The Son-In-Law Of A Prestigious Family Wants A Divorce

✦  Chapter 21 — Silverna’s Scouting Team (1)  ✦

「Translator – Creator」

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Silverna’s scouting party consisted of seven members.

At its head stood Silverna Caldias, the leader and linchpin of the group.

Her lieutenant, Anna.

Three from House Helmund – Isaac, Shauren, and Jonathan. 

Meldick Drakemoore, who had sparred with Silverna before and had even received some swordsmanship lessons from Isaac. 

And finally, there was Pollux Blackson. 

“I… I don’t understand why I’m here…”

Pollux, one of the youngest nobles dispatched to the Wall, was barely twenty years old. He looked around nervously, clearly out of his depth.

‘Slverna’s taking a risk here…’

Isaac was skeptical of her decision to include Pollux in their scouting party. House Blackson had been branded traitors to the kingdom.

Not many people knew about it yet. Ulderan had reported it to the imperial family, and they were currently investigating the matter in secret.

It was best to keep Pollux out of the loop until the investigation was complete, or so Isaac thought. Silverna, however, believed that he was a potential threat and needed to be kept under close watch.

Both had their reasons.

“L-Lord Isaac! T-that person…!”

As Silvernna gathered their team before setting out, Jonathan scurried over to Isaac, his voice trembling. He pointed a shaky finger at Pollux, who was standing awkwardly next to Meldick.

‘Ah, right…’

Jonathan had also been present when Isaac had revealed the truth about the Transcendent being and House Blackson’s treachery.

“D-don’t worry, L-Lord Isaac! I, Jonathan, will protect you with my life-!”

“Jonathan, don’t talk to him. You’ll give yourself away.”

“R-right.”

Jonathan seemed to relax slightly. He was well aware that he did not possess a talent for lies.

However…

There was something amiss with Jonathan. His gait was slightly off, and his posture was askew.

“Take off your armor.”

“Excuse me?”

“Just do it.”

Jonathan, after a moment’s hesitation, shed his armor. Underneath… bruises and cuts littered his body. They were concentrated in areas that wouldn’t be visible beneath his armor. Skillfully delivered, meant to inflict pain without drawing attention.

Isaac’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Who the hell-!”

He’d seen the Helmund knights arrive with the second batch of reinforcements from their house. Isaac hadn’t expected them to go this far, to leave Jonathan in this state after just one day.

His first instinct was to storm off in a rage and confront those responsible.

“L-Lord Isaac! I-it’s fine! Really! It’s no problem at all! They… they were just disciplining me because I’m lacking!”

“Discipline?! We’re about to head out beyond the wall! How are you supposed to fight in this condition?!”

“It’s fine! I can still fight! Please don’t worry!”

Jonathan tried to play it off, but his forced cheerfulness only made Isaac’s blood boil.

“Please… Don’t make a scene, Lord Isaac! It will only make things harder for me later!” Jonathan pleaded, his voice cracking.

“Jonathan…”

Isaac gritted his teeth. He was right.

He might not know about the divorce, but Isaac was leaving House Helmund in a month.

Threatening those knights wouldn’t accomplish anything. Isaac was just a son-in-law, a temporary addition to their family; they wouldn’t hesitate to retaliate against Jonathan later.

They’d already seen him getting beaten by the Helmund siblings… more than once. No one would bat an eye.

“What’s going on here?”

A voice cut through the tension.

Shauren stood behind Isaac, arms crossed, her gaze fixed on Jonathan.

“Is he a Helmund knight too? I don’t think I’ve seen him before. And why does he look like that?”

“L-Lady Shauren!” Jonathan straightened up, saluting instinctively.

And Isaac sighed, quickly explaining the situation.

“Hmm…”

Shauren raised a finger, her expression turning serious.

“Everyone who outranks him… gather here.”

“……P-pardon?”

“You heard me. Get everyone here, now.”

Jonathan stared at her blankly, and Isaac grinned, giving him a gentle shove.

“What are you waiting for? It’s a direct order from the second daughter of House Helmund. As a Helmund knight… you must obey.”

They’d arrived just yesterday, which meant the Helmund knights hadn’t been assigned to their posts yet; this was their only chance to catch them all in one place.

Ten minutes later,

a group of armored knights stood at attention on the training grounds; they might underestimate Shauren because of her age… but she was still direct blood. This was the first time she’d ever summoned them like this, so they were clearly confused as to why they were here.

“Step forward… if you laid a hand on him yesterday.”

Shauren’s eyes were sharp, her voice cold as she gestured towards Jonathan, who stood silently beside her.

A wave of unease rippled through the knights; they exchanged nervous glances.

“No one wants to confess? Fine! I’ll go straight to Father then! I’ll tell him his precious knights have been picking on a junior!”

“L-Lady Shauren…”

A knight stepped forward hesitantly.

He was one of the oldest among them, with a neatly-trimmed beard that gave him an air of seniority.

“We’re at the Malideen Wall! This… This kind of behavior will only damage House Helmund’s reputation -”

He was interrupted mid-sentence by Shauren, her eyes wide with concern.

Was he right?

Shauren’s momentary hesitation, the way she tilted her head and chewed on her lip, shattered her image as a capable leader.

“On the contrary…”

Isaac stepped forward.

“It’s already shameful enough that this happened at the Malideen Wall. Covering it up will only tarnish House Helmund’s reputation further.”

“Lord Isaac…”

“And besides… does this seem like a simple internal matter that House Helmund can handle on its own?”

As if waiting for her cue, Silverna joined them, her gaze as sharp and cold as the northern wind; the Helmund knights felt her icy stare pierce through the gaps in their armor, chilling them to the bone.

“They injured a member of my scouting party, a party that’s supposed to be heading out today! This could easily be escalated to a military tribunal, you know?”

“……!”

“We trusted you to handle your own, because you’re Helmund knights. But if you let this slide… we won’t stay silent.”

Silverna stood beside Jonathan, her unwavering support evident.

With even the Caldias heir on his side, Shauren finally seemed to understand the gravity of the situation.

“How dare you disrespect House Helmund like this?! Should I go straight to Father and tell him how his knights are acting like common thugs? I wonder what he’d have to say about that!”

The mere mention of Arandel shifted the atmosphere like a lightning strike.

“We apologize!”

The senior knight who had spoken earlier bowed his head low in abject contrition.

“What happened to your knightly honor?! You call yourselves proud Helmund knights?! And yet you lower yourselves to this filth?”

Shauren, sensing their fear, pressed her advantage, her voice rising as she berated them.

“W-we’re sorry… Jonathan…”

“It’s our fault…”

“Please… forgive us…”

The three knights responsible for Jonathan’s injuries stepped forward, shamefaced, offering their apologies. Isaac wondered if it was really enough, but Jonathan, the victim, didn’t seem to want to prolong the situation. It was settled.

The chastised knights dispersed, and Silverna turned to Jonathan, her expression filled with concern.

“Jonathan, if you’re not feeling well, you should sit this one out.”

“No! I’m fine! Really!”

“Haa… We have a healer here, but… we can’t afford to waste their magic on this.”

They were practically at war, after all. They couldn’t waste their precious resources, their healing magic, on something like this.

“I… I think Jonathan should rest today.”

With even Isaac supporting Silverna’s decision, Jonathan finally relented.

He was to head to the infirmary for treatment and be excused from duty for the day.

The scouting mission would commence with only six members.

“If this happens again… I’m going straight to Father, consequences be damned!”

The senior knight was still standing there, head bowed, receiving a lecture from Shauren; there was something almost pathetic about the middle-aged knight apologizing profusely to a girl half his age, promising to keep his men in line.

“May I ask you something?”

Isaac stepped forward.

Shauren’s irritation was palpable as Isaac interrupted her, but to her credit, she held her tongue.

“Yes, Lord Isaac!” The senior knight, relieved to be free from Shauren’s wrath, turned to Isaac gratefully.

Lowering his voice, Isaac asked frankly,

“Isn’t upholding chivalry just as important to Helmund knights?”

“Y-yes, of course! That’s why this incident has given me much to think about -”

Even if the main family were a mess, the knights, at least, shouldn’t be stooping to this level, acting like common thugs. Ignoring the knight’s attempts to convince him of his remorse, Isaac pressed further.

“Then why Jonathan? Why target him specifically?”

Deliberately.

Just Jonathan.

At this question…

The senior knight faltered, his hesitation clear. After a glance around to ensure no one else could hear, he leaned in closer, speaking so that only Isaac and Shauren could listen.

As he finished speaking,

Shauren’s head whipped around, her eyes searching for Jonathan. Spotting him trudging towards the infirmary, she let out an exasperated cry.

“Is he insane?!”

🎕

The scouting party ventured beyond the safety of the Wall,

Silvernna leading the way, her spear held at the ready.

It was past midday, two in the afternoon. 

The incident with Jonathan had delayed their departure, and they’d arrived at their designated point later than expected.

“We should be safe from detection here. We call this spot ‘Snowflower.’”

She led them into a dense cluster of trees; they were at the foothills of a mountain range, where clusters of demon beasts were rumored to nest. It was a fitting name for a northern forest – every branch was heavy with snow, resembling delicate white blossoms; the thick canopy blocked out most of the sunlight, casting the forest floor in perpetual twilight.

“The snow serves as an early warning system. We can spot footprints easily, and even track their movements by noting where the snow has been disturbed.”

“A truly Northern approach.”

Isaac was impressed. Nature itself had become a defense mechanism. And if things went south, they could use the snow to conceal themselves.

“Especially during a grand demon beast nest, there’s a higher chance of encountering intelligent beasts. Choosing a code name for our posts, making them harder to identify… It’s an essential precaution.”

“Here you go.”

Anna, who’d been unpacking their supplies, handed each of them a water bottle.

“Please put on those cloaks I gave you earlier. The repellent is strong, so be careful not to get it on your clothes.”

“Repellent? I don’t want to wear that.”

“Demon beasts have an excellent sense of smell — they’re drawn to the scent of humans. So please… just wear it.”

Ignoring Shauren’s grumbling, Anna uncorked a bottle of repellent, dousing the brown, fur-lined cloaks in a pungent liquid. It was crucial to mask their scent from the demon beats.

The scouting party donned their cloaks, pulling the hoods low to conceal their identities. They moved as one, shadows flitting through the snow-dusted trees.

“Ha-haah! Haah!”

Pollux Blackson, clearly nervous, struggled to control his ragged breathing. Meldick Drakemoore, who was walking beside him, patted him on the shoulder reassuringly.

“Hey, relax. It’s just a scouting mission.”

“Are you sure it was wise to bring someone so young? I doubt he’s capable of fulfilling his duty as a noble.” Shauren, despite being three years younger than Pollux, chimed in.

Silverna hadn’t expected him to be this anxious. Her initial goal of keeping the traitorous Blackson heir under close observation now felt a bit awkward.

“Pollux, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, you can stay behind at the base. We need at least one person -”

A rush of wind cleaved through her words.

Something whizzed past them, swift and silent. A ‘bone.’

“Aaaaaargh!”

The pristine snow was sullied crimson as Pollux crumpled to his knees, blood gushing from his mouth. His eyes, wide with shock and terror, stared down at the bone that protruded from his chest – a bone that was unmistakably shaped like a spear.

“Kh-heurk! Uuurk!”

“Sir Pollux!”

Anna rushed to his side, her face pale with alarm.

Meanwhile, Silverna and Shauren drew their weapons, their gazes searching the surrounding trees.

“Sniff… Sniff…”

Thick hide, covered in white fur.

A hulking physique, muscles rippling beneath its thick coat.

“Sniff… Sniff…”

Slung across its broad back was an assortment of crude weapons, forged from the remains of beasts and animals alike.

“Sniff… Sniff…”

It was a yeti, one of the most feared demon beasts of the North. But something about its demeanor… It wasn’t a typical yeti.

“Sniff… Sniff…”

It grinned, revealing rows of sharp teeth, as it tapped its nose playfully.

“The scent of humans… Sniff… Sniff…”

“It learned to recognize the scent of the repellent.” Isaac’s voice was grim as he spoke.

Anna’s eyes widened in horror. “What? The repellent?”

“They must have ambushed another scouting party.”

“But… they should have reported -”

It was then…

*Crack!*

A skull, hurled like a projectile, slammed into Silverna’s spear, shattering on impact.

“There were other scouting teams that haven’t returned?”

“T-Team Three… They were supposed to rotate with us…” Anna stammered, her voice shaking.

Silverna’s eyes hardened, her grip tightening on her spear. Hatred flickered in her gaze.

“Froksa… Torvik… Kaldin… Irkasr…?”

“Y-yes, Milady!”

“Well, this just got personal.”

The yeti grinned, holding up another skull – a human skull; this time, there were three of them.

Silverna had intercepted one, which meant there were originally four skulls. Four victims.

“How’s Pollux?”

“He’s… He’s in critical condition. The bone went straight through, so he’s not bleeding profusely, but… he needs a healer, now.”

“Shauren, how long would it take you to get back to the Wall with Pollux?”

“Fifteen minutes, if I drop everything.”

Shauren had already discarded her greatsword and was shedding her equipment, her movements swift and decisive: gone was the playful, impetuous girl from earlier. In her place stood a warrior worthy of the Helmund name, ready to act without question.

“Shauren, take Pollux and run. The rest of us will provide cover. Fall back as soon as she’s clear.”

Silverna gritted her teeth, frustration burning in her eyes; her first mission, and it had already gone sideways. Isaac drew his Falchion, taking a position beside her.

“We learned about Team Three’s fate, and we confirmed the presence of a named monster. It’s enough for one scouting mission.”

“Isaac…”

“The longer we fight, the more likely we are to attract more beasts from the mountains. We need to retreat, Silverna. Revenge can wait.”

Silverna, despite her reluctance, knew he was right.

She took a deep breath and nodded curtly.

Meldick and Anna began to back away, but then…

“Aaaaaaaaargh!”

Shauren’s scream ripped through the air.

And all eyes snapped to her.

A sticky black liquid, oozing out of Pollux’s wound, was spreading across her body.

“W-what is this?! Get it off meee!”

She dropped Pollux in panic, the black goo continuing to spread, engulfing her like a living shadow.

‘Curse magic!’

Humans had magic.

But Transcendent beings had Curse magic.

And just like with magic, it was rare.

Isaac immediately recognized the signs – Pollux had been cursed. He moved to help Shauren, but then…

*Crack!*

Another bone projectile whistled through the air, striking Silverna from the side.

“Ugh?!”

The skull, aimed at her shoulder, shattered on impact, sending her reeling. And then…

“Sniff… Sniff…”

Heavy footsteps crunched through the snow as the Yeti lumbered towards them, its grin turning predatory.

END of CHAPTER

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