoned.

“Please provide hot water and a bath, I don’t need any waiting staff.”

As soon as Encred returned to the palace, he washed, ate, and slept.

It was no different for Rem, Ragnar, Audin, and Saxon.

It was after I woke up from such a sound sleep.

There was a time when a therapist came and tried to treat everyone’s body, but everyone refused.

“I know my body best.”

Rem said so and asked.

“It’s the punishment given to me.”

It was no different from Audin.

Ragnar gestured that it was okay, and Saxon pretended not to be hurt at all.

The therapist muttered something about how he had never encountered such disobedient patients before and turned to leave.

The therapist, who had been walking away like that, bowed his head toward Encred.

“Thank you.”

It was an untimely remark. But the therapist’s attitude was extremely serious.

Encred still wasn’t fully aware of what he had done.

The schedule was too tiring for that.

The end of the battle did not mean there was nothing to do. Originally, preparation was a bigger task than war, and even bigger than that was cleanup.

A general who fights well can win the battle, and a general who prepares well can win the battle.

And it was said that a general who properly recovers after a battle wins the war.

That meant it was important to sort out the situation after the battle.

It was the same now.

Dealing with the remaining Count’s troops was also a problem, and fallen equipment had to be picked up and the campsite had to be evacuated.

After all that was over, a march awaited.

Shouldn’t we go back to the palace?

Even though there was a sense of triumph, it was amazing to have accomplished this in three days.

No, I don’t know about command on the battlefield, but in this area, Marcus’s performance stood out.

Because he handled all of this wonderfully.

This was possible because Krang didn’t give useless victory speeches.

“I think it’s time for everyone to rest. Is it important to listen to the speech of the guy who was just watching from behind? Wouldn’t it be better to wrap another bandage around the injured soldier’s arm instead of talking about that?”

In fact, Krang took care of the wounded with his face exposed, without anything to hide.

He was so open about it that few people recognized him as a prince and the next king.

In reality, there weren’t many soldiers who knew Krang’s face.

Although he had the talent to boost the morale and enthusiasm of his soldiers through speeches when necessary, his attitude was that that was not important at the moment.

Krang was a man who proved his words with actions.

Only after finishing clearing the battlefield did Encred and the others return.

Encred asked with various thoughts in his mind as he received the therapist’s thanks.

“Do you know me?”

“My son went to war.”

The therapist spoke with a limp.

“If it weren’t for my legs, I would have come forward too.”

The therapist who said that turned around. It wasn’t a thank you for saving his son.

Because his son is dead.

The therapist was heartbroken because no matter what he said, the dead person would not come back.

However, I guess we should say that it is fortunate.

If this battle had ended in defeat, my son’s death would have been meaningless. That would have been only a small consolation.

Everyone was drunk on victory and joy. The victory in the civil war, the survival from an impossible battle, the joy of the survivors.

Such things filled the palace and the capital.

There was talk of a coronation. Craftsmen were gathered in the center of the capital to build a structure to commemorate the coronation. A festival would soon take place, and when all the circumstances were settled, there would be a reward ceremony and a banquet every day.

Still, there were those who lost their families and lovers.

‘I hope you are at peace.’

The therapist left, speaking to his son inwardly, and Encred watched the therapist’s back as he left before heading to the bed.

The words whispered in my ears that my son, who had gone to the battlefield, had died.

Esther, who was not usually tired, did not leave his arms, having transformed into a leopard.

Encred woke up after a good night’s sleep and relaxed as usual with his isolation techniques.

Even if you wanted to reward someone for their achievements, the surrounding situation had to be sorted out.

That would take at least ten days.

Encred continued his life as usual.

He visited the strays and fed them a mixture of meat and vegetables instead of food, and also met Andrew and the trainees.

The number of trainees went from five to four.

“One?”

“My leg was cut off. Even with divine power, a lost leg will not grow back.”

There was a trainee who lost a leg. It was a fierce battle. While Encred himself fought his way through waves of ghost soldiers, the soldiers were not idle either.

Encred nodded.

These are people who came forward of their own free will. It would be right to respect their choice.

“He said he wished he was a prog.”

Andrew also spoke blandly.

Neither Encred nor Andrew had lived an easy life to be shaken by something like this.

“Never again.”

Andrew spoke in a flat tone, looking into space. After spitting out one word and stopping, Andrew continued as if making a promise.

It wasn’t a promise to Encred, it was a promise to himself.

“I won’t watch my people get hurt.”

Encred nodded.

It was also said that a practitioner who lost a leg became a candidate for deacon.

It wasn’t a particularly gloomy face.

“Once I get used to it, I think I’ll be okay with prosthetic legs. I think this is better than dying.”

He was a friend with a strong heart.

Encred patted her shoulder once and turned around.

“Thanks to you, thanks to you I survived.”

“You fought well and survived.”

Encred answered the trainee’s words calmly. He was sincere. He thought that she was the one who saved his life with his own hands. He also said that he had a fiancée.

I also glanced at the fiancée and she seemed cheerful.

“What if you don’t have a leg? I can feed you!”

She was a womanizer.

Krang was too busy to even see his face. Marcus couldn’t even see his nose.

Asia came to visit a few days later, but she wasn’t in a state where she could fight with determination.

Let us carefully clarify its meaning.

“… … Don’t you have anything to do but fight?”

On the contrary, Asia was shocked.

Encrid turned the material.

“Are there any other commotions at the palace?”

“What could go wrong? Since I’ve filled it with my people, there’s no one who’ll complain. There seem to be a few stupid nobles, but they’ll figure that out. Instead, they’re talking about preparing for the coronation and making it the grandest thing they can be.”

The Krang that Encred saw was a broad and large man. But people change. Have you never seen a person change before?

I saw a mercenary who risked his life for his friend stab his comrade in the back for a single gold coin.

I saw a father throwing his adopted son to a monster to survive.

The author was a good person at first. He just changed as circumstances changed.

They say that if you survive for about twenty days surrounded by monsters, that might happen?

Encred had challenged him to a duel.

I lost, but I killed him. That kind of thing happened too.

So even Krang could change.

A grand coronation.

It was his turn. He had won and was proclaiming victory. With the victory in the civil war, he had become the rightful heir to the throne.

Encred felt like returning to the Border Guard.

The sky was dark. It looked like it was going to rain again.

“How are you feeling?”

Asia asked.

“It’s okay in moderation. It’s not something that would put half your life on the line, but it’s okay for light sparring.”

Proper sparring would be difficult, but light hand-to-hand combat would be fine. It would be right to rest, but right now I felt like moving my body more.

Asia nodded and took out her wooden sword.

“You said it was a light sparring match?”

When Encred saw that and spoke, Asia tilted her head.

So it’s a wooden sword?

“Light sparring.”

Encred took out a roughly scavenged longsword in place of the broken silver. It was a sword that had been sharpened for two days.

“Where is it light?”

Asia spoke and aimed her sword, and Rem, Ragnar, Audin, Saxon, and Fel watched.

As soon as the battle ended, Pel suddenly introduced himself and joined the group.

“I am Pel, the shepherd of the wilderness.”

He has light brown hair, is slightly taller than Chris, and has a very well-trained body and posture.

“I saw your performance on the battlefield.”

Everyone looked at him with a ‘So?’ look, but Pel had thick skin on his face.

Shepherds are inherently shameless, but even among the shepherds of the wilderness, it was Pel who insisted on using a sword.

“Let’s take a tour.”

He spoke confidently, and Encred was a little surprised to see Pel, but nodded nonchalantly.

To be honest, I was a bit interested.

‘That shepherd from back then.’

The attitude was different from before. The atmosphere he gave off had also changed. It was proof that his skills had changed.

The light sparring ended with Pel watching.

I’ve already seen it on the battlefield.

‘That’s amazing.’

Pell honestly wondered if there was anyone more talented than him.

At that time, I went to see him that night and practiced against him, and although I was pushed back in the end, I thought I had caught up by now.

But the opponent’s sword became harder and sharper than before.

To an extent that it cannot be compared to that time.

I’ve grown a lot more than when I was competing with myself.

Above all, when I saw that man’s sword, my blood boiled. He was originally a belligerent, but this was different.

I was so eager to get it right away that my hands were hovering around the sword.

“… … When will you feel better?”

Pel asks.

“You’re last, kid.”

“Haha, brother. You must keep the order. There is no order when meeting the Lord, but there is an order here.”

“Go eat some more milk.”

“… … .”

“Why don’t you let me pass first?”

The order was Rem, Audin, Ragnar, Saxon, and Dunbaker. Teresa was busy silently observing Encred’s every move.

Saxon kept his mouth shut and glared at me once.

“… … Yes, let’s do that.”

Feld couldn’t be stubborn any longer. Those who were throwing out a word were all formidable.

It was difficult to gauge the skills of the person named Dunbakel.

So, should I lose? I didn’t think about losing at all.

Originally, the best food was meant to be eaten last. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to beat them all up and then deal with Encred.

Pell believed in his own talent.

I thought that I would catch up with them all in half a year at most.

Anyone can make mistakes.

Encred still felt his body creaking here and there after his fight with Asia.

Although he recovered in a short period of time, his condition was not perfect.

One day, five days later, when my physical condition had improved considerably, I received a summons from the palace.

“You must attend.”

The Marquis of Octo himself came.

“Aren’t you busy? You came all the way here just to call me?”

The Marquis of Octo was surprised that the man in front of him was unaware of his location.

“Be aware of your own position.”

Encred was now someone whom even the Marquis himself could not carelessly say anything about.

If you had to name just one hero who led the civil war to victory, who would it be?

Anyone can say the name Encred.

A being who goes beyond being a national hero and is given the title of Demon Slayer.

A person who boasted of having skills that were more outstanding than those of any other member of the Knights Templar, and who the King himself called his friend.

How are the subordinates there?

‘They are all very talented.’

Wouldn’t it be right for someone with that level of skill to belong to the Knights?

But it’s only connected to one person named Encred.

The Marquis of Octo, who had a keen political sense, knew this intuitively.

If you lose Encred, you lose them all.

It was already known that some nobles had approached them from under the water.

Naturally, everyone just turned on the light.

“You want me to take the gold you gave me and swing an axe? Don’t you know what my nickname is? Look it up and come back.”

Rem, the noble killer.

He sent shivers down the spines of all the nobles by boldly declaring that he was a man capable of beheading a noble.

He was a crazy kid.

Saxony was not even available for meeting.

Audin smiled and said that he was only following the teachings of God.

Ragnar blithely ignored all calls.

At best, I only met Rem and Audin.

“But why isn’t anyone calling me?”

Dunbakel asked a small question, but no one answered it.

It’s not like the Marquis of Octo doesn’t feel greedy either.

‘There’s no need to touch her unnecessarily and give her a bad impression.’

The Marquis was wise.

Encrid didn’t really care though.

“There will be a coronation.”

Encred nodded at the Marquis’ words.

Have your friends really changed?

Would a friend who had greater ambitions and looked further afield rather than for the throne be intoxicated with the throne and the crown?

I suddenly thought of the healer who lost his son.

Five days later, Encred stood on a platform he had built in the center of the capital, rather than in the royal banquet hall. A small tower had been built on top of the platform.

Krang stood on the podium with a smile.

There must have been a lot of work to do.

From the coronation to the awards ceremony, what lies ahead, what the Count has done, the chimera, and the commotion in the magic realm.

These were things that could not be ignored, but this was the first thing that Krang chose.

They built a tower and engraved the names of the people and dead soldiers.

It would have been a lot of work just to figure them out one by one.

There may be some who don’t like the event itself.

Still, I did it.

“Will you tell me before I do?”

A spell object with a voice amplification spell was seen in front of the memorial.

The crane called Encrid.

Encrid climbed up onto the podium.

Encred, standing in front of the loudspeaker object, gave up trying to decide what to say.

The healer lost his son.

Was what the son did meaningless?

We don’t know yet. Because no one knows the future.

But I hope it was meaningful to him.

“People.”

Encred spat out a word, took a breath, and continued.

“In memory of those who died protecting their friendships, their families, their lovers, and their own backs.”

Some of those in the capital shed tears, while others laughed.

Krang followed suit.

“I honor those who died in my stead.”

He began to recite the names placed on the monument.

“Bin, Loctine, Laxan… … .”

The memorial was long.

At the end of all that talk, Krang calmly declared himself to be the new king.

“I hereby proclaim that I am the new King of Naurilia, by your clear will and purpose. I am Kdianat Randius Nauril.”

The queen watched without saying a word and then put the crown on him.

There was applause. There was no cheering.

What should I say about this?

It was a memorial coronation.

Krang inherited the crown in memory of those who died.

It rained steadily from the start of the event.

Krang was drenched in that rain. It rained quite often, just like on the battlefield.

Swish.

The pouring rain embraced the shoulders of those who had lost family, lovers, and friends.