The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 442

265. Spirit Realm (2)

“Thinking about it now, I wonder if the Golden Cross Society’s reason for existence might be to safeguard this book and find its owner someday,” Deril Harian said, his face filled with pride.

“The fact that Parell, the dimension where Kaie Esser lived, is here means that Parell no longer exists in that dimension, at least,” Karil listened to him silently.

“Then, wouldn’t that mean Kaie Esser overcame Parell and this war against the gods that we are experiencing?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“There are pages in his diary that we cannot see. But I believe it would be different for you, Karil. I think…”

Deril said with expectant eyes, “That page might contain a way to end this war.”

“No.”

“…Pardon?”

Deril Harian couldn’t hide his bewilderment at Karil’s answer.

“I won’t look at it, so you keep it safe.”

“No, what are you saying? Aren’t you fighting to protect humanity? Then, isn’t it natural to look for a more certain method?”

“That may be so. But not now.”

Deril still looked uncomprehending.

“I am going to the Spirit Realm now. I will obtain the Great Earth Monarch there. He is the only one among the Spirit Kings who has hidden in the Spirit Realm. It won’t be easy to get him to step into the war again.”

“That’s why we need a more certain method.”

“What we need now is not a certain way to win the war. What I need to get the Great Earth Monarch to join this unlikely war is his belief in me.”

“You mean… not a method of victory, but to make him believe in you, my lord?”

Karil gave a faint smile at his question.

“Yes. Well, the reason I’m not trying to look at that diary is probably because I am also a weak human. The moment I heard you say it was a writing left by Kaie Esser, I wavered.”

[That’s natural. No one wants to lose in a fight.]

“But if I look at his diary, when I meet the Great Earth Monarch, I will first bring up a way to win before talking about myself.”

Deril Harian nodded at his words.

“If that is your will, my lord, then so be it.”

[Stubborn…]

“When I come to rule all the spirits, I will find that diary again. Keep it safe until then.”

“Understood.”

As Deril bowed to Karil and was about to step back, Karil called out to him.

“Take good care of this place while I’m gone. The Golden Cross Society’s power may be needed during the next disaster.”

“I will obey.”

“Now, reattach your severed arm. It will be uncomfortable to fight with one hand. You know how to heal it, right?”

“Thank you.”

Deril gave a faint smile.

“I also have one goal. I will revive a new Divine Beast by the time you return, my lord. That was also the purpose of the Golden Cross Society.”

“I’ll look forward to it. I’ll tell Anthem to not spare any support for the Golden Cross Society.”

Swoosh…!!

As soon as Karil finished speaking, Red Scales flapped its wings and soared. Stepping onto the ramparts, he jumped and climbed onto its head.

[Krrr!!!]

As he pulled the reins, Red Scales flew towards the north.

* * *

Whoosh…

With a sharp spark, the dimensional gate created in the sky disappeared, and Karil landed on the ground.

Thud-!

Standing on the ground, Karil lightly pressed his temple at the slight headache that arose.

“It’s been a while since I felt this way after Parell [referring to the strain of dimensional travel].”

Looking around, Karil observed his surroundings.

The lush green mountains and clear sky, devoid of a single cloud, were a stark contrast to the winter continent.

“Lamine, are we sure we came to the right place?”

Having arrived near the Gnome Kingdom, Karil activated the Soul Spring within a nearby cave. Despite using the essence of the spring he had obtained based on the elves’ report, he couldn’t completely suppress his anxiety, prompting him to ask as soon as they arrived.

[Hmm, this is indeed the Spirit Realm.]

[It’s been so long…]

[Hahaha, to be able to return!! No, originally, this was where I should have returned already…!]

The Spirit Kings appeared all at once around Karil.

Whoosh!!!

It was the first time since their encounter in the lair of the Flame Dragon that Karil witnessed Lamine’s true form: a colossal giant of flame. Additionally, Etheral, Samiad, Larcis, and Duat manifested in their original forms.

Summoning them all simultaneously in the human realm would have been impossible.

Yet, even with their collective presence, Karil noticed that his spirit energy wasn’t significantly depleted.

“It seems I came to the right place.”

Karil looked at them and let out a soft sigh. It was the first time he had seen the Spirit Kings express their emotions so openly.

‘Well, even if they are Spirit Kings, they are ultimately just living beings. Gods, humans—in the end, everyone is an imperfect being, so there’s no reason why Spirit Kings would be any different.’

They were beings who had ascended to the throne, but they were clearly beings with emotions.

Coo-goo-goo-goo…

Just then…

As if time were accelerating, the clear sky rapidly darkened, and the previously invisible clouds transformed into ominous dark clouds, shrouding Karil.

“…What’s going on?”

[I told you before that the Spirit Realm was disappearing. Now, this place has become an unstable dimension, continuously losing power since the Age of Mythology.]

Lamine said, scanning the surroundings.

Thump! Thump!!

Thunder rumbled deafeningly, and the dark sky turned crimson once more. The rain that had been pouring down with the dark clouds now turned to snow, creating an eerie atmosphere.

[The instability seems to have worsened…]

“Even though you guys have been released from the seal, why isn’t the Spirit Realm recovering?”

[It’s an unfortunate truth, but our seal and the Spirit Realm have become unrelated. This is because this world is already under Yula’s dominion.]

Etheral, too, seemed to have lost the joy from before, watching their dimension collapse.

[That’s not to say we have no responsibility at all. In a way, the absence of the Spirit Kings means that Yula’s influence is growing, so we are, in part, responsible for accelerating the collapse of this world.]

“Hmm…”

[Yula wants to destroy the Spirit Realm.]

Karil nodded.

“I see. But if she can directly exert influence, why does she bother using the act of oracles in the human realm?”

[The Spirit Realm and the human realm are different. Yula sees spirits as objects of destruction, but she doesn’t think that way about humans. Spirits are beings born from the rift along with the gods, but humans are beings created by the gods. Perhaps it’s because they are her creations.]

But despite Lamine’s words, Karil smiled coldly.

“Love for her creations? She probably thinks of them as her playground. If she breaks all the toys, she won’t have anything to play with.”

Karil slowly began to walk.

[Well, whether it’s love or amusement, at least Yula doesn’t try to destroy the human realm directly with her own hands. Karil, you wouldn’t know. The terrible sight when she descended upon the Spirit Realm after the defeat of the Divine War…]

At Lamine’s words, the other Spirit Kings’ faces darkened.

“I haven’t seen it, but I can guess to some extent just from the scenery of this world.”

Like an illusion, the warmth he felt upon first arriving in the Spirit Realm had vanished without a trace, and the ruined landscape was evidence of the fierce battle.

“Is this the result of a fight with a god…”

[We can’t let our world be like this.]

“Of course. By the way…”

Karil nodded at Aln Zavius’s words and looked ahead.

“Unlike the human realm, it seems it’s true that Yula directly destroyed this place. Because ‘that’ over there doesn’t seem to be a being living in the Spirit Realm.”

[…!!!]

At that moment, the Spirit Kings hurriedly turned their heads at Karil’s words.

Coo-goo-goo…

In the direction Karil pointed, amidst the remains of collapsed rocks, stood a woman.

[Yu… Yula?]

Lamine said, looking at the woman with disbelief.

Thud… Crumble…

As if in response, the debris beneath her feet crumbled.

[Why is she here…]

[Could it be…]

“Finally, we meet.”

She tapped the rocks with a touch of annoyance, as if she was tired of waiting.

“I didn’t particularly want to meet. It seems I was a step late. Did you know the gate to the Spirit Realm had opened and waited for me?”

Karil said with a hardened face, looking at the broken debris. He could feel the energy of Maktun [the Great Earth Monarch] emanating from the rock she was standing on.

“There’s no need to be so wary.”

She lightly dusted off her hands and smiled at Karil.

“Yes, Karil McGovern. As you said, I was waiting for you to come here. There is no space where we can meet together other than here… I wanted to see the pitiful human who is trying to commit treason against God.”

“Nonsense.”

“Just like when we first met, you are a truly interesting human. You are the first to harbor such hostility towards me.”

“What’s so confident about a being who has destroyed a dimension, wearing such an innocent face?”

Karil realized that one of his hands was unconsciously gripping the sword at his waist. He pretended to be nonchalant, but the being in front of him was a god.

He had been waiting for an encounter with Yula, but he never thought it would happen so unexpectedly.

[Is that so?]

At that moment, Yula’s voice echoed in his head.

[Then, is this the appearance of God that you desire?]

“…!!!”

It felt like his breath was being constricted.

[Karil!!!]

At that moment, Lamine unleashed his power, spewing forth hot flames. Simultaneously, Larcis and Duat shielded him with the power of light and darkness, while Etheral and Samiad hurled ice pillars and wind blades towards her.

Bang! Kwaaaang!!

Kwaaaaaang…!!!!

The energy of the Spirit Kings spread intensely around Yula with a deafening explosion.

“Even after thousands of years, you haven’t changed.”

But looking at them, Yula’s expression remained calm. Unlike their intensely pouring momentum, her hair lightly fluttered as if she was facing a gentle breeze.

“Insolent beings who still try to rebel against me. Have you ever thought about why I left you alone, even though I knew your seals were broken?”

[Kuh…]

[Ugh…!!]

Each time her voice echoed, the Spirit Kings’ bodies shook violently.

“I was just pretending not to know. So, let’s end the greetings here. If you provoke me any further, I will make you like this too…”

She took out a small piece of rock from her bosom and spread it out on her palm.

“Do not interfere with the conversation.”

It was just a single word, but the pressure emanating from her was indescribable.

“I just want to have a conversation with you, Karil. Besides, if you give me the answer I want… I can give it to you.”

She showed him a piece of rock.

“It’s Maktun’s heart. The Great Earth Monarch has not died yet, so you can make his power your own.”

Yula said to him with a gentle smile.