Eternally Regressing Knight-Chapter 559 - The Blind Man

Chapter 559 - The Blind Man

Clink.

Read lat𝙚st chapters at fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓ Only.

Plates were placed one after another on the table.

While one might not be picky with food, no one truly disliked delicious meals—and Enkrid was no exception.

This was a dining hall built separately from the barracks, reserved exclusively for the knights.

It had been created when Krais expanded and renovated the barracks.

While the knights usually ate the same food as the soldiers, serving proper dishes when guests arrived was considered a form of courtesy.

It was a cultural norm, originating from the Empire and neighboring kingdoms, to warmly welcome guests with food.

In the West, if one wished to show respect, they would cook something themselves, even a small dish, or serve food made by their family.

In the central continent, however, the culture was like this.

The old man had requested an invitation, and Enkrid, with a nod, had accepted.

Jaxen had remarked earlier how the man's presence felt faintly strange.

The man could deftly deflect even the faint killing intent that Jaxen had tested on him.

Through this exchange, Enkrid felt a vibe similar to King Anu of the East—meaning the old man likely fought at a knight's level.

Strangely, however, when face-to-face, Enkrid sensed nothing of the sort.

It was baffling.

In fact, he hadn't felt anything remotely like this before.

He was peculiar, this blind old man.

That was all Enkrid had thought of him until now, but today, something felt different.

Luagarne, too, seemed to feel the same, her large eyes rolling about as she observed the man closely.

What would a Frog's discerning gaze see?

Curious, Enkrid glanced at Luagarne.

She opened her mouth.

"Nothing."

So even she couldn't see it.

The discerning eye of the Frogs wasn't infallible.

"Why are you staring at me?" Luagarne puffed her cheeks slightly under Enkrid's gaze.

"You look pretty today."

"You can distinguish Frog appearances?"

He could.

Whether they were beautiful or not was another matter entirely.

Enkrid had always been observant.

Shinar turned at this comment and spoke.

"Do Frogs suit your tastes more than fairies?"

"Let's eat."

If he entertained this topic, Shinar's jokes would dance across the table, something Enkrid didn't particularly welcome.

So, he steered the conversation away.

"Right, the food comes first," the blind old man said.

Seated at the table were Enkrid, Jaxen, Shinar, and Luagarne—no one else.

Ragna was asleep, and Rem had taken his unit into the mountains for training, armed with nothing but an axe and without proper supplies.

It seemed more like he was tormenting his subordinates than training them.

Then again, those who endured such torment emerged far stronger than before.

The twins from the West had also joined as training instructors.

These twins had originally been part of the western merchant group led by Enri.

They had followed the caravan to the Border Guard before deciding to remain here.

The Border Guard and Rockfreed Trading Company had cooperated in escorting western goods, which was only natural.

It wasn't simply due to Enkrid and Enri's relationship.

Krais and Leona had realized the immense value of the trade route stretching from the West to here.

The two had already named the route the Stone Road.

Its primary goods included obsidian, among other valuable rocks.

The plan was to establish secure paths with fortified roads and temporary cities at major junctions.

Of course, this wasn't a task that could be completed in a day or two, or even in a year.

Despite the advances in construction techniques, building roads and cities—at least ten of them—was no easy feat.

It wasn't enough to throw money at the problem and hastily build cities; people needed to live there for it to have meaning.

It was a long-term project, one that required careful dedication.

The fact that they had eagerly embarked on it showed just how enormous the potential benefits were.

Krais and Leona both understood well that expanding trade routes could multiply profits exponentially.

It had already been proven elsewhere.

To the southeast of Naurilia was the continent's largest trade city-state, whose prosperity stemmed from its waterways.

Of course, waterways alone weren't enough.

The shipbuilding technology to create cargo ships and swift vessels, as well as their skill in building cities at key points, had enabled their current success.

At any rate, Ragna was absent, and Rem was in the mountains.

Audin had also taken Teresa somewhere for a ritual, supposedly to awaken her talents.

Enkrid hadn't listened to the details.

Ropord and Fel were around, but both were too busy training.

The two constantly spurred each other on.

Whenever one of them realized something and began to train like a madman, the other would naturally follow suit, adopting Enkrid's insane training methods.

In other words, the two didn't care who came or went.

Esther was in the barracks but had taken her panther form.

She hadn't explained why, but she mentioned something about needing to stay as a panther for the week to accumulate natural power.

And so, only Shinar, Luagarne, Enkrid, and Jaxen were seated here.

The chef who had laid out the plates stepped back.

"Hm."

The white-haired old man tilted his chin and sniffed left and right, as though savoring the aroma of the food.

Soup, dried fish drizzled with a rich sauce, and tender cuts of pork paired with steamed vegetables were the main dishes.

Asparagus, carrots, and leafy greens accompanied beautifully sliced pork that drew everyone's eyes—except the old man's, as he was blind.

Yet, it felt as though he could see with his nose.

"They used pork. The fish... it seems dried," the old man said, correctly identifying the dishes by scent alone.

It was an impressive feat.

"It looks as good as it smells," Enkrid added.

Beside the main dishes was a plate of halved marinated tomatoes.

The dish delighted with its aroma and vibrant color.

The old man tapped his fork on the table, finding the plate naturally, then speared a piece of pork and vegetables to bring to his mouth.

Despite his blindness, his movements were fluid and effortless.

Anyone observing might not even realize he was blind.

How can that be?

Enkrid watched quietly, lost in thought.

From his observations so far, he could tell one thing, the old man's actions were always flawless.

He never seemed flustered and always appeared to know his surroundings.

Even now, no one had guided him to his plate or utensils.

He had located them on his own, without hesitation.

After tasting a bite, the white-haired old man nodded toward the empty air and spoke.

"Do you know what I value most?"

"What is it?"

"The doneness of the vegetables," the old man replied, holding his thumb and forefinger slightly apart.

Then, spreading his hands wide, he continued in a serious tone,

"They're neither too hard nor too soft—perfect.

Excellent.

Even the texture from the knife work is remarkable.

It's food prepared with care for the eater.

What's in this sauce?

The flavor is excellent... is it pork liver?"

His sense of smell wasn't the only thing that was extraordinary.

His palate, too, was as sharp as one of the finest on the continent.

With pinpoint precision, he had deduced the cooking process and ingredients.

"Yes, that's correct," the chef replied, sounding thrilled.

"Good. It's delicious," the old man repeated, focusing again on his meal.

Enkrid found himself naturally following suit.

As the old man had said, the food was truly exceptional.

He couldn't have dissected it as meticulously, but the perfectly cooked pork and the smooth, rich sauce made from mashed potatoes and pork liver were deeply satisfying.

"Were you a chef?" Enkrid asked after filling his stomach.

The old man smiled faintly and said,

"I lost the joy of sight, but gained the joy of taste."

He waved the fork in his hand, and Jaxen, in turn, gripped his knife tightly, ready to throw it at the slightest provocation.

If Enkrid sensed it, then surely the old man did, too.

Yet, the old man merely continued speaking, unfazed.

"Without such pleasures, there's no joy in living, wouldn't you agree?"

It was a natural tilt of the head, so fluid it almost seemed like the gaze was meeting theirs—even though the man couldn't see.

"It's an honor to meet you in person. Just as I've heard, you're quite the handsome man."

"Hmm."

Shinar reacted to the statement.

What do you mean, 'handsome'?

You can't even see.

Shinar tilted his head in confusion.

"Just a joke."

The old man laughed at his own words.

"In my youth, when I could see, my wit alone caused many ladies to suffer lovesickness."

"Did you perhaps learn that joke from the fairies?"

Enkrid asked seriously.

Shinar's eyebrow twitched at the remark; it was an annoying question.

"No, it's a natural gift.

And, actually, I've never been able to see.

I was born blind."

Ha ha ha.

The old man laughed after his words, but no one joined him.

Instead, they all thought the same thing

This old man is truly strange.

"Has he lost his mind?"

Luagarne questioned the old man's mental state, while Jaxen remained silent as always.

The old man took out a clean but worn handkerchief and wiped his mouth.

"Well, I've enjoyed the meal, so I suppose I should pay for it."

It was a matter-of-fact statement.

After all, it's not like he would just eat and chat with anyone for no reason.

"Let's spar."

Enkrid responded as though he'd been waiting for this.

He had eaten well, had a conversation, but the old man's affiliation?

Position?

Reasons for being here?

None of that mattered.

He wasn't curious yet.

Everyone sees the world differently.

It was simply a difference in perspective.

This was Enkrid's second time seeing the old man.

The first time, he hadn't seen what he now saw.

This old man can fight.

And fight very well.

It was a gut feeling.

Why was it so hard to gauge the old man's skills?

Was this why Jaxen found him odd?

Why Luagarne couldn't assess his abilities either?

What the blind old man had shown thus far was, to Enkrid, brimming with potential.

Who cares about affiliations or motives?

The burning flame ignited in his chest and spread through his body.

His will rose instinctively as he expressed his intent.

He wanted a fight.

He didn't know what the old man possessed, and that unknown thrilled him.

After all, there had to be a reason why they had been brought here and well-fed.

"Do you enjoy beating up blind old men?"

The old man asked.

"You don't look like you'll take a beating quietly, will you?"

Enkrid countered immediately, and the milky-white eyes curved softly.

"I can't win against you in a war of words. Even when I joke, you don't laugh."

"That's because I've already been trained by someone else."

"Well, that someone isn't me, isn't that right, fiancée?"

Shinar interjected suddenly.

Enkrid knew that in difficult situations, staying silent was the best option, so he pushed his chair back.

Scrrrape.

He pushed the chair back with his thigh, stood, and said, "Let's go."

Without waiting for a response, Enkrid headed outside.

Shinar watched him go and muttered under her breath.

"We'll have to discuss this later—fiancée."

It was a quiet voice, but her sharp-eared fiancée would've heard it all.

The fairy contemplated for a moment before standing as well.

She wasn't as eager as Enkrid, but curiosity did spark her interest.

That old man wasn't from the Forest Tribe, yet he demonstrated assimilation better than her kin.

Assimilation was a technique that allowed one to blend completely with the environment—melding into the forest, water, or surroundings by aligning their energy with it.

Many trained knights who wielded Will could perform this technique, but its origins lay with the Fairy Tribe.

In that sense, the old man was peculiar.

Even to Shinar's senses, his presence was faint, as if he had melted into the environment.

"Well, it's only natural to pay for what you eat. That's the way of the world."

The old man said as he rose, tapping the floor with his cane before heading outside.

-------------------------------------------------------

If you enjoy the series and want to get more Chapters early, head over to my kofi

www.ko-fi.com/samowek

With the squire membership for 10$ you will recive the next 50 Chapters, with 30 new ones the following month.

I've also introduced a new item in the shop that costs 50 and will get you everything I've translated to date, up to Chapter 710