The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 351

227. Playing Mind Games (1)

“Hoo.”

Stripping off her armor, stained with the blood of the enemy, Miliana gasped for breath.

“What’s the situation?”

“The summoned undead are pushing the left flank. That kid is amazing. The number of undead they destroy is less than the number she resurrects the next day. It’s no exaggeration to say she’s handling an entire section almost single-handedly.”

The second, Kanocho, pointed to the opposite barracks and said,

“Besides, the skill of the dolls she uses is incredible. Not to mention their movements, they’re dolls, so they don’t get tired… And her swordsmanship is by no means inferior to us sisters.”

She seemed quite fond of Kay Rothschild as she spoke. Certainly, the Digon clan, who valued skill above all else, couldn’t help but acknowledge her presence on the battlefield.

However, Miliana frowned slightly at her words.

“That’s not welcome news at all. Are you saying the Digon clan is falling behind to just one kid?”

“Don’t worry. I heard that Dig, who is in charge of the right flank, single-handedly beheaded the adjutant of the enemy knight order. Now that Jarvant has lost one wing, he will have no choice but to struggle from tomorrow.”

“Hmm.”

At Kanocho’s words, Miliana nodded in satisfaction.

“Give Dig 1,000 troops. I will use her as a spear in the battle that begins at dawn tomorrow. Break through from the right to the center and cut across the enemy’s formation.”

“She will be delighted.”

Kanocho gave a faint smile at Miliana’s words.

“Report!!”

It was then.

The door of the barracks burst open, and a subordinate rushed in.

“What’s going on?”

“The Vestal March has fallen.”

“…What?”

The barracks buzzed with noise.

It was something to be happy about, a victory for their side, but for some reason, the Digon warriors there seemed to be watching Miliana’s reaction.

“How? How could the place where that brat strategist was dragging his feet for days fall so quickly?”

“That’s… According to the report, our lord joined the March.”

“I see…”

“Then it’s possible.”

The warriors seemed relieved and nodded here and there.

“What are you acknowledging with such relief?”

Gulp-

However, at Miliana’s chilling words, the warriors swallowed hard, their faces full of tension.

“You all heard that, right? That means we’ve been beaten to the punch. Kanocho.”

“Yes.”

“Give Dig not 1,000, but 5,000 troops. The pride of the Digon cannot tolerate this. We’ll settle this by tomorrow. And move the army north to the Vestal March.”

The barracks were filled with a sense of impending war at her words.

“Understood.”

“Dismissed. Prepare for tomorrow’s battle.”

“Yes!!”

Just as the warriors were about to open the door of the barracks and leave with a spirited response,

“Something terrible has happened!!”

The shout of a scout running from afar was heard.

“U-Unidentified objects have been spotted in the sky above the front lines…!!”

At his subordinate’s urgent cry, Miliana looked up at the sky with a hardened face.

[Kuaaaaaaaah—!!]

At that moment,

A sharp roar rang out, and wings so huge they seemed to cover the sky fluttered overhead.

“…!!”

* * *

[Kuh… Kukuh.]

Pyton, struggling with stakes embedded in his wings and body, looked at Karil and chuckled lowly.

[Why are you laughing? Have you finally lost it from the pain? It’s only been a day. There are people who have been trapped for a thousand years, so you shouldn’t be struggling with just this.]

Aln said as he stabbed a hand blade into the dragon’s body.

[Kack!! Kuaaack…!!]

Aln tore off Pyton’s skin with his black hand, as if digging into a wound where the blood had not yet dried, and even a dragon could not help but scream in pain.

[You will lose the war.]

Pyton gritted his teeth and cursed at Karil. Karil, who had been quietly looking down at the empty March, turned his head at his words.

“Why?”

[You were thinking of using me as bait to lure Enuma Elash and Kruah. I admit you’re great, but your subordinates won’t be. You’re thinking of facing all the dragons yourself.]

“……”

Pyton sneered.

[But you’re wrong. They will go to different battlefields.]

[Ptooey! Does the Dragon race have no camaraderie? You’re bragging about it.]

Aln Zaviuss looked at him and spoke roughly.

“It’s not the Dragon race, it’s Nar Di Maugh, right? Or should I call him Neil Blanc? That guy would put the Empire’s victory before your life.”

[…You know a lot. No matter how great you are, you only have one body. You can’t face dragons scattered on different battlefields alone. Kukuh.]

Ansem and the other warriors’ faces darkened at Pyton’s words.

‘I knew it… He saw through it.’

Here, Karil and Revol were together, so they could easily subdue the Red Dragon, but it was different elsewhere.

‘Currently, the Free Army is stationed at the Digon clan in the south and the Ponaine’s defensive fortress. Even if Miliana and Grace are Sword Master level, it’s difficult to face a dragon alone. I need to take some action…’

Ansem looked at Karil with anxious eyes.

“Well. I don’t think so.”

However, despite Pyton’s threat, Karil snorted as if he had been waiting for those words.

Everyone tilted their heads in confusion at his words.

* * *

“…It’s a Green Dragon!! Everyone, evacuate! Its breath is acidic and dangerous to even touch!”

Kanocho shouted, wary of Kruah flying towards them.

“What should we do? Should we move the main camp…?”

“There’s not enough time to move the supplies. Besides, there’s nowhere to hide in this prairie anyway. If we panic, we might get caught from behind by the enemy.”

“But if we are attacked by the Imperial Army at the same time, we may not even be able to secure a retreat.”

Miliana spoke sharply to Kanocho.

“You lead the 1st Army. Fortify the defense of the center. And Takao, Umon. You two block the dragon’s attack in front of Kanocho’s central army. Take all the shieldbearers with you.”

“Understood.”

“I will follow your orders.”

“And Hasso, Bashun. You two each take 10,000 troops and become the left and right bulwarks. No matter what, prevent that old man Jarvant from coming to the center.”

With all the shieldbearers who could defend being deployed to the first two, Hasso and Bashun’s armies consisted only of warriors with weak defenses.

“Yes.”

“I will hold them back even if I have to throw my body at them.”

However, the two answered her command without any hesitation.

“Bring the second here right now. Place the 10,000 cavalry I gave her behind the central army. The target of the spear has changed.”

“The target of the spear is…”

Kanocho asked back, her face tense at Miliana’s response.

“To take the dragon’s head.”

At Miliana’s words, the Digon clan warriors shuddered without realizing it.

How many could think of the dragon, an absolute being that humans cannot touch, as a hunting target, going beyond a calm response in a desperate situation?

Her unwavering appearance in the face of a hopeless situation was enough to reignite the Digon clan’s fighting spirit.

“Lastly…”

Miliana exhaled lowly and said,

“The second spear will be me.”

At that moment, all the Digon warriors rebuked their complacency. And they realized that their queen had not given up yet.

“Follow the Empress!!!”

“Everyone, draw your swords!!!”

“The Digon hunt begins!!!”

Waaaaaaaah—!!

Waaaaa—!!

The warriors’ shouts heightened the battlefield.

* * *

[The queen of the Digon clan? She’s useful for a human. She has dragon magic, albeit weak. But that’s just a little bit of power. In the face of the dragon’s overwhelming power, they are just sacrifices.]

“Overwhelming power?”

Karil chuckled at Pyton’s words.

Then he slowly pulled his chin down. Karil’s figure was reflected in Pyton’s huge eyeballs.

“Why couldn’t I see that? Huh?”

[Kuh… Kuuh…]

“Don’t underestimate humans. Recognize your situation now. You lost to me and will eventually submit.”

[Absolute obedience? You’re mistaken if you think you can subdue us with power. Do you think we would bow our heads to humans?]

Karil, who had been quietly watching Pyton, who was shouting as if he had lost his mind, said in a calm voice as if nothing was wrong.

“Then what’s the reason you guys submitted?”

[…What?]

“I’m talking about why you betrayed humans during the Divine War and became God’s dogs. Was the reason you submitted to God so dignified and valid?”

Pyton couldn’t answer his question.

“In the end, you submitted to the power of God. God is great and humans are insignificant? That’s just self-consolation. It’s not the importance of your race, but just being weak in the face of power.”

[Kuh… Kuuh!!]

Karil twisted Pyton’s reverse scale.

“You don’t have to say it if you don’t want to. I’ll find out little by little from now on.”

[You… Do you think the Dragon race will stand still after this! Enuma Elash and Kruah will annihilate your army and tear you apart in the end!!]

“Pyton.”

Pyton felt a chill down his spine for some reason at the ease he felt from Karil’s face as he called his name.

“I told you earlier. I don’t think so.”

[…What?]

Pyton’s pupils shook at his words.

“And are you in a position to worry about anyone right now? Worry about your own future. Miliana’s dragon magic is weak, as you said. But I’m different. Especially if it’s you, a Red Dragon, you should know better, right?”

Whoosh…!!

Karil’s palm turned red like a branding iron.

[Kuh… Kuaaaack!!!]

White smoke rose from the hand that touched his forehead, and Pyton’s scales began to melt.

“I’ll tell you whose heart I have.”

The corners of Karil’s lips went up.

At that moment, Pyton felt as if he was facing a Flame Dragon in front of him.

“Do you really think I would have started a war without any preparations? It’s just that the target has changed from humans to dragons. But you guys are no different. The sword I’ve been sharpening will also be embedded in dragons.”

* * *

“Maintain formation!!”

“Hurry!!”

The sight of the dragon flying towards the Digon gradually approached. The Imperial Army led by Jarvant began to soar with morale at the appearance of Kruah.

“…It won’t be easy.”

“When was war ever easy?”

Kanocho and Dig gave bitter smiles at Miliana’s words.

The battle that would unfold from now on would be more fierce than any battle they had ever experienced.

“Let’s go.”

She drew her beloved swords, Arc and Gale, and tapped the side of the Kargon [a type of war mount] she was riding.

A battlefield filled with the atmosphere of war.

Everyone stared intently ahead with tense faces.

“Seriously, I barely escaped the Dragon Sanctuary, and now there are dragons flying around the continent?”

It was then.

“…!!”

“…!!”

Miliana was startled and turned her head at the voice coming from behind her.

It was because she had never imagined that there would be someone so skilled that she, who had reached the rank of Sword Master, would not even notice their presence on this battlefield.

“That one looks unappetizing… Should I catch it for now?”

It wasn’t just one person.

Their appearances were all emaciated, and the pure white robes they were wearing had long been tattered and ragged.

Miliana, looking at the man who was merely talking about the dragon as prey, called out his name with a dumbfounded expression.

“…Aidan?”