Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 77

The Floyd family had once been powerful, owning a large area of land near the capital city of Grandia. Years ago, during the civil war, they had made a mistake.

At first, they stayed neutral while the First Prince and the Second Prince fought for the throne. But then, for reasons no one understood, the Floyd family joined the Second Prince’s side. When it became clear the Second Prince would lose, the Floyd family vanished.

Their downfall became a warning to other nobles who had been slow to choose a side. Rumors spread about the family, especially about the young daughter, Aileen.

People said that just as she was becoming an adult, she had defended her family’s castle gate, fighting like a hero and defeating a hundred knights. Some called Aileen Floyd a knight born in the wrong time.

Because women in Grandia were not expected to be warriors, her story became even more famous after her death. Singers everywhere told tragic stories about her.

Various stories were created and spread.

Of course, most of them were tragic love stories based on her.

It was clear that her end had shocked the people of Grandia that much.

Logan was now seeing for himself that the stories he had heard were true.

Looking at her age, he could see she was very skilled.

Especially because noble ladies usually don’t focus on sword training.

She might have talent no less than Ronian or Victor.

He had only come to pass the time and then leave, but he met an unexpected talent.

Logan’s eyes were filled with curiosity and regret at the same time.

The civil war is only a few months away. An engagement is meaningless.

If it were a marriage rather than an engagement, he could use that as an excuse to keep this talent in McLaine.

However, it was impossible for a noble family in Grandia to get married within a few months of their first meeting.

It’s not like I’m good at charming women.

There was no way to bring this talented young lady to McLaine right away.

“…What a waste.”

“…Excuse me?”

“…Ah, no. I apologize, Lady. I misspoke… I’m sorry.”

“…It’s alright.”

“…”

“…”

An awkward silence weighed heavily on the two.

“Hmm. First, how about a cup of tea…”

“…Ah, yes. Then…”

“…”

“…”

He tried to start a conversation, but the silence continued.

Eventually, Logan sighed and opened his mouth.

“It seems that you didn’t want to come out here either, Lady.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I’m in the same position. How about we agree and leave this place?”

At that, her expression changed subtly.

“…Are you saying we shouldn’t waste time meaninglessly?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“…Hmm. Then, how about we do something worthwhile?”

“…Excuse me?”

The other person, who was more than just understanding, suddenly changed her attitude and showed interest.

It was as if she was delighted to hear the words ‘waste of time’.

Moreover, with this kind of offer, he even wondered if she was trying to interest him.

If that was the case, there might be a little bit of a chance.

“…What do you mean by a worthwhile time?”

Ba-dump!

Logan hid his rising expectations and looked at Aileen.

“I heard you are a disciple of Sword Master. Could you spar with me?”

“…Excuse me?”

Logan almost laughed at the story that followed.

“Since you are a disciple of the Sword Master, but I can’t see how good you are, I think you must be better than me. Still, sparring… would it be difficult?”

It was a story he had never expected, but it was also refreshing.

Looking at Aileen with a desperate expression, Logan nodded with a smile.

“Alright. I would also welcome a spar with someone who has such talent at a young age.”

“Lady!”

Laila, a maid who had lived her whole life taking care of Aileen right next to her, grabbed Aileen’s sleeve.

Aileen, startled, turned her head towards Logan, who was walking a little ahead.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like he heard.

“Lower your voice! He’ll hear!”

“Lady, that’s not important right now! The Count told you never to do that! Why are you doing this? I can’t live like this.”

“It’s different than before! This is a formal spar. Laila, don’t you trust me?”

Aileen said with a confident expression, but Laila firmly retorted.

“I don’t trust you. I don’t trust you. How can I trust you, Lady? Aish, really.”

He heard someone trying not to laugh nearby.

“I told you to lower your voice!”

Aileen shouted with a reddened face.

However, Logan’s situation, walking ahead, was not much different from hers.

“Young Master! A spar with a woman! You’re not really going to do it, are you? Absolutely not!”

Rick shouted in a small voice, lowering his voice even in a hurry.

His expression was so desperate that it made him want to laugh.

“Don’t laugh! If rumors spread that you hit a woman in the name of sparring, I’ll be killed by the Lord. Absolutely, absolutely not. Got it?”

At the earnest voice, Logan nodded, but he didn’t really smile.

“Don’t worry, that won’t happen.”

Even if this lady’s swordsmanship skills were only half the level of Force, such rumors would not spread.

Logan said that with that in mind, but Rick, who didn’t know anything, sighed in great relief.

And fortunately, the other party blocked even the possibility of such rumors spreading.

It would be difficult if rumors spread.

At Aileen’s request, Logan opened a special training room, used only by his master, the famous Sword Master.

The knight guarding the training hall watched them with interest, but Logan did not satisfy his curiosity.

He was just curious about this lady’s skills, who became famous only after her death.

And if I do well…

It was also an opportunity to acquire a promising talent.

Logan got ready for the spar, curious to see what Aileen could do.

Laila’s voice was loud and worried.

“Lady! Now that it’s come to this, win decisively!”

“Is this woman crazy! Do you know who our Young Master is?!”

“That’s funny! Do you even know our Lady?!”

Both servants looked very worried.

Both servants were thinking the same thing.

Well, the blind date is already a failure.

Since it’s ruined anyway, I hope at least our master wins.

And in the midst of only those two spectators, Aileen changed into simple clothes for fighting, like loose pants and a tunic.

Aileen held up a practice sword in front of Logan.

“Aileen Floyd. I have been training in swordsmanship alone for 10 years.”

A greeting given while raising the sword and taking a stance.

Because the content of that statement was so shocking.

“Alone?”

Aileen looked like she thought he was making fun of her, and her face turned slightly red.

“I have even won against knights. I hope you don’t underestimate me. I don’t want to hear that you were careless later.”

“Ah, I apologize. I was just surprised. Don’t worry. I won’t underestimate you.”

Logan realized Aileen was revealing a secret that could get her in trouble.

Logan spoke in a low voice, “If my master heard you say that, you’d be in real trouble.”

“I have no intention of holding back, so I hope you’ll excuse any roughness,” Logan said.

Aileen’s eyes flashed, bright and daring, as she met Logan’s gaze.

*Whack!*

Aileen gasped, “Ugh!” as Logan’s sword slammed into her ribs. It felt like bones cracking. Pain shot through her side, hot and sharp.

Watching from the side, Lyla winced, her hands flying to her own ribs as if she felt the blow herself. Rick’s eyes were wide with horror, his face pale.

Aileen stumbled back, air knocked from her lungs. Her mouth fell open, trying to suck in breath, but only pain filled her. She wanted to fall, to curl up on the dusty ground, but she forced herself to stay standing.

A single strike.

She knew he’d be strong, but she didn’t know he’d be *this* much stronger.

Even if he was a Sword Saint’s disciple, they weren’t that far apart in age.

“Eek!” Aileen cried.

Aileen, her face flushed, endured the pain and rose to her feet.

Then, with determined eyes, she cautiously circled Logan.

*Tsk!*

He moved so fast, he was on her in a flash.

*Wham!*

The chilling sound of the iron sword cutting through the air aimed perfectly for Logan’s blind spot, but-

*Whack! Thwack!*

“Ack!” Aileen cried out.

Blood suddenly poured from Aileen’s forehead.

Screams erupted from the onlookers as well.

“M-Miss!!” Lyla cried.

Lyla’s face turned as pale as if she had taken the blow herself. Beside Lyla, whose hands were trembling and who looked as though she would faint at any moment, Rick was equally pale and dumbfounded.

*I’m doomed. I’m finished,* Rick thought.

Rick felt like crying. *Oh no,* he thought, *Logan will be known as someone who hurts women! And my family will be angry at me!*

*Whack!*

“Ugh!” Aileen cried again.

Again, intense pain pierced his side, but Aileen did not collapse.

It wasn’t that she had become accustomed to the pain, which she couldn’t even count how many times she had felt it.

Blood, especially the sight of it spurting from her own head, was something she had never imagined.

Nor the terrible pain caused by the iron sword relentlessly battering her entire body.

When she had asked for the duel, she had never imagined it would turn out like this.

The pain was so bad, it broke her dreams. This fight was nothing like she imagined.

She wanted to collapse right away, but she couldn’t.

The opponent’s indifferent red eyes seemed to mock her, as if to say, ‘Is that all you’ve got?’

*I’ll pay him back at least once, no matter what!*

She raised a hand and lightly brushed away the blood that had flowed into her eyes.

She wanted to give those bloodshot, unlucky eyes a black eye, just like the blood on her hand.

“Wipe the blood from those eyes first……” Aileen said.

*Tsk!*

“Die!” Aileen shouted.

A strike aimed at the gap when the opponent spoke.

It was an attack that had gone beyond a duel and contained extreme personal feelings, but-

Even that was useless against him.

*Clang!*

The iron sword always blocked her, even if it came out half a beat late.

Rather, it was close to luck that she managed to barely block the ensuing attack by twisting the sword she was wielding.

“Good judgment,” Logan said.

She thought he would call her weak, but he praised her.

But to Aileen now, even that sounded like he was mocking her.

“But move more directly!” Logan said.

*Whack.*

With a stinging pain, her vision blurred again.

*Damn it! This guy,* she thought.

It was as if he was toying with her.

Tears welled up, whether from the pain or the anger.

But even so, Aileen’s body was moving as concisely as possible again.

The stinging pain all over her body was something she had never felt before.

However, she did not realize that the injuries were not severe compared to the pain, and that unnecessary movements were significantly reduced in order not to intensify the pain.

And Logan, standing in front of her with his sword, was watching Aileen’s changing appearance with shining eyes.

*Is this how Master felt when he looked at me?* Logan wondered.

She had plenty of talent, but she wasn’t making the most of it.

It seemed true that she had trained alone, as she had many bad habits, but her posture was corrected immediately with just a few touches.

Her talent was real, not just rumors or bards’ tales.

*So I need to finish this even more decisively,* Logan thought.

The moment he made up his mind, he saw Aileen rushing at him again.

“Uaargh!” Aileen cried.

A strange cry that was neither a scream nor a shout.

It wasn’t a very proper sound for a lady, but the result of that cry could not be ignored.

The way she moved in a zigzag pattern, changing her swordsmanship, was completely different from the first time she had rushed straight ahead.

However.

Logan’s iron sword knocked away her sword too easily and pierced her solar plexus.

*Whack!*

This hit would stun her. She wouldn’t be able to move for a long time, inside or out.

The moment Logan withdrew his sword, Aileen’s body collapsed helplessly.

And yet.

“A-Again. Let’s do it again. Again……” Aileen said.

A desperate voice that seemed to cry out that she couldn’t end it like this.

Aileen’s attempt to get up by grabbing the ground was desperate.

*Her spirit is good too,* Logan thought.

Logan sighed softly and cleared his mind.

What he was about to do would really change his future.

But…….

*It’s worth the risk,* Logan thought.

Logan made a firm decision and reached out his hand.

“I will help you, Lady Aileen,” Logan said.

“I said, let’s do it again! Again!” Aileen shouted.

“I will give you another chance next time,” Logan said.

“Tch……” Aileen said.

Logan smiled and lifted the fallen Aileen.

And he whispered a few words in her ear.

“Huh……? Yes?” Aileen asked.

Aileen, with a strange expression, nodded after a while.

Those words changed everything in a way no one could believe, even after this strange fight.

To the point where the watching servants were not only dazed but also had their thoughts frozen, unable to say anything for a long time.