The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 2

2. With the Sword

“My name is Ruben.”

Caryl looked at the boy who bowed politely to him.

He was a young boy with brown hair and freckles dusted across his cheeks. He looked like nothing more than a child, but Caryl reminded himself that they were the same age.

“He’s young, but he’s been in the mansion for a long time. He’s a bright kid, so if you have any inconveniences, please tell him.”

The elderly man standing next to him was Taylor, the head butler who had been in charge of the McGovern family’s affairs for many years.

‘It’s good to see you again, Taylor,’ he wanted to say, but Caryl nodded instead, offering a silent greeting of reunion.

“Yes.”

Taylor looked at him with a calm face, a hint of wonder in his eyes.

‘Clothes make the man,’ he mused.

The shabby appearance he had when he first arrived at the mansion had completely vanished, replaced by a youth who could easily pass for a nobleman’s son.

‘And that confidence…’

But what surprised Taylor wasn’t just his appearance.

‘It feels like I’m looking at one of the high-ranking nobles of the Imperial City. Amazing… and he was clearly said to be from a foreign tribe.’

From the way he stood upright to the aura that emanated from him without him even realizing it.

He seemed more noble than the other brothers who had been here longer.

‘Foreign tribes must also have a class society. Hmm… Their culture is behind the Empire, but they can’t all be barbarians.’

Taylor thought, carefully examining Caryl’s appearance.

‘Yes, he must be at least the son of a chief. The master wouldn’t have brought an ordinary child.’

Taylor didn’t dwell on it much.

The feeling was familiar and natural.

That was because not only Caryl but also the four brothers who had entered the McGovern family before him all had unique backgrounds.

‘Well… I hope this is the last one.’

Already, the sixth adopted son.

The first one or two times were fine, but the number had grown so large that he couldn’t help but be concerned.

‘The madam’s mood will be unpleasant again for a while.’

Taylor sighed softly, bowed lightly, and said.

“Then, I’ll be going. Ruben, take good care of the young master.”

“Yes, Head Butler.”

The child answered with a nervous face.

Unlike the skilled head butler, the other maids around him were startled and bowed their heads whenever Caryl’s gaze fell upon them.

‘Well, I understand. It’s their first time seeing someone from a foreign land.’

Caryl thought with a wry smile.

He was already used to this kind of treatment. It would likely continue for quite some time.

“Sit down.”

Caryl familiarly began preparing tea.

“Ah, I’ll do that…”

“It’s okay.”

Ruben was startled by the sight and started to rise again, but Caryl waved his hand dismissively.

‘He was good at everything else, but he was really bad at brewing tea. It’s not something that improves even with time.’

He smiled wryly, recalling his memories.

“Do you want to drink with me?”

“Yes? Ah… Yes, yes.”

With a very nervous face, Ruben accepted the teacup Caryl handed him.

“Huh?”

As soon as he took a sip, he looked at Caryl with wide eyes.

“It’s delicious! It’s the first time I’ve had such delicious tea.”

“That’s too much praise.”

“No, it’s true.”

Ruben drank the tea Caryl gave him, as if his throat was parched from the earlier tension.

‘I was with you for a long time.’

The Caryl of his past life hadn’t been able to fit in with the McGovern family for a long time. Ruben had been the same.

It was only natural.

The family of the person who destroyed his tribe.

He used to destroy and mess things up as much as he could.

He was always on edge, and Ruben just followed behind him with a terrified look on his face.

‘But when I think about it, there was no one like you. Everyone else kept their distance, but you were one of the few people in the mansion who didn’t avoid me because I was a foreigner.’

The first person he met in the mansion.

‘There were many things that happened.’

The person who believed in him until the end during those years.

‘One of my regrets was that I only realized that after you died.’

Caryl looked at Ruben.

“So… Young Master will be living here now, right?”

“I guess so.”

Was it to break the awkward atmosphere?

Ruben plucked up the courage to speak to Caryl first.

“Is it your first time in the central region? You were in the north… Do you have any questions? Or is there anywhere you want to go in the mansion? I’ll guide you.”

Caryl chuckled at his confident appearance.

‘There’s no way I’d have any questions. I probably know more about this mansion than you do. Even the family’s appearance after you died.’

Ruben, who had no way of knowing that, waited for Caryl’s answer with sparkling eyes.

“There is one place.”

Caryl said quietly, looking out the window.

Dusk was beginning to settle in.

He stared at one place in the distance.

‘It might be fast… But I won’t waste time like I did in my past life.’

The first step to fixing things.

Everyone will be gathered there.

They’re probably making a fuss about me right now.

But that level of commotion is nothing compared to what I’m going to do.

Squeeze-

His grip tightened.

You could feel the excitement in his wrist movements.

“Where is that?”

Ruben asked.

Caryl uttered a nostalgic name.

“The McGovern family’s training ground.”

* * *

“What do you think?”

“Did you see those eyes? What more explanation do you need?”

Clang-!! Clang-!!

The sound of swords clashing was loud.

“Brother, a foreigner… What on earth is Father thinking? Bringing in someone we should kill. It’s no different from disobeying the imperial order, is it not?”

“Watch your words.”

“…”

Mart McGovern said to Elliot, the third son.

“But, Brother…”

“Focus on your sword. Are you going to complain even in a life-or-death situation? Or…”

His sword changed its trajectory and aimed for Elliot’s chest.

“Do you think sparring with me is boring?”

Clatter-!!

Elliot barely blocked his sword, but Mart’s attack became even more fierce, riding on the blade.

Three thrusts in one breath aimed for Elliot’s shoulder.

Clang!! Clang!!! Clang!!

He blocked two attacks, but Elliot eventually couldn’t withstand the last one and dropped his sword.

“…Surely, I wouldn’t have the *yoyu* [余裕 – Japanese for ‘余裕’, meaning ‘余裕’ or ‘composure’] to think about other things during a spar with you, Brother.”

Elliot shrugged his shoulders and sighed.

The only one who inherited Cwell’s blood.

From swordsmanship to character.

He was a successor who was recognized by everyone without lacking anything.

“You guys are in the same situation. Since Father brought him, he becomes our youngest brother. Do you understand?”

A relaxed appearance.

Mart spoke as if he was used to such treatment.

His origins are different.

He is a nobleman no matter what anyone says.

But Tyren, the second son, who was watching the two spar, frowned as if he couldn’t agree with his words.

“Are you serious?”

“…”

“Are you really feeling the same way as when you accepted us?”

For them, having a brother suddenly wasn’t that surprising.

Different eyes.

Different skin.

Even different appearances.

There was nothing similar.

From fallen nobles to merchants’ sons to children abandoned in monasteries…

Everyone’s past was different, but they all had one thing in common.

Talent.

Despite their young age, they were all showing talent in one area.

“It goes without saying for Brother, and I don’t know what Father saw in him, but even so, he’s still a foreigner.”

“We all know why you hate foreigners, so there’s no need to get heated.”

“…What do you think will happen in the future?”

Tyren bit his lip and asked.

“We’ll have to wait and see. Whether what Father found in that child is more valuable than the imperial order.”

“Surely Father won’t put him on the succession list as well.”

Thud-

Mart threw Elliot’s sword that had fallen on the floor without saying a word.

“Nonsense.”

But at that moment.

His face was frozen coldly.