The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 458

274. The Battle of Farrell (2)

“It’s here.”

Aidan, who had been waiting in the capital’s underground training ground, looked at the box Suan Hazar handed him.

“Why the long face?”

“I should consider myself lucky to be alive after taking a punch from Gordon Fabian.”

“Heh heh… Crazy.”

Aidan chuckled at his nonchalant reply.

“What about the Automata?”

“Want to take a swing? You can use your sword.”

Skaang-!!!

“Hey.”

Suan Hazar said quietly, looking at Aidan’s dagger pointed at his neck.

“You should say something before attacking.”

“Do assassins announce their kills?”

He shook his head at Aidan’s action of drawing his sword instead of answering.

“Still, reacting to my speed. Impressive.”

“I wasn’t reacting; I had it on from the start. Sir Gordon told me to keep the Automata active even when sleeping.”

“If the shield you wear normally can block my sword, then the title of Absolute Defense isn’t wrong.”

Aidan said, looking at him, who had become even stronger.

“Now it’s my turn.”

“Be careful.”

Suan Hazar handed Aidan the relic of the Barbarian and turned away.

“Aren’t you going to watch?”

“I’m not a child… I’ll handle it myself. The capital is noisy with battles outside; I need to go help them.”

“What if I’m not chosen by the Thunder Lord and the Spirit King goes wild? At least someone needs to protect this place.”

At Aidan’s words, Suan stared at him blankly before bursting into laughter.

“You?”

There wasn’t even a hint of doubt.

Aidan seemed speechless at Suan’s unwavering belief and let out a low sigh.

“Shut up and get to the battlefield. It’s not too late to open the box there.”

“Open this box on a dangerous battlefield? Did hitting Gordon mess with your head?”

“Decide on a disaster quickly and follow me. I’ll be waiting.”

“Where?”

Suan tilted his head slightly as if asking if he didn’t know. As their eyes met, faint smiles appeared on their faces.

“I need to return the borrowed power.”

“You don’t need to return it. After you and Gordon left, I received permission from our lord.”

“What?”

“Wait. I’ll follow soon. With this power, we will become our lord’s swords.”

“You won’t say any more nonsense about failing. Don’t make any mistakes that would shame our lord.”

“Don’t worry.”

Aidan nodded.

“The opponent is a god. We know our lord’s greatness better than anyone, but there may be moments when he needs our help.”

Suan trusted him but encouraged him once more out of concern.

“Aidan.”

“I know.”

“Yes. Unlike the dull me, you are clever. I only know how to use my body, so even if I think of a way, it always comes down to this body. So, until you come, I will be our lord’s shield. Do you understand what I mean? You are the one who will become our lord’s sword, not us.”

Suan Hazar waved his hand lightly.

“I’m going.”

Aidan smiled wryly as he watched him leave the training ground.

“You call yourself dull after mastering the Fist King’s techniques and Gordon Fabian’s Absolute Defense? You are the only one on the continent with the secrets of two of the Five Great Sword Masters.”

He looked at the box Suan had given him.

‘You wouldn’t know how much I initially felt competitive with you and Mikhail.’

Aidan thought, unable to take his eyes off the door Suan had left through.

‘He’s a man I admired. He succeeded admirably, so I can’t lose either.’

“Hoo…”

The lock on the box was already open, but the tingling energy emanating from within indicated that the Divine Iron [a rare and powerful metal] was still dormant.

“Because it’s how I get stronger.”

Click-

Aidan opened the box without hesitation.

“It might sound ridiculous to ask you to protect a lord stronger than us, but… no matter what, protect our lord until I arrive. I beg you.”

KWAHHHHHHHHH—!!!!

At that moment, as if the sun had descended upon the earth, the capital was instantly bathed in pure white light.

* * *

Although the Lice [a swarm of insects] had already spread throughout the continent, the fiercest battleground was Piasta.

This region, where the disaster first occurred, was being defended by Kwell, leading the Azure Knights, and Beykan’s Free Army, centered around the port.

“Maintain the barrier!!”

Paul Hend, the vice-commander of the Azure Knights, shouted with all his might. The elderly knight suddenly longed for the days when he taught children in a comfortable mansion instead of wielding a sword, but such memories were fleeting as he spat out a mouthful of blood. Gritting his teeth, he swung his sword.

Clang!! Clang!!

Sparks flew each time his mana blade cut through the air, colliding with the insects.

“Kugh!!”

“Kuaaaagh!!”

Screams echoed from everywhere.

“Damn it.”

At first, he could at least swing his sword, but as time passed, the sword felt heavier and heavier.

It wasn’t just because of his old age and weakening condition. The Lice, which were initially invisible, now appeared clearly like black smoke.

The number of insects attacking Piasta had instantly increased several times over the initial amount.

“Attack!! Throw fire bombs!!”

At Beykan’s command, bullets made by processing redstone [a type of magical mineral] were tied to the Free Army’s arrows and shot into the sky.

Bang! Bang!! Kwaga-gang!! Kwagang!!!

The fire arrows exploded in the air like fireworks. Each time an arrow was fired, insects rained down to the ground.

For a brief moment, a clear sky appeared each time a fire bomb exploded, as if a hole had been torn in the sky, but the swarm of insects quickly filled the gap, flying towards the soldiers as if nothing had happened.

Kwaggeugeugeu……!!

A knight holding a shield staggered from the impact.

The Lice did not miss the gap when the shield surrounding the massive shield weakened from the impact.

“Danger!!”

Paul Hend shouted.

Kwaaaang-!!

But at that moment, the insects gathered in one spot like awls and struck the shield with all their might, causing the gathered knights to collapse and the barrier to crumble.

“No!!”

The insects swarmed towards the spot where the barrier had disappeared.

Paul Hend tried to stop them, but he had no strength to move forward due to the thousands, tens of thousands of insects already blocking his path.

“Kugh!! Damn it! Get off!!”

He shouted irritably, watching the insects gnawing at his armor instead of being able to provide support.

Whoosh—!!

It was then.

Fierce flames erupted from inside the collapsed barrier. Paul Hend thought that Beykan’s unit had detonated the fire bombs they had been saving.

“Incredible power…….”

The flames passed through the shields like living creatures, burning the insects.

“If you had something like that, you should have used it sooner.”

“It’s not us.”

“……Huh?”

At Beykan’s response, Paul Hend quickly turned his head.

Thud- Thud- Thud-

“Young Master…….”

“I’m late.”

Paul Hend stared with trembling eyes at Randol McGovern, who was emitting red flames all over his body as if he were wearing armor of fire.

“It’s been a while.”

Randol bowed his head lightly.

Even during Kwell’s seclusion, Paul Hend had been closely following Randol’s news, so he looked at him with a fresh feeling.

He was the most talented child in swordsmanship at the McGovern mansion, but he hid his skills for the sake of Marte, the eldest son, and because of his commoner birth.

Paul Hend had felt sorry for him even at the mansion, and now that he knew he had lost his left arm to his own father, Kwell, he was at a loss for words.

“It’s alright. I could have reattached it if it were any other case,” Randol said calmly, noticing Paul Hend’s gaze on his severed arm.

“Fortunately, the cut was so clean that there wouldn’t be any problem holding a sword… but I chose not to reattach it.”

“No, but why…”

“It’s a wound from the greatest swordsman on the continent. I obtained it while trying to stop him, so isn’t it an honor?”

Paul Hend gaped, unsure how to respond to Randol’s words.

“Every time I see my arm, I make a resolution: to become stronger.”

“Young Master…”

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not that I resent my father,” Randol said with a faint smile.

Paul Hend was quite surprised that Randol, who had always been taciturn in his childhood, could make such a natural expression. It didn’t suit the battlefield, but it was an emotion closer to joy.

“Thanks to him, I was able to become stronger.”

Digon Outer Swordsmanship Variation 2 – Moonlit Jade [A unique sword technique developed by Randol based on the Digon style].

Whoosh-!!

Randol grabbed his sword and leaped forward.

Milliana had taught him dual swordsmanship, but having lost one arm, he modified Digon’s swordsmanship to suit himself.

The released flames in his hand spewed out fierce fire. The insects around him were engulfed in the flames and turned to ashes in an instant.

One of the things that distinguishes upper-level knights and Sword Masters, or upper-level mages and Archmages, is whether or not they have pioneered their own domain [a unique area of expertise or skill].

That domain may be based on family swordsmanship or a completely different magic, but what matters is that it is something only they can do.

This could be seen in Gordon Fabian’s automata or Bertch Blano’s unique magic.

In that sense, Randol was the same.

Although based on Digon’s swordsmanship, he transformed dual swordsmanship into outer swordsmanship, modifying it into a form that suited him.

“Congratulations…”

Paul Hend bowed his head involuntarily at the emergence of a new Sword Master from the McGovern family.

Ironically, the two who were most discriminated against among the brothers due to their commoner and immigrant backgrounds became the most outstanding swordsmen.

‘Not only Lord Kwell, but also Marte and Elliot are here.’

He hated war, but perhaps this opportunity could be a chance for the brothers who had been shaken in the McGovern family to unite.

“Be careful!!!”

As he was lost in thought, forgetting that he was on the battlefield and swayed by the emotions of old age, he hurriedly raised his head at his subordinate’s cry.

Whooooong!! Whoooooooooong!!!

His vision darkened. Darkness was about to engulf him. The moment Paul Hend realized that the darkness was a swarm of insects, he burst into a hollow laugh without realizing it.

‘What a fool…’

How many times has he lost his composure on the battlefield and shown such an ugly sight?

“Paul Hend!!” Randol shouted.

However, even the hot flames that devoured countless swarms of insects were not enough to save Paul Hend.

“No way…!!!!!!!!!!!”

It was then.

Clatterrrrrrrrr-!!!

A flash of light erupted from the swarm of insects that had engulfed Randol and Paul Hend. The flash appeared and disappeared in an instant, as if time had stopped.

However, where the light had passed, a sharp sonic boom and a fierce shock occurred.

Randol was pushed back by the force, and only a pile of blackened insects was stacked on the floor where Paul Hend had been standing a moment ago.

“…….”

Randol stared blankly at the spot where Paul Hend had been, not knowing what had happened.

“Excuse me.”

A voice was heard from behind him at that moment.

He hurriedly turned his head to see Paul Hend, who was sitting down as if his legs had given out, with a dazed expression and his mouth agape.

Zzzzzztt… Zzzzzztt…

“Hoo…”

Bright yellow electricity was still flowing around him, and a man holding the back of his neck lightly nodded towards Randol.

The two daggers on his waist trembled lightly.

Whoosh-!!!