The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 18

Splat—!!!

The goblin’s blood splattered everywhere.

“Shriek…!! Shriek…!!”

The goblins, their control broken, floundered against the sudden onslaught of Caryll’s forces.

The remaining shamans screamed bizarre incantations, but the soldiers relentlessly cut down the necks of those already in a panic.

‘It will be over quickly. It’s ridiculous that we were pushed back by these things in the first place.’

Caryll beheaded a goblin and raised his head.

Dealing with the remnants, now leaderless, wouldn’t take long.

“Ϫοκ υφχϪφφ……!!!”

The shaman was visible in the distance.

Holding a staff with both hands, he began to chant a spell.

‘The last one.’

Caryll thought, watching the last one remaining after eliminating the two beside the shaman.

The bodies of the monsters around him began to turn blue.

A low-grade buff [a magical enhancement].

As they received auxiliary magic that strengthened their bodies, the goblins began to attack even more fiercely.

Caryll sneered.

‘Even so, they’re just goblins.’

Slash—!!

His sword cleaved through the goblin’s body in one swift motion.

Even in a 12-year-old’s body, his understanding of swordsmanship had reached its peak, and unlike his past life, he even had ways to compensate for his lacking physique.

Namely.

Auxiliary magic.

Unnoticed by anyone, Caryll’s body was imbued with numerous auxiliary spells thanks to the overflowing mana in his mana core.

Strength, which increased muscle power.

Haste, which quickened reaction speed.

Dex, which enhanced agility.

Eagle Eye, which heightened dynamic visual acuity, and so on.

These were merely low-class auxiliary spells, but even for a knight, using so many auxiliary spells was unimaginable.

Their mana would be depleted, making it impossible to even stand properly, let alone fight.

It was only possible for Caryll because he had consumed the dragon’s heart.

‘I can’t use flashy Aura Blades [blades of pure magical energy], but it’s enough to deal with goblins.’

Just then.

“Kugh……?!”

Caryll frowned slightly, feeling a tightening in his chest.

‘What is it…? Another pain….’

It was the same sensation he had felt before.

Caryll bit his lip at the unknown feeling, but he didn’t have time to worry about it now.

Thwack…!! Thwack!! Thwack!!!

Forgetting the pain, Caryll stepped on the heads of the goblins as if crossing stepping stones, leaping and rushing toward the shaman.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Caryll.

‘What on earth is going on…?!’

‘How can that guy fight like that when he can’t even use mana?’

However.

The questions of Tiren and Randol about Caryll and.

‘Is that man’s body made of steel? How can he be so unscathed after fighting so fiercely?’

‘It’s unbelievable. Each attack is unpredictable. I’ve never seen anything like it.’

The questions of the Balsar soldiers were completely different.

To the soldiers who fought alongside Caryll, there was a sense of camaraderie that transcended family lines.

“Spearmen!! Forward!! Push them back! Reduce their range!!”

“Yes, sir!!!”

“Swordsmen, guard the flanks! Don’t break the formation!!”

Caryll’s shouts rang out.

Of course.

The soldiers guarding the border had certainly fought in larger battles than this.

But they had never seen a mere 12-year-old child command them so effectively.

‘When he becomes an adult….’

‘What will he look like?’

‘I want to see it.’

Even in the midst of battle, the soldiers’ minds were filled with such imaginings, and they felt a thrill without realizing it.

Swish-

Caryll’s sword cut through the air.

With a sharp tearing sound, the goblin shaman’s head spun in the air as it was severed.

“It’s over.”

The moment he ended the last shaman’s life.

The goblins began to waver and falter. The soldiers sensed it. All that remained was mere hunting.

“Waaaaaaaah—!!!”

“Waaaaaah—!!!”

The soldiers’ shouts echoed through the valley.

It was as if the image of this small boy was being etched into their eyes.

Behind the mask, Caryll’s face wore a satisfied smile.

A sense of exhilaration he hadn’t felt in a long time.

He tightened his grip on the sword.

* * *

Rumors spread quickly.

Even after several days, the story of the goblin subjugation was still a hot topic.

“I heard the sixth young master that the Count brought this time is incredibly skilled?”

“They say he just sliced through hundreds of goblins with his sword?”

“Hey, you. It’s not just goblins, he took down the goblin leader all by himself.”

“Heh… that’s amazing.”

“I even heard that people from the Imperial Palace are coming here?”

“A great treasure has arrived.”

It was natural for stories passed from mouth to mouth to be exaggerated, but it was unusual for the Count’s adopted son to be the talk of the territory’s people within just a month of being adopted.

Clatter- clatter-

The sound of hooves echoed in the bustling farmland.

The farmers preparing for the harvest hurriedly straightened their backs and looked ahead.

“It’s the Count!”

At one person’s shout, those who recognized Kwell’s face hastily knelt or bowed their heads.

“Have you seen? The story of Young Master Caryll is all over the place, even outside the territory. Well, it’s already been reported to the Imperial Palace. A spy from the Lurein Principality [a neighboring nation]… it’s no small matter.”

“Indeed.”

“He has accomplished something truly great. Those Lurein Principality bastards… it’s absurd that they’re still targeting the Empire.”

“The war with them isn’t over yet. They must be targeting us now that the Knights are gone.”

“It almost became a disaster. If Young Master Caryll hadn’t been here… not only the young masters but the territory itself might have been in danger.”

Kwell slowly nodded at the adjutant’s words.

He tried to appear calm, but a faint smile played on his lips.

‘He has achieved great merit as soon as he arrived.’

Whether he liked it or not, Caryll’s position within the family would certainly change because of his actions.

He would either be recognized.

Or.

Be hated even more.

“I heard the spy is still detained at the mansion. He will be sent to the Imperial Palace soon, right?”

“He should be. We can’t keep him here.”

“The Commander can’t go to the Imperial City again… Since His Majesty knows about this, won’t he summon the young master to the Imperial Palace?”

“Well, I doubt His Majesty would be interested in a mere 12-year-old child.”

The Emperor was an exceptional person, but he was already old and frail.

Spending most of his time in bed, there was no way he would be interested in a child from the frontier.

However….

‘The problem is the princes.’

The child who stood out among the formidable McGovern brothers.

They couldn’t help but be curious.

‘They will have to decide whether to bring him to their side or eliminate him as a threat.’

Kwell silently looked ahead.

His unfathomable eyes seemed to tremble slightly.

‘I have already publicly announced my support for the Second Prince. That’s why Caryll is getting more attention.’

The Second Prince’s faction would naturally assume that he would follow them because Kwell was with them.

But would the First Prince’s faction give up?

‘They won’t.’

It would be different if it were Mart.

He was a child who inherited his blood.

But Caryll was an adopted son.

‘The First Prince will aim for that. Besides….’

If they were to find out that Caryll was born of a foreign race, it would give them a weakness to exploit against him, who supported the Second Prince.

“If they summon the young master to the Imperial City, what are you planning to do?”

The adjutant asked with a worried voice.

“Will you send him?”

“Hmm….”

Rather than the joy of achieving merit.

As the remaining distance to the mansion decreased, Kwell’s face became more and more filled with worry.