The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 451

270. The Wildling’s Relic (1)

“The Wildling’s Relic?”

Aidan looked at Khalil with a questioning gaze, but Khalil was just as unfamiliar with the term.

In his past life, Anchar was a druid who wielded the power of the spirits, but he had never mentioned any relics.

“Everyone knows that the Great Rainforest is a place with a lot of rain and lightning. But that’s not just a natural phenomenon.”

“Are you saying it’s related to the Thunder Lord?”

“Yes.”

[Hmm… Could Kungen be sealed in the Great Rainforest?]

[Amazing. I didn’t expect our previous conversation to be true. No wonder I felt like the principles of nature were twisted when I went to the Great Rainforest…]

[Why did Yula just leave him in the human realm? He’s one of the most feared beings among the spirits, along with Larciss.]

The Spirit Kings, seemingly surprised by Anchar’s words, broke their silence and spoke hastily.

[Who knows? Larciss was also left in the human realm instead of the Spirit Realm. Maybe it’s for the same reason.]

[Hmm…]

Leaving the Spirit Kings’ conversation behind, Khalil asked Anchar,

“Where is the relic now?”

“My father has it. Actually, I don’t remember, but after you visited, Khalil, my father said the relic reacted.”

[I left for the Spirit Realm right away, so I couldn’t confirm it.]

Khalil nodded at Allen’s words.

“Well done. You have foresight. I know you came with Halkata, so it’s a relief. We can save time sending people to the Great Rainforest.”

From the magic airship, he contacted Israfil in the situation room, his voice carrying a hint of authority.

“Did you hear that? Bring Halkata here right away. We’re heading back to the capital immediately.”

[Don’t worry. I’ve already contacted him.]

Khalil wore a satisfied expression at Israfil’s quick work.

“Then, hold on tight. We’re going at full speed!”

As if waiting for this, Kal Mc pulled the lever with all his might.

Whoosh—!!!

The magic airship cut through the waves as if flying through the sky, and began to race.

* * *

“Here it is.”

Khalil, who had returned to the capital, looked at Halkata, who was waiting for him. The long, rectangular box in his hand made it obvious that it contained a sword.

“Open it.”

At Khalil’s command, Halkata pushed the box closer to him and said,

“This relic has been passed down through the Wildlings for generations, but no one has ever seen inside. It’s impossible for us to unlock it.”

“Hmm.”

Strangely, there were no seams at all on the box. The box was made of wood, and only unique patterns engraved on the surface remained.

[I can definitely feel the energy of the spirits inside. It makes sense if they used a wood seal to block lightning.]

Raminus said, examining the box.

“What do you think? Can you burn it?”

[Let me try.]

Whoosh…!!!

Flames rose from Eintringer on Khalil’s hand. But despite the fierce flames of the Flame Tyrant, his fire disappeared helplessly the moment it touched the box.

[Normally, wood-based seals are weak against fire… This isn’t just ordinary wood.]

[It’s water-absorbent wood. And it’s so hard that it won’t be easily cut by wind blades. It’s definitely not a human seal.]

Etheral said, watching the wooden box extinguish the flames as if absorbing them.

“What’s the solution?”

[There’s only one. The foundation of wood is ultimately the root. The root cannot exist without the power of the earth. In the end, if you destroy the source, the seal will disappear.]

“…!!!”

It was then.

A huge dimensional gate was created in the capital’s hall, and a low, heavy voice echoed.

“Huh…? W-what’s going on?”

At the same time as the voice was heard, Suan Hazar, who was there, couldn’t hide his embarrassment as the gauntlet he was wearing emitted light.

“He’s here.”

Khalil recognized the owner of the voice at once.

“Huh…”

“No way. It’s really a golem?”

People were speechless at the sight of the giant golem that appeared through the dimensional gate, simply staring blankly.

It was the first time they had seen a golem as a living spirit, not a magic weapon created by the duchy.

With the Spirit Realm disappearing, the few remaining spiritists could barely summon even intermediate spirits, so it was natural to be surprised by such a huge spirit.

“Is your body recovered now? Maktun.”

Despite filling the hall’s ceiling, the golem only stuck its face out as if the dimensional gate was too narrow, and said to Khalil.

[That’s not Yula’s seal.]

Khalil looked at him and said,

“Then?”

[That seal is one I created.]

The Spirit Kings couldn’t hide their bewilderment at his answer.

[What do you mean?]

[Are you saying… you imprisoned Kungen?]

[Maktun!! You weren’t on Yula’s side, were you!]

The Spirit Kings’ power grew stronger, and the people in the hall felt a sense of pressure.

“Everyone calm down. If Maktun had been on Yula’s side, we wouldn’t have ended up like that when we went to the Spirit Realm.”

Calming the noisy ones, Khalil looked up at Maktun.

“Of course, if that was all an act, next time, instead of just your heart remaining, I’ll break only your heart.”

[…The reason I sealed him was not to obey Yula’s rules of defeat. There was a reason to seal him before that.]

“Why?”

[Yula disliked Kungen. The reason is that he also had the power of light. But the Thunder Lord is a special being even among the Spirit Kings. He doesn’t just have the power of light.]

[Thunder has light and heat, is more free in the water, contains wind, and also has the darkness of rain clouds.]

Larciss added to Maktun’s words.

[That’s right. Unlike the other Spirit Kings after the Divine Spirit War, Yula didn’t even try to seal Kungen. Because if the other Spirit Kings disappeared and he was left alone, the natural world would lose its balance due to the raging power of lightning.]

“It’s like the erratic climate of the Great Rainforest.”

Anthem Howard nodded as if he understood the Spirit Kings’ story.

[That’s why I sealed Kungen with my power just before fleeing to the Spirit Realm. The only Spirit King who could handle Kungen’s power was the power of the earth.]

“Why did Yula just leave your sealed box alone?”

[Well… Maybe she thought Kungen couldn’t break my seal himself. Yula can freely travel to and from the Spirit Realm, so she thought I wouldn’t break his seal under her watch.]

“But Yula would understand that Kungen’s power is needed to catch the Fallen.”

Khalil said in a meaningful voice.

She might be reluctant to release the Spirit King’s seal, but with Larciss’s seal already broken, Kungen’s existence might not mean much to Yula.

‘But gathering those small differences to create a big gap is the most necessary thing to defeat the enemy.’

“Then Maktun, can you break that seal?”

[No. It’s impossible.]

Khalil frowned slightly at his answer.

“It’s a seal you made, so why?”

[In the process of sealing him to prevent his power from coming into the world, I engraved a few more spells. To break the seal, not only the power of the earth but also physical force through the power of the earth must be supported.]

“That’s simple. We can solve it through a spirit contract.”

[The current you cannot contract with me.]

“…What?”

Khalil asked back at Maktun’s words.

“What do you mean? I have contracted with the remaining Spirit Kings so far. Is there a special reason why you are different from the others?”

[That’s not it. It’s because I haven’t fully recovered yet. My heart is still in the Spirit Realm. In the current situation, in order to manifest my power in the human realm, someone with the power of the earth is needed.]

“The power of the earth… My magic power is dragon magic power. It’s a colorless attribute. I can also use the earth attribute.”

Maktun slowly shook his head.

[It must be pure earth power. It must be someone with only the magic power of the earth attribute. Fortunately, since I myself want to conclude the contract, spirit power will not be very important.]

“If it’s earth attribute magic power…”

It was then.

“Excuse me.”

Suan Hazar asked the giant golem in front of him with a trembling voice.

“Can’t you lend me your strength?”

[To you?]

Maktun looked down at him.

[Calduan’s Gauntlet. Certainly… I made a gauntlet containing the power of the Azure Ogre at Quenitte’s request. I didn’t expect someone to find it.]

Maktun said, looking at the gauntlet he had obtained from Quenitte, who was called the spiritist of the century, as if reminiscing about the past.

“Certainly, if it’s Suan Hazar, he’s a Sword Master-level warrior and has earth attribute magic power…”

“It’s going well, isn’t it?”

Aidan and a few others said as if agreeing with his challenge.

[Well.]

But unlike them, Maktun shook his head.

[If you insist on upholding my power, that person seems to suit me better than you.]

The place where the golem’s huge finger pointed was none other than Gordon Fabian.

“Hehe, you know how to pick people. See, Suan? You’re still far off, kid.”

He said as if teasing Suan.

It was a light joke, but Suan couldn’t laugh easily.

“Well, with all due respect to the great Spirit King, I think Suan is better than that has-been. How about reconsidering?”

“What? The old man is you. Look at you protecting your disciple?”

Gordon scoffed as if he was dumbfounded at the words of the Fist King next to him. The two were still bickering, but there was no one who didn’t know that they were confidants who worked better together than anyone else on the battlefield.

[You are those who have reached the extreme in the limits of humans. I feel a similar energy to the colleagues who were with me in the mythological era. As you said, I am well aware of the potential of that person… but the war has already begun, and I think it would be more beneficial to lend strength to the strong right now.]

“That’s a valid point. But fortunately, Anchar and Aidan have stopped Rice. We’ve bought some time.”

[What can you do in that short amount of time?]

“We can do a lot. Perhaps… he may surpass Gordon in that short amount of time.”

“Is this human senile? Say something that makes sense. Balbont, I know your 8th Stance is quite excellent, but not you, Suan will surpass me? A warrior who has just reached the Sword Master level?”

Gordon said as if he was dumbfounded.

“Certainly, Suan is a rare talent. When I first saw him, I wanted to accept him as a formal disciple. What I regret now is that I should have told him my stance sooner.”

“It’s late, but you’ve already passed on all eight stances to that guy.”

“But it’s not enough.”

“…What are you trying to say?”

Gordon hesitated, feeling uneasy about Balbont’s gaze towards him.

“You and I are just setting suns. Those who have not been included in the Ten of Godslaying. But Suan has to go to Parel with Khalil. So we have to give him strength, don’t we?”

“You don’t mean…”

“There is one way to make Suan surpass you.”

Gordon let out a low sigh.

“Teach him Automata [a defensive technique]. Suan, who has earth attribute magic power, is the right person to learn your absolute defense technique.”

“Crazy… Are you telling me to just give my livelihood to that guy?”

“Hehe, who knows, maybe he’ll be your livelihood. It’s good to have a disciple to take care of you when you don’t even have the strength to hold a spoon in your old age, right?”

Balbont laughed as if Gordon’s expression was worth seeing.

“Think about it. That guy is going to save the world. You know his personality. That clumsy guy will throw himself into the enemy’s blade for his lord. At least, if you want him to come back alive, he has to have a way to protect himself.”

Gordon frowned slightly at his words and looked at Suan. Suan flinched, not befitting his size, as if nervous at his gaze.

That’s because even the sturdy Suan looked small in front of Gordon.

“Are you confident?”

“…Yes? Ah, yes!! Of course!”

Suan answered urgently at his question.

It was Gordon Fabian’s Automata, no less. The opportunity to learn the absolute defense technique that even the magic of the Archmage doesn’t work on was worth more than a thousand gold, so Suan couldn’t hide his excitement.

“Good.”

“That’s great. Suan, learn well. His defense technique is a secret technique that we haven’t even figured out.”

Balbont patted Suan’s shoulder lightly as if satisfied with Gordon’s permission.

Khalil smiled at the sight.

Balbont must have been planning to have Suan learn Automata all this time.

“Khalil, how much time do we have left?”

“Well, I can’t tell you the exact number of days, one or two days, but it’s certain that we can’t afford to be relaxed.”

“Okay. That means we have to teach him quickly.”

Gordon nodded as if he understood and looked at Suan.

“Then, bite down hard.”

“…Yes?”

He raised his huge battle hammer, Mouter, and smiled.