I Alone Regress in a Hero Party That Was Annihilated - Chapter 23

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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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#23. Declaration of War (3)

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Kurrrrrrrrk…

In the center of the plaza shrouded in darkness, a massive flame blazed fiercely toward the sky.

The corpse was slowly losing its form within the flames, turning to ash.

The burning pillar of fire swayed like a dance on the fierce wind, constantly spewing terrifying roars along with glowing heat.

Crackle! Crackle! Crackle-crackle-crack!

The pitch-black smoke writhed like a giant black serpent tearing through the night sky as it soared high into the heavens.

That smoke was not ordinary smoke.

The scent of pain, despair, and death spread far and wide on the wind.

The smoke made the cloudy sky even more ominous, giving the feeling that everything below had fallen into silence.

Yudi Administrator’s corpse was burned like that.

Staked to the cross until the very end.

“….”

Featherback stood in the plaza, gazing at the flames and serpent of smoke.

Then.

A presence approached from the side.

Cardona. She stood side by side next to Featherback.

“….”

“….”

Older Sister and Younger Brother watched the flames for a while without saying a word.

The fire demon blazing atop the high-stacked woodpile danced gracefully, changing direction with the wind.

Eventually, one of them broke the silence.

It was Cardona.

“You’ve worked hard.”

She already knew well about the laws that Featherback had established and proclaimed.

“Even if it’s temporary, the role of a magistrate is difficult. It’s a position where you break even at best, and get criticized immediately if you do poorly.”

“…There’s no better position for catching rat bastards.”

Featherback wanted to cut out the rotten parts of the territory as quickly as possible.

Only then could he focus on training with peace of mind.

Having reached the beginning of 3-Star, he needed to properly learn the swordsmanship that came after.

If he was going to teach Father and Older Sister the principles of secret techniques later, there would be many occasions where he’d need to demonstrate directly.

To reproduce advanced swordsmanship with his current small and weak body, mana needed to provide solid support.

The realm of ‘Seong’ that forms the Mana Hierarchy.

Featherback recalled the characteristics of each level.

…The first stage, 1-Star. One who can see and hear the existence of mana.

…The second stage, 2-Star. One who can feel mana in the form of touch.

…The third stage, 3-Star. One who can gasify accumulated mana.

…The fourth stage, 4-Star. One who can liquefy accumulated mana.

…The fifth stage, 5-Star. One who can solidify accumulated mana.

…The sixth stage, 6-Star. One who can mold mana exactly as envisioned in their mind.

…The seventh stage, 7-Star. One who twists the causality of the world through mana.

And the stages of sword forms that can be reproduced through Sacred Awakening of mana are as follows.

…1st Form. Blood Drawing .

…2nd Form. Skin Peeling .

…3rd Form. Bone Extraction .

…4th Form. Flesh Carving .

…5th Form. Beheading .

…6th Form. Demon Feeding

…7th Form. Ritual .

The Sacred Awakening stages of mana, consisting of a total of seven steps.

Mörsolt Swordsmanship, consisting of a total of seven sword forms.

The fact that these two match is not mere coincidence.

Human will corresponding to each stage of mana.

This is precisely why Mörsolt Swordsmanship was considered the most perfect Demon-Slaying Sword Technique throughout the Mythical Age.

‘This time, I’ll slaughter all the troublesome things within the territory. To do that, I’ll need to climb one more step in the Sacred Awakening stages of mana.’

From 5-Star onwards, one is called by the title of Sword Master.

Featherback’s realm in his previous life was also at this stage.

Soon, Cardona continued speaking.

“If there’s anything I can help with, tell me anytime.”

“Got it, Older Sister.”

Featherback’s tone had become much lighter than before.

Cardona seemed pleased with this change as she slowly nodded her head.

She looked at Judas’s corpse burning brightly and continued speaking.

“Father has wanted to clean up the things eating away at our family for a long time.”

“What about you, Older Sister?”

“I naturally feel the same way.”

She said this while watching Yudi Administrator’s corpse turn to ash.

Her gaze showed no emotion whatsoever.

“From the moment I was first adopted, I disliked that old man. You can tell at a glance. What kind of filthy schemes he harbored inside. I wanted to get rid of him, but he was a parasite so deeply rooted that it wasn’t easy.”

“It’s fortunate we finally pulled him out.”

“But Younger Brother.”

Cardona turned to look at Featherback.

“We haven’t caught all the ones who were feeding off him yet. It’ll be difficult to catch those bastards anyway. They’re rat bastards who have been deeply rooted in this territory for a very long time.”

“Don’t worry. I have something in mind too. I won’t be hunting them directly myself.”

Featherback had no intention of catching the rat bastards spread widely throughout the territory one by one.

That would take too much time, and compared to the great evils he would face in the future, these were far too trivial.

Cardona asked Featherback with a puzzled expression.

“You won’t hunt them yourself? Then whose help will you borrow to catch the rat bastards?”

“Rat bastards.”

“…?”

She still looked like her questions weren’t resolved.

Featherback continued speaking.

“Rat bastards will be the ones to catch rat bastards.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“You know what?”

Looking back at Cardona, Featherback continued.

“On a certain island in the Southern Sea, they catch rats using a peculiar method.”

“What method?”

“First, they catch about a hundred rats, put them in a box, and bury it underground. Then they just leave it alone.”

“And then?”

“What do you think happens inside the box?”

“Hmm.”

Cardona stroked her chin once.

Then she answered with a face lit by flames.

“The rats would probably devour each other?”

“Exactly.”

Featherback nodded.

As the flames gradually died down, Featherback continued.

“Only a few strong rats survive inside the box in the pit. Ones that have developed a taste for their own kind’s blood and flesh. They make countless boxes like this.”

“…Don’t tell me?”

“That’s right. They release those rats all over the island. Then the rats that have developed a taste for their own kind’s meat devour other rats.”

Featherback’s scheme was not something that could come from a fifteen-year-old’s mind.

Cardona’s mouth fell open.

“I see. Catch rat bastards with rat bastards… So then?”

“Exactly.”

Featherback nodded.

“I’m going to announce one more law. It will be…”

Then he finished speaking in a cold tone.

“Probably a law related to informants.”

Judas’s nearly burned corpse was flickering with its last flames.

* * *

A week later, notices were posted throughout the Mörsolt Family Territory.

【Status of Voluntary Reporters】

―0 people.

It was a natural result, if you thought about it.

The Local Notables treated Mörsolt’s declaration as a joke, given his complete lack of power until now.

“This special law… what was it called? Prince Featherback of the Mörsolt Family proposed it?”

“It was something about voluntary reporting, but it’s complicated, so let’s just call it the Featherback Special Law.”

“Who the hell would fall for such bluffing?”

Whenever three or more of them gathered, they would mock that day’s events.

Mörsolt’s ambitiously prepared reform hit a reef from the very start.

Thanks to this, the territory’s atmosphere, which had been somewhat tense, returned to normal.

The consensus among Local Notables was that Mörsolt was making desperate moves to fill the void left by Yudi Administrator.

Especially the Officials, Local Notables, and Local Magnates stained with corruption began openly looking down on Mörsolt.

“Did he think we’d be scared if he burned Yudi Administrator’s Corpse?”

“Stupid move. That Judas bastard was just a figurehead watching our backs.”

“I guess catching one rat made the world look bright to him. Hehehe— I never knew the Mörsolt bastards were so dim-witted…”

However.

The Public Notice posted afterward was enough to shatter such public opinion.

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【Additional Details for the Comprehensive Crime Voluntary Reporting Special Law】

1. Those who report corruption will receive 50% of the recovered amount as a reward.

2. The identity and safety of Whistleblowers will be thoroughly protected.

Special Law Promulgator: Featherback Mörsolt

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Looking at the Public Notice, just one phrase echoed in your ears.

‘Now kill each other.’

A law that would turn all Territory Residents into informants had been enacted.

Before this notice bearing the name of newly appointed judicial officer Featherback Mörsolt, all Criminals had to tremble.

On the day this law was announced.

From High-end Taverns where a night’s drinks cost hundreds of Gold, screams, shouts, and wails erupted one after another.

“This crazy bastard! He’s trying to entice Whistleblowers?”

“Even informants who didn’t exist before will appear now, damn it!”

“Making Territory Residents monitor each other? Crazy dictator bastard! How can he do this!”

“W-wait a minute. I can’t reach my Subordinates. Don’t tell me it’s because of this?”

“Me too! Both my Left Hand and Right Hand have been unreachable since this morning, these bastards, don’t tell me!?”

“Our guild’s Accountants submitted mass resignations! The Double Ledger are missing too! Damn it all!”

“Th-this is dictatorship! Tyranny! How can he trample on freedom and rights like this!”

The innocent simply continued on their way with composure.

The guilty jumped around frantically, claiming all Territory Residents’ freedom would be violated.

Indeed, the rats were being trapped in a box.

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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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