105. The Leviathan Siblings

“Hahaha!”

Despite Isaac’s resolute rejection, Rayan Leviathan only attempted to brush it off with laughter.

“Was I perhaps too hasty with my request? I should have presented what I could offer before stating my demands!”

“I said, get out. Don’t test my patience any further.”

The line had already been crossed.

Isaac gritted his teeth, desperately suppressing the urge to punch him squarely in the face.

“Come now, at least hear my terms. If you assist me, I will provide a substantial sum of gold. To be specific-.”

Rayan Leviathan whispered concisely and furtively.

The amount was enough to fund another Hellmundt Sword Festival.

Even Isaac couldn’t help but shudder in astonishment.

*‘I’d heard the Leviathans had deep pockets.’*

The quintessential nouveau riche noble.

Appropriately, the sum he was offering was staggering.

It almost made one curious.

“Do you desire Rianna that much?”

“Yes, naturally. The moment I marry her, I can exert influence over Hellmundt. Though its prestige has waned considerably, Hellmundt is still Hellmundt, after all.”

“……”

“Of course, that’s not the *only* reason.”

Rayan offered a reassuring, sly smile.

“She’s a beauty, wouldn’t you agree? I’ve encountered her a few times at banquets, and each time, I understood why she’s called the Crimson Rose. If there is a truly beautiful woman, shouldn’t a man attempt to pluck her? Just as you did.”

“If I had a sword at my hip, I’d draw it.”

Despite Isaac’s calm warning, Rayan only chuckled.

“Feel free to draw it. I wouldn’t be harmed!”

‘I could just kill him.’

It had been a long while since I felt such an intense urge to murder someone sprouting within me.

On a scale of things, it was comparable to the time I wanted to kill Alois.

Could someone become this unlikeable in such a short amount of time? It was almost impressive.

Rayan, as if suddenly finding his time precious, steered the conversation back to the main point.

“So, what do you say? Frankly, I believe this deal only benefits Lord Logan.”

“……”

“You receive a hefty sum simply for disclosing your late wife’s tastes. How much easier can one earn money?”

“……”

“Surely, you’d prefer a grand manor over this small estate, wouldn’t you? With a large staff, of course. Common-born Barons are often strapped for cash, I imagine-.”

“Like this.”

In a low voice, Isaac made it very clear to Rayan.

“From the very act of looking down on her, you have already lost your chance to win her favor.”

“……”

For the first time.

Rayan’s smile began to falter.

As an Inquisitor, he was accustomed to diligently searching for his opponent’s weaknesses.

Perhaps that skill had proven useful, in its own way.

Rayan’s gaze shifted from side to side as if unable to find purchase, before he let out a hollow laugh.

“Ha, haha… It seems, I am learning something after all.”

Whether as a final attempt to display aristocratic conduct, Rayan slowly bowed his head in a courteous greeting before turning to leave.

“Rayan Levius.”

Isaac called out to him again, stopping him in his tracks.

“Hm?”

Turning back, he met Isaac’s extended middle finger once more.

“The annoyance, it has yet to dissipate.”

“Ha…!”

Rayan simply departed without another word, exiting into the gardens.

Rayan Levius of the Levius family.

From what Isaac knew, he too had died during the battles with the Transcendents.

Around the time Arundel succumbed to her illness and the Transcendents began appearing throughout the kingdom.

He had heard Rayan played a significant role in managing the internal situation back then.

‘Never imagined he’d be this sort of man.’

Well, you never truly know someone until you meet them.

Huffing and puffing, Isaac went back inside.

It had not even been a day since his return from the Brentarion Kingdom, and his head was already beginning to ache.

He passed Karen, who was cleaning, as he headed towards the bedroom.

“Karen, I am too tired. I will rest a bit.”

“Yes, understood!”

Isaac collapsed onto the bed in his bedroom. With his eyes tightly shut, he replayed Rayan’s words in his mind.

‘Well, I suppose so.’

Rihanna was the head of House Helmunth.

She couldn’t possibly remain alone, a woman.

She’d have to remarry.

Thinking it over, Isaac felt strangely uneasy. He tossed and turned a bit before drifting off.

* * *

“Ugh.”

He woke again when it was dark outside.

The good thing about being in this body was how quickly fatigue vanished with sleep.

He didn’t even need to reach for a cane upon waking.

‘Being young is a good thing.’

Muttering like an old man, Isaac headed for the dining hall. Karen would probably be off work by now, so he’d intended to just grab some water by himself.

“…”

“Ah, you’re awake!”

Two figures were already sitting and chatting in the dining hall.

One was Karen.

“Karen, aren’t you off work yet?”

“Hehe, I wanted to wait until you woke, Baron.”

Karen stood up and introduced the woman opposite her.

“This is Miss Marilyn of the House Levis. She’s come to see you, Baron.”

“House Levis? Me?”

He was a bit taken aback that she had waited for him to wake.

Isaac spoke to Karen first.

“Okay, you can go home now. Your fiancé will be worried.”

“Aye, aye! I’ll be off then!”

Karen saluted playfully and headed out.

As Karen left, Miss Marilyn slowly rose.

“Allow me to introduce myself again. I am Marilyn of the House Levis.”

“Baron Isaac Logan. You shouldn’t have waited, you could have woken me.”

“I heard that my brother has already committed a great discourtesy. I wished to offer my respects, at least.”

“…Quite different.”

She had the same blue-green hair and eyes as Reian, but her personality seemed almost the complete opposite.

“I came to offer an apology. I heard that my brother greatly offended Baron Logan, and have come to express my remorse.”

She then produced a purse from within her garments.

“Please, accept this small token.”

“…”

Isaac felt a sigh building within him as he looked at the pouch.

“If this could be settled with money, I wouldn’t even be angry.”

Taking it felt like cheapening himself somehow.

Besides, thanks to Princess Clarice, he wasn’t exactly short on funds.

“……”

Marilyn silently tucked her pouch back into her bosom.

Yet, she remained standing there, wordless.

“Is… is there something else?”

He inquired gently, wondering why she didn’t leave, and Marilyn answered curtly.

“I must atone.”

“……”

“What can I do?”

Brief, expressionless responses.

At first, he’d felt a prickle of annoyance.

But looking at her now, he couldn’t shake the feeling that she reminded him of someone.

“Heh.”

And so, Isaac chuckled almost imperceptibly.

“……”

Marilyn’s pupils widened slightly, before she spoke again, her tone flat.

“Do you find something amusing?”

“You just remind me of someone I know. It’s nothing.”

At Isaac’s words, Marilyn waited patiently. Whether she understood his explanation or not, she expressed her desire to make amends through silence.

“Are you going to remain here indefinitely?”

“The eldest son of the Rebreuse family committed an indiscretion. As his sister, I must rectify my brother’s mistake.”

“……”

“……”

Silence settled between them once more.

*She really does resemble someone.*

The striking appearance, the taciturn and impassive demeanor.

If not for the hair color, Isaac mused to himself, she could pass for *that* person.

Then, something he wanted from her came to mind.

“In that case, would you show me the magical sword?”

He had only read about the Rebreuse family’s magical sword, never seen it in person.

The contents were so convoluted and complex that understanding it without seeing it firsthand was nearly impossible.

*Perfect.*

As Isaac said this, his eyes gleaming with excitement, Marilyn, who had been staring blankly at him, slowly rose to her feet and said.

“Truly, just the sword will suffice?”

“Hm? Yes, that will be enough.”

“……”

Unprepared for that answer, Marilyn paused in silence once more.

“I did not bring the sword today. I cannot show it to you.”

“Ah.”

A deep sigh escaped him.

Seeing Isaac’s genuine disappointment, Marilyn continued.

“I hear you’ll be joining this northern expedition. On the way, if the opportunity arises, I’d be glad to show you a few things.”

“Perhaps a sparring match would be possible?”

“…Possible.”

“Excellent. Very good. I look forward to it.”

Isaac offered a cheerful handshake. Marlin, observing his hand, matter-of-factly took it and murmured,

“You’re an odd one, aren’t you?”

* * *

The next morning.

From the early hours, a guest arrived at Isaac’s manor.

Anyone else would have grumbled, rubbing sleep from their eyes and complaining about the ungodly hour.

But Isaac had already finished his morning training, showered, and was now engrossed in writing.

The book on his swordsmanship seemed to have no end in sight.

The more he swung his blade, the more he felt compelled to include.

“Still at it, I see?”

It was Princess Clarice who had come to visit.

Her guard, Heirad, accompanied her, standing serenely in the garden with a gentle smile on his face.

He appeared far less guarded than during their visit to Brentarion, a more relaxed air about him.

“…You’ve come.”

Lately, Isaac found Princess Clarice rather unsettling.

He avoided conversation as much as possible and deliberately took a separate carriage on the return journey.

“There’s something I need to discuss with you, Isaac.”

But seeing the earnest expression on her face today, Isaac relaxed slightly and asked,

“What is it?”

“It concerns this northern expedition. You are aware we depart in two days, correct?”

“Yes, I am.”

It was why he hadn’t even bothered unpacking his travel bag, only to repack it again.

“There’s a… a situation. Not huge, no, but not exactly small either.”

“What do you mean?”

Tilting his head, he returned the question. Clarice sighed and explained.

“There’s this group of younger nobles. Well, they’re all older than me, but that’s not important -.”

“……”

“The Azure Stream Society, they call themselves. They’re causing a bit of trouble.”

“I’ve heard of the Azure Stream Society. But trouble?”

“They… well, they seem to underestimate the enemy, perhaps? Take the situation too lightly.”

“…How is that possible?”

The Malidonian Wall of the North had fallen.

Demons were swarming southward, and the Transcendent could appear at any moment.

The kingdom was in the midst of an unprecedented crisis.

“That’s the thing. It’s not that crazy. Because no one except us has ever really fought a Transcendent.”

“That’s-.”

He’d been about to speak, but then, without realizing it, Isaac nodded.

“I see?”

Thinking about it.

Using the knowledge of his return, Isaac had been blocking or pre-emptively eliminating the Transcendants all this time.

Blackthorn’s subjugation, excluding the finale, was virtually damage-free thanks to Arundel’s one-man show.

The Evergarde terror attack, even with Alois, was a mere diversion that caused no significant harm.

Even the ‘Patrons’ approaching the nobles were perfectly cut off by Princess Adeline, thanks to information Isaac had obtained from Volten.

Everything had either been prevented before it happened, or the damage hadn’t spread significantly even if it did.

“So I guess you could say they look down on the Transcendants? Anyway, something like that.”

“Ah…”

Another side effect of the knowledge from his return.

Because the incidents weren’t escalating, the nobles had grown arrogant.

“But the Mallidrian Barrier has disappeared. From the start, you can’t take this lightly—.”

“That’s the problem. The Purified Stream Society doesn’t understand the danger of sorcery, so they don’t believe the barrier is gone.”

“…”

“Propaganda from conspiracy theorists. They think it’s something like that. Haa… Okay, to be honest—.”

Claris held her head in her hands, nodding along with a sigh.

“If even I, without knowing anything about sorcery and the Transcendants, was suddenly told the Mallidrian Barrier had disappeared… I wouldn’t believe it either. Honestly, who would believe that?!”

Believing that a massive barrier had vanished overnight meant you were either a fool or a conspiracy theorist.

Isaac couldn’t outright deny that assessment.

“So. Make Isaac come to his senses a bit. Even still… he is a noble of the kingdom. He shouldn’t die.”

“I understand your meaning.”

“Thank you, then—.”

“Just one thing. Is Layeon of the Revis family also part of the Purified Stream Society?”

“He’s the leader. So sickeningly sweet.”

“…A fortunate opportunity, then.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. I’ll accept the mission.”

As Isaac spoke, trying to act like nothing was amiss, Claris grinned and clapped her hands together.

“Good! Then let’s move on to a more wholesome topic. Is it alright if the wedding venue is a church in Evergarde? Of course, if Isaac wants, we can have it in his hometown.”

“…”

The topic was too sudden.

But conversely, Isaac was used to it.

Because he’d been avoiding her lately due to Princess Claris’s sudden changes in behavior.

“We won’t make it too grand. It can be simple. Isaac likes that kind of thing, right?”

“…Princess.”

“Call me Claris, darling.”

“Haa, Princess.”

“What is it, my love?”

“Princessss!”

“Kya-haha!”

Clarisse, declaring it was fun, shot to her feet, giggling.

“Forgive me! I happen to be quite talented in various fields, but it seems I have a talent for love too!”

With a wink, she struck a cute pose she’d learned to ensnare Prince Raphael.

“Heirad, Gya-hyung!”

Isaac glared at Heirad, standing hastily in the garden.

But he only wiped his nose with a finger, a satisfied smile on his face.