The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth

Chapter 114: Serica Lauren

Serica Lauren.

Karyl couldn't help but chuckle as he thought of her name for the first time in a while.

Indeed, she’s no ordinary person. It must be tough for Mikhail to handle her.

She was the first human to establish the Supreme system for combat sorcerers—a master sorcerer who reached the 7th Class and also possessed the skills of a Sword Expert.

She is as good in magic as Serga, but she probably hasn’t realized her own potential yet. With her current temperament, she’ll throw fists before resorting to magic.

Karyl remembered a conversation they once had.

"Magic? Well... I can't exactly remember when it started. I never thought I had any talent for it. All I ever learned was my father's spear techniques."

Her father, a retired mercenary, had spent his remaining years in a small village far from Cove.

The Halgard spear technique he taught her was not particularly famous, but it was all he could leave to his only daughter.

"And the only time I really used spear techniques was when I had to handle drunkards at the inn with a broom," Serica had said while sitting on a hill by a campfire on a battlefield.

But no one could have imagined that this basic spear technique would lead her to become a Supreme.

"So you wield a staff well."

When Karyl first met her, she was already establishing her own system as a combat sorcerer.

"Well... After my father died, one day, it just came to me. I wondered how I could use spear techniques more powerfully."

"People usually think of Mana Blades."

Enchanting one’s blade with mana.

"Right, but I trained my magic instead. After all, the spear technique was sloppy. Even if I improved it, it wouldn't hold a candle to the spear techniques of the nobility or knights.”

"A change in thinking... So that's when your talent bloomed. Honestly, not many can think like that, choosing the uncharted path over a safe, visible one.”

"It's the same with you, isn't it? You sought to enhance your swordsmanship by sharpening both your body and technique. I trained the magic itself, not just as a tool."

Karyl grimaced at her words.

She had independently modified her father’s Halgard spear technique and her own ice magic to create a new spear technique—the Freezing Spear.

Using water-based magic as an offensive tool rather than just enchanting the blade, and using the Halgard spear technique for defense, she broke the stereotype that sorcerers are weak in close combat.

She was the only one to be able to use that spear technique, and while everyone envied her power, no sorcerer dared to challenge the realm of Supreme, not even Serga, who was hailed as the reincarnation of Kaye Aesir.

"And look at this. See the elemental stone embedded at the end? I am a legitimate sorcerer. You keep talking nonsense, making others call me a weirdo for using a spear."

She looked at the long staff, much taller than herself, topped with three sharp blades made of blue cradlestone.

Meticulously crafted by Calypson, a renowned gnome artisan, the blades were not only deadly sharp but also amplified her water elemental magic. However, the long staff showed signs of battle, crusted with dried blood. It was evident without saying that this blade had taken many lives.

"I don’t think people call you a weirdo because of me. Maybe that’s on you...”

At Karyl’s comment, the colleagues around him averted their eyes and nodded in agreement.

Karyl rubbed his forehead as he recalled how she had smacked him for that cheeky remark. It felt as though the memory had brought back the throbbing pain.

But even that minor pain was now a fond memory for him.

Serica Lauren is essential for Tatur’s growth. The sorcerers gathered at Azor’s Ulkas Guild are not enough. And...

Serga was already a sorcerer affiliated with the empire. Karyl knew his skills better than anyone.

If he stays at the Academy, he will eventually become an enemy, and then I would have to devise a plan to counter him. I need a sorcerer who can match his growth.

That was Serica Lauren.

From what he remembered, the two of them were comparable to each other when it came to combat skills.

However, Karyl had added one more variable to ensure that the outcome tilted in his favor.

Mikhail.

He was no less talented than them.

Unlike in my previous life, the war among sorcerers will now be a three-way battle between Serica, Serga, and Mikhail.

If Karyl could hold two of those cards in his hand, the battlefield would naturally turn in his favor.

But I can’t step in myself. It’ll be tough for Mikhail, but his magical talent has to spark her interest in magic.

Ironically, he had now reached a higher achievement in magic than Serica. If he set his mind to it, Mikhail could make it so that he would never be defeated with the Halgard spear technique.

Given her strong pride, she will surely seek to learn magic from Mikhail after a defeat, Karyl remembered.

The reason Serica had devoted herself to magic more than spear technique was not merely to enhance it.

“Her father was killed by a sorcerer. Just seeing you as a sorcerer would probably make her blood boil,” Karyl murmured softly to himself.

"Well, if she follows you after reading that note, then it must be fate." Karyl thought of Mikhail in the distance and smiled softly.

Good luck. After all, you were the one in my knight’s order who got along best with Serica Lauren, not in just one way.

***

"Um... um...!!"

KABOOM—!!

Thrown out the door and tumbling down the stairs, Mikhail, too stunned to even feel the pain, banged on the shut door.

"Just listen for a moment, please!"

But it didn’t seem like the door would open again. Instead, the same reply came as it had for a month.

"How many times do I have to tell you? Get lost."

Mikhail scowled and shouted in frustration.

"Agh...!!"

Unable to control his trembling fists, he stomped his feet in anger.

What kind of person is that?!

"Huuh?!"

Peeking in through the window, he recoiled at the sight of her glaring eyes from inside.

Damn, it’s my first time I've ever seen such a prickly kid. What's wrong with sorcerers? I have barely mentioned the word magic and she's ready to kill... How am I supposed to bring her along...?

Leaning against the stairs, Mikhail sighed deeply.

Even if I miraculously manage to bring her with me, it’s going to be a nightmare. How can such a person become my teacher?

Although he had grown skeptical of Karyl’s plan, after being repeatedly shunned at the door for a month straight, Mikhail ended up staying here instead of following Kamma and Suan to the White Bunker.

What on earth had Master written in her note that made her flip like this?

Over the last month, Mikhail had only managed to give her the note from Karyl on their first meeting.

"Ah... sigh."

No one had ever treated him like this before.

"Guess I’ll just have to come back tomorrow...”

Mikhail stood and looked at Serica’s window. All the lights were out. Not understanding the situation, he felt frustrated, but he knew he had no other choice.

Perhaps Aidan or Suan would have smashed in the door right away.

"..."

But Mikhail couldn’t bring himself to do that. Scattered broken furniture, a shattered fence, and neglected equipment... It clearly looked like it had been attacked.

An unwanted memory surfaced. When trolls attacked his village, and when he had returned after being saved by Gordon Fabian to take his revenge.

But...

Though a bit far, the village was intact. It wasn’t a monster attack.

This is probably the work of humans. Mikhail slowly turned around.

The girl inside was similar to him. Whether it was a monster or a person... The fact that a family member was killed by someone was ultimately the same.

"Damn..."

At least he knew that feeling better than anyone.

"Let’s go back."

Mikhail started walking. Somehow, the fierce gaze that had glared at him strangely remained in his mind, haunting him. Was it because he had seen it almost daily for a month? Every time he thought of the young girl's vicious expression, Mikhail couldn’t help but smirk.

"Ah, I’m going crazy..."

Startled by his thoughts, Mikhail shook his head and continued walking.

***

"Master! The preparations for departure are complete!! We can leave tomorrow. We’ve got the departure clearance from the port."

"Good job, Karl. Seems like you’ve handled everything I asked of you in the last two weeks.”

Karl tapped the thick ledger he was holding.

"Hehe, not at all."

The task Karyl had given Karl was nothing special.

He had merely asked him to think about Cove’s local products and items that could be profitable if brought from Tatur and sold here.

It was Karl Mack’s first time researching the market, but Karyl, knowing his talents well, fully supported his ideas.

"When you return to Tatur, buy these items immediately and come back to Cove. By then, we’ll have our branch up in the White Bunker. Then you’ll go there and finish the market research."

"Me?"

"Yes. After that, it’s the Three Kingdoms of Istria. You won’t need to set up a branch there. By the time you move, it will already be done."

"Done? How..."

Karyl chuckled and said, "You’ll see. First, let’s pioneer the route linking the empire, Tatur, and the principality. Can you handle it?"

Karl was bewildered by Karyl’s unexpected words.

"What, you can’t?”

"No!! I’m just so excited... I mean, you’re entrusting me with maritime trade now!"

Seeing Karl too flustered to speak properly, Karyl laughed.

"Right. I needed someone to handle the sea, even though Kamma takes care of the land. Start with the familiar Howard vessel. Then I’ll give you a bigger ship."

From the principality, empire, Tatur, to the Triple Alliance.

"It doesn’t end there."

"Then..."

"We’ll get our hands on both the north and the south, in several ways."

Karl couldn’t help but chuckle at Karyl’s words.

In his past life, he had first steered a ship at twenty, but now, at the mere age of fifteen, he was already navigating the seas.

"I’ll handle it!"

"I’ve already entrusted it to you. Make sure you handle it well. The necessary funds will be provided in Tatur, so go ahead."

"Yes!!" Karl exclaimed excitedly.

Watching the twilight sky, Karyl slowly rose from his seat. There was so much to do that he couldn’t even properly unwind from the journey.

"Is there more work left? Where are you off to, a guild?"

"No. It’s a personal matter. You don’t need to know."

Karyl patted Karl’s shoulder and chuckled softly as he walked out the door.

Creak—

In his hand, he held a small bottle containing Razorthorn, surprisingly the same one he had given to Yurin at the lair of the Fire Dragon.

Let’s see if Fran Lurein is really prepared.

Karyl lightly flipped the bottle in the air.

Finally...

His eyes sparkled. He was about to meet the roots.