361 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

Chapter 361 "I always thought the princess's second identity was unique, but I never imagined Your Highness would be considering the same possibilities." Logan's face stiffened as his counterpart on the communication orb merely chuckled. [Well, everyone has their own circumstances, don't they? Haha.] Currently, in the conversation between Logan and Dongik King via the communication orb, discussions of a marriage alliance were underway. All this chaos had been triggered by Princess Louisa's single suggestion. 'I assumed it was just the princess’s personal mischief.' After all, there were countless noble children who lived only for themselves, without considering their family's standing. Louisa’s boldness was what set her apart, so Logan thought. When the Dongik King's residence supported the fortress construction, he had fleeting thoughts of possibilities, but he only now confirmed the Dongik King's hostility towards the empire. For the leaders of both countries to be openly acknowledging the potential for war meant that the Seongbang King’s push for this marriage proposal signified something deeper. "If you truly harbor animosity towards the royal family, it would be wiser to restrain yourself and discreetly offer assistance from behind the scenes rather than coming out so blatantly." Acknowledging the benefits of a marriage alliance was one thing, but Logan questioned if it was truly necessary if their objectives aligned anyway. He was still uneasy about his younger brother being forced into a marriage with a witch who manipulates minds. Even if it made him appear weak as a king, Logan couldn’t help it. His ultimate goal was to support his family. However, his counterpart seemed to have different views. [Oh, oh. You're speaking such frightening words, 'Your Majesty.' Why attach such dreadful meanings to the simple affair of a young man and woman falling in love and marrying?] Ah, so that's how you want to play it? Even as the king of the empire calls someone else 'Your Majesty,' he denies formally opposing the imperial family. ‘He’s just being cautious of any records.’ This only strengthened Logan’s confidence. For some unknown reason, he felt certain that the Dongik King intended to defy the royal family, even willing to use his own daughter to do so. [It’s already well-known in the royal residence that I allow my daughter to do as she pleases. She wanted this marriage, so I find myself reluctantly permitting it again.] "And do you think the emperor will stay silent?" [The imperial family probably believes Louisa was dispatched to the kingdom to divert attention from MacLane during the Baros operation. I merely failed to restrain the foolish princess who fell for the real brother of the king there, haha.] "You do realize there will be substantial damage if war breaks out?" [Before that, it gives us a reason to openly support the kingdom. We were under considerable pressure due to the recent fortress construction. But if we formalize this marriage alliance, it might help us immediately.] "So, you’re not concerned about the emperor's watchful eyes?" [Haha. His Majesty the Emperor is currently focused on the Sacred Kingdom. I apologize, but MacLane doesn’t yet have such significant weight in his heart.] The Sacred Kingdom indeed. Logan was certainly concerned about its happenings. Depending on the outcomes in Nobius, the dynamics between the empire and the kingdom, including the trajectory of the war, could change drastically. But beyond such international diplomacy, there was something else that bothered him. – Your Majesty, please save the Saintess. Even in the worst case, her life must be spared…… Recalling Victor's report—or rather, plea—weighed heavily on Logan’s mind. – I’ll try my best. He replied, but he found it increasingly difficult to intervene further at this point. ‘I owe Bishop Illia a debt as well. He is a good man, after all. However…….’ Rescuing the Saintess under unforeseen circumstances could impose a national burden. In the worst-case scenario, they might draw not only the empire but also the Sacred Kingdom as adversaries. Yet there were too many variables at play. The magic tower in Cassel had orchestrated things to mislead the empire into fostering a pro-emperor sentiment before striking them in the back. 'I orchestrated this situation myself.' It was just a matter of waiting to see how the empire would respond. For now, he could only hope for the best possible outcome. As Logan sorted through his complicated thoughts, the Dongik King seemed to interpret his hesitation differently and tilted his head. [Are you still hesitating? I was informed that Count Ronion agrees.] That statement brought his younger brother to Logan’s mind. He hoped his beloved younger brother would make his own decision for happiness. Besides, Cassel’s magic tower would eventually become a threat they had to eliminate. Even knowing this, Ronion's thoughts were unwavering. – A potential enemy, I'm aware. But it's just a temporary contract born out of mutual necessity. When the time comes, I’ll handle it myself. – Brother, this decision benefits the country. Please approve it. When did he mature so much? ‘No, he’s already physically bigger than me.’ In this situation, refusing would be meaningless. His gratitude to his brother only deepened. "Hmm. Then I’ll proceed with the official arrangements for the marriage." [Haha. Thank you, in-law.] "I also look forward to it." However, the surveillance on Cassel Tower’s magicians would continue. 'But now I have a definite approach.' Logan, masking his true intentions, smiled and recalled a recent memory. – Enemy. There’s an enemy in this house. The vague rage expressed through Tyr revealed the ‘scene.’ Upon seeing Louisa, Tyr seemed ready to sink his teeth into her the moment Logan gave permission. The reaction sparked by her magic transmitted vividly even from afar. It almost felt as though Tyr still remembered the trace of the Sword God after countless years. ‘It’s fortunate.’ Like himself, Tyr, a powerful divine creature endowed with the force of ardor, would surely be another formidable enemy of the Cassel Tower magicians. The kingdom now held another sure card to protect the palace against the schemes of the magic tower. Thus, Logan could smile with confidence. But then the Dongik King added a peculiar remark. [But if we push the wedding to traditional timing, about half a year from now, the marriage might not even happen.] "What?" [Consider this information a gift for our official alliance. There's some strange activity detected within the central army.] "…!!" [It seems the emperor plans to initiate war as soon as the situation with the Sacred Kingdom is settled.] Logan’s expression turned stone-cold at these words. 'I thought we had another year?' Although he'd braced himself for the possibility of variables pushing the war timeline forward, hearing this still left him feeling frozen. "…Ahem, thank you for the information." [Not at all. We are allies now, aren’t we?] Allies… ‘With Cassel Tower?’ Logan wanted to voice his thoughts, but he simply smiled. And oddly enough, his smile resembled that of the voice echoing through the communication orb. * * * Count Ronion and Princess Louisa are officially getting married! A marriage once on the verge of cancellation due to recent unfavorable circumstances has been secured by the princess's passionate courting! Grand was abuzz with rumors of the couple, whose engagement had finally been confirmed, a rare romance among royalty during this era drawing enormous public interest. But that excitement was transient. As the saying goes, rumors burn brightest when their truth is unknown, and once the rumors about the two were confirmed, the fervor quickly died down. Part of this was because neither party had appeared at any noble gatherings. Without seeing them in person, the gossip couldn't gain traction. And one such protagonist was currently drenched in sweat despite the weather still being too chilly to call it spring. "H-Hyung! Just a moment!" Cracking sound. KA-BOOM! By a hair's breadth. The booming shout twisted the angle of the golden aura that was about to crash down on him from above. Rumble. Clatter. The training ground floor cracked again, but Ronion narrowly avoided a serious injury, throwing off his almost shredded upper armor and protesting loudly. "What kind of reward is this? When did beating someone up become a prize, huh?! Eh?" Red mingled with spit flying out as he shouted, a consequence of his swollen face, understandable given Ronion’s usual reverence for his elder brother. “Cough.” Next to him, Victor coughed up blood and nodded in agreement, but Logan, looking unscathed, merely raised his beloved sword Lux once more. "You two have yet to solidify your path to the advanced level. Helping with that is naturally a reward." “Wh-Why are you doing it like this?!” “Because it’s the fastest way.” “Aahh, seriously!” Ronion, his face showing the strain, was forced to draw his sword again as another chilling wave enveloped him. He felt slightly less aggrieved compared to Victor. ‘I just broke through the wall myself.’ After experiencing the overwhelming force of the Divine Sword Hamon Killebrew and enduring an arduous journey that spanned from the southern tip of Gaia to the royal palace in just two weeks, Ronion barely broke through the advanced barrier. Though he'd just begun to consolidate this newly reached state, it still seemed daunting. But he had no choice but to widen his eyes. "Damn it, Hyung! If I get hurt, it’s on you!!" With a wrathful shout, Ronion’s sword emitted an extraordinary glow. His orange aura split into seven swords, each radiating with a dazzling light. The seven beams reacted to each other, amplifying and exploding into a storm against their target. Victor’s expression froze at the subtly distinct wave within this manifestation, different from ordinary aura. A vicious wave that shredded even other auras. Victor knew well what this meant. ‘He’s using the Life-Cutting technique in a sevenfold layer?! Impossible!’ Divine Sword’s Secret Technique 5: Spirit Slash. He knew how to use it, but Ronion’s manner of execution was inconceivable. Victor guessed how he did it. Dividing his aura into seven with the Galaxy Sword and amplifying each with a technique. But it was easier said than done. ‘Can that even work?!’ The Secret Technique required focusing one’s spirit and energy into a single strike. Splitting that into seven should weaken its potency, and any reckless attempt could lead to internal damage. That was how it should've been. Yet the attack seemed amplified sevenfold, no—beyond that, raising questions about how such a ruthless strike was possible. How could such a feat be achieved? Victor's jaw dropped unconsciously as a golden orb emerged from the tip of Logan’s sword, meeting the red storm. As the orb made contact, golden ripples spread, neutralizing the red tempest. Rumble. "You see? If you completely master the middle level, you should be able to use Source Cutting, the sixth move, like that. What a waste of potential, you fool." The king lectured them with an unperturbed face. Seeing him, Victor couldn't help biting his lip again. 'I still have a long way to go.' After breaking through the intermediate wall, he gained tremendous life force thanks to his trait. His regeneration and force had also skyrocketed. He'd thought he'd now earned the ‘strongest in his class’ title that the lord had held. Or at least he assumed he could defeat Ronion. Reality was not as he envisioned. ‘So that’s what "Seven Spirits" meant.’ Ronion’s trait, Seven Spirits. It wasn't just about dividing his mind into seven parts to calculate several steps ahead. Combined with the essence of the Galaxy Sword, it could create that terrifying strike. The sense of powerlessness felt when experiencing the Divine Sword's ridiculous force resurfaced within his soul again. “Victor, you’re next. Your internal injuries have healed?” In contrast, all his trait seemed to offer was endurance. Though he felt dejected, he listened to his friend’s encouraging voice. "Ah, that's frustrating. Get him, Viktor! You can do it!" Ronion, utterly exhausted, slumped to the ground. In his friend's red eyes, there was genuine belief that Viktor could pull it off. That belief fueled his resolve. "…Yes. I can do it!" His own rallying cry further boosted his confidence. While Ronion excelled in strategy and the power of single strikes, Viktor’s strength lay in his superior force and endurance. 'I lack nothing!' At that moment, a surge of gray aura erupted, amplifying his physical capabilities to the extreme. With renewed vigor, Viktor charged towards his lord and mentor. Another intense day was drawing to a close. "That's enough for today." "Ugh. Huff." "Thank you for your guidance." Watching the two slump down in complete exhaustion, Logan couldn't help but smile inwardly. 'Viktor may still be lacking in some areas, but with his recovery and stamina, he'll catch up soon enough. Ronion better stay on his toes.' The preparations for war were truly nearing completion. It was time to consolidate their heightened skills and temper those with unlimited growth potential. Mentors like his own, Luther, and Wiken seemed to have reached their limits, and Burdel delved into areas beyond Logan's teaching capabilities. Thus, the choice fell on these two young talents. And for the current situation, it felt like a fitting choice. 'If only I could reach the level of an Aura Master before the war.' Though he'd experienced that realm through trait upgrading, truly surpassing that final barrier was no simple feat. For now, he was merely beginning to access the new powers acquired in the upper echelons of aura users and could barely sketch out the eighth move of the Divine Sword secrets. But even at this level… 'I can handle Tris Hornsby, the continent's greatest sword.' He now fully grasped the meaning of the soul blade that had been demonstrated to him. Clang. As his sword pointed towards the sky, the images of the Sword Spirit and the emperor formed in his mind. 'Soon…' The more he thought about it, the more his heart raced. The crimson hues of the setting sun seemed to foretell a blood-red future.