Eternally Regressing Knight - Chapter 78: Colored by Passion

Torres was still formidable.

When sparring with him, Encrid would lose seven out of ten times.

“You’ve improved.”

Torres remarked as he stood still, catching his breath.

A question arose in Encrid’s mind.

What would happen if they fought for real, with live blades?

He didn’t know. Encrid wasn’t the type to be certain about fighting.

No matter how skilled a person is with a sword, a single dagger in the hands of a seven-year-old could pierce their heart and end their life.

Skill aside, you could never predict the outcome of a life-or-death battle.

“Is that so?”

Encrid replied from the ground, then quickly stood up.

“It’s my turn now.”

“Come on in.”

Despite the cold season, where you could see your breath, sweat flew and heat rose in the open area behind the inn.

How did things get to this point? Everyone had ended up sparring only with Encrid.

It was a series of duels.

For Encrid, it was a precious time.

The frontier guards, including Torres, were skilled in unorthodox techniques.

But that didn’t mean they lacked fundamentals.

One of the guards broke a branch with a snap and held it in both hands.

“I specialize in daggers. Be careful not to get hurt.”

He held two short branches, about the length of half an arm.

“We should both be careful.”

“So let’s be careful together.”

The guard grinned. There was no malice, only pure competitive spirit burning in his eyes.

Thwack!

The branches collided, and Encrid fought once more.

After a few exchanges, Encrid anticipated the guard would close the distance.

But instead of advancing with his dagger, the guard crossed his two short branches and caught Encrid’s “sword,” twisting it aside.

Unbalanced, Encrid was struck in the torso by a thrown branch.

“If this were real, I’d have taken your eye out.”

The guard commented afterward. He was impressive, nearly as skilled as Torres.

Now Encrid understood why the frontier guards were so highly regarded.

Encrid silently nodded. It was another defeat.

It was time for a short break.

Naturally, everyone rested.

Jaxson was leaning against the door connecting the open area to the inn. As Encrid stepped inside, Jaxson spoke up.

“Just because your opponent has a dagger, don’t get so focused on closing the distance. Are you going to fight only with your basics because you’ve trained them well? If your opponent crawls up to you on the ground, is stabbing them with your sword the only option? Why not just kick them?”

Win or lose, Jaxson always had something to say. It was a time for lessons. Some might consider it nagging, but not Encrid.

He listened carefully.

“I didn’t expect them to use that kind of technique with a dagger.”

“They probably specialize in something like a sword breaker.”

A sword breaker, a type of weapon designed with serrations on the back of the blade to break opponents’ weapons. So, this person specialized in disarming their opponents.

“You did well not to give up the distance, but you should have thought about what came next.”

Jaxson meticulously reviewed what had happened during the sparring match.

Encrid had done his best.

If he had given up the distance, he would’ve been defeated. That’s why he hadn’t let them close in.

As a result, he got to see the sword breaker technique.

Jaxson acknowledged what he had done well.

“Think about how to deal with it next time.”

Training in swordsmanship fundamentals, honing your body, learning techniques, and engraving them into your body were all good.

But when something happened in the middle of a sparring match, it was up to him to figure out how to handle it.

That was Jaxson’s lesson.

Encrid agreed.

Repeating the same movement hundreds of times was the only way to truly master it.

To make something his own, he had to think it through.

Reflecting and thinking.

Those were Encrid’s weapons.

And that’s what he did.

“After the break, it’s my turn.”

This was another frontier guard. He was skilled with both his sword and his feet, often mixing kicks into his movements.

He was a tricky opponent, but that only meant Encrid had more to learn.

All six of the frontier guards, including Torres, took turns sparring with him.

They all shared similar techniques, but they also demonstrated their unique styles.

Though their techniques were diverse, their fundamentals were impeccable. There was much to learn from them.

In the past, these sparring sessions wouldn’t have helped much.

There was no helping it.

A person who hasn’t climbed the mountain cannot appreciate the view from the top.

But that wasn’t the case anymore.

‘Combine it with pinpoint focus.’

The technique he had learned from Ragna was starting to shine. The foundation was built on the boldness that came with the Heart of the Beast.

“Keep your senses sharp at all times.”

Jaxson advised, urging him to maintain keen awareness.

Encrid nodded.

As he was sweating, Leona approached him.

“You must really enjoy this.”

“What do you mean?”

“Using your sword.”

“Does it seem that way?”

“Yes.”

Leona often made small talk. It was trivial, but to Encrid, it felt like a spider watching its prey.

A greedy spider that would never let its prey go.

‘A spider is an odd comparison for someone with her looks.’

After all, she was a beauty who could easily turn heads.

“Is it because of the elf company captain? You seem indifferent to women’s appearances.”

“That’s not necessarily true.”

“So, am I not your type?”

What did she mean by that? There was a playful look on her face.

“It’s rare to find a man who could ignore someone as beautiful as Lady Leona, wouldn’t you say?”

Encrid’s indirect way of saying he wasn’t interested.

After their meaningless conversation, Leona smiled and returned to sit beside the elf company captain.

“Be careful, he has a reputation with women.”

The elf company captain made a ridiculous comment.

Leona laughed at that.

Could she understand fairy humor?

Leona found the elf company captain’s jokes amusing, even though they seemed to make Encrid uncomfortable.

“You’re the wittiest fairy I’ve ever met.”

“I get that a lot.”

From whom, exactly?

While preparing for the next sparring match, Encrid almost twisted his ankle. Keeping his senses sharp, he overheard their conversation. They weren’t exactly speaking quietly.

“I even have a child.”

“Huh?”

“There are some in the unit who believe that.”

Wouldn’t that lead to more misunderstandings? Encrid was concerned, but Leona just laughed it off. Whether she believed it or not was unclear.

“Aren’t you going to spar? Are you tired already?”

Encrid looked at those waiting for him, letting go of his worries. Rumors were bound to spread regardless.

After Leona’s sudden confession the other day, there were probably even worse rumors going around now.

“The irresistible squad leader.”

People outside were calling him that whenever they got the chance.

“The squad leader who destroys sorcery.”

“The squad leader women can’t resist.”

He was getting tired of hearing it.

“Am I really that irresistible?”

Even Jaxson had started using the term.

“Huh?”

“Everyone, including the guards, can’t take their eyes off you.”

That was true; somehow, things had turned out that way.

He had spent nearly a full day sparring like a madman.

At first, the atmosphere had been awkward, but now it was completely gone. Everyone was united by swords and sweat.

As a result, Encrid was covered in bruises.

“Does it hurt?”

When the one who had hit him asked, Encrid shook his head.

“No.”

That last strike had been perfect. He was replaying it in his mind over and over.

Blocking an overhead strike by feinting from below, then slashing the forearm.

The quick decision-making, timing, and boldness needed.

All the necessary components were coming to him naturally.

It was an experience unlike any he’d had before.

‘Ah.’

Encrid was once again filled with exhilaration.

He was intoxicated by everything happening.

Sometimes the elf company captain would jump in for something that resembled wrestling.

Occasionally, Leona would strike up a conversation.

“I’m envious. I should’ve learned this.”

She made that comment while watching the elf company captain twist Encrid’s arm in midair, applying pressure to his joints.

Encrid had been too busy trying to hold his ground during that technique.

“Use wrestling, soldier.”

The elf company captain offered her own advice.

Perhaps because he saw Encrid listening to Jaxson, or maybe it was just goodwill.

Encrid didn’t know the reason, but there was no need to question it.

He continued to listen intently.

“Your balance is off. Does anyone help you with your training?”

It wasn’t just the elf company captain. The frontier guards offered advice too.

Encrid heard the same thing from them that Audin had said.

A difference in left and right balance.

It could be excused as natural since he was right-handed, but still.

“The first step to reaching human limits is training all your muscles. You’ve got decent strength.”

Torres chimed in.

“Just because they have a dagger, you shouldn’t think about keeping your distance all the time. Try pulling them into a close-quarters fight. What do you think your opponent will do? Plant a demon in their mind.”

A lesson in how to cloud the opponent’s thoughts.

“You’ve got a bad habit. It’s fine to trick your opponent, but don’t lose sight of the basics. Where’s your center of gravity?”

They even pointed out mistakes he made during sparring.

He didn’t know how things had come to this.

But Encrid was completely absorbed, taking everything in. He listened, and listened again.

This was different from sparring with his squad.

Did it look like he was having fun?

“Would you spar with me as well?”

One of Polid’s swordsmen stepped forward. He unsheathed his rapier, laying it down beside him.

Encrid reflexively nodded.

It was something he had been waiting for.

“You’re an interesting fellow. Sparring like this in the middle of an assignment.”

“I prefer to spend my time well.”

Though they were escorting a large trading caravan with a potential succession dispute that could turn bloody, Encrid continued to wield his sword.

He had to.

His time was different from that of others.

Those with talent and those without could never be equal. For someone who needed to make up for what they lacked, there was never enough time.

* * *

The swordsman with the rapier grew more intrigued.

‘His skills don’t improve in real-time.’

But this soldier had a certain charisma that drew people in.

Especially the way the frontier guards’ relationship with him had changed. The initial wariness between strangers had melted away, replaced by camaraderie. It was a curious thing to witness.

‘He’s a rare talent.’

But not in swordsmanship. The swordsman could see that Encrid had reached the limit of his skill.

Encrid’s talent lay elsewhere.

The swordsman had met many talented individuals in his life, and this realization came to him easily.

If he were to hear that Encrid’s dream was to become a knight, he would shake his head without hesitation.

Still…

Regardless of his talent, there was something about him.

‘I’d like to teach him.’

There was endless passion. He didn’t let any words pass him by.

He might be lacking in talent, but there was a weighty intensity to him.

A talent for inspiring those around him with passion alone.

All of Encrid’s instructors had felt something similar.

They knew it was hopeless, but they still ended up pouring everything they had into him, teaching and teaching again.

It was as if the words “give up” didn’t exist in his vocabulary. His passion and spirit were contagious.

“Would you spar with me?”

That passion made the swordsman step forward and speak.

“Huh?”

His companion looked at him in surprise. He was surprised himself.

After all, wasn’t he their enemy?

It seemed foolish to step forward now.

What if Encrid refused? That would be even more embarrassing.

The problem was, he hadn’t thought about any of this before opening his mouth.

Encrid nodded.

“Right now?”

His arms were bruised, and his body drenched in sweat. Despite the cold wind blowing through the open area, steam rose from his shoulders. He must have been exhausted by now.

But winning or losing wasn’t important.

Encrid was simply enjoying the sparring.

“Excellent.”

The swordsman found himself saying, almost involuntarily.

* * *

Jaxson was suspicious of the swordsman’s intentions.

The elf company captain nodded in interest.

All the frontier guards were prepared to cut the swordsman down if things went awry.

None of them would let anything happen to Encrid.

As for Encrid?

He was busy envisioning his opponent’s sword in his mind.

How should he respond?

What kind of fighting style would give him the best chance of winning?

Could he win?

“Don’t overthink it!”

Rem had said that anyone who worried about victory and defeat never survived.

Instead of doubting the outcome,

“Have confidence. That comes first.”

Sharpen your sword of confidence.

The Heart of the Beast filled him with boldness.

Encrid raised the tip of his branch, pointing it to the sky.

He gripped it with both hands, focusing.

For a moment, his surroundings shifted. His concentration ignited, turning his environment into the middle of a battlefield.

He could see the armor draped over his opponent.

He could see the thin sword in his opponent’s hand.

If he didn’t dodge, he would die.

Caught in the moment, Encrid completely immersed himself.