Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 372

Soldiers and supplies were moving towards the Empire’s capital. War was definitely coming.

“What are the predicted outcomes?”

“The Holy Kingdom is strong, but it’s hard to say if they are as strong as the Empire.”

“Is it due to the difference in military strength?”

“Yes. But it’s not about the number of soldiers. The Holy Kingdom might even have more regular troops.”

“Indeed. The number of Holy Knights must be enormous.”

“That’s right. However, they can’t gather all the forces from the temples scattered across the continent to Noviens. Furthermore, the difference in quality is also significant.”

Damian’s quietly resonating voice drew all eyes in the room to him.

The Holy Kingdom soldiers might be very eager to fight, like fanatics. This might make up for less training, but…

“There’s a bigger reason?”

“The biggest problem is that the Holy Kingdom’s base is only Noviens.”

“Hmm?”

“Even if they gather all the temple forces scattered across the continent, they’ll eventually run out of supplies if they’re surrounded by the Imperial Army and subjected to relentless offensives.”

Damian’s words were persuasive.

The Sword Master, Luther, and Commander Weaken all nodded in unison.

Padric McLaine, who had attended the royal council after a long absence, and Clayton, the commander of the Magic Corps and the Royal Magic Tower Master, also exchanged glances and expressed their agreement.

Ronian and Victor, the superhumans hidden from the outside world, as well as Victoria, Clayton’s disciple, were also listening to the meeting from a step back.

In a place where virtually all the power brokers of the royal castle had gathered, Damian stated his opinion without wavering.

“In any case, looking at the current situation, it’s the best possible outcome for us.”

“Even if the Empire conquers the Holy Kingdom?”

“…Even if the Empire pushes its current justification and merges with the Holy Kingdom, the growing pains will last at least ten years.”

“And after that?”

“…The Empire’s prestige, having come to represent the spirit of the continent, will last for another thousand years. Of course, the entire continent will be crushed under the Empire’s feet before that happens.”

The room went silent. People looked down, their faces serious.

Logan’s expression also hardened seriously, but he spoke calmly, as if trying to lighten the mood.

“Well, in any case, the situation is good for now. So, what should we do at this point?”

“A preemptive strike against the Empire is one method…”

“…The Empire’s Eastern Legion and the veiled Central Legion haven’t moved. Distracting the Empire’s nerves with a preemptive strike is good, but most of the strategies we’ve prepared so far are geared towards defense. I don’t think we need to step up and take the Empire’s arrows.”

“Yes. You’re right. That was rash.”

Luther Kyle, the giant commander of the 4th Legion, who had attended the royal council after a long absence, shrank back under the gazes of the people.

“I, too, feel like doing that, but the situation isn’t that relaxed, Commander Luther. I know you’re itching for action, but please restrain your competitive spirit for a while.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I’m sorry.”

“Then what should we do, Damian?”

“The most ideal situation for us is for the Empire to engage in a war of attrition with the Holy Kingdom and then simply withdraw. Of course, the Emperor will have no intention of doing that.”

“What are the chances of that happening?”

“It depends on the missing Second Prince.”

“Prince Baros?”

“Yes. The Empire has already announced the existence of the Black Serpent, the Cassel Magic Tower, thereby creating a situation where the public cannot believe anything the Second Prince says. But…”

Damian smiled as he met Logan’s eyes.

It was Logan who provided the fundamental information that allowed Baros to escape without dying.

Considering the information at the time, conveyed through the Saintess, the words that would come out were obvious.

“There’s no way he, who knew in advance and avoided it, couldn’t have foreseen this situation.”

“Yes. Of course, it’s a vague expectation, but there’s a high probability that he’s prepared a way to screw over the Imperial Family who abandoned him.”

“Yes. That would be ideal. But that’s just an expectation, as you said. I asked what we can do.”

“As you might guess, we cannot help the Holy Kingdom on a national level. That would ultimately be tantamount to a declaration of war against the Empire.”

“…That’s right.”

“Then, we have no choice but to send a small number of strong individuals to help the Holy Kingdom. If possible, unknown superhumans…”

As if forcing himself to say difficult words, Damian gave an ambiguous smile while looking at the head table, especially the seat next to the King.

The target, Queen Aileen, looked to the side with a stiff face, but Logan, whose eyes met his wife’s, simply smiled bitterly and shook his head.

The Cassel Magic Tower has magic to see the past by reading the earth’s memories. And there was also Tir’s signal not long ago…

The Cassel Magic Tower would have already figured out that Gail and he were the same person.

They’re probably desperately looking for me because of the Holy Sword. Even if I disguise myself, it’s a gamble for me to step forward now.

As long as the Empire was their greatest enemy, they could be considered allies for now, but he had to stay put for the time being, lest he be used somehow.

The pursuit would probably begin as soon as he left Gran.

Logan guessed as much and said,

“I can’t go right now.”

Aileen was noticeably relieved at those words.

Is she that worried about me?

He was smiling with satisfaction at the heartwarming feeling, but Aileen hit him in the back of the head with an unexpected remark.

“Then it’s Armored’s turn to step up instead of Gail.”

“What?!”

Logan almost jumped halfway out of his seat.

Armored, the superhuman who made a name for himself in the Small Kingdom Alliance as the ‘Guardian of Teronán,’ and Aileen’s disguised face.

He never imagined that name would come up here.

But Aileen looked at her husband with confident eyes.

“Why? I can’t change the color of my Force like you, but I don’t need to.”

“Ah, no, that’s not the problem…”

Logan unconsciously turned to look at his brother and Victor.

The people he had in mind from the start were those two and Burdel.

He wouldn’t have anything to say even if it was a selfish choice, but frankly, he hadn’t even considered his wife’s participation.

But the person in question seemed to have a very different idea.

“Isn’t the lineup perfect? Besides, I’m far more advantageous in terms of survival due to my characteristics. I’ve already cross-dressed enough in the Kingdom Alliance.”

“…No.”

“You keep looking at Sir Victor or Count Ronian, but those two have the potential to cause trouble later because of the color of their Force. I’m the most suitable.”

“…Ugh.”

It was perfect logic.

But the selfish and pathetic husband, who didn’t want to accept it, looked at the elders of the family with desperate eyes.

At that, the Sword Master cleared his throat and stepped forward.

“Your Majesty. It is truly unreasonable for the Queen of a nation to participate as a mercenary in another country’s war…”

“Oh my, Your Excellency. It’s not the Queen of the McLaine Kingdom, but Armored Hassen, the Guardian of Teronán, who is stepping forward. Oh, there might be a problem, so a completely different identity would be better.”

The Sword Master, who had lost his words, sank silently, and this time his father-in-law stepped up.

“The center of the kingdom is the royal family, and the center of the royal family is the safety of the royal family. The kingdom will be strong only if the King and Queen stay in their positions…”

“The King has already vacated his position several times. Well, thanks to that, we have reliable substitutes. You don’t have to worry, Father.”

“…Yes?”

Padric, with a bewildered expression, lost his words and glared at Logan.

– What the hell have you been doing?

He was completely unaware of Logan’s covert activities because he had only been in the McLaine territory.

Seeing his father’s expression, Logan, frustrated, looked around as if grasping at straws, but his close aides were all looking for something on the ground or ceiling.

Logan was feeling a slight sense of betrayal at the sight, when Aileen glared at him with a sulky expression.

“What’s with that look? You can do it, but I can’t? Don’t tell me you’re going to do something like you did the other day…!”

“Ah. Haha. Th, there’s no way.”

He was smiling, but cold sweat was pouring out.

What man in the world would want his wife to go to the battlefield and swing a sword?

But to Aileen, who wanted to be a knight before being a queen, those words were nothing short of an insult. And if he loved her, he should respect her, of course.

Yes. I should.

He knew it, but he made this mistake again.

Logan sighed and blamed himself for being pathetic. Then, as if he had never been embarrassed, he nodded vigorously.

“Okay. But let’s all go together, including Ronian, Victor, and Burdel.”

“…Yes?”

Not only Aileen, but everyone watching was surprised at those words.

“Your Majesty! That’s too much…”

The Sword Master hurriedly added, but Logan shook his head with a calm expression.

“No. The opponent is the Empire. We have to take all possible measures. It’s right to mobilize all the unknown superhumans. So, if the Holy Kingdom wins the war, that would be the best.”

It was such a hopeful statement, but it was an undeniable one. The Holy Kingdom’s lack of superhuman power compared to the Empire was a flaw that had already been pointed out.

However, there was one more superhuman in McLaine that Logan had not even thought of.

“Your Majesty, I will go with you.”

“Lia!?”

“What!?”

The world’s youngest Archmage, who had stepped forward confidently amidst the astonishment of her brother and teacher, smiled.

“Lia. The characteristics of your magic are too…”

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I’m confident that I can face superhumans without using golems. More than anything… I’m too worried to send only that idiot brother of mine. Please send me too.”

Logan looked at Victoria’s side with a dumbfounded expression, but unlike her brother, who was shaking his head desperately, Clayton was nodding with a worried face.

“She has already surpassed my level when it comes to earth magic.”

“Ugh…”

Victor, who was about to raise his voice, sank with a groan-like sound at that assertion.

Of course, that didn’t mean that no one was worried.

“Wouldn’t it be too much to vacate so many positions at once?”

“We don’t need to worry about the Queen leaving because others can handle things while she is gone, and the others are just the King’s brother and his friend, the disciple of the kingdom’s best Archmage, and a mercenary.”

“Still, it would be too great a loss to the kingdom if even one of them were to be harmed.”

“That’s why we need to send them together. I’ve told them to take care of each other’s safety first and foremost, even in war.”

“Hmm… If that’s the case.”

The most conservative Sword Master among the kingdom’s leaders stepped down, and everything was decided.

* * * [Five unknown superhumans? I knew about Sir Victor, but… This is really amazing, Your Majesty.]

“I’m just sorry that I can’t provide more help. Officially, we have to be careful, so…”

At Logan’s words, Ilia in the communication device waved her hand and bowed her head.

[No. That alone is already more than enough help. McLaine was really preparing for a fight with the Empire. How did you predict such a thing?]

“Yes?”

[As Your Majesty has received help in succession, I can’t help but think that you have some kind of precognitive ability.]

“Ah… Haha, there’s no way. It’s just that I’ve seen the Emperor and experienced the Empire, so I was convinced that something like this would happen someday.”

It was only half the truth, but Logan answered faithfully.

But the Saintess’s reply was a little strange.

[Then those who saw the same signs but did nothing… they must be seen as failures.]

Logan tilted his head and looked at the communication device, feeling a strange thorn in her words for some reason.

At the sight of the Saintess wearing a pure white judge’s robe, signifying the position of Pope.