The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth C.54: The Victors Reward

"It seems that you are Karyl, the victor of the Expert Competition. I'm pleased to meet you in this manner."

"It is an honor to meet the Lord of Azor." Karyl bowed, looking at the rotund man before him. In my previous life, I didn't know because I lacked magical power, but now, I can certainly feel it.

Behind Fasio stood sorcerers assigned as guards, yet their auras paled in comparison to his.

It might be intentional, but nevertheless fascinating. The tingling sensation on Karyl’s skin had begun the moment he opened the door to the Lord's chamber. Fasio was the highest-ranked sorcerer Karyl had encountered since acquiring his magic.

Still, he's just an old raccoon.

Karyl was well aware of Fasio’s past actions, and he didn't particularly wish to save him in this life either. No matter how desperate I am for sorcerers, keeping someone who will cause trouble is a loss.

Karyl didn’t forget how this man would eventually join hands with the cult created by the Wooden Cloud in the future, and end up slaughtering innocent people.

"I've heard that you wish to participate in the Master Competition."

"Yes, that is correct."

Fasio wanted to confirm once more, curious if Karyl was serious about his request. He must know that it's a competition in name only due to the lack of participants, and yet he speaks with so much confidence... Is he even sane?

Furrowing his brow, Fasio continued, "As you are aware, a competition cannot be undertaken alone. If what you desire is the legacy left by the Seven Elders... then you must prove your worth."

"What do you mean?"

"While the competition may not be feasible, I wish to propose conditions similar in difficulty to the Master Competition," he said as if he was making a generous offer.

Honestly, finding a sorcerer in Azor capable of participating in the Master Competition wasn't hard. The city still housed high-ranking sorcerers from the magic council. Nevertheless, there was clearly a reason for Fasio’s insistence on this troublesome method.

"Similar in difficulty?"

"Do you know about the history of Azor's creation? It was established to honor the Seven Elders who first spread magic and to preserve their legacy."

"I am aware. Here lie three spellbooks known as the Original magic."

"Correct. However, those three books were all discovered in the tombs of the Seven Elders. Recently, a new location has been uncovered."

Could it be... Karyl's eyebrows twitched at Fasio's words.

"I propose that you investigate this place. Whatever you find there, I'll grant you the first claim to it. What do you say?"

Karyl sifted through his memories for a moment. There was a place that came to mind—The Gray Training Ground—a place said to be where the Seven Elders were said to have discussed magic.

And... The resting place of the Freezing Talon. Karyl unwittingly clenched his fist.

Was that place already discovered by this time? I thought it would be much later. It is surprising to hear that name from Fasio.

The unexpected mention of the place allowed Karyl to understand why Fasio had made such an offer. It all makes sense now. 𝚏r𝗲ewe𝚋𝐧𝚘vel.𝚌𝚘m

It was an unexplored site. Deploying valuable sorcerers to a potentially dangerous place wasn’t an easy decision. Moreover, "unexplored" implied that it was unknown to others.

This is an ideal setup to get rid of me. Even if high-ranking sorcerers defeat me in a competition, they couldn't just kill me. However, Karyl had no intention of dying easily.

"How about it? If you prove your skills by investigating this site... even if you find nothing, I'll provide you with a high-level spellbook as compensation."

Karyl chuckled softly. This actually suits me quite well. It’s not that I am giving up on the Original Magic, but there's no sorcerer in Azor capable of mastering it. Eventually, everything would remain as it is, waiting for him.

Also infiltrating the site containing the Seven Elders' legacy was a rare opportunity. Even if Karyl declined the offer, they wouldn't just leave the site unattended. Once the sorcerers began their investigation, the area would be secured with magic detection shields among other nuisances.

Though they might have a few eyes on me... The difference between entering boldly and sneaking in was clear.

"I accept your offer."

Fasio nodded, pleased with Karyl's response.

Karyl thought his gaze fixed on Fasio, I'll take everything Azor has to offer. Not just the three Original Magics but the Freezing Talon as well.

***

“Huh? The ruins left by the Seven Elders?” Aidan Hamil said, his voice tinged in surprise as he bit into a fruit. He looked at Karyl while sitting comfortably against a tree.

“Are you getting used to me?”

“Ah, haha... No, not at all.”

Karyl chuckled as he watched Aidan hastily adjust his posture.

Below the hill, Mikhail was in sight, practicing magic. Initially skeptical, he had now proudly entered the Beginner Competition, dedicating more time to his staff than his sword. Pleased with his progress, Karyl turned back to Aidan.

“What about the thing I mentioned before?”

“Nothing yet. No one has come. May I ask what it’s about?”

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.” Karyl shook his head.

I guess he still hasn’t found it. If there’s no word after the Gray Training Ground affair, I’ll have to take matters into my own hands.

The person Karyl had informed Aidan about was Thompson from the Ulkas Guild. Karyl had tasked him with finding clues about Bargo. As one of the highest-ranked sorcerers in the Ulkas Guild, Thompson had the freedom to move around more than others.

Considering it concerns his own life, he won’t disregard it... I’ll give him a bit more time. Karyl quickly reviewed the situation.

The magic competition and the Gray Training Ground were not part of his original plan. He had come to Azor to acquire a spellbook from Bargo Sira and find clues about Wooden Cloud.

But entrusting this to Thompson gave me time to focus on the Gray Training Ground. Though it deviated from his original plan, it could potentially save him months, even years.

“Aidan, how long do you think it will take Mikhail to break through the 3rd-class barrier?”

“Well, to reach the 3rd class, he needs to open four magical veins. At his current pace... it might not take long.”

Aidan, being 3rd-class himself, could make such an estimation. However, he looked at Karyl with a hint of confusion, wondering why he was asking. After all, Karyl had won the Expert Competition. To Aidan, who knew firsthand of Karyl’s swordsmanship, he appeared to be at the level of a Sword Master. But when it came to magic, Karyl was still relatively inexperienced. Being the lowest class among them, it was challenging for him to gauge Mikhail’s growth.

“Good.”

“I’ll be heading to the Gray Training Ground for a while. Make sure Mikhail reaches 3rd class within the two days I’m gone.”

“Two days?” Aidan exclaimed, looking at him as if it were an impossible task. However, Karyl had a well-prepared incentive.

“If you succeed, I’ll give you what you want.”

Aidan tensed up at Karyl’s words. His greatest wish and concern at the moment was to establish contact with Olivurn.

Karyl slowly stood up. It’s about time I met him. I should do so after finishing my business here. That’s the only reason I kept Aidan around for this long anyway.

Watching Aidan’s shaky gaze, Karyl thought to himself, Just like in Azor, unexpected variables and events may alter my plans. But it’s only natural for a continent inhabited by billions to have numerous variables.

However, major events capable of changing history will inevitably occur. And this is the first of these events. The power struggle between the First Prince Luon and Olivurn.

In his past life, he couldn’t get involved. But now, things were different. With Tatur, the Magic Mines, and even the Guidance Mercenary Gangs... The pieces he could move carried significant weight.

There’s much to do.

But after this, Karyl was confident that Azor would be added to the list of places he could influence. And the Freezing Talon being in his hand would be a crucial variable in his meeting with Olivurn.

***

“It’s been a while since I last smelled this odor,” Karyl remarked, scattering the luminous spheres floating around him throughout the surroundings.

The Gray Training Ground was cloaked in pitch darkness, not a speck of light piercing through. Instead, a pungent mossy smell filled the air.

With only two mana veins open, Karyl was limited to only three light spells. However, since the spheres would remain lit until he returned from exploring the dungeon, darkness was hardly an issue for him.

This place was only investigated years later. Only after the descent of the Oracles, did they conduct a thorough investigation of this place.

Or, to be more precise, the investigation concluded without any significant findings.

Like the Original Magic, the relics left behind in this place were also created by the Seven Elders. In a world where even deliberately left magic cannot be mastered, it’s only natural that the hidden relics couldn’t be found, let alone utilized.

So, how was this place eventually explored? The answer was simple—Narh Di Maug, the only dragon that chose to side with humanity after the descent of the Oracles.

It was he who explored this place and discovered the relic known as the Freezing Talon. The problem, however, was that like the Original Magic, there was no one capable of wielding it.

Even in my past life, while no one could use the Original Magic, the Freezing Talon was different. She wasn’t perfect, but there was one person who could wield it.

All the items left by the Seven Elders were linked to dragons. That meant that the Original Magic and the Freezing Talon couldn’t be used without dragon mana. Well, she had a more suitable item anyway. It won’t matter if I use it first.

Karyl thought of a woman. Even if I don’t want to meet her, it’s inevitable that we will cross paths in this life. Of course, I’ll need to take some precautions before that.

She was the only woman, aside from Serica Lauren, whom he could trust and rely on throughout his life.

Now that I think about it, the only women I’ve ever been with were comrades. Karyl thought with a wry smile.

In a world where survival took precedence, some still managed to find time for love, marriage, and building families.

When was it...? He too had once dreamed of living freely with a loved one.

Let’s not dwell on needless thoughts, Karyl shook his head, reminding himself of his purpose.

Death marked the end, while dreams were concerns for what came after. It was no different from his past life. The goal was survival, it was to change the future.

Taking slow steps, Karyl stepped deeper into the dense darkness.

***

From the depths of the darkness, a low voice, reminiscent of metal scraping, echoed in the distance.

“Kekkek...”

The sound slowly reached out from a distance far beyond the range of Karyl's hearing.

“...He has come. Finally, he has arrived.”