A Knight Who Eternally Regresses

A roar erupted behind Rem, Teresa, and Audin.

It was only natural. News from Green Pearl’s garrison had swept through the Border Guard like a storm.

The hero who had defeated the Black Blades, cultists, and Azpen had returned.

It would have been stranger if there hadn't been cheers.

Enkrid saw something like flower petals falling above him.

Not many—just a scattering of dry petals.

He spotted the ones who had thrown them.

A few children and some women.

One child and one woman in particular looked familiar.

The child's eyes sparkled as they stared at him.

Didn’t they say they wanted to be an herbalist?

Since it was winter, they must have searched for flowers that bloomed despite the cold.

They must have found them, plucked them, dried them carefully.

How much effort must have gone into this?

Above his head, white and pink petals drifted down.

There weren’t many, but the sincerity behind them was unmistakable.

Enkrid smiled.

The child who had dreamed of being an herbalist saw that smile.

Their hero was smiling.

The happiness they felt at that moment was beyond words.

Even if their fingers had cracked and blistered while gathering the petals, it would still be a cherished memory.

Enkrid walked past the child, stepping further into the city.

As he moved, Rem fell in step to his right.

“Had a good time partying?”

“Fair enough.”

Just because the news had spread didn’t mean they knew everything that had happened.

“You’ve taken quite a beating, brother.”

Audin’s voice came from behind.

A beating? More like half-dead.

He’d been skewered with quarrels, bled out, barely patched himself up, and then a knight had come and slashed him for good measure.

If anything, resting and feasting at Green Pearl’s garrison had only brought him this far.

“Got a little bruised.”

He answered with half a joke.

“Oh, my Lord, my Father… Why have you given him such a frail body?”

Enkrid knew Audin’s prayer was meant for him.

Objectively speaking, Enkrid’s physique was as developed as a beastkin’s—his naturally toned muscles rivaled theirs, even without training.

Matching a beastkin in physique meant his body was more than solid.

But to Audin, only the shortcomings stood out.@@novelbin@@