Just before the encouragement speech.
Silbern Caldias, watching the soldiers gather in the training ground from a distance, waits for the lord.
Behind her, Anna, her maid and adjutant, has a dark expression.
“The number of demon beasts isn’t decreasing.”
“…I’ve seen and heard it too.”
“It’s strangely high. If this keeps up, there might be a large-scale demon beast outbreak, miss.”
“Sigh.”
Her troubled feelings seep into her voice.
If true, it would be the first large-scale outbreak in 23 years, possibly leading to a second noble summons.
“First, keep the soldiers in line. If the nobles panic upon hearing about a large-scale outbreak, nothing will get done.”
“Yes, miss.”
As their conversation ends, their gaze naturally shifts to the training ground.
To lighten the heavy and serious atmosphere, Silbern smirks and asks.
“How do you think the encouragement speech will go?”
Isaac, standing among the nobles, catches her eye.
Even among the well-fed, well-dressed nobles who sleep in comfort, his appearance shines.
That’s why he was easy to spot.
“Wasn’t the time too tight? Still, he could have written a formal encouragement speech.”
“That’s exactly the problem. Anna, listen carefully to your mistress’s scheme.”
“…I joined the military, so the Malidan Wall is my mistress now.”
Ignoring Anna’s words, Silbern begins to explain with a flourish.
“If it were just any ordinary noble, people would have brushed it off, but this is a Helmunth speech. The soldiers will listen intently, eyes wide open, wondering what he’s going to say.”
In front of an audience with already poor impressions, even mediocrity can be poisonous.
“What about the nobles? The dispatched nobles seem to resent the fact that a commoner was elected as their representative.”
Already, a few nobles are standing crookedly, not aligning with the ranks.
“It’s a battle of pride. They’re saying you’re not treated as well here.”
This is an opportunity for Isaac Helmunth to openly show how much the Malidan Wall opposes them, and to humble the arrogant nobles.
Silbern looks at Anna, expecting praise.
“Ah, the lord is coming.”
“Honored to escort such an outstanding lady? Thank you.”
The two head towards the podium with Uldiran Caldias.
Standing silently behind the lord, they wait for the encouragement speech to begin.
“Oh, here he comes.”
“Miss, shh.”
Seeing Isaac stepping onto the podium with a much better expression than expected, Silbern feels a strange sensation.
‘What’s this.’
He couldn’t have missed the hostile atmosphere around him.
Yet, standing there so boldly, it seems he has something up his sleeve.
The first words from Isaac on the podium leave Silbern bewildered.
“Warriors, be great.”
“Follow your duty.”
“Warriors, just be great.”
“Huh?”
A small gasp from Anna beside her.
In contrast, Uldiran and Silbern, sitting nearby, watch his back with tightly closed mouths.
“As I came here, I wondered about the truth behind the phrase ‘be great.’ In fact, as you all know, the word ‘great’ is somewhat abstract, isn’t it?”
The moment she hears that.
Silbern’s head heats up.
“How dare-.”
With a grinding of teeth, hostility towards Isaac surges to the surface.
Daring to question the words that echo the beliefs of the first lord, Wolfdren, as an outsider from Helmunth?
Even in front of the lord?
The instinct to kill him on the spot surges uncontrollably.
Even Uldiran Caldias, the lord, harbors a murderous intent towards him.
However.
This changes as the encouragement speech progresses.
“Rather than those born into greatness. Making the ordinary great-! That is what is truly worthy of reverence.”
The anger that had been burning fiercely at what was essentially a jab at Helmunth somewhat loses its way.
“This is it! What you all hold in your hands right now!”
When he holds the spear, there’s a sense of bewilderment.
“If someone! Says they will learn the martial arts, I will shout!”
“Look to the north! To the high walls! Behold the spear of Caldias, soaring above the continent!”
Seeing him praise the Caldias spear, a lump forms in her throat.
The Caldias Spear Technique is universal, something everyone can learn, and thus, ironically, it’s often overlooked.
Every time she hears that the lord is strong not because of the spear technique but because he is an exceptional warrior, it infuriates her.
“Warriors holding the Caldias spear! Following Wolfdren’s last words, just be great warriors!”
A shiver runs down her spine.
The nobles who fail to recognize and ignore them.
Even among them, the man from Helmunth, standing at the opposite end.
“Great guardians defending the front lines of Malidan.”
Recognizes and acknowledges them.
Calls them great.
With genuine passion in his voice.
It pierces through the hearts of the Caldias, who have been mocked for their struggles in the northern cold.
“To share this meaningful moment, towards the great martyrs who have already fulfilled their duties and rest in this land-.”
Even mourning the nameless soldiers who perished in the northern cold.
“A moment of silence.”
As they close their eyes and bow their heads.
Those who have defended the Malidan Wall simply close their eyes and bow their heads.
Barely holding back the surge of hot breath in their chests.
* * *
“Sniff.”
“…Miss, are you crying?”
After the event, as the nobles begin their training.
At Anna’s question, Silbern hurriedly wipes her eyes and shouts.
“Ah, I’m not crying! Something just got in my eye!”
“….”
“Ah, sorry.”
Silbern is feeling guilty now.
The man who recognizes and respects Caldias more than anyone in the kingdom.
She had forced him onto the podium just to mess with him.
“Anna, sniff. What should I do?”
“What do you mean? Just let it be.”
“How can I? I feel sorry.”
“Ugh, it’s fine. From what you said yesterday, he seems to have a clean and straightforward personality, which you liked.”
At Anna’s words, Silbern’s gaze turns to Isaac, who has started running around the training ground for a fitness test.
“Ugh, what should I do? I think I’m starting to like him.”
As Silbern mutters, Anna, startled, exclaims.
“Miss?! That man is married! He’s Helmunth’s son-in-law! You mustn’t forget that!”
“No! Who said I like him as a man?! I just think he’s a decent person.”
Her favorability skyrocketed just because he acknowledged the Caldias spear.
But how could it not?
He openly and proudly acknowledged one of the most important things in her life.
And that, while bearing the name of the rival family, Helmunth!
“Well, right. Honestly, I do feel some goodwill. After all, I also hold the Caldias spear.”
“I’m really proud of it, you know.”
“Right? Ha, why does it look so pretty?”
“Miss, watch your words. If rumors spread, they might say you’re trying to seduce Helmunth’s son-in-law.”
“…That’s the worst.”
Silbern, with a horrified expression.
Having spent years together, Anna felt reassured by Silbern’s reaction.
‘She really doesn’t see him in a romantic way.’
After all, her lady had zero interest in men, not even a snowflake’s worth.
Even though there were many men around, they were all comrades and fellow soldiers.
They were soldiers, not men and women.
“But can’t we take care of him a little? He’s from Helmunth, after all. A little special treatment wouldn’t hurt.”
“Miss…”
“Ah, I just want to do something for him.”
While her lady fidgeted, Anna, who had been staring blankly at Isaac during the run, made a suggestion.
“How about a fur hat? It’s cold here, and if he’s from Helmunth, he might not have enough winter gear.”
“Great! Ah, that’s good. We still have some leftover snow leopard fur, right?”
“Yes, I’ll have the craftsman make it.”
“Make it into a hat.”
“I’ll make it into a hat and gloves.”
“Two things?”
“I should give him something too.”
“…”
“…”
As mentioned before, Anna was also a soldier of the Malidan Wall who had learned Caldias Spear Technique.
* * *
’34th place.’
That was the rank he got in the recent run to test basic physical fitness.
Out of 37 dispatched nobles, 34th place was practically last. Some nobles didn’t focus on martial arts, after all.
‘At this time, I had almost given up on training.’
There was a time when he worked hard to build strength and stamina.
He struggled desperately to wield Helmunth’s great sword as a son-in-law.
‘It was impossible.’
Like a sparrow chasing a stork, only to tear its crotch.
Realizing it was impossible, Isaac gradually gave up, and on his fourth wedding anniversary, he lost a leg and fell into complete despair.
But now it’s different.
‘It feels good to run like this.’
Moving his body feels refreshing.
After living as a cripple, being able to run makes the world feel different, and it feels incredibly good.
Knowing it’s not impossible is a huge motivation.
“All talk, no action.”
“Well, he acted all high and mighty, but he’s just a commoner.”
“What’s the point of sweet-talking? With that level, he’d be flailing in bed.”
“Pfft, stop it. It’s embarrassing.”
The surrounding nobles sneered, but Isaac didn’t care much.
His mind was filled with thoughts of revising the manual he had written late into the night, just for himself.
‘He moves more flexibly than I thought. The force in his soles is good too. I’ll revise the draft when I get back. Looking back, I think I was too cautious, avoiding overloading the lower body.’
During a short break.
While catching his breath and lost in thought.
“Ahem.”
A soldier acting as an instructor approached and cleared his throat.
“Hmm?”
When Isaac looked at him, the soldier glanced around at the other nobles and then discreetly handed him a towel.
“In the north, you need to wipe off sweat properly. If you leave it, you’ll catch a cold easily.”
“Ah.”
Isaac awkwardly took the towel, and the soldier smiled brightly before walking away.
“Umm.”
The towel was warm, steam rising from it.
While other nobles were wiping their sweat with cold towels brought by their attendants or aides, their gazes sharp.
“Wow, 34th place is a bit harsh.”
This time, a higher-ranking officer approached, tilting his head and squatting in front of Isaac.
“It’s a shoe problem. It’s hard to run on snowy paths, right? You can wrap chains around them, but it’s better to buy a pair of northern boots.”
“…”
“How about it? Should I introduce you to a good craftsman? If you mention my name, he’ll give you a discount.”
“Sure.”
“Feel free to speak. Even during training, you’re still a noble.”
“…Thanks. I’ll go buy some.”
He had enough money to buy boots.
The training resumed, but their attention didn’t stop.
“Thermal underwear is a must. I have some I don’t use. Want one?”
“This is a snow shovel. Doesn’t it look like a spear? Oh, do you know? The basics of Caldias Spear Technique-.”
“Stretching is important. It gets cold, and your body stiffens quickly. It’s for injury prevention.”
“Are you okay?! It’s slippery! Medic! Mediiic! Oh, not that bad? Good. No need to be embarrassed. We fall a lot too.”
Watching the overly attentive instructors, Isaac couldn’t help but laugh.
‘Should I call them naive?’
It’s nice that they’re being kind, but being this obvious about it seems a bit clueless.
And then.
Another clueless person appeared.
“Ahem, ahem. Your speech was quite impressive, Isaac.”
Silbern appeared with an awkward cough.
When Isaac greeted her with a smile, she quickly approached.
“You have a good eye. Others tend to look down on the basics, but the basics are the most important. That’s why they ignore Caldias. But you’re different. You really understand. Caldias Spear Technique is actually the result of extensive research and meticulous-.”
“Miss, stop. You’re scaring him.”
“Ugh, sorry.”
Silbern awkwardly stepped back.
Anna, with a gentle smile, politely explained the reason for the tea.
“The lord has invited you to dinner tonight.”
“The border lord?”
“Yes, is that alright?”
This was just a formality; there was no option to decline.
Isaac nodded.
Silbern and Anna left happily.
No.
They tried to leave but came back.
“Hmm, your head is a bit small. The size-.”
Silbern grabbed Isaac’s head with both hands and turned it around to check the size.
“Your hands are quite delicate. I’ll order one size smaller.”
And Anna measured his hand size.
