The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 190

149. Reunion with Viola

“……You seem to have changed a lot.”

Viola looked at Caryl and spoke with a surprised expression.

“Is that so?”

“Just by looking at your appearance, I would believe you were an adult now.”

At Viola’s words, Caryl stroked his chin.

“Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever properly looked in a mirror.”

Caryl himself didn’t really feel it, but after swallowing the dragon’s heart, his physique showed remarkable growth compared to his peers.

He would be 15 years old in just one month, but he was already similar in size to when he had completed his sword training at 18 in his previous life.

The growth of his body was already preparing to surpass his past.

“Well, even when we first met, you were just a child on the outside, but a person whose inside was hard to fathom.”

Caryl chuckled at Viola’s words.

Like she said, his body may have just begun to take on the appearance of an adult, but his inner self had lived for countless years.

“Did I look that old?”

“No, it’s different from that. It’s hard to put into words… You’re mature, but your reckless actions exceed imagination.”

“You seem to have changed a lot from then as well, Princess.”

“……Do I look old?”

Caryl gave a faint smile at her question.

“Not at all.”

She was still at a young age where she cared about her appearance.

However, as Dushala reported, the Penria Kingdom was in turmoil because of Viola.

She had such a heavy burden on her shoulders that she didn’t have time to care about her appearance.

It was funny, but now she thought about looking back at herself because of Caryl’s words.

“Rather, you look much more like a queen than before.”

It wasn’t just flattery.

When he first met her in Tatur, she was beautiful, but just a naive little girl who didn’t know the ways of the world.

But after meeting Caryl, her face had the confidence of someone who wasn’t raised in a greenhouse.

And the beauty that matched that dignity was also blossoming even more.

Now, he could feel the presence of a full-fledged woman.

“That’s a relief.”

She looked at Caryl, who was already taller than her, and blushed slightly.

Seeing Viola’s reaction, Dushala glared at Caryl.

“You too.”

While receiving the gazes of the two women, Caryl nonchalantly spoke to Grace, who was standing behind Viola.

‘Judging by how well his magic is contained, he has definitely grown.’

His pretty boy face had become quite angular in just a few months.

“It’s been a while.”

Grace replied in a low voice, without lowering his guard.

‘Well, he had the talent to rise to Sword Master in his previous life. He’ll reach that level faster than then. This time, he might be able to leave his name in history.’

Looking at him, Caryl nodded in satisfaction.

“You ended up fulfilling the words you said before we parted. You not only unified the South, but you actually founded a country. And even received recognition from the Empire.”

“My lord is the king of a nation. I would appreciate it if Your Highness would be careful with your words.”

As soon as Viola finished speaking, Dushala said to her as if she had been waiting for it.

Because her face was covered with a veil, her expression couldn’t be seen, but everyone in the reception room knew that Dushala was glaring at Viola.

“Ahem, ahem.”

Viola covered her mouth with a look of realization at her words.

“I have committed a discourtesy to the King of Tatur.”

“No. Make yourself comfortable.”

“Still…….”

“It’s okay.”

At Caryl’s words, Dushala pursed her lips unhappily, but unfortunately, it was also hidden by the veil.

“Then……. I will be grateful for His Majesty’s consideration.”

Viola said to Caryl with a slightly flushed face.

“What you said to me before, about taking the Istria Three [a region consisting of three kingdoms], is now becoming a reality. The Tatur Free State……. You really are the leader of a country now.”

“Well, I’ve had a bit of a hard time in various ways too.”

“I envy you. No, should I say I respect you? Because you took responsibility for what you said.”

At her words, Caryl shrugged his shoulders lightly and laughed softly.

“No matter how envious you are, please don’t make such ridiculous decisions. You’re not trying to follow my example, are you?”

Viola let out a hollow laugh at his teasing tone.

“The Duchy, you mean? It’s just a small, remote land with at most less than 1,000 soldiers. No matter how foolish the king is, the Penria Kingdom has at least 100,000 troops.”

Grace’s expression hardened slightly at her words.

“……I’m sorry.”

“I’m not trying to blame you. Just the fact that the Panpinel family supported me means I owe you a debt that I have to repay for the rest of my life.”

Grace bowed his head once more at Viola’s answer and then stepped back again.

“It’s not strange for royalty to take on the title of Duke……. But the Penria royal family won’t stand still this time.”

“What are they going to do if they don’t stand still? They were buying up attribute stones without listening to me, and now the national treasury is faltering.”

“That’s not true. As I mentioned before, we said we would give them for free in preparation for the upcoming war with the Empire. It’s not like there’s a problem with the national treasury…….”

Caryl’s eyes lit up.

“The reason the kingdom is faltering is because Penria is trying to join the territorial war between Istan and Tvanel, isn’t it?”

“…….”

“And that’s why Your Highness established the Duchy to stop it. But you’re not really thinking of going to war with your father, are you?”

As he spoke to her as if teaching her step by step, Viola finally sighed.

“You don’t know anything. I came as soon as I heard you were back in Tatur…….”

“I know. You really did come as if you were waiting for it.”

Viola’s face flushed again at his words. Caryl looked at her and said.

“It’s easy to predict if you think about it a little. No offense, but Your Highness’s father’s mind is simple, isn’t it?”

Viola gave a bitter smile.

“But the reason I provided the attribute stones was to fight under our banner in the war with the Empire, not to have them fight among themselves with them.”

“I also think it’s pathetic.”

“I think the reason Your Highness came to me is because of that patheticness…….”

There was no need to delay any longer.

“What do you want?”

“Lend me your soldiers.”

“……!!!”

Everyone in the reception room except Caryl looked surprised at her shocking words.

“Why?”

“To become the Queen of the Penria Kingdom. And I will unify the Istria Three.”

Caryl looked at her.

‘I thought she wouldn’t be ordinary……. But she made a bolder choice than I thought.’

Certainly, after Twin Armor, on the day he parted with her, Caryl had told her to become the leader of the Penria Kingdom.

‘She must have had a hard time in the meantime…….’

But realistically, it was difficult for her, the third princess who had no chance of inheriting the throne, to become the Queen of Penria.

‘Should I see this as growth in a good way?’

No, it was beyond expectations.

Not only her appearance, but even her inner self seemed to have the dignity of a queen.

“In the Free City, you can always buy anything if you pay the corresponding price. What will Your Highness pay in exchange for borrowing my troops?”

At that moment,

Viola’s eyes shone with determination.

“I will become king myself and hand over the Istria Three to you.”

“……!!”

Everyone inside looked at her in surprise at her words.

“Y-Your Highness?!”

Even Grace, who had come with her, seemed to have not expected her statement.

“Are you saying that Your Highness will just hand over your own kingdom where you were born and raised?”

“If I try to stop it, can we really stop your Free Army?”

It was a self-deprecating remark, but no one could refute her words.

But Caryl frowned and asked her back.

“Why?”

“Because that’s the way to save the most people in the Three Kingdoms.”

Viola gave a faint smile towards Caryl.

“It’s not about taking the disgrace of selling the country. As you said, I know that if this country where I was born and raised continues like this, it will walk the path of self-destruction. I thought about what I could do…….”

“You could have asked the Empire for help instead. They are still dominant.”

“It may be still. Isn’t the reason why you haven’t attacked the Istria Three with force until now because you thought that if the strength of the Three Kingdoms is combined, there would be enough chance of winning the war with the Empire?”

Caryl raised the corners of his lips at her words.

“You’re a very cunning person.”

Taking a breath, she continued.

“There are also young nobles in Istan and Tvanel who agree with my thoughts. They know that if things continue like this, they will self-destruct. Not everyone under a foolish king is a fool.”

“A war with the Empire……. Are you really determined?”

“You asked me a little while ago why I didn’t choose the Empire, right? You know the reason better than I do. Giving the Three Kingdoms to the Empire is worse than self-destruction.”

“Dushala.”

At Caryl’s call, Dushala knelt down as if she had been waiting and said.

“Yes, my lord.”

“Give the Free Army to the Princess.”

Everyone couldn’t help but be surprised at Caryl’s appearance, who spoke without a moment’s hesitation.

Because if Viola failed, Tatur’s military power might even decrease, giving the Empire a chance to invade.

“How much…… should I support you?”

Even the great Dushala asked in a trembling voice, as if she was a little nervous.

“How long does it take to go from here to the Antium Grand Library [a renowned repository of knowledge]?”

Everyone was puzzled as to why he was asking about the base of the Immortal Order when he was asking about the number of troops.

“Yes? Ah, maybe……. Even if we move along the river, it will take four months. Why are you asking?”

“Two months. I’ll be back there within that time. The number doesn’t matter. But make sure to report that the Three Kingdoms have been taken care of when I get back.”

In an instant,

At his reckless words, the people inside couldn’t help but tremble.

It was a word to conquer the Three Kingdoms, which had not been unified for a long time, in just two months.

“That sounds fun.”

Unlike the others who were dumbfounded, Dushala licked her red lips without realizing it and replied.

“Then……. You’re not going to be in Tatur?”

Viola asked with a hint of expectation.

“I have something else to do.”

The moment the princess came to him to borrow troops to unify the Three Kingdoms, Caryl was convinced. Maybe it was luck that Viola came to him today.

‘Only one year left until the oracle [a prophecy or divine message].’

There was a place he had to go before that.

Right,

The lair of the Platinum Dragon.

‘But I’m not going alone.’

Caryl gave a faint smile.

“I have a promise I made a long time ago.”

After meeting Quonithe in the Fortress of the Undead and hearing the story of the Necromancer, he found one possibility.

‘Aln Zabiuss…….’

Caryl repeated the last word as if making a promise.

‘When I meet the Platinum Dragon, I’ll be with you.’