The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 193

152. The Road to the Library (1)

“We’re almost there.”

“Y-yes, it seems so.”

Mikhail spoke with a slightly nervous expression, observing the rapidly passing scenery as they headed north.

Traveling on the Sand Serpent would have been faster, but the massive size of the flying creature was sure to attract attention.

Moreover, with the Empire’s scrutiny, using the teleportation circles in major continental hubs was also difficult.

In the end, the only alternative was a carriage, but contrary to expectations of how to shorten the time, Caryl had another solution.

“Pona is crossing the continent anyway. If we can’t fly, we can follow the river.”

At his words, everyone looked at Suan, but before that, Caryl, who had already given him a huge mission, produced a means of transportation that was faster than a magic sailboat, at least on the Pona.

[Krrr…]

As if even the rough, raging currents were intimidated, the Pona River became calm whenever sharp fangs were revealed.

Caryl patted the Water King’s head lightly, as if satisfied.

“Master, what is the Antihum Grand Library like? I’ve heard the name often, but I’ve never been to the north.”

Mikhail asked, pulling his robe tighter against the rushing wind.

He had already reached the rank of a 4th class mage, but in reality, he had barely studied magic for less than two years.

Moreover, the magic he learned wasn’t formally taught but gleaned from Caryl through Aln Zabis’s knowledge.

“It’s an interesting place.”

At Mikhail’s question, Caryl spoke in a nostalgic voice, as if recalling memories.

* * *

Antihum Grand Library.

The base of the Immortal Society, one of the two major magic societies on the continent.

However, it was a building founded by Nine Darhon, the owner and head librarian, with the goal of collecting all the magic books in the world.

However, the size of the building was too large to be described as a library; the interior was structured as if an entire village was inside.

Interestingly, if the Immortal Society’s library boasted its grandeur in size, the Dawn Society, another pillar of the continental magic community, conversely exuded its presence in height.

The Ivory Tower, the tallest tower on the continent and the base of the Dawn Society, was the result.

“Their tendencies are completely different.”

“That’s right. Moreover, Dawn Society mages freely roam around the continent, while Immortal Society mages all live in Antihum and never come out.”

“Hmm…”

“The current court mage of the Empire, Cardin Ruel, is from the Ivory Tower, which has resulted in the already reclusive Immortal Society locking the doors of Antihum even more and retreating inside.”

Mikhail tilted his head.

“Does the fact that a Dawn Society mage became a court mage give Antihum a reason to lock its doors?”

“Yes. Because, excluding the youngest Duke of Deril Harian among the four great mages of the continent, the court mage and the heads of the two major magic societies are all friends.”

At Caryl’s words, Mikhail’s mouth twitched with a bewildered expression.

“Don’t tell me… Nine Darhon is jealous that someone from the Dawn Society became a court mage?”

“That’s right. The Empire said it would take a neutral stance towards the two magic societies, but that’s not easy.”

“I heard the court mage is almost seventy years old…”

“Men are children even when they get old. What’s the point of looking at magic books all day and calling themselves sages? How childish…”

Serica Loren, who was listening to the two’s conversation, chuckled and said quietly.

She sat with the old spear she had brought with her when she crossed over from the Duchy to Tatur, placed between her folded arms.

“Weapon. It would be better to change it to a staff next time.”

Caryl said, pointing to her spear.

“Staff? No thanks. I use spear techniques.”

“Decide after you try it. I already have a design in mind.”

At his words, Serica smirked.

“If you’re going to give me something, give me the staff in the Imperial Palace.”

“No, can’t do.”

Serica said with a dumbfounded expression at Caryl’s answer without any hesitation.

“No, I mean, how can you say you don’t have the ability so confidently…”

However, her nagging did not continue to the end.

“You have water attribute, right? The highest-ranked magic tool in the Imperial Palace report would be the Breath of Infinity, one of the five great weapons made by Blader [a legendary artificer].”

“…”

“That’s a staff containing the power of wind. You know that, right? It’s difficult to find wind magic users compared to other attributes. If possible, it should be given to someone who can maximize the power within the weapon.”

At Caryl’s words, she unknowingly looked at Mikhail next to her.

“Yes?”

The person in question was just staring blankly, as if he didn’t understand what he meant.

“Seriously… That’s even more absurd. Talking about something in the Imperial Palace report as if it’s his own. Forget it. When I talk to you, it feels like the standards I’ve known so far are collapsing.”

Serica shook her head and said.

“Instead, it may not be as good as the five great weapons, but use this for now. It’s a staff made by an elf, so it’ll be useful.”

Caryl took out a thin magic wand from his pocket.

It was an unusual weapon with everything from the base to the jewel embedded on top in pure white.

“I brought it from the elf’s vault. It’s a magic wand called Graupel [a type of soft hail]. If we’re only talking about attributes, Ice Claw would suit you, but there’s a hard-to-handle guy living inside.”

He slightly raised the sword he was wearing on his waist.

Whenever the blade moved, eerie cold air, not just simple coldness, formed and disappeared.

However, Serica, who received Graupel, looked at the magic wand here and there as if she were a child receiving a gift.

“Unfortunately, it’s not a staff, so the length doesn’t match. For now, it’s better to use the spear as a sub-weapon as well. I’ll make a weapon that suits you when this is over. Just bear with it until then.”

“Th-thank you.”

Caryl said it wasn’t a big deal, but for Serica, who was touching a magic tool for the first time, it was impossible not to be wide-eyed.

“You should say ‘thank you very much’.”

“…I don’t think of you as my lord.”

Serica asked back, slightly frowning.

“It’s polite to use honorifics when receiving something from a superior.”

“How old are you?”

At her question, Caryl smiled, realizing he had forgotten his age, and said.

“Fourteen.”

He had lived for so long that he sometimes forgot his age.

Even excluding the days he spent in Pharell, he had lived in his twenties in his previous life.

“…”

Serica pursed her lips with an expression that meant she wouldn’t say anything and turned her head.

“I see it over there.”

Caryl stood up from his seat with an embarrassed face.

Kuuuu…

The appearance of the Antihum Grand Library, like a huge castle, began to come into view in the distance.

At his words, the two also looked at the black stone building covering the area.

Serica Loren was about to put Graupel, which she had received from Caryl, into her arms, thinking that it was almost time to get off.

“It’s better to just hold it.”

“Yes?”

“Mikhail, you can use shield magic, right? Don’t spare your magic power and create it around Serica and you. It’ll break anyway.”

“Yes?”

“From now on, avoid it on your own.”

The two tilted their heads as if they didn’t know what he meant.

Kwaaaang…!! Kwang!! Kwang!!!

At that moment,

Instead of Caryl’s answer, black smoke soared from Antihum in the distance, and even though it was still kilometers away, a fierce roar was heard as if it were ringing right in their ears.

“Ugh…?”

Mikhail unfolded a barrier without delay, seeing a red fireball flying towards him.

“Their greetings are a bit rough.”

The welcome greeting from Antihum to the three was dozens of magic spheres.

* * *

“Isn’t this… almost the level of a kingdom’s capital?”

Mikhail shouted, as if dumbfounded, narrowly avoiding the flying magic bombardment.

“It’s more than that. Even the Imperial capital of the Empire wouldn’t be able to do this. That’s why no country can say a word even if the Dawn Society and the Immortal Society growl at each other for hundreds of years.”

Pung…!! Pupung!!!

Pupupung…!!

As the fireballs that fell into the river bubbled and boiled, black smoke like sulfur rose from all over Pona.

“You see that rock over there? From there, we’ll get off the Water King and go directly. It seems like they’re shooting more excitedly because the target is too big.”

Caryl split the flying red fireball with Ice Claw.

Chiiiik…!!

When the fireball touched the cold blade, pure white steam formed around it like fog.

‘As expected, it’s a magic society. They didn’t use artillery that fires magic bullets over long distances. It’s all pure magic. Even the Empire can’t do this.’

It takes a lot of magic power to fire such a fireball over a distance of kilometers.

Would it be possible if all the magicians in the academy in the Imperial capital, including the trainees, were put in? But even then, it would only be a dozen shots.

The scene of dozens of fireballs being fired at once like a rain of arrows, drawing tails of black smoke, was a wonderful sight that could only be seen in Antihum.

Of course,

If those fireballs weren’t aimed at them.

“Now…!!”

At the same time as Caryl’s shout, just as he was about to jump off the Water King’s head,

[Khaaaaa—!!!]

Suddenly, the Water King’s head was thrown back!

“…!!!”

Due to the wind, the two who were jumping lost their balance and fell straight into the riverbed.

“Puhat…!!”

“C-cold!!”

The winter river water was colder than ice, and the two who fell into the water trembled as the coldness swept through their bodies and barely climbed onto the rock.

“Magic net…?”

Caryl, who twisted his body in the air, stepped on the Water King’s head, and landed on the rock, muttered in a low voice as he looked at the Water King struggling with his head bent.

A huge net with blue electricity was pressing down, covering the serpent’s head as if it had been waiting.

“…”

Caryl immediately drew his sword.

As he concentrated his magic power, an opalescent aura blade was created from the sword of Ice Claw.

He concentrated more magic power into the sword than usual, as if he was a little annoyed that this commotion had happened before the journey even started.

Uuuuu…

Then, the opalescent aura blade turned purple and began to emit electricity.

As the power of non-electricity was concentrated, the sword surrounding Ice Claw grew explosively.

He gripped the handle with both hands like a huge greatsword and struck down with all his might.

Kwagagagang—!!!

The arcane blade split the magic net that was pulling the Water King as if it had exploded.

Dozens of strands of magic strings could not withstand Caryl’s sword strike and were torn off helplessly.

The momentum of the sword strike did not stop there, and even the river water of Pona was cut off, and the bottom of the river was deeply dug in front of the Water King as if drawing a line.

“Now go back.”

Caryl said to the Water King.

[Krrr…]

As if waiting for those words, the Sea Serpent bowed its head and hurriedly turned its body.

The hard scales covering the Sea Serpent’s neck to its head were blackened in a net shape as if they had been burned.

Even some of the scales had fallen off in the meantime, and pus was pooling inside.

“He… must have been in pain.”

Caryl clicked his tongue as he looked at the sight.

It was fortunate that it was the Water King; otherwise, other creatures would have had their necks cut off.

“Ha… this.”

Caryl shook his head for a moment and let out a low sigh.

Jijik… Jijijik…!!