[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternally-regressing-knight":3,"chapter-eternally-regressing-knight-eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-2":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Eternally Regressing Knight",{"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},963673,1263,"Chapter 2 - Lantern","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-2",2,"\u003Cp>Chapter 2 - Lantern\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the eye slit of a leather helmet, a black dot appeared to be flying toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid raised the shield fixed to the back of his left hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A heavy impact resonated through his arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had aimed to deflect the blow while striking back, but only half succeeded, leaving his forearm tense and throbbing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid slashed down with his blade over the helmet of the man who had lunged with a spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man reflexively twisted his neck, but the blade fell hard on his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dull thud of the impact on his scapula sent a stinging vibration through Enkrid's grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Urgh... You're dead, bastard,\" muttered the enemy, gripping his spear closer and swinging it in a short arc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a skilled move, well-practiced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a second thought, Enkrid kicked the man squarely in the stomach with the sole of his boot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy staggered and fell, losing his balance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Close combat in a chaotic battlefield—it was a brawl at best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the frontlines of ally and foe collided, chaos ensued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Falling meant death, plain and simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid turned his gaze away from the fallen enemy, gripping his shield's handle tightly as he searched for allies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Losing one's composure and charging blindly was a sure path to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imitating a berserker in the melee didn't make one a berserker; it made one a corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why had Enkrid survived this long despite his meager talents?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he knew his limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Don't overstep,he reminded himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blade swung in from nowhere, and he intercepted it with his shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The edge struck the rim of the shield, denting the iron band.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The oiled wooden shield began to warp under the strain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this rate, it wouldn't last more than a few more strikes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keep attacks short and simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After blocking, Enkrid tightened his grip on his sword and swung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The satisfying impact of a solid blow echoed up his arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An unlucky enemy crumpled sideways, his head struck hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the fallen man could rise, an ally's spear drove deep into his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thickly layered gambeson couldn't withstand the force of the spear's thrust, and the tip plunged inward, piercing the flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wounded man thrashed, desperate to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud! Thud! Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The allied soldier struck repeatedly, relentless and mechanical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, the spearhead punched through the armor entirely and buried itself in the enemy's torso.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Guh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man vomited blood, trembling as he clutched the spear lodged in his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let go! Damn it, let go, you bastard!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy clung stubbornly to the spear even in his final moments, forcing the allied soldier to discard the weapon and grab another from the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satisfied with what he'd seen, Enkrid stepped back, catching his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whew... whew... whew.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took in his position, the location of allies and enemies, and the shifting battlefield in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step forward, and you'll die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charging into the enemy lines would mean becoming fertilizer for the battlefield, no different from the enemy with the massive hole in his abdomen who had just fallen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps that man had grown overconfident from cutting down weaker or less fortunate foes in previous battles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or maybe he was simply unlucky to have crossed blades with Enkrid at the wrong moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground was rock-hard from days without rain, resembling stone more than earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though blood had been spilled over it, the dryness remained oppressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lack of rain had parched everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The taste of blood rose in Enkrid's throat, dry and metallic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swallowing thickly, he scanned the field for his squad members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that it mattered—they wouldn't be visible in this chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, a scream erupted nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uwaaah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two steps away, an allied soldier thrust forward with his spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What's he doing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thrust was fine, but he tripped over his own feet, his right foot catching on his left, and fell flat on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clumsy motion disarmed him, leaving his weapon scattered on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Are you praying to be killed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sight of the fallen man lifting his head looked like he was bowing in supplication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaking off the thought, Enkrid acted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He advanced, raising his shield and bracing his muscles as he held his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An enemy blade crashed into his shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The impact reverberated through his arm, spreading to his entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he blocked it in time, the oiled wooden shield splintered from the force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid hurled the broken shield forward, putting all his strength into wide, sweeping slashes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One from right to left, then another from left to right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh, whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the second swing, his blade caught the enemy's weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clash sent sparks flying, and the enemy's weapon slipped from his grasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid seized the opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't trust his mediocre swordsmanship but relied on the brute strength he had honed through rigorous training, more intense than that of most elite mercenaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That strength had created this opening. Still, he didn't rush forward recklessly. In battle, opportunities often came with hidden dangers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uwaaah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Disarmed, the enemy hesitated before raising his arms and charging like a bear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid feinted a slash but instead threw his sword to the ground, crouched, and lifted the charging man onto his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weight of the man's armor, weapons, and body pressed heavily on his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His waist and thighs screamed in protest, but Enkrid ignored the pain and stood upright with all his might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Urgh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy flipped over his back and landed hard on the ground with athud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid didn't look back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew his position was just inside the allied line, where three types of enemies typically appeared:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unlucky fool pushed forward into the vanguard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overconfident idiot blinded by past victories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The true warrior who commanded the battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man he had just thrown was the first type, an unlucky fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid retrieved his sword from the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearby, the clumsy allied soldier was picking himself up, his helmet split cleanly in half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood trickled down his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucky bastard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments ago, he had almost died, only to be saved by Enkrid's actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even recognized the man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bell, did getting your head split make you lose your senses?\" Enkrid asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier, Bell, wiped the blood from his face and grumbled, \"Damn it... Barely made it out alive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you're alive, watch my back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinary soldiers couldn't grasp the bigger picture of a battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squad leaders like Enkrid served as intermediaries, relaying orders rather than commanding strategy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, Enkrid could sense it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This isn't good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Years of blood and steel had sharpened his instincts, if not his swordsmanship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something's about to go wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, alright,\" Bell muttered, picking up his weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking cautious steps, he advanced two paces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash of light streaked through the air and pierced his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arrow struck through the gap in his broken helmet, embedding itself deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The impact dislodged his eye, which rolled off and struck Enkrid's leather armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bell died without a sound, his lips parting in a silent gasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid averted his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far above, in the indistinct expanse of the sky, a fleeting flash of light caught his eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, he knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next arrow was meant for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many people can remain composed at the moment of death?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid was no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he closed his eyes, fragments of his life, like the vivid details of a dream from the night before, surged forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His past flickered by in the commonly described manner of a life review.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time seemed to slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The noise of the battlefield faded, and even the sensation of breathing felt sluggish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That fleeting sensation vanished as quickly as it came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The life review disappeared, and the battlefield's clamor returned, along with the reassuring awareness of his own breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Praying out of gratitude for being spared?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was one of his subordinates speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One from his squad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldier had shoved him, causing an arrow to embed itself harmlessly in the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rem.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid called out his name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That damn 'Hawk-Eye' or whatever he's called is in this fight, so watch out for arrows.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You think dodging will make a difference?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll deal with it, so just hold on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This guy was also uniquely unhinged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid thought so as he gave a small nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're not planning to give up on life, are you? I saw you skipping training and napping earlier today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem's words jabbed at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you regretting it now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'd feel uneasy if I saved someone eager to die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it, who the hell wants to die?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Living by the sword wasn't the same as seeking death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You always fight just fine, but at critical moments, you close your eyes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You think I do that on purpose?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt like he'd already responded to something similar earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem held a battle axe in his right hand and a broken spear in his left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his versatility in handling weapons—be it a sword, axe, or blunt weapon—this mix suited him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He scratched his helmet-covered head with his axe hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though, scratching his helmet didn't seem particularly satisfying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn, this helmet reeks like hell.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can't argue with that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Focus harder when it feels like you're about to die.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem's words were familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid knew what they meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem often said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In those moments when death feels imminent, when your life flashes before your eyes, people tap into a transcendent state of focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Use that in battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it, but was that even possible?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was talent—facing the brink of death with open eyes, staring down the enemy, and doing what needed to be done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Focus, my ass,\" Enkrid muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, you'd figure it out after dying a few hundred times, but you've only got one life. Anyway, see you out there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem chuckled and sprinted back into the fray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a fighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid refocused on the battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He fought with allied soldiers at his side, over and over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid thrust his sword forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If lucky, he'd skewer the enemy. If not, they'd dodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if neither?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword would land a blunt blow, unable to pierce the enemy's armor, merely pushing them back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The struck enemy groaned and staggered back, only for a passing ally's war hammer to smash into their head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid cleared his mind of distractions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The constant effort to block, dodge, and counter the onslaught of blades, spears, and clubs wore on his nerves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a shield, he felt exposed, so he picked up a fallen axe to use as a makeshift one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his allies still nearby, he blocked, struck, and stabbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When opportunities arose, he executed clumsy sword techniques he'd learned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stepping forward with his left foot, shifting his weight, and extending his sword tip without losing control of his arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thrust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With just the right tension in his muscles, sufficient focus, and an eye for openings, it should have worked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ting. Tch-tch-tch-tch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid's thrust only partially succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd aimed for the gap between the enemy's helmet and chest plate, but they moved, and his strike veered off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A long gash appeared on their neck—not a fatal wound, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bloodied enemy locked eyes with Enkrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their gaze brimmed with malice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They clenched their jaw with a grinding noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The instinct honed on countless battlefields screamed at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Enkrid stepped back, an ally filled the gap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy crouched silently, striking the ally's shin with a weapon-clenched fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bone-snapping sound followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Argh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the injured ally collapsed, the enemy drew a dagger and drove it into the fallen soldier's throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The swift stab-and-pull motion felt almost rehearsed, as if part of a grim play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood sprayed, staining the enemy's armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They shoved the dead soldier aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fleeting life review.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boundary between life and death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Images flooded Enkrid's mind like an illuminating lantern casting shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those shadows depicted his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like the dream he had last night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the edge of it all, as everything slipped away, the enemy's blade drove into Enkrid's neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy had mirrored his thrust—perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flawless strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, it seemed so to Enkrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As fiery pain coursed from his neck through his body, Enkrid faced the moment between life and death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He realized what Rem's \"focus\" meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you have to die to learn it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He silently cursed Rem as his eyes shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His thoughts wandered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Longing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yearning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Desire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wanted to master the sword.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wanted to be a knight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wanted to be a hero.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Enkrid hadn't achieved any of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was destined for a modest life, earning enough to settle in a quiet village and live out his days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, he couldn't bring himself to do that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fire in his heart wouldn't allow it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the very end, he spent every coin earned on the battlefield on training schools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I could've done better.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If only he had more time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He believed that if he practiced more, sacrificing sleep and leisure like prodigies and geniuses, he could've succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the final images of his life faded, a face appeared—the first and only person he'd ever saved alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The talisman will act on your wish, sir knight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a gift from the village elder, an old woman with missing teeth whose words whistled as she spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regret and longing filled his heart with a new emotion—one he'd never felt before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Would things have been different if I swung my sword a few more times?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weight of death pressed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond his closed eyes, a black river loomed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid regretted taking a nap instead of training that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps, if he had trained, his final thrust would have succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faceless ferryman sat on a small boat in the black river.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ferryman asked, \"Do you truly believe that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're amusing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then let's do this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ferryman's voice seemed to come from nowhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beneath their black hood, where a face should be, there was only shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid couldn't say a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He passed out and then opened his eyes again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang, clang, clang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of a night guard striking metal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather, hitting a pot with a ladle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The familiar sound of morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning silently to the side, he saw...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A bad dream, huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem, grumbling, pulled on his boots while sitting on his cot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn bug.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bug in his boot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything in his dream had been so vivid it felt real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Spit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem shook out the bug, spat on it, and crushed it underfoot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ground bore the messy remnants of bug guts and spit.\u003C\u002Fp>",2474,"2026-06-03T07:42:59.504Z","2026-06-03T07:42:55.457Z",1,"novelbin.me","eb0b0227a21f10fa3dbec4bdea2b7d0a22e628e37eb0e0c0ffeedfb07c2f53b1","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-3","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-1",782,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternally-regressing-knight-cover.jpg"]