Eternally Regressing Knight Chapter 806

806. Couplet, Disaster, and Consideration

“There is no need to provoke them to do their best.”

Asia spoke through clenched teeth.

“……Provocation?”

Encred drew his sword, abbreviated as Dawn. The forged blade glowed azure, as if the battles he had endured were nothing to him.

‘How to wash with flame.’

Eitri suggested that, if possible, it would be best to heat it before applying oil. As instructed, I immediately went to the royal forge, heated it, and then applied the seed oil I’d brought from the East.

“It seems I have seen a woman whose beauty is obscured by her roughness.”

It’s a simple structure, but the sincerity contained within is extraordinary.
The royal family had several craftsmen. This was what one of them said. Well, others said something different.

“No, this isn’t concealed, it’s revealed. It looks simple, yet has flowing lines.”
“You’re saying those flowing lines are covered with roughness?”
“No, look at the leather that wraps the grip. And it’s mixed with iron. This is art in its own right.”
“What’s art? It’s a black tool, a weapon for killing. It’s faithful to that.”
“That’s why it’s art!”
“You crazy artist!”
“Your pragmatism is nonsense!”

Encred saw three artisans fighting in the royal forge. These three were the finest artisans in Nauril.
They argued, arguing over the dawn. Encred didn’t find it a bad thing.
They argued, asserting their own opinions, but they wouldn’t ignore each other’s opinions.

‘There is a next step that must be acknowledged.’

They know it too. Right now, my face is flushed with blood rushing to my head, and my forehead is swollen, but once I cool down, my thoughts will expand in various directions.

‘Any technology that is too outstanding is bound to attract various opinions.’

For example, how many theories emerged in later generations around the five concepts of fencing established by Liones Oniak?
Some were accepted, others were discarded. Still others developed and opened new paths.
The concept of “gigeom” is an example. Jeongjunghwankwaeyu, without belonging to any particular discipline, yet forging its own path.
It refers to a swordsmanship that focuses solely on skill, above the concepts of weight, uprightness, deception, speed, and gentleness.

‘Eastern-style sword.’

The acrobatic sword, once nicknamed “Eastern Sword” because it was primarily used by eastern warriors, is the Gi-geom. Similarly,
the southerners have long been said to be skilled in the “Hwan-geom,” but this has become a myth, difficult to attach any significance to.

‘If you are a knight, you can use all five swordsmanship techniques and handle them all.’

It’s right to focus on one thing while also caring for others. In that respect, the Ki-geom is quite unique. It was once even nicknamed the “Suicide Sword.”
While I don’t know the origins of this technique, judging by the results, I think I understand its origins.

‘The Shepherd’s Art.’

Traces of a katana could be seen on Fel. An Eastern katana, perhaps, would have come from a shepherd in the wilderness. It was only a guess, but intuition told me it was.
It wouldn’t matter if it wasn’t true. It was just a stray thought about swords.
In any case, the dawn was so magnificent that the three masters fought.
Now, that sword was aimed at my comrade. It was a duel between a knight and a sergeant. There was no need for a duel with a wooden sword.

“Yeah, provocation.”

Asia spoke again and held out her sword. Should I say it was still the same? Her sword held a strange aura. Perhaps a mixture of intimidation and swordsmanship?
Balrog fought, dispersing intimidation, while Asia attempted to refine that intimidation and disperse it.
Not being a knight, she couldn’t use it in the unconscious realm, but the aura alone was extraordinary.

‘Like Roman.’

Just as he once imitated the knight’s blows, Asia too found her own path.

“It’s not a provocation, it’s the truth.”

Encred answered calmly, and Asia’s innocent eyes began to glow with a dangerous light.

“Oh, actually assault.”

Rem exclaimed from behind. Such provocations are worth learning, so I repeat them over and over again.
The soldiers I was training gathered around me one by one, forming a circle. Among them were Rem, Audin, Shinar, Lawford, and Fel.
Saxen had already pulled a chair over to one side of the pillar and sat down. He sat there, carving wood with a single dagger, his gaze cast forward. Even as he
stared straight ahead, the dagger moved, slicing through the wood with a slash, thin slivers falling beneath the blade.
Only Ragnar swung his sword from the side, seemingly unconcerned with the situation. To some, it might have seemed like he was swinging his sword absentmindedly, but to those who knew his genius, it would have been different.

“That kid is playing with sticks over there again without any sense and fell over.”

Of course, Rem said that.
Asia closed her eyes, regardless of whether anyone around her was watching. She shut off her attention. She focused solely on the person standing before her.

‘The opponent is a knight.’

If I stray even a little, not only will I lose, I won’t be able to properly fight back. I don’t want that. I’ve been training myself to the bone.

“Didn’t you say that was enough?”

My younger brother asked in a tired tone, but I wasn’t satisfied. It was also a pleasure. Only after the flesh on my palms burst a few times did I remember why I’d swung my sword day and night as a child.

‘Because it’s fun.’

If it wasn’t fun, I wouldn’t be able to swing my sword like that.

‘The best blow.’

Her seemingly innocent eyes narrowed. Asia’s sword moved with concentration.

‘detention.’

She unleashed everything she had. She did so.
Encred read the force of the falling sword, the tangled tendrils of pressure gripping her limbs.
It might have been a little surprising, but it felt strangely natural. Encred’s intuition was far superior to that of an ordinary knight.

‘Asia originally enjoyed using coercion.’

I remember the first time I saw her.

“Me? Asia.”

She had once displayed the intimidating power of decapitating me with a formless sword. In subsequent encounters, she employed a swordsmanship derived from that. She used the point of her sword to restrict her opponent’s movements. Now, she’s further developed it. The blade descending over my head clearly expresses her intent to engulf my entire body.
This suggests she’s developed her original specialty.

‘A sword imbued with the will of oppression.’

Although it cannot be said to be stronger than Balrog.

‘The direction is right.’

earth!

Encred, needing no wall of rejection, simply shrugged off Aesia’s swordsmanship and struck her with her sword. The pouring rain radiated from the two, spreading in all directions.
Aesia didn’t give up, even though the blow had been blocked. She drew her sword, believing she still had a long way to go, and kicked her foot.
Aesia shifted her footsteps, simultaneously mixing in a trick to deliver a stab. Encred read every attack Aesia attempted.

‘five.’

To be precise, there are five possibilities for the sword to appear, all of which are interpreted within the realm of insight.

‘Killing the embers.’

Encred’s left foot struck Asia’s right calf. That crushed all possibility of attack.
Asia pulled back the hit foot and swung her sword again. In an instant, her attack point expanded and changed. To be precise, she attempted to slash vertically, downwards.
In her mind, the movement had already been accomplished, but in reality, it was impossible.

months.

This time, the inside of his elbow was cut. The dawn, which had suddenly burst in, passed by with a bang. The protective gear was torn, and the leather, soaked with rain like a sheet of paper, fell to the ground.
Asia didn’t give up, and Encred showed no mercy. Every attack was deflected and torn.

“You are so bold.”

Rem said. Ragna had already stopped swinging his sword and was watching.

“I won’t let you start.”

Ragna added a word.
Those with eyes to see recognized the situation. To those without, it looked like a performance by acrobats.
One side would swing their sword, then pause, while the other would push their foot or sword away, displaying only light movements. Yet, each movement seemed synchronized, as if they had planned it.

“hmm.”

Among the onlookers was Learvan. His discernment wasn’t knightly, but he believed Encred wasn’t the type to do anything frivolous. No, not just faith, but blind faith.
If the Encred cult were to emerge, he’d readily join.
That’s why he wondered if there might be some meaning in it, and it proved to be a valuable lesson for Learvan.
There were others, like Learvan, for whom the sparring itself was a learning experience. They were prepared because they hadn’t slack off in their training, and they possessed the determination and desire to learn without prejudice.
The sparring didn’t last long. Asia couldn’t land a single proper attack, and Encred couldn’t even swing the Dawn properly.

“shit.”

As soon as the fighting ceased and the two retreated, Asia’s mouth fell open. She lowered her head and her shoulders shook.
From the perspective of a common soldier, even a knight was a monster. Knights were beyond even that category of monsters. There’s no standard. That’s what a knight is.

‘disaster.’

There must have been a reason for that.
Some, seeing her trembling shoulders, thought she was shedding tears. She was so angry she couldn’t hold it back, they thought.
Encred knew all too well that wasn’t the case.
Eisai raised his head, his innocent eyes the same as before, but the determination within them was unmistakable.

“I won’t give up either.”

Are these words filled with a desperate determination? Rather, they sounded like the words of someone enjoying the present.

“Yeah. If I miss now, I’m dead. I might lose an arm.”

Encred spoke casually and moved. From a position of yielding the initiative, he boldly struck first.
Asia’s sword rose diagonally, meeting the Blade of Dawn.

Kang.

The iron man greeted her with joy.
From then on, neither of them spoke, not even a single word. Asia was struggling to catch her breath, so she had no choice, and Encred didn’t speak because it wasn’t necessary.
Asia felt like she had encountered a precarious wall. She couldn’t control the distance, but Encred’s sword seemed poised to pierce her neck at any moment.
To survive all these threats, she had to fight with all her might. And so she did. She hung on to the edge of the cliff, her fingers pressed against it, holding on. Her abs ached, and her arms felt like they were going to break.
The sparring continued for half a day.

“Why do we always fight when we come here?”

Marcus, who appeared next, asked to himself and then nodded to himself.

“Well, um, this is what it originally looked like.”

The Mad Knights aren’t called mad for nothing.

“Uh, uh, uh.”

Asia finally collapsed from exhaustion, and several familiar soldiers helped her up and carried her away.

“You always knock women down.”

Shinar, upon seeing that, made a silly joke.
As she was leaving, Asia gave Encred a glance, resting one arm on the shoulder of a friendly soldier. Her gaze was a mixture of gratitude and a few other emotions. Encred nodded and fell into a brief moment of reflection.

‘Will it work?’

I saw Asia’s potential, unlocked it, and helped her. But I couldn’t guarantee she would become a knight.

‘You can see how lucky Lawford and Pell were.’

Looking at Roman and Asia, I can see it. I dare not prejudge their future.
I’m sure they’ll somehow be able to raise them to the rank of quasi-knight. Considering the vast difference in skill even among those quasi-knights,

‘If it’s at the level of Lord Graham.’

Couldn’t you literally grab him by the collar and drag him up? At least it’s a much better chance than becoming a knight. But what about beyond that?

‘I don’t know.’

Roman was given the path, but he might not remain there forever. Just because a path is paved doesn’t mean he’ll walk it.
Asia is no exception.
Becoming a knight is inherently difficult.

“Enki, I need to ask you to escort His Majesty tomorrow.”

Marcus approached and spoke. It was the moment when the pitter-patter of rain had stopped.

“Me?”
“It was Asia’s job, but if she keeps doing that, it’ll be hard to be okay tomorrow, right?”

That’s right. That’s because I fought with consideration. I pushed her so she could learn and improve, even if only a little. Thanks to that, there’s no place in her limbs that’s untouched.
That’s what Encred’s consideration is. It’s not a sparring match where you strengthen your body, but a match where you push your opponent back to the next step.

“Okay.”

Encred nodded, having no choice but to refuse.
And the escort Marcus had requested was for Krang’s inspection of the castle.
In other words, the king would tour the capital.
He wouldn’t delay his work just because of any unsettling movements or undercurrents. That must have been Krang’s will.

“I want to practice too.”

Leavan, who had been watching, mustered up his courage and spoke. After him, others, one by one, gained insight and lined up.

“If that bastard Wangnuni was here, he would have stolen several gold coins in one fight.”

Rem said with a snicker. Then she turned her gaze to those who had not noticed anything during the previous sparring.

“You guys, come here. You’re not mentally prepared.”

What a discerning eye, unable to recognize even the best.
Then, the sound of wailing echoed through the training grounds.