[{"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-398":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},428173,689,"Chapter 396","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-398",398,"\u003Cp>Edin Molsen’s head throbbed from the smell of burning oil inside the lantern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this went on any longer, he might die—not from anything else, but from the sheer lack of fresh air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without being tortured or beaten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spat out a curse in his mind, the thought of his younger sibling suddenly stabbed through his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raising his gaze, he saw the man sitting right in front of him with his legs crossed. A man with strikingly large eyes, the kind even other men might turn their heads to look at. It was Kraiss from the Mad Platoon—someone Edin knew well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never imagined that this bastard had planted a watcher so close to him and his sibling. But there was no point in resentment now—nothing would change. Instead, he asked a pragmatic and realistic question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My sibling?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They're doing just fine. Their appetite is a bit small, but I suppose that’s the secret to maintaining that figure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smooth way Kraiss spoke was infuriating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you'd escaped right before the civil war broke out, none of this would have happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At those words, Edin almost blurted out that he had wanted to do exactly that, but he held his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How was he supposed to avoid something he didn’t even know was coming?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That his father, the so-called King of the Borderlands, was planning and executing a rebellion? He had known, but he could never have spoken of it so carelessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what anyone said, that man was still his father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the penalty for treason was a double execution by beheading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would he stand against his father, then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not a chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edin knew the extent of his father’s power. He wasn’t the type to fight a losing battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All Edin Molsen had wanted was to take his sibling and hide away somewhere quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The east, the north—anywhere would have been fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why he had endured, even as Enkrid beat him to a pulp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had even tried convincing his father that his sibling could seduce Enkrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking back now, it seemed his father had never really cared about him at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that he would have let me escape either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just kill me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edin said it plainly. These people were his father’s enemies. They wouldn’t keep him alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a hostage? That was laughable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His father?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dean Molsen had long ceased to be a man. His coldness was on par with the eternal frost of the permafrost lands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t visible on the surface, but up close, it was clear—there was something inhuman about his father’s frigidity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When did he become like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know. It was beyond his ability to perceive. At some point, his father had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean, ‘kill you’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss shook his head from side to side, then clapped his thigh with a sharp slap before speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All right, how about this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss knew how to handle people. He was quick-witted and had a keen grasp of the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had known from the start that Edin Molsen was worthless as a hostage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Count of Molsen didn’t give a damn about his son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nor, for that matter, about the daughter he had disguised as a man and brought along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss didn’t care about other people’s family matters, but one thing was certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edin Molsen wants to escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That much was clear. Torture wasn’t necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell us everything you know, and head to Martai. We’ll set you up with a new identity and a home. I assume you planned to sell off the jewelry and ornaments you brought with you to build a foundation—but do you really think you can sell those off so easily? You should just be glad if you don’t get stabbed by a thief in the middle of the night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss had hidden people before and made quite a bit of money doing it. At one point, he had even considered making it his main trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But between the chances of getting stabbed and the high likelihood of ending up in prison, he had decided against it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he hadn’t lost his touch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the help of the Gilpin Guild, the job wouldn’t even be that difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You’re saying you’ll let me live?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edin’s eyes were full of doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, I wouldn’t believe it either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss said something that sounded convincing, at least on the surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I swear on the commander’s honor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commander was Enkrid. In the Border Guard, there was nothing that carried more weight than the name Enkrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if they didn’t know the name of the lord, every passing brat knew Enkrid’s name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if this is a lie?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you have any other options?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edin had no choices left. He could either talk and take a chance or just die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Shit. I really got screwed over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edin Molsen told them what he knew. Not that it mattered much to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know the details anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are five monstrous warriors in the count’s forces.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not ‘beasts,’ but warriors?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unit sounded off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re called that because each of them wields a different weapon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The explanation was brief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The count’s forces were divided into four main groups, each led by one of the four generals under his command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rest of the structure was similar to that of the kingdom’s forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four generals, and the warriors who guarded the count himself—those were the five monstrous warriors of Molsen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some also called them the five monsters who had proven their strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mute warrior who wielded a hammer, Malten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The giant who used his body as a weapon, Bennukt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dual spear-wielding virtuoso, Jalban.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fairy of the Leaf Blade, Banat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fallen noble-turned-guard, Rearvart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Each of them could have easily joined a knightly order. And all of them are absolutely loyal to the count.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just thinking about them made Edin’s mouth go dry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were all monstrous, inhuman figures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Count of Molsen was a meticulous and insidious man. That was why no one knew the true extent of his hidden power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has he allied with a cult?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss had been wondering the same thing. Hence the question. Was the count roping in forces beyond Azpen’s?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no need. He has his territorial army.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edin answered, and the smug look on Kraiss’s face disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No further explanation was needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s built a monstrous army.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the Border Guard was busy holding back Azpen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the kingdom was occupied with the Demon Realm and the south.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Count of Molsen had lain low. He hadn’t made any major trouble. He had simply been known as the King of the Borderlands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in that time, he had gathered his strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And was that all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would that insidious man really not have more hidden tricks up his sleeve?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What started as suspicion turned into certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kraiss shoved back his chair and shot to his feet. The chair clattered to the floor behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Edin closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dice had been cast, and Edin could already guess what number would come up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From outside, Kraiss’s voice rang out, his belly taut with urgency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Audin! Commander Shinar! Battalion Commander Greyham! We need to assemble reinforcements immediately!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That was a mistake, knocking the constable out like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words came from some guild master who had stuck himself next to Enkrid. Honestly, it was annoying, but Enkrid let him be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man had approached him with something resembling goodwill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had followed them all the way to the Naurill Plains, offering weapons and equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even mentioned that he had wielded a sword in his younger days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, he was expressing his willingness to fight for the royal army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A mistake?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Andrew, who had been following behind, reacted to the comment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know you have skill, but you understand, don’t you? Reputation is just as important.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guild master spoke as if trying to justify himself, but Andrew scoffed. Seeing that, the guild master frowned for a moment before quickly smoothing out his expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His opponent was an up-and-coming noble, the head of House Gardner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the five trainees following him were all said to be remarkably skilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid didn’t care what the guild master was saying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was a remark like that even being made?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t need to think deeply about it—it was obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one who had truly seen what Enkrid had done had gone around running their mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aisia, who had a rough understanding of the situation, wasn’t the type to talk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would Rem say anything? Talking was one of Rem’s specialties, but there was no one here worth talking to. Ragna and Jaxon certainly wouldn’t bother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as for Esther?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would she suddenly stand up and declare—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the man who saved your king!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there were people who had witnessed Enkrid in action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those who had fought against him when he rescued Crang. The ones who had seen his swordsmanship cut down a squire in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they had all fled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They never got the chance to talk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crang hadn’t said much. Neither had Matthew. Nor had the spear-wielding royal guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That didn’t mean no rumors had spread at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were still Squire Rophod and the palace maids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the rumors had started circulating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That the so-called hero of the Border Guard, Enkrid, was real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The past claims—that he was nothing more than a braggart or an empty shell—were beginning to fade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not all nobles had accepted it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid couldn’t care less.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And no one around him particularly cared about such things either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone came up to mock him, that would be one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise? Why bother?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid had more important matters to focus on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had plenty to think about and even more to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All throughout their journey to the Naurill Plains, Enkrid reflected on the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am Ingis of the Crimson Cloak Knights. I have a feeling we’ll meet again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That knight—Ingis—had sought him out before departing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d like to spar with you next time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Enkrid had done nothing in particular, Ingis’s interest had been drawn to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you want to fight the commander?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem, curious, had asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was usually Enkrid who challenged others to a fight. The reverse wasn’t so common.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have a good sense for these things—you’re an interesting person.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ingis had swept back his hair and spoken with genuine seriousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Enkrid, the man seemed quite the peculiar character.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, then, until next time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he left, saying there were troublesome matters in the south.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He repeated his farewell a couple more times before finally departing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re becoming a more and more captivating man by the day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not # Nоvеlight # long after, Lua Gharne had come to see him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had crossed blades with him a few times, then declared—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s beyond me now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her ankle still wasn’t fully healed. No matter how monstrous Frokk was, no one regrew an ankle in a day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, the gap in their skill was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But there are still things I can teach you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For five days, Lua Gharne refined his orthodox sword techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, Enkrid absorbed it all diligently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did I do it like this back then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as they marched, Enkrid ran through his sword forms, his hand slicing through the air as he replayed the techniques in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was routine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others saw it but thought nothing of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, there weren’t that many people to see it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ragna, Jaxon, Dunbakel, Rem, and Andrew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other than Andrew, the rest had originally been part of the Border Guard’s standing forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made sense that Enkrid didn’t have soldiers of his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The road to the Naurill Plains was smooth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No ambushes, no skirmishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scouts constantly moved, relaying updates on enemy movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the entire time, Enkrid continued refining the skills he had honed over the past month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A month—ordinarily, a short span of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this month had been different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve improved a lot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ragna’s gaze had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come at me. I’ll get at least halfway serious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had drawn genuine seriousness from Rem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This makes no sense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aisia, having recovered enough to return, shook her head in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could someone improve this much in just a few days?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s getting harder to recognize the way you used to be.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jaxon had said as much. It was high praise. Enkrid nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a month, Enkrid had barely spoken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had simply swung his sword and pressed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it because of the push he had received from Sagong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep within Enkrid, the half-knight who severed the flow kept rising to the surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time and time again, Enkrid questioned himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if I had fought to the very end?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then what would have happened?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through repeated questioning, he arrived at an answer. No—he had already known the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The experiences gained from repeating today over and over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only now, after endless walking, that his vision had opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three times. At most, that was all it would take.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he could surpass it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why it was not a wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a fresh experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mere month, one could say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, compared to the repetition of today, it had been a shockingly short time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time had taken on a different weight and density.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each day, Enkrid showed change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For him, it was simply a moment of digesting the experiences accumulated through repeated days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to others, it was nothing short of astonishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re not going to die so easily anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was Rem’s conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, they arrived at the Naurill Plains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With summer’s arrival, green shoots stretched taller across the fields. Beyond them, the enemy army loomed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even at a glance, the sheer number of soldiers standing in formation was dizzying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a disgusting amount.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem spoke first. Ragna nodded, while Jaxon merely tilted his head slightly, arms crossed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dunbakel scanned from left to right before speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At least three times our numbers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she was right. The difference was staggering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commanders of Crang’s army had suspected the count might have allied with cultists or resorted to some kind of underhanded trickery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had miscalculated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difference was pure numbers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearly ten thousand well-trained territorial soldiers stood before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even standing still in formation, they projected overwhelming force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, their own side had barely three thousand men prepared for the civil war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were outnumbered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were outmatched in training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a losing battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the front, the five monstrous warriors took their positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside each of them stood two aides, whose presence alone exuded an extraordinary pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weather was bright and clear, yet it felt as though dark clouds were gathering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Black clouds that covered only the sky above their allies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll just go say hello.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man who had come this far, refining only his sword, spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to test his blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somewhere within him, there was also the instinct to flip the current atmosphere on its head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The intuition he had sharpened through the battles with Azpen—his ability to read the flow of strategy and tactics—was at work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One-Eye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid called the creature that had now become used to carrying him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mounting One-Eye, he rode forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bwoooouuuuu!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A horn bellowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dum, dum, dum, dum, dum!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drums rumbled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lone rider advanced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyone, step forward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He called out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation left many stunned, but among the five monstrous warriors, one of Jalban’s aides stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I shall claim your head.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the opponent desired a duel, there was no reason to refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aide thrust a long spear forward and rode out on horseback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His opponent dismounted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of fool got off his horse in a cavalry duel?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hiiiiiing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aide’s horse neighed loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a shout, he increased his speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground trembled beneath the heavy warhorse and its armored rider, spear leveled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single person standing on foot would be crushed to pieces or skewered like a kebab.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uhh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somewhere among the royal army, someone pointed ahead, mouth agape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shouldn’t he be dodging?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the question on many minds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But most simply stood by, watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t as if everything had happened in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what could they do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the situation playing out like this, all they could do was watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To those who saw with their own eyes, it was obvious—the man was about to be impaled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, to those who didn’t know Enkrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a few remained at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were the ones who knew exactly who had stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dudududududu!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The warhorse rapidly closed the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even from afar, its massive weight was apparent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dust billowed into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grass was crushed beneath the hooves, sent flying in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the way their own cavalry had moved with a near-weightless grace, this was sheer violence in motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spear cut through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jalban’s aide and his mount passed straight through their target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splatter!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood sprayed into the air like paint on a canvas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The horse galloped onward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rider, however, had left half of his body behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His upper torso, as if pulled by an invisible string, was lifted into the air before crashing to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood and entrails stained the grass and soil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first casualty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if no one heard it, Enkrid muttered to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next.”\u003C\u002Fp>",2942,"2026-05-30T08:27:55.567Z","2026-06-01T04:30:45.896Z",1,"novelbin.me","09b2ebec34477a3e6453cd875e23b05e08689dc8f9258e57efba2fa7b6c9cf59","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-399","a-knight-who-eternally-regresses-chapter-397",882,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-knight-who-eternally-regresses-cover.jpg"]