Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 377

“Our plan was perfect. We broke through the barrier just as we planned at the start.”

“Then why did it fail?!”

Boom!

The Sword Spirit appeared, looking excited – a rare thing to see.

Gallen, the Frostwind Magician, ran a hand through his silver hair, his gaze falling upon the wreckage of the table. Splintered wood and spilled ink stained the rich carpet. He sighed and lowered his head.

“…I don’t know. It started when the Saintess came back.”

“Is it all the Saintess’s power?”

“…I cannot say for sure.”

The Frostwind Magician, known for his arrogance, rarely showed humility, but no one present could laugh at the spectacle.

The war, which had been steadily gaining momentum, had come to a halt due to an unexpected situation.

“So, we just have to sit here and get attacked by those fanatics until we’re too weak to fight? Is that what you’re saying?”

“…That’s the worst-case scenario. But it will probably be difficult for the Saintess to perform such miracles again.”

“What’s the basis?”

“An informant within the Holy Kingdom has confirmed that Sententia, the Pope’s Judge, has lost her power. It is certain that the miracle was created by using the relic’s power for a short time.”

“A relic of the Nine Gods? Does that mean the other eight are left in the Holy Kingdom?”

“No. Three of them are being used to maintain the Great Celestial Barrier, their strongest magic shield, and the remaining five are scattered throughout the continent. We learned that even the priests can’t move them easily.”

“Why are you only saying this now! Then we must resume the war immediately!”

“…To reduce the damage, we must wait for the supply of resources for the magic circle to weaken the barrier.”

“What if the Holy Sword awakens in the meantime!?”

“Calm yourself, Your Excellency. Even inside the barrier, you know very well that it is impossible.”

Triss barely suppressed his excitement at Gallen’s words.

Indeed. When powerful magic is used, it leaves behind traces that are hard to ignore, even for those who use magic. The more intense the battle, the more severe the aftereffects tend to be.

‘It will take me at least ten days to recover the minimum Force to use aura.’

If it were the Holy Sword, who had gone to the brink of death, it would be impossible to return to the battlefield in the near future, even if they used all their holy power to heal him.

However, Triss was still bothered by the Saintess’s strange appearance he had seen at the end.

“Was ‘that’ really human?”

“Yes?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. Just a feeling.”

The Saintess somehow didn’t seem human, but the Holy Sword was definitely human. No matter how great the holy power, he could say with certainty that it was absolutely impossible to recover within 1 or 2 weeks.

Therefore.

“…You’re right. I think I was too excited. The victory is still certain, so let’s wait for the right time again.”

“Yes. In fact, even if we just wait while besieging them like this, the Holy Kingdom will have no choice but to collapse. It will take a long time, as much wealth as the Holy Kingdom has accumulated.”

“No, that’s……”

“Ah, of course, I know very well. We must not give the Holy Sword, the Saintess, and key figures of the Holy Kingdom time to escape or cause problems. But ten days, ten days is enough. As soon as the magic circle is ready to operate again, we can immediately occupy the Holy Kingdom.”

“Ten days……”

It was the period he expected to be able to recover his minimum skills.

In addition, it was a short time that the Holy Sword could never recover.

“Good. Ten days later, we will finally end the war with the Holy Kingdom.”

Triss nodded, suppressing the uneasy feeling caused by the Saintess.

However, no one expected that just a week later, something unexpected that would change everything would break through their siege and secretly infiltrate into Noviens.

“You must be the people sent by His Majesty Logan… Welcome.”

Ilia, with a pale complexion, frowned slightly and bowed her head, and a handsome man with brown hair and brown eyes stepped forward.

“It is an honor to meet Your Holiness the Pope. I am Aran of McLaine.”

A neutral tone and a fluent voice. Maybe it was because he looked too young to be so powerful.

Ilia looked closely at Aran, her eyes narrowing. She swayed slightly, as if feeling faint, but then a smile touched her lips.

“It’s been a while, Queen Eilen. I really didn’t expect you to come, and that you would be an aura user.”

“Ack!?”

Aran, no, Eilen let out a scream without realizing it.

Ilia smiled and slowly moved her gaze to the other members of the group, who also had similar brown eyes and brown hair.

“Sir Viktor, it’s been a while. I caused you too much trouble before. Miss Lia, it’s been a while too. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen you since we last met. But you’re already a magician, amazing.”

“?”

“Gasp!?”

“Those red eyes must be Count Ronian. Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you from Sir Viktor and His Majesty. One of you is someone I’m really meeting for the first time. As expected, an aura user… McLaine is full of surprises. I look forward to working with you in the future.”

The expressions of the group members hardened as they met Ilia’s eyes.

“H-How……”

“That’s why I said, even if it’s a bit much, don’t make them all brown, let’s use other colors……”

“That’s not the problem, Rony.”

Eilen, who silenced Ronian with a word, bit her lip and looked at Ilia.

It wasn’t just that she recognized them that was the problem. The fact that their identities were exposed at a glance meant that everything could fall apart.

“Do high-ranking clergy members originally have the ability to see through magic? It will be difficult for us to operate if that’s the case.”

They came here to help the Holy Kingdom as powerful strangers. It would be the worst situation if their identities were exposed, as they didn’t know where the Empire’s spies might be.

Because the war between the Empire and McLaine would start sooner than planned.

“Ah, I was rude because I was happy to see you. I’m a special case, so you can rest assured.”

“Yes?”

“You’re maintaining and supplementing the magic item that changes their appearance with Miss Lia’s magic. The hiding their magic is also well done, and this is a good way to prevent something going wrong with the magic… Ah, was this also rude…?”

At Ilia’s words, the face of the group, especially Victoria, noticeably hardened.

“How did you know that too……”

“Well, that’s because I recently became Pope and received a blessing from God. I’m sorry, Miss Lia. Fortunately, I’m the only one like that, so you don’t have to worry too much.”

Even with Ilia’s excuse, the group’s troubled expression did not disappear.

‘It’s a relief that the Saintess is alone in this room.’

Eilen had traveled very quickly, barely stopping to rest, but something felt wrong from the beginning.

“You must keep the secret. If even one of us is exposed, we will have no choice but to leave the Holy City immediately.”

“Yes, Queen Eilen. I will keep that in mind.”

“That title too……”

“Ah, yes. I keep making mistakes, Saintess. I won’t forget.”

Eileen sighed. It was a situation that naturally brought about a sigh, but she couldn’t just turn back now.

‘Could the Saintess see through Ria’s magic too? Is that also possible when you become a Saint?’

Eileen turned around, feeling uneasy. Victoria couldn’t hide her bewildered expression either.

– You’ll never get caught unless a very perceptive Aura user or mage examines you closely.

It was understandable, considering that the magic she had confidently guaranteed was discovered as soon as it arrived.

Perhaps sensing the group’s mood, Ilia got up from her seat and bowed her head.

“I am really sorry. I’ve been under a lot of stress lately, and I was so happy to see familiar faces that I talked too much. I apologize for hurting your feelings by being too forward.”

That’s not the point.

The same thought crossed everyone’s mind, but at least her sincere apology helped everyone feel better.

Above all, before she was known as the Saintess of the Order, she was a true priest famous as the Saintess of the slums in Gran. There was no one in the group who didn’t know the value of that name.

‘The Saintess wouldn’t deliberately do something wrong to us.’

Eileen let out a short sigh, erased her troubled expression, and bowed her head in return.

“No, Saintess. I hope our visit will be helpful to both countries.”

“Of course. Just having you here is very reassuring.”

A natural smile spread across Ilia’s pale face.

The group also smiled, following the earlier awkwardness.

As the atmosphere seemed to ease, Ilia praised the group, or rather, their kingdom, with renewed admiration.

“But Maclane is truly amazing. Which country in the world would hide five people who have reached the realm of transcendence? I thought King Logan was joking.”

It was understandable.

A normal country would rather flaunt it to show off its national power, or at least seek to stop other countries from attacking, unless the opponent was the Empire.

So the question that came out of her mouth was also natural.

“Did Maclane perhaps anticipate that the Empire would start a war?”

Eileen nodded lightly.

“Yes. My husband, who visited the Empire, predicted it. He said the Emperor is full of greed and would never maintain a peaceful policy to the end.”

“Did you prepare this much based on just that one statement? Enough for you to give up being known as transcendents and volunteer for this difficult journey?”

“Everyone here has received King Logan’s help and kindness.”

Eileen’s answer was without hesitation.

In fact, even Burdel, who had the weakest connection with Logan among them, would not have been able to become a transcendent if he had just lived as a monster hunter.

At least, that’s what she thought.

“So, the people who received King Logan’s help have grown up so wonderfully. King Logan seems to have a great eye for people.”

“It’s just a coincidence. Becoming a transcendent isn’t something you can do just because you want to. It’s just that my husband is lucky with people.”

“I see. Talented people who can become transcendents naturally gather around King Logan… I see…….”

Eileen felt something sharp in Ilia’s words and tilted her head, feeling like the conversation was getting stranger and stranger.

‘Why am I having this conversation?’

If you take away the goodwill based on the interpersonal relationship and consider it, wasn’t it like questioning them like they were enemies, not allies who came to help during the war?

And it seemed that she wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

“Saintess, is there anything else you want to ask us separately?” Ronian, who was behind her, stepped forward with a slightly hardened expression.

Then Ilia shook her head, waving her hand.

“No, it’s not. I’ve been having a lot of unnecessary thoughts lately……, ugh.”

“Saintess!?”

Ilia grabbed her head and sat down in a very strange and unexpected situation, and everyone just stared blankly. Only Victor, who had been looking at her with complicated eyes throughout, immediately jumped out.

“Ugh, ugh. Even though the magistrate has lost his power……. Why…….”

“Saintess!”

Victor supported Ilia, who was muttering to herself with a pale face, and barely managed to lift her up.

“Saintess, are you alright?”

“If, if I ask about King Logan, you don’t have to answer. No, don’t answer!!”

The words that came out in a shaky voice from Ilia’s constantly staggering mouth led to a scream-like shout.

The Saintess’s face was much paler than when they first met.

And a shout that erupted at the end of a conversation that made no sense at all.

The group stared blankly at her with surprised expressions.

Bang!

“What’s going on, Your Holiness!”

“You! What did you do to Her Holiness!”

The Holy Knights burst into the office, kicking down the door.

However, it was Ilia who stopped them.

“No, it’s not. I haven’t been sleeping well……. Please introduce these people to Commander Haman. They will be of great help to us right now.”

Her voice became quiet again. But her face seemed to be getting paler every time she spoke.

“Yes, Your Holiness!”

“Yes.”

The Holy Knights, who were surprised and confused, quickly straightened their posture and obeyed her orders.

But the group still couldn’t help but be confused.

“Saintess, what on earth…….”

Looking at them, Ilia bit her lip as if she had made a decision.

“Sir Victor. Can you stay for a moment? There is a personal request I would like to make.”

“Yes?”

Victor looked at Eileen without realizing it, and Ilia continued in a shaky voice.

“It’s just in case, really, just to prepare for if things get really bad. In case I can’t stay as myself…….”

“Saintess, what are you talking about…….”

Victor looked troubled, and the Saintess had a pale face.

Eileen, who knew the two’s friendship, could only tilt her head and allow time for their private meeting.