The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 5

9th Class Sword Master: The Seeker of the Sword – Episode 5 (5/497)

5. It’s Dark Under the Lamp

[Nardi Maugrda.]

That was his first encounter with him.

A sword had fallen to the floor, and he reached out his hand to Caryl, who was sitting down.

The first dragon.

Caryl was fifteen years old when the oracle was given.

What shocked him more than the surprise of seeing a dragon before his eyes was the fact that the two had already met.

Just once.

Nardi Maugrda had visited the McGovern estate.

But no one knew his identity. Not even Cwell McGovern, who had crossed swords with him.

[Just a light curiosity. Among those called the Three Pillars of the continent, including your father, I wondered who was the strongest. They wouldn’t fight directly over politics or anything like that… so I sought them out myself.]

The Three Pillars of the Continent.

A prestigious term referring to the three who have reached the pinnacle of sword, magic, and martial arts.

One of them, the one who reached the ultimate of the sword, was Cwell McGovern.

-So?

[Frankly, it was disappointing. He was said to be the most at the peak among the five existing Sword Masters.]

It was harsh.

Caryl responded to his assessment.

-Was he that bad?

[His age was a pity. He seemed perfect, but in fact, his sword was not complete. If he had been a little younger, his achievements would have been different.]

-Then how about me?

Caryl asked Nardi Maugrda.

Because the first thing the two did when they met was crossing swords.

[Excellent. Frankly, I didn’t think a human could wield a sword to this extent. Considering your age… you’ll surpass your father soon.]

The dragon may show greedy aspects, but he never lies.

[But your age is also a pity.]

-Why?

[If you were just a little younger… no, if your father had introduced you to me when you were younger. Comparing you to the Three Pillars of the continent other than your father would have been ridiculous.]

Nardi Maugrda shrugged slightly.

[Well, since I was hiding my identity in the first place, it’s a foolish desire.]

-Why?

Nardi Maugrda said.

[Magical power.]

-…….

Caryl made a bitter expression at those words.

-If you’re teasing me, stop it. I’m an alien [a person from another world]. It’s useless to covet what I can’t have. I’ve always defeated opponents with magical power with my own strength.

[That’s not what I mean.]

-Then?

[If you, of all people, were a child of the McGovern family… you might have had a chance for a miraculous transformation.]

“…….”

Caryl opened his eyes.

Perhaps because he had made such a fuss.

Unable to fall asleep, he got out of bed and looked out the window.

‘By tomorrow, news of Mart’s defeat will reach my mother’s ears as well.’

Perhaps she would call him in to see the face of the rude alien.

It was as planned.

Meeting her was necessary for Caryl.

‘The first meeting won’t be pleasant.’

He hadn’t seen her yet.

And there wouldn’t be many opportunities to see her in the future.

‘Unlike Father, Mother didn’t like the adopted children. It’s only natural. It must feel like they’re coveting the place of her own child.’

Isabel Essir.

Cwell McGovern’s wife and the second daughter of a minor family located in the east.

It was surprising that a woman from such a family had a connection with the McGovern family, but there was a time when they were great enough to boast of their power.

‘Now all that’s left for her is the old library in the mansion.’

Caryl parted the curtains and looked at the small building in the distance.

It had been abandoned for a long time, and none of the brothers ever visited it, so it felt eerie.

‘The only way to gain magical power.’

At that moment.

Caryl recalled what Nardi Maugrda had said.

Then he slowly smiled faintly.

Transformation.

To gain a new body.

They say it’s dark under the lamp [the truth is often overlooked when it’s right in front of you]. Who would know?

‘That the method would be in that place.’

* * *

“Magic… Did that child say that?”

“Yes. I was honestly surprised.”

“I know. For an alien child with no magical bloodline to want to study magic. What’s he up to?”

Cwell smiled bitterly at Isabel’s words as she helped him with his attire.

She did this herself on the days he returned to the mansion, something the maids could have done.

A wife’s duty.

No, it was her way of making Cwell aware of her existence.

“Madam, I hope you won’t be too prejudiced. He’s just a twelve-year-old child.”

“Don’t you know how rude what that child said was? It’s no different from ignoring the Imperials.”

Isabel couldn’t shake off the unpleasant feeling.

She was displeased when Cwell brought adopted children from all over the continent, but she understood. From fallen nobles to merchants’ sons, to children abandoned in monasteries…

Everyone had different pasts, but each one was an outstanding child. That’s why Isabel understood.

She thought it would help her son, Mart McGovern, grow the family even further.

But not this time.

Alien.

It was clear that he would not only hold them back but also harm the family.

“Do we have to go this far?”

“That child is not just an alien child. Have you forgotten? That child is the son of Kaliak.”

“…….”

Cwell cut her off.

“You haven’t forgotten that you and I received help from him, have you?”

“It’s not that… but…”

Heresy.

Isabella kept dwelling on that word.

“I don’t know.”

“Madam, as you said, there’s no way an alien child can learn magic. I’m just trying to do what he wants as a courtesy to an old friend.”

“…….”

But she was uncomfortable even with him using the word ‘friend’.

“Don’t worry.”

Cwell patted Isabel’s shoulder with a calm face.

Unaware of the turmoil that would soon arise.

* * *

A quiet meal continued.

It was the first meal everyone had together since the alien child had come in.

Inside the hall, only the sound of spoons lightly hitting the dishes was carefully heard, even more solemnly than on other days.

“Did you learn from someone, Caryl? You handle the utensils quite well.”

That silence was broken.

Isabel looked at him searchingly with her clear green eyes.

“Just… a little. From books.”

Caryl mumbled with his head down.

As he spoke with the spoon upside down, the soup that was still on it dripped down his hand.

She smiled at his clumsy appearance and nodded.

This much was good. If he was too perfect, she would hate him even more.

‘Since there’s still something I want to get.’

Until then, there was no need to make her frown.

“You’ve got a good grasp of the basics for someone who learned from books. I heard from the Count that you want to study magic?”

“……!!!”

“……!!!”

At her words, the brothers sitting at the table looked at Caryl with surprised eyes.

‘What? Magic?’

‘Is it possible for an alien to learn magic?’

‘He’s completely insane…’

‘What is he up to this time?’

The gazes were full of anger and suspicion.

But Caryl had a calm expression as if he was enjoying it.

“I don’t want to learn it, I just want to know about it.”

“Why did you think that?”

Isabel asked without changing her expression.

But Caryl knew her intentions better than anyone else.

A test.

He sensed that his treatment could change depending on his answer. But there was no need to tailor the answer to her.

‘The decision is made by Father.’

Caryl knew the answer he wanted.

Ironically, he had heard it directly from him in his previous life.

-Do you remember? When I first saw you, you were like an untamed beast.

-Me?

-Of course, until you were fifteen, you fought with your brothers every day. If the oracle hadn’t appeared and you hadn’t been called to the battlefield… you would have been the same.

-I’m sorry.

-No, it’s not. You were rude and rough, but that was when you could be called the son of Kaliak. I would have been disappointed if you had given up that spirit.

-…….

-And now you are also the son of McGovern.

Eighteen years old.

It was when he first surpassed Cwell.

Caryl recalled that memory.

‘I know why Father acknowledged me.’