Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 406

“I think this is the first time we’ve met face-to-face,” Logan said. His voice was calm in the quiet office. Outside, the night was still, but inside the castle, torches burned along the stone walls. Still, shadows filled the room, making the torchlight weak.

One of the men with Gerard bowed his head. “Yes, it is,” he replied.

Gerard, the blond man with blue eyes, just lowered his head slightly. He didn’t kneel like others might before a king. He seemed relaxed, not at all like someone who had just lost everything.

“It’s a shame things have come to this,” Logan continued, watching Gerard closely.

“Not really,” Gerard said, a small smile playing on his lips. “It was always going to happen.”

Logan was intrigued by what Gerard said.

Logan thought, “He sounds like he really means that.”

The middle-aged man, the former King Dong-ik, seemed carefree. He didn’t seem like someone who had fallen from the top of the world. He had no luggage, and the only person with him was the knight standing behind him.

Logan was curious about his story.

“It was always going to happen? Can you tell me more about that?” Logan asked.

“It’s not a story worth telling right now. We should think about the future, not the past,” Gerard replied.

After a moment, Dong-ik smiled slightly. He didn’t look angry, even though he had been one of the Four Direction Kings of the Empire, then left to join an enemy nation and fight in the war.

Logan knew not to judge people only by how they looked.

Logan thought about Dong-ik working with the Cassel Magic Tower even when he was a King. That was surprising.

Logan wanted to be sure about a few things.

“King Dong-ik…” Logan started.

“Gerard,” Dong-ik corrected.

“Hmm?”

“Just call me Gerard now, Your Majesty,” Dong-ik said. “It’s nice to hear someone call me ‘Your Majesty’ who isn’t the Emperor.”

Logan’s eyes flashed again. Gerard didn’t seem to care about losing his position as one of the Four Direction Kings.

“Okay, Gerard,” Logan said. “But is the Empire attacking McLaine because of us, like they say? Or is it really about the Black Serpent?”

“Does it matter?” Gerard asked.

“It might be too late to say this, but if it’s about the Black Serpent, you should leave the war, even if your knight stays. Things have changed,” Logan said.

Like Louisa had said, Gerard had fire energy inside him. So, he didn’t use magic from the Cassel Magic Tower.

But it wasn’t about his magic. The world was changing faster than when he had talked to Louisa.

Gerard knew that.

“Even now, are you still worried about what people think?” Gerard asked.

“Yes, because of this situation, I need to worry even more,” Logan replied. “At least until a real war starts in the west.”

Gerard chuckled.

“You’re more careful than I thought. But don’t worry. I’m not being kicked out because of the Tower. If I had to guess, it’s because I really helped McLaine,” Gerard said.

Logan frowned. ‘He says it’s not because of the Tower, but then says it is because he helped McLaine? That’s strange.’

“It sounds like you’re not sure either,” Logan said.

“Ah, I see I confused you. Let me say it differently. If it was about the Tower, I wouldn’t be here talking to you,” Gerard explained.

“What do you mean?” Logan asked.

“The Imperial Family is too focused on the Black Serpent,” Gerard said.

Logan still looked unsure, so Gerard sighed and told him something unexpected.

“Not many people know this, but the Imperial Family of the Empire used to work with the Black Serpent,” Gerard revealed.

“What?” Logan said, surprised.

Knowing where the Cassel Magic Tower and the Ares Empire came from made this even more shocking.

Gerard smiled sadly, thinking Logan didn’t believe him, and continued.

“I know it’s hard to believe right now. But it’s true. The records are not complete, so it’s hard to know exactly when, but it definitely happened,” Gerard said.

“Huh…”

“The Special Surveillance Department, the Ghost’s skills and items, are from that time. They helped the Ares Kingdom become an Empire,” Gerard explained.

“Then why did they stop?” Logan asked.

“The Tower Master said if the Cassel Magic Tower hadn’t controlled the Crown Prince’s mind back then, the Empire and the Black Serpent might still be allies today,” Gerard said.

“What? Controlled his mind? The Crown Prince!?” Logan exclaimed.

“Yes. That’s when they became enemies of the Empire,” Gerard confirmed.

“Hmm…”

‘Not from then, surely,’ Logan thought.

Logan knew that Gerard didn’t know everything. The family of the Great Mage Taron Ares, who had been friends with the Sword Demon, would have always been against them.

It was strange that they had ever worked with the Black Serpent, even for a short time.

‘How could they have worked together?’ Logan wondered.

‘Even if people change their minds…’

Gerard kept talking, even though Logan was confused.

“After that, the Imperial Family started using magic on their members from birth to protect them from mind control. And they try to get rid of anyone, even distant relatives, who are connected to the Black Serpent. So, if they thought I was involved…” Gerard trailed off, but Logan knew what he meant.

“I heard it wasn’t easy for you to get here,” Logan said.

Gerard had reportedly killed over 100 knights and 20 mages while escaping the palace.

Logan had heard that he had fought several times on his way to McLaine. That’s when people learned that Dong-ik was a 5th Circle fire mage.

But Gerard shook his head calmly.

“It would have been much harder than that. The Imperial Family’s strongest members might have come after me. Even with Jay, I would have died before leaving the palace,” Gerard said.

‘Knowing that, he still worked with the Cassel Magic Tower?’ Logan wondered.

Logan wondered why he was so brave and what he really wanted.

But…

“So, I’m going to fight in the war too. I might get to see Emperor Kaisers’s face,” Gerard said.

Gerard’s eyes shone, and his smile seemed real.

‘Yes, it’s genuine,’ Logan thought.

Logan’s red eyes shone. Since he had learned the power of the Aura Master, he could sense things more clearly. He could see that Gerard’s angry soul and the mana waves around him were in harmony.

Gerard didn’t know this and kept talking.

“I’ll do anything to take the Emperor’s head. And Jay feels the same,” Gerard said.

Jay, the handsome blond knight behind Dong-ik, nodded as if that was obvious. Jay Furson, Dongwang Palace’s hidden weapon and an Aura User, felt the same way.

This was true.

But…

“Gerard, Sir Jay, you don’t have as much skill as you have fighting spirit,” Logan said coldly.

“What…!” Jay exclaimed.

“Enough, Jay. That’s what the strongest man on the continent thinks. He defeated the Sword Demon. Don’t let your pride get in the way,” Gerard said.

Jay bit his lip, about to step forward. But his eyebrows twitched, and his eyes showed that he wanted to draw his sword and show his skills.

Logan’s eyes flashed.

‘Ho-oh?’ Logan thought.

The soul waves were different from the angry look he was showing. They were calmer, more like fighting spirit, longing, and admiration than anger.

Heh.

It was too quick of a reaction for someone who had been hiding for so long.

‘He’s acting…’ Logan realized.

‘Does he want to see my skills?’

Logan didn’t have to deal with him. Jay hid his energy well, but Logan was much stronger.

However…

‘If he could be useful, I should show him how different our skills are,’ Logan thought.

That way, he wouldn’t ignore orders and do whatever he wanted on the battlefield.

Logan stood up and walked toward him.

“Sir Jay Furson, right?” Logan asked.

“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s an honor to meet you… cough, it’s an honor,” Jay said.

When Logan came closer and said his name, Jay’s face lit up, as if he had forgotten he was acting.

Logan chuckled when he saw Jay realize this and get embarrassed.

‘He’s more innocent than I thought?’ Logan mused.

He could be younger than he looked.

Even if he was an Aura User, looking that young meant he was actually young, or he had awakened his Aura very early.

He was a genius.

He was probably in his early thirties.

If he had become strong at that age and lived in hiding, Logan could see why he wanted to compete with him.

But he was so happy just to have his name called that Logan didn’t want to suppress his energy anymore.

“Very well, Sir Jay. I look forward to working with you,” Logan said.

“I should be the one saying that!” Jay exclaimed.

‘Why was he acting so angry earlier?’ Logan wondered.

Logan laughed.

Gerard, who had been sighing, suddenly spoke.

“Jay, didn’t you want to ask the greatest swordsman on the continent for help? Now’s your chance. I think you should be honest,” Gerard suggested.

Jay was confused, and Logan didn’t know who Gerard meant.

“Your Majesty, would you help Jay? He’s a talented friend. All I can do is this,” Gerard said, bowing deeply.

“Your Highness! Why are you doing this!?” Jay exclaimed, trying to stop him.

Logan was even more confused than Jay. He was surprised by Gerard’s politeness and realized that Gerard was talking about him.

‘The greatest swordsman on the continent?’ Logan thought.

That’s what people had called the Sword Demon.

“Ah…!”

Logan had killed the Sword Demon.

So, he was now the greatest swordsman on the continent.

“Huh…”

Logan chuckled and nodded. Gerard looked troubled, Jay looked excited, and Logan wanted to control things on the battlefield.

That day…

Logan showed Jay the move that the Sword Demon had shown him years ago.

But this time, it was a real Soul Blade, much closer to the power of an Aura Master.

Logan showed Jay a sword move. It was a powerful move, one that could help Jay become stronger, or maybe even stop him from improving further. Logan knew Jay admired him now, but Jay could become an enemy later.

Jay Furson couldn’t open his eyes for a whole day after that.

When he woke up…

“It was an amazing power that I can’t even imagine. King Logan must be about my age,” Jay said, admiring Logan.

Gerard looked surprised.

While Gerard and Jay were admiring Logan’s power…

News came to Kyle Castle that the Imperial Army had broken through McLaine’s border.