461 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

**Chapter 461** "The Imperial army is advancing into the east, and their numbers are swelling. It seems they are rapidly regrouping with the remnants of the Eastern Legion. However, perhaps due to the rumors, their numbers are certainly less than expected. There's persistent talk of increasing desertions." Upon hearing Damien's report, a smile spread across Logan's face. "The rumors are proving quite effective. This war might turn out to be easier than we thought." Logan spoke with hopeful anticipation, only for Damien to douse it with a dose of reality. "Even so, the Imperial forces are expected to exceed 300,000, possibly reaching up to 350,000." Despite this, Logan's smile remained unshaken. "I had expected more than 400,000. In that case, we're lucky. That's manageable." In terms of sheer numbers, Logan's confidence did seem a bit excessive. Currently, the MacRyne army stationed at Luspelheim didn't even number 150,000. Although they had consistently won their battles, the unavoidable loss of troops from repeated engagements was undeniable. The defensive battles particularly took a heavy toll, reducing what was once a five-legion power to merely three. Even this included the remaining 20,000 troops of the Kingdom Alliance, meaning the pure strength of MacRyne was not even half of the enemy's. Yet, no one in that room felt that Logan's confidence was out of place. "The difference in numbers is far less now than in the last defensive battle. This might truly be an easy fight." Lutha remarked with light-hearted humor, the best situation so far in the war against the Empire. Eilen, sitting beside Logan, echoed his confidence. "The Imperial transcendents number only eight, even including the Emperor. At most, they might have one or two hidden trump cards." The gentle touch on Tyr's neck, as it purred contentedly in sleep, exuded an atmosphere of calmness. The Sword Saint also joined in with a smile. "The Emperor will be taken by His Majesty, and I'll handle the Mage of the Northern Wind. Even the weakest among us can defeat the remaining Legion Commanders. We might actually have a surplus of people." At this statement, someone felt an unwelcome pang of guilt and flinched. "Your Excellency, is that weakling perhaps me...?" "Who else would it be but you, Goroth?" "Hah? It must be you, weakling!" "Sigh... It's been a while since we had a proper bout, shall we?" "As much as you want!" Lutha and Wicken began their usual comedic banter. But by now, everyone was so used to their antics that no one paid any attention to the disruption. An atmosphere filled with confidence. Of course, not everyone was entirely optimistic. "Then the only concern is the Kassel Tower. Being cornered as they are, they might decide to join the fray openly." Damien cautiously pointed out this concern, and Logan nodded in agreement. "Given their nature, whether they join indirectly or directly, it wouldn’t make much difference. However, the real issue is..." "The Tower Lord and his magicians could rally and engage us directly." "Precisely." This implied that the balance of transcendent power could shift. Nevertheless, Logan's expression remained unperturbed. "Even if that occurs, I'll handle both the Emperor and the Tower Master." Taking on two grand magicians at once sounded audacious, even reckless, on the surface. However, no one contradicted him. The feats Logan had accomplished since capturing Luspelheim were nothing short of monumental. Moreover, in recent days, beyond channeling perfect control over his forces, voices revering him as a deity among the soldiers grew louder. Stories circulated that just hearing his messages lifted fatigue and spurred a sense of well-being. Given the circumstances, it was only natural that Damien and the others believed their lord had grown even stronger in such a short period. They could hardly imagine an army led by such a person losing to an enemy with merely two to three times their strength. Moreover, the beneficial effects of the great magic circle, Liberatio, and the repeating crossbows were still at their disposal. The only remaining concern was... "I've heard that the Kassel Tower only has five magicians left, so with our forces, there should be no problem. Isn’t that right, Ronian?" At Logan's sudden question, Ronian, who had been deep in thought in a corner, startled and looked up. "Ah, yes! Yes, brother. It’s actually more accurate to say four since 'she' will not join the battle." At this, Damien's expression noticeably brightened. "Then, including Sir Latin and Sir Gustav of Teronan, we outnumber them." "Don’t forget about Sir Heiman, Damien. He’s our trump card against the Kassel Tower magicians." "Ah, Sir Heiman... Of course." Despite rumors of being an apostle, Heiman had long distanced himself from any ties with the temple. Having changed his appearance and expressed a desire to establish a new identity, Logan respected this wish and assisted in fabricating his former alias into a legitimate identity, making him an interim guest. A dagger solely for the magicians of Kassel Tower. "Though an aura user appearing out of nowhere is unlikely." From Damien's perspective, this was nothing but a favorable development, with little interest in his previous identity. "Good. What’s our preparation status?" "Training for the soldiers is winding down, and they are currently resting in preparation for the war. Thanks to Your Majesty, morale is at its peak." "Liberatio and ammunition supplies are adequate, and we have plenty of food." "The great magic circle started operating without any issues." The reports from the Sword Saint, Damien, and Victoria only added to the confidence in the room. What truly amplified that confidence was the subsequent report. "There seems to be no need to worry about any internal unrest in Luspelheim. Even the original citizens are starting to revere Your Majesty as a deity. It's unheard of in history for the citizens of conquered territories to be so compliant." "The number of soldiers exhibiting post-war symptoms has decreased significantly. There haven't been any incidents of soldiers violating military discipline recently." The soldiers were not just prepared; they were showing unprecedented levels of perfection. This achievement could be attributed to the leader before them, and everyone gazing at Logan was filled with conviction. The numerical disadvantage was no longer a concern. Logan, aware of the atmosphere, couldn't help but reflect. 'I’ve done everything possible, perhaps even more.' Clenching his fist in determination, Logan renewed his resolve. "Alright. When do you expect the Imperial army to arrive?" "It seems they have remained stationary in Regal for three days, likely to regroup their forces. We are investigating further, but it appears their plans have gone awry." "And once they start moving from there?" "Even with a large force, they should arrive within a week." "Good. Not long now. Prepare thoroughly until the end. Here in Luspelheim, we will defeat the Emperor and the Empire, laying the foundation for a millennium of peace for MacRyne!" "Yes!" "Glory to MacRyne!" "Honor to the undying flame!" The echoes of Logan's proclamation heated the room with fervor. --- "Your Majesty." "Brother." Logan’s steps halted at familiar voices calling out as he exited the command room. Turning, he saw Victoria and Ronian exchanging awkward glances. Ria, who had seemed uneasy during the meeting, and the troubled look of his younger brother caught Logan's attention. He had planned to speak to them separately after training, but they approached him first. "Ronian, you should speak first..." "No, Ria, you go ahead..." As the brother of their leader and a friend’s brother, both addressed each other with an awkward formality. "Ronian, why don't you start?" "Well, it's..." The large figure hesitated like a shy child, which was more concerning than amusing. "What is it? Is it related to the war?" "...It might be. I'm not sure if I should even bring this up at this time, but..." "What is it?" "It's regarding the last piece of information she sent." "She...? Ah, Princess Louisa?" "Yes." "Why would... Wait, have you been in contact with Princess Louisa this whole time, even beyond the initial correspondence?" Ronian averted his gaze, which confirmed Logan's unexpected suspicion. "Well, originally it seemed like it would benefit the kingdom, but then somehow it just..." Ronian trailed off, blushing in embarrassment. 'Well, isn’t that something?' Logan found the situation incredulous but knew it was not the time to scold his brother over personal matters. “Are you bringing up your personal issues right now...?” “No, no. That's not it. We’re not in that sort of relationship. I mean to say, the last thing she mentioned was rather alarming.” His panicked denials did little to reassure Logan, yet the seriousness in Ronian's demeanor was apparent. "Hmm..." With a soft thud, Logan stomped the ground, creating a golden barrier around them. "Now, speak. Whatever you say here won't escape beyond these walls." "Well, it’s just..." "Do you not trust Ria?" Logan's brow furrowed unconsciously, and the silent Victoria flinched. Witnessing this, Ronian hurriedly continued with visible discomfort. "No, that's not it! I just lack confidence in my judgment right now. I'll continue." Taking a deep breath, Ronian shared, "I've heard that the Tower Master of Kassel is performing a major ritual somewhere, requiring extensive magical facilities. They've redirected all their reserve forces there, including her." "Oh?" "She suspects it might be a summoning ritual for Zibrik Kassel. She left the location she was heading to as the final information." Logan's eyes widened at this. A summoning ritual for Zibrik Kassel? This was information that couldn't be ignored. "I hesitated because the timing seemed too coincidental and was unsure if I should share it. And also..." "And you’re unsure about trusting her?" "...Yes." Ronian nodded with difficulty. He genuinely trusted Louisa but didn't want to let personal emotions serve as the basis for such a critical issue. Even though he had concerns that the other elder magicians of Kassel Tower were heading towards the Imperial forces, it was unusual that only she was directed elsewhere. Yet, he set those thoughts aside. 'She’s not someone who would be taken lightly.' Delivering only the necessary, objective information that his kingdom and brother could rely upon. Logan, lost in thought briefly, spoke again. "...By last information? Are you saying contact has been lost since then?" "Yes." "So, you don’t want to go rescue her personally?" The unexpected sharp inquiry made Ronian flinch. Despite not wanting to reveal his confused emotions, his instinctual reaction was uncontrollable. Sighing softly at the sight, Logan firmly shook his head. "Even if the information is accurate, we can't spare anyone right now. It's something to consider only after the war." "...I understand." The delayed response. And in that moment, Ronian realized his true feelings. Despite predicting this response, it was clear why he had brought it up. "...I wanted to save her after all." The striking contrast of black hair and pale skin, with blue eyes shining more vividly over the monochrome. A woman so beautiful that her somewhat cool demeanor added to her allure. Only now did Ronian grasp how much space she occupied in his heart. "You... Could it be...!" And as he saw the surprise on his brother’s face, Ronian realized something else. 'Ah, so that’s what it means to read one's soul…' His brother had seen through his embarrassing and absurd musings. Despite this, all Ronian could do was shake his head. "No, it's not like that, brother." "What do you mean, it's not…" "I am a knight. No matter what it is, it’s never anything else. My family, our house, and the kingdom come first, brother." His words, spoken with a determination as if he were trying to engrave them onto his own heart, sounded strangely melancholic, compelling Logan into silence. Their red eyes met in the stillness of the air. After a brief pause, Logan exhaled and spoke again. "…Yes. I trust that you know what matters most, Roni." It was an affectionate nickname he hadn’t heard since they became adults, and the touch of his brother's hand on his shoulder felt particularly heavy that day. Yet Ronian firmed his resolve and nodded. "…Of course, brother. Or rather, Your Majesty." Logan continued in an even voice. "Well, it doesn’t have to be us going there, right? Reach out to the Saintess and relay that location. If it truly is Zibrik Kassel’s summoning ritual, they’ll charge in headfirst without hesitation." "B-brother!?" "Make sure to mention that the informant is Louisa von Aserian. If Princess Louisa happens to be in trouble, the temple might come to her rescue. Though that’s contingent on the report being true." "Oh…!" At that unexpected solution from his brother’s lips, Ronian felt a weight lift from his heart. "So, for now, it’s best to focus solely on crushing the Empire. Afterwards, we'll see what can be done." "Yes, brother!" With newfound vigor and determination, Ronian, and Logan who was proudly observing his brother, exchanged identical smiles as they walked on with renewed purpose. "Um, Your Majesty, about my story…?" Neither of them noticed the youngest magician left behind, watching them with a forlorn expression.