Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 112

Since the dwarves came to McLaine Town, things changed quickly. In less than two weeks, they were making hundreds of crossbows every day.

Because of this, the militia training that Logan wanted started seriously.

“But if we’re training, doesn’t that mean we’ll be mobilized for war too?”

“Hey, what are you talking about? Our territory is neutral, neutral! Don’t you know what neutral means?”

“Still, I feel uneasy.”

“It’s a militia, I tell you.”

“What does it matter? The important thing is they pay you just for archery practice.”

“Well, we don’t have anything to do in the winter anyway, so it works out. I guess.”

The gathered men huddled together, chatting to escape the biting wind. Their murmurs were a mix of excitement and worry.

Before them, a knight and five soldiers appeared, pulling a cart.

“Are you the men from Tanri Village?” the knight asked.

“Yes, we are!”

“Good. Then we’ll start the training now.”

The wind was icy cold and cut right through their clothes.

The knight, too, seemed to have no intention of giving a long speech, and immediately took a repeating crossbow out of the cart.

“This is the repeating crossbow used by our McLaine soldiers. There are five training crossbows allocated to Tanri Village. We will begin training with these from today,” he announced.

It was the first time any of the men gathered for training had seen a repeating crossbow in person.

However, the story that the soldiers’ crossbows had greatly contributed to McLaine’s explosive growth had already spread among the people of the territory. Eyes full of curiosity simultaneously turned towards the crossbows.

“It’s unlikely to break down, but even if it does, a replacement will be provided immediately, so there’s no need to be particularly careful when using it. The important people said: training is more important than keeping the crossbows safe. So, train hard! Understand?”

“Yes!” Most of the men answered loudly without much thought, but one person, in particular, shone his eyes at the words ‘a replacement will be provided immediately if it breaks down’.

Reports said the militia and soldier training were going well. But, there were problems in some places.

“Problems?” Dwayne asked.

“Around Tesron Castle, in Tanri Village, some individuals were caught trying to steal and sell the crossbows supplied for training after reporting them as broken.”

“…The repeating crossbows? For how much?”

“Excuse me? Is the price the issue right now?”

Logan chuckled at Dwayne’s reaction. “Why? I was wondering if we should sell them too if they’re expensive… Just kidding, just kidding! Geez!”

“…The knight, suspecting the third additional supply, has arrested both the seller and the buyer. What should we do with them?”

“Execute them,” Logan said firmly.

“Pardon?”

“Deal with them decisively so that no one else does anything similar again.”

“Still, isn’t this different now? These crossbows are already being used by different groups fighting in the war. They’ll be used in battles soon…”

“We need to set an example this time. It’s not just about one crossbow. The problem is the act of trying to smuggle the family’s weapons out.”

Dwayne fell silent at Logan’s firm and strict words.

“Dwayne, we will soon begin developing another new weapon. This is even more important than the crossbow, and it must never be leaked. Think of it as a warning punishment for that.”

“A new… weapon?”

“Yes, a new weapon. The repeating crossbow has a simpler structure than you think. It’s a miracle that it hasn’t come out elsewhere until now. Someday, everyone will imitate it.”

Especially the Empire, they are probably already making it.

“So we need to create a new weapon,” Logan continued.

A secret weapon of our own that even the Empire doesn’t know about.

Dwayne’s throat tightened with the words that it wasn’t that easy, but he swallowed them down. Above all, the Archduke before him had already accomplished that impossible feat once, so it wouldn’t be strange if he did it again.

Dwayne just believed in Logan completely, even if it didn’t make sense. This made Dwayne start to imagine, and soon he began to wonder about the form of the new weapon.

However, Logan never mentioned the new weapon again after that, not to anyone who wasn’t in charge.

– Peterson of Tanri Village is sentenced to death for attempting to leak the territory’s secrets to the outside.

The news of the execution of someone who had simply tried to smuggle out one item caused a stir throughout the territory for a while.

The Archduke, who had revived the territory, showed his radical response for the first time.

Some cautiously whispered that the Archduke’s radical temperament, who had expanded the territory by fighting as many as four battles in three years, had finally been revealed.

However, the rumors that arose in the territory of Bipros, the most recently conquered land, did not leave the area and were quickly dismissed.

This was because there were more residents who were relieved by the lower tax rates under McLaine’s rule and the avoidance of the civil war’s turmoil due to the declaration of neutrality than those who were angered by the invasion.

Thanks to this, the perception that leaking the territory’s secrets would soon lead to execution, which Logan had intended, began to take root in the minds of the territory’s residents more naturally than expected.

– In times like these, where else is safer and better to live than our territory?

A time when all sorts of strange rumors about the civil war were slowly spreading.

The external threat was unknowingly binding the territory’s residents, who had lived their entire lives under different affiliations, into one.

And the Archduke, who was receiving such widespread support, was busy developing new weapons ‘for war’ in the Golem Magic Tower located in the center of town.

“No. No, that’s not how it felt. Vibration occurs the moment a certain level of impact is applied, and then, after a certain amount of time, boom! Is that so difficult?!”

Bloody difficult, you madman.

Hamar barely swallowed the curse that was about to burst out of his mouth. He wondered where his master had gotten another strange idea, demanding the development of an absurd weapon.

The only good thing was that he wasn’t the only one bearing the brunt of it now.

“Are you saying that it should show an effect greater than a 2nd circle magic spell, but the cost should only be one-tenth of a 1st circle scroll? What on earth…” Clayton also looked at Logan with an expression that said, ‘Are you spouting nonsense?’

“I’ve told you roughly all the ingredients that go into it, haven’t I? Is it still difficult?” Logan asked.

“You also said that it’s not 100% certain. Moreover, compounds can take on completely different properties depending on the mixing ratio. Even without taking any magical measures,” Clayton explained.

Clayton didn’t dare to say, ‘Do I really have to explain this?’ considering Logan’s pride, but the insistence, which was close to coercion, showed no signs of backing down.

“I’ve used it. It’s definitely possible!”

The moment he heard those words, Hamar’s body trembled. Oh, I think I’ve heard this before. I have a very bad feeling.

“Where? I’ve never heard of it. If such a thing had come out, our wizards would have been the first to make a fuss!” Clayton exclaimed.

Yes. Of course. But I think I know the next answer without even hearing it.

Hamar’s worry grew heavier in his chest. He really didn’t want to hear what Logan was about to say.

“I’m sure of it,” Logan said, his voice too cheerful. “I saw it work. We can definitely build it!”

Those words hit Hamar like a punch. It was the answer he dreaded.

“Ha… seriously?” Hamar mumbled, his face falling.

Clayton, the wizard, gasped. “What in the world…”

Both Clayton and Hamar stared at Logan, stunned. They couldn’t believe what they were hearing. Clayton rubbed his temples, and Hamar instinctively reached up to grip his beard, both feeling the same wave of disbelief.

They talked about it for days. It was clear Logan and the others had very different ideas.

“So, just by applying pressure with your grip, the color turns red, and then it explodes after about five seconds?”

“Yes. There seemed to be some magical intervention, but it was a very limited measure, only detecting the amount of impact on the surface. He said the magical energy pushing back felt about that strong.”

“Why?”

“Seeing as you’re describing it in such detail, you must have used it before. Good heavens…”

Used it? He had used it before, in his past life.

Logan grimaced, the memories resurfacing.

The weapon he was trying to create with Clayton and Hamar’s help was the Liberatio.

A bomb, its name meaning ‘liberation’ in an ancient tongue, had appeared as a weapon of the Grandia Liberation Front ten years into the Imperial War, causing the Empire a great deal of trouble.

‘It was supposed to free our land, but it only killed enemy soldiers,’ he thought.

Its effectiveness was certain, as proven in his past life.

The only problem was…

‘I’ve done the material procurement missions and used plenty of the finished product, but I don’t know who made it or how.’

The maker of the Liberatio was known only to a select few within the Grandia Liberation Front.

Unfortunately, Logan had not been among that select few.

Just in case, he had even asked Louis Heion, the current Sword Master’s adjutant and former commander of the Liberation Front in his past life.

– Someone you know who can make strange things? Are you talking about a wizard? Hmm… I don’t have any wizards I’m close to.

It was a wasted effort.

But he couldn’t give up easily.

The estimated production cost of the Liberatio was 50 gold.

An enormous price for a one-time consumable, but an extremely cheap weapon considering its effect.

It was the very thing Louis Heion of his past life had lamented countless times: ‘If we could have mass-produced this bomb when the country was still intact…’

Now, McLaine had enough money to make that kind of investment.

‘I know the materials and the characteristics. That should be enough.’

Logan wasn’t a fool.

Logan knew it wasn’t easy. Just knowing the parts didn’t mean they could make the same bomb.

But he also had something he believed in.

‘The origin of the Liberatio was definitely inspired by the weapons of the ancient dwarves.’

Logan’s eyes swept past Hamar and moved to the side.

‘Even if I don’t know who exactly made it, I’m sure it was a wizard from Earth.’

And the most capable Earth wizard he knew was Clayton, right before his eyes.

He believed that if it was this combination, they would surely accomplish it, even if it took time.

‘If it doesn’t work, I’ll just have to develop the territory’s strength for longer.’

Logan felt certain it was possible.

Above all, Logan vividly remembered the sensation and changes he felt when he used the bomb in his past life.

Very clearly, it was almost disturbing how clear it was.

‘No, considering how I died in the end, perhaps it’s not so strange?’

While recalling the unpleasant memory, Logan conveyed that sensation as accurately as possible to Clayton and Hamar to provide as much help as he could with the development.

Now was the time to trust and wait.

While Logan was busily working to build up the territory’s strength in this way.

The war was getting worse. At first, fighting was in the north and center. Now, battles were happening in the south too. Small fights broke out everywhere.

In particular, the elite forces of both factions, gathered in the center, were continuing their fierce battles with Harun Castle, the King’s direct territory, between them.

The decisive, all-or-nothing great battle was slow to materialize.

They had expected it to be fierce, but once the lid was off, the power of both factions turned out to be strangely equal.

The leaders of both sides, not wanting mutual destruction, were fiercely looking for each other’s weaknesses, repeating short, localized battles.

Because of these small battles, it wasn’t the powerful nobles who were losing land. It was the smaller nobles who served them who were suffering.

And it was precisely because of this situation that what Logan was trying to do now was even more meaningful.

“Talented people who have lost their masters are sitting on the streets.”

“So, you’re going to recruit those soldiers?”

“Oh? How did you know?”

“It’s easy to see when you’re around, Lord Logan. But even if there are talented people, will they come here? They’ll go to other nobles in their original faction.”

Rick answered with a slightly smug look at Logan’s question, as if he was impressed, but Logan shook his head.

“They’ll only go if they have a grudge left.”

“Yes?”

“There will be many people who don’t have much attachment to their former families. Those kinds of people will come to the side with better conditions.”

“And our family, which has even taken Vifross, is now one of the wealthiest in the kingdom. And we’re not at war right now. So, the conditions are definitely good.”

As Rick replied indifferently, Logan stared at him intently.

“…Why?”

“No, I’m just amazed. That you can even say such things.”

Rick cleared his throat. ‘Well, if I’m going to be your chief steward, Lord Logan, I need to know these things. Especially now that we have nine castles!’

Watching Rick grin, Logan clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘How ambitious.’

Of course, Rick, as the young master’s personal attendant, would naturally become the chief steward if he became the lord.

In McLaine, the position of chief steward was only a general butler who managed all the servants in each castle, but as the territory grew, a minimum level of competence was required to manage so many people.

Of course, Rick was unlikely to have such competence, so someone else had to be assigned to teach him.

Naturally, Vector, the current chief steward, was teaching Rick these days.

However.

‘You little rascal. I have no intention of becoming the lord.’

He had accepted the position of heir and acting lord because he had to take the initiative in handling matters, but Logan’s sights were set on the more distant future.

Even now, when he closed his eyes, he could see the face of his younger brother, who had single-handedly rebuilt the ruined family and tried to protect the family and the country until the end, only to be dragged away in the end.

‘It’s not my place. It’s Ronian’s.’

Logan still felt that becoming the head of the McLaine family was taking his brother’s place.

Moreover, he had no intention of ‘settling down’ in this McLaine family.

‘Help McLaine, build it up, make it big. And with that as a stepping stone, I will……’

Something he couldn’t yet say out loud to anyone.

Logan quietly suppressed the desire that had arisen in his heart and smiled at Rick.