The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth

Chapter 270: A New Dawn for the Principality (2)

A few days had passed since the funeral.

Karyl stood in a temporary audience hall at the knights’ training ground, a little distance from the White Bunker, which was undergoing restoration. Before him stood two individuals.

“Sir Wingel Hart.”

“...”

“Sir Ganeth Avelant.”

“Yes.”

At Karyl’s call, Wingel remained silent, while Ganeth simply responded briefly and nodded. Their demeanor clearly indicated their respective attitudes toward Karyl.

“I understand your loyalty to the principality and that it was limited to Tuli,” Karyl began in a low voice. “But she is now dead, and the symbol of the principality, Revol, has fallen. However, what I said at her funeral was not a lie. The Wooden Cloud only sees the Lurein Principality as a tool. And Sir Ganeth has agreed to lend me his strength to protect this nation.”

“A traitor doesn’t deserve such words,” Ganeth argued. “I have betrayed my lord.”

“In exchange, you will be able to protect the hundreds of thousands of people in the principality.”

“I’m not sure. No results have come yet. For now, I’m merely paying the price for my betrayal.”

“I’ve already given you the antidote to that poison,” Karyl said, looking at Ganeth.

He was indeed a steadfast man. Even without the antidote, his mana was enough to suppress the poison. Yet, he allowed the poison to slowly eat away at his body.

“I made it with the ingredients I had. It looks just like the Obscura Herb, but its toxicity is ten times higher.”

On the day the Great Wall of Yoman fell, Lilliana made a pill using herbs from the Jannabi tribe.

“I requested this poison, but you don’t have to take it. The choice is yours.”

Karyl handed the pill to Ganeth.

“Just like Obscura Herb’s poison, it induces hallucinations and causes cognitive decline, but it doesn’t kill. However, the different herbs used in this will make you feel like your entire body is being slashed with knives until you take the antidote.”

Despite Lilliana’s explanation, Ganeth swallowed the pill without hesitation.

“The Wooden Cloud already controls the principality. The Lurein family you swore loyalty to is as good as gone.”

“I will see it with my own eyes.”

Karyl shrugged and replied, “Just remember, no one will recognize your loyalty. In their eyes, you will always be nothing more than a traitor.”

Even if no one recognizes it, he must consider it his final act of loyalty to Tuli. After all, he brought about her downfall with his own hands...

Perhaps Ganeth saw this as his penance.

Or perhaps it’s just for his own consolation.

Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter. If this act lessened Ganeth’s guilt even slightly, that was enough, even if the cost was physical pain.

Why would someone like him betray Tuli and side with the Wooden Cloud?

Initially, Karyl had maintained a colder attitude toward Ganeth than toward others. After all, he had been branded a traitor in his previous life. However, having witnessed Ganeth’s current dedication to the principality, Karyl wondered if this man could really have betrayed Tuli.

Olivurn...

Karyl hadn’t expected to recall that name while in the principality, and now he couldn’t get it off his mind.

Could it be that Olivurn also reached out to Ganeth?

If there was anyone capable of presenting an offer tempting enough to make Ganeth betray the principality, it had to be Olivurn. After all, Karyl himself had put his faith in Olivurn once.

But everything was different now. If Olivurn had truly swayed Ganeth before, Karyl would make sure he paid for it.

In his previous life, Karyl had only fought one Sword Master. It was the man standing before him now, the one he had cut down in his mission to eliminate the Wooden Cloud. That meant it wasn’t just Ganeth who had been deceived, but Karyl himself as well.

The most renowned swordsmen of the continent had been played by a single hand.

I won’t let myself or Ganeth be fooled by you again.

To untangle this web of deception, there was only one thing left for Karyl to do. He would seek out Olivurn. Soon, they would be face to face again, but this time, instead of kneeling in allegiance as a friend, Karyl would be pointing his sword at Olivurn’s face, demanding the truth.

There was another Sword Master in the principality. You’re the only one who knows where the Spear King is.

As he concluded his thoughts, Karyl looked at Ganeth. Gaining his support wasn’t just about adding another Sword Master to his side.

The Spear King, Dustin Phillip...

Ganeth frowned and said, “He’s different from me. He’s already withdrawn from the world. If he were interested in the principality’s affairs, he would have joined the civil war by now.”

He seemed to have read Karyl’s thoughts, shaking his head.

“I’m not after his power,” Karyl said.

“...What do you want, then?”

“I just want to tell him something that might pique his interest. In fact, I think you’d be interested as well. Remember that surprising event in Yoman?”

Ganeth’s eyes wavered at Karyl’s words.

“...You’re talking about Serica Lauren.”

“That’s right.”

Seeing his reaction, Karyl nodded, confirming his suspicion.

In Yoman, Ganeth had clashed with Serica Lauren, the one responsible for toppling the Great Wall. Yet, despite everything, he hadn’t been able to kill her instantly.

Karyl had noticed that, in that brief moment, Ganeth seemed captivated by her spear techniques.

“She’s never properly learned spear techniques. She has managed to reach her current level by studying the books on the foundation of Spear King’s Black Slash Seven Forms. Even if the Spear King has withdrawn from the world, I doubt he’d want to see his martial legacy disappear.”

At that, Ganeth’s eyes widened, as though he had been struck by a revelation.

“I’m not asking for anything else. Just show her to the Spear King, that’s all,” Karyl said softly, his gaze steady on the silent Ganeth.

“Or are you saying that you’d rather teach her yourself instead of taking her to him?”

“That’s not it... There’s no one who can match him in spear techniques. I know better than anyone that his spear techniques would suit her more than my halberd.”

“I’m not going to force it. If the Spear King refuses, so be it. But I doubt he’d turn her away once he sees her.”

Ganeth gave a faint smile, as if conceding to Karyl’s demand.

“You’re good at handling people. No wonder Anthem is standing by your side now.”

Ganeth glanced at Anthem, who was standing beside Karyl. Anthem gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

“Very well. With her talent, the Spear King will surely be intrigued.”

“You should be careful. Half a year from now, Serica might surpass you.”

“I’m looking forward to that duel myself.”

Bang—!!

At that moment, the door to the hall burst open, and Serica Lauren stormed in.

“Who gave you the right?!” she snarled at Karyl. “We agreed I’d go back after the civil war ended! I have no intention of learning from anyone!”

“Miss Serica, I may not fully understand your relationship with Karyl, but from now on, you should act with proper decorum,” Anthem said calmly.

“I don’t care about that! Who decided this without even asking me?”

“I did,” Karyl responded calmly.

“...What?”

“Wasn’t I clear enough? I told you to prove your worth, not to roll over in defeat.”

“Th-That’s...”

“Anthem is right. It would be wise for you to show proper respect in my presence from now on. And I’m not particularly merciful to losers. You’re the only one among those around me who has faced defeat.”

“...”

Serica felt a surge of anger at his mocking tone, but she couldn’t find the words to argue back.

“I’ll make you a deal. I’ll give you the half-year you so boldly claimed you needed. Train under the Spear King, and if you achieve results I deem satisfactory, I’ll send you to the Ivory Tower of Dawn.”

Serica’s expression wavered slightly.

“You must be worried about Mikhail, no?”

“Wh-What are you...?"

“If you work hard, you might finish even sooner than six months. I’m giving you a chance. If you want to see him, bring him back with you to Tatur. You’re the only one here with the power to enter the Ivory Tower of Dawn of the Dawn Council.”

Karyl fixed his gaze on her and demanded, “So, what’s your answer?”

“...Fine.”

“Say it again.”

Serica glanced around briefly before mumbling, “Okay...”

“Good.”

It was true that Karyl had been particularly lenient with Serica Lauren up until now. After all, in his previous life, she was one of the Ten of the Oracle and a comrade who had fought alongside him.

However, Karyl was the only one who remembered those moments. The circumstances had changed, and they were no longer connected by the Oracle but by the roles of lord and retainer.

Karyl now realized that he needed to redefine his relationship with her.

There’s less than half a year left until the Oracle will be prophesied. When the Ten are chosen and the three Oracles they must fulfill are carried out, many will die in the onslaught of Tarak pouring out from Pharel.

When the Ten were chosen before, they were so disparate that it took considerable time to unify them before carrying out the Oracles.

Miliana, Israphil the Spire, Serica Lauren... This time around, Karyl had already brought them under his command one by one. Thus, as soon as the Oracle was prophesied, they could quickly fulfill it and engage in a full-scale battle against the Tarak.

This time, they have to get stronger than they were in my previous life.

Teaching Miliana how to use draconic mana, instructing Israphil in Original Magic, introducing Serica Lauren to the highest level of magic from the Immortal Council and the Spear King’s spear techniques—no one could be too prepared for the impending Great War.

“Then, Sir Ganeth, I’ll leave her in your care. It’s a shame about the halberd, but I’ll find another weapon more suitable for you."

Ganeth nodded in agreement.

“It’s only natural for the defeated to comply with the victor’s demands. I hold no grudge for taking my halberd in exchange for my life at Yoman.”

Each time Serica heard the word “defeated”, her face flushed even more. But Ganeth knew well that his halberd was better suited for Serica than for him, which was why he hadn’t hesitated to give up the weapon when Karyl had demanded it.

“Well then...”

Ganeth, without any further delay, took action.

Once the two left, Karyl turned to face Wingel, who had been staying still all this time.

“Now it’s just you, Wingel Hart.”

“...”

Wingel looked at Karyl with a slightly tense expression.

“Your skill in piloting Revol is impressive. The small golems of the Meister Unit possess power surpassing that of knights, and Revol itself is stronger than a Sword Master.”

“Yet I was defeated.”

“Not because your piloting skills are lacking. What you really lack is boldness in combat... or to be more precise, the courage to kill.”

“...”

“With great power comes great responsibility. You were too concerned with avoiding collateral damage among your allies while operating Revol, which is why you couldn’t fight effectively.”

Wingel recalled how he had hesitated to avoid crushing the soldiers beneath the collapsed walls.

“But it’s understandable. After all, you’re an engineer, not a knight. Engineers should follow the path of engineering. Stepping in blood is meant for those who wield the sword,” Karyl said, his expression reflecting understanding.

“Revol is an excellent golem, but it still has many areas that need improvement. Given its large size, adjusting the core could enhance both its balance and destructive power.”

“That’s easier said than done,” Wingel argued. “It’s not an easy task.”

“Yes, but I believe you can do it.”

Wingel seemed taken aback by Karyl’s confidence in him.

“And I have a challenge for you, one that any magitech engineer would be eager to take on.”

At Karyl’s gesture, Anthem handed him a small box.

“This book contains a golem blueprint that wasn’t completed even during the Magical Era. It comes in two volumes, and this one, the second volume, contains the information needed to create the golem’s power core.”

As soon as Wingel saw the ancient script on the book’s cover, he recognized it as the blueprint for Ascalon.

“The genius engineers of the Magical Era couldn’t craft the power core. But if you succeed, you’ll prove that the present has surpassed the past.”

Wingel felt his heart pound as he gripped the blueprint.

“Don’t you want to create a new golem? If this works out, you’ll also be able to fix Revol, perhaps even enhance it.”

For the first time, Wingel showed interest in Karyl’s words.

“According to my sources, survivors of the supposedly extinct Gnome Kingdom are still alive. Their craftsmanship is unparalleled, and I own a mine that will provide the elemental stones you need to succeed. So, what do you think? Does my proposition interest you?”

“What if I complete the golem and then use it against you?”

“Huh, I feel like I’ve heard that one before,” Karyl said as he glanced at Anthem, who responded with a wry smile.

“My answer remains the same. I trust you as an engineer before a noble. At least until you’ve restored the golem of the Magical Era, I don't think you’ll waste your time on trifles.”

Karyl’s tone brimmed with confidence.

“After that, whether you seek revenge for Tuli or not, I don’t care. I won’t run. If you’re confident, feel free to challenge me with that new golem of yours.”

“Sounds like you’re convinced you’d win no matter what.” Wingel Hart shook his head. He could tell that Karyl’s confidence wasn’t just empty bravado.

“Whether you seek revenge or fight for me... I’m more interested in seeing you recreate Ascalon.”

Karyl pressed the point, sensing Wingel’s hesitation.

“Don’t mistake this for an order. It’s merely a proposal. I’ll spare no expense in providing the support you need. Create a masterpiece, something even the engineers of the Magical Era couldn’t achieve.”

“...”

Wingel Hart gazed at the Ascalon blueprint in silence.

“...It might take a long time,” he finally spoke up, and Karyl simply nodded in response.

“The blueprint has waited a thousand years for someone like you. A little more time won’t hurt.”

Wingel closed his mouth and slowly nodded.

“Anthem.”

“Yes, my lord.”

After Wingel Hart left the room, Karyl stretched as though he had finally taken care of everything in the principality.

“For the time being, I’ll leave the principality in your hands. I’ll take care of one last thing and then cross the strait back to Tatur. There’s much to be done, like restoring order among the people and reorganizing the military.”

Anthem nodded.

During the process of uniting the soldiers who had been scattered across various ducal territories and consolidating them under a single command, he had offered numerous suggestions to Karyl.

“Go ahead and implement the plans you’ve proposed. Time is still on our side.”

“Understood.”

“Across the sea, there are still enemies we must face. The empire and the Wooden Cloud. Eliminating them won’t be easy, so we’ll need to prepare thoroughly.”

“But once we deal with them, the continent will finally know peace,” Anthem added, bringing a smile to Karyl’s lips.

This is not the end, but just the beginning.

Compared to the upcoming Great War, fighting against humans would be easy.

Karyl glanced out the window.

“Anthem, gather the immigrant tribes.”

As the northern snow was finally ceasing, Karyl decided on his next destination.

“I’ll prepare to depart.”