Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 370

Harman felt his muscles burn and his breath come in gasps. He was so tired he could fall, but inside, he felt something else: joy.

Harman, people called him the Sword God. Even now, after a long day of training, he felt that familiar happy tiredness. He remembered the first time he held a sword, the thrill of learning, the joy of getting stronger each day. For Harman, his own progress was the best reward.

But as Harman became stronger and stronger, that feeling faded. No one could fight him as an equal. He had learned everything he could. He wasn’t upset that pushing his body to the limit and breaking through barriers was over.

He believed that to become truly powerful, to become a ‘Transcendent’ – someone beyond normal strength – you needed to train your spirit, not just your body. Just tiring yourself out wasn’t real training. That’s what Harman had believed.

Then, everything changed.

“No, I was wrong!”

A jolt ran through Harman, a pleasant tingle from the fight. Even though he wasn’t hurt, he could feel the other fighter’s power, his ‘aura,’ still buzzing in his body, and he knew his own aura had touched the other man too. They had both used so much ‘Force’ – their inner strength – that they would be tired for a while. But it was worth it. Pushing his Force as hard as he could, for the first time in years, had exhausted his body but awakened his spirit. It was like he had been looking at a wall, and now, suddenly, a door in that wall appeared, clear and open.

Through the dust that was falling, Harman saw his rival. The other man seemed to feel it too. Harman could sense the same excitement, the same trembling energy coming from him. And the fact that they were fighting here, in Noviens, in the Holy Kingdom, was lucky for Harman.

‘I am at a small disadvantage,’ he thought.

It wasn’t much. A small mistake could change everything. But fighters at their level couldn’t afford any mistakes. If the fight went on like this, with both of them so tired, Harman knew he would lose.

But they were in the heart of the Holy Kingdom. The Sword Demon had only brought a few knights, but Harman knew many paladins, holy warriors, were nearby. He could feel them coming closer.

“Too bad,” the Sword Demon said. “Maybe next time.”

He looked at Harman, a hard look. Harman knew the Sword Demon had felt it too – that breakthrough, that understanding. But in his eyes, Harman saw more regret than hope.

The Sword Demon was an old warrior, but still incredibly powerful. He was like a monster, with a stronger aura than Harman, and he recovered quickly. But Harman knew the Sword Demon was getting old. They had both glimpsed the next level of power in that fight. Harman thought that was the regret he saw in the Sword Demon’s eyes.

“About this fight…” Triss started to say, looking angry. But Harman quickly bowed his head.

“We were both too impulsive,” Harman said. “It was my mistake too. Let’s forget it happened.”

Now that the fight was over, Harman’s need to compete was gone. ‘That was foolish,’ he thought. He had learned something important, but it was just for himself. As a leader of the Holy Kingdom, it was just a silly fight. It was probably the same for the Sword Demon. But they had to act differently in front of others.

“Can Jerome come with me?” the Sword Demon asked.

Triss paused, then said, “…Yes, if you want.”

“Hmm,” the Sword Demon replied.

Everyone understood that Harman had gained more from this sudden fight, even though it was supposed to be a meeting between leaders. Harman had only kept fighting because he didn’t want to lose face in front of everyone. Jerome was not important in this situation. And so, the first meeting between the strongest fighters on the continent ended in this unexpected way.

“What did you see?” Triss asked suddenly.

Jerome was surprised by his master’s question as they walked away from the castle, but he answered right away. He had been thinking about it anyway.

“It was an amazing fight. It was like seeing for the first time.”

“I see. Do you think you could have joined that fight?”

“No, not yet,” Jerome admitted.

Triss sighed at his honest answer. Jerome’s face fell. Had he said something wrong? But then his master said something even stranger.

“Huh. If only we had met ten years ago… ten years earlier…”

“Master?”

Triss had been quiet and serious, but now he spoke again as they reached the Empire’s camp.

“Remember this. If there is war with the Holy Kingdom, you must kill the Sword God first.”

It was a serious command.

“No matter what it takes.”

Jerome’s face became even darker at those heavy words.

“What… do you mean, Master?”

“I mean exactly what I said. If war starts, you must kill the Sword God, no matter what. Even if we win the war and take over the Holy Kingdom, if we don’t kill him, he will be a terrible problem for the Empire in a few years.”

“…”

“I’m talking about a disaster – someone with incredible holy power.”

Triss looked very serious, talking about something that had never happened before in history.

*News Report:* “The Holy Kingdom says they had nothing to do with the death of the Empire’s army leader or the missing prince.”

The Holy Kingdom’s official statement stayed the same. But the Empire’s attitude was changing.

*New News:* “Cardinal Tracy, a powerful person in the Holy Kingdom, and the ‘Black Snakes,’ enemies of the Empire, planned to kidnap the prince.”

*More News:* “The death of army leader Max Illeya is also connected to them. The Empire will hold the Black Snakes and the Holy Kingdom responsible.”

“Black Snakes? Who are they?” someone asked.

“They say they are enemies of the Empire?” another person replied.

The news also mentioned mages from Kassel Magic Tower who used a symbol called the Black Snake, which most people didn’t know. The Empire also announced that the Black Snakes were behind the terrible attacks in Aserian, and that they were an evil group that controlled minds and used strange creatures.

*Even More News:* “The prince was kidnapped to control him and cause trouble in the Imperial Family. Sadly, he is now removed from the Imperial Family.”

*Final News:* “The Empire demands the Holy Kingdom explain why they are working with the Empire’s enemies and putting the Imperial Family in danger.”

Trouble was brewing between the Empire and the Holy Nation. Of course, the Holy Nation didn’t stand idly by.

The Holy Nation responded immediately. Their words were strong and angry. “Cardinal Tracey is a liar who tricked the world! He is not a real priest, but a dark magician!” they declared.

The Holy Nation cited Pope Austin’s friendly gestures towards the Empire early in his reign as evidence.

However, the Empire didn’t budge an inch.

Words were exchanged quickly and angrily between the Holy Nation and the Empire. Each side tried to prove they were right.

The Emperor, who had been silent, finally spoke. “As the representative of the human nations recognized by the Holy Nation, I shall punish and purify the corrupted temple.”

It was, in effect, a declaration of war.

Accordingly, the Empire’s western legions began heading towards the holy city of Noviens, and the world’s attention naturally focused on the holy city.

Ilia stood by the tall window, her eyes filled with worry as she looked out at the Holy City. The news of the Emperor’s declaration had just arrived, and a heavy silence had fallen over the room. “So,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, “the Emperor finally shows his true ambition.”

Harmon, a knight with lines of experience etched around his eyes, stood beside her. He spoke in a low, steady voice, trying to calm her fears. “Was it truly unexpected, Saintess Ilia? Perhaps they do not realize it, but this delay, this time to prepare… it is also what we needed.” He remained calm, but Ilia could see a flicker of something else in his gaze – a grim determination.

“The preparations?” Ilia asked.

“The paladins from each region are already disguising themselves and gathering one by one. There are also plenty of applicants to support the Holy Legion. The preparations from that day have been effective,” Harmon replied.

That’s right. From the day the Second Prince disappeared with Tracey, they had already been preparing for war.

“The Emperor will start a war anyway… I’m glad I followed His Majesty Logan’s words this time as well,” Ilia said.

“May the gods bless him,” Harmon responded.

At Ilia’s words, Harmon made a round sign of the cross and clasped his hands together, and she also followed him, lightly bowing her head towards the east.

At that moment, the two felt a slight vibration of divine power within their bodies. They exchanged glances and smiled, realizing it was not a delusion.

Now, convinced that the great gods were watching over them, there was no longer fear in the eyes of these devout believers.

Just then, a voice was heard from outside the door.

“His Holiness the Pope is here.”

“His Holiness?” Ilia asked.

“No, until yesterday……” Harmon replied.

As they looked at each other with surprised eyes, the door opened and an old man with a pale and gaunt face entered.

The already senile man seemed to have become even more emaciated. As soon as he entered the room, the old man coughed, and those watching were horrified and approached him.

“Your Holiness!” Ilia exclaimed.

“Your Holiness, please don’t push yourself too hard!” Harmon added.

“Hehe. It’s alright!” the Pope said, coughing. “It’s alright. How long can a sinner who brought disaster to the clergy continue to rest comfortably?” His expression was filled with deep self-reproach.

“You must rest comfortably until your body recovers. It’s a miracle that you’ve regained your senses,” Ilia said.

Ilia’s words were by no means an exaggeration. The situation, in which even the minimum expression of emotion was controlled and he was no different from a doll, had continued for more than three months. Priests who were experts in healing minds said that even if the unidentified magic disappeared, the Pope would not be able to recover properly.

Even so, the Pope’s mental strength in protecting his ego and regaining his memory deserved to be respected.

“That’s right, Your Holiness. Please rest now. Shouldn’t you lead the Holy Nation in good health?” Harmon asked.

Even at Harmon’s words, Austin shook his head calmly.

“No. From the beginning, it should have been the Saintess, not me, who is just old, who was responsible for the clergy. If that had been the case, this misfortune would not have happened……”

“Your Holiness, how can you say such a thing……” Ilia said.

“Please take back your words,” Harmon added.

At the very shocking words, the two knelt down at the same time.

Then, Austin smiled with a bitter expression and knelt down in front of them instead.

“Your Holiness!” Ilia exclaimed.

“You mustn’t do this!” Harmon added.

While the two and the paladins who had followed the Pope were simultaneously embarrassed, Austin sighed with a mournful expression.

“It must be like this. Rather, the two heroes who saved the Holy Nation from the swamp should not kneel before this sinner.”

Soon, he took off his pure white Pope’s hat, called Sententia, one of the nine most holy objects of the Holy Nation, and held it out in front of them, or rather, in front of Ilia.

However, Ilia’s face, facing the brilliant and sacred light, was hardening.

“Could it be……!” Ilia wondered.

“I, Austin Fluit, the 45th Pope, would like to take this opportunity to step down from the position of Pope. And I will hand over that position to Ilia Gabon, the Saintess of Amunda,” Austin declared.

“Your Holiness!” Ilia exclaimed.

Everyone who was listening doubted their ears at the unconventional declaration.

However, the person who said those words looked rather comfortable.

“Since the situation is what it is, the ceremony will be omitted, but this is the last order of Pope Austin Fluit. Please receive Sententia, Sister Ilia,” Austin said.

“How, how can this be,” Ilia murmured.

“Your Holiness……” Harmon added.

“Now, just call me Austin. Everything is finally falling into place. It should have been like this from the beginning. My greed to leave a name caused the disaster. I will now spend the rest of my life repenting for that mistake,” Austin said.

A bitter yet relieved expression.

Everyone who saw that face could tell that his mind could no longer be changed.

That’s why Ilia eventually accepted the legal cap with trembling hands.

“Can I, can I really do it?” Ilia asked.

“It is a sacred object that has supported my lacking spirit. If the Saintess accepts it, you will be able to hear the divine words even more closely. To convey the will of the gods to humans, that is the original role of the Pope. I should have handed it over when I knew that……,” Austin said.

With that lamentation mixed with regret and self-reproach, the brief transfer ceremony ended.

However, the expression of the person who received the legal cap was not very good, but those watching thought it was just because of the heavy responsibility.

Of course, it was true that Ilia felt a sense of responsibility. But more than that, a strange feeling was captivating her.

‘Why, why does it feel so unsettling?’ Ilia thought.

A sacred object is unsettling.

It was a word that could not be said as a Saintess.

However, the brilliant light emitted by the sacred object, the sacred legal cap, felt very burdensome to Ilia for some reason.