The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 216

166. In Azor (2)

“The Eastern Kingdom…?”

Kail’s face slightly hardened at the sentry’s response.

‘I was wondering since they’d been quiet for a while… Are they trying to scheme something here?’

The Eastern Kingdom was one of the most enigmatic entities in his past life.

An island located east, away from the mainland.

Their population was small compared to other kingdoms, but their secret organization, the Dark Shadow, was spread throughout the continent in a different sense from Wooden Cloud. Therefore, Simon Coden, the ruler of the Eastern Kingdom, wielded considerable influence.

‘Who moved the teleportation circle? Could it be him personally?’

It wasn’t impossible.

Moreover, he himself was one of the top 10 on the continent, holding his own among Sword Masters and Archmages, so his skills were remarkable.

‘That sly fellow.’

He had used Aidan and Duke De Hold to approach the princes.

And surely, that wasn’t all.

There must have been someone from the Eastern Kingdom among the Emperor’s close aides.

‘They must have heard the news from the Empire.’

By now, Simon Coden would have heard about the First Prince’s loss of power, the Second Prince’s ascendance, and the Emperor’s health issues.

‘And my name too.’

Kail narrowed his eyes and looked towards Azor.

‘Which side are you on, Simon Coden?’

Just then.

“We have been waiting for you.”

A voice was heard as soon as he stepped out of the building.

“…!!”

Even the sentries who activated the teleportation circle were speechless at the sight before them.

Mages wearing matching blue robes were kneeling in unison before Kail, hands clasped in respect.

The number seemed to be over 150.

Although there were many free guilds in Azor, it was the first time so many mages had gathered at once.

“All members of the Ulkas Guild. We greet the Master.”

A man stood at the head of the mages.

With a neatly trimmed mustache, he looked more like a veteran of battlefields and hunts than an ordinary mage.

“Looking good, Thompson. Seems like your mana poisoning is completely cured now.”

His dark, tanned skin showed a vibrant figure, no longer a washed-up has-been struggling with an incurable disease and drowning in alcohol.

“It is thanks to the Master’s grace.”

Thompson nodded lightly at Kail’s words. Kail mounted the prepared horse.

“Let’s depart.”

Clack-! Clack! Clack-!

“Yes, sir!!”

As soon as his words fell, the mages rose in unison.

Serika and Mikhail watched his departing figure, newly reminded of Kail’s position.

‘We need to choose our side well, whichever it may be. We only have one life.’

“Hyah!”

Kail began to ride towards Azor.

* * *

“…So, the Eastern Kingdom’s envoy, along with 50 members of Simon Coden’s direct unit, the Snakels, have arrived in Azor via teleportation circle.”

Thompson reported to Kail, moving pieces on the unfolded map.

Thanks to the activities of the elite mages trained with attribute stones acquired from the Mana Mine, the Ulkas Guild had become one of the leading free guilds in Azor.

Kail nodded in satisfaction, looking at the splendid building in the city center, a far cry from the dilapidated old guild house.

“Isn’t this… a big deal?”

Unlike the relaxed Kail, Mikhail, who was listening to Thompson’s report, asked with a stiff face.

“What’s the big deal?”

“What do you mean? My lord, isn’t this saying that the Eastern Kingdom is negotiating with Azor to use it as a bridgehead for advancing into the continent?”

“That’s right. The Eastern Kingdom is across the sea in the southern part of the continent. Without using magic, they have no choice but to go through the Digon tribe to advance into the continent.”

However, the Digon were already allied with Tatur.

For the Eastern Kingdom, which had been supporting the Empire, moving through the south was almost impossible.

In a situation where they could be isolated, it was not strange that they chose Azor as a link to the continent.

‘Certainly, the Eastern Kingdom is moving quickly, as expected. The problem is whether their move was solely their own decision or whether the Empire had a hand in it.’

If it was the former, there was no need to worry much.

The Eastern Kingdom certainly had strong power, but they always acted as shadows of the continent’s center.

‘The difference in absolute power.’

No matter how outstanding their power, 100 people could not defeat 1 million.

The Dark Shadow, which could be said to be the Eastern Kingdom’s blade, was shrouded in mystery, but their number was estimated to be less than 1,000.

Moreover, given that the Eastern Kingdom’s population was less than 100,000, their military strength, excluding the Dark Shadow, was at most around 10,000.

‘The Eastern Kingdom cannot do anything alone. And if it’s the former, it should be seen as the relationship with the Empire has been severed, and their position is even weaker than before.’

But conversely, if it was the latter, it would be a problem if the Empire and the Eastern Kingdom were still allied and Azor’s power was given to them.

Kail smiled faintly.

“If that’s really the case, then it can be said to be Tylan Schtean [a strategic move in a game of chess]. This isn’t just a problem for Azor, but it’s aimed at Tatur. It means they won’t stand still.”

“Why is that?”

“Azor has the most teleportation circles on the continent. Moreover, because of the shield completed since the Magic Era, only authorized people can enter Azor, even though they can send things out from Azor.”

At his words, Mikhail and the others in the room nodded.

“Obtaining this place is equivalent to obtaining a means to travel all over the continent without a ship.”

Kail tapped the map with his finger.

“They can keep the south in check and surround Tatur without crossing the Four Nines [a strategically important mountain range].”

“…!!!”

Everyone’s eyes widened in surprise at his words.

‘Considering that the Istrian Three Kingdoms are still at war, the only force that can really help us is the barbarians in the south.’

The northern barbarians were not yet unified, so they could not be included in the force.

Moreover, now that Tatur’s Free Army has been deployed to settle the Three Kingdoms, it could be said that their power is at its weakest.

‘That’s why I deliberately gathered troops in front of the Empire to show them our strength… But they’re not falling for it.’

Kail smiled bitterly.

A one-year grace period for his life.

It was a kind of threat, but the Emperor was definitely an Emperor.

‘Maybe giving me a definite one-year time frame was the root of the problem. He might be trying to erase Tatur from the map during his remaining time.’

“Is it… war?”

Mikhail asked with a worried voice.

“I don’t know.”

Kail let out a low sigh.

He had been carefully devising plans to save as many of the Empire’s talents as possible in preparation for the Holy War.

‘There are many tactics and strategies to penetrate the enemy. But that’s just help to make the process easier. In the end, most of the results in actual combat are created by the clash of power and power.’

“Tsk-”

Kail clicked his tongue lowly.

“If they come at us, we won’t avoid it.”

At his words, everyone looked at him with tense faces.

“For now, we are also monitoring the situation, but the Eastern Kingdom only moved the day before yesterday… So nothing has been confirmed yet.”

“I guess so. Moving through the magic circle completely destroys the concept of normal time.”

To get from the Eastern Kingdom to Azor, one had to cross the sea to the continent and then travel by land.

The distance alone was thousands of kilometers, so it would take a long time by ordinary means.

They finished that distance in just a few minutes by activating the magic circle, so if the magic circle of the magic city was used tactically, it would exert tremendous power.

‘If the Eastern Kingdom, which specializes in assassination, uses teleportation circles, it’s like a tiger growing wings.’

Therefore, the meeting between Azor and the Eastern Kingdom was particularly dangerous.

“What about Tatur?”

“Yes, we reported it immediately after detecting the Eastern Kingdom’s movements. It is impossible to use teleportation circles, but communication magic is possible.”

“How did they handle it?”

“DuShalla said that we should monitor the movements within the lord’s manor and leave the rest to the people sent by Tatur.”

“Didn’t they say who was coming?”

“It’s Aidan and Kamma.”

“Kamma? Did he return from the Principality?”

“Um… I don’t know that far, but they definitely said it was Kamma. I think the Rabat Guild has a lot of say because they are providing attribute stones to Azor as well. Originally, Baron Beryl was supposed to come, but the Three Kingdoms are at war…”

“I see.”

Kail sighed in relief at Thompson’s words.

‘He must have returned safely while the Principality is in civil war. That’s a relief. If I meet him, I can hear about the situation in the Principality.’

DuShalla’s handling was appropriate.

As Thompson said, Baron Beryl, who is also a mage, may have more influence in the city than Kamma, but he was also participating in the war.

Kail gradually felt that the time given to him was running out.

Not only the Empire but also the Principality and the Three Kingdoms were experiencing growing pains for a new future.

Although it seemed peaceful and quiet, this city was already involved in a corner of the war.

‘I will soon too…’

He knew he would be standing in the center of the battlefield.

“And we also reported to Tatur as soon as we received word that the Master was coming here.”

“Really? Did DuShalla leave any words?”

“Um… She didn’t say anything in particular, but she said she wouldn’t have sent the two if she knew the Master was coming.”

Kail chuckled at Thompson’s words.

“That’s right.”

He said that and got up from his seat. As he stood up, everyone in the room stood up with him.

“Oh, where are you going?”

“To the lord’s manor.”

“Yes…?!!”

Thompson was startled by Kail’s words.

“Anyway, they’ll know we’re here because of the teleportation circle. Now that it’s come to this, it’s better to go and say hello quickly.”

Kail chuckled.

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to start a fight. I’ll go quietly. The Eastern Kingdom is unexpected, but the reason we came here in the first place is different.”

Then he lightly patted Thompson’s stiff shoulder.

“When the two people from Tatur come, report to me immediately, and have 30 mages ready to move right away. I hope we don’t have to use them.”

“Ah, yes.”

He nodded.

‘He’s just saying hello, but why is he gathering the mages?’

‘That expression… It’s been a while.’

But Mikhail and Serika, who knew Kail well, were thinking the same thing.

‘A lie.’

* * *

“Thank you for Azor’s consideration.”

“Hahaha, you’re welcome.”

Unlike the cold air of winter, a friendly conversation was taking place inside the lord’s manor.

Woo-oong…

Supplies were constantly being summoned from the huge teleportation circle in the lord’s manor, and the mages were diligently carrying them.

Just then.

Kwaaaang—!!!

The huge door of the lord’s manor was smashed mercilessly.

“Agh!”

“Ugh…!!”

At the same time, screams echoed from the hallway and quickly approached.

“W-What’s all this commotion?”

Kail grabbed a sentry by the neck, dragged him along, and threw him down like a piece of luggage.

“Cough, cough.”

The soldier who had been thrown coughed roughly.

His neck was clearly marked with finger marks, as he had been grabbed so hard.

“W-What, what is it…! Who are you?”

“Do you know where this is…?!!”

The mages in the lord’s manor aimed their staffs in unison.

“Think carefully. You’ll die the moment you use that. Even with no incantation, you have to say the magic name, so let’s see if your mouth is faster or my sword is faster?”

Kail tapped the sword he was wearing on his waist.

The mages couldn’t say anything at his sharp words.

One man among them was particularly noticeable.

His foreign appearance, with his glossy long black hair and a mask on his face, made it clear that he was the envoy of the Eastern Kingdom.

‘Simon Coden didn’t move himself.’

But rather, Kail could easily come to a conclusion because of his foreign appearance. Then he turned his head as if he had no interest in him anymore.

“Pashio Han.”

Then he tilted his head and said.

“I came to see the Invocation Magic.”