The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 435

263. Plague of Proliferation (2)

Whoosh…!

Tosca flew at high speed through the northernmost reaches, where fierce blizzards raged.

As he flew in the direction Kahlil indicated, he saw a structure ahead and slowly began to decelerate and circle.

[Greetings. I didn’t expect the Tower of the Sun to still be here…]

“Was that what it was called in the Mythic Age?”

[It seems different now?]

“Take a closer look. It’s not the tower you know, because that tower isn’t that old. But I heard there used to be a tower here… That relic must be the Tower of the Sun you know.”

Tosca took another look below at his words. It was subtle, but definitely a little different from the building in his memory.

[Indeed. It’s not the place I knew. But to make it so similar… It’s like a restoration. Hmm… Then why did you come here?]

“Similar, like a restoration. The building is different, but the purpose for which it was built is the same. It has the same context in that it symbolizes the power of the sun. Let’s go down.”

At the command, Tosca lowered his head toward the hill covered with snow.

Kahlil slowly raised his head and looked up at the tall tower. The tower, with its subtle light, was none other than the Ivory Tower of the Dawn Society.

“It’s been a while…”

The area around the Ivory Tower was in disarray, as if it had not been cleaned up after a fierce battle. The ground was torn up here and there, and bloodstains still remained everywhere.

Kahlil looked up at the top of the tall tower, seemingly filled with emotion, and said in a low voice.

[Hmm. The guy in here is no different from Hekt. How can bloodstains still be there when there’s so much snow in the north?]

Alun looked around and said.

[If he deliberately left traces to make it seem like there’s no one inside, this is too much. Maybe… the guy inside is an idiot.]

Kahlil chuckled at Alun Zaberius’s words.

“Or a stubborn one.”

Alun shrugged at his answer.

[Well, it’s obvious who you’re trying to meet by coming here. There’s only one person worthy of being in the Ivory Tower. He must be a stubborn guy who didn’t erase the bloodstains to leave the owners of this blood, as you said.]

Creak-

It was then.

The door of the Ivory Tower opened, and a person in a robe stood inside. His eyes, of unfathomable depth, were a testament to his great achievements as an Archmage [a mage of the highest rank].

“It’s the first time we’ve met in person.”

Kahlil reached out his hand.

But the old mage, staring blankly at his hand, simply bowed and said.

“How can I stand shoulder to shoulder with the Emperor of the Continent? Please withdraw your hand and accept my greetings.”

“You don’t have to be so stiff. Your colleague, Nine Darhon, treats me comfortably.”

“I am different from that insensible man. At least, Kadin Rueru wouldn’t be like that. The Dawn Society has fallen, and the Empire has also fallen, so it is only natural to pay respects to Kahlil, though it is embarrassing.”

“You don’t look like you admit you’ve fallen.”

Kahlil looked at him.

He was none other than Bertch Blano, the owner of the Ivory Tower and the leader of the Dawn Society. During the Imperial War, Nine Darhon’s Slave Corps attacked the Ivory Tower.

The bloodstains left here and there were evidence of that time, and after that battle, Bertch Blano’s whereabouts became unknown, and even the Empire could not find him.

So how could he be back in the Ivory Tower?

“I must first thank you for not involving the Ten Commandments of Dawn in the war.”

“Because I knew there was no chance of winning. They are the ones I have devoted my life to raising. Unlike old me, they are the ones who must leave the magic of the Dawn Society to future generations… Isn’t surviving more important than the Empire?”

He looked a little haggard. No more mages remained in the Dawn Society, and he was alone in the tower.

[How old are you?]

It was then.

Alun Zaberius spoke from behind Kahlil.

“You are…”

Bertch Blano’s eyes wavered when he saw him.

‘Nine’s words were true.’

He had thought that the story of being trained by the Seven Elders was just a bluff, but the magical power emanating from the spirit that appeared before his eyes was something he had never felt before in his life.

But as a lightning-attribute mage, he could feel the intensity of the secret art with his skin, even without seeing it.

[I’ll ask without further ado. Have you lived for 100 years before discussing old age?]

“Pardon?”

[A guy who has reached the ranks of Archmage with the level of the current world dares to say he has devoted himself to raising someone? You are no different from Nine Darhon. Focus more on your magic training. Although his slaves are unsightly, they have clearly penetrated the magical world so far.]

“…”

[You must have seen the first disaster descending to the ground. Then you will now know why Kahlil spared you.]

The Dawn Society had clearly fallen.

But it was not a complete defeat. In fact, Nine Darhon’s slaves were powerful, but they alone were not enough. Surprisingly, the decisive reason why the Dawn Society gave up the battle was Mikhail.

Kaye Esir’s overlapping magic.

He doubted his eyes when the mage he thought was a kid mastered the magic book that no one else could solve. But when Mikhail’s blade wind broke his shield and cut off one of his ears, he intuitively knew.

That the next blade wind would pierce his neck.

“He is a good mage. Unlike his personality, he has a talent specialized for combat.”

Kahlil smiled bitterly, knowing that he was talking about Mikhail.

“Because of that good personality, he hasn’t been able to perform properly yet.”

“Kahlil’s surroundings are full of mages I have never seen before. Even though it may seem insignificant to Archmages like the Seven Elders, I am also not young.”

He felt threatened by a young mage who had not lived even half his life.

“…That’s how much fear of death I have. I knew that even if I won in one battle at that time, I could not stand against Kahlil. I am just grateful that you spared me and allowed me to survive.”

The Dawn Society was definitely stagnant.

When he reached Class 7, he thought it was the highest stage a human could reach and focused only on increasing the amount of magic.

[I can feel the energy of a dragon from that staff.]

It was then.

Tosca, who was watching him, said.

[Cruaach…?]

“It’s different from the Cruaach you know. It’s probably not a dragon from the Mythic Age, but his descendant.”

[In any case, the fact that a dragon made a weapon for him means that he recognized him. He must have been a figure who dominated an era in magic. Stand tall, human blessed with magical power.]

Bertch Blano stared at the huge Bone Dragon in front of him with a speechless expression.

“Golden Dragon…”

[But seeing you makes me wonder why Kahlil spared you, even though my words are meaningless.]

Kahlil smiled lightly at Tosca’s words.

[Lightning attribute is definitely a rare power. It is truly amazing to have reached the ranks of Archmage with that magical power, but what is even more amazing is that the magical power of the lightning attribute is related to the power of light.]

Tosca looked at Kahlil.

[Are you really saying that getting me was a coincidence?]

Instead of answering his question, Kahlil simply shrugged with a strange expression.

[Kahlil, you’re planning to stop the Plague of Proliferation with the white magic of the Dawn Society and my power of the sun?]

“That’s right.”

Kahlil pointed to the top of the tower with his finger.

“I’m going to drop the sun on their heads.”

He gave a meaningful smile.

* * *

Uuuuuung…

Tosca slowly opened his eyes.

Then he raised his arm and looked at it. Like the appearance of a dragon, bones were still visible inside the opaque smoke, but it was definitely the appearance of a person.

[The more I see it, the more amazing it is. The contractor’s magical power is important in summoning Shikigami [a summoned spirit]. To control a dragon like me, you need a tremendous amount of magical power… To think that there is a human who can borrow enough magical power to even polymorph.]

“It’s necessary to enter the tower. And I told you, I have two dragon hearts in my body.”

“…”

Bertch Blano chuckled lightly at the word dragon heart. It was no exaggeration to say that he was the only one in the world to have two of them, not just one, which mages might see once in their lifetime.

[That’s amazing, by the way.]

Click-

At the top of the Ivory Tower was a large room.

Like an observatory, there was a large telescope inside that protruded outward, and inside it, a jewel full of light was spinning in place.

Tosca raised his head and looked at it.

[There was nothing like this even in the Mythic Age. What the hell is this? A jewel holding magical power.]

“It’s natural that there wasn’t anything like this in the Mythic Age. In that era, magical power was certainly outstanding, but it was not an age of engineering and science.”

At Kahlil’s words, Tosca looked at the huge jewel and turned his head.

“It’s called triboelectric quartz. It’s difficult to cut, so it took years to complete just one.”

Kahlil said, pointing to the mysterious jewel covered with golden powders like smoke.

[Even though it’s just one, it’s no wonder it took that long if it’s this big.]

“It’s a special mineral with each side emitting a different light. Until recently, it was just used for jewelry by nobles, but you would know the value of this mineral.”

[Yes. It’s something that only I can do. Even other dragons would have difficulty recognizing the value of this quartz.]

“The Disciples of Immortality created a magical system called black magic based on corruption. On the other hand, the Dawn Society explored the magic of light with a magical system called radiance. Light was equated with the power of God, and it received full support from the Order [a religious organization].”

Kahlil looked at Bertch Blano.

“But it’s not.”

[Light is God? Foolish guys. Mages should know. The reality is not. Even if they come from the same origin, that’s why magic and divine power can be separated, and that’s why the Magic Society and the Order can be distinguished.]

“…”

He was silent at Alun’s ridicule.

Because he had been able to become one of the two major magic societies with the support of the Empire.

But he also knew.

That the magic of light he was exploring was by no means the power of God.

[Why do you have such a uniform idea that only light is justice? Yula’s power is a combination of light and darkness… Rather, it sounds like those who know it’s not are injecting that idea into humans.]

Tosca said to Kahlil with an absurd look.

“That’s right. And thanks to that question, we were able to have the same purpose. We decided to help the Dawn Society research the magic of light if they finish this work.”

[Are you trying to use me? You sly guy.]

“Originally, the condition was to teach the magic in Polsetia… But since you have completed that magic book, there’s no need to take the time.”

Kahlil chuckled.

[Good. A jewel holding the power of the sun… It’s definitely a mineral with the power of purification. Unlike the attribute stones so far, it’s like it was made for me.]

“Maybe it’s for this moment.”

Kahlil said meaningfully.

“This is the observatory of the Ivory Tower, called the Room of Astronomy. It has the largest telescope on the continent. You can create a magic mirror on this telescope to see the entire continent.”

He tapped the telescope lightly.

“The plan is this. I’m going back to the battlefield now. But stopping the second disaster is not my job, but yours.”

[How?]

“This telescope can see the continent through a magic mirror. The more you increase the amount of magic, the more places you can see.”

[It’s a similar principle to the Superior Eye.]

Kahlil nodded at Alun’s words.

“That’s right. The commanders on the battlefield will first inform Israfil of Hekt’s location. And Israfil will send the information there to this place through the Superior Eye.”

Kahlil looked at Bertch Blano.

“Then, based on that information, Bertch, you have to find that place again with this telescope.”

[I know what your plan is.]

Watching their conversation, Tosca instantly read Kahlil’s thoughts.

[You’re going to condense my power of the sun with that triboelectric quartz in the place found by the telescope and shoot it at them?]

“That’s right. You, Bertch, are the person with the most magical power on the continent after me, so you will be able to cover all the places Israfil has found.”

Kahlil raised his index finger.

“Remember. There is only one chance. They are the Plague of Proliferation. It won’t end by catching them one by one.”

Kahlil put his palms together.

“Bang-!!”

Then he smiled coldly and said.

“Drop the sun’s strike on their heads. They will be annihilated in one shot without even knowing where they came from.”