Eternally Regressing Knight Chapter 830

830. Temporary Alliance

Shinar opened his mouth as he listened to Yongin’s words.

“I’m reviewing it by re-entering the grammar.”

It was a repetitive process, like recalling old memories.
One by one, memories learned and mastered, but forgotten due to long-term neglect, were brought to light. It was like re-sharpening a dull blade by heating it in fire. It
was an essential skill for those who live eternally.
For an eternal life without forgetting would be nothing but a hellish torment.
Even among the elven elders of Kirhais, who rarely showed their faces
, there were such individuals. They even remained hidden until the very moment the city was devoured by demons. This wasn’t due to their insensibility; it was because they were already half asleep. On
rare occasions, one of these elders would awaken, and the scene was similar to what he had seen then.
Yongin, true to Shinar’s guess, recalled the memory and spoke again.

“Run away. You can run away. I will stop you.”

The dull blade gained a sharp edge. The grammar became clearer and more coherent.
No one responded to Yong-in’s words. Everyone simply glanced at their leader.
Even Shinar waited for his command.
Encred had just fought Iza. Perhaps it was a sword-to-sword conversation? It was a vague feeling, and Yong-in simply said what he wanted to say, regardless of what he said.

“You are a bit peculiar.”

They were fighting just a moment ago, and now he’s suddenly going to stop them? After all, he was the one who blocked their path to kill the Salamander .
The weight on his sword wasn’t light enough to be called a simple whim.
His opponent wasn’t one to lie. Encred saw it that way. While his intuition wasn’t always right, he was certain of this.
Temares, judging that there was still time, responded to Encred’s words.

“Is that so?”

I ask again. Temares knows I’m special because I’m a Yongin. But right now, I think the man who said those words is even more special.
Look at this unwavering resolve.
Encred wasn’t the only one who divided his sword to gauge his opponent. Yongin, moreover, possessed exceptional intuition.

‘A unique human being.’

Temares saw Encrid that way, too.
That man was unwavering. Like a ship anchored without an anchor. He seemed as if he could withstand even the roughest of waves.
Mysterious. That mystery stirred Yong-in’s very core. He was a being imbued with grand dreams, a will, and a truly fascinating person to watch. He was fun, joyful, and filled with anticipation. What was his duty, and what was the foundation of this will?
Yong-in had never felt such curiosity before, and firsts are always intense for everyone.
You could tell by the look on a child’s face after feeding him a sweet cookie, someone who had never tasted one before.
He had seen and been kind to people with strong wills before, but never before had he felt this stimulating.
It was like seeing the ocean after seeing only small ponds and lakes.
Temares’s heart was filled with such joy. And that’s why he wished he hadn’t died.
A person who could evoke such emotions in Yong-in was truly rare. Very rare indeed.
Whatever the vertically slit yellow eyes in front of him said, Encred’s thoughts drifted on their own. One of them was a brief recollection of the previous fight.
He said it was unusual for two reasons: one was his personality, and the other was his skill. Or, more accurately, his changing skill.

‘Did you hide your skills?’

A single thought flashed through his mind, replaying the situation. Encred recalled what his opponent had shown him. The white longsword curved and struck the sword, and before that, he had used his power of speech to exert force.

‘No, but wasn’t the fight itself awkward?’

That’s right. That’s right. How can I put this more simply?
Let me put it into a very simple sentence.

‘My distance measuring skills have improved.’

My first strike was a poor spacing fight. I compensated for it with absurd athleticism.
Measuring distance is fundamental to combat, whether you’re wielding a sword or throwing a punch.
The technique for measuring distance has changed. From that point on, everything began to change.

‘The position of your feet and the way you extend your shoulders.’

After the gap, the stance changed.
Although it was an unfamiliar form, the movements continued according to the principles of combat. Swordsmanship developed for fighting, for winning, and for killing. The opponent faithfully followed this principle.

‘The last three attacks were all sharp.’

Especially the last third, which even Encred dodged by a hair’s breadth. The blade, curved like a white snake, was aimed at his forearm.

‘Cutting while receiving the blade.’

The movements were a half beat faster than the textbook. He played with the rhythm and mixed techniques.
It was like someone who had read the entire swordsmanship textbook, thoroughly practiced each move, and then remixed them.

‘Is this the right sentiment?’

That’s how unusual it is. Where does that singularity come from? Has it been a while since you’ve fought, as if it’s been a while since you’ve spoken? So, are you recovering?
If so, then…

“Let’s finish this and have another round.”

Everyone listened to their conversation, but nothing much was said.
Encred had been acting like this for more than a day or two.
He showed unprovoked kindness, and his abilities were beyond measurable, changing in real time. Just as Temares was intrigued, so was Encred. He wanted to explore the very edge of tolerance.

“I must do my duty.”

And Yongin also spoke his mind. Duty comes first.
If Yongin had no duty, there would be no reason to live. That’s what duty is to them.
It’s the anchor of life, the will that anchors them to the present.
Temares felt something akin to pressure as he spoke. His words were imbued with determination, for he could not compromise.
Of course, his tone was outwardly calm and innocent. He sensed the will contained within because he possessed a keen sense
of intuition. Encred could sense even the fairy’s emotions. This was nothing special.
Intrigued by the duty itself, Encred asked back.

“What is that duty?”

His tone was unusually friendly. In fact, fighting, I sensed no malice or murderous intent. He was a curious fellow, possessing only joy and goodwill.
If the other person’s duty was justified, wouldn’t you listen?
It was similar to when he accepted Dunbakel. He was doing whatever he pleased. Perhaps he intuitively knew that the being before him wouldn’t attack the city or harm civilians out of malice.

“It is my duty to protect those behind me.”

Yong-in spoke. His tone was flat. He showed
no strong emotions. Nor did he seem to possess any convictions or convictions. All he seemed to have was a sense of duty.

‘And yet Will is full.’

He was truly a strange opponent.
The words he chose resonated deeply. It was Encred’s own words.
If he spoke of duty, then I could discuss it too.
And if duty conflicts with duty, whose should take precedence? Truth is determined by the laws of the continent. So, the strong man’s words are right.
But, is the best way to go here, to defeat this rascal and kill the salamander?
That’s all I could think. Encred knew the ways of the world. There is perfection, but not perfection.
Obsessing over perfection will confine you to the present. If you hope to move on to tomorrow, you can’t dwell on perfection. But does that mean a day simply spent passing by has value?
A day of doing your best.
That’s what I was pondering because I wanted that today. Encred asked, seeking that best.

“Protect?”

Who?
As if in response to that question, something flew in from above. Encred’s intuition responded. Even though he wasn’t fighting, his thoughts accelerated. Something invisible was falling.
It wasn’t exactly invisible, but rather, he sensed something that hadn’t yet occurred.
His body, sensing death or a threat of some kind, reacted.
A red line fell from above his head. It felt like someone was swinging a long, thin whip. His intuition kicked in, and his body took three steps to the side, leaving an afterimage. Where Encred dodged, the red line etched the ground.
There was no roar or explosion. Only a crackling sound and a thin, indeterminate hole opened.
Smoke rose like a haze above the hole. Where the red line had passed, a blast of hot air, distorting even the warm air, swept through. The hot air brushed Encred’s cheek.
Had it hit, it would have torn apart anything in an instant.

‘As much as Ragnar’s sunrise.’

It was sharp and hot. Its length could easily hold five average humans together.
It was deep and long. If I hadn’t avoided it, I would have sacrificed an arm. Of course, no one was struck by the long whip.
I was watching, wondering what was happening.
It wasn’t hard to see where the whip had started. It had emerged from between the cloud of flames, which had already lowered and drawn closer to the group.

“It’s a tongue.”

Yong-in spoke briefly and sharply, and Encrid understood well.

“Is this the salamander’s tongue?”

He glanced at the floor and asked. Yong-in nodded. He didn’t know what “protection” meant, but
Encred understood one thing.

“As long as I don’t kill him, that’s fine, right?”

Yongin ordered them to retreat, and instead of fighting, he turned his back and tried to protect his party by cutting through the fireball. Encred sensed the situation.
He protected the salamander and prevented the fireball from causing harm to the surrounding area.
At the end of all that thought, Yongin answered the question that arose.

“right.”

So what Yongin is trying to do now is discipline? I understand it’s something similar.

‘A nagging, disobedient brat.’

Is it because he is the kind of person who sometimes acts like a charm that he tries to touch?

“Then let’s do it together.”

Encred proposed a temporary alliance. Yongin nodded. Iza’s will was pure beyond compare. It wasn’t for nothing that the fairy, who knew no lies, joined him.

“Aren’t you going to clean it up?”

Rem asks from behind.
The “cleaning up” Rem mentioned must be directed at Yongin. “Temares,” she said. He’d heard him muttering, and I knew his name.
If Encred had the will, subduing Yongin wouldn’t be impossible. Even if just one of his companions joined, the fight would be easier.

“All hands, prepare for battle.”

Encred ignored him and spoke. The funny thing was, no one even dared to rebel. Even back when he was a mad squad leader, they were the ones who readily followed his stubbornness.
It was the same now.
They didn’t question their leader’s actions. They simply did what they had to do.
In fact, it was the confidence that seemed to come from the fact that, if they were to make a mistake, they could subdue a dragon and even kill a salamander.

* * *

The flame parasite that relied on the salamander laughed at them.

‘If I can’t eat it, others can’t eat it either.’

Among the monks of the Demon Realm, only he could do this.
Awakening the hibernating or dormant Salamanders.
He intended to burn to the ground all those he disliked. It was none of his business that part of the continent was burning in the process.
Others with influence on the continent would complain, but he could ignore them.
With the Salamanders awakening, this area would likely be devastated beyond repair for some time.

‘But it will come back someday.’

Where the Salamander burned, a new life swirled. He possessed the power of regeneration.
Countless others would die in the meantime.
The parasite of heat chuckled, though it was only a thought.

“Everyone die.”

He stimulated the Salamander by drawing out his thoughts. Pain, suffering, and pain were transmitted through his thoughts to his body.
It was incredibly enjoyable.
The parasite of heat knew that if he couldn’t shake off this pleasure, he wouldn’t achieve what he wanted.

‘How can I give this up?’

It’s thrilling. If I were a human, I would have fluttered my eyes in pleasure, a stimulation several times stronger than the pleasure I feel during sexual intercourse.

‘Okay, everyone, die.’

Let’s add more seasoning to this. We’ll do it by adding human screams, pain, and suffering.
Unable to control the salamander, the will watched, admiring the otherworldly creature wielding its tongue of heat and swinging its two forelimbs.
The will recognized them as forelimbs, but those directly affected would see them differently.
The salamander’s forelimbs were a blazing fireball, crushing and burning the gathered creatures.

‘How can I die by burning?’

Unfortunately, the demon’s hopes were not met.
A blast of skylight split one fireball apart, while a white light, unmoving from the other, resisted the flames and the flames died down.

‘hmm?’

The salamander’s two feet were pushed back.