The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 92

78. Arcane Blade

Whoosh!! Whoo-oong—!!

Thud……!!

After nearly a year of disuse, the sound of air being torn apart echoed through Tatur’s arena.

Each time the sword blade, imbued with a chilling blue aura, slashed through the darkness, it drew a stark white arc.

“Hmph……!!”

The trajectory of the thrusting sword changed in an instant.

The sword, tossed into the air, spun rapidly overhead as he clasped his hands together, striking them with all his might.

Whoo-oong……!!

A more intense explosive sound than the previous sword strike erupted from between his palms.

In that moment.

Cahill’s body staggered from the impact.

“Kugh!!”

Along with the pain, dozens of ripple-like waves spread out from his feet, rippling across the ground.

Crack……! Crackle……!!

Electricity flickered at the edges of the wave rings.

Spheres rising above the rings rotated in unison in a spiral, then poured down towards Cahill.

At that moment.

Cahill’s sword, wielding the fallen Ice Claw, moved at an invisible speed.

Pow-pow-pow-!! Bang! Bang!

The sword strikes, delivered in a single breath, deflected all the lightning bolts that were trying to attack him from all directions.

A swordsmanship that possessed both ferocity and precision.

“Hoo…….”

Pressing the sword against the ground, Cahill finally exhaled the breath he had been holding.

‘The more I learn about magic, the harder it becomes.’

He looked at his tingling palms with a bitter expression. Ordinary people would wonder why he was wielding a sword to train in magic.

Cahill’s training method had to be the opposite of that of a typical mage.

Instead of accumulating magical power, he had to expel the magical power from the accumulated mana nodes.

Therefore, the first thing he had to do was circulate mana through the two newly opened meridians [energy pathways in the body].

‘Increasing the amount of usable mana in this way would be impossible without Allen’s idea.’

Increasing activity through rapid physical exercise speeds up blood flow, allowing mana to permeate within.

Mages with limited mana would quickly become depleted, making it a suicidal act.

A training method solely for Cahill.

It was like the last consideration Allen Zavias left him before disappearing.

‘Since when have you been thinking like that? You’re really someone I can’t figure out. Could this even be a provision you’re thinking of to meet Nard Di Maugh [a powerful figure or entity]?’

Cahill smiled bitterly, feeling like he could hear his voice right now.

‘Certainly, Allen Zavias’s secret arts are amazing. In fact, the spells he created are all in my head, but I can’t use them all.’

Cahill’s created ultimate swordsmanship, Kalnere’s Colorless Sword, and Allen Zavias’s secret arts.

All could be said to be techniques of the century.

But because of that, there were also concerns.

‘I miss having an advisor.’

He didn’t want to admit it, but Cahill had knowledge but no wisdom.

Even if he knew it in his head, making it a success was not an easy task.

‘Even just now, there was a mistake in condensing the arcane power. I know that the only way is through training, but…….’

Cahill shook off his tingling hands and thought.

‘Mikhail’s talent is outstanding, but he’s still a beginner. If I had met him after a year or two in this state, it would have been helpful, but…….’

He recalled the great mages in his memory.

The first person that came to mind was, of course, Supreme, Serica Lauren.

‘I’m feeling Serica Lauren’s greatness anew. She was a kitchen maid at a tavern, and she awakened her magic on her own without a teacher.’

Perhaps because she didn’t have a proper teacher, she wasn’t bound by convention and opened a new chapter as the Supreme mage.

‘Next would be Serga, of course.’

One of the Empire’s Seven Spears [elite mages or warriors].

One of the seven who led the greatest renaissance in Cahill’s memory.

But Cahill shook his head.

He was certainly a great mage who was even called the reincarnation of Kaie Essir [a legendary figure], but it seemed difficult to form a relationship with him.

If Serica Lauren was a genius, Serga was a made prodigy. He was already a member of the Empire’s Magic Academy, founded by the court mage Kadin Luer, and was receiving his teachings.

“There are so many geniuses in the world.”

Tiren McGovern, Serica Lauren, Mikhail, Serga…….

Cahill muttered while grabbing his sword.

“In the end, with my current mind, the answer is only the sword.”

Ironically, Cahill seemed to have forgotten that he, too, was a genius of the sword, like those many geniuses.

‘Imbuing arcane power into the sword.’

The mana blade that Cahill had used so far was an aura blade containing mana itself.

But arcane power could raise the quality of that mana to another level.

‘Now the preparations are almost complete. To know the truth, power is necessary.’

As important to him as unifying the continent was conquering the Platinum Dragon’s lair.

‘To do that, I have to complete this first.’

Cahill took a low breath and thought, looking at the purplish sword energy.

‘Arcane Blade.’

Just as his thoughts were coming to an end.

Suan was rushing towards the arena gate in the distance.

“Master!”

He entered the arena and was briefly surprised to see the floor cut up here and there as if tofu had been sliced, but soon handed him a note from his pocket.

“A message from Baron Beryl.”

Cahill examined the contents of the note.

“Hmm.”

Then, with a satisfied look, he slowly nodded.

[The banquet is prepared.]

It was only a short sentence, but countless possibilities and plans were already forming in Cahill’s mind.

‘He’s handling things faster than I thought. He’s greedy, but he’s definitely good at his job. It’s a good thing for me, though.’

It had only been a month since he returned to Tatur.

‘Certainly, even if it’s rotten, it’s still a crucian carp [a saying meaning even in decline, there’s still value]. Even if he’s considered washed up, he still has this much of a network. I wonder how he’s managed to win people over.’

The image of Beryl, who had spoken so confidently, flashed through his mind. Then, thinking about how his face would soon be crumpled, Cahill smiled faintly.

‘It’s time to move.’

Whoosh……!!

The note in his hand instantly burned and disappeared. Then, with a soft smile, he lightly tapped Suan on the shoulder and said.

“Let’s go.”

* * *

“Long time no see.”

“Bullshit. If you’re going to talk nonsense, disappear.”

“……Your temper is still the same.”

The noisy sound of the Four Rivers made it difficult to hear the conversation between the two if they didn’t concentrate.

No one would ever come under this river in the first place, so Aidan comfortably called her name.

“Juke.”

The small girl in front of him.

She was introduced as his younger sister, but in reality, she was a senior from the Eastern Country who was older than him.

“Don’t say my name so carelessly. Did you forget all the rules of the Dark Shadow [an organization] after following that guy down to the South? Should I remind you?”

She looked like she was only in her teens at best, but her venomous way of speaking was something even adults would find difficult to imitate.

“How far did you report?”

“Why should I tell you that? Are you asking if I told them that you became a dog wagging its tail at the Empire?”

“…….”

Aidan smiled bitterly at Juke’s sharp words.

“Behave yourself. We failed to complete the mission. The master clearly told us to help the Second Prince be promoted to Emperor.”

“I know.”

“And at the same time, eliminate the target.”

“Yeah.”

“What have you accomplished?”

Juke said to him with a pale face.

“At this rate, we might die. The master is someone who cuts off useless branches.”

She turned her head, as if she didn’t need to see Aidan anymore.

“The winner of the Azor Magic Competition, Cahill, isn’t just someone with the same name, but the same person, right? Not only swordsmanship but also magic……. Honestly, it’s hard to believe.”

She paused for a moment.

“It is necessary to keep an eye on the person named Cahill. He is currently the owner of Tatur and is estimated to have magic power equivalent to a mage. That’s the report I submitted.”

“…….”

“Currently, he is rapidly absorbing the minority tribes. It is highly likely that he possesses military strength and combat power equivalent to a kingdom. And this was the report I was going to submit additionally when I returned.”

Juke put strength into her voice.

“But looking at your state, I’ll have to add one more thing. That Aidan Hamill is among the core members.”

“Juke!”

“I told you not to call my name carelessly. Do you think we’re the only ones moving under orders? There may be someone else in Tatur. You may already be branded as a traitor!!”

At that moment.

Juke Di Hold’s voice grew louder.

She had been trying to maintain her composure, but she finally exploded.

“He’s going to be a great man.”

“Crazy…….”

Juke said with a dumbfounded expression at Aidan’s answer.

“Are you really saying you’re going to turn the Dark Shadow into an enemy? It seems there are only traitors from the Eastern Country in Tatur. I just hope the directive isn’t issued. As soon as the order comes down, I’ll cut off your head.”

“You’re right.”

“……!!!”

It was then.

The answer came from an unexpected place.

“Aidan, I got a call from Beryl. Everyone’s gathered, and they’re looking for you because you’re the only one who hasn’t come.”

Juke hurriedly turned her head at the sudden voice.

“You should take the hand you put in your pocket back.”

But the voice came from behind again.

A finger pressing down hard on the back of the hand gripping the dagger’s handle inside the clothes.

She hadn’t even felt his presence, but the moment she turned around, the owner of the voice had hidden behind her even faster.

‘Damn it…….’

Juke’s face crumpled.

The voice that sounded like a whisper was a voice that was all too familiar.

“It’s a bit harsh for a sibling fight. There’s no need to go as far as cutting off heads.”

Aidan looked at him, who was protecting Juke, and expressed his difficulty.

“Lord… Lord Cahill.”

He couldn’t help but be surprised that he, who was supposed to be in the arena, had appeared here.

“I don’t know if it’s good luck or bad luck, but I heard your voices on the way back after receiving the report. I sent Suan back first, so don’t worry.”

‘……He heard our voices? Is that even possible?’

This place is far away from the village.

‘He was watching…….’

Juke thought Cahill’s words were absurd, but Aidan wasn’t very surprised.

“I don’t have any intention of doing anything. I knew from the beginning that you guys were from the Dark Shadow.”

“…….”

Cahill released her from his arms and said.

“Juke, as you said, there may be people planted in Tatur from the Dark Shadow besides you. But that also means it’s not just Tatur.”

“What are you trying to say?”

She frowned at Cahill’s words.

“Now, shall we think a little more? If there are other shadows in Tatur besides you, there’s a high possibility that there are more on the Second Prince’s side, right? Then……. Are shadows only attached to the Second Prince?”

He gave a cold smile.

“It’s highly likely that there are also shadows on the First Prince’s side. It’s not important to your master which prince becomes the Emperor of the Empire. They just need to make someone who is related to the Eastern Country the Emperor.”

Juke couldn’t hide her expression at his unexpected words.

“Then, if someone else who is compatible with the Eastern Country ascends to the throne, your master wouldn’t mind, would they?”

“You…….”

“I just came to say this. When are you sending the ship? I’d like you to arrange a meeting with the Eastern Country then.”

“Crazy. If I submit a report, an order will be issued right now to stop you guys who are rebelling against the Empire.”

Juke looked at him with a dumbfounded expression as he nonchalantly declared that he would become the pinnacle of the continent.

“No, your master won’t.”

He spoke as if he knew the master of the Eastern Country, whom even she had never seen before.

“He’s not stupid enough to order you to kill me. After all.”

“……What?”

“It doesn’t matter whether you submit a report or arrange a meeting. But don’t even think about drawing your sword against Aidan.”

Cahill raised the corners of his lips.

However, contrary to his smile, his eyes were cold.

“You’ll die.”

Gulp-

Juke Di Hold felt cold sweat running down her back without her knowing.

She tried to move her feet to run away, but her frozen body couldn’t even do that.

“…….”

Only when Cahill released his killing intent did she clench her numb hands, which were wet with sweat.

“Well, that’s all I have to say. Aidan, prepare to go to the Istan Kingdom. We’re going to be busy from now on. Finish the conversation appropriately.”

He waved his hand casually and turned away as if nothing had happened.

Aidan chuckled at the sight.

“Well, that’s the kind of person he is. Juke, why don’t you watch a little longer? Maybe your mind will change too. When we entered the Dark Shadow…….”

“……Shut up.”

She cut off Aidan’s words.

He shrugged his shoulders as if he was disappointed that he was about to say something. Then he ran after Cahill.

“Let’s go together!!”

“The conversation?”

Aidan said to him with a strangely relieved expression.

“It’s all done. What are you going to do when you go to the Istan Kingdom?”

“What else? You know?”

Cahill said nonchalantly.

“I have to get it in my hands. All of it.”

At that moment.

Juke unknowingly trembled as she looked at him, who still had a nonchalant expression.