Chapter 29
Episode 29
It took two more days for the MacLaine main forces and family head Patrick MacLaine to arrive at Tesron Castle.
Upon hearing about the "deeds" Logan had committed immediately after arrival, Patrick summoned Logan privately without delay.
"...Haman committed suicide?"
His tone dripped with disbelief at the absurd claim.
Yet Logan met his father's gaze shamelessly.
"Yes. The despair must have overwhelmed him."
"Did you kill him?"
A flinch.
"...No."
Patrick exhaled deeply upon seeing his son's eyes deliberately avoiding his.
"Haa... And by coincidence, all his sons just happened to die in duels against you?"
"They insulted me and demanded duels, not knowing their place."
Had the dead nobles heard this, their corpses would have flipped in their graves at the audacity of claiming noble treatment while protesting in such a groveling tone.
"A Force User dueling commoners?"
"Honor exists independent of Force."
"Ugh... Logan, you can be honest with me."
After a pained groan and another long sigh, Patrick's words came with changed eyes—eyes that recognized Logan as an equal rather than a wayward child to correct. Seeing this, Logan calmly confessed the truth.
"Yes. I killed them deliberately."
"Why?"
"Tesron Territory must remain firmly under MacLaine control. Leaving bloodline claimants alive would only invite future strife."
"Did you consider sparing them to serve as loyal vassals?"
"Yes."
The immediate, clipped answer made Patrick frown briefly.
But unlike before, he neither exploded in anger nor pressed further.
This war had made him acutely aware that his eldest son was no longer a child under his wing but a grown man with his own convictions—someone to be acknowledged rather than disciplined.
'His methods are excessive, but he must have his reasons.'
Compared to just days prior, this shift in thinking was nothing short of miraculous.
A son who protected the family despite cold neglect had earned that trust.
And there were too many urgent matters at hand to nitpick over such "minor" issues.
"Haaa..."
A drawn-out sigh conveyed what words could not.
"Fine, understood. Let's go inside. Any other matters?"
"Precious metals and valuables have been consolidated. Administrative reports were compiled by Tesron's remaining officials."
"Officials?"
"Twelve total. I spared the essential administrative staff."
"...Good work."
In Tesron Castle's grand hall, the conquerors' leader and his son entered to survey their spoils.
The MacLaine forces returned to their homeland a mere week after the war began.
Since the actual fighting lasted only a day, the entire duration was essentially just the roundtrip to Tesron Territory.
Yet the returning troops were greeted like war heroes coming home after years away.
"Long live House MacLaine!"
"Long live Patrick MacLaine!"
Endless cheers erupted as families embraced sons and husbands, shedding joyful tears.
For a war that began in despair, victory tasted all the sweeter.
Amidst this, one cheer stood out awkwardly to Logan's ears:
"Long live Grand Prince Logan!"
Caught off guard, Logan waved back with bemused confusion.
'Just a few days and already...'
He was startled by how quickly perceptions had shifted, but rumors had spread beyond containment.
Grand Prince Logan achieved the greatest feats in the war.
While many initially doubted, the testimonies of returning soldiers surpassed even the wildest rumors.
Overnight, the slander that once dogged Logan vanished without trace, replaced by praise so effusive it burned his ears.
Brilliant insight and even more astonishing combat prowess. A talent unmatched in the world.
His eccentricities like eating Karok meat were rebranded as "the eccentricities of genius beyond common understanding," while past misdeeds were retroactively framed as an elaborate act to conceal his true capabilities.
The spontaneous hagiography forming during this triumphal procession flushed Logan's cheeks crimson.
"Brother, how does it feel? Everyone sings your praises!"
"Praises? My face is burning. Tone it down, Ronny."
He meant it. These achievements stemmed solely from foreknowledge of the future.
Having them attributed to innate talent embarrassed even someone as thick-skinned as him.
Yet Logan couldn't help a private, satisfied smile.
"I always knew Your Highness would prevail!"
Rick, seamlessly transitioning back from soldier to attendant.
"Effectively, this victory belongs solely to Your Highness!"
Even the typically reserved knight commander Heinkel.
"Indeed! Your Highness! This triumph is yours!"
Not a single knight present contradicted the cringe-inducing accolades.
Gone was his past life of exile and disgrace, the family's ruin that had haunted him.
Two lifelong regrets had been erased.
The weight lifted made suppressing his rising shoulders a struggle.
'Stay calm, stay composed. This is just the beginning. The future will—'
No amount of self-admonishment could stop his grinning muscles.
"Behold! Let all witness who truly won this war!"
"Waaah!"
At one knight's cry, others swarmed toward Logan.
And thus began the celebratory toss.
"Long live Prince Logan!"
"Huzzah!"
Knights' upraised hands, commoners' admiring gazes—as Logan soared skyward, joyful screams escaped him unrestrained.
"Wahahahaha!"
After the boisterous welcome concluded, the territory's key figures gathered in the conference hall.
Heinkel alone represented the knight order, with five senior knights left behind to administer Tesron Territory.
Five administrators including treasurer Dwain.
And the MacLaine family.
Amidst the bright atmosphere—save for Marian's gloomy expression—Patrick made his proclamation.
"Let the commendations for the territorial war commence. Dwain."
"Reporting our gains."
Dwain recited the spoils with measured calm.
Tesron Treasury reserves: 4.32 million gold.
Precious metals valued at approximately 1 million gold.
Grain stores worth 300,000 gold.
Tesron Castle and its territory—nearly 500 hectares (5 km²) of plains.
The staggering material gains House MacLaine secured through this war.
"That concludes the report."
"Woooh!"
The eruption of cheers was inevitable.
"It seems House Tesron was far wealthier than our estimates."
At Dwain's addendum, Patrick smiled contentedly before continuing.
"You've all worked hard. Now for rewards."
Knights received first recognition—only natural for the main fighting force.
Surprisingly, even uninvolved administrators received modest compensation.
This fostered unity while preemptively rewarding the massive postwar workload ahead.
Yet all rewards paled against the spoils.
Only Knight Commander Heinkel's 50,000 gold stood out, with total disbursements barely exceeding 500,000 gold.
However vast the gains, war expenditures—both spent and upcoming—dwarfed these sums.
War consumes resources; it doesn't create them.
Factoring in Tesron Castle's maintenance costs, funds might run short until autumn harvests.
No—with this being planting season, belt-tightening could last until next year.
Everyone present understood this reality.
After these "minor" rewards came the main event.
"All here know this truth: Our victory came not through my knights' strength, but another's."
Though unnamed, all eyes converged on one figure.
While battlefield witnesses like Heinkel gazed with boundless goodwill, administrators who stayed behind still harbored doubts.
'That Grand Prince truly turned the tide?'
Their skeptical glances were palpable, though none dared voice dissent under the celebratory mood.
Logan remained impassive beneath the collective stare, preoccupied with post-meeting plans.
Yet even he couldn't mask surprise at Patrick's next words.
"This war's sole top contributor is my son Logan. I grant him 300,000 gold."
A sum equaling the knights' total rewards—an astronomical expenditure given House MacLaine's finances.
"And as MacLaine's eldest son, recognizing both his legitimate bloodright and military feats, I hereby proclaim Logan MacLaine the official heir!"
The bombshell succession declaration stunned the room into varied reactions.
"Your Highness! Congratulations!"
Heinkel applauded with radiant delight while uneasy administrators exchanged glances.
Dwain cautiously intervened.
"Family Head, perhaps more deliberation regarding succession—"
"Tsk. You'd understand if you'd witnessed His Highness in battle."
"But judging solely on one aspect—"
As the two representatives debated, the man in question doused the flames.
"My apologies, but I must decline the heir designation."
"...What?"
"Did I mishear?"
"He's refusing...?"
Amidst the murmurs, Patrick's slightly stiffened expression voiced the collective confusion.
"...Why? Are you still resentful about that incident?"
He could only recall their confrontation during Logan's impromptu coming-of-age ceremony.
But in the baffled silence, Logan shook his head calmly.
"Not for that reason."
"Then?"
"As I said then, Ronian's martial genius better suits a knightly house like MacLaine."
"Brother?!"
Ronian's shout and Marian's sudden head jerk betrayed their shock.
Most listeners found this absurd.
How many knights had Logan slain in this war? Including even a High Knight!
Injured or not, decapitating a High Knight at twenty—if that wasn't genius, what was?
Unfazed by the reactions, Logan continued.
"Ronian became a Force User at fourteen—five years sooner than I. Who knows what heights he'll reach by adulthood?"
"Even so, raw strength alone doesn't make a family head, Logan."
'Oh, it does.'
Logan smiled bitterly at his father's reasonable objection.
If Ronian again became the continent's youngest Aura User, no shortcomings would matter.
Though his real motives lay elsewhere.
'I don't need to be heir.'
More accurately, non-heir status offered greater freedom.
As heir, countless eyes would monitor his safety, while "successor training" would drown him in paperwork.
He'd gladly make Ronian heir immediately if not for practical constraints.
"At least let me, as his elder brother, give Ronian this chance. Please delay succession until his coming-of-age."
This was his best compromise for now.
"Brother..."
He avoided meeting Ronian and stepmother's complex expressions.
Fortunately, his answer seemed to impress father and vassals alike.
"Remarkable..."
"The Grand Prince truly has changed..."
"Magnanimous..."
Even skeptical administrators now regarded him with admiration.
Heinkel nodded with particular pride.
Amidst this warmth, Patrick smiled in turn.
"...An admirable perspective. I'll defer succession for five years until Ronian's coming-of-age."
"Thank you. And—"
Before the smile faded, Logan dropped another bombshell.
"I must also decline the monetary reward."