33 - The Son-In-Law Of A Prestigious Family Wants A Divorce

The Prestigious Family's Son-in-Law Wants a Divorce - Chapter 33 “Uh, uh?” Sharen turned to Isaac with a bewildered expression, unsure of what to do. The situation did not allow for any leisure, however. Black smoke billowed from between the heaps of debris and began to morph into something strange. If one had to describe it, it was akin to shadows. Shadows that had lost their masters began to rise one by one, letting out screams. Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh! Their voices poured out like a chorus. And among them, there was one with the largest shadow, its head still dangling peculiarly. It was the only one with eyes and fingers. The moment its fingers pointed precisely at Isaac, the shadows started rushing forward like a crashing wave. “Everyone!” Sensing the urgency of the situation, Anna hurriedly rode her horse towards them. Once mounted on their respective steeds, they promptly escaped the village. “What on earth are those things?” Silberna asked, but Isaac couldn’t answer. Though he had witnessed various scenes in his past life, the sorcery of the Extraterrestrials was not something easily encountered. The massive shadow, led by its dangling head, began spilling out of the village, followed by its shadow minions. “They aren’t as fast as I thought, are they?” Melledick's uneasy observation turned out to be accurate. The shadows weren't as quick as they had feared, barely managing to follow with their awkward strides. Yet, the dreadful spectacle of them tainting the surroundings like a swamp as they advanced was terrifyingly imposing. “Running away seems simple enough, but…” Isaac trailed off, contemplating. If they returned to the Malidan Wall as is, the nearby villages would be swept away by the shadow minions. A misstep could cause their numbers to swell even larger than now. “Let’s stop them,” Silberna finally declared, halting her horse. “We must. I can't let any more people suffer.” “I agree, but…” They understood the sentiment, though. However, it was crucial to think rationally. “Jonathan isn't in good shape.” “I-I'm fine!” Jonathan stammered, drenched in cold sweat. The original color returned to his pupils, and the black patterns slowly faded from his skin, but he didn’t look well nonetheless. Silberna, having previously lost her senses and acted recklessly during the Polu incident, nearly got herself in grave danger. Even amidst the heated chaos of the Andes village massacre, she issued her instructions calmly. “Melledick, go to the Malidan Wall with Jonathan to call for reinforcement.” “Yes, understood.” “I—!” Jonathan began to protest. “Jonathan, it’s an order. We don’t have time.” Jonathan had no choice but to comply with Silberna’s decisive interruption. “Anna, head to the nearby villages and evacuate the residents. Given that you’re well-known as I am, they’ll quickly follow you.” “Yes, milady.” Anna spurred her horse towards the village at once, urgency evident in every step. “Isaac and Sharen, with me, let’s divert those things. Stall for as much time as possible.” Obeying the command, three of them remained after the others departed. “Phew! Phew!” Nervously exhaling heavily, Sharen gripped her large sword tightly. “Isaac, any ideas?” Silberna asked, candidly seeking Isaac’s opinion. Watching the oncoming shadow minions, Isaac recalled what had transpired earlier and nodded. “Sorcery is similar to magic. It follows a certain logic,” he explained. Magic involves the use of mana. Through magic circles or spells, one can roughly predict what kind of magic will be employed. The same applies to sorcery. “The shadows are likely the villagers. The largest one is probably Nortemus.” “Given its dangling head, it suggests the sorcery triggered just as it was about to die, doesn’t it?” Isaac nodded, adding details. “The corpses had their eyes and fingers damaged.” That fact still held true. Only Nortemus's shadow displayed glowing eyes and pointed its finger at Isaac. Without eyes, they could not see. Without fingers, they couldn't point. They were merely a dismantled army, forced to follow. “Just eliminate Nortemus?” “They won’t attack with intent if we do.” Isaac’s logic was rather convincing. At the same time, it raised Silberna’s curiosity. “You seem to know more than your previous explanation about the Extraterrestrials suggested.” Isaac had briefly explained about the Extraterrestrials to Kaldias during the Bampaek incident. Finding out that he now had more knowledge on the subject than he let on, Silberna questioned him with a somewhat displeased look. “…I'll explain later.” Isaac responded with a bitter smile. Now isn’t the time to delve into those details. Sharen, with wide eyes, cautiously pointed at the shadow minions as she alternated her gaze between the two. “Can we even cut those things?” She understood they were following due to being targeted. But could they really be herded around like a flock of sheep? “…” “…” Isaac had no separate answer, and Silberna bore an equally uncertain expression. “Hold on.” Silberna lifted her spear again, aiming forward. Though it was hard to muster much strength while on horseback, the spear soared fiercely at Nortemus's shadow. And like piercing a cloud, it went straight through, causing no impact. “…” “…” “…” The three fell silent simultaneously. Enemies unassailable with swords were advancing, contaminating everything around them. Even if not swift, if they couldn't be halted, defeat was the inevitable outcome. “Should we call for a wizard?” Silberna mused as she retrieved her spear with aura. Amidst the growing tension— As the spear wrapped in aura swung back and forth, it pierced through the shadow minions, disbanding them into shapeless mists. “What?!” uttered Silberna, an exclamation of surprise escaping her lips as she retrieved her spear. With the use of aura, they could indeed slice through them. A sense of optimism started to arise. But just as she was about to voice this optimism, Sharen cautiously stole a glance at Isaac and asked, “Isaac, can you use the Scarlet Strength?” Her unintended query made Silberna naturally turn her attention to Isaac as well. “Umph.” Isaac had nothing fitting to say, merely sniffing due to the cold wind that blew, perhaps making him feel a bit pitiful. “Want me to teach you Scarlet Strength later?” “Aura isn’t everything,” Silberna remarked, offering an odd form of comfort. Recalling a particular dialogue with the great elder, Isaac found a peculiar sentiment settling within him, prompting silence. [Aura?] he had once asked. [You don't need that to manage anything,] came the elder’s response. ‘Yet there are times when it seems necessary.’ [There wasn't.] ‘You’re not incapable of using it, right?’ [Would you feel pleased if I asked whether you can’t use your legs?] ‘...’ [...Get out of here.] Aura held its significance. Most knights could wield aura, and certain families, like Helmut's Scarlet Strength, possessed their unique version. “I should have sent Isaac along with Jonathan,” Silberna admitted grudgingly. The statement was true, however unjust it seemed. Melledick could use aura, after all. “But you know,” Sharen said, breaking in again and pointing at Nortemus’s shadow. “That thing is targeting Isaac, right?” Following the line of the finger, wasn’t Isaac the one being targeted? In disbelief, Isaac gently maneuvered his horse sideways, and Nortemus’s hand subtly followed him. “...” Isaac had become the distraction, albeit unintentionally. * * * Young Lady? Malidan Wall. Kelsie, Sharen's maid, carefully addressed Lianne, who was looking up at the sky. “You don't look well.” “You can tell?” Lianne inquired earnestly, despite her face being mostly concealed by a mask and headband. Having genuinely meant it without any sarcasm, Kelsie smiled gently in response to Lianne’s curiosity. “I’ve known you as long as I have known Lady Sharen.” “...I see.” Lianne had no particular thoughts on that. She just stared at the stark white sky, murmuring. “Something murky is riding the wind.” “What? It feels refreshing to me,” Kelsie replied, drawing a long breath through her nose. But Lianne responded matter-of-factly. “I've got a bad feeling.” Kelsie, knowing all too well about the Helmut lineage and their peculiar awareness of physical changes, started feeling uneasy too, especially upon hearing Lianne’s ominous words. “Lady Sharen is on a simple mission in the rear today. She should be safe, right?” “She ought to be.” Despite her words, Lianne's gaze was fixed on the rear wall. That was where the wind was blowing from. Then suddenly, whispers of commotion reached them from that direction. Soldiers moved hastily, footsteps resounding loudly enough to irritate the ears. “Something seems... wrong.” Whether it was because of Lianne's previous words, Kelsie’s unease grew. Worry gnawed at her, questioning whether Sharen might be in trouble. In the midst of her anxiety, Lianne grabbed the wrist of a rushing soldier attempting to report back to the inner citadel. “Ouch!” The tremendous grip startled the soldier, prompting him to face Lianne. “What the—what’s going on?” “Why all this commotion right now?” Despite her maid's attire, the soldier was somewhat suppressed by Lianne's aura. Instinctively, he divulged under the pressure of her grip and steely aura. “It's just, the reconnaissance unit engaged with an unidentified beast. One village was destroyed, and some part of the unit was severely injured and have returned.” “...!” Lianne’s view shifted towards the wall. Her red eyes caught sight of Jonathan being urgently transported for aid. “L-let go!” At the soldier's cry, Lianne let go weakly. He rushed off to report as if fleeing. Lianne then hastily discarded her mask and headband. The northern breeze carried the scent of roses. As her crimson hair fluttered, everyone in her vicinity seemed to gaze at her as if enchanted. Helmut’s Blood Rose, Lianne Helmut had descended upon Malidan Wall. The Prestigious Family's Son-in-Law Wants a Divorce - Chapter 33 (continued) As Silberna's spear wrapped in aura shot through the shadow minions, they dissipated, losing their form and vanishing into thin air. "What?!" Silberna exclaimed in surprise as she retrieved her spear. Realizing that they could indeed cut through the shadows using aura, a glimmer of hope ignited within her. But before she could voice this newfound hope, Sharen hesitantly glanced at Isaac and asked, "Isaac, can you use the Scarlet Strength?" Without intending to, Silberna also found herself turning to Isaac for an answer. Isaac, having nothing fitting to say and feeling a bit melancholic from the cold wind, gave a small sniff as if pitying himself. “Want me to teach you Scarlet Strength later?” “Aura isn’t everything,” Silberna chimed in, offering a strange sort of consolation. Isaac felt an odd mix of emotions at their peculiar encouragement and decided to hold his tongue, remembering a conversation he once had with the great elder. [Aura?] he had asked. [Such things do not hinder anything,] was the elder’s response. ‘Isn’t it necessary at times?’ [It wasn’t.] ‘You're not incapable of using it, right?’ [How would you feel if I asked whether you couldn’t use your legs?] ‘…….’ [……Leave now.] Aura was indeed significant. Many knights mastered aura, and certain families, like Helmut's with their distinct Scarlet Strength, had their unique forms. “I should have sent Isaac with Jonathan,” Silberna begrudgingly admitted, though the statement rang true. Melledick, for instance, could wield aura. “But you know,” Sharen interjected, again drawing attention as she pointed at Nortemus’s shadow. “Isn’t that thing pointing at Isaac?” Wasn’t Isaac the one being aimed at by that finger? Improbable as it seemed, Isaac cautiously moved his horse sideways, and Nortemus’s hand subtly mirrored his motion. “...” Isaac had unwittingly become the target. * * * Young Lady? At the Malidan Wall. Sharen's maid, Kelsie, spoke softly to Lianne, who was gazing thoughtfully at the sky. “You look troubled.” “Can you tell?” Lianne responded earnestly, her face almost fully concealed behind a mask and headband. Kelsie smiled gently, having genuinely meant it without sarcasm. “I’ve known you as well as I've known Lady Sharen.” “...I see.” No particular sentiment lingered in Lianne's mind. She only murmured while staring at the stark sky, “Something ominous rides the wind.” “What? It feels refreshing to me,” Kelsie replied, breathing deeply. But Lianne remained calm, “Something feels... ominous.” Familiar with the Helmut's awareness of bodily changes, unease began creeping into Kelsie upon hearing Lianne's words. “Lady Sharen's mission is a simple rear guard task today. She should be safe, right?” “She should be.” Despite her words, Lianne’s focus remained on the rear wall. For the wind was blowing from that very direction. Just then, a ripple of unrest echoed from the direction of the rear wall. Soldiers were moving hastily, footsteps echoing vividly. “Something seems... off,” Kelsie said, her anxiety growing, presumably influenced by Lianne’s earlier statement. Concern riddled Kelsie, fearing the possibility of Sharen in peril. In her worry, Lianne seized the wrist of a soldier rushing past to report inwardly. “Ouch!” Startled by the strength of her grip, the soldier turned to face Lianne. “What’s going on?” she demanded, undeterred by her maid attire, exuding authority. Despite being a woman dressed as a maid, the soldier felt overwhelmed by Lianne's force and could not help but spill the beans. “There’s been an encounter with an unidentified beast involving the recon team. One village was destroyed, and part of the team returned severely injured.” “...!” Lianne’s gaze shot to the wall. Her red eyes captured a quick glimpse of Jonathan being urgently ushered for care. “L-let go!” At the soldier’s plea, Lianne released her grip, allowing him to rush off hurriedly. Then Lianne cast aside her mask and headband aggressively. With the northern wind carrying the scent of roses, her crimson hair fluttered, captivating everyone around. The Blood Rose of Helmut, Lianne Helmut, had descended upon Malidan Wall.