Regressor of the Fallen Family novel Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Is it already the New Year.

Time flies, Lord Logan. Its already been two years since we first met.

Yeah, its already been that long.

As winter reached its peak, a new year began.

The distribution of food rations was still ongoing.

It was said that the citizens of the territory, who now had more leisure than in the past, were even holding New Years celebrations.

However, outside of Teslon Castle, regardless of such festive moods, soldiers were still sweating through their training.

One!

Ha!

Two!

Ha!

Despite the biting winter winds, soldiers clad in iron armor continued to swing their swords, drenched in sweat following the intense swordsmanship training that proceeded their 10 km run.

No more dropouts. As you mentioned, only those with the requisite physical strength and perseverance remain.

It appears so.

After ninety days of training.

Starting personnel: 1,000.

Dropouts: 12.

Deceased: 1.

Those who passed basic training: 987.

Regular soldiers: 502.

Excluding regular soldiers, with knights and other forces including a mercenary troop, the number totaled about 1,300more than Logan initially planned.

He couldnt help but be satisfied with these results.

Basic training seems nearly complete. The production of the crossbows you mentioned has also progressed considerably. Not enough to equip all soldiers yet, but we have 400 new ones.

Good. Hamar has worked hard.

Logan couldnt help but chuckle when he thought of Hamar tirelessly producing crossbows and directing village construction immediately upon returning from leave.

Every time they met, she seemed to curse him with her glare, but at least until a civil war broke out this winter, the plan was to keep things tight.

Thanks to her, the foundational military power he had planned was nearly in place.

Then.

Now, it seems we can undergo a real battle.

A real battle?

Youll find out. Look forward to it.

Kais face was expressionless, wrapped in a sense of unease, but Logan simply smiled faintly.

* * *

You want to clear the Monster Forest for timber supplies for the town Is this also your idea?

The Monster Wave is bound to occur sooner or later anyway. Since we dont know when the monsters will come rushing out, lets take this opportunity to clear the forest.

Do you think the Monster Forest, left untouched by our Houses ancestors for hundreds of years, will be easily logged?

Yes. Now that we have sufficient forces. Of course, that includes when the knights have been mobilized.

Logan had faith in the repeating crossbows that had already been tested several times against the monsters of the southern forest.

The subjugation of the Monster Forest was feasible because he had confidence that even dozens of the lowest-tier monsters could be handled in an instant.

And Padric agreed.

Hmm. A forest at the base of the mountain range should be easy. The knights need real battle training too.

Oh? Then, the inheritance of the Ironblooded Sword

The basics have been mastered by all. But practice leads to proficiency.

I agree. Only real combat can enhance skills.

At the moment the most powerful father-son duo in the domain joined hands in satisfaction, the grueling fate of the MacLaine troops had been scheduled without their knowledge.

* * *

Is everyone ready?!

Yes!

Faces drained as if they werent even Force users.

Yet unnaturally, they responded robustly with bright smiles.

The real fight is more comforting.

The knights were reduced to half their previous selves due to the extreme swordsmanship training disguised as drills in recent months.

At that moment, all of them shared a single resolve.

But.

However many low-tier monsters the Monster Forest holds, a scratch earns you three days of personal sparring with me. Understood!

Padrics roar momentarily silenced the rowdy knights.

What?

Some ridiculous

This is insane

Soft curses began to spill from the mouths of a few heads bowed low.

But when these curses burst out from various places at once, the atmosphere of the training ground instantly became like a bustling market, and with Padrics grimace, silence returned.

Oh? You dont have the confidence to face mere low-tier monsters without injury? Is that all the MacLaine knights amount to?

Fortunately, no foolish knights took the bait.

It wasnt the level of monsters that was the issue.

An unprecedented large-scale subjugation mission was underway, and being told not to even get scraped by a twigit was like being told to walk on eggshells rather than charging valorously.

But their lunatic lord added yet another ridiculous requirement.

Line up in rows and cut down the trees with a formation call. And in between, deal with any monsters that pop out. Utilize the Ironblooded Sword to the maximum, and never retreat. Hold your ground!

Huh

They really want to kill us

What if the monsters escape?

Low-tier monsters had strong instincts for battle, unlike humans. If not faced with an overwhelming force, theyd never charge at knights. And if too many monsters attacked at once, there would inevitably be some that escape.

Chasing them would negate the purpose of maintaining the formation.

It was a relevant question considering the overall situation, but the answer was simple.

Leave them be.

Excuse me?

Trained soldiers will be arranged behind us. We need to test their training results, too.

So, in essence, the knights mission was practically that of lumberjacks.

The knights pride was subtly wounded, yet they presented no argument.

Over two months of training, they experienced first-hand the extremity of their lord-turned-superior knights stubbornness.

The knights suppressed their past squabbles and united firmly to withstand the madness of their lord.

Any opposition now would only lead to nightmares of one-on-one combat training with their lord.

Now, everyone, take your positions! Ill have your back!

To the knights, it seemed their lord meant hed knock them senseless if they didnt perform.

The visors of their helmets could barely conceal the ferocity in their eyes.

* * *

The monsters will flee towards the backs of the knights. Dont let a single one escape.

Yes!

First wave, crossbows. Those that approach too closely will be confronted by the standby troops. Understand?

Yes! Understood!

Tension was evident on the soldiers faces.