"Haaahpuum!"
"...."
"Isaac, I'm bored."
The journey to the Magic Tower was somewhat dull. At first, they thought the tension would ease now that the major incident was finally over—but that relief quickly turned into boredom.
Three days into the trip, Sharen was already restless.
Swinging her legs back and forth, she pestered Isaac, who sat across from her, for something entertaining.
"I'm not a jester."
Isaac's indifferent reply came as he stared out the window. Pouting, Sharen tapped his leg with her toes.
"I'm bored. Maybe I shouldn't have come. I could've just stayed at the tower and snacked."
"Did you forget your sister nearly died?"
"But she's fine! That's all that matters!"
Her cheerful answer made the Grandmaster snort. Seizing the moment, Isaac added:
"Master, while we're at it, could you stop shaking your leg? It's getting annoying."
"Ah, my apologies. It's just—quitting smoking has left me oddly restless."
The Grandmaster had decided to quit smoking. No one knew why, but she had declared it herself.
"I'm so anxious—would you hold my hand?"
She extended her hand. Isaac gave her a disbelieving look.
"Did you quit smoking just so you could do this?"
"Well, it's not entirely unrelated. A bit too healthy for an excuse, don't you think?"
Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Isaac's hand and pulled him over. Suddenly seated between Sharen and the Grandmaster, Isaac locked eyes with Liana, who was staring straight at him.
"Stay here. Your master is feeling rather uneasy and needs some peace of mind."
"How exactly does holding your disciple's hand bring you peace?"
"Good question. I'll think of a reason while holding it."
"...."
Since when did she become this shameless?
As Isaac stared blankly, the Grandmaster smirked and turned her gaze out the window.
Thud!
"Nap time!"
Sharen plopped her head onto Isaac's lap, grinning up at him as she nuzzled his thigh.
"Isaac, wake me up when it's lunchtime!"
"…Sigh, fine."
Too tired to argue, Isaac let it slide—she was just a kid, after all. He looked ahead, where Liana was still staring intently, her tongue moving as if she had something to say.
'…Better pretend I don't see it.'
He couldn't actually remove her gag—another commotion would surely break out if he did.
"Sir? There's someone up ahead."
The carriage gradually slowed. At the coachman's confused voice, Isaac stood.
"Ack?!"
Sharen, who had tumbled to the floor, shrieked.
"What was that for?!"
"Helmut are tough, right?"
"Even so— Ow?! Sis! Stop stepping on me!"
Seizing the opportunity, Liana "accidentally" stepped on Sharen while staring blankly into space.
'What's out there?'
Her dazed gaze fixed on nothing in particular.
"Owowow! Isaac! Sis is trying to assassinate me because of the subjugation!"
Ignoring her, Isaac stepped out of the halted carriage alone.
In the middle of the road stood a group of people, smiling warmly. Beside them was another carriage bearing noble banners.
"Ah! Baron Logan!"
'They know me?'
That meant they had been waiting deliberately. Isaac subtly adjusted the sword at his waist before stepping forward.
"Who are you?"
"Haha! I am Baron Hellerwain, lord of the nearby territory. Knowing you were passing through, I wished to offer my assistance."
Isaac glanced at the coachman, who nodded in confirmation—Hellerwain's lands were indeed close.
"You must be weary from your travels, and perhaps a bit peckish?"
"Your kindness is appreciated."
The baron's carriage and bundles carried the aroma of rich food and soft blankets.
"However, we cannot accept too many gifts."
"Of course! Just take what you need. And—" He leaned in conspiratorially. "I've also prepared travel funds."
But what he drew from his coat wasn't a purse—it was a dagger.
Schlick!
Blood sprayed as screams erupted.
"Gyaaaaah!"
Despite Baron Hellerwain being the one to launch the ambush, it was his wrist that was severed, his hand now lying on the ground.
"No human can draw a sword faster than me."
Isaac muttered under his breath as he looked down at the baron, blade in hand.
This was one thing he was absolutely confident about. When it came to the sheer act of drawing a sword, no human could surpass him.
"Guh! Kkh—!"
The baron writhed in pain while his attendants stood frozen in shock. Clearly, they had no idea their lord had planned an assassination.
"Huh? What's going on?"
"Why does it smell like blood…?"
Sharen and the Grandmaster stepped out of the carriage, confused by the scene.
Isaac, however, had already pressed his sword to the baron's throat.
"Patrons, I assume?"
Patrons.
A faction of nobles who had sold out humanity to side with the Transcendents.
In his past life, their betrayal had thrown the kingdom into chaos, and in the end, they had been reduced to slaves under the Transcendents' rule.
"Did they order you to ambush the carriage? Thinking there'd be little security?"
But things were different now.
In this life, the chain of events—starting with the assassination attempt on Princess Adeline, then the mercenary group, and Baron Volten—had led to the Patrons being systematically purged.
Even though the two princesses had rooted out traitors with terrifying efficiency…
'So there are still some left.'
The baron clutched his severed arm, gritting his teeth in defiance.
Silence was his answer.
"You could've shown that loyalty to the kingdom instead."
"..."
"No answer is still an answer. You should've at least begged for your life to buy time."
The fact that they were ambushed just three days into their journey meant the Transcendents knew exactly where the carriage was headed.
"W-Wait—!"
The baron never got to finish.
Isaac's blade sent his head rolling to the ground. Calmly wiping the blood off his sword, Isaac addressed the attendants.
"Is there a head servant? Go to Evergard and report to the princess. Tell her the baron was a traitor to humanity, executed by Baron Logan. You likely won't be implicated."
"Y-Yes! Th-Thank you for sparing us!"
The head servant frantically knelt and bowed, the others quickly following suit.
But Isaac was already walking back to his carriage.
"Let's move. It seems reaching the Magic Tower won't be so easy."
"R-Right away!"
As the coachman urged the horses forward, Isaac climbed back inside.
"What happened?"
Three pairs of eyes fixed on him.
Isaac kept his explanation brief.
"The Transcendents are after Liana. Helik lost an arm to get this asset—they won't let her go without a fight."
"Hmm."
"They seem to know our location. At least the trip won't be boring."
As he straightened his clothes and sat back down, the carriage jolted forward at a much faster pace.
"Hoh, you got nicked."
A shallow cut on Isaac's hand—likely from the baron's dagger during the close-quarters exchange.
"Give me your hand. I'll bandage it."
The Grandmaster suddenly reached into her chest and pulled out a bandage.
Still warm.
It wasn't hard to guess where it had been pressed.
Her chest did seem a bit fuller now.
"…You're going to use that to wrap it?"
"Hm? What else? Got another bandage?"
"I have a handkerchief."
"Tch, handkerchiefs are for ladies. A man covering his wound with his own handkerchief is hardly a dignified sight."
Was that how it worked?
Sharen, watching from the side, grabbed the end of the bandage and sniffed it—only to get flicked on the forehead by the Grandmaster.
"Ow!"
"As your master, I can give my disciple anything."
"Ahem."
It felt a bit excessive, but refusing would be rude. Just as he extended his hand—
CRACK!
A sharp snapping sound came from beside them.
"..."
The gag in Liana's mouth had shattered, falling to the floor.
She must have bitten down hard.
Suddenly, Sharen's words from before came to mind:
'Helmut have strong teeth.'
That was certainly true.
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[TL Note]
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