Eternally Regressing Knight - Chapter 53: The Turtle and the Frontier Slaughterer (2)
“How about transferring to my company?”
They hadn’t even walked five steps from the barracks when the question was asked.
It wasn’t common for a soldier to be directly recruited by another company within the army.
*Is it because I’ve become an advanced soldier?*
It might be. There weren’t that many advanced or top-level soldiers in the unit. But there could be another reason.
*Spellbreaker.*
That was the name most frequently spoken in the unit these days.
Encrid was being noticed, and people were interested in him. It was something new for him. But he wasn’t going to start acting excited or arrogant like a fifteen-year-old just because of it.
He was enjoying the attention, but there were times when enjoying something also meant knowing when to let things pass.
Encrid had experience. He had been a soldier for almost thirty years and had survived by relying on his skill with a sword.
“The 1st Company, you mean?”
“Do you think I came here to put you in Paltro’s or Rayon’s company?”
Paltro and Rayon were the names of the 2nd and 3rd Company Captains.
“Come join my company.”
Encrid’s promotion duels had made a strong impression on everyone. Among them, the 1st Company Captain, Graham, who led the renowned heavy infantry, had particularly taken a liking to Encrid.
Graham was known for valuing talented soldiers within the army.
He was even being mentioned as a possible candidate for the next battalion commander.
Coming from someone like him, this proposal was no small offer.
The 1st Company, famous for its heavy infantry, was the core of the Cypress Division and was considered an elite track within the military.
But Encrid shook his head.
“I’m sorry.”
It was a polite but decisive refusal without any hesitation.
“Refusing, huh? If you’re worried about causing friction with your current company commander, I can handle that.”
“That’s not it.”
Encrid’s tone was so calm that it bordered on indifferent. There wasn’t even a hint of hesitation.
Graham furrowed his brow, then relaxed it.
“You don’t seem to have any regrets.”
“Is that so?”
Graham silently studied Encrid. Encrid met his gaze, wondering what more he should say.
“That’s how it looks.”
This wasn’t something that could be resolved by force or persuasion. Graham understood that.
“Alright, then.”
Encrid placed his left hand on his left hip and gave a military salute with a bow.
Graham should have at least nodded in acknowledgment, but instead, he mirrored Encrid’s actions, placing his left hand on his hip and returning the salute. Then, he spoke again.
“Thanks to you.”
*Thanks to me?*
Encrid blinked in confusion, and Graham elaborated.
“You saved my life. I ought to thank you.”
*Spellbreaker.*
That fog had been terrifying. The more competent a commander was, the more they could feel its overwhelming presence.
The elven company captain had cursed the battalion commander endlessly during the battle.
Graham had been no different in his thoughts about the battalion commander.
“That idiot, that stupid moron!”
He had screamed these insults on the battlefield.
When everything is calm, it’s easy for someone to just focus on protecting their own interests. But when a crisis hits, that’s when a commander’s true skill becomes apparent.
In Graham’s view, the battalion commander was utterly incompetent.
Especially when the commander subtly tried to take credit for the success of the battle—it was the most idiotic thing Graham had ever seen.
In the end, everyone who was in the know understood the truth.
The real hero of the battle wasn’t the battalion commander.
The two men who had saluted each other relaxed their stances.
Graham extended his hand first, and Encrid grasped it, shaking firmly.
It was a handshake that carried a mix of gratitude, regret, and mutual respect.
“Go on, and don’t forget how disappointed I am.”
“How about I send Rem instead?”
Encrid joked.
“Not that bastard!”
Graham pretended to be angry and glared.
The two parted with smiles.
*He seems like a decent person.*
It was the first time Encrid had talked this much with the heavy infantry company captain.
He had a good impression of Graham.
The barracks were right behind him, but Encrid felt like walking a bit more.
As he walked, he took in the sights of the city for the first time in a while.
He wandered until he found himself at the edge of the central marketplace.
Even in a military city, it was only natural to see merchants and farmers passing through.
Though there were more wandering traders than actual farmers.
The Border Guard was known as a military city on the frontier. The garrison alone numbered well over 1,000 soldiers.
For a military population that large, the city should have had over 10,000 residents to balance the numbers.
But it didn’t even have half that—it barely had 5,000 residents.
Still, the city ran smoothly.
This was because it was a royal territory.
Thanks to the support of the kingdom, the military city of Border Guard could sustain itself.
However, they couldn’t rely on the kingdom for everything, so farming and trade continued.
In fact, the business of attracting trading companies had been quite successful recently.
Rumor had it that several trading companies had been brought into the city under direct orders from the king. The market had been bustling more than ever, likely due to this.
Big Eyes had been talking excitedly about how the innkeeper’s smile was practically reaching the ceiling these days.
*No wonder.*
With all the people crowding the city, it made sense that the innkeepers were thrilled. When trading companies increased their presence in a city, so did the joy of the innkeepers.
One of Border Guard’s main industries was the inn business, after all.
*A prime location for trading companies.*
One advantage of the city having such a large number of professional soldiers was its strong security.
There were more than enough troops to patrol and guard the city.
This made the city a preferred location for major trading companies to conduct their business.
Though the city had few permanent residents, it saw a constant flow of people passing through.
A military city, but also a hub for trade.
That was the true nature of Border Guard.
Encrid glanced toward the entrance of an alley at the edge of the market, where the buildings were cluttered together in a complex arrangement. Something felt off, as if someone had been watching him, but when he looked closely, there was nothing there.
Encrid turned and headed back toward the barracks.
Not long after he left, a beggar wearing a tattered blanket over his head crawled out of the alley.
The beggar slumped to the ground, begging for coins, though the sharp look in his eyes was anything but typical of a beggar.
If anyone had been watching, they wouldn’t have seen him as just a beggar.
—
Before Encrid could even enter the barracks, he heard Rem’s voice.
“Our squad leader is getting ready to abandon us. Everyone, be prepared.”
*That crazy bastard.*
“Is that true?”
As soon as he stepped inside, Big Eyes came running over.
“No.”
Encrid tried to deny it, but everyone’s expressions were unsettling.
Ragna spoke, his eyes half-closed.
“If you’re leaving, take me with you.”
He spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, as if it were no big deal. Though he followed orders when necessary, Ragna was inherently lazy.
Would any company even want someone like Ragna?
“Well, transferring between companies isn’t that unusual.”
Jaxson chimed in, casually looking over his belongings, as if ready to pack and follow at a moment’s notice.
Jaxson was the more reasonable of the bunch, but still…
*This guy, too.*
There was a reason they were all part of the troublemaker squad.
Jaxson showed up for duty on time, but he often skipped training. He disappeared frequently enough that people constantly asked where he was. He had a friendly demeanor, but…
*Only to a certain extent, and he’s selective about who he’s friendly with.*
He wasn’t the kind of person who blended seamlessly into the unit. It was no wonder no commander was eager to have him in their ranks.
“You idiots, where do you think you’re going? Even if they take the squad leader, they wouldn’t take you! You’re all holding him back. So just stay here. Trust me, I’ll get rid of those idiots and go with him.”
Rem stood in front of Encrid, puffing out his chest, acting like he was going to lead the way.
*No, you’re the biggest problem.*
Encrid smirked as he looked at Rem’s broad back.
The heavy infantry captain would never take Rem.
Rem had assaulted a superior officer, after all.
There were many within the unit who didn’t just dislike Rem—they outright hated him for it.
Even if Ragna and Jaxson weren’t likely to be accepted, Rem was undoubtedly the biggest obstacle.
“You’re a complete idiot. I’ve known guys like you, and none of them lived past thirty.”
Ragna muttered, scratching his head. Judging by how vigorously he was scratching, he hadn’t washed his hair in days.
“So, is it about time for me to die?”
Jaxson chimed in. For some reason, the two of them were always in perfect sync when it came to things like this.
*Wait, is Rem already thirty ?*
Encrid glanced over at Rem, who was gritting his teeth, clearly angry.
“Squad Leader, is it alright if we kill these two and just go on our own?”
*Where do you think you’re going, and who are you planning to kill?*
“No.”
It was best to stop this before it turned into a serious fight.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
As Encrid tried to calm things down, Big Eyes nodded along, saying, “Really?”
But the tension didn’t dissipate that easily.
If talking didn’t work, Encrid was ready to physically step between them to prevent a fight when there was a knock at the door.
Everyone except for the religious fanatic of the squad was present, but it wasn’t like he would knock on the door of his own quarters.
It had to be a guest.
At Encrid’s signal, Big Eyes opened the door.
“Who is it?”
At the sound of Krys’ voice, Encrid turned around.
Standing outside the flimsy wooden door was Torres from the Frontier Defense Force, wearing the eagle insignia.
“We meet again.”
Torres raised his hand in greeting, and Encrid returned the gesture with a formal salute.
“Mind if we talk?”
“With me?”
“Who else?”
Encrid pointed to himself, blinking a few times before nodding.
He turned to tell the others, especially Rem, to stay calm, but froze.
Rem, Ragna, and Jaxson had all stood up behind him without him noticing.
They had moved so silently and quickly that Encrid hadn’t sensed a thing.
“It’s that guy with the bad hand habits.”
Rem remarked.
Ragna and Jaxson just stared in silence. Torres raised both hands.
“I’m not here to fight.”
Their gazes shifted between the three of them and Torres. The tension in the room grew heavy.
It was Torres who broke the silence.
“They really do call you the troublemaker squad. You guys jump in headfirst without thinking.”
Torres looked irritated. If anyone had said a single wrong word, it felt like a fight could have broken out.
Encrid moved between them, blocking his squad members’ view with his back and speaking to Torres.
“Let’s step outside.”
If anything happened here, it would be a mess to clean up.
As they stepped out, Encrid heard Rem snort behind him.
Walking outside, Torres furrowed his brow.
“What’s wrong with them? Are they all frustrated? Tell them to blow off steam at the brothel instead of looking to spill blood.”
Torres had seen something that Encrid hadn’t. When the door opened, Rem had been the first to move. He took one step forward, his movement filled with intent, positioning himself behind Encrid.
Next was Ragna, who had been reclining on his bed. He rose without a sound, taking long strides to stand behind Encrid as well.
In that moment, Torres saw an impenetrable shield forming in front of Encrid.
And finally, Torres even lost track of Jaxson, the red-haired man. Somehow, he had also taken a position, silently watching Torres.
Torres felt the killing intent pressing into him from all directions. It was no wonder he felt on edge.
His pride was wounded, but at that moment, Torres knew that one wrong move could mean his death.
*From just three ordinary soldiers?*
The troublemaker squad’s reputation for skill was well known, but Torres hadn’t expected it to be this intense.
If Encrid hadn’t stepped in, would the situation have turned into a joke?
When Torres had fought Encrid before, he had only shown half his skill. It had been enough.
Would the same have been true against any of the other three?
Within the army, the Royal Frontier Defense Force was said to have the best training and talent outside of the knight orders.
The Frontier Defense Force had long proven its prowess.
Torres’s pride had been bruised.
But work was work, and he still had to say what he came to say.
After a few deep breaths, Torres calmed himself.
“I’ll get straight to the point.”
He had received his orders and was carrying them out.
“Come join the Frontier Defense Force.”
The Royal Frontier Defense Force was an even better offer than the heavy infantry.
It was, after all, part of the Royal Army.
A unit that received direct orders from the king, not the Cypress Division.
It was undoubtedly an appealing offer.
“What do you say?”
Torres exuded confidence in his proposal, with clear pride in being a member of the Frontier Defense Force.
Encrid looked at him quietly for a moment before responding.
“What does the Frontier Defense Force aim for?”
What would he be doing if he joined?
As a soldier, where was it leading him?
Encrid asked.