The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 266

185. Tuli’s Execution (1)

“How dare you……!! Do you know where this is?!”

Cox Butler drew his sword with a sharp cry.

The people of the kingdom knew of his skills, befitting his burly physique.

As a former commander-in-chief, his skills were considerable.

Swish—

No death scream followed.

As Cox Butler drew his sword halfway, his head fell to the floor, his face still locked in rage. It was shocking.

Caryl nonchalantly returned the Ice Claw to its sheath.

The speed was so swift that no one noticed him draw his sword.

“……!!!”

All eyes fixed on the corpse.

Only Tuli showed surprise. The rest, indifferent, acted as if the outcome was obvious.

No matter how skilled, Cox Butler was insignificant compared to the commander of the Wyvern 1st Unit, the kingdom’s only Sword Master.

Moreover, Caryl had faced the super-giant golem, Revol, alone.

In the kingdom’s long history, Caryl, a boy, was achieving feats in months that no one had ever accomplished.

“Ugh…… Ughaaaaack!!!”

Instead of marveling at his achievements, Tuli screamed in terror, as if losing Cox, her only ally, terrified her.

“Sister, admit your mistakes and sincerely apologize to the people. Wooden Cloud is a toxic presence to the kingdom.”

“You…… What nonsense are you spouting!! Are you out of your mind like Fran? Talk some sense!”

Tuli grabbed Ruiche’s collar, venom in her eyes. She glanced at the door behind her, seeking escape.

“You can run. But the moment you go out that door, there will be no compromise. Only the future where your head hangs on the castle gate awaits.”

“Sister, admit your mistakes. The war is lost.”

“Crazy bitch…….”

Finally, a word unsuitable for a duchess escaped Tuli’s mouth.

“Don’t tell me……. You, did you do something to Ruiche? You must have seduced an innocent child.”

Caryl chuckled.

Tuli felt a chill at his cold, raised lips.

“Dealing with children is easy. Isn’t it?”

Caryl said to Tuli.

“……Don’t tell me you gave her drugs too?”

“Well, maybe I did, maybe I didn’t. Or maybe it’s something incomparable to what you used. Or maybe not.”

His ambiguous answer mocked her.

“How dare you……!! If you did, I won’t let you get away with it!!”

Tuli growled, but Caryl spoke indifferently.

“Think about your situation. No one will save you if your head falls off right now.”

“…….”

Tuli swallowed hard, returning to reality with that ice-cold remark.

“Don’t act high and mighty. Aren’t you the same, using children?”

“……What?”

Crack—

Caryl grabbed Tuli’s wrist.

“Kugh?!”

She frowned in pain, tears welling up.

“Rael.”

At his word, Tuli’s face stiffened.

Caryl hadn’t forgotten throughout the civil war.

Not only to gain the kingdom, but to find his nemesis.

“How do you know that name…….”

Unbelievable events unfolded.

The fall of Revol in White Bunker now felt insignificant.

Not only did Ganes know a member of Wooden Cloud, but that top-secret name came from Caryl.

“Don’t tell me……. You’re the one who told Ganes about the two names.”

Caryl shrugged, as if saying, ‘Who else?’

“That’s not all. I also told them that Wooden Cloud contacted the Gnome Kingdom and is doing useless things in the Blood Cave.”

He patted her shoulder.

“You know who the Lavat Guild belongs to, right? You tried to use me, but you messed with the wrong person. Be careful when you manipulate someone. Don’t poke at beings you can’t handle.”

Caryl said.

“Wooden Cloud will fall. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Crazy bastard. Do you think that’s possible?”

“Yeah.”

Tuli was speechless at his confidence.

“But that’s a problem for later. What’s important is whether your head will roll on the floor like that guy’s or stay where it is.”

“…….”

He spoke to Tuli again.

“Listen carefully. I’ll give you a chance to live. Bring me the girl you’re coaxing. That’s the only way your head stays where it is.”

Gulp—

Tuli swallowed, her eyes trembling.

“You look uneasy. Is the girl named Rael something even you can’t handle from the higher-ups? That explains it.”

“……What?”

“Just like you did to Fran, is Wooden Cloud really going to give you the kingdom? Or are you just another puppet?”

“Ridiculous.”

She scoffed.

‘Judging by her reaction, she’s connected to the higher-ups. If I use her, I can get a clue about Rael.’

Caryl, who wouldn’t have let such presumption go unnoticed, was different this time.

He was sure from her arrogance.

“We’ll see if it’s ridiculous later. But you need to face reality.”

Kwaaaaaang——!!!

Flames soared from the window, and explosions echoed from the White Bunker’s walls.

Waaaaaaaah——!

Waaaaaah——!!

The soldiers breaking through the castle gates shouted.

The sound of weapons clashing was loud, but the shouts revealed the victor.

Even with the same 30,000 soldiers, the outcome depended on leadership and situation.

[Krrrrrrrrr!!]

[Kaaaaaack!!!]

The drakes covered the sky as Revol fell.

The soldiers, who had lost their will when the golem, their shield, collapsed, dropped their weapons and surrendered.

“Those who surrender will be spared! You are not the enemy, but only moved by orders! Prepare to welcome a new master!!”

Milyana’s shout echoed.

“But those who resist will face death!!”

Her voice, filled with magic, resonated inside the White Bunker.

“You have already lost the war. It would have been different if Fran had won. But I, a third party, intervened. Will Wooden Cloud risk themselves to save you? I don’t think so.”

Caryl looked at Tuli.

“You’ll be pruned. No, removed since you’re a root? Whatever, there are no exceptions. Even if you are a root, there are no exceptions. Because there’s more than one root. And you’ll probably pay with your life.”

“…….”

He was right.

Caryl knew more about Wooden Cloud’s methods than she did.

In his previous life, he had captured members of secret organizations.

Though he never caught their leader, he had experienced their ideas and actions.

“I won’t give you time to think. But the time given is one day. If you swear allegiance to Wooden Cloud, I will highly value that loyalty and give you death as a gift.”

Her face stiffened.

“I don’t know if Wooden Cloud will be impressed by your loyalty, though.”

“Ugh…… Ughhhh……!!”

Looking at her crumpled face, Ruiche said.

“Are you saying you’ll spare my sister? Think about what she did to Lord Fran, possessed by those lunatics! And many people have suffered because of it!!”

“Don’t worry, Lady Ruiche. Her crimes will be judged publicly in White Bunker. But.”

Caryl said to Ruiche, who looked displeased.

“It seems Lady Ruiche should announce the end of this war first. Lord Fran’s life is important, but if you value the lives of the people as much, that is.”

“……Yes?”

“Aren’t many people still dying? As the owner of the kingdom, you need a broader mind.”

Ruiche flushed slightly.

She had never thought of herself as the ‘owner’.

“Give her a day’s grace. Tuli was the number one person in the kingdom. Even a loser deserves that much.”

“……I understand.”

She nodded.

Drawing her sword, she went to the end of the collapsed hall.

The soldiers were still fighting.

No,

A one-sided massacre.

The White Bunker’s defenders, who had lost their will, couldn’t resist the Fran army.

“Everyone, stop!!!”

A slender voice shouted.

That weak voice wouldn’t be heard in the war, but as soon as she shouted, everyone stopped and turned.

Even Ruiche turned in surprise.

Caryl gestured for her to continue. He amplified her voice with magic.

“I, Duchess Ruiche of the 7th, announce the end of the war!! Everyone, put down your weapons!!”

Ruiche shouted, excited.

“Those of you facing each other with swords were comrades, aiming for the same goal. Now, there is no need to continue this cruel fight. Our victory—no, no one has won. We now only have time to grieve for those sacrificed in this battle.”

Her voice resonated.

Tens of thousands of soldiers looked at her in the collapsed hall, her eyes filled with tears.

“So everyone……. Let’s protect the kingdom again.”

As soon as Ruiche finished, Caryl raised his hand. Milyana, far away, confirmed it and signaled the soldiers.

Waaaaaaaaaaaa——!!!

Waaaaaaa——!!

The soldiers shouted.

The White Bunker’s soldiers knelt, and the Fran army’s morale soared.

‘No way……!! Duchess Tuli has fallen!’

‘This is not the time. If I stay, I’ll be killed. I have to run…….’

The nobles fled down the evacuation route.

“…….”

Caryl looked at them and turned. He climbed onto Revol.

Carrying Wingel, who had collapsed in the cockpit, he pushed Revol.

Squeak…….

Drawing up his magic, Revol began to fall like a giant pillar.

Kwagagang! Kwagang! Kwagagagagang!!!!

The falling Revol destroyed Tuli’s castle and crushed the nobles.

“Kyaaak!!”

“Ughaaaaack……!!

The nobles were crushed, and the screams were silenced.

No nobles survived.

[Krrr!!]

[Kaaaaaaa——!!]

Dust rose, and drakes soared.

“Jigra.”

Caryl called.

“Gather the chieftains.”

He leaned Wingel against the wall and left the hall, fastening his clothes. The cold wind calmed the hot air.

“Now the preparation is over.”

* * *

White Bunker’s night.

A ruined castle, but laughter echoed.

“Why did that little kid make the declaration of the end?”

“She’s the duchess. And among the victors, except for Fran, she has the most soldiers. With Fran unconscious, it’s natural.”

Unlike the commotion outside, the air inside was cold. Caryl said, sipping liquor.

“Everyone knows that you alone are worth more than tens of thousands of soldiers.”

Milyana stood behind him.

Hashir and Kinu Mukari nodded. Lilianna, Kuntai, and Patun had the same expression.

“Hashir, what did I tell you?”

“You said you didn’t want to drag out the war.”

“That’s right. The kingdom’s military power will be necessary later. No need to kill them unnecessarily. Frankly, using the Steel Fleet as a bridge was a waste.”

Caryl shrugged.

“This is good enough. The soldiers weren’t damaged much. It happened after Revol fell, so they had lost their will.”

“But it’s like handing the kingdom to a kid who doesn’t know anything.”

Caryl chuckled.

“It’s natural that you don’t know yet.”

“……?”

Caryl looked at Lilianna. She nodded.

“Milyana, don’t worry. The kingdom will be ours. The reason I didn’t want to drag out the war is because my plan only starts after the war is over.”

“……What?”

“Raise your glasses.”

Caryl refilled the glasses.

“Before tonight is over, the kingdom will face tragedy, so we should drink liquor of mourning rather than joy.”

“Even though you created that tragedy?”

Caryl smiled and drank.

“Of course, this victory belongs to the kingdom, not mine. When tonight is over, I will seize my victory.”

Everyone drank.

“Then I will drink the liquor of victory.”

Caryl poured liquor and handed it to someone.

“Do you have any regrets? All of this is your plan.”

Everyone looked.

This man, standing among the foreigners, received the liquor and said stiffly.

“No, I don’t.”

Giving Ganes the drug, using Ruiche’s heart, all from one mind.

He was Anthem Howard.

“Make your head and heart cold.”

Caryl nodded.

“We will soon face a great upheaval, so your coldness will protect the kingdom.”