The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 3

3. Choosing a Path

“This way.”

Following Ruben’s lead, Caryl walked down the hallway.

The portraits of the successive heads of the McGovern family, a knightly house representing the Empire, were lined up.

At the end of the hallway hung a portrait of Kwell.

And an empty space.

‘Come to think of it, a lot has happened.’

Caryl’s past.

Even in this place, which seemed like a peaceful mansion, there had been numerous incidents and encounters.

‘I know whose portrait will hang there.’

Important things that must not be forgotten.

Among them are events that could change history.

‘Who will have their face hung here in this life?’

Caryl stopped walking.

Then, he stared blankly at the empty frame.

Originally, Mart, as the firstborn, would naturally inherit the family.

‘But Father gave all his children the position of successor candidate.’

If so.

‘Will he inherit the family in this life too?’

That is unknown.

‘I know the future.’

Of course, the event that confirmed the head of the McGovern family.

Now.

It was not impossible for his portrait to hang in that spot.

But.

‘My goal isn’t just becoming a Count.’

In a few years, when the prophecy is given and the monsters inside Farrell appear, the lives of the glamorous imperial nobles who held the continent in their hands will be meaningless.

Inside the tower, going back in time, Caryl thought of only one thing.

To stand at the apex of everything.

“It’s this way.”

Caryl looked in the direction Ruben was pointing.

“Okay.”

Caryl slowly moved his steps, hearing the familiar sound of swords clashing.

* * *

“Hmm?”

“That guy…….”

The moment the training ground door opened, everyone’s eyes focused on one place.

“Caryl, you must be tired from the long journey. Why did you come all the way here without resting?”

Mart said, wiping away sweat.

Unlike his warm words, a cold atmosphere swirled around the training ground.

“Ah, yes, at the master’s word, I was briefly… touring the mansion.”

Ruben, quick-witted, spoke first.

“Is that so? You guided him to a useless place. He’s not going to have any connection here anyway. Take him back.”

“That’s…….”

Elliot coldly did not hide his displeasure at Caryl’s presence in the same space.

“Don’t mind him and continue.”

Clang-!!

Clang!! Clang!! Clang-!!

The sound of swords clashing was heard.

How many minutes had passed?

“…….”

Mart’s sword, who had said not to mind him, finally stopped. He couldn’t ignore Caryl’s gaze from behind.

“Do you know how to use a sword? I’ve only heard rumors that the barbarians of the North kill people with their bare hands and tear their flesh apart.”

“…….”

Unlike his friendly tone, there were needles hidden in his words.

“How about it? Don’t just watch, want to try?”

“Brother?”

Caryl spoke calmly, but he knew that Mart’s eyes, looking at him, were shaking.

‘As expected……. Nothing has changed. With your strong pride, I knew you wouldn’t be able to stand my gaze.’

He said in a low voice.

“If I go all out.”

At his one word, the others who had been silent wore dumbfounded expressions.

‘Crazy bastard……. What are you thinking, provoking your brother?’

‘Did you want to get on his bad side as soon as you arrived?’

‘You’re finished.’

Even though they were brothers, they were adopted.

Even if they had talent.

Avoiding actions that would displease Mart, the firstborn, was a natural thing.

It was their unspoken rule and a way for the adopted children to survive.

Fortunately, Mart, Kwell’s biological son, was outstanding enough for them to acknowledge.

‘Oh, no……. I’m dead now. Why did the head butler entrust me with this task…….’

Ruben wore a tearful expression inside, seeing Caryl’s seemingly hopeless actions.

He caused a major accident on his first day.

“All out, you say……. That’s a funny thing to say.”

Caryl slowly nodded his head.

“Are you telling me to use magic power? Do you know what that means? Caryl, haven’t you abandoned the useless pride of a 멸족 [Myeoljok – a destroyed or ruined race]?”

At his words, Caryl lightly smiled.

“Whether you like it or not, you will have to live here from now on, so as a brother, I will teach you the laws of the Empire. Elliot, give Caryl a sword.”

Everyone was surprised at Mart’s words.

“Are you serious? Brother?”

Whirr……!!

At that moment, flames soared from Mart’s sword.

Mana Blade [a blade imbued with magical energy].

“Do you think this is a joke?”

“…….”

He growled, his face distorted.

The provocation was a success.

‘There are many words, but in the end, it’s just a trick to create a justification for breaking me. Mart McGovern, even if he tries to package it on the outside, he’s just a narrow-minded person who likes to be praised.’

Caryl’s position is narrow, having just arrived at the mansion.

Like the other adopted children, he could watch Mart’s every move and slowly build his power.

But why did he take such a dangerous move?

‘What on earth is his scheme?’

Tiren, who was smart, looked at Caryl with an expression that he couldn’t understand his bold actions at all.

Squeeze-

Caryl looked at Mart’s sword and put strength into the sword he was holding.

Only.

The power that only imperial citizens can have.

Magic power.

After going back in time and climbing the many floors of the tower, thinking and thinking, he came to one conclusion.

The way he can become stronger.

No matter how many times he thought about it, that was it.

‘I’ll break that in this life.’

The power that he, as a barbarian, could never have.

‘The path I must newly take.’

He slowly raised his sword.

In this life.

‘I will learn magic.’

No, that alone is not enough.

The corners of Caryl’s lips slightly went up.

‘Sword and magic. I will stand at the apex of both paths.’

No one would even imagine.

That this reckless provocation is the first button of a plan conceived after many years.

‘This guy…….’

Mart McGovern stood frozen for a while with his sword in hand.

Tense tension.

It was the same for the people watching the two.

‘Why? Why isn’t he moving?’

‘This is the first time I’ve seen my brother so cautious.’

‘Could it be that the barbarian guy is that strong?’

Grit-

Elliot gritted his teeth with a displeased face.

“A guy who can’t even use magic…….”

Imperial citizens have magic power from birth.

And according to their characteristics, they can use one of the five attributes.

Mart’s Mana Blade.

His sword, inheriting the blood of the McGovern family, contained flames like Kwell.

But unlike Mart’s sword, Caryl’s sword was clean.

The Edict to Eradicate Heresy proclaimed by the Emperor.

This is why.

Why the barbarians were called heretics.

Because, unlike the imperial citizens, the barbarians, who did not have magic blood vessels to contain magic power, could not use magic power.

Everyone believed in Mart’s victory without a doubt.

But.

“…….”

His face, the person involved, was frozen. He was just going to scold him lightly.

Because it was necessary.

It was necessary to show an example as the firstborn.

But something was wrong.

That suspicious feeling became certain when he stood in front of Caryl.

‘There’s no opening…….’

None.