The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth-Chapter 316: Looting the Lair

“Hah... Hahaha!!”

Gordon Fabian’s laughter shattered the tense silence.

Everyone was taken aback by Karyl’s blunt statement, but only Gordon leaned back, laughing heartily.

“Did you hear that? I’d wager there’s no one else on this continent who would dare speak like that in front of the emperor.”

“...”

Unlike Gordon, Olivurn’s face remained hardened.

“To speak like that in front of tens of thousands of imperial soldiers... You, as a leader, should at least consider the safety of those who follow you.”

Clang—!!

Boom!!

At Olivurn’s command, the Green Knights raised their swords and shields once more. Despite the brief chaos caused by the death of their commander, the presence of the emperor restored their composure.

“You still harbor foolish thoughts of opposing the empire...”

“Foolish thoughts? You’re the one who should think about the safety of those who follow you. I mean, you’ve sent him here to die, haven’t you?” Karyl pointed toward Gahwel’s corpse with Lakna, which glowed ominously with magic, as if crying out.

“I’m only saying this for your own good,” Karyl went on.

“Hmm... Hahaha.”

At that, Gordon burst into laughter again, but Karyl merely shot him a cold glance.

“Gordon, you’re no different than him.”

“...Aren’t you being too brazen?”

Gordon Fabian’s aura was so intense that everyone around them—tribesmen and imperial soldiers alike—felt like they were being crushed.

His mana has become even denser.

All five Sword Masters were formidable, but among them, Kuwell and Gordon were considered beyond extraordinary. Kuwell was unmatched in terms of swordsmanship, but when it came to raw physical strength, no one could stand up to Gordon. And despite his brutish appearance, Gordon’s mana surpassed even Kuwell’s.

He had always possessed mana far beyond the 5th Class, but no one knew that could have enhanced his power even more.

Kuwell has changed as well. Gordon was supposed to die, so nothing about him is surprising now.

However, Karyl remained steadfast.

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“If you’re an enemy, I see no need for courtesy. I care for my people, but I have no mercy for those who raise a sword against me.”

“So it’s come to this, after those life-and-death moments we went through together back at the Ghost Castle,” Gordon said with a wry chuckle.

“Yeah, and you betray me after that. You think we’re having some tea party here? Don’t be ridiculous.”

Karyl’s voice was sharp, though Gordon continued to smile, his true intentions hidden beneath his calm demeanor.

“If you fight the empire, the continent will be engulfed in war. Countless people will die in an unprecedented war, and history will curse the bastard who caused all that death and suffering.”

“So what?”

“Are you prepared for that? Have you the courage and result to bear the weight of their resentment?” Olivurn challenged.

“...You’re insane,” Karyl scoffed disdainfully, shaking his head. “Did you come all the way here just to spout nonsense? Why don’t we settle this right here?”

“For the leader of a nation, you speak far too lightly,” Olivurn retorted.

“I’m just being honest. Unlike you, I don’t stab people in the back. I didn’t murder my family or attempt to kill my friends.” Karyl’s voice quivered with fury.

Naturally, Olivurn understood only half of those allusions, but Karyl could never forget what had gone between them in their past lives.

“So why are you hesitating?”

Miliana spoke up at that moment.

“Any arrogant confidence ends here. War is simple—you end it by taking the enemy’s head.”

Shing—!

She moved akin to a flash of light.

“Well said. I’ll draw their attention,” Hwarin added, as if reading her thoughts. With that, she gripped her necklace.

“Raaaagh...!!”

With a fierce roar, Hwarin transformed into the Lycanthrope, pushing aside the knights around her and charging directly at Gordon, who stood beside Olivurn.

“That’s an interesting ability.”

The sheer power of Hwarin in her Lycanthrope form wouldn’t fall short, even against Gordon Fabian.

As the massive Lycanthrope lunged toward him, Gordon watched with interest, clenching his fists together.

Clang!!

A metallic clang rang out as thick armor materialized over Gordon’s body, the result of his Automata, an earth-based defensive magic known for its impenetrability—his signature move.

“Hmph!!”

Their fists collided.

Boom!!

The ground shook with the deafening impact, and as dust surged into the air, Miliana lunged from beneath Hwarin, aiming straight for Gordon.

Despite this being their first battle together, Miliana and Hwarin fought with perfect coordination. Miliana’s sword slashed at Gordon’s side, and from afar, Kinu Mukari’s arrow aimed for his neck, leaving no room for error.

Clang!!

“You pests...” Gordon growled, knocking aside the adamantite arrow. He then brought his fist crashing down on Miliana’s head.

Boom!! Crash!!!

Miliana managed to twist just enough to avoid the blow. Gordon’s fist slammed into the ground, sending debris flying in every direction.

The sheer force of the blow sent both Hwarin and Miliana retreating from the sharp shockwave.

“...”

Karyl stood still, watching the fierce battle between the three, yet he made no move.

“Aidan.”

“Yes.”

“Throw your dagger at him.”

Aidan obeyed without hesitation. He used his magic transformation technique to summon a Mana Blade on his dagger.

Attacking the Emperor of the Empire directly was a bold move that escalated the tension, but as soon as Karyl gave the order, Aidan threw the dagger at Olivurn with deadly precision, showing no hesitation.

Whoosh!!

The dagger moved at such speed that it was nearly impossible to track with the naked eye.

“Your Majesty!!” the knights cried out in panic. None of them could possibly fend off an attack of this caliber, one delivered by an assassin with the precision of a Sword Master.

Clang—!!

But shockingly, the mana-infused dagger never reached Olivurn, as it was deflected mid-air.

“...!!”

The knights stared in disbelief.

Just as I thought... He’s here.

Karyl’s eyes narrowed as he spotted the man standing in front of Olivurn, the one who had blocked Aidan’s attack. Pale-skinned, with a helmet obscuring his mouth more than his head, the man stepped on Aidan’s dagger and snapped it with chilling ease.

Alter Bolton.

Karyl looked at the man as though he had expected his arrival.

Since his return, Karyl had been seeking out the seven strongest knights of the empire. Some had become his allies, while others had not, but there was one person among the seven whom he had yet to encounter. Even in his previous life, Karyl had never known how this man had become an imperial knight.

And now, here he was—the last of the Empire’s Seven, the Mad Warlord, Alter Bolton.

“So you had a bodyguard after all,” Karyl remarked.

“It’s only natural,” Olivurn replied.

“Not necessary, if it’s you we’re talking about.”

Karyl smiled cryptically at Aidan’s words.

“Miliana, stand down.”

“...?!”

Miliana glanced at Karyl, bewildered by his order.

“What are you talking about? You’re going to throw away this perfect opportunity just because of some kid who’s barely set foot into the realm of a Sword Master?”

“We can handle that brute. There’s no need for war—if we cut off his head now, it’s over,” she pressed.

Hwarin nodded in agreement.

“Leaders, withdraw your forces. Miliana, you too.”

“Why?!”

“Can’t you feel it?”

“...What?”

“At the very least, you should have noticed. Olivurn’s true guard isn’t Bolton. If we focus too much on this fight with Gordon, we’ll lose sight of the bigger threat.”

“The true bodyguard...?”

Miliana’s face stiffened, and she quickly turned around. At that moment, a massive shadow—far larger than the previous airship—fell over the northern hills.

“There... There!”

“No... It can’t be!” someone cried out. “It’s... a dragon!!!”

Karyl, with a tense expression, turned to where they were all looking—a massive dragon, its beautiful silver-white wings gleaming like snow, soared through the sky.

Murmur, murmur...

The fervent fighting spirit of the tribesmen and barbarians was gone, replaced by sheer fear. They stood frozen on the hill, staring at the creature.

“Could the rumors have been true?”

“No way....”

Groans and whispers of disbelief spread throughout the ranks/

“Don’t panic!!” Miliana tried to rally them, but to no avail.

“People of the north!”

At that moment, Olivurn’s voice rang out, cutting through the murmurs, reaching the ears of every soldier as though he were standing right next to them.

“And people of the south!”

Though his voice wasn’t particularly loud, it seemed to carry all the way to the distant soldiers. It was Spirit Language—each word held a resonance that echoed beyond the ears, striking deep within the heart.

“We have been fighting for countless years, all of us plagued by misunderstandings and distrust. I am well aware of the atrocities the empire has committed, and the actions of the former emperor, Titan Shutean, fills my heart with regret.”

“Ghhraaaa...”

A sharp cry echoed in response to his words, coming from above.

“But I am different. If you join me sincerely, I promise to accept you. However....! If you decide to follow a misguided king toward death, you will have to face the sheer power you’re witnessing right now.”

“Kaaarrrgh...!!”

A piercing roar ripped through the air, loud enough to make the soldiers instinctively cover their ears and collapse to the ground.

[That one... he’s playing a cunning game.]

Allen, cloaked in a black spectral form through Duat’s power, clicked his tongue as he stared at Olivurn.

[So the empire still holds a pact with the Guardian Dragon from the Magical Era... This whole show was to display the Platinum Dragon.]

Karyl, his face tightening, nodded slightly at Allen’s words.

“You’re right. A surprise attack wasn’t his goal.”

Why else would Olivurn push forward to the north in haste, choosing a battlefield that wasn’t advantageous to him? Victory through surprise wasn’t his true intent. The real purpose was to unveil the dragon before all these gathered warriors.

And the impact was undeniable. Even in the present day, a dragon was an overwhelmingly powerful presence in the eyes of humanity.

“Peacefully?” Miliana scoffed. “What a joke. He talks about peace agreements, yet launches a surprise attack? If his attack had succeeded, he would have slaughtered the tribes without hesitation. And now that it failed, he wants to talk? If that’s not a threat, what is?”

Threat or not, it didn’t matter anymore. What mattered now was the dragon standing before them, and that the legendary creature was now their enemy. Facing the empire alone was already a monumental challenge, and now a dragon stood in their way as well.

“Gruuuuu...”

Karyl’s own wyvern let out a low growl, clearly frightened by the presence of the Platinum Dragon.

“This is the last instance of mercy from the empire. Do not take your lives lightly.”

Whoooosh—!!!

The dragon spread its enormous wings, which billowed like a ship’s sails, sending fierce gusts of wind through the air.

Whirr...!!

Olivurn, now atop the Platinum Dragon, took to the skies, and the airship took off alongside them.

“We return to the empire!!”

The imperial army proceeded to retreat in perfect formation, but no one dared to pursue them.

“Narh Di Maug...” Karyl muttered as he gazed at the Platinum Dragon and the airship disappearing into the sky.

“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re frozen in fear after seeing a dragon?” Miliana finally spoke up, her expression laden with displeasure.

But contrary to her concern, Karyl’s expression was as calm as ever.

“Heh... Heheh...”

“...”

A sudden surge of fierce energy radiated from Karyl, causing Miliana to tense up without realizing it.

“Aidan.”

“Yes.”

“Do you remember what we discussed before?”

“Are you referring to the events at the Ghost Castle, my lord?”

“Exactly.”

Oddly, Aidan Hamil seemed just as calm and composed as Karyl.

“Yes, I remember well. In fact, I thought of that the moment I laid eyes on the dragon. We’ll be able to arrive much faster now, especially since we won’t have any issues passing through the Eastern Land. Honestly, I was a bit surprised that the empire had control over a dragon. I always thought the Guardian Dragon was just a myth.”

“But it’s an opportunity for us."

“Indeed, my lord.”

“A Guardian Dragon? It’s just a dragon. If it wants to rampage for the empire, so be it. Let’s see if it actually fights on their behalf in battle.”

While everyone else was gripped by fear at the sight of the Platinum Dragon, Karyl had an entirely different perspective. He smirked, turning to walk away.

“We’re going to loot the lair,” he muttered.