Regressor of the Fallen Family Novel - Chapter 320
Chapter 320
“What was that you said?”
It was such a surprising question that I even forgot to use formal language.
Seeing my reaction, Louisa smiled instead.
It seemed she found a sense of calmness seeing me flustered, but Logan couldn’t quiet his mind despite knowing this.
It was a captivating subject.
‘Forming a partnership against the Empire? With the adversary within it?’
How alluring it sounded.
This could make achieving my lifelong ambition much simpler.
But at that moment, a large number of bodies I had witnessed at the end of my previous life flashed before my mind, along with the deranged face of the mad Emperor Baros who had laughed as he stood over them.
However, it seemed the opponent wasn’t ready to answer openly.
“…It seems our discussion ends here.”
With a strong statement that disrupted the conversation, Louisa set down her teacup and attempted to leave immediately.
But the red beast by her side had no intention of letting its prey go easily.
“If the royal family discovers your magic, both you and the Eastern Palace will face significant trouble. But that’s acceptable to me, princess.”
“…I was told this was a question and answer session?”
She turned her head, still turning away, but icy chills filled her blue eyes.
Logan simply smiled and raised his teacup in response.
“Yes, that’s correct. However, only this side has the guarantee.”
“…So it was about the snake and not the sunlight of Macklein?”
“Thank you for the praise. Then, shall we proceed with our agreement?”
Louisa’s expression hardened at Logan’s cunning grin, but she coldly extended her hand, a frosty smile on her lips.
“…Let’s exchange exactly three questions. Just three.”
“Hah? I don’t think you’re in a position to bargain.”
“After all, if I abandon the royal family, it’s of no concern to me. How about it? Three questions exchanged. We both respond honestly within reasonable boundaries.”
It seemed the princess had no lingering attachments to the Eastern palace.
Was she suggesting that the Eastern Palace had no ties to that organization?
Or was this all a show?
With such questions swirling in his mind, Logan could only nod in agreement.
“Haha. I feel like I might be losing out a bit, but let’s proceed.”
“Then I’ll start…”
“Before that, you need to answer the question I posed.”
“…The first question?”
Tch.
Just trying to freeload.
“Fine by me.”
Logan subtly hid his true thoughts as he nodded, and Louisa bluntly stated her query.
“Details about the Empire’s assignment.”
An assignment?
Did she mean collaboration during battles as required?
It seemed that the organization’s identity was becoming more unclear, causing Logan to instinctively frown.
“That’s a vague response.”
“Should we end this conversation if you’re not satisfied?”
The determination to not yield further was evident in her blue eyes.
‘Did I push too hard?’
But since he couldn’t convince someone who wouldn’t budge, Logan could only accept her response with a small sigh.
“Then it’s my turn. Why do you resist the Empire? There shouldn’t be a reason for it.”
Wasn’t it true that wars with the Empire had occurred frequently in Grandia’s history? It was just a matter of readiness.
As Logan pondered this, he met Louisa’s intense gaze.
The moment he offered an answer she couldn’t accept, this conversation would come to a halt.
He felt the weight of that determination and clicked his tongue softly.
“To be honest, I knew the Empire was planning a war.”
“How…?”
“It’s my turn now. What is the objective of your organization?”
Honestly, what he truly wanted to ask was why the Princess of the Empire would declare herself an enemy of the Empire.
‘Is the Eastern Palace truly aligned with the Black Serpent?’
That single question might just unveil the truth behind all his suspicions.
However, the answer Louisa hesitated to provide was, once again, unsatisfactory.
“To alter the order of the world.”
What nonsense?
Such vagueness came to mind effortlessly.
However, her firmly sealed red lips seemed unlikely to utter anything more.
‘Here I thought I had her under control.’
It felt like a dog on a leash was now prepared to bite its own tongue in defiance.
With that, Logan had every reason to mock Louisa’s lack of negotiation skills.
‘If they want to change the order, it at least indicates they won’t continue to be subservient to the Empire.’
With that single revelation etched in his mind, Logan let out a bitter smile.
Then Louisa tossed a question that had lingered from their earlier conversation.
“How did you know the Empire was preparing for war with you?”
How should he respond?
As he racked his brain for an answer, Logan eventually came up with a response that was neither the truth nor a lie.
“I met the Emperor. I didn’t think he was someone who would be satisfied with the status quo.”
“…And that’s all?”
“It’s part of the truth. Just like your answer.”
As the crimson eyes and azure eyes glared coldly at each other, sighs of exasperation and hollow laughter escaped from their lips.
“If this continues, neither of us will gain anything. For the last question, why don’t we answer sincerely?”
“On the condition that we only answer questions we can answer truthfully. What do you say?”
“…Alright.”
How far could they trust each other?
With that thought, their calm exchanges wound down to the last questions and answers.
And thus, their conversation for the day came to a close.
* * *
[You were aware of your abilities?]
“Yes. That’s correct.”
[…It’s possible to deduce your markings. If the superhumans from Macklein clashed with Gerohin, or if there were reports from the alliance war, that would suffice. However, to see through your seals and understand their essence?]
“I was informed directly that I should be conscious. I realized it only through my senses.”
At those words, Logan saw his master’s expression harden instantly.
[You discerned solely through your senses? I personally sealed your powers… how absurd. The power of the one who alters fate is far beyond my expectations…]
“I believe they didn’t fall into illusions as they already knew about my abilities.”
[Having the power to alter fate and immediately being exposed? That would be the only explanation.]
Louisa kept her mouth shut about the fact that she had released that seal and caused a significant incident. From what Logan said, she surely had already guessed the truth, separate from that event.
‘In any case, last night’s failure won’t affect the organization.’
While she tried to convince herself, a self-deprecating smile inevitably crept into her expression.
‘How pathetic.’
Boasting achievements while concealing failures.
Being aware that her own behavior was no different from that of the lower members of the Tower, who were the very ones she despised, made her feel utterly miserable.
The conclusion of failure led to either indoctrination or a sacrifice.
This was the oppressive culture that the Cassell Mage Tower maintained to avoid the royal family’s watchful eye. And because of that, issues regarding communication had caused additional turmoil on numerous occasions.
That punishing culture was also one of the customs she had intended to change, yet now, she found herself making excuses to avoid facing it.
‘How did I end up like this?’
Creak.
As memories of the Macklein King cornering herself resurfaced, her teeth clenched involuntarily.
Then, startled by the sound she made, she looked at the communicator. Her master was simply lost in thought.
Seeing that, Louisa calmly recollected the last conversation she had with Logan.
Specifically, the question she asked and the corresponding answer.
– What are your thoughts on the Temple?
An unexpectedly out-of-context question from their previous dialogue.
Yet, because it was easy to answer, the king responded readily.
– …The emissary of the gods. I doubt that’s the answer you wish to hear?
– I’m questioning about the temple as you see it. I’ve heard there’s been trouble recently.
– …It was only trouble with the fallen priests. Once the Pope changes, I expect the temple to change a bit too. I only hope that the Nine Gods appoint a legitimate emissary.
– Ah… so you think that.
– …Is that the end of your questions?
The final conversation after a tense standoff turned out to be so dull that it was no wonder Logan wore an incredulous expression directed at her.
However, through that sudden question and answer, Louisa could confirm one critical fact.
“Logan does not have a clue about the origin of his powers. Furthermore, he has no idea what is about to unfold in this kingdom.”
[…He possesses a power like that and yet remains unaware?]
“Yes. His knowledge concerning us is also fragmentary. He is entirely ignorant of concepts such as ‘the one who alters fate’ or ‘the era after the gods have left us.’”
As the self-assured tone of Louisa’s speech reached the communicator, her master’s expression changed subtly.
[The one who can alter fate is entirely oblivious to his role? He should at least have suspicions, but… Hmm. It appears he might be useful.]
With a smile of satisfaction radiating from Louisa’s face, she began to see a new signpost pointing toward the direction of her organization’s goals.
[Very well. I’ll review this matter, and for now, return.]
“Sure, Master.”
Thus, she could release some of the burdens regarding her dismal failure the previous night and allow herself to smile once again.
* * *
“What happened, Your Majesty?”
“I confirmed the individual was indeed involved, and all my questions have been answered.”
“What are you referring to…?”
Logan recalled his last conversation with Louisa.
– What is the name of your organization?
– Cassell. The Cassell Mage Tower.
“Gibrik Cassell.”
“Yes?”
“They are the descendants of the Sorcerer of the Magic City. It was definitely them. Well…”
“Hmm?”
“They are inhuman.”
The confusions that wrapped Logan at the end of his past life were cleared in an instant.
Those who had mingled with the Emperor within the Empire were now fighting among themselves, and he thought this was one of the more favorable changes he had introduced since his return.
But then he encountered a new dilemma.
“Should I report this to the royal family or not?”
If, contrary to the princess’s claims, the entire Eastern Palace was connected with the Cassell Mage Tower, informing the royal family would grant the kingdom considerable merit.
Could the conflict potentially lead to one of the four Kings clashing with the Imperial family?
Yet what if the princess’s statement proved true?
The Eastern Palace would likely experience some form of punishment, and the Black Serpents would fade back into the shadows.
‘Would a group of mages opposed to the Empire, whose actual numbers remain uncertain, then turn wholly against us?’
It presented a risk too arduous to ignore.
“What should I do…?”
A strong sense of foreboding washed over him, hinting that the choice he was about to make would significantly affect the future to come.
And then,
‘Why did she ask about the Temple?’
Louisa’s final question also lingered in his thoughts.
As the night deepened, Logan’s apprehensions grew ever more profound.
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