The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 490

Side Story 3

3. The Tenth

“Israfil.”

[Yes, my lord. What is it?]

Kahlil, heading towards the Millennium Ice Cave, called out his name.

“Contact each territory immediately and summon all ten of the Godslayers.”

[Understood.]

“But keep it a secret from Miliana. She needs to rest.”

Kahlil pondered the identity of the one awaiting him at the Millennium Ice Cave.

The existence of the Millennium Ice Cave was no longer a secret. Even the exploration teams, led by Hwa-rin, had ventured inside Farel [a region of extreme cold and magical energy].

But they wouldn’t have touched Farel without reporting to him. Besides, Hwa-rin was among the soldiers currently surrounding the Millennium Ice Cave, so she couldn’t be unaware of the exploration team members’ movements. These were the members who had been with her.

And of course, the Ten Godslayers were out of the question, so it was easy to predict who the intruder of the Millennium Ice Cave was.

‘If you exclude them, there’s only one person left…’

Kahlil shook his head.

The individual closest to the secret of the Millennium Ice Cave should be on the airship right now.

‘Who is it?’

Kahlil glared and flew towards the Millennium Ice Cave.

‘Whoever it is, I will not forgive anyone who disrupts this peace.’

A disturbing feeling flashed through his mind.

Kahlil recalled the last of the gods who died in the Great War. Rakshumu, the tenth god, had escaped to another dimension with the seed of a god in her womb before her death.

‘Even if it’s a god…’

Whooooong—

Kahlil drew Agnel [his dagger] and focused his magic power. The blade of the dagger extended, emitting a purple aura.

Although the last Dimension Spiral he possessed was divided into seven pieces, and the divine power of the past had diminished, his creation magic still boasted considerable power.

Whoosh…!!

And the aura blade of his Arcane Power was once again covered in fierce flames.

[Krrr…]

A low growl emanated from the red scales, and a faint tension lingered on Kahlil’s face as the approaching Ice Cave came into view.

[Certainly… It’s an energy I’ve never felt before.]

Kahlil slowly nodded at the voice in his head.

It was the Flame King, Laminu.

After the Great War, he remained with Kahlil, and the red flames on his aura blade were due to the Flame King’s power.

[Strange. It’s a foreign yet somehow familiar energy. But it’s an energy I haven’t felt even in the Spirit Realm. You know what that means, right?]

Kahlil nodded.

[If I had to compare it, it’s similar to the power of Larciss and Duat, but clearly different from them… If those two were awake, I could know more accurately, but the two Great Wildernesses will be asleep for at least centuries.]

“It’s unlikely I’ll see the return of the Spirit Kings while I’m alive.”

In the battle with Yula, many Spirit Kings were sacrificed in Kahlil’s place when using divine power.

But it was a return, not annihilation.

After Yula’s death, the loss of the Spirit Realm was prevented, but the deaths of the Spirit Kings caused a great crisis in the Spirit Realm.

Fortunately, the Flame King was alive, which allowed the Spirit Realm to escape the minimum risk of collapse.

Since then, Kahlil had been connecting his spirit power to the Soul Spring, opening portals, and using engraving magic on attribute stones produced in the Gnome Kingdom to help restore the Spirit Realm.

But no matter how high-grade the attribute stones and the high-level engraving magic of the Gnomes were, the Spirit Realm, composed of pure spirit power, was not easily restored.

It was a task difficult to succeed in, even over centuries.

[Well, frankly, if you wanted to, living for centuries wouldn’t be impossible, would it?]

Kahlil gave a bitter smile at Laminu’s words.

“What good is it if I live alone after my loved ones are gone? Humans must live according to the order of humans.”

[Hmm… Well, the woman you cherish most is no longer an ordinary human either. She has the power of a Demon King, so she might think the same.]

“You still have a long way to go to understand humans.”

At Kahlil’s answer, the Flame King’s orb, Ein Trigger, embedded in the back of his hand, glowed red.

[Understanding humans… That’s something that’s difficult even after centuries.]

Kahlil smiled bitterly at his words.

“We’ve arrived. Get ready.”

The red scales flew over the Ice Cave, and Kahlil released his grip on the reins, jumping to the ground without hesitation.

Kwaaaang—!!!!

The accumulated northern snow soared with a sharp roar, falling as if it were snowing again.

As Kahlil lightly swung Agnel, the snow falling around him instantly evaporated with a sharp sonic boom from the sword.

“Who is the intruder of the Millennium Ice Cave?”

He said quietly, looking ahead.

Each time his voice, filled with magic power, was heard, the ice pillars growing around the Ice Cave trembled, then shattered with a crack!! scattering ice dust.

“My lord.”

Ziggurat appeared next to Kahlil before he knew it.

As he raised his hand, soldiers of the Moonlit Night emerged from the shadows as if they had been waiting, guarding the surroundings and drawing their swords.

“Prepare to fire!!”

A clear voice was heard from the hill surrounding the Millennium Ice Cave.

At Hwa-rin’s cry, the archers of the Janabi tribe drew their poisoned arrows, and with a shout, the soldiers of the Tiger Leopard and Red Moon raised their shields and swords.

“Stop.”

It was a sight that would make anyone tremble, but Kahlil instead stopped them and slowly moved forward.

Thud- Thud- Thud-

Only the sound of stepping on snow was heard, and Kahlil approached without taking his eyes off a man standing at the entrance of the Millennium Ice Cave.

“Is it you?”

The man stood still, even at Kahlil’s question.

[Hmm, an interesting sight. What on earth is that armor? I’ve never seen anything like it… Is it made with magical engineering technology?]

A black mask covered his entire face, and he was similarly clad in black armor like the mask.

Red light occasionally flickered from the seams of the armor, and the black armor strangely had a dark red sheen.

“Well, I don’t sense any magic power from him. Besides, it looks much lighter than the magical armor made by Wingel Hart.”

Kahlil said in a low voice, watching the man with a questioning gaze.

‘But what’s stranger than his appearance is that sword.’

His gaze moved to the man’s lower right.

A huge greatsword stuck in the ground.

In the center of the sword was an emerald-colored core, and it sounded like a light engine was running.

‘The core of an airship can be said to be a transformation of an attribute stone. But I don’t sense any attribute from that, so it doesn’t seem to be an attribute stone… What on earth is it?’

Kahlil became even more suspicious of the man’s identity due to the form of the core he had never seen before.

“Who are you?”

The man in the black mask asked, and Kahlil scoffed, dumbfounded.

“Coming to someone else’s land and barging in, then asking who the owner is. If you talk nonsense, I’ll cut off your head right now.”

Booo—!!!

Kahlil raised Agnel and pointed it at him.

“Just kidding. Calm down.”

At that moment, the eyes in the mask seemed to smile.

“It seems you don’t remember me. Well, it’s surprising that you’re even alive. More importantly… Where is Oliban?”

Kahlil’s face hardened.

“Why are you looking for him?”

“I have a promise with him.”

“He’s not here right now. I can pass on a message, but if you’re thinking of doing something stupid, get out.”

“Hmm…”

The man stared at Kahlil.

“Sword Demon.”

Then he said in a low voice.

“Sword Demon… Interesting. So you’re confident in your swordsmanship? I too was once called something related to swords.”

Kahlil raised one corner of his mouth towards the man in front of him, sneering.

“I know. But don’t you think it’s a name that doesn’t suit you very well? Considering your face back then, it’s far from holiness.”

“…Back then?”

Kahlil’s face hardened at the man’s response. The man reacted to a story that was just a soliloquy.

“You… What is your identity?”

The title of Sword Saint was the name he was called in his past life, so no one in this life should know that title.

At that moment, a heavy atmosphere began to flow between the two.

“What are you hesitating for? It’s only natural to punish intruders.”

It was then.

At the sharp voice, the two men’s gazes moved for a moment. Kahlil shook his head low at the familiar voice.

[My lord, I’m sorry.]

Israfil’s telepathic message was heard in his ear.

“Miliana.”

Kahlil called her name, and as she jumped down from the hill and stood up, her long, tied silver hair swayed lightly.

“…Miliana?”

Strangely, the eyes of the man who called him Sword Demon trembled slightly. Kahlil did not miss it, and with a puzzled mind, he raised Agnel horizontally, blocking her path and saying.

“Step back.”

“What, are you scared, unlike you?”

She asked, lowering Kahlil’s arm that blocked her.

“I don’t know who he is, but you better give up on the thought of running away now.”

“Of course, you’ll die the moment you grab a sword next to him.”

A magic circle was created behind Miliana, and a voice was heard from within. Serika Lauren and Anchar, who walked out through the portal, growled.

“I didn’t expect to see you like this.”

“Have you been well?”

And following them, Hawat and Kay Rothschild appeared, and as the portal closed for the last time, Serga lightly bowed to Kahlil and stood.

“You gathered quickly.”

“Because there are two Archmages.”

Serga glanced at Serika Lauren and said to Kahlil.

Serika, who had not reached the ranks of a perfect Archmage at the time of the Great War, had since grown at a terrifying rate and had set foot in the realm of the Supreme, just like in her past life.

“I didn’t expect you to respond either, Kay Rothschild.”

Kay shrugged lightly at Kahlil’s words.

“After Miliana, it’s Kay Rothschild… It can’t be the same person. It’s quite interesting to see her with the magic power of a demon, but her capabilities seem to be far lacking.”

“What? Capabilities?”

Miliana frowned slightly at the man’s words.

Clang-!!!

She shouted, drawing her two beloved swords.

“I don’t want to hear the evaluation of some guy I don’t even know? Reveal your identity if you don’t want to die.”

“Ark and Gale… So you can use dual swords?”

Clank-!

The man drew the sword that was stuck in the ground.

“Stop…!!”

The moment Serika Lauren, holding the spear she was holding, tried to run towards him,

Ziiiiing-

A starting sound was heard from the core of the greatsword the man was holding, and the entire blade of the greatsword was covered in green light.

Thud-

Charrrr-!!

At the same time, the center of the greatsword split zigzag, dividing into two swords with toothed blades.

“…!!”

At the sight, everyone there, including Serika Lauren, could not hide their surprise.

“The sword changed…?”

As the emerald-colored core, split in half, flickered a few times, light swirled around each blade as if it were seeping in.

“I can use it a little too.”

The masked man raised the two swords and lightly tapped them on his shoulders.

“Crazy…!!!”

Miliana’s face distorted at his light provocation.

“Stop! Miliana!”

Kahlil shouted at her as she shot out like lightning, but already her two swords were soaring, emitting sharp dragon magic.

Kwaaaang—!!!!

With a loud roar, the crossed two swords pierced towards the man. But at that moment, surprisingly, the man’s sword also dug into Miliana’s arms.

Clang! Clang-!!

Clang Clang Clang—!!!

The two moved perfectly identically, as if looking in a mirror.

“Flying Bird Wave…?”

Kahlil’s face hardened as he recognized that the swordsmanship the man used was Digon’s.

“No way!”

Miliana, the person involved, could not hide her shock when her attack was blocked exactly.

“How do you know Digon’s secrets?!”

“It’s not even a secret.”

Swish-

At that moment, the man’s blade lightly brushed past her arm.

“…!!!”

At the stinging pain, Miliana hurriedly pulled back her sword and stepped back.

‘Faster than me.’

She could not take her eyes off the man who used Digon’s dual swordsmanship even better than herself, the leader of Digon.

“I didn’t come to fight. I wasn’t trying to test your swordsmanship, but I too have a connection to that swordsmanship. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

Perhaps he felt her gaze.

The man, who had created distance, once again stuck the twin swords he was holding into the ground.

“Hmph, what connection do you have with Digon? I’m seeing you for the first time.”

But the sight of him throwing away his sword only made the empress of Digon uncomfortable.

“If you want to talk, how about revealing your identity first? Of course, I’ll have to repay the wound you inflicted on her twice as much.”

At Kahlil’s signal, Serga cast recovery magic on the wound on Miliana’s arm. But she waved her hand as if her pride was hurt.

“Hmm…”

The man shrugged his shoulders after a moment of silence and said in a low voice.

“The one who met you.”

“What?”

“Not now, but in the past… A much more distant time.”

“What nonsense…”

“You didn’t know the tenth god. Isn’t that right?”

Just as Kahlil was about to shout as if he didn’t understand, his eyes widened greatly.

“…”

“Farel is a place where the corruption left by each god exists. If you came here beyond such Farel, you would have defeated the tenth god. But… Why don’t you remember the last tenth god in your memory?”

The man said to Kahlil.

“Haven’t you ever thought it was strange?”

At that moment, cold air brushed past Kahlil’s face as if slapping him in the face as if he had suddenly come to his senses.