Chapter 61: The Sword Festival (8)

"Isaac…"

Liana's eyes widened.

Seeing her husband at the center of the roaring cheers, loud enough to shake the mountains and sky, filled Liana with pride.

Not only that, but the thought that he would be acknowledged by others even after leaving Helmut gave her peace of mind.

"I'm relieved."

Isaac was no longer someone who needed protection.

Just being recognized by Arandel Helmut alone would cause Isaac's reputation to soar among the nobility.

Other nobles, who were likely watching with interest, would no doubt rush toward him the moment they heard that he had divorced Liana.

"..."

The mere thought of numerous women vying for Isaac's attention pained her.

Even so, Liana clapped along and celebrated.

'This is the best farewell Helmut could give him.'

She wasn't sure how far he would go, but she wished that Isaac would now soar freely.

Liana then grabbed hold of her mother, who was trying to rise from her seat.

"Stay here."

"...Liana?"

Galenia's eyes twitched as she looked at her daughter, startled by the sudden grip.

She was about to scold Liana for her lack of manners, but Liana did not loosen her hold.

"The fact that the Sword Festival is still proceeding smoothly is due to the princess's consideration for Helmut."

"..."

"I don't know exactly what you're trying to do, Mother. But please, don't bring Helmut down any further."

It was Liana's last plea as a daughter.

Sensing that Galenia was about to do something dangerous, Liana stood in her way.

However, Galenia's lips twisted into a grin.

"Liana, can you really accept this situation? That the great Helmut's swordsmanship was dismantled by nothing more than a commoner?"

"But that's the truth. Isaac undeniably won. And in doing so, he has surely shown Helmut the path to move forward."

That was why Arandel was reacting the way he was.

"Mother, it's over now."

With a sigh, Liana declared firmly.

From her conversation with Isaac, she already knew that the princess, Clarice, was beginning to suspect Galenia.

In truth, from that moment on, Galenia was as good as finished.

"You should have been bedridden back then."

Galenia had known since the incident in Millie that her trail had been exposed.

As the lady of the Helmut estate, she had access to most of the information regarding events within the household.

She had already foreseen her own fate.

"Mother?"

"Not once have I ever liked your husband."

Crack!

Suddenly, goat-like horns sprouted from Galenia's forehead.

At the same time, a surge of black energy burst from her body, forcefully pushing Liana away.

"Urgh!"

"Stay put, my dear daughter."

"Why are you—!"

Liana's voice was drowned out by the sound of wings unfolding.

From Galenia's back, bat-like wings stretched out with a sharp tear, and her eyes darkened completely, the whites disappearing entirely.

The situation was so abrupt that no one could react in time.

Arandel lifted his gaze to look at his wife.

"..."

"..."

The couple remained silent.

Then, a bloodcurdling scream rang out.

"Kyaaaaah!"

"What's going on! What's this!"

"These bastards are insane!"

"They're stabbing people! Run, run away!"

The Transcendents, who had been hiding among the nobles and the crowd, revealed themselves and began hunting people down.

One against a hundred.

Each transcendent alone slaughtered dozens of humans.

With a mere flick of their hands, they took the lives of two or three at a time, turning the once-bright festival grounds into a scene of shrieks and flying flesh.

"This is the fall of Helmut!"

Galenia's voice echoed long and loud.

If Isaac and Lohengrin's duel had symbolized the downfall of Helmut's swordsmanship—

This was Helmut's true collapse.

At this moment, the very name Helmut was on the verge of breaking apart.

"Mother, why...?"

Watching the scene unfold, Liana couldn't comprehend it at all.

No one loved Arandel more than Galenia, and no one had worked harder to bring honor to Helmut than she had.

Yet now, her actions were tarnishing Helmut's honor, dragging it through the mud.

"Mom…?"

"Mother?!"

Helmut's children could only look up at the sky in bewilderment.

Especially Sharen and the youngest, Edel, who was only fifteen—both were on the verge of tears.

Despite this, Galenia's gaze was fixed on only one person.

Isaac.

She was caught in a dilemma.

Millie had sacrificed herself to protect Isaac, making him certain that Galenia was one of the Transcendents.

When Isaac revealed this to Princess Clarice, Galenia's secret alliance with the Transcendents was exposed.

Everything had gone wrong from that moment.

Still, this wasn't how she had planned to make her move. She never intended to reveal the hidden Transcendents in such an abrupt and radical way.

Even the Transcendents seemed taken aback, but they still went along with Galenia's actions.

In fact, it was as if they had been waiting for this moment—

For an excuse to kill humans, over and over again.

As if it were their duty.

Perhaps, all this time, while hiding among humans, they had been suppressing their desires.

"Kuaaaaaah!"

Crack!

Galenia broke off one of her own horns.

The moment it shattered, dark energy began to condense.

Having never properly controlled her power, she chose to go berserk.

As the broken horn triggered a surge of energy, her power erupted all at once.

And all of it was unleashed upon Isaac.

Isaac, who was already exhausted from his recent duel.

Lohengrin lay unconscious before him—directly in the path of destruction.

But Galenia did not hesitate.

Because…

This attack would be blocked.

Boom!

The dark energy was effortlessly devoured.

Like a giant lion swallowing its prey in a single bite, a crimson aura consumed it entirely.

Standing before Isaac, blocking Galenia's attack, was none other than—

Arandel Helmut.

"…I knew it."

Tears streamed from Galenia's black eyes.

Arandel should have become a Transcendent.

It was the only way to survive.

That was why Galenia had wanted to entrust the family to Liana and leave together with Arandel.

He had refused.

Even then, she still held onto a shred of hope, believing that somehow, she and Arandel could escape Helmut.

But now—

"You will never leave, will you?"

A man who had spent his entire life moving forward,

Now stood still.

Yet, for the first time, he had found a new path.

The excitement and fervor on Arandel's face…

Because of the new possibilities that Isaac had shown him,

Arandel would stay in Helmut until the day he died.

He would devote himself to the sword until the very end.

That was who Arandel Helmut was.

That was the man she loved.

So then… what should Galenia do?

The answer was clear.

***

Boom!

A far stronger dark energy surged forward, catching Isaac completely off guard.

His body had no strength left, even taking a step felt burdensome.

Even amid the chaos of Galenia's sudden outburst,

The one who stood in front of him was an utterly unexpected man.

A massive back, radiating Crimson Aura.

As if declaring that every other Helmut child was a mere imitation, his Crimson Aura was deep and ferocious.

Just moments ago, many had marveled at Lohengrin's Crimson Aura.

But the instant they saw Arandel's, they questioned—

Are these two even the same?

That was how overwhelming he was.

'I can't win.'

Isaac had defeated the eldest son, yet he was certain.

Arandel could cut him down with just a single swing.

And yet—

That very man was protecting him.

"…Impressive."

Without even looking his way, Arandel spoke.

Facing his wife, knowing that she had betrayed humanity and become a Transcendent,

Arandel stood there—

Completely unfazed.

"Isaac!"

At that moment, Liana, who had followed Arandel a step behind, urgently embraced Isaac, relieved that he was safe.

"Thank goodness, truly thank goodness."

"Liana."

"You did well… truly, you were incredible."

It was inevitable that this scene would stir Isaac's heart.

The wife he most wanted recognition from and the father-in-law he admired the most were both protecting him.

The fact that these two acknowledged him sent a thrilling sensation through Isaac like never before.

The assault had stopped, and the screams of the people had begun to fade.

The knights of Helmut swiftly moved to suppress and subdue the Transcendents.

What had started as a sudden and shocking ambush had ultimately turned into a misstep for the Transcendents.

"Do you know why Helmut is great?"

Arandel slightly turned his head, directing his question toward Isaac and Liana.

Liana was about to protest, questioning why he was suddenly asking such a thing, but before she could, Isaac smiled and responded.

"Because it exists."

"Hmph."

A smile spread across Arandel's lips.

"Correct."

How.

How could he give such a perfect answer?

One of Helmut's knights, who was responsible for Arandel's sword, approached and knelt.

With both hands, he respectfully presented the greatsword, and Arandel took hold of it.

'The air has changed.'

The moment he gripped the sword, it felt as if everything around them had fallen silent.

An oppressive aura.

Just standing near him was overwhelming enough to make it difficult to breathe.

Liana hugged Isaac even tighter to shield him.

"By existing, we are great."

Helmut did not need to strive for greatness.

Because simply walking the path they desired would lead them to be revered as great.

Thus, they had no need to chase after anyone. They must not walk while looking at another's back.

Helmut must walk solely on its own path.

The eldest son had failed to realize this and, in the end, had lost as nothing more than Arandel's imitation.

"Since I have seen something remarkable—"

Arandel tightened his grip on the greatsword.

"I shall respond in kind."

He swung his greatsword.

The sword that Lohengrin had pursued revealed its true form.

Crimson Annihilation Strike (滅紅擊).

A single strike of Arandel's sword that shattered, tore, burned, and destroyed.

However, only Isaac recognized that this technique was Crimson Annihilation Strike.

Because—

It was so vastly different from Lohengrin's version that no one else could even fathom they were the same technique.

***

Without a moment's hesitation, Arandel swung his sword at her.

Seeing this, Galenia smiled.

'As expected.'

Everything had already collapsed.

The suspicion that began with Millie had reached the princess.

It would soon be publicly known that the mistress of Helmut had betrayed humanity.

Furthermore, since Arandel had taken a liking to Isaac, he would never leave with her.

'Now, the only thing I can do for you…'

Was to die.

And to die by Arandel's hand.

That was the only way Helmut could bear less responsibility for this incident.

Arandel remained unchanged.

For the sake of the sword, he would even kill his own wife.

For the greatness of Helmut, he wielded his sword against her.

'If you can remain as you are—'

That was why Galenia had fallen in love with him.

'Then I shall die.'

Love led to ruin.