The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 295

199. Istria Three Kingdoms (2)

“Re……! Reporting!!”

A soldier from Twin Armor shouted as he rushed in early in the morning as the sun rose.

“What’s all the commotion?”

Marze, the Shield of Istan, who was racking his brain over a tactical map, spoke with a slightly annoyed voice at the soldier’s interruption, as he was already struggling with a headache.

“The enemy alliance’s base is currently on fire……!!”

“What?”

At the soldier’s report, Marze hurriedly looked out the window.

“……!!!”

He couldn’t hide his surprised expression.

Black smoke was indeed rising far in the distance.

“H, how did this happen…….”

He had no idea.

Marze urgently asked the soldier,

“What about the magic corps [a specialized military unit focused on magical combat]?”

“T, that’s……. Currently, they cannot be confirmed.”

“What do you mean?”

* * *

The news also reached Aven, on the opposite side of the Twin Armor, the twin fortress.

Clench―

He clenched the report sent by the scout and muttered in a low voice.

“The magic corps is surrendering one after another……. How can this be happening!! The alliance base was destroyed without a sound……?”

It was absurd.

Had there ever been such a ridiculous ending in the midst of war?

Aven, who had lived on the battlefield for many years, had never experienced such a thing.

“…….”

No,

There was one time.

“Could it be.”

At that moment, one person came to Aven’s mind.

* * *

Buzz― Buzz―

The soldiers who had failed to escape from the burning barracks were staring at one person.

However, their gazes were more fixed on their commander, who was lying beneath the suddenly appearing boy.

“Is that even possible?”

“To think that someone who received the kingdom’s best magic tool couldn’t withstand a single blow…….”

“Who the hell is he?”

The soldiers of the Three Kingdoms Alliance, who had set up a base to strike Twin Armor, were divided into two ways of responding to the sudden attack.

As soon as the attack was known, half of the forces hurriedly fled, while the other half remained, and surprisingly, the fleeing soldiers were the experienced veterans within the magic corps.

In other words, most of those remaining were inexperienced rookies.

At first, they cursed their fleeing comrades, but because of their experience, they knew.

Who was attacking them.

“Is only the unit commander left?”

Kahlil raised his head and asked.

“Y, yes.”

The remaining soldiers belatedly realized that even the commander of the magic corps had already abandoned the base and fled.

“But are you aiming that at me right now?”

“……Huh? Ah, no.”

The soldier at the head of the troops hurriedly pointed the spear he was holding towards the sky.

Despite having 1,000 soldiers, none of them dared to attack Kahlil.

“Hmm, it seems like things have been roughly sorted out…….”

Kahlil scanned the surrounding barracks and said in a low voice.

“Since your commander abandoned you and ran away, what are you planning to do now? You won’t be able to see a good outcome if you surrender to Twin Armor as you are. How about helping me?”

“W, what do you mean…….”

“I don’t want to waste time on such insignificant battles. I mean, become my strength to punish the old man who is doing behind-the-scenes work and end this war.”

“…….”

“…….”

However, the soldiers were still just staring at him with bewildered expressions.

“T, the alliance won’t stay still!”

Swoosh―

At that moment,

Kahlil slit the unit commander’s throat with his sword.

“Alliance?”

The dirt on the ground was dug up, and dust flew as the severed head, with the expression of shouting, rolled on the ground.

“The alliance is over the moment I came here.”

Then he scoffed.

“Hey.”

Since the unit commander was dead, Kahlil pointed his sword at the one in the front and said.

“Heeik……! Y, yes?!”

“Bring the next highest-ranking guy here. I want the Istria Three Kingdoms to stably come under me. I don’t want to waste my strength unnecessarily.”

“Y, yes, I understand!!”

“It’s pathetic in my eyes, so I have nothing to say, but anyway, the greatest strength for those you call the alliance will be the magic corps. If I take you away, this war will end too.”

Kahlil was very annoyed right now.

Although it was called one of the three strongest on the continent, the influence of the Istria Three Kingdoms was virtually insignificant compared to the Empire and the Duchy.

However, that’s why he took action before the other two countries to use magic tools, magic ore mines, and Viola’s forces as forces for the upcoming Holy War.

But after raising the forces with great effort, Kahlil was dumbfounded that they were wasting their time bickering with each other in this small land.

‘Those who can’t do it won’t be able to do it……. Just like in my previous life, the idiots of the Three Kingdoms are just like that. What’s the point of creating a good environment? They can’t use it properly.’

However, one surprising thing was that even if Baron Beril betrayed them, Viola, Grace, and the Free Army led by Beykan were taking so long.

‘Well, I don’t know what that old man’s scheme is, but it’ll be over if I just clean it up.’

Kahlil decided to take the remaining 1,000 magic corps soldiers as hostages and go directly to where Baron Beril was.

There was no need to waste troops.

He was enough alone.

It was then.

“Ka…… Kahlil-nim!!!”

A voice heard from afar.

Kahlil raised the corners of his lips as he looked at the two old generals rushing over in a fluster.

“Ka, Kahlil?!”

“Could it be……!”

Only then did the soldiers kneel down one by one, regretting not running away with their comrades.

Ignorance creates courage.

Those who fled knew, and those who remained didn’t.

The soldiers shouted in horrified voices.

“The legend of Twin Armor……!!!”

* * *

“Haru.”

“……Yes?!”

“Is the base where Baron Beril is located at a distance that cannot be reached within a day? Well, then, let’s catch Beril, that old man who betrayed us, first, and then clean up the remaining three countries…….”

Kahlil pretended to move his fingers a few times as if counting, but he knew it was meaningless.

“Then let’s take it as two days.”

Marze and Aven were speechless at Kahlil’s nonchalant words.

Just like when he first appeared, the words coming out of his mouth were always beyond imagination.

“I thought so, but you were the one who wiped them out, Kahlil-nim. I had a headache because of the magic tools…….”

“Because we provided them. And the magic tools they use are not particularly threatening.”

Kahlil pointed to the prisoners kneeling outside the window and said.

“…….”

He said it casually, but the power of the magic tools was more significant than expected. It was difficult to block the magic of wizards without a giant tower shield, but the magic shield attached to the wrists of the magic corps was light and could be easily worn by light infantry, so they could instantly produce the effect of heavy infantry.

In addition, the magic weapons with attribute stones attached to the handles were enough to turn the low-class infantry who could not use mana blades into knights in an instant.

Of course,

Compared to Sword Experts, they were inferior in all aspects such as swordsmanship and physical strength, so they may be lacking in individual combat, but in large-scale battles, dealing with thousands or tens of thousands of soldiers with increased power due to magic tools would not be easy.

This was the reason why Viola and the Free Army struggled.

In that situation, Kahlil said he would end the war in just one day, so Marze and Aven had no choice but to lose their words.

“That’s right. It’s my fault. By the way, why didn’t you tell me in advance? If you had, we wouldn’t have had to waste unnecessary resources.”

“I have no excuse. The princess heard about the achievements Kahlil-nim made in the Duchy and said she would do the work of the Three Kingdoms herself. If she can’t even do this small thing, she said she can’t see Kahlil-nim…….”

Kahlil chuckled at Marze’s words.

“What nonsense are you talking about while not returning the Free Army of Tatur and keeping them with you? If you want to solve it yourself, you shouldn’t use the Free Army.”

“We said that too. But Beykan said he can’t go until he properly completes the order Kahlil-nim gave to clean up the Three Kingdoms…….”

Aven was stuttering, as if these words sounded like an excuse in a situation where they, who were called the gatekeepers of Twin Armor, had not yet finished the war despite joining.

“Anyway, both of you have useless pride…….”

Kahlil clicked his tongue and continued.

“Tell me the current situation. Where is Beril among the ridiculous forces called the Three Kingdoms Alliance, and which of the three kingdoms has the largest force.”

Marze hurriedly unfolded the map and said.

“Baron Beril will be in the capital of the Istan Kingdom. But the Istan Kingdom is the innermost of the three kingdoms, so to get to the capital……. We have to destroy the other two kingdoms.”

“What about the forces of the two kingdoms in front?”

“First of all……. The Penria Kingdom has 20,000 and Tvanel has 10,000. The Istan Kingdom has 20,000 troops, but in terms of power, it is twice as much as the two kingdoms because of the magic corps. That’s why they are leading the alliance.”

“How many magic corps are there?”

“7,000.”

Kahlil was dumbfounded.

The alliance’s forces were not small. A total of 50,000 troops. But even if you combine the forces of the three kingdoms, it was only at the level of a duke of the Duchy.

Moreover, the number of magic corps, which is the core of the war, was less than 10,000.

Maybe it was because he had only experienced too many big wars, but to Kahlil, the war of the Three Kingdoms just sounded like a children’s play.

“With that many troops, that means there are only 2,000 or 3,000 soldiers in the fortress at most.”

Kahlil nodded, indicating that he didn’t need to hear any more.

“That’s good. I don’t have to go around looking for Beril, that human, and I can go straight to Istan, so it looks like it won’t even take two days.”

“……Huh?”

He stretched and said.

“The gate of Twin Armor, which is the most difficult to open in the Istria Three Kingdoms, is already open, so what’s the problem?”

Whooooong―

Kahlil took out a small bead from his chest and began to condense magic power, and the bead placed on his palm began to glow red.

Surprisingly, it was the same shape as the communication orb that was broken in front of Ruon in the Duchy.

“Anthem, you know what I want, right?”

[Yes. I have already taken care of it immediately after hearing the news from Israfil-nim. It will arrive soon. We will clear the way to Istan.]

“Good. I’m going to sweep away Tvanel and Penria today. How long will it take to open the road?”

[Since you ordered today, we will finish it today.]

“Yes. That’s how you should do things.”

Kahlil nodded with satisfaction and said.

“Don’t touch Istan. I’m going there myself.”

[Is there any objection.]

Marze and Aven looked at each other with dazed expressions at the conversation between the two.

[Krrrrrrrr…….]

[Kgeugeug……!!]

At that moment,

Dozens of drakes passing over the sky of Twin Armor at high speed began to breathe fire beyond the distant border.

Thump―!! Kukukung――!!

Kukukung――!!

At the same time, the drakes of the Wyvern Corps began to drop small golems [artificial creatures, often made of stone or metal] that they were holding in their feet as if scattering them.

The fallen golem corps began to break the gates of each fortress.

“Just borrow a horse.”

Kahlil looked at the black smoke rising in the distance, climbed onto the saddle, and pulled the reins.

Hiiiing!!!

The horse raised its front legs up and then came down and started walking slowly.

Dageudak― Dageudak―

Along with the cheerful sound of hooves, as if marching, numerous explosions and explosions occurred on both sides of him.

“Heum.”

Kahlil drove the horse, gradually increasing the speed as if watching the sights. The Wyvern Corps and the Golem Corps began to destroy everything in the way so that there were no obstacles in the way he was running.

“Aaaagh!!”

“Aack!!”

Kwaaang!! Kwagagagagang……!!

Even if it was the fortress wall or the enemy, everything.

It took exactly one day for Tvanel and Penria to fall.

Wheeeeeeeing……!!

Wheeing……!!

Kahlil stood in front of a shabby castle, holding the ropes that bound the seven fortress defense commanders and nineteen nobles he had captured while passing by.

The fortress of the Istan Kingdom.

“Cough!!”

“Aaaagh……!!”

“Cough!”

As he pulled the rope, twenty-six knights fell at once. Kahlil got off his horse, sat on them, and wiggled his fingers.

“Come out.”