A Knight Who Eternally Regresses

"If you do that, someone looking after that so-called Saintess will come find you. When that happens, just mention the name Audin Plumray and say you're asking on my behalf."

She was a child who had awakened divine power. Left as she was, she would be hunted by the Church for the rest of her life. She probably wouldn't be caught easily, not with that talent of hers, but better to hide her well than let her live in constant pursuit. Besides, she would need to learn how to control her divine powers, which she awakened just before passing out.

Audin knew the perfect person for the job.

"Who is that?"

He'd said it was his father—but such a person didn't exist. That's why Enkrid asked out of curiosity, and Audin replied.

"My adoptive father, who's rumored to be dead."

The one who raised Audin was a great man who had once ascended to the rank of Pope of the God of War. He claimed to see glimpses of the future despite being blind. But Audin knew the truth about him.

He wasn't actually blind—just nearly so, able to tell what was nearby but not much more. Still, he often went around saying he was blind. That way, people would let their guard down, and he could observe them more closely.

He said his poor eyesight came from reading too many books by candlelight as a child.

He had faked his death by getting stoned as a heretic. But the place where he staged that stoning was in a corner of Legion—the city where he was born and raised. The same city where Audin's own father had been born.

"Have you decided to take up the shield of God?"

It was as if he could hear his father's voice.

The man was surely still alive.

Since faking his death, he had probably continued to live well—sustained by foresight, divine grace, and cunning.

Helping children forsaken by the Church, aiding fugitives condemned as heretics.

He, Audin's adoptive father, surely still loved God and lived by the teachings of the Lord Father.

He was the one called the Forsaken Saint, the Ragged Saint—drifting across the continent.

'I'm a little late, aren't I.'

Audin spoke inwardly to his father. When the day comes that they meet again, he would ask for forgiveness.

But his father wouldn't scold him. He wouldn't even say he was late.

That was the kind of man he was.

He would simply say—

"Come. It's good to see you again."

Anyway, Audin had now broken the shackles with his own hands and stepped out of the prison of delusion.

Pildin's vision glared at him from one side. No—his glare softened into a round-eyed smile.

Pildin smiled.

"You should've done it sooner. Why would I blame you? That's not what this is about. Can I ask just one thing? Please, don't create another child like me. You can do that, can't you?"

Was that really Pildin speaking? Or was it just a figment of his own exhausted, shattered mind? Or maybe it was a divine revelation, sent from above?

It didn't really matter. From now on, he planned to live like Enkrid—his captain—just following where his heart led.

"I swear I will."

Audin responded to the vision. It was the first time he had spoken since the vision began appearing. Even though he was completely drained of strength, the determination behind his words sparked a bit of divine light, which radiated faintly from his body.

Alone in the darkness, he became a light source.

That light—it almost felt as if God were cheering him on. His will turned into divinity, and that divinity began to shine.

Enkrid thought it looked rather nice.

***

At any rate, Enkrid decided to take custody of the girl they called the Saintess.

According to Overdeer, the child wasn't mentioned in any revelation. In other words, bringing her along would be dangerous—she'd be hard to protect.

Audin, without taking time to rest, left immediately with Overdeer.

Enkrid turned and lifted the Saintess in his arms.

"She'll need more rest before she wakes."

Just as Audin said, the girl showed no signs of stirring.

"Then I'll find the Ragged Saint and contact Border Guard."

Bert left as well.

The rest returned to the city. Deutsch Pullman naturally gave up his own room without a word.

Enkrid soaked himself in a hot bath, politely refusing the maid's offer to wash his back.

"I mean, I could... I'd really like to... and I'm good at it..."

As the maid hesitated, Shinar cut in and shoved her aside.

"It's fine. That's my job."

"Ah, Shinar... is it true that you're over four hundred years old? Your age..."

Enkrid asked the fairy, who smiled. It was an unusual smile—this time, curiously, only her mouth smiled. Her eyes showed no amusement at all.

Enkrid remembered someone saying it was nearly a sin to ask a lady her age. When had he heard that?

Ah, yes.

He'd picked it up while escorting a noblewoman to a party.

"You don't even understand fairy jokes, do you?"

"That was a joke?"

"It was obviously a joke."

"Then... how old are you, really?"

If four hundred and forty-eight wasn't a joke, then even accounting for the different lifespans of fairies and humans... he wouldn't be wrong to call her a grandmother.

"An older woman is always alluring, dear."

Shinar turned away instead of answering.

What was interesting was that when she said that line, her voice carried genuine will—like she really believed in it.

To put that much belief into the idea that older women are attractive...

'Impressive talent.'

One way or another, she was certainly a remarkable fairy. Even setting aside age, the way she spoke so confidently had its own charm.

Enkrid thought about that as he let his body sink into the hot water.

He'd also heard the Saintess was washed by several maids at once.

When he sat at the table afterward, he was served hot soup and tender pork that had been grilled quickly but thoroughly.

"It melts in your mouth."

When Enkrid said that, the attendant passed the compliment along to the chef. In this city, Enkrid was as famous as he was back at the Border Guard.

"It's an honor to have you eat my food."

The chef, dressed in pristine white and with a deep violet cloth tied around his waist, stepped out briefly to say that. The violet cloth signified official recognition from the Culinary Guild.

In other words, he was a top-tier chef.

Shinar, sitting nearby, filled herself with greens and fruit. Even her meal was finely crafted—with crushed almonds, cashew nuts, and dressing that brought out the full flavor.

Shinar nodded in approval. It was food good enough to make even her acknowledge it.

Deutsch also assigned the finest guest room for sleeping quarters.

After a good night's rest, they were on their way out.

"Until next time," said Deutsch Pullman—the man of loyalty.

And Enkrid replied,

"If something happens, contact the Border Guard. If I can help, I will."

"I'll do that."

Deutsch didn't turn down Enkrid's offer.

After all, it wasn't every day that a Knight of the Iron Wall said he owed you.

And really, that alone was enough for Deutsch to feel satisfied.

Soon after, they boarded the carriage that Deutsch had prepared for them in ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) the city.

"We're departing now."

The unconscious girl they called the Saintess, along with Shinar and Enkrid, settled into the carriage.

It began rolling forward, moving slowly along the road.

And just as they were passing a field full of blooming golden flowers—Marigolds, the flower of the Holy Mother—the Saintess awoke.

***

Overdeer was the son of a noble with an orchard, and in his climb to his current station, he'd encountered many people.

Among them, there were a few he considered remarkable—regardless of their morality.

But even for someone like Overdeer, Enkrid was a kind of man he'd never experienced before.

People who stay calm in the face of threats or a drawn sword? Sure, he'd seen plenty.

But someone this soaked in madness? That was a first.

So the rumors about the Mad Knights were absolutely true.

"He never retreats."

He felt like he'd seen a wall—an unbreakable, immovable wall.

Had he held back during their fight?

No.

And yet, the man never showed the slightest inclination to retreat.

There was no wavering in that will he'd seen.

No one could witness that and not be shocked.

Death, defeat, despair, hopelessness—

It was like none of those existed in the man's mind.

"He really is something, that brother of yours."

The words slipped out on their own.

It was his honest opinion.

To be even more honest—he had no idea what Enkrid even was.

He understood that the man was moving forward.

That much was clear.

Among knights, once you reached a certain height, there were two kinds: those who stayed put, and those who kept climbing.

It was a truth every knight of real ability recognized.

Some saw knighthood as an endpoint—unable to break the limits of their heart, even if they overcame their lack of talent.

Others, even after becoming knights, still pressed onward.

Enkrid was clearly the latter.

If you were to compare skill alone, the man walking beside him now—Audin—might be the better of the two.

Even in terms of talent, Enkrid wasn't particularly brilliant.

And yet, his impression was the strongest by far.

The blue fire of resolve that had burned in those eyes—it was something Overdeer would never forget.

"If you're talking about our captain, yes. He is."

Audin responded while walking alongside him.

It was a quiet path through the woods.

They had both descended the mountain and were making good time on foot.

Overdeer wasn't exactly in perfect shape, but this kind of walking was nothing to him—and Audin, of course, had no issue at all.

They passed fallen autumn leaves scattered across the ground, walking with steady steps, when Overdeer spoke up again.

"When do you plan to return?"

He asked, not just out of curiosity—he'd been feeling greedy ever since he saw Audin's divine pillar. He wanted to keep the man close, maybe even raise him as a successor. Of course, he'd need to examine his character a bit first.

But Audin nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Yes, I'll return."

It was an obvious answer for him. Because that was simply his will and his intent—there was no need to hesitate.

Overdeer did want to make a move... but no matter what he said, he knew it wouldn't work on Audin.

Should he try to deceive him somehow and keep him close? Not that it would be easy—and honestly, he didn't really want to do that. Normally, he wouldn't care about means or methods.

But...

"I really don't want to stand on the other side."

He didn't want to be Enkrid's enemy.

Usually, people said the best way to handle a madman was not to handle him at all, and Overdeer agreed. But he could feel it—if he continued working for the Church, he would definitely meet that man again.

To stand on the opposite side of someone so steeped in madness?

He hated the thought.

Even though he'd beaten Enkrid black and blue and could probably overpower him again right now, Overdeer sincerely thought that way.

That blazing blue will... If they had met within the arms of the Church, he would've made Enkrid his disciple and passed on everything he knew.

That was a bit of a shame, really.

If he could just tame that madness, control it, and bring it under his command...

"Oh, that'd be incredible."

But that was easier said than done.

"I wonder... would he consider joining the Church?"

The thought floated lazily in his mind. If the opportunity arose, he wouldn't mind trying to bring him in under the Church's roof.

"Through marriage, maybe?"

Both the Church of War and the Church of Plenty encouraged marriage. If they paired him with a priestess of striking beauty...

Shinar's face appeared in his mind. An inhuman beauty—even among fairies, her appearance was exceptional.

Sure, priestesses—especially those called Saintesses—maintained their bodies with rigorous discipline, but even then, it wouldn't be easy.

In the end, no—there was no simple way to pull him in.

"But that doesn't mean there's no way at all."

Overdeer was superior to the matchmakers from the Empire or the envoys from the South. He was cut from a different cloth.

And the answer he arrived at just now proved that.

"Then I'll just take their side."

A simple truth. If you can't pull them to your side, then go to theirs.

That way, you stand together, on the same path.

Of course, that would only happen if Enkrid's will was clear and his direction was just.

But he could tell by looking at the bear-like man walking beside him.

This one would reveal who Enkrid truly was—what he stood for, what he intended.

And only then did Overdeer give a firm nod.

"Good."

"What's good? If you were having dirty thoughts, you better drop them, brother. That kind of nonsense is just pitiful at your age."

"Haha, nothing like that. Let's keep going, shall we?"

Audin wasn't trying to be mean. Overdeer could tell, so he just laughed.

Audin, truth be told, didn't particularly like this paladin. But he respected his conviction.

Even if the man died and couldn't protect his honor in the end, he had shown his determination to reform the Church.

And of course, Audin believed that people like this must exist within the Church.

To him, Overdeer was a symbol of that belief.

Just as Overdeer had seen Enkrid through Audin, Audin, too, saw hope for the Church through Overdeer.

If the man ever turned out to be just another power-hungry leader...

Well, Audin was ready to crush his skull without hesitation.

Luckily, there would be no such bloodshed between them.

After that, the two focused on what they called the "Revelation"—their plan.

And it succeeded, surprisingly easily.

Later, the continent would come to know it by another name:

The Reformation of the Church.