“Issac….”
Rianne’s eyes grew wide.
What delighted her was that the center of the cheers, loud enough to make the mountains and skies resonate, was her husband.
Not only that, but she found herself relieved by the thought that even if he left Helvint, he would still be well-regarded by others without much trouble.
“Thank goodness.”
Issac was no longer someone who needed protection.
In fact, just by being acknowledged by Arandel Helvint, Issac’s reputation was undoubtedly skyrocketing among the other nobles.
The other nobles, who had likely been waiting for the right moment, would undoubtedly pounce the moment they heard the news of Issac’s divorce from Rianne.
“…”
Though the thought of multiple women pursuing Issac pained her, Rianne still clapped and celebrated with everyone.
‘This is the best farewell Helvint can offer.’
She didn’t know how far Issac could go, but she wished from the bottom of her heart that he would soar high from now on.
Rianne grabbed her mother, who was trying to stand up.
“Please stay seated.”
“…Rianne?”
Galenia, whose eyes began to twitch and quiver upon being suddenly stopped by her daughter, was about to scold her for this impertinent act, but Rianne held on firmly.
“At least waiting for the Sword Festival is a courtesy towards Helvint, Princess.”
“….”
“I don’t know what you’re trying to do, Mother. But please, don’t push Helvint into ruin any further.”
This was her final plea as a daughter to her mother. Rianne had intervened, already sensing the ominous atmosphere surrounding Galenia.
Conversely, a sardonic smirk formed on Galenia’s lips.
“Rianne, can you accept this situation? That the glorious swordsmanship of Helvint was just shattered by an ordinary commoner?”
“But that’s the truth. Issac clearly won. And undoubtedly, Helvint has been shown the path to progress.”
Which was probably why Arandel reacted the way he did.
“Mother, it’s over now.”
With a sigh, Rianne declared clearly. Through a conversation with Issac, she had learned that even Princess Clarice was already suspicious of Galenia.
From that moment, Galenia’s fate was essentially sealed.
“If only I had remained bedridden then.”
Galenia already knew her tail had been caught ever since Millie. Being no ordinary mistress of the Helvint Mansion, she had already received most of the information regarding the incidents and accidents happening inside the mansion. And she had a rough idea of her future.
“Mother?”
“Your husband has never pleased me, not even once.”
Crack!
Suddenly, a goat’s horn sprouted from Galenia’s forehead. Simultaneously, a surge of dark energy erupted from her body, pushing Rianne back.
“Urgh!”
“Just stay still, my dear.”
“What the hell—!”
Rianne’s voice was drowned out by the sound of wings unfurling. Bat-like wings had spread from Galenia’s back, and her eyes were now pitch black, having lost their whites.
The suddenness of the situation left everyone unable to react.
Arandel looked up at his wife standing there.
“…”
“…”
No words were exchanged between the couple. Then a horrifying scream pierced the air.
“Kiiiiiaaaaaak!”
“What? What’s going on?!”
“They’re crazy!”
“Someone just slashed at us! Run, run!”
Among the nobles, the Transcendental Race previously hidden in the crowd began hunting people.
In the blink of an eye.
Literally, a single Transcendental could massacre dozens. With a flick of their fingers, they took the lives of two or three humans, turning this place illuminated by lanterns into a scene of screams and splattered flesh.
“The downfall of Helvint shall begin!”
Galenia’s cry echoed strongly and widely.
If Issac and Roengreen’s duel just prior symbolized the decline of swordsmanship,
now it was literal.
The name Helvint was about to bear a crack.
“Mother, why…?”
Watching this, Rianne couldn’t comprehend it at all. Galenia loved Arandel more than anyone, and she always desired to bring honor to the Helvint family.
If this happened, it would only spell the downfall of Helvint’s honor.
“Uh, mom?”
“Mother?!”
The children of Helvint could only look up at the sky in confusion, especially Sharon and Edel, the youngest child who was just 15, shedding quiet tears.
But Galenia’s gaze was fixed on one person only.
Issac.
The situation had become dire on multiple fronts.
Issac had firmly believed that Galenia was a Transcendental because of Millie’s sacrifice. When he informed Princess Clarice, it inevitably exposed Galenia as the conspirator who had conspired with the Transcendental Race.
From this point onwards, many things had gone awry.
However, Galenia had never intended such a dramatic revelation. She hadn’t planned to expose the Transcendental Race in such haste.
The Transcendental Race, although startled, were now responding enthusiastically to Galenia’s lead and eagerly began slaughtering humans as though it was their divine duty, likely having suppressed their desires while hiding among humans for so long.
“Kraaaaahhhh!”
With a loud crack, Galenia broke one of her horns.
The dark energy concentrated around her as she, having never fully controlled such power, chose to let herself run rampant.
The energy stored within her body erupted the moment the horn was broken.
And those energies surged towards Issac per Galenia’s will.
Issac, who had just finished sparring, was exhausted. Roengreen lay unconscious nearby, but Galenia showed no hesitation.
Because…
This attack would be blocked.
BOOM!
The dark energy dissipated helplessly. A massive red energy, like a lion that devours its prey in a single bite, absorbed everything.
Arandel Helvint had intervened to protect Issac directly.
‘As expected…’
Dark tears streamed down Galenia’s pitch-black eyes.
Arandel had to become Transcendental. That was the only way he could survive.
To that end, Galenia had desperately wanted to hand over the family responsibilities to Rianne and leave with Arandel.
She had been rejected, yet still clung to the hope of somehow leaving with Arandel and fleeing from Helvint.
‘You will not leave anymore, will you?’
A man who had strived all his life suddenly stopped and found a new path.
The excitement and intensity visible on Arandel’s face suggested he was deeply moved by the new possibilities Issac had shown. From now on, Arandel would remain in Helvint until the day he died.
He would explore the limits of the sword until the very end.
That was Arandel Helvint.
And that was the man Galenia loved.
Then what should Galenia do?
There was only one answer.
BOOM!
The oncoming dark energy was more intense than expected, leaving Issac momentarily stunned. His body was drained to the point where moving a step felt burdensome.
Amidst the chaos caused by Galenia’s sudden actions, the person standing in front of him was none other than Arandel.
His vast back seemed to contain an immense, fierce vitality that mocked the fake strengths of the other Helvint descendants.
Many had admired Roengreen’s vitality just moments before. But compared to Arandel’s, the two seemed worlds apart.
Arandel was overwhelming.
‘I couldn’t have won against him.’
Though Issac defeated Arandel’s eldest son, he was certain that Arandel could easily cut him down with just a swing of his hand.
Yet, this formidable man was protecting him right now.
“Impressive.”
Without looking back, Arandel spoke. Although confronting his wife who had betrayed humanity by becoming a Transcendental, it seemed to have no effect on him.
“Issac!”
Rianne arrived a half-step behind Arandel. She embraced Issac, relieved to find him unharmed.
“Thank goodness, truly thank goodness.”
“Rianne.”
“You did well… really, wonderfully.”
The sight of the wife he had always longed for approval from and the father-in-law he regarded as extraordinary protecting him deeply moved Issac.
Being acknowledged by the two people meant a thrill he had never experienced before.
The attack ceased, and the screams of people began to subside. The Helvint knights moved swiftly to suppress the situation and began subduing the Transcendentals.
The sudden invasion was short-lived and backfired on the Transcendentals.
“Why is Helvint great?”
Arandel casually turned his head and asked Issac and Rianne. Rianne was about to question the sudden query but Issac smiled and answered.
“Because it exists.”
“Hmm.”
Arandel’s lips curved into a smile.
“Right.”
How…
How could this young man provide such a satisfying answer?
A knight responsible for Arandel’s sword approached and knelt down.
Lifting the great sword reverently in both hands, Arandel grasped it.
“The atmosphere has changed.”
The moment Arandel gripped the real blade, it felt as if everything around him fell into a serene stillness. The overwhelming dignity was palpable.
Just standing near him became oppressive, making it hard to breathe. Rianne held Issac tighter in her attempt to protect him.
“By existing, it is great.”
Helvint didn’t need to strive for greatness. Because they pursued their own path, they would naturally gain greatness and accolades.
Thus, there was no need to chase after someone or follow in another’s footsteps.
Helvint meant blazing their own trail.
Though his eldest son hadn’t grasped it, Arandel had ultimately recognized his failure to replicate the master’s path.
“Since we’ve witnessed something great—.”
Arandel’s grip on the great sword tightened.
“Let’s show respect.”
Arandel swung the great sword.
Roengreen’s sought-after technique was revealed.
“Extinguishing Scarlet Strike.”
Breaking, tearing, burning, and collapsing everything, this was Arandel’s single strike.
Only Issac recognized that this was “Extinguishing Scarlet Strike.”
Because this strike was so different from the one shown by Roengreen that no one else could imagine they were the same technique.
It was on a completely different level.
Watching Arandel swing his sword at her without hesitation, Galenia smiled.
‘Of course.’
Everything had already collapsed. The doubts from Millie reached the princess.
It would soon be widely known that the mistress of Helvint had betrayed humanity.
Moreover, since Arandel clearly favored Issac, there was no way he would follow her and leave.
‘The only thing I can do for you now is…’
Die.
And preferably at Arandel’s hands.
If she died this way, Helvint might bear a little less responsibility.
Arandel was still the same.
For the sake of the sword, he would even kill his own wife.
For the greatness of Helvint, he swung his sword at his wife.
‘If you can remain the same as always…’
That was why Galenia fell in love with him.
In love and ruin.
She would perish.
