Eternally Regressing Knight Chapter 865

865. Atmosphere

Cyprus is old. He’s met a lot of people. That’s why he knows that those who reach a certain level never neglect their training.
All so-called high-level knights are like that. Meanwhile, those who indulge in talent and slack off are weeded out.
If you watch closely, the outcome is always the same: those who work hard survive, while those who don’t are eliminated.

‘Inggis is the best ore I’ve ever mined.’

Cypress, who had observed Inggis’s growth, concluded that. He highly valued the knight.
Was he born with exceptional talent?
No.
Was he descended from a special lineage?
No.
Then what was the biggest reason he held Inggis in such high esteem?

‘Iron Mask Inggis.’

Every day was the same for him. He never complained of boredom. He was adept at repetition. His facial expressions remained constant. He was firm, upright, and sincere. His greatest strength was his unwavering integrity, unfazed by talent.

‘Sincerity.’

This is Inggis’s strength. Of course, as I’ve said repeatedly, he’s also overflowing with talent.

‘Then what should we call that?’

Cypress chuckled and looked toward the center of the training ground.
Two figures emanated divine power in place of the relics. Both possessed a size that could easily be mistaken for bear-men.
One of them, they say,
was a half-giant, or perhaps a pure human. Even that was a strange surprise.
Occasionally, a cautious murmur arose among the soldiers, questioning whether they truly possessed bear-men blood, but it felt perfectly natural.
Two large sacred knights, each holding the symbol of the god of war like a flag, formed a central space around them. The Mad Knights gathered there. It was still before dawn. It was a crisp, blue morning.
Cypress, clad only in a worn linen shirt, surveyed the assembled crowd.
The one with long brown hair and well-proportioned arms spoke as if to call attention.

“Effort? That’s just the miserable struggles of the untalented.”

A shepherd from the wilderness, his name was Pell.
He was so dedicated to training that he said things like, “Mad.” The Knights Templar didn’t get that name for nothing.
His words, uttered while drenched in sweat, lacked persuasiveness. Right next to him, muttering, “Stop that crazy talk!” was Lawford. His
face was also drenched in sweat. Beads of sweat pooled along his chin and dripped to the floor.

“It’s a little better now that the rain has stopped.”

A man from the West wielding an axe spoke these words.
His opponent was a half-awake swordsman. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and came forward, then swung his sword, aiming for the axe-wielding man’s head.

“I have to cut out that tongue so I can be quiet in the morning.”

I heard those words.
The two of them swayed back and forth, each spurting a fountain of dirt wherever they stepped. They were fighting for space and dominance.
Even though they weren’t really fighting, I could tell it wasn’t easy to get between them.

“You look so energetic this morning.”

Since the time he replaced the sacred object, the bear-man, or rather, the purely human-and-giant hybrid, has given up sleep.
The knight can stay up all night for days. That doesn’t mean it’s comfortable or even good.
Everyone else was doing their job well in front of those two.

Whoa.

It’s rare to see Prok wielding a whip and focusing on training, and it’s also unfamiliar to see Yong-in wielding a white sword.
And what about Krang, the king of a nation, sitting in a chair next to him, observing?

‘The situation is difficult.’

Reality is harsh.
Cyprus knows better than anyone that the current situation is unfavorable. Don’t they? They do. They’ve said it countless times in tactical meetings.

‘A horse that flies in the sky is a horse.’

The Southern Army boasts over twenty flying vehicles. Yet, they begin their day with no trouble. The one at the center of it all woke up earlier than anyone else and sweated more than anyone else. His name is Encred.

“Okay, brother.”

A divine knight named Audin looks on with a smile. A ray of light appears. The sun rises from the sky, once obscured by dark clouds. It’s sunrise.

“You are still the same.”

The king’s words were heard. Cypress understood the situation.
Perhaps that was Encred’s usual form. He was always swinging his sword, moving his body, and sweating.

‘Beyond sincerity.’

He was a man of such ferocity, that kind of thing.
He was a man who did his job even when a typhoon swept through. That’s the kind of side he showed.

‘I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t greedy, right?’

Of course, it was already too late. He was already leading a band of knights, clad in dark green cloaks instead of red ones.
While Cypress was secretly amazed and astonished, Bunyan, who was watching, felt a strange sensation. He leaned against the ground, using his long spear as a staff, and watched.
Fatigue had built up throughout the days of fighting. But as he watched him, some of that fatigue vanished. He vanished. He flew beyond the veil. And so, the thought occurred to him.

‘Nothing has changed.’

Encred was the same as before. Nothing had changed. Even though he was a knight, he woke up earlier than anyone else and sweated just like before. Bunyan’s eyes were flooded with memories of the past. It was truly amazing. Regardless of his skills, his determination hadn’t wavered in the slightest.

‘It was like that before too.’

All the mercenaries under my command were fired up when they saw that man.

“When I look at it, it just makes me want to swing something.”

I remember the colleagues who used to say those words. They’re all dead now.
But the past brings them back to mind, and naturally, my thoughts converge.

‘Ah, revenge.’

It’s a truly sweet word, but it’s also a truly difficult word. The more difficult the subject, the more difficult it is. For Bunyan, I saw someone who would continue his legacy even after I died. The goodwill endured, and the bond never faded.
I vividly remember the conversation they had when they met and walked through the camp.

“Where did you put the previous mercenary unit?”

Encred had asked.

“They’re all dead.”
“All?”
“All.”

Bunyan spoke of his past. The commission, the complicated circumstances, the machinations of the demons of the Demon Realm.
His brothers and family were all dead. He gave all the Crona he had to his family, who were waiting for the mercenary force. Perhaps it was fortunate that a few of them had even started families.
After completing all his tasks, Bunyan headed to the southern front.
Fighting to the death on the battlefield closest to the Demon Realm was his reason for living.
Encred was once a mercenary force like Bunyan. The one who heard the whole story and would carry on his legacy spoke.

“Just hold on for ten years, no, five years.”
“Why?”
“Aren’t you going to get revenge?”

He says it as if it were obvious. He also says it as if it were obvious that he could do it.

“sun.”

Bunyan didn’t cry. He shed all the tears he could in his life when his entire mercenary force died.

“Do it.”

Bunyan spoke again, but instead of tears, he felt a pain tearing through his heart.

“I was also a member of the mercenary corps.”

Encred’s words resonated through my entire being. They sent shivers down my spine, leaving a tingling pain in my heart.
The favor was returned, and the bond still remained. Encred had successfully carried out Bunyan’s will.

“thanks.”

Bunyan spoke and Encred answered calmly.

“If you are grateful, live diligently.”

At those words, Bunyan shed his last tear and laughed loudly. The words I’d said when I’d saved Encred came back to me.

“You forgot my name but you remember that? You crazy bastard.”
“Bunion is too common a name.”
“Is Tom special?”
“If you guess Tom, you get it right one in ten times.”

The two laughed together, just like they had during their mercenary days.
While Bunyan was lost in thought, Private Rafield saw the apostle of the god of war he served, the one he admired, speaking with unhesitating respect. His attitude spoke volumes:
no matter what, he would never stop training.

“I will fight as long as there is blood in my body.”

When I first joined the Southern Front, this is what Raffield said. What did I do to live up to that promise?
My blood boiled. The enemy hadn’t yet invaded, and our troops needed rest. Yet, my blood boiled.

‘I want to fight.’

Rafield prayed and chanted beside Audín. Audín smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Brother Raffield, struggle is a struggle. It’s an instinct for survival. Hold on.”

It’s only been two days since the rain stopped. It’s a short break, though.

“You did what I was supposed to do.”

Cypress chuckled.
Encred turned his gaze to the laughter, then glanced at the soldiers watching him. ”
What can I say? Their gazes were truly fiery.”
It wasn’t just Bunyan and Rafield.
Most of the troops defending the south were gathered in the center. The troops stationed on the southern front were elite. They were the walls protecting Naurilia. Their presence speaks for itself.

“It’s easier if you give up.”
“Just let it go.”
“Stop doing stupid things. There’s a way to live comfortably, so why are you doing this instead?”

Those who heard countless accusations and criticisms before becoming a knight don’t come this far.
These people, the military standing here, are their former selves.

‘Those who fight without giving up, with a lingering fire in their hearts.’

Encred suddenly stopped swinging his sword as a thought occurred to him. He caught Dawn in his tracks and stabbed her into the ground.

Sigh.

A sword stuck in the muddy ground. All eyes were drawn to the simple action. Everyone froze. I
was reminded of my first encounter with Krang. Every step, every gesture, was different. He
placed his hand on the pommel, his sword still sheathed. Suddenly, the surroundings were quiet. Only the occasional sound of catching his breath could be heard.
Encred, his hand on the pommel, raised his head. He hadn’t made any particularly dramatic gestures. But his words now carried weight.
The sound echoed in the silence, carrying meaning.

“I don’t think anyone came here because they wanted to die, right?”

It’s not a question that requires an answer. Everyone just keeps their mouths shut and watches.

“Everyone, fight to the death. For what you want.”

It was a short speech. The soldiers’ enthusiasm boiled over in the silence.

“That will happen.”

Private Rafield muttered a reply. He braced himself. ”
Clap,” Crang clapped his hands.

“Good.”

These are the words of one who can shake people’s hearts with just one word. They are said with sincerity and truth.

“My dream is to die in bed.”

Cypress added a joke.
Despite the early dawn, half the knights, clad in red cloaks, were out and about, watching.
Some gripped their swords, others simply watched. The younger ones, relatively speaking, were radiating enthusiasm.
Perhaps they didn’t understand the reputation of the Mad Knights. Their
fervent enthusiasm heated up the camp. They channeled that energy into repositioning the position.
Luagarne and Aurelia revised their strategy several times.

“Let’s clear the center of the field.”
“That would be good.”

The southern front was busier than ever before, until the enemy showed up, according to the operation.

“Are you going to play around as a Royal Guard? If you don’t have the talent to fly, then lend a hand.”

Krang ordered.

“Our mission is to protect Your Highness.”
“Yes, so get moving. Helping them now protects me.”

Krang’s intentions were firm. The leader of the Royal Guard was a self-appointed protector of the king during a time of great peril.
He was also someone who respected Krang’s will.

“Move. Take turns escorting the king to ensure that nothing happens to him.”

For the captain of the Royal Guard, this was the ultimate compromise. He’d cut down on his rest time. Even the Royal Guard were now fully engaged. Encred’s daily routine was simple.
Mornings were a series of training sessions and drills, and the rest of the day was spent running and flying on his unicorn.

Heeeeeek!

Although the eagle-eyed never got tired, Encrid was faithful to rest.

“It’s embarrassing to stumble when it’s time to fight, you idiot.”

Afterwards, Encred took the time to ask Krang.
The author, the king of a country, was eating stew like a common soldier.

“What if it’s poison?”
“If God wants to take me, I have to accept it.”

In fact, Krang’s body, having absorbed a portion of the Sun’s water, rejects most poisons. Well, the other soldiers couldn’t know that. Thanks to that, everyone seemed touched when they heard Krang’s words.
The king sat with him, chatting and eating together. He was a simple and easygoing king.

“Why only the Royal Guard and the Royal Army?”

Asia and Marquis Marcus Bysar could easily keep up.

“Prepare.”

Krang’s reply was short. Encred nodded, as if to say so. After that, it was time for more riding practice until nightfall. Since horses were meant to fly, not just on the ground, training was essential.
For days, the army’s enthusiasm remained constant. Unwavering. Even the moment the enemy invaded, it remained the same.