The Son-In-Law Of A Prestigious Household Wants A Divorce-Chapter 78: Helmont Annihilation Battle (3)

The greatest sword.

The knight who single-handedly deterred war from happening.

The lion perched atop red roses.

Arandel Helmont.

His massive frame slowly rose as he tightened his grip on his greatsword.

That alone was enough to instil a sense of intimidation within the challengers’ heart.

Just to stand before him while he was holding a sword required immense courage.

And...

The first one to step forward was his former son-in-law with flowing black hair.

Isaac.

“Isaac!”

Silverna called out urgently, but Isaac’s gaze was already fixed on Arandel.

“I knew you would come forward first.”

Arandel furrowed his brow after he finished his sentence.

He was taken aback, since words he didn’t mean to say were pouring out.

“That’s the effect of Vassalization. Everything that comes to your mind will come out.”

“I see.”

Arandel was calm.

If not due to his eyes that were tainted black, no one would’ve thought that he was under Vassalization.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“I won’t live long.”

“Is it because of the battle?”

“No.”

His answer was firm.

“It’s because of my illness.”

“...”

Being under Vassalization meant he told no lies.

Their conversation also flowed much more smoothly than usual.

Although Arandel seemed to be quite displeased with it.

“It’s irritating.”

Despite Arandel’s words, Isaac was a little surprised by this development. He remembered what had happened to Pollu, after he got Vassalized. Not only his words, his actions too became uninhibited.

Which meant Arandel was restraining those impulses through sheer willpower alone.

If not, the moment they reached the mansion entrance, his greatsword would have greeted them.

“They told me. The moment one succumbs to this, they’d become a dog following their orders.”

“...That’s right.”

That was exactly what had happened to Alois in Isaac’s previous life.

“Also, as far as I know, there’s no way to undo Vassalization.”

Though his knowledge of sorcery was lacking, he didn’t remember any way to undo it.

Then again, even if there was, they’d still have to restrain Arandel until said method was found.

Suddenly, a question arose in Isaac’s mind,

“By the way, where’s the Transcendent who used Vassalization on you?”

“Dead.”

“Sorry?”

“I killed them. With my own hands.”

Apparently, the Transcendent that called himself Apostle had used his sorcery on Arandel, but he managed to overcome its restraint and swung his sword.

As expected of him, I guess...

Just as Isaac was thinking as such...

“Lord Arandel!”

“Princess!”

With urgency, Clarisse overtook him, while Heyrad followed behind, calling out to her with an anxious voice.

“L-Lord Arandel! Are you alright? H-How are you feeling?!”

“Not good.”

Hearing Arandel’s matter-of-fact response, Clarisse’s expression darkened. His tone was but a minor detail to her, what was important was...

“Let’s get you healed for now! Call the mages from the Magic Tower—!”

“You’re missing the opportunity.”

“Sorry...?”

Seeing the bewildered Clarisse, Arandel let out a sigh.

“Wise princess, swept up in your youthful passion, you’re making a misguided judgment.”

“What are you—?”

“Were we not thinking the same thing?”

Boom!

“Is this not the perfect timing for it?”

Arandel plunged his greatsword into the earth as a faint red light flickered in his black eyes.

“Sir Heyrad! Take the princess away from here!”

At Isaac’s urgent cry, Heyrad grabbed Princess Clarisse’s waist and quickly retreated.

Rianna and Silverna immediately stepped forward, crossing paths with him.

They weren’t the only ones, the knights who had come as reinforcements also followed suit.

Looking at the situation, they were at an advantage. They had superiority in numbers, while Arandel had just fought a fierce battle for days; he’d probably have some difficulties utilizing his Crimson Essence.

Yet, for some reason...

I can’t shake the feeling that we’re the ones getting cornered here.

The more it dawned on him that he had to cross swords with the man before him, the more Isaac’s mind kept telling him that they didn’t have any advantage in this situation.

“...This is not going to be easy.”

Silverna muttered softly.

“Father.”

Rianna drew her Ragnavel.

Just as Isaac finished preparing to unleash his Iai.

Arandel unleashed his Crimson Essence from his body towards all directions.

“You who would succeed this Arandel...”

“Keugh!”

The Crimson Essence poured out wildly like a violent wind, prompting most people to retreat.

Rianna quickly deployed her greatsword to block the incoming wave, protecting Isaac and Silverna behind her.

“Can you handle it?”

Arandel’s eyes had already turned away from those who had retreated.

Instead, he fixed his gaze on the few who managed to withstand his Crimson Essence.

“The weight I’ve been carrying—!”

In a sense, they had been placed on a test.

“My achievements, to bring peace with just a single sword—!”

Whoosh!

Arandel swung his greatsword wide.

A single slash to cut something in two.

The slash carried his killing intent that aimed to cut down those who stood before him with just one swing. But...

Clang!

His eldest daughter, Rianna, managed to block it with her greatsword at the perfect time.

“Kugh?!”

Even so, Rianna was still being pushed back. As if unleashing the finishing touch, the veins on Arandel’s forearm bulged.

“Naive!”

With that, he pushed Rianna away with sheer force, sending her flying.

Boom!

Rianna’s body was flung into the mansion’s ruins before being buried in the rubble. Just like that, the eldest daughter of Helmont was out.

The rose petals covering the ground swirled in the fierce wind. Silverna’s spear, hidden among them, thrust towards Arandel.

Having anticipated Rianna’s fall, the strike was unleashed one beat faster than she intended.

One could say that they unintentionally did a combo, but...

Crack!

Arandel caught the spear shaft without much difficulty.

He stared down at Silverna, glaring at her with a fierce aura.

“Daughter of Cardias, haste shakes the spear tip.”

“...!”

Whoosh!

Just like Rianna, Silverna was flung away together with her spear. Her body rolled across the ground.

Then, Arandel turned his gaze towards Isaac.

“Your sword—! Can it truly sever this Arandel’s neck?!”

Isaac drew the tachi on both his sides at once. Electricity scattered, compensating for his lack of speed.

As the rose petals in the swords’ trajectory were cleaved in two, the ‘Hovering Wings’ was swung.

Clang!

But that too, was blocked effortlessly by Arandel.

“How utterly...!”

He swung his greatsword, pushing Isaac back.

“Light!”

“Kugh!”

Being pushed far back, Isaac’s feet momentarily left the ground. If Heyrad hadn’t caught him, he would have been pushed back to the mansion’s entrance.

“Are you alright?!”

“Yes...”

It was just a single exchange.

Yet, his arms trembled after trying to resist that overwhelming force.

“He’s like a monster.”

The knights who charged in after Isaac was flung away also couldn’t stand long before Arandel. Like others, they couldn’t withstand even a single exchange.

When Isaac gathered himself and rushed forward, Rianna had already charged forward again, swinging her sword at Arandel.

Boom! Boom!

The father-daughter pair swung their greatswords at each other without hesitation. Rianna was the only one who could match Arandel in exchanges, but...

Seeing how her expression darkened, it was clear that even this was becoming too much for her to do.

“Mother—!”

But, even in the midst of this...

Rianna opened her mouth.

After all, this was the only chance.

The only opportunity to hear Arandel’s true feelings.

Rianna voiced the question she had always kept deep in her heart, unknown to anyone.

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“Have you ever loved her?!”

Boom!

For a moment, Rianna felt Arandel’s sword weaken slightly.

And between the swinging swords.

“Always.”

That single word that had always been hidden was revealed.

Rianna’s eyes widened, but that answer made her unable to withstand Arandel’s next strike and fell.

“What are you doing?!”

Arandel swung his greatsword down again.

But, Silverna’s spear blocked the attack just in time, barely protecting her.

She cleverly received the blow by planting the spear shaft on the ground since she was unable to withstand it with her strength alone, but...

Even after that, she was struggling, her waist gradually bending.

“Don’t let go of your sword, hold it tightly!”

“Silverna...”

Rianna nodded and took her stance. Then, the two noble ladies swung their weapons at Arandel again.

The two’s coordination was excellent, but they still couldn’t break through Arandel.

But, that was enough. They did their job; to open a path.

The moment their weapons were parted to the sides.

A single tachi glided smoothly along the path.

It extended further and further.

Reaching for the end, and beyond.

The Great Flash.

Isaac’s slash that had cut down Brikala, now bared its fang at Arandel.

“Hm.”

For the first time, the corners of Arandel’s mouth rose slightly.

“Beautiful.”

Just one word.

Arandel, who let out that one word, imbued his left arm Crimson Essence, which he hadn’t used since the initial strike, and extended it forward.

Crack!

Isaac’s tachi, imbued with electricity, clashed with Arandel’s Crimson Essence, causing the tachi to scream.

It didn’t take long for the result of the clash to come out.

The Great Flash was pushed back by the giant’s hand, unable to reach its target.

“...!”

Smoke billowed from the tachi.

The impact he felt was so intense that the palm holding the tachi felt as if it had been trampled by a horse’s hoof.

“Isaac!”

“Dodge!”

As the two women grabbed Isaac and retreated, Arandel’s greatsword shattered the spot where he had just been standing.

“Don’t lower your head.”

Amidst the rising dust cloud and rose petals.

“Be arrogant.”

The red light in Arandel’s blackened eyes turned towards Isaac.

“Be haughty.”

And then...

“Be great.”

Boom!

Arandel, who had been standing in the same place this whole time, took a step forward.

“That is the respect you can show to those who have crossed swords with you.”

Isaac had heard these words once before.

Or rather, he had read them before.

In Arandel’s will.

“Don’t make those who have died by your sword feel ashamed.”

It was Arandel’s own belief.

As a great swordsman, he had cut down countless opponents.

In order to not take the deaths of those who had fallen to him lightly...

He showed the world through his arrogance and haughtiness, that those people’s lives were worthy to be taken by such a man.

And that was what made him great.

As the Vassalization progressed, Arandel increasingly poured out his inner thoughts.

“Let the world know—“

As if venting his intensifying emotions and frustration.

“Of this Arandel’s death.”

He rebuked those standing before him.

Only then did Princess Clarisse realize what Arandel was trying to say.

The two had indeed been thinking the same thing.

A generational change. To place the sword protecting the kingdom in another’s hands.

“And that your existences—“

Indeed, this was...

A somewhat early and sudden...

“Will prolong the peace.”

Generational change.