108. Reunion After Half a Year

“Isaaac!”

His excited approach bordered on pitiful. How long must he have waited, to launch himself with such fervor?

Isaac sighed and ‘thwack’ smacked his forehead, obscuring his face with his hand.

“That man certainly harbors a fondness for you,”

“Honestly, it’s mortifying. He’s not my brother.”

The Grand Master chuckled slyly, glancing at Isaac, while Sharen, mirroring Isaac’s gesture, covered her face, feigning ignorance.

“You’ve finally arrived! Do you know how long I have awaited this moment! I shall properly demonstrate the might of Hellmunt to you-!”

It was as if, with the passing of Alois, the madman of Hellmunt, Loengreen had risen to fill the void.

Loengreen barreled forward, each footfall a thunderclap, shoving aside the infantrymen.

His eyes seemed to see only Isaac, his rampage unwavering.

But standing in his path was not Isaac, but rather, a seasoned veteran.

Lord Eisenwolf, the General Commander of the column.

The warhorse snorted, gazing down at Loengreen. Likewise, Eisenwolf glared disapprovingly at the young Hellmunt.

“Loengreen Hellmunt, it has been some time.”

“……Lord Eisenwolf.”

Loengreen, whose head had been swimming in ardor, instantly sobered. He bit down on his lip, forcing back the crimson aura that clung to him.

“Such impudence. Are we to believe that Hellmunt has fallen to such depths?”

“Ah, no, sir.”

The military, after all, values experience.

Meaning, one’s seniority.

Even Loengreen couldn’t afford to treat a veteran, near his retirement, with disrespect.

Without Arundel, Hellmunt was no longer in a position where they could act brashly and expect everyone to turn a blind eye.

“Join the ranks.”

“Understood.”

Loengrin fell into step with the trudging procession. Even so, his gaze darted about, searching for Isaac.

“Isaac, please, keep your head down. Don’t let him see you.”

“Yeah, already on it.”

Isaac and Sharen kept their heads bowed low, pretending not to notice Loengrin.

“This is so mortifying, I could just die.”

Especially Sharen, who was bristling with irritation at her brother’s embarrassment.

Seeing that, one could definitely sense the teenage girl within.

It was then that a group reached out to Loengrin, who was being ostracized even by his own family.

The Azure Current Society.

“Lord Loengrin, come this way. I’ll gladly lend you a mount.”

“Haha, what’s all the excitement about?”

“With the eldest son of Helmun stationed here, retaking the North shouldn’t be too difficult, I imagine.”

A society of young nobles.

Naturally, Loengrin was of a similar age, so it was only fitting that the Azure Current Society would take an interest.

No, it seemed they already knew each other.

“Oh, really.”

Loengrin, for his part, didn’t seem particularly interested.

“Hmm, an intriguing tableau, wouldn’t you say?”

The Grand Master’s eyes curved like a crescent moon as he watched the Azure Current Society.

Because, amidst the Society’s members welcoming Loengrin, there was one man who remained silent.

Leyan, of the Rivaise family.

The leader of the Azure Current Society, he seemed displeased by Loengrin’s arrival.

Likely fearing his own position would be jeopardized.

“Isn’t it amusing? Even among themselves, they end up squabbling.”

The Grand Master asked with a chuckle. Isaac glanced in their direction and offered a bitter smile.

“They’ll realize it soon enough.”

Azure Current Society this, Azure Current Society that.

That this isn’t a situation where one can afford to worry about such things.

A few minutes later, the dispatched troops arrived at the Northern Front.

Though merely a temporary front, the palisades were worn down, evidence of a protracted standoff, and the air was thick with the scent of blood and the cries of ravens.

Soon, the woman acting as the temporary commander of the Northern Front, Rianna Helmun, came out to greet them.

Young as she was, she’d earned the position thanks to the Helmun name.

“…”

Taking her in from a distance, Isaac felt a strange sensation.

She was exactly the same.

Her crimson hair was as vibrant as ever, her eyes a deep, blood-red, and her face a rigid, expressionless mask.

And finally, a beauty reminiscent of a rose.

Rianna, carrying a baton, approached Eisenwolf.

Eisenwolf, dismounting from his warhorse, returned her greeting.

“Long time no see, Rianna Helmun. You’ve become even more beautiful.”

“I felt reassured to see Sir Eisenwolf in such fine health. I shall formally relinquish command to him in this assembly.”

“Hm.”

Rianna was, in truth, only ever intended as a temporary measure.

It was only natural that Eisenwolf, with his greater experience, should assume overall command.

The first thing Eisenwolf did upon taking the baton…

“Rianna Helmunn, now that you are head of the house, you must not sully the Helmunn name.”

Was to establish order.

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“Hm.”

Eisenwolf gave an unpleasant nod of his chin, and at the end of that gesture was Loengrin, among the Blue Stream Society.

Red eyes widened slowly, understanding dawning.

A grind.

Rianna bit her lip and lowered her head in apology.

“I am sorry, Sir Eisenwolf. It seems a member of my house has overstepped. I will see to his proper education.”

“Remember, this is the most crucial time for Helmunn. If you cannot maintain a firm hand, the prestige your father built will crumble in an instant.”

“Wise counsel, thank you.”

Eisenwolf stared intently at Rianna, then chuckled softly and nodded.

“I shall be watching.”

* * *

The expeditionary force began to deploy rapidly to the temporary front.

It was called a temporary front for one reason only.

They were deliberately holding back their advance.

Rianna possessed the strength to push further north, but that would lengthen the supply lines and delay the arrival of the main force.

She was intentionally conserving their strength, intending to unleash it all at once in a single, decisive push. For now, they merely faced the monsters from this deliberately disadvantaged position.

The senior officers went into their meeting.

Isaac, regrettably, was not high enough in rank to attend, and so he waited outside, pitching his tent.

“Isaac, I’d prefer a spot with a bit more sunshine.”

Isaac regarded Sharen, who was chattering beside him, with a look of disbelief.

“You’re not sleeping here.”

“Why not? I want to sleep next to Isaac. We used to all the time in the North, didn’t we?”

“Those were… specific circumstances.”

That was when the main force had ventured beyond the walls to subjugate Bricalla.

He had been stuck between Sharen and Jonathan, living in the walls.

‘I wonder how Jonathan is doing?’

Now that he thought about it, Helia Bell, the nun who was like a mother to Jonathan, had given him something to pass on…

“Isaac Niiiiiim!”

A rough embrace enveloped his back, momentarily throwing Isaac off balance.

Startled, but also warmed by the familiar, affectionate voice, Isaac couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Jonathan, how have you been?”

“Lord Isaac! Ah! I’ve missed you terribly! I am doing exceedingly well! Working every single day to become a knight worthy of the Helmunn name-!”

“Helmunt is not so frivolous.”

Jonathan’s effusive greeting, despite Sharen’s grumble from beside him, went ignored. Isaac, seizing the moment, retrieved the item Hella Bell had entrusted to him from his pack.

“This, Sister Hella asked me to give to you.”

“Sister, you say?!”

It was a rosary. Adorned with the symbol of the goddess Hella served, Jonathan, visibly moved, choked back tears as he placed it around his neck.

“I should visit her sometime. I keep meaning to go, but never find the time.”

“Then come to Evergrade sometime. I’ll have you put up at the manor, as I’m there.”

“As expected of Baron Logan!” Jonathan beamed, using the title playfully.

He used to be just a pushover knight who got bullied, but seeing him now, he seemed rather dignified. Moreover, he seems to be hiding the lingering scent of blood and scattered corpses quite well.

“How fares the war?”

“Don’t even get me started, you truly realize how precious the Mallidain Wall is-“

“Isaac!”

“Oh, please.”

Sharen covered her face, feigning ignorance once more, seemingly unwilling to witness her brother’s embarrassing antics.

“There’s no way we share blood.”

A dark murmur echoed from beside him, but Loengreen remained undeterred.

“You! Step forward and draw your sword! I will repay the insults and humiliation of my past!”

“…It’s been a while.”

“Surely you’ve grown as well? But Helmunt is the stride of a giant. I shall crush your petty tricks in an instant.”

“…You seem well.”

“Someone, please, just kill him.” Sharen’s plea from the side went unheard.

“Come! Your arrogance will eventually kneel before my greatsword, and the true Helmunt will-“

“Have you become more acquainted with the Azure Stream Society, perhaps?”

“Hmm? What does that rabble matter? How could a tiger associate with mere curs?”

“So Helmunt-like,” Isaac muttered. Sharen glanced up, pouting.

“He’s not Helmunt.”

“But what does the rabble-like Azure Stream- Ah?” Loengreen grinned, nodding as if understanding dawned on him.

“I see.”

“Shut up, please.”

“Sharen! Is that any way to speak to your brother!”

“Crimson Burst!”

“Huuuh!”

The two’s red aura clashed simultaneously. It was too sudden, but Sharen’s Crimson Burst was pushed back by Loengreen, vanishing.

“Not bad, not bad at all. But still a long way to go.”

“Hmph.”

Loengreen, puffed up with himself, swiftly changed the subject.

“You’re worried about the Azure Stream Society because of Rianna, aren’t you?”

“Pardon?”

“I know it. Plenty of those fellows there have their eyes on Rianna. Why? Worried about your… ex-wife?”

“No, that’s not what I-”

“Rianna is of marriageable age. Divorced or not, we are Helmun. Suitors are plentiful. As head of the family, Rianna cannot remain unattached for long. Not with no heir.”

“……”

“I suspect a good number of the nobles here are already vying for her hand-”

“You were here.”

A dispassionate voice, sharp and terse, scraped at his ear.

All eyes turned to her at once. Rianna, having finished the council meeting, stood impassively behind Loengreen.

“Loengreen, I have questions regarding what Lord Eisenwolf said earlier. Come with me.”

“……Understood.”

“Do not forget this is an official setting.”

“Y-yes, Matriarch.”

Loengreen gnashed his teeth.

He knew he was in for a severe dressing-down.

Especially after hearing an earful from Eisenwolf.

As Loengreen stepped aside, the former husband and wife faced one another.

Isaac, looking awkward, opened his mouth to greet her first, but-

“It’s been-”

“Sharen, you’re with our side as well. No matter your current state of withdrawal, you are still Helmun. You will act under the Helmun banner in this upcoming campaign.”

“Eh? Don’t wanna……”

“Sharen.”

Simply calling her name in that flat tone was enough. Sharen pouted and nodded.

“Yes, Matriarch.”

Then she left Isaac’s side and stood beside Rianna.

Finally.

Rianna looked at Isaac, and with a voice devoid of all emotion,

“It has been a while, Baron Logan.”

She offered her greeting.

Isaac was slightly taken aback,

But quickly forced a wry smile and bowed his head respectfully.

“Greetings to the Matriarch of Helmun.”

* * *

“Ugh, this is all your fault! I got dragged along!”

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

“You? Did you just call your *oppa* ‘you’?”

*Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!*

“Then act like a proper older brother for once!”

*Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!*

What?

What *is* that sound?

The noise was so loud, she couldn’t even hear RoenGreen and Sharen bickering behind her.

Rihanna’s face flushed crimson as she realised it was her own heart pounding.

Isaac Logan, whom she hadn’t seen in so long.

Sometimes…

No, to be frank, quite often.

More frankly, once a day, she’d find herself thinking of her ex-husband.

Conversely, that was why she thought she could act without any great commotion when she saw him again.

He was strictly a stranger now; it was right to draw a line and behave accordingly.

And in fact, Rihanna had done so admirably.

‘I didn’t look strange, did I?’

Inside, her heart was burning with anxiety.

‘It’s just been, it’s been so long that I was too nervous.’

Her pupils trembled.

This moment, more than facing a demon, was terrifying.

Only six months.

Yet Isaac’s appearance had undergone a subtle transformation.

Some muscle had filled out his slender frame, and his shoulders had begun to broaden.

The ponytail was trimmed more neatly, exuding a sense of refinement.

Traces of hardship and time etched on his features now created a mysterious weightiness.

‘What in the world.’

Frankly, Rihanna was flustered.

Her ex-husband, whom she hadn’t seen in so long…

‘Why is he so handsome all of a sudden?!’

Too handsome.