Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 193

“Knights! What are you doing! Make way for our guests!”

When the mayor shouted, the knights of Luthspellheim quickly moved to the front.

And then…

“Hey! Don’t push!”

“They’re knights, move aside!”

“Those are soldiers! Quickly, move!”

The city gate was already full of people, and now everyone was confused.

But no one argued with the knights and soldiers. Quickly, they made a clear path for Logan and his group.

“What’s with that giant’s group?”

“Is this happening because of them?”

“Ugh, a normal person can’t even live in peace.”

The mayor smiled, looking pleased at the clear path. He bowed to Logan and held out his hand.

“Come this way, please. I will guide you.”

“…Understood.”

Logan and his group felt everyone staring at them. They followed the mayor, feeling a little uncomfortable.

“…Is this usually how it’s done when a national envoy is dispatched? The mayor coming to the city gate himself?”

“No, it’s not normal. I was here ten years ago, and it wasn’t like this. He was the mayor then too.”

Logan whispered to Luther Kyle, confused. Luther’s answer made him even more confused.

Moreover…

“Why is the mayor acting like that?”

“I don’t know. Normally, he wouldn’t move a step from his residence.”

“Exactly.”

Logan was even more confused when he overheard the Luthspellheim knights talking. His good hearing picked up their words.

“Lord Logan McLaine, I’ve heard so much about you! Everyone in the city is talking about Grandia’s new hero, the young star of your kingdom…”

The mayor spoke in the common language, but with an accent different from Grandia. It sounded like he was from the center of the Empire.

Dmitri Ryan, the mayor of Luthspellheim, introduced himself. He was a middle-aged man who seemed friendly, and he talked much more than Logan thought he would.

And almost everything he said was praise for Logan, which made Logan feel uncomfortable.

Apart from knowing the kingdom’s affairs to an unusual extent.

“Do you know this mayor? He’s acting like he’s your best friend.”

Luther Kyle looked completely shocked. Logan could see how strange the mayor was acting.

But Logan couldn’t just ask the mayor why he was being so nice.

Logan’s face felt hot from all the praise. He tried to look like he didn’t care as he followed the mayor.

As soon as they entered the city gate, the sights were amazing. Logan and his group were fascinated.

The first thing they noticed were the tall, three-story buildings. They lined both sides of a huge road, at least 50 meters wide.

The buildings were all the same, built in straight lines with equal spaces between them. It felt organized and clean, not crowded.

Countless people were doing business inside those buildings and along the avenue, displaying all sorts of goods.

“This outer part of the city is mostly market. It’s why Luthspellheim is known as the biggest trading city in the east. Of course, it’s not as big as Aserian. The Empire is the biggest country, so they have everything. But if you need anything, you can find it here. We have almost everything!”

The mayor, who had been praising Logan until now, looked around the street with a proud expression and spread his arms to the left and right.

Indeed, the sight was impressive enough to warrant such pride.

“Rare animals from the far west of the continent! Come and see!”

“Selling monster beast Calcutta’s horns and hides!”

“Fruits that only grow deep in the southern mountains!”

Countless items that they had never seen in Grandia caught the party’s attention.

“It wasn’t like this even ten years ago… The Empire’s pace of development is fast.”

Luther Kyle, the oldest of the group, looked around in amazement. The others were also staring at everything, like they had never seen a big city before.

“Our land has grown a lot because of you, Logan, but this is something else entirely! The Empire is amazing… Ugh! Why? Ah… Hey, you guys! Stay in line! Are you here to have fun or what?!”

Henderson kept saying how amazing everything was. Victor nudged him hard in the side, making him stop and get back in line.

And the mayor, who had been watching all of this with a proud look, shifted his gaze to Logan, but…

Logan’s face showed no particular change.

‘This city is impressive, but I know it will be even more amazing in twenty years.’

While his friends were looking at the market, Logan was watching the soldiers and knights around the mayor.

‘The soldiers here are about as strong as I remember them being. If they are the same now as they will be in twenty years, that means…’

Logan was thinking to himself when the mayor spoke, his eyes suddenly bright.

“Oh, I just remembered! A merchant group from McLaine visited recently. They were very impressive. They set up a branch here very quickly.”

“…Does the mayor pay attention to individual merchant groups?”

“Haha. Because Luthspellheim is close to Grandia, we always listen for news from your country. And of course, I pay attention to anything about the McLaine family. You’ll see in the report later, I’ve helped them as much as I could.”

“I understand. It seems I owe you thanks. Thank you for your help, Mayor.”

“Don’t mention it. It’s just good for the friendship between our countries. Everyone says the McLaine family is very powerful in Grandia, right?”

“Haha. That’s an overestimation.”

Although he kept smiling, Logan’s eyes grew even colder.

It was the closest metropolis to Grandia, but it was still a three-day ride away.

For the mayor of such a city to keep in mind the news of Grandia and even take care of the news of an individual merchant group?

‘He was probably the mayor during the Imperial War too… Could he have been planning for war even back then?’

It seemed necessary to investigate carefully.

Logan calmed himself down and kept talking to the mayor, even though the conversation didn’t mean much. Soon, they reached a large building.

“This is the Luthspellheim government building. It’s also my office and home.”

They stopped in front of a huge building. It had seven stories, taller than almost any building in Grandia, except for mage towers. Mayor Dmitri looked back at Logan, very proud.

“I’ll prepare a guest room inside, so feel free to rest as much as you like.”

There was no reason to refuse, so Logan readily nodded.

“Thank you. I appreciate your kindness, Mayor.”

It was just a meaningless formality, like the conversations they had been having all along, but…

“Hahaha. I would be very grateful if you would.”

An odd answer followed.

It seemed he had taken the polite words at face value.

Logan had no choice but to ask back with an awkward expression.

“…Is there anything I can help you with?”

But then…

“Ah, no. I just hope you remember me when you become a powerful person in the Empire.”

The mayor’s words were strange.

“A high-ranking official in the Empire? Me? What are you…?”

Logan said, feeling how ridiculous it sounded.

Nevertheless, the mayor nodded as if it were natural.

“Yes. Because you received an invitation from His Majesty the Emperor.”

‘Why is he talking nonsense when I asked a simple question?’

‘Are mayors in the Empire not very smart?’

Logan was so confused, he turned to the giant next to him without thinking.

“What are you talking about?”

“…I don’t know either.”

“I’m hearing this right, aren’t I?”

“Yes. I think that mayor is out of his mind.”

Luther Kyle’s face twisted in anger. He spoke loudly, making sure the mayor could hear.

But the mayor didn’t react. Maybe he didn’t hear, or maybe he was pretending. He just kept smiling calmly.

So Logan had no choice but to ask again.

“Isn’t there perhaps some misunderstanding? I came here as a national envoy.”

“Ah, it seems you are the one who is wrong.”

“Yes?”

Not you? Me?

Logan looked completely shocked.

“This invitation is not just a normal invitation. The Emperor sent it to ‘Logan McLaine’ personally, not to a national envoy. It’s very different. Very different.”

“Is that related to the… strange things you said earlier?”

Only then did the mayor smile and nod.

“Yes. Actually, most of the people who get special invitations from the Emperor now work for him. The Emperor loves talented people, and he gives them jobs that match their skills.”

Now Logan understood what the mayor was saying.

But Logan still felt it was too much to believe.

“Haha. Things are different for me. Maybe I’m not as good as people in the Empire, but I already have a powerful family.”

Even to those obvious words, the mayor simply smiled and replied.

“Just remember what I said. I’m just telling you this, just in case.”

At those words, the expressions of the knights behind Logan turned grim.

They thought the mayor was looking down on McLaine and Grandia.

“How dare you disregard our kingdom?!”

Luther Kyle shouted loudly, but Logan stopped him.

“Luther, calm down. He’s not trying to insult us.”

“No, but even so, there are rules for treating an envoy! And he’s saying such crazy things…!”

“It’s not nonsense according to his standards.”

“Hmph…”

Logan held Luther Kyle back and looked at the mayor again.

The mayor’s face was still calm. Logan was sure now.

‘Does he really think I would do that? Is he crazy?’

Logan understood. The nobles in the Empire really thought they were better than everyone else.

“…I understand. I’ll keep your words in mind, Mayor.”

Even that arrogance.

As Logan was about to turn around, thinking that…

“I heard that His Majesty the Emperor’s guest has arrived, Mayor.”

A sharp voice suddenly rang out, drawing everyone’s attention.

‘Who is that?!’

The voice came from a middle-aged man. He had plain brown hair, dark eyes, a mustache, and a serious look on his face.

But everyone reacted to his voice, even though he looked ordinary. It was not by chance.

“He is a Transcendent.”

Thud.

Luther Kyle stepped in front of Logan, ready to fight. The faces of everyone in Logan’s group turned serious.

Except for Logan, who already knew.

“Who… are you?”

And the answer to that came from right in front of him.

“Ah! It’s Lord Blake. Lord Logan, this is Count Blake Evandor. He leads the 3rd Corps, a top unit in the Empire’s Western Army.”

“Mayor, you’re exaggerating. It’s just the 3rd Army of the West. But maybe this person is…?”

“Yes. He is the one.”

As the mayor answered, Blake politely extended his hand to Logan.

“If you don’t mind, could I see the Emperor’s invitation?”

Logan sighed to himself at how crazy this was. He took out the invitation from inside his clothes and gave it to Blake.

The Transcendent looked at the invitation closely. Then, his eyebrows went up in surprise. He politely gave the invitation back to Logan with both hands.

Logan took the invitation back without thinking.

“I’ve checked the Emperor’s letter. It’s really from him. It’s my honor to take you where you need to go.”

“…Eh?”

“From now on, I, Blake, will make sure you get to the Imperial Capital safely, Lord Logan.”

It sounded unbelievable.