A Knight Who Eternally Regresses

I heard that a comrade who had been with us since the time we joined the army died in the Martai Rebellion.

“Indeed.”

The Battalion Commander replied and then instructed the troops to form an extremely defensive formation.

Our forces comprised six companies of infantry.

Originally, it was one battalion, but two companies were sent as reinforcements from the battalion stationed in the Green Pearl Plains.

That was quite a strain on them as well.

If all the troops were withdrawn from the Green Pearl, there was no telling what Aspen might do.

“If they come through the south gate, we can defend, but we cannot avoid a decisive battle on the plains.”

The Company Commander of the 2nd Company said.

“How many cavalry do we have?”

“Fifty horsemen.”

Fifty horsemen—it didn’t sound like a small number to Encrid.

Warhorses are costly to raise and maintain, consuming gold like it’s nothing.

You have to outfit them in metal armor, and the cavalry riding them also requires separate training.

As much as you pour into them, cavalry on the plains is a formidable force.

Even with just fifty horsemen charging with lances, they could trample hundreds of infantry.

The total strength of the six companies was roughly twelve hundred men.

‘Fifty horsemen are a significant factor.’

Encrid assessed.

Despite this, Marcus remained calm.

“They managed to raise that many troops through the backdoor.”

He was not just calm but even impressed.

“The number of archers is also not small.”

This was also unsettling news.

To Encrid, it meant that the enemy’s preparations were thorough.

“Urgent news!”

The scout who burst in was the final touch.

A scout who had barely survived after venturing deep into enemy territory entered the conference room, blood dripping from his left arm.

The soldier, suppressing his pain, spoke.

“Troops with concealed insignias have joined the enemy.”

The original forces of Martai were not small.

One battalion of infantry and a portion of cavalry.

They also had archers with the strength of a company.

Compared to the Border Guard, their quality might be slightly lower, but the numerical difference was clear.

Even so, the Border Guard had won several times in battles against Martai, securing victories.

“This is not good.”

The one who spoke now was from the elite unit made up entirely of top soldiers, the Border Guard Unit.

Their prowess was undeniably exceptional.

However, the thought naturally came to mind whether they could be as effective this time.

There had been a string of discouraging news even before the start.

“Independent Company Commander.”

Marcus, having organized the situation, finally spoke.

Encrid realized a bit late that he was being addressed.

“…Yes?”

“Do you know the authority of the Independent Company?”

Was there such a thing?

Marcus continued.

“The Company Commander can requisition troops from other companies if he wishes, whether it’s a squad-level force or a platoon-level force.”

‘Is this for real?’

Encrid outwardly appeared calm but inwardly questioned Marcus’s sanity.

Those words implied that the Independent Company could act like a superior unit over the other companies.

Literally.

‘Hey, hand over your platoon. I’ll use them and return them, oh, half-dead.’

What if this happened?

Who would accept such an order?

Encrid saw the faces of the other Company Commanders.

They were all not very gentle. These were people who lived on the brink of battle and wore the insignia of command.

It wasn’t a position one could occupy with a mild or soft attitude.

So, no matter how much the Battalion Commander said, such opinions were…

“More than that, we can give you whatever you need.”

It started with the Fairy Company Commander. Well, it made sense for that Fairy.

“If the Border Guard Unit needs it.”

Then the Border Guard Commander also stepped forward.

Maybe he thought he owed something because of this situation.

“The 1st Company is one body, but even divided, it fulfills its role.”

Why the 1st Company Commander? Wasn’t he evaluated as a potential future Battalion Commander?

Even though the Border Guard Commander was influential, this side also had significant influence.

“What, are you going to join the Madmen Platoon? I can join as a whole company.”

Had the 2nd Company Commander always been this indecisive? Encrid thought carefully and concluded he hadn’t.

Wasn’t he the one who used to foam at the mouth whenever someone took people from his unit, earning the nickname ‘Foaming Palto’?

The 3rd Company Commander, who took over after Rayon, the original 3rd Company Commander, died, and the supporting Company Commander also had no different reactions.

“Well, the Independent Company can be trusted.”

Moreover, the Company Commander from the Green Pearl reinforcements, whom Encrid was seeing for the first time, nodded and looked at Encrid with eyes full of trust, hope, and faith.

“Since when was there such authority?”

Encrid spoke. He wasn’t one to show emotions. His tone was calm. The Company Commander nodded vigorously and replied with a voice full of laughter.

“Of course, from now on!”

‘Is this guy cursed or something?’

Or maybe he ate something bad. Or perhaps he was suffering from the heat, it was getting quite hot.

Encrid concealed his expression once again. He might not be good at acting, but he was a master at hiding his emotions.

“I am not someone with a vivid imagination.”

Marcus continued. Wondering what he was talking about, Encrid stared at him. Meeting Encrid’s gaze, Marcus spoke again.

“If you could act as you wish outside of strategy and tactics, how far could you go? Could you suppress the enemy cavalry? Or defeat every incoming enemy you encounter?”

Marcus’s voice began to heat up. But maybe because of the acting he’d seen earlier.

It was evident that there wasn’t a trace of acting in his current words. It felt that way.

Sincerity in his earnest tone.

It reminded him of Krang’s speeches he had heard before. Krang’s speeches had a power that captivated the audience.

There was such majesty in his gestures, voice, and attitude that created illusions.

Marcus displayed fervor instead of majesty.

A burning passion, something an individual possessed regardless of age, was evident.

The voice of the one engulfed in this fervor reached Encrid.

“Starting small with scouting, advancing to strike the enemy’s city, and finally achieving great feats on the battlefield to bring victory to our side. And that’s not all!”

Bang!

When Marcus slammed his palm on the table, the pins fell again with a clatter.

However, no one took their eyes off Marcus.

Everyone was watching his mouth. They were listening to what he was saying, enveloped by the atmosphere he created.

“Surviving alone among a thousand knolls, proving himself, and solidifying his position as the commander of an uncontrollable force. Above all, I am amazed by the outstanding skills and abilities of the Company Commander. So, I ask, what can you do if given unlimited authority on this battlefield?”

What does Marcus believe in?

Why does the Battalion Commander not feel threatened?

Why do people accept someone who was a member of the Black Blade without complaint?

Why are the Company Commanders indifferent when their troops are taken?

Why do they show trust, hope, and faith in their eyes?

‘Things I have achieved.’

A Knight is made of skill and merit.

Encrid felt a sense of validation that what he had been doing all along was indeed correct.

Pride? Such a word wouldn’t suffice.

A long-forgotten dream had become part of reality.

At the same time, Encrid found his purpose.

He had been asked a question, so he needed to answer it.

Krang’s speeches ended by showing his own majesty and drawing in those around him, but Marcus had asked Encrid to give an answer.

‘Elite few.’

In the current continent, the balance of the battlefield hinges on the presence of Knights or Knight-level forces.

When a Knight steps onto the battlefield, if there is no Knight to oppose him, a massacre ensues.

Although duels happen more often than massacres, sometimes strategies are devised to pit a Knight against a unit.

Conversely, that can be a trap, using the unit’s strength to kill the Knight.

‘The enemy doesn’t know me.’

Nor do they know the Madmen Platoon. Marcus made sure of that.

An elite unit with unpredictable force.

Five members with at least Junior-Knight-level strength.

Facing his changed self, Encrid spoke.

“I don’t know. Let’s do everything we can.”

In truth, this was the first time Encrid had such authority, and it was probably the first time Marcus proposed such an outrageous strategy.

Instead of a Knightly order, he created an Independent Company of fewer than ten and gave them battlefield authority.

It sounded as if the fate of the battlefield rested on Encrid alone.

Thinking his answer might be inadequate, Encrid was surprised to see Marcus smile with satisfaction.

“Then.”

Having been given authority, he would use it. His pounding heart drove Encrid. As he headed out, a sound reached his ears.

A trumpet call and the faint sound of drums echoed from beyond the city walls.

The enemy was approaching.

“All troops, assemble!”

Marcus shouted as he emerged from the conference room, and Encrid moved, almost running.

He had a battlefield where he would fight with the core members of his unit. But, as always, gathering them was the first task.

It had always been that way since they were a Troublemaker Squad.

Heading towards the barracks, Encrid saw company members already armed and coming out.

“Deployment, right? Marcus must have given you full support to sweep away the cavalry, huh?”

Krais, wearing a leather helmet askew, said.

‘He predicted it.’

That’s what Encrid thought.

“No.”

“Then what? Did he ask you to bring back the enemy commander’s head? That’s a bit much.”

“No.”

“Hmm? He didn’t ask you to do anything?”

“He asked.”

Encrid naturally took the lead as he joined the group.

While he was talking with Krais, Rem interjected.

“That Big Eyes said we should go fight now, is that true?”

Yes. But did Rem usually step up without any complaints?

He used to gripe that they should smash their own commanders’ heads first every time they went out.

Well, now, the commander with the smashable head was him.

Actually, there was nothing surprising about Rem. He was always eager to step up on the battlefield.

The surprising part started here.

“I heard Martai and some forces without insignia have arrived.”

It was Ragna.

A guy who usually showed no interest in anything knew about the enemy forces.

Encrid looked up at the sky, wondering if it had split in two.

The sky was perfectly clear.

There were almost no clouds.

“That’s right.”

As he lowered his head and answered, Audin, smiling behind him, said,

“Brother, let’s go. There are those outside waiting for us to send them to the Lord.”

It didn’t seem like something a priest would say, but those who served the War God were always like that.

Jaxon just nodded silently.

These were not the kind of people who moved just because Krais called them.

So why did they move?

Encrid realized once again that his relationship with these people had subtly changed.

From just a Squad Leader who took the brunt.

A Squad Leader who was fascinating to watch.

A Squad Leader who didn’t cause trouble.

He had progressed to a Platoon Leader who knew a few things.

A Platoon Leader who got a bit better when taught.

And further still.

‘If I lead them.’

He was a person and a commander who was recognized.

His heart pounded. As much as when he longed for his dream.

“So what did he ask?”

Krais asked again.

“He asked what I could do.”

“…Wow, what a shameless guy.”

From Encrid’s one sentence, Krais inferred the rest of the tangled story.

Show your full potential, that was the message.

“So I said I would do everything I could.”

“Are you serious?”

At Krais’s words, Encrid showed a faint smile.

He didn’t know. Was it time to have confidence, or not?

Was this arrogance or something else?

Was the turmoil in his chest just a desire to fight?

Or was it the thrill of realizing he was now in a different position on the battlefield with these men?

He didn’t know.

Encrid didn’t bother to figure it out.

Right now, he just wanted to swing his sword. To let the enemy know what he could do.

Desire and ambition mixed in his chest.

Encrid wanted to make his presence known to the enemy and leave a strong impression.

It was a newfound, proactive spirit.

Encrid, who had been striding along, looked back and asked Dunbachel, who was lagging behind.

“What’s wrong with your eyes?”

“It’s fine. I can do my part.”

Her eye area was blue. It shone with her golden pupils and the blue around her eyes.

There was no need to ask whose work it was.

The one who could create blue paint on a person’s body without actual paint.

Wasn’t that Rem’s specialty?

“Stop hitting the kids.”

“It was just a simple sparring demonstration. They wanted to see me fight.”

Well, kids grow up while getting hit sometimes.

Encrid let it slide. If they were the type to run away or plot behind his back after getting hit a bit, they wouldn’t have even thought of staying under him in the first place.

Ding!

The sound of the bell from the bell tower.

It meant the enemy was starting to appear.

Through the open gate, people who had been farming outside the walls were coming in.

They were residents engaged in agriculture.

Regardless of the enemy’s numbers, they would attack the walls first.

It meant siege engines were essential.

“They have them, right? Mangonels.”

Krais answered Encrid’s question.

“Of course.”

“Bring a few sets of clothes from the people coming in. Ones that fit our size. Right now.”

“…That’s quite a brilliant plan.”

Krais answered immediately, even without an explanation.

Encrid appreciated not having to explain at length. Krais responded and quickly moved, while Encrid headed toward the gate instead of the place where the commanders gathered on the wall.

Soon, Krais returned with the clothes.

“Audin’s size is a problem.”

Yeah, that was undeniable.

“Brother, this body just needs a simple cover.”

Audin waved his hand, tore a nearby tent, and draped it over himself like a cloak.

It suited him quite well.

“So, what are you planning?”

Rem asked. Encrid wondered if a detailed explanation was necessary. But he soon decided it wasn’t.

“Just follow and see.”

Encrid and the Madmen Platoon stepped out through the gate.

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