Regressor of the Fallen Family Novel - Chapter 172 (New)

Chapter 172: The Winds of Change in MacLaine

A call for fresh recruits is circulating throughout the MacLaine territory.

A total of 5,000 positions.

Ages 16 to 20.

(…further details omitted…)

Just as anticipated, the decree for military recruitment triggered a passionate reaction from the populace.

In MacLaine Town alone, more than 2,000 individuals stepped forward. When the tallies from all 20 castles were combined, the pool of candidates swelled to an staggering 30,000 people.

The flood of interest was far greater than anyone had foreseen, placing a heavy workload on Heinckel and Kaisollon, as well as the drill instructors and administrative staff. However, for those at the top, the situation was absolutely wonderful.

Logan, in particular, felt a unique sense of excitement stirring within him.

‘If this progresses according to the plan, there is a strong chance that the first group of awakened users will appear from this intake by the end of this year or next.’

Should that happen, it would mean that in the four to five years since he introduced new standards and overhauled basic training, someone would have accessed their latent power. It was a remarkably brief timeline, fueled largely by the frequent and intense battles the MacLaine forces had endured, providing the necessary life-or-death catalysts.

Once the initial group begins to awaken, followed by the soldiers who joined later and this massive influx of new blood, a chain reaction of power could occur over the next several years…

‘That milestone by itself would represent the next phase of readiness to challenge the empire.’

Furthermore.

‘Eventually, every corner of the nation will adopt the MacLaine recruitment standards. And they will do so by choice.’

Logan had already explained his selection philosophy to the nobility after taking the reins of power, but so far, not a single house had successfully replicated his results.

He knew that forcing these standards upon them through legislation would be overstepping his bounds, even with his current influence. Consequently, he was content to wait for the natural flow of progress to prove him right.

While he was in these high spirits, observing the recruitment drive, Eileen came to see him.

Since their return to the home territory, Logan had been buried in work and hadn’t found the time to sit with her. Seeing her after such an interval lifted his mood instantly, though his joy faltered when he noticed the gravity of her expression.

“Eileen, is something wrong…?”

“Lord Logan, I have a proposal to make regarding the current recruitment drive.”

“Ah… haha, you gave me quite a scare. Please, speak freely. I am always interested in your ideas.”

“Why don’t we include women in this recruitment cycle as well?”

“…I beg your pardon?”

Logan was blindsided by the suddenness of the idea.

‘I knew we would do this eventually, but is it already time?’

While her natural skill was vital, Eileen’s presence was primarily symbolic when she first enlisted. Her reputation was meant to prove to the realm that female combatants had a place, clearing the path for others to follow.

However, because the internal conflict ended much faster than anyone predicted, her renown hadn’t spread far beyond the MacLaine lands and the social circles of the capital. Moreover, she wasn’t viewed as a wandering hero, but rather as Logan MacLaine’s fiancée.

It was a clear oversight in his planning. Because of this, Logan had shifted his focus toward her personal growth into a superhuman.

But now, she was taking the initiative to address the broader issue herself.

“May I ask what brought you to this conclusion?”

“I’ve spent a great deal of time reflecting on it. I asked myself what I could truly contribute to this family.”

“…You are already doing far more than required.”

“I am aware of that.”

She offered a fleeting, playful smile before her face settled back into a serious mask.

“Meeting you and coming to MacLaine allowed me to find my true calling. And I found a partner in the process.”

Eileen cleared her throat, briefly looking away to hide a blush before continuing.

“Then it dawned on me. Could I really be the only woman in this territory, or even this kingdom, who feels this way?”

“Ah…”

“Exactly. I want to provide others with the same chance you provided me. Ultimately, I am convinced this will strengthen the MacLaine family significantly. What is your perspective, my lord?”

Logan took a slow breath and looked at her. Her hair was a shade of red so close to his, but her emerald eyes were entirely distinct.

This was a goal he had long harbored but had nearly set aside for later. Now, the person who was the very embodiment of that goal was standing before him, volunteering to lead the charge.

Looking at his fiancée, who seemed exceptionally radiant in that moment, Logan gave a firm nod.

“Very well. We will move forward with a program for female soldiers, and I believe you, Lady Eileen, should oversee the entire project.”

“Me?”

The suggestion clearly caught her off-guard; she hadn’t anticipated being the one in charge.

“There are others far more experienced in military instruction than I am…”

“They lack your perspective. They won’t understand these recruits the way you do. You can address the specific needs that men might overlook.”

“I see…”

“Furthermore, there is no one better suited to lead those with these ambitions than the kingdom’s first female knight and the first noblewoman to be granted a title in her own right—Lady Eileen Floyd.”

Eileen, who had been elevated to the rank of baroness for her bravery during the civil war, was no longer uncomfortable with her high-ranking titles.

“Ah…”

Despite her lingering traces of surprise, she stood tall.

Logan bit back a grin at her endearing reaction and began to outline the potential hurdles ahead.

“You should prepare yourself, however.”

“Prepare for what?”

“The concept is noble, but the execution will be difficult. You are going to encounter significant resistance and skepticism.”

Eileen’s green eyes burned with a hard, unwavering light.

Looking at that level of grit, Logan realized that further warnings were unnecessary. Instead, he simply vowed to give her his full backing.

As predicted, however, the path forward was steep.

— They are actually looking for female soldiers in MacLaine?

— An army of women? You’ve got to be kidding me.

— There’s no way women can handle that…

— This must be some kind of tasteless joke. Just ignore it.

Dwayne, the butler, spoke in a hushed, sympathetic tone as he reported the underwhelming number of female volunteers, despite their massive marketing push.

“It stands at 232, to be precise… and nearly all of them signed up immediately after the first posting.”

Eileen let out a heavy sigh of frustration, but Logan offered a steadying word. “It’s to be expected, Eileen. These few are the pioneers.”

Bolstered by Logan’s genuine support, Eileen nodded and tightened her grip, her resolve unshaken. Logan felt a twinge of remorse; he realized he had forgotten just how rare someone like Eileen or ‘that specific girl’ was. His memories of the future had skewed his expectations of the kingdom’s present reality.

As he sifted through his memories, wondering if he should try to recruit female mercenaries from the empire instead, he sighed at the sheer complication of the task.

“Cassandra, are you truly moving to MacLaine?”

“I am. I clearly can’t stay in this town any longer.”

“But even so…”

“Don’t worry about me. You know who I am—Cassandra the Strong! I’ll be fine. Look after yourself, Anna.”

Having knocked out her intended groom on the night before a wedding she didn’t want, Cassandra knew her time in her village was over. She decided that putting her natural physical power to use elsewhere was the only logical move, likely as a sellsword in the empire.

She figured the eastern imperial dialect was close enough to her own tongue that she could pass. She would earn her keep by outmuscling men, a feat she had performed many times before. That was the plan as she walked away from the home she had known for twenty years. But then.

“Hey, Cassie! Are you heading down to MacLaine?”

“What? No, I was planning to cross into the empire…”

“Haven’t you heard the news? The MacLaine house in the south is hiring female soldiers and knights. Why would you go to a foreign land when there’s an opportunity right here?”

“…Wait, really?! Is that the truth?!”

In the timeline altered by Logan, yet another path was rerouted.