Eternally Regressing Knight Chapter 524

524
“Ahh.”

Ragnar opened his mouth wide and exhaled, indicating that he was sleepy and bored.

Encred thought as he looked at Ragnar like that.

Should I be surprised to see someone walking while sleeping?

Or should we just admire the lack of tension before a battle, a fight that carries considerable risk?

Or should we follow the example of thinking of the Penn-Hanil Range as a backcountry trail or something?

Is it a strength or just madness to walk around yawning and nodding off in this situation?

Let’s think of it as a strength.

In fact, Encred himself wasn’t nervous and his hands weren’t shaking, so it was good for his mental health to accept everything as an advantage.

“The air is heavy because the mountains are not full of energy.”

Sinar said from the side.

Encred nodded and walked.

Their steps seemed like they were out for a walk in the backyard, but the place they were walking was not the backyard, but the Pen-Hanil Mountains.

They say to intercept the enemy, but once you meet them, you either have to intercept them or fight them.

I was walking for that. In military terms, this could be called a march.

If you told a normal person to ‘march towards the Pen-Hanil Mountains’, they would most likely ask if you had swapped heads with ghouls, but not to these people.

But it wasn’t like I was really going for a leisurely walk.

Should we say that we are advancing while observing the enemy’s movements?

Of course, there were some shortcomings in directly understanding it.

Ahead of them on their path was a leading group: a group of ten Rangers, including Finn.

“Long time no see?”

As soon as I entered the mountain range, I met Finn, who approached me quietly and spoke with a smile.

Finn was once a scout leader who fought alongside the Cross Guard.

He was briefly a member of the Madmen Squad, but was now under the command of Sinar.

Although there was a deep scar on his left cheek, his expression was bright.

“It seems like it’s worth staying in.”

“Not bad.”

“Don’t die.”

“If it’s dangerous, I’d like to ask you to save me, but I’ve been living off the land here in the mountains. Please trust me, Captain.”

He finished speaking and saluted. Encred nodded.

Finn, who had stepped aside, continued to advance forward, leading his unit.

It was out of sight, so far away that its location could only be discerned by sound, and then it grew to a distance where even sound could not be heard properly.

Meanwhile, Sinar, who had been watching Encred and Finn’s conversation, approached and spoke.

“You’re a womanizer.”

“Who said that?”

Sinar looked at Encrid with emotionless eyes for a long time and then suddenly spoke.

“Could it be that I am talking about a big-eyed housekeeper who is not here? Or a fighter who calls himself a philanderer? Or a swordsman who would be trapped in the maze of the continent if he were to make a mistake? Lastly, yes, that fellow named Saxon may be a womanizer, but he diligently meets only one lover. Do you know that his lover has a shop right in the middle of the city?”

Encred was gentle and calm, but he couldn’t avoid the surprise attack of the fairy who flew in without giving him a moment to catch his breath.

In the surprise attack, Encred realized that he knew the characteristics of each and every member of the Sinardo unit very well.

Well, they are authors with distinct characteristics.

“The continent is a maze. You have to be able to find your way just by looking at the stars.”

Ragnar scolded Rem while he was still sleeping.

“… … Captain. I’m asking seriously, but isn’t this optional?”

“With one hand on the axe and the other pointing to the continent’s maze-lover,” Rem asked.

Rem’s eyes turned into triangles at how unpleasant Ragnar’s words were.

To Encred, it seemed as though Ragnar was saying that now that he knew.

“Saxony’s lover has a shop?”

And Encred changed the subject, for he knew that if he stopped here, only more harsh words would be exchanged.

Encred’s question had the effect of throwing the question of the fairy’s flirtation far into the darkness of the abyss, and pushing Rem and Ragna’s words to one side.

“It’s a tea house. It’s small.”

It was too detailed for an explanation and naturally raised several questions, but Encred didn’t ask any more.

That’s not important.

I was just surprised that he had a lover and was faithful to her.

It was also a front business to manage the organization, but it was also true that it was actually run by Saxony’s lover, so there was not a single lie mixed in.

After that, no one said anything.

Rem ended up humming, and Ragnar tried to overcome his drowsiness and take the lead, but Encred stopped him.

The steps of Saxon and Sinar made similar sounds, but both were barely audible.

Encred’s ears were able to distinguish sounds much more sensitively than before after Will was opened.

‘If you decide to silence your voice, you won’t be heard.’

One of them had developed a knack for it, while the other had something more like an innate talent.

Fairies are naturally light and nimble.

Of course, not all fairies are the same, but Shinar seemed to be.

And then the mark left by the pin that had gone ahead was visible.

“It’s white.”

Saxony discovered it first and spoke of it.

A thin cloth tied to a tree branch.

Blue means encountering the enemy, white means finding traces.

If it was red, it would have been a sign that a battle had broken out and there had been casualties, but if there had been a battle, you would have felt a change in the air before that.

Because your keen intuition will have noticed the traces of battle.

And then, along with the five senses that were clearly more sensitive than before, the developed sixth sense whispered to Encred.

It seems like the enemy is moving faster than expected.

It was a decision based on intuition, but it was also a decision made after calculating things in an instant.

It was just my intuition that shortened the process and gave me the answer first.

Encred and his party had now passed the entrance to the Pen-Hanil Mountains, and according to Crys’ prediction, they should have met the enemy halfway through.

In terms of time, it’s two to three days later.

But the fact that we’ve already met means that the enemy has moved faster.

Just because we revealed our true feelings to each other, it didn’t mean we could just act like that.

It seemed like the enemy had struck first.

If this side was less prepared, it would be advantageous to strike first, so they would try to come early to gain the advantage of the player and also the advantage of the terrain.

In that situation, Finn could have discovered the enemy at this point.

Then, was the timing and situation of discovering the traces a coincidence? I also thought that it might not be a coincidence.

If the enemy wasn’t stupid, they wouldn’t show any traces so easily.

Complex calculations turn into intuition, giving a few facts. Encred’s mind quickly separates what has happened and what will happen next.

Finn’s role is to be a scout to find the enemy if they change direction. She will do her duty, even if it means giving up her life.

however.

“There is not one.”

I found a white cloth tied to a branch, and another white cloth folded into the shape of a bird on the floor. One with its beak pointed to the right, the other to the left.

This means that there were at least three enemy paths.

This is something that even Christ could not have predicted.

There was no need to panic though. After finishing the calculations, Encred’s mouth opened as his intuition kicked in.

“Saxony, join Finn’s scouts, Ragnar and Sinar will be at the front line. Rem will go to the left, I will go to the right.”

There was no reason to hesitate, so Encrid said and took his foot off.

“then.”

In the meantime, Saxon had climbed the tree first. Beyond the branches that covered his head and the sunlight filtering through them, a creature much larger than the birds but still quieter than them began to jump onto the branches.

It’s like a bird flying, kicking branches and making less noise than flapping its wings.

Encred’s gaze scanned the place where Saxon had disappeared.

At the same time, I reviewed my judgment once more.

If the enemy is divided, is it right to divide this side too? Or is it a trap?

Even if you make a mistake, you can just check and come back right away.

The moment I originally thought we would meet in a few days has arrived right before my eyes.

‘Did you hope that the panic would cause you to get your hands dirty? Or that the chain of command would shake in the face of an urgent situation?’

It was natural to aim for something like that. If several knight-level forces gathered together, it would be natural for their opinions to differ.

But Encred’s madmen followed one man’s orders faithfully.

“Hey, don’t push yourself too hard. I’ll just clean up quickly and go.”

Rem spoke and moved, and Encred also turned to the right.

Ragnar and Shinar walked forward in silence. Their pace was faster than before.

* * *

‘Did he try to trick me?’

Christ still felt anxiety welling up from deep within him, but on the outside he looked calm.

Drink tea, laugh, joke, and do whatever you have to do. If you show insecurity in your position, it will have an impact.

So, you shouldn’t express your anxiety.

Even if your legs shake when you’re alone, you have to pretend you’re okay when someone’s watching you.

“Don’t fight with too much force.”

These were the words Encred spat out at the inauguration ceremony.

Oh my, is that what you say to a soldier going into battle?

Although he screamed inside, Crys skillfully used Encred’s words.

“It means that you can win even if you use up all your strength.”

Of course, instead of standing on the podium and speaking, he spoke through his commander.

He speaks of the Demon Slayer, the Master of the Border Guard, the King’s Friend, the Savior of the Western City, and the Silencer of the Grey Forest.

In fact, even if he had just barked ‘woof’, the morale of the troops would have soared.

If Encred says so, you’ll believe that even the barking noises now have some meaning.

“we are!”

“I win!”

“Even if you lose strength!”

“I win!”

The relief is really refreshing.

Christ watched the troops leave with the slogan created by the entire commanding staff, and he continued to get involved in various matters.

And yet, the feeling of anxiety pressured my brain, which had grown out of control, and forced me to think.

‘Did those bastards from Azpen really do nothing?’

We won’t have an all-out war, but we will protest, so let’s not fight. Is that an agreement? Right?

‘And what if you don’t keep it?’

What can I do? It’ll be over with just one word. After all, the winner’s words will be the correct answer.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t keep an implicit promise, right?

So, Christ also did his bit.

Of course, a little is just my opinion, and the thoughts of the enemy I face may be different.

* * *

The two armies gathered together far apart, with Green Pearl at their center. They gathered at similar times, but Azpen finished lining up first.

The number alone exceeded five thousand.

The Border Guard force numbered at most three thousand.

However, it wasn’t just three thousand.

During that time, Christ had been pouring out Krona and using it as military equipment.

The result was now.

There are only three thousand elite soldiers, including the arrogant and ignorant ones.

“Forward, troops.”

The heavy infantry was at the forefront, numbering five hundred.

It was a small number, but it was not a small number.

All of the equipment was unified.

A plate armored chestplate with chain mail inside, and a gambiton inside that.

Usually, when war broke out, it was rare for equipment to be unified. Especially in the case of heavy infantry, there were many who purchased equipment with their own money.

As a result, there were some who came out wearing rag-like armor.

It would be nice if they could match the color of their armor, but the Border Guard Heavy Infantry Brigade had all their equipment unified.

Originally, an army was like a pig that swallowed Crona without rest just by maintaining it.

They are the ones who just eat and shit. The place where the value of such pigs shines the most is the battlefield.

Since it was obvious that war would soon break out, Christie invested heavily in the military.

“It was created by pouring out blood-like Crona.”

Christ muttered alone in the back, as if spitting out something.

Even though the weapon materials were slightly different, the weapons they held in their hands looked similar, and from a distance, they looked like the same equipment.

It was not something that one blacksmith could process in a short period of time, so it was something that had been steadily made and stored up over time.

On either side of the heavy infantry, spearmen and archers lined up in equal numbers. Their equipment was also unified.

It was a blue gammon and a leather helmet that was pressed down.

These are troops who have completed the unified equipment and harsh training that started at Audin and was passed on to Loford.

In the center, Graham, the lord of the Border Guard and externally the highest commander, stood alone on a hastily constructed platform, took a deep breath, puffed out his chest, and shouted.

“All hands on deck! Prepare for battle!”

The drums rang out in time with the shout.

Each commander gave orders simultaneously, and the friendly forces began to line up.

Discipline is the force that demonstrates the military’s discipline and morality.

If you want to know how well trained an army is, look at how well they line up.

This was what the continent’s leading strategists and historians unanimously agreed on.

Now here, the Border Guard’s regulars proved it.

Ouch, thud!

They take a step forward and line up. This simple action proves how well trained they are.

There was no mess at all, no one was talking, and even though we were walking, the atmosphere was straight.

From a distance, the army appeared to be a single living organism.

Although they stood in line and each branch of the military gathered together, the order was different from that of the Azpen army.

It’s a wall made of an army standing upright.

It was a wall prepared by Christ.

The greatness of a refined army is completed by unified uniforms and ceremonies, and this in itself becomes a deterrent that makes the enemy swallow their saliva.

So, are you still going to attack an army like this?

In fact, some of Azpen’s commanders gulped.

What the heck? Why are those kids standing in line so well?

Is it okay to fight this?

The order to charge won’t come down suddenly, right?

Each unit had people who called themselves assault troops. Of course, Azpen had people like that too.

Even they hesitated.

And the one who claimed to be the leader of the assault force opened his mouth when he realized that he had hesitated.

“What the heck. Just because you’re good at standing in line, does that mean you’re good at fighting? Uwaaaah!”

He let out a shout, which briefly inflated my shrunken liver.

His men cheered in response.

“Wow!”

When hundreds of people shouted at once, it spread like wildfire and people around them also cheered.

It was noisy. The shouts raced across the battlefield.

The Azpen army created something resembling a military flag by exposing evil.

It seemed as if some kind of energy was gathering around the gathered troops. It seemed as if such an illusion could be seen.

Graham, who was watching, raised his left hand without even a hint of smile.

Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding.

The bell rang five times.

The order was to count to five inwardly and shout.

Amidst the disorderly shouting and cursing, every single one of the Border Guard soldiers simultaneously shouted in unison at their commander’s command.

“Even if you lose strength!”

To the commander’s hut.

“Even if you lose strength!”

The troops are shouting.

“I win!”

Back to the dock.

“I win!”

The aftertaste follows.

Boom! It was just like thunder.

The random shouts that Azpen let out were suppressed by a shout that conveyed the exact meaning. The military discipline that was created was scattered like dust.

The earth shook and the air trembled.

Christ heard the thunderous roar of his allies and thought it was a good start.

However, that did not mean that the anxiety completely went away.

‘Okay, Audin. Please finish it.’

I believe, son of the god of war.

Christ brought about a faith that was sought only when needed within.

There are Audin and Teresa on this battlefield, as well as Lawford and Fel. I left them there on purpose.

Even if Azpen had left behind a single article and attacked, he had the power to somehow block it.

But the anxiety did not go away, so Christ also did a little trick.

Abnayer had rigged his bypass force by sending it off unexpectedly early, while Chrys had been maneuvering his forces in a place where an all-out war might break out.

“Brothers who know how to fight, come out!”

In front, amidst the ranks of the two armies, a giant-like priest rode forth on a large brown horse, and his name was Audin.

I said I would avoid all-out war, I didn’t say I wouldn’t fight.

Wouldn’t it be right to raise morale by killing a few of them before the enemy forces push in?

Christ thought so.

Of course, Abnayer would never agree with Christ’s thoughts.