The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 366

233. An Unexpected Visitor (1)

“That’s the face you make in human form.”

“I can’t exactly draw attention as an adult. Your wounds seem to be healing nicely. To actually pierce a Platinum Dragon’s scales and drive a sword into him, you’re a monster. You are.”

Tadak… Tadak…

With the sound of the crackling campfire, Caryl, leaning against a rock late at night, looked at Python.

Contrary to his sturdy build and strong impression, his face, thoroughly beaten by Nardie Maugh, was a mess even after polymorphing [changing shape].

“Says you. Your injuries look worse.”

“This is like a medal of honor.”

“Are you one of those who enjoys getting hit? Your personality is completely different from your appearance.”

“…Nonsense. It’s just to remind myself that I defied the Platinum Dragon’s orders.”

Python frowned at Caryl’s words.

“To fight the Platinum Dragon to learn 9th class magic. I can’t understand human courage at all. Even I, a dragon, can’t honestly imagine standing up to him.”

“It’s not just to learn magic. I needed to confirm how far I could reach against him. And I needed to verify the evidence I found in his lair.”

“The result?”

“As you can see. Next time, I’ll take his head.”

“…You talk a good game. No matter how great you are, we’re in the middle of a war. Can you reach the 9th class stage so quickly?”

Caryl shrugged, and Python chuckled in response.

“Well, with your dragon magic, reaching 9th class wasn’t impossible from the start. Why didn’t you tell me before fighting the Platinum Dragon? Helping you fight is impossible, but teaching you magic isn’t against the rules. You could have reached that realm faster.”

Caryl smirked at Python’s words.

“From you? No thanks. What good is learning weak magic? You want me to fight the Platinum Dragon after learning from a guy who lost to me?”

“…What did you say?”

“Is it wrong? You lost. To me.”

“That’s because you brought that golem from the magic era…”

“Are you serious right now?”

“…Tch.”

At his scathing reply, Python’s face turned red, and he twitched his lips as if embarrassed.

“A strange feeling.”

Caryl said in a low voice.

“You felt it too, didn’t you?”

“…”

But just for a moment, Python nodded with a stiff face, as if he immediately understood the meaning of Caryl’s words.

“That strange feeling was also why I wanted to confirm his magic and steal the Platinum Dragon’s power.”

“You’re talking about Neil Blanc, right?”

“Right. Do you think he’s Nardie Maugh? A dragon’s heart is one. One of them is fake… or a trick.”

Python himself was confused when he saw Neil Blanc and Nardie Maugh at the same time.

When he first met Neil Blanc in the Empire, he naturally thought he was Nardie Maugh in polymorph. Not only him, but the other two dragons probably thought the same.

‘Did the Dragon Lord, Enuma Elash, know this secret? Well… it doesn’t seem likely.’

Python clicked his tongue as if tasting something.

[It doesn’t matter who’s fake or real. It’s enough to kill them all anyway.]

Aln Zaberius simply summarized the current situation.

[It’s not entirely impossible for Nardie Maugh and Neil Blanc to be different entities but the same being.]

It was then.

Mael, who had been silent, opened his mouth, and Caryl nodded as if he understood his words.

“His magic was twofold.”

[That’s right.]

“If he’s using dual magic by mixing his dragon magic based on divine power, he could divide each magic power and have two bodies.”

“But why would he do such an unnecessary thing?”

Python asked, as if he couldn’t understand.

Caryl thought it might be part of the Platinum Dragon’s experiments so far.

The fusion of sword and magic.

To reach the realm of great magic that only Judex, the first Blader, could use, the Platinum Dragon had been researching for a long time.

[Is he finally trying to do that experiment directly on himself?]

“To gain divine power, you must either receive power directly from God or activate the Master Key. But the traitor can’t do that. The alternative is the Spirit King of Light. But Yula hates Rasi’s power the most. Releasing that seal would be defying God’s command…”

Caryl frowned slightly.

“What do you think?”

At that moment, he asked, watching deep into the forest.

“…!!!”

It was then.

“Who’s there?”

Zigre said, grabbing his sword in alarm at his words.

“You can lower your sword. He’s been here all along. Rather, we’ve entered his territory.”

“…Pardon?”

Zigre asked back in surprise at Caryl’s words.

He was among the elite of the Black Eyes clan, the best of the northern immigrants’ assassins.

He couldn’t believe that he hadn’t noticed the presence, let alone the person who had been there from the start.

“I wouldn’t have known without the power of the spirits. Erasing human presence is surprisingly perfect, even to me.”

Thud- Thud- Thud-

At the same time as Caryl’s words ended, footsteps were heard from deep inside the forest.

Zigre, despite his permission, still kept his guard up and stared ahead.

[Huh…]

A man with an exotic appearance appeared to Caryl with a strange smile.

A white forehead was revealed between his permed, curly hair, and his slightly drooping eyes didn’t seem to fit in with fighting at all.

He exuded the atmosphere of a scholar, but he was darkly subdued in a different sense from Israfil.

[No way.]

[Could it be…]

The Spirit Kings whispered in unison, as if surprised by his appearance. But the reason they were surprised wasn’t just because of his exotic appearance.

It was because of a small deer next to him.

“A white deer? A rare species.”

Caryl said quietly, looking at the white-furred deer sticking out its small tongue.

The eyes were as dark as black lacquer, but rather, the darkness was so intense that it seemed to shine, so it seemed that it didn’t need to be explained that the deer was not a simple being.

[Right?]

[Yes. Definitely Alkar.]

[Unbelievable… I can’t believe the Three Phases are still alive.]

Lamine said in an affectionate voice, as if looking at a beloved being.

[Are the Three Phases the lost Divine Beasts?]

Aln asked, startled by his words.

“That’s right. I got the gauntlet with Calduan’s power sealed in it from Zarka Hoch’s treasure vault, but I never thought I’d see a living Divine Beast like this.”

Caryl recalled the words of Quonite, the century’s greatest spiritist, whom he met during the process of obtaining the gauntlet he gave to Su-an in that report.

‘250 years ago, she, who lived in the old Empire era, clearly said that Calduan was the only Phase left in that era.’

But Lamine referred to the small deer in front of him as a Phase.

Divine Deer, Alkar.

Soul White Wolf, Roebrock.

Blue Turtle, Calduan.

The three Divine Beasts of the Magic Era, whose power was called the Three Phases of the Spirit King, and were known to have power comparable to that of the Spirit Kings or Dragons, were now extinct and disappeared.

‘It’s definitely that name, but…’

It was difficult to guess that the small, young fawn in front of him would have that much power.

“I had hoped to meet you sooner if possible… It’s a pity that I should have met you in the Empire, but the Platinum Dragon was wary of fighting you.”

“…Hmm?”

“I was waiting for the two of you to face off.”

“Here’s another arrogant guy. You were waiting for me to fight him? So you followed me all the way to this war and waited for me? Who are you?”

Caryl said, looking at the man standing next to the Divine Beast.

“Nice to meet you, Caryl.”

The exotic man bowed lightly and introduced himself.

“I’m Deril Harian from the Golden Magic Society.”

At that moment, Caryl’s eyebrows twitched.

“Magic Bullet…”

“It’s an embarrassing nickname to be called.”

He swept back his short hair with his hand and smiled awkwardly.

“You’re a valuable person who I can’t find even if I want to meet you. I didn’t expect to meet you in a place like this. What brings you here to see me in person?”

At Caryl’s question, he smiled faintly.

“I need your help. Of course, I’m not just asking for help. The gift prepared by the Golden Magic Society will arrive on the battlefield soon.”

“Hmph…?”

Deril Harian smiled strangely at Caryl’s words and replied in a low voice.

“We are a death squad created for a single purpose. That time has been maintained for over 100 years.”

“I already heard from Anthem Howard. You’re looking for the Great Magic Book, Folsetia? You’re chasing after a nonsensical fairy tale.”

Despite Caryl’s indifferent reply, Deril Harian shook his head with a smile.

“You know better than anyone that it’s not a nonsensical fairy tale, Caryl. Because you already have half of it.”

Deril said, pointing to the sword on Caryl’s waist.

“I don’t believe it unless I see it with my own eyes.”

“You’re full of confidence. Well, you deserve it. I watched the fight with the Platinum Dragon well. You have surpassed the realm of humans.”

Caryl looked at him, seemingly a little interested in Deril’s appearance, who spoke nonchalantly despite his bluff.

“But to catch the Platinum Dragon, you’ll have to go beyond the realm of humans and into the realm of dragons. As you know, he’s on a different level from the dragons so far.”

“A mere human judging a dragon? Should I kill you right now?”

Python, who was next to Caryl, growled at the word level.

“It was just a preliminary battle for that.”

But Caryl raised his hand in front of him and answered as if to stop him.

“No. You won’t be able to reach it alone.”

Chaang-!!

“How dare you judge my lord? You’re spouting nonsense with your impudent mouth.”

At that moment, Zigre took advantage of the darkness and aimed his sword at Deril Harian’s neck.

Deril didn’t even look at Zigre, as if the blade touching his Adam’s apple was nothing.

Sssshhhhhh…

Pasak-!!

He lightly pushed Zigre’s dagger with his finger. Then, surprisingly, the blade lost its light and crumbled into powder, as if it had turned to ashes after a long time.

“…!!!”

Zigre stepped back in surprise, holding his palm up.

That’s because his dagger was a weapon made of Blue Rin, which had the power to absorb magic.

“I said you can’t reach it alone, but I didn’t say it was impossible.”

“It sounds like you can help me.”

“That’s right.”

[It’s true that he’s an arrogant human. Who is he to discuss magic in front of someone who’s only a 7th class in this era?]

This time, Aln stepped forward.

“Aln Zaberius. You don’t know the method either. Rather, it may be because of you that he can’t develop anymore.”

“What…?”

Uuuuuuung…!!

It was then.

The same small deer as before appeared one step forward in front of Aln, who was nervously gathering magic power, as if to protect Deril.

Then, surprisingly, Aln’s black magic disappeared like smoke.

“…!!!”

Aln couldn’t hide his embarrassment at his power, which had erased even his magic power after Blue Rin.

“What you want. If you want to gain the power to kill the Platinum Dragon, not just the 9th class…”

He took out a book from his arms.

“The Great Magic Book, Folsetia.”

Everyone looked at the old book with an unknown purple energy.

“You’ll need this.”

“I see. You guys weren’t formed to find the magic book, but to hide it? Just like the immigrants protected swordsmanship in the Millennium Ice Cave.”

Deril nodded at his words.

“Will you make a deal?”

Caryl slowly raised his head.

“No.”

Deril Harian’s eyes wavered in embarrassment at his refusal without a moment’s hesitation.

“What do I believe in you, who suddenly popped out of nowhere? How did you revive the Phase that was known to be extinct? Did you think I’d be interested if you showed me the unknown power that overwhelms Blue Rin and the ability to reject Aln’s magic power?”

Seueung-

“Break this too.”

“…”

Caryl drew Lakna and aimed it at Deril Harian’s neck. The magic-made blade shone and aimed at him.

“Leave the book and get lost.”