Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 83

“Your Highness, it’s truly a pleasure to meet you.”

“Please, the pleasure is all mine! Meeting a young hero like you is exciting.”

“You are too kind. I’ve been lucky to have a great teacher and had a little success.”

The Prince chuckled. “If that’s a small success, then what am I? Just ordinary?”

“Oh, no, that’s not what I meant at all…”

“And it’s not just your fighting skills! You saved your family, and even made your lands bigger. You really are a hero.”

“…Thank you.”

Logan was a little surprised by this.

A prince who knows about a small family from a faraway place, something nobles in the capital wouldn’t even care about.

Logan glanced at his master, and the Sword Master subtly shook his head.

The Sword Master hadn’t told him, Logan realized.

“The Duke praised you so much that I became curious and looked into it myself. Have I been too forward?”

“Not at all, Your Highness. I appreciate your interest.”

“Is that so? I’m relieved. Ah, don’t just stand there, please take a seat. Duke, please sit here as well. Please, let’s not be too formal.”

With a genial smile, the Prince pointed to the seat right in front of him.

Logan felt a little unsure. But his master sat beside the Prince easily. So, Logan sat in the offered seat with a small sigh.

As if planned, the Prince himself poured tea into cups for his master and Logan, the tea emitting a subtle fragrance.

Pour, pour.

“Ah, no. Your Highness!”

“It’s alright. Leave it be.”

“Hmm…”

“I enjoy meeting people. Especially young and talented individuals like Lord Logan. However, I can only do this much while being mindful of my two elder brothers. I hope this cup of tea can make up for my rudeness, but please accept it as a token of my sincerity.”

As the third prince, he talked about needing to be careful. But he spoke with confidence, not like someone who was unsure.

Logan thought that the reason his master praised him as wise and rumors of his royal aptitude spread was not solely due to his martial talent.

‘Even if he’s not as good as the rumors say, he’s definitely better than the first and second princes, or so I expected.’

It seemed that his expectations were already more than met.

“…I accept with gratitude.”

A smile naturally appeared.

“I don’t like to talk around the point or make stories long. I’ll get straight to the point.”

Perhaps it was because he was young, but the Prince was much more direct than he had anticipated.

“Lord Logan may not be aware, but the fate of this country is currently in great peril. The nobles are dividing the country in two, each vying to devour the other half. There hasn’t been any direct use of force yet, but it’s a bomb waiting to explode.”

I even know when it will explode, though.

Logan listened silently, concealing his thoughts.

“Those nobles don’t care at all about ordinary people. They are like poison, slowly destroying our country. That’s why I need talent, I need power. The strength to drive out those poisons that are gnawing away at the country!”

The Prince’s expression, as he gritted his teeth, showed his desperation.

“Your Highness!”

However, the expression on his master’s face quickly hardened as he heard those words.

“Your Highness, you said you wouldn’t pressure him.”

“Of course, Duke. How could I, a powerless prince, force the disciple of the Sword Master?”

“That is not what I meant… Hmm…”

With a single word, the Prince silenced his master and turned his gaze back to Logan.

“News of you reached me. At the age of twenty-one, you have already reached the realm of an Upper Knight. A war hero who has already led two wars to victory. Even the Sword Master here says he wasn’t as good as you at your age.”

As he stared at his master, the Sword Master, while looking embarrassed, cleared his throat and turned his head away.

“Logan McLaine. A genius of the century and a treasure of the kingdom. I hope that a talent like you will support me, and when the time comes, stand up for me. Can you do that?”

With all this praise, he asked a question that felt like there was only one answer.

‘Just what I wanted.’

But even if it wasn’t what he wanted, how could he say no here?

Even if he was a powerless third prince, the mere fact that he was a prince would allow him to easily destroy a small territory in the countryside.

Logan smiled inwardly and slowly opened his mouth.

“I deeply sympathize with Your Highness’s opinion. After meeting you in person, I can see that the rumors about you are true, that Your Highness is the ‘only’ royal talent.”

A smile gradually spread across the Prince’s face, while the Sword Master looked at the two with a complicated expression.

“However, I am unable to follow Your Highness’s wishes right away.”

Logan’s words surprised the Prince.

“…Is that so. Perhaps I am not showing any potential to you after all.”

The Prince wore a dejected expression, but Logan shook his head calmly.

“No, there is plenty of potential.”

“Hmm?”

“At least, the fact that the two princes above are not acting in a good way is already a widely known fact.”

“Logan! That is not something for you to mention…”

“It’s alright, Duke. Lord Logan, continue.”

“…If you simply show basic qualities, I think Your Highness will at least get people to want to support you.”

Of course, that intention will soon become meaningless.

“However, as the heir to my territory, I have a duty to protect my family. And our territory is currently in conflict with Count Bipros. He is a formidable enemy that is difficult for us to handle in our current circumstances. In such a situation, it is difficult for me to respond to Your Highness’s call without any conditions.”

“Bipros, is he a member of the Second Prince’s faction? The Frontier Count of the Southwest?”

Before the Prince, who was frowning, Logan wore a confident smile.

“Please give me a little time. After I overthrow that Bipros, I will bring the full strength of my family and become Your Highness’s strength.”

And you too must become my sword.

As he lowered his head, concealing his true feelings.

Only then did a full smile bloom on the face of the Third Prince.

“Puhahaha. That confidence, truly befitting of the Sword Master’s disciple. Good, I’ll look forward to it. Let’s see. I should give you some kind of gift on this special day…”

“Just your kind words are enough for now. Maybe a gift later, when I’ve done something worthy.”

“Hehe. I like this young man more and more. Very well. Then I too shall prepare a surprise gift in anticipation of that time. You can look forward to it.”

The atmosphere heated up. Logan smiled and took the hand that the Prince extended.

“What were you thinking when you said such things?”

Logan and his teacher, the Sword Master, walked away from the Third Prince’s house. The evening air was cool as they left the grand doors. They walked quietly for a few minutes. Then, the Sword Master stopped and suddenly said,

“Yes?” Logan replied.

“I’m talking about your plan to follow the Third Prince.”

“Oh… Did I say that for sure? I was just thinking about beating Vifroth in the future, and then…”

“You’re tricky. Isn’t that what you meant? Or were you planning to trick the Prince?”

“Haha. I only said that because I trust you, Master.”

“Hmph… Me? Didn’t I tell you I couldn’t promise anything?”

The Sword Master’s blue eyes narrowed, and his brow furrowed. He looked at Logan, trying to understand what he was really thinking. Logan simply smiled and continued.

“Life is an adventure anyway. The greater the risk, the greater the reward, after all.”

“Is that the only reason?”

“Come on, Master. As you know, our family doesn’t get along with Vifroth. We’re practically enemies with Kairos, who supports the First Prince. There’s no other way.”

“Wouldn’t staying out of it be an option?”

“I’m still young, aren’t I? I should aim high at least once.”

Logan said quickly, trying to sound confident, but the Sword Master saw through it. He remained serious and asked again.

“So, is that really all there is to it? I don’t think so.”

“…Why do you think that?”

“Because I don’t think you’d jump into something with no chance of success. If you have something in mind, tell me honestly. Who knows, I might help you?”

Logan met the piercing blue eyes. Seeing the deep curiosity within, he asked with a serious expression.

“Which of the three princes do you think would make the best king, Master?”

“That is not for me to judge. It is a matter for His Majesty to decide.”

“And the nobles will be involved, too. Many nobles will move to follow whoever is in charge, just like the First and Second Prince factions now.”

“That doesn’t matter to me either.”

The Sword Master’s voice was firm, but Logan calmly continued.

“Is that so? But I think differently. I once heard that the First Prince would become a tyrant and ruin the royal family, and the Second Prince would become a foolish ruler and ruin the country.”

“…Who dares to say such things! That’s insulting to the royal family and the important families. You shouldn’t speak so lightly!”

‘You said that in my past life.’

Logan remembered his master saying this sadly during the war before. It wasn’t that long ago.

Naturally, Logan was confident that his master’s thoughts wouldn’t be much different now, so he could easily say the next words.

“Anyway, I believe those words. I don’t know how far the Third Prince will grow, but I think he’ll be better than the First and Second Princes, no matter what. What do you think, Master?”

“As I said, it is not for me to judge…”

“I respect your loyalty, Master, but I don’t think that being loyal to what you believe is right always helps the country. What I want to hear now is just your opinion. That’s not too much to ask, is it?”

Logan’s red eyes stared steadily at his master.

The Sword Master looked into Logan’s red eyes. He hesitated for a moment, but soon revealed his honest feelings.

“…I don’t think much differently from you.”

‘Got it!’

With this, he had obtained the Sword Master’s silent agreement.

Of course, it was only a seed planted in the heart of the loyal Sword Master.

But the tree of thought created by the seed of words could also change a person’s way of thinking.

Whether that seed would sprout, or whether it would grow into the desired tree even if it did sprout, was unknown.

When an unexpected major event occurred, at least some kind of flow could be directed.

So, Logan watered the planted seed with his wishes.

“His Majesty also hopes that the Third Prince will grow into a better talent than his two brothers. That’s why he appointed you as his guardian, right?”

“…That doesn’t mean I can officially support the Third Prince.”

“There’s no need to do that. Just…”

“Just?”

“Just protect the Third Prince until he is old enough, as you do now.”

Because before the Prince is even grown, everything will fall apart.

“…I thought you were a strange person, but now I don’t know what you’re thinking at all.”

The night was getting late as the Sword Master laughed, a hollow sound in the cool air.

Just two months later, Logan had done a lot.

He had found out how the King was doing and become friends with the Third Prince.

He sent Phillip on a trip to trade and get ready for the war. To help Phillip, Logan got trading routes and maps from Kairos. Kairos even promised to help.

In addition, he had gained a skilled person named Aileen and learned another secret technique from his master. He had done even more than he planned in coming to the capital.

Therefore, Logan no longer needed to stay in the capital.

The First and Second Princes kept inviting him to join them, which was also annoying.

Even though he had planned all this, he felt a little sad.

“Waaah!”

“I’ll come to see you again soon, Stella.”

Logan carefully stroked the cheeks of the baby, who was crying sadly as if she knew they were parting. Feeling sad, he handed the baby blanket to the nanny.

Hic. Hic.

“Hwaaang.”

“Hehe. Stella seems to really like you.”

“I’m quite popular with babies.”

Rick knew very well that Ronian and Stella were the only two babies Logan had ever held. He looked at him like he was joking, but Logan was bold.

Since they both liked him, it wasn’t a lie.

“That’s what I’m saying. This little one is making his father feel left out.”

“Heeing.”

Although he said that, the Sword Master’s face was full of smiles as he stroked the child, and there wasn’t a hint of resentment to be seen.

“I hope you stay well until we meet again.”

“Yes. I hope we meet again on a good day.”

The Sword Master wished with sadness, but Logan smiled, but it was a forced, awkward smile. He knew the ‘good day’ the Sword Master hoped for was a long way off, if it ever came.

“Young Master, let’s go.”

Rick told him it was time to go. Logan moved his feet slowly.

He didn’t want to leave this place of peace, even though danger waited for him. There was one more important visit before he left the capital, a visit that could change everything.