The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 137

109. Perfect Victory

“Waaaaaaah――――!!!!”

“Waaah―――!!”

Kahlil wore a satisfied expression at the cheers. The Twin Armor, once filled with tension, was now abuzz with lively sounds.

“Goodness……. We might not have enough room in the prisons for all these captives.”

“For now, we’ve divided the soldiers and distributed them to the villages along the border.”

Marze and Aven spoke with cheerful faces, seemingly a bit intoxicated by the victory they hadn’t felt in a long time.

“The adjutants are all isolated, right? It’s a long way from here to the Empire’s border. Regular soldiers wouldn’t think of escaping even with fewer guards, but the adjutants are different.”

Even the seasoned veterans were like this, but Kahlil, the main player in the victory and subjugator of the S-Class Magical Ground, was quickly handling the aftermath as if it were nothing special.

Having borrowed the office in the Load Tower that would normally be Marze’s place, Kahlil sat at the desk, looking so natural as if it were originally his own.

“Yes. Don’t worry. The Knights of the Golden Order are imprisoned separately in the Load Tower’s prison, and the adjutants of the general troops are also gathered separately.”

He quickly scanned the reports that were brought up.

Having swiftly finished the placement of the prisoners, Kahlil then distributed the Imperial Army’s supplies to the villagers in the border area.

“Due to this battle, the rice paddies and fields in the border area are almost unusable. The two of you on-site should review the detailed adjustments, but if we distribute it like this, we can safely get through this winter.”

From the types and units of supplies to calculating the consumption considering the long winter.

It was something that someone who didn’t handle military affairs could never do.

‘Amazing……. Even those who have been on the battlefield for years can’t do this so skillfully.’

Aven couldn’t help but admire Kahlil’s perfect follow-up instructions, not just the start of the war.

“That’s it for the supplies……. We need to pay special attention to the magic units among the prisoners. The mana restraints in Turtle Castle won’t be enough, so please take care of them until the support supplies arrive from Tatur.”

Aven nodded at Kahlil’s words.

“Of course. We’ve also reported to the kingdom, but they seem bewildered since we’ve never captured this many prisoners before……”

“Hmph……. Incompetent people. The royal palace was silent even after receiving reports that the Imperial Army had crossed the border, but now that they’ve heard we caught them, they’re contacting us as if nothing happened.”

Marze frowned as he spoke.

However, he had no idea that Baron Beryl, who had joined hands with Kahlil, was behind the scenes of the royal palace ignoring the situation in Twin Armor.

Of course.

Even without Kahlil’s influence, they would have passed the national fortune onto Marze.

‘If it were the current king, he would have survived by blaming it all on his own decisions once Twin Armor collapsed.’

He wasn’t the only one thinking that way.

Those who don’t take responsibility for their country.

What can you really do by trusting them?

But Kahlil didn’t add any unnecessary remarks and spoke as if he was only trying to solve the current task.

“It’s okay. Tatur is closer to Twin Armor than the royal palace in terms of distance. Besides, you paid for some of the Imperial Army’s supplies, so it’s not a losing deal for us either.”

“We can only be grateful for your continued help, Lord Kahlil.”

Kahlil waved his hand at Marze, who was bowing.

“Lord……. What are you saying……. It’s not appropriate. I’m just a merchant from Tatur.”

At his words, the two chuckled.

In fact, Kahlil knew very well that what he said was ridiculous.

Especially when he saw Viola’s expression, it became even clearer.

‘He’s good with words. He confidently told me he was the lord of the South…….’

Seeing her looking at him with a slightly sulky expression, Kahlil smiled lightly.

“You deserve to be treated with respect. Lord Kahlil is the savior of our lives, isn’t he?”

Despite Kahlil’s refusal, Marze bowed once again.

“That’s right. The Free Army is much more grateful to us than the royal palace, which doesn’t care about us.”

Kahlil looked at the two with a troubled expression. But on the other hand, the corners of his lips slightly lifted as if he was satisfied.

‘Tiran Shutean’s greed has actually created a good result for me. Good. I can win the hearts of those two.’

Already, many nobles had been won over by the Mana Mine.

The incompetent kings bought even more attribute stones to check each other, and the debt increased exponentially.

In fact, the amount of debt doesn’t matter.

What matters is the evaluation of the vassals.

The reason why weak countries remain weak countries, unlike empires or duchies, is clear.

‘The biggest problem is the incompetent king, but there are no outstanding vassals to support him.’

The thoughts in the heads of the unsuccessful small country nobles were all the same.

Who will make them richer?

‘They have no belief in developing the country.’

You could see it just by looking at Baron Beryl.

He didn’t care about the national fortune and was only burning with the desire to get more and better attribute stones from him.

There was no need to mention the other nobles.

“Will we be able to see you again?”

At Marze’s words, Aven and the other retainers all wore surprised expressions.

“Of course.”

Kahlil nodded at his words.

“But when that time comes, it will be a moment when you have to make a decision. It won’t be an easy task as a loyal subject.”

Those in Twin Armor, located in the northern border region, knew more about Tatur than anyone else.

The new owner of Tatur.

Marze and Aven sensed that he was Kahlil even without meeting him.

Besides, a simple merchant couldn’t possibly have that much military power and prowess.

‘The fact that the southern barbarians are lending their strength means…….’

‘There’s no need to explain any further.’

Even if they weren’t told directly like Viola, the two experienced knights guessed that they could become enemies next time they met.

“I think I know why Princess Viola is curious about you and keeps trying to watch you.”

Aven wore a faint smile.

“We will fulfill our duties as vassals. But…… no matter how sturdy Twin Armor is, it can’t protect the rear that it can’t reach.”

It seemed that a bigger gap than they thought had already formed in their hearts.

“I felt it the moment I saw the Free Army. We are the only ones in the three countries who can stop them.”

Aven spoke on behalf of what Marze wanted to say.

The two knew.

Even if they could stop the tide of the Empire and Duchy flowing down from the north, the storm surging from the south was beyond their capabilities.

“Once the southern defense line is breached, there will be nothing we can do. If the war situation is already irreversible, there’s nothing we can do.”

Aven spoke indirectly about their thoughts.

And Kahlil also knew that their thoughts were the same as his.

‘Certainly, those two are definitely different from the useless people in the royal palace.’

Those who were attached to Kahlil because they thought that Kahlil would make their bellies fuller than those who were sitting on the throne doing nothing just because they inherited the king’s blood.

Plan B, which Kahlil had grandly mentioned, might have been proceeding on its own even if he did nothing.

Just like in his previous life.

The Istria Three Kingdoms were on the path to destruction.

‘In a situation where loyalty to the king has already collapsed from within, the only obstacle would be the military force in this Twin Armor.’

But now, the existence of Kahlil was clearly imprinted in the hearts of the two people who were called the shield of Istan and the gatekeeper of Tvanel.

The two, who had seen his martial prowess as warriors, were indeed drawn to Kahlil, but they didn’t accept him as their lord at their first meeting.

A kind of wish.

However, they must have experienced the same feeling.

‘If such a person were the king of this country…….’

The reason why the two protected their respective kingdoms was more because they wanted to protect the people and the land of this country, rather than loyalty to the king.

In that sense, Kahlil couldn’t help but look different to them than the Empire, which had taken the border people as prisoners, or the king, who had ignored them.

The biggest gain of this war.

It might be Marze and Aven, more than the 40,000 prisoners of the Imperial Army.

“By the way…….”

Marze carefully brought up the topic.

“What are you planning to do in the future? Are you going to Tatur?”

“No.”

“Then……. Quite some time has passed, are you going to be okay? I think the other two princes have already reached the South…….”

His concern was natural.

Knowing that Kahlil’s Free Army was composed of southern barbarians and that this situation was essentially a problem between the barbarians and the Empire, he thought that Kahlil was involved in this incident.

Of course.

He wouldn’t know the detailed information, such as which tribe in the South had a problem with the Empire and what caused the spark to spread so far, being on the border.

‘In the first place, even the Empire only knows that the Lyrian Knights were annihilated in the South, but they don’t even know the identity of the tribe.’

Besides, since it was the Empire that invaded the territory first, there were many awkward points for them to thoroughly investigate the truth.

‘Actually, it’s not to the point of making such a big deal.’

Kahlil thought.

How would Olivon act after hearing the news of the annihilation of the Lyrian Knights, who were his people?

‘If he made some kind of contract with Digon, then the sudden accident is a clear violation of the contract from his point of view. He would have tried to get at least compensation for it.’

But a variable that Olivon didn’t expect.

The Emperor’s return.

Because of that, the sudden trip to the South was decided.

All of this was the result of the different positions of the three princes and the Emperor’s scheme being intertwined.

‘The future has changed because I attacked the Headmaster of the Gray Order.’

Because of him, the mining method of Blue Lumen entered Olivon’s ears, and he dispatched the Lyrian Knights to the South.

‘This is something that didn’t happen in my previous life.’

Kahlil compared the events as if he was checking them one by one.

‘Regardless of the future I changed in this incident, there is one important thing.’

That is.

The premise of this situation.

The reason why the Lyrian Knights were able to reach the Rock of Depravity through the South without any restrictions.

‘Since when has Olivon been working with the Digon clan? Rather, if this hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have known about the relationship between him and Digon.’

This incident might be a stroke of luck for Kahlil.

“You don’t have to worry.”

He smiled intently as he looked at Marze, who had an uneasy expression.

“I’ve already decided which prince will go to the South.”

* * *

“Hoo……. That was close.”

“I’m never getting on a boat you’re driving again.”

“Why? If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have arrived on time.”

At Su-an’s answer, Dushalla shook her head with a face that said she had a terrible experience.

After the Water King woke up.

As if waiting for it, the Pohnan River became rougher, and Su-an crossed the rough river without any problems.

Unlike Aidan, Dushalla seemed to have suffered quite a bit from the fluctuating waves, and she was pale as if she was not feeling well even after being on land for a while.

“If you don’t like my boat, then ride on that guy’s head on the way back. At least you won’t get seasick.”

“……I don’t like that either.”

“Hehe.”

Su-an and Aidan chuckled as if they were amused by Dushalla’s shuddering appearance.

“That guy……. I thought he wasn’t seen in Tatur, but when did he come all the way here? When did Master make these preparations?”

Su-an said with a truly heartfelt exclamation.

The last gorge leading to the South.

In this place surrounded by cliffs of dizzying heights like endless walls, they were observing a group.

The group they were looking down on seemed to be in trouble and stopped walking.

“It’s as Master expected.”

Aidan smirked as he spoke.

Then Dushalla also nodded as if she couldn’t help but admit it.