The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth C.139: Digon

"Karl! Kaaaaarl—!

"Ugh, you're gonna make me go deaf! What's the matter?"

"Is this really the time to be so relaxed? It's a disaster. A disaster, I tell you! There might be a war,” Kamma, who was in the Cove guild office, spoke with an anxious voice as he watched the warships gathering at the harbor.

"Oh, stop being so dramatic."

"D-Dramatic? You... You little brat. You’re being so calm only because you don’t understand how the real world works. Even the stray dogs in Cove know the might of the Iron Fleet."

Karl Mack clicked his tongue at Kamma’s uneasiness and smirked.

"I know it's impressive, but you don’t have to worry. If we do end up fighting the White Bunker, at least we won't be fighting that grand fleet."

Since Karyl had returned to Tatur, Karl Mack and Kamma had been traveling back and forth between the Lurein Principality and the port city for several months. The Ravat guild had now established a solid presence in Cove and had even made connections with the nobles of the White Bunker.

Karl had been listening to Kamma’s frantic ramblings that whole time, and now he merely smiled because of how used he was to it.

"Good grief, you know one thing but not the other. Of course the fleet won’t move. Do you really think I'm dumb enough to think ships can climb mountains?"

"Well... No."

"I don't like that look in your eyes. Anyway, the important thing is that Fran is taking action this time. It might be because the empire is focused on the south."

"That’s because of Master."

Karl sighed as he looked at the messy desk Kamma had cluttered and brought a box to collect the documents.

"Yes, yes. Both the principality and the empire are moving at Master’s hand. He’s quite remarkable, causing the country to stir with every step."

"That's right." Kamma nodded at his answer, then quickly waved his hands. "No, that’s not what I meant! What I want to say is..."

"The fact that Sir Fran, who’s been silent, is now summoning the fleet means he's declared his intention for war, even if it’s not a naval battle,” Karl cut in as he organized the piles of documents on the desk. “That’s not just a fight between Cove and the White Bunker, but something that will involve all seven dukes.”

"After that, Duke Wilmay the Third, and Duke Jacquesau the Fourth supported the White Bunker, while Duke Lachiel the Fifth, Duke Bonitos of the Sixth, and Duke Ruiche the Seventh supported Sir Fran."

"..."

"Numerically, it’s three against four, so people say the influence of Duchess Tuli the First has weakened, but the fact is that the remaining military power of the principality lies overwhelmingly with the third and fourth dukes, so Sir Fran is still at a disadvantage."

Kamma, who had been chattering nonstop, suddenly went quiet at Karl’s explanation.

"Let's see... The White Bunker has an army of fifty thousand, and Cove’s forces are forty thousand. But since neither can deploy all of their troops immediately, it’ll be roughly seventy thousand against fifty thousand if they receive support from the other dukes."

Karl moved his fingers as if writing on an invisible paper in the air, finishing his calculation.

"Given that Prince Luon has dispatched seventy thousand troops to the south, it’s clear the empire is on a different scale, isn’t it?"

"No, that’s not the problem right now..."

Karl handed Kamma a box filled with documents and continued, "Has selling goods for a few months made you forget? We’re an intelligence guild." freёwebnoѵel.com

"Huh?"

"If we were simple merchants, we would have already made a contract with the White Bunker. We’ve been dragging this out for months because we’ve been waiting for this war to happen,” Karl explained with a grin.

"We need to sell information about Fran."

Hearing that, Kamma felt his head spinning.

"Besides, remember what Master said."

"Hmm?"

"A powerful ally will come our way once the war starts. Our job is to return to Tatur with them."

But Kamma frowned at his words.

"The only person left is Mikhail. Trusting one rookie mage to survive on a battlefield where thousands will die... Does that make sense?"

"It's Master's orders."

"Ugh, why do you blindly trust everything Master says? I admit he’s incredible, but he’s not a god.”

Karl Mack smirked at Kamma’s question. "Sir..."

"S-Sir?! Don’t sir me, you brat! How many times do I have to tell you? I am one of the three administrators of Tatur..."

"You haven't seen Master fight, have you?"

"...What?"

Despite Kamma's scolding, Karl casually placed his hand on his shoulders as though they were close friends.

"I don't know about being a god, but I can guarantee that Master could even take down a dragon all by himself.”

Karl Mack casually patted Kamma, dusting off his hands.

"Master himself has told us that a strong ally will come, there’s no need to worry about their ability.”

The bold boy smiled, his eyes gleaming with anticipation for the war.

"We will be part of the new era of the principality."

***

At the encampment of the Digon tribe...

The scale of the Digon tribe, which had ruled as the overlord of the south for many years, was comparable to the kingdoms of the continent, but nevertheless continued living in traditional encampments as if embracing their identity as barbarians.

“An unexpected visitor has arrived.”

However, the queen's encampment, surrounded by several layers of palisades, boasted such grandeur that it could hardly be considered a mere encampment—it was more like a fortress.

"The ones we were waiting for haven't come, so this is a bit out of the blue, isn't it?" a sharp, clear voice echoed.

With short, silver bobbed hair and golden eyes resembling those of a dragon, the woman sat on a large cushion in the center of the encampment, one leg propped up and an arm resting on it as she looked down.

She was Miliana, the Queen of Digon.

Her guards, standing on either side of the throne, did not move, their eyes fixed on the man before them.

“...”

Despite the suffocating, sharp gazes, the man remained composed, for he was also the leader of a tribe.

“The Wolf-Fox that should be cooped up in the north has come all the way to these hot lands. What brings you here?”

The first to visit Digon, before the Third Prince of the empire, was none other than Hashir.

“I have a message to deliver.”

“A message? The rumors must be true then. That the Wolf-Fox serves a master.”

Miliana smirked with a look of surprise.

“Digon’s might is undeniable, but it won’t go to war with the empire. After all, the imperials attacked the Five Great Families, who are supposed to be under Digon's protection.”

“...”

Ignoring her sneer, Hashir proceeded to calmly deliver his message.

“My master’s message is this. ‘If Digon is refusing the landing of the airborne units of the Guidance Mercenary Gang, do not engage in any transactions until I arrive, no matter which prince comes.’”

“Huh? Why should I do that?”

Miliana's face hardened slightly at Hashir’s words. Though she spoke resolutely, the reality was that Kromen was the first prince to arrive in the south, although the airship of the Guidance Mercenary Gang still hadn’t landed because she denied them permission.

“Because that is the only way Digon can survive.”

SWISH—!

That was when her guards simultaneously drew their greatswords and pointed them at Hashir.

“...”

Despite having twenty blades at his neck, Hashir remained unwavering, not even blinking.

“You’ve got some guts.”

Miliana raised her hand, signaling her guards to back off.

“Let me ask you one thing. Does this action of the Wolf-Fox represent the will of the entire north, or is it just your own decision?”

“Our Wolf-Fox tribe has never allied with the northern tribes. We don’t operate in packs.”

“Right. That’s precisely why I find this strange. You, who never join forces with anyone, are bowing to a man from the continent.”

She asked Hashir once again, “I want to hear your thoughts.”

“If you must know, it’s currently the will of the Wolf-Fox. The empire has been stirring up the north due to the Extermination Decree of Heresy.” Hashir exhaled slowly before continuing, “But soon it will become the will of the entire north.”

Miliana looked at him with an intrigued expression.

“You sound confident. For those words to come from a Wolf-Fox’s mouth... It’s surprising. Your master must be quite impressive.”

“This is merely my confidence in myself.”

The air between them was filled with a peculiar tension.

Miliana knew—the four tribes of the Great Plains and the Five Great Families of the south had now fallen under the command of a man named Karyl.

Hashir’s words implied that the rest of the northern tribes were likely to fall under Karyl's command. Perhaps Digon would be the only one left.

“I was complacent. The ones dragons should be wary of aren’t the empire’s brats,” Miliana growled.

But Hashir, his face concealed by his hood, looked at her with eyes colder than the southern heat and said, “Dragons, huh... Aren’t you embarrassed, still calling yourselves that?”

His mouth was covered, but a hint of mockery could be felt in his voice.

“You’ll find out if you meet him. No matter how great a dragon, you’ll inevitably be hunted down by that man.”

Clench–!

Miliana gritted her teeth at his words. Her sharp fangs gleamed like those of a real dragon.

“Meet him, you say? I’ve already met him.”

“...!”

“Hashir, I wasn’t aware that you think of me that highly. Consider me flattered.”

The sudden voice had come from behind the encampment, and not only Hashir, but everyone present looked surprised.

“But I don't particularly want to become a dragon slayer. Dragons are very powerful, right? It’s best to have them as your subordinates, if possible.”

Thud— Thud— Thud—

The steady footsteps echoed in the encampment. For some reason, even the queen’s guards were frozen at the arrival of this man, unable to draw their swords.

“You guys just met? You’re late. Was the task I assigned harder than you expected?”

“When did you arrive? And it’s not that I’m late, Master. You’re just too early.”

“You know, I have someone who showed me a shortcut to the south.”

“It seems I made a needless trip then.”

“No, it’s just that I got lucky along the way.”

Karyl smiled faintly as he walked past Hashir.

“What about what I asked for in the north?”

“I found it. It proved to be quite the hassle, like you’ve said.”

“Good.”

Their conversation was brief. Only Miliana, who couldn’t grasp what was happening, glared at Karyl sharply.

When did he...?

How many people could enter the Digon encampment so casually?

She quietly reached for the two rapiers at her waist.

“I’d advise against drawing them,” Karyl warned, pointing his finger at her. “I’m not here to fight, and besides, we’re old acquaintances, aren’t we?”

“Acquaintances...?”

Karyl reached into his cloak.

“Don’t do anything stupid. Stop.”

As she spoke in a tense voice, Karyl slowly withdrew his hand with a light smile.

He was holding a mask.

“You...?”

Karyl placed the mask over his face for a moment and then removed it.

“How is the one I brought? Is he worth teaching?”

Miliana let out a hollow, incredulous laugh at his words.

“So it was you, the one who arrogantly threatened me.”

“Threatened? I merely hoped you would make a good choice. Besides, I thought you might be interested in teaching him after seeing him. Didn’t you like him?”

“Hmph...”

Seeing that she wasn’t denying it, Karyl nodded. Miliana, with her capabilities, would surely have recognized his talent.

“The ones you were waiting for probably won’t come. I received a report that Olivurn has turned his steed at the canyon. And whatever deal he made, he will never keep his promise to you, not now, not ever.”

“I don’t understand. Are you a noble or something? You speak as if you know him well.”

Miliana cast Karyl a curious glance.

I know him well. I don’t know what promise he made to you, but he’ll never keep it. That’s because he personally took your head.

Karyl had initially been puzzled by Digon’s aid to the empire, but then he remembered fighting alongside Miliana, who had wielded the Freezing Talon, fulfilling the Oracle in his past life.

The reason you, a barbarian, fought with me to fulfill the Oracle was not just to protect the continent from Tarak.

It was clear even then, that Olivurn had promised Miliana something. And she had fought for that promise.

I need to know what it was.

Karyl’s eyes gleamed.

What could a man from the continent have promised to move the heart of a barbarian like Digon? If Karyl discovered that, he was confident he could seize Digon’s power for himself.

“I’m better than a noble who wags his tail at the royals. This time, I’ve come as the master of Tatur and the lord of the south.”

“The lord of the south...”

Miliana frowned slightly at Karyl’s words, but it was absurd enough to pique her interest. Karyl had been speaking with remarkable confidence, even though he was essentially an enemy who had taken over the south, where she ruled.

Karyl bent forward slightly and proposed, “How about we make a deal?”