The Regressed Magic Swordsman Devours the North - Chapter 51

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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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Chapter 51. The Crimson-Stained Party (1)
The young masters of House Karsen were universally praised as handsome as statues.
In the first place, their father David Karsen was such that in his youth, rumors circulated warning: “Women who have beheld the Northern Region’s greatest swordsman risk running a fever for days—take care.”
Their mother Michelle Karsen, in her lifetime, was so renowned that people said: “The word ‘perfection’ falls short of description. Her beauty is truly so remarkable that even calling it a curse would be justified.”
What, then, could be said of the three sons born between them?
They lacked nothing whatsoever. Rather, they boasted a handsomeness that yielded to no one.
So it was only natural that Sien Karsen, the eldest who would inherit the house, received countless marriage proposals every single year.
Of course he did.
Power, strength, fame, wealth. And looks.
Moreover, he was a knight who had reached the rank of Knight Expert at a young age.
There was nothing lacking in him whatsoever.
Yet this did not mean that Sid and Sion—who had no prospect of inheriting the house—received no marriage proposals.
No; rather, proposals came to them endlessly as well.
Setting Sid aside, the fact that even someone like Sion, who had lived like a vagabond, received marriage proposals meant something more.
It was not merely because House Karsen was the ruling family of the Northern Region.
The reasons varied, but boiled down to: “A wealthy and powerful house, and handsome faces to boot”—that was the greatest draw.
In these times, even nobility cycled through periods of decline and resurgence.
Fallen noble houses were not uncommon in their attempt to turn their daughters into a quick profit.
The daughters of those fallen houses were not ignorant of their own circumstances; if they were to be bartered away, they reasoned, better to go to someone handsome and rich.
In any case, before his Regression, Sion Karsen had dreamed of a chaste sort of love and had rejected every marriage proposal that came his way.
Now, Sion Karsen gave marriage not a thought.
Before and now alike, Sion had never primped his appearance to make himself stand out in noble society.
But.
This time was different.
Now, Sion had groomed himself so that his appearance would shine—so that anyone watching would think: “He’s come to make an impression at the social party.”
“Are the withdrawal preparations complete?”
Sion asked, and his colleagues answered.
“Yes, sir. Most of our belongings have been sent to Seiren through the North Wing.”
Before coming to the estate that Caster had prepared for them.
Sion and his colleagues had handed over the evidence they’d collected to the Inspection Bureau agents, then sent most of their things back.
“By now, investigations into noble residences, local police, and enterprises should be underway.”
While all the nobility of Tradves had gathered in Cadis, Midgal was conducting swift investigations into provincial nobles and police forces.
It was an audacious move, uncharacteristic of the Inspection Bureau—a decision that reflected a great deal of Sion’s input.
“We just need to attend today’s party, and when enough nobles have gathered, we’ll take them down.”
Operation Gaebyeok was already in motion.
From the moment we step into today’s party.
Until tomorrow morning.
And shortly thereafter.
Knock. Knock.
“Young Master Sion. I have come at the command of his Grace, the Duke Caster, to escort you.”
“Let’s go now.”
People sent by Caster had arrived, and Sion and his colleagues boarded the carriage the Duke had provided and set out.
***
As the sun began to dip low in the early evening, the grand mansion of House Caster blazed as bright as noon.
In the traditional style, the sounds of lute and pipe carried softly, mingled with the melancholy song of a bard.
In the newer fashion, speakers transmitted an upbeat drum sound, paired with bright and cheerful singing that matched it perfectly.
Many people were visible, and yet they did not shout or chatter carelessly—all maintained decorum while conversing in low tones.
In Seiren, which lay in the far north of the Northern Region, people were generally crude, and even nobles did not concern themselves overmuch with propriety; this place was different.
How to describe it? Perhaps because it lay closer to the Central Empire, it possessed a certain sophistication.
In truth, Tradves too was part of the north, yet the difference was considerable.
In some places, murder, robbery, and plunder occurred, yet at social parties, people maintained their dignity. It was somewhat ironic.
The reception hall contained not long tables, but circular ones scattered throughout, each surrounded by chairs where guests could sit.
Each location differed slightly in seating arrangement, configuration, and atmosphere; those who already knew one another had gathered in small clusters to converse or introduce newcomers, moving freely about and enjoying the party.
Younger girls had congregated near the bard, giggling sweetly as they listened to his melancholy song.
Young men had gathered where the speaker and vocalist stood, bobbing their heads to the latest music and drum sound.
Moreover, despite being called the Star Party, it was not attended solely by the young.
“Let us end today’s council here. We shall take up the remaining agenda after we have attended the Star Party, and discuss the second order of business again tomorrow.”
Duke Caster had adjourned the meeting early and encouraged everyone to attend the Star Party.
And for good reason.
The first order of business had held little interest for most.
The second matter was that the parties involved were attending the Star Party at that very moment. So what good would it do to make a fuss about it here?
And so the older folk gathered in small clusters, discussing politics, the way the world turned, recent gossip and such.
Without anyone making a particular effort, talk of Sion Karsen drifted from here and there.
“I heard the one who came as an Inspection Bureau knight is Young Master Sion.”
“They say Young Master Sion Karsen is quite handsome.”
“Ah. They say rumors are only half true. There’s a limit to exaggeration.”
“But… the north is pretty remote, isn’t it?”
“From their perspective, here is the frontier.”
“Come on. No matter who you ask, this is close to the Central Empire.”
They chattered on uselessly.
Tradves was indeed a frontier of the Northern Region, but because it was also near the Central Empire, the two sides perceived things differently.
And then.
“Is Sion Karsen truly suited to be an Inspection Bureau knight?”
“It seems he came saying he’d investigate Tradves.”
“That just means he’ll catch the usual criminal organizations and leave. We’re nobles.”
“And what about ‘that enterprise’?”
“Ah, most of us here must be connected to it somehow. Of course they’ll take measures.”
Talk turned to ‘that enterprise’.
“But… the fact that he showed up at a party right after arriving makes me think he didn’t come with any real intent to investigate. Isn’t he just here for fun?”
“…That’s how it looks.”
Then.
“You lot, watch your tongues.”
Duke Caster himself stepped forward to end the hasty nobles’ conversation.
“I—I beg your pardon, Duke.”
“…My apologies, Your Grace.”
“He is the third son of House Karsen. From this moment forward, anyone who misspeak will be deemed as taking arms against me.”
The nobles swallowed hard at Duke Caster’s threat. The Grand Duke’s House of Karsen might be distant, but House Caster was close.
Yet Duke Caster’s expression softened at once. As if nothing had happened, he wore a benevolent smile and exchanged pleasantries with nobles and merchants alike.
To any observer, he seemed like an old sage versed in politics, and everyone feared Duke Caster.
However, at this very moment.
There were those who approached the party with serious purpose, unlike the others.
“Remember this, Shtern. You are a man now. Do you understand?”
“…Yes, Father.”
Baron Bester was a man of merchant stock who had risen to nobility, and he kept better informed about Seiren than most other Tradves nobles.
“You must win his favor. He is the man who recently took over part of the liquor trade distribution rights from House Daiken.”
He was aware of the incident that had befallen his son recently.
Yet precisely for that reason, he felt he must push Shtern harder.
‘Getting attacked once and now he locks himself in his room… Such weakness.’
He believed he had raised his child entirely wrong.
‘Even now, I must teach him not the ways of nobility, but the principles of commerce.’
“Ask him if there are any difficulties in the liquor business. Mention what you import from the capital and tell him we can help where possible. Appeal to his needs. But don’t pry too deeply. Always maintain a humble posture. Listen to everything he says.”
Shtern had much he wanted to say. ‘Why should I flatter that man?’ and so on. But he swallowed it all.
Outside, he boasted before commoners, but the moment he stood before his father, he shrank.
“Yes, Father. I’ll do my best.”
“Good. I trust you.”
Trust. Those words alone made Shtern’s face light up.
That’s right. I only failed before. If I do it, I’ll do it well. Flattery? I’ll be better at it than anyone!
At this moment.
Shtern had no idea.
That the blond pretty boy he’d met at the department store yesterday—the irritating one he’d sworn to teach a lesson if they met again—would be the very person he needed to win over.
In any case, there were many besides Shtern who sought to impress Sion Karsen. Any noble or businessman who wanted connections to the capital.
However, Bern, the eldest son of House Caster, was different. He was known as ‘the Prince of Tradves’.
Yet strangely, he harbored open hostility toward the capital of Seiren and House Karsen’s Grand Duke’s House.
“What, are they just some northerners who fend off Demonic Beasts? And they call themselves a great noble house?”
“Exactly, Young Master. A true noble should possess the refinement of someone like yourself.”
“Furthermore, a noble should be one who loves civilization and the arts. How could anyone who only fights like a savage claim to be noble?”
Those around Bern Caster desperately poured out the words he wanted to hear.
Not giving proper thought to what barbarism and civilization truly meant, they simply felt the mood favored words like: that’s savage, you’re refined, you’re the victor.
“Actually, even if we fought, I think I’d win.”
“Of course, Young Master! You are the champion of the Tradves Martial Tournament, after all.”
“Honestly, the Golden Star Tournament held at the far north? I’m not particularly familiar with it.”
“Tradves is the real thing, yes. I’m certain the Duke thinks so as well.”
In fact, Bern Caster was an accomplished figure in both the martial and scholarly arts.
As a nobleman’s son, he possessed the basic skill of a Knight Expert—channeling Aura through his blade.
He had never abandoned his studies, and he excelled particularly at the Piano among the arts.
“But I cannot humiliate him at the Star Party. I’ll have to show restraint.”
“Ah, you have the heart of a vastness itself, my lord.”
“Have you ever seen the sea?”
“Never, but I have learned of it. And if not the sea, what else could compare to the boundless depths of your lordship’s heart?”
Bern let out a low chuckle at his attendants’ flattery. His gaze drifted naturally toward the stage that overlooked the ballroom from the far end of the hall.
There stood a Piano imported from the Central Empire. The stage prepared for him to grace the party’s finale.
Bern smiled with satisfaction.
That was when it happened.
The doors swung open and a voice rang out.
“The Third Young Lord of House Karsen, Sion Karsen, is making his entrance!”
Ordinarily, the announcement of a nobleman’s arrival would not cause such a stir. But this time, by special order of the Duke, it was proclaimed with particular fanfare.
Moreover, those escorting them were the wandering knights of House Caster—a protection detail of considerable distinction in itself.
It was all calculated by the Duke.
‘Sion Karsen. You enjoy this sort of thing, don’t you? I’ll make sure it’s perfect for you.’ Such was his intent.
But.
Tap—tap—
The steady, measured sound of footsteps echoed slowly through the hall.
The noise of the gathering subsided into silence. Every eye turned in one direction.
People’s eyes widened.
Some stood with mouths agape.
“Ah.”
“Wow……”
Gasps of admiration burst forth throughout the ballroom. Bern and his attendants turned to look toward the entrance.
It was as though light itself blazed forth.
Five figures with commanding height, refined attire, sculpted proportions, and striking features entered with an indifferent gaze.
There was something otherworldly about them.
Especially the two in the center—a man and a woman—who seemed to belong to another realm entirely.
Status, honor, wealth—all seemed to fade before them. Bern felt as though he had been defeated.
The man with lustrous golden hair fixed him with eyes that seemed to contain an abyss.
A strange, suffocating unease crept over him.
Sion Karsen surveyed the nobles of Tradves with eyes that burned like embers.
They were the eyes of a predator.
The Returned Demon Swordmaster Devours the North
Author
: Bang Shim
Production Date
: June 16, 2026
Publisher
: Acesmedia Co., Ltd.
Editorial Director
: Acesmedia Editorial Team
Address
: 10F Urban Bench Building, 325 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Email
: [email protected]
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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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