Chapter 62: After the Sword Festival

Three days had passed since the end of the Sword Festival.

Strictly speaking, you couldn’t really say it was completely over. No matter how highly Helmut valued the Sword Festival, it didn’t make sense to keep it going in a situation like this.

At the moment, Arandel was busy dealing with the aftermath of the Sword Festival. Rihanna and Lohengrin were also helping out, handling various compensations and official tasks.

And Isaac was—

“…….”

He stood before a small, unnamed grave. Since Milli had been the culprit behind the Galenia assassination incident, it was impossible for her to have an official gravesite.

So, in his own way, Isaac had set up a gravestone to remember Milli.

Of course, once Galenia’s true nature came to light, people’s judgment of Milli might change. But unfortunately, things were so chaotic that nobody had the time to correct the record about a single chef’s death.

“…How ridiculous.”

In the three days he’d been visiting this spot, Isaac had already said everything he wanted to say.

Did you see it all?

Everyone in Helmut staring at me with those stunned eyes…

Were you smiling, watching it all from wherever you are?

The initial rush of sorrow had calmed into a gentle ache, leaving only a soft smile behind. Even so, there was a simple reason he kept returning here day after day, instead of leaving this place.

Because it put his mind at ease. In the cold realm of Helmut, the time he’d spent with Milli was the only warmth he’d known.

Coming here brought back those memories, stoking a comforting heat in Isaac’s heart like a bonfire.

But he couldn’t stay here forever.

He heard footsteps behind him. When he slowly turned his head, ready to greet whoever it was, he saw Princess Clarice and her knight Heyrad standing there.

Heyrad was a handsome young man with golden hair, exuding the air of someone who had been raised with great care—completely unlike Isaac.

Perhaps because he served as the princess’s guard, there were whispered rumors among the palace maids about some forbidden romance between the two.

…If they ever got caught, it would be a huge scandal.

“They said if Isaac isn’t around, this is where he’d be. Guess they were right.”

“Greetings, Isaac-nim.”

Princess Clarice greeted him informally, while Heyrad bowed his head very politely.

This was one of the noticeable changes after the latest Sword Festival. Especially among those who wielded the sword, there was now a certain awe when they looked at Isaac, and they expressed their respect accordingly.

“Isaac, let’s head back to the mansion. There’s a meeting about the Transcendents. We’re already late.”

Isaac followed behind her without a word. Walking alongside Heyrad, he noticed that Clarice intentionally slowed her pace, nudging Heyrad further back so she could walk right next to Isaac.

“Isn’t it ridiculous? Even though this is Helmut, don’t you think this is a bit much?”

She must have wanted to complain about Helmut to someone, and Isaac was apparently a better listener than Heyrad.

Keeping his mouth shut, Isaac quietly listened to the princess’s grievances, despite the three days that had already passed since she began staying at Helmut’s manor.

“So Galenia conspired with the Transcendents. Okay, I get that much. But look how Helmut is washing their hands of it! They claim they knew nothing, they supposedly killed Galenia themselves, they dealt with the Transcendents on their own, and since they poured so much effort into the Sword Festival, they’re victims, too?!”

‘…She’s been bottling up more frustration than I realized.’

Isaac glanced at Clarice awkwardly, while Heyrad turned his head as if embarrassed.

“They’ve got to be joking, right?! Like nobody believes Galenia acted alone just to protect her own family!”

“Your Highness, nearly everyone besides you remains unaware of her true motives.”

“That’s so absurd—!”

Clarice wasn’t wrong to feel that way. Hardly anyone recognized Galenia’s true intentions.

Understanding them required access to details that most people simply didn’t have.

Love.

A tragedy born of that single emotion, twisted by madness, obsession, and devotion.

“Love isn’t something that can be explained through logic or words.”

“So is that why you married into Helmut?”

“….”

“Oh, sorry. That just slipped out. I’m so angry, I’m blurting things.”

The worst part for Isaac was that he had no solid argument to refute her.

“Haa… In the end, Galenia made the best choice in the worst situation.”

“Indeed.”

Once she was exposed as a traitor—caught by the princess—her only option to protect Arandel, the one she loved, was to die. And that, specifically, by Arandel’s own hand.

Thanks to that, Helmut, which otherwise would have had to bow its head unconditionally, was able to remain largely silent.

Moreover, the Transcendents had attacked so abruptly that they themselves couldn’t mount a proper defense. Aside from the initial powerful blow, they hadn’t caused as much damage as one might expect from enemies hiding among humans.

At the time, Helmut’s knights were stationed everywhere for the Sword Festival. Galenia had used even the Transcendents as sacrificial pawns in her final gambit for Arandel.

In Isaac’s mind, she had gone far beyond mere obsession and strayed into something else entirely.

“They’re doing a decent job compensating the other nobles, and they even held a large-scale memorial for the townspeople… Fine, I get it.”

Helmut’s response was, in some ways, quite appropriate. They were acknowledging their responsibility but drawing a clear line between themselves and Galenia.

They spared no expense in compensating the victims. Despite the enormous costs Helmut must have paid for the Sword Festival, they didn’t hesitate to open their treasury.

It fit perfectly with their principle that anything goes as long as you don’t touch their swords.

“They take responsibility yet also dodge any real blame. It’s infuriating. I’d love to smack each and every one of them in Helmut.”

That would probably just leave her hand bruised.

“And the only reason nobody can criticize them is because they’re Helmut. Because of their precious swords! Because they’re a deterrent to war!”

In truth, this outcome was less Helmut’s doing and more the result of Galenia’s meticulous final move. But discussing a dead woman any further wouldn’t change a thing.

Isaac and Heyrad simply listened quietly to Clarice’s grumbling.

Upon arriving at Helmut’s manor, they stepped into the drawing-room, where Arandel, Rihanna, and Lohengrin were already gathered. Also present were various nobles who had participated in the Sword Festival, including Uldiran Caldias and Silverna.

Isaac instinctively moved to sit with the nobles, but as he felt their curious stares, he cleared his throat and, somewhat awkwardly, took a seat beside Rihanna.

“…Are we late?”

“No, you’re right on time.”

Rihanna’s response made Isaac nod as he looked around. Since he was technically still Helmut’s son-in-law, he ended up on Helmut’s side.

Sniff, sniff!

He could practically hear the heated, nasal breathing. Lohengrin, eyes bloodshot, glared at Isaac like a dog on a leash.

‘Damn Helmut.’

Helmut’s people had a knack for quick recovery. Maybe they used magic, but either way, Lohengrin was already fully healed.

“Watch where you’re looking.”

Rihanna, who was seated between the two, issued a stark warning to Lohengrin. Even though her low voice was clearly audible to him, he still glared with wide-open eyes.

“Lower. Your. Eyes.”

At Rihanna’s almost threatening tone, Lohengrin finally bit down hard on his lip and looked away.

“…Never thought you could talk like that.”

“When talking to a dog, you have to use the language a dog understands.”

Isaac hadn’t expected Rihanna to speak so forcefully. At her remark, Lohengrin flinched again, but he held back any response.

Lohengrin’s demeanor, Sharen holing up in her room, Rihanna’s unwavering resolve…

Galenia’s death was triggering various internal shifts within Helmut.

“Alright, let’s begin.”

Clarice, standing in the center, took the initiative. She might be the youngest person here, but she was also a princess, so naturally she led the meeting.

“The royal court is about to launch a strike on Blackthorn territory, which conspired with the Transcendents.”

This operation had been planned even before the Sword Festival. Though the recent incident caused a delay, Clarice saw it as an opportunity.

“According to my sources, Blackthorn has already made a firm decision to betray the kingdom.”

Their territory was said to be silent, apart from the cawing of crows.

Dark clouds loomed constantly overhead.

Clarice’s informant even described the land itself as dying.

“The reason I’m stating this publicly here is obvious: I have no intention of letting Helmut off the hook so easily for this fiasco.”

Her violet eyes gleamed.

“So, as part of your apology—and to prove you are not traitors—”

It was as if the princess was challenging them:

You say you’re such great warriors?

“Helmut will lead the vanguard.”

Come along to Blackthorn.

****

In a fog-shrouded rocky mountain.

There was a woman here who lived a life akin to that of a hermit, though she was certainly no sage.

“Ya-aawm…”

She yawned, drinking from a cup the size of a large bowl. The liquor sloshed down her throat as her long hair spread out across a wooden bench.

Next to her lay an odd, exceptionally long sword, curved like the moon.

They called it a ‘Great’ Sword.

“How boring this world can be.”

She muttered indifferently, her wolf ears perking up atop her black hair.

At that very moment, a faceless man appeared before her. Though he had no scent or presence, the woman slowly stood and flashed him a grin.

“I’ve told you again and again, I’m not going to eat you. But you insist on appearing in that astral form, trembling like a leaf… and now I’m less amused than I am curious.”

Her sharp canines gleamed.

“I wonder what sort of expression you’d wear if I were right in front of you.”

She licked her lips and growled, like she was eager for a fight. But the man silently delivered his message, not deviating in the slightest.

—Have you heard what happened at the recent Sword Festival?

“Hmm? Sword Festival… Helmut? Already that time of year?”

She took another swig, tilting her head. She wondered why Helmut suddenly came up.

—They say Helmut’s sword has been broken.

“Only those who know nothing would blather such nonsense. If Arandel is alive, Helmut’s sword is not broken.”

—But that is the rumor, and Helmut isn’t denying it.

“…….”

—This could work in our favor. Will you look into it?

“Hm…”

Maybe it was the buzz from the liquor, or maybe she was just plain bored—

It didn’t really matter.

“Send a carriage.”

Upon hearing the woman’s acceptance, the faceless man vanished as silently and abruptly as he had appeared.

“Damien! A carriage is coming; get ready!”

“Yes, Master!”

A man called Damien, who had been waiting with his hands behind his back at a distance, hurried off down the mountain.

“Huh.”

Stepping off the bench and slinging the Great Sword over her shoulder, the woman recalled the conversation just now and scoffed.

“They broke Helmut?”

Whoever they were—

For the first time in a long while, she felt genuinely intrigued.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

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