Eternally Regressing Knight - Chapter 28: Ambush and Blue Eyes

Encrid sighed in relief as he watched the staggering scouting squad leader.

‘Barely succeeded.’

Deflecting a sword with the back of his hand was a trick that worked only five times out of ten.

But he was getting more accustomed to it as time went on.

He had memorized the unique habits of his opponent, making it possible.

Otherwise, it would have been an impossible feat.

From an outsider’s perspective, it seemed like a vast difference in skill.

Deflecting an incoming blade without blinking and rendering the opponent incapacitated with a single blow—it was a feat only possible with overwhelming skill.

“How can you be a lowest-level soldier?”

How many times had he heard this question?

It was starting to get tiresome.

“I didn’t take the promotion test. I didn’t think it was necessary.”

Having preemptively answered any follow-up questions, Encrid cracked his sore wrist left and right.

There were no issues.

He had trained sufficiently with his sword and physical strength.

In terms of raw power, Encrid was among the top in his unit, well-trained and strong.

That made these results possible.

“From now on, I’m the squad leader.”

Encrid declared.

He had just crossed a significant hurdle.

The former squad leader didn’t argue.

He just stood there with a dazed look, muttering, “You, uh…”

No one objected.

The rough-looking soldier who had significant influence within the squad quietly followed Encrid.

As expected.

Then, the search for an escape route continued.

“Enri, what’s your dream?”

After changing the formation and moving to the front, Encrid walked alongside Enri.

After the commotion, Enri seemed dazed but quickly regained his composure at Encrid’s question.

“Huh?”

“What do you want to do?”

Enri blinked a few times, then, flustered, shared his rather detailed wish.

“Well, um, survive and live with a florist widow.”

That’s right. Everyone has their own goals.

“Then you need to survive and return. What about you?”

He turned and asked the next person.

Andrew was right behind him.

The first thing Encrid did after changing the formation was to place Andrew directly behind him.

He even let him keep his weapons.

Enri thought Encrid was truly fearless.

What if Andrew harbored ill feelings and stabbed him from behind?

Encrid knew that even if he was stabbed, he would just start the day over, but Enri didn’t know that.

Andrew sighed deeply at the question.

“Fine. I admit defeat.”

He said.

“So, what do you want to do, soldier?”

Demoted from squad leader to soldier.

No one objected. The skill difference was too clear.

“To restore my family.”

So he was a fallen noble.

“Then you need to survive and return as well.”

Encrid said.

Everyone watched the new squad leader, puzzled by his behavior.

He continued to ask the same question and gave the same response.

“To make money, you need to survive and return.”

This was his response to a soldier who dreamed of saving up and opening a shop.

“Your lover is pregnant? If you don’t want your child to grow up fatherless, you need to return.”

One of the thuggish soldiers was an expectant father.

“Everyone has the same goal.”

Encrid continued.

“So let’s make sure we all survive and return.”

No one could understand why he was saying this.

But no one objected. Encrid made eye contact with everyone.

Normally, such actions would be meaningless, but his words had an impact.

The allied soldiers, including Andrew, thought of what they had left behind.

Encrid wanted them to have a sense of purpose.

He had started with violence and intimidation, but now they needed to fight well on their own.

This method had worked several times.

Instilling a desire for life in their hearts.

It was an effective means.

It was much more advantageous to move as one unit rather than breaking through alone.

In fact, it seemed worth attempting an ambush rather than fleeing.

An ambush could completely change the situation.

‘This might work.’

If there was a possibility, he could try as many times as needed.

As long as he was willing to die, he could do it.

After several trials and errors, Encrid memorized the enemy’s positions and numbers.

Another day passed where he knocked down the squad leader a few more times.

“What’s your dream?”

The same repeated day passed again. Though it might be tedious, Encrid spent each repeated day diligently.

Through this, he gained two key points.

An ambush and a banner.

‘Let’s do it.’

Now, having practiced enough in countless repeated days, it was time.

“Let’s all survive and return.”

When Encrid looked back, the entire scouting squad nodded.

They didn’t think this mission was particularly dangerous.

But since he kept saying it, their hearts stirred.

“Let’s go.”

What he learned in practice was now ingrained.

There was no need to repeat today any longer.

Encrid didn’t move cautiously.

There was no need.

He had already roughly memorized the enemy’s positions.

“Have you been here before?”

Enri, the plains hunter, asked.

He was walking side by side with Encrid in the lead.

“A few times.”

It would be stranger if he said no.

He was navigating without hesitation.

“Ah, I see.”

After walking a bit more, Enri asked again.

“Are you a hunter by any chance?”

“No, but I learned a bit from a hunter I know.”

He could read tracks and the direction of bent grass.

And naturally, it was Enri who had taught him these things.

As he guided the way, he noticed the rough-looking soldier sticking close to Andrew.

That face would scare the children if he were an actual nanny, but in a battlefield, he was an excellent bodyguard.

Seeing Andrew and his nanny-like soldier, Encrid thought,

‘When a fight breaks out, the rough-looking soldier will definitely follow Andrew.’

He kept envisioning his escape route while walking.

Upon reaching the target location, Encrid raised his right fist to stop the squad.

“Phew.”

He took a deep breath where they stopped.

Everyone’s eyes were on him, wondering why they had stopped. They were just at the edge of the grassy area.

But no one spoke up.

Encrid was a domineering squad leader.

He never consulted on the direction or route.

He was unilateral.

But it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

After all, the purpose of a scouting mission was to patrol a certain area.

If it were a critical reconnaissance mission, more suitable personnel would have been assigned. This squad’s role didn’t seem to be of high importance.

In any case, they just needed to complete their task and return.

“Shoot.”

Encrid pointed in one direction and gave the order.

Enri, holding the crossbow, looked at Encrid blankly.

Confused, Enri asked, “Huh? Where?”

This was a repeated occurrence.

It couldn’t be helped. They didn’t have repeated days.

“Shoot. I won’t say it twice.”

Enri wasn’t slow on the uptake.

Encrid’s tone was cold, with a firm intent that wouldn’t tolerate opposition.

He pointed beyond the tall grass.

Nothing was visible. There was no noticeable sign.

But Enri followed orders.

He had seen Encrid fight. Despite the rumors, he was evidently formidable.

He drew the bowstring and nocked an arrow, pulling the string tight.

After a moment of hesitation, he aimed in the direction Encrid pointed and released the arrow.

With a whoosh, the arrow flew and struck something with a thud.

At the same time, a faint death cry was heard.

“…Huh?”

Enri was taken aback.

At that moment, only two remained unfazed.

The seasoned rough-looking soldier and Encrid.

“Follow me, Andrew.”

Having Andrew right behind him was for this moment.

He was an inexperienced but fairly skilled soldier.

If his skills weren’t bad, he should be used effectively.

The mistake in previous days was trying to handle everything alone.

He knew he didn’t need to do that now.

When Encrid charged forward, Andrew reflexively followed, and the rough-looking soldier cursed under his breath as he followed.

As the three soldiers reached beyond the tall grass, they saw a corpse with a bolt in its forehead.

And several soldiers milling around.

It was the Azpen crossbow unit.

About ten men.

Encrid opened with a lethal move.

A thrust.

Stepping forward with his left foot, he twisted and drove the tip of his sword into one soldier’s neck.

“Gack!”

Blood streamed from the wound.

The soldier, a hole in his throat, tried to grab the sword.

Encrid kicked the dying soldier in the stomach, withdrawing his sword. Blood gushed from the wound.

Andrew, beside him, clumsily swung his short sword.

It was clear he was startled by the sudden call to action.

The soldier who had tossed his crossbow drew a dagger to block Andrew’s attack.

‘Clumsy.’

But it was fine.

Andrew’s presence here was partly for the attached option.

The rough-looking soldier moved.

Without a battle cry or any aggressive movements, he got behind the soldier blocking Andrew’s short sword, grabbed his jaw with his right hand and his head with his left, and twisted sharply.

Crack!

The soldier’s head twisted at an impossible angle.

He was dead.

The rough-looking soldier then drew his short sword from his waist and spun like a top.

Whoosh.

His short sword sliced through the exposed neck of a soldier behind him.

The severed neck skin split open and blood spurted out.

Seeing this, Encrid kicked at the ankle of another nearby enemy.

The soldier, who had been wary of the sword in Encrid’s hand, stumbled sideways.

Encrid kicked the fallen soldier’s head.

Crack! Thud.

The sound of a neck snapping was accompanied by a muffled groan as the soldier passed out.

“Ambush! We’re under attack!”

“Enemies!”

Only then did the remaining soldiers shout in alarm.

Only then did the capable soldiers, including the thuggish allies, join the fray.

“Kill them all.”

Encrid commanded.

Ping!

Before the words were even fully out, Enri’s bolt flew.

It struck the chest of a soldier in front of Encrid.

The bolt pierced the gambeson, causing blood to seep out.

“What the—”

The soldier tried to speak, but Encrid didn’t give him the chance.

He thrust his sword into the soldier’s neck, silencing him.

“Phew.”

He exhaled, allowing his muscles a brief rest after the intense action.

In the meantime, the sounds of clashing weapons echoed.

He didn’t need to face them all alone.

Reaffirming this newfound understanding, Encrid turned.

Hiss!

Three steps ahead, he heard an unsettling sound.

He had seen this scene many times.

The cautious growl of a beast.

He turned to identify the source.

He saw black fur.

That creature was why the enemy crossbow unit had been less vigilant.

Encrid had identified several potential ambush sites during his repeated days.

He chose this one, risking his life because it was the most advantageous.

The reason was right there.

The small animal that roamed the grassland had distracted the enemy crossbow unit.

A worthy diversion.

He already knew.

Even if it wasn’t intentional, the creature had helped.

The black-furred creature stared at Encrid with blue eyes.

Encrid’s blue eyes met its gaze.

Their eyes locked.

One of the enemy soldiers clicked his tongue and thrust a short spear toward the black-furred creature.

‘Since I owe it one.’

He had no intention of letting it die.

Encrid brushed his chest and extended his arm.

His outstretched arm had his fingers splayed, his hand perpendicular to the ground.

In sync with his movements, a knife embedded in his chest flew through the air.

The knife embedded itself in the enemy soldier’s shoulder.

This caused the soldier with the spear to hesitate.

Roar!

In that brief moment, the small creature, barely the size of a forearm, let out a fearsome roar and bit into the soldier’s calf.

Blood and flesh splattered.

But that wasn’t the end.

The creature clawed at the bitten spot with its front paws.

Its claws and fur were smeared with blood.

After clawing, it quickly retreated.

“You little beast!”

The soldier with the injured calf stabbed the ground with his spear, but the black-furred creature had already dodged.

‘What a creature.’

It was a remarkably clever and fierce young black panther.

The soldier with the knife in his shoulder was killed by the rough-looking soldier before he could even scream.

Appearing behind the soldier, he swiftly slit his throat.

The last remaining enemy soldier was killed by Andrew.

It seemed he had stabbed the soldier’s torso multiple times with his short sword, then stabbed him in the face after he fell.

Andrew, having killed the enemy, panted heavily.

He wasn’t the only one.

Labored breaths came from various directions.

“Huff, huff, what was that?”

A startled ally asked. The face was familiar, but the name escaped Encrid.

Instead, Encrid identified the body of a dead ally among the corpses.

No matter what, that one always died. This time, it seemed he had been speared in the face by an enemy soldier.

A ghastly sight.

He had tried to save him multiple times, but every time, the soldier would flee midway, ruining everything.

It was something he had learned through the repeated days.

“Those were enemy soldiers. Didn’t you expect this during a patrol mission? Remember, we need to survive and return.”

Encrid once again emphasized the desire to live and led the squad.

“This way.”

The rough-looking soldier tried to hold Encrid back.

“That leads deeper, squad leader.”

“Is this insubordination? If you wanted to rebel, you should have done so earlier.”

Encrid dismissed the opposition and continued walking resolutely.

As if there were no other options if they didn’t follow.

It was a silent pressure, a forced compulsion.

It had to be done.

There was no time to explain everything.

Running ahead, Encrid glanced sideways, catching a glimpse of the young black panther’s eyes.

Blue, deep as a lake.

Encrid turned his head away from the eyes that resembled his own.

Now was the time to fight for survival, not to bond with an animal.