Chapter 108: Reunion After Half a Year

“ISAAAAAAAC!”

His excited rush looked almost pitiful. It was clear that he had been waiting for this moment for so long to come running like that.

Isaac let out a sigh, smacking his forehead, covering his face with his hands.

“He really likes you.”

“So embarrassing…! That person isn’t my brother!”

The Grandmaster looked at Isaac with a sly smile, while Sharen, similar to Isaac, covered her face with her hands, pretending not to see.

“Finally, you’ve come! Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you?! I’m gonna show you the greatness of Helmont—!”

Now that the madman of Helmont—Alois—is dead, is he trying to take his place?

Lohengrin came running, pushing aside the soldiers with thundering steps.

As if he could only see Isaac and not much else.

But the one who confronted him wasn’t Isaac, but an old veteran.

Lord Eisenwolf, the commander of the troops.

His warhorse snorted as it looked down at Lohengrin, and similarly, Eisenwolf glared down at the young Helmont with disapproval.

“Lohengrin Helmont, it’s been a while.”

“…Lord Eisenwolf.”

Lohengrin, whose head had been burning with excitement, suddenly calmed down. He bit his lip tightly, trying to contain the Crimson Essence emanating from his body.

“What rude conduct you’ve just shown me. Should I take this as a sign that Helmont had fallen so far?”

“N-No, that’s not it.”

It was normal for an army to run on seniority.

After all, in war, experience took precedence.

So, even Lohengrin couldn’t act carelessly toward a veteran on the verge of retirement.

Besides, without Arandel, Helmont was not in a position where everyone would turn a blind eye to their reckless behavior.

“Join the ranks.”

“Understood.”

Lohengrin trudged back to join the rest of the truth. But even as he did, his eyes darted around, looking for Isaac’s whereabouts.

“Isaac, keep your head down! Don’t let him come here!”

“Already doing that.”

Meanwhile, Isaac and Sharen both kept their heads bowed low, pretending not to see the guy.

“Seriously! I’m gonna die of embarrassment!”

Sharen especially, kept her really low, irritated by his embarrassing behaviour.

At times like this, she really gave off the impression of a girl her age.

But, even though Lohengrin was shunned by his family, there was a group that was willing to take care of him.

The Blue Stream Society.

“Lord Lohengrin, come this way. I’ll lend you a horse.”

“Hahaha, why do you look so excited?”

“With the reliable eldest son of Helmont present, this northern expedition will go on smoothly!”

After all, they were a society that consisted of young nobles.

Since Lohengrin was around the same age as them, it was only natural for them to take him in.

Actually, they seemed to be already acquainted with each other.

“Ah, right.”

But Lohengrin didn’t seem particularly interested in them.

“Oh, that’s interesting.”

Seeing at the Blue Stream Society, the Grandmaster’s eyes curved like crescent moons.

Because while the members of the Blue Stream Society were welcoming Lohengrin, there was one man who kept his mouth shut.

Leian Reeves.

The leader of the Blue Stream Society himself didn’t seem to be pleased with Lohengrin joining.

He probably thought that his position would be shaken.

“Isn’t it amusing? They end up squabbling among themselves.”

When the Grandmaster asked with a smile, Isaac glanced in that direction, letting out a deeper smile.

“They’re gonna realize.”

Blue Stream Society or whatever…

This isn’t a situation where they could worry about such things.

A few minutes later, the expeditionary force arrived at the northern frontline.

Though it was a temporary frontline, the palisades looked worn, and the scent of blood and the cawing of crows pervaded the air, suggesting that the standoff here had lasted for a long time.

Not long after, the temporary commander of the northern frontline, Rianna Helmont, came out to greet them.

Despite her young age, she had earned her position due to her being a Helmont.

“…”

The moment Isaac caught sight of her from a distance, he felt a strange sensation.

She looked the same as he remembered.

Her beautiful red hair, her deep, blood-red eyes, her rigid and expressionless face…

And lastly, her rose-like beauty.

Rianna approached Eisenwolf, holding a baton in her hand.

Eisenwolf also dismounted from his warhorse and greeted her.

“It’s been a while, Rianna Helmont. You’ve become even more beautiful.”

“I’m relieved to see that you’re still in good health, Lord Eisenwolf. With this, I’m transferring the command of this place to you.”

“Hmm.”

Rianna was, as mentioned, just a temporary commander.

So, it was natural for her to pass the baton to the much more experienced Eisenwolf.

The first thing Eisenwolf did after assuming the position of the commander-in-chief was…

“Rianna Helmont. As the family head of Helmont, you shouldn’t tarnish Helmont’s name.”

To establish discipline.

“Could you please elaborate?”

“Hmph.”

With a displeased expression, Eisenwolf jerked his chin, and at the end of his gesture was Lohengrin, mixed in with the Blue Stream Society.

Understanding the situation, Rianna’s blood-red eyes gradually widened.

Crunch.

She bit her lip and bowed her head in apology.

“Please forgive me, Lord Eisenwolf. I see that a member of my family has been discourteous. I will educate him properly.”

“Remember that this is a crucial time for Helmont. If you fail to maintain its core, the prestige your father had built up will collapse in an instant.”

“Thank you for the wise advice.”

Eisenwolf, who had been staring at Rianna, nodded with a slight smile.

“I’ll be watching you.”

It didn’t take long for the expeditionary force to be deployed to the temporary frontline.

As for why it was called the temporary frontline…

It was because they intentionally didn’t advance forward.

Rianna had enough force to push northward, but doing so would extend the frontline and delay the main force from joining.

She had been deliberately conserving strength while holding the Demonic Beasts’ advances in this place, all so that they could advance at once the moment the main force joined.

Right now, the leaders were in a meeting.

Unfortunately, Isaac wasn’t in a position to attend, so he was just waiting outside, setting up his tent.

“Isaac… Can you set it up somewhere with more sunlight…?”

Looking at Sharen, who said such words beside him, Isaac threw her an incredulous look.

“You’re not gonna sleep here.”

“Why?! We slept next to each other often the last time we were here in the North!”

“That was because the situation was urgent.”

She was talking about when Uldiran and the others went to subjugate Brikala while they were manning the wall.

Back then, he was sandwiched between Sharen and Jonathan while they were asleep.

Right, I wonder how Jonathan is doing?

At that moment, he remembered that Sister Helia Bell, the one who took care of Jonathan when he was a kid, had something to give him—

“Sir Isaaaaac!”

Suddenly, he was embraced from the back, making him lean forward.

Though startled, when he realized who it was from their warm, affectionate voice, he couldn’t help but let out a smile.

“Jonathan, have you been well?”

“Sir Isaac! Ah! I really wanted to see you! I’ve been doing very well! Every day, I’ve been trying my best to become a knight worthy of the Helmont name—!”

“Helmont isn’t that frivolous.”

Ignoring Sharen’s grumbling from the side, Jonathan continued to greet Isaac enthusiastically.

Thinking that this was a good opportunity, Isaac took out something from his luggage; the thing that he received from Helia Bell.

“Here, Sister Helia asked me to give this to you.”

“Sister did what?!”

It was a rosary.

Jonathan, seemingly moved, held back his tears as he put on the rosary with the symbol of the goddess Helia served.

“I should visit her sometimes. I’ve been wanting to go, but I haven’t got the time.”

“Sure. Come visit Evergard sometimes. You can stay at my mansion.”

“As expected of Baron Logan~!”

Jonathan changed his form of address to tease him as he smiled brightly.

He used to be a bullied knight, but looking at him now, he had become quite dignified.

Not only that, he seemed to be hiding his condition well despite the lingering blood and corpses around them.

“How’s the situation?”

“Don’t even ask! This whole thing makes me realize how precious the Malidean Wall was—”

“ISAAAAAAAC!”

“Ugh, seriously…?”

Sharen covered her face again hearing that shout. She didn’t want to see her embarrassing brother’s face.

“I can’t believe we share the same bloodline…”

The harsh muttering from the side didn’t make Lohengrin hesitate in the slightest.

“You! Draw your sword right now! I’m gonna avenge the humiliation and disgrace of my past!”

“…It’s been a while.”

“You must’ve grown stronger too, right? But, unfortunately for you, Helmont’s steps are massive! Soon, I’m going to crush through your petty tricks!”

“…You seem to be in good health.”

“…Someone, please, just kill him.”

Just like before, Sharen’s plea went unheard.

“Come! Your tachi will eventually kneel before my greatsword, and you’ll see the true Helmont–!”

“You’re on a friendly term with the Blue Stream Society, it seems?”

“Hm? What do those bugs have to do with anything? A tiger won’t mix with a bunch of puppies.”

“That’s a Helmont-like answer.”

At Isaac’s murmur, Sharen lifted her head and pouted.

“That isn’t!”

“But what do those bug-like bastards have to do with— Oho?”

As if he had noticed something, Lohengrin grinned, nodding his head a few times.

“I see, I see.”

“Can you shut up already?!”

“Sharen! I’m your brother! How dare you use that kind of tone with me?!”

“Inferno Surge!”

“Urgh!”

At that moment, they unleashed their Inferno Surge against each other’s. But, it didn’t take long for Sharen’s to be overwhelmed by Lohengrin’s and disappear.

“You’ve become somewhat useful, but you still have a long way to go.”

“Tsk.”

Lohengrin puffed up his chest with pride and returned to Isaac.

“You’re concerned about those bugs because of Rianna, right?”

“What?”

“I know, I know. Those guys are targeting her, I can tell. But, why do you care, though? Are you still concerned about her, after all, Sir Ex-Husband?”

“What are you—”

“Rianna is still of marriageable age. Though she’s a divorcee, she is still a Helmont. There are suitors lining up for the position, and as the family head, it’s undesirable for her to remain single for so long. She needs an heir. But, you know that, don’t you?”

“…”

“They didn’t say it, but like I said, many nobles here are targeting her—”

“So this is where you were.”

At that moment, an emotionless voice pierced their ears.

Everyone immediately turned their gazes at the owner of that voice; Rianna, who had finished her meeting and was standing impassively behind Lohengrin.

“Lohengrin. Lord Eisenwolf had mentioned something to me and I need to talk to you about it. Follow me.”

“…Fine.”

“Manners. This is an official place.”

“Under…stood… Family Head.”

Lohengrin gritted his teeth.

It was obvious that he was going to get a severe scolding.

After all, just a while ago, he got reprimanded by Eisenwolf out in the open.

As Lohengrin stepped aside, the former husband and wife faced each other.

Isaac let out an awkward smile and was about to open his mouth to greet her first, but…

“It’s been—“

“Sharen, you too, come with me. You’re currently away from home, but you’re still a Helmont. I command you to act as a part of Helmont in this frontline.”

“Huh? But, I don’t—”

“Sharen.”

Hearing her sister calling her name impassively, Sharen pouted but nodded eventually.

“Yes, Family Head.”

Then she left Isaac’s side and stood next to Rianna.

Finally…

Rianna stared at Isaac. With a voice devoid of any emotion, she…

“It’s been a while, Baron Logan.”

Greeted him.

Isaac was slightly surprised by that greeting, but…

He just let out a bitter smile and bowed his head.

“I greet the family head of Helmont.”

“Damn it! I got caught because of you!”

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

“You? Did you just call your brother ‘You’?”

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

“Act like a proper brother if you don’t want me to call you that!”

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

What is this?

What is this sound?

At one point, the noises in her ears covered the noises that Lohengrin and Sharen made as they bickered.

When she realized that it was the pounding of her heart, Rianna’s face turned into a deep shade of red.

Isaac Logan, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.

The one whom she occasionally—

No, oftenly.

That wasn’t quite right either. At least once a day.

The ex-husband whom she thought of daily.

Due to this, she thought that she could stay calm even if she were to see him again.

Since they were strangers, it would be right to draw a line between them and act accordingly.

And she did a stellar job at that. But…

Did I look strange?

Inside, she was burning with anxiety.

I-I was too nervous because it’s been so long.

Her eyes trembled.

That brief moment made her tremble more than when she faced a Demonic Beast.

It had only been half a year.

But, she noticed the subtle changes in Isaac’s appearance.

His previously thin frame was now decorated with some muscles, and his shoulders had begun to broaden.

His ponytail was more neatly trimmed, exuding dignity.

His appearance, bearing the traces of various hardships, emanated a mysterious weight.

Just how…?

Rianna was bewildered.

Because her ex-husband, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time…

How did he become so handsome?!

Had become too handsome.