The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 106

90. Cove

“Ugh……!!!”

Karl Mack woke up with a start.

“Ugh…….”

His muscles seemed to be protesting, and he slumped forward, as if collapsing from the throbbing pain in his back.

“Are you awake? Take it easy,” Yurin said.

Karl looked up. The sky was dark, and stars were densely packed, as if they were about to fall.

“H, how long have I been asleep?”

It was a picturesque scene, but Karl’s face was etched with worry.

“About half a day.”

“What? That long?”

“You were up for several days straight. It’s amazing you’re awake already; your stamina is something else,” Yurin Hugart said, observing Karl.

However, Karl didn’t seem to register the compliment, his face etched with concern. “That means Master still hasn’t returned, even after all this time… Is he alright? Shouldn’t we go back?”

“Are you crazy?”

Yurin looked at Karl with disbelief. ‘Going back to the place he barely survived? Does this guy have no sense of self-preservation?’

Just then…

“Oh……! Over there!!!” Joey Yohanessel shouted, pointing towards the sea.

Amidst the broken wooden planks floating in the water, a dark shape was visible.

“Master!!”

Karl, with his sharp eyesight, recognized Karrel immediately.

Creak–!!!

He started the boat and steered it forward.

Pushing through the wreckage of the broken auxiliary ship, Karl reached out and hauled Karrel, who was floating face down in the water, aboard.

“Kugh……!!”

Yurin grabbed Karrel’s collar and helped lift him, seeing Karl struggling with the waterlogged weight.

“Master!!”

‘……Hmm?’

Unlike Karl, who was shouting as he looked at Karrel’s battered state, Yurin wore a puzzled expression.

“Master!! Are you okay?! Wake up!! Can you hear me?”

“Let me take a look,” Joey Yohanessel said, kneeling beside Karl and reciting a prayer in a low voice.

From his hand, a milky white light flowed out, enveloping Karrel’s body.

“Cough, cough……!!”

Karrel’s chest heaved, and he expelled the breath he had been holding. Seawater mixed with blood trickled from his mouth.

“Master!!”

Karl supported Karrel’s neck with both hands.

“The wounds are severe. Karl, hold him steady while I cast a healing spell.”

“Understood.”

Joey took out a rosary, placed it on his chest, and made the sign of the cross as he prayed.

“May Yula’s grace be with you.”

A light, even brighter than the milky light from before, emanated from his rosary.

“Umm…….”

As the external wounds began to heal rapidly, Karrel let out a low groan.

“Are you coming to your senses? Your body is a mess. Are you okay? Why did you jump into those monsters……!!”

Saying that, he glared at Yurin, the only combat-capable member of the group, with resentful eyes.

“…….”

However, unlike the two who were making a fuss, Yurin examined Karrel’s wounds, a thoughtful expression on his face.

‘The wounds are… too shallow.’

The sense of unease he had felt when lifting him from the water earlier resurfaced.

“Hey,” Yurin said to Karrel in a low voice.

“What happened to the Water King and the Sea King? Did you really take care of them?”

“Is this the time to ask that? Can’t you see Master’s wounds?”

“I’m asking because I *do* see them. He’s not going to die from this, so calm down. You, steer the ship. We have two priests here. I won’t let him die, so don’t worry.”

“Tch, how annoying. What’s the point of having two? They don’t do anything…”

Karl stood up and muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Yurin to hear.

“What was that?”

“Yes, sir!! I’ll set course for the principality right away!”

When Yurin glared at him, Karl quickly retreated into the wheelhouse.

“Kkeueung…….”

As if waiting for Karl to leave, Karrel slowly opened his eyes.

“What happened?”

At Yurin’s question, Karrel smiled faintly and opened his tightly clenched hand.

“Don’t worry. I took care of everything.”

In his palm lay the Water King’s tooth.

However, Yurin still looked at Karrel with skepticism.

“……Are you sure?”

“If you’re suspicious, you can go back and check. However, the Sea King’s venom is all over the sea; you’ll melt the moment you touch it.”

Karrel shrugged.

“…….”

Yurin clicked his tongue and replied, “Congratulations on coming back alive. If that’s true, His Majesty will reward you handsomely for your efforts.”

Hidden in his words was a veiled threat: if it was a lie, he would pay the price.

However, despite Yurin’s veiled threat, Karrel smiled nonchalantly and said, “Thank you.”

The evidence was irrefutable.

Whether it was the Water King or the Sea King, it would have been impossible to extract a tooth if either of them were still alive.

‘Seeing that he brought back a tooth, there’s no arguing with that… but I can’t believe that guy actually succeeded. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. Should I have watched him closely until the end?’

Yurin had been prepared to complete the mission himself and report to the Emperor if Karrel had died.

But he quickly shook his head.

His choice had not been wrong.

Standing still in front of two dragon-class monsters was suicide.

Besides, venturing into the sea covered with the Kraken’s venom, as he said, was also insane.

‘The corpses must have already sunk underwater, and monsters will be swarming around the area, drawn by the scent.’

There was no way.

Kkwadeuk-

He unconsciously clenched his teeth.

“Fortunately, I don’t have to pass my mission on to Lord Yurin. I’ll continue to guide you.”

“Hmph…….”

Yurin turned his head away, displeased with Karrel’s smugness, as if he knew what he was thinking, and said in a low voice, “We’ll be in the principality soon. As an imperial citizen, you should be careful. You have the status of a merchant, but it’s best not to attract attention.”

Yurin turned his head as if displeased with Karrel, who always exceeded his expectations.

“Of course. From now on, I’ll rely on Lord Yurin’s power a little. God’s grace transcends borders.”

Karrel nodded.

“But I’m a little worried. In fact, the Order is a little more friendly with the principality than the Empire, isn’t it?”

“…….”

These were words that could not be uttered without knowing the history of the Lurein family. Moreover, it was a provocation that only Karrel, who knew that Yurin Hugart was under the Emperor, could make.

Yurin growled at his words.

“The Order is impartial to everyone.”

“Of course, I’m sure you are. I look forward to working with you while passing through the principality.”

“There won’t be any problems if you behave yourself.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Karrel handed him the Sea Serpent’s tooth he was holding and said, “Would you like to take it?”

“……No. It’s your reward, so keep it.”

Yurin replied without even looking at Karrel, as if his pride was wounded.

“Understood. You might need it later…….”

At his answer, Karrel wore a strange smile. Then he called out to the wheelhouse, “Karl, increase the speed.”

Chwaaaaaaa—!!

Despite his unknown intentions, the Howard, taking advantage of the tailwind, raced across the sea in a pleasant manner.

* * *

Lurein Principality.

This place, a giant kingdom that rivaled the Empire on the continent, was formed from the union of duchies ruled by seven dukes, known as the Seven Dukes.

In some ways, it might seem like a union similar to the Istan Three Kingdoms, but there was a clear difference between them and the principality.

Unlike the Three Kingdoms, where each kingdom was distinct, the Seven Dukes who ruled the principality were all members of the Lurein family.

In the end, it was similar to having one royal family like the Empire, only with different titles.

However, in reality, it was known that the eldest daughter, Tuli Lurein, who held the most power among the Seven Dukes, was the de facto ruler of the principality, but the second son, Fran Lurein, was constantly vying for her territory, making it difficult to consolidate national power.

‘Thanks to that, the war with the Empire has been postponed, and a balance of power is maintained…’

Karrel thought, looking at the massive port, far larger than Piasta.

Port City Cove, the territory of Fran Lurein, the second son of the Lurein family.

Looking at the numerous warships docked, Karrel mused, ‘With a navy this size, they could definitely threaten the Empire. If Fran hadn’t been at odds with his sister Tuli, the war would have already broken out.’

Certainly, the Empire had a superior army, but the principality was overwhelmingly dominant at sea.

That meant the principality could invade the Empire by sea, but it was nearly impossible for the Empire to invade using sea routes.

The number of troops was similar, but the capabilities of the ships themselves were fundamentally different.

The docked ships resembled the battleships that were popular during the Magic Age [an era where magic was more prevalent and integrated into technology].

On the sides of the ships, where gunports would be, which were absent on the Empire’s battleships, were geometric magic imprints.

‘Certainly, in war, magic is one of the biggest variables that can turn the tide of battle.’

In that regard, the Empire had the most magicians on the continent.

Both the Dawn Society and the Immortal Society, the two major magic societies on the continent, supported the Empire.

‘But the principality overcame the difference in magic with technology.’

That is, Magical Engineering [the integration of magic and technology].

While the Empire focused on magic and swordsmanship, the Seven Dukes of the principality focused on excavating ruins in their territories.

This was also why Wolfgang Schmar’s golem, the founder of Ashkalon, still remained in the principality.

‘The principality is at least 50 years ahead in the technology of exploring ruins. They won’t stand still and allow this gap to be closed. That’s why the Emperor secretly uses the priests of the Order to explore the ruins.’

The Empire didn’t even have the technology to operate the golem, highlighting the clear disparity.

Perhaps if a few more years had passed, the principality would have invaded the Empire first.

No.

Even if the Empire faced internal turmoil due to the upcoming struggle for imperial power, there was a strong possibility.

‘Well, it’s impossible.’

Karrel recalled his memories.

Even before the upcoming chaos in the Empire, the principality was already in turmoil.

‘Tuli Lurein and Fran Lurein’s power struggle.’

Tuli, called the Empress of the Lurein family, was undoubtedly the most influential figure in the principality, but Fran, who commanded the largest fleet, as evidenced by the ships here, possessed the most significant military force among the dukes.

‘Ironically, he couldn’t strike Tuli because the biggest part of that military power was ships.’

It was a chaotic time.

A time when invisible power struggles were constant.

Later.

The Empire of Oliven mercilessly swept away the principality of magical engineering.

“…….”

Karrel, who knew well that he was the main player in that war, smiled bitterly as he looked at the warships in Cove Port that he had burned in his previous life.

“Please present your identification.”

Cove’s guards surrounded the ship, approaching the group attempting to disembark from the Howard, which was now docked at the port.

“What is it……?”

Yurin Hugart frowned slightly as he looked at the soldiers guarding them.

“We are priests of the Order. We came here from Heim by order of the Order.”

Joey Yohanessel hurriedly presented his priest certificate, carefully watching Yurin’s reaction.

“And these two are guests of the Order.”

However, the guards addressed Karrel and Karl as if they were uninterested in Joey’s words.

“Currently, Cove Port is under the 2nd level of martial law. Inspections are being conducted on all entrants.”

“Martial law……? Does that mean the principality is at war?”

“We cannot disclose the details. Please present your identification for the remaining two people besides the priests.”

Joey looked troubled at the guard’s unexpected words. They would not easily allow imperial citizens to enter during a state of martial law.

‘Hmm, as expected.’

However, Karrel remained calm. The affairs of the Empire had changed significantly from the future because of his involvement, but the principality had not.

‘Tuli and Fran’s fight.’

It was the same situation he remembered.

“It’s become troublesome. How unlucky. The situation we discussed on the ship has come to pass,” Yurin said, clicking his tongue and glancing at Karrel, as expected.

Just then…

“I will vouch for the identities of the two. Let them into Cove.”

A voice came from behind the guards.

The guard who turned around was startled and shouted, saluting stiffly, “Y, Your Grace the Duke!!”

White hair and blue eyes.

Everyone turned to see a handsome man with a surprisingly gentle face despite his sturdy build.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Karrel. I was surprised you arrived earlier than expected. You really did cross the strait.”

Karrel smiled lightly at his words and looked at Yurin as if to show off.

‘What, what is it……? It’s Fran Lurein?! How does that imperial citizen know him?’

Yurin looked at Karrel with utter bewilderment.

“I’ll escort you.”

Following the Duke’s guidance, Karrel took his first step into the principality.

‘I didn’t expect it… Fran Lurein, it was you. You’re a bigger player than I thought. Good. Let’s see what you’ll offer me.’

Karrel’s eyes gleamed as he looked at Fran’s back.

The note he received from the trainee in Heim.

In it, only one word was written:

[Cove.]