The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 150

118. The Ambush (3)

“……What? What did you say?!”

At Carryl’s words, Milliana, who was adjusting her clothes, shouted with a startled expression.

“You crazy bastard!!”

Since Digon’s traditional attire was a short robe that exposed the waist, her firm abs were clearly visible as she bent over.

“Don’t overreact. Just turn around and show me your back. Get rid of the cloak first.”

“If that’s all it is, say so properly. Don’t make me misunderstand.”

“Why would you misunderstand?”

“……Just start.”

Milliana pursed her lips and turned around.

“Judging from your swordsmanship, I can see that your lower body has speed and balance, but your left side is slower when using dual swords. The bloodline in your left arm isn’t fully open, is it?”

“That’s right.”

“The method I’m about to tell you was passed down to me by a great mage who lived in the Magic Era [an era of powerful magic users]. The nature of magic power is a bit different… Fortunately, I was able to find a way in the knowledge he left behind. Consider yourself lucky.”

“A mage from the Magic Era? There’s no way someone from 1,000 years ago is still alive. Did you meet a ghost or something?”

Milliana chuckled, as if she wouldn’t be fooled anymore by Carryl’s words.

“I did.”

“…….”

“But the method I used was to explode extremely condensed arcane power to open the bloodline. Unfortunately, you can’t do that. First of all, I can’t condense that much magic power…”

Swish-

He placed his hand on Milliana’s shoulder.

“And you don’t have enough Dragon Mana in your magic blood vessels to explode it. In fact, you’re lucky to have three bloodlines open. Thank your parents for giving birth to you with so many bloodlines.”

‘I understand why Nard Di Maugh allowed her to become stronger. He must have opened her bloodlines by supplementing her lacking magic power.’

As the circulating magic power increased, the absolute amount of magic power in Milliana’s magic blood vessels also increased.

‘Even Alun Zabis couldn’t do this. The guardian’s core of the Secret Spring would explode the moment it’s absorbed into the body.’

He slowly ran his hand from her left shoulder down to her wrist.

‘I wasn’t joking, Milliana. You’re lucky. Because I’m here, someone who can pour magic power into you like Nard Di Maugh.’

“My magic power is lacking? Are you looking down on me right now?”

“Yeah.”

Milliana, who had been silent, was about to turn her head, seemingly angry at Carryl’s answer without a moment’s hesitation.

That’s when it happened.

Carryl smiled faintly and removed the Bracelet of Greed from his wrist.

“……!!”

Then, the magic power flowing from his arm exploded dramatically.

Even Milliana, whose depth of magic power was shallow, could clearly feel his magic power.

Carryl had absorbed the Flame King and reached the 5th class, but he still didn’t take off the Bracelet of Greed, which continued to drain his magic power.

As the number of bloodlines increased, the amount of magic power flowing through his body also increased, but the burden on his body also increased accordingly.

A secret that Milliana and Gordon Fabian didn’t know.

Even Gordon, a Sword Master, would only think that the dramatically increased magic power when Carryl removed the bracelet was simply a momentary burst of power.

If he knew that it was actually releasing his suppressed inherent magic power, even he wouldn’t be able to help but be surprised.

‘T, this is his magic power……?’

She felt overwhelmed by the powerful magic power that she couldn’t handle.

‘No…….’

She couldn’t see because her back was turned, but she felt like she would be devoured the moment she turned her head.

‘Is this even human magic power?’

It was as if,

a dragon was breathing down her back.

Gulp-

Milliana swallowed hard without realizing it.

The shoulder where Carryl’s hand was touching felt like it was getting goosebumps from the tension. She stared straight ahead with a tense face, not even daring to turn around.

“It’s going to hurt quite a bit at first.”

A low voice echoed inside the barracks.

* * *

“Did you come?”

At dawn.

Carryl raised his head and said in a languid voice.

There was no one in the barracks.

Even though he couldn’t hear any signs of life, he called out a name as if there was someone in front of him.

“Hashir.”

At that moment, darkness distorted behind Carryl, and a man wearing a hood that covered his face knelt down.

“Yes.”

A low voice was heard.

Hashir, who raised his head towards Carryl, looked slightly embarrassed as he saw Milliana, who was covered in sweat and collapsed on the floor, fast asleep.

“It’s nothing. You don’t have to worry about it.”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

Hashir quickly lowered his head again.

“The investigation?”

“It’s all done. As Master said, there were no mages in Prince Oliven’s party in the Vestal Marquisate. On the other hand, the knights’ skills were outstanding.”

“Hmm.”

Carryl nodded.

In the meantime, he had given another order to Hashir, the leader of the Wolf-Fox tribe he met in Digon’s territory.

While Milliana was stalling for time in refusing the meeting with Cromen, he secretly crossed over to Marquis Vestal and investigated Oliven’s party.

“There were many with good senses, so I couldn’t investigate in detail, but I’m sure it’s accurate. From the beginning, there were few people, but those who came and went to Oliven’s residence were fixed.”

“Good work.”

It was as expected.

‘If Ruon is being supported by the nobles, Oliven is popular with the knights. But the court mage, Kadin Luer, is maintaining neutrality. That’s why he only gave support to the 3rd Prince, Cromen.’

Of course,

Prince Ruon’s 70,000-strong army naturally had a magic unit. But they were not mages supported by the Royal Magic Society, but private soldiers of the lords of each territory.

‘Oliven didn’t even use those private soldiers and only brought a small number of guards, so it’s natural that there are no mages.’

Carryl had a satisfied expression.

“And there are several mages stationed in the Marquisate’s border guard, but the distance between the supply base and Prince Oliven’s residence is far, and except for the knights who have been won over, they still follow Vestal’s orders, so there doesn’t seem to be any traffic.”

“So, you’re saying that Tyren is the only one to be careful of.”

He nodded at Hashir’s report.

“But why the presence or absence of a mage……?”

At that moment,

Carryl’s eyes lit up.

“Funnily enough.”

Snap-

When Carryl snapped his fingers, a milky white aura sphere appeared around him.

“It’s amazing what happens when you live. Yeah.”

“Yes?”

Then, as if a drop of water was falling, the sphere split in two, creating two more spheres diagonally below.

“Over there, in a place full of Imperials…….”

Whoosh……!!

Fizz-! Fizzzz……!!

Flames soared from one of the split spheres, and purple lightning scattered from the other.

The three magic spheres began to spin around each other, coexisting.

“It seems I’m the most outstanding mage after all.”

“Yes?”

At that moment,

a faint smile spread across Carryl’s face.

“Magic and magic power are in the same context, but they are different. To become a Sword Master, you must have not only the ultimate skill of the sword but also 4th class magic power.”

The standard for dividing the classes of magic is not the grade of magic, but the amount of magic power.

“Just because a Sword Master has 4th class magic power doesn’t mean they can use 4th class magic.”

Understanding of magic power.

That is significantly different.

For those who use swords, what is important is how much magic power they can condense into their Mana Blade.

“It was the same for me.”

Carryl pointed to his temple with his finger.

“But now it’s a little different.”

Whirr……!!!

Hashir wouldn’t be able to see it, but for a moment, a pattern like three gears meshing together appeared in Carryl’s eyes.

As the wheels disappeared, books densely packed in Carryl’s vision appeared, as if the doors of a huge bookshelf were opening.

As he reached out, several books unfolded, and the contents inside were sucked in as if they were being injected into him.

“Hoo…….”

Carryl drank them in as if inhaling.

The acquisition of knowledge that is possible after reaching the 5th class.

But even this is only a part of it.

The Library of Thoughts that Alun Zabis left in his head contained an immeasurable amount of magic and knowledge that he could not handle.

“…….”

Hashir looked at Carryl’s appearance with wonder.

“I wonder what the Imperials, who are so proud of their magic, will look like when they are attacked by magic instead.”

He didn’t say the last words out loud.

‘Oliven, your expression, I mean.’

He slowly got up from his seat, leaving Milliana asleep.

“Where’s Gordon?”

“I couldn’t confirm the inside of the airship, but judging from the preparations for supplies, it seemed like they were trying to take off.”

The Gordon Mercenary Corps wasted quite a bit of time even after arriving in the southern sky.

Fortunately, Digon decided to support the supply as a minimum courtesy.

“Maybe it’s unfortunate. I’ve instructed Milliana to supply as slowly as possible.”

He said to Hashir.

“How long does it take to get to the Marquisate?”

“If you go by horse, it takes about twenty days, and even if you go by Cargen [a type of large wagon or transport animal], it takes two weeks. If you go by airship, it will take a week, but…… it won’t be easy to supply, so it may take a little longer. Still, it will be faster than Cargen.”

[Krrr…….]

At that moment,

the serpent’s cry deepened somewhere in Digon’s territory, as if it had been waiting.

“It’s okay. I’ll arrive faster than the airship.”

* * *

“H, Hyungnim [term of respect for an older brother or male friend]!!!”

Cromen started running with all his might, with an intense expression, to the point where it might have been the loudest he had shouted since the southern expedition.

“Cromen.”

The place where the airship landed was an empty lot quite far from the Vestal Marquisate.

When he requested permission to land, Vestal kept his distance under the pretext that the airship’s engine would damage the crops.

But everyone knew that the reality was to prevent Gordon Fabian from setting foot in his territory.

“Hyungnim!!”

The person the 3rd Prince hugged was none other than Oliven Stefan.

Tyren and Elliot, who met his eyes, quickly lowered their heads.

The person his father was recommending as the next emperor.

And they, too, were following that will, and even though they were with Cromen now, they thought of him as their lord in their hearts.

Nod-

Mart, who was standing behind Oliven, nodded with a happy face when he saw the two brothers.

Without having to say anything, they could understand each other’s situation with that one exchange of glances.

‘That person is……. Isn’t that Sir Jervang, the vice-commander of the Royal Knights?’

Tyren quickly guessed Oliven’s situation as he looked at Jervang, who was standing next to Mart.

‘The Prince is already exerting influence even on the knights of the Royal Knights. He must have come out under the pretext of escorting……. Not paying attention to the Marquis means.’

Evidence that his heart has already turned.

Tyren let out a low sigh without realizing it.

‘It’s presumptuous, but there’s too much of a difference from the 3rd Prince’s position.’

But he shook his head.

‘It’s my fault.’

It’s just an excuse.

If he had finished this job properly, he wouldn’t have returned so disgracefully.

“Thank you for Sir Gordon’s hard work.”

Oliven took Cromen’s hand and said to him, who was standing in front of the airship.

“Hard work? I couldn’t even complete His Majesty’s order properly.”

“It’s not over yet.”

“Hmm.”

Gordon slowly looked at him.

A calm face.

The expression, which was difficult to know what he was thinking, was skillful despite his young age.

‘Indeed…….’

He smiled strangely as he recalled when he first met Oliven at the Imperial Palace.

‘He’s a guy you can’t know what he’s thinking.’

* * *

“Captain.”

“Launch the airship.”

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

After the two princes left, Jegan looked at Gordon, who had returned to the airship, with a dissatisfied expression.

“Even if the Prince wants it, is it okay to leave it like this as if we’re abandoning it?”

“Why? Were you on the 3rd Prince’s side?”

“……What are you talking about? Why does it always feel uneasy no matter how much I think about it?”

At Gordon’s words, Jegan blushed as if embarrassed, but he still couldn’t relax.

“I didn’t say I was going back.”

“Yes?”

Gordon said with a stern face.

“Hide the airship under the mountains to the west. And lie low for the time being. Because there’s something I want to check myself.”

“……I understand.”

Then, he drank the nauseating herbal medicine that Roges had brought in one gulp.

* * *

“It’s been a while. You’ve really suffered a lot.”

“No. I’m so glad to see you, Hyungnim. If I went back to the Imperial Palace like this, I wouldn’t have the face to see Father…….”

Oliven smiled faintly as he looked at Cromen, who had lowered his head, and personally poured warm tea and placed it in front of him.

“It’s the same for me. That’s why I wouldn’t be doing this. I’m even more unsightly because I’m acting out of spite and getting blocked by a serpent.”

“Perhaps……. Did Hyungnim withdraw his troops to see the situation after the first Hyungnim was defeated in the Istria Three Kingdoms?”

At that moment,

the teacup he was holding trembled for a moment.

“Who told you that?”

“I just heard the mercenary corps talking. I’m sorry. It’s just nonsense from uneducated people……. Please forget it.”

Cromen lowered his head.

“There’s no way. I’m the cause of all these incidents. I should have gone to Digon more than anyone else. If I had taken the airship with you…….”

At Oliven’s words, Cromen said as if upset.

“Don’t even mention the Gordon Mercenary Corps. What kind of strongest mercenary corps on the continent is that? Gordon didn’t do anything in Digon. The name of Sword Master is a waste!”

“Really?”

“The barbarians didn’t even think about listening to our story and just said no unconditionally…….”

He became tearful and began to tell Oliven in detail about what happened in Digon, as if he were tattling.

But Oliven was more interested in something other than the complaints of a child.

“So, the Gordon Mercenary Corps really left you here, even though there was His Majesty’s order?”

“That’s……. They said that this was the safest place they could, and then they dropped us off here and said they were going back.”

Oliven said to comfort him.

“That’s really rude. We, the imperial family, even call you ‘esteemed one’, but you’re just a mercenary…….”

“Right? Hyungnim, you think so too, right?”

His voice was awkward, as if he was acting, but there was no way young Cromen would notice.

“So, you’re saying that there’s no one guarding you right now.”

“No. There’s Tyren and Elliot, the second sons of the McGovern family, and Sir Yurin, who His Majesty sent.”

“Hmm.”

“It’s better this way. It’s much better to be with Hyungnim than to be among ignorant mercenaries. For me.”

Oliven lightly stroked his younger brother’s head.

“Yes. Now that the rogue-like mercenaries are gone, at least there won’t be any thugs who barge into the imperial family’s residence.”

He recited it once again.

“Gordon is not here……. You’re saying that Gordon Fabian is not here right now…….”

“I’m really glad. Still, to see Hyungnim here.”

Cromen hugged Oliven’s waist and said. Oliven looked down at him and smiled.

“Yes, me too.”

His lips were smiling, but his eyes were by no means warm eyes looking at his younger brother.

“It’s very nice to see you.”

It was like,

that of a snake aiming for its prey.