Amusingly, eating breakfast early in the morning wasn't all that different from usual.
Yeah, now that he was sitting down and eating like this, everything that had just happened felt like a dream.
However, the lingering tremble in Isaac's hands—the same ones that had slashed through giants and braved murderous intent—was enough to remind him that it was all very real.
And there was something else.
"..."
"..."
Two girls were clinging tightly to Isaac.
Liana and Sharen.
They seemed to have thrown away, or perhaps forgotten, the weight of the name Helmut.
Sharen was clinging to his side, silent, while Liana had her forehead pressed against his back, mumbling something—though it was inaudible due to a Silence spell.
"It's kinda hard to eat like this."
Isaac grumbled, but his tone betrayed no real discomfort.
Which is precisely why the sisters only clung to him tighter.
Even though it had only been for half a day, the fear of having possibly lost him still lingered in their hearts.
And perhaps because of Marlin's confession, Isaac had started to think of Liana a little differently.
He didn't bother pushing them away.
"You're eating well, huh."
"Ha, after all that happened, you're still able to scarf down food like it's nothing."
The Grandmaster and Mu-myeong sat across from him, watching him eat.
A dark red mark from a collar still lingered around Mu-myeong's neck, but considering what could have happened, they were lucky it ended there.
To honor Gaia and his death, they'd chosen not to stir conflict and quietly left.
After the meal was finished, everyone stayed at the table and began to talk.
Naturally, the topic was what had occurred inside the cave.
Though most told him to rest first, Isaac didn't have the time.
The story itself wasn't long.
It hadn't been a very extended ordeal in the first place.
Everything he had experienced and thought could be summarized with one phrase—reached.
No one asked any further.
It was something they wouldn't understand, even if explained.
So then, why was Isaac skipping rest and bringing this up first?
Tap.
"This is the problem."
Two swords were placed on the table.
One was already broken in half, and the other had been worn down to the point it was more like a staff than a blade.
"Both are severely damaged. I can't fight with these."
Just as Helik had said, the coming battle with the Transcendents would likely be an all-out war.
The Transcendents had already failed in many things—this was their last stand.
'In my past life, I'd never even seen these Transcendents before.'
Even though they hadn't intervened, humanity had fallen.
But now, the situation was so dire that even they had to step in.
Feeling the end drawing near, Isaac emphasized the urgency of repairing his swords.
"Tsk, the core structure's collapsed. This one's done for—get a new one."
The Grandmaster clicked her tongue at the black sword made from Bricalla.
He had expected this much—it was no longer usable.
"As for this one…"
Mu-myeong held Baekseol, made from Frostsilver, with admiration in her eyes. Though it had lost its glow for now, its beauty remained unchanged.
"It's made from Frostsilver, a very rare material. But that… can only be found in the North."
Moreover, to repair it, they'd need the northern blacksmith Antonio.
It was that stubborn blacksmith who had made both blades.
"Which is why—I need to head to the North immediately."
Everyone flinched at Isaac's words.
They had barely escaped the cave—how could he be thinking of traveling again so soon?
"Hey! Take a break! I get that you're in a hurry, but there's a proper order to things."
"Yeah, Isaac! Let's sleep first! Want me to sleep beside you?!"
Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!
Following the fuss from the Grandmaster and Sharen, Liana, still clinging to his back, began bonking him with her forehead.
They were trying to stop him, that much was clear, but time was running out.
"We have to meet Antonio in the North. And check whether the Margrave has any Frostsilver left."
The situation was not favorable.
That region had already been heavily pushed back since the fall of the Malidan Wall.
The chances of finding Frostsilver were slim.
"And that's not all. Antonio might not even have a proper forge anymore."
After the fall of the Malidan Wall, everything had become makeshift.
Even the simplest of fortifications were likely undergoing daily repairs.
As he listened in, Reian Leviath quickly chimed in.
"You're right. Antonio's been struggling with his apprentices in a forge without even a roof. If you get near him, expect to be yelled at all day."
Reian smiled brightly.
Isaac looked at him with an expression that said he couldn't share that cheer and let out a deep sigh.
"That just makes it even more complicated. I'll need to bring Antonio to the capital, Evergard."
That's where the kingdom's largest forge was located.
He needed a new sword and had to repair Baekseol, which meant acquiring Frostsilver and bringing Antonio along.
With so many tasks piling up for Isaac, Reian flashed a sly grin.
"I'll go to the North for you."
"…You?"
"Yeah! I'm from the North anyway, right? I'll leave Marlin here and go to the North as your envoy. I'll bring back the Frostsilver and Antonio to Everguard!"
If he really did that, it would be a great help.
Isaac didn't fully trust Reian, but still, it was better than him running around everywhere.
'The problem is whether we can even get the Frostsilver.'
Isaac pondered briefly, then nodded.
"I'll write a letter. Give it to the Margravel. He owes us, so he won't be able to refuse."
"Got it!"
"…Give it to Silverna first."
"Also got it!"
There was still a chance the Margrave might say no.
If that happened, Isaac planned to use the "Silverna card." If she saw the letter first, she definitely wouldn't allow him to refuse. In fact, like before, she'd be the loudest one insisting he hand over the Frostsilver.
"I'll depart immediately!"
With a quick farewell to Marlin and a show of sibling affection, Reian left.
But the tasks weren't over yet.
"We still need to find material for another sword."
This was, in fact, as big a problem as the Frostsilver.
The sword made from Bricalla's bones was no longer usable.
That meant they needed a new weapon—and finding a magic beast on par with Bricalla was difficult, not to mention the hunt itself.
'Should I ask the royal palace for help?'
Isaac considered asking Princess Clarice for assistance, hoping she might be able to get him something useful.
Tap tap tap.
A tapping on his back.
Liana was hammering his back with her forehead—her way of asking to speak.
When he gently removed her silencing necklace, she immediately offered a suggestion.
"We'll provide the materials from our house."
"…From Helmut?"
"Yeah. There's a blacksmith named Lapillon who works exclusively for House Helmut. He made all of our family's greatswords."
"I know that."
Belzarad of Arandel. Ragnavel of Liana.
All direct Helmut line members had weapons made by Lapillon, so his skill was trustworthy.
The only issue: he had never made a regular sword before.
"We don't need to have Lapillon make it. But we can provide the material. It's called Jingol Steel—a metal especially suited for handling Crimson aura. It's good enough."
Isaac had heard of it.
A high-grade steel processed in a special way to make it ideal for crafting greatswords that could handle the Helmut Crimson aura.
But Helmut never allowed it to be taken outside the family.
It was as rare as Frostsilver.
"I'm the family head."
Liana whispered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I can give Isaac more than just that. If you need anything else, just say so."
"…Thank you."
But Liana couldn't go herself.
She was researching subjugation transformation at the Magic Tower and couldn't leave her post.
Which meant—
"Me?!"
Sharen's voice rang out in shock when she realized everyone was looking at her.
"You mean I have to go?!"
She grumbled like she didn't want to, though the truth was, she just didn't want to be apart from Isaac.
"You're the only one who can."
"You have to do it."
The Grandmaster and Mu-myeong both said seriously, putting pressure on her.
"Yes, Sharen. You're the one who has to go."
Liana added with a calm but firm tone.
"…Please, Sharen."
And finally, Isaac looked into her eyes.
"Sigh."
Rising slowly, Sharen puffed out her chest and pounded it with her fists.
"Helmut is the strongest even at errands!"
With that declaration, she marched out, saying she would prepare right away.
Watching her leave, Mu-myeong murmured softly.
"Even if you asked them to go buy bread, they'd come back faster than anyone else."
"…So Helmut is the strongest even at being bread couriers, huh."
Isaac nearly laughed as the Grandmaster and Mu-myeong teased each other.
The North and Helmut.
Both were now mobilizing for his sword. That thought was oddly reassuring.
And slowly, the tension and strength in his body began to fade.
"Ah, geez…"
Maybe it was because he had just eaten.
Unable to resist the drowsiness, Isaac slowly closed his eyes.
Poof.
Liana, standing behind him, gently caught the dozing Isaac in her arms and whispered softly.
"Sleep well, Isaac."