422 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

Chapter 422: The War on the Same Day. Victory messages kept arriving at Kyle Castle. However, unlike Kyle Castle, which achieved an overwhelming victory thanks to a series of favorable conditions, the strongholds in the north and south suffered significant losses. * Military Forces – Of the 230,000 estimated imperial forces, consisting of original troops from the 5th to 8th corps and two central army corps, over 150,000 were estimated to be killed or seriously injured. – Estimated casualties for MacLaine’s forces were 50,000, and for Terronan reinforcements, 30,000. * Superhuman Forces – Count Ronian MacLaine lost 7th corps commander Graeme Turner and another superhuman, with one injured. – Ten Black Knights killed. – Viktor seriously injured (recovering). “The sacrifices are great.” “But we won.” “Indeed.” Though one allied corps dispatched to Amur was virtually wiped out, compared to the enemy, the losses were minor. Winning was what truly mattered in the end. Yet, there was something that couldn't help but lurk in his mind. ‘Of all the ways...’ Logan rubbed his forehead in frustration, and noticing his discomfort, Damian continued his report cautiously. “...After Lord Viktor saved the divine beast, it revealed its true form in fury, inflicting massive damage on the imperial army's general forces. Our side suffered considerable losses too, but thanks to it, we claimed victory...” “Anything else?” “Pardon?” “Any other rumors about the divine beast?” “No, not really. Just praises for Your Majesty. Saying that the divine beast is aiding us…” No talk of dark magic. That's a relief, perhaps. ‘No, it will definitely spread. The Holy Nation...No, it should be fine since Ilia is on our side.’ As Logan sighed and waved his hand to dismiss his thoughts, the next report promptly followed. * Military Forces – Survivors from the 1st to 4th corps and two central army corps, with a total of 250,000 imperial forces, over 80,000 were estimated to be casualties. – Estimated casualties for MacLaine’s forces were 30,000, and for Liberty reinforcements, 20,000. * Superhuman Forces – Imperial bodyguard Miles Malpin killed by the Sword Grandmaster. Eastern 3rd corps commander Blake Evenrow killed by Luther Kyle. – Five Black Knights killed. – Reinforcement Gunter Liberty killed. Shield also suffered heavy losses, but victory was undeniable. However, there were unexpected and critical losses. “…The Sword Grandmaster was severely wounded while battling the Empire’s superhumans and collapsed immediately after the fight, still unconscious.” Damian had barely finished speaking when— “What!?” Logan sprang to his feet before he realized it. “…Master!?” “The Sword Grandmaster?” His wife, Eileen, sitting next to him, also seemed shocked, but feeling the weight of the eyes around them, they composed themselves and sat back down. ‘Dammit, dammit, dammit!’ The current situation didn't allow them to overtly express personal distress. The king and queen, along with their army, found themselves victors once more. Outside, cheers of triumph reverberated relentlessly. – Hahaha! – We won again! – Long live MacLaine! The jubilant voices of the people reached even the innermost chambers of the royal palace, and naturally, the gathered commanders were all equally flushed with excitement. Logan forced his anxious thoughts aside and addressed Damian. “Send the finest healers across the nation to the north immediately. We must save the Master!” “Yes!” Damian immediately grasped the implication of sending the highest-ranking priests disguised as healers and took swift action, swiftly moving on to the last part of the report. The grand finale of this victory report, detailing Kyle’s battle outcome. “…Out of the nearly 400,000 enemy troops, it's estimated that half are casualties, with about 100,000 dead! The fields have become a feast for the ravens!” Damian used dramatic descriptions not typical for official reports to convey the battle outcome. In that moment, no one present would fault him for that small deviation. “Wowww!” “We have triumphed!” “Long live the King!” “Hail the God-sent Hero Logan MacLaine!” The cheers filled the hall, celebrating Logan. But as he lifted his hand to acknowledge them, he unexpectedly coughed up blood. “Dear!” Eileen, pale-faced, quickly supported her husband. She was herself healing from severe internal injuries and a broken left arm, but she was keenly aware that Logan’s injuries were far worse. “I’m okay, really.” Logan reassured his wife with a raised hand. ‘At least it’s not worse.’ The shock of hearing about his master had momentarily disrupted his control over his aura. Cracks in nine force cores equated to life-threatening damage. Yet, averting the worst was a success in itself. While it was inevitable he'd need months of recuperation, Logan managed a smile. Regardless of what the future held, he was the victor today. He had a responsibility to reassure the concerned faces watching him. Seeing this, Damian asked worriedly, despite Logan’s attempts to appear unfazed. “Would you like to rest, Your Majesty? I believe I've given the most important reports.” “I am fine.” Advertisements “But with your head….” Only now did some among those reveling in victory notice their monarch’s hair had turned half gray. “…What!?” “...Your Majesty!?” “Summon a priest!” Logan could only clutch his forehead with exasperation at their belated reaction. “Enough. The injuries are already being treated.” Given Logan’s status as a transcendent being who wielded the power of life, the atmosphere calmed down once more. While the concern wasn't completely erased, no one present doubted Logan's words. Especially when their king, already wielding unparalleled authority, was becoming nearly deified following the war. His Majesty is a legendary Auramaster. A hero who even invoked divine punishment upon the Empire. Surely, the gods are watching over us! Unbelievable rumors that the enemy emperor was a grand mage quietly faded under this 'myth.' Bathed in the radiant gazes of all present, Logan could only sigh inwardly. Even Damian, his advisor, was looking at him with a similar reverence. “…What about our losses?” “…The vigilantes suffered nearly 30,000 casualties. Knights had about 300 casualties, and 3,000 corps troops are incapacitated. But it’s a great victory, Your Majesty!” Despite mentioning the sacrifices, Damian's face reflected joy. Logan couldn't help but muster a bitter smile at the dissonant gap within his advisor's demeanor. No matter how grand the victory, war was war, and sacrifices were inevitable. There were wounds that cut very deep amidst those losses. Just like what happened with his mentor... “…Is Duke Clayton still in the same condition?” “Yes. He has not regained consciousness.” Of course. Logan couldn’t bring himself to voice it aloud. He'd heard from Victoria what occurred while magic was being cast. Moreover, seeing the dreadful scars imprinted on Clayton’s soul firsthand left him deeply unsettled. ‘Possibly for life...’ Words unspoken once again lingered at the back of his throat. While his mentor’s case held an uncertain hope, Clayton's fate was sealed in misfortune. Logan clenched his lips and inquired about another comrade’s whereabouts. “…Victoria?” “She remains by Duke Clayton’s side.” “…I see.” What could he possibly say? The deeds they had accomplished could not be appreciated enough, no matter how many times he bowed in gratitude. If not for the magic of annihilation being diverted away from his direction, there would have been no remedy. As much as he loathed acknowledging it, he didn’t wish for such a faithful ally to remain forever incapacitated. Advertisements Ultimately, what he managed to say was, “…They’ll recover soon.” Words laced more with hope than belief, even to himself. Fearing his cowardice might be exposed, Logan swiftly redirected the subject. “Let us not get carried away by victory. The Empire’s next move is unpredictable. It’s time to remain vigilant.” As his commanding voice once again dominated the great hall, the world outside buzzed with this monumental victory’s ripple effects. – MacLaine triumphed over the Empire once again. – An unfathomable great victory. – Even the Emperor could not prevent defeat. Whispers spread about the Emperor being a grand mage and King Logan MacLaine being an aura master, yet few outsiders took them seriously. “...Is that for real?” “It is! That's all anyone talks about!” “Was the Empire just a paper tiger?” “No, it’s that MacLaine is that strong.” While these tales merely served as fascinating gossip abroad, reactions among those involved starkly varied. “Wahaha! We won again!” “Long live His Majesty!” “Hail Logan MacLaine!” “The hero favored by the gods!” “In a land watched by the divine, MacLaine cannot know defeat!” The jubilant atmosphere permeated MacLaine, from its largest cities to its most remote corners. In contrast, the Empire faced an oppressive gloom dominating public sentiment. “What is happening to the world…” “How did our Empire come to this…” “It’s not over! Look at the nation we are!” “But we keep losing…” As apprehensions grew with circulating whispers, another piece of alarming news swept through the continent. – Western kingdoms have begun to invade the Empire’s western borders! Reports confirmed the Allied forces of the Western Ten Kingdoms launched a major invasion against the Empire. – A scale of 15 corps. – The western legions alone cannot hold them off. – Is this the fall of the Empire? This startling development sparked dramatic changes even on the MacLaine front. Advertisements “The Imperial forces are retreating!” “They're withdrawing from the northern stronghold!” “And from the southern one…” Reeling from the devastating damage inflicted by MacLaine, the Emperor, gritting his teeth, resolved to shift his focus towards the Western Kingdoms’ invasion. The recent decisive victory had already seeded discussions of favorable peace treaties or potential Imperial troop withdrawals. The upheaval from the west expedited these outcomes. Finally. – MacLaine has defeated the Empire! A reality that even Logan had not dared to believe ten years ago had come to pass. “The god-given hero, indeed!” “With Lord Logan at the helm, our kingdom abides in divine protection!” “How timely marvels align…” “Long live His Majesty!” For the enrapt populace of MacLaine, even predictable military maneuvers seemed to signal divine favor bestowed upon Logan. The entire realm of MacLaine was enveloped in a festive spirit. “We did it…” We succeeded! We really did! Watching the Imperial troops fade into the distance, Logan clenched his fist in triumph. He felt an overwhelming urge to shout his joy aloud. Ten years or, rather, nine years after his regression. Achieving what seemed an impossible goal stirred a thrill too immense to suppress. Humming with energy, his fractured force cores gently pulsed, releasing a faint aura. Standing by him, his wife Eileen, engrossed in her own surge of emotion, steadied him without realizing the aura’s flow. “Agh, phew… I’m alright. Now, let us declare our victory.” Reining in his swelling emotions, Logan raised his hand, gathering the attention of all present. “We have triumphed!” “Hurrah!” “It is thanks to you, my comrades. Celebrate and feast to your heart’s content today!” With those words, the atmosphere atop the walls shifted instantaneously into revelry. “We’ve done it!” “We’ve beaten the Empire!” “Begone, you Imperial dogs!” “Don’t ever return!” “Ahahaha!” Following their king's lead, soldiers cheered wildly and shouted. Advertisements Some even engaged in exaggerated antics, like dropping their trousers and slapping their backsides or urinating over the wall. Yet in this moment, not a single commander rebuked the soldiers for their conduct. Logan gazed at the retreating Imperial army, his heart pounding with exhilaration. 'I've finally done it.' I did it. In the end, I succeeded! 'Changed it all. Everything is different now.' Though it was a conversation he could have with no one but himself, he wanted to completely savor this moment of triumph. His body trembled, desperately holding back overwhelming emotions. Tears trickled down his lips clamped tight in determination. He moved quickly to wipe them away before anyone could notice, but a gentle hand reached his eyes first. Softly. “You’ve worked so hard.” Eileen, with her pale complexion, wiped away his tears with a comforting smile. Unable to voice his feelings, Logan nodded and turned his gaze to the distant sky. He didn’t want anyone else to see him shed tears. And at that moment, Damian, his face flushed with excitement, approached him. “Your Majesty, you haven't forgotten what you said before, right?” The exhilaration that had been overwhelming his heart cooled in an instant. What he had said before. To ensure everlasting peace— ‘We must conquer the Empire.’ It felt as if a cold wind had swept through his chest, which had been full of pride and accomplishment. With a steely expression, Logan nodded. At that precise moment— “Sir Haymon has finally regained consciousness!” News arrived that the mercenary, who had made tremendous contributions during the battle's climax before collapsing, had finally awakened.