The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 214

165. Israfil (2)

[So, what are you planning to do now? It seems like the things you needed to do in Antium are mostly resolved… Now is the time to choose. You need to decide whether to go to the Platinum Dragon’s lair or check out the Demon Nests.]

“What do you think?”

Israfil had asked for more time to gather information about the Black Spores in response to Carryl’s suggestion.

That was a week ago.

During that time, Mikhail and Serika received special training directly from Nine Darhon, and Carryl waited for Israfil’s report.

[There are hundreds of Demon Nests on the continent. The Blood Cave is likely where the Black Spores are cultivated, but what about after that? Do you really think that blockhead will find a way?]

“Yeah, you can trust him.”

Carryl answered without hesitation to Alrn’s words.

[I don’t know where that trust comes from, but… I’m not very much in favor of going to find the Platinum Dragon. At first, you were going to tell him about your regression and prepare for the Holy War…]

Carryl nodded.

[But the situation has changed now, hasn’t it?]

As questions about Narr Di Maugh grew after meeting Alrn, Carryl now thought that he should prepare for the Holy War himself, not rely on his help.

[You’ve been doing well so far, even if there are some rough spots, so why bother meeting him first and showing your cards? Time regression is a great weapon you have. Perhaps… even if the Platinum Dragon could have been an ally as you said, he might turn sour because of the fact of that regression, right?]

Regression was that important.

It was bound to be awkward for the other party to know what you were going to do in the future.

Besides, now that he was less certain that Narr Di Maugh was entirely on his side, there was no harm in being careful.

[And you met him in your past life, didn’t you? He’s someone you’ll see whether you like it or not once the Holy Order is given anyway.]

“That’s unexpected. I honestly thought you’d tell me to go see him right away.”

Alrn scoffed at Carryl’s words.

[Revenge? Hmph, it’s been a thousand years since I was killed. Waiting another year or two doesn’t mean much to me, but if there’s something bigger I can gain by enduring that time, of course, I should.]

He gave a faint smile.

[Right now, getting you to the rank of 6th class is more important to me than the Platinum Dragon.]

“You care about me so much.”

Carryl chuckled at his answer.

[You gained the power of Duat, but to use its full power, you eventually need to gain the power of Lachesis as well, so as a result, your growth in Antium hasn’t changed much.]

“That’s right.”

[But instead, there was a huge gain called ‘me’.]

Alrn was praising himself without a hint of embarrassment, but Carryl couldn’t deny his words.

[First, we need to open the box we got from the Gray School. Whether it contains the Queen of Hail or not, the fact is that Narr Di Maugh hid the box. Depending on the contents, we can figure out his intentions.]

Carryl nodded at his words.

Whatever else, the box that Alrn Zaviuz gave him at the Gray School, where the Ice Claw was hidden.

That was something that Narr Di Maugh hadn’t revealed in his past life.

[Not only that, but you need to reach 6th class to at least stick a sword properly in his face. Revenge? If we’re going to do it, we should do it right.]

Alrn’s eyes flashed.

[You’ve been waiting for a thousand years as you said. Aren’t you a little curious? To see the face of the oldest absolute being on the continent filled with fear.]

His shoulders trembled slightly as if he were laughing.

[I’m not satisfied with ambiguously winning or anything like that.]

“I haven’t even said I’m going to fight yet. I can’t believe you’re talking about sticking a knife in someone’s face in front of a former colleague.”

Carryl replied as if he was dumbfounded at his words.

[Hmph, wasn’t it because you thought it was strange that you didn’t go to his lair? If you had believed him without any doubt, you would have gone to the City of the Undead.]

Carryl couldn’t deny Alrn’s words.

Perhaps, on the one hand, he was afraid that the suspicion would become a reality, so he couldn’t go to see Narr Di Maugh.

“When will I be able to break through the wall of the 6th class?”

[Well, training is enough, but… I think what’s missing is a trigger.]

“A trigger?”

[From the rank of 6th class, the depth of enlightenment is different. As you guys say, you’re a high-level mage, aren’t you? From then on, it’s not an area that can be achieved by simple training. After 7th class, you have to go back to the basics, though.]

“Then why did you roll me around so much?”

Carryl recalled his sparring with Alrn while Mikhail and Serika were training.

[Hey, I just told you. You need a trigger. Everyone has a different way of enlightenment. Some people get it by sitting still and watching the fish in the pond, while others get it on the fierce battlefield.]

Alrn pointed at Carryl.

[Your path is ultimately the path of the sword, isn’t it? You used the sword as a means to grow as a mage.]

The Council of Seven Elders were those who stood at the pinnacle of magic more than anyone else in the Magic Era.

The name Gray School itself was the place where they taught magic.

Alrn, who could be said to be the best of them, had found the most suitable method for Carryl.

[Of course, I still don’t like the idea of coexisting magic and the sword itself.]

“A trigger…”

Carryl mulled over Alrn’s words.

He couldn’t deny that the path of the sword was definitely the path that suited him, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was hitting a wall in his sparring with Alrn.

Thump, thump, thump-!

It was then.

A hurried knock on the door was heard.

Israfil was there, panting as if he had run up from the basement.

“What’s wrong?”

“I found it. A way to investigate the Demon Nests.”

He looked around and hurriedly placed a thick book on the table in the room.

“Regardless of the level, there are currently about 300 Demon Nests left on the continent. It would take decades to investigate all these places one by one.”

“Catch your breath and speak.”

Carryl handed him water, and Israfil drank it in one gulp before opening the book he had brought.

He seemed eager to tell him what he had discovered right away.

“Superior Vision.”

“……?”

On the opened page, a large eye was drawn, and incomprehensible ancient words were densely written below it.

He pointed to the eye and said.

“It’s a clairvoyance spell. But it’s a completely different spell from the Magic Mirror. In the case of the Magic Mirror, it’s a spell that reflects a place you know, but Superior Vision is a spell that allows you to see a person you specify.”

He said in a trembling voice.

“If you can use this spell, Carryl-nim, you won’t have to investigate the Demon Nests yourself. You can send people to the Demon Nests in each region and check the Demon Nests through their eyes.”

Carryl raised the corners of his mouth.

As expected, he didn’t let him down.

Israfil was a completely different mage from Serika Loren or Serga, who had risen to the ranks of Archmage.

His magical talent may be inferior to the two, but the title of Sage suited him much more than them.

He had devoured countless books, truly worthy of being called a walking library.

“But… it’s a spell I’ve never heard of before… Is there anyone who can use this? I wonder if Nine Darhon can.”

“Perhaps… even the Chief wouldn’t be able to use Superior Vision.”

“Is it that high-level of magic?”

“No. It’s a high-level magic, but… the problem is that there’s no magic book in Antium.”

“There’s a magic book that’s not in the Grand Library?”

“Superior Vision is one of the three magics created in the beginning in Azor, the magic city.”

At that moment,

Carryl asked with a slightly stiff face.

“Could it be the Primordial Magic (初代魔法)?” [Referring to magic from the earliest era of magic creation.]

Then he slowly looked at Alrn. He shrugged lightly as if he knew the meaning of Carryl’s gaze.

[Those three magics you told me about at the Gray School. Was it said that it was given to the winner of the Expert Competition?]

“That’s right.”

He scoffed at Carryl’s answer.

[Hmph, Superior Vision… What an audacious name. So, blockhead. Do you know the other two magics?]

“Ah, that’s…”

At Alrn’s words, Israfil hurriedly searched the book. After flipping through the pages a few times, he answered.

“It’s the magic of Mana Extraction and Dark Giant.”

[I see… That guy’s magic.]

“Do you know it?”

[Of course. There’s no magic left in the Magic Era that I don’t know. And as I said before, those magics are not the magic of the Council of Elders. So don’t call them by the grandiose name of Primordial Magic in the future.]

Alrn said as if his pride as the primordial mage was hurt.

[If you want, you can bring those books and leave them here. It would be better to put the modifier of Immortal Council in front of that name.]

“I know you don’t like it… Alrn, then can you use Primordial Magic?”

[No, I don’t know.]

“Why?”

[Because I never thought of learning such shabby magic.]

“……”

He snorted at Carryl’s question as if he didn’t want to answer.

“Alrn, what if I learn that magic?”

[What do you mean?]

“You might not like it, but if Primordial Magic is the most complete magic among the magics that can be obtained now. Maybe I can find the trigger you mentioned earlier in Azor.”

Carryl asked cautiously as if he had an idea.

“The path of the sword is definitely the path I’m pursuing, but maybe I’ve already reached too high an area in the sword, so I can’t create more triggers.”

[Hmm… Are you saying that you’re going to create a trigger by focusing on learning magic away from the sword?]

Alrn nodded at Carryl’s words.

“There are many magic books in Antium, but their profundity cannot be compared to Primordial Magic.”

[If you can properly open the repository of knowledge that I have passed on to you in your head, those magics are ridiculous.]

Carryl gave a bitter smile.

“That’s right. But it’s a white elephant [something impressive but useless]. The repository of knowledge has a condition that you can only see it when you reach that area. No matter how great it is to someone who is trying to break through the wall, it’s useless if it’s behind the wall.”

[Hmm… Well, unless it’s dragon language magic created by a dragon, those would be the highest-level magic books you can get in this situation.]

Carryl felt like his head was clearing up.

“I’ve never trained in pure magic, not magic through the sword.”

[He’s finding his own way now.]

Alrn nodded with satisfaction.

No one had taught Carryl, who was from a foreign tribe in his past life, the sword.

He had reached the Sword Saint only through harsh training with himself, and he had created his own swordsmanship by climbing Pharell.

Although the sword and magic may seem like completely different paths, the goal of reaching the pinnacle was the same.

“But… the lord of Azor has this magic… I wonder if he’ll give it to me…”

Israfil said in a slightly worried voice at the two people’s conversation.

“Ah.”

Carryl wanted to pat him on the shoulder, but he would have to stand on tiptoe to barely reach it, so instead, he tapped his arm a few times and said.

“You don’t have to worry about that. So it would be good to start preparing to leave right now.”

“……Yes?”

Israfil looked at him with a puzzled face, but Carryl answered with a calm expression as if nothing was wrong.

“Because all I have to do is go and say I want to see it.”