It had been about a week since they returned to the human realm.
Isaac was preparing to leave when he felt someone's presence behind him.
If scents had personalities, this one would be unmistakably Silverna's.
She was a woman who perfectly suited the North.
"Isaac."
At Silverna's call, Isaac turned around.
Now gradually regaining her former self, Silverna spoke with a somber expression.
"You're leaving, aren't you?"
"Yeah, that's right. Sir Eisenwolf asked me to escort Mu-myeong to the Magic Tower for an investigation on the spell."
It took some time to receive a response from the royal family, but they eventually gave their permission.
Since Mu-myeong's body was also affected by a unique spell, they decided to study it at the Magic Tower.
Originally, Mu-myeong was supposed to be imprisoned as a captive.
But thanks to Princess Clarice, who acted on Isaac's request, they managed to push through a rather forceful administrative order.
"You…"
"I have to stay in the North. It's the place I need to protect."
Now that the Wall of Malidan was gone,
Materials for constructing a new wall were steadily flowing into the North.
But regaining its former grandeur would likely be no easy feat.
Still, Silverna smiled.
Her proud and steadfast expression resembled a snow-covered flower blooming in the North.
"The legend of Caldias will begin again with me."
Silverna pounded her chest with her fist.
Her confident and resolute ambition naturally inspired trust in her.
She looked impressive.
Watching Silverna, Isaac smiled faintly.
"Yeah, you're amazing."
Despite the heavy conversation, there was a sense of ease in the air—
Not just a feeling, but because she truly gave him that sense of reassurance.
Silverna placed a hand on his shoulder, smiling softly.
"So, Isaac. Don't worry about the North—just come back safely."
"…"
"I've grown, in my own way. But this time, I once again felt my own helplessness."
"No one could ever call you helpless."
Everyone knew how much Silverna had done.
But in the end, she was overwhelmed by the woman known as the 'Blood Demon.'
"Compared to the enemies you'll be facing, my powerlessness is real."
Clenching her fist as if in frustration, her dark eyes still showed no sign of giving up.
"I don't know anymore. Somehow, I've ended up feeling like I'm chasing after you."
Is that really the case?
Though they hadn't had the chance to spar, Isaac had witnessed her remarkable growth.
During the life-or-death battles at the Wall of Malidan,
Her strength had increased so drastically it was almost unrecognizable.
"Stay strong. We're going to save Liana."
Silverna slowly stepped forward and embraced Isaac.
Her warmth was surprising for someone from the North.
"…Silverna."
"I don't want people saying I seduced and won you while that woman was away."
There was a bit of force in her pat on his back. It stung slightly—
But even that was a northern show of affection.
"Got it?"
"Got it."
"Whew, good. I'll be going now. If I stay any longer, I might get too attached and end up following you."
With that, Silverna slowly turned and stepped out of the tent.
"Stay strong, Isaac."
He received a wonderful show of support.
Spending time with Silverna felt as comforting as being with a close friend—reassuring and calm.
As he resumed packing—
A bit of commotion could be heard from outside.
"Hey, my lady! How could you just say that and walk away?! That was totally a losing heroine line!"
"W-What? How is that a losing? Wasn't that totally a chill and confident victory line?"
"…"
Anna and Silverna were clearly arguing about something.
"Did you not read the novel I gave you? How could you deliver a supporting heroine line so perfectly like that?"
"W-What?! Supporting? Are—are you calling me a concubine?! Who dares make the great Caldias a side piece?!"
"You did that to yourself. Seriously, this is why rookies who've never dated are such a pain—"
"Y-You haven't dated either! I've even kissed someone! Have you?"
"…"
Anna was momentarily speechless, but quickly retorted.
"What are you two, bros or war buddies? To anyone listening, that sounded like a casual chat between friends!"
"Isn't that a good thing? It's nice to be comfortable."
"Being 'comfortable' with someone you like means there's no excitement or butterflies, you know?"
"…Is that how it works?"
"Ugh, it's over. You've already lost. Just don't come crying to me drunk when Sir Isaac remarries some other woman later, okay?"
"Saying stuff like that really hurts, you know?!"
'Can't they argue somewhere else?'
Being inside the tent packing his things, Isaac couldn't help but overhear the whole thing.
Then—
Flap!
Silverna suddenly stormed back into the tent, her face bright red, marched right up to Isaac—
"Mmph!"
—and kissed him.
"…!"
Isaac's eyes went wide in shock as he bent backwards from the surprise attack. Silverna supported his back with one hand.
Though clumsy, her tongue moved eagerly in his mouth like a hound savoring its prey.
"Mmph?!"
Eyes bulging, Isaac tried to push Silverna away, but instead, she grabbed his hands and placed them on her chest.
"Mmmph?!"
The soft sensation—something so abundant it could never be found in Helmut.
Before he knew it, he had been completely backed into a corner with no chance of escape.
'She's even using aura?!'
Isaac frowned as he noticed the aura emanating from Silverna's hands.
When he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, she met his gaze with a sly smile, her eyes curving playfully.
'Cut it out.'
'Nope.'
Amid their entangled tongues, the two began a conversation through eye gestures.
'Let me go.'
'What did you eat? Tastes good.'
'…Sharen's snacks.'
'That explains it.'
'Release me already. You're even using aura.'
'Then use your energy too.'
'Take it down a notch.'
'Just move your tongue more.'
In this hopelessly inescapable situation, Isaac was only freed when the Grandmaster and Mu-myeong arrived, saying, "Seriously, how long does it take you to come out?"
***
"Hehe, see you later."
Smack!
Silverna smirked lecherously as she slapped Isaac on the butt while he was walking away.
When Isaac stared at her in disbelief, she covered her mouth with her hand, putting on an exaggeratedly innocent smile like an old man trying to act cute.
"Oops, my bad."
Face flushing red, Isaac glared at Silverna and responded.
"Hey, you know you seriously crossed the line, right?"
Silverna then raised her hand and mimicked a kneading motion.
"Did you enjoy it?"
"..."
Isaac pressed his lips together.
When his hand had been on her chest, completely unintentionally, his hand had moved slightly on instinct — and now Silverna was teasing him by mimicking that exact movement.
"See you next time. Be a bit more honest then, okay?"
She waved with a smile.
As Isaac was about to mount his horse, he noticed someone already waiting atop his steed, Ravenfall.
"Let's go! Isaac!"
"..."
It was Sharen Helmut.
Seeing her there, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Isaac gave up resisting.
'Well, she knows about my regression anyway…'
Seated behind him on Ravenfall, Sharen held on as Isaac took the reins.
"Hurry up. I've got a lot to say to you."
The Grandmaster, already mounted, urged him on.
"Yaaaawn."
Mu-myeong yawned, showing signs of fatigue.
"…I feel like I've joined a terrifying group."
Damien, the Grandmaster's disciple, scratched his cheek as he joined the party.
And so, this rather strange group began their journey toward the Mage Tower.
***
Isaac thought he might get some rest along the way…
"Do you understand? You must learn the meaning of 'boys and girls should not sit together after the age of seven.' A swordsman should not fall into the temptations of lust—"
But the Grandmaster's mouth didn't stop moving, nagging him the entire way.
From hugging Mu-myeong yesterday to the kiss with Silverna — the Grandmaster was clearly venting all her pent-up frustrations.
"As a teacher, it is my duty to point out the lack of virtue in my students. You must understand that I must address your shortcomings—"
"Yes…"
"Look at Damien. Quietly honing his sword skills, your senior. But you? Falling into carnal desires—"
Ah, Isaac wanted to plug his ears.
It seemed this would continue all the way until they reached the Mage Tower, and his expression grew darker.
Then—
"Alalalalala~"
"..."
A bizarre sound came from in front of him.
Glancing down, he saw Sharen sticking her tongue out and moving it around in various directions.
"…What are you doing?"
The Grandmaster, who'd been watching from the side, asked in confusion.
Sharen replied brightly with a big smile:
"Practicing for kissing!"
"..."
"..."
"Like, like this! You said that's how it's done, Grandmaster!"
"Elelelelele."
Staring down at Sharen, Isaac cleared his throat and subtly changed the subject.
"Since things have come to this, there's something I'd like to ask."
"Then hurry up and say it. And tell that one to stop doing that, it's embarrassing."
"Alalalalala—"
Thmp.
Isaac covered Sharen's mouth with his hand and asked,
"Are all of your fellow disciples mixed-bloods?"
"...."
At his question, the Grandmaster fell silent, and Mu-myeong, who had been reading the swordsmanship book Isaac had written, turned her head to look.
"There's no reason to hide it now, is there? I want to know."
After a moment's pause, the Grandmaster sighed and nodded.
"Indeed. In the place we lived, 'Crimson Valley', there were ten mixed-bloods raised as weapons and test subjects by those bastards."
Ten people.
From No. 1 to No. 10.
Mu-myeong was No. 2, and Isaac recalled that the Grandmaster had been called No. 10.
"You found ten mixed-bloods?"
"No. It was the opposite. They forcibly created ten mixed-bloods."
"...."
"So we were never treated as people in the first place."
That led to a natural question.
"Why did they create mixed-bloods?"
The transcendent race possessed many qualities superior to humans.
So why go through the trouble of creating mixed-bloods and training them?
"Because there's a power that only humans possess."
Clicking his tongue, the Grandmaster sighed as he spoke.
"Mana. And aura. They coveted that."
Suddenly, Isaac recalled how Helik had attempted to imitate crimson aura and use Helmet's swordsmanship.
That obsession must've run deeper and longer than expected.
"After all, those are the greatest weapons humans possess. They wanted to see if we, who carried transcendent blood, could wield mana."
"Then the result—"
"What are you asking? Have you ever seen your master use mana?"
No.
Not once.
Only now did Isaac feel like the puzzle pieces were finally falling into place.
"Do you know how we were treated while living there?"
The Grandmaster pulled a cigarette from her robe and put it in her mouth. Normally, she would avoid smoking when Isaac or Sharen were nearby.
But this time, it seemed she couldn't talk without lighting it.
And so, the Grandmaster continued with a tale more bitter than the smoke itself.
"Just because half of our blood was human, we were treated like less than people. They fed us once every two days, but made us train to the brink of death every single day."
Mu-myeong turned her head away, speeding up her horse slightly. It seemed she had no desire to reminisce.
"Isn't it funny? They were the ones who forced the creation of mixed-bloods, yet treated us like garbage."
Fwooo—
A long exhale of smoke carried the Grandmaster's true feelings.
"And yet… I think, deep down, we all hoped for it."
"...."
"That the blood they looked down on—this half-human blood—would one day surpass them."
To surpass the transcendent swordsmanship with the power of a human.
That had been the dream shared by the ten mixed-bloods who once lived in Crimson Valley.