Regressor of the Fallen Family Novel - Chapter 313
Episode 313
“Is it acceptable to avoid carrying out a disruption mission?”
“Confirming the King’s presence is more important than anything else. Let’s not rush into things.”
“…Alright.”
Luisa made a slight noise of disapproval as she watched Jun, the leader of the royal knights, bowing his head.
Jun wasn’t under any mind control, but he wasn’t privy to classified information either. Naturally, he couldn’t grasp the context she had mentioned.
However, it seemed she had no intention of explaining it to him kindly. So, Luisa shook her head slightly and walked towards the entrance of the separate palace.
The escort knights, surprised, quickly followed her.
Except for Jun, the knights were notably sluggish and slow to react, which furrowed Luisa’s brow in dissatisfaction.
If the senior knights couldn’t keep up with a sorcerer whose magic was mostly sealed, it raised doubts about their ability to defeat even an intermediate knight in actual combat.
“It’s understandable to maintain secrecy after being hunted by the imperial family for centuries. But relying solely on brainwashed puppets in all positions will keep us trapped in this frustration.”
How could they hope to build a new world like this?
This was also part of the organizational culture that needed improvement first.
For a major endeavor, while secrecy must be maintained, trust in capable individuals also needed to be abundant.
The current organization’s approach was hindering even that possibility, making the rigid leaders of the organization feel oppressively stifling.
“I need to show results here and now for that very reason.”
As Luisa clenched her jaw and made a firm decision, Jun interjected with some nonsensical comment.
“But are you sure Count Ronian has truly been deceived? He appears too coherent.”
“What?”
“Luisa, you would have been convinced as usual, but now I’m a bit concerned. You mentioned yourself that you wouldn’t be able to confirm the success of magic directly.”
“Ah…”
Jun was doubting her abilities now that her magical circle was sealed, and her powers restricted.
Certainly, sealing the magical circle to evade detection by aura users or conventional magic had diminished most of her abilities to the point where she couldn’t even gauge the king’s power level right in front of her.
But his concerns were excessive.
“The process took time. If it went unnoticed, even an aura user would be powerless against such magic. Not to mention just a top-ranked knight.”
Although her magical powers were sealed, it was a spell crafted with high-quality magic stone dust by a sorcerer who meticulously unfolded it.
A spell passed down from the mage saint Zibrick Cassel, who aimed to surpass both man and god, by a member of the Soul Wizard faction.
“Still, I have my doubts…”
“Enough! Jun, excessive worry is a hindrance. If you keep meddling in every little thing, what’s the point of having you here?”
He was brought along to manage the brainwashed individuals who were slow and lacking intelligence, yet here he was, acting more frustratingly dense than they were, which only heightened her annoyance.
Luisa’s gaze sharpened, and Jun immediately lowered his head.
“…I apologize.”
Luisa stopped in her tracks and glared at Jun before continuing forward.
And just as they approached the entrance of the separate palace.
Whoosh.
With a subtle ripping sound only Luisa could hear, the discreet magic that kept their conversations private was silently dispelled.
“Even with my magic sealed for disguise, this should suffice.”
At the same time, Luisa began to feign embarrassment and glistening eyes.
As soon as she stepped out of the separate palace, a group of knights, who had been waiting, rose to block her path.
“Where are you traveling, Your Highness? We will accompany you.”
A knight with one red and one blue eye, and blue hair, stepped forward and bowed.
“Sir Viktor… was it? Count Ronian has invited you to the royal castle. He wishes to demonstrate his training with His Majesty. Have you not received the message?”
“Ah… It was today. Follow me. I will escort you.”
A knight, courteous in manner yet ever watchful of events. This knight, who would follow her immediately if she took just one step outside her designated separate palace, was excessively diligent in his duties.
“Even without brainwashing magic, there are many who remain loyal like this. The organization’s direction is definitely flawed.”
Without revealing the slight frustration building up within her, Luisa nodded with a smile.
Royal knights were not permitted into the king’s exclusive training hall in the main palace.
Reluctantly leaving Viktor behind, Luisa entered the training hall, where the red-haired young man she had spent much time with in recent days greeted her with a warm smile.
“Welcome, Princess. I apologize for not personally escorting you.”
“It’s alright. The journey wasn’t far at all, no big deal.”
The young man, overly pleased with a simple response, seemed as if the corners of his mouth might touch his ears.
‘The enchantment worked like a charm.’
Observing Ronian’s reaction, Luisa dismissed the concerns Jun had stubbornly held onto.
“His Majesty has graciously accepted my request. Let us first offer our greetings.”
Ronian gestured towards a man whom Luisa respectfully bowed to.
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for accommodating my bold request.”
“Do not mention it, Princess. Training regularly with my brother is routine; having additional observers hardly matters.”
“I appreciate your generous understanding.”
“But, I had a question, princess. Why do you address me as ‘Your Majesty’? Is it not against the empire’s customs?”
“If I were to be betrothed to Count Ronian, I would become part of this royal family. So, why would customs matter?”
“Oh…?”
“And moreover, addressing the ruler of McLaine, who is not even a subject of the empire, with the imperial royal titles would likely be even more inappropriate.”
“…It’s unusual for an imperial princess to speak so. Your thoughts run deep.”
“I am flattered. I have simply stated the facts.”
After a moment of pleasant conversation, Logan and Ronian stood at the center of the training hall.
“Hya!”
Bang.
“Faster!”
Crack.
“Argh!”
The brothers engaged in a dramatic bout while skillfully concealing Ronian’s true abilities. It was a performance that no sorcerer could detect as faulty, especially when the sorcerer’s powers were restricted by mysterious means.
‘And that’s assuming the sorcerer is restricted.’
As Logan pondered this, he casually observed Luisa’s reaction.
However…
“Haha… It’s truly remarkable. Indeed…”
Mumbling incoherently, the princess’s eyes sparkled as if genuinely moved. As if she were an ordinary lady unfamiliar with the duels of aura users or elite knights, filled with naive admiration.
‘What exceptional acting.’
Logan thought to himself, feeling almost foolish for suspecting any hidden motives behind this absurd request.
‘Perhaps this was a test of Ronian’s reaction.’
Coming to this conclusion, Logan refocused on the performance.
Unaware of the lingering gaze on his back and its implications.
“I’m absolutely certain. The Power was indeed golden. It wasn’t just an earth attribute distorted in rumors!”
“Truly?”
“Yes! I am positive!”
Luisa spoke with excitement, and even through the communication orb, the Grandmaster’s voice trembled slightly.
“To think that the being who can alter fate, foretold in legends, appears in my time… If the prophecy holds true…”
In an era abandoned by the gods.
A discovery had been made—a sign heralding the long-awaited moment the organization had been anticipating. Children who did not respond to divine power were starting to be born.
With many such children born especially in McLaine, their focused attention there had paid off.
‘All the signs from the prophecy have now manifested.’
She shuddered at the thought.
Now, with the Grandmaster’s decision, the organization’s entire course of action would change.
Luisa, trying to calm her racing heart, awaited the Grandmaster’s next words through the orb.
After a brief pause, where the Grandmaster had contemplated, he finally spoke.
“Postpone, or rather, prohibit the assassination. The empire’s ‘request’… proceed with the second option you outlined.”
The empire’s ‘request’. Referring to it as a request, not an order, even though it meant yielding.
If the emperor had heard it, pursuit would have resumed immediately, but to Elder Luisa, aware of the organization’s objectives, the choice of words felt natural.
“The kingdom’s turmoil, you mean?”
“Yes. If the second prince even considers assassinating the king, you are to prevent it instead. The being who can alter fate must live until the prophesied time.”
“We shouldn’t worry about that. He is at least an intermediate aura user. A mere assassin wouldn’t be able to harm him.”
“Not even if they were spirits?”
“Correct. Even if they partially embody our organization’s secret techniques, they would struggle. Besides, I heard they have already failed once.”
“That must be because the shadow assassins or their leaders did not personally intervene.”
“That may be the case, but.”
Logan, the one who could change fate—would he succumb so easily?
While she agreed with the Grandmaster’s perspective, Luisa couldn’t help but have doubts.
After all, there was a strange sentimental attachment, almost regretting the persecution by the imperial family, subtly siding with the spirits.
The mixed emotions for a faction born from the Tower’s hidden knowledge were tangible.
“Certainly… The emperor would likely only assassinate the king on the brink of war. I must pay even closer attention to the imperial movements.”
“In other words, until then, we can be at peace.”
“Yes, understood.”
It might seem odd for their conversation to revolve around protecting someone they would have been willing to assassinate, but to the two conversing, it was a self-evident truth.
“Proceed with your plan. Once the foundation of the kingdom weakens and it falls to the empire, securing the one who can change fate will become much simpler.”
Of course, that rationale was far from benevolent.
“Yes, I comprehend.”
As Luisa bowed her head, a cold expression briefly crossed her face.
“Fire!”
Swoosh!
The command was followed by a barrage of bolts raining down on the targets.
Soon after.
“Tenon. Another perfect score!”
The exclamation from Deck, the knight, elicited cheers from the onlookers.
“Wow!”
“Impressive. That’s why he comes from a hunter’s lineage!”
“Ah, if only I had hit just one more…”
“Give it up. The prize money will go to Tenon anyway.”
In the midst of the lively crowd, the atmosphere at the self-defense forces’ training ground in Clide’s region was nothing but friendly.
However, Tenon, the man dubbed as such, quietly adjusted his crossbow’s string, checking his equipment amidst the noise.
“Tenon. It calls for a celebration today, doesn’t it?”
Tenon’s ordinary brown eyes met those of Aman, his childhood friend.
Ten years had passed since ‘that day,’ after he grew weary of the world and retreated into the forest.
He was grateful to this persistent friend for being welcomed by the self-defense force despite his natural reserve, but after pouring out all his emotions a decade ago, his heart had no space left for gratitude.
“I… don’t have the time.”
“Come back to the village, Tenon. Things have changed for the better. Even the lord can’t exert the same tyranny as before. It’s different now.”
I know. I know…
The one who leaves will not return.
“I… must go.”
“Are you still seeking revenge against the lord?”
Paused in his steps, Aman’s question came just as Tenon tried to leave.
“I worry for you so much, my friend.”
“Do not interfere.”
Though Tenon tried to push away his approaching friend, Aman continued undeterred.
“No matter what, the lord may not have knights or soldiers, but he is still a noble. And if you stir trouble, it won’t just be you at the end, but our entire village. Understand?”
“I… understand.”
Yes, I understand.
They were all sincere and kind. The village still held all the ties left by his past family and by Erina.
That fact was becoming a shackle binding to his ankle.
And that increased the ache in his chest.
Leaving his concerned friend behind, Tenon returned to his secluded cabin in the forest.
As he lay his weary body on a bed in the quiet hut, a wave of solitude washed over him.
Unable to sleep, tossing and turning, the image of his beloved always floated into his mind.
‘Erina…’
Recalling the face of his wife, who allegedly passed away without closing her eyes, lips tinged with the taste of blood, Tenon reached for his crossbow. He once believed he could use it to take down a knight, but now he couldn’t muster the strength to seek vengeance against a lord stripped of knights and soldiers.
“Am I a coward? Am I, Erina?”
While lamenting to the unresponsive skies, a voice that should have been impossible to hear whispered to him.
“No, my dear. You can do it.”
“Erina!?”
Tenon sat up abruptly; a faint gray light shimmered in his eyes.
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