The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth

Chapter 307: The Master of the North (2)

“Give the boy Lakna. He won the Sword Festival, so he deserves the title of Great Warrior. Besides, it seems the other chiefs have already given their hearts to him,” said Alteman, gesturing behind himself.

Through the gaps in the tent behind the cave, they could see that all the chief had fallen silent, waiting in front of the entrance.

“As the boy said, it’s the duty of the elders to accept what needs to be accepted.”

At Alteman’s words, the elders reluctantly nodded. Soon, one of them tapped on the stone wall inside the cave, and a long brick slid out.

Gr-r-r-r...

In his past life, when the line of Great Warriors had ended, Karyl had never even seen this relic of the immigrant tribes. Even during his childhood, when he lived among the immigrant tribes, the existence of Lakna had always been uncertain.

But now, that elusive relic was right before his eyes.

...This is Lakna?

Karyl looked at the item the elder had retrieved from the hidden chest behind the stone wall, his expression filled with mild confusion.

“This is an ancient relic, passed down only to the Great Warrior over the ages. By right, Karliak should have kept it, but for some reason, he entrusted it to us before his death,” said the elder who stood at the front of the group.

“I don’t know if he foresaw his death because of the Extermination Decree of Heresy, but it’s still puzzling that he left Lakna with us instead of Agnel. The Black-Eyed tribe suffered greatly because of that. If he had left Agnel with us, we could have prevented their stubborn resistance to the end.”

At the elder’s words, Karyl shook his head.

“Even if we’re all from the same immigrant tribes, we don’t know everything. The Black-Eyed tribe of today probably wouldn’t agree with you. They’re likely regretting that they couldn't die with Karliak that day.”

Karyl took Lakna from the elder’s hand.

“For the Black-Eyed tribe, there is no honor in surviving a battle. The fact that they follow me now is partly because they seek revenge for him.”

Clink―

The weight of Lakna pressed firmly into Karyl’s hand.

“...This is the handle of a sword,” Karyl murmured, more so to himself.

Indeed, what the elders had passed down as the relic of the Great Warrior was just a sword handle. There was no blade, only a peculiar silver-colored hilt that had remained as the relic.

At first glance, it appeared to be a broken sword, seemingly useless. The handle, too, was worn and rusty, showing the marks of time. Yet, everyone could feel that this relic wasn’t just a dormant artifact; it was still alive and brimming with the will to compete with other weapons, even now.

“You should know why Karliak, the Great Warrior, never used Lakna,” Alteman said, looking at Karyl holding Lakna.

“Or rather, why this great relic of the Great Warrior has remained hidden from the world until now.”

Karyl let out a bitter laugh at Alteman’s words, as if he already knew the reason. The elders, too, stared at him with stern expressions, understanding what he meant.

“Yes, the moment I grasped the handle, it became clear.”

Karyl swung Lakna lightly.

“If that’s the reason, then there’s no reason why you shouldn't give Lakna to me. In fact, I doubt there’s anyone else who can wield it besides me.”

“It was something they didn’t want to admit. Having no mana has been the pride of our tribes for so long. But this relic alone can explain the nature of our ancestors, from a time lost to history.”

Clink―

Vvvvvoomm...

The mechanism at the top of the small handle shifted, and a sharp blade extended from it. The blue blade gleamed with a light unlike the icy cold of the Freezing Talon.

Clank―

Whooosh...!!

As Lakna’s mechanism moved again, this time, a wave of intense heat emerged, and the blade turned a glowing red, as if it had just come out of a forge.

“Hah...”

“This is incredible.”

“Of course.”

The elders couldn’t help but express their admiration as they watched the scene unfold before them.

“That's right,” said Karyl, lifting the sword for Alteman to see.

“It’s a mana sword. Not even the imperial treasury has something like this. It’s fascinating that such a weapon remains with the immigrant tribes...”

He grasped the handle once more, twisting it slightly.

“This isn’t just an elemental weapon imbued with a single element. The blade’s element can change to match the user’s mana. In that case...”

Clank―!

This time, the razor-sharp blade emitted a blinding light before absorbing it back into itself. Then, it turned jet-black, releasing a thin wisp of smoke that radiated a cold, unfathomable menace, as though it could cut through anyone with a single glance.

“So it can do this as well,” Karyl remarked, satisfied as he gazed at the blackened blade.

[This must be the power of Duaat! Normally, a human’s mana only allows them to wield one element. But your mana, being draconic, is colorless.]

Allen marveled at the blade in Karyl's hand.

[Being able to use every element means you can wield even the spirit power. To have reached this level... You’re far more talented than those mediocre guys from the Assembly.]

Allen seemed genuinely delighted. Mastering one’s own mana was difficult enough already, yet Karyl hadn’t just used his Dragon mana; he had combined it with spirit power to fully unlock Lakna’s blade.

[This blade isn’t just made of pure mana. It’s as if the inside of the hilt is a forge, crafting a new blade according to the element it’s given.]

As a Blader from the Magical Era, Allen was thoroughly fascinated by Lakna.

[And the material of the weapon is unique. It’s definitely not Greensteel, yet it absorbs mana effortlessly, unleashing a force twice as strong as the energy infused. It doubles the power of the mana. Just what kind of weapon is this?]

His eyes sparkled with curiosity, as though he was eager to take Lakna apart right then and there to study it—not that Karyl would ever let him. Even Karyl hadn’t anticipated that the unassuming, weathered sword hilt would turn out to be such an extraordinary weapon.

[This definitely isn’t something from the Magical Era. If something like this had existed back when we created the Five Great Artifacts, we would’ve thrown them all in the trash.]

Karyl chuckled bitterly at Allen's remark. After all, the Freezing Talon he currently wielded was one of those Five Great Artifacts.

[A relic from the Mythical Era... Even though it’s not a Master Key, for such a weapon to exist...]

“That it must have been wielded by humans. After all, only humans use tools. Someone part of Blader...” Karyl murmured.

“Our ancestors inside the Thousand-Year Ice Cave.”

As Karyl finished speaking, the faces of the elders stiffened.

“...!!”

“...!!”

As if expecting their reaction, Karyl twisted his wrist, causing the sharp, black blade to disappear back into the hilt of Lakna.

“Like you’ve said, Alteman, it’s no surprise Lakna could never be revealed to the tribes. The relic granted to the Great Warrior is actually a weapon that can only be used with mana... Who would accept that? After all, the tribes take great pride in their lack of mana. No one would understand.”

“Exactly. And I think you understand what this relic represents,” Alteman said, casting Karyl an ambiguous smile.

“Anyone could figure it out. The fact that our ancestors wielded this weapon means that they, too, possessed mana. Which means...”

All eyes were fixed on Karyl.

“It means that the empire and the tribes originally came from the same bloodline.”

“And for some reason, we were split into two.”

“Yes. One side lost their mana, while the other retained it. Those with mana came to rule the continent, founded the Church, and labeled us who lost our mana as heretics.”

“But if we started from the same point, can we truly say that only those who lost mana are evil?”

The two continued their conversation as if exchanging thoughts in perfect harmony.

“That is something we cannot know.”

“True, but if anyone can uncover the truth, it would be you. Only you can find out the answer to this."

Alteman gestured toward Lakna, the weapon from which Karyl had just drawn the blade.

“Because you have the Spirit Kings, who can testify to the truths of the Mythical Era."

At his words, Karyl smiled faintly.

“Discovering why our ancestors lost their mana... Whether that truly led them down a path of evil... I hope you can learn that, so that our lack of mana may truly become a point of pride.”

Alteman’s voice was steady yet resolute.

“So that our honor may be in the reason we lost, not in something we don’t have.”

“Ramine.”

Whoosh―!!

“Ethereal.”

Crackle... Crackle...!

“Duaat.”

Ssshh...

As Karyl called each of their names, three Spirit Kings appeared behind him, each radiating their own unique power.

[Heh, heh...]

Allen chuckled quietly as he watched the scene.

At a time when the power of spirits was in decline, even the most skilled spiritualists struggled to summon a single spirit, yet Karyl effortlessly called forth three Spirit Kings. His command of spirit power was now indisputable.

[Perhaps you can even open the gate to the Spirit Realm itself,] Allen muttered softly.

“You will be my witnesses. The proof that my mana does not disqualify me from being the rightful leader of the immigrant tribes.”

Karyl turned to the elders.

“The evidence that our ancestors wielded mana, and the reason they lost it.”

[The Great War of the Spirits and Gods.]

Ramine spoke in a calm, measured voice.

[There’s no need for a lengthy explanation. This happened long before the Magical Era, in a time that isn’t even recorded by your history.]

[The spirits and humans stood against the gods.]

[As a result, we were defeated and sealed away, and humans lost their mana.]

As the Spirit Kings spoke, one of the elders, with a hardened expression, tried to say something but faltered.

“Could it be...?”

“That's right. Not all humans sided with humanity. Some have retained their mana as a reward for their devotion to the gods. But we fought only for ourselves. Though that war ended in defeat, our will was never weak.”

Thump, thump!

The elders’ hearts pounded wildly as they listened to Karyl.

“We are not heretics.”

They were grateful to be alive to hear this revelation, though part of them already lamented their inability to participate in the battles that lay ahead, as they recalled the strength of their younger years.

“Be proud. The absence of mana is our true pride. We are the Godslayers, descendants of Blader, the true humans of free will.”

At that moment, all the elders knelt and bowed their heads to Karyl.