The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 41

38. Tatur’s Secret

“Everyone’s here.”

“Why do you look so beat up?”

Dooshalla asked, eyeing Suan Hazar, who stood behind Khalil with a disheveled appearance.

“It’s nothing.”

“‘It’s nothing’? It’s obvious you two had a fight. I thought you were on the kid’s side.”

“Watch your mouth. He’s the owner of Tatur now. Call him Master.”

Dooshalla looked surprised at Suan Hazar’s firm tone.

“Oh, come on…”

“If it feels unnatural, you can speak comfortably,” Khalil said casually, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips as if he enjoyed Suan’s changed demeanor.

“From now on, I’m going to tell you about Tatur’s secrets, things you don’t even know. Even though I’ve become the owner, I won’t take your responsibilities as managers lightly. Besides, I think this secret will strengthen your loyalty to me even more.”

The more they heard, the more questions arose.

What exactly was Tatur’s secret that even they were unaware of?

And how did this kid, who just arrived, know about it?

The two exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

“Wait a minute!”

Just then, a figure came running towards them.

“Kamma?”

“Damn it, are you guys doing this again? Why do you always leave me out? I’m a manager here too!”

Kamma shouted, panting, oblivious to the muddy water staining the hem of his long robe.

“How did you find out about this?”

“I have ears everywhere. I thought you guys were plotting something behind my back again.”

“What a waste of effort…”

“Waste of effort? Look at this! Being with the Master this early is meaningful enough!”

Kamma declared, flashing a wide smile at Khalil.

“The title still feels weird, Master.”

“Crazy…”

Dooshalla snorted, dumbfounded by Kamma’s antics, but the heavy atmosphere seemed to lighten a bit thanks to him.

“Good to see you. Actually, I thought you’d show up even without me telling you.”

“Ha, haha… Is that so?”

“Kamma’s got amazing information skills, especially for someone from the slums.”

“Oh, my. You flatter me.”

Kamma bowed repeatedly, nodding at Khalil’s words.

“Let’s go.”

* * *

“Do you know when Tatur was built?”

“Well…”

“I heard it’s an artificial island, but we don’t know the specifics. The Ponine River [a large, fast-flowing river] around it is too dangerous to build on naturally.”

Dooshalla said, following Khalil.

“It’s not even properly recorded in the history books. Not that I’d be interested even if it was.”

Suan and Kamma nodded in agreement.

They barely had time to survive, let alone read history books.

“The Empire was founded about 250 years ago. Pahlson Shutean, called the Taeje [Great Emperor], with the help of Kaie Essir, the Great Magician, quickly unified the territories with overwhelming power.”

Nod-

The three nodded at Khalil’s words.

“But Tatur was built long before that. It was built 1,000 years ago, during the Magic Era.”

Thud-

Squeak…

The sound of an old door creaking open echoed through the air.

Kamma clicked his tongue, surprised to be entering the black market again so soon.

“The buildings from the Magic Era are known for being complex mazes. This black market is one of them.”

“But all the investigations here are over. Each facility already has its owners.”

“That’s right.”

Khalil stepped through the door into the black market.

“It’s complicated, but you won’t get lost with a map. If navigating this place was Tatur’s secret, it wouldn’t be much of a secret.”

He turned to look at Dooshalla.

“Hmm. Here it is.”

They hadn’t gone far into the black market when Khalil touched the wall.

They still had a long way to go to reach the individual stalls.

Halfway down the one-way road to the basement, Kamma stammered, watching Khalil’s cautious movements in the empty space.

“That’s a wall… right?”

“That’s right.”

“Wait a minute. You’re not going to break it, are you? The ceiling will collapse if you do.”

Kamma stuck close to Suan, as if afraid of the dark.

“The ancients wouldn’t have built it like that,” Dooshalla said, shaking her head in disapproval of Kamma’s fear.

“I heard this place was a fortress built by dwarves during the Magic Era. It has some unique features.”

Clang-

Khalil put strength into his gauntlet, and sharp blades sprang out from the back of his hand.

“If you put the blade in this small gap and turn it…”

Creak…

A strange sound filled the air, as if the blade was about to break.

It looked precarious, but Khalil didn’t seem to care, using the blade of his gauntlet with all his might.

Thud-!! Clank-!!

Swish…

Suddenly, the gap widened, and the blade of the gauntlet turned with a mechanical click. The solid wall began to move slowly.

“A secret place appears.”

“How…”

Dooshalla muttered in disbelief.

A secret place that even she, who thought she knew every corner of Tatur, was unaware of.

“Magic detection doesn’t work here. You need something strong yet flexible, like the craftsmanship of dwarves or gnomes. And if you fail, you can’t open it again. It’s impossible to find unless you know the secret.”

He said with a faint smile.

‘Nar Di Maugh, I should thank you when you wake up. I’ll use the knowledge you gave me to the fullest.’

Whoosh—!!

As the huge wall slid open, an incredibly large cavern unfolded before them, so vast it was hard to believe it was underground.

Clean iron bars, seemingly untouched by time, were intricately arranged, resembling a factory.

Something inside immediately caught their attention.

“That’s…”

Suan Hazar said, his voice trembling.

“It’s a ship, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. But it wasn’t made by humans.”

Khalil said, gazing at the battleship, secured by thick iron chains as if it were sealed away.

“It’s similar to the Flying Ship of the Knights Templar. Unfortunately, this one can’t fly. But no ship on the Ponine River can stand against this one.”

He spoke as if lost in memories, as if discussing something intimately familiar.

“It’s the work of the great blacksmith of the Magic Era, the dwarf Purval Mur. Perhaps the Flying Ship and this are his only two remaining works on the continent.”

Khalil pointed to the figurehead adorning the front of the sailing ship.

“Look, that’s the symbol of the Mur family.”

A huge golem, full of life as if it might move at any moment, knelt at the head of the sailing ship.

‘Tatur… was a fortress.’

Dooshalla shrugged, surprised by this revelation.

If this place, bordering the Empire, the Three Kingdoms, and the Principality, was also a formidable fortress…

It could become the most dangerous place in the region.

“Could it be… is this from the Magic Era?”

“Yes.”

Dooshalla stared at the ship, mesmerized.

‘Who would have known something like this was hidden under Tatur? And it’s from the Magic Era… It’s priceless. How does he know about this?’

She couldn’t hide her astonishment that Khalil knew a secret she, who had lived there for so long, had never discovered.

“But… does it even work?”

Unlike Dooshalla, who was overwhelmed with questions, Suan Hazar asked, his eyes shining with excitement as he looked at the dust-covered vessel.

“Of course, it works.”

Clang-

Khalil casually cut through one of the iron chains.

‘It’s the ship you sailed in your past life.’

He thought to himself, amused by Suan’s question.

The greatest navigator on the continent.

Suan Hazar was called the reincarnation of Nelson Howard, the King of the Islands, who ruled the islands in the western straits, because of this ship.

‘This will be one of the two legs of the invisible empire I will create.’

Khalil remembered him commanding this ship and changing the course of the continent.

“Magic Sailing Ship.”

Kugugugugu……!!

Kwagagang……!!

The solid iron chain snapped, crashing to the floor with a deafening roar.

The entire basement hall shook as if an earthquake had struck. Dirt and debris rained down from the ceiling.

“Wait a minute. You can’t treat things from the Magic Era so carelessly…”

About 1,000 years before the present day.

In the era when elves, dwarves, and other races thrived, magic was far more advanced than it was now.

All existing magic was established at that time by the Council of Seven Elders, known as the primordial magicians.

But many of the remaining spells were now unusable.

‘That’s why things from the Magic Era are so valuable. Like the relics in the Imperial Palace warehouse.’

Occasionally, artifacts from the Magic Era were found in ancient ruins or dungeons.

For people, the Magic Era was a dream, so they were always careful.

But Khalil thought differently.

‘It’s pointless to lock it away just because it’s expensive. Things from the Magic Era aren’t decorations. Each one is more effective than anything from this era.’

The royal families of the Empire, the Principality, and the Three Kingdoms all possessed artifacts from the Magic Era.

Among the relics made of a special mineral called Blue Phosphorus, the most famous was the staff containing the power of the wind in the Imperial Palace, Infinite Breath.

‘It’s frustrating. No matter how good the weapon is, it’s not being used. The court magician, Kadin Luer, is the only one who can wield it, but the emperor is afraid of the prime minister wielding Infinite Breath, so he hides it away.’

Khalil smiled bitterly.

‘I will be different. I will use everything I can.’

It was enough to be in a position where you didn’t have to be afraid.

It was enough to have yourself in a position that is superior to swords, magic, and any other power.

“Would Dooshalla, who deals with even the nobles of the Empire, be scared of something like this?”

“No, wh- who.”

Dooshalla stammered, taking a step back behind Suan.

“It will move, but you can’t use it right now. First, call the dwarves in the black market and have them repair it.”

“Is it okay for them to see this?”

“There’s no other way. The Mur family’s creations are made in a special way that only dwarves understand.”

Khalil shrugged.

“You’re good at keeping your mouth shut. And appoint the dwarf in the 5-UK-37 area as the manager. There won’t be any leaks. He’s not a member of the Mur family, but he’s been serving the royal family for a long time.”

“Th- that’s right.”

Dooshalla looked at him, speechless.

‘This underground facility and the black market are secret places even in Tatur, but he knows even the area code? What is he really?’

“If it’s called the Mur family’s legacy, he’ll make sure the words don’t get out.”

“Um… Is it okay to go inside?”

Suan Hazar asked, his eyes sparkling, oblivious to her inner turmoil.

“Of course. But remember, you can’t take it out until the repairs are finished and I give you instructions. We’ll become a target of the Empire if you make a mistake.”

“I understand.”

Khalil tapped the side of the ship lightly.

“Aren’t you curious? What will the expressions of the guys on the continent be like when this sailing ship appears?”

“Well, it’ll be fun.”

Dooshalla pretended to be nonchalant, but she was smiling behind her veil.

She wanted to jump for joy.

It was a chance to strike a blow against the nobles who always acted superior and treated them like insects even while using them.

As if sensing her thoughts, Khalil said in a calm voice.

“Look forward to it. This is just the beginning.”