WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: Ryuu

Editor: Abstract

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

A KNIGHT WHO ETERNALLY REGRESSES

Chapter 150: The Night of the Banquet

A night of allure, drinking, and partying.

Well, it was a feast of such things. Has there ever been a party like this before? When was the last time anything resembling a banquet had happened?

Enkrid tried to recall. 

It seemed like it had been years since the last one.

In Border Guard, it was definitely the first. For Enkrid, it was one of those rare moments he had experienced only a handful of times since birth.

However, he had enjoyed something similar during his mercenary days.

What had he done back then? He had just wet his lips and focused on preparing for battle.

"Let's have a drink, Squad Leader."

Aside from Finn and the Company Commander, there were many others offering him drinks.

"When it's time to have fun, have fun. Don't be such a killjoy."

Even Rem was saying things like that.

Enkrid could drink. He never said he couldn't, it was just that he didn't enjoy it.

Gulp.

One sip, and the sharp aroma brushed his nose as the sweet liquid flowed down his throat and settled in his stomach.

'Not bad.'

He wasn't born a gourmet nor was he a heavy drinker, but his experiences of eating and drinking all over the place hadn't gone to waste.

A poor wanderer can eat anything, but they can also judge everything that goes into their mouth.

'Must have cost quite a few Krona.'

The Battalion Commander had really opened his pockets. Or rather, it was more accurate to say that Border Guard had footed the bill.

Surely, he hadn't paid for this out of his own pocket. Regardless, Enrkid ate, drank, and enjoyed himself.

When he decided to rest, he rested with all his might. He knew all too well that proper rest was preparation for what was to come.

However,

'On a night when the starlight is so beautiful.'

It was a night when the sky, embroidered with the moon and stars, was truly beautiful. A night too precious to just spend drinking.

"A little drink to wet the lips is enough, brother. Are you challenging me to an arm-wrestling match? Fine."

From one side, the sound of Audin enjoying himself could be heard.

"You little brat, are you being picky again?"

Rem's voice, picking a fight, resounded.

"It just doesn't suit my taste."

Ragna’s retortion sounded right after.

By the way, where did Jaxon go?

He said he went to the city. 

Jaxon wasn't the type to fit in at a banquet. He sat in a chair he had claimed.

Everyone was busy eating and drinking.

Excited soldiers were chattering, with some mixing curses as they shared tales of valor.

In between, besides Finn and the Elf Company Commander, many others approached Enkrid to talk.

He was the most popular.

"I knew you'd shine someday."

It was Bell.

The guy who had died, or nearly died, from an arrow during the first regression. In a way, one could say his fate had changed because of Enkrid.

"So? You want to spar?"

Enkrid joked.

"No, what kind of sparring will that be? You even knocked out the Frontier Defense Unit."

"I was lucky."

Luck. It was a word that had become a habit.

"Is that something that happens by luck?"

Bell grumbled and then laughed. It was a bright laugh. Then, Vengeance approached.

"Why are you, huh?"

He said that, exhaled deeply, then said never mind and offered a drink before turning away sharply.

He wouldn't have understood it before, but Enrkid knew Vengeance's heart now. He could comfort him.

Even if spoken while sitting, words held meaning when they reached the other person.

"The world is vast."

Enkrid spat out the infantry's motto, comforting him like that.

"There are plenty of women."

Thud.

Vengeance's steps halted. 

The emotions contained in that 'Why are you, huh' were no doubt jealousy and envy.

He must have seen the Elf Company Commander and Finn coming over to drink and also noticed the strange looks from a few of the waitresses.

Was the comfort appropriate?

Vengeance, who had stopped, twisted his upper body back. His eyes seemed to hold the flames of a demon.

"You bastard?"

Enkrid thought his comforting was appropriate. It was much better to see him bloom with passion than to see him disheartened.

"Jenny?"

Enkrid pretended to be surprised, looking behind Vengeance. Vengeance's head turned sharply.

Jenny, the herb seller—Vengeance's Achilles' heel. The reason he had hated Enkrid initially.

Creak.

Confirming that there was nothing, or rather, no Jenny behind him, Vengeance turned his head back towards Enkrid, making a strange sound.

It sounded like the noise a freshly born skeleton soldier might make.

"This bastard? It's a spar."

Ah, a spar? I was planning to rest today, but I guess I have no choice. This really wasn't my intention.

"Shall we?"

Enkrid straightened up. Vengeance immediately regretted his words.

He already knew from experience that he was no match for him, but how could he endure being mocked like that?

"Let's fight."

"Who? Who?"

"Squad Leader Vengeance?"

"Who's his opponent?"

"Ah, the Alluring Squad Leader."

That damn allure.

Enkrid listened to the soldiers' chatter with one ear and let it go out the other, but he couldn't easily let go of the two words 'allure.'

It felt like a word that didn't suit him. He had a similar experience before.

Hadn’t Audin called him stubborn?

Stubborn? Not at all.

The allure was the same. A misunderstanding.

"Where, where's the fight? Wait, hold on! If you're going to settle this, you need a bet!"

From one side, Kraiss suddenly popped out from among the crowd of soldiers. Kraiss, who had popped out, looked at Enkrid's face and confirmed Vengeance’s face.

"...No one knows, but Squad Leader Vengeance has mastered the secret art of assassination. Anyone want to bet Krona on Squad Leader Vengeance?"

No one did.

The bet didn't happen.

Vengeance swung his sword with all his might.

Enkrid didn't let his guard down. As always, he focused and his eyes gleamed.

He moved his body as he watched the falling sword. There was no stopping.

Enkrid raised his sword horizontally to block the attack, then stepped forward and struck Vengeance's thigh with his knee.

A mix of basics and a bit of improvisation.

"Ah!"

Vengeance, struck on the side of his thigh, fell down.

"Hmm."

Enkrid felt a bit disappointed. It was like the feeling of stopping mid-pee. It was just one hit. Vengeance was a soldier who aimed for the upper ranks, wasn't he?

"The soldier ranking system is like, what was it, a pile of bullshit? Or was it?"

Rem's words came to mind for no reason. He looked around to see if there was anyone like Rem.

Many were looking at him with strange eyes. There was no admiration in those eyes.

Enkrid frowned and then relaxed.

Only Kraiss noticed that look of dissatisfaction. He wished someone would challenge him instead of admiring him.

For a while, there had been many who challenged him to spar, but such occurrences had become rare lately.

Even the Frontier Defense Unit rarely approached him.

I thought I saw the Frontier Defense Unit Commander among the soldiers earlier. The 1st Company Commander was also somewhere around.

Could he count on those two?

Enkrid's eyes searched for them. They weren’t hard to find.

They had already caught his eye. However, the Heavy Infantry Company Commander was already quite drunk.

The Frontier Defense Unit Commander showed no intention of stepping forward. Their common points were that they were holding drinks and didn't seem to want to fight.

"I was about to offer a drink."

The 1st Company Commander, his face red, said that and turned away, calling him a madman.

Enkrid, noticing the Company Commander's gaze on him, glanced behind him. He wondered if Rem was behind him since he had called someone a madman.

He wasn't.

Then, who?

At least, it wasn't directed at him. Wasn't he the only sane one in the Mad Platoon?

"What should I say, does he meet expectations? Should I nod in agreement that he's not normal?"

The Frontier Defense Unit Commander also left with those words.

He saw the Elf Company Commander and Finn looking at him from one side with Esther below them.

The blue-eyed panther opened her mouth, yawned, and then quickly turned her head. Did she just try to cover her mouth with her front paw?

That paw would do a good job of covering her mouth. The panther was almost like a person.

Enkrid thought as he tried to sheathe his sword.

It felt like stopping mid-pee. It was frustrating, like someone had cut off an important sentence. But what could he do? There was no one to easily match him.

It was such a moment and situation.

"Are you really going to do it?"

"Yeah."

A conversation rang from one side.

At the same time, a sword that prickled the skin sharply, and a phantom-like momentum could be felt.

Enkrid reflexively placed his hand on the hilt. It felt like he needed to draw his sword and fight right away.

He turned his body.

Andrew was there.

Swoosh.

He wasn't just standing there. He drew his sword. In a stance ready to strike and deflect at any moment.

Why did his resolve show in the way he drew his sword? As he drew his sword, Andrew's face was bathed in the dual light of starlight and torchlight.

One side was blue, the other red.

He wasn’t drunk, so his complexion was calm. Holding his posture, Andrew opened his mouth.

"I learned the swordsmanship of the Gardner family, honed it in real battles, and while walking alone, I learned that there is no giving up in learning."

Mack, who had been standing beside him, had already taken a step back. The surrounding soldiers did the same.

They stepped back, creating space. Only Enkrid and Andrew remained in the center. One had his hand on the hilt while the other had already drawn his sword.

Andrew, who had opened his mouth, continued without losing his momentum.

"I request your guidance."

Enkrid looked into Andrew's eyes for a moment. Pupils with no trace of hesitation, containing burning passion instead of admiration.

He really liked sucheyes and moments.

Whoosh.

The burning torch sounded right next to him and a pleasant night breeze blew past them.

The saying that spring has magic—it was a phrase he had heard to the point of boredom.

'That saying.'

It seemed to be true. Enkrid looked up at the sky instead of answering.

The night sky was a feast of starlight rising between the moonlight.

A world of pouring stars.

Enkrid, lowering his head again, spoke.

"Isn't this a good night for a fight?"

He meant it. It felt like a waste to have a banquet on such a night.

Well, if it were another day;

If the starlight hadn't shone so brightly on him, he might have just enjoyed the banquet.

But it was too precious a night for that.

"Then."

Andrew thrust his sword forward, and Enkrid faced him. 

Their first encounter had been as scouts, but their relationship had changed drastically.

And now, once again…

Andrew's sword danced. It was a fast sword that focused on speed and exploiting the opponent's weaknesses.

Enkrid was cautious and focused when facing him. He showed everything he had.

That was right.

When the opponent shows their best with sincerity, you should do the same. Esther thought it was quite fascinating.

'Today is really.'

A night thick with magic. Sensitive people often felt that such nights were different. Then, was Jachi like that too?

Enkrid seemed restless, unable to stay still.

The fight didn’t last long and the outcome was clear.

"Now, anyone betting Krona!"

Kraiss's voice was louder and clearer than ever. He might have been the busiest and most passionate person that night.

Thud.

That was the sound of Andrew falling backward. 

There were fewer than a dozen of sword exchanges. The outcome was decided before even ten strikes were completed.

Enkrid, after knocking Andrew down, reached out his hand and helped him up. Suddenly, a question arose, and he asked.

"Are you planning to leave?"

"Huff, yes."

Andrew exhaled deeply and answered.

"Why?"

"I have things to do."

Then, you should go.

You can't stop someone who's leaving.

"It was fun."

"Yes, Captain."

Andrew smiled. In a way, he seemed like a younger brother, giving off that kind of a vibe.

"I really learned a lot."

Enkrid nodded at Andrew's words.

For some, it was a banquet to get drunk, while for others, it was a banquet to gamble and earn Krona, and some saw it as a banquet to confirm camaraderie.

As for Enkrid, it was a banquet with beautiful starlight, perfect for sparring.

After that,

A few more, swept up by the atmosphere, challenged him. The mood had changed.

That was quite pleasing. And so, the night of eating, drinking, and fighting passed. Enkrid fell asleep and woke up at dawn as usual.

It marked the commencement of morning training.

It did not matter if the banquet night had passed or not, there were things to do.

Enkrid headed to the training ground, where an unexpected guest had arrived.

The party continued until midnight. Duty was handled by other battalions that hadn't participated in the battle.

"Thank you."

Marcus expressed gratitude to his subordinate commander, along with a request.

"Not at all."

The commander readily accepted Marcus's request.

Why wouldn't he?

Who was Marcus?

He wasn't just any battalion commander. When he returned to the capital, he would be a man with a new status.

He was a noble, a member of one of the five core power families.

"Then."

The commander left, and Marcus put down the bottle of wine he was holding. He had done something out of character to boost the morale of his troops.

He preferred tea over wine. He even had a habit of mixing wine with tea when he drank. Moreover, he preferred quiet places over noisy ones.

'All thanks to my upbringing.'

Perhaps it was duethe influence of the tea ceremony he had learned from his family.

It wasn't important. He had already gotten used to it, and there was no need to change a habit.

Marcus leisurely drank his tea.

The noisy sounds echoed all the way to his quarters. Calling for prostitutes was prohibited, but there were quite a few who would head to the red-light district after drinking.

Today was a time to show leniency rather than control. He planned to let most things slide. As time passed, a few familiar commanders poked their heads in.

Some were conscious of power.

Others liked his battlefield self and came to see the man nicknamed ‘The War Maniac’.

Still, most of the company commanders were here.

'No, one is missing.'

The Elf Company Commander wasn’t present, but that wasn’t a concern. The idea that she was seeking power or just wanted to share a drink with him seemed ridiculous.

As he chatted over tea mixed with wine the sun set and the moon rose.

Marcus went to bed early. It was a deep sleep without dreams.

In the quiet night.

Knock knock.

"Battalion Commander."

The knocking and the voice of the guard and night watchman woke Marcus.

"What is it?"

He turned his eyes to the window. It was before dawn, the time when the blue and orange colors mixed beyond the moonlight, signaling the start of the day.

"A guest has arrived."

It was too early for a guest to arrive. Who could be coming at this hour?

A being beyond human etiquette, noble power.

Marcus wasn't flustered. He hadn't expected them to come at this hour, but he could guess who it was.

'I thought they'd come tomorrow at the earliest.'

He had heard that the battlefield had just been wrapped up.

Was it an impatient gift or did they also have expectations?

"I'll be right out."

Marcus went out, loosely wearing a jacket over his shirt. The gift had arrived, and now was the time to deliver it. 

This gift was for one person and was the result of Marcus's repeated contemplation.

The recipient of the gift was none other than Enkrid.

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