The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 299

201. Proof (2)

“I can’t fool you, Your Majesty, after all.”

Viola shook her head, responding to Carryl’s words.

“It’s because a victory shouldn’t happen.”

“Why is that?”

Viola continued.

“The Empire already knows that the Duchy is in Your Majesty’s hands. They call themselves the strongest on the continent, but they must realize that the tide has already turned.”

“Hmm.”

“If the Three Kingdoms of Istria fall under Your Majesty’s command, the Empire will focus on a single enemy. But if the war is not over, their attention will be divided, and the Empire will have to keep both sides in check.”

Carryl nodded at her words.

“We were planning to settle the Three Kingdoms at the point when Your Majesty declares war on the Empire. That way, the embers of war would spread rapidly, and the Empire would be completely isolated. Olivern would have no choice but to swallow the last remaining poisonous weed to increase his power.”

“Poisonous weed…”

“First Prince Ruon.”

Carryl smirked at Viola’s words.

“Even though Ruon has been deposed, there are still forces that follow him. More precisely, it’s the Empress, not him… Olivern is in a situation where even they are needed.”

Her eyes gleamed.

“But if those two join hands, it would be the worst possible outcome for the Empire.”

“I see. You anticipated that I would hear the news from Beykan that I was heading to the Three Kingdoms and declare war in Heim.”

He pointed to Beryl’s head.

“And you brought this to show that you have the power to settle the Three Kingdoms at any time?”

Viola shrugged and replied.

“Although, the Emperor’s death was truly unexpected.”

“Ha… Haha.”

Carryl laughed softly, as if dumbfounded by Viola’s words.

“To draw the Empire’s attention for my sake… So, I received help from you? Because if there hadn’t been a war in the Three Kingdoms, the Empire might have acted sooner, is that it…?”

At that moment, his eyes changed.

“……!!”

Viola involuntarily stepped back, startled. Carryl’s gaze was as sharp as a blade.

“It’s like a fox worrying about a lion.”

“My lord… Viola…”

Carryl raised his hand, stopping Beykan from defending her.

“War always brings unexpected variables. But even if a valley is added to a stream, it cannot overcome the waves of the ocean. It will only be buried, disappear, or be covered.”

“Are you saying that Your Majesty’s Free Army is the wave of the ocean?”

Carryl simply smiled faintly at her words.

Only a few thousand men.

In fact, even compared to the Empire and other kingdoms, the number was too small.

However, no one in the Three Kingdoms who had witnessed the miracle of Twin Armor considered the Free Army to be merely a ripple.

“No matter how sweet your words are, in the end, you simply failed to accomplish the order I gave you.”

Carryl looked at her.

“Viola, do you remember what I said when we first met?”

“……”

“Unlike other kingdoms, the Three Kingdoms have maintained a coalition system for a long time. An incomplete system makes them check each other, eventually leading to war like now. All the fault lies not with the people, but with those who govern.”

He spoke coldly.

“Under the facade of being the ‘Three Great Powers of the Continent,’ you are deluded into thinking that you are on par with the Empire and the Duchy with your insignificant power.”

Whoosh—!

At that moment,

Viola’s face flushed at Carryl’s words.

“You came to me to save the people. Why are you, who raised an army to ensure that the people of the Three Kingdoms live stable lives and do not go hungry, still continuing the war?”

“Th, that’s…!!”

“Your actions are merely neglecting your people and impoverishing your land to gain my favor.”

Viola tried to say something but closed her mouth.

“What have you accomplished?”

Carryl said to her harshly.

“Nothing.”

Since when was it?

As Carryl said, wasn’t she intoxicated with the idea that her success, backed by the Free Army, was all due to her own abilities?

Perhaps she was fascinated by the extraordinary strategies he had shown in Twin Armor and wanted to create such a grand scheme herself.

“If you want to save the people, first ascend to the throne. There is only one seat. Fortunately, there is still one person alive to pin the blame on.”

Carryl pointed in the direction of the Kingdom of Istan, as if understanding her heart.

“You said you would offer me the Three Kingdoms. That was also to save your people. If you are going to offer it, kneel properly and put it down. But at least until the moment you kneel, you must create a stage where you can proudly maintain the dignity of a king. Just like that guy is standing on a stage to prove himself.”

He slowly rose from his seat.

‘……I can’t gauge the size of his vessel [his ambition or capabilities]. I’ve really done something foolish.’

Ironically, at that moment, Viola felt genuine loyalty to Carryl.

Carryl didn’t scold her any further.

It was a failure, but not a complete failure.

He knew well that war was the best environment for nurturing talent.

He could see that clearly from Grace.

And now, because of this, Viola would take another step forward.

“The waters of the valley cannot overcome the waves. Remember that what you must do is create a sluice [a channel with a gate to control water flow] that connects the valley to the waves.”

Viola looked at Carryl’s back and realized that everything she had thought so far was just a worry.

The war with the Empire.

Carryl seemed to have already calculated everything in his head about that unimaginable event.

She smiled quietly.

Beykan thought that smile was somehow strange.

“How long do you think it will take to settle the Three Kingdoms?”

She raised her head and confidently answered Carryl’s question.

“Just as Aidan proves himself, I will present the Three Kingdoms to Your Majesty when that sword dance ends.”

“……!!!”

At her words, Beykan looked surprised.

Step— Step— Step—

Carryl slowly moved, grabbed the railing of the window, and looked out of the castle.

Clang!! Clang——! Clang……!!

The sound of swords clashing incessantly echoed through the dark night.

“Grace Panfiel.”

Carryl said without turning his head to Viola, who was kneeling.

“He’s not here.”

Viola smirked at those words.

“The gift you brought me was not just Beryl’s head. After ambushing Beryl, you immediately attacked the Kingdom of Istan with the remaining forces. After sending Beykan’s Free Army back, only with Panfiel’s knights.”

“From the beginning, I promised Your Majesty the victory of the Three Kingdoms. But indeed, it was like a fox worrying about a lion. The responsibility for that recklessness is naturally mine, not to be shared with the Free Army.”

“Hahahaha……!!”

Carryl laughed at her words.

“Beykan, did you see that? You got outmaneuvered. You see that she is not as weak as to need your protection? She was already a worthy competitor. She excluded you and attributed the achievements to herself to make herself stand out.”

At his words, Beykan shrugged with a bitter smile, but he didn’t seem to feel bad.

“Good, Viola. But I will entrust you with one more task to make up for your mistake.”

“What is it?”

“After tonight, summon the assassins of the Eastern Kingdom and bring them to me. Let’s make those who have lost their master our own.”

“But…”

Viola looked down at the castle and said in a trembling voice.

It was then.

Swoosh—

Even though they were far away, the sound of a sharp dagger cutting flesh was clearly heard.

Viola shuddered, feeling goosebumps all over her body.

“The victory or defeat will be decided soon.”

Thud—

As he leaped over the fortress walls, the wyverns flying in the sky flapped their wings in turn, as if becoming stepping stones, matching his steps.

‘Damn it……!! Why to this brat……!’

Simon Coden looked at Aidan in front of him and couldn’t believe it.

How could a brat who hadn’t even reached the rank of Sword Master not back down even a step in a fight against him?

Kwaaaaaaaang―――!!!

Kwaaaaaaang―――!!!

He swung his fan with all his might, filled with magic power. The blades of the fan, already broken here and there due to the fierce battle, had long lost their initial majesty.

‘For me, the master of the Eastern Kingdom, to become a clown……!’

The plan to quickly decide the victory and turn around triumphantly was long gone.

The more time he dragged on, the more his reputation was being tarnished, so it was truly a situation where winning was just breaking even, and losing would be a great loss.

Gritting his teeth, he drew the iron wire downwards, and at that moment,

An aura of swordsmanship at a speed that could not be followed by the eye covered him.

“……!!!”

The sword strikes, which were weak at first, poured down like waves, covering him like a net that seemed to bind him.

“Where do you think you’re going!!”

“Die!!!”

As Simon Coden hurriedly spread his fan to deflect the sword and retreat, the assassins of Amyeon simultaneously attacked Aidan.

Clang……!! Kwaaaaaaang……!

The sword net spread by Aidan was deflected by the assassins’ swords and collapsed. But the attack did not end there.

Attacks that aimed for his vitals poured down if he gave even a small opening. However, despite the enemy’s attacks, Aidan barely managed to evade them.

‘How…….’

The question that Simon Coden felt was also in their heads.

‘How can that guy block our swords to this extent?’

‘No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t make sense……!’

It was because it was unimaginable that he would grow this much in the few years since he was sent on a mission to the continent and lost contact.

‘Slow.’

But unlike them, who were in shock, Aidan thought as he dodged their swords.

The most important thing for an assassin.

That is the eye.

Because they were not knights, their purpose was not to face the sword head-on, but to avoid the sword and cut off the enemy’s breath.

Aidan Hamill, unlike Suan Hazar, had traveled to many places with Carryl. And he had seen the swords of more Sword Masters than anyone else among his subordinates.

‘It’s almost miraculous.’

He thought that Carryl had not made any arrangements for him until now.

But he didn’t know.

That providing the opportunity to see their swordsmanship was Carryl’s preparation for Aidan’s awakening.

“How dare you!!”

“Do you think you can break through us!!”

The dozen or so assassins who were rushing at Aidan were clearly so strong that they could not even be looked at before.

But now, they just seemed infinitely small and slow.

“Ha… Haha.”

His body was clearly getting tired, but his mind was becoming more and more elevated.

Aidan kept laughing without realizing it, unlike when he was hunting monsters in the Tower of Poison.

Dealing with people, not monsters.

The feeling of the back of his neck throbbing wasn’t bad. His nervous system was entirely focused on this battle.

A kind of awakening.

At this moment, his talent was shining even more.

Only one thing.

To cut off Simon Coden’s head.

“Hoo… Hoo.”

Unlike the assassins who were breathing heavily, Aidan Hamill rather inhaled.

To hide his presence.

He was undoubtedly a natural assassin.

Whoosh……!!

The red wyvern flying in the sky seemed to have understood Carryl’s intention, and as soon as he got on top of it, it spread its huge wings.

“Aidan, you are going to the North with me.”

In the midst of the ceaseless barrage of attacks, it was as if his voice was clearly piercing into Aidan’s ears.

Flap—!

Whoaaaaaak—!!

The moment the wyvern flapped its wings greatly, the torches went out, and at the same time, dozens of wyverns spread their huge wings, and even the starlight disappeared, casting a dark shadow over Aidan’s head.

Darkness.

At that moment, Simon Coden and Aidan had the same thought in their heads at the same time.

That was a fleeting gap.

Clachachang―――!!

Clang―!!!

In the pitch-black darkness, sharp swords collided.