The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 221

169. Surpassing

Cahill stared at the two transparent flames before him.

Only now did he understand why they were transparent.

Whoosh…!!

Laminae’s flame appeared between the flames.

Unlike before, it had its original color.

Rather, by not trying to suppress his power, the flame remained steady in the darkness.

‘Laminae, I apologize for forcibly removing your original color to merge you with the non-elemental power.’

Even though they were both Spirit Kings, the reason Lacias and Duat were distinguished as the Two Great Lights, unlike the five elements, was because they were fundamentally different from the elements.

[Is this how someone apologizes?]

However, Laminae seemed even more displeased with Cahill’s words, and the flame flickered even more violently.

Then, the two transparent flames, as if afraid, couldn’t get close and began circling around.

‘Well… shall we begin?’

Despite Laminae’s words, Cahill spoke with a satisfied expression.

[What do you think of that guy?]

Duat, who had been silent since the contract with Aln, spoke for the first time.

[It seems you are concerned as well.]

Aln, who had been quietly watching Cahill sitting cross-legged, spoke with surprise.

[Of course. A human dared to say he would use me as a material to complete his mana.]

[Do you think it’s possible? He’s replacing the empty space of the spirits with his dragon mana now, but if he really contracts with all the Spirit Kings as he says later…]

Aln chuckled at Duat’s words.

[Spirit synthesis… Honestly, I don’t even want to imagine it. It’s already like this just from being synthesized with Cahill’s mana, but me and Lacias actually merging? It’s absurd.]

Aln wore a strange expression at Duat’s words.

[It’s impossible for a human to contract with all seven spirits.]

It was uncertain whether he was stating a fact or hoping it wouldn’t happen, but it was clear that Duat was unwilling.

[If it’s impossible, there’s no need to worry, right? Why are you asking me as if you’re uneasy? Do you think that guy might overcome the impossible?]

[…….]

Duat didn’t answer Aln’s words. Aln chuckled once again at his silence.

[You may have contracted with me, but my essence ultimately comes from that guy. That’s why I know him better than anyone else. So, let me give you a piece of advice.]

Then, he spoke quietly.

[The answer is already set in stone.]

* * *

[A, are you trying to threaten me right now?]

Laminae shouted as if resisting to the end. But unlike before, Cahill looked at him comfortably in the space of consciousness.

‘I’m asking you a favor.’

[A favor? …How dare you say that so easily.]

‘Think about it carefully. This is a huge deal. Frankly speaking, with dragon mana, I can also use fire magic. I could synthesize mana without you.’

[So?]

‘But I’m trying to synthesize your mana with mine, not just a simple mana synthesis. That’s like synthesizing spirit power and mana. Right now, it’s just you, but when I get all the spirits in the future, you’ll be a pioneer in this great achievement.’

[……No.]

Cahill frowned slightly at his answer.

‘Some people can’t even reach the rank of a mage until they die, and even if they do, many can’t escape the 5th class due to mana poisoning. Among countless mages, only a very few surpass the wall of the 6th class.’

[…….]

‘But even if they are few, they certainly exist, and it’s also true that there are those who have reached the rank of the 7th class.’

[What are you trying to say?]

‘I might be able to reach the 6th class with just mana alone. But why am I trying to reach the 6th class through difficult spirit magic?’

Laminae seemed slightly flustered by Cahill’s unexpected question.

[Isn’t it to learn the magic to find the demon lairs connected to the Demon World?]

‘No.’

Cahill shook his head at his answer.

‘If it were for that, Israfil alone would be enough.’

[Then… why?]

‘I’ve been pondering this for quite some time. Am I going to be satisfied with just being able to use swords and magic at the same time?’

[Don’t tell me…….]

‘The opportunity I said I needed isn’t an opportunity to surpass the wall of the 6th class.’

Laminae’s flame trembled at Cahill’s words.

Crackle… Crackle…!! Whoosh…!!

Intense lightning and swirling gales began to surge around him.

‘The 7th class, defined as the limit of humans. But in the past, Kaie Essir surpassed it and reached the 8th class. So, isn’t it wrong to attach the title of Archmage to the 7th class, which is known as the established theory? There are clearly those who have reached a higher level in history.’

He spoke quietly.

‘Then, is Kaie Essir the one who reached the limit?’

Crash!! Crack…!

At the same time, cold air and chunks of rock, as if the floor had been shattered, slowly floated up from the opposite side and began to rotate around him.

‘Well… maybe if we limit it to humans. But the realm of the 9th class, called the realm of dragons, clearly exists.’

Crack…!! Thump…!!

The space of consciousness shook as if it would shatter for the first time. In the first place, this space was non-existent and created by Cahill.

Depending on the direction of his mind, this world could become stronger or disappear completely.

‘Then, can the realm reached by dragons be said to be the end of magic?’

Cahill looked at Laminae.

‘What if we surpass the realm of humans and dragons? I chose you as the method. Spirit power, a power that only I can use.’

The respective mana around him repeatedly gathered and separated dozens of times, and finally lined up in a row.

One spot in the middle was empty.

It was Laminae’s spot.

‘The opportunity I want is an opportunity to reach the end of the realm that humans can reach.’

[But!!]

However, despite his words, Laminae only circled around the empty spot as if afraid.

‘Hmm. Laminae, I guess we’ve been together for too long.’

Looking at him, Cahill frowned slightly and smacked his lips.

‘I still remember when I first met you in Riceria’s lair… Have you changed?’

[What?]

‘I thought a Spirit King who lived in the age of mythology would be a little more outstanding. But rather, have you lived too long and your memory has deteriorated?’

Cahill bit his lip tightly and wore a serious expression. He stroked his chin with one hand, crossed his arms, and brought his hand to Laminae’s flame.

‘I said I would do it. Then the answer is already out, right?’

[…….]

‘Or…….’

Cahill dismissed Laminae’s answer by grabbing his flame as if grabbing his collar.

‘Hey. Are you defying me right now?’

* * *

Thwaaaaaang—!!!

Thump—!!

Lightning struck with a tremendous storm of mana.

But it was a flash of light made of mana, not something real.

The falling lightning shook wildly in the air, shaking the lord’s mansion.

“W, what’s going on?!”

The people of the city were startled by the lightning that struck the lord’s mansion and buzzed with excitement.

Surprisingly, some places around the lord’s mansion where the lightning struck were on fire, and some were frozen cold.

In one place, a whirlwind blew, and in another, the ground cracked as if an earthquake had occurred.

“That is…….”

This was a city of magic.

The mages on the street knew that the lightning that struck the lord’s mansion was not a natural phenomenon.

But that wasn’t the only reason they were surprised.

Despite the intense mana storm that swept through, leaving goosebumps, there was almost no residue of mana left.

‘Did I see it wrong?’

‘That can’t be…….’

The mages racked their brains, but couldn’t find an answer.

But some of them had a memory that came to mind when they looked at the lightning.

In the past…….

Lightning like that had struck only once.

But even then, the mages of the Magic Council and the investigators of Azor could not reveal the identity of the lightning and eventually concluded that it was just a natural disaster.

That was,

When Cahill first trained in magic to synthesize mana for the competition.

And now…….

They had no way of knowing that the same person had once again succeeded in synthesizing mana.

“I, is it an Archmage’s prank?”

The words that someone on the street unknowingly uttered were only carried by the wind into people’s ears.

Cahill slowly opened his eyes.

Black light appeared and disappeared over his usual red eyes, which had been hidden by Laminae’s power.

“Hooo…….”

He could feel the warm mana flowing from the mana veins, flowing over his neck and above his head.

A circular ring appeared and disappeared on his forehead.

‘6th class……!!’

It wasn’t perfect yet.

The feeling of the flowing mana clearing his head was good, but there was still much to do.

When he opened the repository of knowledge left by Aln Zaviuz, knowledge he had never experienced before would pour into his head like a flood.

A vast amount of knowledge comparable to that of an Archmage.

That was,

Cahill McGovern’s 6th class.

[You’ve finally broken through the wall. How do you feel? Does it seem like you’ve created the opportunity you wanted?]

Aln Zaviuz watched Cahill’s achievement and spoke as if he had been waiting for him to open his eyes.

“I don’t know about the opportunity, but I know something else.”

[What is it?]

“If you treat them too well, they climb on top of you. No, a beating is the answer for those who climb on top of you. Is that more accurate?”

[……??]

Aln wore an incomprehensible expression at Cahill’s words. But instead of answering, he just smiled faintly.

But Aln could sense the subtle aura of mana emanating from him.

In particular, the hot flame inside felt more intense than ever before.

[What on earth happened?]

Aln muttered to himself, feeling as if he was being pricked by thorns just by looking at the aura of mana.

It was then.

“No, I’m telling you it’s not allowed!”

“Get out of the way! You bastard. If the person inside finds out that you stopped me, your wrist will be chopped off right away!”

“Still, it’s not allowed. The order was not to let anyone in!”

“Oh, really? You won’t let go? Hey!”

The joy of breaking down the wall of the 6th class was short-lived as the outside of the door became noisy. Cahill chuckled at the somehow familiar voice and got up from his seat.

Creak-

When he opened the door, he saw an old man arguing with the guards. Cahill couldn’t help but laugh at the unsightly sight of him wrestling with the soldiers on the floor of the lord’s mansion hallway.

Then, he called his name.

“Camma.”

“M, Master……!! No, Lord!!”

“It’s been a while.”

Camma, who kicked the guards away without mercy, knelt down in front of him in a hurry and reddened his eyes as if he had met an old lover.

It seemed he had suffered quite a bit in the principality.

“I told you to wait at the guild, why did you come all the way here? Is there something urgent?”

“Yes, it’s about the principality. And…… about the matter you ordered.”

Camma’s eyes changed.

Judging by the fact that Aidan, who had come with him, was not there, it was clear that he had caused this commotion because he wanted to report his achievements as soon as possible.

It could be said to be the greed of an old man, but the fact that he made such a fuss meant that he didn’t come empty-handed.

“Is that so?”

Only then did Camma raise his head and couldn’t help but be surprised.

“……!!!”

Then, he widened his eyes in surprise.

It had been quite a long time since the two had seen each other after parting ways in the principality.

‘Really……. Is that the kid from back then?!’

Even though he thought to himself, he covered his mouth without realizing it, fearing that he might be heard.

The boy in front of him now was too different from the person in his memory.

‘It’s been about a year since we parted ways in Korb……. I can’t believe he’s changed this much.’

As winter passed and spring was about to come, Camma realized that Cahill was now 15 years old.

But even so, he was just a boy who had not yet had his coming-of-age ceremony.

‘It’s not because of his appearance…….’

You might miss it because of Cahill’s appearance, which was not like a child, but the reason he looked so big was actually because of the pressure he exuded, not his appearance.

The pressure, like standing in front of a huge mountain, was by no means felt just because he was tall or had a good physique.

Cahill could feel the results of his achievement as if he was satisfied with his expression.

“Come in. I need to hear more about that.”