A Knight Who Eternally Regresses - Chapter 441



Only Noblemtl

441. The Barracks Called a City

After hearing the whole story, Asia forgot her fatigue for a moment and smiled.

I was really annoyed because my supplies were running low.

You could tell how bad the situation was just by looking at the knights personally going out to bring in a few merchants.

What an inefficient way to do things.

Thousand Bricks itself was that kind of city. It was a place where you couldn’t get away with things like being a knight.

Asia also needed time to adjust to this place. It was hard to put into words how it felt to see Lord Oara driving nails into the shortsword.

It was like watching a field being plowed with a holy sword.

But Lord Aura smiled.

Aura smiles brightly.

Aura of smiles.

Come, smiling sword.

Aura with a sunny smile.

The nicknames given to Knight Oara were all similar.

She laughed heartily.

Asia saw Oara’s smile and immediately wrote a letter asking her to send a few craftsmen and sent a pigeon to the palace.

“You’re the best. You’re handsome. As expected.”

Asia cleared her mind and gave a thumbs up.

“Is that a compliment?”

“Oh, my goodness, praise.”

Asia also seemed to be joking a lot. Encred heard that there were other things he had to do besides Jack the Swordsman.

One of the deserters joined forces with a cult member and founded a new religion, becoming a cult.

Asia added that this has been around for about two years now and that it seems like the cult is involved in something that is now quite large.

“I want to chase after him and kill him right away, but if the wave comes while Lord Oara is away, it’s over.”

For the same reason, Asia could not easily leave her seat.

It was said that if you leave your seat, a terrifying attack will occur immediately because harpy babies and monsters will poke at the city from time to time.

Encred’s arrival at a time like this was welcome in many ways.

However, since it was not a simple battle, but a fight that required tracking, chasing, and driving out, Asia did not have high expectations.

The leader of that new cult was running away so fast that if he hadn’t been there, I would have clenched my teeth and killed him long ago, even if it meant killing him in the process.

To be honest, if Encred hadn’t come, I would have taken the opportunity to come and do it myself.

Those who are not even bishops or cult leaders and are just foolish kids who talk about being cult leaders or gods can go by themselves and come back clean.

Encred asked a few more questions.

The location and size of the colony, the characteristics of the religious groups, etc.

Asia answered as best she could.

“Have you seen the village tavern? The owner would know better than I do.”

“Are you really upset about the Prohibition?”

“He’s a guy known for being a nice person. Go there, order some food, and talk to him. Oh, and there’s also something you have to watch out for from those cult guys. I heard there’s a swordsman who uses magic.”

“What magic?”

If you were to write an order, you had to be careful.

It could shoot fire from its hands, or create spiderwebs around its body.

Encred had experienced many things while sparring with Esther.

I didn’t gain any new insight from sparring with the wizard, but at least I got used to how to deal with wizards.

That’s why I asked.

“They said there was a hole in my stomach even though I didn’t even touch it.”

Asia said, making a gesture of poking the air with her palm.

He said that several of his soldiers had been subjected to it, adding that he would poke holes in the mouths of any of those phony bastards who caught them.

Encred heard everything he had to say, but he wasn’t the type of person to go out and look for them right away.

There are also three recently formed colonies.

It wasn’t a border area of ​​demonic realms for nothing. If you didn’t do anything for a while, crazy monsters would gather, build nests, and spread plague.

“Welcome. To Thousand Bricks, the border of the Demon Realm.”

Asia spoke again, and Encrid nodded calmly.

It wasn’t any different because it was a demon realm. There were a few more demons than other places, but that wasn’t any different because it was a border guard.

Asia was busy, and it seemed like resting was the priority right now. The dark shadows under her eyes might soon give birth to an evil spirit.

As a junior officer, I’m sure you have a lot of stamina, but I’ve been having a lot of tiring days recently.

“I stayed up two nights because of those harpy babies.”

If they had come all at once, I would have led my troops and fought them, but they came in small groups, watched from afar, and provoked the ones that were worth poking, and ran away if they weren’t.

Even for a knight, it was difficult to catch a harpy that ran away while casting spells.

It’s not like I couldn’t catch it if I set my mind to it, but I was too far away and kept glancing at it.

I don’t know if these guys would even come near the watchtower, but they rarely come near the Thousand Brick outer watchtower or the walls.

When the group of merchants was brought in, the harpies got excited and attacked, but Asia ran late and dealt with them.

Even Asia thought she was rather lucky.

Because it was a chance to catch and kill a few of these fucking bastards.

“Millio. Guide me. To the lodging and restaurant.”

“All right.”

Asia went to rest, leaving the soldier she had seen in front of the castle gate named Millio as her guide.

Encred glanced around the city to see if there was any commotion, such as cursing or fighting. He was looking for Rem. There was no particular commotion.

It was still just a moderately noisy and moderately smelly city.

Most of those smells were sweat.

The musty smell from the sweaty clothes mixed with the damp air to create a fantastic harmony.

People were commonly seen here and there working out their muscles or swinging weapons.

“One monster’s head.”

“Let’s break it in two!”

“Let’s die laughing!”

“Oh!”

Relief was also heard.

Six people were seen training their bodies by lifting logs and such.

Most of them were those who made arrows by servicing long bows.

They were sweating profusely too. It was that kind of weather.

Even if I just sit still, I sweat profusely.

The lingering smell was not rotten, but it was full of unpleasantness and stung my nose.

Dunbakel, who had been frowning several times from the beginning because of his sense of smell, eventually covered his nose.

“It smells bad, don’t you guys wash?”

“Have you no conscience?”

Encrid scolded Dunbakel for that.

“Why me? I washed it ten days ago.”

Encred decided that if there was a bathtub in the hotel today, he would immerse Dunbakel head first in it.

Ten days ago, I was on my way here.

Dunbakel reached the stream, wet his fingertips with water, and rubbed a few drops on his face.

I said I washed it.

“The bathtub needs to be sturdy.”

Dunbakel, sensing ominousness in Encred’s words, took a step back.

Of course, that doesn’t mean the results will change.

Luagarne was used to the damp air because he was a prog. No, he liked it.

The smell was bearable. Originally, since Frock’s limbs would grow back even if they were cut off, they were somewhat dull in terms of senses.

I actually welcomed the humid environment.

The Prok tribe had a hobby of occasionally immersing themselves in lake water for relaxation.

They weren’t frogs, but they liked everything frogs like.

Flicking insects with their tongues and washing themselves in mud in the swamps near the water were considered some of their best pastimes.

Sometimes, Luagarne thought back to the things she had received as a favor from the palace.

“Isn’t there a bathtub full of mud?”

Of course, there was nothing like that here.

“Are you talking about mud?”

Millio responded to Luagarne’s words. The soldier with the deep voice still wanted to confront Encred, but for now, he was faithful to the task at hand.

He was a soldier doing his duty.

“There is a swamp if you go around the gray forest beyond the western gate, but you must not go there. There is always a poisonous fog in that swamp.”

I feel like this isn’t something I need to say.

Encred turned his gaze as he thought about that.

The sight of the city came into his eyes. He had seen it before, but it had a unique appearance.

Houses were spread out sparsely, and dirt roads ran through the city, leading to two gates.

Most buildings were built by laying straight bricks on a foundation and constructing the house on top of that.

The reason was that the ground was prone to flooding when it rained.

It was also seen that drains had been dug here and there to avoid that.

It is a drainage ditch that is designed with the land in mind where water mostly flows down from above.

The most impressive of these was a large, open-ceilinged, cave-like drain in the center.

Wouldn’t a small stream be created when it rains? Did a giant come and dig it?

“This is the work of Lord Oara.”

Millio said, looking into Encred’s eyes. He was a soldier with a keen eye for many things.

Although his speech is rough, you can tell that he has a kind heart.

According to him, the knight had even dug a shovel.

Should I be surprised? I don’t know, so I ignored it.

Anyway, thanks to the ignorantly dug drainage ditch in the center, there didn’t seem to be any houses that would suffer flood damage even if it rained.

Encrid observed other things too.

A general store, a grocery store, a bar, a few empty houses, a blacksmith shop, a shop displaying butchered meats, some shops that don’t seem to be doing any business, a stand-alone building with a half-broken wooden scarecrow between them, a store selling firewood, etc.

“Merchants from outside give you goods in exchange for Krona, but here, most people buy things with contribution points.”

Millio chose the words he needed to say. The way the city worked was unusual.

“Contribution?”

Dunbakel asked with his nose blocked, a hoarse voice coming out.

Millio nodded at her and continued his explanation.

“Yes, it’s contribution. You can accumulate it by defeating monsters and killing demons. Or you can do something helpful for the city, like restoring the gates. If you want something big, you can help Lord Oara when he fights. Didn’t you kill the harpy earlier? The harpy that casts spells is a special species, so with that amount, you won’t have to worry about food or lodging for ten days.”

I thought it was a peculiar method and looked around, but among those I saw, there were few who were unarmed.

Everyone carried one bow.

They all had a stick design on their shoulders.

“Oh, that doesn’t symbolize each unit, but something like a rank. It’s roughly based on the soldier ranking system of Naurilia. Once a month, one of the Knights’ Squires gives instructions.”

One stick is low level, two are medium level, and three are high level.

If he started breaking sticks, he was the commander.

It was similar to the style used in the palace, but a little different, and it was a good idea to have the pattern tattooed on the shoulder so that it could be recognized at a glance.

‘It would be convenient if it could be applied to border guards as well.’

Encred looked around the city and felt a sense of unease.

The smell was bad, but it was comfortable.

It feels like coming home.

It’s not my actual hometown, but it has a calming atmosphere.

The unpleasant and gloomy weather remained the same.

I was still dripping with sweat. I felt like washing it off right away.

It was the kind of weather where you could grab the head of a Dunbakkel who didn’t wash even in this kind of weather and stick him in the bathtub.

Encred saw two soldiers fighting with wooden clubs in a small open space.

‘Daria.’

It wasn’t about fighting, it was about testing each other’s skills.

The two men, wearing only trousers and no tops, swung long wooden clubs.

The moment I saw it, I realized: this wasn’t a city.

‘It’s not a city, it’s a barracks.’

Thousand Bricks was a city in name only.

This place was like one giant barracks.

I thought I knew why it had to be that way.

It is to defeat the endless attacks by monsters and beasts.

There is no land for farming, and it is not a commercial hub. Who else would fill this city if we left out those people?

They were all fighters.

‘The entire city was turned into a barracks.’

Who else would have done that?

Come on, knight.

It was her work.

“Well, you can stay here and eat on the first floor. Everyone will recognize me since I’m famous as a demon slayer.”

It was a fairly large brick building. It seemed to be in better condition than where Lord Oara was staying.

I saw a door covered in graffiti.

Various words were engraved on it with a sharp object, like a knife.

Everyone run away. It’s not too late.

Forever, for the knight Oara.

I will burst the devil’s head. For the rest of my life.

Oh!

Let’s die laughing!

These were the words.

Encred pushed the door open.

If this was a barracks, then in reality all the city’s residents had to be considered warriors.

Encred entered the building and saw the soldier and the prostitute he had been arguing with earlier. Both were dressed differently.

The soldiers wore rough linen clothes and carried food.

The woman was armed. She was lightly armed, wearing thin leather armor and a short bow slung diagonally across her back.

It looked like he was about to go into battle or on a mission.

“Come in.”

The male soldier spoke, and the woman glanced at Encred.

“They say you’re a demon slayer, but you’re really handsome.”

Is that the original tone of the unit?

Or maybe the tone has changed like this thanks to Lord Oara.

The woman spoke her mind without hiding anything. At her words, most of the people in the restaurant looked at Encred.

“… … A man’s face isn’t everything.”

The soldier who was carrying the food said.

Luagarne couldn’t hold it in any longer and spoke up.

“Not only the face, but everything else is great too.”

It was nonsense.

Encrid ignored him and sat down. Then the woman approached him and said,

“My name is Rowena. I am a foreman.”

A sergeant was a person who commanded ten men.

“I saw you in the alley earlier.”

Encred spoke out of curiosity.

“Oh, that’s a side job.”

This city was a place where everyone who lived there was a soldier.

“If you have any questions, please contact me.”

Her words sounded ambiguous. It was unclear whether she was talking about daytime or nighttime.

“I don’t think that will happen. It might not happen.”

Dunbakel lowered his fist and muttered with a sarcastic gesture, while Encred asked his master.

“Can I wash here?”

“Huh? Yes. There is a bathtub.”

The master answered, and Dunbakel tried to run away, but was caught by the back of the neck by Encred.