The sisters' greatswords clashed.
The accumulated dust was swept away by the wind pressure created by the two blades.
The two women swung their swords in silence, but that silence carried more meaning than words ever could.
'...!'
For now, even Isaac forgot the current situation and focused solely on the swordplay of the two women.
The swordsmanship of Helmut, which he had once admired.
Ten years later, Helmut's swordsmanship had advanced far beyond what he had imagined.
And as he scrutinized their techniques, he could see traces of the swordsmanship manual he had written embedded within them.
'I….'
So, in the end, he had left his mark on the swordsmanship of Helmut, the very thing he had yearned for.
Realizing this, Isaac focused even more intently on the duel between the two women.
But the conclusion came swiftly.
No matter how much Sharen had grown stronger over the ten years, she was no match for Liana—Helmut's prodigy, the girl who had earned the name "Blood Rose" at a young age.
Clang!
[...!]
Sharen's eyes wavered as she lost grip of her greatsword.
Glancing at the sword sliding away across the floor, she bit her lip hard.
[Sharen, I've made up my mind.]
[Made up your mind? About what—! Do you think I don't know why you're here?!]
[....]
[You were going to ask Regant to retrieve your corpse, weren't you? Damn it! Damn it—!]
Sharen slammed her fist into the ground, thick tears rolling down her cheeks.
Failing to defeat her sister meant failing to protect her.
[They're all dead! Father! Mother! Our brothers! Edel! Everyone's dead!]
[....]
[And now I have to lose you too? Like this, so meaninglessly? I—I can't—!]
A gentle touch enveloped Sharen. Liana pulled her into an embrace, patting her back as she softly closed her eyes.
[I wish I could've held you like this sooner.]
[Si… sister….]
[I'm sorry, Sharen. It feels like I'm leaving you with such a heavy burden.]
Liana stepped back and slowly removed the ring from her left ring finger.
The ring, which had been in place for fifteen years, was in pristine condition—so much so that it was hard to believe it belonged to a woman who had spent years on the battlefield.
It was clear how dearly she had cherished it.
[I have a request. When I die, put this back on… and send it to Isaac for me.]
[...No.]
[Isaac will take care of it. He's that kind of man.]
[It's been ten years. It wouldn't be strange if he's changed.]
Liana closed her eyes and smiled bitterly.
[He'll still accept it.]
Because that's the kind of man he is.
[So, Sharen—.]
Tears pooled in her eyes.
[On the day I close my eyes and go to meet him…]
Liana gently stroked Sharen's cheek as she made her final request.
[Just… make me beautiful.]
Her last words lingered like an echo, fading as if diluted in water.
Before long, Isaac's vision began to distort, and soon after—
The scene shifted.
Now, it was a spire under the night sky.
Liana stood in silence, staring at the dark horizon, seemingly on alert.
'Is this… further in the past?'
The wedding ring on her left hand told Isaac that this was before she had reunited with Sharen.
The flow of memories seemed to be moving from the future toward the past.
Liana's red hair, fluttering in the night breeze, looked dull and brittle, as if it had lost its luster.
[Huu, you seem deeply troubled.]
Liana didn't turn at the voice behind her.
She simply stared blankly at the edge of the night, as though—
She was either watching for the approaching Transcendents…
Or waiting for someone dear who would never return.
The Regant of ten years later was far more gaunt than the one Isaac knew, but the sharpness in his eyes had only deepened.
Having become a true sage in the face of crisis, he had learned to see the bigger picture.
[Are you still hesitating? About who to send back?]
[Hesitating…]
Liana spoke as if questioning herself. But she wasn't hesitating.
[I've already decided. I'm just afraid.]
[Are you still planning to give the regression to that silent sword? The Magic Tower chose you. This regression is yours alone.]
[....]
[Hah… Honestly, I don't understand.]
Regant neither stepped closer nor moved away, remaining in his role as an advisor.
[There are countless people who would pay any price for a chance to return to the past.]
[....]
[You could correct past mistakes. You could use your knowledge of the future to gain immense advantages.]
[....]
[The burden and responsibility would be great, yes, but it's an opportunity anyone would desire. Even I envy you.]
Regant shrugged, trying to lighten the mood. But Liana remained silent.
[Sigh… What's the problem? If you could erase your own mistakes—]
[Even that—]
Her voice was dry, but her words were sincere.
Liana slowly turned her gaze to Regant and answered.
[Even that would be selfish.]
[....]
[The wounds he endured, the suffering he bore, the growth he achieved—erasing all of that would still be selfish.]
[Who would even remember it?]
Frustrated, Regant found himself arguing without realizing it.
[Just—just close your eyes and be selfish for once! Can you even call it selfish? No one will remember, and you'd be saving the world—!]
[I can't.]
Having nothing more to say, Liana turned away.
[One more time.]
Her softly closed eyes were, in truth, staring at the desolate reality before her.
[Just one more time.]
[....]
[I know that would be enough. But I just… can't bring myself to do it.]
A brief silence fell.
In that stillness, where not even the chirping of insects could be heard, Regant left without another word.
He already knew.
She had made up her mind.
From the beginning, Liana had said it—
She had decided, but she was just afraid.
Since he couldn't change her choice, all Regant could do was trust her and let it be.
Liana opened her eyes again and gazed into the darkness beyond.
The mere thought that he was under the same sky was her only solace.
As she stared into the abyss, memories of that day resurfaced.
Five years into their marriage.
The dawn when Isaac, having lost his leg, limped out of Helmut.
After losing his leg, Isaac shut himself in his room for a year.
He refused to see anyone, surviving only on the food his friend Millie brought him.
Millie had said:
[Sir Isaac… doesn't want Lady Liana to see him like this—after losing even his last hope.]
Losing his leg meant losing even the faintest hope as a swordsman.
He had truly become a man unworthy of Helmut.
Broken beyond repair, Isaac couldn't bear to face Liana.
And so, Liana waited silently outside his door for an entire year.
That's why—
When he finally stepped out and disappeared into the predawn darkness, she could do nothing but let him go.
Biting her lip, she prayed only for his happiness.
[Ugh… Hic…]
Tears welled up.
Her bitter breath mingled with the night air.
Liana wasn't ignorant.
She could go back.
Back to her life with Isaac.
This time, she was sure she could make him happy.
She could overturn past regrets and live with Isaac for her own selfish desires.
That was what regression offered.
A chance to reclaim lost happiness.
To undo past regrets.
The opportunity was there.
As Regant said, she could just close her eyes this once and be selfish.
But.
[I can't do it.]
She couldn't bring herself to be selfish with him again.
Because she knew—even that would be nothing but her own greed for happiness.
Liana had made her decision.
She was just afraid.
Because she knew.
[You… will surely leave me again.]
If Isaac went back, he would abandon her.
[Hic… S-sob…!]
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Her trembling body crumpled as she fell to her knees.
It terrified her.
Even though she had resolved herself, she hesitated to act.
Because she knew—he would leave her again.
And that thought was unbearable.
Her chest ached.
Clutching her heart with both hands, Liana gasped through the pain.
[Sniff… Hic—waaah…!]
For the first time in her life—
She wept like a child.
Tears spilled onto the ground as she cried endlessly.
My lake.
My lilac.
And my Isaac.
[P-please… Hic! Don't gooo! Don't leave meee! Waaahh!]
Abandon me.
***
He was sure his eyes were open, but when he blinked again, Isaac saw the Magic Tower before him.
Dazed, he slowly lifted his head.
Memories of the future—now the past.
The emotions she had felt.
The secret of regression.
Everything unraveled in that moment.
Ironically, Isaac found the answer to the question that had gone unanswered.
Before Liana's coffin.
As he looked upon her closed eyes, he had asked:
[Until the moment you died—]
Were you the great Helmut?
"No."
His head lowered slowly.
His long bangs shadowed his eyes.
Bitter sorrow welled up within him.
"You weren't."
In her final moments—
She was not the great Helmut.
Until the very end.
Even as she swung her greatsword.
Even as she breathed her last.
She was—
My wife.
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[TL Note]
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