[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-a-knight-who-eternally-regresses":3,"chapter-a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-266":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","A Knight Who Eternally Regresses",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},428005,689,"Chapter 264","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-266",266,"\u003Cp>“Well, how did it go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The question came from Edin Molsen’s father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seated at his desk, head bowed as he scribbled with a quill, he spoke without so much as glancing up, leaving Edin’s escort to address the top of his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing stiffly at attention, the escort opened his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s opened Will. At least at the level of a junior knight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rise, open, touch, awaken, achieve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were many ways to describe someone who had unlocked their Will, but only one thing truly mattered here:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had unlocked it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man with the black hair and blue eyes—a tempting prize but not someone worth bringing in immediately—was now of considerable interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s unlocked Will?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The quill that had been scratching against parchment froze. The count lifted his head, and the change in his expression was unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The escort thought it a rare occurrence to see such a shift and watched as the count repeated the phrase, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I knew the rumors weren’t ordinary, but Will?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant the man had truly reached the level of a junior knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difference between someone “at the level of a junior knight” and an actual junior knight was like night and day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Comparing a clumsy swordsman to someone who wielded Will wasn’t even a discussion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, the world often tossed around terms like “junior knight-level” carelessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It simply meant someone who, without possessing Will, could fight on par with a junior knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The count knew better than anyone how meaningless such terms were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The count put his quill down entirely and leaned back in his chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s unlocked Will?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words he had just spoken echoed in his mind, unbidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t something to dismiss lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had suspected the man was far beyond the level of a squire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the continent, someone “at the level of a junior knight” was usually just a squire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were individuals who trained their bodies and minds rigorously without ever unlocking Will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, some led debauched lives but still stumbled upon Will, while others lived austere, monk-like lives of pure discipline to reach the same level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What they shared in common was that they were all holders of tremendous power, recognized across entire domains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A squire was already considered an incredibly skilled swordsman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And when viewed in this context, the term “junior knight-level” became utterly meaningless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, it wasn’t just a matter of being on par with a junior knight—he was a junior knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The escort observed the count’s face. Aside from the change in his eyes, his expression remained as composed as ever. His facial muscles adjusted only in a calculated, detached manner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The count offered a faint smile and said, “This just got interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He abandoned most of the plans he had been mulling over in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you think of him?” he asked again, this time probing the escort’s insight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The escort hesitated for a moment, unsure how much to reveal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man’s true intentions were impossible to discern. He was someone who could not be trusted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A madman.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although a noble of Naurillia, the count had formed an alliance—or something close to it—with Azpen’s Hurrier family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The escort himself was proof of that, stationed here under the guise of a bodyguard and guest of the count’s household but in reality a member of the Hurrier family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a junior knight of Azpen, he was a political pawn, tangled in schemes far beyond his understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one thing he was crystal clear on:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man was plotting something, and Azpen had accepted his plans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Does this man even have the capacity for fatherly love?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no evidence of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orange glow of sunset spilled through the window, filling the office with its warm hues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Choosing his words carefully, the escort finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He is incredibly difficult to deal with, a challenging opponent who exerts a strange influence over those around him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, he’s the type to gather people under his command?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not it. It’s… different.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The escort paused. How could he explain this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even without meaning to, everyone around him seems drawn to him, as if they enjoy simply being near him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The escort thought of the half-giant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She called herself Teresa the Wanderer, but anyone who failed to recognize her true nature had to be blind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had once been an enemy—someone from a completely different faction who had caused trouble. Yet now, where was she? By whose side did she remain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It defied logic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then there were the others around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lastly, the escort couldn’t help but notice a change in Edin Molsen as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been about to mention the count’s son when the count spoke first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Black Blade aims for him, you said?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sunset illuminated half of the count’s face. To the escort’s eyes, it looked as though the count had two faces, split by the light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One side held no hint of concern, worry, or even interest regarding his son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment, the escort considered that the phrase aims for him might be inaccurate, but he kept his thoughts to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, that’s what I’ve heard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, this just keeps getting more interesting,” the count said, smiling faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I’ll take my leave now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the escort exited, he was suddenly overcome with nausea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dealing with this man always left him feeling this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How far could human malice go?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was he willing to sacrifice for ambition?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone offered him a path to knighthood, what would he give up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would he sacrifice family? His child?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would he offer everything as a mere tribute for his ambition? Or would he stop short, preserving some shred of humanity?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The count before him seemed like someone who would never stop. Family, children, affection—none of it seemed to exist in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the escort stepped out of the office and into the corridor, he noticed a man standing guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clad in a black helmet with silver hair spilling out, the man tilted his helmet in acknowledgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The escort returned the gesture with a nod before stepping into the shadowed hallway, out of the sunset’s reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-helmeted bodyguard closed the door behind him with a thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The count leaned his chin on his hand, staring at the closed door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mouth felt dry. He pulled out a pipe, placed it between his lips, and snapped his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a small burst of flame, the glow of the sunset was pushed back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The count lit the pipe with the fire at his fingertips, a smile tugging at his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took a deep drag, letting the smoke fill his lungs before exhaling it through his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wisps of smoke curled out of his mouth, mingling with the sunset light to form an orange haze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Black Blade…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They wouldn’t find this amusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he was truly a junior knight and surrounded by equally formidable individuals, they’d have a hard time getting what they wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Whether they succeed or not…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Black Blade inflicted harm on Enkrid and his group, he could weigh the scales and act accordingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he doubted that would happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just a hunch, but such hunches rarely proved wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is going to be entertaining.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The count fell deep into thought, and nowhere in his mind did Edin Molsen exist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Enkrid grabbed the assassin’s wrist, his opponent yanked back with all his strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, the wrist didn’t budge an inch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if time had stopped for the arm, veins bulging on the back of the hand under Enkrid’s crushing grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even among the monstrous individuals surrounding him, Enkrid’s sheer physical strength wasn’t lacking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sharp pull, Enkrid twisted the wrist backward at an unnatural angle, breaking it. The sound of the bone snapping was clear, yet no cry of pain escaped his opponent’s lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The marketplace was a chaotic crush of people and goods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Few among the throng paid attention to what was happening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, you idiot! Watch where you’re stepping!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A merchant with a street stall barked angrily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no room to walk here!” someone else complained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked like the roads needed widening—something that probably required pouring krona into construction. Evidence of such work was visible here and there; even major roads were under renovation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This territory was undoubtedly expanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the hunchbacked assassin reached out with his other hand, Enkrid acted faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the arm could fully extend, Enkrid’s right fist shot forward, the motion too quick for even Kraiss, standing nearby, to follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was only the faint whoosh of the strike, followed by a sickening crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Esther, nestled in Enkrid’s arms, was slightly startled by the impact that barely made her shift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’s gotten even sharper,’ she thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a witch, Esther couldn’t fully comprehend what had changed about Enkrid, but her instincts told her this was the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blow shattered the assassin’s jaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid grabbed the hood of the thick robe his opponent wore and yanked it off, revealing a disheveled man with a hunchback and unkempt hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire sequence—breaking the wrist, striking the jaw, and removing the hood—was over in mere breaths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as soon as it ended, a projectile whizzed through the air toward Enkrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his heightened senses fully active, Enkrid turned to intercept it, swinging his open palm in an arc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The projectile was deflected and slammed into the ground at a perfect right angle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a dart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not bad,” Enkrid muttered, nudging the dart with the tip of his boot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“‘Not bad’?” Kraiss exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief. “You break a man in two and that’s what you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Esther leapt from Enkrid’s arms, landing gracefully on the ground. Her sudden movement startled a few onlookers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some had already noticed the fallen hunchback, the blade in his hand, and the confrontation involving Enkrid and Kraiss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While travelers unfamiliar with the local figures might not recognize them, the natives of the Border Guard territory certainly did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A knife!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An attack!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An assassin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shouts quickly escalated the chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People screamed, merchants yelled as they tried to protect their wares, and the scene devolved into pandemonium.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid expanded his senses, scanning the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing stood out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was precisely why he had called his opponents formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I didn’t sense him until the dagger was about to strike.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one who threw the dart had likely vanished into the crowd immediately after. Tracking them was near impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their ability to blend into the masses was evidence of highly refined stealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there had been fewer people, perhaps Enkrid could have pinpointed them, but now he could only focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where are you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked the question in his mind, sharpening his vision, hearing, smell, and touch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adding his sixth sense to the mix, he finally picked up a faint killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he focused on it, something whizzed toward him from behind—a heavier projectile, slower than a dart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sling stone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning, Enkrid caught sight of the incoming object. His trained eyes, honed through relentless practice, clearly made out what it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A leather pouch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trusting his instincts, Enkrid unsheathed his gladius, angling the blade so the flat side faced upward. He struck the pouch as it approached, slicing it apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack! Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pouch burst mid-air, scattering metal spikes in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, that’s new.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahhh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few spikes hit the ground. Thankfully, it was winter, and most people were dressed in thick clothing, so injuries were minimal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, the market descended further into chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone, inside! If you’re out here, we’ll treat you as enemies!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shouted order came from a patrolling soldier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the right call. In situations like this, brute force and strict measures were often the best solutions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid remained still, quietly surveying his surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss, after looking around, decided this spot was safer than moving and stayed put.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ping!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two more darts shot through the air, one aimed at Kraiss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Enkrid’s enhanced senses, the trajectory of the darts became clear—lines extending toward their intended targets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His focus reached its peak. A single, explosive moment of concentration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heightened awareness, precision, and daring all came together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a seamless motion, Enkrid dodged the dart aimed at him with a slight tilt of his head and snatched the other one from mid-air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It all happened in a single breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the assassin had seen this, their hair would have stood on end, their bladder trembling with the urge to flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they had likely seen it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid twirled the dart he’d caught between his fingers, letting it dangle mockingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So you’re aiming for Kraiss now?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A third dart came flying, this time aimed at Esther.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the leopard had already dodged, her swift movements leaving the dart to embed itself harmlessly in the spot where she had stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her speed was unmatched by any human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A low growl rumbled from her throat, and Enkrid, his senses still fully attuned, remained on high alert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was no ordinary assassin but a group of highly skilled professionals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They’re leaking killing intent on purpose, throwing those spike pouches...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the darts—were they poisoned? They likely were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killing intent flickered and disappeared throughout the market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop pushing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t trample me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know who I am? How dare you shove me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Help me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahhh, get out of the way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The market descended further into chaos, a cacophony of screams, shouts, and panic.\u003C\u002Fp>",2258,"2026-05-30T08:27:55.568Z","2026-06-01T04:30:45.896Z",1,"novelbin.me","e31cd168cbff6a1104c7ee2fbd90e52696252f0f2f14f0b540e0bce5802a7c4b","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-242","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-241",882,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-knight-who-eternally-regresses-cover.jpg"]