12 – 12. Effort and Longing

A week had passed since the nobles were dispatched to the Malidian Wall.

It seems more’s happened than I thought, but that was just the beginning.

The nobles were slowly adjusting to the North, and Malidain’s soldiers were building their own bonds with them.

It was 4 AM, the sky still dark.

Silberna, shifting her watch, yawned, hefting her spear onto her shoulder.

“Haaah, sleepy.”

The nobles’ arrival hadn’t meant lighter shifts.

If anything, recently, monster nests had been showing more movement, meaning even after the dawn watch, she often had to get up again soon.

“My lady.”

Anna, who’d been on watch with her, poked out from the other soldiers heading off shift, coming to Silberna.

“Anna, I was gonna ask the cook to make soup before bed, wanna join?”

“No, my lady. It’s more that…”

Anna leaned in close, whispering so the other soldiers couldn’t hear.

“Why aren’t you wearing your binder lately? It’s causing some quiet talk amongst the soldiers, you know?”

“…”

Of course she knew.

She even felt the lingering glances sometimes.

Malidain’s soldiers tried not to look, but the dispatched nobles, they often stared outright.

It was irritating, but a strange pride welled up, making her even more defiant.

“Is it that noticeable?”

Silberna glanced down at her chest.

She knew it was a good feature for a woman, but for a spear-wielding warrior, honestly, it was just cumbersome.

“Very noticeable. Why the sudden change? You used to wear your binder even while sleeping, saying it bothered you.”

“I did, but…well…”

Silberna sighed.

She waited until the soldiers who’d been on watch with them had passed before she spoke.

“Someone told me? That I should get used to this.”

“Huh?”

“Said from now on, I should get used to my big chest when I swing my spear. That there’d be a time when I couldn’t use the binder.”

“Why wouldn’t you be able to use the binder?”

“….If they get bigger, I won’t be able to, right?”

Anna stared at Silverna, a bit lost, her face a blank slate.

It was endearing, her mistress’s rare blush and averted gaze, but still…

‘More than this, here?’

Expanding to the point where she couldn’t even handle the compression gear?

Who the hell spouted such nonsense? She demanded, and Silverna mumbled, hesitant,

“Ah, Isaac did.”

“Huh?!”

The man’s name just dropped like a stone, so out of place.

“Isaac said physical changes are just something you have to accept. He gave up using Helmunt’s greatsword because of it, too.”

“Wh-what? Is this the same? Isn’t that… harassment?!”

“Anna, what are you saying? Isaac was just thinking of me.”

“Even so…”

Anna knew that she and Isaac had been spending quite a lot of time together recently.

His understanding and depth of spear techniques, shown on the second day at the parade ground, was utterly astounding.

She’d even heard that a few of the Malidians soldiers were often seeking his advice.

Their improved growth was obvious, so they were more than satisfied.

“Anyway, I think it’s not wrong for me to listen too. It’s not just about the size of my chest, I can’t wear the compression gear all the time, can I?”

“Well, I suppose not…”

“What if the gear breaks mid-fight?”

“I’ve lost count of how many shirt buttons I’ve sewn for you, mistress.”

“Uhm, anyway-“

As they walked back to the dormitory,

the sound of the wind being cut through echoed from the training grounds.

Turning in unison, both their eyes fell on Isaac, alone in the dark corner of the grounds, swinging his sword.

“Isaac?”

“He’s out again today.”

Anna added to Silverna’s question.

“He’s out there training like that every single day. And he never misses the morning drills, either.”

“Doesn’t he do his regular shifts?”

“That’s right. Plus, he keeps his light on the latest at night. Do you even know how many candles he’s gone through in a week?”

Anna, being the one handling supplies, knew the score.

“The soldiers are even talking, asking if all the Helmuths are like that. It’s kinda motivating, though.”

“…Impressive.”

Silberna muttered, staring blankly at Isaac.

Looking at her, a chilling thought flashed through Anna’s mind, and she quickly warned,

“He’s married! You know that, right, Miss? Especially, Rianna Helmuth’s husband! If you’re seen with him too often, people will talk!”

They were sworn enemies of the family, after all.

For the only daughter of the Caldias to be making moves on the Helmuth’s eldest daughter’s husband – it’d be prime fodder for gossipmongers.

“I know, I know, alright? I’ve not seen him as a man in that way. I just think he’s impressive, as someone trying his best like me.”

“R-Right? That’s it, yeah?”

“Quit with the strange worries.”

Then, with a laugh, Silberna raised a hand in greeting.

“Hey! Isaac! Up early, working hard!”

Isaac, who had been squatting down, putting his sword aside and writing something, turned his head sharply.

He then waved back with a faint smile and a simple reply.

‘He is handsome.’

Anna conceded.

He didn’t win over the Blood Rose for nothing.

His sweat-drenched appearance had a peculiar s*xiness to it, different from the gruff men of the north.

“But, what is he writing like that?”

Anna asked, trying to steer her thoughts elsewhere, and Silberna also tilted her head in question.

“Yeah, what’s that all about?”

What was he doing, suddenly stopping his sword practice and writing?

The two of them scampered towards Isaac.

“Up early, working hard.”

“Good morning.”

To Silberna and Anna’s greetings, Isaac gave a brief nod.

‘Did I interrupt him?’

It seemed like he was receiving them a little unwillingly, so Anna cautiously looked for signs.

“What’re you lookin’ at? Lemme see too.”

The Northern wild child strolled right up to Isaac, not a care in the world, peering at the book he was scribbling in.

“A swordsmanship manual?”

Isaac showed it without hesitation.

He was actually curious what she might think of it.

“Hmm?”

“…”

Anna peered over, reading along.

The explanations were incredibly detailed, with pretty lettering and drawings. But as the pages turned, you could see new improvements and security points being added.

“Wait, you’re writing this yourself?”

Anna asked, not if it was a pre-existing manual but if he was writing a new one. Isaac nodded.

“Yeah, I am.”

“Helmut… though?”

Anna asked, careful-like.

Would Helmut’s son-in-law be allowed to use something other than their swords? Isaac just chuckled awkwardly.

“I can’t wield a Helmut greatsword. I’m just not strong enough by birth.”

“Ah, that, yeah, right.”

It was only natural that Isaac, a commoner, couldn’t match the blessed genetics needed to wield the greatswords of Helmut.

“But Isaac.”

In the midst of the awkward air.

Silberna, who’d been intensely focused on the manual, spoke without looking up.

“Just what kind of sword are you envisioning here?”

“…”

“It’s not a Helmut greatsword, nor a normal two-handed sword either. Seems like you’re handling a sword with one hand, but you’re not using a shield either.”

Silberna’s observation was spot on.

Just from the words written in the manual, she’d picked up on so much.

Isaac smiled, admiring her sharp eye.

“You’re right, the sword I’ll use… it’s a weapon not often seen in the kingdom. It’s the sword my master uses.”

“Master?”

“Yeah, I have one. But I can’t go into detail.”

Isaac, intentionally dodging the topic.

Sylverna and Anna were curious, but Isaac seemed unwilling to discuss it further.

‘If you wield a sword, Grand Master. It’s because I desperately wanted to be like you.’

For Isaac, two people had greatly influenced his view of swords.

Rianna Helmont, who sparked his yearning for the blade when he was just a boatman.

And the Grand Master, whom he’d watched many times, confirming in his heart that the sword was meant for him.

“We’re about to go bother the cook for some soup, wanna come, Isaac-nim?”

Anna intentionally changed the subject, trying to diffuse the thickening atmosphere.

“Sure, let’s go! I’ve got some cheese I stashed away, we can ask them to throw that in too.”

Sylverna, also acting playfully, pulled at Isaac, so he relented, following after them.

“And hey, if you need any help, just say the word. If there’s anything I can do.”

Sylverna added with a smile.

She sensed what kind of treatment he must have received at Helmont, being unable to use a Helmont sword.

Isaac seemed touched by her words, nodding his head.

“Yeah, thanks.”

Watching the two men and women share a bond from behind, Anna felt a familiar doubt creep in.

‘Surely not?’

It couldn’t be.

No matter how much of a lady she is.

‘It can’t be.’

He’s a married man.

* * *

A woman with long black hair hanging loose.

Her wolf ears perked up on top of her head as she spoke, a long, crescent moon-shaped sword slung across her shoulder.

[Call me Grand Master.]

Her disciples, standing before her, expressed their confusion at the sudden decree.

[Grand Master?]

[But we’ve always called you Master just fine?]

[Has something changed in your heart?]

Each and every one of them, disciples with impressive skills.

Between them, she points at Isaac, leaning on his cane.

[That one there, he’s made my position precarious. Because all of you go to learn from him.]

No one could deny it.

Though he couldn’t wield a sword, Isaac was more skilled in martial arts than anyone.

And so, the woman who was once their master began to call herself ‘Grand Master’.

Dismissing all her disciples.

Now, just the two of them remain.

The Grand Master sits on the windowsill, tilting her wine cup, laughing.

Isaac, looking at her, apologizes.

‘I’m sorry, it seems I overstepped my place and caused you trouble.’

[Hm? What are you talking about.]

The Grand Master answered with a wry laugh.

[Don’t misunderstand. I only said that because there were disciples who felt their pride wounded, learning from you.]

‘……’

[Child, your talent is very special. So perhaps the heavens took your leg.]

‘Grand Master, the reason I try so hard is—’

[I know. You want to create a sword style that you can wield even with one leg missing.]

But, the Grand Master added, her eyes holding a pity towards Isaac.

[It is impossible. No matter how hard you try, if you meet real swordsmen, you’ll be broken without recourse.]

His hand, gripping the cane, tightens.

His leg, which doesn’t move properly, is particularly hateful.

[Child.]

The Grand Master offers no consolation.

She simply speaks the truth, calmly.

[It is regrettable.]

‘Grand Master…’

[If only, our fates had aligned sooner.]

The Grand Master didn’t look at Isaac.

She just looked up at the distant full moon, drinking with loneliness.

“HUPH!”

A shout from Silverna snapped his eyes open.

Awakened from sleep, Isaac bolted from his bed like a seasoned soldier, and out into the hall.

There, Silverna, armored and stern, was rallying the nobles.

“Assemble, armed and ready, on the training grounds in ten minutes!”

The urgency in her voice and actions was a clear sign this was no mere drill.

A night, exceptionally long in Malidian, was about to begin.