Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 435

The Self-Defense Forces are returning to their original posts, taking charge of the kingdom’s security along with the regular forces in each area.

The kingdom will provide as much compensation as possible to the families who lost loved ones in the war, including soldiers and members of the Self-Defense Forces.

Even though the announcement didn’t say exactly how much money they would get, most people who saw it felt a great sense of relief.

“Finally, the war is over,” someone said.

“It feels real now,” another replied.

“Hoo-hoo-hoo,” a man chuckled.

People who had survived and those who had lost loved ones were all sighing with relief.

Because of this, the next announcement didn’t get as much attention.

The Royal Legions will be reorganized.

This news quickly reached the two fortresses in the north and south.

The main idea was to combine Luther’s 4th Legion, which was supposed to protect the northeast of the kingdom, with the Sword Master’s 2nd Legion. Also, Wicken’s 5th Legion, which defended the southeast, would join Ronian’s 3rd Legion. This would change the kingdom to a system with three legions.

Since Luther’s and Wicken’s legions were already stationed in the same fortresses, and the reorganization was being done by the King’s teacher, the Sword Master, and the King’s brother, the process went smoothly because Luther and Wicken agreed quickly.

Also…

The reorganized legions will stay where they are for a while to get used to the new setup.

This order was easily accepted as part of the post-war arrangements, especially since everyone felt like the war was over.

Around this time, the King and his strategist in Kyle Castle were focused on a completely different matter from the rumors spreading outside.

“The first thing we need to take care of is what’s left of the Eastern 8th Legion,” Damian said, his eyes shining.

Logan looked doubtful. “Are you saying we should bother to find and destroy the Imperial Army soldiers scattered along the eastern border now?” he asked.

“Of course, it would be best if the Imperial Army had all gone to Lusphelheim or Penna when we took them over, but we have to think about the worst-case scenario,” Damian replied.

“The worst-case scenario?” Logan questioned.

“The Eastern Legions might decide not to fight us and instead try to invade the kingdom’s mainland,” Damian explained.

“Then shouldn’t we attack Aselian, the Empire’s capital? Surely they would worry more about protecting their home than launching a counterattack on the outskirts,” Logan suggested, remembering his past experiences.

But Damian, who knew what Logan was thinking, immediately shook his head. He had heard all about that reckless battle before he came to McLaine.

“This is different from what happened at Bifrost, Your Majesty. The Eastern Legions are not the Empire’s entire army,” Damian stated.

“Are you saying they believe the Emperor’s main army will stop us, so they will launch a counterattack?” Logan asked.

“Yes,” Damian confirmed.

Logan frowned slightly at Damian’s idea.

“With the Western Ten Kingdoms still attacking, can the Imperial Army really pull troops out? They won’t be able to react quickly,” Logan pointed out.

“I’m talking about how the Eastern Legions will react. They believe in the Emperor, just like we believe in you, Your Majesty,” Damian said honestly, even saying something a bit embarrassing.

Logan chuckled at this and changed the subject. “So, you’re saying that no matter what, they might believe in the Emperor and invade our mainland?”

“Yes, that’s what I think,” Damian replied.

“Tsk… We have to destroy the Eastern Legions and take over their territory at the same time, and we have to do it before the Imperial Army defeats the Western Kingdoms and returns. It looks like we’re short on time,” Logan said.

“It’s definitely possible. Right now, the Empire’s forces are so weak that calling them the ‘8th Legion’ is almost meaningless. The 7th Legion, for example, is practically gone, and the remaining legions only have about 20,000 soldiers,” Damian explained.

“Are you saying that’s assuming Teronnan and Liberty’s armies join our army?” Logan asked.

Even if the Imperial Army was scattered, they still had a total of 200,000 soldiers, which was like having four legions.

The McLaine Kingdom Army, which had been reorganized into three legions, had fewer soldiers.

Of course, they had a big advantage with their superhuman power, but considering the difference in the number of knights, they would still suffer a lot of losses.

If that was the case, they needed someone else to share the burden.

Damian saw Logan’s meaningful smile and returned a similar smile. “The work is already done,” he said.

“Imperial Conquest? Are you serious?” Timon Liberty, the new king of the Liberty Kingdom, held his head in disbelief at the McLaine strategist’s calm answer.

‘They said it was top secret, but this is ridiculous…’

His uncle, Gunter Liberty, the kingdom’s only superhuman, had died in a war far from home. Hearing the people who had forced that sacrifice now talking about such nonsense made Timon’s anger boil.

Wasn’t it McLaine who had taken his army hostage and forced them to fight when he was in Gran?

“Stop talking nonsense! We’ve already sacrificed so much! Do whatever reckless things you want on your own, McLaine!” Timon exclaimed.

He couldn’t say what he was really thinking, because his younger siblings were still being held hostage in McLaine, but he lost control for a moment because he was so angry.

The moment Timon thought, ‘Oh no…’

“Are you really okay with that?” the strategist asked.

“What?” Timon asked, confused.

“I’m asking, are you really okay with just retreating after sacrificing so much? Aren’t you angry about Grand Duke Gunter and all the soldiers who died?” the strategist continued.

To say something like that…

‘It’s all your fault!!!’ Timon thought, his anger burning inside.

If McLaine fell, the Kingdom Alliance would be next.

Yes, he knew that. But after McLaine took all the credit for defeating the Empire, Liberty was left with the death of its only superhuman and a smaller army. Considering that Teronnan’s two superhumans were both safe, it was clear that Liberty’s position in the alliance would become weaker.

“Hoo-oo,” Timon took a deep breath to calm himself. He tried to stay calm and continued, “The Empire has already been defeated. Liberty will no longer participate in a war without a good reason.”

Yes, this was the best way.

‘I won’t let them shake me, no matter what they say,’ he thought, steeling himself and cutting off the McLaine strategist’s nonsense.

But the answer he received was unexpected.

“If that’s the case, there’s nothing we can do,” the strategist said.

‘They’re giving up this easily?’ Timon thought, surprised. Then, the strategist said something even stranger.

“The King of Teronnan has said he wants to join actively, so it seems the difference between our two countries will become even greater in the future,” the strategist added.

“What is that…?” Timon wondered.

The King of Teronnan? Why? Was he crazy?

Many questions raced through his mind, but the strategist didn’t seem to want to answer them.

“Thank you for your cooperation, Your Highness. I wish you continued success in the future,” the strategist said.

“Wait a moment…!” Timon exclaimed.

It’s a trap. It’s definitely a trap.

However, Timon felt he had no choice but to take the bait, even though he felt uneasy. The difference in power between Liberty and Teronnan was already growing, and this would make it even worse.

There was no turning back now.

“…What is the price for cooperating in this war?”

Eventually, he had no choice but to ask, and the figure in the crystal ball smiled faintly.

“As soon as we announced Liberty’s participation, the King of Teronon also immediately promised to join the war.”

“…You didn’t lure Teronon in with Liberty?”

“Is the order important?”

Damian said this so casually that Logan looked at him, surprised.

“If they talk, won’t everything be exposed?”

“How could that happen? They are rivals, after all.”

“Rivals?”

“Teronon is competitive with Liberty, and Liberty with Teronon. It’s only natural, but it’s become even more intense since the alliance split into two. In that situation, would the kings reveal their true feelings to each other? Especially since both have only recently ascended to the throne.”

Logan found Damian’s words convincing.

“If the other does it, you have no choice but to believe even vague promises like dividing the occupied territories?”

“It’s not a vague promise, is it? Weren’t you actually going to do it?”

At Damian’s words, laced with a subtly mischievous smile, Logan chuckled and nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. What price wouldn’t I offer to suppress and silence the Empire’s expansionist policies?”

Indeed. Anything.

Why would we need measures like Gerard’s brainwashing of the leadership?

Not when we have such a reliable strategist.

“Well done, Damian.”

Logan clapped him on the shoulder with a smile, and Damian lowered his head, looking bashful.

“You are too kind,” Damian said. “But we were in a hurry, so I had to be clever. If they knew they would get something good, both countries would have joined the war anyway, eventually.”

“But you wouldn’t have timed it right. If either country had backed out, it would have taken much longer.”

Damian cleared his throat. “We still have plenty of supplies in the granaries, crossbow magazines, and Liberatio, enough for war. Now, all that remains is for His Majesty to recover. Swordmaster is already in training.”

Damian, seemingly embarrassed by the repeated praise, quickly changed the subject, and Logan nodded with a smile.

“Of course. It won’t take me long either.”

“I will inform the legion commanders about the upcoming campaign in advance, along with instructions to thoroughly conduct training under the guise of legion reorganization for the time being.”

“Good. Do that, and show it to the Empire appropriately.”

Damian, understanding the meaning at once, grinned.

“Even though the militia has been disbanded, the legions are still stationed, and if they start intensifying training, it will be quite confusing.”

“Yes. That state of half-belief and half-doubt is even more advantageous for us. If all of the Eastern 8th Legion returned to their garrisons, it would take too long to crush them.”

“That’s right. ‘Appropriately’ noticing and ‘appropriately’ preparing is the best for us.”

The lord and his subject, perfectly in sync, looked at each other and smiled.

And in those few days, the Imperial Eastern Army began to show ambiguous movements, just as they had hoped.

“Maclaine’s movements are unusual. I’m worried they might take advantage of the chaos in the west to launch an offensive.”

At Bering’s words, the faces in the two crystal balls frowned. They looked very surprised and confused.

Bering hadn’t seen people ignoring his words in a long time, but he couldn’t scold them as he usually would. No matter how much he was the commander of the Eastern 8th Legion, who had survived the fierce battle at Maclaine’s southern fortress, the status of those listening was no less than his.

No, to be precise, they were closer to superiors in the hierarchy.

“[Bering, are you reading too much into this? Even if we lost some battles, they wouldn’t dare…]”

Second Legion Commander Jipen Trey, now the highest-ranking figure in the Eastern Imperial Army, immediately retorted to Bering’s words.

“[Just because they won a bit, how could a small country attack a big empire like ours? That’s impossible!]”

They still haven’t learned anything, even after we beat them before.

Bering clicked his tongue inwardly, but fortunately, the person in the other crystal ball didn’t seem to be just a strong simpleton.

“[Thinking about it again… if they are feeling brave, maybe they will do anything. It’s clear our Empire lost in the last battle, so they might be reckless and attack us.]”

Fourth Legion Commander Drexler sided with Bering.

The opinions of the three legion commanders who survived the battle with Maclaine were divided.

Naturally, their opinions should have prevailed, but the superiority in seniority crushed the difference.

“[We have reports that the soldiers in Kyle Castle have already spread out across the area. Stop talking foolishly and focus on getting our soldiers ready again. When His Majesty stops the trouble in the west, we can get our revenge.]”

Bering felt very angry at Jipen’s words.

‘Do you think the enemy wouldn’t consider that, you idiot!’

How could they be so relaxed and sure of themselves after we were completely beaten and ran away like dogs?

Bering almost shouted, but he stopped himself and spoke calmly.

“But isn’t there a chance, however small? I hope we can prepare in advance.”

“[His Majesty has entrusted us with the defense of the east. With the Western Fang King, Northern Horn King, and Southern Claw King all focused on the west, we have nowhere to receive support. Even with a low probability, I believe we should prepare.]”

Fortunately, Drexler once again supported Bering’s opinion.

“[Hmph, would those preparing for war disband their troops? You’re all too worried.]”

“The disbanded troops are only conscripts. The regular army is still stationed in each fortress!”

“[The regular army? Even if you gather all the troops from the three locations, it’s only about three legion-level forces.]”

We were defeated by just that force, you moron!

Bering felt like slapping Jipen across the face if he were in front of him.

It was fortunate that there was an ally who was a little more direct than him.

“[Duke Jipen, that force defeated us.]”

“[…That’s because they were lucky with divine punishment… ahem. No, no. Wasn’t it a victory gained thanks to a strange anomaly? Well, if you’re so worried, why don’t you prepare? I’ll take care of reorganizing the remaining forces.]”

‘The central army suffered damage from the divine punishment or anomaly…’

We were defeated regardless of that.

Bering wanted to pour out the facts to make Jipen, who was making his memories sound better than they were, to understand the real situation. He almost said everything, but he stopped himself.

In fact, he wasn’t 100% sure about Maclaine’s counterattack either. He was also skeptical about the combat power of the Maclaine army that came out of the castle without the great magic circle.

However, he was only doing his best to protect the east, which he had been entrusted with by His Majesty.

“I will do so. Then, Duke Drexler, shall we talk a little more?”

“[Indeed. Goodness, young people worry too much.]”

As Jipen’s communication device, who seemed to have left his brain in Maclaine, turned off, Bering respectfully bowed his head to the remaining light.

“…Thank you for accepting my opinion, Duke Drexler.”

“[It seems Duke Jipen wants to show he is in charge now that he leads the Eastern Army. Even if you had said the opposite, he would have argued with you anyway. Don’t worry about it.]”

‘He’s trying to establish a hierarchy among the legion commanders when things have come to this point?’

Instead of saying what he really thought and felt, Bering started talking about something practical.

“If Maclaine advances, where do you think they will attack first? Well, I think we all have similar ideas…”

“[It would naturally be Lusphelheim.]”

Fortunately, Drexler’s thoughts were the same as his.

And that day.

The remaining forces of the Imperial Eastern 4th, 5th, 7th, and 8th Legions gathered one by one in Lusphelheim, a major city in the Imperial East.

Meanwhile, the remaining forces of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th Legions returned to their garrisons and began to reorganize their forces.

Two clearly divided movements.

A satisfied smile appeared on Logan’s face as he heard the news.