WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Abstract

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

A KNIGHT WHO ETERNALLY REGRESSES

Chapter 204: Tap Tap, Then Thwack (1)

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"That bastard?"

While the Naurillia troops cheered, several Martai commanders felt their anger flare.

"That little shit wants to get beaten! Kill him!"

Sure, he fought well, but what kind of composure was that while running away?

It looked deliberate, like open provocation. Like he was mocking them by acting out some heroic epic just to toy with them.

How could they not be furious?

"After them!"

"Don't let them in!"

"Crush them!"

"Hey! Stop! Stop, you bastard!"

The worked-up Martai infantry charged.

It happened right after Enkrid and his group sprinted and slipped through the gate.

Thududududung!

The Naurillia archers on the watchtower moved in a frenzy.

"Aaagh!"

"Arrows! Shields! Raise your shields!"

The charging Martai infantry pulled back, bristling with arrows.

"Shoot! Shoot! Hit them all!"

Vengeance shouted at the top of his lungs. He had been put in charge of part of the archers.

The Martai infantry fell back.

"Waaaah!"

In the first clash, after what felt like an unexpected favorable exchange, the Border Guard regulars on the wall roared in celebration.

"Come on!"

"Run if you want to live!"

"My name is Rian!"

The taunts kept coming.

Someone even shouted his own name.

It was not a decisive victory, but it felt like they had won before the real fight had even begun.

The enemy still had more troops, and the gap was clear, but even so, it did not feel like they would lose.

Most of the soldiers felt the same.

The one who created that mood was obviously Enkrid.

So it was only natural that every eye fixed on him as he walked in, looking perfectly calm.

* * *

News of the mangonels being destroyed, and the exploits of a tiny enemy force, reached the commander of the Unmarked Forces as well.

It had happened right in front of him, so he was now just receiving the details.

His helmet looked roughly hammered into shape. Through the visor slit, the commander twirled his mustache, his eyes glinting coldly.

"So there's an interesting bastard out there."

His tone carried a freezing killing intent.

His nickname was Elite-Slayer Blade.

At first, he had thought this would be a dull, joyless fight. But now he had seen men who made his heart race.

'At least three.'

Men worth killing with his own hands. Methods and means of killing them rose in his mind.

'If it turns into a melee, even better.'

If they hid and focused on defense? Then surrounding and pressuring them would be even more favorable.

It was an endlessly interesting situation.

Mangonels? Raids? Ambush damage? None of that mattered to him.

That was how the mustached man called Elite-Slayer Blade thought, but the commander actually leading the Unmarked Forces saw it a little differently.

"That damned bastard."

The commander from Bantara Viscount's Forces was not stupid. Narrow-minded, yes, but not brainless.

'He stopped in the middle of running and announced his name?'

That took nerve.

He destroyed eight mangonels, made them feel pushed back from the very start, then retreated after declaring who he was.

He focused only on facts.

Why? Why do that?

He soon reached a conclusion. It was the most rational judgment based on experience and theory.

'This bastard.'

A cheap move. A tactic. What did people cornered into defense usually do?

This was one of those things.

Puff yourself up. A dirty trick. A strategy where you exaggerate your own ability and make the enemy think too much.

Small elite groups could change the tide of battle, and this was one tactic built around that.

A warning that there were a few monsters here, so come prepared before you charge.

Was he really that skilled?

Destroying mangonels was impressive, but.

'That's all.'

He had probably overextended himself. No, he definitely had. It must have been an operation carried out with his life on the line.

They probably waited in ambush for days beforehand, burning huge resources for this one strike.

Most likely an operation planted from the moment Martai began its advance.

"I see it as feather-puffing."

After organizing his thoughts, a commander from Bantara Viscount's Forces said it. Martai's supreme commander sank into thought. A moment later, he nodded.

Same conclusion.

"Tell them to bring more siege engines."

The general spoke. They were already making a few more in the city anyway.

Even hastily made engines were better than none.

"And repair what can be repaired."

With repairs, they might salvage one or two.

Anything with a bent main axle or severe breakage was beyond saving.

'That monster bastard.'

The one who smashed siege engines with his fists kept bothering him.

'He must've taken drugs.'

If he had taken the drug those alchemist bastards made for hunting giants and Frog, something like that was possible.

A drug that forced out strength beyond the body's limit for a brief burst.

Of course, the side effects were severe. Use it wrong, and you could die as soon as it wore off.

Narrow-mindedness, prejudice, preconception. Once those things lodged in your head, they clung like demons and did not let go.

That was exactly what happened here.

Even Elite-Slayer Blade gave the enemy high marks, but only up to a level he would enjoy killing.

Everyone had his own delusion.

"We surround them and dry them out."

The commander from Bantara Viscount's Forces clenched his fist as he spoke. They had exaggerated and puffed themselves up, so now they would focus on defense.

And if they still came out?

He was also a cavalry commander.

If harassment drew them out through the gates, cavalry could sweep them away.

Simple, but efficient.

Whether the enemy had inflated themselves or not did not matter.

"Do it."

Martai's general thought the same.

* * *

From atop the wall, Kraiss watched the enemy movements.

'They're angry.'

Murmuring, shouting.

Even after eight siege engines were destroyed and plenty of men had died, they showed anger, not fear. Their fighting spirit and momentum had not dropped.

Even when they saw Enkrid and his group, they spat fury.

How was that possible?

'The battle was short.'

The intense part had been very brief. No matter how impressive the combat power, only a few had actually seen it.

'And that line from the captain at the end.'

Stopping in mid-retreat, stating his name, and telling them to piss off had done the trick.

If that alone was enough to make them back off, they would never have marched this far.

If it was intentional, it was perfectly pitched provocation.

Exactly enough to make the enemy misread things.

'If it were me.'

Kraiss briefly stepped into the enemy commander's shoes.

He repeated if it were me over and over as he watched their movements.

Enemy groups moved below the wall.

Shaken, but not thinking of retreat. Shaken, but no fear in them.

Their ranks were reorganizing. He remembered how they had chased and then pulled back in order at the end. Well-trained regulars.

The enemy's aggression remained high.

'They're underestimating us.'

Confidence born from looking down on them.

Why were they confident? Lots of reasons.

They had superior numbers, better training, and more reinforcements than they needed.

On top of that, even though Battalion Commander Marcus had tried to hide it, stories about Enkrid's ability had still spread.

'Do they see it as bluffing? Like he got scared and puffed his feathers?'

Maybe. It was not certain, but likely.

It would be nice if Gielpin Guild were bigger, big enough to know enemy commanders by name and temperament.

No, that would mean growing into a full intelligence guild.

'That would double the workload.'

Right now was ideal. Making a decent amount of Krona was best.

Kraiss organized his thoughts. The enemy commanders had not grasped their true strength, and their side had an extremely sharp blade.

'I hope they're idiots.'

Not doubt, but confirmation bias. The kind who refuse to change once they decide they're right.

If so, they would not need some grand strategy.

All of this was magic created by one whim from Enkrid.

He stepped out, smashed the mangonels, and came back.

If he had fought longer out there and shown more of his strength, things would be different.

'But did the captain intend all of this?'

That was easy enough. He could just ask.

"What are you doing?"

Vengeance, who was commanding the archers, asked. Kraiss had been muttering to himself nonstop like he was possessed.

Vengeance hated ghosts and evil spirits. They were exactly the kind of thing that ruined sleep.

"I was organizing my thoughts."

"Were you."

Vengeance doubted anything would change just because this guy organized his thoughts.

Meanwhile, inside Kraiss's head, the future of the battlefield was taking shape.

A winning scenario was unwinding thread by thread.

Even so, he did not really feel like saying any of it out loud.

Kraiss figured everyone else would handle their own part.

* * *

"You alright?"

On the way into Border Guard, Rem asked.

Enkrid looked himself over. Was he hurt anywhere?

No.

There had been nothing that could hurt him.

It was a light warm-up.

Of course. Even if it had been an improvised plan, he did it because it looked doable.

Martai thought this had been a carefully prepared, resource-heavy ambush built over days, but the truth was nothing like that.

He just thought it might work and went out half as a warm-up.

"Think you hit your head."

Rem said it with a serious face. No grin.

Ragna looked at Enkrid too, and so did Audin and Finn.

"Do you have a fever?"

Finn asked last. Enkrid felt sad that these people had no romance in their hearts.

He knew exactly why they were reacting like this.

Because he had declared his name at the end.

"I got fired up."

He said it plainly, since there was no point hiding it. Instead of teasing him, Rem unexpectedly pursed his lips and let out a soft "Hoh."

"Wooooah!"

As Enkrid's unit returned, something like cheers burst above their heads.

He had gone out and smashed siege engines. This reaction was only natural.

Amid those cheers.

"Fired up."

Ragna muttered, sinking into thought.

Enkrid really had just acted on impulse.

Ahead of them, Kraiss appeared, having already come down from the gallery.

"You provoked them and planted demons in their heads on purpose... no, I guess not. Ah, no. Then why did you say your name?"

A lot of people asked that after he announced his name once. Enkrid gave the same answer again.

"Impulse. Felt like I could."

"That's a bit... well, yes. I see. That was cool."

As they passed Kraiss, they saw the allied commanders.

"You destroyed all the siege engines?"

Marcus said. Was the smirk on his face just Enkrid's imagination?

Enkrid calmly nodded.

"Good!"

That was all.

"My name is Sinar. If you come closer now, you can have me."

The Elf Company Commander sidled up and murmured it.

That Elven-Style Joke never got old to her, apparently.

"Did you hit your head?"

"No. Take away my health and I'm a corpse. Or are sickly beauties your type?"

Was there any point in continuing this conversation? Enkrid shook his head and stepped away.

"Stay sharp!"

Marcus shouted from the front, rallying their side.

"We will win!"

The timing was perfect, right after Enkrid, the center of all that cheering, had returned.

Shouts rang out. The war had only just begun, but morale was sky-high.

That was the first day of the battlefield.

Right after the next day began.

"You're going out again today, right?"

Kraiss walked up and asked. Enkrid had just finished morning training.

Training, even in this situation. Some of the people watching clicked their tongues.

Those who knew Enkrid just took it as normal.

"Where?"

"Outside."

"Why?"

Kraiss blinked.

"We should needle them again today."

Enkrid stared at him, asking what he meant.

"Did the battalion commander not say anything?"

Kraiss asked back.

Enkrid nodded. Marcus had only told them to rest well and fight well again.

He had also said they should ask anytime if they needed anything.

He said nothing about Enkrid going out on his own and running an improvised ambush.

Partly because the result had been good, but also because he had granted that kind of authority in the first place. Marcus had little to object to.

"Do the opposite of what the enemy expects and intends."

Kraiss raised his voice and declared it clearly.

Enkrid looked at his loud, wide-eyed subordinate.

"It's the foundation of strategy and warfare."

So?

Enkrid asked with his eyes, and Kraiss continued.

The siege engines were destroyed. They would now plan for a long campaign. Repair engines, bring in more, surround Border Guard, and keep the pressure on. That alone favored Martai.

Their supply line in the rear was solid.

Then what should they do today?

To Kraiss, it was obvious, and he was baffled that no one had said it.

"We need to harass their supply line."

The foundation of strategy and warfare.

Starve them.

They could not literally starve them, but they could at least make every meal feel uneasy.

Easy to say, hard to do. Unless the enemy was stupid, they would naturally guard those lines.

But they had Enkrid and his mad company.

"A force outside the main army moves where the enemy doesn't expect."

They were fewer than ten. Which meant they could strike out just like this.

"Nya."

Esther, who had been gone all night, cried out beside them and stared at Enkrid.

After hearing all of Kraiss's explanation, Enkrid nodded.

It did not sound bad. His instincts liked it, so it seemed worth trying.

"Wanna come?"

He asked Esther casually. Esther popped up and moved to his side.

That was how the next operation was decided.

Day one targeted siege engines. Day two would target supply lines.

Naturally, they decided to go at night.

"Kraiss, go report to the higher-ups. Tell them we're going out for a little night stroll."

Just after sunset, Enkrid gathered his gear. Rem, Ragna, Audin, and Finn moved to join him, but.

"Audin, you."

"Yes, brother. I'll stay."

Audin was too big and too noticeable. He left Finn behind too. He told Ragna to sit this one out as well.

Finn could be at risk, and Ragna could get lost. He could not let her earn the nickname battlefield stray.

"Rem, Jaxon."

"Good. Nice. We can do it without that alley cat too, but whatever. We can make him carry luggage at least."

"Better to leave the stupid barbarian behind."

They still bickered, but once they stepped onto a battlefield together, no one felt more dependable.

"We'll be back."

Enkrid headed out like he was just going to the market for bread.

And when he came back, he actually brought bread.

"This was good."

After Enkrid said that, everyone marveled at how good the bread tasted.

It really was excellent bread.

Of course, it came from the enemy supply camp.

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