The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth

Chapter 219: Introduction to Spirit Studies (1)

[Don’t try to blame me. Even if you endure the pain and combine your mana, it would still be my power.]

Karyl walked out of the lord’s mansion and into the streets of Azor. He sat on the edge of the fountain in the center of the square, absentmindedly watching the people pass by.

I know. If I wanted to stop at the Original Magic, I would have just forced the merging.

[...It sounds like you’re doing this for something other than my benefit.]

Karyl chuckled at Ramine’s comment.

Of course, it’s for you too. My mana may be Arcane mana, but at its core, it’s Riseria’s dragon power. If I abandon the Powers of Light and Darkness and use pure mana, merging with you wouldn’t be an issue.

[Hmm... But why do you insist on Arcane mana?]

Deicide, Karyl replied coldly. Neither dragon power nor the power of a Spirit King can kill a god. Didn’t you mention that there was a kind of magic that someone with both powers had reached?

[The Great Gagic...]

I don’t know exactly what it is, but I intend to add Arcane mana to that power. To achieve a more perfect and ultimate power in an instant.

[...]

Although Ramine, who had contracted with Karyl, couldn’t read his thoughts, he could clearly sense his emotions—a coldness beyond mere anger.

[Even as a spirit, I don’t understand why you harbor such hatred for the gods.]

Didn’t you say that Blader was formed by humans during the Great War of the Spirits and Gods? Let’s just say my reasoning is similar to theirs.

[Those were beyond human and divine standards. Do you claim to have been summoned by a being greater than gods?]

No, Karyl answered Ramine’s question. I act by my own will, not by anyone’s command.

With that, Karyl stood up from the edge of the fountain and started walking again.

That’s why I need to find a way to control you myself.

Voooom...

The Freezing Talon vibrated lightly. It seemed as if Zarka Hochi inside the sword was responding to his words, making Karyl smirk.

Yes, I get what you’re trying to say. Due to the light element of my Arcane mana, I can’t fully control the dark energy to summon you. But if I succeed in combining my mana, summoning you before using puppetry will be possible.

[It seems there are more non-humans than humans around you. Judging by your expression, you plan to go there eventually.]

Karyl gave a bitter smile at Ramine’s remark.

Yes, even if it hurts my ego a bit.

***

Thud—!

As dusk settled, the two guards standing watch fell forward with a dull thud, their necks snapped back. Karyl had swiftly dealt with them before they could even scream.

[Seems like you’re no stranger to this sort of thing.]

Well... I used to infiltrate all sorts of places back in the day.

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Karyl recalled how he had assassinated numerous nobles under Olivurn’s orders, even in Piasta. With his current skills, he could infiltrate anywhere with ease. However, Karyl would rather have made a grand entrance through the front gate than sneak around like this.

[Why not ask Allen Javius for help? He could easily show you how to blend your Arcane mana.]

I can’t do that. Surpassing the 6th Class with his help would be meaningless. I can’t ask him to spoon-feed me when I try to reach the 7th or 8th Class, can I?

[Well, this whole thing doesn’t really look like finding a solution on your own.]

Karyl’s expression hardened slightly at Ramine’s comment.

It’s different. Allen is perfect in magic, but his achievements in spirit power are inferior to that. The solution he proposes would be from a magical perspective. But I’m trying to find a way to evolve my magic from a spiritual perspective.

[You’re talking a lot more than usual. You know what that means, right?]

...

At that, Karyl went silent, and Ramine chuckled in amusement.

[Just joking. You’re right that even with a magic book, only certain people can actually learn from it.]

You and Allen both seem eager to give me a hard time whenever you have the chance...

[Well, when else would I get to tease you? Seeing you struggle a bit makes you seem more human. Usually, you handle everything so well that you don’t seem human at all.]

After taking down the guards, Karyl looked at the door of the looming tower ahead. The structure was so tall that even craning his neck, he couldn’t glimpse the top.

And there were six of these towers.

[Knowing Allen Javius, even if you had suggested coming here, he would have refused,] Ramine said with interest.

[This is something only you and I know. Only the spirits with permission can exert their will in her place. Not even Allen would remember this place.]

Karyl nodded at his words. The six massive towers commemorated the six heroes of the Assembly of Seven Elders.

[Interesting,] Ramine said quietly. [To think Quenite’s essence would be in such a place.]

Karyl stood before a tower with a name clearly inscribed on it, just as each of the other towers bore names.

Though it’s uncertain if it truly belonged to her, later generations must have placed it in this tower.

A small flame surged from the Ein Trigger, illuminating the tower’s pinnacle.

Karyl had encountered the spirit scholar Quenite in the records of the elves. During their meeting, she revealed the location of her magnum opus, Introduction to Spirit Studies.

At first, Karyl couldn’t believe his ears. Remarkably, the book was stored here, inside the tomb of one of the Assembly of Seven Elders, Gustav.

“Gustav...? You mean the current Gustav of the Assembly of Seven Elders?”

Quenite slowly nodded at Karyl’s question.

“He was an outstanding spirit scholar even before becoming a sorcerer. He was the contractor of the Water Spirit King, Queen of the Tides, Ethereal.”

“It’s surprising to hear someone like you praise Gustav... If Allen heard this, he’d be stunned.”

She cast him a questioning gaze.

“You might consider him a remarkable pioneer, but you probably don’t know that he killed Allen Javius, the head of the Assembly of the Seven Elders, and framed him for a crime.”

Upon hearing his words, Quenite gave a bitter smile.

“I already know.”

“Then you should be glad. If the old man resting here were awake, all hell would break loose.”

Karyl was taken aback slightly by Quenite’s attitude. Everyone else praised Gustav as a hero, but they didn’t know the true story.

“Every event has its causality. If you want to judge right and wrong, you need to look at each side’s perspective.”

“I’m not trying to judge anyone, but I know how it feels to be killed unjustly. I’ve seen it countless times, happening right before my eyes.”

Looking into Karyl’s blazing eyes, Quenite simply nodded without further comment.

“The truth will come out someday.”

“If you want to defend them so much, why not speak now? They’re all dead anyway.”

“Words spoken through a third party, no matter how truthful, tend to lose their color. You’ll find out for yourself someday.”

Quenite then asked in a soft voice, “Do you trust Allen Javius?”

“Why does everyone from the past ask the same question? He asked me the same thing.”

“Did he? And what was your answer?”

Karyl looked at her and smiled faintly.

“I didn’t ask him why or how. Gustav might really be a hero, or maybe Allen was unjustly killed, as he said.”

“...”

When Karyl first met Allen at the Gray Training Ground, he had shown Karyl his memories. At that time, Allen’s might was blinding.

Karyl found it hard to believe that Allen had really been killed by another Elder, having seen him blow off Wel Bahar’s head with just a magic missile.

Unfortunately, Allen’s memories ended there, so Karyl didn’t know the conclusion.

“Yet, the reason I am with him is because of what he said.”

“What did he say?”

“Don’t trust anyone but yourself. That really resonated with me. Before someone can stab me in the back, I’ll behead them instead. Allen, Gustav, anyone...”

His words seemed to freeze even the space created by Quenite.

“Even a dragon,” Karyl said more firmly than before.

“You are strong.”

“I know.”

Quenite gave a faint smile at Karyl’s calm response.

“Now I understand why Ramine acknowledged you. You are certainly like a straight sword. It won’t be hard for you to reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship.”

She calmly went on, “But a straight person only thinks of the straight path. The sword is, after all, sheer will. Spirits, however, are different. They each carry their own will, so there is no single correct answer. If you don’t understand that difference, you won’t reach the essence of spirit power.”

Karyl showed her the gauntlets he held.

“I’m already dealing with one of those spirits. Don’t you think your argument is rather contradictory? As I said before, whether I can use it or not is up to me.”

Karyl snapped out of his recollection and looked ahead.

“...”

He frowned slightly. Despite being so confident back then, he was now struggling, as if Quenite’s final words had predicted this exact situation.

[What you told Allen wasn’t a lie after all. You are indeed seeking answers from the dead.]

Karyl shrugged at Ramine's comment.

[If they find out the tomb was raided, there will be an uproar the very next day.]

These towers, symbolic of Azor, were like objects of worship to the sorcerers, much like how the Church was to the empire. Unauthorized entry into such hallowed grounds was unthinkable.

Stopping me will cause even more chaos.

[...]

Rumble...

Karyl went ahead and pulled on the door handle, disregarding Ramine’s warning. He flooded it with mana before the powerful sealing spell could activate.

Crack... Boom!

The handle glowed red hot and finally broke off, unable to withstand the force.

[You’re still using brute force. No wonder sorcerers don’t like you. Overpowering magic with sheer mana ignores the hard work put into creating formulas and equations.]

Ramine recalled how Karyl had summoned him by ignoring the sealing spell on Nain Darhon’s study using dragon mana.

Compared to Nain Darhon’s sealing spell, this is child’s play. Why even consider whether to step on an ant’s head or abdomen first? Just crush it.

[....]

Ramine was baffled by Karyl’s indifference.

Shhhh...

As the tomb door opened, a warm breeze flowed out. The temperature and humidity inside the tower were magically controlled.

“Hmm...”

A complex Magic Circle was inscribed beneath the ornate coffin containing Gustav’s body.

Step... Step... Step...

Ignoring the coffin, Karyl walked inside the tower and scanned the walls lined with books. Without hesitation, he picked one from the shelf. Though the cover was blank, he knew it was Quenite’s Introduction to Spirit Studies.

[Ignorant humans wouldn’t notice. Only someone who has contracted with a Spirit King could perceive such a faint trace of a spirit.]

“Let’s see how remarkable it is,” Karyl muttered.

Quenite’s words still lingered in his mind.

[And this book itself can’t be opened without the power of a Spirit King.]

Before Karyl could respond, Ramine was already flying around the book.

Fwoosh...

A ring of fire formed around the book as Ramine circled around it, and the book reacted almost instantly.

Click... Clack—!

With the sound of locks disengaging, the ring on the book’s cover fell off. Holding the book within the ring of fire, Karyl opened it without flinching.

However...

“...What is this?” he couldn’t help exclaiming out loud, forgetting he had infiltrated the tower.

Rustle...

He frantically flipped through the pages, his eyes moving rapidly.

“...”

Upon looking at the last page and closing the book, Karyl just stood there, speechless.

The ancient book left behind by Quenite was entirely blank.