Chapter 92: Escort

“Fascinating. Indeed, I once tried to wield a sword with my tail in the past.”

“You told me that was one of your dark histories.”

The pair were sipping alcohol together while conversing.

Stories that were the past for one and the future for the other flowed back and forth for a while.

After draining her cup, the Grandmaster nodded with a bitter smile.

“I had no intention of denying it anymore, but after this talk, I really have no choice but to believe in your story of regression.”

Isaac refilled the Grandmaster’s cup.

Sharing the secret he had been holding in his heart made him feel more at ease.

“So, the knowledge of swordsmanship you possess was something that you accumulated during the time you were known as the Ink Sword?”

“Yes. You always called me a child chasing after the stars.”

“…”

Hearing that, the Grandmaster let out a bitter laugh before chuckling in resignation.

“So that’s why they sparkled so beautifully…”

“Pardon?”

“You know, there are stars reflected in your eyes. Captivating stars…”

“…”

To be acknowledged for his efforts in chasing after the stars.

Though embarrassed, Isaac felt a sense of pride.

The Grandmaster, who had once lamented the loss of his leg and spoke of his potential.

In truth, every time he heard her praises, he doubted her.

He always wondered if he could truly become the skilled practitioner she expected had his leg been whole.

It feels good.

Hence why he felt so pleased after being acknowledged like this. The slight tipsiness he felt just added to the feeling.

“I’ve been thinking about it.”

The Grandmaster stared at Isaac, licking her lips.

Her expression was one of relief, as if a complex knot had been untangled.

“You said I had many disciples and never spoke about the past.”

“Yes.”

Not only that, she also hadn’t been heavily involved in the war.

Instead, she assumed a somewhat passive attitude towards most things. Even when their necks were at sword-point, she only accepted it calmly.

“I think…my future self has faced a deep disappointment.”

“Disappointment?”

“Disappointment for humanity.”

For a moment, Isaac recalled the time when they were walking on the night streets of Volten.

Back when the people of Volten were charging at them, when the Grandmaster held back her tears as she tried to stop those people.

[Enough…already…]

[This just makes their words seem right…]

At the time, the situation had been so urgent that he was forced to let it pass.

But now that he had the time to think about it, those were words that he shouldn’t have easily overlooked.

“That’s probably why I decided to live in seclusion. Just taking on disciples while waiting for the day I’d die. Living that kind of life.”

“…”

“I can’t see any other reason why I’d take on so many disciples.”

Since she was the one who said those words herself, Isaac found it hard to deny. In fact, the Grandmaster at that time refused to join the kingdom’s forces, even at Princess Clarisse’s request.

Now that he heard all that…

Honestly, I always thought that her choice back then was strange.

So, there was this kind of story behind it.

“But this time, one thing has changed.”

A crescent moon-like smile formed on her lips.

“I decided to believe in you.”

She gently extended her cup and clinked it against Isaac’s.

“And so, I chose to stand on the side of humanity.”

Then, she declared her participation in the upcoming war against the Transcendent Race.

Isaac stared blankly at the Grandmaster for a moment, then bowed his head with a bright smile.

“Thank you.”

“…”

About a month had passed since the Volten incident.

Right now, Sharen was staring blankly at the sky.

All this time, she had been spending her time at Isaac’s mansion in Evergard.

Since then, several events had occurred.

For one, the marriage proposals for Isaac had stopped.

As claims arose that the massacre he did in Volten was way too excessive, his reputation had taken a hit.

It wasn’t that what he did was wrong, people were just claiming that there were issues with how he resolved that incident.

Isaac didn’t feel wronged by this, though.

Since he knew that only people who had seen the madness-consumed scene could understand why he did what he did.

Regardless, all those rumors of his cruel tendencies became the catalyst for his rising name to falter a bit.

It’s been three months since Isaac left Helmont.

Sitting in a chair, Sharen muttered absentmindedly. She was bored, terribly so.

She could practice her swordsmanship, but that was something she did every day.

Despite talks of the Transcendent Race declaring war on humanity, they had been spending their time leisurely ever since then.

Maybe it was all just a lie?

Who knows, maybe those Transcendent Race are just imaginary creatures!

Sharen herself knew.

That she was just thinking nonsense.

Because she had seen them on the battlefield herself.

“Hmm hmm~”

Sharen hummed to herself, shaking her head from side to side.

The capital had many bakeries, so her taste buds had been enjoying their stay here. Although, since she had no money and was receiving an allowance from Isaac, she was eating in moderation.

“Ah, right!”

Suddenly, she stood and went into the mansion.

In the dining room, there were two people having a conversation over tea.

They were Isaac and Princess Clarisse.

“It’s just like the information you brought back, Isaac. When we investigated the nobles with disabled children, various matters arose.”

“Just as what the Belling Waltz had said, those guys tempted the nobles with healing or physical enhancement using sorcery as bait.”

“Yes. Adeline is thoroughly preparing behind the scenes.”

Sharen quietly approached them and grabbed Isaac from behind.

She successfully interrupted their important conversation, but neither of them got mad at her.

“Are you bored?”

“No, rather than that—“

She took one of the untouched snacks that were placed on the table and popped it into her mouth.

In no time, she ate it before beaming at him.

“If you’re not eating those, give them to me.”

Isaac glanced at Clarisse.

Noticing his gaze, she put a piece in her mouth, claiming that it was her share, before pushing the rest towards Sharen quietly, implying that she could take them all.

Sharen then took the snacks and went outside.

Isaac watched her back for a moment, then resumed his conversation with Clarisse.

“In any case, Princess Adeline’s influence is growing just as you intended, right?”

“Yep. I just provided her with the information, and she immediately took care of everything.”

Clarisse giggled, saying it was convenient.

But then, Sharen stormed into the dining room again.

“Oh! Oh no!”

Holding the plate of snacks, she rushed in.

Following behind her, a beautiful woman with a mature appearance entered.

Adeline Seraphia Regardia.

The First Princess.

“Princess?!”

“Sister?!”

The two stood up in surprise as Adeline greeted them with a gentle smile.

“It’s been a while isn’t it, Baron Logan? I told you to show your face once in a while, didn’t I?”

As Isaac was about to kneel on one knee, Clarisse grabbed his shoulder to stop him.

“The reason why I came here is because I knew you might try to make a move on him, Sister!”

“My, you aren’t holding anything back with your sister, are you?”

Princess Adeline sat in the remaining empty chair.

Before he knew it, both princesses had come to his mansion.

“Your exploit during the recent incident was impressive. I didn’t know you have such a side to you, Baron Logan.”

“It was a necessary measure given the circumstances at the time. If not for that, I would have been the one to die.”

The rioters, intoxicated by drugs, showed no hesitation regarding the act of murder.

“I have several swords with jewels encrusted on them in my possession, but what I really like to have is a single butcher knife, soaked in blood…”

Princess Adeline rested her chin on her hand, throwing an intense gaze at Isaac.

At that moment, a thin palm swiftly inserted itself between their locked gazes.

“No, no, no! I told you it’s not happening! Isaac is busy! He has a lot of things to do!”

“…A lot of things to do?”

Isaac frowned at Clarisse’s words, who smiled awkwardly, as if she had made a slip of the tongue.

“A…haha…”

“So you came here to give me a task? I see. That’s why you were being overly polite…”

“See? This child is like that. She doesn’t understand people’s hearts and only sees things in a calculative way.”

“A-Ahem.”

Clarisse cleared her throat awkwardly.

But then, as if something had irritated her, she snapped at Adeline.

“That aside, why did you come here?! I need to discuss important things with him right now!”

“So am I, Dear. I came here to talk with you.”

Adeline’s eyes settled calmly.

Like a serene lake…

They possessed a bewitching charm that made one unable to pry their eyes away from them.

“I came to tell you that you don’t need to sacrifice yourself.”

“…”

“With Baron Logan at the forefront, many nobles are putting in more work. Even the kingdom’s military power, which had been biased towards Helmont, is growing more balanced.”

“…”

“The North is solid, the South is fierce, and the Center is dignified. The kingdom is ready for them to come at any time.”

“…”

“If anything, it’s a little disappointing that we can’t attack them instead.”

Princess Adeline shrugged.

“So, Clarisse, you should think about it—“

“There are so many questions regarding those Transcendents that I can’t help but feel uneasy.”

Clarisse’s voice trembled as she said that.

“They’re a race that has no presence in the continent, and yet they have their own culture, history, and traditions, things that have to be built over a long time.”

The unknown.

Due to her inclination for gathering information, making judgments, and planning things ahead, the lack of information worried her.

The situation was riddled with things that she didn’t understand.

“Just as we had Arandel, they might have something as their trump card.”

“Clarisse…”

“So, Isaac.”

Princess Adeline called out to her, but Clarisse ignored that and looked at Isaac.

With a faint smile, Clarisse said her next words carefully.

“I…have decided on my marriage…”

“…!”

“Could I ask you to escort me to my groom?”