The Prestigious Family's Son-in-Law Wants a Divorce Chapter 13

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Chapter 13: The Transcendent Tribe

It wasn’t yet midnight.

Even so, nobles who had gone to bed early due to grueling training and work conditions began to stir awake, one by one, and emerge onto the drill grounds.

Awaiting them was Silverna Caldias.

Not just because it was dark outside, but her actual demeanor was dark as she surveyed the gathering nobles. Her stiff expression seemed to forewarn the hardships yet to come.

In the midst of the confused nobles who had been abruptly awakened and dragged out into the cold, Jonathan, still rubbing sleep from his eyes, rushed over to Isaac.

“Isaac-nim, what’s all this commotion about?”

“I don’t know. But one thing’s certain: something big must’ve happened.”

“Being on the front lines and seeing such a stir is a bit unsettling.”

A cold wind blew in, and the nobles, who had been buzzing moments before, shivered and fell silent in the chill.

Thanks to the yeti fur hat and gloves gifted by Silverna and Anna, Isaac at least felt somewhat warm.

Once all had quieted down, Silverna finally spoke.

“Everyone, at about 23:20—roughly 15 minutes ago—an outsider approached the barrier.”

Something that had happened a mere 15 minutes prior.

“He introduced himself as a merchant from Holstein, but upon inspection, he turned out to be a grave robber.”

Holstein was particularly known for its advanced magic. Grave robbers were notorious there, as modern magic made it common for them to plunder the tombs of past royalty and nobility.

“He actually robbed the Holstein royal tombs and had come to our kingdom to make a deal.”

A few nobles gasped in dismay, immediately realizing this could blow up into a diplomatic incident if not handled properly.

“Since we caught the grave robber, can’t we just return the burial goods and be done with it?”

One of the nobles raised his hand and asked.

It was unthinkable to interrupt the commanding officer during a briefing, but considering their inexperience, Silverna chose not to scold and instead answered:

“The crucial point is that these guys disturbed a Monster Den on their way to the Malidan barrier.”

The rest was predictable.

All the other grave robbers ended up as meals for the beasts, and the treasures were lost.

Enraged, the monsters were now running wild and attacking the Malidan barrier.

“As a special detachment, we need to retrieve the burial goods those grave robbers stole. Fortunately, they’re not too far away…but the problem is the monsters den.”

Shouts and tremors were audible in the distance. It was clear a fierce battle was raging at the Malidan barrier.

“If possible, we’ll avoid combat, or if forced, keep it to a minimum before returning. We set out immediately.”

At Silverna’s command, the nobles formed orderly ranks and began to move. Their personal guards, though displeased, had no choice but to follow.

Jonathan, who remained at Isaac’s side, asked with a baffled look,

“Isaac-nim, why are we the ones who have to find these burial goods?”

“Because diplomatically, we could be framed. Would the Holstein side really believe us if we said the grave robbers lost everything to monsters?”

“Isn’t that the truth?”

“Even if it’s true, accepting it is another matter. To put it bluntly, what if they suspect the grave robbers were actually hired by us, and that we faked a monster attack to smuggle the burial goods into our kingdom?”

“But that’s not the truth.”

“Right, it’s not. But from Holstein’s perspective, they could still find a way to use this diplomatically. Especially since these thieves tried to make a deal right here in our kingdom.”

So if someone within the kingdom had the wealth to purchase Holstein’s royal burial goods, it would naturally point the investigation toward a high-ranking noble.

A high-ranking noble craving Holstein’s royal treasures?

That could spark a diplomatic crisis, potentially even lead to war.

“Ah.”

Finally understanding, Jonathan nodded.

“These are the kinds of things the Margrave is responsible for—cleaning up the mess before it escalates.”

Likely, Uldiran Caldias was currently atop the Malidan barrier, wielding his spear vigorously. As they slipped out through a gate less besieged by the monsters, Jonathan had another question for Isaac:

“But why send the dispatched nobles outside? Isn’t this a dangerous mission?”

“Fighting a war against monsters on top of the barrier is even more dangerous.”

KWA-ANG!

Right as Isaac answered, a crashing sound echoed from the direction of the barrier.

Startled, the nobles either turned their heads or hunched their shoulders.

Jonathan also looked that way, but Isaac continued,

“Basically, it’s because you’re here. Most of the dispatched nobles are promising talents looking to gain actual combat experience, but their guards are a different story.”

“Ah!”

“Right? Caldias doesn’t want the nobles themselves, but rather their highly skilled guards as part of his fighting force. And strictly speaking, these guards’ duty is to protect the nobles who came at Caldias’ summons.”

By sending the nobles outside, he could effectively mobilize their powerful guards. After all, defending the barrier was the specialty of the soldiers residing in Malidan anyway.

“How profound.”

Jonathan might have been expected to be clueless about these matters, but he was even more naive than Isaac had thought.

Even as they passed through the castle gates, Jonathan remained unconvinced.

“We’re the victims here, yet we’re the ones suffering. Isn’t that unfair?”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t you think so? We’ve done nothing, but suddenly it’s all about grave robbers, burial goods, and diplomacy. We’re tiptoeing around Holstein too much.”

Jonathan pouted his lips in frustration.

“If they try to falsely accuse us, can’t we just respond with a hardline stance?”

Isaac gave a wry smile and asked,

“How old are you this year?”

“Twenty-two!”

“Alright, Jonathan. I’m only about two years older than you, but I know at least one thing.”

“…….”

“If bowing your head a little, if putting in a bit of effort, can prevent a war—then that’s a small price to pay.”

Jonathan furrowed his brow slightly.

Isaac understood the desire, as a knight, to have a place to swing his sword. Still…

“A minor diplomatic issue can often spark a war more easily than you think. We must extinguish these embers in advance.”

“Hmm, I still don’t really understand.”

It might be some sort of admiration or heroic aspiration that kept him here in Helmut despite countless hardships.

Isaac placed a hand on his shoulder and offered sincere advice.

“You’re getting a glimpse of the reality here. The kingdom’s peace is built upon the devotion and hard work of people like these.”

“Is that how it is?”

“Jonathan, maintaining peace doesn’t always mean drawing your sword.”

“…Those sound like words that Helmut would frown upon.”

“That’s probably why Helmut and I don’t see eye to eye.”

Isaac said no more, and Jonathan followed quietly. He still seemed dissatisfied, but even so, he never relaxed his guard as Isaac’s protector.

Before long, they had exited the barrier.

With only the sound of soft footsteps in the snow and the light of the moon to guide them, they moved quietly and stealthily.

‘Silverna really does have good night vision.’

Just by following behind her, they managed to arrive at the scene of the incident without any skirmishes.

They found a half-wrecked cart—not a carriage, but a simple cart—lying there.

It seemed they intended to skirt around the mountains rather than going straight to the Malidan barrier. Since a horse-drawn carriage couldn’t cross the mountains, they must have hauled this rural-style cart themselves to get here.

“What a troublesome journey they made.”

“Ugh, what a mess.”

“Look at those bloodstains.”

The scattered snow was stained heavily with blood, yet there were no bodies. Most likely, the monsters had devoured everything.

It was clearly more an act of feeding than fighting.

Amid the wreckage stood a case that looked as if it once held the burial goods. The case lay atop the broken cart, left forlornly behind.

And…

Someone was standing in front of it.

“Shh.”

Silverna, who was leading the way, gulped nervously. She raised her spear, tensed, and spoke cautiously:

“Who’s there?”

Only after hearing her words did the man, or rather the figure, slightly turn his head.

“Ah.”

Under the thick canopy of trees, hidden from the moonlight, his silhouette emerged.

About two meters tall, with broad shoulders and wearing a thick vest. His entire body was covered in dense white fur. He walked upright like a human, but his face resembled a tiger’s, and his swaying tail and monstrous fangs made it clear he was no human. A massive greatsword was strapped across his back.

“A monster?”

“What is that thing?”

“It doesn’t look like a Yeti… A tiger in human form?”

Confused voices rose from among the nobles. Everyone turned to look at Silverna, expecting that this Northern-born warrior might know what it was.

“…….”

Yet she only tightened her grip on her spear, biting her lip and assuming a combat stance. Her instincts told her that even the slightest lapse in vigilance would provoke a lethal assault.

Among them all, the only one who knew this creature’s identity was Isaac.

‘A Transcendent Species!’

They were monsters who once brought humanity to the brink of annihilation. Intelligent magical beasts driven solely by hatred toward humanity.

He had thought there was still time before they’d appear.

‘They’ve already been active in the North?’

Could they be involved in the burial goods incident as well?

Regardless of the reason…

This was dangerous.

Extremely dangerous.

‘He’s no ordinary foe. Silverna can’t handle him alone right now.’

Even with the guards of the nobles present, there was no guarantee of victory.

Such were the Transcendent species: formidable foes.