It had been a week since the nobles were dispatched to the Malidan Wall.
Although it felt like a lot had happened, that was only in the beginning.
The nobles were gradually adapting to the North, and the soldiers of Malidan were slowly forming bonds with them in their own way.
It was 4 a.m., just before dawn.
Silverna, who was switching shifts, yawned and slung her spear over her shoulder.
"Ahhh, I'm so sleepy."
Even with the nobles' arrival, their workload hadn't lightened.
In fact, with the frequent movements of the beast horde recently, it wasn't unusual to wake up quickly even during night shifts.
"Miss."
Anna, who had been on duty with her, emerged from among the other soldiers leaving after their shift and approached Silverna.
"Anna, I was thinking of asking the cook to make some soup before bed. Want to join me?"
"No, Miss. Actually, more importantly…"
Anna leaned in close, whispering so the other soldiers couldn't hear.
"Why haven't you been wearing your binder lately? You know the soldiers are starting to talk about it, right?"
"..."
How could she not know?
She could even feel the stares, subtle as they might be.
While the soldiers of Malidan tried their best not to look, the dispatched nobles sometimes openly stared.
It was uncomfortable, but oddly, her pride wouldn't let her shy away, so she acted even more confidently.
"Is it that noticeable?"
Silverna glanced down at her chest.
She knew it was a remarkable feature for a woman, but as a warrior wielding a spear, it was nothing but an annoyance.
"Very noticeable. Why the sudden change? You used to find it so bothersome that you even wore the binder to bed."
"Well, it's just that…"
Silverna sighed.
She waited until the other soldiers had passed before speaking.
"Someone told me I should get used to it."
"What?"
"They said I should start getting accustomed to having a large chest when swinging a spear. That there might come a time when I can't wear a binder anymore."
"Why wouldn't you be able to wear it?"
"…If it gets bigger, I won't be able to."
Anna stared at Silverna with a dumbfounded expression.
It was rare to see her mistress blush and avoid eye contact, which Anna found unexpectedly endearing.
"Bigger than now?"
To the point where even the binder couldn't handle it?
Who on earth had said such nonsense?
When she asked, Silverna hesitated before mumbling.
"I-Isaac."
"WHAT?!"
A man's name came up so suddenly that Anna was utterly flabbergasted.
"Isaac said that adapting to physical changes is important. He gave up using Helmut's greatsword for the same reason."
"How is that the same as this? Isn't that harassment?!"
"Anna, what are you talking about? Isaac said it out of concern for me."
"Even so…"
Anna was well aware that Silverna had been spending more time with Isaac lately.
His understanding and mastery of spearmanship, demonstrated on the second day at the training grounds, had been astonishing.
She'd even heard that some of the Malidan soldiers had started seeking him out for advice.
His guidance had noticeably improved their skills, leaving them highly satisfied.
"Anyway, I don't think he's entirely wrong. It's not just about my chest getting bigger. There are times when wearing a binder simply isn't an option, right?"
"Well, that's true…"
"Like in the middle of a battle, if it suddenly breaks?"
"I've lost count of how many shirt buttons I've sewn for you."
"Ahem. Anyway, that's why—"
As the two of them headed back to the barracks, they heard the sound of wind being cut in the direction of the training grounds.
Their heads turned simultaneously toward the source, where they saw Isaac practicing swordsmanship alone in a dark corner of the training field.
"Isaac?"
"You're here again today." Anna added.
At Silverna's question, Anna elaborated.
"He's out here every day like this. He never misses morning drills, either."
"He doesn't take breaks from duty?"
"Nope. And he's the last to turn off his lights at night. Do you know how many candles he's requested in just one week?"
Since Anna handled supplies, she was keenly aware of such things.
"The soldiers even joke about whether all Helmut men are like that. He's surprisingly motivational."
"…Impressive."
Silverna murmured as she absentmindedly watched Isaac.
Noticing her expression, a chilling thought crossed Anna's mind, and she quickly issued a warning.
"He's a married man! You know that, right, miss? Especially Liana Helmut's husband! If you keep hanging around him so often, people will start talking!"
Weren't their families supposed to be on bad terms?
For the only daughter of the Caldias family to flirt with the Helmut family's eldest daughter's husband was prime gossip material for idle bystanders.
"I know, I know! I've never even looked at him as a man. I just think he's amazing from a professional standpoint."
"R-right? That's what it is, right?"
"Stop worrying about strange things."
Silverna waved her hand in farewell with a smile.
"Hey! Isaac! Working hard so early in the morning!"
Isaac, who had been jotting something down after putting his sword aside, turned his head.
Then, with a faint smile, he waved back briefly in response.
'He is handsome.'
Anna had to admit it.
It was no wonder he had managed to charm the Blood Rose.
Even his sweat-soaked appearance had an oddly sexy appeal, distinct from the rugged men of the North.
"What is he writing so diligently?"
Anna asked to distract herself, while Silverna also tilted her head in curiosity.
"Right? What could it be?"
What could make someone stop mid-sword practice to jot something down?
The two women trotted toward Isaac.
"You're working hard this morning."
"Good morning."
Isaac nodded briefly at Silverna and Anna's greeting.
'Are we bothering him?'
Anna, sensing his lukewarm reception, carefully observed his reaction.
"What are you doing? Let me see."
But the free-spirited lady from the North approached Isaac without hesitation and peeked at what he was writing in his book.
"A swordsmanship manual?"
Isaac showed it to her without any resistance. In fact, he seemed eager to hear her thoughts on it.
"Huh?"
"..."
Anna, who was now reading along beside Silverna, was also intrigued.
The manual was meticulously written, with detailed explanations accompanied by beautiful illustrations. The further they flipped through the pages, the more refined and polished it became, with added corrections and improvements.
"Wait, did you write this yourself?"
Anna asked hesitantly, wondering if it was a newly written manual rather than one that already existed. Isaac nodded.
"Yeah, that's right."
"But… you're from the Helmut family?"
Anna asked cautiously. Was it okay for him, a son-in-law of the Helmut family, to write about something other than their traditional sword techniques? Isaac chuckled awkwardly.
"I can't wield Helmut's greatsword. I'm not naturally strong enough for it."
"Oh, r-right, that makes sense."
As someone of common birth, Isaac couldn't compare to the Helmut family, blessed with superior genetics.
"But, Isaac."
The slightly awkward atmosphere was interrupted by Silverna, who, without taking her eyes off the manual, asked:
"What kind of sword are you envisioning with this? It's clearly not Helmut's greatsword, nor is it an ordinary two-handed sword. It seems like a one-handed weapon, but you're not using a shield either."
Silverna's observations were sharp.
She had gleaned all this just by reading the text, which impressed Isaac greatly.
"You're right. The sword I'm designing this for is… a weapon rarely seen in the kingdom. It's the kind my master uses."
"Your master?"
"Yes, but I can't go into too much detail."
Isaac intentionally avoided delving deeper into the topic.
Silverna and Anna were curious, but Isaac didn't seem willing to share further.
'If only I could become like you, Master…'
Isaac had been deeply influenced by two people regarding swords:
Liana Helmut, who had inspired his admiration for the weapon,
And the Grandmaster, who had shown him a sword style that suited him perfectly.
"We're about to go and ask the chef to make us some soup. Would you like to join us, Isaac?"
Anna, sensing the growing tension, deliberately shifted the conversation.
"Sure, let's do that! I've got some cheese stashed away—I'll ask them to add it in, too."
Silverna chimed in playfully, tugging at Isaac's arm, and he reluctantly followed along.
"And by the way, if you ever need any help, let me know. I'll do whatever I can to assist."
Silverna smiled as she added this. She had a good sense of how Isaac might have been treated in Helmut for not being able to wield their greatsword.
Isaac, touched by her words, nodded in gratitude.
"Thanks. I appreciate it."
Watching the two share a moment of camaraderie, Anna felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding once again.
'It can't be, right?'
Surely not.
Not her lady…
'No, it can't be.'
He's a married man, after all.
***
A woman with long black hair flowing down her back stood, her wolf-like ears perked up on her head. She carried a long crescent-shaped sword on her shoulder and spoke decisively.
[Call me Grandmaster.]
Her disciples, standing before her, looked confused by her sudden proclamation.
[Grandmaster?]
[We've been calling you Master all this time. Why the change?]
[Did something happen to change your mind?]
The disciples were all highly skilled in their own right. Among them, the woman pointed toward Isaac, who stood leaning on his staff.
[It's because of him. My standing is at risk. You all keep going to him for lessons instead of me.]
None of the disciples denied it.
Though Isaac did not wield a sword, he was unparalleled in his mastery of martial principles.
And so, the woman who was once merely their master declared herself the "Grandmaster."
After dismissing the other disciples, leaving just the two of them alone, the Grandmaster perched on the windowsill, sipping from a cup of wine with a smile.
Isaac bowed his head toward her, his voice tinged with regret.
"I apologize, Grandmaster. It seems my actions have caused unnecessary concern."
The Grandmaster chuckled softly and replied,
[Don't misunderstand. I only said that because some of the other disciples felt their pride was hurt by learning from you.]
Isaac fell silent.
[My child]
She continued,
[Your talent is extraordinary. Perhaps the heavens took your leg as a trade-off for such a gift.]
"Grandmaster, the reason I work so hard is—"
[I know]
She interrupted gently.
[You want to create a sword you can wield, even with one leg.]
Yet, there was a hint of sorrow in her gaze as she looked at Isaac.
[But it's impossible. No matter how hard you try, against true swordsmen, you will crumble without recourse.]
Isaac's grip tightened on his staff, frustration bubbling as he cursed his uncooperative leg.
[My child]
She said softly, not to comfort but to state a solemn truth.
[It's tragic.]
"Grandmaster…"
[If only fate had brought us together a little sooner…]
The Grandmaster didn't look at Isaac. Instead, she gazed at the distant full moon, her solitude evident as she quietly drank her wine.
***
"Assemble!"
Silverna's shout jolted Isaac awake.
His eyes snapped open, and like a seasoned soldier, he leapt out of bed and rushed out of his room.
In the hallway, Silverna was dressed in full armor, rallying the nobles.
"Everyone, assemble in the training yard, fully armed, within 10 minutes!"
The urgency in her voice and movements made it clear—this wasn't just a drill.
The unusually long Night of Malidan was about to begin.