The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 301

“Advance!!!!”

Grace Panfiel shouted with all her might, leading her knights.

Behind the Kingdom of Istan.

After beheading Beril, he parted ways with Viola and immediately attacked the capital of Istan.

“Commander, there’s no enemy resistance.”

“They must have heard about Beril’s death. Or perhaps they know what happened at the border fortress.”

Either way, Grace sensed that the enemies before him had already lost their will to fight.

“Our task is to completely make Istan ours! End the battle and dedicate the victory to the Princess!!”

Waaaaaaah――!

Waaaah――!!

The knights of the Panfiel family raised their weapons and shouted.

The most effective way to train a knight was not through training in the backyard, but through actual combat.

Just as Viola had grown, Grace also showed a prowess that was incomparable to his past abilities.

Moreover, the knights he led were already outstanding, but now their individual abilities had advanced to the point where they could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Empire’s knights.

In the now-past Istria Three Kingdoms, there would be no knight order stronger than them.

Swoosh―――!!

As Grace concentrated magic power into his sword, the mana blade stretched out long and thin.

He raised the sharp sword above his shoulder like a spear, held it horizontally, and thrust it forward with all his might.

Clang clang clang……!!

Clang clang……!!

The Panfiel family’s secret technique, using the sword’s reach like a spear, was called Assault Spear-Sword.

The city gate could not stop the one-point, instant-kill technique that had pierced the necks of many knights of the Three Kingdoms Alliance.

Crack!!

Grace’s magic-infused sword collided with the capital city gate of the Kingdom of Istan. Then, with a snap! The latch of the gate shattered instantly.

“Charge!!!”

The knights on either side opened the gates to the palace as soon as Grace’s cry ended, and the soldiers rushed in all at once.

Waaaaaaah―――!!

Waaaah――!!

The soldiers stormed into the castle with shouts.

“…….”

“……?!”

But only for a moment, the soldiers who had entered so bravely stood there with bewildered expressions, unsure where to point their outstretched weapons.

“You use interesting swordsmanship. You seem to have as much talent as Randal. You’re the only one worth anything in this boring battlefield. How about it, want to fight?”

“……!!”

Behind the city gate of the Kingdom of Istan, a person was sitting on a mountain of hundreds, thousands of corpses.

Grace couldn’t close his mouth at the unbelievable sight as the woman, who seemed to be yawning boredly, pointed at him.

“You are…….”

The dark skin and the body revealed between the pure white cloths were firmly muscled.

The absolute being of the South, called the Empress of Digon.

No one could not know the overlord of the South.

But no one had expected her to be here.

Her appearance was like a beautiful sculpture, but the mountain of corpses that overwhelmed even that beauty made the knights swallow hard in tension.

‘The reason there was no resistance… is because everyone is already dead.’

Grace looked around.

But he couldn’t feel any other presence besides her. The troops stationed in the capital of the Kingdom of Istan, including the magic corps, numbered in the tens of thousands.

‘Can even a Sword Master handle this many people alone?’

Grace was ashamed of himself for thinking that he would soon be able to overcome the wall called Sword Master, which he was slowly reaching.

But it was by no means that Grace Panfiel’s skills were low. Milliana’s magic power, which she learned how to use dragon magic from Carryl and made it her own, was definitely qualitatively different.

“How…… are you here? Empress.”

“Isn’t the reason obvious? Carryl ordered me to.”

“Did you come…… alone?”

Grace looked around, but he couldn’t see anyone else besides her.

“To think that soldiers are needed to handle such a weak country only proves your own weakness.”

Milliana yawned as if it were natural.

“Of course, one guy helped me finish it faster. He beheaded the kingdom’s king and all the major knights in one night.”

“Who…… are you talking about?”

“Aidan Hamil. You know him too, right? He should have arrived where Carryl is by now.”

Milliana said, holding up the severed head of the king.

“…….”

“I had to ask for Digon’s help because I had to hurry to where Carryl is. They told me about a shortcut that only the barbarians know. Thanks to that, I only got to deal with the small fries, so I didn’t have any fun. I missed the chance to use the swordsmanship I just learned…… How about it? Want to fight?”

She asked, lightly swinging her beloved swords, Arc and Gale.

It looked like she wasn’t using any strength, but when the twin swords cut through the air, there was a sound of air exploding, Paang―!!

“……I refuse. I don’t want to add my blood to a sword that has drunk the blood of tens of thousands in one day.”

Grace shrugged his shoulders.

“Who says so?”

“……Yes?”

At that moment, surprisingly, the soldiers lying under her groaned softly.

‘Could it be?’

Grace hurriedly raised his head.

The soldiers of Istan, who he thought were dead, had only lost consciousness or were injured to the point where they couldn’t move, but no one was dead.

“No way…….”

One of the knights muttered to himself with a trembling gaze in his helmet, without realizing it.

“I can’t let my sword be stained with the blood of such guys. Besides, you’re all going to be Carryl’s forces, so I can’t kill you.”

Milliana looked at him and smiled.

“It’s late, but I’ll give you the credit. At least if you take this head, your beloved flower will save face.”

They conquered the Kingdom of Istan with only two people.

He already knew Milliana’s skills, but Grace couldn’t gauge the growth of Aidan, who had invaded the kingdom alone.

‘There are only monsters around Carryl…….’

Grace smiled bitterly.

“Carryl had something to tell you. You’re lucky. By now, the other one will be hearing this directly from Carryl. He’ll either be blushing or have a blank expression like you.”

“……What do you mean?”

Grace asked Milliana with a slightly trembling voice. She threw him a note and said.

“For whatever reason, failing to achieve the unification of the Three Kingdoms is a clear mistake. Instead of cultivating caution towards other countries, strengthen your own power to the point where other countries will keep us in check.”

‘He…… predicted everything.’

It was foolish.

As Milliana said, Grace felt his face burning.

“So, gather the fleet on the east coast of the Kingdom of Istan. Gather all of Panfiel’s troops there and prepare to move north. Of course, those guys will be included in that force.”

Milliana said, pointing to the soldiers piled up under her feet.

“Also, open all the roads of Twin Armor to provide a path for the barbarians of the South to advance.”

“……!!”

Milliana said, putting her two swords in her belt.

“Does that mean…….”

“What else could it be? It means conquering the continent.”

Swoosh―――!!!

It was then.

Milliana put her fingers in her mouth and whistled.

Then, black figures appeared in the empty royal capital where no one was there.

‘How…… when?!’

Grace had clearly checked for hidden troops, but he couldn’t even feel their presence.

Her soldiers were perfectly hidden.

At the head of them stood three female warriors with muscles as firm as Milliana’s.

“Even if you’re a Sword Master, it’s impossible to subdue tens of thousands of people without killing them. Well…… maybe that guy could do it.”

Milliana gestured to her three sisters and said to Grace.

“The advance party of Digon has already arrived. Don’t be late either. Carryl’s battles are so fast that you’ll be out of breath. If you keep doing other things like now, you’ll fall behind.”

“Are you really…… starting a war with the Empire now?”

The Three Kingdoms had not yet been settled, and as far as he knew, it had only been a few months since he had taken over the Duchy.

War was only possible after stabilizing one’s own national affairs.

Generally, it would take at least a few months.

“I don’t know why Carryl entrusted you with the pacification of the Three Kingdoms. Well, that’s why the fox came up with an idea for the lion.”

“……Yes?”

“From the administrator of Tatur to the four tribes of the Great Plains, the five great families, and even Digon and the Duchy. In the process of taking over the great powers of the continent from small cities, he used his troops to a minimum. It’s not just to save and preserve troops.”

Milliana looked at Grace.

“It’s also to minimize the damage to the enemy. Does his behavior of trying to save even the enemy he has to win in war seem like arrogance or recklessness? Those who know Carryl wouldn’t think so.”

Grace nodded.

He had achieved every victory that had been considered reckless until now.

In particular, the battle he showed at Twin Armor was still etched in his mind.

“Keeping the enemy’s leaders alive can reduce the chaos that will occur in the defeated country. Of course, no king in history has ever done this. Leaving room for rebellion is that much more dangerous.”

Milliana strengthened her voice.

“But it’s possible for him.”

Anyone who has fought him knows how foolish it is to point a sword at him.

It’s better to pledge allegiance than to have the courage to rebel, because that’s the right way to save your life.

It’s funny, but everything changed the moment the modifier Carryl was attached to it.

“From the administrators of Tatur to the nobles of the Duchy, they finished what happened in their land before Carryl even cared about it. The same goes for the Three Kingdoms.”

She said, passing by Grace.

“You have to finish it and prepare everything before his orders are given. That’s Carryl’s way and what those who follow Carryl have to do.”

Milliana hit him on the back.

“Why? Can’t you do it?”

“……!!”

“Then get out. I’ll lead you like the South. All you have to do is throw away the pride of the royal family.”

Grace, like the other knights, trembled at the stinging pain and shouted at her.

“That won’t happen.”

Milliana smiled at his answer.

“Where…… is Carryl now?”

“He’s probably heading north. Because that’s the last force he’ll prepare for the war.”

Milliana said to Grace.

“Unlike other places, the North is originally his land. This time, he’s going to do the work that he’s been entrusting to his subordinates himself. Is there any need to talk more than that?”

Neigh―――!!

She got on the southern Kargons [a beast of burden similar to a horse, native to the South], an animal that looked like a horse, and pulled the reins.

“When he comes down to the center again, all the northern tribes will come down with him.”

When she reached out her hand, Digon’s elite soldiers followed her.

“We are with him…….”

Milliana’s last words were deeply etched in the minds of the remaining Panfiel knights.

She spoke casually about a great achievement that no one had ever dared to imagine.

“Annihilate the Empire.”

Everyone’s heart was pounding at that one word.