WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: Ryuu

Editor: Abstract

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

A KNIGHT WHO ETERNALLY REGRESSES

Chapter 80: Leona Rockfreed

“Were you trying to cover up a crime in Azpen's name?”

Leona asked again.

“Stop right there. Beyond this point is our jurisdiction,” Torres interrupted her.

“Is that so? Anyway, it seems the misunderstanding has been cleared up.”

Leona smiled brightly. It was the kind of smile that said, 'I’m innocent, naive, and know nothing at all.' Of course, she was well aware and far from naive.

Instead of answering, Torres pulled the man by his shoulder.

“Let’s go.”

He didn’t even say goodbye to Enkrid. He just shoved the man with the ruined face and glared.

“P-P-Please, spare me.”

“Shut up. You’re a damned enemy spy.”

“I’ll tell you everything I know. I’m not a spy. There’s been a misunderstanding.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll cut out your tongue last.”

Hearing Torres's words, the man’s legs gave out, but he didn’t have the freedom to fall. The two men beside him hooked their arms under his armpits, lifting him up.

Torres seemed irritated, as if things hadn’t gone as he had anticipated.

‘There was a battle of wits here.’

Enkrid had been too absorbed in the swordplay to notice the situation until now. Why didn’t Leona pin the blame on Polid? If it were revealed that Polid had ordered the attack, what would happen?

‘Would it only be Polid’s responsibility, or would Rockfreed Trading Company be held accountable?’

If the company were held responsible, would it benefit Leona to acknowledge that, or deny it? If it was certain that the company would be hers, it would be advantageous to deny it. That would mean there was no need to remove a fool like Polid just because of this.

Enkrid thought Leona would sacrifice to ensure her succession to the trading company and remove Polid.

If that happened, the Border Guard could demand compensation on the grounds that a member of the Rockfreed Trading Company had ordered the assassination.

After all, the city’s honor had been tarnished due to a plot by the company. The city’s honor was also the military’s honor, and they could demand a hefty payment.

‘Did she make this decision for the sake of the company?’

Did she care that much for her company?

“Why? Have you suddenly fallen for my beauty?” Leona asked.

Enkrid found himself staring at her face.

What was this woman?

Her face was even brighter than when she slapped Polid. A sense of ease radiated from her. Despite showing this composure, there was no gap in her posture. It was the face of a merchant who had finished her calculations.

She had the attitude that nothing in the company needed to be sacrificed. There had to be something she relied on. It wasn’t the Border Guard’s standing army. She was truly a mysterious woman.

“No.”

Enkrid replied as necessary.

Regardless of her thoughts, attitude, or intentions, Enkrid only needed to complete his mission.

“That’s a shame.”

Leona smiled. Did he once think that such beauty didn’t suit a spider? He needed to reconsider that thought.

Now, it seemed to fit perfectly.

Her current smile, stripped of the mask of innocence, was like a spider savoring its prey.

“Thank you for everything.”

As the mission was coming to an end. Leona, having packed her things at the inn, spoke.

Beside her, Polid grinned. Had he won the verbal battle over succession with Leona, or had he hoped for the success of the assassination he planned?

Yet he showed a grin. That grin seemed to declare that he was now the owner of the trading company.

“Hey, soldier, you’ll be clinging to my coattails later.”

‘He started by picking a fight with Jaxon.’

At some point, he turned his aim towards Enkrid. He constantly picked fights with Enkrid.

‘Should I have ignored him?’

Was this a problem caused by being too kind? That thought crossed his mind. Polid’s face looked like the epitome of arrogance.

The corners of his mouth turned up in a smile, eyes full of certainty, even his nostrils flaring with inner excitement.

“I could cut off your feet instead of clinging to your coattails.”

Enkrid muttered to himself, not wanting to give the man any more ammunition. Only Jaxon, the company commander, and Leona, who were close by, heard it.

“Better to cut off his head. It’s faster.”

Jaxon gave some advice.

“You’re popular with men too, soldier.”

The company commander teased him.

“I’m sorry.”

Leona apologized.

“What did you say?”

Polid asked, not hearing Enkrid’s mutter. Enkrid ignored it completely. He shouldn’t have pretended to be nice in the first place.

Polid threw a brief tantrum at being ignored but soon calmed down. The plain-looking man behind him tugged on his sleeve. This calmed his excitement quickly. Even after that, Polid showed his confidence by glaring at him again.

‘It’s obvious he’s prepared something.’

It was clear enough what he had prepared. There would be no more trouble within the Border Guard.

‘He’ll attack as soon as we leave.’

Looking at Leona’s group gathered in front of the inn, he wondered if they could handle the situation. Lost in thought for a moment, Leona came up beside him.

“It feels like I’m being escorted.”

It wasn’t a feeling but a part of the escort mission that had to be carried out. Polid was foolish enough to show his true colors, but Leona was the opposite.

What was she relying on?

He suddenly became curious. There was no trace of worry in Leona’s demeanor.

“I will not forget the grace of saving my life. I will repay it someday, when the opportunity arises.”

A female escort who barely escaped with her life from the assassin on the second floor approached and said.

“Yes.”

Enkrid didn’t think much of it. What were the chances of meeting again on this vast continent? However, the people watching them thought differently.

The two squads guarding the inn were still there. While they were at it, they also took part in the escort mission. It was their responsibility for the incident within the Border Guard.

“He who flirts with every woman who passes.”

“He who throws the poison of charm at every woman he brushes past.”

“You are called the Devilish Squad Leader.”

But instead of working, they sat around composing poetry.

“...Why are they doing that?”

The female escort’s face turned red.

“They all want to become minstrels after retiring, so they’re practicing. Just leave them be.”

Enkrid replied off the top of his head. The company commander sidled up to Leona and whispered. His keen hearing picked up her words.

“It would be wise to be careful. That soldier has a tendency to lay down every woman he sets eyes on.”

What did she mean by laying down? Enkrid hadn’t even caught a whiff of a woman’s scent lately. Too many hectic events had been overwhelming him.

“Aren’t you going? It seems like it’s time for you to get going.”

Enkrid politely saw off the soldiers of the two squads. They must have been planning to retire and become minstrels, as they composed a song called “The Devilish Squad Leader” in no time.

They were madmen.

This incident left Torres and the Frontier Slaughterers with headaches, but this group of soldiers remained carefree. It was understandable. They were just doing what they were told.

Thinking of the Frontier Slaughterers again, Enkrid was reminded of Leona’s impressive resourcefulness.

‘Does this mean she owes a debt to the Border Guard?’

She overturned the situation with just a few words. Whether the Border Guard would acknowledge it remained unknown. She had spun the attack into a local public safety issue.

If the attack was due to the succession issue within the trading company, it would be Rockfreed Trading Company’s responsibility.

If it was due to the lure of Krona, it became a matter of city security.

‘That’s quite something.’

Everyone knew it was Polid’s doing, but the assassination target denied it. Was this the nature of a born merchant? In hindsight, it was clear. If it hadn’t been, it would have been overlooked.

After Torres left, Kraiss, who remained at the inn, filled in the details.

“In the end, the Border Guard will deny it, but the situation is in their favor. They’re saying they’re Azpen’s spy unit, right?”

When asked why it was unfavorable, Kraiss had explained.

“If you hold someone responsible for the problem caused by Azpen’s spies, who benefits? Azpen’s spies targeted the company’s Krona and tried to cause disorder in the city. Which story would you weigh more heavily?”

Kraiss’s words made sense.

From the moment Azpen’s name came up, the situation favored the company. It was thanks to the spy who died proclaiming the glory of his homeland. Hearing this, Enkrid realized that Kraiss’s mind worked as sharply as Leona’s.

He had known Kraiss was clever, but.

‘He seems comparable to a successor of a large trading company.’

It was just a fleeting thought. What good was intelligence? Kraiss dreamed of running a salon to swindle noblewomen. Thinking of this and that as he walked, he eventually reached the gate.

The soldier standing guard saw Enkrid and his group approaching and turned his body.

“You’re Enkrid, right?”

The swordsman from Polid’s group approached while they were watching.

“I didn’t catch your name.”

“My apologies.

I can’t reveal my name here.”

“......”

Why was he suddenly approaching him? As Enkrid stared, the swordsman spoke to someone behind him.

“I just want to exchange a few words. Put away your killing intent.”

Jaxon had crept up close to Enkrid’s right side.

“You’re quite sensitive. Killing intent, really?”

Jaxon replied. The same Jaxon who had ignored Polid was quick to answer here.

“Don’t worry. It’s easy to behead someone without any killing intent.”

The company commander had also appeared, standing behind Polid’s swordsman. The swordsman glanced at them both before looking away, fixing his gaze on Enkrid.

“Put down your sword.”

He said abruptly.

“There are things that can’t be achieved with passion alone.”

It was advice Enkrid hadn’t heard in a long time. Give it up. You have no talent. You’re wasting your time. You’re walking a path with no road.

Do you have to be hit to know it hurts? Don’t you already know that getting cut by a sword is painful?

As much as you spend time on training, you should be able to realize that your talent is insignificant. You realize, don’t you? Yes, you know.

He’d heard it countless times.

Even if words couldn’t throw him into the depths of despair and despondency, Enkrid knew. He couldn’t become a knight.

Yes, there was a time when he thought so. Even so, he wielded his sword. He didn’t give up. He just lived holding on to the torn and shattered pieces of his dream.

He couldn’t even see the wall blocking his path. Everything around him was darkness. Even in such times, he lived wielding his sword until his hands bled.

Would anything change now that he heard this?

Heart of the Beast, Blade Sense, Focus Point, and Isolation Technique. Basic swordsmanship including Heavy Sword Style. Adaptations of Vallen’s mercenary sword techniques.

Every repetition, he continued training and practice, growing his skills. Though a tortoise’s pace may appear slow to some, Enkrid’s steps were more meaningful than ever before.

So, unknowingly, he smiled.

“You’re smiling.”

The swordsman murmured when he saw it.

“That’s an unnecessary concern.”

Jaxon chimed in. The company commander silently watched Enkrid. The swordsman wanted a response, and Enkrid gave him the answer he wanted.

“I might beat you next time.”

Predicting a person’s future was arrogant. Enkrid spoke.

“I see.”

The swordsman didn’t impose his thoughts on a closed-minded opponent and turned away. A small commotion occurred before the castle gate.

“You really did a great job.”

When they reached the front of the castle wall, Leona turned around and spoke to Enkrid and the others.

As if about to leave. Enkrid noticed the guard looking back and forth between the group and the outside.

He looked troubled. Wondering why, Enkrid saw an armed group outside the city wall. Seeing them, he understood.

If the other side brought force, what should this side present? It was the card Leona relied on. They were outside the city wall.

“Matthias, the Rockfreed Trading Company escort, has arrived.”

He was the only one who had entered the city. He wore a neat mustache. His steps were light, and dust had gathered on his coat’s shoulders. Without an armed force, a trading company could not establish its name on the continent.

If they didn’t want to be devoured by surrounding bandits, brigands, beasts, and monsters, leaving only bones, an armed force was necessary.

The man who stepped forward was responsible for the Rockfreed Trading Company’s military force. He approached them, and his mere presence drew everyone’s attention.

Enkrid felt something strange. Matthias filled his vision. Nothing else was visible. His aura was extraordinary. He drew everyone’s gaze with sheer presence.

“You have interesting companions.”

He said, then knelt on one knee toward Leona.

“The escort has arrived, Master.”

He addressed Leona. Only then did Enkrid look beyond him. The Rockfreed Trading Company escort. Over thirty armed soldiers were stationed outside the gate.

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