Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 78

Rick stormed into Logan’s study, his face red with shock. “Lord Logan! Are you laughing right now?! Have you lost your mind?”

Logan’s loud laughter echoed in the room. “Pwahahaha!”

“No matter how strange your tastes are,” Rick continued, his voice rising, “this is too much! Getting engaged without even telling your family?!” He pounded his chest, starting his angry speech.

However.

“If I don’t get engaged, someone has to take responsibility for the injury to Lady Aileen, right? You…?”

“Why, why me! You’re the one who hit her!” Rick, looking wronged, took a step back.

“I can’t help it,” Logan said. “When I see someone with such talent, I have to claim them for myself.”

“What are you talking about? If you say you’re going to get engaged to that crazy… I mean, that valiant lady, the Lord will throw a fit! The Sword Master must be joking!”

“I don’t think so.”

“No, that cra… ugh. That lady too. Why is she nodding? What on earth did you say to her back then! You, who have never properly met a woman in your life, how did you manage it in one go….”

“You’re curious about that, aren’t you.”

“Well, I am a little curious… no! Lord Logan! I’m just being loyal!”

“Then I won’t tell you?”

“Ahem. Well, it would be nice to know….”

“Not telling.”

“Ah, really!” Logan smirked.

Logan ignored Rick’s fuss and closed his eyes, lost in thought.

Several days had already passed, but the thrilling sensation from that time was still vivid.

Of course, the reason was a little different from what Rick imagined.

‘Her swordsmanship sense was as good as Ronian’s.’

He pointed out a few small mistakes and pushed her to improve. She immediately fixed her swordsmanship.

At that sight, Logan immediately changed his mind.

He had to capture her, no matter what it took.

It was partly because he judged her to be a talented individual with a high potential to become very powerful in the future, but that wasn’t the whole reason.

‘A female knight with the potential to become very powerful emerges from Grandia?’

Even if that wasn’t the case, what if Aileen became famous as a skilled female knight?

He felt that even that alone could eliminate one of the worst ills of this country.

‘She could provide an opportunity to foster a female military force.’

The neighboring Ares Empire favored talent regardless of gender, and that principle was applied directly to the military.

If one had talent, they could receive higher education regardless of gender.

It didn’t matter whether it was martial arts or magic.

Therefore, the female knights and female magicians that existed in the Empire were another powerful weapon that Grandia lacked.

And he had to fight against such an empire in the future.

‘The more cards I can use, the better.’

The belief deeply rooted in the foundation of the thousand-year-old Grandia Kingdom.

Changing that was not something that could be achieved simply by expanding the power of the family.

But if things went as planned…

‘If the price of that possibility is betrothal, no, even marriage would be worth it.’

The words he whispered in her ear as he helped her up, exhausted.

Those words were not as romantic as Rick imagined.

Considering her reputation, situation, and skill, it was a ‘proposal’ that he thought she would like.

– You have great talent. Join me. Come to McLaine. Not as a woman, but as a knight. I promise you free training, sparring, and a battlefield where you can make a name for yourself. Of course, we’ll have to go through a formal engagement.

The moment Aileen, her face flushed, nodded faintly with a complex expression.

The deal between the two young nobles was sealed.

Unexpected gains made his excitement soar.

He had obtained an unexpected treasure, so it was inevitable.

Moreover, Aileen’s smile, flushed with refreshing sparring and a complete sense of liberation, was truly beauti….

Slap!

“Uwah! You’ll leave a handprint! What are you doing, Lord Logan! Have you really lost it?!”

“Ah, no. Just trying to clear my head.”

“How much do you need to clear your head to resort to self-harm? You’re bleeding! Blood!”

Looking at Rick’s fussing face, Logan suppressed the slight flutter in his heart.

“I guess I am bleeding. Tsk.”

Looking at the blood on his finger, Logan inwardly unleashed lots of self-criticism.

‘Are you already getting careless?! Get a grip, Logan! What woman? You want to die in a woman’s arms, is that it!’

Aileen gets the opportunity to unleash her talent.

And he gains another talent to face the Empire.

Yes. This is just a transaction involving mutual interests.

‘A transaction is enough.’

The excited feeling calmed down as he repeated the words in his mind.

And.

“I’m going to see my master.”

“If you say that after suddenly drawing blood, how am I supposed to take that….”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. It’s nothing.”

“It seems like something, though.”

Logan didn’t bother trying to persuade the grumbling Rick.

Once his mind had calmed down to some extent, he actually became curious about something regarding Rick.

“Why Aileen?”

“Yes. I don’t think you’re just trying to get me married off.”

“Haha. So, that girl must have really caught your fancy!”

“Master!”

“Ahem. Alright, alright, don’t rush me. Well, I chose that family for two reasons.”

“Two reasons?”

“Yes. First, the Floyd County family isn’t part of any faction, but they wield considerable influence even in the capital. They’re a family that can represent McLaine, who has no connections in central political circles.”

Logan himself didn’t care much because it was a time when civil war was not far off.

But for the Sword Master, who was unaware of that fact, it was a valid reason.

“Yes. And the other reason is more important….”

Logan focused and listened intently to the Sword Master’s seemingly serious voice.

“I was curious to see what would happen if I put a scheming guy together with a tomboyish girl. But I didn’t expect you to like her this much! Pwahahaha!”

“Ugh….”

Logan’s fist, which had been resting on his knee, trembled.

His master, who was extremely strict when it came to training, often showed these strange aspects in other situations.

It felt like the Sword Master’s reputation, known to the world, was collapsing in real time.

To play pranks even on someone else’s important life event.

Logan couldn’t help but feel empty, as he had hoped there might be another reason.

‘Well. Whatever the reason, it’s good if it works out.’

He tried to forget his master’s prank, trying to comfort himself.

“Yes. Meeting the girl, and even blushing like that. You seem just like someone your age.”

“Yes?”

“I don’t know how much of a burden you carry on your shoulders, or how heavy it is. But it’s not good to see a young man always wearing a stern expression, with the face of someone carrying all the worries of the world.”

“…….”

“You don’t have to carry everything alone. Open your heart. Trust the people around you, and have more space to breathe. It may be an old man’s meddling, but from what I’ve heard, I thought that a girl named Aileen might give you some space to breathe.”

Sincerity rushed in.

Logan couldn’t say anything more at the warm consideration he felt in his heart.

‘……It’s something only I can do.’

He simply steeled his weakening heart once more.

“Master!!” A loud voice echoed.

Then, a burst of laughter, “Pwahaha!” Logan sighed. After the funny incident with Aileen, his days had become very quiet.

Logan only focused on training. He did not care that people who knew he was going to marry someone were looking at him in a weird way.

This training included sparring with the eighteen knights who had come with him as his guards.

Three weeks had passed since he arrived in the capital, as late autumn arrived, something was about to happen.

Sploosh! Ice-cold water splashed over Henderson’s face as he lay on the ground. He gasped awake, sputtering and coughing.

“Ugh… Oh, Young Master, thank you for waking me up.”

It sounded like he really meant it, not just polite words. This made Logan feel a little bad.

And that reaction was much the same for most of the eighteen knights.

For some reason, they seemed even more loyal since coming to the County.

Therefore, Logan couldn’t easily bring himself to say what he had to say.

But he had to say it.

After all, he had spent the past week pouring his energy into these fellows for this very reason.

“Hmm. Everyone’s improved a bit since before coming here, haven’t they?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“Was it worth coming to the capital?”

“Yes! It was!”

Considering what they were doing when they entered the city gates, it wouldn’t be strange if they went out every day.

But in fact, they didn’t even step out of the mansion and only trained, making them seem as addicted to training as he was.

So, he felt he could trust them even more and entrust them with what he had in mind.

“Actually, I have a personal request for you all.”

“Yes?”

“Can you grant it?”

“We will do anything you ask, Young Master!”

The knights shone with loyalty.

However, as the words coming from Logan’s mouth grew longer, their expressions gradually began to change subtly.

Phillip, who had just finished his work for the Imporic Company in the capital, looked at the knights Logan had brought with an astonished expression.

“Okay, so, about my request… This is Henderson, the squad leader. He will keep you safe.”

“Pleased to be at your service.”

“I, I’m also pleased to be at your service. No, but is this really….”

Seeing Phillip flustered, Logan grinned and continued.

“This is Digrom. Consult with this friend, the deputy leader, when it comes to using your head.”

“But, Lord Logan, is this really….”

“From this side, Jimmy, Nunez, Lambert, Keldin.”

“Are you sure it’s alright to use the knights like this?”

“That’s why I asked for their opinions, and they all said it was fine, didn’t they?”

“…Yes.”

The voices of the six knights were quieter than one person’s voice.

It was proof that it was absolutely not of their own volition, but the knights were able to regain some vitality with Logan’s following words.

“Three months. Only until winter comes. The task I’m entrusting to you is that important.”

Of course, Phillip became even more anxious.

“There’s no need to be so anxious. It’s just an expanded version of what we did last year. Namely….”

Even though Logan said it was nothing much, Phillip’s nervousness only increased.

“Before the year is over, acquire as many weapons and warhorses as possible and send them to the territory. Also, the lumber from the Tritan territory that we bought before.”

Why is it that ominous premonitions never fail?

“…What are you plotting again?! The times are suspicious enough as it is; are you planning to start a war yourself?”

“Hey. Do you see me as a warmonger?”

“Then why are you buying up war materials!”

“Just in case.”

“What do you mean, ‘just in case’! Every time you say that….”

Phillip, who was about to press further, swallowed his words, fearing that his guess might become reality.

Then, seeing Logan’s unwavering expression, he sighed and effectively surrendered.

“…How much, then?”

“I’ll give you a budget of 30 million gold. Acquire as much as you can within that limit.”

“Yes?!”

Even at Phillip’s faint scream-like question, Logan’s expression remained firm.

Logan had gained confidence from easily occupying Silvan.

‘If I increase the number of crossbow cavalry, I can handle a lower-tier knight order with just soldiers.’

Thousands of soldiers could annihilate a small knight order.

An act that would change the common sense of the continent.

There would certainly be a limit to the number of soldiers due to the maintenance costs of horses and weapons, but it was worth challenging.

Moreover,

‘In the long term, it doesn’t even have to be cavalry. Even if I just train conscripts to use crossbows, they’ll be able to do their part sufficiently.’

He wanted to create an army like the Imperial crossbow soldiers he remembered from his past life. They could shoot so many arrows it was like a dark cloud covering the sky.

To do that, he had to gather as many resources as possible when it wasn’t wartime.

But Phillip seemed to have a slightly different idea.

“Aargh. I’m going crazy. Young Master, you’re saying that because you don’t know much about commercial activities. You probably won’t be able to acquire even half of the quantity you’re thinking of.”

“What?”

“The moment that much demand arises, the price will skyrocket. Especially horses! It’s not like giving money will make horses breed more and, uh, grow faster, is it!”

“What? Huh… Did I say it too late? I thought it would be alright before the war, but, darn….”

“Before the war?! You definitely said before the war!? You’re thinking about war right now, aren’t you!”

“No, I’m not.”

Logan was taken aback, but he brazenly put on a straight face, and Phillip could only clench his fists and tremble.

“Let me put it simply. 30 million gold. Even if you simply divide it into thirds for weapons, horses, and lumber, the price will skyrocket. Especially horses!”

Phillip strongly argued that it would jump at least threefold.

And even if he bought everything one by one and sent it to McLane using the traders’ group….

He didn’t even want to imagine it. So, he had to persuade him.

But.

“Haa… It can’t be helped. So, try to manage it well.”

“…?!”

Even the fact that the price would triple didn’t work.

“Why are you buying so many horses and weapons! You don’t even have that many troops? Why are you doing such a crazy thing….”

He had to stop this madness with rational persuasion.

“Set the base purchase price at twice the current market price, and the more you buy cheaper than that, the more you get a 3% bonus on the difference.”

“I will do my best to carry it out.”

…Well, it wasn’t an impossible task if he put in some effort.

Phillip forced a smile, trying to ignore the dumbfounded gazes of the knights.

“Ah, and I have a few more requests….”

“Then that’s also included in the bonus….”

“Of course.”

Because there’s nothing that money can’t do.