Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 123

“This is different from the repeating crossbow. It’s simple, but you can’t copy it unless you know the weapon and how it’s made. You both know what’s more important.”

Logan wanted to keep the development of Liberatio a secret.

Clayton and Hamarr agreed.

“Only Hamarr and I know how to make it completely. The students and dwarves helping us only know their small part.”

“Even if someone sees it, they can’t copy it without knowing the right materials and how to tune the mana, Master.”

“Good. We need to keep this secret. And…”

Just saying it didn’t show how important it was.

Logan made an offer that made their eyes light up.

“You’ve worked hard. I’ll give you 30% more money. However, if anyone finds out how it’s made, even your students, I’ll stop the extra payments right away.”

For Clayton, it was about the money.

“Good job. I’ll take three years off your contract. But if other dwarves or workers learn how to make it, you won’t get any days off until your contract is done.”

For Hamarr, it was about freedom.

Logan gave them what they wanted most and used it to control them.

Luckily, they cared more about the reward than the punishment.

“Of course, Logan.”

“Of course! I promise to keep the secret, Master!”

They both smiled and shook Logan’s hand.

Soon, they gave him another reward.

“…An improved repeating crossbow?”

“That’s right, Master.”

“Can you really do that so easily?”

“It’s not easy! We can’t make a lot of them, and it’s not very useful for everyone. But the wizard and I think it would be good to make a few just for the commanders.”

“…Let’s see it first.”

He went to the Magic Tower.

The new crossbow looked similar to the old one.

The only difference was that the bowstring and arrowheads glowed with a faint blue light.

The magazine, which was the most important part, was now built into the crossbow.

“Because of mana, we couldn’t make it come off. If we could, we could make a lot of them, even if they cost more…”

“Does this mean it can only be used once, Clayton?”

“Yes. It can only shoot ten arrows, two at a time for five shots, and then you have to throw it away.”

“How much does it cost to make?”

“Well… a little over 3,000 gold.”

“For each one?”

“…Yes.”

Logan’s face changed.

Liberatio was good because it was supposed to be cheap but powerful, like a magic scroll but much less expensive. It was supposed to cost only a small part of what a scroll cost.

But now, if this new version costs more than 3,000 gold and can only be used once, Logan wondered if it was still really useful.

“It’s 50% more expensive than a magic scroll. And since it’s all in one piece, it looks like you two have to work together to make it…”

“That’s right. Besides the cost, the biggest problem is that Hamarr and I have to spend our time together.”

“Taking up the time of the kingdom’s best magician and worker… The cost and how long it takes are big problems, but you look so sure of yourselves.”

“Just try it once.”

Clayton smiled even though he was talking about the bad things. Hamarr was also smirking, which made Logan excited.

And then…

Boom!

The special crossbow was as good as he hoped.

The arrow hit the target and exploded, sending a shockwave and flames in a five-meter circle.

The two arrows fired at the same time made the explosion even stronger, with bigger flames and a louder noise.

Each arrow had the power of Liberatio, and there were ten of them.

That was amazing, but the range was…

“More than double? It seems to stay strong up to 500m to 600m…?”

Clayton smiled at Logan’s surprise.

“Yes. The range is much better because we used mana on the bowstring too. It’s good enough to make a few for the top leaders, chief knights, or commanders…”

“Make as many as you can! With this, we can completely…!”

“But it takes Hamarr and me a whole day to make one.”

“…Ah.”

Logan sighed.

Even if they worked every day, they could only make 365. And since it was a one-time use, the problem was how long it took to make, no matter how much it cost.

This wasn’t the only thing they had to make.

“…Please make as many as you can in two months. We can give them to the commanders for emergencies.”

Even an ordinary soldier could use it to defeat a knight.

Even a small number would be a good surprise weapon.

“I understand. But… two months?”

“We’ll need them around then.”

Clayton looked worried at Logan’s serious face.

As spring came, the days got warmer.

The second town, being built in the old McLaine Plains between Tomodo and Silvan, started to get people moving in.

But the people reacted differently than when McLaine Town was first built.

“We were doing fine, so why bother…?”

“That’s right. I’m going to protect the village no matter what.”

Moving to the town was a suggestion, not an order.

So, most of the people in Bifrost’s land, who were living well under his rule, stayed in their villages.

Changing their lives was too risky for them.

The promise of new houses and the right to keep farming their land didn’t change their minds.

The people in Silvan’s land also didn’t want to move because the taxes were lower and they were getting more food after Soto Silvan died.

Unlike the old McLaine land, where it was hard to farm, they could live okay if the taxes weren’t too high.

If there was a famine, it would be hard for both the town and the village.

The stories about the good land that people talked about before, when Silvan and Bifrost joined under McLaine, were just stories to them.

In the end, only a few of the people living there moved to the new town, mostly young people who were starting their own families.

But refugees from small territories, who had come to McLaine after the civil war, filled the new McLaine Town.

“They’re giving away houses for free?!”

“And farmland…?!”

“How lucky is this? Thank you, God!”

“Thank you, Lord! Thank you so much!”

The refugees thanked the ruler of this land, whose name they didn’t know yet, and moved into the town. Logan was finally relieved.

“Why are you so relieved? Master Gongja said it would be full anyway.”

Logan chuckled at Dwayne’s words.

“The town between Silvan and Tomodo is like a wall.”

“Yes?”

“The McLaine Plains are blocked by the Guling Mountains to the north, McLaine Castle to the east, and the path where Tesron Castle will be built to the west. If we block those two castles well, it will be easy to defend.”

“Yes? Master Gongja. What are you talking about…?”

Dwayne’s face became serious when he heard Logan’s word. “Defense?”

“But the McLaine Plain is big and split into parts. It touches Bifrost Castle, Tomodo, and three other castles. It also borders the lands of Silvan and Peretta.”

“So, why all of a sudden…”

“The Bifrost castles are to the north. They are close enough to help us quickly if we are attacked, like before. But the south, between Tomodo Castle and Silvan Castle, is far away. It takes more than three days to walk between them. If enemies attack from that southern gap, it will be a big problem for us to defend.”

“That’s only if someone attacks our south…”

Dwayne laughed a little, but then his face turned white, like he suddenly understood something bad.

“Are you thinking someone will invade our territory? Even from within the kingdom?”

“Yes. That’s why I’m building a town between Silvan and Tomodo. It will be less than a day’s travel to either castle. This town will be like a strong wall, protecting the plains.”

“Come on, that’s ridiculous…”

“I will make everyone who lives in the new McLaine Town train to be soldiers. They are getting houses and land, so they won’t complain. This will also help keep the town safe and peaceful.”

Hearing these clear plans, Dwayne knew Logan was serious. He could not just ignore it anymore.

“Yes, I will. But what on earth…”

Dwayne could not understand what Logan was thinking.

‘Why does he think we will be attacked? We are neutral, right? Could there be a reason…?’

Logan didn’t bother to explain.

Dwayne’s bad feelings soon came true.

When the very hot summer weather started.

Logan said something surprising to all his vassals.

“We must join the civil war.”

The grand hall was loud with talking, as usual for meetings. But then, it became completely quiet very quickly.

“Am I hearing things, or did I just hear something strange?”

“Did the Grand Heir just say… civil war?”

“I think he said civil war…”

The vassals looked at each other, confused. They didn’t understand what was happening.

A loud voice spoke over the quiet talking of the vassals.

“I thought so, but is it really true?! Why?!”

The administrator was a big, strong man with a beard, and he shouted loudly. Suddenly, the grand hall became very noisy and chaotic.

“…Huh?!”

“We’re doing so well, why?!”

“Grand Heir! Why?!”

“Silence! Silence!”

Thud! Thud!

“Everyone be quiet and listen to the Grand Heir!”

His father knew about this plan already. He tried to make the room serious, like he promised. But he also looked very worried.

Logan walked forward and said again, very firmly.

“We will join the civil war. No, we must!”

“But, why…”

“Isn’t our land doing well now? The town, the shops…”

“We are sure to be rich if we just stay out of it…”

Murmur murmur.

Logan smiled a little sadly as he looked at the talking vassals.

‘They are right. If we only want to keep this land safe.’

But he didn’t want just that.

Or, more like, he couldn’t just do that.

“The civil war is getting worse. Everyone knows more and more people are becoming refugees. The government in the capital is not helping the smaller nobles. These nobles are being destroyed while the powerful people in the capital are only trying to protect themselves. Because of this, bandit groups and people rebelling against the government have started to appear everywhere!”

So what?

Why does this matter to us?

It’s not just the capital government. It’s normal now. Most nobles in this time don’t care about what happens in other lands.

Unless they want to steal from them.

Also, now that no one knows what will happen after the civil war, they care even less about what’s happening in other places.

The vassals looked at each other, showing what they thought, but they didn’t dare to say it to Logan directly.

Logan stood in front of them and spoke calmly.

“Stopping the civil war quickly and fixing this problem is the best thing for our country’s future.”

What is he saying?

Why is the Grand Heir acting like this suddenly?

The vassals looked at each other, worried.

Logan looked around and smiled. Then he said, “…We don’t need to talk about big, important reasons.”

Everyone looked at Logan, very surprised and confused.

“If we stay out of the war, McLaine will be destroyed, no matter who wins.”

The grand hall became noisy again when Logan said this shocking thing.

“What does that mean…”

“That’s too much, even if it’s true.”

“We haven’t made the First Prince’s group angry.”

“Especially because they are winning.”

“Silence!”

Thud. Thud.

Patrick made the hall quiet again and asked. “Logan, why do you say this?”

If the war ends, the people who helped win will want rewards.

They won’t be happy just taking things from the nobles who supported the Second Prince.

After defeating their enemies, they will start attacking those who stayed neutral.

That’s what the First Prince Rohiter and Juan Douglas did before, in his past life.

But he didn’t need to say these exact reasons.

‘Because there is something simpler to understand.’

People say humans are smart and think clearly, but really, people don’t often make choices just based on clear thinking.

Most of the time, people’s choices come from feelings.

I want to do this.

I want to eat that.

I want to own this.

Feelings and wants make people act, and then they just say it’s ‘logical’.

So, the best way to convince someone is to make them feel something.

“The First Prince’s group has Kairos and Wolves helping them. They are also the two biggest groups giving money to the First Prince. When the war is over, do you think they will really ignore us?”

Really, it’s McLaine who cares about them. We would have to ask Kairos or Wolves what they think of McLaine to know for sure.

This reason is not very strong or well-supported.

But when Logan said that one thing, the faces of the vassals changed a lot.

“Then…”

“Should we join the First Prince’s group now…”

“To stop problems later. Yes…”

Just as the feeling in the grand hall was starting to change slowly.

“We will join the Second Prince’s group.”

Logan shocked everyone in the grand hall again.