Regressor of the Fallen Family Novel - Chapter 289
Chapter 289
“Join us! We offer rare herbs exclusively found in the southern mountain range!”
“Fresh seafood from Calon just arrived! Preserved with ice magic and salt!”
“We also have luxurious silk from the McLaine mountain range!!”
Was silk a famous product in our kingdom as well?
Victor strolled through the lively marketplace, observing his surroundings.
A sudden realization dawned on him that he was in unfamiliar territory. Even his reflection in a mirror at the general store he passed seemed foreign.
Tanned skin, brown hair, blue eyes.
He struggled to get accustomed to this new appearance.
Unfamiliar surroundings.
Unfamiliar mission.
Unfamiliar face.
After spending a week in Tahinan, the capital of the Duchy of Tahiti, comparing his intel with the reality on the ground, he reached a conclusion.
‘Being a spy or an agent is not everyone’s cup of tea.’
It all felt awkward to him.
If there was any relief, it was that 90% of the skills required for this mission were combat-related.
Had he not disguised himself as a wealthy foreign nobleman vacationing in the Duchy of Tahiti, he would have surely raised suspicion in no time.
‘Well, I’m not exactly flying under the radar right now either.’
While turning into an alley, Victor discreetly checked on the man who had been tailing him for about 20 meters.
Casually avoiding eye contact, he continued walking nonchalantly.
‘This isn’t good.’
It was the same man he had encountered a few days ago, posing as a merchant in the market.
Despite the man changing his appearance, Victor, who read people by their aura rather than looks, felt even more out of place.
Disguised and tailing – that was troublesome.
‘And there’s no guarantee he’s alone.’
The man had unintentionally left enough of an impression on Victor during their previous interaction.
As Victor carefully surveyed his surroundings, two other suspicious individuals, who always lingered near his lodging, came to mind.
In a city thriving on intermediary trade and tourism, would outsiders be this cautious?
‘That doesn’t add up.’
Had there been a leak of information?
As far as Victor knew, only his lord, himself, Damian, and Dwayne were privy to this mission in McLaine.
Not to forget one ally currently staying with him at the accommodation.
There was no way information could have leaked.
Those in Tria, who had offered their national treasure as collateral, couldn’t possibly know the executor of their request.
There had been no breach in information on that end either.
After ruling out all less probable scenarios, only one possibility remained.
“So, bandits trying to rob a wealthy tourist? Ha…”
He had assumed the persona of a noble precisely because he had heard rumors of such scoundrels in Tahinan.
‘Don’t they say they avoid nobles? Tsk. If I’m not careful, this could get messy.’
With a heavy heart, Victor entered the familiar accommodation he had stayed in over the week.
Spacious and luxurious enough for a visiting nobleman, a foreign face greeted him inside.
“Hello. Have you witnessed the royal castle firsthand?”
A handsome man in his thirties, with blonde hair and a scarred face. It was the altered appearance of the magician Greck, who originally had brown hair, a slender build, and a weary countenance.
Victor responded with a slight delay to the still unfamiliar sight.
“I’ve seen everything there is to see with my own eyes.”
“…I’m not sure what you mean by ‘everything,’ but you’ve verified it, right?”
“Yes.”
Though Victor’s response was resolute, Greck’s expression betrayed lingering apprehension.
Being a master mage and a protégé of the golem expert Clayton, there was a reason why he had journeyed this far. Apart from maintaining his altered appearance, the primary reason was to ensure this loyal young knight was adequately prepared for his mission.
After weeks of preparation, Greck had analyzed intelligence from Damian’s ‘Eye of Flame’ spy network and realized that breaching the defenses of the royal castle, which he had underestimated as being on par with a province, would not be a walk in the park.
Even if Victor was a top-tier knight of the highest caliber and a prodigy of the century, Greck couldn’t help but fret.
“I mean this sincerely, wouldn’t it be wise to request reinforcements now?”
“I’ll manage.”
“Are you certain?”
Greck’s concern was palpable, but Victor remained composed and nodded.
“You can head back, Lord Greck.”
“What?”
“It seems like I have some unwanted company.”
“Unwanted company?”
As Victor mentioned being followed recently, Greck’s expression momentarily darkened.
“Could it be that… the plan has been compromised?”
“It hasn’t. They were quite feeble. I sensed no presence or magic.”
“Hmm…”
Greck, acknowledging the young knight’s extraordinary senses, eventually accepted Victor’s explanation.
“Even so, wouldn’t it be wiser for me to stay? In case of unforeseen circumstances?”
Victor was not keen on entertaining that suggestion.
“If something goes awry, it’ll be easier for me to escape alone.”
“T-That’s true, but…”
Upon hearing Victor’s chilling words, even Greck had to yield.
“Didn’t you mention the transformation magic would last a week?”
“…Are you truly planning to go solo?”
“Given that I can’t utilize Lord Greck’s golems, that’s the plan.”
As the discussion persisted, a faint trace of irritation flickered across Victor’s stoic visage.
After a week of maintaining a composed facade, his icy gaze seemed to further diminish Greck’s resolve.
“I’m just… concerned for your well-being…”
“I’ll return with good news. Please depart first.”
Confronted by Victor’s resolute stare, Greck could only weakly nod, his voice trailing off.
Three days later, wary that local ruffians might interfere with his plans, Victor took swift action.
‘I’ve exhausted all avenues of investigation here.’
Clad in a deep navy stealth suit blending seamlessly with the dark night, Victor skillfully melded into the shadows.
Having become adept at the stealth techniques of the Ghastly Shadows over the past days, his movements were notably silent and swift.
The words of his lord, who had imparted this technique to him, echoed in his mind.
– Withdraw immediately if the situation escalates. In the worst-case scenario, I can intervene personally. Maintain your facade.
– Officially, I am recuperating from a grave injury. If I decide to play the role of an assassin, I could rival my master. Well, excluding those cursed spirits, of course.
He smirked faintly.
A king discussing taking on the mantle of an assassin was certainly unconventional in his endeavors, be it in governance or warfare.
‘Even if it’s said in jest.’
He couldn’t bear the thought of his lord having to intervene in such a mission.
Even if the words were factual, engaging in such a venture with even a hint of failure was something a king should never entertain.
Steeled with determination, Victor navigated through the alley shadows with a small exhalation.
Having meticulously charted the optimal route over the past ten days.
Beyond infiltrating the royal castle, he would have to rely on intelligence from the Eye of Flame, but he possessed one more advantage—the attire he wore.
This stealth suit, ensorcelled with identity obfuscation magic, had been worn by those ‘ghosts’ themselves.
However, there was a drawback.
– Strangely, the magic has been slowly waning since its original owner’s demise. I never knew such a phenomenon was possible. The issue lies with the magical pattern… Ah, you’re not interested, are you? My apologies. Sometimes I mistake you for Ria…
– It’s a captivating artifact warranting study, but with ten specimens, we can spare one… It should retain its efficacy for at least a month. Take it.
As per Clayton, while the effect had limitations, fortunately, there was still enough potency left.
‘Perhaps it won’t be as perilous as I anticipated.’
As a sense of complacency crept in, his resolve blazed even brighter.
It wasn’t solely out of loyalty—there was personal ambition at play.
Confronted with a boundary and catching a fleeting glimpse of a new realm beyond, he was consumed by an intense thirst.
In that fleeting moment, experiencing liberation from all constraints, it was as though his spirit transcended his corporeal form, embracing the world in a euphoric rush.
The indescribable omnipotence left him yearning for more of that fleeting sensation.
Moreover, witnessing the queen, who had surpassed him, kindled a sense of urgency.
‘I can achieve that too.’
At the culmination of that yearning, Victor recollected the teachings of his mentor, the king.
– Your beliefs and life experiences will manifest in your abilities. If your sole desire is to become stronger like most knights, you will acquire a typical attribute.
– Observing my own mentor, this isn’t necessarily a negative outcome. However, possessing unique attributes offers greater potential for strength, a fact even my mentor acknowledges.
– Furthermore, given your distinctive life path, focus on discerning your true desires. This comprehension serves as a precursor for crafting your own attributes.
– What if the pursuit of becoming superhuman fails? Ha-ha. You will undoubtedly become a superhuman. I bet on it.
Following these teachings, Victor comprehended his beliefs fully and identified the central theme running through his life experiences.
– To influence the time and nature of your attributes. After witnessing His Majesty, I believed everyone could do this. I was convinced I had devised a groundbreaking theory.
– Yet, I sensed an anomaly. How can one control the spontaneous emergence of attributes? I began to question it. Mastering the nuance of generating aura while regulating the precise moment to break through limits? All to design attributes? Does that sound like self-discipline? Not a chance!
– It’s akin to a caterpillar evolving into a human. Can a caterpillar choose when to evolve? You experienced it fleetingly, right? It’s peculiar, isn’t it? If given the chance, you’d want to do it instantly, right? That’s it. His Majesty is the true anomaly.
He also resonated deeply with the words of his lord and master, Luther Kaihl, the architect of attribute design.
Additionally.
– Once this becomes feasible, you’ve already transcended human limits. Yet, my theory and His Majesty’s reality led me to one certainty.
– A profound understanding of one’s life and convictions, coupled with a fervent desire for them, can propel one beyond human constraints.
– Moreover, the clearer this understanding, the more defined the path beyond those boundaries will become. Even if you cannot generate attributes like His Majesty, it’s plausible to enhance the attributes you will inevitably acquire. Illuminating the clear path one must tread—this is the paramount value of my theory.
According to Luther Kaihl’s explanation, Victor was the ideal candidate for this theory.
‘Ronian may have only aspired to grow stronger, to surpass our lord. But I… I have a dream from childhood.’
And he harbored a current aspiration.
Grateful to the individual who had actualized all his dreams, he was determined to safeguard them with every fiber of his being.
Victor comprehended the convictions that had guided his life and discerned the path he needed to traverse.
Hence, clarity was imperative.
‘A life-or-death struggle. If I falter… no, no. I won’t falter.’
If not for this mission, he might have plunged into battle or ventured into a cursed land to confront a perilous trial capable of shattering his limits.
Perhaps in a past life, he was a lunatic, someone who perished yearning to engage in combat.
‘Or maybe a crazed killer.’
Entertaining such whimsical musings, he pressed forward, soon catching sight of the royal castle.
From this juncture, a single misstep could prove fatal.
He cast aside distractions, honing his senses, when a sudden chill ran down his spine, an alien sensation enveloping him.
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