I Alone Regress in a Hero Party That Was Annihilated - Chapter 34

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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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#34. War Clouds (3)

 

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A few days ago, Cardona had been deeply shocked after reading the original ‘Mörsolt Sword Style’ that Featherback had given her.

 

‘To think such swordsmanship exists in this world. Everything I’ve learned until now was only half-complete, no, even less than that!’

 

There was no greater fortune than this.

 

Cardona had immersed herself deeply in studying this sword manual, but she couldn’t progress beyond a certain level.

 

However, Cardona was greatly satisfied with her current achievements.

 

‘I should share these teachings with Featherback as well.’

 

She was eager at the thought of sharing her deep understanding with her younger brother.

 

…And then the sparring began.

 

Cardona displayed the orthodox and fundamental swordsmanship she had learned through the sword manual.

 

Her piercing gaze emanating from beyond her flowing white hair was sharper than usual today.

 

However.

 

Swish―

 

Featherback’s blade was not one that should receive teachings.

 

Rather, it was a situation where she should be the one receiving instruction.

 

‘This is impossible!’

 

Even seeing it with her own eyes, she couldn’t believe it.

 

The younger brother she faced after so long was already a mature, accomplished swordsman.

 

Cardona unconsciously began fighting with her full strength.

 

Above, below, and to both sides.

 

Cardona’s sword moved in regular, repetitive patterns.

 

It scattered white light clusters while demonstrating the orthodox principles of the Mörsolt Sword Style.

 

Featherback’s response to this could truly be called wild nature itself.

 

A counterattack like a fierce beast encountered on a snow mountain baring its fangs.

 

Cardona found herself being pushed back without realizing it.

 

And even in that moment of being pushed back, she didn’t understand why she was losing ground.

 

‘Clearly my mana proficiency and swordsmanship mastery are higher. But why…?’

 

Featherback’s sword twisted and bent in trajectories she had never seen anywhere before.

 

It was clearly forged through countless real battles, but Cardona couldn’t understand where Featherback had gained such experience.

 

‘At this rate, forget about teaching the deep understanding of the original sword manual…!’

 

She’d be fortunate not to be humiliated.

 

Cardona re-gripped her sword handle to protect her pride as an older sister.

 

And just as she was about to launch a major counterattack.

 

…Clack!

 

Something hot touched her back.

 

‘Oh no!’

 

When she turned her head, she saw a torch stand.

 

The torch that had been lit to illuminate the training ground blocked her retreat path.

 

Flames that had caught onto her clothes and sparks that obscured her vision.

 

Just as Cardona was about to brush them away.

 

Crash―!

 

Featherback charged forward with his shield leading the way.

 

Cardona was pushed back by Featherback’s body slam and had to roll across the floor.

 

And when she raised her head.

 

“…End.”

 

Featherback’s sword tip was already positioned beneath Cardona’s chin.

 

* * *

 

‘Was that too harsh?’

 

Featherback looked down at Cardona.

 

He had thought that experiencing defeat against a novice would serve as good motivation, but now it seemed like perhaps too radical a teaching method.

 

Meanwhile, Cardona just blinked her eyes with a dazed expression for a while.

 

“…”

 

The silence continued until a cold wind blew in and extinguished the fallen torch.

 

Finally.

 

“Hah―”

 

Cardona let out the breath she had been holding and gave a hollow laugh.

 

“I came to share the deep understanding I gained from reading the sword manual you gave me… but instead I was the one who received a lesson.”

 

“You’re too kind.”

 

“Too kind, my foot. I really thought I was going to die just now.”

 

Cardona stood up and brushed off her partially burned clothes.

 

Then she approached Featherback closely.

 

“Where did you learn those movements from earlier? It was like watching a wild beast rampage…”

 

“I learned it while hunting orcs on the snow mountain.”

 

Featherback gave an appropriate excuse.

 

Cardona nodded her head.

 

“I see. Large monsters mainly use body charges. Since you’re much shorter than me, I never thought you’d come at me like that.”

 

Cardona said while patting Featherback’s head.

 

“You’ve really grown beyond recognition.”

 

“Children naturally grow fast.”

 

“….”

 

At those words, Cardona forms a faint smile.

 

“Shall we take a walk for a moment?”

 

She placed her hand on Featherback’s shoulder and walked toward the dim gravel path.

 

Featherback follows behind Cardona.

 

Crunch―Crunch―Crunch―Crunch―

 

The sound of gravel grinding together echoed through the dark path.

 

Featherback and Cardona decided to take a lap around the walking trail that circled the high tower.

 

Before long, Cardona opened her mouth.

 

“Featherback. You are the young master of this family house. Your growth will bring great prosperity to the family…”

 

“I have something to say about that.”

 

Featherback interrupted Cardona’s words.

 

Then he quickly added.

 

“I want Older Sister to inherit the family house in the future.”

 

“…!?”

 

So shocked was she that Cardona even stopped walking and gaped with her mouth wide open.

 

She even stammered her words.

 

“Wh, what are you saying? Do you even know what those words mean…”

 

“It’s something I’ve thought about for a long time. You’re better at managing the family house.”

 

“You are the young master of the family house. I’m just adopted…”

 

“Once you become family, such things don’t matter. Also, within the Northern Sword Family, there are no men or women. There are only warriors.”

 

“….”

 

Cardona looks at Featherback as if she cannot understand.

 

Featherback continued with his explanation.

 

“I will soon leave the family house. For a very long time.”

 

“….”

 

“And such occasions will become more frequent.”

 

Cardona shook her head as if she could not agree.

 

“Even so, there’s no need to give up the position of Family Head. You can just entrust it to reliable subordinates.”

 

“A Family Head shouldn’t be wandering around outside the family house. Just controlling the vassal families is busy enough. And….”

 

Featherback continued speaking in a resolute tone.

 

“I plan to pioneer Meursault Mountain.”

 

“!”

 

Cardona’s eyes changed once again.

 

Meursault Mountain.

 

The Mörsolt Family has deep mixed feelings about that mountain.

 

It is both the ancestral mountain where the family’s ancestors are buried and enemy territory teeming with countless monsters.

 

“It would take time to subjugate and conquer that place.”

 

Featherback answered while gazing at the shadow of the snow mountain visible in the distance.

 

Before his regression, that place had been a major strategic point for the demons.

 

During the Demon Realm War, humanity suffered near-devastating damage due to the high-ranking demons and demon dragons that had occupied the northern snow mountains.

 

In this life, Featherback had no intention of handing over that strategic point to the Demon King.

 

‘I need to conquer it early and plant my flag there.’

 

Of course, he was also steadily making preparations for that purpose.

 

Talented individuals including Rorschach had established a merchant group and were procuring manpower and supplies from across the entire Northern Region.

 

Then, Cardona asked.

 

“Are you trying to reclaim the abandoned mining area of Meursault Mountain?”

 

“That’s right. How did you know?”

 

“I heard from Rorschach. He said you’re even bringing in mages.”

 

In the past, high-quality iron was abundantly produced from Meursault Mountain.

 

If not for the rampaging monsters, Mörsolt could have maintained the epithet ‘Iron Blood’ through independent weapon production.

 

Cardona nodded.

 

“Featherback.”

 

“Yes. Older Sister.”

 

“I too have always dreamed of it. The day when we can use Meursault Mountain’s abundant underground resources again.”

 

“…?”

 

What was she trying to say by drawing it out like this?

 

This kind of roundabout conversation wasn’t Cardona’s style.

 

Featherback asked directly.

 

“You don’t like me going to Meursault Mountain?”

 

“…That’s right.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Why, you ask?”

 

Cardona furrowed her brow.

 

“That place has now become the Death Snow Mountain due to monsters. I can’t send my younger brother to such a place.”

 

“Then?”

 

“I’m thinking of going.”

 

“…!”

 

Featherback’s eyes widened at Cardona’s words.

 

Cardona continued in a somewhat dejected tone.

 

“…Originally, that’s what I was going to say. After beating you decisively.”

 

The tips of her ears could be seen turning slightly red.

 

Cardona lowered her gaze and sighed.

 

“You’re still too weak to go subjugate Meursault Mountain. At least become strong enough to beat this Older Sister before you go. That’s what I was going to say.”

 

“….”

 

“But I lost so miserably like this.”

 

“….”

 

“Even if I tell you not to go… you won’t listen, will you?”

 

Cardona glanced at Featherback cautiously.

 

Featherback nodded as if it were obvious.

 

“Don’t worry. I’ll annihilate every single monster on Meursault Mountain without leaving one alive.”

 

“…In the old days, I would have called a doctor to examine your mental state.”

 

Cardona let out a hollow laugh and continued.

 

“Now, somehow those words don’t sound like mere boasting. I have this baseless belief that you could actually do it.”

 

Eventually, she held something out toward Featherback.

 

It was the Pure White Sword that Cardona had used in their sparring earlier.

 

“This is my most treasured sword ‘White Phosphorus’. Carry it when you climb Meursault Mountain.”

 

“Are you giving it to me?”

 

“No. I’m lending it to you. Return it when you come back from Meursault Mountain.”

 

Featherback nodded and accepted White Phosphorus.

 

Then.

 

Grip…

 

Cardona tightened her grip on White Phosphorus’s scabbard.

 

The two people holding one sword exchanged glances in midair.

 

Cardona asked.

 

“I’ll be able to get it back, won’t I?”

 

“….”

 

Eventually, Featherback wore a dry smile.

 

“How about trusting your younger brother a little?”

 

At those words, Cardona also smiled.

 

…Clack!

 

The famous sword Baekrin came into Featherback’s hands.

 

* * *

 

High atop the tower, beneath a window, there were eyes watching the sparring between Featherback and Cardona.

 

Soleil. The Family Head of Mörsolt had watched the match between his son and daughter from the very beginning.

 

Cardona, who had read the original sword manual and achieved remarkable accomplishments.

 

And Featherback, who had overwhelmed that very Cardona.

 

Not only were his son and daughter improving by leaps and bounds each day, but their relationship with each other was also growing stronger—Soleil couldn’t help but feel pleased.

 

‘…Moreover, Featherback, that boy. When did he become so dependable?’

 

Soleil watched Featherback’s retreating figure disappearing into the darkness in the distance and thought of his wife who had passed away before them.

 

His wife, who had worried because no child came even after many years of marriage.

 

Soleil had pretended to give up on having children to ease his wife’s burden.

 

And then came Cardona, whom they adopted.

 

They gave that child all the love they could offer.

 

Perhaps that became a blessing.

 

After Cardona came, his wife gave birth to Featherback.

 

Until she fell ill and left this world, she loved and cherished both the daughter they had adopted first and the son they had later equally.

 

‘…Those two children have now grown up to be so admirable, my dear.’

 

Soleil quietly wiped away his tears.

 

And soon, his eyes turned sharp.

 

‘And I need to become the pillar of support for these two admirable children.’

 

Soleil made up his mind.

 

…His clever daughter who was just about to soar toward her dreams.

 

…And his genius son who was already seeing with his own eyes landscapes that he himself could never have imagined even in his dreams.

 

So that both of them could achieve everything they set their minds to, he resolved to burn his body and soul to help them as their Family Head and as their father.

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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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