Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Laughter Amid the Carnage
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Early dawn.
The Mallidan Wall lay silent and shrouded in darkness.
In the farthest corner, a faint fire flickered like a matchstick.
Antonio lit a cigarette before starting the day's work in front of the forge.
He exhaled the smoke bitterly, recalling yesterday's outburst before the Margrave.
"I knew it wouldn't work, but it's even more bitter than I thought."
The incarnation of the sword as decreed by the gods.
What greater honor for a blacksmith than to forge with his own hands the one destined to surpass the Helmunt family?
Antonio, unwilling to let this chance slip away, pondered other paths.
"It's strange, isn't it?"
In truth, when his disciples heard the story, they were shocked and tried to dissuade him.
A man who had never shown any real promise—handing him a sword wouldn't make him capable of defeating the Helmunt family.
Even Antonio couldn't muster a proper rebuttal.
It was purely an investment based on gut feeling.
'But I want to try.'
Yet Antonio felt a stronger pull toward Isaac than ever before.
Potential.
'That kid has potential.'
Not just now, but actions brimming with confidence in his distant future self.
Deep reflections on the sword unlike others, coupled with an eerily violent greed.
He didn't know where it came from, but it was as if a vengeful spirit of someone who died unable to swing a sword possessed him—desperate yet tenacious.
Of course, mere tenacity wouldn't topple the Helmunt family; anyone could win if it were that simple.
"Antonio."
A subtle feminine voice slipped into the dawn air.
"Young Lady?"
There stood Silberna, her spear slung over her shoulder.
"Heading out on patrol?"
Antonio stubbed out his cigarette and asked. Silberna shook her head slightly.
"No, I just had something I wanted to ask."
"Hm? To me?"
After a brief hesitation, Silberna spoke carefully, mindful of eavesdroppers.
"Why are you so obsessed with Isaac's sword?"
"Well."
"He's growing, sure, but he's not that impressive to warrant handing over Frost Silver Ore for a blade."
Isaac had indeed grown.
He now boasted a high win rate in spars with the dispatched nobles.
And in stamina training, he'd gone from near-last to leading the pack.
His steep ascent stimulated many.
But was he exceptional enough for a treasure like Frost Silver Ore?
No.
"Heh."
Regretting the wasted cigarette, Antonio swallowed hard.
"You could call it a new challenge. The sword he wants is something I've never forged before."
"......"
"And he's challenging himself too. You might say it's beyond his age, but I wanted to dip a toe into that challenge."
A trivial reason.
He thought his explanation fell flat, but Silberna empathized.
She'd felt something similar and sought to clarify it by asking him.
"Antonio."
With resolve, Silberna handed over her spear.
"Use this."
"Young Lady?"
Silberna's spear.
A weapon forged from Frost Silver Ore.
"I'm sorry to ask you to melt a spear you made, but you can do it, right?"
"Young Lady, that's a very dangerous thing to say. Even so—"
"You're saying that after charging up to the Margrave and picking a fight?"
"......"
Antonio fell silent.
Hiding a smile in the pre-dawn gloom, Silberna continued.
"Please."
Antonio sensed the emotions in her voice weren't purely his own impulsive drive.
Overwhelmed by the hidden affection, he could only accept the spear without reply.
"Thank you."
With that, Silberna retraced her steps.
'What a strange feeling.'
Silberna honestly assessed her state.
Despite giving away her precious spear, she felt regret that this was all she could do.
This is affection.
This is unrequited love.
"It's fine."
She looked up at the sky with a bright smile.
Beyond the Mallidan Wall, the sunrise peeked over the horizon, shining down as if in praise.
"I can't walk beside you."
Be grateful for being able to help a little on your path.
"It's enough."
Be content that my secret affection rests in your advancing hand.
"This is enough!"
A refreshing breeze swept through her hair in response to her hearty shout.
A crisp new day began.
"Sharen."
"Sis?!"
Early morning.
Sharen jumped in surprise at Rianna's visit to her room.
Ever since learning Rianna shared quarters with the maids, Sharen had worried her own room might be next.
Her shoulders tensed.
"W-What's up?!"
Ignoring Sharen's needless panic, Rianna handed over a neatly folded envelope-like letter.
"Here. My thoughts on Isaac's sword."
"Ah."
Relieved her room was safe, Sharen took it.
She debated opening it but decided to let it be.
"Sharen, I heard your group is switching to full external scouting like the others."
"Yeah? Right, Giant assassinations are getting predictable, so we're going full recon."
"I see."
Her voice carried complex emotions.
Rianna gently stroked Sharen's hair.
"Be careful, Sharen."
"S-Sis?"
"I'd love to come along, but it'd draw too much attention."
"Right?"
"Please, protect Isaac for me."
At Rianna's request, Sharen's eyes sparkled as she nodded vigorously.
"Of course! Don't worry, Sis!"
It was the first time Rianna had asked a favor like this, exciting Sharen into a loud reply.
The sight lightened Rianna's heart a bit.
'Was she always this bright?'
Back at Helmunt, she hadn't noticed.
She'd seen her as just a clueless brat.
But seeing her light up from a simple head pat...
"Sharen."
Rianna decided to take it a step further.
"Yeah?"
"When you use Crimson Wave, your Red Aura fades— that's bothering you, right?"
"Huh, how'd you know?!"
Sharen's Red Aura sometimes took on a dull crimson hue, a major worry for her.
Helmunt's Red Aura was a vivid rose red.
"Don't get too hung up on it. That color will become your unique Red Aura."
"B-But Dad's isn't like that."
"You're not Dad."
"Well... true?"
"Don't worry—just let it flow naturally. Helmunt swordsmanship isn't about fixating on something. It's not about striving to become anything."
To be Helmunt meant...
Not one who strives for greatness.
But one who cannot be anything less.
Not forcing something, but infusing the blade purely with one's own essence.
"Don't get trapped in a mold. That's... why he doesn't acknowledge us."
"......"
"Too hard?"
Sharen shook her head.
"Nah, I'll try! Thanks, Sis!"
"Good."
Sharen excitedly grabbed her sword.
It was heartwarming, but Rianna added her usual nagging once more.
"And. Never breathe a word about me or Isaac to anyone. No slip-ups."
"I know! You and Isaac both treat me like an idiot."
'Why am I still so uneasy?'
"Nothing much today. Easy mission to let us rest after all the hard work."
At the rear wall facing the kingdom.
The front raged with fierce combat, but the rear was barely used—like an entrance—and pristine compared to the front.
"Just hit up nearby villages and collect simple taxes."
Silberna boasted smugly.
Despite the Great Horde, duties must go on, but the group tilted their heads.
"Why us?"
Sharen raised her hand. Silberna nodded, calling it a good question.
"Not really about taxes. Even if we collect, it's pocket change."
Silberna slung her spear over her shoulder with a grin.
"Real goal's patrol for reassurance. Things are chaotic with the Horde, but tell 'em we're guarding, so no worries."
"Ah? Sounds annoying."
"You—keep your mouth shut out there. Captain's orders."
Sharen's speaking rights revoked in an instant.
"Anyway, reassure the village heads as we go. I'm kinda symbolic from Caldias, y'know?"
After rampaging on the front lines, this was basically a break.
"Let's hustle and get through the day."
Silberna pointed to the tethered horses.
Thus, Recon Team 5 escaped the intense battlefield for a day.
As they loaded gear, Anna sidled up to Silberna.
"Miss, where's your usual spear?"
"Oh? Uh, left it behind. Figured I'd get used to a different one."
"Hm? Really? That's new."
"No spear-swinging today anyway."
Even Anna, who knew Silberna well, hadn't anticipated her melting her own spear.
"Got it."
She brushed it off as nothing.
The others mounted, chatting idly.
"This happened at Helmunt too."
Jonathan, atop his horse, smiled at Isaac.
"We'd go deal with bandits or beasts in nearby villages."
"Ah, yeah. Sure."
Isaac's face darkened briefly.
Meladic jumped in to cover the awkward reply.
"Helmunt? Bandits wouldn't dare, right?"
"Thought so too, but these idiots are so dumb they didn't even know it was Helmunt territory."
"Sigh, so they turn to banditry."
Pure noble attitude.
Well, worlds differ.
Anyway.
They spurred their horses toward the nearest village and set off together.
The first stop: Andes Village.
First in name only—the farthest from the wall.
Plan was to hit the distant ones first, then loop back sequentially.
"......My back hurts."
Isaac muttered, tapping his lower back from horseback.
Three swords hung at his waist.
Two practice blades and one Pearl Thread.
Practice ones broke easily, so two for spares; Pearl Thread for after those snapped.
"Carrying them like that's kinda brutish."
Anna chuckled dryly; Isaac gave a wry smile.
"Probably till I get a proper one."
"Hope Antonio pulls through."
"Still lighter than Helmunt greatswords."
"Really?"
Anna eyed Jonathan and Sharen's greatswords in surprise. She'd probably ask to try one later.
Silberna, leading, cleared her throat and cut in.
"Ahem, he'll make it soon. Antonio's an amazing blacksmith."
"Takes time, though."
"No! Don't underestimate him. He'll make something incredible."
"......"
Her firmness puzzled them, but she just shrugged without explaining.
As Recon Team 5 entered Andes Village...
"......Everyone dismount."
Silberna ordered sharply at the acrid stench assaulting their noses.
Layered blood reek hung heavy; flies buzzed deafeningly over the village sky.
The Mallidan Wall had few casualties overall.
But this was far worse than the battlefield—rotting corpses and writhing maggots.
Weapons drawn, they entered to find piled village bodies.
"Recent."
"Eyes, hands—specific parts carved out."
Isaac and Anna assessed coldly.
The others fought rising fury or dry-heaved.
"Kek."
A sound from behind made them turn.
Source: one of their own.
"Heh heh."
Naturally.
A Helmunt knight's words resurfaced.
[He's an unpleasant man.]
Isaac hadn't thought it mere youngest-child bullying.
Helmunt knights valued chivalry, after all.
[We often aid nearby villages.]
"Heh, heh heh."
[Sadly, villagers get caught up sometimes.]
"Heh heh, ah, heuk! Khuh!"
[Every time. Especially... when casualties are high.]
"Ahk! Hah! F-Fuck! Kihehe! Ahhgh!"
[He laughs at it. Like he enjoys it.]
Isaac doubted if the man before him was truly the naive knight he'd traveled with.
Was he even human?
In this scene.
"Kuhahaha! Ack! S-Sorry—! Ahahaha!"
Even covering his mouth with both hands, he laughed hysterically.
Not suppressing laughter.
Not forcing it down.
A natural, beaming smile.
Hiding it, not holding it back.
"Heuk, hahaha... Pfft! Kihehe!"
Bent double, face covered.
Jonathan's chilling laughter showed no sign of stopping.