The Returning Sisters
“......”
“......”
Hearing that the Margrave had summoned him, Isaac rushed over in a flash. The giant man standing awkwardly before him—a figure so unworthy of the title Guardian God of the North—was nothing more than a doting father.
“How's the arm?”
The question sounded concerned, but his tone betrayed no such worry. It was as if he were testing the sword's durability. Isaac answered promptly.
“It hasn't healed yet. From what I heard, it'll take some time.”
“Khm!”
Uldiran made no effort to hide his disappointment. Casting aside his position as the kingdom's border guardian, he came off as rather sleazy.
“That's not why you called him here, is it?”
Selene Kaldias finally stepped in to mediate. At his wife's intervention, Uldiran cleared his throat awkwardly to lighten the mood and extended his hand.
Isaac handed over the sword at his waist: Revered and Beautiful Goddess Silberin.
Uldiran hefted it, swinging it this way and that, and let out a faint sound of admiration.
“Ho, it's remarkably light.”
“I made a special request. Since I'm lacking in raw strength, I asked for it to be as light as possible.”
“And you compensated for the reduced durability with frost silver ore?”
“......Yes.”
Uldiran then offered the sword to his wife. Selene took it and dashed out of the office without a word.
It was a predictable turn of events. Even if Silberna had gifted it to him, they couldn't carelessly let an item made of frost silver ore leak outside—especially not to a Helmont.
Uldiran, left standing there, looked down at Isaac and sighed.
“As you know, this isn't something we can just brush off.”
“I'm aware.”
“The key issue is that Silberna leaked it personally. I can't turn a blind eye to that.”
“......”
Was he troubled at the thought of punishing his own daughter? But if so, his expression was far too pleased.
“So, as far as you're concerned, you never received the sword. We'll let it slide like that.”
“Understood.”
If it had never existed in the first place, he wouldn't have minded. But having it and then losing it made Isaac all the more regretful. He tried to hide his feelings, but Uldiran saw right through him. The margrave grinned slyly and added,
“In exchange, it'll be presented to you officially at a formal occasion. As a reward for your recent merits.”
“......Pardon?”
As if this reaction was what he'd been waiting for, Uldiran's mouth stretched nearly to his ears. For all his massive frame, his expression was that of a five-year-old boy.
“I told you— the problem was giving it personally. Fortunately, plenty of people witnessed your exploits this time.”
“......”
“Sure, handing a frost silver sword to a Helmont son-in-law might raise some eyebrows. But so what? If anyone here has the guts to complain to my face, let them try.”
A declaration as bold as ripping open one's belly, possible only because they were in the isolated north of high society. And with his feats in repelling the great horde, it was hard to call Uldiran's actions unreasonable.
“I'll handle the royals. But your name might get tossed around a bit. Deal with that yourself.”
“......Thank you.”
“So, we'll keep it in our custody until the official presentation.”
He wasn't taking it away after all—just formalizing the process. Isaac's joy doubled. He'd been agonizing over how to explain the sword when he returned to the Helmonts, but this resolved that worry entirely.
“I saw your sword strike.”
Folding his arms, Uldiran shifted into the stance of a true warrior. Recalling Isaac's blade from that moment, he let out a chuckle laced with admiration.
“I won't disparage your skill, but remember—much of it came from the frost silver ore's power.”
“Of course.”
He couldn't have achieved that result with any other sword. In fact, even now, swinging a blade again, he wasn't sure he could replicate it. Hadn't his arm broken from the strain? Clearly, he'd reached a realm beyond what his current body could handle.
“Frost crystals, mineable only in caves where the cold condenses. Unlike ordinary ore, they're infused with the north's chill.”
“......”
“Never forget, as you carry that sword: the rising frost could swallow you whole at any moment. And don't you dare eye Silberna carelessly.”
“I'll keep that in—”
Pardon?
Uldiran glared at him with eyes blazing hot enough to melt frost silver, snorting as he added,
“The moment you lay a hand on my daughter, the frost from my frost silver spear will engulf you.”
“In case you've forgotten, I already have a wife.”
“Good. I hope you two live happily ever after. But if you so much as flirt with Silberna, divorce her first. Got it?”
“......Understood.”
“Haha! Sorry for bringing up divorce with such a devoted couple!”
Remembering how Lianna had knelt for Isaac's sake, Uldiran grinned brightly and clapped him on the back. Isaac, looking embarrassed, said nothing.
* * *
Two days later.
In front of the carriage, Sharen kicked idly at the ground.
“It's a shame.”
The wounds from Bricala had already fully healed. The Helmonts' exceptional physique had proven itself once more. And today, having received a letter ordering her return for the Sword Festival, she was heading back to the Helmonts.
The carriages bustled amid the Helmont knights preparing to depart. Sharen regretted leaving the north. It was the first time she'd been away from the Helmont estate for so long, and the connections and memories she'd built outside weren't half bad.
Even if she'd suffered plenty in the process. Comparing her arrival in the north to now, she seemed like a completely different person.
“Ask Milli to make you star cookies. She'll whip them up right away.”
“Oh, right! Star cookies!”
At the mention of why she'd come here, Sharen bounced up with a bright smile. She'd stopped whining about not having sweets for a while now. Thinking of those sugary treats clearly lifted her spirits.
“I wanna go eat them now. Hurry back, Isaac! Let's eat star cookies together!”
Watching the innocently cheerful Sharen, Isaac smiled wryly.
(For the record, Isaac wasn't returning yet. His right arm hadn't healed, so he needed continued treatment from Vivian. A single healing spell had removed the splint and bandages, but the wound wasn't fully closed, so Vivian insisted on one more just in case.)
“I'll let you try my secret stash of snacks too!”
Sharen laughed gleefully. Her childlike, adorable smile even drew a similar expression from Isaac.
The north had changed him in many ways. And the way he saw Sharen was surely one of them.
From a selfish tomboy kid to a refined lady showing glimpses of nobility. He would never forget the sight of her back during the final clash with Bricala. Without her and Jonathan, he'd have died before even unleashing Great Quick Draw.
Isaac placed a hand on her head, stroking it gratefully. Pleased, she beamed innocently and leaned into his touch.
“Hmph! See ya!”
“Safe travels.”
Sharen and her maid Kelsey bowed together and headed to the carriage. Lianna approached naturally.
Still awkward from the 'Lia nickname incident' last time, Isaac cleared his throat unnecessarily and asked,
“You're going too, right?”
“Yeah. I have to.”
“What will your father say......”
“That's fine. I was prepared for it.”
What should he say to see her off? Before Isaac could decide, Lianna spoke first.
“I got some rewards from this subjugation.”
“Hm? You weren't here officially, so you shouldn't be eligible.”
“Right. But the Margrave acknowledged my contributions.”
Before Bricala reached the wall, Lianna's efforts had inflicted serious wounds on it. But since she couldn't be officially rewarded, they'd given her compensation discreetly. And she'd requested it herself.
“I left them all in your room. Use them.”
“What are they?”
Asking with faint anticipation, Isaac got a flat response from Lianna.
“Some of Bricala's bones, a bit of hide, and part of the innards.”
“......You're not just dumping trash on your way out?”
His face twisted in disbelief. But Lianna had already thought it through.
“Remember the Rose Elixir Roengreen gave you before you left?”
“That super diluted stuff?”
Roengreen had tried threatening her with it as 'leaking family elixir,' but Arandel hadn't cared. Isaac, finding it useless, had just shoved it in a corner.
“Yeah. Fuse it with that and consume it. Might have an effect.”
Bricala had monstrous mana reserves, after all. The dilution made it perfect for mixing with something else.
“Oh.”
Lianna's unexpected advice impressed him. Isaac nodded. He could ask Vivian—the mage and physician—for an alchemist introduction, or consult one directly. Stuck for treatment, it seemed his time here would be more productive than expected.
“See you.”
“Yeah, thanks.”
“Don't catch a cold, Isaac.”
“......”
(Come to think of it, last time she'd said the same through Sharen.)
“Got it. I'll be careful.”
She was worried, after all, so Isaac nodded and saw her off.
The brief talk with Isaac left her a touch regretful, but managing such normal conversation was encouraging progress for her. Lianna headed to the carriage, where Silberna was exchanging final goodbyes with Sharen.
She tried to slip past quietly, but...
“Lianna Helmont.”
Silberna deliberately called her out.
“What.”
Lianna found her uncomfortable. She knew Silberna had her sights on Isaac. She also knew she shouldn't react to it. So Lianna showed no response to Silberna's actions.
But uncomfortable was uncomfortable.
The two stared openly. Silberna slowly extended a hand for a shake.
“You did well. Thanks to you, it was a big help. On the front lines... and personally.”
“......Yeah.”
Not expecting genuine thanks, Lianna clasped hands. Their eyes met briefly.
“Ow, hot!”
Sharen, standing between them, suddenly fussed dramatically and bolted into the carriage.
Silberna released first and said calmly,
“No need for long goodbyes. We'll meet again soon anyway.”
“Meet again?”
“The Sword Festival. We're invited too.”
“......”
Then it clicked for Lianna. That's why she bothered with the greeting—to remind me.
Thinking of Isaac and Silberna parting in a few days, Lianna had been about to leave with lighter steps. But then...
“See you then, Lianna Helmont.”
“......”
For some reason, her feet wouldn't move.