The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 151

118. The Setup (4)

“As you know, Cromen has returned.”

Late at night.

Cromen, exhausted from his long journey, had fallen asleep early. Olivon, having secured lodging away from the Vestal March, gazed at the lights within the territory and spoke.

“Father will be disappointed when he finds out about this.”

“With all due respect, this matter was too significant for the Third Prince to handle alone.”

Even as he replied, Baron Harun couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe.

‘Was he waiting for this?’

After the Sand Serpent blocked the road, Olivon remained in the Vestal March, seemingly inactive.

In fact, his subordinates, including Harun himself, were more anxious than Olivon.

Harun knew that if he were in Olivon’s position, he would have been consumed by anxiety, perhaps even borrowing knights from Marquis Vestal to recklessly hunt the Sand Serpent.

‘Perhaps the Prince already anticipated Cromen’s failure.’

Luon had lost 40,000 soldiers, and the Cult Mercenary Corps had abandoned Cromen. Consequently, Olivon’s forces were the only ones that hadn’t suffered substantial damage.

Realizing this, Harun couldn’t help but acknowledge Olivon’s foresight.

“Haha, with all due respect. This situation is partly my fault. And now I’m merely staying here in the March… I feel ashamed.”

“This is not Prince Olivon’s fault. In fact, the attack on the Five Great Clans was initially agreed upon with Digon. Digon, in particular, viewed the growing power of the Chang Clan as a thorn in his side and proposed the attack first.”

The Five Great Clans of the Abyss Rock were considered prestigious families even among the barbarians.

Unlike the four tribes of the Great Plains, who primarily lived by hunting in the Demon Realm, some of the Five Great Clans were embracing the civilization of the continent through trade with the three kingdoms of Istria.

Therefore, their development was a natural progression.

“Rather, we deserve compensation for this.”

Even in response to Olivon’s self-deprecating remark, Harun voiced his opinion without hesitation.

“Yes, Tiren saw through it. Did you see the written oath he made?”

Olivon said in a low voice, looking towards the Vestal March’s castle in the distance.

“But Digon has consistently ignored our requests.”

“Yes. At least the Queen has the intelligence to understand the situation. She’s quite astute for a barbarian. But she flatly refused…”

Olivon couldn’t help but be puzzled by Digon’s unreasonable response.

However, the outcome of Cromen’s failure was, at least, in line with his expectations.

“What are you planning to do… from now on?”

“Well… I can’t simply remain in the March like this.”

Olivon pondered.

The hand he had crossed trembled slightly.

It was a tremor of joy.

“The Empire suffered more damage than expected during the southward campaign. To some, it may appear as a mere invasion by the Empire… but to simply return like this would tarnish the Empire’s prestige.”

“However, escalating the conflict with Digon further is not advisable at this time. Unlike Prince Luon… it would be difficult with our current forces. The Cult Mercenary Corps, which was assisting Prince Cromen, has also departed.”

“That’s right. It’s definitely impossible for us to initiate a war with Digon. In fact, it was challenging even with my brother’s 70,000 troops.”

In reality, whether through a show of force or diplomatic means, the ultimate goal of the three princes was peace.

‘I disliked this from the start.’

Olivon lightly waved his hand, as if he disliked even the air in the south.

“But if it’s the Emperor of the Empire…”

Olivon looked out the window.

“War with the barbarians is a trivial matter.”

“Yes?”

“War…”

He muttered once more in a low voice.

“We may not be able to start a war… but at least we can create a justification.”

His eyes gleamed sharply.

“Everyone knows that Father cherishes the Third Prince the most, even if he doesn’t show it.”

Baron Harun immediately understood Olivon’s intention.

It was a sentiment that an Imperial knight shouldn’t express,

but he spoke as if he was already prepared.

“It’s an opportune moment to create a justification.”

In response to his answer, Olivon slowly nodded with a satisfied expression.

“Yes.”

* * *

“What is this?”

“That’s… a note from someone who arrived with Prince Cromen today.”

“Hmm.”

Mart Mcgovern, alone in his room, received the note.

If it was from someone who came with Cromen, his younger siblings would naturally be the first to come to mind. He was eager to meet them right away.

In particular, he was most curious about Randol’s fate.

He was relieved to hear Tiren’s nod regarding Randol’s well-being, but he still wanted to confirm it himself.

However, given the sensitivity of the situation, it wasn’t easy for Mart to contact Cromen’s party.

Only Olivon and Cromen had met.

So far, each faction remained separate, as if wary of each other, completely isolated from meals to sleeping arrangements.

“This is for me? Are you sure?”

The person who handed over the note was a face that Mart recognized. He was a young stableman who managed the horses below the building.

‘Who could it be? It’s dangerous to maintain contact when even the princes are being cautious…’

Mart looked at the stableman with suspicion and then examined the note again.

“…”

It appeared to be ordinary paper, but from the subtly cut corners, Mart could immediately identify the sender.

‘It’s the family mark. Father taught us brothers this method of using codes when sending letters.’

“Th, then I’ll be on my way…”

The stableman hurriedly greeted him and left the room, fearing he would be seen. If he were caught, it wouldn’t simply end with a reprimand.

“Tiren… is there something so important that he’s willing to take such a risk to inform me?”

After the stableman left,

Mart opened the note.

“…!!!”

As he read the writing, his face hardened upon reaching the end of the letter.

He hurriedly looked around.

“Is this… real?”

After reading everything, he quietly surveyed the room and threw the note into the fireplace.

He was extremely cautious, even though he was alone, wondering about the contents of the note.

Whirr…!!

Only after confirming that the note had completely turned to ashes did Mart let out a low sigh.

“…”

Then, as if lost in thought, he looked out the window with trembling eyes.

Thud-

The stableman who had closed Mart’s door slowly straightened his back in the hallway.

“Hmm.”

The tense look he had just worn was gone, and his voice had a relaxed tone.

The moment he straightened his back,

Though fleeting, the stableman’s eyes changed from ordinary blue to black, a color not typically seen in an imperial.

And when he fully straightened his back, his eyes had surprisingly turned green again.

‘I’ll see you in a bit.’

Tossing off the hood he was wearing, he walked down the hallway with a meaningful smile.

* * *

Whoosh…

The wind blew.

Even though the harvest season wasn’t over yet, the wind blowing late at night felt chilly.

“…”

Mart walked along the forest path, concealing his presence.

As the airship that had dropped Cromen off entered the mountain range, he pulled up his collar a little more and looked around.

“Have you come?”

“You know better than anyone how dangerous this is.”

“Nevertheless, it is something that must be done.”

Turning his head towards the voice, Mart spoke the name of the person who had called him.

“Tiren.”

In the darkness, light green eyes shone.

Looking at the color that was rarely seen even on the continent, Mart recalled that Tiren was the only one among his brothers who had light green eyes.

“Where is Randol?”

“He is alive. He is with Queen Digon. He is probably trying to find the culprit who annihilated the Knights in his own way.”

“Stupid… how can a knight disobey the Emperor’s orders and act on his own?”

Tiren smiled faintly.

“Don’t you know? That child is not a noble like you or me, but from a commoner background.”

Mart’s face slightly hardened at his words.

“That’s not like you. I thought you were the one who recognized Randol the most among our brothers? You highly valued his talent.”

“That’s right. But I don’t want to consider an imperial who relies on barbarians as my brother.”

Mart smiled bitterly at Tiren’s unwavering answer. He leaned against a tree without looking at Tiren and said.

“Is the story written in the note… true?”

“It’s my guess.”

“Your guess is even more terrifying.”

Mart spoke as if muttering to himself, wary of the thought that someone might see him.

“Are you saying that the Prince was waiting for… Prince Cromen?”

“That’s right.”

“What’s the basis?”

“Prince Olivon was staying here. If it’s the Prince that you and I know, he wouldn’t be waiting quietly without doing anything.”

“…”

Mart said in a low voice.

“Really… are you saying that Prince Olivon will assassinate Prince Cromen?”

“Yes.”

Twitch-

Mart’s cheek trembled as Tiren finished speaking.

‘Assassination…’

It was a word he couldn’t bring himself to say.

“Justification for war.”

Tiren said in a calm voice to him, who was shaking.

“There is not much time left. This is all I want to say to you. Without anyone knowing… please keep a close watch on Prince Olivon.”

Tiren continued to speak.

“If there comes a moment when Prince Olivon dismisses his guards and only the two of them are together…”

He emphasized the last words.

“Murder will occur.”

Mart’s mind was in complete chaos due to the sudden revelation.

“…”

A cold wind struck his cheek.

“Our meeting today never happened. Absolutely no one should know.”

In response to Mart’s words, Tiren rather squinted his eyes as if he had also wanted that.

“Of course.”

* * *

Immediately after Mart returned,

Tiren turned his head and moved in the opposite direction.

Thud- Thud- Thud-

The sound of footsteps stepping on the ground was very light, unlike a magician.

Woo woong…

With the faint sound of magical power, Tiren’s face, who was walking towards the forest, became blurry as if it were under the surface of the water.

Then, surprisingly, his light green eyes turned black and then brown again.

‘Mart, you’ve grown so much that you even suspect your brothers while I haven’t seen you. Not bad.’

When he took off the cumbersome mask, it revealed none other than Carryl’s face.

‘You can’t even imagine that I would know the Mcgovern family’s mark. It’s only natural. It’s because my father, who sent me letters of war in my past life, was the last one to tell me.’

He smiled bitterly.

It was a mark that proved the family’s trust.

But ironically, the moment he wrote the note with the family mark for the first time was the moment he was deceiving his family.

‘Olivon. I know you better than anyone. With your twisted and nasty personality, you will never miss this opportunity.’

Wasn’t it Olivon who killed Cromen in his past life as well?

‘He must have been waiting here with a comfortable heart after confirming Luon’s failure.’

What he wants.

Aaaaaaack…!!

Aack!!

S, save me…!!

Kuaaack!!

In an instant,

Numerous screams echoed in Carryl’s head.

They were the screams of foreigners and barbarians just before their deaths, which remained in his memory.

Olivon, who became Emperor, was on top of that death.

‘Thinking about what you did in your past life, I know what kind of person you are. From the beginning, you had no intention of resolving the matter with Digon.’

What he wants is rather conflict (紛爭) [FenZheng, meaning conflict or strife in Chinese].

‘I created the stage you wanted. So perfectly that you’re so eager to make it happen right away.’

Carryl’s eyes shone.

‘Kill Cromen and blame the barbarians for it. In your head, you’re already being comforted by everyone as the unfortunate prince who lost his brother and drawn as a hero at the forefront for revenge.’

Just like in his past life, when he poisoned Cromen for that picture.

‘Go ahead. This time, I’ll reveal your true self to those who trust you without a doubt.’

“The big fish.”

Carryl said in a low voice as if trying to forget his emotions.

“It’s time to catch it now.”