The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 83

70. Full Power

Randol McGovern.

The fourth adopted son of Kwell, unlike his other brothers, he was a man of few words and of commoner birth. He remained distant from the power struggles within the mansion.

This was partly because he had no interest in such things, but also because the burden of his origins always weighed heavily on him.

Therefore, he devoted himself even more to the sword.

Kwell McGovern.

The reason his adoptive father had taken him in was precisely because he saw that one quality in him.

Ironically, it was Caryl who changed him.

Almost a year had passed.

But Randol still couldn’t forget the moment of that day when he returned from the goblin subjugation.

The cheering people.

The strength that entered the hand holding the reins.

But he was not at the center of it all.

A boy who was even lower than himself.

Even though he couldn’t reveal his origins, the child of a different race stood out noticeably among his brothers, whom he could never surpass.

‘I can do it.’

Although the spy had died, he had prevented the scheme of the Lurein Principality and had the opportunity to have an audience with the Emperor along with Tyren.

A twist of fate, perhaps.

Although he did not inherit the McGovern family’s bloodline, Randol’s power was exactly the same as if he had inherited the McGovern family’s power.

Indeed, his magic power, like a raging fire, surpassed even the eldest son, Mart, to the point where one might wonder if he was Kwell’s biological son.

Thanks to this, Randol received extraordinary treatment from the Emperor.

When he was bestowed with the ‘Unleashed Flame,’ he experienced the thrill he had felt back then once again.

‘I am no longer a commoner. I, too, can aim higher.’

He took up his sword.

This sword, made of a special mineral called Cheongrin [a rare and magically conductive mineral], had been stored in the Imperial Palace’s warehouse for many years.

A sword that chooses its master.

A sword that, if it does not like its master, will burn him with the flames it holds within.

‘The sword chose me.’

It was unusual for the Emperor to bestow the ‘Unleashed Flame’ to the fourth son, who was not even the first, but no one could object because the sword had not chosen anyone until now.

Perhaps it was a sense of kinship.

Himself, a commoner, and Olivon, born of a concubine.

After hearing from the commander that the Second Prince’s power was behind this treatment.

Randol sensed it.

‘Becoming a knight and supporting him is the only way for a commoner like me to aim higher.’

He was exceptionally recognized for his abilities and was able to join the Scarlet Knights. At first, there was a clear difference in skill compared to the other knights.

Naturally, there was discord.

The commanders of the Gold and Black Knights, who were on the side of the First Prince, raised objections to this.

But Kwell McGovern’s eyes were not wrong.

If you only consider sword talent, he would be the most outstanding, except for Caryl.

Only.

He had not been given the opportunity until now.

And after joining the Scarlet Knights, Randol grew explosively as he followed the Knights’ training.

He quickly stood shoulder to shoulder with the knights, and the Unleashed Flame perfectly filled even the smallest gaps in his abilities.

“Randol McGovern is recognized as a formal knight.”

Perhaps it was the joy of watching a child grow.

Bellen Valenton, the Grand Knight Commander, who had never sided with any prince and had maintained neutrality, gave Randol the opportunity to prove his strength.

That was Randol’s first mission as a formal knight and the reason why he had to succeed no matter what.

He was confident.

It was his first time killing someone, but at least in swordsmanship, he was not inferior to the knights.

That is.

Until just a moment ago.

KWA-AAAAAAANG—!!

Kwagagang—!!

With a loud explosion, his body staggered.

“Ugh!”

The two knights next to Randol hurriedly drew their swords and slashed.

But faster than that, a pure white blade moved in the darkness.

It was as if a thin, shining streak of light flashed in the darkness.

Thud-!!

Without hesitation, Caryl jumped between the knights, plunged his sword in, and rotated his leg, using the sword as a pillar to maintain his balance.

Whoosh……! Pow-!!

His foot struck the knight’s face, and the thick helmet shattered.

Ta-da-da-dat-!!

At the same time, Caryl’s palm, sweeping across the floor, grabbed his staggering face.

Bang-!!

From the hand inserted through the broken helmet, intense flames erupted along with thick black smoke.

“Aaaargh!!”

The knight screamed, unable to grab his face due to the intense heat, and hurriedly took off the heated helmet.

The ambush in the darkness did not end there.

Clearly, the two knights had drawn their swords a moment ago, but for some reason, the other one did not move at all.

“……!!!”

Randol stared at the knight standing blankly with wide eyes.

Crackle…….

The standing knight’s body made a gruesome sound as it was cut in half.

The streak of light that had flashed a moment ago.

He had already died from that one strike.

“Now!”

Waaaaaaaah–!!

At the same time as Caryl’s shout ended, shouts were heard from here and there.

With the swirling dust and the sudden attack, the knights seemed momentarily flustered and wandered around.

Thwack-!!

Crack-!! Bang!! Bang!!

The sounds of weapons clashing were heard everywhere.

“Stop!!”

It was then.

A sharp rebuke erupted, and Banhon, who was among the knights, slammed his hammer into the ground.

“Don’t show such a shameful appearance! You are knights. Regroup and look! It’s just a few people!”

Hwaaaaaak……!!

At his cry, the two knights behind him swung their swords with all their might, and the dust that had covered the surroundings disappeared along with the wind pressure.

“Is the ambush over?”

A regretful voice was heard.

When the dust cleared, he saw the boy who had beheaded another knight in front of him.

There was another corpse at his feet.

“…….”

Randol’s eyes were filled with bewilderment.

Four in an instant.

‘He seems younger than me……. Knights being taken down by a child like that……?’

[He still doesn’t recognize you. Everything from his hair color to his eye color has changed. Besides, it’s been almost a year. Your appearance is very different from then,]

Alun Zaberius muttered in a somewhat disappointed voice.

Was he perhaps expecting a fight between brothers?

[Well, you can rampage as much as you want.]

Before he could say anything about the millennium-old Archmage’s distasteful tendencies, Caryl blocked Randol’s sword.

While Kyla watched the spears behind the two clashing people, the adjutant said to Banhon.

“That woman……. is the barbarian woman we missed back then.”

“Missed? I clearly ordered that no one be left alive except for the prisoners.”

“……I’m sorry. It seems I’m not familiar with the terrain here, so even though I sent a pursuit team, she hid cleverly……. Just in case, I was preparing to send a follow-up team, but I didn’t expect her to do such a brazen thing…….”

“Are you calling that an excuse right now?”

“I apologize.”

The adjutant hurriedly bowed his head and answered.

Banhon clicked his tongue with a displeased look, but still spoke to the enemies in front of him.

“At most, there are just a few more barbarians. Those guys don’t matter, but what about that kid?”

He stared at Caryl.

“Mana Blade [a blade of pure magical energy]……? Could he be an Imperial? Why is he here? Besides, to be able to use Mana Blade at that age.”

Despite the sudden attack, Banhon looked at the milky white Mana Blade surrounding Caryl’s sword and spoke in a low voice.

“Be serious. He’s not an ordinary person. Does anyone know anything about him? With that skill, he should have been famous.”

Naril said.

“That’s what I…….”

Banhon clicked his tongue once again at the adjutant’s unconfident answer.

‘I’ve never seen such a Mana Blade before.’

Although he couldn’t be said to have much experience on the battlefield, Naril was the vice-commander of the Scarlet Knights, who guarded the front lines.

Naturally, he had experienced all five attributes of Mana Blade.

He had even crossed swords with Kwell McGovern, as well as other swordsmen called Sword Masters [elite swordsmen who have mastered their craft].

‘The magic power isn’t fluctuating and is well-contained. At least Expert level. No, it could be higher.’

The higher the level, the different the power of magic that can be tempered, so the shape also changes.

The thinner the Mana Blade that can be formed, as if it’s clinging to the blade, the higher the level.

‘Even so, at least the unique properties of magic power should have remained. But that looks like pure magic power itself.’

Naril stared at Caryl’s Ice Claws [Caryl’s unique sword].

‘Is it because of that sword?’

Just like how the Unleashed Flame doubles the power of the fire attribute, special artifacts have their own unique characteristics.

Thinking that it was a rare high-level artifact, Naril, who was seeing Ice Claws for the first time, glared coldly and said.

“Capture that kid alive no matter what. There seems to be a lot to ask. You can kill the rest.”

“Understood.”

Not only Naril, but none of the knights here knew about Dragon Mana [a rare and powerful form of magical energy].

They assumed that Caryl’s Aura Blade was simply the power of an artifact and ordered the knights.

“Attack!!”

Caryl looked at the charging knights and said.

‘Alun, I waited for night as you said. What should I do now?’

After arriving at the Spring of Secrets, Caryl waited for Mihail and his party to arrive.

That was the natural course of events, and they arrived in the middle of the night.

Night raid.

Naturally, it was the most textbook method for a small number of people to face the enemy, but the plan that Alun came up with was the opposite of what Caryl thought.

[There’s nothing else. Make the most flamboyant appearance you can,]

That was all he suggested.

[Leave the rest to me.]

When Caryl stood in front of the Spring of Secrets, Alun Zaberius said.

[Stick Ice Claws into the Spring of Secrets.]

Koo-oong-!!

Caryl thrust his sword with all his might into the center of the dry, empty spring.

[Do you know why I managed the Spring of Secrets among the Seven Elders? It’s because, unlike other mages, I could use the most Dragon Mana.]

Cracks began to form from the floor where Ice Claws was stuck, and pure white light began to pour out from the cracks.

[To be honest, I thought that even after time passed, there would be no one who could handle Dragon Mana to the level I could. That’s why I made one arrangement.]

Kugugugugu…….

Kugug……!!

The floor shook, and the vibration gradually became more violent, as if there was an earthquake.

“W-What is this……!!”

The knights couldn’t hide their bewilderment at the sudden change in the spring, from the confident expressions they had just had.

Kwagagagang—!!

The statues erected around the Spring of Secrets trembled as if they were alive and merged into one.

Then, a purple glow emanated, and they slowly began to take shape.

[Uuuuu……,]

At the same time as two eyes flashed within the sphere of light, the merged statues slowly raised their heads.

“G-Golem [an animated being made of inanimate matter]?!”

Naril shouted, staring at the giant statue in front of him with an unbelievable expression.

The knights each drew their swords, but hesitated without anyone stepping forward.

The fact that a golem, which was hard to see even in the highest-level magic circles, had appeared outside the magic circle was an unprecedented event.

[Even if those guys had done as it was written in the Secret Book, the Sentinels would have been created and stopped them, but that wouldn’t be fun, would it?]

‘What do you mean?’

[If someone without Dragon Mana activates the Spring of Secrets, the Sentinels I created will activate. But conversely, if someone with Dragon Mana activates the Spring of Secrets?]

‘Could it be…….’

Alun Zaberius looked at the giant golem emitting a purple light in front of him and said as if he was enjoying it.

[You will be able to control the Sentinels.]

Caryl unknowingly twitched his lips.

“Heh heh.”

It was hard to hold back his laughter.

[But even for someone with my level of Dragon Mana, it’s quite difficult to control them. But you’re different, aren’t you?]

He was so pleased with Alun’s unexpected arrangement.

‘You’re quite wicked, too. To not tell me about such fun things until the end and then reveal them like this.’

Woo-oong…….

Caryl scanned the golem in front of him and said.

“Good. If we’re going to make this much of a mess, there’s no need to hide that guy anymore either.”

It was then.

[Krrrrrrrr……!!]

A giant Sand Serpent drew a large arc in the sky and landed as if falling to the ground.

Kwaaang—!!!

The serpent’s cry, raising dust and baring its sharp teeth, echoed in the darkness.

“T-This is…….”

It happened in an instant.

It was literally adding insult to injury.

On one side, there was a Sentinel, and on the other side, there was a serpent looking down at them.

“Now it seems like the forces are roughly matched.”

Caryl tapped the forehead of the serpent bowing its head and looked at Naril, saying in a low voice.

“Shall we do this properly?”