The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 240

“Waaaaaaah!”

“Waaaaah!”

The soldiers of Cob shouted, throwing away their weapons and armor as the battle they had waged for so long reached its victorious end.

“……”

Fran, standing on the highest terrace of the Duke’s residence, waved to them. However, unlike the joyous atmosphere of victory, his expression was stiff.

Thump.

Fran turned his head at the dull pain in his side.

‘Smile a little?’

Caryl, standing next to him, mouthed the words.

The commanders were curious about the identity of the man standing next to Fran, who seemed to outrank them, but none dared to voice their questions.

Because he was the one who had orchestrated Cob’s victory.

[Krrr…]

The Sea King and the Water King were salvaging usable parts from the wreckage of the Silver Wing Fleet floating nearby.

Fran, having confirmed that these giant monsters were moving under Caryl’s command, couldn’t even muster the will to resist anymore.

‘I said smile. Everyone is happy. Don’t worry. I doubt Anthem would kill you. He’s still loyal to you.’

Fran forced a smile, waving his hand, then turned and retreated to his room.

Bang!

Slamming the window shut, he nervously revealed his true expression and demanded of Caryl, “What are you going to do now?”

“What else? We have to advance to White Bunker. Spreading the news of Cob’s victory throughout the territory will boost the soldiers’ morale,” Caryl said, casually sitting on the table.

“You said you sent troops to Brown Ant and Yoman, right? Are you planning to go there yourself?”

“It seems you’re desperate to avoid Anthem. Don’t worry, I won’t go near him. Well… you might be begging me to take you there later. And I won’t be going to Brown Ant or Yoman either. The fact that I sent troops there means I won’t be focusing my attention on those two places.”

“……Huh? Even if we disregard the Empress of Digon, do you think you can attack Yoman where Ganes is stationed? He’s the face of the Duchy. Even Kwell McGovern can’t defeat him easily.” Fran frowned slightly.

“I know. But that’s not your concern. Your job is to lead our upcoming battles to victory.”

However, Caryl dismissed his words and unfolded a map.

“Where… are you thinking of going?”

“Here.” In response to his question, Caryl pointed to a spot on the map without hesitation.

“Here is…?” Fran looked at Caryl, confused by the location he indicated.

“There are four routes to White Bunker.”

“Four routes?” Fran asked, slightly embarrassed by his ignorance.

“The fastest, but most difficult, route is to cross the Great Wall. But just as Yoman has never fallen in history, this is no easy task.”

“But you sent four people there. Does that mean you’re confident in taking down Yoman?”

“Well…” Caryl gave a vague answer.

“The second is the most orthodox method: going up the river from the Vinfrido Estuary. Anthem Howard is stationed there.”

Certainly, that was the case. The victory or defeat in the Duchy’s civil war hinged on control of the Vinfrido Estuary.

That’s why they had tried to defend the estuary line at all costs.

Of course, if Caryl hadn’t appeared, the defense line would have been broken, and the outcome would have been decided as Fran had planned.

‘Damn it… if only I had a few more days.’ Thinking that, Fran felt even more bitter. But he didn’t realize that if the defense line had fallen, his own head would have been next.

“The third method is through Brown Ant, the swamp area.”

Fran looked at the map, his frown easing.

“This is definitely a battlefield where we have the advantage, but it doesn’t have much significance in the overall situation. Swamps are difficult to use as bases, and the main force of the Tuli army isn’t stationed there, so it won’t have a major impact.”

“That would be the case if you only consider Brown Ant itself. The significance of the swamp lies not just in the terrain, but in the two peaks behind it.”

“……”

Caryl moved his hand behind the swamp.

“If you control the swamp, you can cut off supplies to the Twin Peaks, Frau Hat, which is another strategic point. You don’t even need to use the swamp as a base; you just need to prevent the enemy from defending it.”

“Y-You’re talking nonsense! Haven’t you considered that when it comes to supplies, the opposite is more likely to happen? The movement speed of supply units in the swamp is significantly reduced. There’s a real possibility that our allies in Brown Ant will be isolated!” Fran shouted at Caryl.

Swish.

As he raised his arm, Fran flinched involuntarily.

“You seem to have forgotten who I sent there. You don’t have to worry about her. She will protect Brown Ant regardless of supplies.”

The Dragon Queen, Miliana.

At Caryl’s words, Fran hurriedly lowered his head and looked at the map, as if he had finally conceded.

“Then… you’re planning a simultaneous strike in three places. It’s definitely a possible method.” Fran seemed to understand why Caryl had sent troops to those two locations.

“But Yoman and Brown Ant are bait. The place for a direct strike is still the Vinfrido River. Your strategy is to distract the enemy by sending strong forces to attack in two places, then advance on Anthem’s army where their troops are concentrated. Isn’t that right?”

Caryl confidently moved the pieces on the map in a chaotic manner and said, “Certainly, it’s a plan that could change the situation with just three people. After all, they are just bait.”

“That’s why you’re being used by Tuli with that kind of brain. Did you forget already? I clearly said there are four routes.”

“……What?”

“It’s true that they are being used as bait. It’s also true that they’re distracting the enemy’s attention towards Brown Ant and Yoman. But I won’t win the victory with your army in Vinfrido. I have no intention of giving you guys a moment of glory.”

“What does that mean…”

Caryl looked at Fran and pushed the piece representing Anthem’s army at the Vinfrido Estuary on the map.

“The most important bait for me is you guys. You guys need to concentrate the enemy’s attention, just like you’re doing now.”

Clatter.

The fallen piece rolled off the table and onto the floor. Fran looked at it, feeling uneasy.

“Why do you call the sea between the Empire and the Duchy a strait?”

“That’s obviously… because that sea is located between the Empire and the Duchy.”

“That’s the problem. You always think of this sea as only yours. You’re not the only ones living on this land. What lies at the end of the strait? Or, to be exact, what is at the northernmost part of the continent?”

Fran’s eyes widened.

“There’s one thing you’ve forgotten. The strait is definitely very wide, making it difficult to cross without a huge ship. Moreover, the Goyo Islands [a chain of islands known for their treacherous currents and monstrous inhabitants], the home of the Sea King, make it even more dangerous.”

Caryl slowly moved his hand over the map.

“If you go south, it becomes a perfect ocean, and the sea becomes so vast that you can’t see the end. But the situation is different if you go north of the strait. The waterway gradually narrows.”

“……”

“If the Empire attacks the Duchy through the north, your proud steel fleet will be useless. You won’t even need a naval battle. Moreover, if you cross the north, you can hit the rear of White Bunker.”

Swish.

Caryl’s hand moved.

Behind White Bunker, in Tuli’s territory, lay only the Fire Dragon’s residence and the Ivory Tower, the base of the Dawn Society [a powerful mage organization].

Currently, most of the defense forces were concentrated at the Vinfrido River. It was no exaggeration to say that the rear of White Bunker was undefended.

Even in a normal battle, the defense of the rear was less concentrated than the front. That’s because they assumed no enemy would attack from the north.

For hundreds of years, that naive assumption hadn’t changed, and now it was taken for granted.

Tap.

Caryl pointed to a spot on the map.

If the Great Wall of Yoman was the front gate of White Bunker, then the huge fortress on the opposite side could be considered the back door.

Right,

Moon Aether.

Fran’s eyes shook.

“You have a critical weakness that could determine the fate of the Duchy, but no one cares about it. Why?”

At his words, Fran’s face began to turn blue.

“You only know how to covet the north, but you never thought they would attack you. Because they have never moved south until now.” He muttered, echoing Caryl’s words.

The dangerous element in the north that Caryl referred to as ‘them’ was only one.

“Barbarians……”

It was something no one had ever imagined.

It couldn’t be helped.

“You thought naively. You harassed the north constantly, but even so, the barbarians never provoked you first.”

That’s why they took it for granted.

Both the Empire and the Duchy considered the barbarians to be savages who hadn’t even mastered magic and could be subdued at any time.

“Y-You mean you’re going to attack the rear of the Duchy with the northern barbarians!!”

“That’s right.” Caryl answered calmly, despite Fran’s outburst.

“Brown Ant, Yoman, and Vinfrido Estuary,” Caryl said, pointing as if pressing down on the dots on the map.

“Not only that, all the battles taking place now are just bait for me. So you guys have to run like crazy so that Tuli doesn’t even realize a dagger is approaching the back of his neck.” He said, raising the corners of his mouth.

Fran looked at Caryl, speechless, at the smile that seemed almost evil.

“Y-You crazy bastard! How dare you let dirty barbarians set foot in the Duchy…!!”

Fran’s cry stopped.

Caryl had covered the mouth of the loudly protesting man.

“Ugh… Ugh…!!”

Caryl smiled meaningfully, as if enjoying his reaction.

“Dirty? I’m disappointed that you would say that. You’ll be with me in the victory I bring. And the northern barbarians will be standing proudly behind you. I’m going to let the whole world know that.”

“……What?”

“I’ll create a situation that will engrave your name deeply in the history of the Duchy, more than anyone else. And our names will be linked because of you.”

Fran’s face contorted.

“You can look forward to it.”

“Th, That can’t……”

Crack.

It was then.

Caryl pressed the head of the piece representing Tuli’s army in White Bunker with his finger.

Zap…! Kwak!

Unable to withstand the force, the horse’s head shattered into pieces.

The pressure emanating from Caryl was enough to make Fran cower.

“……What method? No matter how narrow the waterway becomes, the sea is still the sea. If they cross by boat, they won’t make it on time because of the travel time?” Fran said, touching his throbbing jaw.

“Don’t worry. The barbarians will cross the sea without taking a boat.”

“……What?”

Fran looked at him, uncomprehending, unable to decipher Caryl’s scheme.

Waaaaaaah!

Waaaaah!

Looking at the soldiers still celebrating their victory in the port of Cob, Caryl raised the corners of his mouth.

“Now, let’s go, Fran Lurein.”