[{"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-397":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},428172,689,"Chapter 395","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-397",397,"\u003Cp>\"Aren't you going too far?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ferryman spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s just a whim.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ferryman answered himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was madness. What was so admirable? Because it was amusing? It was only for a moment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again, the Ferryman spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Was that not the ‘event’ to come?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ferryman questioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Humans are creatures of potential and possibility.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is why they are arrogant.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He will be the same.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t know that, do you? Just as he provided amusement, the future may change as well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But if he ends up trapped, then that’s as far as he goes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ferryman questioned and answered himself in a dialogue meant for no one else to hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crang held his first war council in the palace’s training grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small platform was set up, surrounded by Royal Guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the nobles gathered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And where people gather, rumors spread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among those with keen ears, the whispers began to surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard fifty Lycanthropes appeared in front of Border Guard. They say Count Molsen is a sorcerer. Who knows what else is lurking in his territory?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dangerous indeed. It’s a miracle they held them back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not just the Lycanthropes. Rumor has it the monster that shook the capital before was also his doing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And that’s not all. It’s said that Count Molsen was behind Viscount Mernes and the chaos within the palace as well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crang never suppressed information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) he spread it further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why everyone here already knew the full extent of the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And we have to fight without summoning a single knight from outside?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How does that make sense? At least one of the Crimson Mantle Knights should be called.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"… This isn’t going to become a battle we can’t win, is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the young hereditary nobles, unable to contain his anxiety, crossed a line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though they had sided with Crang, not all of them were united in mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fear could erode trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was happening now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here stood barons, viscounts, hereditary nobles, heads of trading guilds, and guild masters—a gathering of influential figures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Insolent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you not even trust the lord you have chosen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two senior nobles, who had been observing silently, rebuked the young noble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the first speaker did not back down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reproach alone won’t solve anything. We must assess the situation rationally. If blind faith were enough, we might as well go pray at the temple.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What exactly are you suggesting, Baron Zeppel?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, the so-called Baron Zeppel immediately answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We must face reality and act accordingly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you suggesting betrayal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A noble on the opposing side spoke, his grip tightening on his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the council was held in the training grounds, everyone present was armed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few non-noble attendees frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this really okay?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one knew how long this civil war would last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it wise to be aligned with such people?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you so eager for blood, Baron Ludin?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They addressed each other formally, their words laced with tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were neighbors, separated by a single mining vein, locked in constant territorial disputes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had never gotten along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, beyond their personal quarrel, the fear continued to spread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The nobles closest to Count Molsen’s domain were the most afraid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if hordes of monsters attacked their lands next?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Losing even one city could be devastating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in a civil war, was it worth risking everything?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if they lost?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or worse—even if they won, what would be left?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If territorial disputes arose afterward, who would the King support?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strongest side?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or the most useful one at the time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t just a noble’s concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was also on the minds of the guild masters and trade leaders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone here was entangled in political considerations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, they had chosen to stand against Count Molsen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, not all of them had burned their bridges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some had personal grievances against the Count.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Merchants whose businesses were crushed when Molsen took control of trade routes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lords who lost half their lands because of outrageous ‘protection fees’ imposed under the guise of defending against monster raids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people ground their teeth whenever Molsen’s name was mentioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Humans turning into monsters? No, he was harboring monsters from the beginning. How can we still call him one of us?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A guild master scoffed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the weaponsmith guilds, their pride was in forging weapons to defend humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their resentment was deep-seated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were over twenty people present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquess of Baisar and the Marquess of Octo had not yet arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, they remained at Crang’s side, observing the nobles from the barracks behind the training grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not all of them are fully committed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But we can’t call them enemies either.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two marquesses spoke in turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some were opportunists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others had joined Crang, but weren’t willing to stake everything on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone had their own priorities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they were still necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Count Molsen’s hidden strength was unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a Ghoul fighting alongside them would have to be tolerated for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Molsen had done the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A sorcerer, huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marquess Baisar furrowed his brows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Count Molsen had gathered an army of half-human, half-monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was incomprehensible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But understanding it wasn’t important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Winning was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You must think long-term.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquess of Octo added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His power was in the land itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why he bore the title of 'Octo.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the war dragged on, he would suffer the most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fields would be destroyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, he insisted that the war must not end too quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Molsen’s strength had to be drained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps he was waiting for the knights to intervene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You rejected the knights’ intervention? That was a mistake.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke bluntly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To win, one could not afford to choose between methods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a valid point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through it all, Crang only smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weather was pleasant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun was warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, summer would come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The buzzing of insects filled the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good weather.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crang remarked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, Marcus entered, glancing between the grim-faced marquesses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you two just have a fight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus was a true loyalist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The marquesses had joined for their own reasons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Marcus had bet everything on Crang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You lack refinement, Marcus.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since when have you cared about my refinement?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus grinned as he took his place beside Crang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You plan to end this in one battle, don’t you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a casual question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I must. My liver isn’t big enough for two.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crang answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hah! A small liver, yet you toy with men of even smaller livers!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquess of Baisar’s voice turned sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One battle? Are you serious?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A civil war where everything was at stake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Crang lost, he would lose everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If a civil war drags on, what will be left of this land?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crang smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A civil war not won quickly means losing everything in the end.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then we must win.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, the first battle was set.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Molsen was thinking the same thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A throne is only a throne as long as it remains a king’s seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beast that survives the battle only to be torn apart by scavengers is no king.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The southern kingdom of Rihinstetten.The eastern power of Azpen.Enemies still remained.And beyond them, the Abysslands' growing threat loomed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why this war had to be decided in a single battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bigger. Wider. Stronger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Every year, the Abysslands expand, swallowing more territory. I don’t intend to sit by and watch it happen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crang skipped the preamble and spoke of the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two marquesses were no fools. They understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t just about a civil war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crang was drawing the map for what came after.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The marquesses fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My heart is too small to grasp such ambition,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus jested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an old saying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half mockery, half truth—it meant that if Crang’s vision was beyond comprehension, then the only option was to follow and believe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The marquesses understood the implication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That didn’t mean they let it slide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That tongue of yours will bring disaster one day.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’ve told you time and time again, yet you never change.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two marquesses rebuked Marcus in their usual refined manner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus only laughed and followed behind his lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crang stepped outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time to face the nobles, merchants, and guild leaders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed their strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They lacked soldiers, resources, and a clear mandate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than anything, unity was essential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would be ideal if everyone shared the same conviction, but if not—Then a common purpose would suffice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if even that failed?Then conditions could be negotiated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crang had a fleeting thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this an impossible battle?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately dismissed the self-mocking question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since when had he ever fought on favorable terms?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being at a disadvantage didn’t mean losing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a man beside him who had turned impossibilities into victories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he could do half of what Enkrid had done,If he could claim just a fraction of the luck Enkrid always called fate,Then that would be enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This moment was the first step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crang stepped onto the platform, basking in the warm sunlight as he faced the gathered crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The murmuring nobles and merchants gradually fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you all sleep well?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was his opening remark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few exchanged glances. Murmurs of concern, speculation, and unease rippled through the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crang listened, allowing them to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he raised a hand and made a simple downward motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room fell silent again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I believe we will win. Do you not?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a simple statement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Baron Zeppel, your light-armored infantry moves faster than anyone in the forests, does it not?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zeppel was known for his ranger battalion, raised from childhood to hunt and survive in the wilds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in his sleep, he would wake up at the scent of prey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And Baron Ludin, I hear you are an exceptional spearman.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am merely competent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yet I was told you once dreamed of joining the knightly orders. Am I mistaken?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That was a childhood ambition.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His skill surpassed a squire’s level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crang smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One battle is all it will take. Just one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice carried across the training grounds—not as a shout, but as something that lingered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words seemed to hang in the air, etching themselves into the minds of those present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not look like a king.Nor did he seem like a peerless strategist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, he was someone worth believing in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it was a scam, then he was on his way to becoming the greatest conman in history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Crang was no fraud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the next king,And at this moment—He was their leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How will you fight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They called for battle on the Nauril Plains. So, we will meet them there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if it was nothing more than a friend’s invitation to a gathering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His calm and unwavering confidence instilled faith.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt obvious that they would win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some had already trusted him from the beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have fifty well-trained spearmen at your command. It isn’t much, but use them well!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One noble stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My skill is modest, but I will stand at the vanguard.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have stockpiled grain. I will send wheat and beans to the army.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One after another, they pledged their support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If fear could not be erased, then it could be drowned in conviction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Trust me. We will win.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crang did not give a grand speech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, in a few words, he unified them under a single purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One battle.That was all it would take.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And if Count Molsen has other plans?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Marquess of Octo muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a genius of internal affairs,But war was not his expertise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Crang stepped down from the platform, he answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Molsen is an ambitious man. And he is too intelligent to do anything else.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One Month Later\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not a single knight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Count Molsen’s adjutant grumbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Molsen adjusted his armor before answering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Disappointed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So am I.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had anticipated the knight orders would intervene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, here they were, without them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Arrogance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That bastard thinks too highly of himself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Molsen fastened the final piece of his plate armor,And in his hand, he gripped the enchanted blade of his house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes were set on the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will end the royal bloodline on the fields of Nauril.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BWWOOOOOOOHHHH!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His warhorns echoed across the plains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A challenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A call to battle.\u003C\u002Fp>",2080,"2026-05-30T08:27:55.567Z","2026-06-01T04:30:45.896Z",1,"novelbin.me","5a99d629218a08dbc72955d6c1b7181f1799bc5ab7cbebf7aa184653c9b38253","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-398","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-396",882,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-knight-who-eternally-regresses-cover.jpg"]