48 – 48. Helmun’s Confusion

“What in the…”

The moment she stepped inside to check Rianna’s gift, a gasp escaped her lips.

She’d been told it was a collection of monster innards, bones, and hides, so she’d expected it to be stuffed in some foul-smelling bundle.

But inside the room, it was instead filled with a thick, yet fragrant aroma of mana.

Her body tingled with life, her skin becoming moist.

Could this really be the environment created by the remains of that abhorrent monster?

Scattered on the desk were the byproducts, and next to it, a massive bone leaned against the wall.

Compared to the creature’s size, there wasn’t much, but even this was incredibly valuable.

The byproducts of monsters like Brikala held immense worth, after all.

“It might be possible.”

Along with the byproducts, Isaac grabbed the Rose Elixir Loenghrin had given him and headed outside.

His steps, filled with hope, were directed towards Vivian. Originally, he’d planned to go for his regular checkup tomorrow, but the Brikala’s byproducts had given him an unexpected surge of anticipation, enough to make him act immediately.

“Absolutely not.”

Vivian answered with a matter-of-factness that seemed like the most obvious thing in the world.

“……”

The antiseptic scent of the infirmary was sharply sour, like a rude awakening from a dream.

“If it were that easy, the Magic Tower would have made it already. You’re looking at the world too simply, aren’t you?”

“……”

“I told you last time, the Magic Tower has already done enough research using elixirs. A person’s constitution isn’t that easily changed.”

“……”

“If anyone could increase their mana by just eating something good, then why would there be talent? Why would there be selections for mages?”

Was it because she was annoyed?

Or was it because he hadn’t properly listened to her last time?

Either way, Vivian poured out a stream of complaints and grievances.

“So, you can’t just take this lightly, see? Though, well, leave the innards and the Rose Elixir behind. I’ll try asking that apothecary I know, anyway.”

After a sermon of ten minutes or so about talent, mages, and constitutions, Vivian says she’ll ask an apothecary separately.

It feels like she could’ve just said she’d do it from the start.

Still, she wouldn’t have even started on it before, calling it useless work.

At least the relationship’s progressed enough to get this kind of answer.

“Hrm.”

Isaac, leaving the infirmary, checks the remaining materials.

He has a bone, twice the length of a grown man’s arm, slung over his shoulder, and the hide, rolled up like a scroll, hangs off it.

When he was a boatsman, he’d sometimes fished.

Carried a rod around just like this, but he wasn’t much of a fisherman.

“Isaac, was wondering where you’d gone.”

Silberna, meeting Isaac outside, had been looking for him after visiting his quarters.

“What is it?”

He didn’t expect there was anything to say, but she held something out of nowhere.

“Here, this.”

“What’s this?”

On her palm rested a silverish earring.

Not really a design at all, just a simple shape.

Isaac, having handled swords made of Frostsilver, knew immediately what it was.

“This is made of Frostsilver, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, made it with what was left over from making your sword.”

“……”

Even if it’s an earring, it’s Frostsilver.

He was about to say he couldn’t accept it, but Silberna forcefully pushes the earring into his pocket.

He couldn’t put up much of a fight since he was holding the bone and just ends up accepting it.

“Wear it later.”

“What if others see this?”

Earrings are ornaments to show off to others, aren’t they? He’d conceded on the favor, but an earring was a bit much.

“Who’d recognize Frostsilver, outside the North?”

“……”

It ain’t wrong, that’s true.

Frostsilver ore ain’t something you see on the market every day. Maybe royalty would recognize it, at best.

‘Still, to receive something like this…’

Isaac’s face darkened, and Sylverna casually bumped his shoulder with a laugh.

“Enough already, yeah? I’ve tidied up my heart and I’m fine now, are you going to keep giving meaning to everything I give you?”

“Sylverna.”

“If you’re that burdened, hand over the sword too. That’d look like a trousseau or something?”

“Ahem.”

He subtly turned, blocking her from pushing the topic further.

‘Well, Sylverna sees us as friends, there’s no need for me to make this a weird situation.’

She said she’s all sorted out in her heart, for me to fuss about it would be rude.

So, Isaac decided to accept her kindness honestly.

“Thank you, I’ll use them well.”

Earrings, huh.

Never worn any in my past life either.

‘Well, life is a challenge, ain’t it?’

It’s my second life after all.

Experiencing new things is a good thing, I guess.

‘Anna, you crafty thing.’

Conversely, Sylverna, watching Isaac accept her gift, internally celebrated.

Isaac right now, has his guard up, so damn tight.

He uses his ‘married’ status to keep a respectable front and if Sylverna pushes hard it’d just make him distance himself.

That’s why, following Anna’s advice, the name of her tactic is “We’re Friends, Aren’t We?”

[Milady, you know how Rianna and Isaac became close? They rowed a boat together, and it was love at first sight.]

[You are in a much better position. You are a comrade in arms, and a true friend who risked their life in battle. Friends can become lovers, lovers can become spouses. It’s the way it is.]

[You need to be the closest person to him. You’ve already given him the sword, it’s a tactical advantage for you. You need to keep giving him gifts, so he’ll struggle to refuse your requests later.]

[When he’s divorced you will be there, ready to snag him!]

She learned romance through novels, it seemed.

Anna’s method was extremely combative.

But surprisingly, Sylverna found the approach to her liking.

‘Last time in the infirmary, my heart was weak….’

I fled like a fugitive, feeling I shouldn’t intrude on their time.

But now, Rianna isn’t here.

A weight lifted, Silverna offers with a rounded smile,

“I’m off duty, fancy grabbing a beer?”

Isaac, seeming lighter, accepts the casual invitation.

“Sounds good, there’s something I wanted to discuss.”

“Discuss?”

Isaac shrugs a bony shoulder.

“See, I’ve got a direction in mind, or something like it.”

“Direction?”

“Look, if raising internal mana is tough, what about pulling it from the outside—.”

Soon they were deep in conversation, each sharing their thoughts.

Laughing and chatting as they walked side-by-side, they surprisingly made a good pair.

* * *

A few days later.

The family estate, after a long absence, felt less heavy than usual, almost light.

It was because the villagers from around Helmont were setting up stalls with their tents.

From the royals to the commoners,

everyone would come to see the Sword Rite.

Invitations were sent to certain nobles, who would stay and eat at the Helmont manor.

But those without invitations could still attend.

The Sword Rite was, in that way, open to outsiders.

In Helmont it was a solemn occasion, while for the nearby villages, it was a once-in-four-years chance to make a proper killing.

So the road to the manor was already lined with stalls, even some tourists who had arrived early to enjoy themselves.

Arandell had permitted it all.

There were those who said that this would cheapen the Sword Rite, but he had confidence that if it did, that would be their own problem.

Besides, they had a duty to show Helmont’s swords to as many people as possible, and so he accepted the idea of a festival that brought people together.

Rianna and Sharen got off the carriage in front of the manor.

“Ugh, I’m so stiff!”

“…….”

Sharen, yawning, stretched her limbs this way and that.

She purposefully didn’t glance at Rianna.

Her father’s harsh punishment was about to fall, and she didn’t want to catch any stray sparks.

“Should, uh, we go greet him?”

“Yes, Miss.”

Pretending to speak to Kelsi, she nudged Rianna’s back forward.

Sharen’s eyes urged her to hurry, and Rianna slowly shifted her steps inside.

“Nuuuna!”

A voice she hadn’t heard in nearly a month.

Sharen’s face twisted as she tracked the source of the sound, and Rianna’s calm eyes widened.

“Nuna! You’re finally back!”

A tall, handsome man.

Helmunt’s third son, Alois, came to meet Rianna with a beaming smile.

“I’m here too.”

Sharen, pouting, pointed to herself, but.

Alois’ gaze was fixed entirely on Rianna.

“Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere? If you had told me, I would have accompanied you! You must have suffered so much!”

“…….”

“I suffered too.”

“Father is very angry. But it’s okay. I’ve already thought of an excuse!”

“Did Mother come back?”

“I was hurt, too.”

“Yes! She’s back!”

Sharen, muttering incessantly by the side, was already forgotten.

In the end, she grumbled and entered the manor with Kelsi first.

“So, you’re back.”

“Your timing is excellent. Father is currently receiving a guest that Mother brought. So, if you memorize the scenario I’ve prepared and say it exactly as it is—!”

“Guest?”

“Yes! They said they’re from Blackthorn?”

“……”

Rianna’s eyes, a fleeting tremor.

She twists, fast, grabbing her greatsword, Ragnabel, from the carriage.

“Sister?”

Rianna was about to head inside the manor.

“Ah, right. Almost forgot.”

Just in case.

Whoosh!

The greatsword cuts an arc.

Sheathed as it was, it was closer to a bludgeon than a blade.

Crack!

Alois’s legs, both, were crushed.

“Gaaahhh!”

Alois howled in wretched agony.

Caught so off guard, he didn’t even have guards on, and he collapsed, kneeling.

“Ughh! Si-Sister?! What in the-!”

“Just in case you were thinking of running.”

“Huh?! Ughhh! Wh-what do you mean by that!”

“You said you already came up with an excuse for father, for me, right?”

Rianna strides past her suffering brother, towards the manor.

“The reason you tried to harm my husband… that better be well-prepared too.”

The agony of his broken legs, and the hushed warning, echoed in Alois’s ears.