The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth

“It was quite lovely seeing you. We will meet again.”

“Of course. Once the ignition stone for the airship is completed, I will visit you.”

On the deck of the Mana Battleship, Gordon Fabian and Karyl were saying their goodbyes.

“I have a feeling we’ll see each other before then. Don’t you think so? I hope that day passes quietly, but... it will be difficult.”

“Even if I don’t cause a stir, they might not remain silent. They’re all waiting for an opportunity, good or bad.”

"Well, I think you’ll be the one to cause a stir, and a massive one at that.”

Gordon smacked his lips at Karyl’s words.

“Regardless, our reunion won’t be in a pleasant place.”

Knowing that Karyl was referring to Kromen’s death, Gordon’s voice took a somber tone. After all, he was partly responsible for the Third Prince’s failure to resolve the issue with Digon.

“Our next reunion will be in the funeral hall,” Gordon remarked. “That’s the stage you mentioned before, isn’t it?”

“Oh, you still remember what I said back then?”

“When you get older, you tend to remember unnecessary things.”

Gordon recalled the day Karyl showed Martte the scene of Olivurn poisoning Kromen at Marquis Vestal’s estate.

“Do you regret it?” Karyl asked.

“As I said before, my answer hasn’t changed.” Gordon gave a bitter smile. “Whoever takes the throne, the other two will perish.”

As a powerhouse on the continent, Gordon found it difficult to accept the fact that while he had fought to survive by raiding the Ghost Castle, the young prince had become a sacrificial lamb, caught up in political struggles.

“Will Olivurn’s mask come off with this?”

“No. Some will know, and some will continue to cover for him.”

“Weren’t you trying to expose him? By killing Kromen?”

Gordon seemed puzzled by Karyl’s assertion.

“You think the empire will fall with just one incident? If it’s revealed that Olivurn killed Kromen, the emperor might just see it as an opportunity to get rid of the princes.”

“Hmm...”

Gordon nodded in understanding. Indeed, Titan Shutean would do something like that. He was a conqueror, one who wouldn’t even allow his sons to inherit his position.

“I won’t help the emperor fix his broken wings. I just planted a seed of doubt. That will suffice, for now. My goal isn’t just the downfall of the princes."

Karyl thought of Martte. What would he do after Kromen's death? As the firstborn of the count’s family, Martte was young and had limited influence. However, his father was different—Kuwell MacGovern, Olivurn’s strongest supporter and the continent’s greatest swordsman.

“If I just wanted to prevent Olivurn from taking the throne, I wouldn't have gone to such lengths. My goal is to sway his followers to my side.”

As someone not of royal blood, Karyl couldn’t win people over just by force.

“If I can bring Martte to my side, the continent's greatest swordsman and all those who follow Olivurn will be mine.”

They would make the foundation for the larger battle ahead, the Oracle War. Karyl’s eyes glinted with determination as he thought of the ultimate objective.

“I can’t even begin to guess how far ahead you're planning...” Gordon sighed. “I’ll step aside as a washed-up has-been, so go ahead and run wild on your own."

“A has-been? To me, you’re a monster of a man,” Karyl said with a faint smile.

“Kromen and I didn’t talk much, but I shall give him a gift for his final journey that the empire can’t provide,” Karyl went on.”

“A gift? You, of all people, saying that... Should I look forward to it or be worried?"

Karyl gave a faint smile.

“Both.”

...

Silence fell.

After the Mana Battleship docked, Gordon Fabian looked at the members of the Guidance Mercenary Gang who had come to greet him and thought it was finally time to end his journey with Karyl.

His subordinates murmured among themselves, amazed at the enormous battleship they were seeing for the first time.

“I’ll make sure they keep their mouths shut, so don’t worry. But you should be careful. If the empire finds out about that ship, they’ll start sniffing around.”

“They won’t have time to worry about me,” Karyl said with a smirk. “Even though they know this is the perfect time to attack the principality, they can’t make a move. Both the principality and the empire are too caught up in their own struggles.”

“And in the meantime, you’ll quietly expand your power? You’re one scary guy.”

Gordon had confirmed that Miliana, the queen of Digon, had already joined Karyl, following him. Thus, it was no exaggeration to say that Karyl was now the king of the south.

Gordon was about to say something more but then shook his hand and changed the subject.

“Suan Hazer, right? He’s starting to get the hang of things, but tell him to be careful with the gauntlets he’s got from the Ghost Castle. If he’s not careful, they might overpower him.”

Perhaps it was an unnecessary worry, but for some reason, Gordon Fabian couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling about Kalduan’s name engraved on the gauntlets.

“What’s the matter?”

“Kalduan might be gone now, but during the Magical Era, it was a divine beast with power rivaling that of a spirit king or a dragon.”

Karyl nodded at his words.

“It’s just an old legend. The divine beasts have been gone for centuries.”

Having already caught a glimpse of Kalduan in Quenite’s subspace, witnessing the divine beast’s majesty, Karyl understood Gordon’s concern.

“I’m not saying there’s a chance the divine beast is still alive. It’s about the nature of the Blue Turtle,” Gordon explained.

“The nature?”

Karyl looked at Gordon, intrigued, as Quenite hadn’t mentioned anything about this.

“There are some special conditions for making a contract with the Blue Turtle, the Lord of the Rocks.”

“Special conditions?”

“It involves a pledge.”

Karyl couldn’t help chuckling at that.

“Is this some kind of children’s game? Did they have to make some promise in order to tame a beast of that level?”

He waggled his pinky finger jokingly, but Gordon remained serious.

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Huh?”

Gordon sighed deeply before continuing, “It’s not just any pledge. The legend of the Blue Turtle says that each time the contractor borrows Kalduan’s power, it literally takes away a finger from them.”

“...”

“Well, it’s just a legend, right? I doubt a weapon made by a Blader would retain such a bizarre condition.”

Karyl licked his lips, recalling Kalduan’s image engraved on the gauntlet.

“Anyway, great power always comes at a cost.”

Gordon pointed to the Freezing Talon at Karyl's waist.

“The same goes for you. The power of the dead is also mixed in there.”

“I understand. I’ll make sure to deliver the warning to Suan,” Karyl said with a nod.

“It might be wise to show the gauntlets to Valvont, if possible. Currently, he’s the best person to handle that artifact.”

“The King of Martial Arts?”

“Yeah, but don’t get your hopes up. That man has no interest in weapons.”

Karyl cackled, knowing Gordon was right. Among the five great warriors who had reached the rank of Sword Master, Valvont was the only one who didn’t use weapons. To him, his body was his sole weapon.

Although Suan wasn’t Valvont’s direct disciple, Karyl thought he resembled Valvont in many ways, having learned his stances.

“Still, do you know where I can find him?”

“Not really. He’s a free-spirited man, but he visited me a few months ago."

“He did?”

“Just before the emperor’s order. He said he was going to Tramel.”

At that, Karyl frowned slightly.

“Tramel... You mean that ancient fortress?”

“Yes. It was a major stronghold during the Magical Era, but now it’s just ruins. A land of runaway slaves.”

Tramel, once a proud fortress, was now just a memory of past glory. But to Karyl, it held a different significance.

Although currently inactive and closed, it was also home to the continent's largest dungeon, the Blood Cave.

“...”

Back then, the cave had been dormant for centuries and was thought to be safe, but over time, it became Tarak’s first stronghold, transforming Tramel into a land of death.

“Well, it’s considered a relic, but it’s basically just ruins. I don’t know why Valvont would go there.”

“Didn’t he say anything else?”

“He’s not an ordinary guy. Who knows what’s going through his mind.”

Indeed...

Karyl nodded at Gordon Fabian’s words.

The time has come.

He had always kept King of Martial Arts Valvont in mind as Suan Hazer’s potential mentor.

Valvont stopped taking disciples after a certain incident. Because of that, his eight stances were lost.

Regretting that, Karyl planned to have Suan Hazer become his disciple this time. Although he knew an incident would occur, he didn’t know when or what would trigger it.

Meeting Valvont and building a rapport would be great, but Karyl had been too busy with his plans to focus on Valvont. He also couldn’t afford to leave Suan, one of his essential aides, in a foreign land for months, hoping Valvont would eventually show up, as he had done with Mikhail.

The Blood Cave.

Hearing that Valvont was heading to Tramel, Karyl guessed that the incident he remembered would soon occur.

But... Why is the King of Martial arts going to Tramel and not the Blood Cave? There’s nothing in Tramel.

Karyl knew Valvont was involved in the incident at the Blood Cave, but he found it strange that the martial artist had business in Tramel.

Maybe there was something in the ancient fortress before it became a dungeon...

Karyl searched through his memories. He had only been to Tramel once in his past life, to destroy the Blood Cave after it had become a stronghold of corruption.

Even then, I only went to the Blood Cave. Never saw Tramel.

Karyl was intrigued, thinking he might have missed something.

Looks like I might have to part ways with Suan for a while, but maybe I should go too.

With that in mind, Karyl shook his head with a faint smile.

I have another place to visit.

As he reflected on the unexpected new information, Karyl realized that his meeting with Gordon Fabian had been quite fruitful.

“I guess I was just being nosy. Maybe it’s because I’ve been through so much with you that I’m saying things I shouldn’t. Anyway, your subordinate might get to meet the King of Martial Arts if he’s lucky.”

“Indeed.” Karyl nodded.

“Contrary to what you think, it’s not luck that will allow Suan to meet the King of Martial Arts. I myself will make it happen.”

“Whatever you say. Anyway, see you soon. This whole journey has been fun, in its own way.”

“Gordon.”

Karyl tossed him a canteen.

Thud.

“Cruah’s excrement. You’ll need another dose for it to take effect.”

“...”

Although Karyl was being nonchalant about this, Gordon's mercenaries looked at him with puzzled expressions.

“You bastard...”

Karyl chuckled and waved at him.

***

Swoosh... Swoosh...

The Mana Battleship was finally going up the Fonein after passing through the strait.

“We’ll reach Tatur soon.”

Aidan approached Karyl, who was standing on the deck with his arms crossed.

“What about the prisoners?”

“Dushala should be done with the preparations.”

“Good.” Karyl nodded slowly. His lips curled into a faint smile as he recalled the gift he had given Gordon.

“Forty thousand lives... Yes, at least this much should be enough as a condolence gift for the prince's funeral.”

A gleam flickered in his cold eyes.