The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 352

227. Power Play (2)

“Your Majesty.”

The Sun Palace, still showing the scars of recent destruction, was a hive of repair activity, filled with clamorous noise. The workers, hauling bricks and materials, wore expressions of palpable tension. It wasn’t just the danger of the work; it was the young boy sitting amidst the dust that made them uneasy.

“The dust is thick, Your Majesty. I fear it will harm your health. Please, allow us to return to a cleaner place,” Prime Minister Brin Inique said, wiping away the clinging dust with his hand. Normally, construction would cease in the Emperor’s presence, but Ollivern sat upon the shattered throne as if it were a self-imposed penance.

“The Prime Minister speaks wisely. Your Majesty *is* the Empire. The war has only just begun; if Your Majesty were to fall ill, it would demoralize the army,” Tiren, standing beside the throne, cautiously agreed with the Prime Minister.

“I wonder… Tiren, this place, the very symbol of the Empire, was brought to ruin by a single man. In this situation, where *can* I go?”

“But……”

“Isn’t that so?”

Ollivern asked, his gaze suddenly sharp and cold.

Brin Inique, realizing the question wasn’t for him, turned his head.

“You have come a long way. Thank you for your trouble.”

All eyes snapped to a single figure.

“Lord Kwell.”

“……”

A cold chill seemed to seep through the Sun Palace.

“I, as a knight of the Empire, have come at Your Majesty’s call to fulfill my duty.”

*Thump- Thump- Thump-*

The heavy tread of armored feet echoed through the hall.

Behind Kwell stood his first son, Mart, and his third son, Elliot. Elliot’s face was eager, ready for battle, but Mart, in contrast, wore a dark, troubled expression.

“The situation is as you see. Lord Cam Gray was murdered, and the Vestal March [a border region] has fallen. Truly… it is a disgraceful matter for the Empire.”

“……I am sorry,” Kwell replied, his face somber, to Ollivern’s words.

“The Empire is truly in crisis. But now is the time for you to demonstrate your loyalty.”

“Your Majesty!!!”

The thunderous shout echoed from the entrance of the Sun Palace.

Beline Valentiun, clad in thick golden armor, strode in as if the weight were nothing, his presence overwhelming.

“Give me your command! I will lead the troops and wipe out those filthy barbarians!” Beline Valentiun, the commander of the entire Knights Division, glared at Kwell for a moment before kneeling and shouting, his hands clasped in supplication.

“I know your heart is in the right place. But the position of commander has already been decided for another.”

Beline’s face hardened at Ollivern’s words.

“How can you trust him! It was he who nurtured the enemy now wielding swords against the Empire!”

“……”

Kwell remained silent under the accusation.

“Lord Kwell. As the Empire’s greatest knight, can you bring me victory?”

Ollivern, despite Beline’s outburst, never took his eyes off Kwell.

“I will obey your command.”

Kwell clasped his hands once more and bowed before slowly turning away.

Ollivern slowly nodded at his words.

“Kwell, I will assign Zaken to you. His name has not yet spread widely, but he is the Empire’s second Sword Master.”

“A Sword Master……?”

Kwell frowned slightly.

“That’s right. Although he lacks war experience, I believe you can make good use of him.”

Zaken Bolt.

In his past life, he was one of the Empire’s Seven Greats and a notorious war fanatic. Kwell, who had been stationed in the North, had heard of him through rumors.

‘I heard that you secretly created a special task force when you were a prince… He is the only one whose name is known among those hidden operatives. I heard that he went with Gordon during the Northern Expedition… A Sword Master, when did you cultivate such a skilled person?’

Kwell had served Ollivern loyally for a long time, but he occasionally wondered if he truly knew Ollivern as well as he thought.

And whenever he felt that way, he keenly felt the distance between Ollivern and himself.

It was as if he was being deliberately excluded, and another plan was unfolding without his knowledge.

“You may return,” Ollivern said quietly, watching Kwell’s retreating figure with heavy steps.

“Do you trust him?”

A voice came from behind the throne.

Ollivern lightly waved his hand, and the Prime Minister and the Commander of the Knights Division stepped back, leaving the two alone.

“I have no doubt that he is loyal and skilled. But this opponent is one that even dragons have failed against. As you know, Duke, the March has fallen, and Python has been captured.”

“……”

“We need to devise more countermeasures. Lord Neil Blanc.”

At his words, Tiren looked at Neil Blanc, who was standing on the opposite side of the throne, with a nervous gaze.

The last Duke, shrouded in mystery, had revealed himself only after Ollivern ascended the throne.

His true identity was still unknown, but now that Tiren knew that the three individuals who had arrived with him were dragons, he couldn’t help but feel anxious about potentially offending them.

As soon as he heard the news that Python had been defeated, he had rushed to the Sun Palace. After confirming that Kwell had arrived, he seemed somewhat relieved.

Perhaps that was why.

Unlike Tiren’s worries, Neil Blanc smiled faintly at Ollivern’s words.

“We cannot be so certain yet, Your Majesty. Python is more belligerent than other dragons and lacks caution. His failure is a painful setback, but Enuma Elish [Dragon Lord] and Cruach will be different.”

“But that won’t be the end of it, will it? Lord Neil Blanc.”

“I cannot match Your Majesty’s insight. The dragons’ power is formidable, but they are independent beings. We cannot rely on them alone.”

“So?”

“The Order [a religious organization] has agreed to lend its strength.”

Tiren swallowed hard at Neil Blanc’s words.

‘The Order has deep ties with the late Emperor… When did you win them over?’

“Who is the commander?”

“The Bishop recently passed away. Therefore, the leadership falls to the one who was newly elected.”

“Hmm… This is quite something. I never knew such a thing had happened within the Order. I was so preoccupied with war preparations that I neglected to take care of it. The Bishop is directly involved in the war… We have received a great favor.”

Despite his words, Ollivern didn’t seem particularly surprised by the Bishop’s death.

Rather, it was as if he considered the death a natural occurrence.

But Tiren, who didn’t know what had transpired in Heim [location of the Order], was merely puzzled and didn’t voice any objections.

“Who is the new Bishop?”

“Rael.”

Neil Blanc slowly lowered his head and whispered to Ollivern.

“It is said to be Rael Stalen.”

* * *

[Kugh… Kueugh!]

Carryl stood up, pressing down on Python’s head.

After confirming that the other dragons hadn’t appeared even after dawn, he said to Anthem.

“Python is right. The other two must have gone to different battlefields. Anthem, the March is a gateway connected to the South. It is crucial to thoroughly defend this place. Have small golems stand by and replenish the attribute stones from the magic mine with support from the Lanion Alliance.”

“Understood.”

“And have the tribes of the Great Plains go south to support Digon. Kayla, you will follow me to the center with Anthem.”

Anthem looked at Kayla, who was visibly tense, and said.

“The tribes of the Great Plains have demonstrated clear results. But you, the heads of the Five Great Families, have not yet shown any significant contributions. Isn’t that so?”

Kayla nodded at his words.

“The reason I assigned you to Anthem is because the Maenghwajin (Fierce Fire Formation) [a specific battle formation] of the Chang Family is superior to any tribe’s tactics in the South. That means that the warriors of your family are the ones who can best demonstrate Mujin (No Formation) [a fighting style].”

“You already have another plan.”

At Anthem’s words, Carryl stretched and said with a languid expression.

“We’re going to the center.”

“……!!!”

“……!!!”

Everyone looked at Carryl with surprised expressions at those words.

“Not to the battlefield where the dragons are?”

“Yes. As we have done so far, we will make them choose the battlefield.”

Carryl’s eyes gleamed.

“This is a war with the Empire and a fight with the dragons. Who said that this war itself is a challenge? If there is a being among mortals who can stand shoulder to shoulder with God, it is only the dragons.”

[Kuh, kuhm……]

Alun coughed quietly at his words.

[It’s not a battle of strength alone. You can’t simply compare the power of humans and dragons in numbers. The fight with those guys must ultimately be a game of wits.]

“Yes, the power of dragons is certainly too great for humans to directly oppose. But unlike them, we have this. Right in here,” Carryl lightly tapped his temple with his index finger.

[Funny. Is a human who can barely live for 100 years boasting of supreme wisdom in front of a dragon?]

Python, as if he had no strength left, slammed his tattered face on the floor and said quietly.

“Who said you were wise beings?”

*Tuk- Tuk-*

Carryl struck Python’s head as if patting a pet dog.

“You’ve just lived as God’s pets for thousands of years. If time gives wisdom, that’s a delusion. Time only gives complacency.”

He came down from Python’s head.

“But humans are different.”

“……”

“Autonomy. We call what is wrong wrong and want to transform ourselves. It has been so in the past, and it will be so in the future.”

[So you are also a descendant of the Blader [warriors who fought against God]. How pathetic. They eventually lost. And died.]

“Then is what you gained victory?”

“……What?”

“Can you really call the life you preserved by clinging to God a victory?”

Python’s face hardened.

“I think of this as a rehearsal. To fight against beings in a higher position.”

[Surely……]

Python’s eyes trembled at Carryl’s words.

[Are you going to commit another terrible war?]

“A terrible war? Python, how old are you?”

Python looked as if he didn’t understand what he was talking about at his sudden question.

To ask such a thing to himself, who had lived a life where even counting age was now meaningless.

“I heard from the Spirit Kings. That Enuma Elish, the current Dragon Lord, was a hatchling. I don’t even know if you were born during the God War.”

“……What?”

“What do you know, you haven’t even experienced it?”

At Carryl’s words, Alun couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Python twitched his lips and asked in an unpleasant voice.

[Then what are you? You can’t have experienced that war as a human, so why are you pretending to know so much?]

“Because I know something more terrible than that.”

“……What?”

“It’s not the past. What I know is the future that will happen if you believe in God.”

Python looked at Carryl.

[I don’t know what you’re talking about. Is that why we should follow you? Human autonomy? Even if that is the key to changing the future, how can we trust the power of humans?]

But Carryl raised the corners of his mouth at Python’s words.

“I told you not to ask me to follow you. I just subdue those who don’t believe with force. Like you. Wait and see. I’ll grab you by the scruff of the neck, take you to the truth, and let you see it with your own eyes.”

“……”

For some reason, Python didn’t resist Carryl’s words as before. The handprint that remained deeply on his forehead remained like a seal.

[The power of the Flame Dragon is absolute to the Red Dragon clan. But I cannot help you in the war with the Empire.]

“Why?”

[Because it is a promise with the Platinum Dragon. The other dragons are the same. Even if you have the power of the Dragon Lord, you will not be able to use them in the Imperial War.]

“Does that mean that the Platinum Dragon has a higher status than the Dragon Lord?”

At Carryl’s question, Python slowly nodded.

[He is special. He is the oldest and strongest dragon. He is also the only dragon who participated in the God War……]

Python swallowed the last words.

“He was also a Blader. Although he was a traitor who sided with God.”

He didn’t answer Carryl’s question in the end, but that alone was enough of an answer.

“What if I had the heart of the Platinum Dragon?”

“……What?”

“Wouldn’t not only you but also the other dragons follow my words?”

Python was dumbfounded.

[You can say such ridiculous things because you don’t know what kind of being the Platinum Dragon is.]

“Well. Is that really so?”

Carryl gave a strange smile at his words.

*Swallow-*

At Carryl’s words, Python swallowed hard without realizing it.

[Do you really think you will win this war? Do you think you can win against the remaining two dragons without me?]

Carryl slowly moved his steps instead of answering. A faint smile spread across his lips.

“Of course.”

*Tuk- Tuk-*

“I’ll show you with your own two eyes.”

Carryl lightly tapped Python’s head.

*Hwaaa……!!*

Then the wings of a huge Red Dragon unfolded.

In the end, to end the war, you had to catch the leader. That’s why Carryl decided to go to the center instead of other battlefields.

Because that guy was there.

Right,

To where Nar Di Maugh was.

* * *

“Grace.”

“Speak, Your Highness.”

Viola, who was overseeing the defensive fortress of the Fournine River, looked up at the sky with trembling eyes, facing the chilly northern wind.

Golden scales reflecting the pure white moonlight.

It was a sight that could easily cause panic, the Gold Dragon flying fiercely with its huge wings.

“I can’t help but be impressed by the insight of the king we serve,” Viola said.

But surprisingly, the Free Army of the defensive fortress had their attention drawn not to the dragon, but to others standing in front of it.

“Truly, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

Viola said that and shrugged lightly towards Hashir, who was standing next to her.

“Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t mean it in a bad way.”

At her words, Hashir covered his face with a hood and replied in a low voice.

“It doesn’t matter. I think so too. She was already a monster in the North.”

He raised his hand.

Then the warriors of the Wolf Fox tribe behind him disappeared into the darkness, following his lead.

“But now, she has appeared not as she ‘was,’ but as a real monster. From now on, the Gold Dragon will have to fight the best monster on earth.”

[Krrrr……]

Soldiers from all over stood in front of the defensive fortress.

Holding different weapons, they were none other than the barbarians of the North.

The Thunder Clan, the Iron Tribe, the Leopard, the Red Moon, the Wolf Fox, the Monkey… How long has it been since they, who were all so different, united as one?

‘Carryl, you’ve prepared so much… If I don’t catch the dragon in this situation, it would be a sign of my incompetence.’

Viola was thrilled by the sight of the barbarians who had been running wild through the North as if waiting for the appearance of the dragon.

But most surprising of all was the Lycanthrope [werewolf] at the head of the barbarians.

Night with moonlight.

The monster, with eyes shining as if absorbing the moonlight, stood proudly in front of the barbarian warriors.

Hwarin, the head of the Monkey tribe.

The moment the emerald jewel shining on her neck flashed, she let out a sharp roar. If you just look at her appearance, it was no exaggeration to say that she was a monster.

But it is different from when she lost her reason and became just a beast.

[Keu keu… To meet such perfect prey as soon as I came down from the North. It’s worth the hard work.]

She smiled, showing her long fangs.

[Warriors of the North!]

Surprisingly, the Lycanthrope shouted to the warriors in clear human language.

[Tear that lizard bastard over there apart!]