Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 125

A roar of voices erupted from the city walls, echoing with the sharp, piercing sound of trumpets. *Thud.* The heavy wooden gates of Bipros began to lower with a deep rumble, revealing the dark, still water of the moat below. The knight order, gleaming in their polished armor, moved forward, ready to be the first to cross.

All 150 knights wore plate armor with a flame emblem on their chests.

Each suit of strong steel, well-made by skilled hands, shone brightly in the sun, showing off its strength.

At the very front, one figure stood out, wearing a uniquely designed suit of armor.

Aileen was no longer the new knight who had just joined. Now, she wore custom-made armor, perfectly fitted to her.

It was made for her smaller body, unlike the armor of the other knights, and was a soft silver color.

“Stop telling me bad luck things about being seen and getting killed. I’ve heard it all before.”

She spoke gruffly, as if sensing Logan’s gaze.

“I believe he’s just worried about a comrade. There isn’t a knight in our lands who doesn’t acknowledge Aileen ‘the Swift’ now.”

Perhaps because he swallowed the last remark, Aileen’s expression seemed slightly brighter.

“I suppose so…?”

She clearly seemed a bit sulky, but her face soon lit up, bringing a smile to his face.

‘She’s only nineteen, after all.’

Logan himself had given her the opportunity, but it was entirely Aileen’s effort that she adapted and integrated so well, beyond expectations.

“More than anything, it suits you well. And judging by the color, it doesn’t seem like ordinary steel.”

“O-oh, really? H-hum. Well, Hamar made it with mithril mixed in, so the defense is definitely guaranteed.”

“Mithril?”

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s true I used my father’s name to get it, but I paid for it with my own money. Reward money.”

“Ah. Haha, who’s saying anything? It looks great. It’s definitely worth standing out. And it’ll make movement easier.”

Logan thought that being better protected and faster now made her safer, even if she stood out more.

“Hehe. Thank you.”

Seeing her smile so brightly put his mind at ease.

‘…Put my mind at ease?’

His expression momentarily hardened at the thought.

‘I brought a perfectly happy young woman to a dangerous place, so it’s only natural to feel responsible.’

Thinking so, he deliberately avoided Aileen’s eyes and turned his head.

Then, the achievements of the family came into view.

Following directly behind the knight order were 1,500 mounted crossbowmen.

They didn’t have the gleaming plate armor of the knights, but they wore high-quality chainmail, carried repeating crossbows, and were equipped with auxiliary repeating crossbows and swords.

Behind their horses, they carried exactly twelve cases of bolts. This equipment was what all McLaine mounted crossbowmen used.

A type of soldier that had now become a symbol of McLaine.

From the start, they were a group that selected all the talented soldiers with a high probability of becoming knights, and their achievements had been remarkable, so the soldiers included in the mounted crossbowmen were as proud as knights.

With their heads held high, soldiers aligned in perfect rows and columns followed orderly behind them.

Except for the soldiers at the front with shields, they all wore chainmail and carried spears and repeating crossbows.

Since they didn’t have horses, they only had three cases of bolts on their waists, but that was enough.

Their numbers already exceeded 3,000.

Directly behind them, carts carrying food and cases of bolts to supply the entire force, as well as other supplies, followed at regular intervals.

Additional supplies would be sent separately from Bipros Castle later, but the current supplies were considered sufficient to sustain at least 2-3 weeks of combat.

At the very front were Clayton and the students from the Golem Magic Tower.

They were each driving ten supply carts, completely wrapped so that the contents were not visible at all, and Clayton, who was driving the foremost cart, was speaking worriedly to the little girl sitting next to him.

“Victoria. Are you really going to be alright?”

Clayton could still feel the gazes stretching from the front of the nearly 5,000-strong force all the way to his side.

The gaze of the knight with eyes of different colors, one red and one blue, who frequently looked back at this place from the Grand Duke’s side.

“…I’m okay, Master. My brother won’t say anything anymore either.”

“Your brother is worried about you….”

“That’s why! I have to show him that I can do it on my own.”

Even for my brother’s sake.

“Hmm. Still, don’t stray from my side. That’s what I promised your brother.”

“…Yes, Master.”

Clayton sighed softly.

This genius disciple, who had mastered the 1st Circle magic in less than 9 months since entering the school, was too stubborn.

Victoria had stubbornly insisted on joining the war, for reasons no one knew. This caused a big problem at the Magic Tower.

Because the brother and sister cared for each other so much, Clayton eventually understood and let it go. But the older brother, Victor, was even given a warning by the Grand Duke with a pay cut.

Nevertheless, he looked straight into his eyes and left a request that sounded like a command.

– You must protect my sister, no matter what. If anything happens to Ria, I don’t know what I’ll do.

Victor was a very talented young knight, already skilled in using Force. But Clayton was much stronger than him now.

The disciples who were listening were rather furious, but Clayton read the sincerity in his eyes and smiled instead.

In addition, he became curious.

‘One sibling is a genius of swordsmanship, and the other is a genius of magic. Does this family have dragon blood flowing through them?’

Siblings with unique appearances and special talents.

He couldn’t help but be interested.

Clayton’s gaze met the eyes of different colors, one red and one blue, which were again looking back at this place from far ahead.

“Victor. Enough.”

“S-sorry.”

“Haven’t you understood what I said yet?”

“Absolutely not.”

Protecting by always protecting is not always the best way.

He knew that fact now.

However.

“Then?”

“…Isn’t it only natural to worry when a young sister follows you to the battlefield?”

This was just how families are.

Victor thought so.

“Your sister must have always thought that way.”

Viktor hesitated. “Yes,” he said slowly, “I think so.”

Logan put a hand on Viktor’s shoulder. “Lia will be safe with Clayton, don’t worry. You need to take care of yourself too. Don’t be reckless like before. Do it for Lia.”

Viktor just nodded and said, “Understood.” But inside, his mind was racing.

*To even worry like this, to dare to dream of a future… it’s all because of Logan.* Viktor thought. *Lia still needs Logan to keep her safe.*

His sister and his lord. That was the order of importance for Viktor. His own safety was secondary.

Logan stepped back, a smile spreading across his face as he looked at his army. “It’s quite a sight, isn’t it?” he murmured, more to himself than anyone else.

Rows and rows of soldiers stretched out before him, their armor gleaming in the morning sun. The air buzzed with the low murmur of voices and the clink of weapons. Five thousand strong, even after he’d left a good force behind to protect their lands.

Five thousand soldiers, armed with crossbows and other, *newer* weapons that had already surprised their enemies.

And soon, sixty more knights would join them, a gift – if you could call it that – from Fereta. Logan had made sure Fereta, weakened after the Battle of Tomodo, understood the *value* of cooperation.

*I can do this,* Logan thought, his chest swelling with pride and determination. *No matter what happens, I am ready.*

Logan glanced up at the castle walls. There, high above, was his sister. She watched the army march out, her face serious. He raised his hand to her, a small gesture of reassurance.

A smile bloomed on her face, bright and confident. She thumped her fist against her chest, a clear message of strength and support. Seeing that, any last doubt in Logan’s heart vanished.

Logan lowered his hand, his gaze now fixed on the horizon. “Now,” he said, his voice firm, “we begin again. We march to the Twin Castles.”

The Twin Castles – Alun and Allon – stood facing each other, east and west. Long ago, people said they were named for two moons that vanished from the sky in a time of myths and legends.

They were huge, each one among the biggest castles in the whole kingdom. Built to guard the lands from the fierce orc armies that once swarmed the southern plains.

This land was Valtmaim, and the first Duke took that name as his own, a promise to protect people and the kingdom. But that noble purpose was lost now. These castles, meant to defend against monsters, were now battlegrounds for humans, brothers killing brothers.

The fighting had died down for now. A tense quiet hung in the air as both sides watched each other, waiting for the next move. Then, from behind the western castle, a dust cloud rose. An army was coming.

“Banner spotted!” a soldier shouted from the watchtower. “Flame insignia! Confirmed – it’s the McLain family!”

Jordan Valtmaim, Duke of Valtmaim, leaned over the castle wall, his eyes narrowed as he watched the approaching force. “Heh,” he chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. “They actually came. Five thousand, you say?” But his smile didn’t reach his eyes. Something was troubling him.

Roger Bipros, always quick to speak his mind, stepped forward. “Don’t be fooled, Your Grace. They’re probably just a mess. McLain has been scrambling to rebuild his army after his losses. This is likely just a bunch of untrained rabble.”

Luchen Talos, standing calmly beside the Duke, disagreed. “Actually,” he said, his voice thoughtful, “they move with discipline. And look at their equipment – it’s good quality. Roger, are you letting your dislike of McLain cloud your judgment?”

Roger Bipros shot Luchen a sharp, angry look. “And are *you* being too trusting, Luchen? We don’t know what McLain is really planning.”

Luchen Talos was an ordinary-looking man. Brown hair, blue eyes – he could be anyone in the Grandia Kingdom. Roger Bipros had never liked him.

In Roger’s eyes, Luchen was lazy and useless. A man with no drive, no goals, who seemed to enjoy getting in other people’s way. Most people agreed with Roger’s view of Luchen.

If Luchen hadn’t been married to the Margrave’s daughter – the Margrave being a very powerful lord – Roger wouldn’t have bothered talking to him at all.

*He’s the kind of man who would have stayed out of this war if he wasn’t Duke Valtmaim’s nephew,* Roger thought scornfully.

Yet, strangely, Duke Valtmaim trusted Luchen deeply. That’s why Luchen stood beside him now, advising him, always asked for his opinion first.

“What do you think, Luchen?” the Duke asked him for his opinion first, as he did now.

“Look at them,” Luchen continued, calmly ignoring Roger’s glare. “Their armor, their weapons – it’s as good as anything *we* have. They are well-trained. And,” he added, with a slight smile, “they clearly have the power to make Lord Roger look foolish. If they are truly here to help, they will be a great strength to us.”

Roger Bipros scoffed. “For once,” he muttered, “we agree on something.”

“Though I doubt they are here to betray us,” Luchen said, shaking his head slightly.

Duke Valtmaim cut him off. “Tell Prince Romain we welcome the McLain family. The more troops they bring, the better.” Roger protested, “Your Grace!” The Duke waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t worry so much, Roger. Remember what I said before? We’ll use them as shields – let them take the first blows, weaken the enemy. Then, we’ll get rid of them when we don’t need them anymore.”

“Enough,” the Duke said firmly. “We use them up to hurt the First Prince. That’s all that matters right now. Understand?”

“Understood.”

Soon, the McLain army reached the gates of Alun Castle. The heavy wooden gates creaked open, and a group of riders emerged, a banner with a phoenix leading the way. Knights, over five hundred of them, in shining armor. And… were those *two* figures radiating power? Transcendents. Powerful warriors.

But at the very front, carried high above the soldiers by eight men, was a palanquin – a covered couch for royalty. And there, lounging on it, was Prince Romain von Grancia. Young, arrogant, his face set in a sneer as he looked down at the approaching McLain family.

Patrick McLain, Logan’s father, knelt before the palanquin. “Loyalty!” he declared, his voice ringing out. “Patrick McLain greets His Highness Romain von Grancia, the rightful heir to the throne!” Behind him, the knights dropped to one knee in perfect unison. But the soldiers behind them were less organized. Some knelt, some stood, creating a messy, uneven scene.

The Prince finally spoke, his voice dripping with disdain. “Rightful heir? Of course. That’s obvious. But you’re late. Very late.”

*What is this arrogant fool?* Logan thought, anger flashing through him. He had to bite back the words that almost escaped his lips as he bowed his head, following his father’s lead.