Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 404

The Emperor’s orders echoed across the Empire, sharp and clear as a war horn. They were read out in town squares and shouted in army camps: “Gather all soldiers! From the flying Winged Legions to the ground troops with claws and teeth! Every force must be ready, except for the Dragon’s Teeth unit.”

The orders continued, even more powerfully: “Send out the full armies of the Northern Horn King, the Eastern Wing King, and the Southern Claw King! The Western Fang King will remain to guard the west.”

The news spread like wildfire. Three of the mighty Four Direction Kings, and the Emperor’s own Central Army, were being sent to war! Only the Western Fang King, watching over the Empire’s western lands, would stay behind. It was a huge show of force.

To the public, it seemed the conflict between the Holy Kingdom and the Empire had spread east unexpectedly.

Some said, “The Empire wants to take over McLaine!”

Others replied, “No, it’s just revenge for losing to the Holy Kingdom.”

Opinions were divided, but everyone agreed on one thing: this war would be difficult.

Three days northwest of Luthpelheim, a major city on the Empire’s eastern edge, was Penna. This was the main city where the Eastern Wing King lived. For days, Penna had been filled with a restless feeling. The Eastern Wing King’s forces, who controlled the Empire’s eastern region, had gathered in Penna to get ready to leave.

Since the war was in McLaine to the east, it was clear the Eastern Wing King would be the first of the Four Direction Kings to fight.

The city was noisy, but inside the royal residence, the atmosphere was different.

“…I don’t think I can do it anymore. I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. Every secret communication line is being cut off. It seems the Imperial Family has noticed.”

“What do you plan to do?”

The man on the communication device chuckled calmly at the Eastern Wing King’s stern face, which was rare to see.

“I will probably be found out soon. I think this will be the last time we talk. Thank you for everything, Your Highness.”

“…I am ashamed.”

“No, I am lucky to repay you for your kindness, even if it’s just a little. I will buy as much time as possible. Please, Your Highness, escape quickly.”

“Thank you. Really.”

“Please take care, Your Highness.”

You too.

He hesitated, wondering if that was too fake to say. Then, the light on the communication device went out.

“Hmm….”

The Eastern Wing King, Gerard von Aserian, squeezed his eyes shut and sighed.

Then, a handsome blond knight next to him stepped forward.

“If Lane says that, you must escape right away.”

“It might already be too late.”

“Your Highness!”

“…We can’t rule out that they’ve already found me and are closing in.”

“Then….”

“We must think about the worst thing that could happen. First, we need an excuse to leave the royal residence….”

But the Imperial Family found him faster than he thought.

“Eastern Wing King, Your Highness, we are from the Imperial Family. We will escort you.”

Knights blocked his way as soon as he left the communication room.

The six knights wore full armor with golden dragon crests. They blocked the way without even lifting their helmet visors.

Gerard’s face became stern at their strange clothes and rude attitude.

‘The Imperial Inspection Department.’

The Special Inspection Unit was like ghosts in the shadows, but these knights showed the Emperor’s power in the open.

Ghosts came quietly at night to take lives, but these knights came boldly in daylight to destroy everything. In some ways, they were even scarier than the rumored ghosts.

Gerard’s face naturally turned sour.

“From the Imperial Family? What’s the matter?”

Even when questioned sharply by one of the Four Direction Kings, who was as noble as royalty, they didn’t move.

“You will know if you follow us.”

The knight who seemed to be the leader stepped forward and spoke in a flat voice.

They were being very rude to one of the Empire’s rulers, one of the Four Direction Kings. It was clear that the decision had already been made.

‘This is… unavoidable.’

Gerard sighed softly instead of fighting back.

“Jay.”

“Yes.”

“Cut them down.”

As soon as he said that, the sword was swung.

At the same time, a bright red light flashed, coloring the corridor for a moment.

Flash!

Slice!

The Imperial Knights were holding their sword hilts, ready to fight, but they couldn’t react. They were cut in half.

Thud thud thud.

They all fell at the same time without even screaming. The knight who had been the leader stayed alive for a moment, even with his lower body cut off.

“Cough, cough. Hack.”

Of course, that didn’t last long.

“O-Oh, Aura…?!”

Crack!

The leader’s head was crushed without a last word. Jay turned and knelt on one knee.

“I have carried out your order.”

Gerard watched his loyal escort knight and sighed.

“Too fast… It’s too fast.”

“I will clear the way. Please leave the royal residence.”

Jay said that and drew his sword again, but Gerard didn’t move. He just stared at his escort knight.

Then, he asked a sudden question.

“…You know that if you are a strong fighter, you can have wealth and glory in the Empire. Do you really not regret your choice?”

The knight’s eyes flickered at the question.

But he answered without hesitating.

“The little beggar saved by the Queen will never forget her kindness. And he will never forget the hatred he feels.”

Their eyes met.

After a long time, Gerard patted Jay on the shoulder and took another step.

“Where… are you going?”

“I must go to McLaine now.”

“To the Magic Tower….”

“It’s enough to contact the Tower Master for now.”

“I will serve you.”

Nod.

With those words, the Eastern Wing King and his escort knight disappeared from the Eastern Wing King’s residence. The Empire was turned upside down again.

The news that most people wouldn’t believe spread quickly: “The Eastern Wing King has joined McLaine and betrayed the Empire!”

“Why would a Four Direction King do that?”

“Why would he leave the Empire?”

“Is this just a rumor?”

The whole continent was shaken by the unbelievable news. But the Imperial Family called Eastern Wing King Gerard von Aserian and his family traitors. They killed everyone in the royal residence who was connected to him, proving the rumor was true. The leading royal family of the Empire, who had built the Imperial Capital Aserian and even named the city after themselves, was officially kicked out.

That would greatly hurt the Imperial Army’s morale.

However, the Emperor’s next announcement raised the Imperial Army’s morale back up.

“I will give the position of Eastern Wing King to the one who helps the most in taking over McLaine. This is the promise of the Emperor of the Empire.”

The news made the Imperial Army very angry, especially the generals and leaders.

King Dongik’s betrayal was big news, but something else even bigger happened. This new event made everyone forget about Dongik.

Around that time, Logan, who was still facing off against the Imperial Central Army in Kyle Castle, had an unexpected visitor.

“As if I didn’t have enough on my mind already,” Logan thought.

He sighed involuntarily.

The scale of the Imperial Army currently advancing towards them was being relayed in real-time. McLaine had a problem. They couldn’t attack the Imperial soldiers in front of them, even though they had won.

Logan thought, “We have to just sit here and watch more enemy soldiers come. This is terrible.”

They had killed two superhumans, Sword Spirit and Greg Marvin, and depleted over 10% of their forces, but even so, they couldn’t guarantee victory outside this castle.

Their initial victory was mostly due to the effects of the Great Magic Circle and the power of the crossbows and Liberatio firing from the castle walls.

The problem was, the enemy knew it, and so did their allies.

And now, an unwelcome guest had arrived.

Logan sighed again, looking at the fancy letter in his hand.

Logan sighed. Nobles betraying their kings wasn’t new. It happened all the time in history.

There was the burden of starting anew from the bottom, but it was better than losing one’s life. So, defeated royals or powerful figures ousted from power often chose this method to save their skins.

But there was a limit to everything.

“The Four Direction King of the Empire is defecting?” Logan asked.

“The Emperor’s trap is closing in on him. And the reason is, wouldn’t you say, because he helped McLaine?” Louisa said.

“So, you’re saying I should take responsibility?” Logan asked sharply.

The one who came as an envoy was none other than Princess Louisa, who should have been in the McLaine Royal Palace.

Logan thought, “Louisa could be an enemy. And she’s a mage! Why is she here, at the front lines with our army?”

They were currently in a hostile relationship with the Empire, but there was no trust between them.

From Logan’s perspective, Louisa was a ticking time bomb. The fact that she had come to the front lines at this time only made him more on edge.

Moreover, the reason was King Dongik’s defection. King Dongik’s defection wouldn’t help McLaine much *unless* he brought a lot of soldiers with him. He needed to bring a large army to be truly useful.

The only reason Logan wasn’t killing Louisa, who was as good as a bomb, was that he didn’t want to deal with the Black Serpent’s terror on top of the Imperial war.

Louisa seemed confident, even though Logan was suspicious of her.

“I’m not saying you should take responsibility, but that you should look to the future. I’m not asking you to accept him unconditionally either. I’m recommending it because there are tangible benefits,” Louisa said.

“Benefits?” Logan asked.

“Father, the bodyguard defector coming with King Dongik, Jay Ferson, is an Aura User,” Louisa explained.

“Hoo?” Logan couldn’t help but show interest in that.

A hidden superhuman?

However, there was a question.

“A superhuman follows a traitor of the Empire?” Logan asked.

Having experienced firsthand how much the Emperor valued talent, especially superhumans (or those with the potential to become one), Logan found the story even more suspicious.

But Louisa scoffed and dismissed the suspicion.

“Not everyone in the Imperial Army is loyal to the Emperor. You can tell just by looking at my father and me,” Louisa said.

“Hmm……. Well, the addition of an Aura User. If that’s true, there’s no reason to refuse the defection. However, it would be a bit of a problem if that friend is also affiliated with ‘them’,” Logan said.

“Don’t worry,” Louisa said. “Jay Ferson is loyal to our… to King Dongik.”

“Isn’t King Dongik also one of ‘them’?” Logan asked.

“You can trust that friend. He’s not from the Tower’s Sword Mage lineage, but a pure Aura User. Wouldn’t Logan be able to tell right away if he met him?” Louisa asked.

That wasn’t wrong.

But there was another problem.

“I don’t think someone who is only loyal to King Dongik would willingly fight on our battlefield, would he? What good is it if we go to the trouble of accepting him, only for him to protect his lord in the rear? We can’t completely rule out the possibility that he’s a spy, either,” Logan said.

“That can’t be,” Louisa replied.

“Hmm?” Logan questioned.

“My father also wants to go to the battlefield himself,” Louisa stated.

“Hoo?” Logan wondered what this was about now.

“I think Logan knows that my father and I hate the Emperor. And as my father is a pure mage who doesn’t use the ‘Tower’s’ magic, as is known, you don’t have to worry too much,” Louisa explained.

“But why would King Dongik go himself……?” Logan asked.

“Because the Emperor will be on this battlefield,” Louisa said.

“What does that have to do with anything?” Logan asked.

“The chances are slim, but if there’s even a chance to end the Emperor’s life directly, he’ll definitely go. And so will I,” Louisa said.

“Huh…….” Logan was speechless, dumbfounded.

There was no reason not to welcome the addition of King Dongik, a 5-circle mage, to the battlefield.

Especially with an Aura User as well.

Logan was confused. “What kind of anger makes a king destroy his own family and come to fight in a war?” he wondered.

Logan forcibly organized his complicated thoughts and shook his head calmly.

“Alright. I’ll accept King Dongik and his guard’s defection and include them in the troop formation. However, that will probably be at the very front,” Logan decided.

“That’s what my father wants too,” Louisa said.

They’re accepting even this?

Logan was speechless again at the unexpected answer to his offhand remark. But he quickly regained his composure and drew the final line.

“But Princess Louisa, you cannot come to the battlefield,” Logan said firmly. “You know why, better than anyone else.”

Louisa bit her lip at those words.

Currently, the Empire was using the excuse of rooting out the Black Serpent as a pretext for conquering McLaine. But if the magic of the Cassel Tower really appeared, that false pretense would become the truth.

However.

“Why are you still worried about being right or wrong?” Louisa exclaimed. “The war has already started!”

Louisa’s words had a point.

Even if there was justification at the beginning, all that remained after the war broke out was hatred towards each other. It might seem ridiculous to look for justification again in an already escalated war.

Unless there was something more to gain.

“Of course. Because the Western nations have to unite and respond to the Empire,” Logan said.

“Ha……!?” Louisa exclaimed.

“At least until then, the Cassel Tower shouldn’t really appear,” Logan said.

Not all countries are like McLaine. Even if the Empire’s intentions are obvious, if they establish a justification on their side, the pro-Imperial factions will surely seize on it.

Damian was trying to warn other countries about the Empire’s plans. McLaine couldn’t do anything that would make those countries doubt Damian.

“I won’t leave any traces. From behind……” Louisa started.

“I said no, Princess,” Logan interrupted.

“I’m confident!” Louisa exclaimed.

“When your own life is in danger, or when your father is in danger, can you guarantee that you won’t use magic?” Logan asked coldly.

Louisa seemed speechless at those cold words.

“That’s……,” Louisa trailed off.

“It’s a better choice for me to cut your throat here than to send you to the battlefield. I’ll accept the asylum application with the condition that you participate in the war. But you’re going back,” Logan said.

Logan dismissed Louisa’s words like that.

But a few days later, when the Empire’s reinforcements were once again approaching the McLaine border, an unexpected bomb exploded.

– Mass assassination and attempted assassination of leaders of Western nations.

– Presumed to be the work of a ghost.

A huge bomb that immediately established the Western nations’ sluggish coalition.

Requesting asylum.