The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth C.113: Razorthorn

Joey kept rubbing his eyes, wondering if he was seeing things, but the flaming giant was still there behind Karyl. He cast Yurin a confused look.

"..."

Yurin didn't respond, but his expression seemed to confirm that Joey's eyes were not deceiving him.

“May Yula’s joy be with us...” Yurin Huygar whispered a prayer.

The head of his mace began to glow red. He had cast a battle-enhancement spell, one that only a few first-class priests could use. This was why he was known as the Madman of the Battlefield.

Emitting a red aura, Yurin positioned himself in front of Karyl, looking ready to strike at any moment.

"You...What have you done?!" Yurin shouted at Karyl.

They were in the lair of Riseria, the Flame Dragon, one of the most mana-rich places on the continent. Although it had been thoroughly investigated, anything could happen here. And now, evidence of that was right before his eyes.

The imperial exploration team said they had finished investigating down to the entrance of the cave. Yet, something like this happens before we even descend further...

Could it be a coincidence? No way.

Yurin's gaze toward Karyl changed.

He's deceived us.

Whooosh—

At that moment, as Karyl slowly opened his eyes and extended his hand, a small flame flickered on his palm and then disappeared.

"Hoo..."

With a soft sigh, Karyl smiled lightly at Yurin, who looked ready to pounce.

"...?!"

Taken aback by his nonchalant reaction, Yurin looked at him with a bewildered face.

"I've found it."

"What?"

"The treasure His Majesty desires."

As the flame in Karyl's palm vanished, so did the figure of the flaming giant behind him.

"..."

Yurin stared at the herb resting on his palm.

"What is that...?"

“It’s called a Razorthorn. It’s a precious herb that will serve as medicine for His Majesty. According to black market intel, it contains the power of the Flame Spirit King.”

"Ha..."

Fire was the element closest to life, and the Razorthorn contained the essence of fire. Of course, it had nothing to do with the Spirit King, but it made a plausible excuse for what had just happened.

Yurin was still suspicious, but his eyes wavered slightly at the sight of the unfamiliar flaming herb. Karyl noticed and smiled faintly.

Deceiving them is this easy. They would never guess that this plant is just a wild herb growing in front of the lair.

Indeed, humans were gullible. A beggar could be regarded as a noble if dressed nicely, and conversely, a noble in rags would receive looks of pity and scorn that beggars usually received.

Seizing the moment when Ramine's power had been absorbed into him, Karyl had pulled out the Razorthorn from his pocket. Now, they believed the flaming giant they had seen was simply the manifestation of the flame contained within the herb.

He had merely added a bit of theatrics, turning a common wild herb into a magical one in their eyes.

I thought about this when I saw the fanatics of the Blue Lore created by the Wooden Cloud, but I never imagined I’d use it myself. Karyl smirked.

"Is this... the herb that grants immortality?" Joey Johansel, victim to Karyl’s act, asked with quivering eyes as he looked between Karyl and the Razorthorn.

Karyl shrugged at his question.

"Do you really think it would grant immortality? Even if one were to eat the heart of a dragon, one couldn’t possibly live forever. Immortality is within the realm of gods.”

"Then...?"

“People on the black market claim that this herb can restore stamina and stabilize mana. While it might not grant immortality, it’s highly effective in prolonging one’s life. I'm sure this Razorthorn will greatly aid His Majesty’s recovery.”

Karyl carefully placed the Razorthorn into a container he had prepared. It was an expensive container enchanted with preservation mana.

Ultimately, to detoxify Twilight, the Razorthorn must be dried, but it’s better to present it in this state. Karyl smiled, satisfied.

"I will keep this." Yurin pointed to the container Karyl was holding.

"Go ahead."

Without suspicion, Karyl handed him the container with the Razorthorn. However, Yurin still did not lower his guard.

"If what you’re saying is true, that flaming giant from earlier was related to this herb? I felt a tremendous surge of mana when the wall broke down. And how do you explain what happened inside? Have you ever considered that your reckless actions could have put all of us in danger?"

"Master..."

Karyl chuckled.

"Do not fret. That won’t happen.”

"It won’t happen, you say? How can you be so sure? I don’t want to risk my life because of you! Not here, not on the battlefield... If you’re so eager to die, go die by yourself!” Yurin shouted, looking as though he would grab Karyl by the collar like before.

But this time, his arms remained at his sides.

“I have no intention of putting your lives in danger. You both are very important to me." Karyl emphasized his last words. "And rest assured I value my life as well.”

Dying after finally getting his life back? Sheer folly.

"Besides, this is for His Majesty, is it not? I should say it is worth risking one’s life in order to complete a mission for His Majesty. Do you not think so, Sir Yurin?

"Well... that’s..."

Gulp—

Yurin, who had been raising his voice just moments ago, found himself breaking eye contact with Karyl, lowering his gaze.

"Master...?"

It was an unbelievable sight from the Madman, the one who had crushed countless skulls with his crimson mace.

"...Alright."

In the end, Yurin nodded at Karyl's words. Certainly, what he had said was not wrong. This task had been planned, and it was for the sake of the emperor, so naturally, there was no room for objection.

Nevertheless, Joey Johansel couldn’t help feeling that his demeanor was strange as he glanced at him with a puzzled expression.

What... What's going on? Could it be that I...

However, Joey's confusion was nothing compared to Yurin's inner turmoil. He realized his palms were drenched in sweat.

Am I frightened by him?

He couldn’t believe it, but it was instinctual.

If Yurin's skills hadn’t been exceptional, he wouldn't have noticed it. In fact, his keen awareness was likely due to his status as an elite combat priest. Joey, who had no combat experience, hadn't noticed.

This power that Yurin felt was incomprehensible, entirely different from before. It was not a murderous force or a fighting spirit directed at him. Karyl had done nothing. It was simply a stark difference in power.

"...!!!"

Yurin flinched involuntarily from just a light touch on his arm from Karyl.

"Let's head back."

From his calm tone, it seemed that Karyl was aware of Yurin’s apprehension toward him.

*

"Master!!"

Upon returning to Cove, they were met with some similar and welcoming faces—Kamma, Suan, and Karl.

It seems they did a good job with the tasks I assigned them in Cove, Karyl thought, nodding as he saw Karl with the other two, recalling the orders he had given before leaving.

"Then..."

Yurin, visibly exhausted after the journey, warily accepted Joey's help and left first. He had been rather quiet on the way back, and he had mentioned he would lodge somewhere else, not at the mansion where Karyl sayed, until they departed again.

"Are the preparations for departure complete?"

"Everything is ready."

"Good. Then, Sir Yurin, I’ll see you here tomorrow."

"...Understood."

Karl kept looking at Yurin with a puzzled expression, noticing his changed demeanor, before he left with Joey.

"Master, what happened? Why is that man so downcast all of a sudden? He’s always...” Karl began excitedly but then covered his mouth as if he realized he was getting out of line.

"Karl, are you really referring to a 1st Class priest with that man? They’ll accuse you of blasphemy.”

"Heh..."

Karyl chuckled at Karl’s reaction. Every time he inhaled and exhaled, he felt a warm energy coursing through his meridians, a reminder of the power he had absorbed from Ramine, which brought him a strange kind of joy.

You can’t tame a madman with ordinary methods.

Yurin Huygar was like a beast. Despite being a priest, he was a rough man, driven by a frenzy for bloodshed. Initially, Karyl had considered excluding him from the squad.

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He could definitely be an obstacle in acquiring the empire. However, he could be a powerful ally in the Oracle Wars.

Karyl recalled the history of the empire in three major parts: the Imperial War of Succession, where the princes had fought for the throne; the Empire War, where Olivurn had ascended to the throne and unified the continent; and finally, the Oracle War, where humanity had fought against the Tarak, monsters from another world, following the prophecy of the Oracle.

While the first two wars were significant, the Oracle War, concerning the survival of humanity, were the most critical for Karyl. In that sense, Yurin Huygar’s divine power would be crucial in the battle against the Tarak.

That’s why he needs to be tamed.

Just as he had with the Lord of the Rolling Hills and during his encounter with the Water King and the Sea King, demonstrating overwhelming strength was the most effective approach. Back in the lair, Yurin Huygar had probably witnessed a level of power he had never experienced before in his life.

"Enough with the useless chatter. Karl, you better prepare the ship too."

"Understood!"

After sending Karl off, Karyl could finally welcome the two people he hadn't properly seen in a long time. They couldn’t share the conversation they were about to have with Karl just yet.

"We were very surprised. We heard you were heading to the Church, but then we found out you were in the principality, and not just anywhere, but in Riseria's lair. Suan was in a panic, ready to rush over there immediately.”

"Pff, panic... I was just a bit worried, that’s all."

"Oh, come on. How could an old man like me stop someone your size? My back still hurts from that day..."

With Kamma’s playful words, Karyl looked at him and asked, "So, how does it feel to be back in the principality?"

"Oh, don’t get me started. The nobles of the White Bunker treated us with such disdain. Still, thanks to settling some residents from the Lawless Port ahead of time, we managed to establish a few free guilds, but it's not enough to trade elemental stones."

"Hmm, so we'll have to rely on selling information for now.”

"Yes. As per your instructions, we were looking into nobles connected to Lurein, and then..." Kamma glanced at Karyl and then grinned. "What kind of magic did you work? The Steel King himself contacted us, offering to set up a Ravat Guild branch here."

The Steel King was Fran Lurein’s alias. Kamma spoke with greater excitement after mentioning the name.

“Honestly, we’d welcome Cove with open arms. Given his strict nature and aversion to the empire, we thought the White Bunker was our only option. And then..."

Kamma struggled to contain his laughter.

"A week after we arrived in Cove, we received a message from the White Bunker. The very nobles who treated us so coldly!"

"Who contacted you?"

"Ruel Illisid. He's a count from the Illisid family and manages the funds for Duchess Tuli's territory. He's a major player."

"She must really hate the idea of losing to Fran."

Karyl nodded in satisfaction.

"You accomplished in a few days what we couldn't in months, Master," Suan remarked with genuine admiration.

However, Karyl waved his hand dismissively.

"Kamma, don't meet with him just yet. Let him stew a bit longer. Make him desperate, understand?"

"Don't worry. That's my specialty."

“Soon, I'll assign a few more people to you. Until then, focus on stabilizing the Cove branch. There's much to be done here.”

“People? From where?”

“From Tatur. There are a few other places as well, but it won't take long. Now that we have a foothold, we need to move quickly.”

“Master, since we arrived, the sailors have been saying that it's the Water King's spawning season, and we can't sail...” Suan added with a worried expression at the mention of Tatur.

“Oh, I’ve taken care of that.”

“What?”

“I said, you don't need to worry about it. So, Suan, prepare the ship. You’ll need to sail to Tatur and bring the people back.”

Suan looked at Karyl in disbelief at his nonchalant demeanor.

Did he really resolve the Sea King issue? Unbelievable... We struggle to complete even one task, yet he manages so many?

Suan already knew of Karyl’s capabilities, but the more he learned, the more he felt unsure about fully grasping them. Somehow, he felt like he still hadn't seen Karyl’s true potential.

At times, the awe he felt for Karyl stemmed not from his overwhelming swordsmanship but from his strategic prowess.

“By the way, where's Mikhail? Some of the people coming include members of the Guidance Mercenary Gang, so I need to talk to him.”

“Well, about that...”

At Karyl’s question, both Suan and Kamma's expressions darkened.

“Hm...”

Sensing that he already understood, Karyl nodded and lightly patted their shoulders, as if to say they didn’t need to explain.

“You’ve done well.”