The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 233

175. Opening the Box (4)

[Impressive. I understand why those picky Spirit Kings lend you their power. It’s not just because you regressed time, but because they admire your spirit. Born from the rift, they contemplate deeply about free will above all else.]

Mael spoke with a soft laugh.

Despite hearing such arrogant words, Carryl’s reaction was different from before.

“What are you talking about? Those guys are just completely subjugated to me.”

[Kekeke……]

Mael still laughed at Carryl’s response.

[I didn’t expect you to realize that I opened the door to meet you. It’s amazing that you can expand your thinking this far.]

“Speak properly. What’s important isn’t your will, but mine. The fact that you invited me into this space means you need my power, but your will ends there. I’ll decide whether to take you out or not.”

[That’s also true.]

“I’m not sure if you’re a poisoned apple or not.”

Tsreureureuk…….

With the laughter, the giant snake’s form gradually decreased and transformed back into a human form.

It was the third transformation.

Long hair swayed in the darkness.

Wooddeuk-

Whether it was dislocated when Carryl stepped on it, or whether it was reconstructing the body when transforming into a human form, the snake moved its jaw from side to side to adjust it.

[Hmm. Now our eye level is a bit more aligned.]

The snake’s form disappeared, and a man with crescent-shaped eyes and a gentle smile appeared.

“……”

When he lowered his head, a black horn protruded from one side of his head, and a small golden ring floated on the other side.

“A man.”

[Why?]

Carryl clicked his tongue.

However, Mael tilted his head for a moment as if he didn’t understand his actions.

“Never mind. Well, it’s not important. More than that, if you saw my memories, you’d know what I said to those two guys before I came here.”

[You mean the words to prove their worth?]

“That’s right.”

Carryl answered, looking at him.

[You’re a funny guy. Such arrogant words only work for your subordinates.]

Mael shook his head and asked back, but Carryl snorted instead.

“It’s the same for you. If you’re going to follow me, shouldn’t you show me how valuable you are?”

[Me, follow you? And even do tricks in front of you to ask you to use me? That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in countless years.]

Mael shook his head with an absurd expression at Carryl’s words.

“You keep saying you’ve lived a long time. I’ve lived long enough in the tower too. So, I’m not really the type to joke around, so why don’t you keep that neck still and listen? Before I break it.”

Mael’s head, which was shaking from side to side, stopped.

He stared at Carryl for a moment with a blank expression, as if he had forgotten what to say.

[……Crazy bastard. It’s getting worse the more I hear. What are you so confident in? Knowing the future? The future you know is already completely different.]

“You saw me, didn’t you? Then you’d know why I’m like this, right? As you said, the future I know has changed. But I’m making it the future I want.”

Carryl said to Mael.

“What I believe in isn’t knowing the future, but how I’m changing the future. My power to create that future. What about you? Whose side are you on?”

Mael answered with a stiff face at his answer.

[That’s a foolish question. I was Blader’s weapon. The Godslayer’s sword that existed to kill gods.]

“Really?”

[……?]

“I think differently.”

Carryl said to him as if he had been waiting.

“I thought about it carefully after listening to Lamine and Duat’s conversation. And I came up with an interesting guess.”

[……]

“Bladers aren’t those who try to kill gods. It’s the opposite. I didn’t feel the same anger towards Yula from you guys as I did from myself.”

Instantly,

Mael’s expression hardened.

It was completely different from the reactions so far.

The eyes were still sharp and golden, making it impossible to know what he was thinking, but Carryl sensed that his heart was already wavering.

“Those who protect the gods. That’s the true form of the Blader.”

[Nonsense……]

Despite Mael’s words, Carryl spoke.

“Yes, it could be nonsense. It’s just my guess. But the birth of the beginning must have been like that. I don’t know why, but some of them decided to kill the gods. The war caused by some of the Bladers, the guardians of the gods, is the Holy War.”

Carryl tilted his head slightly.

“Isn’t that right? Lamine.”

However, despite his question, the Ein Trigger [a magical artifact embedded in Carryl’s hand] embedded in the back of his hand did not react at all.

“But you were defeated and came down to this continent. But the gods even sent down humans who supported them to destroy that. That would be the cult and priests who serve Yula.”

Furthermore, even the Blue Lore, a fanatical cult created by Wooden Cloud.

“You wanted to be recorded in history as Godslayers with conviction, not traitors, but the victorious god erased your records. The Bladers that descendants remember are just a group that makes weapons with the 7 Elders and each race.”

[We were those who protected the gods……. On what basis?]

Mael asked back quietly at Carryl’s words, as if he had regained his composure.

“A habit I developed from being screwed over by those damn guys is not taking passing words lightly. Duat said that. The defeat of the Holy War was due to human betrayal.”

[……And?]

“Also, Lamine said this at that time. My dragon magic. The power of the Flame Dragon that devoured Duat’s power in the past.”

Carryl poured out words like a storm.

It wasn’t just a story for Mael.

It was a word to Duat and Lamine to hear as if to show off.

“The structure of the Holy War is simple. It’s a fight between gods, dragons, humans, and spirits. But I felt strangeness in the words of those two.”

Carryl tapped the Ein Trigger embedded in the back of his hand with his opposite finger.

“The place where the Flame King was sealed was the Fire Dragon’s lair, Lyseria’s lair. He said that only the 2nd Wilderness was sealed by God, and he chose the human realm, so he slept there.”

[……Why is that?]

“He’s a Spirit King who opposed God. Lyseria, who is full of malice enough to chew up Duat, gave her lair so that the Flame King, who is the same Spirit King, would not disappear? Isn’t it strange?”

Carryl slightly glared.

“If they were enemies from the beginning, the dragon on God’s side would not have allowed Lamine to be sealed in his lair. In other words, everyone was on the same side at first.”

The snake’s expression twisted strangely.

On the other hand, the Ein Trigger was still silent.

“And the inscription in the Fire Dragon’s lair says this. ‘Two out of seventeen never change.’ The priest said that was the story of the gods. But it’s not.”

Carryl slowly shook his head.

[……]

The snake didn’t say anything at his words.

“Lamine said that was the story of the Blade. Also, Lyseria said that although she betrayed during the Holy War, she was a dragon who made a covenant with the Blader.”

Carryl continued to speak.

“But I don’t believe other people’s words as they are. The story of the Blader has been transformed into the story of God? Lamine said that, but I don’t think so.”

Hwareureuk…….

It was then.

The Ein Trigger, which had been silent until now, reacted to his words for the first time.

“I made a hypothesis.”

A faint flame seemed to flicker from the jewel embedded in the back of his hand.

As if embarrassed.

“What if they weren’t changed, but the same from the beginning? If the seventeen Bladers are referring to the candidates for God, there’s no need to change or anything. Some of them may have been defeated, some may have betrayed, and some may have won. One of them is Yula. Isn’t that right?”

Carryl pointed to Mael.

“You said with your own mouth that you are Blader’s weapon, so I can hear the answer to my question from you.”

Kung-!!

The surface of the water trembled as he took a step forward with the vibration.

“I know that there were humans among the Bladers. Does that mean that there are humans among the candidates who can become gods?”

At that moment,

The snake’s face twisted strangely.

[Keu…… Keuhahaha!!!]

Suddenly, he grabbed his stomach and started laughing hysterically. His widely opened mouth was torn so long that it couldn’t be called human, and sharp fangs were visible.

[Flame King. Are you listening? You’ve become light-mouthed, unlike in the old days. You’ve said too many unnecessary things.]

Mael said quietly, looking at the Ein Trigger embedded in the back of Carryl’s hand, not Carryl.

Then he wiped his eyes.

He said with an expression that it was difficult to breathe because he laughed too much.

[Honestly, I was surprised. To deduce this far with just a few passing conversations.]

Jjak- Jjak- Jjak-

He shook his head and clapped his hands towards Carryl.

“……”

“What are you doing?”

However, Carryl frowned as if he felt bad, seeing his exaggerated appearance as if he were acting.

[Half right and half wrong.]

“What do you mean?”

[Not everyone is a candidate for God. As you said, Bladers are beings born to protect God, but the two positions called the immutable seat are special. Only those who rise to that position can oppose God.]

“The fact that there were several candidates for your position meant that.”

[That’s right. When the owner of the immutable two positions is decided, the owner chooses the user to use himself. I also participated in the Holy War with my user.]

“The owner is decided first, huh……. The order is a bit unusual. Then the reason for the defeat is that you betrayed.”

[What? What did you say?]

The snake had a dumbfounded expression at Carryl’s words.

[……Why do you come to that conclusion? You said that the Holy War was defeated due to human betrayal!!]

“Just because.”

[J…… Just because?]

Unlike him, who was flustered, Carryl said to the snake with a calm face.

“I don’t trust scaly things anymore.”

[……]

The snake couldn’t close his mouth as if he had lost his words for an unexpected reason.

“I’m kidding. Of course, I haven’t erased my doubts.”

Carryl pointed to his eyes with his finger and then pointed to Mael again.

“Then I’ll ask. If one of those two positions that can oppose God is you, is the remaining one vacant now?”

[Why are you asking?]

“There are many meanings, but first of all, I’m going to take that position too. There’s no need to have a lot of people. That’s why there’s betrayal and betrayal.”

[Keu…… Keuk. Crazy bastard.]

Carryl shrugged at Mael’s reaction.

“Think carefully too. You said there were many candidates who coveted your position, which means that there is someone who can be placed in your position even if it’s not you.”

Seogeok-

At the same time as the words ended, Carryl scratched the ice claw with all his might.

“……”

He stared blankly at Mael’s head that had fallen to the floor. Then he bent down and approached a little closer and said.

“But I don’t want to do anything annoying. I don’t want to waste time. If you’re the owner of the previous generation, it means you’re the strongest among those candidates. If you follow me, I’ll give you another chance to oppose God.”

[Crazy bastard……. You want me to follow you after doing this?]

The severed head opened its eyes and shouted.

It was a bizarre sight, but Carryl nonchalantly pressed Mael’s head rolling on the floor with his foot as if catching a ball.

“Quit if you don’t like it. I don’t need to use you. There must be someone to replace you somewhere.”

[……Do you think I’ll fall for your ridiculous threat?]

“It’s not a threat. To be honest, I’m so annoyed because there are so many words ringing in my head right now. Besides, one nagging old man is enough. I think I’ll get really annoyed if you keep rambling.”

Carryl looked at him, who was keeping his mouth shut, raised his hand, and waved it as if shaking it off.

“You guys listen well too.”

Carryl looked at the sky.

“Just because I don’t say anything, do you think a humble human like me doesn’t know what you guys know? Don’t think that what you know is everything, just because you’re sealed in a narrow darkness. You guys who have never turned your eyes to the world.”

[What is that……]

At that moment,

Lamine’s flame flickered on his hand as if displeased, and the shadow created by Duat shook under his feet.

Kwajik-!!

“Is there anyone among you who has seen the changes in the world with your own eyes? You don’t even know how the world has changed because you’re trapped in a seal. None of you asked why I chose to go against time.”

As if telling them to be quiet, Carryl slammed the floor even more violently at the reaction of the two who were starting to run wild.

“I saw it in the North.”

Hwiiiiiiii…….

At that moment, like Carryl’s words, the wind blew as if the cold blizzard of the North was felt in the darkness.

“Deep in the Millennium Ice Cave at the edge of the North, the territory of the aliens, there is a single ice pillar. Inside, a person who looks as if he is alive and about to move is coldly sealed.”

The secret of the North that Gordon Fabian told Kwell during the Inquisition Order in the past.

“One thing his hand frozen in the pillar is clutching. I didn’t know what it was at first, like a severed head. But after the oracle, I knew that what he was holding was Corruption.”

It was also the truth that Kwell McGovern of the previous life told the dying man.

“I don’t know when he existed or which era he lived in. The only thing I can know is one thing.”

“That his eyes are black.”

Black eyes, the proof of heresy without magic and the mark of the aliens.

Why did the aliens behead Corruption thousands of years ago?

Also, who sealed him in the ice pillar?

“There were many questions. But now, after hearing your words, I’m sure. That he is a Godslayer, a Blader, who lived in the mythological era.”

Carryl looked at Lamine and Duat.

“That’s why you follow me because I have the same black eyes as him……”

Then he looked at Mael for the last time.

“That’s why you have to follow me too.”

Mael’s complexion hardened.

“Everyone knows, right.”

Carryl gave a little more strength to his voice with a calm face, as if the answer was already out.

Kulgeok-

The sound of his Adam’s apple moving was loud.

Mael hurriedly grabbed his neck with his hand without realizing it, but it was already too late.

“Alien.”

Carryl spat out the last words, looking at him.

“We are the true humans who protected dignity from false gods, not heretics, with free will.”