"Ooh?"
As she walked the streets of Volten for the first time in about a year, Sharen couldn't help but let out a sound of awe.
In the past, hardly anyone walked around during the daytime, but now it was the opposite—people were bustling about even in broad daylight.
There were even children running around happily, a symbol of peace, and elderly folks smiling kindly as they watched them.
That didn't mean the city was deserted at night either—there were several shops that hadn't opened yet, suggesting they operated after dark.
'…Should I pretend I'm good at drinking?'
She had once been fooled by her personal maid into thinking orange juice was alcohol and had lived with that belief. But after traveling alone, she realized the truth: she was definitely not a drinker.
She had been shocked when she first discovered it and even tried to drink real alcohol—only to find it nauseating and disgusting. Ever since, she'd just stuck to regular drinks.
'But where is Isaac staying?'
Tilting her head, Sharen looked around. She needed someone to ask, and just in time, she spotted someone in a guard uniform.
"Hey, you there—wait a sec."
As Sharen approached with a smile and waved her hand, the guard's expression stiffened.
Red hair and red eyes.
Anyone could tell she was a Helmut, which understandably made them tense. Sharen was used to this kind of reaction by now and didn't think much of it.
'Funny. Isn't my sister here too?'
What happened to the others?
Did they go back to Isaac?
Still curious, Sharen approached.
"I just wanna ask directions. Where's Isaac?"
"M-More importantly… you're not allowed to carry weapons on the street."
"Y-Yes. Please hand over the greatsword. The guard unit will keep it safe."
"…Huh?"
What were they saying?
Asking a Helmut to hand over her greatsword?
Saying she couldn't carry weapons?
"I saw a bunch of people carrying weapons on my way here. Do I look like an idiot to you?!"
"..."
"..."
The guards clamped their mouths shut.
It was obvious they viewed Sharen as dangerous and were on high alert.
"L-Let's talk after you hand over the greatsword."
"Yes, as long as you do that, we won't—"
"You're seriously saying you're gonna take a greatsword from a Helmut?"
Looking completely dumbfounded, Sharen let go of her sword with a sigh.
"If I show you that I can easily take you on without the greatsword, will you realize it's meaningless to take it from me?"
Crimson energy spread from her palm and flared up to her elbow in a show of force.
'This should be enough, right?'
Sharen didn't really understand why things were escalating like this. She had no intention of actually attacking.
She just wanted a proper explanation for this ridiculous inspection.
"Evacuate! Evacuate!"
"Feltan! Go get the captain! And… tell Elsha I loved her. Tell her she was the only woman for me."
"…Huh?"
Suddenly, things spiraled out of control.
At the guard's shouting, people flinched and began fleeing. One of the guards even drew his sword and glared at Sharen like an enemy.
One of them even left a final message before running off in tears.
"Live on, Climb!"
"You fool, it's an honor to die for Volten!"
"…Eh?"
Why was everyone suddenly treating her like some transcendent?
Sharen had no idea what was going on and just tilted her head with a clueless look.
"What the—"
"Hyaaah!"
A guard charged at her with all his might, sword raised. Startled, Sharen reached out to subdue him.
"Crimson Flame Blast!"
Boom!
The blast struck Climb in the stomach and sent him tumbling across the ground.
"Ugh! Cough! Agh!"
"I didn't even hit you that hard. Why are you making a scene and making me look like the villain?"
Sharen crouched in front of Climb, who was curled up like a worm on the ground.
"Hey, seriously. What are you talking about? Why are you treating me like I'm some kind of transcendent threat?"
Everyone else had already run away. The streets of Volten were now completely empty, eerily resembling how Sharen remembered them from the past.
"All I did was ask where Isaac was."
"Ggh… Don't be ridiculous! You think we don't know your plan?! The Count—Count Logan is the one who changed our hometown for the better! You think we'd betray someone like him?!"
"…?"
"Go ahead and kill me! But not one person in Volten will give up the Count's location—!"
Bonk!
Sharen gave him a sharp flick to the forehead and made an annoyed face.
"What are you even saying?"
She grumbled, sighed, and stood up, looking down at the man who had passed out from the knock.
"Why are they acting like this?"
While she was still puzzled, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed quickly down the street.
And even faster than that—a blade sliced through the air toward her.
Whoosh!
"…?!"
Clang!
Startled, Sharen drew her greatsword just in time to block the incoming strike.
'J-jeez, I almost died—!'
But rather than Sharen having blocked the attack, it was more accurate to say her opponent had stopped midway.
If the blow had continued as it first came—straight for her neck—then the off-guard Sharen would've been finished.
"…Kid?"
The woman now standing before Sharen had twitching, pointed ears.
Black hair, wolf ears, and a tail.
The moment Sharen saw her, she beamed brightly.
"Grandmaster! Long time no see?!"
Lowering her greatsword, Sharen smiled innocently. She rushed forward and hugged her, and the Grandmaster, a little flustered, chuckled as she patted her back.
"What's this all of a sudden, without a word? I heard you were traveling."
"I figured I've matured into a proper lady by now!"
"…Still the same, I see."
The Grandmaster smiled wryly as she patted Sharen's head.
Though her body had grown a bit, her personality was the same as always.
Just then, the city guards came rushing in, including Mu-myeong.
Wearing the same uniform as the Grandmaster, it was clear they were the top two of the city guard.
"Ah, seriously? So it wasn't what we thought."
"Haha, well, it was an easy misunderstanding."
The Grandmaster chuckled and nodded at Mu-myeong's grumbling.
Mu-myeong quickly dispersed the others, while Sharen peeked her head out from the Grandmaster's arms and asked:
"What the heck? As soon as they saw me, they flipped out! They treated me like I was some transcendent being or something?!"
"Ah, well…"
The Grandmaster scratched her cheek awkwardly and sighed before replying.
"They've all had some… traumatic experiences."
"Traumatic experiences?"
"Your brother. Remember?"
"My brother? Lohengrin?"
"Yes, that guy."
As soon as his name was mentioned, Sharen already felt uneasy. The Grandmaster gave a bitter laugh and explained.
"That guy's come here several times causing a ruckus, saying he wants to fight Isaac."
"..."
"Some of them turned into pretty serious incidents…"
Seriously.
Her brother was no help at all.
***
[Hmm? He's probably at the mansion. I'm getting off work now, so let's catch up over a drink.]
[Ooh, drinking party? I was just craving a drink.]
Thanks to help from the Grandmaster and Mu-myeong, Sharen arrived at the mansion.
Already drooling at the thought of eating something delicious, she walked inside with her mouth slightly open.
'They said there weren't many servants left, and it's true.'
She'd heard the mansion didn't employ many staff since so many people already lived there—and it really was the case.
Tilting her head as she looked around, she sensed someone upstairs and headed to the second floor.
"Isaac—"
Clack!
"Ah! Dammit!"
The door to what looked like a bedroom swung open, and out stormed Silverna, wrapped only in a white towel—practically naked.
She stepped out while yelling over her shoulder:
"It hurts! Why do you always grab me when we're doing it?! I told you it hurts when you use your strength!"
"Well, it just kind of happens—"
Though the voice was soft, Sharen immediately recognized it as her sister.
"What do you mean it just happens?! Are you trying to assassinate me?! Want Isaac all to yourself?! I told you to grab the blankets or the pillow! Look! You left handprints!"
"If I grab those, they rip. Silverna's soft, so she's just right."
With that absurd reply, Silverna showed off the red handprints on her arms.
"You're a Helmut—learn to control your strength! Why do I feel like I'm risking my life every time I go to bedroom with my husband?!"
"…It's Isaac's fault. I lose control around him."
"That's true. That thing is basically an extension of himself now—"
Just then, both women stepped out into the hallway—and locked eyes with Sharen.
Two women in towels.
Their damp skin was clearly from sweat—obvious even to the most innocent eyes.
Panicking, they tried to explain.
"Sh-Sharen?! When did you get here?! We—we didn't notice!"
"A-ah, this is, um… we were just exercising together!"
Their quick instincts assumed Sharen would still be clueless about these things—but—
"I know now."
Sharen sniffled and answered with a blank look.
Kelsey, worried that the young lady might suffer due to her ignorance while traveling, had finally resolved to teach her more about the world.
Thus, Sharen had at last been educated on certain "adult" topics appropriate for a noblewoman.
"I'm not an idiot."
"..."
"..."
"You dummies."
The two women could only avert their eyes in shame and embarrassment.