Eternally Regressing Knight-Chapter 563 - Why Stay in the Order?

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Chapter 563 - Why Stay in the Order?

Make Rem the vice-captain?

"I request the immediate withdrawal of this improper appointment."

Jaxen would say this.

"If it is not permitted by the gods, then I shall personally carry out father's will."

Audin would step forward, fists clenched in determination.

And Ragna?

'Wouldn't he just start slashing without a word?'

Thus, the idea of Rem becoming vice-captain was dismissed outright and ignored entirely. After a bit more conversation, Rem revealed what was on his mind, speaking as if he had nothing to hide.

"Once we wipe out the Western Demonic Domain, everyone will figure out how to live their own lives.

By then, the captain will have done whatever he wanted.

As for me, when I'm old, I'll probably just smack my wife's behind, get a few hits in return, and spend my time watching my kids play around."

Rem, unusually, envisioned a peaceful retirement.

"Not planning to die halfway through or anything?"

Enkrid asked with curiosity.

Based on Rem's behavior in battle, he didn't seem like the type to care much for tomorrow.

His aura didn't suggest otherwise either.

But his true feelings were different.

Rem dreamt of a future, a dream of closing the Demonic Realm and spending time with a wife and children.

Enkrid suddenly realized that, despite appearances, Rem probably wanted to see his wife again, to meet his yet-to-be-born child.

Was there something Enkrid could do for him?

Surely, there was.

With an idea forming in his mind, Enkrid looked at Rem, who responded to his half-joking question.

"Die? Who? Me? Don't be ridiculous. Of course, I'm not dying."

Rem's smirk, full of confidence, almost made it seem certain.

He wouldn't die.

That self-assuredness manifested in his Will, radiating his determination.

Although Rem's power stemmed from sorcery rather than Will, the effects were similar in Enkrid's eyes.

Even Rem had once said that sorcery and Will shared similarities in enhancing the body.

"Well then, I'll head out."

"Go on. Why are you wasting time talking?"

As Rem grabbed training equipment and headed toward the smithy, Enkrid reminded him not to overwork Eitri.

"Do I look like someone who'd bully others for fun?"

Not nodding in response would have meant discarding his conscience, which Enkrid wasn't willing to do.

Humans who remove their guts inevitably die.

Enkrid still had much to do, so he couldn't afford to.

"Sure."

Thus, he nodded decisively.

"Annoying."

Seeing Rem's sulky demeanor, Enkrid moved on to Ragna.

He asked a similar question.

What did Ragna want?

Was the Order the right place for him?

Ragna was a genius, more talented than anyone Enkrid had ever seen.

That talent had fully blossomed, and now Ragna had found his path.

While he often seemed directionless, his sword knew its purpose.

A mere sparring session made that clear—Ragna's blade carried no hesitation or doubt.

Ragna answered with conviction.

"I intend to go as far as I can with my sword.

For that, I need strong opponents. It's tedious to go out and find them, but if I stay near you, they'll come on their own."

Was he serious?

Most likely.

Ragna wasn't one to lie or speak without meaning.

"That's why you stay in the Order?"

Because it's tedious otherwise.

This wasn't shocking.

Ragna had always been like this.

Afterward, Ragna mentioned becoming vice-captain, much like Rem.

Even if Enkrid was the Order's centerpiece, someone had to step forward to guide the way.

Ragna spoke passionately about this, which didn't suit him at all.

When told there was no such position, Ragna's response was devoid of hesitation or annoyance.

"Then I should be the First Blade, the leading sword."

With furrowed brows and a serious tone, Ragna proposed creating a nonsensical title for himself.

"There's no such thing."

"Why not?"

"Because it doesn't exist."

"Understood."

Getting Ragna to give up was easy.

He wasn't the type to put much effort into things anyway, yet his sudden enthusiasm was bewildering.

After all, a madman his their name for a reason.

When Enkrid approached Jaxen with the same question, the response was simple.

"It's fun. That's all."

And that was the end of it.

Though Jaxen might have hidden deeper thoughts, he wasn't one to express them.

After answering, he merely cast an enigmatic glance that seemed to say, Why ask such a thing?

"Everyone has their reasons. I can't force anyone to stay in the Order."

Enkrid spoke candidly, hiding nothing.

"Indeed."

Jaxen responded with a faint smile.

Enkrid merely shrugged.

If he possessed some mind-reading ability, he might have found Jaxen's thoughts puzzling.

Jaxen had considered wagering his entire Carmen collection if even one person left the Order.

From an outsider's perspective, it was all too clear.

The Order revolved around one person, but each member expressed their own desires and will.

Because the central figure had the capacity to contain them all, no one wanted to leave.

That was Jaxen's conclusion.

Instead of revealing his thoughts, Jaxen made a subtle request of Enkrid.

"I don't need a title, but if you wish, I can take on the role of vice-captain."

"No, there's no such position."

Had they planned this?

Why did their answers feel so coordinated?

After reiterating that there were no titles other than captain, Jaxen merely replied, "I see," as if he'd expected that answer.

Later, Enkrid spoke with Audin and Shinar, who were heading off together with him, and eventually met with Ropord, Fel, Luagarne, and Teresa.

Between training and dealing with people sent by the Empire or other nations, Enkrid's schedule was packed.

He dismissed those outsiders without a second thought, as their intentions were predictable.

They all offered rewards for him to come to their lands, just as the blind old man had written in his letters.

Amidst this, the next person he met was Teresa.

"I like it here."

Was there a need to ask further?

Teresa answered unprompted.

"I enjoy singing. I find fighting exhilarating. I discovered these joys here. I've also come to understand the teachings of our Father anew."

And all of this was possible because of you.

She didn't say the last part, knowing he would understand.

Enkrid nodded, sensing that this was the time to nod, acknowledge her words, and give her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

It's not as if Enkrid could know Teresa's true intentions—he wasn't a god, after all.

He could only assume.

But she certainly seemed to be enjoying herself.

Honestly, among those who stayed by his side, Teresa appeared to be one of the happiest. Whether she was spending time with Audin, praying, singing, or wandering the city, it was evident that she found joy in all of it.

"I am a shepherd of the wilderness. That will never change, even until my death. But for now, I want to hone my lacking abilities here," Fel said.

Fel had grown polite over time, speaking in a tone that almost seemed to plead to stay.

His change in demeanor wasn't a turn for the worse.

On the contrary, he seemed more earnest, putting more effort into everything.

His camaraderie with Ropord reflected this, as they competed and got along.

"Alright, go ahead," Enkrid replied with a nod.

He saw no reason to oppose it, and someday, if Fel chose to return to his life as a shepherd in the wilderness, Enkrid wouldn't stop him.

"It's an honor," Fel said.

Ropord, naturally, nodded in agreement.

"Aren't you officially a member of the Crimson Mantle Knights?" Enkrid asked.

"Oh, I've already left them," Ropord replied, grinning.

It seemed an odd thing to say with such cheer, but Ropord's smile remained bright.

To him, Enkrid, Ragna, and the others were figures he deeply admired.

Being among them was a privilege.

For Ropord, the time spent at Border Guard had been some of the most meaningful of his life.

"If I'm to be expelled, then I'll stay on as a squire. If not, even as a common soldier, I'll remain," Ropord declared.

Enkrid responded matter-of-factly, "Stay with the knights. As a Semi knight."

Ropord had talent—he'd advanced to squire in the Crimson Mantle Knights.

Enkrid found it surprising that someone so capable would speak so humbly.

Next was Luagarne.

"It wouldn't hurt to have a Frog around, would it? Especially a beautiful one," Lagarne remarked.

Enkrid couldn't gauge Frog beauty, but he nodded.

Hadn't Luagarne herself claimed to have become more beautiful?

"Yes, a beautiful Frog knight. Not bad at all," Enkrid said.

Do Frogs even have knights?

Rarely, if ever, though there were historical records of such cases.

After consulting everyone he needed to, Enkrid made an unprecedented decision.

"You're part of the knights now."

The recipient of this declaration was none other than a horse—Weird-eyes.

The horse neighed loudly, rearing up on its hind legs as if in celebration.

"What the hell?" Enkrid muttered, dumbfounded.

He had only spoken because the horse had been staring him down with an intense gaze.

Had it been waiting for this?

Ever since drinking from the sacred spring, the horse had become even more human-like.

Its intelligence went beyond mere cleverness—its actions showed a calculated understanding, sometimes even toying with its enemies before dispatching them.

"Alright, just make the most of what you've been given," Enkrid said.

The horse's mismatched eyes glimmered, as if emitting a palpable "Will."

It seemed to say, I won't let you down.

"It was just a passing remark," Enkrid thought to himself, baffled by the intensity of the reactions around him.

"You may call me the magic knight, Esther," came Esther's voice.

Unlike the horse, Esther could communicate, so Enkrid questioned her reasoning.

"Why are you staying with the knights?"

Esther was a witch, and it was clear she had no obligation to remain.

Loyalty to the kingdom wasn't her priority—far from it.

Few in the group were bound by such allegiance.

"A mage is one who explores. For now, I find satisfaction in exploring you and the world through you. Thus, I have no intention of leaving. If you fear I might, we can establish a pact or contract," Esther offered, her tone unwavering and genuine.

"No need for that," Enkrid replied.

He believed that forcing someone to stay through external means was pointless.

Only those who remained willingly could truly dedicate themselves to their roles.

"Very well, then I shall stay. A magic knight I shall be," Esther said, chuckling softly.

It was a rare sight—Esther smiling.

Her laughter was light, her shoulders shaking slightly, and it almost seemed unfamiliar, like the sound of a squirrel's chittering.

He considered suggesting she try transforming into one, but refrained.

Her smile was too precious to risk ruining.

"Well, in any case, I'm off," Esther said, murmuring about what it might be like to be a magic knight wielding a black flower as she walked away.

And so, the composition of the knight order was settled.

Enkrid as the commander, with Rem, Ragna, Jaxen, and Audin as its core members. If Dunbakel returned and wished to stay, she'd be included as well. Teresa and Audin made a pair, while Ropord sought to train under Ragna. Jaxen preferred to work alone, and Luagarne and Fel were part of Enkrid's personal guard within the order.

Nothing extravagant was needed.

Basking in the autumn sky, with its winds, clouds, and sunlight, Enkrid organized his thoughts before turning to the last two individuals walking beside him.

"Will you join the knights?" Enkrid asked, addressing Shinar, who walked silently nearby.

Her green eyes met his, steady and unreadable.

Unlike the others, Shinar had her own ultimate purpose, a goal Enkrid had overheard her discussing with Krang.

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