436 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

Chapter 436 “Is everyone out of their minds? Do you really think the war is over!?” Jorge's shout reverberated through the training grounds, jolting the sweat-drenched knights back to attention. "Who's just walking around!!" Knights clad in heavy armor were fully immersed in their swordsmanship and stamina training. One might expect complaints given the intense regimen immediately following the war's end, yet finding someone grumbling was rare. 'They all sense it.' Jorge nodded solemnly, observing their demeanor. Officially, the royal decree only required reorganization of the corps and necessary adaptation training. However, deployments were still aligned with wartime protocols, and stockpiles of war supplies continued to grow. Those who perceived this firsthand could not afford to let their guard down. – The war hasn’t truly ended. Most assumed that the Empire might launch another assault soon. Yet a select few, including Jorge and the top command, started to entertain another possibility. It began right after the self-defense forces were ordered back. 'If it were simply for defense, they wouldn't have disbanded the self-defense forces. Maybe...' Various possibilities swirled within the mind of the seasoned commander, yet he couldn’t speak them aloud. If his suspicion were correct, the entire kingdom would soon be engulfed in another grand tempest. 'If it’s true... can I, can this nation handle it?' Jorge pressed down on his chest, which trembled with an unknown mix of anticipation and anxiety. “Impressive, these are some fine pieces of equipment.” Startled by an unfamiliar, resonant voice, he turned his head. There stood an elderly man with white hair, grinning with what few yellowed teeth he had left. "……Who are you?" An old man in the knights’ training grounds? Flustered, Jorge questioned him, to which the old man smirked and replied. “What’s wrong? Am I not allowed to be here?” He had a dazed look, as if mentally absent, posing such a ridiculous question. Frustrated beyond words, Jorge ground his teeth and shouted toward the boundary of the training grounds. “Guards! What on earth are you doing!?” “Oh dear, what a shock!” The booming scold startled the old man, causing the guards, whose faces turned ghostly pale, to rush towards them as if their lives depended on it. “Stranger, sir!” Without sparing a glance at the old man, Jorge fiercely kicked the guards in the shins. Thwack! Thwack! "Ow!" “Ouch!” As the guards hopped around clutching their shins, Jorge unleashed a torrent of sharp reprimands. “Are you out of your minds!? You’re supposed to keep unauthorized people out, and yet you let someone in? Have you been sleeping on duty?!” “Ugh……!” “Well, it’s just that…… oooh.” “Are you going to explain yourselves?! I’m asking what you did to let this old man into the training grounds!” 'Damn, I had my eyes peeled.' 'Is there a hole in the training grounds?’ The guards were at their wit’s end. The pain was less troubling than the injustice of it all, but they couldn’t protest. The old man standing in front of them was undeniable proof of their negligence. “We're very sorry!” “We will rectify this!” Jorge glared at them as if he would tear them apart, then gestured tersely, issuing his order with irritation. “Take him away immediately.” The guards, standing stiffly with scowling faces, hurriedly approached the old man and roughly took him by the arms. “Oh dear, go easy, easy.” “Just how did you get in here? Let’s go, come on.” “Don’t resist, elder. You’ll hurt yourself more.” The old man and the guards soon disappeared, and the cries of the knights resumed in the training grounds. Jorge clicked his tongue, dismissing the midday commotion. Similar disturbances occurred near the supply depot and the food storage, but those in charge dismissed the old man’s unauthorized visits as an odd happening, just as Jorge did. No one thought it truly strange, being unaware of the real oddity looming just out of sight. * * * Late at night. After finishing his training in the grounds, Logan was meditating with his eyes closed when they suddenly sprang open. Simultaneously, a voice unfamiliar to him spoke from behind. “There are quite a few amusing things here, indeed. Heh heh.” Turning slowly, a very old man came into view. His worn-out linen clothes were grimy with stains, and his grin revealed several yellowed teeth, of which only a few remained. He looked every bit like a common, frail old man from some rural village. However, for such a man to have entered unnoticed into these training grounds was unthinkable. Logan rose and addressed the old man respectfully. “Are you the Master of the Kassel Tower?” “Heh heh. Indeed, your highness,” The old man replied politely, his smile gentle. Despite his unexpected appearance, Logan narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the elderly Archmage of the Kassel Tower. “I did express a desire to meet, but you’ve come much more swiftly than I anticipated. I thought you’d be a busy man.” “When a superhuman who has embodied the realm of an Aura Master after two, no, three hundred years extends an invitation, how could I refuse? Besides, I’ve been contemplating whether it was time to meet anyway.” The master of Kassel Tower’s smile seemed extraordinarily guileless. If Logan hadn’t known about the deeds the Tower had committed or would likely commit in the future, he might have taken that innocent demeanor at face value. “Hmm, you wanted to meet me?” “Of course. Ah, though I was surprised to hear that his Majesty was seeking me first, haha. Isn’t there a saying for times like this—‘great minds think alike’?” Matching the Tower Master’s laughter, Logan responded with a laugh of his own. “Aren’t we ally against a common foe?” For now, anyway... “That’s right. It was indeed time for a discussion.” The Tower Master nodded softly, echoing Logan’s sentiments. Smiling once again, Logan stepped closer to him. "Though we still have some grudges, it’s not enough to cause conflict when faced with a common enemy, is it?" “Indeed. We were the ones who initiated the dispute, and it was us who shed blood.” While he admitted this willingly, the Tower Master subtly stepped back just as Logan attempted to close the gap, as if an invisible force was pulling him away. "……You're quite cautious." "It seems keeping this distance might be for the best, heh. I must say, I'm amazed. I didn't expect you'd achieve such mastery so soon." "You're too kind." As Logan clicked his tongue in regret, the Tower Master smiled, sharpness in his eyes. The distance between them was about 20 meters. A knight, let alone a superhuman, could easily cross such a span in a single bound. If it got any closer, it would favor Logan; if it widened, the advantage would shift to the Tower Master. Though, the difference was minor enough that the Tower Master felt it necessary to maintain the current distance—a sorcerer of his level could easily increase the distance if needed. ‘I suspected he wasn’t just starting at the seventh circle, but he’s almost a master… for now, it’s going to be difficult.’ Through the journey of rescuing his master and deciphering Viktor's mark, Logan had gained profound insights. Though he prided himself on his significant progress, it seemed the world didn’t gift easy victories. ‘At least on par with the Emperor back then.’ He was not confident in his ability to completely defeat an adversary until he could wield Light Rend without preparation. Likewise, if he couldn’t fully gauge his opponent’s level, the reverse was also true. Having finished his thoughts, Logan made an amicable attempt to engage. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Do you have a plan against the Empire, Tower Master?” He thought he had asked flawlessly while concealing his true feelings. However, the Tower Master’s response expertly exploited Logan's oversight. “In such chaotic times, finding a solution is a matter of perspective. But first, I have something to ask, Your Majesty.” "……What?" "Where have you placed the Holy Sword Vanitas?" "Ah… ha ha, ha." Logan's eyes darted to the side. Caught off guard by the unexpected mention of something he had practically forgotten, he found himself momentarily speechless. The opponent, however, didn’t give him the time to gather his thoughts. “I had quite a bit of trouble due to the trick you left in the Forest of Beasts. It seems you’re aware that sword is an artifact of our founder... Would you consider giving it to us as a token of alliance?” Logan couldn’t very well say, "I broke it," or claim a hereditary link to brush this off. The Tower Master wouldn’t believe him. Zebrick Kassel’s soul, obliterated by the power of desire. If it were intact, Vanitas would have been an unbreakable Holy Sword. The old man before him was certain that the Holy Sword could never have been broken. This implied... ‘He doesn’t know about the power of desire?’ Logan's eyes flashed with understanding. It was only natural when you thought about it. Even the soul of Zebrick Kassel, a founder, couldn't withstand the power of desire, so how would his successors know? Logan internalized this newfound understanding and flashed a sly grin. "A token of alliance..." “Vanitas is a remarkable artifact. However, only sorcerers of our school can fully utilize it. Besides, at your level, Your Majesty, aren't you beyond the need for artifacts?” While not a lie, he couldn’t hand over something that no longer existed. Feeling a cold sweat on his back, Logan managed a reply. “……You’re requesting a lot from the start. The relic of the Arcane Sage Zebrick Kassel isn’t something one hands over lightly at the onset of an agreement, is it?” He tried his best to bluff, but the Tower Master was no pushover. “Indeed, I was aware that information about our founder has been disseminated, but his true name... How much do you know, Your Majesty?” Well. Enough to know that this founder was a deranged individual with frightening power? Stifling the words that nearly slipped out, Logan responded. “I acquired some books while searching for the sword.” “Books!?” Logan had tossed out a casual remark, yet the Tower Master’s reaction was unexpectedly intense. “Could it be… from our founder’s…?!” “Well, it did mention the artifact’s owner and some magic, but what use is that to me?” “Hmm… I assure you, Your Majesty. If you relinquish either the Holy Sword or the book—just one—I will use the full might of Kassel Tower to help annihilate the Empire.” ‘What a windfall.’ Although he couldn’t read the old man’s mind, the sheer sincerity devoid of artifice in his mannerism was undeniable. Watching him snatch at the fake bait with sincere desperation, Logan couldn’t help but smile to himself. “Annihilation of the Empire? Do you think I wish for something so dreadful?” "Artifacts such as mass-producible low-circle items for all knights, unprecedented explosive artifacts, and weaponry—you couldn’t prepare these overnight. Nor would you need to increase supplies post-war. They must be costly." Ah, you’ve seen everything, haven’t you? “Ha ha, you’ve done your homework.” “Let me reiterate, Your Majesty. Just give me one of them. Kassel Tower will fully support any endeavor against the Empire. Neither is crucial to you, after all.” “Ha ha, if I’m giving them away, might as well pair them together. I’ll give you both.” “Thank you……!” “But, only after the Empire has been dealt with.” “……You jest, Your Majesty.” The old man's initial composure evaporated. In an instant, his expression shifted, and an ominous aura began emanating from his entire being. However, Logan was not so weak that mere aura could suppress him now. Wuuung. "Isn’t Kassel Tower also being pursued by the Sacred Kingdom? We might have to decline your full cooperation instead. Unless Kassel Tower possesses enough power to face the Empire or the Sacred Kingdom on its own?" The golden light that easily repelled the sinister, crimson aura caused the old man's face to stiffen. "More importantly, we still don’t know the true purpose of the archmage and the military force centered around him, with their unknown schemes. All we know is their name. Could you perhaps enlighten us about them?" With these words, the intimidating aura emanating from the old man noticeably diminished. Instead, his gaze directed at Logan grew colder than ever. After some time had passed. "We are……." The old man's firmly shut lips slowly parted once more.