Chapter 72: Friends

“Phew!”

Isaac let out a long breath.

In the midst of that intense struggle, he felt as though some kind of peculiar energy was circulating through his body—perhaps just his imagination.

The two swords clutched in both hands seemed glued to his palms, and the sensation enveloping his entire body felt special, yet not at all unpleasant.

He wanted to savor that lingering feeling just a bit longer.

“Ughhhhh!”

A dark aura began to surge more violently from the Sword Demon.

It bucked and thrashed like a raging beast, and with his strength waning, he nearly collapsed—

“Huh.”

But the Grandmaster quickly rushed in and steadied him.

Even then, the Grandmaster’s gaze remained fixed on the Sword Demon, who was now on its knees, writhing in agony. For a moment, it seemed she was considering a swift beheading.

In the end, though, she changed her mind.

“Looks like it’s going to blow any second. If I slice it now, that compressed power will burst out all at once.”

“Then—”

“We have to run. There’s no chance this thing survives anyway.”

She was right.

Even the Sword Demon itself seemed aware it couldn’t escape death.

Though in anguish, it still tried to tighten its grip, determined to swing its sword one last time.

“Hate… and regret… for my… kin—!”

But all it could do was tremble violently. It couldn’t even lift its massive blade with one hand, and only managed to cough up blood in frustration.

“Let’s go.”

He had expected at least some kind of support, but the Grandmaster simply scooped up Isaac in her arms.

“D-do we really have to go like this?!”

Rarely did Isaac sound so flustered. Amused by his reaction, the Grandmaster let out a small chuckle and sprinted past the Sword Demon.

“Just shout for the others to run.”

“…Understood.”

Following Isaac’s cry, the knights hurriedly pulled back, carrying the bodies of their fallen comrades or helping the injured out of the mansion.

In the midst of all that—

“My brethren—!”

A scream-like retch rang out from behind them.

The dark aura coiled around the Sword Demon exploded outward, scattering in every direction.

A fierce wind roared.

It wasn’t just ordinary wind—it was charged with accumulated resentment and sorrow.

It burned hot, and wherever it brushed his skin, it felt repulsive, as though his flesh were decaying.

“Uwaah!?”

Silverna, running alongside him, was lifted off her feet. Even the Grandmaster, who was carrying Isaac, found herself airborne.

“Hang on tight!”

“…!”

Isaac wrapped his arms around the Grandmaster’s neck.

Practically clinging to her, they flipped in the air several times.

He couldn’t tell where they were or which way was up, yet the Grandmaster still managed a flawless landing.

Amid the scattered masses, the Grandmaster alone stood upright, her imposing presence even more pronounced.

Unfortunately, she was too preoccupied holding Isaac to notice that her hood had slipped off.

“T-that’s—!”

Someone shouted. Likely one of the soldiers stationed outside.

“That’s a Transcendent!”

“She’s the one who fought Arandel!”

“G-get ready for battle!”

Even as the dark aura and dust whirled around her, even as fingers were pointed accusingly in her direction, the Grandmaster silently looked back toward the mansion.

The Blackthorn mansion, which had already been half-destroyed, was now reduced to rubble. The Sword Demon had quite literally exploded under the weight of its own malice; its remains were scattered everywhere.

“Tsk, what a wretched fate for one of the Primitive’s swords.”

Only the massive blade remained, stuck upright in the ground—a final point of pride.

In the end, it was like a cursed sword that had devoured its own master.

“Arrest them!”

“Surround them! Form a perimeter, now!”

After a moment of silent tribute for the Primitive sword, the Grandmaster returned to reality.

Soldiers had already encircled her.

Isaac, battered by the raging force, now seemed to have passed out.

“Heh, he still has much to learn.”

Looking down at Isaac, the Grandmaster let out a wry chuckle, then slowly set him on his feet.

“Don’t be alarmed.”

She raised both hands, giving a nonchalant shrug.

“I surrender.”

****

“Princess!”

The moment Isaac woke up, he brushed off Silverna’s attempts to stop him and hurried to Clarice’s tent.

Inside, Princess Clarice was speaking with her guard knight, Heyrad. Upon Isaac’s entrance, rather than scolding him for barging in, Clarice welcomed him.

“Isaac! You’re awake!”

She rushed over to check his condition. Although she knew he hadn’t been gravely injured, she still wanted to confirm it with her own eyes—just in case.

But Isaac had something more urgent to address.

“I heard you’ve arrested the Grandma— I mean, that person.”

“…Yes, that’s true.”

Clarice’s expression instantly grew grim.

“I’m sure you’ve heard the reports: she was crucial to this mission. She played a massive role in subjugating the Transcendents. Without her, we might never have crushed Blackthorn.”

At the very end, they nearly suffered a catastrophic reversal.

That lingering dread still sent chills down Clarice’s spine.

“But Isaac, you understand that from my position, this is the only choice I have.”

“…”

“She’s the one who forced Arandel—our greatest asset—off the front lines.”

Isaac knew all too well.

As a princess of a kingdom, she had to remain rational rather than be swayed by emotion.

The fact that the Grandmaster bore the appearance of a Transcendent only made it more complicated.

It was understandable that Isaac would get worked up over anything involving the Grandmaster.

Yet, for Isaac, she was worth getting this worked up over, and so his excitement showed no sign of abating.

“Please, calm down. I spoke with her as well. She’ll be going to Evergarde with me. For the trial.”

“Trial……!”

Each word made Isaac’s heart quake, while Clarice, in contrast, remained remarkably composed.

“I’ve heard her side regarding this incident, and I understand now that she had no intention of purposely harming Arandel. It seems she has something she wants to ask you.”

“…….”

“I see her as a crucial witness in this ongoing war against the Transcendents.”

“A… witness.”

“Yes, a way for us to learn more about the Transcendents.”

Clarice’s eyes shone clearly.

Gone was her usual playful pride; in its place was a serious concern for the existence known as the Grandmaster.

“Isaac, there’s still so much we don’t know about them. Where did they come from? How did they appear so suddenly? How long have they existed? And their power… it’s practically outrageous.”

She had always been curious by nature, which explained why, despite being a princess, she personally ventured into the field to gain firsthand information.

To Clarice, the Transcendents were strange and shrouded in mystery.

“They have their own style of swordsmanship. Instead of magic, they use something called rituals. There’s even an organized force behind them. That alone is proof they have a history.”

So then—

“Where did they come from?”

Naturally, Isaac couldn’t answer her question.

It was a realm even his past life hadn’t uncovered.

In his previous life, the kingdom had quickly fallen into chaos after sudden aerial attacks came from all directions by the Transcendents.

They hadn’t even had time to question who or what they were.

Thanks to Caldias holding off at the Malidan Barrier for about a month, the kingdom had a brief chance to regroup and at least make it to the outskirts of the war.

Had that wall fallen, they would have been destroyed long ago, without knowing the first thing about the Transcendents.

But things were different this time around.

Clarice’s inquisitiveness ran deep; she viewed the Grandmaster as the key to her understanding.

Even before the real fighting began, she was preparing to learn about them.

“I already told her: if she provides information about the Transcendents’ invasion, not only will her charges be reduced, but she’ll also receive compensation.”

From just that statement, Isaac could tell the ‘trial’ was practically for show.

He relaxed a bit, stepping back. Noticing this, Clarice smiled softly and asked,

“They say swordsmen become friends after crossing blades. Seems it’s true, huh?”

“Well… I guess you could say that.”

His awkward response made Clarice shift the conversation again.

“This whole Blackthorn subjugation… Isaac, you really accomplished the goal brilliantly.”

“I only stepped in at the very end.”

“Isn’t that how it went for everyone except Arandel?”

With a small grin, Clarice slowly approached Isaac.

“Silverna told me the reason you know so much about the Transcendents is because you were raised by someone of mixed blood when you were young.”

“…….”

It was the lie he had told back in the North during his interrogation.

“And from what I hear, your master and that person seem to be friends. I promised to help track down those friends.”

“Ah.”

“In a way, I’m helping you find your family!”

She placed her hands on her hips and beamed, as though waiting for praise. Isaac merely nodded with a wry smile.

So many misunderstandings had piled up one after another.

Leaving the tent, Isaac headed straight to see the Grandmaster. Clarice had told him he could go if he wished.

The Grandmaster was already seated in a carriage, curtains drawn so no one could see inside.

Stepping in, Isaac found her absentmindedly licking her lips.

“Are you all right?”

“My, isn’t that a question I should be asking you?”

The Grandmaster smiled broadly.

“I’m fine.”

“I see. That’s good to hear.”

A brief silence followed. Isaac was the first to break it.

“I heard you’re heading to Evergarde.”

“Quite a coincidence, isn’t it? Seems we share the same destination.”

Isaac had planned to go to Evergarde with Silverna for training and to check on Alois.

Naturally, that meant traveling with the Grandmaster as well.

“Look after my things. I’d hate to see them scratched,”

the Grandmaster said, referring to her massive sword. Isaac nodded in agreement.

There was something he wanted to say—he just didn’t know how or when.

But just as he drew a deep breath to speak—

“Isn’t it fortunate?”

The Grandmaster preempted him, wearing a faint smile.

“The princess of an entire kingdom offered to help find my fellow disciples. Just think of that.”

“…….”

“I’ve heard you don’t really know where your master is, either.”

“…….”

“Haha, this is great news, isn’t it? You can look forward to seeing your master again.”

Isaac’s mouth closed of its own accord.

No, it had to close—because every word from the Grandmaster sounded like a plea to let her keep hoping.

In the end, Isaac slipped back out of the carriage without much conversation.

That longing not to forget one’s fellow disciples and friends…

“…….”

Only a moment ago, Isaac had asked the princess to move Milli—buried in an unmarked grave near Helmut—to a communal cemetery managed by the capital’s church.

’Am I really… all that different…?”

Faced with the Grandmaster’s tenacious clinging to past bonds, he found himself at a loss for words.

– – The End of The Chapter – –

 

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