The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 232

175. Opening the Box (3)

KWA-AAAAANG—!!!

Cahill slammed his sword into the ground with all his might, as if breaking ice.

However, only black smoke and droplets scattered in all directions on the transparent floor, and the glass-like surface showed no sign of breaking.

‘Is the clue to finding the Queen of the Hail that Lamine spoke of inside there?’

Strangely, the floor seemed endlessly transparent, yet its interior appeared endlessly opaque.

It was a contradictory explanation, but he was certain there was something beneath the floor. However, even when he concentrated his magic power in his eyes to examine it, he couldn’t see anything.

The density increased with the strength of his magic, and when he used the Manhwan [a technique to enhance perception using magic], he couldn’t see anything at all.

‘Is it reacting to magic power?’

Cahill struck the floor several more times, but the Arcane Blade Vis Force covering the blade was also a condensation of magic power, so it became even harder each time the blade touched the floor.

“Hmm……”

Realizing there was no way, Cahill let out a soft sigh and grabbed the back of the doppelganger’s neck, pulling it up from the floor.

“Tell me. What’s inside there? Is it your main body? What is your true form?”

Seeing his own messed-up face wasn’t pleasant, but Cahill didn’t hesitate to yank the doppelganger’s head.

[We are… desire.]

It was then.

A voice, not from the doppelganger, but like an echo, came from far away.

“……”

Cahill looked around.

But he couldn’t see anything.

Ssssh…….

At that moment, the same black smoke flowing on the floor began to pour out of the doppelganger’s body he was holding.

He hurriedly kicked the doppelganger away, distancing himself from the black smoke.

The doppelganger’s body collapsed onto the floor like a puppet with severed strings, its joints moving haphazardly.

[I am the 15th.]

The skin of the doppelganger lying on the floor began to melt away like a husk.

Cahill quietly watched its transformation.

“Tch-”

Even as he watched himself melt away, he snarled, seeing the doppelganger’s true form.

“Is that your real form?”

The human form disappeared, and a coiled blue snake, flicking its sharp tongue, stared at Cahill.

Its size far exceeded Cahill’s height.

With a massive size like looking at a serpent, it overwhelmed him.

[I am the master of the unchanging, perpetual seat.]

‘The 15th……?’

Cahill recalled what Alrune had said.

Fifteen Bladers.

‘Two of them never change.’

The thought occurred to him that the weapon used by one of those two might be the snake in front of him.

‘Is that guy one of them? Or is it the weapon used by the master of that seat?’

Cahill carefully examined the snake, still unable to gauge its true nature.

[The 15th is only one, but there are many candidates vying for this seat. Among them were wolves, jackals, bears, and horses, but all were sacrificed to my fangs.]

“……”

Ssssh…… Ssssh……!!

When the blue snake opened its maw, long, sharp fangs were visible.

[I am the poison created by God.]

As if proving those words, a clear liquid dripped whenever it opened its mouth.

[In the past, I was called Samael, and by some, Diago, and in today’s history, I may be called Mael, but in truth, the name is not important. What I can give is desire and power. And that is my food and my strength.]

Cahill listened to its words with a calm expression.

Thud- Thud- Thud-

Then, he slowly moved his feet.

Standing in front of the snake, he raised his head to look at it and spoke for the first time.

“If it’s not important, why such a long introduction of your name? It’s like you want me to call you by that name.”

Cahill tapped the snake’s body.

“Mael…… Alright, it’ll be easier to call you if you have a name. That way, you’ll know I’m calling you.”

[……]

The snake flicked its tongue as if finding his words absurd.

[Do you think you are the rightful owner to possess me? A fool who doesn’t know the meaning of the Holy War, the battles before and after it, and the significance of the 15th.]

However, Cahill, undeterred by its resistance, moved even closer.

[You cannot become my master. Like those in the past, those who seek to become heroes will inevitably kneel before God’s desire.]

It spoke as if mocking him.

[You want me to trust humans who lost the past war despite all preparations? You……]

Watching the snake flick its tongue rapidly, as if trembling, Cahill cut it off, unable to listen any longer.

“Why does everyone think I’m going to be a hero, whether it’s this guy or that guy?”

Cahill pointed to his temple and said.

“If you looked inside my head, you’d know why I climbed the Tower. Revenge for the friend who betrayed me? I already finished that in my past life. I killed the guy I believed was my only friend with my own hands.”

Then, he snarled at the snake.

“If you’re going to look, then look properly and speak. Why I hate Yula. What I’m thinking as I climb the Tower. It’s not just a trivial problem between humans, as you say.”

Thud-

He placed his hand on Mael’s head.

[The legacy created by God. You climbed Parell [a location in the game/story] to save humanity and returned, knowing that God is watching.]

Cahill smirked at its words.

“What nonsense are you spouting? I never said I was fighting for them, did I?”

[……What?]

“Why should I go through all this trouble for complete strangers?”

Cahill stepped on the giant snake’s body and jumped up, tapping its head as if patting a pet.

At that moment,

Mael felt an unknown depth in his eyes that humans could not possess.

“Blader? I don’t know what mission you fought with, but I’m different from them.”

Mael was silent at his words.

“I don’t know how great your reasons are, but give the mission to the dogs. I’m fighting for myself.”

[……]

“To drive a sword into the God who made my life this way with the guise of fate.”

Why was it?

Mael, who had been talking to Cahill, was now just listening to his words.

“If there’s anything to compete with me, it’s whether my desire is greater or God’s. Defeat. Yes, God should feel that once. That’s only fair.”

Cahill stared at him coldly.

“What it feels like to want to die.”

Instinctively, he knew.

Trying to judge him, who had walked the Tower for an eternity for only one desire, with the standards of a mere human was a foolish idea.

[Heh heh heh? You……? You’re going to kill God? What a joke. A mere human?]

“Doesn’t sound like something a guy cowering under my feet should say.”

Cahill stepped on Mael’s head.

“Still haven’t come to your senses? I’m not here to get your permission on whether I can or can’t.”

[You don’t really think this result was created because I couldn’t kill you, do you? Showing off on my head……]

“I heard that the Bladers of the Mythical Era had the destiny of Godslayers, but they must have been incredibly soft if they left such a talkative guy alone.”

Mael frowned slightly, seemingly displeased by Cahill cutting him off again.

A snake’s expression twisting was a rare sight, so it was quite impressive.

[……What?]

“Who’s standing in front of you right now? I’m telling you to understand your situation. Fighting God or whatever is a problem for later. If you defy me, you’ll die by my hand before that.”

The snake couldn’t answer Cahill’s words.

“And let’s be honest. If you were such a great guy, you wouldn’t be sealed in a box that a mere 6-Class magic power could open. Lamine’s or Duat’s seals were more difficult.”

The battle was the same.

To be honest, the fight with the doppelganger ended so easily that it was almost anticlimactic compared to any other fight he had had so far.

The result was absurdly hollow, considering it took the longest time to break the seal.

“In the first place, the seal of a 6-Class box is just a device. Whether to open this space or not depends on your will. Isn’t that right?”

[Heh…… Heh heh.]

Cahill nodded, satisfied with his guess as the snake’s tongue trembled.

“From the beginning, you had no intention of fighting me. You already knew my strength and my goal.”

Thud-

“And that’s what you want too.”

Cahill stepped off his head and stared at Mael with cold eyes.

“Yet you’re wagging your tongue trying to make a deal with me? A mere snake? You should be bowing your head and begging.”

[……What?]

Mael asked back, seemingly bewildered.

“Know your place.”

Cahill nodded at that expression and tapped the floor with his ice claws.

“The only reason I didn’t kill you is because there are many things I want to ask you. For some reason, the Spirit Kings are all tight-lipped about the Holy War.”

[……]

“Not only that, but where you were born, how you were created, and even what a Blader is. You’ll have to tell me everything.”

The snake’s eyes wavered at his words.

Koo-oooong…….

A resounding echo rang out as he pressed down on his sword with all his might, as if the ground was shaking.

“Don’t you want it too? The ultimate end of Yula that I will present. Can your fangs, trapped in this box, even reach God? If you want to rebel against God, you have to stand in the right line.”

The snake was dumbfounded at Cahill’s words.

He was the one who had fought countless wars since the Mythical Era.

He had seen countless humans, from those called heroes to those called losers, but had anyone ever spoken to him like this?

“I don’t know why you fought God. You have to tell me to know. I’m not so free as to dig into the past of a guy who doesn’t want to talk. But this is certain. If you lower your eyes and bow your head to me, I will at least give you another chance for revenge.”

Cahill lowered his head a little closer and said.

“Do you think I’d be scared of a snake like you? What I chewed up wasn’t just a snake like you, but a dragon’s heart.”