[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternally-regressing-knight":3,"chapter-eternally-regressing-knight-eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-448":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},963987,1263,"Chapter 448 - A Lucky Day","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-448",448,"\u003Cp>Chapter 448 - A Lucky Day\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was just a light wave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those were Oara's words upon returning after slaying a Ghula.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eerie cries of ghouls, as though they had emerged from the depths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overwhelming presence that made one's head spin at the mere sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the ghastly figure of the Ghula with its elongated limbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For an ordinary person, panic would have been inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, Enkrid couldn't deny Oara's assessment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four squires, two junior knights, and one knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This force demonstrated overwhelming combat power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid had also noticed something else: the tactical structure of this city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Use squires and junior knights as the wall, with knights intercepting the enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A simple yet efficient strategy that clearly defined the roles of shield and spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remaining soldiers focused entirely on ranged attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soldiers atop the city walls carried longbows crafted from the bones of magical beasts—high-quality weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They resembled turtles, sticking their heads out from their protective shells—the city walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The turtle risked its safety to fire arrows, leaving the knights to finish the rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hadn't they just proven the effectiveness of this tactic?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oara had taken down the Ghula with a single stroke of her sword and leisurely returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn't bathed in black blood, nor had she traversed the battlefield in chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, the few times she swung her sword while returning, a dozen ghouls lost their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, no ghoul could reattach its severed head—such a feat was beyond even trolls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These bastards, I'll wipe them out someday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'll clear out the Demon Realm and plant orange trees there!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oara spoke with a bright, mischievous smile, her upper teeth flashing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ability to smile so purely while saying such things was a talent in itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'No wonder they call her Laughing Oara.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surviving soldier knelt inside the city gates, shouting in triumph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm alive!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oara chuckled at the sight, as did the four squires and two junior knights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laughter seemed to be their constant companion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Enkrid smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was enjoyable, and it left a lasting impression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What amusing people,\" was Luagarne's candid observation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, it's nice to see,\" Rem agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are we going home now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>asked Dunbakel, ever evasive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid heard it all but couldn't take his eyes off Oara and the people around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind ruffled a crimson cape—a symbol of the knightly order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oara, its cornerstone, sensed his gaze and met it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the wind, she spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Next time, let's fight together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, the bread's burnt!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oara remained as lively and cheerful as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She strolled through the market, greeting people and munching on slightly overdone brown bread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is she a fun person?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'm not sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one thing's certain: she's unpredictable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aishia often came by to drop such remarks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How about a sparring match?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't think I'm the same Aishia as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You'll regret it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid almost responded reflexively, as if addressing Rem, but held his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did you have something to say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aishia noticed his hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid answered as he drew his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a simple sparring match to test what he had and refine his skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If instincts could unite into one, couldn't other things as well?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heart of the Beast, the Heart of Strength, the Giant Slayer, and the Breath of Unity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem had taught him a mountain of techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had naming them been Rem's intent?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or was it for another purpose entirely?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'To teach, perhaps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That might have been it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Struggling to explain, Rem had likely started by naming and defining them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Rem, one thing became clear: everything he taught emerged naturally from his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Skills and techniques honed in the realm of instinct erupted on their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid had things that came naturally and things that didn't.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He resolved to start by making everything flow naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you staring at?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A barbarian from the western lands, suspected of madness, continued sharpening his axe blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was already on his third whetstone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'And I'll keep swinging my sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If strength was needed, he would use it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If boldness was required, he would embody it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid spent his time combining all the things Oara had told him to discard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're choosing to walk your own path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That's not a bad thing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oara didn't claim her words were the absolute truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When ten people gather, each has a unique hue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same holds for a hundred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knights were no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ragna was different, and so was the Mercenary King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, Enkrid himself would be as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps this time spent refining what he had was exactly what he needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uncharacteristically, Rem was up before Enkrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Enkrid reviewed what he had learned, Rem spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not bad.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The darkest hour is just before dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the surroundings were pitch black, the air had grown cooler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the dim sky, Rem rested a hand on his waist and gazed at the fading stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the sun rises, stars vanish, along with the twin moons that had illuminated the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you remember Utkyora?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lowering his sword, Enkrid nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A term for the dark morning, the darkest hour before dawn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it feels like those words apply to me now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I need to head west.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To leave and then return?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps to find his place?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem wasn't sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, he felt he'd only know once he went.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't as if he had left his homeland for any grand reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There had been various events, of course, but claiming it was entirely unplanned would be a lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had to name a reason:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Because it wasn't fun there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had left in search of excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this mad commander's side was fun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It still was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Rem, this city was like a candle in the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strong gust could snuff it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knights were the ones holding it steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did they go to such lengths to protect this city?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't care to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, Rem thought of his homeland and the people who stayed behind to protect it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to go back and ask them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stray cat and the lost fool may have spurred him on, but independently, Rem felt it was time to revisit what he had left behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His heart told him so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do as you wish,\" Enkrid said plainly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was never one to cling to others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it, let's spar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just this once, I'll humor you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem grinned as he lifted his well-sharpened axe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in the dim pre-dawn darkness, the axe blade glimmered faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have you gotten worse from being near the Demon Realm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then I suppose you need treatment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid raised his sword in response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem found Enkrid's provocations oddly endearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If running your mouth were the standard, you'd be the continent's best, Captain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, let's heal then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The \"healing\" resembled the persuasion Enkrid often practiced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It involved slight contact at the least, and if necessary, even drawing a small amount of blood with a blade could be part of the process—like lancing a boil to release its pus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem figured the same principle applied to Enkrid's thick skull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When I say shut your mouth, I mean it,\" Rem remarked, moving as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time the word \"mean\" left his lips, he was already in motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Enkrid, the axe seemed to vanish from view only to reappear descending toward his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he blocked it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a simple sparring match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Enkrid appeared to have regressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was in the process of mixing and consolidating what he had rather than using it all outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like dough needing time to rise for the perfect loaf, Enkrid needed time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem understood this but pressed him relentlessly, knowing that survival instincts often lead to improvement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, progress was painstakingly slow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're disgustingly slow,\" Rem grumbled, as always.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the next few days, Enkrid alternated between sparring with Rem, Luagarne, and Aishia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Millio's dreams persisted, and occasionally, he sought out Enkrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't give up, soldier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter what others say.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Do I really seem so hopeless?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At times, Millio's earnest encouragement was met with sulky reactions, but he was as persistent as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid also spent time walking around Oara and even sparred lightly with some of the city's junior knights—not Aishia but others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't do sparring,\" said a short-haired blonde knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her techniques weren't suited for sparring, leaving only the burly man as an option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This thing is for smashing and breaking,\" the man declared, pulling out a gray cudgel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its handle resembled a greatsword's but was thicker, fitting his massive hands—hands even larger than Audin's.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone here seems to have a nickname,\" Enkrid remarked while gauging the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, some are for morale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for you, I bet you understand: a 'will' becomes a concept that can embody one's essence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's yours, then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"People call me Roman the Crusher.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Internally, Enkrid considered nicknames for his comrades:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Audin, the Praying One.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jaxen, the Sneaky Wild Cat\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ragna, the Lost Wanderer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rem, the Unhinged Berserker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All quite fitting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, let's begin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Roman's movements, Enkrid noticed something peculiar: every action was clumsy, full of openings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roman's entire style was tailored for fighting with heavy armor and specialized against monsters, yet it still felt lacking, as if a precise thrust could spill his blood in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine, I'll take this seriously just once.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toward the end of their bout, Roman smiled, catching his breath, and swung downward with all his might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cudgel disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that fleeting moment, Enkrid saw flashes of Ragna's lightning-strike sword, the Bull of the Mercenary King, and the Aspen knight piercing his own heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even recalled Oara slicing through Gula.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roman's downward strike reached a knight's realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid sharpened his focus and caught the cudgel's presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for his countless encounters with Ragna's strikes, he wouldn't have been able to follow it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gray blur vanished briefly, then hurtled toward his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid's sword moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with Aker meeting the blow and Gladiuos supporting, deflecting the strike wasn't seamless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The force pushed Enkrid back, forcing him to absorb the remaining impact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How was that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roman asked, his face pale with exertion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What did you just do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roman found himself liking Enkrid—not just for his combat skill but because he embodied the spirit of the Thousand Stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laugh today, even if you die tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Train hard, even if death awaits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the spirit Roman admired.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he showed Enkrid something special, even if he wouldn't reveal its secrets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not telling.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Roman's reaction was refreshing to Enkrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike those who readily divulged their methods, Roman treated him as a rival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the short-haired blonde's refusal to spar made sense now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her techniques were lethal, and she wouldn't engage in sparring she was certain to lose every time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fair enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid wasn't disappointed; if anything, he smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're a bit of a freak,\" Roman quipped before leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can't argue with that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid caught Luagarne agreeing in the background, but it didn't bother him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In their spar, Enkrid had bested Roman, though not overwhelmingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a life-or-death fight, he reckoned he'd win seven or eight out of ten times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, that final strike Roman showed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a different level altogether—a knight's technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could that be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was worth pondering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next morning, Enkrid woke feeling unusually light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His habits of eating well, sleeping soundly, and staying in shape paid off, but today felt exceptional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sticky air near the Demonic Realm had cleared, and a refreshing breeze blew under a temperate sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After training and eating, a soldier approached Enkrid with freshly baked bread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is the best I've made in years.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The golden-crusted, soft-centered loaf emitted a warm aroma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tearing it open and taking a bite revealed a perfect balance of savory and salty, with a subtle umami that made Enkrid nod in approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It really is excellent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I told you so,\" the soldier replied with a quiet smile before walking away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, Millio, armed for duty, approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The weather's amazing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You should visit the western wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The view's incredible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that so?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Absolutely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid took Millio's advice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the wall, he saw the rising sun push back the ominous gray mist of the Demonic Realm—a rare and breathtaking sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sunlight shattered the fog, scattering it like waves breaking upon a shore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Quite a view.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On his way back, he found a silver coin and enjoyed a day where everything—from food to training—felt just right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By evening, Oara sought him out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Remember when I said my grandfather built the city gates?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's talk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's a good day for it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What followed was a conversation that, while seemingly trivial, allowed them to understand each other better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Enkrid thought it was a good use of time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---------------------------\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In order to get more Chapters in advance head over to my ko-fi!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Please support my work ;)\u003C\u002Fp>",2181,"2026-06-03T07:42:55.458Z","2026-06-03T07:42:59.782Z",1,"novelbin.me","df2e06972443e62092c91b58c70ad353982384d30e9e622fb590c8ebd6576776","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-69","eternally-regressing-knight-chapter-68",782,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternally-regressing-knight-cover.jpg"]