The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth

Chapter 309: The Master of the North (4)

The Sword Demon?

Karyl tilted his head in confusion, as he had never heard that name before.

[Hey, how do you even know his name?]

[The Magical Era? That’s nonsense. His existence goes back far earlier than that.]

But unlike the puzzled Karyl, the Spirit Kings’ reactions were surprisingly cynical.

Do you all know of him?

[Of course.]

[How could we not know him?]

[Now I’m curious too,] Allen chimed in. [How is it that you, from the Mythical Era, know of a figure who was spoken of only in rumors even during the Magical Era? No, rather, how extraordinary must he have been for his reputation to endure from the Mythical Era all the way to my lifetime? And also...]

Allen went on, [How could he have lived until the Magical Era?]

Karyl nodded at his words.

[Karyl, do you remember when I first met you in the lair of the Flame Dragon?] Ramine asked. [I told you there was another man besides you who wielded both spirit power and dragon mana.]

Are you referring to the one who reached the pinnacle of that Great Magic?

[Exactly.]

At that, Karyl swallowed dry. He remembered the words of the Blazing King, who had once described it as “Great Magic”—magic powerful enough to kill even gods.

[That man was the Sword Demon.]

So he was a Blader as well?

[Yes and no.]

What do you mean by that?

[He was a pioneer who showed us the way to stand against the gods, but he did not participate in the Great War as a Blader alongside us. He disappeared when the war broke out.]

[To be honest, it’s more surprising to us that his existence was known during the Magical Era.]

[Since we were sealed at the time.]

Duaat and Ethereal added to Ramine’s words.

Allen, are you saying the Sword Demon lived during the Magical Era? Did you meet him?

[Of course. How else would I recognize your sword technique? Unfortunately, as someone unfamiliar with swordsmanship, I didn’t realize that your style resembled his. We only crossed paths once.]

“...”

Karyl squinted slightly as he stared at Alteman after hearing Allen’s words, which were tinged with a bit of regret.

“Are you the Sword Demon?” Karyl asked, lowering his sword. He realized that Alteman wasn’t trying to fight him, but rather stir questions in his mind.

“Haha... You never cease to surprise me. I didn’t think you would even know that name.”

Alteman’s expression briefly stiffened at Karyl’s question but soon softened into a natural smile.

“The Spirit Kings told me the Sword Demon was a Blader who led the Mythical Era. But it’s hard to believe that someone who lived in ancient times before the Magical Era could still exist.”

Alteman shook his head at Karyl’s words.

“That’s right, the Spirit Kings are correct. I’m not the Sword Demon, but there was a time when I borrowed that name. I was, in fact, around during the Magical Era.”

“A thousand years ago?”

That fact alone was shocking enough.

“Yes. It was a magnificent time... An era when magic flourished brilliantly.”

Alteman wore a somewhat bitter expression.

“The Assembly of Seven Elders... Back then, they were truly remarkable. Thanks to them, magic was established."

“Hmph...” Allen crossed his arms, as if he was somewhat pleased but trying to hide it. Though his posture carried a hint of pride.

“But just because something is brilliant doesn't mean it’s beautiful.”

Swoosh—

Alteman pulled back his leather hood, revealing his long hair, which fell past his shoulders. As he tousled it lightly, the soft hair shifted, revealing something peculiar—his ears.

“...”

They were scarred, seemingly by fire, disfigured and blunted, appearing as if they had been damaged long ago. To a normal person, they might have seemed like nothing more than burn injuries.

[Ah, he’s Slelf.]

But Allen’s voice took on a more serious tone as he recognized them.

Slelf? What is that?

[It refers to slave elves. Karyl, you were right. This man has survived since the Magical Era because he’s not human. He’s an elf.]

“Yes, that’s right. We, the elves blessed with magic, were comrades who helped humans establish magic during the Magical Era... and we were also their test subjects.”

Alteman glanced past Karyl toward the smoky figure of Allen as he spoke.

“Among them, the Assembly of Seven Elders conducted many terrible experiments. Thousands of elves perished at their hands.”

[So what? The victor always rules over the conquered. It’s an eternal truth. As someone who had to prioritize humans over elves, I advanced magic for the future of mankind.]

“And for that, you paid the price to the Platinum Dragon.”

[You...!]

Enraged by Alteman’s words, Allen Javius was about to lunge at him, but Karyl stepped in.

“He’s not entirely wrong. Don’t lose your temper over nothing. After all, you’re with me now because of that revenge."

[Hmph...]

At Karyl’s words, Allen clicked his tongue and turned away.

“What’s done is done. I don’t harbor any ill will toward the Assembly of Seven Elders. It’s just the way of things—losers in war must follow the victors.”

At this, the Spirit Kings fell silent. The weight of defeat reminded them of the words they had spoken to Karyl and wondered if, like Alteman, they too bore the lingering aura of defeat after being sealed for all that time.

“So what are you trying to say? I understand now that you once borrowed the name of the Sword Demon, but even if you are an elf from the Magical Era, it still doesn’t explain how you know the Five Sword Stances,” Karyl grunted.

“Where did you learn that swordsmanship?” he went on. “You didn’t live in the Mythical Era, so you couldn’t have learned it from the Sword Demon himself."

Alteman couldn’t help but chuckle, surprised by how nonchalantly Karyl asked about the Sword Demon’s swordsmanship.

“The Magical Era was a time when magic thrived, but that doesn’t mean swordsmanship disappeared. As you know, the 49 Forms of the Colorless Air Sword are a remarkable sword technique that sublimates mana into swordsmanship. When it comes to magical sword arts, it’s the most advanced.”

Alteman’s words resonated with Karyl as he effortlessly assumed the basic stance of the Colorless Air Sword technique, his flexible sword bending gracefully.

“Of course, from a purely technical standpoint, some of the 49 Forms are unnecessary. But magical swordsmanship isn't just about sword skills—it’s about the fusion of mana and swordsmanship. You can’t view the Colorless Air Sword purely through the eyes of a swordsman.”

“...”

“Just as casting a spell requires incantations in magic, magical swordsmanship also needs a series of actions to unleash its full power.”

Karyl frowned slightly at Alteman’s words. Indeed, when he had first learned the Colorless Air Sword from Allen, he had been told that 42 of the 49 forms were superfluous.

“For those without mana, like the immigrant tribes, such techniques may seem useless, but for those with mana, it’s different.”

Alteman spoke as if he had anticipated Karyl’s earlier evaluation of the Colorless Air Sword.

“Of course, it’s impossible for anyone who hasn’t reached a certain level. Having weak mana is worse than not having any at all.”

Alteman then asked Karyl, “What about you? Have you ever felt something different when using not just your sword but also swordsmanship that incorporates mana, like the Mana Blade?”

“That’s...”

He had. Until now, there hadn’t been a moment where he fought using his full power. Even in his duel with Kuwell MacGovern, Karyl had held back.

But during his battle with Hwarin, when he unleashed his full power, he had felt an emptiness in his mana core. And for a fleeting moment, he had felt as though he was on the verge of advancing to a new sword form.

“Impressive.”

Alteman nodded as if Karyl’s expression alone was enough of an answer.

“You’ve now gained a new perspective beyond the swordsmanship confined to the immigrant tribes. No matter how much they swing their swords, these people will never reach that realm.

Alteman went on, “Interpreting magic through the sword and advancing the sword through magic—that’s what will help you progress further. As I said, I’m not the Sword Demon, but by a stroke of luck, I did manage to learn some of the swordsmanship he left behind in the Mythical Era. Of course, what I learned was just a superficial imitation.”

“How?”

“For the same reason as the Assembly of Seven Elders.”

“...Don’t tell me.”

Karyl realized what Alteman was hinting at, and the name he hadn’t encountered since his return now resurfaced again, much to his irritation.

“Narh Di Maug.”

“That’s right,” Alteman nodded.

The Platinum Dragon.

“That guy is involved in everything, it seems,” Karyl sighed. “I’ve never even seen him, yet it feels like I’ve known him the longest.”

Then, his tone turned icy. “But we shall meet soon enough. And this time, I’ll confirm the truth by grabbing him by the neck and smashing him into the ground.”

With that, Karyl clenched his fist tightly.

From the Assembly of Seven Elders to the Wooden Cloud, the Ghost Castle, and even the recruitment of Kay Rothschild—Narh Di Maug’s influence had been behind it all. Everything had been influenced by a dragon who, during the Great War of the Spirits and Gods, had sided with the gods instead of humans.

However, after the Oracle was prophesied and the conflict with the Tarak began, the Platinum Dragon was the only one among the dragons to side with humanity.

Karyl had always been cautious regarding his motives, uncertain of where Narh Di Maug truly stood. And ironically, that uncertainty was now stronger than ever.

All of Narh Di Maug’s recent actions seemed to be linked to the gods. Therefore, was the dragon supporting the gods? Karyl didn’t know how to answer that question.

There was, however, one crucial piece of evidence that made it hard to disregard everything. Narh Di Maug had allowed Karyl to take on the Pharel Tower and go back in time. Had the dragon allowed all that with the assumption that Karyl would fail, trying to just get rid of a powerful human? Or had he genuinely sided with humanity? Because of that uncertainty, Karyl had waited carefully and deliberately. To uncover the truth, he knew he needed power, the kind that could bring even a dragon to its knees.

And now, Karyl believed that time had come. Just as the immigrant tribes wanted to affirm their pride, he too wanted solid evidence instead of nebulous doubts.

Karyl was certain that during the upcoming war with the Empire, he would finally encounter the Platinum Dragon.

“Slelfs were made slaves and used as experimental subjects by the sorcerers. They lost the unique purity of their mana. Even though they possess mana, they cannot use it. In exchange, the Platinum Dragon taught me swordsmanship. I’m not sure why, but looking back, I think it might be because he knew I would live for a very long time.”

“How so?”

Alteman gave a bitter smile.

“Perhaps it means I was meant to pass on the Sword Demon’s techniques, just like I’m about to do with you.”

“Nonsense,” Karyl scoffed. “How could you have known you’d meet me?”

In his past life, Karyl had had no connection with the immigrant tribes, and even in this life, he wouldn’t have learned any of this had he not come to them for their strength in the war against the empire.

“You’re saying the Platinum Dragon took a gamble on such low odds? No way.”

“You speak like you know him well, but you don’t seem to know the full story. Dragons are never sages. They possess great knowledge but lack wisdom. Instead of pursuing truth, they’ll just pursue things that merely satisfy their curiosity.”

“What do you mean?”

“It means they don’t act with perfect justification. They could side with humans or gods at any moment, regardless of whether it’s the right thing to do.”

[I agree with that.]

[So do I.]

The Spirit Kings, who had suffered immense losses when the dragons sided with the gods during the Great War of the Spirits and Gods, nodded at Alteman’s words.

Hearing this, Karyl grew even more suspicious of the Platinum Dragon’s actions. In his previous life, the dragon had feigned ignorance of Pharel.

But now, knowing about the Great War of the Spirits and Gods and that the Platinum Dragon had taken part in it, how could the dragon have not known about Pharel and the Tarak? Why hadn’t the dragon stopped Karyl from entering Pharel? Was it truly for the sake of humanity, or was it, as Alteman had suggested, merely out of curiosity?

Karyl’s thoughts were racing.

“Turn Lakna over.”

A tower symbol was clearly engraved on the underside of the handle.

“...?”

Seeing the symbol, a sudden realization struck Karyl—it looked exactly like the Pharel Tower, the place he had traversed.

“I’ve been waiting for the true wielder of Lakna, the rightful leader of the immigrant tribes. Now, I can teach you the Sword Demon’s techniques, and with that, my task will finally be complete.”

Alteman smiled faintly.

“We were destined to meet from the moment you consumed the heart of the dragon in Einher. If not now, then it would’ve happened in the next life, haha...”

“...What? How do you know about that?”

Unlike Alteman’s light tone, Karyl’s face twisted in shock the moment he heard about Einheri.

“Of course I know. I’m the one who created Einheri for Kaye Aesir.”

“...What?”

“Though I’ve been around since the Magical Era, I took a break about 250 years ago to entertain myself. It was quite an enjoyable time.”

“No... it can’t be.”

Alteman pointed with his thumb to himself and said, “I’m sure I was part of his last will. After all, I was Kaye Aesir’s comrade.”

“Haha...”

Karyl couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh. He never would’ve imagined that the Master of the North, another one of Kaye Aesir’s companions that Nain Darhon had spoken about, would turn out to be the Sword Master.

“Unbelievable... You guys are an eccentric bunch. One revives dead elves as undead... and another has been alive since the Magical Era.”

Karyl shook his head as he looked at Alteman.

"I didn’t expect it to come to this. So you’re the second Sword Demon and the last companion of Kaye Aesir that I’ve been searching for.”

At that, Alteman gave a bitter smile.

“The second Sword Demon... I don’t know if that title really suits someone who merely borrowed the original name. Though, 250 years ago, even the Slelfs were nearly extinct... After my ears became like this, I wanted to just forsake my elven identity.”

Karyl glanced briefly at Alteman’s disfigured ears before saying indifferently, “Either way, the Sword Demon remembered by people today is you. That’s all that matters.”

“Is there anyone who even remembers me?”

“There is.”

Alteman raised his head.

“The most famous man on the continent remembers you, no less. Kuwell MacGovern.”

At that, Alteman’s eyes wavered.

“He told me that the one who had influenced the creation of the MacGovern swordsmanship was the Sword Demon.”

Karyl recalled what Kuwell had said back in Heim, that the swordsmanship of the family had been influenced by the Sword Demon’s techniques.

“Now I understand why MacGovern’s swordsmanship became the greatest on the continent. Your swordsmanship is, after all, the swordsmanship of the Godslayers. A technique meant to kill gods wouldn’t falter against the swordsmanship of mere men.”

“Of course, I’m not perfect either,” Alteman said.

Karyl nodded.

“If you and Gald Rothschild are like this, then Kaye Aesir’s legacy must be even more valuable. Honestly, I’m more curious about what he left behind."

“...I can't believe you.” Alteman chuckled in disbelief “Even after hearing about the Sword Demon of the Mythical Era, you’re still thinking about Kaye Aesir’s legacy.”

“Tools are meaningless if they’re not used. I’m honoring his legacy by putting it to use—he should be grateful to me for that. Seek it... Isn’t that the creed of your kind?”

“Sure, but there’s never been, and probably never will be, anyone quite like you.”

Alteman gazed at Karyl with a mixture of admiration and amusement.

[Ha... Haha...]

[He’s not wrong.]

Even the Spirit Kings and Allen chuckled at that.

“One last question,” Karyl said. “When you say your swordsmanship isn’t perfect, are you referring to your own shortcomings? Or does it mean even the Platinum Dragon couldn’t fully master the Sword Demon’s techniques?”

“You didn’t let that slip by.”

“Of course not.”

Alteman smiled faintly, impressed that Karyl had remembered even his offhand comment.

“Follow me. The answer to your question lies elsewhere, not here.”

With a gesture, he beckoned Karyl to follow.

“We’re going to the Thousand-Year Ice Cave.”