The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 283

192. Heim (1)

Despite it still being evening, the Order’s sacred ground, surrounded by forest, became as black as midnight shortly after sunset.

“Brother.”

Mart McGovern, who had been looking out the window, turned his head.

“Randol.”

He nodded, looking at his younger brother.

“Have you been training? You were diligent even at the mansion. Now that I think about it, it feels like it’s been a long time since I held a sword here.”

“Join me. We can’t use bladed weapons, but the Order permits us to practice with wooden swords.”

Mart gave a bitter smile at Randol’s words.

“You should do it as much as you can.”

Looking at Mart after a long time, Randol felt that the confidence and sharpness he had at the mansion had disappeared.

“I’m worried because life here seems very difficult for you.”

Unlike Randol, who arrived late, Mart, who was in charge of guarding Jake, had no choice but to continue this life for several months. It was called treatment, but it was no different from being a hostage and exiled.

But he couldn’t get out.

Jake, who came to the Order with the Emperor, was living in the innermost building of Heim for treatment, and he could only see him once a week at a set time in the hall where the combat priests were.

“…….”

However, Mart’s concern wasn’t simply because of a tedious life.

Even though Jake was his brother, his mind was filled with three other people instead of the hostage.

The Emperor, Carryl, and Oliven Stean.

“Hoo.”

He couldn’t say it in the end.

Even though he went all the way to Tatur to meet Carryl, he couldn’t tell Kwell the truth, and eventually, he was trapped in Heim, far from the Empire.

-Father.

-Did you meet Carryl?

-Yes.

Mart found Kwell as soon as he returned from Tatur. He wanted to draw his sword, even if it was unsightly, just as Carryl had said.

-Be careful with your behavior. Not only His Majesty but also the nobles of the Empire are paying attention to us. This is an important time.

-Yes?

-Now that Prince Ruon has stepped down, you know that Oliven is the most likely candidate [to become the next Emperor]. However, because of Carryl, His Majesty’s evaluation of the McGovern family is not very good, so from now on, stay away from that child.

-But…….

-You must not create a situation that would harm Oliven.

The moment he heard Kwell’s words, Mart realized that he couldn’t tell the truth.

To be exact, he realized that even if he told the truth, he wouldn’t be believed. Kwell was already convinced that Oliven would be the next king.

No.

For some reason, he had an uneasy feeling that he would *make* it so.

-Do you trust Oliven?

-What do you mean?

-I mean, is he the upright king that you believe in?

Mart paused for a moment.

It was difficult to breathe because of the heavy energy emanating from Kwell.

-That’s a useless question. You’ve been tainted by that child since you went to Tatur.

But Mart didn’t stop talking.

-What if Carryl becomes an enemy…? What are you going to do? Are you going to cut him down? I heard it from Tyren. You heard the plan that the second son made and slapped that child’s cheek.

-What?

-You must keep your balance. Carryl will surely be waiting as an enemy on the road ahead. Whether you embrace or abandon that child, make it clear.

-…….

Kwell was silent at Mart’s question.

-Why did you bring that child from the North? What happened between you and the barbarian that you, a loyal subject of the Empire, would even defy the imperial order to protect that child?

-Prepare to go to Heim. As the eldest son of the McGovern family, protect your siblings.

-Protect my siblings…? If you say that, Carryl is also my brother. I don’t want to admit it, but it’s been that way since the day you brought him.

In the end, Mart didn’t get an answer to his question until he came to Heim.

“Hoo…….”

He finished his recollection and sighed once again.

Randol stared at him silently.

Before coming here, Mart regretted not asking Kwell one question.

‘Father… which one will you choose, Oliven or Carryl?’

Will he close his eyes and serve a king who is dressed in a false cloak of virtue, or will he become a traitor in exchange for the courage to approach the truth?

Mart knew that he was at a crossroads from which he could no longer escape.

‘Carryl, as you said, I am worse than a petty person. I can’t even properly play the role of the family’s shield that you asked for, so I’m just waiting for my brother, who is being held hostage in a place like this…’

Mart blamed himself several times for his incompetence in not even being able to draw the sword of a petty person.

But even that was just an excuse.

‘If I have another chance…’

Mart knew it was a foolish thought. He had already had several chances.

He looked at Randol with a gloomy face and said.

“You’re having a hard time. You’ve become a hostage and are living this life.”

“It’s my choice. I’m just grateful for this punishment. After failing my mission and not being able to return, His Majesty allowed me to remain as his guard. It wouldn’t be strange if my head was cut off.”

Mart smiled bitterly at Randol’s words.

After all, it had been a long time since Randol returned to the Empire after the Rye Knights were annihilated.

Many nobles protested against his disposition.

Petitions demanding that Randol be hanged were pouring in, but the Emperor ignored their opinions and kept Randol in Heim.

The reason was obvious.

It was to keep as many hostages as possible by his side.

‘His Majesty’s lifespan is not that long.’

Unlike Mart, Randol knew the secret, so he knew that this life would end if a little more time passed.

‘Then Oliven will rule the Empire.’

Randol waited for that day, confident that his beliefs would not collapse.

Nevertheless, Carryl’s confident face, which he had met in the South from time to time, came to his mind.

“…….”

“…….”

They looked at each other’s faces.

There may be many meanings to silence, but the biggest reason was the secret that they couldn’t even tell their brothers.

Randol did not know about Oliven’s poisoning, which only Mart knew, and Mart, on the other hand, did not know about the secret of the Emperor’s lifespan that he knew.

Even though they were in the same place, the future that the two brothers wanted and the problems they were worried about were different because they knew different secrets.

It was then.

Knock, knock—

A knock was heard, and when the door was opened, a priest of the Order greeted them.

Mart nodded as if he knew who he was. He was the one who occasionally delivered news from the Empire.

“What’s going on? Sir Joey Johansel.”

The priest smiled gently with a friendly impression and greeted Mart.

“A formal report will be submitted to the Order tomorrow, but I thought it would be good for you to know beforehand.”

“Hmm?”

“Prince Oliven is scheduled to come to Heim.”

“His Highness… is coming here?”

“Yes. Sir Kwell will be in charge of the escort.”

“I see.”

It was not surprising.

Several months had passed since the Emperor stayed in the Order for recovery, so there was enough reason to visit for a report on the operation of the Empire.

Rather, it was late.

“We need to prepare. How long do you think it will take?”

“He will be coming through the teleportation magic circle, and it is an unofficial visit, so he will be coming with a minimum number of people, so it won’t take long. He said he would arrive within two days.”

“Then we have to hurry.”

“But…….”

Joey Johansel spoke cautiously.

“There is another request to visit Heim.”

“Hmm?”

“Unlike Prince Oliven, Tatur formally requested a visit to Heim a little while ago.”

Doo-geun, doo-geun—

The moment Mart heard those words, he couldn’t control his heart, which suddenly started beating like crazy.

And that was the same for Randol.

The Emperor, Oliven, and Carryl McGovern.

Mart felt as if his mind was turning white at the fact that something unimaginable was happening, that the three people he had been worrying about were gathering in one place.

Not only that.

Kwell McGovern, who is at the center of the controversy, is coming here, so there is nothing more surprising than this.

‘God… are you giving me another chance? Or are you sending me a supervisor to finish this and rebuke me for my shortcomings?’

Kkwak—

He clenched his fist so hard that he didn’t even realize it was shaking.

‘To come on his own… The promised six months have not passed yet, so why? What happened in the meantime?’

Randol, who was in a different position from Mart, recalled the promise he had made with Carryl in the South and felt an unknown anxiety engulfing his whole body.

He instinctively felt that Carryl’s coming to Heim was somehow related to Oliven’s visit.

“Bro… ther?”

Randol asked, looking at Mart, whose face had hardened the moment he received the report.

He opened the door as if he had made up his mind and said.

“We have to hurry. We have to prepare to welcome them.”

The two sensed it.

That the moment when the era changes will ironically happen in this place that is most isolated from the world.

* * *

“Hmm.”

Carryl slowly opened his eyes in the carriage.

“The air is good.”

He opened the window and took a deep breath. There were a few small birds on the eighth stage, as small as sparrows, but their dark black feathers looked very strong.

A tube smaller than a little finger was attached to his leg, and Carryl, who was writing something in the carriage, put the note in it and scattered the birds out the window.

They were homing pigeons raised by the barbarians in the South. Carryl used this instead of communication magic when delivering news or giving orders.

In the continent, including the Empire, other countries did not use homing pigeons.

The reason for this was also because it was a low-level method that was not magic, but ironically, that was why there was a lack of attention to homing pigeons, so he could secretly issue orders.

“It’s definitely a great place to be called the Holy City. Isn’t it?”

Carryl looked at the homing pigeons flying away with his orders and shook his hand.

“Um… but can I follow you?”

Unlike his languid appearance, a trembling voice was heard from across from him.

Israfil, who was sitting in front of him, asked Carryl with a worried face.

“Of course, of course.”

There was another person next to Israfil.

Kay Rothschild, who was covering her face with a robe, looked even smaller and more delicate next to Israfil, and although she didn’t say anything, tension could be felt in her tightly closed lips.

“Necromancy and black magic.”

Carryl pointed to the two people sitting across from him and said.

“A lich [an undead warlock] and the King of Dark Spirits. And even a spirit who lived in the Magic Age. Who could be a more perfect candidate than you among the people who will go to the Order’s sacred ground with me? I’m sure there won’t be.”

He nodded with a satisfied expression as if he was pleased just by imagining it.

“It’s the best combination to make a mess, right?”