The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 228

174. Randal (2)

“Pfft… BWAHAHAHAHA!!!”

A boisterous laugh echoed throughout the territory.

Caryl clutched his stomach as if he were about to suffocate, unable to contain his laughter.

“……”

Randal frowned slightly, seemingly displeased by his reaction.

“What’s so funny?”

“Are you seriously calling that a threat? Exposing my true nature to the Three Kingdoms, you say… Just some mixed-race blood? You think that’s a threat to me?”

Caryl looked at Randal, wiping his eyes as if wiping away tears. He wasn’t actually crying, but he was exaggerating to show how ridiculous he found the situation.

“I am the King of Tatur, but also the Lord of the South. That means even though I’m acting as an Imperial, the people of the South still serve me.”

Caryl leaned against the wooden fence in the training ground and said,

“You understand what I mean, right?”

“What you say isn’t wrong, but the barbarians and the Istrian Three Kingdoms are different. Unlike the barbarians, who are free from rules, they have thoughts closer to the Empire.”

“You think I’d be so careless?”

Caryl retorted as if he had been waiting for Randal to say that.

“The legion I created under the name of the Free Army includes barbarians and Imperials. From the start, the city of Tatur is a place where those who have escaped from race and status gather.”

“So?”

“The Istrian Three Kingdoms will soon be unified. Under the name of Penria… no, Viola.”

“……What?”

Randal knew that the Istrian Three Kingdoms were at war, but he didn’t know that Princess Viola had entered the war by building her own power.

“I heard she declared a duchy. But what can she do with a force of no more than a few hundred soldiers…?”

“The Free Army will support her.”

“……!!”

“Breaking away from the rules of status and race, Viola asked me for help in the name of freedom. And I accepted it, and the Istrian Three Kingdoms will be subjugated by the Free Army.”

“Th-That’s….”

The words coming from Caryl’s mouth were all shocking.

“In that situation, does it matter to the Istrian Three Kingdoms whether I’m a mixed-race or an Imperial?”

Caryl shook his head.

“No.”

Answering his own question, he spoke once again with a confident voice.

“For me, the authenticity of bloodlines can no longer be a weakness. Because for them, my very existence now has more meaning.”

Thump-

Randal felt his heart sink at his words.

Why?

At the same time, he remembered Caryl’s appearance during their first goblin hunt.

‘Was it from then…?’

Despite wearing a mask, he captivated the knights with his incredible martial prowess and leadership.

Of course, being the adopted son of the McGovern family also played a part, but at least at that time, age and status didn’t matter. He himself had wanted to be like Caryl that day.

“Tyren seems to have become duller by associating with fools at the academy. To think that all he could come up with was threatening me.”

“There are unavoidable circumstances. His Majesty has begun to put pressure on the McGovern family. He ordered Jake to be sent to Heim [a fortress and training ground for elite soldiers]. You know what it means to go to the Order. He’s trying to hold him hostage.”

Randal said seriously.

“There won’t be much of a problem with Heim.”

However, unlike him, Caryl’s reaction was indifferent.

“……Why?”

“There’s a useful guy there. You don’t have to worry too much about Jake’s safety.”

Caryl chuckled, thinking of Yurin Hugard.

“So, what does Tyren want?”

“To save Jake. He told me to tell you to save him, whether by threatening or begging.”

“Touching brotherly love, isn’t it?”

Caryl sneered and asked at Randal’s words.

“That’s not all, is it?”

“……What do you mean?”

“What Tyren wants isn’t Jake’s life, but my life. If I infiltrate the Order to rescue Jake, I will not only make the Order my enemy, but the Empire will also be able to strike me legitimately under that pretext. Or maybe Heim itself is a trap.”

“…….”

Randal couldn’t say anything.

The note sent from the family didn’t include such things, but he had expected it to some extent.

‘He’s talking so nonchalantly about something that puts his own life at stake….’

He shook his head at Caryl’s reaction.

It was then.

“Is the reunion between brothers that good? You guys look so friendly?”

At the woman’s voice coming from behind, the two turned their heads.

The moment Randal saw her, he stiffened slightly, and Caryl waved his hand happily.

“We were so deeply in love that we were discussing how to kill each other.”

“…….”

Caryl chuckled and said,

“How have you been?”

“What? How have I been? How can you say that so easily? You’ve declared war on the Empire and you’re so carefree?”

Miliana crossed her arms and said with a dumbfounded look.

“Carefree? I just told you, we’re discussing whether to kill or save each other.”

Caryl moved towards Miliana.

“And the Empire can’t attack Tatur right now. They don’t have the courage to fight head-on, so they’re trying to use Azor and the Eastern Kingdom. And even the McGovern family.”

“Azor and the Eastern Kingdom?”

Her face hardened at Caryl’s words.

Because she had territory in the South, she was closer to the Eastern Kingdom than anyone else.

“Yeah, so I’ve taken care of Azor for now, and I’ve sent Aidan to the Eastern Kingdom.”

“Ha…….”

Miliana couldn’t help but laugh at how easily he spoke of cleaning up a city, as if he were signing a document.

“I’ve been a bit busy. And also… I’ve crossed the wall of the 6th class [a high level of magical ability].”

Caryl said casually.

“……!!!”

“……!!!”

But the two couldn’t help but be shocked at his words.

‘6th class… Is it real? Is that even possible? Among the Five Great Sword Masters, is there anyone who has reached that level of magical limit?’

Randal felt a chill down his spine at the thought that he might surpass his father, who was called the greatest swordsman on the continent.

‘He was completely toying with me. To think I was trying to beat such a monster….’

He smiled bitterly at the thought of how pathetic his appearance must have seemed to Caryl in their earlier battle.

“You’re telling me something so important now? You should have come to me first thing.”

Unlike the serious Randal, Miliana was angry in a different sense even after hearing the same words.

“You’d notice anyway when I use magic. Isn’t that why you came? Along with the 100 people you’ve placed behind me. The energy felt on the opposite side is sharper than the 100 people you’ve hidden, and that’s probably you sisters [referring to Miliana’s elite guard].”

Randal looked around at Caryl’s words.

But all he could see was the desolate desert, so Randal couldn’t help but be surprised once again.

“I felt a sudden surge of strong magic and thought the Imperial army was attacking. But it was someone even worse than the Imperial army who came.”

Miliana waved her hand lightly.

Caryl could tell that the soldiers who had been hiding had disappeared with that one gesture, even though it was difficult to notice them up close.

“More than that, they’re quite well-trained. How many soldiers of that level are there?”

“Is that all you’re curious about? Is there really nothing but war in your head?”

Miliana shook her head.

“There aren’t many. It takes quite a long time to raise them to that level. Although their achievements are a bit lacking, if you include the reserve personnel… wouldn’t it be about 300?”

“Compared to knights?”

“They may be inferior due to the difference in magic power, but they’re making up for the lack with swordsmanship. They won’t be easily defeated even if they fight knights one-on-one.”

She said proudly.

“You mean they’re Sword Expert level. That’s about one knight order… Hmm, if you combine all seven knight orders of the Empire, the number will be about 2,000. The number has decreased because the Valkyrie Knight Order was disbanded.”

Having as many as 2,000 Sword Expert-level knights was certainly something that showed the Empire’s prestige.

But Randal wondered why the two people in front of him seemed stronger than the 2,000 knights, even though he heard that overwhelming number.

“I wish I could expand it to 500 if possible… It’s too small with the current number.”

“Do you know how much effort it takes to raise one decent warrior? Just look at that guy. It’s been several years since he came to Digon, and he’s only now become useful.”

Miliana pointed at Randal and said.

He lowered his head as if embarrassed at her words.

“Half a year.”

“Hmm?”

“The period I’m thinking of from cleaning up the Duchy to confronting the Empire.”

Miliana frowned slightly at Caryl’s words.

“By Duchy… you mean the civil war caused by the 2nd Duke Fran? You’re going to clean that up?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking… but let’s say that’s the case. Will the Empire stay still during that time? They’re doing behind-the-scenes work now, but… the Emperor has less than a year left to live. They’ll definitely try to settle things within that time.”

“War with the Empire will be inevitable. But not then. Before half a year passes, the Empire will be too noisy to turn its eyes to us again.”

“Why…?”

Her face hardened slightly.

“I’ve always said that I would wage war with the Empire, but I’ve never said that I would wage war with Tyran Shutean [the current Emperor].”

The expressions of the two were quite different at Caryl’s words.

“While I’m cleaning up the Duchy, the Empire will be too busy fighting among the princes for their rice bowls [competing for power and resources].”

As long as two princes are alive, the war for the throne will eventually happen.

Originally, the Emperor was already dead, and by now the war for the throne would have been over, and Oliven would be in power.

But due to his intervention, Oliven still hasn’t taken the Empire into his hands.

‘That alone is enough. If I can’t strike the Empire right now, I just need to prevent the Empire from paying attention to me.’

He would think of various variables, but ultimately, the reason for keeping the Emperor alive was to prevent him from turning his eyes to the outside while dealing with matters within the Empire.

So that he could roam freely.

‘When the imperial throne of the Empire is decided, all powers other than the Empire will be under me.’

When the family feud is over and they finally turn their eyes to the outside, the Empire will no longer be the powerful force that holds the hegemony of the continent, but will face an enemy even greater than itself.

“Among the princes… it’s like saying there won’t be an Emperor?”

Miliana said with a stiff face.

“Don’t tell me you….”

She, who knew about the events in the Sun Hall, laughed in vain, and Randal looked at her as if seeking an answer.

“Was even the thing about having a year left to live a lie?”

“……!!”

Randal looked at Caryl with a surprised expression at her words. But Caryl shrugged as if it were nothing.

“It’s foolish to believe the enemy’s words as they are.”

He said with a cold smile.

“Isn’t it?”