The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 392

239. The Demon Realm (3)

“What do you mean?”

“As I said before, prove your strength if you’re curious. I haven’t surrendered yet, and all you’ve defeated are the demon knights at best.”

Hagane smiled faintly, pointing to his still intact legs.

“Didn’t you say you’d cut them off?”

“The Demon King is certainly skilled at using his tongue, if nothing else.”

“Still, I rule over an entire realm. I must have the ability to wag my tongue.”

“The Spirit Kings, the masters of the Spirit Realm, have also made contracts with me.”

“Are you comparing me, who reigns supreme over one realm, to those seven who barely manage to govern a single realm? Besides, you haven’t even managed to subdue all seven of them.”

Hagane raised his single-edged sword to his shoulder and said,

“It seems like you’re the one who enjoys using his tongue.”

콰앙—!!!

It was then.

As if he didn’t want to listen to his nonsense any longer, Khalil stomped on the floor with all his might and charged forward.

Hagane watched him and lightly twirled the sword he was holding, causing red tentacles to sprout from the blade.

“Blood Sword.”

As he plunged the single-edged sword into the ground, a massive red puddle spread out from his feet.

“Everyone, step back!”

Feeling the danger, Khalil shouted instinctively. His subordinates immediately retreated, distancing themselves from the puddle spreading beneath Hagane’s feet.

“Let’s see how far you can show your strength. But if you disappoint me, you’ll die here.”

The red tentacles contained within Hagane’s sword stretched out in all directions, engulfing the people.

Khalil hurriedly struck down the tentacles with his sword.

“What are you doing!”

At that moment, Miliana stepped on the tentacles flying towards her and rushed to his side, slashing her beloved sword, Arc Gale, with all her might.

촤아악……!!

The tentacles that had sprung from the blood-red puddle were cut off, scattering the same red blood in all directions.

“Focus. We didn’t follow you here for protection. We’ll protect ourselves.”

Khalil chuckled at her words.

“I know.”

Then, he looked at Hagane standing in the center of the puddle and drew the sword contained in the ancient tome.

우우우우웅……!!

As Folsettia’s sword appeared, Khalil’s heart began to beat rapidly.

파앗-!!

At the same time as Khalil’s figure disappeared,

콰아아아앙—!!!

A violent explosion erupted in front of Hagane. Instinctively blocking Khalil’s attack with his single-edged sword, he swung the sword horizontally.

부웅웅-!!

With the sound of tearing through the air, the Demon King realized that nothing remained in that spot.

However, without turning his eyes, he stretched his other hand back. Then, the red tentacles that had sprung from the puddle created a wall behind him and attacked.

촤르르르륵……!!

“……!!”

But even the tentacles slashed through the air. Despite clearly feeling a strong magical power from behind, he eventually turned around after failing to attack twice.

In the place where the tentacles were entangled, there was nothing but Rakna’s empty scabbard.

The identity of the condensed, intense magical power was that sword. Hagane hurriedly looked around to find Khalil’s location.

At that moment, the blood puddle beneath his feet began to bubble and boil, then instantly emitted a brilliant golden light.

Folsettia, Ancient Tome Magic.

-1st Golden Deception.

Reacting to Rakna’s condensed magical power, Folsettia, which had been thrown into the puddle, unfolded and the magic was activated. Within Folsettia, a relic left by the Golden Dragon Tosca, remained the magic he had used.

쿠그그그그그그……!!

Dozens of bundles of light pillars soared up, piercing Hagane’s body. Unlike the magic Tosca had used in the past, the streams of light pouring from Khalil’s Folsettia were initially golden, but soon turned silver.

This was partly because he had activated the magic with the White Gold Dragon’s magical power, but also because Khalil had infused the power of Lachesis into the magic.

“으아아아악……!!”

With burning pain, Hagane screamed for the first time. But Khalil’s attack had not even begun yet. Along with a blurry afterimage, a pure white chill emanated from the blade.

Hagane felt a chill down his spine.

He saw an ice claw planting itself in front of him, scattering pure white snowflakes.

쩌적……. 쩌저적……!!

The moment he thought he had narrowly avoided it, the blood puddle he had created began to freeze with the ice claw’s chill.

“Legs.”

Using the frozen puddle as a foothold, Khalil bent his back almost to the ground and swung the Folsettia sword remaining in his other hand.

4th Riffle Posture.

5th Spirale Serpent Posture.

In an instant, he slashed Hagane’s legs with the acceleration of the riffle, so fast that it was invisible.

촤아아아악……!!

The severed legs rolled on the ice floor created by the ice claw, and Hagane’s body staggered and fell backward.

“Is this all you’ve got? There’s no need to go to the 6th. Demon King? Hagane, don’t think you’re special. At best, you’re just a creation living on a stage created by God.”

Khalil raised Folsettia’s sword and aimed it at him.

꽈악-

He stepped on Hagane’s shoulder with his foot and bent down.

“You’re strong.”

“That’s obvious.”

“But even if I die, the ten million troops remaining in the Demon Realm will attack you. Are you confident?”

“Of course.”

At Khalil’s words, he unknowingly let out a burst of laughter.

“As expected of the one Kaie Essir expected.”

“I don’t know who that is. Stop associating me with him. It’s unpleasant. I am who I am.”

“Indeed. You’re arrogant enough to kill a White Gold Dragon. Nar Di Maugh… he wasn’t a loyal one since the age of myths. Just like he betrayed Blader, he was the type to betray God at any time. He died by your hand? He must have been nothing more than that.”

“The same goes for you.”

The Demon King gave a bitter smile at his scathing words.

“I’ll tell you the contents of the contract.”

“…….”

Khalil looked at him silently.

“Kaie Essir made a bet with me regarding the fate of the realm. He wasn’t a representative of humanity, but he was in a position to determine the future of humanity.”

“The future of humanity? Him?”

Khalil tilted his head as if he didn’t understand his words.

“Hunting Liselia and becoming a founding contributor to the New Empire is also a great feat, but it’s just something that happened in the human realm. What is he that he can act as the decision-maker for humanity?”

“He is human, or a slightly different human.”

“You’re unnecessarily packaging the word ‘eccentric’.”

Hagane gave a faint smile at Khalil’s words.

“He knew about the oracle [a prophecy or divine communication]. Of course, he never knew exactly when, but he knew that it would definitely happen.”

He spoke in a small voice that no one else could hear.

“Khalil McGovern.”

He raised his waist as he called his name. The blade of Folsettia’s sword aimed at his neck grazed him, creating a wound, but he didn’t care.

It was to say something more important than pain.

“Have you traveled back in time?”

“…….”

Khalil couldn’t answer his direct question for a moment. But as if his silence was already an answer, Hagane didn’t ask any further.

“Kaie Essir foresaw it. The one who would possess the hidden Flame Dragon’s Heart would be someone without magic, and in order to obtain it, the White Gold Dragon or his former comrade, Altemann, would be involved.”

“……I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Khalil pretended not to hear Hagane’s words, but he lightly waved his hand as if he was talking to himself, continuing his words.

“The White Gold Dragon and Altemann. The one who has such a connection with those two and comes to his Einherjar [warrior’s afterlife hall in Norse mythology] will never be someone who lives in the flow of the same era. I laughed at first because he spoke so confidently… but looking at your expression, it’s my turn to be surprised. That was the last arrangement he made.”

Indeed, it was as he said.

The White Gold Dragon, who had used humans as test subjects and researched them, showed interest in him, and Altemann in the north was also related to the magicless immigrants.

From the beginning, Kaie Essir made it so that only immigrants could find Einherjar.

“Who told you that the Dragon’s Heart was hidden in Einherjar? Was it the White Gold Dragon? Or Altemann?”

Hagane’s barrage of questions continued before hearing Khalil’s answer.

“It’s probably more likely to be the White Gold Dragon. Altemann, that slave elf, doesn’t have the ability to divulge that secret.”

“What do you want to say?”

“Have you never once wondered? The Dragon’s Heart hidden in Einherjar, the only way to obtain magic. How does the White Gold Dragon know that it’s in Einherjar?”

Hagane said.

“Kaie Essir, who hunted Liselia, hid the Dragon’s Heart in Einherjar, so why did he tell the White Gold Dragon about it? Is it simply because he’s an unpredictable eccentric?”

He wore a strange smile.

“Or… was it his grand plan?”

“Stop spouting nonsense about oracles and answer the question. What kind of contract did you make with him!”

Khalil shouted nervously, grabbing Hagane by the collar.

Oracle, regression, future….

From the Demon King’s appearance, who was saying the secrets he had been hiding as if he had been waiting for it, he had a more confused face than when he learned the true nature of the White Gold Dragon.

“250 years ago, there was Wooden Cloud. They were low-level, but they were also associated with the demons. Of course, Kaie Essir, the Grand Magician of the Empire, was also aware of them. So he made a condition with me. If no one comes to the Demon Realm, then… it’s okay to open the gate to the Demon Realm through Wooden Cloud and let the demons cover the human realm.”

“You crazy bastard. Who gave you the right to make such a contract among yourselves? Is the continent yours?”

Khalil shouted, grinding his teeth at his words. The demonic invasion that occurred in the midst of the chaos of the oracle and the corruption was ultimately due to a contract 250 years ago.

In the war between humans and corruption, the demonic invasion, which took advantage of the gap, caused a lot of damage. Of course, in the three-way battle between humans, corruption, and demons, the demons also failed to occupy the continent, but the continent, which became the stage of the war, had no choice but to be destroyed to near ruins.

“You leave your land unharmed and ruin other people’s land?”

“I see. You know the future. Hearing those words makes me curious. It seems that we invaded the continent, but hey, do we win?”

Hagane said as if teasing. At that moment, the boiling anger cooled down and Khalil seemed to regain his composure, letting out a low sigh and raising his head.

“No. You’re just going to die by my hand today.”

철컥-

Khalil raised his hand.

Then, Ice Claw and Rakna pierced Hagane’s waist on both sides.

“……!!”

Even though two swords pierced his abdomen, the Demon King’s expression did not change.

The moment Folsettia’s sword was aimed at his neck, he looked at Khalil.

“It seems that the demons are defeated. I don’t know what the contents of the oracle are… but if humans and demons are destined to perish at the hands of God….”

Surprisingly, Hagane nonchalantly grabbed the blade of Folsettia’s sword.

“Kaie Essir’s words may be right. That my strength is not enough.”

Khalil became even more curious about the identity of Kaie Essir at his incomprehensible soliloquy.

‘Altemann… if you have hidden any important secrets from me besides the story of Blader, I will not forgive you either.’

He made up his mind once more and pulled out the sword that Hagane was holding with all his might.

촤아아악—!!

Hagane’s fingers, which were holding the blade of Folsettia’s sword, were cut off in droves by his strength. But as if there was no pain, the Demon King licked the blood flowing from his severed fingers as if savoring it and said.

“The desire to live is the power that makes you defy fate. As the master of the realm, I must come up with a way. The same goes for the Spirit Kings.”

Khalil grabbed the hilt of the sword, but the blade that the Demon King was holding was stuck as if it was tightly fitted.

“So, it wouldn’t be bad to start the age of myths again. Blader wasn’t just about humans, dragons, and spirits.”

“……What?”

“I don’t know if you really traveled back in time or not. But if you have the confidence to achieve a perfect future, not a failed one, then take us on that ship too.”

“……!!!”

At the Demon King’s unexpected proposal, Khalil looked at him in surprise.

[I can’t believe it…….]

[Was the Demon King really waiting to kneel before him?]

[It’s a lie! That guy was a shady guy who didn’t know what he was thinking even in the age of myths!]

The Spirit Kings each said a word at the Demon King’s appearance.

[Keke, what does it matter? Accept it, Khalil. The Demon King’s blood will make your body stronger. You have me, who is more sinister than a mere vampire, don’t you?]

Mael laughed, clicking his tongue as if he found this situation funny.

“Hagane.”

Khalil looked down.

“Demons eat blood, right?”

“Of course. Blood is absolute power.”

“Then, offer me your blood as a pledge of allegiance. Can you do it?”

“Willingly.”

Hagane cut off his wrist with his sword without hesitation. The blood gushing from his cleanly cut wrist began to clump together in the air.

Khalil picked up the sphere.

우우우웅……!

The Demon King’s blood began to tremble as if resonating with him.

“Forgive me for conducting a test for the oath. The Demon Realm will follow you after the Human Realm and the Spirit Realm.”

People could only swallow their saliva and watch, as if they had lost their words at his words.

Who would have imagined that Khalil would put the Demon Realm under his control in this place where he came to subjugate the Demon Realm?

“What a surprising guy…….”

Gordon shook his head in disbelief, and the Grand Magicians were still lost in thought, as if they had not let go of their questions about Kaie Essir.

“Now, the three heavens will be placed under your hands.”

Leaving their surprise behind, the Demon King raised the corners of his mouth as if satisfied and looked up at Khalil.

“Three Thousand Kings.”

His voice rang out clearly, regardless of the surprised people or the magicians who were lost in thought.

“Good. In return, I will let you taste the blood of God.”

Khalil’s eyes lit up and he swallowed the sphere in his hand.