The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 284

192. Heim (2)

Clack.

The door opened, and a priest of the Order bowed to Carryl.

“Greetings to the King of Tatur. Thank you for visiting the Order. I regret to inform you that the Bishop is currently attending to the health of His Majesty the Emperor and is temporarily away.”

“I understand that the Order’s doctrine is to love all people equally, but the highest authority of the Order, the Bishop, is away for one person… Isn’t that a violation of the rules?”

Carryl’s words did not faze the priest, who responded with a calm face.

“Because the Order is for everyone, regardless of status, the Bishop is personally caring for His Majesty the Emperor. If His Highness needs the power of the Order, the Bishop will gladly respond.”

Carryl scoffed at his slick answer.

“Tell him that my meeting would be more effective in curing the Emperor’s illness than the Bishop’s grace.”

“I will. We have prepared accommodations for you, so please rest comfortably. Many people wish to see the Bishop, so it may take some time.”

“Are there other guests besides us?”

“Yes. His Imperial Highness, the Second Prince Olivon, has come. It is a great pleasure for us to have such prominent figures from the continent visit the Order.”

“…….”

Contrary to the priest’s words, Carryl’s face hardened the moment Olivon’s name was mentioned.

‘Calling me to Heim is a trap set by the Emperor. This has nothing to do with Olivon… Why is he here?’

For a moment, Carryl wondered if Olivon and the Emperor were cooperating.

But that was unlikely.

To the Emperor, who didn’t want to lose his position, Olivon was an enemy, regardless of blood ties.

Conversely, to Olivon of the Wooden Cloud, the Emperor was merely an existence to be removed.

‘Did he come to check on the Emperor’s condition?’

He glanced sideways and said to the priest,

“The Second Prince has come… What an unexpected guest. Then, of course, I should wait. But… Did the Prince come alone to this remote place?”

“No. Sir Kwell McGovern, the continent’s greatest swordsman, came with his escorts as the Prince’s guard.”

“Kwell… Sir Kwell?”

Carryl’s voice trembled slightly.

Israfil and Kay looked at him for the first time, as he seemed more embarrassed than when he heard Olivon’s name.

“Yes. He arrived a day earlier and is resting in the inner quarters. They also requested to see the Bishop… But as you know, the Bishop is currently absent, so they are waiting.”

The priest spoke as if to say that even the Prince who came earlier was waiting, so don’t be dissatisfied.

‘Mart and Randal are also here. And Jake is also in the Order… That makes five members of the McGovern family.’

Kwell following Olivon was something he could understand without needing to find a reason.

It was said to be for Jake’s treatment, but in the end, he was being held hostage.

Moreover, with Mart and Randal here, it was undoubtedly to look after the safety of his children.

‘This isn’t good.’

It would be a reunion after a long time, but Carryl was not at all pleased to meet Kwell.

‘Father is the center of the Imperial Knights. Now that the Emperor is away, it’s a good time to stabilize the Empire. But for him to come here with Olivon at this time…’

There was only one reason.

‘The nobles want to weaken the McGovern family’s power by using me as an excuse. And the Emperor wants the same thing.’

Nevertheless, the fact that Olivon came here with Kwell meant that he trusted him that much.

‘He’s here to end it.’

The Emperor was ultimately an obstacle to Olivon solidifying his position.

According to the plan, his position should have already been his through poisoning.

The existence of the Emperor was also an obstacle to Kwell. He couldn’t act freely because his sons were being held hostage.

‘He came to kill the Emperor.’

If he prepared for any potential danger and, at the same time, restored the McGovern family’s freedom by killing the Emperor, Kwell would pledge allegiance to Olivon even more.

Was it fate?

He never imagined that these four—the Emperor, Olivon, Kwell, and himself—would gather in one place, from the past life to the future of this life.

“Did only Sir Kwell come from the Empire?”

“No. Three knights came with Sir Kwell as His Highness’s escort.”

“Who are they?”

“Hmm… I don’t know their names, but one of them said his name was Elan.”

Carryl smiled faintly at his words.

‘Elan of the Holy Silver. Then I know who the other two are without even seeing them. Is it already time for them to appear…’

As if looking at a book he had read again and reviewing the characters, Carryl felt a sense of novelty as soon as he heard the name.

Elan of the Holy Silver, Paiman the Spear Demon, and Magto the Island King.

All of them were heroes who emerged as the Holy War began.

Known as the Empire’s Three Divine Generals, they filled the void left by Kwell McGovern’s death and were praised as heroes of the nation.

‘They all based their swordsmanship on Father’s and were directly taught by him. At that time, they were all Sword Masters, but I wonder… what level are they at now?’

Carryl said with expectant eyes.

“Does His Highness Olivon know about our visit?”

“Yes. The news of your arrival at the Order should have reached him by now.”

Carryl nodded.

“I understand. Then I’ll wait.”

The priest nodded with an arrogant expression, as if Carryl’s surprisingly compliant attitude was expected, and left the room.

“Israfil, Kay.”

As soon as he closed the door, Carryl called out to the two.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes? But the priest said we should stay here…”

Israfil stopped speaking.

He had been momentarily overwhelmed by the grandeur of the Order and forgotten that Carryl was not someone who would be swayed by the words of a mere priest.

[Kekeke… You fool. You should learn some of that guy’s guts.]

“Great Master…”

Israfil looked at Alun in surprise as he popped out with black smoke.

It was no wonder, as he had brazenly revealed himself in the Order, which could be said to be the center of purification and exorcism.

[They probably already know you’re a black magician. The Order is for those who serve God, not for those guys to be God.]

Creak— Creak—

Kay silently began to drag the huge coffin-like black box that had been placed on the floor.

The box, made directly by the dwarves, was engraved with a magic circle to conceal magical power.

What was inside was obvious.

Click.

Creak—!!

As she turned the lever on the side of the box, the lock was released, and a doll appeared inside.

[Hoo…]

As Kay pulled a transparent string from the ring-like loops on the tips of her ten fingers and connected it to the doll, the sleeping doll let out a low breath.

Carryl looked at the two and nodded with a satisfied expression.

A dead man and a lich were standing brazenly in the middle of the holy Order.

‘Olivon, you must be flustered by now.’

His visit to the Order was for the assassination of the Emperor, but even he had an unexpected problem.

That was,

Carryl’s arrival here.

‘No. On the contrary, he might be waiting for me. He already declared war in the Blood Cave.’

“How long has it been…”

He muttered in a low voice.

A lot of time had passed since he first met Olivon in the Imperial Capital.

There had been many events and many changes.

The first meeting was due to the death of Cromen, and now they were meeting again in a place where the Emperor’s life was at stake.

‘Maybe we can only see each other by shedding blood.’

He smiled bitterly.

‘I hope you’ve grown in the meantime. Otherwise, the price for this place might be your life, not the Emperor’s.’

Pazzzzzz—!!

At that moment,

The magic of purple Vident power that wrapped around Carryl’s entire body burst out intensely.

* * *

“……!!!”

“What’s wrong?”

“Didn’t you guys feel it?”

“Yes?”

At Kwell’s hasty gaze out the window, the three knights with him turned their heads in the direction he was looking.

“I felt an alien magical energy.”

“Magical power… is it?”

One of the three knights, a handsome man with his hair swept back, frowned slightly and asked.

“There’s a barrier in the Order, so it’s impossible to use magic inside unless you’re an authorized priest. Could it be because of the Bishop’s healing ritual?”

“Hmm…”

“You seem too sensitive lately. It would be nice if you had a little more leeway. Don’t you think so, Elan?”

Instinctively, one name came to Kwell’s mind.

‘Carryl…’

The handsome man called Elan nodded to a man with thick eyebrows and a cleanly shaved head that contrasted with his abundant hair.

“Paiman, Master is not as free as we are. He’s busy taking care of state affairs. Thanks to Master, we’ve been able to comfortably hone our skills in the Sword Estate until now.”

Sword Estate.

It was a training center where Kwell traveled around and gathered talented people to train. Among them, he had chosen three who had achieved success this time and brought them to escort Olivon.

The knights trained there played an active role in the battle against corruption in the Holy War, but looking back now, he wondered if it wasn’t a preparation to give power to Olivon even before that.

“That’s right. But we were cut off from the world. From now on, it’s our turn to be Master’s strength.”

The Sword Estate, located in a deep forest in the northern part of the McGovern family’s mansion, was a place solely for training.

Elan said with a sense of novelty and tension as he felt the outside world for the first time in years, as if making a pledge.

“We need to work harder.”

“That’s a cliché. Everyone knows that. But the realm of Sword Master isn’t something you can achieve just by trying.”

Paiman smirked at the muscular man with short, upright hair across from him.

“Magto, you guys are working hard enough. I haven’t seen anyone as talented as you among the talents I’ve seen.”

Kwell smiled faintly with a tired face and looked at his three disciples.

Each one was a talent he had personally selected.

They were all young and possessed the skills of an Advanced Sword Expert, and they were already on the verge of becoming Sword Masters.

‘It’s a good thing I brought them.’

After arriving at the Order, Kwell couldn’t hide his anxiety at the news that Carryl was coming here.

But he knew from the beginning that the Emperor had designated this place as a place to bring Carryl in.

He just hoped that Carryl would reject all proposals and walk his own path, as he had done so far.

‘Carryl, what are you thinking coming here?’

“Of course.”

It was then.

Clack—

“I came to see Olivon.”

Kwell hurriedly turned his head as the answer to the question he had only thought about in his head was heard aloud.

A person entering as the door opened.

“It’s been a while.”

He looked at Carryl with trembling eyes.

“You’re being rude. How dare you speak His Highness’s name so carelessly.”

Paiman hurriedly stood up and shouted.

But at that moment, Carryl smiled as he looked at the faces of the three, as if he had met welcome people.

‘To see them in a place like this…’

He couldn’t imagine their clumsy appearance.

‘If it weren’t for them, the Holy War would have been lost. I have gratitude for you. But that gratitude belongs to the past life, not to the present.’

“You’re the one being rude.”

“…What?”

Paiman was dumbfounded at Carryl’s provocative words, who seemed much younger than him and spoke so casually.

“Sit down.”

“……!!!”

But at that moment, his eyes widened.

The moment he was touched by the sharp aura pouring out of Carryl, he collapsed into the chair as if he had been cut by hundreds of blades.

“You shouldn’t even think about grabbing a spear. I know you’re happy to be out in the world, but the way to live in the world is to cultivate an eye for judging your skills before you show them off. Unless you don’t want to be unable to hold a spear again.”

The sound of swallowing dry saliva echoed in the room.

Despite his extremely rude words, no one could refute him. Elan and Magto just stared at Carryl, unable to take their eyes off him, and muttered with stiff faces.

“Master.”

“Don’t think rashly.”

“…I don’t think your words that we’re working hard enough were correct.”

They knew that the aura emanating from the boy, who seemed much younger, was something they could never handle.

The moment Carryl exuded his aura, the first thought that came to the three of them was not whether they could fight, but whether they could survive.

Sweat dripped from his forehead.

“It seems that the alien magical power from earlier belongs to that guy. Who is that person…?”

The thought that instinctively came to their minds the moment they saw Carryl was the same.

“…He’s my son.”

Kwell answered in a heavy voice.

“Yes?”

“You mean he’s Master’s son?!”

Everyone looked at Carryl again at the scream close to astonishment that broke the silence.

“No.”

He denied it.

Amidst everyone’s surprise, Carryl answered coldly, turning his gaze towards them.

“I am the King of Tatur.”