The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 79

66. Horned King

“He’s an interesting fellow.”

“Who are you referring to?”

Only two people were inside the airship.

It was only early morning when they visited the Imperial Palace, but now night had fallen, and the stars filled the sky with light.

Gordon Fabian poured the expensive Kamiju red wine, which he had extorted from the court magician Cardin Luer, into a large glass and drank it down in one gulp.

“All three of them.”

The man standing behind him, Vice-Captain Jegan, tilted his head slightly at Gordon’s words.

“Even the Third Prince?”

Gordon gave a strange smile at Jegan’s question.

“Everyone has potential.”

“Surely not. Even if you say so, didn’t you only refuse to have tea with the Second Prince?”

At his probing question, Gordon said nonchalantly.

“He wasn’t bad. But I still prefer wine.”

Gulp- Gulp-

The sound of his Adam’s apple moving was loud.

“Does that mean you favor the First Prince over the Second Prince?”

“Jegan, who do you think will be the next Emperor?”

“Me? Hmm… Well, the most likely candidate is still the First Prince, isn’t it? Rumor has it that the Second Prince is superior… but his bloodline will be an obstacle.”

To the surprisingly difficult question, Jegan answered without hesitation, as if he had prepared his answer.

“Bloodline, huh….”

“Nobles value legitimacy.”

“We’re not nobles, are we?”

“Pardon?”

Gordon quickly emptied one bottle of red wine and opened another, pouring it into his glass as he spoke.

“Do you think the Emperor wants the First Prince?”

“……Pardon?”

“I don’t think that’s necessarily the case.”

“What do you mean…….”

Jegan, who had been speaking calmly, trembled slightly at Gordon’s unexpected question.

Thud-

Gordon lightly tapped Jegan on the shoulder.

“You’re a pretty capable Vice-Captain. I appreciate how you work to solve various problems for the Kyodo Mercenary Corps.”

“You flatter me.”

“But I decide the fate of the Kyodo Mercenary Corps.”

Squeeze-

The hand on his shoulder tightened.

The monstrous strength, enough to crush bones, would have made an ordinary person scream immediately.

“Of course.”

However, Jegan answered without wiping the sweat from his forehead.

“Is that so?”

Gordon watched him and drank the remaining wine.

“I’m not suited to playing along with kids’ fights… but it might be good to lend a hand to the Emperor, who shared an era with me. Shall we stir things up a bit?”

Instantly.

Jegan’s face darkened.

As if teasing him, Gordon carelessly threw the empty glass and said.

“We’re going north.”

* * *

“I greet the Horned King.”

“Congratulations on your victory.”

The tent flap opened, and the chieftains of the four tribes of the Great Plains gathered in one place.

Swan Mukari, the chieftain of the Bigung Tribe, bowed to Khalil with a wide smile, clasping his fists in salute.

It had been a long time.

It had been decades since they had competed for the Great Plains, and it had been about that long since the four tribes had gathered in one place.

“Swan Du, you’ve aged a lot.”

“Look who’s talking.”

“Heh heh…….”

Tunan, the chieftain of the Tu Tribe, looked at Swan Mukari and chuckled softly.

“In the end, it went according to your plan. The Bigung Tribe will take the Great Plains.”

“It’s not my plan. It’s his plan. Just as we obtained the Great Plains, you will also obtain land.”

“We’ll see. We’ll have to wait and see.”

But unlike his words, Tunan, like the other tribal chiefs, took out a small horn from his chest and placed it before Khalil.

“It is a symbol of acknowledging the victor of the Great Hunt.”

Each horn had changed color as if a long time had passed, but the side was carved with patterns engraved in blood.

“Hmm.”

“It is the symbol of the Horned King. It is given to the great hunter recognized by the four tribes.”

Swan Mukari said as Khalil looked at them.

“I express my gratitude for all the chieftains attending this gathering to celebrate the victory. Giving me this symbol means you have decided to support me.”

“…….”

“…….”

The chieftains said nothing.

But there was still a strange atmosphere in the tent.

“Until now, the Great Plains have maintained a balance with the four tribes checking each other. But balance ultimately means failure to unite. Even at this moment, the Empire is subjugating the north to expand its territory, and the Principality is developing magical weapons. As time passes, advancing to the center will become more difficult, and the people of the south and north will be devoured by them.”

“Magical weapons……?!”

“Is that true?”

“I haven’t heard such a thing.”

At Khalil’s words, the people in the tent looked at him with surprised expressions.

‘When I was in the Dark Shadow, there were those who were dispatched to the Principality for such missions… How does he know facts that haven’t even been verified yet?’

And in another sense, Aidan was just as surprised to hear that story.

“……I won’t stand still if it’s just a fabricated story to scare us.”

“You’ve seen me so far. Whether you believe it or not is up to you, but the important thing is that even in the current situation, it is difficult to compete with even one of the three countries, let alone the Empire and the Principality.”

Khalil looked at the chieftains.

“As such, the achievement of advancing to the center is by no means easy. Among them, there will still be those who do not trust me.”

“Ahem…….”

The chieftains let out low sighs at his nonchalant words.

“I will not force you to pledge allegiance to me right now. If you feel like it when you hear that the five great families of Narak Rock have turned to my side, come and find me. Exactly two months from now, in the free city of Tatur.”

“Surely……. Are you talking about the city between the central kingdoms?”

“That’s right. There may be people who call it other things, but that place will be my base and the starting point for advancing to the center.”

“If news of a southerner being seen in that place, sandwiched between the Empire and the Principality, even reaches them, you’ll be killed before you arrive.”

“Don’t worry. That’s why I said two months from now. I will take measures to ensure that the southern warriors can move.”

“Huh…….”

The chieftains couldn’t hide their surprise at Khalil’s seamless answers.

They had lived in the south for dozens, no, hundreds of years, and had always dreamed of going to the center, but their advances had repeatedly been thwarted.

Khalil’s words, which made their dreams seem like a feasible thing, were truly exciting.

“May I ask why you named it two months? Can I assume that you are confident in integrating the five great families within two months?”

“Of course.”

“……!!”

Beykan, who was listening to his story from behind, asked. And at Khalil’s answer, the chieftains turned their heads once again.

“To be precise, it will also take time to prepare a foothold for the four tribes of the Great Plains and the five great families to ascend to the center, so putting the five great families in my hands will be within a month.”

“Huh…….”

“That’s something…….”

He spoke so casually that anyone who heard it might think that the five great families were less than goblin extermination.

“Swan Mukari, I would appreciate it if you could guide me to the shortest route to Narak Rock, as we discussed before.”

“Of course. My son will guide Khalil-nim [a term of respect] himself.”

Khalil nodded at his answer.

“I have no intention of forcing you. Decide for yourselves when everything is certain. I will hand over the Great Plains to you after integrating the five great families.”

“I understand.”

Swan Mukari felt the hair on his body stand on end without realizing it.

‘He doesn’t even ask. He acts as if taking the five great families into his hands is a matter of course.’

Even though he had succeeded in the Great Hunt, just like the other tribes of the Great Plains, he still couldn’t completely trust Khalil’s skills.

That’s why he had his son, Kinu Mukari, accompany him in order to gain confidence in the process of integrating the five great families.

“Beykan of the Tu Tribe and Kinu Mukari of the Bigung Tribe.”

“Yes.”

“Give your orders.”

“You will now ascend to Narak Rock with me. Are you prepared?”

Thud-!!

“It is an honor to share your glory.”

“I will guide you to the summit.”

The two knelt down at the same time.

Doo-geun…… Doo-geun……!! [Sound of a heartbeat]

At that moment.

As the best warriors of each tribe and the largest of those gathered here bowed their heads to the smallest boy, people’s hearts raced strangely.

‘Heh heh…….’

‘It’s so natural.’

‘Has there ever been a chieftain who fit that position so perfectly among the past chieftains?’

Perhaps they instinctively knew that it was their mission to convey this scene they were watching so that it could be remembered by future generations.

As if.

A thrill was felt as if witnessing the birth of a king of a new era.

* * *

“How is it?”

“It suits you. You look like the son of a hunter father.”

“Heh heh.”

Khalil chuckled at Aidan’s words.

He was satisfied as he fiddled with the necklace made by weaving the horns, the symbol of the Horned King.

It was the first time he had looked relaxed since coming here.

‘Thanks to Beykan, I was able to get the four tribes into my hands without more resistance than expected. They’re still dubious, but things will change once I finish the work of the remaining five great families.’

Despite running non-stop from Tatur to Azor and the south, Khalil was always short on time.

‘Soon, when His Majesty’s health deteriorates, the war for the throne between the First Prince and the Second Prince will begin in earnest. Before that, I have to unite the south and go up to the center.’

Thanks to the Sand Serpent, travel time had been significantly reduced, but he still had only about a month left.

‘The five great families are one thing, but if I can open my bloodline at Narak Rock as Alun said, I will also need time to adapt to that power.’

Squeeze-

Khalil tightened the belt with the sword.

Only two days since returning from the hills.

Without a break, he was once again preparing for his next destination.

“Is it possible with five people?”

Mikhail said in a slightly trembling voice.

The faint magical energy emanating from him showed that he had not stopped training even while Khalil was away.

“When I headed south, my forces were only two. And now there are four. That’s twice as many.”

“Did we do anything here? Well.”

“Yes. You caught the Twin-Headed Eagle.”

“Oh, that’s…….”

He scratched his head awkwardly at Khalil’s words.

‘You probably don’t realize how great what you did is yet. It was possible because Aidan was there, but it is difficult for two people to catch a monster like the Twin-Headed Eagle, except for a handful of the most skilled people in the Empire.’

Because there was such a strong person beyond common sense in front of him, he just didn’t realize his own strength.

[Krrr…….]

The Sand Serpent, coiled in front of the tent, lowered its head and rolled its eyes as if it had been waiting for Khalil to come out.

“But is there really one?”

“Hmm?”

Mikhail hesitated for a moment, as if he was ashamed to say such a thing.

But looking at the huge monster in front of him, he couldn’t help but feel a childish expectation.

“Spirit King.”