"Ah, um… that is…"
Beside him, blue hair gently swayed.
Had her older brother, Reian, ever seen Marlin Leviath so flustered before?
Isaac found the sight refreshing, but now was not the time to dwell on that.
'Good thing the Silence magic is in effect.'
It gave him time to sort out what he wanted to say. Even if it wasn't about her becoming a vassal, he was somewhat worried about what Liana might be trying to say.
"Let's go outside first."
Their relationship was certainly important, but for now, the issues with the Giant, the Silver Clock, and the Abyss Realm had to take priority.
At Isaac's words, both nodded. As they stepped outside together, he noticed Liana trembling like a leaf.
'...'
Isaac began to understand what kind of words he needed to say, and what kind of emotions she might be feeling.
***
The discussion with their companions lasted longer than expected, but halfway through, most of them started siding with Isaac.
"Wow, I never thought I'd hear those words from you."
"I thought Isaac just wanted to kill all the Transcendents!"
The fact that it was Isaac—the one who proposed resolving the issue with the Transcendents through dialogue—played a major role.
He had hated them more than anyone, and held deep prejudice toward them.
But was it even fair to call it prejudice?
'I lived through their slaughter firsthand.'
It wasn't strange for him to be extremely sensitive, having actually died at their hands in a past life.
Also, the Giant hadn't made any further moves. It could have been arrogance on his part, believing this group was no threat and he could act again whenever he pleased.
But to the mages, it felt like there really was room for negotiation.
Having realized just how overwhelming the Giant's power was, no one wanted to fight again.
They consulted with the Mage Tower, reported to the royal palace, and conveyed their summarized stance to the Giant. By then, night had already fallen.
Walking through the darkness, Isaac arrived at the lodging.
His steps headed toward his room, but just before turning the doorknob, he took a deep breath.
He had told her to wait inside.
"Whew…"
Creak
Isaac entered the room.
Liana was sitting on the bed, head bowed, her expression hazy and distant.
She looked as if she had given up—like she wanted to leave but couldn't.
Or like she was too broken to even move anymore.
Isaac felt a sharp sting on his tongue but pushed through and walked over to stand in front of her.
"Lia."
When he called her name, Liana slowly lifted her head.
She was so out of it, she hadn't even realized he'd come in.
She was saying something, but Isaac didn't bother removing the Silence magic from the necklace.
Right now, he needed to speak one-sidedly.
"You don't need to feel sorry about the regression."
"..."
"If anything, I should be thanking you. So don't carry that guilt."
Liana shook her head.
As if asking how she couldn't feel sorry.
As if saying the burden he carried was far too heavy.
But Isaac didn't accept that—because she didn't know one important thing.
"Do you know why I left Helmut in the past life? It was because I was afraid you wouldn't love me anymore."
"...!"
His emotions, once sorted, now flowed freely and easily from his lips.
"Do you remember our 4th wedding anniversary? When the chandelier fell? In the previous life, it crushed me—I lost one of my legs."
"...!"
"I became completely disabled. I couldn't wield a sword anymore."
Not wanting Liana to see such a hopeless version of himself, he shut himself in his room.
"That's why the reason you used regression on me… must've been because you wanted to give me a new future."
Truthfully, Isaac knew she didn't regress time just because he was Silent Sword.
Somewhere in her heart, she must have truly wanted to give him another chance.
The possibility that Helmut had stolen—
She wanted to return it.
That's why Liana chose Isaac.
"I ended up like this. I got back the time and opportunities that Helmut had taken from me."
If only he hadn't hurt his leg.
That's what the Grandmaster used to say with such regret.
But now, she was teaching him everything she had, passing it all down to Isaac and helping him grow.
Even just that made Isaac feel deeply grateful—grateful for this new life he had received.
"So Lia, stop crying now."
With a gentle smile, Isaac reached out and wiped away the tears from her eyes.
Liana closed her eyes, receiving his touch, and let out a hot breath.
"Okay? You've already paid the price. You gave me a new chance."
"..."
"You took the subjugation curse in my place, gave me countless tips about swordsmanship, and even when I left Helmut, you helped from behind the scenes so I wouldn't struggle."
The fact that rumors about "Baron Logan" weren't that widespread even after their divorce was proof of it.
Liana had worked quietly to prevent strange gossip from spreading.
"So Lia, if there's still a debt to be paid—"
Isaac slowly wrapped her in an embrace.
As he gently patted her back, his voice soothed her.
"You've paid more than enough. So please, don't carry guilt by my side anymore, Lia."
Her body trembled slightly.
Her shoulders shook rhythmically, a silent signal that she was crying.
But the magic kept it all hidden—there wasn't a sound.
A long and silent sobbing followed.
She let out all her tears and sorrow, yet never left Isaac's arms.
A timeline that no longer existed.
The grief for the karma carried by a self that no longer remembered.
The room remained quiet.
No one could hear it.
Not even she herself.
Because while it existed, it also didn't—
Just like the sound of her tears now.
***
"...My sister didn't come back to her room last night."
As Sharen muttered that while eating breakfast, everyone's eyes instantly turned to Isaac.
"Gah! Cough! Cough! W-Why are you looking at me?!"
He protested, saying Sharen was the one who brought it up, so he didn't know why they were staring at him.
But no one looked away.
"Hmm, so the two of you got back together?"
"Did you spend a steamy night, dear disciple?"
"Haa… it's not like that."
Isaac sighed in response to the teasing from his two masters, which was more mockery than curiosity.
He wanted to pretend he didn't hear it, but Sharen was annoyingly persistent.
"My sister came back this morning. Her face was bright red. Did you train together last night? You told me to go to bed early!"
"Hehe! Ahem! Yes, it was training! A very special training—something a child like you wouldn't understand!"
The Grandmaster chuckled loudly, which made Sharen tilt her head in confusion and ask,
"Special training at night? Have you done it too, Grandmaster?"
"...Just eat your food."
"Mmmph!"
Suddenly, the Grandmaster grabbed Sharen by the back of the head and shoved her face into her plate.
No one really knew why she kept making jokes only to lose control of them herself.
"Haa… seriously, it wasn't anything like that."
Isaac gave up explaining, figuring no one would believe him anyway, and just continued eating.
Meanwhile, Liana—who had been silently eating under the cover of Silence magic—had her necklace removed by Mu-myeong, as if nothing had happened.
And then—
"Isaac's embrace… was so warm."
Startled by the sound of her own voice being heard, Liana froze.
But that alone was enough to spark another uproar.
***
"..."
"..."
On the path back into the abandoned mine.
Marlin followed behind Isaac with an indifferent expression as he walked to check on the giant's condition.
Whenever Isaac stopped walking, Marlin would also come to a halt. It felt oddly unsettling, like a shadow had taken human form—but regardless, they walked together.
He thought it would stay quiet like that.
But surprisingly, Marlin slipped a voice between the sound of their footsteps.
"Is it true… that you regressed?"
"…You heard it yesterday."
Isaac replied as nonchalantly as he could, and Marlin nodded.
Now, what would she ask next?
Usually, when someone hears you've returned from the future, they ask about themselves.
Anyone would.
'I only know a limited amount about the Leviath siblings.'
All he really remembered was that they were reliable nobles who stood firm during the war with the Transcendents.
Young blood who didn't run but fought.
If it weren't for the Transcendents, they likely would've been appointed to key government positions.
He was mentally digging through all he knew about the Leviath family, but—
Marlin's actual question was entirely unexpected.
"Did you really spend the night together?"
Isaac stopped walking.
Marlin did too.
She stared at him expressionlessly, but a faint blush had bloomed on her cheeks.
"..."
"..."
A short silence.
They looked at each other.
Isaac sighed, much like he had during breakfast earlier.
"I know what you're thinking, but no. Lia was just too anxious, so I stayed with her."
It was the truth.
All Isaac did was hold Liana in his arms and sleep.
Nothing more happened.
Of course, judging by the things she blurted out under the influence of the subjugation curse, it seemed Liana had wanted more.
But given the situation, things couldn't progress that way easily.
"I see."
Marlin accepted his answer and motioned with her chin for them to keep moving. Isaac looked at her slightly shameless demeanor for a moment, then continued toward the giant.
"You have returned."
The giant was the same as before.
Only his face and a few fingers were barely visible, indicating he had intentionally not expanded the space further.
There was clearly room for negotiation—he was maintaining boundaries.
"Have you been uncomfortable?"
"I was alone for a long time anyway. In fact, breathing the air of the human realm like this is pleasant."
"Even though it's an abandoned mine?"
The giant chuckled softly at Isaac's remark.
"Even so, it is far better than the Abyss Realm."
Isaac, who had once stayed there himself, couldn't fully agree—but still, the place where the giant resided was clearly not an ordinary space.
'He said he was bound by a curse, and became a guardian spirit to uphold it.'
As part of the curse, he could no longer feel any desire.
No hunger, no sleep.
Only long, silent solitude while remaining ever awake.
The giant, seemingly pleased to have someone to talk to, smiled faintly and spoke.
"Being here in darkness like this… rather than feeling stifled, I found myself anticipating. The sunlight must still shine outside this place. Warmth I can no longer remember, yet still long for."
"..."
"So I hope even more… that there is a point where we can compromise."
"I too, sincerely hope so."
As Isaac nodded, the giant spoke again with satisfaction.
"Then you, human… there is something I wish to teach you."
"…Excuse me?"
"Conversations are well and good, but the Silver Clock I know is not one to be reasoned with by words alone."
"..."
"If you truly seek peace across the worlds, then you must have strength befitting that goal."
Thud!
The giant leaned his face slightly forward. Calm yet firm, he addressed Isaac.
"Strike me—just a little."