Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 302

Just two months ago, war raged across the Seven Kingdoms. Now, it was over.

The outcome of the United Seven Kingdoms War, sparked by the rebellion in Tahiti, was completely different from what people had predicted.

Liberty won against Romen, Romero, and Tahiti. Teronan took control of Kalon.

The two nations even divided the territory of Tria, the strongest nation in the alliance, in half.

Taking Tregonia, the capital of Tria, was not easy for Teronan. There was some resistance, but finally, they succeeded.

The Seven Kingdoms Alliance was now the Two Kingdoms Alliance. The two nations’ new superhumans, ‘Reaper’ and ‘Guardian,’ became the biggest topic of conversation in the Eastern Continent.

With the war finished, people started talking. Everyone had an opinion about what would happen next.

“Did you hear? They say Reaper and Guardian are just kids!”

“Kids? They won a whole war! Our future is in their hands, I tell you.”

“But who’s really in charge now? Liberty or Teronan? It’s hard to say.”

“Isn’t it obvious? Liberty took three kingdoms. Teronan only took Kalon, after all.”

“Don’t forget, the Tide Magician surrendered to Teronan. That means Teronan now has three powerful superhumans, including the Tide Magician and Guardian.”

“What does the number of superhumans matter? National power is what’s important. Just watch, Liberty will catch up to McLaine within ten years.”

“Well, if it’s an alliance of two nations, they’re not far behind now, are they? Five superhumans, after all.”

In busy markets and quiet tea shops, people gathered in small groups. They argued and laughed, talking about the war and the future.

People dreamed of a time of peace and wealth. They imagined new trade routes, bigger cities, and a stronger kingdom.

Attention turned to the rewards the two divinities would receive after the war.

Each royal family, listening to the people, offered generous rewards at the ceremony.

“Therefore, Gail Slayer, who has made the greatest contribution, is now Grand Duke. He will have all the land of the former Tahiti Duchy!”

As King Kran III of Liberty spoke, cheers filled the grand hall of the royal castle.

“The entire duchy? Wow!”

“Congratulations, Grand Duke!”

“Congratulations!”

“Long live Grand Duke Gail Slayer!”

The grand hall was filled with bright banners and shining gold decorations. Music played softly, and the air smelled of flowers and rich food. Those who had helped in the war were there.

The knights, who had fought the most in the war, cheered loudly.

King Kran III smiled, but it was a tight smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Inside, he was angry.

‘I know who this fellow is,’ he thought.

But he couldn’t do anything. Everyone knew they had won the war because of ‘Reaper.’ If he wasn’t generous, the nobles, especially the knights who loved this fellow, would be against him.

‘I have to give land to a superhuman from another country,’ he thought.

He had to believe that the superhuman didn’t want to control the land.

Kran III looked at the superhuman with mixed feelings.

Logan smiled slightly as he knelt. His eyes were sharp and clever.

“Thank you for your kindness,” he said.

He, a king, was kneeling before the king of another nation, even a smaller one. It was humiliating, but Logan didn’t care. He wanted results.

‘I now have a good identity to use,’ he thought.

If he said he was McLaine, he wouldn’t get the duchy. The title of Grand Duke of Liberty was important.

‘As Grand Duke of Liberty, I don’t want to rule the land or collect taxes. But…’

Instead of giving up the rewards, the Kingdom of Liberty would be responsible for what ‘Grand Duke Gail Slayer’ did in the future.

‘If I don’t take the land or taxes, I have no real duty as Grand Duke. Liberty can’t blame me for anything I do as ‘Gail Slayer’ because it’s just a title.’

If Kran III knew, he would be angry.

‘Well, it might not happen,’ he thought.

He had achieved his goals by coming to the alliance.

Logan bowed to Kran III, satisfied.

‘It’s been two months since I left… I should go back soon,’ he thought.

Immediately after the ceremony, Grand Duke Gail Slayer made a sudden announcement.

“My friends,” Gail Slayer began, his voice clear and strong. “Now that the war is won and our nation is safe, I believe it is time for me to return to my training. I must become even stronger to protect Liberty in the future.”

“Yes?!”

“No, Grand Duke! What do you mean?”

“Please don’t!”

Everyone was surprised and tried to stop him.

But he didn’t change his mind.

“I only fought for my country, not for myself. I have done enough, so I want to be a warrior again.”

“But Your Grace…!”

“I heard people are saying my name more than the King’s? I can’t allow that. Don’t look for me for a while.”

“Yes?”

Gail’s words shocked everyone in Liberty.

The Reaper, who had become Grand Duke, went away to train.

After his actions, similar news came from Teronan.

The Guardian also gave up the Kalun Islands and went on a training trip? Was it a competition with the Reaper?

The two divinities, who had become Grand Dukes, stopped working almost at the same time.

Days turned into weeks, and still, Gail Slayer was gone. The whispers grew louder.

The rumor spread throughout the kingdom.

“Did the royal family check them?”

“They say there was trouble with the nobles.”

The two heroes’ actions caused many rumors, but the royal families said nothing.

They couldn’t say that the heroes were actually reinforcements from McLaine.

In the office, after dismissing the servants, Grand Duke Gunther, the King’s younger brother, spoke in a harsh voice. His face was hard, and his eyes were cold.

Gunther’s voice was low and dangerous. “Brother, we should have gotten rid of him at the ceremony. He’s just a tool of McLaine!”

King Kran sighed, rubbing his temples. “Gunther, be reasonable! We can’t risk war with McLaine. Not now, not ever.”

Of course, Gunther had something to say.

“But they might ask for too much!”

“…I’ll have to think about that when the time comes.”

“Aren’t you being too complacent?”

“The existing demands aren’t much. Even a mutual defense treaty means there are no enemies in the Eastern Continent now. Surely the Empire won’t invade.”

The King and his advisors in Liberty did not know the Empire’s secret plans. They thought this meeting was just a simple, expected step.

“…Well, that’s true.”

“I’m just afraid of McLaine’s power. Who knew those two unknown superhumans would be so strong.”

“It was foolish to expect them to be consumed on the battlefield. I should have stepped in myself….”

“It’s too late now. As long as McLaine’s sun is healthy, it’s difficult to escape their influence. We have no choice but to look to the future.”

King Kran III, not knowing that Gail was the ‘Sun of McLaine’ – a title for their most powerful person – sighed again and again.

“Blast it…! I can’t accept this!”

Gunther protested, but the King’s sigh did not disappear.

And that sigh became a reality in a communication that followed not long after.

[…Please don’t forget.]

“Of course. How could I forget the favor you have bestowed?”

[Of course, I believe you, but how can matters between nations end with just our words?]

The Sun of McLaine. King Kran III’s expression hardened at the young monarch’s words.

“What do you mean…?”

[I would like you to send Liberty’s princes to McLaine to study. We will teach them the advanced civilization we have achieved and send them back to Liberty.]

The King of Liberty’s face turned pale.

‘This is…!’

Only a fool wouldn’t know the true meaning of those words, but he couldn’t refuse.

“…I understand. I will prepare the First Prince to be sent.”

[Ah, you misunderstand me. I said ‘princes,’ plural?]

At those words, Kran III squeezed his eyes shut.

The red eyes beyond the communication device seemed to pierce his own.

“Are you perhaps talking about all the princes?”

[How could that be? It seems that the First, Second, and Third Princes, excluding the still young Fourth Prince, would be sufficient.]

The smile disappeared from King Kran III’s face, who had been forcing a smile with a glimmer of hope at his jest.

“Are you planning to make our kingdom a kingdom under your control?”

[Your words are too harsh. As I said in advance, all McLaine wants is a non-aggression and mutual defense treaty. Even that is just a means to prove the firm friendship between our two countries.]

“…So, what do we get?”

[I will ‘sell’ McLaine’s new weapon, the rapid-fire crossbow, to you at a low price. And we will also promote joint training between our Fourth Legion and the elite soldiers of the Liberty Kingdom. With that, you will be able to explain our firm relationship to your competitor, Teronan.]

It seemed like a plausible condition, but he had no idea what else they would demand in the future.

Kran, who tried to manage his expression, sighed softly.

“…Aren’t you making similar offers to Teronan?”

[Haha, of course. That way, we can promise lasting peace in the Eastern Continent.]

He wanted to curse at the young king’s shameless face, but he couldn’t.

Even if it was just to be mindful of the gaze of the superhuman Gail, who was watching him from right beside him.

‘To think Gunther would lose.’

Kran remembered the reports of Gunther’s fight – a flash of light, a roar, and then silence. Gail had defeated him in moments.

Thanks to his active intervention, the rumor did not spread, but there were quite a few knights who watched it.

At least in the royal family, they became firmly aware of who the strongest person in this country was.

The painful truth that he was a person from a completely foreign country was still only known to the King and Gunther, though.

[What will you do?]

“If I refuse….”

[Haha! You’re quite the joker.]

But his red eyes were not laughing at all.

Kran III also knew.

If he refused here, Liberty’s hero Gail Slayer would naturalize to McLaine and invade the kingdom.

And he could fully anticipate even that result.

“…I will accept the offer.”

[Thank you. With this, McLaine and Liberty will share their destiny as firm allies. Dwayne?]

[Yes, Your, Your Majesty.]

[You heard everything, right? Send an envoy to prepare the treaty.]

[Yes, Your Majesty.]

Teronan would be the same.

Logan, who was watching Kran III sigh deeply with a bleak expression, barely held back his laughter.

‘Rick, that guy, is a much better actor than I thought. I should give him roles more often.’

Logan chuckled, thinking about how the hairy Finance Minister, bowing beyond the communication device, would have a fit if he heard that.

And from that day on, Liberty’s ‘envoy’ – who was actually a hero – immediately disappeared from the royal palace, and Teronan’s ‘guardian’ – their hero – also vanished. This was strange because…

The two gods of war disappeared at the same time!

The powerful princes of each royal family are leaving for McLaine to ‘study’!

Those who knew the meaning of the rumors that spread almost simultaneously throughout each kingdom began to criticize the two kingdoms for being frightened and choosing the path of subjugation to their old enemies.

The result of those two combined pointed to one grim possibility.

“Didn’t they remove the heroes from the royal family? Why do we need them when they’re around?”

“I know, right. Damn it, are they throwing away the heroes who will lead the kingdom’s glory like that?”

“A thousand years of glory is fading due to the king’s greed.”

It was truly sad for patriotic people.

While strange rumors, because people didn’t know everything, made the two kingdoms noisy for a while, the King and Queen of McLaine found their place after three months.

“You successfully brought in the alliance. Really….”

“I told you I’d do it.”

He even boasted a little to the few who knew the truth.

“Congratulations on your recovery.”

“I’m so glad, Your Majesty.”

“Ah, thank you. Everyone, please take a seat.”

While pretending to have recovered from a long injury to the outside world.

However, soon after he started working again, Logan received an unexpected report.

“It seems there has been an unusual event in the Empire, Your Majesty.”

“What?”