The Regressed Magic Swordsman Devours the North - Chapter 29

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 29. Doctor Crombell (1)
I returned to the mansion and opened the safe in my room. Reaching in, I retrieved the Frost Dragon’s Breath. The cold essence radiated outward from the vial, palpable even at a distance.
Beside it lay the Black Egg, catching my eye. What in the world was this? I lifted my hand and gently touched it.
It felt smooth and hard, like touching a diamond rather than an egg.
Then.
Whiiiirrr—
Flame Realm Magic Power flowed from my Core and Celestial Wheel, seeping into the egg. The egg devoured it like something starved for days, hungrily consuming the magic power that poured in.
‘……Hm.’
It didn’t do this before. Why suddenly now? Could it be that after accepting the Frost Dragon’s Breath, the egg has started to accept me?
Curiosity flickered, but I couldn’t sustain magic power indefinitely. I withdrew my hand soon enough.
Shudder—
The egg quivered once, as if reluctantly smacking its lips at what it was missing.
‘I really need to find out what this thing is.’
After that, I gathered the Frost Dragon’s Breath and headed outside. Sure enough, Silvia was standing there, waiting.
“Silvia.”
“Sion! I’ve been waiting! Where’s the S-rank elixir?”
“…….”
I studied her for a moment. She was already formidable, and if she consumed this, how much stronger would she become? Part of me felt a flicker of apprehension, yet also anticipation.
“Here. Take it. You’ll need to prepare carefully before consuming it.”
I handed over the Frost Dragon’s Breath, and she accepted it. Whether she sensed the chill of magic power emanating from the vial or not, her hands trembled slightly.
“……Wow. This is real.”
Through her sensory perception, she recognized the power dormant within the elixir. Her eyes gleamed brilliantly—as if light itself radiated from them.
“To be honest, when you said you’d just hand over an S-rank elixir, I had my doubts…….”
“It’s not just being handed over. You’ll need to swear loyalty to the Special Investigation Division.”
Even with my father’s and the Inspection Bureau chief’s approval, the Special Investigation Division didn’t simply materialize overnight.
First, relevant laws had to be established, and personnel reshuffles among Knight-rank officers in the Inspection Bureau were inevitable.
Once those obstacles were cleared, I’d need to take high-ego Knight-rank personnel and establish a proper system. Doing that alone while the stigma of favoritism still clung to me would be difficult.
But if Silvia—who had already built good standing within the Inspection Bureau—joined me?
‘It would be far smoother.’
Silvia carefully tucked the Frost Dragon’s Breath into her embrace. Then, with genuine wonder in her eyes, she opened her mouth.
“I would’ve done it anyway. Sion. I can’t simply accept something this precious. Let me at least pay you something for it.”
“……Pay?”
“Yes. I’ve saved fifty billion Jenie. I’ll give it to you.”
“I don’t need it. Use that later to buy wyverns.”
“……Ugh.”
Silvia raised both fists and took a fighting stance.
“You’re not Sion. Who are you? Give me back my friend!”
“……Stop joking around. Go.”
True, I’d need plenty of funds going forward, but that was ultimately for resources to prevent extinction.
Silvia was a precious military asset for the Northern Region. There was no reason to take her money.
She wasn’t frivolous with spending anyway; she’d definitely use it to strengthen her own power.
That would help prevent extinction more than me taking the funds.
“Really? I can just take it?”
“Yes. Go. Please.”
Only then did Silvia’s face light up with a bright smile.
“Thank you.”
Then she turned and left. Somehow I felt a little tired. But it wasn’t a bad feeling.
***
In the southwestern region of the Northern Region: Travis.
There, evading the law’s reach, stood Post 24—a research institute that kidnapped territorial subjects and conducted horrific experiments.
Their objective was clear: to develop a Magic Power Engine that could be implanted into the human body.
With it, to surpass Knights and Mages—the pinnacle of humanity.
Yet.
Despite kidnapping countless people, grinding them through experiments, and running trials in unimaginable ways again and again,
there were almost no test subjects who could fully accept a Magic Power Engine, or who could withstand the strain it produced.
Most went mad or died before any practical application could even be attempted.
That was why escaped test subjects like Jepren were so valuable to them.
They had survived with Magic Power Engines implanted in their bodies and remained sane, even forming an organization for their revenge.
Ivan, the institute’s director, sat seething in a dimly lit office adjoining the laboratory.
‘If only I’d captured Jepren. Our dream would’ve been within reach.’
His red eyes fixed on the newspaper lying across the office desk.
“Sion Karsen.
Eradicates the Red Fangs, captures their leader Jepren.
……(excerpt omitted)
During the interview, Sion Karsen stated the following.
“The Inspection Bureau will not forgive those beasts who kidnap innocent people and conduct abominable experiments. Jepren will suffer in the deepest prison of the Northern Region and meet his end there, and everyone behind him will not escape the scrutiny of the Inspection Bureau.”
The people he mentioned as being behind the crimes were revealed to be Post 24, a research institution…….
-Daily_Charles.’
Bang!
Ivan slammed his fist on the desk, and it collapsed helplessly beneath the blow.
“Damn it. Idiot. Worthless bastard who doesn’t even understand what a historic turning point is.”
It wasn’t fear of being traced by the Inspection Bureau. It was fury at losing a valuable test subject.
Post 24, headquartered in the Central Empire, had expanded through subsidiary forms, and in that process, “E5 Frensis” had been written over the name “Post 24.”
In other words, there was no danger in one name being revealed.
Moreover, E5 Frensis had been providing enormous funds to the nobles of Travis for a long time.
The network built with money had transformed into immense power as time passed.
“Jackal.”
The moment his voice fell, a shadow crawled out sluggishly from between the bookshelves.
The shadow soon became a man in a black tuxedo.
“Yes, Director.”
“Have you found a way to extract Jepren from prison?”
“……We have been investigating through every possible channel, bribing judges, prison wardens, guards, and so on, but given how famous the case has become and with Sion Karsen’s interview explicitly forbidding it, it seems difficult to extract him through peaceful means.”
“Is the bribe amount insufficient?”
“They all said the Inspection Bureau Chief warned them sternly, and that this time they won’t do it even if offered their lives’ worth.”
Ivan felt his insides twist. All these men who had happily pocketed money before were now clamming up and playing dumb.
“If peaceful methods won’t work, then we’ll have to take him by force.”
“……I will request the Thieves Guild.”
“Good. And have you found a way to kill Sion Karsen?”
The man called Jackal answered with obvious reluctance to the relentless questioning.
“That is…… still, no one will take the contract.”
Post 24—or rather, E5 Frensis—didn’t limit their sponsorship to nobles; they had extended patronage to the Thieves Guild, the Brotherhood, mercenary bands, and criminal organizations as well.
But even they were backing away.
There were two reasons.
First, Sion Karsen is the champion of the Gold Star Tournament. That meant he possessed at least the skill of a mid-level Knight or higher.
There were few who could match such a figure in combat, and moreover, since the target was of the Karsen family, if they failed, the entire Thieves Guild might be annihilated.
“Damn it. Useless fools. Money wasted. What if we send our own mercenaries?”
“That is far too dangerous. Sion Karsen’s skill is a problem in itself, but should the Knights of the Karsen Family intervene…….”
Jackal left the thought unfinished, but the meaning came through clearly. No matter how large the company became, if Karsens’ elite Knights entered the fray, there was no answer.
Ivan pressed his temple repeatedly with his right index finger and spoke.
“In the end, do we have to accept their proposal?”
“Are they not far too dangerous?”
“Rather than accepting directly, what if we find those who hold a grudge against Sion Karsen and arrange matters that way?”
“That might be acceptable.”
“For instance, Knights and nobles who suffered humiliation at his hands would be ideal. If we manage it that way, we keep our hands clean.”
The Knights who suffered humiliation were Louis Daikin, the spearmaster Sien, and Silvia Mayer. Among the nobles were the Daikah Family, particularly Guseto Ul Daikah.
“I will establish contact with them.”
“Yes. Don’t leak information carelessly. Dangle the bait like fishing and reel them in gently.”
“Understood, sir.”
Jackal left the room, and Ivan gazed toward the research laboratory, muttering to himself.
“We’ve scattered money and built power over all these years. Yet the name Karsen weighs this heavily.”
Helpless.
Only frustration remained.
But that too is only for now.
If the Magic Power Engine succeeds. Everyone will be placed beneath Post 24’s heel.
***
Days later.
A reception room with soft, plush sofas. On the table before the sofa sat fragrant tea and sweet biscuits, their delicate aroma drifting through the air.
Doctor Crombell reclined on the plush sofa, and I sat across from him, sipping my tea as I asked.
“How was the Gold Star Tournament?”
“I’ll grant that you’re not some incompetent half-wit or failure, as the rumors suggest.”
“Thank you for looking upon me favorably.”
“Still composed, I see.”
“…… I beg your pardon?”
Doctor Crombell waved his hand dismissively and continued.
“You strike me as one of two types, my boy. Either a man nursing some grand ambition, or a con artist.”
“And which do you think I am?”
“Unfortunately, the former. That’s why you sent me that provocative letter, isn’t it?”
I listened to Crombell’s reasoning and smiled gently.
“A true genius, I see.”
“…… And must you always speak with such arrogance?”
“It’s congenital, I’m afraid.”
“Fine, fine. Let’s call it that.”
Crombell’s expression spoke volumes: ‘I understand now that I’ve met your father.’
“What did you discuss with my father?”
“He asked the purpose of my visit to the estate. And then he said that if you were to join the Karsen Family as you mentioned, he would provide me with a research laboratory and funding.”
“……”
That caught me off guard. Father offering a laboratory and research funds? Had his sentiment shifted somehow?
It was impossible to say.
But whatever the reason, if Father was willing to support me, that worked entirely in my favor. I could cut research costs dramatically.
Doctor Crombell straightened himself from the sofa and picked up a biscuit from the table.
“It’s a generous offer, but it’s still not enough.”
“Not enough in what way?”
“Purpose.”
“……!”
“I want to know if you’re the caliber of man who can contain a scientist like myself. If not, there’s no reason for us to work together.”
I fell silent at his words, lost in thought. He was speaking of purpose—what had moved this cunning old fox to bare his heart like this?
If anything, it seemed he had opened nearly all his doors.
But still.
So easily?
“What is it? Did I strike too heavy a note?”
“No, that’s not it.”
I paused and reconsidered. Perhaps I had been seeing him through a prejudicial lens, colored only by my memories from before the regression?
In truth, this was who he’d always been—a man searching for others who shared his grand vision.
But he’d endured so much, and when I’d known him in my past life, he had been worn down terribly.
‘That’s it. See him as he is. Be honest.’
“I believe it’s time I revealed the true reason I sought you out, Doctor.”
Crombell bit into his biscuit and asked.
“And what is that?”
“I would like to commission a Black Magic Tracking Device.”
Crack.
Doctor Crombell dropped the biscuit he was holding—the chocolate-studded one.
“…… Do you—do you understand what you’re asking?”
“The traitors of humanity who’ve sold their souls to the Demons. I want to track the Black Magic they use.”
Crombell’s face went pale, the shock draining every ounce of color.
“You, you you. You actually believe in it? A great noble like yourself?”
“Of course I do.”
“Why?”
“To prevent Human Extinction.”
Doctor Crombell’s hands trembled as he listened, but I knew why they shook.
‘A tragic tale it was.’
Once, he had been a brilliant magitech researcher in the Central Empire.
But one day.
He had begun proclaiming the existence of Black Magic and insisting that humanity’s traitors must be rooted out.
The Central Empire had branded him a madman, a eccentric magitech engineer, and cast him aside with contempt.
Still, he had searched endlessly for someone who would believe him.
But no one would listen, and in time he had vanished from sight, holing himself up in a remote mountain village.
When I’d encountered him in the Resistance, he had become someone who trusted no one—a true madman—but.
Now he seemed to be at an earlier stage, and so I spoke with all the firmness I could muster.
To the man who would one day become a pillar of the Resistance—my comrade.
“We cannot afford to ignore them any longer, Doctor.”
The Returned Demon Swordmaster Devours the Northern Region
Author
: Bang-sim
Production Date
: June 16, 2026
Publisher
: Ace’s Media Co., Ltd.
Editor
: Ace’s Media Editorial Team
Address
: 10F Urban Bench Building, 325 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Email
: [email protected]
※ This work is published by Ace’s Media Co., Ltd. in accordance with the copyright holder’s agreement,
and the contents cannot be used in any form or by any means without permission from our company and the author.
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UCI
: G720:N+A129-20260615032

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