Eternally Regressing Knight-Chapter 516 - The Giant Who Sells Goods

Chapter 516 - The Giant Who Sells Goods

In the past, whenever news of war would transform cities into ghost towns, Krais often grumbled.

"Why is it so hard to get anything around here?"

Still, his complaints had earned him a profit.

When goods were scarce, their prices naturally soared, or so the saying went.

Compared to those times, the city now was entirely different.

Shops had increased in number, and one area was crowded with merchants laying out their wares on the ground.

Zones were clearly divided, with soldiers patrolling in between.

Among the crowd, Enkrid spotted a familiar Frog.

What was his name again?

"I'm not here to fight."

The Frog, with a scar across his face, raised his pale palm and spoke.

Digging into his memory, Enkrid recalled the name.

"...Miellun?"

"Yeah, that's right."

Miellun had apparently joined Krais's subordinate Gilpin Guild.

He seemed to enjoy city life and had grown visibly healthier and more comfortable, with his cheeks almost glistening.

Healthy Frogs supposedly had shiny cheeks, a remark once made by the parched Luagarne in the arid climate.

"See you around."

Passing Miellun, Enkrid observed that among the humans were occasional beastfolk, elves, dwarves, and Frogs. He even spotted a Giant.

Though called beasts of crimson blood, not all Giants were alike, just as not all humans or elves were the same. Some among them sought pursuits beyond battle. This one seemed to be such a type.

A Giant, carrying a large bundle of black cloth over his shoulder—mistakable for a club—walked by. When their eyes briefly met, the Giant's gaze was unlike the ferocity expected of his kind. Instead, it reminded Enkrid of the serene, unwavering eyes of a cow he had once seen in the West.

"Greetings," the Giant said, nodding briefly before moving on and taking a seat in the area where the street vendors gathered.

While some merchants nearby appeared unnerved, others remained unbothered.

One merchant even addressed him familiarly.

The Giant seemed more like a traveling peddler than a warrior, a plausible assumption given that peddlers often needed to know how to fight.

"You're late," the merchant said.

"Got my hands on something good," the Giant replied.

From the way the Giant casually interacted with the human merchant next to him, it was evident that this wasn't his first time at Border Guard. Even the patrolling soldiers showed no reaction, confirming as much.

Curiosity piqued, Enkrid approached.

The Giant untied the bundle of cloth he had been carrying. Inside were massive items—bags large enough to hold an entire human, logs seemingly cut into makeshift furniture, and other odds and ends.

A Giant peddler.

Not a common profession for their kind.

"Browsing?"

The Giant's deep, resonant voice felt as though it originated from the depths of a cave.

He looked directly at Enkrid, who simply nodded in silence.

The Giant appeared unaware of who Enkrid was.

While a few patrolling soldiers might recognize him, fame didn't necessarily translate to instant recognition in a bustling city like this.

Unless someone's appearance was particularly distinct or their gear stood out, being recognized was rare.

"I heard you found something good," Enkrid repeated the Giant's earlier words.

The Giant opened one of the large leather bags, pulling out several items: raw gemstones, uncut stones, and a few bundles of rolled leather.

What qualified as "good"?

As a mercenary and swordsman, Enkrid had a decent eye for materials, but nowhere near the expertise of a merchant. Judging by the assortment, the Giant appeared to deal in raw resources rather than finished goods.

One of the rolled-up leather bundles caught Enkrid's eye.

Compared to the Giant's size, the bundle wasn't particularly large. Its surface was dark brown, thick, and appeared heavy at a glance.

"You've got an eye for things," the Giant remarked, though his tone carried no friendliness or attempt to court a sale.

He seemed uninterested in typical merchant behavior.

"Maybe," Enkrid replied, shifting his gaze to meet the Giant's.

"Ever heard of the Black Leather Guild?"

Of course he had.

Anyone who wandered the continent would inevitably come across certain well-known names: the Shepherds of the Wilds, the Glacier Rangers, and the Black Leather Guild, among others. The Black Leather Guild was reputed as the continent's finest hunters.

"This leather came from them. I don't know what creature it's from, but it's tough and light," the Giant said, holding the bundle delicately between his thumb and forefinger.

"It's expensive," he concluded.

Price wasn't an issue for Enkrid.

Extending his hand, he accepted the bundle as the Giant placed it in his palm.

Unrolling it revealed a well-treated leather sheet.

True to the Giant's claim, it was incredibly light—not because of his strength but inherently so.

Though not feather-like, it was noticeably lighter than it appeared.

There was no foul odor, and its width was just enough to wrap around his forearm.

"Unusual," Enkrid remarked.

"It's rare."

"You're unusual, too."

"Does that matter?"

"You caught my attention."

The Giant remained unresponsive.

So what?

Are you buying it or not?

To him, that was all that mattered.

"I'll take it," Enkrid said.

The item intrigued him.

He could already envision how to use it.

"Twelve gold coins."

It was a steep price.

Oddly precise, too.

Why twelve and not ten?

Considering its size—barely enough to wrap around a wrist or forearm—it was exorbitant.

For Audin, it might only cover his fist.

"Fine," Enkrid agreed without bargaining. He didn't see the point.

But there was a problem.

Patting his waist and searching his pockets, Enkrid realized he hadn't brought any money.

Don't you ever plan ahead, you fool?

Aker, his sentient sword, grumbled in his mind. Enkrid ignored the remark, preoccupied with continuing his search.

Unsurprisingly, there was no clinking sound of coins.

The Giant's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

A thief?

A robber?

It was absurd.

This was Border Guard, a place where thieves lost their hands, and robbers were practically nonexistent.

Yet, the Giant crossed his arms, his gaze drifting toward two nearby guards.

Should he call them?

After a brief hesitation, the Giant decided to give him a chance.

"Get lost if you don't have Krona."

"...I'm a friend of Leona."

Enkrid spoke quietly.

It was the truth.

Twelve gold coins weren't a problem; he could procure them quickly.

He was about to do so, but then another merchant, his cheeks plastered with greed, interrupted.

"I'll buy it for seven and a half gold coins."

What the hell?

Enkrid felt a slight surge of anger.

Was it not obvious that he was already negotiating for the item?

He restrained himself from unleashing Will, as it might be seen as a threat, and simply glared at the merchant.

The merchant met his gaze, tilting his chin in defiance.

"What?"

What are you going to do about it?

Border Guard was a haven for merchants because of its strict security.

Swindlers, robbers, and pickpockets found it nearly impossible to operate here.

The illegal guild Gilpin even took it upon themselves to act as nocturnal watchmen, while the Border Guard's militia ensured justice during the day, remaining impartial even for a few silver coins.

The system was well-maintained, although it had taken a lot to reach this point.

"I'll be right back with the coins. Could you just wait a bit...?" Enkrid said, his tone slightly desperate.

"Listen, if you don't have the money, step aside. I've got no time for this," the grumpy-cheeked merchant interrupted, cutting him off.

Enkrid's hand twitched.

The merchant's tone reminded him of Krais, but while Krais's remarks were bearable, this toad-like merchant's attitude ignited a murderous impulse.

Even though he knew appearances weren't everything, they certainly influenced his emotions.

Enkrid took a deep breath.

This wasn't worth losing his temper over.

"And you claim to be a friend of Leona Rockfreed? Ha! Then I'm General Enkrid's uncle!"

Should I kill him?

Wouldn't it be fine to kill just this one guy?

After all, I'm a general, right?

The atmosphere grew tense as two soldiers approached.

They didn't recognize Enkrid.

"If you fight, both parties will face consequences. It won't end well for either of you."

"Just so you know, the lord of Border Guard doesn't take sides."

The fairness was harsh.

It was a well-known adage displayed in Border Guard's courthouse, a warning not to escalate matters unnecessarily.

This entire setup was Krais's doing.

Trials required manpower and often demanded his personal involvement.

While he couldn't ignore cases of genuine injustice, frivolous disputes handed over to the city courts resulted in heavy taxes being levied under the guise of trial fees.

This system ensured only those with genuine grievances came forward, deterring others from exploiting their authority.

And when true victims appeared, their fees were often waived.

It was a system that had faced much criticism initially but had since become well-established.

Enkrid, however, was unaware of this story.

Surely, they'll take my side, he thought.

After all, he was higher up than the lord.

But if he revealed his status now...

Wouldn't that damage my honor?

–Hey, if you reveal your identity here, you might as well bite me and jump off a cliff.

Aker, his sentient sword, offered an apt piece of advice.

Enkrid decided he'd rather throw this sword off a cliff than repair it.

The blade was already losing its sharpness, and the sword itself was becoming nothing more than a hunk of metal.

–Don't even think about it. Let me enjoy my remaining month.

Ignoring the sword's grumbles, Enkrid turned to the giant merchant, attempting to convey trust through his gaze.

"What?"

"...Never mind."

The giant shifted his gaze to the toad-like merchant and spoke firmly.

"I won't sell it to you either."

"What? Charging twelve gold coins for that leather is highway robbery!"

The giant's declaration angered the merchant, though Enkrid could tell it was a ploy to gain leverage in negotiations.

But even without realizing the tactic, the giant shook his head.

"I'm not selling."

This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

"Aren't you with the Rockfreed company?"

"So what?"

"I've been trading with Rockfreed for years. This could cause trouble later."

Was this a threat now?

The soldiers, apparently viewing this as mere haggling, stepped back.

Enkrid didn't intervene either, feeling his position too ambiguous.

Any action could make him seem like a robber.

And without Krona, wouldn't he have to rely on force?

"Not my problem."

The giant remained unmoved by the threat.

"You bastard."

The toad merchant, now genuinely angry, stormed off in frustration.

There was no point in causing a scene when the guards were still watching.

Besides, going against the giant would only end badly for him.

After the merchant left, Enkrid asked the giant, "Are you sure you're okay with this?"

"Why wouldn't I be? I may work with Rockfreed, but what I sell and at what price is my choice."

"I see."

"Exactly. I sell good items at prices I set. That's my way of doing business."

Enkrid found himself liking both the leather and the giant merchant. Especially the way his eyes lit up when he spoke of "good items" and his principles of trade.

Could his path as a merchant have been easy?

Surely not.

And yet, the giant merchant stood firm in his place.

"Do you have a dream?" Enkrid asked.

"Why do you care?"

The giant's consistent attitude was oddly appealing.

Enkrid decided he needed to fetch Krona.

Perhaps Krais could help...

No, he'd ask Graham instead.

Just as he turned to leave, a familiar voice stopped him.

"Shopping?"

It was someone he knew—someone who'd been busy since dawn.

"The black witch," someone murmured.

The newcomer's robe didn't reveal much, but her skirt's slit exposed her pale legs.

Several people, men and women alike, found themselves staring at her legs, which held a captivating charm.

"Don't gouge out their eyes just for staring," Enkrid muttered.

"Why would I? Are you feeling unwell?" Esther replied with a blink, seemingly amused.

Enkrid decided to let it slide.

It was her past behavior that prompted his comment, but he'd accept his own frustration this time.

"How much is it? I'll pay."

The situation felt surreal to Enkrid.

Here was Esther—someone who could be mistaken for a witch or a sage—handing over gold coins while he just stood there watching.

She counted the coins meticulously before handing them to the giant.

"Pleasure doing business," the giant said with a rare smile, handing over the leather.

Esther then passed it to Enkrid.

"A gift. I'm busy."

It was a chance encounter.

Esther turned to leave, but before she could, a well-dressed man approached, kneeling before her and presenting a bouquet.

"Black Witch, my love!" he declared dramatically.

Esther glanced at him briefly.

Enkrid decided that if things went south, he'd protect the man's eyes. But Esther simply replied, "I'll think about it," and walked away without a second glance.

"Aren't you leaving? You're in the way of business," the giant merchant said, snapping Enkrid out of his daze.

He resumed his original path toward the forge.

Today feels... strange.

That thought persisted even as he arrived at the forge, where an unusual sight awaited him—a human, a dwarf, and a Frog seated together.

The human blacksmith recognized Enkrid.

He was a royal craftsman sent by Krang.

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