Chapter 72: Chapter 237 - What is a Knight?
'It's not a duel.'
It's a proposal, an invitation.
'It seems like this happens often these days.'
Didn't Marcus say something like that?
'He told me to become a battalion commander.'
He had refused.
And now, it's a knight.
Enkrid looked at the man in front of him.
He was clearly not a noble from Naurilia.
So what does that matter?
Not at all, it doesn't matter one bit.
Even if he was born in Naurilia, what would those born in a rural village know about the king or nobles?
The best are simply those who keep their stomachs full and don't cause trouble.
Especially since the king is someone they've never seen in their lives, the people grow up thinking that the local lord is the king.
Enkrid grew up in such a village.
So, Enkrid didn't feel particularly loyal to the country.
Thus, the reason he didn't answer right away was not out of loyalty.
He also didn't hesitate to accept help.
Without advice and aid, he would not have come this far.
In that regard, Enkrid was grateful to Rem, Audin, Ragna, and Jaxen, and even to Krais.
But despite all this, upon hearing the proposal, Enkrid honestly felt deflated.
It was as if his racing heart had suddenly turned cold.
He had set out thinking he would get to properly witness the skill of the man in front of him.
That's why he didn't care about the pouring rain.
"You haven't even said where it is, should I follow you?"
"You won't regret it."
His eyes were shining. His gaze was one of genuine belief in his own words.
Even if the man in front of him had no ill intentions, Enkrid knew that it wouldn't necessarily benefit him.
Even a stone thrown carelessly can kill a frog.
Whether the stone is thrown with good intentions or bad, whether it was meant to chase a snake or hit a frog's head, it is still just a stone.
More than that…
'Do I want to join the knight order?'
Enkrid briefly looked at the sky and asked himself.
The rain was pouring down heavily, and it didn't seem like it would stop any time soon.
For an autumn rain, it was pretty intense.
The thought was brief. It wasn't a question that needed much contemplation.
Becoming a knight and joining a knight order are different matters. They always have been.
Just because he admired the red cloak didn't mean he would give up everything to wear it.
It was the same now.
"I Refuse."
"Refused? If it's because I haven't revealed my affiliation, think again. No one can offer a better path than the one I can give. Especially if you want to go higher, you will have to go where people of that caliber gather."
Can one become a knight just by joining a knight order?
No, but the chances are much higher.
Those who reach the level of a knight can be found among mercenaries and thieves as well.
However, the fact remains that knights most often come from knight orders.
At least, that's where the opportunities are.
For a soldier in a borderland territory, it seems like a golden opportunity.
"A place better than the Red Cloak Knight Order. I can assure you."
The rapier knight said again, but Enkrid did not nod.
'A knight order, huh.'
Yes, it might be an opportunity.
But by spending countless hours of training and practice, can one achieve that level just by being in a knight order? Can one reach their desired destination? Can one truly become a knight?
Enkrid reflected on the path he had taken. Reflection was part of him. What had been on that path?
What had brought him here?
He didn't need the best environment given to him without worry.
Furthermore…
'I haven't even seen the end of my subordinates yet.'
He owed what he had now to them, so he couldn't just ignore them.
Just as he was about to speak again, rejecting the offer…
"Do you know what the most dangerous thing to touch among a fairy's belongings is?"
Where had that come from?
Even with his heightened senses, Enkrid couldn't detect the presence before the voice spoke.
Before his rejection, the fairy commander's voice rang out.
Had she washed up? She looked more radiant than before, wearing casual clothes. Her long sleeves billowed as she wore a thin shirt that fluttered in the wind.
Then she spoke.
"Their fiancé."
Was she answering her own question?
What are they both doing over there?
Both Enkrid and the rapier knight turned their heads.
"Right. Fiancé. Do you know what happens if you treat a fairy's fiancé carelessly?"
"Execution, right?"
It was Rem, too, who appeared.
Hadn't he been acting like he wouldn't leave the lodging?
"My lord, my father, I beg of you again, please don't take my small, precious company commander away."
Audin, too, popped out while praying.
When had they been watching?
They were on one side of the training ground.
They were gathered around Audin, who was praying, Ragna, who was quietly shining his eyes, Rem, who was grinning and radiating killing intent, and Jaxen, who was next to him.
At Jaxen's feet was Esther, and the beast-man with golden eyes stood out as well.
"If you're going, I'll go with you."
It was Dunbakel's voice. She was always serious and never spoke in circles. If Enkrid was going anywhere, she was going with him.
The fairy company commander, standing a step away from them, stared at Enkrid.
Finally, it seemed like Finn had come out late, grumbling and asking, "So, are you going?"
That last question was directed at him. Enkrid scratched his head.
Looking back, even though he had done nothing for them, they still stepped forward for him. They fought, taught, and had stayed by his side until now.
'What am I, to them?'
What is a knight?
He believes a knight is one who protects honor.
What is a knight?
He believes a knight is one who holds firm to their beliefs.
What is a knight?
He believes a knight is one who upholds justice.
That is the ideal knight Enkrid believes in, follows, and wants to become.
For him, this was about honor, belief, and justice.
The loyalty to these people was just as strong as the loyalty to his three closest companions.
"If you're not going to fight, leave. I won't join your knight order."
The path to becoming a knight, Enkrid had already decided.
From here, in this moment, he was moving forward to the next.
"Well, I wasn't planning to stop you from going."
Rem muttered an unnecessary comment. Why was he here if he wasn't going to try to stop him?
"Hmm, I'm better."
Ragna suddenly spoke out.
"I'm better than any knight order."
He added that without hesitation. It sounded arrogant and reckless, but Enkrid knew Ragna's genius, so he had no words to counter it.
Audin simply smiled gently.
"It's your choice, brother."
Hadn't he been praying to God just moments ago, asking not to take anything away?
Even though he said that, if Enkrid had decided to leave, they would have accepted it without question.
They were indeed curious people.
In any case, Enkrid had made his decision, and he wasn't looking back.
That's what kind of person he was.
Boom.
Once again, thunder roared, and blue lightning passed over their heads, illuminating the surroundings.
The rapier knight, who had been staring into Enkrid's eyes, nodded.
"You're not going to change your mind, huh?"
It was a concession. The knight brushed his hands off. He traveled across the continent, finding promising individuals and guiding them to his domain.
Normally, he would have revealed his affiliation.
But…
'I figured he'd refuse.'
So he didn't reveal it. Even if he had, it wouldn't have changed anything.
Still, maybe he should say it, just in case?
But it wouldn't matter. Despite his lack of talent compared to others he'd seen, the knight had always respected that unwavering gaze from the beginning.
That's why he had tried to take him.
At the time, he had been watching for something other than his sword skills.
"Be careful of Jevikal. He's not a gentle one."
"I understand."
Enkrid nodded.
"Don't overuse Will. If a child who has just started walking is made to run without resting, his knees and ankles will break. First, make sure his ankles are strong, then he can run."
"Right."
It was good advice, an additional point.
"Then, I'll be leaving now. I don't know if we'll meet again."
It was an unnecessarily honest farewell.
"We'll meet again."
Enkrid responded, as if answering.
The rapier knight turned and left. In the end, there was no duel.
That was what Enkrid felt a little regretful about.
"Are you disappointed that you couldn't fight now?"
Rem pinpointed his feelings. Enkrid, feeling the disappointment, turned to face Rem with renewed determination.
"Since we're already soaked?"
"Damn, fine. But just so you know, I'm not going to let you off easy this time."
"I've never gone easy on you."
"That's obvious. Anyway, that damn tongue of yours."
On a rainy night, Enkrid stood with his sword in hand. Rem, in front of him, pulled out his axe.
The two, with the rain pouring between them, ignored the darkness and the heavy downpour as they charged at each other.
In the end, Enkrid lost again.
"You're really not going easy anymore."
Enkrid said this while getting soaked by the rain.
Fortunately, they had fought with some restraint, so neither of them was bloodied.
'Rem…'
He could still go further. It seemed like he was holding himself back in some way.
Enkrid didn't ask about it, though. It was something he would figure out on his own.
As for him, he was simply determined to uphold his loyalty based on his beliefs, justice, and honor. His bond with these people meant he would keep it, no matter what.
"What will you do if your axe breaks?"
Enkrid's sword was sturdy. He had swung it with purpose, breaking the blade of Rem's axe.
Rem used that as a ruse to win.
"Didn't you say you'd buy me a new one?"
"I don't have any krona."
"I don't have any either."
It was because of the recent generous gifts given to Krais.
Enkrid couldn't even afford an armor to match the krona he had now.
Neither he nor Rem were the type to carefully gather krona for themselves anyway.
Naturally, their gazes drifted toward the lodging.
"If we don't have any krona, we'll just trouble that big-eyed Krais."
Rem made that judgment, and Enkrid didn't stop him.
"Will starts now."
It was Ragna's voice, watching their sparring.
The lazy one was now watching them, getting drenched by the rain.
Esther, who was soaked through, leapt into his arms.
"I know, too."
She knew because she had felt and realized it.
As they stood there, pondering whether to go to the bath or just wash up quickly and sleep…
"Company Commander!"
A soldier's voice called from the entrance of the barracks. It was already late at night. Enkrid could hear the soldier looking for him.
Everyone's attention shifted toward that direction.
Even Rem, who had been about to tease Krais in the lodging, stepped out again.
"No, you're all soaked. At least dry off before coming in."
Between Krais's grumbling, the soldier cried out, "There's been an incident!"
He had come to find Enkrid.
Enkrid wondered what was happening now.
***
The original party of the rapier knight gathered around him as he was leaving.
"You've done something pointless ."
One of them mocked.
"As long as it was fun, that's all that matters."
"Are you sure? But you're just going to leave that guy behind? He was up to something."
Among them was Jevikal, a madman whom one of them pointed out.
The rapier knight stroked his chin.
Even though his beard was gone, the habit had remained.
"He'll figure it out."
It wasn't his problem anyway. Besides, he wasn't the kind to be easily beaten by someone like Jevikal.
'Though he's somewhat clever.'
"Was it really true?"
One of his subordinates asked. The rapier knight didn't hesitate and nodded.
"I don't see the talent, but I believe in him."
It was high praise.
Though it had taken many deaths to get to this point, his subordinates would never know that.
"Oh."
The subordinate was surprised. It wasn't the kind of praise one would often hear from their superior.
"Then, where are we headed now?"
"We're going back. To the Empire."
At those words, a smile appeared on the faces of his subordinates. Finally, they were returning.
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