Laughter in the Early Dawn
The dawn arrived prematurely with laughter. The Mallidan Wall lay silent in the darkness, slumbering peacefully. In the farthest corner, a faint fire flickered like a matchstick. It was Antonio, lighting a cigarette before starting the day's forge work in front of his smithy. He exhaled a bitter plume of smoke as he recalled yesterday's outburst at the border guard.
"I knew it wouldn't work out, but damn, it's even more bitter than I thought."
The incarnation of the sword, as chosen by the gods. What greater honor for a blacksmith than to forge with his own hands the weapon that would fell the Helmonts? 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'd been shocked and tried to dissuade him. How could handing a sword to a man who'd never proven himself beat the Helmonts? Antonio hadn't been able to refute them properly. It was purely a gut investment, after all.
But I want to try it.
Yet Antonio felt drawn to Isaac more intensely than ever. Vision.
That guy's got vision.
Not just confidence in some distant future self, but profound, unique reflections on the sword—coupled with an eerily violent greed. He didn't know where it came from, but it was like a ghost of someone who'd died without ever swinging a blade: desperate, tenacious. Of course, if sheer grit alone could topple the Helmonts, anyone could have done it.
"Antonio."
A subtle feminine voice slipped into the dawn air.
"Miss?"
There stood Silberna Kaldias, her spear slung over her shoulder.
"Heading out on duty?"
Antonio stubbed out his cigarette and asked. Silberna shook her head slightly.
"No, I had something I wanted to ask."
"Hm? Me?"
She hesitated a moment, then spoke carefully, lest anyone overhear.
"Why are you so obsessed with making Isaac's sword?"
"Huh."
"He's growing, sure, but not enough to warrant melting down frost silver ore for it."
Isaac had indeed grown. He'd racked up a high win rate in spars with the dispatched nobles now. And in stamina training, he'd gone from dead last to leading the pack. His steep ascent stimulated everyone around him.
But was he exceptional enough to justify a treasure like frost silver ore? No.
"Heh."
Regretting the wasted cigarette, Antonio swallowed hard.
"You could call it a new challenge. He's asking for a taedo I've never made before."
"……."
"And he's challenging himself too. You might say he's too young, but I wanted to dip a toe into that challenge myself."
A mundane reason. He figured it wouldn't land well, but Silberna actually empathized. She'd asked precisely because she felt something similar and wanted to sort it out.
"Antonio."
With resolve, Silberna handed over her spear.
"Use this."
"Miss?"
Silberna's spear. Forged from frost silver ore.
"I'm sorry to ask you to melt a spear you made, but you can do it, right?"
"Miss, that's a dangerous thing to say. Even so—"
"Says the guy who stormed up to the border guard and picked a fight?"
"……."
Antonio fell silent. Hiding a smile in the predawn gloom, Silberna continued.
"Please."
He sensed the emotion in her voice wasn't mere whim like his own. Touched by the affection she hid within, Antonio could only accept the spear without reply.
"Thank you."
With that, Silberna retraced her steps.
What a strange feeling.
Silberna honestly assessed her state. Far from regretting giving away her precious spear, she felt inadequate for offering so little. This is affection. This is unrequited love.
"It's fine."
She looked up at the sky with a radiant smile. Beyond the Mallidan Wall, the rising sun peeked out, shining on her in approval.
"I can't walk beside you."
But be grateful to help even a little on your path.
"It's fine."
Be content knowing my secret love rests in your advancing hand.
"This is enough!"
A refreshing breeze ruffled her hair in response to her hearty shout. A crisp new day began.
"Sharen."
"Sis?!"
Early morning. Sharen Helmont jumped in surprise as Lianna Helmont entered her room. Knowing Lianna shared quarters with the maids, Sharen's shoulders tensed at the fear of losing her own room.
"Wh-what is it?!"
But ignoring Sharen's needless panic, Lianna handed over a neatly folded envelope-like letter.
"Here. My thoughts on Isaac's sword."
"Aha."
Relieved her room was safe, Sharen took it. She debated opening it but decided to skip it.
"Sharen, I heard your group's switching to full recon duty like the others."
"Yeah? Right, giant assassinations are getting predictable, so we're going full recon."
"I see."
Her voice carried complex emotions. Lianna gently stroked Sharen's hair.
"Be careful, Sharen."
"S-sis?"
"I'd love to come, but I'd draw too much attention."
"Right?"
"Please. Protect Isaac for me."
At Lianna's request, Sharen's eyes sparkled as she nodded vigorously.
"Of course! Don't worry, sis!"
It was rare for Lianna to ask a favor, so Sharen replied excitedly. The sight lightened Lianna's heart a bit.
Was she always this bright?
Back at the Helmont estate, Lianna hadn't noticed. She'd seen her as just an immature brat. But seeing her light up from a simple head pat...
"Sharen."
Lianna decided to push further.
"Yeah?"
"When you use Crimson Flame Wave, your Red Aura fades in color, right? That's bothering you."
"Huh? How'd you know?!"
Sharen's Red Aura sometimes took on a reddish-brown hue—a major worry for her. Helmont Red Aura was supposed to be rose-red.
"Don't obsess over it. That color will become your Red Aura."
"B-but Dad's isn't like that."
"You're not Dad."
"Well... true?"
"Let it flow naturally. Don't get fixated. Helmont swordsmanship isn't about clinging to something. Or striving to become something."
To be Helmont meant...
Not striving for greatness.
But being destined for it. Not forcing it, 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 grabbed her sword excitedly. It was a nice sight, but Lianna added her usual nagging once more.
"And. Never tell anyone about me and Isaac. No slip-ups."
"I know! You and Isaac both treat me like an idiot."
Something feels off.
"Nothing big today. Easy mission to give us a break after all the grind."
At the rear wall facing the kingdom—while the front raged in fierce battle, the rear was barely used, almost pristine by comparison.
"Just hit up nearby villages and collect simple taxes."
Silberna boasted proudly. Everyone tilted their heads at her insistence on duty even if hordes came.
"Why us?"
Sharen raised her hand. Silberna nodded, calling it a good question.
"It's not really about taxes. Even if we collect, it's pocket change."
Silberna slung her spear over her shoulder with a grin.
"Real purpose is patrol for reassurance. Villages are buzzing from the hordes, but tell 'em we're guarding, so relax."
"Aha? Sounds annoying."
"You—keep your mouth shut there. Commander's orders."
Sharen's voice was swiftly silenced.
"Anyway, reassure the village heads as we go. I've got some Kaldias symbolism, y'know?"
Having torn through front lines, this was basically a day off.
"Let's hustle and get it done today."
Silberna pointed to the tethered horses. Thus, Recon Team 5 escaped the intense battlefield for a day. As they loaded packs, 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 need to swing it today anyway."
Even Anna, who knew Silberna well, hadn't anticipated her melting her own spear.
"Got it."
She brushed it off. The others mounted up, chatting idly.
"Happened in Helmont too."
Jonathan, astride his horse, smiled at Isaac.
"We'd go handle bandits or beasts in nearby villages."
"Ah, yeah. Sure."
Isaac's expression darkened briefly. Meladic jumped in awkwardly.
"Helmont? Bandits wouldn't dare."
"Thought so too, but these idiots were too dumb to know it was Helmont land."
"Ha, so they rob to survive."
Pure noble response. Worlds differ, after all.
They rode toward nearby villages.
First stop: Andes Village. Farthest from the wall, so they'd hit distant ones first and loop back.
"......My back hurts."
Isaac muttered, tapping his lower back atop his horse. Three swords hung there: two taedos and Pulse Blade.
Trials broke easily, so two taedos; Pulse for emergencies.
"Kinda brutish, carrying that many."
Anna chuckled dryly; Isaac smiled wryly.
"Till I get a proper one, probably."
"Hope Antonio pulls through."
"Lighter than Helmont greatswords, at least."
"Really?"
Anna eyed Jonathan and Sharen's greatswords in surprise. She'd want to try one later.
Silberna, leading, cleared her throat.
"Ahem, he'll make it quick. Antonio's an amazing smith."
"Still takes time."
"No! Don't underestimate him. It'll be amazing."
"……."
Her firmness puzzled them, but she just shrugged without explaining.
As Recon Team 5 entered Andes Village...
"......Dismount. All of you."
Silberna ordered sharply at the acrid stench. Thick, layered blood reeked; flies buzzed noisily overhead.
The wall saw few casualties anyway. But this was worse than the battlefield: rotting corpses, writhing maggots.
Weapons drawn, they entered. Piled bodies of villagers.
"Recent."
"Eyes, hands—specific parts carved out."
Isaac and Anna assessed coldly. Others fought rage or dry-heaved.
"Kek."
A sound from behind. They turned.
Source: one of their own.
"Heh heh."
"He's an unpleasant man."
Naturally, the Helmont knight's words resurfaced.
"We go to nearby villages for support often."
"Kek, heh heh."
"Sometimes, sadly, villagers get caught up."
"Heh heh, ah, s-sip! Khuh! Kkhuhk!"
"Every time. Especially... when there are many victims."
"Ahk! Hahk! Ah, shit! Keehihk! Ahhheuhuhu!"
"He laughs at it. Like he's enjoying 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 till it tore. Not suppressing laughter—no, it wasn't forced. A natural, beaming smile he tried to hide, not stifle.
"Sip, huha hu... Pfft! Keehihik!"
Bent over, face buried, yet Jonathan's chilling laughter showed no sign of stopping.