The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 398

245. The Seat of the Gods

Taptap…… Taptap…….

Taptaptap…….

The flames consuming the massive angel wings impaled on the flagpole had burned for days without diminishing. The smoke rising from the wings atop the altar-like structure ascended straight into the sky, seemingly unaffected by the wind.

“How strange. It looks like they’re returning to the heavens.”

“Similar. The souls of the Nephilim are directly connected to Yula [likely a deity in this world]. Unlike other races, they were said to be crafted directly by a god.”

“How do you know that?”

“A god told me.”

“……What?”

Miliana laughed as if she couldn’t believe Carryl’s words.

“You always say such absurd things.”

Carryl simply shrugged at her reaction, seemingly unconcerned.

Those standing behind him seemed to share her sentiments.

A considerable number of people had gathered on the ramparts.

“Is it true that a divine revelation will be given?”

“Probably. They are messengers of the gods, after all. They are the first to hear the words of the gods.”

“Monsters… If the vision shown by the Nephilim is the future, where will that massive tower spewing out monsters appear?”

“Who knows? The important thing isn’t the location of the tower, but that the peace we barely found after the war is about to be shattered again.”

“Peace… Perhaps peace is a luxury for humans in the first place.”

Carryl gave a bitter smile at Miliana’s words.

He had risked everything to regress [reincarnate or travel back in time] in order to protect that peace, yet it felt like a mirage he could never truly grasp.

“It’s a fight worth fighting. Where else can we wage a war with such thorough preparations? Don’t you think?”

“Indeed.”

Carryl nodded at her words.

She was right.

Compared to the desperate battles he fought in his previous life, this fight seemed much more promising.

‘Yes. Even if the odds are still extremely low, it’s better than my previous life.’

Carryl composed himself, encouraged by Miliana’s words.

“Fortunately, our lord’s direct assault on the capital minimized our losses. It was a fortunate coincidence that greatly benefited us, making preparations for the upcoming war easier.”

Carryl smiled wryly at Anthem’s words.

He had always strived to win with minimal losses, regardless of whether they were enemies or allies, precisely to prepare for this Divine Revelation War.

That it was merely a coincidence was Anthem’s misunderstanding.

“Or perhaps even this was part of his plan, making our lord a strategist who could deceive even the gods.”

“Do you think so?”

“Of course.”

“I’m not that great. I just had the luck to foresee things a little earlier than others.”

Anthem Howard shook his head.

“Luck in life only applies to what one cannot possess, such as one’s lineage at birth. But the future after birth depends on one’s own efforts.”

“So, those born as nobles can live comfortably even if they are incompetent, while those born as commoners wallow in squalor even if they are talented? What depends on one’s own efforts? What a joke.”

“That’s why I said those born as nobles are lucky.”

Despite Miliana’s growling tone, Anthem spoke calmly.

“Such injustices must be overturned.”

“That is effort.”

“Hey.”

Miliana glared at him with a dissatisfied look, about to say something.

“Success will make you a hero, while failure will only brand you as a traitor. That’s how difficult what our lord has achieved is.”

But Anthem’s response preempted her.

“What if I knew the future? And that’s why I easily rose to this position?”

“Well, are you referring to precognition? I’ve heard that some astrologers can see the future.”

“And?”

“None of them became king. Even if you know the future, very few can change their own future. This position, and even those who follow you, are the product of our lord’s efforts, achievements, and abilities.”

Carryl smiled faintly at his words.

“I will never forget it. In the demon realms spread across the continent, our lord ascended to the throne, and all the people of the continent bowed their heads.”

Israfil, who had been listening to their conversation, recalled the emotion of the day Carryl was crowned and said with a choked voice.

“That spectacle is a sight only I, with my superior eyes that can see the continent, can truly appreciate.”

“In the meantime, the number of eyes that can use Superior Vision has doubled.”

“It’s an embarrassing skill. There are two archmages… I received a lot of help by borrowing the academy’s training room.”

“Two? Serga is still the same, I see. I wish Kadin would persuade him…”

“What do we need that weakling for?”

Miliana, who had fought fiercely with Serga in Tatur, scoffed.

“The war due to the Divine Revelation will begin soon. His skills are too good to waste, and he will be the center of connecting the academy, the Ulkas Guild, the Immortal Society, and the Dawn Society with Mikhail.”

Israfil nodded at Carryl’s words.

“Mikhail? That guy is even weaker than Serga. It would be better to entrust it to Serica. She’s young but has a strong will.”

“Yes. You’re not wrong. He’s probably the weakest mage I know.”

“Then why?”

“Because he’s the strongest mage.”

“……?”

Miliana tilted her head, as if she didn’t understand Carryl’s words. After all, Carryl had many renowned mages under him.

On the other hand, Mikhail’s accomplishments so far had been lackluster to be called the strongest.

Being recognized by the Dawn Society and obtaining the magic book left by Kaie Essir was impressive, but to Miliana, a warrior, he was just a softie.

Nevertheless, Carryl was still lenient towards Mikhail, which she couldn’t help but be dissatisfied with.

“Don’t you think so? You guys.”

It was then.

“Perhaps only a dragon can recognize Mikhail’s talent.”

Just like how the Platinum Dragon recognized his true worth in his previous life.

As Carryl turned his head, the three people standing at the very back nodded.

“……I can only admire your insight.”

A deep voice.

That heart-stirring voice belonged to the Gold Dragon, Enuma Elish, not a human.

Small tattoos were engraved on the backs of their hands, and round rings were locked on both wrists.

Rings of Allegiance.

Calipsone’s new creation.

The effect was simple.

A ring that caused a powerful explosion when the user wanted it. In fact, the explosion caused by the gnomish magic was no danger to them, who were dragons.

But the tattoos engraved on them were different.

It was magic that Carryl had devised directly through Polsetia. The moment the Ring of Allegiance exploded, the magic engraved on their tattoos would be activated.

The effect is also simple.

Their hearts explode violently.

No matter how great an archmage’s magic is, it cannot affect a dragon.

But Carryl was different. His magic was implemented through Polsetia.

“But no matter how talented you are, it’s meaningless if you don’t have the will to fight.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. There will be a moment when that will arises. Even if it’s a little late.”

Carryl said, looking at Serica Loren, but she didn’t seem to notice his gaze.

“Are you really thinking of opposing the gods? I am sorry to ask, but how did you know about it?”

Enuma Elish asked cautiously.

Dragons are a race that follows gods. They had succumbed to Carryl, but their hearts were still with the gods.

“There’s a condition I gave you.”

“……Do not interfere in the fight.”

“Yes. I don’t force you dragons to fight for humans. I can subdue you with the heart of the Platinum Dragon, but that’s not perfect loyalty. But if you want to preserve your own lives, remember that you must not help the gods.”

“I understand.”

The three dragons nodded at Carryl’s words, but their expressions were not very good.

Humans now held their lifelines.

And that human killed the Nephilim.

In a situation where there was no guarantee that the wrath of the gods would not be directed at them, they did not know which side to take.

[Kekeke……. Look at them worrying.]

Aln smiled as he looked at the three of them and spoke in Carryl’s mind.

[If they side with the gods, they will die by your hand, and if they stand by during the war with the Nephilim, they may die by the gods. Even dragons who have lived for over a thousand years cannot solve this dilemma.]

Carryl smiled faintly as he listened to his words.

“Is the Divine Revelation really being given? I am sorry to ask, but how did you know about it?”

Anthem asked him cautiously.

He thought that everything from the coronation ceremony to the descent of the Nephilim to Earth was planned.

“I obtained the Dimension Spiral from the Demon Realm. It is the essence of the power that makes up dimensions. And I found the secret related to that power in the Millennium Ice Cave in the North.”

“Dimensions… Are you talking about the power of creation? Only gods can use that.”

“That’s right.”

“Huh…….”

“The reason why our lord was away…….”

People made low exclamations at Carryl’s words.

“What did you find there?”

At Anthem’s question, Carryl slowly raised his head and looked at the night sky.

“The power to become a legitimate king.”

A low voice.

At his answer, people looked at him with puzzled expressions.

“Our lord is already the master of this continent and our king. I believe that the position of king is not something to be allowed by anyone, but something to be won by oneself…….”

Dushala’s seductive voice echoed in the night. But at her words, Carryl rather raised one corner of his mouth and smiled.

“Not this land.”

“……Yes?”

It was then.

“What is that……?”

Kinu Mukari pointed to the sky and said in a firm voice. Everyone’s eyes moved in the direction he was pointing.

“What do you see?”

“Um?”

Some people could only find the black night sky and were puzzled, but Kinu Mukari, who had eyesight as good as a Sword Master’s Manhwan [a heightened state of perception], stared at the huge castle that was gradually taking shape in the sky, his face becoming even more hardened.

With four towers built in all directions on a large hemisphere, it looked like a small building.

Sword Masters who could use Manhwan, including Miliana, were able to confirm the building that appeared in the sky after Kinu.

“It seems that the flames of the dead Nephilim have finally reached it.”

Only Carryl seemed to know the identity of the building and recited its name.

“Sky Castle.”

“Could it be…… Are you talking about the Nephilim’s colony?”

Anthem Howard recalled the name he had seen in the literature and asked Carryl.

But everyone must have expected it.

That their main base would come after the death of the Reverse Angel.

“Do not be afraid.”

Carryl’s voice strangely resonated in people’s hearts like a divine word.

“Amazing…….”

Kadin Luer looked at Carryl in disbelief as he received the power he had felt from Olivon.

The power of divine word was a power that existed in ancient times, so only mages who studied literature recognized its existence.

One of the reasons why the archmage had promoted Olivon to emperor was because he was born with the power of divine word.

Divine word…….

It had been considered a power that only a leader could have.

[Kekeke…….]

Aln burst into a faint laugh, as if he understood his reaction.

“And do not doubt the war that has been waged by my sole decision. From now on, I will show you what the qualifications of a legitimate king that I found in the Millennium Ice Cave are, so that doubt will disappear.”

Carryl spoke as if he knew Kadin Luer’s question.

“Take out your weapons.”

Clang-!!

Swish……!! Chang-!!

At Carryl’s words, people grabbed their weapons without hesitation.

“The qualifications of a legitimate king.”

Swoosh……!!! Swish……!!

As the Sky Castle gradually revealed its shape, angels with large white wings spread out and flew towards the ground came into view.

Carryl looked at them and said quietly.

“It is about the qualifications to be the master of the Seat of the Gods.”