The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 182

145. In the Imperial Palace (1)

All eyes turned to Carryl.

He placed a hand on his chest and addressed the Emperor. “May I defend myself, Your Majesty?”

“Of course.”

With the Emperor’s permission, the hall fell silent.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“This Southern Expedition has brought great pain and sorrow to the Empire. The reasons for this are well known to everyone present, I believe.”

Carryl paused briefly.

A low murmur rippled through the hall.

“As Prince Ruon stated, I intervened in the battle at Twin Armor. However, my actions were solely for the Empire’s benefit.”

“Insolent fool! For whose benefit? The entire Imperial Army knows you turned your sword against me!”

“That is correct.”

“At that time, no one knew who I was. Even now, my adoption into the McGovern family would be unknown if Your Majesty hadn’t revealed it.”

Carryl glanced at Ruon.

“It was a chaotic battlefield, a matter of life and death. If a stranger, an unknown, ordered a retreat, who would obey? I would have been justified in beheading him for treason.”

“Eek… Eek…!”

“A decisive action was necessary. Because…”

This time, he addressed the Emperor directly.

“I had to save the Prince, and with him, the Prince’s honor.”

“Hmm…”

The Emperor gestured for Carryl to continue.

“Over two thousand people lived in the border region of Twin Armor. Sacrificing them would have brought great dishonor upon the Empire’s Prince. The reason… His Highness knows better than anyone.”

Ruon audibly ground his teeth at Carryl’s words.

Using the border residents as bargaining chips and then abandoning them when the Demon Realm Gate appeared was a grave error.

If they had all perished, the only way to silence criticism would have been a decisive victory at Twin Armor.

“In war, retreats are sometimes necessary, but abandoning innocent civilians is an unforgivable error, one Your Majesty would never condone.”

Carryl addressed the assembled ministers.

“To capture the Demon Realm Gate, seal it, and save the people of the border region, I had no choice but to enlist the aid of the Twin Armor forces.”

He pointed towards Lord Aziff, who stood among the ministers.

“Please forgive my earlier rudeness, Lord Aziff. I ask you, what was the Imperial Army doing when the Demon Realm Gate manifested?”

“That is…”

Aziff’s expression darkened.

“And as a result of my intervention, what is the current status of the border region’s inhabitants?”

“……”

He had no answer to Carryl’s pointed questions.

Aziff’s silence lent Carryl’s words unexpected weight.

‘A bit unexpected. I thought he would defend Ruon. Well, it’s all the better. I was prepared to counter any excuse, but now I don’t have to waste time.’

Carryl was unaware that Aziff’s perspective had shifted after the events of that day.

“Your Majesty, even without the Demon Realm Gate, the Imperial Army’s retreat was inevitable. The Beast King and the Sea King suddenly appeared right where the Imperial Army had established its base. In such dire circumstances, a forceful approach, even if it involves some discourtesy, can be effective.”

Carryl offered a faint smile.

“I was confident I could safely return the prisoners His Highness had left behind to the Empire.”

He gestured towards the window.

“And what was the result? We not only saved the lives of forty thousand valuable citizens of the Empire, but also rescued the border region’s people from being unfairly exploited and sacrificed on the battlefield.”

“Crazy bastard…! All of this was a play to save me? You expect me to believe such nonsense!”

Ruon shouted, forgetting the presence of the ministers.

“Carryl.”

The Emperor’s voice silenced the hall. Even Ruon was forced to shut his mouth.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You claim you took these measures to save Ruon. However, wasn’t there a possibility that Twin Armor could have fallen before the monster appeared?”

Carryl shook his head.

“Your Majesty, with all due respect, the commander defending Twin Armor is Marje, known as the Shield of Istan [a renowned fortress]. While I have no doubt Prince Ruon’s excellent military strategy would eventually have prevailed, it would have taken considerable time.”

“You mean you were certain the Demon Realm Gate would appear before that.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Why?”

“Before a Demon Realm Gate manifests, there are always telltale signs.”

“You knew when the Demon Realm Gate would be created?”

“Yes. I have eradicated the other three Demon Realm Gates.”

A wave of murmurs swept through the hall.

“The one created in Twin Armor was the Minotaur’s Demon Realm Gate, an S-class Demon Realm Gate or higher.”

S-class Demon Realm Gates had appeared only a handful of times in the last 250 years.

Moreover, the existing S-class Demon Realm Gate in the South was only being contained, not eradicated.

“Furthermore, two Minotaurs were created outside the gate. In such a situation, engaging the Twin Armor forces would have been futile.”

“It’s all your fault! If you hadn’t destroyed the other Demon Realm Gates, the Minotaur’s Demon Realm Gate would have taken longer to appear!”

“……”

Carryl didn’t respond to Ruon’s outburst.

Instead, he fixed him with a cold stare.

“Are you truly serious, Your Highness?”

“……What?”

“I didn’t know the last Demon Realm Gate would appear in Twin Armor. I followed the trail of the created Demon Realm Gates… and unfortunately, that’s where it led. But…”

Carryl’s voice gained strength.

“Before an S-class Demon Realm Gate appears, three lesser Demon Realm Gates manifest as precursors. Ignoring them won’t make them disappear; it will only unleash more monsters across the continent.”

Then, with a sigh and an expression of regret, Carryl placed his hand on his chest.

“If that happens, innocent people will die.”

“You… you…!”

“As the Prince of the Empire… for the sake of the dignity that Your Majesty’s Empire will display in unifying the continent, the Prince must possess the compassion to embrace all the people of the continent, even those from other nations.”

“Hmm…”

The Emperor exhaled and nodded, as if he had been waiting for these words.

Elevating Carryl while diminishing the Prince.

Even with his son cornered, he seemed satisfied.

Carryl suppressed a laugh at the absurdity of the situation.

Because the person most responsible for the deaths of innocent people was none other than Tyran Sutein, seated on the throne.

“Then…! How do you explain drawing your sword in the smoke, clearly intending to kill me!”

Ruon whirled around.

“Aziff! Tell us in detail what happened and have this outrageous hypocrite imprisoned!”

“That’s…”

At Ruon’s demand, Aziff looked conflicted, unsure how to respond.

“Didn’t you cross swords with him? You can’t deny that. You killed my knights!”

“Your Highness is correct. But it was the same situation as I described earlier. It was an unavoidable choice, given that I couldn’t reveal my identity.”

Carryl spoke calmly, despite Ruon’s accusations.

“And…”

He turned his head, his expression conveying the absurdity of Ruon’s words.

“Lord Aziff, I ask you to recall the moment my sword met yours and answer truthfully.”

“……I understand.”

Aziff nodded.

“Your Highness continues to claim I attempted to assassinate you… If I had truly intended to assassinate Your Highness…”

Carryl’s lips curled into a smile.

“Would you truly be alive here today?”

“R, rude bastard!”

“What are you saying!”

The ministers erupted in outrage at Carryl’s words.

“Silence, everyone.”

The Emperor’s command silenced them all.

“Lord Aziff, tell us the truth, without embellishment.”

“Carryl… Your swordsmanship is truly comparable to a knight.”

Aziff hesitated over how to address Carryl, then glanced at Kwell McGovern and continued.

“No, it’s beyond that. His skill surpasses my own. Perhaps only a handful of the Imperial Knights could face him alone.”

The hall buzzed with renewed excitement.

Aziff, the vice-commander of the Golden Knights, had acknowledged Carryl’s skill, leaving no room for doubt.

The ministers were astonished that a boy, barely an adult, had surpassed a Sword Expert [a master swordsman].

“You mean he’s that skilled?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then this is a fortunate development. To think such talent has emerged in the Empire. Kwell, didn’t you become a Sword Master [the highest level of swordsmanship] after reaching adulthood?”

“That’s correct, Your Majesty.”

“Hahaha… Perhaps this child will reach that level before he even comes of age.”

Carryl laughed inwardly at Tyran Sutein’s words.

He was grateful Gordon wasn’t present. He had long since reached the level of Sword Master and had shattered Gordon’s earth magic.

“Father!”

Ruon finally appealed to the Emperor.

However, Brin Inique, the Prime Minister standing behind him, subtly shook his head.

It was merely greed to use Carryl to damage Kwell and Prince Olyvern.

Attacking the Prince’s Imperial Army was a punishable offense. However, Carryl had invoked the plight of the people, and the Emperor was supporting him, leaving no recourse.

‘Even if it only demonstrates that Prince Ruon’s defeat at Twin Armor was unavoidable…’

Though it stung, the intended purpose had been achieved.

It had been proven that Ruon had no choice but to retreat due to Carryl’s interference.

‘Even if it ends here, it’s not a complete loss.’

Brin quickly turned his head and sighed softly.

At that moment,

“Your Majesty, there is another reason I braved the discourtesy of coming to the Imperial Palace.”

“What is it?”

“Your Majesty is aware that I reside in Tatur. And that place, with all due respect, is home to many free people, including foreigners.”

“Free people… You have a talent for embellishment.”

Prime Minister Brin Inique snapped at Carryl, sensing an ominous turn.

“Though I am but a humble individual, I have gathered soldiers to subjugate the Demon Realm Gates. Naturally, their ranks are diverse, including foreigners and barbarians.”

“Hmm… And?”

The Emperor looked at Carryl with a puzzled expression.

This was the extent of their agreement.

He seemed to be asking why Carryl was bringing up matters not discussed during their private meeting.

“I heard an interesting story from the soldiers in my army.”

Carryl’s eyes gleamed.

He produced a small bottle from his robes.

“This is a deadly poison called Myeong (未明) [meaning ‘before dawn’].”

The hall buzzed with renewed intensity.

“Colorless and odorless. Moreover, information about it is scarce, as only a select few handle it. It is primarily used by northern foreigners.”

“What does this poison have to do with the current situation?”

“If I were to reveal the hidden truth behind the death of the Third Prince… as compensation for my actions at Twin Armor… what would you do?”

“……!!!”

“……!!!”

The ministers, who had been in an uproar moments before, were now speechless, staring at him with wide eyes.

“A hidden story behind Cromen’s death? You claim there’s something about his death I don’t know?”

“That’s right.”

Carryl took a deep breath.

“Prince Cromen was poisoned. And this is the same poison that was used.”

“What!!!!”

The Emperor’s eyes shifted from doubt to suspicion.

Strangely, his voice was filled with anger, but his eyes remained cold.

His gaze seemed to question not the identity of the culprit, but why Carryl was complicating matters.

“You claim to know who the culprit is?”

“As a subject, I cannot directly name him, but I can reveal who is connected to this poison’s presence within the Empire.”

“Who is it?”

Carryl didn’t hesitate.

He slowly raised his hand and pointed to one person.

“The First Prince, Ruon Sutein.”

At that moment,

“……That can’t be!”

A shout echoed through the silent Solar Hall.

Everyone expected it to come from Ruon, but it came from behind.

It was Mart McGovern.

“I’m… I’m sorry…”

He stopped speaking and took a step back, as if surprised by his outburst.

As everyone stared at him in confusion, no one noticed Carryl’s lips twitching slightly.

“You… what the hell are you talking about?”

Ruon glared at Carryl.

What the hell am I talking about?

‘From now on, the stage I planned begins.’

That’s right.

It’s all fabricated.

‘So, will you reveal the truth within my fabrication? Mart McGovern.’

Carryl looked at him, standing far away, seemingly uninterested in Ruon’s outburst.

‘Or will you remain silent?’

Did he sense Carryl’s gaze?

Mart turned his head involuntarily.

For some reason, Carryl wished Jarka Hoch could witness this scene.

‘If you’re going to act, it should be on this scale, not some clumsy performance. Isn’t that right?’

He moved his gaze as if posing a question, even though he couldn’t hear the answer.

‘That goes for you too.’

Unlike Mart, one person met his gaze with a calm, unchanging expression.

Olyvern.