I Alone Regress in a Hero Party That Was Annihilated - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#15. Collection (1)

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That night.

Featherback was walking through the corridors inside the fortress.

The interior of the fortress, with its narrow and long galleries intertwined like spider webs, was cold and eerie.

The whale oil candles hanging at every corner were insufficient to illuminate the darkness within the castle.

Step— Step— Step—

The cold and dry air met Featherback’s breath, floating like white ghosts.

Just then, Featherback encountered someone.

It was Yudi Administrator.

Judas, who had been walking hurriedly somewhere, stopped in place upon seeing Featherback.

“Ahem.”

“….”

The meeting between the two was coincidental, and normally they would have exchanged simple greetings.

However, Yudi Administrator was currently in a bad mood due to the morning’s events.

He opened his mouth toward Featherback with a somewhat mocking attitude.

“I was greatly indebted to you during the day today, Young Lord.”

“….”

Featherback ignored Judas and walked forward.

Judas flared up and shouted.

“You’ve become quite cunning since I last saw you! To think you’d pave your own way to survival like this!”

“?”

Featherback’s footsteps stopped.

Judas shrugged his shoulders and continued speaking.

“Ha! Did you think I wouldn’t notice? I thought you at least had some brains working in this family. Because of this morning’s events!”

“….”

“Volunteering to go to the Rebarb Family. In truth, you wanted to leave this house and seek refuge with the Rebarb Family, didn’t you?”

“….”

“And you knew that I have a very close relationship with the Rebarb Family, so you designated me! If you go to the Rebarb Family with me, it’s obvious you’ll be valued highly. Well, you’d have to sell some internal information related to the Mörsolt Family. But what’s the big deal about that?”

“….”

“So you extended your hand to me, didn’t you? Asking me to mediate between the Rebarb Family and you, Young Lord. But that’s not how you make a request. Good grief! You should come politely, show sincerity, and bow your head, yet if you put people in such an awkward position like that….”

That was as far as it went.

Featherback turned his gaze away from Judas and continued on his way.

Then Judas followed behind Featherback.

“Even if you act like that’s not the case, it’s all obvious. You actually want to get along well with me, don’t you?”

“If you chase any further, the gap between your upper and lower jaw will become quite wide.”

“Hmph! You speak harshly, but in reality you can’t do anything. Besides, several clever administrators including myself can see right through whatever schemes you’re plotting, Young Lord. There’s no point in trying to deceive us!”

Judas followed behind Featherback, massaging both his shoulders as he continued speaking.

“Going to the Levarb Family this time might be a good choice. No, you’ve thought well! For both you and me, Young Lord. Let’s just burn that meaningless certificate and go negotiate properly. Who knows? Maybe we can both secure positions in the Levarb Family.”

“….”

Featherback suddenly stopped walking.

Then he turned to Judas and asked.

“Are you saying you want to commit treason?”

“Why are you saying that now? Treason? We’re just switching sides. Why do you speak so frighteningly, when you’re the one going to surrender to the Levarb Family of your own accord?”

“Hmm.”

Featherback stroked his chin.

Then he nodded.

“Certainly, the Levarb Family is wealthy. Our situation might be better than staying in Mörsolt.”

“That’s obvious.”

“I’ll consider it positively.”

At those words, Judas’s expression finally brightened.

Now the two walked their separate ways at the crossroads.

“Well then, farewell. Have a good night, Young Master.”

Judas bowed his head toward Featherback and disappeared into the darkness.

Featherback stared at where Judas had vanished for a while before moving his feet.

‘…That one is still useful.’

He planned to keep him alive just a little longer.

* * *

That night, Featherback visited the Family Head’s office.

Knock knock—

When he knocked on the door, Soleil’s response came from inside.

“Come in.”

Featherback immediately entered the office.

Beyond the door, he could see documents piled up like a mountain.

In the middle of it all sat Soleil, wearing a monocle.

“Did you call for me?”

When Featherback asked, Soleil nodded.

“You’ve achieved something while I haven’t seen you. Your eyes look quite different from before the expedition.”

“There has been some progress.”

“Would you give me your hand?”

Featherback obediently extended his hand.

Soleil grasped his son’s wrist and slowly channeled mana into it.

And then.

“…!”

His eyes widened as if they might tear apart.

“2-Star? No, this level could almost be considered 3-Star. Good heavens, my son was a genius!”

“You’re too kind.”

“Too kind? Too kind!”

Soleil was so shocked that he repeated the same words twice.

“When I was your age, I couldn’t even properly sense mana. I only reached 2-Star after crossing the death line dozens of times on large and small battlefields. I was in my mid-twenties then. Son, how old are you this year?”

“Fifteen.”

“At fifteen, you’ve surpassed 2-Star and are on the verge of 3-Star. If the ancestors buried in our ancestral mountain knew this fact, they would jump up in surprise. Huh… such unprecedented good fortune.”

For the taciturn Soleil to show such a reaction was extremely rare—no, unprecedented.

After rejoicing with a flushed face, he gradually regained his composure.

“Son. But you mustn’t become too arrogant. Good fortune always attracts misfortune.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“So let’s hold a small banquet. We’ll invite about ten local noble families for a modest celebration…”

“No. I don’t need a banquet.”

“Huh, well. How strange.”

Originally, Featherback loved banquets.

He wanted to show many people his sculptures, paintings he drew himself, and his musical performances.

Because Featherback’s face was so beautifully formed, noble ladies from the region would flock to every banquet, causing quite a stir.

But now Featherback had no interest in such things whatsoever.

Soleil found this version of Featherback both admirable and unfamiliar, chuckling repeatedly.

“I called you to check your achievements and received such unexpected joy. Hehehe—”

“Father.”

“Yes.”

Featherback called to Soleil.

He hadn’t come here today to boast about his recent achievements.

“There’s something I’m curious about.”

“What is it?”

Soleil listened attentively to his son’s words with a serious expression.

Featherback asked.

“If you were to gain great power, Father, what would you do?”

“Great power? Hehehe— How great are we talking?”

“Power enough to kill the Demon King alone, without the help of comrades.”

“…!”

At that question, Soleil’s expression changed.

Eventually, after some thought, he gave his answer.

“I don’t know why you’re asking such a question, but… if it were me, I think I would pass that power on to you children.”

It was an answer befitting a father rather than a warrior.

Soleil continued his answer.

“I would want to pass that power completely to you and Cardona. So that you wouldn’t have to suffer the same hardships as I did.”

Soleil was a 4-Star Knight.

Being from the branch family who inherited incomplete Secret Arts, his evaluation in the world could only be half as well.

“I was able to reach the 4-Star Realm thanks to my bloodline. But no matter how hard I tried, I ultimately couldn’t overcome the 5-Star wall. That sense of defeat, inferiority, and anguish was unbearable. So I wandered a lot in my younger days. I didn’t want you children to experience such sorrow…”

Sadness was evident in Soleil’s voice.

But Featherback did not resonate with such sadness.

He only spoke of the cold, hard main point.

“What I’m curious about is your ambition not as a ‘father’ but as a ‘Mörsolt.'”

“….”

Featherback’s gaze fixed on Soleil’s eyes.

Soleil.

A man who had lived a life faithful to the family house since he was very young.

He was Mörsolt to his bones and would be Mörsolt even in death.

“As a Mörsolt rather than as a father…”

Soleil stroked his chin.

Then he continued in a low tone.

“Then I would probably go to kill the Demon King.”

“…!”

Featherback’s eyes narrowed.

Soleil continued speaking.

“People think the Demon King has disappeared, but I don’t think so. The Demon King’s seed is surely growing somewhere in this world. And as you said, it will be revived before long. The monsters that have started increasing are proof of that.”

His words were utterly resolute.

“Soon, an endless winter will come.”

It means the Demon King will awaken.

“I want to cut out the roots of that winter.”

Soleil’s eyes sparkled briefly like a child who had regained his dreams, but soon he let out a great sigh.

If he had the power, he would have done so, but without power, he could not.

That’s why Soleil’s expression was bitter as he finished speaking.

However.

“….”

Featherback’s expression as he watched Soleil had subtly brightened.

Soon, Featherback spoke.

“There will be good news soon.”

“…?”

Soleil tilted his head as if puzzled.

Featherback silently bowed his head.

Soleil’s current realm was 4-Star.

He said he had reached his limit, but with the Family’s Secret Swordsmanship Manual, he could overcome the 5-Star wall.

Featherback planned to share what he had obtained from the Secret Vault with Soleil.

…Someday when the ‘right moment’ came.

* * *

The next day.

Several wagons were placed in front of the Annex Building where Featherback’s room was located.

Servants were carrying luggage to load onto the wagons.

It was the delegation going to the Levarb Family.

“….”

Featherback was looking at the cargo wagons while thinking about last night’s events.

‘If our party had two more frontline fighters who could serve as warriors… no, even just one more.’

Then we could have killed the Demon King.

The existence of a Warrior in the Hero Party is essential.

Before Featherback awakened as a Warrior, the Hero Party consisted only of the Hero, Mage, and Priest, and because of that, humanity was on the brink of annihilation without being able to mount a proper counterattack.

Right after Featherback, who had awakened as a Warrior, joined them, the Hero Party pushed back countless Demon Army forces and achieved the remarkable feat of temporarily maintaining a balanced war situation.

That’s how essential a Warrior was to the party.

…However.

‘I alone was a bit insufficient.’

Before the regression, Featherback was the only frontline fighter in the Hero Party.

He could handle the front lines alone, but he couldn’t maintain formation while protecting his comrades.

…If only there had been someone to block the Death Knight’s sword just before he struck the Demon Dragon’s neck.

…If only there had been someone to stop the Serpent of Doom charging with its maw wide open just before he plunged his sword into the Succubus Queen’s heart.

…If only there had been someone to block the Fire Whip swung by the Balrog just before he bisected Demogorgon’s torso.

Then the Hero Party wouldn’t have been annihilated.

Moreover, in this world there was no Hero, no Mage, no Priest.

But there were those who possessed bloodlines that could rival his own.

His father, Soleil.

A man he had lost so long ago that it felt awkward to even call him Father.

And his elder sister, Cardona.

An elder sister he had also lost so long ago that she now felt more like a younger sister… no, like a daughter to him.

‘I could trust these two to watch my back.’

Featherback thought about training Soleil and Cardona.

‘Of course, I’ll need to pave the way first.’

There were many dangerous obstacles before awakening one’s bloodline.

Featherback intended to experience all these trials and errors himself.

With the unique knowledge of a Returner, he could achieve decades’ worth of results in just a few years.

‘I need to create an environment where Father and Elder Sister can focus on training without worry. And do my own training as well.’

A perfect opportunity had just presented itself.

The dispatch to Lebarb Territory.

A place where dogs who had betrayed their master lived.

The nominal mission was to go there and collect debts.

Featherback turned his head to look at the servants.

Soldiers were giving various instructions to the servants.

“Did you load all the preserved food? Now it’s time for the drinking water.”

“How long are you going to keep checking those wheel spokes! We don’t have time!”

“We’ll need to travel for at least two weeks, so prepare thoroughly.”

“Hey— we need to load more crossbows and cord. We have to pass through places where dangerous monsters live.”

Featherback carefully examined each item loaded on the cargo wagon.

Just then.

“Featherback.”

Someone called Featherback from behind.

When Featherback turned his head.

“…!”

He saw a somewhat unexpected figure.

Long white hair fluttering in the wind mixed with sleet.

The black eyepatch covering her right eye.

Cardona Mörsolt.

She was staring at Featherback with her characteristically expressionless face.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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