Chapter 42: Accumulated Changes

Kwaang!

Early morning, Rihanna and Isaac are crossing swords.

But can anyone even call it a collision?

Just before her sword makes contact, Rihanna intentionally relaxes her grip so that Isaac won’t lose his stance.

After their sparring session ends…

Rihanna walks up to Isaac, who is wiping off his sweat, and calmly asks:

“Whenever you swing your sword, you tend to adopt Helmut’s characteristic posture.”

“ … ”

“Helmut takes pleasure in overpowering opponents with raw strength, but that’s not really you, is it?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“The sword you wield is like glass art—delicate and refined. There’s no need to force the style of Helmut’s greatsword onto it.”

Rihanna had more to add—Because you’ll be leaving soon—but she kept that part to herself. She didn’t want to say it out loud.

“Don’t be too fixated on it.”

She hoped Isaac wouldn’t seek Helmut’s approval anymore. There was no meaning in that now.

But Isaac rejects her advice.

“I have my own goal I’m pursuing with the sword.”

“A goal you’re pursuing?”

“Yeah. You might say I’m mimicking right now, and that’d be correct.”

“ … ”

Rihanna can tell he’s trying some other method, but she can’t quite grasp what it is.

In fact, she wants to ask something else far more:

‘How in the world did he build up so much knowledge at this level?’

Knowledge of the sword.

Every so often, Rihanna is shocked by the insights he reveals in conversation.

There’s a depth to it.

If borrowing his knowledge is like drawing water from a well,

‘This isn’t just some well.’

It feels like scooping water straight from the ocean. That’s how profound and pristine Isaac’s knowledge can be.

“Isaac, take a look at this.”

Silverna, who has been practicing her spear on the side, wedges herself between them.

“Is this how you meant it the other day? Like raking leaves?”

Silverna takes her stance and swings her spear in midair.

As she slashes downward, the surrounding wind responds sharply, leaving claw-like marks on the drill ground.

Isaac props his chin on one hand for a moment, then corrects her stance.

“It’s a bit weak. You’re not putting enough of your weight into it when your front foot lands. You’re keeping up with your stretches, right?”

“Yeah, I am.”

“You need flexibility so your body can put power into every movement. Especially since you’re at a disadvantage physically compared to some others.”

Rihanna, listening in, hangs her head slightly.

She herself is in a more advantageous position than most.

“It’s all good, but if you get too fixated on a single stance, your application will stay limited. Practice a variety of forms so you can use them in different situations.”

After hearing Isaac’s advice, Silverna resumes her training.

‘Amazing.’

He has the poise of someone who has spent years as an instructor. Even Rihanna personally wants to hear what Isaac has to say about her own sword technique—

Yet she believes she has no right to ask.

“Let’s go another round.”

When Isaac requests another sparring match, Rihanna nods and grips her greatsword.

She thinks ahead to the Sword Festival that is coming soon.

In truth, this training won’t mean much if Helmut’s direct line starts brandishing their Red River Aura technique, but…

‘What is it?’

Isaac’s eyes glow with insight. The calm glimmer in them seems like it would never be extinguished, no matter how fierce the tempest.

****

A few days later.

Knights from Helmut line up alongside soldiers from the Malidan Barrier.

Each unit stands in formation, as if competing over who’s the more elite force.

At the head of each force stand the women who represent them:

Rihanna Helmut and Silverna Caldias.

They look solemn, far more serious than how Isaac usually sees them.

Before them all, commanding the entire force, is Uldiran.

Mounted atop a massive warhorse, he grips his spear.

The rampart’s main gates open.

Applause and cheers erupted.

Those remaining behind on the rampart see them off with a salute, hoping the war against the demonic beasts will soon be over.

After Uldiran’s main force departs, Malidan Barrier feels so empty it’s almost desolate.

“It’s really quiet.”

Jonathan, who remains at the rampart with Isaac, murmurs.

Even though they’re staying behind, it doesn’t mean they’re off the hook.

“It’s only beginning.”

As the main force advances, they’ll start clearing out the demonic beasts.

But they can’t possibly wipe them all out, and their main task is to hunt down the beast responsible for leading the great den.

There’ll be stray monsters that slip away—and those will naturally head for the rampart.

Which means that until the main force returns, the rampart’s defenses must be tighter than ever. Most of the remaining soldiers will spend nearly all day on the rampart walls, with hardly any breaks.

“Did you pack extra blankets? I heard you need at least three, because people might take them.”

“Who’s going to steal blankets? You can just go back to your quarters and grab them.”

“I’m serious. I heard if you’re not on good terms with folks, they’ll run off with your underwear or socks.”

“Have those Helmut knights been feeding you weird rumors?”

“They said it’s a pretty common thing here on the frontlines.”

Isaac and Jonathan have already brought over the supplies they’ll need while staying in the rampart. There’s a lot to prepare if they’re going to be eating and sleeping here.

“Ugh, it’s freezing.”

That’s when Sharen Helmut sidles up to them.

She was excluded from the main force list, thanks to Rihanna’s recommendation.

****

The three of them made their way to the military camp inside the rampart, a space set aside specifically for soldiers.

The bedding and luggage they had laid out beforehand were already there, and for Sharen, it was a rather novel environment in which they’d be stuck together for several days.

It smelled a bit musty, and they would be rubbing shoulders with the other soldiers, but Sharen had already grown fairly accustomed to life on the front lines.

“I’m staying right here!”

Spreading out her blanket next to the one Isaac had already placed, Sharen staked her claim.

On the opposite side, Jonathan had already settled down. He inserted a hot water pouch into his blanket.

“Doing this keeps you much warmer. I prepared some for both of you, too.”

“Thanks.”

“Jonathan, you have a great sense for this!”

“Hehe.”

Jonathan beamed, happy at the praise. It seemed he had come well-prepared, having received advice from the other soldiers he was quartered with.

“But it’s freezing in here.”

Every breath produced a puff of vapor. Even though this was the north, the chill was quite fierce for being indoors.

“It’s because of how Malidan Barrier was built.”

Watching Sharen rub her hands together, Isaac gave her a simple explanation.

“Did you know that the cold up here in the north is actually man-made?”

“Huh?”

“What do you mean?”

Sharen and Jonathan eyed Isaac curiously.

“The north was always cold, but never this extreme. It didn’t snow year-round the way it does now.”

But WWolfdren Caldias, the first head of the Caldias family who built the Malidan Barrier, devised a clever strategy.

“He proposed casting magic on the rampart to make it even colder. Hibernating monsters wouldn’t wander in, heavy snowfall would facilitate defense, and it would be easier to spot enemy beasts.”

“But wouldn’t they themselves be freezing, too?”

Sharen raised her hand as she asked this.

Feeling like a grandfather sharing an old story, Isaac replied:

“For Wolfdren, that hardly mattered. He was more committed to blocking the enemy than worrying about his own discomfort.”

It was a massive construction project. Collaborating with the mage towers wasn’t difficult; they were eager to take on something involving large-scale magic.

A convergence of cold and madness. If it meant they could stop their enemies, the Caldias family was willing to endure discomfort themselves. There’s a reason the villages nearby hold the Malidan Barrier in such high regard.

“So the chill we’re feeling now is, in a sense, the resolute will of historical figures who swore to defend the kingdom—”

“Yawn. Jonathan, do we have anything to eat?”

“I have some bread, but it’s frozen solid.”

“Hey, I’m in the middle of explaining here.”

“Helmut folks have strong teeth. Let me see it.”

“Here you go.”

Sharen took the bread from Jonathan—hard enough to be used as a blunt weapon—and took a big bite.

“Gaah! My teeeth!”

Wincing in pain, she tossed the bread away. It struck the wall with a thump, like a stone being thrown.

****

“Isaac-nim, time for the shift.”

“Mmm.”

Isaac stirred at Jonathan’s call. He had been on duty until late last night and intended to rest briefly, but ended up sleeping until the next shift.

“Sharen, wake up.”

Isaac nudged Sharen, who was still asleep in his arms. It was so cold inside the rampart that, at some point, the two of them had started sleeping huddled together.

“Mmm.”

Sharen buried her face in his chest and fidgeted back and forth, repeating the motion a few times as she tried to wake up. Eventually, she pulled away.

“Feels like I only just closed my eyes. It’s time already?”

The three of them began preparing for their shift. It had been three days since the main force had set out. Judging by the flashes of lightning in the distance, one could guess their rough position.

“I wonder if they’re having a rough time.”

Isaac didn’t know for sure, but he wasn’t especially worried.

From what he’d heard in his previous life, the target was said to be a beast on par with Uldiran. But now Uldiran wasn’t alone—Rihanna and Silverna were with him. Handling the main infestation wouldn’t be too difficult.

****

The three of them stood atop the rampart, each at their designated post, gazing blankly out beyond the walls. Snow fell upon the snowy-white landscape, with the sun hidden behind the clouds.

Kurung! Kurung!

Thunder rolled in the distance. It had been rumbling more frequently these days, which was a bit unsettling.

“Oh, I think I finally understand what unnie was talking about.”

Sharen bounced on her toes and grinned.

“I can feel the mana now. It’s really there. It’s artificial, too.”

“Yeah?”

Isaac, being rather clueless about these things, couldn’t sense much of a difference. But Sharen was excited that she could now pick up on what Rihanna had experienced.

“I can feel it, too! Haha!”

Even Jonathan chimed in brightly.

“What, seriously? Are you messing with me?”

“Why would I lie about something like this?”

“Tch, come on. I thought I was special for noticing, but it’s no big deal if even you sensed it.”

“Now that’s just mean!”

As Sharen and Jonathan bickered, Isaac gave a bored yawn.

“Ha-aah—?”

So Jonathan could feel it, too?

Something about that seemed off.

Though he’s a half-transcendent, Jonathan is still mostly human. Sure, it’s no surprise for a Helmut like Sharen to sense something beyond normal bounds, but…

Why had Jonathan, who usually noticed nothing, suddenly picked up on this?

‘Both of them felt mana in that lightning strike?’

‘They normally can’t sense anything… so does that mean the lightning itself changed?’

Isaac’s thoughts advanced cautiously, like crossing a stone bridge.

‘Has it gotten closer?’

Close enough for both Sharen and even Jonathan to sense it?

“Ah, here come more of them!”

“They’re in a complete panic, aren’t they?”

Sharen and Jonathan pointed to a cluster of demonic beasts rushing toward the rampart. Ever since the main force had gone out, it wasn’t unusual for terrified or lured monsters to come charging in like that.

Isaac’s eyes slowly widened.

‘In my previous life… Uldiran handled this alone.’

It was a grueling fight, but eventually he’d managed a narrow victory.

This time was different. Not only did he have Rihanna, but Silverna had also grown considerably stronger.

So would the beast, faced with such a clear gap in power, really choose a direct confrontation?

Among the fleeing monsters, he spotted a three-meter-tall, humanoid beast covered in blood.

A yeti-like creature slipped its hand under the monster’s paw. As if flipping a table, it hurled the monster straight up. Electricity crackled out from the monster’s entire body like a detonator, and in the blink of an eye, the beast landed on the rampart wall and clung there.

The yeti, in turn, was scorched to a crisp and died on the spot.

“A monster’s on the wall!”

“It’s clinging on! Knock it down!”

Kururururung!

Lightning struck once again.

This time, even Isaac could feel the dense magical energy radiating across the rampart.

Just standing on top of the wall made the soles of his feet tingle, as though being singed.

The soldiers unlucky enough to be nearby collapsed, either electrocuted or charred black where they stood.

The creature that scaled the wall now stood atop the watchtower.

It was over three meters tall, its skin an icy white that looked incredibly tough, with four arms and monstrous fangs protruding.

Weapons were lodged in its back, and wounds covered its body—clear signs it was fleeing from something.

‘I was too complacent.’

A lot had changed.

Because humanity’s forces had grown so strong, the “lord” of the great den opted to run.

Normally, nobody would have noticed the electric discharge. But this time, Rihanna caught onto it.

Silverna, worried for Isaac, wanted to finish off the great den as quickly as possible and had thus agreed to head out.

If one looks at each decision on its own, none of them were really wrong.

Rihanna merely reported what she sensed.

Silverna and the other strategists suggested a reasonable plan.

Uldiran, weighing both sides, judged that heading out was the best course for their forces.

But as a result—

“Kwaaaaah!”

They ended up with the worst-case scenario: the “lord” of the great den, forced to flee rather than fight, had now made its way to the top of the rampart.

Kroong! Kroong! Kroong!

From around the beast, bolts of lightning rained down from a clear sky.

This living catastrophe pounded its own chest with both hands, roaring in fury.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

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