The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 290

196. The Imperial War (1)

“……What’s all this commotion, Carryl?”

Kwell asked, his voice trembling.

Despite being surrounded by combat priests of the Order, Carryl’s face remained composed.

“Do you intend to turn the continent against you now?”

“Are you late to the news? Or are you feigning ignorance? Or perhaps……”

Carryl chuckled.

“Do you still think the Empire is the strongest on the continent?”

“……!!!”

At that remark, Kwell’s energy surged explosively.

“Insolent!!”

Kwaaaaaang―――!!!!

From the blade of Kwell’s Yulston [likely a type of sword], within the burning mana blade, a milky white aura rapidly expanded and enveloped the flames.

‘Magic power has increased?’

Carryl was surprised that the dragon magic power, which had been weak until just now, momentarily surpassed Kwell’s own.

‘Is there still an area I don’t know about?’

He had consumed the Dragon’s Heart and gained immense magic power like a dragon, but he had never directly learned how to handle magic power from a dragon.

7th class, called the limit of humans.

But surpassing that, 8th class is called the realm of dragons.

Kaie Essir mentioned in his will that he himself had reached that realm.

Is it simply because the total amount of magic power that can be contained in a human’s magic blood is smaller than that of a dragon?

It couldn’t be dismissed so easily.

Kaie Essir reached 8th class even without dragon magic power.

Then what is the difference between humans and dragons?

Only one thing.

The established magic system.

[That can’t be.]

Aln Zabiuss, as if reading Carryl’s thoughts, spoke in a voice only he could hear.

[When you get caught up in one thing, you can’t see the rest. Have you forgotten who taught you magic? Me, Aln Zabiuss.]

Black smoke slowly took shape and appeared before Carryl.

But Carryl immediately knew it was an image in his mind, not a real appearance.

[Seven chosen humans received magic from dragons. Do you think I, one of them, wouldn’t know the dragon’s magic system?]

‘Are you the one who forgot?’

Carryl said quietly.

‘You told me.’

He looked at Aln.

‘Whether to trust the Platinum Dragon.’

Kadeudeudeudeuk―

Before he knew it, the illusion disappeared, and Kwell’s Yulston, exerting all his strength, was blocked by the Ice Claws, making a sound like metal grinding as they struggled.

‘The Council of Seven Elders can be said to be the only human disciples of the dragons, but even they were betrayed by him. I don’t know if it was planned from the beginning, but would they have taught all the essence to those who were to be discarded?’

[Does that mean there’s something even I don’t know?]

‘Doubt the doubt. It means don’t let go of the end.’

[Keu… Keuheuk. To think the day would come when you would try to teach me. Reach 7th class and unlock all the knowledge I have given you before you get cocky.]

‘But seeing as you don’t deny it, my suspicion isn’t completely wrong, is it?’

Carryl thought that perhaps Kwell’s change just now might be a way to raise his dragon magic power to the next level.

[The next time you meet him, dealing with that guy won’t be easy. You may have more magic power, but he is superior in the technical aspect of melding magic into the sword.]

‘I’ll just become 7th class.’

He found a simple and clear answer to Aln’s words.

Kwang―!!

“This power is…….”

Kwell, pushed back by Carryl’s power, looked back and forth between his sword blade and Carryl with a hardened face.

Kang……!

Like glass breaking, the blade of Yulston chipped at the part that had collided with the Ice Claws a moment ago.

Black smoke-like sword energy rose up, enveloping the edge of the Ice Claws.

“Israel, I will temporarily withdraw the power I lent you. With your current power, you should be able to operate the First Magic sufficiently.”

“As you wish.”

As Israel bowed, the black smoke surrounding Carryl’s Ice Claws seeped in, turning the blade black.

“Hmm.”

Carryl felt not only Aln but also Duat’s spirit power being absorbed back into his body.

“Seize him!!”

The bishop noticed his change and shouted at the priests. The combat priests simultaneously made the sign of the cross.

Then, once again, the Order’s sacred gate unfolded beneath Carryl’s feet, and golden ropes, like tentacles, sprang up from the floor with a stronger golden light than before.

Chwareureureuk……!!

Chwajak……!

Carryl looked at the ropes tightening around his body.

[Are you thinking of fighting more? It’s not impossible, but then you’ll have to use dragon magic power.]

Duat, who had been absorbed again, said as he watched Carryl’s skin, which was touching the ropes, smoking as if it were burning.

[For spirits, Yulla’s power is extremely incompatible. If you’re trying to hide your dragon magic power, this much commotion isn’t good.]

[I don’t want to admit it, but…… unless the two Great Wildernesses gather, it’s still difficult to fight the Order’s power head-on.]

[Unless there is Rasis’s protection, who has the power of light like Yulla, even the Blazing Heat will burn away.]

Etheral, Duat, and Lamine successively looked at the relic held by the bishop and said, displeased.

Even though it was temporarily created, the fact that it felt more powerful than the defense in the Emperor’s residence a moment ago was probably due to the relic he possessed.

“Hmm…….”

Fortunately, only Carryl could hear their words, so the priests in front of Carryl were also nervous because they couldn’t gauge the power of the Spirit Kings.

“I see.”

Carryl nodded as if the golden ropes tightening around him were not painful at all.

“Is it time to make a deal?”

He said, looking only at Ollibun without changing his expression.

“Y-You’re not moving……!”

A priest shouted at Carryl.

Seogeok―

But at that moment, his head fell to the floor.

‘W-What……?!’

‘He’s moving in that state?! Is that guy a monster? He still hasn’t shown the end.’

‘No way. The Order’s binding technique like this…….’

The people couldn’t help but be shocked at the sight. The golden binding ropes that were wrapped around Carryl’s entire body were not broken.

The sealing formation was still in effect, but Carryl moved with the barrier by force.

[You’re pushing yourself.]

Carryl raised the corners of his mouth at Duat’s words.

Certainly, as he said, his right arm, which had swung the sword, was red-hot. But the effect was certain.

He nodded as if it were nothing, and Jarka placed the unconscious Jake in front of Landoll.

“Take him. I kept my promise.”

“…….”

Landoll looked at him with a strange expression, holding the fallen Jake.

Pudeudeuk― Pudeudeuk―

It was then.

Unsuitable for the noisy atmosphere, a small and cute bird flew in through the window of the destroyed building.

The little bird flapped its wings and slowly landed under Carryl’s hand.

“……!!”

Everyone thought it was nothing, but Israel’s eyes widened when he saw the bird.

“It’s from the Black Eye [likely a spy network].”

He immediately recognized that it was the messenger pigeon he had sent in the carriage before coming to Heim.

‘If it’s the Black Eye…… aren’t they the immigrants sent to the Blood Cave? Why is that now…… No, did you aim for this moment? Perhaps you foresaw this situation when you made that report.’

Israel shook his head at Carryl’s plan, which he couldn’t even fathom how many steps ahead he had seen.

He had read countless documents at the Antihum Grand Library, which was thought to contain all the truths of the world, but the moment he left the Immortal Society, he felt that his vision had expanded dozens, hundreds of times more.

Reality that cannot be found in books.

He himself was not aware that the introverted and passive him was gradually changing in Carryl’s presence, witnessing him execute and manifest his plans.

Twitch―

His facial muscles twitched and moved.

It was a reaction to the magic power consumption to maintain the Superior Eye [likely a magical ability]. The moment the magic power provided by Aln Zabiuss, who had been absorbed back into Carryl, was cut off, his magic blood circulated rapidly.

“Ollibun.”

Carryl looked at him.

“It’s not dawn yet.”

Then he pointed to the sky and said in a low voice.

“……!!!”

The moment Ollibun heard those words, he unknowingly widened his eyes and bit his lip.

“The deal is you first.”

Then he asked quietly.

“Do you want the Emperor’s life?”

“You……·!!!!!”

The moment his words ended, Kwell roared and swung his sword once again.

Carryl, who was bound, could not move. Kwell’s raging sword flew towards his neck.

Israel hurriedly pulled up his magic power, and Kay Rothschild pulled the puppet’s strings.

But the distance was too far, and even the speed of his magic and Jarka Hochi could not stop Kwell’s sword.

Kaaang……!!!

It was then.

“……Father!”

Surprisingly, it was Mart who blocked his sword.

Although the opponent had changed, the father-son fight continued. Carryl looked at Mart’s back, which was covering him, and let out a low sigh.

“You……!! What are you doing now!”

Kwell had a dumbfounded expression as he had not imagined that the eldest son of the McGovern family would stop him.

Kadeuk……! Kadeuk……!!

It was virtually impossible for Mart to block Kwell’s sword filled with anger. Mart’s back was bent and pushed back as if it would break at any moment.

“Mart, although small, you’ve taken a step.”

“……Shut up.”

“You can’t swing the sword, but you’ve at least pulled it out of the scabbard.”

“I didn’t do it to be praised by you.”

Carryl chuckled as he looked at him answering as if he was driven to the edge.

“Both of you. Put down your swords.”

“Shut up!!”

“I haven’t heard an answer yet. It’s enough to draw the sword after that.”

Carryl put his palm on Mart’s back.

“……!!”

A hot energy was felt, and flames erupted from Mart’s sword as if exploding.

‘T-This is…….’

Every single cell in his body was trembling as if reacting to Carryl’s magic power.

Mart felt something hot in his magic blood.

An experience he had never felt before.

Kwagagagagang―――!!!

Surprisingly, Mart deflected Kwell’s sword and stepped back.

“Huk…… Huk…….”

“That feeling. Don’t forget it. You’ve drawn the sword from the scabbard, so now you’ll have to get stronger to swing it.”

“…….”

Mart looked at Carryl with trembling eyes, then closed his mouth as if he was about to say something.

“This is a matter between the two of us.”

Carryl looked at Ollibun as if waiting for an answer.

“Your Majesty.”

Ollibun slowly opened his mouth.

“It’s for the continent and the people.”

“……Wh, What!!”

The Emperor shouted at Ollibun without even having time to fix his disheveled hair.

Like a snake, he looked at the priests of the Order who had stepped back the moment Ollibun spoke, and knew that there was no one around him to help him anymore.

‘I see……. Even the Order already…….’

The Emperor dropped his shoulders as if his energy had weakened. Ollibun looked at the sight and closed his eyes as if in grief and said quietly.

“Kill me.”

Carryl smirked at Ollibun’s words as if he knew it would happen.

“Yo, You…… ca…… n……·!!!”

Chwaaaaaak―――!!

Without a moment’s hesitation, Carryl beheaded Tylan Schtean.

The ending was too futile for the last of the Imperial Emperor. But he too was just a human in a vast history.

Everyone here already knew that the protagonists of that history were Ollibun and Carryl.

“What do you want? Money? Or freedom? Tell me anything. If you want, I will recognize Tatur under the protection of the Empire.”

Ollibun wiped away his tears and looked at the Emperor’s corpse and asked Carryl.

“Cut the crap.”