The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 28

26. Coincidence Is Not Coincidence

Though the River of Four-Nines seemed ready to devour them, Soo-an navigated it with incredible skill.

“Hup!”

As if waiting for this moment, he threw the thick, hooked rope he had placed on the floor with all his might.

Whirr—!!

Clang—!!

The hook caught onto a rock visible through the river, and he quickly tied the rope to the stern.

Creak… Creeeak…

The ship made a large circle, creaking as if its bottom was about to break.

Veins bulged on Soo-an’s arms as if they would burst.

‘Impressive strength,’ Kahlil thought.

Without the help of magic, Soo-an was raising the ship against the currents of the Four-Nines with pure muscle power alone.

‘Hmm?’

At that moment, Kahlil’s eyes narrowed slightly.

‘That is…….’

A brand-like tattoo seared into Soo-an’s wrist caught his eye.

“What’s that?”

“It’s nothing much. Have you heard of the Ghoul Tribe? They’re a tribe that lives in the swamps further north. It’s their tattoo.”

“Is that so?”

Kahlil looked at Soo-an, who answered nonchalantly, with an unreadable, subtle smile.

“I see.”

“Kuh…!! Don’t talk to me now!”

Soo-an shouted as he pulled the rope with all his might.

“Hoo, hoo, hoo…”

He exhaled, something he had repeated dozens of times.

The moment the ship’s bow entered the gap between the rocks, he cut the rope as if he had been waiting for it.

Whirr……!!

The tightly stretched rope whipped around like a snake and was dragged into the water. Soo-an steered the ship precisely through the rocks, escaping the Four-Nines River.

“Impressive, no matter how many times I see it,” Kahlil muttered as he watched him steer the ship.

“Watch out!!!”

It was then that Soo-an shouted in a surprised voice.

Splash……!!

The ship shook violently from side to side, and water splashed up on both sides.

“Kaaaa!”

At the same time as the roar of a monstrous creature, a snake-like monster sprang out of the water, coiling in the air as if swimming, then fell downwards.

“Damn it!!”

Soo-an desperately rowed in the opposite direction.

Clatter-

Crash-

However, the oars broke under the force, and Soo-an lost his balance and rolled to the floor.

“Soo… Water King? Damn it, what bad luck!! Of all times……!!”

He shouted with a hardened face as he watched the monster dive back into the river.

“…….”

However, unlike the flustered Soo-an, Kahlil slowly pulled out Agnel [his dagger] from his chest.

“Don’t make such a fuss. The Water King is much bigger than that. Besides, that guy lives in the upper reaches of the river and doesn’t come down here often unless it’s winter.”

“…Huh?”

“That’s just a River Serpent. Just one of the Water King’s many offspring.”

Swish-

The sound of a sharp dagger was heard.

[Krrr!!!]

Kahlil’s eyes flashed as he looked at the monster sticking its head above the water.

The monster gripped the ship as if coiling around it.

Soo-an squeezed his eyes shut.

‘Now.’

Kahlil’s sword flashed.

The dagger was precisely lodged in the serpent’s temple.

Whirr—!!

As if peeling off its skin, Kahlil pushed the dagger embedded in its head upwards with all his might.

[Kyak!!! Kyaaaa……!!]

The serpent’s head split in two, and it trembled without even letting out a proper scream.

Thud-

The serpent’s tail, still alive with nerves, fluttered for a moment, but it was soon cut off by Kahlil’s sword and floated on the river.

Red blood spread around, and monsters that smelled the blood rushed at it.

“Let’s go.”

Soo-an stared at him with a blank expression as Kahlil spoke nonchalantly.

* * *

“…We’ve arrived.”

Soo-an looked at Kahlil with a dazed face, still not over the shock.

‘What kind of human is he? To take down that giant monster in one blow…….’

River Serpent.

This monster, which lives in the deep river, may be smaller than other serpents, but its ferocity was second to none.

‘Shouldn’t that only be possible for a knight-level warrior?’

He had a million things he wanted to ask, but he kept his mouth shut.

He knew that unnecessary curiosity only hastened death.

“Indeed. No matter how I think about it, you’re the only one I can safely entrust this river to.”

“Pardon?”

“What you told Ollivern. It was a lie, wasn’t it?”

Kahlil slowly raised his head.

The artificial island they had arrived at, with high walls built like a fortress, must be the safest place on the continent.

Only, the problem was that the people living inside were far from safe.

A group of men were walking towards them from the harbor in the distance, as if they had spotted them.

“I don’t know what you mean…….”

“I’m talking about taking 5 gold coins from the foreign race slaves and letting them cross the Four-Nines.”

“…….”

“The slaves couldn’t possibly have that much money. But every year, the number of foreign races living in Tatur increased. Eventually, rumors spread, and 90% of the city was filled with foreign races.”

The Last Sanctuary.

Ironically, Tatur was called that by the foreign races, from those who fled the Edict of Heresy Extermination to those who remained after the Edict of Heresy Extermination was withdrawn [a decree forcing non-humans out of human lands].

‘Naturally, they gather here. I’m just trying to speed up that time a little,’ Kahlil thought.

Kahlil looked at Soo-an Hazar.

‘You were at the center of it.’

“I don’t understand any of what you’re saying.”

Soo-an turned his head away, avoiding Kahlil’s eyes.

“You wouldn’t just give them to the Gold Lion as slaves because they don’t have money. So, there’s only one thing left.”

“…….”

“You’re paying the money you’re supposed to pay him.”

Kahlil began walking towards the men walking towards him.

“All you’re doing is making the Gold Lion richer. Don’t bother doing that from now on. Instead, gather people directly in Tatur.”

Thud—!!!

At that moment, Kahlil’s body soared up.

The bow of the ship he was standing on shattered from the impact.

A speed that could not be followed by the eye.

Soo-an turned his head from side to side to find Kahlil.

Bang-!! Crash—!!

Clang–!!

The sound of sharp weapons rang out.

Only then was Soo-an able to find Kahlil.

“Yo… You bastard……. Who are you!!”

A sharp dagger was aimed at a soldier’s neck.

It was instantaneous.

A man was trampled under Kahlil’s feet, and the other was lying on the floor, seemingly unconscious.

“Take me to the Gold Lion.”

“……Keuk!!”

The man groaned, unable to speak properly, as Kahlil stepped on his face.

“Yo… You crazy!! Kill…….”

Swish-

Kahlil slashed the neck of the man he was aiming at with the dagger without hesitation.

Hot blood dripped onto the head of the man who had fallen under his feet.

“Hee… Heek?!”

He was startled by the blood flowing down his forehead and struggled, but the more he did, the stronger Kahlil’s grip became.

“Sa… Save…….”

It was then.

“Ugh… Ack!! Sa, save me……! Aaaaaack……!!!”

It was the same words as the man trampled under Kahlil’s feet, but a frivolous cry that broke the heavy air.

Soo-an turned his head.

A man who looked like he had been beaten to a pulp was dragging his limping leg towards Kahlil.

Poof……!!

The man fell and got up again and again on the sand that caved in every time he moved, but he was almost crawling towards here.

It was pitiful to even watch.

‘That guy is here?’

Everyone was dumbfounded by the unexpected appearance of the man, but Kahlil looked at the man with an unreadable expression.

‘I see.’

Kahlil recalled what Ollivern had said when he parted ways with Soo-an Hazar.

The words that they would meet again.

‘Not bad, Ollivern.’