《The Son-In-Law Of A Prestigious Family Wants A Divorce》 Illustrations Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Prologue It was a crude stone path. Those dressed in black mourning clothes carry a single wooden coffin on their shoulders. ¡°They¡¯re coming.¡± They were the ones who survived and returned at the tail end of a storm called war. Their expressions, pressed upon by the heavy wind, were haggard. Within the coffin they bear lies a great swordswoman who fought against the transcendent invaders. Yet, despite this glorious return, no one but me came out to welcome them. Ordinarily, I wouldn¡¯t have either. But this time was different. Because the woman inside that coffin was my wife. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± I stand there in silence to greet them. They too lower their heads slightly in acknowledgment when they see me. ¡°We greet Mukgeom.¡± Mukgeom¡ªa title meaning ¡®one who wields a sword through writing.¡¯ ¡°Thanks to you, I have learned so much.¡± ¡°The books you wrote were a great help to the soldiers on the front lines.¡± ¡°Hearing such words from knights like you is somewhat embarrassing.¡± I force a bitter smile. All I could do, unable to wield a sword, was come up with theories and put them into writing. ¡°Set her down here.¡± With a bitter smile, I speak to those heading toward the small castle behind me. ¡°There¡¯s no one to welcome you inside, so even if you enter, you won¡¯t see anything pleasant.¡± At my words, they nod with a look of resentment and carefully lower the coffin. ¡°Do you have anywhere to go?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± There was no response. But I don¡¯t find it strange. ¡°Indeed, who among us has any place left to return to?¡± ¡°I wish you peace.¡± They bow to me and then depart. Most likely, we¡¯ll never meet again. I can only be grateful for this final act of loyalty in bringing the coffin here. I had prepared a resting place in advance¡ªa small clearing near the castle. Distance-wise, it wasn¡¯t far, but it took as long as the sun to set and rise again. ¡°My apologies. As you know, I can¡¯t use one of my legs.¡± Leaning on my cane, I move the coffin along, taking far longer than expected. I bring it right beside the hole I had pre-dug. Beads of sweat roll down my cheeks, shimmering like pearls in the sunrise. One of them clings to my jawline and drips onto the coffin. I let out a quiet chuckle and gently run my hand over the coffin¡¯s surface. ¡°It seems the most precious jewel I can give you is this.¡± Creeeeak. I slowly open the coffin. Inside, artificially arranged roses serve as decorations. Cradled in their embrace, a lovely woman, hands neatly folded, rests with her eyes closed. Rihanna Helmut. The eldest daughter of the illustrious Helmut family. A remarkable swordswoman who vanquished countless evildoers and slaughtered transcendents. The woman I truly loved. My wife. ¡°It¡¯s been a full ten years, yet you remain as beautiful as ever.¡± I laugh in hollow disbelief. They say she was gone a long time, out on the battlefield, but she looks as if she¡¯s just returned from a grand ball. The scent of roses fills the air¡ªperhaps her body was treated magically after death. ¡°I imagined I¡¯d have so much I wanted to say once we met again, and yet, seeing you now, I have nothing.¡± Even with her corpse before me, I feel awkward. I lift my gaze and stare blankly at the sunrise. ¡°Were you curious why I ran away?¡± We were married for five years. At the end of those five years, I chose to flee. The reason was simple. Born a commoner, I was tormented by the Helmut family members, and Rihanna Helmut, as if disappointed in me, chose to stand aside. ¡°I resented you greatly. Did you resent me as well?¡± Even now, ten years later, meeting like this¡­ ¡°Or perhaps you laughed with relief?¡± In the end, what we have here cannot be called a proper reunion. ¡°There¡¯s nothing more pointless than questions without answers.¡± If I had to pick the thing I was most curious about¡ª ¡°Were you¡ª¡± Until your very last breath, swinging that massive greatsword¡­ Even as you exhaled your final breath¡ª ¡°¡ªa great Helmut to the very end?¡± A woman who lived solely for Helmut. A cruel woman who abandoned her husband for that name. ¡°Ha, haha.¡± A hollow laugh slips out. Our relationship was long over. I feel as if I¡¯m finally putting a period at the end of it all. ¡°In this moment, you would have laughed too, wouldn¡¯t you?¡± A farewell to the woman who once smiled as beautifully as a rose. Since she must have long shaken off all lingering feelings, I wanted to put a final mark on what we had. ¡°Farewell, then.¡± As I unfold her clasped hands and hold them gently, I sense something strange. Between her hardened calluses¡ªthose formed from decades of gripping a sword¡ªis a single, humble ring. It sits on the ring finger of her left hand. A ring so shabby that, when I gave it to her¡ªhaving spent my entire fortune¡ªit was mocked as cheap. Our only wedding ring. The moment I see that the ring still adorns Rihanna Helmut¡¯s left ring finger¡ª ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Words fail me. I can only stare blankly down at it. ¡°You¡­¡± My voice comes out mixed with a sigh as I manage a bitter smile. ¡°You continue to confound me, even now.¡± **** ¡°Hmm?¡± Each morning, my right leg would throb, but today it¡¯s perfectly fine. No matter how I fumble around, I can¡¯t find the cane that should be beside my bed. My body, which had started creaking in my late thirties, moves smoothly now as if it¡¯s been freshly oiled. ¡°Where¡­is this?¡± It¡¯s my room. Specifically, the room I used ten years ago at Helmut Of course, my wife and I had separate bedrooms, and I ended up using the guest room. Back then, it hurt my feelings a bit. It felt as though they were drawing a line, saying I wasn¡¯t truly part of the family. I look into the mirror in the room. It¡¯s Isaac. Myself, ten years younger. Smooth skin, neatly groomed black hair. I often heard people call me handsome. And my leg is fine. The disability I¡¯d lived with for ten long years is gone. ¡°Is this a dream?¡± It feels like a dream, indeed. Even more unbelievable is that I seem to have returned to Helmut in the past. Clank, creaaak. ¡°Brother-in-law!?¡± At that moment, someone enters the room. A man with red hair and sharp features¡ªthe hallmark of Helmut¡ªand an impressively tall stature. This is Alois Helmut, the third son of Helmut. ¡°Alois Helmut?¡± Just as I remember him. He was almost the only one in Helmut who was kind to me. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What are you doing? My sister¡¯s been waiting for you!¡± ¡°Your sister, Rihanna Helmut?¡± ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you today? You worked so hard with me yesterday to prepare for the wedding anniversary!¡± Wedding anniversary? I prepared something with Alois Helmut? Familiar words line up, forming a sentence naturally in my mind. ¡®Fourth Wedding Anniversary?¡¯ At this point, there was only one year left before I fled from Helmut. ¡°Since I helped you out this time, she¡¯ll definitely be happy for sure. You¡¯ve really worked hard, Brother-in-law.¡± Yes, that was true. I glanced at Alois and let out a hollow laugh. The final attempt to restore a marriage gone awry. And also. ¡®The trap that dragged me even deeper into ruin.¡¯ From this day onward, not Rihanna, who had once been his wife, nor anyone else in Helmut, would have any expectations of Isaac. ¡®The day my leg was ruined in that accident.¡¯ Because of that incident, I became a man who could no longer wield a sword, earning myself the nickname ¡°Blunt Blade.¡± And. Now, the very person who took my leg¡ª ¡°Haa! Brother-in-law! Pleeease! Hurry up! If we keep this up, Sister is going to get really, really angry!¡± ¡ªis rushing me along. Chapter 1: Fourth Wedding Anniversary ¡®I¡¯ve returned.¡¯ Where should I begin? First, the memories themselves are crystal clear. A few days after placing Rihanna¡¯s corpse to rest. The all-out offensive by the Transcendents began. The kingdom fell. I was killed by the Transcendents¡¯ army. That was how things had played out so far. ¡°Brother-in-law? Are you feeling sick? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Alois is calling out to me. Exactly as he did eleven years ago. At this point, I had to admit it. ¡®It¡¯s true, I¡¯ve really come back.¡¯ Energy surged through my body. My legs were fine. And yet, guided by my memories, my instincts clearly bore hostility toward Alois. ¡°Brother-in-law?¡± I couldn¡¯t ignore his calls forever, so I decided to check: ¡°Alois, where are the bouquet and the cake I prepared?¡± ¡°Ah, you¡¯ve finally come to your senses? The maids have the bouquet ready, and the cake will be brought out around evening.¡± Then Alois clutched his head, pleading: ¡°Please, just go and calm my sister down as soon as possible. It¡¯s absolute chaos over there.¡± ¡°Alright, Alois.¡± I wanted nothing more than to kill this red-haired man before me right this instant. I nearly clenched my fist in anger, but held back. He, too, was a man of Helmut. With the Helmut family¡¯s innate, overwhelming physical prowess, someone of my commoner birth couldn¡¯t possibly overcome him. ¡®Not yet.¡¯ So I passed him by. ¡®A bouquet, a cake, and a chandelier.¡¯ Many things would happen today. A blade was hidden in the bouquet, and the cake was laced with a drug that would cause severe stomach pain. And the chandelier would fall on me, crippling my right leg. It wouldn¡¯t just ruin today, but would destroy my future¡ªtruly a horrific day was in store. ¡®All of this, Alois, was your doing.¡¯ The one who ruined my life was none other than Alois Helmut, the third son of the Helmut family. This time, I wouldn¡¯t fall victim. As I passed by him, I noticed the pendant Alois wore around his neck. It was a gift from my wife, Rihanna, given to Alois when they were young¡ªa keepsake he always carried. Inside the pendant was a letter Rihanna had written when she was a child. That right there was the reason Alois ruined my life. ¡®A twisted deviant.¡¯ He was a madman who lusted after his own sister. Though he always pretended to be friendly with me, deep down he hated me more than anyone else. That¡¯s why he wanted to render me even more useless, deliberately orchestrating my accident. Yet in the end, his own fate didn¡¯t turn out well either. In this timeline, about three years from now, Alois, unable to hide his true feelings, would face the tragedy of being expelled from the family. **** Stepping out, the grand central hall of the Helmut estate greeted me. A staircase leading to the second floor faced the main entrance, and the spacious, dignified interior was always well-maintained. The arms and armor mounted on the walls hinted at the family¡¯s deep martial heritage. And right before the stairs leading up to the second floor, there stood a red-haired woman with her hands folded together. ¡°Rihanna¡­¡± My wife, whom I had once laid to rest with my own hands. The pride of a kingdom that fought the Transcendents until the end. The Blood Rose Rihanna Helmut. ¡°Isaac.¡± At my call, she slowly turned her head and looked toward me. Her blood-red eyes, like finely cut gems, reproached me. ¡°One of Father¡¯s ironclad rules is that all family members must have breakfast together.¡± Even though it¡¯s been ten years, her usual blank expression still feels strangely familiar. For reference, I¡¯m not considered one of the family members expected to attend breakfast. Even though I¡¯m the husband of the eldest daughter. Details like this made it obvious how the Helmut family regarded me. ¡°But today, I didn¡¯t join them for breakfast. I had already cleared it with Father-in-law in advance.¡± ¡°Because of me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. You said you¡¯d prepare breakfast to mark our fourth wedding anniversary.¡± But in the end, she got stood up. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± My eyes drifted to the ring on her left ring finger. At the same time, I, too, couldn¡¯t help but notice the unfamiliar sensation of my own wedding ring on my left ring finger, something I hadn¡¯t felt for a long time. Rihanna. Why did you keep wearing the ring of a husband who fled? The questions remain, and there¡¯s still no one to answer them. ¡°Even though it¡¯s a bit late, let¡¯s have breakfast.¡± Without a word, Rihanna followed my lead into the dining room. Inside, the tableware was arranged on a small table set for two. I¡¯m guessing it was yesterday¡¯s version of me in this world who requested it. As we took our seats, the attendants swiftly brought out the soup. Among them, I spotted a familiar, welcoming face. Milli. The youngest cook working in the Helmut kitchens. A tanned, copper-skinned girl my own age, Millie stood out. In the old days, I¡¯d often chatted with Milli. As a peer and a fellow commoner, she understood my troubles well. She offered comforting words and tasty food to ease my loneliness. ¡®Seeing her again now really brings back memories.¡¯ After I fled from Helmut, I never heard what became of Milli. ¡°Milli.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir Isaac.¡± I¡¯d spoken her name out of fondness, but Milli seemed to think I was giving the signal we¡¯d agreed on yesterday. She brought over bread and sandwich ingredients, setting them before me. These rough, simple ingredients were something you¡¯d never normally find in Helmut. ¡®Ah, right. I prepared these, didn¡¯t I?¡¯ The moment I saw them, it all came back to me. My plan was to recreate the very first meal I had made for Rihanna as a kind of event to commemorate our anniversary. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Back then, I¡¯d been so nervous in the face of Rihanna¡¯s blank expression that I couldn¡¯t do a proper job. ¡®But now that I look again.¡¯ Now that I have some composure, I think I can see a subtle hint of anticipation hidden behind her neutral face. Once the attendants stepped back, I began making a sandwich for Rihanna. I halved the bread, layered slices of cheese, cut the bacon into bite-sized pieces, and topped it off with just a few pickled vegetables. Lastly, I finished with a bit of salted mashed potatoes. ¡°Here you are.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Rihanna, staring intently at the sandwich I offered, carefully took it in her hands. At our first meeting, I had struggled mightily to convince her to hold her food and eat it by hand, something that went against her notions of proper etiquette. Back then, it hadn¡¯t been easy. Now, as I prepare my own sandwich, out of the corner of my eye I catch Rihanna cautiously taking a bite, holding the sandwich in both hands. Seeing that brought a slight smile to my face. ¡®It reminds me of old times.¡¯ During the days I worked as a ferryman, this had been my staple food. You could eat it even while crossing the river on a small boat. Suddenly, as I watch Rihanna munch on the sandwich, I can¡¯t shake the feeling that so much has changed. Back when we ate sandwiches together on that tiny boat drifting along the blue river, when our biggest worry was whether we¡¯d get sunburned¡ªthose were simpler, happier times. ¡®I never imagined a future like this could await us.¡¯ I glance at Rihanna as she chews her sandwich. As she quietly munches, her expression unchanged, it strikes me. In all my memories, where nearly everything has changed, this is the one scene that remains just the same. **** Time passes, and evening falls. Inside the banquet hall of the Helmut estate. On the balcony, Isaac looked up at the starry sky. Beside him, his elegantly dressed wife gazed at the same spot in the heavens. Hair cascading down to her waist, skin so pale it heightened the intensity of her crimson hues, eyes red like blazing embers¡ªdifferent from her rose-colored hair yet just as fiery. They called her the Rose of Helmut, famed throughout the kingdom for her unparalleled beauty. It had been a very busy day. The bouquet had been replaced with a new one, and instead of a lavish cake from elsewhere, he¡¯d asked Milli to prepare something small and humble. Though the chandelier fell just as Alois had planned, Isaac, expecting it, neatly avoided the disaster. And so, after roughly ten years, Isaac had come full circle back to this place. ¡®In my past life, I was knocked out under that chandelier.¡¯ Catching the breeze, Isaac slightly turned his head. Standing next to him, Rihanna. A hardened blankness devoid of any emotion. Those cool, crimson eyes always forced Isaac to tread carefully. ¡°Rihanna.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Even when Isaac called, Rihanna did not respond. She simply looked up at the sky, as though waiting for something. ¡°I worked quite hard on today¡¯s preparations.¡± For Isaac, it had taken fourteen years to bring this event to fruition. And now came the final part. In the empty rose garden of Helmut, illuminated by the moonlight, Isaac gently took hold of Rihanna¡¯s left hand and drew it toward him. ¡°We¡¯ve been through a lot.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Even so, as husband and wife, we managed to get by in our own way.¡± Even Rihanna, whose expression never wavered, looked slightly surprised and stared blankly at him at these words. ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it many times¡ªwhat would be the best path forward for us as a couple?¡± Isaac covered her left hand with both of his, softly. ¡°Rihanna.¡± Then, carefully removing the wedding band from her left ring finger, he quietly declared: ¡°Let¡¯s get a divorce.¡± The wind, tinged with the scent of roses, blew softly. ¡°What?¡± For the first time today, Rihanna¡¯s blank expression broke. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 2: The Empty Seat Beside Me ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°I said, let¡¯s get a divorce.¡± I answer Rihanna as I slip the retrieved ring into the pocket, repeating the question. I can almost feel the wind growing colder. Maybe it¡¯s just my imagination. Since I can¡¯t explain it properly, I¡¯ll just chalk it up to my feelings. Rihanna¡¯s twisted expression clearly shows her bewilderment. Even though her fiery hair and eyes gave her a resemblance to a blazing flame, that ice-cold, emotionless face of hers was finally cracking. ¡°You¡¯re not going to ask something as trite as ¡®Why?¡¯ are you?¡± Rihanna holds her breath and keeps silent. Her eyes quiver slightly¡ªseems I hit the mark. ¡°We¡¯re not really living like a married couple anymore, are we?¡± We sleep in separate rooms, barely talk, and have lost all sense of care for each other. ¡°I think our feelings have cooled enough for us to let go.¡± To be honest, I was confused at first as well. I mean, I couldn¡¯t understand why Rihanna, who was already dead in my previous life, was still wearing her wedding ring. Could it be that she still had feelings for me? Or had she only come to appreciate what she¡¯d lost after we parted ways? I had all sorts of questions. But after spending just this one day, I realized none of that mattered. ¡®Whether Rihanna still has feelings left for me doesn¡¯t matter at all.¡¯ What¡¯s more important is¡ª ¡®I don¡¯t love you anymore.¡¯ A cool smile, as refreshing as a sigh of relief, spreads across my face. The knot carried over from my previous life is finally untangled. Rihanna¡¯s feelings aren¡¯t all that matter. Mine are important, too. Because we¡¯re a married couple, after all. ¡°Isaac...?¡± I take a step closer and speak softly. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard all this time, putting up with a lousy husband.¡± I hope she can just shrug off any lingering regrets or resentments. That way, starting a new life won¡¯t feel so burdensome. ¡®This should be enough, right?¡¯ I¡¯ve torn myself down by calling myself a lousy husband. That should suffice. Rihanna¡¯s distorted expression gradually returns to normal. She lets out a short sigh¡ª¡°Hoo.¡°¡ªand then says, very businesslike: ¡°Father has started saying that we should have a child soon.¡± ¡°A child?¡± It¡¯s so out of the blue that I find myself momentarily stunned. This wasn¡¯t something I¡¯d heard in my previous life. Back then, I¡¯d have been missing one leg thanks to that chandelier and would probably be in front of a physician right now. Whatever the case, Rihanna continues. ¡°Father never really trusted his eldest son, Lohengrin, but it seems he¡¯s planning to confirm him as the next successor during this year¡¯s Sword Festival.¡± Lohengrin, the eldest son. He¡¯s a year older than Rihanna and used to torment me quite frequently. He¡¯s also part of the reason why Rihanna and I have no children even after four years of marriage. If Father couldn¡¯t trust his eldest son, there was always a possibility that his daughter, Rihanna, might have to carry on the family line. ¡®The mere fact that he considered handing over the title to his daughter, despite having a second son, says it all¡­¡¯ It¡¯s a testament to Rihanna¡¯s competence, and also an indictment of the Helmut men¡¯s incompetence. ¡°So Father¡¯s finally made up his mind?¡± ¡°Even though he¡¯s someone who values skill above all else, Lohengrin still outshines me in certain ways. If I were to become the head of the family, it¡¯d be like confirming Lohengrin¡¯s incompetence politically.¡± ¡°So now he wants you to have a child?¡± ¡°If there was a chance I¡¯d become family head, being pregnant would come with too many limitations. But now that Father has clearly decided on Lohengrin, it seems he¡¯s fine with me being pregnant.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°That means we don¡¯t have to keep sleeping in separate rooms anymore.¡± As Rihanna calmly explains all this, a sudden suspicion arises in me. ¡°Is this what you were so nervous about telling me all day?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t nervous.¡± Rihanna, looking even more expressionless, stares at me. ¡°Don¡¯t lie. Didn¡¯t I tell you before? When you¡¯re nervous, it looks like you¡¯re angry.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± At my words, Rihanna pokes her cheek with a finger. Her tightly pressed lips remain silent, admitting her nervousness without a word. ¡°I see. Well, that¡¯s good then.¡± ¡°Good?¡± Rihanna¡¯s usually impassive face wavers again at my words. ¡°The timing¡¯s perfect, right? Find some honest, dependable man other than me. Just live your life that way.¡± If I ended up with a child now, it wouldn¡¯t be so easy to get a divorce. ¡°Divorce usually reflects poorly on the wife, right? But if you claim the husband was at fault, it¡¯s not so clear-cut.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Say I was a kleptomaniac, or had a taste for blood, or some bizarre sexual preferences. Any reason you give will make people see you as the victim.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Besides, you¡¯re Helmut¡¯s daughter. A minor blemish won¡¯t cause you much trouble.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Unable to hold back any longer, Rihanna, who had kept her mouth shut until now, finally speaks. ¡°Do you really want to divorce me that badly? What¡¯s the reason?¡± ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to stay in Helmut any longer.¡± There¡¯s no hesitation in my answer. In fact, it feels like I¡¯ve been waiting for this moment. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Rihanna. Helmut might sound like the name of a beautiful rose to outsiders, but to me, holding it in my hands just means its thorns are digging into my flesh.¡± I¡¯ve said my piece. And since Alois, that perverted sex fiend, is secretly spying on us from below the balcony, I don¡¯t feel like staying here any longer. ¡°I drank some wine today, so I¡¯m feeling tired. I¡¯ll head in and get some rest. Let¡¯s inform Father-in-law separately.¡± I walk inside, casting a bitter smile at the messy banquet hall left behind by today¡¯s event. ¡®The servants are going to have a tough time cleaning up.¡¯ I¡¯m sorry. But this will be the last time. ¡°Wait.¡± All of a sudden, Rihanna grabs my wrist. I stop and glance back at her. ¡°Hm? What is it?¡± Our conversation had ended so cleanly. I smile gently, hoping for the best possible ending. In stark contrast to my smile, Rihanna¡¯s expression reveals a rare hint of anxiety. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but divorce is impossible. Father will never allow it.¡± ¡°He never approved of a son-in-law who couldn¡¯t even swing a sword properly. He might actually welcome the idea.¡± ¡°It¡¯s too sudden. Father thinks we¡¯re getting along just fine.¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be. As the head of the family, he must have some awareness.¡± ¡°¡­¡­The social scene isn¡¯t as simple as you think. Just because you¡¯re covered in a bit of filth doesn¡¯t mean I come out perfectly clean.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± I sigh. If I keep listening, she¡¯ll give me reasons all day long. At my sigh, Rihanna¡¯s lips fall silent. ¡°Rihanna.¡± I drop the smile from my eyes. In an instant, a chill sets in, and my gaze pierces straight through Rihanna. ¡°Your brothers call me a worthless bug who can¡¯t even wield a sword. They frequently summon me for sparring sessions just to beat me up¡ªI¡¯ve gotten used to it by now.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Your younger sister treats me like a servant. I¡¯ve handled all her errands, big and small, even those that had to be kept secret.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°As for Father, he never cared one bit about any of this. He¡¯s not interested in me at all. To him, a son-in-law who can¡¯t wield a sword isn¡¯t worthy of being called a Helmut.¡± ¡°Isaac.¡± ¡°And finally, the wife I believed would take my side until the end¡­ in the end, she chose to stand by and do nothing.¡± ¡°Isaac, that¡¯s¡ª¡± A sneer formed at the corner of my lips. Within that hollow laugh lurked utter contempt. ¡°Are you going to make excuses? Say there was a reason for it? Rihanna, do you know what you should¡¯ve said right now, at the very least?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°An apology.¡± Rihanna pressed her lips together. At this point, offering an apology would be like trampling on her own foot just to put out a sudden fire. It was already too late. ¡°Don¡¯t you get it yet? Rihanna, here in mighty Helmut¡ª¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There was never a place for me. I roughly brushed aside Rihanna¡¯s arm. ¡°And one more thing.¡± I rubbed my wrist and managed a bitter smile. The next words that slipped out were shockingly cold, even to my own ears. ¡°Married couples holding hands and such¡ªit¡¯s disgusting.¡± **** Rihanna lingered at the banquet hall balcony for quite some time. ¡°Older Sister?¡± A voice came from behind, it was Alois, the third son. Rihanna deliberately tried not to turn her head. She didn¡¯t know what kind of expression she was wearing. But she didn¡¯t want anyone to see it. ¡°Ha, haha. We¡¯ve had quite a number of incidents today. The falling chandelier was particularly startling.¡± He wasn¡¯t wrong. The chandelier had dropped toward Isaac. If he hadn¡¯t dodged with some luck, it could have been a serious accident. ¡°So, I was wondering if you¡¯re going to return soon¡ª.¡± ¡°Alois.¡± ¡°Yes, Older Sister? Do you need something?¡± Alois had always followed her well. Rihanna felt oddly uncomfortable about that. ¡°Leave me alone.¡± ¡°Older Sister? Did something happen today with Brother-in-law¡ª?¡± Rihanna did not answer. With her silence, she warned him not to speak further. ¡°Then I¡¯ll head in first, Older Sister.¡± With a polite bow, Alois left. Rihanna remained there alone, lost in thought for a while. After she¡¯d calmed down a bit, she returned to her room. Inside was much tidier than usual. She took pride in caring for a single rose in a cherished flowerpot, ensuring it never withered. She tossed the scented candle and matches on the table into the trash bin. Rihanna slipped off the dress she¡¯d worn with such care today. Normally a maid would help, but it was late, and she had long since dismissed them. In fact, she had ordered them not to come near her room at all tonight. The full-length mirror caught her eye. Half-removed, as if torn off, the dress revealed black lingerie underneath¡ªprovocative lingerie she usually wouldn¡¯t spare a glance at. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Without a word, Rihanna headed straight for the bed. Two pillows lay there. One for herself. The other remained there, left behind, waiting for its absent owner who would never come. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 3 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 3: The Head of the Helmut Family Mornings in the Helmut household begin early. That¡¯s because everyone rises at dawn to train in the courtyard, or in the gardens, or on the walking trails. After morning exercise, there is a family meal. It¡¯s the only time of day when the entire family gathers. The family head, Arandel Helmut, placed great importance on this moment. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Today¡¯s breakfast was the same as usual. Four sons and one daughter took their seats. Once seated, the empty chair was hard to ignore. The eldest daughter was absent. ¡°Where is Rihanna?¡± When Lohengrin Helmut, the eldest son, asked, everyone seized the moment to mock. ¡°She skipped morning training too.¡± ¡°Haha, is our big sister skipping meals now that she¡¯s busy being a proper wife?¡± ¡°What kind of blazing night did she have that she can¡¯t even come to breakfast?¡± ¡°Isaac Helmut, who seemed so feeble, must¡¯ve shown some real stamina.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Everyone except Alois Helmut cackled, ridiculing Rihanna Helmut and Isaac Helmut. ¡°The family head is coming.¡± At a single word from the attendant, silence fell. A large man stepped into the dining hall. His gaze still seemed fixed on the battlefield, as if he had never let down his guard. With red hair and a beard like a crimson mane, he took heavy steps toward the head seat. This was Arandel Helmut. Arandel Helmut frowned at the empty seat of his eldest daughter. ¡°Where is Rihanna?¡± ¡°She hasn¡¯t come. She also missed morning training.¡± Upon the quick reply from his eldest son, Lohengrin Helmut, Arandel Helmut''s eyebrows twitched. Skipping something as simple as breakfast¡ªfailing to follow even these light rules¡ªtouched upon the authority of the family head. Creeeeak. Just then, the door opened, and Rihanna Helmut entered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m late.¡± She bowed her head and then took her seat. The dishes came out swiftly, but until Arandel Helmut lifted his utensils, everyone remained in their proper posture without the slightest break in form. Arandel Helmut ddressed his eldest daughter: ¡°Why are you late?¡± It wasn¡¯t a reprimand. He knew Rihanna Helmut never created faults like this without reason. He genuinely believed there must be some explanation. Rihanna Helmut, her eyes sunken as if she hadn¡¯t slept, hesitated, unusually unable to answer right away. She knew that once the words left her mouth, it would all be over. Even after an entire night of deliberation, she hadn¡¯t found a way out of this situation. ¡°Isaac¡­¡± She closed her eyes tightly and let out a bitter sigh. ¡°He wants a divorce.¡± **** ¡°Oh-ho? Look at this guy. He¡¯s not messing around.¡± It was breakfast time in the Helmut household. Though Isaac Helmut bore the Helmut name, he was not permitted to join them at the family table. The family head deemed he wasn¡¯t qualified. As a result, Isaac Helmut often ended up eating breakfast alone. ¡°Wow, for real. Haha, I can¡¯t help but laugh.¡± Isaac Helmut, cheeks puffed out, was eating in front of the kitchen. He popped a seasoned shrimp into his mouth and gasped with delight. ¡°Haah, this is incredible.¡± The kitchen staff, who were taking a short break while their master ate, quietly watched him. ¡°You know,¡± said Isaac Helmut, holding another shrimp and waving it around, ¡°I never really missed anything. But if there¡¯s one thing I did miss, it was this food. I couldn¡¯t find cuisine like this anywhere else.¡± ¡°¡®Missed¡¯ it? You just ate here yesterday,¡± said Milli, a woman with sun-kissed skin, about Isaac¡¯s age. Though she was the youngest in the kitchen, her skills were mature beyond her years. She and Isaac Helmut occasionally exchanged words. ¡°Ah, a slip of the tongue. I mean I will miss it.¡± Brushing off his slip of the tongue, Isaac Helmut began tasting the other dishes. He used to think having meat at breakfast was extravagant, but this was a family of knights skilled with the sword¡ªmeat was essential. ¡°This is really good.¡± ¡°I grilled it.¡± ¡°As expected of Milli.¡± ¡°Until yesterday, you ate silently and left. Today you seem to be enjoying yourself. It¡¯s like you¡¯re a different person.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve realized how precious these meals are. Sometimes you only recognize the value of something after you lose it.¡± ¡°More importantly, what did you mean by saying you ¡®will miss it¡¯? Are you going somewhere? I heard some news from the Malidan Barrier, but¡­¡± Milli trailed off. ¡°I¡¯m getting divorced.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Not only Milli, but even the chefs who were watching Isaac Helmut eat so heartily were shocked. ¡°Divorce. You know how I¡¯m treated here, Milli.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Not being allowed to join breakfast means I¡¯m not acknowledged as family.¡± No one could deny it. For the past four years, the word ¡®family¡¯ had often been used to tighten the noose around Isaac Helmut¡¯s neck. Everyone here had seen it firsthand. ¡°Ahem.¡± A heavyset man approached Isaac Helmut, drying his hands with a damp towel. It was the head chef. His thick fingers folded together respectfully. ¡°This evening¡­ is there anything you¡¯d like to eat?¡± ¡°Head Chef, are you trying to comfort me?¡± Isaac Helmut asked. ¡°C- cough.¡± The head chef avoided his gaze, short on words. ¡°I never knew you had this side to you. In that case, let¡¯s go all out with meat. I probably won¡¯t get to eat this quality of food once I leave.¡± ¡°I will prepare it to the best of my ability, Isaac Helmut.¡± ¡°Honestly, I was thinking of leaving today, but I suppose I should stay for dinner at least.¡± Isaac Helmut rose from his seat and offered a polite handshake. ¡°I¡¯ll never forget the meals I had here, not even years from now.¡± It was no exaggeration. ¡°This is the only reason I would ever miss Helmut.¡± And indeed, he wouldn¡¯t forget¡ªhe never had before. Perhaps moved by his words, the head chef and the other cooks struggled to hold back their tears. ¡°I, sniff¡­ it¡¯s been an honor serving you as well.¡± As soon as they shook hands, words of encouragement and comfort poured forth from the kitchen staff: ¡°Your complexion looks brighter!¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°We never knew you appreciated our cooking that much!¡± ¡°Congratulations on returning to bachelorhood!¡± ¡°You¡¯re so handsome you¡¯ll find another woman in no time!¡± ¡°Haha, you guys¡­¡± Isaac Helmut rubbed his nose and felt a strange warmth in his chest. In his previous life, he¡¯d never even managed a proper conversation with anyone here aside from Milli. He¡¯d been too busy running away to care. But now, hearing their support filled him with pride. Clang! If Rihanna Helmut hadn¡¯t entered just then, that touching moment might have lasted longer. The instant they saw Rihanna Helmut, the cooks¡¯ eyes hardened. It was as if someone had doused them all with cold water, the atmosphere instantly chilling. Rihanna Helmut approached Isaac Helmut. ¡°Father is calling for you.¡± ¡°Really? That was quick.¡± Even after delivering the message, Rihanna Helmut remained standing there. It was a suffocating moment, as if each breath came with a thorn in the throat. The silence pressed down on everyone, intensifying the pressure. ¡°You¡¯re coming too, right? He¡¯s not just calling me alone.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m coming.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go. The family head must be waiting.¡± ¡°You were eating, though. Finish your meal¡ªI¡¯ll wait.¡± Was Rihanna Helmut waiting for Isaac Helmut to finish his meal? In the old days, it would¡¯ve been unimaginable. Yet there was no time for the onlookers to be astonished. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Because now, Rihanna Helmut stood there with her arms folded, staring at the cooks. -¡®She heard everything.¡¯ -¡®She definitely heard every word.¡¯ -¡®We should¡¯ve kept our mouths shut.¡¯ -¡®Mother, I¡¯m sorry. Your son¡¯s life ends here.¡¯ -¡®What exactly did I say back then?¡¯ All sorts of regrets and worries swirled in the cooks¡¯ minds. The superior hearing of a Helmut likely let her catch their every whisper outside the door. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± If that weren¡¯t the case, there¡¯d be no reason for her to glare at them so menacingly. ¡°I¡¯m already full.¡± Thankfully, the torture didn¡¯t last long. Isaac Helmut left some of the food untouched as he stood up and started walking out. ¡°¡­All right, then.¡± Rihanna Helmut, clearly displeased, followed Isaac Helmut out. Before the door closed, Isaac Helmut raised a reassuring thumbs-up behind his back, signaling them not to worry. Thud. The door shut. The head chef clenched his fist, gazing at the plate Isaac Helmut had intentionally left unfinished to show consideration for them. ¡°Tonight¡¯s dinner will be truly lavish!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± As the cooks bustled about, Milli alone stared anxiously at the door through which Isaac Helmut had departed. **** The study room of the family head. Located on the highest floor of the Helmut estate, it was filled with books, yet the scent of metal dominated the space. Arandel Helmut, with his massive frame, rested his arms on a wooden desk that seemed almost too delicate for him, gazing intently at Isaac Helmut. Personally, Isaac Helmut thought his father-in-law and a study desk made for the world¡¯s most mismatched pair. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Father-in-law.¡± They lived in the same mansion, but it had been ages since he last felt Arandel Helmut''s eyes upon him. ¡°I hear you want a divorce.¡± No pleasantries¡ªstraight to the point. Isaac Helmut nodded slightly. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°I do not permit it.¡± As expected. ¡°I think there¡¯s been a misunderstanding, Father-in-law.¡± Isaac Helmut gently placed a hand on his chest, as if to calm him. ¡°I¡¯m not asking for permission.¡± The words that left his mouth violated every etiquette, certainly grinding at Arandel Helmut''s nerves. ¡°I¡¯m here to inform you of what I¡¯ve decided. Our marriage isn¡¯t harmonious, and I believe finding new partners would be best for both of us.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Fortunately, we married young. Even if we divorce now, it¡¯s not too late for either of us to find someone more suitable.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I know you were uncomfortable taking in a commoner son-in-law. You were right about me¡ªI¡¯ll leave and find my rightful place.¡± He didn¡¯t mind belittling himself. He only cared about leaving this place. Arandel Helmut''s gaze shifted to Rihanna Helmut. His look demanded her opinion, and Rihanna Helmut answered quietly, ¡°I will follow Isaac¡¯s decision.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± A short sigh. Arandel Helmut looked at his daughter with a mix of pain and regret. There was no reason not to allow it now, or so Isaac Helmut thought. ¡°I do not permit it.¡± Arandel Helmut gave the same answer once again. ¡°And the reason is the Sword festival.¡± The Sword festival was a traditional Helmut festival and grand event. It drew not only nearby villagers, but also friendly nobles and even royalty. ¡°This upcoming Sword festival will also announce Helmut''s successor, so many people will come to gauge our family. Not just to celebrate, but to assess who will lead Helmut next.¡± To show them a divorce right before this event would be a perfect source of ridicule. Isaac Helmut didn¡¯t consider it a big problem. After all, the ridicule wouldn¡¯t be aimed at him alone. It was trivial. ¡°So, if I understand correctly, if I wait until after the Sword festival, the divorce is possible?¡± ¡°Yes. If by then you both still feel the same way, I won¡¯t stop you.¡± He had secured a promise of divorce, but Isaac Helmut wanted to leave the mansion tomorrow if he could. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I want a divorce right now. So, let me propose an alternative.¡± ¡°You plan to negotiate with me?¡± The tone implied that negotiation required being equals. Isaac Helmut smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that due to intensified attacks from magical beasts, the Malidan Barrier has requested aid from the kingdom¡¯s powerful nobles.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Isaac?¡± Arandel Helmutleaned forward with interest, chin on his armrest. Behind him, Rihanna Helmut called his name in disbelief. But Isaac Helmut ignored her and continued. ¡°I will go. I bear the Helmut name, so my going alone would count as Helmut contributing support.¡± In truth, he was a nobody who couldn¡¯t even wield a sword properly. But for Helmut, simply sending Isaac Helmut, a family member in name, would fulfill the obligation. ¡°You want your direct descendants to remain here, preparing for the Sword festival. Many distinguished guests will arrive, and Helmut¡¯s children must display overwhelming martial prowess.¡± If Isaac Helmut headed to the Malidan Barrier, he¡¯d spend the preparation period drenched in magical beasts¡¯ blood. He was offering to take on that burden. He wasn¡¯t asking for something grand. He just wanted to leave this place. He didn¡¯t want to wait until the festival. So he would go to the dangerous front lines and spare them the trouble. ¡°Ha.¡± Isaac Helmut wore a sly grin, as if he already knew what Arandel Helmut''s answer would be. ¡®He had this kind of backbone all along?¡¯ Arandel Helmut secretly acknowledged that his son-in-law was more tenacious than he¡¯d thought. ¡°Very well.¡± He nodded, granting Isaac Helmut permission to leave Helmut. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 3 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 4: The Face to Hide Outside the patriarch¡¯s office, the two people wearing completely opposite expressions walked side by side. While Isaac held a faint smile, Rihanna¡¯s face was stiff and cold. Isaac noticed this as well, but he saw no need to mention it. ¡®I¡¯m glad the conversation went well.¡¯ The discussion with Arandel had been smooth. On top of that, he had secured separate funds and provisions, enough so that he could depart as soon as tomorrow. The amount was especially considerable¡ªhush money, in a sense, for not disclosing the more detailed circumstances of the divorce to the outside world. ¡®It¡¯s silly, but it¡¯s a bit exciting.¡¯ Unlike his past life, when he would have run away terrified, this time Isaac was stepping forward confidently. The thought alone set his heart racing. ¡®It was written that he likes people who are bold, even if they¡¯re rude. Turns out it was true.¡¯ Reading Arandel Helmut¡¯s autobiography-cum-last-will in his previous life had been a great help during their standoff. Since Arandel wasn¡¯t the type to spout nonsense, Isaac had been right to trust every word of that autobiography. ¡®Divorce is the best.¡¯ A miracle of making one from two. A symbol of newfound freedom. And even a generous divorce settlement. Someone once said that you only realize what¡¯s precious after you lose it. Now that he understood the value of bachelorhood only after becoming married, Isaac felt as though he¡¯d made all the preparations for another return. A return to being single. ¡°Isaac.¡± Rihanna, who was descending the stairs quickly since he planned to leave tomorrow, called out to Isaac. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Do you know what it means to go to the Malidan Barrier? That place is the very front line.¡± ¡°I know. It was initially thought to be just another beast den, but it turned out to be a ¡®great den, right?¡± A ¡°beast den¡± was a place where magical beasts gathered. But a ¡°great den¡± was a bit different. When a den grows larger, and there¡¯s a leader-type magical beast with intelligence guiding the colony, it¡¯s called a ¡®great den.¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s not officially confirmed as a great den yet.¡± ¡®Ah, right.¡¯ So it¡¯s still not confirmed at this point in time. But Isaac already knew it was indeed a great den. ¡°And the problem isn¡¯t the beasts. You know who guards the Malidan Barrier front line¡ªthe Caldias family.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know. And I know that the Helmut family is on very hostile terms with them too.¡± They were like cats and dogs¡ªHelmut and Caldias were known rivals. Arandel¡¯s greatest reason for not wanting to send his sons to the front line was precisely that. He¡¯d be leaving a lone Helmut son stranded in a place dominated by their bitter enemy, the Caldias family. ¡°You can¡¯t predict how they¡¯ll treat you. Especially if you, Isaac, can¡¯t even handle a sword properly¡ª¡± ¡°Rihanna.¡± A hollow laugh escaped his lips. ¡°Whatever Caldias does¡ª¡± A subtle contempt flashed in Isaac¡¯s gaze as he looked through Rihanna. ¡°It¡¯ll still be better than Helmut.¡± Rihanna wanted to ask what he even knew about the Caldias family. But she couldn¡¯t speak. Isaac seemed as if he trusted Caldias more than Helmut. Isaac started down the stairs again. Hearing his footsteps fade, Rihanna mustered her courage once more. ¡°You¡¯re leaving tomorrow, right?¡± A sigh drifted in the air. Rihanna¡¯s heart sank at the sound, but Isaac stopped once more and answered. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m leaving tomorrow.¡± ¡°How about having dinner together tonight?¡± ¡°Dinner?¡± ¡°Yes, we were once¡­ a married couple, after all.¡± It was rare for Rihanna to initiate an invitation. But¡ª ¡°Sorry, I have plans for tonight.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the last night.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t be helped. I¡¯ve already made prior arrangements.¡± Isaac planned to eat the food prepared by the head chef and Milli tonight. How awkward would it be if Rihanna were there? ¡°Then how about a drink?¡± Today, Rihanna was unusually persistent. A question posed at the cost of a bit of her pride. ¡°Haha, you know we can¡¯t do that either.¡± Isaac returned a gentle smile. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not make any mistakes, Rihanna. Save that champagne for your next husband.¡± ¡°Right now, you¡¯re my husband.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still your husband for ¡®now¡¯.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Well then, if you¡¯ll excuse me. I¡¯m a bit busy.¡± He needed to finish packing for his departure. With that, Isaac continued down to the first floor. **** Left alone in the office, Arandel Helmut¡¯s closed his eyes and fell into thought. The image of his son-in-law who had just spoken so boldly of divorce and extended their discussion into negotiations left a strong impression. ¡®Is there a side of him I don¡¯t know?¡¯ The Isaac he knew was an ordinary man. Handsome enough, a decent talker who managed to seduce his daughter¡ªthat¡¯s all he¡¯d thought of him. But Isaac didn¡¯t fit in at Helmut at all. He was like a herbivore, timid and fearful, so Arandel never bothered to interfere with him. ¡®What a surprise.¡¯ They¡¯d lived under the same roof for four years, yet he never knew Isaac had such a side to him. Arandel would never have imagined Isaac to be the kind of man who could speak so boldly right before him. It was rare for anyone not to shrink under Arandel¡¯s presence. ¡°If only my children showed even half of what I just saw¡­¡± Arandel let out a slight sigh, something uncharacteristic of him. If his eldest son, Lohengrin, had shown even that much backbone, Arandel would have handed over the succession ages ago. Recalling how his children lived constantly under his overwhelming aura always brought a sense of disappointment as his first thought. Helmut was about conquering all and crushing those who stood in the way. Even if it was their own father. ¡°I wish they would learn something from this.¡± Never did he think he would tell his children to learn by watching their brother-in-law. That alone raised Arandel¡¯s estimation of Isaac and made him all the more intriguing. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± To be honest, at first he had assumed their divorce was part of Rihanna¡¯s scheme. Arandel had already decided that, even if Lohengrin was lacking in swordsmanship, he would pass down the helm of the household to his eldest son, Lohengrin in Sword Festival. Thus, he had instructed his eldest daughter, Rihanna Helmut, to freely have children and assist in supporting the family, fulfilling her role in the background. He¡¯d thought that she was attempting to divorce because she disliked this plan. He suspected she was looking for a chance to become head of the family herself. ¡°But that wasn¡¯t the case.¡± Instead, the trace of lingering regret that glistened in Rihanna¡¯s eyes had been pitiful enough to trouble him as a father. ¡°Huu.¡± That settled it. Arandel decided he would no longer concern himself with Isaac and Rihanna. In the end, his true interest lay only in the strong. And since Isaac was not yet even on the level of a proper swordsman, that was that. But still¡ª ¡®Interesting.¡¯ For some reason, the image of his son-in-law confidently speaking out, despite not being a swordsman, lingered vividly in Arandel¡¯s mind. **** It was the evening. ¡°Was the meal to your liking?¡± The head chef approached with a gentle smile and refilled Isaac¡¯s cup with black tea. The clean, subtle flavor provided a perfect finish to the meal. ¡°It was wonderful. Thank you for making my last night in Helmut so enchanting. It was so delicious I almost changed my mind about leaving.¡± ¡°Haha! If Isaac-nim stayed, we would be the ones who¡¯d be grateful!¡± He wasn¡¯t just saying that. The head chef genuinely wished Isaac would remain. After all, no one else in the mansion had ever made him feel that his efforts in cooking were truly appreciated. Not only as a head chef, but as a cook, Isaac made him feel proud of his craft. Isaac never hid his appreciation, showing that the chef¡¯s hard work didn¡¯t go to waste. After spending years feeding owners who ate silently, only grunted about improvements or picky eating habits, it was inevitable he¡¯d compare them to Isaac who expressed his delight so openly. ¡°If only we had been honest with each other from the start.¡± Isaac also regretted it a little. Only at the very end could he say such words to them. ¡°Isaac-nim.¡± ¡°Milli!¡± The dark-skinned, same-aged cook approached, holding a tightly wrapped lunch box. ¡°I made a lunchbox of your favorite sandwiches. I¡¯ve placed a preservation spell on it, so you can enjoy it tomorrow on your journey.¡± ¡°Milli, thank you so much.¡± For Isaac, Milli was a savior figure carried over even from his previous life. He desperately wanted to take her with him, but that was realistically impossible. He¡¯d miss her cooking for a long time. ¡°Milli, do you know why I like sandwiches?¡± So Isaac asked something frivolous, a meaningless question just for the sake of it. In his past life, when he left, all he saw in Milli¡¯s eyes were pity and worry. ¡°Huh? Is there a particular reason you like them?¡± ¡°Because you can eat sandwiches while playing card games. That¡¯s why I like ¡¯em.¡± ¡°Pfft, what a silly reason.¡± ¡°¡­¡­I like it.¡± In this life, Milli was smiling as she said goodbye. Isaac loved that. He was glad he was no longer a source of worry for her. That made him happier than anything. ¡°So when I make a lot of money playing card games, Milli, will you become my personal chef?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°My tongue is already a prisoner of your cooking. So I¡¯ll come pick you up one day.¡± Isaac grinned teasingly. Milli responded with a bright smile. ¡°My salary is quite expensive, you know? I¡¯m not staying in Helmut for nothing.¡± ¡°Come on, couldn¡¯t you cut a friend a deal?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± The conversation was easy and comfortable. Isaac pulled out a drawing from his bag. ¡°Here, Milli. This is a gift for all the delicious food you¡¯ve made for me and for listening to my stories.¡± ¡°You drew me? That¡¯s amazing!¡± ¡°Wow, I never knew you had such talent!¡± said the head chef, also marveling at Isaac¡¯s skill. Originally, Isaac hadn¡¯t possessed such skill at this point in his past life. But back then, nicknamed ¡°the Silent Sword¡± for the countless manuals he authored, he¡¯d learned to draw because sometimes words weren¡¯t enough to explain certain techniques. Thanks to some natural talent, he quickly improved at illustration as well. They exchanged the drawing and the lunchbox. Feeling the comforting weight of Milli¡¯s lunchbox, Isaac smiled softly. ¡°Thank you, Milli.¡± ¡°Thank you so much. Please be happy, Isaac-nim.¡± ¡°Sure, but let¡¯s cut this out now. The head chef looks like he doesn¡¯t know what to do with himself.¡± The head chef, caught between them, scratched the back of his head with a flustered expression. ¡°I felt like I was witnessing some secret rendezvous.¡± It was a dangerous remark, but since it was only the three of them, it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± But suddenly, behind the head chef stood Rihanna Helmut. Dressed in pajamas, she held a bottle of wine in her hand. ¡°Head Chef.¡± ¡°Ri-Rihanna-nim?!¡± Startled, the head chef whirled around and upon seeing Rihanna, immediately prostrated himself. ¡°A-agh, Rihanna-nim! I spoke foolishly! I got carried away¡ª!¡± ¡°Enough.¡± She looked as though even hearing excuses annoyed her. Glancing briefly at Milli, Rihanna spoke in a flat tone. ¡°Take everyone with you and leave.¡± ¡°Y-yes, understood!¡± The head chef and the other cooks who had prepared the meal took their cue, nodding apologetically as they left. The head chef had probably planned to prepare some liquor to finish off the evening, but now he only smacked his lips regretfully. Thud. Rihanna sat down beside Isaac and placed the wine bottle on the table. Her cheeks were flushed, suggesting she¡¯d already had a few drinks. Isaac couldn¡¯t recall the last time he saw her drunk¡ªit must have been a distant memory. ¡°How many glasses did you have?¡± He tried to take the bottle away, scolding her, but Rihanna, strong as she was, didn¡¯t budge. ¡°I never wanted to show myself drunk in front of you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Her gaze seemed to say, ¡®Ask me why.¡¯ But Isaac had no curiosity, so he did not ask. ¡°How did we end up like this?¡± ¡°You said you didn¡¯t want to show me your drunken side. Then keep that resolve.¡± ¡°Isaac.¡± ¡°Enough, Rihanna.¡± He let out a long sigh. ¡°It¡¯s already over. Don¡¯t do anything that looks like regret.¡± Such actions were meaningless. They wouldn¡¯t stop him from walking out, nor would they instill any guilt. Their relationship was already broken in so many ways. ¡°Don¡¯t make excuses and just stay as you are. The Rihanna Helmut I remember is a woman who never regrets her actions.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°She was a woman I disliked.¡± But still¡ª ¡°At least she had her own convictions. I¡¯d like to remember you that way.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Rihanna set down the bottle, slumped forward, resting her chin on her hand, and covered her eyes with the other. After a pause¡ª ¡°Isaac.¡± In a low voice, doing her best to control her emotions, she said: ¡°Take care.¡± It was her farewell. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 3 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 5: The Lady of the North It was the early morning. Isaac had already stepped into the garden with his bag slung over his shoulder. The rose garden, proudly known as the pride of Helmut, had yet to bud even a single rose¡ªstill too early in the season. Come June, when the Sword Festival begins, the roses will be in full bloom, drenching the surroundings in their enchanting fragrance. These Helmut roses are a special breed, blooming right up until the brink of winter. ¡®They were beautiful.¡¯ In Helmut, a place stained only with ugly and bitter memories, the one thing truly beyond any description other than ¡°beautiful¡± was this very rose garden. In a corner of that splendid garden¡ª A single lilac bloom, a small purple flower, had sprung up out of place, as if trying to steal a march ahead of its time. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Just looking at that little thing, which made Isaac frown without even realizing it, was irritating. He couldn¡¯t understand why Helmut¡¯s meticulously thorough gardeners had left it as is. ¡®I should pluck it.¡¯ The moment he moved in to yank it out¡ª A knight, slightly taller than Isaac, with a youthful face that could have passed him off as a mere boy, stepped forward and saluted. ¡°Sir! I am Jonathan, assigned to escort Isaac Helmut to the Malidan frontlines! I look forward to serving you!¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± The booming voice made Isaac wrinkle his brow. Jonathan wore an innocent grin like a child, yet bore the weighty Helmut armor and a greatsword on his back. With a short-cropped head of blond hair befitting a soldier, he appeared naive. Isaac offered him a handshake. ¡°It¡¯s Isaac. Let¡¯s get along, shall we?¡± ¡°Yes, sirrr! I will absolutely ensure your safety, at least until the Sword Festival!¡± Jonathan was one of Arandel Helmut¡¯s minimal conditions for allowing Isaac to head to the frontlines at Malidan Barrier. Should Isaac die or attempt to escape there, it would cause no small trouble, so they¡¯d assigned him both an escort and a watchdog. ¡®They¡¯ve sent someone more careless than I expected.¡¯ Arandel must have ordered a knight to accompany him, and after the order trickled down, they ended up with this random nobody. After all, what need was there to send a first-rate knight to monitor Isaac, who couldn¡¯t even swing a sword properly? ¡°Well then, let¡¯s head¡ª¡± ¡°Ah! Isaac.¡± They were just about to depart when someone interrupted yet again. Checking to see who it was, Isaac found the eldest son, Lohengrin, approaching with a gentle smile. His long red hair billowed, and his entire body seemed to radiate a crimson aura, likely from recent training. Eldest son Lohengrin¡ª To put it simply, a personality disorder incarnate. A madman whose emotions swung to dangerous extremes, he had repeatedly beaten Isaac under the guise of ¡°sparring¡± whenever his mood soured. This same Lohengrin, for the first time ever, was smiling kindly at his brother-in-law. ¡°So I hear you¡¯re leaving. My, how could this be? A divorce, of all things? We¡¯ve spent years together, building memories.¡± ¡®This lunatic.¡¯ How skillfully he spouts nonsense. Those so-called ¡°memories¡± consisted only of him venting his anger by beating Isaac in forced training matches. Lohengrin lowered his voice conspiratorially, his smile turning sly. ¡°That bitch Rihanna demanded a divorce from you, didn¡¯t she? She¡¯s aiming for the family head position! Father said it¡¯s fine if she bears a child, but if she¡¯s opting for divorce instead, don¡¯t you see what it means?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The eldest son and the eldest daughter¡ª This conversation revealed exactly why Arandel might have struggled to choose between them, despite the eldest son being older by a year. ¡°If she has a child, she can¡¯t become head of the family. That¡¯s why she¡¯s going for a divorce! By divorcing, she ensures she won¡¯t get pregnant, leaving herself a chance at becoming the head of the family!¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± ¡°...¡± Lohengrin smirked, as if he¡¯d discovered something ingenious. ¡°Isaac, don¡¯t you want revenge? Don¡¯t you crave a thrilling payback against Rihanna who cast you aside just for the sake of the head¡¯s seat?!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ve got to get stronger.¡± With a conspiratorial grin, he slipped something from his chest into Isaac¡¯s hand. ¡°This here.¡± ¡°You know what this is, right? Rose Elixir! Helmut¡¯s family-only permitted tonic!¡± Lohengrin leaned in, his voice a sticky whisper. ¡°As the eldest son, I can get this for you. Drink it, survive, grow stronger, and return. I¡¯m counting on you, brother.¡± Winking, Lohengrin departed, presumably back to his training. ¡®¡°Brother,¡± my ass.¡¯ In this life, until just a few days ago, he¡¯d forced Isaac to grip a sword and pummeled him for not improving his swordsmanship. Now he acted as if he was doing him a favor, all because he wanted to undermine Rihanna and secure his own position as head of the household. ¡°Um, Isaac, sir?¡± ¡°Just pretend you didn¡¯t see anything.¡± Jonathan glanced around nervously. With a sigh, Isaac opened the lid of the so-called Rose Elixir he¡¯d been handed. Its distinctive fragrance was faint. ¡°Click.¡± Rose Elixir? More like bullshit. It was diluted, and then diluted some more. Clearly worthless. ¡®He probably plans to frame Rihanna by claiming she gave a live-in son-in-law like me this restricted family tonic.¡¯ Isaac sighed. No doubt the moment he left, Lohengrin would point to discrepancies in the ledgers and try to pressure Rihanna. ¡®Pathetic.¡¯ Honestly, it was hard to imagine Rihanna being swayed by such petty schemes. Isaac glanced back. Inside the mansion, Rihanna didn¡¯t appear. She had likely drunk herself into a deep sleep last night. [Take care.] It was a pitiful final word of farewell for someone setting out, but¡ª ¡°Let¡¯s go, Jonathan.¡± He no longer wished to remain in this mansion. With that, Isaac and Jonathan departed for the frontlines. *** [Isaac, the Grandmaster said it, didn¡¯t he? If only your legs had been intact, you would have surely become a great swordmaster.] It was a vivid memory. A white-haired woman smiled as she spoke to me. ¡®That¡¯s just empty comfort.¡¯ When I gave a bitter smile, the woman¡¯s expression turned serious. [The Grandmaster offering mere consolation? And I feel the same. If only your legs had been fine, if only you hadn¡¯t become that damned Helmut family¡¯s son-in-law¡­] ¡®Don¡¯t get worked up. You tend to get too emotional.¡¯ [Those Helmut bastards are all muscle-brained idiots. They couldn¡¯t even recognize your talent.] ¡®You¡¯re not listening, are you?¡¯ [Silent sword Isaac! The man who wields a sword through words and knowledge. We all know how much your instructional manuals have helped. Thanks to you, my spearwork has advanced by several levels.] S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡®Alright, I get it. How many times are you going to say that?¡¯ [I mean it, Isaac.] [Truly.] [Thank you.] [It¡¯s such a shame we met so late.] ¡®Have you been drinking?¡¯ [It must be because the showdown with the Transcendent Race is almost upon us. There¡¯s probably no chance we¡¯ll survive, right?] ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ [If I had met you earlier, surely our family wouldn¡¯t have perished so meaninglessly.] ¡®You¡¯re overestimating me.¡¯ [Really? You think so? I don¡¯t.] She gave a bitter smile. [It¡¯s late, Isaac. Go get some sleep.] ¡®Yeah, you too, don¡¯t push yourself too hard, Caldias.¡¯ [¡­¡­Hey, you know.] ¡®Hm?¡¯ [Silverna.] ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ [My original name that I discarded for the sake of the family.] ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ [Silverna Caldias.] ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ [That is my real name, Isaac.] *** ¡°Isaac!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± At Jonathan¡¯s call, I slowly opened my eyes. Several days had passed. I¡¯d been riding in this carriage for so long that my body ached in various places. Still, youth is a blessing. I loosened my still-unbelievable right foot and listened to Jonathan shouting. ¡°We¡¯re almost there! Even though it¡¯s the very frontline, the road is pretty clear, so we made good time, huh?¡± ¡°Yawn¡­ Yeah, seems like it.¡± A white puff of breath escaped with my yawn. Even wrapped in blankets, a chilly draft seeped in through the carriage, chilling me through and through. This is the northern part of the kingdom. Here stands the great Malidan Barrier, built to hold back the swarms of beasts. And defending it is¡ª ¡°From here on, it¡¯s enemy territory, so we must be cautious!¡± ¡°Enemy territory? They¡¯re nobles of the same kingdom. What enemy?¡± After camping out with Jonathan for a few days, I¡¯ve learned something. Put nicely, he¡¯s pure-hearted. Put bluntly, he¡¯s a fool. He even seems to be bullied. He said something about ¡®training¡¯ that involved controlling his sleep, food, outings, even bathroom breaks. Once, he even wet himself¡­ ¡°Isaac-nim! Isn¡¯t this the Caldias territory? They¡¯re Helmut¡¯s rival! Helmut the Greatsword, Kaldias the Spear!¡± He tried to make it sound like some grand heroic saga, but it¡¯s just noble pride and rivalry in the end. Anyway, it¡¯s true that Helmut and Caldias don¡¯t get along. This is exactly why Rihanna was worried. Just mentioning we¡¯re from Helmut will likely make them hostile. ¡°What if they beat us up? I used to get rolled up in blankets and thrashed at night. This time, they might actually pummel us for real!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, luckily both of us have plenty of experience taking hits.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been beaten up before too, Isaac-nim!?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen Helmut¡¯s direct heirs ¡®helping¡¯ with their training?¡± I got beaten there all day. Any Helmut knight should know that. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t participate in training. I¡¯ve only been a Helmut knight for a year.¡± ¡°Then what have you been doing?¡± ¡°Lately, I¡¯ve been doing horse-imitation training! Since a knight must know how to connect with horses, they said.¡± ¡°You id¡ª¡­ Ahem, Jonathan? Seriously, drop being a knight. At least in Helmut. Maybe somewhere else?¡± ¡°My heart is made of roses!¡± ¡°Then you¡¯d be dead already.¡± With a sigh, I looked up at the approaching Malidan Barrier. I never came here in my past life, but it looks just as I¡¯d heard. ¡®I can see why the northern people revere the Malidan Barrier as something sacred.¡¯ It¡¯s like a colossal statue safeguarding humanity. Countless marks and scars of time serve as medals, proof of how long this wall has protected our lands. In my past life, when the Malidan Barrier finally fell¡ª The kingdom¡¯s defenses were pushed back helplessly. If Helmut¡¯s greatsword hadn¡¯t stood firm, the capital would have quickly fallen. As we neared the wall¡ª ¡°Hah! I knew I smelled some sickly sweet honey stench that only some piss-stained brat would like!¡± A thunderous female voice boomed across the sky, followed by cackling laughter from atop the wall. ¡°Spreading girly flower scents up here in the North?! So cloying it makes the bear meat I ate today want to crawl back up!¡± ¡°I-I-¡­Isaac-nim?¡± ¡°Stop the carriage, Jonathan.¡± ¡°Y-Yes!¡± Jonathan pulled the reins with a squeak, halting the carriage. A woman looked down at Isaac from atop the wall, her brows furrowing. ¡°Ha! I am the spear and shield of the Malidan Barrier!¡± I hadn¡¯t even spoken, yet she proudly introduced herself. ¡°Silverna Caldias! Now state your identity, you runt!¡± I let out a hollow laugh. So at this time, she still hadn¡¯t discarded the name Silverna. ¡®Yes, Silverna.¡¯ As the winds carry me, I¡¯ve come to meet you. ¡°Hey! Who are you, you pipsqueak?!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 3 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 6: First Draft Rumors were spreading like wildfire along the Malidan Barrier ramparts these days, leaving the soldiers¡¯ mouths chattering non-stop. Thanks to that, they¡¯d managed to forget the cold for a little while. Time flew by even during guard duty. Soldiers who were normally quiet found themselves chatting more than usual. There were two hot topics. One was obviously the beast den. ¡°Those beast dens are holding out longer than I expected.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen some beasts I¡¯ve never encountered before. They¡¯re not hugely threatening, but still, it might be worth calling in a beast scholar from the capital to investigate¡ª.¡± ¡°Repairs on the ramparts continue every day, but we may need to change the schedule. There have been cases where the beasts launch surprise attacks during the repair hours.¡± It wasn¡¯t the first or second time that a beast den had formed outside the walls of Malidan Barrier. However, this one had lasted unusually long, so they had requested support from the kingdom¡¯s internal nobility. The second topic, of course, was about the soon-to-arrive son-in-law from Helmut, who had answered the call for reinforcements. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Helmut? Is Helmut really coming?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t they sending the Sword Emperor this time? And he¡¯s coming here?¡± ¡°I heard they¡¯re sending the son-in-law. They¡¯re still calling it Helmut, so I guess it¡¯s got to be them.¡± ¡°Ha, how unlike them to resort to trickery. Those orcs who know nothing but raw strength.¡± Inside the walls of Malidan Barrier, in a small tavern. This wasn¡¯t just any tavern¡ªit was personally established by the Lord of the castle himself, a gesture of goodwill from the Margrave to support the frontline soldiers defending the ramparts. In fact, this place served as both a rest area and an improvised strategy room at the very front lines of Malidan Barrier. Among the knights seated there, one figure sipped juice instead of beer. Her hair was as white as freshly fallen snow. The only daughter of the Margrave, Silverna Caldias, smirked and clicked her tongue. ¡°Too bad, I was hoping the eldest daughter would come.¡± ¡°Ooooh!¡± ¡°As expected of the young lady!¡± ¡°Even Helmut¡¯s Blood Rose would¡¯ve dropped to their knees in one blow before the young lady¡¯s spear!¡± Cheering erupted from every corner of the tavern. Silverna raised a hand to calm them down, then grabbed the spear placed beside her. Her adjutant, Anna, who had been sitting across from her, hurriedly rose to follow. ¡°Time to stand guard!¡± ¡°Have a safe watch!¡± ¡°Young lady, best of luck today!¡± ¡°Sure thing.¡± With a lethargic reply, she stepped outside. ¡°Achoo!¡± A gust of chilly wind made Anna, who followed behind Silverna, wrinkle her nose. ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s April, and it¡¯s still freezing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s always like this here.¡± Just stepping outside brought the colossal ramparts into view. As long as the Malidan Barrier ramparts stood, the abnormal cold would never disappear. On their way to the wall for duty, Anna kept up her endless chatter. ¡°But young lady, you don¡¯t really have to be on duty, do you?¡± The Margrave and lord of this land, Uldiran Caldias, was Silverna¡¯s father. As his only daughter, she didn¡¯t need to serve guard duty like a common soldier. ¡°I¡¯m a soldier who defends these walls as well. Of course I have to stand guard. And Anna, you¡¯re only saying that because you don¡¯t like having to serve when I do.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Anna, pinpointed so accurately, blushed in embarrassment. ¡°You should have just stayed on as a lady-in-waiting. Why insist on learning spearwork and following me around?¡± ¡°Because! It¡¯s my duty to serve and support you, young lady! It¡¯s been that way since we were children!¡± ¡°I never imagined you¡¯d follow me into the military.¡± With a faint smile, Silverna and Anna endured the biting wind as they reached the ramparts. After receiving the handover from the previous guards, they climbed atop the wall. Unlike the front-line duties, the rear rampart guard was more relaxed. After all, there were no beasts attacking from behind. That meant fewer personnel were stationed here. ¡°Rear rampart duty is kinda boring.¡± ¡°Most people are thrilled when it¡¯s their turn for rear rampart duty. They say it¡¯s comfortable here.¡± ¡°No tension at all.¡± Yawning, Silverna flipped through the transit lists passed on during the handover. Most of the arrivals on the list were nobles. They had asked the nobility for support, and they had responded by sending people to Malidan Barrier, but¡­ ¡°Tsk.¡± Silverna clicked her tongue in disapproval. ¡°Look at this, Anna. Drakemoor, Hyrendel, Blackson, Silverbrook¡ªthese famous houses all sent nobodies whose names I¡¯ve never even heard before.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± ¡°The front lines are just a training camp for their wannabes, huh?¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s no safer place to gain real combat experience than Malidan Barrier. Plus, they might even pick up some spear technique pointers.¡± ¡°Tsk, why did we even call for support we don¡¯t need? Why should we help nobles who only look out for their own interests?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t help it, right? The law says if a beast den persists for three months, we have to mobilize the nobility?¡± ¡°It¡¯s ridiculous, isn¡¯t it?! Are we the ones going out to fight them outside? No, we¡¯re guardians of the walls! All we need to do is keep busting those beasts¡¯ heads until the den naturally disperses! So what if it takes some extra time¡ª!¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I know. Everyone knows, but there¡¯s nothing we can do.¡± ¡°The royal family is deliberately not repealing that law. They¡¯re using us to train these young nobles!¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re contributing to the kingdom, aren¡¯t you? Isn¡¯t that great?¡± ¡°¡­Anna, are you sulking because of what I said earlier?¡± Anna silently checked the list. Everyone who was supposed to come had arrived, except for the most important house that was still missing. ¡°Helmut still isn¡¯t here?¡± ¡°If they had arrived, the rumors would¡¯ve spread already.¡± This was such a remote region, and the people here had lived and fought side-by-side for years. News traveled fast. They were soldiers who would never take even one step back from the ramparts¡ª But their tongues were lighter than the falling snow. ¡°Rihanna¡¯s husband¡­ I¡¯ve never met him before.¡± ¡°Oh right, you didn¡¯t go to the wedding. You lost to Lady Rihanna back then, remember?¡± Momentarily flaring up, Silverman retorted. ¡°I did not lose! I was just tired out after facing the eldest son first!¡± ¡°The eldest daughter was far stronger than the eldest son, right?¡± ¡°To a point where you can¡¯t even compare them.¡± Silverna clicked her tongue and then wondered aloud. ¡°A commoner who melted that woman¡¯s heart, which was colder than the North¡­ Honestly, I¡¯m a bit curious.¡± ¡°I heard he was a ferryman who rowed a boat across a river. They say he was popular for being handsome and a smooth talker.¡± ¡°A ferryman?¡± ¡°Yes! Society was in an uproar over this marriage that crossed social status¡ªa once-in-a-century romantic affair. Isn¡¯t it romantic?¡± ¡°Romantic, huh.¡± For someone like Silverna, who had actually seen Rihanna Helmut in person, she couldn¡¯t imagine a woman less suited to the word ¡°romantic.¡± ¡°The Helmut carriage is entering!¡± At the soldier¡¯s shout, Silverna grinned broadly and dashed off. ¡°M- My Lady?! You can¡¯t do anything rash! They are guests who¡¯ve arrived under the name of Helmut!¡± ¡°If they¡¯ve come to the Malidan Barrier Wall, they have to follow the Caldias way, romantically.¡± Her smile brimmed with mischief. Before anyone knew it, her gaze had fixed on the lavish Helmut carriage. **** The front gate opened with a roar like a giant¡¯s lament. Walking beside the carriage, Isaac gave a word of caution to Jonathan. ¡°Jonathan, don¡¯t act scared. The moment you cower needlessly, they¡¯ll look down on you even more.¡± ¡°R-Right. I am the illustrious Rose of Helmut!¡± That¡¯s not a bad way to think of it. Even if he hadn¡¯t wished for it, now he was here bearing the Helmut name. ¡°Welcome to Malidan Barrier.¡± Upon entering, a soldier greeted them with a sarcastic grin. In truth, all those stationed here were practically private soldiers under the Caldias family. It was only natural they wouldn¡¯t look kindly upon arrivals from Helmut. ¡®And Silverna openly mocked them as well.¡¯ Thanks to that, the other soldiers here were bound to look down on them. ¡®Now I see why the head of the house didn¡¯t want to send anyone here.¡¯ Imagine if the eldest son, Lohengrin, had come here. The moment the gate opened, he would have drawn his greatsword and charged straight in. Silverna would have subdued him, perfectly establishing a hierarchy from the start. ¡°The lodgings for the dispatched nobles are in that building over there. If you find it uncomfortable¡ª¡± The soldier subtly hinted while pointing at a shabby building. No doubt some arrogant young nobles found the accommodations unacceptable and caused a fuss, but in the end, they all must have entered meekly. This isn¡¯t a place that would tolerate unruly young nobles. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s go, Jonathan.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± With Jonathan forcing his shoulders back, trying to exude confidence, they led their carriage toward the lodging. ¡°Huh?¡± The soldier, who knew all too well the notorious arrogance of Helmut, never expected such an answer and stared blankly at Isaac as he departed. **** ¡°They didn¡¯t cause a ruckus?¡± ¡°On the contrary, they were quite gentlemanly. I¡¯m¡­ a bit flustered.¡± On top of the ramparts. Silverna, who had been certain that the Helmut son-in-law would cause an uproar over the insult, was now left looking puzzled, spear in hand. ¡°The provocation didn¡¯t work, huh.¡± ¡°I heard he¡¯s from a commoner background, but it seems he knows how to show restraint.¡± Given that he bore the Helmut name, she had naturally assumed he would have a similar temperament to theirs. ¡°I never would¡¯ve guessed he¡¯d endure being called pipsqueak.¡± ¡°So what will you do now? You know it would be troublesome if you cause a disturbance in the nobles¡¯ quarters.¡± ¡°I know, I¡¯m not some petty thug. If they came all gentlemanly on their end, I don¡¯t plan on being rough with them.¡± ¡°Then¡ª¡± ¡°But.¡± With her spear slung over her back, Silverna grinned widely and continued. ¡°I should still let our esteemed guests from Helmut know what kind of place this is.¡± ¡°My Lady?!¡± Just as she was about to leave the ramparts to head to the nobles¡¯ quarters, Silverna stopped in her tracks and returned to her post, muttering to herself. ¡°I¡¯m still on duty. Almost made a mistake.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°After my shift ends, I¡¯ll go!¡± **** The nobles¡¯ quarters weren¡¯t bad at all. At least he got a room to himself. Aides like Jonathan stayed in the adjacent building. Before coming to his own room, Isaac had taken a look¡ªover there, it was more like a large barracks hall where everyone bunked together. ¡°Compared to that, this isn¡¯t so bad.¡± It was modest, but it had the essentials. A bed, a desk, a chair. It wasn¡¯t much different from a guest room in Helmut, so there was nothing to complain about. After roughly unpacking, Isaac took out the paper, ink, and pen he had brought with him. ¡®Thank goodness it¡¯s not frozen.¡¯ Sitting at the desk, he began to write. Wielding a sword through words. The ¡°Silent Blade Isaac¡±¡ªmany had uttered that title with respect, though Isaac himself had never desired such a moniker. That¡¯s why¡­ The first book he would write in this new life would be none other than: ¡°My Sword.¡± A manual just for himself. In his previous life, he had written close to dozens of books, but among them, not a single volume, not a single line, had been for himself. ¡®This is fun.¡¯ He had mulled over these thoughts hundreds, thousands of times in his mind. Sentences he had given up on ever bringing to the world, due to his crippled right leg, now poured forth unimpeded. ¡®This is so much fun.¡¯ The theories once blocked by the walls of reality now crossed the barriers of time and flowed freely. Black ink, elegant penmanship, and the scratch of the pen¡¯s nib¡­ ¡®I¡¯m having so much fun!¡¯ His heart pounding with excitement, Isaac found his pen moving faster and faster without him even realizing it. [You¡¯re like a child who yearns for the stars. Even knowing it¡¯s impossible, you keep reaching for them until the end.] ¡®Master, you were right.¡¯ Back then, he had denied it. He didn¡¯t want to acknowledge the tragedy of being able to hold only a pen instead of a sword. ¡®I never gave up, not even for a single moment.¡¯ So thrilled at finally using his knowledge for himself, he lost track of time. The sun had long since set. Though the night had grown dark, not a shadow fell upon his room. For Isaac¡¯s eyes shone more brilliantly than any star outside. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 3 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 7: Silent Prayer Isaac continued writing until late into the evening. Before he realized it, it was dinnertime. ¡°Phew.¡± He had concentrated so intensely that he felt a slight headache, yet the sense of satisfaction was even greater. He opened the window and let the cold night air wash over him. Even in April, a chill wind, sharp as a blade, grazed his cheek. ¡°Whoa.¡± As he urgently reached out to catch the papers that nearly blew away in the breeze, he noticed the rose-patterned vial on the desk. It was the ¡°Rose Elixir¡± that Lohengrin, the eldest son, had handed him before arriving. They said it was a Helmut-made potion that could enhance one¡¯s physical abilities if consumed. Usually, such concoctions strain the body, so if you don¡¯t have blessed genetics, you¡¯d end up in trouble by drinking it recklessly. ¡®It seems it¡¯s diluted.¡¯ He was deliberating whether or not to try it when¡ª Knock, knock, knock. A knock came from outside. After bundling and tidying up his manuscript, he opened the door. There stood Silverna Caldias, distinguished by her pure-white hair like snowflakes. ¡°Allow me to formally reintroduce myself. I am Silverna.¡± ¡°I am Isaac Helmut.¡± ¡®A bob cut, huh.¡¯ In the previous life, her hair had been so long it reached down to her waist. Now it only came down to around her shoulders. ¡°Your welcoming gesture was truly memorable. I could sense the pride of Caldias.¡± ¡°I wished to see the Helmut Household¡¯s blazing sword for myself, so my eagerness got the best of me. Please forgive my discourtesy.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s unfortunate. As a son-in-law by marriage, I¡¯m not in a position to wield a greatsword or show off any ¡®blazing blade.¡¯¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ve shown even greater discourtesy.¡± Their gazes crossed. Polite, but insincere smiles played at the corners of their lips. If he were to summarize the conversation that had just transpired without hesitation: ¡®Your attitude at the fortress wall left a nasty taste in my mouth.¡¯ ¡®And you put up with that?¡¯ ¡®I lost, didn¡¯t I?¡¯ ¡®Pathetic.¡¯ Just as Silverna, wearing a graceful smile, opened her mouth to say something¡ª ¡°Drop the pretense, Silverna Caldias.¡± As Isaac took the initiative, Silverna¡¯s smile began to fade, and soon her face went blank. Then, as her lips curved upward again, her reply bristled with a competitive, spirited tone. ¡°You¡¯re more straightforward than I expected. My cheeks were cramping from forcing that smile.¡± ¡°You started this sham back at the fortress wall. Don¡¯t pretend now.¡± ¡°Anna advised me. She said that using polite speech at this point would only piss you off more.¡± ¡®Anna?¡¯ Isaac¡¯s gaze drifted over Silverna¡¯s shoulder. Behind her stood a somewhat short woman by the door, bowing her head. That must be Anna. She was Silverna¡¯s closest friend, someone she had yearned for so much. A former handmaid who learned to wield a spear and enlisted in the military alongside Silverna. In the previous life, it was said she tragically died when the Malidan Barrier was breached. ¡°I heard you seduced Rihanna Helmut. Well, your face is quite handsome. But that¡¯s all there is to it, right?¡± Silverna wore an enigmatic smile. ¡°You¡¯re said to be so eloquent, hm? With that tongue that seduced the ¡®Blood Rose Beauty,¡¯ could you handle tomorrow¡¯s ¡®encouragement speech¡¯ for us?¡± ¡°An encouragement speech?¡± ¡°Most of the dispatched nobles have arrived. Starting tomorrow, there will be some light training and then they¡¯ll be assigned to field posts. The idea is to rev everyone up, get them all excited to work together.¡± ¡°Am I even allowed to do that?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a Helmut, aren¡¯t you? No matter how lackluster, who would dare oppose a Helmut?¡± ¡°Well, alright.¡± Isaac readily agreed. A good idea had occurred to him. Silverna, seemingly annoyed that he looked so calm and collected, just had to add one more comment: ¡°My father will also attend. So it¡¯s best if you prepare thoroughly.¡± ¡°Got it. Is that all you have to say?¡± ¡°Uh, oh¡­ yes, that¡¯s it.¡± ¡°Then could you let me rest? I¡¯m still fatigued from the journey.¡± In truth, more than recovering from any travel fatigue, he just wanted to hurry back and continue writing. He had plenty of time to teach Silverna a thing or two anyway. There were still about two months until the Sword Festival began, so delaying a bit wouldn¡¯t hurt. At Isaac¡¯s dismissal, Silverna stepped back, hesitating. ¡°Hey, um.¡± She suddenly shrugged her shoulders and whispered quietly: ¡°Does Rihanna Helmut ever, you know, act cute or charming in front of you?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± As Isaac frowned, wondering what kind of question that was, Silverna, flustered, hurriedly added: ¡°No! It¡¯s just that the Rihanna Helmut I know seems like she¡¯d never engage in anything resembling romance!¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t act cute.¡± ¡°Then what does she call you? ¡®Husband¡¯? ¡®Dear¡¯? ¡®Darling¡¯?¡± ¡°Isaac.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± They locked eyes for a moment. Silverna nodded as if she understood, then left the room. ¡°See, Anna! I told you there¡¯s no way that woman could be smitten by a man!¡± ¡°Romance has returned to reality.¡± Hearing their conversation drifting in from the hallway, Isaac smiled faintly and picked up his pen once more. *** The next morning. Countless people had gathered at the training grounds. Aside from those assigned to defend the walls, all the soldiers of the Malidan Barrier stood in neat rows and columns. Their dense formation resembled a thick shield. The grandeur of it all was beyond words, and it filled one with pride that these warriors defended the kingdom. ¡°Isaac-nim will be giving the encouragement speech¡­ If it were me, I¡¯d be too nervous to even step forward.¡± Was it because of the cold? Jonathan, making a fuss, looked around frantically. Isaac sighed and tapped Jonathan on the back. ¡°Be still. Don¡¯t fidget.¡± ¡°Y-Yes! Sorry!¡± They stood among the line of dispatched nobles. Unlike the orderly soldiers of the Malidan, they looked like a ragtag group. Most of them had little battle experience, but their potential had earned them recognition as rising talents. ¡°W-Wow, that¡¯s Uldiran Caldias.¡± At Jonathan¡¯s words, Isaac followed his gaze. A man larger than even Arandel, the head of House Helmut, was walking by. He had pulled all his white hair back and tied it neatly; his well-groomed beard was impressive. He was known as the Giant of the North, Uldiran Caldias. Trailing behind him was his only daughter, Silverna Caldias. Once Uldiran Caldias took his seat behind the podium, the ceremony began. Such events tended to follow a predictable pattern. Salute the flag, Sing the national anthem, perform drills, and so on. ¡°Next, we will have an encouragement speech from the representative of the nobles, Isaac Helmut of House Helmut.¡± It was time for the encouragement speech. Naturally, the gazes fixed upon Isaac Helmut were anything but warm. Within the perfect silence upheld by the Malidan soldiers, their cold, piercing stares flew at him. From their standpoint, as those serving under Caldias, it was only natural to look unfavorably upon a Helmut. And it wasn¡¯t only the Malidan soldiers who felt this way. The dispatched nobles even voiced their displeasure outright. ¡°Tch, what¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Is this some kind of joke? Are they flattering him just because he¡¯s a Helmut?¡± ¡°He¡¯s got black hair, doesn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Caldias must have fallen to ruin.¡± ¡°They¡¯re trying to intimidate us, getting the jump on us first.¡± They knew that the Helmut was a great house, but they themselves hailed from respectable lineages. So they naturally resented Caldias for unilaterally choosing this commoner-born son-in-law as so-called ¡®representative.¡¯ Amidst their discontented stares and murmurs, Isaac climbed the podium as if pushed from behind. ¡®Heavy.¡¯ Countless soldiers and nobles filled his view. Yet even more oppressive than their gazes was the pressure from behind¡ª that of Uldiran Caldias, whose stare bore down as if crushing Isaac¡¯s shoulders. ¡®Equal to Arandel in stature.¡¯ Though the world often deemed Arandel superior, and perhaps that was true, it was said that on a given day, the outcome between the two would depend on who was in better condition. They were equally matched. Approaching the purple jewel set atop the podium¡ªenchanted to amplify one¡¯s voice¡ªIsaac Helmut lowered his lips to it and began, with calm composure: ¡°Warriors, be great.¡± He didn¡¯t even bother with a greeting. Just that simple phrase. Yet it was enough to seize everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Follow your calling.¡± Because that phrase¡ª ¡°Warriors, simply be great.¡± ¡ªwas a famous motto of Wolfdren Caldias, the founding patriarch of Caldias and the very man who had personally overseen the construction of the Malidan Barrier. In other words, a Helmut representative had just uttered words akin to the motto of their sworn rivals, the Caldias house. ¡°I came here wondering what truth lay behind the command to ¡®be great.¡¯ After all, as you all know, ¡®be great¡¯ is somewhat abstract, isn¡¯t it?¡± There was a suffocating murderous aura. The tension and pressure poured in from all sides. Especially behind him. Uldiran Caldias¡¯s presence pressed so heavily that if Isaac let down his guard for even a moment, it felt like a spear tip would pierce his heart. A Helmut¡ª Daring to question their conviction? Unfazed by the sharp glares that pricked his skin like the icy wind, Isaac Helmut continued: ¡°What does it mean to be great? I kept wondering. Is it to defend the kingdom against monsters from behind these walls?¡± ¡°To wield a massive greatsword and cut down your foes in a single blow? To uphold honor and conviction, eradicating injustice? To use one¡¯s words to force the enemy into surrender?¡± ¡°Oh, these are all indeed great. They truly are.¡± The dispatched nobles glared at Isaac with narrowed eyes. Their looks screamed: ¡®Read the room! Just shut up!¡¯ Such was the ferocity swirling around the training grounds. The atmosphere burned so hot it felt like it could melt the northern chill. ¡°However, here is what I think:¡± ¡°True greatness¡­ is that which even the ordinary can be brought into.¡± Isaac¡¯s voice carried genuine conviction, his fist clenched tight. ¡°Some are exalted from birth, blessed by the goddess¡¯ bloodline. They exalt themselves simply because they were born into lofty positions.¡± ¡°More admirable than those who are considered great merely because of the circumstances of their birth, are those who can make the ordinary into something great! That is what truly deserves reverence.¡± A subtle shift in the atmosphere ensued. ¡®Great because of their birth.¡¯ Who fit this description better than the Helmuts themselves? Their innate colossal strength and physical prowess could only be described as the goddess¡¯ blessing. ¡°And today, right here, I have witnessed precisely such greatness. I hope you all will see it as well.¡± He snatched the decorative spear from below the podium and raised it high, shouting: ¡°Look at this! The very thing that you yourselves hold in your hands!¡± The soldiers¡¯ gazes drifted to the spears they each gripped. Their anger dissolved into puzzled looks, as if they had forgotten their fury. Wearing a faint smile, Isaac cried out: ¡°If anyone were to say, ¡®I will learn the art of war!¡¯ then I would proclaim:¡± ¡°Look to the North! Look upon that high wall! Look upon the most grandly soaring spear of Caldias in all the continent!¡± The world¡¯s common evaluation of the Caldias spear style was simple: It was grounded in the basics, universal, and easy to learn. Because the North had fewer people, the technique was designed so any soldier could master it. This made it easy to dismiss. Anyone could pick it up. After all, even a certain noble lady¡¯s maid learned the spear and volunteered alongside the daughter of the Border Margrave. That spoke volumes. ¡®Though in my past life, I was called the Silent Sword, never having properly swung a blade¡­¡¯ As a man who compiled countless books, he could declare this with certainty: When it comes to martial precision, none can compare to Caldias. ¡°To those of you who hold the spears of Caldias! Following the final words of Wolfdren, you are simply warriors of greatness!¡± ¡°I know for certain that not even a single colossal sword can mow down hundreds or thousands of spears!¡± ¡°And I know this too! That you, in your greatness, even if your heads were severed or your hearts pierced, would not take a single step back!¡± Because that¡¯s exactly how they truly were. He knew it all too well. He had been told by a woman who bore all their deaths on her shoulders, who cast aside her name to live as merely ¡®Caldias.¡¯ S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Great guardians of the Malidan frontline who protect it!¡± His voice now dropped to a calm, low tone. ¡°I thank you for your pure and unwavering devotion.¡± A gentle smile graced Isaac Helmut¡¯s lips. ¡°And to share this meaningful moment, let us offer a brief silent prayer to the great heroes who have completed their duty and now rest beneath this land.¡± Slowly, With eyes gently closing, ¡°Let us bow our heads in a moment of silent prayer.¡± As Isaac Helmut bowed his head, In an instant, the guardians of Malidan also lowered theirs. ¡®Thank you.¡¯ Some years from now, they would hold the kingdom¡¯s strategists in awe by enduring an entire month without any aid, despite everyone¡¯s certainty that the wall would fall in just five days. ¡¯To all of you standing before me now¡ª ¡®I¡¯m truly glad I have this chance to thank you.¡¯ You defended it well. You endured so bravely. Your struggle was indeed great. It¡¯s terribly late, but: Once again, with gratitude¡ª Please accept my silent prayer.¡¯ ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 3 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 8: Inexperienced in the North Right before the speech of encouragement. Watching the soldiers gather in the drill yard from a distance, Silverna Caldias waited for the head of the house to arrive. Standing right behind her was her maid and aide, Anna, her expression dark. ¡°Monsters are not decreasing,¡± Anna said. ¡°¡­¡­I¡¯ve seen and heard it too,¡± Silverna replied. ¡°It¡¯s strange. This could very well turn into a great den if things go the way they¡¯re going, my lady.¡± ¡°Haah.¡± A heavy sigh carried the weight of her troubled thoughts. If it really turned out to be a great monster den, it would be the first in twenty-three years. That might even trigger a second noble summons. ¡°For now, keep the soldiers¡¯ mouths shut. If these random nobles who just arrived hear talk of a great den and panic, we¡¯ll get nowhere.¡± ¡°Yes, my lady.¡± With that, their conversation ended, and both sets of eyes drifted naturally toward the drill yard. Silverna, trying to lift the somber and serious mood, flashed a small grin and asked, ¡°What do you think his speech of encouragement will be like?¡± Out among the nobles stood Isaac Helmut, catching her eye. Among nobles who ate well, dressed well, and slept in fine places, his appearance stood out brightly. Because of that, it was easy to find him. ¡°He probably doesn¡¯t have much time, right? Still, he must have managed at least a formal encouraging address,¡± Anna said. ¡°That¡¯s the problem. Anna, listen carefully to your mistress¡¯ plan.¡± ¡°¡­¡­I¡¯m enlisting in the army now, so the Malidan Barrier is my master,¡± Anna said dryly. Ignoring Anna¡¯s remark, Silverna began a grandiose explanation. ¡°If it were a run-of-the-mill noble speaking, the soldiers might just listen halfheartedly. But this is a speech by a Helmut. The soldiers will be all ears, glaring, waiting to hear what he dares to say.¡± Before an audience that already held him in poor regard, even a bland, safe speech could become poison. ¡°And the nobles? The dispatched nobles seem displeased that someone of common birth was chosen to represent them,¡± Anna noted. Indeed, several nobles standing crookedly out of line could already be seen. ¡°It¡¯s a power play. It¡¯s a way of showing them that they won¡¯t be treated as highly here,¡± Silverna said. For Isaac Helmut, it was a perfect chance to openly show him how hostile the Malidan Barrier was toward them, and for the haughty nobles, a clever move to cut them down to size. Silverna cast a glance at Anna as if urging her to praise her cleverness. ¡°Ah, the head of the house is coming,¡± Anna said. ¡°You mean it¡¯s an honor to serve such a remarkable lady? Thank you.¡± Together with Uldiran Caldias, the two made their way toward the platform. Positioned behind the head of the house, the two stood silently, waiting for the encouragement speech to begin. ¡°Oh, he¡¯s here.¡± ¡°My lady, shh.¡± Silverna, watching Isaac ascend the platform with an expression far better than anticipated, felt a strange sense of unease. ¡®What is this¡­?¡¯ He must have noticed the hostile atmosphere pressing in from all sides. Yet he stood there so boldly. Did he have something up his sleeve? From the very first words Isaac Helmut uttered at the podium, Silverna felt disconcerted. ¡°Warriors, be great.¡± ¡°Follow your calling.¡± ¡°Warriors, simply be great.¡± ¡°What?¡± A small gasp escaped Anna by her side. In contrast, Uldiran Caldias and Silverna pressed their lips together, watching him from behind. ¡°I came here wondering what truth lay behind the command to ¡®be great.¡¯ After all, as you all know, ¡®be great¡¯ is somewhat abstract, isn¡¯t it?¡± At that very moment Silverna felt her head heat up with anger. ¡°How dare he¡ª.¡± Her teeth clenched audibly, and her hostility toward Isaac surged anew. The words ¡°be great¡± were the creed of the house¡¯s founder, Wolfdren. How dare a Helmut outsider question them¡ªespecially in front of the head of the house? She wanted nothing more than to strike him down right then and there. Even Uldiran Caldias, the head of the house, bristled with a murderous aura toward him. Yet¡­ As the speech continued, the atmosphere began to change. ¡°However, here is what I think: True greatness¡­ is that which even the ordinary can be brought into.¡± This could be taken as a direct jab at Helmut, and the fiery rage that had surged so fiercely suddenly found no clear outlet. ¡°Look at this! The very thing that you yourselves hold in your hands!¡± It was confusing enough when he gripped a spear. ¡°If anyone were to say, ¡®I will learn the art of war!¡¯ then I would proclaim:¡± ¡°Look to the North! Look upon that high wall! Look upon the most grandly soaring spear of Caldias in all the continent!¡± When he praised the Spear of Caldias, it stirred something deep inside them. The spear techniques of Caldias are common, learnable by anyone, and thus often looked down upon. Whenever someone said the head of the house was strong not because of their spear technique, but because they themselves were simply an exceptional warrior, it always sparked frustration. ¡°To those of you who hold the spears of Caldias! Following the final words of Wolfdren, you are simply warriors of greatness!¡± A tingling sensation coursed through their entire bodies. Those nobles who didn¡¯t understand and who mocked them¡­ Among them stood a man from Helmut, once seen as their polar opposite. ¡°Great guardians of the Malidan frontline who protect it!¡± He recognized them, acknowledged them. He called them ¡°great.¡± With heartfelt passion pouring from his voice, his words seeped into Caldias, who had fought and struggled against the northern cold. ¡°And to share this meaningful moment, let us offer a brief silent prayer to the great heroes who have completed their duty and now rest beneath this land.¡± He even offered a tribute to the nameless soldiers shattered by the northern cold. ¡°Let us bow our heads in a moment of silent prayer.¡± Closing their eyes and bowing their heads¡­ Those who had defended the Malidan Barrier merely lowered their eyes, holding back the hot surge rising within their chests by sheer will. **** ¡°Sniff.¡± ¡°¡­My lady, are you crying?¡± asked Anna. It was right after the event had ended and before the nobles¡¯ training began as they fell into formation. At Anna¡¯s question, Silverna Caldias quickly wiped at her eyes with her hand and shouted, ¡°N-no! I¡¯m not crying! Something just got in my eye!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Ugh, sorry,¡± Silverna muttered. She was feeling guilty. She had forced a man¡ªsomeone who respected and acknowledged Caldias more than anyone else in the kingdom¡ªonto the podium just to give him a hard time. ¡°Anna, sniff, what should I do?¡± Silverna asked, voice trembling slightly. ¡°What do you mean, what should you do? Just treat him well from now on,¡± Anna replied. ¡°How can I do that? I feel bad.¡± ¡°Come on, it¡¯s fine. From what I heard yesterday, he¡¯s got a neat and forthright personality. Didn¡¯t you say you liked that?¡± At Anna¡¯s words, Silverna looked toward Isaac Helmut, who had started running laps on the drill yard for a physical assessment. ¡°Dang it, what do I do now? I think I¡¯m starting to really like him,¡± Silverna grumbled. ¡°My lady?! He¡¯s married! The Helmut son-in-law! You mustn¡¯t forget that!¡± Anna exclaimed, startled. ¡°Who said I like him as a man?! I mean I¡¯m starting to really appreciate him as a person.¡± Her affection had soared just because he understood the Spear of Caldias. And who could blame her? He had openly and proudly acknowledged something she held dearly in her life. And he was even bearing the Helmut name, their rival house¡¯s banner! ¡°Well, true. Honestly, I¡¯m fond of him as well. I¡¯ve always been proud of the Spear of Caldias.¡± ¡°Right? Hah, why does he suddenly look so endearing?¡± ¡°My lady, please watch what you say. If strange rumors start spreading, people might say you¡¯re trying to seduce Helmut¡¯s son-in-law.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯d be the worst,¡± Silverna said, making a face of horror. Anna, who¡¯d spent years by Silverna¡¯s side, found relief in her reaction. ¡®So she¡¯s not actually seeing him romantically.¡¯ Honestly, her lady had never shown even a snowflake¡¯s worth of interest in men. Despite so many around, they were all comrades and fellow soldiers, nothing more. Men and women alike were just soldiers in her eyes. ¡°Still, maybe I can do something nice for him? He¡¯s from Helmut, so a little special treatment wouldn¡¯t be out of place, right?¡± Silverna said. ¡°My lady¡­,¡± Anna sighed. ¡°I really want to do something,¡± Silverna insisted, fidgeting anxiously. Anna, who had been watching Isaac run laps, finally offered a suggestion. ¡°What about a fur hat? It¡¯s cold here, and since he¡¯s from Helmut, his winter gear might not be warm enough.¡± ¡°Great idea! Yes, perfect. Don¡¯t we have some leftover yeti fur from last time?¡± Silverna asked eagerly. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll have a craftsman make one. I¡¯ll ask them to work on it right away.¡± ¡°Tell them to make a hat.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll also have them make gloves.¡± ¡°Two items?¡± ¡°I should give him something as well.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As mentioned before, Anna was also a soldier of the Malidan Barrier trained in the Spear of Caldias. *** ¡®34th place.¡¯ That was the rank Isaac had just received in the running assessment meant to gauge basic stamina. Out of thirty-seven dispatched nobles, he was essentially at the bottom. Then again, some nobles didn¡¯t specialize in martial skills at all. ¡®At this point in time, my past self had basically given up on training.¡¯ There had been a time when he tried hard to build strength and endurance, straining to wield Helmut¡¯s greatsword as a son-in-law. But it had proven impossible. ¡®Like a crow-tit chasing a stork, I tore my legs trying.¡¯ Realizing the futility, Isaac had gradually abandoned effort, and by the fourth wedding anniversary, he had lost a leg and fallen into utter despair. But now things were different. ¡®Running like this feels good.¡¯ Moving his body felt refreshing. Being able to run after living as a cripple felt as though the world had opened up¡ªinvigorating and liberating. The notion that it wasn¡¯t impossible provided an unexpectedly strong motivation. ¡°Just all talk, huh.¡± ¡°Acted all high and mighty, but still a commoner at heart.¡± ¡°All that sweet talk, but with that fitness level, I bet he just flailed around in bed.¡± ¡°Pfft, stop it. Don¡¯t embarrass him.¡± The nobles snickered, but Isaac hardly cared. His mind was already occupied with revising the training manual he¡¯d drafted for himself late last night. ¡®It¡¯s more flexible than I expected. My soles grip the ground well. When I get back, I need to revise the draft. Thinking back, I might¡¯ve written it too timidly, trying not to overstrain my lower body.¡¯ During the short break, as Isaac caught his breath, lost in thought¡ª ¡°Ahem.¡± A soldier serving as an instructor approached, clearing his throat softly. ¡°Hm?¡± Isaac looked up, curious. The soldier glanced around, wary of other nobles, then discreetly offered Isaac a towel from inside his jacket. ¡°You must wipe your sweat thoroughly in the North. If you let it sit, you¡¯ll catch a cold easily.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Embarrassed yet grateful, Isaac took the towel. The soldier flashed a bright smile before returning to his duties. ¡°Huh.¡± The towel was warm, steam rising from it. The other nobles, wiping their sweat with cold towels brought by their aides or attendants, shot him sharp looks. ¡°Ha, 34th place is rather poor,¡± said another approaching officer, one who seemed to hold some rank. He crouched before Isaac, tilting his head. ¡°This is probably a shoe problem. Running on snowy ground is tough. You can attach chains, but I suggest you just buy proper northern boots.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°How about it? I can introduce you to a fine craftsman. Mention my name, and he¡¯ll give you a discount.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Please, speak comfortably. Even though we¡¯re in training, you are still a noble.¡± ¡°¡­All right. Thanks. I¡¯ll go buy them.¡± He had money, so getting boots wouldn¡¯t be an issue. As training resumed, their attentive kindness didn¡¯t stop. ¡°Thermals are a must. I have a spare set I never use, want them?¡± ¡°This broom used for clearing snow¡ªdoesn¡¯t it look like a spear? By the way, did you know the basics of Caldias spear technique¡ª¡± ¡°Stretching is crucial. It¡¯s cold here, your body stiffens easily. It¡¯s to prevent injuries.¡± ¡°Are you all right?! It¡¯s slippery! Medic! Mediiic! Ah, not that serious? Good. No need to be embarrassed. We slip often, too.¡± Watching these instructors fuss over him so openly, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but laugh quietly. ¡®Should I call them naive?¡¯ He appreciated their goodwill, but they were so blatant about it that it felt almost clumsy. And then¡ª Another person lacking subtlety showed up. ¡°Ahem, ahem. Your speech¡­ was quite impressive, Isaac.¡± It was Silverna, arriving with an awkward cough. At Isaac¡¯s friendly greeting and smile, she quickly approached. ¡°You have good eyes. People tend to look down on the basics as something trivial, but in truth, fundamentals are what matter most. The fact that they ignore that shows why they dismiss Caldias. But you¡¯re different. You understand it well. The Spear of Caldias is, in fact, meticulously crafted after extensive research and¡ª¡± ¡°My lady, please stop. You¡¯re overwhelming him,¡± Anna intervened. ¡°Uhm, s-sorry.¡± Silverna stepped back awkwardly. With her lady retreating, Anna stepped forward, wearing a gentle smile, and politely announced their purpose. ¡°The Margrave has invited you to dine with him this evening.¡± ¡°The Margrave?¡± Isaac asked. ¡°Yes. Will that be all right?¡± Of course, this was just a formality¡ªrefusal wasn¡¯t really an option. Isaac nodded in agreement. Silverna and Anna were pleased and turned to leave. But before they left, they came back once more. ¡°Sss, his head is a bit small. The size might be¡­¡± muttered Silverna, taking Isaac¡¯s head in both hands and turning it this way and that, gauging measurements. ¡°His hands are unexpectedly soft. I¡¯ll order one size smaller,¡± Anna said as she measured Isaac¡¯s hand size with care. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 3 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 9: Lilac ¡°Hmm.¡± In the guest quarters assigned to visiting nobles. While the cries of the nobles echoed through the halls¡ªthanks to the brutal training they endured¡ªIsaac was busy choosing what to wear, all by himself. ¡®It¡¯s a bit disappointing.¡¯ Since he¡¯d been invited to a dinner hosted by Caldias, it was necessary to dress with a certain formality. But none of the clothes Isaac had brought seemed like the sort they would appreciate. ¡®Maybe I should kill some time writing while I wait.¡¯ He was itching to hold a pen, and his eyes kept drifting toward the manual he¡¯d placed neatly on his desk. Knock, knock, knock. ¡°Isaac-nim, I¡¯ve brought it.¡± It was Jonathan¡¯s voice from outside. Inviting him in, Isaac naturally fixed his gaze on the clothes draped over Jonathan¡¯s arm. ¡°I¡¯ve brought what you asked for, but... are you sure it¡¯s okay to use my clothes? Most of them are training outfits or gear we use for exercises¡ªcomfortable for movement, that sort of thing.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I needed.¡± ¡°Really? Haha! I¡¯m glad I could be of help!¡± Jonathan smiled brightly, happy as a child. Seeing this, Isaac found himself smiling along without realizing it. ¡®What a curious fellow.¡¯ He¡¯s as guileless as a child. Isaac thought he didn¡¯t fit in with Helmut¡¯s knights at all. ¡°How¡¯s your lodging? Gotten friendly with the others there?¡± Isaac asked, rifling through the clothes. Jonathan responded immediately, as if he¡¯d been waiting for the question. ¡°They¡¯re all very kind. Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m here under the Helmut name? They¡¯re polite, good people. Except the snoring at night is a bit intense.¡± ¡°Is that so? That must be annoying.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s all right. It¡¯s much easier than training with my seniors!¡± ¡°Yeah, I can imagine.¡± Back then, he probably barely got any sleep, constantly getting pummeled or forced to stay awake. ¡°Haha, I¡¯m really glad I was sent here. To be honest, I was worried at first, but Isaac-nim, you¡¯ve been so good to me.¡± ¡°What have I done?¡± ¡°No, really! I¡¯m so grateful. That¡¯s why I kept my mouth shut when other people complained about the nobles they serve!¡± ¡°Is that right?¡± Haha, at least this kid is loyal. ¡°As a Helmut knight, training is important, but so is taking a brief respite like this, right? My seniors must¡¯ve sent me here with that in mind.¡± As Isaac listened, his fondness for Jonathan grew. ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ But suddenly, a strange doubt crossed his mind. ¡®The knights of Helmut.¡¯ Isaac basically hates Helmut. No need to explain that further. But when it came to the knights of Helmut, it was slightly different. They were known as the kingdom¡¯s finest knights. A true knight cannot be recognized solely by skill with a blade. They must adhere to the code of chivalry¡ªethical and moral standards. ¡®Of course, the direct line of Helmut are practically thugs, but¡­¡¯ Could the knights be rotten as well? After all, they serve under Arandel, the head of the house. Would they be so corrupt? ¡°How about this outfit? I¡¯ve barely worn it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± No matter the reason, it¡¯s unacceptable for knights to bully or ostracize someone. Especially in Jonathan¡¯s case¡ªwhat he suffered was so cruel that no excuse could justify it. However¡­ A question suddenly arose in Isaac¡¯s mind. If there was a reason those knights treated Jonathan so harshly, what could it have been? **** It was the dinner time. Soft candlelight gently illuminated the dining table, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. Due to the northern climate, fermented, salted, or dried foods were common, but¡ª There were also rich, fatty meats and hot soups prepared, each tempting in its own way. ¡®How¡¯s Milli doing?¡¯ Isaac found himself missing Milli, the Helmut cook of his own age, for a moment. ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting after inviting you.¡± At that moment, the master of the house Uldiran, and his only daughter Silverna entered. Despite Uldiran¡¯s massive build, his footsteps were surprisingly quiet. ¡°I am Isaac Helmut. Thank you for inviting me to dinner this evening.¡± When Isaac greeted them with proper courtesy, Uldiran instead clapped him on the shoulder as if to downplay the formality. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat straight away. I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°Oh, come on, don¡¯t stand on ceremony,¡± said Silverna with a mischievous grin. Isaac understood. He knew they weren¡¯t the type to fuss over formalities. Even so, maintaining at least a semblance of formality was crucial for a first impression. He needed to show them respect in this way. ¡°Not much, but eat your fill.¡± Seated at the head of the long dining table, Uldiran dispensed with any pretense and invited Isaac to dine. Right from the start, Uldiran grabbed a bone-in piece of meat with his bare hands and tore into it, looking like a barbarian who cared not a whit for manners. Isaac, in turn, began eating in a similar fashion. When at the Malidan Outpost, it¡¯s only right to follow their customs. Seeing this, Uldiran smiled contentedly and asked Isaac: ¡°Why are you wearing a gambeson? Are you protesting about having a hard day or something?¡± A gambeson was the padded garment knights wore under their armor, made of multiple layers of cloth. It prevented the hard armor from chafing the skin. At Uldiran¡¯s question, Silverna, who was also dining with them, looked over at Isaac. Wiping his mouth, he answered with a smile: ¡°This is the front line, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Haha.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± At those words, the corners of the father and daughter¡¯s mouths curled upward. Even though invited by the Margrave, Isaac had chosen not a formal outfit, but a gambeson that could be armored at a moment¡¯s notice. It seemed the father and daughter thought highly of that choice. It was a good call to have borrowed Jonathan¡¯s clothing. Not having ever worn armor himself, Isaac had no gambeson of his own. ¡®Thank you, Jonathan.¡¯ With silent gratitude, Isaac continued the meal. Their conversation mostly consisted of the father and daughter asking questions and Isaac answering. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Your encouraging speech today was truly memorable. It felt like you were cheering us on, not just the nobles.¡± ¡°It was a personal impression I had. If it seemed rude, I apologize. I only hoped other nobles might share my thoughts.¡± ¡°Helmut must feel quite different, eh? Our rough edges must¡¯ve surprised you.¡± ¡°Actually, I find it more comfortable. To be honest, back there all that etiquette and protocol felt suffocating.¡± ¡°How did you meet Rihanna?¡± ¡°I worked as a ferryboat operator. I got to know her while we talked during her crossings, and before I knew it, we were married.¡± As the meal went on and the conversation ripened¡ª ¡°So, you spoke as if you know a lot about Caldias spear techniques.¡± Uldiran, as though he¡¯d been itching to ask, eyed Isaac. After taking a sip of the strong liquor Anna had poured, Isaac nodded. ¡°I have a broad interest in various martial arts. In particular, Caldias spear techniques always amaze me when I read about them or see them firsthand.¡± He paused to catch his breath, then continued: ¡°Everyone who has learned Caldias spear techniques seems to have a very high ¡®minimum standard.¡¯ They are people you can reliably expect to be at least competent.¡± ¡°Haha! That¡¯s right. Our spear style is no ordinary technique.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got a good eye.¡± As the father and daughter laughed, seemingly satisfied, Isaac smiled wryly to himself. ¡®Yes, Caldias¡¯s spear techniques are indeed remarkable.¡¯ That was beyond dispute. ¡®But you must change.¡¯ Caldias spear techniques could elevate an ordinary person to greatness. However. They must not settle for that alone. To avoid the death awaiting them in the future¡ª ¡®I will help you.¡¯ He would make their spear style several times more magnificent than it was now. They would no longer be mere common folk. They were born into a great position, They must become even greater. Just like¡­ Helmut. **** At daybreak. Recently, Rihanna had been going through her days somewhat sluggishly. A haggard appearance and dry, brittle hair. Though Helmut was seldom plagued by minor ailments, even the attendants worried if she might be ill, as she clearly didn¡¯t look well. Still, she stepped out of the mansion for personal training. ¡°Hoo! Hoo!¡± ¡°Haaa!¡± Some of her siblings were already deep into their training, but strangely enough, Rihanna didn¡¯t feel like holding a sword. ¡®This is a first.¡¯ Listless. That word seemed to describe her current state perfectly. Perhaps that¡¯s why. Instead of heading to the training ground, Rihanna deliberately went to the garden. As she strolled through a rose bed yet to bloom¡ª ¡°Ah.¡± A single purple lilac caught her eye. At that moment, the fragrant memories steeped in lilac scent welled up in Rihanna¡¯s mind. It was shortly after the wedding. [¡°Riha, come here.¡±] An empty garden. With a playful grin and a finger pressed to his lips, Isaac beckoned her quietly. [¡°Look at this¡ªhasn¡¯t it bloomed beautifully?¡±] Isaac pointed to the lilac and smiled. In contrast, Rihanna frowned. ¡®What are the gardeners doing?¡¯ She disliked seeing a flower other than roses in the flowerbed and was about to call the gardener immediately, but¡ª [¡°I planted it. I asked the gardener to turn a blind eye.¡±] ¡®¡­You planted this? You did?¡¯ Rihana glared at Isaac, as if demanding what nonsense he was up to. Facing her gaze, Isaac smirked mischievously. [¡°Riha, this is me.¡±] ¡®You?¡¯ [¡°The lilac blooms earlier than Helmut¡¯s roses and will wither by the time the roses bloom.¡±] ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ [¡°People say I¡¯m a shameless man who managed to marry into a noble family. That I schemed to take advantage of Helmut and live large.¡±] Rihana knew this. While some praised their marriage as romantic, many did not. [¡°But Riha.¡±] With a gentle smile, Isaac took Rihanna¡¯s hand. As their hands touched, the wedding ring on her fourth finger brushed softly. [¡°Helmut doesn¡¯t matter to me. I married you, and you alone.¡±] [¡°Even if Helmut ceased to exist, I would remain by your side. Like this lilac that blooms alone, even when there are no roses.¡±] Slowly, Rihanna turned her head. Reflected in her eyes, the lilac now felt precious. ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ At the time, she hadn¡¯t known what to say, so she stayed silent. Isaac, smiling, had then whispered softly: [¡°There¡¯s another secret about the lilac. Curious?¡±] ¡®¡­Curious.¡¯ With a playful grin, Isaac gestured quietly. Rihanna, after checking that no one was around, leaned in and offered her ear. In a secretive hush, as if sharing a clandestine meeting, Isaac whispered: [¡°The purple lilac¡¯s meaning is ¡®first love.¡¯¡±] ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ [¡°Oh? Riha, are you embarrassed? Are you trying to hide it now?¡±] Isaac teased her with a bright laugh. She remembers that so vividly. As she reached out longingly¡ª Isaac¡¯s image vanished, Only the lone lilac remained, tickling her fingertips. ¡°Ah.¡± Those words. That smile. In truth, her heart had pounded so violently she couldn¡¯t speak. Sensing her plight, the way he¡¯d gently embraced her was sweeter than any floral fragrance. Nestled in his arms, the small smile she secretly wore made her feel like a young girl again. And that¡¯s why the warmth that once made her want to cast everything aside now felt so¡ª ¡°Ah, Isaac.¡± ¡ªdearly missed. Her legs lost strength, and she sank to her knees. She had held it in and held it in, But before she knew it, tears spilled from her crimson eyes, blurring her vision. No matter how much she cried, He had already gone. Only the solitary lilac remained, Proof that the time they shared was not a fleeting dream. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 10: Trash ¡°Older sister?¡± Early morning, while training, the third son, Alois, discovered his older sister alone in the garden, kneeling on the ground. ¡®How could she be so beautiful?¡¯ Even from behind, her posture exuded refinement, and her crimson hair¡ªso different from theirs¡ªseemed to carry an air of nobility. Alois truly loved his older sister, Rihanna. Just taking a step toward her made his heart pound with excitement. ¡®If only roses were in bloom, the atmosphere would be so much better.¡¯ Wearing a sly grin, Alois tiptoed closer. ¡°Ha, slacking off so early in the morning?¡± He spoke in a hushed tone so their secret rendezvous wouldn¡¯t be overheard by anyone. However, Rihanna didn¡¯t answer, her head still bowed. ¡®Hmm?¡¯ Before her stood a single lilac in bloom. The moment he saw it, Alois frowned and let out a sigh. ¡°What on earth are the gardeners doing?¡± Annoyed, Alois spoke as if he understood why Rihanna was here. ¡°Haha, I¡¯ll make sure to tell the gardeners to maintain this place properly. You shouldn¡¯t worry too¡ª¡± ¡°Alois.¡± Alois took a step back. Hearing that unsettling chill in Rihanna¡¯s voice made him involuntarily shiver for a moment. ¡°Y-Yes? Yes? What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°This flower is one I¡¯m raising myself.¡± ¡°...You are, Huh?¡± ¡°Yes, so don¡¯t go touching it recklessly.¡± ¡°Ah, understood.¡± Even as he answered, Alois tilted his head in confusion. The Rihanna he knew would never plant something like a lilac, let alone in the family¡¯s garden. ¡°Hoo.¡± Rihanna slowly rose and turned around. ¡°I need to go train.¡± At that very moment¡ªjust as Rihanna passed by him¡ªAlois noticed the redness around her eyes. It felt like a bolt of lightning had struck his head, raising every hair on his body. ¡®Was older sister crying?¡¯ He had never seen anything like it before. In utter shock, wondering if this was truly the Rihanna he knew¡ª ¡°Hehe.¡± Alois couldn¡¯t help but let a grin stretch across his face, quickly covering his mouth with his hand in panic. He was excited. His older sister, usually an impregnable fortress, shed tears. That sight of her drowned in sorrow and anguish¡ª For the first time, it gave him a thrilling rush of pleasure. ¡®Is it because of Isaac?¡¯ With sharp intuition, Alois roughly pieced together the situation. The lilac probably had something to do with Isaac as well. ¡®If I ask the gardeners, I¡¯ll know soon enough.¡¯ But that¡¯s not what matters now. Alois followed Rihanna with a feigned cluelessness, speaking as if nothing was amiss. ¡°Older sister, have you decided on your next marriage partner?¡± Rihanna froze on the spot. Beneath her chilly gaze, a subtle blend of murderous intent and fury shimmered. ¡®She¡¯s about to snap.¡¯ Alois forced himself to suppress the stirring in his lower half and offered a genial smile. ¡°After all, staying divorced for too long isn¡¯t ideal. Of course, rushing into another marriage right away doesn¡¯t look too good either¡ª¡± He continued to deliberately provoke her, since it was the first time his older sister had shown such an emotional reaction. Alois was curious what kind of response Rihanna would give. ¡°Still, someone of your stature has plenty of options. So just forget about Isaac.¡± She had no grounds to be angry. In that case, would she be sad? Would she say she doesn¡¯t want to hear it and run away? ¡°Honestly, he wasn¡¯t qualified in the first place. If anything, Isaac is better off having divorced you sooner, right?¡± He meant every word. If Isaac hadn¡¯t asked for a divorce, a terrible misfortune would¡¯ve befallen him. Because their family head had already permitted Rihanna to become pregnant. ¡®The thought of Older sister bearing that bastard¡¯s child is absolutely¡ª¡¯ Alois had been unable to stand it and had even planned to drop a chandelier on him. Though he¡¯d failed, Isaac had left on his own, so wasn¡¯t that for the best? ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s tough for a commoner like him to hold out in a noble family¡ª¡± ¡°Alois.¡± Her voice was toneless, devoid of highs or lows. Rihanna, having regained her usual expression, now looked at him. Disappointed inside, Alois watched as Rihanna calmly proposed: ¡°Let¡¯s spar.¡± ¡°...Pardon?¡± ¡°Morning training. Let¡¯s duel. Come to think of it, it¡¯s been a while since we last crossed swords.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I want to see how much you¡¯ve improved.¡± ¡°W-Wait a minute, Older sister.¡± A flustered Alois called out to Rihanna. If they sparred now, who knows what he might suffer. He couldn¡¯t have imagined she¡¯d vent her anger in such a manner. But before Alois could say anything more¡ª Rihanna had already drawn her red greatsword, Ragnabel, which she¡¯d brought with her. ¡°Follow me, Alois.¡± From Rihanna¡¯s entire body emanated a red aura known as Red River, the unique sword energy of Helmut. Though referred to as sword energy, this crimson power wrapped around her entire body like armor, causing her long hair to sway like dancing flames. ¡°...¡± Alois, having gotten carried away in his excitement, now looked miserable, forced to pick up his sword and head to the training grounds. **** ¡®What a pair of drunken lunatics.¡¯ Isaac held his throbbing head as he stepped reluctantly onto the drill ground. The northern morning air stabbed coldly into his lungs, at least easing the effects of yesterday¡¯s strong liquor. ¡°Isaac, are you all right?¡± Jonathan approached with a concerned expression. Apparently, Isaac¡¯s face didn¡¯t look so good. ¡°I¡¯m fine. More importantly, Jonathan, how did I get back to my room last night?¡± He wasn¡¯t joking¡ªhe really couldn¡¯t remember. He¡¯d been having a passionate discussion about spearmanship with the Caldias father and daughter, creating a good atmosphere, when¡ª He¡¯d kept drinking whatever Anna had poured him, and at some point, everything went blank. ¡°Honestly, it was a surprise. Miss Silverna helped you back to your quarters. I was worried, so I waited up for you, Isaac.¡± ¡°...Really? Sorry.¡± Isaac pressed his palm to his forehead and sighed. Still, the lingering scent of liquor in his sigh made him grimace. ¡®I got carried away, drinking like I used to with my former master.¡¯ But Isaac couldn¡¯t deny that he¡¯d been excited, too. After all, Uldiran Caldias was a hero he¡¯d never encountered in his previous life. A great general who had held out for a month without any royal support against the invasion of the Transcendents. Just the thought of matching drinks with him had stirred Isaac more than he¡¯d expected. ¡°I¡¯ll have to apologize to Silverna as well.¡± He also planned to check if he¡¯d made any slip of the tongue last night. ¡°Um, Isaac¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I should be saying this¡­ You might think it¡¯s out of place¡­¡± Jonathan hesitated, carefully placing both hands together and bowing his head in a gesture of earnest counsel. ¡°You are Lady Rihanna¡¯s husband, right? So, um, it would be best if you kept your contact with other women to a minimum.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m really sorry for overstepping my bounds!¡± Isaac placed a hand on Jonathan¡¯s shoulder to calm him before the man started bowing on the ground. ¡°No, no. You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Th-Thank you!¡± He intended to get divorced, but he wasn¡¯t divorced yet. And aside from the direct Helmut lineage and the family¡¯s chefs, nobody else knew about it. So Jonathan¡¯s advice was perfectly sensible. Isaac ran his finger over the wedding ring on his left ring finger with a bitter expression and changed the subject deliberately. ¡°Will you be joining training with us, Jonathan? I heard that the knights and guards who came as adjutants start their duties right away.¡± Unlike the dispatched nobles¡ªwho, due to the influx of so many promising talents, required a check of their basic skills¡ªthose assigned to assist them were all skilled enough to be deployed directly to the barrier. ¡°No, sir. I¡¯m scheduled for afternoon duty, so I came to attend you, Isaac-nim, and do a bit of my own personal training.¡± So earnest and honest. He had that fresh, wholesome smile of a country lad, and Isaac patted his shoulder, telling him to do his best. Just then¡ª ¡°Why should I?!¡± A shrill voice, shouting from the drill ground echoed. A group of nobles had gathered for the morning training. One of them stepped forward, yelling at the officer acting as instructor. ¡°You dare disrespect the Drakemoor family?! You think handling a spear or two means something?!¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± ¡®Drakemoor?¡¯ They were a well-known swordsmanship family, much like Helmut. They didn¡¯t hold a candle to Helmut in prestige, but they certainly weren¡¯t people to be looked down upon. ¡°We haven¡¯t dispatched you noblemen merely for barrier duty. You¡¯ll also be going outside for escort missions, reconnaissance, village support¡ªour roles are multifaceted.¡± Even when faced with what amounted to insubordination from the noble brat, the instructor remained calm. But the noble continued ranting: ¡°So? What¡¯s your point? Did I ever say I wouldn¡¯t do that? Did I say I refuse?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What pisses me off is that you¡¯re treating us like idiots by making us go through this kind of basic training again today. I tried to bear it yesterday, but¡­ today, you¡¯re making us do the same rudimentary drills?¡± A subtle agreement spread among the dispatched nobles. ¡°You couldn¡¯t handle the monster den properly, so we came here. Yet you treat us as if we¡¯re here because of your incompetence, testing us instead of offering solutions!¡± The atmosphere turned grim. Even for nobles, this was crossing the line. But with other high-ranking nobles silently supporting Drakemoor¡¯s fool, the instructors couldn¡¯t move hastily. A misstep here could turn all the influential nobles against them. ¡°Hah!¡± A short-haired woman snorted, snatching her spear as she strode onto the drill ground. Silverna Caldias. Wearing a confident, battle-hungry grin, she stood before the Drakemoor noble. ¡°Your name?¡± ¡°Melodic Drakemoor.¡± Melodic placed a hand on his sword. Seeing that, the corner of Silverna¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°At least you have some sense. Draw your sword. Let¡¯s see if you truly have what it takes not to die while serving at the barrier.¡± This was the Northern way. From the moment he started causing a scene, the outcome had already been decided. In an instant, everyone¡¯s attention fell upon the two of them. ¡°Jonathan, watch Silverna¡¯s spear technique carefully. It¡¯ll be very instructive.¡± ¡°But I use a greatsword¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ignorant. Just watch closely.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Jonathan saluted, widening his eyes as he observed the match. ¡®How nostalgic.¡¯ Isaac crossed his arms and smiled wistfully. He had first met Silverna a few years later in his previous life. At that time, After the barrier at Malidan collapsed under the onslaught of the Transcendents, and many sacrificed themselves so that she alone survived¡ª She had abandoned the name Silverna and lived as a Caldias. The Grandmaster had brought her to him. ¡®I was shocked.¡¯ When he first witnessed her spear technique, the experience had been like welcoming an entirely new world. He¡¯d followed her around for quite some time, staff in hand, constantly asking questions. ¡°I didn¡¯t praise her spear technique as ¡®great¡¯ for nothing.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Jonathan raised his voice excitedly, while Isaac, eager to see a good show after such a long time, wore a smile. The spar began¡ª Melodic lasted barely five exchanges before he fell on his rear, dropping his sword. At that moment, the soldiers around them erupted in cheers. ¡°As expected of the Lady! You¡¯re the best!¡± ¡°Amazing! That was a perfect spear thrust!¡± ¡°Glory to the great Caldias!¡± In contrast, the dispatched nobles were instantly deflated, glaring resentfully at Melodic. Jonathan also praised her. ¡°A-Amazing. So that¡¯s the famed Caldias spear technique!¡± As Jonathan fussed in awe, Isaac gaped and denied it outright. ¡°No¡­ That¡¯s not right¡­¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not it¡­!¡± ¡°W-What do you mean, sir?¡± Confused by Jonathan¡¯s question, Isaac, also flustered, spoke from the heart. ¡°It¡¯s not right! That was¡­ that was trash! Just now, that was trash!¡± What on earth had he just witnessed? That? That was really Silverna¡¯s spear technique? His bewildered exclamation rang out. And then¡ª ¡°What?¡± Unfortunately, The fierce northern wind carried Isaac¡¯s voice straight to Silverna¡¯s ears. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: From now on, the schedule will be the same as the Interspecies Wives. (Thursday & Friday ''and some random chapters in between????'') Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 11: Teaching Isaac fell into deep thought. ¡®Did I ask for too much?¡¯ He knew it himself. It was rude to compare the current Silverna with the Silverna of a few years later. But still. Even so, Isaac could say it with certainty. ¡®It¡¯s like she can¡¯t even reach the tip of her own toes.¡¯ He had at least expected to see a fragment of that time. He thought he¡¯d be able to gauge her potential for growth and expectations from that alone. ¡®If it weren¡¯t Silverna, I would have thought it was someone completely different.¡¯ Just judging by the spear, one could never think the two were the same person. That¡¯s how big the gap was. Which meant it was time to reconsider. ¡®Why?¡¯ Why was there such a large difference? The question didn¡¯t linger long. Because Silverna had, at some point, come to stand right in front of him. ¡°What did you say?¡± In her eyes were clear hostility and a strange sense of betrayal. Isaac, who had acknowledged Caldias¡¯ spear, was now talking nonsense after seeing her own spear. It seemed to double her anger. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Ah, uh¡ª it¡¯s not like that¡­¡­¡± From the side, Jonathan tried desperately to make excuses, but it didn¡¯t seem easy. ¡°Isaac-nim has, well, a bit of a mental condition, so he sometimes spouts nonsense¡ª¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Jonathan kept babbling some sort of excuse. But Silverna didn¡¯t even pretend to listen, and continued glaring at Isaac. Isaac deliberated. How should he phrase this? In the old days, at times like this, he would bow his head and apologize. Among fellow disciples of the same Grandmaster and peers, Isaac was always the one to lower his head during arguments. Because in the end, he was not a swordsman. They praised him as a ¡®Silent Sword,¡¯ but obviously there would be a disconnect when it came to real combat. ¡°Are you mute?¡± Silverna glared. Even the nearby instructors were now on edge. The tense silence was like a fierce wind cutting through the air. Isaac made up his mind and answered. ¡°Your spear is worse than I thought.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± ¡°I-Isaac-Niiim!¡± Confronting Silverna head-on, Isaac declared it outright. He gestured at Jonathan, telling him to shut his mouth, and then questioned the wide-eyed Silverna. ¡°It was off from the very start. From the position where you grip the shaft. If you hold it there, you can¡¯t put all your strength into it.¡± ¡°What?¡± Silverna was baffled by his sudden words. But Isaac was already acting without reservation. He boldly grabbed the hand Silverna used to hold her spear. ¡°W-What are you doing!?¡± Silverna was startled, her shoulders flinching, but Isaac spoke without hesitation. ¡°Look at this. Do you see how the spear shaft is worn down here? It shows that this is your default grip position whenever you start training.¡± ¡°So what! I¡¯ve been trained in this stance since I was little. This was the position my Father placed my hands in from the very beginning.¡± Silverna retorted, telling him not to pick at something so trivial. ¡°You¡¯ve grown older, haven¡¯t you? Your body has grown too. Naturally, you should widen the grip on your spear and increase your stride.¡± ¡°Huh¡­?¡± ¡°Following the Family Head¡¯s teachings is good. You worked so hard to internalize them that even after you grew, you forced yourself to maintain the old stance, which no longer fits. But you need to change.¡± Isaac adjusted the position where she held the spear, and even crouched down to set her stride to an appropriate width. Before she knew it, Silverna found herself following his words like a puppet. Now, Isaac focused the way he would when writing. ¡°Hey, you there, come here too.¡± ¡°¡­Me?¡± Isaac called over Melodic Drakemoor, who had just sparred with Silverna. Urged forward by the eyes of those around him, Melodic Drakemoor stepped forward. ¡°Do it again.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What?¡± Both of them looked at him, puzzled, and in frustration, Isaac let out a sigh and repeated himself. ¡°Try it like before.¡± ¡°A-Alright.¡± Overwhelmed by his momentum, Melodic Drakemoor hesitated but took his stance, while Silverna frowned and raised a complaint. ¡°I remember we were discussing how you insulted me, right? Why are we suddenly re-enacting the spar?¡± ¡°Do as I say first. If, after reviewing the spar, you still can¡¯t accept what I said, then I will respectfully retract my statement and apologize.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Begin. Try it again.¡± Thus, the unintended reenactment of the three-person spar began. **** It was lunchtime. The dispatched nobles, having finished their training, were on their way to the cafeteria for a meal. Suddenly, a thunderous shout erupted from the corner of the training field. ¡°Melodic! How many times must I tell you! There are times when you need to loosen the grip on your sword hand!¡± ¡°Y-Yes, sir!¡± Isaac was holding a tree branch about the size of a staff, using it to instruct Melodic. Facing them, Silverna was genuinely astonished. ¡®How can he do that?¡¯ To put it bluntly: Isaac looks weak at a glance. If we¡¯re being harsh, he¡¯s a pushover. If Silverna were to fight him right now, she could overwhelm him in a single exchange. Yet, listening to what Isaac was saying, he sounded remarkably versed in combat and martial arts. ¡®It¡¯s hard to call him a swindler¡­¡¯ He¡¯s too competent for that. ¡°Drakemoor swordsmanship is all about lightness and footwork. But if you put too much strength into the hand holding the sword, your overall movement becomes stiff, you know? That¡¯s why you couldn¡¯t dodge and ended up enduring against Silverna¡¯s third strike just now, which led to your defeat.¡± ¡°Y-Yes!¡± Completely captivated, Melodic moved swiftly, swinging his sword again. ¡®He doesn¡¯t just know Caldias¡¯ spear techniques well; he¡¯s also extremely proficient in Drakemoor swordsmanship. How on earth?¡¯ It¡¯s not just a superficial understanding. It¡¯s as if¡ª He had studied and pondered these techniques for a very long time. The words Isaac spoke carried the weight of deep contemplation on the martial arts in question. ¡®It¡¯s incredible.¡¯ The spear in her hand felt unusually awkward today. They had only trained together for a few hours. Yet she felt as though a new horizon was opening up before her. Silverna was at a loss, caught between anxiety and excitement. ¡°Now that¡¯s better. Keep practicing like that. If you relax your grip and broaden your perspective, you¡¯ll deepen your understanding of Drakemoor swordsmanship.¡± ¡°Th-Thank you!¡± Melodic, panting heavily, bowed in thanks and then dashed off to the cafeteria. Isaac, watching him with a satisfied smile, turned and noticed Silverna. He looked slightly surprised. ¡°Oh, sorry. When I concentrate, I tend to forget my surroundings.¡± Isaac apologized awkwardly. He¡¯d started out advising Silverna on her spear technique, and before anyone knew it, he¡¯d ended up teaching Melodic as well¡ªhe looked almost foolish, and it made Silverna want to laugh. ¡°Ahem, so how was it?¡± He demanded an answer to the question he¡¯d asked before they started. ¡°Were my words truly just simple insults?¡± ¡°Ha.¡± She let out a hollow laugh. Even if she wanted to cling to her pride, she found herself surprisingly willing to admit the truth, startling herself. ¡°Fine, I admit it. I understand now why you said those things about my spear.¡± ¡°¡­You understand?¡± ¡°Isaac, you were right. I learned a lot in just a short time. Listening to you, honestly¡­ I realized the depth of your understanding of spear techniques is on another level.¡± Silverna gave a bitter smile. ¡°It¡¯s absurd, isn¡¯t it? I, who have studied Caldias¡¯ spear my entire life, grasp its concepts less firmly than Isaac, Helmut¡¯s son-in-law?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But accepting it is another matter entirely.¡± She began to speak her mind, conflicted but honest. ¡°If I do as you say, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll grow. But would that still be Caldias¡¯ spear?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Isaac, you said it yourself, didn¡¯t you? Our spear is great. I want to carry on that legacy.¡± Because it¡¯s great, she takes pride in it. Because of that pride, she doesn¡¯t want to lose her identity. ¡°It¡¯s a spear that¡¯s been with me all my life. Though I feel like I¡¯m seeing something new thanks to your guidance, if I accept it, I feel like my spear will change too much.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I have a duty to protect the spear that my ancestors have built up.¡± Hearing Silverna¡¯s confession, Isaac felt as if the puzzle in his mind had finally fallen into place. ¡®So that¡¯s it.¡¯ The difference between the Silverna he remembered and the Silverna before him now. This represented a fundamentally different approach to pursuing strength. ¡®The Silverna Caldias I knew had already lost everything.¡¯ The Malidan Barrier had fallen, the Caldias house was destroyed, and she was left all alone. Family, comrades, homeland. She¡¯d lost it all, and only the spear remained. But now it was different. She had never lost anything precious, and so her hunger for power was somewhat lacking. ¡°You¡¯re being foolish, Silverna Caldias.¡± A rebuke directed at her emerged from Isaac¡¯s lips. ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Others might say such things. If someone else at the Malidan Barrier spoke to me like that, I¡¯d accept it.¡± However¡ª ¡°You cannot.¡± ¡°What do you know?! The Caldias Spear is my pride and my heart! You¡¯re telling me to just change it on a whim¡ª!¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Kwaang! The wooden stick in Isaac¡¯s hand slammed roughly against the ground. ¡°Your name¡ª.¡± He spoke like a stern teacher, and his dark eyes simmered with something akin to anger. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°What are you even¡ª!¡± ¡°I asked you your name!¡± At Isaac¡¯s sharp command, Silverna Caldias hesitated briefly before answering. ¡°Silverna¡­ Caldias.¡± ¡°Right. Caldias! You say you can¡¯t abandon your ancestors¡¯ spear, that you cannot forsake that great pride? Do you understand what those words mean?!¡± Isaac pointed his staff at her. ¡°It means you¡¯re choosing stagnation! It means you¡¯re the one putting a full stop on how far the Caldias Spear can go!¡± In his past life, Isaac, as the Silent Sword, had taught countless individuals. Of those, the ones he despised most were those who decided their own limits. Isaac, unable to wield a sword due to a leg injury, still never gave up and struggled to move forward. Yet these were people who declared their own boundaries and simply stopped walking. ¡°Look at your spear! A magnificent legacy stacked layer upon layer by your ancestors! And you say you¡¯ll just keep it as it is? That because it¡¯s precious, you¡¯ll guard it unchanged?¡± Gritting his teeth, Isaac pleaded fervently. He begged that at least Silverna Caldias wouldn¡¯t become that kind of person. In her previous life, it was only after experiencing a cruel tragedy that the frozen mind of the Northern lands finally cracked, granting her enlightenment. But this time¡ª ¡®I will make her understand.¡¯ Before tragedy struck. ¡°Settling down and refusing to move forward¡ªexcept at the moment of death¡ªis not something a warrior should do.¡± As if spellbound, Silverna Caldias locked eyes with Isaac. His piercing words melted her frozen heart and mind. ¡®Ah¡­¡¯ In that instant, she saw a path within herself. The name of that path was ¡°Caldias.¡± And it was the path she had been walking all along. Rugged and unrefined, yet it was clearly a path¡ª One that someone had laid down in advance. ¡°I¡¯ll ask again: who are you?¡± Now, Silverna Caldias looked forward. There, the northern snows lay thick. Because there was no road, she had believed she must not go there. ¡°I am Silverna¡­ Caldias.¡± In the future, for the descendants who would cross this land, It would be the path she herself would pioneer. ¡°Moving forward isn¡¯t abandonment, it¡¯s carrying on.¡± Realizing her understanding, Isaac softened his expression into a gentle smile. ¡°Because where you stand now is the end of someone else¡¯s journey.¡± In other words, It meant she could start there. Before she knew it, a bright smile graced Silverna Caldias¡¯ lips. Instead of simply living in gratitude to her ancestors¡¯ greatness, she herself now walked the same road as them, counted among their ranks. ¡°Hehe, hahahaha!¡± As a warrior, this was an incredible honor, and her heart brimmed with poignant anticipation. Slowly, Silverna Caldias bowed her head deeply. Bringing her hands together respectfully, she expressed her genuine feelings. ¡°My thanks.¡± To the benefactor who had enlightened her. ¡°My infinite thanks.¡± When she looked back at Isaac, the smile on his face reassured her. Seeing his joy at her having found the right answer further uplifted her spirits, and she approached him enthusiastically. ¡°Could I receive more instruction? Not just simple lessons, but a way to further develop the Caldias Spear.¡± ¡°If I can help, of course. But shouldn¡¯t we eat lunch first?¡± Shrugging, he gestured toward the cafeteria. Silverna Caldias nodded eagerly. ¡°Then let¡¯s talk more while we eat. Oh, by the way, is there any particular training you¡¯d recommend for me going forward?¡± ¡°Blindly following my words isn¡¯t good either.¡± ¡°I mean advice! I want your advice!¡± Advice, huh. Isaac hesitated slightly. He did have something he wanted to say. It was something Silverna Caldias had struggled with greatly in the previous life. ¡°¡­Really, anything at all is fine?¡± ¡°Huh? Of course!¡± ¡°Promise you won¡¯t get angry.¡± ¡°Hm? I even let your insults about my spear slide. What¡¯s left to get angry about?¡± As Silverna Caldias urged him on, her eyes shining with curiosity, Isaac scratched his cheek, embarrassed. ¡°You should stop wearing that chest binder.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Caught off guard by the completely unexpected suggestion, Silverna Caldias froze. She reflexively raised a hand toward her chest, then halted mid-motion. ¡°Does¡­ does it show?¡± Silverna Caldias, who had been concealing a figure somewhat more ample than that of the women around her, felt her eyes lose focus and her voice tremble as she tried to explain herself. ¡°I-If I don¡¯t wear it, it¡¯s hard to handle the spear. They¡­ bounce too much¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what you need to get used to.¡± ¡°¡­Why?¡± This was driving her crazy. Isaac pressed a hand to his forehead and muttered quietly. ¡°There might come a time when you can¡¯t wear it.¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I be able to wear¡ª?¡± As Silverna Caldias began to speak, her face flushed bright red. Those words meant that someday, in some situation¡­ ¡°H-How on earth do you know about that?!¡± She shouted in panic, but Isaac simply let out a troubled sigh and murmured softly, ¡°I know. One way or another¡­ I just know.¡± ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 12: Effort and Aspiration A full week had passed since the nobles were dispatched to the Malidan barrier. Although it felt like many things had happened, that was only in the beginning. The nobles were slowly adapting to the North, and the soldiers of Malidan were also forming a certain bond with them. 4 a.m., just before dawn. On her shift rotation, Silverna yawned and slung her spear over her shoulder. ¡°Ha-aam, I¡¯m sleepy.¡± Just because nobles had arrived didn¡¯t mean their shifts became any easier. In fact, because Monster Den had been showing frequent activity lately, there were many times when you had to be ready even during the early morning watch. ¡°My Lady.¡± Anna, who had been on duty alongside her, slipped out from among the soldiers heading off and approached Silverna. ¡°Anna, I¡¯m going to ask the head cook to make some soup before I go to sleep. Want to have some together?¡± ¡°No, My Lady. More importantly¡­¡± Anna leaned in close and whispered so that no other soldiers could hear. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wearing your chest binder these days? You know the soldiers are subtly talking about it, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± How could she not know? She could even feel their subtle glances. The Malidan soldiers tried not to stare, but the dispatched nobles sometimes openly looked. It was unpleasant, but rather than shrinking away, her pride flared, making her stand all the more confidently. ¡°Is it that obvious?¡± Silverna glanced down at her own chest. She knew it was considered an attractive asset as a woman, but as a spear-wielding warrior, honestly, it was just cumbersome. ¡°It¡¯s very obvious. Why are you doing this all of a sudden? Before, you found it so bothersome that you even wore the chest binder when you slept.¡± ¡°I did, but, well¡­¡± Silverna sighed. After waiting until the passing soldiers were out of earshot, she finally spoke. ¡°Someone told me it¡¯s better to get used to this.¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°They said I should get used to wielding a spear even with a large chest. That there might come a time when I can¡¯t use a chest binder.¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t you be able to wear it?¡± ¡°¡­If it gets even bigger, I won¡¯t be able to wear it, right?¡± Anna stared blankly at Silverna. It was rare for her lady to blush and avoid eye contact like this, which was admittedly cute. ¡®Bigger than this?¡¯ So large that even the wrap wouldn¡¯t suffice? When Anna asked who¡¯d spewed such nonsense, Silverna mumbled and whispered. ¡°It, it was Isaac.¡± ¡°Whaaaat?!¡± It was such an out-of-the-blue male name. ¡°Isaac said that physical changes are something you have to accept. He said that¡¯s why he gave up Helmut¡¯s greatsword himself.¡± ¡°Th¨Cthat¡¯s comparable?! Isn¡¯t that sexual harassment?!¡± ¡°Anna, what are you talking about? Isaac said it out of concern for me.¡± ¡°Even so¡­¡± Anna knew that Silverna had been spending a lot of time with Isaac lately. After all, on the second day, he¡¯d shown an astonishing depth of understanding in spear techniques during a training session. It was said that even some of the Malidan soldiers occasionally went to him for advice. Everyone who took his suggestions apparently showed clear improvement and was highly satisfied. ¡°In any case, I don¡¯t think what he said was entirely wrong. It¡¯s not just about my chest getting bigger¡ªthere might be times I can¡¯t always rely on a chest binder, right?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true¡­¡± ¡°What if it suddenly snaps in the middle of a fight?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve sewn up so many of your shirt buttons that I¡¯ve lost count.¡± ¡°Ahem, anyway¡ª¡± As the two headed back toward their quarters, they heard a blade cutting through the air from the training yard. They turned their heads simultaneously, and in their view was Isaac, alone in a dark corner of the yard, swinging his sword. ¡°Isaac?¡± ¡°He¡¯s at it again today.¡± Silverna voiced her confusion, and Anna added: ¡°He comes out like that every day to train. He never misses morning exercises either.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t he have to stand guard?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Plus, at night he¡¯s always the last one with a light on. Do you know how many candles he¡¯s taken over the past week?¡± Anna, who managed some of the supplies, knew these details. ¡°The soldiers are talking, saying all Helmut men are like that. He actually motivates them, you know.¡± ¡°¡­Impressive.¡± Silverna mumbled to herself while staring blankly at Isaac. Seeing her, Anna was struck by a sudden, chilling thought and warned her quickly: ¡°He¡¯s a married man, remember! And specifically, the husband of Rihanna Helmut! If you stick too close, people will start gossiping!¡± They were from rival families, after all. For the only daughter of Caldias to make a move on Rihanna Helmut¡¯s husband would be prime gossip fodder. ¡°I know, I know! I never saw him that way. I just think he¡¯s impressive as someone who¡¯s working hard, just like me.¡± ¡°R-right? That¡¯s all it is, right?¡± ¡°Stop worrying about weird things.¡± With that, Silverna grinned, raised her hand high, and called out in greeting. ¡°Hey! Isaac! Hard at work already this morning!¡± Isaac, who had set his sword aside and was crouched down writing something, turned his head sharply. Then he offered a faint smile and waved back simply. ¡®He really is handsome.¡¯ Anna had to admit it. He¡¯d seduced the ¡°Blood Rose¡± for a reason. The way he sweated under the Northern sky, unlike the rough local men, gave him a strangely appealing sexiness. ¡°But what is he writing over there?¡± Trying to shift her thoughts, Anna asked. Silverna also tilted her head, puzzled. ¡°Good question.¡± Out of nowhere, he¡¯d stopped swinging his sword to jot something down. The two trotted over to Isaac curiously. ¡°Working hard so early.¡± ¡°Good morning.¡± At Silverna and Anna¡¯s greeting, Isaac gave a curt nod. ¡®Are we bothering him?¡¯ Anna sensed he wasn¡¯t exactly delighted by their interruption, but¡ª ¡°What are you doing? Let me see too.¡± The wild northern lady, Silverna, approached Isaac without a second thought and looked into the book he was writing in. ¡°A swordsmanship manual?¡± Isaac didn¡¯t hesitate to show it. He was actually curious about her opinion. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Anna also peeked over from the side. The neat handwriting and drawings were very detailed, and as the pages went on, there were notes on improvements and corrections. ¡°Are you writing this all yourself?¡± Anna asked if he was writing a new manual rather than using an existing one, and Isaac nodded. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°You¡¯re from Helmut¡­ right?¡± Anna asked cautiously. She was basically asking if it was okay for a son-in-law of Helmut not to use their signature greatsword style. Isaac smiled wryly. ¡°I can¡¯t wield Helmut¡¯s greatsword. I¡¯m naturally a bit lacking in raw strength.¡± ¡°A-ah, r-right.¡± It was only natural that Isaac, born a commoner, couldn¡¯t measure up to the blessed genetics that made Helmut¡¯s greatsword wielders so formidable. ¡°But Isaac.¡± As an awkward mood settled in, Silverna, still focused on the manual, asked without lifting her gaze: ¡°What kind of sword are you assuming you¡¯ll be using here?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the Helmut greatsword, but it¡¯s also not a typical two-handed sword. It looks like you¡¯re wielding it one-handed, yet you¡¯re not using a shield either.¡± Silverna¡¯s observation was spot on. Simply from the text in the manual, she had deduced several points. Isaac smiled, impressed by her keen eye. ¡°Correct. The sword I plan to use¡­ is a weapon rarely seen in the Kingdom. It¡¯s the kind my master wields.¡± ¡°Your master?¡± ¡°Yes, I have one. I can¡¯t tell you more than that.¡± Isaac intentionally steered the conversation away. Though both Silverna and Anna were curious, Isaac showed no intention of elaborating. ¡®If I know how to wield a sword, Grandmaster. I wanted to be like you.¡¯ There were two individuals who deeply influenced Isaac regarding the sword: Rihanna Helmut, who first inspired a mere nobody to yearn for the blade. And the Grandmaster, who made him certain of the sword style suited for him, after witnessing it numerous times. ¡°We¡¯re on our way to whine at the cook for some soup. Would you like to come along, Isaac?¡± asked Anna, deliberately changing the subject to dispel the awkward mood. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s do that! I have some stashed cheese I can ask them to add,¡± Silverna chimed in playfully, pulling Isaac along. He followed, pretending it was against his will. ¡°And, you know, if you need help, just say the word. If there¡¯s anything I can do¡­¡± Silverna smiled as she added this. She was quick to understand what kind of treatment he might have faced in Helmut for not using their signature blade. Isaac nodded, touched. ¡°Sure, thank you.¡± Watching the two share a friendly moment, Anna once again got a creeping feeling: ¡®No way, right?¡¯ No, it couldn¡¯t be. Not even her lady would¡ª ¡®No, impossible.¡¯ He was a married man, after all. **** A woman with long black hair cascading down her back, wolf-like ears pricked atop her head, and a long, crescent-moon-like blade slung over her shoulder spoke thus: [¡°From now on, call me Grandmaster .¡±] Her disciples standing before her were puzzled by the sudden declaration. [¡°Greatmaster?¡±] [¡°We¡¯ve always just called you ¡®Master¡¯ without issue.¡±] [¡°Have you had a change of heart?¡±] These disciples, each of considerable skill, looked among themselves. Among them, the woman pointed her finger at Isaac, who leaned on a staff. [¡°Because of him, my position is threatened. All of you keep going to learn from him.¡±] No one could deny it. He might not have been able to swing a sword, but Isaac was more versed in martial technique than anyone. Thus, the once simply ¡°Master¡± began calling herself ¡°Grandmaster ¡± to reaffirm her standing. After sending all the other disciples away, they were alone. The Grandmaster perched on the windowsill, sipping her drink with a laugh. Isaac apologized to her: ¡®I¡¯m sorry. It seems I overstepped and caused you some trouble.¡¯ [¡°Hm? What are you talking about?¡±] The Grandmaster let out a hollow laugh and replied: [¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. I said that because some disciples felt it hurt their pride to learn from you.¡±] ¡®¡­¡¯ [¡°Child, your talent is very special. Perhaps the heavens took your leg for that reason.¡±] ¡®Grandmaster, the reason I work so hard is¡ª¡¯ [¡°I know. You want to create a sword style you can wield even without one leg.¡±] But as she spoke, the Grandmaster¡¯s eyes held a sorrowful sympathy for Isaac. [¡°It¡¯s impossible. No matter how hard you try, you¡¯ll crumble helplessly when you meet true swordmasters.¡±] Isaac gripped his staff tighter, resenting his leg that refused to obey. [¡°Child.¡±] The Grandmaster did not console him. She merely stated the truth plainly. [¡°It pains me.¡±] ¡®Grandmaster ¡­¡¯ [¡°If only fate had allowed our paths to cross a bit sooner.¡±] She did not look at Isaac. She only stared at the distant round moon and drank her liquor in solitude. . . . ¡°Everyoneeeeeeeee!¡± At Silverna¡¯s shout, Isaac¡¯s eyes snapped open. He woke from his sleep and rose from his bed with the swiftness of a trained soldier, stepping out into the corridor. There, Silverna, dressed in armor, was gathering the nobles. ¡°Everyone, fully armored, and assemble in the training yard within ten minutes!¡± Her urgent tone and demeanor made it clear this was no simple drill. The unusually long night of Malidan was about to begin. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 13: The Transcendent Tribe It wasn¡¯t yet midnight. Even so, nobles who had gone to bed early due to grueling training and work conditions began to stir awake, one by one, and emerge onto the drill grounds. Awaiting them was Silverna Caldias. Not just because it was dark outside, but her actual demeanor was dark as she surveyed the gathering nobles. Her stiff expression seemed to forewarn the hardships yet to come. In the midst of the confused nobles who had been abruptly awakened and dragged out into the cold, Jonathan, still rubbing sleep from his eyes, rushed over to Isaac. ¡°Isaac-nim, what¡¯s all this commotion about?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. But one thing¡¯s certain: something big must¡¯ve happened.¡± ¡°Being on the front lines and seeing such a stir is a bit unsettling.¡± A cold wind blew in, and the nobles, who had been buzzing moments before, shivered and fell silent in the chill. Thanks to the yeti fur hat and gloves gifted by Silverna and Anna, Isaac at least felt somewhat warm. Once all had quieted down, Silverna finally spoke. ¡°Everyone, at about 23:20¡ªroughly 15 minutes ago¡ªan outsider approached the barrier.¡± Something that had happened a mere 15 minutes prior. ¡°He introduced himself as a merchant from Holstein, but upon inspection, he turned out to be a grave robber.¡± Holstein was particularly known for its advanced magic. Grave robbers were notorious there, as modern magic made it common for them to plunder the tombs of past royalty and nobility. ¡°He actually robbed the Holstein royal tombs and had come to our kingdom to make a deal.¡± A few nobles gasped in dismay, immediately realizing this could blow up into a diplomatic incident if not handled properly. ¡°Since we caught the grave robber, can¡¯t we just return the burial goods and be done with it?¡± One of the nobles raised his hand and asked. It was unthinkable to interrupt the commanding officer during a briefing, but considering their inexperience, Silverna chose not to scold and instead answered: ¡°The crucial point is that these guys disturbed a Monster Den on their way to the Malidan barrier.¡± The rest was predictable. All the other grave robbers ended up as meals for the beasts, and the treasures were lost. Enraged, the monsters were now running wild and attacking the Malidan barrier. ¡°As a special detachment, we need to retrieve the burial goods those grave robbers stole. Fortunately, they¡¯re not too far away¡­but the problem is the monsters den.¡± Shouts and tremors were audible in the distance. It was clear a fierce battle was raging at the Malidan barrier. ¡°If possible, we¡¯ll avoid combat, or if forced, keep it to a minimum before returning. We set out immediately.¡± At Silverna¡¯s command, the nobles formed orderly ranks and began to move. Their personal guards, though displeased, had no choice but to follow. Jonathan, who remained at Isaac¡¯s side, asked with a baffled look, ¡°Isaac-nim, why are we the ones who have to find these burial goods?¡± ¡°Because diplomatically, we could be framed. Would the Holstein side really believe us if we said the grave robbers lost everything to monsters?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth?¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s true, accepting it is another matter. To put it bluntly, what if they suspect the grave robbers were actually hired by us, and that we faked a monster attack to smuggle the burial goods into our kingdom?¡± ¡°But that¡¯s not the truth.¡± ¡°Right, it¡¯s not. But from Holstein¡¯s perspective, they could still find a way to use this diplomatically. Especially since these thieves tried to make a deal right here in our kingdom.¡± So if someone within the kingdom had the wealth to purchase Holstein¡¯s royal burial goods, it would naturally point the investigation toward a high-ranking noble. A high-ranking noble craving Holstein¡¯s royal treasures? That could spark a diplomatic crisis, potentially even lead to war. ¡°Ah.¡± Finally understanding, Jonathan nodded. ¡°These are the kinds of things the Margrave is responsible for¡ªcleaning up the mess before it escalates.¡± Likely, Uldiran Caldias was currently atop the Malidan barrier, wielding his spear vigorously. As they slipped out through a gate less besieged by the monsters, Jonathan had another question for Isaac: ¡°But why send the dispatched nobles outside? Isn¡¯t this a dangerous mission?¡± ¡°Fighting a war against monsters on top of the barrier is even more dangerous.¡± KWA-ANG! Right as Isaac answered, a crashing sound echoed from the direction of the barrier. Startled, the nobles either turned their heads or hunched their shoulders. Jonathan also looked that way, but Isaac continued, ¡°Basically, it¡¯s because you¡¯re here. Most of the dispatched nobles are promising talents looking to gain actual combat experience, but their guards are a different story.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Right? Caldias doesn¡¯t want the nobles themselves, but rather their highly skilled guards as part of his fighting force. And strictly speaking, these guards¡¯ duty is to protect the nobles who came at Caldias¡¯ summons.¡± By sending the nobles outside, he could effectively mobilize their powerful guards. After all, defending the barrier was the specialty of the soldiers residing in Malidan anyway. ¡°How profound.¡± Jonathan might have been expected to be clueless about these matters, but he was even more naive than Isaac had thought. Even as they passed through the castle gates, Jonathan remained unconvinced. ¡°We¡¯re the victims here, yet we¡¯re the ones suffering. Isn¡¯t that unfair?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think so? We¡¯ve done nothing, but suddenly it¡¯s all about grave robbers, burial goods, and diplomacy. We¡¯re tiptoeing around Holstein too much.¡± Jonathan pouted his lips in frustration. ¡°If they try to falsely accuse us, can¡¯t we just respond with a hardline stance?¡± Isaac gave a wry smile and asked, ¡°How old are you this year?¡± ¡°Twenty-two!¡± ¡°Alright, Jonathan. I¡¯m only about two years older than you, but I know at least one thing.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If bowing your head a little, if putting in a bit of effort, can prevent a war¡ªthen that¡¯s a small price to pay.¡± Jonathan furrowed his brow slightly. Isaac understood the desire, as a knight, to have a place to swing his sword. Still¡­ ¡°A minor diplomatic issue can often spark a war more easily than you think. We must extinguish these embers in advance.¡± ¡°Hmm, I still don¡¯t really understand.¡± It might be some sort of admiration or heroic aspiration that kept him here in Helmut despite countless hardships. Isaac placed a hand on his shoulder and offered sincere advice. ¡°You¡¯re getting a glimpse of the reality here. The kingdom¡¯s peace is built upon the devotion and hard work of people like these.¡± ¡°Is that how it is?¡± ¡°Jonathan, maintaining peace doesn¡¯t always mean drawing your sword.¡± ¡°¡­Those sound like words that Helmut would frown upon.¡± ¡°That¡¯s probably why Helmut and I don¡¯t see eye to eye.¡± Isaac said no more, and Jonathan followed quietly. He still seemed dissatisfied, but even so, he never relaxed his guard as Isaac¡¯s protector. Before long, they had exited the barrier. With only the sound of soft footsteps in the snow and the light of the moon to guide them, they moved quietly and stealthily. ¡®Silverna really does have good night vision.¡¯ Just by following behind her, they managed to arrive at the scene of the incident without any skirmishes. They found a half-wrecked cart¡ªnot a carriage, but a simple cart¡ªlying there. It seemed they intended to skirt around the mountains rather than going straight to the Malidan barrier. Since a horse-drawn carriage couldn¡¯t cross the mountains, they must have hauled this rural-style cart themselves to get here. ¡°What a troublesome journey they made.¡± ¡°Ugh, what a mess.¡± ¡°Look at those bloodstains.¡± The scattered snow was stained heavily with blood, yet there were no bodies. Most likely, the monsters had devoured everything. It was clearly more an act of feeding than fighting. Amid the wreckage stood a case that looked as if it once held the burial goods. The case lay atop the broken cart, left forlornly behind. And¡­ sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Someone was standing in front of it. ¡°Shh.¡± Silverna, who was leading the way, gulped nervously. She raised her spear, tensed, and spoke cautiously: ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Only after hearing her words did the man, or rather the figure, slightly turn his head. ¡°Ah.¡± Under the thick canopy of trees, hidden from the moonlight, his silhouette emerged. About two meters tall, with broad shoulders and wearing a thick vest. His entire body was covered in dense white fur. He walked upright like a human, but his face resembled a tiger¡¯s, and his swaying tail and monstrous fangs made it clear he was no human. A massive greatsword was strapped across his back. ¡°A monster?¡± ¡°What is that thing?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like a Yeti¡­ A tiger in human form?¡± Confused voices rose from among the nobles. Everyone turned to look at Silverna, expecting that this Northern-born warrior might know what it was. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Yet she only tightened her grip on her spear, biting her lip and assuming a combat stance. Her instincts told her that even the slightest lapse in vigilance would provoke a lethal assault. Among them all, the only one who knew this creature¡¯s identity was Isaac. ¡®A Transcendent Species!¡¯ They were monsters who once brought humanity to the brink of annihilation. Intelligent magical beasts driven solely by hatred toward humanity. He had thought there was still time before they¡¯d appear. ¡®They¡¯ve already been active in the North?¡¯ Could they be involved in the burial goods incident as well? Regardless of the reason¡­ This was dangerous. Extremely dangerous. ¡®He¡¯s no ordinary foe. Silverna can¡¯t handle him alone right now.¡¯ Even with the guards of the nobles present, there was no guarantee of victory. Such were the Transcendent species: formidable foes. The Transcendent¡¯s blue eyes surveyed the nobles, emitting a low growl. ¡°Unlucky bastards.¡± There was no mercy, no negotiation, not even a hint of conversation. He kicked off the ground with powerful legs and swung his massive blade. KAAAAAANG! ¡°Khrrrk!¡± Silverna, who bravely intercepted the blow, was forced down to one knee under the sheer force of his swing. ¡°My lady!¡± Anna, who had been assisting at her side, urgently thrust her spear at the beast. But the monster paid no heed to the spear jabbing at its flank. The spearhead merely slid off that thick hide, failing to pierce through. CRACK! With a single punch, he smashed the spear¡¯s shaft in half. Then, as if swatting away a bug, he swung the back of his hand. Anna¡¯s body was tossed into the air and sent tumbling across the snowy ground. ¡°Pathetic humans.¡± The creature¡¯s piercing blue eyes swept over the nobles once more. ¡°I¡¯ll exterminate every last one of you.¡± With a menacing snarl, the hunt began. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 14: The Sword Sage They must have thought he was sweeping away dead leaves. Seeing a person sent flying so helplessly¡ªanyone would think so. ¡°Kkaaaaaaa!¡± ¡°Haaaaaaaaaa!¡± All the guards meant to protect the nobles could do was scream. He flaunted his transcendent power with nothing held back. ¡°I- Isaac-nim!¡± Jonathan urgently positioned himself in front of Isaac and shouted. ¡°You must run away!¡± If they stayed here, they would die. But Isaac¡¯s gaze remained fixed on the Transcendent, the one shaped like a tiger. ¡®He¡¯s swinging a greatsword?¡¯ Isaac stared intently at his greatsword, as if he didn¡¯t even hear Jonathan calling him¡ªno matter how many times he shook him, he received no answer. Puuuk! A spear from Silverna plunged into the Transcendent¡¯s back. ¡°So you¡­do bleed after all.¡± Silverna pulled out the spear, forcing an upward twist of her lip as if to imitate a grin. Tuduk! Thick, heavy-looking blood trickled down the Transcendent¡¯s back. Slowly, he turned his body toward Silverna. ¡°There¡¯s at least one human worth watching, I see.¡± Even after being speared, he didn¡¯t seem to be in great pain. Rather, as if his body temperature had finally risen, he swung the greatsword lightly in the air and prepared to face Silverna. In the meantime, the other nobles were fleeing. Just a brief exchange of blows had made it clear they had no chance. The innate terror the Transcendent inspired was too overwhelming for novices to endure. ¡°Isaac-nim! We must run away for now!¡± Jonathan, unable to bear seeing Isaac standing idly, tried to hoist him onto his back. ¡°Jonathan.¡± Isaac pushed him away and asked: ¡°You¡¯ve got confidence in your stamina, right?¡± ¡°Wh-What?! Suddenly asking this¡­ What are you talking about?!¡± ¡°Can you carry me on your back all the way to the Malidan Barrier?¡± Hearing the question, Jonathan widened his eyes and thumped his chest with his fist. ¡°I will do it, no matter what. I am your knight, Isaac-nim, and I shall protect you! So let¡¯s hurry¡ª!¡± ¡°Good, then wait.¡± ¡°Y-Yes?¡± While Jonathan was feeling rather proud inside, believing he¡¯d created a heroic moment, he grew flustered as Isaac walked right past him. ¡°Isaac-nim?!¡± ¡°Get ready to run. We¡¯ll be going straight away.¡± ¡°What do you¡ª!¡± Jonathan could not finish his sentence. Because Isaac was now standing in front of the two who were fiercely clashing. ¡°Isaac?!¡± Silverna, who was desperately trying to parry the greatsword, looked at Isaac in shock. She might have asked why he hadn¡¯t fled, but Isaac did not answer. ¡®There¡¯s only one way to win here.¡¯ The Transcendent would never let any human who saw it live. Once it finished off Silverna and started chasing the fleeing nobles, it would likely catch them in no time. Even if they ran right now, it might arrive at the Malidan Barrier first and lie in wait. So¡ª He had to draw its attention. He had to show that there was a human here who couldn¡¯t be dismissed so easily. Isaac stepped forward, willing to take on that role. How? How could he make himself appear as special prey to this Transcendent, who regarded all humans as identical game? ¡°Run away! Isaac! This thing is a monster! Not just any ordinary beast!¡± Despite Silverna¡¯s cries, Isaac did not retreat. Instead, he was cross-verifying his judgment to the bitter end, ensuring that his decision was correct. Finally. Just one phrase. The moment his breath escaped, carried on the wind¡ª ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The Transcendent halted its greatsword. ¡°W-What the¡ª?!¡± Silverna, who had been barely managing to parry the blows, was bewildered. She hadn¡¯t heard what Isaac said, nor did she know why the creature had suddenly stopped its sword. But now, the Transcendent¡¯s gaze was fixed solely on Isaac. ¡°Just now.¡± Its brow twisted hideously, and a subtle tremor, uncharacteristic of it, was evident in its voice. ¡°What did you say?¡± Facing the beast¡¯s blue eyes, Isaac replied with a sneering grin, as if grinding them underfoot. ¡°Raven Swordsmanship. A style taught exclusively within the Blackthorn household.¡± Blackthorn was one of the noble families of the kingdom, and one of their nobles was present here. ¡°At first, I was confused. Because you¡¯re swinging a greatsword, I considered greatsword techniques. But that wasn¡¯t right. Given your size and strength, I should have looked at one-handed swordsmanship instead of great sword swordsmanship.¡± To him, a human¡¯s greatsword wasn¡¯t much different from a one-handed sword. ¡°Traces of that swordsmanship style are everywhere. Especially the way you intentionally widen your stride to stabilize your center of gravity¡ªexactly the same.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Want me to tell you something? Because your foot structure differs from a human¡¯s, you don¡¯t actually need to widen your stance that much.¡± ¡°Grrrrrr.¡± Unconsciously, the Transcendent glanced down to check its stance. ¡°Do you know what that means?¡± Though Isaac smiled meaningfully, the Transcendent had no words. There was no need to overthink. ¡°It means the Blackthorn household taught you swordsmanship. The ones who were going to trade for Holstein¡¯s grave robbed goods were probably them as well.¡± But it seemed Blackthorn never intended to trade honestly. They sent a Transcendent instead of gold coins. Even if the grave robbers hadn¡¯t disturbed the monster den, this same fate would have befallen them. ¡°I¡¯ve always wondered: from where and how Transcendents gathered information about the kingdom and acted on it.¡± Just as he had constantly wondered in his previous life, the question was finally resolved now. ¡°There was a traitor in the kingdom.¡± The Transcendent pressed its greatsword more firmly into its grip. Veins bulged, and with its long tongue, it licked the protruding fangs. Now there was an existence it must never let escape. Not prey. He had become a man it must certainly kill. ¡°All I did¡­was swing my sword a bit.¡± Yet the Transcendent muttered as if it felt somewhat wronged. It had taken no action that should have revealed its identity. It had spoken little, and by wielding a greatsword, it should have been almost impossible to pinpoint its specific swordsmanship style. ¡°And yet, from that alone, you identified our true nature¡­and even uncovered a traitor?¡± Isaac crossed his arms and laughed. ¡°If you think it¡¯s only that much, then that¡¯s all you¡¯ll ever be.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± The Transcendent let out a hollow laugh. It conceded. This man was, quite literally¡ª ¡°A sage. A sword sage.¡± With just a few swings of the sword in front of him, he had reached the truth without difficulty. ¡°I am impressed by your deep wisdom and knowledge. May I ask your name?¡± ¡°Isaac.¡± ¡°Yes, Isaac.¡± He was clearly different from the ragtag prey the Transcendent had encountered before. ¡°I absolutely must kill you.¡± ¡°Isaac!¡± The urgent voice of Silverna. She thrust her spear desperately at the Transcendent¡¯s back, but it only cut through empty air. For the Transcendent had already kicked off the ground and was charging straight at Isaac. It didn¡¯t matter if it let the others go. This man, however, had to die¡ªno matter what. With a single battle, Isaac had learned this much. With a few habitual sword swings, he had gleaned dozens of insights. ¡®I¡¯ll kill him for sure!¡¯ If he survived now, who knew how many times he would trip them up in the future? The Transcendents weren¡¯t ready yet. They needed time before their kin could drive out humanity and swallow the continent whole! ¡°Isaac-nim!¡± But just like Silverna¡¯s spear, the Transcendent¡¯s greatsword now only sliced through thin air. That was because Jonathan, emitting a faint red aura from his entire body, was already running with Isaac slung over his shoulder. ¡°Jonathan, Your Red River¡ªwhat is this sorry display?!¡± ¡°N-Now¡¯s not the time to say such things!¡± Isaac couldn¡¯t help but lament at Jonathan¡¯s pitifully meager aura. Was this all a knight of Helmut could do with Helmut¡¯s unique technique, Red River? ¡°Pull yourself together! Right now, you¡¯re the only one who can outrun that thing!¡± The overwhelming physical prowess of the direct line of Helmut¡ªthey were the only humans who could compare to Transcendents without shame. Knights of Helmut trained alongside such direct heirs and learned to use Red River. ¡°Y-Yes, sir!¡± Hearing Jonathan¡¯s response, Isaac looked back. The Transcendent, now gripping its greatsword in its mouth, was running on all fours. ¡°Damn.¡± At that unbelievable speed, Isaac cursed. It was even faster than he¡¯d feared. Though Jonathan, as a knight of Helmut, possessed considerable speed and stamina, it felt like they would be caught at any second. They ran over snow-covered ground without slipping, and even the trees sprouting up everywhere seemed like mere playthings to their pursuer. ¡°Jonathan! Head for the rear barrier! That¡¯s the right way!¡± ¡°Haaa! Haaa! W-What?!¡± ¡°The rear barrier! The place where the monsters were swarming! We have to go there!¡± ¡°Haaa! Haaa! But that place is crawling with monsters! Haaa!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no other way to survive!¡± ¡°Haaa! Haaa!¡± Jonathan looked like he wanted to protest, but he was too exhausted to speak. Just as Isaac was about to glance back to see how far their pursuer had come¡ª ¡°Grrrrrrrrrr.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± It was right behind them. So close that if he reached out, he could touch them. Isaac momentarily choked on his breath. ¡®That fast!?¡¯ Unable to hide his shock, Isaac drew the sword he had brought. Even if he couldn¡¯t put proper strength behind a swing while being carried by Jonathan, he had to try something. ¡°Grrrrrrrrr!¡± The Transcendent gripped the greatsword, which it had been holding in its mouth, and swung it with lethal force. This strike would cleave both Jonathan and Isaac in half without effort. But Isaac angled his sword slightly, just barely deflecting the greatsword. ¡°Krrgh!¡± He managed to do it once by bracing the back of his blade with his other arm. ¡°Ah, damn¡ª!¡± His grip failed, and he lost his sword. Just from that single impact, his weapon was gone. ¡°I won¡¯t deny your great knowledge.¡± The Transcendent murmured with hatred. It realized that Isaac¡¯s insight into the Blackthorn Raven Swordsmanship had allowed him to deflect that blow. ¡°But now, it ends.¡± Just as the Transcendent was about to swing the greatsword again¡ª ¡°My apologies, Isaac-nim!¡± Jonathan released his hold on Isaac¡¯s waist and shifted his arms up to grip Isaac beneath both armpits. ¡°For the glory of Helmut!¡± ¡°Huhhh?!¡± With that, he hurled Isaac forward. The single burst of strength infused with all of his Red River was truly impressive. Isaac soared through the air like a bird. He nearly crashed into some branches along the way, but by curling his body he avoided falling prematurely. Except¡­ ¡°Jonathan!¡± He worried about the now-alone Jonathan. While the Transcendent might not care enough to pursue him, it had enough time to swing its greatsword once and take his head. Given the Transcendent¡¯s eerie hatred toward humans, hoping for Jonathan¡¯s survival was difficult. As Isaac braced for Jonathan¡¯s sacrifice, he finally hit the ground. ¡°Krrgh!¡± He didn¡¯t hit bare earth. Instead, he sank into something wet and squishy. It took Isaac a moment to realize it was the blood of the monsters. Corpses of monsters were strewn everywhere. And, in the distance, he could see the Malidan Barrier. It seemed they had successfully repelled the monster invasion here. ¡°Grrrrr!¡± Then, appearing from the slope of the mountain, the Transcendent emerged again. Running on all fours, it began its pursuit, apparently determined to kill Isaac before he could reach the barrier. To give meaning to Jonathan¡¯s sacrifice, Isaac rushed toward the barrier. Not to survive¡ª But to kill that thing. **** The Transcendent, Beombaek*. That was his name. His pure-white fur was so striking that he¡¯d been given this name. ¡°Grrrr!¡± Under the moonlight, he ran across the snowy field. To catch and kill that black-haired man he spotted far ahead. ¡®The barrier is still far away. I can kill him in time!¡¯ He pushed himself harder, because he absolutely couldn¡¯t let that man live. Even if Beombaek died here, he vowed to tear out that man¡¯s throat. As he reached ground where the monster corpses and their blood had melted the snow, his speed actually increased noticeably. He was closing in at an incredible pace. Arrows rained down overhead. ¡®They must¡¯ve noticed from the barrier.¡¯ It looked like they were providing covering fire to protect that man. ¡®Mere arrows.¡¯ His thick hide deflected the arrows. Once he reached a certain distance, Beombaek stopped running and grabbed the greatsword from his mouth. ¡°Gwaaaaang!¡± With a ferocious roar, he pulled the greatsword back and hurled it straight ahead. Spinning like a windmill, the greatsword flew directly at Isaac. Right before it struck¡ª Shweeeek! Kwoooom! A massive spear fell from the sky, cleaving the greatsword in two and sending the pieces flying off course. ¡°What¡­?¡± His blue eyes filled with astonishment. A single spear embedded in the ground. As Beombaek slowly lifted his gaze, he saw atop the barrier¡ª A colossal man stood with arms folded, looking down at him. ¡°Ah.¡± Before coming here, the nobles of Blackthorn had repeatedly warned him: ¡®You must never encounter him.¡¯ ¡®He is said to rival the head of Helmut himself.¡¯ ¡®The hero of the North. The guardian who protects the barrier.¡¯ The Frontier Margrave. Uldiran Caldias. For the first time in his life, Beombaek realized he was trembling at the sight of a human. Those cold, steady eyes regarded him no differently than the countless beast corpses scattered around. ¡°Gwaaaaang!¡± Beombaek roared and charged forward again. Even if he died, he had to kill Isaac no matter what. Kwa-deuk! Kwa-deuk! His powerful leaps made the ground crack underfoot. Seeing Uldiran reach for another spear, Beombaek pushed himself even harder. ¡°Gwaaaaangggggg!¡± As he closed in on Isaac, he leapt¡ª Shweeeek! Once more, the northern night air was sliced by a spear. Kwak! Something filled his vision. A spear shaft. It had lodged into his body, piercing his heart¡ªa realization that came too late. ¡°A¡­ Aaa¡ª.¡± He reached out in despair. ¡°Isaac¡­!¡± Because he had failed to kill him¡ª S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He could only imagine how many of his own kind would die as a result. With a final sigh of regret, Beombaek¡¯s strength drained from his body, and he bowed his head, eyes wide open yet seeing nothing. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Beombaek- This literally means all white. Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 15: Great Den ¡°Haaa! Haaah!¡± Gasping for breath, Isaac stared at the Transcendent impaled on the spear. Even as it stood there rigid, it looked like a towering grave marker unto itself. ¡®Thank goodness.¡¯ He was too out of breath to speak, but Isaac felt genuine relief. He had believed that as long as Uldiran Caldias reached them, the Transcendent could be killed. No matter how formidable a Transcendent might be, someone at the level of Uldiran could subdue it. ¡®Among the Transcendents I know, it wasn¡¯t anything particularly special.¡¯ Judging objectively, Isaac thought this particular Transcendent wasn¡¯t that strong, at least not compared to others he¡¯d encountered. ¡°Are you all right?!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll rescue you right away!¡± Soldiers rushed out the moment the tightly shut barrier door opened. Isaac shouted, pointing in the direction he had been thrown from. ¡°Start with the wounded! Hurry!¡± Beginning with Jonathan. Then Silverna, and Anna, along with the nobles and their escorts. Many had fallen victim to a single Transcendent. As for Isaac himself, apart from the injuries from his fall, he was only lightly wounded. Right now, others were far more important than him. Following Isaac¡¯s orders, the soldiers hurried towards the foot of the mountain. ¡°Are you all right?¡± It was Uldiran who approached Isaac, who was still trying to steady himself. Isaac attempted to stand, but Uldiran¡¯s hand gently pressed down on his shoulder, letting him rest more comfortably. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Hmm, that monster¡­ what was that?¡± Even Uldiran Caldias seemed to be seeing it for the first time. Isaac answered bitterly, gazing at the corpse. ¡°That¡¯s what we call a Transcendent¡­ beings that look human but are more like monstrous beasts.¡± At Isaac¡¯s words, Uldiran folded his arms and studied the corpse as if savoring the information. ¡°Hmm, you seem to know quite a bit about that creature.¡± ¡°I will explain later.¡± Isaac stood up slowly. The moment he saw the man lying on a stretcher, he wanted to run straight over to him. Seeing that sincerity, Uldiran chuckled lightly and nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. Go. It¡¯s only natural to be concerned about your comrades.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Leaving Uldiran behind, Isaac rushed urgently to Jonathan. ¡°Jonathan! Are you all right?!¡± Jonathan, being carried on a stretcher, gave a thumbs-up and smiled faintly. ¡°I am a knight of Helmut, am I not?¡± ¡°Ha, haha¡­ Yes, I¡¯m relieved.¡± From Isaac¡¯s perspective, the title ¡®Helmut¡¯s knight¡¯ wasn¡¯t especially pleasing. But at least Jonathan was alive, and that was good. ¡°What on earth happened?¡± Isaac knew that Transcendents never left humans alive. They showed no mercy to humans, their hatred a near-instinctual desire. Jonathan scratched his cheek awkwardly as he lay there. ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t really know. After I sent you off, its greatsword was at my throat.¡± Jonathan tilted his head slightly to show his neck. Indeed, there was a cut there, beads of blood forming near his Adam¡¯s apple. ¡°But then it just stared at me and left.¡± ¡°Left?¡± ¡°Yes, it said I was a ¡®dirty bastard¡¯ and then just departed.¡± ¡°¡®Dirty bastard¡¯?¡± At Jonathan¡¯s words, Isaac cocked his head, puzzled. A Transcendent had forsaken a chance to kill a human and walked away? ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ It made no sense within Isaac¡¯s understanding. ¡°Isaac! Don¡¯t worry about Jonathan! He¡¯s fine!¡± ¡°Geez, stay still, at least.¡± ¡°First, you need to see a physician for an examination.¡± Jonathan was promptly whisked away. Even before Isaac could relax, more questions bubbled up in his mind. Lost in thought, he suddenly felt someone wrap themselves around him from behind. ¡°Isaac!¡± ¡°Silverna?¡± Startled, Isaac turned his head. Silverna clung to him tightly, relieved and overjoyed. ¡°Thank goodness! Really, thank goodness, Isaac! I was afraid something terrible had happened to you!¡± ¡°Well, I¡ª¡± Feeling embarrassed, Isaac glanced backward. He could sense Uldiran Caldias staring intently at them. ¡®If I¡¯m not careful, I might end up skewered like that Transcendent.¡¯ He definitely didn¡¯t want to share the same fate as the Transcendent impaled on a spear. Isaac tried to gently push Silverna away. ¡°Ugh.¡± But he couldn¡¯t overpower her strength. While trying to figure out how to peel her off without causing a scene¡ª ¡°Ahem, Silverna.¡± Eventually, Uldiran Caldias approached and cleared his throat, calling softly to his daughter. ¡°A-ah, s-sorry!¡± Realizing only then what she¡¯d done, Silverna stepped back in embarrassment. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Uldiran fixed his gaze on Isaac. He seemed to have something to say, but¡ª ¡°Ahem.¡± Isaac pretended to scratch his neck and, in doing so, casually displayed the ring on his left ring finger. With that, Uldiran¡¯s gaze softened slightly. ¡°Where are the Holstein heirlooms?¡± Returning to his original duties, Uldiran asked. At his question, Silverna snapped to attention and reported. ¡°We¡¯ve recovered them. Anna is guarding them now. However, she¡¯s injured, so she¡¯ll likely need to rejoin us soon.¡± ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll go myself.¡± Silverna seemed startled that Uldiran would personally take action, but¡ª ¡°Do not let your guard down.¡± A stern warning, laced with bitterness, came through Uldiran¡¯s deep voice. Frowning, he shared his view of the current situation. ¡°That bizarre creature you call a Transcendent is worrisome, but even more so is the number of monsters.¡± Indeed. Silverna had to agree; the number of monsters near the barrier seemed disproportionately high. ¡°So you mean¡ª¡± ¡°Silverna, prepare to send a message immediately.¡± It had been 23 years since one had appeared. ¡°A Great Den.¡± **** In Helmut Estate: ¡°Guuuuhhhh!¡± A man¡¯s wail echoed through the manor. If someone didn¡¯t know better, they might mistake it for a rooster¡¯s crow at dawn. The owner of that agonized cry was Alois Helmut, the third son. Recently, he¡¯d been sparring every single morning. And it was always against the eldest daughter, Rihanna Helmut. Whoosh! Rihanna sheathed her greatsword, Ragnabel, and sighed. ¡°Fix your stance, Alois.¡± Her tone hinted that this session was far from over. Alois, who normally praised Rihanna as a precious jewel, found that lately her eyes seemed tinged with blood rather than their usual brilliance. ¡°N-No, Sister! We¡¯re doing this every day! I¡¯m really going to die at this rate!¡± Although he enjoyed spending time with Rihanna, this was too much. He felt as if his entire body might break from the daily agony. Yet Rihanna showed no mercy. ¡°I¡¯ve been sparring with you every day, and yet you never improve.¡± ¡°Th-That¡¯s¡ª¡± That¡¯s just how it seems to you, Sister, Alois wanted to say, but he swallowed his words. Strictly speaking, Alois had grown stronger. It¡¯s just that from Rihanna¡¯s perspective, his progress was negligible. ¡°Grab your sword.¡± Rihanna would not relent. Her emotionless expression only made him feel the intensity of her resolve even more. ¡®Talking about re-marriage in front of Lilac was... a mistake.¡¯ Alois was now paying dearly over several days for his previous mention of re-marriage and his dismissive comments about Isaac. And he wasn¡¯t the only one unsettled by Isaac at the Helmut estate. The second daughter, Sharen Helmunt, felt the same. Seventeen years old, younger than everyone except her fifteen-year-old youngest brother, Edel Helmunt. At this moment, Sharen lay sprawled on her bed, kicking at her blankets. ¡°Aaaaargh! Where is it?!¡± If one were to describe Sharen: A tomboy, a wild child. If not for being a Helmut, she¡¯d be just another rowdy country girl. Among the times when Sharen grew most agitated was when snacks were involved. ¡°Seriously! Where is it?!¡± There was a certain snack she loved dearly. But lately, Sharen hadn¡¯t been able to taste it at all. ¡°Where the hell did Isaac buy it?!¡± Because Isaac, whom Sharen had treated like an errand boy, had been dispatched to the Malidan front lines. As a result, Sharen couldn¡¯t get those snacks Isaac used to bring. She¡¯d tried every nearby bakery that also sold pastries to no avail. While Sharen agonized over this problem¡ª Her personal maid, Kelsey, burst into the room and called out urgently. ¡°My Lady! The Head of the House summons you!¡± ¡°Father is calling?!¡± The Sword Festival was still about a month and a half away. It wasn¡¯t yet close enough for the Head of House to summon everyone, so it must be for another reason. And so, the direct descendants of the Helmut family were gathered in the lord¡¯s study. The eldest son, Lohengrin Helmut. The eldest daughter, Rihanna Helmut. The second son, Armin Helmunt. The third son, Alois Helmut. The second daughter, Sharen Helmunt. The youngest, Edel Helmunt. It had been a while since they all gathered together anywhere other than the breakfast table, and the atmosphere felt somewhat awkward. Arandel Helmut, their father and head of the household, rested his chin on one hand, looking quite troubled. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°A messenger came from the Malidan Barrier.¡± At those words, everyone¡¯s eyes darted subtly toward Rihanna. Isaac had been dispatched in their stead to the Malidan Barrier. Could it be news of his death? That seemed the most likely scenario. Rihanna clenched her fist, struggling to calm her pounding heart. But then¡ª ¡°The monster den at Malidan Barrier has been confirmed to be a Great Den.¡± In an instant, the tension shifted. A Great Den sighted for the first time in 23 years. If that was the case, then there was only one reason the messenger had come: ¡°They need more support.¡± The request from the Caldias side, delivered through the kingdom to the nobles, was explicit. When it was just a normal monster den, it was fine to send promising talents for real combat experience. But now that it had been confirmed as a Great Den¡ª They needed those who could serve as genuine combat forces. ¡°Huh.¡± Arandel was frustrated that this had to happen so close to the Sword Festival, one of the house¡¯s main events. But now that a Great Den had been confirmed, he couldn¡¯t make a decision solely for Helmut¡¯s own benefit. ¡°Someone must be sent to Malidan. Is there anyone who will volunteer?¡± Thus Arandel asked¡ª ¡°I will go.¡± ¡°Father! Please send me!¡± Both of the two women in the room¡ª Rihanna and Sharen answered simultaneously. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL:Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 16: Second Dispatch Within the sight of Arandel, he sees his two daughters. His eldest daughter Rihanna and his second daughter Sharen. He had somewhat expected Rihanna to say she would go to the Malidan Barrier. She must still be worried about her husband, Isaac. But in the case of Sharen, it was hard to discern her true intentions. ¡®Haa¡­¡¯ Arandel knew well that he wasn¡¯t a good father. Compared to his sons, grasping the feelings of his daughters was also quite a challenge for Arandel. Especially Sharen Helmut, still just a young tomboy. It was even harder to read her. ¡°Sharen, why are you volunteering?¡± At times like this, going straight to the point was best. As Arandel asked, everyone¡¯s gaze fell upon Sharen. They, too, were curious as to why Sharen had suddenly decided to go to the Malidan Barrier. ¡°Father.¡± With her hand placed on her chest, Sharen stepped forward. Young though she might be, she was still a Helmut¡ªold enough to be well-versed in proper etiquette. ¡°I only say that I will go because I believe it is something I must do.¡± ¡°State your reason.¡± ¡­Don¡¯t add unnecessary words. At Arandel¡¯s warning, given as he propped his chin on his hand, the easy confidence vanished from Sharen¡¯s lips. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry. I let my feelings get ahead of me¡­¡± Her eyes trembled faintly. Nervously tense, Sharen explained briefly and swiftly, enough to sound a bit urgent. ¡°The Sword Festival is approaching. It¡¯s obviously impossible for my older brothers to leave, and my sister Rihanna must remain here as well.¡± She took a breath. ¡°But the youngest, Edel, cannot go. Though I am lacking, I am at least someone who can wield the sword of Helmut, so I believe it proper that I go.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± The moment he heard it, Arandel realized Sharen was lying. For the self-centered tomboy Sharen to bring up a great cause¡ªit meant she surely had another motive. Still¡­ ¡®There¡¯s no particular reason to refuse.¡¯ Arandel also judged that sending Sharen would create the most ideal situation. Someone suitable in terms of battle strength who wouldn¡¯t be too vital to the approaching Sword Festival. Moreover, Sharen, who still lacked maturity, might gain some sense if she went to the battlefield. ¡°This is a major cluster of enemies. Don¡¯t be careless. Show those gathered there the greatness of Helmut.¡± At his permission, Sharen beamed brightly and bowed her head. ¡°I will show the world what the sword of Helmut truly is.¡± For a moment¡ª Arandel¡¯s face turned a shade grayer, but no one noticed. ¡°Father! Let me¡ª!¡± Rihanna took a step forward to say that she would go, but at Sharen¡¯s remark that had soured his mood, Arandel frowned and waved his hand. ¡°Leave.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± That was the end of it. No one present could go against the words of Arandel, the head of the family. Thus, everyone departed, and Arandel remained alone in his office to finish his work. Even then, in his mind, Sharen¡¯s declaration swirled endlessly. [¡°I will show the world what the sword of Helmut truly is.¡±] The sword of Helmut. ¡°Haa¡­¡± It was a sigh that seemed to deepen Arandel¡¯s wrinkles slightly. A voice mixed with various laments leaked out. ¡°Who among you is truly wielding the sword of Helmut, I wonder.¡± His bitter murmuring, like a weary sigh, dispersed like grayish pipe smoke, fading quietly away. **** Rihanna¡¯s steps were urgent. She intended to run straight to Sharen and beg her to tell their father she couldn¡¯t go to the barrier after all. ¡°Rihanna!¡± As she walked down the second-floor corridor, a petulant voice called from behind. Lohengrin, the eldest son, approached with long strides and shouted at her: ¡°It was you, right? You¡¯re the one who pushed Sharen to go!¡± ¡°¡­What are you talking about?¡± Though he was a year older, Rihanna had long abandoned any sense of respect for Lohengrin. ¡°If not for that, why would Sharen volunteer to go to the Malidan Barrier! It¡¯s originally something you should be doing!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You bitch. Are you that hungry for the position of the family head? Do you hate the idea of me inheriting it that much?¡± ¡°Ha, don¡¯t spout nonsense. How many times have I said I¡¯m not interested?¡± As Rihanna tried to pass by ignoring him, he grabbed her shoulder. Smack! Rihanna swiftly knocked away Lohengrin hand. For a brief moment, at her murderous intent¡ªlike she¡¯d kill him if he dared touch her again¡ªLohengrin flinched. But he quickly flared up again. ¡°How exactly did you sway Father? He even let the Rose elixir incident slide!¡± ¡°Haa.¡± Rose elixir. A Helmut elixir that enhances physical abilities. Right after Isaac departed, a single dose of the elixir, reserved only for direct family members, had gone missing. Lohengrin accused Rihanna of stealing it to give to Isaac, but Arandel had shown no particular reaction or punishment, simply letting it go. ¡°He realized it was your ridiculous scheme.¡± The head of the family wouldn¡¯t be fooled by such childish tricks. ¡°This works out fine, Lohengrin. Let me say this clearly: don¡¯t do anything useless. Father already considers you the successor, so stop making pointless efforts that only reveal your incompetence.¡± With a blank expression, Rihanna¡¯s words stabbed deep. Lohengrin¡¯s face twisted grimly. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is. You¡¯re trying to snatch the headship from me? Ha! Foolish! Rihanna, let me be perfectly clear: you don¡¯t stand a chance at becoming the head of the family. Not even a speck!¡± ¡°Ugh, ha¡­¡± What could she do with this blockhead? With a sigh, even the last shred of familial affection began to slip away. ¡°Mother will return at the Sword Festival. She¡¯ll surely give me her support.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°And if I demonstrate overwhelming skill with the sword against your sorry blade at the Sword Festival, that¡¯s it. You know the record of our sparring matches, don¡¯t you?¡± A sneer crept onto Lohengrin lips. 37 matches, 31 wins and 6 losses. Lohengrin boasted an overwhelmingly favorable record against Rihanna. Though low for siblings, that was because Rihanna had deliberately avoided sparring with him. ¡°In the end, I just have to prove myself with skill. But if you keep pulling strings behind the scenes¡ª!¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°?¡± At that moment, Rihanna¡¯s emotionless eyes opened a fraction wider. ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°¡­What do you mean?¡± Realizing something, the corners of Rihanna¡¯s mouth subtly curved upward. And then¡ª ¡°Now that Isaac isn¡¯t here, I guess I don¡¯t need to hold back.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Come to the training yard, Lohengrin.¡± A dark crimson-fighting aura erupted from Rihanna¡¯s entire body. In the dazzlingly scattered scarlet energy, Lohengrin was momentarily taken aback. ¡°You really should know your limits.¡± Passing by him, Rihanna headed straight to the training grounds. **** ¡°Ugh, huh?!¡± Lohengrin couldn¡¯t even let out a proper scream. Fallen pathetically backward, tangled in his own cloak, he couldn¡¯t see straight ahead. He had already lost his greatsword, and his aura had been shattered all too easily. If there was any saving grace¡ª It was that, thanks to sparring in the old, unused underground training hall beneath the vast Helmut estate, nobody had witnessed his disgrace. ¡°Lohengrin.¡± A cold voice reached his ears. The tone implying her victory was only natural, made Lohengrin burn with humiliation. Yet in the duel just now, he hadn¡¯t even managed a single proper swing before being utterly overwhelmed. ¡°If I¡¯d had any desire to become the head of this family, I would have taken it by force.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± ¡°So don¡¯t provoke me.¡± With that, Rihanna turned and left. Desperate, Lohengrin pulled himself together and screamed: ¡°All this time! All this time you were mocking me?! Hiding this kind of power?!¡± ¡°Haa.¡± Rihanna paused momentarily, not turning her head, and murmured quietly: ¡°It was because of Isaac.¡± ¡°¡­¡­What?¡± ¡°Never mind. I don¡¯t want to talk about it anymore.¡± After that terse remark, as Rihanna left, Lohengrin, driven to fury, continued to howl behind her: ¡°I am the eldest son! I will become the head of the family!¡± ¡°I¡ªI may not have known, but do you really think Father is unaware of your skills?!¡± ¡°Even so, Father will choose me! I will succeed him and become the great Helmut leader!¡± Rihanna clicked her tongue at his cries. He thinks their father doesn¡¯t know? ¡®Of course he knows.¡¯ Arandel was not foolish enough to miss the difference in skill between the two. However¡ª ¡®That doesn¡¯t matter at all.¡¯ In Arandel¡¯s eyes, the skill gap between Lohengrin and Rihanna was negligible¡ªjust one and the same. He only hesitated to choose Lohengrin because he was foolish. ¡®Is there even anyone who could gain Father¡¯s acknowledgment purely through swordsmanship?¡¯ Emerging aboveground, Rihanna crossed the first-floor hall, heading once more toward Sharen. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± She spotted a brown-skinned woman in a chef¡¯s outfit moving busily about. ¡®That¡¯s Milli, isn¡¯t it?¡¯ Rihanna recalled seeing Milli chatting amicably with Isaac. They were about the same age, and she¡¯d heard that Isaac even gave Milli a gift in the end. As soon as Milli noticed Rihanna, she bowed her head hastily. ¡°Greetings, my lady.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Expressionless, Rihanna accepted the greeting, staring down at Milli. After a moment, Rihanna spoke curtly. ¡°You received a gift from Isaac, didn¡¯t you.¡± ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± Taken aback by the abrupt remark, Milli looked up, but quickly answered: ¡°Y-Yes! That¡¯s correct. Isaac drew my portrait.¡± ¡°May I see it?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh, of course.¡± Milli led Rihanna to the servants¡¯ quarters outside the mansion. Once inside Milli¡¯s room, Rihanna glanced around. A commoner background. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Same age as herself. A bright personality. ¡®She¡¯s just like Isaac.¡¯ A woman who was the complete opposite of herself. Was this the type of woman Isaac liked? While Rihanna was lost in thought, Milli brought over the portrait. ¡°Here it is. I never knew Isaac-nim had such talent for painting. He¡¯s so gifted in many areas.¡± Milli praised Isaac without reservation. Although she knew about their eventual divorce, she had no desire to speak ill of him. ¡°Ah¡­¡± The painting was indeed impressive. A portrait of Milli. Rihanna had never known that Isaac possessed such artistic talent. ¡°I¡ª.¡± Not even once had he drawn her. Stifling the words that almost spilled out, Rihanna turned and stepped outside. ¡°I¡¯ve seen enough, thank you.¡± Without waiting for a reply, she left the room. Her steps felt a bit drained of strength. **** The next morning¡ª ¡°Make sure you¡¯ve packed enough sweets. It¡¯d be troublesome to run out on the way.¡± Carriages lined up in front of the Helmut estate, ready to depart for the Malidan Barrier. Already seated in the most luxurious of these carriages, head stuck out the window issuing various orders, was Sharen Helmut. Unlike Isaac, who had only Jonathan with him, this time knights of the Helmut family were mobilized to confront the mass enemy camp. ¡°Haah, all this fuss because of just one Isaac.¡± Despite her words, Sharen¡¯s eyes sparkled brightly. Like a child excited for adventure. Anyone could tell she was treating the battlefield like a game. ¡®My lady, really¡­¡¯ Kelsey, Sharen¡¯s personal maid, was worried. She fretted that if Sharen went on so carelessly, she might get seriously hurt. ¡®It would¡¯ve been nice if one of her siblings were going with her.¡¯ Especially if Rihanna Helmut were accompanying them, Kelsey could relax a bit. Kelsey busied herself loading the supply wagon, carefully packing Sharen¡¯s snacks and sealing them properly. Inside the dim carriage, between luggage crates, something covered by a white cloth was bulging out. ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯ Since Kelsey had handled all the packing herself, she was curious about this unfamiliar item. She lifted the cloth¡ª ¡°R-Rihanna N-Nim?!¡± There crouched Rihanna Helmut, cheeks flushed with embarrassment, pleading in a whisper: ¡°P-Please pretend you didn¡¯t see anything.¡± ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 17: Silverna is Busy After the battle with the Transcendents. The Malidan barrier, now revealed to be a great den, bustled with activity every day. Not only did they stand guard atop the barrier walls, they also dispatched scouting parties daily for reconnaissance. Each day, everyone watched the departing detachments heading out to confirm the dangers beyond, praying for their safety. It was an unintended calamity. ¡°Haah.¡± ¡°I want to go home.¡± The nobles who had been dispatched here after hearing that a mere monster den would be nothing to worry about, had arrived with peace of mind. But now their faces were dark with fear. A historical catastrophe that resurfaced after 23 years. They were terrified to find themselves at its very center. Moreover, the time last night when they had been defeated without being able to offer any resistance to the Transcendents was etched into their minds like a traumatic scar. [Do not tell them.] Isaac had told Uldiran and Silverna everything he knew about the Transcendents. But Uldiran didn¡¯t bother making it public. They still hadn¡¯t determined whether the great den was connected to the Transcendents, and with everyone already so demoralized, announcing such news could plunge them into even deeper confusion. As for the Blackthorn family, the royal court had already been contacted. Their betrayal was likely being meticulously verified by the royal family step by step. ¡°Hooo!¡± While everyone else was busy¡­ Isaac, at least, was living each day satisfied and productive. Recognized for his recent achievements, Isaac was granted a special exemption from wall-duty. In these dire times, when even one more person was needed, Isaac was nevertheless allowed to train in swordsmanship alone¡ªthanks largely to Silverna¡¯s influence. ¡°He¡¯s at it again.¡± After finishing her lunch, Silverna observed Isaac from afar. Isaac was sparring with Jonathan. They had been repeating sparring and training daily for several days now. If there was something unusual¡­ ¡°Isaac is winning.¡± Anna, who had eaten with Silverna, passed her a cup of ginger tea and spoke up. ¡°Haaaaa.¡± Just as Anna said, Isaac¡¯s sword effortlessly toppled Jonathan. Jonathan, knocked down, got up again with a tearful expression, declaring he¡¯d challenge him once more. If nothing else, Jonathan had outstanding stamina. Even if he was just a low-ranking knight, it was still impressive to defeat a knight of Helmut. Yet Silverna and Anna both wore complicated expressions. ¡°There¡¯s a record of the sparring matches among those dispatched. Isaac has fought in 41 matches: 2 wins and 39 losses so far.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°For reference, Jonathan has had 23 matches: 17 wins, 6 losses.¡± They didn¡¯t bother recording Isaac and Jonathan¡¯s sparring since it was unofficial. However, aside from the earliest matches, Isaac had been dominating Jonathan for the most part. ¡°Of course, Isaac mostly sparred with exceptionally skilled nobles¡­.¡± Among them were certainly nobles who had lost to Jonathan. Wasn¡¯t that a strange record? Silverna wanted to comment but felt it best to remain silent. ¡°If I may speak for you, my lady,¡± Anna said awkwardly, scratching her cheek. ¡°Isaac seems as if he¡­ specializes in fighting Helmut.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°He easily handles nobles who wield greatswords similarly, but if they¡¯re from Helmut, it¡¯s like he¡¯s several moves ahead, taking action first.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s why Isaac, even with incomplete training, can still defeat Jonathan.¡± ¡°Haah.¡± ¡°Maybe if it were someone else, it¡¯d be fine. But he¡¯s Helmut¡¯s son-in-law, after all. This seems a bit off.¡± It was almost as if he¡¯d accumulated all his knowledge until now just to bring down Helmut. ¡°Enough. Stop worrying. He can handle himself.¡± The idea that Helmut¡¯s own son-in-law might grow into a hunter specializing in taking down Helmut itself was unsettling, but that was Isaac¡¯s life to live. ¡°Ughhh!¡± Just then, Isaac knocked Jonathan down once again. ¡°...Let¡¯s stop here for you.¡± Isaac, now fully accustomed to Jonathan, clicked his tongue as if there was nothing more to learn. Seeing this, Silverna headed toward Isaac. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going again? Lately you¡¯ve been hanging around him so much!¡± ¡°We¡¯re friends, right? And what, you think this is fun? I¡¯m helping Isaac draft his training manual. And while I¡¯m at it, I get some advice too.¡± As Silverna departed, Anna sighed worriedly. ¡®Does that look like the face you make for just a friend?¡¯ Wasn¡¯t she already wearing a bright smile that could melt even the cold wind? From the start, hadn¡¯t she been standing here, waiting for the right moment to go see Isaac? ¡®My lady, please.¡¯ He¡¯s a married man! Anna wanted to shout. ¡°Isaac, I¡¯m here.¡± Silverna greeted Isaac, who was wiping off his sweat with a towel. ¡°Silverna, you came again today.¡± Seeing Isaac welcome her warmly, Silverna replied with a sly grin. ¡°Haa, I¡¯m really busy. You know I only came because you asked, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, I know. Do you have to say that every day?¡± ¡°Show some more gratitude. Who else here can help you besides me?¡± Silverna was helping Isaac with both sparring and researching his swordsmanship techniques. The book he was writing, ¡®Isaac¡¯s Sword,¡¯ already had Silverna deeply involved. ¡°Got it. Remember what we did yesterday? Get into that stance and counter.¡± ¡°We¡¯re still doing that?¡± Now the two were accustomed to swinging their sword and spear at each other. A few minutes passed. Isaac told her to wait, took up his pen, and squatted down to continue writing. ¡®Impressive.¡¯ He had told Silverna that she was carrying on Caldias¡¯ spear techniques. Yet seeing Isaac start from the basics and steadily progress in swordsmanship, Silverna felt a subtle distance¡ªperhaps the difference in talent was just that great. ¡°How¡¯s Blackthorn?¡± Still holding his pen, Isaac asked. Blackthorn was a noble family that had assisted the Transcendents. In fact, a member of the Blackthorn family was among the dispatched nobles. ¡°No particular movements. The one here is still young. Maybe he didn¡¯t know about the Transcendents?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac said nothing more and continued writing. He too had sparred a few times with the dispatched noble from the Blackthorn family, but found nothing unusual. As Silverna stood there blankly looking down at Isaac, her lips parted slightly. She had something she wanted to ask. She hesitated because it was a sensitive topic, but¡ª ¡°About Rihanna¡ª.¡± Before thinking, almost by instinct, Silverna blurted out the words. ¡°Hmm?¡± She hastily tried to cover her mouth with her hand, but Isaac had already heard her. He turned his head and looked her way. It was too late. After a moment of pondering, Silverna forced an awkward smile and asked: ¡°Rihanna is quite skilled, isn¡¯t she?¡± Perhaps assuming it wasn¡¯t a big deal, Isaac nodded and went back to writing. ¡°Right, aside from the head of the family, she¡¯s the strongest in Helmut.¡± Among her siblings, she stood out by far in terms of ability. ¡°I also easily beat the eldest son once, but I lost to Rihanna. Of course! That was only because I was exhausted at the time!¡± Silverna hurriedly added, prompting Isaac to grin. ¡®If I judge it coldly now¡­¡¯ At present, Silverna wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against Rihanna. One could say Silverna hadn¡¯t yet ¡®bloomed.¡¯ ¡®Still, she is doing her best.¡¯ Spurred by Isaac¡¯s words from before, Silverna had been seeking her own ¡°Caldias¡± and working hard. ¡°Rihanna is¡­ well¡­ an incredible swordswoman.¡± Isaac, who didn¡¯t particularly feel like talking about her, tried to gloss over it. But oblivious, Silverna rambled on about her rival. ¡°Actually, there¡¯s a rumor that Rihanna¡¯s reputation might be inflated. She¡¯s called the ¡®Blood Rose,¡¯ but they say she hasn¡¯t really shown much compared to Lohengrin, the eldest son.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But having faced her myself, I know. There¡¯s an immeasurable gap between Rihanna and Lohengrin.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true.¡± Isaac paused his pen and stared blankly at the ground. ¡°Did you know?¡± Recalling the past, Isaac let out a hollow laugh and murmured: ¡°Rihanna can split a river.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Huh?¡± When Silverna gave him a puzzled look at the absurd claim, Isaac grinned, amused by her expression. Still at a loss, Silverna asked: ¡°Is that¡­ some kind of metaphor? Like you¡¯re describing a blood-soaked battlefield figuratively?¡± ¡°Haha, think of it however you like.¡± Even now, remembering that sight made Isaac chuckle in disbelief. Realizing he wasn¡¯t joking, Silverna tilted her head and asked: ¡°Why would she split a river?¡± It was a purely curious question. If she wanted to train, why do something as pointless as slicing a river? A question that got straight to the heart of it. Isaac, treating it as an old, weightless memory, answered with disinterest: ¡°It was a proposal.¡± ¡°What? What do you mean by that?¡± Although Silverna kept pressing for details, Isaac brushed it off as nothing important. ¡°Anyway, do you have time? Can you help me a bit more?¡± Isaac closed the book and asked. ¡°Ah, again?¡± Truthfully, she did have enough time. ¡°Tsk, hold on. I¡¯ll go ask Anna.¡± ¡°Please do.¡± ¡°It¡¯s tough, you know. I said I¡¯m busy.¡± With that, Silverna deliberately turned her body and headed toward Anna, who was waiting off in the distance. ¡°Hehe.¡± Silverna felt genuinely happy that Isaac needed her and held onto her like this. **** The next day, at the same time. Just like before, Silverna finished her lunch and went to find Isaac. ¡®Where¡¯s Anna?¡¯ She couldn¡¯t spot Anna anywhere, so she spent some time looking around and arrived a bit late. But at least she made it to Isaac. ¡°Silverna, you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Ah, my lady.¡± Isaac greeted her with an even brighter smile than yesterday. In front of him stood Anna, awkwardly holding a spear. ¡°Wh-what¡­ what¡¯s going on here?¡± With a baffled look, Silverna asked, and Isaac gave her a thumbs-up. ¡°You said you were really busy, right? So I asked Anna to help me out today.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°So you don¡¯t have to spend time helping me today. I felt bad that I¡¯ve been taking up so much of your time lately.¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± Silverna, dumbfounded, nodded absentmindedly. Unlike usual, her face went blank as she stared at Anna. But Anna stood firm and didn¡¯t back down. ¡®It¡¯s for your own good, my lady!¡¯ Anna knew Silverna was growing fond of Isaac. This was her special measure. A married man. And worse, the husband of Helmut¡¯s eldest daughter, Rihanna. If Silverna fell in love with Isaac? ¡®No future awaits but disaster!¡¯ Not just heartbreak¡ªsociety would surely point fingers at Silverna. ¡°Ah, so¡­ you don¡¯t need me today.¡± With a voice as cold and dry as the northern chill, Silverna nodded and turned around. ¡°...¡± Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Great, that¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Really, I was busy. Guess I was pushing myself too hard.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I had to do this, and that too.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Ah, I was busy, but this worked out well.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Haha, lucky me. It was so annoying.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Right, right, Isaac. I¡¯m leaving then.¡± ¡°Ah, good. That¡¯s great.¡± Watching Silverna¡¯s hunched shoulders as she trudged away, Anna felt her heart wrench, but she held it in. ¡°Anna, shall we get started?¡± ¡°Yes, understood.¡± Anna took up the position and weapons Isaac requested, serving as his sparring partner. Through this, Isaac would discover and understand something new. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Feeling a prickling sensation on his back, Isaac turned slightly. At the far end of the training grounds, hidden behind a tree, Silverna stood glaring intently at them. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 18: Assistance Kaang! At the instant sword and spear collided, Anna widened her eyes. ¡®Again.¡¯ It was the same feeling she¡¯d experienced several times now each time their weapons met. The first couple of times, she¡¯d dismissed it as mere coincidence. But after it happened again and again, Anna had no choice but to accept it. He¡¯s reading everything. Isaac was reading the trajectory of her spear¡¯s swing at almost the same speed that she wielded it. The spear technique she¡¯d honed over several years just to follow her lady was being completely deciphered within a few exchanges. Initially, she felt provoked and irritated, but at some point, that feeling turned into awe. ¡°Haaa!¡± However, contrary to that feeling¡ª ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Even though Isaac had predicted her trajectory and tried to parry her spear, he was forced onto his back by the faint quivering at the tip of Anna¡¯s spear. Seizing the opening, Anna spun around once, whirled the spear, and brought its cleanly aligned blade right to Isaac¡¯s neck. ¡°I¡¯ve lost.¡± Raising his hand to surrender, Isaac conceded, and Anna slowly lowered her spear. ¡°¡­¡­Can we even call this a loss?¡± Despite being the victor, Anna asked shyly. In truth, she felt as though she had lost. ¡°My spear was completely read. At a certain point, your sword was faster than my own judgment.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°The only reason you lost was your lack of basic strength and stamina. Just that one thing.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Give it a month of training. You¡¯d probably beat someone like me with ease.¡± The thought of a latecomer surpassing her weighed heavily on her. Anna was honestly not confident anymore. Even though she had been an ordinary maid who became a soldier by learning the spear¡ª She¡¯d had some pride, however small. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you want me to console you, even though I¡¯m the one who just lost?¡± Isaac laughed awkwardly. He had already opened a book of his own. It was different from a standard textbook¡ªthis was a ¡°dueling journal¡± in which he recorded and reviewed the spar, noting what he lacked. Watching him do this, Anna asked, feeling somewhat embarrassed. ¡°Isaac, you¡¯re really incredible.¡± ¡°What is?¡± As he wrote down the reason for his defeat as poor reaction to the final exchange, Isaac even drew a simple sketch of Anna¡¯s final stance and his response. ¡°You look so confident, even in defeat. As if you¡¯re certain that, in the end, you¡¯ll win.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯d have something like that.¡± Seeing his rare, flat denial startled Anna slightly. ¡°The reason I¡¯m not afraid of losing is because I¡¯m grateful I can lose at all.¡± His gaze remained fixed on the ¡°dueling journal¡± as he continued. ¡°I know how painful it is not even to be given a chance. So I don¡¯t mind losing.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If I lose, I don¡¯t have time to stay hung up on it. Because I want to keep swinging my sword.¡± Watching Isaac smile gently, Anna felt her heart skip a beat for a moment. ¡°Is this how you seduced Lady Rihanna?¡± ¡°Out of nowhere?¡± Isaac made an embarrassed face. Looking into his eyes for an answer, Anna persisted, and Isaac scratched his cheek as he replied. ¡°When I courted her, I wasn¡¯t like this. I was more... proactive.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± With the conversation naturally shifting to romance, Anna took the chance to mention Silverna, who was still watching them from a corner of the training grounds. ¡°What do you think of My Lady Silverna?¡± ¡°Silverna? She¡¯s a good friend. Thanks to her, I¡¯ve found a clear direction for my swordsmanship.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it? Really?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Haa, Isaac-nim. I¡¯ve been with My Lady since we were young, so let me be frank.¡± Anna squatted down in front of the crouching Isaac, and in a distant corner of the wide training ground, the two faced each other, speaking in hushed tones. ¡°To My Lady, people fall into exactly two categories: enemies or comrades.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a harsh way to categorize.¡± ¡°In any case, that¡¯s how it is. Just two.¡± Anna raised her index and middle finger. ¡°But lately, My Lady¡¯s been strange.¡± Her ring finger slowly joined in, making three. ¡°It¡¯s like a third category is trying to emerge¡ªand that¡¯s you, Isaac-nim.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Isaac-nim, you¡¯re a married man, so you get what I¡¯m saying, right? I don¡¯t have to expose more of my master¡¯s vulnerability, do I?¡± Anna glared sharply, and Isaac nodded awkwardly. ¡°I more or less understand.¡± ¡°¡®More or less¡¯?¡± ¡°I got it. I get what you mean. Helmut and Caldias. You¡¯re saying to maintain a proper distance from each other, right?¡± At Isaac¡¯s roundabout wording, Anna beamed brightly. ¡°As expected of Isaac-nim. They say handsome men understand a woman¡¯s heart intuitively.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Come on, be honest. You¡¯ve had this happen quite a few times, haven¡¯t you? You used to row a ferryboat, right? You must¡¯ve been famous as a handsome boatman.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to know about that.¡± Isaac once operated a tiny ferryboat. Thanks to his good looks, he indeed had many female customers. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°In any case, I trust you¡¯ll keep a clear line, since you¡¯re a married man.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Just then¡ª The sky began to darken. As the two of them, still squatting, cautiously lifted their heads, Silverna, arms crossed, was looking down at them. Had she heard anything? That suspicion crossed both their minds at once, but¡ª ¡°Anna, it¡¯s your shift now.¡± Judging from her calm tone, Silverna hadn¡¯t overheard their conversation. ¡°Huh? My shift? I still have two hours left.¡± ¡°Bolten is feeling sick and needs to rest. He didn¡¯t look so good. So you have to take his place, since you¡¯re the next in rotation.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Anna clamped her mouth shut and looked up at Silverna. Bolten was just stuffing himself with two bowls of lunch not long ago, and now he¡¯s ¡®sick¡¯? ¡®She was talking to Bolten earlier.¡¯ Anna heaved a sigh and stood up. ¡°Guess there¡¯s no helping it. I¡¯ll head over then.¡± After a polite bow, Anna turned and left. Behind her, she could faintly hear Silverna speaking in a low voice. ¡°What now? With Anna gone, there¡¯s no one to help you.¡± ¡°Hmm, so it seems.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s really necessary, I-I can help you. I still have some time. A lot of time.¡± ¡°¡­Alright.¡± After a brief moment of thought, Isaac accepted Silverna¡¯s help. ¡°Great! Let¡¯s get started right away!¡± Gripping her spear, Silverna instantly sounded excited. Anna, trudging away, smacked her forehead with her hand and let her shoulders slump. ¡®My foolish lady.¡¯ And she dares to call it ¡°just friendship.¡± From dealing only with spears and monsters in the North, Anna had long since realized that her lady¡¯s romantic skills were severely lacking. She might not yet have recognized her own feelings, but it was probably only a matter of time. ¡®Still, Isaac-nim will handle this well.¡¯ He¡¯s a married man, so he¡¯ll keep an appropriate distance. If Silverna tries to cross a line, he¡¯ll no doubt set her straight. They¡¯ll probably end up as a beautiful yet cold memory, like a snow crystal. ¡®He already has someone.¡¯ If he weren¡¯t married, Anna would have done everything she could to help Silverna. Regretting that she could not, she headed toward the rampart for her forced shift. [The reason I don¡¯t fear defeat is because I¡¯m grateful I can lose.] [I don¡¯t have time to stay hung up on it. Because I want to keep swinging my sword] As she walked, Isaac¡¯s words from earlier suddenly resurfaced in her mind. ¡®No time to stay bound by defeat.¡¯ It was something straight out of a textbook, but seeing someone who actually put it into practice made it resonate differently. Her motivation surging anew, Anna tightened her grip on her spear and quickened her pace. *** Helmut was unusually noisy. And there was only one reason for this. ¡°Ahaaaaaaaa!¡± In Rihanna¡¯s room, Alois was brimming with tears, feeling like his heart was being torn apart. A full ten days. Ten days without seeing Rihanna. It was the exact same length of time since Sharen departed for the Malidan barrier. Of course, having disobeyed the family head¡¯s order, Rihanna was bound to be severely punished. Arandel would never show mercy to anyone who defied him, even if it was his own daughter. Terrified of that thought¡ª Alois had suppressed his desire to follow and, instead, remained here, pining for Rihanna. ¡°Big sister!¡± He lay facedown on Rihanna¡¯s bed, drenching her pillow with his tears. **** On a well-maintained carriage road. A line of Helmut carriages came to a halt in front of the Malidan barrier. They had arrived a bit later than other nobles. The reason was simple. ¡°Gotta keep up appearances.¡± If they arrived too early, it might seem like they were waiting on the other nobles. Also, they didn¡¯t want to appear as if they¡¯d rushed over the moment Caldias summoned them. ¡°Hah, all this trouble because of that Isaac fellow.¡± Sharen grumbled as she popped a snack into her mouth. She didn¡¯t actually seem that upset. Isaac was just one excuse among many. The tomboy seemed to be enjoying this as if it were some sort of adventure. The carriage stopped for inspection. Kelsey, Sharen¡¯s maid, quietly stepped out of the carriage. Bow-ing her head slightly to the Helmut knights who had disembarked outside, a luggage carriage arrived. Entering the carriage, Kelsey called softly. ¡°Rihanna-nim?¡± At that, a white cloth began to wiggle, and Rihanna, who had been hiding beneath it, poked her head out. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived. This is the Malidan barrier. There are a lot of carriages, so the inspection will take about two hours.¡± ¡°¡­Alright.¡± Nodding, Rihanna drew out the outfit she¡¯d prepared beneath the white cloth. It was a maid¡¯s uniform. Only Sharen Helmut was scheduled to arrive, so if Rihanna¡¯s presence became known, Caldias would surely make an issue of it. Rihanna intended to hide her identity as much as possible. Seeing this, Kelsey couldn¡¯t hide her worry. ¡°I don¡¯t know your reasons for coming all this way, My Lady, but there must be something compelling you to do this.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s anything I can do to help, I will do my utmost.¡± Kelsey handed over a hairnet and a mask. While Kelsey waited outside briefly, Rihanna changed into the maid¡¯s uniform. She gathered all her hair and hid it with the hairnet, exposing her forehead and feeling a bit self-conscious. She put on a headband to conceal her red hair as much as possible and wore a mask to hide her face. ¡°This should be enough.¡± Smiling brightly, Kelsey gave her a thumbs-up. Rihanna nodded in satisfaction and slowly looked up at the Malidan barrier. One distinctive woman stood atop the barrier, boldly overlooking Helmut¡¯s carriages and knights. Silverna Caldias. Rihanna remembered her. A spear master of exceptional skill for her age, someone fully capable of bearing Caldias¡¯ future. They had dueled once before. ¡®She¡¯s grown stronger.¡¯ Rihanna could tell at a glance. Silverna had become stronger than when they last fought. It was a good duel. Instead of fixating on winning or losing, we both learned something¡­ That¡¯s when she saw the black-haired man appear behind Silverna. Rihanna¡¯s eyes went wide. Isaac, safe and sound at the front lines. Relieved by this and yet¡ª As she watched Silverna and Isaac chat with smiles, even sharing the snacks Isaac had brought, Rihanna¡¯s hand clenched into a fist before she realized it. She lowered her head, puzzled, and murmured quietly. ¡°I definitely won that duel.¡± Why, then¡ª Why did she feel as if she had lost? ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 19: The Tomboy on the Front Lines Carriages that have passed through the fortress walls move under the guidance of the soldiers. Knights of Helmut bustle about, hauling luggage or being shown to their lodgings. In the midst of it all, a small girl with pigtails pushes forward, leaving everyone else behind. As if striding through her own house, she confidently stops in front of her brother-in-law. ¡°Isaac!¡± ¡°Sharen¡­ You really came.¡± When Isaac first heard that Sharen would be arriving, he was a bit surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected such a tomboy to volunteer to come to the battlefield. But seeing Sharen now, Isaac realizes he¡¯s been dead wrong. ¡®She¡¯s here for fun.¡¯ She¡¯s far more carefree than he¡¯d imagined. Even amid the crisis of the great den, she treats coming to the Malidan Barrier like a picnic or an adventure. Brimming with excitement, Sharen fires off her words in a rapid stream. ¡°Isaac, where are you staying? Is there a room next to yours? With you gone, I¡¯ve had to rely on the maids, but I kind of feel bad about bossing them around.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°When I¡¯m here, it¡¯s best having Isaac nearby. That way, I can make you do errands!¡± The idea that she finds him easier to boss around than her hired maids leaves Isaac somewhat dumbfounded. He sighs, realizing his time at the Malidan Barrier is likely to be tiring. ¡°Hey, kid.¡± From beside Isaac, Silverna¡ªwho¡¯s been watching quietly¡ªfolds her arms and glares. ¡°This is a battlefield. If you¡¯re going to act like a brat, get lost right now.¡± Isaac bites his lip, fighting back the urge to laugh. Meanwhile, Sharen widens her eyes and flails her arms in exaggerated protest. ¡°What?! Do you even know who I am? I¡¯m Sharen! The second daughter of Helmut!¡± ¡°I¡¯m Silverna, eldest daughter of Caldias.¡± ¡°Caldia¡ª¡± She was about to bark, So what? but freezes the moment she hears that family name. Her gaze flicks to Isaac, who confirms it with a nod. Sharen then awkwardly clears her throat and steps back. ¡°Kelsey, what¡¯s that? Hey! Why¡¯re you calling me now?!¡± ¡°No one called you, Sharen.¡± When Isaac corrects her, Sharen blushes and juts her lips out. ¡°She did call me! Helmut people have great hearing! R-right? Kelsey, you called me, didn¡¯t you?¡± She looks behind her, but only a cold wind greets her. There¡¯s nobody standing by her side. Unfortunately, Kelsey, her personal maid, is busy lugging suitcases and can¡¯t swoop in to save her mistress from embarrassment. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± With her lips pressed inward, Sharen remains silent for a moment. Silverna immediately chimes in: ¡°On the battlefield, the chain of command is everything. If you keep showing off like that, then pick up a sword. If you beat me, you can have the command.¡± ¡°Oho?¡± Sharen bounces once, then swivels back toward the other two. Her twin braids swing wildly, even tapping Isaac¡¯s shoulder with each move. ¡°If I beat you, you¡¯ll hand over command? You sure about that?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± As soon as Silverna uncrosses her arms and grips the spear perched on her shoulder to step forward¡ª ¡°Ha!¡± Sharen snorts in disbelief, taking a step back. ¡°Alright! Bring it on!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You think you can look down on Helmut?¡± She retreats another step. ¡°You think just ¡¯cause I¡¯m young and cute I don¡¯t have any skills?!¡± ¡®Wow, she¡¯s good at walking backward¡¯, Isaac muses. ¡°You haven¡¯t heard from Isaac, have you?! I¡¯m the prodigy of Helmut, destined to follow in my sister¡¯s footsteps¡ªthe famed ¡®Blood Beauty!¡¯¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°They call me the Princess of Roses!¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± She¡¯s already so far away that it¡¯s hard to make out her words. Silverna, meanwhile, has long since shrugged and recrossed her arms. ¡°Actually, never mind! I¡¯m exhausted from the trip, and it¡¯s too chilly out here! Plus¡­ I need to polish my sword! Too bad!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Soon enough, Sharen bumps into the carriage she rode in on. Sharen flushes, all too aware of how Isaac and Silverna are gawking at her. She barks in embarrassment: ¡°Stop staring at me!¡± Still fuming, she heads to the luggage compartment for her greatsword. ¡°Oww! Who hit me?!¡± She dashes out, teary-eyed, as though someone inside smacked the back of her head. ¡°Argh!¡± Clutching her head in both hands, Sharen rushes over to Kelsey. ¡°What the¡­? Is she really Rihanna¡¯s younger sister?¡± Still baffled by the bizarre scene, Silverna turns to Isaac. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac, however, was eyeing the maid who presumably smacked Sharen. A woman with her hair done up and her face concealed entirely by a mask. ¡°Isaac?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh, sorry. What did you say?¡± ¡°I said she¡¯s a strange girl. She¡¯s the total opposite of Rihanna.¡± ¡°She definitely has¡­ a distinct personality.¡± Even as he replies to Silverna, Isaac keeps glancing at the carriage¡ªwhere the mysterious maid is no longer in sight. ¡®Could it be¡­?¡¯ With a creeping sense of suspicion, Isaac continues his conversation with Silverna. **** ¡°¡­¡­.¡± In the Evening, Isaac sits in his room, reviewing his sparring journal and revisiting his training sessions. His skills have gradually improved thanks to his daily, unrelenting practice, yet he continues to push himself. ¡®Just because I¡¯m low on stamina doesn¡¯t mean I should blindly accept the current defeat.¡¯ When he lost one leg and became disabled, pouring effort into training had felt like filling a jar with a hole in it. But that¡¯s no longer the case. Even if it¡¯s only a small amount at a time, he pushes himself every day to fill the jar named Isaac. ¡°Haam.¡± He hears a yawn behind him. Isaac slowly turns his head to see Sharen sprawled out on his bed, reading a book. ¡°...When are you leaving?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Sharen replies through a mouthful of cookies, not bothering to look away from the page. ¡°I already told you: Kelsey is still cleaning up my room. You¡¯re alone anyway, so what¡¯s the big deal if I hang out here?¡± ¡°You trying to get on my nerves?¡± At Isaac¡¯s words, Sharen stares at him blankly. Then she gives a dry laugh, sets her book down, and jumps to her feet. ¡°Wow, look at you all grown up, Isaac. You¡¯ve been away for a while, and now you¡¯ve completely lost your sense of courtesy?¡± Her fists were clenched as she glared at him. The waves of her hair suggest she was quite serious. But Isaac stands as well, refusing to back down. ¡°Sorry to break it to you, but as you know, I¡¯ll be divorced in a month. You know what that means, right? I have no reason to bend over backward to please you.¡± ¡°Ha! Bend over backward? More like you were being crushed by my power. Is this some northern-style humor? ¡¯Cause it¡¯s really not funny.¡± Their gazes lock. A tense moment hangs in the air as if neither will back down¡ªuntil, surprisingly, Sharen concedes first. ¡°Tch! You should thank Father for your life!¡± She gathers her book and snacks and moves to storm out. ¡°What do you mean? Did the family head say something about me?¡± ¡°Yeah! He told me not to mess with you because there are too many watching eyes from outside!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°He said I should treat you with the respect due a brother-in-law. Tch, that¡¯s why I hate stepping out of the manor.¡± Grumbling, Sharen is about to leave the room when she stops at the doorknob. ¡°Hey, Isaac, can I ask you something?¡± ¡°You? Want to ask me something?¡± Sharen looks strangely serious. It¡¯s a look Isaac has never seen from her before. He waits in silence, and she finally asks carefully, ¡°That star-shaped cookie¡ªwhere do you buy it from?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The tension from before snaps instantly. ¡°You know, that star cookie you always bring me? I¡¯ve been trying to find it, but nobody seems to sell it anywhere.¡± ¡°Haa.¡± ¡°I¡¯m being serious! Do you know how badly I¡¯ve wanted that cookie? My hands are shaking! Did you lace it with something? I¡¯m addicted!¡± ¡°You¡¯re insane.¡± Isaac sighs. The ¡®star cookie¡¯ is the snack he brings whenever Sharen says she wants something sweet. ¡°Hurry up and tell me! I¡¯m gonna scarf down a bunch of those cookies as soon as this great den business is over!¡± Watching her hop around impatiently, Isaac responds with a look of disbelief. ¡°You really went around asking about that?¡± ¡°I checked the neighboring village, and the next town over, and the nearby cities! I found nothing¡ªno star cookie at all!¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Because¡ª ¡°They¡¯re baked by Milli.¡± Sharen narrows her eyes at Isaac¡¯s matter-of-fact tone. ¡°Milli? Is that a shop name? Where is it? Tell me everything.¡± ¡°Chef Milli. She works in Helmut¡¯s kitchen.¡± ¡°...Huh?¡± ¡°Every time I went to get you snacks, she felt bad for me and decided to bake them herself. She knew you liked them, so she made them often.¡± ¡°S-so that means¡­¡± She didn¡¯t have to hunt all over the neighboring villages, nor did she need to track Isaac all the way to the Malidan Barrier. ¡°I could¡¯ve just eaten them back at the manor?!¡± ¡°Yeah, exactly.¡± Isaac delivers the brutal truth as casually as discussing the weather. Sharen drops to the floor, beating it with her hands in frustration. ¡°Ugh, why did I even come all the way out here?! Aaaargh!¡± ¡®Is it really worth crying over?¡¯ Seeing Sharen actually bawling, Isaac can¡¯t help but note that she¡¯s still very much a kid. She¡¯s seventeen, but even for her age, she seems particularly immature. All while she¡¯s throwing her fit¡ª The door flies open. Silverna stands there. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± She came looking to talk, but the ruckus was so loud it carried down the hallway. She looks about ready to blow her top again. ¡°You again? Cut it out, will you? This place isn¡¯t just for you. Other nobles are staying here too.¡± For reference, Silverna has lodgings elsewhere. ¡°Try having a little respect for the other nobles who have to share these cramped rooms. They¡¯re already pressed for space.¡± By contrast, Silverna¡¯s personal quarters are about the size of three of these rooms put together. ¡°G-gah! I just got a little carried away for a second!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Silverna crosses her arms, eyeing Sharen coldly. Noticing Silverna¡¯s comfortable outfit highlights her figure, Sharen blinks and shouts, ¡°I¡¯m leaving!¡± She huffs past Silverna, then suddenly twists around to holler at Isaac, ¡°You¡¯re already bringing other women into your bedroom?! When I get home, I¡¯m telling my sister everything!¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Isaac yells, flustered, but Sharen is already racing away as if fleeing the scene. Then¡ª ¡°Already?¡± The word nags at Silverna, who tilts her head in puzzlement. She asks, ¡°What did she mean by that?¡± ¡°Haa, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Brushing it off, Isaac slumps back into his chair. ¡°So, what brings you here?¡± When Isaac asks why she¡¯s come at this hour, Silverna lingers by the corridor where Sharen just disappeared, then quietly shuts the door and steps inside. ¡°Starting tomorrow, I¡¯ll be leading the Recon party. It seems like the monsters in the great den are beginning to stir.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°And, well, Isaac¡­¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her voice carries the weight of careful deliberation as she makes her request. ¡°Could you come under my command?¡± ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 20: Its reality Dawn, before the sun had risen. Once again, Isaac was alone on the drill grounds, swinging his sword. This training, which had become part of his daily routine, served as a ritual to clear his head, still groggy from sleep. ¡®Recon party.¡¯ He had received the request from Silverna last night. Isaac was to serve as a member of the Recon party. Although this meant facing danger outside the barrier, he did not refuse. ¡®With my skill, I¡¯ll probably just be a burden, though?¡¯ ¡®Martial prowess isn¡¯t the highest priority for a Recon party. We¡¯re not going out there to fight, but rather to gather information and make judgments.¡¯ ¡®...¡¯ ¡®I highly value your eyes and your ability to judge, Isaac. So I don¡¯t think it¡¯s such a strange suggestion.¡¯ Isaac felt it might be mutually beneficial. Just like the other nobles, he was relatively lacking in real combat experience. Heading out on a Recon mission would help him quickly read the air and flow of actual battles. ¡®Whew, this sword still leaves me wanting more.¡¯ He slowly lowered his blade. It was a single, standard-issue sword¡ªone even regular soldiers received. Because Helmut only used greatswords, this was the sword he¡¯d been given upon arriving here. Isaac let out a bitter sigh, his breath condensing white and briefly clouding his vision. Just then, at the far end of the drill grounds, a hulking figure appeared. Even in the pre-dawn darkness, it was easy to recognize him from his presence and size alone. Uldiran Caldias. The Margrave approached Isaac. After Isaac greeted him politely, Uldiran dismissed the gesture with a mere wave of his hand and stood before him. ¡°I heard from Anna that you come out every day at dawn¡ªthe earliest of all¡ªto train. So it was true?¡± ¡°I¡¯m still lacking in many ways. That¡¯s why I work hard so I don¡¯t fall behind.¡± ¡°Once that effort accumulates, you¡¯ll see it¡¯s not so easy to sum it up in mere words.¡± At Uldiran¡¯s praise, Isaac smiled faintly. From the perspective of the Margrave, often called the Guardian of the North, one might expect him to carry himself with a certain gravitas. But in truth, Uldiran wasn¡¯t particularly stiff or heavy-handed in his demeanor. When you consider that Silverna, who mingles freely with regular soldiers, takes after him, it¡¯s easy to understand. ¡°In fact, I came here to see you.¡± ¡°Me, sir?¡± ¡°I hear you¡¯ve been talking with Silverna about various things lately? Apparently, she¡¯s been visiting the nobles¡¯ quarters quite often.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac shut his mouth, embarrassed. What parent would be thrilled that his daughter¡ªespecially when the man in question is married¡ªvisits a stranger¡¯s room night after night? ¡°At first, I planned to give her a real scolding. Usually, one good knock on the head from me is enough to knock people out.¡± He raised his big fist. But his tone was warm. ¡°However, last night I happened to see Silverna training, and I changed my mind.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°She¡¯s improved quite a bit. Even I, her father, almost didn¡¯t recognize her.¡± A glow flickered in Uldiran¡¯s eyes¡ªone carrying a complex mix of emotions. ¡°You helped her, right? I knew it the moment I saw her.¡± ¡°May I ask how you knew?¡± ¡°It reminded me of Helmut.¡± A grin spread across Uldiran¡¯s face, playfully mischievous. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s not that she¡¯s imitating their swordsmanship. It¡¯s just that¡­ a special person became even more special. That¡¯s why I said it reminded me of Helmut.¡± In her past life, and now in this one, too. The moment she received a hint or two, or even a piece of advice, Silverna advanced rapidly. She was the type to act faster than she thought. ¡°The Caldias family motto is to forge ¡®a spear for everyone,¡¯ but ironically, that tradition was holding her back. The moment she began wielding the spear by following her own instincts, I suspect she no longer thought of it as the Caldias style.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°They say moving forward means not discarding your past, but carrying it forward. Silverna came to me last night, laughing, telling me that¡¯s what you said.¡± A soft smile formed at the corners of Uldiran¡¯s mouth. Something about his kind and easygoing nature made Isaac instinctively lower his guard. ¡°My daughter owes you a lot. Thank you.¡± ¡°I, too, have learned much from Silverna.¡± At Isaac¡¯s reply, Uldiran slowly turned his gaze and pointed toward his mansion. ¡°In the North, a warrior doesn¡¯t express gratitude with words.¡± ¡°Sir?¡± ¡°Come with me. I¡¯ve got a warehouse full of items that are useless to me, but pretty valuable¡ª¡± He nodded at the sword Isaac was holding and laughed. ¡°I can see you could use something better than that.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Merely from watching a short bit of training, Uldiran had instantly grasped Isaac¡¯s dissatisfaction with his current sword. ¡°Some say a skilled swordsman shouldn¡¯t be picky about his blade, but you know it, right? Nothing is more particular about swords than the folks from Helmut.¡± ¡°Who could disagree?¡± ¡°Haha! One time I was about to spar with that rascal Arandel, and¡ª¡± **** Early morning, once the sun was up. Isaac, standing on the drill grounds, wore a satisfied smile. He sported the snowman-hide cap and gloves gifted by Silverna and Anna, as well as boots designed to keep him from slipping on snowy roads. And finally, at his hip hung a broad, long sword called Falchion. ¡°You look like a proper Northener now.¡± When Silverna said that, Isaac just shrugged. In particular, the Falchion he¡¯d received from Uldiran was of exceptionally high quality. It wasn¡¯t a perfect match for what he truly wanted, but it was far better than the standard-issue blade he¡¯d been using. He¡¯d been envisioning a single-edged sword for ¡°Isaac¡¯s Sword,¡± the one he was currently writing about, and Falchion was perfect for that concept. ¡°Yawn, I¡¯m so sleepy.¡± Just then, a figure with twin pigtails trudged onto the drill grounds. Sharen Helmut. She yawned wildly as she approached the two, apparently tired from sleeping in a new bed. Sharen was also part of the Recon party Silverna had formed¡ªa handpicked group selected purely for skill, disregarding noble lineage. ¡°Have you two had breakfast?¡± ¡°Not yet. We¡¯ll grab a quick bite once we¡¯re out in the field.¡± ¡°I ate some snacks.¡± At Silverna and Sharen¡¯s answers, Isaac took out the sandwich ingredients he¡¯d brought from the dining hall. He spread his cloak on the ground and sat down, preparing sandwiches. ¡°It¡¯s best to fill your stomach before heading out. You never know what might happen once we¡¯re outside.¡± At Isaac¡¯s words, Silverna hesitated, then took the sandwich from him. ¡°You¡¯re right. It seems I¡¯m nervous about leading the Recon party.¡± ¡°What about me?¡± Sharen asked if he had made her a portion as well. Isaac glanced her way, then quickly assembled a sandwich and handed it over. ¡°Well, since Isaac made it, I wasn¡¯t expecting much¡ª Wait, what the heck!? This is really good!¡± In an instant, Sharen¡¯s attitude flipped, and she devoured the sandwich ravenously. ¡°I often made these for lunch when I worked odd jobs. You need to balance the ratio of jam just right.¡± It was a simple sandwich, but he had always tried to make it taste as good as possible. ¡°So this is how you seduced your wife, huh.¡± Sharen mumbled as she ate, getting jam all over her cheeks. Isaac thought about correcting her but gave up and simply nodded. ¡°Yeah, I seduced her with this.¡± Truthfully, at the time, he really had tried to win Rihanna over. He remembered trying out various cheesy lines, doing whatever he could to get closer to her. What a cringeworthy past. ¡°So the sandwiches you used to woo Rihanna, you¡¯re now giving to me?¡± When Silverna murmured, peering down at the half-eaten sandwich in her hand, Isaac quickly explained, ¡°Don¡¯t twist the meaning. I¡¯m just trying to make sure we aren¡¯t starving, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°I know, I know.¡± Even so, Silverna began eating the sandwich with an oddly delicate approach. **** Rihanna awoke later than usual that morning. ¡®Haah.¡¯ She¡¯d had a restless night, plagued by nightmares. This was hardly unusual; nightmares came to her quite often. Her morning started a bit later than most people¡¯s, but it didn¡¯t matter. She was only posing as a maid, after all, and being late to rise wasn¡¯t a serious problem. Sharing a room with the other maids was certainly a novel experience, but such was the situation. Rihanna checked under the bed¡ªwhich was basically just a large wooden box without so much as a cushion. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There, wrapped in layers of bandages, lay a lonely greatsword awaiting its master. Ragnabel. Rihanna¡¯s greatsword. Once she confirmed it was still safe, she quickly freshened up and went outside. Just like yesterday, she hid herself thoroughly before stepping out. From outside her lodgings, the first thing Rihanna saw were the soldiers of the Malidan Barrier, each busy going about their duties. Looking a bit further, she could see nobles training on the drill grounds. And still farther off, under the rising sun, stood the imposing Malidan Barrier itself. ¡®It¡¯s cold.¡¯ The weather was chilly. It was the first time in a while that she found herself with nothing to do, and she was starting to feel a tinge of boredom. Her hands numb from the northern chill, Rihanna suddenly recalled a memory from the past. Back when the two of them weren¡¯t married yet. ¡°We were talking about the North, weren¡¯t we?¡± The blue river stretched out behind them as a backdrop. That day, the current was unusually calm, so they were spending some time on a small boat. Just the two of them in a little ferry, facing each other. They chatted away to digest the sandwich they¡¯d split in half. It was so sweet, they didn¡¯t even feel the need for tea or snacks. [When you¡¯re in love, everything looks wonderful.] Isaac said with a smile. Was that really so? Is that why everything about him appears so wonderful to her right now? Swallowing her true thoughts, Rihanna spoke a different line. ¡®How absurd.¡¯ [It¡¯s true. They say love is magic for a reason.] ¡®We need to think realistically.¡¯ [I¡¯m speaking realistically enough. When you¡¯re with someone you love, everything you do and everywhere you go seems wonderful.] Rihanna, who had no such experiences, could only keep denying. Before long, as they drifted along on that little boat, the two of them started exchanging words like a Q&A session. ¡®What about the North? It¡¯s freezing up there.¡¯ [Then we just hold hands.] ¡®The East is so humid. It¡¯ll get on our nerves just being together.¡¯ [I¡¯ll fix a nice cool drink for you. Then we can sit under the shade and while away the time.] ¡®It¡¯s the rainy season¡ªsoon it¡¯ll pour.¡¯ [Then let¡¯s share one umbrella. My shoulder can stand a little rain.] ¡®¡­Where did you learn to say all this?¡¯ [What can I say? Must be the power of love.] Isaac, embarrassed by his own words, let out a laugh. He looked so adorable that Rihanna nearly laughed along with him, but¡ª Isaac was a commoner and a ferry worker. Rihanna Helmut was from a prestigious noble family. The stark difference in status pricked at her mind once more, and Rihanna¡¯s expression turned somber. [What¡¯s wrong¡ª] ¡®Helmut.¡¯ Meeting Isaac¡¯s concerned gaze directly, Rihanna spoke just one word. ¡®What about Helmut?¡¯ The frigid North. The scorching East. Compared to Helmut, those places were nothing. Rihanna was certain that this time, Isaac wouldn¡¯t be able to answer. It left a bitter taste in her mouth, but¡ª Gently, He clasped her hand and smiled. [That¡¯s where you¡¯ll be.] ¡®¡­!¡¯ Rihanna bit her lip and lowered her head. She let her hair fall forward to hide her face, and Isaac didn¡¯t push any further, saving her from further embarrassment. She was so shy. Her face felt like it might burst into flames. That was the memory. ¡°Good thing I¡¯m wearing a mask.¡± Returning to the present, Rihanna mumbled to herself awkwardly. As the cold northern wind cooled her burning face, she spotted three people crouched in a corner of the drill grounds, eating sandwiches. ¡®Isaac and Silverna?¡¯ Her younger sister was there too, but Rihanna paid her no mind. She kept her steps silent and stealthily approached them. She didn¡¯t need to get too close. The body of a Helmut warrior possessed excellent hearing. It was Sharen who spoke first. ¡°Give me one more. It¡¯s tasty.¡± ¡°Make it yourself.¡± ¡°Tch! I¡¯ll make a better one than you!¡± ¡°These are simple ingredients, but the sandwich tastes good. I always thought a sandwich was a sandwich, nothing special.¡± At Silverna¡¯s final comment, Rihanna flinched. A sandwich? ¡®A sandwich made by Isaac?¡¯ That was the same dish they used to eat on that little boat, something of a ¡°date¡± snack. Isaac had even made it for breakfast on their fourth wedding anniversary. ¡°¡­¡­¡± A strange feeling swelled in her chest. Rihanna was pretty sure she knew what it was, but she chose not to put it into words. ¡®He¡¯s grown close to Lady Caldias even on the Barrier walls, it seems.¡¯ Feeling somewhat dejected, Rihanna kept listening to their conversation. ¡°Technically, it¡¯s a bit different from the sandwich I used to make. The ingredients aren¡¯t the same, plus the prep is off.¡± ¡°Really? Sounds like you¡¯re proud of it?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Munch, munch.¡± Sharen¡¯s noisy munching made it hard for Rihanna to hear clearly, but she felt her shoulders ease slightly. ¡®Right, that¡¯s it.¡¯ After all, the sandwich they ate on that little boat was something special. It wasn¡¯t something you could easily find anywhere else. ¡°So, what¡ªis it the taste of love or something?¡± Sharen, jam smeared around her mouth, asked. At seventeen, it seemed she was understandably curious about such topics. ¡®Well, you could say that.¡¯ Even if they might not understand now, Rihanna knew it had certainly been true back then, and she nodded inwardly¡ªuntil: ¡°Come on, grow up. Love, my foot. It¡¯s tasty because jam and meat are tasty, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡­She¡¯d been about to nod when Isaac said that, and Rihanna instinctively jerked her head around to look at him. ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as ¡®the power of love¡¯! Don¡¯t let romance fool you!¡± ¡°Okay, okay! Stop it already! You¡¯re suddenly way too serious¡ªit¡¯s scary! Don¡¯t get in my face!¡± ''No, It¡¯s reality! Marriage is reality!'' ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 21: Silvernas Recon Party (1) There were exactly seven members in Silverna¡¯s scouting party. The captain: Silverna Caldias. Her lieutenant: Anna. Then there were three members from Helmut: Isaac, Sharen, and Jonathan. Next was Melodic Drakemoor, who had once sparred with Silverna and learned the sword from Isaac. Lastly, there was Pollu Blackthorn. ¡°Wh-Why am I even part of this group¡­?¡± S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pollu Blackthorn was one of the younger nobles dispatched. He had only just turned 20 and felt uneasy, uncertain why he had been included. ¡®Silverna made a pretty bold move.¡¯ Isaac was skeptical of Silverna¡¯s decision to add Pollu Blackthorn to the scouting party. The Blackthorn family had been branded as traitors to the kingdom. Not many people knew about it yet. Thanks to Uldiran¡¯s report, the royal family was secretly investigating the Blackthorn family. Isaac believed it would be best to just leave things alone until they received further information. But Silverna, on the other hand, took the stance that it was better to keep dangerous individuals close by. Both sides had their own logical reasons. ¡°A-A-At your service, Isaac-nim! Th-That person over there¡­!¡± As Silverna was gathering everyone before they set out, Jonathan approached Isaac. He pointed at Pollu, standing somewhat awkwardly beside Melodic. Jonathan¡¯s voice trembled. ¡®Oh, right.¡¯ When Isaac revealed the truth about the transcendents and the Blackthorn family, Jonathan had been nearby. ¡°D-Don¡¯t worry! I, Jonathan, will risk my life to protect you¡ª!¡± ¡°Jonathan, don¡¯t talk to him. You¡¯ll give everything away.¡± ¡°Ah, yes sir.¡± Jonathan looked relieved. He knew well enough that he had no talent for lying. However, Jonathan seemed off. His gait was strange, and the way he stood looked skewed. ¡°Take off your armor.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Hurry.¡± Jonathan hesitated for a moment. When he removed his armor, bruises and injuries underneath came into view. It was clear that whoever beat him had targeted areas hidden by the armor. Seeing this, flames of anger ignited in Isaac¡¯s eyes. ¡°This is insane¡ª!¡± When Helmut¡¯s second dispatch arrived, some of its knights had come as well. Isaac never imagined they would do something like this to Jonathan in just a single day. He wanted to storm off immediately and confront them, but¡ª ¡°A-Isaac-nim! It¡¯s really okay! There¡¯s no problem at all! My seniors just disciplined me because I¡¯m lacking!¡± ¡°What do you mean ¡®discipline¡¯? We¡¯re about to head outside the barrier. How are you supposed to manage in that condition?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine! I can handle it! You don¡¯t need to worry!¡± Jonathan acted as if nothing was wrong, which made Isaac feel even more stifled. But Jonathan grabbed onto Isaac, his voice trembling. ¡°Please, I beg you¡­ If you insist on doing something, it¡¯ll just make things harder for me later!¡± ¡°Jonathan¡­¡± Isaac bit his lip hard. Unfortunately, Jonathan was right. Jonathan didn¡¯t know about Isaac¡¯s looming divorce, but Isaac was planning to leave Helmut in a month. Even if he made a fuss now, as a mere son-in-law, there was no guarantee anyone would care. Plenty of people had seen Isaac get beaten by Helmut¡¯s direct family members. They probably wouldn¡¯t be too concerned this time either. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Just then, Sharen, arms crossed, looked at Jonathan and asked, ¡°Is he one of our knights too? Why do I feel like I¡¯ve never seen him before? And what¡¯s with all those injuries?¡± ¡°Mi-Miss Sharen!¡± Jonathan saluted her. Isaac let out a sigh and briefly explained the situation. ¡°Huh.¡± Sharen raised one finger and stated succinctly, ¡°Tell all your superiors to gather¡ªnow.¡± ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± ¡°Gather them up. Right now.¡± Jonathan just looked blankly at her. Isaac smirked and gave him a gentle push on the back. ¡°Well? The second daughter of the direct family is ordering you. If you¡¯re a Helmut knight, you better listen.¡± They had arrived only yesterday, so none of the Helmut knights had official duties yet. In other words, if there was ever a time to gather them, it was now. Ten minutes later¡ª Knights in armor lined up in the drill yard. Even though Sharen was only 17, she was still a direct descendant of the family. None of them had ever seen her do something like this before, and they looked bewildered. ¡°Whoever beat this guy up yesterday¡ªstep forward.¡± Sharen spoke in a sharp tone, keeping Jonathan at her side. The knights started glancing at one another uncertainly. ¡°You¡¯re not coming forward? Should I go straight to my father and tell him that Helmut¡¯s knights ganged up like childish bullies on one man?!¡± ¡°M-Miss Sharen.¡± Cautiously, one knight stepped forward. He was among the veterans who had come on the dispatch, a slightly older knight with a distinguished beard. ¡°This is the Malidan Barrier. Such an incident could tarnish Helmut¡¯s reputation if we blow it out of proportion¡ª¡± At his words, Sharen paused momentarily. Does he have a point? She tilted her head in thought, the resolute air she had shown just moments ago fading. ¡°It¡¯s the opposite.¡± Finally, Isaac stepped forward. ¡°Making trouble all the way here at the Malidan Barrier is disgraceful enough. Trying to cover it up would be even worse. That would be Helmut¡¯s real shame.¡± ¡°Isaac-nim¡­¡± ¡°And do you really think this is just an internal Helmut matter?¡± As if on cue, Silverna approached. Her cold glare was like a northern gale, piercing the gaps of the knights¡¯ armor. ¡°You beat up a member who¡¯s supposed to head out on scouting today? Are you aware this could lead to a court-martial?¡± ¡°...!¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re Helmut knights, I trusted you to handle this. But if you just sweep this under the rug, do you think we¡¯ll stay quiet?¡± Standing beside Jonathan, Silverna backed him up without hesitation. Even Caldias was on his side, so Sharen seemed to have regained her momentum. ¡°How dare you disgrace Helmut like this?! Do I really have to run off and tell Father everything?! I¡¯m dying to know how he¡¯d react!¡± From the moment Arandel was mentioned, the atmosphere changed drastically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± The senior knight bowed his head in apology. ¡°Where the hell did you sell off your chivalry?! You call yourselves proud Helmut knights, yet you pull this kind of disgusting stunt?!¡± Sharen, still riding the momentum, shouted even more fiercely, berating them. ¡°M-My apologies, Jonathan.¡± ¡°We were wrong.¡± ¡°Please¡­ forgive us.¡± Three knights who had beaten Jonathan came forward, bowed deeply, and apologized. It seemed too serious a matter to end just like that, but since Jonathan, the victim, didn¡¯t want to drag it out any longer, they let it go. After the knights who had been disciplined dispersed, Silverna looked worriedly at Jonathan. ¡°Jonathan, if you¡¯re not feeling well, you can sit this one out.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m fine!¡± ¡°Hah¡­ we do have a mage who can use healing magic, but we can¡¯t waste it on trivial matters.¡± They were practically in a wartime situation. Such precious healing magic could not be squandered on something like this. ¡°I think Jonathan should stay behind today.¡± With Isaac adding his voice, Jonathan finally had to back down. He went to the infirmary for separate treatment and took the day off, leaving the scouting party to proceed with six members. ¡°If this happens again, I swear, I¡¯ll go straight to Father¡ªhorde or no horde!¡± A middle-aged knight was still standing there, alone, being scolded by Sharen. He kept apologizing, saying he¡¯d manage things better, and it was a bit pitiful to watch him grovel to someone younger than himself. ¡°May I ask something for a moment?¡± Isaac suddenly joined in. Sharen seemed displeased that he¡¯d cut her off, but she closed her mouth. ¡°Yes, Isaac-nim!¡± He looked at Isaac gratefully, relieved that Sharen had stopped her nagging. Then Isaac, lowering his voice, asked bluntly: ¡°Helmut knights place great value on upholding chivalry, correct?¡± ¡°Y-Yes, of course. That¡¯s why this whole incident has made me think hard about¡ª¡± Even if the direct family might behave like a mess, knights generally don¡¯t do this sort of low-class thug behavior. Ignoring the man¡¯s earnest insistence that he had truly reflected on his actions, Isaac asked another question: ¡°Then why did you do it specifically to Jonathan?¡± Why him, of all people? Hesitating for a moment, the knight leaned in so no one else could overhear and explained only to Sharen and Isaac. And once they had heard the whole story¡ª Sharen¡¯s head slowly turned to look for Jonathan. Watching him shuffle toward the infirmary, she shouted: ¡°That guy¡¯s out of his mind!¡± **** The scouting party set out beyond the barrier. At the head of the group, Silverna moved forward calmly, spear in hand. Before they knew it, it was already past noon¡ªtwo in the afternoon. Because of the commotion with Jonathan¡¯s incident, they arrived at their planned point later than expected. ¡°If we stay here, we won¡¯t be easily spotted. We call this place ¡®Snowflower.¡¯¡± The area Silverna introduced as ¡®Snowflower¡¯ was a dense forest. It was near the entrance to a mountain range where, supposedly, a horde of monsters had settled. Because it was in the north, snow coated the trees like white blossoms in full bloom, with no sunlight reaching through. ¡°If any monsters come by here, we can spot them immediately thanks to the snow. We¡¯ll see footprints, or notice where the snow on the branches has fallen, and figure out their location.¡± ¡°A northern tactic, I see.¡± It was impressive how nature itself became a sort of security system. And if there was an emergency, they could conceal themselves by burrowing into the snow. ¡°In a massive horde, there¡¯s a good chance some of those monsters are highly intelligent. That¡¯s why it¡¯s important to give our base a name like this¡ªso they can¡¯t easily pinpoint it.¡± ¡°Alright, here.¡± While Silverna was explaining, Anna retrieved a water bottle from her bag. ¡°Please put on those robes I handed out earlier. This is a strong deodorant¡ªbe careful not to get it on your clothes.¡± ¡°A deodorant? I don¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°Monsters are exceptionally good at sniffing out human scent. So you really have to use it.¡± Despite Sharen¡¯s grumbling, Anna opened the bottle of deodorant. They sprayed the fur-lined, brown robes with the deodorant to hide their scent from monsters sensitive to smells. Each of them pulled a hood over their head, concealing their identities¡ªthus the scouting party was prepared. ¡°H-Huff! H-Haaah!¡± Pollu Blackthorn was more nervous than expected. Melodic Drakemoor and Sharen, standing nearby, scolded him. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be so tense. It¡¯s just a scouting mission.¡± ¡°Did we bring a kid along by mistake? Is he really going to fulfill his noble duty properly?¡± For reference, Sharen was three years younger than Pollu Blackthorn. Silverna also hadn¡¯t expected Pollu to be so wound up. It was almost embarrassing that she¡¯d brought him to keep an eye on him, given the Blackthorn family¡¯s traitorous background. ¡°Pollu, if you¡¯re too anxious, you can wait here. We can leave at least one person behind to¡ª¡± A sudden whoosh sliced through the air. Without a sound, something flew toward them¡ªa piece of bone. ¡°Uuurgh!¡± Blood stained the snow. Pollu Blackthorn collapsed to his knees, coughing up dark red blood. His trembling eyes stared at the ¡®bone¡¯¡ªshaped like a spear¡ªembedded in his chest. ¡°G-gah! Ugh¡­!¡± ¡°Pollu-nim!¡± Anna, startled, frantically checked his condition. Silverna and Sharen immediately drew their weapons, locking onto the direction from which the bone had flown. ¡°Cough¨C Cough¡­.¡± Thick hide and white fur. A massive figure with muscles about to burst. ¡°Grrrrrr¡­.¡± On its back, it carried an assortment of makeshift weapons, fashioned from various beasts and animals. It was a ¡®Yeti,¡¯ one of the most famous monsters of the North. But from its behavior, it was clear this was no ordinary Yeti. ¡°Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.¡± Tapping its nose, the Yeti grinned wide, baring its sharp teeth. ¡°Human smell.¡± ¡°It¡¯s remembered the scent of our deodorant,¡± Isaac muttered with a pained expression, prompting a startled reaction from Anna. ¡°Pardon? It recognized the deodorant¡¯s smell?¡± ¡°Probably from another scouting party that got caught before us.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s something they should have reported¡ª!¡± She tried to continue, but¡ª Crack! Like a stone, another skull hurtled toward them, only to shatter against Silverna¡¯s spear. ¡°Has there been a scouting party that never returned?¡± In response to Silverna¡¯s question, Anna answered urgently: ¡°Team 3, my lady. We were scheduled to relieve them¡ª¡± Hatred flooded Silverna¡¯s eyes as she took her stance. ¡°Froxsa, Torvik, Calden, Irkasr?¡± ¡°Y-Yes, that¡¯s them!¡± ¡°I see. This just made my day a whole lot worse.¡± The Yeti clutched yet another skull in its hand. This time, it was distinctly human in shape. There were exactly three of them, meaning there had originally been four total¡ªSilverna had just destroyed one. ¡°How¡¯s Pollu?¡± ¡°He¡¯s in danger. The bone¡¯s still lodged in him, so he¡¯s not bleeding too heavily, but he needs a mage¡¯s healing right away.¡± ¡°Sharen, if you carry Pollu on your back and run, how long to the barrier?¡± ¡°If I ditch everything else... fifteen minutes.¡± Sharen was already tossing her greatsword and other gear to the ground. Gone was the carefree childlike air she¡¯d once shown; in an instant, she became a true Helmut warrior, ready to dash off. ¡°Sharen, take Pollu and go first. The rest of us will cover you as we retreat.¡± Grinding her teeth at the thought of failing on her very first mission, Silverna held her spear tight. Isaac drew his sword, Falchion, and stood beside her. ¡°We know Team 3 was annihilated, and we¡¯ve learned there¡¯s a named monster out here. As far as recon goes, that¡¯s a solid accomplishment.¡± ¡°Isaac¡­¡± ¡°If the fight drags on, every monster in the mountains will flock to us. Retreat is our best option, Silverna. We¡¯ll settle this score next time.¡± Though it left a bitter taste in her mouth, his words were right. Taking a deep breath, Silverna nodded. Melodic and Anna also began to step back, preparing to withdraw, when¡ª ¡°Kyahhhhh!¡± All eyes turned at Sharen¡¯s scream. A sticky, dark fluid oozed from Pollu¡¯s body¡ªwhere blood should have been¡ªand drenched Sharen. ¡°W-What is this?! What the hell?!¡± Startled, Sharen dropped Pollu. Unconscious, Pollu¡¯s body kept seeping that black fluid, which now seemed to be trying to consume Sharen. ¡®It¡¯s ritual!¡¯ Just as humans have magic, the transcendents have rituals. Like magic, it¡¯s not something you see every day. In that instant, Isaac realized the transcendents had done something to Pollu and rushed to help Sharen¡ª Crack! But there was a blow from the side. ¡°Grrk?!¡± Another skull slammed into Silverna¡¯s shoulder and shattered. Reeling from the impact, Silverna¡¯s face contorted with pain. ¡°Ugh¨C Ugh.¡± With heavy, thudding footsteps, the Yeti started closing in. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Magic & ritual- So, it might be confusing for Western audiences, but I am trying my best. Here, the author has used magic ¡®??¡¯ for humans and ritual/incantation/witchcraft ¡®??,¡¯ which may sound the same to many of us, as if it¡¯s just magic again¡ªbut no, there¡¯s a difference. Magic is like something you might find in Western fantasy stories. On the other hand, rituals are more like ceremonial or spiritual practices¡ªsimilar to how voodooists perform ceremonies, but not exactly the same. They¡¯re more reminiscent of shamanistic or traditional spellcasting. Different cultures perceive magical concepts differently, and here ritual is more rooted in Korean or Asian folklore. Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 22: Silvernas Recon Party (2) ¡°My Lady!¡± Calling out, Anna raced urgently toward Silverna. But Silverna immediately squared her stance again and gritted her teeth. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± Though it was hard to say she was totally unscathed by the Yeti¡¯s throw, Silverna flexed her hand as if shaking off the pain, then defiantly gripped her spear in both hands once more. ¡°Ugh*...¡± The yeti toyed with a human skull as if it were a ball. And then¡ª ¡°Kyahhhh! Aahhh! S-Save meee!¡± Sharen was being consumed by the black liquid pouring out from Pollu¡¯s body. ¡°Sharen!¡± In that suddenly dire situation, the one who moved fastest was Isaac. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Stay still!¡± ¡°A-A-Ah, Isaac! Isaac!¡± Sharen clung desperately to Isaac as he approached. Black liquid squirmed over her chest, slowly spreading. She was so terrified and desperate for help that Isaac tried to calm her down, but¡ª ¡°Help me! Please help me!¡± ¡°Ghh...! I get it, so calm down and let go of my arm!¡± Even though she was just seventeen, the direct-line strength of the Helmut bloodline was too much for Isaac to handle. He tried shaking off her grip, but she was already too panicked to listen. ¡°Calm down!¡± Smack! In the end, Isaac pulled back his arm and landed a punch straight to Sharen¡¯s face. Anyway, even if she got hit, it wouldn¡¯t hurt her too badly, nor would it leave a wound. ¡°I... Isaac?¡± Sharen was so stunned by being struck that her grip loosened for an instant. ¡°Stay still!¡± Seizing that moment, Isaac grabbed the back edge of his Falchion blade, brought it to Sharen¡¯s nape, and¡ª Rip! Her clothing tore in a straight line, revealing Sharen¡¯s pale skin beneath. Isaac ripped away her top completely and hurled it aside. The black liquid squirmed on the discarded cloth and devoured the rest of the fabric on the ground. ¡°It¡¯s gone! Sharen! You¡¯re safe now!¡± ¡°Huh¡­huhh?!¡± Panting heavily, Sharen pressed both hands to her body. Realizing everything had indeed been removed, she suddenly burst into tears and clung to Isaac. ¡°Uwaaaah! Isaac!¡± ¡°Pull yourself together and get off me! That hurts!¡± This was hardly the time for hugs. Besides, with the strength of the Helmut lineage, Isaac wouldn¡¯t be surprised if a bone or two ended up broken. While Isaac was tending to Sharen, Melodic Drakemoor was watching Pollu Blackthorn, who lay on the ground trembling uncontrollably. ¡°Pollu?¡± Black liquid continued to spill from his mouth and wounds. Seeing it begin to engulf Pollu, Melodic froze, unsure what to do. ¡°Don¡¯t go near him!¡± Even as he tried to pry Sharen off, Isaac warned Melodic to keep his distance. Then he shifted his attention to the Yeti. By that point, the battle had already begun. Kaaang! ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Silverna silently swung her spear, parrying the Yeti¡¯s bone club. Despite the rapidly changing situation, she clamped her mouth shut like a seasoned veteran, yet¡ª ¡®Damn it.¡¯ Isaac knew she was the opposite of calm. She was only pretending to be levelheaded, but in truth, she was letting her emotions lead the fight. Moments ago, she¡¯d agreed it was time to retreat. But once she actually collided with the Yeti, Silverna was swinging her spear as if she intended to kill it at all costs, nearly to the point of breaking it. ¡°Anna! Get Silverna and Sharen¡¯s greatsword!¡± ¡°Y-Yes! I understand! My Lady! Please get a hold of yourself!¡± In the end, Isaac hoisted the trembling Sharen onto his shoulder. It was heartbreaking, but there was no way to also retrieve Pollu. ¡°Melodic, we have to leave Pollu and run¡ª!¡± ¡°A-A-Are you serious, Isaac?!¡± Melodic¡¯s voice brimmed with dismay. When Isaac whipped his head around, there stood Pollu¡ªnow fully enveloped by the black liquid¡ªslowly rising as if lifted by it. ¡°Fine, just run!¡± The moment Isaac took off, the others followed suit. Silverna bit her lip hard enough to draw blood and turned her back on the yeti. At the same time, Melodic shouted an apology to Pollu before taking the lead in their escape. ¡°Human!¡± The pursuing yeti, however, did not bypass Pollu. Whether he appeared any different or not, to the yeti, he was still a human. The giant bone club swept sideways, but¡ª The black liquid blocked it, triggering a battle between monster and monster. Two threats now turned on each other. That¡¯s how Silverna¡¯s recon party managed to flee. **** Slaaap! On the frozen creek, a sharp crack echoed among the snowy drifts, startling a mountain hare into fleeing. Struck across the face, Silverna¡¯s head snapped to the side. She turned to stare at the man who hit her. ¡°That was the worst.¡± Those words from Isaac pierced Silverna¡¯s heart like a spike. For a moment, she felt her temper flare, but she couldn¡¯t say a thing. She was the one in charge. It truly had been the worst possible outcome, and Silverna had no choice but to acknowledge it. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Isaac-nim! My Lady did her best!¡± Anna pleaded on Silverna¡¯s behalf, but Isaac didn¡¯t soften his glare. ¡°I clearly told you not to fight the yeti there, and Silverna even agreed! But the moment I looked away, you got so wrapped up in battling the yeti that you had no idea what was happening with Pollu and Melodic!¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°If the fight had dragged on any longer? That wasn¡¯t just some random monster¡ª it was a Named beast. The moment more monsters showed up in the mountains, we¡¯d all have been wiped out!¡± ¡°Anna, Isaac is right.¡± As the leader, Silverna hadn¡¯t done her duty. Her conviction that her comrades at the Malidan Barrier must have been slaughtered by the yeti left her unable to tolerate letting the creature go. That overwhelming feeling made her forget about her living allies for a critical moment. ¡°For my fallen comrades, I¡ª I forgot about the allies standing beside me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. There¡¯s no excuse for that.¡± Silverna bowed her head. Silence fell. Shivering in a borrowed cloak, Sharen pulled anxiously at Isaac¡¯s sleeve. ¡°I-I-Isaac. I-I¡¯m so¡­cold.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Sharen had nearly died. Had she been fully encased by that black liquid, it would¡¯ve been uncertain whether she¡¯d survive at all. Thankfully, as a recon party, they¡¯d worn leather outfits. ¡®If she had been in armor¡­¡¯ It would¡¯ve taken forever to remove it, and Sharen would have been swallowed by the black liquid before they could even finish. Isaac pulled Sharen into his arms to keep her even a little warmer. Her trembling finally easing, Sharen burrowed deeper into Isaac¡¯s embrace and sniffled. ¡®After all, she¡¯s only seventeen.¡¯ She¡¯d tried to act composed before, pretending everything was fine, but at that age, she¡¯d never truly faced the threat of death. Realizing for the first time that she really could die, she must have been terrified. Especially since she found herself in a situation where her sword, which she had trained with her whole life, proved useless. ¡®The fear must have been magnified by that sense of helplessness.¡¯ ¡°I¡ªI messed up, too. When we ran, we should¡¯ve headed back toward the barrier, but I just¡­ ended up running anywhere¡­¡± At that point, Melodic blurted out an awkward apology. The mood had unintentionally turned into a contest of who could own up to their mistakes first. Leading the charge, Melodic had panicked and ran off in some random direction. Had they not stumbled across the creek, he might still be sprinting in a blind panic. ¡°It¡¯s all right. We just went off-track a bit. We¡¯re not that much farther from the barrier,¡± Anna said, trying to reassure everyone as she checked the map, forcing a smile. ¡°Hey, do you think we could build a fire?¡± Melodic asked next. ¡°That might be difficult,¡± Anna shook her head. ¡°Technically, we¡¯re still in the beasts¡¯ territory.¡± Without a fire, they would have to conserve their energy here before making their way back to the barrier. But the biting cold made it almost impossible to endure. They tried to keep going, lips pressed together, but Sharen¡¯s chattering teeth betrayed her discomfort. She was shivering violently. Unbuttoning his shirt, Isaac once again pulled Sharen close. ¡°If our skin touches, it¡¯ll be a little warmer.¡± ¡°I¡­ Isaac¡­¡± ¡°We need to stay alive. Besides, you¡¯re second in strength only to Silverna here. You have to save your energy.¡± At that, Sharen¡¯s eyes welled with tears, but she tried to hide it by burying her face back into his chest. ¡°¡­All right.¡± Amid the sound of each person¡¯s breathing and the white puffs of breath swirling in the cold air, Sharen asked softly: ¡°But Isaac¡­ how are you so calm?¡± The others turned to Isaac as well. He was the one with the least actual combat experience, yet he¡¯d kept the coolest head and made the swiftest judgments. If he had frozen up, it was likely that two or three among them would not be here right now. ¡°I¡¯ve¡­ almost died more than once.¡± He muttered those words with a bitter smile. Before his regression, even if he couldn¡¯t fight due to his injured leg, that hadn¡¯t kept him off the battlefield. In the onslaught of transcendents, the threat of death hung cruelly and equally over everyone. ¡®At least that¡¯s a relief.¡¯ He had worried that holding a weapon might cloud his judgment. But seeing how he handled the recent chaos proved that worry unfounded, and he felt a measure of relief in that. ¡°Achoo!¡± All eyes snapped to Silverna. She wore a startled look, surprised by her own sneeze. ¡°My Lady, you¡¯re cold, too, aren¡¯t you?¡± Anna asked gently. ¡°No, I¡¯m fi¡ª¡± Silverna stopped mid-reply. Her mind flashed to both her earlier failure of judgment and the words Isaac had spoken. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m cold.¡± She realized that her own condition¡ªshe being the most powerful fighter in their group¡ªwas directly tied to everyone¡¯s survival. So she nodded. Then Silverna strode over and wrapped both Isaac and Sharen in her arms as well. ¡°I¡¯ll owe you one for this.¡± She¡¯d decided they should all huddle together for warmth. Isaac smiled faintly. ¡°Of course.¡± No one worried about appearances anymore; they were just making the best decisions they could. ¡®If you teach Silverna something, she picks it up right away.¡¯ She was the type who acted faster than she thought. ¡°You two, too¡ªcome on. We need to keep each other warm,¡± Silverna ordered. Anna dashed over and joined the huddle. Melodic approached shyly, then awkwardly placed an arm around Isaac¡¯s back. Gathered tightly to stave off the cold and conserve their strength, they felt something stirring in their chests¡ªsome faint sense of camaraderie or warmth beyond just body heat. But it didn¡¯t last long. Thud! Thud! Thud! The ground trembled with each footstep. ¡°Shhh-khooom! Shhh-khooom!¡± The Yeti¡¯s voice sounded lower than before. It had followed them here, likely drawn by the lingering smell of the odor-blocking agent which hadn¡¯t completely worn off. The moment Silverna moved as if to scramble to her feet, Isaac looked straight at her. ¡°Silverna, can we trust your judgment this time?¡± It felt like a test. Yet Silverna nodded without hesitation. ¡°Count on me.¡± Even as the thudding footsteps drew nearer, Silverna calmly checked Anna¡¯s map. Then she declared: ¡°We¡¯ll intercept it.¡± She gripped her spear tightly. ¡°Running is impossible now. With our current stamina, there¡¯s no way we can outrun a Named Monster.¡± Everyone nodded. Even if they¡¯d managed to warm up a bit, their bodies were still stiff and sluggish from the cold. ¡°So we¡¯ll kill it before it can call other monsters. We have to finish it fast.¡± ¡°Are you sure you can handle it?¡± Silverna had already clashed with the Yeti once. A normal monster wouldn¡¯t stand a chance against her, but this one was a Named¡ªa beast with higher intelligence. Fighting it would be several times harder. ¡°I¡¯ll make up for what happened before.¡± That was all Silverna said. She declared it and readied her spear. That was enough. While the others prepared themselves for the incoming yeti, Sharen slowly pulled away from Isaac and took a deep breath. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac stared at her. Would she really be able to fight now? He wondered. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ make sure we survive.¡± Clutching her greatsword, Sharen spoke as if steeling herself. ¡°So I can get my thoughts sorted out. So I can have a chance to say anything¡­ everything that comes to mind.¡± They say children grow up in the blink of an eye. Isaac felt like he was witnessing exactly that moment. Facing mortal peril, Sharen seemed to realize something that changed her entire worldview. ¡°We have to avenge Pollu!¡± ¡°Yes! We absolutely must!¡± As Melodic and Anna declared their agreement and readied themselves¡ª Thud! Thud! Thud! From the direction of the yeti¡¯s approach, they suddenly heard: ¡°KeuhahahahahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHA!¡± ¡ªPollu¡¯s maniacal laughter, ripping through the air as though it might tear. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Ugh- This "????" is actually a Korean onomatopoeia that describes a dull, throbbing ache, often felt in joints or bones. English lacks a direct equivalent, so I used "Ugh". Any other idea is welcome here. Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 23: The Sinner of Blackthorn (1) [Are you kidding me? You can¡¯t even do this? Do you plan to live in disgrace of our family?!] The boy¡¯s ¡°crime¡± was that he simply had no interest in the sword. [Why are you so weak-minded? Are you trying to tarnish our family¡¯s name? How do you ever plan on receiving them like this¡ª?!] Another of the boy¡¯s ¡°crimes¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. was that he lacked courage in the face of intimidation. [You want to cook? You want praise? Look at this lunatic! Somebody bring a cane right now!] He liked cooking, and wanted to show off what he made. That was also deemed a ¡°crime.¡± [Why would a child like you¡­ Haah¡­ A brat who should¡¯ve been born in some slum ended up in my womb¡ª.] And perhaps his greatest ¡°crime¡± was being born here, in the Blackthorn, without knowing his place. **** ¡°KeuhahahahahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHA!¡± A roar of manic laughter exploded as Pollu rampaged about. The black fluid seeping from his body soon crawled back inside, re-entering through every opening in his flesh. He trudged across the snowy field. Beside him, a yeti¡ªequally corroded by the black fluid¡ªfollowed in Pollu¡¯s wake. ¡°Shhh-khooom! Shhh-khooom.¡± His speech, slurred as if his mind had deteriorated, still showed that the yeti was clearly walking toward its target. Before long¡ª Upon reaching a frozen stream, the recon party¡¯s comrades came into view. ¡°Pollu¡­¡± ¡°So it really was you.¡± At the murmurs of Isaac and Melodic, Pollu smirked crookedly. ¡°I¡¯ve returned, everyone.¡± He was nothing like the timid person he used to be. His once fair skin had broken out in bumpy welts, gradually darkening in color. If not for that ¡®bone¡¯ still piercing his heart, no one would¡¯ve believed it was Pollu at all. ¡°I¡¯m here! I even subdued a yeti! Kkheuhahaha! Do you see? I¡¯ve helped you all, right? Right? Yeah? Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Overcome by Pollu¡¯s frantic questions, the recon party remained silent. Still reeling in confusion, only Isaac stepped forward slowly. ¡°Pollu, listen calmly.¡± ¡°Huh? Isaac? Who do you think you are? You abandoned me! Let Silverna come say it!¡± Frowning, Silverna approached. At that, Pollu opened his mouth wide, drool dripping in a monstrous display. ¡°Y-you abandoned me? Silverna? Huh? You abandoned¡­ me? That¡¯s okay. You¡¯re pretty, so it¡¯s okay. But you abandoned me? Was I really that useless? Did I really do something so wrong?¡± ¡°¡­Pollu?¡± ¡°No, no. Don¡¯t be scared. I won¡¯t kill you. But I might. Actually, I¡¯m not sure. But wow, Silverna, you¡¯re seriously beautiful. I thought that from the first time I saw you. You¡¯re good with a spear, so different from me.¡± Pollu chattered on in a way unlike himself, as though a filter had disappeared from his consciousness and reasoning. He poured out one instinctive comment after another, then his eyes went dead as he gave a small nod. ¡°I¡¯ll have to kill you.¡± Bwoooom! The yeti¡¯s fist came swinging. Already anticipating the move, Silverna sprang backward in a single bound to evade it. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the yeti! The rest of you subdue Pollu!¡± Ironically, the first to respond to her command was Pollu himself. ¡°Subdue? Subdue me?! Right! Kill me! Kill the worthless trash! The Ashen of Blackthorn! The darkest star among the stars! Purge the sinner of our house!¡± ¡°W-why¡¯s he acting like that?¡± Stunned, Anna questioned, while Isaac bit down on his lip. Leaving the yeti to Silverna, everyone else charged at Pollu. Leading the attack was Sharen Helmut. Boom! Eager to end things quickly, she unleashed her full ¡®Red River¡¯ aura throughout her entire body and lunged at Pollu as if to strike him down. Clang! ¡°¡­!¡± Sharen Helmut¡¯s crimson eyes trembled. She stared in shock at Pollu¡ªwho had blocked her powerful blow so casually with a single slender sword. He didn¡¯t budge an inch. It was as effortless as catching a falling snowflake by hand. ¡°Huh?¡± In truth, Pollu looked just as astonished. He gaped at his sword with wide eyes. As he began pushing Sharen Helmut back with newfound strength, a grin slowly split his face from ear to ear. ¡°Khehe¡­ Hehehe! HahahaHA! Father! Do you see me? Are you watching?! Look at this! I¡¯m pushing back Helmut!¡± While Pollu roared with maniacal laughter, a spearhead suddenly pierced his side. ¡°Huh?¡± Hiding behind Helmut¡¯s Red aura, Anna slipped in and landed a strike, but her spear felt as though it had hit solid steel and bounced off. Pollu lightly swept his arm, knocking aside her weapon. Melodic, who¡¯d rushed in next with his fists instead of a sword, halted in his tracks as well. Everyone realized that no attack could faze Pollu now. ¡°He¡¯s suddenly turned into a monster.¡± ¡°My spear¡¯s been getting blocked a lot lately.¡± Sharen and Anna, having withdrawn a bit, spoke in hushed voices. Although they encircled Pollu, their formation didn¡¯t seem to bother him at all¡ªhe was simply overjoyed. ¡°Hahahahaha! So that¡¯s what it was! Father, Mother, this is why you wanted me to become stronger¡ªto swing a sword¡ªto keep training¡ªsaying it day after day!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Ah, seriously! I never wanted to swing a sword or anything like that! But now that I understand, I can see your point!¡± Pollu let his shoulders drop, his head lolling forward as he sniffled. ¡°But I still don¡¯t want to.¡± Watching his muddled emotions and erratic state, the recon party felt equally thrown off balance. ¡°He¡¯s acting totally deranged.¡± ¡°What in the world happened to him?¡± Sharen and Melodic muttered in dismay. In contrast, Anna¡ªalmost unconsciously¡ªlooked toward Silverna, who was fighting the yeti. They all knew there was no way they could handle Pollu on their own¡­ ¡°Silverna can¡¯t,¡± Isaac, catching Anna¡¯s glance, responded coolly. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°The yeti is not in a normal state, either. It might not be as far gone as Pollu, but it¡¯s still under the control of that black fluid.¡± Seeing how the creature¡¯s body was becoming murky in color made it undeniable. Its strength and speed had soared well beyond normal. Ordinarily, they should¡¯ve been rushing to assist Silverna. ¡°Right now, with Silverna tied up with the yeti, we have our best shot.¡± If Silverna were to lose, it would be over. None of them here could hope to withstand both foes attacking in tandem. ¡°Isaac, do you have a plan?¡± At Anna¡¯s question, Isaac studied Pollu again. The black fluid flickered around him like some changed aura, giving off black smoke-like wisps. In Isaac¡¯s eyes, it looked like a pile of firewood burning fiercely. ¡°If we drag things out, we can win. That state can¡¯t last very long.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°But we can¡¯t afford to drag things out. So our target is that thing right there.¡± Isaac lifted his longsword, pointing at the ¡®bone¡¯ lodged in Pollu¡¯s chest¡ª the very thing that had impaled him in the yeti¡¯s initial ambush, and likely triggered all of this. ¡°We use that to kill Pollu.¡± Melodic and Sharen gaped at Isaac in shock. They were appalled that he was talking about killing a former comrade. But¡ª ¡°We have no choice.¡± There was no hope. Isaac recognized Pollu¡¯s state all too well. Though he¡¯d never seen this exact black fluid before, he had witnessed people transform in a similar way in his previous life. ¡°The moment he became that, he was no longer human.¡± Isaac spoke heavily. ¡°If you can¡¯t do it, then I will.¡± There was no tremor in the hand gripping his longsword. As Isaac stepped forward, Anna asked hesitantly, ¡°What exactly do you know? Please tell us.¡± ¡°¡­They call it ¡®subjugation.¡¯¡± ¡°Subjugation?¡± ¡°An incantation the transcendents use to make humans their possessions.¡± It grants rapid physical enhancement but twists the mind in a deeply bizarre way. They act purely on instinct. They utter every thought that crosses their brain. They¡¯re forced to speak their truths. ¡°I¡¯m sorryyyy! Father! Mother! I¡¯m so sorryyy! Sorry I turned out such a worthless brat!¡± ¡°You mean¡ª¡± ¡°Kkheugh! I never should¡¯ve been bornnnn! I¡¯m worthless, even though I have such power, yet I don¡¯t even want to wield a sword!¡± Anna turned fearful eyes on Pollu. ¡°Kill meeeeee! I¡¯m a disgrace that never should have existed! A vile child that made Mother shed tears¡ªa sinner of Blackthorn!¡± All the words pouring out of him were unfiltered truth. ¡°I am a sinner! A sinner! Agh! Gyaaaah! Kill meee! Then Father won¡¯t be disappointed anymore! Then Mother won¡¯t cry anymore! I¡­ I have to atone¡ªeven if it¡¯s only this way!¡± Beating his chest, the sinner of Blackthorn confessed his innermost regrets. It seemed he¡¯d already forgotten the very name Pollu. Perhaps that¡¯s why¡ª ¡°Pollu! Get a grip, you idiot! Don¡¯t let that thing break you!¡± Melodic, suddenly overcome with some surge of emotion, cried out in desperation. He was alarmed by Isaac¡¯s declaration that Pollu must be killed¡ªrefusing to believe there was no other way. ¡°Khrrgh!¡± The sinner of Blackthorn snapped his head around. He looked at Melodic, nodding as drool trickled from his mouth. ¡°Yeah, yeah, yeah¡­¡± And then¡ª ¡°I want to live.¡± He charged at Melodic, swinging his sword. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 24: The Sinner of Blackthorn (2) Isaac¡¯s memories of being turned into a vassal are brief. There hasn¡¯t been much research on it, nor have many details come to light. But one thing was clear¡ªthis unspeakable act was carried out on ordinary human beings. Isaac learned about it at the very end of his previous life, during the final battle. The memory was still vivid. Flames and smoke rose from every direction, and the fortress called ¡°Everholt,¡± guarded by the Grandmaster and his disciples, was crumbling. What happened to Silverna, who was defending the walls? What about the other disciples of the Grandmaster? Is the Grandmaster all right? Troubled by all kinds of questions, Isaac looked up at the sky. He considered running away with his staff, but the presence of the transcendents was simply overwhelming. So Isaac just stood there, silently accepting death. That¡¯s when a longtime adversary appeared. -Brother?in?law! Grrrgh! It¡¯s been too long! Brother-in-law! Grrrgh! It¡¯s been too long! Hardly anyone would call him ¡°brother-in-law.¡± And there was no one in Helmut who would speak in such a coarse tone. ¡®Alois?¡¯ [Wow, I never imagined I¡¯d see you alive like this, brother?in?law! Wow, I never imagined I¡¯d see you alive like this, brother-in-law!] His once lustrous red hair had turned dull, his sclera stained black and glimmering with madness. Two horns protruded from his head, a sign he had lost his humanity. [Hahaha! I can¡¯t believe I get to see such a nostalgic face! Hahaha! ] ¡®How did he..?¡¯ [ I was picked up by ¡®those people¡¯ after Helmut kicked me out! Hahaha! And what about you,brother?in?law? Looks like that leg I broke is still giving you trouble? ] ¡®¡­!¡¯ Alois was banished from Helmut after revealing his vile desire for his own sister, failing to hide his twisted heart. [ Ah, I¡¯m so relieved. Really. Getting a chance to kill you like this is amazing. I could never forgive you, you know, for even once laying a hand on my sister. ] ¡®Has he become one of their vassals?¡¯ [ Of course. It¡¯s a blessing to be a child of the great Helmut. Even after I was kicked out, the name Helmut gave me the freedom to run wild like this. ] Naturally, the transcendents would want to turn strong humans into their vassals. And no one was a better vessel than someone from Helmut. [ It seems this vassal transformation suits me just fine. Ah, Helmut, the glorious Helmut! ] The greatsword in Alois¡¯s hand twitched. Isaac had no doubt that it would soon come swinging for his neck. ¡°In the end¡­¡± Both the one who ruined his life and the one about to end it was Alois. [ Where is my sister¡¯s corpse? ] Alois licked his protruding teeth with his tongue as he asked. He still hadn¡¯t given up his obsession with Rihanna. Isaac was about to sigh when¡ª A red line appeared across Alois¡¯s neck. Spurt! Unaware of his own death, Alois collapsed to the ground, coughing up black blood. Beyond him stood the Grandmaster, gripping a broadsword. ¡°How foul that blood smells.¡± With wolf-like ears perked, the Grandmaster gave Isaac a faint, bitter smile. **** ¡°Guhhhhh!¡± Melodic screamed as his back slammed into a tree, the sound echoing through the forest. Judging by the startled rustling, it seemed some wild animals were nearby. Snow piled on the branches came tumbling down onto Melodic, and ironically, it kept Pollu from landing a follow-up strike. ¡°Kehahaha!¡± Pollu let out a delighted laugh, then quickly swiveled his head in search of his next target. ¡°Ah, I don¡¯t like you.¡± Pollu crooked a finger at Isaac. His wild, distorted charge barreled forward in a grotesque posture¡ªuntil Sharen stepped in to block him. Clang! ¡°Grrgh!¡± All across Sharen¡¯s body, a crimson aura erupted. This unique Helmut aura often acted like armor, shielding her from Pollu¡¯s onslaught. ¡°Helmut lost before, didn¡¯t it? You lost before, so why are you getting in my way agaaain?!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Their swords clashed, locked in a test of strength. Sharen bent her knees slightly, driving her toes into the ground. Her bulging veins and the trembling greatsword revealed just how much effort she was pouring into it. ¡°Move! Move, move, move¡ªout of my way!¡± Snow drifts down. All around, a black aura spreads, gradually swallowing up the deep crimson of Sharen¡¯s energy. For a moment, Sharen almost panics at the memory of being swallowed by that dark fluid¡ª ¡°Push it back!¡± But at Isaac¡¯s shout from behind, she steels her gaze and grits her teeth. In an instant, a burst of Sharen¡¯s red aura surges forward. Red Wave¡ªa signature technique of the Helmut style. When that steel-like aura flares up like a blaze, Pollu falters, shoved back. Right then, Isaac slips past Sharen, gripping the Falchion blade in both hands and thrusting forward. Kwaduk! His target was Pollu¡¯s chest. Right where that ¡°bone¡± is lodged. ¡°Kkeuuaaaargh!¡± Unlike before, this time Pollu howls in agony. Startled, he twists his body to deflect the blade, then frantically retreats. ¡°Argh! Grrk! It hurts! It hurrrts! I said it hurrrts!¡± ¡°Haah, haah¡­ It seems to be working, Isaac.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Sharen, gasping for breath, has already expended a good deal of her energy using Red Wave, her crimson aura noticeably dimmer than before. ¡°Anna, how¡¯s Melodic?¡± ¡°He¡¯s all right. Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± Anna has just rescued Melodic from beneath a pile of snow. He looks to be in a bad way, though¡ªprobably broke something when he crashed into the tree. Yet no chance to catch a breather¡ª ¡°Youuu! I hate youuu!¡± Pollu jabs a finger at Isaac. ¡°You said you hate me?¡± Isaac raises his sword in both hands, holding it close to his chest, ready to strike back at any moment. ¡°You¡¯re just like me, aren¡¯t you?! Abandoned by your family, cast out like trash! It must be true!¡± ¡°Ahem!¡± Sharen clears her throat, awkwardly. ¡°Why do you keep trying so hard every single day? It makes me look so pathetic! Because of you! Because you keep trying even though you¡¯re a commoner! It¡¯s all your fault!¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pollu¡¯s voice brims with bitterness, raw self-loathing pouring out like filth. Isaac has seen this kind of naked emotion before¡ªthrough Alois. And now Pollu is reminding him of it all over again. Civilized reason, shaped by a life philosophy. Common sense, instilled through education. Once those are stripped away, all that¡¯s left is raw jealousy and desire¡ªPollu in his barest form. ¡°I could¡¯ve done it too, if I had Silverna with me! I could¡¯ve done it, if I¡¯d had the Helmut family¡¯s support! I know! I already know! The truth is, I couldn¡¯t have done it anyway! Right! I¡¯m useless! I hate holding a sword! I know I¡¯m jealous! I know it¡¯s pathetic!¡± His tongue feels punctured¡ª That¡¯s how apt the metaphor is. He¡¯s pouring out words he should¡¯ve kept inside, Against his own will. His mind realizes only after the words spill out: I shouldn¡¯t have answered that. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mother! I¡¯m sorry, Father! I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m a sinner! Aaaaargh! I¡¯m a sinnerrrr!¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Watching Pollu pound on his chest, Sharen furrows her brow. ¡°He looks¡­ pitiful.¡± Isaac slowly raises his sword. ¡°You say you¡¯re a sinner?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m a sinner!¡± When asked a question, he answers¡ª This is exactly how Isaac intends to exploit Pollu¡¯s forced vassal state. ¡°Why? Why are you a sinner?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m ignorant! I¡¯m stupid! I¡¯m lazy! I¡¯m not qualified! No, no! I shouldn¡¯t answer!¡± When he hears a question, Pollu thinks of an answer¡ªand spits it out before realizing he shouldn¡¯t speak. ¡°The transcendent your family¡¯s tied to placed a curse on you.¡± ¡°A transcendent? A curse? I don¡¯t know! Aargh! Don¡¯t answer, don¡¯t answer!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a curse called a ¡®vassalization ritual.¡¯ Don¡¯t you recall when it happened?¡± ¡°Vassalization? I don¡¯t know! I said I don¡¯t¡ªah, was it then?¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°That time! The time I was pretending to be asleep! Mother came in and did something to me! Th-There was someone I¡¯d never seen before standing next to her!¡± Remembering that moment, Pollu clutches his head, screaming. ¡°It hurt! It hurt so bad! Something was carved into my chest! That stranger could see I wasn¡¯t actually asleep¡ªhe knew I was still awake!¡± ¡°But I stayed still! I kept my mouth shut! Because that¡¯s what Mother wanted! She wanted to use me for something! Mother! Aaah! My mother! Noooo! Stop talking! It¡¯s supposed to be a secret!¡± -Bang! Bang! Bang! Pollu pounds his forehead against the ground, begging himself not to speak. Yet the words keep pouring out. ¡°I¡¯m a sinner! I¡¯m a sinner! This is my atonement! Mother! Father! Aaargh! I¡¯m the sinner of the Blackthorn!¡± Swish. Isaac calmly moves toward him. Pollu shudders, then lets out a rough cough. ¡°Take one more step, and I¡¯ll kill you! The Yeeti¡ªit¡¯ll be here any seco¡ª!¡± Thud! A flurry of snow scatters. A Yeti, run clean through the heart by Silverna¡¯s spear, crashes to its knees. ¡°Nooo! The Yeti! No! Silverna is a beauty! Aaargh! Isaaac! Am I¡­ am I going to die?!¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m afraid so.¡± Looking pained, Isaac stands before him. Pollu staggers upright, weapon at the ready. ¡°Fine, kill me! Put me down! I¡¯m a sinner, after all! I couldn¡¯t fulfill Mother and Father¡¯s wishes! I couldn¡¯t do anything right! Aaargh! I¡¯m a sinner! I have to die for my sins!¡± Just then¡ª ¡°I¡¯m gonna catch you off-guard!¡± Pollu¡¯s sword flashes, a final desperate slash. Flickers of black aura swirl, adding force to his last strike¡ª ¡°Kk-uhhk?!¡± ¡ªbut it only carves empty air. By the time he realizes, Isaac has already ducked low and thrust the Falchion blade right back into Pollu¡¯s chest. The blade wedges into the old wound, where the bone is embedded. ¡°Kkeuaaaaargh!¡± As Pollu tries to scramble away again, Isaac releases the Falchion, seizes the protruding bone with both hands, and¡ª Puuuuuk! When Pollu jerks his body backward to flee, the bone lodged in his heart gets torn out. Strength drains from him. ¡°Gugh! Guhh¡­?!¡± Pollu gasps raggedly. The black aura, caught in the swirling snow of the North, disperses like a cleansing wind. Left in its wake, Pollu stares upward in shock. ¡°H-How¡­ how did you¡­?¡± He wants to ask how Isaac foresaw his final move. Putting down the bone, Isaac answers bitterly. ¡°You still tried to use the Blackthorn swordsmanship to the very end.¡± Somewhere within him, Pollu desperately wanted praise. He yearned to be recognized by his mother and father. He longed to be deemed worthy. He wanted their love. That wish to cling to the Blackthorn techniques, even in a hopeless fight¡ª that¡¯s precisely what gave Isaac the chance to pierce Pollu¡¯s heart. ¡°Hah¡­ hahah¡­ hahahahah.¡± Tears falling, Pollu lifts his gaze to the white sky. Still reeling from the aftereffects, he speaks his heart: ¡°I really¡­ hate wielding a sword.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s scary. I¡¯m so scared¡ªscared of having to muster courage.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I used to love cooking. I remember how excited I was when a chef taught me to pack a lunch box for the first time¡­¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°But I couldn¡¯t allow it! I had to wield a sword! I couldn¡¯t let myself enjoy something trivial like cooking! Curse me! I curse my own useless self!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mother. Father. I¡­ I never should have been born into the Blackthorn.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I¡­ I¡¯ve sinned.¡± Isaac approaches Pollu, kneeling on one knee in front of him. ¡°Learning to accept differences¡ªit took me ages to do that as well.¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m a sinner¡­¡± ¡°In that case, I¡¯m a sinner, too.¡± ¡°Y-You?¡± Pollu¡¯s voice is faint, on the brink of letting go. Right before his life slips away¡ª ¡°I want¡­ to live.¡± Pollu sheds tears. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I¡­ I want¡­ to live¡­¡± ¡°If it helps comfort you, even a little¡ª¡± ¡°I¡­ want¡­ to¡­ live¡­¡± ¡°I promise I¡¯ll find whoever did this to you and make them pay for it.¡± At those words, Pollu¡¯s eyes go wide. He realizes exactly who is responsible for making him this way: The Blackthorn family. Had he been his old self, he¡¯d have declared he must protect his parents, protect his family name, no matter what. But¡ª As a vassalized Pollu, with his true feelings stripped bare¡ª ¡°Thank you.¡± He smiles. Fixing his eyes on that snowy northern sky, Pollu passes away. *** Reflecting on again, [Are you kidding me? You can¡¯t even do this? Do you plan to live in disgrace of our family?!] The boy¡¯s ¡°crime¡± was simply having no interest in the sword. [Why are you so weak-minded? Are you trying to tarnish our family¡¯s name? How do you ever plan on receiving them like this¡ª?!] Another of the boy¡¯s ¡°crimes¡± was that he lacked courage in the face of intimidation. [You want to cook? You want praise? Look at this lunatic! Somebody bring a cane right now!] He liked cooking, and wanted to show off what he made. That was also deemed a ¡°crime.¡± [Why would a child like you¡­ Haah¡­ A brat who should¡¯ve been born in some slum ended up in my womb¡ª.] And perhaps his greatest ¡°crime¡± was being born here, in the Blackthorn, without knowing his place. But in truth¡ª The boy never did anything wrong. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 25: Damn Helmut ¡°Milady, the recon party has returned!¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± The moment Rihanna heard the report from Kelsey, Sharen¡¯s maid, she rushed off in a hurry. Before she knew it, the skies had grown dark and late. Everyone was worried because the recon party, which had only gone out for a short patrol around their base, was taking far too long. Especially because another recon party that had gone out earlier had still not returned, the atmosphere grew even more grim. Seeing the recon party enter through the barrier, Rihanna let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately¡­ Isaac appeared to be safe. Her younger sister, Sharen, didn¡¯t look so great either, but she was smiling awkwardly¡ªat least not injured. ¡°There¡¯s one fewer person than when they left.¡± At Kelsey¡¯s comment, Rihanna nodded. They had set out six strong, but only five returned. If people were to hear what they went through today¡ª They might even praise the fact that five of them managed to make it back alive, given how arduous it had been. Even so¡­ That bitterness remained¡ª ¡°Hmm?¡± Kelsey let out a small exclamation as she pointed to Isaac¡¯s hand. Surprisingly, Sharen and Isaac were holding hands. ¡°Seems like those two have grown quite close.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Rihanna found herself smiling without realizing it. She knew that her younger sister tended to talk down to Isaac, but she couldn¡¯t really intervene. ¡°At least not everything that happened was bad.¡± When Kelsey said that, Rihanna nodded. If the two had indeed improved their relationship¡­ Rihanna¡¯s expression suddenly hardened. ¡®At this point, what does that even mean?¡¯ ¡®He had already¡­¡¯ Isaac had already decided to leave Helmut. Rihanna, her face darkening, still thought it would be nice if Sharen could at least give him one good memory. Just then, Sharen linked arms with him, leaning against his shoulder. ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ Rihanna found it all a bit peculiar. **** ¡°Isaac-nim! Are you all right? Where, where are you hurt? If you¡¯re tired, please let me carry you!¡± ¡°I said I¡¯m fine. Now, give it a rest.¡± ¡°Please, if you need anything, just call! Gha, I should¡¯ve gone along with you¡ª!¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have been any help even if you had come. So get out.¡± Isaac pushed Jonathan, who was about to barge into the room, sending him away. ¡°S-sorry, Isaac-nim! Please rest well!¡± Once Jonathan left, Isaac finally had the room to himself. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± With a long exhale, he flopped down onto a chair. He had never imagined before leaving his room that morning that the day would turn out this long. ¡®I¡¯ve heard there are times when they even have to camp out there.¡¯ He could only imagine how exhausting that would be in this kind of weather. It was hard enough just making it back¡ªhe wondered if one night¡¯s sleep could truly relieve all that fatigue. ¡®Well, no use complaining now.¡¯ After all, he was alive to complain in the first place. He had survived a life-or-death battle. He should be grateful that he survived¡ªespecially for the sake of those who didn¡¯t. ¡®Maybe I should wash up a bit.¡¯ Fortunately, the nobles¡¯ quarters were equipped with a washing area, so Isaac could at least clean himself up comfortably. The water was hot, and the soap was of high quality. Because this was the front line, Uldiran had spent from his own pocket to improve conditions for the soldiers¡ªarguing they deserved even better treatment on the battlefield. It was exactly what you¡¯d expect from someone of the Caldias bloodline, who had once produced countless spears for the soldiers. Such seemingly small yet significant efforts were undoubtedly part of why the Malidan Barrier held strong. And so¡ª Fresh from his shower, Isaac returned to his room, only to find an unexpected visitor. ¡°Silverna?¡± She was sitting in a chair, reading Isaac¡¯s sword manual. Though she must have read it countless times, she was still carefully taking in every line. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re back.¡± Silverna, who looked freshly showered, rose from her seat with a smile. She was wearing a thin outfit, and thanks to Isaac¡¯s earlier teasing remarks, he was almost starting to get used to the very noticeable movement of her chest. ¡°Hmm, what about Anna?¡± ¡°Anna? She¡¯s washing up. She¡¯ll probably go to bed soon.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Isaac nodded, looking somewhat uneasy. It obviously wasn¡¯t ideal for a man and a woman to be in a room together late at night in such light attire. Hadn¡¯t Anna and Uldiran specifically asked him to be careful? He deliberately kept the door ajar as he stepped inside and spoke: ¡°So, what brings you here?¡± But it didn¡¯t seem like that kind of situation. Holding the manual, Silverna spoke seriously: ¡°I came to thank you. Today¡ªif it hadn¡¯t been for you, none of the recon party might have made it back.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m certain of it. Without your knowledge and clearheadedness, we wouldn¡¯t be standing here now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re giving me too much credit. You¡¯re the one who took down that yeti.¡± Silverna didn¡¯t look entirely convinced by his words¡ªher expression remained clouded. As the mood dampened, she hastily held out the manual and said: ¡°Anyway, Isaac. I want to thank you not just as the leader of our recon party, but as the only daughter of Caldias.¡± ¡°Thank me? How?¡± ¡°A sword. I¡¯d like to make you the sword you really want.¡± Isaac¡¯s eyes went wide. He had never reacted so obviously before, and Silverna found his look quite endearing¡ªher lips curled up ever so slightly. ¡°You received Falchion from my father, but you never really liked it, right? We don¡¯t know when the Great Den will calm down, but before that day comes, I¡¯d like to talk to the blacksmith so you can have your sword.¡± ¡°Really? You¡¯d do that for me? I haven¡¯t exactly made the design public yet¡ªis that okay?¡± ¡°Huh? If you explain the shape and structure well, he should be able to craft it.¡± ¡°I see. Haa, that means I¡¯ll be busy again.¡± Despite his words, Isaac lit up like a child meeting Santa Claus. Seeing that, Silverna smiled softly. Even this simple conversation felt pleasant to her. When he looked happy, it made her feel even happier. It was the first time she¡¯d ever felt such a rush of wanting to do something for someone else. ¡®Milady, that¡¯s not it, right?¡¯ Momentarily, she thought she heard Anna¡¯s voice in the back of her mind. Though she¡¯d insisted she felt no romantic interest, Anna¡¯s words kept pushing her to think more seriously about it. ¡°¡­Sorry.¡± Watching him beam while he prepared to sketch out a blueprint, Silverna suddenly apologized. ¡°Huh? For what?¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Sleep well. You will talk to the blacksmith. He¡¯s quite skilled.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going with me?¡± Isaac was puzzled. Normally, knowing Silverna¡¯s personality, she¡¯d have insisted on tagging along to make sure everything was in order. ¡°Right, You will speak to him yourself.¡± Silverna gave him a bitter smile and then headed for the door. ¡°Good night.¡± Thud. The door closed. Isaac stared blankly at where Silverna had been. Then¡ª The door rattled open again, and another woman entered. ¡°What was that? Why was Silverna here? Isaac, are you really planning to start a whole new life somewhere else?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Her twin pigtails slightly messy, Sharen Helmut stepped in. She wore cute pajamas and had a blanket draped around her shoulders. Given that this wasn¡¯t her room, she must¡¯ve braved the cold to come here. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Setting aside his blueprint, Isaac asked, sounding a bit curt. Sharen pouted and answered: ¡°I just¡­ had something I wanted to tell you.¡± ¡°Something you want to tell me?¡± ¡°Yeah, so¡­¡± Looking embarrassed, she wriggled awkwardly, pressing her palms together and slipping them between her legs. ¡°Thanks for today. Really.¡± It was quite remarkable that Sharen would express her feelings so honestly, especially to Isaac. This newfound sincerity reflected her growth¡ªand the winds of change blowing through her life. ¡°Sure.¡± Still, Isaac¡¯s voice was cold. ¡°...¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you were hoping I¡¯d give you some sweet answer. I only protected you because I wanted to survive.¡± ¡°¡­¡­I know.¡± Sharen lowered her head. ¡°B-but when I was in Isaac¡¯s arms today, it was so warm. So I¡­ I¡¯m just really¡­ grateful.¡± ¡°I keep telling you¡ªit was just to keep us alive.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯ve never been held like that by anyone before. My other brothers and sisters are always so cold toward me.¡± ¡°Haah, Sharen?¡± Isaac, frowning, slammed his pen onto the desk. Sharen flinched, checking his mood. ¡°You know how I was treated in Helmut. Are you expecting me to trash Helmut right along with you? You¡¯re part of Helmut yourself.¡± ¡°I know¡­.¡± ¡°At least you didn¡¯t outright beat me in the name of ¡®training¡¯ like the other siblings. But you did treat me like half a slave, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°M-maybe so.¡± Sharen shrank back more and more, her head hanging low, tears welling in her eyes. ¡°I get that you¡¯re only seventeen, that you¡¯re still immature. But even if you say you¡¯ve changed¡ªcoming over just to say thanks because I saved you¡ªit¡¯s not like I can just accept it at face value.¡± ¡°Sniff.¡± Seeing Sharen on the verge of tears, Isaac didn¡¯t know what else to say. ¡®Maybe I went too far.¡¯ But then again, when he remembered the past, his veins threatened to pop. Maybe that¡¯s why¡ª He wanted to ask something a little more fundamental. ¡°Hey, Sharen. Why do you want forgiveness so badly? In a month, I¡¯m divorcing Rihanna. After that, you won¡¯t ever have to see me again.¡± He knew she had changed because of what happened, but that didn¡¯t mean Sharen¡¯s nature had vanished entirely. She could just pretend none of this happened, and there would be no issue. It¡¯s not like Isaac was really in a position to demand anything of Sharen. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Sharen pressed her lips tightly together. In that moment, Isaac noticed something and suddenly opened his eyes wide. ¡°Ah, no way. You know I¡¯m your brother-in-law! This is not okay!¡± ¡°N-next month you won¡¯t be!¡± ¡°Hey! What kind of nonsense is that?! Just because I held you when it was cold?!¡± ¡°B-but it was so, s-so warm!¡± ¡°That¡¯s obviously¡ª!¡± Isaac smacked his forehead and let out a sigh. Seventeen years old. It¡¯s an age where romance is pure fantasy. Holding hands, sharing a drink, a warm smile¡ª It¡¯s the perfect age to mistake these little flutters for love. ¡°I¡ªI¡¯ll make you happy! I¡¯ll do better than my sister ever did!¡± ¡°Look at this kid, still wet behind the ears, trying to mess with an adult! Get out, right now!¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Sharen, on the verge of tears, was pushed out of the room by Isaac. She was unusually strong, though, so it was like trying to shove a boulder out the door. ¡®Dammit¡­¡¯ Damn Helmut. He decided to try a different tack. ¡°Sharen, you¡¯re just confused. You¡¯re mistaking that little rush of excitement for love.¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t think I am.¡± ¡°You are. That¡¯s exactly what this is.¡± ¡°So¡­ it¡¯s not real?¡± ¡°Right. That¡¯s all it is. And let¡¯s be reasonable¡ªhaving feelings for your brother-in-law¡ª¡± ¡®Ah.¡¯ ¡®Damn Helmut.¡¯ Come to think of it, there was that maniac in Helmut who was obsessed with his own sister. Blinking her large eyes, Sharen looked up at him. Isaac let out a final sigh and declared: ¡°I just can¡¯t stand you Helmut people.¡± **** ¡°Ugh.¡± Grumbling as she returned to her quarters, Sharen had no choice but to leave after being thrown out so decisively. Still, it wasn¡¯t a complete loss. ¡®He did at least listen to me!¡¯ That alone gave Sharen a bit of hope. It was the first warmth she¡¯d ever experienced. And the sense of relief that came with it. She never imagined it would come from Isaac, but all the same, Sharen decided to label these flutters in her chest as ¡°love.¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± Feeling like the heroine of a romance novel, Sharen entered her room¡ª Only to find Kelsey there, looking pale. ¡°Huh? Kelsey, you¡¯re still awake?¡± ¡°M-Milady¡­¡± Kelsey seemed uneasy as her gaze shifted toward the bed. There, sitting on the edge of Sharen¡¯s bed, legs crossed and chin propped in hand, was a woman staring coldly at her¡ª ¡°Uh, u-uh, u-unni?¡± At the sight of Rihanna, Sharen didn¡¯t even have time to wonder how she had gotten in. Her teeth chattered even harder than they had in the freezing cold. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 26: Sleet ¡°Unni?¡± Sharen called out in a barely audible voice. She was so taken aback by the sight before her that she doubted it could be real. By any common sense¡­ Why would Rihanna be here? ¡°Sharen, you¡¯re here.¡± But the moment those few words fell from Rihanna¡¯s lips, Sharen froze on the spot. This was unmistakably the real Rihanna Helmut. That unmistakable aura of lethal intent¡ªone only her older sister possessed¡ªfilled the room, impossible to deny. ¡®Kelsey!¡¯ Sharen signaled for help from her lady-in-waiting, but all Kelsey could do was lower her head, just as powerless as Sharen felt. ¡°Uh, Unni? How¡­how did you get here?¡± ¡°Does that really matter right now?¡± ¡°Y-yes, it does! Father will be furious if he finds out you¡¯re here!¡± ¡°Sure, I guess he would.¡± Rihanna nodded. ¡°It doesn¡¯t bother me.¡± She looked as though she genuinely couldn¡¯t care less. Normally, Rihanna would be cautious of Arandel¡¯s scrutiny¡ªthis was a stark contrast to her usual self. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ That only left Sharen even more flustered. It was as if Rihanna had deliberately come here to incur the family head¡¯s wrath. ¡°Sharen.¡± Whatever the reason, Sharen could sense that her sister was quite angry right now. ¡®Why am I the one who¡¯s scared?!¡¯ Sharen, facing Rihanna¡¯s strangely ominous demeanor, chose to handle her sister just like she always did. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Unni? You must have a good reason for coming all this way, right?!¡± ¡°A-Ah, My Lady¡­¡± Kelsey tried to interrupt. ¡°Stay out of this, Kelsey. I¡¯m here at the Malidan Barrier as the official representative of the Helmut family. But Unni, you¡¯re disobeying Father¡¯s orders by doing this! I have every right to¡ª!¡± ¡°Did you enjoy the time you spent with Isaac?¡± ¡°Uh, unni..¡± Sharen instantly wilted, her shoulders slumping in defeat. ¡°You know, Sharen. Isaac is my husband.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± She wanted to add ¡°for now,¡± but Rihanna¡¯s menacing aura was too overwhelming for Sharen to say another word. ¡°To outsiders, it probably just looks like a brother-in-law and sister-in-law getting along.¡± Rihanna slowly approached, her red eyes gleaming softly in the darkness. ¡°But I know how you really feel about him.¡± ¡°U-Unni?¡± Half in tears, Sharen looked up at Rihanna. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Don¡¯t do it, Sharen.¡± Rihanna gently plucked a stray lock of hair stuck to Sharen¡¯s cheek, letting out a bitter sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t want Isaac to suffer any more because of the Helmut family.¡± ¡°Unni?¡± Only now that she was close could Sharen finally glimpse the emotions stirring in her sister¡¯s heart. ¡°It¡¯s time to stop¡ª¡± Deep regret. Yet, a regret that cannot simply let go¡­ ¡°Let him go.¡± ¡­Because she loves him that much. ¡°...Unni, you¡ª¡± Sharen couldn¡¯t hide her confusion. Why on earth would Rihanna defy even Arandel Helmut¡¯s orders and come all the way here? ¡°Why are you here?¡± At those words, Rihanna responded only with a pained smile, offering no further explanation. **** ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I said, I know. I already know.¡± ¡°¡­What are you talking about?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. It¡¯s not a big deal. I just have to treat him like a friend, right?¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking to yourself?¡± Anna watched Silverna in confusion as she muttered to herself over and over. ¡®What¡¯s with her all of a sudden?¡¯ ¡°This isn¡¯t like me. Right, I should not make it awkward.¡± Anna wondered why Silverna was acting so strangely¡ªso unlike her usual self. In a twist of irony, the puzzle was soon solved. ¡°Are you an idiot?! You call yourself a Helmut knight when you can barely wield that demonic steel sword?!¡± ¡°S-sorry!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The next morning, at the training grounds: Sharen was berating Jonathan over his sword usage, calling it pathetic. Meanwhile, Isaac stood nearby, jotting something down in a notebook as he observed the two. By this point, it was utterly normal¡ªalmost expected¡ªto see him with a pen in hand, taking notes. Maybe he was researching something about the Helmut¡¯s swordsmanship. He listened to Sharen¡¯s lectures with fierce concentration, scribbling diligently. ¡°Ahem, Isaac?¡± Silverna approached him awkwardly. ¡°Ah, Silverna.¡± Isaac, after briefly greeting both of them, spoke first¡ªbefore Silverna, who seemed hesitant to say what was on her mind. ¡°Do you happen to have a hair tie? My hair¡¯s gotten longer than I expected.¡± ¡°Now that you mention it, yes, it has.¡± His hair nearly touched his shoulders in the back. Anna pulled a spare hair tie from her belongings. ¡°Do you know how to tie it yourself?¡± ¡°Sure, somewhat.¡± In his previous life, he¡¯d spent a lot of time cooped up writing, and whenever his hair grew long, he¡¯d simply tie it back in a short ponytail. Once Isaac neatly tied his hair, Silverna stared down at him with a vexed expression. ¡°I-I¡­ I want to die!¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°M-My Lady?¡± Anna interjected, concerned. Silverna¡¯s face turned crimson as though she desperately wanted to say something. But she simply clamped a hand over her mouth, swallowing back the words. ¡°Go see the blacksmith! I already told him you¡¯d be coming, so he¡¯s expecting you!¡± ¡°Oh! Right, the thing from yesterday!¡± Glad for the excuse, Isaac leapt to his feet and hurried toward the smithy, oblivious to the way Silverna and Anna both watched his retreating back. The Malidan smithy was tucked away in the farthest corner of the fortress wall. Blame the hammering noise and the pungent smells¡ªit had been inevitably pushed to the outskirts. Yet at this frontline, it was one of the most vital facilities. It was also, without question, the warmest place in these northern parts. . . . ¡°You look like someone who¡¯ll make plenty of women cry.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± No sooner had Isaac stepped inside than he was met with the blacksmith¡¯s sarcastic remark. The blacksmith clicked his tongue and waved his hammer in disapproval. ¡°So they want me to forge a sword for some milquetoast fellow like you? Lady Silverna must be out of her mind.¡± ¡°You realize I¡¯m a guest here, right? A little courtesy would be nice.¡± ¡°A blacksmith is a man of obstinacy and stubbornness, hammering metal by sheer will. I reserve the right to choose who gets to wield the weapons I craft¡ªdon¡¯t you agree?¡± ¡°So you¡¯re not worried about the money?¡± ¡°Why else do you think my wife nags at me all the time?¡± The blacksmith let out a raucous laugh, ¡°Haha.¡± Even in this northern climate, he wore only a sleeveless shirt, revealing arms covered in burns and knife scars. ¡°Well, Silverna said as much, so I trust you¡¯ll forge my sword.¡± ¡°Tch, guess I don¡¯t have much choice.¡± A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. Blacksmiths of his caliber often had crude personalities, but their skill spoke for itself. They were artists at heart¡ªconsidering each weapon a personal masterpiece¡ªso no matter who their client was, they poured every ounce of talent into crafting the best they possibly could. Since he was affiliated with Caldias, his skills were guaranteed. Living on the front lines meant swinging a hammer every day with no rest; naturally, one would grow immensely capable. Behind him, several apprentices bustled about, each exuding a flair that marked them as future masters in the making. ¡°I brought a blueprint with me,¡± Isaac said. The blacksmith snatched the design from Isaac¡¯s hands, snorting in derision. ¡°Ha! This is a load of nonsense! Craft a sword off some amateur¡¯s blueprint¡ª!¡± Halfway through his outburst, the blacksmith¡¯s tongue froze. His apprentices, pausing their hammering, glanced over curiously¡ªapparently, they had never seen him react this way before. He stared at the design for a long moment, then slowly lifted his gaze to Isaac. The gray in his eyes took on a gravitas, a weight that hadn¡¯t been there before. ¡°¡­Did you come up with this yourself?¡± ¡°To be precise, it¡¯s not entirely my own idea. I had plenty of advice.¡± For a swordsman, a sword is indispensable¡ªchoosing a quality blade is part of a swordsman¡¯s training. In his past life, Isaac hadn¡¯t only studied swordsmanship; once you start delving into swordsmanship, you naturally learn about weapon craftsmanship, too. He had sought out the teachings and advice of countless blacksmiths on sword design. ¡°It¡¯s an unusual blade.¡± ¡°Technically speaking, it¡¯s a ¡®dao*,¡¯¡± Isaac replied. ¡°A dao? Huh, that¡¯s interesting. It¡¯s similar to your current Falchion, but different.¡± Isaac gave a bitter smile. This design was originally used by the transcendents. ¡°It looks like it¡¯d be useless in a guard-to-guard clash. Might be light, sure, but with the blade so thin, it¡¯d lose in a show of brute strength.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m choosing this design. I¡¯m not that strong.¡± He confessed plainly, acknowledging his own limits. ¡°Swing it around a few times and it¡¯ll probably snap in half.¡± ¡°Then it means the blacksmith messed up, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Haha.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m entrusting it to the best blacksmith. Unless you don¡¯t think you¡¯re up to the task¡ªI can always look elsewhere.¡± ¡°What a childish way to provoke someone.¡± The blacksmith grinned, balling his fists. ¡°And I¡¯m a pretty childish guy myself.¡± He had lived as a blacksmith for many years, never shying from a challenge¡ªhence how he¡¯d become who he was today. ¡°Just sit tight. I¡¯ll need a few trials and errors at least.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± There was still some time before the great den would dissipate, so Isaac planned to cooperate fully to ensure the blacksmith had what he needed to craft the blade. As he turned to head back into the forge with the blueprint, he stopped abruptly to ask one last question: ¡°But¡­ you¡¯re from Helmut, correct?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°And they¡¯re okay with you not using a greatsword? Doesn¡¯t seem like something Helmut would allow.¡± Isaac let out a small laugh. ¡°A sword¡¯s purpose is to cut, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°The moment I hold a greatsword, it stops being a sword to me¡ªit¡¯s just dead weight.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I need a true sword.¡± After Isaac¡¯s resolute declaration, the blacksmith regarded him in silence for a moment before stepping forward to offer his hand. ¡°The name¡¯s Antonio. Remember it, since I¡¯m the man who¡¯ll put a real sword in your hand.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Isaac.¡± ***** Once Isaac had left the training grounds¡­ ¡°Hey, you idiot! You can¡¯t even manage this?! I¡¯m telling you, this is the basics!¡± ¡°S-sorry!¡± While Jonathan whimpered under Sharen¡¯s stern tutelage, Anna discreetly sidled up beside Silverna. ¡°My Lady, are you alright?¡± ¡°Anna.¡± Silverna¡¯s lips trembled a moment before she let out a murmured confession. ¡°You were right.¡± ¡°My Lady?¡± ¡°I¡­ I think I l-like him.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Anna¡¯s eyes went wide, and she quickly glanced around. Sharen and Jonathan were wrapped up in their own thing, and the only other person in sight was a maid wearing a mask¡ªfar enough away not to overhear them. ¡°My Lady, please don¡¯t tell anyone else how you feel. You know that, right?¡± ¡°I know¡­ That¡¯s why I¡¯m only telling you.¡± ¡°Haa.. He¡¯s already a married man¡ªand a Helmut at that. Love is a beautiful thing, but you know there are plenty of sad stories about people whose situations were ruined by it, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Silverna drooped, her shoulders sagging. Anna embraced her, gently patting her back. ¡°Oh, my poor Lady¡­ what are we going to do?¡± ¡°Anna¡­ I¡¯m strange, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°No, My Lady. There¡¯s no stopping love once it¡¯s in your heart. It¡¯s just¡­ it¡¯s just¡ª¡± Anna, thinking it over, swallowed hard and replied with a little sob: ¡°It¡¯s only a little¡­ just a little too late.¡± A heavy weight settled in Silverna¡¯s chest, like a stone pressing down on her heart. It was fortunate that she had the rest of the day to herself. She planned to spend it sorting through her emotions. ¡®Haa¡­ The heavens can be cruel.¡¯ The first snowfall in her heart¡­ Why did it have to be sleet¡ªa biting mix of rain and snow? ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Dao - It¡¯s a traditional Chinese single-edged sword known for its curved blade, designed primarily for slashing and chopping in combat. Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 27: Reconnaissance Team 5 Kuungh! ¡°The Giant by the main gate has begun throwing boulders!¡± ¡°We¡¯re moving out.¡± At last, the great den¡¯s offensive had fully commenced. A beast possessing both intelligence and wisdom was in command, turning this conflict into a true war. ¡°Team 5, prepare.¡± Silverna gripped her spear and assumed a battle stance. Their target: the beast called the ¡°Giant¡± that was hurling rocks from afar. Gathered near Silverna atop the wall were Isaac and the rest of the reconnaissance party. After a quick headcount, Silverna leapt straight down from the wall. Thud! As she fell, Silverna swung her spear in a wide arc. Like Helmut¡¯s Red River, Silverna¡¯s white aura fanned out like a storm, surging around her landing spot. The yetis and other beasts clinging to the wall were torn to shreds by that aura. Thud! Upon landing, Silverna set her sights on the distant Giant. Behind her, the other members of the reconnaissance party also dropped down. Under normal circumstances, a fall from that height would mean broken legs¡ªor worse. But thanks to Silverna¡¯s aura acting as a cushion, they landed as gently as if guided by the wind. The Caldias spear technique typically put strict limits on aura usage¡ªafter all, the aura was reserved for the chosen few and didn¡¯t really align with Caldias¡¯s focus on versatility. However, at this moment, Silverna was doing the opposite: devoting herself to mastering aura, growing, and advancing. ¡®She¡¯ll grow quickly, I know it.¡¯ Though she still had a long way to go before matching Rihanna, Silverna would soon catch up. ¡°Tch!¡± Sharen, also an aura user, pouted and grumbled. Until just a few days ago, she¡¯d been more adept with aura than Silverna. But each day, Silverna¡¯s skills increased at such an alarming rate that it was hard not to be jealous. ¡°I¡¯ll take point.¡± Silverna charged forward, as though she herself were a single deadly spear. Her footwork and spear strikes tore through the beasts before they could even swing at her. Anna, Jonathan, and Melodic followed close behind. They handled the monsters trying to slip back in along Silverna¡¯s path¡ªusually by throwing them off-balance or pushing them aside rather than killing them outright. That was because the finishing blow was up to Isaac and his sword, trailing just behind. His sword was light, letting him swing faster than anyone else. And once an enemy¡¯s stance was broken, Isaac never missed the kill shot. He perfectly fulfilled his role as the team¡¯s cleanup striker¡ªof course, that was also thanks to Sharen providing steadfast support from right behind. Like an armored tank, the team pressed onward, trampling the horde of beasts underfoot. ¡°My lady! We¡¯re almost out of the wall¡¯s cover range!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll pick up the pace from here!¡± At Anna¡¯s report, Silverna tightened her grip on her spear and dashed forward even faster. The rest of the party followed suit, picking up speed. And then¡ª ¡°Let¡¯s begin!¡± As soon as the Giant entered range, Silverna slammed her foot to the ground, stopping in place to take up a throwing stance. Anna and Jonathan, who had been following behind, rushed past to guard her. Thud! Right at the moment Silverna threw her spear, Sharen heaved her greatsword toward the sky. Against the backdrop of a pale-white sky, a delicate Red aura scattered like paint across a canvas. Empowered by that aura, Silverna¡¯s spear pierced clean through the Giant¡¯s forehead. Thud! The four-meter-tall mass collapsed. Despite the success of their plan, no one paused to celebrate. They immediately began plotting a retreat. ¡°Ice wolves are closing in!¡± Melodic, who had been slashing through beasts in sync with Isaac, shouted urgently. Huge ice wolves poured in from all directions. Isaac was the first to swing his sword, fending off their approach¡ªuntil one of the wolve kicked out. Clang! His thin sword shattered like an icicle. ¡°Damn it!¡± Isaac immediately grabbed the Falchion strapped to his waist. Drawing it in a reverse grip, he sliced through the neck of the monster that had destroyed his sword. He swapped weapons so smoothly¡ªlikely because this wasn¡¯t the first time it had happened. ¡°Isaac-nim, your sword broke again! My lady, what about your spear?!¡± ¡°Hold on! Come on, come on, hurry back here!¡± Silverna lifted her palm toward the sky, waiting for her thrown spear to return. ¡°Stop throwing it so hard! It takes forever to come back!¡± ¡°I did hold back! It¡¯s the Red Aura¡¯s fault!¡± ¡°Do you have any idea how hard it is for Helmut to control his strength, you fools?!¡± Even as they bickered, they kept taking down the approaching monsters. ¡°Can¡¯t we just ditch them? There are way too many!¡± ¡°I should¡¯ve brought a hammer for this!¡± Jonathan and Melodic chimed in. Ice wolves might be beasts, but hitting them felt like smashing ice sculptures, leaving their arms numb with each blow. ¡°If you knew what this is made of, you wouldn¡¯t say that so easily! Besides, thanks to me, we took down the Giant without any losses¡ª!¡± Chak! Just then, Silverna¡¯s spear snapped back into her hand with a crisp ¡°chak!¡± Her aura¡¯s link allowed her to retrieve the weapon this way. ¡°That¡¯s enough¡ªpull back!¡± At Silverna¡¯s command, everyone immediately turned and began to retreat. As they ran, Isaac clicked his tongue, glaring at his broken sword. ¡°What was it he said again? ¡®It¡¯ll never break¡¯? He sure sounded confident!¡± ¡°Looks like old Antonio was full of hot air after all!¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Isaac¡¯s grumbling was met with a sympathetic nod from Jonathan. He had been all smiles earlier, swearing up and down that it would ¡°never break, so swing it around however you like today.¡± Turned out that the boastful blacksmith was all talk. Thanks to the covering fire provided the moment they got back into the wall¡¯s defensive range, they managed to return to safety fairly quickly. Once inside, everyone took a moment to compose themselves. As they did, Isaac let out a weary sigh. ¡°Today, I¡¯m definitely giving that blacksmith a piece of my mind.¡± It was rare to see Isaac so emotional. Rolling up his sleeves like he was ready to dash out at any moment, he was just about to stomp off when Anna handed him a towel and spoke up. ¡°Isaac-nim, didn¡¯t you think it was a bit strange this time? It felt like those Ice wolves were waiting for us.¡± ¡°Yeah, exactly. That¡¯s exactly what I thought too.¡± Jonathan nodded at Anna¡¯s comment. Silverna, arms folded, likewise waited for Isaac¡¯s opinion. He slid the broken sword back into its scabbard and nodded. ¡°Definitely. How many times have we dealt with sudden attacks by those Giants in exactly this way? They must¡¯ve set a trap, knowing we¡¯d come after the Giant.¡± They had clearly been waiting, expecting someone would come to assassinate the Giant. ¡°Here, drink this.¡± Sharen handed him a water bottle from the side. Taking a swig, Isaac organized his thoughts before he continued. ¡°Historically, great dens were often led by extremely intelligent beasts. This time¡¯s no different.¡± In truth, Isaac already knew which beast was commanding this great den¡ªand how it would eventually die. ¡®It hasn¡¯t made its move yet.¡¯ Apparently, the time wasn¡¯t right for that thing to appear. In any case, it was a being humans couldn¡¯t track down unless it acted first. If it didn¡¯t make a move, there was no way for humans to spot it. ¡®Just like you told me.¡¯ He glanced briefly at Silverna. From what Silverna had told him in his previous life, the beast leading this great den was no ordinary monster. Even Uldiran Caldias had reportedly struggled to subdue it. ¡°Wh-what? Why¡¯re you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°Right?! Right! Exactly. I think this operation just got harder!¡± Anna stepped in front of Silverna, whose face had begun to redden with embarrassment. Maybe it was fine on the battlefield, but in everyday life, Silverna still had trouble hiding her emotions. Tap! ¡°Ow!¡± ¡°Oh, sorry.¡± Isaac yelped in surprise as Sharen, who had snuck behind him, was massaging his shoulders. Even as he complained, Sharen just kept up the gentle kneading. Jonathan, watching them, spoke next. ¡°Lately, Lady Sharen seems to be awfully nice to Isaac-nim.¡± ¡°Oh, I noticed too. Last time, when Isaac said he was hungry, she actually went to the mess hall and brought him a sandwich.¡± With Melodic chiming in, everyone¡¯s eyes turned to Sharen. But Sharen answered confidently, shrugging her shoulders. ¡°What¡¯s weird about being nice to my brother-in-law?¡± Well, she had a point. They were family, after all. It wasn¡¯t exactly flawed logic, but because it was Sharen, it still felt a bit off. ¡°Isaac, feel good?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Feel good?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Feel good?¡± Isaac, avoiding the question with the water bottle still in his mouth, finally gave a small nod. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s¡­ comfortable.¡± Since she was asking whether it felt good, well, it did. The moment he admitted it, Sharen moved right in front of him and stuck out her head. A signal that she wanted her head patted. Half demand, half request. Just three days ago, he¡¯d made the mistake of not patting her head and was rewarded with a full day of shoulder-ramming. Lesson learned. Pat-pat. ¡°Hmm-hmm!¡± Sharen purred in satisfaction. Seeing this, Jonathan suddenly sidled up to Isaac with a question. ¡°Sir, are you sore anywhere else? I happen to be really good at massages.¡± Maybe the sight of Isaac patting Sharen on the head made him want to offer up his own massage skills. Isaac declined and then turned his gaze beyond the wall. ¡°They¡¯re running away.¡± ¡°Well, with the Giant gone, they don¡¯t have enough firepower to break through the wall.¡± The beasts were in retreat. In truth, this latest offensive was more like a test run than anything else. They¡¯d knocked on the wall, so to speak, to see how sturdy it was before deciding to try and break it. ¡®I should get the Margrave¡¯s opinion.¡¯ If he joined as Silverna¡¯s adjutant, he¡¯d be able to attend the war council. In his previous life, the Malidan Barrier had pretty much handled the gret den on its own, so he wasn¡¯t too worried. Still¡­ Minimizing damage now would make it that much easier to deal with future threats. ¡®But first, I need to visit the smithy.¡¯ He fully intended to give that blacksmith a piece of his mind for handing him a supposedly unbreakable sword that had shattered like glass. He was on his way out to do just that when¡ª ¡°Isaac!¡± Silverna, now out of her armor and wearing a coat, suddenly pointed at Isaac and made an announcement. ¡°Cut your hair! Don¡¯t tie it back anymore!¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°That¡¯s an order from your captain! Cut it¡ªshave it bald if you have to! I don¡¯t like the look of it!¡± With that, Silverna stomped off in a huff, looking genuinely angry. As Isaac stood there, baffled by her sudden outburst, Sharen watched her go and whined in disbelief. ¡°What¡¯s her deal? I think it¡¯s deadly charming when he ties his hair up.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± At that, Anna scratched her cheek awkwardly and added in a small voice, ¡°That¡¯s exactly why¡­¡± ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 28: Helmuts Sword ¡°Antonio!¡± Bursting through the always-open smithy door, Isaac shouts. Antonio, who had been hammering away intently, jumps to his feet and yells right back. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to call me like that when I¡¯m holding a hammer?!¡± ¡°Ah! Then I¡¯m doomed! Because the sword you made for me just broke, and I can¡¯t block your hammer with it!¡± Isaac lifts the split sword and waves it around, making Antonio briefly lose his bluster. But getting an old blacksmith to admit his mistakes was never easy. ¡°You little brat!¡± ¡°What¡¯s your excuse this time? That I swung it wrong? That I faced the wrong opponent? That this is all part of a learning process? Then you should¡¯ve told me that from the start! Why do you always hand it over saying it¡¯ll ¡®never break,¡¯ putting me in danger every time?!¡± ¡°Hrmm, well¡­ That¡¯s a point of pride for any blacksmith.¡± Grabbing the broken hilt, Antonio pats his belly and shouts. ¡°Good grief! You took this one? That¡¯s a worthless test piece I made! There¡¯s a proper sword over there.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a fresh excuse.¡± ¡°Hrmm.¡± He himself had handed it over¡ªnow calling it a test piece was ridiculous. It was as if Antonio had known it would break, and he was all ready with a new excuse. Still, he looks sheepish as he hands over the new blade. ¡°This time it really won¡¯t break.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you hold it and see for yourself?¡± Isaac draws the sword, suggesting they try clashing it against Falchion right this moment, and Antonio hurriedly snatches the new blade away. ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t go smashing it against that brutal thing. There¡¯s no way it¡¯d stand up to that!¡± ¡°Exactly. Right? I¡¯ll go easy on it. I¡¯m scared it¡¯ll snap again.¡± ¡°Hrmm.¡± Isaac sneers. In the end, Antonio slings an arm around Isaac¡¯s shoulder and leads him outside the smithy. ¡°Do you smoke?¡± ¡°¡­Not anymore.¡± Back when Isaac was using a wooden sword to practice by swinging it, he had briefly used smoking to cope with the frustration. It didn¡¯t last long. He worried it might harm his stamina if he ever began wielding a sword seriously, so he quit before it became a habit¡ªthough that concern turned out unnecessary. ¡°You quit? You¡¯re a tough one.¡± Antonio, cigarette in his mouth, holds the end of it against his still-warm hammer. The lingering heat ignites the tip, scattering curls of smoke. ¡°Kid, quitting this is harder than you¡¯d think.¡± It was the first time Antonio ever sounded somewhat vulnerable. ¡°I need to keep it light, but also maintain at least the minimum required hardness. I¡¯ve never made a sword like that before.¡± ¡°I never expected you to get it right on the first try. But cut out the pointless bragging, please.¡± ¡°Think about how ridiculous I¡¯d look in front of my apprentices if I handed you a sword and said it¡¯s ¡®just gonna snap soon.¡¯¡± ¡°¡­¡± An uncomfortable silence settles between them. Still, it wasn¡¯t as if they couldn¡¯t understand each other¡¯s positions. ¡°It¡¯s my first time making this type of sword, so naturally the craftsmanship might fall short. Then I should cover for those shortcomings some other way.¡± ¡°What are you suggesting?¡± Antonio flicks his cigarette to the ground and crushes it underfoot. He shouts for an apprentice to bring him his thick coat. ¡°In the North, there¡¯s a special ore known as frostsilver ore. It¡¯s the same precious stuff used to forge the Caldias family¡¯s spears.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°They don¡¯t let it out of their hands. Except for what¡¯s presented to the royal family, most of it is kept in Caldias¡¯s warehouse.¡± Isaac recalls how Silverna had mentioned her spear during battle. She¡¯d said it was something she couldn¡¯t ever afford to lose. ¡°If we use that, we can keep the blade light but also preserve its hardness. Of course, it¡¯ll take some time.¡± ¡°I get it¡¯s a valuable material, but will the Margrave be willing to share it with me?¡± From what Isaac knows, even Caldias probably doesn¡¯t have much of it to spare. ¡°Probably not. But we need to get our hands on it one way or another, don¡¯t we?¡± Isaac nearly asked why Antonio was going to such lengths for his sword. In the end, he decided the question was unnecessary, but Antonio seemed to notice anyway and answered. ¡°I saw you training.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You looked like you were already gripping a sword that wasn¡¯t even finished yet.¡± ¡°Hrmm.¡± ¡°You¡¯re up against Helmut, right?¡± Isaac¡¯s eyes widen for a moment. He slowly turns his head to look at Antonio, who grins like someone caught in the act of a prank. ¡°Isn¡¯t it exciting? That legendary Helmut¡¯s Sword, praised from birth as something magnificent. They¡¯re literally born to swing a blade.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Whereas you¡ªyour longsword against their greatsword, their mighty physique against a mere commoner.¡± Isaac couldn¡¯t deny that. Reality had always been harsh toward him. ¡°Still, seeing you genuinely trying to win¡ª¡± Antonio pats Isaac on the back, saying he liked the look of it. His gesture is almost a silent show of support, and Isaac gives a tiny nod in return. **** Lately, Isaac had been devoting himself to sparring with Sharen. Clang! Sharen¡¯s greatsword slams into Isaac¡¯s Falchion with brute force. Isaac can feel the overwhelming gap in strength. And the main problem? Among Helmut¡¯s direct lineage, Sharen is one of the weaker ones. Other than the youngest, Edel, Sharen is basically the weakest in the family. ¡°Red River!¡± A red-and-pink-tinged aura flares around Sharen¡¯s greatsword. Isaac¡¯s eyes widen in alarm. He tries to block with Falchion, but¡ª He ends up knocked backward, sent briefly airborne, and then crashes to the ground. ¡°Ugh!¡± Thanks to a quick recovery roll, he isn¡¯t badly hurt, but Isaac winces nonetheless. It¡¯s not the pain. It¡¯s the cold reality that no matter what he does, he can¡¯t quite break through that gap in power. ¡°Isaac, you okay!?¡± Sharen rushes over in a panic, helping Isaac back to his feet with a worried expression. ¡°See, I told you let¡¯s not use Red River! You won¡¯t get any proper practice that way! I¡¯m not some nobody like Jonathan!¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re definitely different.¡± Very different indeed. Against Jonathan, Isaac had managed to gain the upper hand by using his knowledge of Helmut swordsmanship to think one step ahead. But now that a true direct descendant is wielding a blade, it¡¯s a whole different story. ¡°I¡¯m really just concerned for you. I even shout out my skill names on purpose so you can prepare, you know?¡± Sharen shrugs. Sure, warning Isaac in advance does help him react. ¡®Feels like she¡¯s just enjoying calling out skill names.¡¯ Isaac can¡¯t help suspecting that Sharen might be taking delight in announcing them. ¡°Even so, I have to keep going.¡± Dusting off the dirt clinging to his backside, Isaac insists on starting again. ¡°¡­You¡¯re not sparring with the other older brothers like this, right?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t exactly call what I did with them ¡®sparring.¡¯¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Cough-cough!¡± With an awkward cough, Sharen returns to her spot, and Isaac assumes they¡¯ll simply continue. But suddenly¡ª ¡°Ah-! Wait! Hang on a second! I have to go somewhere real quick!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± With that, Sharen dashes off somewhere in a hurry. *** ¡°Unni!¡± Behind the lodging house, at Sharen¡¯s excited call, Rihanna warns her to quiet down. She hands Sharen a towel and a water bottle. The towel was warm, and a faint aroma from the water bottle suggests it was tea, freshly brewed. ¡°Wow, thanks! But I haven¡¯t worked out enough to get all sweaty. It¡¯s so cold here that I barely break a sweat.¡± Sharen grins appreciatively, but Rihanna frowns and sets her straight. ¡°They¡¯re for Isaac. Not for you.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Sharen, about to open the water bottle for a sip, quietly seals it again. ¡°But I¡¯m your little sister¡­¡± ¡°More importantly, I saw your sparring just now.¡± ¡°Oh! How was it? My Red River looked pretty¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure what Isaac is really aiming for. The way he uses Falchion makes me think¡ª¡± For about ten minutes, Rihanna shares her observations on the sparring session, all of it basically advice about Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship. Sharen¡¯s expression grows more and more annoyed as she listens. ¡°It¡¯d be good if you summarize all that and pass it along, okay? Understood?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you just tell him yourself, Unni?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that, which is why I¡¯m telling you.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Sharen senses something is definitely off. Trying to shift the mood, she steers the conversation in a different direction. ¡°But you know, Unni, Isaac has a strange sort of¡­charm?¡± ¡°¡­What kind?¡± Rihanna bites immediately, intrigued, and Sharen beams as she explains what she feels. ¡°He¡¯s kind of pitiful and desperate at the same time? I mean, there¡¯s no way he can ever beat Red River, right? But he keeps fighting ¡¯til the end, and it¡¯s strangely thrilling!¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how else to say it¡­ It makes you want to take care of him somehow. Watching him try so hard to overcome everything is just¡­ kinda attractive!¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Unni, maybe that¡¯s why y¡ª¡± Bonk! **** ¡°Hey, what happened to your head?¡± ¡°Sniff¡­ I don¡¯t know!¡± Isaac points at the bump on Sharen¡¯s forehead, but she only grumbles in frustration. She said she had to step out for a moment, and now she¡¯s come back sporting that bump. ¡°Let¡¯s pick up where we left off.¡± Either way, Isaac had been racking his brain about how to counter Red River until Sharen returned. Hopeful his new theory might work this time, he moves to resume their sparring¡ª But Sharen suddenly cuts in. ¡°You pretend not to care, but you¡¯re actually hung up on Helmut¡¯s greatswords!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± It was a random accusation from Sharen. ¡°You¡¯re actually using Falchion, right? You don¡¯t even have the strength to swing a Helmut greatsword, so why obsess over it?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Helmut¡¯s greatsword is meant to overpower the opponent with raw force. Without that strength, there¡¯s no Helmut at all.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Trying to cram Helmut into your own style is only making your swordwork sloppy.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Forget Helmut. Just swing your own sword. You¡¯ve got enough talent to pull it off!¡± Sharen recites all of this smoothly, as if reading from a script, prompting Isaac to frown in curiosity. ¡°What made you think that?¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°You said I¡¯m trying to emulate Helmut. You must¡¯ve noticed something that made you think so.¡± Isaac is frankly surprised by Sharen¡¯s insight, so he answers her candidly. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s true. I may hate Helmut, but that doesn¡¯t mean I hate their swordsmanship. Quite the opposite¡ªmy admiration for Helmut¡¯s sword is probably what drove me to push myself so hard.¡± He wants to show them something, precisely because he admires their sword so much. ¡°I do look up to them. And I¡¯m trying to make that my own somehow¡­ I¡¯m just curious how you noticed those hints.¡± Isaac had been sure he kept his feelings hidden. How did Sharen figure it out? He stares at her, and she starts to tremble. Trying to keep her head from turning away, Sharen blurts out, ¡°You¡­ y-you can tell everything when you actually swing a sword! It¡¯s not about your head, but your heart!¡± Then she thrusts the warm towel and the water bottle at him. ¡°Don¡¯t catch a cold!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t catch a cold?¡± ¡°N-no! I mean¡­ be careful!¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Sharen turns on her heel, practically fleeing with her back to him. Isaac glances in the direction she just came from and sighs quietly. ¡°I had my suspicions, but still¡­¡± He recalls Sharen¡¯s first arrival at the Malidan Barrier. He¡¯d let it slide at the time, thinking it couldn¡¯t be. But he still vividly remembers that maid with her face tightly wrapped. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 29: Dinner ¡°Organize the parts you felt were lacking and let me know tomorrow.¡± Night had quietly crept in before they realized it. As Isaac spoke while sliding his sword back into its scabbard, Sharen blinked in a daze. ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yeah, you did pretty well earlier. What you pointed out was actually quite helpful.¡± ¡°Oh, right¡­ yeah, I did say something.¡± Sharen answered sheepishly. After all, what she¡¯d mentioned earlier was actually advice given by Rihanna, so it felt strange to be asked for more input. It made her feel a bit awkward, too. ¡°Do I really have to say it?¡± ¡°It¡¯d be great if you did. Why, does it feel too hard?¡± ¡°No, no! I can do it! Totally doable. I¡¯ll pick apart that sword you showed earlier like fish bones and bring you all my notes!¡± At Sharen pumping her fists with childlike excitement, Isaac let slip a faint smile. He wasn¡¯t really expecting anything groundbreaking from Sharen. Rather, he was hoping she might relay some input from the woman behind her. ¡®Facing my ex-wife directly for advice would¡¯ve been awkward.¡¯ In this way, Sharen became something of a carrier pigeon. Isaac intended to make use of her as long as he could. ¡°By the way, Isaac, you¡¯re going to eat dinner now, right? Want to go together?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve actually been invited somewhere for dinner tonight. So I can¡¯t join you.¡± ¡°Invited? Now? By who?¡± ¡°By the Margrave.¡± ¡°Uldiran Caldias?! Wait, why you?¡± ¡°Beats me.¡± Isaac gave a nonchalant answer, as if he were babysitting a child, but he also found it curious. Normally, he¡¯d just let it slide, but this was wartime, and the enemy hordes were closing in. An invitation to dinner under these circumstances¡­ it wasn¡¯t likely to be pleasant. ¡°Hey, Isaac, you don¡¯t think he¡¯s trying to get you to remarry or anything, right?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Startled by Sharen¡¯s sudden question, Isaac clamped his mouth shut. It felt like blurting out any old response might lead to disaster. After taking a breath, Isaac replied calmly: ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯m not. But why do you even ask? It¡¯s none of your concern.¡± ¡°I-I was just checking! I was worried maybe you¡¯d end up becoming Caldias¡¯s son-in-law or something!¡± ¡°Hah, Sharen. Since you don¡¯t know much about how things work here, let me make it very clear.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± He figured he should let this na?ve, sword-swinging tomboy know that this wasn¡¯t the same as back at the mansion. ¡°Don¡¯t go saying weird things outside. Rihanna and I are still husband and wife.¡± With that, Isaac showed her the ring on the ring finger of his left hand. ¡°See this? But you¡¯re out here talking about divorces and remarriages with the Caldias family. Saying stuff like that in public is dangerous.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°What would you do if someone overheard? Do you have any idea how many nobles from various houses are here?¡± ¡°Yes, I know.¡± ¡°How many?¡± ¡°¡­No clue.¡± ¡°Then you don¡¯t know anything.¡± Sharen looked up at Isaac blankly, then nodded before she even realized it. ¡°Y-yeah, you¡¯re right.¡± Sharen tilted her head, feeling like she¡¯d somehow been cornered in that conversation. Before she could collect herself, Isaac continued firing away. ¡°That¡¯s why you need to watch what you say, day or night. I¡¯ll be leaving Helmut in a month anyway, but what about you? You¡¯ll be staying, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Sharen nodded, then suddenly lifted her head with curiosity. ¡°Wait, are you worried about me?¡± ¡°What the¡ª? Haa¡­ believe whatever you want.¡± Kids around this age could throw the conversation off track at any moment. Deciding he couldn¡¯t keep up, Isaac gave up on any more thinking and set off for his dinner appointment. *** ¡°¡­..¡± This wasn¡¯t his first time being invited to dinner at the Caldias estate, so Isaac didn¡¯t think too much of it at first. They¡¯d known each other for quite some time now, and he figured there was no need for excessive formality or feeling burdened. ¡°Please, help yourself.¡± To his surprise, however, there was another woman at the table¡ªa presence that caught Isaac off guard. Her name was Seleny Caldias, Uldiran¡¯s wife and Silverna¡¯s mother. Her long white hair, her still-radiant beauty despite her age, and her ample chest all hinted at the source of Silverna¡¯s looks. ¡°Thank you for having me.¡± The meal was rather modest. For something called an ¡®invitation,¡¯ it wasn¡¯t all that fancy, comparable to what you¡¯d get in a soldiers¡¯ mess hall. ¡°Were you expecting some grand feast? Disappointed?¡± Across from him, Uldiran Caldias asked playfully, still holding his fork. ¡°If you had put on a lavish banquet in the middle of all this, that would¡¯ve disappointed me.¡± Isaac replied with a gentle smile, and Uldiran chuckled with approval. A Margrave hosting a decadent feast during wartime wouldn¡¯t have been the Caldias he knew. ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°My, Silverna. We have a guest, and all you¡¯re doing is concentrating on your food?¡± At her mother¡¯s remark, Silverna, who¡¯d been shoveling food into her mouth while staring down at her plate, flinched. She quickly grabbed her water and gulped it down before speaking. ¡°I¡ªI was just really hungry.¡± ¡°He¡¯s still in your unit, you know.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Silverna, who¡¯d been avoiding Isaac¡¯s gaze, glanced sideways at him. Her cheeks were flushed red with embarrassment as she awkwardly offered a comment: ¡°Hey, you. I told you to cut that hair of yours, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Were you serious?¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Of course I was.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll cut it later. The barbers up here in the North all want to make me look like a barbarian berserker.¡± ¡°You look so slender, they probably think you need a more rugged look.¡± Surprisingly, the conversation between the two flowed more smoothly than expected¡ªenough to make Silverna realize she¡¯d been acting overly dramatic about keeping her distance. Now that she understood her feelings and knew she had to give up on them, maybe she¡¯d overreacted. ¡°How about I cut it for you?¡± ¡°You know how to cut hair?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I? I¡¯ve taken plenty of heads off monsters.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°I could just use a spear instead of scissors, if that¡¯s alright?¡± As they continued their banter, Uldiran cut in: ¡°Isaac Helmut, Antonio suddenly came to see me today.¡± ¡°¡­Antonio-nim.¡± This was exactly the topic Isaac had expected for this dinner invitation¡ªthe most likely reason for it. ¡°He said he wants to make a sword out of Frostsilver Ore. And it¡¯s for you.¡± Isaac internally cursed Antonio¡¯s recklessness, but at least the Margrave brought it up first. Even mentioning Frostsilver Ore felt like a delicate matter for Isaac. ¡°I must have ignited his craftsman spirit. If he said anything disrespectful to you, allow me to apologize on his behalf.¡± ¡°Oh, he was certainly disrespectful. He barged into my office out of nowhere, demanding I hand it over.¡± ¡°Oh my, really?¡± That crazy blacksmith¡­ Isaac felt a cold sweat coming on, but the Caldias family didn¡¯t seem particularly upset. ¡°It¡¯s not the first time.¡± From Silverna¡¯s reaction, it sounded like Antonio had done similar things before. Uldiran simply chugged his beer, laughing uproariously. ¡°But this time was a bit different. Usually, he asks for the ore to create his own masterpiece. Now, he wants to make a sword for you, Isaac.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°He said he¡¯s always believed that Helmut was the greatest sword the gods had ever forged. But now, he wants to surpass it with a blade created by his own hands.¡± Under the table, Isaac briefly clenched his fist. ¡°He believes that thin sword he¡¯s going to make for you could defeat Helmut.¡± Isaac neither agreed nor denied. He simply sat there quietly, bearing the weight of those high expectations. ¡°Isaac Helmut.¡± Uldiran slowly released his grip on his beer mug. His expression hardened, any hint of inebriation gone from his eyes. ¡°Needless to say, I can¡¯t hand over Frostsilver Ore.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°It¡¯s not because you¡¯re from the Helmut family. Don¡¯t misunderstand.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand. I¡¯m sorry for causing you any trouble.¡± Uldiran said no further things simply taking another swig of beer to moisten his lips. ¡°But why must Isaac, who is already Helmut, surpass Helmut?¡± Seleny interjected naturally, cutting through the tense atmosphere with the perfect question. ¡°Uh, well, you could say it¡¯s a personal determination of mine.¡± Isaac responded with an awkward grin, trying to dodge the real reason¡ªhe couldn¡¯t exactly announce his impending divorce. Uldiran, however, jumped in again: ¡°It¡¯s because of the Sword Festival.¡± ¡°The Sword Festival?¡± Mother and daughter both turned their gazes on him. Uldiran smiled calmly, as if telling a story from the old days. ¡°It¡¯s an event in Helmut that happens every four years. Nobles from all over the kingdom are invited, and that¡¯s where the direct descendants of Helmut duel each other.¡± Uldiran smirked mischievously. ¡°Outside nobles can join, but most don¡¯t bother. There¡¯s no point; they¡¯d just get crushed by the Helmut anyway.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Uldiran let out an embarrassed laugh. ¡°I tried about twenty years ago. Lost to Arandel. Shame.¡± ¡°In that case, Isaac¨C.¡± Silverna¡¯s gaze landed on Isaac. ¡°I might be a son-in-law, but I¡¯m still the husband in that family. Not Rihanna, but I¡¯ll be the one entering. That¡¯s how it goes.¡± Isaac answered with a wry smile, causing Silverna¡¯s eyes to widen. ¡°So that¡¯s why you¡¯ve been sparring so much with Sharen lately?¡± ¡°You could say that.¡± Of course, the Sword Festival wasn¡¯t his only reason. Still, it was something he¡¯d have to face eventually. Isaac wanted to become a true swordsman, and sparring with the Helmut family was a rare opportunity. That alone drove him to train so hard. Especially because once he divorced a month from now, he¡¯d have no chance for those duels. ¡®I need to milk every opportunity while I can.¡¯ At least everyone seemed satisfied with that explanation. ¡°That¡¯s pretty romantic, isn¡¯t it?¡± Seleny said with a warm smile. ¡°Pardon?¡± Without meaning to, Isaac let out a flustered noise, and Seleny seemed to take it as him trying to hide his embarrassment. ¡°You¡¯re entering on your wife¡¯s behalf, after all. You¡¯re working hard so you won¡¯t tarnish her name, right?¡± ¡®That¡¯s not it at all.¡¯ Isaac forced an awkward smile as if his lips were cramping up. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s lovely. I wish my husband had that kind of romantic streak. Being dependable is great, but a man also needs a bit of romance.¡± ¡°Cough-cough!¡± Uldiran cleared his throat in embarrassment. ¡°Why don¡¯t I go get some fresh air?¡± Uldiran bolted right out of there. Seeing him leave, Seleny seemed more at ease. She straightened her posture and her eyes shone with curiosity. ¡°Hey, Isaac. If it¡¯s not too much trouble, could you tell me some of your romantic memories as a married couple? Everyone around here is always so stiff.¡± ¡°Mother?!¡± ¡°Haha¡­.¡± Silverna tried to stop her, but Seleny propped her chin on her hand, silencing her daughter in one swift motion. ¡°You need to hear these things, too. You take after your father so much that you have no interest in romance at all, do you?¡± Unable to rein in her mother¡¯s chatter, Silverna covered her face with both hands and lowered her head. ¡°How did you two first meet?¡± ¡°Our first meeting¡­.¡± Maybe it was the atmosphere pushing him along¡ªbefore Isaac realized, he was speaking without thinking. They¡¯d been married for four years. They wed a year after they met, so in total, they had known each other for five years. But if he counted his previous life as well¡ª That would make it around fifteen years in total. ¡°Under the warm sunlight¡ª¡± Surprisingly enough: ¡°It was a day when the river glowed golden.¡± He could recall that day so vividly. ¡°She was like a rose, so beautiful yet bristling with thorns.¡± Isaac felt himself drifting into memory. The image of Rihanna on the day they first met was as clear as ever. ¡®I want to cross the river.¡¯ She hadn¡¯t even bothered with a greeting. She simply made her request in a dry, matter-of-fact tone. ¡®One silver coin will do.¡¯ ¡®I don¡¯t have any on me.¡¯ ¡®That¡¯s unfortunate. I need that silver coin to row you across.¡¯ ¡®.¡­I¡¯ll pay you next time.¡¯ ¡®What reason do I have to trust that? Could you give me some kind of collateral?¡¯ ¡®All I have is this sword.¡¯ ¡®That looks a bit too heavy to be convenient.¡¯ ¡®¡­¡­¡¯ She stared at him blankly, her face entirely void of expression. Perhaps that was why he felt like teasing her a bit. ¡®How about one smile? I¡¯ll take that as collateral.¡¯ That day, Isaac had won quite a bit playing cards, so he¡¯d been in a generous mood¡ªgenerous enough to accept something so frivolous as payment. ¡®Are you kidding?¡¯ ¡®If you don¡¯t like it, there¡¯s nothing I can do. I¡¯ll just take a nap now.¡¯ ¡®t.Wait.¡¯ The rose-like woman let out a sigh, then lifted the corners of her mouth in the most awkward smile he¡¯d ever seen. ¡®Is¡­ that what you call smiling?¡¯ ¡®If that¡¯s not good enough, then I¡¯m out of ideas.¡¯ ¡®Haah. Alright then¡ªany chance you could make me laugh, instead?¡¯ Back then, he¡¯d taken a keen interest in her naive demeanor. Actually, she could have just drawn that massive sword and forced him to row her across, but she didn¡¯t. ¡®Long, long ago¡ª¡¯ She racked her brains and began telling a story. ¡®That¡¯s terribly boring.¡¯ It really was. The mood fell so flat you could practically hear it thud. ¡®¡­¡­¡¯ Rihanna clamped her mouth shut, clearly flustered, biting her lip in frustration. Maybe it was the sun¡­ or maybe her own embarrassment¡­ but her pale face turned bright red. She looked unbelievably charming that way. ¡®Haha!¡¯ He burst out laughing before he knew it, losing the silly bet he himself had suggested. ¡®You just¡­ laughed.¡¯ ¡®Oh. Guess I did.¡¯ Even though it felt like tripping over his own feet, Isaac didn¡¯t mind one bit and started rowing. Sitting on that tiny ferry, he watched her cradle her chin, soaking in the river breeze. He noticed her lips slowly curl upward¡­ And he distinctly remembered thinking: -I want to make this person smile again. ¡°Looking back, I guess you could say it was love at first sight.¡± Isaac ended his story with a bashful grin tugging at his lips. ¡°Well, whatever the situation may be now¡ª¡± Back then, at least, He must have truly loved her. **** After Isaac left, Seleny stopped by Silverna¡¯s room. ¡°Mother?¡± Silverna, who had been getting ready for bed, still wore a complicated expression. The story Isaac had shared over dinner had set her heart racing far more than she¡¯d expected. And at the same time, it had also made her chest ache more than she¡¯d anticipated. ¡°I hear you¡¯re in love with someone you¡¯re not supposed to be with.¡± ¡°Anna must have told you.¡± ¡°I only wanted to help you come to your senses a bit¡­ but it might¡¯ve hurt you more than I intended, so I thought I¡¯d check on you.¡± A sympathetic smile appeared on Seleny¡¯s face. Silverna, eyes wide, shook her head softly. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I think I can sort through my feelings now.¡± ¡°It was a more passionate story than I expected, but¡­ I have to admit, I¡¯m a little jealous.¡± Murmuring that people need a bit of romance, Seleny let out a gentle sigh. Silverna agreed inwardly. Initially, she¡¯d wondered what Isaac was doing married to someone like Rihanna. But hearing his recollection, it now felt obvious they had gotten married. Seleny stepped forward and embraced Silverna. ¡°Silverna, everyone goes through the pain of love at some point. I¡¯m sure this experience will help you find an even better love someday.¡± ¡°Mother¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m the one who should apologize.¡± Silverna admitted that it was her own fault for falling in love with a man she could never have. Seleny just held her tighter. ¡°Silverna.¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay. I¡¯ve learned my lesson. Next time I meet the right person, I won¡¯t let the opportunity pass me by. This time¡­ it was just too late.¡± At those words, Seleny offered a soft smile. She thought back to her younger years, boldly chasing after Uldiran Caldias until she got his attention. ¡°Yes, you really are my daughter. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll do just fine.¡± Still cradling Silverna in her arms, Seleny offered words of comfort. She was confident her daughter was strong. Yet suddenly, she remembered: ¡®¡­.¡¯ ¡®Well,¡¯ Isaac¡¯s last remark, ¡®Whatever the situation may be now.¡¯ It lingered in Seleny¡¯s mind, unsettling her more than she cared to admit. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 30: Laughter It was early dawn. Everything was quiet along the Malidan walls, shrouded in darkness. In the far corner, a gentle flame flickers to life like a match being struck. Standing in front of the smithy before starting the day¡¯s work, Antonio takes a drag of his morning smoke. As he recalls how he lashed out at the Margrave the previous day, he exhales a bitter puff of smoke. ¡°Figured it wouldn¡¯t work out, but it stings more than I expected.¡± A sword incarnate chosen by the gods. It¡¯s said he will defeat Helmut. To be the one who forges that very sword would be the pinnacle honor for any blacksmith. Not wanting to miss this opportunity, Antonio ponders a different approach. ¡°It¡¯s strange indeed.¡± His apprentices had been shocked when they first heard about it and tried to stop him. They said it made no sense to hand a man a sword¡ªsomeone who¡¯s shown virtually nothing to prove himself¡ªand expect him to defeat Helmut. Antonio hadn¡¯t really been able to refute them at the time. It was, after all, a gamble based on nothing but intuition. ¡®But I still want to give it a shot.¡¯ Even so, Antonio felt more drawn to Isaac than ever before. ¡®Vision.¡¯ ¡®That guy¡¯s got vision.¡¯ Acting as though he¡¯s certain of his distant future rather than the present. He has a deeper contemplation of the sword than others do, coupled with an oddly ferocious ambition. Antonio doesn¡¯t know where that drive comes from¡ªlike the sword-wielding ghost of someone who died unsung and unseen, it¡¯s downright desperate yet filled with grit. Of course, if grit alone could fell Helmut, anyone would have done it by now¡ª ¡°Antonio.¡± A hushed female voice cuts through the dawn air. ¡°Lady?¡± There, with her spear propped over her shoulder, stands Silverna. ¡°Are you heading out on duty?¡± When Antonio extinguishes his smoke and asks, Silverna gives a small shake of her head. ¡°No, there¡¯s something I wanted to ask.¡± ¡°Hmm? Me?¡± Silverna hesitates briefly before speaking carefully, as if wary of being overheard. ¡°Why are you so fixated on Isaac¡¯s sword?¡± ¡°Huh.¡± ¡°He¡¯s certainly improving, but not to the point where you¡¯d go so far as to use Frostsilver in forging a sword for him.¡± Indeed, Isaac was growing stronger. Before long, he¡¯d gained a high win rate sparring with the dispatched nobles; in terms of physical training, he¡¯d gone from near last place to a leading position. His progress was so rapid that many people felt spurred on by it. Still¡­ If you asked whether he was so remarkable as to deserve something like Frostsilver, the answer would be no. ¡°Haha.¡± Looking a bit regretful at having tossed away the rest of his smoke, Antonio clears his throat. ¡°You could say it¡¯s a new challenge. He wants a style of sword I¡¯ve never forged before.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°And he, too, is challenging himself. Maybe you could say it¡¯s not appropriate for my age, but I wanted to throw in at least one foot to join him in that challenge.¡± It¡¯s not the most compelling explanation, and Silverna realizes he hasn¡¯t laid out his reasons very well. But in truth, it resonates with her. She¡¯d asked him only because her own thoughts were similar, and she needed them sorted out. ¡°Antonio.¡± Having steeled herself, Silverna offers him her spear. ¡°Use this.¡± ¡°My lady?¡± Silverna¡¯s spear¡ª Forged from Frostsilver. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have you melt down the spear you made for me, but you can do that, right?¡± ¡°My lady, that¡¯s a pretty dangerous suggestion. Even so¡ª¡± ¡°Coming from the man who charged straight to the Margrave and picked a fight, that warning doesn¡¯t hold much weight.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Antonio falls silent. Hiding a small smile in the pre-dawn darkness, Silverna speaks up. ¡°Please.¡± Antonio senses that her emotions, concealed beneath the surface, aren¡¯t exactly the same as his own. He can¡¯t say a word in reply when faced with that unspoken tenderness¡ªhe can only accept her spear. ¡°Thank you.¡± With that, Silverna turns to leave, retracing the way she came. ¡®What a curious feeling.¡¯ Silverna takes stock of her own condition with refreshing honesty. She¡¯s just handed over her precious spear, yet she regrets only that she can¡¯t do more. This must be that feeling of tender affection¡ª This must be what it¡¯s like to have a one-sided love. ¡°Enough.¡± Smiling brightly, she glances skyward. Beyond the Malidan walls, the sun peeks out as though to praise her. ¡°Even if we can¡¯t walk together.¡± She decides to be grateful just to help him a little on his journey. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± To be content that the hand that moves forward holds a secret piece of her devotion. ¡°This is more than enough!¡± As if in response to her shout, the wind drifts past, brushing her hair. A new, refreshing day begins. **** ¡°Sharen.¡± ¡°Rihanna unnie?!¡± It was early in the morning. Sharen was startled to see Rihanna show up in her room. After learning Rihanna had been staying with the maids, Sharen had fretted about possibly losing her own room. Her shoulders twitch in worry. ¡°Wh-what is it?!¡± Paying no mind to Sharen, who¡¯s already spooked, Rihanna hands her a neatly folded envelope-like paper. ¡°This is my opinion on Isaac¡¯s sword.¡± ¡°Aha.¡± Relieved that her room was safe, Sharen took it. She considered opening it but decided to let it be for now. ¡°Sharen, I heard you¡¯ll be heading outside the fortress, just like the other scouting teams.¡± ¡°Huh? Right. It looks like the giants¡¯ assassination plans are starting to surface, so we¡¯ll be reassigned for full scouting duty.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Rihanna speaks in a voice laced with mixed emotions. She gently strokes Sharen¡¯s hair. ¡°Be careful out there, Sharen.¡± ¡°Huh, Rihanna-unnie?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to go, too, but I¡¯d stand out too much. It seems impossible.¡± ¡°Yeah, I guess so?¡± ¡°Please¡ªlook after Isaac.¡± Upon Rihanna request, Sharen nods vigorously, her eyes shining. ¡°Of course! Don¡¯t worry, unnie!¡± It¡¯s the first time Rihanna has asked her for anything, so Sharen answers with excitement. Seeing her like that, Rihanna feels a bit of her anxiety lift. ¡®Was she always this bright?¡¯ When they were in Helmut, Rihanna hadn¡¯t noticed¡ªshe¡¯d just thought of Sharen as a na?ve child who didn¡¯t know her place. Yet now, just a simple gesture like patting her on the head is enough to make her this happy. ¡°Sharen.¡± Rihanna decides to take it one step further. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been worried that using your Crimson Flame Strike makes your red river lose its color, right?¡± ¡°H-how did you know?!¡± Sharen¡¯s Red River would sometimes take on a plum-red hue, and that troubled her quite a bit. After all, in Helmut, Red River is supposed to be a bright, rose-like crimson. ¡°Don¡¯t get too hung up on it. That color will become your very own Red River.¡± ¡°B-but Father¡¯s Red River doesn¡¯t look like that at all.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not your father.¡± ¡°Well¡­ that¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Just let it flow naturally. Helmut¡¯s sword isn¡¯t about burying yourself in something or trying to become anything.¡± Helmut is¡­ Not someone who strives to be great¡ª But someone who cannot help being great. They don¡¯t forcibly try to do anything; rather, they put only what is uniquely theirs into the sword and let it blossom. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Don¡¯t lock yourself into a mold. Father¡­ that¡¯s why he won¡¯t acknowledge us.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Is that too complicated?¡± Sharen shakes her head. ¡°No, I got it! I¡¯ll try! Thanks, unnie!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Sharen cheerfully packs her sword. She looks upbeat, but Rihanna repeats the same warning she¡¯s given her many times before. ¡°And one more thing. You must never talk to anyone about Isaac or me. Not a single slip of the tongue.¡± ¡°I know, I know! You and Isaac both treat me like I¡¯m some idiot.¡± ¡®Why do I feel uneasy, though?¡¯ **** ¡°Today¡¯s going to be easy. We¡¯ve been through a lot, so they gave us a light assignment.¡± They stand in front of the rear ramparts leading toward the kingdom. While the front lines are locked in fierce battle, the rear is basically just a gateway¡ªpractically brand-new compared to the front. ¡°We just have to stop by a nearby village and collect a small tax.¡± Silverna says this with a smug grin. At her comment that they should keep performing their duties even during a great den, everyone tilts their heads in puzzlement. ¡°And¡­ why exactly are we doing that?¡± Sharen asks, hand raised. Silverna nods as though it¡¯s a fine question. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not truly about collecting taxes. Even if we do get some, it¡¯ll be just enough to grab a snack.¡± With her spear slung over her shoulder, Silverna chuckles. ¡°The real point is more like a morale-boosting patrol. Even with the great den looming, we¡¯re here to show the villagers we¡¯ve got things under control so they don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Ah, sounds kind of tedious.¡± ¡°You keep your mouth shut, got it? That¡¯s an order from your captain.¡± And just like that, Sharen has her right to speak summarily taken away. ¡°Anyway, we¡¯ll drop by the villages, reassure the town elders, and that¡¯s it. Since I¡¯m from Caldias, I do have some symbolic value, you know?¡± Having fought at the front lines for so long, this mission is practically a break for them. ¡°Alright then, let¡¯s get this done in one go today.¡± Silverna gestures to the horses they¡¯ve readied. Thus, Reconnaissance Team 5 steps away¡ªif only briefly¡ªfrom the raging battlefield they¡¯ve been immersed in. As everyone fastens their packs to their horses, Anna sidles up to Silverna. ¡°But, my lady¡ªwhere¡¯s the spear you normally use?¡± ¡°Oh? Umm, I left it behind. Figured I might as well get used to using other spears, too.¡± ¡°Huh? Really? That¡¯s unusual.¡± ¡°I doubt I¡¯ll be swinging a spear around today anyway.¡± Though Anna knows Silverna quite well, she couldn¡¯t possibly guess that her lady had allowed her prized spear to be melted down. ¡°Well, alright then.¡± Anna drops it, assuming it¡¯s nothing special. Meanwhile, the others mount their horses and chat casually. ¡°There were times like this in Helmut as well,¡± Jonathan says to Isaac with a smile, speaking from atop his horse. ¡°If bandits or beastfolk appeared in a nearby village, we¡¯d ride out to handle it.¡± ¡°Ah, right. We did.¡± At Isaac¡¯s vaguely troubled reply, Melodic jumps in to keep the conversation going. ¡°In Helmut, wouldn¡¯t bandits avoid the area entirely?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I expected, too, but these fools were so ignorant they didn¡¯t even realize they were in Helmut¡¯s territory.¡± ¡°Haha, well that¡¯s why they¡¯re stuck living the bandit life.¡± A very aristocratic-sounding remark. Well, everyone does live in their own world. One way or another, the group starts moving toward the nearby villages on horseback. **** Their first stop is Andes Village. Despite calling it the ¡°first,¡± it¡¯s actually the one farthest from the ramparts. They plan to visit the furthest village first and then loop back, visiting each in turn. ¡°¡­Ugh, my back¡¯s killing me.¡± On horseback, Isaac mutters while tapping his lower back. He¡¯s carrying no fewer than three swords at his waist. Two of them are test blades that break easily, hence he brought spares¡ªand the third is the Falchion for when all else fails. ¡°That¡¯s a lot of steel to haul around,¡± Anna says with a wry laugh, and Isaac can only grin bitterly. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll keep it this way until I get a real sword.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s hope Antonio works his magic soon.¡± ¡°At least this is lighter than a Helmut greatsword.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Anna looks curiously at Jonathan and Sharen¡¯s greatswords, likely wanting to try hefting them herself later. Up ahead, Silverna clears her throat to chime in. ¡°Ahem, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll finish it soon enough. Antonio is an incredible blacksmith.¡± ¡°It might still take a while, though.¡± ¡°No! Don¡¯t underestimate Antonio. He¡¯ll make something amazing, you¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Nobody¡¯s quite sure why Silverna is so certain, and she doesn¡¯t explain further¡ªshe just shrugs it off. Thus, Reconnaissance Team 5 arrives at Andes Village. ¡°¡­Dismount,¡± Silverna orders sharply the moment they enter. A ghastly stench assaults their nostrils. The sticky odor of layered, coagulated blood fills the air, and a swarm of flies buzzes overhead with a maddening drone. While the Malidan Barrier haven¡¯t actually seen huge numbers of casualties, the rot and maggots churning here are far worse than any battlefield stench. Weapons drawn, they cautiously venture in¡ªonly to find a heap of the villagers¡¯ bodies piled up. ¡°This happened recently,¡± Isaac observes. ¡°They carved out specific parts¡ªeyes, hands¡­¡± Anna adds, assessing the scene with chilling composure. Some in the group are shaking with rage or gagging at the horror. Then¡ª ¡°Keek.¡± They hear a strange sound from behind and turn. It¡¯s coming from one of their own party members. ¡°Kik, kikk¡­¡± Suddenly, a memory flits through Isaac¡¯s mind¡ªsomething a Helmut knight once said. [He¡¯s an unsettling man.] Isaac had figured they didn¡¯t like him just for being a junior knight or something, but Helmut¡¯s knights prized chivalry; they wouldn¡¯t badmouth someone for no reason. [We often travel to help nearby villages¡­] ¡°Kik, kikkik¡­¡± [And sometimes, unfortunately, we find scenes where the villagers have been caught in terrible violence.] ¡°Kik-kik¡­ Ah, ssk. Khh¡­ Krhhut!¡± [And every time¡ªespecially when there are a lot of victims¡ª] ¡°Ahhahaha! Huhhh! Ah, damn! Kuhahahahaha! hahahaha!¡± [¡ªhe looks at it¡­ and laughs, as if he¡¯s enjoying himself.] Isaac finds himself questioning if the man laughing before him is really that awkward, bumbling knight he traveled with¡ª Or even if he¡¯s really human at all. In the midst of this horror¡­ ¡°Kahahak! Huh! S-sorry¡ª! Ahahahahaha!¡± Though he clasps both hands over his mouth, he can¡¯t stop laughing, his face contorting like it might tear apart. It¡¯s not even that he¡¯s struggling to repress his laughter¡ª He¡¯s not forcing down an uncontrollable urge; It¡¯s a smile that comes to him naturally, shining bright. He¡¯s only trying to hide it, not stop it. ¡°Ssk¡­ hoo¡­ hoo¡­ pffft! Kihihik!¡± Even doubled over, face buried in his hands, Jonathan¡¯s spine-chilling laughter just will not end. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 31: Helmuts Knight Ugh! When the tip of Silverna¡¯s spear shaft struck Jonathan with a resounding thud! he collapsed onto the ground with a Thumb! and, covering his mouth, lifted his head. ¡°Whatever your reason is, I don¡¯t think I can tolerate this behavior right now.¡± There was a menacing aura. It was as if Silverna was desperately suppressing the instinct to swing her spear at once, gripping the shaft tightly. ¡°Hey! Cut it out!¡± When Sharen shouted in anger, Jonathan clamped both hands over his mouth. Still, his gaze remained fixed on the piles of corpses. An instinctual desire to take in as much of that gruesome sight as possible. Eventually¡ª ¡°You bastard¡ª!¡± Unable to hold back, Silverna hurled the spear shaft, striking Jonathan¡¯s temple. Thud! Jonathan was knocked out cold, but the unpleasant smile on his lips lingered as if frozen by the cold. ¡°What the hell is going on?!¡± Just dealing with the massacre of the Andes villagers was more than enough, and now Jonathan was causing a scene on top of it. It all gave Silverna a headache. She grasped her head and let out a long sigh before looking at Sharen. ¡°He¡¯s affiliated with Helmut, so keep an eye on him, Sharen. The rest of us will head inside and assess the situation.¡± ¡°Ah, got it!¡± With Jonathan pinned under one foot, Sharen stood guard. Meanwhile, the rest of the party moved toward the piles of corpses, with Isaac and Silverna at the forefront. ¡°Who on earth did something this insane¡­?¡± ¡°Just like Anna mentioned, there are traces of specific body parts having been carved out.¡± Due to the swarms of maggots, parasites, and flies, it wasn¡¯t entirely clear, but there were signs that particular parts like eyeballs or thumbs had been removed. ¡°Ugh.¡± Feeling queasy, Anna took a step back and began scouting the area around the village, while Melodic also kept some distance, remaining on guard. They did so because of what Isaac mentioned earlier: that these people hadn¡¯t been dead for very long. ¡°What could have motivated this? Organ trafficking?¡± ¡°Then they would¡¯ve kidnapped them instead. It doesn¡¯t make sense to take just eyes and fingers.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right¡­ Then what is it? Some kind of looting while torturing them for fun?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible.¡± Isaac gave the surroundings a quick once-over. ¡°But I doubt it.¡± Silverna, catching on immediately, bit her lip. ¡°The valuables are still here. So it wasn¡¯t looting.¡± Normally, if bandits had raided, they¡¯d strip the place of anything valuable until it looked like a fish carcass. But a glance around Andes Village revealed that while there were no people left, most belongings remained intact. ¡°Then it makes even less sense. What on earth happened?¡± Frustrated, Silverna pounded the ground with her spear shaft. She seemed unsettled by the mystery surrounding their deaths. ¡°Damn it, if we¡¯d only arrived a bit sooner, maybe we could¡¯ve saved them.¡± While listening to her dejected words, Isaac was silently piecing things together. He had his suspicions. ¡®It¡¯s a form of ritual.¡¯ The fact that they weren¡¯t bandits or organ smugglers, yet targeted specific body parts like that¡ª They weren¡¯t after the victims¡¯ wealth. They were using the people themselves as sacrifices. ¡®Seeing how they¡¯re stacked like this, it looks like they haven¡¯t even started yet. If someone¡¯s using human bodies for ritual, this isn¡¯t going to be ordinary.¡¯ Whatever it was, it had to be something more horrific than the spell that once afflicted Pollu. ¡®Wait a moment¡­¡¯ sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, Isaac had a thought. ¡®Did Pollu die in my past life?¡¯ He only learned about the Blackthorn family secret from Beombaek, the Transcendent, thanks to his own efforts. That led to Pollu joining Recon Team, and later to the incident where he was turned into a vessel by the ritual after being attacked by a yeti. ¡®In my past life, Pollu didn¡¯t die.¡¯ He was certain of that. If he assumed the massacre of Andes Village also hadn¡¯t happened in his past life¡ª ¡®The connecting factor between the two events is ritual.¡¯ Could the Transcendent who cast the spell on Pollu have come here? Did his death bring about some unforeseen change in events? A chill crawled up Isaac¡¯s spine. He placed his hand on the hilt of his blade. ¡°Silverna¡ª!¡± He turned urgently to call out to her when he spotted someone approaching from the foot of the mountain connected to the village. The air grew heavy. The crisp, innocent wind of the North suddenly felt vile and grimy, leaving an unpleasant stickiness in the throat. The person¡¯s long hair reached down to their ankles, and their clothing resembled that of a priest¡¯s. The book in their hand was so thick it looked difficult to hold with just one hand. His pale skin and the pair of horns growing from his head made it clear he wasn¡¯t human. ¡°That must be him, right?¡± Silverna was already looking in his direction. The others also seemed overwhelmed by his mere presence, swallowing hard in silence. ¡°Oooh.¡± If Beombaek was blatantly tiger-like for a Transcendent, this man resembled a devil from ancient myths. His teeth protruded beyond his lips, giving him a fierce look, yet his demeanor and speech seemed courteous, like a gentleman. ¡°Reconnaissance Team 5! I¡¯ve been so eager to meet you!¡± He even appeared to know quite a bit about Reconnaissance Team 5. ¡°You¡­ know us?¡± When Anna asked, the man smiled brightly. ¡°But of course. You put up quite a fight against my servant, didn¡¯t you? I poured quite a bit of effort into engraving those spells, you see.¡± Pressing the thick tome to his chest as though honoring Pollu, the man closed his eyes momentarily. ¡°It caught me by surprise when the spell on him activated at such an unplanned time. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve come all the way here.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡ª?¡± ¡°Oh, dear, forgive my tardy introduction! I am Nortemus! You could call me Pollu¡¯s master.¡± In his past life, Pollu had never died¡ª And that seemingly trivial change had summoned yet another catastrophe. ¡®This is bad.¡¯ Though his hand rested on his blade, Isaac hesitated whether drawing it would even help. Back when they faced Beombaek, they had hoped to escape to the Malidan Barrier, where Uldiran Caldias stood guard, and take their chances. But out here, they had no reinforcements capable of bringing down a Transcendent. ¡®Can we do this¡­?¡¯ No matter how much he thought about it, he reached the same conclusion: it was impossible. Even though Silverna had grown stronger, fighting a Transcendent adept in rituals was too tall an order. ¡°Hooh¡­¡± The man¡¯s gaze swept over them, still as calm as ever¡­ Since Nortemus was well aware of the gap in power between them, he maintained a relaxed demeanor. But then his gaze suddenly shifted toward a rather unexpected man. ¡°Helmut¡¯s young lady? I¡¯m sorry to bother you, but could you please remove your foot?¡± ¡°Huh? M-Me?¡± ¡°Yes, even a halfwit is precious to me if they¡¯re my kin.¡± Sharen glanced down at Jonathan in fluster at his request. Yet she didn¡¯t move her leg, perhaps unwilling to admit defeat. ¡°N-No way!¡± ¡°Haha, well this is quite a predicament.¡± Nortemus closed his eyes momentarily, then smiled serenely and made a proposal. ¡°How about this? Leave that compatriot behind, and I¡¯ll pretend I never saw you. You can also pretend you never saw me, and simply move on.¡± ¡°That¡¯s bullshit¡ª!¡± ¡°Watch your tongue, Caldias.¡± In a flash, the killing intent emanating from Nortemus bore down on Silverna, who had been struggling to rein in her temper. ¡°I don¡¯t want any interference. I¡¯m doing you the courtesy of letting you go. I¡¯d expect at least some gratitude instead of begging for your lives.¡± He was neither bluffing nor lying. The certainty that he could kill them all with ease was unmistakable. Once again, he turned from Silverna toward Sharen and offered a gentle smile. ¡°It must be you, my lady of Helmut, who complies with my request. Otherwise, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to kill all of your companions.¡± ¡°O-Okay¡­¡± Overwhelmed by his presence, Sharen carefully lifted her foot. Immediately, a black, viscous substance formed at Nortemus¡¯s fingertips. It polluted the air as it extended toward Jonathan, who was still unconscious. Then it drew him in, as if cradling him, until Jonathan came to rest by Nortemus¡¯s side. ¡°Even a halfwit is my kin.¡± As if he found Jonathan adorable, Nortemus stroked his cheek. In response, Jonathan¡¯s skin became splotchy and red, veins bulging up under the surface. ¡°And thus, our transaction is complete. Ah, what a wonderful day for all of us!¡± Raising both arms high, Nortemus beamed as he shouted: ¡°I¡¯ve regained a companion, and you¡¯ve all kept your lives! Truly a blessed moment. Let us praise the gods!¡± The thick tome in his hand fluttered in the wind. Watching him, Silverna discreetly spoke to Isaac beside her. ¡°If we fight¡­?¡± ¡°We die. No question.¡± He was more dangerous than Beombaek. ¡°Farewell, everyone. And especially you, my lady of Helmut¡ªI pray you remain safe and sound.¡± With a low bow, Nortemus extended his courteous farewell. Melodic and Anna both cautiously took a few steps back. But Silverna stood rooted in place. ¡°Hmm?¡± Because Isaac wasn¡¯t moving at all. ¡°You, whom I believed to be the wisest among them, are surprisingly stubborn?¡± Nortemus gave Isaac a gentle smile. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who just said fighting would be pointless?¡± So he¡¯d heard even the hushed conversation at this distance. Impressed once more by a Transcendent¡¯s heightened senses, Isaac replied: ¡°If we turn our backs, he¡¯ll kill us.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Nortemus¡¯s gaze grew icy. Gone was the gentlemanly air; he relaxed his shoulders and pressed the tome to his chest. ¡°How did you figure that out?¡± ¡°Transcendents never leave humans alive.¡± ¡°Hm, it seems you know a thing or two about us. But just as no two humans are exactly alike, neither are we.¡± ¡°That might be true,¡± but not this one. ¡°A nutcase like you isn¡¯t about to let us go gently on our merry way.¡± ¡°A ¡®nutcase¡¯? Have you ever seen one as courteous as me?¡± Even as his limbs stiffened from tension and cold, Isaac kept his wits and answered: ¡°You don¡¯t believe in a god at all.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°And yet you¡¯re dressed like a priest, carrying around that book as if it¡¯s a holy scripture. Anyone pretending to be a divine messenger without actual faith is either a lunatic or a con artist.¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ hehe-hehe.¡± Nortemus tilted his head side to side, letting out an unsettling laugh. ¡°Quite.¡± His piercing gaze fixed on Isaac. ¡°You¡¯re quite perceptive.¡± His voice, now lowered, was like the opening chords of an orchestra. It was clear something was about to begin. The atmosphere weighed heavy. ¡°Guh¡­ grugh!¡± With a pained groan, Jonathan stirred. Black lines of unknown origin spidered across his skin, and his sclera darkened, merging with the pupil until his eyes were a solid black. ¡°Oh, my fellow kin.¡± Nortemus beamed, greeting Jonathan warmly. ¡°How does it feel to see the world anew? My kin, I¡¯ve prepared a ritual for you to sever your ties with humankind!¡± Placing the tome to his chest and with the other hand gesturing elegantly toward Reconnaissance Team 5, he looked like a waiter showing guests to their table. ¡°Indulge yourself. Take them. Prove that you are one of us!¡± At his words, Jonathan lifted his greatsword. His once-normal teeth elongated with a grating crack, making him resemble a vampire straight out of a legend. ¡°Come! Let us defy this world together, my kin¡ª!¡± Puuuk! His greatsword pierced through the thick tome, rising toward the sky. Dark red blood dripped from its tip. Impaled together with the book, Nortemus turned his head with a creak, glaring at Jonathan. ¡°M-My¡­ kin¡­!¡± ¡°I am¡ª¡± Tears glistened in Jonathan¡¯s blackened eyes. ¡°¡­not your kin.¡± ¡°My kin!¡± ¡°No¡ªI¡¯m not.¡± Almost sobbing, Jonathan trembled violently as he muttered: ¡°I am a proud and noble¡­ knight of Helmut.¡± At those words, Nortemus¡¯s face twisted into a hideous grimace. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 32: Nortemus Jonathan spent his childhood in a city church that also served as an orphanage. His friends were, similarly, the other orphans who lived in the church. Among them, he was a timid boy who always trailed at the back. - Hey, you little shit! Bark! - Bring me some shit from the sewer! Let me feed it to you! Messing with the local stray dog. With no money and no parents, this was the most outlandish ¡°game¡± those orphan friends could come up with. ¡®I¡¯m different.¡¯ Even as a child, Jonathan felt a sense of superiority when he looked at them. He took pride in following the nun¡¯s teachings not to torment the dog, believing this made him the most mature among them. Then came a day that shook him to his core. -Aaaaaaa! Aaaaaaa! -Crazy! Tom got bitten! Maybe they had stepped on its tail. The local stray dog clamped its jaws around the neck of Tom, one of the boys. It happened in a flash. Tom, who had been a friend, collapsed in tears, clutching his neck as blood gushed out. Terrified, the other children ran off to find the nun. However, unlike the others, Jonathan remained right where he was. ¡®Kik.¡¯ Watching his friend get mauled by a dog, young Jonathan realized something. ¡®Kikkkk.¡¯ He wasn¡¯t mature at all. If anything, he was worse than the rest of them. ¡®Kikkkkkiki.¡¯ That day, he redefined himself. ¡®I¡¯m different.¡¯ He was a bit removed from the typical emotions of a normal person. For several years afterward, Jonathan worked hard to hide his true nature. But every night, Tom¡¯s final moments appeared in his dreams¡ªsweet and tempting as a succubus. Eventually, Jonathan started going out at night. His so-called ¡°night outings¡± were nothing fancy. He went to the city¡¯s entertainment district. That place was rowdy every single day. People got into fights over bumping shoulders, drinking too much, or pursuing women. It wasn¡¯t uncommon for these brawls to escalate into knife fights. That night was no different. Sneaking out of the church in the wee hours, S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jonathan prowled the streets like a hyena starving for the smell of blood. That was when he overheard a group of drunks bemoaning something. You hear? There¡¯s a flock of man-eating crows roaming around these parts. They¡¯re saying everyone¡¯s panicking trying to hunt them down. Haah, my son¡¯s in the city guard, so I¡¯m worried. In that instant, Jonathan felt a rush course through his body. Man-eating crows were magical beasts about the size of a person. ¡®People will die.¡¯ And lots of them, too. Just imagining it gave him a thrill and delight he had never experienced before. It felt like the time had come to say goodbye to Tom, to whom he still felt indebted. After all, from now on, the scenes of carnage created by those man-eating crows would fill his dreams. A few days later, before Jonathan even needed to go looking, a flock of man-eating crows soared over the city walls and into town. -Jonathan?! Tearing himself from the nun¡¯s grasp, Jonathan ran outside the church. The stench of blood was in the air. Seeing the familiar streets splashed with gore and entrails like fresh paint made Jonathan feel a gut-wrenching rush. ¡®Kii!¡¯ A laugh escaped him. ¡®Hahahahaha!¡¯ He never imagined he could feel something like this. It was ecstasy. It was elation. It was pure pleasure. Jonathan! Jonathan! But there was a terrified voice from behind¡ªit was the nun who had raised him all his life. Yet in an act of betrayal, Jonathan stretched out his arms, letting her sobs serve as his rhapsody. Tears brimmed with conviction. ¡®Ah, I¡ª.¡¯ This is how he will live. Wearing a human face, But not as a human. ¡®I will live like th¡ª.; Kwoong! A dark mass in the sky parted in two. It was the flock of man-eating crows, beaten back as they fluttered helplessly down to the earth. There was a red sword aura. People called it rose-colored, but in truth¡ª It was closer to the color of blood. ¡®¡­¡­.¡­¡­.¡¯ Striding casually down the boulevard was a man with crimson hair billowing behind him, gripping a massive greatsword. His name was Arandel. Arandel Helmut. He was the master of the great and glorious Helmut. ¡®Ah.¡¯ Before Jonathan realized it, the piles of corpses all around him had faded from his sight. In place of the lingering stench of blood, a subtle rose scent hung in the air. ¡®Aah¡ª!¡¯ It took just a single sword strike. And countless foes were swept aside. But it wasn¡¯t merely the monsters that he cut down. He severed the tragedy that had befallen the city. He cut away the death that crept in during peaceful times. He sliced through the chaos that the crows had brought. And finally¡ª He cut away the life of Jonathan that was on the verge of ruin. In doing so, ¡®O mighty Helmut¡ª!¡¯ Jonathan¡¯s life changed completely. **** ¡°My kin! Nooooo¡± Black tears streamed down his cheeks. Jonathan shouted at the top of his lungs, desperation leaking through every syllable. ¡°How can you betray us? My kin! Don¡¯t deny the blood that runs in your veins!¡± Nortemus let out a wail of sorrow. But Jonathan was unfazed as he bared his teeth in response. ¡°I am! A knight of Helmut¡ª!¡± ¡°A mere knight?! Your blood isn¡¯t Helmut¡¯s! Don¡¯t fool yourself, My kin!¡± ¡°What¡ªwhat does that matter?!¡± Like an unwavering greatsword, Jonathan¡¯s resolve stood firm. ¡°This unbelievable strength of will¡­!¡± There was but one reason he refused to yield to Nortemus¡¯s temptation. That vivid shock he had felt that day, And the symbol of Helmut still etched in his mind. That was because Nortemus could not deliver a shock greater than that day¡¯s. ¡°My kin! How can you deny yourself?! Denying your own instincts is the same as labeling our very existence evil!¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± He wanted to answer, but no words came out. The black smoke billowing from Nortemus¡¯ entire body forced its way into Jonathan¡¯s mouth, sealing off his teeth and tongue. However¡ª ¡°Get a grip, will you.¡± A reply came from the opposite side of Jonathan. A slash sliced through the air, crisp and clear like a crescent moon. ¡°What¡ª?!¡± Pshuuuk! Nortemus¡¯s right arm dropped to the ground. Veins popped in his eyes as blood spurted everywhere, leaving him gasping for breath. ¡°Haah!¡± It was Isaac¡¯s blade that, in a flash, cleaved through Nortemus¡¯s elbow. Kwaduk! Then, in an instant, a spear tore through the air and impaled Nortemus¡¯s abdomen. With the spear lodged beneath the greatsword, he spat blood in lieu of words. Standing with her throwing stance still intact, Silverna glared at Nortemus. She was partially hidden from view by the greatsword, but Nortemus clearly understood what had just happened, and he howled in rage. ¡°Kkhaaaargh! You¡­ all of you¡ª!¡± No one was about to hear him out. Isaac moved faster than anyone, grabbing his blade in a reverse grip and driving it straight into Nortemus¡¯ side. Puuuk! ¡°Guh¡ª! Kuheeehk!¡± Nortemus tried to scream, but only coughed up blood, unable to form proper words. Still, Isaac did not stop there. He drew back again, preparing to strike once more. Two swords remained at his waist. Skipping over his Falchion, Isaac reached for his longsword, eyes tracing the path he intended to move. Once he draws his blade from its sheath, the end is already decided. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± They call it Geohap*. A crimson line appeared across Nortemus¡¯ pale neck. At some point, the tip of Isaac¡¯s sword had passed by. Blood spurted up, too sudden for Nortemus to so much as scream. Grabbing his nearly severed neck with his left hand, Nortemus glared, murderous, at Isaac. ¡°Puaaack!¡± Whatever had happened to his nerves, even as his head dangled, Nortemus opened his mouth and spewed more black smoke. [Listen well. It¡¯s not something you can learn so easily.] ¡®But why are you telling me that when I can¡¯t even use my legs?¡¯ [Even if you beg me to show you again, I won¡¯t¡ªso keep that in mind. ] Isaac felt as though he could almost hear his old master¡¯s scolding in his ears as he scrambled backward. ¡°I should¡¯ve paid closer attention.¡± This was the perfect chance to finish him off. Puuuk! Silverna¡¯s spear reacted to her aura and yanked itself free. Jonathan, seizing the gap Isaac had created, pulled back as if fleeing the scene. Even with a greatsword embedded in his heart¡ªalong with a thick book¡ªhis abdomen pierced by a spear, his right arm severed and rolling on the floor, and his neck hanging by a thread¡ª ¡°You¡¯re still not dead?¡± Nortemus remained on his feet, glaring daggers at them. ¡°Kkeuh¡­ ugh!¡± Choking in agony, Nortemus struggled to breathe. Now, as his attention shifted from Jonathan to Isaac, he shouted in fury. ¡°How dare you imitate¡ªour sword technique!¡± Isaac did not reply. It wasn¡¯t worth responding to. ¡°Haa¡­ haa¡­¡± Moments ago, Isaac¡¯s blade had lopped off a good portion of Nortemus¡¯ long hair, which now floated away on the breeze. He was nothing short of a walking corpse. From where the greatsword lodged in his body, black smoke began to roil and spill out in all directions. ¡°Trying to run away?¡± Silverna swept her spear in a wide arc, imbued with aura. A strong gust blasted forth like a sword wind, scattering the smoke. But once the smoke cleared, Nortemus was gone¡ªonly to reappear elsewhere. ¡°Haaak! Haaak!¡± He materialized by the pile of corpses of the townspeople. ¡°Stop him!¡± Even before Isaac could shout, Sharen, who was standing nearby, had already swung her greatsword. With the signature reflexes of Helmut, she charged the instant she spotted Nortemus. A red glow coalesced on her greatsword. Like water splashing from a bucket onto the ground, her blade unleashed a wave of crimson flames. ¡°Grrrk!¡± Nortemus sacrificed his remaining left hand to block the attack. That hand was mangled into a pulp of flesh. In the end¡ª Deprived of both hands, a greatsword still lodged in his heart, Nortemus continued belching black smoke. ¡°My kin¡ª!¡± Sharen lifted her greatsword for another strike. ¡°Forgive me for not staying with you until the very end!¡± To finish the job Isaac had left undone and sever his neck completely, she swung the greatsword along the same trajectory once more¡ª ¡°Farewell!¡± Swish! Nortemus¡¯s head flew off. His severed head spun through the air and fell among the pile of corpses. The black smoke once gushing from his heart scattered under the force of Sharen¡¯s blade. ¡°We did it!¡± Sharen shouted with a bright smile. But at that moment¡ª All the swirling black smoke began condensing toward the mound of corpses containing Nortemus. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Geohap (??) - It roughly translates to the art of drawing the sword and striking in one fluid motion often associated with Iaido in Japanese. Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 33: Blood Rose Beauty ¡°Huh?¡± Caught off guard, Sharen looks at Isaac with a bewildered expression, unsure of what to do. But the situation wasn¡¯t so leisurely. Black smoke began rising from between the piles of corpses, soon warping into something strange. If one had to compare it to anything, it would be like a shadow. Shadows deprived of their owners slowly began to rise one by one, letting out shrieks. Kkaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Their voices poured out in a wave, like a chorus. And among them stood a being that possessed the largest shadow. Even its shadow still had its head dangling loosely, and it was the only one among them with eyes and fingers. The moment his finger pointed precisely at Isaac¡ª The shadows charged forward like a surging wave. ¡°Everyone!¡± Sensing the gravity of the situation, Anna rushed over on horseback, having been ready to flee. Everyone quickly mounted their own horses and raced out of the village. ¡°What the heck are those things?!¡± Asked Silverna, but Isaac had no answer. Even though he had witnessed countless scenes in his past life, it wasn¡¯t easy to come across the Transcendent¡¯s rituals. Following the massive, head-lolling shadow, the subservient shadows poured out of the village. ¡°They¡¯re¡­ not as fast as I expected?¡± Just as Melodic, who kept glancing back anxiously, had noted. They weren¡¯t actually moving all that fast; they just floundered after them. Still, the ominous sight of them polluting everything around them like a swamp as they advanced was horrifyingly oppressive. ¡°Running away seems simple enough, but¡ª¡± Isaac trailed off. If they returned straight to the Malidan Barrier like this, the nearby villages would be swept away by the subservient shadows. Should that happen, the number of shadows might become even larger. ¡°Let¡¯s stop them.¡± In the end, Silverna reined in her horse. ¡°We have to stop them. We can¡¯t afford to lose any more people.¡± ¡°I agree, but ¡­¡± He understood her sentiment, yet they had to be rational. ¡°Jonathan isn¡¯t doing well.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m fine¡­!¡± Jonathan was sweating profusely. Though his eye color was returning to normal and the dark patterns on his skin were fading, he still didn¡¯t look well. During the Pollu incident, Silverna had nearly lost her cool and got badly burned. Even in the midst of this infuriating situation¡ªthe Andes Village Massacre¡ªshe remained cold and composed in her directive. ¡°Melodic, go with Jonathan to the Malidan Barrier and request reinforcements.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°But I¡ª!¡± ¡°Jonathan, that¡¯s an order. We don¡¯t have time.¡± Struck by Silverna¡¯s short, commanding statement, Jonathan couldn¡¯t protest further. ¡°Anna, head for the nearby villages and evacuate the residents. Since they know us well, they¡¯ll follow you right away.¡± ¡°Yes, My Lady.¡± Without delay, Anna spurred her horse toward the village. Time was of the essence, and one could hear the urgency in her haste. ¡°Isaac and Sharen, you two stay with me and lure those things. Let¡¯s stall them as long as we can.¡± Following her orders, everyone split up, leaving three behind. ¡°Haah! Haah!¡± Seemingly nervous, Sharen took a long breath and gripped her greatsword firmly. ¡°Isaac, do you have any thoughts?¡± Silverna candidly asked Isaac for advice. Eyeing the pursuing subservient shadows, Isaac recalled what had just happened and nodded. ¡°Rituals are a lot like magic. There¡¯s a cause-and-effect pattern to it, so to speak.¡± Mages utilize mana. From magic circles or incantations, one can get a rough idea of what magic they¡¯re about to cast. Rituals were no different. ¡°Those shadows are likely the village residents. The largest shadow should be Nortemus.¡± ¡°Considering his head¡¯s hanging loose, the ritual must¡¯ve triggered at the moment of his death, right?¡± Isaac nodded and added, ¡°The corpses were all missing eyes and fingers.¡± And it was still the same now. Only Nortemus¡¯s shadow had glowing eyes and a pointing finger aimed at Isaac. No eyes, so they cannot see. No fingers, so they cannot point. All they could do was follow¡ªthe damaged army of the dead. ¡°So if we just deal with Nortemus¡­?¡± ¡°They won¡¯t be able to attack with intent like this anymore.¡± Isaac¡¯s words seemed quite convincing. Yet at the same time, they raised a question for Silverna. ¡°You seem to know more than you let on last time when you explained the Transcendents.¡± During the previous raid by Beombaek, Isaac had given Caldias a brief explanation about the Transcendents. But now, seeing how extensive his knowledge truly was, Silverna furrowed her brow a bit. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll explain later.¡± Isaac forced a bitter smile. Now wasn¡¯t the time to delve deeper. With eyes wide, Sharen glanced back and forth between the two, then cautiously pointed at the subservient shadows. ¡°But can we even cut those things?¡± They were following them because they were being pointed at, that much was clear. But it wasn¡¯t like they could just herd them around forever. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Neither Isaac nor Silverna could give a clear answer, both wearing troubled expressions. ¡°Wait and see.¡± Raising her spear once more, Silverna took aim. She couldn¡¯t steady herself too well while still mounted, yet she hurled her spear fiercely at Nortemus¡¯s shadow. Like passing through a cloud, it caused no impact and merely went right through. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± All three of them fell silent at once. They had an enemy that polluted everything around them and kept advancing, one they couldn¡¯t even strike. Slow as they were, if they couldn¡¯t be stopped, defeat was inevitable. ¡°Maybe we should call a mage.¡± While retrieving her spear with her aura, Silverna pulled it back. Quaddukduk! Shadows caught in the wake of the spear as it was reeled in with aura were impaled, losing their form and vanishing. ¡°Huh?!¡± A gasp escaped Silverna¡¯s lips as she grabbed the spear. They could cut them if they used aura. That meant there was a chance at victory. Right when she was about to shout as much¡ª ¡°¡­But, Isaac.¡± Sharen casts a sidelong glance at Isaac and asks, ¡°Can you use Red Aura?¡± Unintentionally, Silverna also turns to look at Isaac. ¡°Sniff.¡± He has nothing much to say in response. It¡¯s just that it¡¯s cold and windy, and he sniffed once. But somehow, that made him feel strangely miserable. ¡°Want me to teach you Red Aura later?¡± ¡°Aura isn¡¯t everything.¡± Hearing both of them try to console him in that odd way, Isaac feels a strange twinge of emotion and simply closes his mouth. Aura?Aura? S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, his conversation with the Grand Master comes to mind. [ Even without such a thing, it poses no inconvenience. ] ¡®But there must be times when it¡¯s needed.¡¯ [ There never were. ] ¡®Could it be¡­ you can¡¯t use it?¡¯ [ How would you feel if I asked you whether you can¡¯t use your legs? ] ¡®¡­¡­¡¯ [...Go away.] Aura is important. Most knights can wield aura, and certain families possess their own unique form of it. Such as the Red Aura of Helmut. ¡°We should¡¯ve sent Isaac back with Jonathan.¡± It¡¯s unfair, but it¡¯s not exactly wrong. Because Melodic can use aura. ¡°But you know¡­¡± Sharen again carefully opens her mouth, pointing at Nortemus¡¯s shadow. ¡°Isn¡¯t that thing pointing at Isaac?¡± She¡¯s asking whether the fingertip aimed at them actually stops at Isaac. To test the theory, Isaac lightly steers his horse to the side¡ªand sure enough, Nortemus¡¯s hand shifts subtly, following him. ¡°¡­.¡± He had become a walking lure. **** ¡°Miss?¡± In the Malidan Barrier, Rihanna was gazing up at the sky, and Sharen¡¯s maid Kelsey called out to her cautiously. ¡°You don¡¯t look too happy.¡± ¡°Can you see my face?¡± She was practically covered up¡ªmask, headband, the works. She was not being sarcastic; Rihanna was genuinely curious, and Kelsey replied with a soft smile. ¡°I¡¯ve spent as much time with Miss Sharen as I have watched over you, Miss Rihanna.¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± She doesn¡¯t have any particular comment. Looking up at the stark white sky, Rihanna mutters under her breath. ¡°Something murky is riding on the wind.¡± ¡°Huh? But the air feels really fresh.¡± Kelsey took a long sniff through her nose. But Rihanna responded calmly, ¡°Something¡¯s¡­ ominous.¡± Knowing every aspect of the Helmut lineage¡¯s physiology, Kelsey couldn¡¯t help but share in Rihanna¡¯s unease once she mentioned it. ¡°But Miss Sharen only has a minor rear-position duty today. She won¡¯t be in danger, right?¡± ¡°She¡¯d better not be.¡± Even so, Rihanna¡¯s gaze is fixed on the rear side of the wall. That¡¯s because the wind is blowing from that direction. At that moment¡ª They hear an uproar coming from the rear ramparts. Soldiers are scurrying about, their heavy footsteps echoing urgently from all sides. ¡°Something¡­ feels off.¡± Perhaps it was because of Rihanna¡¯s earlier remark; Kelsey grew increasingly anxious. She worries if Sharen might have run into trouble. As a soldier rushes toward the inner fort to deliver a report, Rihanna abruptly seizes his wrist. ¡°Aagh!¡± Startled by her startling grip, the soldier looks at Rihanna in alarm. ¡°W-What are you doing?!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why is everything so chaotic?¡± Though she¡¯s dressed like a maid, her aura compels the soldier to submit. Feeling the crushing grip on his wrist and sensing her edge, he blurts out, ¡°Th-The reconnaissance squad has encountered an unknown beast. One village was destroyed, and part of the squad returned with serious injuries.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Rihanna turns her gaze toward the wall. Her red eyes catch sight of Jonathan being rushed off in critical condition. ¡°P-Please let go!¡± At the soldier¡¯s exclamation, Rihanna slackens her grip in a hollow gesture. The moment he flees to deliver his report¡ª Rihanna tears off her mask and headband with a rough motion. The northern wind carries the fragrance of roses. At the moment her crimson hair flutters free, everyone around her looks on as if bewitched. The Blood Rose Beauty of House Helmut. It was the moment when Rihanna Helmut descended upon the Malidan Barrier. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 34: Proposal At the gates. Rihanna stood there, her face void of emotion as she stared at the soldiers blocking her path. Her gaze was colder than the northern winds, causing the soldiers to shrink back and huddle closer together. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even with their ranks tightened, it still feels as if a fierce wind is blowing right through them. They finally receive salvation from that indescribably sharp pressure when¡ª ¡°Ha.¡± ¡ªthe guardian deity of Malidan appears: Uldiran Caldias. ¡°Such a grand place for such a shabby guest,¡± Uldiran remarks. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Even Uldiran¡¯s teasing provoked no visible reaction from Rihanna. It might appear that Caldias was provoking her out of nowhere, but in truth, Rihanna¡¯s mere presence here was a grave discourtesy to him. ¡°The daughter of Helmut greets the Margrave.¡± Rihanna observed the proper etiquette as she spoke. Her voice and expression stayed calm, yet to those watching, there was a hint of urgency beneath it all. ¡°You must have heard how dire the situation is, my lord.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± ¡°Please allow me to go. Rihanna Helmut, in the name of Helmut, will handle it.¡± ¡°Denied.¡± He cuts off Rihanna¡¯s plea like a blade. ¡°Sorry, Helmut, but you¡¯ll have to head to the underground prison right now. I need to find out why you¡¯re even here¡ªand if this turns truly serious¡­¡± He trailed off. ¡°...remember a military tribunal could be waiting for you.¡± The already heavy atmosphere grew even more oppressive. ¡°Carrying on with that ¡®Helmut¡¯ name might work in that grand mansion of yours, but not here,¡± Uldiran added, aiming his spear at Rihanna¡¯s neck. It was so close that one thrust could end her life. Her scarlet eyes met Uldiran¡¯s unflinchingly. ¡°I will take responsibility for stirring up the front lines. But we must first resolve this incident¡ªsurely that¡¯s the right thing to do.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not for a criminal to decide.¡± ¡°Margrave, forgive me for saying so, but I am Helmut. I can reach that place faster than anyone else here and settle this matter.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°If we¡¯re too late, even the nearby townspeople could be endangered. Please, let me go.¡± ¡°Helmut truly has trouble listening.¡± Uldiran clicked his tongue. Despite Rihanna¡¯s appeal, the tip of his spear didn¡¯t waver in the slightest. ¡°This isn¡¯t for a criminal to meddle in. Helmut, you should worry more about what excuses you¡¯ll use to save your skin once you¡¯re in prison.¡± Rihanna took a moment, controlling her breath. Little by little, her icy composure began to melt away. ¡°Margrave¡­¡± Her voice trembled, but not from fear of the spear at her throat. She feared what might happen beyond the barrier if she arrives too late. ¡°Please, I beg of you.¡± Not as Helmut, But as Rihanna. She slowly goes down on one knee and bows her head. ¡°Please¡­ allow me to go save my husband.¡± A hush fell, so profound it snuffed out even the northern wind. The image of the eldest daughter of Helmut kneeling before Caldias would be retold for ages to come. ¡°And who exactly are you, standing before me now?¡± Uldiran asked, frowning. One might expect him to gloat, but he only knits his brows. ¡°Just Rihanna. The wife of Isaac.¡± Hearing her response, a broad smile spreads across Uldiran¡¯s face. He chuckled heartily, letting out a puff of air like a jovial old man. ¡°Looks like I misunderstood all this time. I was dealing with someone who isn¡¯t really Helmut¡¯s eldest daughter at all.¡± He laughed, shaking his head in disbelief and covering his forehead with his palm. ¡°My wife always says, ¡®Those northerners have no sense of romance.¡¯ And honestly, I never saw the point¡­ but¡ª¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Maybe there is something to learn from your brand of romance.¡± Instead of pressing his heavy spear down upon Rihanna as she kneels, Uldiran lifts it toward the sky. ¡°Open the gates! A wife goes to greet her husband!¡± **** ¡°Graaaah!¡± The crimson aura flickering around the greatsword fades, prompting Sharen to shout frantically as she turns to flee. ¡°This is really too much now!¡± A sticky, black puddle of shadows spreads behind Sharen. These shadow minions keep expanding, greedily claiming every inch of unoccupied ground as if in a game of territory. Wherever they go, no light touches¡ªa world where the sun has gone dark. Silverna, holding them off head-on, was also reaching her limit. -Clench. Teeth clenched, she sweeps her spear enveloped in a white aura. It howls through the air like a raging storm¡ª But slicing through the darkness is like slicing through water. The shadows retreat for a brief moment, only to surge back into place again. ¡®It¡¯s not enough.¡¯ She feels it painfully in her bones: her aura alone can¡¯t hold them back. To be fair, Sharen¡¯s crimson aura is more effective than her own in this situation. ¡®Why am I¡­ so powerless¡­?¡¯ Though she¡¯s forcing every last drop of aura out, achieving breakthroughs here and there, it¡¯s a cruel twist of fate that it happens at this moment. ¡®Enlightenment always comes too late.¡¯ Her insides feel twisted and knotted. No one would dare blame Silverna. But she still blames herself, for that¡¯s just who she is. ¡®If only I had trained harder with my aura¡ª!¡¯ ¡°Silverna!¡± A cry breaks through her chaotic thoughts. She turns to Isaac, who¡¯s calling her name. ¡°Don¡¯t get lost in your emotions!¡± ¡°¡­!¡± It feels like being hit on the back of her head with a club. ¡®I almost made the same mistake again.¡¯ Just like with the yeti incident, she¡¯d nearly lost her composure to her emotions and neglected her logical judgment. If Isaac hadn¡¯t noticed and called out, she would¡¯ve kept swinging her spear until the darkness swallowed her. ¡®You¡­ truly¡­¡¯ ¡®¡­see right through me.¡¯ To anyone else, she¡¯d simply be swinging a spear. But to Isaac, he perceives something deeper. It¡¯s too much to brush off as mere insight. A tight warmth wells up in Silverna¡¯s chest. He, too, Is living proof that Silverna¡¯s moments of realization always lag just a step behind. ¡°Retreat!¡± With a tug on the reins, Silverna turns to lead a withdrawal. They¡¯ve held out long enough that reinforcements should be on their way from Malidan Barrier. Once they rendezvous, they can devise another plan. Following Shadows, they swim behind them like creatures in a vast, murky puddle. From the very start in Andes Village, all they pass becomes tainted. Nortemus¡¯ shadow still fixed itself on Isaac. ¡°Think we can stop it?¡± ¡°We just need to break through the shadow minions protecting Nortemus. That¡¯ll be enough.¡± They¡¯d gather aura-users to carve a path and strike it down. After all, Nortemus was the root of it all. ¡°Yeah, seems that way.¡± ¡°Haah! Haah!¡± Silverna and Sharen both looked drained. They¡¯d pushed themselves to the brink, and Isaac couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of pain, seeing them like that. ¡®How is this any different from when my leg was injured?¡¯ He was frustrated. Even so, Isaac tucked that feeling deep inside his chest¡ª To keep moving forward. ¡°Huh?¡± Just then, a subtle yet intoxicating scent drifted in on the wind. Silverna found it strange and was momentarily taken aback, But Isaac and Sharen straightened their backs, gripping the reins tighter. From atop their speeding warhorses, they cast their gazes into the distance. There stood a lone woman, holding a greatsword. Her crimson hair fluttered in the wind, and an intensely vivid red aura burst forth from her entire body. ¡°Wow,¡± said Sharen, who shared her family blood. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Meanwhile, Silverna, their peer, felt the difference in power. And as for Isaac¡ª ¡°Ha¡­¡± It struck him as oddly amusing. In his tumultuous life, he remembered a day that he could never forget. It was like this then, too. A sudden breeze carrying the scent of roses¡ª [Let¡¯s get married.] She had proposed out of nowhere. **** [Let¡¯s get married.] Funnily enough, Rihanna thought how similar that day was to now. She had come to find Isaac, No context, no grand gesture, no hint of romance. She simply proposed. ¡°Unnieeee!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it, Rihanna Helmut.¡± She gave no reply to the two women on horseback who passed her by, greeting her in haste. At last, After seeing Isaac ride on ahead, Rihanna hefted her greatsword high. The white bandages wrapped around the blade unraveled under the force of her crimson aura¡ª A fierce, scarlet power that scattered in all directions, too much for the blade alone to contain. It was the kind of strike Rihanna thought she would never be able to unleash again. A blow for the ages. [Pardon?] ¡®Let¡¯s get married.¡¯ Perhaps she was just imitating some roaming mercenary? The twig that Isaac had been chewing on dropped from his mouth, leaving him dumbfounded. [Isn¡¯t that a bit sudden?] ¡®Is it?¡¯ [Yes. Normally, you¡¯d set the mood before proposing.] ¡®Wasn¡¯t the mood decent enough?¡¯ [We didn¡¯t even say hello to each other today.] She felt a bit wronged. Because every time she look at him, No matter when or where, -¡®I always feel like the mood is perfect.¡¯ Was it just her? ¡®You don¡¯t like it?¡¯ Trying to hide her anxiety, she asked. He answered with a casual drawl, [Ah, no, it¡¯s not that I dislike it.] ¡®Good.¡¯ [But¡­ won¡¯t this be troublesome for you?] ¡®Why would it be?¡¯ She thought he might be referring to their families, but he wasn¡¯t. [I¡¯m the one who rows your boat.] [Without me, how do you plan on crossing this river?] Looking back, she knew¡ª He was just embarrassed, trying to prolong the conversation. ¡®Right.¡¯ Her answer then was what it is now. Raising her greatsword high, up toward the sky, Toward that sunset river tinted red¡ª ¡®I want you.¡¯ She swung the most fervent strike of her life. Everything before her eyes ¡­Began to split apart. **** The world of shadows was cleaved in two. Exactly like that river, the day it was cut in half. She had once hidden her smile amidst a downpour of rain and river water, Awkwardly declaring there was no need for anyone to row her boat anymore. Such a silly statement¡ª Yet one he found so endearing, so utterly lovable. ¡®Maybe¡­¡¯ No¡ªsurely, ¡®This is why I can¡¯t put down my sword.¡¯ Because the memory of that proposal still lingers. ¡°This is¡­ unreal.¡± ¡°Wh-what¡ªhow was Unnie that strong?!¡± With just a single swing¡ª Darkness retreated, and light poured in. Stunned speechless, the two looked on with jaws dropped. Seeing the same reaction he had once given himself, he only smiled softly. ¡°I told you,¡± he said, Still smiling, ¡°That river can be split.¡± ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 35: The Night of Memories Like bringing down the final curtain on a stage. As the sunset faded, night fell upon them like the darkness behind a drawn curtain. The Malidan Barrier had been abuzz due to the sudden appearance of Rihanna Helmut, but¡ª Once the great den began its assault on the barricade, everyone seemed to forget it had ever happened. ¡°Today was really tough. Get some good rest.¡± Excluding Jonathan, who remained bedridden in the infirmary, Reconnaissance Team 5 prepared to wrap up their day. From the front barricade, the monstrous roars of beasts and the urgent shouts of soldiers could still be heard. ¡°...Shouldn¡¯t we go help them?¡± ¡°Resting is helping them. If we¡¯re tired, we can¡¯t buy any rest time for those who are fighting now.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°If you look at the scale of the assault, it¡¯s not all that large. They can handle it.¡± Reassured by Sharen¡¯s comment, Anna added more detail. Finally, Silverna fixed her gaze on the red-haired woman standing next to Isaac. ¡°And Rihanna Helmut.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I appreciate the help, but starting tomorrow, you¡¯ll be interrogated. Why you disguised yourself as a maid, why you were hiding until now¡ªthings like that.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Seeing how calmly she accepted it, Silverna scratched her head and added: ¡°On the other hand, it means you get to rest easy for today.¡± It was a small gift to Rihanna from the Caldias Family. ¡°Make sure you prepare for that. That¡¯s all.¡± Just as Silverna turned to leave, she hesitated for a moment before speaking candidly. ¡°Really¡­ thank you for today. Because of you, a lot of people were saved.¡± It hurt her pride to admit it, but knowing the nearby residents were spared any harm¡ª To Silverna, that mattered most, so she expressed her genuine gratitude. ¡°Anna! Let¡¯s go get a drink! I need at least one glass!¡± ¡°Huh?! Right now?¡± Watching Silverna head toward the soldiers¡¯ tavern inside the castle, Anna turned to Isaac before following. ¡°I¡¯ll send over some bedding.¡± ¡°Bedding?¡± Her comment seemed sudden, and Anna flashed a mischievous smile before whispering. ¡°She can¡¯t stay in the maid¡¯s quarters anymore, right? Giving a separate room to someone who might end up in a cell tomorrow after interrogation would look strange, so obviously you¡¯ll have to share.¡± ¡°...Me?¡± When Isaac asked blankly, Anna looked flustered and replied: ¡°Yes, you¡¯re married, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ right.¡± ¡°...¡± As Isaac responded hesitantly, Rihanna puffed her cheeks for just a moment before her expression went back to normal. It happened so fast that no one else even noticed. ¡°Just so you know, the soundproofing in there isn¡¯t great.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Anna! Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Coming!¡± As the two left, Isaac and Rihanna said nothing. **** Creak. Thump. The door closed. Both of them entered the room. The fatigue of the day pressed down heavily. But instead of finding relief, the tension only grew. ¡°...¡± ¡°...¡± They stood by the door, staring awkwardly at one another. A strained silence filled the air. They had once been close¡ªno, the closest two people could be. But at some point, being together had become this uncomfortable. ¡®Maybe that¡¯s what time does to you.¡¯ The involuntary ways in which people change¡ªperhaps that¡¯s what they call the passage of time. ¡°This.¡± Since Rihanna wasn¡¯t one for words, Isaac spoke first, handing her a small note. It was the note she¡¯d asked Sharen to deliver that morning, containing Rihanna¡¯s observations on Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship. ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°You knew it was me?¡± ¡°Pretty much. The Sharen I know wouldn¡¯t be able to analyze the structure of swordsmanship so thoroughly.¡± Also, Sharen had done a terrible job of hiding it. It was as if she hadn¡¯t intended to conceal anything at all. ¡°Isaac¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡± ¡°...¡± Rihanna tried to call him, but Isaac cut her off, so she closed her mouth again. He glanced at her briefly, but seeing her avert her gaze, he simply left the room. Thirty minutes passed. They took turns bathing. While Rihanna was out washing up, Isaac continued writing about swords¡ª Detailing his impressions of Rihanna¡¯s swordsmanship from earlier and how he might counter some of her moves. ¡°...Isaac.¡± Her voice startled him, and he jumped up. Somehow, she had returned already, wearing a clean, white negligee¡ªlikely her sleepwear. ¡°W-when did you come in?¡± ¡°Your surroundings disappear when you focus. That hasn¡¯t changed.¡± Did Rihanna just smile? If she did, it passed so quickly that Isaac couldn¡¯t be sure. Clearing his throat at the awkwardness, Isaac closed his notebook and looked at her. Rihanna also faced him, her cheeks slightly flushed. ¡°Sit down for a bit.¡± When he gestured to the bed, Rihanna hesitantly perched on the edge. Recalling how her face stiffened whenever she was nervous¡ªhe¡¯d mentioned this before¡ªshe pressed her cheeks with her palms, trying to ease the tension. ¡°Can you tell me why you came here? I heard from others that the family head sent Sharen as well.¡± It was time to get down to business. In response to Isaac¡¯s question, Rihanna lowered her hands from her cheeks, speaking cautiously. ¡°I thought you might be in danger.¡± ¡°Because this is the front line? That¡¯s obvious.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the only reason¡ª¡± She tried to say something but stopped, or rather, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to continue. ¡°...¡± ¡°...¡± Silence descended on them once more. It was a silence they¡¯d grown accustomed to. ¡°So you came to protect me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Having listened to the whole story, Isaac nodded and replied. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t find your reason all that convincing, Rihanna.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I feel like we¡¯ve come too far for me to be moved or thankful.¡± ¡°That¡¯s understandable.¡± ¡°I know exactly what kind of woman you are, so I realize you¡¯re not doing this because you expect something in return.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°So, there¡¯s nothing else behind this?¡± Likewise, Rihanna wasn¡¯t here to shamelessly ask him to revoke the divorce or love her again. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­¡± After pausing for a moment, Rihanna fidgeted with her folded hands and confessed: ¡°I just didn¡¯t want you to leave here hurt.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°So that even after you leave our family, you can go on living well.¡± Like the time he rowed across the water by himself, long ago. When Isaac stared intently at Rihanna, she dropped her gaze as if embarrassed and hurriedly continued: ¡°I¡¯m also investigating the circumstances of the accident that happened on our wedding anniversary. We¡¯ve been busy with the Sword Festival, but still, I¡¯m trying my best¡ª¡± ¡°It was Alois.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± At those words, Rihanna stiffened. Slowly lifting her head, she looked at Isaac and asked: ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°It was Alois, the third son of House Helmut¡ªhe¡¯s the culprit.¡± Rihanna, who looked like a figure in a painting, asked quietly: ¡°Why would Alois do that to you?¡± ¡°Go ask him yourself.¡± ¡°¡­All right.¡± A calm exhale escaped Rihanna, her expression resolute. It seemed she intended to confront Alois as soon as she returned home. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Silence descended between them once again. Isaac spoke, trying to gauge her reaction: ¡°You believe me?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I mean, he¡¯s your younger brother. I¡¯m¡­ just a husband who¡¯s about to leave. Why trust me?¡± At Isaac¡¯s question, wondering why she¡¯d believe a man who wouldn¡¯t be around much longer, Rihanna merely looked puzzled. ¡°Why would you lie about that?¡± Her response was so matter-of-fact that Isaac stammered for a moment but then forced down his emotions. ¡°Hoo.¡± Drawing a long breath, Rihanna tightened her fists as if making up her mind. ¡°Isaac, since we¡¯re already talking about family, there¡¯s something I want to say.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to apologize?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Her hesitation was clear, and Isaac gave a gentle smile and shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ apologize?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not necessary.¡± Even though only about a month has passed in this world¡ª ¡°It feels like the time to accept an apology has already passed.¡± For him, it was something that had happened ten years ago¡ª He had neither the desire to dredge it up nor to accept an apology for it. ¡°I¡¯m not inclined to accept it, either.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°There was a time when I wondered why you left me alone. I was curious about that.¡± But not anymore. ¡°I don¡¯t even want to know about House Helmut¡¯s family issues anymore.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Whether you had a reason for ignoring me¡ª¡± Slowly, Isaac rose from his seat and stepped toward Rihanna. He crouched in front of her, meeting her eyes on the same level. ¡°I¡¯m sure you did. I mean, you came all the way to the front lines for me, so obviously a bunch of misunderstandings got tangled up between us.¡± Seeing the tears welling up in her eyes, he gently wiped them away with his hand. Rihanna closed her eyes, letting herself feel his touch. ¡°But, Rihanna¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but¡­¡± Isaac¡¯s voice was firm. ¡°I don¡¯t even want to hear that much.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You might justify yourself, and maybe I¡¯d feel like forgiving you. And if that happened, I¡¯d end up going back to House Helmut.¡± No matter what¡ª ¡°I don¡¯t want that.¡± However, there was at least one small bit of solace. ¡°What I¡¯m grateful for¡ª¡± He¡¯d thought about it many times. Why, even after ten years, did Rihanna keep wearing that ring until the moment she died? The answer was simple, but accepting it was hard. ¡°That¡­ we¡ª¡± But seeing Rihanna before him now, Isaac didn¡¯t want to deny at least this: ¡°That you never once regretted the fact that we loved each other.¡± He offered a gentle smile and took her hand. In Rihanna¡¯s eyes, emotion swirled. Tears pooled again and trickled down her cheeks as she parted her dry lips. ¡°You¡­ you don¡¯t regret¡­ loving me?¡± Her voice trembled painfully. In response to Rihanna¡¯s desolate question, Isaac quietly replied, ¡°I¡¯ve hated you before, I¡¯ve resented you many times¡ª¡± So many times he¡¯d lost count. ¡°But I¡¯ve never regretted the days when I loved you.¡± Because¡ª Those memories were brilliant. Even in the pitch-black halls of House Helmut, they were bright enough to light the way for him. ¡°Ugh¡­ I¡­ too¡­¡± Tears spilling down her face, Rihanna nodded. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I felt the same, Isaac.¡± There wasn¡¯t much time left until the Sword Festival. It could be delayed a bit because of the great den, but in Isaac¡¯s memory, the festival proceeded without a hitch. Back then, he hadn¡¯t attended and just stayed in his room, but anyway¡ªwhen the time came, everything would be settled. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± Rihanna swallowed back her tears, trying to steady her breathing. Seeing that, Isaac began to pull his hand away, only for her to grab it tight as if refusing to let go. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Ah, Isaac.¡± Her face was red¡ªwhether from crying or embarrassment, he wasn¡¯t sure. As he looked down at her, Rihanna hesitated, then spoke in a whisper. ¡°Hold me.¡± ¡°Rihanna?¡± It was an abrupt request, but her tone was unexpectedly serious. ¡°Please. Even if it¡¯s just for one night, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not expecting you to take responsibility. You can treat me like someone you use and throw away in a pleasure quarter¡ªjust this once, one more time¡­¡± Back then¡ª Like on our wedding night¡ª Hold me, just like that¡­ **** In her room, Sharen ought to be fast asleep after using up her powers today. Yet, she tossed and turned, unable to drift off. ¡°Oh, what do I do?!¡± Kicking her blanket off, heaving sighs, Sharen was on the verge of tears. ¡°Unni is going to kill meee!¡± Knock, knock. Mid-squirm, she heard knocking at her door. ¡°W-who is it?¡± Nobody should be visiting at such an hour. Startled, Sharen sat up in bed and carefully opened the door. ¡°Unni?¡± There stood Rihanna. ¡°Wh-why are you here?! Didn¡¯t you go to stay with Isaac?¡± The fact that Rihanna was here made Sharen stammer in disbelief. But Rihanna, who seemed too upset to notice anything, sobbed as she replied: ¡°I¡ªI got k¡ª¡± ¡°K¡­?¡± ¡°Kicked out.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 36: The Drinking Party Bang! ¡°Phew!¡± While Isaac and Rihanna were taking turns showering, Silverna was busy downing beers at the tavern set up for the soldiers inside the castle. ¡°What is this? Why does it taste so good today?¡± ¡°Miss, you said you were tired.¡± Anna, who was keeping Silverna company, sighed but still ordered another glass of beer. Even though she was worried, she understood Silverna well enough not to outright ban her from drinking. ¡°Hey, barkeep, did you mix honey in here tonight?¡± ¡°How could I afford to put something that expensive in beer, miss?¡± ¡°Seriously, why is it so tasty?¡± ¡®She¡¯s already getting tipsy.¡¯ Silverna leaned over the table and let out a long sigh. Anna had decided, at least for tonight, to hear her out, every last grumble she spilled from those reddened cheeks. ¡®Maybe this is for the best.¡¯ She knew Silverna was still hanging on¡ªthose kinds of feelings don¡¯t just vanish so easily. If it were something simple, she wouldn¡¯t have struggled so much in the first place. But now that Rihanna Helmut was here¡­ This was a good chance to cut off those lingering emotions once and for all. ¡°My father used to say, ¡®If life is bitter, then liquor tastes sweet.¡¯ Is that why it¡¯s so good tonight?¡± ¡°You just wanted to say that line, so you¡¯ve been going on about how sweet it is, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Silverna silently lifted her empty beer mug, but realizing it was already drained, she set it back down with a disappointed smack of her lips. Just then, the beer Anna ordered arrived, and Silverna started gulping it down like water. ¡°It¡¯s all right, miss.¡± Anna patted her back, trying to console her. ¡°You were never going to get anywhere with that man, right? It¡¯s better to have clarity like this than to torture yourself for nothing.¡± ¡°You make it sound so simple!¡± ¡®She¡¯s definitely drunk.¡¯ If she were her usual self, Silverna would¡¯ve just brushed it off to keep her pride. ¡°Anna, have you ever felt like this? Tell me! Have you?!¡± ¡°Why are you picking a fight with me?! And for your information, I¡¯m a romance expert!¡± Silverna¡¯s jaw practically dropped. ¡°What?! You¡¯ve been in a relationship? But you¡¯re always complaining about being busy cleaning up after me¡ªso you¡¯ve been doing all that behind my back?!¡± ¡°No matter how busy I get, I still maintain my personal life. You told me to do that yourself, remember?¡± ¡°I told you to have a private life, not secretly go around sucking face behind my back!¡± Thud! Silverna slammed her beer mug on the table. The tavern owner froze in place but, not wanting to meddle, acted like he¡¯d seen nothing. ¡°Sucking face? Do you have to put it so crudely¡­?¡± ¡°Crude? You¡¯re the crude one, Anna!¡± This was crazy. If she weren¡¯t her mistress, Anna might have smacked her upside the head right then and there. ¡°Huu¡­ Anyway, I haven¡¯t actually dated anyone.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°You know¡­romance novels? The merchant I¡¯m friendly with in the capital gets them for me. I¡¯ve just read a lot of them.¡± Anna scratched her cheek, looking embarrassed, and Silverna let out a little snort. ¡°Seriously? And you call yourself an expert? You¡¯re no different than me.¡± ¡°At least I¡¯m not pining after a married man.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Silverna clamped her mouth shut. Seeing her face start to crumple, Anna hurriedly patted her shoulder again. ¡°Oh, come on! I¡¯m sorry. I guess that was harsh. Don¡¯t take it to heart. I just got carried away.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine¡­¡± Silverna shook her head, steeling herself with a determined look. ¡°Go on, tell me more.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°I need to really understand what a bad idea this was¡ªso lay it on me.¡± ¡°¡­Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure.¡± Despite the drunken haze, the sincerity in Silverna¡¯s voice made Anna pause before speaking up. ¡°To be honest¡­¡± Gulp. ¡°They looked amazing together.¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Silverna clutched her chest. Hearing something that rang true was more painful than any outlandish remark. ¡°They¡¯re like a perfect couple, you know? It¡¯s like the gods destined them to be together.¡± Cackle. ¡°They were quite famous in high society for a while, right? A love that transcended their statuses¡ªHelmut nobility and a commoner¡­ It stood out even more because of that, and with both of them being so gorgeous¡­¡± Anna snuck a glance at Silverna. ¡°You really can¡¯t wedge yourself between them.¡± Silverna gritted her teeth so hard that her breathing slipped through the gaps. She guzzled her beer, shoving down whatever she¡¯d wanted to say. Seeing them like that only proved how crazy she must have been. And it made her worry about one more thing¡­ ¡°Hey, Anna.¡± ¡°Should I stop?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that.¡± Silverna beckoned Anna closer to whisper in her ear. ¡°¡­Are you out of your mind?¡± Anna stiffened in shock as she heard what Silverna said. ¡°You¡¯re going to melt down your spear? That spear? And give it as a gift?¡± Silverna¡¯s spear, forged from the rare frostsilver Ore¡ªan iconic mineral representing Caldias. A one-of-a-kind weapon. And she was planning to melt it down and craft some new weapon to give to the Helmut family¡¯s ¡®son-in-law¡¯? ¡°W-Well¡­ Isaac is putting in so much effort. I thought I should at least help a little¡­¡± Silverna wriggled her fingers and mumbled timidly. Anna smacked herself on the forehead, groaning in a voice of utter despair. ¡°By now, they¡¯ve probably already started working on it, right?¡± ¡°P-Probably.¡± ¡°And if we go now and ask them to stop, they won¡¯t return it, right?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± ¡°Right¡­ He is the same person who marched straight up to the Margrave and kicked up a fuss. He won¡¯t just hand it back.¡± ¡°Wh-What do I do? Maybe I can just hand it over casually? It won¡¯t look too weird, right?¡± ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t find that weird? A sword forged from Frostsilver Ore, crafted by Caldias, being handed over to Helmut.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°And his wife is right there next to him! This is basically a declaration of war!¡± Silverna clutched her face with both hands. ¡°I¡¯m an idiot.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re¡ª¡± ¡°Anna¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re worse than an idiot. Go bigger.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Unable to hold back, Anna suddenly sprang up and started smacking Silverna on the back. ¡°How could you? Even the most thoughtless person wouldn¡¯t do this! And you go around claiming it¡¯s pure devotion! Saying how you¡¯ve moved on from your regrets¡ªoh, it just makes me angrier!¡± ¡°Ack! Ack!Anna! I¡¯m a noble!¡± ¡°Fire me then! Go ahead and fire me! Ugh, I¡¯m ready to quit so I don¡¯t have to worry anymore!¡± After going at it for a while, Anna plopped back into her seat, nodding as though she¡¯d made up her mind. ¡°There¡¯s only one way now.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You have to be the one using that weapon.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all we¡¯ve got. This is a good chance to try a different weapon instead of your spear.¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Silverna let out a sigh, thinking how ridiculous it was, bandanna¡ªwho wasn¡¯t entirely serious¡ªwas about to drop the subject when: ¡°By the way¡­¡± She suddenly remembered what Nortemus had mentioned today. ¡°He said that after seeing Isaac¡¯s sword, the Transcendants claimed it as part of their swordsmanship, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°He¡¯d never even seen a saber before, and he seemed very knowledgeable about the Transcendants.¡± ¡°And about the rituals, too?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why, starting tomorrow, I¡¯m going to be investigating Rihanna. Father said so.¡± Of course, when she said ¡°investigate,¡± she meant the sort of conversation where the two of them would likely answer questions without trying to hide much. Given that everything here more or less ran by Uldiran¡¯s discretion, it shouldn¡¯t turn into a major issue. Just then¡ª Thud! The door swung open, and in came a girl with pigtails. ¡°Barkeep! Hit me with something strong!¡± ¡°Oh dear¡­¡± It was Sharen Helmut and her maid, Kelsey¡ªlooking completely out of place in the tavern. Seeing as only Silverna and Anna were there, they obviously caught her eye. ¡°Huh?¡± Naturally, Sharen made a beeline for their table, taking a seat with them. ¡°You really are out here drinking, huh?¡± Silverna let out a hollow laugh as she watched Sharen sit down as if it were the most normal thing in the world. Though they¡¯d started off pretty hostile toward each other, fighting side by side on the battlefield turned them into little more than comrades. ¡°Do you even drink?¡± She only asked because Sharen looked like she¡¯d prefer sweets. But Sharen shrugged as she answered: ¡°I love booze!¡± With that, she exchanged a few words with the tavern owner, then started whipping something up herself. ¡°Kelsey here makes fantastic drinks. They taste great with snacks!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Silverna thought she might ask for a glass, and before she knew it, Kelsey brought one over. A faintly reddish liquid¡ªnothing like beer. Sharen took a sip and beamed. ¡°Mmm! This is delicious! I think I might get drunk quick, considering how exhausting today was!¡± ¡°¡­Could I have a sip?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Sharen pouted her lips in a pretend show of stinginess, but then she pushed the glass toward Silverna so she could take a small taste. Silverna took a little sip. ¡®¡­This is orange juice?¡¯ Confused, she glanced at Kelsey standing behind Sharen. Kelsey just smiled gently, pressing a finger to her lips. Orange juice and snacks. Well, that combination did make sense. There was a slight tang, but it clearly wasn¡¯t alcoholic. ¡°Tasty, right? Kelsey makes it by mixing orange concentrate, kind of like how you¡¯d make wine!¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s good.¡± Silverna subtly returned the glass. Feeling her mind clear a bit, she let out a small sigh and asked: ¡°So, why are you here?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m stressed! It¡¯s so annoying when people treat me like an idiot!¡± Sharen gulped down her ¡°drink,¡± raising her voice. She apparently thought she was actually getting drunk. ¡°What¡¯s bothering you?¡± The sudden intrusion wasn¡¯t so bad. It kept them from discussing Silverna¡¯s one-sided love too much. ¡°It¡¯s Isaac and unnie! They keep telling me the same things over and over¡ªlike they think I¡¯m stupid! That pisses me off!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I mean, why would I go around announcing they¡¯re getting divorced? They keep telling me over and over to keep it hush-hush, which is making them look like the dumb ones! It¡¯s driving me nuts!¡± ¡°Uh, my lady!?¡± Kelsey, who¡¯d been standing behind Sharen, jumped in, panicked. Even though she didn¡¯t know about the divorce, it was obvious to anyone that this was a huge slip of the tongue. ¡°What? I¡ª¡± Sharen, who was about to take another sip, froze in place. Her red eyes flicked around, catching the expressions on the other two¡¯s faces. They were both staring, mouths agape. Rattle. Rattle! ¡°I¡¯m drunk! Very drunk! I¡¯ll be leaving now! See you tomorrow!¡± Sharen shot to her feet, stumbling out in a fluster. ¡°W-What do I do? Unnie is going to kill me! What do I do?! Kelsey, help meeeee!¡± Her frantic voice echoed as she fled the scene. The two left behind at the tavern table were silent for a long while. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 37: Marital Quarrel ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Two red-haired sisters lie side by side on a bed. Despite being siblings, they had never once lain together like this, so an air of awkwardness lingered between them. Perhaps the only time they¡¯d ever been in such a position was when Sharen got knocked out in a spar and collapsed on the ground¡ªif that even counts as ¡°lying together.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Gulp. Particularly, Sharen was extremely tense, thanks to the slip of the tongue she¡¯d made to Silverna at the tavern. ¡®What do I do? She doesn¡¯t seem to know yet. Should I say something now and ask for forgiveness? Is that even the right thing to do?¡¯ Should she confess now? Would it be better to wait? ¡®But if I get beaten here, I might really die without anyone noticing!¡¯ After all, it was just the two of them in the room. There was no one to stop Rihanna. Maybe it¡¯d be better to say something tomorrow in front of other people. As though a wild beast lay next to her, Sharen continued to worry over various scenarios in her head. ¡°Can¡¯t sleep?¡± It was Rihanna, eyes still closed, speaking in a soft voice. ¡°Uh¡­ yeah.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s uncomfortable, I¡¯ll sleep somewhere else.¡± ¡°N-No! It¡¯s not that!¡± Rihanna had begun to sit up slowly when Sharen grabbed her. If she went so far as to send Rihanna away now, tomorrow would truly become unmanageable. ¡°I don¡¯t mind sleeping with you, Unni! It¡¯s just¡­ I¡¯ve got a lot on my mind, that¡¯s all!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Rihanna lay back down, cleared her throat awkwardly, then asked, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± ¡°Huh? W-Well, I mean¡ª¡± After some hesitation, Sharen took a careful peek at Rihanna¡¯s expression and broached the topic, ¡°Don¡¯t you think Silverna might have feelings for Isaac?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I-I mean, I think there¡¯s a good chance, don¡¯t you?!¡± Flustered, Sharen blurted out whatever came to mind. At Sharen¡¯s words, Rihanna stared blankly at the ceiling. Her blinking eyes gave no hint as to what she was thinking. Then, in a very brief tone, ¡°Definitely.¡± She uttered the single word in passing. Sharen¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°R-really? You¡¯re that sure?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Because Rihanna had heard it herself while disguised as a maid: ¡®I¡­ I think I like him¡¯ Silverna, whispering shyly to Anna as she tried to hide her embarrassment. Hearing that had brought Rihanna many thoughts, but in the end, there was only one conclusion. ¡°But it¡¯s not something I can get involved in.¡± The sadness in Rihanna¡¯s voice made Sharen unconsciously turn her head to look at her sister. It was the first time she¡¯d seen her this emotional, and it unsettled her. ¡°Unni?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m divorced.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re still his wife, you know.¡± ¡°Only for now.¡± ¡°You never know! Isaac might change his mind and decide to stay!¡± Sharen felt odd being the one to console Rihanna, but she still wanted to keep offering comforting words. ¡°No, Isaac has already made up his mind.¡± ¡°¡­Unni?¡± Hearing the quiver in her sister¡¯s voice, Sharen instinctively took hold of Rihanna¡¯s hand. ¡°He doesn¡¯t even want an apology anymore.¡± Sharen felt guilty at that as well¡ªshe, too, had once treated Isaac like a personal servant. ¡°Hey, Unni¡­¡± She also knew Rihanna had stood by and let it happen. ¡°But why did you let our brothers bully Isaac?¡± When Sharen asked, Rihanna let out a short sigh and said, ¡°Does the reason even matter now?¡± Rihanna slowly closed her eyes. ¡°I made a choice, and it just turned out to be the wrong one.¡± ¡°¡­So, you¡¯re going to let Isaac go now?¡± ¡°Yeah. So quit bringing up this idea that you or anyone else might have feelings for Isaac.¡± It¡¯s disrespectful to him. Adding this, Rihanna spoke firmly. Sharen gave a small nod and then spoke in a quiet voice. ¡°Well, since you said you¡¯ve let him go, I guess I should make one confession too.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I, uh¡­ kinda told Silverna about it. About you and Isaac getting a divorce.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But you already let him go, so I guess it¡¯s no big¡ª Aaaaagh!? Owwww! M-my hand! Let go of my haaand!¡± Sharen, unable to match her sister¡¯s grip strength, could only scream. ¡°You liiiiiiar!¡± **** The next day. Isaac and Rihanna were summoned separately by the Margrave for questioning. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The place they arrived at, however, looked more like a spot for a meal than an interrogation. The room was somewhat cramped, but a warm lamplight lit the interior, and the table was set with simple snacks like sandwiches and jerky. There was even a bottle of liquor lying around, making them wonder if this was really supposed to be an interrogation at all. Sitting side by side, the two of them shared a subtle awkwardness because of what had transpired the previous day. When the Margrave still didn¡¯t show, Isaac cleared his throat and turned to Rihanna. ¡°About yesterday¡­ um¡­ did you sleep okay?¡± ¡°Yeah, I slept in Sharen¡¯s room.¡± Rihanna answered with a blank expression, and strangely enough, that typical demeanor put Isaac at ease. ¡®Thank goodness.¡¯ Isaac still felt uneasy about having turned her away after she had been so forward with him. He felt guilty for possibly humiliating her, but in the end, he¡¯d had no choice but to send her off. If they had stayed together any longer¡ª ¡°Ahem, well, that¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°How about you, Isaac? Did you sleep well?¡± ¡°Me? Yeah, I slept fine. I was tired, so I knocked right out.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good¡­ I¡¯m glad.¡± Rihanna offered the same reply in return. With eyes devoid of any emotion, she kept staring at the entrance¡ªeager for someone to show up. But still, nobody came, prompting Rihanna to exhale lightly and cast her gaze toward Isaac. ¡°If you need help, just say so.¡± ¡°Help?¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Your aura. While we¡¯re here, I could teach you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Aura. Something Isaac had never been able to handle. [Aura? Are you kidding me? When you reach the extreme, you don¡¯t need that.] Recalling his Grandmaster¡¯s words, Isaac answered, ¡°Teach me.¡± If the Grandmaster were here, she would have probably pouted, saying, Tell that person to be your master, then. But right now, she wasn¡¯t around. Better to learn while he had the chance. ¡°¡­Sure.¡± Seeing how easily Isaac agreed, Rihanna¡¯s eyes widened slightly. She fought to keep a small smile from forming at the corners of her mouth¡ªwhen finally, the door opened, admitting Uldiran Caldias. ¡°It took a bit. Monsters were swarming near the barrier.¡± Seating himself, Uldiran popped a strip of jerky in his mouth first. As he chewed, he looked at the two of them with a curious expression. ¡°You¡¯re stiffer than I expected. I left you two alone so you could have a tender moment.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Hmm, was that too considerate, or are you just tense?¡± After taking a swig of liquor, Uldiran made a show of joking around. ¡°No need to be nervous. Just answer my questions and I won¡¯t press charges. Of course, I can¡¯t speak for Helmut.¡± He picked up another piece of jerky, and pointed it at Rihanna before biting into it. ¡°I¡¯m willing to hear you out as ¡®Rihanna,¡¯ but obviously Arandel won¡¯t take it kindly that Helmut bowed to Caldias. You understand that, right?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware.¡± ¡°¡­Bowed?¡± Isaac looked at Rihanna in confusion. But she deliberately avoided turning her head away. ¡°You bowed? You, Rihanna?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t hear? It was quite a scene. Learned a thing or two about romance.¡± Uldiran let out a hearty laugh. Isaac, at a loss, glared at Rihanna. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding. If the family head finds out, who knows what he¡¯ll say to you? He¡¯s probably already furious you came here on your own.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°You knew and still¡­ Ugh, fine. Whatever.¡± Isaac propped his chin up in a huff. Rihanna, noticing his reaction, felt compelled to add something. ¡°I only did it to save you.¡± ¡°The Margrave would¡¯ve come to help if it weren¡¯t for you.¡± ¡°That would¡¯ve weakened the defenses at the main barrier. The Margrave can¡¯t just leave his post on a whim.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re so aware of what¡¯s going on, maybe you should¡¯ve taken a good look at your own situation, too. What¡¯s your plan once you return to Helmut?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll figure it out myself.¡± ¡°Sure, that¡¯s gonna go great. I¡¯m sure the family head will just welcome you back with open arms.¡± ¡°I told you, I did it to save you.¡± ¡°You still should¡¯ve done it within reason. Do you have any idea how big of a deal this is?¡± ¡°In the end, I saved you, didn¡¯t I? Doesn¡¯t that make it okay? If I hadn¡¯t come, things could¡¯ve been worse. You still can¡¯t handle aura, right?¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how you¡¯re gonna put it?¡± ¡°Who started talking like they wanted to pick a fight?¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried about you, that¡¯s all. You really think the family head¡¯s going to love hearing that Helmut has been bowing all over the place?¡± ¡°I knelt because I was worried about you.¡± ¡°Would¡¯ve been nice if you¡¯d worried about me sooner.¡± Their conversation remained at a standstill, each side stubbornly refusing to give in. Watching them quietly, Uldiran nodded to himself. ¡®So this is how they show concern for each other?¡¯ When you listened carefully, both of them were just worried about the other. ¡®Helmut sure is unique.¡¯ Sensing they needed to air things out, Uldiran decided to wait and keep himself busy with another piece of jerky. **** Having finished her shift, Silverna gingerly stepped into Malidan Castle. The interrogation was running longer than expected and still hadn¡¯t wrapped up, so she¡¯d come by to check on it. ¡®I mean, why would I go around announcing they¡¯re getting divorced? They keep telling me over and over to keep it hush-hush, which is making them look like the dumb ones! It¡¯s driving me nuts!¡¯ The words Sharen had said yesterday kept floating around in Silverna¡¯s head, to the point where she couldn¡¯t focus on her duties. Seeing how Sharen was moping around all day today, it seemed clear that her drunken confession was no mere slip of the tongue. ¡®They¡¯re getting a divorce?¡¯ If that was true¡ª If they really were¡ª ¡®Could this mean¡­ maybe¡­ for me¡ª?¡¯ ¡°Milady?¡± ¡°Eek?!¡± Lost in her fantasies, Silverna hadn¡¯t been watching where she was going; she jumped back when she heard a voice. Standing in the hallway was Anna. Arms folded, Anna gave Silverna a once-over and asked, ¡°Where are you off to right now?¡± ¡°Oh, uh, I¡­ I was just¡ª¡± Too flustered to finish her sentence, Silverna fell silent. Anna pointedly asked, ¡°You¡¯re going to see Isaac, right?¡± ¡°Y-yeah.¡± ¡°They¡¯re probably still in the middle of that interrogation.¡± ¡°Well, he¡¯s part of my team, so¡­ I just wanted to go check up on him.¡± Silverna¡¯s voice grew smaller with each word. With a sigh, Anna strode up to her and reached out. ¡°Unbutton those a bit.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Anna promptly undid two buttons on Silverna¡¯s shirt. Placing her hands on Silverna¡¯s shoulders, she declared firmly, ¡°If you¡¯re going to go for it, do it right. If you¡¯re going to steal him away, then make it count.¡± ¡°¡­Anna?¡± ¡°Milady, do you have any idea how rare this kind of opportunity is? The man you¡¯ve got your eye on is married, but suddenly they¡¯re planning to divorce? This is¡­ literally a godsend.¡± ¡°A-Anna?!¡± ¡°Go on! Sure, Rihanna Helmut is pretty, but you¡¯ve got nothing to feel inferior about.¡± ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t?¡± ¡°That¡¯s more than enough to drive most men wild. Especially when it comes to Helmut, looks like that might be the weak point.¡± With a jerk of her chin, Anna gestured at Silverna¡¯s chest. Silverna scratched her cheek in embarrassment, but nonetheless, Anna gave her a push toward the guest room now serving as the interrogation chamber. ¡°Cut me some slack.¡± ¡°No.¡± The interrogation room, which Silverna had expected to be rife with tension, instead found three people casually playing cards at a table. ¡°¡­You used to let things slide back in the day,¡± said Rihanna, cheeks puffed out in a pout. Isaac clucked his tongue and retorted, ¡°That was when I was a bachelor.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Quit puffing your cheeks.¡± ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 38: The One Moving Forward, The One Who Remains Silent What is an interrogation? Isn¡¯t it generally etched into people¡¯s minds as an act of investigating, pressing, and probing to uncover the facts? Silverna came in expecting just that. But instead, there was a candle warmly lighting the room, a sturdy wooden table carrying the scent of a cool breeze, some simple snacks and bottles of liquor piled on top¡ª And finally, a scattered mess of worn-out playing cards. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Confronted with an interrogation scene that went far beyond her ordinary sense of things, Silverna clamped her mouth shut and stared. Uldiran, the main culprit behind this situation, cleared his throat for no apparent reason and called it a night. ¡°All right, I suppose that¡¯s enough fun.¡± The others also began tidying up the cards, but Isaac wasn¡¯t your average card player. He gathered the cards and performed an impressively neat shuffle, looking every bit like a professional gambler. ¡°Ah, force of habit.¡± He brushed it off with a mischievous grin, calling it ¡°just a habit,¡± then handed the deck back toUldiran. During his days as a boatman, one of Isaac¡¯s main sources of income had been card games. Local farmers, passing travelers, other boatmen¡ªhe¡¯d gather them all together for quick card games at the slightest opportunity. ¡°Are you done with what needed to be done?¡± At that questioning look, Uldiran cleared his throat again and stood up. ¡°If you¡¯re curious, read the investigation report. It¡¯s all there.¡± The investigation report he handed over was written in elegantly clear handwriting. The moment Silverna recognized it as Isaac¡¯s handwriting, she set the report down in disbelief. ¡°Is there really such a thing as having a witness write their own investigation report?¡± ¡°Ah, my lady.¡± Anna, who was standing behind her, quietly called out to Silverna. No matter how close she is to him, there¡¯s a limit to how much you can pester a Margrave in front of outsiders. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± With Silverna clamping her mouth shut and reading the report again, Uldiran stood up and made his ruling regarding the two. ¡°Both of them are cleared of all charges. However, for this large-scale operation, keep them under your supervision so they can devote their service to the kingdom.¡± ¡°Huh? I get that with Isaac, but even Rihanna Helmut?¡± ¡°She seems too valuable a force to waste, no?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± When Silverna couldn¡¯t answer, Uldiran simply left. From the looks of the report, it seemed he¡¯d already done what was necessary and was on his way. ¡°Isaac¡­ The person who raised you when you were young was a Transcendent?¡± Silverna looked at him with wide, surprised eyes. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Judging by his short answer, he didn¡¯t seem inclined to say more. ¡°So you know about the Transcendents and rituals?¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°¡­That explanation feels awfully insincere.¡± ¡°But the Margrave accepted it.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it said that Transcendents kill humans without exception?¡± ¡°It was half-human.¡± Silverna looked unconvinced, but Isaac did have someone backing him up. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about it for a long time too.¡± Rihanna Helmut raised her hand and added, ¡°Isaac was taught by some remarkable master when he was young. That¡¯s why he knows all sorts of things.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± As the married couple sat there staring up at her, Silverna felt a lingering discomfort. ¡°You said you learned to drink from them too, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, when I was really little.¡± ¡°Was it beer?¡± ¡°Wine.¡± ¡°Right, wine.¡± They nodded and then looked back at Silverna. ¡®Why do I feel like these two are lying?¡¯ It certainly felt like a lie. But with both of them speaking in unison, she couldn¡¯t quite call it out. ¡°This is like watching a married con artist duo.¡± Anna¡¯s words perfectly hit on what Silverna was itching to say. But the Margrave had already handed down his verdict, and there was nothing she could do but abide by it. **** Stepping out of the interrogation room. A hallway in the castle brimming with a chill in the air. Walking along the path lit by the lanterns on the wall was Isaac. ¡®That surprised me.¡¯ Honestly, Isaac felt confused. ¡®I never imagined she would go along with the lie so smoothly.¡¯ He was startled at how naturally she chimed in on his lie, even adding details of her own. Surely, Rihanna must have some questions about Isaac. For example, his demeanor¡ª and his diverse knowledge about swords, among other things. But because she didn¡¯t let it bother her and played along, they managed to move on without issue. ¡°Earlier¡­ that was a lie, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Behind Isaac¡ªwho was walking with a clear destination in mind¡ªcame the voice of Silverna. She had been following him for a while, and at some point, Anna had vanished. Isaac abruptly halted and turned around to face Silverna. ¡°Is this the interrogation room now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interrogating you. And I¡¯m not picking a fight.¡± ¡°Then why are you asking?¡± ¡°You could at least tell me the truth.¡± It felt more like a plea, and it made Isaac¡¯s expression stiffen. ¡°What do you want me to be honest about?¡± ¡°We¡¯re comrades, aren¡¯t we? We fight together, risking our lives.¡± ¡°Just because we¡¯re comrades doesn¡¯t mean we share everything.¡± Even married couples keep secrets from each other sometimes. At Isaac¡¯s cold reply, Silverna pressed her lips together. ¡°The Margrave trusts me. You should do the same.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because the large-scale operation is urgent right now. Even if there¡¯s something fishy in your story, he still wants you both as part of his forces.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Silverna had hit the nail on the head. Isaac took a breath and countered. ¡°In any case, he made his choice.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how you want to play it?¡± Silverna took a deliberate step closer, her prominently curved chest nearly brushing against Isaac¡¯s. ¡°Silverna, knock it off.¡± ¡°What?¡± Finally, Isaac lost patience and issued a sharp warning. ¡°I know you northerners have a special bond. But like I said, we don¡¯t share everything with each other.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You have secrets, and so do I. I just need you to trust that mine won¡¯t hurt anyone.¡± With that, Isaac turned and continued down the corridor. One step. Two steps. Three steps. Right on the third step¡ª ¡°I¡ª¡± Silverna¡¯s voice cut through the silence, aimed straight at his back. ¡°I have feelings for you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± It was definitely inside the castle, yet Isaac felt as if a harsh wind were suddenly blowing. His feet froze in place. He slowly turned his head, and there was Silverna, arms folded, nodding at him. ¡°So¡­ how about that? No more secrets now.¡± Silverna pointed at him with her cheeks burning red, and Isaac let out a hollow laugh¡ªamusement born of sheer disbelief. Isaac stepped back over to Silverna and reached out, slowly fastening the open button of her shirt. ¡°Try dressing more appropriately. You¡¯re a grown woman, you know¡­¡± ¡°Now tell me your secret. We should exchange, right?¡± The water was already spilled. Silverna pressed on boldly, but Isaac just shook his head casually. ¡°That¡¯s not really a secret.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I already knew.¡± ¡°Wha¡ªwhat¡­?¡± This time, the tables were turned. Silverna stiffened, and her face gradually turned red as a beet. She opened and closed her mouth like a fish out of water, flailing her arms. ¡°Y-you knew? How? Since when?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± Even Anna, the aide, had come to Isaac asking him to keep some distance, since it involved Helmut and Caldias. ¡°Ah, wha¡ª?! H-hold on!¡± Silverna, flustered, turned her back. Her cheeks felt so hot that she might as well have used them for a blacksmith¡¯s forge. ¡°But Silverna¡ª¡± ¡°Wait! D-don¡¯t talk to me right now!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac decided to wait a moment, watching Silverna crouch and mutter to herself, shoulders twitching as she tried to collect her thoughts. ¡°Hah!¡± Silverna turned back to face Isaac. ¡°Oh, jeez.¡± Yet the moment their eyes met, her embarrassment surged once more. She covered her mouth and staggered back. ¡°First of all, let¡¯s be clear: I¡¯m a married man.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± ¡°¡­Did you just laugh?¡± ¡°No, nope. Wasn¡¯t laughing.¡± What¡¯s up with that? She was covering her mouth, but she sure seemed like she was laughing a bit. ¡® No way she has a thing for married men¡­ right?¡¯ ¡® Did she actually like hearing that?¡¯ In any case, Isaac continued. ¡°I¡¯m married. So I don¡¯t really owe you an answer, do I?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Silverna folded her arms and glared at Isaac. Her face was still bright red, but she seemed to have given up trying to hide it. ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± ¡°This is kind of unfair. I was honest about my feelings.¡± ¡°And I was honest, too. I can¡¯t accept them.¡± ¡°Sure, that¡¯s what you have to say from your standpoint.¡± Silverna was a natural genius: teach her one thing, she¡¯d figure out ten more. ¡°Of course a married man can¡¯t accept. I¡¯m not so bullheaded as to force it.¡± Anna¡¯s advice¡ªthat this was a heaven-sent opportunity¡ªsparked a flash of insight in that brilliant mind of hers. ¡°Put everything else aside for a second and just tell me personally how you feel.¡± ¡°Does that matter?¡± ¡°Show a little sympathy, will you? It¡¯s the first time a guy has ever made my heart race. At least give me a decent sense of closure.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac, who knew all too well the significance of a first love¡¯s closure, hesitated before speaking the truth. ¡°Fine. You¡¯re a very attractive woman. It¡¯s flattering you¡¯d even consider me.¡± ¡°If Rihanna weren¡¯t in the picture¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Would you have chosen me instead?¡± The seriousness on Silverna¡¯s face as she placed a hand over her heart was so earnest that Isaac found himself nodding without meaning to. ¡°Y-yeah. Probably. But what does that matter now? I¡¯m married.¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± ¡® Was that a laugh again just now?¡¯ Isaac was about to ask, bewildered, but Silverna simply nodded emphatically and beamed. ¡°Thanks, Isaac.¡± ¡°...Hey, Silverna.¡± Feeling a sudden wave of anxiety, Isaac asked carefully, ¡°Is there something you know?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I mean¡­ I get the feeling you¡¯re hiding something.¡± Like crossing a precarious bridge, Isaac proceeded cautiously, and Silverna answered with a playful grin, ¡°Even comrades keep secrets from each other, Isaac.¡± ***** Silverna stepped outside, her strides visibly lighter. Isaac remained in the castle for some errand, but Silverna was eager to see Anna and share the day¡¯s good news. Then¡ª A red-haired woman stood idly at the entrance. Her gaze was fixed on Silverna. ¡®So the Helmut line really does have sharp ears¡­¡¯ Sharen hadn¡¯t been lying, it seemed. Just from her aura alone, you could tell she already knew everything. Without slowing her pace, Silverna strode right past Rihanna, making a bold declaration. ¡°I won¡¯t apologize or feel guilty about it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who missed your chance.¡± Watching Silverna leave, Rihanna stayed silent, her lips pressed tight. No¡ªshe couldn¡¯t speak. What could she possibly do at this point? The responsibility for her choices. Regardless of the reasons, she had kept silent at the estate. And so here too¡ª She could only remain silent. Because that was surely what Isaac wanted. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 39: The Abandoned Man -Thud. When the door opened and Isaac stepped inside, he was immediately struck by the mixed smells of disinfectant and decaying bandages. Layered atop all that was the sticky after-scent of blood, telling him just how urgent things were here every single day. Malidan Infirmary. They do have separate medical tents outside, but this place is for soldiers too critical to be handled out there. He had heard that a mage dispatched from the magic tower was also stationed here. Moans drift from every direction. Among the rows of medical beds, a man sits blankly, eyes round and unfocused. It was Jonathan. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± As Isaac approached, Jonathan jumped up and shouted, ¡°I¡¯m perfectly fine!¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes! I can return to my duties right away!¡± Yet even so, Jonathan never once said he wanted out or that he hated staying here. Knowing his personality, he likely felt uneasy taking up a bed. But he also understood that he couldn¡¯t just leave whenever he wanted. The fact that he was here in the infirmary instead of in a prison cell was, in truth, only by the grace of Margrave¡¯s mercy. ¡°Let¡¯s step out into the hallway for a moment.¡± ¡°Is that all right?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t talk about this where everyone can hear.¡± The mage in charge of the infirmary glanced over, but said nothing. They moved into the lantern-lit corridor, shadows flickering. Through the corridor windows, the sky outside was growing steadily darker. Jonathan followed behind. The skin that had been so disfigured last time, along with the protruding fangs and blackened eyes, had already returned to normal. ¡°I had no idea either.¡± Though Isaac hadn¡¯t spoken a word of blame, Jonathan hurried to offer an excuse, seemingly embarrassed. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know such a thing as the Transcendent Race existed. Or that I was one of them. I just assumed I felt things differently than most people.¡± Jonathan confesses honestly, his expression dark. ¡°In some ways¡­ it might have been better if my sensitivities were just twisted. At least then I¡¯d still be human.¡± A confession poured out under the lantern light. The wavering shadows seemed to mirror his troubled heart. ¡°Ever since Nortemus laid a hand on me, something feels off. There¡¯s something squirming inside my chest. Like it¡¯s about to consume me at any moment.¡± Jonathan almost reached out for help, but hesitated and drew back. Perhaps he feared he might harm Isaac. ¡°Why did you choose Helmut?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Jonathan looked at Isaac blankly, as though the question had come out of nowhere. ¡°Because Helmut is¡­ different from other knight orders.¡± What made him admire Arandel Helmut? Why did he cling to Helmut so fiercely? ¡°You know it too, Isaac-nim. The knights of Helmut and the direct lineage of Helmut are on completely different levels.¡± Helmut¡¯s knights are, quite literally, the human remnants that remain by Helmut¡¯s side. Like a label declaring themselves under Helmut¡¯s name. ¡°Those of the direct lineage¡­ they¡¯re monsters who devote themselves entirely to the sword.¡± ¡°I know that all too well.¡± Except for the youngest ones¡ªSharen, who¡¯s still a child, and Edel Helmut, the youngest brother¡ªthe rest spend every waking moment focused on their swords. The Helmut estate has its own logic, different from the outside world. To them, only the sword and strength define what is right. ¡°That¡¯s why everyone praises Helmut as great.¡± Isaac gives a bitter smile. From up close, Helmut looks like a den of madmen. But from a distance? A massive sword protecting the kingdom. The very knights who rush out first when crisis comes. A symbol that deters war by its mere existence. From the royal family to the common folk, what nobility could be more reassuring than Helmut? That colossal force¡ªHelmut. Ironically, it keeps the kingdom most peaceful. Who would ever want to cross swords with Arandel Helmut? ¡°That¡¯s what¡ªI admired that.¡± A bright smile appears on Jonathan¡¯s lips, as though he can¡¯t help thinking of Arandel Helmut. ¡°The Master gave up everything. For the sword alone. You know how incredible that is, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I wanted to be like that. To abandon the ugly desires inside me and live a life dedicated solely to the sword.¡± The one who changed Jonathan¡¯s life was Arandel Helmut. That much is undeniable. Because he admired him, Jonathan overcame his own foul nature and became a knight. ¡°Do you know what happened when I told the nun who raised me that I¡¯d become a Helmut knight¡­?¡± Remembering that time, a faint smile spreads on Jonathan¡¯s face. ¡°She cried so much. She¡¯d been worried sick about my evil nature, but once she saw I¡¯d become a proper knight¡­ oh, how she wept¡ªreally, so much.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Isaac-nim. I know this is a huge favor to ask.¡± Slowly lowering himself to his knees, Jonathan bows his head. ¡°Please¡­ let me remain a knight of Helmut.¡± ¡°Jonathan.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll hide the fact that I¡¯m a hybrid of the Transcendent Race until the day I die. Sharen-nim saw what happened, but if you can just¡ª!¡± ¡°My master was also a hybrid of the Transcendent Race.¡± Jonathan¡¯s urgent voice cuts out. He slowly lifts his head, and Isaac meets his gaze and continues, ¡°To be precise, she was Transcendent but mixed with human blood. She was closer to the Transcendent side, you might say.¡± Black hair hanging down. Wolf ears perked upright. Eyes reminiscent of moonlight. A greatsword in hand, shaped like a crescent moon. ¡°I don¡¯t harbor any strong aversion toward mixed blood. I¡¯m not planning to tell you to quit being my guard. That¡¯s the main reason I came to see you today.¡± ¡°Isaac-nim!¡± With tears welling in his eyes, Jonathan grabs Isaac by the foot, overwhelmed. Finding it a bit much, Isaac takes a step back and continues speaking. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Sharen about it. Don¡¯t worry about a thing¡ªresume your duties starting tomorrow.¡± Sniffling, Jonathan leaps to his feet, wipes his tears, and snaps a salute. ¡°I, Jonathan of Helmut, will devote my entire life to following you!¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. Get going.¡± ¡°Yes, sir! I¡¯ll see you tomorrow!¡± Leaving Jonathan behind¡ªwho bustles around laughing¡ªIsaac walks down the corridor with a heavy expression. ¡°Idiot,¡± he mutters inwardly. He had no intention of telling Jonathan about the divorce. The less Jonathan worried, the better. Isaac just hoped he would remain in Helmut. Stepping outside, Isaac notices the sky has gone completely dark, and a round moon hangs above. ¡®You can¡¯t help but acknowledge the head of the family¡¯s sword.¡¯ After all, to Arandel Helmut, nothing else mattered besides the sword. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once, Isaac asked the Grandmaster: [ What if Arandel hadn¡¯t died? How do you think the war would have turned out? ] Arandel had passed away from illness. Isaac posed the question after stumbling upon the man¡¯s autobiography-cum-last-will. [ It¡¯s a foolish question.] The Grandmaster replied with a laugh, sipping her drink. [ Well then, Silent Sword Isaac, how about you? What do you think? ] Amused, the Grandmaster teased Isaac as if testing him. [ Even he couldn¡¯t have single-handedly turned the entire tide of war ] Isaac answered, leaning on his staff. At that, the Grandmaster burst into raucous laughter and applauded. She laughed so long that Isaac began to feel uneasy. [ I¡¯d rather not say it, because you won¡¯t like it. ] The Grandmaster went on, [ but the war wouldn¡¯t have happened at all.] [¡­What? ] [ The Transcendent Race would have just lurked in the shadows, biding their time. They¡¯d have kept an eye on exactly when Arandel would die, whispering among themselves. ] No one could deny the greatness of that sword. ¡°Ha.¡± Walking under the night sky, Isaac mutters as though gripping an old wound: ¡°It''s ridiculous.¡± Arandel Helmut, the man who gave up everything for his sword. ¡°From the perspective of those he left behind, that is.¡± Among the things Arandel abandoned, Isaac was included as well. *** Early the next morning, Isaac arrived at the training grounds for his usual routine. Standing there before him was Rihanna Helmut. Neither spoke a word; they simply stared at each other. They hadn¡¯t agreed to meet. Isaac had come out to train, only to find Rihanna crouching there. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± he finally asks. Rihanna Helmut draws out the greatsword she brought. ¡°I said I would teach you aura.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think we¡¯d start this soon.¡± ¡°I only have so much time while we¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Once they return to Helmut, there¡¯ll be no such thing as formal sword training. The moment someone sees him using a slender blade, they¡¯ll probably chop it in half, scolding him with, ¡°What¡¯s a Helmut doing with such a flimsy weapon?¡± ¡°Draw your sword.¡± Isaac draws his slender blade. Even this small act has a certain elegance, evidence that he¡¯s become a proper swordsman in his own right. It¡¯s a slightly comical sight: Rihanna, who¡¯s much smaller and more delicate, wielding a person-sized greatsword, while Isaac holds a thin blade. ¡°Aura means manipulating the individual mana in your body. Isaac, have you ever measured your mana?¡± ¡°No, never.¡± ¡°All right. Even if you don¡¯t know your total amount, you¡¯ll figure it out once you learn to use it.¡± Like calmly lighting a little flame, a crimson glow ripples from Rihanna¡¯s greatsword. ¡°When you learn aura, you can figure out how best to direct it¡ª¡± Suddenly, a woman¡¯s voice calls out from afar: ¡°Isaac!¡± Silverna comes running, white hair streaming behind her, waving enthusiastically. She¡¯s shouldering a spear, apparently planning to train alongside them. ¡°I wanted to join in starting today. Am I interrupting?¡± She looks back and forth between Isaac and Rihanna with a smile. ¡°You two don¡¯t mind, do you?¡± She¡¯s like a bull¡ªonce she sets her mind to something, she just charges straight ahead. Rihanna presses her lips together, waiting for Isaac to decide. ¡°Do what you want.¡± And so this odd scene unfolds, with a member of Helmut teaching aura to someone of Caldias. *** About thirty minutes later, Rihanna Helmut lowers her greatsword and speaks flatly: ¡°Isaac, it seems you have no talent for aura.¡± [ Idiot ] Isaac was silent. For some reason, he almost hears his Grandmaster snickering in his ear: [See that, you Idiot.] ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 40: Resisting Talent ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± A cold breeze blows between the two people facing each other. The tip of the spear, pointed toward the ground, almost makes it look like the wielder is hanging their head. ¡°Humans naturally accumulate mana in their bodies. We absorb the mana dispersed in the air.¡± Rihanna begins her explanation quietly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t just build up infinitely if you don¡¯t use it, because there¡¯s a limit to how much mana your body can handle. Once you exceed that limit, your body automatically expels the surplus.¡± Through breathing, sweat, excretion, sleep, and so on. The body has many ways to prevent an excessive amount of mana from remaining inside. If there¡¯s too much mana, it can result in ¡®Mana Saturation,¡¯ causing the body to swell, or ¡®Mana Stones,¡¯ crystal formations of mana in one¡¯s organs. Mentally, it could lead to ¡®Mana Madness.¡¯ ¡°But you have overwhelmingly little storage capacity. To put it bluntly¡ª¡± Rihanna hesitates for a moment. She stammers, unsure how best to explain it. ¡°A wolf¡­ no, not quite. Maybe even less than a dog. Well, actually, maybe quite a bit less.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m not sure how it compares to a tree. But at least you have more mana than a flower. I can say that much for sure.¡± ¡°You were trying to cheer me up by saying I have more mana than a flower, weren¡¯t you?¡± Rihanna presses her lips tightly together. Isaac, who knows her well, realizes it was meant as comfort. But to anyone else, it might have sounded like mockery instead. ¡°Well, aura isn¡¯t necessarily everything, right?¡± Silverna, who¡¯s been listening from the side, tries awkwardly to offer some reassurance. In truth, even if one couldn¡¯t use aura, it wouldn¡¯t necessarily be a crippling weakness. The Grandmaster never used aura at all. ¡°I haven¡¯t really needed aura up until now. My father hardly uses it either.¡± In the case of Caldias, he¡¯s somewhat skeptical about aura. Though that¡¯s not because they can¡¯t handle it, but because they developed spear techniques with ordinary soldiers in mind. Very few regular soldiers can wield aura. ¡°I agree. Just because you can use aura doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re necessarily strong.¡± Rihanna adds to Silverna¡¯s opinion. There¡¯s a high degree of difficulty involved, and being able to wield aura doesn¡¯t automatically make someone an exceptional warrior. ¡°But I still need it.¡± Isaac needed aura. Especially after sparring with Sharen¡¯s Aura, the feeling only grew stronger. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± As Isaac contemplates, both women also look concerned, as though they share his worries. From a distance, a bell rings. Dang! Dang! Dang! Three times. ¡°Looks like an attack on the front rampart.¡± Silverna hoists her spear onto her shoulder and takes off running. The other two follow right behind her. **** The assault on the front rampart continued until noon. But it ended when Silverna¡¯s spear impaled the named demonic beast¡ªa troll¡ªin charge of leading the attack. The battle that started at dawn finally ended past midday. Now Isaac has returned to the infirmary inside the fortress. ¡°Th-thank y¡ª Gah!¡± ¡°Careful. You¡¯ve still got a thorn stuck in your body. Don¡¯t talk.¡± Isaac had helped a soldier struck by a thorn the troll had fired. Since the soldier was hit by a projectile Isaac managed to dodge, he felt responsible for helping him to the infirmary. ¡°Phew, what a day since morning¡­¡± A wizard with dark circles under his eyes bustles around the infirmary, checking on the wounded. One would think he might use healing magic, but all he does is remove the thorn with a large, sterilized pair of tongs and then stop the bleeding. Noticing Isaac watching, the wizard gives a tired grin and clacks the tongs together. ¡°When I first got stationed here, I brought tweezers. But I threw them all away. For something the size of a man¡¯s forearm, these tongs are the best. Borrowed them from the head cook.¡± ¡°My name is Isaac.¡± ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t even introduce myself.¡± The wizard rubs his hands against his robe to clean them. ¡°I¡¯m Vivian, a mage from the Tower.¡± ¡°It seems you¡¯re not just handling magic here.¡± Glancing at the other wounded soldiers on the beds, Isaac mumbles. Rather than healing magic, Vivian appears to have an extensive knowledge of basic medical treatment. ¡°Haha, healing magic is quite precious, you see. I only use it for patients who are in critical condition. And to cast healing spells, you need this kind of medical knowledge anyway.¡± Despite looking thoroughly exhausted, Vivian seems to have an unexpectedly affable personality. His haggard appearance probably reflects how tough it¡¯s been since being deployed to Malidan. ¡°May I ask you something?¡± This was perfect timing. Since early dawn, Isaac has been pondering mana-related issues, and now he might get some advice from an expert. ¡°Hmm, I doubt the cafeteria has anything but watery soup right now anyway.¡± Vivian jokes lightly and smiles. ¡°What would you like to know?¡± ¡°I have a congenital condition that severely limits my mana storage.¡± Vivian¡¯s lips slowly turn downward. The neutral look in his eyes suddenly sharpens with intelligence. ¡°I want to find a way to increase that capacity if possible. Do you know of any methods?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Vivian nods, then walks slowly toward the window and points outside with a smile. ¡°Jump.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Be reborn. That¡¯s the only way. Isaac-nim, do you know where mana is stored?¡± Like an actor, Vivian strides back to Isaac, his voice growing more animated. ¡°It¡¯s in the heart. The heart! I mean, seriously, is there anyone out there who can replace their heart and still live? I¡¯ve never seen it. Never even heard of it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s called a core. The ¡®mana core.¡¯ And that¡¯s precisely why true mages are so rare.¡± A proud smile spread across Vivian¡¯s face, and the palm he placed over his chest was almost as if he were guarding a precious treasure. ¡°It¡¯s determined from birth, you see.¡± ¡®They say mages have a superiority complex¡­¡¯ Isaac had heard that mages follow a different social hierarchy. The Magic Tower stands independent, not belonging to any particular kingdom. And within that Tower, there are exactly two classes: Mage, and non-mage. To them, even nobles or royalty are merely ¡°the lower class¡± if they cannot wield magic. ¡°There are all sorts of elixirs in the world. As you know, the Rose Elixir from Helmut is one such example.¡± Though he tried to sound as polite as possible, his demeanor and general vibe were anything but. ¡°Increasing your physical abilities is closely connected to mana in many ways, sure. But that doesn¡¯t mean it actually raises the amount of mana you can store.¡± Vivian seemed quite annoyed that Isaac was probing what is, to mages, a near-absolute truth. ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate, but there are things in this world that are predetermined at birth.¡± Vivian bowed slightly and smiled. ¡°That¡¯s why people are so fascinated by geniuses¡ªbecause they have something most can never possess.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Does that answer your question?¡± ¡°In a way, yes.¡± Isaac nodded, looking much the same as before he¡¯d asked the question. There was no sign of giving up on his face. He only looked more determined than ever. ¡°¡­¡­It seems it didn¡¯t satisfy you,¡± Vivian remarked, evidently displeased. He had taken his time to explain and persuade, yet Isaac¡¯s expression hadn¡¯t changed from the start. ¡°Listen carefully. In one of the Magic Tower¡¯s papers, there¡¯s this study on ¡®The Correlation Between Upbringing and Mana Capacity¡¯¡ª¡± ¡°If you had a low amount of mana, you¡¯d have given up on becoming a mage, wouldn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re interrupting me now¡­? Well, of course. It¡¯s a matter of talent. Why challenge the impossible? You just give up.¡± It¡¯s a realm those without talent can never even set foot in. ¡°But some people aren¡¯t capable of that.¡± For someone like Isaac¡ªwho never gave up wielding a sword even after injuring his leg¡ªthose words came naturally. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like we get along too well.¡± Deciding the conversation was meaningless, Vivian pursed his lips and turned to tend the soldiers again. Watching him go, Isaac scratched his cheek awkwardly. ¡®I guess Jonathan is more my kind of person.¡¯ Jonathan, who admired Arandel so much that he threw away even his instincts and became a knight of Helmut¡ªIsaac felt they were quite similar. Seeing no point in staying, Isaac left the infirmary when¡ª ¡°Ah, here you are.¡± It was Silverna, standing in the hallway after today¡¯s grand performance. ¡°¡­Weren¡¯t you headed to eat?¡± ¡°I wanted to eat with you. Ta-da.¡± She offered a basket filled with neatly packed sandwich ingredients. ¡°If we go to the cafeteria now, there¡¯ll be a ¡®Round Two¡¯ waiting for us. Better to eat separately in peace.¡± ¡°When did you prepare this?¡± From the look of it, it wasn¡¯t put together today¡ªmore like it was packed up yesterday. But Isaac doubted Silverna would have done it herself. ¡°Ahem, does it matter?¡± ¡®Anna must¡¯ve done it.¡¯ Well, it wasn¡¯t all that important anyway. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ve got something special in here, too.¡± She rummaged in the basket and pulled out a chunk of smoked meat wrapped in large green leaves. Judging by the heat still wafting off it, this one must have been prepared today. It steamed with a distinctive smoked aroma. ¡°Amazing, right? Ever heard of troll meat from the North? If you just eat it as is, it¡¯s tough, but smoke it Northern-style and it¡¯s something else.¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± ¡°Hey, why are you laughing? This stuff¡¯s not easy to come by.¡± Silverna moved beside him and tapped him on the shoulder, laughing as she led him away. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s find somewhere out of the wind and eat these sandwiches.¡± ¡®I shouldn¡¯t be thinking this¡­¡¯ Yet if she had a tail, Isaac imagined it wagging happily behind her. Clank. ¡°Ah.¡± Just then, Vivian came out of the infirmary. Likely headed for lunch, he glanced over at Isaac and Silverna, gave a brief nod, and walked to the dining hall. Silverna watched them both, then turned to Isaac once Vivian was out of sight. ¡°What happened? He actually treats people pretty warmly, y¡¯know.¡± ¡°Hm¡­¡± Isaac briefly explained how he must have touched a nerve, and Silverna nodded, her expression complicated. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of anyone increasing their mana capacity.¡± Isaac hadn¡¯t either. Even in the future, ten years from now, there was no such case. Silverna glanced at Isaac¡¯s troubled face and asked softly: ¡°Are you going to give up?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Aura¡ªare you giving up on it?¡± ¡°No?¡± Isaac replied as though it were an obvious question, making Silverna¡¯s lips curl in a grin. ¡°Why? People say you can¡¯t do it, that it¡¯s impossible with your current mana capacity.¡± ¡°It¡¯s always been like that.¡± Isaac followed Silverna, smiling bitterly. ¡°¡®Impossible,¡¯ ¡®futile,¡¯ ¡®it¡¯s just delusion¡¯¡ªI¡¯ve heard that stuff all my life. Maybe that¡¯s why words like that don¡¯t really affect me. Besides¡ª¡± Not even the truth Vivian had spelled out put a dent in Isaac¡¯s determination. ¡°I¡¯ve never yet done anything I¡¯d call ¡®pointless.¡¯¡± He scratched his cheek as he added that. After all, the knowledge he amassed during his years as the ¡®Silent Sword¡¯ still forms the core of his skill today. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He may only be laying the groundwork for now, but Isaac was definitely moving forward, one step at a time. ¡°You little punk.¡± Seeing that, Silverna gave him a playful smack on the back and laughed. ¡°Anyway, isn¡¯t it gratifying? Huh? You should pray to the Goddess every night.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Who knows? The Goddess might suddenly be moved by your prayers and grant you an ¡®a-maaaaa-zing gift!¡¯¡± Exaggerating, Silverna raised both hands high. The two had emerged outside, chatting away about nothing in particular. ¡°¡®A-maaaaa-zing?¡¯ Why add an extra syllable?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s that a-maaaaa-zing.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that even mean¡­¡± ¡°Never mind! Just find a place to eat! A sandwich stuffed with smoked troll meat is really a-maaaaa-zing, okay?¡± Maybe she was in a good mood thanks to her success in battle today. Isaac dismissed her antics and was about to look around for a spot, but then hesitated. ¡°Is it just the two of us eating?¡± ¡°Is that a problem? We¡¯re friends, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true¡­¡± ¡°Quit worrying about weird stuff just ¡¯cause you¡¯re a married man.¡± Isaac wasn¡¯t quite sure how to feel. He¡¯d tried using his married status as a gentle shield, but it only felt like Silverna was using it as a reason to approach him more comfortably. ¡°What¡¯s with the look, Married Man? If you want your wife to join us, go ahead and bring her.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s all right.¡± Isaac cut her off firmly. ¡°Knew you¡¯d say that.¡± Silverna¡¯s mischievous whisper was whisked away by the northern wind, never reaching Isaac¡¯s ears. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 41: The Resolve of Two Women ¡°Haa! Haah!¡± ¡°Haa! Haah!¡± ¡°They¡¯re running away!¡± On top of the rampart. Even though they had fended off yet another swarm of monsters, the soldiers let out sighs that sounded more like grumbling than relief or joy. It¡¯s been a little over a month since this place was confirmed to be a great den. Even the soldiers of the Malidan Barrier were slowly being worn out, both physically and mentally, by the monsters¡¯ relentless daily assaults. Recently, their attacks had become so frequent that sometimes there were two assaults in a single day. It felt like they were battling fatigue even before they faced the monsters. ¡°¡­This won¡¯t do.¡± Resting on her spear,Silverna¡ªcaptain of the 5th Reconnaissance Unit¡ªmuttered under her breath. She, too, seemed to have her own concerns about the monsters¡¯ increasingly frequent attacks. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Amid the exhausted soldiers stood Rihanna Helmut, as calm and dignified as ever. Her red hair fluttered in the wind atop the wall. Without a trace of fatigue, she gazed quietly at the monsters beyond, reminding everyone why the Helmut name carried so much weight. Slowly, Rihanna turned her head. Among the other soldiers, a man with his black hair tied in a ponytail was sitting on the ground, chatting idly with a few comrades, looking thoroughly worn out. She was some distance away, but she could hear every word of their conversation. ¡°Man, I nearly died this time.¡± ¡°Thank you, Isaac. If you hadn¡¯t shoved me out of the way earlier, I¡¯d have been flattened by that rock and probably out cold.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. You saved me last time, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Did I?¡± ¡°Wait, wasn¡¯t it you? I¡¯ve had so many close calls, I can¡¯t keep track.¡± They were bantering lightheartedly with the other soldiers, but the topic itself was hardly trivial. And there were two broken swords lying near Isaac, meaning the situation had been so dire that his blades had snapped¡ªtwice. Would everything be all right if they kept going like this? Such doubts grew in her mind. KRRNG! BOOM! ¡°Ugh, what was that?¡± ¡°Lightning? That was lightning, right?¡± ¡°I thought it was another monster.¡± Beyond the mountain range. In the middle of a clear sky, a bolt of lightning struck, making Rihanna¡¯s eyes widen. **** ¡°This is dangerous as it is.¡± Inside the command tent. The 1st Company Captain of the Malidan Barrier was making an earnest plea to Uldiran, who sat at the head of the table. ¡°We¡¯re being chipped away bit by bit. The number of injured is growing, and morale inside the wall is abysmal.¡± Every day, they raise their spears and slay monsters. The comrade they laughed and joked with yesterday might be knocked out by a flying boulder and die today. The burden of the front lines weighed heavier on them than ever. ¡°The monsters show no sign of decreasing. And judging by the appearance of beasts from other regions, it seems they¡¯re flocking here from even farther away.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± The border Margrave also seemed to share that sentiment, stroking his beard as he studied the map. ¡°As our commander¡­ please make a decision.¡± When the 1st Company Captain finished his proposal, the captain from another company across the table raised his hand to speak. ¡°Your Excellency, the purpose of the Malidan Barrier is defense. Though we do have rising casualties, on the other hand, we¡¯ve eliminated more monsters than we can count.¡± ¡°Is there really a need to leave our advantageous position and head outside to hunt them down? That¡¯s far too risky. Moreover, we still don¡¯t know the identity of the monster commanding them all. Going out now is premature.¡± Both captains had their own valid reasons. Even though they disagreed, having led soldiers atop the walls themselves, there was a measure of respect between them. ¡°Hm.¡± Uldiran fell into thought. Should they continue this war of attrition with no end in sight? Or should they seize the opportunity¡ªnow that the monsters¡¯ numbers had somewhat thinned¡ªand march out to strike them down? Silverna felt the urge to speak up, but she was only the captain of the 5th Reconnaissance Unit here. She knew this wasn¡¯t the place for her to butt in, so she just bit her lip, bouncing her leg in frustration. ¡°What say you, Dame Rihanna?¡± Turning to Rihanna Helmut, who was attending as the representative of a dispatched noble house, Uldiran asked for her opinion. She hadn¡¯t expected him to ask anything of a Helmut, so she slowly turned her gaze to him. ¡°Just moments ago¡ª¡± Yes, Uldiran Caldias was this kind of man. Turning over her thoughts, Rihanna spoke the words she had kept inside. ¡°After the monsters retreated, I sensed a faint magical power in the bolts of lightning that struck a few times.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Tsk.¡± A subtle murmur rippled through the tent. None of them had noticed such a thing. Normally, they would have brushed it aside as nonsense¡­ ¡®Of all people, a Helmut¡­¡¯ ¡®But who knows?¡¯ ¡®This is tricky¡­¡¯ It wasn¡¯t just because of the Helmut name¡ªrather, it was because everyone knew how uniquely perceptive their bodies were. If a Helmut said it, it probably wasn¡¯t nonsense. Even so, trusting just one person¡¯s report to make a sweeping decision was difficult. ¡°I suspect that the monster gathering this great denm is behind it.¡± Ignoring the others¡¯ reactions, Rihanna calmly shared her thoughts. ¡°If we go there, we¡¯ll find it?¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I can¡¯t say for certain¡­ but I believe we need to investigate.¡± **** Kaang! A crisp ring of steel echoed through a corner of the training ground¡ªwhat had all but become Isaac¡¯s personal practice spot. As soon as he thrust his sword in a straight line, Sharen¡¯s greatsword responded along the same trajectory. Then Isaac hopped into the air like a rabbit, spinning once midair. Sharen¡¯s blade whooshed right through the spot he had just occupied. The moment he landed, he swung his sword again, aiming for Sharen¡¯s neck¡ª ¡°R-Red Wave!¡± Even before Sharen finished shouting in alarm, her greatsword erupted with a crimson aura that blossomed outward. The instant that crimson wave touched Isaac, who was still in midair, it hurled him across the training ground before he could land. ¡°Isaac-nim! Oh no! Isaac-niiim!¡± Jonathan, who had been watching the spar, ran over in a panic. Isaac rolled painfully across the training ground and finally came to a stop. He jerked his head up and shouted, ¡°I told you not to use that crimson aura!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ Helmut never accepts defeat!¡± Right before the spar, Sharen had said: ¡°Crimson aura? Hmph, I¡¯m not even thinking of using it.¡± Yet the moment things got dangerous, she countered without hesitation using that very power. ¡°Phew. It¡¯s fine. At least I got a feel for things.¡± Getting to his feet and brushing himself off, Isaac watched Sharen hurry over, looking somewhat embarrassed and at a loss for words. She was about to apologize, but Isaac asked a different question first. ¡°How was it?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I mean, my swordsmanship. Until you used that crimson aura, weren¡¯t we pretty evenly matched?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± As much as she hated to admit it, Isaac was right. In truth, Sharen had struggled a fair bit while exchanging blows with his sword. Of course, without her crimson aura, a Helmut was effectively at only half-strength. But that also meant that in just a month, Isaac¡ªwho could barely swing a sword before¡ªhad caught up to at least half of Sharen¡¯s level. ¡°Just be honest, and tell me how you felt. Don¡¯t sugarcoat it.¡± At Isaac¡¯s insistence, Sharen pressed her fingertip to her lips, thinking for a moment. Then, after shooting him a wary look, she finally answered, ¡°I¡­ I was annoyed.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like¡­ you already knew exactly how I¡¯d swing my sword.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°After our third exchange, I tried speeding up on purpose, you know?¡± ¡°Yeah, I noticed.¡± ¡°But you seemed to realize I¡¯d get worked up and speed up¡­ and you responded to it like you were expecting it?¡± He expected this. He figured that if it were Sharen, she¡¯d try to show him the gap in their skills about now¡ªand he was right on the mark. ¡°Ugh, this feels awful¡­ I¨CI¡¯m just tired, that¡¯s all! It¡¯s only been thirty minutes since we finished defending the wall, and then Isaac suddenly wants to spar¡ª!¡± Sharen stuck out her lip in a pout, almost childishly making excuses, clearly unhappy that she¡¯d been completely read. Meanwhile, Isaac was quite pleased. He had already broken two Helmut swords. Sparring with Jonathan was now too easy for him, and he was at a point where he could even eke out a narrow victory against Sharen, who had once been far out of his league. ¡®Of course, that changes the moment she starts using that crimson aura.¡¯ He could handle Jonathan¡¯s weak version of it, but the instant Sharen unleashed hers, the difficulty spiked dramatically. Because of that, Isaac was mulling over what to do about aura-related matters when¡ª ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± An utterly mismatched pair appeared. Rihanna and Silverna were walking toward them side by side. Neither woman even glanced at the other, yet they were headed in the same direction¡ªso they ended up walking together anyway. ¡°Wow, those two really don¡¯t go together.¡± Muttering this under her breath, Sharen drew Isaac¡¯s attention. He remembered something he needed to confirm. ¡°Sharen, you didn¡¯t, by any chance, say anything to Silverna about me and Rihanna, did you?¡± He asked because Jonathan was around, but Sharen jolted with surprise before retorting indignantly, ¡°Wh-what do you take me for? You think I¡¯d blab about that?¡± ¡°You really didn¡¯t?¡± ¡°No! I¡¯m not an idiot!¡± **** ¡°Hey.¡± On their way over to Isaac who was bickering with Sharen, Silverna quietly called out to Rihanna. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Though Rihanna showed no obvious reaction, it wasn¡¯t hard to tell that she was listening. ¡°I¡¯m leaving Isaac out of this dispatch mission.¡± But when Silverna said that, Rihanna finally turned her head to look at her. Then¡ª ¡°That¡¯s wise.¡± She nodded. ¡°If this monster is controlling lightning to that degree, then just being nearby could be dangerous for Isaac.¡± ¡°Right. Seems we agree.¡± They both knew he was working hard. They were sure he¡¯d become an exceptional swordsman someday. However¡ª ¡°It¡¯s too soon.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± He just wasn¡¯t ready to set foot on their battlefield yet. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Both women, who had never quite seen eye-to-eye, were in perfect agreement for the first time¡ªboth wanting to keep one man safe. **** That evening¡­ Silverna rushed over to the forge, wearing only a hastily thrown-on robe, after hearing from Anna that she was being summoned. They didn¡¯t usually operate the forge at night due to noise, so she hurried even more than usual. ¡°Finally?¡± The moment she arrived, she asked Antonio with an eager smile. She still had the face of Isaac burned into her mind¡ªhow he sulked earlier when he found out he wouldn¡¯t be going on the mission. She thought that if she presented him with a new sword, he¡¯d cheer up in no time. ¡°You made it right on time.¡± ¡°No need for formalities. So, is it done? Show me!¡± As Silverna pressed Antonio for an answer, he sighed. ¡°Almost finished, yes. But that¡¯s not why I called you here.¡± ¡°What?¡± Her shoulders, which had been so animated, slumped at once. Her excitement swiftly turned into disappointment. ¡°Then why did you call me?¡± ¡°I still have a bit of Frostsilver left. I was wondering what you wanted to do with it.¡± In his hand, Antonio held a piece of bluish-green ore about the size of a fingertip. ¡°I thought you¡¯d just pocket whatever was left.¡± How surprising, she thought. This old man was actually being up-front about it. ¡°But what can I do with this amount?¡± Antonio clicked his tongue in frustration, looking regretful. He¡¯d probably have kept it for himself if there had been more. ¡°Hrm, with just this much¡­¡± Silverna rolled the Frostsilver around in her hand, thinking it over. Suddenly, an idea seemed to spark. She flinched slightly, then asked tentatively, ¡°Ahem. Antonio? By any chance¡­ can you make rings as well?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°N-no! It¡¯s just¡ªI thought it¡¯d be nice to have a little memento to wear around!¡± ¡°There¡¯s a guy among my apprentices who used to make accessories¡­ but with this amount, we¡¯d barely manage a single ring.¡± It was a disappointing reply. ¡®Well, that¡¯s that. I guess I got ahead of myself. It¡¯s not like I¡¯d be able to wear it anytime soon, anyway¡­¡¯ She was telling herself to rein it in, but the next words out of Silverna¡¯s mouth took a different track entirely. ¡°What about an earring? One that¡¯s meant to be worn on a single ear.¡± Since she usually kept her hair tied back, it wouldn¡¯t be unusual to see her ear exposed every now and then. ¡°That should be possible.¡± When Antonio responded indifferently, Silverna beamed and held out the Frostsilver again. ¡°Please do it. Nothing too flashy¡ªsomething with a more subdued look. That¡¯d suit it best.¡± ¡°¡­Understood.¡± Antonio decided to pretend he hadn¡¯t heard or seen anything and just focused on his hammer. He accepted the request with the thought, ¡®Might as well get to work.¡¯ ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 42: Accumulated Changes Kwaang! Early morning, Rihanna and Isaac are crossing swords. But can anyone even call it a collision? Just before her sword makes contact, Rihanna intentionally relaxes her grip so that Isaac won¡¯t lose his stance. After their sparring session ends¡­ Rihanna walks up to Isaac, who is wiping off his sweat, and calmly asks: ¡°Whenever you swing your sword, you tend to adopt Helmut¡¯s characteristic posture.¡± ¡° ¡­ ¡± ¡°Helmut takes pleasure in overpowering opponents with raw strength, but that¡¯s not really you, is it?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°The sword you wield is like glass art¡ªdelicate and refined. There¡¯s no need to force the style of Helmut¡¯s greatsword onto it.¡± Rihanna had more to add¡ªBecause you¡¯ll be leaving soon¡ªbut she kept that part to herself. She didn¡¯t want to say it out loud. ¡°Don¡¯t be too fixated on it.¡± She hoped Isaac wouldn¡¯t seek Helmut¡¯s approval anymore. There was no meaning in that now. But Isaac rejects her advice. ¡°I have my own goal I¡¯m pursuing with the sword.¡± ¡°A goal you¡¯re pursuing?¡± ¡°Yeah. You might say I¡¯m mimicking right now, and that¡¯d be correct.¡± ¡° ¡­ ¡± Rihanna can tell he¡¯s trying some other method, but she can¡¯t quite grasp what it is. In fact, she wants to ask something else far more: ¡®How in the world did he build up so much knowledge at this level?¡¯ Knowledge of the sword. Every so often, Rihanna is shocked by the insights he reveals in conversation. There¡¯s a depth to it. If borrowing his knowledge is like drawing water from a well, ¡®This isn¡¯t just some well.¡¯ It feels like scooping water straight from the ocean. That¡¯s how profound and pristine Isaac¡¯s knowledge can be. ¡°Isaac, take a look at this.¡± Silverna, who has been practicing her spear on the side, wedges herself between them. ¡°Is this how you meant it the other day? Like raking leaves?¡± Silverna takes her stance and swings her spear in midair. As she slashes downward, the surrounding wind responds sharply, leaving claw-like marks on the drill ground. Isaac props his chin on one hand for a moment, then corrects her stance. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°It¡¯s a bit weak. You¡¯re not putting enough of your weight into it when your front foot lands. You¡¯re keeping up with your stretches, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, I am.¡± ¡°You need flexibility so your body can put power into every movement. Especially since you¡¯re at a disadvantage physically compared to some others.¡± Rihanna, listening in, hangs her head slightly. She herself is in a more advantageous position than most. ¡°It¡¯s all good, but if you get too fixated on a single stance, your application will stay limited. Practice a variety of forms so you can use them in different situations.¡± After hearing Isaac¡¯s advice, Silverna resumes her training. ¡®Amazing.¡¯ He has the poise of someone who has spent years as an instructor. Even Rihanna personally wants to hear what Isaac has to say about her own sword technique¡ª Yet she believes she has no right to ask. ¡°Let¡¯s go another round.¡± When Isaac requests another sparring match, Rihanna nods and grips her greatsword. She thinks ahead to the Sword Festival that is coming soon. In truth, this training won¡¯t mean much if Helmut¡¯s direct line starts brandishing their Red River Aura technique, but¡­ ¡®What is it?¡¯ Isaac¡¯s eyes glow with insight. The calm glimmer in them seems like it would never be extinguished, no matter how fierce the tempest. **** A few days later. Knights from Helmut line up alongside soldiers from the Malidan Barrier. Each unit stands in formation, as if competing over who¡¯s the more elite force. At the head of each force stand the women who represent them: Rihanna Helmut and Silverna Caldias. They look solemn, far more serious than how Isaac usually sees them. Before them all, commanding the entire force, is Uldiran. Mounted atop a massive warhorse, he grips his spear. The rampart¡¯s main gates open. Applause and cheers erupted. Those remaining behind on the rampart see them off with a salute, hoping the war against the demonic beasts will soon be over. After Uldiran¡¯s main force departs, Malidan Barrier feels so empty it¡¯s almost desolate. ¡°It¡¯s really quiet.¡± Jonathan, who remains at the rampart with Isaac, murmurs. Even though they¡¯re staying behind, it doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re off the hook. ¡°It¡¯s only beginning.¡± As the main force advances, they¡¯ll start clearing out the demonic beasts. But they can¡¯t possibly wipe them all out, and their main task is to hunt down the beast responsible for leading the great den. There¡¯ll be stray monsters that slip away¡ªand those will naturally head for the rampart. Which means that until the main force returns, the rampart¡¯s defenses must be tighter than ever. Most of the remaining soldiers will spend nearly all day on the rampart walls, with hardly any breaks. ¡°Did you pack extra blankets? I heard you need at least three, because people might take them.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s going to steal blankets? You can just go back to your quarters and grab them.¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious. I heard if you¡¯re not on good terms with folks, they¡¯ll run off with your underwear or socks.¡± ¡°Have those Helmut knights been feeding you weird rumors?¡± ¡°They said it¡¯s a pretty common thing here on the frontlines.¡± Isaac and Jonathan have already brought over the supplies they¡¯ll need while staying in the rampart. There¡¯s a lot to prepare if they¡¯re going to be eating and sleeping here. ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s freezing.¡± That¡¯s when Sharen Helmut sidles up to them. She was excluded from the main force list, thanks to Rihanna¡¯s recommendation. **** The three of them made their way to the military camp inside the rampart, a space set aside specifically for soldiers. The bedding and luggage they had laid out beforehand were already there, and for Sharen, it was a rather novel environment in which they¡¯d be stuck together for several days. It smelled a bit musty, and they would be rubbing shoulders with the other soldiers, but Sharen had already grown fairly accustomed to life on the front lines. ¡°I¡¯m staying right here!¡± Spreading out her blanket next to the one Isaac had already placed, Sharen staked her claim. On the opposite side, Jonathan had already settled down. He inserted a hot water pouch into his blanket. ¡°Doing this keeps you much warmer. I prepared some for both of you, too.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Jonathan, you have a great sense for this!¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± Jonathan beamed, happy at the praise. It seemed he had come well-prepared, having received advice from the other soldiers he was quartered with. ¡°But it¡¯s freezing in here.¡± Every breath produced a puff of vapor. Even though this was the north, the chill was quite fierce for being indoors. ¡°It¡¯s because of how Malidan Barrier was built.¡± Watching Sharen rub her hands together, Isaac gave her a simple explanation. ¡°Did you know that the cold up here in the north is actually man-made?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Sharen and Jonathan eyed Isaac curiously. ¡°The north was always cold, but never this extreme. It didn¡¯t snow year-round the way it does now.¡± But WWolfdren Caldias, the first head of the Caldias family who built the Malidan Barrier, devised a clever strategy. ¡°He proposed casting magic on the rampart to make it even colder. Hibernating monsters wouldn¡¯t wander in, heavy snowfall would facilitate defense, and it would be easier to spot enemy beasts.¡± ¡°But wouldn¡¯t they themselves be freezing, too?¡± Sharen raised her hand as she asked this. Feeling like a grandfather sharing an old story, Isaac replied: ¡°For Wolfdren, that hardly mattered. He was more committed to blocking the enemy than worrying about his own discomfort.¡± It was a massive construction project. Collaborating with the mage towers wasn¡¯t difficult; they were eager to take on something involving large-scale magic. A convergence of cold and madness. If it meant they could stop their enemies, the Caldias family was willing to endure discomfort themselves. There¡¯s a reason the villages nearby hold the Malidan Barrier in such high regard. ¡°So the chill we¡¯re feeling now is, in a sense, the resolute will of historical figures who swore to defend the kingdom¡ª¡± ¡°Yawn. Jonathan, do we have anything to eat?¡± ¡°I have some bread, but it¡¯s frozen solid.¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m in the middle of explaining here.¡± ¡°Helmut folks have strong teeth. Let me see it.¡± ¡°Here you go.¡± Sharen took the bread from Jonathan¡ªhard enough to be used as a blunt weapon¡ªand took a big bite. ¡°Gaah! My teeeth!¡± Wincing in pain, she tossed the bread away. It struck the wall with a thump, like a stone being thrown. **** ¡°Isaac-nim, time for the shift.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Isaac stirred at Jonathan¡¯s call. He had been on duty until late last night and intended to rest briefly, but ended up sleeping until the next shift. ¡°Sharen, wake up.¡± Isaac nudged Sharen, who was still asleep in his arms. It was so cold inside the rampart that, at some point, the two of them had started sleeping huddled together. ¡°Mmm.¡± Sharen buried her face in his chest and fidgeted back and forth, repeating the motion a few times as she tried to wake up. Eventually, she pulled away. ¡°Feels like I only just closed my eyes. It¡¯s time already?¡± The three of them began preparing for their shift. It had been three days since the main force had set out. Judging by the flashes of lightning in the distance, one could guess their rough position. ¡°I wonder if they¡¯re having a rough time.¡± Isaac didn¡¯t know for sure, but he wasn¡¯t especially worried. From what he¡¯d heard in his previous life, the target was said to be a beast on par with Uldiran. But now Uldiran wasn¡¯t alone¡ªRihanna and Silverna were with him. Handling the main infestation wouldn¡¯t be too difficult. **** The three of them stood atop the rampart, each at their designated post, gazing blankly out beyond the walls. Snow fell upon the snowy-white landscape, with the sun hidden behind the clouds. Kurung! Kurung! Thunder rolled in the distance. It had been rumbling more frequently these days, which was a bit unsettling. ¡°Oh, I think I finally understand what unnie was talking about.¡± Sharen bounced on her toes and grinned. ¡°I can feel the mana now. It¡¯s really there. It¡¯s artificial, too.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Isaac, being rather clueless about these things, couldn¡¯t sense much of a difference. But Sharen was excited that she could now pick up on what Rihanna had experienced. ¡°I can feel it, too! Haha!¡± Even Jonathan chimed in brightly. ¡°What, seriously? Are you messing with me?¡± ¡°Why would I lie about something like this?¡± ¡°Tch, come on. I thought I was special for noticing, but it¡¯s no big deal if even you sensed it.¡± ¡°Now that¡¯s just mean!¡± As Sharen and Jonathan bickered, Isaac gave a bored yawn. ¡°Ha-aah¡ª?¡± So Jonathan could feel it, too? Something about that seemed off. Though he¡¯s a half-transcendent, Jonathan is still mostly human. Sure, it¡¯s no surprise for a Helmut like Sharen to sense something beyond normal bounds, but¡­ Why had Jonathan, who usually noticed nothing, suddenly picked up on this? ¡®Both of them felt mana in that lightning strike?¡¯ ¡®They normally can¡¯t sense anything¡­ so does that mean the lightning itself changed?¡¯ Isaac¡¯s thoughts advanced cautiously, like crossing a stone bridge. ¡®Has it gotten closer?¡¯ Close enough for both Sharen and even Jonathan to sense it? ¡°Ah, here come more of them!¡± ¡°They¡¯re in a complete panic, aren¡¯t they?¡± Sharen and Jonathan pointed to a cluster of demonic beasts rushing toward the rampart. Ever since the main force had gone out, it wasn¡¯t unusual for terrified or lured monsters to come charging in like that. Isaac¡¯s eyes slowly widened. ¡®In my previous life¡­ Uldiran handled this alone.¡¯ It was a grueling fight, but eventually he¡¯d managed a narrow victory. This time was different. Not only did he have Rihanna, but Silverna had also grown considerably stronger. So would the beast, faced with such a clear gap in power, really choose a direct confrontation? Among the fleeing monsters, he spotted a three-meter-tall, humanoid beast covered in blood. A yeti-like creature slipped its hand under the monster¡¯s paw. As if flipping a table, it hurled the monster straight up. Electricity crackled out from the monster¡¯s entire body like a detonator, and in the blink of an eye, the beast landed on the rampart wall and clung there. The yeti, in turn, was scorched to a crisp and died on the spot. ¡°A monster¡¯s on the wall!¡± ¡°It¡¯s clinging on! Knock it down!¡± Kururururung! Lightning struck once again. This time, even Isaac could feel the dense magical energy radiating across the rampart. Just standing on top of the wall made the soles of his feet tingle, as though being singed. The soldiers unlucky enough to be nearby collapsed, either electrocuted or charred black where they stood. The creature that scaled the wall now stood atop the watchtower. It was over three meters tall, its skin an icy white that looked incredibly tough, with four arms and monstrous fangs protruding. Weapons were lodged in its back, and wounds covered its body¡ªclear signs it was fleeing from something. ¡®I was too complacent.¡¯ A lot had changed. Because humanity¡¯s forces had grown so strong, the ¡°lord¡± of the great den opted to run. Normally, nobody would have noticed the electric discharge. But this time, Rihanna caught onto it. Silverna, worried for Isaac, wanted to finish off the great den as quickly as possible and had thus agreed to head out. If one looks at each decision on its own, none of them were really wrong. Rihanna merely reported what she sensed. Silverna and the other strategists suggested a reasonable plan. Uldiran, weighing both sides, judged that heading out was the best course for their forces. But as a result¡ª ¡°Kwaaaaah!¡± They ended up with the worst-case scenario: the ¡°lord¡± of the great den, forced to flee rather than fight, had now made its way to the top of the rampart. Kroong! Kroong! Kroong! From around the beast, bolts of lightning rained down from a clear sky. This living catastrophe pounded its own chest with both hands, roaring in fury. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 43: Wall Defense [Bricalla.] Unlike now. In a calmer, lower voice, Silverna spoke those words. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [It¡¯s the name of the monstrous beast that Wolfdren Caldias, the founder, hunted when he first established his foothold in the north.] ¡®Bricalla?¡¯ [¡°Guardian of the Ice Thunder,¡± I think it meant something along those lines. That¡¯s why the Great Den Lord ended up with the same name.] [It was a disaster of a beast. At the time, I couldn¡¯t even dare stand against it with the skills I had back then.] ¡®That strong?¡¯ [If you¡¯d seen it yourself, you wouldn¡¯t be saying that.] Kwaaaaah! Its roar drowned out the memory of Silverna¡¯s voice. Lightning crashed down from all sides, as though protecting Bricalla. From its perch on the spire, the beast¡¯s gaze settled on the somewhat weakened Malidan Barrier. ¡°R-run away¡ª!¡± Just as Sharen muttered those words, Isaac grabbed her by the back. He shouted through clenched teeth at a terrified Sharen. ¡°If we run, then who¡¯s going to fight that thing?!¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s scary, but we have to do it.¡± If the barrier collapsed here, the front line would be breached. There was no telling how far the damage would spread after that. At the very least, the neighboring villages would almost certainly be annihilated. The only slight advantage was that the beast was already injured. Blood dripped steadily, flowing down the spire. Its roar carried more agony than threat. On the other hand¡­ ¡®Even with a wound like that, it¡¯s still that strong.¡¯ Its thrashing looked like the death throes of a beast, squeezing out every last drop of strength¡ªsomething beyond the norm for any mere monster. ¡°Where¡¯s the captain?¡± They looked around for the company commander to lead the remaining forces. But everyone was too stunned to speak, so Jonathan answered. ¡°H-he was on that spire over there.¡± Even at this distance, the crackling electricity made one¡¯s skin tingle as though paralyzed. If he was directly under the beast, it was fair to assume he was already dead. ¡°Raise your spears!¡± Isaac bellowed, veins bulging in his neck so as not to be drowned out by Bricalla¡¯s thunder. ¡°The main forces are coming! Hold out so it can¡¯t cross the barrier!¡± Having witnessed battle against the transcendents many times, Isaac knew that in chaos like this, it was best to stick to the chain of command. But with the commanding officer¡¯s status unknown and no clear successor, there was only one quick solution: In these situations, whoever could shout the loudest should grab the banner and lead. ¡°Raise your spears!¡± ¡°Protect the barrier!¡± ¡°The main forces will be here soon!¡± As Helmut¡¯s son-in-law and a comrade-in-arms until now, Isaac was someone they trusted. Hearing his rallying cry, they quickly fall in line. At that moment, Bricalla saw them gathering around Isaac and snorting. Electric sparked crackle, Zzzzzz!, with its breath. Electricity flew once more through the beast¡¯s body, making thick veins bulge across its powerful muscles. ¡°Scatter! Scatter¡ª!¡± At the urgent shout, the soldiers sprinted across the barrier, dispersing in all directions. Suddenly¡ªlike a bolt of lightning¡ªBricalla dropped into the very spot where the troops had been massed a moment earlier. Kwaaaaang! Part of the barrier was damaged, but not enough to collapse it entirely. Dust, debris, and static discharge were scattered in all directions. Through it all, Bricalla fixed its gaze on Isaac, standing at the forefront. ¡°Grrrrrr.¡± Zzzzzzzzz! ¡°Ugh!¡± At close range, it was far more than a mere sting. The surge of electricity made it feel nearly impossible to stand, and his eyes burned so badly they felt like they could catch fire. But Isaac couldn¡¯t close his eyes. The moment he does, Bricalla¡¯s fists would slam into his body without mercy. ¡°Red Flame Wave!¡± Everyone else was paralyzed by Bricalla¡¯s electrifying presence¡ªbut the first to act was, surprisingly, the youngest girl here. A crimson aura burst from her greatsword and engulfed Bricalla. The rushing red energy swallowed up the surrounding electric currents as it collided¡ª ¡°Grrrrrrrrrr!¡± ¡ªbut Bricalla swatted it away and, enraged, slammed its fist into the ground. ¡°W-why is it reacting like that?!¡± Sharen yelped at the beast¡¯s excessive response. But Isaac had a hunch. ¡°Rihanna and the knights of Helmut were the main force. It¡¯s probably furious you¡¯re using the same power they did.¡± Among the wounds carved into its body, there was no doubt some of them came from Helmut. Sure enough, Bricalla¡¯s gaze zeroed in on Sharen. Sparks of electricity snorted from its nostrils as it charged in on all fours¡ªfour hands clawing the ground. ¡°Jonathan, help me!¡± ¡°Glory to the great Helmut!¡± Jonathan rushed to Sharen¡¯s side, planting his greatsword into the ground to serve as a wall. Seeing this, Sharen quickly imitated him, bracing her own greatsword with her shoulder. Kwaaang! Bricalla¡¯s fist slammed down on both their swords at once. ¡°Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± They clashed with its monstrous strength head-on and managed to hold. Their two crimson auras burned in distinct shades, forming a sturdy barrier. But the beast had four fists. Bang! Bang! Bang! Once the opportunity arose, Bricalla unleashed a barrage of blows without pause. ¡°Do something already!¡± ¡°I¡¯m gonna die heeere!¡± Before Jonathan and Sharen could even finish shouting, Isaac had already leaped forward. He stepped on Jonathan¡¯s shoulder and soared upward. Suspended in midair, Isaac gazed down at the beast¡¯s head. Despite the crackling electricity assaulting his whole body, he drew the sword at his waist. ¡®This time, I won¡¯t make a mistake.¡¯ He¡¯d practiced over and over, determined to atone for the blunder he made against Nortemus¡ª A single strike, the most powerful move Isaac could perform right now. The moment the blade left its scabbard, the move was called Iaido¡ªthe ¡°quick-draw slash.¡± With silent swiftness, the razor-sharp blade ripped through the air, tearing past the electric discharge to slice at the creature¡¯s thick neck. Rustle! He was certain he cut it. Isaac hadn¡¯t slipped up. If his old master were here, she would¡¯ve applauded such a clean attack. It landed exactly where he intended. Zzzzzz! Yet, on that thick neck, there was only a shallow cut¡ªbarely enough to call a scratch. ¡®The electricity damaged my blade¡­?!¡¯ The sword¡ªlightened at Isaac¡¯s insistence¡ªfailed to endure even that split second of drawing. He wanted it feather-light; it was. But in return, its durability was abysmal. ¡°Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!¡± The beast roars in rage. It knew full well that in that brief instant, it nearly lost its head. One of its four hands, initially poised to smash the greatswords, changed trajectory and flew straight at Isaac. For a fleeting moment, Isaac thought he was dead. But just before the blow connects, the beast¡¯s fist jerked to a stop. Thud! Thud! Thud! While Bricalla was distracted, other soldiers drove their spears into its back. Thanks to them, Isaac¡ªuntouched¡ªmanages to land. He exhaled shakily with relief. ¡°Isaac-nim, you okay?!¡± ¡°Thank goodness!¡± As they rushed to Isaac, who was supporting himself on one hand, he was ready to bite down in frustration for wasting the golden chance they created¡ªthen he mumbled: ¡°¡­Isn¡¯t it cold?¡± Isaac brushed his hand over the ground. His palm still tingled from the electricity, but there was a distinct chill piercing his skin. ¡°Of course it¡¯s col¡ª!¡± Whatever Sharen was about to say died in her mouth. She realized the white mist spreading around them wasn¡¯t just leftover debris¡ªit was something deliberately produced. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± ¡°Argh, it¡¯s freezing!¡± Even their dulled senses, numbed by the fight, felt the biting cold. Isaac¡¯s eyes went wide as he recalled what he once told the two of them: ¡®The first Caldias cast magic on this barrier to manipulate the climate in order to protect the kingdom.¡¯ If something beyond that was happening¡ª The barrier might have detected danger and triggered some dormant spell. Or the beast¡¯s lightning might have destabilized the magic, causing it to go out of control. No matter the cause¡ª ¡°Get off the barrier!¡± It was dangerous to stay here. Crackle! Crackle! Crackle! A hair-raising, freezing sound echoed from somewhere. Their soles felt like they were sticking to the ground. Northern boots were tough and durable, so with force, they managed to pull free¡ªbut if they didn¡¯t leave the barrier soon, they¡¯d be frozen in place. ¡°Grrrr!¡± A shriek from Bricalla erupted behind them. Turning back, they saw it struggling. As it rips its foot free, chunks of flesh tear away, causing it to writhe in pain. The barrier¡¯s cold was affecting the beast, too. ¡®Wait, if I can keep it here¡ª¡¯ They could hold it. They might even freeze it solid for a clean takedown. Besides, going back down with it was riskier. A larger space than the barrier itself would give Bricalla even more room to run wild. ¡®This is surprising.¡¯ Until now, Isaac had only watched his comrades charge into life-or-death battles. They used to call him the ¡°Silent Sword,¡± praising him for his wisdom¡ª But to Isaac, he was just someone standing behind, watching their desperate struggle, thinking how powerless he felt. He had always asked himself: Could he ever be like them? If he was the one holding a sword, forced to fight on the front lines¡­ Could he charge headlong into a blazing inferno without hesitation, even if it might cost him his life? ¡®Truly surprising.¡¯ He hadn¡¯t even had time to decide. Because Isaac was already sprinting toward Bricalla. ¡®All I¡¯ve got left is one sword and Falchion¡­¡¯ The weapon Isaac pulled out was the Falchion. His light sword was useless against the crackling electricity coiled around the beast. Gripping Falchion in both hands, Isaac stood before Bricalla. The creature attempted to flee the barrier by leaping into the castle interior. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going!¡± With a wide slash of Falchion, Isaac cuts across the beast¡¯s thigh. Though the wound was long, blood did not flow. The gash froze over faster than any blood could escape. ¡°Grrrrrrr!¡± Perhaps because of that, Bricalla showed no sign of serious pain. It swats one arm like shooing a fly, trying to knock Isaac aside¡ª But anticipating that, Isaac swiftly pulled back and leveled his sword at the beast. ¡°Grrrrrrr!¡± Another roar. It felt as though Bricalla was demanding to know why Isaac was blocking its escape below the barrier. It was almost as if the creature was saying that if they stayed here, both of them would die. ¡°Hehe.¡± Isaac tried to smirk, but his stiff, frozen cheeks wouldn¡¯t let him. Frost clung to his black hair, and he could feel his body weakening, likely from hypothermia. Still, Isaac did not back down. ¡°Either one of us dies¡ª¡± Or both die. The cold was so harsh it felt like it could freeze his lungs. He couldn¡¯t finish his sentence, but his intent was clear enough. Bricalla, understanding that intent, charged with electric energy bursting around it. And then¡ª From behind Isaac, two shades of Red Aura poured in. ¡°Agh, seriously!¡± Surrounded by a crimson glow, Sharen looked significantly better off than the others. She was using Red River as armor. While that was a common technique, hers was woven more finely and precisely, forming a mesh that partially blocked the supernatural cold. She¡¯d devised this personal style of Red River ever since fighting Pollu and the yeti, so she wouldn¡¯t freeze in battle again. ¡°Why would you just rush in by yourself!¡± As Sharen came closer, Isaac felt warmth returned to his body. Her Aura spread to him, and the trembling in his hands subsided somewhat. Then there was another Red River¡ªdark-red and viscous¡ªbelonging to Jonathan. Usually, it was unstable and full of holes, but now it seems wild and fierce, like a raging beast. Struck by this energy, Bricalla skids backward across the barrier. ¡°Isaac-nim¡ª!¡± Standing beside him, Jonathan¡ªhis eyes entirely black, with no whites¡ªappears in the form Isaac has seen once before. ¡°Hah! Hah! If¡ª! If I turn into one of those transcendent beings, then¡ª!¡± He pleaded tearfully, but Isaac cuffed him on the back of the head and yelled, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say your heart was made of roses?! Snap out of it!¡± At that, Jonathan bites his lip with his elongated fangs and roars, ¡°Ahhhhhh! Glory to the great Helmut! My heart is made of roses!¡± ¡°¡­He¡¯s got some serious issues,¡± muttered Sharen, a direct descendant of Helmut, but Jonathan pretended not to hear. Either way, his fixation on Helmut was what was keeping him sane. The two different colors of Red spread around Isaac, letting him withstand the cold to some extent. ¡°Grrrrr.¡± But to a beast with intelligence, their newfound ¡°heat¡± presents a prime target. Through the softly falling, pale-blue crystals of snow, something swirls in the air. It was mana. So much mana that it was visible to the naked eye gathers around the monster. ¡°Huh!¡± ¡°S-so intense¡­¡± Even Sharen and Jonathan gasped in fear, and though Isaac lacked deep knowledge of magic, he could sense the beast¡¯s enormous mana reservoir prickling his eyes and skin. Then¡ª ¡°Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!¡± A colossal bolt of blue lightning crashed down onto Bricalla¡¯s head, like a raging tempest from above. At first, it looked as though it was harming itself¡ª Indeed, the creature did seem to be taking damage. However¡ª ¡°Grrrrrr!¡± Saliva drips from Bricalla¡¯s jaw. Under normal circumstances, such a detail might seem trivial, but¡ª ¡°It¡¯s not freezing,¡± Isaac muttered, and the other two nodded sharply in realization. The creature¡¯s saliva did not freeze. The electricity now surging across its entire body was far more intense than before. The dense white fog around them couldn¡¯t even approach Bricalla anymore. By injuring itself, the beast had amplified its entire body with electric power, driving out the cold. It was practically¡ª ¡°M-my own technique?¡± Just like Sharen was using Red River to fend off the cold, Bricalla had done the same with its lightning. Now liberated, Bricalla stomped heavily and charged straight for the three of them. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 44: Transcendence A crazed energy, unlike anything felt before, radiated from Bricalla as it lunged forward. Like a warhorse under a whip, it scorched its own body with electricity, forcibly maintaining its awakened state. Charging in on two legs and four arms was enough to make any normal human shrink back in fear. But here stood a man twisted from the bounds of humanity, and he moved before anyone else could. ¡°Glory to Helmut!¡± The Helmut devotee, Jonathan. His greatsword exuded a thick, sticky aura, having morphed into something that was ¡®red¡¯ in name only. Kwaaang! When those two monstrosities collided, aura and electricity scattered in every direction. The balance of power crumbled from the very start. At the moment of impact, Jonathan¡¯s greatsword was knocked back as if it were bouncing off. In passing, the creature trampled and crushed him underfoot. ¡°Grrrrrrrr!¡± ¡°So after all that bluster, that¡¯s it?!¡± Jonathan was overwhelmed in a flash, causing Sharen to react a beat too late. Before her horizontal slash could even be swung, Bricalla flicked away her greatsword with a punch. Eyes wide, Sharen desperately unleashed a burst of red aura from her entire body to resist. ¡°Kyaaah!¡± Yet Sharen too was unable to stop Bricalla¡¯s charge and was thrown against a wall. If her angle had been even slightly off, she would have fallen straight to the ground below. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± From the start, Bricalla¡¯s target had been Isaac. It clearly recognized the sole person here who had nearly taken its life. ¡®No chance of winning if I fight head-on¡­!¡¯ Yet there was nowhere to run. Especially now that Sharen was away, Isaac¡¯s body was once again succumbing to the cold. Thud! He slammed his right foot forward. He let go of the Falchion and placed a hand on the single-bladed sword that remained at his side. [What do you think is the greatest power of your master¡¯s sword?] Fear, he had answered at the time. Isaac had replied without difficulty, and the Grandmaster had chuckled, grumbling: [If you¡¯re too outstanding, it¡¯s hardly cute.] There was no hesitation in Isaac¡¯s action. Despite the cold leaving him trembling, the moment his stiffened hand touched the hilt, he felt a liberating sense of freedom as if by magic. His foe could think. It possessed intelligence, the ability to reason, learn, and grow. And precisely because of that¡ª Thud! Bricalla halted in front of Isaac and spread its four arms wide in cautious defense. ¡®It knows fear because it has learned. It stays on guard because it has knowledge.¡¯ At that moment, Isaac was posing a question: ¡®My drawing slash¡ªcould you truly follow it with your eyes?¡¯ That lightning-quick sword strike it barely blocked before¡ªcould it really do it again? Bricalla, which had previously charged without hesitation, now fixed its gaze on Isaac¡¯s single-bladed sword. It was focused on the exact moment that the blade might be drawn. A bluff. A life-or-death gamble, as if in a card game. ¡®The single-bladed sword?¡¯ If he drew it now, it would be caught up in the electric currents, dulling its edge. It¡¯d become useless, unable to cut anything. But for all Bricalla knew, that sword at Isaac¡¯s hip might be the same one as before. ¡®Reason restrains your movements. Knowledge intensifies your fear.¡¯ Having felt that single possibility on its own skin¡ªterror awakened within fury¡ª Bricalla couldn¡¯t easily rush Isaac again¡­ But of course, that hesitation only lasted a brief moment. ¡°Grrrrrrrrrrr!¡± With a roar, Bricalla slammed its fist into the ground, sending a surge of electricity racing across the barrier toward Isaac. Like a crashing wave, the electricity surged forward. He hurled the Falchion to block it, but it barely mitigated the assault. In the end, Isaac was engulfed by the electric current. ¡°Ughhhhhhh!¡± It felt like his entire body was about to explode. Just moments ago, he had feared freezing to death; now his skin was burning as smoke and the stench of scorched flesh rose from him. ¡°Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!¡± Finally convinced Isaac was completely incapacitated, Bricalla stomped over with thunderous steps and¡ª Thuddd! It smacked Isaac with all its might using the back of its hand. ¡°Isaac!¡± Sharen¡¯s scream rang out. Jonathan, who had been knocked unconscious, snapped awake at the sound, but it was already too late. Isaac was hurled through the air, forced beyond the barrier, and fell straight down. His frozen body felt as though it were shattering on impact. Even the rush of wind against him was agony. ¡®So this is how I die.¡¯ ¡°He¡¯s¡ªfalling¡ª!¡± ¡°Everyone¡ªcatch him¡ª!¡± ¡°Isaac!¡± A voice, cutting in and out like an alias in the distance, was the only thing keeping Isaac tethered to consciousness. Through a foggy, white haze in his vision, he caught a glimpse of the towering barrier walls. ¡®Ah.¡¯ Somehow, without realizing it, Isaac had already reached the ground. Yet there was no pain. He had been certain he¡¯d die on impact. ¡°So you really thought you could pull something off, huh?!¡± He soon realized the reason why. A warm, green mana enveloped his body. The ache beating across every inch of him gradually subsided, as though it were seeping into his skin. His fingers twitched, and the blurriness in his vision returned to normal. It was Vivian, the healer mage from the infirmary. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t used my magic to catch you, there¡¯d have been no chance for treatment! You¡¯d be dead, you know!¡± He shouted through violent coughs as he cast his healing magic. ¡°You told people to run, right¡ª? Cough, cough! So why on earth are you still fighting up there¡ª? Gak! cough!¡± He turned his head to the side and spat up phlegm. Healing magic apparently took a huge toll on its caster. Judging from his gaunt face, he¡¯d nearly depleted all his mana. ¡°Ah.¡± Slowly, Isaac lifted himself up. He was far from fully recovered, but he could move well enough to fight again. ¡°Isaac-nim, are you all right?!¡± The Malidan barrier soldiers standing around him asked anxiously. ¡°What¡¯s the damage?¡± Brushing off bits of ice crystal clinging to his body, Isaac posed the question, and the response came at once: Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Outside of the initial surprise attack, there¡¯s been none. Thanks to your quick thinking and ordering the retreat.¡± It seemed they were eager to reassure him that his decision had been correct. But Isaac pushed past the shoulders of the soldiers blocking his way and trudged toward the barrier. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet.¡± Above them, Sharen and Jonathan were still fighting Bricalla. With heavy steps, he moved forward, only for another group of soldiers to jump in and block him. ¡°You can¡¯t go!¡± ¡°That¡¯s suicide right now!¡± ¡°Let us go instead! Isaac-nim, please rest here!¡± ¡°From the start, it¡¯s our duty to protect the Malidan Barrier!¡± To these men insisting they should go in his place, Isaac glared, his eyes bloodshot, and asked: ¡°You want to climb up there? Do you want us all to freeze to death?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the guardians of the Malidan Barrier. That¡¯s why you have to stay here.¡± Because¡ª ¡°If we die, it¡¯s on you to stop it next.¡± The longer they stayed on the barrier, the more accumulated damage Bricalla would take. If they couldn¡¯t kill it outright, they had to prolong the fight up there, making it wear itself out. ¡°Knowing you¡¯re safe behind me¡­ that¡¯s what lets me risk my life in this fight.¡± The soldiers fell silent, unable to prevent him from advancing. But the person who stepped in front of Isaac was a most unexpected man. ¡°What happened to your other swords?¡± ¡°Antonio¡­¡± As if snatching it away, Antonio grabbed Isaac¡¯s single-bladed sword and drew it. The blade was completely worn away¡ªblackened beyond use. It must have been destroyed along with Isaac when he was hit by that electricity. ¡°My sword¡ª¡± Isaac stretched out his hand. He was demanding the silvery blade Antonio was holding. ¡°I didn¡¯t plan on giving it to you like this.¡± But now wasn¡¯t the time for that. Antonio handed over the silvery single-bladed sword, grappling inwardly with how to express his complex feelings. In the end, he let out a half-hearted laugh, as though dumping all responsibility elsewhere. ¡°Save your thanks¡­ for when you come back. Give them to the young lady in person.¡± Isaac blinked, his eyes widening slightly. The single-bladed sword in his hand was astonishingly light, imbued with a pure, mysterious energy. He recognized at once that it was forged from frostsilver. Isaac gave a small nod and started walking back in, his body rapidly heating up along the way. ¡°Cough! cough¡ª! Guk!¡± One glance at Vivian, who was now practically retching, told him everything. It seemed that at the very last moment, Vivian had cast a heat spell on Isaac to warm him from within. He headed toward the barrier. The soldiers of the Malidan Barrier stepped aside, slowly lifting their hands in salute. They said nothing as they watched the swordsman head off to fight. They only showed him their respect by placing fists to their chests. **** [Enlightenment?] He climbed the steps leading to the top of the barrier. A chill wind crept in once again, numbing his thoughts. At that moment, a nostalgic voice belonging to his Greatmaster echoed in Isaac¡¯s ears. [When did I gain enlightenment, you ask? Hah, I suppose many of our newer disciples are slow to grow, given such questions¡­] The Greatmaster took a swig from her cup and sighed, peering at Isaac with a look that was half lament, half amusement. [When do you think it might¡¯ve been?] Isaac remained silent. [Hmm? Out with it. I promise not to laugh.] ¡®When fighting for one¡¯s life? Swinging your sword with all your might in a desperate bid to survive?¡¯ Isaac ventured. [How romantic!] Well, that was the image most would have, he supposed: Unraveling one¡¯s limits and reaching enlightenment at the most critical moment¡ªon the brink of the abyss. [Let me turn the question around, then.] The Greatmaster, disappointed that her liquor was gone, spun the empty bottle around with regret. Then she straightened and fixed Isaac with a wry smile. [Tell me, then: why when people die?] Isaac didn¡¯t reply. [A life-threatening moment? A mortal crisis? Everyone faces such situations. It¡¯s hardly special. Do you think you¡¯d reach enlightenment every time?] His feet felt heavy. [Everyone dies. Don¡¯t ascribe too much weight to death. Enlightenment is precious because it doesn¡¯t stem from something so common, yes?] The wind pressed down on him as he neared the top of the staircase, as though pushing at his head. Isaac passed the final frost-ridden steps and reached the top of the barrier. [Haha! So how about now? Have you begun to understand?] ¡®What do you mean?¡¯ Isaac wondered. High-altitude winds whipped across his body. A frosty white breath escaped his lips. Amid the swirling white steam, he saw Jonathan and Sharen sprawled on the ground. [Still not getting it? Enlightenment isn¡¯t universal¡ªit¡¯s treasured because it¡¯s so rare. In other words¡­] At that moment, Bricalla, who had been pounding its chest with four arms, abruptly froze. Perhaps annoyed that Isaac had returned yet again, it let out a snort of pent-up rage, roaring furiously in his direction. [¡­Wouldn¡¯t you say true insight comes from situations that are far from ordinary?] Snow tumbled down in clumps as Bricalla hurled lightning in all directions like spears. Even then, Isaac found himself marveling at the sheer volume of mana it still possessed. ¡®What is this thing you¡¯re talking about?¡¯ he asked inwardly. He settled into a stance. His right leg stepped boldly forward. His left leg anchored him like a pillar. His hand floated over the hilt at his waist, and naturally¡ªby sheer habit¡ªhe formed the stance he¡¯d always taken. [¡®What is it?¡¯ you ask¡­?] The Greatmaster¡¯s lips curved in a crescent-moon smile. [Well, you ought to know better than anyone, since you¡¯ve been writing the manuals, no?] [Think of those who wield the sword under the brightest moon. Who were they?] [Those who trained under the watchful stars at dawn¡ªwho were they?] [Those who ended their sessions sweating just as the moon vanished and the sunrise began¡ªwho were they?] [Those who roared their battle cries earlier than the crowing rooster¡ªwho were they?] [And who among them does such training, day in and day out, without fail?] Only a tiny fraction could manage that. Thud! The echo of the Greatmaster¡¯s scabbard striking the floor overlapped with the heavy stomp of Bricalla. In a flash, Isaac regained his clarity, locking eyes with Bricalla, which kept its distance and warily circled him. [That is the one.] Isaac held his breath. [That is the one you speak of, the one who has reached enlightenment¡­] Zzzzzzzzzzt! Lightning crackled all around Bricalla. Like before, it was about to unleash a wave of electricity to keep Isaac from drawing his sword. But in a seamless motion, his blade slid free. Here, in the North¡ª He¡¯d swung his sword under the brightest moon. He¡¯d gripped his sword under the watchful dawn stars. He¡¯d seen the moon fade and the sun rise, all with sweat soaking his skin. He¡¯d let out fierce cries before the roosters awoke. And¡ª He did so every single day. ¡°The moment I draw¡ª¡± He reached beyond the limit. They called it many things¡­ A silvery line was drawn through the air. It stretched, and stretched further still, until it disappeared somewhere beyond sight. That it cleaved the neck of the beast was merely an inevitable part of its path. [Doesn¡¯t calling it ¡®enlightenment¡¯ make it sound trivial?] [Hence, if you must name it¡ª] [Call it Transcendence.] ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 45: Crossed Paths A group of warhorses galloped across the snowy path. Though they were visibly exhausted, their riders showed no intention of stopping, relentlessly urging them on. Leading the charge at the very front were Rihanna Helmut and Silverna Caldias. They even rode ahead of Uldiran, the Supreme Commander. Ignoring the formation altogether, they pressed their horses forward¡ªevidence enough of their urgency. ¡°Why¡¯d you have to let it get away?!¡± Silverna snapped irritably. Because the lord of the Great Den chose to flee from the outset, the battle ended sooner than expected, and their encirclement was breached. Boom! Boommm! Thunder rumbled in the distance. The closer they got to the Malidan Barrier, the more they felt its ruinous mana pricking their skin like sparks. ¡®Isaac.¡¯ Rihanna tightened her grip on the reins. ¡®Please¡­ I beg you.¡¯ She wholeheartedly hoped he had run away. The Lord of the Great Den wasn¡¯t someone Isaac could handle¡ªnot with the forces currently stationed at the barrier, anyway. ¡°Hah! Hah!¡± After riding hard, they finally caught sight of the Malidan Barrier. But the barrier looked nothing like its usual self. Thick white mist swirled around it like clouds, while the ramparts were frozen over with large patches of hoarfrost. Uldiran explained the phenomenon: ¡°It¡¯s the defensive magic of the Barrier. It¡¯s designed to activate automatically when danger arises.¡± No one heard Uldiran add that it would shut off on its own in a few hours. Regardless, its current appearance alone was proof enough that the Malidan Barrier was in a critical state. ¨C-Boom! ¡°Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!¡± A roar consumed by rage, and the crackling sound of lightning striking everywhere like flames. High atop the wall, Bricalla showered lightning down. They were too far to see the figure standing there clearly¡ª All except for one person. ¡°Isaac!¡± Rihanna¡¯s eyes flew wide. The beast¡¯s electric discharge shot toward Isaac without a moment¡¯s hesitation. It could have engulfed him instantly, leaving nothing but ash in its wake. Above the Malidan Barrier, a silver line cut through the air. It was unwavering¡ªbeautiful like ice crystals, as delicate as a master painter¡¯s brushstroke, advancing as though testing its very limit. ¡°Wow.¡± Silverna couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, forgetting the crisis at hand. Uldiran also watched, eyes wide. It wasn¡¯t aura, but a brilliant flash conjured by the sword alone. Those who witnessed it stood frozen, mouths agape in awe. Closest to the scene, Bricalla never even realized it had been cut. Its head hit the ground and, at the same moment, it collapsed to its knees. **** ¡°Ughhhhh!¡± Waking with a start, the first sound from Isaac was a scream of pain. It felt as though his arm was twisting itself apart. He frantically checked his right hand and saw his arm strapped to a splint. ¡°Hah¡­ Hah¡­¡± Despite the limb still being attached, it felt as though his muscles and bones were churning in chaos. Only when he bit down hard did he notice a thick cloth in his mouth¡ªprobably placed there so he wouldn¡¯t bite his tongue in his sleep. ¡°Ptooey.¡± He spat out the cloth and looked around. The surroundings were familiar. He was in the infirmary. ¡°Is¡­ is anyone there?¡± Though he barely managed to call out, he heard hurried footsteps outside. ¡°Isaac?¡± The door swung open to reveal Rihanna. The moment Isaac saw her, he felt an unconscious wave of relief. If Rihanna was here, unhurt, it meant the situation had somewhat stabilized. ¡°Are you all right? How¡¯s your body?¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡ªugh, I¡¯m fine. More importantly¡­ what about that thing?¡± He forced out the words through the throbbing in his right arm. Even in his hazy memory, one image stood out clearly¡ªhe had to confirm if it was real. At Isaac¡¯s question, Rihanna gave a small nod. ¡°It¡¯s dead. You did it.¡± ¡°¡­Right.¡± He hadn¡¯t thought he¡¯d accomplished anything so monumental, but hearing it from Rihanna, who looked on the verge of tears, caused something to swell in his chest. ¡°I really did it.¡± Relief and emptiness coexisted within him. Since returning, he¡¯d fought countless powerful foes in the North, but this was the first time he had faced something so far beyond his level¡ªand won. ¡°I really¡­ did it.¡± Isaac covered his face with his left hand. The surge of emotion was too complex to put into words. Yet hundreds of hours spent making the impossible possible had finally earned him this moment. ¡°I saw your sword.¡± Rihanna, speaking hesitantly, looked at Isaac. With complicated feelings swirling in her eyes, she carefully placed her hand on the right arm that had delivered that miraculous strike. ¡°To be honest¡­ until yesterday, I wished you wouldn¡¯t swing a sword at all.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Because swordsmanship seemed like it was a wound you kept reopening¡ªlike you were clinging to it. Especially seeing you wield a style so different from Helmut¡¯s yet still trying to incorporate Helmut¡¯s techniques.¡± The reason he had accepted sparring with the direct descendants¡ªlittle better than outright violence¡ªwas for the sake of learning. He wanted, one way or another, to become a son-in-law worthy of Helmut. To become someone who would not fall short of the role as Rihanna¡¯s husband. ¡°Do you remember how you were bedridden for a week after sparring with Lohengrin?¡± ¡°I could never forget.¡± A bitter smile formed on Isaac¡¯s face. Lohengrin, who had lost in a spar to Rihanna, deliberately called Isaac out the next day to demand a rematch. Isaac ended up in a terrible state. Afterward, as he lay in bed, Rihanna came to see him with a cold expression. She spoke just one sentence, then left. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to give up the sword?¡± ¡°¡­Right.¡± Rihanna took a moment to steady her breathing. She looked troubled, but knowing she had no right to feel that way, she straightened her expression and continued. ¡°I wanted you to stop pushing yourself. Watching you keep crashing into the rock that is Helmut made me feel like you might shatter at any moment.¡± But now she knew it had been wrong. That she never should have said it. ¡°It was the opposite.¡± Tears formed in Rihanna¡¯s eyes but did not fall, as though she felt unworthy of shedding them. ¡°I¡ª¡± She slowly met Isaac¡¯s gaze, her smile twisting under the sting of regret. ¡°I should have told you¡­ that you could do it.¡± In truth, on the day Rihanna told him to give up¡ª He cried more than anyone would ever know. The person whose approval he wanted most had given up on him, so the flame of his effort, which had burned so fiercely, snuffed out in a disheartening instant. ¡°I didn¡¯t want you to break¡ª¡± Trying to hide her tears, Rihanna covered her eyes with her hand. ¡°And yet I¡ª!¡± Her emotions spilled over, her breath shaking with fiery remorse. ¡°I¡¯m the one who broke you.¡± Hardship is just part of the journey toward moving forward. But the moment you lose the very reason you strive, there¡¯s nothing left but to collapse. For Isaac, Rihanna was that reason. All the other difficulties were simply obstacles to overcome. ¡°Now, I understand.¡± Forcing a smile, Rihanna straightened her back. She sniffled, apologizing for her misunderstanding. ¡°You really have overcome everything¡ªlong before we who hurt you ever noticed your wounds.¡± Already¡ª ¡°You¡¯ve conquered it all.¡± Which is why she realized, so keenly, that there was nothing left she could do for him. ¡°¡­It wasn¡¯t easy.¡± It might look as though he cast aside the misunderstandings that had piled up since he returned, but¡ª S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°To be honest¡­ It was a horrible time.¡± In his previous life, he hadn¡¯t overcome it so readily. After getting his leg injured by Alois¡¯s machinations, he spent a year refusing to see anyone, holed up in his room. There was only one reason. He absolutely did not want Rihanna to see him, stripped of every last shred of possibility. But now¡­ ¡°I¡¯ve always admired your sword, Rihanna.¡± In the end, all of that hardship became something he conquered. The Isaac who had blossomed wasn¡¯t doing it for Helmut, the family that cast him aside¡ª ¡°What did you think of it?¡± He wanted to hear the impressions of the swordswoman who had led him to walk this path. ¡°Truly¡ª¡± Rihanna, forgetting to wipe away her tears as they slid down her cheeks, offered him a bright smile. She recalled that astonishingly magnificent strike she had witnessed. ¡°It was incredible.¡± Rihanna, who was never good with fancy words, had no way to embellish it further. But hearing even that concise reply¡ª ¡°At last.¡± A gentle smile formed on Isaac¡¯s lips. ¡°I¡¯ve finally earned your acknowledgment, Riha.¡± **** ¡°Really¡­ it was incredible.¡± From beyond the door, the moment Silverna heard Rihanna¡¯s tearful confession, she felt unable to breathe. ¡°At last¡­¡± She closed her eyes. She was only listening from outside the infirmary, but in her mind she could see exactly what expression he wore. ¡°I¡¯ve finally earned your acknowledgment, Riha.¡± That reply carried such a clear, open emotion. ¡°¡­¡± Silverna lowered her head. Her falling hair obscured her vision, yet the silver earring resting in her palm remained distinct. She forced back the tears threatening to spill over. Clench. She closed her fist around the earring that Antonio had made, as though trying to hide what she had been about to do only moments earlier. She walked down the corridor, holding her breath under the pretense of not disturbing the two inside. She had something she wanted to say. But she swallowed it¡ªtogether with her tears. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 46: The Revered and Beautiful Goddess Silverna ¡°Then¡­I¡¯ll be going now.¡± Just moments ago, it had been a deeply emotional time. Yet, after only a few minutes, it felt awkward and embarrassing. When Rihanna, carefully gauging the mood, took a step back, Isaac lay back down on the bed as well. ¡°B-be careful on your way out.¡± He wondered why he was even telling her to be careful when she was only heading back to her own room. He didn¡¯t really know himself; it was just something that slipped out. Rihanna placed her hand on the doorknob. She was about to step outside when she hesitated for a moment and then turned her head, ever so cautiously. A soft blush colored her cheeks, and her small voice was as clear as the sound of tapping on a stone bridge. ¡°Um, Isaac¡­.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± He thought she might have something more to say, but in the end, Rihanna just stared at him intently and didn¡¯t continue. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Rihanna?¡± Only when he called her name did Rihanna flinch. Lowering her head as though regretful, she mumbled softly: ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯ll be going now.¡± With that, Rihanna fled as though running away. Watching her go, Isaac let out a sigh, releasing the tension in his body. ¡®Riha.¡¯ That was the pet name he used back when they were dating. He felt both embarrassed and baffled that he had unconsciously let it slip out. ¡®Get it together, Isaac. Don¡¯t let your mind wander.¡¯ He had to admit Rihanna looked mesmerizing. She was one of the famed beauties of the kingdom; what man wouldn¡¯t feel a stir at the sight of her welling tears? But he had crossed that line once before. ¡®Absolutely not.¡¯ Taking a deep breath, Isaac firmly pulled his feelings into check. ¡®As a fellow swordsman, I¡¯m just happy for her¡ªnothing more. After all, I did admire her skills.¡¯ ¡°Ugh.¡± Muttering a small complaint, he kept telling himself to snap out of it. Clunk. Just then, the door opened again, and the head of the infirmary, Vivian, walked in. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve awakened.¡± ¡°Did Rihanna tell you?¡± ¡°Pardon? Oh, no¡ªLady Silverna mentioned it.¡± Silverna? Slightly taken aback, Isaac offered his right arm so Vivian could examine it. ¡°You must still be feeling pain?¡± ¡°Yes, it hurts even now.¡± ¡°To put it simply, you used an egg to crack a boulder.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Your right arm is the egg. It couldn¡¯t handle the enormous impact and shattered. Once my mana is restored, I¡¯ll use healing magic on you¡ªbut there may be lingering aftereffects.¡± Fear struck him. He still remembered all too clearly giving up everything because of an injury in the past. Noticing the shadow that fell over Isaac¡¯s face, Vivian added more explanation: ¡°It couldn¡¯t be helped. Strictly speaking, you handled something you weren¡¯t permitted to.¡± ¡°Is this about talent again?¡± Vivian was practically a worshipper of innate talent. Being a mage, he held a certain superiority complex about those with strong natural gifts. Isaac, who had extremely low mana, producing such a sword strike must have rattled him. ¡°Yes, exactly. It¡¯s about talent.¡± ¡°You saw it with your own eyes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s precisely¡­¡± Vivian pressed a hand to his forehead and spoke with a mix of sighs and discomfort. ¡°That¡¯s precisely why I¡¯m so unsettled. What you showed me looked less like pure talent and more like¡­effort.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Mages usually don¡¯t back down from our convictions. Because we think more than others¡ªagonize more than others¡ªto arrive at our answers!¡± He abruptly turned away to sort some medicine, as if trying to hide his embarrassment. ¡°So just keep this in mind! It¡¯s a big deal for a mage to concede a point. I¡ªI¡¯m not someone who just changes opinions on a whim, you know!¡± Then, using scissors, Vivian cut away the old bandages and splint on Isaac¡¯s right arm, before carefully wrapping it with fresh bandages. ¡°Continue to come for treatment. Only then can we see how far that ¡®effort¡¯ of yours will take you¡­and whether I really got it wrong.¡± Perhaps he¡¯d collected his thoughts by the time he finished bandaging. When Vivian stepped back, the look in his eyes as he regarded Isaac was earnest. ¡°Your figure, climbing that rampart¡­¡± That powerless gait, challenging the impossible¡ª ¡°¡­left a strong impression on me for many reasons.¡± As Vivian turned to return to his duties, Isaac called out to him. ¡°Hey¡ª¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°No matter how bad things have gotten between Husband and wife, is it odd for him to still call her by a pet name?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Vivian turned halfway around, gave Isaac a somewhat baffled look, sniffed once, and nodded. ¡°You really didn¡¯t listen to a word I said, did you.¡± Apologetically, Isaac had to admit he couldn¡¯t quite focus on anything else at the moment. **** The great den crisis was resolved. In celebration, the royal family sent supplies to both congratulate and offer their condolences. As a result, Malidan Barrier was immersed in a festive atmosphere for several days under the guise of a banquet. They lit a massive bonfire in the center of the training grounds and decided everyone could rest until it burned out¡ªexcept for the minimum number of soldiers needed on duty. But this bonfire had logs and even fossil fuels added to it so it wouldn¡¯t die down. It kept burning nonstop for three whole days. It reached a point where Uldiran even started posting sentries in the early morning, suspecting someone might be adding extra fuel just to extend the break. Anyway. Though Malidan Barrier¡ªhard-won through everyone¡¯s efforts¡ªwas enjoying calmer days, the inevitable farewells approached once the great den threat had disappeared. All members of Reconnaissance Team 5 were gathered. Noble delegates sent from various regions were already returning home, and it was time for Melodic Drakemoor to depart as well. Summoned back suddenly by the Drakemore family, he had to leave before they¡¯d even had the chance to share more than a few rounds of drinks together. ¡°Now that I¡¯m actually leaving¡­I feel both relieved and a bit sad.¡± He had come north to gain real combat experience as a promising member of House Drakemore. He certainly gained a wealth of practical skills beyond what was typical for his age¡ªand it had been a time of countless new realizations in many areas. ¡°You worked hard, Melodic.¡± ¡°You too, Captain. Feels like just yesterday that I rushed at you on the very first day.¡± ¡°Lucky for you, you started listening after I gave you a good beating.¡± Grinning, Melodic shook hands with Silverna. He then shook hands with each member in turn, but when he got to Isaac, he clasped his hands around Isaac¡¯s firmly, unlike with the others. ¡°Thanks to you, I learned so much¡ªbeyond just Drakemore¡¯s sword style, I discovered what Melodic¡¯s sword really is. I feel like my eyes have finally opened.¡± His gratitude rang with sincerity, having received countless advice and lessons. Isaac responded with a smile: ¡°Don¡¯t confuse learning with imitation. When you swing your sword, only you exist in that moment.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s something someone once told me. It resonated with me, so I remembered it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Keep in mind that you are a Drakemore. Don¡¯t force yourself to fit some mold¡ªwherever you go, that will become Drakemore¡¯s path.¡± Sniff. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s just the wind.¡± He pretended the wind had blown dust into his eyes, trying to hide his surge of emotion. And so, Melodic Drakemoor departed. Many of the dispatched nobles, sick of the north, had already left early. But this was the first time someone from Reconnaissance Team 5 was leaving. Though they had spent just over a month together, his departure unexpectedly left a void in their hearts. ¡°That line¡­you said something like it to me before, didn¡¯t you?¡± On the way back after seeing Melodic off, Silverna sidled up and asked, ¡°You told me not to forget that I am Caldias.¡± That bit of advice¡ªdon¡¯t force yourself to match Caldias¡¯ spear style; become Caldias yourself¡ªstill lingered deep in her heart, fueling her pride and motivating her further practice. ¡°Who said that to you?¡± ¡°It was written in a book.¡± ¡°A book? Which one?¡± ¡°Please recommend it to me. I really want to see the Lady reading a book,¡± Anna chimed in from the side. At that, Silverna pouted slightly. But Isaac let out a hollow laugh and replied, ¡°You can¡¯t read it. That book doesn¡¯t exist anymore.¡± To elaborate further, it was an autobiography¡ª and also a last will and testament. ¡°Hmm?¡± Silverna didn¡¯t press the issue. She figured even if she got her hands on it, she probably wouldn¡¯t end up reading much of it anyway. ¡°More importantly, Father is calling for you.¡± ¡°The Margrave?¡± ¡°He¡¯s been asking constantly about your condition.¡± Still sporting a splint and bandages on his right arm, Isaac continued receiving treatment whenever possible, though he hadn¡¯t yet received any healing magic. Since that particular spell consumed a lot of mana, it would take several days for the caster¡¯s mana to fully recover. For now, he could only undergo basic medical care. ¡°Did I worry him?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s more like he said he can¡¯t wait to give you a beating.¡± ¡°¡­Because of this?¡± Isaac gestured to the silver blade at his waist¡ªits icy sheen resembling a crystal of frozen light. Arms crossed, Silverna gave a quick nod, a pout on her face. ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Ahem, Silverna, about this¡­¡± ¡°¡®This¡¯? Did you just say ¡®this¡¯? Doesn¡¯t it have a name I gave it?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, then hand it over. I¡¯ll have Antonio melt it down immediately¡ª!¡± ¡°Alright! Alright, I get it!¡± Clearing his throat awkwardly, Isaac glanced around. Anna was watching with an amused grin, and Sharen and Jonathan shot quick looks in their direction. Rihanna had already slipped away at some point, as if fleeing. ¡°So¡­you mean because of this¡­ ¡®Revered and Beautiful Goddess Silverine¡¯ he¡¯s summoning me?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right. ¡®Revered and Beautiful Goddess Silverine¡¯ is basically an offshoot of Frostsilver.¡± ¡°Uh, Silverna¡­ I really appreciate it, but how about we rename it?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Wearing a displeased expression, Silverna strode off past Isaac. ¡°H-hey, Silverna! Wait¡ª!¡± Watching Isaac hastily follow after the seemingly sulking Silverna, Anna gave an inward nod of admiration. ¡®She¡¯s certainly got him by the weak spot.¡¯ **** In the quiet glow of twilight, at the Helmut estate, a letter filled with every sort of flattering language about the North¡¯s victory lay on Arandel¡¯s desk. With the Great Den crisis resolved, the Sword Festival would proceed without a hitch. Though slightly delayed, considering the unique circumstances of the Great Den threat, it was almost a relief. ¡°You called for me, Father.¡± Entering the room was Lohengrin Helmut, the eldest son. He wore a confident smile, his steps buoyant with good news¡ªclearly, he¡¯d also heard the north had dealt with the Great Den. ¡°This is such wonderful news, wouldn¡¯t you say? I¡¯d been worried the Sword Festival might be postponed, but now¡ª¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Arandel cut off his son¡¯s idle chatter, as if he couldn¡¯t even hear him. ¡°What are you wielding?¡± Straightening his shoulders and standing tall, Lohengrin answered with a bright, confident grin: ¡°I¡¯m wielding the sword of Helmut.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Something about that reply seemed off. Under Arandel¡¯s heavy gaze, Lohengrin swallowed nervously and added, ¡°O-of course, when compared to your sword, Father, I¡¯m still lacking, but¡ª!¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± With a short sigh, Arandel closed his eyes briefly, then spoke in a low voice: ¡°Do not become a mere imitator.¡± ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± That was all. Signaling he had nothing more to say, Arandel returned his attention to the letter on his desk. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Left standing in confusion, Lohengrin managed a bow and exited. ¡°What was that supposed to mean¡­?¡± Clenching his fist so tightly it seemed his bones might crack, Lohengrin muttered through a twisted expression: ¡°Helmut is my father¡­¡± Stifling his frustration, Lohengrin headed outside once more for training. Tomorrow, his mother would return. Once she did, he intended to ask her to sound out his father¡¯s inscrutable thoughts. ¡®Mother wants me to become the head of this family, after all.¡¯ ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 47: The Returning Sisters ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Upon hearing that the Margrave had summoned him, Isaac rushed over without hesitation. Despite his reputation as the Guardian of the North, the imposing giant of a man standing in front of him was nothing more than a doting father. ¡°How¡¯s your arm?¡± The question sounded concerned, but the tone was anything but. It felt as though he were testing durability, and Isaac quickly answered: ¡°It¡¯s still not healed. I¡¯ve heard it¡¯s going to take some time.¡± ¡°Hmm!¡± Uldiran let out a blatant sigh of disappointment. Having momentarily set aside his role as the Margrave defending the kingdom, he was acting rather shamelessly. ¡°You didn¡¯t call him here just to say that, did you?¡± Eventually, Seleny Caldias stepped in to mediate. When his wife interjected, Uldiran cleared his throat awkwardly and reached out his hand. Isaac handed over the sword at his waist, titled ¡®The Revered and Beautiful Goddess Silverna.¡¯ After hefting it and swishing it around a few times, Uldiran let out a soft murmur of admiration. ¡°Ho, it¡¯s very light.¡± ¡°I requested it specially. Since I¡¯m not particularly strong, I asked if it could be made as light as possible.¡± ¡°And you compensated for the drop in durability by using Frostsilver?¡± ¡°¡­Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± With that, Uldiran offered the sword to his wife. Seleny took it and walked straight out of the office. It was exactly as Isaac had expected. Even if Silverna had given it to him as a gift, you couldn¡¯t just casually let a Frostsilver weapon leak outside. Especially not to someone from Helmut. Left alone with Isaac, Uldiran looked him over and let out a sigh. ¡°As you know, this isn¡¯t something we can just let go.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°The main issue is that Silverna took it upon herself¡ª¡®personally¡¯¡ªto give you Frostsilver. From my position, I can¡¯t simply overlook this.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± He seemed troubled by the fact that he had to punish his own daughter. And yet, judging from the look on Uldiran¡¯s face, he didn¡¯t appear too displeased at all. ¡°So, as far as anyone is concerned, you never received this sword. We¡¯ll settle it that way.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± If Isaac had never had it in the first place, he wouldn¡¯t have minded. But having tasted it, he now felt its loss even more acutely. He tried his best to hide this feeling, but apparently, Uldiran could see right through him. With a sly grin, he added, ¡°In exchange, we¡¯ll grant it to you in an official ceremony¡ªan award in recognition of your recent accomplishments.¡± ¡°¡­Pardon? What?¡± Maybe he¡¯d planned on seeing a reaction like this all along, because Uldiran¡¯s grin practically reached his ears. For such a hulking man, his expression was as joyful as a five-year-old¡¯s. ¡°I told you. The issue was that it was given out privately. Fortunately, plenty of people witnessed your feats this time.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Well, some folks will grumble about a Frostsilver sword going to the son-in-law of Helmut, but so what? Anyone who wants to complain can come here and say it to my face.¡± It was the audacity of the North, often called the ¡®island of society.¡¯ And given Isaac¡¯s recent achievements in repelling a great den, it was hard to call Uldiran¡¯s actions unjustified. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to the royal family about it. In the meantime, your name might come up here and there, so handle that how you will.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± ¡°Which means, until the official ceremony, we¡¯ll keep the sword in our custody.¡± Isaac was twice as happy to learn that the sword he thought he¡¯d lost would be formally presented to him. He had been concerned about how to explain it once he returned to Helmut. Now, that worry disappeared completely. ¡°I saw your sword strike.¡± With his arms now folded, Uldiran had assumed the posture of a seasoned warrior. Recalling Isaac¡¯s swordsmanship, he let out a half-admiring chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m not about to belittle your skills, but keep in mind that Frostsilver played a big role in that. Understand?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± If Isaac had been wielding a different blade, he might never have achieved such a result. In fact, even if he tried to recreate that moment now with the same sword, there was no guarantee he¡¯d succeed. After all, he¡¯d pushed himself to the point of shattering his arm. Clearly, he¡¯d tapped into a level he wasn¡¯t physically prepared to handle. ¡°Frostsilver is a crystalline ore that can only be mined from caves where cold air collects. Unlike most minerals, it¡¯s imbued with the chill of the North.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Always remember this when you carry the sword: the gathering cold could one day devour you. And also remember not to overstep your bounds with Silverna.¡± ¡°Duly noted¡ª Pardon?¡± Uldiran, his eyes blazing fiercely enough to melt Frostsilver, glared at Isaac and added with a growl, ¡°If you lay a hand on my daughter, my spear made of Frostsilver will bury you in its cold.¡± ¡°Might I remind you, I already have a wife.¡± ¡°Right, right. May the two of you live happily ever after. And if you ever think about messing with Silverna, you¡¯d better be planning on divorce. Got that?¡± ¡°¡­Understood.¡± ¡°Haha! My apologies for even uttering the word ¡®divorce¡¯ to such a devoted couple!¡± Recalling how Rihanna had once knelt for Isaac, Uldiran let out a hearty laugh and gave Isaac a friendly slap on the back. Isaac could only stand there looking embarrassed, choosing to hold his tongue. * * * Two days later. In front of the carriage, Sharen lightly kicks at the ground for no apparent reason. ¡°Such a shame.¡± The wound inflicted by Bricalla had already healed. Once again, the mighty constitution of those from Helmut had proven its worth. And today, Sharen was departing for Helmut after receiving a letter summoning her back for the Sword Festival. Along with a bustling line of carriages, several knights of Helmut were busy making preparations to leave. Sharen felt a twinge of regret about leaving the North. It was her first time staying away from the Helmut estate for so long, and she seemed to have grown fond of the connections and memories she¡¯d made here. She¡¯d certainly endured her share of hardships. Comparing her to how she was upon first arriving in the North, one might say she looked like a completely different person now. ¡°Have Milli make you some star cookies. She¡¯ll bake them right up.¡± ¡°Oh, right! Star cookies!¡± Hearing the reason she¡¯d originally sought him out, Sharen bounced on her heels and grinned brightly. She¡¯d been pouting for a while about not being able to eat anything sweet, but those complaints had faded at some point. Remembering sugary treats again seemed to put her in a good mood. ¡°I want to hurry back and eat them. Isaac, come home soon, too! Let¡¯s eat star cookies together!¡± Isaac could only offer a wry smile at Sharen, who was radiant and carefree. For the record, Isaac would not be returning just yet. Since his right arm was still not fully healed, he had to continue receiving treatment from Vivian. Although one round of healing magic had allowed him to remove the splint and bandages, his injury wasn¡¯t completely healed. Not wanting to risk complications, Vivian insisted on performing healing magic one more time, so he had to stay behind. ¡°I¡¯ll even let you taste my secret cookie stash!¡± Sharen burst out laughing at her own idea, making it sound like a whole lot of fun. Her bright little smile was contagious enough to put a similar expression on Isaac¡¯s face. Life in the North had changed many things. Among them, his view of Sharen had certainly changed. Once a mischievous kid who cared only about herself, she now displayed a hint of nobility, a touch of elegance befitting a fine young lady. Isaac would never forget the image of her back during the battle against Bricalla. If it hadn¡¯t been for Sharen and Jonathan, he would have died before even raising his blade for that decisive strike. Placing his hand gently on her head, Isaac patted her in gratitude. Seemingly pleased, Sharen flashed a bright grin and shook her head to match his gentle hand. ¡°Hehe! Well, I¡¯m off then!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve done great work.¡± With that, Sharen and her maid Kelsey bid farewell and headed for the carriage. Just then, Rihanna naturally stepped forward. Because of the awkwardness that lingered from the last ¡°Riha¡± nickname incident, Isaac cleared his throat unnecessarily and asked, ¡°You¡¯re leaving too?¡± ¡°Mhm. I have to.¡± ¡°What do you think Father will say¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m prepared for whatever he has to say.¡± Isaac pondered how to see her off, but Rihanna spoke first. ¡°I¡¯ve received some rewards for this subjugation.¡± ¡°Huh? But you weren¡¯t here in any official capacity, so you shouldn¡¯t be eligible for any¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. But the Margrave recognized my contributions.¡± Before Bricalla reached the fortifications, Rihanna had played a major role when the situation grew dire. However, since her efforts couldn¡¯t be formally honored, the reward was granted discreetly, off the record¡ªsomething Rihanna had also requested. ¡°All of it¡¯s in your room. Use it.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Curious, Isaac asked, and Rihanna answered calmly, ¡°Some of Bricalla¡¯s bones, a bit of skin, and part of its innards.¡± ¡°¡­You didn¡¯t just dump your trash in my room, did you?¡± Isaac looked exasperated. But Rihanna already had a plan in mind for those materials. ¡°Remember that Rose Elixir Lohengrin gave you before you left?¡± ¡°You mean the heavily diluted stuff?¡± Lohengrin had tried to threaten Rihanna over the ¡®leak¡¯ of the family¡¯s precious elixir, yet Arandel hadn¡¯t really cared about it at all. Even Isaac had no particular use for it and had tossed it into a corner. ¡°Right. Try mixing it together with those materials. Might have some interesting effects.¡± After all, Bricalla possessed monstrous levels of mana. Because the Rose Elixir was diluted, it could serve as a base to combine with something else. ¡°Oh.¡± Impressed by the unexpected bit of advice, Isaac nodded. He could also ask Vivian¡ªas a mage and a doctor¡ªto introduce him to an apothecary, or get help directly. Though he was staying behind for treatment, it looked like it could turn into a surprisingly productive time. ¡°I¡¯ll be going now.¡± ¡°Alright. Thanks.¡± ¡°Take care not to catch a cold, Isaac.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Come to think of it, Sharen had passed along that same message before. ¡°¡­Sure, I¡¯ll be careful.¡± Still, Isaac nodded, appreciative of her concern. Though she felt a little wistful about their brief conversation, being able to speak so normally was already a big step for Rihanna. Rihanna headed for the carriage. There, Silverna was exchanging parting words with Sharen. Rihanna tried to slip past Silverna quietly and board the carriage, but¡ª ¡°Rihanna Helmut.¡± Silverna called out to her specifically. ¡°What is it?¡± Rihanna found Silverna difficult to stomach. She knew full well that Silverna had an interest in Isaac. She also knew she shouldn¡¯t show any reaction to that. Even so, it still made her uneasy. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They stared at each other for a moment. Slowly, Silverna extended her hand, offering a handshake. ¡°You did well out there. It helped a lot¡ªboth for the front lines, and for me personally.¡± ¡°¡­Right.¡± Not expecting a direct show of gratitude, Rihanna accepted her hand. Their gazes briefly locked. ¡°Ouch!¡± Between them, Sharen suddenly let out a dramatic yelp and hurried into the carriage for some reason. Silverna released her hand first and spoke calmly, ¡°No need to drag this out. We¡¯ll be seeing each other again soon anyway.¡± ¡°We will?¡± ¡°The Sword Festival. We received an invitation as well.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Only then did Rihanna realize why Silverna had brought it up. She simply wanted to remind her. A moment earlier, Rihanna had been leaving in slightly higher spirits at the thought that Isaac and Silverna would be parting ways for a while. But¡ª ¡°See you then, Rihanna Helmut.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± For some reason, Rihanna found herself unable to take another step forward. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 48: The Chaos of Helmut ¡°What is this¡­¡­.¡± The moment Isaac stepped inside to check the present from Rihanna, an exclamation slipped out of his mouth. He¡¯d been told it was a bundle of monster intestines, bones, and hides¡ªsomething that would practically reek of decay¡ªbut¡­ Once he actually entered the room, the air was filled not with rotten odors but with a thick, fragrant smell of mana. He could feel the energy coursing through his body, his skin growing dewy. Was this really the kind of environment a corpse from such a vicious monster could create? On the desk sat monster byproducts, and next to them, a massive bone propped upright. Considering the creature¡¯s size, the quantity wasn¡¯t huge, but even this much was invaluable. Byproducts from monsters like Bricalla commanded astonishing prices in and of themselves. ¡°Maybe it¡¯ll be possible after all.¡± Gathering up the byproducts along with the rose elixir he¡¯d received from Lohengrin, Isaac stepped outside. He walked toward Vivian with a hopeful stride. Originally, he had planned to visit him for a routine checkup the next day, but the byproducts from Bricalla sparked a wave of excitement that urged him to act immediately. ¡°Not happening.¡± Vivian responded as if the answer were obvious. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The acrid smell of disinfectant in the infirmary snapped him back to reality. ¡°If it were that easy, the Magic Tower would have figured it out ages ago. Aren¡¯t you seeing the world a bit too simplistically?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I told you before¡ªusing potions for something like this has already been thoroughly researched at the Tower. A person¡¯s constitution isn¡¯t something that changes so easily.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If just eating something beneficial automatically increased everyone¡¯s mana capacity, why would we even talk about talent, or screen people to become mages?¡± Maybe he felt annoyed. Or perhaps he was still upset because Isaac hadn¡¯t listened closely to him last time. In any case, Vivian began a litany of complaints. ¡°So you shouldn¡¯t treat this lightly. Still, leave the intestines and the rose elixir here. I¡¯ll at least ask an apothecary I know to look into it.¡± After about ten minutes of lecturing on talent, mages, and human constitution, he finally said he¡¯d contact an apothecary. One might wonder why he didn¡¯t just agree to help from the start, but compared to how he used to dismiss everything as a waste of time, the fact that he¡¯s even entertaining the idea shows some progress in their relationship. ¡°Hmm.¡± Leaving the medical ward, Isaac checked the remaining materials. He hoisted a bone twice the length of an adult man¡¯s arm onto his shoulder and rolled up the hide like a scroll, hooking it onto the bone. He was reminded of the times he used to fish occasionally while manning the oars. It looked sort of like carrying a fishing rod¡ªthough he¡¯d never been very good at fishing. ¡°Isaac. I was wondering where you went.¡± Silverna, who was looking for him after stopping by his lodging, came upon him outside. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± He thought she might have something important to say, but instead she held out something entirely unexpected. ¡°Here, take this.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Resting on her palm was an earring with a slight silver gleam. There wasn¡¯t much of a design¡ªjust a simple shape. Because Isaac had once wielded a sword made of Frostsilver Ore, he recognized immediately what it was made from. ¡°This is Frostsilver Ore, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yep. I made it with what was left over after forging your sword.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Frostsilver Ore, even in earring form, was still incredibly valuable. He was about to refuse, but Silverna forcibly slipped it into his pouch. Because he was holding that bone, he couldn¡¯t really fight back. ¡°You can wear it around sometime.¡± ¡°And what if people recognize it?¡± Earrings are accessories usually meant to be seen. While he¡¯d managed to get approval to carry around the sword, wearing something like an earring felt more problematic. ¡°Who outside of the North would even recognize Frostsilver Ore?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± She wasn¡¯t wrong. It wasn¡¯t exactly common. At best, only royalty might identify it. ¡®Still, accepting something like this¡­¡¯ Isaac¡¯s expression darkened, prompting Silverna to give his shoulder a light pat and flash a grin. ¡°Can¡¯t we keep it casual? I¡¯ve moved on and don¡¯t mind any of this now, but are you still going to read meaning into every single thing I give you?¡± ¡°Silverna.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s that big a burden, you can hand back the sword too. I guess that¡¯d look like a wedding dowry or something, huh?¡± ¡°Khmm.¡± Isaac reflexively angled his body to shield the sword hilt, blocking any attempt to retrieve it. ¡®Right. Silverna wants to stay friends, so there¡¯s no need for me to make this awkward.¡¯ She said she¡¯d sorted out her feelings, and it would be rude of him to keep fussing about it. So Isaac decided to accept her kindness honestly. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll put it to good use.¡± Earrings, huh? He¡¯d never worn them in his previous life either. ¡®Well, life is about trying new things.¡¯ It¡¯s only his second chance at life; why not have a few more experiences? ¡®Anna was right.¡¯ Meanwhile, Silverna, watching Isaac accept her gift, cheered inwardly. Nowadays, Isaac kept up such a firm guard¡ªusing his ¡°I¡¯m a married man¡± stance to maintain a certain distance. And the more Silverna tried to push, the more likely it was he¡¯d pull away. Hence her new strategy, courtesy of Anna, code-named ¡°We¡¯re Just Friends.¡± [My Lady, remember how Miss Rihanna first grew close to Isaac? They caught each other¡¯s eye while she was rowing the boat as him ferryman.] [You¡¯re in a much better position now. You¡¯ve fought side by side, trusted each other with your lives. Friends can become lovers, and lovers become spouses¡ªthat¡¯s how it goes.] [Stay close to him. You¡¯ve already given him a sword, so you¡¯re in a favorable position. Keep showering him with gifts so it¡¯s hard for him to refuse you later.] [Then, the moment he¡¯s free, you snatch him up!] Though Anna¡¯s approach was rather aggressive, it actually appealed to Silverna. Last time in the infirmary, she¡¯d briefly lost her nerve, feeling like an intruder between Isaac and Rihanna and bolted out. But now that Rihanna was gone, Silverna found it much easier to put her feelings in motion. With a bright smile, she made a suggestion. ¡°I¡¯m off duty right now. Want to go grab a beer?¡± A natural suggestion, and Isaac accepted it with a visibly lighter expression. ¡°Sounds good. I actually have something I want to discuss.¡± ¡°Discuss?¡± Isaac shrugged the shoulder where the bone was slung. ¡°I¡¯ve got an idea about how to use this.¡± ¡°An idea?¡± ¡°Look, if raising your internal mana is difficult, why not find a way to draw it in from an external source¡ª¡± Before they knew it, the two were lost in conversation, sharing opinions. Laughing and chatting as they strolled side by side, they made a surprisingly fitting pair. . . . A few days later, Rihanna and Sharen returned to the family¡¯s main estate, which felt lighter in atmosphere than its usual imposing weight. It was because villagers near Helmut had arrived with tents, preparing street stalls. From royalty to commoners, everyone came to see the Sword Festival. Certain nobles received invitations¡ªthose guests would stay at the Helmut mansion¡ªbut not having an invitation didn¡¯t prevent anyone from viewing the festival. Such was the openness of the Sword Festival. Within Helmut, the Sword Festival was treated as quite a solemn event. But in the nearby towns, it was a once-in-four-years chance for a big payday¡ªa festival through and through. So, the road leading to the mansion was already lined with stalls, and there were even early-arriving visitors enjoying themselves. Arandel allowed it all. Some worried this would diminish the festival¡¯s gravitas, but Arandel was confident: if something so minor undermined the event, that was on them. Besides, with a duty to show Helmut¡¯s swords to the masses, they embraced the festival-like direction that drew people in. When the carriage pulled up in front of the mansion, Rihanna and Sharen got out. ¡°Yaaawn! My body¡¯s so stiff,¡± Sharen said, stretching side to side. She deliberately avoided looking at Rihanna. Their father¡¯s severe punishment was coming, and she didn¡¯t want to get dragged into it. ¡°Uh, should we go say hello?¡± ¡°Yes, Milady,¡± Kelsey replied. Acting as though she was talking to Kelsey, Sharen gave Rihanna a little nudge to go on. As Sharen signaled that they should hurry inside, Rihanna slowly started walking forward¡ª ¡°Big sisterrrrr!¡± A voice they hadn¡¯t heard in about a month. Sharen¡¯s face soured as she turned toward the source, while Rihanna¡¯s formerly placid gaze grew wide. ¡°Big sister! You¡¯re finally back!¡± A tall, handsome man¡ªHelmut¡¯s third son, Alois¡ªapproached with a bright smile to greet Rihanna. ¡°I¡¯m here too, you know,¡± Sharen muttered. But Alois was focused solely on Rihanna. ¡°Are you alright? You¡¯re not hurt anywhere, are you? If you had told me, I would have gone with you! You must have had such a hard time!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I had a hard time too,¡± Sharen mumbled to no avail. ¡°Father is extremely angry, but it¡¯ll be alright. I¡¯ve thought up an excuse we can use!¡± ¡°Mother has returned?¡± ¡°I got hurt too¡­¡± Sharen tried again. ¡°Yes! She¡¯s back!¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Completely ignoring Sharen, Alois paid her no mind. Offended, she finally stalked inside with Kelsey, leaving them behind. ¡°So, she¡¯s really here,¡± Rihanna remarked quietly. ¡°Your timing is perfect. Father is currently meeting the guests Mother brought. So if you just memorize the script I made and follow it exactly¡ª!¡± ¡°Guests?¡± ¡°Yes! I heard they¡¯re from Blackthorn!¡± For a moment, Rihanna¡¯s eyes wavered. Without hesitation, she turned and retrieved her greatsword, Ragnabel, from where it was stowed on the carriage. ¡°Big Sister?¡± Rihanna looked ready to march straight into the mansion, then¡ª ¡°Ah, right. Almost forgot.¡± Just in case. Whoosh! Her greatsword traced a wide arc. Since it was still in its scabbard, it acted more like a blunt weapon than a blade. Crunch! And just like that, both of Alois¡¯s legs were crushed. ¡°Gaaahhh!¡± Alois screamed in agony. Caught so off guard he couldn¡¯t even defend himself, he fell to his knees. ¡°Ugh¡­ B-Big Sister?! What on earth¡ª?!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t have you running off.¡± ¡°Wh-what?! Guh¡­ W-what do you mean?!¡± ¡°You said you had an excuse ready for Father, right? For my sake.¡± Passing her suffering younger brother, Rihanna walked on into the mansion. ¡°You¡¯d better also be prepared to explain why you tried to harm my husband¡­¡± All Alois could do was writhe on the ground, the pain in his broken legs and his sister¡¯s low warning echoing mercilessly in his ears. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 49: Helmut Family In the Helmut¡¯s Mansion. While everyone was so busy preparing for the Sword Festival, Arandel was currently receiving guests. Truthfully, they weren¡¯t guests he particularly wanted to see. He had agreed to meet them only once at the request of his wife, Galenia Helmut, who insisted they could be a great help in the upcoming Sword Festival. And so, Arandel was meeting them now. They were guests from Blackthorn. From Arandel¡¯s perspective¡ªsomeone who had little interest in the weak¡ªBlackthorn was hardly intriguing. In reality, Blackthorn wasn¡¯t the sort of family that got looked down upon. But at least in front of Arandel, no matter how prideful a sword-wielding family they might be, they had no choice but to lower their heads and yield. Because if Arandel considers you weak, Then before him, you are irrevocably deemed weak. The one who came from Blackthorn was their eldest son, Phil Blackthorn. From his outward appearance, he looked every inch the noble¡ªhis straight posture even exuded confidence. However, Arandel could tell that this confidence Phil carried wasn¡¯t truly his own sense of pride. A man had come along with Phil. He was a head taller than Phil, standing quietly by his side with his lips firmly pressed together. Though he seemed like a mere attendant, anyone could see it immediately: This man beside him possessed far greater skill than Blackthorn¡¯s eldest son. ¡°It is an honor to meet the great Helmut. Lady Galenia was gracious enough to arrange this meeting with you, Arandel-nim.¡± Phil Blackthorn bowed politely. Resting his chin on the armrest, Arandel gave no particular reply. It was a gesture that said, I¡¯m busy, so if you have something to say, get straight to the point. Feeling awkward, Phil quickly continued. ¡°Ahem, I¡¯ll be brief. We at Blackthorn believe we can offer what you, Helmut, desire¡ªhence our visit.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Arandel-nim, humans cannot fly. Moreover, humans cannot breathe underwater. Humans cannot survive without sunlight.¡± He certainly was told to get to the point, yet his preamble was still long. It was annoying, like he was reciting a script. A sudden urge came to Arandel¡¯s mind¡ªshould I cut out his tongue?¡ªbut Arandel decided to listen for a moment. How grand must his story be, for him to go on so pompously? ¡°No matter how great a knight you may be, Arandel-nim, in the end, you cannot surpass the limits of humanity.¡± ¡°However! We are different! A power that transcends the limits of mankind! That is what we wish to propose to you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Have you ever heard of the Transcends?¡± Phil Blackthorn¡¯s voice was low and secretive. His tongue flicked inside his mouth like a snake¡¯s, dancing with each word. ¡°Beings beyond human. A race born to dominate all others! They have offered their cooperation to you, Arandel-nim¡ª!¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Arandel cut him off with a sigh. ¡°Not interested.¡± Then he resumed reviewing information about partnerships and street vendors related to the Sword Festival. From just that one curt remark, Phil Blackthorn was so terrified that he could say nothing. He stood there with his lips going dry. Eventually, the man beside him spoke up. ¡°Arandel-nim, have you never wondered about the body of Helmut?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Helmut possesses a blessed physique. A body that can hardly be called human.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But¡­ that¡¯s the same with the Transcends. In fact, true Transcends can easily overpower a physique like Helmut¡¯s.¡± One look at his eyes told Arandel it wasn¡¯t a lie. It meant that among the Transcends, there truly were those who could surpass Helmut. ¡°We believe Helmut is closer to the Transcends than to ordinary humans.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you find it primitive? These so-called nobles, wielding their paltry power to rule over others? To us, they¡¯re all the same.¡± ¡°They¡¯re ants. Whether queen, soldier, or worker¡ªnothing but ants. If you step on them, they crumble.¡± ¡°So, Arandel-nim, join us and claim true freedom¡ª!¡± Arandel slowly rose from his seat and glanced out the window. He saw the Helmut knights and Sharen¡¯s carriage arriving, and realized he needed to make some preparations. Lined up beside his office were greatswords. Arandel grabbed the oldest, most worn-out one and strode forward. Crunch. Seeing that Arandel wasn¡¯t listening to him anymore, the man bared his teeth. He blocked the doorway, breathing heavily. ¡°It seems you still don¡¯t understand.¡± Creak! Creak! Hideous horns sprouted from his head. His skin turned black, his eyes burned crimson, and small wings appeared on his back¡ªhe looked every bit a demon. ¡°Observe our greatness¡ª!¡± His words did not continue. Because his head was already on the floor. Thud. The Transcended couldn¡¯t even utter a final word. Phil Blackthorn, who had been standing by like a bystander, realized what happened only about three seconds later¡ªthat Arandel had swung his sword and killed the Transcended. ¡°H-haaah¡­!¡± Just one step from this man was enough to make the entire mansion seem to tremble. And Phil hadn¡¯t even been able to follow Arandel¡¯s sword swing with his eyes. Yet now, something clicked in Phil¡¯s mind. ¡®I was wondering why they were so obsessed with Arandel!¡¯ He had been puzzled, especially since they had bribed Galenia Helmut just to get this meeting. But seeing it firsthand, he understood. A physique stronger than Helmut? That humans are like ants? In that case¡­ Then there¡¯s no need to persuade Arandel at all, damn it! Finally, he realized it. Although they claimed they were superior, in truth, they feared Arandel. They wanted to recruit him to their side¡ªbecause they were too scared to be his enemy. He only realized it now. After all fates had been sealed. Only at the very moment when his life hung by a thread. If there was any small mercy¡­ Just like the first strike¡­ ¡®What should I do? How do I speak so I can survive?¡¯ Phil Blackthorn failed to notice the second attack as well. ¡¯First, get on my knees! Even as his head flew off and tumbled to the floor, he must have been frantically thinking of ways to survive. Thud! ¡°Father!¡± When Rihanna Helmut pushed open the office door, the first thing she saw were two corpses. Their heads had been neatly severed; blood gurgled from the stumps, pooling beneath them. Standing on top of that crimson puddle was her father. Yet Arandel Helmut did not spare so much as a glance for the dead as he greeted Rihanna. Blood dripped drip, drip from the old greatsword in his hand. ¡°You¡¯ve come, my daughter.¡± ¡°...Father.¡± ¡°You must have expected this when you picked up your sword.¡± And indeed, Rihanna had anticipated it. She gave a small nod and proceeded to unwrap the white bandages binding her Ragnabel¡ªthe makeshift scabbard fully undone. ¡°Don¡¯t bother saying you¡¯ll accept your punishment without complaint.¡± Arandel Helmut cautioned her calmly. ¡°Because you might die.¡± Kwaang! Kwaanggg! A deafening uproar came from within the mansion. Lohengrin Helmut, who had been in the midst of preparing for the Sword Festival, rushed inside in alarm. ¡°W-what in the world is happening?!¡± He had been out doing a quick patrol, overseeing the street stalls and ensuring clear passage through the town. Suddenly, chaos erupted in the mansion. Even the garden, lush with red roses blooming bright, seemed to quake from the impact. Near the mansion¡¯s entrance, family members had gathered. The first sight that caught Lohengrin¡¯s eye was Alois Helmut with a broken leg, and Galenia Helmut tending to him. ¡°Mother, what is going on?!¡± ¡°Lohengrin.¡± Wearing a troubled expression, Galenia Helmut greeted him and replied with a deep sigh. ¡°Rihanna has returned¡­¡± ¡°Ah.¡± That alone said it all. Rihanna had vanished to the front lines without permission, and now that she was back, this was the reprimand she faced. Thud! Claang! The sound of greatswords clashing thundered like a storm. A fierce red glow spilled from the windows, hinting at the severity of the fight inside. ¡®What on earth¡­?¡¯ Lohengrin already knew Rihanna was strong¡ªhe had learned that firsthand in their last spar before she left. He had worked harder ever since, yet he couldn¡¯t help doubting whether he himself would ever be able to meet his father¡¯s blade like that. Sensing his uncertainty, Galenia Helmut gently took Lohengrin¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Mother¡­!¡± ¡°Stand tall, won¡¯t you? Especially since you¡¯re the one who will become the family head.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re right, Mother.¡± Lohengrin steeled his resolve. If he wavered here, what good would that do? At that moment¡ª Boom! The mansion¡¯s massive doors burst off their hinges. Out came Arandel Helmut, gripping Rihanna Helmut by the neck with one hand like a captured prey, evoking the image of a king of beasts. Her hair, tangled and stained with blood and sweat, suggested Rihanna had already lost consciousness. Thud! ¡°Lay her down. Tell her she¡¯s confined until I grant permission otherwise.¡± With that, Arandel Helmut turned back inside. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His greatsword¡ªits blade chipped beyond further use¡ªshowed how fiercely Rihanna must have resisted. Having received treatment, Rihanna Helmut now lay on her bed. Though it had been a while, the familiar scent of roses filled the air, lulling her into momentary repose. She couldn¡¯t leave until the family head granted permission. Half-smirking to herself, she thought it was fortunate she had broken Alois¡¯s leg earlier. Thud. The door opened, and in walked none other than her mother, Galenia Helmut. ¡°...¡± Feigning sleep, Rihanna remained silent, but Galenia only smiled as she approached the bedside. ¡°Why did you do that to Alois?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°He¡¯s a good boy. Even while the mage was healing him, all he did was worry about you.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Well, alright. If you don¡¯t want to answer, that¡¯s fine too.¡± Fully aware that Rihanna was not actually asleep, Galenia smiled softly and stroked her daughter¡¯s hair. ¡°Don¡¯t resent him so much. We¡¯re family, after all.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°My dear daughter, love your family.¡± Wearing a gentle smile, Galenia Helmut caressed Rihanna¡¯s cheek with her hand. ¡°Because you are meant to be the head of this family.¡± ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: What kind of 4D chess this Mama is playing here!! Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 50: Empathy ¡°Because you are meant to be the head of this family.¡± At her mother¡¯s single remark, Rihanna couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and opened her eyes. Her fist clenched so tightly it trembled. When Galenia took a step back to give her some space, Rihanna rose from the bed and fixed her with an accusatory glare, letting out a sigh as she did. ¡°Enough, Mother.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Stop pushing me and Lohengrin together.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Galenia¡¯s expression suddenly changed. The subtle smile forming on her stiff lips was strangely threatening. ¡°That¡¯s my role.¡± ¡°Mother.¡± ¡°To keep Helmut as Helmut. As the lady of this house, it¡¯s my duty¡ªwhy are you trying to stand in my way?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± She knew all along that reasoning with her mother was impossible. But now, Rihanna¡¯s situation has changed. ¡°You heard that Isaac is leaving, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t use Isaac to manipulate me anymore.¡± It felt like her heart was tearing apart. The fact that she had to say these words herself made her feel so sick she wanted to vomit. Even so, Rihanna knew she had to make it clear. ¡°Please, just stop.¡± ¡°How fortunate. I can¡¯t believe a talentless commoner was ever allowed to be the live-in son-in-law of the Helmut family.¡± ¡°Mother!¡± Though Rihanna shouted, Galenia responded with a bright smile and continued with what she wanted to say. ¡°What you showed me today was very impressive. Indeed, you¡¯re far more suited to be the head of the family than Lohengrin¡ª!¡± ¡°Mother, please!¡± ¡°Get a grip, Rihanna!¡± Galenia seized Rihanna by both shoulders and shook her roughly. Because Rihanna looked even smaller than usual, she was easily rattled by her mother¡¯s force. ¡°You are Helmut. The eldest daughter of Helmut, no one else! People who stand at that glorious and grand position must bear its responsibilities!¡± ¡°What on earth¡­ is so grand about this mansion?¡± Slap! Rihanna¡¯s cheek was struck. No matter that she was her daughter¡ªthere were some words a mother simply wouldn¡¯t allow, and this reaction comes from that obsessive sense of propriety. ¡°As the eldest daughter of Helmut, show some dignity. Don¡¯t get any strange ideas.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Slowly approaching, Galenia pulled Rihanna into a gentle embrace. Held tight in her mother¡¯s arms, she couldn¡¯t even manage a reaction. ¡°Rihanna, you take after me.¡± In a low voice, Galenia whispered softly into Rihanna¡¯s ear, her tone somehow tender. ¡°The way you cling to love. Even though you know it¡¯s leading you to ruin, you still can¡¯t let go.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Do you really think anything will change once you divorce that lowly commoner? Do you think your weakness will vanish just like that?¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°Rihanna.¡± Her body trembled. All the tension that had stiffened her frame began to ebb away. ¡°You still look at me with eyes brimming with love¡ªso tell me, what has changed?¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Become the family head. That¡¯s the only way you can truly protect him.¡± Galenia placed a soft kiss on her daughter¡¯s cheek. Despite the harshness of her words, the voice and expression she wore convey something else entirely¡ª It was affection. A parent¡¯s love. And because of that¡ª After Galenia left the room, Rihanna buried her face in her hands and let out a pained breath. If only¡ª She wished there was some other motive behind all this. She wished these actions carried malice. If that were the case, she might have found the courage to cut ties. Back when she was very young¡ª When she didn¡¯t care about the family or anything like that¡ª When she was simply growing up without a care in the world¡ª. [Oh my, our Rihanna. You¡¯re so pretty!] Those beautiful memories. [Huh? You brought that for me? Oh my, you¡¯re such a sweetheart.] Those warm recollections. [Isn¡¯t this vase lovely? I saw it and it reminded me of you, so I bought it.] That tender embrace filled with love. ¡°Why¡­!¡± Why was it exactly the same as back then? She stroked her head, drew her near, pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek. Everything that just happened was the same gentle warmth she felt in childhood. Her mother hasn¡¯t changed in the slightest. Knowing this, Rihanna finds herself incapable of letting go of anything. ¡°Huh¡­¡± The vase that Rihanna¡¯s mother once gave her was still in her room. While she was away, it must not have been cared for properly¡ª Because inside that vase, a single rose was slowly withering away. * * * ¡°Cookie~Cookie~¡± Sitting in a chair, Sharen swings her legs back and forth. Humming lightly as she taps both hands on the table, she looks carefree. ¡°Here you go.¡± When Milli the cook sets down freshly baked star-shaped cookies, still warm, on the table, Sharen beams. ¡°Haah! This is it! I went through so much trouble looking for these when they were right here all along!¡± With Kelsey¡¯s special orange whiskey (juice) by her side, Sharen is fully prepared to celebrate. She¡¯s rewarding herself for all her hard work at the Malidan Barrier. ¡°I never knew my cookies would be such a hit with you, Miss.¡± ¡°I was searching everywhere for these. I never knew where Isaac was getting them from.¡± Crunch, crunch. Sharen munches on the cookies with both cheeks full, wearing a huge smile. Seeing her so happy, the cook and the maid also smile in unison. Just moments ago, an uproar big enough to bring down the Helmut estate wouldn¡¯t have been surprising. But watching this bright, cheerful girl, their tense hearts feel a bit lighter. While Sharen enjoys her cookies, her personal maid, Kelsey, chats briefly with Milli. ¡°It¡¯s a relief that the inside of the mansion is still intact, despite all the commotion.¡± ¡°Perhaps they were mindful of the Sword Festival situation? We have guests inside the mansion, after all.¡± Despite the magnitude of the disturbance, the interior of the mansion remained relatively unscathed. Holding the tray tightly, Milli cautiously asks Kelsey: ¡°You visited the Malidan Barrier, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, it was terribly cold there.¡± ¡°...How was Isaac?¡± Though Milli tries to sound casual, her voice is noticeably tense. Kelsey doesn¡¯t find it strange¡ªMilli is one of the few staff members close to Isaac, especially since she bakes him special cookies. ¡°He was injured, and he went through a lot, but he¡¯s safe now.¡± ¡°He was hurt?¡± ¡°He was on the front lines. He¡¯s running late because he¡¯s receiving healing from a mage, so please don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Haah¡­¡± Only then does Milli exhale a sigh of relief. A faint smile plays on her lips, revealing her relief. ¡°When he returns, I¡¯ll have to make him something nourishing.¡± ¡°The north doesn¡¯t have many food options. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll love that.¡± With menus in the north all more or less the same, Milli starts thinking about what dishes she can serve Isaac once he¡¯s back in Helmut. At least until he leaves¡ªafter the divorce¡ªshe wants to prepare the best meals Helmut can offer. After all, he¡¯d said he¡¯d miss them once he left for the north. ¡°Kelsey! Come over and try this! It¡¯s seriously delicious!¡± Called over by Sharen, Kelsey approaches with a smile. In the past, Sharen would never have dreamed of offering anyone her snacks. ¡°Once you taste it, you¡¯ll understand why I went to such lengths looking for them.¡± ¡®My lady has changed so much.¡¯ There were definitely hardships and dangerous moments, but it¡¯s clear that her experiences in the north have helped Sharen grow. Clatter! ¡°Sharen!!¡± A man breaks the peaceful atmosphere as he strides in. It¡¯s Alois, whose leg was once shattered by Rihanna¡¯s Ragnabel, marching straight into the kitchen. ¡°Umph!? Muh¡­muhuhbbub?!¡± ¡°What are you even saying?! Swallow first!¡± Gulp. ¡°What the¡ª? You can already walk again?!¡± ¡°....¡± ¡°Gulp.¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After swallowing the star-shaped cookie in her mouth, Sharen looks at Alois in wonder and asks. Ironically, her reaction only seems to irritate Alois further. ¡°Quit babbling nonsense and just answer me.¡± ¡°¡­Why are you talking like that?¡± ¡°Shut up and listen!¡± Anyone could see that Alois wasn¡¯t in his right mind. A mix of madness and obsession flickered in his red eyes. His disheveled hair, the drool dribbling from his mouth¡ªeverything pointed to something being very wrong. The smell of disinfectant wafting off him suggested he ran straight here after receiving medical treatment. ¡°What¡­ exactly did my big sister Rihanna hear at the Malidan Barrier?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What did she hear?! Damn it! Does she know I was trying to ruin that commoner bastard?!¡± ¡°Commoner? You mean Isaac?¡± Sharen looks blankly at him. Suddenly, she recalls hearing about the chandelier falling on their wedding anniversary. She also remembers there was some kind of medicine in the cake meant to cause stomach pains. She remembers it because she almost ate the leftovers herself and got scolded by Kelsey. ¡°Isaac? There¡¯s no way that bastard could¡¯ve told her. But my big sister didn¡¯t even listen to my excuses before swinging her sword¡ªshe must be certain! Why?! Who?! Who told her anything?!¡± Veins bulge on Alois¡¯ neck as he yells violently. His heart is pounding so hard it might burst. He¡¯s anxious. If Rihanna becomes certain he tried to harm Isaac, who knows what could happen. But that¡¯s not what truly scares Alois. He doesn¡¯t care if he ends up crippled or loses an arm. The idea of being hated by Rihanna¡ª That tears his heart apart. ¡°Umm¡­¡± Wearing a dazed expression, Sharen takes another bite of her cookie. Realizing the situation is serious, she mulls it over. ¡°Mmm.¡± Crunch, crunch. ¡°So basically¡­¡± Crunch, crunch. ¡°These cookies are really good.¡± ¡°You¡­ fucking bitch! Are you mocking your own brother?! It¡¯s been a while since I¡ªdamn bastard¡ª!¡± ¡°Red Wave!¡± A burst of red aura surges from Sharen¡¯s palm, shoving Alois backward. It¡¯s not strong enough to truly harm someone¡ªit merely pushes him away. Normally, Alois would easily block or endure Sharen¡¯s Red Wave. However, Sharen has grown stronger in the north, and besides, his leg is still injured. ¡°Gah!¡± He topples over, sliding until his back slams into the kitchen door. Even as his fury threatens to obliterate his reason, Sharen¡¯s sharp voice rings out clearly: ¡°Helmut doesn¡¯t listen to the weak!¡± With the star-shaped cookie still in her mouth, Sharen flexes her small biceps in a mock show of strength. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re swaggering with that busted leg?! Come challenge me again once you¡¯re fully healed, rookie!¡± Stuffing the rest of the star cookie into her mouth, Sharen strides out of the kitchen with Kelsey by her side. ¡°Thanks for the cookies, Milli! I¡¯ll count on you next time!¡± ¡°Y-Yes¡­ Miss.¡± ¡°You brat¡­!¡± Alois leaps up, attempting to chase after her, but his injured leg gives out and he collapses back to the floor. ¡°Damn it¡­ damn it all!¡± He slams his fist against the ground in frustration. Though he did receive magical treatment, it hasn¡¯t been enough time for a full recovery. If¡ª If Isaac were here at this moment¡ª He would laugh, smirking in contempt. [I know that feeling all too well.] ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 51: Leaving the North Clunk. Galenia opened the door and stepped into the study. She was the only person in this household who could enter Arandel¡¯s office without knocking. Arandel stood silently with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing out the window. What lay at the end of his line of sight were the street stalls set up by a procession from a nearby village. Even though there had been two corpses here just moments ago, the servants must have worked hard to clear them away, for the interior now wafted with a thick scent of roses. Galenia softly tread across the carpet and approached. Standing behind Arandel, she spoke with a quiet laugh. ¡°Rihanna has grown so much more than I expected.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± He said nothing in return, but the greatsword resting on his desk¡ªa weapon he had just used¡ªwas already an answer in itself. Though her skills were still hardly comparable to Arandel¡¯s, the fact that she had managed to put a scratch on his greatsword spoke volumes about how far she had come. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve decided on Lohengrin as your successor. Do you still have no intention of changing your mind?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I know why you chose Lohengrin as your heir. It¡¯s because of the whole succession issue after Rihanna, right? But Rihanna has already broken off her marriage with Isaac.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°All you need to do now is find her a different match. Someone suitable for our family, so she can have the right child.¡± Galenia¡¯s voice grew hurried. The reason was her unease. Her eyes were filled with both fear and anxiety, and she desperately hoped Arandel would give her the answer she wanted. ¡°Make Rihanna the head of the family. And¡­ and then¡­¡± She cautiously reached for Arandel¡¯s hand. The moment her fingers touched his thick hand, still clasped behind his back, her cheeks flushed red. ¡°Let¡¯s leave.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If Rihanna becomes head of the family, then you won¡¯t have to worry about Helmut. After all, the commoner son-in-law¡ªour biggest blemish¡ªhas already decided to leave.¡± Now her voice was tinged with tears. Gripping his hand tightly, she pleaded urgently. ¡°Is it because of the Sword Festival? Rihanna is married, so she can¡¯t participate. But what does it matter? The Sword Festival is just a celebration! And the announcement of the successor is entirely up to you anyway!¡± She covered both of Arandel¡¯s hands with hers. Her trembling hands conveyed both her desperation and warmth. ¡°If Lohengrin becomes head of the family, could you leave the mansion? You couldn¡¯t, could you?! Because it wouldn¡¯t be the ¡®great Helmut¡¯ you envisioned!¡± So¡ª ¡°Please, make Rihanna the head of the family.¡± Leaning her forehead against his back, Galenia pleaded through tears. ¡°You have to stay alive, first and foremost.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Let Rihanna take over, and come with me. There must be a way to save you. They say those people use mysterious powers and excel at medicine.¡± Arandel took a short, measured breath. Finally, he turned to look down at his wife. ¡°Will you? Please? I¡¯m begging you.¡± His wife implored him, yet Arandel responded in his usual calm manner. ¡°Did you really think such people could save me?¡± ¡°They can! I saw it myself at Blackthorn! They¡¯re¡­ they¡¯re something beyond human! They use rituals, not magic!¡± ¡°How do you know them?¡± ¡°You have nothing to worry about. I never told them about your condition. They don¡¯t even know we need them.¡± On the contrary, Galenia had orchestrated a situation in which the Transcendants found themselves wanting Arandel. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Once the Sword Festival ends¡­ let¡¯s leave on the Helmut carriage. We¡¯ll see flowers, the moon, take walks like we¡¯re on a picnic¡­ we can live like that¡ª.¡± Galenia smiled faintly, as if picturing that day. ¡°We can become Transcendants. Their rituals are different from magic, so I¡¯m sure it can cure your illness.¡± Although he had killed the two who came as envoys, it would only serve as a striking show of Arandel¡¯s might. Realizing just how valuable he was, the Transcendants would all the more want to bring him into their fold. Arandel listened and could guess everything Galenia had prepared in advance. He wondered how much she had been involved, or how many years she had spent putting this all together. He felt momentarily distant from it all, but¡ª ¡°I refuse.¡± In a single instant, his reply demolished all of Galenia¡¯s carefully laid plans. * * * Thud, thud! Thud, thud! From the very sound of her footsteps, one could sense the unusual tension filling the mansion. Galenia had reddened eyes, but she paid it no mind. The servants she passed immediately bowed their heads and watched her warily as soon as she walked by. For the household staff, the fact that Galenia¡ªwho was normally gentle and kind¡ªseemed agitated was akin to a state of emergency. Those who crossed paths with Galenia quickly relayed the situation to the other servants, warning them to tread carefully. Exiting the mansion, Galenia followed the smell of sweat drifting among the blooming roses. There she found Lohengrin, swinging his greatsword. ¡°Mother?¡± Lohengrin set down his sword and wiped away his sweat. Watching Rihanna and Arandel had pushed him to train harder than usual. ¡°Is something wrong, Mother? Your eyes¡ª¡± ¡°My son.¡± Galenia fixed her gaze on Lohengrin, clenching her fists. ¡°You know I love you, right?¡± ¡°Mother?¡± ¡°No matter what, become the head of this family.¡± Lohengrin unconsciously tensed at the intensity in her words¡ªhe had never heard her speak so firmly before. ¡°Become the family head. By any means necessary.¡± ¡°Mother, in truth¡ª¡± ¡°I know what worries you. It¡¯s Rihanna, isn¡¯t it? You¡¯re concerned about her real abilities.¡± Lohengrin fell silent. Even before Rihanna left, he had suffered a crushing defeat. And after she returned, seeing her cross swords with Arandel only eroded his confidence further. ¡°It¡¯s all right. You can do this. Use any means you must. You are the true heir. You must become the head of Helmut.¡± ¡°Mother¡­!¡± Lohengrin looked at Galenia with an overwhelmed expression. Gripping his fists, he nodded. ¡°I will become the head of this family, no matter what it takes. I¡¯ll make you proud, Mother.¡± As he vowed to do anything to become the family head, a single face naturally rose in Lohengrin¡¯s mind. The man who could be called Rihanna¡¯s weakness. ¡°My son¡­¡± Galenia embraced Lohengrin tearfully. Even though he was drenched in sweat, she didn¡¯t seem to care in the least. ¡°Oh, my son.¡± She stroked his hair, her next words as pained as if she were slicing off her own arm. ¡°I really do love you.¡± But if asked whom she loved more¡ª She would answer Arandel. ¡°Hold on to that desperation.¡± So fight Rihanna with all your strength¡ª And be broken for good. So thoroughly that you can never become the family head. Ruin yourself, completely. ***** Blub blurp blup blup- In Helmut¡¯s kitchen, Milli was tending a large pot, diligently boiling a stock. She stirred it with a wooden spatula. But it was no ordinary stock. She had gathered only the most expensive and high-quality parts¡ªoxtail, knee bones, rib bones¡ªand added medicinal herbs wrapped in a mesh bag to brew them all together. ¡°Hehe.¡± She was preparing the finest meal for him when he returned from the North. It must have been cold there, so Milli planned to welcome him with a warm stew, carefully concocted to offer the richest flavor. She had already arranged for the best cuts of meat, planning to receive them fresh on the day she made the stew, ensuring only the freshest ingredients for his meal. ¡°Whew, you¡¯re working hard. I¡¯m heading out first.¡± ¡°Yes, Chef. You worked hard today.¡± Late at night, everyone else left the kitchen, but Milli kept stirring the spatula. Worried even a single drop of her sweat might drip in, she wiped her forehead with a towel and stayed focused. Creak. The door opened quietly. ¡°Did you leave something be¡ª¡± Milli, thinking the head chef had returned, froze as she recognized who had come in. ¡°M-Milady Galenia.¡± She hastily set down the spatula and bowed to greet her. Naturally, Milli had heard the rumors that Galenia was in a foul mood tonight. Perhaps that was why¡ª Milli couldn¡¯t even lift her head, anxiety knotting her stomach. Thud. A small, purple pouch dropped onto the kitchen floor. Small enough to be held in one hand. Milli¡¯s eyes flew open, and she hastily looked up. She knew exactly what this was. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± ¡°If I give you the signal, put this into Isaac¡¯s food,¡± said Galenia. ¡°My lady, that¡¯s¡ª!¡± ¡°You must do it. It¡¯s the only way to control Rihanna.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°You talk too much.¡± Galenia silenced her with a vicious glare that brimmed with murderous intent. ¡°If you get kicked out of here, who¡¯s going to take care of your family?¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Milli¡¯s entire body trembled. Fear and dread loomed over her as she swallowed hard. Her family¡¯s faces flickered through her mind. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. You have nothing to worry about.¡± Having already seized Milli¡¯s heart, Galenia offered her a snake-like smile of reassurance. ¡°You¡¯ve done it once before, haven¡¯t you?¡± Thud, thud. Thud, thud Galenia walked off, her footsteps echoing in the corridor. Left alone, Milli squeezed her eyes shut. She could still hear the screams from four years ago ringing painfully in her ears. [?!Isaac! Isaac-!] She never imagined that a woman could shed so many tears. In those eyes¡ªred as blood¡ªruby-like drops fell relentlessly. The sound of her voice, tearing at her throat, was a desperate plea for him to regain consciousness. [Save him! Why! Why on earth are you doing this!] She must have repeated those words countless times. And each time, the doctors and mages offered the same reply: [ W-we¡¯re not certain. If you look at the symptoms alone, they hardly differ from a cold, but something is¡­ strange. ] [ Magic isn¡¯t working either. In truth, magic is best for external injuries¡ª ] [Isaac-!] Those anguished screams. That desperate cry, shredding her throat. And then¡ª Milli herself had made it happen. **** ¡°Achoo!¡± ¡°What¡¯s that, a cold?¡± Isaac sniffled and shook his head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so. My nose just suddenly felt itchy.¡± ¡°Take care of yourself. We¡¯re leaving soon, and if you go there sniffling, people in the North will think everyone down here always has a cold.¡± Silverna¡¯s remark drew a smirk from Isaac. A cold, huh? ¡®Come to think of it, I was constantly being told to be careful.¡¯ [Be careful not to catch a cold!] [Be careful?] [N-no! I mean¡ªtake care of yourself!] Even through Sharen, Rihanna had sent him warm tea and towels, telling him to guard against the cold. [Don¡¯t catch a cold, Isaac.] Before he left for the North, Rihanna had reminded him one last time to watch out for colds. ¡®If after all that I still come down with a cold, I really won¡¯t have an excuse.¡¯ He rubbed his hands together and eyed the carriage¡ªthe same one they¡¯d arrived in¡ªwhere Jonathan was busy loading up baggage. ¡°No need for a long, dramatic farewell, right?¡± he said to Silverna, who was standing beside him. She responded by giving him a hearty slap on the back and a nod. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll join you soon enough anyway.¡± They¡¯d be meeting again at the Sword Festival, so there was no point in a lengthy send-off. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Isaac, we¡¯re ready to leave!¡± came the call. ¡°All right, let¡¯s go.¡± As Isaac took a step toward the carriage, a round of cheers erupted behind him. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard, Isaac-nim!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll never forget that day!¡± ¡°Come visit us anytime, Isaac-nim! You¡¯re always welcome here!¡± ¡°Next time you come, I¡¯ll show you some spear work that¡¯ll blow your mind!¡± It was a rousing send-off from the soldiers of Malidan. Off to the side, Seleny pinched Uldiran¡¯s side, as he gave Isaac a tense look that seemed to say, ¡°Hurry up and go already.¡± And at the very front¡ª ¡°Take care, Isaac!¡± Silverna, smiling brightly, waved her hand. Receiving their lively send-off, Isaac set off once again for Helmut. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 52: A Special Woman (1) Silverna stood there, staring blankly until Helmut¡¯s departing carriage vanished from view. Everyone else had already turned around and gone back to their usual routines, but Silverna remained rooted to the spot. Worried that she¡¯d stay there until the carriage completely disappeared from sight, Anna gently tugged at her arm. ¡°Milady? Your eyes are going to fall out at this rate.¡± ¡°Hmm. It¡¯s a strange feeling.¡± ¡°Why? You miss him already, even though you just said goodbye?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Oh my, so honest!¡± Anna was flustered by the unexpectedly bold answer. Now that Isaac had left, Silverna didn¡¯t seem to feel any need to hide her feelings. Anna gave her a little warning. ¡°You¡¯ll see him again at the Sword Festival anyway.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°In that case, you might as well have confessed again before he left.¡± Hadn¡¯t she intentionally acted like a casual friend all this time, paving the way for what might happen after the festival? Anna teased her with a mischievous grin, but Silverna let out a bitter sigh. ¡°If I did it now, I already know the answer.¡± ¡°...I¡¯m sorry.¡± Anna apologized, realizing she¡¯d spoken too lightly about Silverna¡¯s genuine feelings. But Silverna just brushed it off casually, saying it was no big deal. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Besides, you¡¯re right¡ªwe¡¯ll be meeting again soon at the festival.¡± ¡°Exactly! And this time, you¡¯ve got to grab hold of him for sure! I¡¯ve even prepared a special outfit just for you, Milady.¡± ¡°...An outfit?¡± ¡°Yes! I noticed Isaac-nim seems to like the cute type.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Suddenly, Silverna put her hands on her hips, stuck her rear out a little, and winked. ¡°Is this¡­ cute?¡± ¡°You look more like a middle-aged woman pretending to be cute.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still in my twenties!¡± Silverna stomped inside in a huff, while Anna burst out laughing. ¡°But really, Milady, where did you learn that pose?¡± ¡°Huh? W-Well, Sharen used to do it sometimes, you know. She¡¯d say, ¡®I¡¯m cute!¡¯ or something like that.¡± ¡°Pfft! Seriously? Huh, why didn¡¯t I ever see that?¡± ¡°Anyway, why do you think Isaac likes cute girls?¡± ¡°Because Rihanna gives off a cute beauty vibe, right?¡± ¡°She does?¡± Silverna pictured Rihanna¡¯s perpetual stoicism and chilly demeanor. She found it hard to imagine what part of Rihanna anyone would call ¡®cute.¡¯ ¡°Oh, Milady, we have to assume he likes the cute type! If it turned out he preferred something else, you¡¯d have no chance.¡± ¡°What ¡®something else¡¯?¡± ¡°For example, if he liked, you know, small-chested women, there¡¯d be no way you could win.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you have to go cute. Try it: Kyaa!¡± Anna suddenly lifted one leg, made a V-sign with her hand, and held it up by her eye. Silverna looked bewildered but imitated her awkwardly. ¡°Ky¡­ ky-kyaa?!¡± Her cheeks flushed red, and her ample chest bounced with the motion. Anna clicked her tongue at the sight. ¡°Tsk, if Isaac-nim saw that, he¡¯d be a goner for sure.¡± ¡°I feel really embarrassed somehow.¡± ¡°The Sword Festival is your battleground. When you show him this side of you, he¡¯ll think, ¡®Huh? Was she always this cute?¡¯ That¡¯s the reaction we¡¯re after, got it?¡± ¡°Ky-kyaa?!¡± ¡°See? Milady, you learn fast.¡± Anna, who learned about romance only through books, and Silverna, who never had any such learning at all, continued chatting in their own way, preparing for the upcoming festival. **** ¡°Isaac-nim, what kind of women do you like?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Crackle, crackle. It had been three days since they left the Malidan Barrier. Night had fallen, so they¡¯d stopped the carriage to camp. Sitting around the bonfire, Jonathan suddenly asked this out of the blue. ¡°Tell me I just misheard you.¡± Trying to steer the conversation elsewhere, Isaac dropped a hint, but the oblivious Jonathan just repeated himself, unbothered. ¡°No, I asked what kind of women you prefer.¡± ¡°...You do realize I¡¯m a married man, right?¡± ¡°What does having a wife have to do with your taste in women?¡± Is it because he¡¯s half Transcendent? He could be unexpectedly sharp in areas one wouldn¡¯t anticipate. ¡°I never thought you¡¯d be interested in women. Why? Need some advice?¡± Isaac was all ready to lecture him about devoting himself to knighthood under Helmut, but Jonathan just stared blankly and replied: ¡°Nah, I just wanted to ask. Back when I was at the church, this was the usual topic whenever the men got together.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Besides, we¡¯ve run out of things to talk about, haven¡¯t we?¡± He wasn¡¯t wrong. Just a moment ago, the two men had been silently gazing into the fire, not saying a word. ¡°Jonathan, how about we spar a bit?¡± Isaac stood up abruptly. Jonathan jumped to his feet and grabbed his greatsword. Isaac went over to the carriage and began untying a bundle. Inside were several daggers¡ªall crafted by Antonio. He grabbed one and stepped in front of the bonfire. Seeing this, Jonathan furrowed his brow and pouted. ¡°You¡¯re not using White Snow?¡± White Snow, a sword forged from Frost Silver Light, was now officially named ¡°White Snow¡± instead of ¡°The Revered and Beautiful Goddess Silverna,¡± which was just too much to keep using. ¡°If I use the same weapon all the time, I¡¯ll start relying on it too much.¡± With a grin, Isaac replied, and Jonathan gulped, gathering his strength. ¡°Grrr¡ªooohhh!¡± ¡°What a commotion you make.¡± Jonathan¡¯s Red Aura, riddled with holes, thickened into a sticky swamp-like consistency. Because he was wielding the power of the Transcendent race, it had naturally taken on a hue closer to black. ¡°Today, I¡¯m going to win!¡± Though Jonathan¡¯s fangs had grown razor-sharp and he shouted confidently, Isaac simply drew his sword and smiled. ¡°As long as you¡¯re using Helmut¡¯s style of swordsmanship, beating me won¡¯t be so easy.¡± **** A few days later. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Upon returning to Helmut¡¯s territory, Isaac found it in a completely different state than when he¡¯d left. The rich scent of blooming roses seemed to fill the entire domain, and the sounds of people talking never ceased. Heading toward Helmut¡¯s mansion, they passed rows of bustling street stalls on either side of the road. It already felt like the festival had begun. ¡°Wow, this is my first Sword Festival. I had no idea it would be so lively!¡± Jonathan looked around with an excited grin. Though he was nervous about handling the reins improperly, Isaac was also taken aback by the scene. ¡°It¡¯s my first time, too.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah. Four years ago, when I got married, it was after the festival had already ended.¡± And in his previous life around this same time... his leg had been shattered, and he¡¯d shut himself away from the world. It was a period he hated recalling more than anything, when he¡¯d felt utterly pathetic. ¡°How about we look around a bit? Once we go into the mansion, we won¡¯t have a chance to explore outside.¡± At Isaac¡¯s suggestion, Jonathan eagerly began searching for a spot to park the carriage. He borrowed a large tarp from a nearby vendor and covered the carriage, hiding it from sight. ¡°A festival, huh? This is my first time.¡± ¡°Really? It¡¯s surprisingly fun.¡± Isaac considered whether he should give Jonathan some pocket money, but remembered that he was a knight, after all. His wages weren¡¯t lacking, so he simply hummed to himself while taking in the surroundings. ¡°Isaac-nim, have you gone to many festivals?¡± ¡°I used to go to some before I got married. Sometimes guests would drag me along, or friends would invite me.¡± ¡°Oh...¡± Jonathan gave an admiring sigh before halting in his tracks, asking a question that had just crossed his mind: ¡°Those ¡®guests¡¯ or ¡®friends¡¯¡ªwere they women?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just get the feeling they were.¡± Isaac didn¡¯t answer and kept walking, so Jonathan followed behind him with a sly grin. ¡°As expected from Isaac-nim. You¡¯re not handsome for no reason.¡± ¡°We¡¯re getting a bit too familiar, aren¡¯t we? You sure are comfortable.¡± ¡°S-Sorry!¡± Though Isaac scolded him, Jonathan couldn¡¯t wipe the smile off his face. They wandered about the festival together, half amused, when suddenly¡ª ¡°Ah, no, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose!¡± It was an unusual woman. She stood out immediately: flawless skin suggesting she¡¯d never known hardship, and blonde hair you¡¯d see fairly often¡ªyet there was an indescribable quality that made everyone else¡¯s blonde look fake by comparison. Her hair reached down to her waist, and her clothing and accessories had the rough look of a seasoned adventurer, creating a strange sense of mismatch. It seemed she was in some kind of dispute with a street vendor. ¡°Tsk, tsk. You¡¯re a grown woman; don¡¯t cause trouble, huh?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to get out of paying.¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°There was just an accident I didn¡¯t intend. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t have money¡ªI just don¡¯t have it on me right now.¡± ¡°...What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°But obviously I can¡¯t just walk away without paying. So I¡¯ll give you something more valuable than money.¡± More valuable than money, especially to a street vendor¡ªwhat could that be? ¡°You say you sell crispy grilled skewers, but they¡¯re not crispy at all. You used chicken, right? There¡¯s nothing particularly special about it. Actually, it smells a bit gamey.¡± ¡°It¡¯s also badly charred. Because you pre-cooked it and let it sit, it got cold, which makes the off-flavor even worse. Plus, since you grilled the skewer itself, I ended up with some splinters in my mouth while eating.¡± ¡°The seasoning on each skewer is inconsistent, the quality of the meat is mediocre, and for that quality, the price is definitely too high.¡± ¡°I have more to say, but this should be worth at least the price of one skewer¡ª¡± She winked, flashing the vendor a smirk. ¡°If you take my advice to heart and improve, your stall could end up being the most popular¡ª!¡± ¡°Just give me the money, you little¡ª!¡± ¡°Eek?! H-Hey, I just paid you with advice! Gah?! That hurts!¡± The vendor grabbed her by the hair and yanked her around. The woman flailed, trying to figure out how to escape from his grip. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 53: A Special Woman (2) ¡°Aaagh?! H-hey, mister?! I just paid you, didn¡¯t I?! Kyaaah!? That hurts!¡± The street vendor yanked her by the hair without warning. The woman flailed in alarm, trying desperately to figure out how to break free. ¡°Ugh, seriously.¡± As more and more onlookers gathered, Isaac stepped forward and held out some coins. ¡°Hey, shopkeeper. Here. I¡¯ll pay for it.¡± ¡°No way! This wench needs more than money¡ªshe needs a lesson! Who do you think you are, interfering in my business¡ª?!¡± ¡°My companion and I will eat as well, so let¡¯s end this here.¡± ¡°He-hehe, hello there!¡± Jonathan, who was standing behind Isaac, waved in greeting. Seeing that Jonathan was wearing the armor of a Helmut knight, the vendor let go of the woman¡¯s hair and quietly accepted the money. Isaac, the woman, and the skewers all moved between the stalls, stepping into a narrow gap formed by the row of carts. ¡°Ugh, thank you for stepping in. But please, have a bite of these skewers. You¡¯ll realize that what I said was absolutely true¡ª!¡± Still somewhat dazed, the woman began to speak but suddenly fixed her gaze on Isaac¡¯s face. ¡°¡­Is she falling for you?¡± ¡°Shut up, would you?¡± Isaac silenced Jonathan, who had whispered in his ear, by nudging him with an elbow and then handed over a skewer. Meanwhile, Jonathan stood off to the side, happily devouring two skewers at once. Isaac let out a long sigh. ¡°I helped you this time, but please don¡¯t eat anything if you don¡¯t have the money to pay for it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a misunderstanding. I really thought I had enough. I¡¯m not that shameless.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°More importantly¡ª¡± Arms folded, the woman grinned slyly. She shrugged her shoulders, as if she¡¯d picked up on something, then pointed a finger at Isaac. ¡°Isaac Helmut. Just came back from the North, I see?¡± ¡°How the¡ª?!¡± Jonathan¡¯s jaw dropped open in astonishment. Isaac rarely ventured outside, so even among the townsfolk in Helmut Territory, not many knew much about him. Wearing a mysterious smile, the woman spun around and turned her back on them. ¡°Earrings made from frostsilver¡­ Pretty extravagant, aren¡¯t they?¡± Pleased that her own air of mystery seemed to be paying off, she flitted away with light steps. Isaac sighed and called out to her retreating figure. ¡°Your Highness, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°¡­!¡± She flinched. Then, with a forced smile and beads of sweat on her forehead, she turned back. ¡°I-I, um¡­ that¡¯s¡­ not true at all.¡± *** Still between the stalls, the three of them crouched down, facing each other. ¡°H-how did you know?¡± She was a princess of Albion Kingdom: Clarice Evangel Regardia, a direct descendant of the Regardia royal family. ¡°It¡¯s because frostsilver is only ever handled by Caldias or the royal family.¡± Silverna had mentioned something when she gave him those earrings: [Who outside of the North would even recognize Frostsilver?] If this woman recognized it, it could only mean one of two things: She was connected to Caldias or to the royal family. ¡°I suspected you were the princess.¡± ¡°¡­Serves me right for showing off when I shouldn¡¯t have.¡± Clarice drooped, looking dejected. Isaac let out a small, bitter laugh as he watched her. In truth, if he were being completely honest¡­ He¡¯d known of her in his previous life as well, which was how he recognized her. He¡¯d worried about how to explain it away if someone asked, but fortunately, she¡¯d outed herself. ¡°Well, this works out. I was starting to think I might have trouble handling this on my own.¡± Clarice picked up a small stone from nearby, used it to draw a circle on the ground, then tapped its center. ¡°This place is Blackthorn. Thanks to your report, Isaac, we now know about those unknown beings called the Transcendents.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯re in the midst of discreet preparations to take down Blackthorn. If all goes well, the operation will begin shortly after the Sword Festival ends.¡± ¡°That soon?¡± ¡°Even that might be too slow. We have no idea what these Transcendents might do.¡± Clarice sighed deeply. Jonathan then asked the question on Isaac¡¯s mind: ¡°S-so why did you come to the Sword Festival? I figured you¡¯d be incredibly busy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m here.¡± With a bright smile, Clarice drew a long line in the dirt, ending in a triangle, and tapped it lightly with her stone. ¡°We have intelligence that someone in Helmut is secretly communicating with the Transcendents. I¡¯m here to investigate that under the radar.¡± ¡°¡­You came in person, Your Highness?¡± ¡°I¡¯m very capable, you know. If it weren¡¯t for me, we might never have discovered Helmut was in contact with the Transcendents at all.¡± Clarice Evangel Regardia, the princess, squared her shoulders. ¡°You have no idea how thoroughly they kept this under wraps. It was a real headache to figure out, you know?¡± Even as she spoke, she let out a weary sigh, her shoulders sagging. ¡°There were times I thought maybe it would¡¯ve been better not to know at all. Imagine¡ª Helmut, the Kingdom¡¯s sword, secretly colluding with those beings.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Isaac asked earnestly. In his previous life, he hadn¡¯t been aware of any alliance between the Transcendents and Helmut. If anything, he only knew about Alois eventually becoming a vassal of the Transcendents¡ªbut that, as far as he recalled, happened only after Alois was banished from Helmut. ¡®Who could it be?¡¯ Since Isaac didn¡¯t know for sure, he decided to ask. ¡°Who is the traitor in Helmut that¡¯s colluding with the Transcendents¡ª¡± With a cheeky grin, Clarice boldly proclaimed: ¡°Sharen Helmut!¡± Isaac pressed a hand to his forehead with a sigh. Clarice Evangel Regardia¡­. She was undoubtedly exceptional, someone who would one day stand alongside Rihanna, safeguarding humanity until the bitter end. If Rihanna was the kingdom¡¯s final blade, then Clarice was the kingdom¡¯s last bastion of pride¡ªhumanity¡¯s commander and a brilliant strategist. However, like Silverna, it seemed her talents had yet to fully bloom. ¡°A-Actually! I swear I have proof! Two months ago, Sharen Helmut started sending her maids outside the estate for odd errands¡ªevery single day! She never did that before, but then suddenly¡ª!¡± In reality, she¡¯d been sending them to look for cookies. After all, Isaac¡ªwho usually ran those errands¡ªhad gone North. ¡°Not only that, she personally traveled outside on a few occasions. Look, one of those trips was near Blackthorn.¡± She must have gone to see if they had the star cookies. ¡°And didn¡¯t you have a run-in with the Transcendents in the North as well? I found out Sharen Helmut randomly volunteered for that Northern deployment¡ª!¡± Alright, Isaac had to admit: ¡®Her intelligence network is no joke.¡¯ sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. How on earth did she find out all that? As Isaac stared at her in silence, listening to her steadily build the case against Sharen, Clarice¡¯s voice gradually grew timid. ¡°¡­Do you think I might be wrong?¡± She shot quick glances at Isaac and Jonathan. It was clear she recognized she could be mistaken. ¡°No, you are mistaken.¡± Isaac stated this firmly, prompting Jonathan to try to smooth things over. ¡°I-I¡¯m sure it¡¯s because you haven¡¯t met her in person! If you do, you¡¯ll realize right away that she¡¯s definitely not that kind of person!¡± ¡°Is that so¡­¡± With a pout, Clarice let out a sigh and slowly rose to her feet. ¡°I see. So that¡¯s it. I guess just gathering data and piecing it together isn¡¯t enough. Information has its limits.¡± Yet, her expression actually brightened. A slight smile tugged at her lips, revealing a mischievous spark. ¡°You have to see things for yourself, on-site. It¡¯s exactly as I suspected: I amaze even myself with how keenly I anticipate my own shortcomings.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°So then, both of you¡ªhelp me out. We need to track down the real traitor in Helmut.¡± ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± Isaac also stood up. To be honest, he was curious whether there really was a traitor in Helmut at this point in time. After all, from what he remembered, there had been no one besides Alois who colluded with the Transcendents. ¡®Maybe Arandel¡¯s illness isn¡¯t as hopeless as it seems?¡¯ If Arandel could live, the war¡¯s deterrent might change drastically. ¡°Will you be coming to the estate, then?¡± As a member of the royal family, Clarice naturally had an invitation to the Sword Festival. Those holding invitations stayed at Helmut¡¯s estate throughout the event. ¡°No, I¡¯m going to gather some more intel on my own first. You have no idea how valuable firsthand information can be. You two are looking forward to it, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Ahem, you do realize I¡¯m a princess?¡± ¡°We¡¯re really looking forward to it.¡± ¡°Please share with us everything you find.¡± ¡°Great! I¡¯ll see you at the estate, then!¡± Just like a gust of wind, Clarice had appeared, stirred everything up like a storm, and vanished. Left watching her retreating figure, both Isaac and Jonathan felt slightly dazed. **** Soon after, their carriage reached its destination and came to a stop. ¡°Hah¡­¡± He¡¯d known he¡¯d return eventually, but this was sooner than expected. With a sigh, Isaac stepped down from the carriage. Looming before him was the massive, imposing Helmut estate. The line of other carriages belonged to nobles who had also been invited. Everyone was busy attending to guests, so Isaac¡¯s homecoming went largely unnoticed. Well¡ªthere was one exception. ¡°B-brother-in-law!¡± Alois approached awkwardly, leaning on a cane and wearing a broad smile. ¡°Brother-in-law! Big sister seems to have some weird misunderstanding¡ª Broth¡ª?¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± Isa couldn¡¯t hold back a laugh, raising a hand to his mouth. ¡°Want me to show you how to use that cane properly? Your stance looks pretty sloppy.¡± After all, it was one of his specialties. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll be fine in no time.¡± Visibly annoyed, Alois grit his teeth in response. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 54: Sword Tournament (1) The sight of Alois leaning on a cane came as a refreshing shock to Isaac. After all, it was certainly an unexpected scene. So the burst of laughter was clearly a mistake, but he had no intention of taking it back. ¡°No, brother-in-law.¡± In truth, Alois knew it too, so even though he was annoyed and offended, he chose to let it go. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong with my sister!¡± Because there was something more important. ¡°She says¡­ she says I tried to harm you! It¡¯s so unfair!¡± Alois, eyes brimming with tears, cried out. ¡°Haven¡¯t I always been on your side! When the other siblings tormented you, I always helped, and I was even the one who helped you with your fourth wedding anniversary!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Why would I, of all people, try to hurt you! She wouldn¡¯t hear a single word from me and even messed up my leg like this! If I weren¡¯t a Helmut, I might¡¯ve been crippled for life!¡± He should¡¯ve stayed that way. Isaac clicked his tongue in regret. Alois¡¯ plea was quite persuasive. Indeed, in his previous life, Isaac had never suspected Alois. But now that he knew the whole story, all he could see was just how ridiculous Alois was acting. ¡®If he¡¯s gone this far in underestimating me, I¡¯m not even angry¡ªI¡¯m just amazed.¡¯ He must be acting this way because he¡¯s absolutely convinced Isaac will believe him. He probably thought that no matter what Isaac had heard in the North, he would still manage to persuade him. In a way, it could be seen as Alois looking down on him. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ Isaac pondered for a moment. Then, with a nod, he placed his hand on Alois¡¯ shoulder. ¡°There¡¯s no way you¡¯d do that, brother-in-law. I¡¯m not sure what this is all about, but I¡¯ll talk to her.¡± ¡°Brother-in-law!¡± Alois nodded, on the verge of tears. Isaac patted him on the shoulder and walked on by. ¡®If it were up to me¡­¡¯ He wanted to tear Alois to pieces right this moment. But since Rihanna had already smashed his leg, that was satisfying enough for the time being. Besides, in a way, Alois is the most reliable link to the transcendent beings. Take revenge on Alois? Sure, that would feel good. But he didn¡¯t want to live like someone whose whole life¡¯s purpose was consumed by it. He needed to use Alois to see the bigger picture. ¡®I have no reason to let that bastard define my life¡¯s purpose.¡¯ ¡®Don¡¯t devalue yourself, Isaac.¡¯ And personally, He wanted to take Alois¡¯ legs for himself after they¡¯d fully healed¡ªso it wouldn¡¯t just look like a lucky chance aided by Rihanna. As he watched Alois leave with relief, Jonathan approached from the side and saluted. ¡°I am hereby relieved of my duty to guard Isaac Helmuth as of this moment!¡± ¡°Right, you¡¯ve done well.¡± ¡°Thank youuu!¡± Jonathan beamed broadly. He would still need to hide the fact that he was a mixed-blood transcendent, and his seniors¡¯ bullying might not vanish overnight. But if it¡¯s Jonathan, he¡¯d manage just fine. Isaac patted his shoulder in turn. Unlike with Alois, it was a genuine gesture of encouragement. ¡°I¡¯m heeere!¡± At that moment, a seventeen-year-old kid burst out of the mansion¡¯s doors. She passed by Alois, but they didn¡¯t really speak. Though from the way Alois ground his teeth, it seemed he held some grudge against Sharen. ¡°Isaac!¡± Sharen, hopping over, stuck her head out right away¡ªan obvious demand for a head-pat. Feeling a sudden stubborn streak, Isaac just stared vacantly. Then Sharen, ever so slyly, stepped on Isaac¡¯s foot. Swoosh, swoosh. ¡°Isaac! Something big¡¯s happened! Huge!¡± After that, Sharen explained, waving both hands like a flapping fish. ¡°What?¡± Isaac¡¯s eyes grew wide. **** Clank. It was the first time. He had ever opened Rihanna¡¯s door without any warning. ¡°Ah.¡± Rihanna sat perched on the bed. It was the first time Isaac had seen her like this. She looked haggard, her red hair dried and lifeless, her eyes devoid of energy. But the moment she saw Isaac, they slowly began to regain color, as if someone were pouring life back into them. Lastly, there was the shackle on her ankle. ¡°Isaac, you¡¯re back.¡± Rihanna stood up slowly, and Isaac approached, demanding, ¡°What on earth happened? They say you tried to flee your house arrest!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± On his way back, Isaac learned that quite a few incidents had taken place in Helmut. The biggest one: Rihanna had tried to break free of the punishment the family head had imposed on her. She tried to escape, but was caught again by the family head. They crossed swords once more, and Rihanna suffered a crushing defeat. This was the result. A warning of sorts, telling her not to challenge the family head¡¯s authority again. ¡°Why would you do that, Rihanna? This isn¡¯t like you.¡± At Isaac¡¯s question, Rihanna¡¯s lips parted. In the old days, she would have stayed silent here, but¡­ ¡°Seems like¡­ I just wanted to run away from making a choice.¡± ¡°A choice?¡± Seeing the bewildered Isaac, Rihanna shook her head as though forcing herself. She reached out a hand for a moment, only to drop it again right away, as if telling herself she had no right. However, on the contrary, her eyes grew sharper. A stark contrast to how she had just been trembling like a reed moments ago. ¡°Isaac.¡± The moment she stood face-to-face with Isaac, Rihanna finally appeared to make up her mind. She clenched her fist and declared, ¡°I will become the family head, and¡ª¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± ¡°When the sword tournament ends, you will leave this mansion safely.¡± Absolutely. ¡°I promise.¡± **** ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac couldn¡¯t shake the uneasy feeling. As he headed down to the first floor, lips pressed tight, he mulled things over in silence. ¡°Isaac! Isaac!¡± The voice calling him again from the second floor. Sharen, who had somehow returned to her room, was beckoning Isaac with a mischievous grin. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Hurry up, hurry!¡± ¡°Haah.¡± When Isaac entered Sharen¡¯s room, an array of snacks greeted him. Kelsey was pouring tea, and the rose fragrance unique to Helmut filled the air. ¡°Ta-da! Behold my secret stash! Didn¡¯t I say we¡¯d eat together?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± He had completely forgotten. ¡°My lady worked so hard to get these. Even though she really wanted to eat the few that were left, she said she¡¯d wait for you, Isaac-nim, and held back.¡± ¡°D-don¡¯t say that!¡± Seeing Sharen turn red with embarrassment, Isaac let out a faint laugh. He¡¯d been a bit overwhelmed moments ago, but putting something sweet in his mouth helped him relax. ¡®Star cookies.¡¯ Now that he thought about it, he hadn¡¯t said hello to Milli yet. ¡® She¡¯s probably busy receiving guests,¡¯ he thought. He wanted to greet her soon and try her cooking. Munching on one of the star cookies, Isaac scolded Sharen matter-of-factly. ¡°Where did you even go looking for these star cookies?¡± ¡°W-what! Why?!¡± ¡°You nearly¡­ Haah, never mind.¡± Who would believe she¡¯d almost become a traitor to humanity over a cookie? Isaac sighed and tried to let it slide, but it seemed Kelsey had plenty to say. ¡°That¡¯s right, my lady. Do you know how difficult it was for the servants? We searched all the neighboring villages just to find them.¡± ¡°What?! N-no! B-but they¡¯re delicious¡­¡± Her voice grew smaller. With Kelsey and Isaac both staring, she finally lowered her head, dejected, and apologized. ¡°S-sorry¡­ I won¡¯t do it again.¡± Sharen really had changed. Impressed, Isaac popped another star cookie into his mouth. **** At the Helmut mansion, a lavish banquet was being held every evening these days. It was to entertain the guests who had come after receiving invitations. In particular, tonight¡¯s main topic was the official rounds of the sword tournament, which would begin tomorrow. Usually, this event showcased the Helmut family sparring amongst themselves to display their power. But this time, there were more than a few external participants. One of them was Silverna. She hadn¡¯t arrived yet, but had sent a letter confirming her participation. Milli is nowhere to be seen. And here was Isaac, competing as the husband of ¡°Blood Rose¡± Rihanna Helmuth. Even though he bore the Helmuth name, no one approached him; Isaac didn¡¯t mind. He, on the other hand, would rather have seen Milli, his only friend in the mansion. Being a chef, though, she was likely holed up in the kitchen. ¡°Ah, there you are!¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The woman¡¯s voice he¡¯d heard at the market earlier called out to him. Clarice, no longer dressed like the shabby adventurer from before, now appeared in an elegant gown fit for a princess. Princess Clarice, approaching him first¡ªthis drew hushed whispers from the surrounding nobles as they glanced their way. It was awkward, but he couldn¡¯t very well tell a princess to leave him alone. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking for you. I was worried you might not see me as a princess after I showed you such a scruffy side.¡± Clarice smiled sweetly. Isaac, thinking she worried about the strangest things, changed the subject. ¡°So, did you gather a lot of information today? You mentioned you¡¯d get plenty of valuable intel by going around yourself.¡± At Isaac¡¯s question, Clarice¡¯s face stiffened a little. She nodded with an awkward smile. ¡°I heard a man named Poron in a nearby village got stung by a bee yesterday.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°And a fellow named Jake, who lives next door to Poron, had to get a tooth pulled. Must¡¯ve been pretty painful.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°And then¡ªthere¡¯s that kebab shop, right? People said it tasted awful and started complaining¡ª¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac stared blankly, clearly unimpressed. Clarice placed a hand over her chest, let out a hoo, and then fixed him with a serious look, declaring, ¡°Allow me to explain logically just how important¡ªso very important¡ªthose pieces of information are¡­ in a way even a fool could understand. Come with me.¡± ¡®Ah, great.¡¯ Clarice, unwilling to admit her information was useless, burned with the need to prove herself right. Isaac could only sigh, exasperated by her competitive spirit. Right then, her escort knight discreetly interjected. ¡°The match-ups are out.¡± They had just completed the bracket draw for the sword tournament in front of the banquet hall. Isaac found his name and frowned. Isaac Helmut vs. Silverna Caldias ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 55: Sword Tournament (2) The next morning. Isaac was sitting blankly in the servants¡¯ dining hall, having breakfast. The Sword Festival would start in the evening, so he needed a hearty meal. However, from the way he listlessly chewed his bread with a drained expression, he looked rather dejected. ¡°You look like you¡¯re out of energy.¡± Milli, a cook of the same age and also a fellow commoner, cautiously approached. She, too, seemed worn out lately, likely from being busy preparing for the Sword Tournament. Her face looked tired and haggard. ¡°Ah, well¡­¡­ yeah.¡± He could only sigh. Hadn¡¯t he come thoroughly prepared for the Sword Tournament? He¡¯d been sparring non-stop with Jonathan and Sharen, even Rihanna, determined to figure out how to counter Helmut-style swordsmanship. But in the end, the one chosen was Silverna. He wondered if there had been some kind of tampering, but it didn¡¯t seem that way. Arandel Helmut wasn¡¯t the type of person to pull something like that in the first place. ¡®Well, I guess I just have to win somehow.¡¯ But Silverna still hadn¡¯t arrived. Would she even make it today? ¡®It feels like there¡¯s nothing but complicated matters during this Sword Tournament.¡¯ He had to track down whoever in the Helmut family was colluding with the transcendents, and he also wanted to test himself in the Sword Tournament. ¡°Hey, Milli. While I was gone, has anything strange happened?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Milli looked flustered. Her bigger-than-expected reaction surprised Isaac instead. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Oh, something strange did happen.¡± Milli quietly slid some of the other dishes on the table over to Isaac. ¡°That you¡¯re not really eating. Don¡¯t be picky; eat a lot. You need your strength for today.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Is it not tasty?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s delicious. It¡¯s the best.¡± A warm dining table¡­ Even though he couldn¡¯t sit at the table prepared for esteemed guests and had to eat at this humble servants¡¯ table, this was still Isaac¡¯s most comfortable moment in the Helmut estate. ¡°Milli, watch the Sword Tournament carefully today.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll show you how much I¡¯ve changed.¡± Perhaps because of that, Isaac boasted somewhat childishly to Milli¡ªsomething he rarely did. Milli, on the other hand, gave a wry smile and poured him some water. ¡°Just don¡¯t push yourself too hard. You know the most important thing is not getting hurt, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not the Isaac you remember. I¡¯ll show you how much I¡¯ve grown in the north.¡± He wanted to let her know she didn¡¯t need to worry about him anymore. That when she thought of him leaving the estate, instead of remembering a face overshadowed by worry, she could smile warmly, like sunlight. Isaac wanted to show that he was worthy of her trust. ¡®Sorry, Silverna.¡¯ Today, he absolutely cannot lose. **** [Isaac Helmut] ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Night fell. Isaac blinked at the match-up results posted so conspicuously. ¡°That idiot¡­¡­¡± Isaac clenched his fist. Because Silverna was inexplicably late, Isaac advanced without even drawing his sword, winning by default. Thanks to that, the surrounding chatter was in an uproar, complaining that Caldias was disrespecting Helmut. Even Arandel Helmut looked displeased, so there was no need to say more. After all, this Sword Tournament was a Helmut family event, and it felt like it was being mocked. ¡°Congrats on winning by default!¡± Sharen, hopping excitedly nearby, offered her congratulations. Isaac reached out and lightly tugged on her cheek, annoyed at her oblivious teasing. ¡°Why¡¯d you do that! Isn¡¯t this a good thing?¡± ¡°Haa, yeah. Great.¡± He had spoken so confidently to Milli, but ended up moving on by default¡ªhe couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit embarrassed. ¡°But it looks like you¡¯ll lose tomorrow, right?¡± Sharen sighed regretfully as she pointed to the bracket. Isaac shrugged and let out a hollow laugh, because truthfully, he hadn¡¯t expected to face him this soon. [Isaac Helmut vs Lohengrin Helmut] ¡°Isaac, just remember one thing: don¡¯t goof around and end up getting beat up!¡± ¡°Why do you sound like you¡¯re the one planning to get beat up?¡± Isaac immediately grabbed Sharen by the head and shook her side to side, causing her to shriek. Despite that, her excited tone suggested she found it quite entertaining. When he finally stopped, Sharen¡ªthough dizzy¡ªvoiced her genuine concern: ¡°You know it too, Isaac. Lohengrin never holds back. The knight he fought this time ended up beaten to a pulp. And especially since you¡¯ve already been on the receiving end of his fists a few times, Lohengrin won¡¯t feel even a shred of guilt about hitting you again. Remember? The day he lost to Rihanna, he got super mad at you and started beating on you like crazy?¡± Listening to the story, Isaac suddenly felt curious. ¡°By the way, Rihanna is your unnie, but you call Lohengrin ¡®that guy¡¯?¡± ¡°Huh? Then should I call him ¡®Hyung¡¯? I don¡¯t acknowledge them as my older brothers at all.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Sharen had always been this way. ¡°Anyway, I hope Isaac doesn¡¯t get hurt! Especially not by those idiots!¡± ¡°Haha.¡± At the Helmut estate, it felt as if there was now another place, aside from being with Milli, where Isaac could feel at ease. Maybe that was why. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Sharen. Milli said she¡¯d prepare a really nice dinner for me tonight, figuring I¡¯d have a rough day.¡± There would be another banquet today. Milli had said she¡¯d make something especially for Isaac, so it was best to show up early. It was a precious moment¡ª and it felt okay to share it with Sharen as she was now. ¡°Ooh!¡± Sharen followed him, smiling, and asked: ¡°But what hardship did Isaac go through today?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± **** Rihanna was gazing at the flowers placed in a vase. The single rose looked as if it might wither at any moment, but Rihanna didn¡¯t seem interested in replacing it. Even though it was the period of the Sword Festival, she wasn¡¯t appearing in public. Normally, it wasn¡¯t good for the eldest daughter not to show her face at such an event, but the fact that Arandel was prohibiting her from appearing in public was proof enough that he was furious with Rihanna. Bang! Just then, the door flew open with a crash. Rihanna slowly turned her gaze toward it, and there stood Lohengrin, glaring at her and panting with fury. ¡°I won¡¯t waste words. I¡¯m going to become the family head, Rihanna.¡± Had something happened? From his tone, it seemed like Lohengrin was running hot with anger. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Rihanna didn¡¯t bother responding. She had already resolved to become the head of the family, but there was no need to tell Lohengrin that. However, it was a situation where silence was also an answer. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯m fighting that brat Isaac.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Rihanna¡¯s eyes trembled for an instant. Lohengrin caught that reaction and curled his lips into a sneer before speaking again. ¡°No matter what you say¡ªI plan on crippling him.¡± ¡°Lohengrin!¡± Rihanna finally stood up, a faint red aura of rage seeming to stir at her feet. But Lohengrin didn¡¯t back down in the slightest. ¡°Tomorrow will be a warning, Rihanna. If Father chooses you and you become the head of the family¡ª¡± Grinding his teeth, Lohengrin stepped closer, snarling at Rihanna. ¡°Don¡¯t think it ends tomorrow. If you really become head of the family, let¡¯s see how long you can keep that brat at your side. I¡¯m curious.¡± With that, Lohengrin shoved Rihanna aside and stormed out. In her mind, two voices overlapped: [Become the family head, Rihanna.] [That¡¯s the only way to save Isaac.] Her mother had spoken those words calmly, with a gentle smile. [The moment you become head of the family¡ª] [Know that your husband will no longer be among the living.] Lohengrin had bared his teeth, issuing that warning outright. Though both sides wanted different things, they used the same threat. From Rihanna¡¯s perspective, it was as if a knife had been plunged into her throat. But now, she needed to stand firm. ¡®Yes.¡¯ Rihanna steeled herself. Tonight¡ª She would kill Lohengrin. Or so she resolved. Knock, knock, knock. Though there was no answer, the visitor just knocked and then opened the door anyway. By this point, one might wonder if this was really ¡°house arrest.¡± But the woman who entered possessed enough influence to ignore such technicalities. ¡°Ahem. Hello?¡± Smiling broadly, the woman waved lightly. Rihanna hastily dropped to one knee. ¡°Princess Clarice.¡± ¡°I heard you were under house arrest, but you don¡¯t look so good.¡± With a subtle smile, Clarice placed a hand on Rihanna¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Shall we have a little talk?¡± * * * ¡°Where did the Princess go?¡± In the evening banquet hall, Isaac searched for Princess Clarice with his eyes, but she was nowhere to be seen. He¡¯d heard she was investigating the traitor again today. He wondered if she had found anything. ¡°Wow, there¡¯s literally no one near Isaac.¡± Sharen, now dressed in a gown, circled around Isaac and muttered to herself. All the other Sword Festival participants were surrounded by nobles, all chatting away. But because Isaac was the only one who advanced by default today, he wasn¡¯t attracting much attention. On top of that, he was also just a commoner who¡¯d married into the family. If Rihanna were here, perhaps it would¡¯ve painted a different scene. ¡°Isaac.¡± Just then, Milli approached cautiously. Her chef¡¯s uniform, cleaner than usual, hinted at how much care she was putting into the cooking tonight. ¡°Over there.¡± ¡°Ah, right.¡± Thanks to her, Isaac could quietly savor the stew she¡¯d prepared separately. ¡°I want some, too.¡± Sharen followed behind. For a moment, Milli¡¯s expression darkened, but she didn¡¯t say anything. They settled at a small table of their own. On the tablecloth sat the stew, which might seem a bit meager to others, but Isaac smiled contentedly. As he took his seat, a rich aroma drifted up. It was just the sort of dish Isaac loved. He preferred dishes enjoyed commonly by the lower classes but made with more luxurious ingredients¡ªespecially something with plenty of meat chunks, which was perfect. ¡°This is it? Didn¡¯t you say it was fancy?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my lady.¡± ¡°Huh? Well, there¡¯s no need to apologize. Actually, if you think about it, maybe Isaac just has cheap tastes?!¡± ¡°No, I really am sorry.¡± At Milli¡¯s somewhat excessive apology, Sharen pouted and then grew awkwardly silent. Maybe once she tasted the stew, she¡¯d change her mind. ¡°The consistency is perfect. Lots of meat, too. As expected, Milli knows my taste in food.¡± Isaac praised her with a laugh, and Milli bowed her head before setting out the rest of the dishes on the table. They looked modest, but every single one had a thoughtful touch, clearly meant for Isaac. Looking at them all, Isaac felt a little guilty. ¡°I haven¡¯t really shown anything today, though.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so you can do better tomorrow.¡± Milli gave him a faint smile. ¡°Ha, Milli. Are you sure you don¡¯t want to be my personal chef? I¡¯ll figure out a way to pay you.¡± At Isaac¡¯s proposal, Milli only smiled the same gentle smile. Just as he lifted a spoonful¡ª ¡°Isaac.¡± ¡°Mm?¡± ¡°You seem really different now. Sitting here with Miss Sharen like this.¡± Isaac glanced at Sharen. She was happily devouring the stew, apparently too focused on eating to listen to their conversation. ¡°Well, yes. I¡¯ve really changed a lot. And I especially want you to see that.¡± Tomorrow, he would face Lohengrin. Isaac sincerely hoped Milli would come watch. ¡°If I can, I definitely will.¡± ¡°¡­Milli. Is something wrong?¡± Isaac put down his spoon and asked calmly. He felt a strange unease at how off Milli seemed compared to usual. ¡°Please eat while it¡¯s still hot. The stew will get cold.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Slowly, Isaac lifted his spoon again. The warmth of the stew touched his tongue, then slid down his throat. ¡°Wow¡ª.¡± He was honestly, truly impressed. He hadn¡¯t expected it to be this delicious. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Milli, this is really¡ª!¡± Isaac couldn¡¯t finish his sentence. Because Milli suddenly collapsed right where she stood. ¡°¡­Milli?¡± For a moment, Isaac couldn¡¯t grasp what was happening. But as soon as he saw blood at the corner of Milli¡¯s mouth, a searing headache jolted through him, almost paralyzing his senses. ¡°Milli!¡± He jumped up in a panic to grab her¡ª ¡°Aaaargh!¡± A scream erupted from another part of the hall. Sharen, who had jumped up in shock at the sight of Milli collapsing, was now running in the opposite direction. ¡°Moooom!¡± Galenia Helmut¡ª in the middle of her meal, she was clutching at her throat with both hands, eyes bloodshot, clearly in agony. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 56: Sword Tournament (3) ¡°Milli¡ª!¡± ¡°Milliiiiiii¡ª!¡± He was shouting right in front of her, yet his voice sounded distant and muffled. In Milli¡¯s crimson eyes, the sight of Isaac¡¯s tears suddenly appeared¡ª and in that instant, she was reminded of the moonlit nights she had spent with him. It was a late night back then. Under the moonlit sky, with no one around, he was gripping a greatsword, drenched in sweat. There could be many reasons for practicing alone where no one could see, but for Isaac, it was simple enough. He didn¡¯t want to look pathetic. To his family, seeing him flung about by the greatsword rather than truly wielding it would be nothing but shameful. That was why he trained alone, late into the night. Unfortunately, no matter how many times he gripped and swung the greatsword, he couldn¡¯t overcome his natural limitations. The sheer weight of talent flowing from the Helmut bloodline was simply overwhelming. ¡°Please eat before you continue.¡± A chef¡¯s morning starts early. Since Milli rose before dawn to prepare breakfast, it was only natural that she grew close to Isaac. Perhaps it was because she was not just a commoner but someone from a small, impoverished district. To survive in the kitchen of the Helmut estate, she needed to be this industrious¡ªand so they came to share a certain sense of camaraderie. They were both working at daybreak to overcome something that felt impossible to defeat. [Thanks again for this morning, Milli.] ¡°Even though you stayed up late yesterday, don¡¯t you think you should rest today?¡± It was the sort of everyday conversation they shared while gazing at the moonlit sky. In the stillness of dawn, these small exchanges were one of the few respites they could find within the Helmut estate. [Rest? I have to keep trying. I don¡¯t have any talent for the sword.] ¡°Talent...¡± Milli let out a bitter smile. As someone who did have talent for cooking, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder: even if she had that gift, would it really change anything? Though the head chef recognized her potential and brought Milli in, that didn¡¯t mean everyone in the kitchen acknowledged her. Just as Isaac suffered at the hands of Helmut¡¯s direct bloodline, Milli was struggling amidst the fierce competition in the kitchen. ¡°Isaac, what is it about the sword that makes you try so hard?¡± Now that they were close enough to speak candidly, Isaac paused at Milli¡¯s question, then brushed it off with a bashful laugh. [I came to admire the sword, so yes, I want to be like that. But more than that...] [I want to stand tall at her side. At Rihanna¡¯s side¡ªthat¡¯s where I want to be.] ¡°But you¡¯re her husband.¡± [I may be her husband, but I¡¯m not worthy of the title. I¡¯m Helmut¡¯s son-in-law and yet I can¡¯t even properly handle a greatsword.] Isaac pressed down on the blisters forming on his palms. If one were to speak bluntly, failing to swing the greatsword properly even after all this effort would indicate a lack of talent. Yet, seeing Isaac gazing up at the night sky¡ªlike a child reaching out for a star he could never touch¡ªMilli couldn¡¯t bring herself to say it. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid?¡± [Afraid of what?] Without realizing it, Milli let her voice grow sharp. ¡°Afraid of failing after trying so hard. In the end, doesn¡¯t that mean there¡¯s a realm you¡¯ll never be able to reach?¡± [...] ¡°I know I have talent... but because of my origins, no one will actually give me a chance.¡± [To be honest...] After a brief silence, Isaac replied, looking a bit self-conscious. [I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯ve never really been afraid of that. I am preparing, though.] ¡°Preparing...?¡± [If, no matter how hard I try, I¡¯m still not good enough to stand by my wife¡ª] He spoke nonchalantly, but there was a clear sadness in his tone. [Then I¡¯ll have to leave. Because that would be what¡¯s best for Rihanna.] ¡°...!¡± Those words struck Milli deeply. Despite working this hard, it wasn¡¯t even for himself. ¡°But Isaac...¡± [Yeah?] Was that really what Rihanna wanted as well? Milli felt the question on the tip of her tongue but swallowed it back. ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing.¡± She shook her head, deciding it wasn¡¯t her place to say more. Isaac and Rihanna had been married for six months. **** By the time their marriage reached the one-year mark, rumors began circling within the estate that they had entered a dull phase. Rihanna¡¯s gaze was different now. She no longer gave those silent looks that, without words, conveyed how much she cared. Instead, her demeanor was cold and distant¡ªshe often wouldn¡¯t look at Isaac at all. Oddly enough: ¡°¡­These days, you don¡¯t seem to have any injuries.¡± [Mm.] Thanks to that, Isaac found himself unscathed more often. [Right...] Yet his expression was worse than ever. Rihanna had never shown much affection to begin with, but lately, it had vanished entirely, leaving him visibly discontent. [Well, I¡¯ll just keep at it.] From Milli¡¯s perspective, Isaac had grown quite a bit over the past year. Before, he could barely manage even to lift the greatsword used by Helmut¡¯s direct bloodline, but now he could actually wield it¡ªalbeit with great effort. Like wearing clothes that didn¡¯t fit, Isaac suddenly found himself stuck at a plateau he couldn¡¯t surpass. It was the limit of a mere boatman who had only ever paddled down a river. ¡°I¡¯ll go grab some snacks.¡± Milli went inside to fetch the potatoes she had steamed just for him. While she was in the kitchen, wrapping the hot potatoes in a towel, tragedy struck. ¡°Madam?!¡± Galenia Helmut appeared discreetly and held out a small pouch to Milli. [Put this into Isaac¡¯s breakfast tomorrow.] ¡°This¡­?¡± Her gaze made it clear there was no need to ask. Milli froze, trembling so hard she couldn¡¯t speak. Gently patting Milli¡¯s stiff shoulders, Galenia spoke as though to comfort her. [There¡¯s no need to worry. Think of it as medicine¡ªsomething that will keep Helmut healthy.] ¡°¡­!¡± [He won¡¯t die. That would inconvenience me as well. So trust me.] Milli shut her eyes tight. For the first time in her life, she mustered every bit of courage she had. ¡°B-But¡ª!¡± [Millie Marso, the girl from that filthy back-alley city of Bolten.] ¡°¡­!¡± [Did you really think you got this job at the Helmut estate just because one head chef took a liking to you?] It bore down on her. Her status. Her bloodline. Her rank. Her society. An absolute figure wielding all the power was pressing her¡ªno different from a predator cornering the back-alley mouse she¡¯d once been. [There was a reason we accepted someone from Bolten. It was all for times like this.] ¡°Ah¡­¡± [This isn¡¯t just a matter of conscience. I¡¯m weighing your life, your family¡¯s life, and Isaac on a scale.] Her family? [They say in Bolten, you only need to toss a few coins around to get people to pick up their knives, don¡¯t they?] ¡°Why¡ªwhy my family¡ª!¡± [You discovered my secret just now, didn¡¯t you? That moment sealed your fate.] ¡°Ah.¡± The mistress of Helmut had ordered harm upon her own son-in-law. From the instant Milli realized this, her life was no longer her own. Before she knew it, Milli had the purple pouch in her hand. And she was nodding. **** Two weeks later, Isaac, who had recovered somewhat, was once again wielding his sword. But possibly due to the time he¡¯d spent bedridden, even lifting the greatsword proved difficult for him. [Hah¡­ Hah¡­] Eventually, Isaac set down the sword, breathing heavily as he scanned his surroundings. [Milli?] Normally, Milli would have come to check on him by now, but she was nowhere to be found. [Milli? Huh? Is it her day off?] Isaac headed to the kitchen to look for her, but she wasn¡¯t there either, so he turned and went back outside. ¡°Hic¡­¡± Underneath one of the kitchen storage shelves, Milli hid, choking back her sobs. She couldn¡¯t forget Rihanna¡¯s cries when Isaac suddenly fell ill. Nor could she bear to see Isaac, who never once suspected her for his sudden illness. So she avoided him for a while. As time passed, she carried guilt in her heart that refused to go away. Yet she reached a point where she could hide those feelings well enough. Thud. Several years slipped by. On the surface, Milli pretended to be calm, but she was already broken beyond repair. Then, one day, that same purple pouch was placed before her again. And she had only one choice. **** ¡°Milli¡ª! Please! Please, snap out of it!¡± Even as everyone in the banquet hall rushed toward Galenia Helmut, who was writhing in agony, only Isaac stayed by her side. Perhaps her memories were flashing before her eyes like a revolving lantern. Milli¡¯s recollection of past events traveled across time, finally reaching this very moment. As always, in the grandeur of the mansion, the two of them were left alone¡ªisolated from everyone else. ¡°What¡¯s going on? What did you eat?! Milli!¡± Tears¡ªthe kind she never shed despite the oppression and torment¡ªwere now falling from Milli¡¯s cheeks. Desperate to save his friend, Isaac shouted urgently around him. ¡°A doctor! Or¡ªno, a mage!¡± Already, a horde of mages and doctors had swarmed Galenia. Isaac, gritting his teeth, tried to get up in a panic, but Milli clutched his wrist. Her touch was so weak it terrified him. ¡°Milli, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll get¡ª¡± ¡°I¡­ Isaac¡­¡± At Milli¡¯s plea, which was almost a whimper, Isaac fought back his urge to call for help and instead held her gently. ¡°Yes, Milli. I¡¯m right here. So¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°What do you have to be sorry for?! Just hold on¡ª I¡¯ll be right back¡ª¡± ¡°I really¡­ truly am sorry.¡± In that moment, as he saw the heavy tears rolling down her cheeks, Isaac realized something was terribly wrong. There was a strange dissonance about the way Milli seemed to accept death so easily. ¡°Huh¡­ ugh¡­ finally¡ª¡± ¡°Milli, please. Don¡¯t give up. I¡¯ll fix this right away¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ for apologizing so late¡­ too.¡± ¡°Stop it! Enough! It doesn¡¯t matter what you say; I¡¯ll listen to it all later. Just¡­ please don¡¯t give up!¡± Her vision blurred, and his voice, filled with tears, trembled with desperation. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I have something I want to show you¡­ I¡¯m finally done letting Helmut push me around. I wanted to show you¡­ how I¡¯ve overcome it and moved forward¡­ so you could be proud of me!¡± Milli¡¯s trembling hand reached for Isaac¡¯s cheek. It was as unsteady and fragile as her life. He placed his own hand over hers. ¡°I¡¯ll forgive you¡ªokay? Milli, please. No matter what wrong you¡¯ve done, it doesn¡¯t matter. So¡ª!¡± Quietly, Milli¡¯s eyelids began to close. Like a blossom withering away, her hand slipped from his face. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Even so, Milli forced a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ glad.¡± Satisfied by Isaac¡¯s words of forgiveness, she closed her eyes for the last time. ¡°¡­Milli? Milli¡ª!¡± Her name echoed through the spacious banquet hall. In the great mansion, beneath the faint starlight of dawn, these two had once shared different dreams yet worked tirelessly side by side. They leaned on each other, comforted each other, urged each other on, and sometimes scolded each other¡ªall in order to move forward. They each wished for just one thing: That someday, When they faced each other again, They wouldn¡¯t be crying, sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wouldn¡¯t be worrying, But smiling. They just wanted to see each other smile. That was all. **** The next day. By the time the sun rose, Milli¡¯s room was already empty. When Isaac finally went to see her, there wasn¡¯t a trace of her left. It was a stark reminder of just how swiftly the ¡°unfortunate incident¡± at Sword Festival had been dealt with. Galenia was safe. She had shown a bit of discomfort at first, but unlike Milli, she suffered no lasting effects. In fact, she announced that, for the sake of protecting Sword Festival, she would not hold Milli¡ªthe one who had supposedly tried to assassinate her¡ªaccountable in any way. Many nobles praised Galenia¡¯s generosity. Many called her a saint. Many referred to her as a paragon among nobility. The only thing Isaac was left with¡ª was the portrait of Milli he had drawn long ago. He found it in his room, apparently left there by Milli before the banquet. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Behind the frame, he had already read Milli¡¯s letter: How Galenia had planned to harm Isaac. How both her and her family¡¯s lives had been held hostage. How her family had been swept up in the Bolten revolution and gone missing. How she was sorry she could not atone for this in any other way. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Included was a vial of ¡°medicine¡± Galenia had given her. Milli had evidently planned to kill Galenia by using something different from the drug Galenia had originally handed over. It meant she¡¯d been preparing all along for the day she might need such a poison. Yet Milli¡¯s death only served to elevate Galenia even more in the eyes of the public. Tap. Isaac placed the portrait carefully on his desk and smiled gently. Leaving his room, Isaac went straight to see Clarice. She was in the rose garden at the time, and upon hearing reports of how desperately Isaac had wept the night before, she looked at him with concern. ¡°Are you all ri¡ª¡± ¡°Galenia Helmut.¡± However, there were no traces of tears left on Isaac¡¯s face. ¡°The mistress of Helmut is the one who colluded against us¡ª¡± Thanks to a friend¡¯s help, he¡¯d discovered the truth. ¡°I¡¯m convinced she¡¯s already become a Transcendent.¡± ¡°Is there a reason you believe that?¡± Milli had died within one or two minutes of ingesting a lethal poison, yet Galenia remained perfectly fine without any special treatment. From what Isaac knew, only one kind of being possessed such monstrous resilience: The Transcendents. ¡°It sounds quite plausible,¡± Clarice admitted. ¡°I have the letter Milli left behind.¡± In it, she wrote how people might point fingers at him, but¡­ ''You did so much for me.'' So don¡¯t worry. If possible, please just keep watching over me, my precious friend. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Dang, those onion-cutting ninjas are back at it again????. Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 57: Sword Tournament (4) ¡°So, Isaac, you¡¯re certain that Galenia Helmut is the traitor?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± Upon hearing Isaac¡¯s words, Clarice clamps her mouth shut. On one hand, his reasoning seems plausible enough. And in truth, Clarice herself judges that there¡¯s a fairly high possibility he¡¯s right. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I have one question.¡± Clarice insists on pointing something out. Though she knows Isaac¡¯s current situation and doesn¡¯t particularly want to argue with him, personal feelings shouldn¡¯t be involved here. Especially since this concerns Helmut. They¡¯re called the war deterrents of the kingdom. Even the royal family can¡¯t carelessly poke at Helmut. Which is why absolute certainty is needed. ¡°Before the Sword Tournament started, someone from Blackthorn came as a guest of Helmut.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It was Blackthorn¡¯s eldest son. And do you know what happened to him? Arandel killed him personally. In a brutal way.¡± In response, Blackthorn has kept silent ever since. They also did not attend the Sword Tournament. Clarice crosses her legs and continues. ¡°Right? Even for my brilliant mind, something feels off. It was strange how they arrived so openly in the first place. If they really were conspiring together, why kill him? To deflect suspicion? Would they go so far as to sacrifice the eldest son for that? Now Blackthorn only has a second son left.¡± Clarice spoke with frustration, but Isaac replied all too easily. ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Galenia Helmut is the one who¡¯s Transcendent¡ªArandel is not.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Clarice went silent for a moment. Because Helmut naturally leads one to think of Arandel, her mind seemed to freeze for a second. ¡°That makes even less sense to me. If Arandel turned out to be a Transcendent, we could say, ¡®He betrayed humanity! He¡¯s trying to overthrow the kingdom! It¡¯s a coup!¡¯ and so on.¡± Words that should never come from a princess¡¯ mouth pop out without hesitation. If anyone else heard, they¡¯d be taken aback, and it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if strange rumors started to spread. ¡°But what¡¯s the point if just one noble lady becomes a Transcendent? What would she do with that?¡± ¡°¡­She probably wants to save someone.¡± ¡°Pardon? Who?¡± Only now does Isaac feel like the pieces are coming together. In his past life, Arandel died from an illness. It was certain that, in some way, this tied back to the Transcendents. Galenia must have gone over to them to save Arandel. ¡®That¡¯s the sort of family they are.¡¯ ¡°Haa, either way. So, you believe Arandel isn¡¯t actually involved in treason, right? That¡¯s a relief, at least.¡± As long as their greatest military asset¡ªArandel¡ªhasn¡¯t had a change of heart, it¡¯s not a huge concern for the royal family. Of course, a man can turn traitor any time at his wife¡¯s urging, but seeing how Arandel cut down Blackthorn¡¯s eldest son, Clarice can guess where his feelings lie. ¡°We¡¯ll have to move quickly.¡± Clarice, rising from her seat in a single motion, slowly stands. ¡°This will be the noisiest Sword Tournament yet.¡± Her violet eyes glistened with a sense of anticipation. Feeling that they¡¯d finally seized a clear lead, Clarice snickers. ¡°If we¡¯re really stuck, we can just stab her in the stomach. From what I hear, Transcendents can regenerate from something like that.¡± ¡°¡­Princess?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not joking.¡± Normally, one would say ¡°I¡¯m kidding¡± in a situation like this. ¡°More importantly, this is a serious matter. If a human can turn into a Transcendent, we never know who might change sides.¡± ¡°I doubt it¡¯s that simple.¡± From what Isaac knows, there¡¯s never been a case of a human truly becoming a Transcendent. He has encountered those on the brink, though. For example, Alois, who was forcibly turned into a ¡®vessel.¡¯ And the Grandmaster, who was a half-blood child of a Transcendent and a human. Isaac suspects some sort of sorcery might have caused Galenia¡¯s body to undergo a specific transformation. ¡°I certainly hope so. Because we can¡¯t live suspecting one noble after another.¡± With brisk steps, Clarice strode past Isaac. She must have a lot to prepare as a princess and some checks to do to be absolutely certain. Left alone, Isaac looks around the garden for a moment. Helmut¡¯s rose garden was always a magnificent sight. Roses in full bloom, stretching across a vast estate. Their hidden thorns beneath the blossoms¡ªIsaac thought it was quintessentially Helmut-like. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± He saw several nobles strolling through the garden. Laughing and chatting, marveling at the sights one can only see during the Sword Tournament. Following the fluttering butterflies drawn by the fragrant roses, Isaac eventually arrived at a familiar spot. In the midst of the roses, like a playful secret, there was a flowerbed where purple lilacs were planted. And there¡ª Rihanna Helmut stood, gazing down at the lilacs. Because of the assassination incident involving Galenia, Rihanna¡¯s confinement was lifted, so it was no longer strange to see her freely roaming about. Though Rihanna had never been particularly stout to begin with, the aftermath of her confinement made her look so fragile she seemed liable to break at any moment. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± A single lilac bloom, thriving despite the season having passed. Rihanna stood there, staring down at it absently. ¡°¡­¡­today.¡± S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She somehow sensed Isaac¡¯s presence¡ªhow, he couldn¡¯t tell. But in a calm voice, she spoke: ¡°Do you think you can leave?¡± Why wouldn¡¯t she turn around? Guilt, perhaps. Or maybe she felt her current appearance was laughable. Whatever the case, she didn¡¯t seem to want Isaac to see her just then. Never before had Rihanna seemed so small to him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the Sword Tournament. I¡¯ll attend in your place.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°How about heading north? I¡¯ll handle any pursuers. Silverna will definitely¡ª¡± ¡°Rihanna.¡± She had been deliberately avoiding his gaze, focusing only on the lilac. But before she knew it, Isaac was standing beside her. ¡°What do you think our biggest problem was?¡± ¡°...I didn¡¯t do¡ª¡± ¡°Haha, I¡¯m not asking you to blame yourself. Let¡¯s just look at the truth objectively.¡± Rihanna had been about to shout, clutching her chest, but the words caught in her throat. A small smile graced Isaac¡¯s lips¡ªone that reminded her of the lilac. ¡°It¡¯s because I was useless.¡± ¡°Isaac, that¡¯s not¡ª¡± ¡°From the very start, Helmut wanted someone truly worthy of their family. I was just a rower.¡± ¡°Isaac!¡± ¡°I ended up seducing a naive noblewoman who knew nothing about love, who didn¡¯t know how to express it¡ª¡± ¡°Stop it!¡± Rihanna, in a rush, grabbed Isaac¡¯s arm. Her hand trembled. ¡°We loved each other¡­ Don¡¯t say it was something wrong.¡± When Isaac spoke as though their love itself had been a sin, Rihanna pleaded desperately. ¡°You¡¯re right, I phrased it too harshly.¡± Isaac admitted it without hesitation. Their conversation had grown uncomfortably sharp. ¡°But Rihanna, we still have to face the truth. If I had been the son-in-law Helmut wanted¡ªif I¡¯d had enough ability¡ªthey never would¡¯ve given us trouble in the first place. We¡¯d have been happy together from the start.¡± ¡°It¡¯s cruel to expect that of you.¡± ¡°Maybe so.¡± A brief silence followed. The gentle, warm breeze seemed to calm them, the faint scent of lilac mingling with the roses. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that your mother invited those guests from Blackthorn?¡± He shifted the conversation slightly. As Isaac glanced at Rihanna, her expression darkened again, but she spoke honestly: ¡°Because I didn¡¯t want you tangled up with Helmut anymore.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I wanted you to be free from it all, to quietly leave and start a new life.¡± Rihanna spoke as though she were pouring out all her pent-up emotions. ¡°In the end, I messed up again. If only I had told you earlier¡­¡± ¡°You think Milli wouldn¡¯t have ended up like that?¡± Rihanna didn¡¯t answer. In truth, she did think so¡ªshe was blaming herself. ¡°Did you kill her?¡± Rihanna¡¯s body flinched. Isaac¡¯s voice was colder than she¡¯d ever heard¡ªlike a chill digging into her skin. ¡°Wh-what...?¡± ¡°I asked if you killed her¡ªMilli.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not¡ª¡± If she¡¯d spoken up sooner, maybe Milli could have been saved. Isaac only grew angrier at her regretful silence. ¡°Then what? If I was the one closest to Milli, am I the one who killed her for not noticing something was wrong sooner?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°This happened once before, and I didn¡¯t suspect Milli. Did I kill her by failing to see it?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°No. Milli took her own life out of guilt. Your mother was the real culprit.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Rihanna¡¯s voice grew softer. She was admitting that her mother had done something she never should have. ¡°Rihanna, even if you say you¡¯re sorry to me, don¡¯t make it sound like it was all your fault. That just insults both of us.¡± ¡°¡­Alright.¡± Rihanna apologized honestly. ¡°The name Helmut¡­ it has nothing to do with love, and yet love is what¡¯s tearing everything apart.¡± It was a thought that suddenly came to her. Rihanna had wavered between the love she felt for her family and the love she felt for Isaac. Galenia had drawn the Transcendents into the picture out of love for her husband. Alois had shattered his brother-in-law Isaac¡¯s legs because of a forbidden love for his sister. ¡°Rihanna, I¡¯m not asking you to turn against your mother and help me fight her.¡± Isaac cautioned her calmly. ¡°I know how cruel it is to tell a daughter to raise her sword against her own mother.¡± That¡¯s just the way it is with parents and children, isn¡¯t it? A love beyond logic. Ordinarily, people place their own lives first, but when it comes to family, there are countless exceptions. ¡°But if you stand in my way, I¡¯ll cut you down, too.¡± It wasn¡¯t a question of whether he really could. It was about how serious he was. Milli¡¯s death had changed many of Isaac¡¯s feelings. Rihanna squeezed her eyes shut. Echoes of the past swirled around her like regrets, binding her in place: [Our Rihanna, you¡¯re so pretty.] [Huh? A gift for Mom? Really?] [You want to sleep next to Mom? My goodness, and without telling Dad?] Those phantom touches¡ªmemories that might be ordinary for most¡ªwere among the few gentle recollections Rihanna had from that bleak mansion. [Why is our daughter so beautiful? Maybe it¡¯s because she looks like me?] [It¡¯s all right. Even if he talks that way, I know he truly cherishes Rihanna.] [My child who¡¯s like a rose. A delicate rose more graceful than any other.] Amid the gentle motherly words drifting on the lilac-scented breeze: [Rihanna, you really are just like me.] And finally: [So desperate for love.] [Even knowing it would lead to your own downfall, you still couldn¡¯t let go.] Those words, coming so late, lodged in her heart like thorns. Now that she knew what Galenia had done, her mother¡¯s remark about being alike weighed heavily on Rihanna¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Rihanna.¡± As she was sinking deeper into her thoughts, Isaac called her name, snapping her back to the present. Her face¡ªworn and wearier in just those few moments¡ªrevealed the burdens she carried. ¡°Don¡¯t let love blind you.¡± A sensation like her heart was shattering. Something struck her so hard she could almost hear it. Because, more than anything, it stung that the person she loved most was rejecting her love. ¡°You¡¯re right, Isaac.¡± All at once, Rihanna¡¯s breathing steadied. Color slowly returned to her eyes. The crimson hue settled, and where Rihanna Helmut had been standing, now stood¡ª The kingdom¡¯s next great swordmaster. The blood-red rose who would lead the next generation from the front lines. ¡°No more. I won¡¯t just stand by.¡± ¡°Rihanna¡­?¡± ¡°I was ignorant and powerless, and because of that, I lost you.¡± A wound so painful¡ªbut pain can bring growth. One can find many reasons for one¡¯s actions. For example: She distanced herself from Isaac because her mother threatened her. Trying to protect Isaac from her siblings carried the danger that he might be harmed even more. If she told Isaac everything, he might not have been able to bear becoming her burden and would have left. She kept swallowing everything on her own. But explaining each of those reasons, one by one, to the victim¡ªIsaac¡ªfelt like an insult. Trying to justify those actions with reasons¡­ Was exactly like her mother. ¡°I wanted to hold on to everything, and that was my greed.¡± Even if she didn¡¯t want to accept it, she had to. ¡°And in the end¡­¡± Now that the consequences of looking away had caught up to her¡ª The time had come to lose everyone she¡¯d ever loved. Rihanna closed her eyes, acknowledging the truth. ¡°I¡¯ve lost it all.¡± ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 58: Sword Tournament (5) At Rihanna¡¯s resolute reply, Isaac let out a quiet laugh. Honestly, there had been times when he disliked her, even resented her. But seeing her now, bracing herself like this, he didn¡¯t feel so bad about it. In other words, it gave him a certain satisfaction¡ªknowing that once upon a time, he¡¯d shared a passionate love with someone who wasn¡¯t all that terrible. ¡°Why¡­why are you laughing?¡± Rihanna glanced at Isaac and asked. He shook his head, then brought up the topic they had been discussing earlier. ¡°And Rihanna, I¡¯m going to participate in the Sword Tournament.¡± It was just past midday now. In about five or six hours, the Sword Tournament would begin. Sword Tournament wasn¡¯t held in the manor, but rather on the mountain behind it. There was a plain there that served as an outdoor sparring arena. In truth, it hadn¡¯t originally been a plain¡ªit used to be a dense forest. When Arandel was young, he had swung his sword around and smashed every tree in the surrounding area, creating that clearing. So ever since Arandel became head of the family, the Sword Tournament was always held in that spot. ¡°That¡¯s dangerous,¡± Rihanna warned. ¡°I know,¡± Isaac replied. ¡°Lohengrin is serious this time. He said he¡¯s determined to leave you half¡ªuhm, I mean, he¡¯s determined to hurt you somehow.¡± Rihanna stumbled over the exact words Lohengrin had used, quickly cutting herself off. ¡°And the person you¡¯ll be fighting is your mother. It¡¯s not wise to push yourself.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°And well, you could say I came back to Helmut specifically for this.¡± ¡°Isaac¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s a rare moment when Jonathan and I actually agree on something.¡± All of a sudden, Isaac was smiling comfortably. It was reminiscent of the mood they¡¯d shared when chatting on the ferry in the past. ¡°That moment is when we talk about how strong Helmut is.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Helmut is strong partly because of their natural physique, but also because they gave up everything but the sword.¡± It was hard to deny. Especially Arandel Helmut, who always seemed indifferent to anything not related to the sword. ¡°I want to show them¡­¡± Among the things they¡¯d cast aside¡ª ¡°That it wasn¡¯t something to let go of so easily.¡± No one was more attached to Helmut than Isaac. His gaze drifted downward, toward the lush lilac blooming in front of the two of them. ¡°Look at how it¡¯s still green and thriving among the roses, even though the season¡¯s passed.¡± It was almost¡ª ¡°Like looking at me, don¡¯t you think?¡± A bright smile naturally spread across his face. Sword Tournament¡ªan event meant to showcase the glory of Helmut¡ªwas like a garden where only roses were supposed to bloom. Yet, ironically enough, what stood out most was that single burst of purple lilac. Realizing this, Rihanna decided to step back. ¡°Alright. You¡¯re confident, right?¡± ¡°You remember that saying? ¡®If you already know you¡¯ll win before you even draw your sword, why bother drawing it at all?¡¯¡± ¡°¡­¡± He spoke as if he had some plan, but that last comment only proved he didn¡¯t. ¡°Isaac, I¡¯m asking just in case¡­¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Have you ever managed to break through Sharen¡¯s Red Aura?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Isaac rubbed a finger along his temple and mumbled, clearly embarrassed. ¡°Ah, is it¡­pollen allergies?¡± * * * Helmut Estate¡¯s Rear Mountain. Countless people had gathered on the expansive plain. The sight of Helmut knights, standing like a wall and controlling the crowd, resembled a towering red structure. That was how orderly and disciplined they were in managing the masses. Meanwhile, the nobles were seated in a separate area, watching with interest. Today was the semifinal round. The matchups were: Isaac, the live-in son-in-law, versus Lohengrin, the eldest son of Helmut. Armin, the second son of Helmut, versus Heyrad. Heyrad was the princess¡¯s escort knight¡ªa talent she¡¯d raised personally since childhood, so they said. But in the end, this was Helmut. Most people predicted the eldest son and the second son would meet in the final round. ¡°Wh-What do we do? I¡ªI¡¯m so nervous, Isaac-nim!¡± In the middle of the crowd sat Isaac, quiet and composed. Next to him, Jonathan was freaking out, practically in a tizzy. Each participant was assigned one of Helmut¡¯s knights as an attendant, and Jonathan had been assigned to Isaac. Normally, someone of Jonathan¡¯s rank wouldn¡¯t qualify for this duty, but given the bond between the two, special permission was granted. ¡°You¡¯re not the one fighting, so why are you shaking so much?!¡± Sharen snapped, clearly annoyed. All day, Sharen had been at Galenia¡¯s side, but once the Sword Tournament began, she came over to Isaac to offer advice. ¡°Isaac, look here.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Pushing Jonathan aside, Sharen stood in front of Isaac and waved a white towel. ¡°If you really think you¡¯re about to die, call my name. Then I¡¯ll throw in this towel immediately.¡± ¡°¡­If you throw that in, does everything just end?¡± ¡°It might, right? In war, raising a white flag is a sign of surrender. Ah! If I wave it around like this, would that do it?¡± ¡°Hoo¡­ Just get out of here.¡± For reference, the Sword Tournament only ends when one side is knocked unconscious or is completely unable to continue fighting. It¡¯s a rather brute-force method, and that¡¯s partly why so few choose to compete. Helmut folks are naturally resilient, so they recover quickly from injuries¡ªworst-case scenario, they use a ¡®Rose Elixir¡¯ or something. But ordinary people don¡¯t have Helmut¡¯s monstrous regenerative power or tough bodies. One wrong move, and entering this competition could mean the end of a knight¡¯s career. ¡°But why are you dressed like that? You should be wearing armor, and yet you show up in a coat?¡± Seeing Isaac¡¯s new black coat, Sharen smacked her forehead. ¡°Lohengrin is going to be furious when he sees that. He¡¯ll think you¡¯re insulting him.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a strategic choice,¡± Isaac answered with a sigh. ¡°Wearing armor won¡¯t matter if I get hit even once¡ªplus, it¡¯d keep me from dodging.¡± ¡°But that¡ª¡± Sharen was about to say something but then tilted her head in confusion and mumbled: ¡°You¡¯re¡­ a genius, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°But what is up with that design? You just picked it up at some cheap market stall, didn¡¯t you? See, this is why Isaac is hopeless. It looks¡ª¡± ¡°Rihanna gave it to me.¡± ¡°¡­Unnie did?¡± ¡°Yeah. She said it was crafted from a beast I once hunted. She meant to give it to me ages ago but didn¡¯t get the chance until now.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°I heard the hide even withstood her own Red Aura, so she figured it could hold up somewhat against Lohengrin¡¯s Red Aura as well.¡± ¡°Huh. Unnie got more sense than I thought.¡± Under normal circumstances, Isaac would¡¯ve laughed at how quickly Sharen changed her tune, but he couldn¡¯t do that today. Whether it was about Milli or Galenia¡ªwhatever the topic¡ªnone of it was news that Sharen would welcome. So Isaac simply closed his eyes quietly. Before long, Lohengrin stepped onto the plain¡ªthe makeshift ¡°stage.¡± At that moment, the crowd erupted with cheers for the leading candidate to become the next head of the Helmut family. Unlike other martial tournaments, the Sword Tournament had no formal announcer or host. If you were ready, you walked out and fought. A very ¡°Helmut-style,¡± straightforward and brute-force approach. ¡°G-Good luck, Isaac! Remember, if you call my name, I¡¯ll toss the towel right away!¡± ¡°Isaac-nim, you¡¯ve already bested Bricalla! You can do this!¡± With the support of Sharen and Jonathan, Isaac stepped forward. This rough, unrefined plain was their stage. Seated at the far side were Arandel, Galenia, and the other members of the Helmut family. Among them was Rihanna, hands clasped tightly together in silent prayer, eyes fixed on Isaac. ¡°How laughable,¡± Lohengrin said with a faint smile as Isaac approached. ¡°Not like we¡¯re putting on a show for anyone, and yet so many people gather¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°It used to be an everyday thing for us.¡± There were many days when Lohengrin had beaten Isaac to a pulp under the guise of sparring, and this was no different. It might have seemed dull to do the same again, but this time there was meaning to it¡ªso perhaps that changed how Lohengrin felt. ¡°After today, you won¡¯t be able to live a normal life anymore.¡± Lohengrin raised his massive greatsword high into the air. Isaac couldn¡¯t wield that gargantuan blade with both hands if he tried, yet Lohengrin hefted it effortlessly with one hand. The crowd marveled and cheered in awe. ¡°And it¡¯s the perfect justification.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Any fool who bears the name Helmut should at least pretend to carry a greatsword.¡± Isaac had two swords at his waist¡ªthin, curved blades. One was White Snow, forged of Frostsilver. The other was a practice blade that Antonio had crafted, chosen because it seemed the most serviceable of the bunch. ¡°No matter how cruelly I crush you, I can say it was to preserve the honor of Helmut.¡± He hadn¡¯t picked up a Helmut greatsword. Just that alone made it look as though he was scorning the family, stirring jeers and questions about his qualifications among the audience. Arandel, however, sat with her chin resting on one hand, showing little reaction. ¡°You kill one measly beast and now you¡¯re acting cocky¡ª!¡± Lohengrin¡¯s greatsword sliced dramatically through the air. At the same time, an enormous wave of Red energy lit up the crimson sky. The pressure from his aura was so intense that it scattered in all directions. No signal was given to start. Lohengrin¡¯s greatsword came crashing down. Although the blade itself was still some distance away, his Red Aura formed a massive sword-shaped slash, aiming straight for Isaac¡¯s head. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Isaac ducked low and sprang sideways in a desperate dodge. Right now, his only method to pierce through that Red Aura was the Dagger-Union technique¡ªthe same blow that had cut through Bricalla¡¯s lightning strike. Trusting in that single sword strike, Isaac moved swiftly on his feet. ¡°Helmut is¡ª!¡± Lohengrin shouted, veins visible in his eyes, as he tracked Isaac¡¯s movement. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The massive greatsword that had been thrust straight downshifted its trajectory, now sweeping sideways in pursuit of Isaac. ¡°To stand against the one who fights!¡± ¡®There¡¯s no dodging that!¡¯ Isaac immediately reached for the Sword at his waist. Not the sword White Snow, but the other Sword. He attempted a counterstrike through his quick-draw technique. Kaaaang! ¡°¡­¡­!¡± It wasn¡¯t even Lohengrin¡¯s real greatsword that clashed with Isaac¡¯s blade¡ªjust the Red Aura it emitted¡ªyet the Sword shattered into pieces on impact. ¡°H-Huh?! Wh-What do we do?! Without that sword¡ª!¡± Jonathan¡¯s panicked voice reached Isaac, but he had no time to dwell on it. He¡¯d sacrificed one Sword to momentarily halt Lohengrin¡¯s attack; that was all it accomplished. Although he¡¯d lost a blade sooner than he¡¯d expected, Isaac did not let anxiety take over. It was a throwaway weapon from the start. The real blade was White Snow alone. He had to save it for the best possible moment¡ª ¡°Ugh, you piece of trash.¡± Seeing Isaac still not drawing his main sword, Lohengrin smirked in contempt. ¡°What kind of fool pins all his hopes on some flimsy blade no one¡¯s ever heard of?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Caldias must¡¯ve lost his mind¡ªusing Frostsilver to craft such a miserable weapon.¡± Isaac remained silent. Every second Lohengrin spent mocking him was a chance for Isaac to steady his breathing. But a certain madness glistened in Lohengrin¡¯s eyes, an air of utter scorn. ¡°A sword that supposedly slew a beast? Are you really banking on a single strike that¡¯ll all but shatter your arm again?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Disgusting.¡± Lohengrin despised Isaac, but he did not take his opponent in the Sword Tournament lightly. That was his stance on this sacred duel¡ªand part of the respect he bore for his father. He knew all about how Isaac defeated Bricalla in the North, what Isaac¡¯s sword was made of, and what Isaac aimed to do. ¡°Everything you¡¯re plotting is in the palm of my hand.¡± He hefted the greatsword onto his shoulder, anger glinting in his eyes. ¡°A witless child¡ªyou¡¯re no knight, no swordsman. You can¡¯t even think of properly crossing blades. All you¡¯re doing is gambling on some lucky single blow?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Killing one half-dead beast made you think you¡¯d accomplished something? That¡¯s the height of ignorance¡ªa peasant¡¯s mindset.¡± Now, energy flared from Lohengrin¡¯s entire body, his Red Aura blazing with contempt. The malevolent aura seemed ready to engulf Isaac at any moment. ¡°How dare you think a single strike is enough to beat Helmut! It¡¯s so insulting that¡ª!¡± ¡°Even if you kneel today! Even if you crawl on the ground! Even if you bark like a dog! Nothing will quell my anger¡ª!¡± Whoosh! All of a sudden¡ª Something shot between the two fighters. Thunk! A sword embedded itself in the ground with a solid thud. It was a Sword Isaac had never seen before. Surprised, Isaac whipped his head in the direction the blade had come from. Through the crowd, he saw Silverna waving enthusiastically, beaming. ¡°I couldn¡¯t compete because I was busy making this!¡± ¡°Silverna¡­!¡± ¡°Good luck!!¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Isaac wasn¡¯t sure what she was shouting, but he calmly pulled the blade from the earth. It was hot to the touch, thrumming as if it were alive, radiating so much mana that the sword itself couldn¡¯t contain it. Sparks of electricity crackled and scattered, almost as though it recognized Isaac. This was fashioned from the remnants of Bricalla that Rihanna had left behind¡ª the second Sword Isaac had commissioned. Grip. Even though it felt like it was burning his palm, a smile played at the corners of Isaac¡¯s lips. [A sword that¡¯s too light isn¡¯t good either, you fool!] Only after forging the blade did Antonio probably grasp Isaac¡¯s intent for making it as light as possible. [What kind of sword are you even envisioning with this design? It¡¯s not a Helmut greatsword, nor a standard two-handed blade. It looks like you¡¯re wielding it one-handed, yet you¡¯re not using a shield either¡­] Silverna, after reading the manual Isaac was writing, had tilted her head, not quite understanding. [Trying to cram Helmut technique into your design is making the sword feel kind of rough.] [Forget Helmut. Just wield your own sword. Isaac is talented enough for that!] Through Sharen, Rihanna had advised him not to be obsessed with Helmut¡¯s style. Hoo. Now, he could finally answer all their questions. He silently drew White Snow. The Dagger-Union technique required the blade to remain sheathed until the moment of execution. Until now, he¡¯d never actually drawn it¡ªbut there was no need to hold back any longer. Now he held a sword in each hand¡ªtwo blades, both lightweight yet sturdy, at last supporting Isaac as a proper swordsman. What he¡¯d written in his theoretical manuals, believing it would come true someday, was finally taking shape in reality. A new wind stirred, changing the tide. Feeling a sudden warmth, Isaac found himself wishing Milli were here to see this. She was, after all, the warmth in his life. ¡°That¡¯s all you¡¯ve got?¡± Meanwhile, Lohengrin¡¯s teeth ground together in rage. ¡°Two swords? Like that¡¯ll change a thing?!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°How far are you going to mock the name Helmut?!¡± But Lohengrin¡¯s roar did not reach Isaac, who was busy tracing the sword techniques in his mind. He had admired Helmut through Rihanna. He¡¯d been guided by a great mentor. He¡¯d completed his idea with inspiration from Arandel Helmut¡¯s will. As dusk fell, the rays of the setting sun caught his black hair. Crimson light dyed his hair a ruddy hue, reflecting¡ª Helmut. Isaac truly stood there as ¡°Isaac of Helmut.¡± ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 59: Sword Tournament (6) The wind rolling down from the mountain and the fierce gale whipped up by Red Aura collide, spiraling into a vortex. A spectacle one might think would require the combined efforts of several magic tower mages is, in truth, coursing from nothing more than a single greatsword. ¡°This is Helmut¡ª!¡± ¡°Insane.¡± ¡°Hah.¡± The exclamations that erupted among the audience and nobility were purely in admiration of Lohengrin¡¯s skill. Strangely enough, there was little commentary directed at Isaac, who was actually facing that power head-on. ¡°How do you see this, My Lady?¡± Anna posed the question to Silverna. She figured that, since Silverna had fought and defeated Lohengrin a few years prior, she might have an interesting perspective. ¡°...Completely different.¡± To be frank, Silverna thought he¡¯d become a whole new person. Lohengrin¡¯s sword had grown many times over since the days she bested him. It had become, quite literally, a crimson greatsword worthy of the name Helmut. All of this growth was driven by Lohengrin¡¯s craving for recognition: A desire to see a different expression on his father¡¯s face, one that would replace his usual look of disappointment. A desperate fear that his younger sister might take his place, relentlessly goading Lohengrin onward. ¡®What do you think, Father?¡¯ Lohengrin¡¯s gaze shifted toward Arandel Helmut. Even if one¡¯s opponent was subpar¡ª When speaking of Helmut, a simple victory was never enough. A brutal, overwhelming force. Something that induces awe in every onlooker¡ªthat was what defined greatness for Helmut. Thus, hearing the spectators¡¯ praises brush against his ears brought a smile to Lohengrin¡¯s lips. But in the end¡ª Arandel Helmut rested his chin on one hand, staring at Lohengrin with indifference. In fact, that increasingly murky expression made Lohengrin¡¯s heart sink like a stone. Crunch! He ground his teeth. His grip on the greatsword tightened unconsciously. Even though he had spent years mulling over this problem and toiling for a solution¡ª He still had no idea how to solve it. ¡°Graaahhh!¡± And so, as always, Lohengrin channeled his anger into swinging his greatsword at Isaac. Even though it was the same Red Flame Wave that Sharen used, its size and density were incomparable. Its hue, likewise, was a deeper red¡ªeerily similar to that wielded by the head of Helmut. ¡°...¡± Isaac¡¯s twin swords glimmered. Especially the blade in his left hand, Bricalla, where crackling mana visibly sparked and danced. Bzzzzt! The moment Isaac swung his sword, a roaring torrent of electricity expanded in every direction, as though it had been waiting for this exact moment. Lightning collided with the Red Flame Wave. A monstrous boom reverberated between them, sending a wave of dust billowing out in all directions. For a moment, the audience¡¯s vision was blocked, and a collective groan rose. But the outcome seemed clear enough: After all, Lohengrin¡¯s Red Flame Wave had hammered the spot where Isaac had been standing, crushing everything in its path. Could he be dead? The thought crossed the spectators¡¯ minds naturally. Claaang! Yet the next noise resounded from Lohengrin¡¯s direction. As the dust settled, there stood Isaac, swinging his blade at Lohengrin. Seeing him, Lohengrin grited his teeth. ¡°My... Red Aura¡ª!¡± There was no reply. Isaac, as if composing a manuscript, focused solely on the fight, already reading his next move. ¡®I just negated one strike.¡¯ Though it was far more powerful than Sharen¡¯s Red Flame Wave, the core principle of the technique was essentially the same. Once Isaac gripped his sword infused with mana, nullifying that attack wasn¡¯t too difficult. But no one lauds Helmut as the strongest just because of long-range slashes from Red Aura. ¡°A close-quarters fight with Helmut?¡± ¡°Phew, I¡¯d never do that.¡± Grim remarks spread through the surroundings. Facing the Helmut greatsword up close was akin to striking solid rock with an egg. Claaang! Claaang! Claaang! The exhilarating clash of metal on metal rang out repeatedly, and many assumed it would soon end. ¡°...Huh?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± Yet the exchanges continued. The blades of the two men kept colliding without pause¡ª Even so, not many in the audience believed Isaac had the upper hand. It was like watching someone pound on a turtle¡¯s shell without rest. No matter how fiercely Isaac swung his sword, Lohengrin¡¯s greatsword and Red Aura showed no sign of cracking. Seeing the fight appear so one-sided, some onlookers couldn¡¯t help but sneer. Yet, in truth, the opposite was happening. ¡°You son of a¡ª!¡± There was a trace of desperation in Lohengrin¡¯s movements. Most of the audience failed to notice, but those truly versed in the sword could only marvel at the sight before them. He was standing toe-to-toe against the greatsword of Helmut. Allowing even a single blow meant defeat, a precarious tightrope act. And the fact that Isaac was swinging his sword nonstop meant something else: Lohengrin¡¯s blade wasn¡¯t reaching Isaac at all. Whoosh! Again, Lohengrin¡¯s greatsword cut only empty air. He¡¯d been sure he¡¯d finally hit his mark, but somehow Isaac had already leapt upward, slashing down with his blade. Clang! Claaang! Red Aura was as sharp as a spear, yet also served as effective armor. Thus, Isaac¡¯s sword failed to breach it; however, the moment he landed, he was on the move again. Though Lohengrin recovered his greatsword a beat earlier and sent it arcing back toward Isaac, it once more hit nothing but a cloud of dust. ¡°Haha! Look at that!¡± ¡°Pathetic how he has to dodge like that.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re slower than a greatsword, that says it all. He doesn¡¯t deserve to be out there.¡± ¡°Tsk, looks like Lohengrin is taking it easy on him just to save face, since he¡¯s affiliated with the family.¡± Anyone could see Isaac was slower than Lohengrin. The physical prowess of a Helmut allowed for speeds beyond what a normal man could achieve with a greatsword¡ªsome would even call it unfair. Yet despite that, Lohengrin¡¯s greatsword still wasn¡¯t landing on Isaac. ¡°Heyrad.¡± From the VIP seats in the very center, Princess Clarice called out to the knight beside her, the one scheduled to face Helmut¡¯s second son in the next round. ¡°Heyrad.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Heyrad?¡± ¡°Ah, yes! Your Highness!¡± It took three tries for her attendant knight to finally respond. ¡°I apologize, I got caught up in the fight without realizing it.¡± Normally, she would demand to know what he was doing, but upon noticing his clenched fist, Princess Clarice merely nodded and turned her attention back to the two swordsmen. ¡°The atmosphere feels off.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°It¡¯s subtle, but I can feel it. And the ones who can really sense it¡ªespecially the Helmut knights¡ªare all on edge.¡± A tension that makes one¡¯s skin crawl. Princess Clarice sensed it lingering outside the arena and swiftly gave an order. ¡°Galenia might be plotting something. If the Helmut knights take her side, it¡¯ll disrupt our plans as well. Prepare for that possibility in advance.¡± At that, Heyrad let out a wry laugh. He thought the princess was undoubtedly gifted¡ªshe demonstrated remarkable intuition, especially now, by noticing the slight shift in the air. But whether it was her youth or her limited experience, she often faltered in drawing final conclusions from the information she gathered. ¡°Your Highness, this... is not quite that.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Because you took me in when I was young, I¡¯ve seen and learned far more than most knights.¡± ¡°What brought this on all of a sudden?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve read about, studied, and experienced many styles of swordsmanship. But there¡¯s one I¡¯ve never tried to emulate: Helmut¡¯s.¡± Her eyes narrowed slightly. From her perspective, it was puzzling to ignore what¡¯s touted as the kingdom¡¯s strongest sword style. In truth, Many knights say there¡¯s nothing to gain from Helmut¡¯s sword style¡ª At least, not from its direct bloodline. Why? Because it¡¯s practically useless to study. ¡°Their sword can¡¯t be replicated by ordinary means, and it¡¯s not something you can master just by learning it.¡± Even the knights who serve Helmut most closely are different from the direct bloodline. They possess immense, innate might. That is why Helmut is called ¡®great.¡¯ And right now, Lohengrin was displaying glimpses of Arandel. To put it bluntly, in the entire kingdom, only a handful of people could withstand Lohengrin¡¯s sword at its current level. The great Helmut. They were born to swing the sword, making strength their lifeblood. To the kingdom¡¯s knights, they were an object of admiration and an insurmountable peak. ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating. Even the direct Helmut heirs have tasted defeat.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but...¡± Those who¡¯ve never crossed blades with them¡ªor never tried to learn from them¡ªwouldn¡¯t know. Defeating a direct heir doesn¡¯t necessarily mean you¡¯ve bested the true Helmut sword. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Heyrad fell silent for a moment. Likely, other experienced warriors present would also fail to find the right words to explain. ¡°If I had to put it into words... what we¡¯re seeing right now¡ª¡± At last, Heyrad forced himself to provide some kind of answer, unable to ignore the princess¡¯ question. ¡°It¡¯s like a star is falling.¡± Princess Clarice didn¡¯t quite understand, but any knights listening might have nodded in agreement. What exactly are they witnessing? Why does it send shivers through their bodies and coat them in cold sweat? This duel has become a sort of textbook¡ªa manual on how to overcome Helmut, something that doesn¡¯t exist in this world. As though there truly is a ¡°right way¡± to do it, countless people here are learning a lesson. The Sword Festival, meant to showcase the greatness of Helmut. And now, at the center of that grand event¡ª ¡®Our idol is plummeting before our eyes.¡¯ The once steadfast, impenetrable greatsword of Lohengrin is wavering under a continuous onslaught, and the audience erupts in awe and astonishment. Naturally, a question forms: Who is it, that dares drag down this godlike sword? He stands in the heart of the chaos. He¡¯s the Helmut family¡¯s ¡°live-in son-in-law.¡± Before that, he was a carefree boatman. But in an even more secret history unknown to anyone: He was called Silent Sword¡ª A teacher who offered instruction to countless masters. And today, in front of everyone, Silent Sword writes yet another chapter. A godlike sword¡ªyet not truly divine. An immortal sword¡ªyet not truly undying. The great, ever-great Helmut. In reality, Helmut is neither a deity nor immortal. And so, let it be known: They can be surpassed. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 60: Sword Tournament (7) Clang! Bang! Claaang! Yet again, a massive cloud of dust surges into the air as the greatsword slams into the ground. Once more, Lohengrin fails to properly strike anything. He feels cold sweat trickling down his cheek as his eyes grow fierce. It¡¯s not that he¡¯s thinking about defeat. Rather, from the moment he began exchanging attacks with Isaac, it already felt no different from losing. The fact that Lohengrin¡¯s gaze hasn¡¯t drifted in Arandel¡¯s direction in quite some time is proof of that. ¡°Do you really think you can win by running away like this?!¡± Lohengrin shouts at Isaac, as if venting his frustration. However, Isaac¡¯s eyes remain unshaken, fully focused on his next move¡ª as if this seemingly pointless exchange of blows is still a step toward victory for him. That sense of unwavering resolve makes Lohengrin¡¯s heart pound even faster. He, widely recognized as one of the most overwhelming powerhouses under the name of Helmut, is being pressed by some lowly commoner. And it¡¯s not just Lohengrin¡ªeveryone around can feel it too. The knights of Helmut can sense a strange fear creeping up the back of their necks, while others watch with pounding hearts. It¡¯s like being one of the monsters knights capture for live training sessions. As if Isaac is using him to demonstrate to everyone how to bring down a ¡°monster¡± called Helmut. The moment his thoughts reach that point¡ª Lohengrin unconsciously shifts his gaze. Even in the split second when their swords clash, he looks at Arandel instead of Isaac. And there he is¡ª Arandel Helmut, wearing an expression that not even his own family has ever seen before as he watches Isaac. Arandel¡¯s body is leaning ever so slightly forward, and the corners of his mouth lift toward his ears. Even Galenia and Rihanna, who stand on either side of him, seem more stunned by Arandel¡¯s expression than by the duel itself. Anyone could guess how shocking this situation must be. And then¡ª ¡®He¡¯s¡­ smiling?¡¯ Claang! In that instant, Lohengrin¡¯s greatsword tilts downward. Cheers erupt from every corner. They exclaim that Isaac¡¯s efforts have finally paid off¡ªthat he¡¯s managed to land a blow on Lohengrin. ¡®He¡¯s smiling¡­ at him?¡¯ In truth, the red aura radiating from Lohengrin¡¯s body remains unbroken, and Isaac once again widens the distance between them. ¡°Ha, hahaha¡­ hahaha!¡± Covering his face with one hand, an eerie glint appears in Lohengrin¡¯s eyes. When the red glow, known as the ¡°rose¡± of Helmut, becomes tinged with madness, his gaze darkens like that of a bloodthirsty demon. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you.¡± He despises everything about this. The sudden shift in this duel¡¯s flow¡ª The fact that Isaac dares to challenge him with two flimsy swords instead of Helmut¡¯s massive blade¡ª That Isaac seems to be announcing to everyone that Helmut¡¯s sword is not invincible¡ª That the dimwit who was always beaten down by him is now fighting so fiercely¡ª The way the setting sun colors Isaac¡¯s black hair red, much like Helmut¡¯s¡ª And lastly, That he has managed to catch his father¡¯s interest. ¡°I will kill you, no matter what.¡± Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His pride and self-esteem have been trampled. Suddenly, the crimson aura enveloping Lohengrin¡¯s entire body disappears. And then¡ª Puaaaaaaak! It all converges into his greatsword, extending upward as though trying to engulf the sky. ¡°Kyahhh!¡± ¡°He¡¯s insane! What is that?!¡± ¡°I¡ªI can¡¯t breathe!¡± Screams and gasps burst from the spectators. Even being nearby causes them distress. Helmut¡¯s overwhelming force begins to dominate the space. That fierce aura surges and surges again, seeming as though it could slice through the sky. Raising both hands high, Lohengrin lets tears well in his eyes as he lets out a wide, unhinged grin. ¡°Do you see this, Father?¡± He prays that Arandel Helmut sees it clearly. ¡°This is the sword you showed me just once.¡± The single most magnificent and overpowering strike that Arandel Helmut once displayed. Though he was never formally taught, Lohengrin etched that sword into his memory since childhood¡ª and he strove relentlessly to imitate it, over and over. At last, He¡¯s perfected it. ¡°I am your heir! The heir to the great Helmut!¡± All he ever wanted was to follow in his father¡¯s footsteps. To walk behind the great man, shining a spotlight on his brilliance. To become worthy of the name he carries. Red Death Strike¡­ Shatter, rend, burn, and lay to waste. The legendary strike, once wielded only by the head of Helmut, now crashes toward Isaac. As he watched the sword poised to crush him, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but curl the corner of his mouth into a grin. From a distance, Rihanna could be seen in shock, trying to stop him, while Arandel held his daughter back. Was his father-in-law always someone who could smile like that? It was practically the mischievous grin of a child, mixed with an excitement he had never once witnessed in all the time before or after his regression. Seeing the exhilaration on Arandel¡¯s face, Isaac ended up breaking into a broad smile as well. ¡®It¡¯s undeniable that it¡¯s a magnificent sword.¡¯ Up until just now, by dismantling Helmut¡¯s swordsmanship, he had shown the surrounding warriors that Helmut was no longer unbeatable. On the other hand, precisely because Isaac had broken through Helmut¡¯s technique, he had no choice but to admit it honestly. Helmut¡¯s sword was truly captivating. Many swordsmen couldn¡¯t replicate it, yet they still revered it. It was praised as insurmountable for that very reason. [Why are you fighting again?] ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ [Your heart wavers like a reed. Decide whether you hate Helmut or like him.] ¡®I was just irritated that someone among our comrades claimed Helmut fought using nothing but brute force.¡¯ [Tsk, I see. I understand how you feel.] He dislikes Helmut. And yet, he admires that sword. At least his grandmaster understood those complicated feelings. [It¡¯s a feat built by the man most gifted with the sword in this world, who abandoned everything else to achieve it.] [It¡¯s only natural you¡¯d come to admire it, right?] Honestly speaking, at some point while studying Helmut¡¯s sword style, Isaac found himself starting to understand. If he truly had to throw everything away for this¡­ Well, so be it. But when he sought a deeper comprehension, studied Arandel¡¯s will, and reached the same limits Helmut had touched¡ª Isaac let out a sigh and felt his rage flare. ¡°Grrraaaaah!¡± With that fierce cry, Red Death Strike came crashing down. Never had he imagined he would have to face it within his lifetime. Just as the surging Red Aura¡ªlike a raging demon of fire¡ªwas about to strike Isaac, he lifted his blade toward the sky. Amazingly, the flow of Red Aura shifted with that single, simple motion. Like ink at the tip of a pen, as soon as Isaac swung his sword, Red Aura rippled around in sync. Seeing that vicious power, which had been roaring so savagely just moments before, suddenly lower its tail before him was truly shocking. ¡°H-how is that possible?!¡± ¡°He just withstood Helmut¡¯s power?¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± They really have no clue. Isaac smirked. Though Helmut¡¯s sword relies heavily on raw strength, it isn¡¯t everything. And Lohengrin had merely imitated the sword style that Arandel once employed. But do you think Arandel really just swung his sword using pure force? ¡®Absolutely not.¡¯ While Caldias¡¯ spear was crafted so that anyone could handle it, Helmut¡¯s sword carries a will that practically forbids imitation. As for Lohengrin¡¯s blunders¡ªhis single step¡¯s distance, his grip on the greatsword, the angle of the blade, attempting Red Death Strike with a greatsword ill-suited for it, his shortness of breath, his failure to properly condense Red Aura, and so on¡ªall those small mistakes piled up one after another. Conversely, the current head of House Helmut allows for no such trivial errors¡ªArandel¡¯s sword. ¡°A-ah, no¡ª!¡± Before he realized it, the imperfect Red Death Strike¡¯s Red Aura had reversed its flow and now circled around Isaac. Lohengrin¡¯s face twisted in horror at the sight of Isaac seemingly taking command of that power. It was as though the single sword strike he had spent years learning from his father had just been stolen away by that man. ¡°No! That can¡¯t be!¡± His Red Aura now drained, Lohengrin, left clutching only his greatsword, looked on in terror. ¡°It¡¯s mine! That belongs to me!¡± He pressed forward. For the very first time in his life, Helmut¡¯s Red Aura was lending its strength to Isaac. ¡°Helmut¡¯s pride! That great honor¡ª! A worm like you can¡¯t possibly wield it! It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s¡ª!¡± Lohengrin¡¯s frantic screams rang out, but in his ears, Isaac¡¯s parting words hammered home: ¡°It was far too crude.¡± Crude enough that Isaac could twist its flow with the mana imbued in his sword. If Lohengrin had simply tried to crush him with raw power from start to finish, Isaac might actually have been the one to lose. Learning is one thing, but mere imitation is¡ª ¡°A poor copy.¡± [Don¡¯t become a mere imitation.] ¡°...!¡± At the very moment Isaac¡¯s voice overlapped with that of Lohengrin¡¯s father, a sword wound carved itself across Lohengrin¡¯s chest. Lohengrin collapsed to his knees in a pooling torrent of his own blood. Thud! He was the first in line to succeed as head of House Helmut. He was Helmut¡¯s eldest son. When Lohengrin fell, a heavy silence blanketed the scene. No one had anticipated this outcome¡ªnor were they prepared to accept it. In that world seemingly frozen in time, Isaac locked eyes with Arandel alone. What Isaac wanted to say was this: the reason he was enraged upon completing his understanding of Helmut¡¯s sword through silent training wasn¡¯t because Helmut had cast him aside. ¡®Did you truly believe Helmut had reached the end?¡¯ Because Helmut sacrificed everything, he managed to arrive at that point. Yet conversely, being unable to advance further¡­ was also a result of having thrown everything away. The man who had been abandoned was speaking. Clap! Resounding, thunderous applause. Clap! Clap! Clap! It was Arandel Helmut¡¯s first-ever ovation in praise of another¡¯s sword. And then, the roar of the onlookers came crashing down upon Isaac. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 61: Sword Tournament (8) ¡°Isaac¡­¡­.¡± Rihanna¡¯s eyes went wide. She felt immense pride realizing that her husband was the very center of the thunderous cheers that seemed to shake both sky and mountains. Moreover, she felt relieved, certain that even if he left Helmut, he would still be recognized by others without much difficulty. ¡°I¡¯m so glad.¡± No longer was Isaac someone who needed protecting. In fact, just being acknowledged by Arandel Helmut would likely send Isaac¡¯s reputation soaring among the other nobles. Those other nobles, who must be licking their lips at the prospect, would undoubtedly swarm the moment they heard Isaac and Rihanna were divorced. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Merely imagining several women courting Isaac pained her, but even so, Rihanna joined in the applause and celebration. ¡®This is the greatest farewell Helmut could offer.¡¯ She had no idea how far he would go, but she wished Isaac would spread his wings and truly soar. Rihanna then grabbed hold of her mother, who was about to rise from her seat. ¡°Stay where you are.¡± ¡°¡­Rihanna?¡± Galenia¡¯s eyes twitched as she looked at her daughter gripping her so suddenly. She was about to scold her for such disrespect, but Rihanna refused to let go. ¡°The only reason they¡¯re still waiting for the Sword Tournament is out of the princess¡¯ consideration for Helmut.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re planning to do, Mother. But please don¡¯t bring Helmut down any further.¡± It was her final plea as a daughter, prompted by Rihanna¡¯s sense that Galenia¡¯s intentions were anything but ordinary. Instead, a sly grin crept across Galenia¡¯s lips. ¡°Rihanna, can you accept this situation right now? That the supposedly mighty Helmut swordsmanship has been beaten by a mere commoner?¡± ¡°But it¡¯s the truth. Isaac overcame it fair and square. And no doubt, he¡¯s shown Helmut a path forward.¡± That was surely why Arandel was reacting as he was. ¡°Mother, it¡¯s over now.¡± With a sigh, Rihanna declared it plainly. She knew from her conversation with Isaac that the princess Clarice, was already suspicious of Galenia. In reality, that suspicion meant Galenia was finished. ¡°He should have stayed bedridden back then.¡± Galenia had known ever since Milli that her trail had already been uncovered. She wasn¡¯t the lady of the Helmut estate for nothing; she received reports on nearly every incident within its walls and could more or less guess her own future. ¡°Mother?¡± ¡°Never once did I approve of him¡ªyour husband.¡± Creak Creak! Suddenly, goat-like horns sprouted from Galenia¡¯s forehead. At the same time, a dark power surged from her body, forcing Rihanna back. ¡°Krrgh!¡± ¡°Stay put, my daughter.¡± ¡°Why on earth¡ª?!¡± Rihanna¡¯s voice was swallowed by the sound of unfolding wings. Bat-like wings spread wide from Galenia¡¯s back, and before anyone realized it, the whites of her eyes had vanished, leaving them pitch-black. Everything happened so abruptly that no one could react. Arandel lifted his head and looked up at his wife. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Neither of them spoke. Instead, grotesque screams broke the silence from behind. ¡°Kyaaah!¡± ¡°What the¡ª?! What¡¯s happening?!¡± ¡°These bastards have gone insane!¡± ¡°They¡¯re suddenly stabbing people! R-run!¡± Not just the nobles, but the Transcendents hidden among the crowd revealed themselves, beginning a hunt for human prey. One Transcendent was worth a thousand warriors¡ªquite literally, a single one could massacre dozens of humans. With a mere gesture, they snuffed out two or three lives at once, turning this lantern-lit venue into a frenzied scene of screams and flying flesh. ¡°This is the downfall of Helmut!¡± Galenia¡¯s cry echoed long and loud. If the earlier duel between Isaac and Lohengrin had signaled the downfall of Helmut¡¯s swordsmanship, this was, quite literally, the fracturing of the Helmut name itself. ¡°Mother, why on earth¡­?¡± Rihanna couldn¡¯t make sense of any of it. Galenia loved Arandel more than anyone, and more than anyone she strove to uphold Helmut¡¯s honor. Doing this here would destroy that very honor. ¡°M-Mom?¡± ¡°Mother?!¡± The children of Helmut looked skyward, unable to hide their shock. Sharen and the fifteen-year-old youngest, Edel, were close to tears. Yet Galenia¡¯s gaze was fixed on only one person. Isaac. Several things had tied her hands. By sacrificing herself to protect Isaac, Milli had enabled Isaac to confirm that Galenia was a Transcendent. Once Isaac informed Princess Clarice, it was revealed that Galenia had been colluding with the Transcendents. From that moment on, everything started to go awry. However, Galenia had not planned such a radical, dramatic entrance. She hadn¡¯t intended to reveal the hidden Transcendents in this way. Even the Transcendents themselves, though taken aback, found themselves going along with Galenia. As though they¡¯d been waiting for this very moment, they began slaughtering humans, again and again¡ªalmost as if it were their calling. They must have been hiding among humans all this time, suppressing their desires over and over. ¡°Aaaaaaaa!¡± Creak! Galenia snapped off one of her own horns. The moment she did, dark energy began to condense around her. Having never learned to properly control her power, she chose to run wild. When that horn broke, all the energy that had been dormant within her exploded at once. At Galenia¡¯s bidding, it surged toward Isaac. Isaac, who had just finished his duel and was already exhausted¡­ Lohengrin, lying unconscious right in front of him, about to be caught in the crossfire¡­ But Galenia showed no hesitation. Because¡ª She knew this attack would be stopped. Clang! The dark energy vanished far too easily, swallowed in a single bite by a crimson aura as mighty as a lion seizing its prey. Arandel Helmut himself had stepped in front of Isaac to block Galenia¡¯s assault. ¡®Just as I thought¡­¡¯ Tears trickled down Galenia¡¯s blackened eyes. Arandel should have become a Transcendent. That was the only way he could survive¡ªor so she had believed. That was why Galenia wanted, no matter what, to entrust the family to Rihanna and leave with Arandel. Even though he refused, she clung to a shred of hope, trying somehow to depart with Arandel and abandon Helmut. But now¡ª ¡®Now you¡¯ll never leave, will you.¡¯ The man who had stood there, halfway to nowhere his entire life, had at last found a new path forward. Arandel¡¯s expression glowed with excitement and fervor. Thanks to the new possibilities Isaac had shown him, Arandel would remain with Helmut until his dying day¡ªcontinuing to pursue the sword to the bitter end. That was Arandel Helmut. That was the man she loved. So, what must Galenia do now? There was only one answer. **** Claaaang! The surge of dark energy was far more intense than Isaac had expected, and for a moment, he panicked. His body felt utterly drained, every step a burden. Even amid the chaos unleashed by Galenia¡¯s sudden actions, the figure who now stood in front of him was shockingly unexpected. It was a massive back, emanating a crimson aura. As though declaring that none of the other Helmut offspring were the real deal, the aura roiled thick and fierce. Many had been awed by Lohengrin¡¯s crimson aura mere moments ago, but the instant they saw Arandel¡¯s aura, it raised a question: Are these two really the same technique? Arandel was simply overwhelming. ¡®There¡¯s no way I could win.¡¯ Though he had defeated the eldest son, Isaac was certain. If Arandel so much as swung his arm, Isaac would be cut down instantly. And that very man was now protecting him. ¡°Impressive.¡± Arandel spoke without even looking in Isaac¡¯s direction. In a situation where he was facing off against his own wife¡ªwho had become a Transcendent traitor to humanity¡ªhe remained utterly unshaken. ¡°Isaac!¡± A beat later, Rihanna rushed in after Arandel, clinging to Isaac in relief once she saw he was safe. ¡°I¡¯m so glad¡­ Truly, thank goodness.¡± ¡°Rihanna.¡± ¡°You did so well¡­ You were incredible.¡± The sight of the two of them standing in front of him¡ªhis wife, whom he most wanted recognition from, and Arandel, whom he revered¡ªmoved Isaac deeply. For the first time in his life, he felt a thrilling sense of being acknowledged by those he held in the highest esteem. By now, the assault had subsided, and the cries of panic were fading. Knights of Helmut had rapidly moved in, subduing the Transcendents. What had started as a sudden ambush lasted only a moment before it backfired spectacularly on the Transcendents. ¡°Why is Helmut considered so great?¡± Arandel slightly turned his head, asking the question of Isaac and Rihanna. Rihanna, confused by the abrupt query, was about to retort, but Isaac answered with a smile: ¡°Because it exists.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± A grin tugged at the corners of Arandel¡¯s mouth. ¡°Correct.¡± How¡­ how did this man deliver such a perfect answer? Just then, one of Helmut¡¯s knights¡ªcharged with bearing Arandel¡¯s sword¡ªstepped forward and knelt. Holding out a greatsword with both hands as though offering tribute, the knight placed it in Arandel¡¯s grasp. ¡®The very air has changed.¡¯ The moment he took up the real blade, it felt as if everything around them had fallen still. A crushing sense of majesty pressed down on the area. Just standing nearby, one felt an intense oppression, almost making it hard to breathe. Rihanna tightened her hold on Isaac, shielding him. ¡°By existing, it is great.¡± Helmut has no need to strive to be ¡®great.¡¯ Merely following its own chosen path has already made it worthy of praise. There¡¯s no reason to chase anyone else. No reason to follow someone else¡¯s back. To be Helmut is to walk one¡¯s own path¡ªnothing more, nothing less. The eldest son had failed to realize that and, in the end, lost as a mere imitation of Arandel. ¡°Having seen something marvelous¡ª¡± Arandel gripped the greatsword with renewed strength. ¡°¡ªI shall bestow the proper honor.¡± He swung the greatsword. The technique Lohengrin had tried to imitate now revealed its true form: Red Death Strike. It smashes, rends, burns, and breaks¡ªArandel¡¯s single, devastating strike. Yet at this place and moment, Isaac alone realized that this blow was indeed an Extinction attack. Because no one else would believe it could possibly be the same move Lohengrin had shown¡ªnot when the difference between them was on an entirely different plane. **** Without a second of hesitation, Arandel swung his sword at her, and Galenia watched it come with a soft smile. ¡®As expected.¡¯ Everything had already collapsed. The suspicion born in Milli had reached the princess. Before long, the fact that the lady of Helmut had betrayed humanity to the Transcendents would spread far and wide. Moreover, Arandel had taken a liking to Isaac. He would never leave with Galenia. ¡®Now, the only thing I can do for you¡­¡¯ ¡­is to die. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And by Arandel¡¯s own hand, no less. Only then might Helmut be spared at least part of the fallout. Arandel remained the same as ever¡ªkilling even his wife for the sake of the sword. Swinging his blade at his wife for the greatness of Helmut. ¡®If you can remain just as you are¡ª¡¯ That was why Galenia had loved him. ¡®Then I¡­ shall die.¡¯ She loved him, and for that love, she would face ruin. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: I''m having very confused emotions about Galenia. I kind of admire her love, but I also don''t like her. Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 62: After the Sword Festival Three days had passed since the end of the Sword Festival. Strictly speaking, you couldn¡¯t really say it was completely over. No matter how highly Helmut valued the Sword Festival, it didn¡¯t make sense to keep it going in a situation like this. At the moment, Arandel was busy dealing with the aftermath of the Sword Festival. Rihanna and Lohengrin were also helping out, handling various compensations and official tasks. And Isaac was¡ª ¡°¡­¡­.¡± He stood before a small, unnamed grave. Since Milli had been the culprit behind the Galenia assassination incident, it was impossible for her to have an official gravesite. So, in his own way, Isaac had set up a gravestone to remember Milli. Of course, once Galenia¡¯s true nature came to light, people¡¯s judgment of Milli might change. But unfortunately, things were so chaotic that nobody had the time to correct the record about a single chef¡¯s death. ¡°¡­How ridiculous.¡± In the three days he¡¯d been visiting this spot, Isaac had already said everything he wanted to say. Did you see it all? Everyone in Helmut staring at me with those stunned eyes¡­ Were you smiling, watching it all from wherever you are? The initial rush of sorrow had calmed into a gentle ache, leaving only a soft smile behind. Even so, there was a simple reason he kept returning here day after day, instead of leaving this place. Because it put his mind at ease. In the cold realm of Helmut, the time he¡¯d spent with Milli was the only warmth he¡¯d known. Coming here brought back those memories, stoking a comforting heat in Isaac¡¯s heart like a bonfire. But he couldn¡¯t stay here forever. He heard footsteps behind him. When he slowly turned his head, ready to greet whoever it was, he saw Princess Clarice and her knight Heyrad standing there. Heyrad was a handsome young man with golden hair, exuding the air of someone who had been raised with great care¡ªcompletely unlike Isaac. Perhaps because he served as the princess¡¯s guard, there were whispered rumors among the palace maids about some forbidden romance between the two. ¡­If they ever got caught, it would be a huge scandal. ¡°They said if Isaac isn¡¯t around, this is where he¡¯d be. Guess they were right.¡± ¡°Greetings, Isaac-nim.¡± Princess Clarice greeted him informally, while Heyrad bowed his head very politely. This was one of the noticeable changes after the latest Sword Festival. Especially among those who wielded the sword, there was now a certain awe when they looked at Isaac, and they expressed their respect accordingly. ¡°Isaac, let¡¯s head back to the mansion. There¡¯s a meeting about the Transcendents. We¡¯re already late.¡± Isaac followed behind her without a word. Walking alongside Heyrad, he noticed that Clarice intentionally slowed her pace, nudging Heyrad further back so she could walk right next to Isaac. ¡°Isn¡¯t it ridiculous? Even though this is Helmut, don¡¯t you think this is a bit much?¡± She must have wanted to complain about Helmut to someone, and Isaac was apparently a better listener than Heyrad. Keeping his mouth shut, Isaac quietly listened to the princess¡¯s grievances, despite the three days that had already passed since she began staying at Helmut¡¯s manor. ¡°So Galenia conspired with the Transcendents. Okay, I get that much. But look how Helmut is washing their hands of it! They claim they knew nothing, they supposedly killed Galenia themselves, they dealt with the Transcendents on their own, and since they poured so much effort into the Sword Festival, they¡¯re victims, too?!¡± ¡®¡­She¡¯s been bottling up more frustration than I realized.¡¯ S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Isaac glanced at Clarice awkwardly, while Heyrad turned his head as if embarrassed. ¡°They¡¯ve got to be joking, right?! Like nobody believes Galenia acted alone just to protect her own family!¡± ¡°Your Highness, nearly everyone besides you remains unaware of her true motives.¡± ¡°That¡¯s so absurd¡ª!¡± Clarice wasn¡¯t wrong to feel that way. Hardly anyone recognized Galenia¡¯s true intentions. Understanding them required access to details that most people simply didn¡¯t have. Love. A tragedy born of that single emotion, twisted by madness, obsession, and devotion. ¡°Love isn¡¯t something that can be explained through logic or words.¡± ¡°So is that why you married into Helmut?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Oh, sorry. That just slipped out. I¡¯m so angry, I¡¯m blurting things.¡± The worst part for Isaac was that he had no solid argument to refute her. ¡°Haa¡­ In the end, Galenia made the best choice in the worst situation.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Once she was exposed as a traitor¡ªcaught by the princess¡ªher only option to protect Arandel, the one she loved, was to die. And that, specifically, by Arandel¡¯s own hand. Thanks to that, Helmut, which otherwise would have had to bow its head unconditionally, was able to remain largely silent. Moreover, the Transcendents had attacked so abruptly that they themselves couldn¡¯t mount a proper defense. Aside from the initial powerful blow, they hadn¡¯t caused as much damage as one might expect from enemies hiding among humans. At the time, Helmut¡¯s knights were stationed everywhere for the Sword Festival. Galenia had used even the Transcendents as sacrificial pawns in her final gambit for Arandel. In Isaac¡¯s mind, she had gone far beyond mere obsession and strayed into something else entirely. ¡°They¡¯re doing a decent job compensating the other nobles, and they even held a large-scale memorial for the townspeople¡­ Fine, I get it.¡± Helmut¡¯s response was, in some ways, quite appropriate. They were acknowledging their responsibility but drawing a clear line between themselves and Galenia. They spared no expense in compensating the victims. Despite the enormous costs Helmut must have paid for the Sword Festival, they didn¡¯t hesitate to open their treasury. It fit perfectly with their principle that anything goes as long as you don¡¯t touch their swords. ¡°They take responsibility yet also dodge any real blame. It¡¯s infuriating. I¡¯d love to smack each and every one of them in Helmut.¡± That would probably just leave her hand bruised. ¡°And the only reason nobody can criticize them is because they¡¯re Helmut. Because of their precious swords! Because they¡¯re a deterrent to war!¡± In truth, this outcome was less Helmut¡¯s doing and more the result of Galenia¡¯s meticulous final move. But discussing a dead woman any further wouldn¡¯t change a thing. Isaac and Heyrad simply listened quietly to Clarice¡¯s grumbling. Upon arriving at Helmut¡¯s manor, they stepped into the drawing-room, where Arandel, Rihanna, and Lohengrin were already gathered. Also present were various nobles who had participated in the Sword Festival, including Uldiran Caldias and Silverna. Isaac instinctively moved to sit with the nobles, but as he felt their curious stares, he cleared his throat and, somewhat awkwardly, took a seat beside Rihanna. ¡°¡­Are we late?¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re right on time.¡± Rihanna¡¯s response made Isaac nod as he looked around. Since he was technically still Helmut¡¯s son-in-law, he ended up on Helmut¡¯s side. Sniff, sniff! He could practically hear the heated, nasal breathing. Lohengrin, eyes bloodshot, glared at Isaac like a dog on a leash. ¡®Damn Helmut.¡¯ Helmut¡¯s people had a knack for quick recovery. Maybe they used magic, but either way, Lohengrin was already fully healed. ¡°Watch where you¡¯re looking.¡± Rihanna, who was seated between the two, issued a stark warning to Lohengrin. Even though her low voice was clearly audible to him, he still glared with wide-open eyes. ¡°Lower. Your. Eyes.¡± At Rihanna¡¯s almost threatening tone, Lohengrin finally bit down hard on his lip and looked away. ¡°¡­Never thought you could talk like that.¡± ¡°When talking to a dog, you have to use the language a dog understands.¡± Isaac hadn¡¯t expected Rihanna to speak so forcefully. At her remark, Lohengrin flinched again, but he held back any response. Lohengrin¡¯s demeanor, Sharen holing up in her room, Rihanna¡¯s unwavering resolve¡­ Galenia¡¯s death was triggering various internal shifts within Helmut. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s begin.¡± Clarice, standing in the center, took the initiative. She might be the youngest person here, but she was also a princess, so naturally she led the meeting. ¡°The royal court is about to launch a strike on Blackthorn territory, which conspired with the Transcendents.¡± This operation had been planned even before the Sword Festival. Though the recent incident caused a delay, Clarice saw it as an opportunity. ¡°According to my sources, Blackthorn has already made a firm decision to betray the kingdom.¡± Their territory was said to be silent, apart from the cawing of crows. Dark clouds loomed constantly overhead. Clarice¡¯s informant even described the land itself as dying. ¡°The reason I¡¯m stating this publicly here is obvious: I have no intention of letting Helmut off the hook so easily for this fiasco.¡± Her violet eyes gleamed. ¡°So, as part of your apology¡ªand to prove you are not traitors¡ª¡± It was as if the princess was challenging them: You say you¡¯re such great warriors? ¡°Helmut will lead the vanguard.¡± Come along to Blackthorn. **** In a fog-shrouded rocky mountain. There was a woman here who lived a life akin to that of a hermit, though she was certainly no sage. ¡°Ya-aawm¡­¡± She yawned, drinking from a cup the size of a large bowl. The liquor sloshed down her throat as her long hair spread out across a wooden bench. Next to her lay an odd, exceptionally long sword, curved like the moon. They called it a ¡®Great¡¯ Sword. ¡°How boring this world can be.¡± She muttered indifferently, her wolf ears perking up atop her black hair. At that very moment, a faceless man appeared before her. Though he had no scent or presence, the woman slowly stood and flashed him a grin. ¡°I¡¯ve told you again and again, I¡¯m not going to eat you. But you insist on appearing in that astral form, trembling like a leaf¡­ and now I¡¯m less amused than I am curious.¡± Her sharp canines gleamed. ¡°I wonder what sort of expression you¡¯d wear if I were right in front of you.¡± She licked her lips and growled, like she was eager for a fight. But the man silently delivered his message, not deviating in the slightest. ¡ªHave you heard what happened at the recent Sword Festival? ¡°Hmm? Sword Festival¡­ Helmut? Already that time of year?¡± She took another swig, tilting her head. She wondered why Helmut suddenly came up. ¡ªThey say Helmut¡¯s sword has been broken. ¡°Only those who know nothing would blather such nonsense. If Arandel is alive, Helmut¡¯s sword is not broken.¡± ¡ªBut that is the rumor, and Helmut isn¡¯t denying it. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡ªThis could work in our favor. Will you look into it? ¡°Hm¡­¡± Maybe it was the buzz from the liquor, or maybe she was just plain bored¡ª It didn¡¯t really matter. ¡°Send a carriage.¡± Upon hearing the woman¡¯s acceptance, the faceless man vanished as silently and abruptly as he had appeared. ¡°Damien! A carriage is coming; get ready!¡± ¡°Yes, Master!¡± A man called Damien, who had been waiting with his hands behind his back at a distance, hurried off down the mountain. ¡°Huh.¡± Stepping off the bench and slinging the Great Sword over her shoulder, the woman recalled the conversation just now and scoffed. ¡°They broke Helmut?¡± Whoever they were¡ª For the first time in a long while, she felt genuinely intrigued. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 63: Receiving Recognition ¡°Helmut will lead the vanguard.¡± Just that alone was enough to put many people at ease and heighten their expectations¡ªsomething clearly evident from the atmosphere in the conference room. It was, quite literally, a heart-pounding moment. Arandel Helmut gave a silent nod at Princess Clarice¡¯s proposal. ¡°I accept.¡± ¡°Phew.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°A-Arandel-nim is going to lead the charge?¡± Exclamations rose from all around. The nobles felt a deep sense of intrigue and anticipation at the thought of Helmut itself taking part in this battle. Moreover, their sense of crisis regarding Blackthorn dropped significantly¡ªfar more than words could express. In an instant, the conference room took on a lighter mood. Even Clarice, who had steered the meeting thus far, seemed slightly taken aback. ¡°¡­¡­I wish I could join in as well.¡± ¡°Father?¡± Uldiran, sitting across from them, clicked his tongue. It seemed he regretted that he couldn¡¯t stand on the same battlefield as Arandel, since he had to return to the North. ¡°Ahem. Yes, well¡­ In any case, we¡¯re relying on you. Especially with Isaac. After all, he was the key figure in the Sword Festival.¡± Crack! ¡°It¡¯s a matter of symbolism. Even just having him by your side holds significant value.¡± A sound of teeth grinding came from somewhere. Lohengrin, shamed by the princess¡¯ words, hung his head low. Though bloodshot anger filled his eyes, he couldn¡¯t refute. ¡°If you lost, keep quiet.¡± Rihanna warned him in a low voice. Now that Galenia was gone, it seemed Rihanna was firmly taking control of her siblings. ¡°Hmph.¡± But this time, Arandel merely kept his mouth shut. He silently glanced between Isaac and Rihanna, then¡ª ¡°Those two will be divorcing soon.¡± He dropped that bombshell. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Rihanna and Isaac both opened their eyes wide. They¡¯d temporarily shelved all talk of divorce due to the aftermath of the Sword Festival, so never in their wildest dreams did they expect it to be announced here. ¡°Pardon?¡± Not only the other nobles but even Princess Clarice forgot her composure and gaped openly at Arandel. ¡°Wh-what did you just say?!¡± Everyone else was too stunned to speak. Only Silverna, unnoticed by the crowd, smiled broadly and gave Rihanna a sneaky thumbs-up. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Seeing that, Rihanna bit her lip, wanting to say something, but forced the words down and refocused on the conversation. ¡°They will be divorcing soon.¡± Arandel added calmly, causing Clarice to press her hand to her forehead and sway on her feet. She looked about ready to faint, and it was only thanks to Heyrad, her royal guard, that she managed to stay upright. And then¡ª ¡°What nonsense are you spouting?!¡± Clarice fired back vehemently. ¡°A divorce?! A-all right, a divorce?! Do you think that makes any sense right now?!¡± ¡°This is a matter for Helmut.¡± ¡°Helmut is practically the backbone of our kingdom! And you¡¯re talking about a divorce now?! You¡¯re divorcing the son-in-law who beat Lohengrin?! You¡¯ve gotta be¡ª!¡± Clarice nearly let a curse slip, but Arandel remained steadfast. ¡°It¡¯s already been decided.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s decided¡ª! Ugh¡­!¡± In the end, the young Clarice nearly collapsed backward. ¡°Ugh, I really can¡¯t stand Helmut¡­ I just want to go home.¡± With that final remark, the meeting came to an abrupt close. **** Everyone began to file out of the conference hall. As they did, Clarice sat there, beckoning Rihanna and Isaac closer. ¡°Both of you, come here.¡± Silverna, who had been following Uldiran out, took the hint and quietly positioned herself near Isaac. Clarice, however, didn¡¯t seem to mind and continued speaking. ¡°Listen carefully. The Transcendents have appeared¡ªopenly drawing our nobles to their side and attacking the festival you were hosting. It¡¯s chaos, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Answer me.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± Clarice nodded and went on. ¡°Blackthorn¡¯s betrayal can plant distrust toward the kingdom itself, since it shows we failed to keep them in check. In times like these, powerful nobles need to stand their ground and take the lead.¡± After all, you¡¯re the highest among nobles, the kingdom¡¯s ultimate shield, and our final deterrent in war. ¡°And if Helmut starts wavering at a time like this, it won¡¯t be written off as just two people¡¯s personal matter.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Why should the kingdom have to deal with internal strife when it¡¯s on the brink of war? You have to remember the weight carried by the name Helmut.¡± Isaac knew. That was precisely why he had deliberately kept quiet for the past three days. But if one asked him whether he wished to remain in Helmut¡ª He absolutely did not. ¡®I want to leave this place right now.¡¯ The problem, however, was the Transcendents. Unlike his previous life, the Transcendents revealed themselves too early this time when they were discovered by Isaac in the North. As a result, Helmut¡¯s divorce situation would inevitably have a much larger impact than before. To prevent humanity from being annihilated by the Transcendents as they were in his past life, quick suppression was vital. In fact, compared to his previous life, the situation this time around was far better. They were striking first¡ªuncovering and hunting down the Transcendents before they could launch a full-scale offensive. But conversely, in the midst of all these twists and turns, Isaac¡¯s divorce was causing a much bigger ripple effect in the political landscape than one might expect. ¡°Okay, you two, face each other.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Hurry up.¡± At Princess Clarice¡¯s irritated prodding, Isaac and Rihanna reluctantly turned to face each other. The moment a light blush surfaced on Rihanna¡¯s cheeks, Silverna, who was standing behind them, scowled. ¡°Hold hands.¡± ¡°Princess¡­¡± ¡°Ah, hurry up!¡± The Clarice Isaac knew before would never act so recklessly. But it seemed that spending a few days in Helmut had driven her stress to the breaking point. Isaac and Rihanna carefully took each other¡¯s hands. Both felt the cold metal of their wedding rings¡ªstill on the ring fingers of their left hands¡ªtouching their skin. ¡°Now apologize to each other.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s me who¡¯s sorry. Really.¡± Rihanna offered a vague smile along with her apology, and anyone could sense the sincerity in it. ¡°Right, right. A husband and wife¡¯s quarrel is like cutting water with a knife¡ªit¡¯s meaningless. Unless Helmut can literally cut through water, right?¡± ¡°¡­They did cut through a river once.¡± Isaac added, prompting Rihanna to bow her head in embarrassment. Clarice, annoyed at his random comment, jerked her chin at them. ¡°Kiss each other.¡± ¡°Princess¡­¡± ¡°Hurry. Kiss. Shall I give a royal decree?¡± ¡®What the hell is this ridiculous situation?¡¯ Isaac wondered as he tried to let go of Rihanna¡¯s hand. But surprisingly, her grip was strong. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± He glanced at Rihanna. Her cheeks were flushed as if embarrassed¡­ yet her lips were gently puckered. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°I-I mean, it¡¯s a royal decree.¡± Rihanna replied, looking mortified. ¡°It¡¯s been¡­ a really long time, anyway¡­¡± She whispered softly, but unfortunately, it never led to an actual kiss. Because Silverna¡¯s hand suddenly thrust in between them. ¡°Waaait! I have a solution!¡± Silverna declared, glaring at Rihanna. ¡°It¡¯s fine if Isaac gets divorced! Our Caldias can take him in! Problem solved!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± With her hand on her chest, an excited Silverna practically showered them in spittle as she spoke. ¡°Even if Helmut falls, Caldias will rise in its place! The Malidan Barrier that guards the North can support the entire kingdom, instead of Helmut¡ª!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Clarice just stood there, mouth agape, staring at Silverna like she couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing. Then, as though searching for something, she glanced around and patted the air with her hands. Failing to find whatever she was looking for, she finally slipped off one of her own shoes and gripped it in her hand. ¡°You¡ªyou there!¡± Then she hurled it straight at Isaac, shouting, ¡°You¡¯re the problem here! You! Married man gallivanting around¡ª!¡± **** The three of them stepped out into the garden. They felt completely dazed, as though they¡¯d just been caught in a whirlwind. Even in the midst of all the commotion, the garden was filled with the scent of roses, and Silverna was the first to speak up. ¡°Having to hold hands and kiss when you are getting divorced¡­that¡¯s just wrong.¡± Beside her, Rihanna flinched. ¡°Right, Isaac?¡± ¡°¡­Well, it is kind of weird. But I can understand where the Princess is coming fro¡ª¡± ¡°What?¡± At Silverna¡¯s gangster-like glare, Isaac let out a sigh. By this point, he couldn¡¯t help but notice what was really going on. ¡°You already knew I was getting a divorce.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± At last, the pieces fell into place for Isaac regarding Silverna¡¯s behavior back at the Malidan Barrier. Though the level of affection and touching had felt excessive for just friends, she¡¯d turned his being a married man into a sort of ¡®shield¡¯ to justify it. ¡°Who told you?¡± ¡°S-Sha¡­ Sharen.¡± Somehow, Isaac wasn¡¯t surprised by Silverna¡¯s answer. Still, he was worried about Sharen, who had holed herself up in her room. ¡®I¡¯ll have to go talk to her.¡¯ No matter how terrible Galenia was, from Sharen¡¯s perspective, her father had effectively killed her mother. There was no way she wasn¡¯t traumatized at such a young age. ¡°Sharen is still in her room?¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s with Edel right now.¡± Edel, the youngest of the Helmut family, was even younger than Sharen. Though he had just turned fifteen, reality was already proving too heavy for him to bear. Since the conversation had turned to them, Isaac decided to head over right away. But as soon as he turned, two figures emerged from the manor with an overwhelming presence: Arandel Helmut and Uldiran Caldias. They were complete opposites, those two¡ªso much so that Isaac briefly thought the vibe reminded him of the pair of young women at his sides. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Stepping in front of the three, Arandel halted them. Uldiran, losing the initiative, grimaced as though his spot had been taken. For three days, Arandel hadn¡¯t had a chance to speak with Isaac. He¡¯d been busy dealing with the aftermath of the Sword Festival. Now that everything had calmed down¡ª Arandel spoke to Isaac. ¡°Join me in subjugating Blackthorn.¡± ¡°¡­I am no longer part of Helmut.¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Isaac wasn¡¯t sure why Uldiran seemed so pained, but he kept his tone calm. Arandel, showing no change in expression, responded, ¡°I¡¯m not asking you because you¡¯re Helmut.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because I¡¯ve taken an interest in you as a swordsman.¡± For a moment, everyone except Isaac widened their eyes in disbelief. The fact that the man¡ªArandel himself¡ªwas interested in someone not of Helmut was enough to be called a major event. One could also say this signaled a change in Arandel, the man who had cut down his own wife. ¡°¡­I trust you know that Helmut isn¡¯t the only thing in turmoil right now.¡± He wasn¡¯t denying the divorce. At Isaac¡¯s remark, Arandel responded boldly, ¡°The world will soon see that Helmut won¡¯t be shaken by something like your two¡¯s relationship when we deal with Blackthorn.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In other words¡ª They would display their overwhelming power, proving Helmut was as solid as ever, so there was no need to worry. Next to him, Uldiran frowned and crossed his arms. ¡°It¡¯s not just a matter of doubting Helmut. You know very well what Isaac represents right now.¡± He was Helmut¡¯s first in line for succession. He had defeated Lohengrin. Moreover, he had effectively neutralized Helmut¡¯s swordsmanship. Even though only three days had passed, rumors were already flying, spreading faster by the moment. ¡°At this point, sure, you can hold things together. But when a Head of House is finally decided¡ªdelayed as it was by the Sword Festival¡ªHelmut¡¯s name won¡¯t carry the same weight it does now.¡± Perhaps it was because of their friendly rivalry that Uldiran sounded genuinely concerned. However, Arandel simply gazed at Isaac and replied, ¡°Is Helmut the only one who bears the weight of the kingdom?¡± No one could deny Helmut shouldered the greatest load¡ªespecially under Arandel. That hadn¡¯t changed. ¡°But if I should leave, someone else will take my place.¡± It didn¡¯t have to be just one person. Nor did it have to be Helmut. Arandel¡¯s gaze, carrying that implication, settled on Isaac. ¡°Haha! Goodness, man, what are you even saying at your age?¡± Sensing something ominous in Arandel¡¯s tone, Uldiran laughed awkwardly, patting him on the shoulder. Had it been anyone else, that hand might have been cut off immediately. But because Uldiran was someone Arandel acknowledged, he let it slide without a word. ¡°I was planning to join the campaign against Blackthorn anyway.¡± Whatever the situation, dealing with the Transcendents took priority. Even if his divorce went through, Isaac had already intended to head wherever Blackthorn was. But then¡ª ¡°Your sword won¡¯t even need to be drawn.¡± Shaking his head, Arandel replied, ¡°Observe, learn, and prove yourself.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Show me if your blade truly has the power to crush the name of Helmut.¡± Those last words were more like a growl, akin to a warning. Yet the tension in his voice and the smile on his lips hinted at something closer to excitement than anger. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 64: The Visitors Who Came at Night Arandel left after uttering a warning tinged with anticipation. He was probably returning to his office to finish his work. Now that the mistress of the manor was gone, the busiest person in Helmut was none other than Arandel. ¡°Hmm, the atmosphere does feel a bit different.¡± Uldiran, who had been standing around with them, muttered those words softly. Even Uldiran, who had seen Arandel in his youth, felt this change. It was only natural that Rihanna, who lived in the same household, would feel similarly. ¡®Could it be that cutting down his own wife had its own meaning for Father?¡¯ Rihanna wondered. What if one day she had to cut down Isaac? She squeezed her eyes shut at the dizzying thought and shook her head. That could never happen. On the other hand¡ª Isaac felt a peculiar sensation as he watched Arandel¡¯s departing figure. If he had to guess, it looked like he was preparing to leave. As the only one present who knew the truth about his condition, Isaac could only sigh. ¡®At any rate, a lot has changed in this situation.¡¯ In the wake of Arandel¡¯s death, the Transcendents had begun their activities. But this time, Arandel himself stepped forward to hunt them down. Everything was moving in a completely different direction, and Isaac felt certain he had brought out his strongest card to fend off their onslaught. ¡®But is Arandel¡¯s illness really natural?¡¯ To be honest, Isaac found himself doubting whether Arandel was truly afflicted. Galenia had dealt with the Transcendents in an effort to save him. Couldn¡¯t the opposite also be true? ¡®This is tricky.¡¯ Isaac decided to focus on the more pressing matter at hand. Before Arandel dies, they needed to wipe out the Transcendents. Regardless of humanity or a person¡¯s character, none of that mattered right now. From the start, hardly anyone expected Helmut to care about such things. Protection and safety¡ª Whatever form it took, people wished only for peace. Isaac hoped they would be able to eradicate the Transcendents before Arandel finally passed away. ¡°Silverna, let¡¯s go.¡± At that moment, Uldiran called out to Silverna. Silverna hesitated briefly, then let out a heavy sigh and followed him. ¡°Ahem, there¡¯s something I wanted to say¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t. I¡¯m not going to listen.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Why are you acting like a child?¡± ¡°I said I¡¯m not listening¡ª!¡± All of a sudden, the ground shook with thumping footsteps. Looking back, they saw Uldiran making a clumsy escape with his massive frame, and Silverna hot on her heels. ¡°What a cheerful household,¡± Isaac remarked with a laugh, and Rihanna gave a small nod in agreement. A faint, bittersweet rose fragrance drifted in. In Helmut¡¯s garden, roses¡ªblood-red to symbolize tragedy or a vibrant red to proclaim resilience¡ªbloomed luxuriously. Before they knew it, the purple lilacs that had remained long past their season were gone. That signaled that the time had come for Isaac to leave Helmut. *** It was late at night. Preparations for departing to Blackthorn would begin in earnest starting tomorrow, but Isaac himself wasn¡¯t particularly busy. As though making a final pass through the house, Isaac walked around the Helmut estate¡ªa place filled with nothing but unpleasant memories¡ªalongside Rihanna. Ironically, even as he wandered through the estate, Isaac felt no particular trauma or anguish. He clearly recognized that the trials and suffering he had endured were now part of his past. Eventually, Rihanna and Isaac separated and returned to their respective rooms. ¡°Sleep well.¡± ¡°Mm, you too, Isaac.¡± Rihanna¡¯s room was on the second floor, while Isaac¡¯s was on the first. Naturally, they went their separate ways. Rihanna slyly turned her head to watch Isaac. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± She watched his back until he disappeared into his room without looking back even once. Then, after a moment, she entered her own room. Once he returned to his room, Isaac began tidying up slowly. It felt somewhat odd to be preparing to leave, but it wasn¡¯t an unpleasant feeling. ¡®There¡¯s a bit of dust in some places.¡¯ Although he had carefully looked after Milli¡¯s portrait and the two blades, he felt no particular attachment to the other objects¡ªperhaps because they didn¡¯t feel like his own. Knock, knock, knock. Just then, he heard a knock at his door. Isaac blinked. ¡°Rihanna?¡± He wondered if it was Rihanna, with whom he had just been speaking, but the voice that answered from outside was unexpected. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°It¡ªit¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Sharen?¡± Isaac hastily opened the door. There stood Sharen, looking somewhat awkward, and with her was the fifteen-year-old youngest sibling, Edel. Earlier, he and Rihanna had tried to visit them, but they wouldn¡¯t open the door. Now, seeing them appear so late at night, it was clear they must have something they wanted to say. Isaac invited them inside and had them sit on the bed. Under normal circumstances, he would have offered something to drink, but he traveled so light that he had nothing of the sort to give. ¡°I¡ªIsaac¡­¡± They got straight to the point, not expecting hospitality. Both had puffy, red-rimmed eyes that showed how much they had been crying. Their drawn faces and frizzy red hair seemed entirely unbefitting of the Helmut name. They had seen their father kill their mother with their own eyes. It would have been strange if they weren¡¯t scarred by that. ¡°I¡­ want to go with you.¡± Surprisingly, Sharen made a rather bold request. Her tear-stained cheeks were just that¡ªtraces left behind by sadness that had, in some sense, already flowed past. ¡°You want me to take you? Do you even know where I¡¯m going next?¡± ¡°Blackthorn, right?¡± ¡°And after that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Right, of course she wouldn¡¯t know. ¡°But please, take me with you.¡± ¡°Haa, Sharen. Do you realize what you¡¯re asking¡ª?¡± ¡°Please. If you won¡¯t take me, then I¡¯ll have no choice but to go to Silverna.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay in this mansion anymore.¡± Sharen¡¯s eyes were clouded with emotion, noticeably different from the gentle, na?ve girl she had been. ¡°I want to leave. Could you talk to Father for me? Given how you are now, I feel like he might actually listen.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard you¡¯ll be going to Blackthorn. I¡ªI¡¯ve fought against the Transcendents before, and I¡¯ve also fought Bricalla. So I¡ª¡± ¡°Is this just running away?¡± Their gazes met. Sharen, as though she had thought about this long and hard before coming, answered without hesitation. ¡°I want to see Helmut¡­ from the outside.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°The Helmut I saw in the North was different from the Helmut I knew from living in this mansion. And¡ª¡± Sharen¡¯s voice shook a little, and she clenched her fists as she confessed: ¡°My mother, the one I knew, was so different from the mother everyone else knew¡­ I¡¯m so confused.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I want to find out. If I stay here, I¡¯ll never be anything more than the same old Sharen Helmut .¡± Isaac had seen that look before, in those who broke past their limits and kept forging ahead with the sword. Different people with tangled fates, yet they all shared one thing in common: a will to overcome. The moment he heard the resolve in Sharen¡¯s voice, Isaac realized he had no choice but to accept her request. [Too soft. Too soft] He could practically hear the scolding from his old master, who used to chide him for being ¡°too soft.¡± Remembering how he had once recruited more than a few disciples in this manner, Isaac gently patted Sharen¡¯s head, then turned to look at Edel. Isaac had no real connection with Edel. He had only been pushed around and beaten by the eldest and second eldest sons. With the youngest, he had never even sparred or held a proper conversation. So he was curious about why Edel had come to him now. ¡°I¡¯m staying.¡± Isaac remembered Edel as a child who used to toddle around in an endearingly clumsy way. ¡°If Unnie leaves to see Helmut from the outside¡ª¡± Edel still had some baby fat in his cheeks, but he would certainly grow up to be a handsome young man. ¡°Then I want to try changing Helmut from within.¡± Seeing such intelligence and bold ambition in this boy took Isaac by surprise. ¡°I¡ªI know better than anyone that you, brother-in-law, were the one most tormented by us. S-So there¡¯s just one thing I want to ask.¡± Edel looked apprehensive as he glanced at Isaac for permission to continue. Sharen gently patted her brother on the back to reassure him. ¡°Is Helmut¡­ broken beyond saving?¡± Why ask Isaac that question? Probably because he had the greatest hatred of Helmut among them all¡ªor so they believed. Also because he was the one who would judge Helmut by the strictest standard. That was why Edel had come to ask him. ¡°Well¡ª¡± At that moment, more footsteps sounded beyond the door. Then a soft voice, hush-hush as if hoping no one else would hear: ¡°B-brother-in-law? You¡¯re still awake, right?¡± It was the third son, Alois Helmut. The instant Isaac heard that voice, his eyes grew cold and calm. He looked toward the door but said nothing. Instead, he silently pointed to the wardrobe with his finger. Though Edel looked momentarily confused, Sharen obeyed Isaac¡¯s silent command without a word. Together, they crept into the wardrobe as quietly as possible. ¡®In a way, this might be the best way to show him the answer.¡¯ Thinking it would be a suitable response to Edel¡¯s question, Isaac gripped his blade forged from Bricalla and opened the door. Immediately¡ª A hand wreathed in blood-red energy lunged at Isaac¡¯s throat. The eyes in front of him were bloodshot, the breathing ragged with a mix of madness and obsession. This was Alois at his wits¡¯ end, making a final, desperate move before the interrogation from Rihanna really began. But Isaac had been ready long before opening the door. He simply leaned back with deceptive ease, thinking: ¡®I can practically hear the princess collapsing in a fit tomorrow.¡¯ She¡¯d been so shocked just by the prospect of divorce¡ªif she learns about this tomorrow, she might foam at the mouth. Srrrk! Isaac drew his blade in one smooth motion. Its lightning, imbued with Bricalla, destroyed Alois¡¯s blood aura, and the opening created by that tiny gap was all Isaac needed for one swift iai strike. In that instant¡ª Bright red blood spattered across the neatly organized room¡ª ¡°Kyaaaaaaaah!¡± Alois let loose a piercing scream. ¨C ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 65: Plea Swish! The moment Alois had one of his arms neatly sliced off, Isaac couldn¡¯t deny that a grin unconsciously crept onto his face. If someone told Isaac he could take revenge on just one person in House Helmut, he would choose Alois without a moment¡¯s hesitation. After all, Alois was the one who¡¯d inflicted the deepest wound on him. ¡°Kyaaaaah!¡± Alois¡¯s scream echoed throughout the mansion. Although Isaac¡¯s senses weren¡¯t particularly sharp, he could already hear a commotion outside. ¡°You! How dare youuuuu!¡± ¡°That line sounds just like Lohengrin. Must be because you¡¯re brothers.¡± With a clean movement, Isaac resheathes his sword. Sparks of electricity flare wildly, making his waist and side sting slightly. He was dressed lightly since it was right before bedtime, so he ended up taking some damage from the electric discharge. ¡°You think you¡¯ll get away with this¡ª?!¡± ¡°Well, I had a different plan for you.¡± Isaac lunges forward. Caught off guard, Alois¡ªwho was clutching his severed arm¡ªreacts too late. Bam! Isaac leaps up and kicks Alois square in the chest, sending him flying out of the room and sprawling to the floor. A trail of blood stretched from the severed limb, smeared along the ground. ¡°Kyaaaaaaaaa!¡± Once again, Alois lets out a shriek. Falling hard on his backside must have jolted the pain in his arm. ¡°Eek!¡± ¡°Ah, Alois-nim!¡± ¡°What the¡ªwhat¡¯s going on?¡± People who were about to go to bed start coming out one by one. In addition to the servants who haven¡¯t yet finished their work, several of the direct members of House Helmut appear, assessing the situation. ¡°Tsk, pathetic bastard.¡± ¡°Alois-nim, your arm¡ª¡± No matter what anyone said, this was Helmut. Even though their younger brother¡¯s arm had been cut off, Lohengrin, the eldest, and Armin, the second son, merely clicked their tongues or shook their heads. There was neither grief nor rage on their faces. On the other hand¡ª Thud! From the second floor, Rihanna jumps down, landing between Isaac and Alois in a flash. Even though she¡¯s wearing pajamas, the unmistakable pressure radiating from her causes the very air to quiver. ¡°Noona! That bastard did this to my arm! He¡¯s gone crazy because he¡¯s leaving soon¡ª!¡± Alois shouts desperately, tears in his eyes. He¡¯s trying his best to bring his older sister over to his side. But Rihanna¡¯s expression only grows colder, and her crimson eyes glimmer with a frigid chill. ¡°Before that, I¡¯m more curious why you even went to Isaac¡¯s room in the first place, Alois.¡± ¡°Noona? M-my arm is gone! A damn commoner cut off my¡ªmy arm!¡± Even as the servants scramble to retrieve Alois¡¯ severed arm and staunch the bleeding with towels, he screams until the veins in his neck bulge¡ªonly causing more blood to pour out. Thanks to his Helmut physique, he doesn¡¯t even turn pale. ¡°We¡¯ll figure out who¡¯s in the wrong.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still your younger brother! How can you¡ª!¡± ¡°You still haven¡¯t been cleared of attempted murder against Isaac. The investigation was delayed because of the Sword Festival, but don¡¯t forget it¡¯s still pending.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Alois bites his lip hard. He looks like he wants to spew some excuse, but¡ª Thud. Isaac¡¯s closet door opens, and from inside steps a calm-faced boy who appears mournful. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Brother, I saw everything.¡± ¡°¡­Edel? Sharen?¡± ¡°Alois stormed in and tried to snap Isaac¡¯s neck! He even used red lightning!¡± When Sharen points an accusatory finger at him and shouts, Alois¡¯s expression grows twisted. ¡°You filthy little worms¡ª! Don¡¯t you dare forget whose blood runs through your veins! You turn on your own brother¡ª!¡± Though Alois is the one screaming, Rihanna doesn¡¯t hesitate. In an instant, a streak of red lightning crackles around her right hand. She cracks it like a whip¡ª Bam! Alois¡¯s body is lifted into the air and slammed against the wall, where he collapses unconscious. ¡°¡­Isn¡¯t that a bit harsh?¡± ¡°She¡¯s really mad.¡± ¡°U-Unnie¡± ¡°Whoa.¡± Amid the shocked reactions of House Helmut, Rihanna stands there with no expression whatsoever. It¡¯s a clear warning that her responses will no longer be the same as before. Right then, heavy footsteps resound from the top of the stairs. In the Helmut mansion, there¡¯s only one person who can radiate this kind of intimidation. ¡°What is all this commotion?¡± Already looking thoroughly displeased, Arandel Helmut comes down the stairs, effectively ending the incident for the time being. *** Helmut¡¯s training grounds. ¡°Fight me again, Isaac!¡± Lohengrin roars until veins pop in his neck. ¡°Come at me, damn it!¡± He shouts in blind fury, but when the princess by Isaac¡¯s side gives him an annoyed glare, he hesitates for a second. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± Setting down the greatsword at her side, Rihanna, who had been sitting next to Isaac, walks over to face Lohengrin. ¡°Yay.¡± No sooner does Rihanna leave her seat than Silverna slides in, scooting up close to Isaac with a bright smile. She sits down beside him and nudges for him to continue his story. ¡°So, Alois suddenly attacked you last night? That third son of Helmut?¡± ¡°Yeah, he showed up in the middle of the night.¡± Across from them, arms folded, Clarice narrows her eyes as though deep in thought. She doesn¡¯t even reach for the rose tea on the table, focusing completely on Isaac¡¯s words. ¡°He¡¯s been out to hurt me for a while. He tried it on our fourth wedding anniversary, too.¡± ¡°Your fourth wedding anniversary?¡± ¡°That was the day the chandelier fell. If I¡¯d been hit, it could¡¯ve ended really badly for me.¡± Because it was something he had genuinely experienced before, Isaac felt an even stronger sense of dread. ¡°Not just that, he also rigged the cake and the bouquet of roses with all sorts of tricks.¡± ¡°So where¡¯s Alois now? This is Helmut we¡¯re talking about¡ªdon¡¯t tell me they¡¯re just confining him to his room as ¡®punishment¡¯ or something like that?¡± At Silverna¡¯s question, which she asked as though she couldn¡¯t quite believe it herself, Isaac shook his head. ¡°They transferred him at dawn. To the underground prison in the royal capital.¡± ¡°Helmut sent him to an underground prison? I didn¡¯t think they¡¯d actually do that.¡± ¡°I figure they¡¯re already swamped with work. They probably don¡¯t want the hassle of getting tangled up in Alois¡¯ mess on top of everything else.¡± It wasn¡¯t without reason that Arandel had once cut down his own wife. He cast off Alois without hesitation, as though he had zero interest in him. Conversely, Alois also seemed to have no lingering attachment to Arandel or House Helmut¡ª Yet when he was being dragged away, he¡¯d screamed: [Noona! Noonaaaaa! It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s a misunderstanding! I¡¯ll explain everything somehow! Please?! Noonaaaaaaaaa!] The way he called for Rihanna until his throat was raw was downright revolting. Any remnants of pity that might have once existed completely vanished in that moment. ¡°But, wow, Helmut really is ruthless. Their brother lost an arm, got hauled off to prison, and they don¡¯t even bat an eye.¡± ¡°Alois never really cared much for the family or the house anyway.¡± Except, of course, for Rihanna. *** Bang! ¡°Huh!¡± Having lost decisively to Rihanna, Lohengrin dropped to his knees on the floor, bawling. Ignoring him, Rihanna walks over and notices Silverna occupying her spot. She scowls. ¡°That¡¯s my seat.¡± ¡°Childish. Whoever sits first gets the seat, right?¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s even more childish. When are you leaving?¡± ¡°That¡¯s actually what I wanted to talk¡ª¡± ¡°What¡¯s the reason, I wonder?¡± Cutting off Silverna, the princess¡ªClarice¡ªchimes in. After much deliberation, she looks utterly baffled as she poses the question. ¡°It¡¯s strange, isn¡¯t it? Why would he go out of his way to target Isaac?¡± That question from Clarice pierces right to the core of the matter. Isaac hesitates briefly, wondering how to answer. After glancing at Rihanna to check her reaction, he exhales a sigh and reveals the truth he would have preferred to keep buried. ¡°Alois was infatuated with Rihanna.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Which is why he hated me, her husband.¡± All three stare at Isaac in unison. He sighs again, as if to say he never wanted to spill this. ¡°But they¡¯re siblings!¡± ¡°But Aren¡¯t they brother and sister?!¡± Clarice and Silverna exclaim in perfect sync. Isaac nods as though he¡¯s been waiting for that question. ¡°Isaac, you sure about that?¡± ¡°Positive. Alois kept his motive secret right to the end for exactly that reason.¡± With a bitter look, Isaac takes a sip of his rose tea. Once hot, the tea has cooled to a lukewarm temperature, but it still carries a rich fragrance. ¡°Do you have any evidence?¡± To be honest, there¡¯s nothing concrete he can present at this very moment. Isaac only confirmed it for sure much later, after he¡¯d already left and then reunited with them upon hearing the rumors. In a situation like this, leaning on intuition and emotion was the best he could do. ¡°I was her husband. I could immediately sense the kind of gaze she was getting.¡± Isaac thought his reasoning might sound weak. But instead, the women accepted it without much doubt, taking it as further proof. ¡°¡­Ugh.¡± Rihanna suddenly clamps a hand over her mouth and bolts away, as though she can¡¯t stand to be in the room anymore. It seems the revelation that her own younger brother had feelings for her came as a shock. ¡°Woow!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen Rihanna look like that before.¡± They watch her hurry back into the mansion, speechless. It¡¯s such a novel sight that they can¡¯t help but stare. Once Rihanna is gone, Clarice pipes up again with one more question. ¡°Isaac, were you... bullied by Helmut in any way?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Please be honest. And is that related to your divorce?¡± Wearing a wry smile, Isaac nods. ¡°Yes. House Helmut¡­ I¡¯ve had just about enough of them.¡± When Isaac confessed honestly, Silverna widened her eyes in shock, while Clarice let out a calm sigh. ¡°So that¡¯s what happened?! Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°Why would I tell you?¡± ¡°Those worthless scumbags.¡± Seething with anger, Silverna glared at the Helmut members who were still sparring in the training grounds. Sharen was in the midst of a practice match with her older brothers¡ªher skills weren¡¯t quite there yet, but she moved with noticeable promise. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± All of a sudden, Clarice apologized. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know anything about that. And I tried to force you not to divorce.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Ahem. Well, I am a princess, you know? I¡¯m supposedly very capable, widely knowledgeable, and I tend to keep an eye on everything that¡¯s going on¡­¡± The two people listening each thought the same thing: They¡¯d never quite gotten that impression from her. She was indeed brilliant at gathering information¡ªno one could deny that. But with her limited experience, she often struggled to piece it all together neatly and draw final conclusions. By now, that was pretty much common knowledge. ¡°But of course there are things I miss. In my efforts to safeguard the kingdom, I ended up neglecting you. And you¡¯re one of our subjects.¡± ¡°I understand. You simply wanted to avoid any messy issues with Helmut before fighting the Transcendents.¡± No knight would want to march into a battle with a damaged sword. And beyond that, this was a case in which a member of the nobility¡ªHouse Helmut, no less¡ªhad sided with the Transcendents. At a time when powerful great noble houses like Helmut needed to keep things firmly under control, internal discord would only cause trouble. ¡°It was for the greater good.¡± As Isaac mustered a bitter smile, Clarice¡¯s eyes grew a little misty. She sniffled, nodded, and cautiously took Isaac¡¯s hand in hers. ¡°To be honest, I came here hoping to convince you. Not just about the divorce, but also about keeping Alois¡¯ crime under wraps¡­ The more I think about it, the more it seems like this could only harm the war effort.¡± After all, House Helmut is the kingdom¡¯s sword, leading the charge. No matter how you spin it, word that the family¡¯s third son tried to assassinate the eldest daughter¡¯s husband would cast everything in a terrible light. ¡°At least until we¡¯ve subdued Blackthorn¡ªplease, could you turn a blind eye just a bit longer? To Alois¡¯ punishment, and to the divorce. Please¡­ I beg of you.¡± That was why Alois had been whisked away at dawn in secret, so that no one else would find out. ¡°I know it hurts. It must feel unfair, too. I¡¯m sorry that I have no choice but to ask this of you.¡± With Clarice¡¯s hands clasped around his as if praying, she pleaded earnestly. ¡°I, Clarice Evangel Regardia, will never forget the sacrifice you make for the greater good. And when this is all over, I promise to repay you accordingly.¡± ¡°Princess¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not saying I¡¯ll just hand over some money and call it even. Whatever it is you desire, as long as the royal family can grant it, we will. I¡¯m sorry we can¡¯t offer more than that.¡± ¡°¡­¡± At her request, Isaac gave a faint, bitter smile. ¡°No need to bow your head, Princess.¡± He hated Alois, yes, but the Transcendents were a far greater threat. After all, wasn¡¯t Alois still alive only because the Transcendent threat took priority? ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Clarice exhaled a sigh of relief and lowered her head. ¡°Thank you¡­ Thank you for your understanding and generosity.¡± ¡°Could I ask just one favor in return?¡± Isaac carefully slipped his hand out of hers and smiled. Silverna was starting to look scary again, so he was eager to wrap things up. ¡°Yes, anything.¡± ¡°Please keep a close watch on Alois.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be an issue¡ª¡± Halfway through her response, Clarice froze, then closed her mouth. Perhaps she sensed the seriousness of Isaac¡¯s tone, because she nodded in quiet agreement. ¡°I¡¯ll see to it personally.¡± ¡®As expected,¡¯ Isaac thought. In his past life, once Alois was cast out of the family, he became a vassal to the Transcendents. It was highly likely they would approach him again this time¡ªespecially since they kept a close eye on Helmut. ¡°You have good instincts, Isaac. Would you be interested in working with me in the future?¡± As Clarice, whose mood had lightened, casually tested the waters, Silverna¡ªwho had kept quiet in the tense atmosphere¡ªjumped in. ¡°No way! Isaac already promised to guard the northern wall with me!¡± ¡°¡­He did?¡± Just like that, Silverna and Clarice began to argue over who would ¡®take¡¯ Isaac. However, the truth was that Isaac¡¯s next destination¡ªnow that he had decided to leave Helmut¡ªwas already set. ¡®By now, she¡¯s probably in the Rocky Mountains.¡¯ The Grandmaster. This time, Isaac fully intended to seize the opportunity he had once bitterly lost. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 66: Subjugation of Blackthorn The royal family formally announced the treachery of Blackthorn and the existence of the mysterious Transcendentals. At the same time, they assured the populace that all necessary preparations had already been completed, so there was no need to worry. Lastly, they proclaimed that the subjugation of Blackthorn would happen very soon, with the vanguard led by the Great Sword, Arandel Helmut. Under the leadership of Princess Clarice, all the meticulously planned efforts toppled like dominoes, closing in on Blackthorn. By the time the news reached them, it was already too late. The noble armies, centered around Arandel Helmut, had gathered at Blackthorn. The serfs of the nearby fief under Blackthorn looked as though they were suffering from famine¡ªnothing but skin and bones. The sky was so dark it appeared as though heavy clouds had set in, and there was no spark of life in the people¡¯s eyes. Yet, if asked what the problem was, you¡¯d be told that they lived quite comfortably. Children played and ran about, the granaries were well-stocked, and once every 1~2 weeks, they ate a meal with meat. Life in the villages near Blackthorn was more prosperous than expected. Ironically, that itself was the issue. Despite leading such a life, their faces were sallow and haggard. There was a reason why a strict order came down from above not to accept any food from them or to draw water from their wells. The fact that these people appeared impoverished despite their abundant lifestyle suggested there was something fundamentally amiss. Once they penetrated deeper into Blackthorn¡¯s territory, they were finally met by those who came out to intercept them. Those standing on the front lines around the domain were none other than Blackthorn¡¯s private soldiers. They were few in number compared to the kingdom¡¯s forces¡ªso few it seemed insignificant. However, scattered among them were creatures that clearly were not human. The Transcendentals brazenly fought alongside them, and they also commanded large and mid-sized beasts. Blackthorn had prepared as best as they could, but in truth, the power difference was vast. It seemed the Transcendentals had already half given up on Blackthorn. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac, standing one step behind, silently observed the battlefield. More precisely, he watched the red-haired man singlehandedly rampaging in the middle of the warzone like a monster. That man was Arandel Helmut. His physical body already surpassed that of the Transcendentals. His specialized aura rendered savage beasts mere livestock. His colossal greatsword was like a banner dominating the battlefield. Whenever his greatsword came crashing down, the tide of battle could be turned, even in unfavorable situations. Nobles and knights who had grumbled about the might of the Transcendentals could do nothing but clamp their mouths shut. In the very first battle, Arandel had cut down three Transcendentals. His remark that ¡°they¡¯re pretty fun to slice through¡± had left a strong impression on Isaac. ¡°Feeling that itch?¡± Standing next to Isaac was Silverna, who grinned as if to say she felt the same. Silverna had joined the Blackthorn Subjugation rather than heading north for Pollu¡¯s revenge, as originally planned. ¡°Yeah, my hands are itching.¡± ¡°Same here. I can¡¯t deny the Great Sword is the real deal.¡± Watching Arandel dominate the battlefield like a raging storm, both could only marvel. It stirred a desire to rush in and start swinging their own swords. One could see why the knights of the kingdom idolized Arandel Helmut¡¯s sword. [No war would dare break out against him.] ¡®The Grandmaster was right.¡¯ Honestly, Isaac had doubts about the rumor that one man alone could deter an entire war. But having witnessed the scene, those doubts vanished. Arandel¡¯s aura covered nearly a quarter of the already cramped battlefield. It was a reminder that the title ¡°Great Sword¡± was not given lightly. Swift and decisive¡ª Blackthorn¡¯s front lines and their estate looked no sturdier than a frail skeleton on the brink of collapse. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s over.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Even so, Arandel Helmut only swung his sword for exactly one hour a day before retreating. In that single hour, an incredible amount of ground was gained, but once it ended, the battlefront remained at a stalemate. Two days had passed since the start of the Blackthorn Subjugation. Ironically, the kingdom¡¯s forces still had strength to spare. ¡°Isaac!¡± ¡°Ugh, here he comes again.¡± Lohengrin, who had just been wielding his sword by Arandel¡¯s side, came striding over. His eyes were bloodshot, and as if finally warmed up, he huffed and puffed before yelling: ¡°A duel!¡± He shouted the same thing again today. Before, Rihanna used to stop him. However, she had not joined this subjugation. Since Isaac¡ªher husband, at least in name¡ªwas here, Rihanna had remained at their estate. ¡°Haa.¡± Eventually, Isaac stepped forward. He figured he needed to calm down this boar-like lunatic who couldn¡¯t contain his own strength. For the record¡ª After the Sword Festival, in the three duels between Isaac and Lohengrin, Isaac had won all three. Lohengrin had never once managed to defeat him. ¡°You may use your Red Aura if you wish.¡± Isaac calmly set his hand on his sheathed blade as he spoke. Lohengrin waved his greatsword in a wide arc and bellowed: ¡°Shut up! Are you implying my swordsmanship is inferior to yours?!¡± ¡°No, I just figured I could learn some¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up! You¡¯re the one who taught me that Helmut¡¯s sword is not fueled by Red Aura alone!¡± ¡°Jeez, my ears.¡± ¡°Helmut sure has some lungs.¡± Silverna folded her arms and let out a sigh. Ever since that duel, Lohengrin refused to use his Red Aura. He seemed to have realized that his father¡¯s sword was not simply about channeling Red Aura. Even so, in reality, he still had a long way to go. ¡°Oh, starting again?¡± ¡°Good luck, Lohengrin-nim! Take him down this time!¡± ¡°You can do it!¡± ¡°When it¡¯s over, can I have a turn?¡± Knights and soldiers gathered from all sides. At some point, the matches between Isaac and Lohengrin had turned into a kind of spectacle. ¡°Shall we begin?¡± Isaac, still with his sword in its sheath, placed his hand lightly atop it. Lohengrin neither became angry nor took it as provocation. He knew better, after his three defeats: When Isaac¡¯s sword was still sheathed was precisely the most dangerous moment. **** Princess Clarice had come to realize how different information can be depending on how one experiences it¡ªby running on one¡¯s own legs, feeling it through one¡¯s own skin, and hearing with one¡¯s own ears. Holding onto that insight, she joined this Blackthorn subjugation as well. However, she was there purely as an observer. She refrained from making any comments on matters of strategy or tactics; she understood she wasn¡¯t yet ready to involve herself to that extent. Still, she found it curious that Arandel Helmut only fought for exactly one hour a day. ¡®Could there be a reason for that?¡¯ It was somewhat frustrating, but the progress he achieved in that single hour was so remarkable that the royal forces could claim an overwhelming victory with minimal casualties, saving their strength in the process. They didn¡¯t call him the Great Sword for nothing. Just having Arandel on the battlefield was enough to feel certain of victory. ¡°Ah.¡± Hearing the commotion outside the tent, Princess Clarice stepped out with her guard, Heyrad. ¡°It¡¯s started again.¡± A crowd had formed. On a patch of hard earth devoid of even a single blade of grass, Isaac and Lohengrin Helmut were locked in a duel. Claaang! Lohengrin raised his greatsword at a diagonal to block Isaac¡¯s blade. However, a second sword overlapped on top of Isaac¡¯s first one, coming down like a hammer. Lohengrin grimaced under the sudden weight. ¡°Gaaaar!¡± With a fierce shout, Lohengrin Helmut swung his greatsword in a wide arc, scattering Isaac¡¯s blades. In that same instant¡ª Isaac abandoned both swords and rushed in close. ¡°He comes up with something new every time I watch him.¡± ¡°So true.¡± Heyrad, her guard, mumbled in awe, and Princess Clarice nodded. Who would dare throw away their weapons and charge headlong at a Helmut? Yet that was exactly what Isaac did. Thud! Thud! Thud! A rapid series of hits rang out. Lohengrin¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Temple, philtrum, solar plexus¡ª These were vital points on a human body. Regardless of how powerful the Helmut bloodline might be, they were still human. Lohengrin, coughing and spitting up saliva, glared at Isaac. He tried to speak, but the pain was so intense he seemed unable to move his tongue. Isaac gave a crooked grin and nodded. ¡°As expected of the mighty Helmut. Normally, this combo would kill someone from cardiac arrest, not just leave them gasping.¡± ¡°You¡ªkhugh! Ghaaak!¡± ¡°Man, I envy that sturdy body! Hup!!¡± Thud! Thud! Thud! Watching Lohengrin topple backward, Princess Clarice let out a small sniff. ¡°He really must be harboring quite a bit of pent-up frustration toward the Helmut.¡± ¡°But, Your Highness, are you sure it¡¯s okay to let this go on?¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hm?¡± With a somewhat grave expression, Heyrad nodded toward the duel. ¡°Isn¡¯t it risky for people to see the eldest son of the Helmut family brought down so easily?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like I can stop them now.¡± Even so, Princess Clarice wasn¡¯t leaving things entirely to chance. On the contrary¡ª ¡°I¡¯ve realized something from this. There¡¯s too much power concentrated in Helmut.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Yes, they¡¯re capable, and the Helmut truly are remarkable. But depending too heavily on Helmut alone isn¡¯t a good look for the kingdom.¡± Just consider the situation now. What if Arandel had thrown in his lot with Galenia and sided with the Transcendentals? The thought was spine-chilling. ¡°This is the perfect time for a generational shift. I think the circumstances are ideal.¡± Princess Clarice smiled. ¡°Heyrad, have you ever heard that the number three symbolizes balance?¡± She continued without waiting for an answer: ¡°Rihanna Helmut, Silverna Caldias, and¡ª¡± Isaac. These were the three new pillars Princess Clarice envisioned taking over after Arandel Helmut, shaping the next generation of the kingdom. ¡°I think they¡¯ll become the vanguard for the kingdom¡¯s future.¡± In that sense, this duel was quite meaningful. It gradually chipped away at the mythic status the Helmut name had gained over time, while also helping pave the way for Isaac to build a solid foundation in the future. ¡°So I need Lohengrin Helmut to endure a bit more.¡± If possible, Princess Clarice wanted him to get thrashed like this every day. ***** ¡°Is it really alright to allow this?¡± ¡°No matter how you look at it, Young Master Lohengrin is one of the main pillars of Helmut.¡± ¡°Is it right to beat him like that after he was out there fighting on the battlefield just moments ago?¡± The knights of Helmut were lodging complaints with Arandel Helmut. They found it hard to watch Lohengrin being defeated so decisively. However, Arandel offered no response. Standing at a distance, he silently observed the two as they sparred. ¡®He¡¯s picked up yet another technique.¡¯ The posture and breathing Isaac had displayed just now¡ªdropping his swords to close in¡ªalong with his split-second judgment, were remarkably similar to how Arandel had smashed the rabbit-eared Transcendental with his fist earlier on the battlefield. Yet Isaac must have deemed that he couldn¡¯t fully match Arandel in raw power and stance. So, unlike Arandel, he discarded his weapons and rapidly struck with both hands at vital points¡ªmaking a modification that suited his own abilities. It resembled the way Isaac sometimes swung two thin swords to evoke the impression of a single greatsword. By wielding two blades, he seemed to imitate a piece of Helmut¡¯s signature style, yet did so in a unique way, stealing Arandel¡¯s moves and making them his own. ¡®He absorbed my movements, learned them, and re-created them in his own style¡ªall in a very short time.¡¯ How was such a thing even possible? Though his face revealed nothing, Arandel was genuinely impressed. Initially, he¡¯d been curious how Isaac had managed to hide such talent. But talent, by nature, is something that blooms. Over the past four years, Helmut had failed to bring Isaac¡¯s potential to full bloom¡ªArandel had finally recognized that. He also realized that Isaac¡¯s deep well of sword knowledge had become the nourishment fueling that growth. ¡®He doesn¡¯t just copy¡ªhe learns. Even when he admires someone¡¯s technique, he never loses his own center. He truly knows how to ¡°be himself.¡±¡¯ Lohengrin was growing, too. His previous defeat had taught him of his shortcomings. It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t do it. In fact, he was more than capable. But¡ª ¡®It¡¯s unfortunate.¡¯ Because one of them was hurtling forward at such a breakneck pace, the difference in their strides appeared huge. A single step for each of them, but the distance they covered was worlds apart. That was inevitable. Arandel was no kind, nurturing teacher. ¡®I wonder what he¡¯ll show me tomorrow.¡¯ Smiling faintly to himself, Arandel Helmut looked forward to seeing how Isaac would continue to grow through him. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 67: Grandmaster ¡°Hey, Isaac.¡± ¡°Mm?¡± For about two more days, the battlefield continued. By the time there was no longer any will or forces left in Blackthorn to resist¡ª Sharen quietly sidled up and glanced over before asking: ¡°Do you smoke?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± It was so out of the blue that Isaac wondered what she was talking about, and then Sharen frowned and pinched her nose. ¡°I tried to go into your tent to rest, Isaac. But there was this awful tobacco smell, so I came right back out.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± There were quite a few parts of that sentence Isaac wanted to point out. First of all, he wondered why she was leaving her own tent empty and trying to rest in his. But that was low on the priority list, so he let it go for now. ¡°Tobacco smell?¡± ¡°Yeah! It was really strong. I was thinking, maybe you were reflecting on the bitterness of divorce, going ¡®Hoo¡­ is this life?¡¯ or something like that.¡± ¡°Where on earth did you learn that kind of talk?¡± ¡°I saw knights doing it in the North sometimes.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± It was true that a lot of people in the North smoked tobacco. ¡°But this smell was way stronger than anything I¡¯ve smelled up North. It really startled me. Helmut has a keen nose, you know.¡± Although Sharen had lost Galenia, she was managing to cope in her own way. At first, Isaac worried she might not return to her old, innocent self, but seeing her persevere and move forward in her own way was reassuring. ¡°I don¡¯t smoke, though.¡± ¡°Really? Then maybe someone else went into your tent, Isaac, and lit up a smoke?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Strong tobacco? Isaac moved off at once, half in disbelief. ¡®No way¡­¡¯ He told himself it was impossible, yet some small, hopeful excitement was already stirring in his heart. Before he knew it, he¡¯d arrived in front of his tent, where a faint but pungent tobacco aroma drifted by. [This¡­ is life.] He heard the Grandmaster¡¯s voice echo in his mind, smiling as she spoke those very words. Isaac had once been a smoker himself, so he knew just how potent the Grandmaster¡¯s tobacco could be. He remembered that overly bright expression, casually blowing smoke while uttering embarrassingly philosophical lines. It wasn¡¯t so much that the Grandmaster liked saying those words, but that she enjoyed everyone else¡¯s reactions to them. ¡°Ugh! It reeks!¡± ¡°Sharen, wait here.¡± Leaving Sharen, who had followed behind, Isaac entered the tent. Thanks to Helmut, he had a fairly spacious personal tent provided for him, and inside stood a black-haired woman with a cigarette between her lips. Wolf ears that pricked upward. A massive sword slung over her shoulder. Eyes sharp as a blade, reflecting the moonlit night. A bushy tail curling behind her. ¡®Master¡­!¡¯ He almost called out to her aloud. That was how thrilled¡ªand simultaneously bewildered¡ªhe was at this reunion. He couldn¡¯t fathom why the Grandmaster, who was supposed to be at the rocky mountain, would be here in his tent. ¡°Hoo.¡± The Grandmaster silently exhaled a plume of smoke and then spoke to Isaac: ¡°I¡¯m glad that red kid didn¡¯t come in, all thanks to the strong smell.¡± The meaning was straightforward. If Sharen had come in, the Grandmaster would¡¯ve had to kill her. In other words, she had no intention of letting anyone but Isaac see her. ¡°And who might you be?¡± ¡°You may consider me someone important¡­ with a keen interest in your sword.¡± Still holding the cigarette in her mouth, the Grandmaster tapped the ground with her greatsword. Simply by revealing she wielded a sword, she seemed to consider her intentions conveyed. ¡°I have many questions, but time is short, so I can¡¯t ask them all.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I watched your sparring match. The rumor that you overcame Helmut¡¯s swordplay wasn¡¯t a lie.¡± So she had seen the duel with Lohengrin. Isaac couldn¡¯t help feeling secretly proud¡ªafter all, it meant he¡¯d been acknowledged by the Grandmaster. ¡°Hoo¡­ originally, I came to recruit you. To ask if you¡¯d walk the same path with us.¡± ¡°Recruit me?¡± So the Grandmaster was affiliated with some group at the moment? Isaac didn¡¯t really know much about this period of the Grandmaster¡¯s life. He wanted to hear more, but¡ª ¡°But before that, I have something I must ask you.¡± The Grandmaster¡¯s gaze turned chillingly cold. ¡°Who is your teacher?¡± Isaac nearly blurted out an answer, but clamped his mouth shut. Realizing he had no intention of answering, the Grandmaster nodded. ¡°I suspect your teacher is someone I know from the past, so that¡¯s why I asked¡ª¡± Flick. Her wolf ears twitched. In that same instant¡ª Claaaaaang! Both of their swords clashed. If those wolf ears hadn¡¯t moved first, Isaac wouldn¡¯t even have been able to react. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Rather, the person most surprised was the Grandmaster. She never expected someone would block her quick-draw with the same technique. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Isaac demanded, startled. The Grandmaster responded with sorrowful eyes: ¡°I didn¡¯t intend to harm you. I would have stopped just short of your nape.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I thought I had lost every last one of my old friends¡­ But you, you are my clue. Tell me¡ªwho is your teacher?¡± Isaac was as bewildered as ever, having never seen the Grandmaster act like this. ¡®Friends?¡¯ In his previous life, the Grandmaster had never once mentioned her own past. No one ever asked, and she never volunteered the information herself. ¡°All this time, I believed I¡¯d lost them all. But the style of your sword makes it clear¡ªyou are from my school.¡± That might be why the Grandmaster had taken on disciples up to now, but also why she never spoke of her past. ¡°I want to see my friends again.¡± The Grandmaster¡¯s plea, almost a desperate request, darkened Isaac¡¯s expression even more. ¡®Damn it¡­¡¯ His chest throbbed so badly it began to ache. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to say, ¡°I learned this sword from you,¡± and in doing so, he was only letting her hopes build on false expectations. ¡®Should I tell her?¡¯ He thought that if it was the Grandmaster, she would surely accept him. As Isaac hesitated¡ª ¡°Looks like a beast has arrived.¡± The Grandmaster¡¯s eyes gleamed as she leapt a good distance back. At the same time, the tent tore neatly down the middle, revealing the dim sky and a fierce gust of wind. What sliced the space between Isaac and the Grandmaster was a massive sword¡ª the one belonging to Arandel Helmut. ¡°So you resort to such cheap tactics.¡± Shouldering the greatsword, Arandel stepped in front of Isaac and glared at the Grandmaster. The Grandmaster, too, gave a hollow laugh and sheathed her weapon. ¡°I know you¡¯re misunderstanding something, but I have no connection to the transcendents of Blackthorn.¡± Alarmed by the sudden commotion, the nearby knights rushed over. Right outside, Sharen, startled by the noise, hurried to Isaac¡¯s side. ¡°A-are you okay?!¡± ¡°This is¡­¡± Dangerous. Anyone could see that the Grandmaster was part transcendent. Strictly speaking, she was mixed-blood, but unlike Jonathan, her transcendent blood was strong enough to give her ears and a tail. And right now, they were at war with the transcendents. If he tried to defend the Grandmaster here, he would be labeled a traitor to humanity. ¡°Father! She¡¯s not an enemy!¡± Isaac paid no heed to the risk. He swiftly stepped forward and shouted, making Arandel¡¯s eyes twitch. ¡°Ho?¡± The Grandmaster instead looked at Isaac with intrigue. He hoped she would seize this moment to escape, but she merely stood her ground and declared, ¡°I¡¯m taking him with me.¡± ¡°Wait¡ª!¡± Certain that Isaac held information about her fellow disciples, the Grandmaster was desperate enough not to retreat even before Arandel. That alone showed how earnest she was. On the other hand, it meant she was prepared for the worst. ¡°Not yet¡ª¡± Arandel stepped forward, moving past Isaac. Extending his greatsword between them, his crimson eyes glimmered faintly. ¡°This one belongs to Helmut.¡± Those words¡ªclearly refusing to hand Isaac over¡ªmade the Grandmaster¡¯s lips curl upward. Claaaaaang! S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sword strike was several times faster than the quick-draw she had displayed against Isaac earlier. The blade flashed so swiftly that even Isaac lost track of it. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± A wound opened on Arandel¡¯s shoulder. But paradoxically, it was the Grandmaster whose expression darkened. ¡°You fool.¡± She had likely aimed to sever his arm entirely. Yet she¡¯d only managed a shallow cut, and the Grandmaster clicked her tongue in frustration. Whatever the case, the line had been crossed. This was now far beyond what Isaac could intervene in and resolve. ¡°So a decent opponent has shown up.¡± A blood-red aura burst from Arandel¡¯s entire body. Its overwhelming power and density quickly seized control of the area, focusing the fury that once aimed at entire armies now solely onto one woman. ¡°Tsk.¡± Clicking her tongue at the surging aura, the Grandmaster remarked, ¡°Such brute force.¡± Despite her words, she didn¡¯t let down her guard for a second. Gripping her massive sword with both hands, she searched for an opening. Even she had to admit this wouldn¡¯t be easy. In his previous life, Isaac recalled how the Grandmaster had described Arandel as having a suppressive power capable of crushing even transcendents. Although she spoke dismissively, she clearly acknowledged his strength. A fierce battle was imminent. In truth, it was hard to imagine Arandel ever losing a one-on-one swordfight. His greatsword roared forth. Calling it a mere swing didn¡¯t do it justice¡ªthe crimson aura within it swept toward the Grandmaster like a storm, grander and more colossal than any strike he had shown on the Blackthorn battlefield. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± But as though defying all physical laws, a single clean line appeared through the raging crimson storm. The aura split neatly top to bottom, and through that gap darted the Grandmaster. [Aura? Are you kidding me? Once you reach the pinnacle, you don¡¯t need such things.] It was exactly as she said. Unlike Isaac, who borrowed Bricalla¡¯s mana to tear through aura, she simply cleaved Arandel¡¯s crimson force with pure swordsmanship. It must have been shocking for the knights of Helmut, who practically worshipped aura. But Arandel was unfazed. As if he had been waiting for this, he met the Grandmaster head-on. Claaang! With a sound like an explosive shockwave, the clash at the razor¡¯s edge of their swords continued to unfold. /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 68: Request for Support Just by watching Arandel fight Blackthorn, Isaac was able to learn and observe countless things. Not just swordsmanship, but also how to deal with multiple opponents, how to handle a greatsword, breathing techniques, and the art of deliberately prolonging one¡¯s footwork. Like a massive tree that scatters fruit whenever it¡¯s shaken, each swing of Arandel¡¯s sword gave Isaac a new spark of inspiration and realization. But now¡­ That towering trunk was trembling violently. He had run into a storm so fierce that the knowledge pouring into Isaac¡¯s mind started to twist and tangle in an instant. He continued stacking that knowledge, piece by piece, but even so, he knew he couldn¡¯t just stand by and do nothing. ClAANG! When the great saber came crashing down from above, Arandel did not dodge; he countered head-on. There was no way Arandel would ever lose in a contest of raw power. Even though the Grandmaster knew that perfectly well, she insisted on fighting in the manner her opponent wanted for one reason only: ¡®Because victory isn¡¯t the goal.¡¯ What the Grandmaster wanted was Isaac¡ªspecifically, the Isaac who might know something about her old friends. The unfortunate truth was that this was all just a misunderstanding. The great saber and the greatsword clashed like raging storms. No matter how elite the knight or noble the royalty, none could approach them. Onlookers backed away from the two locked in that fierce struggle. If you stood too close, you¡¯d be carved to pieces before you even had a chance to react. Where the pinnacle of aura and the height of swordsmanship collided, the wind itself howled with razor-like edges. ¡°Isaac, we have to get out of here!¡± Sharen urgently tugged on Isaac¡¯s arm. He had been so captivated by the duel that he forgot to blink. ¡°If we stay here, we¡¯ll die!¡± And in that moment, as Isaac was pulled back by sheer force¡ª ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?!¡± The Grandmaster¡¯s eyes gleamed. Lightly stepping off the swinging greatsword, she vaulted past Arandel and lunged straight toward Isaac. ¡°Re-Red wave!¡± A crimson wave shot forth. It was weaker because Sharen had launched it from her palm, but realistically, even if she had fired it from a greatsword, the result would¡¯ve been the same. ¡°How adorable¡ª!¡± As expected, Sharen¡¯s Red wave was sliced cleanly in half. Startled, Sharen trembled, but her grip on Isaac only tightened. At that moment, Isaac pushed Sharen aside and drew his sword. If he wasn¡¯t careful, the Grandmaster might kill Sharen. He had to prevent such a tragedy at all costs. It was a quick-draw strike. ¡®She¡¯s swinging with the intent to kill!¡¯ She already knew she couldn¡¯t actually kill him, so if he could just make her hesitate for a split second, it might be enough. Or so he thought¡ª ¡°Impressive.¡± His blade cut only empty air. The Grandmaster had already used the momentum to circle over Isaac¡¯s head and seize his back. CLAANG! Grabbing him by the nape, she slammed him to the ground. She twisted her body in midair by swinging her sword downward, using the gust to leap again¡ªan acrobatic maneuver that could only be called a stunt. ¡°Guhh!¡± ¡°I apologize for treating a disciple of my own order so harshly, but understand that I¡¯m just that desperate.¡± ¡°Isaac!¡± Sharen tried to rush over, but Isaac held out a hand to stop her. ¡°Don¡¯t come any closer!¡± He was fine. He knew he wouldn¡¯t die. But it was different for Sharen. If anyone else approached now, they could really be killed in an instant. ¡°Let me expl¡ª!¡± Suddenly, the ground flushed crimson. The earth trembled as though an earthquake had struck, and the Grandmaster¡¯s ears perked up. Like lava bursting skyward, scarlet energy erupted from the ground, flinging soil in all directions and momentarily obscuring their view. Even so, the Grandmaster did not let go of Isaac. But¡ª ¡°Sharen! Catch!¡± From the distance came Silverna¡¯s voice, followed by a spear that flew straight between Isaac and the Grandmaster. The white aura imbued in it briefly flared even without its owner, forcibly opening the distance between them. ¡°I got him¡ªI¡¯ve got him!¡± Sharen caught Isaac as he was flung into the air, breathing a sigh of relief to see him safe. But Isaac¡¯s gaze was fixed on the Grandmaster. ¡°So it¡¯s magic, not swordsmanship.¡± From within the scarlet upheaval of the earth, the Grandmaster emerged unscathed. She calmly brushed off the dirt and met the gaze of Arandel, who now stood in front of her again. ¡°...¡± Arandel silently raised his greatsword. He no longer meant to drag this out. Crimson aura surged around his blade. It was an absolute strike¡ªone that shatters, tears, burns, and reduces everything to rubble. Arandel unleashed it with both hands. Red Death Strike. A sword art worthy of being called the pinnacle of Helmut erupted again from Arandel¡¯s hands. In response, the Grandmaster gripped her massive saber with both hands, her eyes flashing. A slash that painted the world in red¡ªwithin it, a sharply curving crescent moon emerged. Moonlight. A devouring force and a blade meant to cut it collided, whipping up a massive cloud of dust that vanished as quickly as it appeared. In that brief clash, the winner and loser were decided. ¡°Hehe, this is¡­absurd.¡± On one side, the Grandmaster was down on one knee, catching her breath with her great saber driven into the ground. Parts of her clothing were torn, and her once-pale skin was smeared with blood. On the other side, Arandel stood upright on both legs. Though he bore visible wounds, the outcome was clear. The Grandmaster¡¯s Moonlight had failed to pierce Arandel¡¯s Red Death Strike. But considering that no one in the earlier battle against Blackthorn had even managed to draw blood from Arandel¡ª The fact that the Grandmaster alone had wounded him and made him bleed spoke volumes about her skill. ¡°As expected of you, Father!¡± ¡°We just witnessed something incredible.¡± On either side of Isaac, both Sharen and Silverna expressed awe. Others chimed in with cheers for Arandel¡¯s victory. ¡°Guhk¡ª!¡± Suddenly, dark red blood spilled from Arandel¡¯s lips, which had been firmly closed until then. The blood dripped off his chin, pooling on the ground. His massive form wavered. He slammed his greatsword into the ground to keep himself upright. ¡°Father?!¡± ¡°Wait, did Arandel¡­lose?¡± As countless onlookers murmured in confusion, believing the tide had turned, only Isaac and the Grandmaster grasped what was really going on. ¡°So that¡¯s why you wanted to settle this so quickly.¡± Arandel¡¯s poor condition did not escape the Grandmaster¡¯s notice. His chronic illness, unexpectedly, seemed to reset the outcome of the battle to square one. When everyone¡¯s eyes were drawn to Arandel, Isaac alone kept his gaze fixed on the Grandmaster. In that crowd of people, their eyes met squarely. They were a bit too far apart to speak, yet the moment the Grandmaster saw Isaac¡¯s expression, her own eyes slowly widened. ¡®You¡¯ve always had a good intuition.¡¯ Whether it was because she was half Transcendent or simply because she was born with the instincts of the Grandmaster, no one could say for sure. Slowly rising to her feet, the Grandmaster sheathed her great saber and steadied her breathing. Then, without a sound, she withdrew. ¡°After her!¡± At Lohengrin¡¯s shout, the knights of Helmut rushed to pursue the Grandmaster. But no matter how wounded a wolf might be, humans can¡¯t hope to outrun it on foot. With Arandel unable to move, the Grandmaster was sure to escape safely. ¡®The problem is¡­¡¯ It was Arandel Helmut, whose face had turned visibly pale as dirt. . . . ¡°...A chronic illness.¡± Having heard Arandel¡¯s situation, Princess Clarice let out a weary sigh. The atmosphere in the command tent was grim. Both the revelation that Arandel had hidden a chronic illness and the fact that the kingdom¡¯s sword was now jeopardized were extremely important issues, but¡ª ¡°We¡¯re about to subdue Blackthorn...¡± They only had Blackthorn¡¯s massive estate left to seize. Presumably, it would be swarming with Transcendents, and even just the absence of Arandel filled the air with uneasy tension. They would resist with everything they had, and it would undoubtedly be the fiercest battle of all. ¡®Which is why an hour¡­¡¯ Folding her arms, Princess Clarice tapped her fingers and nodded. Arandel had only been active for an hour at a time, all to conceal his illness. It was a puzzle piece that fit neatly into place, but it brought her no satisfaction. Of course, he also wanted Isaac to gain more real combat experience, but naturally, Princess Clarice hadn¡¯t even considered that possibility. In any case¡ª ¡°Tomorrow, we should begin our offensive on Blackthorn¡¯s estate immediately.¡± With Princess Clarice unexpectedly taking command, the other nobles voiced their agreement. If they wasted time, who knew what bizarre tactics the Transcendents might attempt? And on top of that, word of Arandel¡¯s injury could reach the enemy. They didn¡¯t want to give the cornered rats any chance to slip through a crack in the wall. ¡°It¡¯ll all be over soon, anyway.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t even take an hour.¡± ¡°We already have an overwhelming advantage. There¡¯s no need to worry.¡± Hearing such bold assurances from her advisors, Princess Clarice nodded. Indeed, they were in an overwhelmingly favorable position. But. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡®Why do I feel so uneasy¡­?¡¯ Princess Clarice prided herself on having decent intuition. The more she heard these nobles boast, the stronger her sense of foreboding grew. ¡°Then who will command on the front lines tomorrow¡ª?¡± ¡°Your Highness.¡± Filling in for Arandel, Lohengrin, who was seated at the table, placed his hand over his heart with a confident expression. ¡°Leave it to me.¡± ¡°...¡± The princess thought to herself: ¡® I really need to devise a plan.¡¯ . . . ¡°That¡¯s why I came to see you, Isaac.¡± ¡°...¡± Isaac, seated in his own tent, wore an awkward expression as he looked at Princess Clarice. He could understand why she was outright dismissing Lohengrin¡ªit wasn¡¯t exactly incomprehensible. ¡®He really hasn¡¯t earned her trust at all.¡¯ It seemed Lohengrin stood somewhere on the edges of Helmut in Princess Clarice¡¯s mind. ¡°Please. Lead the assault on the estate tomorrow.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Now that Arandel was gone, there was no one left to order Isaac to stand by and watch from the sidelines. At last, the moment had come for him to draw his sword in real combat, and his heart pounded a little with excitement. Moreover, he wanted to personally fulfill the promise he had made to Pollu back in the North. Upon hearing Isaac¡¯s answer, Clarice¡¯s expression brightened noticeably. ¡°Thank you! I feel a bit more at ease now. I¡¯ll go tell Silverna, so please work well together tomorrow.¡± With that, Clarice stepped outside. Since Silverna had also been kept from the front lines alongside Isaac, she would surely welcome the news. ¡°She left.¡± After the princess left, Isaac discreetly took out a book. The pages were worn from constant use, and after skimming the margins, he clicked his tongue in mild frustration. ¡®This won¡¯t be enough.¡¯ He pulled out another fresh book. His bookcase was nearly empty now, and the Silent Sword pen in his hand moved quickly yet calmly across the blank pages. He intended to write down everything he had witnessed today¡ªboth sides¡¯ unbelievably grand and majestic swordsmanship. Once he laid it all out on paper, he planned to sift through it again for anything he could apply or adapt for himself. It had lasted barely ten minutes, that exchange of blades. Even so, Isaac¡¯s new book was already filling up fast. ¡°Hmm, how incredible.¡± A woman¡¯s voice came from behind him. Normally, Isaac became oblivious to his surroundings when concentrating, but this time, the intruder¡¯s presence had been expertly concealed. She had slipped past even the knights stationed around the area and reached his tent. ¡°...!¡± Startled, he whipped around¡ªonly to see the Grandmaster peering over his shoulder with her hand resting against her chin. ¡°How very detailed. I¡¯m almost embarrassed.¡± ¡°If you could sneak in like this at night, why did you make such a show of it during the day?¡± ¡°Ah, but how could a lady enter a man¡¯s quarters under cover of darkness?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Hm, Arandel would have noticed me instantly. But I hear he has left the front lines for treatment, yes?¡± It was top-secret information, but somehow she had found out. Isaac chose not to ask how. ¡°Well then, the fact that you were watching me so intently must mean you have something to say. I, too, have questions I¡¯d like answered.¡± ¡°How¡¯s your injury?¡± Confident she would come, Isaac had prepared bandages and antiseptic in advance. ¡°It¡¯s not fine at all.¡± The Grandmaster did not refuse. That alone showed how serious the injuries inflicted by Arandel were. In fact, the large leaf she had hastily slapped over the wound seemed more likely to make things worse. While tending to the visible injuries, Isaac spoke up. ¡°Tomorrow, we¡¯re planning to raid Blackthorn.¡± ¡°Mm? I¡¯m aware. But don¡¯t get the wrong idea¡ªI truly have nothing to do with those¡ª¡± ¡°Help us.¡± ¡°...Hm?¡± ¡°We need your help.¡± At that, the Grandmaster¡¯s ears twitched, as if to confirm she¡¯d heard him correctly. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 69: Primitive ¡°Is it because of the plan to subjugate Blackthorn?¡± At the question from Grandmaster, Isaac nodded. After a brief moment of thought, Grandmaster tilted her head and asked: ¡°But I¡¯m wondering if there¡¯s any real need for me to step in. Isn¡¯t Arandel almost done taking care of things?¡± ¡°The Transcendent I know are all extremely proud, and they tend to look down on humans.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Grandmaster did not deny it. It meant she agreed. ¡°Even if we assume Blackthorn is expendable, I doubt they¡¯ll just take the defeat lying down.¡± ¡°So you think they¡¯ve set something up? Do you have any evidence?¡± By now, Grandmaster¡¯s expression had become calm. It was as if she would have been disappointed had he not provided a basis. Isaac explained in a steady voice: ¡°Did you see the nearby villages? They¡¯re living in relative abundance, yet their outward appearance doesn¡¯t show it at all.¡± ¡°Hmm. Yes, their skin is dark, thin like parchment, and you can see their bones clearly.¡± ¡°They are the proof. My guess is¡ª¡± ¡°Some kind of ritual?¡± Grandmaster echoed his words. Isaac nodded, and she let out a short sigh. ¡°You know an awful lot. Ritual of the Transcendent isn¡¯t something one can easily come across.¡± ¡°I encountered it during a dispatch to North. Of course, I knew about it even before then.¡± ¡®It¡¯s not really a lie.¡¯ Isaac suspected that the reason Blackthorn¡¯s citizens looked so haggard despite their prosperity was due to some form of ritual. Grandmaster didn¡¯t spend long deliberating and nodded. ¡°That seems logical. As you say, there¡¯s a high chance some ritual has been set up in that mansion.¡± Had Arandel been there, they might¡¯ve ignored it; but otherwise, they had to consider every possibility. Isaac knew all too well how deep the Transcendent¡¯s hatred and simmering hostility toward humans ran. They would never simply retreat. ¡°You¡¯re my fellow disciple¡¯s student, so of course I can help. But if that¡¯s the case, you¡¯ll have to do something for me in return, right?¡± Straightening her back, Grandmaster smiled and asked: ¡°Speak, then¡ªwho was your master, and where is my fellow disciple now?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac closed his eyes gently. *** Memories came back to him, starting with their first meeting. [¡°Oh? You said you came from Helmut?¡±] Little by little, the recollections built up. [¡°Talent in swordsmanship comes in many forms. It¡¯s not as simple as just swinging a blade.¡±] She was the one who extended a hand to him when he was drowning in depression and despair. Moreover, she was the great mentor who first discovered Isaac¡¯s talent. [¡°It¡¯s a shame. A real shame. If not for that leg, you would surely have reached your full potential.¡±] [¡°Disciple, pour me another drink.¡±] [¡°Ah, fine, I won¡¯t smoke! But why do I have to quit just because you did? That¡¯s beyond me!¡±] They had times of laughter and times of sorrow. In so many ways, Grandmaster had supported him. [¡°My dream, you say?¡±] [¡°Hehe, at this point, does it even matter?¡±] The reasons why she existed as a master, the seat beside her he never quite reached. He never got to hear it all. [¡°Disciple, I¡¯m sorry.¡±] In the end¡ª When she could no longer hold out against the Transcendent¡¯s final assault and was crumbling, she still apologized to him. Everyone else raced toward their dreams, while Isaac had lost his own and could only push others forward instead. ¡®If I ever have to tell this secret to someone¡ª¡¯ It would surely be you first. With that thought, Isaac smiled and confided his story honestly. About thirty minutes passed. Suddenly, Grandmaster opened her eyes wide, raised her large saber, and¡ª Bam! She whacked Isaac on the head¡ªscabbard and all¡ªand gave her reply. ¡°Who do you think you¡¯re fooling?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± **** The next day. Before heading out to the mansion, Isaac was helping Grandmaster adjust her clothing. He pulled a robe over her and placed a hood on top. Apparently annoyed by it, she kept shaking her head side to side, trying to fling the hood off. ¡°This is so rough. I hate this.¡± ¡°You have to wear it because of your ears. Can¡¯t you fold them down any further?¡± ¡°I can, but it feels uncomfortable. It¡¯s like walking on tiptoe.¡± Her pointed ears bent downward. With the hood on top, her distinctive features were pretty much completely hidden. ¡°Haah, what a hassle¡ªOuch! Be gentler with the ears; they¡¯re sensitive!¡± Isaac tugged the hood further down to hide her face as much as possible, prompting Grandmaster to grumble. Her tail was tucked inside her pants somehow, but bits of fur were already coming loose. ¡°Leave your large saber behind. You can fetch it later when we¡¯re done.¡± ¡°How could a swordsman leave her own sword behind?¡± ¡°You promised to help. If you walk around with that huge sword, you¡¯ll stand out.¡± Isaac offered her a dull shortsword like the ones used by ordinary soldiers. ¡°What is this brute of a weapon?¡± ¡°If push comes to shove, I¡¯ll lend you mine. So please bear with it.¡± ¡°Phew, whose disciple are you, really? Your master should be ready for a beating from me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Grandmaster still refused to believe Isaac¡¯s story. He had tried providing all sorts of plausible details to earn her trust, but¡ª Talking about the future wouldn¡¯t help, since she had no way of knowing it. As for the past, Grandmaster herself had never spoken much about it; so when Isaac mentioned a few scraps, she just got angry, insisting there was no such ¡°master¡± who could have told him that. ¡®It might¡¯ve been too much to hope she¡¯d believe me right away.¡¯ Isaac let out a heavy sigh. Mustering the courage to reveal his secret, only to have it rejected, left him feeling rather disheartened. ¡°I¡¯ll help you, since you do wield a sword that proves you¡¯re my fellow disciple¡¯s student¡ª¡± Grandmaster stepped out of the tent, grumbling, ¡°But understand this: what you told me yesterday was just hot air. I¡¯ll take it as a sign that you still don¡¯t trust me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Don¡¯t trust her¡­ Or perhaps, don¡¯t want to believe? As Grandmaster kept pressing the matter, Isaac suddenly found himself wondering why. But the thought didn¡¯t linger for long. ¡°Isaac! Hurry up and¡ªohh?¡± Just as Isaac stepped outside, Sharen, who had been running up to him, tilted her head when she saw the woman standing beside him. Worried that she might have caught on, he quickly realized he didn¡¯t need to worry¡ªSharen wasn¡¯t that perceptive. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°We ran into each other, and she looked familiar. Turns out she was an old customer of mine.¡± ¡°A customer? Oh, you were a boatwoman!¡± Sharen let it go with a bright laugh. Her simplicity was a relief. Silverna joined them a moment later, but Sharen waved her off with an animated explanation, and they moved on without issue. Thus began the formation of the infiltration party into Blackthorn¡¯s mansion. Isaac would take the lead alongside the Helmut knights under Lohengrin, with Grandmaster following behind as his ¡°porter.¡± ¡°Isaac, be careful, okay? Don¡¯t just charge in because Helmut does.¡± Right before they departed, Clarice pulled Isaac aside and cautioned him. She saw Isaac as one of the kingdom¡¯s next-generation swordsmen and didn¡¯t want him getting hurt for no good reason. ¡°Isaac, Isaac! Look at this!¡± Sharen, who was also part of the vanguard, held out her hand, releasing a burst of crimson force. She swung it about before compressing it into a spherical shape. ¡°Isn¡¯t that cool?!¡± ¡°¡­And what are you planning to do with it?¡± ¡°Huh? With this¡­?¡± Sharen, staring blankly at her own creation, pursed her lips and shouted, ¡°Red Wave!¡± She launched it straight at Isaac, but it only created a slight breeze, leaving no real impact. ¡°Oh?¡± Grandmaster, on the other hand, watched Sharen with a look of fascination. Breathing hard, Sharen stalked off in a huff. Isaac looked at her retreating back, then turned to Grandmaster. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± ¡°Nothing much. Don¡¯t you find it interesting how she¡¯s taken Red aura¡ªthe power so many people admire¡ªand basically turned it into child¡¯s play?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Amusing. I assumed all Arandel¡¯s brood were monsters, but I see that¡¯s not always the case.¡± Isaac pondered Grandmaster¡¯s words and found his perspective shifting slightly. Usually, the key to Red Aura is how much strength you can amplify. But Sharen had done the opposite¡ªshe¡¯d stripped out all the impact. ¡®Maybe Sharen has a unique talent for using her aura.¡¯ As Isaac nodded to himself, he caught the crisp, chilling scent of someone standing next to him¡ªSilverna. ¡°Isaac, do you have any plans after we finish the subjugation?¡± Silverna¡¯s question sounded like she was inviting him on a trip. Isaac hesitated briefly. ¡°Hmm.¡± Originally, his plan had been to head to the rocky mountain to find Grandmaster. But now that Grandmaster had come to him, that immediate goal had vanished. ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet.¡± ¡°Then come to Evergard with me.¡± ¡°Evergarde?¡± That was the capital of the Albion Kingdom. ¡°I heard there¡¯s a special knights¡¯ academy training facility there. In the North, because of all the large-scale monster outbreaks, our training was always interrupted. Even after that, the environment hasn¡¯t exactly been ideal for focused practice, has it?¡± She was right. Up to now, Isaac had been honing his swordsmanship as more of a side job amid constant incidents. In other words, she was suggesting they finally delve deeper into the sword. Isaac found it quite appealing. ¡®I¡¯ve been relying on technique and knowledge to get by, but it¡¯s true my physical abilities are lacking.¡¯ Why, just yesterday, Sharen had outmuscled him and dragged him around. ¡°And¡­we can casually drop by the underground prison while we¡¯re there.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Silverna wore a smile that said this was her real motive, and Isaac widened his eyes. Alois was currently imprisoned there, wasn¡¯t he? ¡°You¡¯re worried, right? I remember you asking the princess for a favor regarding that. But we can¡¯t just waltz in without any good excuse. People might raise eyebrows.¡± ¡°¡­Right. Thanks.¡± A subtle smile formed on his face. Because of her consideration, one of the anxieties in Isaac¡¯s heart seemed to fade away. ¡°If you¡¯re grateful, buy me some dessert there! I want to try this thing called an egg muffin that you can¡¯t get in the North!¡± ¡°Ha, sure. Got it.¡± Silverna beamed at Isaac¡¯s reply, and her open delight left him feeling a bit strange. ¡°You¡¯ve got quite a face to charm her like that, don¡¯t you?¡± If Grandmaster hadn¡¯t whispered that from behind, Isaac might have continued chatting happily with Silverna about this and that. Just then, the vanguard started moving. Technically they were the vanguard, but because of the mansion¡¯s structure, the entire army couldn¡¯t enter; it was more accurate to call them an elite unit¡ªessentially the main force. Most of the soldiers were stationed outside the mansion, forming a ring with their shields. ¡°For Helmut!¡± Right at the front gates, Lohengrin, who was leading the charge, raised his greatsword high into the air. In unison, the other knights of Helmut behind him lifted their swords as well. Centering on Lohengrin, the crimson aura condensed and formed a massive lump of energy. ¡°Glory to the great Helmut!¡± When Lohengrin swung his greatsword in a grand arc toward the sky, the combined aura from the Helmut knights shot straight at the mansion. ¡°That¡¯s some brute force.¡± ¡°Unbelievable¡­¡± Even Silverna and Grandmaster, who were watching from the side, were taken aback by the sheer impact. It showed just how much Lohengrin had racked his brains last night. Refusing to underestimate the Transcendent, He had decided to outright obliterate the mansion itself! Indeed, the aura tore through the mansion in an instant, nearly splitting Blackthorn¡¯s grand residence in half, leaving the interior fully exposed. In the process, there were human casualties as well, and a few Transcendent lay dead on the ground. It looked as if someone had taken a massive bite out of the mansion. The Transcendent inside stared at Lohengrin in bewilderment. ¡°Y-you¡­haah! This is¡­this is Helmut! Haah! Haah!¡± He looked quite exhausted, but the effect was undeniable. Frankly, no one had expected Lohengrin to go this far, yet it was a remarkable success. Then came a volley of arrows from the soldiers behind the shield wall, sending a clear message that they had no intention of rushing in to corner those remaining inside. ¡°This¡­are we even needed here?¡± Silverna wondered aloud. Isaac was about to nod in agreement when¡ª Grandmaster¡¯s hood gave a small twitch. Her eyes widened as she gripped Isaac¡¯s sleeve and whispered: ¡°Stay sharp. This won¡¯t end so easily.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Isaac didn¡¯t bother asking her to elaborate. After all, the arrows that had been raining down like a storm suddenly clattered to the ground, as if blocked by something. They fell at different times and split in various ways; if you had to guess, it looked like someone had literally ¡°sliced¡± them. In the middle of the now-exposed mansion¡ªwhere the walls and ceiling had been blown away¡ªstood the central staircase to Blackthorn. A man with serpentine eyes descended it. His tongue was forked in two, and his skin was a deep blood-red, as though he¡¯d lived his entire life amid flames. Yet his attire was that of a refined noble¡¯s uniform. Two horns sprouted from his head, a tail swished languidly behind him, sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. and finally¡ª He held a massive great saber larger than a person¡¯s height. ¡°That¡¯s¡­!¡± Silverna unconsciously turned her gaze to Isaac. He bit his lip, taking a measured breath. ¡°You know it.¡± They were originally the swords of those monsters. Isaac had suspected this one wasn¡¯t just any ordinary Transcendent. Confirming his suspicions, Grandmaster muttered in a somber tone: ¡°He¡¯s of the Primitive lineage.¡± Primitive. The first of the Transcendent. Even a typical Transcendent can easily cut down an ordinary knight. But those of the Primitive lineage are like walking disasters that can swing the tide of a battlefield. In his past life, Isaac had witnessed their appearance on multiple occasions¡ªmoments that crushed his allies¡¯ morale in an instant. And¡ª Grandmaster¡¯s demise, too, had come at the hands of these very beings. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 70: Breathing ¡°Are you aware that even among the Primitive Transcendents, they¡¯re divided among themselves?¡± Even though the question came from the Grandmaster, Isaac didn¡¯t have the leeway to turn his head toward her. Though the enemy stood so far away that it seemed barely the size of a fingertip, he felt a dire sense of danger¡ªlike his head would be lopped off the moment he looked away. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s what I¡¯ve heard.¡± He didn¡¯t know the specifics, but he did know that not all Primitive Transcendents were the same. By way of analogy, they were like high-ranking nobles. Just as the Kingdom of Albion had multiple noble houses¡ªHelmut, Caldias, and Blackthorn¡ªeach Primitive effectively possessed its own domain, akin to a noble territory. ¡°That one over there is one of those they call the Sword Demon among the Primitives.¡± ¡°What a name...¡± A stinging bitterness prickled his tongue. The name ¡°Sword Demon¡± was truly fitting, given the vicious aura the creature exuded. ¡°To be perfectly honest, we should retreat from here¡ª¡± ¡°But it won¡¯t let us retreat, will it.¡± ¡°Right. Besides, is there any way to bring more forces than we have right now?¡± There wasn¡¯t. Isaac answered firmly. Even though Arandel was out of the picture, they still had knights from Helmut. They also had Silverna of Caldias and other noble knights gathered here. Retreating at this point would effectively mean the kingdom had no way to stand against the Primitives. ¡°In fact, this is the perfect moment to kill it.¡± ¡°...Are you confident?¡± Though the Grandmaster addressed Isaac, his gaze was fixed on the knights standing at the front. ¡°These are the kingdom¡¯s finest knights. I know your concerns, but I still judge that the advantage is ours.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Have you ever seen Helmut¡¯s knights in action?¡± The Grandmaster gave no answer. In response, a smile tugged at Isaac¡¯s lips. ¡°We can do this. Humanity isn¡¯t that weak.¡± They all knew that their opponent was a colossal threat. Yet, on this side stood knights lauded as ¡®great¡¯ in their own right. Isaac was certain that, no matter how massive the creature¡¯s blade, it couldn¡¯t possibly cut down everyone in a single sweep. After mulling it over, the Grandmaster nodded calmly. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true.¡± The Grandmaster backed Isaac¡¯s opinion. The enemy¡¯s entrance had been striking, yet in truth, it should be the Transcendent who feared having to flee. She reminded herself of that fact once again. Arrows had been loosed but fell harmlessly to the ground, so at some point, they stopped firing altogether. With eyes like a snake, the creature surveyed the knights entering the manor. Without a word, it slowly drew its massive blade behind its back, ready to unsheathe in an instant¡ªfaster than anyone had expected. ¡°Gah!?¡± Claaaaang! A thunderous roar erupted, nothing like the sound of swords clashing. Lohengrin widened his eyes. Feeling the heavy impact reverberate through the greatsword he¡¯d raised diagonally, he swallowed hard. He knew this well. Through his sparring with Isaac, he¡¯d learned that a sword still in its sheath was at its most dangerous. Though he hadn¡¯t been able to track the blade with his eyes, his experience had effectively saved his life. ¡°Hm.¡± The Sword Demon let out a low murmur. It seemed mildly disappointed that its intended one-strike kill had been countered so smoothly, but it wasn¡¯t so fixated or alarmed as to let that throw it off. ¡°Form up with your greatswords! Build a wall and advance!¡± Just from that single exchange, Lohengrin grasped that this was no foe he could defeat simply by charging headlong. Though the realization unsettled him, it was a form of growth¡ªbeing repeatedly beaten by Isaac, whom he once looked down upon, had already bruised his pride considerably. Thud Thud Thud! The red knights of Helmut formed up and slammed their greatswords into the ground. They became a gigantic wall, pressing down on the Primitive Transcendent. ¡°Their response is better than I expected.¡± ¡°They really are handling this well.¡± The Grandmaster and Silverna mumbled in unison. For a brief moment, they exchanged glances¡ªuntil Isaac hastily pushed the Grandmaster¡¯s head down. ¡°Ugh?! What are you¡ª!?¡± ¡°They¡¯re doing a good job, though. Who would¡¯ve thought Lohengrin had a talent for this?¡± At Isaac¡¯s casual remark, Silverna shrugged it off and continued. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Indeed. Honestly, I was worried, but it¡¯s working out well.¡± The Grandmaster shot them a disgruntled sidelong look, but Isaac pretended not to notice¡ªbetter that than revealing the Grandmaster¡¯s presence to Silverna. At any rate, their performance was good enough to make one wonder if Clarice had worried too much. ¡°The real problem now is aura, I suppose.¡± Each and every one of them had a faint hue of Red aura. They must have exhausted all their strength in that single, all-or-nothing strike as they broke in. Although one couldn¡¯t say it was a poor decision at the time, it was hard to deny that it had turned into a regrettable call in the end. ¡°Still, it¡¯ll be fine.¡± Helmut would stand firm as a wall at the front while the others thrust in to finish the job. Resting his hand on his longsword, Isaac followed behind the other knights. From here on, his plan was to move more like an assassin than a swordsman¡ªslipping through the ranks of knights and piercing the fiend like a slender needle. But¡ª ¡°Put your strength into it!¡± A roar burst from the Grandmaster behind them. Hearing her voice, the knights of Helmut instantly tensed, steeling their bodies. Baam! A stroke of dusky-black power shattered the knights¡¯ greatswords as it carved through them. The red aura proved useless; the wall formed by the Helmut knights was split in half. In the Sword Demon¡¯s ghastly glare, a crimson evil energy flickered. ¡°Hoo...¡± Its stance thrown off by that powerful swing, the Sword Demon rolled its shoulders as if to reset its posture. More than half of the greatswords lay broken. Some knights had lost their lives, though they had been spared from total annihilation. ¡°How is this even¡ª!?¡± In that nightmarish scene, Lohengrin knelt on one knee, eyes wide. It was partly thanks to Lohengrin¡¯s famed blade that the Sword Demon¡¯s slash had not completed its full arc. The knights of Helmut had been obliterated so thoroughly it was almost pitiful. No matter how fearsome the Primitive Transcendent was, this kind of strength defied all reason. Had Arandel been here, could he have stopped it? The question was inevitable¡ªit was that overwhelming. ¡°It¡¯s ritual.¡± Gritting his teeth, Isaac dashed forward. The Grandmaster followed close behind, nodding vigorously. ¡°Indeed. Just as you said.¡± Alongside the blood-red aura coursing through the Sword Demon¡¯s body, a dark energy emanated from its massive blade. That dusky power imbued in the blade was a ritual. It had grown fat on the lifeforce of hundreds of citizens in Blackthorn¡ªconsuming their vitality to fuel itself. ¡°A demonic sword in every sense.¡± A Primitive Transcendent empowered by large-scale ritual¡ªno wonder it possessed such monstrous strength. Running alongside Isaac, Silverna gripped her spear tightly and asked: ¡°Isaac! Are you sure about this?!¡± Having just witnessed that devastating slash, rushing in like this seemed tantamount to suicide. But Isaac only pressed harder with his toes, closing the distance. ¡°This is our chance! There¡¯s no way it can just recklessly unleash that ridiculous power again and again!¡± Ritual could grant absurd power, but it exacted a steep price in return. After one such swing, it wouldn¡¯t be able to pour out another blow so easily. While the rest hesitated, Isaac lunged past them, drawing his blade. Compared to the quick-draw strike the creature had shown before, Isaac¡¯s slash might have looked small and unimpressive. The Sword Demon tilted its huge blade, as if sneering, and effortlessly blocked Isaac¡¯s sword. Clang! Isaac¡¯s blade, failing to withstand the force of the massive sword, bounced away uselessly, slicing nothing but air. At that very moment¡ªwhen the Sword Demon nearly scoffed at how feeble Isaac¡¯s grip seemed¡ª ¡°Huuup!¡± Thud! Isaac¡¯s opposite foot stomped forward, and he drew a second blade from his belt. The resulting strike was faster and sharper than before. Realizing it had been tricked by Isaac¡¯s feigned slip of the blade, the Sword Demon reversed the angle of its huge blade to parry the new slash. Claaang! The resonance was far clearer this time than the last. ¡°Tsk, not bad.¡± Just as Isaac and the Sword Demon locked eyes, a voice rang out from above them. ¡°Your timing is good, isn¡¯t it?¡± Hurtling down toward the Sword Demon was the Grandmaster, who had snatched the blade Isaac had dropped earlier. Her descending strike whistled through the air: Swish! ¡°...!¡± Forced to leap back in a hurry to gain distance, the Sword Demon let out a pained hiss. Blood poured from the wound slashed deep across its shoulder, spattering the ground. ¡°Either my strength has waned... or there¡¯s some curse¡ªI¡¯ve been trying to cut through the shoulder since yesterday, yet still failed.¡± She was referring to yesterday¡¯s battle with Arandel, when she¡¯d also gone for its shoulder but hadn¡¯t managed to land a fatal hit. ¡°T¡¯was a fleeting moment bought with the blood of my kin.¡± The Sword Demon¡¯s forked tongue quivered. Gripping its massive sword tightly, its voice seethed with hatred and resentment. ¡°At the tomb meant for Arandel¡­ Why must it be filled with the bodies of others, and not his own?¡± Clutching its face with one hand, the Sword Demon let tears pool in its eyes. Those tears rolled down its reddened cheeks, dripping with genuine lament. ¡°Where has he gone? The one whose blade would match mine¡­ Where has he vanished to?¡± It was a trap laid to kill Arandel. A demonic sword born from the lifeforce of Blackthorn¡¯s citizens and the sacrifice of the Sword Demon¡¯s own kin. Still grasping that weapon, the Sword Demon shook its head from side to side. ¡°Ah, what a tragedy.¡± Never taking his eyes off the grieving creature, Isaac addressed Silverna, who had come up behind him: ¡°Cover me with your spear. If I move in too close, I won¡¯t be able to track its slashes with my eyes.¡± ¡°So you want me to back you up from a distance? That¡¯s a tall order.¡± Even so, Silverna channeled a brilliant white aura into her spear¡ªsignaling she was ready to strike at any moment. While listening, the Grandmaster held Isaac¡¯s sword and made a suggestion. ¡°Do what you did just now. I¡¯ll try to land a blow.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s switch places. I¡¯ll be the one to land it.¡± ¡°Hmm? Think you can manage that?¡± The Grandmaster cast a sidelong glance at Isaac. At her question, Isaac flashed a slight grin. He had watched the Grandmaster¡¯s swordsmanship for years. ¡°Of course.¡± He was confident enough. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 71: Flying Wings ¡°Hoo, within every tragedy lie tangled knots and the personal stories each person carries.¡± The Sword Demon slowly lowered the hands that had been covering his face. His tears had already dried, and the eyes that had been moist were now honed to an even sharper edge. ¡°I will use today¡¯s tragedy as nourishment for what comes next.¡± His chilling gaze shifted to Isaac and the Grandmaster. It was his way of acknowledging that his trap for Arandel had failed and that he would bide his time for another chance¡ª But it also meant he intended to kill all those before him now, then leave. ¡°You¡¯re ignoring us so blatantly.¡± The Grandmaster smirked and rested her saber on her shoulder. However, the Sword Demon spoke only what he intended, as if he couldn¡¯t even hear the Grandmaster¡¯s voice at all. ¡°So you truly mean to test your strength against mine with that?¡± Both of them gripped their swords. ¡°Do you even realize before whom you stand, wielding those blades?¡± He reminded them what it meant to fight against the Primitive¡ª The primordial transcendent race. The progenitor of the great saber known as the Transcendent¡¯s Blade. The two who dared challenge this origin swallowed nervously but did not reply. Perhaps their silence was answer enough, for the Sword Demon lifted his great saber once more and nodded. ¡°Learning is what most thoroughly fills our deepest void¡ª.¡± In the next instant, the Sword Demon vanished like an afterimage. Hearing his voice suddenly from the left, Isaac¡¯s eyes flew wide. ¡°Until the moment you close your eyes, be grateful for this lesson.¡± Claaaaang! The Grandmaster¡¯s blade flashed past Isaac¡¯s cheek. The Sword Demon had tried to decapitate Isaac in a single blow, but the Grandmaster reacted first, thrusting her blade forward to block the great saber. Startled though he was, Isaac did not retreat. Instead, he threw himself toward the Sword Demon. Now that the enemy¡¯s saber was blocked, this was his chance. Isaac¡¯s blade swept in a graceful arc¡ªbut the Sword Demon caught it effortlessly in his hand. His sword was stopped so easily it was almost pathetic. To have his full-strength swing parried by a mere hand¡ª It drove home the vast difference in their abilities and proved Isaac didn¡¯t really belong on this battlefield. Even so, Isaac simply released the blade stuck in the Sword Demon¡¯s grip and clenched his fist. He¡¯d learned this tactic through Arandel and had used it to knock down Lohengrin. Ignoring the sword entirely, he threw a punch at the Sword Demon¡¯s vital spot. Bam! Bam! Bam! He struck from the temple, down the philtrum, and into the solar plexus. Even Helmut would have staggered from such blows, so one might expect decent results¡ª ¡°¡­¡­!¡± But the blood flowing was Isaac¡¯s. Blood dripped from his fist, and the pain felt like he had slammed it against a steel plate covered in spikes. ¡°Foolish.¡± The Sword Demon looked down at Isaac, who had come in close for the strike. Just as he moved to harvest his life¡ª Swish! A spear came hurtling toward the Sword Demon¡¯s shoulder. Normally he would have ignored it and taken Isaac¡¯s head, but the Grandmaster had already wounded that spot. Forced to twist aside, the Sword Demon gave Isaac precious time to regain his footing. He did not step back. Isaac¡¯s role was simply to create openings for the Grandmaster to fight more effectively. Once more, Isaac gripped the saber held by the Sword Demon. He knew he couldn¡¯t break free from that monstrous strength, so he poured power into his current stance. Zzzzzzzz! Electricity from Bricalla crackled like a raging storm. Feeling the sharp jolt surge through his palm, the Sword Demon flinched for just an instant. ¡°So you think you can reign forever as the Primitive? What an eyesore you¡¯ve become.¡± The Grandmaster, having readied her stance, swung her blade with a flash. She aimed precisely for the Sword Demon¡¯s neck, yet the Sword Demon reacted faster than expected, preventing a lethal strike. Once again, he hastily retreated. Seeing himself driven back like this, he bit down hard on his lip in humiliation. Thump. The moment he noticed one of his horns fall to the ground, the Sword Demon¡¯s eyes blazed with crimson energy. ¡°Well done. I suppose I must acknowledge that you can at least imitate my might.¡± Along with the raging crimson aura, a dark force gathered in his great saber. If given even a bit more time, he would unleash that strike capable of cleaving Helmut¡¯s knights in two. And if that happened, it would be all over. No one here could possibly withstand it. ¡°Stay sharp. We must now step into his domain.¡± Resolving to secure victory, the Sword Demon decided to fight defensively. After all, they continued pressing him with their numbers and unorthodox strategies, so he couldn¡¯t guarantee the result either. ¡°I¡¯ll open the way¡ªfollow me.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The Grandmaster sprang forward first. The Sword Demon, naturally more wary of her than of Isaac, lifted his great saber in response. ¡°You filthy, disgraceful half-blood¡ªyet I will grant your sword its due respect.¡± ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m not particularly interested in your acknowledgment.¡± Claaaang! Their sabers clashed. The collision never lasted more than a blink; the rapid exchange was like a sword dance. It was different from the raw power struggle with Arandel. If one had to compare, it was as though both blades were scalding hot, forcing them to repeatedly let go and seize them again. Amid the whirlwind of blows, Isaac withdrew. It was all for the sake of victory, and Isaac held no hesitation in doing so. ¡°How pitiful.¡± A sudden flash of black light burst from the Sword Demon¡¯s great saber. ¡°Ugh?!¡± The Grandmaster staggered backward, her stance crumbling under the shock. The moment she appeared not to care, the Sword Demon twisted his body and charged straight toward Isaac. ¡°This little charade ends now, you pathetic imitation.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± ¡°You stand on a battlefield where the unworthy do not belong.¡± The Sword Demon¡¯s towering form filled Isaac¡¯s vision. The great saber swept in a vicious arc, ready to cleave him in two¡ª Claaaang! Isaac¡¯s body was flung into the air and rolled across the ground. Yet there was no slash wound. Though he had been overpowered, he had indeed blocked the Sword Demon¡¯s attack. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± At that instant, the Sword Demon realized what had happened. Before his blade could even fully swing, its trajectory had been anticipated. For the first time, the Sword Demon¡¯s eyes went wide, his pupils quivering. ¡°What in the world¡ª¡± It was different from the Grandmaster. She responded to the blade¡¯s movement as it came at her, but Isaac, limited by his human physique, couldn¡¯t possibly react in time. So he must have predicted the Sword Demon¡¯s path the moment he leaped. -Grinding It was humiliating. Knocked to the ground, sprawled out. All because of a mere human. A sword the Sword Demon had honed for a lifetime was fully read¡ªlaid bare¡ªafter just a few exchanges. His great saber, tempered through ages so deep no one could fathom them, was read by a mere swordsman who had hardly been holding a blade for any time at all¡ª! ¡°Perhaps the sword is just old.¡± Slowly pulling himself upright, Isaac wore a wry, mocking smile. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that hard to read.¡± ¡°You insolent wretch!¡± Thumb! The Sword Demon stepped forward with a heavy stomp. From the start, it had grated on his nerves¡ª Unlike his massive great saber, that shorter blade. You could say it had been refined for a human¡¯s use, which to him felt like humans had stolen and trampled on the pride of his kind. ¡°Time and again, you humans! You take from us! You rob us of what is ours!¡± Swish! He sprang forward in a long leap. The dark aura undulating along the great saber signaled it was fully charged. And the blazing, fiery intent of the Sword Demon was fixed entirely on Isaac. ¡°Isaac!¡± Silverna¡¯s spear came hurtling in. Yet merely pulling his blade back to swing was enough for the Sword Demon to swat her spear aside. In a flash, he was upon Isaac. His blade, once again, unleashed a savage strike¡ª Time seemed to slow, the blow passing like a fleeting flashback. It was slightly slower than his previous strikes, likely weighed down by the countless powers swirling within that ¡°cursed sword¡± of his. But either way, it was the perfect moment to take Isaac¡¯s head. Yet the Sword Demon spun around instead¡ª S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Simultaneously deflecting the Grandmaster¡¯s blade, which had been angling in from behind with a long hilt strike. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Claaaang! The Grandmaster¡¯s saber flew high into the air. In that instant, the Sword Demon¡¯s calm, resonant voice rumbled: ¡°Though the rage is mine¡ª¡± The fury he had shown just moments before was already gone. One would even wonder if he had ever truly lost his composure, for now he was calm and collected, betraying no trace of wrath. ¡°The karma and life I hold in my hands belong to my brethren.¡± It had all been a ploy¡ªan act of rage to lure out the Grandmaster. He acknowledged Isaac as impressive enough, given how the young swordsman had managed to tarnish the pride of his swordsmanship. But the Sword Demon was focused on a clear victory, acting to decapitate the most dangerous opponent first: that woman. A dense black aura clung to the great saber. Like a massive siege weapon being readied for a slow but crushing strike, the Sword Demon advanced with deliberate heaviness. There was no way to dodge, and no means to block. At the very moment the massive slash, condensed to slice the Grandmaster in two, began to draw its line¡ª ¡°Do you know?¡± A faint smile appeared on the Grandmaster¡¯s lips. ¡°By nature, that fellow wields¡ªdual blades.¡± A gust of wind blew. Amidst the space being stained black by the Sword Demon¡¯s dark aura, a small breeze forced its way in. In a reversal of what had happened just a moment ago, Isaac snatched the saber that had been knocked away, catching it midair. A demonic aura similar to the Sword Demon¡¯s flickered in Isaac¡¯s eyes. He slid two sabers into his belt¡ª And, like a stately stork folding its wings, he suddenly unleashed a slash from both hands, more akin to a hawk spreading its wings. They called it¡ª¡°flying wings.¡± The instant the twin blades reached the Sword Demon¡¯s shoulder, sinew and bone tore with a sickening crunch, and one arm fell to the ground. Claaang! ¡°Grrrrrh!¡± With an arm gone, the Sword Demon lost his balance, and the tip of his great saber scraped the floor. The darkness swirling around it, akin to festering hatred, had nowhere else to go and now ripped further into the Sword Demon¡¯s wounded flesh. Black blood spilled from his mouth. ¡°Hah¡­ hah¡­¡± Isaac let his arms drop, the strength draining from his body in an instant. He had overexerted himself, but he knew that had he not, there would be no victory. Unlike before, however, he hadn¡¯t passed out. It was proof of his growth. ¡°When those wings spread, you looked like a mighty hawk,¡± the Grandmaster remarked, ensuring Isaac didn¡¯t miss the praise in her voice. ¡°Yet you¡¯ve borne the fruits of a phoenix.¡± A bright smile touched the corners of the Grandmaster¡¯s mouth. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 72: Friends ¡°Phew!¡± Isaac let out a long breath. In the midst of that intense struggle, he felt as though some kind of peculiar energy was circulating through his body¡ªperhaps just his imagination. The two swords clutched in both hands seemed glued to his palms, and the sensation enveloping his entire body felt special, yet not at all unpleasant. He wanted to savor that lingering feeling just a bit longer. ¡°Ughhhhh!¡± A dark aura began to surge more violently from the Sword Demon. It bucked and thrashed like a raging beast, and with his strength waning, he nearly collapsed¡ª ¡°Huh.¡± But the Grandmaster quickly rushed in and steadied him. Even then, the Grandmaster¡¯s gaze remained fixed on the Sword Demon, who was now on its knees, writhing in agony. For a moment, it seemed she was considering a swift beheading. In the end, though, she changed her mind. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s going to blow any second. If I slice it now, that compressed power will burst out all at once.¡± ¡°Then¡ª¡± ¡°We have to run. There¡¯s no chance this thing survives anyway.¡± She was right. Even the Sword Demon itself seemed aware it couldn¡¯t escape death. Though in anguish, it still tried to tighten its grip, determined to swing its sword one last time. ¡°Hate¡­ and regret¡­ for my¡­ kin¡ª!¡± But all it could do was tremble violently. It couldn¡¯t even lift its massive blade with one hand, and only managed to cough up blood in frustration. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He had expected at least some kind of support, but the Grandmaster simply scooped up Isaac in her arms. ¡°D-do we really have to go like this?!¡± Rarely did Isaac sound so flustered. Amused by his reaction, the Grandmaster let out a small chuckle and sprinted past the Sword Demon. ¡°Just shout for the others to run.¡± ¡°¡­Understood.¡± Following Isaac¡¯s cry, the knights hurriedly pulled back, carrying the bodies of their fallen comrades or helping the injured out of the mansion. In the midst of all that¡ª ¡°My brethren¡ª!¡± A scream-like retch rang out from behind them. The dark aura coiled around the Sword Demon exploded outward, scattering in every direction. A fierce wind roared. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It wasn¡¯t just ordinary wind¡ªit was charged with accumulated resentment and sorrow. It burned hot, and wherever it brushed his skin, it felt repulsive, as though his flesh were decaying. ¡°Uwaah!?¡± Silverna, running alongside him, was lifted off her feet. Even the Grandmaster, who was carrying Isaac, found herself airborne. ¡°Hang on tight!¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Isaac wrapped his arms around the Grandmaster¡¯s neck. Practically clinging to her, they flipped in the air several times. He couldn¡¯t tell where they were or which way was up, yet the Grandmaster still managed a flawless landing. Amid the scattered masses, the Grandmaster alone stood upright, her imposing presence even more pronounced. Unfortunately, she was too preoccupied holding Isaac to notice that her hood had slipped off. ¡°T-that¡¯s¡ª!¡± Someone shouted. Likely one of the soldiers stationed outside. ¡°That¡¯s a Transcendent!¡± ¡°She¡¯s the one who fought Arandel!¡± ¡°G-get ready for battle!¡± Even as the dark aura and dust whirled around her, even as fingers were pointed accusingly in her direction, the Grandmaster silently looked back toward the mansion. The Blackthorn mansion, which had already been half-destroyed, was now reduced to rubble. The Sword Demon had quite literally exploded under the weight of its own malice; its remains were scattered everywhere. ¡°Tsk, what a wretched fate for one of the Primitive¡¯s swords.¡± Only the massive blade remained, stuck upright in the ground¡ªa final point of pride. In the end, it was like a cursed sword that had devoured its own master. ¡°Arrest them!¡± ¡°Surround them! Form a perimeter, now!¡± After a moment of silent tribute for the Primitive sword, the Grandmaster returned to reality. Soldiers had already encircled her. Isaac, battered by the raging force, now seemed to have passed out. ¡°Heh, he still has much to learn.¡± Looking down at Isaac, the Grandmaster let out a wry chuckle, then slowly set him on his feet. ¡°Don¡¯t be alarmed.¡± She raised both hands, giving a nonchalant shrug. ¡°I surrender.¡± **** ¡°Princess!¡± The moment Isaac woke up, he brushed off Silverna¡¯s attempts to stop him and hurried to Clarice¡¯s tent. Inside, Princess Clarice was speaking with her guard knight, Heyrad. Upon Isaac¡¯s entrance, rather than scolding him for barging in, Clarice welcomed him. ¡°Isaac! You¡¯re awake!¡± She rushed over to check his condition. Although she knew he hadn¡¯t been gravely injured, she still wanted to confirm it with her own eyes¡ªjust in case. But Isaac had something more urgent to address. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve arrested the Grandma¡ª I mean, that person.¡± ¡°¡­Yes, that¡¯s true.¡± Clarice¡¯s expression instantly grew grim. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard the reports: she was crucial to this mission. She played a massive role in subjugating the Transcendents. Without her, we might never have crushed Blackthorn.¡± At the very end, they nearly suffered a catastrophic reversal. That lingering dread still sent chills down Clarice¡¯s spine. ¡°But Isaac, you understand that from my position, this is the only choice I have.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s the one who forced Arandel¡ªour greatest asset¡ªoff the front lines.¡± Isaac knew all too well. As a princess of a kingdom, she had to remain rational rather than be swayed by emotion. The fact that the Grandmaster bore the appearance of a Transcendent only made it more complicated. It was understandable that Isaac would get worked up over anything involving the Grandmaster. Yet, for Isaac, she was worth getting this worked up over, and so his excitement showed no sign of abating. ¡°Please, calm down. I spoke with her as well. She¡¯ll be going to Evergarde with me. For the trial.¡± ¡°Trial¡­¡­!¡± Each word made Isaac¡¯s heart quake, while Clarice, in contrast, remained remarkably composed. ¡°I¡¯ve heard her side regarding this incident, and I understand now that she had no intention of purposely harming Arandel. It seems she has something she wants to ask you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I see her as a crucial witness in this ongoing war against the Transcendents.¡± ¡°A¡­ witness.¡± ¡°Yes, a way for us to learn more about the Transcendents.¡± Clarice¡¯s eyes shone clearly. Gone was her usual playful pride; in its place was a serious concern for the existence known as the Grandmaster. ¡°Isaac, there¡¯s still so much we don¡¯t know about them. Where did they come from? How did they appear so suddenly? How long have they existed? And their power¡­ it¡¯s practically outrageous.¡± She had always been curious by nature, which explained why, despite being a princess, she personally ventured into the field to gain firsthand information. To Clarice, the Transcendents were strange and shrouded in mystery. ¡°They have their own style of swordsmanship. Instead of magic, they use something called rituals. There¡¯s even an organized force behind them. That alone is proof they have a history.¡± So then¡ª ¡°Where did they come from?¡± Naturally, Isaac couldn¡¯t answer her question. It was a realm even his past life hadn¡¯t uncovered. In his previous life, the kingdom had quickly fallen into chaos after sudden aerial attacks came from all directions by the Transcendents. They hadn¡¯t even had time to question who or what they were. Thanks to Caldias holding off at the Malidan Barrier for about a month, the kingdom had a brief chance to regroup and at least make it to the outskirts of the war. Had that wall fallen, they would have been destroyed long ago, without knowing the first thing about the Transcendents. But things were different this time around. Clarice¡¯s inquisitiveness ran deep; she viewed the Grandmaster as the key to her understanding. Even before the real fighting began, she was preparing to learn about them. ¡°I already told her: if she provides information about the Transcendents¡¯ invasion, not only will her charges be reduced, but she¡¯ll also receive compensation.¡± From just that statement, Isaac could tell the ¡®trial¡¯ was practically for show. He relaxed a bit, stepping back. Noticing this, Clarice smiled softly and asked, ¡°They say swordsmen become friends after crossing blades. Seems it¡¯s true, huh?¡± ¡°Well¡­ I guess you could say that.¡± His awkward response made Clarice shift the conversation again. ¡°This whole Blackthorn subjugation¡­ Isaac, you really accomplished the goal brilliantly.¡± ¡°I only stepped in at the very end.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that how it went for everyone except Arandel?¡± With a small grin, Clarice slowly approached Isaac. ¡°Silverna told me the reason you know so much about the Transcendents is because you were raised by someone of mixed blood when you were young.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± It was the lie he had told back in the North during his interrogation. ¡°And from what I hear, your master and that person seem to be friends. I promised to help track down those friends.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°In a way, I¡¯m helping you find your family!¡± She placed her hands on her hips and beamed, as though waiting for praise. Isaac merely nodded with a wry smile. So many misunderstandings had piled up one after another. Leaving the tent, Isaac headed straight to see the Grandmaster. Clarice had told him he could go if he wished. The Grandmaster was already seated in a carriage, curtains drawn so no one could see inside. Stepping in, Isaac found her absentmindedly licking her lips. ¡°Are you all right?¡± ¡°My, isn¡¯t that a question I should be asking you?¡± The Grandmaster smiled broadly. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°I see. That¡¯s good to hear.¡± A brief silence followed. Isaac was the first to break it. ¡°I heard you¡¯re heading to Evergarde.¡± ¡°Quite a coincidence, isn¡¯t it? Seems we share the same destination.¡± Isaac had planned to go to Evergarde with Silverna for training and to check on Alois. Naturally, that meant traveling with the Grandmaster as well. ¡°Look after my things. I¡¯d hate to see them scratched,¡± the Grandmaster said, referring to her massive sword. Isaac nodded in agreement. There was something he wanted to say¡ªhe just didn¡¯t know how or when. But just as he drew a deep breath to speak¡ª ¡°Isn¡¯t it fortunate?¡± The Grandmaster preempted him, wearing a faint smile. ¡°The princess of an entire kingdom offered to help find my fellow disciples. Just think of that.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard you don¡¯t really know where your master is, either.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Haha, this is great news, isn¡¯t it? You can look forward to seeing your master again.¡± Isaac¡¯s mouth closed of its own accord. No, it had to close¡ªbecause every word from the Grandmaster sounded like a plea to let her keep hoping. In the end, Isaac slipped back out of the carriage without much conversation. That longing not to forget one¡¯s fellow disciples and friends¡­ ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Only a moment ago, Isaac had asked the princess to move Milli¡ªburied in an unmarked grave near Helmut¡ªto a communal cemetery managed by the capital¡¯s church. ¡¯Am I really¡­ all that different¡­?¡± Faced with the Grandmaster¡¯s tenacious clinging to past bonds, he found himself at a loss for words. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 73: The Most Expensive Cheese After the successful subjugation of Blackthorn. Upon returning to Helmut, Arandel was already resting, as rumors of his illness had begun to spread. Meanwhile, his eldest son, Lohengrin, had gone to the capital city of the Kingdom of Albion¡ªEvergarde¡ªto attend a ceremony in recognition of their achievements against Blackthorn. He was going on behalf of Arandel. Thus, at present, Helmut was revolving around his eldest daughter, Rihanna. It wasn¡¯t as if the grave, solemn mood that had prevailed under Arandel¡¯s leadership had suddenly lifted. But every servant agreed that the heavy silence within the estate felt a bit lighter now. And so¡ª Rihanna now stood before a small, nameless grave. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± If one were to look at it from a grand perspective, she was a woman who attempted to assassinate the traitor of the Transcendents but failed. Of course, since Milli had no knowledge of the Transcendents or anything of the sort, she could not expand her understanding that far. To Rihanna, she was merely the assassin who had tried to kill her mother. Yet, before the grave, Rihanna closed her eyes in silent mourning. In the past, Rihanna wouldn¡¯t have known what to do in front of this woman¡¯s grave. But after her mother¡¯s death and her separation from her husband, she had experienced a measure of growth. ¡°Thank you for helping me open my eyes.¡± Placing a single white chrysanthemum before the grave, Rihanna whispered. ¡°And thank you for supporting Isaac.¡± Her gaze was clear. No longer did the clouded mist of blind devotion called ¡°love¡± swirl within her crimson eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll take you somewhere you can rest in peace.¡± Turning around, Rihanna saw that Helmut¡¯s knights had already lined up behind her, having completed the preparations for reinterment. ¡°She was my husband¡¯s benefactor.¡± Walking past them, Rihanna spoke. ¡°Treat her with respect.¡± Thus began the preparations to move the grave. At the princess¡¯ request, rather than leaving it here, they would relocate it to a cemetery in Evergarde, the capital. And Rihanna herself would oversee its escort. Not only to protect Milli, but also because she had matters of her own to attend to in Evergarde. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Her divorce from Isaac. She had received a letter stating that the princess would personally attend as a witness. At this time, divorce was exceedingly rare, and the process itself was quite complicated. Witnesses were thus very important. With a princess of the realm serving in that role herself, it meant that once the marriage was invalidated, there would be no going back. ¡°I was prepared for this.¡± She ran her hand once over the ring on her left ring finger. No change showed on her face. Calm and still. A rose-scented breeze, emblematic of Helmut, drifted past as if to comfort Rihanna. Yet that very fragrance of Helmut felt all the more cumbersome to her. Soon, she would depart for Evergarde. To bring closure with the man she first loved in her life¡ª And the man she would love for the last time. **** A few days prior, Isaac arrived in Evergarde and was, quite literally, healing himself in recent days. Early in the morning. Soft sunlight filtered through the windows, and the cozy bed and blankets enveloped him comfortably. The plushness was dangerously tempting, as though the bed itself were seducing him to stay. But when it was time, Isaac promptly opened his eyes and got up. He tidied the bed, washed up, and changed clothes¡ªdone. Then he headed straight to the next room. ¡°Silverna!¡± ¡°Eek?!¡± Silverna, who had just been sleeping moments before, jolted awake and pulled the blanket over her head. ¡°C¡¯mon, let¡¯s get changed!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you should get up earlier! Didn¡¯t you say you¡¯d wake up early today?¡± With her arms crossed, standing by the door, Isaac spoke. Silverna peeked her head out, embarrassed. ¡°L-Let me rest a bit! I was on duty every single day up in the North, and this is the first real break I¡¯ve had!¡± ¡°You think we¡¯ve got time to slack off? Don¡¯t you remember what you said the other day when we were drinking?¡± On the night they arrived in Evergarde, celebrating with drinks, a very tipsy Silverna had shouted with her face flushed bright red: [I¡¯m gonna get stronger! I¡¯ll smash everything to bits!] It seemed her lack of usefulness in the battle against the Sword Demon had weighed heavily on her mind. She had indeed trained hard afterward, but once she experienced the warmth of the capital and modern facilities of the royal palace (so different from the rundown conditions up north), her discipline began to waver. ¡°Alright, alright, so just get out for a minute! I need to change!¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯m going. Squeak.¡± ¡°Hey! I told you not to make that sound¡ª!¡± Suddenly jumping out of bed, Silverna charged at him with a pillow in hand. Moments ago, she¡¯d been so embarrassed about wearing pajamas, yet now she was blatantly rushing at him, blankets thrown aside. Isaac merely chuckled under his breath and quickly stepped outside. Ever since they arrived in the capital, Silverna had let out that ¡°Squeak!¡± sound a few times as a form of cutesy display. Unfortunately, it had already become nothing more than a cringey memory. Seriously? Standing just beyond the door, Isaac wore a subtle grin. She said she¡¯d learned it from Anna, but what amazed him was that Silverna had tried to copy it so literally. It was a side of her he¡¯d never witnessed in his previous life. Back then, when the walls of Caldias and Malidan fell, she¡¯d shown a noticeable emotional wear-and-tear. But the Silverna now was definitely different, and Isaac found that appealing. ¡°Pfft.¡± He¡¯d only let out a small laugh. But perhaps she heard it? Silverna flung the door open, her face flushed red. ¡°You¡¯re thinking about it again, aren¡¯t you?! I told you not to laugh!¡± Neither Isaac, who muttered an ¡°Okay,¡± nor Silverna, who fumed at him, realized how much it still lingered in their minds¡ªturns out her little show of cuteness was unexpectedly effective. Squeak Just the fact he was still repeating that in his head made it clear enough. They worked through physical training, swordsmanship and spear drills, wooden sword sparring, and mock battles¡ª By the time other knights filled the place, the pair had already been sweating through an intense session. Sometime after lunch, they finished showering and met outside. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± There was always a faintly awkward aura when they ran into each other post-shower at the training center. Seeing each other with damp hair and freshly scrubbed skin brought on a strange feeling. What is this emotion? Silverna, who¡¯d never dated and had always categorized men as either comrades or fellow soldiers¡ªthose who protect or those who need protection¡ªhad no idea what those fuzzy feelings were. But Isaac, renowned for his good looks, a popular man among the boat crowds, top pick in any festival hunting game, a master at charming noble heirs, the man who¡¯d toppled the queen of all beauties, and a married man, knew very well. ¡®A woman¡¯s freshly washed look¡­ usually you only see that in the bedroom.¡¯ Maybe other knights wouldn¡¯t give it a second thought, but for two people who had confessed their feelings, it wasn¡¯t something they could casually ignore. Feeling a bit self-conscious, they left the training center. Their next destination, surprisingly, was the underground prison. With a pass they¡¯d gotten from the princess, the two made it through without hassle. Entering the holding area of the murky, foul air, they found Sharen dozing off in a chair. ¡°Sharen.¡± ¡°Huh-awh?!¡± Startled by Isaac¡¯s call, Sharen quickly wiped away a bit of drool from the corner of her mouth. ¡°¡­That¡¯s exactly how someone else I know woke up this morning.¡± Isaac teased, recalling what had happened earlier, drawing a glare from Silverna, who nudged him in the arm. Catching sight of Isaac, Sharen began to wail. ¡°Iiiissacc! Switch with meeee! I don¡¯t wanna be here anymore!¡± ¡°¡­Ask Lohengrin to switch with you.¡± Because Alois¡ªcurrently imprisoned¡ªneeded a spokesperson and guard from Helmut¡¯s direct line, Sharen and Lohengrin were taking turns on a day-to-day rotation. ¡°Lohengrin, that idiot, ran off!¡± Ran off? But Isaac had seen him at the training center earlier¡­ ¡°Ughhh! I wanna wander around town with Isaac, too! And the snacks here are so good!¡± ¡°Alright, alright.¡± With a few gentle pats on her head in an attempt to console her, Sharen¡¯s whiny tone finally calmed a little. Anyway, it was obvious Lohengrin ran off because he didn¡¯t want to be here. ¡°But why are you here, Isaac? That person is not here anymore.¡± By ¡°that person,¡± she meant the Grandmaster. The Grandmaster had, in effect, received a summary trial and was already staying at the princess¡¯s side. While she had yet to be given back her sword¡ªsince she was technically still under certain restrictions¡ªshe was being treated quite well. ¡°I¡¯m going to see her this evening. Today, I¡¯m here to visit Alois.¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What, you didn¡¯t come to see me?¡± Apparently, Sharen had been hoping he was here for her. She crossed her arms and puffed out her cheeks in a sulky way. Isaac poked her cheek to let the air out, then headed inside with Silverna. Well¡ªalmost. Right before going in, Isaac stopped in his tracks and looked at Silverna. ¡°Wait here.¡± ¡°¡­Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m probably going to say some things you won¡¯t like.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Silverna tilted her head, but then she shook it firmly. ¡°No way. I want to go in there, spit in that jerk¡¯s face, and then leave.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Bold as ever, declaring she¡¯d give him some good old-fashioned Northern-style ridicule. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Isaac decided it would be best to warn her. ¡°Just remember¡ªwhatever I say in there isn¡¯t my true intention.¡± ¡°Ooh, now I¡¯m even more curious.¡± Silverna shrugged as Isaac shook his head, exasperated, and made his way inside. The underground prison was beyond dismal¡ª¡°bad¡± didn¡¯t even begin to describe it. Not that it was run-down; on the contrary, it was meticulously maintained to ensure the environment was utterly miserable, with dank air and an acrid, sulfurous odor. It was deliberately designed so inmates couldn¡¯t endure even a moment¡¯s comfort. At the end of that squalid place¡ª There sat Alois, his red hair gleaming even in the darkness, chained by the neck and one arm, waiting for Isaac. ¡°Filthy scum.¡± It had been a while since they¡¯d last seen Alois. He made no attempt to hide his hostility anymore. Instead of calling Isaac ¡°brother-in-law,¡± he went straight to insulting him. Isaac couldn¡¯t help a hollow chuckle. ¡°How¡¯s the arm?¡± He taunted Alois, who¡¯d lost his arm, and veins bulged across Alois¡¯s forehead. The clanking of chains left no doubt how furious he was. ¡°As if a lowborn like you ever deserved to marry Noona. If only you¡¯d never shown up, she wouldn¡¯t be suffering now! Noona is¡ª!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡± Isaac cut him off with an icy sigh, then continued. ¡°Rihanna is arriving here tomorrow.¡± He stated the reason for his visit. ¡°The princess is presiding over our divorce.¡± Isaac lifted the ring on his left ring finger for emphasis. ¡°It¡¯s finally all going back to the way it should be, you worthless¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m retracting my decision to divorce.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Alois¡¯s eyes went wide, his previously sneering lips snapping shut. He waited anxiously for Isaac¡¯s next words. ¡°I¡¯m going to take Rihanna back. Then we¡¯ll have a child. Naturally, that¡¯ll make me the head of Helmut.¡± ¡°You basstaaaard!¡± Bang! Bang! Bang! The chains rattled violently. It was perhaps the angriest Alois had ever been, and he howled in fury. Isaac only responded with a cutting smirk. ¡°That¡¯s the message I came to deliver.¡± ¡°You rotten bastard! If you so much as lay a finger on my Noona¡ªI¡¯ll smash that smug face of yours into pieces¡ª!¡± Silverna reached her hand through the bars. A brilliant white aura burst from her palm, slamming straight into Alois and pinning him against the wall. Thud! ¡°Ghhk?! Caldias!¡± ¡°Shut up. You¡¯re disgusting.¡± Her voice was as cold as ice. Under the scarlet glow of his hair, Alois¡¯s face blazed red with anger as he glowered at Silverna. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll be off.¡± With that, Isaac turned to go. ¡°Brother-in-law.¡± ¡°Iiiisaaccc¡ª!¡± Thud. Once Isaac and Silverna were back outside¡ª ¡°So that¡¯s why you didn¡¯t want me to listen.¡± Silverna nodded as though she understood. Isaac knew very well that what he¡¯d said in there hadn¡¯t been pleasant. But it was necessary. ¡°I had to provoke Alois.¡± ¡°Well, if you say so, then I¡¯ll trust your judgment. But¡ª¡± Silverna gave him a sidelong glance. Before she could ask, Isaac answered first. ¡°I¡¯ve already got the paperwork and the princess¡¯ role as witness lined up. There¡¯s nothing to ¡®call off.¡¯¡± ¡°Huh, I never asked, though?¡± Laughing awkwardly, Silverna walked on ahead. Isaac let out a small chuckle and cast one last look at the prison where Alois remained. ¡®Please, Alois. The you I know won¡¯t be able to hold back. You¡¯ll do whatever it takes to stop me. Just like how, in my past life, you shattered my leg. You¡¯ll be the bait they simply can¡¯t resist.¡¯ Those people who have an unusual interest in Helmut won¡¯t just leave a caged Alois alone. To Isaac, Alois was like a piece of cheese: Smelly, but perfect for luring out the rats. Alois. The most expensive cheese in the world. ¡®You¡¯ll definitely take their hand.¡¯ Without even realizing it¡¯s the betrayal he fully expects. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 74: Farewell Tap! Tap! Was it because this place was underground? Somewhere in the distance, the sound of dripping water echoed. Tap-tap. Footsteps overlapped with the dripping sounds. Alois, sensing the presence of something quietly approaching, slowly lifted his head. Had he fallen asleep after all that weeping? His body felt heavy, devoid of strength. His throat was raw from cursing at God and Isaac until it felt like it would tear. Even so, what clearly came into view was a woman. Her hair was a deep scarlet, reminiscent of a sunset, and parts of her skin had hardened scales. Her ears spread out like wings, and she even has a lizard¡¯s tail. Alois instantly realizes that she must be one of those Transcendents¡ªthe very ones causing such turmoil in the kingdom. ¡°Alois of Helmut.¡± It was a sultry voice. Even so, because Alois himself was Helmut, he instinctively sensed danger. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Alois¡¯s gaze grew cloudy. Although he gave no reply, the woman continued without concern. ¡°I am Rizel. As you can see, I¡¯m a Transcendent.¡± Rizel sets the tip of her lizard tail on her palm with a smile. Though she had a unique appearance, Alois didn¡¯t particularly care about that right now. ¡°Did you know that we Transcendents are quite interested in Helmut?¡± ¡°¡­Interested?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re different from ordinary humans. I believe Helmut deserves to be treated accordingly.¡± It didn¡¯t sound all that strange. Wherever Helmut went, being treated with respect was only natural. ¡°Your tongue is long.¡± But right now, Alois was not Helmut¡ªhe was a criminal. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The fact that she had come to him must mean she had an agenda. From his perspective, he¡¯d do anything¡ªeven join hands with a devil¡ªto stop it. Perhaps, sensing his thoughts¡­ Like a parent telling a child not to eat the cake placed before them, Rizel smiles and whispers: ¡°You want revenge, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Against Isaac. It just so happens our goals coincide.¡± ¡°Coincide?¡± ¡°Isaac dared to lay his hands on someone he shouldn¡¯t have.¡± A primitive Transcendent¡ª And one born of the Sword Demon¡¯s bloodline, no less. The other Sword Demons are furious, swearing they will kill Isaac and the Grandmaster no matter what. ¡°Well, you don¡¯t need all the details. I simply want to give you a chance.¡± ¡°A chance¡­ to kill Isaac?¡± The moment Rizel gives a small nod¡ª Alois¡¯s lips stretch into a wide grin. ¡°If I can just kill that bastard, I¡¯d sell my soul.¡± Just then, he heard that Rihanna Helmut would also be arriving. ¡°So I¡¯ll crush him, grind him to bits, and then take Noona for myself.¡± Believing this to be his final opportunity, Alois gleefully accepts Rizel¡¯s proposal. In an instant, shadows consume his body, dragging him into the darkness. *** ¡°¡­¡­.¡± A simple, unadorned grave marker rests above, allowing the departed to sleep in peace. [How happy we were, together as friends.] Those words, engraved in Isaac¡¯s handwriting, mark the new headstone for Milli in Evergarde. Seeing it fills Isaac with overwhelming emotion. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I should ask this¡­¡± Isaac crouches in front of the grave marker. As if speaking face-to-face with Milli, he swallows back tears and whispers: ¡°Is it comfortable there? You were so tired of the constant struggle¡ªat least over there, I hope you can rest a bit.¡± A bitter sigh escapes him. Even though he knows people are waiting for him from a distance, Isaac slowly drops to his knees. Placing a hand on the headstone as if calling out Milli¡¯s name, Isaac finally fails to hold back his tears. ¡°Am I unable to let go of this sorrow because I lost both my dream and my friend?¡± Someday, far in the future¡ª If he earned enough money, his first priority was to bring Milli here. He wanted her family to come and live here as well. He had no idea how to earn that money, no idea when it might be possible, nor where they would stay. It was, in the end, more of a daydream than a real plan. Still, the sense of loss he felt was indescribable. ¡°Here, I¡¯ll give this back to you¡ªit was my gift after all.¡± Isaac takes the portrait of Milli he drew and sets it in front of the grave. Wiping away his tears, he stands up slowly. ¡°I¡¯ll come again, my friend.¡± With that, he turns away. Waiting outside, Silverna and Rihanna both wear expressions of concern. They simultaneously offer handkerchiefs, but Isaac waves them off, pretending he¡¯s fine. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Now yet another farewell awaits Isaac. **** It was a church. A shabby, rundown little church. Paradoxically, it¡¯s well-suited for the secretive process of a divorce that can¡¯t be publicly acknowledged. A nun comes out to greet the three visitors. The faint wrinkles told her that she was a bit older, but the smile on her lips and her bright atmosphere made her look even younger. ¡°I¡¯ll be here.¡± An outsider to the situation, Silverna folds her arms and decides to wait outside the church. Leaving her behind, Isaac and Rihanna walk through the churchyard. The nun accompanying them quietly asks: ¡°By any chance, do you know Jonathan? He¡¯s a knight under Helmut right now¡­¡± The question is so sudden that it catches them off guard, but Isaac widens his eyes and replies: ¡°Are you the nun who raised Jonathan?¡± ¡°Yes! Did Jonathan talk about me?! Is he doing well? The kid has always been so¡­unique¡ª¡± Jonathan had lived in a church. Though it wasn¡¯t this exact church, it seems the nun had since moved to this location. ¡°He¡¯s doing very well. Serving as a knight of Helmut, he¡¯s more than fulfilled his duties during the latest Great Den incident.¡± ¡°Really? Oh, thank goodness. Thank you so much.¡± Seeing how happy the nun is, Isaac can¡¯t help but smile along. Jonathan, who had once been bullied¡­ But ever since Sharen harshly scolded the knights in the North and Jonathan earned great merit hunting the Bricalla, he no longer suffers discrimination or harassment. Though controlling his Transcendent instincts still looks challenging. Thud. They enter the church. Inside, a bishop and a princess who arrived beforehand are waiting in the humble interior. Isaac glances at Rihanna. Expressionless, she follows quietly behind him, giving off no hint of emotion. When the two stand at the front, the bishop clears his throat and begins the ceremony with solemnity: ¡°Marriage is a sacred and beautiful vow, entrusted to us by God.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Since you have both judged that you can no longer continue this marital relationship, you have come here to petition God for release from your vows.¡± Only the bishop¡¯s voice reverberates within the stillness, candles flickering around them. ¡°Take note, you who choose to part ways. From this day on, you must live humbly, seeking God¡¯s guidance. After today¡¯s rite is done, in each of your lives, you must ask for God¡¯s mercy and live sincerely.¡± As he listens to the bishop, memories flash through Isaac¡¯s mind: [I want to cross the river.] That completely out-of-the-blue greeting. [You, perhaps?] The somewhat practiced coaxing. [Let¡¯s get married.] Another sudden proposal. [I want you.] The vision of the river parting¡ªchanging the entire course of his life. [ Rihanna, the flower meaning of a purple lilac is ¡®first love.¡¯ ] A single flower that conveyed his heart. All of those moments stacked upon one another, yet here they are, reaching this point. The sting is so sharp it hurts, a hollow ache in his chest. ¡°Isaac Helmut, do you acknowledge, before God, that you will now lay down the vow you once made and proceed on separate paths?¡± For a second, Isaac feels a tightness in his throat. Even so, he¡¯s determined to live differently in this life. His feelings for Rihanna aren¡¯t what they used to be. ¡°¡­Yes, I acknowledge it.¡± Isaac proclaims with a slight tremor in his voice. ¡°Rihanna Helmut, do you likewise acknowledge, before God, that you will now lay down the vow you once made and proceed on separate paths?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± A brief pause¡ªyet not long. ¡°Yes.¡± Calmly, as usual, ¡°I acknowledge it.¡± Rihanna states with composure. ¡°Very well, we shall now perform the Severance Ring. Both parties, face each other.¡± ¡®Severance Ring¡¯ comes from severance, annulment, and ¡®ring.¡¯ It is the act of exchanging the wedding rings once shared as a marital promise, signifying complete separation. Slowly, the two face each other. Isaac gently extends his hand first, and Rihanna places her left hand on his. The ring is rough, shabby, and worn. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Carefully, she slips it off. Now reversed: Rihanna extends her hand. Isaac softly places his own beneath it. Very slowly, and ever so cautiously, Rihanna removes his ring. It doesn¡¯t come off easily, but in the end, it¡¯s no longer on his finger. ¡°Witnesses! Clarice Evangel Regardia and Helia Bell shall testify to today¡¯s divorce!¡± Raising both hands and blessing both parties, the bishop declares: ¡°Now, by the power and in the sacred name of God, I proclaim! These two are no longer husband and wife! Their bond is here and now dissolved!¡± Their empty left hands feel simultaneously weightless and yet strangely heavy. The pocket holding Rihanna¡¯s ring pricks Isaac¡¯s senses. He slowly lifts his head, which had been bowed without his realizing, and sees Rihanna standing there, her fists clenched tightly. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± She wants desperately to hold it in. But in the end, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Rihanna apologizes through tears. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡± ¡°Rihanna¡­¡± ¡°Hhk! I couldn¡¯t give you anything more¡ª¡± Tears fall in torrents. ¡°And now everything ends like this¡ª¡± Isaac doesn¡¯t even know anymore. Before he realizes, he¡¯s already pulled her into his arms. Rihanna, too, falls into his embrace, sobbing. ¡°Sniff¡­ Isaac, I¡¯m sorry. I never did enough for you! I couldn¡¯t do anything at all¡ªI¡¯m so sorry!¡± Feeling as if his heart was being crushed, Isaac finally closed his eyes tightly. Perhaps it¡¯s more accurate to say he could no longer bear to look at her. ¡°Promise me you¡¯ll be happy! You have to¡­be happy.¡± ¡°I will, Rihanna.¡± ¡°Isaac, you know¡­ The fact that you were my husband, it was honestly so, so¡ª¡± In the heat of her trembling breaths, she confessed through tears: ¡°I was happy.¡± . . . Squeak! Squeak! It was nearing sunset, the moment when the sky began to darken. Isaac, who was about to finish work for the day, takes on one last passenger and rows across the river. His final passenger stares blankly at the water with reddened eyes. ¡°Hey, Isaac.¡± ¡°How many times must I say it? Don¡¯t call me when I¡¯m rowing¡ªit¡¯s hard enough as it is.¡± Even at Isaac¡¯s complaint, Rihanna shows no reaction and continues asking: ¡°When you get married one day, how do you think you¡¯ll live?¡± ¡°¡­?!¡± Startled, Isaac nearly drops the oar. His eyes go wide as he fires back: ¡°Are you¡­proposing to me right now?!¡± At that, Rihanna jumps in surprise, waving her hands dismissively. ¡°N-no! I¡¯m just curious, that¡¯s all. I¡¯ve been receiving several marriage offers lately.¡± Marriage offers. Isaac feels a twinge of jealousy, but he feigns indifference and resumes rowing. ¡°Well, I imagine I¡¯d live a pretty normal life.¡± ¡°Normal¡­?¡± ¡°The two of us getting along, enjoying our days in a warm, loving way. Have kids, raise them. Even if we bicker sometimes, we¡¯d talk it out and make up.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Like she¡¯s listening to a fairy tale, Rihanna listens wide-eyed to Isaac¡¯s words. ¡°If our kid ever got beat up somewhere, we¡¯d go sort it out together. And when they say they¡¯re too old to sleep in the same room as Mom and Dad, we¡¯d set up a separate bedroom.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­about how I figure we¡¯d live.¡± Isaac shrugs. In response, Rihanna calmly replies: ¡°I don¡¯t think everything would be so wonderful all the time.¡± At the rare moment of honesty from a noble lady. Isaac chuckles and rows with a bit more vigor. ¡°Well, it wouldn¡¯t all be sunshine and rainbows.¡± ¡°¡­Wouldn¡¯t be, huh?¡± ¡°But if you¡¯re with a good person, wouldn¡¯t you find yourself smiling through it all anyway?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± At those words, Rihanna says nothing more. She merely clasps her hands and gently closes her eyes. She looks as though she¡¯s dreaming, perhaps picturing what such days might be like. After a while¡­ Softly¡ª ¡°Ah.¡± She whispers with a small smile: ¡°That sounds¡­happy.¡± ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join Our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 75: Evergarde Terror ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Outside, Silverna waited, quietly watching Isaac as he emerged. ¡®I wanted to greet him with a smile.¡¯ They had just been training, eating, and joking around together. Even though they¡¯d only been apart for ten minutes at most, something about his expression had changed; a hint of complexity clouded his face. ¡®What am I supposed to say in moments like this?¡¯ If Anna, her second-in-command, were here, what would she have done? Were there guidelines for this sort of situation in those romance novels she was always reading? Pretending not to notice her own frustration, Silverna waved her hand. All she could do was act as if nothing had changed and treat him as usual. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re back?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go get something tasty. I found a really good spot nearby.¡± Acting like nothing had happened. Acting unbothered. Silverna only offered a faint smile and made the suggestion. But Isaac shook his head. ¡°I doubt we¡¯ll have that luxury.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± As if on cue, a rough, growling cry echoed from somewhere. It sounded both human and beast-like, and at first, it was hard to tell where it was coming from. ¡°Yaaaaahhhh!¡± When it roared again, they realized it was coming from underground¡ªa kind of howl reverberating from the sewers. They also noticed that it was erupting from the sewer grate below. ¡°Wait a minute, don¡¯t tell me¡­¡± As Silverna hastily unshouldered her spear, Isaac quickly retrieved the sword he had left behind. Kwaaang! The sewer lid shot up into the air, and something bizarre¡ªan amalgamation of flesh¡ªburst out. If you had to describe it: lumps of flesh, grotesquely fused together, encased in a crimson aura. Thud! As soon as five fingers sprouted from within that mass of flesh and hit the ground, they realized too late it was someone¡¯s arm. Creak-Creak! Cracks spread around the sewer opening. Then the ground shattered and water spray erupted¡ªalong with a towering figure. ¡°Ahhhhhhhhh!¡± It was Alois, his severed right arm mutated into a grotesque, massive form. ¡°What the hell¡ª?!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think it would go this far.¡± They had expected betrayal, but not that Alois would transform to this extent. This was more than simply becoming a thrall; it was something else entirely. The ritual of the Transcendents had twisted Alois into a beast that could hardly be called human. ¡°Iiiiiiisaaaaaaaaaac!¡± His blood-red eyes clearly fixed on his sworn enemy. ¡°Kyahhhhh!¡± ¡°What¡­what is that?!¡± ¡°A monster! Call the guards! Hurry!¡± Alois wasn¡¯t the only one who appeared. Monsters of a similar kind surged up through the massive hole he had opened into the sewers. Judging by the bits of armor and helmets stuck between the lumps of flesh, it seemed they were once the prison guards. Unlike Alois, they scattered through the city like dandelion seeds. Silverna widened her eyes and flinched as if to chase after them, but¡ª Tap. Isaac patted her on the back and nodded. ¡°Go.¡± ¡°¡­Don¡¯t lose.¡± Trusting him, Silverna immediately took off after the scattering monsters. Alois, meanwhile, paid her no heed. ¡°To think you¡¯d end up this broken.¡± Isaac deliberately didn¡¯t draw his blade, simply resting his hand atop its hilt. A vicious, rampant energy swirled around Alois like tentacles, lashing out in every direction. It didn¡¯t look like he was controlling every tendril consciously, but he slobbered and let out a nasty laugh. ¡°I¡¯ll snap your lower half and crush it with my teeth! Where is my Noona? You filthy wretch! I¡¯ll lick that pale skin of hers, chew it, violate it, eat it¡ª!¡± ¡°Cutting out your tongue seems like the first step.¡± It seemed that whatever was in Alois¡¯s head was pouring out of his mouth without restraint, much like the mindless frenzy of a thrall. He continued to spew vile words that were hard to even repeat. Suddenly, he lashed out with that monstrous right arm, trying to flatten Isaac entirely. Boooow! A resounding, heavy gust cleaved the air. It was as if a bucket of blood had been dumped on the ground, staining it red. In that instant, Alois¡¯s prized right arm was severed clean and thudded to the floor. Standing in front of Isaac was Rihanna, who had already drawn her greatsword. She must have sensed the commotion from outside while meeting with the princess at the church and rushed out. ¡°Ah! Aaaaah! Noona!¡± ¡°¡­Alois?¡± Rihanna¡¯s brow furrowed. Her eyes were red, likely from crying just moments before. Yet there was no wavering in her sword arm. She¡¯d regained her composure at some point, but seeing her broken brother left her momentarily stunned. ¡°It¡¯s really¡­you¡­?¡± ¡°Aah! Noona! You recognize me! Of course, we share the same blood! Ahh, Noona! My beloved Noona! I want to lick your fair, white skin! Devour your lips! Chew on your tongue¡ª!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Rihanna¡¯s expression hardened even more. Standing at her side, Isaac offered a quiet explanation. ¡°His thoughts are just spilling out, no filter. It¡¯s like his tongue has a hole in it.¡± ¡°You mean¡­he wants to do that to me because his mind¡¯s been polluted, or¡­?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°So he was thinking this way all along?¡± ¡°Probably.¡± When he shrugged, Rihanna¡¯s expression darkened, and her grip on the greatsword tightened. ¡°Aah! Noona! Even your anger is so beautiful! I want to see it! You, crying! Begging me for mercy¡ª!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°That bastard dog was the only one who saw it¡ª! Gahhhh! Dammit! I can¡¯t stand it any longer!¡± Rihanna¡¯s face turned ashen, as if she couldn¡¯t believe this was truly her brother. ¡°Your wedding night! Argh! That night when you first shed maiden¡¯s blood! Do you know how much I suffered?! I did nothing but hurt myself, again and again and again! I was about to storm your bedroom with my greatsword¡ª!¡± Thud! Rihanna¡¯s raging red aura pierced straight through Alois. Her expression said she had no need to listen any further. ¡°I won¡¯t let Helmut wound Isaac anymore.¡± Those words carried Rihanna¡¯s determination, yet her gaze trembled slightly. ¡°Mother¡­ Mother should have just killed that brat. Should¡¯ve just killed him instead of using him for blackmail¡ª Huff?! What is¡ª?! Aah! This is¡­ the taste of my sister!¡± Incredibly, Alois began to absorb Rihanna¡¯s aura, causing his own crimson aura to grow larger and more powerful. On top of that, his severed parts were regenerating to their original form. ¡°Looks like our aura attacks won¡¯t work,¡± Isaac said, taking a step forward. Rihanna nodded in agreement. ¡°Noonaaaaa! Don¡¯t stand beside that scum!¡± ¡°Just shut up, Alois.¡± **** Amid the violent noises of destruction and people¡¯s screams, Rizel¡ªthe Transcendent responsible for this Evergarde terror incident¡ªlet out a twisted smile. From atop a tall building, she watched the humans dying and panicking below. ¡°Ah, how sweet.¡± She gulped down mouthfuls of stolen wine, grinning brightly. The red liquid trickling down her lips was so sweet, it was almost like human blood, leaving her feeling intoxicated. ¡°They never considered life under this sky a blessing, just assumed each day was guaranteed.¡± Like a conductor with an orchestra, Rizel flicked her wine bottle around, savoring the moment. ¡°Fools. They take peace so lightly, act as though the sky over this land is theirs by right. This downfall, this end of yours¡ª!¡± ¡°Ahem, sorry?¡± Rizel slowly turned her gaze. Standing at the rooftop entrance was a girl with twin pigtails¡ªSharen Helmut. Shouldering a greatsword, she shrugged a little sheepishly as she cut Rizel off. ¡°You seemed to be enjoying your monologue, so I was trying to wait for you to finish.¡± ¡°But there was no sign you¡¯d wrap it up anytime soon, so I just jumped in. Don¡¯t feel embarrassed¡ªtalking to yourself a lot isn¡¯t a bad thing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ well, it kinda makes you look like you have no friends? Something like that.¡± Clank! As Sharen squared her stance, a vivid crimson-pink aura flowed from her greatsword. ¡°How¡¯d you get up here?¡± Rizel asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice. Sharen flashed a bright grin as though she¡¯d been waiting for that question. ¡°Isaac told me to keep an eye on Alois. So I stood guard as best I could¡­and then I picked up on your presence.¡± ¡°Helmut¡­¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yes, the Helmuts¡ªalways sharp, almost on par with Transcendents in their senses. Rizel tilted her head slightly. Now it made sense why fewer monsters seemed to be rampaging through the city than expected. ¡°Lohengrin is holding them back. That idiot can at least handle sealing off a prison.¡± ¡°You¡¯re responding¡­ faster than I thought.¡± ¡°Right? It even surprised me. Isaac apparently gave Lohengrin a separate warning, telling him, ¡®Stay sharp just for today.¡¯¡± ¡°Again¡­ Isaac, huh.¡± The North, the Sword Festival, Blackthorn, and now Evergarde¡­ That man always seemed one step ahead of them. Not necessarily the strongest in terms of raw power, but at every moment, he twisted the tide against them. ¡®We can¡¯t just leave him alone.¡¯ With a sigh, Rizel extended her tail in a long sweep. Her nails sharpened on both hands. Sharen gripped her greatsword confidently. ¡°You should trim those nails. Think you can win like that?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± This was Helmut, after all. Despite her youth, Sharen was already a formidable swordswoman, while Rizel was hardly a dedicated combatant. If they fought, Rizel would likely lose. ¡°Know what?¡± Rizel decided to try a different tactic. ¡°Hah! Stalling for time? Sorry, but we can talk after I knock you out¡ª!¡± ¡°All of this¡ª! It¡¯s just misdirection.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Sharen hesitated for a second. That was the moment Rizel had been waiting for. She pushed off the ground with her tail like a spring and lunged forward. Yet¡ª Thud! Her attack was easily blocked by Sharen¡¯s greatsword. ¡°Our real target¡ª¡± Taking advantage of the close distance, Rizel leaned in with a grin and whispered, ¡°Is your father.¡± ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 76: Helmut Extermination (1) ¡°¡­¡­What?¡± Father? Arandel Helmut? Sharen¡¯s expression goes blank. At that very moment¡ªRizel¡¯s claws flash brilliantly past the greatsword, not missing the opening. ¡°Red Wave!¡± A crimson flame bursts forth from Sharen¡¯s greatsword in an instant, engulfing Rizel. Rizel¡¯s body hangs in midair. She staggers backward, blood trickling from her lips¡ªclearly, this was a far cry from the playful ¡°Red Wave¡± Sharen had casually thrown around before. ¡°You said you¡¯re targeting my father?¡± Sharen blinks. ¡®She is young, so she¡¯s easily swayed.¡¯ Rizel grins brightly and nods. If a head-on clash is impossible, shake them mentally. ¡°Yeah. It hasn¡¯t been long since your mom died, right? Your dad¡¯s about to follow her any day now. Quite a loving couple, eh?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°This is all for killing Arandel. Somehow, we¡¯re going to¡ª¡± ¡°Are you stupid?¡± ¡°¡­¡­What?¡± Rizel scowls at Sharen, who responded so lightly. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You think my father¡¯s going to die? You all really have no idea.¡± Sharen smirks and raises the greatsword. ¡°My father is a monster.¡± The roiling crimson aura rises. Once again, the greatsword readies a technique. ¡°Red Wave¡ª!¡± At Sharen¡¯s shout, Rizel frantically brings both hands together, prepared to fend off the oncoming surge of crimson fire. ¡°This¡ª!¡± Sharen¡¯s voice comes from right in front of her. ¡°Who said you could talk about my mom like that?!¡± ¡°B-But you shouted ¡®Red Wave¡¯¡ª!¡± Slash! The greatsword whips through the air. Rizel¡¯s body is cut in half, ending her life on the spot. Resting the greatsword on one shoulder, Sharen laughs. ¡°That¡¯s exactly why you shout the name of your technique, mmhmm.¡± A response to what Isaac had asked before: why bother calling out your move in advance if you¡¯re not a fool? ¡°I¡¯m not stupid.¡± Sharen nods in satisfaction. ¡°The one who called me stupid was the bigger fool.¡± ***** ¡°Your Highness, we should move,¡± said Heyrad. ¡°¡­¡­Something¡¯s off.¡± In front of the church building¡ª Despite Heyrad¡¯s suggestion, Princess Clarice looks around with a troubled expression. Something is nagging at her. She doesn¡¯t see this incident as a mere act of terrorism. ¡°Your Highness?¡± ¡°It¡¯s strange. Heyrad, don¡¯t you think something¡¯s odd?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t this seem too small-scale? For a terrorist attack, it feels¡­ lukewarm.¡± There aren¡¯t that many demonic beasts. Silverna responded quickly, so they¡¯re cleaning them up without suffering major losses. Yes, Alois looks horrific, but Rihanna and Isaac are handling him together, and that seems sufficient to keep him in check. ¡°And where are we? This is the capital of the kingdom. A strike of this level can¡¯t accomplish much.¡± Clarice suspects there¡¯s some other motive behind this ¡°terror.¡± ¡°At first, I thought it was revenge against the Transcendent who called himself Sword Demon in Blackthorn, but that doesn¡¯t seem like enough to justify all this, right?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t, Your Highness.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± So what is their real objective? Recently, the most noteworthy incident was Blackthorn. Yes, the battle against that final Sword Demon was intense, but before that, Arandel Helmut alone practically handled an army by himself. For the Transcendents, Arandel Helmut is the greatest threat. Ever since the attempt to recruit him failed, he¡¯s become their top priority to eliminate. ¡°Helmut¡¯s main forces¡ªLohengrin, Rihanna, Alois, and Sharen¡ªare all here.¡± Unless you count the youngest, Edel, as part of the battle force, that really just leaves the second son, Armin. Right now, almost all of Helmut¡¯s strength is absent from his estate, making this moment the weakest he¡¯s ever been. ¡°But do you think they could really go after Sir Arandel? And in Helmut¡¯s own manor, at that?¡± Even so, it¡¯s Arandel. He¡¯s powerful enough to make the idea of a ¡°fair fight¡± meaningless. ¡°Besides, his illness has been kept an absolute secret, hasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± A swell of unease rises within her. She senses something beyond the realm of ordinary guesses. ¡°What on earth is really going on¡­?¡± Clarice felt a crawling itch in her mind, as though insects were scurrying around inside her brain. Her instincts told her she couldn¡¯t just stand by, yet she couldn¡¯t quite pinpoint why she felt that way. ¡°Are you worried that Sir Arandel might be in danger?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too early for a change of generations. Arandel needs to hold on for at least another five years.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But honestly¡­ it¡¯s not like I believe Arandel could die. We¡¯ve all seen it ourselves¡ªhe¡¯s a monster of a man.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s what you think¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I feel uneasy. What is it? Why am I so anxious?¡± In the end, Clarice couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. ¡°Let¡¯s head to Helmut. We¡¯ll settle things here as quickly as we can and prepare to depart immediately. Get the Pegasus ready.¡± Pegasus¡ª The gift from the Magic Tower to the Kingdom of Albion, rumored to be the fastest carriage in the world. Only royalty may ride it in emergencies, and it can shorten a week-long journey down to five days. Depending on road conditions, it might take even less time. Enthusiasts call it the dream carriage. ¡°At most, it¡¯ll take three days to reach Helmut, maybe only one day if we push it hard.¡± Hoping her unpleasant premonition was just a false alarm, Clarice kept her eyes on Isaac and Rihanna as they fought. **** Whuum! The moment Rihanna¡¯s greatsword swung wide, the streets were once again drenched in a sticky crimson. The viscous liquid and the stench of blood were nauseating, but Rihanna¡¯s expression remained calm. ¡°Noona! Ahh! Even the pain you give me! How sweet it is!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± By now, Rihanna had decided not to speak. The person in front of her was something beyond a mere younger brother¡ª A manifestation of mad, twisted love. So she had no great hesitation in swinging her sword. ¡®Where did it all go wrong?¡¯ Love always ruins Helmut. It had ruined her. It had ruined Galenia. Now, Alois was following the same path. ¡®Why do we all¡­¡¯ ¡­end up so broken? Right before her sword, filled with bitterness, could strike again, Alois suddenly flashed a grin. ¡°You¡¯ve let your guard down, Noonaaaaa!¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Rihanna was in the middle of slicing off his massive right arm, and for a split second she failed to notice the crimson aura stabbing in from the other side. But she didn¡¯t bother reacting. She silently continued to sever his right arm, because¡ª Claaang! Isaac was there. Crossing his two blades, Isaac blocked Alois¡¯s crimson strike. The raging lightning of Bricalla crackled around them, proof that Isaac was gaining increasing control over that destructive power. Seeing Rihanna rampage freely thanks to Isaac¡¯s assistance, Alois spat out furious words. ¡°Don¡¯t act like you understand each other without saying a word! Don¡¯t you dare coordinate as if you¡¯re of one mind, you lowly cur¡ª!¡± It seemed that Alois cared far more about Rihanna and Isaac fighting in perfect sync than he did about his right arm being hacked apart. He hurled curses, mixing blood and spittle, but neither of them responded. ¡°Noona¡ª! Aah! Noonaaaaa!¡± From some point on, both Rihanna and Isaac had closed their mouths, facing Alois silently and directly. As if that unnerved him, Alois kept calling out to Rihanna in desperation. ¡°Noonaaaa! Can¡¯t you hear your little brother calling for you?! How can you ignore me when I¡¯m so desperate to see you?!¡± Crunch! Crack! ¡°It¡¯s me! Alois! I¡¯ve been by your side since we were young! Always with you¡ªwho do you think supported you more than anyone else?! It was meeeee!¡± Squelch! Crunch! ¡°I want your lips! I want to taste your skin! I want to violate you! Violate you! Ahh! Violate you again and agaaain!¡± Splat! By now, his right arm was completely pulverized. Standing there with ragged breaths, Alois shed bloody tears as he looked at his sister like a pitiful supplicant. ¡°Answer me¡­ Please, give me an answer¡­ I¡¯m right here! Noona! Aah! Noonaaaa! Look at me! Don¡¯t you see how much I crave your gaze, your attention, your voice?!¡± Her hair swirled around, hiding her expression. Without a word, Rihanna turned away. Alois reached out frantically. ¡°Noona? Wh-Why? Why won¡¯t you say anything to me? An¡ªanswer me! I want to violate you, Noona! I want nothing more than to make you¡ª¡± Puuuk! Alois¡¯s head split clean in two. Isaac, looking down at the grotesque sight, heaved a quiet sigh. ¡°He won¡¯t die even if you split his head, huh.¡± ¡°Begone, you filth! How dare you, a lowly nobody, stand between me and my Noona?!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t even see her! Get out of¡ª!¡± Alois tried to swing his left hand, but that too was swiftly severed by a single slash. Even so, Alois didn¡¯t care in the slightest, leaning desperately side to side just to catch another glimpse of Rihanna. ¡°Go away! Go awaaay! You¡¯re blocking my Noona¡ª!¡± Thwack! A blade struck his regenerating forehead again. For a moment, Alois¡¯s eyes lost focus, but soon he came to and started screaming once more: ¡°Noonaaaaa! Where are you going?! I¡ªI¡¯m right here! The little brother you must kill no matter what! If you leave me like this, I¡¯ll only defile you! I¡¯m right heeeere!¡± Slice! This time, he went straight for the neck. Even though Alois¡¯s head fell to the ground, it continued to shed bloody tears and scream. ¡°Why¡ª! Why are you leaving me here?! Are you really going to let this lowly peasant finish me off?!¡± ¡°How pitiful.¡± ¡°Noonaaaaa! If I must die¡ª! If I truly must die¡ª! Let it be by your hand¡ª!¡± Crunch! Isaac¡¯s blade once again split open Alois¡¯s skull, burrowing deep inside. Alois wore a look of utter despair, unable to even catch the eye of the sister he loved so desperately. In that frozen moment, as though time had stopped, Alois¡¯s final remnants crumbled away. It was a hollow ending. Yet Isaac thought it somehow suited Alois. ¡®This madman would probably have been happy just to die at Rihanna¡¯s hands.¡¯ Only in this moment of complete indifference could one see his expression of true, anguished despair. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac pulled his sword free. Revenge hadn¡¯t felt wrong, but it seemed he wasn¡¯t the sort of person to be entirely consumed by it. Was it because he¡¯d undone everything that once was? Ever since his divorce, Isaac had felt he was moving forward without being trapped by the past. Alois¡¯s death was justified, but Isaac had no desire to make it the reason for his new lease on life. ¡®He wasn¡¯t worth that much.¡¯ ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± At that moment, Clarice appeared outside with Rihanna. She approached Isaac as he wiped blood from his sword. ¡°Isaac, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been thinking about. Let¡¯s talk as we go. The Pegasus should be arriving any minute¡ª¡± ¡°Your Highness¡ª!¡± Heyrad rushed over like the wind, his face ashen. ¡°Oh, please, Heyrad.¡± Clarice muttered under her breath, but he didn¡¯t notice and quickly reported, ¡°The Pegasus is destroyed! It appears the true target of this terror attack was the Pegasus. According to witnesses, the moment the commotion started, suddenly¡ª¡± Now it would take at least three days to reach Helmut. Their goal¡ªthe Transcendents¡¯ real objective¡ªwas becoming all the clearer. **** ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Edel Helmut, the youngest of the Helmut family, had been reading a book when the ground began to shake violently. Startled, he burst out of his room. The entire manor quaked as though it might collapse, and at first he believed it was an earthquake. ¡°Young Master!¡± ¡°P-please, you must get to safety!¡± The servants ushered Edel along in a panic. Glancing out the window, he saw that the sky had turned scarlet. Clearly, this was no ordinary tremor¡ªsomething far more ominous was happening. ¡®Of all times¡ª!¡¯ Or perhaps it was precisely because so many of the direct heirs were away. ¡°This way! This way!¡± At the entrance to the Helmut estate, Jonathan, clad in armor, held the door open, guiding people to safety. He was keeping the entrance secure just in case the manor actually collapsed. Stepping outside, Edel looked up over the gathered Helmut knights. The sky overhead was a deep, unsettling red. The sun and clouds had vanished, as though the world had been flipped upside down. The knights¡¯ faces were grim. The Helmut knights had already suffered grievous losses against Blackthorn. If they were to be hit again here, Helmut might be dealt a blow so devastating it could never recover. Then, in a rush, the family¡¯s second son, Armin Helmut, ran out behind them. ¡°Brother! Are you alright?!¡± ¡°W-what is going on?!¡± Armin, usually so inconspicuous, now looked around in confusion. What he saw were beings much like humans in appearance¡ªyet clearly something else. Stepping in from the entrance, the ones who approached carried an unmistakably ominous presence. ¡®They¡¯re TTranscendents !¡¯ Edel Helmut¡¯s eyes trembled. It wasn¡¯t simply fear he felt. It was as though relentless hatred and fury toward humanity had materialized in their every step¡ªthis was their domain. Just as the Helmut knights gripped their greatswords, ready to counter, Thud! A massive footstep from outside the manor forced everyone to pause. A greatsword in hand, a commanding figure¡ª Hard to believe he was a man said to be suffering from a chronic illness, for the aura he exuded was overpowering. ¡°Stand down.¡± The knights neither objected nor hesitated. They simply parted, making way at their master¡¯s command. A group of Transcendents strode forward and stopped in front of Arandel Helmut. ¡°Arandel of Helmut. I am ¡®Apostle,¡¯ known as a Primitive Transcendent.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you upfront: among those who have come here, there are five in total¡ªlike me, they are called ¡®Primitive.¡¯¡± His crimson eyes had already identified five exceptional powerhouses. Apostle, with antlers reminiscent of a stag, spoke to Arandel, who remained silent. ¡°This is truly our final offer. Surrender. If you refuse, your death will become the cornerstone of war.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°We Transcendents hold Helmut in especially high esteem, so we wish to¡ª¡± ¡°Sword Demon.¡± Arandel¡¯s low voice rumbled. He motioned with his chin toward a man at the edge of the group, his skin a deep crimson. ¡°That one¡ªhe¡¯s the Sword Demon?¡± ¡°¡­¡­He belongs to that bloodline. Just as Helmut has a firstborn and a second son.¡± Arandel already knew that a trap had awaited him in the final moments of Blackthorn, all meant to kill him. ¡°Hah¡­ You leave me no choice. Then let¡¯s move on to threats, shall we? Five. A whole five of them¡ªeach one as skilled as that Sword Demon, who thought he could kill you on his own.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You¡¯re human; surely you don¡¯t want to die. And your body isn¡¯t in perfect shape, is it? I¡¯ve heard of your illness, so first¡ª¡± ¡°Only¡­¡± Arandel¡¯s lips curled into a slow smile. He grinned so broadly his teeth showed, and the greatsword he gripped never wavered. ¡°Only five.¡± A crimson whirlwind rose up around Arandel, swirling fiercely. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: That ¡°Only Five¡± was so badass. I love it!! Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 77: Helmut Extermination (2) A crimson gale rages fiercely toward everyone in its path. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Momentarily startled by its force, the Primitive Transcendents Instinct hastily withdrew, putting distance between themselves and Arandel. No matter how great the Primitive Transcendents Instinct was, none of them had the confidence to face Helmut¡¯s Arandel head-on. ¡®This is ridiculous.¡¯ Strength, speed, endurance¡ª Everything was in his favor. After all, Arandel was still human, even if he was from Helmut, so compared to them¡ªwho had reached the very cusp of transcendence¡ªhis body should inevitably be at a disadvantage. Moreover, Arandel was a wounded beast. Even though his condition couldn¡¯t have been good, the scorching aura he exuded showed no sign of ending. When they crossed blades, there was no sense they could possibly win. ¡°Family Head! Let us join you!¡± ¡°Knights of Helmut! Ready your swords¡ª!¡± Naturally, Helmut¡¯s knights also assumed their stances, prepared to defend Arandel. But¡ª ¡°Stand down.¡± On the contrary, it was Arandel himself who dismissed them. ¡°You¡¯ll only get in my way.¡± At Arandel¡¯s words, Helmut¡¯s knights faltered and came to a stop. It was an utterly humiliating situation for them as knights¡ª For their mere presence to be seen as a hindrance on the battlefield. ¡°We hear and obey.¡± Nevertheless, Helmut¡¯s knights withdrew without hesitation. If the Family Head judged it so, then that was final. They neither had the standing nor the qualification to dispute his decision; they could only trust him blindly. In that case, there was only one thing left for them to do. ¡°Move out! Escort the non-combatants and direct family members!¡± An older, middle-aged knight raised his greatsword and gestured outside. From the screams and commotion carried on the wind, and the smoke rising into the sky¡ª It was clear the nearby village had been attacked. The Transcendent Clan, which had retreated, merely glanced for a moment at the fleeing Helmut knights. They made no move to stop or pursue them. Their sole and obvious target was Arandel. ¡°Father¡ª!¡± ¡°Young Master, please, you must go!¡± The youngest, Edel, tearfully reached out toward Arandel. But Jonathan scooped him up and dashed outside. The situation outside the manor was hardly any better. Those among the Transcendent Clan deemed too weak to be of help in subduing Arandel, along with the beasts they commanded, were carrying out a massacre in the nearby village. The knights of Helmut immediately drew their greatswords to fight back. ¡°Krrhk! Kekk!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Observing the carnage, Jonathan stifled a laugh. He bit down on his lip hard, trying to suppress it. But in the end, unable to endure, he pulled out a handkerchief, stuffed it into his own mouth, and tied it like a gag. ¡°W-What are you doing?¡± Edel looked at Jonathan in alarm. ¡°Mmph¡ªmmf.¡± Unable to speak because of the handkerchief, Jonathan simply motioned for Edel to cling tightly to his back. **** ¡°¡­¡­¡± A royal palace VIP suite. There, for her own protection, observation, and effectively incarceration, stayed the Grandmaster. She silently watched Evergarde, which was in turmoil, through the window. Though she had the princess¡¯ trust, she was still under protection and supervision for the time being. Making any careless move could lead to unnecessary misunderstandings. ¡®Anyway, those brats are there. They¡¯ll manage.¡¯ Not just Isaac and Silverna, but also Helmut¡¯s direct lineage were all in Evergarde. She waited patiently for the chaos to subside, unconcerned. Creak. The locked door opened almost too smoothly. A man entered, wearing a light smile as if he were some sort of thief¡ª But Grandmaster knew well that this was a technique to lull the opponent into complacency, a technique she herself had taught. ¡°Damien? I told you to wait at the Rocky Mountain.¡± Damien, her disciple who had been with her at the Rocky Mountain. He gave an awkward laugh and scratched the back of his head. ¡°You¡¯ve been gone so long, Master. I got worried and came after you. I never expected to find you in the royal palace.¡± ¡°Hmph. And how did you figure out I was here?¡± Grandmaster folded her arms. Sensing her displeasure, Damien replied cautiously, ¡°My patrons informed me. They said I should go see you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± At that moment, a wave of blue mana flickered beside Damien. It soon took human shape¡ªa method those people used to communicate. An astral projection. While the mind was present here, the body was somewhere else, unknown. A very unique and proprietary means of contact. ¡ªYou gave me quite a shock. The faceless man who appeared through the projection let out a laugh, but the atmosphere was far from pleasant. It was closer to a sneer. ¡ªWe asked you to bring over the man who broke Helmut¡¯s sword, yet here you are becoming the princess¡¯ lapdog. ¡°Mind your words.¡± Grandmaster, still with her arms crossed, bared her teeth. ¡°My mood is foul enough as is¡ª¡± ¡ª ¡­¡­ ¡°And you hold plenty of blame for that.¡± ¡ªSo you¡¯re saying you have a reason for betraying us? ¡°Your tone irritates me. We cooperated on the condition you would help me find my friends, yet you dragged your feet, so I asked someone else for help.¡± ¡ª¡­We are also still searching. ¡°Hmph, then did you know that this man who supposedly broke Helmut¡¯s sword is actually my fellow disciple¡¯s pupil?¡± The faceless man fell silent. Grandmaster chuckled in return. ¡°How incompetent.¡± ¡ªSo you intend to sever ties with us like this? ¡°Well, I no longer have much need for you, do I?¡± Grandmaster. She shrugs her shoulders as the faceless man addresses her with a laugh. ¡ª Good. This actually works out perfectly. We¡¯ve decided to change our sponsorship target as well. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡ª From this day forward, the world will belong to the Transcendent Clan, and we, their ¡®patrons,¡¯ have decided to support them. ¡°¡­You speak of betrayal over and over, yet now you betray your own kind.¡± ¡ª We do it to survive. Don¡¯t you think we need to preserve the human race? ¡°By becoming livestock? An interesting perspective.¡± ¡ª But you¡¯ve experienced this before, haven¡¯t you? So, how is it? Can you give us any advice? ¡°¡­¡­¡± Grandmaster clams up. However, the murderous aura radiating from her entire being is raw and vicious beyond anything seen before. ¡ª Look, today the Sword of the Kingdom will be broken. And before long, the Transcendent Clan will move in earnest. The Sword of the Kingdom? Arandel Helmut? Grandmaster¡¯s eyes narrow slightly. She wavers for a moment at the mention of targeting Arandel, then aims a warning at the fading astral projection of the man. ¡°Don¡¯t ever show yourself before me again, or you¡¯ll die.¡± ¡ª I¡¯ll keep that in mind. And with that, the faceless man vanishes. With a sigh, Grandmaster shakes her head. Beside her, her disciple Damien carefully asks, ¡°M-Master, if Arandel dies¡­ won¡¯t that mean war will break out immediately?¡± After all, the Transcendent Clan fears Arandel more than anything. But Grandmaster shakes her head. ¡°I have already crossed swords with Arandel. He is not the sort who dies so easily.¡± ¡°R-Really?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never before encountered anyone so powerful¡­¡± As if craving a smoke, Grandmaster wets her lips and turns her gaze back out the window. ¡°Life or death¡­ that choice is entirely in Arandel¡¯s own hands.¡± **** Twilight was beginning to fall when the thunder of hooves echoed near Helmut. The villagers cowered in renewed fear, but soon sighed in relief when they saw who it was on horseback. ¡°Ah! It¡¯s Rihanna-nim!¡± ¡°O-Oh, you¡¯ve arrived!¡± ¡°Rihanna-nim has returned!¡± Exactly two days had passed since the terror attack on Evergarde. Because the royal carriage and Pegasus had both been damaged, they had no choice but to ride here on horseback. Their horses were visibly fatigued from the hard ride, but they had arrived nonetheless. Following behind Rihanna were Isaac and Silverna, as well as Princess Clarice and her escort knights. Naturally, none of them looked to be in good spirits. The ranks of Helmut¡¯s knights seemed drastically thinned, and the townspeople, huddled among the ruins like mice, looked terrible as well. Even though two days had passed, the attack of the Transcendent Clan must have been so fierce that they still hadn¡¯t managed to remove all the bodies. ¡°O-Oh, you¡¯re here! Unnie!¡± At that moment, Edel, who was at the forefront of restoration efforts, ran up, nearly in tears. Rihanna dismounted and embraced her youngest sibling, then asked carefully, ¡°What happened here?¡± ¡°Two days ago¡­ The Transcendent Clan came.¡± Two days ago. The same time as the terror attack on Evergarde. So their true objective had indeed been Helmut. ¡°They said five of the Primitive Transcendents showed up. But Father faced them alone¡ª¡± What Edel went on to recount was astonishing: The battle lasted a full day and then another half a day beyond that. Thunderous booms, like lightning striking, resounded continuously. Only a few hours before their arrival had the clamor of battle finally ceased. ¡°¡­The sky is still red.¡± Isaac, listening to the explanation from behind, murmured softly. Whatever blazing energy Arandel unleashed, it dyed the sky beyond the dark clouds a deep crimson. Even the mana in the air felt thick. Proof that a fierce and brutal battle had been waged. The second son, Armin, was nowhere to be seen. Though they were curious what had happened, their priority was Arandel. They hurried through the village and headed straight for the manor. ¡°Please, Arandel-nim. Please¡­¡± Princess Clarice, following behind, wore a pallid expression. She mumbled as though in prayer, her eyes revealing how desperate she was. ¡°The kingdom still needs you.¡± The moment Arandel was gone, it was inevitable that the Transcendent Clan¡¯s offensive would explode forth. But there was no new generation ready to take over Arandel¡¯s role just yet. Hoping that Arandel had prevailed, the reinforcements reached the entrance of the manor. In truth, maybe that answer was already decided. As he neared the manor, Isaac thought: ¡®If the Transcendent Clan had won¡­¡¯ It was likely that the village below would not have survived unscathed as it had. It would have been reduced to rubble, and the people would have greeted them only as corpses. Because of that, Isaac was wagering on Arandel being the victor. Though it was hard to believe that he had singlehandedly killed as many as five members of the Primitive Transcendents. However¡ª When they reached the ruins that could no longer be called a manor¡ª Where only the entrance remained standing¡ª Isaac had no choice but to believe. Helmut¡¯s pride, the rose garden, was gone. All the garden¡¯s roses had been crushed in the aftermath of battle, leaving only petals scattered across the ground. Amid those petals lay members of the Transcendent Clan. Countless of them sprawled upon the earth, each meeting a gruesome end. And there, beneath a sky shrouded in dark clouds like a curtain, waited a man. Atop the rubble, Arandel Helmut sat in silence, slowly turning his gaze to those who had come for him. ¡°Arandel-nim! You¡¯re unharmed!¡± The moment Clarice cried out with a bright smile, Isaac blocked her with his arm. ¡°Isaac?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± He didn¡¯t want to believe it. No¡ªsaying he couldn¡¯t believe it was more accurate. ¡°Ah, father?¡± Sensing the same ominous feeling, Rihanna murmured in confusion. But Arandel remained silent, simply looking at those who approached. He was not dead. He had not collapsed. He had not been broken, nor had he been defeated. He merely sat there in silence¡ª as though awaiting the next battlefield. Seated amidst the crushed rose petals strewn across the ground, his presence evoked something beyond sheer intimidation¡ªpure fear. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting.¡± With a low voice, Arandel reached once more for his greatsword. ¡°I¡ªIs that¡­ Isaac?¡± Silverna, who had seen a similar phenomenon before, shook as she struggled to speak. Isaac too had no idea how it had come to this. He felt a chill, as if he were witnessing the worst possible future manifest before his eyes. But it was already done. ¡°Take your stance.¡± He bit his lip and placed his hands on the twin blades at his sides. The eyes of Arandel, once crimson, were now stained black¡ª Proof of his vassalization. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 78: Helmut Extermination (3) The greatest sword. A knight who singlehandedly holds back war. A lion perched upon a crimson rose. Arandel Helmut. His towering frame slowly rises, and the hand gripping his greatsword tenses. Even that alone sends a wave of intimidation through the challengers who have gathered. Simply standing before him, sword in hand, demands immense courage. And then¡ª The first to step forward, dark hair billowing, was his former son-in-law: Isaac. ¡°Isaac!¡± Silverna called out urgently, but Isaac¡¯s gaze was already locked on Arandel. ¡°I knew you¡¯d be the first to come.¡± Having spoken unbidden, Arandel furrowed his brow. He seemed annoyed to realize he had spoken without meaning to. ¡°It¡¯s proof of the vassalization curse. The words that pop into your head¡­ they¡¯ll just keep spilling out.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Arandel remained calm. If not for the darkness that veiled his eyes, one would never guess he had fallen under its spell. ¡°How is your body holding up?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t live much longer.¡± ¡°Is it from the aftermath of the battle?¡± ¡°No.¡± Arandel was resolute. ¡°It¡¯s an old illness.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Because of the vassalization, no lie can be spoken. Moreover, the conversation itself flows unnaturally easily. Though Arandel clearly found it unpleasant. ¡°This is highly irritating.¡± He might say that, but in truth, Isaac was amazed. He remembered Pollu becoming reckless both in word and deed after falling victim to the same curse. Yet Arandel was holding himself in check through sheer force of will. Normally, the moment they set foot in the mansion, they would have been greeted by his greatsword. ¡°They said that once you¡¯re caught by it, you become nothing but a dog obeying their every command.¡± ¡°¡­Yes. That¡¯s correct.¡± In a past life, Alois had suffered exactly that fate. ¡°And from what I know, there¡¯s no way to break the enthrallment.¡± Though Isaac had only limited knowledge of rituals, he was certain there was no known method to lift such a curse. Besides, it wasn¡¯t even clear if they could keep Arandel restrained until a solution was found. All of a sudden, a question arose. ¡°Where is the Transcendent who cast the spell on you?¡± ¡°He¡¯s dead.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I killed him. Myself.¡± Though the so-called Apostle¡ªone of the Transcendents¡ªhad landed a curse on him, Arandel overcame it by force of will and swung his sword. Truly, Arandel. Just as Isaac was thinking that¡ª ¡°Arandel-nim!¡± ¡°Your Highness!¡± Clarice came hurrying after Isaac. Heyrad¡¯s anxious voice pursued her from behind. ¡°A-Arandel-nim! Are you all right? H-How is your body?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not good.¡± At Arandel¡¯s blunt reply, Clarice visibly wilted. His manner of speech was a minor detail compared to her worries. ¡°Then let¡¯s¡ª we must try healing you! We can call in mages from the Tower¡ª!¡± ¡°You¡¯re missing your chance.¡± ¡°Wh-what¡­?¡± Startled by Clarice¡¯s reaction, Arandel let out a sigh. ¡°Ha. Oh wise princess, you let your youthful ardor cloud your judgment.¡± ¡°What do you mean¡ª¡± ¡°We had the same thought, did we not?¡± Thud! ¡°Surely you see that this is the perfect opportunity?¡± Arandel drove his greatsword into the ground. A faint crimson light flickered within his dark eyes. ¡°Sir Heyrad! Get Her Highness back!¡± At Isaac¡¯s urgent shout, Heyrad swept Princess Clarice off her feet and hastily retreated. Moving past them, Rihanna and Silverna rushed forward. Along with them were the knights who had come as reinforcements. They held a clear advantage in numbers, and Arandel had already fought a grueling battle, making his blood force¡ª that crimson aura known for its destructive power¡ªhard to wield. And yet¡­ why did it feel this way? ¡®I can¡¯t shake the sense that we¡¯re at a disadvantage.¡¯ The more Isaac realized they would have to cross swords with this man, the more he sensed the odds were not in their favor. ¡°¡­This won¡¯t be easy.¡± Silverna muttered under her breath. ¡°Father.¡± Rihanna drew Ragnabel. At nearly the same moment, Isaac readied himself to strike in a single swift motion. Then, Helmut unleashed his blood force in every direction, and Arandel spoke: ¡°You who would succeed me¡ª Arandel.¡± ¡°Guh!¡± The raging aura was like a storm, forcing most to retreat. Only Isaac and Silverna remained protected by Rihanna¡¯s greatsword. ¡°Can you bear it?¡± Arandel paid no more attention to those who¡¯d been driven back. His eyes rested on the few who had withstood the onslaught. ¡°The weight I have carried¡ª!¡± They had been called to a trial of sorts. ¡°The legacy of the one who achieved peace with only a single sword¡ª!¡± Bwoooong! Arandel¡¯s greatsword swung in a wide arc. One slash, meant to cleave all in its path. However¡ª Claaang! Rihanna, his eldest daughter, blocked it just before that catastrophic blow could land. ¡°Ugh!?¡± Even so, the impact forced Rihanna back with a pained groan. Blood vessels bulged along Arandel¡¯s forearm as he prepared to finish it. ¡°Stop your whining!¡± He shoved Rihanna back with sheer force, sending her flying. Claaang! Rihanna crashed into the mansion¡¯s debris and was buried beneath it. With a single strike, Arandel Helmut had knocked his eldest daughter to the ground. A fierce gust scattered rose petals across the floor. Hidden among them, Silverna lunged her spear at Arandel. She had anticipated that Rihanna might fall in the first exchange, allowing Silverna to strike half a beat faster than usual. You could say their timing was accidentally in sync. Thud! Arandel seized the spear shaft in his hand. He looked straight down at Silverna, his gaze ferocious. ¡°Daughter of Caldias, your desperation makes your spear tremble.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Thud! He lifted spear and wielder together, then hurled Silverna away. She hit the ground and rolled, skidding to a stop some distance away. Arandel¡¯s gaze shifted beyond her¡ªto Isaac. ¡°Your sword¡ªcan it truly take the head of Arandel!?¡± Isaac drew both blades at his waist simultaneously. Crackling energy flickered, boosting his speed. The rose petals in the path of his sword were sliced cleanly in two, and the moment it cut through¡ª Claaang! Arandel¡¯s greatsword easily blocked it. ¡°Pathetic!¡± He swung his sword in a counterattack, sending Isaac flying back. ¡°So light!¡± ¡°Guh!¡± Isaac¡¯s feet lost contact with the ground and he skidded backward. Had Heyrad not caught him, he would¡¯ve been pushed all the way to the mansion¡¯s entrance. ¡°Are you all right?!¡± ¡°Yes¡­¡± They had exchanged only one blow. Yet Isaac¡¯s arms trembled¡ªfrom resisting such overwhelming power. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°He¡¯s like a monster.¡± The knights who charged in next couldn¡¯t hold out long against Arandel either. None lasted more than a single exchange; all were toppled or flung aside. Isaac steadied himself and rushed in again¡ªonly to see Rihanna already leaping back into the fray, slashing at Arandel. Claaang! Claaang! Father and daughter swung their greatswords at each other without hesitation. Among them all, only Rihanna could stand toe-to-toe with Arandel. But her face grew darker as the strain mounted. ¡°Mother¡ª!¡± Even in the midst of the onslaught, Rihanna found a moment to speak. This was her only chance. The only time to hear Arandel¡¯s true feelings was now. The question she had harbored all her life, kept secret from everyone, found voice: ¡°Did you love her?¡± Claaang! In that instant, Rihanna felt Arandel¡¯s sword falter¡ªif only slightly. And between the slashes¡ª ¡°As naturally as breathing.¡± Words concealed like a secret, quietly revealed. Rihanna¡¯s eyes widened. But she couldn¡¯t withstand Arandel¡¯s next blow and went down hard. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Arandel swung his greatsword once more. Silverna dashed in, thrusting her spear between them just in time to shield Rihanna. Unable to match his raw strength, she jammed the spear shaft against the ground for leverage. Still, Silverna¡¯s posture buckled bit by bit under the force. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare drop that sword!¡± ¡°Silverna¡­¡± Rihanna nodded, steadying herself. Then the two noblewomen once again charged at Arandel with sword and spear. Their coordination was impressive, yet they still failed to penetrate Arandel¡¯s defenses. But in that moment, the combined assault of the two women opened a path. As their sword and spear shifted to either side¡ª A single blade followed that opening with fluid grace. It extended, and extended further still¡ª reaching for something beyond its very limit. They called this Dagger combination¡ªthe grand iaido technique. That fleeting slash which once felled Bricalla now targeted Arandel. ¡°Hmm.¡± For the first time, the corners of Arandel¡¯s mouth curled into a faint smile. ¡°Beautiful.¡± With just those words, Arandel channeled the blood force he had refrained from using since the opening clash into his left arm and thrust it forward. Thuddddddd! The lightning-infused blade of Isaac met Arandel¡¯s crimson aura in a fierce collision, making the sword scream. The result was swift¡ª Daeguhap, driven by a giant¡¯s hand, was stopped before it could even connect. ¡°¡­!¡± Smoke rose from Isaac¡¯s blade. The impact had been so intense, it felt as if a horse had stomped his palm. ¡°Isaac!¡± ¡°Get back!¡± The instant the two women grabbed Isaac and pulled him away, Arandel¡¯s greatsword obliterated the spot where he had just been standing. ¡°Do not be humble.¡± Amid the swirling dust and rose petals¡ª ¡°Be arrogant.¡± The crimson light in Arandel¡¯s darkened eyes fixed on Isaac. ¡°And prideful.¡± Thus¡ª ¡°Be great.¡± Claaang! Arandel, who had stood his ground until now, took a step forward. ¡°That is the respect you owe those who cross swords with you.¡± Isaac had heard those words before¡ªor rather, he had read them. In Arandel¡¯s final testament. ¡°Do not dishonor the dead.¡± It was also a statement of Arandel¡¯s own creed. As a master swordsman, he had slain countless foes. Yet he refused to belittle the deaths of those who had fallen to him. With arrogance and pride, he declared: Your lives were claimed by one worthy of it. And thus, his greatness was defined. Now, as the enthrallment took deeper hold, Arandel began to speak the raw truth within his heart. ¡°Let the world know¡ª¡± As if venting his rising emotions and frustration¡ª ¡°Of Arandel¡¯s death.¡± He admonished those standing before him. At last, Princess Clarice realized the meaning behind his words. They both shared the same thought: that the sword protecting the kingdom needed a new generation. ¡°Because you are here¡ª¡± Thus, this was¡ª A somewhat premature and sudden¡ª ¡°Peace shall stand firm.¡± ¡ªchange of generation. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 79: Helmut Extermination (4) One bit of good news was that Arandel had lost much of his strength. After all, he had spent the entire night swinging his greatsword in battle against the Transcendents. Even a quick count of how many Transcendents he turned into corpses exceeded ten, and among them were five of the Primitive Transcendents. It was enough that one could call it a remarkable feat for a human. Because of such intense combat, Arandel¡¯s usual near-limitless momentum had ebbed considerably. On the flip side, the bad news was that, despite so many restrictions weighing on Arandel, the word ¡°defeat¡± was nowhere to be found. Claaaaang! Once again, Arandel¡¯s greatsword whipped through the air, seizing control of the surroundings. Before long, everyone had gathered around Rihanna to respond in unison, but it was, in the end, just that¡ªa coordinated response. They couldn¡¯t go beyond that. Silverna, who was up front alongside Rihanna wielding her spear, demanded in exasperation: ¡°Does he ever get tired?!¡± Normally, Arandel would not have bothered answering such a question. However, because he was under enthrallment, his lips moved on their own. ¡°Do not count on luck.¡± ¡°Ouch!?¡± The moment he spoke, his greatsword lashed out again, sending Silverna skyward. She rolled a few times in midair, then landed hastily, dropping her spear. ¡°Ugh!¡± Her hand, which had taken Arandel¡¯s blow, was tingling. Silverna grimaced in disbelief. ¡°What kind of monster is this¡ª?¡± There was no sign they could win¡ªthis was true not just for Silverna but also for the other knights. At some point, they had settled into a standoff at the farthest reach of Arandel¡¯s greatsword. Rather than engaging him directly in what could be called his domain, they fought at a cautious distance, clinging to any scrap of hope. The only reason they managed to hold themselves together and avoid total collapse was because of one thing: The presence of the former married couple who refused to retreat even for a single moment. Claang! Once more, Rihanna¡¯s greatsword collided with Arandel¡¯s. She was the sole person here who could endure a direct contest of strength against him. While Rihanna¡¯s greatsword bristled with aura, Arandel¡¯s, in contrast, was conspicuously hollow. ¡°You no longer have the strength to wield your aura?¡± ¡°So it seems.¡± Claang! Claang! Claang! One advantage of fighting a vassalized opponent was the sheer amount of information that came with it. As easily as checking out books from a library, they could glean Arandel¡¯s current state and hidden cards. Ever since Isaac had demonstrated that a few times, the others also made use of it to battle Arandel. ¡°Your sword technique is catching up, but it¡¯s still rough around the edges.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Beyond that, Arandel even went so far as to provide critiques of his opponents¡¯ swordsmanship. The moment he parried Rihanna¡¯s blade¡ªsaid to be more brute force than finesse¡ªIsaac, who had been following like a shadow behind her, rushed forward. His blade swung yet again. It was swift and precise, almost like an assassin¡¯s. ¡°Ugh!¡± Yet Arandel slammed his left forearm against the flat of the weapon, easily deflecting it. ¡°Predictable!¡± He had seen this trick several times already¡ªand, reminding them he wasn¡¯t such a simple opponent, he shoved Isaac backward. Thud! ¡°I¡¯ll cover you!¡± ¡°Move in! Don¡¯t let up!¡± The instant Isaac was knocked away, Heyrad and the other knights lunged at Arandel. In this way, they prevented him from taking an immediate follow-up strike. Everyone covered for one another. This was the new generation¡¯s proposed solution against the old generation, but¡ª ¡°Crude!¡± Arandel grimaced at their blades, shouting, Claang! ¡°Sloppy!¡± Bang! ¡°Weak!¡± Not only did Arandel relentlessly bear down on his opponents¡¯ blades with overwhelming force, but he also heaved a sigh of disappointment at every single strike they made. Had this been an ordinary spar, they certainly would have learned a great deal from it. **** Just as the knights were pushed back, Rihanna stepped forward once again. She was filling the gap they had left, yet even Rihanna was gradually growing fatigued. ¡°Don¡¯t even think of retreating.¡± Wielding his sword, Arandel directed his admonition at Rihanna. ¡°I will not stop.¡± ¡°I¡­ understand¡­!¡± Rihanna grits her teeth. While Heyrad and the other knights were steadying their stances and charging back in¡ª Silverna approached Isaac. ¡°Isaac, do you think we can even win this?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Rihanna, we would¡¯ve fallen long ago. And now even Rihanna can¡¯t get close enough to swing her sword properly.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Is there¡­ any way at all?¡± At Silverna¡¯s question, Isaac paused, taking a moment to regulate his breathing. He clenched his fists, gaze dropping to his longsword. ¡°I think I was¡­ too complacent.¡± ¡°Complacent? How so?¡± ¡°This is Arandel Helmut we¡¯re dealing with. Even if he¡¯s just waiting around to die¡ª¡± After all, he was a man one could call the strongest in the world. He had to admit it. Because they believed this fight was already decided¡ªfated for a man who had accepted death¡ªthey had fought too passively. ¡°We should have been prepared to risk our necks from the very start.¡± There was a starlike glimmer in Isaac¡¯s eyes as he stepped forward. It was the same look he had back when he had admired the sword so deeply that he had once put it aside to pick up a pen¡ªduring his days as the ¡°Silent Sword.¡± **** Claaang! Defeated in a contest of strength, Rihanna was knocked back a considerable distance. She tried to catch her breath, her face grim¡ªwhen Isaac appeared at her side. ¡°How is it?¡± A concise question, but Rihanna immediately understood his intent and answered. ¡°Just barely able to keep up. My stamina¡¯s wearing thin, and I¡¯m hitting a limit with these power struggles.¡± ¡°I disagree.¡± Rihanna glanced sidelong at Isaac. ¡°I can read the sword¡¯s trajectory¡ªI can even anticipate where it¡¯ll land. But¡­ I can¡¯t keep pace with it.¡± ¡°You can read Father¡¯s sword?¡± ¡°Yes, and¡­ if you trust me¡ª¡± ¡°I do.¡± Her straightforward reply made Isaac inadvertently meet her gaze. There wasn¡¯t the slightest hint of doubt. Neither hollow words nor mere pleasantries¡ªjust the truth. ¡°We have to risk our lives going in. One wrong move, and we¡¯re dead.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already answered.¡± ¡°¡­All right.¡± He tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade. They had to plunge headlong into that raging storm of a greatsword¡ª Into Arandel Helmut¡¯s domain. ¡°I can¡¯t explain everything in words. I¡¯m not even sure if there ever was any bond between us¡­ but¡ª¡± Isaac turned his gaze forward again, offering a pained smile as he pressed on. ¡°I¡¯m counting on you, Riha.¡± A step behind him, Rihanna hefted her greatsword and nodded. ¡°Leave it to me.¡± Once more, Heyrad and the knights, battered by the fierce onslaught, were thrown back. As Isaac and Rihanna walked past them toward Arandel, he rested his greatsword on his shoulder and nodded. ¡°So you¡¯ve finally come prepared to die.¡± ¡°Forgive my earlier disrespect.¡± ¡°Indeed. Though I said I would let myself die¡ª!¡± BOONG! Raising his greatsword high, Arandel brought it straight down in a vertical arc. ¡°Don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be so easy to take my life!¡± Claaaaang! His greatsword hammered the ground. Rihanna grabbed Isaac by the waist and swiftly dodged to the side. Through the billowing smoke, Isaac¡¯s eyes darted in the opposite direction. ¡°Right side!¡± Isaac swung his longsword in a crossed slash, while beside him, Rihanna angled her greatsword diagonally. Claang! Hidden within the hazy smoke kicked up by the first strike, another blow came hurtling from the exact opposite angle. It was as though a wild beast might leap out from the darkness of the brush at any moment. That was exactly the sense of danger felt by those who fought within Arandel Helmut¡¯s domain. They never knew where or how that immense, overpowering greatsword would strike. In the blink of an eye, they could be cut in two. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gulp. Rihanna swallowed hard, anxiety mounting. Having come this close, there was no chance to flee now. The dust raised by his previous blow had just begun to settle. Amid swirling rose petals, Arandel swung his greatsword once more¡ªbut¡­ ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Claang! He was blocked¡ªby Rihanna. And she did so far earlier than he had predicted. Because of that, Arandel couldn¡¯t put his full force into the attack, and with Isaac joining the defense, it was far easier to withstand than before. Arandel offered no words. He swung his sword again, but once more, the pair blocked it in the exact same way. ¡°Ha.¡± He let out a short, incredulous laugh. ¡°Haha.¡± Even Arandel, who had spent his entire life wielding a sword, needed a moment to realize what was happening: Rihanna had started reading Arandel¡¯s movements in advance. More precisely, she was watching Isaac¡¯s line of sight and predicting where Arandel¡¯s blade would come from. ¡°A response that hinges on luck.¡± But if it worked repeatedly, it could hardly be dismissed as mere chance. Claang! Claang! The clash of greatsword against greatsword lacked the raw power it once had. And with Isaac reinforcing Rihanna, the tables had turned: Arandel could no longer break through their defense. However¡ª ¡°Blocking alone won¡¯t be enough to take my head.¡± Arandel sneered at the former married couple who were defending together against his greatsword. He was somewhat curious how long they could hold out, but since they¡¯d come this far, he had to kill them. Just as Arandel prepared to swing his greatsword again¡ª Clang! A single spear slammed into his sword as he raised it overhead. His focus, split between the two in front of him, left a momentary gap in his defenses. Rihanna seized that opportunity and hoisted her greatsword high. A fleeting opening¡ª This was entirely different from before, when she hadn¡¯t had so much as a chance to swing her blade. Crunch! The strongest strike of her life. A vision of a river spread before her eyes. She recalled the day she cleaved that river in two and confessed her love to him. That same sword¡ªnow recreated, here and now. Convinced this was her only chance, Rihanna poured every last ounce of her strength into her greatsword, condensing her aura. A rose bloomed at the tip of the blade. Even Arandel reeled back at the sight¡ªthis was the very pinnacle of Rihanna¡¯s ability in that moment. ¡°¡­Ah.¡± Yet her arms began to tremble. She could no longer keep a firm grip on the hilt. With the sword raised high, she lacked the strength to bring it down. All the fatigue built up from the battle thus far meant that her aura was no longer under her control; it was threatening to crush her. Just then, a man¡¯s arms circled around her from behind¡ªan all-too-familiar, and dearly missed, presence. ¡°You can do it.¡± Having thrust both of his blades into the ground, Isaac placed his hands atop her greatsword, supporting Rihanna in unison. The greatsword Rihanna had once used to split a river¡ª this time¡ª came crashing down upon the giant who stood before her. Crimson aura. A crimson light fanned out in every direction as rose petals scattered brilliantly into the sky. Recalling that day, steeped in the bittersweet ache of longing¡ªshe unleashed the closing flourish of her blade. Though the red aura roared with crimson aftershock still swirling in its wake, the result was plain to see: A greatsword snapped in two. Blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His waist bent forward, a faint smile on his lips, yet two legs planted firmly beneath him. Arandel was still standing there. ¡°Ah.¡± Rihanna¡¯s face paled. She no longer had the strength to keep her sword raised; as she faltered, she caught sight of someone stepping forward. Striding past her, Isaac wrenched free the longsword he had stuck into the ground and pressed forward without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± Raising the broken greatsword once more, Arandel turned his gaze on Isaac. ¡°I¡¯ve let this go on far too long.¡± Bit by bit, Arandel¡¯s aura swelled to fill the missing piece of his weapon. Though a meager remnant, it was nonetheless Arandel¡¯s aura. ¡°You have not surpassed me.¡± The shattered blade, now stained crimson, slashed forth again. Helmut¡¯s aura re-formed the missing fragment of the broken sword, piecing it back together into one seamless whole. Aura. The ultimate wall they had failed to overcome. They had barely cracked it with the help of Bricalla¡¯s lightning once before¡ªbut now, with the lightning gone or spent, not so much as a spark remained. Still, Isaac charged forward. [You who chase after stars in vain¡­] That was how the Grandmaster had once described him back in the days of Silent Sword. He used to say Isaac¡¯s gaze was fixed on the night sky¡¯s stars, yet he could never truly reach them. ¡°Isaac!!¡± A scream¡ªclose to a sob¡ªrang out behind him, as though trying to hold him back. Even so, Isaac kept running. ¡°Hmph!¡± With no hint of mercy, Arandel brought the greatsword crashing down on Isaac. Still, Isaac dashed onward. Because¡­ he saw a star lying before him¡ª A star he¡¯d once believed forever beyond his grasp, now shining within arm¡¯s reach. He swung both swords at the massive greatsword formed of aura. [Aura?] But the weapon he aimed for wasn¡¯t the sword itself. [When you reach the height of mastery¡ª] The pride of House Helmut. [Such things become unnecessary.] In his previous life¡ª countless hours spent at a desk, devoted to thoughts of the sword. Many mocked him as a mere scholar, but¡ª Layer after layer of accumulated time and effort now allowed him to stretch out for a realm he should never have been able to touch. Thuddd! Fragments of Arandel¡¯s broken aura scattered everywhere. The jagged tip of his sundered greatsword grazed Isaac¡¯s cheek as it passed Yet the two blades, ripping through that crimson aura, struck true¡ª directly into Arandel. ¡°Truly¡ª¡± No lies, no hollow embellishment. ¡°Great.¡± With that final word¡ª Thud! The once-mighty greatsword dropped to the ground with a thud. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 80: Each Persons Time Thud! A knee falls onto the rose petals. Arandel Helmut, too exhausted to even rise, lowers his head with trembling slowness. ¡°Haa! Haah!¡± The longsword in Isaac¡¯s hand slips to the ground before him. His arms tremble uncontrollably, and his heart pounds as if it might burst. His eyes, round and wide, capture the very scene he has created¡ªyet it hardly feels real. Arandel Helmut is on his knees. Silverna, who runs over in haste, catches Isaac just as he is about to collapse, holding him up from behind. Right after, others help Rihanna over to them. ¡°Deliver the message.¡± Still hanging his head, Arandel Helmut¡¯s voice grows quieter and quieter. Perhaps due to the effects of his forced servitude, he keeps speaking despite having no strength left. ¡°Of my death.¡± And also, ¡°Of your victory.¡± ¡°¡­Arandel-nim.¡± Princess Clarice steps forward. The tears gathered at the corners of her eyes are for the knight who devoted himself to the kingdom until the very end. ¡°Thank you, Arandel-nim.¡± Princess Clarice kneels before him and lowers her head. ¡°Do not disgrace me, who was once your foe.¡± He was the man who protected the kingdom¡¯s peace with a single sword. His fading voice gives a final warning to everyone present. ¡°Therefore¡­ be great.¡± His head, now bowed, never lifts again. He resembled a rose whose stem had been cut. **** About three days after Arandel Helmut¡¯s funeral was held¡ª Isaac stands blankly at the entrance to the Helmut estate. The once splendid garden, adorned by vibrant roses, is now in ruins, and the mansion itself has been reduced to rubble. With the funeral over, the Helmut estate has begun rebuilding¡ª But who knows how long it will take, or whether it can ever regain its former splendor? ¡®It¡¯s likely impossible for the Helmut family to be what it once was.¡¯ In his previous life as well, once Arandel Helmut died, Helmut fell into decline. Lohengrin took over as family head, but he couldn¡¯t fill Arandel Helmut¡¯s absence. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A strange bitterness lingers at Isaac¡¯s lips, perhaps because his relationship with Arandel Helmut was so close to love and hate. ¡°You¡¯re leaving.¡± A voice speaks up behind him. It¡¯s Rihanna, returning to the mansion after surveying the town. ¡°You¡¯re going to Evergarde?¡± ¡°Yeah, I have to.¡± Isaac is headed back to the capital city of Evergarde, to meet with the Grandmaster and also to formally receive his noble title for his recent deeds. ¡°I probably won¡¯t be able to attend the investiture ceremony.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be busy. I understand.¡± Rebuilding Helmut will certainly keep Rihanna occupied. She cannot simply leave now. On top of that, news of Isaac and Rihanna¡¯s divorce will soon become official. Originally, they had intended to keep it quiet, but now there is a reason: Isaac killed Arandel Helmut. After a brief silence, Rihanna speaks again. ¡°From now on, the nobles will be on high alert against the Transcendents, right?¡± Isaac nods. ¡°Yeah, most likely. And they¡¯ll be more cautious about rituals as well.¡± After all, Arandel Helmut fell under a ritual and turned against the kingdom. Many nobles are now wary of such rituals, and the Mage Tower has begun researching rituals, which differ from standard magic. ¡°Arandel-nim left behind more than I expected.¡± Heightened awareness of rituals, the slaying of five Primitive Transcendents¡ª And finally, by becoming the enemy and dying, he bolstered the reputation of the next generation. Right now, those who fought by his side are being celebrated as the ¡°golden generation.¡± They¡¯re saying even without Arandel Helmut, the kingdom is safe because the golden generation remains. ¡°It¡¯s fortunate my father stopped there.¡± Though Rihanna¡¯s words are cold, they¡¯re not wrong. By dying at that point, Arandel Helmut and the Helmut name are left with some semblance of martyrdom. ¡°I¡¯m grateful to you, Isaac.¡± ¡°Rihanna.¡± ¡°By stopping Father, you at least allowed Helmut to remain at this level of ruin.¡± Even as she looks upon this scene of total devastation, Rihanna is thankful that at least something remains. Isaac, after a moment¡¯s hesitation, sighs and asks, ¡°You don¡¯t seem happy about any of this.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± He is the only one in the entire world, to whom she can reveal her true feelings. That¡¯s why Rihanna said the words she shouldn¡¯t have said with a bitter smile. ¡°If only there was nothing left¡ª¡± If that had been the case, she might have been able to abandon the name Helmut and carry on with her life. As if asking him to ignore what she had just said, Rihanna sneaks a glance at Isaac and changes the subject. ¡°I¡¯m going to become the head of the family. I¡¯ll be leading Helmut from now on.¡± It wasn¡¯t a position she particularly welcomed, but it had to be done. No one else but Rihanna could take on the role. ¡°Father was¡­ a great warrior. But because of that, he sacrificed far too much.¡± People inevitably have two sides. To outsiders, Arandel was a hero who maintained peace with a single sword. But to those who lived in the mansion, he was just a merciless father who threw everything away for that sword. ¡°From now on, Helmut is going to change. It¡¯s practically been torn down to the point where there¡¯s no trace of its original form.¡± Rihanna shrugs and laughs at herself. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of making it¡­ a little more like a real family.¡± It¡¯s all she has left at this point. Those words are on Rihanna¡¯s lips, but she keeps them to herself. She has no intention of tying down Isaac, who will soon be leaving. ¡°I guess the next time we meet, it¡¯ll be on the battlefield.¡± Rihanna takes a step back toward the mansion, as though she¡¯s sending Isaac off. ¡°When that day comes¡­ I¡¯ll be counting on you.¡± Her gentle voice urges him forward. ¡°Isaac Logan.¡± ¡°...!¡± Caught off guard, Isaac widens his eyes, then lets out an awkward chuckle and nods. ¡°That sounds¡­ strange.¡± ¡°Hurry up and go.¡± ¡°Hehe, alright. Got it.¡± Stepping back, Isaac bows his head toward Rihanna. ¡°Farewell, Rihanna Helmut.¡± ¡°Isaac Logan¡­ may your journey be filled with only happiness.¡± Lifting the hem of her skirt, Rihanna gives him a polite bow, her parting gesture. After the farewell, Isaac grows more distant from the mansion, but Rihanna remains there, unmoving and still bowed. ¡°Unnie, about the workers inside¡ª¡± Edel, the youngest sibling tasked with administrative work for the mansion¡¯s reconstruction, approaches but stops in his tracks. ¡°...¡± Droplets of tears fall onto the dust-covered floor. ¡®Unnie¡­¡¯ Edel steps away quietly. Everyone needs their time to grieve. **** ¡°Hey!¡± A sudden smack on the back sends Isaac stumbling forward as Silverna makes her appearance. ¡°Ugh?!¡± Startled, Isaac quickly sets aside the bittersweet feelings lingering from his conversation with Rihanna. ¡°Silverna, you were here?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been helping out the townspeople nearby.¡± Even the villages around Helmut were busy. While they weren¡¯t as severely damaged as the mansion, cleanup was still necessary. The knights of Helmut were down there assisting people rather than working on the mansion. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan¡ªare you staying a bit longer, or should we head out now?¡± At Isaac¡¯s question, Silverna hesitates briefly, looking around awkwardly before changing the subject. ¡°What about Sharen? Didn¡¯t she say she was coming with you?¡± ¡°She¡¯s staying here until things settle down, then she¡¯ll come on her own. She has her own responsibilities, after all.¡± She lost both her mother and now her father. Though she laughs bravely, insisting she¡¯s already overcome this once¡ª ¡®She¡¯s just putting up a front.¡¯ Of course, there was a shadow hidden behind that smile. Even so, since she said she¡¯d overcome it herself, Isaac didn¡¯t bother comforting her. He knew that Sharen would surely overcome it again and grow from the experience. ¡°I¡¯m heading straight to Evergarde. Even if no one says it, I¡¯m pretty sure they don¡¯t want me hanging around here.¡± There was a valid reason for it, and even if Arandel had wanted it that way¡­ After all, how can people be driven solely by logic? Besides, Isaac is no longer part of Helmut. The knights of Helmut can¡¯t be expected to look kindly on him. ¡®Wanted to at least greet Jonathan.¡¯ Word is, he left to escort some supplies from outside. ¡°Here¡¯s the thing, Isaac.¡± Silverna scratched her cheek as if embarrassed, then let out a sigh and confessed honestly. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of heading back up north.¡± ¡°¡­Already?¡± ¡°Even if the Transcendents seem to have lost their momentum, it¡¯s not like they¡¯re going to just give up, right?¡± Exactly. They would never give up. ¡°I¡¯m going to head north and prepare to hold them back.¡± ¡°¡­All right.¡± In the previous life, the moment the north fell, the Transcendents began an even fiercer onslaught. For them, the Malidan Barrier to the north must be quite the thorn in their side. ¡®This time will be different.¡¯ If the Malidan Barrier is ready for the Transcendents, unlike the sudden invasion back then¡­ the outcome is bound to change. ¡°So, Isaac, I guess this is goodbye for now.¡± ¡°Seems so.¡± A breeze blew past. As Silverna¡¯s hair fluttered, Isaac reached out to cover her cheek, which had turned red out of embarrassment. ¡°Well, we already said our farewells once before because of the Sword Festival, so it¡¯s not too awkward, right?¡± ¡°Judging by how chatty you¡¯re getting, you seem pretty awkward to me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Silverna pursed her lips. Isaac had tried to make light of the situation because he didn¡¯t want their parting to feel heavy, but¡­ clearly, it didn¡¯t produce the best result. ¡°Was my line that bad?¡± ¡°It felt like you were treating our goodbye too lightly.¡± ¡°¡­Sorry. Bear with me.¡± He¡¯d just finished saying goodbye to Rihanna, and hearing that Silverna was leaving too had him feeling off-balance. Silverna stared intently at Isaac, who was apologizing sheepishly, then suddenly rushed in for a hug. ¡°Out of nowhere?¡± ¡°What¡¯s with the lukewarm reaction?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re a married man, right? Tch. We won¡¯t see each other for a while, so this much is okay.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± They embraced. A bond of friendship, and a bit of affection. They stood together somewhere in between. ¡°But you know¡­¡± ¡°...¡± Suddenly, Silverna whispered softly into his ear. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°Know what?¡± ¡°That¡­they¡¯d get bigger.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He¡¯d been trying not to think about it, but because of her remark, he couldn¡¯t help noticing the feel of those two large mounds pressing against his chest even more. ¡°You told me, remember? That they¡¯d grow, so I shouldn¡¯t wear a binder and just get used to it, because soon I wouldn¡¯t be able to wear one anyway.¡± ¡°Y-Yeah, I did say that.¡± ¡°You were right. They got a bit bigger.¡± Isaac tried to pry her off, but he still wasn¡¯t strong enough to overpower Silverna. ¡°How about letting go now? Is this how you want our goodbye to be?¡± ¡°That might be a problem.¡± Nodding, Silverna slowly released her hold. The moment she stepped back, Isaac felt a special sensation brush against his cheek. ¡°¡­?!¡± Startled, Isaac reflexively touched his cheek, and Silverna gave him a playful wink. ¡°At least now you¡¯ll remember something besides my chest, right?¡± Though she was trying to act nonchalant, her face was as red as Helmut hair. Her gaze was unfocused, and her finger, pointing in Isaac¡¯s direction, trembled¡ªshe was clearly embarrassed. ¡°If it¡¯s so embarrassing, why even do it?¡± Isaac sighed and retorted. Silverna hesitated for a moment, then¡ª ¡°Squeak, squeak?!¡± ¡ªshe tried to gloss over it with a cute little act. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 81: Baron Logan ¡°Baron Logan, another fine morning to you.¡± ¡°Mm, good morning.¡± ¡°Have you been swinging your sword since dawn again? I¡¯ll fetch some water for you to wash.¡± About two months had passed. Isaac, who had been practicing his sword in the courtyard of his estate since early morning, greeted the arriving maid, Karen, with a somewhat sheepish smile. He still felt awkward being addressed as ¡°Baron Logan.¡± Watching the maid disappear inside, he naturally took in the sight of the estate. Compared to Helmut, it was too modest even to be called a mansion, but for Isaac alone, it was more than sufficient. It was a clear indication of how much Princess Clarice was trying to treat Isaac with care. ¡°Phew.¡± Morning training was no longer a choice but a necessity. In fact, on days he skipped, his body would feel stiff. Isaac wanted to continue honing his breathing and swordsmanship every single day. Some asked if it wasn¡¯t too strenuous to do this every day. But swordsmanship is all about accumulation. Even one day spent standing still felt like a waste. He had been given a new opportunity. He had seen the swords of countless formidable foes. Isaac wanted to seize this chance no matter what, to push himself to the very edge of his capabilities. Finishing his morning training, Isaac washed with the water Karen had prepared, then sat at the dining table. He couldn¡¯t help but smile at the simple meal laid out before him. ¡°Thanks, Karen.¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s nice to see you enjoying it.¡± Karen smiled before heading off to her other chores. At first, Karen had been flustered by how politely Isaac treated her. She insisted he needn¡¯t bother being so formal with her¡ªthat she was just doing her job. But Isaac couldn¡¯t help himself. He wanted to treat her as well as he could. He, too, was once a commoner, so he offered that as a half-truth. But the real reason was¡­ He wanted to do this. For someone else, once upon a time. A place had been prepared. But the person was gone. ¡®I should go pay my respects today.¡¯ ¡®This morning, for some reason, I miss your voice so much, Milli.¡¯ **** Having a residence in Evergarde, the capital, was certainly convenient. There was a dedicated training hall, it was easy to go for a memorial visit, and most goods could be acquired without hassle. Especially the forges here were remarkable. The North¡¯s prickly blacksmith, Antonio, would blow a gasket if he heard, but¡­ Here, not only were the blacksmiths highly skilled, but their equipment was state-of-the-art. They weren¡¯t just crafting practical items for the front lines; they also produced noble ornaments. So the concept of a ¡°blade¡¯s form¡± was more readily accepted, and the craftsmanship was excellent. The one drawback was speed. It was impossible to match the pace of someone like Antonio, who was constantly being hounded on the front lines. After placing a custom order at a forge and visiting Milli¡¯s grave, Isaac was on his way back when he noticed a man standing in front of the estate and let out a hollow laugh. ¡°Sir Heyrad. You¡¯ve come again.¡± ¡°Isaac-nim, please, you have to do something. The court etiquette instructor is threatening to kill me for postponing again today.¡± ¡°Hmm, there¡¯s not much I can do about that.¡± ¡°Ha, you say that, but she keeps running off on her own every day¡­¡± Stepping past the sighing Sir Heyrad, Isaac entered the estate. In the garden stood Princess Clarice and the Grandmaster, who was hiding her ears beneath a wide-brimmed hat, casually looking around. ¡°Isaac! Where did you go?¡± Sniff sniff ¡°Ah, a grave, was it? I can smell the incense on you.¡± Princess Clarice and the Grandmaster. ¡°You could have told me you were going. I would¡¯ve waited.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t a planned visit.¡± ¡°There was nowhere else to hide, so I ended up coming here.¡± Karen, the maid, quickly brought out some tea. It was an embarrassingly small garden, with a tiny table and a few chairs tucked in one corner. The three headed over and continued their conversation as they took their seats. ¡°Sir Heyrad begged me to persuade you, Princess Clarice, to stop wandering around like this.¡± ¡°Wandering? Ha, Heyrad is so annoyingly by-the-book. That¡¯s the problem with knights sometimes.¡± Princess Clarice grumbled as she took a seat. ¡°Don¡¯t you think so? Does it really look like I¡¯m just goofing off? What I¡¯m doing has a major impact on state affairs.¡± ¡®That side of her personality hasn¡¯t changed.¡¯ Taking the tea kettle from Karen, who seemed hesitant to pour tea for a royal, Isaac filled the princess¡¯ cup. Surprised, Karen bowed and discreetly stepped away. ¡°¡­What¡¯s this? Are you trying to charm the maid too?¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± At Princess Clarice¡¯s remark, the Grandmaster beside her laughed and popped a pastry into her mouth, amused by the princess¡¯ wording. Isaac poured the tea and sighed. ¡°Charm her? I¡¯m not doing anything of the sort.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly the problem with you, Isaac. If you look that handsome, you should carry yourself more cautiously. A woman who falls in love turns into a fool, you know?¡± ¡°¡­¡± S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was hard to argue with that. The Grandmaster smirked as she picked up another pastry. ¡°Now that you¡¯re officially a baron, aren¡¯t you getting your fair share of marriage proposals?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± She wasn¡¯t wrong. He was now a free man. Isaac had become a hot topic in social circles. He was the one who had personally defeated Arandel Helmut. He was considered a cornerstone of the next generation and also had a connection to the princess. Moreover, his achievements during the Great Den were once again being highlighted. From the perspective of other nobles, Isaac was like a ripe and promising fruit. In the past, nobody would have dared approach him because of Helmut¡¯s influence. But now that Helmut¡¯s power had waned, some nobles were starting to show interest in Isaac. ¡°Being in the capital means more rumors and more eyes on you. That¡¯s why I said I¡¯d give you your own domain, rather than just granting you a nominal title.¡± ¡°No thanks. I¡¯m not worthy of that.¡± There had been an offer to grant him land, but Isaac had declined. He didn¡¯t want to become a lofty noble; he just wanted to be a swordsman. ¡°And as for marriage¡­ I don¡¯t intend to.¡± Marriage. He had no interest in it. He had various reasons, but ultimately, he had no intention of going through with it. ¡°Is that so? Actually, I¡¯m also looking at potential marriages for myself lately. It¡¯s a very powerful political move, so I might as well use it while I can,¡± Princess Clarice said in a rather nonchalant tone¡ªlike she was talking about someone else¡¯s marriage, not her own. ¡°Even though it looks peaceful right now, I know it won¡¯t last long.¡± In truth, a fierce, behind-the-scenes clash with the Transcendents was already underway. Unlike Isaac¡¯s previous life, the Transcendents hadn¡¯t risen up all across the country immediately after Arandel¡¯s death. But they were unquestionably lying in wait. ¡°That¡¯s why everything needs to be settled properly now. We can¡¯t afford to be internally shaken by some succession dispute.¡± At the princess¡¯ calm words, the other two offered pained smiles. The statement she had just made was precisely why Princess Clarice had been behaving this way. Currently, the Kingdom of Albion had only two princesses: The elder, Adeline Seraphia Regardia, -and the younger, Clarice Evangel Regardia. The Regardia royal family was essentially divided into two factions. There was no prince in the royal family, and since the current king could no longer produce an heir, unless something drastic happened, the throne would eventually pass to one of the princesses. ¡°I need to prevent nobles who dislike my sister or view her unfavorably from flocking to me. Honestly, I think it¡¯d be best if I just married off to another kingdom.¡± With the shadow war against the Transcendents raging on, Princess Clarice sought to firmly establish royal authority and unify the nobles by narrowing down the line of succession ahead of time. She would accomplish this by giving up her own claim. ¡°Oh, right¡ªIsaac. There¡¯s a party tomorrow evening. I was going to send you an invitation, but since you¡¯re here, I¡¯ll just tell you directly.¡± With that, Princess Clarice smoothly shifted away from the heavy topic. A sudden party invitation? ¡°Well, we don¡¯t know who might suddenly side with the Transcendents. My sister said it¡¯s basically to keep the nobles in line,¡± she explained. ¡°Does that include me?¡± ¡°No, no. It¡¯s because the person you¡¯re looking for might show up.¡± ¡°The person I¡¯m looking for?¡± ¡°Baron Bolten.¡± A smile tugged at Princess Clarice¡¯s lips. The Grandmaster cocked her head, not understanding what Clarice meant. But Isaac¡¯s eyes slowly widened, and he nodded without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± Bolten. A lawless place that was practically abandoned, a territory where most people were looked down upon wherever they went. There was an old saying telling travelers to avoid Bolten¡¯s back alleys at all costs, and not without reason. And that place was¡ª Milli¡¯s hometown. There might still be hope. Milli had said her family disappeared after getting caught up in the Bolten revolution. Isaac still clung to the slim chance of finding them. If, by some miracle, they were alive, he wanted them to at least have the chance to pay their respects to Milli. ¡°All right. But be careful. Baron Bolten rose to his rank by quelling that revolution¡ªso, like you, he obtained his title through sheer ability.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Surviving in a place as brutal as Bolten proves he¡¯s got some real grit. Don¡¯t take him lightly¡ª¡± Just then, Princess Clarice cut herself off and let out an incredulous laugh. ¡°Wait a second, who am I even talking to here?¡± A wry smile aimed at herself¡­ then a grin of trust directed at Isaac. ¡°After all, you¡¯re the one who survived Helmut.¡± ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 82: Banquet ¡°Hmm.¡± In front of the wardrobe. Isaac was deep in thought. He had nothing suitable to wear to the banquet being held today. Even though he had gone to such events a few times back when he was the live-in son-in-law of Helmut, and he did own some fairly expensive formal uniforms¡­ ¡®I should¡¯ve just set aside at least one outfit instead of letting my pride get in the way.¡¯ When he left Helmut, he left everything behind. Given that he didn¡¯t leave on good terms, it would¡¯ve been odd to take things he had received there. ¡®The outfit I wore to the ennoblement ceremony¡­.¡¯ He thought about wearing that again, but it was far too lavish. At the ennoblement ceremony, he had been the main focus, so dressing extravagantly was a form of courtesy. This time, though, he wasn¡¯t the star of the show, nor was he entering under any grand title. ¡®Haah, this is problematic.¡¯ They say that nobles who¡¯ve run out of money grovel before wealthy commoners. Right now, that was exactly his situation. While he was agonizing over the awkwardness of it all, there was a knock on the door from outside the dressing room. ¡°Baron, Her Highness the Princess sent you some clothes.¡± ¡°Clothes?¡± When Isaac opened the door, he found Karen politely smiling as she explained. ¡°Yes, something for you to wear at tonight¡¯s banquet.¡± ¡°Why would the Princess send me clothes?¡± ¡°What do you mean, ¡®why?¡¯¡± Karen beamed as she clarified. ¡°You¡¯re Her Highness¡¯s partner, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­Me?¡± ¡°Yes, you, Baron.¡± Imagine that¡ªa mere baron being invited as the Princess¡¯ partner. ¡®She really does have me dancing in the palm of her hand.¡¯ But it wasn¡¯t so bad. He was spared the trouble of choosing an outfit, and since it was something the Princess herself had sent, he¡¯d be getting a fancy uniform for free. ¡°Hehe! I¡¯m looking forward to greasing my stomach too, for the first time in ages.¡± Karen smiled cheerfully. She was going along in her capacity as a maid to help out in the banquet hall. As a former court maid in the royal palace, she sometimes went back to lend a hand on these occasions. ¡°Then there¡¯s no need for you to come in to work tomorrow.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Isaac, holding the uniform in front of the mirror to check the fit, saw Karen stare blankly at him. Still facing the mirror, he added: ¡°I¡¯m saying you can drink if you want. You¡¯re friends with some of the royal court maids, right? Go catch up with them.¡± ¡°Baron¡ª!¡± Karen looked at Isaac with an expression of deep gratitude, clasping her hands together as if praying in reverence. ¡°If only there were more people like you, Baron! I was actually worried when I got assigned to you, but¡­ I¡¯m so thankful!¡± ¡°Worried? Why?¡± When Isaac glanced at her, Karen confessed bashfully: ¡°Because I¡¯m actually engaged. My fianc¨¦ went ballistic when he heard I¡¯d be working alone under a handsome baron.¡± ¡°¡­Well then, make sure you tell him. Let him know I¡¯m not that kind of person.¡± ¡°Right! I Karen! In my humble capacity! I will serve you faithfully until the day I die!¡± ¡°No need for that. Now go on and get out.¡± He needed to change clothes and check his size. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Understood!¡± ¡°Oh, one more thing.¡± Just as Karen was stepping out, Isaac offered a small but heartfelt piece of advice: ¡°Before you get married, think carefully. Love alone doesn¡¯t solve everything.¡± ¡°¡­Do you really want to say that to a bride-to-be?¡± ¡°Take it from someone who¡¯s been through it.¡± **** A banquet thrown by Princess Adeline Seraphia Regardia, the first in line to the throne, was as dazzling and grand as her name and status implied. She had opened up the palace¡¯s ballroom for the occasion. Clarice had dismissed it as if it were some lighthearted kids¡¯ home party, but it was nowhere near a casual gathering. ¡°Why is it so¡­.¡± As the partner of the banquet¡¯s host, Clarice, Isaac couldn¡¯t just join the event once it was already underway. Traditionally, the hosts made their appearance when the atmosphere was at its peak. So Isaac waited behind the ballroom, adjusting his outfit. ¡°Wow?¡± Clarice entered the room with an admiring sound. ¡°I did send it to you, but it really does look good on you. I¡¯m glad I used expensive dyes to make it that deep black.¡± Matching Isaac¡¯s black uniform, Clarice was dressed in a black gown. Smiling mischievously, she moved in close to tidy his attire. ¡°Your tie¡¯s crooked. You¡¯re not very good at tying these, are you?¡± ¡°Well, you know¡­¡± Isaac was used to a touch like this. But one thing was different¡ªthere wasn¡¯t the faint scent of roses that usually lingered. [¡­The tie.] Whenever he attended banquets as Helmut¡¯s live-in son-in-law, Rihanna often tied his necktie for him like this. She always did it with no discernible change in expression, but at the time, that alone made him unbelievably happy. ¡°Okay, all set. What do you think?¡± ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°I meant, what do you think of me?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Clarice stepped back with a playful smile. Dressed in an elegant black gown, her hair neatly styled, she looked so different from the woman Isaac had seen in the city streets that one would question if she was even the same person. Indeed, a woman truly shines when she adorns herself. ¡°You look very much like a princess.¡± ¡°Is that a compliment, or a sneer that I haven¡¯t been very princess-like until now?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Isaac withheld an answer. Clarice, pouting slightly, merely grumbled without pressing further. ¡°More importantly, are you sure it¡¯s okay for you to choose me as your partner?¡± After all, he was a divorced man. If a princess takes someone like him as a partner, it won¡¯t earn her the best public opinion. On top of that, rumors could spread that she was openly opposing Helmut. ¡°It¡¯s a matter of mutual benefit,¡± Clarice said apologetically with a shy smile. ¡°People see me as a complete troublemaking princess. Because you happen to have a handsome face, they¡¯ll say I¡¯ve fallen for looks¡ªa frivolous girl enamored by a pretty face.¡± ¡°For the sake of the royal family?¡± ¡°Yes. I have to funnel all the power to my older sister. Adeline Seraphia Regardia.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± Realizing her intention, Isaac nodded. ¡°In turn, some nobles already look down on me for breaking away from Helmut. By showing them I have the princess behind me, I won¡¯t have to pay any attention to their opinions, right?¡± ¡°Exactly! Hey, Isaac, ever consider being my bodyguard? It¡¯d be way¡ªway¡ªeasier to talk with you than it is with Heyrad.¡± He pretended not to hear that. At least he understood the princess¡¯ intentions. Because Helmut was so prominent, many families closely tied to them existed as well. Some of those families disdained Isaac, blaming him for tarnishing Helmut¡¯s prestige. But if he once again made it clear that he had Clarice behind him, he wouldn¡¯t need to worry about how they looked at him. ¡°Have you attended many banquets before?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve gone to a few with Rihanna.¡± ¡°Which means¡­ basically next to none.¡± She wasn¡¯t wrong. Back then, Isaac was like a puppy tagging along at Rihanna¡¯s heels. He had never attempted to join nobles¡¯ conversations or decipher the hidden meanings they exchanged behind polite facades. ¡°Banquets like this are essentially showcases. It¡¯s all about displaying who you are¡ªhow exceptional you can be¡ªthrough your attire, your speech, your manners.¡± ¡°Are you teaching me to be a noble now?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t always be your partner, can I? Who knows when I¡¯ll get married myself?¡± ¡°¡­Make sure you really think it through before you marry.¡± ¡°That advice hits a little too close to home.¡± Clarice let out a soft laugh. ¡°Do you know what¡¯s the most precious thing people like to show off¡ªand also the biggest target of envy and jealousy?¡± She slyly extended her hand. Catching the cue to escort her, Isaac gently took her hand in his. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°A partner. Isaac, give me the honor of being partnered with the banquet¡¯s most handsome man.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°And in return, I¡¯ll give you the honor of having the most noble lady as your partner.¡± They locked eyes, each with a subtle lift of the corners of their lips. The atmosphere between them was more mischievous, like two childhood friends roaming country lanes, than the tension of a man and woman at a high-society function. Step by step, they headed out to collect all the envy and jealousy the banquet hall had to offer. She had accompanied Clarice here, but aside from sampling the food, there wasn¡¯t much she cared to do, nor much she was able to do. She only wanted to remove the awkward hat that was supposedly concealing her ears as soon as possible. ¡®And I wonder where my fellow disciples are¡­¡¯ She knew Princess Clarice was doing her best to track them down. But two months had passed with no news, leaving her to wait in vain. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± Her eyelids grew heavy. She found herself drifting naturally into old memories¡ªones she had revisited more times than she cared to count. The same sequence, the same well-worn path. Those days when they all lived together, wielded swords together, and chased their shared goals together. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± She opened her eyes just as the recollections were about to cross into more tragic territory. She had no desire to relive that sorrow in detail. ¡®Pathetic.¡¯ The Grandmaster sneered at herself. She tried to divert her mind by taking another bite of food, hoping to think of something else. Just then, she heard a name she recognized. ¡°Baron Logan even said it¡¯s fine for you to drink alcohol?¡± ¡°So Karen has the day off tomorrow? I¡¯m so jealous!¡± ¡°Hehe, feels like just yesterday you were crying your eyes out about leaving the palace. Turns out it was the best thing you ever did.¡± ¡®Hmm?¡¯ The woman speaking was Karen, who worked at Isaac¡¯s estate. She was a former palace maid, and it looked like she¡¯d found a moment to chat with her old colleagues while helping out tonight. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m envious. The Baron is obviously super handsome¡ªyou can tell just by the sparkle in his eyes.¡± ¡°Please get me a job there too! I¡¯d even be happy to be the Baron¡¯s doormat.¡± ¡°When Karen left, we all said how pitiful it was¡­but look at her now, living her best life.¡± ¡®Huh, so he¡¯s pretty popular, is he?¡¯ The Grandmaster found it amusing. Maids often spent sleepless nights chattering about rumors and men, so that part wasn¡¯t surprising. But it seemed Isaac was quite well thought of. ¡®So the divorce doesn¡¯t bother them?¡¯ She doubted that was the whole story. ¡°But Baron Logan is divorced, right? Doesn¡¯t that mean there¡¯s something wrong with him?¡± One of the maids voiced her concern, but Karen snapped back immediately: ¡°Hold on, our Baron isn¡¯t like that at all! Honestly, I wonder why she ever let a man like that get away.¡± ¡°Who cares if he¡¯s divorced? If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t care at all. I¡¯d be like, ¡®Come here right now!¡¯¡± ¡°You¡¯re nuts!¡± They burst into laughter, giggling as if they were reading a romance novel. Each of them had her own little fantasy. ¡°Come on, isn¡¯t it kind of nice? Comforting the wounded Baron in your arms while whispering, ¡®It¡¯s all right. I¡¯m here for you.¡¯¡± ¡°Kyaa! The drama! Mongblin, how about you try writing a novel?¡± ¡°You know how it¡¯d go: The Baron says, ¡®Mongblin, I just¡­ can¡¯t trust women anymore.¡¯ Then I¡¯d say, ¡®I¡¯ll stay at your side for as long as you need me.¡¯ And then I¡¯d hold him close¡ª!¡± ¡®¡­That maid certainly has a vivid imagination.¡¯ Mongblin was twisting her body dramatically as she spun out her daydream. Another maid chimed in with a different fantasy: ¡°Ooh, I prefer something else¡ªlike the Baron actually has a rough side at night.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Yeah, something forceful. That can be fun too, right?¡± ¡°Suddenly he summons you to his bedroom and orders you to strip. And then he forces you¡ª!¡± ¡°Oh my goodness, Baron! Please, no! But secretly I¡¯m thinking: Hurry up and undress me! Let¡¯s get started!¡± Their squeals and guffaws filled the corner of the banquet hall. ¡®Ugh, I can¡¯t listen to this anymore.¡¯ The Grandmaster was about to walk away when Karen¡¯s sharp voice stopped her in her tracks. ¡°No, absolutely not. The Baron would never do something like that. He¡¯s so nice, so considerate. I feel touched every time he thanks me for preparing his meals.¡± ¡°I suppose he would do that.¡± ¡°I mean, I was stunned when I heard Helmut¡¯s eldest daughter was marrying a commoner, but¡ª¡± ¡°That just shows what kind of man he must be.¡± The maids calmed down as they realized how carried away they¡¯d been, and they began to return to their duties. Right then, the banquet hall suddenly grew quiet, all eyes turning toward a pair entering. Baron Logan, escorting Princess Clarice. Both dressed in matching black attire. Their combined presence dominated the entire ballroom with their striking looks. ¡°Huh, I can see why¡­¡± Smiling faintly, the Grandmaster found herself understanding the maids¡¯ excitement all too well. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 83: Banquet Hall The banquet proceeded smoothly. If anyone were to pick the most dazzling pair in the banquet hall, it would have been Princess Clarice and Isaac. From the moment they first appeared, their striking looks drew everyone¡¯s attention. But soon after, they were naturally overshadowed by the eldest daughter, Adeline, who made her entrance shortly afterward. ¡°Look at them¡ªevery single one is just here to curry favor with my sister, aren¡¯t they?¡± Princess Clarice smiled, holding a wine glass in her hand. Because the purpose of the banquet itself was to keep the nobles in check¡ªessentially to strengthen ties with them¡ªmost of the attention was inevitably focused on Princess Adeline. ¡°I¡¯ll just stay here and enjoy my drink. Isaac, go do what you need to do.¡± ¡°Then, I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± ¡°Make sure you come back when it¡¯s time to dance, alright?¡± Isaac headed to a corner of the banquet hall. There, a stout man with a slight paunch was drinking while wearing a formal military uniform that did not suit him in the least. His name was Drian Belfort, the man who ruled Bolten¡ªa place practically lawless. At a glance, Baron Bolten exuded the aura of a bold leader. Perhaps it was the skill he showed in putting down the so-called ¡°Bolten Revolution,¡± when the underworld gangs lurking in Bolten¡¯s shadows all rose in open rebellion. He gave off a heavy, raw energy¡ªsomething rarely seen in an ordinary knight. He was more like a hunting dog craning its neck in search of prey than a guest at a lavish banquet. Frankly, he did not seem to fit the atmosphere of a royal banquet at all. Baron Bolten looked at Isaac briefly as he approached and remarked: ¡°Well, at least I can actually hold a conversation with you.¡± With a faint curve of his lips, he welcomed Isaac. It seemed there was some sense of camaraderie between those who had risen from commoner status to nobility. ¡°I am Baron Logan.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of you. I¡¯m Baron Bolten. Think of me as the kingdom¡¯s janitor, cleaning up its back alleys.¡± It must have been a bit of humor, as Baron Bolten laughed and offered him a wineglass. Accepting it, Isaac took a graceful sip and steered the conversation naturally. ¡°How is Bolten doing?¡± ¡°Are you thinking of traveling there? I¡¯ll warn you now¡ªif you¡¯re not planning on drugs or gambling, there¡¯s no reason to come.¡± ¡°But aren¡¯t you the one governing the place, Baron? I¡¯ve heard that after the revolution, things improved somewhat.¡± ¡°A cesspool is a cesspool, no matter how much you clean it.¡± Perhaps discussing Bolten put him in a sour mood; Baron Bolten deliberately took a sip of his wine. ¡®This man won¡¯t be swayed by flattery,¡¯ Isaac thought. So he decided to speak plainly. ¡°The truth is, there are people I¡¯m looking for in Bolten. They¡¯re family members of a close friend of mine. After the revolution, they went missing¡ª¡± ¡°They¡¯re probably dead.¡± His tone and gaze were unyielding. Those gray eyes seemed to urge Isaac not to deny the truth. ¡°Do you know why it¡¯s called a ¡®revolution¡¯ and not a ¡®rebellion¡¯ in Bolten?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Because the citizens overturned the uprising themselves, right?¡± ¡°Exactly. They reclaimed their freedom under the kingdom¡¯s protection. That¡¯s why it¡¯s referred to as a revolution.¡± Bolten experienced both a ¡°rebellion¡± and a ¡°revolution.¡± The underworld faction seized Bolten in a one-sided takeover¡ªthat was the rebellion. Afterwards, Baron Bolten led the citizens to take it back, and that was the revolution. Some nobles insisted that, since it was technically royal territory, it was more of a ¡°restoration¡± than a revolution. Nevertheless, most people refer to that chain of events as the Bolten Revolution. It was a historic triumph achieved by the citizens¡¯ collective will and under the kingdom¡¯s protection. The word ¡°revolution¡± is, in a way, a term that heightens the drama of that moment. ¡°Many people died. Even if they weren¡¯t in the rubble at the time, if they¡¯ve been missing until now, it¡¯s probably safe to assume they¡¯re dead.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite certain.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve witnessed enough death to know.¡± Baron Bolten spoke with all the firmness of someone who has seen it firsthand. Baron Bolten spoke calmly. He still had the look of someone wading through piles of rubble, battling rebel forces as if the fight were ongoing. ¡°Well, if Baron Logan truly wants to look for them, I can¡¯t say it¡¯s impossible. Just set a time and come find me.¡± He spoke with a carefree tone. Right then, a piercing shriek rang out from the banquet hall¡¯s entrance. Blood splattered in a manner most unfitting for a banquet. At the forefront stood a faceless squad. They were literally formed of semi-translucent, bluish mana, wielding swords and spears likewise made of that same mana. They pushed their way into the hall¡ª ¡ªand marched straight toward Princess Adeline with unnerving focus. The guards rushed to respond, but given that it happened in an instant, a proper defense was impossible. ¡°Ah.¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the head of the assault was a swordsman like blue phantom, dashing toward Princess Adeline. Cutting down other nobles along the way, he reached her in the blink of an eye, blue longsword poised to strike¡ª Bpaak! He was abruptly kicked aside and sent hurtling away. It was Isaac, who¡ªsince he was already wearing his formal uniform as part of the banquet¡ªcould quickly intervene without drawing suspicion. ¡°Princess, are you alright?¡± ¡°Baron Logan¡­!¡± Princess Adeline hesitated a moment, watching Isaac stand protectively in front of her. ¡°Who are these people? Or what are they? Is this some sort of ritual by the Transcendent race?¡± ¡°¡­I can¡¯t say for sure.¡± He sensed mana emanating from them, whereas the Transcendent race does not manipulate mana. The swordsman of blue phantoms readied his stance again, clearly intending to cut down both Isaac and Princess Adeline at once. He gripped his longsword in both hands and slashed diagonally. At that moment, Isaac swiftly scooped Princess Adeline into his arms, dodging to the side. ¡°Kyaa?!¡± ¡°¡ªUng! Fuck!...¡± The blue phantom swordsman, not realizing his move had been anticipated, spat curses as though their evasion was pure luck. ¡®He¡¯s conscious¡­¡¯ Isaac noted. The swordsman tried to swing again. But since he had already made two attempts on a royal princess¡¯ life, that was more than enough leniency granted. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re¡ª!¡± Mana scattered across the banquet hall like sparks, causing the bluish phantom warriors to disperse one by one like smoke. It took only seconds to subdue them. Naturally, the one responsible was¡ª ¡°Don¡¯t you dare toy with us¡ª!¡± ¡ªthe Grandmaster, wielding a massive blade. She moved with breathtaking speed. She rushed forward as if turning a waterwheel, and with a few swings, the intruders were cut in half in an instant. The final swordsman failed to withstand even a single blow from the Grandmaster, and vanished. ¡°¡ªKheh! Don¡¯t cower!¡± Yet even as he faded into nothingness, bisected, he left behind a mocking laugh and a taunt: ¡°¡ªI had a good time. See you around.¡± **** A few hours later¡­ The once-resplendent banquet hall was in chaos, and only a handful of people remained. ¡°What they used is something called an ¡®incorporeal summons¡¯¡ªa type of magic.¡± A mage from the Mage Tower surveyed the aftermath and gave that explanation. ¡°But it¡¯s a defunct spell. Ever since artifacts for long-distance communication were developed, there was no need for it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s difficult to handle, the setup is quite complex, and it can only maintain a form¡ªit doesn¡¯t have real mass. Normally, it shouldn¡¯t be able to harm anyone.¡± Hearing this, Clarice let out a dry laugh. ¡°So, to summarize¡ª¡± Standing at the center of the banquet hall, she pointed to the entrance. ¡°Without any warning from the outside, suddenly around twenty soldiers just showed up at the entrance.¡± She could only sigh. After all the security measures taken for today¡¯s banquet¡­ what good had they done? Security outside was indeed thorough. However, no one could have expected that assassins would simply drop in at the banquet hall entrance. They strode into the hall so boldly that it left everyone stunned. ¡°So you¡¯re saying those people used some ancient, outdated magic that supposedly couldn¡¯t even harm anyone because it was originally just for simple communication?¡± Clarice clutched her throbbing head, her expression tense and complicated. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then there¡¯s no telling where they might suddenly appear next, right?¡± They had ignored all that tight security and waltzed right into the banquet hall, creating chaos. If you¡¯re not guarding someone around the clock, it¡¯s too easy for things like this to happen again. ¡°They probably can¡¯t do it that easily. The Mage Tower magicians will do everything they can to figure out exactly how they got in.¡± These magicians, bound by contract to protect the royal palace, were determined to prove their worth. Otherwise, they¡¯d face serious repercussions under the terms of their agreement. ¡°That bunch¡­ They¡¯re the ones you mentioned before, right?¡± Clarice asked, and the Grandmaster nodded. ¡°They¡¯re the so-called ¡®Patrons¡¯ who abandoned humanity and sided with the Transcendent race. They used this ¡®incorporeal summon¡¯ method when they contacted me.¡± She added that she had no idea it could be used for terror attacks in such a manner. Even so, her expression was far from pleasant. ¡°They¡¯re rats¡ªutterly fixated on hiding themselves, which makes them hard to find.¡± Adeline spoke as well: ¡°It felt like they were taunting us. Like they were saying, ¡®Catch us if you can.¡¯¡± She could still hear that mocking voice ringing in her ears, laughing about how they had ¡°enjoyed themselves¡± here. They had invaded the royal palace as if strolling into their own living room. And they pulled off this entire stunt without suffering a single loss. They had to be found. Yet the only trace left behind was mana, already fading like scattered dust. With this new threat looming over the palace, everyone was on edge¡ª ¡°Considering how he gripped the hilt, we can approximate the length of the handle.¡± Amid the tense silence, Isaac suddenly spoke. ¡°The blade length was about 140 centimeters¡ªquite long, even for a longsword. On the other hand, his footwork was light rather than weighty, suggesting he wasn¡¯t a knight, so if we hypothesize¡ª¡± ¡°¡­Hmm?¡± Clarice tilted her head, looking at Isaac. Others did the same, puzzled about what he was getting at, but Isaac, lost in thought, kept talking as if under a spell: ¡°His movements were agile, and his swings fluid. Every strike had a feint woven into it. The slightly diagonal downward slash and psychological plays are characteristic of southern swordsmanship. Thanks to the hot climate, they typically dress lightly and train in a dance-like manner; some even call it ¡®playful swordsmanship.¡¯ But for a Southerner, using a longsword is unusual. As far as I know, any southern noble families using longswords are actually knights. Yet his fighting style was not that of a knight. My guess is that he might be a second or third son of a noble house who broke away and became a wandering knight. Wandering knights typically base their style on their family¡¯s swordsmanship, then adapt it by picking up bits and pieces from elsewhere. That explains why his technique had so many extra feints that it felt almost crude, even for southern swordsmanship. As for the ones who came behind him, at least one was using Caldias spear techniques. While northern spearwork is famous for its versatility and is fairly well-known, it¡¯s not something that would just casually spread all the way south¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Everyone stared at Isaac in silence. Eventually, he arrived at his conclusion and smiled pleasantly¡ªalmost cheerfully. ¡°Let¡¯s look for a mercenary company. A group with diverse backgrounds, including a southern noble family that uses longswords. That¡¯s probably who these people are.¡± Clarice, having listened in a daze, clapped her hands without thinking. ¡°I saw that report about how you deduced Blackthorn was a traitor by observing the Transcendent race¡¯s swordsmanship in the North, and to be honest, I thought it was exaggerated.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Clearly, it was the truth.¡± One could see plainly now¡ªhe hadn¡¯t just learned swordsmanship from books. ***** ¡°Let¡¯s look for a mercenary company. A group with diverse backgrounds, including a southern noble family that uses longswords. That¡¯s probably who these people are.¡± ¡°¡­¡± A gentle smile and a bright voice that only enhanced his already striking looks¡­ Plus the know-how to track down the real culprits just by analyzing a few clashes, and the martial skill to protect her first when danger struck¡­ There was no denying this was the very person who cut down the era of Helmut and opened a new horizon for the kingdom. ¡°Ah.¡± It was strange. Adeline found it impossible to tear her gaze away from Baron Logan, also known as Isaac. In the end¡ª She hid behind her younger sister, who was making a fuss about getting started on the search right away, and whispered to one of her attendants: ¡°Please inform Baron Logan.¡± She spoke softly: ¡°Have him come by tonight, for a little while.¡± ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 84: The Impenetrable Handsome Man ¡°Hoo.¡± The terrace of the banquet hall. Normally, smoking here would be prohibited, but given the circumstances, Grandmaster was holding a cigarette in her mouth. ¡°It¡¯s beyond what I imagined.¡± With Isaac at her side, she mumbled in true amazement. The deductive reasoning he showed just now had reached a realm far beyond mere sharp observation. ¡°I always thought your knowledge of the sword was as vast as a great mountain. The fact that you¡¯ve never hit a wall in your training speaks to that. But seeing it in person far exceeded my expectations.¡± ¡°¡­You mean I¡¯ve never hit a wall?¡± Isaac covered his nose. Seeing this, Grandmaster blew out a puff of smoke and, feeling embarrassed, put out her cigarette. ¡°You¡¯re really giving me the hint outright.¡± ¡°Please quit. It¡¯s harmful to your health.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not as easy as you think.¡± ¡°I used to smoke in the past as well. You can quit.¡± ¡°Hm? Remarkable.¡± She had quit it too. Once upon a time, they both smoked together, but upon seeing Isaac quit, Grandmaster also stopped smoking cigarettes. ¡°There¡¯s nothing like it to fill the emptiness.¡± ¡®That¡¯s just an excuse.¡¯ Anyway. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®never hitting a wall¡¯?¡± When Isaac asked, Grandmaster, who was regretfully tucking the extinguished cigarette back into her pocket, answered, ¡°Usually, as one grows, their speed of improvement naturally slows down. It¡¯s true not only for swordsmanship but for all studies in the world, is it not?¡± ¡°You could call it a kind of curve. After you pass the initial stage of learning the basic concepts, you move on to more detailed and advanced parts.¡± ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s why swordsmanship is difficult. If you just swing the sword with your body, eventually you¡¯ll hit a wall. That¡¯s when you need knowledge.¡± With a grin, Grandmaster tapped her head ¡®tok tok.¡¯ ¡°In that sense, you have no need for that sort of struggle. You already grasp it in your mind; all that remains is for your body to follow suit. You¡¯ve never really felt like you hit a wall while honing your swordsmanship, have you?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not normal.¡± She wore a smile like a crescent moon. Hearing that his knowledge was a constant source of growth, Isaac felt awkward but tried half-heartedly to deny it. ¡°I just assumed I hadn¡¯t faced a real hurdle yet. After all, I haven¡¯t been using the sword for that long.¡± ¡°If time alone made one a master, all old men would be experts. You¡¯re already at a level where no one would find it strange if your growth slowed.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You might just be¡ª¡± Grandmaster looked at Isaac with keen eyes. As if eyeing a tantalizing fruit, she slowly licked her lips. Isaac had never felt such a gaze from her before. ¡°¡­W-What is it?¡± ¡°Nothing. More importantly, how about we cross swords for the first time in a while? I¡¯m interested in seeing more.¡± ¡°Right now?¡± They were still in the midst of dealing with an assassination attempt. ¡°The princess has arranged a private training hall exclusively for my use. Let¡¯s go there and have a little match.¡± Clearly excited, Grandmaster seemed slightly elated. Isaac followed her, letting out a small laugh. ¡°Please go easy on me. I¡¯d rather not be knocked out in a single hit.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how to hold back.¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Grandmaster and Isaac walked along the corridor, a knight approached them cautiously from the opposite side. ¡°Baron Logan, may I borrow you for a moment?¡± ¡°No.¡± He was on his way to spar with Grandmaster, after all. Unless it was urgent, he wanted to refuse everything else. The knight glanced at Grandmaster before whispering into Isaac¡¯s ear. ¡°Princess Adeline is asking for you.¡± Isaac frowned. He let out a sigh before nodding. ¡°Sorry, we¡¯ll have to postpone our match until tomorrow.¡± ¡°Mmm. As you wish.¡± Isaac then followed the knight to Princess Adeline¡¯s bedchamber. **** Meanwhile, in Princess Clarice¡¯s bedchamber¡­ Having missed out on the spar, Grandmaster clicked her tongue in disappointment and removed her hat. ¡°Hoo¡­ This is frustrating.¡± Even with the princess¡¯ endorsement, opinions of the transcendents were poor, so Grandmaster always kept her ears and tail hidden. Dressed comfortably and stretching before going to sleep was the princess. Her guard, Heyrad, noticed Grandmaster¡¯s arrival and discreetly stepped back. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡± ¡°Mm, Heyrad. Thank you for your hard work.¡± Because of the earlier incident, the guard had been accompanying the princess even in her bedroom. Now that Grandmaster was here, it was time for Heyrad, a male, to leave. ¡°You came back sooner than I expected? I thought you¡¯d talk with Isaac a bit longer.¡± Seated on the bed, the princess stretched her body. She seemed surprisingly carefree, considering there had just been an assassination attempt. ¡°Mm. Princess Adeline called for him, so he just left.¡± Certainly, the knight whispered secretively to Isaac, intending to keep it hidden. However, Grandmaster could easily hear a whisper from that distance. ¡°W-What?!¡± Princess Clarice jumped to her feet. The leisurely atmosphere from just moments ago vanished in an instant as her urgency took hold. ¡°My sister called for him?! W-Wait! No way!¡± ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯ll explain later! I have to go see my sister!¡± *** Adeline Seraphia Regardia Unfortunately, Isaac had never seen her in his past life. She had been assassinated. Because of the chaotic state affairs and the death of her daughter, the current king passed away from shock. Only then did Princess Clarice belatedly inherit the throne. Back then, calling it a kingdom was hardly appropriate. ¡®This is troublesome.¡¯ A woman letting a man into her bedchamber could be considered quite a thrilling situation. Yet Isaac himself was skeptical. ¡®Even so, a princess letting a man she¡¯s just met into her bedroom like this¡­¡¯ Technically, they had met during his baron coronation, but this was the first time they were really speaking. ¡®I¡¯d better keep my wits about me.¡¯ He knocked, and a gentle voice inviting him to enter drifted through the crack in the door. As before, it was a voice that made one feel warm inside. Seated on a sofa in the middle of the room was Princess Adeline. She wore provocative silk nightwear that felt blatantly seductive. The fact that a princess of the realm would greet an outsider in such attire made Isaac all the more tense. ¡°You worked so hard today, Baron Logan. Please, have a seat.¡± Facing her, Isaac took a seat. Smiling, Princess Adeline poured wine into a prepared glass. ¡°Will you keep me company? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to sleep unless I¡¯m at least a bit drunk.¡± ¡°Considering today¡¯s events, it¡¯s understandable.¡± She was a woman who awakened a protective urge in those around her. Even without a drop of alcohol, Isaac felt his heart flutter as if intoxicated. ¡°But wouldn¡¯t it be better to have someone else¡ª¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who protected me.¡± Princess Adeline smiled gently. ¡°Because I was wearing a formal uniform instead of guard attire, they overlooked me.¡± ¡°Even so, it¡¯s true that you protected me.¡± Princess Adeline sipped her drink, smiling with her eyes. Matching her, Isaac also gulped down his wine¡ªstronger than he expected. ¡®Damn.¡¯ He had already had several drinks at the banquet, so handling this stronger liquor was more difficult than expected. Watching Isaac, Princess Adeline smiled softly. ¡°My, you¡¯re weaker to alcohol than I thought?¡± ¡°Ahem, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°No need to apologize. In truth, I¡¯ve heard a few things about you and wanted to chat more in-depth.¡± With a tinge of regret, Princess Adeline whispered, ¡°Any idea why I called for you like this?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°Oh my? Are you really going to make a lady feel bashful?¡± At some point, Princess Adeline had moved to his side. Perhaps while he was momentarily dizzy from the drink, she had crept closer. Her hand settled on Isaac¡¯s thigh. The touch was deft yet sweet¡ªundeniably alluring. ¡°Become mine, Isaac Logan.¡± ¡°Your Highness¡¯ man?¡± ¡°Yes, I beg you. Turbulent times lie ahead. Princess Clarice plans to marry into a foreign land, ceding royal authority to me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m grateful to my sister for her faith in me, but I feel anxious. That¡¯s why I need many trustworthy people by my side.¡± Then, ¡°And you, please stay the closest of all.¡± Isaac kept his lips tightly shut. As if to make him open up, Princess Adeline leaned in even closer, whispering into his ear. ¡°It didn¡¯t work out with Rihanna, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of past you¡¯ve had, but it¡¯s fine. I¡¯m different.¡± Her soft touch eventually drew Isaac in. His cheek brushed her ample cleavage. ¡°Let me be your princess, and yours alone.¡± Truly, it was sweet. A royal princess falling in love at first sight, baring her heart, and healing the hidden wounds of his past. A temptation straight out of a fairytale. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Isaac politely but firmly pushed her away and stood up. ¡°¡­Baron Logan?¡± A startled Princess Adeline looked up at him. In her eyes was a question: what went wrong in this perfect moment? Isaac gave a bitter laugh as he answered, ¡°I suppose the problem is that I don¡¯t need comfort.¡± Clunk! ¡°Sisteeeer!¡± At that moment, Princess Clarice burst into the room in a panic. Gasping for breath as she grasped the situation, she quickly grabbed Isaac by the wrist and pulled him out. ¡°Ah, Isaac is off-limits! He has bigger things to do!¡± ¡°Oh my? And what could be more important than remaining at your sister¡¯s side?¡± ¡®She¡¯s like a different person.¡¯ Was this really the same woman from just moments earlier? The sudden shift in Princess Adeline¡¯s demeanor¡ªso coy yet cutting¡ªwas startling. Now slightly miffed by Isaac¡¯s rejection, she addressed Princess Clarice curtly: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he turned me down just now.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± Princess Adeline let out a sigh and nodded. She then motioned with her hand. ¡°Then could you both leave? Even a princess has some sense of embarrassment, you know.¡± ¡°Ah¡ªyes! Come on, Isaac!¡± With that, Princess Clarice led Isaac out into the hallway. As she watched him leave, Princess Adeline waved a hand in farewell. ¡°See you next time.¡± ¡°¡­Sleep well.¡± ¡°Hurry up, let¡¯s go!¡± Thud. Once the door closed, they passed the knight who had been waiting outside and continued down the corridor. Only then did Princess Clarice finally speak. ¡°My sister¡ªPrincess Adeline¡ªhas an appetite for talent. On top of that, she¡¯s very perceptive when it comes to people.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s part of why I¡¯m willing to yield the throne to her. I¡¯m not particularly good at leading or managing people.¡± After all, being a king or queen isn¡¯t about personally excelling at everything but about governing those who do. ¡°In that sense, my sister really is the better fit to become queen. She recognizes what someone lacks, then provides comfort or fulfillment to make them her ally.¡± ¡°Hm, so that¡¯s what it was. But wasn¡¯t she a bit too forward?¡± Having a princess in nightwear inviting a man for drinks at night was rather shocking. Princess Clarice nodded in agreement. ¡°I was surprised too. It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen her openly seduce someone like that. She must really like you, Isaac.¡± Then, as if joking, Princess Clarice added with a grin: ¡°Well, your deductive skills earlier were kind of¡­sexy.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Usually, when my sister sinks her teeth into someone, they end up devoted to her. They can get so blindly loyal it causes its own problems.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Now it made sense. The knight¡¯s expression when summoning Isaac hadn¡¯t been exactly welcoming. ¡°That¡¯s why I was surprised too. My sister came on to you so openly, yet you turned her down! Wow, Isaac¡ªso this is what sets you handsome types apart?!¡± ¡°¡­¡± That¡¯s probably not why. If he had to put it bluntly¡­ She just hadn¡¯t been enticing enough to make him go weak at the knees. Since ancient times, women were likened to flowers. And the one widely deemed the most beautiful among flowers is the rose. He¡¯d resisted her seduction for a truly simple reason, nothing more or less. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 85: Sulky ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Left alone, Princess Adeline quietly empties the remaining wine. The strong liquor sliding down her throat, ironically, only serves to clear her mind. On the contrary, the more time passed, the further Princess Adeline drifted from sleep. Not needing any comfort¡­ that must have been the real problem, right? His words continued to echo in her ears. She tried to chase them away with intoxication, but no matter how much she drank, they simply wouldn¡¯t leave. ¡°Comfort¡­ isn¡¯t necessary.¡± At some point, the words that had been floating around in her head slipped off her tongue. That was how much her thoughts of him deepened in that moment. She dealt with countless people. She recruited outstanding talents, gave them what they needed, ruled them, dominated them, and commanded their obedience. At times, she became a benevolent goddess. At other times, she became a ruthless tyrant. Like a farmer harvesting crops, she would seize people¡¯s hearts and make them her own. And the sole purpose of these actions was for the kingdom¡¯s sake. Just as Princess Clarice was willing to sacrifice her rights, her honor, and even her power for the kingdom, Princess Adeline would do whatever it took to recruit those she deemed beneficial to the kingdom¡ªand she would wield them as she saw fit. If someone called her a villainess, she would accept it, as long as it made the kingdom prosper. In other words¡ª When Princess Adeline comforted others or won their hearts, it held no personal emotion at all. But then¡ª ¡°Hoo.¡± She felt a strange sensation. She knew exactly why she was acting this way. When you can¡¯t have what belongs to someone else, it always looks that much more enticing. ¡°Ah, truly¡ª.¡± He really was an enticing man. **** ¡°Baron, please take care.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In front of Isaac¡¯s mansion, Karen, who has loaded all the luggage onto the waiting carriage, sends him off with a smile. ¡°Be sure to eat the lunch I packed for the journey. I worked really hard on it.¡± ¡°Sure, Karen. Please take good care of the house while I¡¯m away.¡± ¡°Yep! Leave it to me!¡± Karen playfully salutes. Trusting her, Isaac boards the carriage¡ªinside, the Grandmaster is stretched out across two seats with her legs fully extended. ¡°It feels almost like we¡¯re going on a picnic.¡± At first, Isaac thought it was a sarcastic remark. But, seeing the corners of the Grandmaster¡¯s mouth quirk up while gazing out the window, it seemed she truly felt that way. ¡°Indeed, it does.¡± Isaac also smiled, sat across from her, and closed the carriage door. The two of them set off for Bolten. According to Isaac¡¯s deductions, the mercenary group Bellingwaltz¡ªled by the third son of a southern knightly family¡ªwas rumored to be in Bolten. Neigh! With the crack of the coachman¡¯s whip, the horses whinnied and lurched forward. As she watched the scenery pass outside the window, the Grandmaster spoke quietly. ¡°The mercenary band is in Bolten, and Baron Bolten was at the banquet, wasn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Hmm, Princess Clarice seems suspicious of him. What do you think?¡± ¡°I believe it¡¯s almost certain.¡± Though Isaac spoke calmly, his tone was tinged with bitterness. Baron Bolten, whom he had met at the banquet, was someone wholly out of place in such a setting. In fact, it would make more sense if he had shown up under the guise of committing an act of terror. Well, whatever his reasons, once the location of the mercenary band was pinpointed as Bolten, he could no longer stay beyond the reach of the investigation. ¡°Who exactly are these ¡®patreons¡¯?¡± Patreons. Isaac had never heard of such a group in his previous life. Which meant it was likely one of two things: Either they all died off before anyone learned of them, or they operated so secretly that their existence never came to light. ¡°I don¡¯t know their true identities. I only know they¡¯re wealthy figures who sponsor talented individuals.¡± ¡°Sponsor them, you say?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just money. There are various other forms of support. Take my own case, for instance¡­.¡± The Grandmaster paused for a moment, then continued as though it were nothing. ¡°In exchange for becoming one of them, they promised to help me find my fellow disciple.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°In any case, once they sided with the Transcendents, I had no choice but to break ties. I have no intention of aiding the Transcendents.¡± Another question arose in Isaac¡¯s mind. In truth, the Grandmaster was closer to a Transcendent than a human. In the case of Jonathan, he looked human on the outside but had a Transcendent hidden within. Meanwhile, the Grandmaster was so distinctly Transcendent in appearance that one could barely call her half-human¡ªonly without the hatred for humanity that most Transcendents bore. ¡®What on earth happened to her?¡¯ A past he had never even heard of in his previous life, and likewise, the tale of the patreons. Two stories the Grandmaster had never shared even with her disciples. Isaac suspected the two weren¡¯t separate at all but rather woven together somehow. He could only guess. ¡°Hey¡ª.¡± ¡°You, too.¡± The Grandmaster cut him off. Yet her gaze still faced the window, a clear sign that this was an awkward topic. ¡°You¡¯re searching for your friend¡¯s family, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask any more about it.¡± ¡°All right.¡± If that was her wish, then so be it. Isaac bowed his head. Then, acting as though their conversation had never happened, he abruptly changed the subject. ¡°When we get to Bolten, please remember that you¡¯re just an ordinary bodyguard.¡± ¡°I know that. But do pardon me if I get irritated from having to hide my ears and tail.¡± ¡°Sorry, but I can¡¯t allow that.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± At last, the Grandmaster turned her gaze to Isaac. He drew a clear line, speaking coldly. ¡°I¡¯m a baron now. You¡¯re just my guard.¡± ¡°¡­Are you bragging about becoming a noble?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just letting you know the reality. Once we¡¯re there, you have to speak formally to me¡ªtreat me with proper respect.¡± ¡°I speak this way even to Princess Clarice.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because Princess Clarice has a unique personality.¡± ¡°Your jokes are no fun.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a joke. If a mere bodyguard looks down on a baron, he¡¯ll find it suspicious.¡± In response, the Grandmaster rapped on the carriage wall. ¡°Coachman, pull over, please. Seems we need to sort out our pecking order before we go any farther. Don¡¯t worry¡ªit won¡¯t take long.¡± ¡°¡­Are you planning to blow off steam with brute force because you¡¯re annoyed?¡± ¡°Get off and grab your sword. There must be a spot for sparring somewhere around here¡ª¡± Watching her pretend not to hear anything as she gazed out the window, Isaac heaved a sigh. **** At first glance, Bolten gave a better impression than expected. From the outskirts, it was simply a rather dirty street¡ªjust stains left over from the past. In truth, it didn¡¯t seem like such a bad city now. Considering Bolten¡¯s infamy throughout the kingdom, ¡°not bad¡± might even translate to ¡°surprisingly good.¡± However, as they ventured deeper into the city center, Isaac¡¯s expression grew complex. ¡®Something¡¯s off about the atmosphere.¡¯ He couldn¡¯t quite put it into words, but the city looked gray. And soon he realized it stemmed from the people¡¯s expressions. Most of them strolled the streets without any trace of emotion on their faces. That blankness was creating a strange, oppressive gloom over the entire city. ¡°I catch a very foul scent of drugs here.¡± With her keen sense of smell, the Grandmaster immediately noticed one of Bolten¡¯s dark truths. Even Baron Bolten had joked with Isaac that there was nothing else to do here but dabble in drugs, so it wasn¡¯t unexpected. ¡°The kingdom prohibits drugs, right?¡± ¡°They allow a few strictly for medical use. Otherwise, they crack down much harder than other nations do.¡± ¡°Good. Drugs are not worth using.¡± The Grandmaster clicked her tongue in disapproval. Their carriage continued forward. Occasionally, Isaac noticed some people outside licking their lips as they watched the carriage¡ªperhaps regarding outsiders as appetizing prey. They seemed on the verge of stopping the carriage then and there, but they didn¡¯t. As though they had their own rules¡ªlike stray dogs on a leash, itching to run wild but held back. Eventually, the carriage arrived in front of Baron Bolten¡¯s mansion. His estate was enormous. Its dark coloration lent it a grand presence, but it also felt eerie, as though warning any visitor that trespassers would not be forgiven. ¡°For a fellow baron, that¡¯s quite a difference in scale.¡± ¡°My place is decent in its own right.¡± ¡°Sure it is.¡± ¡°¡­Are you still sulking about this?¡± Perhaps she simply didn¡¯t like that their positions would be reversed the moment they stepped outside¡ªthe guard forced to defer to the baron. And Isaac¡¯s question seemed to provoke her further. ¡°Sulking? Did you say sulking? Hmph! Never in my life have I sulked. Truly!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°My heart is vast as an ocean, my character is firm as a mighty rock, and my mercy soars above the clouds¡ªso I¡¯ve been told. How dare you belittle me so carelessly!¡± From Isaac¡¯s experience, the Grandmaster actually had a rather narrow heart. She was quite prone to sulking. He didn¡¯t know who inflated her ego with such nonsense, but Isaac decided to let it slide. ¡°Right, if you say so.¡± ¡°¡®If I say so?¡¯ Say it properly! Apologize clearly!¡± ¡°The baron is coming.¡± Outside the carriage window, the mansion gates opened and Baron Bolten stepped out. Upon seeing him, the Grandmaster bit her lip and muttered: ¡°We¡¯ll finish this conversation later.¡± ¡®Guess it¡¯s not over yet.¡¯ He sighed and reached for the door. Even that sigh seemed to annoy her, as her sharp claw tapped him pointedly on the back. **** Three days had passed since Isaac left. Karen, the maid, remained behind at the mansion, busily cleaning and tending to the place as she awaited the baron¡¯s return. ¡®I hope he¡¯s safe¡­¡¯ Now filled with boundless loyalty toward the Baron, she worried that he might be hurt. She was watering the flowers in the garden when¡ª ¡°Hey, you there!¡± At the entrance to the garden stood a girl with pigtails, calling out in a bright voice. A cute sight indeed, and her sunny smile made Karen¡¯s heart warm. But¡ª The massive greatsword strapped to her back looked rather menacing. Oddly enough, though, it suited her. The moment she saw the girl, Karen realized it could only be: Sharen of Helmut. ¡°Huh? Y-Young Lady of Helmut!¡± Karen ran over and bowed her head. She knew that Isaac had once been considered a son-in-law to Helmunt, but she hadn¡¯t expected them to actually visit. ¡°Mm! So this is Isaac¡¯s place? He¡¯s really quite frugal!¡± ¡°This is the estate of Baron Logan, yes.¡± Satisfied, Sharen grinned and asked: ¡°Where¡¯s Isaac? It¡¯s been a while, so tell him to come out! He¡¯ll be so glad to see me!¡± ¡°Well, um¡ª¡± When Karen explained that he had taken a mission to Bolten, Sharen¡¯s face grew more and more twisted. ¡°Eeeek! I wrote him a letter and everything!¡± ¡®Ah?¡¯ Karen recalled seeing a letter from Helmut. Perhaps Isaac had simply forgotten about it. ¡°He¡¯s gone to Bolten, right?! That Isaac is so done for!¡± Seething with rage, Sharen spun on her heels and stormed out of the mansion grounds. ¡°One Red aura blast¡ªno, at least three blasts¡ªhe¡¯s getting them all!¡± That was how the tomboy of Helmut, Sharen, set off for Bolten. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 86: Putting Lessons to Use They were served both a meal and tea at Baron Bolten¡¯s estate, but it didn¡¯t particularly feel like they were being treated as guests. Instead, it felt as though all these gestures were simply urging them to get on with the main topic. Clink. Isaac set down his teacup. Although the real reason he had come here was to track down the mercenary group suspected of the attempted assassination of the princess, he naturally concealed that from Baron Bolten. ¡°Milli Marceau was my friend.¡± The reason Isaac had come was simple. Before the attack, he had already made an appointment with Baron Bolten, so traveling to Bolten now felt perfectly natural. ¡°She worked in the kitchen at Helmut. By now, I believe it¡¯s been... about six years.¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hmm, you ¡®believe¡¯ it¡¯s been that long?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± He didn¡¯t bother to respond. That silence alone was enough of an answer. ¡°I want to find Milli Marceau¡¯s family. At the very least, I¡¯d like them to be able to visit her grave in Evergarde.¡± Seeing the genuine concern on Isaac¡¯s troubled face, Baron Bolten stroked his thick beard with a massive finger and nodded. ¡°All right. I¡¯ll have my people look into it.¡± ¡°Thank you, Baron Bolten.¡± They rose from their seats and shook hands. The firm handshake gave off a subtle sense of establishing some sort of hierarchy. ¡®He probably thinks he¡¯s found a weakness to exploit.¡¯ Of course, if they really managed to locate Milli Marceau¡¯s family, that would be wonderful. But he had to separate personal matters from official duty. Finding Milli¡¯s family was a private concern of his, whereas the attempted assassination of a princess was a national crisis. ¡°Do you have a place to stay? If you need, you may stay here at my estate.¡± ¡°No need for that. We have already booked an inn elsewhere. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± From where she¡¯d been standing quietly behind Isaac the whole time, the Grandmaster gave a forced nod, her expression stiff as if she was struggling to keep it in check. ¡°Y-Yes¡­ we did make a reservation.¡± ¡°I see. That¡¯s too bad. I was hoping to chat a bit more with you as well, Baron Logan.¡± ¡°I appreciate the offer. However, since I¡¯ll be staying here for a while to look for Milli Marceau¡¯s family, I felt it wouldn¡¯t be right to impose on you.¡± A polite and reserved tone. It was something Isaac had perfected in Helmut, yet ironically Baron Bolten wasn¡¯t the type to care too much about such courtesies. ¡°Haha, what imposition? In truth, the entire kingdom owes you a debt after what happened.¡± A hint of admiration shone in Baron Bolten¡¯s eyes. After the recent attempted assassination of the princess, Isaac Logan¡¯s reputation had risen even further¡ªthough unintentionally on his part. ¡°From the North onward, you¡¯ve had the Sword Festival in Helmut, faced Blackthorn, and attended this banquet. Baron Logan, you¡¯ve been practically marching the path of a hero straight out of a legend.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind. Things just happened to turn out that way.¡± ¡°Which is precisely why it¡¯s called heroism.¡± After they stepped out of the estate, Baron Bolten saw Isaac off one last time, assuring him that he would contact him immediately if he learned anything new. Once outside, the Grandmaster promptly asked: ¡°You deliberately spoke to me back there, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Is that important right now?¡± ¡°Hah, fine. You¡¯re right. We¡¯ll discuss that later.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Back in the carriage, Grandmaster, unable to hold back, pulled out a cigarette. However, she only held it between her lips without lighting it. ¡°So? Did you find out anything?¡± ¡°At least one thing is certain¡ª¡± Seated across, Isaac nodded with a grim expression. ¡°He already knows something¡¯s up.¡± It was clear Baron Bolten was aware he was under suspicion. Yet he remained strangely composed. Why? That confidence didn¡¯t seem like empty bravado. They took the carriage to the inn they¡¯d deliberately chosen at some distance from the baron¡¯s estate, aiming to have more freedom of movement. *** Inside the room, Isaac thought: ¡®Let¡¯s prepare to head out right away.¡¯ They hadn¡¯t been here long and were already tired, but they weren¡¯t here for a vacation. He intended to start gathering information at once. Creak. Grandmaster stepped inside. ¡°...You¡¯re not really here just to pick a fight about what happened back there, are you?¡± ¡°What do you take me for?¡± Grandmaster shrugged and said nonchalantly: ¡°We¡¯ve got followers on our tail. Likely ever since we left the baron¡¯s estate. What do you want to do?¡± ¡°A tail, huh? They¡¯re being so blatant about it, which actually works in our favor.¡± If there had been no reaction at all, it would have been harder to gauge the baron¡¯s intentions. ¡°Let¡¯s use them. We¡¯ll make them think we¡¯re holed up at the inn.¡± ¡°Feeding them false information? I rather like the idea. How do you plan on doing it?¡± ¡°I have my methods. But I need your cooperation.¡± ¡°As long as it¡¯s not you forcing me to talk in polite speech, do as you like.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t even need to say a word. Just follow my lead.¡± * * * The innkeeper was in the middle of preparing dinner. They provided an evening meal for their guests, but it was really just a soup made by throwing together whatever ingredients they had on hand. ¡°Hey, innkeeper.¡± While the soup was bubbling away, the innkeeper turned at the sound of a call from an out-of-town guest who had come by for the first time in a while. Next to him stood a woman, her head lowered in embarrassment as she bit her lip. ¡®Oh?¡¯ ¡°The bed mattress is filthy. Do you have any spare sheets or blankets we could lay on top of it?¡± Ordinarily, that wasn¡¯t a service the inn provided. ¡®He¡¯s obviously a noble. It¡¯s natural that he¡¯d be picky.¡¯ One look at that refined appearance was enough to tell the young man was born into a noble family. Without much hesitation, the innkeeper fetched a freshly laundered blanket from earlier in the day. ¡°Please use it carefully.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t promise that.¡± ¡®Tsk, so blatant.¡¯ Well, a man with that face, and a noble at that¡ªhe probably slept with a different woman every day. Clicking his tongue, the innkeeper approached a man sitting at one of the tables on the first floor and whispered, ¡°Looks like he¡¯s staying in tonight. He said the bed was dirty and asked for a blanket.¡± ¡°A blanket?¡± ¡°You saw he had a woman with him, right? You know what that means.¡± ¡°Haa.¡± The man let out a sigh and then nodded. The innkeeper wondered if he¡¯d get a little something for his trouble, but all the man said, quite calmly, was: ¡°Baron Bolten will be pleased.¡± That single statement was enough to make the innkeeper grin broadly as he rubbed his hands together. ¡°Haha! Anything for Baron Bolten!¡± With that, the innkeeper bowed several times and went back to work. The man looked up at the stairs Isaac had just climbed. ¡®Tsk, in the end, he¡¯s no different.¡¯ He¡¯d heard Baron Logan was of commoner stock. But a noble was still a noble in the end. ¡®Baron Bolten is different.¡¯ Baron Bolten was, in every sense, a revolutionary¡ªa commander who led everyone and enforced strict discipline to protect the city. He had been ordered by Baron Bolten to keep an eye on things, but from the look of it, Isaac and his companion would probably just stay in their room tonight, worn out from travel, and pass out on their own. * * * ¡°Any last words you¡¯d like me to pass on? I can deliver your dying message to your ex-wife out of the goodness of my heart.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t we supposed to get going soon?!¡± Just as the people downstairs imagined, things had become hot and heavy on the bed upstairs¡ªloud and intense. But the moment Isaac stepped inside the room, the Grandmaster pounced on him, eyes burning a fierce blue. ¡°This is the first time in my entire life anyone¡¯s treated me like¡­ that!¡± ¡°W-Well, if a man and a woman hole up in an inn room together, people are going to assume we¡¯re¡­ you know. Thanks to that, we won¡¯t have to leave the room at all tonight, and no one will suspect a thing!¡± Pressed up against the wall at the head of the bed, Isaac flattened his back against it. Although The Grandmaster was visibly furious, she seemed to be restraining herself¡ªlikely because she understood the logic behind it. ¡°Huuu, fine. But if you plan on pulling something like this next time, at least give me a warning.¡± ¡°I figured you¡¯d refuse if I told you in advance¡­ Are you really okay with it?¡± He asked just in case, though he wasn¡¯t expecting an affirmative answer. ¡°In my life, I¡¯ve solved most problems by the sword.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I suppose that¡¯s how I¡¯ll keep doing things.¡± In other words, she¡¯d sooner just grab her blade and cut down everyone involved rather than go along with this kind of charade. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s get moving already.¡± * * * Isaac and Grandmaster took about three days to reach Bolten, mostly because they traveled by carriage. Sharen, on the other hand, was riding alone on horseback. She could have made the journey faster¡ªor so she thought. ¡°Don¡¯t be sick, pleeeease!¡± Looking down at her panting horse, Sharen was on the verge of tears. The horse had collapsed mid-ride; she had no idea what was wrong with it. Thanks to the robust constitution typical of Helmut natives, she hadn¡¯t been injured when she was thrown off, but now she had no way to get to Bolten. ¡°I don¡¯t wanna run all the way there!¡± She tried shaking the horse this way and that to get it back on its feet, but it wouldn¡¯t move an inch. ¡°What the heck! This is all because of Isaac! Isaac you idiot! You moron! Red Flame Strikes, five in a row!¡± Sharen wailed as she shouted in frustration. She was already on a mountain path where nothing else could be seen¡ªdark and foreboding. She didn¡¯t want to camp out, and the pitch-black mountains at night were more than a little scary. ¡°Get uuup!¡± She couldn¡¯t help regretting that she hadn¡¯t waited an extra day before setting off. As Sharen stood there, lamenting her predicament, she heard another sound apart from her horse¡¯s ragged breathing. Clop, clop. ¡°Hoofbeats?!¡± Sharen shot to her feet. She saw a group of people coming along the same mountain path she had traveled. ¡°Hey! Over here! Over here!¡± She waved her arms wildly, blocking their way. She was ready to draw her greatsword if she had to. ¡®It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m cute, after all!¡¯ She believed with full confidence that her adorable face would turn the situation in her favor. The six or so travelers all carried weapons, and they seemed to be in quite a hurry. But they stopped in front of Sharen, who was blocking the path. She skipped any sort of greeting and shouted right away: ¡°Excuse me! Could you take me with you? Just to the nearest city, please!¡± A man at the front of the group dismounted. There was a certain sun-baked scent about him¡ªtypical of someone from the south. He had a longsword at his waist and a rather roguish face. ¡°Please, my horse suddenly collapsed!¡± To Sharen, they looked like nothing more than a lifeline sent to rescue her. ¡°Ahem, miss, I¡¯m Bellington, leader of a mercenary group called Bellingwaltz. Might I ask your name?¡± There was only one reason he was being so polite: ¡®Holy¡ªShe¡¯s from Helmut?!¡¯ They¡¯d figured out who she was even before asking¡ªred hair, a massive greatsword strapped to her back. It would¡¯ve been odd not to notice. ¡®What¡¯s a Helmut doing all the way out here?!¡¯ ¡®At night, no less¡ªthis is the last thing we need!¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m Sharen Helmut! Please just get me to the nearest city. I promise I¡¯ll compensate you!¡± She declared it cheerfully, beaming at them. The members of Bellingwaltz exchanged looks. ¡®We¡¯re headed back to Bolten anyway.¡¯ ¡®Maybe it¡¯d be less suspicious just to take her along and be done with it.¡¯ ¡®If she finds out what we were paid to carry, we¡¯re finished.¡¯ After a silent exchange of glances, Bellington offered a friendly grin and nodded. ¡°Well, we¡¯re mercenaries, miss. If you¡¯re willing to pay, then you¡¯re a client just like any other.¡± ¡®Payment, too? Seriously?¡¯ ¡®Boss! Don¡¯t push it!¡¯ ¡®Shut up, you idiots¡ªthis is the safest move!¡¯ Unlike the rest of the mercenaries who looked anxious, Bellington remained confident. If they suddenly refused payment for the job, that would be even more suspicious. ¡°Ooooh...¡± Sharen nodded at his words and then smiled. ¡°I already paid you!¡± ¡°...Beg your pardon?¡± The mercenaries blinked in confusion. They weren¡¯t quite sure what she meant. But Sharen just smiled brightly and clarified: ¡°Because you¡¯re still alive!¡± ¡°That crazy woman¡ª!¡± ¡°Fuck, it¡¯s Helmut!¡± ¡°Is she really a knight?! She¡¯s just a thug!¡± ¡°They¡¯re all total maniacs!¡± Such was the notorious reputation of Helmut. They were known as knights among knights, but just as light casts a shadow, there was always another side to them. Faced with Sharen¡¯s brazen words, Bellington bit down hard, struggling to keep a polite smile. ¡°Ah, yes! Exactly! Thank you so much for your generosity!¡± ¡°Right? You there, hop on behind him. I¡¯ll ride your horse!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± ¡°And one of you needs to bring my horse along, got it?¡± ¡°Of course! Whatever you say!¡± In a flash, Bellington handed Sharen the reins of the horse he¡¯d been riding. ¡°It¡¯s too tall.¡± Since the saddle was too high for her to mount easily, he offered his hand to help her up. ¡°Nice! Let¡¯s go!¡± Hoofbeats once again echoed in the night air. Savoring the cool breeze, Sharen broke into a bright smile, recalling a certain memory: -Sharen, don¡¯t get reckless out there, okay? And try not to burden Isaac too much. ¡ª¡°C¡¯mon, unnie! I¡¯ve got it, okay?!¡± This had been right before she left, at the mansion¡¯s main gate. Standing there was Rihanna, who had defeated Lohengrin¡ªthe eldest son¡ªtwenty times in a row in sparring, thereby taking her place as head of the family. She spoke to Sharen with a worried expression that showed no sign of easing: -Haa, I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t give you more pocket money. We¡¯re not exactly rolling in wealth right now. The reconstruction of the mansion alone had cost a fortune. Had that been the only issue, it might have been manageable¡ªbut the truth was Helmut had been hemorrhaging funds for a while. The Sword Festival had been hugely expensive, and on top of that, they¡¯d had funerals and condolence payments to cover. For the first time in its history, Helmut was forced to tighten its belt. ¡ª¡°It¡¯s fine, Unnie! I can take care of myself!¡± -You even know what ¡®self-sufficient¡¯ means? I¡¯m impressed. ¡ª¡°¡­.¡± -Hey! Don¡¯t spout such nonsense! Thanks to their keen hearing, another voice chimed in: Lohengrin, who¡¯d been training with his greatsword outside, approached them, breathing heavily. -Ah, shit. ¡ª¡°Ugh.¡± Both younger sisters plugged their noses, but Lohengrin ignored it, clenching his fist and declaring: -If someone ever demands money from you, just tell them this: ¡®Isn¡¯t it enough I let you live?!¡¯ That¡¯s how I usually handle it. ¡ª¡°Ooooh.¡± -Sharen, don¡¯t you dare use that. Though Rihanna warned her in earnest, unfortunately Sharen didn¡¯t remember that part too well¡ªor perhaps she¡¯d chosen to forget. ¡°Hehe, guess that big dummy¡¯s advice does come in handy sometimes!¡± Grinning from ear to ear, Sharen urged her borrowed horse onward. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 87: Swallowing Sorrow ¡°Nighttime in the city really does feel different.¡± Just as Grandmaster had mentioned, Bolten at night was far more dazzling than expected. Not only were there more people than during the day, but plenty of outsiders like themselves were mixed into the crowd as well. They didn¡¯t seem like ordinary tourists with pure intentions. Perhaps they were here merely for gambling or drinking, but who knew what went on deeper in the alleys. ¡°It¡¯s easy enough to hide among so many people, but we haven¡¯t the faintest idea where to head.¡± Grandmaster muttered this while glaring at a man who bumped her shoulder as he passed. ¡°Usually, in situations like this, we¡¯d try a tavern¡ª¡± They planned to slip into a busy bar, gauge the atmosphere, maybe tip the owner a bit to ask about any mercenary groups¡­ Bam! ¡°You son of a bitch¡ª!¡± A commotion rose from one side of the street¡ªpeople cheering, whistling, and laughing. It seemed a fight had broken out, but unlike other cities, Bolten gave the strong impression of welcoming such chaos. ¡°Hmm, how boisterous.¡± ¡°It¡¯s downright irrational.¡± Curious onlookers swarmed around to watch. One man, his eyes bloodshot, was wildly brandishing a liquor bottle, presumably drunk out of his mind. The man who¡¯d just been hit stood up, clutching his head, bracing himself for more. ¡°Sloppy. If he swings like that, even someone trying to get hit wouldn¡¯t get hit.¡± ¡°Are you going to teach them a lesson even here?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a habit of mine.¡± The drunkard reeled as he flailed his bottle, showing no signs of actually connecting a blow. Growing furious, he hurled the bottle to the ground and shouted: ¡°Fuck! You damn pen bastards! What the hell are you staring at? Get lost!¡± ¡°Hahaha! Look how pissed that idiot is!¡± ¡°If you¡¯re wasted, go sleep it off somewhere else, old man!¡± ¡°Oh ho? Things are really going off the rails.¡± ¡°What a pathetic sight! Ugh!¡± It was as if they were enjoying a play. They mocked the drunkard who hurled insults at them. When everyone ganged up on him with their jeers, he finally snapped and roared back: ¡°Do you know who I am?! I¡¯m the son of Baron Gelliats! How dare you lowly commoners¡ª!¡± ¡°A noble?¡± ¡°Probably the youngest son. Even if he¡¯s a noble, if he¡¯s just the baron¡¯s youngest, it¡¯s unlikely he¡¯s treated with much respect.¡± His shabby clothes hardly looked like those of anyone influential, and the crowd, well aware of that, jeered even harder. The panting drunkard lifted his middle finger to the throng. ¡°They say a damned lowborn rules this city, and now it¡¯s clear how pathetic you people are! You brainless vermin! Don¡¯t expect me to come back here again! Under a baron who has no decen¡ª!¡± Unfortunately, he never got to finish. Because a rock flew out of nowhere and cracked him square in the head. Thudd! ¡°Kuh¡ªugh?!¡± While he staggered, another person rushed in and knocked him flat. And in the next instant, a group assault began. ¡°You bastard! How dare you speak Baron Bolten¡¯s name so carelessly!¡± ¡°He¡¯s our hero, you fucker!¡± ¡°Baron Bolten is nothing like a halfwit bastard like you!¡± Bam! Bam! Bam! It was chaos¡ªno one could tell who was striking where, who was breaking what, or who might have delivered the killing blow in that frenzy of violence and madness. The sudden shift in atmosphere was so fanatical that calling them zealots would not have been an overstatement. By the time the drunkard¡¯s screams were swallowed up by the violence, the crowd had silently dispersed and vanished into the city. ¡°Tsk.¡± Isaac clicked his tongue. The corpse was practically half-minced. ¡°How barbaric,¡± murmured Grandmaster calmly. Isaac had heard rumors of Bolten¡¯s vicious reputation, but never imagined such brazen acts happened out in the open. ¡®They¡¯ve been taught cruelty from an early age.¡¯ From small children to the elderly, everyone had joined in on the violence, all because Baron Bolten had been insulted. ¡°So, should we call him a benevolent ruler for this?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Their loyalty is unreal. Isn¡¯t it practically a religion?¡± ¡°It¡¯s complicated.¡± You couldn¡¯t exactly call it a good domain when open murder through mob violence occurred so casually. But the populace¡¯s loyalty was remarkable¡ªespecially in a place like Bolten, which spoke volumes about the baron¡¯s extraordinary power over them. ¡°Bolten truly is a bizarre place.¡± To think that Milli had once lived in a place like this¡­ ¡®Perhaps Bolten wasn¡¯t like this back when Milli was here.¡¯ Considering the Bolten Revolution erupted while Milli was working in Helmut, the territory might have been different before that. Just then, men dressed in black appeared beside the corpse. At first, it looked like they might be performing last rites, but instead they shoved the body unceremoniously into a sack, as though merely cleaning up, and began wiping away the blood pooled on the ground. ¡°What the hell are those guys?¡± Judging by how bystanders were ignoring them as if they were invisible, this must be a familiar sight in Bolten. ¡°My, how astonishing. Every step we take in this land, something interesting happens. There¡¯s no chance to get bored at all.¡± ¡®She¡¯s angry,¡¯ thought Isaac. Grandmaster¡¯s voice had taken on a sharp edge¡ªshe¡¯d been incensed ever since the drunkard started bellowing. Had Isaac not been with her, given their current circumstances, she¡¯d have probably acted sooner. Isaac had no chance to stop her. She stepped in and grabbed the wrist of the man hoisting the body bag over his shoulder, issuing a clear warning: ¡°Where are you rushing off to? Shouldn¡¯t the child at least let his parents see him before he goes?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°He said he was the son of Baron Gelliats. So he¡¯s hardly an unidentifiable corpse. His condition might be unsightly, but at the very least, he should say farewell to his parents¡ª¡± The man tried to shake off Grandmaster¡¯s hand, but he couldn¡¯t overcome her grip and let out a pained groan. ¡°Ugh?!¡± Grandmaster let out a sigh. Still holding the man in her grip, she glanced at Isaac and asked: ¡°Is it better if we don¡¯t get more involved than this? We did sneak out, after all.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s what I was thinking¡­¡± Grandmaster¡¯s expression was anything but pleasant. As her former disciple, Isaac found it hard to ignore that look¡ªthe look of someone who¡¯d just witnessed something they wished they hadn¡¯t. He had prepared many things for this situation. They¡¯d had a plan to provoke Baron Bolten, fake their compliance, secretly leave the inn, and move on to the next goal. But now¡­ ¡°Shall we just scrap everything?¡± Isaac asked with a slight smile. When Grandmaster gave a small nod, he immediately threw away all the plans he¡¯d worked so hard to make. ¡°If we¡¯re going to do this, might as well do it thoroughly.¡± ¡°That suits my life perfectly. I¡¯ve always liked cutting down my enemies for good.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell Princess how foolish I was to think you¡¯d ever settle for a stealthy approach.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve done my best, you know. Even now, those watchers probably think I¡¯m somewhere groaning under your heel.¡± Thud! With a flick of her wrist, Grandmaster twisted the arm of the man carrying the corpse, slamming him to the ground. Though it was just one fluid motion, he spun in midair before crashing down and passing out cold. All eyes fell upon them once more. ¡®I guess it was worth picking up that trick earlier.¡¯ With a self-mocking smirk, Isaac used the same line of magic words he¡¯d gleaned from the drunkard¡¯s theatrics to address the gathering crowd: ¡°I am Baron Logan of the Kingdom! I will have everyone involved in the murder just now arrested! And I shall hold Baron Bolten to account for this disgraceful excuse for city ¡®order!¡¯¡± ¡°Ho.¡± Grandmaster curved her lips into a faint smile. In a flash, the people around them once again grew wild with fervor¡ªclenching their teeth, exhaling heavy, ragged breaths, closing in on the two. ¡°What has the kingdom ever done for us?!¡± ¡°Baron? A baron, you say?! You dare claim to be on the same level as our Baron Bolten?!¡± ¡°You scum from the kingdom! You opportunistic bastards! You¡¯re the worst¡ªyou abandoned us!¡± ¡°The Revolution! You know nothing of the hardships of that day! How dare you come to steal the peace we fought for!¡± It was obvious the verbal barrage would soon turn violent. Yet Isaac, who had provoked them, remained calm. Perhaps it looked a bit arrogant. But to him, their fury¡ªthough intense¡ªfelt shallow. Like waves with no real depth. ¡°Please don¡¯t kill them.¡± ¡°Hmm? You want to spare them because they¡¯re, what¡ªcivilians?¡± ¡°They could be Milli¡¯s family members.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± He wasn¡¯t really concerned for the citizens themselves; he just worried that one of them might be related to Milli. The assault began in an instant. Some tourists in the crowd shrank back, alarmed. But the people of Bolten, teeth bared, charged headlong at the two. ¡®At least it¡¯s easy to tell who¡¯s who.¡¯ Isaac simply drove his fist into the jaw of the first man who came rushing in. Bang! The man toppled backward, knocked out instantly. Others came at him one by one, and he calmly subdued them all. ¡®A cheap sort of satisfaction.¡¯ He felt the difference in who he had become. In his past life, he couldn¡¯t have lasted a minute against even a single grown man, always the one getting beaten. But now¡­ He read their movements, evaded, struck¡ªremaining composed the entire time. ¡®Until now, I was always the one who had to challenge others.¡¯ Now that the roles were reversed, it gave him a new perspective¡ªan experience that left a powerful impression. Amidst subduing wave after wave of attackers: ¡°How could¡ª¡± A faint sob escaped Grandmaster. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°¡ªthis be so vile?¡± Such words typically conveyed disgust. But from Grandmaster¡¯s tone came sorrow. ¡°Stop, all of you.¡± She gently tripped an oncoming child wielding a rock, causing them to tumble. Letting out a pained sigh, she continued, ¡°It¡¯s almost as if¡­ what they said is true.¡± She looked like she wanted to deny every bit of the horrifying scene in front of her. Grandmaster swallowed her tears with great effort. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 88: Another History ¡°B-Baron Bolten! There¡¯s a disturbance in the city¡ª!¡± Hearing the report, Baron Bolten nodded calmly. Ever since he¡¯d received word from his watchers that Baron Logan was staying at an inn with a woman, he¡¯d had a bad feeling. ¡®Baron Logan was never someone to be taken lightly.¡¯ He was the same man who¡¯d cut down Arandel Helmut. It was impossible to believe he¡¯d come all this way just to spend a day in an inn with a woman. ¡°I¡¯ll head out at once.¡± Baron Bolten immediately changed clothes. His attire, reminiscent of a hunter, was what he used to wear back in the days when he led the revolution. The chilly night air greeted him. The revolution had also taken place in air just like this. [Let¡¯s goooo! Wipe them ouuuut!] [Hand over the drugs, you bastards!] [We want freedom! Aah! Only freedom!] The ideals he once held close to his heart still remained there. [Thereeeee! There! That¡¯s it!] [It¡¯s mine! I said it¡¯s mine! All of you, back off!] [Fucking druggie bastards! I¡¯m different from you! I¡¯m the tragic one ruined by art and literature¡ª!] After the revolution succeeded, the wild shouts of the jubilant people still echoed in his ears. -Stop! If we continue like this, we¡¯ll all be destroyed! We must protect our Bolten! I¡¯ll handle the distribution! So please, stop! All of us¡ª! And yet, after everything he¡¯d achieved, he now realized he was no more than a hypocrite. You can all do the drugs for free, in total equality! I will take responsibility! Following the success of the revolution¡ª He¡¯d once devoted himself to curbing the runaway madness and chaos, and that old voice of his still filled him with loathing. Even if he were to return to the past, Could he really propose a better solution? ¡®I never carried these ideals hoping for such a future.¡¯ Unable to find any answers even now, Baron Bolten was merely prolonging the life of this dying land. ¡°Tell the Bellingwaltz Mercenaries to leave at once.¡± With those last words¡ªpassing along a message for the mercenaries he¡¯d hidden at his patreons¡¯ request¡ªHe headed straight into the city. It seemed clear that tonight would bring another storm to Bolten. **** By the time¡ª ¡°Gaaaahk!¡± ¡°It hurts¡­.¡± ¡°S-Save me¡­¡± ¡ªthere were more people groaning on the ground than there were people rushing forward to attack. Finally, the crowd began to hesitate, shuffling backward. Some were paralyzed by fear, while others still refused to give up. They waited for any opening, some even exchanging glances to coordinate an attack with those around them. ¡°Cease this at once. No matter how much you struggle, nothing will change.¡± In a voice unusually subdued, the Grandmaster issued a warning. Under the moonlit sky, the Grandmaster took a step forward and asked them: ¡°What could have driven you to such acts? Loyalty is supposed to be noble, or so I once believed. But seeing you all, I find myself wavering.¡± ¡° ¡­ ¡± ¡°Please, do not shake me with such ugliness.¡± She wasn¡¯t addressing just the people of Bolten. ¡®I am torn between the Transcendents and humanity.¡¯ She would never side with the Transcendents, yet she found it agonizing to support the humans wholeheartedly. Isaac couldn¡¯t allow this to continue. Just as he was about to intervene¡ª ¡°Baron Bolten is here!¡± ¡°Aah! Baron Bolten!¡± ¡°He¡¯s the hero of Bolten!¡± ¡°Punish these vile scoundrels!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let the kingdom¡¯s trash defile our land!¡± Even without anyone guiding them, the mob naturally parted to either side. Through the opened path, Baron Bolten approached. Instead of the noble attire he¡¯d worn earlier that day, he was dressed as if going on a hunt¡ªleather clothing trimmed with fur, a bow slung over his shoulder, and an axe swaying at his hip. It was a perfect match for that first impression Isaac had of him¡ªa hunting dog. ¡°That suits you much better, Baron Bolten.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go together. Baron Logan mentioned that you were looking for the family of Milli Marceau. I¡¯ve found them.¡± He got straight to the point, revealing his direct nature. Yet somehow, it also felt like he was diverting the conversation. ¡°This situation seems to require an explanation,¡± Isaac said, gesturing at the sack of corpses and the deranged townspeople. Baron Bolten sighed and responded, ¡°I¡¯ll explain. Let¡¯s leave this place.¡± He cast his gaze over the crowd. At once, they drew back again, bowing and bidding him farewell. It bordered on fanaticism. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he repeated. Staying any longer might cause the Grandmaster to change in some unforeseen way. Isaac suddenly felt it was best to get out of there immediately. ¡°¡­.¡± Even as Isaac led her away, The Grandmaster couldn¡¯t help but cast an occasional glance back at the people who had overturned them just moments before. * * * Back at the Baron¡¯s Mansion In the dark room, Baron Bolten lights a single candle and slowly gazes out the window. His eyes convey a complicated mix of emotions, as if he needs a moment before he can put them into words. You¡¯d think he might light a cigarette, but Baron Bolten doesn¡¯t even touch one. He simply lets out a sigh. ¡°Bolten is a city of addicts.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac isn¡¯t particularly surprised. He¡¯d already encountered plenty of people high on something while fighting. They all looked about the same to him, give or take a few differences. ¡°Liquor, gambling, women¡ªthose are just extras. In the end, drugs matter most of all. I supply them with drugs on a regular basis.¡± ¡°You know full well that drugs are illegal under the kingdom¡¯s law.¡± ¡°Without them, Bolten would¡¯ve collapsed long ago.¡± It was practically an admission of criminal activity. But Baron Bolten simply clenched his jaw and continued. ¡°This city¡­everything starts and ends with drugs. The underworld rebellion? It happened because the kingdom tried to clean up Bolten¡¯s back alleys. The underworld¡¯s biggest business was dealing drugs.¡± ¡°The revolution I led? That was only possible because the underworld that had taken control of Bolten had jacked up drug prices beyond reason.¡± ¡°And the only reason this city still holds together? Because I provide the drugs free of charge.¡± On the flip side, Because the city¡¯s supply of drugs came directly from him, every major dealer had been wiped out. Now it made sense why the people showed such blind loyalty to Baron Bolten. Addicts desperate for their free fix would do anything to protect him. To them, he was the guardian of their paradise, the one who kept the city going. ¡°Do you understand? That¡¯s what Bolten is. A precarious place that seems on the verge of crumbling at any moment.¡± Baron Bolten slowly turns around, then speaks to Isaac with startling calm. ¡°Even so, I continue to hold Bolten together. Because I believe it¡¯s my responsibility.¡± Isaac doesn¡¯t know what sort of past the baron carries. It¡¯s hard to grasp why he¡¯s so determined to keep Bolten alive, even in such a twisted form. But one thing is certain: He¡¯s not the kind of man who wavers easily. Everyone has their story. Everyone has their reasons. Just as Isaac has his secret of returning to the past, Baron Bolten must also have a reason he can¡¯t give up on this land. Yet to outsiders, it might look like mere stubbornness. ¡°So you sought to assassinate the princess, with the backing of your patreons?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Baron Bolten¡¯s eyes tremble slightly. He¡¯d intended to gloss over Bolten¡¯s dark secrets. After all, Isaac was supposedly here just to find the family of a woman named Milli. ¡°As I suspected, you weren¡¯t here merely to track down a friend¡¯s family.¡± His tone shifts, dropping to a low murmur. At some point, his hand has come to rest on the axe at his waist. ¡°We¡¯re running out of drugs.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°People want more and more, but the warehouse I¡¯ve been using is nearly empty.¡± He had seized a massive supply of narcotics during the revolution, when he eradicated the drug lords. Vast though it was, it wasn¡¯t infinite. ¡°And that¡¯s when they showed up. They called themselves my patreons¡­offering to supply me with drugs.¡± His words come faster and faster. A fierce devotion¡ªbordering on obsession¡ªburns in his eyes. For the sake of the city he¡¯s lived in all his life, he even contemplated assassinating the kingdom¡¯s princess. It implies his mind was never operating under normal logic from the start. Sling! An axe was drawn. ¡°Isn¡¯t it I who¡¯ve been holding together this land the kingdom abandoned?!¡± He must have thought they were unarmed and couldn¡¯t stop his axe, but he chose the wrong opponent. The Grandmaster, who¡¯d been listening quietly from behind, acted immediately. Ugh! With a perfectly extended kick, the Grandmaster struck the charging Baron Bolten right in the abdomen. He tumbled backward, rolling head over heels. No matter that he¡¯d been a seasoned revolutionary warrior¡ª He was up against someone who possessed skill on a wholly different level. It was akin to an adult toying with a child. ¡°It was nothing but self-gratification, and you knew it. The outcome was inevitable from the start.¡± Coldly put, Baron Bolten was never going to keep Bolten standing for long. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was no different from force-feeding medicine to a terminal patient to keep them alive. Even if they keep breathing, they¡¯re rotting from within all the same. ¡°Grrgh!¡± Clutching at the spot where he¡¯d been hit, Baron Bolten raised his head. ¡°You think I didn¡¯t know it was the end?! As wretched as it may be, as broken as it may become, I intended to keep Bolten alive for as long as possible¡ªtake responsibility¡ª!¡± ¡°Stop pretending to be a martyr.¡± ¡°...!¡± ¡°You¡¯re just a hypocrite. I have no interest in whatever sob story you¡¯re selling.¡± Staggering to his feet, Baron Bolten forced the corners of his trembling mouth into a bitter smile. ¡°Would you have chosen differently had you heard the screams of that day?! That so-called revolution! The whole city nearly died! If I¡ªI hadn¡¯t taken responsibility and promised them a supply of drugs¡ª!¡± ¡°Madness was piled atop madness. The revolutionaries were on the verge of turning into rebels all over again! I was holding their leash¡ªI stopped them¡ª!¡± Baron Bolten¡¯s voice quavered with rage and tears glistened in his eyes. The man who had seemed as steady as a hunting hound looked now as if he might collapse at any moment, his usefulness spent. ¡°¡­Yes, you¡¯re right.¡± He let out a sigh as bitter as stale smoke. ¡°I knew it was hypocrisy.¡± Yet¡ª ¡°I just pretended not to, and so I took responsibility¡ªwatching them die, one by one.¡± Baron Bolten swung his axe wide. He charged at the Grandmaster one more time but collapsed before he could even make contact. Bam! ¡°Khrrrgh!¡± A moan escaped, choked with tears. ¡°If I die now¡­?! If I die here, Bolten will fall into chaos again! The entire city is nothing but a giant opium den!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got exactly two choices. Kill me here and watch Bolten revert to riots¡ªwhere hundreds will die. Or¡ª¡± Or let them remain drugged, accept a quiet demise in this twisted existence. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac approached the baron slowly. He might not fully grasp what outcome his decision would bring, how heavy the consequences could be. But¡ª With war against the Transcendents looming, there was no room for hesitation. The razor-sharp axe found its way into Isaac¡¯s hand. Baron Bolten looked up at it, clenching his teeth, giving his final farewell. ¡°Welcome¡­ to damned Bolten.¡± Crunch! The axe blade mercilessly bit into its owner¡¯s neck. As Baron Bolten¡¯s head rolled across the floor, Isaac caught his breath and spoke. ¡°Would you bring me my sword?¡± ¡°¡­It will not be easy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll manage.¡± With that, the Grandmaster slowly turned away. No one knew yet how this chaos would conclude¡ª ¡®This is going to be difficult.¡¯ But for now, following Isaac¡¯s request, the Grandmaster headed back to the inn. And so, Bolten began to churn once more. The ¡°Bolten Rebellion¡± arose when the underworld, believing the kingdom¡¯s crackdown made drug trafficking impossible, seized the city. Then came the ¡°Bolten Revolution¡± when citizens took the city back after the underworld hiked drug prices far too high. And finally¡ª Baron Logan executed Drian Belfort, known as Baron Bolten, on the spot for his involvement in the ¡°attempted assassination of the princess.¡± Upon learning of Drian Belfort¡¯s death, the citizens revolted once again. Baron Logan subdued them¡ª And soon, what would later be called the ¡°Bolten Massacre¡± was about to unfold. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 89: Red Shoes Before long, a bustling crowd had gathered outside the mansion. Even though it was well past midnight, their eyes glowed red with heat. Whether they were high on drugs, intoxicated by madness, or simply looking for a place to vent their fury, the situation had escalated to a point beyond reason. ¡°Bring out Baron Bolten!¡± ¡°Give us back Baron Bolten!¡± ¡°You bastard! If you even laid a finger on Baron Bolten, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t invade our paradise! Why come for us when we were minding our own business?!¡± All of these cries were little more than tantrums, bordering on absurd demands. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Just when it was no longer possible to endure in silence, the Grandmaster returned through the mansion¡¯s back door. In her hands were three blades. One was her own greatsword, and the other two belonged to Isaac. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°My errands don¡¯t come cheap.¡± She seemed to want to pass it off with a somewhat playful smile, but Isaac¡¯s lips did not so much as twitch. It was a sign of the gravity and responsibility he felt for what he was about to do. ¡°I can help.¡± No matter how exceptional a swordsman Isaac had become, taking on a mob of that size alone was reckless. If the Grandmaster stepped in, she could likely sweep them aside without much trouble. With a single swing of her greatsword, she could easily strike down three or four sturdy men at once. ¡°No,¡± Isaac said, shaking his head. ¡°I will take responsibility.¡± After all, executing Baron Bolten had also been his decision. ¡°In case it needs to be said¡ª¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Under no circumstances should you interfere.¡± ¡°You¡¯re serious?¡± the Grandmaster asked. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Isaac answered with a nod. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want her help, nor was it selfishness to keep her out of this massacre. He recalled what he had just seen¡ª The Grandmaster¡¯s eyes as she subdued the surging crowd. There had been a tremor in them, tinged with sorrow, as though she were barely holding back tears. ¡®She must have her reasons,¡¯ Isaac thought. Whether it was tied to the past she never spoke of in his previous life, or connected to the half-transcendent blood flowing within her, he couldn¡¯t say. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± With the blade at his waist, Isaac strode toward the entrance of the mansion. ¡°...Go on, then.¡± She watched Isaac¡¯s back, forcing herself to remain calm, knowing that in the end, this was the path he had chosen. Creak. Isaac stepped outside. Before anyone could react, he flung the severed head in his hand¡ª¡®Whoosh¡¯¡ªstraight into the throng. Baron Bolten¡¯s head spun through the air, fresh blood spraying in all directions, and dropped into the crowd. Someone inadvertently stepped on it, or kicked it, and the head rolled across the ground. ¡°...!¡± ¡°B-Baron Bolten?!¡± ¡°No! Noooo!¡± It was like watching a grisly painting unfurl. In the dark hours before dawn, a mob advancing with torches in hand might have looked like they were marching for freedom. But in truth, they were bound by the chains of the drug that had ensnared them. ¡®So this is the madness Baron Bolten spoke of¡­¡¯ Isaac thought as he finally faced the mob¡¯s collective insanity head-on. And now, they turned their gaze on Isaac. ¡°That bastard!¡± ¡°Kill him, damn it! Kill him!¡± ¡°How dare he do that to Baron Bolten!¡± ¡°Burn him! Put him to the stake!¡± ¡°Go raid the Baron¡¯s warehouse! We need more drugs!¡± Shouts came from men and women of all ages, the mob stretching farther than the eye could see. They scrambled for the mansion entrance, climbing the walls, tearing through any path they could find. Isaac took in the sight, steeling himself for the burden he now shouldered. Regression. A secret, miraculous event¡ªdid it truly demand no price at all? Isaac had always been skeptical of the word destiny. Accepting destiny would mean there was something fated about the loss of his leg, which felt cruel. Yet at this moment, he couldn¡¯t help but speak of destiny. ¡®The price of my regression¡­¡¯ If destiny did indeed exist¡ª Then this moment was surely the fate he had to bear. Isaac drew his blade. In one fluid motion of iaido, he severed the neck of the man rushing at him without hesitation. ¡°He¡¯s swinging his sword!¡± ¡°Kill him! Shatter him to bits!¡± ¡°Rip him limb from limb and hang him in the city!¡± Foaming at the mouth as if fueled by an even more potent dose, they surged forward. Isaac¡¯s blade cut through them like flowing water, wordlessly pressing on. ¡®I¡¯m sorry, Milli.¡¯ He had no choice but to destroy her hometown. I hope you can forgive me. * * * [Humans are vile.] [Humans are inferior.] [Humans are greedy.] [Humans have taken our world from us.] Inside the baron¡¯s office. Even as she stood in the darkness, the voice echoing in Grandmaster¡¯s ears would not cease. It was a memory of the past¡ª A form of brainwashing she had listened to while kneeling alongside her fellow disciples. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Though the specter of the past had reared its head, Grandmaster pretended not to hear, remaining silent with her arms folded. [Look upon their world.] [They do not even recognize the blessings of sunlight and fertile land bestowed on them; instead, they endlessly fight amongst themselves.] [War upon war. And yet another war.] [Do they truly deserve to possess such a blessed land?] The voice continued, clouding Grandmaster¡¯s mind. The riot playing out before her only made that voice ring louder, as though a fanatic scholar was shouting that his old theories had been right all along. [Do not pity humans.] ¡°¡­Enough,¡± she whispered. [Do not stop hating humans.] ¡°I will decide for myself.¡± [Open your eyes¡ªsimply observe.] ¡°¡­¡­.¡± A throbbing headache flared. The remnants of her past were as bitter as poison on her tongue. Grandmaster let out a breath, struggling to shove down the surge of emotions rising within her. [Why would you side with humans?!] ¡°Because I can¡¯t stand the likes of you.¡± She knew there was no meaning in answering. Those words were all echoes from long ago. [Do you think humans will be any different?] And yet, in this moment, she couldn¡¯t deny how directly it struck at the heart of the matter. [You¡¯ll have hopes¡ª] ¡°¡­¡­.¡± [Then reject them¡ª] ¡°¡­¡­.¡± [Be disappointed¡ª] ¡°¡­¡­.¡± [And ultimately, fall into despair.] Creak. [Trainee No. 10, the ¡®possibility¡¯ you speak of does not exist.] Grandmaster¡¯s gaze began to lower. She couldn¡¯t bear to watch the mob any longer, twisted as they were by frenzy. Claang! There, making use of the narrow terrain and swinging two swords in a flurry all by himself, was Isaac. ¡°¡­Possibility.¡± Blood trickling down his cheek looked almost like tears. His expression, wielding swords relentlessly at the mansion¡¯s entrance, was filled with guilt and regret¡ª Yet there was no hesitation in his actions. It was as though he clung to the last scrap of human pride, fighting tooth and nail against fate. The one with the least guilt now bore the heaviest sin. ¡°He is different from you.¡± [¡­] ¡°He is the ¡®possibility¡¯ I¡¯ve been waiting for.¡± [It is futile.] In an instant, the voice receded into the past¡ª A memory buried deep, one that might bide its time and try to resurface again. But not now. Not this time. As Grandmaster rested a hand on the window and gazed down at Isaac¡ª Whoosh! She noticed a change in the air splitting around him. The rhythm of cutting down enemies had shifted. It was lighter, yet somehow heavier than before. ¡°¡­!¡± The moment she saw the blue glow coursing through his sword, Grandmaster¡¯s eyes flew wide, a flicker of alarm crossing her face. ¡°That Demonic?...¡± Blackthorn¡¯s mansion¡ª That Primitive clan of transcendents had once reaped countless lives and souls. And now, Isaac¡¯s blade was beginning to resemble the very source of that power. **** He wasn¡¯t sure exactly when it began. At some point, his vision¡ªblurred by blood¡ªgrew clear. His movements became lighter, and the arcs of his swords sharper. A faint blue afterimage shimmered in the air. For a moment, he thought it might be aura, But it was too oppressively heavy to be called aura, and it churned as if it were alive. ¡°You monster bas¡ª!¡± Pu-u-uk! ¡®Ah.¡¯ His sword drank in the blood. No¡ªmore precisely: Isaac realized that through their deaths, he himself was somehow changing. Come to think of it¡ª Transcendent beings could not wield aura. In other words, they had no concept of mana at all. ¡°Fuuuuuck!¡± ¡°Why¡ªwhy would you come and destroy our paradise¡ª?!¡± Isaac¡¯s eyes glinted fiercely, cold as steel. Both swords traced identical paths through the air as he swung them simultaneously. Swish! That powerful strike tore through two people at once¡ªand then cut down everyone around them in a single blow. All at once, at some unrecognized moment¡ª He realized he was wielding something akin to that sword-demon he¡¯d witnessed at Blackthorn. ¡®Is this the right thing to do?¡¯ He sensed that if he pushed forward any further, something beyond all he had built with his sword would come crashing down upon him. But¡ª ¡°Our dad¡ª!¡± ¡°You piece of filth! Lapdog of the kingdom!¡± ¡°Who did we ever hurt?! Huh?!¡± Drug-crazed, they charged at him, heedless of the mounting pile of corpses. His blade, drenched in an ominous aura, moved as if by sheer instinct, ravenous for more prey. By now, his shoes were soaked bright red in pools of blood. Like a cursed pair of dancing shoes that would not let him stop until he died, Isaac swung his swords ceaselessly amid the mob. It was like a scene from a twisted fairy tale. He had to cut them down¡ªonly then could this gruesome dance come to an end. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 90: A Teacher Drip. Driiip. Isaac heard the sound of droplets falling. It didn¡¯t take long to realize that the droplets running down his arm and hitting the ground were actually blood. Before he knew it, the floor was drenched, and so many corpses were piled up that you could hardly see the pools of blood beneath them. ¡°Haah, haah.¡± Each ragged breath felt like it was squeezing his lungs. His grip on the sword had weakened; it clung stickily to his hand, smeared with sweat and blood. ¡°M-Monster¡ª.¡± ¡°He¡¯s insane. Completely insane!¡± ¡°Do you even know how many you¡¯ve killed?!¡± Their desperate cries made Isaac slowly lift his gaze. ¡°Ah¡­.¡± By then, Dawn had passed, and the day was growing bright. What had been dark, viscous pools of crimson in the night now shone under the morning light, like a curtain being drawn back, reminding everyone not to forget the atrocities that took place overnight. Those who had been drugged, as daylight broke, now backed away as if they were the victims. ¡°T-This isn¡¯t right! It¡¯s not supposed to be like this!¡± ¡°We only did what we had to, to survive. Should we really have to die just because we got high?¡± ¡°It¡¯s unfair! So unfair!¡± Splash. Isaac took a step forward. As the tip of his sword cut through the puddle of blood, a rippling sound spread out. Amid his ragged breaths, Isaac spoke in a faint, exhausted voice. ¡°Baron Bolten, who was involved in the attempted assassination of Princess Adeline, was executed on the spot for treason.¡± He had the right to say this, having come all this way by order of Princess Adeline herself. ¡°All of you who supported Baron Bolten and opposed me have also committed treason.¡± ¡°W-Wait, we only¡ª¡± ¡°We only wanted¡­ the drug.¡± Maybe the sunlight cleared their minds a bit. While they mumbled incoherently, they kept a close watch on Isaac. They had been too intoxicated to see beyond the moment, too consumed by rage when their so-called paradise began to crumble. As surely as one sobers up from any drug, they were now forced to reckon with their crimes in the light of morning. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Bloodstained and weary, Isaac fixed his gaze on them. His arms hung limp, his legs barely holding him upright. His body was covered in so many wounds that it would have been no surprise if he collapsed on the spot. Yet somehow, that made his presence even more intimidating. In the end, the few remaining mad rioters dropped to their knees. ¡°S-S-Sir, please spare us.¡± ¡°We¡¯re sorry, we¡¯re sorry! We just lose our minds when we¡¯re high¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s our fault. We know we were wrong. Please, just let us live.¡± A moment ago, they had attacked with no regard for their own lives. But now that the drug¡¯s madness and the stench of blood had faded, they were nothing but ordinary people again. In some ways, it was the most painful sight for Isaac yet. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Kneeling in the crimson puddle, They bowed their heads toward him. The madness was subdued, and Bolten was awash in blood. Finally, at that very moment Isaac could no longer stand and collapsed¡ª Thump. A hand caught him, and he rolled his eyes to see who it was. ¡°¡­I won¡¯t say anything.¡± That familiar touch, that familiar voice. As if waiting for this, the Grandmaster pulled Isaac into her arms and whispered softly, ¡°First, rest.¡± With those words, Isaac slowly closed his eyes, bringing the long, grueling day to an end. **** Isaac reopened his eyes around noon. Despite his exhaustion, he¡¯d only managed a few hours of sleep. ¡°Where¡­ is this¡ª?¡± He lay on a bed, in a room adorned with animal pelts, noble certificates, bows and arrows, and leather coats. Just by looking around, he knew exactly whose room this was. ¡°Urgh.¡± A pungent medicinal smell clung to his entire body, and the bandages wrapped so tightly around him made it hard to move. Groaning, he struggled out of the room, only to run straight into a man carrying a damp towel. ¡°Baron Logan!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°A-Ah, I¡¯m the caretaker of this mansion, formerly the secretary to the late Baron Bolten¡ª¡± The secretary was introducing himself, but Isaac barely registered his name, thrown off by the words ¡°Baron Logan.¡± Well, no matter. ¡°Thanks to your valor, Baron Logan, the rebellion was put down swiftly. We owe you a great debt.¡± The secretary bowed his head, watching Isaac warily, likely afraid that Baron Bolten¡¯s crimes might implicate him as well. But Isaac had no mental space left to consider such things. ¡®If he¡¯s guilty, he¡¯ll just have to face punishment.¡¯ Given he hadn¡¯t tried to run, perhaps he intended to confess everything to lighten his sentence. Just as Baron Bolten never indulged in drugs, this secretary also seemed uninvolved in that aspect. ¡°I need to send a letter to the royal palace.¡± ¡°Yes, of course! I¡¯ll prepare paper, ink, and a pen right away. Since your hands are injured, shall I write it on your behalf¡ª?¡± ¡°No. The princess will read it personally, so I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± ¡°Understood, Baron Logan.¡± The secretary bowed low, eager to be of help, and turned to leave. Isaac called after him urgently, ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°Yes? Was there something else?¡± ¡°¡­You were Baron Bolten¡¯s closest confidant, weren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Y-Yes, that¡¯s correct. I¡¯ve already compiled all the records of the stored drugs, the ledgers, the outside distribution channels¡ª¡± ¡°No.¡± As if expecting a reprimand, the secretary flattened himself like a toad, spewing facts. But Isaac wanted to know something else. ¡°Milli Marceau¡¯s family.¡± Baron Bolten had claimed to have found them. ¡°Take me to them.¡± **** S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By the time they left the mansion, dense rain clouds had gathered over Bolten, unleashing a torrential downpour. Oddly enough, despite the heavy rain, it was strangely quiet, like it was washing the city clean. ¡°¡­This is a relief, isn¡¯t it?¡± Holding the umbrella the secretary had been carrying, the Grandmaster spoke quietly from behind Isaac. ¡°Right on cue, the rain came to wash away the stench of blood. This city will be a little cleaner for it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac couldn¡¯t answer. They stood in a small park, empty of any people. There was only one reason for its emptiness: it wasn¡¯t a park for the living. In front of Isaac was a large headstone. Following the names etched there, he found the ones he had searched so hard to locate: Marten Marceau. John Marceau. Malinnea Marceau. ¡°Apparently, these are the graves of those whose identities have been confirmed,¡± Looking up at the tombstone, Isaac spoke calmly. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a revolution. They were just swept away by the violence that followed.¡± He didn¡¯t know exactly what that violence might have been. In Bolten, violence was practically an everyday occurrence. Isaac bowed his head. If he kept looking up, tears would surely spill down his cheeks. ¡°I know it was just for my own peace of mind.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I only wanted Milli to be able to rest a little more comfortably.¡± His eyes brimmed with tears, threatening to fall at any moment. His battered body was giving out, and his heart felt more worn down with every passing minute. ¡°In the end¡­ this is all I could do.¡± Even after returning to this time, he¡¯d done little more than struggle to protect his own skin. Why? Why would someone like him be sent back at all? Tears streamed down his cheeks. It hadn¡¯t even been a full day since he¡¯d taken so many lives. Now he felt hypocritical, mourning the death of his friend¡¯s family. It was worse now that he¡¯d had a chance¡ª and still failed to save them¡ª than never having had a chance at all. It was crushing him even more¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t fall apart.¡± A pair of arms wrapped gently around Isaac from behind¡ª It was the Grandmaster. ¡°If you collapse here, how will you ever face your friend again?¡± His legs felt like jelly. Had the Grandmaster not been there, he would have sunk to his knees on the spot. ¡°Is it difficult?¡± Her tone was soft, reminiscent of old times. Eyes filling with tears, Isaac nodded involuntarily. ¡°It¡¯s hard. I can¡¯t forgive myself.¡± ¡°So it would be.¡± ¡°I just¡­ wanted to do at least this much for that child.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°The guilt¡ª¡± ¡°In that case.¡± She stood behind him, unseen, but her voice carried the hint of a gentle smile. ¡°Follow me again, as you did when you first learned the sword under me.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Isaac¡¯s eyes went wide. Strength returned to his trembling legs, and he slowly let go of her hand. Turning around, he saw the Grandmaster wearing a bittersweet smile. ¡°I¡¯ll trust your words. My disciple from the future.¡± ¡°But why¡ª?¡± ¡°Because I have to teach you.¡± Her hand tightened around the umbrella. She, too, was struggling to hold back her emotions. ¡°All of my fellow disciples¡­ are dead.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to believe it, so I treated you like a liar. For that, I apologize.¡± ¡°Grandmaster...¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure that, looking upon me, my fellow disciples would have felt the same sorrow. It¡¯s only right to let those who have passed on¡­ truly go.¡± She had helped her Patreons, cooperated with Princess Clarice, all for one simple reason: to find any surviving disciples. She kept Isaac close because, for her, he was proof that somewhere, at least one of them might still live. ¡°But I¡¯ve moved on.¡± Now, the Grandmaster had decided to accept it all. She opened her eyes¡ªhaving closed them for a moment¡ªand met Isaac¡¯s gaze. ¡°A teacher is someone who imparts lessons.¡± Her hand rested gently on Isaac¡¯s head, as if offering him support. ¡°Child, I am letting go of the past and choosing to live in the present.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± ¡°If it¡¯s too difficult, watch me and learn. I will live a life that my old friends wouldn¡¯t be ashamed of.¡± She wanted Isaac to let go of Milli. In turn, she was letting go of her own lost disciples. Ultimately, it was her way of accepting Isaac¡¯s return from the future. ¡°You too¡­ must learn how to let go.¡± His head dropped forward. ¡°Always¡ª¡± His voice, a mix of emptiness and tears, sounded almost like a child¡¯s complaint. ¡°You always teach me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what a teacher does.¡± The Grandmaster offered a slight smile. ¡°I have so many questions about what becomes of me in the future, but it seems we have more pressing matters right now.¡± She wiped away Isaac¡¯s tears, mindful of his injured arm. Isaac, accepting her kindness, took a moment to steady his breathing before he nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. In fact, you could say we failed our mission.¡± Originally, they¡¯d come here to deal with the Bellingwaltz Mercenary Corps, who¡¯d made a direct attempt on Princess Adeline¡¯s life. But they had failed, and so¡ª ¡°Ah! There they are!¡± A bright, energetic voice rang out through the downpour. Even amid the dreary gray cityscape, a girl with striking red hair came running, waving her hand. ¡°Isaac!¡± Behind that cheerful smile¡ª ¡°Oof!?¡± ¡°P-Please, a little more gently!¡± ¡ªwas the Bellingwaltz Mercenary Corps, tied up in ropes and dragged along by Sharen with rough, unyielding force. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: I really like this chapter. It shows that he is experiencing very complex emotional turmoil after killing so many people. To me, it doesn¡¯t seem like it¡¯s just because of the Milli family that he is this broken. Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 91: Letting Off Steam Clip-clop! Clip-clop! A late night, with the moon already risen. Having hastily grabbed a bite for dinner, the Bellingwaltz Mercenary Corps was urgently spurring their horses toward Bolten. At the very front of the group rode a young woman from Helmut: Sharen. Driven by a strong desire to arrive as soon as possible, she pressed on at a relentless pace without regard for the others¡¯ stamina. ¡°Are we almost there?¡± As she glanced back, the captain of the Bellingwalts Mercenary Corps, Bellington, promptly urged his horse forward to ride alongside her. ¡°Yes, at this speed, we¡¯ll reach it by morning.¡± ¡°Yeah? Good.¡± From her coat, Sharen took out a snack and popped it into her mouth. As she munched on the crunchy cookie, she cast a sidelong look at Bellington. ¡°I¡¯m not giving you any.¡± ¡®I don¡¯t want any, you crazy brat!¡¯ Although Bellington felt an urge to teach manners to this insolent kid, he forced a smile instead. He hated having to tread so carefully just because she was from Helmut, but there was no helping it. After all, she was literally from Helmut. That tiny brat gleefully snacking on a cookie could, if she felt like it, wipe them all out in an instant. ¡®Helmut and the Wind¡ªbest just let them blow on by.¡¯ So thought Bellington as he continued to ride. ¡°Someone¡¯s coming? Looks like there are quite a few of them.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± The crimson eyes of Sharen detected a crowd approaching in the darkness. ¡®She can see something?¡¯ Bellington was taken aback. He assumed it was nonsense at first, but then he saw faint silhouettes in the gloom and opened his eyes wide. ¡°They¡­really are out there?¡± ¡°What, you thought I was lying?¡± Sharen raised her chin triumphantly, savoring her sense of superiority. ¡®If they¡¯re coming from the opposite direction, then they must be leaving Bolten. But who¡¯d be traveling at this hour?¡¯ While Bellington wondered about that¡ª ¡°Huh?¡± He let out another gasp. The group approaching them turned out to be none other than his own mercenaries who had been stationed in Bolten. More than thirty men were moving in a cluster. Recognizing Bellington, they waved in greeting. ¡°Sharen-nim, these are my subordinates. May I speak with them briefly?¡± ¡°¡­We¡¯re in a hurry.¡± ¡°Please.¡± He had no idea why he even needed Sharen¡¯s permission, but Bellington asked her anyway. ¡°Fine, but do it quick!¡± Leaping off his horse at once, Bellington ran over to them. He made sure to keep some distance, worried that Sharen might overhear their conversation. ¡°What are you guys doing here? I told you we¡¯d handle things. We were supposed to cooperate with Baron Bolten¡ª¡± ¡°Captain, Baron Bolten is dead.¡± ¡°What?!¡± He raised his voice before he knew it. A quick glance behind revealed Sharen gazing blankly up at the moon, still nibbling on her cookie. Relieved, Bellington asked again in a quieter tone: ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Baron Logan came to Bolten.¡± ¡°Logan¡­ that guy from the banquet hall.¡± As someone who had once sparred against Isaac during that gathering, Bellington instantly recalled the man¡ªone who had been lucky enough to dodge his unorthodox swordsmanship. ¡°Right before we left, he killed Baron Bolten. Now Bolten is in full revolt.¡± ¡°He sure pissed off those junkies.¡± ¡°Yes, exactly.¡± ¡°Damn it, that Logan keeps getting in our way. I¡¯d love to tear him to pieces.¡± If not for that man at the banquet, they could have assassinated Princess Adeline. Thanks to multiple incidents, Baron Logan had firmly landed on Bellington¡¯s radar. He sighed, thinking it over. ¡®They were being paid a fortune by their Patreons, but it was still a risky line of work.¡¯ ¡®Maybe it¡¯s time to cut and run.¡¯ He suspected they hadn¡¯t been exposed yet. If they fled now, it might be hard for anyone to catch them. ¡®Rather than going back to Bolten, it might be better to regroup with our Patreons somewhere else.¡¯ Having made his decision, Bellington paused to consider one last thing: What about that feisty brat bringing up the rear? ¡®We¡¯ll just give her a horse and send her on her way.¡¯ It was a bit of a waste, but better than heading into the mess at Bolten. ¡°Um, about the young lady¡ª¡± ¡°Red Flames!¡± Clanng! A crimson aura whirled forth from Sharen¡¯s greatsword and swept over Bellington and the other mercenaries approaching. The attack came so abruptly that they couldn¡¯t even attempt to defend themselves as they were swallowed by the Red Flames. The horses reared back on their hind legs with terrified whinnies, adding to the chaos. Especially unfortunate was Bellington, who had taken a direct hit; his body burned with pain as he lay on the ground, shouting: ¡°Wh-what are you doing?!¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even if she was from Helmut, she wasn¡¯t some raving lunatic. Why attack all of a sudden? ¡°Baron Logan is Isaac, right? I didn¡¯t realize it at first because the title sounded off.¡± ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± They¡¯d whispered from a distance¡ªhad she really heard that? Gawking in shock, Bellington turned to Sharen. She rested her greatsword on her shoulder, looking mighty pleased with herself. ¡°People from Helmut have good ears.¡± Once more, the Red Flames flared from Sharen¡¯s blade. **** Back in the baron¡¯s bedroom once again. With a bright grin, Sharen finished explaining how she had managed to capture the Bellingwaltz Mercenary Corps. ¡°And that¡¯s how it all went down.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°You can praise me if you want!¡± Humming, Sharen shook her head left and right in delight. Her two-parted hair sways as if urging him to praise her quickly. ¡°...Good job.¡± Isaac wanted to pat Sharen on the head, but his injured arm made it difficult. So he just said it aloud, and Sharen stuck out her lower lip, looking a bit disappointed. ¡°You really did catch a mouse by backing up like a cow.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a cow! I¡¯m Helmut!¡± ¡°It was just a figure of speech.¡± Letting out a dry chuckle, Grandmaster reached over and ruffled Sharen¡¯s hair in Isaac¡¯s stead. ¡°Hey!¡± But Sharen brushed away Grandmaster¡¯s hand and turned back to Isaac to shout: ¡°This is just a deposit on the praise! Make sure you compliment me again next time!¡± ¡°¡­..¡± He couldn¡¯t help wondering if she was really Rihanna¡¯s sister. Or even earlier in her lineage: Sharen was born between Arandel and Galenia. Did one of them have a personality like this? Though a bit confused, Isaac merely nodded. ¡°Well, it worked out in the end. Thanks to you, we managed to capture the Bellingwaltz Mercenary Corps. Once we interrogate them, we should be able to learn more about their sponsors in no time.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go do it now.¡± Isaac sprang to his feet. Though the other two worried over his injuries, he was the one who wanted to get moving. ¡°I feel better doing something¡­anything at all.¡± ¡°In that case, I won¡¯t try to stop you.¡± ¡°Isaac! What should I do?¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± He said ¡®interrogation,¡¯ but it could easily escalate to torture. Not wanting Sharen to see that, Isaac pointed to the bed. ¡°Get some rest. You must be tired.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Without hesitation, Sharen hopped onto the bed. She must have been exhausted¡ªby the time Isaac stepped out of the room, he could hear the soft sound of her even breathing. ¡°She¡¯s quite adorable for someone from Helmut.¡± ¡°Seems her cuteness is on a Helmut-level scale, too.¡± Sharing a small laugh, Isaac and Grandmaster headed toward the dining hall where they had the Bellingwaltz Mercenary Corps bound. ¡°Now that I think of it¡­¡± Right outside the dining hall, just before pushing open the door, Grandmaster looked at Isaac and asked: ¡°In the previous timeline¡ªbefore the regression¡ªwhat did you call me?¡± ¡°¡­I called you Grandmaster.¡± ¡°Hmm? Grandmaster? I don¡¯t see why the ¡®Grand¡¯ part would be there. Were my future tastes growing grandiose?¡± ¡°You had many disciples. Since you couldn¡¯t teach them all personally, there were times I would teach them in your place¡ª¡± No need to admit she¡¯d been jealous about it. ¡°So I suggested you change your title to Grandmaster.¡± ¡°Hmm, so I had a lot of disciples?¡± Grandmaster seemed surprised, wearing a slightly perplexed expression. ¡°We¡¯ll have to share a drink sometime and talk it through. Is there anything I absolutely need to know?¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Go on, I won¡¯t be angry.¡± ¡°You should consider finding a partner.¡± ¡°A partner? My sword is my only lover, so I have no need¡ª¡± ¡°When you got really drunk, you cried about not having someone special by your side.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± There was a moment of silence. Standing by the door, the two exchanged a look that spoke volumes in an instant. ¡°¡­You¡¯re not very good at making jokes, are you?¡± ¡°You also lamented it was because of your age. And if we work backward to figure out how old you were at the time¡ª¡± Clunk! Cutting him off, Grandmaster flung the door open and strode inside. Then, glaring down at the tied-up mercenary captain of the Bellingwaltz Mercenary Corps, Grandmaster kicked him square in the chest and roared: ¡°You dared to attempt to assassinate Her Highness?!¡± It was an outburst brimming with genuine fury. ***** Grandmaster was a force to be reckoned with, singlehandedly capable of overpowering hundreds. With the pent-up wrath of a ¡°late-blooming spinster,¡± she ruthlessly interrogated them, prying out a great deal of information. Given his injured hand, Isaac found it quite a task to write all the details into a single report. ¡°Your handwriting is the same as ever, even with that hurt hand.¡± While Isaac worked on the letter, Grandmaster sat on the bed beside him, drinking wine. Sharen was still sound asleep. ¡°I¡¯m doing my best. Normally, I¡¯d have been finished much sooner.¡± After all, this was an important letter meant for the princess. Scrawling it out carelessly or letting someone else write it for him would feel disrespectful. Glup, glup. Hearing Grandmaster gulp down her drink, Isaac sighed. ¡°That¡¯s your third bottle today.¡± ¡°Mm? I¡¯m just craving a bit more tonight. Don¡¯t mind me.¡± ¡°Is it because of what we talked about earlier¡ª¡± ¡°It is not.¡± Grandmaster cast him a hazy stare, then glanced down at the wine bottle and continued: ¡°Admitting out loud that none of our fellow disciples are still alive¡­it¡¯s more complicated than I expected.¡± ¡°¡­I understand.¡± Even Isaac hadn¡¯t fully let go of Milli yet. But both of them were forging on regardless¡ªthat much was certain. Glup, glup. After another swig, Grandmaster wiped her mouth and gave Isaac a sidelong glance. ¡°But tell me something.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Still focused on his letter, Isaac answered while diligently moving his pen. Then Grandmaster posed a crucial question: ¡°Do you have any idea why you were able to regress? Any clue at all?¡± Tap. Slowly, Isaac set his pen aside. He was thankful to finally have someone with whom he could share the burden he¡¯d kept to himself until now. ¡°May I have some of that drink as well?¡± He was glad, yes¡ªbut it felt like a conversation best had with a little alcohol in his system. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 92: Escort ¡°Huh, how curious. Indeed. Long ago, I once tried wielding a sword with my tail.¡± ¡°You told me that was your embarrassing past, right?¡± The two people conversing over small sips of liquor: Isaac and the Grandmaster. Stories that, for some, are memories of the past and for others, predictions of the future, flow back and forth between them. After downing a cup, the Grandmaster gives a bitter laugh and nods. ¡°I never intended to deny it, but talking with you like this makes me truly believe in this ¡®return to the past¡¯ business.¡± Isaac pours another round into the Grandmaster¡¯s cup. Simply sharing the secret he had long kept to himself brought a sense of relief. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying the swordsmanship knowledge you possess comes from that era, when you were called the ¡®Silent sword.¡¯¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. You always called me the child who chases stars.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± With a wry grin, the Grandmaster lets out a hollow laugh. ¡°So that¡¯s why it shone so beautifully back then?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Your eyes reflected the stars. It was mesmerizing.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Merely the effort of chasing stars, to receive such acknowledgment¡ªit was both humbling and rewarding for Isaac. The Grandmaster, who once lamented the injury to Isaac¡¯s legs and spoke of his potential, had caused Isaac to harbor doubts about himself. He had often wondered if he could really have lived up to those expectations, had he not been crippled. ¡®It feels good.¡¯ Being recognized like this naturally lifted Isaac¡¯s spirits, helped along by a mild tipsiness. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking carefully.¡± Smacking her lips, the Grandmaster looked at Isaac. Her expression was bright, as if a tangled knot has come undone. ¡°You say I took on many disciples, yet I never once spoke of my past.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Moreover, she had barely involved herself in the war. In fact, she remained somewhat passive. Even when a sword was held to their throats, unlike the others, she accepted it with unsettling composure. ¡°I believe, back in that time, I must have been disillusioned.¡± ¡°Disillusioned¡­ you say?¡± ¡°Disillusioned with humanity.¡± In that moment, Isaac recalled walking the night streets of Bolten. When attacked by the citizens of Bolten, the Grandmaster had tears in her eyes as she tried to stop them. -Stop right there. -Doesn¡¯t it look as though what they said might actually be right? At the time, everything was so urgent that he had glossed over it, but looking back now, those words shouldn¡¯t have been taken lightly. ¡°That¡¯s probably why I stayed in seclusion. Just taking on new disciples and waiting to die¡ªsuch was my life.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I had no other reason for taking on so many students.¡± Since these were her own words, Isaac found no room to argue. In truth, the Grandmaster had refused to join the kingdom¡¯s forces even at Princess Clarice¡¯s request back then. And they simply followed the Grandmaster¡¯s lead. ¡®I thought it was a strange choice at the time.¡¯ So that was the hidden backstory. ¡°But now, this time, you changed something.¡± A crescent-moon smile appeared on her lips. ¡°By trusting you,¡± The Grandmaster lightly held out her cup and clinked it against Isaac¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯ve decided to stand on humanity¡¯s side.¡± It was a declaration that she would join the upcoming war against the Transcendents. Isaac stared blankly at the Grandmaster for a moment, then flashed a bright smile and bowed his head. ¡°Thank you.¡± **** Sharen gazed blankly up at the sky. About a month had passed since the incident in Bolten. She had been staying at Isaac¡¯s estate in Evergarde during that time. A lot had happened. One major development: all the marriage proposals aimed at Isaac had stopped. Some claimed his actions in Bolten had been too extreme, tainting him with a notorious reputation. Though not entirely false, the complaint was that his chosen method had been problematic. Isaac didn¡¯t feel wronged by this. He said anyone who hadn¡¯t witnessed that madness firsthand was bound to say such things. Rumors of cruelty began to circulate about Baron Logan as well, causing Isaac¡¯s once-rising name to falter. ¡®It¡¯s already been three months since Isaac left Helmut.¡¯ Sharen sat absentmindedly in a chair, mumbling to herself. To be honest, she was bored. She still trained with her sword every day, but that was more of a routine than anything else. Contrary to the rumors that the Transcendents would soon declare war, life was quieter than expected. ¡®Maybe it¡¯s all a lie?¡¯ Those so-called Transcendents are just imaginary creatures! Sharen knew it was nonsense. After all, she herself had fought against the Transcendents. ¡°Hmph.¡± Sharen hummed alone, shaking her head from side to side. The capital city was full of bakeries, a paradise for anyone who loves sweet treats. Still, she was broke and forced to rely on Isaac for an allowance, so she had to hold back whenever she indulged. ¡°Oh, right!¡± Jumping to her feet, Sharen headed back inside the estate. In the dining room, two people were deep in conversation over tea: Isaac and Princess Clarice. ¡°Just as Isaac reported, investigating nobles with disabled children has revealed a few suspicious details.¡± ¡°So the information from Bellingwaltz Mercenary Corps was correct. They¡¯re likely using sorcery-based healing or body enhancements as bait to lure nobles.¡± ¡°Exactly. My sister, Princess Adeline, is quietly but thoroughly preparing countermeasures.¡± Sharen snuck up from behind and clung to Isaac¡¯s back. Though their important conversation was momentarily interrupted, neither Isaac nor Princess Clarice scolded her. ¡°Bored, are we?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s more like¡ª¡± Before Sharen could finish, Isaac handed her a snack from the untouched refreshments on the table. She popped it into her mouth and beamed happily. ¡°If you¡¯re not going to eat it, can I have it?¡± Isaac cast a sidelong glance at Princess Clarice. She picked up one piece for herself, then nudged the rest toward him as if saying, ¡°Take them all.¡± Sharen took the plate of cookies and headed out. Isaac¡¯s eyes followed her briefly before he resumed his discussion with Princess Clarice. ¡°In any event, it seems your plan to expand Princess Adeline¡¯s influence is working nicely.¡± ¡°Right? All I have to do is feed her the right information, and my sister handles the rest perfectly.¡± Princess Clarice smiled, finding it all quite convenient. Just then, Sharen let out a gasp from the dining room entrance. ¡°Huh?! Huhhh?!¡± Sharen backed away, gripping the plate of cookies. Behind her stepped in a stunningly beautiful woman with a mature bearing. Adeline Seraphia Regardia. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The First Princess. ¡°Princess?!¡± ¡°Unnie?!¡± Startled, both Isaac and Princess Clarice jumped to their feet. Princess Adeline greeted them with a gentle smile. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Baron Logan. Didn¡¯t I tell you to show your face more often?¡± Isaac started to kneel on one knee, but Princess Clarice quickly grabbed his shoulder, preventing him. ¡°Unnie might try to pull something on Isaac, so that¡¯s why I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Oh my, there¡¯s nothing you won¡¯t say to your unnie, is there?¡± Princess Adeline took a seat in one of the empty chairs. Without meaning to, Isaac suddenly found himself hosting not one but two princesses in his estate. ¡°The recent Bolten incident was quite striking. I never knew you had that side in you, Baron Logan.¡± ¡°Under the circumstances, it was necessary. If I hadn¡¯t acted, I would¡¯ve been the one killed.¡± After all, the rioters, driven mad by drugs, had shown no hesitation in taking lives. ¡°I have quite a few swords encrusted with gems. But I¡¯d love to own a butcher¡¯s blade still drenched in blood¡­¡± Propping her chin on her hand, Princess Adeline gazed intently at Isaac. Their eyes met¡ªonly for a slim hand to swoop in between them. ¡°Ah-ah-ah! No way, that¡¯s not happening! Isaac is busy! He still has things to do for me!¡± ¡°¡­Things to do for you?¡± Isaac frowned at Princess Clarice. She forced a laugh, as though she¡¯d slipped up. ¡°Haha¡­¡± ¡°So, you came here just to ask me for a favor? I was wondering why you were buttering me up so much.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how she is. She never really cares about people¡¯s feelings¡ªshe just calculates everything for her own benefit.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Princess Clarice cleared her throat awkwardly, then raised her voice in irritation toward Princess Adeline. ¡°And what about you, Unnie?! Why are you here?! I need to talk to Isaac about something very important right now!¡± ¡°I¡¯m here for something important too. I came here to talk to you.¡± Princess Adeline¡¯s gaze grew calm. Her eyes were like a quiet lake¡ªso mesmerizing that one might want to settle down in their depths. ¡°I came to tell you there¡¯s no need for you to sacrifice yourself.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Many nobles, led by Baron Logan here, are already working hard. Even the kingdom¡¯s military, which used to be too focused on Helmut, is naturally regaining its balance.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°The North is solid, the South is fierce, and the Central region is lofty. The kingdom is ready for them anytime.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°I almost wish they¡¯d just show up already.¡± Princess Adeline shrugged. ¡°So, Clarice, if you reconsider¡ª¡± ¡°But those Transcendents are full of unknowns. That¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m worried.¡± Princess Clarice¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°They¡¯re a race found nowhere else on the continent. And yet, they have their own culture, history, and traditions¡ªjust like us, built over countless years.¡± The unknown. Princess Clarice, who thrived on gathering intel, making judgments, and calculating outcomes, felt uneasy. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something else, something undiscovered, might be lurking out there. ¡°Just as we had Arandel, there may be something else they¡¯re hiding.¡± ¡°Clarice.¡± ¡°Which is why, Isaac¡­¡± Princess Adeline tried to speak, but Princess Clarice pretended not to hear and turned to Isaac. With a faint smile, Princess Clarice spoke carefully. ¡°I¡­ My marriage has been arranged.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± ¡°So, on my way to meet my fianc¨¦¡­ May I ask you to escort me?¡± ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 93: Daily Instructor Baron Logan A few days later. Several carriages stood in front of the royal palace. Among them, the most striking one was the dignified and noble white carriage. Called the ¡®Pegasus,¡¯ it was known as the carriage of dreams among carriage enthusiasts. It was a gift from the Magic Tower to the royal family, allowing for much faster travel than other carriages. Several spells were cast on the carriage itself, and the horses pulling it receive extremely rigorous training. ¡°To think I¡¯d get a chance to ride Pegasus.¡± Isaac watched Pegasus with considerable interest. During the last assault by the transcendents, who used Alois, the first thing they targeted was Pegasus. That alone speaks to its immense value. ¡°Isaac, did you know?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Sharen, who had whined like crazy to tag along this time, puffed up with pride. ¡°When you ride Pegasus, you¡¯re supposed to take off your boots and ride barefoot. That¡¯s how precious it is.¡± ¡°Ah, really.¡± ¡°Hehe, you didn¡¯t know, did you? You almost got called ignorant.¡± Isaac simply dismissed Sharen¡¯s blatant tall tale with disinterest. Did she really think he would actually believe that nonsense? At that moment, Princess Clarice, dressed in a lovely gown, appeared. On either side of her stood Heyrad and the Grandmaster, the former of whom wore a noticeably displeased expression. Today was the day the bride was departing. It was the day Princess Clarice would set out for her marriage to Prince Raphael of the Brentarion Kingdom. A massive procession was arranged around Pegasus: an escort knight order, wedding gifts, and a retinue of handmaidens. Originally, other members of the royal family were supposed to go as well, but with the king in poor health, the eldest daughter could not leave his side. Thus, the only member of the royal family in attendance was Princess Clarice alone. ¡®I thought this was put together quite hastily, but it looks more legitimate than I expected.¡¯ Isaac would be taking part here as a member of the escort knights. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Swish, swish. As Princess Clarice passed by, she blatantly signaled Isaac to get on Pegasus. ¡®Even though she¡¯s dressed so splendidly, she¡¯s still the same person underneath.¡¯ Though she wore the refined attire of an elegant bride, her actions betrayed the same princess who once roamed festivals on foot. ¡®She is still so young.¡¯ Perhaps that¡¯s why the words of Princess Adeline, whom he met separately before departure, still stuck with him. -Please, Baron Logan. ¡®It¡¯ll be tough if you just leave it all up to me.¡¯ -No, that¡¯s not it. Just¡­ please support her. And if it starts to bother you¡ª you know? ¡®I have no idea what you mean.¡¯ **** Pegasus was quite comfortable on the inside as well. A refreshing aroma filled the interior, likely another form of magic. ¡°Ooh.¡± Even Sharen, who had seen all sorts of things back in Helmut, looked around in wonder. ¡°Isn¡¯t it way too slow?¡± However, the carriage was moving at an excessively slow pace. It felt pointless to ride the fastest carriage in the world like this. ¡°They¡¯re intentionally going slowly. We¡¯ll probably arrive in Brentarion much later than scheduled.¡± Because this procession was transporting a bride, even these small details needed to convey a sense of elegance. If they rushed ahead recklessly, it would look like she couldn¡¯t wait to meet her groom. ¡°This is going to be tedious.¡± ¡°Then how about we play word chain? I¡¯ll start! Helmut!¡± Sharen began something, but the Grandmaster placed her leg on Isaac¡¯s thigh across from him and mumbled: ¡°It¡¯ll be hard to train here.¡± ¡°Please move your leg.¡± ¡°But this is comfortable. Go on, massage your master¡¯s legs.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Ever since she learned that she was called the Grandmaster, she¡¯d been subtly trying to act like a mentor, which was a bit annoying. ¡°Mut! Isaac! Try something with ¡®Mut!¡¯¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be difficult to do formal training, so how about we spar whenever we get a moment?¡± ¡°I¡¯d welcome that.¡± ¡°All right. How about that demonic energy¡¯ you used last time? Still no reaction?¡± ¡°It¡¯s strange. I feel like something could happen, but I can¡¯t really use it properly.¡± The demonic energy¡ªthe power contained in the sword wielded by the sword demon in Blackthorn. Because it was obtained by taking the lives of others, it carries immense gravity and responsibility. ¡°What¡¯s important is that you carry it. Don¡¯t be impatient.¡± In particular, the Grandmaster showed great interest in the demonic energy Isaac possessed. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m not sure. Is this really the right thing? Back then¡­ I felt uneasy.¡± ¡°Is ¡®Mut¡¯ too tough? Maybe something else? ¡®Tunnel!¡¯¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mean to nitpick, but it¡¯s certain that you possess a power no one else can. Don¡¯t let needless anxieties get to you.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°¡­You just switched it to Nitpick!¡± In the end, the Grandmaster couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and looked over at Sharen. ¡°Your persistence is so very Helmut-like.¡± ¡°Hurry up! I¡¯m bored!¡± ¡°What was it again? ¡®L?¡¯ ¡®Leap¡¯ then.¡± ¡°Re? Re¡ª.¡± ¡°Leap.¡± ¡°Ah, I got confused. ¡®R¡ª.¡¯¡± Watching the two of them bicker, Isaac could only let out a hollow laugh. He thought it was surely a scene he would never have imagined in his previous life. After all, who would imagine the Grandmaster and Sharen from Helmut playing word chain inside Pegasus? While Sharen was still pondering, the princess¡ªwho had been staring out the window¡ªfinally couldn¡¯t take it anymore and interjected. ¡°Excuse me? I¡¯m pretty sure I only told Isaac to come in. Why did all of you follow?¡± ¡°If a princess on her way to be married is in a carriage alone with a man, rumors will spread that they¡¯ve become intimate.¡± ¡°Pineapple!¡± ¡°Haah, it¡¯s fine, so could you please step out? I have something I want to discuss with Isaac.¡± At the princess¡¯s request, the Grandmaster shrugged and opened the carriage door. Since it was moving slowly anyway, she hopped out without a care. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Sharen looked disappointed that her word chain partner was gone. Princess Clarice smiled gently at Sharen and made a request. ¡°Sharen, would you mind stepping out for a moment?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯d like to, but¡­¡± Still seated, Sharen slightly lifted both legs. Her pure white bare feet appeared, clad in nothing. ¡°I left my shoes in the other carriage.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­Why?¡± When Isaac inadvertently asked, Sharen blushed as she responded. ¡°I-I told you earlier! You ride Pegasus barefoot! But I guess not. Everyone else is wearing shoes.¡± ¡®So she wasn¡¯t actually messing with me¡­¡¯ It seemed she had heard that somewhere and taken it at face value. ¡°...All right, fine. Just stay. But stay quiet, please.¡± And thus, Princess Clarice finally gave up. She looked at Isaac and asked frankly, ¡°How do you feel about this marriage?¡± ¡°Do you really think my opinion matters?¡± Perhaps sensing her explanation was insufficient, Princess Clarice spoke again, her tone a bit lighter: ¡°I don¡¯t mean from the perspective of a princess and a baron. We¡¯ve already done all the calculations there¡ªthis marriage is a practical union for diplomatic alliances and political ties.¡± Princess Clarice gave a self-assured smile and shrugged. The same unwavering confidence in herself that Isaac had sensed before shone through. ¡°What I want to know is how it looks from the viewpoint of someone who was once married.¡± Princess Clarice let out a long, weighty sigh. ¡°My sister, Adeline, and Heyrad¡ªthey both see this marriage in a negative light. They think I¡¯m sacrificing myself for the good of the kingdom.¡± ¡°Well, it does come across that way.¡± After all, it happened so suddenly. No matter who looked at it, it was clear that the princess was deliberately leaving her kingdom to solidify its bonds and, in doing so, would strengthen alliances with another nation. Moreover, the Brentarion Kingdom was militarily powerful, serving as another bulwark against the transcendents. A single move with multiple gains. Princess Clarice¡¯s marriage brought substantial benefit to the kingdom. It was evident she had thought it through thoroughly. ¡°That alone is enough for me. My marriage was a powerful card, and I used it efficiently at the right time.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t deny that.¡± ¡°But people don¡¯t act based solely on efficiency and logic. There are emotions involved.¡± And then¡ª ¡°To my knowledge, you¡ªIsaac¡ªare someone who married purely for love.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry if that makes you uncomfortable, but I¡¯m being sincere.¡± Taking a moment to steady her breathing, Princess Clarice clasped her hands tightly together. ¡°I¡­ want to reassure everyone. I want to show them that I¡¯m not just sacrificing myself for the kingdom; that I¡¯m living a happy married life.¡± ¡°You mean¡ª¡± ¡°I want to love this husband of mine, a man whose name is practically all I know about him. So, Isaac, help me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Owo!¡± Next to them, Sharen reacted with bright, eager eyes. She seemed to find the topic immensely entertaining. ¡°I know this might sound a bit off-putting,¡± Princess Clarice remarked, fully aware, then ran her hand through her hair in a smug gesture. ¡°But I¡¯ve never really had feelings for a man before. I guess there¡¯s never been anyone who satisfied me.¡± ¡°¡­So?¡± The slightly brusque reply slipped out, but Princess Clarice continued on with what she wanted to say. ¡°You managed to win over Rihanna Helmut, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You did, right?¡± ¡°You did, didn¡¯t you?!¡± Princess Clarice and Sharen pressed him for an answer. Isaac tried to ignore the headache threatening to flare up and responded, ¡°It was mutual. I wasn¡¯t the only one doing the wooing.¡± ¡°Wow, so your wife actually¡ª?¡± ¡°Ahem! Anyway, that¡¯s why I need your help, Isaac. Teach me about romance so I can love that man.¡± ¡°Wow! I want to learn, too!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Isaac smacked his forehead with a tak sound, suddenly feeling he¡¯d rather be fighting the transcendents again. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 94: All Set for the Wedding ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac wore a bewildered expression as he looked at the two women staring at him. They reminded him of kids gazing at their grandfather, waiting to hear a fun story. Scratching his cheek awkwardly, Isaac asked, ¡°Exactly what is it you want me to teach you?¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we start with longing?¡± ¡°Longing?¡± When he repeated the question, Princess Clarice nodded without hesitation. ¡°Yes, if I actually find myself wanting something, I think I could become more proactive.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°To be honest, right now, I¡¯m in a state of utter perfection where I don¡¯t need a man or love at all!¡± ¡°Whew.¡± Isaac felt he more or less understood what she meant. Absurd though it was, it was odd how her request ultimately came from wanting to help others. Needing love for someone else¡¯s sake? ¡®The premise itself is kind of strange.¡¯ If it were the romantic Isaac of the past, he would have pointed that out immediately. But the current Isaac was different. ¡°All right, first off, do you have a type?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± He¡¯d expected that answer. ¡°Is there any man you at least find a little different? Someone you¡¯re somewhat comfortable around?¡± ¡°Well, if I had to pick someone I¡¯m close with... it¡¯d be Isaac or Heyrad? He¡¯s my guard knight, so I¡¯m with him all the time.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s imagine it. You hold hands with Heyrad and share a kiss¡ª¡± ¡°Ugh, gross. No thanks.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even understand why people kiss in the first place. Don¡¯t you know how dangerous that is? If there¡¯s contamination or something¡ª¡± This princess clearly needed time. **** When night fell, the procession stopped. All around the carriage, small bonfires flickered, with people gathered according to their groups. Knights with knights. Ladies-in-waiting with ladies-in-waiting. In small clusters, they warmed themselves by the fires, talking or watching the rising smoke. It felt as if the old romantic mood, once lost, had begun to bloom again. Or maybe it was just because they were single and open to possibilities¡ªwho knows? ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you¡¯re teaching the princess about love?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± Next to him, the Grandmaster bit into a skewer of meat and gave a wide grin. Licking her lips, slick with grease, she added, ¡°How intriguing. Love, by nature, is deeply emotional and centered on personal desire. Yet she wants to realize it for someone else¡¯s sake?¡± ¡°Ooh.¡± Sharen, who was also eating a skewer, let out a sound of admiration as if she had just heard something amazing. The Grandmaster turned toward Clarice from across the bonfire and offered her advice. ¡°Emotions are natural, like a flowing river. They flow as they will, so do not try to force the current to change.¡± ¡°Ooh.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re saying I shouldn¡¯t force it, right?¡± ¡°Even if you do, you yourself will know the truth eventually. Such is love.¡± Though the Grandmaster primarily taught swordsmanship, she would occasionally comment on matters beyond the blade. Her lessons ultimately circled back to keeping one¡¯s mind in check so as not to hinder the sword, but still, she had wisdom to share. ¡°Then could you tell me more?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Skewer still in her mouth, the Grandmaster paused at Clarice¡¯s request. ¡°You¡¯ve felt your heart flutter before, haven¡¯t you? I¡¯d like to know when and how you felt love.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± She hesitated, about to speak, when¡ª ¡°It has to be with a person, okay? Something like ¡®I was in love with my sword¡¯ is not allowed.¡± Her mouth snapped shut again. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Her ears drooped, and her tail dragged on the ground. Then, glancing at Isaac, she grumbled, ¡°I want a drink.¡± ¡°This is a bride¡¯s procession. No alcohol allowed.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll go smoke some tobacco. Change the subject while I¡¯m gone.¡± With slumped shoulders, the Grandmaster headed off to a corner to smoke. Avoiding the bright bonfires, the faint glow at the tip of her tobacco seemed more forlorn than usual. ¡°Hah, this is tough. I wish there were a neat, preset answer.¡± Clarice let out a long sigh, pushing out her lower lip. But Isaac rather agreed with the Grandmaster about letting things flow naturally. ¡°Look over there.¡± Isaac pointed to another bonfire. Various groups sat around it, and among the knights, one knight carefully approached a group of maids to say something. His face was flushed, but the light of the bonfire hid it, and the atmosphere felt almost dreamy. Before long, one of the maids took his hand, stood up, and the two began a simple dance. It was just holding hands and matching steps¡ªnot much of a ¡°dance,¡± really¡ªbut it was charming all the same. ¡°That¡¯s what it feels like.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Following that first knight¡¯s lead, other knights also approached the maids; likewise, some maids quietly sidled up to the knights who were just standing around, trying to look proper. Before long, a modest dance party formed. Beneath the cool night sky, the bonfires flickered and crackled, the popping sounds almost like music. ¡°How does it look to you?¡± ¡°To be honest¡­¡± While everyone else was quietly smiling, Clarice scratched her cheek and said, ¡°We did stop to rest, but technically we¡¯re still on duty. Is it really okay for them to be playing around like that?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± They stared at each other for a moment. Her rational mind was so strong that her emotions had no chance to come out. Sensing that, Isaac was about to speak, but¡ª ¡°I¡¯ve got an idea!¡± Sharen suddenly jumped to her feet and shouted with a grin. Then she strode right over to Isaac and held out her hand. ¡°This is how it¡¯s done, right?¡± ¡°It is, but I don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Sharen¡¯s outstretched hand did not retreat. Whether out of embarrassment or stubbornness, she refused to back down. But Isaac had his reasons. ¡°If I dance with you here, how do you think people will see it?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll see a handsome man and a pretty woman?¡± ¡°Haah, dancing with my ex-wife¡¯s younger sister might look scandalous.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°Yeah, so¡ª¡± But Sharen simply snatched Isaac¡¯s hand. Strong as you¡¯d expect from someone of Helmut, she hoisted him to his feet with ease. Then she pulled him into the midst of the dancing crowd. ¡°Sharen!¡± ¡°Aw, come on! It¡¯s fun! I¡¯ve always wanted to try something like this!¡± At her cheerful outburst, the dancers nearby chuckled softly. Perhaps they just saw it as an uncle having fun with his cute niece. Sharen¡¯s grumbling request was something Isaac couldn¡¯t refuse. ¡°Ha! This feels so fun!¡± ¡°...Yeah. It does.¡± As Sharen said, the atmosphere was wonderfully warm, and it felt like returning to an earlier time. Their steps fell smoothly in sync. Holding hands with the red-haired girl evoked certain memories, and Isaac let out a bittersweet smile. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re thinking about my sister, Rihanna, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°How¡¯d you know?¡± ¡°Whenever Isaac thinks of my sister, he gets that gentle, faraway look on his face.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± ¡°And for the record, when my sister thinks of Isaac¡ª¡± Sharen¡¯s carefree tongue came to an abrupt halt. Realizing she might be making a mistake, she averted her eyes. But Isaac, growing curious, continued dancing while pressing the question. ¡°What does she do when she thinks of me?¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t like it. You sure you want to hear?¡± ¡°...Then maybe I don¡¯t need to know.¡± ¡°Wise choice!¡± Sharen nodded with a bright smile. Watching her, Isaac felt words forming on the tip of his tongue before he could stop himself. ¡°Heh-heh! This is fun! Dancing with everyone like this is so different from the parties back at the estate!¡± They spun in circles, exchanging simple dance steps. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± He knew there was no meaning in pondering ¡®what ifs¡¯ at this point. These thoughts were pointless, and yet¡ª ¡®What if.¡¯ Ever since returning to the past, he found himself drifting into such hypothetical scenarios more often. Those few parties they had attended... Back then, you¡¯d been so nervous you wore a stiff mask on your face. ¡®If, just once, you had smiled this brightly...¡¯ Maybe¡ªthings would have turned out differently. ¡°Wow, that was fun!¡± When their dance ended, the two released hands. On their way back, Isaac spotted Clarice and Heyrad in the middle of an intense argument. They looked so heated that it was probably best not to interrupt. Indeed, the Grandmaster, who had been off smoking, returned and draped an arm over Isaac¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Come on.¡± ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°Where else? To dance. You owe me a turn, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± He really didn¡¯t want to¡ªSharen had already spun him around so many times that he was a bit dizzy. But the Grandmaster pressed on with a grin that was anything but benign. ¡°What, do I need to dye my hair red before you¡¯ll dance with me? Is there some age limit I don¡¯t know about? Wasn¡¯t it at your age that you seduced Rihanna Helmut¡ª¡± ¡°All right, let¡¯s go! Let¡¯s go!¡± As the Grandmaster dragged Isaac away, Sharen was left standing there, watching. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go join them...¡± No way she was going to butt into Clarice and Heyrad¡¯s serious conversation. After glancing around, Sharen simply ran toward the maids¡¯ bonfire and snagged some of the snacks they had brought. ***** About half a month passed. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s the day we arrive.¡± Once so magnificent, the Pegasis now felt no different than any other carriage. Inside the gently swaying vehicle, Isaac spoke up. ¡°Are you prepared?¡± Clarice paused a moment, then gave a faint smile. ¡°Even if we¡¯d taken twice as long, I don¡¯t think it would change how I feel now.¡± She had tried in her own way to grasp the idea of love, but no grand transformation had occurred. It was mostly just abstract lessons repeated over and over¡ªthough that¡¯s often how love is. ¡°Still, I think my mindset has shifted a bit. It¡¯s like... I feel a bit more able to act as a wife.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Because someone here practically wore their tongue out drilling it into me.¡± Smile for your husband. Talk to your husband. Spend time with your husband. Dine with your husband. Your husband is not the enemy. Even if you¡¯re upset with him, talk it out. Your husband is on your side. Consult with your husband. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even if he¡¯s an idiot, he¡¯s still your husband. And so on. ¡°Well, at least you learned something, right? Like how important it is to have a healthy married relationship,¡± Isaac offered with a somewhat embarrassed smile. Clarice wrinkled her brow. ¡°At first, it felt that way, but later it just came off as you lamenting everything about Rihanna.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± That shut him up quickly. Seeing Isaac cough awkwardly, Clarice laughed softly. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I mean, traveling with people like you and Sharen, people I can speak with so freely... it really helped me not to overthink everything.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I feel like I can greet my future husband without any needless worries.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Clarice closed her eyes calmly. Bathed in the sunlight streaming through the carriage window, she wore a gentle smile on her lips. ¡°It¡¯s a bit sad that this kind of fun might be coming to an end.¡± After all, once she was married, Isaac probably wouldn¡¯t see much of Clarice again. She would become the queen of another kingdom, so at best, they might only run into each other at formal events¡ªnever as freely as now. ¡°My sister and Heyrad say I¡¯m sacrificing myself, but I¡­ I¡¯m actually relieved.¡± Because¡ª ¡°I don¡¯t know what love is, so there¡¯s nothing for me to be sad about.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If I had someone I truly wanted, someone for whom I¡¯d give everything, like Isaac did back then¡ª¡± It would undoubtedly be painful. Clarice murmured softly, ¡°Your Highness.¡± In the memories Isaac carried from before his regression, Clarice had been the kingdom¡¯s last pride. Half-forced into commanding the army after Princess Adeline was assassinated, she neither gave up nor fled¡ªuntil the day she died a heroic death in battle. Isaac didn¡¯t know the exact circumstances of her end, but¡­ ¡°Whatever lies ahead now is surely a better future.¡± Compared to that tragic time, marrying a prince from another kingdom probably counted as happiness. ¡°Forget all that ¡®Transcendent¡¯ business, the strengthening of royal authority¡ªjust leave it all behind. Just live as a wife to one man.¡± ¡°...Is that so?¡± Clarice bowed her head slightly. When Isaac first saw her, he had judged that, like Silverna, her true potential had yet to bloom. The Clarice from his past life and the Clarice now were clearly different. Silverna was probably still working hard up north to fully awaken her talents¡ªbut perhaps Clarice didn¡¯t need to bloom at all. If she could rest peacefully, that alone was a good outcome. ¡°I see.¡± As Clarice slowly opened her eyes, a small smile played on her lips. ¡°Congratulations on your wedding, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Thank you, Isaac.¡± A bright smile graced Clarice¡¯s face. She was now fully ready to become someone¡¯s wife. Just then¡ª Heyrad flung open the carriage door, panting as he burst in with urgent news. ¡°Y-Your Highness! Prince Raphael has run off in a passionate affair¡ªhe¡¯s fled!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac blinked in surprise and turned to Clarice. Her mouth hung open, and she summed up her feelings in a single phrase: ¡°That bastard¡­.¡± ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 95: Love Is War Fortunately, there was one silver lining. By the time Princess Clarice¡¯s carriage arrived in the Brentarion Kingdom, Prince Raphael had also been brought there. That day, a brief royal gathering took place over a meal. ¡°Prince Raphael, what kind of food do you enjoy?¡± It was a soft, natural conversation that unfolded during the meal. King Laboden and the Queen nodded in satisfaction at Princess Clarice¡¯s proactive demeanor toward Prince Raphael. ¡°I like Auren.¡± ¡°Auren¡­¡­?¡± Her violet eyes blinked several times. Almost as though waiting for that moment, Prince Raphael curled his lips into a sneer. ¡°It¡¯s a traditional dish of Brentarion. It¡¯s made by stewing chicken. I assume someone from Albion has never tried it.¡± ¡°No, I haven¡¯t. I¡¯m intrigued.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± That additional sneer made the atmosphere at the table turn cold. Though Princess Clarice still maintained her smile, her hand gripping the cutlery had gone rigid with tension. Just now, Prince Raphael had made it subtly clear that he believed this woman named Clarice was not a good match for him. He¡¯d mentioned his culinary preferences, implying with sarcasm that she wouldn¡¯t know a thing about them. ¡°There seems to be so much for us to learn about one another. I look forward to it.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to try so hard.¡± ¡°I appreciate the thoughtfulness.¡± ¡°Ha, thoughtfulness¡­¡­?¡± Prince Raphael continued his blatant disrespect. Even so, Princess Clarice kept her smile. To any observer, she appeared far more mature, and Raphael¡¯s mocking tone held no sway at all. ¡°I¡¯m not feeling well. I¡¯ll be taking my leave.¡± Prince Raphael rose abruptly. It was a rude, irresponsible act. He even muttered a word to Princess Clarice as he passed by her. ¡°Do you know what love is?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Pardon?¡± ¡°If you do, you¡¯ll understand why I¡¯m acting this way.¡± With that, Prince Raphael walked out. Once the prince was gone, King Laboden shook his head with a sigh. Rumor had it he was a faint-hearted king, and it seemed he was just as easily swayed by his prince. It appeared that even in this kingdom, the new generation had effectively taken over. ¡°My apologies, Princess Clarice. Though he is quite immature, he is equally passionate and capable.¡± ¡°I hope you won¡¯t judge him solely by his unfortunate behavior.¡± When King Laboden and the Queen apologized, Princess Clarice smoothly dismissed the matter. ¡°It¡¯s fine. After all, our side was the one to request this marriage. It¡¯s understandable he needs time to accept something so sudden.¡± ¡°You are very mature, Princess Clarice.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be a wonderful match for our Raphael.¡± ¡°Earning my husband¡¯s affection is also part of my duty as a wife.¡± With a gentle smile, Princess Clarice finished her meal. **** ¡°What was that all about?!¡± The moment Princess Clarice entered the room the royal family had prepared for her, she snatched up a pillow and began slamming it against the bed¡ªBang Bang! ¡°I don¡¯t like you, either! Who said I do?! We¡¯re supposed to get to know each other starting now!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Behind her, the Grandmaster and Isaac followed into the room without a word. ¡°Are we children? Huh? Children?! It¡¯s a great deal for both sides that Brentarion Kingdom remains in alliance with us so we can hold off the monstrous beasts in the north!¡± Bang! Bang! ¡°And we can receive support from your rearguard nation while working together on strategies against those bizarre Transcendents! Isn¡¯t that beneficial for both of us?!¡± Bang! Bang! ¡°If you were born into royalty, at least show some sense of responsibility! Aren¡¯t you ashamed in front of the people who are loyal to us?! Do you think the privileges we enjoy come out of nowhere?!¡± ¡°¡­Surprisingly, she¡¯s quite sensible for a royal.¡± ¡°Princess Clarice may seem like this, but she¡¯s always been responsible.¡± ¡°Well, if she came all this way for marriage, it makes sense.¡± ¡°You want to know if I know what love is?! I don¡¯t! Aaaaargh!¡± Bang! Bang! Even as the Grandmaster and Isaac murmured among themselves, Princess Clarice didn¡¯t stop. After a few more whacks of the pillow against the bed, she tired herself out and sat there, panting. Then she tossed the pillow aside and slumped onto the edge of the bed. ¡°That foolish prince¡­ Does he think I¡¯m smiling because I enjoy this?¡± Princess Clarice buried her face in her hands in despair. This marriage was quite significant to the Kingdom of Albion , so she was understandably troubled. Isaac and the Grandmaster kept silent, waiting for her to conclude her thoughts. ¡°This won¡¯t do.¡± Her voice slipped quietly through her fingers. ¡°I can¡¯t let a single emotion ruin everything. Do you realize how much benefit this one marriage can bring to our kingdom?¡± It was as though she was hypnotizing herself¡­ or trying to persuade an absent Prince Raphael. ¡°We are not here to indulge; we are here to take responsibility.¡± Princess Clarice leaped to her feet. A sharp intelligence now gleamed in her royal purple eyes. ¡°Heyrad, you¡¯re out there, right?¡± ¡°Yes, Princess.¡± Heyrad immediately entered. He had been under orders to guard her inconspicuously after a recent argument with the princess. ¡°Go find out who that woman is¡ªthe one who¡¯s got Prince Raphael so spellbound. I want to see exactly how remarkable she is. Her looks, style, tastes, finances, her upbringing¡ªeverything. Gather all the information you can.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Like a commander delivering orders, Princess Clarice¡¯s cool voice and gestures treated Heyrad as though he were her right hand. ¡®This is¡­¡¯ Isaac couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. This was indeed the bearing of a woman who once bore the responsibility for all humankind. Even the Grandmaster showed a faint interest in the charisma Clarice was displaying. ¡°I¡¯d like you to keep an eye on Raphael. You¡¯re the only one who can move around without being noticed.¡± ¡°By your leave¡­ yes, is that how I should answer?¡± With a grin, the Grandmaster headed out. ¡°Baron Logan.¡± The only one left was Isaac. Princess Clarice strode over and addressed him. ¡°Yes, Princess.¡± ¡°You have the most important role.¡± Isaac, already sensing what she was about to say, almost let out a wry chuckle. ¡°You have to win over that foolish prince.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Will you help me?¡± Because Princess Clarice was so earnest, he calmly accepted his role. ¡°It¡¯s my specialty.¡± * * * Love is war. It¡¯s a famous saying, though no one really knows where it came from. Regardless, Isaac found himself deeply agreeing with it. If he were to tweak it slightly, it would be marriage that¡¯s war¡ªand that sentiment struck an even stronger chord in him. Either way, Clarice accepted that notion quite readily. ¡°Love is war?¡± If so¡ª ¡°Strategy and tactics. Supplies, information, command, psychology, diplomacy! We¡¯ll use all of them!¡± In other words, Clarice began treating love as though it were war. The people around her became her lieutenants or generals, supporting their commander as she prepared for battle. Isaac addressed the handmaiden applying makeup to Clarice in a matter-of-fact tone. ¡°Excessive makeup might leave a bad impression. Aim for a softer, more innocent look.¡± ¡°She is a princess of a kingdom¡ªare you sure that¡¯s acceptable?¡± ¡°It is. The other side already has a negative impression of Her Highness. Right now, rather than giving them the image they expect, we need something different.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Six days from now, there¡¯s a banquet. That¡¯s when we¡¯ll make our grand statement. To maximize the effect of Her Highness¡¯s most gorgeous appearance, we should actually tone things down for the time being.¡± Taking Isaac¡¯s suggestion, the handmaiden began applying lighter makeup. Clarice, listening nearby, wore a worried expression. ¡°Are you certain this is okay? Is it all right to show myself looking plain?¡± ¡°Princess Clarice, do you know when I first felt my heart flutter for Rihanna?¡± Even the handmaiden glanced curiously at Isaac¡ªit was quite a captivating topic. ¡°It was the moment she forced herself into a shy smile. She usually had a stoic, dignified air about her, so seeing that unexpected side really got to me.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it goes. Imagine the other side is bracing for a mounted charge. This time, you have to flank them or pick them off with arrows.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Clarice nodded. Once her makeup was complete, she stood before him. ¡°How do I look?¡± ¡°It¡¯s more than enough. It¡¯s not overdone, but it doesn¡¯t look shabby, either. Fortunately, Your Highness is naturally beautiful.¡± ¡°Of course I am. Why else would I be a princess?¡± Clarice preened, looking satisfied. ¡°Give me a smile.¡± Ignoring her smugness, Isaac made his request. She pouted for just a second but quickly broke into a bright grin¡ªan unguarded, radiant smile. It was so warm and lively that Isaac found himself furrowing his brow, thinking Rihanna could stand to learn a bit of that natural charm. ¡°To be perfectly clear, once you go out, do not smile.¡± ¡°What?! Why not? I¡¯m known for my pretty smile!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you smile at the dinner table?¡± ¡°¡­I did, yes.¡± In fact, she¡¯d been smiling constantly¡ªthat was the problem. ¡°Don¡¯t you think people will sense it might be forced? Prince Raphael is a man driven by intense emotions. He won¡¯t be swayed by a smile that feels insincere.¡± ¡°¡­Does my smile really come off as fake?¡± ¡°Not at all. Your smile is flawless. But the moment he sees it, a man like Raphael is bound to suspect you¡¯re forcing it.¡± After all, if someone is constantly smiling, it¡¯s only natural to wonder if that person is faking it. ¡°Princess, what you need to do now is¡ª¡± **** ¡°So now I¡¯ve become an expert at running away. Maybe I¡¯m cut out to be a thief.¡± Having slipped out of the palace, Prince Raphael wore a self-mocking smile as he made his way into town. Why was he born a prince? Being a prince might be nice, but why did he have to fall in love with a baker¡¯s daughter? Truly a tragedy. And that¡¯s why it¡¯s love. He pressed forward without hesitation, pulling up the hood of his cloak. Hiding his face, as usual, he stopped by the florist to buy flowers before delivering them to her. ¡®Rationally speaking, this arranged marriage with Albion is important for both of our kingdoms¡­¡¯ But even if he had to give up everything, he wanted to love her. Truly despair. And that¡¯s why it¡¯s love. Clutching his chest, Prince Raphael tried to distract himself with other thoughts. The bakery should be past its busiest hours by now, so she¡¯d have some free time. He¡¯d caused her grief the last time they tried to run away together, only to be caught. ¡®I¡¯ll buy something more extravagant this time.¡¯ But upon arriving at the flower shop, Prince Raphael found himself scowling. There, much like him, a woman in a hood stood by the shop. She was munching on a skewer from a street vendor as she casually browsed the flowers. ¡°Princess Clarice¡­?¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her name slipped out unintentionally. They¡¯d run into each other in the most unexpected of places. ¡°¡­Prince Raphael?¡± Clarice looked just as surprised, staring at him with wide eyes. An awkward tension settled between them. Finally, Clarice let out a sigh and spoke up in a weary tone¡ªentirely different from how she¡¯d acted at the dinner table. ¡°I heard you have a paramour. So, you¡¯re on your way to see her?¡± ¡°Ahhm¡­¡± Prince Raphael couldn¡¯t answer. The moment Clarice informed the palace of this, he¡¯d be forcibly taken back. That much was clear. He hesitated, frantically trying to figure out how to diffuse the situation. ¡°Prince Raphael.¡± With a soft, defeated sigh, Clarice addressed him. ¡°I¡¯m not fond of this marriage arrangement, either.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want it, either.¡± Prince Raphael¡¯s eyes opened wide. This was a completely different side of Clarice than the one he¡¯d seen at dinner. Though startled, he recognized her sincerity, and a faint hope bloomed in his chest before he knew it. ¡®Could this be¡­?¡¯ Could they actually avoid the marriage altogether? ¡®That¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking, isn¡¯t it?¡¯ Secretly smirking to herself, Clarice replayed Isaac¡¯s advice in her head: [Right now, you need to close the distance. Establish common ground.] She recalled his instructions over and over. [Luckily, there¡¯s an angle only the two of you will be able to connect on, so it shouldn¡¯t be too difficult.] [From here on, Your Highness, you must act.] ¡®Act?¡¯ [Act out your true feelings.] Act out her true feelings. Initially, Clarice hadn¡¯t understood what Isaac meant by that. Now that everything was unfolding in this manner, she finally saw the wisdom in his words. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 96: Direction A quiet park in the middle of a tranquil town. Two people sit side by side on an old bench. At a glance, they might look like an ordinary couple out on a date, but in truth, they are a prince and a princess, each wielding tremendous influence over their respective kingdoms. Clarice finishes eating the chicken skewer she¡¯s been holding. It¡¯s already gone cold and doesn¡¯t taste very good, and she feels slightly embarrassed because Prince Raphael is watching her eat. ¡°¡­¡­Quite unexpected.¡± Seeing her like this, Prince Raphael feels a bit conflicted. Of course, he had already received a certain amount of information about Clarice. When he heard she herself had proposed such a marriage, he thought she was no ordinary woman. ¡®Looking at her now, she doesn¡¯t seem all that different from other women¡­¡¯ Feeling ashamed of his preconceived notions, Prince Raphael clears his throat in a roundabout way. Ideally, he would have liked to wait until she finished the skewer. But he was, after all, sneaking out of the palace at this very moment. He didn¡¯t have time to spare, and more than anything, he wanted to hurry and go to the bakery to see her. ¡°Could I hear more about what you mentioned earlier? That, well, you¡¯re also not fully satisfied with this marriage¡ª¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± Clarice, who had just hurriedly popped the last bit of skewer into her mouth, begins explaining calmly. ¡°I understand how you feel, Prince Raphael. You must not like being told to marry a woman you¡¯ve never met before.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I feel the same. I¡¯ve heard people say I¡¯m rather unemotional, but even so, I¡¯d like to marry someone who shares my feelings.¡± ¡°In that case¡ª¡± ¡°But Prince Raphael, we are royalty. We bear a responsibility to our subjects.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Prince Raphael has no rebuttal to that. As she says, if it¡¯s for the sake of the kingdom, marriage is the right choice. Seeing the complicated look on his face, Clarice offers a small smile. ¡°I think I pushed too hard.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Not at all.¡± ¡°You should go. Your beloved must be waiting for you.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Clarice ends the conversation by turning her gaze to the flower bed in the park. Thanks to her consideration, Prince Raphael hesitates for a moment before bowing his head and leaving. Once Prince Raphael completely disappears from sight¡ª ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± Isaac, who had been hiding outside the park, quietly steps in. He takes the finished skewer from Clarice¡¯s hand and smiles in satisfaction. ¡°Well done.¡± ¡°Are you sure? I just tried to be kind and say what I was thinking.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. Even just sharing the feeling that neither of you truly wants this marriage will make Prince Raphael much more comfortable around you than he was before.¡± ¡°Well, if you say so, I¡¯ll believe it. So, what¡¯s the next plan?¡± ¡°Coincidental meetings won¡¯t work anymore. We already used our most powerful opening move. If we ¡®coincidentally¡¯ meet again, he¡¯ll grow suspicious.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Luckily, there are still plenty of natural excuses for you two to meet, so there¡¯s no need to worry too much¡ª¡± ¡°Hey, Isaac.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Still seated on the bench, Clarice looks up at him with a strangely thoughtful expression. ¡°Could you possibly seduce me?¡± ¡°¡­I beg your pardon?¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know much about love. Watching you plan everything out in such detail made me wonder if I could learn something from it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m only doing this because it¡¯s my duty. I¡¯ve never approached my own romances this meticulously.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Truly.¡± In those days, Isaac had been a man who simply loved life¡¯s pleasures. He believed love between a man and a woman followed the flow of fate, so he only waited by the riverside, hoping his red-haired lover and he would be joined. ¡°In any case, there¡¯s quite a bit we need you to practice.¡± ¡°Practice? Really?¡± ¡°Of course. From what I see, Prince Raphael is quite a man of emotions.¡± The situation, the dialogue, the mood¡ª If even one of these aspects strikes him deeply, it wouldn¡¯t be strange for him to mistake it for love. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Isaac offers his hand, and Clarice rises from the bench, taking it with a smile. ***** Naturally, there weren¡¯t many suitable places to practice. With so many eyes and ears in the royal palace, getting caught rehearsing for such a scheme would ruin everything. In that sense, the only possible place was the princess¡¯ private room, which wasn¡¯t exposed to outsiders. ¡°There¡¯s a garden stroll scheduled for tomorrow, right?¡± ¡°Well, only if Prince Raphael shows up.¡± ¡°He¡¯ll come.¡± That was the whole point of meeting him ¡®by chance¡¯ today¡ªso he¡¯d see her as someone he could talk to. Now that he knows she¡¯s someone who understands him, he isn¡¯t likely to stand her up again. ¡°The most important thing is conversation. Have you thought of any topics you¡¯d like to discuss?¡± ¡°Like the state of our kingdoms? The meaning behind our political marriage and how beneficial it could be?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll run off the moment you start.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac nods, as if he expected that answer. ¡°As you might guess, lighter, more ordinary topics are better. Don¡¯t you often chat casually when you visit my estate?¡± Honestly, Isaac isn¡¯t too worried. Clarice can be quite talkative. She often comes by his estate and chatters away about all sorts of things. ¡°That¡¯s because it was you.¡± But Clarice furrows her brow. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if that kind of casual talk is possible with Prince Raphael.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± It might be hard for Clarice to speak as freely with him as she does with someone she¡¯s completely comfortable around. ¡°In that case, let me craft the situation for you.¡± Conversing in a free-flowing atmosphere does require some degree of skill. If that¡¯s difficult, you can simply narrow the conversation by setting the mood and circumstances. ¡°I¡¯ll accompany you as a royal guard. I¡¯ll play the role of someone pressuring you to marry at all costs.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll be the one giving you that nagging gaze, Princess. Naturally, you¡¯ll have to move closer to Prince Raphael and talk to him to avoid my pressure.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± The ¡®push-them-closer¡¯ plan. Under Isaac¡¯s scrutiny, Clarice will have no choice but to lean on Prince Raphael¡ªclose enough to spark more conversation, or even subtle physical contact. It doesn¡¯t sound like a bad idea. He can also justify it by saying he¡¯s a subordinate of Princess Adeline, so it won¡¯t seem out of place. ¡°Let¡¯s practice. It needs to look completely natural.¡± ¡°Yes! I¡¯m ready!¡± **** The next day, in the garden of the Kingdom of Brentarion. Prince Raphael and Princess Clarice were out for a stroll together. They admired the surrounding flowers with their eyes and noses, but Prince Raphael was, of course, not pleased. ¡®I¡¯m sorry, Dell.¡¯ He silently apologized to the bakery girl he held in his heart. At that moment, Prince Raphael felt a chilly sensation, a prickling on his back that made him shiver. ¡°¡­¡­?!¡± Startled, he turned around. Standing at the garden entrance was a man with a sword at his waist. He had his long black hair tied in a ponytail, and his appearance was striking enough to surprise even Prince Raphael. Yet the aura he exuded was so menacing, it made one¡¯s heart shrink in fear. ¡®W-What kind of person is that¡­?¡¯ Aura? No, it felt like something else was stirring around him, a tangible menace that inspired dread. Just then, Princess Clarice gently took Prince Raphael¡¯s hand in a soothing gesture. ¡°He¡¯s my guard. Isaac Logan. He¡¯s from my sister¡¯s side.¡± ¡°Isaac Logan¡­ Logan? Could he be Baron Logan, the one rumored to have committed the Bolten Massacre?¡± ¡°Y-Yes, that¡¯s right. I see the story¡¯s spread all the way here.¡± ¡°It was a shocking incident, so that¡¯s hardly surprising.¡± Prince Raphael could understand why the man had such an unsettling presence. How many people must he have killed to radiate an aura so intimidating? He seemed like a veteran warrior who had crossed the line between life and death countless times. ¡°He¡¯s determined to see this marriage through¡ªsince he¡¯s on my sister¡¯s side.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Seeing his expression, Princess Clarice did not let go of Prince Raphael¡¯s hand. Instead, she broke into a light jog. ¡°Shall we run away? From Baron Logan?¡± With a mischievous smile, she tugged Prince Raphael along. Burdened by Baron Logan¡¯s piercing gaze, Prince Raphael had no reason to refuse. They strolled through the fragrant flower beds together. Princess Clarice, a beauty wearing a soft smile. Bound by a political marriage neither of them wanted, they shared an unspoken bond of sympathy. ¡°Hehe.¡± After they had run a fair distance, Princess Clarice let out a gentle laugh and was the first to release his hand. If she keeps holding hands, it¡¯ll look like she was doing it on purpose. ¡®Let go first.¡¯ ¡®Good thing we practiced, Isaac.¡¯ She had worried that Prince Raphael might pull away first, but it seemed he was too spellbound by the flowers and by Clarice herself. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Prince Raphael flinched, then awkwardly withdrew his hand. ¡°How forceful is Baron Logan, exactly¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s how he is.¡± Use me as your talking point. The prince will empathize. Have confidence. You are more than charming enough, Princess. Just as Isaac had instructed, everything was progressing step by step. Princess Clarice allowed herself a sly smile on the inside. ¡®This is so much easier.¡¯ When she practiced with Isaac yesterday, her words got jumbled and her palms got sweaty for some reason. But dealing with Prince Raphael in person turned out to be far simpler. ¡®I guess I¡¯m just better in real situations!¡¯ **** Once the garden outing with Prince Raphael and Princess Clarice ended, Isaac set out alone for the city. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Sharen, who had been bored lately, hopped over excitedly and stood next to him. ¡°I have somewhere to go, and I thought you¡¯d enjoy it.¡± Besides, having Sharen around would make it all look more natural. ¡°Where to? Where?¡± ¡°A bakery.¡± ¡°Braaad!¡± Naturally, there was one more key player in this plan¡ª The woman who held Prince Raphael¡¯s heart: Dell, the baker¡¯s daughter. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 97: Practice A humble bakery. A cozy little bakery you might find just about anywhere. Since lunchtime has already passed, the aroma of freshly baked bread has long faded, but its distinctive warm, nutty scent still lingers in the air. ¡°Bang! Bangg!¡± ¡°¡­Why are you so excited?¡± Isaac follow behind Sharen, who scampers into the bakery. He knew Sharen liked bread, given her fondness for snacks and sweets. But he didn¡¯t think she¡¯d be this excited about it. Maybe she¡¯s just happy to get outside, having spent the last few days stuck in the royal palace. ¡®I guess I haven¡¯t been paying much attention to Sharen lately.¡¯ With all the intense maneuvering involving Clarice and Raphael, Isaac really hadn¡¯t had the time to look after Sharen. Not that she had any particular role to play in this operation anyway. ¡®All she really did was lend weight to the Helmut¡ªname, I suppose?¡¯ ¡°Welcome!¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As soon as they enter, the woman running the bakery greets them with a simple, good-natured smile. According to Heyrad¡¯s investigation, she runs the bakery with her parents, which makes the young woman before them Dell. ¡®¡­Interesting.¡¯ Isaac, casually surveying the bread, hesitates in thought. He¡¯d heard she was a beauty. Indeed, for someone running a small bakery, she was quite strikingly beautiful. But was she so stunning that a prince would fall head over heels for her at first glance? ¡®She¡¯d have to be on Rihanna¡¯s level at least.¡¯ Isaac knows his standards for beauty might be unreasonably high, but still, that¡¯s what he thinks. The great command figures rule nations, and beauties rule those great figures. Still, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but wonder whether this woman was truly someone worth abandoning a kingdom for. He had no idea what sort of romantic saga the two of them might share, but for now, he quietly picks out some bread. ¡°I want this one, too.¡± Sharen promptly adds more bread to the basket for herself. ¡°There aren¡¯t that many kinds of bread left.¡± Seeing Sharen look a bit disappointed, Dell approaches with a gentle smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, miss. Most of the bread has already been sold.¡± ¡°Ahhh? Isaac, then should we come again tomorrow?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Isaac nods lightly. Thanks to Sharen¡¯s suggestion, they have a natural excuse to visit again tomorrow. As Isaac is about to pay. ¡°Excuse me, sir.¡± Dell, looking somewhat uneasy, speaks up. ¡°You¡¯re from the royal palace, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­Is it that obvious?¡± He had deliberately dressed in clothes reminiscent of his commoner days to blend in better. ¡°I heard that the princess from the Albion Kingdom¡ªhad arrived. You¡¯re someone I haven¡¯t seen around here before, so¡­ I thought you might be from the palace.¡± ¡®Prince Raphael sure told her quite a bit.¡¯ Then again, Dell¡¯s insight is clearly impressive in its own right. Isaac had suspected she wasn¡¯t ordinary, given that she¡¯d won over a prince, but perhaps she¡¯s more extraordinary than he thought. ¡°Well, you¡¯ve caught me, so I¡¯ll speak plainly. My name is Baron Logan. I¡¯m here as the princess¡¯ knight to see you.¡± ¡°What? So you weren¡¯t just here to buy bread?¡± Sharen looks perplexed. Isaac silences her by popping a piece of bread into her mouth, and she just rolls her eyes as she chews. ¡®I should be careful what I say.¡¯ Everything said here will undoubtedly reach Raphael eventually. He currently believes Isaac was sent by Princess Adeline to seal their marriage arrangement. So Isaac must play that role accordingly. ¡°Do you truly think there¡¯s a chance for you and Raphael?¡± His voice was cold. Dell¡¯s shoulders tremble as her head lowers bit by bit. ¡°Your actions are putting the kingdom at risk. Prince Raphael must fulfill his duties.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It may seem cruel for me to say this. I know love isn¡¯t something you can control¡ªbut¡­¡± They were not just cold, but merciless. That was Isaac¡¯s reputation here. ¡°Your love is a sin.¡± The moment he proclaims this, Dell¡¯s eyes tremble violently. ¡°Huh¡­ Ugh.¡± Tears begin to fall from her eyes. They bead like pearls, rolling down her cheeks. Isaac watches her quietly. He feels sorry for making her cry, but this was necessary- Gulp. ¡°Ah, a-ah, Isaac made a girl cry!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Isaac promptly shoves another piece of bread into Sharen¡¯s mouth. ¡°Isaac made a girw cwy¡ªmmph!¡± **** At the back door of the shop. With Dell¡¯s parents shooting him daggers, Isaac waits outside for her to calm down. ¡°Do you feel a bit better now?¡± A quick confession: Isaac was weak against crying women. Because Rihanna never used to cry. ¡®Well¡­ that did change, eventually.¡¯ By the time the divorce was underway, she cried quite often, if memory serves. To be honest, Isaac never realized Rihanna was that prone to tears. ¡°Y-yes, I¡¯m s-sorry¡ªhic!¡± She turns to look at Sharen. Munch, munch¡­ Isaac deliberately gave her a big piece of bread, and now she¡¯s glaring at him as she eats¡ªlike she¡¯s watching to see how he will respond. ¡®Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have brought her along.¡¯ After throwing a resentful look at Sharen, who has suddenly taken the other side, Issac turn back to Dell. ¡°Miss Dell, I know my words were cruel. But in a way, I said them for your sake as well.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Dell, who has finally calmed down, takes a moment to breathe and listens quietly. ¡°I¡¯ve gone through something similar. I once believed that love would solve everything. But I learned you have to be realistic too.¡± ¡°Something similar?¡± Her eyes still glisten with tears, making them sparkle even more than usual. Isaac hesitates for a moment, as though lost in thought, then begins to speak, resolved: ¡°I was born a commoner. I may be a baron now, but I originally worked as a boatman, rowing a ferry across the river.¡± ¡°A boatman¡­¡± ¡°And like you, I fell in love with someone I should never have dared to reach for.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I know how it goes. It hits you at the most unexpected moment and shakes you to your core. No matter how hard you try to brace yourself, you can¡¯t help but be swept away by that earnest longing.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°When she isn¡¯t there, I can¡¯t stop thinking of her. When she is there, all I do is wait for the next time we can meet. I won¡¯t deny that I became greedy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°But in the end, we got divorced. We came too far to untangle the knots that had formed somewhere along the line.¡± Finally¡ª ¡°We had no choice but to cut the thread.¡± Isaac looks at Dell and speaks earnestly: ¡°Love alone won¡¯t solve everything. There will come a time when reality stands in your way.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t become like me.¡± With those words, Isaac gently pats her on the shoulder as if to comfort her, then turns away. Telling herself she could overcome everything through love¡­ Seeing Dell like that was too much like looking at his old self. He could no longer bear to watch her. *** That night, in the princess¡¯s chambers. Everyone is gathered. Clarice stands with her arms folded, glaring at Isaac. ¡°I got a tip.¡± Heyrad and Grandmaster tilt their heads and look at Isaac. Even Isaac himself has no idea what the princess is so upset about. ¡°I heard about this¡­ absolutely insane plan to lure away each other¡¯s lovers, apparently one of the worst schemes in human history.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s a bit¡­¡± ¡°Isaac.¡± As Grandmaster and Heyrad sigh, Isaac blinks a few times. It takes him a few seconds to realize she¡¯s talking about him. Flustered, Isaac jumps to his feet. ¡°W-what do you mean! That¡¯s definitely not true!¡± ¡°Sharen told me so.¡± Suddenly, Clarice raises both hands and splits her own hair in two, imitating Sharen¡¯s pigtails. ¡°¡®Isaac went to see some woman named Dell and made her cry! He looked at her all deep and meaningful, and then started talking about his past!¡¯¡ªor so she said.¡± ¡°You do a good impression.¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s not incorrect, but I wasn¡¯t trying to seduce her.¡± ¡°The moment you looked at her like that, you were seducing her. Do you admit it?¡± With that, Grandmaster nods immediately. ¡°I admit it.¡± Heyrad, looking embarrassed, scratches his cheek. ¡°It¡¯s the same as how most men¡¯s hearts flutter when a beautiful woman so much as smiles at them.¡± ¡°Haah, we really don¡¯t have time for this teasing.¡± Realizing they¡¯re just messing with him, Isaac sighs. Clarice gives a little laugh and lets her hair fall back down. ¡°It¡¯s fun, isn¡¯t it? Besides, today¡¯s operation was a complete success. We ought to lighten the mood.¡± Their outing in the garden had gone beautifully. Thanks to that, she¡¯s managed to get much closer to Raphael than before. Clarice raises her hand in a ¡®V¡¯ shape. ¡°Tomorrow, we¡¯re heading to the Exhibition Hall. Anything in particular I should know?¡± She juts out her hip and leans forward in a cutesy pose. Lately, she¡¯s been practicing how to inject natural charm into her everyday mannerisms in order to win over Prince Raphael. ¡°Manufactured naturalness, hmm.¡± Grandmaster mutters in fascination. Isaac watches Clarice work on her act, smiles with satisfaction, and starts discussing tomorrow. ¡°The princess knows Brentarion Kingdom¡¯s history and background well, so there¡¯s no need to worry about that.¡± ¡°Oh, of course.¡± ¡°But a bit of planning won¡¯t hurt. I¡¯ve heard that a painting called ¡®Lemelon¡¯s Flower Pot¡¯ creates an optical illusion.¡± ¡°I know that one. Painted by Saint Pollute¡ªpeople say it looks different from the left and from the right, right?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll use that.¡± And thus begins their rehearsal. They each take on a role: Heyrad will play Baron Logan, standing in the back and glowering. Clarice will play herself. Isaac will play Raphael. Finally, Grandmaster will be the painting. ¡°Is there really a need for someone to be the painting?¡± Grandmaster sits in a chair, looking puzzled. But the rehearsal starts immediately. ¡°Wow! Look at this! They say it looks totally different if you see it from the left side!¡± Following the plan, Clarice positions herself on the right. She rushes to move beside the painting, pretending she¡¯s eager to see it, then topples into Raphael¡¯s arms. Thud! Clarice ends up in Isaac¡¯s embrace. She looks up at him, swallowing nervously. He, holding her, clicks his tongue and shakes his head. ¡°That was too obvious. It looked like you intended to fall into my arms from the start.¡± ¡°D-did it really?¡± ¡°Yes. Maybe try leaning to the side next time so Prince Raphael can catch you by chance.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Isaac carefully sets Clarice back on her feet. ¡°Still, that shy expression was perfect. Your acting has really improved.¡± He smiles and gives her a thumbs-up. Clarice shrugs and replies: ¡°I mean, it¡¯s me!¡± ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 98: A Shared Experience The next day¡¯s museum date wrapped up on an even better note than anyone had anticipated. They had prepared lines for each exhibit and rehearsed certain actions in advance. Sure, the detailed approach for every possible scenario was impressive, but Clarice, who memorized and delivered it all in a single day, was just as remarkable. ¡°Once I remembered what to say for each piece, it wasn¡¯t all that difficult. It¡¯s not like it threw in anything totally random. Because I spoke in a way that matched each artwork¡¯s unique style, it was kind of like having a clue. As long as there¡¯s a clue, it¡¯s not hard. I¡¯m amazing, after all!¡± Even as Clarice shrugged while saying this, she looked quite pleased with herself. Though it was a little odd to see her treat the whole date like some sort of exam¡­ ¡®Still, it¡¯s necessary.¡¯ Isaac decided to let it be for now. At the moment, luring in Prince Raphael took precedence over Clarice¡¯s feelings. ¡°Then, what should we practice today?¡± Clarice folded her arms and struck a pose as if twisting her waist. She¡¯d been practicing acting cute in various ways, but lately, it felt like she was just enjoying it herself. ¡°Tomorrow is a hunt, isn¡¯t it?¡± Tomorrow¡¯s schedule was horseback riding and hunting. When people think of hunting, they usually imagine going to a forest or a field and taking down beasts with a bow, like hunters do. But royal hunts are a bit different. They bring along countless guards and safely hunt intentionally released wild animals. It¡¯s a tremendously extravagant pastime, costing not only money but also a great deal of time. ¡°That¡¯s right. But do we need to prepare anything special for this hunt?¡± ¡°For the hunt, they¡¯ll have everything ready over there. All you really need to do is respond with enthusiasm and clap your hands.¡± Think of it like an outdoor performance. They¡¯ll pull all sorts of maneuvers to hype up Prince Raphael, so they just need to cheer and clap on cue. They want to applaud, and they want to be applauded. One could say their interests line up nicely. ¡°Is that really all there is to it?¡± ¡°Yes. Even though for them, it might be one of the highlights of this entire week¡ª¡± From our side¡¯s perspective, they can just relax, enjoy it, and clap now and then. However, Clarice added a remark that sounded somewhat regretful: ¡°St-still, shouldn¡¯t we practice something? We don¡¯t know what unexpected things might happen.¡± ¡°I trust that Your Highness will handle any sudden situation just fine. You¡¯ve been doing great so far, so if anything comes up, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± He was certainly praising her, but somehow, Clarice looked a bit disappointed. ¡°Please rest for today. You¡¯ve been practicing every night until late, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°So, does Isaac rest too? There was actually something I wanted to¡ª¡± ¡°Isaac!¡± With no hesitation, a young lady sporting pigtails flung the princess¡¯ door open. Smiling brightly, Sharen ran over and grabbed Isaac¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go! They said they¡¯d bake bread just for us at this time of day, so if we go now, we can eat it while it¡¯s still warm!¡± ¡°It¡¯s already that time?¡± ¡°Uh-huh! It¡¯s that time! Come on, let¡¯s go!¡± Isaac and Sharen had planned to visit the bakery again. Dell had likely spent the whole day thinking it over, and since they¡¯d promised to stop by again, they couldn¡¯t skip out. Besides, Sharen had even arranged to have fresh bread baked especially for her. ¡°Then, Princess, get some good rest today. I¡¯m going with Sharen to see Dell.¡± ¡°¡­Isaac, make sure you rest as well. We¡¯ve both been pushing ourselves, haven¡¯t we?¡± She was worried that Isaac might be overdoing it. After all, he too had stayed up late each night to practice for their dates. ¡°This is no trouble for me.¡± Not only had his return in time given him a healthier body, but during his Silent Sword days, he was used to pulling all-nighters writing. Watching Isaac head out, Clarice stared blankly at the door he had just exited through. ¡°Hmph!¡± She flung herself onto the bed, grumbling under her breath. **** ¡°Wow.¡± Sharen happily exclaimed as she bit into the freshly baked bread. Lately, Isaac had noticed how much more emotionally expressive Sharen had become since leaving Helmut. Perhaps it was because she hadn¡¯t been able to run free during her childhood. ¡®Well, she¡¯s still plenty young right now.¡¯ Isaac watched Sharen enjoy the bread Dell had just baked, smiling warmly to himself. If you¡¯re the one who made the bread, seeing someone relish it that much must feel great. As Sharen munched away, Dell glanced over at Isaac. Her face took on a complex expression, and while Isaac felt a small pang of guilt, he still couldn¡¯t back down. ¡°Have you thought it over?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯ve thought about it a lot.¡± From the tear stains visible around Dell¡¯s eyes, it was clear she¡¯d spent the night crying. ¡°Um, Baron, could I ask you for a bit of your time?¡± At Dell¡¯s request, Isaac gave a brief nod. Leaving Sharen behind in the shop, they both stepped outside. It was around three in the afternoon. The sun was still up, and the streets bustled with people going about their day. ¡°You said, Baron¡­ that you¡¯ve had the same experience?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say it was exactly the same, but close enough.¡± ¡°Did you wrestle with the same worries?¡± ¡°It¡¯d be a lie to say I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I was the target of a lot of gossip. People claimed I was scheming to marry some noble Lady to fix my station.¡± ¡°That sounds right. I¡¯ve heard the same sort of rumors.¡± Dell nodded in agreement. Because they shared that experience, their conversation flowed easily. ¡°Shall I guess your biggest fear?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°That Prince Raphael will doubt you. That¡¯s what scares you most, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Dell¡¯s eyes went wide. Then she slowly nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m terrified Prince Raphael might misunderstand my intentions.¡± ¡°I felt the same. I used to worry about whether Rhia might doubt me. I didn¡¯t marry her for Helmut¡ªI married her because of who she was.¡± The lilacs planted in the flowerbed were his way of expressing that sentiment. At this little anecdote, Dell covered her mouth with her hand and smiled softly. ¡°You¡¯re more of a romantic than you look.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s how I was back then.¡± A small silence fell between them, filled briefly by the sounds of children playing with a ball in the distance. Though the street was bright and bustling with life, Dell herself carried a lonely shade of gray. Being loved by someone so noble forced her to bear worries she never wished for. ¡°When he came to me, asking me to run away with him¡­ honestly, I was a bit scared.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°He wanted me to suddenly throw away everything¡ªmy parents, the bakery, my hometown with all my childhood memories¡­¡± Why had Prince Raphael been captured so quickly? Because the partner who was supposed to run away with him was not prepared for it at all. ¡°Ever since then, I¡¯ve been feeling so confused. I keep wondering if I don¡¯t love the Prince as much as he loves me.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s not your fault.¡± Why, though? S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Why is it that you come to my mind? ¡°Abandoning the hometown where you¡¯ve lived all your life¡­¡± He, too, had once dreamed of it, in a half-fantasy sort of way. ¡°Abandoning the family you¡¯ve lived with¡­¡± There was a day when he hoped Rihanna would take his hand and say those words. ¡°Abandoning your own memories¡­¡± Leaving it all behind, running away together. ¡°It¡¯s never, ever something simple.¡± His mouth spoke the correct answer in total contradiction to his heart. He knew it could never be that easy for Rihanna, and yet he had still wanted it. At Isaac¡¯s words, Dell gently placed both hands over her heart, as though nurturing a newly healed wound. ¡°Thank you.¡± She offered her gratitude through tears. The two of them halted their steps for a moment. Though the emotions they carried were different, both had arrived at a kind of realization. ¡°Actually¡­¡± Dell forced a small smile before speaking again. ¡°I¡¯ve decided I might tell Prince Raphael that it¡¯s fine if I¡¯m just his concubine.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°And if even that¡¯s not possible, then¡­ I¡¯ll settle for just being his lover, something he can use and discard when he wants.¡± At Dell¡¯s words, Isaac let out a faint laugh and shook his head. How¡­ ¡°How are you so much like me?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve said those exact words to Rihanna before.¡± ¡°R-really?¡± They say all people think alike. Indeed, Isaac had once said something similar to Rihanna. -You don¡¯t have to marry me¡­ . . . Back then, Rihanna had simply stared at Isaac, dumbfounded by his sudden proposal. -You can just keep me as a lover if you like. There¡¯s no need to move into the Helmut household. -I can go on steering my boat, and I¡¯ll just wait for the days when you come by¡­ It wouldn¡¯t be so bad. Andthen?And then? After a brief hesitation, Rihanna had calmly asked: -What if I stop coming to see you. -Then I¡¯ll make up reasons. ¡­.. -Ah, she must be busy today with family matters. -Tomorrow, there¡¯s probably a banquet in Helmut. -Her husband must have kept her at home, or maybe she caught a cold in this chilly weather, or perhaps she¡¯s worn out from training with the sword¡­ -Or maybe it¡¯s simply too gloomy a day to go out¡­ ¡­¡­ -I¡¯d just keep adding my own reasons¡­ And wait. Forever. ¡°Sir¡ª!¡± Dell called Isaac back from his recollections. ¡°How did she respond? This Rihanna you speak of¡­ what did she say?¡± Perhaps because Dell¡¯s own heart mirrored that sentiment, she looked eager to hear the answer. Isaac merely smiled playfully. ¡°Go ask for your prince¡¯s answer. Once you¡¯ve heard his reply, come share it with me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so mean.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only my experience. Miss Dell needs to hear her own answer.¡± Even as he responded, Isaac suddenly felt someone¡¯s gaze on them and slowly turned his head to the side. Standing there, to their surprise¡­ Raphael and Clarice were facing each other, both looking startled. ¡°¡­Were they tailing us?¡± It seemed that both of them had tried following secretly¡ªonly to end up catching each other in the act. **** ¡°I¡¯d just keep waiting¡ªforever.¡± Somewhere near the riverside, on the bridge that spanned it¡­ Rihanna went a long time without saying anything in response to his suggestion that she could marry another man if she wished. ¡®If only the current of the river I sail was as gentle as this one¡­¡¯ But if it were, they probably would have built a bridge here, too. He had been lost in such trivial thoughts when¡ª ¡°I don¡¯t want that.¡± Her voice was firm, carrying an emotion that felt tightly contained, as if she were holding back a surge of feeling. ¡°I absolutely don¡¯t want that.¡± Her hand, which had been resting over his, slowly laced their fingers together. Isaac couldn¡¯t resist Rihanna¡¯s strength, so he let her do it. Despite her usual calm demeanor, her grip was surprisingly firm. ¡°But Rihanna, I¡ª¡± Squeeze! ¡°Ow!?¡± Rihanna¡¯s fingers tightened painfully around his. He let out a short yelp. ¡°¡­.¡± But she said nothing in return. Though her face was as expressionless as ever, there was a subtle flush, and she seemed the tiniest bit cross. ¡°¡­Are you upset?¡± he asked carefully. Without answering, Rihanna looked straight ahead and started walking, still holding his hand as though she had no intention of letting go. ¡®I¡¯m happy.¡¯ So happy, in fact, that it was hard to keep his laughter from slipping out. It was a little secret only he would ever know. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 99: Hunting ¡°Isn¡¯t this a coincidence? Right, Prince Raphael?¡± ¡°Y-yes, indeed, Princess Clarice. Haha¡­ You should be resting for tomorrow¡¯s hunt¡ªare you sure you¡¯re alright?¡± ¡°I became deeply interested in the history and traditions of Brentarion you showed me at the museum today. I wanted to come into town and feel the living, breathing Brentarion for myself.¡± ¡°I see. If you had told me in advance, I would have gladly escorted you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac and Dell watch as the prince and princess speak to each other with exaggerated enthusiasm, almost like they¡¯re putting on a play. ¡®All that practice we did on acting¡­¡¯ But here Clarice fails to put it to proper use, and Isaac can only sigh. No matter how disgraceful someone¡¯s behavior might have been, as a noble and subject, there are times he needs to smooth things over for the royal family¡¯s sake. ¡°Since you both came out here, why not spend some time together?¡± At Isaac¡¯s words, all three of them look at him in surprise. Moments ago, he had been siding with Dell, but ultimately, his role is that of a bodyguard trying to see the marriage through. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Clarice seems taken aback, realizing Isaac is using even this situation as an opportunity. ¡°My apologies¡­¡± On the other hand, Raphael steps forward, fist clenched, inch by inch. His eyes speak of a resolve to protect the woman he loves. ¡°I came here to talk to Dell. More importantly, I¡¯m the one who¡¯s curious¡ªwhy were you talking to her in the first place?¡± ¡°Do you really want to hear me say it out loud?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I believe no one here is unaware of the reason, but saying it aloud carries a different weight.¡± Raphael, while engaged in an official schedule meant to arrange a marriage with Clarice, is in love with another woman. Isaac is pointing this out. ¡°Are you really planning on spending your time with her?¡± As Isaac presses him, Raphael squeezes his eyes shut and grabs Dell by the wrist, bolting away as if fleeing. ¡°Dell! This way!¡± ¡°P-Prince Raphael¡ª!¡± Those watching them run might imagine some grand chase scene, but Isaac simply stands there, quietly watching the two dash off into the distance. Once they¡¯re gone: ¡°What a romantic,¡± Clarice sneers, shrugging her shoulders. ¡°Does Prince Raphael realize just how much of a diplomatic faux pas he¡¯s making right now?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not clueless. He¡¯s not incompetent, after all.¡± They had assumed from the start that Clarice wouldn¡¯t be able to sway Raphael¡¯s heart so easily at this stage anyway. More pressing to Isaac at the moment is: ¡°So why exactly did you come all the way out here?¡± At his weary question, Clarice flinches, then grumbles, ¡°I-I just wanted to look around outside for a while.¡± ¡°You followed us.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never met that ¡®Dell¡¯ woman in person. I wanted to see her for myself.¡± Her voice grows stronger, as though convincing even herself. In other words, she¡¯s adding more weight to her explanation as she speaks. ¡°I was curious how extraordinary she must be, for Raphael to hold back even though I¡¯ve been trying so hard to seduce him with everything I¡¯ve got!¡± Clarice laughs as she tousles her hair with her hand. ¡°What do you think, Isaac?¡± ¡°She is a good person. I can see why Prince Raphael has feelings for her.¡± ¡°Reeeally?¡± That answer doesn¡¯t please Clarice at all; her expression instantly sours. ¡°But you needn¡¯t worry. Compared to how long you two have actually known each other, Princess Clarice, you¡¯ve already made quite a deep impression on Prince Raphael.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± It doesn¡¯t seem like the sort of reassurance she was hoping for; her mood stays unchanged. ¡°So, Isaac, if you had to pick¡ªbetween me and Dell, who would you choose?¡± ¡°Is my opinion that important?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a man, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Then let me ask you something instead.¡± Isaac speaks calmly in return. ¡°What do you think of Prince Raphael, Princess Clarice?¡± ¡°¡­He¡¯s an idiot?¡± It¡¯s a better response than Isaac expected. Sighing, he reminds her of their goal. ¡°Princess Clarice, you haven¡¯t forgotten why we¡¯re going through all this trouble, have you?¡± ¡°To win over Prince Raphael¡¯s heart and make our political marriage a success, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s part of it. But you also said you wanted to show Princess Adeline and Heyrad what it looks like to live a happy life¡ªremember?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She had indeed forgotten. ¡°You have to try to love Prince Raphael for real. The more sincere your feelings become, the higher our plan¡¯s chances of succeeding. Keep that in mind.¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pouting her lips, Clarice answers that she understands, then spins on her heel to leave. She doesn¡¯t say another word the entire way back. About thirty minutes after returning to the palace¡­ ¡°Red Flames!¡± Sharen, who had been abandoned at the bakery, charges straight at Isaac, launching a flurry of attacks the moment she sees him. * * * The Next Day Clarice sat in a chair placed in a nearby field. Today¡¯s schedule, prepared by the Kingdom of Brentarion, involved horseback riding and hunting. As Isaac had advised, she didn¡¯t need to think too deeply about any of it¡ªjust offer a polite round of applause for Raphael¡¯s performance. Putting effort into hunting herself would only steal the spotlight that was meant to be his. ¡®Tsk, they¡¯re not even trying to hide it.¡¯ Even from her seat, it was hard to pretend not to notice how the knights serving as escorts and the professional hunters were deliberately driving the game toward Raphael. Whenever he fired an arrow, he struck his target with unerring accuracy. ¡°Prince Raphael, you¡¯re amazing!¡± ¡°That was incredible!¡± ¡°Truly a master of the bow!¡± Praises poured in from all around. Clarice also clapped and smiled, though her mind was somewhere else. ¡®I¡¯m supposed to fall for him¡­right?¡¯ Isaac had told her she needed to truly love Raphael. But though she knew he was a good person, for some reason she felt even more resistance to him than she had before. ¡®It¡¯s not like he¡¯s bad-looking.¡¯ Even without the royal title, Raphael was certainly handsome¡ªa fine example of the distinctly chiseled looks common in Brentarion. ¡®Well, he¡¯s no Isaac, though.¡¯ Was she setting her standards too high? Next to Isaac, even Raphael paled somewhat in comparison. Perhaps that was why he seemed wary yesterday, seeing Dell talking with Isaac. ¡®Raphael¡¯s personality isn¡¯t so bad either.¡¯ He was earnest in following his emotions, but that might complement her own nature. They could balance each other out, which was a genuine plus. ¡®¡­Of course, still not on the same level as Isaac.¡¯ With Isaac, she was comfortable enough to share even the silliest thoughts. They¡¯d developed a sort of camaraderie after being embroiled in all sorts of incidents involving Helmut and the Transcendent. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Clarice sneaked a glance to the side, where Isaac stood with an unreadable expression. In this kingdom, he¡¯d taken Heyrad¡¯s place as her escort knight. Smack! ¡°Ugh?!¡± Suddenly, Isaac gasped in shock as Clarice jabbed him in the side. ¡°Wh-why would you do that?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s your fault.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve made my standards too high.¡± She didn¡¯t get the chance to say more; at that moment, Raphael rode up and addressed her. ¡°Princess Clarice, would you care to join me in the hunt?¡± Still on horseback, he offered his hand. With quick intuition, Isaac moved between them, lowered himself on one knee, and formed a step for her to mount more easily. Just like that, she found herself riding with Raphael. His voice low, Raphael spoke as he took the reins. ¡°I apologize for yesterday. For fussing over Dell right in front of you, Princess Clarice.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ it¡¯s fine. I understand.¡± ¡°I wanted to offer you my apology, which is why I asked you to ride with me.¡± She remembered Isaac¡¯s advice: show genuine praise and don¡¯t hide the hint of attraction if she felt it. So Clarice spoke the first words that came to mind. ¡°You¡¯re quite the romantic. Honestly, as a woman, I admire that.¡± ¡°Y-you do?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Her hair whipped around in the wind, forcing her to briefly turn her head. She noticed the retinue of escorts following close behind. Leading them was Isaac, whose gaze she met for just a moment. ¡°It¡¯s wonderful to see someone move forward for the sake of love alone¡ªit¡¯s really impressive.¡± She faced forward again, hoping her words would blow away in the wind. ¡°Yes, I truly find it admirable.¡± ¡°I¡­never expected you to see it in such a positive light.¡± Until now, Raphael had never doubted the sincerity of his conversations with Clarice. But something about the unmistakable honesty in her tone left him flustered. Believing the mood was right, Raphael tightened his hold on the reins and spoke carefully. ¡°Princess Clarice, truth be told, Dell made me a suggestion yesterday¡ª¡± ¡°Prince Raphael!¡± A sudden shout from the escort knights behind them interrupted him. Caught off guard by Clarice¡¯s genuine words, Raphael had let his attention drift from their path. The horse abruptly raised its front legs with a loud neigh. They should have steered clear of a rock ahead, but the reins didn¡¯t move in time. Startled, the horse reared back and came to a halt. ¡°Ah!¡± Both Clarice and Raphael were thrown backward. For a moment, her world spun, and she braced herself for a hard crash onto the ground. But instead, she landed in familiar warmth¡ªIsaac, who had leapt off his own horse, caught her mid-fall, faint traces of his eerie aura flickering around him. **** Fortunately, Clarice wasn¡¯t hurt. She was trembling too much to walk, though, so she ended up riding piggyback on Isaac¡¯s back. ¡°Allow me to carry you¡ªI caused this mishap,¡± Raphael offered, meaning to atone for his mistake. Isaac thought it might be a good chance to improve the mood and started to hand Clarice over, but¡ª ¡°Not today¡­¡± Clarice, still on Isaac¡¯s back, whispered quietly. ¡°Not today. I can¡¯t manage it right now.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac glanced over his shoulder at her, then dipped his head respectfully toward Raphael, stating that he would carry her the rest of the way himself. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 100: Caught ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Back in her room, Clarice flops down onto her bed with a thud. She can¡¯t even explain to herself why she keeps feeling like this. Yet the one person she wants to ask about it¡ªIsaac¡ªis nowhere to be found. He had brought Clarice to her room and tucked her into bed, then left just like that. Watching him go filled her with a vague sense of disappointment, mixed with a tinge of anxiety. ¡®Could he have sensed something off about me after what I did?¡¯ Given how sharp that man¡¯s instincts are, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising. Thumb. Thumb. Thumb. ¡®M-my heart is racing.¡¯ Her pounding heart refuses to calm down. Once she slowly replays what she did, she realizes she¡¯s done something absolutely ridiculous¡ªand she silently berates herself for it. ¡®Why in the world did I say something like that?!¡¯ She could have spent time with Prince Raphael by naturally staying close to him¡ªmaybe even sharing casual physical contact. But she herself had just kicked that opportunity away. She lies there for a while, lost in a daze, stewing on it. Creak. The door opens, and someone steps in. ¡°Isaac?!¡± Clarice bolts upright, but the person entering is not Isaac. It¡¯s Heyrad. ¡°Princess.¡± ¡°Oh, Heyrad. What is it?¡± At the moment, Heyrad is supposed to be overseeing Dell for surveillance and information gathering. He normally wouldn¡¯t have any reason to appear here. Rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment, he spoke: ¡°Baron Logan told me we might need to switch roles. It looks like I¡¯ll be assigned to your guard detail again¡­ Did something happen between you and Baron Logan?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Clarice¡¯s face goes stiff as she gasps. ¡°A-Aak?!¡± Her face becomes beet-red, and she covers both cheeks with her hands. ¡°Aaack?!¡± Has she ever felt this embarrassed in her entire life? She can say with absolute confidence¡ªno, she never has. ¡°Aaaargh?!¡± ¡°Princess?¡± Overcome by the urge to crawl into a hole, Clarice dives under the covers instead. From under the blanket, she starts whacking a pillow with both hands. ¡°Haaaaaaaaaaa!¡± She¡¯s been caught. **** The next morning, Isaac was in the training ground, warming up with the Grandmaster. ¡°Huh, you¡¯ve hardly given me a second glance since coming here. What¡¯s the occasion today?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac has no real excuse. He knows he¡¯s been by Princess Clarice¡¯s side all this time, assisting her nonstop. He didn¡¯t have a moment to spare for Sharen or Grandmaster. ¡°Ahem, I am a swordsman, after all. I¡¯ve been too lax lately, so I plan to focus on training today.¡± ¡°Hmmm? But the banquet is tomorrow, isn¡¯t it? Seems like today is even more crucial.¡± ¡°Prince Raphael is seriously considering Dell¡¯s proposal.¡± ¡°Proposal?¡± ¡°Dell will become his concubine, and he¡¯ll marry Princess Clarice. That¡¯s what I mean.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Grandmaster¡¯s brow twitches. Nearby, Sharen¡ªwho¡¯s stretching her legs¡ªglances over curiously. ¡°The moment he started wavering, it was all but decided. The marriage will likely go ahead.¡± She hasn¡¯t completely won over Raphael, but judging from the prince¡¯s reaction yesterday, there¡¯s no doubt he¡¯s taken some interest in Clarice. ¡°So from here on, I¡¯m sure Princess Clarice can handle things on her own. Let¡¯s prepare to head back.¡± ¡°Hmmm?¡± Grandmaster, noticing some impatience in Isaac¡¯s explanation, has questions, but doesn¡¯t press the issue. If Isaac doesn¡¯t want to talk, there¡¯s no point in forcing him. The unexpected question comes from Sharen: ¡°What¡¯s this? So Dell becomes a concubine, and the princess becomes the queen?¡± ¡°You could say that.¡± It¡¯s not exactly ¡°compromise,¡± but there¡¯s an undeniable gap in status between a nation¡¯s princess and a mere bakery girl. ¡°¡­Hmm, that just seems kind of lame.¡± Sharen mutters under her breath, sounding displeased. Isaac momentarily flinches¡ªhe didn¡¯t expect her to say that. ¡°I mean, isn¡¯t it weird? He was ready to run away from his entire kingdom with Dell, but then, after just a few days of being seduced by the princess, he¡¯s changed his mind?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°From the start, the fact that he¡¯s weighing both women on a scale like this just feels off.¡± ¡°We¡¯re the ones who made him do that.¡± ¡°Well, not me!¡± Indeed, Sharen had no part in that particular plan. Isaac sighs. ¡°So, is that how all men are, Isaac?¡± As if she¡¯s had a sudden revelation, Sharen narrows her eyes and asks. Grandmaster crosses her arms with a mischievous grin. ¡°Ah, yes. ¡®Tis the nature of man. If a woman is a fierce wind, then his coat is blown away. If she is the blazing sun, he takes it off because it¡¯s too hot. That, dear child, is man.¡± ¡°Oooh.¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t teach her nonsense.¡± Sharen nods for a second as though she¡¯s learned something profound, then frowns and looks at Isaac again. ¡°But Isaac, you weren¡¯t like that.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I mean, Silverna back in the North tried to press those giant breasts against you, and you still weren¡¯t swayed.¡± If Silverna were to hear this conversation, she¡¯d probably pick up a spear and chase her down on the spot, yet they speak as if it¡¯s nothing. Isaac decides to correct the record: ¡°Silverna has never done that.¡± ¡°Come on, I¡¯ve witnessed it at least three times.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac briefly clamps his mouth shut as a few overlapping memories float to mind. Seeing this, Grandmaster lets out a hollow laugh and slings a massive sword over her shoulder. ¡°My, my¡­ how many hearts have you stolen? Starting with the eldest daughters of Helmut and Caldias, who are hailed as the kingdom¡¯s finest flowers¡ª¡± ¡°Me! Put me on that list, too!¡± ¡°You want in as well, Sharen? Fine. Then I¡¯ll throw myself in, too, and multiply this rascal¡¯s sins.¡± ¡°Whoa! Isaac, at this rate you¡¯ll get the death penalty!¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac can¡¯t make heads or tails of this conversation anymore. Grandmaster, counting on her fingers, folds down a fourth finger and, with a laugh, closes the last one. ¡°And now, even Princess Clarice, who¡¯s getting married soon. Quite the scoundrel you are.¡± ¡°The Princess is not¡ª¡± Isaac catches himself sounding uncharacteristically serious. The moment he does, Grandmaster leans in with a teasing glint in her eye, resting an arm on his shoulder. ¡°Oh, child¡­ you¡¯re so very bad at lying.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me that.¡± ¡°Child, don¡¯t lie to yourself. Sometimes being too keenly perceptive only ends up tripping you up, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Hah.¡± Isaac exhales in frustration and subtly turns his head to look at Grandmaster. She clicks her tongue in sympathy, wearing a wry smile. ¡°I¡¯m no expert in matters of the heart¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°But I do have an eye for change. The Princess¡¯ feelings toward you have definitely shifted from what they were before.¡± ¡°That hardly qualifies as love.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯d know best, right? You¡¯re the man who¡¯s experienced the hottest flame of love out of all of us, after all.¡± Grandmaster smirks, teasing him. Next to them, Sharen looks up at Isaac blankly and asks: ¡°You never said anything like that to my sister?¡± ¡°¡­?!¡± ¡°Oho? Now that is an interesting question,¡± Grandmaster says with intrigue. Children do sometimes ask the sharpest questions. Isaac visibly flinches at Sharen¡¯s words and takes a step back. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ it just seems like your situation is really similar to what happened with Dell. Given your personality, you probably told Unnie to go marry another man, right?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Isaac retreats another step. Seeing this, Grandmaster sidles right up to him, linking arms and grinning mischievously. ¡°Come now, out with it.¡± She pokes his cheek with a finger, as if playfully urging him. Sharen, who can¡¯t reach that high, pokes his waist with her finger and laughs. ¡°Talk! Spill it!¡± ¡°Haaah¡­¡± Caught between the two, Isaac finally relents and tells them what happened back then: He told Rihanna to marry someone else while he would wait for her by the riverside. Rihanna replied, ¡°Absolutely not,¡± and firmly refused. Her answer had thrilled him more than he¡¯d expected, and he¡¯d been unable to hide how happy it made him. After hearing this story, Grandmaster mumbles in mild astonishment: ¡°That really happened? Goodness¡­ now I feel a bit guilty.¡± ¡°And you say that after listening to it all?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t help finding it so fascinating.¡± ¡°Wow, you know what?¡± Having heard the whole story, Sharen clenches her fists. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that just make the prince look worse in comparison?!¡± Neither Grandmaster nor Isaac can find a good response to that. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Or¡­ am I seeing it the wrong way?¡± Sharen tilts her head, perplexed. They both hesitate, unsure how to explain. After all, she isn¡¯t entirely wrong, making it hard to defend the prince. Eventually¡ª ¡°It just means your sister is incredible,¡± says Grandmaster, opting to praise Rihanna instead. ¡°My sister?¡± ¡°Yes, think of it that way.¡± ¡°She really is amazing. You know, last time she took a kitchen knife and tried to cook?¡± ¡°¡­Rihanna did?¡± That¡¯s certainly unexpected. ¡°Uh-huh. But she kept slicing right into the cutting board with the kitchen knife, so she ended up cooking with a longsword instead.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Ugh, I guess that¡¯s what they call so Helmut-like, huh?¡± ¡°She got chased out by the head chef in the end!¡± Well, at least it seems she¡¯s living a lively life after becoming the head of the household. That¡¯s a relief. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C ¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 101: Metaphor ¡°Heyrad, you¡¯re on escort duty again today, right?¡± ¡°Yes, Princess.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Today was the day of the banquet. Yesterday, Princess Clarice spent time attending a musical performance with Prince Raphael. It wasn¡¯t a bad atmosphere. Prince Raphael had clearly become fond of Princess Clarice. Everything was going according to Isaac¡¯s plan, and it seemed to be progressing smoothly. Yet Clarice, staring blankly out the window, felt a strange emptiness in her heart. ¡°Princess, it¡¯s time to get dressed.¡± ¡°Oh, right. I should do that.¡± She was about to prepare for the banquet, but Heyrad stayed in the room, silently watching Clarice. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°As you know, Princess, I oppose your marriage to Prince Raphael.¡± ¡°I know. You¡¯ve said it many times.¡± ¡°Yes. I truly want the Princess to find genuine happiness, rather than go through a political marriage.¡± ¡°A political marriage that strengthens the kingdom is my happiness, Heyrad.¡± At that calm statement, Heyrad nodded. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll accept it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I hear most of the nobility of Brentarion have been invited to tonight¡¯s banquet. Some have even traveled from far away just to attend.¡± ¡°Yes, that makes sense.¡± After all, it¡¯s a grand banquet to confirm the marriage alliance between a prince and a princess of two kingdoms. ¡°There will be so many people there that I may lose sight of you at some point, Princess.¡± ¡°¡­¡­What?¡± Just as Clarice was about to retort sharply¡ªwondering how that could possibly happen to her own escort knight¡ª ¡°If that moment does come.¡± With a gentle smile, Heyrad bowed his head. ¡°Please step out into the garden, outside the banquet hall. Baron Logan will be on duty there. You could temporarily entrust your safety to him.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Princess Clarice¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Heyrad¡ª.¡± She called his name slowly, but Heyrad simply added a few more words before leaving: ¡°The choice is yours, Princess. But I truly wish for your happiness.¡± As he stepped outside, the ladies in charge of dressing the Princess passed by Heyrad and entered. Clarice could only stand there, speechless. **** A late night under the rising moon. Yet the royal palace of Brentarion remained brightly illuminated. Nobles, lavishly dressed, laughed and conversed among themselves, bringing the gathering to life. The banquet was truly splendid. Of course it was: everyone had come to celebrate the marriage that would act as a bridge between two kingdoms. Outside the banquet hall, people could also be seen strolling here and there in the beautifully decorated garden¡ªperhaps taking a break to sober up, enjoying a romantic moment with a partner, or stepping aside for a secret conversation. In a secluded corner stood Isaac, supposedly keeping watch, swaying slightly as if following the rhythm of the music drifting out from the banquet hall. He was humming along, clearly enjoying the tune, when¡ª ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°¡­¡­?!¡± Startled by a familiar voice, he whipped around. There stood Princess Clarice, dressed in a black gown. ¡°Princess?¡± ¡°You¡¯re on guard duty, and yet you didn¡¯t even notice someone approaching you from behind?¡± When Clarice asked sharply, Isaac answered in confusion, ¡°Your footsteps sounded like any other guest¡¯s. If you¡¯d been a suspicious person or an assassin, I would have noticed immediately.¡± ¡°Hmph, that¡¯s quite a claim.¡± ¡°But why are you here, Princess? What happened to Heyrad?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I lost him in the crowd.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Isaac¡¯s expression darkened. A skilled knight like Heyrad wouldn¡¯t lose the Princess in a crowd, and even if he had, how would she know Isaac was out here? ¡®Heyrad¡­¡¯ It seemed that the knight who wished for the Princess¡¯s happiness had arranged something behind the scenes. Isaac sighed and gestured. ¡°I¡¯ll find Heyrad for you. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Hold on.¡± Clarice stopped Isaac before he could move forward and crossed her arms, questioning him almost accusingly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you come to me yesterday? Because of that, we didn¡¯t get to rehearse anything.¡± ¡°It was a concert, after all. I didn¡¯t think you had anything in particular to rehearse.¡± ¡°You left without a word? And not only that¡ªyou swapped roles with Heyrad, who¡¯s practically your partner on this operation, without asking for any approval from me, the one in charge?¡± ¡°¡­¡­My apologies.¡± At Isaac¡¯s polite apology, Clarice snorted. ¡°Hmph! Seriously, what¡¯s your deal? It felt like you were avoiding me all of a sudden, and it really upset me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± He had, in fact, been avoiding her, leaving him with no excuse to offer. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of course, Clarice already knew his behavior had been intentional and was saying this on purpose. A brief silence fell between them. In that delicate moment, Clarice gave Isaac a little shrug, showing off her black gown. ¡°Look at this. It¡¯s the same dress I wore at the previous banquet when I was your partner, Isaac.¡± ¡°Why wear the same dress?¡± ¡°Because I really liked it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I even styled my hair the same way as last time. You said it made me look like a true princess, remember?¡± ¡°I did.¡± Isaac nodded awkwardly. At the same time, he glanced anxiously at the banquet hall, worried that someone might be looking for Clarice. Strictly speaking, she was the main star of this banquet. ¡°Princess, it¡¯s about time you headed back¡ª¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t it bother you at all, Isaac?¡± ¡°What?¡± Princess Clarice puffed out her cheeks slightly, as if sulking. ¡°I¡¯m wearing exactly what I wore when I was your partner at the last banquet¡ªsame dress, same hairstyle. But this time, my partner is someone else. It¡¯s Prince Raphael.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°And it really doesn¡¯t bother you at all?¡± ¡°No.¡± With that rather heartless response, Isaac nodded, causing Clarice to bite her lip hard. ¡°How can someone be so cruel?! You toyed with me, then just let me go off with another man like it¡¯s nothing?!¡± ¡°Princess¡­ haah.¡± He let out a sigh. First it was the grandmaster and Sharen yesterday, and now today, Princess Clarice was saying something similar. He¡¯d already explained it multiple times: ¡°I never tried to ¡®seduce¡¯ you. I merely showed you how to capture a man¡¯s heart.¡± ¡°S-Seduce? You¡¯re saying you didn¡¯t do that?¡± ¡°Yes. To be absolutely clear: I swear to you, Princess, I have never once tried any sort of trick on you.¡± ¡°Huh, unbelievable!¡± Clarice fanned herself with her hand as if she were overheated, then jabbed her finger at Isaac. ¡°And that wasn¡¯t seduction? We held hands until late at night, hugged each other, whispered sweet words¡ªand you claim it wasn¡¯t?¡± ¡°We were practicing. You know that, Princess.¡± Yes, Clarice knew. She knew she was being stubborn. But she didn¡¯t want to admit it. She wanted to believe that the reason she¡¯d started to have feelings for Isaac was because he¡¯d actually seduced her. If it had all just been practice¡­and she still fell for him¡­ ¡®That¡¯s so embarrassing!¡¯ All her late-night ponderings about the nature of love, asking him to teach her what love was¡­ She felt like a complete fool. Especially since she¡¯d been so easily swayed! That was why Clarice wanted to hear it directly: That, in truth, Isaac had been quietly working his charms on her. If a man this attractive had made a move, then it was only natural she¡¯d succumb. She wanted some sort of mental victory to preserve her pride. But Isaac remained firm, to the point of disappointment. ¡°I did not try to seduce you.¡± ¡°Grrr!¡± Seething with frustration, she wondered what to do with this dense man. Then, the resourceful strategist in her came up with an idea. ¡°Let¡¯s do the opposite, then.¡± ¡°Huh? The opposite? More importantly, Princess, don¡¯t you need to¡ª¡± ¡°Isaac, just once, really try seducing me.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± He looked at her as though she¡¯d just said something absurd, and Clarice shrugged with a mischievous grin. ¡°If you really didn¡¯t try to seduce me before, then it¡¯s bound to feel very different if you truly put the moves on me now.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If I can sense that difference, then I¡¯ll acknowledge it and accept it.¡± ¡°¡­Is it typical for princesses to be this brazen?¡± ¡°Somewhat. Everyone¡¯s always fussing around me, you see.¡± Clarice flashed a playful smile. ¡°Just once. Do it. Honestly, I¡¯m curious about your real feelings, Isaac.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Hurry up. Otherwise, I just won¡¯t go back to the prince.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ a very odd threat¡­¡± Isaac let out a sigh. Seeing his troubled expression, Clarice only laughed slyly behind her hand. ¡°What? Even a handsome man can¡¯t just seduce someone with a few words, can he? Of course not.¡± ¡°Princess, let me be absolutely clear. I don¡¯t have romantic feelings for you.¡± ¡°I-I know that!¡± Clarice jumped in surprise at his sudden confession, hurriedly blurting out her own response. Isaac looked straight at her, speaking as if issuing a warning label. ¡°I¡¯m only going to do this because you insist. Understood? Once it¡¯s over, you¡¯ll walk away?¡± ¡°Yes, yes. What grand words are you going to use, anyway?¡± They only had time for a sentence or two, at most. Not even Isaac could completely sweep her off her feet with such limited time¡­ or so Clarice thought, crossing her arms. ¡°Go on, then.¡± ¡°Haah.¡± What a situation. Though he couldn¡¯t fully grasp what was happening, Isaac locked eyes with Clarice and spoke, this time with a touch of sincerity. ¡°You are truly stunning tonight.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it? That¡¯s so ordinary¡ª¡± ¡°Like a rose.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± A rose. In truth, a rather common comparison. Yet to Isaac, what did a rose signify? The one person he had truly loved: Rihanna Helmut, known as the ¡°Blood Rose of Helmut.¡± Clarice knew all too well how much weight the ¡°rose¡± analogy carried for Isaac, of all people. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Her lips clamped shut, her eyes grew wide¡ª And her face turned bright red. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 102: Breaking The Engagement ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Princess.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Princess? It¡¯s time for you to leave.¡± With her face flushed bright red and her body frozen in place, Clarice stood there. Nevertheless, her violet eyes were chasing after Isaac, trying desperately to meet his gaze. ¡°Princess?¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± Only when Isaac called her a third time did Princess Clarice finally respond. Nodding her head, she stepped back, looking as though she was preparing to flee. ¡°Are you satisfied now? That little display was me trying out one of my own tricks. How did it feel? Did it seem any different?¡± No longer wearing the serious expression he¡¯d shown just moments ago, Isaac returned to his role as her escort. Though she felt a twinge of regret, Clarice couldn¡¯t deny the difference. ¡°Yes¡­ it¡¯s different.¡± Clarice nodded and let out a quiet sigh. ¡°You seduced Rihanna like this too, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going? You said you would.¡± ¡°No, I was just thinking¡­ I think I understand now how you ended up marrying her.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Ahem! A-Anyway, I get it. I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± With that, Clarice slowly turned around. As she made her way to the banquet hall, she looked back at Isaac one last time. ¡°Thank you for giving me courage.¡± Smiling, she headed off toward Prince Raphael. ***** At the center of the banquet hall, Prince Raphael was receiving congratulations from numerous nobles, yet he kept scanning the room for Clarice. Normally, on a day like this, the two of them would stay together throughout the festivities. Because of that, the nobles were eyeing the prince anxiously or offering clumsy explanations for Clarice¡¯s absence. At last, he spotted her. She emerged from the direction of the garden and walked toward Raphael at the entrance. ¡°Ah, Princess Claris.¡± Welcoming her, Prince Raphael gestured toward the seat beside him. However, when Clarice reached him, she spoke not in her usual gentle, bright tone: ¡°Just a moment¡ª¡± Her voice was firm, sharp as a blade. ¡°I¡¯d like to have a word in private.¡± Then, she retreated to the back of the banquet hall. Prince Raphael quickly offered brief farewells to the nobles around him before following her out. Though she had said ¡°the back of the banquet hall,¡± she clearly wanted a place with no onlookers, so they ended up going all the way to the far side of the garden. ¡®It¡¯s the same moon I was just looking at.¡¯ Yet somehow it looked entirely different now. Thinking this, Clarice turned to Prince Raphael, who had followed her. As though something important lay before him, the prince straightened his attire and took a step closer to the princess. ¡°Princess Clarice, are you enjoying the banquet?¡± Prince Raphael tried lighthearted words to ease the heavy atmosphere, but Clarice did not respond. ¡°Is Dell not here at the banquet tonight?¡± ¡°¡­I wasn¡¯t really in a position to invite her.¡± He hesitated for a moment, but Prince Raphael answered calmly. He wasn¡¯t sure why she asked about Dell, but it was clear he didn¡¯t welcome the question. ¡°It¡¯s partly because Dell is a commoner, but more than that, this banquet is meant to finalize my engagement to you, Princess. I couldn¡¯t possibly invite her.¡± ¡°Are you actually accepting our engagement now?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯d like to talk about.¡± Moving closer, Prince Raphael gently took Clarice by the hand and confessed: ¡°If there¡¯s no way to avoid marrying you, then I will accept it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Clarice slowly raised her head to meet his gaze. The subtle smile at his lips suggested he believed this was a moving, heartfelt moment. ¡°At first, I saw you only as a political envoy sent by your kingdom to secure an alliance.¡± ¡°And now you don¡¯t?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t. In just a few days, you¡¯ve changed my mind.¡± His impression of Princess Clarice had already undergone a complete shift. Initially, he¡¯d thought she was a cool and calculating royal willing to do anything to empower Albion. But as he got to know her, he discovered she was nothing like that. She was as gentle as warm sunlight, someone who empathized with his situation, who faced difficulties of her own yet carried the burden of royalty. In some ways, Clarice understood him better than Dell did. Prince Raphael had even begun to believe that. ¡°Let¡¯s marry. We will love each other for the sake of our royal duties.¡± ¡°What about Dell?¡± At that, Prince Raphael¡¯s face darkened. Clenching his fist, he admitted quietly: ¡°I¡­ will have to take Dell as a concubine.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s shameless. But it was Dell who suggested it. She found a realistic compromise for our situation.¡± ¡°A compromise.¡± Repeating his words under her breath, Clarice watched him as he nodded. ¡°Yes, exactly. So we¡ª¡± It was different. Entirely unlike the story she¡¯d heard about Isaac and Rihanna from the Grandmaster the day before. She was too inexperienced to judge who was more noble or whose love was grander. Having only just begun to understand love herself, she knew she still had much to learn. But there was something she yearned for¡ªsomething she admired deeply. ¡°Raphael.¡± When Clarice called his name, Prince Raphael went rigid at the sight of her radiant smile. He had seen her smile many times before, yet this one felt authentic¡ªlike the first time he was seeing the real thing. With a liberated yet bold grin, Clarice spoke: ¡°Let¡¯s break off our engagement.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± A declaration he hadn¡¯t foreseen in the slightest. Before he could respond, Clarice continued: ¡°You ran away even before I arrived. At our first meeting, you openly disregarded me.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°You favored a woman you already had feelings for, and you even snuck out of the palace to see her while I was visiting.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡°Not only that, you fled with her right before my eyes in the city¡ª¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°And now, before we¡¯re even wed, you¡¯re publicly declaring that you¡¯ll have a concubine.¡± ¡°P-Princess?¡± ¡°As a princess of a kingdom, I¡¯ve been deeply insulted. My homeland has long since secured more than enough grounds to demand an annulment.¡± Especially Heyrad had worked very hard to gather it all. Even so, the reason they¡¯d avoided using it was because the two people¡¯s arranged marriage brought them so many benefits. ¡°Before fulfilling your royal duties, you need to take responsibility for your own actions first, Prince Raphael.¡± Seriously. Was this truly the same woman he had spent nearly an entire week with? Struck speechless, Raphael couldn¡¯t respond at all. Yet somehow, this side of her suited her even more. And so, he could only accept it in silence. ¡°You mentioned earlier that you¡¯d thought I was just a political figure sent here to secure an alliance.¡± With a sly grin, Clarice nodded, praising Raphael. ¡°You saw me quite accurately.¡± Watching Clarice¡¯s radiant smile, Raphael hastily asked: ¡°W-Why are you doing this all of a sudden? If you were going to break off the engagement, you could have done so from the start.¡± ¡°Tsk, you¡¯re right. I didn¡¯t expect things to turn out this way either.¡± Suddenly, Clarice recalled what she had once said while riding the carriage to Brentariion: Because I don¡¯t know what love is, I¡¯m not sad at all. If I, like Isaac back then, had someone I liked enough to give up everything for¡ª I¡¯m sure it would have been difficult. How can I be so perfectly self-aware that everything lines up so neatly? Smiling wryly at herself, Clarice tried to break the heavy atmosphere. ¡°To be honest, I still think there are plenty of advantages to going through with the marriage.¡± ¡°In that case¡ª¡± ¡°But!¡± Pressing a hand to her chest, Clarice quickly rattled off her words, sounding both confident and defensive: ¡°I can still be of real use to the Kingdom of Albion. If I give it my all, I can do enough to be worth more than just an arranged marriage.¡± ¡°In fact, that person will be by my side, so I¡¯ll be even more efficient. It¡¯s going to be fun. I¡¯ll make sure to keep him right next to me while I work!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Seeing the blank expression on Raphael¡¯s face, Clarice burst out in a small laugh. Then suddenly, a thought came to her. ¡°Oh, right. Remember what you said at our first meeting? You asked if I knew what love was.¡± [Do you know what love is?] [If you did, you¡¯d understand why I¡¯m acting like this.] ¡°I know now, Prince Raphael.¡± With a wave that felt almost like a farewell, Clarice turned without a moment¡¯s hesitation. ¡°So this time, I want you to understand me.¡± Watching Clarice walk away, Raphael felt his heart grow heavy. He had thought taking a realistic compromise¡ªloving two women and keeping both¡ªwas the right thing to do. But in the end, he was only closing his eyes to keep himself comfortable. He had simply gone along with Dell¡¯s kindness, telling himself there was no other choice. ¡°Ha.¡± Staring at Clarice¡¯s retreating back, Prince Raphael slowly crouched down on the spot. ¡°If it hurts this much, I guess that means I was dumped.¡± He buried his face in his hands, trying to hide his tears. Tomorrow, he would go see Dell. He would kneel before her and apologize¡ªthen take clear responsibility for everything that had happened. **** ¡°Sniff.¡± The capital was brimming with the elegant ambiance of autumn, but here¡ª Atop the perpetually frigid northern wall. ¡°Sniff.¡± Even today, Silverna Caldias stood guard. A spear slung over her shoulder, she noted her hair was getting a bit long in the back¡ªshe was planning to cut it soon. ¡°Miss! Miss! Look at this!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± It was Anna¡ªboth a maid and a soldier¡ªclimbing up to the top of the wall. ¡°Why weren¡¯t you at your post? Where did you go off to?¡± Grumbling, Silverna asked, but Anna thrust a newspaper at her and cried out: ¡°They say Princess Clarice¡¯s engagement has been canceled. Apparently the Prince of Brentariion already had a lover in his heart.¡± ¡°Huh? Really?¡± ¡°Really! The royal family¡¯s furious about it. Look, it even says Princess Adeline nearly started a war over it.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­?¡± Surely they wouldn¡¯t start a war at a time like this. Perhaps it was just an empty threat, or something Brentariion and they had already worked out behind the scenes. ¡°But the gracious Princess Clarice made a benevolent decision, and in the end the Kingdom of Brentariion has to pay reparations¡ª¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fsssh! ¡°Huh¡­?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± A sudden strong gust of wind ripped the paper apart, except for the part still clutched in Anna¡¯s hands, sending it flying into the sky. The wind was so fierce that both women hunched down against the wall, bracing themselves¡ªwhen suddenly: ¡°¡­!¡± Silverna¡¯s eyes, surveying the area beyond the wall, went wide. Something was kicking up a whirlwind within the stark-white fog, and it was drawing nearer to the wall. ¡°Enemies attaaaack!¡± At Silverna¡¯s shout, the alarm bells began to clang. The Transcendents, is it!? They had shown great restraint for quite some time now¡ªit must have been five months or so. They certainly took their time! With a fierce grin, Silverna braced herself. The wild gale felt strong enough to lift her right off her feet, so she jammed her hand into the gap between the wall¡¯s stones for support. A raging tempest conjured by their sorcery seemed strong enough to sweep people away, but¡ª The northern warriors responded gracefully, well-prepared for any attack from the Transcendents. This was the Malidan Wall, always on high alert, fully prepared for any Transcendent incursion. They won¡¯t breach it so easily. So thought Silverna, a grin curling across her lips. Just then¡ª ¡°Huh¡­?¡± She saw something that left her speechless. Leading the enemy forces marching upon the wall, as though he were some grand general commanding his troops¡ª He gripped a weapon that was hard to categorize as either a spear, a sword, or a staff. But even more striking was¡ª ¡°Red¡­?¡± From hair to eyes, he was drenched in a blood-red color. He looked remarkably like Helmut. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 103: Malidan Barrier ¡°Helmut?¡± The moment Silverna laid eyes on the man outside the barrier, she mumbled under her breath. No matter how she looked at him, everything about him screamed ¡®Helmut,¡¯ which left Silverna feeling bewildered. Yet in truth, she had never seen such an appearance in Helmut before. Starting from the eldest son, Lohengrin, all the way down to the youngest, Edel¡­ S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even if she recalled Alois, who had died, she couldn¡¯t quite say any of them resembled this man. And yet, for some reason¡ª ¡®He feels more¡­ real.¡¯ It felt oddly genuine. Silverna suddenly shook her head, trying to dispel the strange thought. ¡®Don¡¯t think about pointless things.¡¯ First and foremost, protecting the barrier took priority. As if it had been waiting for this moment, Malidan Barrier bustled with activity to repel the onslaught from the Transcendents. In fact, their steps and actions carried a certain liveliness. Rather than waiting aimlessly, the North far preferred having the enemy in plain sight. The only real obstacle was the storm-like wind. It wasn¡¯t magic, yet it howled through the Malidan Barrier with tremendous force, as if it would swallow people whole. Its fierce gusts made it difficult to form proper defensive lines. ¡°Miss! Are you alright?!¡± Hunched over against the wind, Silverna only nodded in response to Anna¡¯s urgent question beside her. In that tense moment, Silverna gripped her spear in both hands and sprang to her feet. ¡°Miss?!¡± Her frail body looked as if it might be carried off by the gale, but her two legs stood steadfast. A white aura supported both legs, allowing her instead to straighten her back and shout boldly: ¡°Do you really think the North¡¯s barrier would cower before its enemies?!¡± Galvanized by the fierce cry of this spirited young woman, the other soldiers slowly got up and steadied themselves. They already disliked the idea of crouching down when the enemy was right before them, even if the cause was the storm. And since such details directly influenced morale, Silverna had responded perfectly. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The Transcendent forces, sensing their gusts had failed to break the defenders¡¯ spirits, also began to move in earnest. ¡°Stay calm! Handle them the way you always do, and there¡¯ll be no problem!¡± After all, her father, Uldiran Caldias, would arrive soon. Moreover, so long as there were no internal issues, Silverna firmly believed Malidan Barrier would never fall. Why was she so certain? [ Do you know why they don¡¯t pick a direct confrontation? Because they¡¯re that short on combat strength. If we engage them head-on, we¡¯ll end up winning in a contest of raw power. Which means if they¡¯re coming at us openly, it¡¯s proof they¡¯ve got nothing else left. ] Isaac, an authority on the Transcendents, had once said so. [ They¡¯ll never, ever break through you. ] ¡®Not even I, who¡¯ve lived in the North all my life, would dare say something so absolute, you fool.¡¯ The words would make her laugh dryly whenever she recalled them. Silverna bore a clear memory of the horror the Transcendents could unleash. She had crossed spears with them more than once, and their power was undeniable. Even though Silverna carried tremendous pride in the North¡¯s defensive walls, she still thought there was no such thing as an absolute guarantee when facing beings beyond human limits. ¡®Don¡¯t act like you¡¯ve witnessed it all firsthand.¡¯ Still, Isaac plainly trusting in the North¡¯s barrier was exactly what allowed Silverna to wear a confident smile at this moment. The Transcendents charged toward the barrier. Some took the form of beasts, some had wings, others looked almost human. They came in a surprising variety of shapes, much like demonic beasts, lending the battle a strange resemblance to a monster subjugation¡ª But this was war. The ones at the rear, brandishing staves and bombarding them with deep crimson ritual like splatters of paint, were particularly annoying. When facing monsters, usually you just had to watch out for flying boulders at worst. Thud! Thud! Thud! Their spells collided with the barrier. Yet, not even the slightest damage or crack formed on Malidan Barrier under their feeble barrage. ¡°This is nothing. The rocks monsters throw at us are more dangerous than this.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Anna, standing beside Silverna with her weapon at the ready, glanced upward. ¡°The flyers are the real issue.¡± Their superior hides could even repel arrows. Despite the rain of arrows unleashed upon them, the Transcendents sustained only minor injuries before landing atop the barrier. ¡°Never fight them alone!¡± Individually, their combat power was overwhelming. Even if they weren¡¯t all that strong, it was obvious they surpassed ordinary soldiers. Well-prepared against Transcendents to begin with, the soldiers of Malidan quickly formed squads of two or three to counter the invaders. ¡°Hrrmph!¡± Silverna¡¯s spear soared high into the sky, piercing the chest of a crow-like Transcendent. ¡°Grrruk?!¡± Letting out a strangled cry, the creature convulsed, body dragged earthward as if sucked in by the aura clinging to Silverna¡¯s spear. ¡°Hup!¡± As Silverna retrieved her spear through that same aura, she whipped it around again at the hapless Transcendent now yanked down within reach, finishing it off cleanly. ¡®So this is what they meant by calling me a genius.¡¯ It had only been half a year since she had immersed herself in honing her aura. The woman whom Silent Sword had repeatedly called a prodigy had achieved dazzling growth. Now her spear spun toward the other Transcendents landing on the barrier. Meanwhile, Anna was rallying soldiers as she sprinted across the ramparts. ¡°Over here! They¡¯re scaling the wall on this side!¡± In the brief moment their eyes were drawn to the sky, Anna and the soldiers hurled or thrust their spears at the Transcendents climbing up the barrier. It was a chaotic battlefield both above and below, yet everyone moved in unison to fight back. And then¡ª A single spear sliced through the air. Crackle! Charged with electricity, it instantly scorched the surrounding Transcendents pitch-black and sent them plummeting from the wall. The spear, which looked like it would continue flying straight ahead, suddenly reversed course along the same path it had taken. Its destination¡ª Thud! The man who caught the spear crackling with lightning was none other than Uldiran Caldias¡ªthe guardian of the Malidan barrier. ¡°Not bad,¡± he remarked. Though Isaac possessed a Bricalla blade, that was something crafted from the byproducts Rihanna had provided. Naturally, they hadn¡¯t used up all the bones and hides on just one weapon. ¡°The Margrave has arrived!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give in! We are humanity¡¯s shield!¡± ¡°Protect our families! Defend our nation! Uphold peace!¡± The very appearance of Uldiran alone radically changed the atmosphere. Even though they had prepared for a Transcendent ambush, it was undeniably threatening. But now that Uldiran was here with a spear in hand, it felt as if everything would somehow turn out alright. ¡°He really is my father,¡± Silverna said with a proud grin. After Arandel Helmut died, people spoke of a new era dawning. Many praised it as a golden generation that would safeguard the kingdom from here on out. Yet here he stood¡ª The last living legacy of the old age, the guardian of the North, firmly holding his ground. Atop the highest spire of the barrier¡ªwhere Bricalla had once stood¡ªUldiran now surveyed the battlefield below. As expected, the Transcendents¡¯ offensive did not involve large numbers. Compared to a massive swarm, their forces were almost meager. On the other hand, the quality of each and every soldier was incomparably higher. Even so, Uldiran felt no hint of impending defeat. He was standing on top of the barrier. So it would never fall. ¡°Hm¡­?¡± He was in the middle of charging lightning into Bricalla again, preparing to hurl the spear once more. Then his eyes fell on a red-haired man at the center of the Transcendent group. There was no way not to notice him. ¡°Helmut?¡± Just like Silverna, even Uldiran thought of Helmut when he saw that man. In fact, the red-haired man was also staring right back at Uldiran. Feeling his battle-lust surge, the Margrave murmured: ¡°A shame.¡± It was wartime, and he was a commander. He had long harbored a bit of regret over never surpassing Arandel Helmut, but now was not the moment for settling old scores. Fulfilling his role took precedence. Uldiran threw his spear once more. This time, he aimed for the spellcasters. Like splashes of dark red paint, their attacks rained down continually, inching closer to staining Malidan Barrier. They caused no real damage yet, but that only made Uldiran act faster. ¡®They wouldn¡¯t do this for no reason.¡¯ For humans, Transcendent spellcasters remained a mysterious force. They looked similar to sorcerers, yet the Transcendents did not manipulate mana, and they clearly operated in realms beyond conventional magic. Regenerating bodies, enslaving followers, meddling with life force¡ªsuch forbidden arts were impossible via normal magic. Crack! A spear roaring with lightning tore through the sky toward the spellcasters. However, before it could strike them, the spear was batted aside and embedded itself into the ground. The red-haired man had swatted away Uldiran¡¯s spear with his own weapon, long locks whipping about in the wind. ¡°Oh?¡± Uldiran¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile. That man, too, silently stepped forward, eyes fixed on Uldiran. *** Around the time Isaac and Clarice returned to the capital with their companions, the first news that greeted them was nothing short of shocking. ¡°Malidan Barrier¡­ has vanished.¡± It wasn¡¯t collapsed or destroyed. Quite literally¡ª The barrier had suddenly disappeared without a trace. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 104: The Rude Uninvited Guest ¡°Pardon?¡± At first, they couldn¡¯t quite understand what they had just heard. Then again, is there anyone who could possibly grasp it on the very first hearing? Even Isaac, who actually lived there, couldn¡¯t believe it. Its length, its height¡ª Everything about the Malidan Barrier was overwhelming. Even if someone told him it had been breached or collapsed, he would have asked again to make sure. ¡°It literally vanished. It disappeared.¡± Hearing this, Issac couldn¡¯t understand it at all. Accepting it seemed just as difficult. Yet Princess Adeline wore a deeply troubled expression, one unlike anything anyone had ever seen. Her face was grim, exuding a sense of crisis she had never witnessed before. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it either. Ever since the Barrier disappeared, the losses have been tremendous.¡± With one hand on her forehead, the princess shook her head. She hated the reality but knew she must accept it and figure out a plan. To her, this truth must be causing immense stress. ¡°But we have no choice but to accept it.¡± Princess Adeline let out a heavy sigh and spoke again, as if urging Issac to face the truth. ¡°Our greatest shield¡­ has disappeared.¡± *** ¡°My Lord Baron, you¡¯ve returned!¡± Issac was back at the mansion. He felt guilty toward Karen, who had kept watch over it alone for so long, but he didn¡¯t have the energy to return her greetings with a smile. Karen must have known how Issac felt; she simply said hello and brewed some tea to calm his nerves. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± ¡°Yes, thank you, Karen.¡± Isaac took a sip of the tea, sinking into his thoughts. The hot drink soothed his throat slightly, but¡ª Whenever he remembered the Malidan Barrier, no amount of effort could fully calm him. ¡®How on earth is that even possible?¡¯ An entire month. In his previous life, without any external support, the Malidan Barrier had withstood an entire month. That was precisely why Uldiran Caldias was so widely revered. He was considered a great figure, albeit in a different way from Arandel. Yet it disappeared in just a single day. According to information from a nearby village, it had definitely been there up until the previous day. But after the Transcendents began their assault that morning, by the next day the Barrier was gone. ¡®This is impossible to believe.¡¯ It made his head spin. Issac had thought that as long as they held the Malidan Barrier, their odds of losing the war would be greatly reduced. He never imagined they would resort to something so bizarre. [They¡¯re so full of mysteries that I¡¯m even more uneasy.] Clarice had said the unknown is frightening. These beings came from who-knows-where, carrying a deep history and tradition. It struck him that he might have underestimated their depth. ¡®What I saw might not be everything.¡¯ Issac had seen countless tragedies and shocking scenes in his previous life, but that might not represent the entirety of the Transcendents. The thought made him reel, and his eyes shut tight. Clunk. Then, two people entered the mansion without a word¡ª It was Sharen Helmut and the Grandmaster. ¡°Isaac! You¡¯re going up north, right?! I¡¯m coming too!¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Haa, you little rascal. I said I have something to discuss. Wait your turn.¡± The two of them bickered back and forth as they walked in together. Isaac took a moment to relax his features and breathe. ¡®Yes, Silverna and the Margrave won¡¯t be taken down so easily.¡¯ Right now, what they should be worried about is themselves. With the Barrier gone, the northern monsters would surge south. They have to deal not only with the Transcendents but also with those beasts. The Grandmaster sat down immediately across from Isaac. ¡°Ugh! I was about to sit there!¡± Sharen, grumbling, stuck out her lower lip and plopped herself onto Isaac¡¯s lap. ¡°Hmph.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to have an adult conversation now. Go on.¡± ¡°Isaac, you¡¯re going north, right? Then tell them to put my name on the roster with you.¡± ¡°You dare ignore an adult¡¯s words?¡± ¡°The roster? What roster?¡± Truth be told, Isaac was more curious about Sharen¡¯s words than about what the Grandmaster had to say. Pleased that she had Isaac¡¯s attention, Sharen immediately explained with a smile: ¡°Princess Clarice said they¡¯ll be assembling troops so they can depart north in three days! I¡¯m going, so you¡¯re coming too, right?!¡± Having stayed in the north before, Isaac knew. The monsters relentlessly assailed the Barrier at all hours. Now that the Barrier was gone, they would run even wilder without hindrance. ¡°I hear the northern lands are already half-devastated. Word is, we can¡¯t even approach the former location of the Malidan Barrier.¡± ¡°That bad¡­?¡± If monsters were swarming at those numbers, the north must be in utter chaos. ¡°Fortunately, their massive nest was somewhat thinned out, or it could have spread even further.¡± When the Grandmaster chimed in, Sharen grumbled. But she clenched her fist and sprang to her feet again. ¡°Isaac, you¡¯re going too, right?! I¡¯m saying it in advance¡ªnorth is basically our home turf now!¡± Isaac wasn¡¯t sure why Sharen considered the north her home turf, but¡ª ¡°Yes, I have to go.¡± From the newly surging monsters to the mystery of what really happened to the Malidan Barrier¡ª Not to mention whether Silverna was safe¡ªthere was so much to confirm. Isaac nodded. ¡°Okay! Then I¡¯ll go sign us up on the roster! If we¡¯re both on it, we won¡¯t get separated!¡± With that, Sharen dashed outside. Isaac gave a wry smile, realizing he¡¯d barely returned home before he¡¯d have to leave again. At last, only the two of them remained. The Grandmaster spoke immediately. ¡°What do you make of this? You said the Malidan Barrier had held for at least a month without aid.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct. I¡¯m certain.¡± Since Isaac had spent time with Silverna, effectively the only survivor from that place, he could speak with confidence. In his previous life, Silverna was drastically different from the mischievous person she was now. They had endured a desperate and tragic time together. ¡°I¡¯m even more perplexed. If they were capable of such a thing, why didn¡¯t they do it in my previous life¡­?¡± ¡°Hmm, in truth, there¡¯s something else that makes me even more suspicious.¡± ¡°Why the Transcendents aren¡¯t making any moves. That, right?¡± ¡°Precisely.¡± The Barrier had disappeared. But according to reports, only the monsters were flooding south like a deluge. If the Transcendents had truly mobilized, it would never have ended at just this level. The damage would have been far worse¡ªno question about it. ¡°Seems to me there¡¯s some connection between the Barrier disappearing and the Transcendents not moving.¡± ¡°You mean they suffered enough damage themselves?¡± ¡°Yes, something along those lines.¡± ¡°Huh. Pulling off such an outlandish feat¡ªit must be some kind of ritual.¡± ¡°Likely so.¡± ¡°Speaking of which, I personally suspect your regression might also be a form of ritual.¡± ¡°¡­I feel the same way.¡± There are many parts Issac find suspicious, but it doesn¡¯t quite feel like magic. He was not particularly connected to the Mage Tower, nor have he heard of magic that can twist space and time this way. It¡¯s strange to think it¡¯s ritual, but rituals are so unknown and mysterious that he lean toward that explanation more. Besides, in his previous life, Isaac encountered rituals more often than magic. ¡°Well, talking about it here won¡¯t give us any immediate answers. It¡¯s just frustrating.¡± All they could do was sigh. Whatever it was, one thing was certain¡ªthey would have to go there themselves to find out. ¡°In the meantime, I should get ready. There¡¯s someone I need to speak with.¡± ¡°Speak with? Who might that be?¡± ¡°Hmm? Before I took you on, I¡¯d already picked up another disciple. He turned out to be quite useful, so I made him my student¡ª¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Now that he thought about it, Isaac had never heard or met any other disciple of the Grandmaster in this world. ¡°Could his name be Damien?¡± ¡°Hmm? How do you kno¡ªah, you knew each other before your regression? He was a thief, yes, but quite skilled¡ª¡± ¡°That bastard is a traitor.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°He¡¯s the reason the gates of the town we¡¯d captured were opened from inside.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The Grandmaster blinked blankly, then scratched her head and asked: ¡°You swear on your name this is the truth?¡± ¡°Yes. That part I can guarantee.¡± ¡°Huh, this makes me crave a smoke even more.¡± Clicking her tongue, the Grandmaster let out a long sigh and closed her eyes. ¡°Good grief¡­ I used to think regression sounded wonderful, but it sure forces a person to carry a lot of burdens.¡± Isaac understood exactly what she meant, so he nodded in agreement and let out a sigh of his own. ¡°It¡¯s quite unsettling logic, isn¡¯t it? Killing him simply because he¡¯ll betray us in the future.¡± Putting Damien to death for something he hasn¡¯t done yet is rather strange, after all. ¡°Maybe he only betrayed us because the situation back then was so dire. It was a final battle we were all fated to lose, anyway.¡± ¡°Well, yes. That¡¯s possible, too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll leave the decision to you, Grandmaster.¡± ¡°Ignorance was bliss, I see.¡± Grumbling, the Grandmaster took out a cigarette from within her robes and rose from her seat. ¡°I¡¯ll be off now. No need to see me out¡ªlooks like you¡¯ve got a visitor.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Just like that, the Grandmaster departed. As she¡¯d mentioned, someone stood at the entrance¡ª ¡°Baron Logan!!¡± Issac knew because they shouted so thunderously for him. ¡°I can¡¯t say I envy how busy you are.¡± With a faint chuckle, the Grandmaster walked out, passing the man at the entrance without another word. Isaac naturally turned to face the visitor who had come looking for him. ¡°Ah, Baron Logan!¡± He was a young man, clearly exuding an aristocratic air. What stood out even more was his neatly trimmed, stylish mustache. Issac could tell at a glance he was a swordsman¡ªand a skilled one at that. The aura he gave off spoke volumes. ¡°I am Rayahn Leivice of the Rayahn! Surely you¡¯ve heard my name before?¡± ¡°Ah, the Magong Sword¡­¡± It was a sword that Isaac could never use. The Rayahn earned the name ¡®Magong Sword¡¯ because their technique revolves around mana and aura. Isaac couldn¡¯t hide his confusion at this man¡¯s sudden visit. In keeping with his flashy appearance, Rayahn Leivice had a flamboyant demeanor and speech, barreling ahead like a whirlwind. ¡°I¡¯ve come with a request! Naturally, I¡¯ll pay whatever it¡¯s worth!¡± ¡°¡­This is all rather abrupt.¡± ¡°Aah! Our Magong Sword is famous for its flamboyance, and for striking swiftly and subtly at our opponents! I suppose it shows in everything we do as well!¡± That wasn¡¯t a compliment, Isaac thought. Still, the Rayahn was also renowned for its swordsmanship. At least hearing him out was good. ¡°Please, tell me about Rihanna Helmut and her tastes.¡± ¡°¡­I beg your pardon?¡± Isaac was so taken aback that no words came out. Noticing Isaac¡¯s stunned expression, Rayahn grinned in satisfaction, as though his ambush had succeeded, and elaborated. ¡°I¡¯ll be joining the northern expedition. I heard from Princess Adeline that Rihanna Helmut would be heading north, too!¡± ¡°Rihanna will¡­?¡± ¡°So I want to know! What kind of man does Rihanna Helmut like? What are her hobbies?¡± ¡°You¡¯re telling me¡ª¡± ¡°Yes! I want to marry Rihanna Helmut! Weren¡¯t you once her husband? So¡ª!¡± ¡°Get out.¡± In a rare moment, Isaac raised his middle finger and told the man to scram. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 105: The Leivice Siblings ¡°Haha!¡± Even in the face of Isaac¡¯s firm response, Rayahn Leivice merely tried to smooth things over with laughter. ¡°Perhaps I was too hasty in my demands. I should have first told you what I can offer!¡± ¡°I told you to get lost. Don¡¯t test my patience any further.¡± The line had already been crossed by him. Isaac ground his teeth, suppressing the urge to smash his fist into the man¡¯s face on the spot. ¡°All right, but at least hear me out. If you help me, I¡¯ll provide a substantial amount of gold. Specifically¡ª¡± With a brief, secretive whisper, Rayahn Leivice revealed an amount that could fund another Sword Festival in Helmut. Even Isaac shuddered for a second, startled. ¡®I¡¯ve heard the Leivice family is wealthy, but¡­¡¯ They were the epitome of affluent nobility. And the sum he proposed was enough to make one¡¯s tongue tie in knots. At this point, one couldn¡¯t help but be curious. ¡°Do you really want Rihanna that badly?¡± ¡°Yes, of course. The moment I marry her, I¡¯ll be able to wield influence in Helmut. Though its prestige has fallen, Helmut is still Helmut, is it not?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s not the only reason.¡± Wearing a calm smile, Rayahn Leivice added as if to soothe any concern: ¡°She¡¯s a beauty, isn¡¯t she? I¡¯ve run into her a few times at banquets, and each time, I realized there¡¯s a reason people call her the ¡®Blood Rose.¡¯ If there¡¯s a truly enchanting woman, isn¡¯t it natural for a man to want to take her? Just like you did.¡± ¡°If I had a sword at my hip, I¡¯d have drawn it already.¡± Though Isaac spoke in a measured but clear warning, Rayahn Leivice just snickered in return. ¡°Feel free to do so. I doubt I¡¯d be hurt!¡± ¡®I want to kill him.¡¯ It had been a long time since Isaac felt such genuine murderous intent. The only time he could compare it to was when he killed Alois. It was astounding how quickly someone could become so thoroughly unlikeable. Seemingly aware of the wasted time, Rayahn Leivice cut to the chase again. ¡°So, what do you say? Honestly, I believe this deal only benefits Baron Logan, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°All I¡¯m asking is for you to tell me what your ex-wife likes. You¡¯d receive a hefty sum for just that! Has there ever been an easier way to make money?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You really should move into a larger residence, hire more servants. Baronies of common birth often find themselves short on¡ª¡± ¡°Let me make one thing clear.¡± In a low voice, Isaac stated, with absolute finality, to Rayahn Leivice: ¡°Treating her so lightly is exactly why you¡¯ll never win her heart.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± For the first time, Rayahn Leivice¡¯s smile began to fade. He was a swordsman who always looked for his opponent¡¯s weaknesses. Perhaps that habit was working in this conversation, too. Rayahn Leivice¡¯s gaze wavered momentarily, then he gave a hollow chuckle. ¡°H¡­ haha¡­ I¡¯m learning something, it seems.¡± Maybe as a last show of noble decorum, he bowed slowly and took his leave. ¡°Rayahn Leivice.¡± Isaac called out again, making him turn around. ¡°Hm?¡± Facing him, Isaac gave him the middle finger once more. ¡°I still haven¡¯t cooled off.¡± ¡°Hah¡­!¡± Without another word, Rayahn Leivice stepped out of the garden. Rayahn Leivice of House Leivice. From what Isaac knew, he was another man who would eventually die fighting the Transcendents. It happened around the time Arandel died from illness, and the Transcendents began appearing throughout the kingdom. He had reportedly played quite a large role in helping to stabilize the internal chaos back then. ¡®I never imagined he¡¯d be like this.¡¯ Indeed, you only truly know a person once you meet them. Still seething, Isaac headed inside. He¡¯d just returned from the Brentarion Kingdom less than a day ago, and his head was already throbbing. Passing by Karen as she cleaned the hallway, he spoke: ¡°Karen, I¡¯m exhausted. I¡¯ll be sleeping for a while.¡± ¡°Yes, understood!¡± Isaac lay down on the bed in his room, closing his eyes, still dwelling on what Rayahn Leivice had said. ¡®I suppose it makes sense¡­¡¯ Rihanna was the head of House Helmut. A woman alone can¡¯t remain so forever. She¡¯d have to marry again, at some point. For some reason, that thought left Isaac in a rather uneasy mood, causing him to toss and turn in a fitful sleep. * * * ¡°Mmm.¡± Isaac woke again around the time it had grown dark outside. One of the best things about his young body was that most of his fatigue vanished after a bit of sleep. He didn¡¯t even need to fumble for a cane when getting up anymore. ¡®Youth really is wonderful.¡¯ Muttering like an old man, Isaac headed to the dining room. By now, Karen was likely off duty; he figured he¡¯d just have some water on his own. But¡ª ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re awake!¡± Inside the dining room, two people were sitting and chatting. One of them was Karen. ¡°Karen, you still haven¡¯t left for the day?¡± ¡°Haha, I wanted to wait until the baron woke up.¡± Standing from her seat, Karen introduced the woman sitting across from her. ¡°This is Lady Marlin from House Leivice. She¡¯s come to see you.¡± ¡°House Leivice? She¡¯s here for me?¡± It dawned on him that she must have been waiting for him to wake. A bit taken aback, Isaac nodded toward Karen. ¡°All right. You should get going now¡ªI¡¯m sure your fianc¨¦ must be worried.¡± ¡°Got it! I¡¯ll be off, then.¡± With a playful salute, Karen left. The lady introduced as Marlin rose to her feet, slowly. ¡°Let me introduce myself again. I¡¯m Marlin of House Leivice.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Baron Isaac Logan. You needn¡¯t have waited for me; you could¡¯ve just woken me up.¡± ¡°I heard my older brother was terribly discourteous to you. So at least on my part, I wanted to show proper respect.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re quite different from him.¡± She had the same blue-green hair and eyes as Rayahn Leivice, but her demeanor seemed the complete opposite. ¡°I¡¯m here to offer an apology. I heard my brother caused you considerable offense, so I¡¯ve come in person.¡± With that, Marlin produced a small money pouch from her belongings. ¡°It¡¯s not much, but please accept it.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± One look at the money pouch, and Isaac heaved an inward sigh. ¡°If it were something that money could fix, I wouldn¡¯t even be angry.¡± Accepting it would only make him feel cheap. Besides, thanks to Princess Clarice, he wasn¡¯t exactly hurting for money these days. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Without a word, Marlin quietly put the pouch back. Yet she remained standing there, saying nothing. ¡°Um¡­ is there some other reason you¡¯re still here?¡± When Isaac gently prompted her to explain, Marlin replied in a short, unwavering tone: ¡°I need to earn your forgiveness.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°What must I do?¡± Her succinct, unreadable responses bordered on curt. At first, Isaac found it rather off-putting. But the longer he looked at her, the more someone else came to mind¡ªthis wasn¡¯t just his imagination. ¡°Haha¡± He gave an involuntary chuckle. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Marlin¡¯s eyes widened for a moment, then she spoke again in a flat tone: ¡°Is something funny?¡± ¡°You remind me of someone I know. That¡¯s all¡ªnothing serious.¡± Marlin fell silent once more, perhaps accepting his explanation. She still seemed intent on making amends in some way. ¡°Are you going to just stand there forever?¡± ¡°My older brother, the heir of House Leivice, has behaved rudely. As his younger sister, I need to fix his mistake.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Silence fell again between them. ¡®She really does resemble someone¡­¡¯ Like that other person, she was strikingly beautiful, and rather tight-lipped. If not for the different hair color, she¡¯d be the spitting image of that someone. With that thought, Isaac came up with an idea of what he wanted from her. ¡°In that case¡­ would you show me your Mystic sword?¡± He had read about the Leivice family¡¯s Mystic Sword, but had never actually seen it. The texts were complicated enough that only seeing it in person would help him understand. ¡®This is perfect.¡¯ Eyes shining, Isaac made his request, and Marlin, who had been staring at him blankly, rose from her seat. ¡°You¡¯re satisfied with just seeing my sword?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯ll be enough.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t what she had expected. After a moment¡¯s pause, Marlin admitted: ¡°I didn¡¯t bring my blade today, so I can¡¯t show you right now.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Isaac couldn¡¯t hide his disappointment, sighing deeply. Seeing his genuine reaction, Marlin continued: ¡°I heard you¡¯ll be heading north on assignment. If the opportunity arises on the journey, I¡¯ll show it to you then.¡± ¡°Would you consider sparring as well?¡± ¡°¡­¡­That can be arranged.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. Really great. I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± Isaac happily offered his hand for a handshake. Marlin glanced at it, then clasped it calmly. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ a strange one.¡± * * * The next morning. An early visitor arrived at Isaac¡¯s estate. If it were anyone else, they might have grumbled about such an absurdly early call, rubbing sleepy eyes. But Isaac was already awake, having finished his morning training, taken a bath, and settled in to do some writing¡ªanother part of his never-ending project: a book about his swordsmanship. Every time he wielded his blade, there seemed to be something new he wanted to add. ¡°You¡¯re writing that again?¡± The person who arrived was none other than Princess Clarice. Her escort, Heyrad, stood in the garden wearing a gentle smile. He seemed noticeably more relaxed compared to how he had been when they visited Brentarion before. ¡°¡­Your Highness,¡± Isaac greeted, albeit stiffly. Recently, he found Princess Clarice somewhat off-putting¡ªenough that he¡¯d been avoiding conversation with her. On their return trip, he had even insisted on riding in a different carriage. ¡°I came to talk to Isaac about something,¡± she said. Today, however, her expression was serious. This made Isaac slightly more comfortable, so he asked: ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s regarding the northern dispatch. You know we¡¯re leaving in two days, yes?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m aware.¡± He hadn¡¯t even fully unpacked his bags; he¡¯d been busy repacking them for the next journey. ¡°Well, there¡¯s a bit of an issue. I wouldn¡¯t call it a big problem, but I wouldn¡¯t say it¡¯s small either.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± When Isaac tilted his head in confusion, Princess Clarice exhaled and explained: ¡°There¡¯s a group of young nobles¡ªwell, they¡¯re all older than me, but that¡¯s beside the point¡ª¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯ve formed something called the Pure Flow Association. And they¡¯re starting to cause some trouble.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of the Pure Flow Association. But trouble¡­ how?¡± ¡°Well¡­ I guess you could say they¡¯re underestimating the enemy. They¡¯re not taking the current situation seriously at all.¡± ¡°¡­How is that even possible?¡± The Malidan Barrier in the north had collapsed. Monsters were moving south, and the Transcendents could appear at any moment. The kingdom was facing an unprecedented crisis. ¡°That¡¯s precisely the problem. Since none of them¡ªnot a single one¡ªhas actually battled the Transcendents, they don¡¯t grasp the danger.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡ª¡± Isaac nearly protested, then paused. He ended up nodding without meaning to. ¡°So that¡¯s it?¡± When he thought about it: Thanks to his knowledge from the past, Isaac had been able to preemptively thwart or eliminate many Transcendent threats. The Blackthorn subjugation had mostly been Arandel¡¯s solo effort, causing almost no collateral damage (except the final moment). The terrorism in Evergarde with Alois had ended as a diversion with no real casualties. Even attempts by ¡°Patrons¡± to infiltrate the nobility were completely quashed by Princess Adeline, thanks to intel Isaac had gathered in Bolten. Most incidents had been prevented before they could blow up¡ªor at least kept to a minimum. ¡°Because of that, they¡¯re looking down on the Transcendents.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± A side effect of the foreknowledge granted by his time-loop: None of the events had truly escalated, which made the nobles grow complacent. ¡°But the Malidan Barrier is gone. Surely they can¡¯t just ignore that¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly it. The Pure Flow Association, not knowing how dangerous magic or rituals can be, refuses to believe that the barrier has vanished.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯re treating it like some conspiracy theory or propaganda¡­ Ugh, honestly¡ªif I¡¯m being frank¡­¡± Princess Clarice held her head in her hands, sighing. ¡°If I didn¡¯t know about rituals and the Transcendents, and someone suddenly told me the Malidan Barrier vanished overnight? I wouldn¡¯t believe it either. Who would?¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Calling someone gullible or a conspiracy theorist for believing such a story wasn¡¯t entirely unjustified, and Isaac couldn¡¯t deny it outright. ¡°That¡¯s why I want you to knock some sense into them. Even if they¡¯re a bunch of spoiled nobles, I¡¯d rather they not throw their lives away.¡± ¡°I see what you mean.¡± ¡°Great. Then¡ª¡± ¡°One thing, Princess: Is Rayahn Leivice also a member of this Pure Flow Association?¡± ¡°He¡¯s their ringleader. Ugh, the man is insufferable.¡± ¡°Perfect opportunity, then.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Nothing. I accept your request.¡± At Isaac¡¯s nonchalant agreement, Princess Clarice clapped her hands together with a bright smile. ¡°Great! Then let¡¯s move on to something more¡­ constructive. I was wondering if holding the ceremony at the Evergarde church would be okay? Of course, if you¡¯d prefer to do it in your hometown, that¡¯s fine, too.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Such a sudden change of topic¡ªbut Isaac had grown almost accustomed to this by now. This behavior of Princess Clarice was exactly why he¡¯d been avoiding her lately. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be grand. We can keep it small and simple. You¡¯d like that, right?¡± ¡°¡­Your Highness.¡± ¡°Call me Clarice, darling.¡± ¡°¡­Princess, please.¡± ¡°Yes, my love?¡± ¡°Prin¡­ cess!¡± ¡°Kya-ha-ha!¡± Princess Clarice burst into laughter as if it were all so amusing, then jumped up from her seat. ¡°Apologies! I guess I¡¯m just too talented in so many fields, and romance happens to be one of them!¡± She said this with a playful wink, striking a charming pose she¡¯d once practiced to seduce Prince Raphael. ¡°Heyrad, help meee¡­!¡± Panicked, Isaac looked to where Heyrad stood in the garden. Heyrad only scratched at his nose with one finger, watching on in silent amusement. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 106: The Roses Taste ¡°Sir Heyrad, are you really going to do this?¡± While Clarice had briefly stepped away, Isaac approached him with a sigh. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two had become relatively close after experiencing various incidents together. In particular, Heyrad had also played a significant role in confronting Arandel, and was therefore counted among what people called the ¡°Golden Generation.¡± ¡°About the princess, I mean,¡± Isaac said. Heyrad beamed proudly at Isaac¡¯s question. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen Her Highness look so happy. She¡¯s had nothing but hardships lately.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°She seems to be in high spirits, all thanks to Baron Logan. If not for this matter in the north, I¡¯m certain she¡¯d be visiting your estate every single day¡ª¡± ¡°Did you hear what I said? I told you to stop this, didn¡¯t I?¡± At Isaac¡¯s exasperated tone, Heyrad simply gave a satisfied smile. ¡°You are far more dependable than Prince Raphael, who¡¯s off clinging to other women like a petty scoundrel. If you ask me, I think this is a good thing.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re not listening.¡± Giving up on the conversation, Isaac turned away. It was then that Clarice emerged from Isaac¡¯s mansion. She carried a large plate of snacks, which were confections she had personally brought from the royal palace. ¡°I heard from Sharen that you don¡¯t really like things that are too sweet?¡± ¡°¡­Do you think showing up like this out of nowhere will make me happy?¡± ¡°Isaac isn¡¯t just any man. I figured I should thoroughly show him what a great woman I am.¡± Clarice winked playfully at Isaac as she pointed at him. ¡°Someone taught me all about it¡ªhow to seduce a man.¡± ¡°That was¡ª¡± ¡°They also said that no one would hate it if a woman as pretty as me clung to them. So I shouldn¡¯t hesitate, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Isaac was at a loss for words. He couldn¡¯t argue back because every line she was quoting was something he himself had said to her in the past. Even romance was strategic for her. Using her opponent¡¯s own moves against them¡ªseeing Clarice corner him like this, Isaac realized she truly had a talent in that area. ¡°Is it too much?¡± she asked carefully, watching him for any sign of discomfort. Seeing the slight quiver in her eyes, Isaac blinked in surprise. ¡°You¡¯ve learned well¡ªpretending to be vulnerable can definitely tug at someone¡¯s heartstrings.¡± ¡°Topping it off with a few tears would be perfection. ¡®Carry softness within your toughness,¡¯ right?¡± With a playful wink, Clarice showed that her teary act just moments ago was all for show. ¡°She¡¯s learned too well,¡± Isaac muttered as he popped a confection into his mouth. Just as she had promised, the treats suited his taste exactly. ¡°Well, if it¡¯s too much, let me know,¡± she said. ¡°And if I do?¡± he asked. ¡°Then I¡¯ll just tell you to endure it. Isaac, you¡¯re leaving in two days, aren¡¯t you? I can¡¯t go with you.¡± Naturally, Princess Clarice couldn¡¯t travel to the north. No one knew what might happen there, and besides, she had only just returned from Brentarion. ¡°So then,¡± Clarice said with a sly smile, propping her chin on her hand, ¡°shall we go on a date? What do you think?¡± ¡°Do I even have the option to refuse?¡± ¡°Hehe!¡± With a burst of laughter, Clarice made a heart with her hands in an almost cutesy way and answered, ¡°Can a baron refuse an order from a princess? The world must be turning upside down!¡± ¡°¡­What do you want to do?¡± Isaac asked. ¡°Well, first¡ª!¡± **** Two days later. The expeditionary force bound for the north had formed. It felt a bit exhausting to set out again after barely any time since returning to Evergarde, but Isaac finished his preparations with calm composure. Unlike the bride-escort procession to Brentarion, this time they would be traveling on warhorses, so the journey would be much faster. Which meant Isaac had to prepare more thoroughly than before. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Isaac stood gazing at the warhorse he had received as a gift from the princess, looking slightly sheepish. Over the past two days, after being subjected to all sorts of whims by Princess Clarice¡­ Yesterday, she had presented him with a remarkable steed named Ravenfall. Its lustrous black mane was undeniably impressive¡ªthough Isaac didn¡¯t say it aloud, he was clearly quite pleased. ¡®I suppose it was worth spending time with her.¡¯ Clarice, for her part, had happily told him she now had the strength to return to her administrative duties. As Isaac was fitting the saddle onto Ravenfall with a satisfied air, Sharen Helmut poked him in the back. ¡°Isaac! Isaac, I heard that if you make your name longer, your rank goes up, right?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I mean, just by adding a little extra syllable, you become ¡®Isa-viscount¡¯? Isaac¡ªdoesn¡¯t that make you a viscount already?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± He¡¯d heard Sharen spent the last couple of days training with the Grandmaster. Maybe she got hit on the head a few times? ¡°But was that not funny? The Grandmaster is still rolling on the floor laughing. She can¡¯t stop.¡± Sure enough, where Sharen pointed, there was the Grandmaster, clutching her stomach and laughing. ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°That was my best joke,¡± Sharen said dejectedly, pouting. Just then, Commander Eisenwolf of the knights called out that it was time to depart, giving Isaac a chance to pretend he hadn¡¯t heard the joke. The commander of this expeditionary force was Sir Eisenwolf. A veteran knight who had guarded the kingdom for many years, he was known for his seasoned leadership. Rumor had it that he would retire after this mission. Choosing him was a strategic move¡ªto keep the younger nobles in check and maintain balance. ¡®Princess Adeline sure knows how to assign the right people to the right places.¡¯ Yes, Eisenwolf would rein in the Pure Flow Association so they wouldn¡¯t overstep. It would be Ravenfall¡¯s debut. Climbing onto the horse and gently stroking its mane, Isaac glanced around to see Sharen still lingering where she stood. ¡°¡­What are you doing?¡± he asked with a twinge of unease. ¡°Give me a ride!¡± she said. Sharen wore a radiant smile. Isaac wanted to refuse her, but from the fact that she¡¯d left her greatsword behind in the supply wagon, it was clear she¡¯d already made up her mind. Carrying someone like Sharen wouldn¡¯t be too much of a burden. Of course, some might find it odd that Isaac, who had once been Helmut¡¯s son-in-law, was getting along so well with Sharen. But Sharen was already inching her way onto the front of Isaac¡¯s saddle, leaning comfortably against his chest. ¡°I¡¯ll share my snacks with you, just this once!¡± ¡°Haah, sure. Let¡¯s get going.¡± **** The procession began to move. The Grandmaster rode up beside Isaac, smiling as she spoke. ¡°Do you know what your name sounds like when you stretch it out?¡± Isaac felt dizzy just hearing that. ¡°I already did that joke!¡± Sharen cut in. ¡°Hmm? A pity. I was hoping to try it myself,¡± the Grandmaster grumbled, biting down on her smoking leaf. When Sharen and Isaac both covered their noses, the Grandmaster glanced around warily and spurred her horse to move farther ahead. ¡°Ugh, can¡¯t even smoke in peace. What¡¯s the point of living so lo¡ª¡± ¡°She really do sound like an old man.¡± ¡°She is old,¡± Sharen whispered back. At that moment, a hard piece of bread flew straight toward their faces. ¡°Heh, even if I¡¯m old, my hearing is still sharp.¡± The bread smacked Isaac hard in the face. Sharen quickly snatched it up and took a bite. ¡°Helmut also has strong teeth, you know.¡± Crunch, crunch. Sharen munched away busily, and in the midst of the commotion, an even more troublesome figure sidled up on horseback. ¡°Greetings.¡± His hair, waxed neatly into a blue sheen, lay over thick skin, and he sported a carefully groomed mustache. He was Rayahn Leivice¡¯s, the young nobleman of the Leivice¡¯s household, whose first encounter with them had been the worst imaginable. ¡°Get lost,¡± Isaac snapped, making his annoyance plain. But Rayahn did not retreat. ¡°Now, now. I haven¡¯t come to see you. I¡¯ve come to greet the lady here.¡± ¡°Lady?¡± Sharen raised an eyebrow and glanced up at Isaac. ¡°Ahem, the lady!¡± Isaac let out a sigh as he brushed some bread crumbs off her cheek. ¡°My lady, I am Rayahn of House Leivice¡¯s. Would you grant me the honor of a brief conversation?¡± ¡°A lady doesn¡¯t refuse a gentleman¡¯s offer,¡± Sharen replied. ¡°Finish your bread first, would you?¡± Isaac interjected, but Sharen pretended not to hear and turned her attention back to Rayahn. ¡°What do you want to talk about?¡± ¡°For instance, about your one and only older sister.¡± ¡°My sister? Why bring her up?¡± Isaac narrowed his eyes at Rayahn, but Rayahn ignored him, continuing to address Sharen with shameless composure. ¡°You see, I¡¯m rather interested in your sister. I was hoping to learn about her tastes, her hobbies¡­anything she likes.¡± ¡°Ooooh.¡± Sharen nodded in fascination. No one had ever come asking her such things before, so she spoke up very readily. ¡°My sister likes good-looking men.¡± ¡°Sharen¡­¡± Isaac muttered under his breath. ¡°Haha! Beauty is a universal preference among us humans. And your sister, the great Blood Rose herself, possesses incredible beauty. Makes sense she¡¯d care about appearances.¡± ¡°She likes black hair,¡± Sharen went on. ¡°Hmm, I see.¡± Rayahn, who seemed quite proud of his own hair, looked a bit disappointed. Sharen then rattled off even more details about Rihanna¡¯s preferences: ¡°She likes people who look a bit delicate.¡± ¡°She¡¯s into someone emotional and kind.¡± ¡°She tends to favor slender, handsome men with a soft, pleasant voice.¡± The more Sharen spoke, the more frequently Rayahn¡¯s gaze flickered toward Isaac. Meanwhile, Isaac turned his reddening face away. It was hard not to feel self-conscious since every description sounded like it was pointing straight to him. ¡°Well? Was that helpful enough?¡± Sharen asked once she¡¯d finished her bread. Rayahn forced a smile. ¡°Yes, it was¡­though it seems to describe Baron Logan here to a T.¡± ¡°Hmm? Well, of course.¡± Sharen blinked, appearing confused that Rayahn would find anything odd about it. ¡°My sister¡¯s never shown the slightest interest in any man other than Isaac.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Now there was a brief silence. ¡°So there¡¯s nothing to say beyond what describes Isaac.¡± ¡°Ha, haha¡­¡± Rayahn broke the awkward moment with a forced laugh, then bowed politely. ¡°A-Ah, thank you for sharing. That was most enlightening.¡± ¡°Shave off that mustache first. I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯s what she¡¯d hate the most.¡± ¡°I¡ªI will keep that in mind.¡± Rayahn then urged his horse forward to rejoin the other young nobles of the Pure Flow Association. Watching him ride away, Isaac gently patted Sharen on the head. ¡°¡­Good job.¡± ¡°Huh? Did I do something worth praising?!¡± At his touch, Sharen beamed and playfully shook her head from side to side, clearly delighted. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 107: Northern Front Once they were some distance away from the capital, Everguard, Commander Eisenwolf began to pick up speed. Because the roads leading north were so well-maintained, their march proceeded swiftly. Thus, they finished the first day of marching and set up camp for the night. Isaac felt a shiver at the thought that, if it weren¡¯t for Ravenfall, he might have ended up walking this whole way on foot. Tents were crowded together in clusters, while some soldiers chose to settle down near a campfire with nothing but a blanket for their night¡¯s rest. As for the rations, a soup filled to the brim with meat and vegetables, it actually tasted pretty good. ¡°Wow, what¡¯s this? Are they really giving us so much?¡± ¡°Quite a lot indeed. Sniff sniff¡­ though the smell is a bit odd¡ª¡± At the muttering from Sharen and the Grandmaster, who were sitting with him, Isaac offered a brief explanation. ¡°They¡¯re using ingredients that were starting to spoil, or that would go bad soon, right away. The army, you see, isn¡¯t just there to protect people; it also serves to grind up these difficult-to-use supplies.¡± ¡°Ew, now I¡¯ve suddenly lost my appetite.¡± ¡°Eat anyway. We¡¯ll be moving again tomorrow without a break. And Helmut has a strong stomach, doesn¡¯t they?¡± ¡°¡­Yeah, Helmut does have a sturdy stomach.¡± With that, Sharen gulped down the soup. The Grandmaster had evidently taught her enough times to figure out how to handle her moods. Seated across Sharen, Isaac cautiously asked the Grandmaster a question. ¡°How did you handle Damien?¡± Damien¡ª He was the oldest of the Grandmaster¡¯s disciples and rather unique, given he used to be a thief. During Isaac¡¯s Silent Sword days, he had taught Damien various sword techniques suited to him. Though Isaac once trusted him, it was Damien who opened their castle gates to the Transcendents during the last invasion. Isaac was curious about how she felt regarding Damien. ¡°I sent him ahead. He¡¯s likely already arrived up north before us.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t bring this up to speak ill of him.¡± ¡°I know. It¡¯s only right that you try to figure things out. But, child¡­ I still can¡¯t decide.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m still weighed down by the deaths of my fellow disciples¡ª¡± The Grandmaster clearly found it distasteful that she had to doubt her own disciple. Isaac, with a bitter smile, nodded in understanding. ¡°Forgive me. It seems I brought up something unnecessary.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. You are destined to live burdened with such worries and regrets. I only regret that I cannot shoulder even a sliver of it alongside you.¡± ¡°¡­What are you two talking about?¡± Having finished her soup, Sharen looked from one to the other. In response to her question, the Grandmaster merely chuckled and dismissed it as nothing important. ¡°Hmm, is it those folks over there?¡± Continuing to eat her soup, the Grandmaster gestured to one side. There, a group of young nobles was making a ruckus with fairly loud voices¡ª the Pure Flow Association that Clarice had mentioned. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s the Pure Flow Association. It¡¯s an organization formed mostly by young nobles.¡± ¡°Whenever brats like that get together, they go on about youth, innovation, and the like.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Isaac had a passing thought but held his tongue. This time, it wouldn¡¯t be bread getting flung at him; it might well be soup. While they openly watched, a man and woman from the Pure Flow Association approached Isaac and his companions. They were siblings of the Leivice Family: Rayahn and Marlin. ¡°Are you all resting well?¡± ¡®I¡¯m almost envious of how brazen he is.¡¯ Trailing behind the forthright Rayahn, Marlin offered only the slightest nod of greeting. ¡°Hmm? Do you need something?¡± ¡°Oh, wow. So your ears really are perched on top of your head?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was known that the Grandmaster¡ªa half-breed who stood with humans under Princess Clarice¡ªhad ears and a tail, making her all too noticeable. ¡°If a person were uneducated, one might excuse them for lacking manners. But you don¡¯t appear that way.¡± The Grandmaster¡¯s gaze became oppressively heavy, enough to startle even Sharen. Yet Rayahn simply curled his lips in a smirk. ¡°We nobles are always told to be prepared, to be on guard, and ever ready.¡± Behind him, other members of the Pure Flow Association started gathering one by one. ¡°Commander Eisenwolf told us not to underestimate the Transcendents.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we came to learn. Even if you¡¯re only half, just how powerful are they? Perhaps you could give us a demonstration?¡± The Grandmaster glanced at Isaac. Isaac, however, merely blinked at the Pure Flow Association members, inwardly wondering: ¡®What in the world are they rambling about now?¡¯ In life, there are countless ways to get yourself beaten up. Somehow, out of this entire army, they had singled out the most dangerous woman. ¡°If I were to speak kindly, I¡¯d say¡­ you¡¯re positively brimming with energy.¡± Slowly standing, the Grandmaster picked up the sword she¡¯d rested at her side. ¡°But the other way to put it is: you have no sense of your own limits.¡± The Pure Flow Association members, who had been sporting mischievous smiles moments before, now turned stiff. They were young, prideful nobles¡ªhardly the sort to bear ridicule calmly, especially in a group. ¡°Haha, let¡¯s see your skills then. Martin, you go fir¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t spout nonsense.¡± The Grandmaster walked right past them and headed to a wide clearing. Sensing trouble, onlookers began to edge away. ¡°Seeing as it¡¯s only our first day marching, a bit of entertainment might help the troops relax.¡± The Grandmaster drew her sword and propped it on her shoulder. Normally, even the act of drawing the sword itself could be a form of technique or attack, but it seemed she was deliberately holding back this time. ¡°All of you¡ªcome at me together.¡± ¡°What an outrage¡ª!¡± ¡°How dare you, you outsider!¡± ¡°A mere beast like you couldn¡¯t possibly understand noble honor!¡± Watching the members of the Pure Flow Association follow the Grandmaster, Sharen smacked her lips and rummaged for more food. ¡°Isaac, how long do you think the Grandmaster will take?¡± Sharen didn¡¯t even consider the possibility of her mentor losing. Isaac mulled over it briefly. ¡°It might take longer than you expect.¡± ¡°Huh? Really? Even for the Grandmaster?¡± ¡°Because she has to subdue them without seriously hurting anyone. If she were aiming to kill, it¡¯d be over in a flash.¡± ¡°Ah, I see.¡± Nodding, Sharen watched as a single noble from the Pure Flow Association remained in place. It was Marlin Leivice. ¡°¡­Aren¡¯t you going, too?¡± Isaac asked. Marlin answered flatly, her expression impassive. ¡°I was taught that drawing one¡¯s sword without purpose is meaningless.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Besides, if I were to draw my sword here, it would diminish the reward set aside for Baron Logan.¡± ¡®She¡¯s unbelievably strict¡­¡¯ Compared to her brash brother Rayahn, Marlin came across as stoic and aloof¡ªenough to wonder if they were truly siblings. In some ways, she seemed even more rigid than Rihanna had been. ¡°She¡­ sort of reminds me of my old sister,¡± Sharen muttered, and Isaac nodded. Their appearances weren¡¯t alike, but her mannerisms and speech bore a striking resemblance to how Rihanna had been in the past. ¡°Gyaaaah!¡± ¡°Grrraagh!¡± Screams rang out. Beyond Marlin, the young nobles of the Pure Flow Association were being thrown around like rag dolls. ¡°If you claim noble blood, show me a bearing worthy of it!¡± ¡°Grr¡­!¡± Rayahn Leivice was doing a little better than the rest¡ªhe was on his knees rather than sprawled flat. But he soon buckled under the relentless attacks. As Rayahn dropped his sword, the Grandmaster swung her sword one last time. ¡°I¡¯ll spare your head.¡± She neatly sliced off Rayahn¡¯s beard. ¡°A¡­ ah?!¡± ¡°Consider it a lesson.¡± With a tobacco roll in her mouth, the Grandmaster observed Rayahn¡¯s now-shredded beard on the ground. He stared in shock, trembling. ¡°W-what is this?! What have you done to me?!¡± ¡°It looked ridiculous. You should be thanking me instead. It was hardly appropriate for your age to begin with.¡± ¡°I grew that beard with special tonics¡ª!¡± ¡°What a waste of time.¡± Exhaling a plume of smoke, the Grandmaster gave a curt nod. Rayahn clenched his fists and looked about ready to charge again, but¡ª ¡°Enough!¡± A weighty, authoritative voice echoed through the night air. Stepping in was the knight-commander with the deep-set wrinkles, Eisenwolf. ¡°We march again early tomorrow. This ends now. Those on watch, prepare for guard duty; the rest of you, ready for sleep.¡± ¡°S-Sir Eisenwolf! That woman¡ªshe¡ª!¡± ¡°On the battlefield, would you fly into a rage over losing a bit of facial hair?¡± ¡°Kh¡­!¡± ¡°As she said, you¡¯d have lost your head instead! You were many against one and lost miserably, so pay the price!¡± Rayahn pressed his lips into a tight line. The Grandmaster merely shrugged, stepping over Rayahn and the nobles strewn on the ground as she returned. ¡°That old man plays the severe type, but he¡¯s cunning,¡± she remarked. ¡°You mean Eisenwolf?¡± Isaac asked. ¡°He waited until they¡¯d been properly humiliated. It seems Princess Clarice wasn¡¯t the only one hoping to curb the Pure Flow Association¡¯s arrogance.¡± And so, the Pure Flow Association had been riding high before hitting the ceiling. But whether these young nobles would let it rest that easily remained doubtful. After all, youth is prone to hot blood. **** A few days later¡ª The pace of the infantry ahead had noticeably slowed. The northern chill bit at the tip of everyone¡¯s noses, and the Grandmaster exhaled wisps of white breath instead of tobacco smoke. At last, they arrived at the provisional palisades, set up to keep beasts at bay on the northern front lines. Though the real trials were about to begin, everyone was relieved that the grueling march was finally over. Smiles spread among the soldiers. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Unaware, Isaac found himself growing tense. Waiting for him here¡ªhis ex-wife¡ªwhom he hadn¡¯t seen in nearly half a year. ¡®Honestly¡­ I don¡¯t know how to greet her.¡¯ Feeling awkward, Isaac was lost in thought. Then he spotted a flash of red hair charging straight toward him. He squinted. At first, he wondered if it might be Rihanna, but the length of that hair, the solid build, that rough, horn-like greatsword. ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°Woah¡­¡± Both Isaac and Sharen let out brief exclamations. Scattering snow in his wake, the man rushed to greet Isaac more enthusiastically than anyone else: ¡°Isaac!¡± He was the man with a perfect losing record against Isaac in sparring¡ªthe eldest son of Helmut, Lohengrin. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 108: A Reunion After Half a Year ¡°Isaac-nimmm!¡± He was so excited, running straight over like a pitiful sight to behold. Just how long had he waited that he would charge in like that? Isaac let out a deep sigh, smacked his forehead, then covered his face with one hand. ¡°That man really does like you, huh.¡± ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m telling you, this is embarrassing. I can¡¯t call that thing my brother.¡± Grandmaster looked at Isaac with a sly grin, while Sharen, like him, covered her face with her hand and pretended not to see anything. ¡°You¡¯re finally hereee! Do you have any idea how long I¡¯ve been waiting?! I¡¯ll show you the greatness of Helmut for real¡ª!¡± It was as if, now that Alois¡ªknown as the Madman of Helmut¡ªwas dead, someone had to take over that role. Lohengrin came barreling forward, shoving aside the infantry with thundering steps. He was charging like a mad bull, seeing nothing but Isaac. But the one who stood in his way wasn¡¯t Isaac; it was an old veteran. It was sir Eisenwolf, the commander of the entire procession. His warhorse snorted and looked down upon Lohengrin. Eisenwolf likewise glared at the young Helmut with disapproval. ¡°Lohengrin Helmut, it¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°¡­Eisenwolf-nim.¡± Lohengrin, who had been all fired up just a moment ago, suddenly calmed down. He bit his lip, working hard to conceal the fighting spirit radiating from his body. ¡°Such disrespect. Should we say Helmut has fallen this far?¡± ¡°N-no, sir.¡± Usually, rank in an army goes by years of service. And no matter how headstrong Lohengrin might be, he couldn¡¯t easily defy a near-retirement veteran like Eisenwolf. Especially now that Helmut no longer had Arandel, they no longer had the privilege of everyone turning a blind eye to their rash behavior. ¡°Fall into line.¡± ¡°¡­Understood.¡± With a dejected shuffle, Lohengrin joined the procession. Even then, he kept craning his neck to look for Isaac. ¡°Isaac, please, keep your head down. Make sure he doesn¡¯t come over here.¡± ¡°Yep, already doing that.¡± Isaac and Sharen both ducked their heads, pretending not to notice Lohengrin. ¡°This is so embarrassing I could die.¡± Especially Sharen, who was mortified by her own brother¡¯s behavior. Moments like this proved she really was still just a teenage girl at heart. At that moment, the ones who rescued the dejected Lohengrin¡ªabandoned by even his own family¡ªwere the members of Pure Flow Association. ¡°Lohengrin-nim, please come this way. I¡¯ll lend you a horse.¡± ¡°Haha, what got you so worked up that you came running like that?¡± ¡°With the eldest son of Helmut here, it looks like this campaign to reclaim the North will go smoothly.¡± They were the Young Nobles¡¯ Association. Naturally, they paid attention to someone like Lohengrin, who was close to their own age. In fact, it seemed they already knew each other. ¡°Ah¡­ right.¡± For his part, Lohengrin didn¡¯t look particularly interested. ¡°Oho, how intriguing.¡± Grandmaster narrowed her eyes into crescents as she observed Pure Flow Association. In the midst of the group welcoming Lohengrin, there was one man who remained silent. That man was Rayahn of the Leivice family. As the effective leader of Pure Flow Association, he didn¡¯t seem happy at all about Lohengrin joining them. He was probably worried about his own position. ¡°Entertaining, isn¡¯t it? They bicker among themselves too, in the end.¡± When Grandmaster asked this while smiling, Isaac shot a quick glance that way and let out a bitter laugh. ¡°They¡¯ll soon realize.¡± The whole matter of Pure Flow Association and whatnot. They¡¯ll figure out it¡¯s not exactly time for infighting. A few minutes later, the dispatched troops arrived at the Northern Front. Though it was only a temporary line, the confrontation here had gone on so long that the palisades were worn out. The stench of blood hung heavy in the air, and crows cawed all around. Soon, a young woman¡ªthe interim commander of the Northern Front, Rihanna Helmut¡ªcame out to greet them. Despite her young age, she had secured this position by virtue of the Helmut name. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The moment Isaac saw her in the distance, he felt something strange. She was¡­ exactly the same. Her crimson hair still gleamed. Her eyes were the color of deep blood. Her expression was stiff as a statue carved from stone. And finally, she was beautiful in a way that resembled a rose. Rihanna approached Eisenwolf with a command baton in hand. Eisenwolf also dismounted his warhorse and greeted her. ¡°It has been a while, Rihanna Helmut. You¡¯ve become even lovelier.¡± ¡°I¡¯m relieved to see you looking fit as well, Eisenwolf-nim. I hereby formally relinquish command to you.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Rihanna was just a temporary placeholder, after all. It was only natural that someone more experienced, like Eisenwolf, would become the official commander-in-chief. And the very first thing Eisenwolf did upon taking the baton was¡ª ¡°Rihanna Helmut, now that you¡¯re the head of the house, you must not disgrace the Helmut name.¡± ¡ªto lay down the law. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Hm.¡± Eisenwolf made an annoyed face and jerked his chin. He was indicating Lohengrin standing among the Pure Flow Association crowd. Rihanna¡¯s crimson eyes widened slowly as she grasped the situation. Crack. She bit down on her lip before bowing her head in apology. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Eisenwolf-nim. It seems a member of my house has committed a grave discourtesy. I¡¯ll see to it that he¡¯s properly disciplined.¡± ¡°Remember, this is the most crucial time for Helmut. If you fail to keep it together, the prestige your father built for Helmut will crumble before you know it.¡± ¡°Thank you for your wise counsel.¡± Eisenwolf stared intently at Rihanna, then let out a small laugh and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll be watching.¡± * * * The dispatched troops began swiftly taking positions along the makeshift front. It was called a ¡°makeshift¡± front for one simple reason: They were deliberately refraining from advancing. Rihanna had enough forces to push farther north, but doing so would stretch the front line, delaying the arrival of the main force. Instead, she was purposely conserving her strength, facing off against the monsters here, poised to launch a decisive strike in one big push once everything was ready. While the captains gathered for a meeting, Isaac, unfortunately, was not high-ranking enough to attend. All he could do was pitch his tent outside and wait. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Isaac, I¡¯d rather set up somewhere sunnier,¡± Sharen whined beside him. Isaac replied with an incredulous look. ¡°You¡¯re not sleeping here.¡± ¡°Why not? I want to sleep next to Isaac. We used to do that all the time up north.¡± ¡°That was a special situation.¡± It happened when the main forces left the barrier to subjugate Bricalla. Back then, he had to stay at the barrier, sandwiched between Sharen and Jonathan. ¡®I wonder how Jonathan is doing?¡¯ It reminded him of the item Helia Bell¡ªwho was practically a mother to Jonathan¡ªhad asked him to pass along¡­ ¡°Isaac-nimm!¡± He felt a rough hug from behind, forcing him forward a step. Momentarily startled, Isaac couldn¡¯t help but smile when he heard that warm, friendly voice. ¡°Jonathan, how¡¯ve you been?¡± ¡°Isaac-nim! Ahhh! I¡¯ve missed you so much! I¡¯m doing really well! I¡¯ve been training day after day, trying to become a knight worthy of the Helmut name¡ª!¡± ¡°Helmut isn¡¯t that frivolous,¡± grumbled Sharen from the side, but Jonathan pretended not to hear her and continued his enthusiastic greeting. Isaac saw this as the perfect chance and pulled out the item Helia Bell had given him. ¡°Here, Sister Helia asked me to pass this on to you.¡± ¡°Sister Helia did?!¡± It was a rosary. Adorned with the symbol of the goddess Helia served, the rosary brought Jonathan close to tears as he reverently placed it around his neck. ¡°I really should go see her one of these days. I keep telling myself I will, but it never seems to happen.¡± ¡°Well, drop by Evergarde sometime. I¡¯m there, so you can stay at my place.¡± ¡°As expected of Baron Logan!¡± Jonathan grinned broadly, playfully switching to a more formal address. He¡¯d gone from a bullied rookie knight to someone noticeably more dignified. And despite the lingering stench of blood and the sight of scattered bodies around them, he seemed to be holding himself together rather well. ¡°How¡¯s the situation at the front?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even get me started. I¡¯ve really come to appreciate just how crucial Malidan Barrier is¡ª¡± ¡°Isaac-nim!¡± ¡°Oh, please¡­¡± Sharen hid her face again, clearly not wanting to witness her brother¡¯s latest embarrassing display. ¡°There¡¯s no way that thing is related to me,¡± she muttered darkly. But Lohengrin showed no hesitation. ¡°You there! Step forward and draw your sword! I¡¯ll repay you for all my past humiliations!¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°You must have grown, yes? But Helmut marches in the steps of giants. Crushing any meager tricks of yours will be child¡¯s play.¡± ¡°¡­I see you¡¯re in good health.¡± ¡°Please, someone just put him out of his misery.¡± It seemed that Sharen was not being heard at all. ¡°Come! Your attitude will surely kneel before my greatsword, and the true Helmut shall¡ª!¡± ¡°Have you been getting along with the Pure Flow Association?¡± ¡°Huh? What do I care about those worm-like fools? How can a tiger possibly mingle among dogs?¡± ¡°That¡¯s just so Helmut.¡± At Isaac¡¯s mumbled remark, Sharen lifted her head and pouted. ¡°That¡¯s not Helmut at all.¡± ¡°But what do those bug-like Pure Flow Association matter¡ªAh-ha?¡± A sly grin spread across Lohengrin¡¯s face, as though he¡¯d just caught on to something. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Shut it, please.¡± ¡°Sharen! Is that any way to speak to your older brother?!¡± ¡°Flare Burst!¡± ¡°Hrrngh!¡± Their bursts of energy collided at the same time. It all happened so suddenly. But Sharen¡¯s Flare Burst was pushed aside by Lohengrin¡¯s force and vanished. ¡°You¡¯ve become somewhat useful, but you¡¯ve got a long way to go.¡± ¡°Tch.¡± Looking smug, Lohengrin switched back to the main topic. ¡°So, you¡¯re keeping an eye on Pure Flow Association because of Rihanna, right?¡± ¡°Uh¡­what?¡± ¡°I know. A lot of those guys have their eyes on Rihanna. Why? Worried about your former wife?¡± ¡°N-no, that¡¯s not¡ª¡± ¡°Rihanna is already at the age for marriage. Sure, you two divorced, but we¡¯re Helmut. Plenty of potential spouses are lined up for her, and as the head of the house, she shouldn¡¯t remain single for long. She needs an heir.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Probably quite a few nobles here have designs on her¡ª¡± ¡°There you are.¡± That short, emotionless voice felt like an ice pick digging into everyone¡¯s ears. All eyes turned in unison. Rihanna, having finished the meeting, stood behind Lohengrin with an expression as cold as ever. ¡°Lohengrin, come with me. I need to ask about what Eisenwolf-nim said earlier.¡± ¡°¡­Alright.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget, this is an official setting.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Understood, Patriarch.¡± Lohengrin ground his teeth audibly. He was clearly about to get an earful¡ªespecially after already being scolded by Eisenwolf. When Lohengrin stepped aside, the formerly married couple found themselves looking at each other. Isaac gave a somewhat awkward smile and opened his mouth to greet her first¡ª ¡°Long ti¡ª¡± ¡°Sharen, you come with us too. Even if you¡¯re currently away from the family, you¡¯re still a Helmut. For this campaign, you¡¯ll act under the Helmut banner.¡± ¡°Huh? But I don¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°Sharen.¡± Just that subdued calling of her name was enough to make Sharen pout and nod. ¡°Yes, Patriarch.¡± With that, she left Isaac¡¯s side and stood next to Rihanna. Finally, Rihanna addressed Isaac. Her voice was so calm it betrayed no hint of emotion. ¡°It has been a while, Baron Logan.¡± That was her greeting. Isaac was taken aback for a moment, but then he managed a wry smile and bowed. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to see the head of Helmut again.¡± *** ¡°Ugh, damn it, I got dragged here because of you!¡± Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! ¡°You? Did you just call your older brother ¡®you¡¯?!¡± Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! ¡°Well, act like my ¡°older brother¡±, then!¡± Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump! What was that sound? What on earth was happening? So loud that the bickering of Lohengrin and Sharen behind her couldn¡¯t be heard, the pounding noise thundered in Rihanna¡¯s ears. She soon realized it was the beating of her own heart. Her cheeks began to flush. Isaac Logan, whom she¡¯d just seen for the first time in so long. Sometimes¡­ No, to be honest, quite often¡­ Well, really, at least once a day¡ª He crossed her mind, that ex-husband of hers. Because of that, she¡¯d believed she could remain calm and composed even when seeing him again. He was no longer hers, after all, and acting with a polite distance was the right thing to do. And indeed, on the surface, Rihanna had carried herself well. But inside¡ª ¡®It didn¡¯t look strange, did it?¡¯ She felt as though her insides were burning with anxiety. ¡®You¡­ it¡¯s just been so long that I got nervous.¡¯ Her eyes trembled faintly. This was more frightening and nerve-wracking than facing down any monster. It had only been half a year, yet there were subtle changes in Isaac. His once-slender frame had filled out somewhat, his shoulders broader. That small topknot of hair he¡¯d kept was now trimmed more neatly, exuding a certain refinement. His face bore the marks of hardship, and a faint trace of time¡¯s passage lent him a strange, mysterious weight. ¡®What in the world¡­?¡¯ To be honest, Rihanna felt caught off guard. Her ex-husband, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in half a year¡ª ¡®Why does he look so handsome?!¡¯ He looked far too good. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 109: Taste Even the tents belonging to the direct line of Helmut were red. At this point, someone might complain that they must have some kind of obsession with the color red. But, unexpectedly, having their own ¡°personal color¡± was quite important. Especially on a battlefield like this, a bright red tent stood out unmistakably. In tense situations, in moments of crisis¡ª it let people see Helmut at a glance. All they had to do was turn their heads and find them, placing their hopes there. That was the purpose of the red color. Even after entering the large tent, the bickering between the two direct descendants did not cease. ¡°Ugh, this is annoying! Hey, Unnie, you¡¯re sure Lohengrin is sleeping in another tent, right? We¡¯re not all bunking together just because we¡¯re family, right?¡± ¡°Shut it! This battlefield isn¡¯t your playground! You probably showed up with a bunch of snacks packed, thinking this was some kind of picnic, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I know more about the North than you do, okay?! Unnie, please. I really don¡¯t want to share a tent with that guy. He grinds his teeth like crazy¡ª!¡± ¡°Both of you, knock it off.¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rihanna, who had dropped the imposing demeanor she showed outside, let out a sigh. There was no need to be as stern here inside the Helmut space. ¡°Sharen, how have you been? It¡¯s been almost half a year since I last saw you. Looks like you¡¯ve grown a bit taller?¡± ¡°Hehe, Unnie, you look like you¡¯ve grown taller too?!¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± Both women turned to look at Lohengrin, who stood between them. The eldest son pursed his lips and clenched his fist, shouting: ¡°Instead of catching up on strange things, pass on the message that we need to prepare for our march north immediately! Damn it¡ªI¡¯m about to lose my mind¡ª!¡± ¡°Eisenwolf-nim just warned you to watch your behavior.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± ¡°Straighten up. Helmut is no longer in the absolute position it once held. To be precise, it¡¯s collapsing.¡± Even calling it ¡°collapsing¡± felt insufficiently grim. Those eager for gossip openly declared that Helmut had already fallen. Starting with Galenia Helmut, then Alois Helmut betraying humanity, Finally the death of Arandel Helmut, and the thorough devastation of their territory¡ª It was only natural Helmut¡¯s influence was no longer what it used to be. Silence hung heavy inside the tent. In a matter of mere months, Helmut, once a fortress of steel, had been toppled¡ªtruly a lamentable state of affairs. ¡°We just have to do what needs to be done.¡± Rihanna declared calmly: ¡°We can rebuild. That¡¯s our job. So be mindful of how you act. Especially¡ª¡± ¡°Especially what?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go around challenging everyone to duels so carelessly. We¡¯re in a state of war right now. We need to conserve every bit of strength.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Lohengrin¡¯s face was filled with dissatisfaction. ¡°We¡¯re about to advance further north. Before long, you won¡¯t even have the energy for sparring.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I want to do it now, since there won¡¯t be a chance for a match later.¡± ¡°Still not happening. Helmut can¡¯t afford to show any sign of losing.¡± ¡°W-Who says I¡¯d lose?!¡± Lohengrin yelled in outrage, but every knight of Helmut already knew he had lost several times to Isaac during the Blackthorn suppression. He had been defeated rather spectacularly at the Sword Festival as well. ¡°This conversation is over. Lohengrin, if you have too much energy to spare, go stand guard or something. Give the soldiers a break.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± Muttering curses, Lohengrin stormed out. Clearly, he was looking forward more to a sparring match with Isaac than to clearing out the North. ¡°He really is an idiot.¡± Sharen, who had been listening quietly, chimed in. As much as she didn¡¯t want to agree, it was hard to deny. ¡°Sharen, have you been well?¡± ¡°Yup, Unnie! I learned a lot of different things out there!¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Of course, Rihanna had heard all about Isaac and Sharen. The massacre at Bolten had been shocking, she was furious at the assassination of Princess Adeline, and the broken engagement of Princess Clarice had been utterly absurd. ¡°Hey, Sharen.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Rihanna hesitated for a moment¡ªsomething she rarely did¡ªand carefully watched her younger sister before asking: ¡°You and Isaac¡­you¡¯ve been doing well together, right?¡± ¡°Yup! We get along great! It¡¯s so fun being around Isaac! It¡¯s like all sorts of crazy stuff keeps happening?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°So there¡¯s this maid at Isaac¡¯s place whose name sounds kind of like mine? One time, I even pretended to be a maid¡ª!¡± ¡°Ahem, Sharen?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The prickliness she had shown to Lohengrin earlier was already gone from Sharen. Thanks to that, Rihanna felt more comfortable asking. ¡°You know, Isaac seems a little changed?¡± ¡°Changed? Really?¡± Sharen tilted her head. Perhaps because she was always by his side, she hadn¡¯t really noticed any difference in him. ¡°Mm¡­from what I saw, he¡¯s changed quite a bit.¡± ¡°Is that so? Hmm, I¡¯m not really sure¡ª¡± She trailed off, recalling a certain memory. As they marched north, they often set up tents at night to rest. On those occasions, there would be sparring matches for interaction¡¯s sake; Isaac particularly sparred frequently with Marlin Leivice. [That guy has changed.] She remembered what Grandmaster had muttered while watching those matches. ¡°Oh, come to think of it, someone did say he changed!¡± ¡°Right? I thought so, too¡ª¡± ¡°They said he got a bit¡­perverted.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Rihanna stared at Sharen with wide, round eyes. Sharen, however, simply grinned brightly as she continued. ¡°Grandmaster said so! He said it¡¯s perverted! He said it¡¯s excessively persistent.¡± ¡°P-Perv¡­ persistent¡­?¡± ¡°Yup! That¡¯s exactly what she said!¡± Rihanna¡¯s red eyes began to tremble violently. **** Having finished setting up his own tent, Isaac exhaled a visible breath in the cold afternoon air of the North. Although it was still bright out, the chill wind of the North made itself known. However, the cold had noticeably weakened from before. He assumed it was because the Malidan Barrier, which artificially intensified the cold, was now gone. ¡®Silverna¡­¡¯ He couldn¡¯t help worrying about her. A woman who was just now truly blossoming. Not a wildflower born of tragedy and sorrow as before, but a daphne of pure white petals, grown through passion and effort. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Isaac slowly turned at the voice calling him from behind. Standing there, with her striking blue-green hair, was Marlin of the Leivice family¡ªthe noblewoman who had been sparring with him daily. ¡®As always, she hides her presence astonishingly well.¡¯ Whether that was just her nature, he didn¡¯t know, but her subtlety was so remarkable that even the Grandmaster had praised it. It was the complete opposite of her older brother, who was always making a showy entrance. ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°Did you have plans to spar with Lohengrin Helmut?¡± She certainly seemed to speak only about what mattered to her¡ªsomething she might have in common with her brother. Or maybe it was her own brand of social awkwardness. ¡°No. I don¡¯t think there will be any sparring.¡± ¡°In that case, would you cross swords with me?¡± ¡°Right now? I don¡¯t mind, but we¡¯ve just arrived in the North, and there are preparations¡ª¡± ¡°My older brother ordered me to do it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°He said he had to go see Rihanna Helmut, so he told me to keep Baron Logan busy.¡± Her face remained expressionless as she spoke, and Isaac sensed a hint of guilt beneath her words. ¡°And sparring is the only thing I can do.¡± ¡°¡­You have it tough.¡± -Nod. To be honest, he might have felt a bit annoyed if they were still in the midst of marching, but after seeing Rihanna¡¯s reaction earlier, he wasn¡¯t particularly bothered by it. ¡®He¡¯s probably in for a world of pain.¡¯ Rihanna would definitely draw a sharp line between personal matters and official duties. He¡¯d be lucky if she didn¡¯t pummel him and boot him out after a rejection on the battlefield. ¡°¡­¡± Isaac studied Marlin for a moment, then let out a small sigh. She blinked up at him, looking simultaneously pure, emotionless, and as if she harbored something profoundly deep within. ¡°Are you okay with this?¡± he finally asked, unable to hold back. Marlin tilted her head silently, then asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯m referring to obeying Rayahn Leivice without question. If you don¡¯t want to do it, you could say so. If you keep quiet, no one will ever know what you really want.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I mean it.¡± It was sincere advice, and it seemed to pierce right to the core. Marlin hesitated for a moment, then fiddled with the sword at her waist. ¡°In that case¡ª¡± ¡°Yes¡­ in that case?¡± ¡°Could you keep our sparring a bit more¡­ straightforward?¡± ¡°¡­¡± It was an unexpected response. Marlin continued as though she had been waiting for this moment. ¡°I know that whenever we spar, you keep drawing out the match because you¡¯re trying to see more of the Leivice style of swordsmanship.¡± ¡°It sometimes feels like I¡¯m being violated. It¡¯s sticky and persistent, like you¡¯re dissecting me.¡± ¡°I feel like I¡¯m being laid bare in front of everyone.¡± ¡°To be honest¡­ I kind of thought you were a pervert.¡± ¡°Ha-Haha-em!¡± Isaac let out an awkward cough and quickly turned his head away. ¡°Well, it¡¯s just that the Leivice mystic sword reveals more the deeper you probe¡ª¡± Because there were so many elements he could integrate into his own demonic energy techniques, he¡¯d gotten excited and ended up dragging out the sparring. ¡°Ahem. I apologize if it made you uncomfortable.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Marlin calmly accepted the apology, absentmindedly touching the tip of her sword. Even so, she wasn¡¯t leaving¡ªlikely because of her brother Rayahn¡¯s order. Isaac had always thought Rihanna and Marlin were quite similar. They rarely expressed their emotions. They were both beautiful. They both served their families faithfully. But after seeing Rihanna again for the first time in a while, he had to revise that thought. ¡®Now that I look at it¡ª¡¯ They were different. Most definitely different. He couldn¡¯t explain it in words, but there was a clear distinction. Probably because Rihanna Helmut held a special place in his mind. ¡°Are we going to spar, then?¡± Prompted by Marlin¡¯s question, Isaac stood there, rubbing the back of his neck before nodding. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s do it.¡± After all, a task given is a task to be done. * * * ¡°Ah, don¡¯t get the wrong idea!¡± ¡°There¡¯s someone named Marlin who has a really similar vibe to you, Unnie.¡± ¡°The sparring he does with her is what¡¯s considered perverted.¡± ¡°¡­¡± At Sharen¡¯s words, Rihanna gave a calm nod. She already knew about Isaac¡¯s habit of analyzing swords. It didn¡¯t take her long to realize it must¡¯ve become a bit more ¡°perverse¡± than before. ¡°Someone who¡¯s similar to Rihanna?¡± ¡°When did you get back?¡± Before anyone noticed, Lohengrin had returned to the tent. He sat down on his bedding and gave a small smirk. ¡°Guess the guy can¡¯t kick his habits. Acting all noble, but he¡¯s still just a man in the end.¡± ¡°Shut up! Isaac isn¡¯t like you!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Sharen screeched back, while Rihanna looked at him as if to ask what he meant. Lohengrin clicked his tongue and shook his head. ¡°Think about why Isaac married Rihanna.¡± ¡°Huh? Because he likes Unnie?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Right, so in the end, it¡¯s about his ¡®taste.¡¯¡± It wasn¡¯t entirely incorrect. After all, one could say Isaac fell for Rihanna at first sight. ¡°Just now, I saw him sparring outside with that woman from the Leivice family. Ha! They say men are honest when it comes to swords and¡­ certain other parts, and it seems he¡¯s no exception.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Rihanna grew increasingly puzzled. She stared at him, trying to understand his meaning. Lohengrin merely snorted and shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t you think he¡¯s got a peculiar taste in women? He only picks those who are tight-lipped and expressionless. Keeps ¡¯em around like trophies.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± ¡°Well, what a champ, huh? First it¡¯s Helmut¡¯s daughter, now a Leivice girl. Watch¡ªonce this mess ends, we¡¯ll probably hear wedding bells¡ªghaaack?!¡± Bangggg! A fierce burst of red energy from Rihanna sent Lohengrin bouncing along the ground and rolling right out of the tent. ¡°Oooh¡­ I couldn¡¯t manage that myself,¡± Sharen said, clapping her hands without meaning to. Thud! ¡°Guhk?! What are you doing, Lohengrin?!¡± ¡°Damn it¡ª!¡± The sounds of chaos echoed from outside. It seemed Lohengrin and Rayahn had somehow crashed into each other while he was tumbling away. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 110: Dawn Encounter ¡°Humph, I¡¯ve shown you quite an unsightly scene.¡± Having rolled once, Rayahn Leivice awkwardly brushes off the dirt clinging to his body. Entering the tent with an uneasy stance, he introduces himself as if nothing happened. ¡°Greetings, Blood Rose of Helmut. I am Rayahn Leivice, known as the noble scion of House Leivice.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± At Rayahn Leivice¡¯s greeting, Rihanna nods impassively. She looks nothing like the woman who, just moments ago, had flared up at Lohengrin¡¯s words and let loose an intense killing aura. ¡°I¡¯ve actually seen you a few times before. Do you recall?¡± ¡°You attended my wedding.¡± ¡°Indeed I did. As expected of Lady Rihanna, your memory is remarkable.¡± It¡¯s not that she particularly remembers him. She¡¯d merely assumed he showed up because an invitation had been sent to House Leivice. Large noble weddings are events most try to attend if they can. Not out of mere courtesy but also because such occasions foster relationships among nobles. Plus, it¡¯s a suitable atmosphere for marriageable noble sons and daughters to meet each other¡¯s eyes. ¡°Though we find ourselves in this situation now¡­ Well, I suppose it¡¯s all according to the goddess¡¯ will, is it not?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Rihanna¡¯s replies remain concise. It¡¯s not that she dislikes him or is upset. She just genuinely has no thoughts on the matter. There¡¯s no need to concern herself with him, nor does she have any reason to be interested. So, no other words come out. ¡°A woman is often compared to a flower. True to your nickname ¡®Blood Rose,¡¯ I expect you¡¯ll bloom most beautifully on the battlefield.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± On the other hand, who is Rayahn Leivice? He¡¯s the man who has Marlin for a younger sister. He¡¯s more than accustomed to such conversation. ¡®A duel of spear and shield!¡¯ Observing quietly from the side, Sharen widens her eyes and takes out a snack from her pocket. -Crunch, crunch. ¡°If you ever find yourself in danger on the battlefield, please call for Rayahn Leivice. Even if I lose a leg, I¡¯ll come running for you.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± His ¡®spear¡¯ may be wavering a bit, but her ¡®shield¡¯ remains unyielding. It¡¯s downright fascinating. ¡®I wish Isaac was here to watch, too!¡¯ -Crunch, crunch! **** The following day, early in the morning. As usual, Isaac rises before anyone else and practices his swordsmanship. He holds a blade in each hand. Especially White Snow, forged from Frostsilver Ore, feels unusually cold. ¡®Does it realize we¡¯re getting closer to home?¡¯ The earrings Silverna crafted for him also radiate a fierce chill. Lately, Isaac has often felt that White Snow and the earrings resonate with each other. So he deliberately started wielding White Snow in his left hand. Since he wears the earring only on the left side, it matches better that way. ¡°Hm.¡± Amid the crisp, dawn air, an elderly man¡¯s impressed grunt seeps in. It was the commander-in-chief, Eisenwolf, standing at one side in full armor. When Isaac lowers his head in greeting, Eisenwolf approaches and speaks. ¡°Is that the swordsmanship of those called the Transcendent Race?¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s close but not exactly the same. I¡¯ve modified it to suit my body.¡± ¡°Eisenwolf here. Come to think of it, I¡¯m late in greeting you properly.¡± He extends his hand, and Isaac politely shakes it. ¡°I¡¯m Isaac Logan. I¡¯ve heard much about you.¡± ¡°Princess Adeline said we should rely on Baron Logan¡¯s help.¡± ¡°You flatter me. I suppose it¡¯s because I know a bit more about the Transcendent Race than most people do.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve come to subjugate the demonic beasts and reclaim the North. It¡¯s not yet certain the Transcendent Race has intervened here.¡± ¡°¡­No reports of them have come in from the Malidan Barrier, either.¡± They vanished overnight, leaving everything in a veil of mystery. Still, Isaac is convinced. ¡°I¡¯m certain the Transcendent Race is involved. No one else could cause such bizarre events.¡± ¡°Hmm, do you have any proof?¡± ¡°They make the impossible, the unthinkable, into reality. Only the Transcendent Race does that.¡± ¡°So, because there¡¯s no alternative, that alone is our answer?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Eisenwolf sets his face in a stony expression. It doesn¡¯t seem like he¡¯s fully satisfied with that explanation. Even so, the outlandish power of the Transcendent Race is difficult for Isaac himself to explain. ¡°I must take the stance of a commander leading an army. I can¡¯t readily accept such a schematic theory.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°But I, the man called Eisenwolf, will keep it in my heart.¡± Isaac unwittingly opens his eyes wide. Just that much is enough for him, so he bows his head again without another word. Right then¡ª ¡°Ah.¡± A familiar-looking woman appeared. It was Rihanna Helmut. At dawn, she emerged with a greatsword slung over her shoulder. It might have looked like she was just out for some morning exercise, but the fact that she walked all the way toward Isaac¡¯s tent made it clear she had a specific reason for coming. ¡°Hrm, this old man should be on his way now. Standing around at dawn makes my knees ache.¡± ¡®His thighs look twice as thick as mine, though¡­¡¯ ¡°And do try not to make a racket. Even ten minutes of sleep is precious for soldiers on the battlefield.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Accepting Rihanna Helmut¡¯s gratitude with a quick nod, the old commander¡ªsporting those robust legs¡ªtactfully took his leave. Left behind, the man and woman faced each other, their relationship a bit awkward. ¡°I greet the head of House Helmut.¡± Isaac was the first to speak. He figured he¡¯d do as he had the day before, but Rihanna Helmut pursed her lips ever so slightly. Then, in an almost brusque manner: ¡°Let¡¯s spar.¡± She made her proposal. ¡°All right.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Isaac slowly slid the swords he¡¯d been holding back into their sheaths. Just yesterday, she had warned Lohengrin for exactly this sort of sparring. And yet here she was. It was a bit funny, in a way¡ªbut Rihanna Helmut must have known it too, which is why she came so secretly at dawn. She was well aware Isaac did his training early in the morning. No more words were exchanged between the two, who had once been husband and wife. They stood a bit apart and looked at each other. With a polite nod at the same time, they both signaled their mutual respect¡ªthen took their stances. Rihanna Helmut drew her greatsword, its sheer size imposing enough even when simply held. Ragnabel, the massive blade, radiated raw intimidation. Chiik! Isaac eased his right foot back, scraping the ground. Instead of dust, cold northern air rose up, and both of their breaths grew visible. The moment that chill spread between them¡ª Isaac struck first. ¡®The moment I hand over the offensive, I¡¯ll never be able to win.¡¯ He had doubts about whether he could ever overpower Rihanna¡¯s strength in the first place. Both swords drawn in one swift motion¡ªcalled paired wings, reminiscent of a bird¡¯s flapping wings¡ªIsaac¡¯s opening strike sliced through even the air itself. Claang! Yet Ragnabel, simply held in place, fended it off. Beyond the greatsword, those red eyes stared unblinking at Isaac. Coong! Her greatsword, meeting the blade of Isaac¡¯s swords, swept sideways as if to push him back. She hadn¡¯t infused any killing aura into that blow¡ªstill, if Isaac hadn¡¯t immediately retreated, he would¡¯ve been knocked to the ground. They found themselves separated once more. Without a word, Rihanna Helmut calmly readied her greatsword again and stepped forward. Claang! In the blink of an eye, the distance closed. She leapt so powerfully it felt like the earth shook beneath her feet. ¡®If it¡¯s Helmut style¡ª¡¯ He could already anticipate her sword¡¯s trajectory. The Helmut style emphasizes raw force, so its users unconsciously favor the stance and arc that best maximize power. Cla-aaang! Ragnabel slid across Isaac¡¯s two slightly angled blades, deflecting off them. ¡®I managed it.¡¯ Even so, the impact numbed his hands. But for Rihanna¡¯s heavy blow, escaping with just that much damage was commendable. He immediately tried to counter¡ª ¡°¡­!¡± ¡ªand realized Rihanna was gripping her greatsword with only her right hand. Her left hand had let go of the blade and was swinging wide toward Isaac. That¡¯s when the hidden killing aura finally manifested. The aura around her arm formed something resembling a demonic beast¡¯s claw. A move he had never seen before in either this life or his previous one. A refinement unimaginable for someone who¡¯d devoted herself to Helmut¡¯s greatsword style. Hwoong! ¡°¡­!¡± That beast-like aura lunged for Isaac¡¯s neck¡ªyet stopped just short, without touching him. That was the end of the spar. ¡°I¡¯ve lost.¡± Lowering his sword in acknowledgment, Isaac watched as Rihanna Helmut calmly retracted her aura and nodded. ¡°I wanted to show you¡­ No, show you specifically, Baron Logan.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes, you.¡± Her tone was uncertain, her words rigid¡ªbut it was clear she had something to convey. ¡°Because of you, Helmut itself was completely broken through.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Just now as well. If I had simply swung my greatsword recklessly, you would have read my path, and I would¡¯ve been in trouble.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The Helmut of today is different. It has changed¡­and it will continue to change.¡± Isaac¡¯s eyes widened. Stowing her greatsword, Rihanna Helmut bowed deeply, with genuine respect. ¡°I¡¯ve learned from you.¡± Those words weren¡¯t just about this moment¡¯s spar. They expressed gratitude for how he¡¯d shown Helmut a path beyond its fixed form. ¡°Could we¡­ meet again tomorrow?¡± It felt a bit like exchanging letters. Faced with her half-request, Isaac nodded with a gentle smile. ¡°It¡¯s 0¨C1 right now. Tomorrow might go a bit differently.¡± At his response, Rihanna let the corners of her lips curl upward ever so slightly. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 111: Reclaiming the North Reclaiming the North. As citizens of the Albion Kingdom, perhaps this is a phrase they never even imagined. After all, they had the vantage of watching the Malidan Barrier stand firm. Caldias, known as the Guardian of the North, and the Malidan Barrier exuded such overwhelming majesty. Because of that, the army¡¯s atmosphere as it advanced northward felt somewhat unsettled. It was as if they still couldn¡¯t believe that their barrier and that great household had vanished without a trace. In contrast, Isaac felt a surge of emotion. Reclaiming the North. ¡®What a stirring phrase that is.¡¯ In his previous life, once the Malidan Barrier was breached, he couldn¡¯t even get close to the north. The tides of war were that unfavorable. Each day, they were forced to fall back, unable to even dream of something like ¡°reclaiming.¡± ¡®I won¡¯t surrender anything to you this time.¡¯ Who knows what trick was used to seize the north, but there was no way Caldias would have withdrawn so easily. Isaac still believed that Silverna was fighting somewhere out there. ¡°Up ahead! A horde of monsters! Shield-bearers, form ranks in front! Archers, get to the rear!¡± Sir Eisenwolf imbued his voice with mana and shouted upon spotting the monster horde. At the old knight¡¯s command, the soldiers bustled forward in a hurried but orderly manner. They were proceeding along a route that passed through various villages. With the Malidan Barrier gone, the people of the nearby villages had fled. In other words, these villages were now empty¡ªperfect for monster hordes that hunt in packs, seeking places to den or scavenging leftover food. It was suspected that each village might be serving as a nest for these monsters. Isaac was stationed with the left-wing cavalry. Thanks to the Princess, who had gifted him Ravenfall, he found himself among their ranks. Of course, a longsword wasn¡¯t exactly the most suitable weapon to wield while mounted, but that was the situation. Beside him was the Grandmaster, who had gone to visit her disciple, Damien, the day before. She hadn¡¯t said much about what they discussed. ¡®If grandmaster decided such, then so be it.¡¯ Isaac was content to leave it at that. If Damien had betrayed them in the end in his previous life, then in this life¡ªwhere that situation might not arise¡ªhe might never betray them at all. ¡°Yaaawn, this is so boring.¡± The Grandmaster was also mounted on a horse given to her by the Princess. She alone was riding in a rather peculiar manner, seated cross-legged. Even as the horse moved, her balance never wavered. It was an almost uncanny display of skill. The cavalry looked on in fascination or frowned at what they considered frivolous behavior. But everyone had seen her singlehandedly obliterate the Pure Flow Association. No one dared treat the Grandmaster lightly. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to charge?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct. The cavalry is an expensive unit, after all. We¡¯ll only move out when it¡¯s time to hunt the monsters entrenched in the villages.¡± ¡°Tsk, if I¡¯d known it would be like this, I would have joined the infantry.¡± Just getting a horse to move costs a hefty sum. If the horse were to be injured while hunting monsters nearby, it would be a direct loss of force. In the calculus of warfare, a horse¡¯s life is treated more preciously than a human¡¯s. In any case, from a strategic standpoint, the cavalry is not a force to be used recklessly. ¡°The northward march will proceed in two phases. Essentially, the real mop-up happens in the second phase.¡± ¡°The second phase? Huh, I must not have caught that part properly since I stepped out yesterday.¡± ¡°In the first phase, we¡¯ll break straight through to where the Malidan Barrier was. That¡¯s our current job.¡± It¡¯s like breaking through a gate: capturing each village as we go until we reach the Malidan Barrier. ¡°Once we arrive, we¡¯ll assess the situation and rebuild the front line. Even if it¡¯s just with a wooden palisade, we¡¯ll put up a temporary defense.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Interested, the Grandmaster took out a rolled leaf of tobacco and placed it in her mouth. At this point, the monster horde was already being wiped out. ¡°By the time the second-phase reinforcements arrive, we¡¯ll have a wide formation set up, so we can trap the monsters left inside and finish them off.¡± ¡°A hammer-and-anvil tactic. Quite standard.¡± The plan was summarized succinctly. There¡¯s no need for intricate maneuvers or elaborate tactics against these monsters. Something simple yet effective works best on the battlefield. ¡°Did you manage to talk things out with Rihanna?¡± She glanced at Isaac out of the corner of her eye. Clearly curious, the Grandmaster prodded him, sounding playful. ¡°Well, we talked, somewhat.¡± ¡°Hoho, so the knot that was in your eyes has disappeared.¡± ¡°What knot?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to hide it from me. Meeting one¡¯s ex-wife can be quite a burden.¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­.¡± ¡°And Helmut was on the right wing, correct? You may run into him on the way?¡± ¡°Hah, as if that would ever happen.¡± **** A few hours later, the Grandmaster flashed Isaac a knowing smile, claiming her prediction had come true. Isaac pretended not to notice, pulling tighter on Ravenfall¡¯s reins to pick up speed. They were at Yandes Village, a place that once brought back memories of confronting the transcendent race known as Nortemus. Once again, the village had turned into a battlefield. ¡°Left wing! Right wing! Now!¡± Cavalry units poured in from both the left and right sides of Yandes Village. They maintained enough distance to avoid colliding with each other, but¡ª The monsters were trampled under hooves, pierced by spears and swords, falling without any proper resistance. Among the right-wing cavalry, Isaac spotted a familiar redhead. Leading the charge was Rihanna, wielding a greatsword. For a brief moment, their eyes seemed to meet, but Isaac feigned ignorance and rode on. ¡°Hehehe.¡± Meanwhile, someone had no qualms about being obvious. Sharen even waved a hand to greet Isaac and the Grandmaster. Her carefree smile gave no hint of being in the midst of a monster skirmish. After the left and right wings swept through with a single charge, the infantry moved in to secure the area. Just like that, the monsters occupying Yandes Village were taken down with surprising ease. ¡°Rest up! We¡¯re camping here tonight!¡± They had encountered three mid-sized monster hordes so far. Including the large horde that had seized Yandes Village, that made four. Though their progress wasn¡¯t as fast as one might expect, considering the low difficulty of each battle, they were advancing steadily. ¡°The commander is retiring once this is done, right? That must be why he¡¯s so calm and doesn¡¯t push too far. Under normal circumstances, we¡¯d already be pressing on to the next village.¡± While Isaac helped set up the tents for the night, the Grandmaster commented offhandedly. Isaac replied with a laugh: ¡°He¡¯s a veteran, so he knows our real goal isn¡¯t just reaching Malidan but holding out once we¡¯re there, building a proper outpost. So he¡¯s pacing us.¡± ¡°Hoho, I might be well-versed in swordsmanship, but war itself seems to be a different beast. That¡¯s an interesting perspective.¡± ¡°In my past life, the Grandmaster never took up a commander¡¯s baton¡ªyou just carved open a path with your sword.¡± ¡°Aye, that was always my only real talent. In that sense, it¡¯s a shame our warhorses aren¡¯t being fully utilized.¡± The Grandmaster slipped into the tent Isaac had just set up and lay down, muttering to herself. Because if she were to swing that massive blade of hers with any real force, the warhorse wouldn¡¯t be able to bear it and would keel over, she couldn¡¯t just swing it freely. ¡°On the other hand, Helmut is quite remarkable. Charging in with Red aura as a barding. Their aura truly seems useful in so many ways.¡± ¡°And why, exactly, are you lying there?¡± ¡°Could it be that Helmut even has the strongest horse?!¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Ahem, just joking around. Don¡¯t you miss Sharen?¡± Embarrassed, the Grandmaster turned onto her side, wagging her tail playfully. It was a clear sign she was teasing. ¡°I asked why you¡¯re lying there.¡± When Isaac entered the tent and shook her shoulder, the Grandmaster replied with her eyes closed: ¡°The grandmaster is sleeping.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Since when does a useless disciple disturb the master¡¯s rest?¡± ¡°Please get up.¡± ¡°If you came to carry me off¡ªlike bossam¡ªyou may try again later. I might consider it.¡± ¡°Get up, please.¡± ¡°Stop shaking me. It¡¯s making me dizzy. By the way, did something big happen in this tent? The male scent in here is quite strong.¡± ¡°What the¡ª?!¡± ¡°Haha, it¡¯s just a joke. I thought I¡¯d tease my disciple who always goes around with that grim face saying, ¡®Transcendent race, kill all Transcendents. I¡¯ll kill them all.¡¯¡± ¡°When did I ever say that all the time¡­?¡± Just then, Isaac sensed someone approaching the tent from outside. When he glanced over, there stood an unexpected figure. ¡°Rihanna?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± She said nothing, simply staring into the tent. Her gaze locked onto the Grandmaster, who lay there. ¡°My, she looks ready to skewer someone.¡± With those words, the Grandmaster¡¯s tail furtively wrapped around Isaac¡¯s arm, as if to say he was hers. ¡°What brings you here? We¡¯re, as you can see, a bit...busy.¡± Rihanna took a moment to steady her breathing and then calmly responded, ¡°Please refrain from such behavior while you¡¯re in this unit. A disorderly battalion leads to a drop in discipline.¡± ¡°But how could one simply deny the call of passion between a man and a woman? The scariest bonds are forged in bed, they say.¡± Crack. Something snapped with a brittle sound¡ªwhatever it was, it definitely came from Rihanna¡¯s direction. ¡°You¡¯re disrespecting the other soldiers. If you are a soldier, you must abide by your duties and control yourselves.¡± ¡°Then should I cover my mouth like this? Or perhaps pressing our lips together would help us keep quiet.¡± The Grandmaster covered her mouth playfully with both hands. At that, Rihanna¡¯s eyes trembled, and she clenched her fists, seemingly against her will. ¡°Grandmaster, please stop.¡± With a sigh, Isaac rose and stepped out of the tent. In response, the Grandmaster offered him a subtle wink. He could guess what she was thinking. ¡®She¡¯s telling me not to shrink back in front of my ex-wife.¡¯ That he¡¯s doing just fine without her. Her excessive banter, even spouting bawdy jokes¡ªclearly intended to boost his confidence. ¡®But that was a bit much.¡¯ After all, Rihanna still couldn¡¯t tear her eyes away from the tent. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Isaac asked. ¡°¡­The commander called for the young nobles. Seems the Pure Flow Association members proposed we press forward faster.¡± ¡®She¡¯s still looking.¡¯ Rihanna was still glaring at the tent, unable to look away. ¡°So, he wants our input, but by the sound of it, he¡¯s probably going to scold them.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not really ¡®seeking opinions¡¯ so much as planning to dish out a lecture, huh?¡± ¡°He¡¯s retiring soon, so he probably wants to say his piece before he goes.¡± ¡°Rihanna?¡± Isaac waved a hand in front of her face. Finally, she tore her gaze from the tent. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s go.¡± They headed toward the officers¡¯ command tent, with Isaac walking behind Rihanna. ¡°Um, Isaac¡­?¡± ¡°I noticed your speech pattern is back to the old way.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Rihanna froze momentarily but then continued walking. ¡°Ba-Baron Logan, I¡¯m aware I shouldn¡¯t interfere in your personal affairs¡­¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­.¡± ¡°However, we are in a military setting. Such behavior can breed disorder and lower morale among the troops.¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­.¡± ¡°So please¡­ just exercise some restraint.¡± If¡ª ¡°If¡ªif you really can¡¯t hold back, then¡­ y-you can come to¡ª¡± ¡°Uh¡ª¡± ¡°Really?!¡± Startled, Rihanna swung her head around to look at Isaac. But he was gazing up at the sky, not at her. ¡°Uh¡ª?¡± A crack spread across the night sky. Something was falling from above. Noticing Isaac¡¯s alarmed expression, Rihanna too stiffened and followed his line of sight. Whatever it was landed near the officers¡¯ tent. The creature looked around in confusion, baring its fangs¡ªclearly unsure why it was here. It was almost comical. Isaac recognized that face. A sleek canine muzzle. A body packed with tough, utilitarian muscle. Blood-red eyes that suggested nothing but carnage. ¡°Heukgyeon*¡­?¡± He found himself murmuring the name, and the beast seemed to hear it, turning its gaze toward him. Gripping the sword at his waist, Isaac said to Rihanna, ¡°Alert everyone. He¡¯s from the Primitive Transcendents Race.¡± In response, the black hound¡ªHeukgyeon¡ªcharged straight at them. ¡®A hunting dog with no leash.¡¯ In his previous life, one of these Primitive Transcendents had wreaked havoc across various battlefields. Isaac frantically drew his longsword to meet the beast¡¯s claws head-on. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [TL: Heukgyeon ?? ¨C This literally means ¡°Black Dog¡± and used it here as a name. Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 112: Extreme Claang! The moment he collided with Heukgyeon, Isaac¡¯s body was hurled straight backward. He nearly tumbled across the ground in an unseemly way but managed to steady himself, ending up merely being pushed back. Thanks to that, he could resist the Heukgyeon as it came at him again. Kaaaaang! ¡°Ugh!¡± This time, Heukgyeon swung its arm from above as if to pin him down. He barely managed to block by crossing two swords in front of him, but one knee hit the ground, and he bowed his head, bracing the blade with his shoulder. It looked as though he would be completely overpowered by Heukgyeon¡¯s strength. Just then, a red aura flared up and pushed the Heukgyeon back. ¡°Isaac!¡± Rihanna called out urgently. Having left her greatsword behind, she had no choice but to respond with the red aura that extended from her hand. Just like the beast-like claws she had shown during their spar the previous day, the red aura formed around her hand in a similar shape. ¡°Are you all right?¡± Rihanna rushed forward to protect him, while Isaac, catching his breath, staggered to his feet. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­ Just a little numb is all.¡± ¡°What about that guy¡ª?¡± ¡°He¡¯s one of the Primitives. The bloodline of the very first transcendents.¡± ¡°That man is¡­¡± It was Rihanna¡¯s first time encountering a Primitive transcendent. The overwhelming aura emanating from Heukgyeon even made her hesitate. ¡°My father faced five of those things¡­¡± Recalling the stature of the former family head while serving as the current head, she bit her lip hard. And then came a resounding shout. ¡°Enemies attacking!¡± She glanced over to see Jonathan. Thanks to his voice, raw from screaming, people began spilling out from the command tent one by one. Those from Pure Flow Association and Eisenwolf, as well as soldiers brandishing spears and swords. At first glance, it looked like they held an overwhelming advantage, which was true. Even the Heukgyeon itself seemed unaware of why it had ended up here in the first place. ¡°Rihanna, we can¡¯t afford to lose troops here.¡± ¡°¡­I understand.¡± Rihanna grasped Isaac¡¯s meaning immediately. For the upcoming effort to reclaim the North, every single person was crucial. What¡¯s more, their task wouldn¡¯t end upon reaching the Wall; they would have to defend and endure there. If they suffered a major loss on the very first day against a Primitive transcendent, the odds of a successful campaign would plummet. ¡°The Grandmaster will arrive soon. So¡ª¡± But Heukgyeon showed no hesitation. Like an unleashed hunting dog, it simply bared its fangs at every human in sight. Its first target was Jonathan. Perhaps because he was a half-blooded transcendent, he stood out even more. ¡°For the glory of Helmut!¡± A jet-black aura surged up around him. It was no longer the flimsy aura he had before; it now had a definite presence and color. Yet¡ª Swish! Just one swipe of its paw shattered Jonathan¡¯s aura. His chest then took a follow-up blow, leaving three long gashes. He rolled across the ground. ¡°Ugh?!¡± An instant takedown. Even if Jonathan hadn¡¯t been at full strength, the gap between him and a Primitive transcendent was immense. Next, the beast sprinted toward the officers¡¯ tent. A hound that hunted by scent, it knew precisely whom to target first. It was looking for a ¡°hunt,¡± not a ¡°fight.¡± That was also why it intentionally avoided Rihanna, the one who had pushed it away. ¡°Hmph! So it¡¯s ignoring an old man?¡± Eisenwolf drew the sword at his waist. The Pure Flow Association members around him also took up their weapons. Among the younger ones was a particularly bold youth: ¡°I am Rayahn of Leivice!¡± Rayahn raised his sword, unleashing a brilliant yet refreshing aura¡ªbefitting a blade called a ¡°Mystic sword.¡± The Heukgyeon¡¯s red eyes barely glanced at Rayahn as it charged for Eisenwolf, but¡ª ¡°How dare you ignore me when I¡¯m right here!¡± His aura glimmered like an aurora, lighting the night in place of the moon. It was impossible to disregard. Finally, Heukgyeon switched direction and rushed at Rayahn. Thud! Unable to hold out for even a single exchange, Rayahn immediately toppled over. ¡°Huh?!¡± ¡°Aaoooooooooooo!¡± With a roar, the Heukgyeon pinned Rayahn underfoot and was about to crush him. Just then, amid the brightest burst of light¡ª Someone moved in the darkness. A faint line appeared along Heukgyeon¡¯s back. Crimson blood began trickling from that line, drawn by Marlin Leivice, who had quietly approached and was ready to swing again. But Heukgyeon seized her wrist and hurled her away. ¡°¡­!¡± Bang! Marlin crashed into a soldiers¡¯ tent. Nevertheless, the Leviace House¡¯s brief distraction gave Isaac and Rihanna enough time to position themselves in front of the officers. Rihanna struck out with her hand. The claw of red aura clashed with Heukgyeon¡¯s fist. Not having her greatsword in hand turned out to be crucial. They had endured it well so far, but in the end, the red aura conjured by bare hands lacked both durability and quality. The moment Heukgyeon shattered that red aura and reached out toward Rihanna, an icy sensation wrapped around its neck. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± For the first time, Heukgyeon recoiled. Drooling with bared, razor-sharp fangs, it glared at the swordsman who had aimed for its throat. ¡°Isaac¡­?¡± Even Rihanna stared at him in a bewildered voice. Because something strange was flowing over Isaac¡¯s entire body. A bluish glow, like a waterfall running in reverse. Unlike an aura, it did not assert itself violently, but instead emanated a faint, ominous presence. This was Isaac¡¯s new weapon, obtained by claiming countless lives in Bolten. ¡°Demonic¡­?¡± Even Heukgyeon, which had only snarled up to this point, was taken aback and fixed its gaze on Isaac. It was shocked that the power once wielded by a Sword Saint of its own race now resided in Isaac. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hoo.¡± His breath carried a chill. Like a keen blade, that chill was sharp, causing Heukgyeon to lower its stance cautiously. ¡®The Grandmaster will be here soon.¡¯ Isaac recalled being told not to use this demonic glow carelessly, but if not now, then when? ¡®I¡¯m still not good enough to handle both blades.¡¯ He sheathed both swords. Slightly bending at the waist, he dragged his right leg far behind him, taking a stance. But by that time, Heukgyeon had already leapt toward him. ¡°That belongs to our kin¡ª!¡± ¡®I can react¡­¡¯ Until just moments ago, even chasing it was difficult. But the instant Isaac caught sight of Heukgyeon, he drew on demonic glow with a single blade, unleashing a lightning-fast slash. Claang! Something exploded with a resounding boom. Isaac suddenly realized he was airborne. He belatedly recognized that the echoing blast was Heukgyeon¡¯s strike. ¡°Guh¡­!¡± Pain tore through his shoulder, as though it had been crushed. His eyes flew wide, and he bit his lip hard. ¡°Isaac!¡± Rihanna caught him from behind just in time, preventing him from hitting the ground. Though wracked with agony in her arms, Isaac kept his eyes trained on Heukgyeon. ¡°Grr¡­¡± A short, resonant growl. Heukgyeon frowned down at its left arm, which had been severed up to the elbow. Both had landed lethal blows on each other. However, that creature¡¯s physical toughness was clearly superior. Unlike Isaac, Heukgyeon still looked ready to fight; it even picked up its severed left arm and clamped it between its teeth. Just as it was about to charge Isaac again, Rihanna darted in front of Heukgyeon and scattered her red aura to block it. ¡°How dare you¡ª!¡± The red aura poured down like a storm. Even without her greatsword, her onslaught was disastrous in its intensity. Heukgyeon hesitated briefly. At the same time¡ª ¡°As your master, I have failed you. I can only blame my own shortcomings.¡± The Grandmaster had arrived in a hurry. Gripping a massive blade, she seemed to reproach herself for her late arrival. ¡°Grr¡­¡± Heukgyeon shifted its stance again, fixing its gaze on the two women. Its vicious determination said it would claim at least one more life before it died. ¡°I will kill you without fail, black-haired dual swordsman.¡± Likely thinking its blade, which only the Transcendents should wield, had been stolen, Heukgyeon gnashed its fangs at Isaac. The moment Heukgyeon, brimming with murderous intent, charged once more¡ª A whirlwind-like distortion rippled across its body. And before anyone realized it, exactly as when it first appeared¡ª It vanished. *** The sky held nothing but darkness. At first glance, it could have been night, yet there were no stars, no moon, no clouds¡ªjust an endless canvas of pitch black. It was a place where hardly even a single blade of grass grew, with only barren dirt and dust swirling about. Amid all that stood an enormous wall that looked completely out of place. Covered in marks from countless battles, it bore the signs of heavy damage. And at that very moment, the Malidan Barrier was releasing fierce bursts of icy magic in response to imminent danger. ¡°Without that wall, it would¡¯ve been all over.¡± Behind the wall, Silverna murmured bluntly, resting a spear on her shoulder. Her expression was now clouded and lifeless, her eyes reflecting a dull despair. ¡°You should rest a bit, my lady.¡± Anna approached Silverna. Unlike before, her voice was flat and devoid of energy¡ªbut no one could blame her. Smiling in such a dire situation was simply impossible. ¡®No supplies, no light, and even the air is suffocating.¡¯ Most of all, the air here was the hardest part. The atmosphere felt like it was burning their lungs, and there was no mana at all. As a result, Silverna could not use the aura she had painstakingly honed. ¡®If only that were the extent of our troubles¡­¡¯ The real problem was the Malidan Barrier. The raging cold it spewed was indisputably magical. If it ever ran out of stored mana, it would become nothing more than an ordinary wall. Then the Transcendents would surely launch another fierce assault. ¡®Is reinforcements even coming? Or can they come at all?¡¯ None of them really knew where they were in the first place. All they could do was fight off the monstrous beasts and Transcendents that attacked every day. ¡¯Who would have thought we¡¯d yearn for the sky this much.¡¯ Even if one lifted their head, there was only darkness¡ªan empty, meaningless space. What grew day by day were worries, sighs, and the tombstones of fallen comrades. ¡®Does anyone out there even know we¡¯re fighting here?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m sorry, Isaac.¡¯ She hated to even think such things. But it was possible she might never see him again. She had wanted to show him how much she had grown. ¡°My lady, what do you think happened to that Transcendent just now?¡± Anna tried changing the subject. Silverna nodded wearily and sighed. ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯d like to know. It definitely had the blood of a Primitive. It wasn¡¯t normal.¡± ¡°No doubt about it. Could that sudden disappearance be one of their Primitive abilities?¡± ¡°I have no idea. The reason I ended up here was because of that thing, to be honest. It vanished somewhere in this area.¡± Those Transcendents that had broken into the wall retreated, but the black dog-like creature among them was beyond fearsome¡ªit was outright terrifying. ¡°What in the world¡ª¡± Bwoooom! A sudden slicing of air, with no warning. Silverna and Anna both jerked their heads up. A twisted void spat out something before closing again. Claang! The impact of its crash kicked up a cloud of dust. Startled, Silverna and Anna instinctively dropped into fighting stances. In the center of the crater formed by the impact¡ª ¡°Graaaaahhh!¡± A black hunting dog, roaring in fury. ¡°Its arm¡­¡± ¡°What is that?¡± They had no idea why it appeared out of nowhere, or why its left arm was missing. Though they didn¡¯t understand the situation, they saw it as their chance and moved in to attack¡ª ¡°That Black-haired dual swordsman!¡± Heukgyeon bellowed in rage, and Silverna¡¯s eyes went wide. Black-haired dual swordsman. Only one person came to mind. ¡°Isaac?¡± ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 113: A Womans Duty? She had no idea what was going on, but¡ª Silverna was already kicking off the ground and charging through the darkness. The Primitive lineage. And on top of that, he was already severely wounded. ¡®I can¡¯t miss this chance!¡¯ Right up until the moment he suddenly disappeared, Silverna had witnessed firsthand just how fiercely Heukgyeon had rampaged on the battlefield. His uncontrollable fury¡ªa rampage more than deserving of the label ¡°unleashed beast¡±¡ªhad even struck fear into the valiant soldiers of the Malidan Barrier. Swish! S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A long spear thrust forward with a sharp stab. She aimed precisely for his heart, but Heukgyeon caught the spear shaft with his remaining right arm. Thud. ¡®His left arm is bleeding badly, so his reactions are definitely slower.¡¯ It turned into a pointless attack, but Silverna never stopped calculating. Maybe he thought that in this already unpleasant situation, some strange little pest had gotten mixed in. His crimson eyes blazed even brighter as he wrenched the spear away and tossed it aside. She couldn¡¯t even guess how many Transcendents she had fought here. Ironically enough, placed in such an extreme predicament, Silverna was in the midst of a remarkable breakthrough. ¡°Miss!¡± Silverna had already stretched her hand backward. The spear belonging to her comrade and dear friend, Anna, flew right into her waiting grip. She had assumed from the start that her first spear might be taken, so she did not retreat or hesitate. Spotting an opening, she gripped the spear in reverse and drove it into his left shoulder. ¡°Haaaaaaaaa!¡± In the past, she wouldn¡¯t have even been able to pierce his hide. Clenching her teeth hard, Silverna pushed with all her might, sinking the blade deeper into his flesh. Heukgyeon, in a rush, tried to subdue Silverna by swinging his right fist. He felt certain that if he landed just one solid hit, he could kill her instantly. ¡°Whether you¡¯re a Transcendent or you carry the Primitive blood¡ª!¡± Right then, aura flared from Silverna¡¯s empty hand. Her original spear, the one she¡¯d thrown at first, reacted to her aura and flew straight back to her. Thud! That spear drove right through Heukgyeon¡¯s swinging right arm as it moved toward Silverna. ¡°If you get stabbed, you die all the same!¡± ¡°Guhhhhh?!¡± His left shoulder was impaled by one spear, and his right arm was now skewered by the other. Because of the severe bleeding from his frenzied movements, his reactions slowed even more. The spear¡¯s frosty glow¡ªresonated with her aura, unleashing a fierce chill. While Heukgyeon¡¯s right arm gradually froze over¡ª He still managed to launch a kick from close range, aiming for a gap. It wasn¡¯t a full-blown strike but a shove meant to knock her away, and it landed squarely on Silverna¡¯s abdomen. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Her body briefly lifted off the ground, then flew backward, rolling across the earth. ¡°Misssss!¡± A being of the Primitive Transcendents can kill a human with a single blow. Even one hit was enough to put Silverna¡¯s life in danger. ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± Coughing up blood as she clutched her abdomen, Silverna grimaced. It was infuriating to get hurt after coming so close to victory, but¡ª At least the kick hadn¡¯t landed with full force, so her life wasn¡¯t in immediate jeopardy. ¡°Ha, Huh¡­¡­.¡± On ground pitted and cracked¡ª Heukgyeon stood there, trying to catch his breath. He staggered, intending to yank out the spears so he could escape. But with blood pouring from his left arm and having just fought Silverna on top of that¡ª ¡°Grrrrrrrrr-!¡± Frothing at the mouth, Heukgyeon toppled to the ground, losing consciousness from excessive blood loss. ¡°Transcendents are all the same in the end.¡± Biting her lip, Silverna approached him with Anna supporting her. ¡°Anna, you heard it earlier.¡± ¡°¡­The black-haired dual swordsman?¡± Anna answered cautiously. Silverna allowed a faint smile. She hadn¡¯t smiled so earnestly in a long time since coming here. ¡°He¡¯s here.¡± A wave of emotion surged within her. ¡°He¡¯s come to save us.¡± Not long ago, the situation seemed bleak and hopeless, yet now it felt as though she could finally breathe. ¡°He¡¯ll definitely show up.¡± **** ¡°Whoa.¡± Isaac swung his arm back and forth. He couldn¡¯t hide his amazement at how his once-broken shoulder bone was back in place. ¡°Magic really is an intriguing skill.¡± The Grandmaster nodded in satisfaction at the healing provided by the Tower Mage accompanying their unit. But the mage, in contrast, scowled and retorted: ¡°A skill? It is truth, and wisdom. Do not insult our magic.¡± ¡°¡­Fine. If that¡¯s what you believe, then so be it.¡± ¡°Hah, this is exactly why I didn¡¯t want this dispatch in the first place.¡± With a huff, the mage stormed out of the tent. All those Tower folks seemed to be arrogant prodigies obsessed with magical supremacy, or so Isaac thought. ¡®Now that I think of it¡­ Vivian, what happened to her?¡¯ Vivian, a mage dispatched to the Malidan Barrier. She was quite eccentric, to the point of believing in ¡°talent supremacy,¡± but eventually they grew close enough to share drinks and conversation. ¡°Magic this, magic that¡­ Isn¡¯t it ridiculous? Does a mage¡¯s head never roll?¡± Grandmaster gave a bewildered shrug. Judging by how her tail stood ramrod straight against her back, she seemed rather displeased. ¡°Your injury this time stems in large part from my own failing, so I¡¯ll let it go. But if they say anything like that again, I may not be able to restrain myself.¡± ¡°She¡¯s one of the few mages we have. Please hold your temper.¡± ¡°So now you¡¯re taking her side? Yes, she may be one of the few mages, but I¡¯m your one and only master.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± When he fixed her with an incredulous stare, Grandmaster coughed awkwardly and turned away. Her tail slackened a bit, no longer quite so stiff. ¡°Forgive me. I got a bit carried away. It¡¯s just that I was taught long ago to kill mages first.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Long ago? Could that be related to her search for her fellow disciples? No sooner had the mage walked out than Rihanna entered the tent. Earlier, when healing magic was being used, the mage had demanded all but the patient¡¯s guardian leave. As a result, Rihanna had been forced to wait outside. ¡°You okay?¡± She also looked rather down. It seemed she blamed herself for failing to protect Isaac properly, even though she¡¯d been right there with him. ¡°I was so sure I¡¯d¡ª¡± ¡°Rihanna, I¡¯m no longer someone you need to protect.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°So don¡¯t wear that expression.¡± He meant it as reassurance, but Rihanna¡¯s face did not brighten. Being handsome didn¡¯t always guarantee that your words would land well. Feeling awkward, Isaac changed the subject. ¡°Did Sir Eisenwolf say anything about Heukgyeon? What¡¯s the unit¡¯s official take on it?¡± At his question, Rihanna quickly regained her composure and replied: ¡°There¡¯s a lot of talk about how it suddenly appeared from the sky. We checked with the other mages but learned nothing. It seems exactly like the rituals you mentioned.¡± ¡°Huh. Their rituals can twist even space, can it?¡± Grandmaster clicked her tongue. Inside the tent, a heavy gloom settled in. They had suffered a vicious ambush, yet there was no clear way to guard against it. That fact alone cast a long shadow. If there was a silver lining, it was that Heukgyeon himself seemed unaware he¡¯d end up dropping into this place. As the two women fell silent in thought, Isaac spoke up: ¡°Looking at it another way¡­ this might be the first real clue as to how the Malidan Barrier vanished.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± ¡°Mm, quite so. If space can be distorted like this, such a method is plausible.¡± Though the scale would be enormous, it was entirely possible they¡¯d pour that much effort and resources into obliterating the Malidan Barrier. ¡°That¡¯s remarkable, Isaac. Even when everyone else is so down¡­¡± Murmuring tenderly, Rihanna made Isaac feel embarrassed. He stood, clearing his throat. ¡°How¡¯s morale holding up?¡± ¡°Not good. Especially the nobles of the Pure flow association who were close by¡ªthey¡¯ve really lost heart. Some of them even¡ª¡± Rihanna hesitated momentarily, wondering if she should continue, then finally confessed: ¡°They¡¯ve proposed a retreat.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just ridiculous.¡± ¡°But Sir Eisenwolf is apparently taking it seriously. If the enemy can launch ambushes like this, then it¡¯s no longer feasible to reclaim the North with our current forces¡ªor so he believes.¡± ¡°Sir Eisenwolf¡­¡± He was long past the stage of chasing accomplishments for their own sake, and he was no coward. But having witnessed the power of a Primitive bloodline firsthand¡ªand considering there was only one this time¡­ If even one or two more appeared¡ª He must have judged that the leadership would be virtually wiped out. Heukgyeon¡¯s surprise attack had clearly dealt them a hard blow. Isaac wanted to go clear his head in the open air. ¡°I should check my newly healed shoulder and cool off a bit. How about a spar?¡± He also wanted to avenge yesterday¡¯s defeat. Hence his suggestion. But¡ª ¡°No way!¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind?!¡± Both women cried out at once, and the force of it made Isaac momentarily flinch. ¡°Magic or not, you don¡¯t recover just like that. You need at least two full days¡¯ rest.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what that mage fellow said? You were this close to being permanently crippled. Unless you feel like giving up the sword altogether?¡± ¡°¡­I can still wield a sword with just one arm, can¡¯t I? It¡¯s not like I lost a leg.¡± At his retort, Grandmaster clenched her fist as if she might give him a good knock on the head. ¡°You really do say the wildest things, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just frustrating. And¡ª¡± ¡°And what?¡± ¡°I want to talk with the Leivice siblings.¡± When the two siblings faced Heukgyeon, it might not have looked like much at first glance, but Isaac sensed something special about their swords. Though he¡¯d sparred with Marlin more than once, he¡¯d never picked up on it¡ªand for good reason. ¡®I knew it. Every time I sparred with Marlin, something felt off.¡¯ That was why he¡¯d prolonged it, convinced there was still more to learn. Seeing Isaac stand firm, Grandmaster let a sly smile cross her face. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a woman¡¯s duty, after all, to make her man happy?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Glancing quizzically between Isaac and Rihanna, Grandmaster grinned broadly and made a proposal: ¡°How about it, Helmut? Why don¡¯t you cross swords with me, for this fellow¡¯s sake?¡± Rihanna¡¯s eyes went wide. And without much hesitation, she nodded and slipped out of the tent. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 114: Silence Two women were standing face to face in an empty clearing. Rihanna Helmut and the Grandmaster. ¡°Now this is an unexpected development.¡± She might have been different in her previous life, but as Rihanna is now, it¡¯s clear she¡¯d have trouble facing the Grandmaster. And yet, on the other hand, Issac was curious what Rihanna in her current form might show against the Grandmaster. Sharen and Lohengrin came shuffling over to Issac¡¯s side. ¡°So Isaac is finally the grand prize? I¡¯m still too lacking to be in that ring... Plus, Silverna isn¡¯t here either.¡± Sharen mumbled while Lohengrin watched with keen interest. ¡°Damn it. If they¡¯re going to spar, they should¡¯ve called me too.¡± Lohengrin personally witnessed the Grandmaster¡¯s skill in Blackthorn. Now that she¡¯s about to fight Rihanna, he¡¯s both jealous and excited. Isaac felt something similar¡ªhe, too, was looking forward to it. ¡°Don¡¯t exert all your strength. We have another day tomorrow, and duties to fulfill.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± The Grandmaster¡¯s hand rested on her great saber. The red greatsword was at the ready, poised to deflect the impending strike. Claang! In a flash, the long-bladed saber was drawn, cracking across Rihanna¡¯s greatsword like a whip. Rihanna¡¯s body tilted back from the impact. Her expression showed clear surprise at the unexpected power. ¡°Keep your wits about you. I heard Helmut has sharp eyesight? You¡¯ll need to keep up with me.¡± With that, the two women¡¯s sword dance began. The spectacle of two beautiful warriors unleashing a torrent of sword strikes was mesmerizing enough to captivate everyone around. A crowd began to form. By the time everyone¡¯s attention was firmly riveted on the two women¡¯s swirling sword dance¡ª ¡°Hm.¡± Isaac hadn¡¯t noticed his presence, likely because of his own relaxed posture. Eisenwolf, standing with hands behind his back as he watched the spar, spoke to Isaac. ¡°You did a tremendous service today.¡± ¡°I only did what I had to do.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s skip the modesty. If that were true, then it¡¯d mean none of us did our part.¡± Since it was just a polite formality, Isaac merely nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Have you heard the current situation?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve heard talk about a possible retreat.¡± ¡°Hm, we were more ignorant and stubborn than I¡¯d thought.¡± Eisenwolf subtly turned his head, gazing at Isaac as he asked: ¡°I hear you¡¯ve been fighting those Transcendents since the time of the Great Den?¡± ¡°¡­Unintentionally, yes.¡± ¡°You even took out the one Sword Saint, at Blackthorn, and you dealt with the cursed Arandel¡ªall with your own hands.¡± A look of tangled emotions flickered in Eisenwolf¡¯s eyes. Today¡¯s ambush did more than just jolt the Pure Flow Association awake. It also left a stronger-than-expected impression on the old veteran. ¡°Hrm¡­¡± He let out a low rumble, as though there was more he wanted to say but didn¡¯t know how. Eventually, he gave Isaac a firm pat on the back. ¡°Peace may seem a given, but it¡¯s founded on the sacrifices of soldiers. I always remind my grandson of that¡ª¡± A self-deprecating smile crossed his face. ¡°And yet even I was accepting the peace you protected without question.¡± ¡°Sir Eisenwolf¡­¡± A surge of emotion welled up in Issac¡¯s chest. The fight against the Transcendents was born of a desire not to repeat the hopeless world he once witnessed. A world no one else remembers. A burden he thought only natural for him to shoulder alone. Never did he think it warranted any thanks. Of course, Eisenwolf knows nothing of his previous life. But even such a brief moment of gratitude filled Isaac with a sense of fulfillment and soft elation he¡¯d never felt before. ¡°And so, I¡¯d like to formally seek your counsel now. It seems inevitable we¡¯ll clash with the Transcendents again when we reclaim the North.¡± ¡°Counsel, sir¡ª?¡± ¡°There¡¯s talk of pulling the troops back. It may seem cowardly at first glance, but I find it quite rational. We never know when an enemy like that might suddenly appear in our main camp.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°I believe we shouldn¡¯t retreat.¡± Isaac plainly voiced his own view. Eisenwolf did not scold or appear surprised, simply listening attentively. ¡°Of course, the situation is difficult. If just a few like the one we fought today were to drop into the middle of the unit, it¡¯d be dangerous. If they appear behind our lines during battle, the damage could be irreparable.¡± However¡ª ¡°Conversely, we¡¯ve gained a clue. If they can distort space like that, then I believe it also explains how the Malidan Barrier vanished.¡± ¡°You think the Malidan Barrier was relocated somewhere?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± They absolutely cannot retreat here. They cannot go back. In his previous life, the Malidan Barrier held out for an entire month without any aid. And so, they fell. ¡®This time, I won¡¯t let that happen.¡¯ Isaac clenched his fist. ¡°Surely, the soldiers of the Malidan Barrier are still fighting somewhere out there.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Waiting for us.¡± He knew it was dangerous. If the main forces got caught up, it could be a mortal blow. Still¡ª ¡°We have to go save them.¡± Those who devote themselves without hesitation... He couldn¡¯t stand by and let them meet the same end this time. *** Malidan Citadel. A tavern filled with cold, biting air in the absence of sunlight. Many soldiers gathered at the tavern inside the citadel. Among them was a man whose closeness to the troops seemed unusual for one of his rank: Uldiran Caldias. In a crisis like this, titles and ranks were little more than empty formalities. Here at the Malidan Barrier, everyone was simply another warrior, another soldier. ¡°How¡¯s the food supply?¡± ¡°If we ration strictly, we can last about five days¡­ though that only means nobody will starve outright.¡± The quartermaster replied apologetically. ¡°And our weapons?¡± ¡°We can manage some basic maintenance. We¡¯ve set aside anything usable from our fallen comrades¡­ the gear of those who¡¯ve closed their eyes.¡± At Antonio the blacksmith¡¯s words, they all let out a bitter sigh. No matter how short they were on weapons, handling the belongings of comrades who fought so fiercely¡­ Normally, they would have refused vehemently, but the situation was dire enough to make it unavoidable. Following Antonio¡¯s report, the dispatched mage, Vivian, spoke up in the dim light. ¡°The magic cast on the Malidan Barrier will last, at most, two days. Since there¡¯s no mana here, it can¡¯t maintain itself much longer.¡± For now, they could endure thanks to the frigid air produced by the Barrier¡¯s climate-altering spell. But once two days passed, the enemy¡¯s assault would undoubtedly resume. When that time came¡­ Could they hold out? Could they stop them? Such doubts were spreading through everyone¡¯s mind when¡ª ¡°We must hold out to the end!¡± Silverna, the lady of Caldias, shouted, cutting into the discussion. ¡°Reinforcements have arrived! The kingdom has sent a relief force to find us. So¡­! All we have to do is endure!¡± Her words made everyone look puzzled, but then Uldiran spoke up in agreement. ¡°Exactly. The Primitive Transcendent we captured today mentioned Baron Logan.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Ah, Isaac?¡± ¡°Is that true?¡± The soldiers¡¯ eyes wavered. There wasn¡¯t a soul in Malidan who didn¡¯t know Isaac. Ever since the time of the great den, he¡¯d left quite an indelible impression. ¡°The kingdom has sent a force to save us. So don¡¯t lose hope! Soldiers of Malidan! We will not retreat, not even one step!¡± Cheers erupted inside the tavern. Everyone split a single swig of lukewarm beer to bolster their spirits. Meanwhile, Uldiran stepped outside. His destination was the underground prison holding the captives. They were saving every resource, so they didn¡¯t even bother lighting torches. Only ragged breathing echoed in the darkness. There, bound tightly by chains so he couldn¡¯t move an inch, was the Heukgyeon. Drooling, he glowered at the approaching Uldiran. ¡°A scion of the Primitive Bloodline¡­ you certainly have unusual fortitude. An ordinary human would¡¯ve died of these wounds already.¡± Uldiran replied calmly, prompting a scornful snort from the Heukgyeon. ¡°Uldiran of Caldias, do you really believe you can escape our wrath?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know why you¡¯re so angry. Shouting at me on and on won¡¯t enlighten me any.¡± Feigning a casual demeanor, Uldiran shot back glibly. The sound of rattling chains followed. The enraged Heukgyeon writhed, putting all his strength into a brief but furious struggle. ¡°Grrr! I¡¯ll tear your throat out.¡± ¡°I just want to confirm something.¡± Without any change in expression, Uldiran inquired with composure: ¡°On a recon mission nearby, I found traces of a village. Compared to the kingdom¡¯s building style and way of life, there were many differences.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°At first, I assumed we¡¯d been teleported into some independent space¡ª¡± But that wasn¡¯t it. This place wasn¡¯t some isolated dimension created just to cut off the Barrier. ¡°This is¡­ the land where your kind lives, isn¡¯t it?¡± A land without light, teeming with grotesque beasts¡­ A harsh wasteland where not even a single blade of grass could properly survive. ¡°Haha. How are you enjoying our homeland?¡± Speculations were swirling about the sudden appearance of these Transcendents. The first to reach the truth was none other than Uldiran Caldias. ¡°So that¡¯s what it is.¡± He had already been quite sure; he¡¯d only come for confirmation. The Heukgyeon knew that as well, and thus, finding no use in hiding it, decided to divulge the truth. ¡°We Transcendents¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t stop there. The Heukgyeon went on, voice tinged with a foul sense of mockery: ¡°We figured we could wipe out humankind with ease if only Arandel Helmut was out of the picture.¡± ¡°Hm? Well, that fellow is indeed remarkable¡ª¡± ¡°You? We never even had you in our sights.¡± Uldiran clamped his mouth shut. Amused by his reaction, the Heukgyeon¡¯s voice took on a faint sneer. ¡°Arandel¡¯s rival? The only man who can stand against him? Laughable. You know the truth as well as I do.¡± Compared to Arandel Helmut¡­ ¡°You¡¯re sorely lacking.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If Arandel were here, he would have marched right past the Malidan Barrier.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°He would¡¯ve completely destroyed us. After all, he once singlehandedly took down five of the Primitive Bloodline while in poor health.¡± Even in the midst of an illness that left him physically weak. A cunning chuckle echoed, as relentless as a hunting dog gnawing at a wound. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Guarding a tiny barrier in the North suits you just fine. You¡¯ll never be more than that.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± A moment of silence followed. Then a third voice broke the stillness in the darkness. ¡°Father! They¡¯re trying to break through the Barrier again! They¡¯re hauling in some bizarre structure from outside!¡± Silverna, rushing in with urgent news, called out. Uldiran nodded calmly and turned away. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± His footsteps echoed down the quiet corridor. ¡°So in the end, you have no reply.¡± Heukgyeon¡¯s mocking laughter seemed to trail Uldiran¡¯s every step. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 115: Helmut From atop the towering Malidan Barrier, how might the outside world look? Climbing up from the underground prison¡¯s staircase, Uldiran found himself wondering. And the moment he stepped outside, he realized Silverna had chosen the perfect words to describe this grotesque structure. It was a sculpture in the shape of a demonic beast. Its face was that of a lion, its body a giant serpent, and even horns protruded above its head. Its length alone must have been at least fifty meters. Perhaps some would say the sculptor had poured a great deal of effort into it¡ªit brimmed with a disturbing amount of lifelike detail. Winged transcendents carried the sculpture over the Barrier, tied to ropes. They knew there were no more arrows to shoot or spears to casually fling on this side, so they brazenly crossed over. ¡°¡­How vile.¡± Just from seeing it, Uldiran could easily guess what was about to happen. He was sick and tired of fighting transcendents, and their rituals always brought nightmarish results. This time was no different. The moment they crossed over the Barrier that exuded its own chilling aura, the transcendents simply let go. That massive demonic beast, frozen in stone, began regaining its color and exhaled. By the time it reached the ground, it had already reclaimed its original form, roaring inside the confines of the Malidan Barrier. ¡°Disgusting creatures.¡± If there was one thing he had learned about rituals, it was that there is always a price to pay. He wondered what the price had been for turning such a colossal beast into stone. Uldiran did not know, but whatever it was, he ground his teeth, sure that it paled in comparison to the blood of the comrades who would die in this battle. -Arandel¡¯s rival? The only man who could stand against him? -What nonsense. You know it yourself. -You¡¯re nowhere close. Even amid the thunderous roars of the colossal demonic beast that crashed into his ears, Uldiran still seemed to hear Heukgyeon¡¯s voice from moments before. If only Arandel were here¡ª. ¡°¡­If only you were here.¡± He would quietly take up his crimson greatsword and step forward. His descent would darken the skies, forcing everyone to fall back. He was a man even the transcendents acknowledged. People around him called him an equal match, but in truth, he himself always felt he was far behind Arandel. He knew. He was not oblivious. And yet¡ª sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Huh.¡± Uldiran let out a faint grin. The words from Heukgyeon felt somewhat childish. ¡°Silverna, you heard what that Primitive-blooded fellow said¡­didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Silverna¡¯s eyes widened, and she couldn¡¯t answer. The timing was too perfect. She didn¡¯t have to reply, because at that very moment, it arrived. Uldiran let out a self-mocking laugh, recalling how his daughter had looked out for him, and gripped his spear. ¡°He wasn¡¯t wrong.¡± ¡°Father, I¡ª¡± ¡°Denying it would only make me pathetic. It¡¯s clear that I can¡¯t match that friend¡¯s skill.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± Silverna couldn¡¯t say anything more. She, too, had fought Arandel personally. It wasn¡¯t an overwhelming gap, but to be realistic: If they fought ten times, Arandel would win nine. Yet who else could even claim one victory against Arandel? Among the kingdom¡¯s ranks, aside from Uldiran, there was no one. ¡°Still, I have never once felt like I was inferior to him.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Silverna, my daughter.¡± ¡°Yes, Father.¡± ¡°Survive.¡± Thud! The tip of his spear struck the ground. All around, the rampaging demonic beast was coming to its senses. Even so, every soldier turned their gaze toward the Guardian of the North. Thud! The earth reverberated heavily. It was merely the ripple from the tip of one man¡¯s spear against the ground. Thud! The vibrations grew deeper and heavier. As Uldiran stepped forward, other soldiers, inspired, began beating their own spears against the earth. And soon¡ª Every soldier looked only at Uldiran, clutching their spears. Standing foremost among them, Uldiran glared at the colossal beast with fierce, unyielding eyes. Behind the creature, more transcendents were transporting additional demonic beasts. Still, there was no retreat. Before he knew it, countless soldiers had gathered behind him, supporting him. Such was the man known as Uldiran Caldias. **** Five days after retaking the North. Their advance was swift, to say the least. Having changed strategies, Eisenwolf was marching north at top speed. And the incidents they had expected were happening all too frequently. ¡°Transcendents sighted on the right wing¡ª!¡± ¡°A request for support from Central Command! Three bat-like transcendents have landed!¡± As the unit advanced, more transcendents continued to appear, wearing everyone out. ¡°I shall head over to the command center.¡± ¡°I¡¯m counting on you.¡± The Grandmaster spurred her horse and rode swiftly toward the middle of the ranks. As for the right wing, Helmut was there, so it likely wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Once the Grandmaster departed, taking in the sight of the main force on the front line sweeping away demonic beasts¡ª ¡°Above! Above! The sky!¡± They were so alarmed they could only shout the bare minimum. Raising their head, they saw space distort. Then, a transcendent with horns and a tail¡ªwielding a hammer¡ªappeared. Boom! A massive figure. ¡°Where¡­is this?¡± The creature hesitated for a moment, but soon grasped the situation and swung its hammer in a wide arc, sending nearby soldiers and horses flying. ¡°Uwoooaaaar!¡± The fiend bellowed as if in a final frenzy. On our side, there was one man who certainly didn¡¯t lose out in terms of sheer presence. ¡°Behold! Rayahn Leivice of the Leviace Family shall be your opponent!¡± With those words, Rayahn Leviace unleashed a dazzling rainbow-colored aura, raising his sword in challenge. In that instant, Isaac realized how the Leivice siblings had once made their names renowned in a previous era. They were, like him, what one might call dual-wielding swordmasters. To be precise, Rayahn and Marlin. Combined, the two wielded a single unified swordsmanship. Marlin hid within Rayahn¡¯s display of light, then darted behind the target. Striking swiftly with her blade, she landed a hit on the transcendent¡¯s flank. ¡°Hmph!¡± But just as its tough, rigid hide suggested, the transcendent showed little concern for the wound. Having already fought transcendents a few times, Marlin resisted any urge to press further and withdrew, while Rayahn merely held its attention without advancing. At that exact moment, both of them stepping back, Isaac¡¯s blade flew forth, radiating a sharp and deadly aura. ¡°¡­!¡± A transcendent wouldn¡¯t be a transcendent if it weren¡¯t formidable. It angled its massive hammer to intercept the path of Isaac¡¯s blade. Slash! Isaac¡¯s katana-like sword slid past so smoothly it looked almost effortless. By the time the transcendent blinked and checked again, half of its hammer lay on the ground. A long slash streaked across its chest. Its vision flooded red as it staggered backward. In that moment, the rest of the unit charged in unison. Thud! Though it flailed about with tail and fists, trying to fight to the bitter end after losing its weapon, its head soon fell. There was no doubt it was only a matter of time. ¡°Hah¡­ Hah¡­ Dammit, that was close.¡± ¡°Ugh, my arm¡¯s swelling from that tail whip earlier¡ªI think it¡¯s broken.¡± ¡°Be more careful. The mages are raising hell because they¡¯re already short on mana for healing spells.¡± It had only been three days, yet whether it was the Pure flow association or other knights, they¡¯d all become rather accustomed to fighting transcendents. ¡®Should I be grateful for that or not¡­?¡¯ The casualties kept piling up, and the tide of battle turned at a dizzying pace, but they adapted. They had to adapt or die. ¡°Haha! This must be what they call a friendly rivalry¡ªa competitive bond!¡± ¡°Well fought.¡± Rayahn Leviace and Marlin Leviace approached. ¡°Don¡¯t go getting any strange ideas about a rivalry.¡± When Isaac frowned, Rayahn let out a hearty laugh. ¡°Hahaha! We are comrades in arms, are we not? I may have looked down on you before, but let¡¯s put that behind us!¡± ¡°¡­My apologies for my brother. He can be a bit self-centered.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡± He was almost so straightforward that one might call him simple-minded. Even as he spoke, Rayahn wouldn¡¯t let the matter drop, asking, ¡°We¡¯re nearing the Malidan Barrier, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Under normal circumstances, the towering Barrier would have long been visible, yet beyond the horizon there was only a snow-covered mountain range. ¡°¡­.¡± Walking along this paved road brought back memories of the day Isaac first arrived in the north. Silverna had once shouted down at him from the top of the rampart, mocking him¡ªsimply because he bore the name Helmut. Now it was almost amusing to recall. ¡®Silverna¡­¡¯ As he thought of her again, the Grandmaster returned from the command post. ¡°Well done. How are things on your side?¡± ¡°Five knights have died. Tsk. One of them was the one who shared his drink with me last time. A shame.¡± Surely, no one expected to get through this without a single casualty. ¡°The commander has issued orders to the left wing. We¡¯re close to the Malidan Barrier now, so they¡¯re to go ahead and assess the situation.¡± They had nearly closed the distance, and there was no apparent swarm of demonic beasts between them and the rampart. Rayahn Leviace, commanding the left wing, mounted his horse and led his forces forward. Only the harsh, hurried sound of hoofbeats reverberated in the air. ¡®Please, let there be some clue waiting for us there¡­¡¯ All Isaac wanted was to discover something that could help reclaim the Malidan Barrier. If there was nothing there either, they would be more desperate than ever. Isaac prayed intensely for good fortune as they reached the vicinity of the Malidan Barrier. The first thing to greet them was the scent of roses. It was the same fragrance Silverna had once called a ¡®foul honey smell, a fragile floral scent¡¯. A scent impossible to encounter anywhere else in the north blanketed the area. Some parts of the Malidan Barrier remained, but most of it was gone¡ª As if something had taken a massive bite out of it, the structure was unnaturally sheared away. One could tell from the clean cut it hadn¡¯t been destroyed by ordinary means. Then, at the center¡ª A man sat, waiting for them. Isaac felt a strange overlap with a scene he had once witnessed. Roses strewn across the ground, surrounding skeletal remains of buildings, and a red-haired man. It resembled the final moments of Arandel Helmut. In that surreal sight, the man wore a faintly gray smile. He was not Helmut. That much was certain. For Isaac had never seen a man like him in House Helmut¡¯s estate. And yet¡ª No one could have seemed more fitting to bear the name Helmut. Holding something in his hand that might have been a sword, or perhaps a staff, he greeted them with a languid composure. ¡°So, you¡¯ve arrived.¡± ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 116: Fate The place where the Malidan Barrier once stood. Though that towering barrier has vanished without a trace, the evidence of the people who once lived here still remains. Only the signs of collapse and decay¡ªcarried by the frigid northern wind and the encroachment of monsters¡ªtestify that the warriors of the North once made their stand here. Roses blooming upon the footprints of their lives. Roses that could never naturally blossom in the North now entwine the ground. Rather than calling it beautiful, the first thought that comes to mind is how tainted it appears. ¡°What do you think?¡± At the center of it all. The man asks in a lighthearted tone, as though showing off a beautifully decorated room. Yet his crimson eyes and faint smile instinctively stir up unease in anyone who looks at him. They don¡¯t want to approach him. They don¡¯t want to speak to him. Even though they came here, sword in hand, his mere presence provokes weak-kneed hesitation. ¡°Hmm, no answer? How disappointing.¡± Despite saying so, the man chuckles and rises from his seat. At a moment when no one else can step forward, only the Grandmaster dismounts from her horse. ¡°You¡ªare you of the Transcendent?¡± ¡°And you¡¯re¡­ a half-breed?¡± A quick glance at the large saber. Noting the black tail and ears, the man¡¯s lips curl into a wide grin. ¡°Aha, so you¡¯re Number 10.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± The Grandmaster gives a sudden start. It was not out of fear or terror. She had just barely stopped herself from dashing forward, sword swinging, out of sheer reflex. ¡°I heard one trainee managed to escape, and you match the description exactly. Well? Are you enjoying your little trip outside?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call it a ¡®trip.¡¯¡± ¡°Then what would you have me call it? A prodigal child always returns in the end. Your journey may seem free, but in truth, it isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I severed ties with all of you long ago.¡± ¡°If you¡¯d truly broken free, you wouldn¡¯t need to struggle so hard to prove it. If you were truly free, you wouldn¡¯t be standing here before me now.¡± The Grandmaster¡¯s shoulders tremble slightly. All at once, she can no longer hold herself back and places her hand on her great saber. Grand Sword-Drawing*. Her tail bristles upward, and her dark pupils lock onto the point beyond the roses. The instant her great saber leaves its scabbard, it has already reached its target. Claaaaang! It was a flash too quick for the eye to follow. Rose petals swirl like a violent gust, and swirling snow rises high as a pillar. Amidst it all, no blood was spilled. When the blizzard subsides, the scene that unfolds is nothing short of terrifying. A crimson something flows over the man¡¯s entire body. Though it resembles the aura of demonic energy, it is different from what Isaac or the Sword Saint handle. If Helmut¡¯s aura is called red steel, Then what this man wields would be the Transcendent race¡¯s version of red steel. That¡¯s the most fitting way to describe it. His crimson aura enshrouds a massive sword-shaped weapon. ¡°You bastard¡­¡± The Grandmaster bites down on her lip. In an effort to calm her, Isaac hurriedly steps forward. ¡°Grandmaster.¡± ¡°Isaac, stand back.¡± ¡°Please, calm down. You¡¯re not fighting alone.¡± Ironically, no one here is unaware of just how dangerous he is; everyone understands the might of Helmut. ¡°Isaac¡­?¡± The man, on the other hand, grows intrigued upon hearing Isaac¡¯s name. ¡°Aha, so it¡¯s you, then¡ªthe one who killed my child. Quite a pity. If only that child¡¯s subjugation had progressed further, everything would have gone smoothly.¡± ¡°¡­Your child?¡± Isaac, who was about to say something, finds himself repeating the man¡¯s words in confusion. The ¡°my child¡± he refers to must be¡ª ¡°Arandel Helmut. You know him, don¡¯t you?¡± The man shrugs, as if wondering whether there¡¯s any need to spell it out. ¡°So if that¡¯s what you¡¯re saying now¡ª¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What is there to ask? Did you truly think Helmut was a pure-blooded human line? Did you genuinely believe that?¡± With a scornful laugh, he leans all the more convincing. After all, the astounding prowess of Helmut doesn¡¯t seem the least bit strange if he wasn¡¯t fully human. No one, including Isaac, can refute his words. ¡°Well, old history is dull anyway, so let¡¯s skip the details.¡± Wearing a sly grin, the man draws in his crimson aura. The cross-shaped weapon slung over his shoulder is essentially a staff¡ªthe sort one might expect a pope to carry. ¡°You must want to find the Malidan Barrier. You came all the way here to bring back the people who once resided there, didn¡¯t you?¡± In the hush that follows, he smiles as though performing a monologue all by himself. ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Rituals demand a price. We paid that price to remove the Malidan Barrier. There¡¯s no way to bring it back now, is there?¡± Impossible? ¡°So it¡¯s all in vain. I merely wanted to inform you. I desire, personally, to become your despair.¡± Smiling broadly, he places a hand over his heart and bows. They wanted to believe he was lying. Some even cried from behind that they didn¡¯t believe it. Yet¡ª ¡®That¡¯s the nature of rituals.¡¯ Isaac already knows he isn¡¯t lying. The same goes for the subjugation chain¡ªthe chain of absolute obedience that can never be broken. ¡®They moved that massive Malidan Barrier. Is it really possible to just return it to the way it was?¡¯ At least among the forms of magic he knows, it doesn¡¯t work that way. Rituals demand a sacrifice, then exacts a price in return. Amid the icy northern winds, Silverna¡¯s voice still resonates in his ears. [If I had met you sooner, surely my family wouldn¡¯t have been wiped out so meaninglessly.] Those words, that¡¯s why he came here. [Silverna.] [The original name I discarded for my family¡¯s sake.] [Silverna Caldias.] [That¡¯s my real name, Isaac.] To protect her name. He resolved the Grand Den early on, gave enlightenment, and created the circumstances to dispatch reinforcements. Yet this time, he even lost Silverna. Is that what this means? ¡®If it was going to end up like this¡­¡¯ What is the meaning of returning to the past if, even after achieving revenge, he loses those who are precious to him one by one? It seems as though things are getting resolved, but the true obstacle standing before him is an insurmountable wall. And that wall is growing thicker by the moment. ¡°Ah, time¡¯s up, is it?¡± Around the man, the space distorts strangely. A groan comes from behind. No one here is ignorant of what this phenomenon signifies. A flood of the Transcendents descends. At a glance, there must be more than thirty of them. ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°T-This is insane¡ª¡± ¡°T-Transcendents in such numbers¡­?¡± Among the group, confusion rises. They¡¯re already terrified of the man standing before them, and now there are hordes of the Transcendents appearing as well. Each of them bristles with hostile intent, as though they might rush in at any moment and ravage the entire left flank. ¡°Hmm, the numbers are a bit disappointing. Is that all?¡± The man himself only smacks his lips, sounding regretful. Despair piled upon despair. They had come here to save the Malidan Barrier, only to discover it was actually a trap laid by the Transcendents to devour them¡ª ¡°Draw your swords.¡± The voice of the Grandmaster pierces through, sharp like a blade itself, slicing apart the cloying terror with elegant precision. She steps forward and glances briefly at Isaac. ¡°Do you believe in fate?¡± ¡°¡­Grandmaster?¡± ¡°I do not.¡± Isaac also feels the same whenever talk of fate arises¡ª Skeptical. ¡°Hence, I do not see your return to the past as fate.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Whoever was involved in your return surely believed you would overcome everything.¡± That must be why they sent you. ¡°It¡¯s not that you mustn¡¯t break. It¡¯s that you cannot be allowed to break.¡± Slowly stepping forward, she grips the scabbard tightly and declares calmly: ¡°Isaac Logan. Accept my teaching.¡± ¡°Master¡­?¡± The Grandmaster¡¯s tail settles at ease. Her eyes swirl with a frost-like moonlight¡ª Icy, razor-edged eyes. ¡°I entrust everything to you.¡± Suddenly, fear strikes Isaac. He has seen this look of the Grandmaster once before¡ª In his previous life, it was her final moment. ¡°Grandmaster, wait!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t interrupt. Time is short.¡± With a subtle smile, she confesses her true feelings. ¡°Do you know why I have always held you in such high regard?¡± ¡°W-What do you mean¡­?¡± ¡°In your past life or in this one, I¡¯ve cherished you because I believe you will reach my dream.¡± Her dream? In his previous life, the Grandmaster never spoke of her past. In this life as well, she has only ever mentioned her fellow disciples, nothing more. She has never once revealed her own true goal. Even though she remained largely uninvolved in the war, she still took on disciples. ¡°I wanted to see humanity rise magnificently above them.¡± A dream impossible for someone of mixed blood. Yet the Grandmaster utters it anyway and, without waiting for Isaac to respond, leaps forward. ¡°Since I have no true name and am called ¡®Master,¡¯¡± She brandishes her large saber. ¡°I am content to disappear nameless into oblivion¡ª!¡± Her strike aimed at the cluster of the Transcendents cuts through the air with bold momentum, seemingly intent on cleaving them in two. Grand Sword-Drawing*. But another massive saber intercepts the Grandmaster¡¯s attack. Its arc and swordplay are eerily familiar. Two identical blades clash in perfect sync¡ª CAAAAAANG! ¡°Number Ten, you¡¯re still trying to look so gallant, I see.¡± The woman who stands against her wears a wide-brimmed bamboo hat. Because of the downward tilt of her head, her face is unclear, but¡ª From her voice alone, the Grandmaster recognizes exactly who she is. ¡°¡­Number Two?¡± After exchanging blows with similar techniques, their blades separate. She had been ready to embrace death, hoping that her disciple would become the splendid swordsman who could fulfill her dream. ¡°Time truly is a sweet thing, isn¡¯t it?¡± Yet perhaps because she does not believe in fate¡ª ¡°Even meeting an old friend under these circumstances feels almost joyous.¡± Fate has forced its cruelty upon her once again. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: Grand Sword-Drawing: Sword-Drawing here was actually ¡®Iai¡¯, which refers to the art of drawing a sword and cutting in a single, fluid motion. Btw, this is becoming an epic day by day. Whaaaaa!! Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 117: Helmut of the Primitive Whether she meant to or not, the Grandmaster stepped forward and drew every Transcendent¡¯s gaze. The sword wielded by the woman called Number?Two was so similar to the Grandmaster¡¯s that their duel fluttered like a butterfly¡¯s wings. Claang! Claaang! ¡°Truly! Is kneeling beneath them¡ªis that what you wanted all along?¡± The Grandmaster¡¯s shout earned only the woman¡¯s light, mocking smile, as if the answer itself were pointless. ¡°That dream we whispered under the moon¡ªwas it mine alone?¡± Of the two, it was the Grandmaster whose sword dance trembled. Isaac felt his mind turn to stone. Still stunned by the loss of Silverna, he now watched even the Grandmaster teeter on the brink of departure. ¡®I can¡¯t just stand here.¡¯ This time had to be different. He found himself on his knees, strength drained away¡ª ¡ªthen lurched to his feet, fist clenching, taking a single, desperate step forward. When he swung his saber he did the very opposite of the Grandmaster¡¯s constant advice not to over?strain. White?knuckled, blade ready to snap, Isaac charged straight for the Grandmaster¡ª ¡°What are you doing!¡± ¡°Baron?Logan!¡± Hands seized him from both sides. Isaac whipped around. There stood the Leivice siblings. Meeting his eyes, they flinched; a frigid killing intent burned in Isaac¡¯s gaze. Yet he could not retreat. ¡°If we run, we all die! We have to buy time till the right flank arrives!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t hold them alone. To keep losses down, we need you.¡± Behind them came the clatter of riderless horses and the screams of knights and nobles clinging to saddles. Bitter fighting had taught them the Transcendents¡¯ ways¡ªand taught them, too, how hopeless these odds were. Those who chose to stand and fight dismounted, long spears tucked beneath their arms, trying to form what ranks they could. ¡°We need you.¡± Marlin Leivice clasped her hand as though pleading. It was always like this¡ªIsaac¡¯s heart moved first, logic later. He only wanted to charge ahead. But reality raised its wall, and reason¡¯s chill cooled his blood¡ª When his leg had failed him, and even now. ¡®In the end, I can never quite reach you, can I¡­?¡¯ Staying with the Grandmaster would be rash; buying time with the troops was wiser. Most of the remaining knights, nobles, and soldiers were young. Perhaps that was why they stayed¡ªthirsting for glory, or craving a single heroic line in history. The Pure Flow Association had always been full of such men: arrogant, hot?blooded, spitting boasts as if they longed for the day they would fight and die. To them, heroic sacrifice was reward enough. ¡°So you¡¯re not all empty talk after all.¡± Isaac¡¯s voice was as cold as the northern wind. They gave no answer, but their faces told the tale. ¡°If we live through this, we¡¯ll rule the next age.¡± ¡°History will carve our names into the war against the Transcendents.¡± ¡°Young men, chase honor¡ªglory will follow!¡± Their cries were not childish bravado; terror lurked beneath every shout, words wrapped around trembling legs to keep them from fleeing. ¡°On paper, we outnumber them.¡± Isaac turned again toward the Transcendents and the Grandmaster. Their dazzling sword dance blazed on, unreachable even by the northern chill. Fixing that sight in his eyes, Isaac continued: ¡°But once the Transcendents hit a certain number, the count of humans no longer matters.¡± When they fought together, their strength multiplied, not added. Overwhelming bodies covered one another so perfectly that no gap could form. ¡°Many will die.¡± His truth was laid out, flat and calm. ¡°Even if we block them, brute strength wins out. Properly, you don¡¯t block their blows¡ªyou dodge, or redirect.¡± ¡°W?wait, Baron?Logan¡ªare you saying we should scatter?¡± ¡°That¡¯s suicide! They¡¯ll cut us down one by one!¡± ¡°No¡ªwe pack tight.¡± Bewilderment flickered in their eyes. If they bunched up, they couldn¡¯t dodge and would take every strike head?on¡ªdidn¡¯t that contradict what he¡¯d just said? In his past life, Isaac had fought Transcendents in every way imaginable. When numbers on each side were roughly equal¡ªas they were now¡ªthe rules changed. Roughly thirty foes. ¡°No matter how many they kill, don¡¯t let them take more than ten of us.¡± ¡°B?Baron?Logan!?¡± Put bluntly, it meant spending the lives of the comrades beside you to kill a single Transcendent. ¡°Stay sharp¡ªthis is what war with those monsters looks like.¡± To think they could fight the Transcendents without accepting losses in the first place¡ªthat¡¯s arrogance. The nobles¡¯ eyes turned to Rayahn Leivice. They listened because Isaac knew the Transcendents better than anyone, but what he proposed was unacceptable: sacrificing comrades¡ªor oneself¡ªto kill the enemy. As commander of the left wing, Rayahn felt every gaze urging him to choose another path. He asked, voice steady: ¡°Baron Logan, is that truly the best we can do?¡± ¡°It is. With these numbers against that many Transcendents, it¡¯s the only way.¡± Their left wing was never large, and plenty had already fled. ¡°You¡¯ll have to kill knowing you might die.¡± They thought they understood the Transcendents¡¯ might¡ªthought their skirmishes had taught them¡ªbut once the enemy moved in earnest, the battle demanded a brutality they had never imagined. ¡°¡­Baron Logan, since it¡¯s your plan¡ª¡± Isaac said nothing more. He simply took position¡ªfront and center, the place most likely to die. ¡°We don¡¯t have long.¡± Even the Grandmaster couldn¡¯t spare them time to steel their nerves. Her whirlwind duel was losing Transcendent attention; hungry eyes now fixed on the soldiers instead. At first, the Transcendents had looked ready to help their comrade¡ªNumber Two¡ªagainst the Grandmaster, but slowly they slipped away. Against such foes, a few overwhelming warriors were worth more than a mob. As the Transcendents advanced, someone stepped to Isaac¡¯s side. ¡°I dreamed of a heroic death, but I didn¡¯t expect it to come so soon.¡± Rayahn Leivice¡ªand behind him, Marlin Leivice. Their twin?blade style was lethal: one dazzled the eye, the other struck unseen. Light and shadow moving as though the siblings shared a single sword. ¡°Reinforcements will come, yes?¡± ¡°Some ran. They¡¯ll play messengers whether they mean to or not.¡± At Isaac¡¯s calm words, Rayahn asked with a rueful smile: ¡°You really seem untroubled.¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know.¡± Isaac had fought Transcendents before, but never this many in a fight to the death. Truthfully, it wasn¡¯t calm¡ªit was a quickening thrill. ¡°I think¡­I¡¯ve been waiting for this moment.¡± All those days watching the war from afar, friends dying while his useless leg left him idle¡ª Now he stood in the vanguard. He still hadn¡¯t reached the Grandmaster, yet standing here felt like triumph, raw and electric. ¡°Tch. I can almost see why Blood Rose fell for you.¡± ¡°¡­Probably for a different reason.¡± ¡°They¡¯re coming.¡± Marlin¡¯s warning barely left her lips before the Transcendents were upon them. Isaac angled the first spear aside; Rayahn rolled straight back, hurled clear. Marlin had already guessed her brother would be flung away and slipped in behind Isaac. ¡°Ha-ha! Is that all?¡± Emerging from Isaac¡¯s shadow, Marlin¡¯s blade flashed up to skewer a Transcendent¡¯s jaw¡ª ¡ªbut another ripped the target back at the last instant. ¡°Tch.¡± ¡°¡­So close.¡± Isaac clicked his tongue; Marlin cursed herself. That was the problem: together the Transcendents multiplied their power. Numbers had an upper limit, but this¡ª This was perfect for them. Isaac had said don¡¯t let one of them kill more than ten of us¡­ But that¡¯s going to be hard. Pummeling a lone Transcendent that had dropped from the sky taught them about the enemy¡ªbut it hadn¡¯t been a real battle. Blue killing intent coiled around Isaac. Against Transcendents, one exceptional fighter was worth more than a crowd. Determined to hold the front, he swung¡ª ¡ªand saw, far off, a surge of crimson energy. It tore across the ground and smashed into the Grandmaster. Her body lifted, blood at her lips, clothes stained. She twisted her tail for balance and landed on one knee, glaring at the Transcendent¡¯s Helmut, who had barged into her duel. A single, savage strike¡ªferocious and raw. ¡°¡­!¡± Isaac¡¯s mouth fell open. It resembled the red aura Arandel had shown him, yet rougher¡ªpure, Primitive Helmut. ¡°That kind of¡ª?¡± The words slipped out¡ª ¡°Baron Logan!¡± Marlin¡¯s rarely seen scream rang out. By the time Isaac¡¯s head snapped back, it was too late. Mesmerized by the impossible sight, he¡¯d left an opening. A Transcendent¡¯s spear was already at his chest¡ª Kudududuk! A vortex burst open before him, ignoring space and matter alike. Its overwhelming pull sucked the Transcendent in an instant. ¡°Of all times¡ª!¡± Even the foe¡¯s dying curse vanished. The same phenomenon that had devoured the Heukgyeon last time unfolded right before Isaac¡¯s eyes. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 118: Failing Grade ¡°¡­¡­?!¡± It was a sight that made Isaac¡¯s eyes fly open. Though his life had almost been snuffed out in an instant, embarrassment loomed larger than the relief of still breathing. The fact that a Transcendent had vanished was every bit as sudden¡ªand thick with implications. ¡°What in the world just¡ª¡± The moment Marlin voiced her doubt, the other Transcendents lunged in, giving them no time to think¡ªalmost as if they meant to stop them from analyzing what had happened. Screams, groans, and tears burst forth beneath the unbroken assault. Ironically, the battle line soon settled into a single, brutal rhythm. If they swung first, they would only show an opening and get stabbed for it. So instead they braced themselves, enduring or slowing the Transcendent¡¯s strike in a purely defensive stance. Whenever a Transcendent attacked someone, everyone else pounced on the gap it left. On paper it sounds like an ordinary, defense?oriented tactic¡ªwaiting for an opening¡ªbut what met Isaac¡¯s eyes was something entirely different. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°Shi?ii?ii?it!¡± It was waiting¡ªwaiting for a comrade to die. They sacrificed a comrade¡¯s life to wound a Transcendent. One by one, they fought as though offering their friends to an evil god. Such was the war between Transcendents and humankind. There was no victory without blood, and even after victory came only tears and regret¡ªnot cheers. For that reason the Transcendents were nightmare and terror incarnate to humans. ¡°Grrr¡­¡± ¡°All that useless thrashing.¡± There was, however, one thing¡ªboth strength and weakness: they possessed intelligence equal to or greater than humans. The instant they grasped how they fought, hesitation crept in. Even a Transcendent cannot help but feel fear or revulsion at a style that trades life for life. They had gathered naturally into a knot: humans bunched together, forever ready to thrust swords and spears over a comrade¡¯s corpse, while the Transcendents drew back, unsure how to counter. Another foul wind blew. Space twisted¡ªand yet another Transcendent disappeared. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Panting, Isaac kept turning over in his mind the phenomenon he¡¯d just witnessed, but lack of air cut his thoughts short. ¡°Damn it! Don¡¯t you fall back!¡± ¡°Stand here and we¡¯re finished!¡± Moments ago they were the frantic ones. But after watching their fellows vanish one by one, the Transcendents now rushed them in desperation. ¡°Hold the line! Even if I don¡¯t kill it, my comrade will!¡± At Leivice¡¯s roar, everyone answered with a shout, raising swords and spears like a porcupine¡¯s quills. A person falls¡ªthen a Transcendent falls. While that rhythm continued, at last the thunder of hooves rolled across the field. ¡°They¡¯re here! Reinforcements!¡± ¡°The red banner¡ªit¡¯s Helmut! Helmut has come!¡± Only on the battlefield can one feel the true weight and meaning of the name ¡°Helmut.¡± In that moment, Isaac understood why, in his past life, soldiers praised and revered Helmut as something sacred. ¡®Finally¡­¡¯ With Marlin propping him up, Isaac let out a ragged breath. Leivice lay half?buried among corpses, still twitching¡ªso at least he wasn¡¯t dead. ¡°She has arrived,¡± Marlin whispered¡ªher own way of urging him to hold on. Isaac wiped away thick drops of blood and steadied his breathing. ¡°Dammit¡­¡± Growl! ¡°We should fall ba¡ª¡± The name Helmut shook not only allies but enemies as well. Isaac watched the Transcendents backpedal when they saw the crimson great?sword surging forward like a wave. ¡°Arandel is already dead! All that¡¯s left is that hollow shell you call Helmut¡ª!¡± The goat?horned Transcendent¡¯s final words never found breath¡ª A crimson greatsword streaked in like a mage¡¯s bullet and lopped its head clean in two. Blood?Rose. Remembering the meaning of that name, one could hardly call it a pleasant epithet: A rose steeped in blood¡ª Beautiful, yes, but all the more cruel, bristling with thorns. Rihanna Helmut stood motionless, fist around the greatsword¡¯s hilt. Her scarlet eyes swept the battered left flank; the instant they found Isaac still upright in the front rank, she released a breath so faint no one noticed. Haa¡ª Silently she raised Ragnabel and strode toward the Transcendents. ¡°Damn it¡ª! Rihanna! Quit charging off alone! My blade is every bit as¡ª!¡± Lohengrin spurred his horse in pursuit, then vaulted from the saddle; the mount toppled and rolled, but the madman¡ªmadman¡ªlanded, falling in behind Rihanna. That set the right?flank troops surging after them: Helmut knights in full mail. Among them, Isaac spotted Sharen and even Jonathan, who¡¯d joined the fray despite his wounds. Helmut¡¯s arrival swung the battle hard in their favor. Those who moments ago had stood atop their comrades¡¯ corpses now wept and laughed at once. ¡°We¡­ we lived.¡± ¡°Oh¡ªGoddess¡­!¡± ¡°Helmut! Ah, Helmut!¡± ¡°Kkhf¡­ Daren! My friend Daren!¡± Death spared neither high nor low; common soldiers, knights, even nobles of the Pure Flow Association closed their eyes alike. ¡°Brother¡­¡± At Isaac¡¯s shove, Marlin hurried off. Shoving two bodies aside, she uncovered Leivice, breathing by a thread. ¡°Th?thought I¡¯d be trampled dead,¡± Rayahn rasped, then bumped his fist to Isaac¡¯s. ¡°Those who live¡ªare the strong.¡± Isaac offered no reply, only watched Rihanna meet the Transcendents. Her red?lit greatsword carved a flawless arc. Perhaps fury over her meager showing against the Heukgyeon still burned; she radiated an overwhelming force that harkened back to Arandel Helmut himself. Claang! The blade split nothing but air¡ªthe Transcendents were being sucked, one by one, into swirling pockets of space. Few bodies fell, yet the fight itself was ebbing out. ¡°They wield the strangest magic¡­ or did they call it rituals?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ off. Something¡¯s off.¡± Rayahn spat a double string of curses. ¡°Those crazy bastards¡ª¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Space warped again; new Transcendents burst out in every direction. A grotesque spectacle: appearing from nowhere, vanishing just as fast¡ª And, stranger still, they clearly couldn¡¯t control it. They blinked in confused, fought confused, blinked out confused. Sometimes it helped them, sometimes it doomed them. ¡®Something here just doesn¡¯t line up¡­¡¯ The hints were starting to click when¡ª Claaang! A thunderous blast ripped the air. Isaac bolted, questions shackling his mind but time offering none. ¡°Master¡ª!¡± Blood?shot eyes, full sprint. ¡°Isaac?!¡± ¡°You wretch¡ªwhere are you running?!¡± ¡°I?Isaac¡ª!¡± The Helmut siblings shouted after Isaac as he tore past, but he was already running full?tilt, legs screaming with every stride. ¡®Please¡ªplease!¡¯ The Grandmaster had single?handedly faced the very source of the Helmut line and its disciples. That alone could be called the greatest deed of this battle¡ªbut only if she still lived. ¡°Master¡ª!¡± Life is what gives those deeds meaning¡ªhow bitterly ironic, Isaac thought, urging soldiers toward death yet praying his own teacher would survive. To him, the Grandmaster was irreplaceable. And now she lay on the ground: clothes ragged, blood pouring out in dark sheets. Her limp body held not a shred of strength; her eyes were gently closed¡ª And a massive saber was buried deep in her chest. ¡°M?Master¡­¡± The Primitive Helmut standing nearby grinned when he spotted Isaac. ¡°So you¡¯ve come? Ah, what could we do? Traitors merit only death. Believe me, we wished to show mercy of some sort.¡± Number Two narrowed her eyes at the twin sabers in Isaac¡¯s hands, as if measuring something. But Isaac had no room to care. ¡°M?Master¡­¡± His voice trembled like a child¡¯s sob. Going closer terrified him¡ªyet not going closer was impossible. Staggering, he knelt beside her. Only a breath¡ªthin as a spider¡¯s thread¡ªanswered him. ¡®Not yet.¡¯ She was still alive. ¡°Yes, indeed. Still alive,¡± the man said, reading Isaac¡¯s thoughts, shrugging with a crooked smile. ¡°I¡¯ve never fished myself, but they say you bait a hook with living worms, yes? Ah¡­ once we conquer this land, fishing is the very first hobby I shall try. Picturesque, isn¡¯t it?¡± Isaac glared, tightening his grip on the blades. With leisurely scorn, the man jabbed the staff slung over his shoulder into the earth¡ª Claang! A whirlwind of blazing red aura poured forth, shaping itself into a gigantic greatsword. Even compared to Arandel Helmut, the amount of power was overwhelming¡ªvast enough to blot out the sky. ¡°Do you call a worm on a hook alive? Its fate is the same as the fish that swallows it.¡± A taunt: whether Grandmaster or Isaac, the end would be no different. Isaac drew a slow breath and faced him. ¡°There were¡­ so many questions.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s a last testament, I¡¯m afraid I¡ª¡± ¡°Too proud to admit you were copying, are you?¡± Slowly¡ªvery slowly¡ªthe man¡¯s smile slid away. Scarlet eyes flooded with hostility fixed on Isaac; the mask of composure cracked. ¡°¡®Primitive Helmut,¡¯ huh? Dressed it up in fine words. You figured with Arandel gone no one would notice.¡± Perhaps he was right. Even Rihanna might not have realized¡ª Because his appearance does fit the name: the child surpassing the parent, the disciple overthrowing the master¡ªroles reversed. The way one accepts that reversal differs. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Grandmaster would have beamed at a disciple who surpassed her, would have praised and embraced them. But he¡ªhe was different. ¡°You must have seen it in Arandel and understood,¡± Isaac said. The progenitor of Helmut¡ªit was undeniably true that the man stood at the fountainhead of the line. Yet¡ª ¡°You knew you could never defeat him.¡± The moment he realized raw power alone could not outstrip Arandel, the ¡°parent¡± began to envy, deny, and ultimately imitate the child. So he delayed invasion again and again¡ªuntil Arandel disappeared. ¡°You thought no one would ever find out.¡± But here stands the man who has admired Helmut more than anyone, who has studied them inside and out. Beyond even Arandel, there is the one called the Shadow?Blade. ¡°All that mixing and matching in your so?called imitation¡ªwhat a mess.¡± The man¡¯s face twisted, frozen in fury. Toward him, Isaac delivered the verdict, cold and razor?sharp: ¡°From the way you hold your sword, you¡¯ve failed. Second?rate.¡± It was a failing grade¡ª. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 119: Master of Rituals ¡°Ha, haha ¡­ ¡± A dry laugh slipped out. Without a trace of emotion, the act of laughing simply repeated¡ªuntil, ¡°I¡¯m growing tired.¡± After that curt snip of words, every hint of color drained from the man¡¯s face, leaving only a blank mask. ¡°An imitator?¡± He mouthed the word again, then let out a hollow chuckle. ¡°I¡¯ve lived a very long time, yet I never imagined I¡¯d hear that.¡± Turning toward the Grandmaster¡¯s fellow disciple, the man asked, ¡°What are you doing¡ªletting him live?¡± **** ClAAAANG! Isaac¡¯s body was hurled into the air. The greatsword crashed against the twin sabers in his hands. Even though he was ready and managed to react, sheer force overpowered him. ¡°¡­!¡± The woman known as No. 2 slid her sword back into its sheath with lazy indifference. The blow left Isaac¡¯s arms numb, yet to her it seemed no more than a token warning. ¡°Tch!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it laughable?¡± The man strolled toward the staggering Isaac. ¡°You can¡¯t even ward off a single strike, yet you stand before me yammering about imitations.¡± ¡°Gagging me won¡¯t change the truth.¡± ¡°¡­Your tongue, at least, is first?rate.¡± No. 2 brushed past the man and lunged at Isaac again; the greatsword that had just been sheathed roared back to life. A flash?draw, swift as a bullet. Isaac summoned every ounce of energy, determined to parry this time. The whole world washed blue. Somewhere, people screamed¡ª The sound came from the sabers in his own hands. Amid those screams of the dead, Isaac¡¯s blades caught the flash?draw. ¡ª Claaaang! ¡ª Bang! Steel struck steel, yet human wails filled the air¡ªa grotesque phenomenon. No. 2 couldn¡¯t hide her confusion; beneath the brim of her bamboo hat, her eyes trembled. Still locked at the cross?guard, Isaac raised one saber high and jammed it toward the spine of the greatsword. With No. 2¡¯s weapon caught in the middle, his two sabers clamped down like jaws. Using the white snow¡¯s hardness of the blade, he tried to snap the greatsword as one would break bone¡ª ¡°¡­!¡± Startled, No. 2 poured fresh strength into her swing. -Vwoooong! This slash was not to cut but to shove¡ªdull?edged yet brutally heavy. ¡°Cheap tricks ¡­¡± She muttered, wearing an ambiguous expression; her gaze on Isaac swirled with tangled emotions, as though she wanted to ask something but kept chewing on the words. Yet, wilting under the man¡¯s stare, she stifled the question and charged Isaac once more. ¡®Just like the Grandmaster.¡¯ The resemblance was uncanny¡ª And precisely because of that, Isaac could endure. His body felt ready to break, his hands were numb, but he could survive. ¡®So this is what fighting the Grandmaster would feel like.¡¯ Without a doubt. The woman¡¯s blade kept slicing, always a hair¡¯s breadth away, her face unreadable¡ª ¡°Ah.¡± Space twisted. Again. Again. No. 2 stared at the man in bewilderment. He only frowned, sighed, and silently indicated there was no helping it. And with that, No. 2 vanished. Left alone, Isaac steadied his breathing and moved forward without another word. ¡°Lucky, aren¡¯t you?¡± Smiling, the man slung the greatsword?shaped crimson steel across his shoulder. He disliked that the moment had come for him to act, yet he hesitated not at all. Isaac kept staring at the space where No. 2 had vanished. Something ¡­ At last, the outline of the truth was forming in his mind¡ªwhen, ¡°Face the blade you dared call an imitation.¡± He heaved the crimson aura greatsword high. There was more aura packed into it than even Arandel had ever mustered; the excess scattered in scarlet sparks. A red wind swallowed the arena, howling to devour all within. Isaac saw an opening. ¡®I¡¯ve done this once before.¡¯ He lowered his stance; his twin blades drifted through the gale as though they rode its current. His killing aura snatched at the red aura like a magnet, as if the hands of the dead hungered to seize such power. Crimson motes gathered and clung to his swords. ¡°Ha! Never met a fool who fights with another man¡¯s scraps!¡± Ridicule bubbled from the man. ¡°So that¡¯s your answer? Scrounging the leavings of the one you branded an imitator? A rat, nothing more¡ª!¡± ¡°You really are an imitation.¡± The man¡¯s grin froze; now curiosity pricked him. ¡°What makes you say that?¡± The swirling aura formed a barrier, sealing the two alone inside. Perhaps because of that, his next words were almost candid. ¡°What do you know that lets you label me a copy?¡± He had believed his lie perfect. But when someone pierces a falsehood, the liar¡¯s instinct is to find the flaw. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help but know.¡± Isaac hadn¡¯t tried to see through the lie; he simply had to¡ªbecause he had walked the same path. ¡°I, too, once admired him¡ª¡± The difference¡ª ¡°¡ªand tried to imitate him.¡± The man had wielded a sword; Isaac had traced the strokes with pen and paper. Both had wanted the same thing, and so¡ªridiculously¡ªhad walked the same road. Only the man had been satisfied and stopped, while Isaac realized that was no true answer and cast it aside. ¡°You¡ª¡± The man¡¯s gaze shifted. He had thought Isaac a mouthy nobody; now he saw something else. After all, Isaac alone had pierced the secret. ¡°Tsk. You¡¯re right.¡± Maybe it was because they were truly alone, or because he needed somewhere to vent his own displeasure, but the man conceded, plain and simple. ¡°His swordsmanship is magnificent¡ªso great I still wonder how it exists.¡± ¡°..." ¡°A little one devouring something immense. That is exactly what it looked like.¡± Swish¡ª! The red greatsword that roofed the sky surged even higher. ¡°That was a first for me.¡± His voice was self?mocking, hollow. Isaac was the only one ever to glimpse this truth, so the confession came easier¡ªhe meant to claim Isaac¡¯s life at once anyway. ¡°Never thought I¡¯d come to admire a human.¡± The blade that blanketed the heavens came crashing down. The instant Isaac saw it, he knew the source: the grand strike Arandel had once shown. Extinction attack. Lohengrin Helmut had copied it too, and Isaac had broken it back then. ¡®I can do this.¡¯ He was sure of it¡ª After all, he¡¯d grown stronger since that day. He had already shattered the near?secret ultimate of the Helmut, the Extinction attack. Its overwhelming power demanded matching finesse from its wielder. The crimson sword that filled his sight swelled until it no longer even resembled a greatsword; no single glance could contain it. ¡®I can do this.¡¯ Once more¡ª Break it. Isaac¡¯s blades swept out. Even if this was leftover crimson steel, the way he wielded it was anything but ordinary¡ª Enough that the surname Helmut had once seemed to fit him. The energy surrounding those blades, mixed with crimson aura, warped the flow of the Extinction attack. Cold truth: In terms of completion, Lohengrin had done it better; the version hurled by this man was downright crude. Whenever Isaac swung, the red aura before him scattered like churned?up water, veering aside. Like a rock in a waterfall: the torrents of auta split around him, unable to smash him, breaking apart and falling away. Once. Twice. Over and over¡ª ¡®How long is this going to last ¡­?¡¯ He couldn¡¯t tell. Soon his vision was nothing but crimson haze, as if he walked inside a sandstorm. Everything around him glowered, a murderous red hunger ready to devour. ¡°Ha¡ª gkh!¡± He could scarcely breathe¡ªnot from exertion, but because the thick crimson aura itself crushed the very air. Breaths failed; he felt himself sinking. Master, Silverna ¡­ Had he failed to protect them after all? He was about to drop to his knees when¡ª -Vwoooooom! Wind cleaved through wind. It was still a crimson aura, yet darker, denser, harder. He raised the head he had bowed¡ª The sky had cleared. Before him stood the back of his former wife, Rihanna Helmut. ¡°...¡± She said nothing, simply leveled her greatsword at the man. ¡°Rihanna Helmut? The current head of Helmut. At last we meet,¡± the man greeted her¡ªthough he clicked his tongue, displeased that Isaac yet lived. ¡°What is that bastard?!¡± ¡°Isaac! Are you all right?¡± Lohengrin and Sharen rushed in behind her¡ªLohengrin gaping at the man, Sharen nearly in tears as she steadied Isaac. ¡°Hah ¡­ hah ¡­!¡± Gulping the air he¡¯d been denied, Isaac forced himself upright. His fingers trembled so badly the blades might slip, but he would not let go. ¡°The Grandmaster ¡ª!¡± He had to save her. He tried to order the others to tend the Grandmaster first, yet the place where she had fallen was empty. The Grandmaster could not have moved herself, and the enemy¡¯s interest was long spent¡ªso who? As Isaac searched in alarm, Sharen spoke, trying to calm him. ¡°Someone named Damien carried her off! Please, Isaac, fall back¡ªyou¡¯re in no shape!¡± ¡°Damien ¡­?¡± The Grandmaster¡¯s sole remaining disciple¡ªa former thief who, in a past life, had betrayed them? The thought hit like a hammer, yet relief was greater. He¡¯d heard Damien was with the northern retaking force, operating alone; apparently he¡¯d shadowed the Grandmaster, ready to act. Impossible, had Isaac not drawn every eye. Intentional or not, his flashy provocation had stolen all attention¡ª And in the end, saved the Grandmaster¡¯s life. ¡°Thank goodness ¡­¡± Tears of relief brimmed, but he blinked them away; nothing was over yet. ¡°Ah, Helmut¡ªmy former name. To see it flourish so splendidly stirs old memories.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°I am Hellic. The ¡®Helmut¡¯ you bear was taken from me.¡± Shocking, no doubt: Lohengrin and Sharen stared at Hellic in open dismay¡ª After all, they had just learned they were half?Transcendent. Anyone would be rattled. ¡°¡ªSo what?¡± Everyone except Rihanna Helmut. Greatsword in hand, Rihanna looked up at Hellic. ¡°Pointless talk won¡¯t change a thing.¡± The blade she gripped with both hands exhaled the crimson aura far denser than what she had released with her fists earlier. ¡°Heh¡ªhow paltry.¡± Hellic only sneered. As though his supply were limitless, he gathered more crimson steel, and the Extinction attack began charging again. **** ¡°Endure ¡­ and we win.¡± Isaac steadied his breath as he spoke. Still watching Hellic, Rihanna asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°He can¡¯t stay here forever.¡± Hellic¡¯s eyes widened a fraction; then his gaze swung back to Isaac. ¡°You moved the Malidan Barrier with ritual. I¡¯ve figured out what that price is.¡± Fighting down the urge to retch, Isaac continued. Ever since he¡¯d seen No. 2¡ªthe Grandmaster¡¯s fellow disciple¡ªblink out, he was certain. Irregular, simultaneous warps were hitting every Transcendent troop. ¡°That distortion itself is the price.¡± Think about it: from the very start, Transcendents kept tearing space to appear here, only to be wiped out piecemeal. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thirty together could wreck an entire flank; why did they keep popping up alone? One reason: They couldn¡¯t control it either. The first Heukgyeon incident, the startled ones who plummeted into the center of the force¡ªeach had been yanked through space because of the price. ¡°Ha.¡± Hellic¡¯s eyes curved to crescents. ¡°Hahaha! You really do pierce everything, don¡¯t you? Know us that well?¡± He let go of his staff and clapped; the staff hovered, locked in place beside him. ¡°We twist space, so we bear the responsibility¡ªthat is our cost.¡± ¡°So that thing will vanish soon, too?¡± Lohengrin asked. Isaac merely dipped his chin. Every invader so far had blinked back after a while; Hellic¡¯s own time had to be running short. ¡°But you¡¯ve missed one point¡ªI have some skill in those ritual arts.¡± Indeed, what he wielded looked more staff than sword. ¡°As one who uses rituals, I can resist. Say, long enough to kill all of you?¡± Even when he first arrived, Transcendents around him had warped in en masse. That, too, was likely not teleportation but a delay¡ªhe¡¯d deferred the cost. ¡°In simple terms¡ª¡± -Srng. Rihanna nodded, perfectly calm. ¡°¡ªsmack him once, and he pops home on his own.¡± Isaac drew a breath and stepped forward beside her. ¡°Exactly.¡± Hellic studied the pair before him and smiled, intrigued. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ] Chapter 120: Come to You Even with a gigantic enemy looming in front of him, fear never truly took hold. If he had to compare it to something, it reminded him of his wedding day. Distinguished guests from every nation, royals he had never dreamed of meeting, and high-born nobles he had only heard about in rumors¡ªall those lofty eyes had been fixed on him, weighing his worth. Yet he had been able to walk forward with his head held high because she was at his side. Back then, Isaac believed he could win against anything as long as she was with him. Ironically, with everything now in shambles, Isaac found himself feeling that very same emotion again¡ªonly this time, the enemy was unmistakably before his eyes. ¡°Isaac, can you still move?¡± Her voice was as even as always, yet the concern threaded through it was impossible to miss. ¡°I can.¡± That one answer was enough. Rihanna merely nodded, respecting his resolve, and said nothing more. ¡°Then get lost if you can¡¯t fight!¡± ¡°Is he under a spell too? One of those guys who can¡¯t talk unless he¡¯s yelling?¡± Lohengrin and Sharen had shaken off most of the shock from learning their ancestors were Transcendents; now they hefted their great-swords in unison. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The conversation could not last long. Hellic loosed another blast of crimson aura at them. At some point, the attack had ceased to resemble a ¡°sword¡± at all. It spread like fog, flowed like a quiet river, and crashed down like a waterfall. It was no longer sword-energy but a materialization of Hellic¡¯s murderous intent itself. ¡°Which is why it¡¯s so flimsy.¡± For all its breadth and freedom, it lacked every ounce of solidity. Hellic¡¯s eyes flickered the moment he saw his own crimson torrent ripped apart. The hue was unmistakably different¡ª Blood-red energy slicing the air, fired from Rihanna¡¯s great-sword. Quantity was Hellic¡¯s advantage, but density belonged entirely to her. ¡°Red Strike!¡± Ironically, someone was admiring the enemy¡¯s Red Strike. Lohengrin, still desperate to imitate it, hadn¡¯t grasped the knack yet. ¡°I¡¯ll carve us a path,¡± Rihanna said, cleaving through the raging aura while striding forward. ¡°Stick close behind me. This time, I swear I¡¯ll protect you.¡± There was no need to ask whom she meant. Isaac pressed right up against her back, crimson hair brushing his nose, its scent filling his lungs. Perhaps Rihanna inhaled his scent in turn; fresh vigor coursed through her body, and her swings grew even fiercer. ¡°Just this alone¡ª¡± Her murmur drifted past Isaac¡¯s ears. He pretended not to hear, resting a hand on the saber at his waist and steadying his breath. ¡°You call that crimson aura? It¡¯s not even aura!¡± Lohengrin bellowed on the right. A bit slow on the uptake, but at least he¡¯d noticed. ¡°I wish I could wield crimson aura like that!¡± Sharen added, half-jealous. Compared with other Helmut, the aura she could muster was meager. Before long, the three Helmut formed a protective triangle around Isaac. Hellic, lips curled in a smile as he fired wave after endless wave of aura, felt his expression stiffen. ¡°We¡¯re almost through,¡± Rihanna announced. The compacted crimson energy coating her blade flared¡ªshe had calculated a straight line they could break through. ¡°If we get any closer, who knows what trick he¡¯ll try next,¡± she warned. The idea was to pierce a gap and strike in one shot. ¡°Then let me go!¡± Lohengrin roared, swinging his sword. Since Rihanna had to maintain the breach, the strongest fighter needed to charge in. ¡°Isaac, I¡¯m counting on you.¡± ¡°Right.¡± ¡°I should¡ª!¡± ¡°You lose to Isaac every day!¡± Sharen snapped. Loengrin¡¯s lips clamped shut; a vein throbbed on his forehead in mute protest. ¡°With that frail, non-Helmut body, you¡¯ll sprint forty paces and die on the spot! Idiots!¡± he shot back. ¡°¡­He¡¯s not wrong,¡± Isaac admitted. Even running was taxing right now; Hellic stood roughly forty strides away. Under normal circumstances it would be nothing¡ªbut now? Impossible. Just then¡ª ¡°I¡¯ll help!¡± Sharen cried. Crimson aura condensed in her palm, far paler than the others¡ªless a blaze, more a gentle warmth. On any other day she¡¯d have been scolded for such a feeble showing, an embarrassment to Helmut. But Isaac¡¯s eyes widened. A memory of the Grandmaster surfaced: ¡®Isn¡¯t it fascinating? The very force so many revere, reduced to a child¡¯s plaything.¡¯ Young and short on reserves though she was, Sharen could wield her aura her own way. Crimson aura had always existed for destruction, yet Sharen had learned to shape it for support. Rihanna noticed as well and nodded. ¡°Open it. Get ready.¡± Vwoooom¡ª Gripping her great-sword in both hands, Rihanna drew it far back. The coiled power engulfed the entire blade; she swept upward, tracing a crimson diagonal. Red Love Strike. . The strike that once split a river now cleaved the sky instead. Amid a world stained red, a stark white corridor snapped into view. The path was open. At that exact moment Sharen¡¯s supportive aura formed under Isaac¡¯s heels and along his back, winding him up to spring forward¡ª ¡°Got some wit after all, haven¡¯t you?¡± Hellic sneered. Hellic¡¯s laugh rang out¡ªbrazen and mocking. As though expecting it, a snake-shaped stream of crimson aura lunged from behind Isaac, jaws gaping for the nape of his neck ¡­ But¡ª ¡°Grahhh! I¡¯ll take it instead¡ª!¡± Claa-ang! Lohengrin hurled himself in the way, the serpent clamping onto him instead. He hit the ground and was dragged along, still howling in outrage. ¡°I¡¯m doing this¡ªfor that guy¡ª?!¡± Thoom! Isaac shot forward¡ªevery inch of crimson energy in the air now bent to aid him. Hellic¡¯s form filled his vision in an instant, and Isaac¡¯s saber screeched as it left its sheath. ¡°Too slow!¡± Claaang! The sword that had formed atop Hellic¡¯s staff slapped Isaac¡¯s blade aside, flinging it skyward. Yet Isaac never stopped. Crouching, he slid beneath the staff and streaked past Hellic¡¯s flank. Before the man could reset his stance, Isaac was already behind him, carving in. --¡ªSkreeech! He slammed a foot against the ground, grinding to a halt. His waist twisted; right foot slid forward for balance, left foot pinned the floor¡ª a single whirl that placed him in perfect striking posture. ¡°I told you,¡± he murmured. ¡°You¡ª!¡± ¡°Your swordsmanship flunks.¡± Helmut warriors favor raw power, swinging along the line where strength flows best. Rihanna had surpassed that, which was why she had beaten Isaac in their bouts. Hellic had not. He was an imitator¡ªand imitation, no matter how perfect, remains imitation. There is no evolution. A second saber flashed free¡ªblood finally spurted from the man. Wild crimson eyes, posture shattered. Isaac had aimed for the throat, but the blade only cut halfway; an unseen force denied it any deeper. Some kind of spell. ¡°Ghhh¡ª!¡± Hellic clutched the pouring wound, staggering backward. ¡°Not yet¡ª!¡± The crimson aura dispersed. He seemed to abandon the borrowed power of the Helmut, drawing instead on his own Primitive strength Isaac¡¯s fingertip rose, pointing. At Hellic¡¯s chest, space warped into a twisting vortex. Time allotted to him had run out. Veins bulged beneath Hellic¡¯s skin as he roared, voice ragged: ¡°Isaac¡ªI will remember you! Ahh, I already long for our next meeting!¡± ¡°Hah¡­ hah¡­ Just get lost.¡± ¡°I will kill you. I swear it.¡± The curse-laden hatred lingered in Isaac¡¯s ears long after Hellic vanished. His legs gave way; he dropped to his knees. From afar the Helmut siblings sprinted over. Rihanna caught him as he pitched forward, patting his back. ¡°You did well, Isaac.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Victory. They had survived. Yet he could not stop the tears that welled in his eyes. ¡°Um¡­ so what do we do now?¡± Sharen asked¡ªthe very question Isaac had wondered from the moment he swung his blade. Hellic was defeated, cast back to his original world. But the Malidan barrier still had not returned. Hellic¡¯s presence here had been a side-effect of the spell¡¯s cost. The ritual was still in effect. ¡°Si-Silverna¡ª¡± Clutched against her chest, Isaac wept. In the end, he had failed to protect everything. Sensing his despair, Rihanna only tightened her embrace. The northern wall was gone. With no barrier to shelter them, an icy wind stabbed straight into their hearts. Battles against the Transcendents were always like this: Even in victory, there were no triumphant shouts¡ªonly tears for the fallen. *** Before they knew it, the defenders had been pushed back to the citadel¡¯s inner district. The deeper they withdrew, the sterner their defenses became, yet every breath now rasped at the throat. The end felt close¡ªundeniably so. What became of Father?¡¯ ¡¯The world outside lay frozen solid. As if exhaling its final breath, the Malidan barrier spewed a death-cold chill that turned everything to ice. Peer through a window now, and beneath the dark sky you saw only white steam drifting like clouds. Uldiran Caldias had marched out alone, vowing to block the citadel gate. He had gone by himself; no one knew what had happened since. Yet with Transcendents still flooding in, Silverna could guess her father¡¯s fate all too easily. They had holed up in a tavern¡ªunplanned, but it was one of the few places inside the walls large enough to hold everyone. ¡°A-a miss¡­ they¡¯ll find this spot any minute¡­¡± Anna, gaunt from hunger, could barely grip her spear. She was not alone. The once-stalwart soldiers of Malidan could not even recall their last proper meal. No army, no matter how skilled, could fight on an empty stomach; they were dying by inches. Voices of Transcendents echoed in the corridor¡ªthey were hunting the last soldiers. ¡°Here! The scent¡¯s coming from here!¡± Their shout struck Silverna like a death sentence. ¡°Ready for battle.¡± She gripped her spear. Forged newly of Frostsilver Ore, its edge was already blunted from endless clashes¡ªhardly fit for her final stand. She stood before the door and closed her eyes. One man¡¯s face floated up. ¡®We couldn¡¯t hold on.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯re surely still searching for us¡­ but we couldn¡¯t last until you arrived.¡¯ A doubt whispered¡ªhad she simply¡­ given up? Had she failed? Yet the question no longer mattered. She had failed to endure¡ªshe accepted that. ¡°Sorry, Isaac.¡± If there were a next time¡ªanother life, or another chance¡ª She hoped it would go to Isaac, not her. ¡®Because if you tried again, you would not fail.¡¯ That was the man she knew: even if he faltered now, he would succeed when given another chance. ¡®Foolish thoughts.¡¯ Catching herself spinning useless hypotheticals, Silverna gave a weary laugh. So this is what it feels like to die. ¡®If you ever reach this place, you¡¯ll find me with my eyes closed¡­¡¯ For that moment, then¡ª ¡°I¡¯ll die beautifully.¡± Boom! Crack! KWA-ANG! A commotion burst outside. Someone who couldn¡¯t get inside the tavern seemed to be battling Transcendents. Normally, they should stay barricaded, but¡ª ¡°We¡¯re going out! Leave no one behind!¡± Already dead in spirit, Silverna chose an honorable death, and the northern warriors agreed. Clank! She flung the door wide and stepped into the frigid hall. Over the bodies of Transcendents¡ª ¡°Ah.¡± There stood the woman called the Bloody Rose, a great sword in hand: Rihanna. ¡°You actually did it,¡± Rihanna murmured softly. Silverna gaped, stunned¡ª And then¡ª Whump! Someone barreled past Rihanna and wrapped her in a fierce hug. A familiar feel, a familiar warmth¡ªyet rough skin under battered armor. ¡°Silverna¡ª!¡± he whispered, voice trembling with held-back tears. Tears slid from Silverna¡¯s own eyes. ¡°Ah¡­¡± She had wanted to see him¡ªyearned to see him clearly¡ªso she turned her head just enough to take him in. There, filthy beyond words, Isaac Logan held her tight. Yet his bedraggled state was not pathetic; it was proof¡ªplain and raw¡ªof everything he had endured to reach her. ¡°A-Isaac¡ª¡± ¡°I finally¡­ finally found you.¡± ¡°Isaac, Isaac¡­!¡± She spoke his name again and again without realizing. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s me, Silverna.¡± As if he would never let her go, he crushed her to his chest and said: ¡°I came to save you.¡± Her heart crumbled. The tears she had held back for so long flowed down her cheeks¡ªbut they never reached the floor. They merely soaked into Isaac¡¯s shoulder. ¨C ¨C The End of The Chapter ¨C¨C [TL: This¡­ This is so beautiful ???????????? Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 5 chapters ahead of the release: /readingpia Join our Discord server for regular updates and have fun with other community members: invite/SqWtJpPtm9 ]