"Huuh…"
Underground prison.
Liana's breathing, as she knelt shackled in chains, no longer held any trace of vitality.
Though the act of breathing signifies life, her labored gasps felt more like signs of impending death.
Yet, strangely enough, her mind was becoming clearer.
And the flow of thoughts slipping from her tongue was now something she could control—if only slightly.
'What's happening?'
She had understood that the transformation into a thrall was a spell meant to completely bind a human.
Was it because Helmut's blood had been passed down from the Transcendents over an extremely long time?
Being able to maintain consciousness under such a cruel spell was a blessing in itself.
"..."
With her eyes closed, she consciously felt the weight of the wedding ring pressed to her chest.
The ring she exchanged with Isaac during their divorce.
It was the only thing keeping her grounded now.
Then came the sound of footsteps from a distance.
She didn't even have the strength to roll her eyes toward the noise.
The thoughts in her mind wouldn't come out through her mouth simply because she lacked the energy to speak.
"Oh my? You're barely alive, aren't you?"
It was a woman.
One of the primordial Transcendents who had introduced herself as a "Blood Demon" while climbing the Tower of Sorcery.
She gently smiled, grabbed Liana's chin, and poured water from her hand into Liana's mouth.
Even that was enough to make her feel some energy return to her body.
Clank.
The chains restraining her rattled as Liana declared coldly,
"I'll kill you."
"Oh my? This one really says whatever she wants, huh?"
The Blood Demon responded to Liana's murderous intent with a playful smirk.
She knew she held absolute power in this situation—there was no reason to be afraid.
"You're beautiful. I'll tell you now—I'm quite fond of beautiful things."
She stroked Liana's cheek and continued in a sticky, comforting tone.
"Your will to resist the spell is also beautiful. But you know, in the end, it's only a matter of time."
"..."
"Giving a fitting story to a beauty like you… I believe that's our mission."
"What?"
"There's been quite a lot of talk internally. Since Helik lost his left arm due to that spell, they say he is no longer of strategic use."
This was because the Transcendents were deeply impressed by how Liana had continued to resist and fight even after being cursed.
To them, she wasn't a docile pet to be stroked at will—but a hunting dog that could bite if they weren't careful.
"Evergard."
The name that came from the Blood Demon's mouth was one Liana didn't want to hear. The capital of the kingdom where Baron Isaac Logan's mansion stood.
"That's where we'll be sending you."
Tap.
The Blood Demon's cold hand, full of chill, touched Liana's head.
"Go there—and eliminate the kingdom's true leader."
"..."
"Princess Adeline."
***
The journey to the Magic Tower was longer than expected.
So even while traveling on horseback, every night was filled with training—and more training.
"Pick up the sword."
Though the Grandmaster appeared like a child during the day, the moment she gripped a sword at night, she completely changed.
With a calm, expressionless face, she guided him.
The long greatsword swung silently through the air. Recently, Isaac had been focusing on sparring with the Grandmaster.
What he once thought was merely a test of strength in their hilt-to-hilt clashes turned out to be full of lessons about posture and balance.
"The training's dragged on long enough. Let's stop here for today, or tomorrow will be hard on you."
About three hours had passed when the Grandmaster sheathed her sword with those words. It was already late into the night, and people like Sharen and Damien were fast asleep in their tents.
Beneath the moonlight, two figures had been swinging their swords.
And watching them silently was another—Mu-myeong.
"Hm."
As if the starlight was too much, Mu-myeong, wearing a bamboo hat, slowly approached.
In her arms was a book—a manual Isaac had written for himself.
In other words, it was Isaac's Swordsmanship.
"This thing…"
Mu-myeong had been reading it repeatedly for days. Though many incidents had delayed Isaac from finishing it, what he had written so far was already incredibly valuable.
"It's impressive."
Thus, for once, Mu-myeong gave honest praise. She acknowledged Isaac's ability, even sticking out her tongue in disbelief.
"I'm not just talking about the completeness of your sword technique. What's really amazing is how you managed to objectively analyze yourself to this extent."
"Hrrm."
The Grandmaster, listening from the side, puffed up with pride. Clearly pleased that her disciple was being praised.
But if it were just compliments, Mu-myeong wouldn't have said all this.
"That's actually the problem."
"…Huh?"
"…"
Mu-myeong sighed and handed over the manual.
"Didn't I tell you before? Being overly rational can be a poison when wielding a sword."
"…"
"Especially when facing those who wield spectral energy, it becomes a deadly poison."
At that, even the Grandmaster cleared her throat and subtly averted her gaze. She probably had similar concerns but hadn't found the right way to bring it up.
"I heard your advice back then. That's why I've been consciously keeping it in mind during combat."
Isaac wasn't making excuses. He genuinely believed he'd taken their advice to heart and was earnestly trying to improve.
"Haa…"
"Hmm…"
But hearing that answer made both teachers sigh at the same time.
"…?"
Isaac looked at them with a genuinely confused expression, prompting the Grandmaster to let out a bitter chuckle.
"You're usually so wise, yet when it comes to your own problems, you're completely blind. I suppose that's what it means to be human."
"Um… what do you mean?"
"Do you not see the contradiction in what you just said?"
A contradiction?
Isaac thought about it for a moment but still didn't understand.
He had received guidance and was trying to follow it.
What was wrong with that?
"Sigh…"
In the end, Mu-myeong spoke.
"You just said you're trying to wield the sword instinctively—by consciously thinking about it. Doesn't that sound contradictory?"
"…Ah?"
It hit him like a blow to the head.
Just as Mu-myeong pointed out, even the parts of his swordsmanship that should come from instinct—he was trying to summon them deliberately through logic.
"I've often served as a sparring partner for Sword Demoms. They frequently discuss swordsmanship as they wield their spectral aura (gwi-ki)."
At the mention of Sword Demoms, the Grandmaster furrowed her brows, but Mu-myeong continued speaking. In some ways, these were the words Isaac needed most right now.
"As I just said, when one who wields spectral aura suppresses their instincts, they can't even control half of their power."
"..."
"There are some Sword Demons who actually communicate with their spectral aura."
Isaac's eyes widened in surprise.
"I sometimes hear things too… people's resentments, their screams…"
Snap!
Mu-myeong snapped her fingers and nodded.
"Then your spectral aura is ready. It's prepared to accept its master. But your cold, rational mind keeps rejecting it."
"..."
You couldn't survive without staying rational.
Even when witnessing a comrade's death, he turned his back and moved on, hoping for tomorrow. The world was heading toward ruin, and instead of clinging to vague hopes, he had chosen to view it with cold realism.
Having lived through such an era, it wasn't something he could just discard easily.
In truth—
There was once a time when he loved the beauty of the world, when he chased romance and elegance.
A time when he believed that if he simply expressed that beauty honestly, the world would embrace him for it.
But what awaited at the end of that path was tragedy. The turbulent times demanded that Isaac become cold and unyielding.
And ironically, it was that very coldness that allowed him to survive until now.
Especially as a Silent Sword—who taught and wrote sword techniques, it had been essential.
"It's time you start letting that go."
With arms crossed, Mu-myeong declared it to Isaac.
"Child."
The Grandmaster, too, had realized this—but hadn't been able to say it aloud.
"I know what kind of life you've lived."
Because he had heard fragments of Isaac's past, and knew how hard he was trying.
"Sometimes the past pushes us forward… but if it's dragged you too far, it's okay to let it go."
Having once left behind her own comrades and moved forward, the Grandmaster's words struck deep in Isaac's heart.
All his experiences had shaped who he was today.
"To move forward… change is necessary."
Hearing that, Isaac clenched his fists tightly.
He had to become stronger.
To retrieve Liaan, to defeat the Transcendents, to save the world—
"I understand."
He would bury the past and move forward.
"So, what must I do?"
"To embrace instinct, you'll have to kill your reason."
As if she'd been waiting for the question, Mu-myeong replied with a mischievous smile tugging at her lips.
***
"Yaaawn!"
Sharen yawned loudly as she stepped out of the tent, rubbing her sleepy eyes and glancing around.
There stood Isaac, dazed and still, with a bump on his forehead—likely from a hit during last night's sparring.
"Yaaaawn…"
She yawned again, then plopped down in front of him and held out her hair tie.
"Isaac! Tie my hair!"
Since the start of their journey to the Mage Tower, whenever her personal maid Kelsey wasn't around, Isaac had always done it for her.
And so began another ordinary morning for Sharen Helmut—
"No."
—Or not.
"H-huh?"
She instinctively turned to Isaac with a confused expression. He had a strangely contorted look on his face, as if he were deeply troubled.
"N-no."
He refused her request.
*
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[TL Note]
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