The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 95

81. The Holy City

“It’s this way.”

Joy Yohansel waved his hand at Carryl, appearing eager to begin.

Was it because it was daytime, unlike their nighttime meeting? He seemed more vibrant than at the banquet hall. His pristine white priestly robes appeared to gleam.

“It will take about fifteen days to reach Heim [the Order’s sacred city].”

This was a first for Carryl.

Even he, who had journeyed across the continent in both his lives, had never been to this place.

That is, the sacred ground of the Order, Heim.

“Thanks to the funds you provided, we were able to make smooth preparations and will travel comfortably.”

Carryl glanced at the carriages parked behind Joy.

The twenty or so carriages, laden with ample food and necessities, seemed excessive for the traveling party.

They were, in fact, gifts to be offered to the Order as a formality.

“But can we truly reach there in fifteen days?”

“The supplies will travel more slowly. We will use a magic circle before then.”

Carryl nodded.

‘Fifteen days away… that places it just beyond the borders of the Three Kingdoms. The Niero Monastery was the only notable place there, if I recall correctly.’

He dredged up memories from his past life.

‘It was a small monastery, and I wasn’t aware of a magic circle there… To establish a teleportation circle in such a location… the Order is truly remarkable. Activating the circle would require a significant amount of mana.’

He subtly observed Joy Yohansel.

‘His mana reserves must be substantial.’

A high level of mana also implied exceptional sensory abilities.

Carryl resolved to keep his mana concealed to avoid unnecessary attention.

“Will the supplies be secure?”

“Don’t worry. We’ll use the carriages to reach the monastery. After that, the monastery’s priests will transport them directly to Heim.”

Joy Yohansel said with a grin.

“Thanks to you, Carryl-nim, I believe I’ll gain favor with the monastery.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Then, let’s depart.”

“Understood.”

Carryl entered the carriage.

Having grown accustomed to riding atop the Sand Serpent, the cushioned seat of the carriage felt somewhat strange.

“Master, I will sit in the coachman’s seat.”

Aidan, who had been behind him, bowed and spoke. Carryl nodded in acknowledgment.

Aidan seemed to be searching for something.

Aidan, the sole representative from Tatur accompanying him, obscured his face by pulling down his hat.

* * *

Rustle- rustle-

A faint sound, barely audible unless one concentrated intently.

A dark figure moved within the shadows.

“…….”

But it was fleeting.

The sound vanished as if it had never existed among the carriages laden with luggage, leaving only the sound of sleeping breaths.

“We’ll be at the monastery soon.”

Joy Yohansel, inside the tent, offered Carryl a cup of warm wine.

“It will help alleviate fatigue. All the alcohol has been evaporated, so it’s safe to drink.”

“It would have been better with alcohol, but it’s still appreciated.”

He offered a slight smile at Carryl’s words.

“Camping must not be easy, but you seem accustomed to it.”

“This is luxury. Considering recent events, I’m grateful even for a simple cloth on the floor.”

Joy Yohansel took a sip of the wine and tapped the floor.

“…….”

The wounds on his wrist were visible inside his sleeve.

‘Those are definitely cuts from something sharp. Furthermore, the discoloration suggests a high probability of poison. Hmm, what was he involved in?’

Carryl knew the wounds were recent. What were the chances of being cut by something poisonous during a simple missionary trip?

“You seem to have been in a rather rough situation.”

“Haha… I was chosen for work for the Order, so I’m simply happy to fulfill it.”

“I see.”

Joy Yohansel looked at Carryl.

Their eyes met with smiles, but the pupils held more wariness than before their departure.

“I’ve taken up too much of your time. Rest well. We only have two more days to go… After that, we’ll quickly arrive at the Holy City.”

“I am always grateful for your consideration.”

“The pleasure is all mine. I hope this will be an opportunity for the Order and Tatur to foster a good relationship.”

“It will be as you wish.”

Joy nodded at Carryl’s response and left the tent.

“How is it?”

As soon as he departed, Carryl spoke with a serious expression in the empty tent.

“There was nothing unusual.”

“Really?”

Surprisingly, Aidan, leaving a blurry afterimage, appeared.

“As you instructed, I checked the last luggage cart a short while ago. It mostly contained food and necessities.”

“Hmm…….”

Carryl frowned at the report.

Before the trip began, he gave Aidan one order.

‘Investigate Joy Yohansel’s luggage cart.’

It was a simple yet potentially difficult task. But Aidan believed it was the most suitable order for him among those Carryl had given so far.

Was that the reason?

He removed his gloves and said,

“However, there was one slightly different item in the last luggage cart.”

At Aidan’s words, Carryl asked with an expectant expression, as if he had anticipated it.

“What is it?”

Contrary to expectations, Aidan shrugged as if it were insignificant.

“It was an old book. Since it’s the Order, I thought it might be a doctrinal text or something… The cover was so worn that it was difficult to read the title properly. Besides, it seemed to be written in an ancient language…”

“What does it say?”

Aidan Hamil said,

“First of all, the box containing the old book was tightly sealed with a lock, but I don’t think it’s important. It’s not even a magic seal, so… I opened it easily.”

Carryl shook his head slightly.

“That’s not necessarily true. It may have already been unsealed. Most artifacts within ruins have their barriers released when they are removed.”

“Hmm, wouldn’t they reapply the magic seal afterward?”

“It depends on the item. The type of magic that can be sealed depends on the attribute.”

Aidan nodded.

“As I mentioned earlier, I couldn’t discern the exact title because the cover was old. A…… k…… n. I believe it was likely an ancient language.”

“A.k.n…….”

Carryl repeated the words Aidan had spoken.

‘What is it? That old book.’

It was just a feeling.

Carryl closed his eyes, attempting to organize his thoughts.

When he first met Joy Yohansel at the banquet hall, he had many questions.

Why did a priest of the Order come to the Three Kingdoms?

Was he simply passing through on a missionary trip? But he was too familiar with the children of the Three Kingdoms.

That implied he had been in contact with them previously. Furthermore, from the initial and final conversations he overheard, it was evident that Joy was involved in something with them.

And that was clearly related to the wound on Joy Yohansel that he had noticed in the tent earlier.

The Istan Three Kingdoms and the Order.

Unfortunately, Carryl’s memory held no connection between the two.

Perhaps…….

His thoughts might be mere speculation.

It could simply be an item that Joy Yohansel personally purchased at an old bookstore during his travels.

“Was there anything special about the box?”

“Yes. It was an old but luxurious-looking box. The lock is also mechanical. Ah……! Come to think of it, the style of the lock was a bit different. Well, it could be because it’s an old artifact, but.”

“How so?”

“It didn’t just have a simple pattern; it resembled a crest. Um, like… a sword piercing a dragon’s head? No, lightning? Something like that.”

“Hmm…….”

Carryl had no recollection of that crest.

But…….

‘If it’s a memory other than my own…….’

Just then.

Clack……! Clack……! Clack……!

Whirr—!!!

In the darkness of his closed eyes, a vast bookshelf of infinite size materialized and unfolded like a hologram.

The bookshelf glowed, and one book was extracted from among the hundreds of thousands and landed on Carryl’s palm.

Clang-!! Zzzzz……!

The moment he grasped the book’s cover.

Along with the sound of the lock being released, he heard the mechanical sound of gears interlocking and moving.

As the pages of the book unfolded, countless letters scattered into the sky.

Each letter emitted light, rotating in a spiral and permeating Carryl’s head as if being entered.

“……?!”

The moment Carryl opened his closed eyes, Aidan noticed his pupils turn almost golden like a snake’s before reverting.

‘Alun Zavius [likely a powerful entity or being], I have to thank you every time.’

Carryl nodded in satisfaction.

‘I didn’t realize ‘that’ was an item discovered here.’

Afterimages lingered in his mind.

A picture depicting the human form.

And ancient words densely written on each part.

Complex letters that seemed to be formulas or explanations.

‘It is said that you have endured countless eons, but the time I have spent is ultimately only time in the tower. Therefore, my experience of the continent’s history is limited. But the thousand years you have spent allows you to know far more history than the countless eons I have spent.’

The knowledge that Alun Zavius passed on to him from the Rock of the Abyss had not yet been fully extracted by Carryl.

The vast amount of knowledge was so great that even he could not completely make it his own.

But he could find and glimpse what knowledge was remembered.

‘I’m envious every time I see it. When I get all of your knowledge someday, my magic will be able to break through the wall,’

Carryl was in Alun’s realm that seemed to be within reach but could not be grasped.

“It’s nothing special, right?”

“No. It’s very special.”

“……Yes?”

“Aidan, bringing you along was definitely an excellent decision. If it weren’t for your keen eye, no one else would have known.”

“Haha… Don’t mention it.”

Aidan scratched his head, embarrassed by Carryl’s compliment.

“But what is it?”

But he himself did not know what the peculiarity he had discovered was.

Carryl recalled his memories and said,

“There is a small ruin in the southern part of the Istan Kingdom. It’s a building made in the Magic Era, but at that time… it’s not particularly related to the Order.”

“Hmm?”

“But it’s also a place with content that the Order would be very interested in. And it’s an item that I know a little about.”

He lightly drew the words Aidan had said in the air.

“The reason why Joy Yohansel left the artifact in the box is likely because even he doesn’t know what it is.”

Aidan’s eyes followed his finger.

“Ashkelon in ancient language. It’s an artifact from the Magic Era. In today’s letters… we should call it Ascalon. Well, now only the name remains, but it doesn’t exist. Even if there is a method in that old book, the Order wouldn’t know it. If they knew, they would have seen the real thing.”

Carryl said, recalling memories from his previous life.

“Ascalon… What does that mean?”

Aidan repeated the name and asked.

Carryl whispered.

“Dragon Slayer.”