Eternally Regressing Knight Chapter 494

494
Rem crouched down before the corpse, its skull split open and beginning to rot, and cut open its chest with his dagger.

The rotten flesh was torn limply, and the blade that cut into the flesh was dyed black.

Since the rigor mortis had completely disappeared, cutting through the flesh wasn’t difficult.

It wouldn’t have mattered if there was stiffness though.

A heart was found near the chest of the corpse, clearly showing signs of having been eaten by insects. It was a heart that had been punctured and eaten away. The black blood had hardened into a mucus-like substance.

Look at this?

The captain’s return was a return, and understanding the situation before and after was basic.

That’s why Rem tore open the corpse’s chest.

No one here knew it, but Rem’s understanding and depth of sorcery was on a different level than before.

It was also thanks to the influence of things like the things I realized through my talent, the things I gained as extras from killing the madman of rage, and the change in my attitude towards life after seeing Encred.

Anyway, by examining the traces of witchcraft, I was able to roughly understand the situation. To be exact, it was a process of figuring out what the opponent had done.

‘Not an ordinary spirit.’

It was an extramarital affair. In other words, it was a secret technique that was accomplished by borrowing the power of another being.

After several situations ran through my head, this was the conclusion I came to.

‘You’re lucky.’

Remdo also came to the same conclusion as Geomnaerae.

The tide of fate has tilted a little further in that direction.

There was something else I found out. Something else, the identity of the affair.

The devil is worshipped as a god by the cult. Since priests are those who borrow the power of gods, the cult could do the same.

That is, by praying to the master of the Demon Realm, you borrow their power.

‘Should that also be considered sacred?’

If Audyn found out, he would jump up and kick his feet together, calling it disrespectful.

Anyway, the teachings of the apostles, the technique of borrowing the power of the devil, and the addition of a genius sorcerer.

‘You performed a ritual by worshipping the devil as a god?’

I knew the principle, and I saw the flow of events. It wasn’t something I could do alone here.

There must have been more offerings at the intended destination.

‘It’s not a magic mirror.’

Rem nodded and muttered.

“I guess it wasn’t that far.”

“There’s no way he’s dead.”

Luagarne continued speaking from the side.

It was a given.

At best, it would probably take about two weeks to walk?

It wouldn’t have been thrown into the Demon Realm, since there would have been another sacrifice at the destination. The Demon Realm’s silence is quiet, but it’s not a place that just anyone can enter.

It wasn’t a magic realm, since you can’t send someone to a place they’ve never been before, whether it’s through teleportation or something else.

Above all, silence reacts when provoked. But the fact that nothing happened was proof that it wasn’t you.

‘With this level of sorcery, all the sacrifices would have died.’

The worst is beyond the river of sand.

If not, I’ll just go somewhere in the western plains and look for the stars and come back.

That was Rem’s judgment.

That night, the moon rose in the sky. Two moons illuminated the western lands and the stars appeared brilliantly.

“Aren’t you worried?”

Looking at such a Rem, Luagarne asked.

While I was examining the body and gathering my thoughts, I shook my hands and sat down at the fire, slowly cooking the rabbit meat over the campfire. If I made even the slightest mistake, it would burn quickly and the taste would be terrible. The degree to which the meat was cooked was very important.

Rem answered, looking at the flames.

“If he was going to die like this, he would have died a long time ago.”

That was true.

Luagarne was momentarily shocked by Encred’s disappearance, but now she had calmed down.

It was the same with Dunbakel. The moment Suin thought that Rem would come and take care of it, she nodded her head with a short exclamation of admiration.

Remdo had thought the worst, but he never thought that the captain would die from such an unfortunate event.

It was something that happened because luck struck when you tried something a hundred times and failed a hundred times, or even a thousand times and failed a thousand times.

Dying over something like this? That’s ridiculous. I’ve survived a few near-death experiences so far.

But what if he died?

It was just a distracting thought. Rem quickly shook off the negative thoughts.

‘I went all the way to find a sorcerer, so this is what happens?’

Rem decided to wait comfortably. What difference would it make if he stomped his feet?

“Everyone, just do your own thing. What would it look like you’re looking for? And unless it’s a desert, they’ll come to you on their own.”

“What if it’s beyond the river of sand?”

“But I’ll come on my own.”

The chief asked, and Rem answered without hesitation.

If you ask me how, I would have to say that I don’t know.

Encrid will return, as he always has.

It was an unfounded belief, but some might call it trust.

He will be a knight and will keep his word.

‘I need to taste my own weapon.’

That would be it. Three days had passed since Rem examined the body. Encrid had not returned, and there was no trace of him.

* * *

Meditation, thinking, pondering.

As I was doing those things, the sun set quickly.

I tried to do that because it was possible to gauge the direction by looking at the sun starting to set in the middle, but it didn’t work.

What happened to the sky here?

The bright sun was setting, but I couldn’t see the direction.

As it turned out, there was no sunset. The light gradually disappeared and before I knew it, it was blue early evening, and soon it was night.

It is a pitch-black night, a desert without lights.

The next guest to arrive in the land where the heat had disappeared was the cold.

As night fell, the temperature suddenly dropped.

Why is it suddenly getting cold?

I thought I might freeze to death at this rate.

Anyway, it was a situation where I had to find the way first.

Encrid raised his head.

The stars in the night sky decorated my eyes in pure white.

There were a lot of stars. There were too many.

What is this?

Westerners called this place the River of No Return.

That was exactly what it said.

This was a land without any landmarks to guide one’s way.

“Should we call this a sky curtain star?”

Encred muttered to himself in the empty space.

Because clouds that block the sunlight are called sunblock clouds, and canyons that block sandstorms are called sandblock canyons.

So, is this a sky curtain in advance? Isn’t that what it should be called?

I heard that in Western language, the river of stars in the sky is called Mirinae.

This is what Ziva said.

It is said that sometimes a river of colorful stars appears in the western sky.

He said he called it a pre-order.

During the day, there was a crazy heat that seemed to turn people into roast meat, and at night, in contrast, there was a cold that seemed to freeze people to death.

Am I going to freeze to death here?

As soon as that thought occurred to me, a gentle heat rose up inside my chest.

It’s a heat that makes you forget the cold in an instant.

Encred reached into his bosom and pulled out the source of the heat.

On the sea of ​​sand where light had disappeared, a dagger was emitting a faint red light. It was a gift from a short blond knight.

“It is a dagger that holds warmth.”

That’s what Hiraga had told me roughly.

The heat radiating from the dagger formed a thin film over my entire body, which made the cold go away.

Encrid felt warm. The gift had done its job.

So what’s next?

I had to figure out a direction.

Is there anything that might help?

Encred counted the things he was carrying.

Aker, Gladius, Spark, are the main weapons.

There were also six throwing knives in a dagger sheath strapped to his chest, a dagger hidden in his ankle, and a breastplate, shoulder pads, vambraces, and shin guards made of spider skin.

‘I think it was called Lucky Fish?’

Preserved food packed without thinking.

A bracelet given to me by my mother.

A bow made by a craftsman in the city of Oara.

A dagger that radiates warmth and light.

A dagger that returns when thrown.

The last dagger is a sword with a long bloodline in the middle. It was called the dagger of misfortune, wasn’t it?

It was a commonly used warding off item that didn’t even have a blade.

The curse was something that had no great meaning, as the boatman ate and fried it all.

There was nothing that could help me get my bearings right away.

All I had now was a meal and some preserved food.

Encrid had to choose.

To move or to speak?

Of course, the answer was already set.

If nothing changes when you stop, Encred is the one who moves.

Tap tap tap.

Encrid started walking.

The starlight, the stars pouring down, opened up my vision. All I could see was sand, but I walked diligently. I walked like that for a whole day.

The cold was no threat thanks to the warmth of the dagger. That was a good thing.

I walked all evening, ripping off my underwear and wrapping it roughly around my head.

If the sun rose like this, it would cook my scalp and face. My face and the back of my neck were already feeling hot.

The sun has risen again.

‘Walking during the day is impossible.’

It’s better to walk at night since the cold is bearable thanks to the dagger.

Let’s walk only at night, taking slow, long breaths.

That’s what I decided and that’s what I did.

Is there another way? It seemed possible. Just run with all your might. What if you burst your will with your thigh muscles and run at a speed that exceeds the speed of a normal human?

Can you escape the desert in one breath? What if you fail?

How many times can you do that lunge that will blow your will? Ten? Twenty? Assuming your body can handle it. Will that get you out of here?

It was a ridiculous task. So I walked as long and as long as I could, while conserving my stamina.

It’s right to save strength.

Encred looked around as distracting thoughts began to creep in.

It is said that a person will die if he or she does not drink water for three days, but this varies slightly from person to person.

Encred had good basic physical strength and great patience.

I never forced myself to move or run around.

I walked slowly to conserve as much energy and water as possible.

After walking like that for ten days without any plan, there was a small change.

I saw something like a mound of sand, which gave me a strange sense of discomfort.

As I stopped in front of it, something sharp and pointy flew in with a swish.

Encred pulled out Aker and struck it as if pushing it aside.

earth!

It was a tail. To be exact, it was a monster that resembled a scorpion.

Phew! A monster rose from the sand.

Whether it was a monster or a demon, I was actually glad that something came out.

Encred saw countless attack lines for a moment.

You could rush in and swing your sword, or you could dodge and stab them with sparks.

But all of that takes a toll on your stamina.

Encred shook his left hand with a thought. Before he knew it, the dagger in his hand flew out with a ping and pierced the scorpion’s head.

puck!

The hard outer shell broke and the black lump inside was blown away in all directions.

Is that because they evolved while living in the desert?

The black mass was the bastard’s blood.

The blood was no longer liquid but solid.

Anyway, I couldn’t drink the monster’s blood.

Seeing that made me even thirstier.

‘I’m thirsty.’

My skin also felt dry.

As Encred reached out, the flying dagger slowly flew back to him.

I could feel the tension in my fingertips, and when I pulled a little harder, the dagger flew faster.

This is the thought that comes to mind when I catch the dagger that flies in.

I think that this is such a great weapon that it would be a shame not to have used it a long time ago.

Encred picked up his equipment, which had been disheveled from throwing daggers. He hung his bow on his back, and while it didn’t feel heavy, it was still cumbersome.

While training in the morning, I sometimes wondered why I brought a bow.

Why did you bring this if you weren’t even going to practice archery?

One monster, that was it. I kept walking after that.

I slept in small intervals. During the day, I would look for sand dunes and rest there.

While I was killing the beast, I skinned it and used the bow as a pole to make something like a screen.

After carrying it around like this, I don’t regret bringing a bow.

Each palace was fine in both heat and cold.

‘I think it would be okay to use Sparkina Gladius instead.’

That doesn’t mean I threw away my equipment.

I had a fever and couldn’t drink a sip of water for about two days. When I urinated, it was black. It also smelled bad. It was cow urine. It was one of the symptoms of dehydration.

My skin was so flaky that it didn’t bounce back properly even when I pressed it with my fingers.

The armor felt heavy, but throwing it away would make enduring the daytime heat more difficult.

I was thirsty. The thirst seemed to be squeezing my heart.

Her lips were cracked and peeling. Her skin began to peel off, one line at a time, like the bark of a tree being peeled off with a knife.

He complained that his body, which had endured the harshness of heat and cold for more than ten days, was suffering from pain.

‘Like a snake shedding its skin.’

Encred stopped walking, thinking. His head was spinning.

“Be left alone, with no one around you. What is loneliness? Grit your teeth in pain. That is the day you have chosen.”

The boatman spoke from afar. His words were heard without the rippling water, the boat, or the lamp.

Encrid didn’t have the energy to speak, so he just listened and opened his eyes.

Then he started walking again.

It wasn’t easy to gauge how much time had passed.

It was a series of dizziness, headaches, pain, and suffering.

I felt like I was wandering around without any meaning.

Because I don’t know the way or the direction.

I didn’t know that I would wander like this in the desert forever, dying and dying again.

The boatman was yellow. Encred knew that too, but he just walked.

Whether a knight or a sergeant, a person is still a person.

If you don’t eat and drink, you’ll die.

Even in the midst of all this, Encrid did not try to satisfy his hunger.

Preserved food is basically salted fish. Eating salty food will make you thirstier.

I endured it because I knew that. It was great patience.

They say that when you wander through the desert, you can sometimes see mirages, but Encrid didn’t see anything like that.

It was because his innate patience did not allow illusions to enter his eyes.

I walked and walked like that. How many times did I pass the moment that felt like my limit?

‘It’s hot.’

The moment the sunlight streaming through the gap in the monster’s shell pierced and split my head, I lost consciousness.

And so today began to repeat itself.

He died while walking. He didn’t even fall down, he just kept walking and died while standing.

It was a harmony of patience, a trained body, and an unwavering will.

Encrid, however, was not yet fully aware of death.

‘Is it the same today?’

After seeing only sand every day, I was confused as to whether this was a repeat of the day or if the day just passed in pain.

It’s true that he died of exhaustion while walking, but feeling it was a different matter.

The boatman appeared several more times after that.

He sometimes giggled and sometimes spoke sadly.

“Give up. Then you’ll feel better.”

Then, at some point, it disappeared.

Then I started hearing auditory hallucinations.

“Hey, I can’t speak properly yet, so if you have any left, try adding some more.”

I think that’s what it meant. It was hard to understand properly.

In a dazed state of mind, Encred walked according to his intuition.

‘This way today.’

What does it mean to be in a land where even the best guides do not enter? It means that finding a way is meaningless.

I think it was said that there were guides who only traveled through the desert.

I think I’ve heard something like that before.

One day, he gets caught in a sandstorm and dies.

Days of dying from exhaustion repeat themselves.

Then I saw a large river blocking my view. It was a river of sand.

‘This was the river of sand.’

Encred didn’t have the energy to speak, so he kept his mouth shut and just repeated to himself.

The desert was a desert, and the river of sand from which there was no return was a long, great sand swamp.

It was a place where you would die if you entered.

Encrid died of exhaustion while searching for a way to cross the swamp there.

After he died like that, he changed direction.

Since I couldn’t set up any landmarks, I roughly guessed the direction I was walking by looking at the shadow of the scorpion shell canopy.

After seeing the river of sand from which there was no return, I saw a cliff.

It was a land that I would not dare cross even if I was in good health.

There, he tried to find another way, and was exhausted. This time, he knelt on one knee and died, panting. There were times when his throat split open and blood flowed out, and at those times, he felt a dampness that made him even more happy.

But it was also a sign of death.

I wandered like that again and again.

I didn’t know how many people had died, or how many days I had wandered.

It was painful just to be alive, and it was painful to die.

Thirst could eat away at one’s mind.

I always had headaches and dizziness, so it was difficult to tell time.

The boatman didn’t show up on purpose.

Encrid died in isolation.

But I didn’t stop walking every day.

Encrid mustered his will because even walking was difficult.

I moved Will because it was difficult to walk with just muscle strength.

‘Daria, let’s walk.’

Body, hold on.

If Will could just twist his whole body and put more strength into his toes, he could take one more step.

After that, I learned how to endure a little more.

One day, as I was walking and walking, I saw a blurry shadow.

It was a clicking skeleton monster.

Next to it, there was a fox with big ears. It was a fox with shining stones attached to its ears. It was a fox with jewel ears.

Daughter!

I saw the skeleton take off its foot.

Encred’s lips were dry and swollen, his cheeks were hollow enough to startle anyone who saw him, and the area under his eyes was black.

Still, I grabbed the sword. It was an automatic reflex that occurred the moment I saw the monster.

Do you have the power to swing it? I don’t know.

The boatman watched it all.

I watched and thought.

Is every day a crisis? A continuation of suffering? It was different for each person.

The boatman knew it too.

Did you think that you would give up because you were isolated and lonely, without anyone to support you or protect you?

That wasn’t it.

The human Encred, the subject of the curse, did not walk to cheer.

He walked for what he believed in.

The boatman’s eyes glowed purple.

Encrid couldn’t count, but the boatman knew that today was the thirtieth.

It was only thirty times.

Because it was unbreakable, isolation and loneliness were just something to overcome.

Thirty todays were enough for me to not lose my mind.

That will brought luck.

“You’re lucky.”

The boatman’s words faintly lingered in Encred’s ears.

Luck doesn’t just flow in one direction.

For example, the bracelet given to Ziva by her mother protected her from blood-sucking insects in the desert.

The relationship from the past became an arrow that saved Encred in the present.

Ping. Pok!

A flying arrow broke the skeleton’s head.

Luck turned and changed direction.

“colon?”

And Encred thought the voice he heard sounded a little familiar.

With that, my eyes started spinning again. Will, who had been forcing himself to get up, also stopped moving.

At the same time, all the strength in my body drained away and the world began to spin around. This was the starting point that I learned through countless repetitions today.

It was a process of losing my mind.

It was the moment when the thread that I had been holding on to with all my might snapped, and if the voice of the captain was an auditory hallucination, today would be repeated again.