Regressor of the Fallen Family Novel - Chapter 297
Chapter 297: “Something Feels Wrong…”
Logan tilted his head, puzzled as he observed the retreating foes.
It wasn’t just about the three-nation alliance teaming up against Tria, forsaking her and focusing on this spot. It was that despite their significantly larger numbers, they were utterly defeated by the enemy. It was the kind of loss that could crush the morale of soldiers and leaders alike.
Yet, those believed to be elite, apart from the regular soldiers, swiftly regained their composure and orderly retreated.
And they weren’t heading towards the capital city right in front of them, but towards another city in the east.
“Is there a fortress in the Roman Kingdom stronger than the royal capital? From a strategic standpoint?”
“No, there isn’t. There is a castle named Taron, but it’s not classified as a fortress. There are only our allied nations to the east.”
Karil Zamod’s demeanor underwent a drastic change.
Gone was his dismissive arrogance, replaced by a respectfully bowed head that emphasized his subservience.
However, those under him, who were equally in awe of Logan—no, of Gael—did not find this shift in behavior odd.
The image Gael had projected in the recent battle was undeniably dominant.
– Even Duke Gunter would not have been able to accomplish what he did.
Although it was not explicitly stated, a consensus had formed among the commanders. The kingdom had discovered its new strongest champion.
For Logan, these glances held little significance, and he merely furrowed his brow as he listened to Karil.
“Then why are the enemies fleeing eastward instead of towards the royal city?”
“They might be following any remaining allies. The one you, um, Gael, missed, well, escaped from you, was a man from the Romero Kingdom called Kaltoon. It seems they’re attempting to regroup the remaining soldiers under surviving commanders.”
The reasoning was sound.
“Still, I have a bad feeling about this. Why are the alliance forces here and all?”
“We are currently investigating. We should have answers soon.”
“Good, inform me immediately.”
“Of course.”
The discussion was such that it was hard to discern who was in charge.
– Even right after a great victory, thinking ahead… indeed…
Commanders, already viewing things through a rose-colored lens, saw even this as remarkable.
But when Leah entered Romen’s capital, Logan’s unease peaked.
“There is no trace of the king or the royal family anywhere.”
“It appears all the resources have vanished.”
Reports indicated that the Romen royal family had prepared for an all-out war elsewhere or a defensive retreat.
Given the size of the alliance forces, the latter was improbable, leaving only one conclusion.
“It seems yesterday’s force was not the entirety of it. There might be additional reinforcements we haven’t seen yet. It doesn’t quite fit the name ‘The Four Nations Alliance,’ does it?”
Only a third of the force had been eliminated or captured in the previous battle.
With the remaining soldiers still enough to match Liberty’s power, if there were indeed extra forces, they did not possess a complete upper hand.
But Karil had a different perspective.
“Reinforcements? The only country that could dispatch any would be Calron, but Calron’s forte is its naval force, not its army. It was merely a precaution.”
Considering the chaos within the Duchy of Tahiti, the force they deployed was already stretched thin.
Karil was convinced that the troops exhibited by both the twin kingdoms of Romen and Romero were nearly all they had.
Additionally.
“There are no superhumans in the remaining three countries besides Calron. With Gael fighting alongside us, our triumph is assured.”
Karil proclaimed this with a grin.
‘If the superhumans holed up in the fortress took action, it might conclude even sooner.’
Observing Karil smile, Logan had to suppress the words that rose in his throat.
There was no critique of the excessive protection for the king’s safety that nearly led to Liberty’s downfall.
‘Is this foolishness or are they just excessively loyal…’
To him, it appeared regrettable from an outsider’s viewpoint despite the victory being attributed to his actions.
“Well, this suits me.”
“Hm?”
“Oh no, nothing. So, any news from Tria? With things becoming this complex, still no communication?”
“We are pressing them, but…”
Their troubled expressions indicated the wait was ongoing.
Logan sighed, as there was nothing to do but be patient.
Fortunately, the awaited news arrived the following day.
And it brought with it an unwelcome twist of events.
– Unexplained panic at Tria’s royal capital. King Ramon I of Tria deceased.
– Tria’s government incapacitated. Advancing army withdrawing.
It was the Empire’s handiwork.
Logan knew instinctively, but here, he had no words for it.
Yet the frustration and anger seeped into his subsequent words.
“… Blast it. We are only now discovering this crucial information?”
“The Tria royal family appears to have kept it concealed. With Ramon I having so many children, the succession matter was intricate…”
Upon hearing the report, each individual present looked away and sighed.
Now unofficially leading the army, Logan responded with a sneer.
“The enemy was privy to this information, preparing and even forging an alliance in advance, while we are only now informed. Is there any other military matter that I might be unaware of?”
Karil Zamod, avoiding eye contact, remained silent, as did everyone else.
Or so it seemed.
“If Teronan is struggling, isn’t that to our advantage? If we take the initiative and suppress the three nations, Liberty could become the strongest in the alliance.”
Those words from an enthusiastic staff officer shifted the atmosphere in the room.
“Indeed…”
“Absolutely…”
“That holds true. No doubt about it.”
Karil Zamod gazed at Logan with hopeful eyes, but Logan could not muster a smile.
“Teronan is struggling?”
“The maritime mage of Calron, Gustav, is rumored to be unbeatable at sea. That’s why Teronan initially planned to confront Calron alone.”
The maritime mage.
Concerns about Eileen surfaced in Logan’s mind, but he had already mentally prepared for this.
“Indeed. This turn of events could greatly benefit our homeland.”
Naturally, things were unlikely to progress smoothly.
‘If the Empire aimed to exploit the turmoil, they wouldn’t have limited their interference to Tria.’
With this thought, he forced a smile.
– Enemy troops have departed from Taron Castle!
This unforeseen report arrived as if to validate Logan’s suspicions.
“Are you certain?! Double-check it!”
“What nonsense is this?!”
“Have those fools lost their minds?”
The skirmish report from two days prior indicated the previously defeated enemy army was now advancing towards them.
The bizarre news incited chaos among the command staff.
“All troops, prepare to move!”
Buuuu.
The bugle sounded the given order.
Two days was insufficient to unwind the extreme tension born from the battle between life and death.
Moreover, the higher-ups had prohibited looting in the enemy city.
Liberty soldiers, unable to release their pent-up stress with comrades or endure it silently, now faced an unexpected development.
Nonetheless, the irritation that prompted the bugle’s call was soon redirected once the soldiers learned the identity of their adversaries.
“What is happening?”
“Those retreating cowards, since when!”
“Let’s crush them again!”
“The Silver Reaper fights by our side!”
The stress that could not be alleviated transformed into morale, and the spirits of the Liberty troops soared as they departed from Lail.
‘I cannot suppress this.’
Logan, suspecting a different stratagem by the enemy rather than assuming their commanders had lost their minds, was justified in his thinking. But the army had already emerged victorious once against these enemies.
Now, with little disparity in the number of forces, the enemy leaving their city to face a disadvantageous battle—there was no justification for holding back the army.
It would be foolish to dampen morale over unverified suspicions.
However, the renewed battle soon unveiled the enemy’s ploy.
“May Gael remain here to watch for any unforeseen variables. We have the upper hand if the powers are equal.”
A unified command structure would possess an advantage over a divided alliance. Karil’s words were logical.
Yet, as the battle recommenced, things began to go awry.
“Perish!”
“This madness!”
Boom!
The charging Liberty knights at the forefront suddenly veered off and collided with their comrades.
Neighing fiercely, the warhorses halted their charge and began to scatter in all directions.
With their formation in disarray, the Liberty knights could not withstand the enemy’s charging cavalry.
Crash!
The vanguard of the knights was collapsing like an explosion.
For Liberty’s leaders, it was a scene from a nightmare.
“What is going on?!”
“The enemy has cast some peculiar spells!”
“What on earth is happening?!”
Their own forces were essentially self-destructing. They could not comprehend why.
However, it was evident to Logan, who stood by in the rear for any eventualities.
He could distinctly perceive the alien grey energy manipulating the lead knights and the horses.
‘Those are the culprits!’
– They employed unknown, eerie magic. It controlled minds and animated corpses.
– It was akin to sorcery from myths.
Recalling Victor’s report, Logan surveyed the battlefield.
‘Where? Where are you?’
The instant a golden hue pierced through his altered brown eyes, he pinpointed the origin of the magic amidst his own fighting soldiers.
Neigh!
“Gael!”
Karil yelled as Logan bolted off, but he was equally preoccupied by the unbelievable chaos of friendly troops assaulting each other.
As he watched Logan gallop away, he could offer no assistance, and the solitary figure tearing through the battlefield cloaked in a silver aura drew the enemy’s full attention.
『It’s him.』
A message spell transmitted the voice, and concealed mages within the allied forces nodded in unison.
Each of them commenced their incantations towards the silver-knighted rider.
But Logan’s eyes detected the grey mana surging towards him.
‘Tsk. What an irritation.’
He effortlessly snapped the tendrils of grey mana hurtling towards him, but he could do nothing for those already ensnared by their magic.
“Perish!”
Clad in Liberty’s blue standard, a knight whose eyes had rolled back in madness lunged at Logan with his spear.
With a slight grimace, Logan swerved and struck the knight’s face without causing fatal harm—as his own men were also witnessing.
Bang!
Thud.
The struck knight was knocked off his horse and tumbled to the ground. In such a battlefield, unconsciousness equated to certain death.
But the surrounding allies were all charging towards Logan.
A bloodless path cleared as Logan moved through.
And at the end of that path…
Snap.
As the silver aura blade cut down one enemy knight after another, one soldier was struck in the throat.
“Huh?!”
“Argh, why am I…?”
“What’s this?!”
Soldiers who had been wildly brawling moments earlier suddenly regained their senses.
Noticing this, Logan weaved to and fro across the battlefield, dispatching one enemy soldier after another.
And with each repetition, more of the frenzied Liberty troops awoke from their madness.
“What?”
“Snap out of it!”
“The enemy is approaching!”
“Gael! Gael is dismantling the enemy’s deception!”
While the panicked allies were floundering, the sight of Logan single-handedly dominating the battlefield began to boost the Liberty army’s morale, albeit belatedly.
Then…
『Perish.』
A grim voice reverberated in Logan’s ears as the most concentrated and menacing grey energy yet began to seep into his body.
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