Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 179

Everyone knew it was wrong to use magic words for things other than magic. It made it harder to focus and spells often failed.

Clayton had always taught his students this, but now he felt like begging the heavens.

“Please, please…,”

He was using simple magic, what mages called ‘First Circle’ magic. It was only meant for normal steel.

But the blue liquid around the steel was special – it was made of rare and magical metals, mithril and black metal. If it failed, one million gold would be wasted – gone like smoke.

This experiment was paid for with the last bit of money from the ten million gold the Grand Duke had given him.

If he failed, he wouldn’t get to try again. This was his last chance, and it made him feel sick with worry.

“Please, please, please, please! Gods of magic, gods of luck, please help me!”

He looked pathetic, a powerful mage on his knees, begging for help from the gods. But Clayton was that desperate.

‘I made such promises to the Grand Duke; I can’t fail again!’

Not only would he lose face with his family, but his pride as a mage would also crumble.

But.

The gods ignored him.

Pshhh.

The special liquid, bubbling a moment ago, suddenly went cold with a soft hiss.

“Ah, no!”

Clayton screamed, falling back into his chair.

He couldn’t help it.

The mithril and black metal were ruined. The magic was gone, and they were just useless, hard pieces of metal.

“O-one million gold! One million gold, noooo!!!”

Clayton cried out, grabbing his head with both hands. Tears started to come as he wailed. He was a pathetic sight, this powerful mage.

Even a mage was just a person, it seemed, controlled by money problems.

Clayton, still sad and defeated, stayed on the floor for a long time. His students heard his shouts and knocked on the door. It took him two days to feel better after his failure before he could even look at the experiment again.

“The idea is perfect! I made it even better! So why did it fail?”

Clayton had been so sure of this idea that he had asked Logan for the money.

But after failing many times in a row, he knew something was wrong with his perfect idea.

He had to find improvements somehow.

After much deliberation, reviewing the experiment, Clayton found a crucial hint.

“That’s it! That’s where it went wrong! Blast it! If I fix that…”

But there was a significant problem.

‘I need money to fix the problem and prove my idea works. But to get money, I need to show it works first!’

It was a cruel joke.

Moreover, he had evaporated the last remaining budget into thin air two days ago.

“Damn it! Idiot! I should have kept some money back. Why did I think this time would be different after so many failures! Ugh!!”

He hit his head with his fist, again and again, angry at himself for what he had done.

‘Wait… have I been here before? This feels familiar.’

He almost realized he was in a repeating pattern, but his pride stopped him from seeing it clearly.

“Money, I need money.”

He didn’t know how much time had passed, but he was aware that it hadn’t been long since he received the money.

He needed to put on a brave face.

For his research… no, for the development of the territory.

‘That’s right. This is all for the territory.’

Clenching his fist and rising, Clayton ran towards the mansion with a determined resolve.

He went to see Logan. In front of him, Clayton put his hands together and bowed politely.

“…Ten million gold? In less than two months?”

Logan’s voice was full of shock.

Anyone would think it was crazy, so it was no surprise he reacted like this.

The problem was that he was the one hearing those words.

Clayton forcibly raised his drooping head, squeezing out his voice as much as possible.

“There was a tiny, tiny mistake in the experiment. I know I can make it work next time!”

He tried to stand up straight and look strong, but the Grand Duke just looked at him coldly, like he was looking at someone with a bad habit.

“I, I really found a definite improvement. The experimental costs can also be reduced, and if it succeeds, it’s a tremendous study that would make the invested costs seem like mere pocket change. You know that, don’t you, Grand Duke!”

Did his fervent appeal work?

“Yes, I know. I know well enough, but the budget right now… Heh heh.”

The Grand Duke’s eyes wavered.

Clayton, sensing an opportunity, launched into another passionate speech.

“The Magic Tower now has six students. I used some of the money to make magic circles to test them. Even if the experiment fails, these new mages can help build things in your lands. You know how good our school is at building, right, Grand Duke?”

“…I remember you promised you wouldn’t make the students work too hard when you came here.”

It felt like a punch to the stomach. Clayton felt guilty.

“B-but the students learn magic and how to control magical creatures while they build. It helps them grow stronger…”

He knew it was a weak and silly excuse, but he had to say something.

Clayton was now the only mage in the kingdom since Hwan Douglas died. He had been worried about money for a long time.

“Enough,” Logan said firmly, and slammed his hand on the desk.

Bang! Clayton’s eyes went wide with fear.

“G-Grand Duke…”

But then Logan said something surprising.

“I will give the Magic Tower more money as soon as I have extra. It won’t be long, so please wait.”

“R-really?”

“Yes. Really.”

“Aaaah! Grand Duke! Thank you! Thank you!”

Logan couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched Clayton repeatedly bowing.

‘He’s really innocent, even if he doesn’t look it,’ Logan thought. He knew Clayton was keeping careful records of all the money, and not wasting any. Besides, Logan had asked him to do this research when he gave him Craune’s book. Now Clayton was so focused on it, he was even begging for more money! Seeing how innocent the mage was made losing so much money a little easier to accept.

Logan had a plan. He also needed to talk to Clayton.

“Clayton, if you’re not doing experiments, do you have some free time?”

“Huh? Ah, yes. The disciples are selecting new students, so I’m free….”

“Good. Until the budget is restored, come with me somewhere.”

“Huh? Where to?”

“Have you heard of the Taren region?”

“Yes. I heard the family received a new territory.”

Logan saw Clayton looked confused and smiled.

“We’re going there. Just asking, can you use exploration magic deep beneath the earth’s surface?”

“Yes? Of course. I am an earth-based mage, after all.”

“Then that’s settled. Hamar will come too, so prepare immediately.”

“……Right now?”

“Yes.”

“You do want the budget, right?”

Logan gave him a look that said he had to come.

“Of course, I’ll go. I’ll prepare immediately.”

Clayton had no choice but to nod.

Logan went to the noisy workshop, filled with tools and half-finished projects. He dragged Hamar, who was carving the 142nd Eye of Noir, and put him on a horse.

“It’s not fair! Some people get asked nicely, and I just get dragged along!” Hamar grumbled. “Everyone should be treated the same!”

Hamar complained for days about being taken on this trip. Logan was starting to get used to it. The small brown pony he rode walked slowly, its ears drooping low. Logan wondered if the pony was also tired of Hamar’s words.

‘He really doesn’t stop,’ Logan thought, but he couldn’t help but smile a little. He actually liked Hamar, even when he was grumpy. Logan decided to give Hamar his reward early. He had planned to give it to him when they arrived in Taren, but why wait?

“Hamar, come here,” Logan called.

“Yes, yes, I’m coming,” Hamar sighed. “Like I have a choice. I’ll do whatever you say.”

The pony plodded closer. Logan tried not to laugh at Hamar’s grumpy face. He pulled out the magic contract and waved it in front of Hamar.

“Remember this?” Logan asked, teasingly.

Hamar’s face got even worse. “Yes, yes! How could I forget? This is why I’m working like a donkey!”

Logan thought Hamar’s mood was very bad now. But he knew Hamar would be very happy with the gift. So, Logan waited a little longer to give it to him.

“I gained a lot from the last war, but I haven’t given anything to you, who could be called the biggest contributor. Well, it doesn’t seem like you want great wealth and honor…….”

“……?”

Hamar tilted his head as if sensing something, his expression gradually changing.

Logan subtly enjoyed that expression and held the contract in front of him.

“So, I’m thinking of giving you this slave contract as a gift. To be destroyed right here…….”

And he put strength into his hand.

“No!! Stop!! Master, leave that hand alone! Uh-oh! Don’t put strength into it! Sss! What are you doing?!”

The dwarf, stepping on the pony’s saddle, jumped and clung to Logan’s hands, dangling.

“……What are you doing?”

He was about to give him freedom, though?

Logan stared in disbelief.

“This is a contract that guarantees my freedom in 20 years…… no, 16 years now, who said you could tear it up? Tear it?!”

“What? No, I mean, I’m giving you freedom now, not in 16 years…….”

“If Master tears this up, you’ll just use me indefinitely! You won’t let me go! I know everything!!”

Looking at the dwarf’s face, who was almost crying, Logan had no choice but to lower his hand blankly.

“No, I promise. If I achieve my goal…….”

“What’s that goal?”

“…….”

“See, you can’t say! This is a trick to not let me go, isn’t it?!”

How could he accept someone’s kindness with such malice?

Logan glared at the dwarf, feeling a deep wound being etched into his heart.

“Even if you glare at me like that, it’s absolutely no! I, I can’t let you break this promise!”

“Haven’t I kept my promises fairly well?”

“Huh?”

Hamar’s expression twisted at those words.

A few things came to mind, making him feel a little guilty, but Logan brazenly put on a straight face.

“Why? What?”

“You’re like a spawn of the devil. Anyway, I can’t give this up!”

“Yeah. You keep it. Well, if it’s a gift that way, then that’s good. Heh heh.”

Logan felt a little sad because Hamar didn’t want his gift. He just nodded, feeling a bit disappointed.

But he felt uneasy about just passing it over in good conscience.

“Since the person doesn’t want a reward, what should I do with this……. If Hamar was a human, I could give him money or make him important. But dwarves don’t care about those things, right? Maybe I should buy him mithril?”

Hamar had another fit at those words.

“Who said dwarves love making weapons so much?! If I find that person, I will be very angry! Don’t say such terrible things.”

“Lux will cry.”

Whether it really heard him or it was just a coincidence, the beloved sword Lux, hanging on his waist, seemed to tremble slightly.

Perhaps feeling a little guilty himself, Hamar kept clearing his throat while looking at Logan’s waist.

“Well, sometimes it’s nice when I make something that feels like a work of art, like Lux……. Anyway! That’s generally not the case at all!”

His attitude was so firm.

Logan shook his head with a bitter smile.

“And who said dwarves don’t like money and being important? Master, where did you learn these ideas about dwarves? Who told you these strange things?!”

“What?”

“I want to drink beer, tear into meat, and laze around while patting my belly every day too!! I want to order people around, scold them, and make them work! I don’t want to work! I want to enjoy wealth and honor!!”

In order to appease Hamar, who was eventually protesting by rolling on the ground, Logan had to promise a great many things.