The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 441

265. The Spirit Realm (1)

“…That’s all.”

After reading the lengthy report that nearly touched the floor, Dushalala wore a proud expression.

“Impressive.”

“There has never been such a flawless battle in history.”

“It’s hard to believe the entire continent was a battlefield.”

“It’s thanks to Tosca’s Light Cannon! To annihilate all the Hekts [a powerful, monstrous race] on the continent with a single strike! The remaining rabble were no more than Lizardmen once their leader was dead.”

Compared to the scale of the great war, which involved over 2 million troops, the damage was negligible.

Since the day the Hekt’s trident was embedded in the Millennium Ice Cave after the war, a victory banquet had been ongoing.

Although it had only been a few days, people were able to forget the anxiety of the war and bask in happiness.

Caryl opened the warehouse for them and provided fine wine and food.

Dushalala told him not to overdo it, but for Caryl, these two victories were deeply moving.

Compared to the tens of thousands who died in his past life, this was an overwhelming victory.

The future he ultimately wanted to change was to save people from the Holy War.

Caryl himself wanted to enjoy this victory a little.

“Tosca’s power was great, but it wasn’t everything. If we hadn’t been there, we wouldn’t have been able to resolve the war so easily, would we?”

Hwa-Rin said with a proud face.

“That’s right.”

Grace, who had gone to the battlefield, answered immediately, as if trying to appease her.

“That fierce woman’s nose will only get higher.”

Milliana and her sisters clicked their tongues and shook their heads, but their reaction wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

“But how were you able to capture Pharrel and come out so quickly?”

Anthem Howard asked cautiously.

“Pharrel was structured in layers, as Caryl said, and there were monsters inside. Each layer had a boss monster that could be called a gatekeeper, and if you defeated him, you could go to the next layer.”

Hwa-Rin answered as if she had been waiting for this. She seemed eager to talk about her heroic deeds.

“It’s similar to a monster nest.”

Anthem listened to her attentively, and Daryl Harlan, who was sitting in the corner of the hall, took out a pen and began to write down her words.

“But what’s different is that the monsters inside were not ordinary. They all had the energy of corruption. Moreover, monster nests disappear when you kill the boss, but Pharrel just goes up, and there was no exit.”

“Then how did you get out?”

“The exit opened when we captured the 10th floor. Inside, we were faced with a crossroads: whether to go up again or go out the exit.”

“Does that mean a door opens every 10 floors?”

At Anthem’s question, Hwa-Rin shrugged. Everyone listened to her story with great interest.

“Well, I don’t know because I didn’t go up any further. But what is clear is that the 10th floor we captured is by no means the end.”

She looked over those who had gone to Pharrel in the Millennium Ice Cave with her and said,

“No, rather, it was just the beginning. You asked why we were able to capture the tower and return so quickly, right?”

“…?”

“The reason is that we were able to finish capturing the 10th floor, which was the last floor of our goal, faster than any other floor. We already knew how to capture it.”

“How to capture it? How…?”

Hwa-Rin looked at Caryl. Her eyes contained a question of whether it was okay to tell the story, and at the same time, they were asking Caryl for the truth.

But Caryl simply shrugged his shoulders as an answer.

“The boss who was guarding that 10th floor…”

Hwa-Rin said.

“It was Blood.”

“…What?!”

“W-What are you talking about?!”

“No way…!”

Everyone was shocked by her words. But those who belonged to the capture party with her didn’t say anything, confirming the truth of her statement.

“Then… if we go up to the 20th floor, is there a possibility that Hekt will be there? Lord, could this be a way to deal with corruption?”

Anthem said with a slightly excited voice.

“Impossible. There won’t be a Hekt on the 20th floor. That means that to prepare for the 10th corruption, you have to go up to the 100th floor. When are you going to capture the tower?”

“Ah…”

At Caryl’s words, Anthem spoke awkwardly and seemed ashamed of himself for losing his composure in his joy.

“Also, you can’t assume that the floors in between will fit exactly. There may be 10 floors or there may be 100 floors in between. And there are risks in climbing the tower. If you get injured or sacrifice yourself, you could lose your strength.”

[Caryl.]

Arun listened to their conversation and spoke into his mind.

[It’s new to me, but I can see that you have endured tremendous things to get here. You weren’t just preparing for the fight against this disaster based on your experience in the Holy War.]

Caryl smiled bitterly at his words.

The fierce battle he would have fought while capturing the tower from the 1st floor of Pharrel to turn back time…

He had won this war alone, fighting against the entire continent with millions of troops, so even Arun couldn’t imagine it.

“So I have to win.”

Caryl also said in a small voice that others couldn’t hear, as if making a resolution.

“Hwa-Rin, the battles you experienced in Pharrel will be valuable in the upcoming war against disasters and corruptions. Kyla Chang, you know why I let you in there.”

At his words, Kyla nodded.

“Anthem has upgraded Mujin’s tactics one step further while you were away. But he is a strategist, not a warrior. There must be something lacking. Only you, who helped create Mujin’s tactics, can further advance them based on your experience in Pharrel.”

“I will obey your command.”

“Beykan, Kinu, Liliana, the reason why I only formed the group with northerners, excluding southerners, is because unity is important in battle. Unlike the knights, your tactics can be fully learned by the southerners. You will combine the forces of the north and south and reorganize them, and Thompson will also reorganize the Ulkas Guild and incorporate it into the North-South Free Army.”

“Yes!!”

“I understand!!”

Not only the Millennium Ice Cave assault team but also others seemed to know why he had selected them, and they couldn’t help but admire his foresight.

“Randall.”

Caryl looked at the last person. Everyone’s eyes were on Randall McGovern.

“I don’t expect much from you.”

But unexpectedly, Caryl spoke in a cold tone. People knew that it was by no means a privilege for his brother.

“Think. And move on your own.”

Randall didn’t answer his words and just nodded.

“We have won two victories, but disasters will continue to plague us in the future.”

Caryl said to those in the hall.

“Are you afraid?”

His voice was low, but strangely, it resonated in their hearts.

“No!!!”

As if they had been waiting for it, an answer close to a shout echoed.

“Yes. There’s no need to be afraid. The war waiting for us is just a series of victories.”

Caryl nodded slowly.

“So enjoy this victory for a while. You are worthy of it.”

Waaaaaaaah—!!

Waaaaaaaah—!!!

As soon as he finished speaking, his subordinates shouted in unison.

* * *

[It’s been a while. It’s been a while since I’ve seen such a bustling city. After hunting Blood, I was busy preparing for the second disaster without rest.]

Caryl listened to Arun’s words and drank the strong liquor. It felt like his throat was burning, but that wasn’t bad either.

“It’s just a short break.”

[But it’s also a preparation for eternal peace.]

Swoosh…

Arun’s black figure appeared and drank from the bottle placed next to Caryl.

[It seems you’ve made up your mind.]

“Yes. The final battle is approaching. I can’t delay any longer. I will now open the door to the Spirit Realm.”

Rock Giant Lord Maktun and Thunder Lord Kungen.

For the great battle with Yula, Caryl vowed to end the contract with the remaining two Spirit Kings.

[You should. You waited until now, when the third disaster is coming, to have time to get them.]

Caryl nodded at his words.

[But can they stop the third disaster without you?]

“They are not children to be taken care of, but warriors. I have prepared all the methods. They are the ones who captured Pharrel in the Millennium Ice Cave faster than I expected. There will be no problem.”

[You trust them.]

Caryl smiled lightly at Arun’s words.

“I’m sure of my memories.”

Then he stopped the hand that was pouring alcohol into the empty glass.

“Can I have a drink too?”

He heard someone’s voice behind him, but Caryl seemed to have already recognized his presence.

“Alkar is not visible. I wonder if… it has something to do with the report that came from the front gate a little while ago.”

“Report?”

“Two wild men came to the front gate, a soldier looking for you, Lord. Unusually, they came with a white young deer, so they quickly notified us.”

It was Daryl Harlan.

“Anchar has come.”

Caryl said as if he had been waiting.

[Things are going well. As you said, he seems to have recovered before the third disaster started. Or… is this also as you remember? Kekeke.]

Caryl just laughed at Arun’s words echoing in his head.

“If I’m right, one of them will be the last of the Ten Saviors. A wild man… An unexpected person has come.”

Thud-

Caryl threw the empty glass at Daryl Harlan.

Then, when he moved his hand, the alcohol in the bottle floated into the air and went into his glass.

“Has there ever been a time when my actions were predictable?”

Daryl smiled at his words and shook his glass as if to show off, and the alcohol in the glass floated up in droplets and went into his mouth.

“I came to give you something before you go to the Spirit Realm.”

“What is it?”

Daryl Harlan took out a small notebook from his arms.

“I was going to give it to you a little earlier… I just received it now that it was kept in the Golden Cross Society.”

“Hmm.”

Caryl looked at the old book that Daryl was handing him.

“I told you that the Golden Cross Society was created with the will of Kaie Essir [a legendary figure].”

Nothing was written on the cover.

It wasn’t a magic book either.

There was no particular magical power felt in the old book, so Caryl looked at Daryl with questioning eyes.

“It’s a diary containing Kaie Essir’s will.”

Daryl Harlan said cautiously.

At that moment, Caryl looked at the old book in his hand with trembling eyes.

“Everything is in it.”