Regressor of the Fallen Family novel Chapter 245

Chapter 245: Arrival at Raftan

It was only four days after leaving the capital that the group Logan had temporarily named the ‘Plague Relief Brigade’ arrived in Raftan.

Generally, the larger the caravan, the slower its pace. Yet this group of around a thousand people, by the measure of an ordinary person’s speed, should have taken a week to traverse the distance they did in just four days, indicating how hurriedly they must have travelled.

But the first sight that greeted the breathlessly rushing group upon reaching Raftan was beyond anyone’s imagination.

“Mother…”

“Don’t sleep, son. Understand? Just hold on a little longer.”

“Just a moment, a moment more…”

Faces showing unmistakable signs of exhaustion and fatigue.

Villagers, appearing to be families, all with pale expressions were moving towards a brook, hefting bundles of belongings.

However, what awaited them at the border of Raftan, by the side of the long stream, was not freedom, but the hand of Death itself.

“Commander! They’re coming again!”

“Damn it, why do these fools keep… Don’t look at me! Fire! Kill them!”

Soldiers stretched out along the brook, bows at the ready, were aiming at the people approaching from a distance.

Upon the so-called commander’s order, the soldiers, though biting their lips, drew their bows, and lying ahead where they aimed, there were already about a dozen bodies, apparently felled by arrows.

“Fire!”

Thwack, thwack, thwack.

Arrows flew out at the commander’s command.

“Argh!”

“My love!!”

A man fell, and a woman carrying a child screamed as she collapsed.

“Wait! Just a moment! Here, here…”

Trembling hands.

Even while wounded by an arrow in the thigh, the man drew something from his clothes.

A merchant’s identification badge.

They didn’t look like a group of merchants at all, but the badge seemed elaborate enough.

“Damn it, you’re all too soft-hearted… Can’t you aim properly? Damn!”

The commander grumbled at his men with a glare, sighing before shouting at the man.

“What are you trying to pull with that fake pass? Don’t come any closer! Get back! People of Raftan can’t leave for anywhere!”

At the commander’s roar, the expression on the wounded man’s face turned deathly pale.

Overwhelmed by despair that not even his all-in investment in the merchant’s identification worked.

‘I have nowhere to return to…’

If he were to go back, he would be considered an escapee and punished.

Moreover, what scared him more than any punishment was…

No, I mustn’t turn back.

If I do, death will be the same.

Then…

“Please help us, kind sir! If we return, we die!”

As if wringing out his last strength, his cry carried a raw desperation.

However…

“Damn. How has it come to this calamity?”

The commander didn’t want to be doing this.

But the order from above was strict and made a certain sense.

After all, he too was the head of a family.

He didn’t even want to imagine the plague reaching his own home.

“Father, please just let my son leave. The child is still healthy! Our village hasn’t even seen the cursed disease, and I’ve heard children don’t catch it!”

In ignorance of his own situation, the man blurted out baseless words.

“Stop joking! I warn you again. If you don’t turn back, you die. This is the final warning!”

With that ferocious warning, the man seemed to make a stern decision.

“Then kill us! Let’s see how well you live after killing innocents!”

Who wants to do this?!

Can’t you see all the lifeless bodies lying right before your eyes?

Within the commander’s clenching teeth came an order.

“What are you waiting for! Fire! Grant their wish!”

The soldiers, yet again with gritted teeth, took aim with their bows.

Another command descended.

“Fire!”

Thwack, thwack, thwack.

“My love!”

Black arrows rained down upon the unmoving man, his wife, and the child who appeared unconscious.

Just before the gruesome scene could unfold any further…

Flash.

Together with a sudden burst of golden light, the onslaught of arrows abruptly ceased.

Amidst the puzzled villagers and the soldiers, another voice rang out.

“What seems to be the situation here? Explain.”

Before them stood a knight with red eyes, exuding a dangerous aura.

* * *

“There are no issues. The entire family is unaffected.”

Hearing the priest’s report on treating the family, Logan glared at the soldier commander.

“You were told to seal off the area, and you shoot the villagers to death instead? These madmen…!”

Listening to the downcast commander kneeling before him, Logan’s eyes burned with fury.

“We only shot at the deserters. We usually gave warnings first and…”

“Silence! I saw clearly from the beginning you aimed to kill, and now you dare lie?”

“Your… Your lordship ordered us! We only missed on purpose as a warning…”

“That’s enough. Where are you from? Which lord’s soldier are you? We will hold your lord accountable.”

“Ke, Kelromon. We are under His Majesty’s command.”

“Kelromon?”

“This place is Kelromon’s estate, Your Majesty. It sits to the west of Raftan.”

Nodding at the explanation of the approaching knight, Logan said,

“My party and I are heading to Raftan to put an end to this plague. Tell the Kelromon knight to come to my location and provide support. If he fails to comply…”

Crack.

Beneath Logan’s perched position, the ground split as if quaked.

Boom.

“Waaah!”

The entirely intact tree burst apart, making the soldiers gasp and cower in fear.

Even though it might’ve been excessive for someone with royal authority, Logan wanted to send a more direct warning.