Eternally Regressing Knight-Chapter 623 - A Late Realization

Chapter 623 - A Late Realization

Ragna, no matter how favorably viewed, was not cut out to lead a unit.

That said, Krais wasn’t the type to leave him idle.

"Let’s start with ten men."

Thus, the Ten Swords Guard was formed, with Ragna as the captain and Ropord as the vice-captain.

Naturally, most of the work and responsibilities fell to Ropord.

On top of everything, Ropord also handled the training of the new recruits, although this was later rotated among members from various units.

The ten selected were all notably talented in their own right, but each of them had a moment where they felt despair after observing Ragna and Ropord.

"I’m not a genius after all," one of them remarked in a tone of resignation.

This would usually be followed by Fel teasing them a bit, and then Ropord giving them a reassuring pat on the shoulder, encouraging them to join the training.

While not everyone could receive an insignia, the entire group had a strong sense of belonging to the unit.

The Ten Swords Guard under Ragna eventually earned the reputation of being a small, elite squad under the Knight Order, emphasizing their exclusivity and pride.

While this occasionally led to internal conflicts, it wasn’t considered a significant issue.

"If you’re going to fight, then win. If you lose, kill yourself," Ragna declared bluntly.

Though he meant it as a joke, none of the unit members took it that way.

Ironically, Ragna had intended the comment in jest, believing that reasonable failures were essential for growth.

Watching Enkrid had taught him many things he hadn’t realized before.

"If you want to fight, come at me," Ragna added.

Occasionally, he would spar with them, which only increased their motivation.

All ten swordsmen saw Ragna as their ultimate goal, raising their own standards.

Inspired by Enkrid’s training intensity, their skills improved remarkably.

The Border Guard’s strongest unit had once been the frontier defense forces, now restructured as Martai’s garrison troops. However, circumstances no longer allowed the frontier defense to maintain its former reputation. This shift was partially due to the overall improvement of the Border Guard’s soldiers and the evolving dynamics of the continent’s military factions.

Krais’ next focus was on Audin’s Holy Infantry Unit, with Audin as the captain and Teresa as the vice-captain. This was one of the units that required the least attention from Krais, as Audin’s experience made him adept at leading a hundred soldiers under the new structure.

Luagarne stayed as Enkrid’s closest personal guard, while Esther demonstrated her ability to organize twenty of her subordinates into a group of magicians.

After setting this groundwork, Krais and Abnaier once again transformed the Border Guard’s atmosphere. In truth, the restructuring was a deliberate attempt to establish a culture of training and improvement.

"Do you plan to let this momentum fade away?" Abnaier asked, prompting Krais to act.

Together, they fostered an environment that encouraged ambition and skill development among the soldiers who completed basic training.

The first strategy was to boost pride by providing special privileges and benefits to each unit.

The second was ensuring the soldiers’ pay was distinct from that of ordinary troops.

Although some recruits, especially from Rem’s unit, occasionally dropped out of training, this wasn’t an issue due to the fair handling of matters by the security captain—Vengeance.

Considering Vengeance’s history with Enkrid, this was a remarkable transformation.

Enkrid publicly acknowledged Vengeance as a comrade, solidifying his contributions.

This was yet another calculated move by Krais, who anticipated that Enkrid’s endorsement would solidify Vengeance’s authority.

"When someone weaker than me speaks, I don’t listen. I learned that from a young age," someone once told Vengeance.

In response, Enkrid cut off the man’s ear, with the soldiers later remarking that sparing his head showed Enkrid’s restraint.

Enkrid’s subsequent words left a profound impression on those present:

"If all we needed was a good fighter, I’d have put Rem in charge. Is that what you want?"

No one in the Border Guard, be they citizens, mercenaries, or soldiers, wanted to risk their lives over a careless remark.

Rem was a known figure within the Border Guard.

Everyone there understood this, except for an outsider who had just arrived and found himself missing an ear as a result.

"Does it even matter?" the outsider retorted defiantly.

"You’re insane."

"Just die already."

"If you want to die, do it alone."

"Someone chase him out and pour water in front of the shop."

Even the innkeeper turned his back on the outsider, who soon experienced pressure from those who enforced order in the area.

Those who subdued him shouted, "Long live Vengeance!"

Vengeance’s security team, part of the Border Guard’s standing forces, was far from lacking in skill, making maintaining order relatively straightforward.

"Damn it, I’m just a punching bag around here," Rem muttered when he heard the story, though it wasn’t something he dwelled on.

Around this time, news spread of a demonic domain being dealt with by the Red Cloak Knights, with support from the Holy Nation’s heretic extermination priests.

It was reportedly a grueling battle, as Aishia noted, mentioning that a comrade had lost an arm.

While heretics acted twice more after that, no apostles appeared.

One of these incidents was handled by three off-duty Border Guard soldiers who happened to be in the southern territories.

Officially, it was said they stumbled upon the situation and resolved it, but internally, it was revealed that Jaxen’s intelligence unit had been involved.

The last unit Krais established was a covert operations and assassination squad specializing in espionage.

Its leader was Jaxen.

Another heretic outbreak occurred in the capital, where a demonic summoning ritual was disrupted.

The Kingdom’s newly appointed security captain, Andrew Gardner, led the effort, reportedly capturing the perpetrators.

Enkrid learned of this through a letter, though he himself led a quiet life, training, honing his skills, visiting the market, and exchanging stories with Aetri.

"Please take care of my sword," he requested one day.

It had become routine for Aetri to maintain his weapon, dismantling the hilt, heating it, applying some concoction, and oiling it thoroughly.

"You must take extra care, even with this treatment. Don’t forget to oil the silver blade regularly. The metal is quite sensitive, and the edge will dull quickly if neglected."

"I’ll make sure of it."

Aetri, commenting that Enkrid seemed to rarely use one of his earlier creations, retrieved a short sword he’d made and replaced it with a guard sword.

This new sword had a broad blade with intricate patterns etched into it, which appeared to have a magical quality.

"I couldn’t imbue it with magic myself—it’s beyond my skill for now. But Lady Esther lent me a hand."

As he handed over the sword, now encased in a sleek black leather scabbard, Aetri spun its hilt playfully and presented it to Enkrid.

"Esther did?"

The "Lake Panther Witch," as Esther was known, might seem aloof and solitary, but her influence seemed to reach everywhere.

The fact that Lord Graham had sent her gifts in gratitude for placing protective wards on the castle walls was proof of that.

"Yes, it’s thanks to her that I was able to complete this."

The guard sword Aetri gifted had an intriguing feature—it could autonomously block an attack once when thrown into the air.

While it might seem like a shield would serve that purpose better, Aetri had his reasons.

"There’s a tale of a knight who wielded a ’Lucky Sword’ as their engraved weapon. It was said to save the wielder’s life from unexpected attacks in ways even they couldn’t predict. That story inspired me to swing my hammer for this creation."

Aetri wasn’t just honing his craft—he studied history and sought inspiration, putting his heart into every step.

The choice of a sword over a shield now made perfect sense.

"This is a stepping stone."

The ultimate goal was an engraved weapon.

This sword was merely a practice piece, a precursor to something greater.

Neither Aetri nor Enkrid knew what that final weapon would look like, but they shared faith in its eventual creation.

Seeing the gleam of determination in her eyes, Enkrid felt a surge of enthusiasm.

Watching someone so dedicated was always invigorating.

Nearby, a Frog was sweating and bleeding over his own craft—creating accessories.

"How’s it coming along?" Enkrid asked, half out of curiosity.

"Don’t know," he replied tersely.

And yet, he kept at it.

There were no guarantees of immediate success, but it was worth doing simply because he wanted to.

"Keep at it," Enkrid encouraged.

Later, when Enkrid returned to the unit, he had Krais deliver a gift to the frog—well-dried silkworm cocoons.

According to Aetri, the frog puffed up his cheeks dramatically upon receiving them, a rare display of emotion.

Around the same time, a letter from the Eastern King brought news of Dunbakel.

"Does she always avoid bathing like this?"

Dunbakel was clearly doing well.

***

Time passed, and one snowy day, near the end of winter, a month had gone by since Shinar’s departure.

"Hey there! You should’ve dropped by—you made me come all the way here instead."

The king himself arrived.

To Enkrid, though, this was his friend, not just a ruler.

Ostensibly, the visit was to confirm how the Stone Road’s development had opened a major trade route with the West, boosting commerce across the continent.

The trade caravans, passing through Naurilia to Border Guard, had brought significant revenue to both cities.

But that was just an excuse.

Over tea, Crang revealed the real reason for the visit.

"Don’t you wonder why Shinar left?"

She had left abruptly without a word of return and even sent a letter explicitly asking not to be searched for.

"I assumed it was her decision."

"Well, you’re not wrong," Crang admitted.

Enkrid recalled a faint premonition from before—a sense that his swordsmanship could take shape.

This time, it was an equally ominous intuition.

Did Shinar truly leave of her own will?

Crang continued, showing no intention of hiding the truth.

"She said she had to fulfill a duty for her fairy kin. Word is she received an ’obligation brand.’"

An obligation brand was more than a shackle—it was a curse that demanded a task’s completion within a set time, or it would claim the bearer’s life.

"I heard it’s tied to a curse on the fairy kin. She collaborated with me to resolve it, but I advised her to refuse the obligation. She didn’t listen."

"A curse?"

"Don’t know the details."

The tea in their cups had grown cold, untouched.

"One thing’s clear—the obligation holds her captive. And it will torment Shinar until the end."

Silence fell.

Enkrid finally took a sip, but the over-brewed tea was unbearably bitter.

He had forgotten to remove the leaves in time.

The bitterness filled his mouth, much like the realization now filling his mind.

He had respected Shinar’s choice, but was that just an excuse for turning a blind eye?

Was he too late to act?

"If I do nothing, nothing will change," Enkrid thought, fully aware of this truth.

"You’re going after her, aren’t you?" Crang asked, perceptive as ever.

"Yeah."

Enkrid nodded.

Since Shinar’s departure, he had felt an unsettling emptiness—not just longing, but a gnawing dissatisfaction.

She had left without explaining her reasons, and not knowing them weighed heavily on him.

"A bit late to realize this," he thought, berating himself briefly.

But self-recrimination wouldn’t change anything now.

"Why?" Crang pressed.

"Because my teasing elder sister might be waiting," Enkrid replied, his answer laced with fairy humor.

Crang winced, his brow furrowing at the jest.

-----------------------------------------------------

If you enjoy the series and want to get more Chapters early, head over to my kofi

www.ko-fi.com/samowek

[SHOP BEST BUY] - 50e - Every Chapter translated - Latest WN-780 + daily Chapters from monday to friday for a month

[MEMBERSHIP TIERS]

-SQUIRE - Cost 10e - Next 40 Chapters of ERK + daily Chapters from monday to friday the following month

-KNIGHT - Cost 20e -s 750-780+ daily Chapters from Monday to Friday for a month

Discord server - https://discord.gg/snCZVX3mr4

Visit freewe𝑏nov(e)l.𝗰𝐨𝐦 for the 𝑏est n𝘰vel reading experience