Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 258

“Ugh… heave-ho,” Eric grunted, straightening up. “Groan. Oh, my aching back!”

He was harvesting wheat, and his body protested with every move. But a wide smile stayed on his face.

Sweat stung his eyes and ran down his sunburnt skin. His back screamed from hours of swinging the scythe since sunrise. Yet, as he looked at the field before him, all pain faded. Golden wheat, thick and heavy, stretched as far as he could see. He’d farmed for forty years and never seen a harvest like this. It made every ache worthwhile. The air hummed with bees, drunk on pollen, and the sweet, dusty smell of ripe grain filled his lungs.

Even the vastness of the work ahead, like trying to empty an ocean, felt wonderfully overwhelming.

“Eric! Don’t rest by yourself, let’s rest together! Work faster now! You’re not thinking of resting only after you’ve done your field, are you?”

“Nagging me for stretching my back for a moment! I’m working! Here!”

His colleague Leon, shouting from beside him, seemed to be in the same mood, his face beaming with a smile.

Such happiness spread throughout the newly cultivated western wastelands. Happy sounds weren’t just in the western wastelands; they filled the king’s land.

“A bountiful year! A bountiful year!”

“Wow, look at these grains of wheat. I’ve been farming all my life, and I’ve never seen such robust grains.”

“And what about the rice!”

“We won’t have to worry about food this year!”

All of this was the result of the mana-infused farming method that had been used only in the McLaine territory last year.

This year, not only the newly cultivated western wastelands but also the entire royal land and the Esperanza territory were experiencing an unprecedented bumper crop.

Moreover, the taxes, which had skyrocketed last year, had been lowered to 30 percent, so the faces of the farmers sweating through the harvest were filled with joy.

The harvest throughout the kingdom was normal, but a bumper crop occurred only in the McLaine territory, the Esperanza territory, and the royal land.

This, along with the king’s purge of the nobles and the enforcement of new tax policies, created a strange rumor.

The land blessed by His Majesty the King is filled with abundance.

Those with even a basic education would scoff at such a notion, but among the common folk, more and more people believed the rumor.

“The McLaine territory had a bumper crop last year too!”

“How else could the newly cultivated wasteland be so bountiful?”

“Not only did they turn the wasteland into fertile land, but they also had an unprecedented bumper crop…!”

Whatever the logic or basis, the changes were too obvious to ignore.

‘Our’ King is blessed by the gods.

As the rumors about Logan and the royal family changed completely, some people sighed even in this changed world.

“Lord, I’m afraid it will be difficult.”

“……I see.”

Baron Trebo Daltan sighed, his expression dark, as he listened to the report from his vassal, Leto.

“How much is lacking?”

“After giving 60 percent of the collected 40 percent tax to the royal family, we won’t even have a third of last year’s territory budget.”

“Be more specific.”

“If the harvest is as expected, we’ll run out of money just paying the annual salaries of thirty knights.”

“Hmm…….”

The Baron’s face darkened.

‘A lord who can’t even maintain his knighthood. Does the King really intend to kill us all, the nobles?’

The Daltan territory was poor to begin with.

It was a mountainous territory that sometimes ran a deficit even when collecting 60 percent of taxes and giving 30 percent of that to the royal family. The Daltan territory couldn’t afford a residence in the capital, so they had to remain provincial nobles.

Because of this, it was clear they would face financial ruin the moment the tax system was forcibly changed from 40 percent to 60 percent.

“……I must submit a written plea to His Majesty.”

He thought it was better to plead his case than to wither away and die.

But Leto seemed to think differently.

“Lord, that would be a great disaster. His Majesty has already annihilated all the nobles who opposed him!”

Leto’s pale face showed how dangerous the Baron’s current actions were.

“I’m not going to do it alone. Our territory can’t be the only one in a bad situation.”

“……You mean you’re going to submit a plea with other nobles?”

“Yes. That’s the only way.”

“But Lord, if you do that, you might end up like Count Jacques Huan…….”

“Leto!!”

“I’m, I’m sorry.”

The Baron’s face, as he looked down at the frightened Leto, was stiff.

The story of the ‘Day of Purge,’ amplified by the unbelievable rumor that the King had blown away the castle walls with a single blow, had recently become a taboo topic in noble families.

Especially in the Daltan family, which had considered joining Jacques Huan too late.

But even the Baron, who had shouted, was worried.

‘The current King does not forgive those who rebel against him. If I submit a plea, I might really… No, no. It’s not a rebellion, and he won’t behead me for just a plea.’

The difficult situation and the fear of the King created chaos and conflict in the Baron’s mind.

But then…

Bang!

“Lord!!”

A knight burst into the office, nearly breaking down the door, and shouted.

“It’s, it’s a communication from the royal family!!”

Before any action could be taken.

Because of their conversation, the Baron’s heart sank.

That anxiety grew as the Baron entered the communication room with heavy steps.

[Are you Baron Trebo Daltan? A pleasure to meet you for the first time.]

A young man with red hair and red eyes appeared on the communication device.

The Baron had never met him, but he knew who it was.

“Y-Your Majesty. Why in person…….”

[Why? Is there something I can’t do?]

Gasp.

The Baron swallowed hard at those cold words and immediately prostrated himself.

“N-No, Your Majesty. How dare I have such thoughts. I am simply honored to see your face.”

[Is that so? That’s a relief.]

The Baron inwardly sighed in relief at the casual tone.

But his relief was temporary.

[But there’s a rumor that you were trying to work with Jacques Huan?]

“T-That’s an absurd rumor!”

The Baron jumped up from his prostrate position at those words, which were like a bolt from the blue.

“Absolutely! I have never done such a thing, Your Majesty! Please believe in my loyalty!”

The Baron shouted, desperately trying to hide the truth.

Had his earnest heart been heard?

Logan smirked and immediately changed the subject.

[Yes. It must be just a rumor. Well, I didn’t contact the Baron directly just to talk about such rumors.]

“W-Whatever it is, just tell me! I will carry it out faithfully!”

[Is that so? Hmm. Those are nice words. But this is not an order. It’s just a suggestion, so I hope you’ll think about it carefully before answering.]

A suggestion?

From the King? To me?

……Why?

The Baron’s mind became even more dazed at the sudden words, and then he heard words from beyond the communication device that made his head even more confused.

The communication orb flickered to life, showing the King’s face. His voice, though calm, seemed to fill the Baron’s small study. “[Baron. Isn’t it difficult managing your territory these days?]”

“Yes,” the Baron replied, thinking *’Thanks to you, Your Majesty,’* but not daring to say it aloud. “It’s very difficult.”

The Baron’s mind was full of angry words, but saying any of them would be like asking for his own death. He forced himself to say the usual polite words.

“…I am just admitting it’s my fault.”

[You can speak plainly. I know about your money problems. My supervisor told me.] The King’s image in the orb seemed to lean forward slightly, his eyes sharp.

What could this mean? Could the King be thinking of helping him?

[Yes. You guessed correctly.]

“I… well, what do you mean, Your Majesty?”

The Baron was confused. Then, the King said something surprising.

[If you want, the Royal Family will help you run your territory.]

“…What?!”

[I said the Royal Family will help with the management of your territory, Baron.]

The Baron was so surprised, he just repeated the King’s words blankly.

Hadn’t the King been taking away power from nobles? Or was this another trap?

The Baron was getting more and more confused. He asked a question that sounded silly even to himself.

“…Why?”

The word slipped out before the Baron could stop it, sounding childish even to his own ears. *’Idiot!’* he thought, cringing inwardly. He hadn’t spoken so naively since he was a boy learning court manners. But the King in the orb just chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. “[Why else, Baron? A subject of my kingdom is struggling. Isn’t it a King’s duty to help?]” The King’s tone was almost… gentle? It was unsettling.

At that moment, the Baron felt a jolt of clarity.

This offer didn’t make sense coming from a King who had killed many nobles and destroyed their families.

“…What are the conditions?” Perhaps it was the first time since facing the King through the communication orb that he had spoken like a true lord.

The King smiled and said,

[Conditions? It is truly just a gesture of goodwill.] The King smiled, but there was something in his eyes that the Baron couldn’t quite read.

“…If you would help without conditions, I would be grateful, but…” There was no way that King would do that.

The Baron stared at the communication orb, feeling uneasy and certain that something was wrong. Then, he got an answer he never expected.

[I will tell you the secret to the amazing harvests in the McLaine territory, the Royal territory, and the Esperanza territory.]

“Are, are you serious?” The Baron couldn’t help but be happy.

Those three territories had amazing harvests. It couldn’t just be luck.

The common people said it was a blessing from the gods, but it made more sense that the King had a special secret. Also, it was known that the McLaine territory had amazing harvests last year too.

But even if it made sense, nobody really believed it was possible.

If this secret was real, it wasn’t just a small thing. It would be huge, something that could change history.

So, the Baron looked suspicious again, which was understandable.

“But do you really mean to say that such a secret exists? I simply cannot believe…”

He flinched. He was shocked by what he had just said.

The Baron’s face turned white because he had openly doubted the King of Massacre.

However, the King in the communication orb merely smiled.

[Would I ever lie?]

“I, I am sorry, Your Majesty. If you would share the secret, I would consider it the greatest honor of my life.”

The Baron bowed, feeling a little relieved but still scared and also a little bit sincere.

[But even if I tell you the secret, it won’t immediately make managing your territory easier, will it? Isn’t your financial situation difficult?]

It felt wrong for the King, who had caused the money problems, to say this.

But the King had just promised him a big favor. The King was now all-powerful. So, the Baron was honest and said,

“Yes. Even if next year’s harvest is great, it will still be hard to survive the next year.”

[Indeed. So, to solve that problem as well, I have a request to make of you, Baron.]

“Yes?” This was a series of unexpected words.

What could the King possibly want to ask him, instead of just ordering him?

The Baron looked confused again.

[Would you send your entire knighthood to the Royal Palace? The Royal Family will pay for everything, including their salaries.]

The Baron’s face hardened at the King’s words.

*’Of course. He wouldn’t give it away so easily,’* he thought.

Knights were the foundation of a lord’s power. Knights were what made nobles powerful and different from normal people.

Baron Trebo, and all nobles, believed they should never give up their knights, even if they lost everything else.

However, since the King had more power and authority than anyone in the thousand-year history of the Grandia Kingdom, the Baron carefully asked,

“If I do not send the knighthood, will you not share the secret you mentioned?” He asked the question carefully, not even looking at the orb.

But an unexpected answer came back.

[No. A king should want his people to be successful. I will share the secret of the great harvest whether you agree to my request or not.]

The King was being so nice. This made the Baron feel even more worried about saying no. But even if he seemed like a coward, he had to protect the knighthood for his family.

The Baron closed his eyes tightly and spoke even more carefully.

“…I am sorry, but I think it will be difficult to send the knighthood. I will try to find a way on my own as much as possible.”

Of course, even if he said this, there was nothing he could do if the King forced him.

*’Even if the King cancels the support, I have to protect the knighthood,’* the Baron thought.

The Baron decided to endure as much as possible, using whatever tricks he could.

He expected the King to shout or be angry. But the King spoke even more softly.

[Baron. You may not know it, but the kingdom still faces internal and external threats. I want to gather the kingdom’s strength in one place and withstand all those crises.]

The Baron thought, *’Hasn’t the kingdom always been peaceful? Except for the war the King started?’*

The King’s gentle voice made the Baron feel a little less tense. So, he asked,

“…What do you mean by that?”

[It is because this country is now the McLaine Kingdom, not Grandia.]

Only then did the Baron start to understand what the King meant.

This was a new kingdom that had taken over the old one.

He realized that other countries might attack them now.

The next words from the King surprised the Baron even more.

[I expect this dangerous time to last for three years. So, sending the knighthood for three years will be enough. Your knighthood will learn the Iron Blood Sword skills and return even stronger.]

A dispatch, not a takeover.

Also, the King would teach them the special sword skills of the Royal Family. These skills were famous, even before they were the Royal Family, when they were the McLaine Knights.

[Will you grant my request?]

The King had total power. He could have just ordered the Baron to do it. But he was speaking politely, like asking a favor. This made the Baron unsure what to do.

While he was thinking, the Baron suddenly felt ashamed. He realized he was only worried about himself and his family. Thinking this, the Baron made his decision.

“I will follow Your Majesty’s words.”

[…Thank you.]

That afternoon, the 30 knights of the Daltan Territory immediately rode their horses towards the Royal Palace.

Around the same time, the knighthoods of the territories that had received the King’s communication in the same way began to gather at the Royal Palace all at once.