Chapter 382: His Heart Raced Unstoppably
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 382: His Heart Raced Unstoppably
With a goal finally in sight, all that remained was to devote himself to it—again and again.
Encrid did exactly that.
He had already seen the path; it was within his reach. All he had to do was elevate everything he possessed to the next level. Following a set path was his greatest strength—his specialty.
What he needed now was precision, detail, and delicacy.
‘I’ve already learned it.’
Now, he simply had to master it through repetition. To Encrid, nothing was easier. All he required was time—the repetition of "today." And so, Encrid lived through this day with absolute devotion, over and over again.
"Do you truly believe that will work?" the Ferryman asked.
He urged Encrid to master despair, to learn the taste of frustration. He insisted that Encrid should shudder in agony, claiming it was only natural. To that end, he planted seeds of doubt in Encrid’s mind.
‘What if I’m wrong?’
‘What if this is the wrong path?’
It didn't matter. If another wall appeared after he scaled this one, he would simply climb that one, too. For now, he would only walk the path forged by his own Will. The wall was a condition of the world, but he was the one who set the terms of the challenge.
He would subdue her, not kill her.
If anything stood in his way, he would overcome that as well.
It was a resolve born of a simple, ordinary mindset. Because the Ferryman could feel this within the mindscape, he would have clicked his tongue in awe if he physically possessed one. Since he lacked a tongue, he could only mutter to the void.
"That crazy bastard is at it again."
The Ferryman knew that the conditions of the wall had changed. The catalyst for that change was the sheer will of the one subjected to the curse. It was absurd, yet not entirely impossible or unprecedented. It was something he had experienced himself.
It was simply a rare occurrence because most people, once they realized the conditions of the wall, chose the easiest path possible.
But Encrid?
‘He chose the hard way.’
And then he chose an even harsher version of it. Simply enduring and subduing the orange-haired female knight was already a grueling path. Yet, Encrid aimed to achieve it in a fraction of the time. He instinctively realized that merely enduring wouldn't allow him to move past this "today."
"He’s crazy, but viciously so," the Ferryman muttered once more.
There was no answer. As always, he merely drifted alone upon the river.
*
Encrid did not believe it was impossible to overcome the wall before him. Thanks to sparring with her countless times, Aisia’s habits had become second nature to him.
A life-or-death battle would have been easier, but he had chosen this path precisely because he wanted to avoid that outcome. They say if you chase two rabbits, you will lose both—but if you have the skill to catch both, all the better.
‘Do I really have to settle for one?’
He had a repeating "today." In that case, he just had to set the conditions to catch both rabbits.
‘Overcome the wall without killing Aisia.’
Subdue her quickly and move forward. Find the place where he belonged. That place was in front of Krang. Encrid decided to make that his standard.
What came after? He didn't give a damn. If that pulse-severing bastard blocked his path as a wall again, he would simply climb over him, too. It wasn't as if he had never faced consecutive walls before.
However, he had a strange premonition. That man appeared conditionally. That alone suggested he wasn't a wall blocking Encrid’s path. The fact that Aisia had confronted him first lent weight to that theory. If he were Encrid’s wall, he would have stood directly before him.
"Rem."
A new "today" arrived. A today where he had decided to move forward. As soon as Encrid woke up, he called for Rem.
"...The sun isn't even up yet," Rem replied, his eyes still closed.
"Get out here, you barbarian bastard. I’m going to knock the filth out of your head."
His tone was too flat to be a proper provocation, but Rem reacted nonetheless. The barbarian opened his eyes. His gray gaze, piercing through the blue light of dawn, stared straight at Encrid.
"Fine. Let’s set up a tombstone today."
This was a signal—a proposal from Encrid to fight with half their lives on the line. Rem accepted.
"What do you want on your epitaph?" Rem asked as he stood and gripped his axe.
"A pioneer who split open a barbarian’s skull to study it."
"Do you really want to die today?" Rem was half-serious.
"Underestimate me, and you’ll be the one who dies," Encrid warned.
Rem did not know the results of the accumulated days. Therefore, he would let his guard down. The same would go for Aisia.
Which meant...
‘If you can’t stop me, Aisia won’t be able to either.’
Immediately after they stepped outside and took their stances, Andrew walked out rubbing his eyes and gasped in surprise.
Clang!
The ringing of steel swept away the morning mist. Encrid, kicking off the ground to swing his longsword with Moment’s Will, and Rem, who blocked it, froze like a painting. With sword and axe locked, their breath rose in the morning chill like blue smoke. The presence of both men was twice as menacing as usual.
"Damn, did you have a good dream?" Rem asked, their weapons still grinding against each other.
"I tend to have them every day."
Dreaming of death wasn't pleasant. But since none of his "todays" had been spent in vain, every single one was valuable. Seeing Encrid show such unprecedented intensity, Rem responded in kind.
"Fine. Let’s die, then."
Encrid had already been doing just that. He had learned by half-dying. He had fought Aisia a thousand times over.
Encrid walked steadily. He moved forward. He had already accumulated dozens more "todays."
The sparring with Rem stopped at a reasonable point. Encrid had utilized everything he could.
"Sometimes, you’re so amazing it’s downright bizarre," Rem finally said. His eyes held astonishment, though he kept his voice calm.
It was no different for Ragna and Sachsen. Even Dunchabel’s eyes widened in a similar fashion. The same went for Esther right before her departure.
Encrid brushed back his hair, shaking off the sweat. His preparations were complete.
Reaching Aisia while repeating the exact same day was something he could now do with his eyes closed. Indeed, with his eyes closed, he beat down the arrogant vanguard instructor and the others he encountered.
"What the fuck! Why are you fighting with your eyes closed?!"
Ignoring the scream uttered right before the man died, Encrid pierced his throat, helped the maid up, told her to hide, and pressed onward. He practically ran toward Aisia.
"What is behind you?" he asked upon facing her.
"What?"
"I’m asking who is behind you."
Aisia frowned at the question. "Do you know something?"
"I’m asking because I don’t."
"...Then why are you so confident?"
"It’s a habit."
"Are you insane?"
"I hear that often."
"Either way, I cannot let you pass. It is a pointless death."
"I doubt it."
"Prove it."
It was a familiar conversation. As Aisia raised her sword and aimed, he closed his eyes and deflected it.
Clang!
"...What is this?"
"There’s no need to do it again, but you must be doubting yourself. Try again."
Aisia furrowed her brow and did as he said. She aimed her sword. Clang!
He deflected it again. Encrid swung his sword as if his eyes were wide open. Then, he unfocused his gaze and ignored her Sword Tip Aiming.
"What on earth did you do?" Aisia asked, shock coloring her voice.
"Just bring it."
Words were unnecessary; he simply acted. What was Aisia’s strength? What were her characteristics? At first glance, they weren't easily visible. She concealed herself well, fitting for a master of the Illusion Sword.
Starting with Sword Tip Aiming, she specialized in deflections and rapid swordplay. Her footwork was incredibly swift, and she used Intimidation with precision to disrupt his movements.
‘Then what is her weakness?’
She lacked raw power and physical weight. Therefore, the strategy was simple: corner her with the Orthodox Sword and crush her with the Heavy Sword.
Clang! Clang!
Instead of Silver, he held the Gladius in one hand and delivered short, snappy strikes. Aisia blocked them repeatedly. Encrid calmly cornered her. It was a battle of relentlessly exploiting her weakness—a strategy honed through the repetition of "today."
"You!"
In the middle of the clash, Aisia let out a grunt of exertion and shifted her feet. Swapping her stance, she leaped sideways in an instant. With a sharp kick off the ground, she ran along the wall and slashed her sword.
It was a feat possible only because of her swift feet and light frame. It was also the result of Encrid cornering her. She kicked off the wall, leaping forward parallel to the ground.
He saw it every time, but her ability to adapt to variables was outstanding—likely a side effect of the diverse experience she had gained wielding the Illusion Sword. Thanks to that, she could respond to almost any variable. Her range of prediction was incredibly vast.
Even now, as she was blocked by the Orthodox Sword and pressured by the Heavy Sword, she remained within her predicted range. By running along the wall, she transformed the space of the duel into three dimensions. She escaped the domain of the Orthodox Sword and occupied a space momentarily freed from the pressure of the Heavy Sword.
‘Then what if I go outside that predicted range?’
Through facing her countless times, Encrid had learned the exact limits of Aisia’s predictions. It was knowledge that could only be gained by repeating "today."
Therefore...
‘I will surpass it.’
The incredible feat she displayed was exactly what he had intended. Encrid brought his Gladius to the trajectory of her sword and simply let go of the hilt.
Ting!
The Gladius clattered to the floor. In that split second, he lunged beneath Aisia’s body as she leaned sideways along the wall. He kicked off the ground, low and fast.
Thud!
The carpet beneath his feet tore with an explosive pop. Since Aisia didn't have the leeway to pull back her sword, she drew a dagger hidden in her breast. She drew the span-long blade with her left hand and stabbed.
It was a speed comparable to Moment’s Will, but it was a move he already knew. Encrid staked everything on this moment. If he succeeded, he would subdue her instantly; if he failed, it would be another repetition. This was his seventh time attempting this exact sequence.
Single-Point Focus made the trajectory of Aisia’s dagger appear in slow motion. Feeling as if he were wading through thick mud, Encrid crossed his hands and thrust them forward. It was the weapon-disarming technique of Valaf-style Martial Arts.
He pressed down on Aisia’s wrist between his crossed arms. The trajectory of the dagger skewed. Encrid intentionally let the tip of the blade point toward his stomach. It pierced through the outer leather with a soft pop but was stopped by the Bandage Armor worn underneath.
Meanwhile, he twisted his lowered hands to the side.
Crack!
"Ugh!" A groan escaped Aisia’s lips as her wrist twisted.
Holding her wrist with his left hand, he spread his right hand wide and thrust it forward, striking her windpipe with the webbing between his thumb and index finger. By the time Aisia’s dagger had touched his abdomen, Encrid’s strike had already landed.
Smack!
The sound of the impact rang out.
"Ack!" Aisia let out a second groan—this one from the sheer shock of the blow.
Encrid hooked his foot behind Aisia’s heel, grabbed her hair, and slammed her head into a shield ornament on the wall.
Crash!
Blood sprayed from her nose. It was bold and brutal. But he wasn't done. Throwing her body to the floor, he put his entire weight into a driving elbow strike to her torso.
Thud!
Crack.
He had broken several of her ribs; her internal organs were likely damaged as well.
"Whew."
Only then did Encrid exhale, rolling to the side as he stood up. Aisia had already passed out, her eyes rolled back. Her face was a mess. Still, with Divine Power, she would make a full recovery. He had no time for mercy.
Encrid caught his breath. If he had let his guard down even slightly, she would have slipped through his fingers. This wasn't excessive; it was the exact amount of force required.
He left Aisia shattered like a broken vase.
The sun had not yet set. Encrid picked up his fallen sword and walked forward. He headed straight inside, soon running toward the source of a commotion. As he ran, his heart raced along with his steps.
Even though the Beast’s Heart granted him boldness and tranquility, his heart raced unstoppably in anticipation of what lay ahead.
He ran toward the noise. In front of a half-broken door, he saw several men trying to force their way inside. One of them turned to face him.
"Where do you think you are?"
A sharp-eyed bastard blocked his path. His skill level? Unknown. However, the emblem on his armor was familiar. It was the sword and the Sun Beast, the symbols of the Kingdom.
In other words, it was the symbol of the Red Cloak Knights.
Even so, Encrid did not stop. Instead, he adjusted his grip on his sword.
"Crazy bastard!"
His opponent thrust his sword forward. Encrid swung his own blade directly into the incoming steel.