Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 408

After the Emperor declared direct rule, the Central Army’s appearance became a hot topic around the world.

People could easily guess the size of the three legions already near Kyle Castle just by looking at the Aserian or nearby security forces.

But the main Imperial Central Army was huge. It had nine legions, gathered from every city. That was three times bigger than the armies already at Kyle Castle. Almost 450,000 soldiers!

The Eastern 8th Legion and the Western 7th Legion were the Emperor’s true power. The names of these legions made people’s skin crawl and their hearts beat faster. Just hearing them made people feel afraid. It was clear the Imperial Family’s strength was not scattered.

Elite members of the Central Army were secretly living in every city and town, hiding who they really were.

Rumors flew through the streets like birds, whispered in markets, shouted in taverns, and carried on every breeze. The size of the army was shocking.

What shocked everyone even more was how fast the Empire moved. In just two weeks, they had gathered this huge army and sent it out! Think about it – soldiers from every corner of the Empire, all ready to fight in just two weeks. This meant Aserian, the capital, must always be ready to feed, arm, and move half a million soldiers at any time.

Just the *size* of the Imperial Army, shown for all to see, sent fear rippling across the world. People gasped when they heard the numbers. Kings in faraway lands trembled on their thrones.

But even with all this, people had some doubts.

What about the superhumans?

The Western nations seemed dangerous, but it was strange that the Empire hadn’t chosen any Western Legion Commanders who were superhumans.

Many superhumans had died in the first battle at McLaine. The Empire hadn’t lost because they lacked soldiers. So, people wondered why so few superhumans were sent this time.

The truth was, there were only two superhumans left in the Imperial Guard.

Originally, the Guard had ten superhumans. Ivan Rodriguez replaced Max Ileia, the Western 7th Legion Commander. Jamie Gillan filled the spot left by Grit Einzharin, the Spirit Spear. And six superhumans, including Sword Soul, fought in the war against McLaine.

But in that battle, where 21 superhumans fought, 10 died in the first attack. Sword Soul was one of them.

In the Southern Conquest Army, six out of seven superhumans died. If the remaining soldiers hadn’t been twice the size of McLaine’s army, they would have been defeated quickly.

But only two more superhumans were sent now?

Everyone could see that the superhuman forces were too weak compared to the huge army.

So, most people thought the war would go like this:

The Empire will win, but it will be badly hurt.

That’s how well McLaine fought in the first battle.

Also, the people of McLaine were very excited by their first victory and even thought they might win.

“Now our Emperor is the greatest swordsman on the continent!”

“Of course! Even if the Empire’s superhumans attack him, they won’t win. What good is a large army!”

“Has anyone ever been the strongest on the continent before they were even thirty years old?”

“Of course not.”

“Then our Emperor is truly a hero sent by the gods!”

People praised Logan everywhere, not just in the capital, Grand, but also in the countryside.

Because of McLaine’s special Self-Governing Corps, almost every family was involved in the war. After seeing the first battle, they couldn’t help but feel hopeful.

Also, the new superhumans who appeared in this war gave them even more hope.

First, the most famous superhuman, ‘The Iron-Blooded Warrior Who Stopped the Gale Magician,’ was the Queen.

Even before that, she was known for starting the McLaine Women’s Army and being the first female knight. But because the kingdom was old-fashioned, people often said Aileen’s skills were overrated just because she was a woman.

“Who said she’d be weak because she’s a woman?”

“I heard there are hardly any female Aura users in the Empire, but our Queen is amazing…”

“I know, right? His Majesty is definitely a hero sent by the gods. Even his partner is a superhuman.”

The people, especially the women, would gather and talk about Aileen. Aileen Floyd’s name, which was only famous among nobles and knights, became well-known to everyone.

Victoria also became famous like Aileen. She was an 18-year-old magician. She fought with Clayton, so she didn’t get as much attention. But many people saw them push back three of the Empire’s magicians.

Some people didn’t think Victoria was that great because Clayton, the ‘Golem Master,’ was already famous. But the fact that she was an ‘underage superhuman’ surprised everyone in McLaine and the rest of the continent.

Also, being the youngest magician in history made people forget any doubts. Because of this, exaggerated rumors spread.

“Actually, she hadn’t come forward all this time out of consideration for her teacher.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. She’s been better at handling golems than her teacher for a long time. Everyone at Golem Tower knew it!”

“Wow, then should she be called the Golem Master instead?”

“Hey, even so…”

“Should we call her the Golem Empress since her teacher is the Golem Master?”

“Hey, she just got her name out there. Princess is more likely.”

Golem Princess.

That’s how Victoria got the nickname that she would later hate.

In addition, there was ‘Red Reaper’ Burdel, the first Aura user archer in history.

There was ‘Knight of the Sunset’ Ronian McLaine, the royal younger brother who used orange Aura.

And there was Viktor, the ‘Immortal Knight,’ who was known only as the King’s bodyguard and was said to never die.

The appearance of five young talents made people believe even more that King Logan McLaine was a hero sent by God.

Moreover, in the meantime…

“I heard our King raises a sacred beast?”

“Hey, that’s too much.”

“It’s true! Many people saw it at the southern fortress!”

Rumors about Tir, which had been kept secret because of its magic, spread and made the rumors even bigger.

Logan McLaine is a hero sent by the Nine Gods.

The Kingdom of McLaine is a country cared for by God.

In the end, these rumors spread endlessly among the people of McLaine.

With such hope in the kingdom, those on the front lines were having serious meetings.

“The number of superhumans isn’t the problem. The problem is that they know our abilities,” Damian said.

Most people agreed with Damian.

“They’ve already seen Liberatio and the Great Magic Circle. The Imperial Army must have come up with ways to stop them.”

“What do you think they’ll do?”

Logan asked, and Damian looked around the tent.

“I’ve heard some ideas, and everyone thinks the same thing. They’ll probably block Liberatio by using magicians like last time. It worked well before.”

“I guess so. Once they get on the walls, those magicians will start attacking, too.”

“That’s right. The Imperial Army took the least damage to Kyle Castle in the first battle, so I think they’ll do the same thing again.”

“What about the Anti-Mana barrier?”

“It wasn’t worth using more than once. The Great Magic Circle gets weaker. If the enemy has a way to stop it, we’ll only ruin our own magic circle.”

“Then what about the Great Magic Circle?”

“I don’t think there’s a good answer. The only way is to destroy the magic circle by sending ghosts or special forces, but we’re ready for that.”

Most of the commanders nodded, and no one seemed to have any other ideas.

But Logan bit his lip and thought. Hamar’s question kept bothering him.

Finally, Logan looked to one side.

“Lia.”

“Yes? Yes, Your Majesty,” Victoria said, startled. She was standing quietly next to her teacher. She stepped forward, and Logan suddenly asked,

“Can we change the target of the weakening magic circle now?”

“Yes!?”

“Your Majesty!”

“What are you saying?”

“The Imperial Army will be here in at least three days!”

Everyone was surprised, but Logan didn’t change his mind.

Victoria quickly understood.

“Do you think the Empire already knows?”

“If we assume the worst, I think it’s possible.”

“Even so, we don’t have much time. I can’t think of another plan right now. And even if I did, it would take a long time to change the magic circle. Also, even if Kyle Castle can do it, no one can change the magic circle at Shield and Armor fortresses.”

“I see.”

He nodded, but he still felt uneasy.

Yeah. Even if they know, it won’t be right now.

It’s not good to be too worried before a big battle.

It’s too much worry.

He told himself this and tried to calm down, but the unease didn’t go away.

“If the weakening magic circle is stopped, how much damage do we expect?”

“If Liberatio is blocked, we will definitely lose, even if the Imperial Army is only half the size,” Victoria said.

Everyone in the tent groaned when they heard Victoria’s words.

Weakening the enemy’s energy by 30% doesn’t just mean reducing their power to 70%.

A master becomes an equal, and an equal opponent becomes weaker.

The individual wins and losses change the whole war. So Victoria wasn’t exaggerating.

“Of course, even if that happens, I believe that Logan McLaine, the hero sent by God, will find a way to win,” Victoria said, trying to joke and lighten the mood. But Logan only laughed weakly.

“Yeah. It would be easier if the Golem Princess easily defeated three Imperial magicians.”

“Your Majesty! That nickname is a bit…”

“It would be even better if the Iron-Blooded Queen easily defeated the Gale Magician.”

“Your Majesty, please be careful with your jokes…”

Logan looked at Victoria, who was angry, and his wife, who was glaring at him. He sighed deeply.

And finally, he made a decision.

“Since that won’t happen, we have to prepare for the worst.”

People will think about even unlikely things if their life is at risk.

What if something that seems like it will happen someday might happen sooner?

And what if the country is at risk?

How can you not prepare?

“We have to change it.”

“Yes?”

“Lia, you said it’s hard to change the target of the weakening magic circle.”

“That’s right, Your Majesty.”

“Then is it difficult to remove the target completely?”

“Yes?”

What is he talking about?

Victoria stared at Logan, confused. Her expression changed as she listened to him.