Regressor of the Fallen Family

Regressor of the Fallen Family Chapter 129

As the thunderous explosions began and the soldiers started crumbling, the expression on Kairon Wolves’ face fell apart with them.

“What, what’s that? Magic?!”

But the magic he knew couldn’t hit the enemy spontaneously from such a long distance. It wasn’t for nothing that magicians of the 4th Circle or higher, or mages with superhuman abilities, were held in higher esteem compared to knights of the same level. Without such scarce resources, the role of a magician in war was merely supportive, like the few magicians in his own territory who would cast enhancement spells at the front of the knight order before pulling back.

“Scrolls, it’s scrolls! It seems…!”

“Nonsense!”

Even he, one of the top three richest men in the kingdom, couldn’t pour out scrolls in battle like that. And above all, the range of magic from a scroll was shorter than when cast directly by a magician. The attack, whose origins they couldn’t identify, caused confusion. From then on, Kairon Wolves’ expression twisted further, reaching its peak when the head of Nick Marcel flew off and the knight order began to fall apart.

“This is madness! How can this be?!”

Blood dripped from his bitten lips, but he didn’t even notice. The losses they incurred in this short skirmish were equivalent to the cumulative losses of the civil war that spanned over six months. No, the damage was much greater considering just the knight order, especially since top-tier knight Nick Marcel was dead.

The command erupted from him, surrounded by six of his escort knights. At his command, the waiting adjutant wildly waved the flag. Were they willing to cut down their own forces to retain loyalty and earn something greater? If such sacrifices had been recognized, the civil war would have ended long ago. Regardless of factions, high nobles protected themselves, sending only the forces of medium and smaller nobles into battle, leading to the dragging war. To Kairon Wolves, the preservation of his own power came before his faction’s victory.

“Fire the crossbows! Stop the enemy knight order!!”

The decisive weapon, which he thought would crash the enemy and earn him military exploits, could only restrain the enemy knights. Barely.

“Fire!”

As he shouted, the enemy’s repeating crossbows shot out, proving to be far superior in range and power in every aspect. In the end, he could only see his own troops crumbling hopelessly in every direction.

‘Better than the original? Where? Those damned…’

He ground his teeth, but he quickly had to reconsider. Above all, he had to preserve the remaining troops, and more importantly, his own life.

“Don’t chase them! Regroup!”

In the center of the battlefield, Logan’s father’s Flameblade soared high. Logan smiled mockishly at the sight of the Wolves knight order, who had chosen to retreat quickly after breaking their front. It was both amusing and surprising how quickly Count Wolves chose retreat. Though most of the Wolves knight order survived, their gains were significant.

‘At least we caught a top-tier knight.’

It seemed his father had also taken down two or three high-grade knights. Wolves’ knight order would never stand in McLaine’s way again. Concerns about the enemy’s repeating crossbows proved to be significantly weaker than the original.

‘Are they looking down on us?’

It was incomprehensible what they were counting on.

“A great victory, young lord!”

Heinckel’s beaming face showed more than a satisfying victory.

“Our casualties?”

“Five seriously injured in the knight order, two dead. Among the soldiers, about 100 with serious to light injuries.”

“Good.”

This was more than just a satisfactory level; it was an incredible outcome. Was such a figure even possible in an evenly matched battle? However, Logan forcibly calmed his elated heart and looked back. The clash between the opposing forces, which had just begun, seemed to waver, not just in his own perception.

‘Show them more. Let them gauge how to deal with us from now on, Duke Yordan Valdermaine.’

With Logan’s smile, McLaine, having crushed Wolves, advanced forward.

“Insane…”

Prince Romain Von Grandia uttered an expletive in surprise, but there was no need for concern. The leadership of the Second Prince faction, including Duke Yordan, was wearing almost the same expression.

For the most part, their gaze was focused not on the battle at hand but ‘there’, further away from the battlefield. The clash that was orchestrated to verify the loyalty of those who swore to throw themselves into the fight, to check if they wouldn’t betray. The apparent fierce confrontation was simply cutting down weak lesser nobles, leaving the war prolonged with no advancement. Neither the forces of the First Prince nor those of the Second Prince had sent their main powers to the frontline. Unless one side showed a particular opening, this ‘obvious’ stalemate would continue lethargically.

Factions united for immediate benefits rather than genuine causes. A war where the strongest actually protected themselves and forced the weak to sacrifice. And that was the very nature of this civil war, with decently powerful allies who couldn’t casually be sacrificed.

“How is this possible? Has it even been an hour since they clashed?”

“The strength of Viscount Byeon’s forces has been reduced by thirty percent in an instant. At least…”

The eager adjutant fell silent at a nasty look from someone nearby. Even with superhumans included, comparing the Count’s forces to the strength of a Duke’s or Marquess’s territories was a bit much. However…

“It seems the power of Marquis Kaihl’s territory is within reach.”

“Duke!”

To Yordan’s assertion, the surroundings resonated in shock.

“What’s the issue? That strength will soon become our power.”

“You’re right, Duke. If it had truly been a betrayal, we would have had quite a hard time, wouldn’t we?”

Duke Yordan couldn’t help but laugh internally at the Prince’s words.

‘Not just a hard time, it would’ve been a fatal blow.’

McLaine’s strength was one thing, but they hadn’t been serious about the threat—none of them. Thus, this initial battle outcome washed away most of the doubts against McLaine.

‘The recognition of the Bifrost territory and half of the Title of Marquis Callian, and even the title of Count… It shows they were confident enough to make such brazen demands.’

Laughable results, but even so…

‘The price for their insolent actions will be sought later.’

The icy cold in Duke Yordan Valdermaine’s eyes lingered. Never in his life had he suffered a loss and just let it go.

But regardless, his orders were clear.

“McLaine is about to hit the enemy’s rear. Send a signal. This is the ‘real’ frontal confrontation.”

In contrast to the noisy response of the Second Prince faction, the headquarters of the opposing faction experienced a chilling silence.

“What did I just see? Are you playing a trick without me knowing? Or was Wolves even more of a rabble than I thought?”

“Seems like those bat guys had stronger venom than we thought.”

At Prince Luther’s incredulous monologue, Juan Douglas replied as if thinking aloud.

Boom!

“So, are we just going to stand by and watch this ridiculousness unfold?! “

“Sire, now is the time for us to prepare our defenses.”

Juan Douglas pointed not to the flank or the rear but to the front. The movement of the elite forces, which had been watching the battle of their underlings, was changing.

“Do not leave my side. I beseech you.”

“Damn it all… What is this…?”

Prince Luther’s expletive-laden monologue perfectly echoed the sentiments of Duke Juan Douglas.

‘How on earth did those tightrope-walking bat guys…’

The question remained, but they had to overcome this crisis first.

“We might have to endure some losses today.”

As Douglas spoke, the First Prince faction’s formations began to cluster around the leadership. The passive defense formation quickly upset the balance at the front, creating a temporarily retreating battle situation.

Regardless, the main attention of both faction leaders remained fixed not on the changing battlefield but on McLaine’s movements. And then, after a while.

“It keeps… getting farther away?”

Like someone’s murmur.

Contrary to most predictions, McLaine’s army, instead of turning to the rear, continued to distance themselves from the battlefield.

“What the hell are they doing?”

Voices burst from both camps simultaneously, but there was no chance they would get an answer.

* * *

“In truth, they probably didn’t expect us to perform that role. It was most likely an order to die causing a distraction. If we had aimed for the rear as expected, we would have to brace for significant damage ourselves.”

“Still, we should have something to say when we go back, shouldn’t we?”

“That’s why I suggest this; even if we just return now, I’m sure the treatment will differ.”

At his son’s relaxed smile, Patrick chuckled bitterly and replied.

“But would this really mean anything in a mere civil war? It seems like a tactic better suited for prolonged conflicts, which factions seem to ignore?”

“It’s already a long-term conflict. And it will get longer, I believe. Longer than anyone can imagine. So we must proceed with this mission to end the war sooner rather than later.”

“I wonder. Even if we now demolish the supply base of the First Prince faction, they will simply conscript more from Alron Castle. It will be tougher for the commoners, though.”

“Harvest season is still a few months away. It’s not a period that can be endured by conscription.”

“Still…”

“At the very least, retreating the First Prince’s army back to their own castles would be an effect. If we can push them back to Harun Castle, we can prevent Grandia Plains from being harvested. If we fail, then after harvest, the Second Prince’s faction will struggle even more.”

Logan’s words were nothing less than the essence of warcraft itself, under the assumption that a war that started in winter would continue through planting season to harvest and beyond. The progressively more dominant First Prince’s faction wouldn’t consider such a drawn-out war, nor would the under-pressure Second Prince’s faction plan for a far future.

‘That’s why now is the right time.’

While both camps may be running low on stockpiled food, the nobles likely believed they could merely conscript from nearby villages or townsfolk. The perfect time for a counterblow.

McLaine’s army left the battlefield and reached Turen Castle One day’s journey from the Twin Castles—currently being used as a supply base by the First Prince’s faction.

“Open the gates!”

At Logan’s command, the castle walls became a hubbub.

“Who, who are they?!”

“Prepare for battle!”

On the direct route between the First Prince’s faction, Douglas’ territory, through Harun Castle to the Second Prince’s Twin Castles, Turen Castle was tasked with a rout supply mission by the forces belonging to the First Prince’s faction, led by Viscount Bred Peacock, a vassal of Douglas. Although the force, nearly a thousand men with less than fifty knights, was undoubtedly significant, it was challenging to claim a major portion of the faction’s power. Especially the force led by Peacock Viscount, devoid of even a single high-grade knight.

The fact that such a force was in charge of the crucial Turen Castle already indicated the thoughts of the leading members of the First Prince’s faction regarding the civil war.

‘And that’s our chance.’

The moment the enemy prepared for battle, Logan immediately ordered the attack. It took only about two hours for Turen Castle to fall.

The casualties McLaine suffered were merely two knights killed and about a hundred soldiers with serious to light injuries—a simple and flawless victory. The spoils gained at its end were too sweet for the effort they exerted.

“…How much, again?”

“The wheat alone is about 200 tons, and if you add the other grains, it exceeds three times that amount. At least enough staple for an army of 50,000 for a month.”

“Heh… That much? It’s a clear supply route, isn’t it?”

“Exactly as you said, young lord. If you pull out the force capable of seizing a supply base that quickly, you can just attack the enemy’s front directly. That’s how tense the frontline is.”

“That’s true but… Heh…”

Could it be a problem if it’s too easy?

Despite his self-mocking laughter, Logan’s orders were firm.

“Besides what we can carry, burn everything else. Then immediately move on to the next target.”

“But Turen Castle’s fall was too obvious, what about the information on the other supply bases…?”

“I know it. Just follow me.”

When had he…?

Heinckel chuckled, but he didn’t bother to question further.

‘One of the top three Grandia merchant guilds, the largest grain merchant, Kairos’ warehouses. If they’re part of the First Prince’s faction, they’ll definitely use them.’

The trade routes taken from Veron Kairos, some of which surely held supply items.

Over the next week, McLaine’s army sequentially took over three castles nearby. And from two of those, they achieved the triumph of burning down food supplies comparable to Turen Castle.

Even the damage they suffered in the process was incredibly minor.

And when the First Prince’s faction was in disarray, realizing their food for three months had vanished without a trace, McLaine was already far away, having circled back to Alrun Castle.

This all happened within just three weeks of declaring their allegiance to the Second Prince’s faction.

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