Regressor of the Fallen Family Novel - Chapter 239 (New)

Chapter 239: Confronting the Mage Tower Elites: A Move that Shakes the Foundations of the Mystic World

The exodus of top-tier members from the Mage Tower is a heavy-handed action that shatters the tranquility of the arcane community. I shall be lodging a formal grievance with the throne.

– Grand Master Fraymer of the Flame Tower and the four other Eminent Masters of the Mage Tower

“Are they suggesting they fled as a reaction to feeling cornered and bullied, leading to this result?”

Clayton let out a quiet, private laugh while scanning the official missive in his hands.

Remembering how the Master of the Ledios Mage Tower had reacted when he first sought autonomy, this current text read more like a flimsy pretext than a legitimate complaint.

“They intend to use this as their shield, don’t they?”

The temporarily sidelined Mage Tower Masters were clearly looking for a way to use this turn of events to curb the crown’s interference in their affairs.

However, their plans were unlikely to unfold as smoothly as they envisioned.

As Clayton sat there smiling, thinking of the ambitious sovereign who now ruled the land, a sudden knock broke his concentration.

“Master, the mages you called for have all arrived, just as you ordered.”

Greckk’s voice from the other side of the door pulled him back to the present.

“Very well. I shall be out to meet them in a moment.”

It was time for a fresh start.

And…

‘Every soul gathered here must prepare for a radical transformation.’

A cunning smirk briefly crossed his face.

– A single Mage Tower might be enough for some, but I envision something far greater than mere towers…

The anticipation of how these mages would react to their king’s true ambitions was nearly overwhelming.

“Is the assembly complete?”

“Yes, they are waiting in the great hall. The Master is currently acting as their host.”

“Excellent. Let’s head over.”

Logan stepped into the grand estate that had once been the property of Duke Douglas before passing into his own hands. It currently functioned as a temporary home for the mages, with sentries keeping a sharp watch at the gates.

“Stop!”

“Wait, it’s Your Majesty…”

“Ease up. There is no problem.”

Pushing through the cluster of knights, Logan made a direct line for the dining hall.

– Make way! The King has arrived!

Mages clad in robes of every hue stepped aside, bowing as one as he entered.

“We offer our greetings, Your Majesty.”

“Long live the King.”

Logan walked through their ranks with a warm, approachable expression.

The way the various robed factions clumped together was a bit annoying to him, but that was a hurdle they could clear in time.

For the moment, he had to prove exactly how much he valued their presence.

These people were the vital components that would become the heart of the ‘Magic Corps.’

“Your Majesty, why visit us in person? Our audience was scheduled for tomorrow…”

“Do not worry about it. When it comes to meeting the brilliant minds who will define the kingdom’s future, the sooner, the better.”

With those words, Logan moved toward Clayton, who had hurried over to welcome him. Logan took the seat of honor and looked out over the quiet, attentive room.

The assembled mages watched him with intense curiosity, though a flicker of anxiety remained in their expressions.

Logan gestured toward an older mage whose eyes burned with a particular intensity.

“That powerful fire mana you radiate… you must be Elder Max from the Fire Mage Tower, am I correct?”

“Oh! Your Majesty, such praise is far more than a man like me deserves!”

Max dropped to his knees at the mention of his name, but despite his humble words, a small, proud smile tugged at his lips.

The fact that the king already knew who he was suggested a bright path ahead.

“I was informed that you were a top candidate for the position of Fire Tower Master, only to be sidelined by petty politics. As your sovereign, I could not let such talent go to waste, which is why I sent for you.”

“Your grace is truly boundless.”

“And you—are you not Elder Gerald from the Royal Mage Tower?”

“Your… Your Majesty!”

Logan continued through the room, offering words of recognition and comfort to every 5th circle mage in attendance.

He acknowledged Gerald and Rowin from the Royal Mage Tower, Justin from the Water Mage Tower, Ephis from the Wind Mage Tower, and Lagon and Aemon from the Earth Mage Tower.

These neglected elders of the Mage Towers knelt in profound respect, feeling their abilities had finally been validated.

“My goal is to bring together minds like yours to make our nation invincible. Will you lend me your strength?”

“We are yours to command, Your Majesty!”

“Without hesitation, Sire!”

“Thank you for believing in us!”

The hall quickly filled with the heat of their passionate vows.

“Feast well today. Tomorrow, we begin a journey that will reshape the realm!”

“We shall serve with total devotion!”

The mages were radiant with optimism as they imagined themselves at the helm of a new Mage Tower. The gathering concluded in an atmosphere of shared dreams and high expectations.

“Their eyes were practically glowing.”

Later, during a rare private moment after the feast, Clayton spoke to Logan with a tone of caution.

“They were. And they will find the status they seek in the coming days.”

“However, Sire, you neglected to mention the most vital detail. This isn’t just about a Mage Tower—it’s about a Magic Corps.”

“Is there truly such a large difference?”

Logan’s mischievous grin gave Clayton an immediate headache.

“…Do I really have to be the one to tell them?”

“It would seem so.”

The king’s self-satisfied look was almost too much to handle. Clayton rubbed his temples with a weary hand.

‘A man as perceptive as him surely knows the storm he’s brewing…’

– We are men of science and lore, not weapons of war!

He could already hear the indignant shouts of the high-ranking mages in his mind.

It was clear that the task of breaking their pride and silencing their protests would fall entirely on his shoulders.

Clayton let out a wry laugh before shifting to a topic he knew would dampen Logan’s mood.

“Your Majesty, are you beginning to realize just how much of a strain this is putting on our treasury?”

“…You know the state of things. Why do you bring it up now?”

“The truth is, word has spread. Beyond the mages we specifically recruited, there is a flood of interest from others wanting to join the ‘McLaine Mage Tower.’ In terms of raw numbers, we have more than double the applicants we planned for. I’m afraid the current budget won’t hold…”

Logan’s expression faltered at the news, giving Clayton a small, sharp sense of vindictive joy.

“Double?”

“Indeed. And if we open the doors to them, that number will only climb. It seems the rot and corruption within the Great Mage Towers was even deeper than we thought.”

Under such circumstances, the Magic Corps they wanted could become a reality very quickly.

But could the royal house, already pushing its gold to the limit, afford to maintain twice as many mages—who were notoriously expensive to keep?

‘This is going to be a disaster.’

Even Clayton felt the weight of the financial burden.

And yet…

“What happens if we turn them away?”

“Our progress on the Magic Corps would likely stall. Perhaps for years, or even permanently…”

Clayton’s voice trailed off, but Logan understood the unspoken threat instantly.

“…Would it look as though the crown is playing favorites based on lineage and status?”

“Precisely. Mages possess egos that are far larger than you might expect.”

“Sigh…”

Logan slumped, burying his face in his palms.

The new magic research, the dam projects, the expansion of the standing army.

Given the sheer scale of the works he had started, the outgoing gold was already a torrent.

– If you push them away now, even your own kin in McLaine might start to question your leadership.

Dwayne’s grim warning echoed in his mind. Logan looked up at the ceiling and let out a long, heavy breath.

Still…

“Accept every one of them.”

“What?!”

“The more assets we have, the faster we can prevent future disasters. Since we’ve committed to this course, we must move with total speed.”

Seeing no room for further argument, Clayton gave a reluctant nod, keeping his further protests to himself.

It wasn’t long before more than 200 mages from across the five Great Mage Towers arrived at the McLaine estate, all eager to swear their loyalty.

Most were mid-ranking practitioners of the 3rd and 4th circles, along with a significant number of younger students.

Clayton greeted them with a swirl of conflicting emotions.

Naturally, the path for these eager mages was anything but easy.

A week later, while gathered at the royal palace, the mages were hit with the shocking news that they weren’t joining a traditional tower, but the McLaine Magic Corps.

“A Corps?”

“Are you saying we are soldiers now?”

“Us? In the army?”

The mages traded worried whispers until the king himself delivered the crushing blow.

– Your place is in the McLaine Magic Corps, not a Mage Tower.

– You will undergo mandatory military training.

The news left them stunned.

Every mage there had burned their bridges with their former towers.

To leave now?

It would mean a life of poverty as a wandering mercenary.

Ultimately, they had no choice but to submit to the Magic Corps drills.

Even the sixty-year-old masters with flowing white beards were forced to participate.

As they began their training, they became the butt of jokes and the target of mockery from those who had stayed behind in the traditional towers.

However, the gloom did not last long. In time, genuine smiles began to appear on the faces of the Magic Corps members.

Through the rigors of combat training, mages who had been stuck in their development for years began to shatter their limits.

The idea of physical exercise was usually considered useless for mana users, but when blended with specific magical disciplines, it opened doors that mages of this age had never even noticed. It triggered a wave of growth that allowed them to transcend their previous circles.

“Did you anticipate this?”

“Did you not say it yourself, Clayton? That by throwing yourself into your work and giving it everything, both you and your disciples reached new heights.”

“Well, that is true, but still…”

Though Logan gave the credit to Clayton, he had a fair idea of what would happen.

‘The Magic Corps. The Empire has already proven its worth.’

This military branch, created by the Empire to weaponize the unique talents of mages, had shown a fascinating trend: mages who fought and trained as soldiers improved far faster than those who stayed in libraries. After a decade of war, mages would eventually fight each other just for a chance to join a corps unit.

Logan didn’t fully understand the underlying science of why it worked.

He was simply trying to patch a hole in his country’s military.

Now that it was producing results far beyond his hopes, he was secretly thrilled.

But there was a price to pay.

“Your Majesty. Do you finally see the nightmare that is our current budget?”

Dwayne, his eyes sunken from exhaustion, let out a laugh that sounded almost threatening.

Looking at his brilliant advisor in such a ragged state, Logan could only offer a weak, apologetic smile.

Placed before him was a meal far too basic for a king: a bowl of thin soup and a piece of bread.

“Until the crops are in and the dams are finished, meat is off the menu.”

“Is this extreme measure really necessary, Dwayne?”

“Perhaps I should ask you, Sire. Was all of this really necessary?”

Dwayne’s eyes looked like they might catch fire if Logan uttered one more word of complaint.

“Ahem.”

Logan knew he was the architect of his own misery.

He could only sigh, dipping his bread into the meager soup as he pondered the heavy cost of his grand ambitions.