The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 43

40. Guido Mercenary Corps

The Guido Mercenary Corps.

They had played a significant role in the history of wars on the continent.

Yet, mysteriously, their base was unknown to anyone.

Rather, it was better to assume they didn’t have one in the first place.

It was known that they moved from place to place depending on their commissions.

‘But that’s just a rumor.’

Caryl left Tatur and headed towards the southern part of the continent. Suan Hazar and Aidan Hamill followed him.

“……”

Aidan Hamill hesitated at the sight of Caryl smirking at him.

“Why, why are you doing that?”

“No, it’s just that I’m happy you’re accompanying me. It’s like the bond from Tatur is continuing.”

Unlike Caryl, who smiled slyly, Aidan Hamill’s mind was complicated.

‘Damn… What is this? Juke will report well on his own… But just leaving Tatur is a burden. Nothing goes as planned. What the hell is that kid? Just looking at those eyes…’

It was as if.

He felt like Caryl was seeing right through him.

Even though he was skilled at deceiving people, he couldn’t shake the feeling of shrinking in front of Caryl.

Aidan Hamill had seen someone with those eyes only once.

No.

A person he could never forget.

None other than his master.

‘I’m crazy. To think of a seventy-year-old man and a mere twelve-year-old kid the same way.’

He shook his head as if he himself was dumbfounded, but unfortunately, he had no idea that Caryl had reversed more time than his master, who was called an old man, could ever compare to.

“Caryl, why are you trying to find the Guido Mercenary Corps?”

Aidan, who had been silently following, finally spoke.

There were more than one or two strange things.

He knew where the Guido Mercenary Corps, whose base was unknown and who appeared and disappeared mysteriously, was located, and if he was such a person, he wouldn’t be making a simple request.

“I’m going to hire people.”

“People?”

Aidan tilted his head at Caryl’s words.

“Yeah. I bought some land. So I need some people to manage it. I’ve made some preparations, but in a few months, it seems like flies will gather.”

‘What nonsense is that? He’s going to the Guido Mercenary Corps just to buy guards to protect the land?’

Aidan made a dumbfounded expression at Caryl’s words.

‘He’ll be lucky if he doesn’t get his head cut off for such a trivial request.’

Caryl is strong.

Aidan acknowledges that fact without any excuses, even considering his skill in killing Curran.

He doesn’t know where the end is, but he thinks that he wouldn’t lose in a one-on-one fight against a decent Sword Expert.

‘But the Guido Mercenary Corps is different.’

The greatest swordsman on the continent.

If you were to ask who is the strongest of the five current Sword Masters, there would be no objection to raising your hand for Kwell McGovern.

Aidan Hamill also thinks so.

But if you focus on combat rather than swordsmanship and ask again, it will be different.

If you ask if there is anyone who can win against Kwell McGovern, people will think of this person.

Gordon Fabian.

The leader of the Guido Mercenary Corps and one of the five Sword Masters.

His skills were great, but what made him more famous than that was his tremendous brute force.

The anecdote of grabbing an ogre’s head with both hands and tearing it apart without using any weapons was famous on the continent.

If you reach the level of Sword Master, that much might not be difficult.

But Gordon Fabian was a man who tore apart an ogre with only his strength without using any magic.

What if such a person also has magic?

It was enough to give despair to the countless people in the world who aim for the sword.

‘What on earth is he thinking….’

Aidan Hamill still looked at Caryl with a questioning look, unable to predict the outcome of his actions.

“We’ll have to go down for about another week. We don’t have much time, so take a break whenever you can.”

Caryl accurately stated the time it would take, as if he were returning home, to the base of the Guido Mercenary Corps, which even the imperial palace did not know.

* * *

“……”

Aidan Hamill couldn’t close his mouth.

One week that Caryl said.

The south, where they had been driving their horses non-stop.

Everyone was a mess because they couldn’t rest properly, but that wasn’t important.

Exactly after that time, he had a huge fortress boasting tremendous power in front of his eyes.

‘That’s why they couldn’t find it. To think that the mercenary corps would be in such an absurd place….’

His hands were itching with the desire to report it right away.

‘If we could sign a contract with the Guido Mercenary Corps alone… No matter how much it costs, the landscape of the continent will change. But… How does that kid know this secret?’

Caryl, who was looking into his head, lightly raised the corners of his lips.

‘Forget it. Just because I came here, Oliver doesn’t have a chance anymore. Besides, the method I’m going to use from now on is something he can never do.’

And….

Even if Oliver finds out about this, the base of the Guido Mercenary Corps will disappear from here in two days.

Gulp-

Aidan Hamill swallowed dry saliva without realizing it as he looked at the huge fortress in front of him.

Kugugugu…….

The ground where the three people were standing shook.

Then, he felt as if the fortress in front of him was coming towards them.

No,

It actually was.

‘That’s the Guido Mercenary Corps’ airship… It’s amazing to see it in person. This is the secret to not being able to find the Guido Mercenary Corps’ base. How can a mere mercenary corps have something that even the empire doesn’t have….’

Aidan Hamill took his eyes off the moving fortress and looked at Caryl.

“It’s natural that they can’t find it. It only comes down to the ground for supply for exactly 14 days out of 365 days a year.”

He said it casually, but the important thing was not the existence of the airship, but how he knew such a secret landing place.

‘It’s been a while.’

Caryl felt a new feeling as he looked at the fortress in front of him.

‘No. Should I say it’s the first time from his point of view.’

He strode towards the fortress without hesitation.

* * *

“Who is it? What brings you here?”

“Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to ask how, rather than what? Honestly, aren’t you more curious about that? About someone who knows the mercenary corps’ supply location that has been hidden on the continent.”

“You bastard….”

The two gatekeepers standing at the entrance of the cliff spoke to Caryl with wary voices.

It was strange.

But it was certain that he was not someone who had lost his way by chance.

Swish—

The two gatekeepers drew their swords and said.

“State your purpose.”

The Guido Mercenary Corps, as elusive as they were, had an unusual way of commissioning requests.

The scale of the requests they handled, such as monster subjugation or wars between countries, was not personal, so they had branches in each country and could only contact them by letter.

That was no different even for the empire, which was called the strongest on the continent.

That was the level of secrecy.

But a mere kid was standing in front of them without any fear even when facing a sword, so they couldn’t help but find it strange.

“An airship made by ancient dwarves. It certainly has excellent performance to the point of escaping even the surveillance network of the Duchy’s Wyvern Corps, but it’s not perfect. The reason it comes down to the ground for 14 days out of the year is not actually because of the mercenary corps’ supply, but because of the airship.”

“……”

“I came to see Commander Gordon because I have something to do. I want to commission a request.”

The gatekeepers seemed flustered, not knowing how to make a decision at Caryl’s words.

Even the renowned Guido Mercenary Corps were just the lowest of the low in the end. They were embarrassed because they didn’t know how to handle a sudden situation.

It was then.

“If you know that much in detail, you should know how to commission a request to the Guido Mercenary Corps. We only accept it through branches.”

A cheerful voice coming from inside the fortress.

Caryl raised his head.

‘That person is….’

The vice-commander of the Guido Mercenary Corps.

‘Jagon.’

The man with the flowing blonde hair, who seemed out of place under the command of the brute force commander who tore apart ogres, had a dignity that could only be seen in the nobles of the capital.

At his appearance, the two gatekeepers hurriedly bowed their heads.

‘No, he certainly has dignity.’

Caryl smiled lowly as he looked at him.

‘Jagon Luke.’

That’s because the first place he saw him in his past life was really the imperial palace.

‘He’s a traitor.’

What kind of place is the empire?

No matter how veiled the Guido Mercenary Corps is, can they really hide that huge fortress without being noticed by anyone?

‘There are countries that tacitly pretend not to know.’

Why?

Because their power is needed.

Besides, it’s too powerful for one place to have.

‘As soon as Gordon Fabian died, the Guido Mercenary Corps immediately lowered the airship and became subordinates of the empire. That means that the empire and he were already working together when Gordon was alive.’

But looking at Aidan’s expression, it seemed that even the princes did not know these secrets.

‘Maybe… It’s highly likely that he’s a close aide to the emperor. Well, a guy like Gordon might have known that and tolerated it….’

Caryl frowned slightly.

‘Leaving him alone means that Gordon Fabian has also decided to turn to the empire’s side.’

It’s still the emperor.

But he also knows the situation of the empire well, so he has to decide who to join hands with.

Mercenaries are ultimately people who are moved by money.

“I came to make a deal with the commander.”

Then he slowly raised his head and said.

‘I’ll move before that. This life will not go according to the empire’s wishes.’

“Hmm.”

Jagon raised and lowered his eyebrows slightly at Caryl’s words.

A deal not with the mercenary corps, but with the commander.

Saying that he would meet Gordon Fabian directly also meant that he was putting his life on the line.

He seemed more interested in the appearance of the impudent kid and said in a low voice.

“Interesting.”

Jagon rang the bell on the airship’s wall.

“Vice Commander?”

Everyone was surprised at the sound and looked at him.

Bringing an unidentified group inside without hearing any explanation?

Swish—!!!

At that moment,

The door of the airship fortress opened, and Caryl could see the mercenaries pouring out.

Each of them was pointing sharp weapons at him.

‘They’re confident.’

Caryl looked at them with a sharp impression that was completely different from the surprised expression he had a moment ago and nodded as if he was satisfied.

* * *

“He came here in person.”

Inside the office, which was as huge as the emperor’s palace, there was only one splendid jade throne.

Gordon rested his chin on his arm and greeted the strangers who had found his fortress.

“It’s been 30 years since the Guido Mercenary Corps was founded. You’re the first guy to come here in person. Sit down.”

The floor without cushions.

But Gordon’s appearance was so natural that it felt strange to expect such a thing.

Looking at Gordon, who was looking down at them from the jade throne, Caryl thought.

‘He died of an illness in his past life, so is this the first time I’m seeing him in person…? He’s more of a monster up close.’

The leather armor he was wearing bulged as if it would burst every time he breathed.

It was a sight that made him wonder if he needed armor in the first place.

‘If he fought my father, I really can’t estimate the outcome.’

If it’s a real battle, not a match with rules….

Even Caryl, after seeing his appearance in person, thought that Kwell might really lose.

A huge physique that was well over 2m [approximately 6’7″].

Even though he was old, his eyes were full of fighting spirit.

“……”

Caryl felt sweat forming on his palm.

‘Am I nervous?’

He was called a Sword Saint in his past life.

But that’s years from now.

The twelve-year-old himself, not arrogant about his own skills, couldn’t help but tremble at the monster in front of him.

‘The sense of intimidation is completely different from my father.’

Gordon didn’t even try to manage or hide his fighting spirit.

“Hmm…….”

He stared at Caryl, who was sitting on the floor.

“You.”

He was a man who had survived countless battlefields and experienced Asura [a demigod or titan in Hinduism and Buddhism].

“What are you?”

Prickly—!!!

A tingling feeling in the back of his head with just one word.

Whoosh……!!!

Aidan Hamill and Suan Hazar stood up and stepped back without realizing it, taking a stance.

A tense breath was felt.

No one would laugh at that sight.

Responding to murderous intent meant that they had that much skill.

“……”

Unlike the two, Gordon didn’t take his eyes off Caryl, who was still sitting, as if he was interested.

“Whether you’ve lost your fear or you’re bold…….”

Gordon smiled at Caryl.

“Whatever it is, you’re the first human like you. What do you want?”

“I want to buy people.”

Nod-

“I’m sure you know that the Guido Mercenary Corps is expensive.”

“Instead, I’ll give you something that’s more than enough to buy everyone here.”

“……What?”

Gordon frowned slightly at his words.

“Did you hear that? It seems like your worth is quite ridiculous.”

People glaring at Caryl as if they would eat him alive right away.

But Caryl didn’t care.

As much as they had excellent skills, the members each had great pride in the mercenary corps.

“365 days a year.”

Instead, if he presented acceptable conditions.

“I will allow the airship to stay in the sky.”