The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 44

41. Mercenary Recruitment

“That’s an interesting thing to say. You’re telling me you know how to launch an airship?”

“That is correct.”

“Are you… someone related to the dwarves?”

Cahill chuckled at Gordon’s words.

“Not at all.”

“Then a gnome?”

“I did meet an old gnome once, but I don’t think we’re close enough to call it a relationship.”

“Huh… you crazy bastard.”

Gordon looked at the audacious little boy answering his questions without hesitation and laughed in disbelief.

“Then how do you know? No engineer has been able to solve this.”

“That’s probably true.”

‘Magical engineering only truly flourished after the revelation of the Oracle.’

Cahill slowly rose from his seat.

“Embedding five attribute stones in each part to maintain balance in order to launch an airship isn’t a bad idea, but to maintain that balance, it’s obvious that one attribute should be the core.”

Cahill pointed to the floor he was standing on and said,

“Then, what attribute would be the most stable to equip?”

He chuckled softly.

“The answer is simple. Combine all the attributes.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Synthesize attribute stones? There’s no way that’s possible!”

Someone shouted.

It was rude to interrupt the conversation with the commander, but no one reprimanded him.

Everyone thought the same thing.

“It’s impossible. Unstable attribute stones can cause dangerous explosions. But complete attribute stones are different.”

“Complete attribute stones?”

“Octagonal stones.”

Gordon’s eyebrows twitched at Cahill’s words.

“Pure octagonal stones have a low risk of explosion when synthesized, and their effect is enormous.”

“You have the raw stones that even the Imperial Palace has few of? You speak as if you can obtain them.”

“I wouldn’t have come to the Kyodo Mercenary Corps if I didn’t have something to believe in.”

“This kid… his attitude changes as the situation changes.”

“I think I’ve become an equal trader, not just a guest. What do you think?”

Gordon looked at Cahill and smirked.

“I like your confidence. But we’ll see if it’s just recklessness. What will you do if I take that place by force?”

“If the entire Kyodo Mercenary Corps is determined to attack, it would be difficult for us to handle. But even if you can obtain the octagonal stones, you’ll never be able to obtain the core stone that can launch the airship forever.”

It wasn’t a lie.

After the method of synthesizing perfect attribute stones was revealed.

The fortress is destroyed in the Holy War before it is installed on the Kyodo Mercenary Corps’ airship.

“Besides, I know that the Kyodo Mercenary Corps always draws up magic contracts for their requests.”

“Kuh… Kukuk…”

Gordon laughed as if he couldn’t win.

KWA-AAAANG!!!!

KWAGANG–!!!

It was then.

The massive body sitting on the throne shot out with incredible speed that the eye couldn’t follow.

A gust of wind like a whirlwind.

Suan Hazar and Aidan Hamil instinctively raised their arms to cover their faces.

KWANG–!!!!

Once again, a deafening roar erupted, and everyone’s eyes focused on the front of the hall’s door.

Tszzzzzuk…

Tszeuk…

A smell like burning rubber rose with a hazy smoke.

Gordon said as he watched the scene.

“How about joining me instead? I think I could just give you the position of vice-commander.”

Jegan’s eyebrows twitched at his words.

“That’s an interesting offer, but unless you’re offering me the mercenary corps, I’m not particularly interested.”

“Keu keu keu.”

His arms were numb.

Cahill pretended to be nonchalant, but he thought as he looked at the laughing Gordon.

‘Is this his level…? The monster of Kyodo.’

If he hadn’t widened the gap between his arms at the last moment to deflect Gordon’s blow, Cahill’s arms would have been completely broken.

‘It’s more than I expected. I would have been in big trouble if it weren’t for Calipson’s Gauntlets.’

If.

If the attack continued one more time, it wouldn’t have ended like this.

‘There are many strong people in the world. Time passed, and they naturally aged and disappeared… But in this life, I want to win with skill, not age.’

Cahill’s competitive spirit as a swordsman was ignited.

‘If I want to make a contract with the Kyodo Mercenary Corps, I have to withstand Gordon’s blow.’

This was the reason why Ollivern said it was impossible when he discovered the fortress.

‘And…’

Pit-

It was then.

“…!!”

A faint red line appeared on Gordon’s forearm, and blood droplets formed.

Kwaddeudeuk…

As he exerted force, the muscles in his arm contracted, and the wound healed, except for the blood droplets that had formed, but even that sight alone was enough to shock the people there.

‘He not only blocked the commander’s attack but even counterattacked?!’

‘What the hell is his identity?’

Silence fell.

The members could only stare at the two men, as if they had lost their words.

“Hahahaha…!!!”

Gordon laughed loudly and cracked his fingers.

“Bring the contract.”

He signed the paper without hesitation.

The moment the pen touched, a faint magical power was felt, and light flowed out onto the parchment.

No conditions were specified on it.

A blank contract in which he would grant everything the other party wanted.

It was truly a dangerous thing to do.

But Gordon Fabian’s actions had no hesitation.

‘If you can block Gordon’s blow, you can make a contract, but if you succeed in counterattacking, you can make a solemn pledge with him.’

Cahill slowly raised the corners of his lips.

No one would know.

That was the rule that Gordon had set only for himself.

It was something that Cahill would not have known if he hadn’t regressed.

Until now, no one who had come to request a job had dared to injure the commander so boldly.

And in the future as well.

“What’s your name?”

“Cahill.”

Gordon Fabian and Cahill McGovern.

Neither of them knew that their first meeting would bring about a major upheaval in the future Holy War.

* * *

“At least 10 gold per person. There are ranks within the mercenary corps, from S to B grade. Of course, you know that the B grade of the Kyodo Mercenary Corps is different from the B grade of other places.”

Cahill, as if he had no interest in Jegan’s words, scanned the list in the barracks where the members were.

“I’ll borrow Mikhail, Tyrell, and Maurice. I may borrow more as the work progresses, but I’ll do that through the branch.”

“…”

Jegan’s lips twitched at Cahill’s disregard for him.

‘Mikhail? The other two are fine, but he’s a rookie B-grade mercenary who hasn’t been here long. Besides, this guy is…’

Unlike the puzzled Jegan, Cahill looked at the name written on the list and savored it again as if he had new feelings.

“Did you call me!”

Before he could recall his memories with him in his past life.

Cahill smiled contentedly as he looked at the handsome and delicate-looking man in front of him.

The soldier, looking as disciplined as a rookie, saluted Jegan in a stiff posture.

“It’s a request. You’ve probably heard roughly what it is. The details will be conveyed to Maurice, the most senior member.”

“Yes, sir!!”

He was a boy who hadn’t yet shed his childishness, about five years older than Cahill.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Ah, yes.”

Mikhail, looking at Cahill who casually extended his hand, shook it in a crooked posture, feeling bewildered.

‘What is it? This old-mannish kid.’

Twitch-

The moment they shook hands.

Mikhail almost pulled his hand away from the pain without realizing it.

“The skin hasn’t healed after being peeled off. You must be training hard. How long have you been holding a sword?”

“Yes? About 5 years.”

Knowing that he was an employer, Mikhail used polite language, although he didn’t like it.

‘Is he the son of some noble? He’s younger than me, but he talks like he has experience. I hate arrogant kids like this… And the first mission I barely got is like this.’

As if knowing his thoughts, Cahill smiled lightly.

“Only 5 years, but you’re good enough to join the Kyodo Mercenary Corps… You must be very skilled, right?”

Mikhail blushed at Cahill’s words.

“No. I just happened to catch the eye of Commander Gordon…”

“How about thinking of it differently? It’s because he’s still a rookie and hasn’t produced any significant results yet.”

Mikhail lowered his head as if he was intimidated by Jegan’s words.

“Someone said that even the B-grades of the Kyodo Mercenary Corps are different from other B-grades.”

His face slightly hardened at Cahill’s answer.

“I’ll take this person.”

“It’s also one of the ethics of trade to present proper goods.”

Jegan looked at Mikhail with cold eyes.

Knowing what his gaze contained, Mikhail lowered his head.

“No refunds if you’re disappointed.”

“Of course.”

Cahill nodded.

“And I’ll pay double the fee for the two of you.”

“…!”

Jegan looked puzzled at Cahill’s offer of an even bigger deal.

Then he smiled lightly.

“Instead, on the condition that he doesn’t hold a sword. How about it?”

“…Yes?”

Mikhail looked at him with a look that said, ‘What are you talking about?’

‘No, how am I supposed to fight if I don’t use a sword?’

His expression crumpled.

But unlike him, Cahill looked at Mikhail’s face and recalled his memories.

-You fight well. You said you’re from the Kyodo Mercenary Corps?

-That’s right.

Not the clumsy figure he is now, but a sharply refined blade.

-I heard it’s not easy to get into the Kyodo Mercenary Corps.

Mikhail, leaning against the corpses of monsters covered in blood, raised his head.

-When trolls attacked our village, the Kyodo Mercenary Corps, who had been commissioned to hunt ogres around there, passed by. That’s when I first met Commander Gordon.

-How many years ago was that?

-Well… About 8 years ago?

-It seems that not all Sword Masters have excellent insight. The reason you were able to catch the troll wasn’t because of your swordsmanship.

-Yes?

-Well, that guy said so. It’s no use regretting it now, but he’s unnecessarily interested in human affairs.

Nardie Mauge was where Cahill tilted his head.

It was surprising that the great dragon was interested in him, but more than that, Cahill’s words didn’t make sense.

-What do you mean?

-Your talent. It’s not in the sword, but elsewhere. If you hadn’t met Gordon, things might have been different.

Mikhail gave a bitter smile at his words.

There was no reason to blame the dead now.

-The reason I can live and fight like this is all thanks to the swordsmanship that the commander taught me.

-Is that so.

When was it?

Cahill remembered his bitter smile when he first met him in his unit after the revelation of the Oracle.

He had said it without much meaning at the time, but it was different now.

He had met himself before Gordon laid his hands on him.

‘You’re a guy who should have become a mage, not a swordsman.’

Would he know his thoughts?

Mikhail was just looking at Cahill with a bewildered expression.

“Let’s go together.”

* * *

“Have this delivered to Dushala.”

Cahill handed Suan a scroll he had written before leaving the mercenary corps.

“Are you really going to be okay?”

Suan glanced at Aidan and Mikhail and said. Even though they were from the Kyodo Mercenary Corps, they seemed uneasy in Suan’s eyes.

“Don’t worry. Everyone here can protect themselves. And I need your piloting skills to get into Tatur. Guiding the rest of the mercenaries to Dushala is more important. And I’ve written down what you need to do here. Look at it with her.”

“Understood.”

Cahill nodded at his answer.

‘At this point, she’ll take care of the rest.’

If it’s her with her good business sense, she won’t produce worse results than the indicators I’ve written down.

‘It will take at least half a year to discover the magic ore mine in the land purchased from the five territories, including Baron Beril. And it will take another half a year from there to mine the octagonal stones.’

About 1 year is needed.

‘If I hurry…’

It was possible before the revelation of the Oracle, though it was tight.

No.

Before that, he would be able to prepare for the Imperial War, which would determine the fate of the Empire, the Duchy, and the Three Kingdoms.

The board was set.

Now it was time to refine himself.

Even after obtaining the overflowing magical power, he still hadn’t surpassed the realm of the 2nd class, let alone his swordsmanship.

‘To do that…’

Cahill’s eyes sparkled.

‘Now I have to go there.’

The reason he visited the Kyodo Mercenary Corps was also to commission the protection of the magic ore mine, but it was also to go here with Mikhail.

A city where the comings and goings of countless mages never cease, except for the Ivory Tower and the Antihum Grand Library, and where countless magical competitions are held every year.

‘Azor.’