Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 295

“Again! Another failure!?” Baros roared.

Leos squeezed his eyes shut. He stood in the Second Prince’s room, which was usually neat but now had papers scattered everywhere. Baros’s black eyes moved quickly and angrily in his face, which was red with rage. Leos could see the veins in Baros’s neck sticking out.

Things had gone wrong in McClean. Or maybe it was when his score changed with the First Prince. Prince Baros van Ares used to be calm. But now, he was starting to break down.

Leos wondered, “Why is he acting worse now than when he was a child?”

Even as he thought this, Leos had no choice but to follow even these reckless plans.

Leos was in charge of writing down everything about the fight for the throne. Prince Baros’s future was linked to his own.

“Not only did you disobey His Majesty’s order to restrain yourself, but you even made a contract with ‘those guys.’ And yet, you failed!?”

His trembling hands looked as if they would strike Leos at any moment, but fortunately, Baros did not cross that final line.

Destiny had them in the same boat until the very end.

To the current Second Prince, Leos was one of the few people he could trust until the end.

And the same went for Leos.

So, even if he felt a stinging sensation in his gut, he had to say what needed to be said.

“They said that killers from the Principality came. And they were very strong, like superhumans. Because there were more than two, ‘they’ said it broke their agreement, so they won’t pay the money they promised.”

“What nonsense!!”

Crash!

He didn’t care about acting like a prince anymore. It was fortunate that he had sent all the guards and servants out.

Thinking this, Leos waited for the Second Prince’s outburst to end.

When Baros seemed to have calmed down a bit, he calmly continued.

Even though the Principality didn’t help us, the Small Kingdom Alliance is now in chaos. We made that happen.

“So?”

Watching the red energy flicker in his black eyes, Leos swallowed hard.

He could well imagine that if he spouted nonsense here, that madness would explode towards him.

He moistened his dry lips and hurriedly continued.

According to His Majesty’s orders, the Imperial Succession War is in a lull. The First Prince can’t do anything more right now. Because of the chaos in the Small Kingdom Alliance, the scores in the fight for the throne will change. You might be able to win again.

It was the most optimistic hope, but there was validity in his words.

However.

“…All of this was to make McClean and that alliance fight each other.”

The growling voice suggested that his anger had not subsided.

“McClean is not important. The most important thing is the throne. Your Highness, look higher.”

Slowly, the crazy look in his eyes started to go away.

Soon, as if losing strength, the Prince slumped back into his seat.

“Sorry you had to see me like this.”

Haaa.

At those words, accompanied by a deep sigh, Leos barely managed to calm himself.

The Second Prince opened his mouth with a gloomy face.

“I don’t know why I’m like this these days. Whenever I think of Logan McClean, I keep losing my composure.”

“Maybe you’re just angry because you keep failing.”

“…No. That’s not it.”

“Yes?”

“There is definitely another reason. A reason I don’t know. Something is shaking my mind.”

He seemed too calm to just be saying mad things because he kept failing.

The very image that he, as the recorder, had marked as the next emperor.

At that, Leos felt a surge of anticipation once more.

“Are you saying…?”

“Bring ‘them’ here. To the Imperial Palace. They are the best at controlling people’s minds, right?”

“Even one deal with them was risky. If the Emperor found out…”

“No. I can’t go on like this. It will only get worse.”

“It’s a dangerous attempt. Maybe they have already cast a spell on you, Your Highness.”

“Our Imperial Family has very strong mind protection, stronger than body protection. We have magic things for that. Did you forget?”

Isn’t that tradition because of *them*?

Leos swallowed the words that rose to his throat, but the Prince seemed to have guessed his thoughts, scoffing as he continued.

“No, it’s clear that something has been wrong with me since I met Logan McClean. I keep having strange dreams, and I keep feeling this surge of anger towards him. I need to figure out the cause and move on.”

The basis and reason were uncertain, but Baros’s voice was filled with a strange conviction.

Leos hesitated, then nodded.

“Understood. I will contact them.”

“Tell them to come to the Imperial Palace as soon as possible.”

“They may refuse. The Imperial Palace is like a death trap to them.”

“If that’s impossible, I’ll have to go meet them.”

“That’s even more dangerous…”

Leos, about to object, froze the moment he saw the dark red eyes glaring at him fiercely.

The Second Prince was even more frightening when he showed those calm and composed eyes than when his eyes flashed with madness a moment ago.

On the one hand, that was why he had volunteered to be his recorder.

“…Understood.”

In the end, Leos decided to meddle once again in a place he shouldn’t.

At the same time they were having that conversation.

In the heart of the Imperial Palace, a conversation was beginning that would determine their lives.

“Baros, that child, has reached out to the snakes.”

The middle-aged man on the huge jade throne frowned a little.

It was rare for the Emperor, the most powerful ruler of the Empire, to show he was unhappy.

But when discussing the word that came from his mouth, ‘snakes,’ it was understandable.

– I have confirmed it myself.

Another voice echoed in the space where the Emperor seemed to exist alone.

Even at the rudeness of not even revealing his form, the Emperor did not change his expression, as if he were used to it.

“How did that child come to have a connection with those fellows?”

– I could not confirm that far.

“So those lunatics still had ties to the Imperial Family. Displeasing. A displeasing matter…”

The Emperor’s tapping his fingers on the armrest revealed a deep sense of displeasure.

After a long time, when no further orders were given, the voice echoed again.

– What will you do?

Even though it was very disrespectful to tell the Emperor what to do, the Emperor still didn’t look angry.

“Baros,” the Emperor said, his voice cold as winter. “I thought he could be useful, but he is useless.” He paused, and then his voice became even colder. “Baros will be bait. Make him contact those rebels, the ‘Black Snakes.’ Find out where they hide.”

Someone spoke softly, “And the Emperor’s choice for heir…?”

“That will wait,” the Emperor said sharply. “The announcement is delayed. First, we destroy those Black Snakes.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the other voice replied quickly.

“I am sending Sword Spirit and Sakhwang with you,” the Emperor continued. “They are the best. This time, destroy those snakes completely.” Sword Spirit, the greatest swordsman, and Sakhwang, the most powerful mage – just hearing their names made the air heavy.

“Understood,” was the short reply. Then, silence filled the room again.

Three days earlier, Logan had stood before the King. The King had given him orders to go to the border and help in the war against the Romen Kingdom. Now, Logan arrived at the northern border, ready to fight. But the soldiers at the base did not seem happy to see him, even though they knew the King had sent him.

Count Caril Jamod looked at Logan with a frown. He stared at Logan from head to toe, as if Logan was dirt on his shoe. “So,” Caril said with a sneer, “you are the ‘superhuman’ who only trained in the mountains?”

“You want to be at the very front?” Caril asked, raising an eyebrow. “Even if you are strong, you can’t fight alone. Knights need to support you. So, you will do what I say.”

Caril wasn’t wrong about needing knights, but Logan saw the real reason in Caril’s eyes: Caril wanted all the glory for himself. *He thinks this war is easy. He wants to be the hero,* Logan thought. Caril stood tall, chest puffed out, face hard and eager for a fight. But his eagerness was aimed at Logan, his own ally!

Logan guessed that if the King hadn’t sent him with clear orders, Caril would have just ignored him. Logan just nodded quietly.

“I just want to be at the front,” Logan said simply.

Caril’s face tightened for a moment. Logan had spoken to him like an equal, not a subordinate. But Caril knew Logan was an Aura User – someone with incredible power. People like Logan could easily become nobles. And the King himself had said Logan was skilled. Caril couldn’t risk angering him.

Caril quickly hid his annoyance and forced a smile. “Okay,” he said, nodding stiffly. “Go and rest. I will call you when the war starts.” He turned away without another word, not even a simple “goodbye.” It was clear he just wanted Logan out of his sight.

*He’s so obvious,* Logan thought, almost smiling. *No need to argue with him.*

*If Caril is useless, I will just have to do things myself,* Logan thought. He didn’t want to waste time arguing with the commander. Logan’s goal was simple: end this war fast and with as little death as possible. To do that, he needed to show his strength right away. Fighting with Caril would only make things harder.

The plan was for war to start in three places at once: Triah, Liberty, and Teronan. Teronan, in the east, would attack Calon, a kingdom by the sea that was known for being tricky to fight. Triah, the strongest of the three, would push south towards Romero and Tahiti. Liberty, where Logan was, would invade the Romen Kingdom first. Romen and Romero were old kingdoms, started by people from the same place long ago. Liberty would conquer Romen, and then join Triah in the south. It was a simple plan, using their combined power to quickly take over all four kingdoms.

*Conquer Romen quickly, then south to help Triah,* Logan thought. He remembered talking to King Ramon of Triah just after speaking with Ronian. Ronian was someone who worked with Logan, helping to plan the war. But something about King Ramon’s voice had worried Logan.

In the magical message, King Ramon had said, “The promise is kept.”

“Ah… haha,” King Ramon had replied, sounding nervous. “McLaine was right about you! I trusted you.” McLaine was another person involved in the war plans, someone Logan wasn’t sure about.

“When will you attack?” Logan had asked.

“W-we are getting ready!” King Ramon said quickly, with a nervous laugh.

Even through the magic, Logan could feel the King’s unease. He thought maybe other people were in the room, making the King nervous. Logan frowned. He worried that something was wrong in Triah.

*If Triah has problems,* Logan thought, *then I and the other leaders will have to go there and sort things out.* Maybe that would be better. If he and Aileen showed their power, then the kingdoms working with Liberty and Teronan would have to listen to McLaine in the future. Aileen was a powerful warrior fighting alongside Logan.

Logan thought about all of this and then closed his eyes to meditate in the room Count Caril Jamod had given him.

*The game has started,* Logan thought. *I wonder what the Empire will do.* He was tired of all the plotting and planning.

*Why do they always make such big plans to cause trouble?* he wondered. But he was starting to understand their goal.

*They probably want chaos,* Logan thought. Like McLaine, the Empire probably wanted to weaken the countries around them. *Are they getting ready to attack us later?*

*If that’s their plan, I will stop them faster than they think,* Logan decided. *And I will bring all the kingdoms to our side.* He was already planning how to do this, and he knew Flame’s Eye and Damian were also working on it. Flame’s Eye was a wise strategist, and Damian was a skilled diplomat, both helping Logan.

Three days passed. Then, the Liberty army began to move.

Logan watched as the army marched. It was huge! More than two thousand knights on horses, and fifty thousand soldiers on foot. It was all the soldiers Liberty could gather. They marched towards the border, flags waving, drums beating. Logan had expected more… seriousness. But the army looked like they were going to a parade, not a war.

The Romen Kingdom’s army was known to be much smaller. Looking at the confident faces of the soldiers and commanders, Logan could see they were sure they would win easily.

And it seemed they were right. Just three days after crossing the border, they captured the first castle without a fight.

Caril Jamod was beaming, almost jumping with joy. He walked over to Logan, a wide smile on his face. “See?” Caril said, his voice full of pride. “No need for a superhuman like you to do anything! Just watch us win!”

Days turned into weeks, and the Liberty army kept winning. Another castle fell, then another. Each time, it was easy. Soon, they could see the capital city of the Romen Kingdom in the distance.

The soldiers were cheering, sure of victory. “They aren’t even fighting back!” they shouted. “Forward!”

But Logan wasn’t so sure. A few other experienced commanders also looked worried. They exchanged glances, a question in their eyes. Something felt wrong. It was too easy.

And then, everything changed. A horn blew in the distance, a long, deep sound that echoed across the battlefield. The ground began to shake. The cheers of the soldiers died away, replaced by whispers of fear. The easy victories were over. Something new was coming.