The Regressed Magic Swordsman Devours the North - Chapter 25

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

Chapter 25. The Northern Nobility (2)
After the Geumseong Tournament ended.
I moved forward with renewed urgency.
There had been an unexpected harvest.
‘I never imagined Roman would have taken photographs as well.’
I had healed the spear master Sian partly because I was responsible for his injuries, but mostly because his skills would prove useful.
‘What matters is his ability. Treat him, hire him, and he becomes a valuable asset.’
I made Potions for him to drink, gave him expensive Medicinal Herbs, and carefully guided his rehabilitation.
That was all it took.
I never expected things to unfold so smoothly. I couldn’t help but smile.
House Dahikah had long served as the Northern Region’s primary distributor of spirits. In fact.
There was even a saying: “If you want to conduct any liquor business in the Northern Region, you must obtain permission from House Dahikah.”
I fetched paper and wrote down the items I desired. First, Iruna Noble. And then, a couple of quality spirits.
I’d need to ask my brother, Roman, and Crombel about their preferences later.
In any case. I finished the pending work and straightened my appearance.
I tidied my hair as well.
I made one final check to ensure no trace of blood clung to me.
After confirming everything was perfect.
I made my way to the Lord’s Office.
Today, standing before that particularly imposing door, I swallowed hard.
Before the Regression, approaching this door had filled me with such dread and unease. But.
I had changed since before the Regression.
What was the difference?
Then, I would not have knocked. Now, I do.
Knock—knock—
I rapped on the door and spoke.
“Father. I’ve come.”
“Come in.”
The moment permission was granted, I opened the door. When burdened, one must not hesitate.
Hesitation would trap me behind this wall of dread forever. So I entered with bold, decisive steps.
Father was still reviewing documents.
Now that I saw him again and tried to speak, my lips merely moved soundlessly. The words wouldn’t come.
But I had to dismantle these moments, brick by brick.
Part of it was because we shared blood, but I also knew I would need to persuade him many times in the days ahead.
“Father. I’ve won the tournament.”
“I saw.”
“……!”
For a moment, I thought I’d misheard. Saw? He saw it? You actually watched?
Father simply said he had seen it.
He offered no praise.
No “well done.”
No “my son.”
No “I believed in you.”
None of those words came.
Only his expression had softened slightly. I looked at my father and whispered silently to myself.
‘For now, that is enough. Father. Open the door to your heart, little by little.’
The mere possibility that our stiff father-and-son relationship could gradually improve was enough to lift my spirits.
Of course, that was one matter.
But business was another.
“Then you will grant me permission.”
Under the lord’s sanction, all procedures could be streamlined, and evidence could be gathered, investigations conducted, searches executed, and—if necessary—enforcement carried out, all through the Inspection Bureau Special Investigation Division, composed entirely of knights.
The authority I wanted above all else right now.
Father opened his mouth slowly.
“If you persuade the Director of the Inspection Bureau.”
It was an unmistakable approval.
“You may entrust that to me.”
Father nodded. I bowed again, this time with a lighter step as I left the Lord’s Office.
***
After Sion Karsen departed, David Karsen paused from his documents and rose to his feet.
He walked to the window and gazed out. He drew upon his Enhanced Vision. The Great Mansion built upon the hill. The Lumenia River flowing just beyond. Beyond the river, the Northern Region’s capital, Seiren.
The vast city spread before him in a single glance.
There was a time when he had poured all his strength into making this place a home for people.
He had built it by hand with the woman he loved, held her hand as they worked, spent happy days beside her, and children were born—so precious he would have borne any pain for them.
After she died.
Everything had turned to black and white.
Like a vast, empty snowfield. Only the pure white snow and his own faded figure remained visible.
Was there meaning to living?
He had considered it—setting down life and walking toward death. But how could he abandon those small, bloody-fisted children?
So he had merely clung to life, barely, precariously.
The eldest had grown into a strong knight to fill the void he had left. The second showed great promise. But the third—that was the one who troubled him most.
Yet unlike his dead wife, he did not know how to guide his children. He had only watched, never interfering, no matter what occurred. But then.
One day, the third one’s manner changed.
His every movement became different.
David gazed up at the distant sky.
‘Could it be that you helped him?’
Of course, no answer came. He sat again at his desk, reaching into a drawer to retrieve the Crystal Orb he kept there.
That day—the moment Sion had defeated Silvia—remained vivid in his memory still.
The Geumseong Tournament victory was not something one won by luck, and Silvia was not an opponent to be defeated by cunning.
And yet Sion had prevailed. He had changed. And he was changing still.
David spoke quietly.
“Zephyr.”
At once, a shadow seeped from beside the bookshelf, coalescing into human form.
Hair black as pitch. Sharp, well-defined features. Eyes a piercing blue, despite their hollow quality. Black uniform.
His entire appearance converged into a sharpness that seemed to cut at a touch.
“Yes, my lord. You called for me?”
David asked with an impassive gaze.
“What is your assessment?”
The man called Zephyr answered without hesitation.
“He seems like an entirely different person.”
“Do you have any suspicions?”
“I have observed him coming and going from the Back Mountain. If there is a cause, it would be there.”
…….
David fell silent in thought.
‘The Back Mountain. The Lumen Ruins. And the Mythology…….’
This land had never originally been the Great Mansion, but this territory had always belonged to House Karsen.
The Back Mountain, the ruins, and the mythology passed down through the ruins—all were deeply connected to the House Karsen.
He was a man who relied only on his own strength and effort, regardless of relics and myths. He had paid them no mind, but long ago his wife had said something like this.
—When I read the mythology concerning dead gods, I feel something strange. Romantic yet tragic, one might say. Perhaps I should pray that this mythology does not come to pass in our children’s generation.
—Why so?
—Because I do not wish for my children’s lives to be arduous.
—That may be so.
David had the uneasy feeling that his wife’s prayer would not be answered. He could not be certain of anything yet, but something told him it would not.
And if it did not.
“Where is this person Sion brought with him?”
“He waits in the Reception Hall. Shall I bring him, or shall I tell him you cannot receive him?”
“Bring him.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“And cancel all my appointments for today. I think I shall resume training after all this time.”
……!
Zephyr was genuinely taken aback. He was a man of almost no emotional variation, yet this time he could not help his surprise.
And for good reason—his lord, who had withdrawn from the world after losing his wife, now spoke of resuming training?
Wonder and reverence surged through him unbidden.
“……Yes, my lord. I shall prepare the Training Hall.”
“Thank you.”
Whoosh—Zephyr vanished into shadow. David gazed at his own longsword, gathering dust in one corner.
If destiny would guide his children’s lives toward arduous mountains, then his only task was to become a steadfast pillar of support.
Somehow, it felt as though a small flame had kindled in that black and white snowfield.
***
With my father’s permission, I made my way straight to the Inspection Bureau. As I entered the building, the Director’s secretary came out and led me to the Reception Hall.
‘Did Father send word ahead?’
I followed the guide into the Reception Hall. Midgal, the Inspection Bureau chief. The man they called the Iron-Blooded Knight was waiting for me, a simple refreshment spread already laid out before him.
I bowed deeply at once, folding at the waist.
“Good day to you, Chief Midgal.”
“Yes. Young master. Please, be seated first.”
“Thank you.”
After taking a seat,
we exchanged some simple pleasantries.
Midgal’s eyes were as gentle as could be, yet I knew his courtesy was not directed at me.
His courtesy belonged entirely to House Karsen. After all, he had no reason to respect a stripling like myself.
Once the preliminary niceties were dispensed with, he moved to the heart of the matter.
“I have heard of the authority in the Special Investigation Division that you desire, but… I believe this matter crosses a line.”
I could hear the discomfort in Midgal’s voice. The atmosphere had shifted. He seemed like a completely different person than moments before.
Yes.
This was Midgal Rau, the knight.
He welcomed my growth, but not my arrogance.
‘That’s precisely why I trust him.’
Knights live and die by their honor. For that reason, they value procedure above all else.
The Special Investigation Division was a department that disregarded procedure, so conflict was inevitable.
But I was not simply demanding to ignore procedure. If matters could proceed properly by following procedure, why would I ignore it?
“Let me ask you one thing. Do you believe the Northern Region is clean, Chief?”
“…What exactly are you trying to say?”
“Goods entering the Northern Region cost twice as much as in the West, South, and East. Meanwhile, goods leaving the Northern Region sell for absurdly cheap prices. Do you think the Trade Management Bureau is unaware of this?”
“…”
Midgal’s pupils wavered. This was why. Because he was just and upright, I was confident I could persuade him.
And Midgal Rau was weak to truth and quick to yield to it.
“What of the alcohol that the Northern Region desperately needs? Doesn’t House Dahikah monopolize it and reap excessive profits? And mining—need I even speak of it? House Payel is notorious for exploiting the miners. Are you unaware of how many miners have died? And the Land Management Bureau? They’ve colluded with nobles and merchants to conduct all manner of projects using territorial taxes. Of course, these aren’t even proper construction—the taxes simply vanish.”
“We should investigate by proper procedure.”
“Then you haven’t been investigating by proper procedure all this time?”
“…”
Midgal could not answer. Any response would amount to admitting that the Inspection Bureau had failed to function properly—admitting his own incompetence.
In truth, the Inspection Bureau had likely been diligent in its investigations all along.
But the wrongdoers had cunningly exploited the Bureau’s procedures, slipping through like loaches, leaving matters in this state.
It was absurd, yet such things happen far too easily.
I drove my point home.
“Chief, the Territory Residents starve. Meanwhile, the Northern nobles and magnates live in splendid mansions, enjoying parties of indulgence too scandalous to name.”
“Because of your reckless investigations so far, many culprits have slipped through.”
Midgal cut me off. A warning not to overstep. But it was futile.
“Reckless, yes. I admit it. But I have changed. I captured the Hashman Brothers and subjugated the Red Fang, proving my results. After the case closed, I cared for the victims. You know this.”
Midgal’s pupils wavered once more. I had struck at every blind spot the Inspection Bureau had maintained.
“To catch the rats spreading plague, someone must open the filthy sewers and descend into them, even at the cost of being soiled. I will take on that role.”
Midgal fell silent for a moment without speaking. His silence meant contemplation, and his contemplation was brief.
The Geumseong Tournament finals had surely helped.
“Young master.”
“Yes, Chief.”
“Very well. But you will be given an Inaugural Mission.”
An Inaugural Mission. In other words,
a task to establish the foothold of the Special Investigation Division.
It was only natural, if anything.
To clean the North, commensurate authority was needed, and such authority required publicity both external and internal.
‘Good.’
If the Inaugural Mission went well and became known throughout the Northern Region? The Special Investigation Division would become the Territory Residents’ channel of communication.
Those Territory Residents driven to the edge by exploitative nobles, rotten authority, and corruption would make it their final resort for grievances.
In any case, it was clear authorization.
I smiled brightly at him and spoke.
“Thank you, Chief.”
The Regressed Demon Swordmaster Devours the Northern Region
Author
: Bang Sim-shim
Created
: June 16, 2026
Publisher
: Acesmedia Inc.
Editor
: Acesmedia Editorial Team
Address
: 10F Urban Bench Building, 325 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Email
: [email protected]
※ This work is published by Acesmedia Inc. under contract with the copyright holder,
and its contents may not be used in any form or by any means without the permission of the publisher and author.
This e-book is a work protected by copyright law, and unauthorized reproduction or copying may result in legal liability.
UCI
: G720:N+A129-20260615032

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