Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 306

A cold voice echoed in the vast room. ‘If the war goes as planned, we will lose many soldiers, even with the Eastern 8th Corps.’

The Emperor, sitting on his grand throne, frowned when he heard the voice in the empty space.

He might be angry about the Maclane Kingdom becoming stronger.

But what he said was not what you would expect from his angry tone.

“Do you need to tell me every little thing? We really miss the Dark Sword.”

– I am sorry I am not good enough. The commander said he will be ready in a month.

The Emperor clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“No, a month is acceptable. Maclane, you say? I thought he would be a good general, but a king too? Hmm…”

The voice stayed quiet, knowing the Emperor did not want an answer.

The Emperor thought for a moment, then spoke again, his voice low.

“Bring Clyde and the Eastern Wing King to the palace. If things get difficult, we need to make them easier.”

The voice gasped, surprised.

The Emperor said the names ‘Clyde’ and ‘Eastern Wing King.’ The Eastern Wing King was very important, one of the Four Direction Kings, like a dragon’s wing. Hearing these names, the voice in the shadows gasped again.

The Emperor’s face became even more stern. The voice quickly spoke again.

– I will do as you command,” the voice said quickly.

The voice did not say that Clyde and the Eastern Wing King were far away, busy with important work. The Emperor’s orders were more important than anything else.

“…And what about the Black Snakes? Have we seen them?”

– We have not heard anything since the Frostwind Sorcerer ran away. People think it will take a long time to find them again.

The Emperor hummed, thinking.

The Emperor’s face, which usually stayed the same, changed many times today.

And each change was worse than the last.

Then, a new report came. It made his face even darker.

– The missing Second Prince has returned!

* * * A week later, the Imperial Mage finished checking Baros’s body and mind very carefully.

Everyone watched closely as Baros knelt before the Emperor again. But Baros looked confident, not nervous or scared.

“I am sorry for making you worry.”

Even his apologetic voice sounded confident.

The Emperor saw this surprising confidence and looked at Baros closely, his eyes narrowed.

“Interesting. Tell me what happened.”

This simple question was very important to Baros.

“I was not good enough and was tricked by the enemy. I deserve to be punished.”

“I am asking for the reason.”

At those words, Baros swallowed hard.

What he said next would decide what happened to him.

As he thought this, he could no longer hide his nervousness, and it showed on his face.

He had somehow come back alive, but…

Just saying ‘I came back alive’ would be a useless explanation, and the Emperor would not care.

The Emperor saw him as just one of many princes, not like a real son.

This was a big difference.

So, Baros knew the Emperor didn’t care *how* he came back. He went straight to the important part.

“The leader of the Kassel Magic Tower wants to join the Imperial Family.”

The most powerful mages in the Empire. The Archmage, who easily beat the Frostwind Sorcerer, and all his people wanted to be part of the Empire.

The Emperor valued talent, no matter who they were loyal to before. So, this was better than killing them all.

Baros felt hopeful and looked at the Emperor.

He hoped to see a certain look on the Emperor’s face, but the Emperor’s face didn’t show anything.

Then, he saw the corner of the Emperor’s mouth move up a little.

But it was only on one side of his mouth.

It was a sneer.

It was not the reaction he expected at all.

“Only that?”

The word made Baros’s heart drop.

The Emperor looked like he wanted to kill someone, and he was being sarcastic. It was clear he did not want to accept the Magic Tower Master’s offer.

“So, the people who were kicked out for making trouble want to come back. Is that why you are here?”

Baros was confused by the unexpected response and quickly said,

“That was over a hundred years ago, Your Majesty. It was something the last Emperor dealt with…”

Bang!

“They are the ones who tricked the Imperial Family and made fun of the Empire!”

The Emperor was showing his anger, which he almost never did.

When Baros saw it, he felt like he had been splashed with ice water, and his mind became clear.

The Black Snakes, the Kassel Magic Tower.

They were the family of Zibric Kassel, a powerful mage from long ago, and they had helped build the Ares Empire.

But over a hundred years ago, they tried to control the Imperial Family and the Empire by brainwashing the previous Emperor. That was a terrible crime.

Because of them, the Imperial Family always protected themselves from mind magic from a young age.

That was all Baros knew about their past.

But if that was all, the Emperor would have been happy to have them, because they were very powerful.

“Is the Imperial Family’s prince just going to be a messenger for those losers? Tell me, Baros!”

But the Emperor was so angry instead of welcoming them. That meant there was something else.

‘There’s something more I don’t know!’

Baros had to say what he was hiding.

“The leader of the Kassel Magic Tower has promised to give the Holy Kingdom to the Imperial Family!”

He said it quickly, but it was enough to get the Emperor’s attention.

“…What did you say?”

The Emperor’s eyes, which had been cold, now had a strange light in them. The killing intent was gone.

“…Tell me more.”

The atmosphere changed completely, and Baros knew he was right.

The Emperor’s anger was different from normal anger.

The Emperor only got angry when the Empire and the Imperial Family were being threatened. If something was good for the Empire and the Imperial Family, he would not be angry.

That was how a ruler who had been taught that way his whole life would act.

So…

‘There’s something in the past that makes it impossible to just let the Kassel Magic Tower back in. A secret that only the Emperor knows, not the rest of the Imperial Family.’

And that secret was not as important as the Holy Kingdom. Of course, nothing was more valuable than the Holy Kingdom, but still…

The Holy Kingdom was made up of priests and temples.

It was the most powerful nation, and it was the earthly authority of the nine gods, who were the spiritual leaders of the people.

So, even the Empire, which was the strongest nation, could not easily attack them.

“Give the Holy Kingdom? Those people? How will they do that?”

Baros was thinking for too long, and the Emperor told him to hurry up and explain.

The Emperor was already frowning. If Baros said something stupid, the Emperor would be even angrier than before.

This is the most important moment. What I say now will decide what happens to me.

“It’s just that….”

Baros licked his dry lips, remembering his conversation with Archmage Cassel.

Had Cassel foreseen even this situation?

– If our submission alone cannot stop the Emperor’s anger, offer the Holy Kingdom.

– You? How?

– The relic our ancestors wanted for so long has appeared. If we can control it, it’s simple. It’s easy to trick people who don’t see what we are really doing.

Wizards often said things like that.

Priests only follow God and what they think is fate. Wizards think priests are like blind people. Wizards believe they can change fate to help themselves.

– It will take some time.

Archmage Cassel was a very famous and powerful mage. His words felt trustworthy.

No, more than trust…

– I will make you the true Emperor, ruler of the whole continent. In return, you will give us…

He couldn’t refuse such a tempting offer.

“They said they had a way if they used the relic of their ancient ancestors. Of course, they said it would take some time.”

No matter how long it took, if the price was the Holy Kingdom…

How could he ignore it?

Fortunately, the Emperor’s reaction wasn’t too different from what he expected.

“The relic of the Saint of Magic. Ah, that Pope’s… bracelet. Yes, I see. It could be possible.”

It was a little surprising to see the Emperor talking to himself. It didn’t seem like something a powerful Emperor should do.

And then…

“It seems it’s not entirely impossible.”

Only after the Emperor, his face expressionless again, looked at him with that strange gaze, could he be sure he had survived a dangerous situation.

“T-Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Thud.

Baros banged his forehead on the floor, feeling relieved he had escaped death. But then, the Emperor spoke again, freezing him once more.

“However, you broke a serious rule. That cannot be ignored.”

Baros forced himself to look up.

“You broke a rule and worked with a traitor. You deserve to lose your title as prince and be killed.”

“Y-Your Majesty!”

Feeling goosebumps all over his body, he cried out.

“…However, because you did it for the Empire, and it seems possible to succeed, I will wait to punish you until we know if it will work or not.”

The Emperor’s cold gaze swept across his face, and Baros felt a little relief.

Of course, his legs felt weak, and he collapsed to the floor.

“Hu, heuh. Heu…….”

“I have eyes and ears in the Holy Kingdom. If you are lying, you will die like those fools.”

The Emperor looked down at him coldly. It was like he was scolding Baros for being so shameful. Baros quickly straightened up and lowered his head again.

“I-I will remember that, Your Majesty.”

“Leave.”

“Your Imperial Majesty is very generous!”

Thud.

Baros banged his head on the floor again, bowing deeply. Only then did he feel relieved and back away.

He was ashamed of how he looked. He had wanted to act strong and brave, but he failed. But he had saved his life.

‘Now, it starts again.’

He thought, gritting his teeth.

There was much to do.

Most of his close friends were killed when he went to talk to the Cassel Magic Tower. Only Leos escaped.

He had to rebuild his connections and prepare for the competition again.

But then, he heard a voice from outside the door that he couldn’t ignore.

– Prince Cleed and King Gerard of the Eastern Wing want to see you, Your Highness.

‘Brother? King of the Eastern Wing?’

His most powerful rival and the King of the Eastern Wing, who governed the east of the Empire, were here at the same time.

Baros felt confused as these unexpected people appeared together.

“Let them in.”

– Yes.

Creak.

The doors of the large office opened, and two people walked in confidently.

The first thing he noticed was a young man with black hair, black eyes, and yellow skin like him, and a tall, strong body almost 2 meters tall.

Even though his face was expressionless, making it hard to know what he was thinking, his body and face looked a lot like the Emperor on the throne.

His half-brother and biggest rival, the First Prince, Cleed van Ares.

The First Prince looked at him, stared for a moment, and then looked away.

Cleed walked confidently. It felt like he was making fun of Baros, and Baros bit his lip tightly.

Next to him was a handsome middle-aged man with white skin and blue eyes. You could see he was from the royal family because of his black hair. He nodded slightly and smiled at Baros.

It was a friendly smile, but Baros ignored it.

– Smile, Your Highness. People without power must smile to survive.

– Who’s looking down on you? I’m telling you to smile so they will. If you seem easy to underestimate, it’s the best way to trick the enemy.

When princes were children, they had to live with one of the Four Kings for a few years to learn. The man who was his godfather and gave him advice that shaped his life was that terrible man.

‘King of the Eastern Wing.’

Why were his rival and one of the Four Kings coming in together?

The Four Kings couldn’t get involved in who became the next Emperor, so it couldn’t be because of that.

But why did he feel so worried?

Cleed, King of the Eastern Wing.

An event that could make the Imperial Family and the Eastern Royal Family work together.

‘Could it be… McLaine?’

It was just a guess. He had no proof. It was almost like a crazy idea, but strangely, he was convinced.

At that moment, Baros stopped walking backward and raised his head again.

“Your Majesty. I am afraid to ask, but I have a request.”

Cleed and the King of the Eastern Wing were about to kneel before the Emperor, and they turned to look at him.

“I, your son, want to finish the work I started in the east. Just one more chance, please.”

Baros shouted as he knelt.

“Huh……?”

Then, seeing the Emperor’s face harden again, he quickly continued.

“I will use their power. The Empire’s forces will not be wasted.”

In fact, he had already done something.

He had been rude because he didn’t want his rival to get credit for it.

“Hmm.”

Fortunately, the Emperor didn’t seem angry.

“Also, it will prove that they have surrendered to the Empire.”

Seeing the Emperor’s eyes show interest again, Baros remembered the ‘other’ promise he had made with that terrifying old man.