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

Bang! Early morning. Rihanna and Isaac were clashing swords, though it wasn't exactly a collision in the typical sense. Deliberately, Rihanna would relax her grip just before their blades met, ensuring Isaac's sword stance didn't falter. After their sparring session ended, Rihanna approached Isaac, who was wiping away sweat, and casually inquired. "When you swing your sword, you tend to adopt the Helmont's distinctive stance." "......" "The Helmonts enjoy overpowering with sheer force, but that's not really your style, is it?" "You're right." "The sword you wield is like glasswork—delicate and intricate. You don't need to conform to the Helmont's swords." She almost added 'because' but chose to remain silent. She didn't want to voice her imminent departure. "There's no need to fixate on it." She hoped Isaac wouldn't seek Helmut’s approval so fervently. Now, those things had no meaning. Yet Isaac refuted her advice. "I have my own goal for mastering the sword." "Your own goal?" "Yes, if it looks like copying now, so be it." "..." Rihanna recognized Isaac was researching a unique technique, but she couldn't quite grasp what it was. More than anything, she wanted to ask— 'How on earth did he gather such knowledge to this extent?' His understanding of swords was so profound that even Rihanna, engaging in conversation with him, was often taken aback. The depth of his knowledge was unlike anything she had encountered. If borrowing from his wisdom was like drawing water with a bucket— 'This isn't merely a well.' It was as if she was extracting something from an ocean. Isaac's knowledge was that profound and pristine. "Isaac, look here." Silvanna, who had been practicing her spear technique nearby, intervened. "Is this what you meant the other day? Like raking leaves with a claw?" Silvanna assumed a stance, swinging her spear through the air. As her spear slashed forward, the wind responded sharply, leaving claw-like marks in the training ground. Isaac cupped his chin and corrected her form. "A bit weak. You need to put more weight when you pierce. Do you stretch regularly?" "Yes, I do." "Flexibility allows your whole body to channel strength. Especially since your physique has some disadvantages compared to others." Listening to the exchange, Rihanna slightly lowered her head. She had the advantage. "Whatever you do, don't get too fixated on form, or you'll limit its application. Practice aligning different perspectives to use it effectively." Taking in Isaac’s advice, Silvanna resumed her practice. 'Amazing.' Isaac exuded the seasoned aura of someone who might have spent years as an instructor. Personally, Rihanna also wanted to receive Isaac's advice on her sword, but she felt unworthy of it. "Let's go again." When Isaac requested another spar, Rihanna nodded and gripped her claymore. Thinking about the upcoming sword festival, She realized such training was pointless if the Helmont linage began exerting their might. 'What is it?' The keen gleam in Isaac's eyes, steadfast and seemingly unwavering amidst any storm. * * * Several days later. Lines of Helmont knights and Malidon wall soldiers. They stood as if competing to showcase who was the superior army. At the forefront of each unit stood women symbolizing them. Rihanna Helmont and Silvanna Caldias. Isaac observed that their firm stances were notably different from the usual demeanor of the two. In front of them, Ulldiran, who commanded all, was astride a massive warhorse, brandishing a spear. The main gate of the wall opened. Applause and encouragement followed. Hoping for an end to the war with beasts, those left on the wall saluted them as they departed. Once Ulldiran's main force departed, an eerie silence settled inside the wall. "It’s quiet." Jonathan, who remained on the wall alongside Isaac, murmured. Staying behind didn't mean doing nothing. "It's just the beginning." As the main force advanced, they began subduing the beasts. However, they couldn’t eliminate all, and as they went searching for the beast responsible for the large colony, some beasts would be left behind, naturally heading toward the wall. Before the main force returned, the defense of the wall would intensify, with most of the remaining soldiers getting little rest, living on the wall. "Did you pack enough blankets? I hear you need about three. Someone might take them." "Why take them when I could just go back to the quarters to get more?" "It’s true. Rumor has it that if you don't guard your underwear or socks well, they get taken." "Are Helmont knights feeding you strange rumors?" "They said it's common on the front lines." Isaac and Jonathan, who had already transported supplies for their stay at the wall, had quite a few odds and ends to take care of, given they’d be living there. "Brr, it’s cold." At that moment, Sharen Helmont quietly nestled beside them. Sharen wasn't on the main force's roster, in part due to Rihanna's recommendation. The trio headed for the military barracks within the wall, set up for the soldiers. The bunks and supplies set for their stay seemed somewhat exotic to Sharen. The musty smell and living conditions with soldiers might not appeal to some, but Sharen had grown accustomed to front-line life. "I’ll be here!" Sharen laid her blanket next to Isaac’s, claiming her spot. On the opposite side, Jonathan had already settled in, placing a hot water bottle within his blanket. "It keeps things much warmer. I prepared some for both of you too." "Thanks." "Jonathan, you really have a knack for this!" "Hehe." Jonathan grinned, pleased by the compliment. It seemed he had gathered plenty of advice from the other soldiers he was bunking with, making sure he was thoroughly prepared. "But it's really cold inside the wall." When he breathed out, mist formed from his breath. Despite being indoors in the northern region, it was quite chilly. "That's due to the nature of the Malidon Wall." Seeing Sharen rubbing her hands together, Isaac offered a simple explanation. "Did you know the cold in the North is somewhat artificial?" "Huh?" "What?" Sharen and Jonathan looked at Isaac with curious eyes. "The North has always been cold, but not to this extent. It wasn't a land of perpetual snowfalls as it is now." However, the first master of the wall, Wolfduran Caldias, came up with an ingenious solution. "He proposed enchanting the wall to make the climate even colder. The beasts that hibernate wouldn't come, the snow would aid defense, and spotting the beasts would be easier." "But wouldn’t they themselves freeze?" Sharen questioned, raising her hand. Feeling like a grandfather recounting old tales, Isaac answered. "To Wolfduran, that was a non-issue. His commitment to stopping the enemy overrode the inconvenience." It was a formidable undertaking. Working with the Magic Tower wasn't difficult, and they’d readily agreed, eager for the opportunity to handle such ambitious magical feats. A combination of cold and madness. Caldias’s conviction that any personal discomfort was worth it if the enemy could be thwarted. The nearby villagers revered Malidon Wall with good reason. "So the chill we're feeling now is a testament to the resolve of historic figures who vowed to protect the kingdom—" “Yawn, Jonathan, do you have any food?” "I have some bread, but it's frozen solid." "I'm explaining here." "Helmonts have strong teeth. Hand it over." "Here you go." Sharen took Jonathan's bread, which was hard enough to be used as a bludgeon, and bit into it. "Ouch! My teeth!" As she wailed in dismay, she tossed the bread away, clattering against the wall with the sound of a thrown stone. * * * "Isaac, it's time for your shift." "Mmm." Isaac rustled awake at Jonathan's call. Having been on duty until last evening, he realized he had slept straight through to his next shift. "Sharen, wake up." Isaac gently shook Sharen, who was asleep in his arms. The cold within the walls had led them to share warmth as they slept. "Mmm." She buried her face into his chest, squirming as she tried to wake herself. “It feels like we just laid down. Is it already time?” The trio prepared for their shift. Three days had passed since the main force had gone out. Considering the occasional lightning strikes, they might've located the target. Were they struggling? Isaac wasn't particularly worried. In his past life, Silvanna had mentioned a beast that rivaled Ulldiran in strength. Yet now, not only Ulldiran but also Rihanna and Silvanna were there. The large colony would be dealt with easily. The three stood atop the wall, each taking their position, gazing into the expanse beyond. The sun hid behind the clouds, casting a white blanket over the landscape. Boom! Crash! Distant thunder rumbled once again, its frequency becoming increasingly bothersome. "Oh, I think I finally understand what my sister meant." With a hop, Sharen smiled brightly. "I can feel the mana. It's true. It feels deliberate." "Really?" Isaac, unable to sense such things, didn't perceive much of a difference. Yet Sharen was delighted, having experienced the same sensation as Rihanna. "I sensed it too! Haha!" Even Jonathan chimed in with a cheerful grin. "Seriously? You're not kidding me, right?" "Why would I joke about something like this?" "Che, really? I thought I was special for noticing it." "Are you saying that to me?!" Listening to Sharen and Jonathan bicker, Isaac yawned nonchalantly. "Yawn—?" Jonathan had sensed it too? Something seemed off. Even if Jonathan was a half-breed of extraordinary kind, he was still mostly human. Helmont might be exceptional in every sense of the word, but why were they suddenly aware of this? ‘They sensed the lightning mana.’ ‘Although normally undetectable?’ ‘Does this mean the lightning has changed?’ His thoughts progressed steadily, like stepping cautiously across a stone bridge. 'Could it be closer?' Enough that even Sharen, and Jonathan could discern it? "Oh, there’s another horde approaching!" "They're utterly terrified." Sharen and Jonathan pointed to another cluster of beasts racing toward the wall. Since the main force commenced their operation outside, there had been frequent instances of beasts fleeing in panic or being directed. Isaac's eyes slowly widened. ‘In his past life... Ulldiran faced it alone.’ After a fierce battle, he managed a narrow victory. But this time was different. Not only Rihanna, but Silvanna's abilities had markedly advanced. Then, Would it engage in the same head-on battle against forces with clear superiority? Among the fleeing beasts, Isaac spotted a bloodied, three-meter-tall, humanoid beast. An abominable snowman slipped its palm beneath a beast's foot, flipping it like a table, launching it. Electric currents burst from the beast's body like explosive sparks, reaching the wall with dizzying speed and latching onto it. The snowman became charcoal-black, meeting its end. "A beast is clinging to the wall!" "It's dangling! Knock it off!" Rumble... Boom! Once again, lightning struck. This time. The dense mana spreading from the wall was so palpable that even Isaac could feel it radiating in all directions. Just standing there on the wall made his feet tingle, as if they were being scorched from beneath. Soldiers who were close to the beast were struck down, electrocuted, or charred black. The creature that scaled the wall now stood atop a watchtower. It towered at three meters. Its skin, resembling ice, was white and rigid. Monstrous teeth jutted out, and it had four arms. Weapons embedded in its back and injuries all over its body attested to its desperate escape. 'I was complacent.' There had been numerous changes. With the strengthening of humanity's forces, the lord of the massive colony chose to flee. The previously untraceable electrical currents. Yet, Rihanna's presence had detected them. Silvanna, worried for Isaac's safety, wanted to be done with the colony as soon as possible, which is why she agreed to go outside. When analyzed piece by piece, there wasn’t any misjudgment. Rihanna had simply reported what she sensed. Silvanna and the other strategists had proposed reasonable opinions. Ulldiran, upon weighing both sides' suggestions, judged that venturing outside was tactically correct. However, the outcome was— “Graaaah!” The overwhelming power of the main force compelled the lord of the colony to choose escape over battle, culminating in the nightmare scenario of it reaching the wall. Rumble! Boom! Rumble! Lightning poured down from a clear sky, centered around the creature. The living calamity pounded its chest with its two hands and roared.