The Son-In-Law Of A Prestigious Household Wants A Divorce-Chapter 41: The Two Womens Resolve

“Hah! Hah!”

“They’re retreating!”

On top of the wall.

Despite them succeeding in repelling another wave of Demonic Beasts, the soldiers sighed, almost complaining, instead of expressing relief or joy.

It had been just over a month since it was revealed that they were up against a Great Colony.

Ever since then, the Demonic Beasts had been unleashing their onslaughts every single day, to the point that even the resilient soldiers of the Malidean Wall felt their minds and bodies wore down.

Lately, the attack frequencies had even increased; sometimes they’d attack twice a day.

It was to the point that they had to battle against their fatigue first before even facing the Demonic Beasts.

“...This can’t go on.”

Silverna, the leader of Reconnaissance Team 5, muttered while leaning on her spear.

It was clear that she had her own thoughts about the recent increase in the Demonic Beast’s attacks frequency.

“...”

Among the exhausted soldiers, Rianna Helmont stood tall.

Her red hair fluttered in the wind, flowing over the wall.

Her unwavering gaze fixed on the Demonic Beasts beyond the wall. There was no hint of fatigue on her face, showcasing that all the praises towards Helmont really weren’t for nothing.

Slowly, she turned her head.

Among the other soldiers, a man with black hair tied in a ponytail sat tiredly, engaging in casual conversation with nearby soldiers.

Though they were far apart, her ears could pick up every word of their conversation.

“I nearly died this time.”

“Thank you, Sir Isaac. If you hadn’t pushed me earlier, I’d be lying there with a concussion from that rock.”

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“It’s nothing. You saved me last time, remember?”

“Did I?”

“Or maybe not. I’ve had so many similar experiences that my memory’s getting fuzzy.”

Although he was joking and laughing with the soldiers, the content of the conversation itself wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

Lying down on the ground next to him were two broken tachis.

This implied that the man had been in situations so dangerous that he ended up breaking two swords.

If this keeps up, are things going to be okay...?

As her concerns deepened like that...

Rumble! Boom!

“Whoa, what was that?”

“Lightning?! Was that lightning?!”

“I thought it was a Demonic Beast.”

From beyond the mountain range, under the clear sky.

A flash of lightning struck, leaving Rianna with eyes wide opened.

*   *   *“This isn’t good.”

Inside the strategy tent.

The commander of Malidean Wall Army’s First Company pleaded to Uldiran, who sat at the head of the table.

“We’re being gradually worn down. The number of the wounded has been increasing, and the morale inside the wall has been plummeting.”

Every single day, the soldiers swing their spears, killing all Demonic Beasts they could kill, all while watching their comrades—whom they were joking around with just yesterday—die from flying rocks.

The weight of being on the front lines was weighing on them more heavily than ever before.

“The Demonic Beast’s horde is showing no sign of diminishing. Recently even beasts from other regions started appearing in their attacks; it’s clear that they’re bolstering their forces while attacking us.”

“Hmm.”

The margrave stroked his chin as he examined the map. From the look of it, he seemed to share the same opinion as the commander.

“As the commander of the First Company, I implore you to please make a decision regarding this matter, Your Excellency.”

The moment the company commander’s report ended, another company commander who was sitting opposite the previous commander, raised his hand, requesting permission to speak.

“Your Excellency, our Malidean Wall’s forces always have a single goal; defense. Although the number of wounded soldiers on our side is increasing, at the same time, the number of Demonic Beasts we’ve slain easily trumps that number.

“To abandon our advantageous position and assume an aggressive stance of subjugation? The risk is too great. Moreover, we still haven’t identified the Demonic Beast in command of the Colony. It’s way too premature for us to venture outside.”

Both company commanders’ statements had valid logic backing them.

After all, they were people who had led the soldiers countless times. Also, though their opinions conflicted, they still showed respect to each other.

“Hmm.”

After they both voiced their opinions, Uldiran fell into contemplation.

Whether to continue his war of attrition that seemed to be endless...

Or to capitalize on the reduced numbers of Demonic Beasts to strike them at their core.

Silverna was itching to speak out her opinion, but unfortunately, her position as the leader of Reconnaissance Team 5 didn’t grant her the privilege to speak.

Hence she couldn’t do anything but biting her lip hard while suppressing her trembling legs. But, at that moment...

“What’s your opinion on this, Lady Rianna?”

Uldiran suddenly asked for Rianna’s opinion, who was here as the representative of the dispatched nobles.

A Cardias asking a Helmont for her opinion wasn’t something that Rianna expected. Before she could speak, she could only pause and look at him in surprise.

“Just now...”

But, that was the kind of man Uldiran Cardias was.

After a brief pause, she finally voiced her thoughts.

“When the Demonic Beasts retreated, there was a peculiar phenomenon when lightning struck a certain place several times. I could sense a faint magical power from those lightning.”

“Ugh.”

“Tsk.”

Subtle groans erupted from the people inside the tent.

None of them had noticed said magical power.

So, normally, they would have dismissed her as nonsense, but...

‘She’s a Helmont...’

‘Her words can’t be dismissed just like that.’

‘What a mess.’

Helmont had a great reputation and skills to back it up.

Now that a Helmont had specifically pointed such a thing out, there was a huge chance that she wasn’t just talking nonsense.

Still, it was difficult to make a judgment based solely on one person’s word.

“I believe its source is the Demonic Beast that’s commanding over this Great Colony.”

Regardless of what the others think about her, Rianna kept expressing her thoughts calmly.

“Do you think we can really find their commander if we go to that place?”

“I can’t say for certain, but I believe it’s at least worth investigating.”

*   *   *Clang!

From one of the corners of the training ground, a sound of swords clashing echoed loudly.

This particular corner had pretty much turned into Isaac’s designated practice spot.

As the tachi in his hand extended in a straight line, Sharen’s greatsword advanced along the same trajectory in response.

Isaac leaped like a rabbit, rotating once in the air.

A second later, Sharen’s greatsword naturally passed through where he had been.

Almost landing, Isaac swung his tachi again, aiming for Sharen’s neck, but...

“I-Inferno Surge!”

Faster than her urgent cry, pink Crimson Essence erupted from her greatsword.

The moment it spread and touched Isaac, his body, which had been in mid-air, was flung a distance away from where he was.

“Sir Isaac! Oh, no!!”

Jonathan—who had been watching the duel—ran over, making a fuss.

Meanwhile, Isaac’s body rolled across the training ground.

The moment he finally stopped, he quickly raised his head and shouted.

“I told you not to use Crimson Essence!”

“H-H-Helmont won’t be defeated that easily!”

Despite saying ‘Crimson Essence? Hah, I wasn’t planning to use it!’ before the duel...

The moment she found herself in danger, Sharen unleashed Crimson Essence to counterattack without even thinking twice.

“Haaa, whatever. I’ve got a general idea now anyway.”

Isaac stood up, dusting himself off. Sharen approached with quick steps, looking embarrassed as she tried to find words to say.

She was about to apologize, but Isaac asked something else instead.

“How was it?”

“Huh?”

“My sword. How was it? Until you used Crimson Essence, we were pretty evenly matched, weren’t we?”

“...”

She didn’t want to admit it, but Isaac was right.

In fact, during their spar, Sharen had struggled quite a bit.

Of course, Crimson Essence was half of a Helmont’s strength, so she was nowhere close to her full power, but...

This also meant that he—someone who wasn’t even able to wield a sword until recently—had reached half of her level in just a month.

“Tell me honestly. What do you feel?”

At Isaac’s request, Sharen put a finger to her lips, pondered for a moment, then glanced around before speaking.

“I-I was annoyed.”

“...”

“Something just felt really off. It was like you knew exactly how I was going to swing my sword.”

“...”

“Earlier, after our third exchange, you could tell that I intentionally increased my speed, right?”

“Yes, I could.”

“See? Somehow, you read my annoyance, and predicted that I’d increase my speed right there.”

Isaac had indeed anticipated her moves back then.

He had judged that Sharen would try to show the gap between their skills at that point, and he was proven right.

“Anyway, it feels awful...! A-Also, I’m tired! It’s only been 30 minutes since the wall defense was over, but you suddenly asked for a spar—!”

Sharen pouted, starting to make excuses like a child after knowing that he could completely read both her mood and her moves.

Meanwhile, Isaac felt satisfied.

This marked the second Helmont’s sword that he had managed to overcome.

He could easily handle Jonathan since a while ago, and now he could win against Sharen with pure swordsmanship, even though until a while ago, she was someone he couldn’t even think of beating.

Of course, it’s a different story if she uses Crimson Essence.

He could handle Jonathan’s sloppy Crimson Essence, but from the moment Sharen used Crimson Essence, the difficulty increased dramatically.

It was more apparent that he’d need Aura to even compete, so he was about to start racking his brain to think about that again, but at that moment...

“...”

“...”

Rianna and Silverna approached them, walking side-by-side.

A rather mismatched pair no matter how one tried to look at them.

Neither of them was looking at the other, but since they were walking in the same direction, they ended up walking together.

“Wow, they really don’t match with each other well.”

Hearing Sharen’s mutter, Isaac asked something he had forgotten to ask earlier.

“Sharen, you didn’t tell Silverna anything about me and Rianna, did you?”

He didn’t mention anything specific because Jonathan was there. When Sharen heard his question, she flinched and she immediately retorted, as if finding his words incredulous.

“D-Do you think I’m an idiot?! Why would I tell her something like that?!”

“You really didn’t?”

“Of course not!! I’m not an idiot!!”

*   *   *“Hey.”

While walking towards Isaac, who was bickering with Sharen.

Silverna quietly called out to Rianna.

“...”

Rianna didn’t show any particular reaction, but it was clear that she was listening.

“I’m going to exclude Isaac from this operation.”

It was only after Silverna said such words did Rianna finally turn her face towards her.

And then...

“That’s wise.”

She nodded.

“Considering that we’d be facing a Demonic Beast that could handle such lightning, it would be dangerous for Isaac to even approach it.”

“Yes, agreed.”

They knew he was trying hard.

And they were certain that he would become an excellent swordsman in the future.

But...

“It’s not the time yet.”

“That’s right.”

The two women judged that it was still too early for him to set foot on their battlefield.

“...”

“...”

It was the first time their opinions aligned.

All to wish for the safety of one man.

*   *   *That evening...

Anna suddenly told Silverna that Old Man Antonio called for her, so she hurriedly donned a robe and rushed towards the blacksmith’s workshop.

Since no one wanted to be bothered by the noise, the workshop usually didn’t operate at this hour.

Regardless of that, though, Silverna hastened her steps.

“Is it finally ready?”

As soon as she arrived, Silverna asked Antonio with a bright smile.

Isaac’s disappointed face when she told him that he’d be excluded from the upcoming operation was still lingering in her mind.

So, she thought that this sword that she was about to give him would be able to quickly cheer him up.

“That was quick.”

“Let’s skip the greetings. Is it finished? Show me!”

Antonio let out a sigh, trying to calm down the overly eager Silverna.

“It’s almost done. But that’s not why I called you here today.”

“What?”

Hearing that, her shoulders drooped.

Her excitement instantly turned to disappointment.

“Then why did you call me?”

“There’s some Argentite left over. What should I do with it?”

Antonio then showed a finger-sized bluish-green ore in his hand.

“And here I thought you’d just pocket the leftovers.”

Silverna said, surprised by the old man’s unusual honesty.

“What can I do with this amount?”

Antonio clicked his tongue regretfully.

If there had been more, he probably would have kept it for himself.

“Hmm, with this amount—“

Silverna rolled the Argentite in her hand, pondering.

Then, as if an idea had struck her, she flinched and tentatively probed.

“Ahem. Antonio? C-Could you make something like a ring?”

“...”

“I-It’s nothing weird! I just thought it’d be nice if I could wear it as a memento or something!”

“One of my apprentices used to make accessories... But, we could only make one ring at best with this much.”

Another disappointing answer.

Well, it’s okay... I’m jumping the gun a little anyway... Even if I got a pair, it isn’t like I can just give it to him...

Even as she told herself to exercise restraint, Silverna’s mouth was already saying something else.

“What about an earring? Just one for one ear.”

He often ties up his air, so his ears are often visible!

“That should be possible.”

At Antonio’s nonchalant response, Silverna smiled brightly and held out the Argentite again.

“Then, please make it. Don’t make it too flashy, make it look cool. That would suit him.”

“...I understand.”

Antonio just pretended he hadn’t heard or seen anything.

Practically turning his brain off and just accepting the ridiculous request.