Eternally Regressing Knight - Chapter 23: Hoofprints

“Listen for unusual sounds, things that don’t fit.”

The scout unit’s departure was before dawn, in the blue light of early morning.

As Encrid gathered his gear, Jaxson, who was on the last watch, spoke up.

“Suddenly?”

Encrid asked, unsure of what Jaxson meant.

“You asked how to avoid getting hit by swords on the battlefield.”

Encrid racked his brain.

The medical tent, the assassin’s attack, the elven company commander, Krang, the fire.

He had asked about avoiding swords in passing before all the chaos, before his final dance with the assassin.

“I understand listening well, but you can’t always focus on hearing to avoid getting hit on the battlefield, right? How do you avoid without looking?”

Training auditory skills was fine, but it required high concentration. Could he maintain such focus in the heat of battle?

‘It’s difficult.’

Having tried, he knew. Getting used to it might allow for almost acrobatic movements against multiple opponents, but good hearing alone wasn’t enough.

Jaxson was diligent. He didn’t ignore the passing question and gave a thorough answer. Encrid, being even more diligent, never missed a chance to learn.

“You mean to sense things that are out of place?”

“It’s good if you can awaken a sense of something unusual, but that’s not easy. So, in a grassy field, listen carefully for the sound of grass rustling and find the sound that’s different.”

The scouting area was a field. It was clear Jaxson was giving advice based on that.

Encrid asked curiously.

“You’re explaining it in such detail?”

Jaxson stared into Encrid’s eyes, as if to say, ‘Don’t you already know?’

When Encrid tilted his head, Jaxson continued.

“You’re relentless, Squad Leader.”

“…What?”

Where did the conversation go wrong? Why did he suddenly say Encrid was relentless?

Jaxson knew Encrid’s tenacity and passion for the sword. That’s why he said it, but Encrid didn’t catch on.

He wanted to ask more but decided against it. Did the reason matter?

These troublemakers’ whims were nothing new.

So, the reason didn’t matter. There was someone to learn from, and if the content was valuable, that was enough.

Being dragged off to the scout unit, he could reflect on and practice what he learned.

So, he ignored unnecessary questions.

“How do you distinguish different sounds?”

Encrid quickly erased his confusion and returned to the main topic.

Jaxson’s look was strange, like he was seeing a three-headed dragon.

“Why?”

“Nothing.”

The explanation continued. What is an unusual sound? How should hearing be used?

It was excellent. The joy of learning. Encrid set off in high spirits.

“I see, that’s how it works.”

Jaxson continued to watch Encrid with a strange look.

Encrid didn’t notice and turned away.

“Well, I’ll be off then.”

As he walked towards the outskirts of the barracks for his scouting mission, Jaxson thought.

‘It doesn’t make sense.’

He had recently seen the squad leader react to footsteps from a considerable distance.

His hearing range was quite broad.

Even if others didn’t notice, Jaxson’s eyes couldn’t be deceived.

It was just a bit odd.

He applied what he knew about training. Hearing and discerning sounds involved continually listening and distinguishing different sounds.

But what about the squad leader now?

‘His hearing is top-notch, but his discernment is that of a novice.’

It was like someone who had intensely trained their hearing for a short period.

But could that be achieved through training?

If he had dozens of extra lives, he might be able to train that way.

‘Strange.’

The squad leader was indeed peculiar. Regardless, Jaxson shared his knowledge.

And the squad leader would quickly absorb what he just learned.

Training hearing was hard.

Distinguishing and categorizing sounds was secondary.

Ending his watch, Jaxson entered the barracks to find Rem watching him with half-open eyes, leaning back and grinning.

“Your eyes are annoying.”

Jaxson greeted him.

Rem smiled softly and replied.

“Are you also charmed by the squad leader? Don’t you just feel like teaching him everything?”

“It’s a fair trade. I owe him, so I’ll receive something of equal value later.”

Equivalent exchange, Jaxson’s nickname in the unit.

But even as he said it, Jaxson knew.

Teaching the squad leader wasn’t about expecting something in return.

It was an impulsive decision.

Maybe it was because of the recent impressive performance in battle.

Jaxson didn’t think too deeply.

Sometimes, he knew, it wasn’t bad to act on impulse. So, he left it at that.

“Screw you. Acting all shy like a girl,” Rem chuckled, lying back down and pulling his blanket up to his chin, soon breathing steadily.

Jaxson sometimes wondered what gave that mad barbarian such confidence.

“Go lie down. If you attack while I’m sleeping, I’ll split your head open,” Rem said, pretending to sleep.

Ignoring him, Jaxson went to his spot. There was no point in engaging with Rem.

“You never answer,” Rem muttered, predictably complaining.

* * *

From early dawn, the scout unit had trouble from the start.

“If we meet the Azpen bastards, we’ll crush their heads. Got it?”

The scout squad leader’s words.

Encrid almost asked what he thought scouting was, but the leader spoke first.

“Troublemaker squad leader, you’re just a soldier now. If you can’t follow orders, speak up, and we’ll settle it by skill. I’m not like others who became squad leaders through the back door.”

His tone was harsh.

Encrid wasn’t angry. He wasn’t even particularly upset.

He had received such remarks often enough.

Criticism from those who didn’t know him meant nothing.

Besides, causing unnecessary trouble wasn’t wise. Better to patrol and reflect on what he had learned.

“Just bear with it. He seems to have an arrogant personality.”

The older soldier beside him said.

“I don’t mind.”

“Good.”

The soldier gave a simple smile, avoiding the squad leader’s gaze. He seemed decent enough.

“Let’s go!”

Ten members in total, the scout unit set off.

Scouting didn’t always involve infiltrating enemy territory.

This prairie, known as the Green Pearl of the continent, was a vast grassland.

To the east were rolling hills and gentle mountains, but mostly it was open with nothing blocking the view.

To the west flowed the Pen-Hanil River, a lifeline for Naurilia and the now enemy Azpen Principality.

Due to the terrain, ambushes on this prairie were nearly impossible.

So, what did the scouts do?

Survey the enemy and patrol the area.

They checked for any moving troops or signs of enemy cavalry.

They also verified key locations.

Of course, scouting was dangerous.

They could encounter enemy soldiers at any time.

Clashes between scouts often escalated into full-scale battles.

But such incidents weren’t common.

They shouldn’t be.

“Let’s show the greatness of Naurilia’s infantry.”

To Encrid, the young squad leader seemed drunk on his own abilities.

Maybe he was a noble’s bastard.

Or perhaps he had connections in the command.

He seemed barely nineteen or twenty, a swift promotion in Naurilia’s regular army.

Yet compared to true prodigies, soldiers like him were dime a dozen.

The squad leader seemed to have forgotten the role of a scout entirely.

Some soldiers even echoed his sentiments.

“Of course. With your skills, a few of them are nothing.”

“Show us your strength, taking down five mercenaries!”

‘This kid’s head will swell.’

It was clear how this situation had come about.

Injuries among scouts had left them short-handed.

That’s why Encrid and these fools were here.

But still, weren’t they below standard?

There wouldn’t be any problem.

The scout route was fixed.

‘Circle around the camp.’

Details were the squad leader’s responsibility.

Encrid organized the information mentally, hoping the squad leader wouldn’t do anything too stupid.

“These are gnu tracks.”

The squad leader pointed at animal tracks.

Gnu were herd animals similar to cattle, traveling in groups of twenty to fifty.

“Let’s follow these tracks and feast tonight. Let’s have a barbecue.”

…Chasing twenty gnu?

More absurdly, those weren’t gnu tracks.

They were gazelle tracks.

“Sure.”

The decent soldier muttered, looking at the squad leader’s back with a wry smile.

On the first day, the scout unit searched for non-existent gnu.

Naturally, no animal willingly approached such a threatening group.

“Damn it.”

The squad leader cursed in frustration.

Would he have really lit a fire if they had caught gnu?

If so, it would have been a sight.

Scouts trying to sneak around while making a bonfire.

‘Might as well announce, “I’m a perfect fool!”’

Maybe it was a blessing they caught nothing.

Before sundown, they found a small rise with four tall trees and prepared to camp.

“Where are you from, Troublemaker Squad Leader?”

It was the soldier with a good first impression, who scorned the squad leader.

“Border Guard.”

“A career soldier?”

Encrid nodded.

Border Guard was a fortress city defending the frontier.

It had farmland and merchants, but it was primarily a military city.

A city full of training facilities and career soldiers.

“I’m from a mountain village. I’m confident in hunting, but I was shocked when he called those gazelle tracks gnu.”

Encrid shared the sentiment.

They found common ground.

The soldier’s name was Enri.

He had an easygoing personality but clearly disliked the squad leader.

“I’ll show you something fun tomorrow. In the prairie, even without paths, animals have their own trails.”

After chatting a bit more, Enri soon fell asleep.

Taking the third watch that night, Encrid reflected on what Jaxson had taught him.

Without actually drawing his sword, he practiced the movements in the air.

The sparring with Ragna and Rem before the scouting mission had been quite helpful.

“Try to thrust from any stance.”

Rem had said. He was training for it himself and showed Encrid how.

He recommended lower body training.

Scouts walked a lot. Without horses, they had no choice.

“Walking is good.”

It was good for building leg strength.

Having eaten only jerky, his stomach might have felt empty.

But Encrid didn’t have time to think about that.

His mind was filled with training, swordsmanship, Jaxson’s auditory lessons, and Enri’s hunting tips.

He purely enjoyed learning and practicing.

And he enjoyed applying what he learned.

‘Let’s spar again when I return.’

Encrid spent his watch honing his auditory senses and thoughts.

He woke the next watch and slept.

On the second day, at dawn, the scouts set off again.

In the morning, Enri taught him about animal trails.

He listened to the sound of grass rustling up to his calves.

‘There’s so much to learn.’

Encrid sincerely thought so.

Enri’s hunting knowledge was fascinating.

He hadn’t had time to accumulate such knowledge before.

“This way.”

The squad leader led them into a field of tall weeds.

‘Not bad.’

Despite his boast about splitting enemy heads, it was a reasonable route.

They had to check designated points.

But the squad leader quickly shattered Encrid’s expectations.

“We’ll go through this weed field to track the enemy scouts. What do you think?”

Was he insane?

Encrid almost said it out loud but held back.

What could they see or navigate in a field of tall weeds?

What guarantee was there of meeting enemy scouts?

They only needed to check for ambushes and unusual signs.

“Don’t interfere. Not all squad leaders are the same.”

One of the squad leader’s soldiers interjected, trying to placate him.

Encrid wasn’t angry.

He just wondered if he should leave it alone.

The decision was quick.

He would let it be.

If things went wrong and he died, he would reconsider tomorrow.

If not, they would just waste time.

‘It’s no loss for me.’