Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 200

When he heard the Bishop’s words, a picture of Stella popped into Logan’s head. Stella, his mentor’s little daughter, with her big, bright eyes and tiny hands. She had just started to call him ‘Ahjji’, her baby voice making the word sound short and sweet. He remembered her naming ceremony clearly.

“Hmm, I think I saw something like that once,” Logan said, thinking of Stella. “Is it a big problem?”

“Well,” the Bishop replied, “not too serious. It’s more common than you might think for people to be… less open to divine power.”

*Less open to divine power?* Logan wondered. *What does that mean?*

“So, it’s just how some people are born?” Logan asked. “It’s not important?”

“Yes, in most cases. Sometimes people just don’t receive divine power very well. Our order even studies these people to find better ways to share the gods’ blessings.”

*Study them?* Logan thought, his eyebrows moving closer together. *What kind of study?*

“But usually, it’s very rare,” the Bishop continued. “Only one or two cases in a hundred years across the whole continent. But recently, there are rumors that many babies like this are being born in Grandia… Oh dear, you really didn’t know?”

“No, I’m sorry,” Logan said. “I only saw it once, by accident…”

“As a ruler, I thought you would care about your people’s health, about babies and children…” The Bishop paused. “Ah, I forgot how young you are. You must still be the heir, not the ruler yet.”

“No,” Logan said, feeling a little ashamed. “I should have paid more attention.” He knew it was too late to say there were few temples in Grandia outside the big cities. McLaine territory was too big now for that excuse.

Logan lowered his head slightly. Bishop Plentas quickly added, “No, no. Many parents bring sick babies to the temple. It might just be a false rumor caused by illnesses that are hard to cure. Sadly, priests who are not well-trained or strong in faith have limits to their divine power.” He spoke quickly, as if worried he had sounded like he was scolding Logan.

*If it was just a rumor, he wouldn’t have said so much,* Logan thought. Stella’s face came to mind again. *Should I check this when I return?*

Bishop Plentas’s words left a small worry in Logan’s heart.

“Logan, you’re back! Our hero!” Luther shouted as Logan walked into the detached palace. Luther opened his arms wide, like he was going to give Logan a huge, crushing hug. Logan laughed and quickly stepped to the side to avoid it. Luther grinned and gave Logan a thumbs up.

“I was really surprised back at the Great Hall,” Luther said.

“Me too,” Logan agreed.

“No, I mean your answer!” Luther exclaimed.

“Ah…”

“The Emperor’s offer was amazing, Logan. I really admire your loyalty to your kingdom.”

Logan sighed. “Even if I had said yes, it wouldn’t have been free.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you think the Emperor would just give me land and riches as big as a kingdom? No matter how powerful he is, that’s impossible. He would make me work for it, do something big.”

“You’re strong enough. You could do it!” Luther said, patting Logan hard on the shoulder. Logan still couldn’t smile.

*The ‘something big’ is probably conquering a kingdom,* Logan thought. *Where else would land that size come from?*

*If he tells me to conquer a kingdom and makes me governor, the Emperor keeps his word and gets more land for the Empire.* It was just a guess, but Logan felt it was likely true. The Emperor, who had made the Empire so strong, didn’t seem like someone who spoke without a plan. Just being noticed by the Emperor was already a problem.

“Is the Spring Festival a month long?” Logan asked. “I should go back as soon as it ends.”

“Yeah, let’s do that,” Luther agreed.

A week passed. For a whole week after what happened at the Great Hall, Logan stayed inside the palace building. He didn’t want the Emperor to notice him anymore. The Emperor also left Logan alone. But others did not. Every day, different people came to the palace. Nobles from all over the Empire.

“I wish to see Lord Logan. I am Baron Burten…”

“Viscount Cuff here, from the Asrian Tax Office…”

“Viscount Pomaine of the Ministry of Finance. Is Lord Logan available?”

It seemed like every noble in Asrian below the rank of Count came to visit at least once. And they all brought gifts.

“What is all *this*?” Luther asked, his eyes wide as he looked at the huge pile of presents. Gifts were stacked high in a corner of the palace room. There were magical items, sparkling jewels, and rare medicines that were almost impossible to find in Grandia, even with lots of money. Logan had received treasures worth hundreds of thousands of gold coins, maybe even millions if they were very valuable, just as simple greetings. And these were from the *less important* nobles of the Empire.

“This is crazy!” Luther exclaimed. “They give *this* as a ‘hello’ gift?” He tried to calculate in his head. The value of these gifts could pay for running a territory the size of a Count’s land for years in their kingdom. Even for the rich Empire, this seemed unbelievable.

*Maybe…* Logan thought, remembering the Emperor’s words: *Show the Empire’s prosperity.*

Nobles of higher rank, Counts and above, didn’t visit in person. It seemed they were too proud. Instead, they sent invitations with servants. But these were not normal invitations. When Logan opened one, tearing the seal, a strange magical light came out. Then, a small figure appeared above the letter – an old man with a white beard, like a ghost made of light. His voice was low and formal.

[Lord Logan. I am Ashley Burtman, Count and Deputy Minister of Finance of Asrian. His Majesty the Emperor is very interested in you. I invite you to discuss the Empire’s future and the friendship between our lands. If you accept… ]

“A magical letter that rolls up like a scroll,” Logan said. “They really have too much money.”

“Dozens of these invitations,” Victor said. “If you went to all of them, months would pass.”

“Yes, I can’t do that,” Logan sighed.

Luther, who had been listening, spoke up. “Now even *I’m* getting gifts! They want me to come to parties with you. Imagine, me, Luther Kyle, just a ‘sidekick’!” He smirked, but he didn’t really seem upset.

If you didn’t know about the Empire’s plans for war, this would all seem like a good thing. The powerful nobles of the Empire were trying to be friendly. But Logan knew better.

*The Empire’s war is not my biggest worry,* Logan thought. *I have so many problems back home in my kingdom.* He couldn’t get any news from Grandia here. He sighed deeply.

Luther teased, “Why so serious, Mr. Popular? Even your men are getting gifts. Why not enjoy this a little?”

*Subordinates?* Logan looked at Henderson and the other knights. They looked nervous. Only Victor met his gaze calmly. “You guys…” Logan started.

“W-we just took a few coins to say good things about you, Lord!” Henderson stammered.

“We didn’t tell them anything important, Lord! I swear!” another knight added.

*Yes, you wouldn’t,* Logan thought. *Because you don’t know anything.* He sighed again.

“Don’t be too hard on them,” Luther said, chuckling. “The Emperor pointed you out. Of course, people will try to talk to your men. But they didn’t pass on any requests to you, right?”

That was true. If they had, Logan would have been angry.

“They took the bribes and did nothing,” Luther laughed. “That’s good enough.”

Logan tried to end the conversation. “If you keep this up, I might just stay here in the Empire.”

“Hey! Don’t joke like that just because I’m teasing you. I’m just saying, relax. There’s no rush, right?”

“…There is a rush,” Logan said, his voice low and serious.

“Ah. Okay, okay…” Luther’s cheerful face changed. He became quiet. The knights also looked at Logan, and the room became silent and tense.

Logan realized he had spoken too sharply. *Obsession. It’s an obsession. I know it, but…*

It had only been two weeks in the Imperial Palace. He knew it wasn’t normal to feel this worried. Even his training to stay calm wasn’t working well. But how could he not worry? He had seen the Empire’s power again, and the Emperor himself. Suddenly, all his plans and preparations felt small and weak. It was natural to feel impatient.

*Should I just leave?* The thought came to him – just ignore the Emperor and go back now. He wasn’t an official ambassador, so they couldn’t really stop him. *But hoping nothing bad will happen is foolish.*

Three weeks until the Spring Festival ended. He would just have to wait until then and leave. As he tried to calm his worried heart…

The Emperor sent an invitation.

Logan couldn’t refuse an invitation from the Emperor himself. He had planned to just spend some time here and go back. But as soon as he entered the party, he knew he had made a mistake.

“Red hair, red eyes. You must be the one everyone is talking about. What was your name again?”

“Logan, madam,” he replied.

“Ah, yes, Logan!”

The Imperial Palace banquet hall was huge, like a giant room that could hold a thousand people. It was so crowded around Logan that it was strange, like he was the most important person at the party, even though he wasn’t. *What is going on?* Logan wondered.

Sparkling lights from huge chandeliers, food so fancy it was hard to imagine, expensive wines that smelled and tasted amazing, and beautiful music playing softly. It was a truly grand party. But Logan felt like he was walking on sharp stones.

“That’s the…”

“The kingdom guy…”

“The Emperor is being too kind to him…”

“Should we say hello, just in case?”

“It’s good to make friends with important people.”

People came up to him with fake smiles, not realizing he could hear everything they said. Logan was getting tired of these foolish people who were making him dislike the Empire even more.

Then, the voice he had been waiting for boomed through the hall.

“His Majesty the Emperor is entering!”

Everyone turned to look as the huge doors of the banquet hall opened. The Emperor walked in, looking powerful and impressive, with many knights and servants around him.

“We greet His Majesty the Emperor!” everyone shouted, kneeling down.

But the Emperor didn’t go to his throne. He walked straight towards Logan.

“Logan McLaine, the ‘Star of Grandia’,” the Emperor said, his voice full of laughter. “Are you enjoying the party?”

*‘Star of Grandia’?* Logan’s face, which was lowered, tightened slightly into a frown.