Chaos in the Helmont Household
"What the...?"
The moment Isaac stepped inside to check Lianna's gift, an exclamation escaped his lips. She'd said it was monster innards, bones, and hides gathered together, so he'd expected them bundled in some sack reeking of rot. But stepping into the room, what filled the air was a thick, fragrant scent of mana instead. It invigorated his body, leaving his skin feeling moist and alive. Was this really the atmosphere emanating from the corpse of that utterly ferocious beast?
Scattered across the desk were the byproducts, with a massive bone propped up beside them. It wasn't much compared to the creature's size, but even this amount was precious enough. Byproducts from beasts like the Brikkala held immense value on their own.
"This might actually work."
Isaac gathered the byproducts along with the Roseric that Roengreen had given him, then headed back out. His steps toward Vivian brimmed with hope. He'd planned to visit for a routine checkup tomorrow, but the Brikkala parts had ignited expectations beyond imagination, enough to make him move right away.
"No can do."
Vivian replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"......"
The sharp tang of disinfectant in the infirmary pulled him back to reality like waking from a dream.
"If it were that easy, the Magic Tower would've made it ages ago. Aren't you underestimating the world a bit?"
"......"
"I told you last time. They've already researched potions thoroughly at the Tower. A person's constitution doesn't change that simply."
"......"
"If eating something good boosted everyone's mana capacity, then why bother with talent or selecting mages?"
Was it because he'd been cheeky? Or maybe because he hadn't listened properly last time? Either way, Vivian unloaded a barrage of complaints.
"That's why you can't take it lightly. Still, leave the innards and Roseric here. I'll ask around with an apothecary I know."
After a ten-minute sermon on talent, mages, and constitutions, Vivian promised to inquire with the apothecary. If he'd planned to do it anyway, why not just say so from the start? Still, in the old days, he wouldn't have bothered at all. This much progress in their relationship was something, at least.
"Hmm."
Leaving the infirmary, Isaac checked his remaining materials. He slung a thighbone over his shoulder—twice the length of an adult man's arm—and rolled the hide like a scroll, hanging it from the bone. It reminded him of hauling a fishing rod during his thug days, though he'd never been much good at fishing.
"Isaac, there you are. I was wondering where you'd gone."
Silberna ran into him as he emerged. She'd gone to his quarters and, finding him absent, had come looking.
"What's up?"
He wondered if she had something specific to say, but what she offered was utterly out of left field.
"Here, this."
"What's that?"
In her palm lay a silver-gleaming earring. Plain in design, nothing fancy. But Isaac, who had wielded a sword forged from frost silverlight, recognized the material at once.
"This is made of frost silverlight, isn't it?"
"Right. Antonio made it from the leftovers after your swords."
"......"
Frost silverlight, even as an earring—it was too much. He opened his mouth to refuse, but with the bone in his hands, he couldn't resist properly as she forced it into his pocket.
"Wear it around sometime."
"What if people see it?"
Earrings were meant to be shown off, weren't they? He'd accepted her attitude, but this was tricky.
"Who outside the North would even recognize frost silverlight?"
"......"
She wasn't wrong. It wasn't something commonly available on the market. At most, royalty might know it.
Still, accepting something like this feels... off.
As Isaac's expression darkened, Silberna playfully nudged his shoulder and grinned.
"Come on, don't overthink it? You've sorted out your feelings, right? It's not a big deal anymore, so why keep reading into my gifts like this?"
"Silberna."
"If it's that burdensome, give the sword back too. That'd look like a dowry or something."
"Ahem."
Isaac subtly turned his waist to block her from taking the attitude back.
She's right. She wants to stay friends, so no need for me to make it weird.
Her having sorted her feelings meant he shouldn't make a fuss. With that, Isaac decided to accept her kindness openly.
"Thanks. I'll make good use of it."
An earring, huh. He'd never worn one even in his previous life.
Well, life's about trying new things.
This was his second chance at life, after all. Might as well experience more.
Anna was right after all.
Meanwhile, Silberna inwardly cheered as Isaac accepted her gift. His defenses were rock-solid right now—what folks called a full guard up. Using his married status gave her all the justification she needed, but pushing too hard would only make him pull away. So, following Anna's advice, her strategy was dubbed "We're friends, right?"
[Milady, you know how Lianna got close to Isaac, don't you? She rowed the boat as a ferryman and they locked eyes.]
[You're in a way better spot. Comrades who fought side by side, risking life and limb—true friends. Friends turn into lovers, lovers into spouses. That's how it goes.]
[You need to stay the closest. You already gave him the sword, so you've got the positional advantage. Keep the gift offensive going until he can't refuse you later.]
[Snag him the moment the divorce hits!]
Her romance knowledge came straight from novels, and Anna's approach was aggressively tactical. Surprisingly, though, it suited Silberna perfectly.
Last time in the infirmary, my resolve weakened...
She'd felt she shouldn't interrupt their time together and fled. But now Lianna was gone. With her inner hesitations eased, Silberna flashed a bright smile and suggested,
"No duties for me today. Wanna grab some beer?"
Isaac took the casual invitation lightly, his expression easing.
"Sounds good. I've got something I want to discuss anyway."
"Discuss?"
Isaac shrugged his shoulder with the bone draped over it.
"This thing—I've got some ideas on how to use it."
"Ideas?"
"See, if boosting internal mana is tough, then pull it in from outside—"
Before long, the two dove into conversation, sharing thoughts. Laughing and chatting as they walked side by side, they made a surprisingly well-matched pair.
* * *
A few days later.
The Helmont estate, long absent from, had traded its usual heaviness for a lighter atmosphere. Nearby villagers had hauled in tents to set up stalls—that was why.
From royalty to commoners, everyone flocked to the Sword Eclipse Festival. Nobles received invitations and stayed at the mansion, but lacking one didn't bar entry. The event was open to outsiders.
To Helmont, it was solemn; to locals, a once-every-four-years bonanza. The road to the estate was already lined with stalls, even early tourists milling about.
Arandel permitted it all. Some grumbled it diluted the gravity, but he trusted it wouldn't tarnish them—and they had a duty to showcase Helmont swords to the masses.
Arriving at the mansion, Lianna and Sharen stepped from the carriage.
"Yaaawn! My body's all stiff."
"......"
Sharen yawned and stretched, twisting every which way—deliberately avoiding Lianna's gaze. With Father's punishment looming, she didn't want sparks flying her way.
"Sh-should we go say hello?"
"Yes, milady."
Pretending to address Kelsey, she nudged Lianna's back. Sharen shot her a "hurry up" look, and Lianna slowly headed inside.
"Sis-teeeeer!"
A voice she hadn't heard in about a month. Sharen's face twisted as she traced the source; Lianna's calm eyes widened sharply.
"Sister! You're finally back!"
A tall, handsome man—Helmont's third son, Alois—rushed out with a beaming smile to greet Lianna.
"I'm here too, you know."
Sharen pouted and pointed at herself, but Alois's eyes stayed glued to Lianna.
"Are you alright? No injuries? You should've told me—I'd have come with you! You must've suffered so much!"
"......"
"I suffered too."
"Father's furious. But it's fine. I've prepared excuses!"
"Has Mother returned?"
"I got hurt too."
"Yes! She's back!"
Sharen's grumbling from the side was already background noise. She finally huffed off into the mansion with Kelsey.
"So, you've returned."
"Perfect timing, truly. Father's receiving guests Mother brought right now. So memorize the scenario I prepared and—"
"Guests?"
"Yes! From Black Hand, they say?"
"......"
Lianna's eyes flickered for an instant. She spun urgently, grabbing her massive greatsword Rag Nabell from the carriage.
"Sister?"
She charged toward the mansion interior.
"Oh, right. Almost forgot."
Just in case.
Whoosh!
The greatsword traced an arc. Sheathed, it struck more like a blunt weapon.
Crack!
Both of Alois's legs shattered.
"Gaaaaahhh!"
Alois screamed in agony. Caught off guard, he hadn't even cloaked himself in Red Aura, collapsing to his knees.
"Guhh! S-Sister?! What the hell—!"
"Just in case you try to run."
"What?! Guh! Wh-what do you mean?!"
"You said you'd prepared excuses for Father... for my sake?"
Lianna strode past her writhing brother into the mansion.
"You'd better have a good reason ready for trying to kill my husband too..."
Only the pain of his broken legs and her quiet warning echoed in Alois's ears.