The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth

Chapter 294: The Three Kingdoms of Istria (1)

Dushala shook her head.

“Really... Are you just trying to find new ways to surprise us now? Did you actually cause that mess in Heim?”

A few people were gathered at the estuary of the Fonein River. According to protocol, they were supposed to be blindfolded and guided by priests when leaving Heim, but no one could stop Karyl.

“You’re complaining, but you seem to be smiling. Are you actually pleased?” Karyl asked.

“Well, I am, but I didn’t expect you to deal such a blow, not just to the prince but also to the Church.”

“So I exceeded your expectations?”

“Yes, by a lot,” Dushala replied with a smirk.

“Keep an eye on that man, Joey Johansel. When Israphil checked, he wasn’t at the Church, so he’s probably off on some other task.”

“Yes, my lord.” Dushala nodded.

It’s a pity the Church didn’t reveal Olivurn’s connection with the Wooden Cloud. That could have been a tool to bind him later. I needed to find out more about that other person in the Blood Cave.

Karyl thought of the unknown individual who had accompanied Olivurn during the investigation of the cave, clicking his tongue in frustration.

I don’t know who that is, but there’s no one from history that particularly stands out in my memory.

But like the Wooden Cloud, that individual lived in the shadows, avoiding the records of history, and the fact that Olivurn had personally brought them along was something that bothered Karyl.

“Kayla Spear has sent word that she has arrived in the principality.”

“That was fast.”

“Suan was steering the ship.”

Dushala shrugged, while Suan, standing on the boat docked at the pier, sighed heavily with a face full of discontent.

Karyl chucked, knowing why Suan reacted like that.

It seems like it’s time to send them to the Blood Cave. Even though it’s not ideal to reduce our forces too much with Mikhail and Aidan absent, if I delay any longer, Valvont might leave Tramel. If I want them to meet, there’s no other choice.

In his previous life, Valvont, the King of Martial Arts, had not been involved in the Oracle War, and Karyl knew only one thing about his whereabouts—he had been staying in Tramel, an ancient site near the Blood Cave.

Afterward, Valvont’s whereabouts became unknown, and if Karyl missed this chance, he might not get another opportunity.

“Lord...” Suan Hazer began, sensing something, but then he closed his mouth.

“Tired of steering the ship?”

“...What’s the point of saying anything?”

It was rather peculiar for someone as large as Suan to sulk like that, almost like a child.

Seeing his reaction, Karyl gestured to Israphil behind him and said, “Suan, I’m giving you a mission. Go with Israphil and investigate the Blood Cave. The timing should be right.”

“Huh? What timing?”

“Before you go to the cave, stop by a place called Tramel. You should find an old man splitting a large boulder there.”

“An old man splitting a boulder...?” Suan tilted his head slightly, not understanding what some old man had to do with the cave they were meant to investigate.

“Yeah, it’s someone you know. The King of Martial Arts, Valvont himself.”

“...?!”

“Why is he in Tramel? And why is he splitting a boulder there?” Suan asked, startled by the revelation.

“That’s something you’ll have to ask him yourself. But I’m sure you understand why I’m sending you there.”

Suan clenched his fists together.

“Finally...”

The gauntlets imbued with the power of the Kalduan, the Blue Turtle, vibrated with a clear sound.

“I’ll learn everything there is to know about the King of Martial Arts.”

“You’re lucky to have learned the King’s stances without being an official disciple. Now let me tell you something. Besides the King of Martial Arts, you shall be the only one to have ever mastered all eight stances.”

“What?”

Karyl left him with this cryptic remark, patting Suan on the shoulder as he concluded, “Make sure to catch his eye. And if possible, bring him along as well, not just his techniques.”

“Bringing back the King of Martial Arts?” Suan chuckled wryly, surprised by how casually Karyl made such a bold request.

“Yeah.” Karyl nodded, as if already eager to see everyone after their transformations—Aidan, whom he had sent to Simon Coden in the Eastern Land; Mikhail, now with the Dawn Council; Serica Lauren, training under the Spear King Dustin Phillip; and Suan Hazer, soon to be under the King of Martial Arts.

Karyl had resolved to send his subordinates across the continent, making sure they all learned from the very best in their respective disciplines. This was the kind of preparation he hadn’t been able to make in his previous life. Of course, they had been strong even back then, but now they would achieve far more incredible feats, surpassing everything Karyl remembered about them.

“The war with the empire will undoubtedly be the fiercest I’ve ever faced. But the war with Olivurn cannot drag on for long.”

That was why Karyl had been scattering these talented individuals like seeds, spreading them across the land. Suan was no exception.

“Israphil, as you know, thanks to what we did in Heim, Olivurn, being the prince, is tied down by the emperor’s death. But as part of the Wooden Cloud, he’ll move quickly, and most of his actions will be aimed at us.”

“I understand.”

“Be careful. Suan might not be a Sword Master, but he’ll hold his own. However, with the time he needs to spend with Valvont, he won’t be able to guard you perfectly.”

“You don’t need to worry so much. I can take care of myself."

Karyl knew what Israphil was capable of better than anyone. After all, he had been part of the Ten of the Oracle, but Karyl’s concern was his mindset. The current Israphil lacked the sharpness of his past life, and though he had helped Karyl in the Church, he had never actually taken a life in this timeline.

So, despite his abilities, there was a chance Israphil could make a mistake in direct combat.

“Of course, but just in case, I'll assign a few more people to you. Dushala, where are Kinu Mukari and Beikan right now?”

“Kinu Mukari returned to the south with Miliana, but Beikan is still in the Three Kingdoms. He’s helping the baron—no, Princess Viola—with the Free Army.”

At Dushala's words, Karyl frowned slightly.

“Are the Three Kingdoms still not settled?”

“While you were in Heim, Kayla Spear reported from Tatur that Sir Marze, known as the Shield of Istan, had joined her ranks, and they absorbed the Twin Armor.”

“So why hasn't it been resolved yet? That’s a critical location in the Three Kingdoms, so once they took it, the outcome should’ve been swift.”

Karyl had received the report three months ago that Viola planned to absorb the Twin Armor. The strategic value of Twin Armor was obvious, so Karyl had approved the plan. He had even added that she could withdraw the Free Army entirely if she wanted.

That should’ve meant the balance of power in the Three Kingdoms had tipped. Why is Beikan still being held back?

Beikan was an outstanding warrior; he had been so in his previous life as well, blessed by the spirits of the earth to an incredible degree, which was why Karyl had entrusted the Free Army to him.

In the Three Kingdoms, only the old knights of the Twin Armor could stand against him... And with Greys starting to make a name for himself as a Sword Master, there’s no reason for them to struggle.

Seemingly at a loss, Karyl looked at Dushala.

“There’s no reason they should be losing.”

“No reports have come in yet. The situation in the Three Kingdoms was left to Princess Viola, so I didn’t receive any further details."

“Hmm.”

Karyl frowned slightly at her response.

“Dushala, you know how troublesome this is, right?”

She shrugged and nodded slightly.

“I was planning to call Beikan from the Three Kingdoms, but... I suppose I’ll have to contact Kinu and assign him to Israphil’s guard. Have the Black-Eyed tribe join them as well, since they’re already at the Blood Cave, monitoring the situation.”

“Understood.”

“I wanted to deal with the northern forces before the war with the empire, but... it seems I’ll have to go down there myself to see what's dragging this out.”

The northern forces were important, but Karyl couldn’t leave the Three Kingdoms in a state of division. The tribesmen would never lend their strength to the empire, but the Three Kingdoms were different. If someone other than Viola emerged victorious, it was obvious whose side they would take.

Karyl needed to end the war with the empire as quickly as possible to prepare for the Oracle War. In that sense, the situation in the Three Kingdoms, where the war had turned into a prolonged conflict for unknown reasons, was more pressing than the northern immigrant tribes.

While I’m down there, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take care of the Eastern Land too. It would also give me more time to bring Aidan back.

Seeming to have made up his mind, Karyl smirked and nodded.

“Honestly, nothing gets done without me,” he sighed, looking south.

***

The moon shone brightly on the night sky.

Step-step-step...

“It’s been a while since I moved alone,” Karyl murmured as he descended the stairs from the small magic council building with the teleportation circle.

This circle was at the entrance leading to the Twin Armor, the gateway to the Three Kingdoms of Istria.

“Hmm...”

After receiving Dushala’s report, Karyl decided that he first needed to hear from the elders of the Twin Armor about the current situation.

[Karyl, I sense multiple sources of mana.]

Though he was technically alone, four distinct entities lingered in his mind, making for a stark contrast from the solitude of his previous life. And just as if to answer his earlier reflection, Allen’s voice came through.

Yes, I sense it too.

Karyl hid behind a tree.

“Hurry! Move quickly!”

“We need to open the gate to the fortress by tonight.”

The voices were low but clear.

“...”

Without hesitation, Karyl dashed toward the source of the voices.

“Gah...!”

His punch connected with a dull sound.

“Who...! Who’s there?!”

“That’s what I’d like to ask,” Karyl responded as he knocked down the lead soldier with a blow to the head.

Thunk—!!

The soldier passed out the moment his face hit the ground.

“You crazy bastard...!! Fire!!”

The archers prepared to shoot.

Hmm?

Karyl noticed something strange about their weapons. Those weren’t ordinary bows, but crossbows. Moreover, Karyl could sense mana within the bowstrings. These were magical tools he had once sold to the Three Kingdoms of Istria.

Tch, I can’t believe the tools meant for the Oracle War are being used like this.

These were intended as bait to manipulate the Three Kingdoms, but seeing them wasted like this was absurd to Karyl.

What is Baron Beryl doing?

In the early stages of the development of the mana mine, Karyl had secretly instructed Baron Beryl to support Viola in coordinating with the Three Kingdoms. Frankly, without the elemental stones and magical tools provided by Baron Beryl, the already weak forces of the Three Kingdoms would have been utterly insignificant.

Shunk! Shunk! Shunk!!!

The bolts tore through the air, heading straight for Karyl. Of course, to someone who had crossed swords with the Continent’s Greatest Swordsman just days before, such weapons were laughable.

Ping...! Ting! Ting!

Without even looking, Karyl waved his hand, catching all the bolts.

“...!!!”

“You there. Which faction are you with?”

“Guh...!! Mmpph...!!”

Karyl walked over, grabbed the nearest soldier by the face, and lifted him up.

“Ah, right.”

Seeing the soldier struggle to respond, Karyl lessened his grip on his jaw.

“Ugh... Uhhh...”

But the soldier still struggled to speak, as though his jaw was already shattered. He could only weep as he crawled on the ground.

“Huff... Huff...”

The other soldiers collapsed, their legs giving out as if their strength had suddenly been sapped. Some had even wet their pants but were too terrified to notice, trembling uncontrollably.

Karyl shot them a glance before gripping the fallen soldier by the crown of his head and gathering his mana. A faint light enveloped the soldier’s head, and his shattered jaw healed completely.

“Answer me quickly. Otherwise, I won’t just break your jaw next time—I’ll carve it out so you can never speak again.”

“P-Please spare me!!”

Kshk!

Karyl picked up an arrow from the ground and thrust it into the soldier’s hand.

“Answer the question.”

“Ghaaahh...!!”

“Answer me! Or else...”

Karyl grabbed another arrow, ready to plunge it into the other hand. The remaining soldiers thought he had healed his jaw just to make the man scream louder.

“I-I’ll talk! I’ll tell you everything!” the soldier pleaded, his face pressed into the ground, trembling all over.

“W-We’re part of the Three Kingdoms Alliance. Specifically, we’re magic combat troops under Sir Hesser Myles, the eldest son of the Myles family. We were trying to reclaim the Twin Armor...”

He spilled all the useful information before Karyl even asked about the specifics.

“Wait, the Three Kingdoms Alliance? What’s that?”

“Yes, yes... It’s an alliance of the Three Kingdoms of Istria to attack Lady Viola’s principality.”

“This is ridiculous...”

Karyl had expected something like this, but he still found it hard to believe that the king would ally with two other kingdoms to attack his own daughter.

A king who clings to others to survive and attacks his own daughter? No wonder the Kingdom of Fenria was the first to fall in my previous life.

Karyl wondered if this war was dragging on because Viola had been hesitating to attack her father.

If that’s the case, she’s no precious gem, but a worthless pebble on the side of the road.

“Magic combat troops?” Karyl clicked his tongue. “A fancy title for a group that can’t even do its job. Who’s leading the alliance? The Myles family?”

“Well...”

The soldier hesitated for a moment.

But when Karyl tossed aside the arrow and drew his Freezing Talon from his waist, the soldier's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he shouted, “B-Baron Beryl!!”

“...What?”

At that moment, Karyl couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

“Did I hear that wrong?”

“N-No! I wouldn’t dare...!!” the soldier stammered, trembling as he stared at the blade of Freezing Talon, which seemed ready to cut through his neck at any moment.

“That old man must have lost his mind...”

Karyl rubbed his forehead.

“Hah... Now I understand why this war has dragged on. I guess a washed-up genius strategist is still a genius, huh?”

His lips curled into a cold smile.

“I see I have to cut out the rotten parts.”