Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 144

Logan told himself it was okay. *It was always a risk, fifty-fifty.* He needed to focus on meeting the Third Prince now. *And I can still convince my master,* he thought.

The night streets of the capital rushed by below as Logan ran across the rooftops. He tried hard to feel better about what had just happened.

He had not gotten the Sword Master to fully agree to help him, which was a big disappointment. But Logan knew he had other plans.

‘Persuading the Third Prince will be very easy,’ Logan thought confidently.

Would he accept a fate of death or lifelong confinement, or would he take a chance and believe in the slightest possibility of becoming king?

Most people would choose the latter if they could.

The Third Prince that Logan had seen would certainly choose the latter.

Logan knew what he needed now: people who would fight for him, his family, and the Third Prince. He needed to gather strong allies.

‘I hope it goes as planned……’

After running in the dark for what felt like a long time, Logan arrived at a large house. Even in the dim light, he could see beautiful flowers carved into the stone walls of the mansion.

“These demands are too much! Are they serious?” Count Roberts Floyd, who should have been sleeping soundly at this late hour, sat up in bed, his hands running through his hair in worry.

The reason he couldn’t sleep was just two pieces of paper.

Give us the Margrave title that will be empty because of the war, if you join us.

He covered another letter with similar content and looked at the ceiling with a hollow laugh.

Rumors were spreading that both sides had been badly hurt in the big fight at Harun Castle last week. The damage was worse than anyone first thought.

And the aftermath of those rumors was the letters now in his hand.

Both factions were now slowly reaching out to neutral forces.

Although not an official force, thanks to the Sword Master, who was the first to say they would stay neutral, many nobles near the capital, especially around Esperanza, had said they would stay neutral.

Of course, they were not a force comparable to the First and Second Prince factions, but they had enough power to tip the balance if they sided with one of them.

So, the two sides couldn’t easily attack these neutral nobles. But it was easy for them to try and tempt them with great offers.

‘The Sword Master won’t stop families from changing their minds about being neutral. Not unless he has to force them.’

And as this situation unfolded, he remembered the words of that annoying young man, Logan, who had tricked him and taken that valuable magical item six months ago.

“He told me to stay neutral if I could. Could he have seen this coming? No, impossible…”

“I did foresee it.”

“Gasp!”

Roberts Floyd practically jumped at the voice that suddenly came from behind him.

“Wh-who is it!”

He wasn’t very strong physically, but as someone who could use magic – a Force User – with the skills of a regular knight, he was still easily startled.

Especially since he knew the defenses and alarm magic spread throughout the mansion.

But the voice that followed surprised him even more than the sudden intrusion.

“It’s me, Father-in-law.”

A familiar voice. But the face revealed when he took off the black mask was unfamiliar.

“Logan? No, that hair color…… and why are your eyes like that?”

“First, I apologize for visiting you so rudely. I have something important to tell you in secret……”

Logan’s words that followed made Roberts Floyd’s face gradually harden.

And the first answer was negative, just like his expression.

“It’s certainly an interesting story, but this is something that could risk everything for my family. It’s difficult for me to make a decision easily.”

He expressed it indirectly with the word ‘difficult,’ but Roberts Floyd’s face was dark.

If it weren’t for the family his daughter had entrusted herself to, he would have shaken his head immediately.

But Logan stayed calm.

“Isn’t it because you think that even if you gather all the strength of the neutral nobles, it’s still too small to matter, Father-in-law?”

“I won’t deny it. Besides, the fact that you specifically chose me as the center to gather the neutral forces means that His Excellency Felix has already refused, right?”

Logan gave a bitter smile at Roberts’s guess.

“I’m thinking of persuading my master more. It seems he still needs time.”

“Well……. Given what he said, I wonder if he will really change his mind……”

The Count, with an even darker complexion, replied with a long sigh.

“Ahem. Anyway. Even if the Esperanza Dukedom joins us and gathers all the neutral forces, it’s still difficult to stand against one of the factions. It’s incredibly dangerous. They are even offering amazing deals now because they are very desperate.”

“I know.”

“You’re saying that even though you know? There are already families who have joined factions and headed to the front lines.”

“I know that too.”

In the original history, the father-in-law before him, Roberts Floyd, would have tried to join the Second Prince faction as well.

‘It’s a bit early, but.’

Besides Floyd, the families who had given in to the offers from the factions and stopped being neutral in his past life had already said they were leaving.

So, Logan was able to make this plan.

Those who would stick with those guys have already stuck with them.

“However, there is one fact that you don’t know, Father-in-law.”

“……What is it?”

“The fact that the power of our McLaine, which will add strength to that alliance, is strong enough to face two or even three Margraves at once.”

“I’ve heard stories that your family has been active in the war, but that’s a bit…….”

“Recently, we also made Marquis Kalia’s army retreat. Of course, it was with the elite, accompanied by that incredibly strong warrior, Storm Sword.”

He didn’t even mention that the forces remaining in the territory were not included.

He believed that was persuasive enough.

“……Is that true?”

Indeed, the Count, who was showing a change of heart, had a completely different look in his eyes than before.

However…….

“Princess Aileen was also at the scene. Wouldn’t it be better to ask her directly? Perhaps communication will be possible soon.”

“Wh-what?!”

“Wouldn’t that be certain…….”

“You took my daughter to the battlefield?! And to a place with the Storm Sword?! You, you crazy ba……!!”

Logan realized he had upset his father-in-law by not thinking about how a father would feel about his daughter going to war. He had to calm down the very angry Count, sweating as he tried to explain.

But after the Count calmed down after much effort.

“So, the McLaine and Esperanza Dukedom……. If we add the remaining neutral noble forces there, it would certainly be possible. At least it seems better than taking a big risk that could destroy our family.”

“Then……?”

“I will gladly join you. Please take care of me, ‘Son-in-law.’ Ah, of course, all of this must be on the premise that His Excellency the Sword Master will move.”

“……Of course.”

8 months into the civil war.

Roberts Floyd, the head of the Floyd County, which boasts the strongest force among the nobles who are still neutral, accepted Logan’s proposal.

The next day.

Logan, who entered his master’s mansion in the same way as the day before, was able to meet the Third Prince, who looked more tired than the last time Logan saw him.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

Even at the sudden voice from behind, the Third Prince turned his head calmly, as if he knew.

And he gave a bitter smile as he looked at Logan, who had taken off his mask.

“Lord Logan,” the Prince said softly. “It has been a long time.”

“Your Highness, I hope you are well,” Logan replied. “I’ve come because I believe the time has arrived to keep the promise we made.”

“A promise…” the Prince repeated slowly.

The Prince’s face was as pale as moonlight, making his sharp blue eyes stand out even more. He looked at Logan with a gaze as sharp as ice.

Logan got right to the point. “As I said before, I have finished dealing with Roger Vifroth. Now, I want to help you become the ruler of this country, Your Highness. If that is what you want, of course.”

“Hmm…”

The word ‘ruler’ brought a faint pink color to his pale cheeks, and his blue eyes seemed to shine a little brighter.

However, the Third Prince, Rogers von Grandia, didn’t speak quickly. After a short pause, he said,

“I am stuck in a duke’s mansion, not the royal palace, under protection. And you are hiding your noble status while meeting with me. But… is that even possible right now? We’re both hiding, aren’t we?”

“Yes, it’s possible,” Logan said without hesitation.

At Logan’s confident answer, the Prince’s eyes sharpened a little.

“The First and Second Princes are fighting a lot. Because of this, they are becoming weaker. And I am preparing a force that can quickly defeat those weakened forces.”

“…How so?”

“Our family’s strength has already been shown on the battlefield. And we have more than twice that firepower waiting in my territory.”

“Huh?! Is that really true?”

The Prince’s eyes gleamed at the mention of double the strength.

‘He’s been paying attention to the war news. Good, that’s encouraging,’ Logan thought.

A confident smile formed on Logan’s lips, a smile that promised action.

“And if I can get my mentor to help with the neutral forces, we can easily defeat what’s left of the other groups. They have become much weaker now.”

“And they will support me in the end?”

The Third Prince’s eyes began to blaze with hope.

“Yes, that’s right. No noble would miss the chance to have a good position in a new country.”

“Even if your mentor doesn’t help?”

“Macline already has enough power, Your Highness. And as time goes on, things will get even better for us.”

A simple but sure plan.

For the first time in a while, the Third Prince smiled.

‘Trying to persuade my mentor all the time right now wouldn’t work. It would be better to go back and talk to him sometimes. From now on…’

From that day on, Logan secretly met with the important people from the neutral forces—forces that had stayed out of the fighting before, until the war ended. But in the end, they lost everything.

He planned to use them to help him achieve the surest plan he could imagine.

Logan left the Duke’s mansion with a plan forming in his mind. He needed to return to his territory and put things in motion.

By the time Logan returned to the territory, the air was filled with the sounds of hammering and the shouts of men training. The workshops were busy, and even the fields seemed to hum with a new energy.

“Increase the production of Liberatios and repeating crossbows as much as possible. Also, increase the training of the militia,” Logan ordered as soon as he got back to his territory.

“We have increased the production of crossbows, magazines, and Liberatios to more than 1.5 times what it was before. The militia is now almost 20,000 strong. However, some people have complained about the longer training times, especially since the harvest season is coming up…”

“That’s okay. Good job, Ronny.”

“It’s nothing, Brother. It’s only natural that I should do this.”

Logan patted his younger brother, who had become quite strong in the last few years, on the shoulder.

“What’s the news from the main battlefront?”

“They say it’s been quiet since the last fight a week ago.”

“What? Why?”

“Too early,” Logan thought. “They shouldn’t be this quiet yet. They couldn’t have lost that much already, could they?”

Ronian looked troubled as he met Logan’s questioning gaze.

“Well, I don’t know either. Maybe they are gathering their strength and supplies after regrouping?”

“…Well, maybe.”

He felt a little uneasy, but he couldn’t fully understand the situation at the front from where he was.

Instead of worrying, Logan decided to focus on making his family stronger right away.

“Good. You’ve done very well while I was away. Take this, it’s your reward.”

“Yes?”

“Take it. Think of it as a reward for keeping the territory safe.”

Ronian looked at the sword being offered to him.

The sword, with its sleek blade and runic inscriptions that looked like frozen rivers, gave off a bluish chill, even in the warm room. It was clearly a weapon of great power.

“It’s the sword used by Plantz, the Knight of Moonlight. It has the name Frigus engraved on it. It means ‘cold’ in an old language. It seems to be a 4th class weapon.”

“Why are you giving this to me? Even if you used it, Brother…”

“Lux has awakened natural magic, so I don’t need it.”

“Ah…! That was really possible! Wow! Really? That’s amazing!” Ronian exclaimed, his eyes wide with admiration.

However, he shook his head again.

“Ah, no. Still, I think it would be better if I didn’t accept this,” Ronian said, shaking his head with a genuine smile.

“What?”

“Then give it to Sister-in-law. Mane is good enough for me. Who knows? Mane might awaken natural magic like Lux.”

Lux was a masterpiece made with the soul of a dwarven master craftsman. Mane, which was a simpler version of it, was very different from Lux.

‘It’s not something Hamar can easily make again,’ Logan thought.

His brother knew that, and yet…

“This is to thank you for protecting the family while I was away. You can use it.”

The lower-grade sword that Aslan had been using instead of Velocitas, which his father had taken, had already been given to Heinkel.

Logan thought Ronian should get this sword, but…

“If so, then all the vassals should get something, not just me.”

“Huh, this guy…”

“As I said, it was only natural that I should do it. Isn’t the safety of your future wife, who will become the next head of Macline, more important, Brother?”

“That’s you… Hmm.”

“Yes?”

“No, it’s nothing. Well, if you say so, it would be better to do that.”

Besides being his fiancée, Aileen was also talented and could become a superhuman.

If not Ronian, giving it to Aileen wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“Oh, you seem to be smiling, Brother? Thinking about Aileen already, are you?”

“It’s because I’m proud of you, you rascal!”

He chuckled.

A future that was now very uncertain.

Even while sensing the approaching chaos, Logan could smile with relief, if only for a moment.