313 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

Chapter 313 "Do we really not need to carry out any diversionary tactics?" "Confirming the king's presence takes precedence over everything else. Don't rush." "...Understood." Watching the captain of the guards, Jun, bow his head, Louisa clicked her tongue softly. Though not a brainwashed knight, Jun wasn't in a position to access top-tier information. Thus, it was inevitable that he wouldn't comprehend the premise she spoke of. Yet, Louisa had no intention of explaining it kindly, so she subtly shook her head and headed towards the side palace's entrance. Startled, the escort knights moved quickly to follow her. Aside from Jun, who wasn't brainwashed, the others were all a bit lacking, their reactions slow, which annoyed her and made her frown. It was questionable whether they could even defeat a mid-tier knight in actual combat if they couldn't properly track the movements of a mage who had sealed most of their magic. "I understand the imperial family has a few centuries of secrecy paranoia. But if all your hands and feet are brainwashed, it’s always going to be this frustrating." How could they create a new world like this? Improving this was one of the organizational cultures that needed immediate reform. To undertake great deeds, secrecy must be thorough, but at the same time, there needs to be a significant number of trusted individuals. However, the current policy of the organization was shutting down even that possibility, making the overly conservative elders at the top seem all the more stifling. "For that reason, I must achieve results here now." With Louisa biting her red lips and steeling herself, Jun foolishly made another comment. "But is Count Ronian truly under enchantment? He seems too normal." "What?" "Normally, someone like Lady Louisa would have no problem, but now it worries me. You said you couldn't directly confirm the success of the magic, didn't you?" "Oh..." A soft chuckle escaped her lips. Jun is questioning her abilities because her magic circle is sealed. The seal she placed to avoid the aura users' sensing and conventional magic detection effectively took away most of her abilities. It was difficult to deduce the king’s level even when he was right before her eyes. However, the worry was unnecessary. "I enchanted him gradually over time. If they didn't notice, even an aura user can’t resist this magic. Even top-tier knights wouldn't recognize it." Though her magic was sealed, she used a top-grade mana stone powder to deploy this magic meticulously over time as a mage. Moreover, it was magic inherited from the Soul Wizard school, pursued by the mage saint who aimed to surpass even the gods, Gibrick Cassel. "Still, it's concerning..." "Enough! Jun, excessive worry becomes an ailment. If you keep nitpicking at everything, what was the point in me bringing you along?" Frustrated by the slow reactions and limited intelligence of the brainwashed, she brought Jun along to coordinate them, yet here he was, being even more exasperating, causing her annoyance to peak. As Louisa's eyes sharpened, Jun quickly bowed his head. "...I apologize." Halting her steps and glaring at Jun, Louisa resumed walking. As they neared the entrance of the side palace, a soft, barely audible rupture noise, which only Louisa could hear, signaled the silent disappearance of a discreet spell that kept their conversation from leaking. "Even with my magic sealed for disguise, this much is sufficient." Simultaneously, Louisa began to portray a blushing, bashful expression with shimmering eyes. Barely had she emerged from the side palace when the waiting knights blocked her path. "Where are you headed? We shall accompany you." A knight with red and blue heterochromia and blue hair stepped forward and bowed. "Sir Victor... Was it? Count Ronian has invited me to the royal castle. He said he would show me his training with the king, didn't you receive the message?" "Oh... It’s today. Please follow me. I shall accompany you." Though polite, this knight intervened in each affair and relentlessly pursued her every step outside the assigned side palace. "There are truly loyal ones without brainwashing magic. Certainly, the organization’s principles are flawed." Concealing her slight annoyance, Louisa smiled courteously and nodded. Royal guards were not permitted in the king’s private training ground within the main palace. Thus, Louisa, accompanied only by Victor, entered the training ground. There, a red-headed young man, with whom she had spent the most time over the past few days, greeted her with a bright smile. "Welcome, Princess. I apologize for not escorting you myself." "It's alright. It wasn't that far." Even those few words, uttered with a shyly lowered head, seemed to make the young man's smile widen from ear to ear. "The enchantment has definitely taken effect." Louisa brushed away Jun's lingering concerns as she observed Ronian. "The king, in his generous spirit, has agreed to my request. Please offer your thanks first." Following Ronian’s gesture, Louisa bowed politely to the man standing there. "Thank you for graciously accommodating a lady’s unseemly request, Your Majesty." "Think nothing of it, Princess. It’s a regular practice session with my brother, so a few more spectators won’t bother me." "Thank you for your vast understanding." "However, I must ask again, Princess, why do you address me as Your Majesty? Doesn’t it deviate from the empire's customs?" "Once I marry Count Ronian, I will become a member of this royal family, won't I? What meaning do customs hold then?" "Oh...?" "Moreover, wouldn’t it be disrespectful to address the ruler of MacLaine, which isn’t a vassal state of the empire, with an empire’s peerage title?" "Such words are not typical of an imperial princess. You are thoughtful indeed." "I'm humbled. I merely stated the facts." After a moment of amicable conversation, Logan and Ronian stood in the center of the training ground. "Hup!!" Thud. "Faster!" Thwack. "Gah!" The brothers were engaged in an ostentatious duel, carefully concealing Ronian's true capabilities. Given their countless practices together, it was unlikely that a mage would detect the flaws in their skirmish. 'Especially if the mage is somehow restricted.' Logan thought this as he discreetly observed Louisa's reactions. But then. "Ha... Haha. This—it's true. Truly..." The princess murmured words that weren't fully comprehensible, her eyes sparkling with what seemed to be genuine admiration. Like a sheltered young lady witnessing an aura user's or top-tier knight's duel for the first time, in sheer awe. 'Her acting is outstanding.' He initially suspected she had a hidden agenda behind such a bizarre request, but her reactions were so natural that he almost laughed at himself for being on guard. 'Perhaps it was to confirm Ronian's response all along.' Logan resolved to focus on his act once more, oblivious to the persistent gaze following him. * * * "I saw it with my own eyes. It's really a golden aura force. It's not just a rumor or an exaggerated earth attribute force!" "[...Is that truly so?]" "Yes! I am certain of it!" Louisa’s voice carried jubilation, and the voice of the Grandmaster on the other end of the communication device also trembled slightly. "[The legend of the one who changes fate has reappeared in my lifetime... The prophecy indeed...]" A time when gods had departed. It signaled that the moment the organization had long awaited was upon them. Children, immune to divine power, had begun to be born. And their decision to focus on MacLaine, where such children were unusually concentrated, had paid off. 'Every sign indicated in the prophecy has appeared.' The thought made her hands tremble. Now, depending on the Grandmaster's actions, the very movements of the organization would change. Louisa steadied her racing heart as she waited for the voice beyond the communication to continue. Only after some time did the Grandmaster, lost in thought, speak again. "[...Assassination is to be postponed—no, forbidden. The empire's request will proceed in the second direction you mentioned.]" Though phrased as a request, meaning of subjugation had been communicated through the 2nd Prince. If the Emperor had heard, he would surely have resumed his pursuit upon hearing such terminology, but for Elder Louisa, who understood the organization's objective, it was a natural course of action. "Are you referring to the kingdom's turmoil?" "[Indeed. If the 2nd Prince plans to assassinate the king, we must prevent it. The changer of fate must live until the time of prophecy arrives.]" "You need not worry on that front. His skills are at least above mid-tier aura users. An assassin of mere caliber won't pose a threat." "[Even if they are phantoms?]" "Yes. Even phantoms who embody parts of our vision would struggle. Besides, I've heard they already failed once." "[It must be because neither the Dark Blades nor their leader directly intervened.]" "That might be true." Would the one destined to alter fate fall so easily? Even as she thought this, Louisa had to agree with the Grandmaster’s reasoning. Though she resented the royal family, there was a subtle sense of support for the phantoms. The organization, created through the tower's vision, was infused with both love and hatred. "[Indeed... The Emperor would only attempt assassination right before commencing a war. We must pay closer attention to the royal movements.]" "Conversely, this means we can be at ease until then." "[Yes.]" The idea of possibly protecting their target, who was supposed to be assassinated if necessary, seemed odd, but for the two conversing, it was an indisputable truth. "[Proceed with your plan. Once the kingdom’s foundation crumbles and it becomes subservient to the empire, securing the fate changer will be easier.]" The motivation, however, was far from benevolent. "Understood." Louisa bowed her head, a chilling expression momentarily flitting across her face. * * * "Ready!" "Fire!" A shower of bolts rained upon the target as the knight’s command echoed. A moment later. "Tenon, bullseye again!" As the knight Deck shouted, a cheer erupted from the surrounding crowd. "Yeah!" "Amazing, he’s truly from a hunter’s background!" "Ah, if only I had hit one more..." "Forget it. The prize is Tenon’s anyway." Amidst the lively gathering, the atmosphere in the Clid estate's vigilante training ground was jovial. Yet, the middle-aged man called Tenon simply checked his crossbow string and inspected his equipment amidst the surrounding buzz. His childhood friend Aman approached him. "Tenon, you have to join us for a drink today?" Tenon’s plain brown eyes landed on Aman. Since 'that day,' it had been ten years of disillusionment with the world and living in seclusion in the forest. Thanks to this annoyingly compassionate friend, he could receive such cheers from the vigilantes, though he had long since exhausted any ability to express gratitude after pouring his heart out a decade ago. "...Not interested." "Come back to the village, Tenon. Times have changed for the better. The lord doesn’t wreak havoc as he used to." He knew. But... The person who left never returns. "...I’m leaving." "Do you still want revenge on the lord?" Tenon froze at the precise question Aman threw just as he was about to turn around. "I’m just so worried about you, man." "Mind your own business." Though he snapped gruffly at his approaching friend, Aman didn’t stop saying what needed to be said. "Even if the lord doesn't have knights or soldiers now, he's still a noble. If you cause trouble, not only you but our entire village will be doomed, you know that?" "...I know." Yes, he knew. They were all pure and kind people. Connections his family and Erina had left behind lingered in that village. And that fact was a shackle around his ankles. That made his heart ache even more. Turning his back on his worried friend, Tenon returned alone to his home in the forest. As Tenon lay his weary body down in the quiet cabin, a sense of solitude washed over him. Unable to easily fall asleep, he tossed and turned, his mind inevitably conjuring the face of the one he dearly missed. "Erina..." The memory of his wife's face, from whom life had cruelly stolen the light, surfaced once more, and he involuntarily tasted the metallic tang of blood on his lips, bitten in frustration. Even though his crossbow could kill a knight, the current lord had neither knights nor soldiers, making even the thought of attempted revenge an impossibility. "Am I just a coward then? Huh? Erina." As he lamented to the ever-silent sky, as was his habit— [No, darling. You can do it.] A voice that could not possibly be heard reached him. "Erina!?" Tenon's eyes flew open as he sat up, a faint gray aura flickering within them.