The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 230

175. Opening the Box (1)

“What are you looking at?”

Unlike usual, a sense of tension lingered among the people gathered in the office.

Despite being some of the most powerful figures in Tatur, they felt suffocated by the oppressive atmosphere.

This was because, unlike usual, there was a stranger present.

‘Is this the pressure of a Sword Master…?’

‘It feels even more intense than last time.’

The person standing with arms crossed, her expression unchanging, was none other than Milliana.

“Are you two the warriors from the four tribes of the Great Plains?”

“I am Beykan of the Tu tribe.”

“Kinu Mukari here.”

At her words, the two nodded lightly in response.

“The daughter of the Chang family is not here.”

“She has temporarily left to inspect the Bottomless Rock. She was ordered to observe the war situation of the three Istrian nations while heading south.”

Kinu Mukari answered Milliana’s question.

“Enough. You seem to have a loose tongue; I wish you would be a bit more careful.”

At his answer, Dushala spoke with a displeased expression.

“Everyone seems curious as to why the great Queen of Digon is here… Everyone else is in an uproar because of the war, but does the south have nothing to do?”

“I’m busy to death, but your king kept begging and pleading that he couldn’t do without me.”

“…….”

Milliana raised her nose slightly towards Dushala and spoke with her arms crossed.

Each time she spoke, her firm, sculpted abs rippled.

“Has everyone finished greeting each other? Why so stiff between people who have met in the Imperial City?”

It was then.

As Karil entered through the office door, everyone except Milliana hurriedly knelt.

“……!!!”

Everyone’s gaze turned to him.

The astonishment they felt was incomparable to the look they had given Milliana moments before.

‘I heard about it from Mikhail, but…’

‘Is this even possible? No, I can’t believe it even seeing it with my own eyes… Does breaking the wall of the 6th class as a Sword Master lead to this…?’

‘I jokingly said he was like a monster, but now he has truly become an anomaly…’

Beykan, Kinu Mukari, and Suan Hazar looked at Karil with eyes full of awe.

The energy felt from Milliana, a Sword Master, was certainly sharp, but Karil’s was beyond comparison.

If Milliana was a needle, Karil was reminiscent of a massive greatsword.

“You have arrived.”

Among those who couldn’t close their mouths in surprise, Dushala, as always, was the first to grasp the situation and lowered her waist to greet Karil with quick wit.

“No trouble, I hope?”

The suffocating energy seemed to dissipate slightly.

Karil sat down and looked at her.

“Yes. The three Istrian nations are being dealt with as planned. Since a considerable number of nobles had already been won over to our side, they are quickly surrendering upon learning that the Free Army is providing support.”

Dushala looked at Karil’s face upon their reunion and smiled faintly, seemingly pleased.

Unfortunately, her expression was not clearly visible due to the black veil.

“…….”

Only Milliana, standing behind Karil, watched her with a displeased look, twitching her eyebrows.

Without giving her a glance, Dushala continued to speak.

“It seems that Princess Viola is gaining the upper hand. Kaila Chang will confirm the details and report them.”

“Dushala, how long have I been away?”

“Yes? Ah… About three months.”

“That’s right. Three months. The trip to Antium was originally planned for two months, but due to circumstances, I had to stop by Azor, which delayed the time.”

“But thanks to that, you have reached the ranks of the 6th class. Congratulations.”

She said as if she had been waiting for it. However, even at her words, Karil replied with a serious expression.

“Don’t try to gloss over it. I clearly ordered you to finish the consolidation [reorganization and pacification] of the three nations in the two months I would be away in Antium. I hope you haven’t forgotten?”

“Of course.”

“I clearly said that you didn’t have to spare the number of soldiers, so finish the war within the exact time. But the fact that the war has not been concluded even after a month’s delay, whose fault is it?”

Karil asked coldly.

The air, which had been slightly loosened, felt as if it was freezing cold this time.

“Is the power of the Free Army weaker than I expected? Or should I blame Princess Viola’s incompetence?”

There was a fighting spirit [intense will to fight] felt that seemed ready to burst out and cut off their heads.

Even though the people here were all renowned powerhouses, they trembled at the pressure that made it difficult to breathe.

“As expected. Princess Viola came to Tatur exactly on the second month. She had a message to deliver to the lord when he arrived. I think she knew you would ask like this.”

“Hmm?”

Dushala had a relaxed expression even in that oppressive atmosphere [위압 – Wiap].

Of course,

The fact that her clenched fist was trembling slightly showed that she was barely enduring the pressure, but she was certainly from the Dark Shadow [과거 암연 – Gwageo Amyeon]. Although she was a defector [탈주자 – Taljuja] from the Eastern Nation [동방국 – Dongbangguk], she didn’t show it like an assassin.

“Does she have any message [전언 – Jeon-eon]?”

“Yes. The Knights of Grace, led by the Panpinel family, are small in size, but each individual’s abilities are quite outstanding. As of the second month, almost all forces have been consolidated [정리 – Jeongri].”

“Then why hasn’t a conclusion been reached in the third month?”

“It’s because of the Shield of Istan. It seems they are putting quite an effort into recruiting Marze and Aven, who guard the Twin Armor. Perhaps she remembers that the lord liked them when he fought them.”

“Marze, huh…”

Karil nodded at her words.

촤르륵- [sound of paper rustling]

Dushala took out one of the parchments [양피지 – Yangpiji] stacked on the desk and checked it, saying,

“This is Princess Viola’s message [전언 – Jeon-eon]: ‘The value of the Twin Armor, which has preserved the two kingdoms by preventing foreign invasions since the founding of the nation, can be said to be higher than the incompetent kings of Istan and Tvanel.'”

Karil chuckled, as if he could hear her voice.

“Simply unifying the three nations by force is a half-baked unification that borrows the power of other countries, so it will not be possible to unite the public sentiment. If we place the heroes of the nation and the veterans of the two kingdoms under our command, it will have great significance.”

“Hmm.”

That was right.

He himself thought so, so he deliberately placed emphasis on the Twin Armor when cornering [몰아세울 – Mol-a-seul] the 1st prince.

‘She doesn’t seem to waste what she has seen and felt while following me.’

“Ahem.”

Dushala cleared her throat and continued,

“The promise has been kept. The Istrian Three Kingdoms can now be sufficiently managed by the Knights of the Panpinel family. Tell the King of Tatur that he may withdraw all the Free Army if he wishes.”

“Oh, please, what do you mean by keeping the promise? The two-month period I mentioned was meant to see concrete results within that time.”

Karil snorted.

However, he seemed not entirely displeased with the outcome, as he rested his chin on his hand and chuckled.

“It seems the Three Kingdoms are coming to a close… How has everyone been? It looks like none of you have wasted your time.”

The moment Karil opened the office door, he quickly scanned everyone.

Particularly, Beykan and Kinu Mukari, who possessed no magical power, had shown remarkable growth.

Beykan, who had already made a name for himself as a barbarian in his previous life, was a warrior who single-handedly faced 500 soldiers in the canyon, but he had never achieved this level of growth.

‘The Demon Nest subjugation must have helped. Barbarians get stronger as they fight more battles.’

“I heard you’re going to the Duchy, Master. Please, take me with you this time.”

As they were exchanging pleasantries, Karil turned his head at the sound of a voice.

It was Suan Hazar.

He looked very nervous as he spoke.

Karil knew well what he was feeling, so he gave a faint smile.

“Of course. Don’t worry. Who else would go to the Duchy if not you?”

“R-really?”

However, at Karil’s words, he reverted to his usual expression, opening his mouth and smiling.

“To cross the strait without Karl Mac, you have to steer the ship. Otherwise, it will take a long time. Right?”

“Of course!! You can’t leave me out of the sailing!”

Suan exclaimed with a brightened expression.

He was so tired of steering, but he couldn’t help but be excited at the thought of the battlefield awaiting him.

“Yeah. Drop us off and come straight back to Tatur.”

“……”

But his joy was short-lived.

Suan’s face fell again at Karil’s words, which were like pouring cold water on him.

“But why!!!”

He, who had never disobeyed Karil’s orders, shouted for the first time.

Everyone looked at him in surprise, but Karil smiled contentedly, as if looking at a child.

“I can’t use you for something as small as the Duchy.”

“Huh?”

“You have more important things to do. When you get back, help Israfil investigate the Demon Nest. Your first destination will probably be the Blood Cave in the Tramel Ruins.”

“Demon Nest……?”

Karil opened his eyes sharply and said to him,

“We found traces related to the Demon World in Antium. It’s no exaggeration to say that the fate of the entire continent depends on you.”

“M-me doing something like that?”

“You know that your gauntlets, obtained from the Elves’ report, are sealed with the power of Kalduan, the Azure Turtle, one of the ancient divine beasts called the Three Phases [San Xiang], right?”

Nod-

Suan nodded up and down at Karil’s words.

“The Three Phases are beings with the purest natural power next to the spirits. If you ever have to face a demon, there’s no one more suitable than you here right now.”

Karil put more strength into his voice once more.

“This is something only you can do.”

“Only I can do…….”

Suan repeated Karil’s words once more.

“I believe in you.”

“Don’t worry!!”

He exclaimed in a very excited voice.

‘Of course, when I recall my memories from my past life, demons won’t suddenly pop out of the Blood Cave… Suan, you have to meet the Fist King there instead of demons.’

Suan, who had no idea what Karil was thinking, clenched his fists and nodded with a determined look.

‘He’s amazing at handling people.’

‘As expected… he’s our lord.’

‘But was Suan always like that? He used to be quite edgy…….’

At the sight, people nodded and had similar thoughts.

“Now, I will call out the names of those who will go to the Duchy with me. We are going to a battlefield in the midst of a civil war. I know that the battlefield is a place where you have to risk your lives, but there’s no need to risk your precious lives in such a fight.”

At Karil’s words, everyone focused on him with tense faces.

“It’s just a stage to show the power of Tatur.”

“Yes-!!!”

At his words, everyone bowed their heads and answered in unison.

* * *

“Hmm…….”

Late at night.

Karil leaned back in his chair, exhaled a quiet breath, and opened his eyes.

The office, which had been bustling with people until a little while ago, was now silent with only him left in the room.

Click-

A small box on the desk.

It was the box that Nardie Maugh had hidden in his previous life, the one he had with Ice Claw at the Gray Academy.

[You seem to have made up your mind.]

Aln, who appeared behind him, said in a low voice.

“You said you didn’t know either, right?”

[Not the contents inside. Celine Han made the box, but she only made the object. No one knows who put this in here.]

“No one? Not even the Council of Seven Elders?”

At Aln’s words, Karil suddenly thought of the Platinum Dragon’s face.

[Well, open the repository of knowledge. What I know is already known to you. Asking if you have the courage to face the truth would be a foolish question, wouldn’t it?]

“The courage to face the truth…….”

Karil chuckled at his words.

“What you need when you want to know the truth isn’t courage.”

Then, he placed his hand on the box and slowly channeled his magic power.

“It’s anger.”