Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 48

“Hap!” Clayton shouted. With his shout, a burst of bright yellow light filled the tunnel. The shaking, which had been coming and going, stopped completely.

“Good,” Clayton said. “The tunnel is safe now. Get the golems ready.” When Clayton spoke, the students behind him moved together. Each one took out a small crystal from their robes. The crystals glowed blue and were about the size of a fist.

Logan’s eyes widened. ‘Mana stones!’ he thought, excited. He watched as the wizards, who had been chanting with wide eyes, threw the blue crystals at the pile of rocks.

With a loud, grinding sound, a large part of the rock pile changed. It became ten stone giants, each taller than two meters. “Ooh!” the workers gasped. “Magic, for sure!” They had been watching closely, hardly breathing, and now they spoke in surprised voices.

Logan was amazed as he watched the wizards. ‘Just by making golems, they cleared so much rock!’ he thought. Then Clayton shouted, “We don’t know if anyone is still alive! Hurry!”

“Yes, sir!” Clayton’s students shouted back. Right away, the stone giants, the golems, started moving. They began to lift the rocks, one after another.

Thud. Thud. The golems moved quickly, much faster than the workers. They were incredibly strong, easily lifting rocks as big as people. The golems were not afraid of more rocks falling, and they used their great power to keep working. Because of them, the work went much faster than if only workers were there.

‘Wow!’ Logan thought. He had only seen wizards fighting in battles before. He was very impressed by how useful these wizards who made golems were.

It seemed like the golems were working even faster now, and they cleared the rocks very quickly. In less than two hours, Logan could see the survivors.

“I’m alive!” someone shouted.

“Ivan! Pomarov!”

“Lovel, you’re okay!” The survivors hugged the other workers and cheered.

Logan quickly found Hamarr and checked him. He sighed in relief. ‘Just bruises and small injuries inside. He only fainted from the shock. Thank heavens.’

Now that he knew Hamarr was safe, Logan looked around, amazed. A big mine collapse had been completely fixed in just five hours. But really, the work only took about two hours. The other three hours were spent telling Logan and Clayton, and waiting for the wizards to arrive.

“This is really… amazing,” Logan said, again and again. He watched the golems carefully carrying the rescued miners to safety.

‘I wish I had golems like that,’ Logan thought. Maybe Clayton, being a wizard who worked with earth, already knew this was a gold mine, even if others didn’t. Logan remembered when Clayton first used magic to stop the ground from shaking. Clayton had paused for a second and looked right at Logan. At that moment, Logan understood: Clayton knew what kind of mine this was.

‘Clayton is very skilled and now he knows my secret.’ Logan thought. ‘The best way to deal with this is to make him my friend, someone I can trust completely.’

‘But how can I become friends with a powerful wizard from the Magic Tower?’ Logan thought hard, trying to find an answer, but nothing came to mind. He could only hope Clayton would keep quiet. Logan bit his lip, feeling worried, when…

“Lord Logan,” Clayton said. “Maybe you need a Magic Tower here?”

“What?” Logan asked, surprised. Clayton’s eyes were bright with excitement, which was strange because he usually looked so serious. He had just said something very unexpected.

“What are you talking about?” Logan was confused and a little nervous. He hadn’t expected Clayton to talk to him like this.

“I think it’s time for me to leave the Magic Tower and start on my own,” Clayton explained. “As you can see, I don’t get along with the Tower Leader. And Lord Logan, your land here seems like it could support a small Magic Tower.”

Clayton looked around, and Logan could see he was both greedy and hopeful. ‘To have my own Magic Tower?’ Logan thought. Only a few places in the kingdom had their own Magic Towers. At first, it sounded like a great idea, but he knew it was not easy. Magic Towers usually didn’t do much unless there was a war. Normally, they just cost a lot of money to run, like a group of wizards always wanting more. So, when you really needed a wizard, people usually just asked for help from another Magic Tower.

But what if there was a war next year? ‘Then it would definitely be a good thing to have,’ Logan thought. He remembered the giant golem Clayton had used when building the dam. He had thought it wouldn’t be good for fighting, but that was only if they were fighting knights. There were many ways to use a creature like that in a war.

‘I think they become much stronger with those mana stones, right?’ Logan looked over at the golems. They were still carrying the tired and scared miners, one in each hand.

Logan watched the golems and thought about all the ways they could be used in a war. No matter how he looked at it, the answer was clear.

“How much money do you need? No, what do you need from me?” Logan asked quickly. Clayton, who had started the conversation, was surprised by how eager Logan was.

* * * Later, after Hamarr woke up in the castle, he told Logan the truth about the mine accident.

“You fell asleep while using the collapse scroll?” Logan asked.

“Yes,” Hamarr mumbled. “I’ve been so tired lately.” Hamarr turned his head away, feeling ashamed, even though he was lying in bed. Logan didn’t feel angry at all. It was his fault for making Hamarr work too much.

“Don’t worry about it. We can start building again soon,” Logan said gently. “But don’t worry about that now. You need to rest for a whole week. No, rest until you feel completely better.”

“I’ll be fine in a day…” Hamarr started to say, then stopped, confused.

“Huh?”

“What?” Logan asked.

They looked at each other, surprised by what the other had said.

“Are you… telling me to rest?” Hamarr asked.

“Are you… saying you don’t need to rest?” Logan asked back.

“I, I will rest! I will definitely rest!” Hamarr said quickly, as if he was afraid Logan would change his mind.

Logan patted Hamarr’s shoulder and walked away, smiling sadly. Hamarr watched Logan leave, his face showing he was very confused. He scratched his head, still not understanding.

When Logan came out of the room, Clayton was waiting outside. Logan saw him. Clayton had used earth magic to heal Hamarr because the few healers in this small, poor place (which didn’t even have a proper church or priests) were busy helping the injured workers. Clayton’s healing wasn’t his best magic, it only made Hamarr feel a bit better, but Logan bowed to him again.

“Thank you so much for your help,” Logan said. “You saved Hamarr and the workers.”

Clayton smiled gently, a soft smile on his usually serious face.

“Saving people is just the right thing to do,” Clayton said. “You don’t need to thank me so much.”

“Don’t be so humble,” Logan said. “You did something amazing. I will reward you properly, not just with thanks.”

“Haha,” Clayton chuckled. “It’s okay. It’s really not a big deal.”

Logan leaned forward, his eyes sharp as he looked at Clayton across the wooden table. “Let’s be honest, Clayton. You need help.”

Clayton coughed, surprised by Logan’s direct words.

“Golem magic is special to your school,” Logan continued. “But it costs a lot of money to use. It’s not very good for fighting, and it doesn’t make things you can sell. So, it always loses money.”

Logan kept talking, his words sharp and honest, and they clearly bothered Clayton.

“Mister Logan? Why are you suddenly saying that…?” Clayton asked.

Seeing Clayton’s reaction, Logan chuckled.

“Isn’t that why you were talking about the Magic Tower?” Logan asked.

“Well, that’s true, but…” Clayton replied.

Despite his appearance, Clayton seemed genuinely honest and kind.

Logan didn’t bother to hide the smile spreading across his face.

“Then let me ask again to be sure. Does this mean that you, including your disciples, will settle in our territory?”

“Of course,” Clayton confirmed.

“Well, as I said, I welcome it. I’m just a little concerned about whether you can part with the Earth Tower without any problems,” Logan said.

“That… that Tower Lord will be happy to welcome it as well. I will make sure there are absolutely no problems,” Clayton answered firmly.

Logan nodded with a smile.

And the most important question remained.

“So, how much support do you need?” Logan inquired.

“Haha. I’ll be fine as long as it’s better than the treatment I received from the Earth Tower,” Clayton said.

“Of course, we have to match that. Is there anything else you desire?” Logan asked. This was the recruitment offer they had been eagerly awaiting. Logan was willing to open his coffers as much as necessary.

But.

“I trust Logan’s character and abilities. Please take care of what you need appropriately,” Clayton said.

“Pardon?” Logan was bewildered. Was that really all Clayton wanted?

Logan was confused. Was that really all Clayton wanted?

The bewildered Logan and the smiling Clayton made for a heartwarming end to their conversation.

Dwayne stood in front of Logan, his eyes blazing. “Since when have you been secretly developing a mine! Without me knowing! Even the workers there don’t know what kind of mine it is?!”

Logan hired workers from Tesron Castle, but he hadn’t told his family about it. He hadn’t told them on purpose, thinking it was better for them not to know.

“Ah!” Logan clapped his hands as if he had just realized something. “Sorry. I forgot.”

“How can you forget something like that!” Dwayne exclaimed.

“It can happen. I’ve been busy,” Logan replied.

“Ugh, fine, fine. Then just confirm one thing for me. What kind of mine is it that you went to such lengths for? Are the reserves large? Iron? Copper?” Dwayne asked, grinding his teeth.

Seeing Dwayne grinding his teeth, Logan felt a mischievous urge.

“Why do you assume it’s only that level? Guess higher,” Logan suggested.

“Ugh. Master, as the finance manager, I have a duty to check the income for the future of the territory. Don’t joke around and just tell me,” Dwayne insisted.

“It could be a silver or gold mine. Who knows? Maybe even diamonds or mithril,” Logan teased.

“There’s no way! Not with our status!” Dwayne exclaimed.

‘Ha… What’s wrong with us, you rascal!’ Logan felt a surge of anger for a moment, but he hid his expression and answered calmly.

“It could be,” Logan said.

“Come on, don’t joke around. …Really? Could it be that this cursed family…” Dwayne looked like he was feeling sorry for himself.

Seeing the administrator feeling sorry for himself, he wanted to tease him a little more.

“Actually, it’s a copper mine. Maybe we can mine it for about three years?” Logan said.

“Ugh. I knew it! I knew it! Damn it, what’s the expected profit?” Dwayne asked.

“About 100 million gold per year?” Logan answered.

“Pardon? Ah, 10,000 gold per year. Then why bother developing it!” Dwayne exclaimed.

“Not 10,000, 100 million. 100 million gold,” Logan corrected.

“Ha. Are you going to keep joking around! What kind of copper mine…” Dwayne trailed off.

“It’s a gold mine. Sorry,” Logan admitted.

Logan watched with anticipation, but unlike his expectations, Dwayne just stared at him with his mouth shut.

“Why are you looking at me like that? I’m serious this time,” Logan said.

“Really?” Dwayne asked.

“Yes,” Logan confirmed.

“Really, really?” Dwayne pressed.

“I’m telling you, yes,” Logan replied.

“Really, really, really?” Dwayne asked again.

“Ah, yes, I said!” Only after Logan shouted did Dwayne slowly accept that it was real.

“Heuuuugh.”

“Dwayne?” Logan asked.

“Uwaaaaaaah!”

“Ugh!”

Dwayne, who had seemed to be out of his mind, suddenly screamed.

“Master! You’re not lying, are you? If you’re lying, I’ll just die! It’s really a gold mine?” Dwayne asked.

“Yes. That’s…” Logan started.

“Uwaaaaah! I’m alive! Long live our ancestors! Long live McLaine! How can this happen? Such a blessing for this cursed family!” Dwayne shouted.

‘I told you not to curse us on your own accord,’ Logan thought.

But Dwayne didn’t seem to know what he was saying.

“Thank you! Thank you! Master, please accept my bow! No, bowing twice isn’t polite, is it? But who cares. Please accept my bow!”

Logan watched Dwayne, who was making a fuss and rejoicing, with a happy gaze, feeling pleased himself.

‘I should have told him sooner,’ Logan thought.

To think that his vassal would be so happy about the family’s finances improving, even though it wasn’t his own money.

As the eldest son of the family, he couldn’t help but feel good.

However, there was one thing that bothered him a little.

‘I hope he remembers that the gold mine is located on my private land? It’s mine, not the family’s,’ Logan thought.

And he had no intention of giving all the profits to the family.

But…….

“Now I don’t have to rack my brains trying to squeeze out a budget anymore! That money from Kairos! We don’t need it anymore! You dog-like bastards! Uwaaaaah! I thank the nine gods who watch over the world! I will live a good life from now on!”

Seeing the administrator, who rarely sought out even the gods, shouting, it was hard to open his mouth.

‘Well, I’ll tell him later. He’s so happy,’ Logan thought.

With Logan’s smile, a complex and eventful day came to an end.