A Knight Who Eternally Regresses - Chapter 435



Only Noblemtl

435. Lake of Experience

Encred had experienced pauses so many times in his life that he forgot about his impatience. He just did it.

I ran, jumped, and climbed the mountain.

Luagarne did not leave any tool unused; he used it.

It was one of those things where they used people and everything without distinction.

Encred fought against Dunbakel, Teresa, and Lawford just yesterday.

I thought they wouldn’t accept a three-on-one fight because of their pride, but the three accepted without a second thought.

Luagarne told the three of them how to fight together so that their hands would not get tangled.

Even with that alone, Encred had a hard time winning against Set. Set’s tactics were very tricky.

Dunbakel used his characteristically quick feet and movements to circle around and stab whenever he saw an opening, while Teresa persistently pushed her shield forward from the front.

It was already a difficult opponent, as the technology to obscure the view became more refined and the overall skill level was definitely higher than before.

Beside those two, Lawford swung his sword with utmost sincerity.

It wasn’t a double-edged sword. It was a method of swinging the sword after calculating various fighting techniques.

For instance, sometimes Lawford would swing his sword not directly at Encred, but towards the air, and when there was nowhere else to dodge, Encred would sometimes have to deliberately swipe his sword away.

Then, a gap naturally appeared, and Dunbakel’s sword flew into the gap.

Encred caught a glimpse of Lawford’s talent once again.

‘If three people fight together, how do you calculate the number?’

A talent like this would shine when commanding a small force.

Lawford was really awakening my talent.

It’s like reading the direction of the battle as if looking down from above.

This would work not only for small-scale tactics like this, but also for individual tactics.

It could be said to be the standard for sword fighting. Luagarne spoke of hints and restraint, but Lawford faithfully swung his sword and drove back his opponent.

‘excel.’

Encred recognized Lawford’s talent.

Luagarne had already noticed that and woke him up with a few words of advice.

But you will once again feel how real the difference in talent is.

Encrid didn’t even care.

What can I do when I’m so busy training every day that I’m barely able to catch my breath?

Dunbakel’s skills have also improved significantly, as evidenced by his ability to do whatever he wants.

She displayed killing skills using her entire body, including her two swords, claws, and toenails.

A swordsmanship that comes from the realm of instinct.

Fingernails that stretch out while thinking.

It’s messy, but it’s equally difficult to stop.

Anyway, it was just yesterday that I barely managed to hold out against those three.

And today, a more unusual word came back.

“Have you ever fought a wizard?”

Before he could answer Luagarne’s question, a woman with long hair and wearing only a thin robe appeared from behind Frock.

Of course it was Esther.

“Is it necessary to improve your sword skills?”

She asked back.

Encrid thought for a moment and then said.

“That might be the case.”

Honestly, I have no idea, but I guess I’ll get something out of it.

Encred’s greatest talent was being able to make everything in the world, everything he saw, his teacher.

Esther also did not utter a word of rejection.

She blinked her big eyes several times, combed her hair with one hand, and raised the other hand as she spoke.

“Then let’s do that. Demueller’s Sickle.”

She made a seemingly meaningless gesture, extending her thumb, index, and middle fingers along with her words.

At the same time, Encrid pulled out Aker and swung it.

Zzz!

A blade of compressed air flying through the air met Encred’s sword and shattered.

Encred felt a faint recoil in both arms. It was as if he had blocked a sword swung with all his might by a warrior with thick arms.

It was understandable that he would have been confused, but Encrid turned around and moved forward as soon as he blocked the attack.

He hit the ground and his body left an afterimage.

It was a speed that was difficult to follow with the eyes unless you were a knight.

“Beware of snakes.”

Esther’s words penetrated the gap and lodged themselves in my ears.

No, it’s a voice that rings throughout my head.

I felt like I had to hear that.

It was a strange thing. I was running forward with my eyes focused on the ground, and then I heard a person’s voice ringing vividly in my ears?

Encrid had a vision of the Aker he held in his hand turning into a snake and wrapping itself around his arm, but the vision disappeared in the blink of an eye.

It was thanks to the will to refuse that it came naturally.

Zzz!

Encred’s black sword was blocked by Esther’s open palm. It was the wizard’s barrier.

How to break this?

I’ve already experienced it once. It was when I beheaded the Count.

Raise your sword vertically and slash downwards with a double-edged sword.

It contains the will to strike. It was a sword stroke similar to lightning, although not as strong as Ragnar’s black lightning.

“It will be blocked.”

Esther said, moving her hands ceaselessly and changing their shapes.

As she drew several shapes with her hands, a barrier overlapped over her head and she caught Encred’s sword.

“Royta’s Genuine Spider Web.”

If a passing wizard had seen it, he would have been terrified.

A moment ago, Esther first implemented the order and then recited the incantation.

This was a technique called the back spear that even the most skilled wizards would not dare to imitate.

To cut to the chase, Encred was completely defeated by Esther.

There is a reason why the saying goes that a prepared wizard is more fearsome than a knight.

She proved it.

The magic the Count showed was large-scale and overwhelming.

Having pierced through ten thousand phantoms, Encred decided that he would have the advantage in a battle against the wizard.

But it wasn’t.

Of course, Encred had no idea how great of a sorceress Esther was.

Especially when it came to one-on-one combat, Esther was already a genius that no wizard could match.

Even the wizard Galafran, who had grabbed the river water that he had encountered in the battlefield prepared by Azpen in the past, would have been thrown out as soon as he saw Ester if she had been normal.

Esther felt threatened three times when dealing with Encred.

It was amazing that they had pushed the wizard to this extent, but Encred didn’t realize it.

“One more time?”

Encred just did what he always did.

“As much as you want.”

Esther nodded competently.

If the other person wanted it, I just did it.

She did not back down, and that day Encred suffered a broken left arm and her hair was so burnt that it had to be cut short.

“That looks nice too.”

Luagarne, who had a clear aesthetic sense, also liked Encred’s short hair.

Throughout all this, Encred has not made any significant progress.

But there was a lot to be gained from just changing one’s perspective.

“When dealing with a wizard, just talking to him is like giving the opponent the upper hand.”

Esther gave advice on how to deal with wizards.

Encred took everything to heart. Being taught by someone and digesting it over and over again was something he was better at than anything else.

He did so.

Esther smiled. Encrid looked at her and said.

“You shouldn’t laugh at other people without permission.”

If you think about it, she was a woman who rarely smiled like Shinar.

“why?”

Esther asked back.

“If you look in the mirror, you’ll know, but don’t you know that if you look between those thin robes, you’ll gouge out your eyes?”

“No, I know. This is also a weapon. Those who are so captivated by my face naturally forget for a moment that I am a wizard.”

Where does tactics begin?

Encred had a small realization.

What if you could sway the eyes of others by improving your appearance?

It was a statement that matched the logic of the Valencian mercenary sword.

“That’s great.”

“My face is always great.”

Esther took Encred’s words with a smile.

Although I was talking about tactics rather than faces, Encred didn’t bother to mention it.

If someone were to overhear their conversation, they would probably find it quite bleak, but I actually thought that they were having a much friendlier conversation than they had ever had before.

Esther admitted that she had somehow become part of this crowd.

“That soldier?”

At the end of the sparring, Encred asked. Esther had brought a soldier to teach, and sometimes she would call him over to see what he was doing and ask him questions.

“He has talent.”

Esther answered shortly.

That was all.

Encred didn’t ask any more questions.

Esther wasn’t trying to raise a disciple.

The first reason was to teach and establish something new for myself.

The second reason was that if I left it alone, it was obvious that I would learn some poor magic and cause an accident.

Wouldn’t it be clear that if we’re going to do it, it’s better to turn it in a helpful direction?

It was a thought that came to mind because I had been watching what Encred did consistently.

Should wizards be narrow-minded?

‘Not anymore.’

Esther admitted that although her life was one of isolation, studying and struggling, she also learned a lot from observing the people around her.

No, it actually helped her more.

“Okay, don’t kill me.”

Encrid said, because there were false rumors going around that Esther used soldiers as sacrifices.

“If you get unlucky and end up dying, it can’t be helped.”

Esther said, knowing that the path to magic was difficult.

Encred nodded, reading that there was no malice in Esther’s words.

I don’t think you’re really going to use it as a sacrifice.

Of course, some soldiers did create fear in themselves when they saw the letters carved into the bodies of their friends who were brought to Esther.

If your spirit is that fragile, it will be shattered in vain on the battlefield.

Encrid wanted to raise a strong army.

Then, it seems that even such trivial rumors should be easily overcome.

In this way, a duel with a wizard was added to Encred’s daily life.

“What should I do if my opponent uses hints and restraints?”

Luagarne started sharing her experiences throughout the process.

It was Prock’s experience of exploring the unknown, seeking out the unknown through battles and fights for over a hundred years.

“Hints and restraints aren’t everything, but if you can do it, there’s no better swordsmanship.”

“It can be easily broken by a straight sword.”

“You just have to anticipate the opponent’s heavy and sturdy sword. Brother, it would be better if you could drop it, catch it, and break it.”

-Hints and restraints can be done with the eyes. If the opponent is sensitive, it can be done with will alone.

Ragnar’s opinion soon began to interfere with Luagarne’s teachings, and even Audin meddled, and even Saxon left notes saying he was busy.

Rem surprisingly didn’t come out very often.

Encrid gained experience from Luagarne.

In other people’s words, how to break through the experience.

Furthermore, I have practiced it with my body over and over again.

“It would have been boring before, but it’s a bit better now.”

Among them, there was also praise that didn’t seem like praise from Ragnar.

Previously, Encred, which could not be implemented properly even if it was told, was no longer there.

As if he hadn’t built his body using isolation techniques for nothing, his body had become more solid than ever.

Just by looking at the way he straightened his body starting from his feet and distributed his weight between both feet, you could see that his balance had improved.

To sum up, I became a knight who could endure even black lightning strikes.

Although Luagarne didn’t intend to do everything, the time, experience, and training she gave Encred really helped him.

My skills didn’t improve by leaps and bounds right away, but as I learned, my horizons broadened and my range of thinking changed.

This naturally had an impact on others as well.

In particular, Lawford overcame some walls while receiving teachings from Luagarne.

To begin with, Lawford was a man born with this talent.

Although he couldn’t see an inch ahead, he showed his skill in pushing his opponents into a trap with his sword.

There is a long-standing proverb from the continent.

Is it best to predict one step ahead?

Or is it best to let even that one move move within one’s own intentions?

It was a talk about two directions in using the Jeonggeomsik.

Lawford had the talent to follow the latter statement faithfully.

“Not bad.”

Encred said so along with the dialogue, and Lawford nodded with a satisfied face.

It is recognition heard from someone who wants to be recognized.

How could I not be happy?

However, Lawford showed satisfaction before joy and delight.

Because he enjoyed observing humans, Frock liked pretty humans, and liking attractive humans meant he was good at reading their facial expressions.

Luagarne saw the satisfaction on Lawford’s face.

The ultimate in faithful satisfaction.

She realized anew that this was the biggest difference between Encred and other people.

He was never satisfied at any moment.

‘One more time.’

Isn’t that what he said the most during training?

Enjoy the moment, be ecstatic, but never be satisfied.

‘Will I stop and be satisfied once I become a knight?’

It’s impossible.

Luagarne knows the world of knights. Even within that world, there are deviations. Even Ragnar is one of them.

‘If you’re stuck between articles, you’re still at the beginning.’

Of course, it’s better than a broken article.

Excellence of talent?

When it came to being a knight, talent was out of the question.

It was ridiculous to even compare talents when they were on top of the list.

They were all people who were considered geniuses.

From then on, what was needed was not talent but effort, direction, enlightenment, and high-quality willpower.

The world of knights is also vast.

Luagarne knew it.

Even the article on Naurilia right now is like that.

‘What about that article in the western country?’

What about the mercenary king Anu?

They are all disasters. Ragnar has risen to a similar level, and the fairies also seem to be like that.

They still have shortcomings.

The article is not the end, but the beginning.

Among the knights, most of those who could not overcome the wall of knighthood did so because they did not know this.

At least that’s what the explorer Luagarne thought.

The power of the knight was a mirage that could not be reached by running towards it as the destination.

In that respect, Encrid had no worries.

That man, consumed with greed and avarice, seemed to have no intention of ever stopping.

‘I regret not having talent.’

So much so that I found myself thinking that way.

What if that guy had been exceptionally talented?

What if you had at least an extraordinary level of talent beyond the ordinary?

You don’t have to hear the words “genius”.

What if it was just that much?

‘If not, even if I was given more time than others.’

What if someone else’s day is a week to you?

It was a vain delusion. It was foolish to dwell on something that would never happen, and would never happen.

It’s even more stupid to say that after seeing Encrid.

Because at least once during the time you are worrying, there is a man swinging a sword right in front of you.

Luagarne believed that the man would become a knight.

It was a confidence without any reason.