A Knight Who Eternally Regresses

“The Lord who has given light to this land says.”

The bald man spoke.

As soon as he finished speaking, Encrid tilted his head.

“I am a servant who worships the light.”

In other words, he was a priest who used the words of the Holy Scripture as a greeting.

“What brings you here?”

Encrid asked.

“I have come to bestow blessings.”

The priest smiled warmly.

‘Blessings, all of a sudden?’

Encrid pondered for a moment.

‘Aren’t these kinds of blessings usually given before a war?’

Regardless, the priest continued to speak.

“The hand of light that protects this land has sent a hero to this territory. Ha ha ha.”

For example, something like an oddly developed sense of smell aimed at Krona.

It all blended together into a new sense called the Sixth Sense. This sense allowed one to grasp the disposition of the person in front of them.

Or rather, was it first that there seemed to be no intention of hiding anything from the opponent?

The man, who had been babbling about the words of the Holy Scripture and whatnot, eventually boasted that it was his three days and nights of sleepless prayer that protected this territory.

Rem adjusted his fur coat and looked up.

What did he just say?

The intent was clear in his expression.

“Don’t.”

Encrid intervened appropriately. Ragna, who was also ignoring it and heading to the quarters, stopped walking.

It was evident that his weight had shifted to his left foot.

He had activated his peculiar sharp senses.

Encrid raised his hand to show his palm to Ragna. It meant to stop.

Rem might show a small sign before causing trouble, but Ragna would just start beating someone up if he got annoyed.

Of course, the most dangerous one here would be Jaxon.

He might slit someone’s throat before anyone noticed.

“Everyone, stop.”

Encrid repeated. He could feel the irritation-based anger from them, and he was no different.

But out of all of them, he was the only one thinking clearly. You couldn’t just beat up or kill a priest in the middle of the territory, especially in the center of the barracks. ŕÃΝȫᛒĘʂ

Well, maybe a little beating wouldn’t be too bad?

“That’s troublesome.”

Even Krais spoke in a cold tone. His comment seemed more about how to hide the body if they killed him.

It wasn’t because of Krona.

Even if Krais avoided the frontline and disliked fighting, he was still a seasoned warrior.

Because of that.

If they won a battle because of someone’s prayer, if that was the sole reason for victory, if surviving the battlefield was only due to prayer,what does that make those who bled to win?

Encrid concluded. This guy is an idiot.

The first rule of dealing with idiots isn’t to beat them but to ignore them. Avoiding filth comes first.

So ignoring was the answer.

But usually, in such situations, the one to quietly let it go stepped forward.

The late afternoon sunlight cast a long shadow over the belly of the fat priest as he took a step.

“Are you saying we won because of your prayers, and thus we should offer a victory donation?”

He didn’t use the term ‘Brother’.

Encrid knew Audin. He was devoted to religion and used Divine Power, but it was also a secret.

And he didn’t beat just anyone.

Moreover, whether the priest was corrupt, greedy for gold, or fond of women, Audin usually avoided trouble when it came to priests.

So everyone just stared blankly.

“Yes, that’s right. If you donate for the temple, for the territory, and for the people, I will spread the word widely.”

Encrid understood what the other was implying.

A few gold coins would make them sing their praises louder.

But were these the kind of people who sought someone’s praises?

Ignoring him seemed like the best course of action.

“If the will of the light is so lofty, what about the funerals for the dead?”

Audin asked abruptly.

Encrid briefly considered whether he should stop Audin.

“That will be done in due course.”

The priest replied nonchalantly. His tone revealed how little he thought of the dead soldiers.

This was a world teeming with monsters and beasts.

Everyone lived with their necks under the threat of war.

One never knew when monsters would burst forth from the Demon Realm, sparking another Holy War.

In the historical Holy War, it was said that more than half of the human and allied races perished, rivers of blood flowed, and mountains of corpses were formed.

It was truly a world of terrible wars.

And now?

It was no different. The continent was still engulfed in turmoil.

So one must ask.

Does having the threat of danger at their throats mean that lives, easily snuffed out and broken, are cheap and worthless?

Some might agree.

A warlord leading a nation might see his soldiers as mere numbers.

Even a General might think that way.

But should a priest also think like that?

“I heard you brought many good items? Ha ha, if you donate them for a good cause, blessings will follow.”

Moreover, this priest had not even a speck of holiness. The word ‘blessing’ sounded more like extortion.

Audin looked at the priest.

This was a common occurrence. Idiots were as plentiful as grains of sand, and this territory seemed to have more than its fair share.

Idiots addicted to drugs and hypnosis.

Idiots belonging to the Black Blade Bandits.

And idiots disguised as priests.

‘A common occurrence.’

Audin knew this was nothing special. Furthermore, what had he done when he encountered such people before?

Even if the Border Guard had no clergy, wandering priests occasionally appeared.

Had he not seen them committing robbery under the guise of collecting donations?

Everyone ignored it.

For a long time, the excommunicated clergyman who ignored all visible problems placed someone who breaks through barriers above him.

Also, recently, he saw a beast defying its fate.

Among them, the human’s name was Encrid.

The defiant words stood before the human named Encrid.

Many thoughts flashed through his mind.

These thoughts concluded from what he felt while looking at Encrid.

Audin recognized his own transformation.

‘Did they tell me to just stand by and watch what’s wrong?’

No, his Father, his God, his Master did not command him to do so.

Therefore, Audin responded and acted upon seeing the wrong.

He could do so because his Master, who now resided within him, had steadied him.

This priest was an idiot. Encrid knew it too. He was just about to ignore and overlook him.

Whoosh.

The moment the air was displaced and something triggered his Sixth Sense, Encrid reacted. If Rem couldn’t control himself and threw an axe, it would be chaos.

He reached out, intending to block with his body. But it was a person who moved. The person slid under Encrid’s outstretched arm like a snake, swinging their hand.

Thud!

There was no groan. No death cry.

The one who moved was Audin.

He swung his open hand, and the priest’s cheek caught the blow.

Encrid turned his body.

During this, Audin’s movements registered clearly in his senses, so he asked.

“What was that?”

“The Snake Step.”

Anyone watching would surely think this was a conversation between madmen.

Having satisfied his curiosity, Encrid looked at what Audin had done.

“Is he dead?”

“Probably close to it.”

Rem answered the question.

Ragna, observing the situation quietly, looked at Audin and muttered a single word.

“Troublemaker.”

Jaxon followed, speaking without expression.

“Was that necessary?”

Why not just slit his throat when no one’s looking?

Finally, Rem looked at the priest, who was sprawled on the ground, writhing a few steps away from where he had stood, and spoke.

It didn’t seem like he was dead, judging by the trembling of his limbs.

“Man, people need to learn to have some self-control.”

Rem muttered.

You’re one to talk.

Encrid thought as he signaled Krais with his eyes, who approached to check the priest’s breathing.

“Fortunately, or maybe not so fortunately, he’s still breathing.”

His cheek was swelling red, but he was alive. It was a relief that his eyes hadn’t popped out or burst.

Now there was just the problem left to deal with.

Encrid was the company Commander of this band of troublemakers.

He was used to these kinds of incidents.

‘Well, this might be the first time we’ve beaten up a priest.’

There was no temple in the Border Guard.

It wasn’t for any particular reason, just a series of coincidences.

The first Commander distanced himself from religion, and his successors followed his lead. The recent Commander before Marcus also despised greedy pigs who coveted his position.

So, he hated corrupt priests.

Whether they had a strong spirit of sacrifice or not, he disliked temples because they collected donations.

The current Battalion Commander, Marcus, was the same.

He believed in the Gods and made donations, but he didn’t allow temples to be established in his territory.

He cut out anything that wasn’t beneficial to the territory.

He was curious why all the priests who visited the territory seemed to be interested only in Krona.

If the temple actually sent someone, they could quickly establish a temple, but as of now, there was none in the Border Guard.

Was it the first time they’d seen such an idiot?

No, but it was curious why they’d beaten him up now.

Encrid looked at Audin with that intent, and Audin, clasping his hands together in prayer, spoke.

“I have no regrets. I only followed the orders of my Lord.”

“So you wanted to beat him up.”

Encrid understood completely.

“Let’s just kill him and bury him.”

Rem suggested. It didn’t make sense. There were already many eyes watching the commotion in front of the quarters.

Instead of answering a pointless question, Encrid examined the priest again.

He was certainly not dead.

As Encrid crouched and inspected him, one of the watching soldiers spoke up.

“…Why do I feel so relieved?”

“Exactly.”

“Stupid pig.”

A few thoughtless soldiers chuckled, while the smarter ones called their Commander.

As soon as the Commander heard what had happened, he reported it up the chain of command, and soon Zimmer appeared.

“Let’s say I did it.”

“Hmm?”

Encrid looked at Zimmer, who continued with a glint in his eye.

“I think it’ll be easier to deal with if it’s me who did it.”

“Thanks, but…”

“You are the heroes who protected this territory, surely, I can handle this much.”

Zimmer puffed out his chest as he spoke.

What happens when a priest gets beaten?

He will report it to his superiors immediately. The temple would then send someone, either claiming that their God was disrespected or to establish their influence over the territory.

If they knew that the Border Guard and Martai were transforming into a ‘trading territory’, the temple might try to establish themselves here and claim some of the byproducts.

Separately, what would happen to Zimmer if he took the blame for beating the priest?

He would face fines and penalties, maybe even suffer more severe consequences.

If the temple decided to press the issue, he might be imprisoned.

Beating a dispatched priest in the territory could mean that.

But Zimmer would be better off than Audin.

An external person beating the priest and a conflict with someone they already knew were different issues.

The influence within the territory was also different.

Encrid scratched his forehead.

He looked at Audin, who hid his Divine Powers.

The most concerning issue was:

‘Can we really tie that bear to the temple?’

Probably not.

He hides his Divine Powers and stays in a territory without a temple.

That means he’s a fugitive. Encrid understood this instinctively. It was an obvious problem without needing to ask.

Whether he believed in a heretical faith or committed a crime against the temple, or both.

“Everyone here will be witnesses.”

Zimmer spoke confidently.

He was an Easterner and a Commander in this territory.

Influencing the divided soldiers wouldn’t be difficult for him.

Those from the Border Guard were already favorable to Encrid, so they wouldn’t need much convincing.

“Let’s do that.”

Krais said, nudging Encrid in the ribs.

Encrid decided to accept Zimmer’s offer.

“Thank you.”

Zimmer nodded.

Just as he had stepped up to fight right after the defeat, he was a bold man.

“That settles it then.”

He had the fallen priest carried inside by the soldiers.

The next day, the priest, having lost his memory, screamed and protested loudly.

Zimmer exchanged a few words with him.

Encrid, who had been sweating all morning running through the barracks, happened to witness the scene by chance.

“How dare you lay hands on a servant of God? Do you think this matter will be overlooked? The Radiance is watching! Huh? I will report this to the temple and thoroughly address this!”

It was in the outskirts of the barracks, where the vegetation was dense.

Fortunately, it seemed the priest didn’t know that it was Audin who had beaten him.

Later, after hearing more, Encrid realized that Zimmer was even bolder and more forthright than he had initially thought.

“Won because of prayer? Hey, you damn pig.”

The priest was stunned into silence. His tongue, which had smoothly accused the other, was now tied.

“What? What did you just say?”

A subtle tremor in his voice could be professionally described as ‘being scared’.

“Damn, is there fat in your ears too? Should I cut those ears off halfway?”

Zimmer drew his dagger with a sharp sound. It was morning, and the sunlight was bright. The dagger’s blade beautifully reflected the light.

“Or maybe the tongue that’s spewing this nonsense?”

He made a gesture as if poking near the priest’s mouth with the tip of the dagger.

There’s a certain presence that suggests they might actually do it if provoked.

Zimmer had that presence now.

The priest hesitated to speak, eventually attempting one last act of defiance.

“I will inform the temple of this…”

“If you do, you’ll either end up as a ghoul’s meal during morning prayers or die ‘valiantly’ in a charge in the centaur colony battlefield. Ah, this could work. You got badly wounded during the charge, say, around here? Then you died because you couldn’t be treated. Everyone would believe that a priest could have healed himself using Divine Power.”

Not all priests could wield Divine Power, but it was a given that it was not something to boast about.

The priest was struck speechless.

It was truly a bold scene.

It left a deep impression on Encrid.

Then again, if it was about threats, Encrid could have handled it himself, right?

But that wasn’t the point. The threat from someone living in this territory couldn’t be the same as one from an outsider.

Zimmer made it possible.

He was an interesting person, this Easterner named Zimmer.

As Encrid returned to the quarters, Krais, wiping sleep from his eyes, spoke.

“Come to think of it, they’re quite kind.”

“Who?”

Before the sweat he had shed could dry, Encrid headed back out to train with his sword.

He moved as he always did.

Behind him, Krais spoke.

“The Black Blade Bandits.”

“…How are they kind?”

“Uh-huh, it’s getting cold now. Can you take Rem’s fur coat for me?”

“If you wear that fur, an axe blade will find its way to your neck.”

“Even if the Commander tries to stop him?”

“Without a doubt.”

“Ah, damn it, I should’ve bought one too.”

Even though he said that, Krais wouldn’t buy a fur coat. He was incredibly stingy when it came to Krona.

“Let’s go out. You’re going to swing your sword, right?”

Krais said, looking outside. The sunlight was warm, but the air was cold. It was winter, and the temperature had dropped.

Encrid grabbed his sword and went out.

He had to stay here until the day the dwarf had promised, so he planned to train as usual.

Krais stood by his side, sharing his thoughts.

He spoke about why the idiots of the Black Blade Bandits were kind.

Encrid listened, thinking that lately, or rather since coming to Martai, he had been encountering more idiots and such groups.

Coincidentally, the Black Blade Bandits had just started to draw their swords seriously now.

There was also the priest who had been beaten by Audin.

So, how should they deal with these kinds of people?

The answer was simple.

‘Just beat them all up.’

There was a clear answer, but now it was Krais’s turn to figure out the way to achieve it. Encrid had told him to do so, and Krais was faithfully following that command.

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