74. Farewell

Drip!

Drip!

Is it because this place is underground?

The sound of water droplets falling from somewhere.

Splash.

Footsteps muffled by the sound of the water. Alois slowly raises his head, noticing the presence creeping closer, holding its breath.

Did he wail himself to sleep?

His body felt utterly drained, without an ounce of strength left.

Only his throat, raw and aching, having spat out resentment towards God and Isaac.

Yet, what entered his vision with stark clarity was a woman.

Hair the color of sunset, scaling hardening her skin in patches, ears splayed like wings.

And then, the lizard’s tail.

Alois knew instantly that she was a Transcendent, the kind currently stirring up trouble throughout the kingdom.

“Alois of Hellmund.”

A viscous voice.

Alois, also of Hellmund, felt the danger instinctively.

“……”

The light in Alois’s eyes dulled. There was no reply, but the woman continued, unbothered.

“I am Lisel. As you can see, I am Transcendent.”

Lisel smiled, placing the tip of her lizard tail on the palm of her hand.

Her appearance was unique, but right now, Alois couldn’t care less.

“You know that we Transcendent are quite interested in Hellmund, don’t you?”

“……Interested?”

“It is because you are different from ordinary humans. I am of the opinion that Hellmund deserves proper treatment.”

It didn’t sound particularly strange.

That Hellmunt received preferential treatment anywhere was, in truth, only right.

“A long tongue you have.”

But this Alois now, he was no Hellmunt, merely a criminal.

For such a man to seek him out meant he had an agenda, and with Isaac in a position where he’d sooner make a pact with the devil to prevent it.

Alois awaited a particular word.

Perhaps she knew this.

Like a parent telling a child to wait, to not eat the cake before them, Liesel whispered with a smile.

“You desire vengeance, yes?”

“……”

“Against Isaac. By chance, our aims have converged.”

“Converged?”

“Isaac has laid his hands on one he should not have.”

None other than a Primal Transcendent.

And he had touched the lineage of the Sword Demon.

The other Sword Demons seethed, grinding their teeth, vowing to kill both Isaac and the Grandmaster without fail.

“Well, there’s no need for you to know the full story. I simply wish to offer you an opportunity.”

“An opportunity to kill Isaac?”

The moment Liesel gave a small nod.

The corners of Alois’s lips stretched wide, a ghastly grin.

“If I could just kill that b*stard, I would sell my very soul.”

And as fate would have it, Rianna Hellmunt was also on her way.

“Thus, I shall crush him to pulp, and claim my sister.”

Alois, thinking this was his last chance, beamed and accepted Liesel’s offer.

In an instant, his body was engulfed by shadow, dragged into the darkness.

* * *

“……”

Nothing extravagant, but a tombstone placed so a fallen soul could close their eyes in peace.

[To be together was a truly joyous time, my friend.]

Engraved in Isaac’s own hand.

Watching Milly’s tombstone finally erected in Evergarde, Isaac felt a rush of emotion welling up within him.

“I don’t even know if I should ask this.”

Hunched before the gravestone.

As if facing Milli, Isaac whispered, fighting back sobs.

“Are you at peace there? You were so tired of the fierce competition, I hope you’ve found some rest, at least there.”

It was a bitter sigh.

Knowing he was being waited on, from a distance, Isaac slowly knelt.

As if calling to Milli, Isaac placed his hand on the gravestone.

In the end, he couldn’t hold back the tears.

“Is the sadness lingering because I lost both a dream and a dear friend?”

Someday, far off.

If he earned a lot of money, the first thing he wanted was to bring Milli over. To make it so her family could come and live with her, too.

He didn’t even know how to earn the money.

Or when that would even be possible.

He didn’t know where they would live.

It was just, a dream bordering on delusion, one could say.

Even so, the sense of loss was indescribable.

“I’ll give this back, it’s my gift.”

Isaac took the last portrait he’d drawn of Milli from his chest and placed it before the grave.

He wiped his tears and slowly stood.

“I’ll come again, friend.”

Then, he turned his back.

The expressions on Sylverna and Lianna’s faces, waiting outside, were understandably grim.

Both offered him handkerchiefs at once, but Isaac refused with a gesture, trying his best to appear unaffected.

“Let’s go.”

Now, another farewell awaited Isaac.

* * *

It was a church.

A shabby, humble little church.

Conversely, that made it the perfect place for divorce proceedings, the kind you couldn’t openly admit to.

A nun greeted the three who had arrived.

A faint network of wrinkles hinted at her age, but the smile playing on her lips and her bright aura made her seem younger.

“I shall remain here.”

Silvana, the outsider, crossed her arms and opted to wait outside the church.

Leaving her behind, as they walked through the churchyard, the nun casually inquired of them.

“Do you perhaps know Jonathan? He’s a knight in Hellmunt now…”

Taken aback by the abrupt question, Isaac’s eyes widened as he retorted.

“Are you the nun who raised Jonathan?”

“That’s right! Did Jonathan speak of me?! Is he well? The boy was quite…unique.”

Jonathan had spent time at a church.

Though this wasn’t the church where Jonathan had stayed, it seemed the nun had relocated to this church.

“He is doing well. As a knight of Hellmunt, he performed his duties admirably during the recent Great Swarm.”

“Is that so? Ah, that is a relief. Thank you so much.”

Watching the nun’s delight, Isaac couldn’t help but smile as well.

Jonathan, who had been tormented.

But thanks to Sharen fiercely scolding the knights in the North, and Jonathan’s own accomplishments in the Brikala hunt, he no longer faced discrimination or bullying.

Though suppressing his Transcendent instincts still seemed a challenge.

*Creak.*

The two entered the church.

Within, the Bishop and the Princess, having arrived even before them at the modest church, awaited.

Isaac subtly glanced at Lianna.

Her expression remained blank as she followed behind, revealing no emotion.

As the two stood before them, the Bishop cleared his throat and began formally.

“Marriage is a most sacred and beautiful covenant, ordained by the divine.”

“……”

“……”

“You two have determined that you can no longer continue in this marital bond. And so, you gather here to beseech the divine.”

Candlelight flickered.

In the silence, only the Bishop’s voice echoed.

“Bear in mind, you who have chosen a parting of ways. Henceforth, you must seek divine guidance and live humbly. And after today’s ceremony concludes, you must live cleanly, imploring divine mercy in your respective lives.”

Listening to the Bishop’s words.

A flurry of past moments suddenly flickered through Isaac’s mind.

[I wish to cross the river.]

An abrupt first greeting.

[Surely, you are the one to help.]

A seduction, however clumsily prepared.

[Let us marry.]

An equally sudden proposal.

[I desire you.]

The sight of the river parting, changing the values of his life.

[Lia, the violet lilac signifies first love.]

A single flower, a representation of his heart.

That all of those things, accumulated and layered upon each other, had ultimately led to this point.

It was more than bitter; it ached, a sharp, throbbing pain.

“You, Isaac Helmont, do you now release the vows you made before God, and acknowledge that each of you shall walk their own path?”

Isaac felt a brief obstruction in his throat at the Bishop’s question.

Yet, he had vowed to live this life differently.

And the feelings he held for Lianna were no longer as they once were.

“Yes, I acknowledge it.”

Isaac declared, a faint tremor at the edge of his voice.

“You, Lianna Helmont, do you now release the vows you made before God, and acknowledge that each of you shall walk their own path?”

“……”

A moment of silence.

But it was not long.

“Yes.”

Calmly, and in her usual manner.

“I acknowledge it.”

Lianna declared, without inflection.

“Then, we shall proceed with the Severance Rings. Let both parties face each other.”

The Severance Rings. A term derived from division, release, and the rings themselves.

The act of the husband and wife exchanging the wedding rings they had once given as a promise.

A vow signifying their complete and utter severance.

Slowly, they faced each other.

Isaac, cautiously, extended his hand first, and Lianna laid her left hand upon it.

Rough, worn, a hopelessly aged ring.

“…….”

He carefully removed it.

Now, the opposite.

Lianna offered her hand.

A palm placed gently upon his.

Lianna, ever so slowly and carefully, slid off the ring.

The wedding band, more stubborn than anticipated, yet eventually, it left his hand.

“Witness! Clarice Evangel Regardia, Helia Bell, will attest to this divorce today!”

The Bishop raised his hands, blessing both, and proclaimed.

“Now! By the power and the holy name of God, I declare it! These two are no longer husband and wife! Their union is, as of this moment, dissolved!”

Her empty left hand felt especially light, yet heavy all the same.

The pocket containing Isaac’s ring carried a stinging sensation.

Almost involuntarily, she slowly lifted her head, only to find Lianna standing there, fists clenched tightly.

“Ah, Isaac…”

She wanted to endure, somehow.

But, in the end.

“I’m sorry.”

Tears streaming, Lianna apologized.

“I’m so, so sorry.”

“Lianna…….”

“Hic! Because I, can’t give you anything more than this…”

Tears flowed freely.

“Because it ended like this, in the end…”

He didn’t know.

Without realizing it.

Isaac had embraced her.

Lianna, too, wept, clinging to Isaac.

“Hngh… Isaac, I’m sorry. I couldn’t take better care of you! I, I couldn’t do anything for you-! I’m so sorry!”

A feeling like her heart was being crushed welled up within him, and Isaac finally closed his eyes tightly.

Perhaps it would be more accurate to say he couldn’t bear to look at her.

“You must! Be happy. You absolutely… have to be happy.”

“I will, Lianna.”

“Isaac, you know… the fact that you were my husband, it really was, so, so-.”

Within the warmth of her breath.

She confessed, laced with tears.

“I was happy.”

Creak! Creak!

As the sunset slowly began to fall.

Isaac, about to leave work, was rowing, carrying his last customer.

The last customer was staring blankly at the river with reddened eyes.

“Hey, Isaac.”

“How many times must I tell you not to call me while I’m rowing? It’s difficult.”

Despite Isaac’s complaint, Lianna continued to ask, unfazed.

“If you get married someday, how will you live?”

“……?!”

Isaac, startled, nearly dropped the oars, his eyes widening.

“Are you proposing to me right now?!”

At those words, Lianna flinched, waving her hands frantically.

“Ah, no! I was just curious. I’ve been getting a lot of marriage proposals lately.”

Marriage proposals.

Isaac felt a strange jealousy, but pretended to be unaffected, resuming rowing.

“Well, wouldn’t I live normally?”

“Normally…?”

“The couple living in harmony, sweet and loving. Having children, raising them. Arguing sometimes, sure, but eventually talking things out and making up.”

“…….”

As if listening to a fairy tale.

Rihanna’s eyes widened, round with rapt attention as she listened to Isaac’s story.

“Later, if the kid gets roughed up somewhere, we’d go give ’em a taste of their own medicine together. And when they say they don’t want to sleep with Mom and Dad anymore, we’d fix up a room just for them.”

“……”

“Something like that, wouldn’t you say?”

Isaac shrugged.

To that, Rihanna replied, calm and measured.

“I don’t think it’d be all good things.”

For once, the noble lady speaks true.

Isaac chuckled, rowing with renewed vigor.

“Well, no, not *just* good things, but…”

“…but?”

“Living with someone good. Wouldn’t we spend our days smiling like that?”

“……”

Hearing those words, Rihanna said nothing more.

She simply folded her hands together, closing her eyes gently.

She looked as if she were dreaming, or perhaps imagining such a life.

Then.

Softly.

“Ah.”

She murmured, a smile gracing her lips.

“How blissful.”