The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth

Chapter 27: Escape

"You’ll give me Tatur...? Have my ears gone bad, or have I become a retard from all the beatings? Ha... Haha," Suan sneered at Karyl.

"A prince offering a city, and now a strange kid too. Did you forget it is a free city that no kingdom has ever conquered? Hah, is this a prison or an inn?"

Spitting out a clot of dark blood, Suan growled at Karyl, "Get lost."

"You have a good look in your eyes. Truly, you were never meant to be just a merchant."

"...What?"

Satisfied with his reaction, Karyl continued, "Honestly, had no idea. You always hid behind that eyepatch, Suan Hazer, the Slave King. Really... This must be some twist of fate."

Drawing closer, Karyl gently lifted the long hair that covered one side of Suan's face. A hidden red eye appeared alongside the ordinary blue one.

Suan had the cursed Odd Eye.

"Who would’ve guessed you were a half-breed."

Suan was born between an imperial and a barbarian

He glared at Karyl, forcefully slapping his arm away.

Karyl maintained a calm demeanor. The reason you followed Olivurn despite hating the empire. It wasn't for the empire, but for Olivurn himself, who had rescinded the Heresy Decree.

Yet, by the time Olivurn ascended the throne, two years had already passed since the previous emperor issued the decree.

It was too late.

Many barbarians died, and the few who survived had no chance of recovery.

They were alive, yet not really living.

Despite that, people praised Olivurn's rule. The whole continent admired him, considering him the epitome of a perfect king.

As a member of a barbaric tribe like himself, Suan must have believed that he could dedicate his life to the empire.

But now, it was different.

Really? Was the revocation of the Decree of Heresy truly because Olivurn considered the barbarians his people? Or did he think they no longer posed a threat to him?

Karyl understood the true nature of Olivurn.

The echoes of explosions, and the sensation of his trembling hands and sweaty palms, felt all too real to Karyl.

The screams mingled with the blasts, the execution of a tribal chief and his family as an example—these events still haunted Karyl’s thoughts.

Now.. Karyl thought, looking at Suan Hazer.

I can save them.

The countless barbarians were killed by the Decree of Heretic Hunters.

"Help me."

"A prince may spout nonsense, but you're just a madman," Suan scoffed at Karyl's words. "Why? Do you also want to save the barbarians? What can you offer? As much money as the prince?"

"Nothing."

Suan frowned at his response. "Nothing? Then what makes you so confident?"

This mysterious boy had suddenly appeared before Suan’s eyes.

"Do you even have the means to free me right now?" Suan sneered coldly, showing off his unlocked cuffs.

But Karyl's lips curled up in response.

"If that's all, I'd be rather disappointed. I thought I made my terms clear."

With a loud crash, the prison walls shattered into pieces.

"That's hardly a challenge."

Without a moment's hesitation, Karyl had obliterated a noble's mansion.

Suan stood speechless, flabbergasted at the spectacle before him.

As the morning light streamed through the broken walls, Suan needed no further explanation upon seeing Karyl’s contrasting black eyes.

"You... could it be..."

The ordinary imperial child was gone, replaced by a black-eyed barbarian standing before him.

Suan's gaze fixed on Karyl's hand. Magic?!

Truly, he found himself in an unfathomable situation. Despite witnessing everything, he couldn't believe his own eyes. Barbarians were inherently unable to use magic. As a result, they were branded as heretics and persecuted without reason.

"All of this has to be a lie..."

Unable to believe the reality unfolding before him, Suan slapped his own cheek hard. The sharp pain confirmed it was not a dream—It was undeniably real; this was reality.

"How about it?" Karyl, with his arms crossed, looked down at him. "Don't you want to change the world?"

Even Olivurn couldn't win the heart od Suan Hazer, and now Suan himself didn't understand why he felt moved by the words of this young child.

"What's going on?!"

"Where did it happen?!"

"Is it the enemy?!"

"Everyone, be on high alert!"

The mansion was thrown into chaos, and soldiers could be seen descending behind the demolished wall.

Karyl extended his hand to Suan. "How many barbarians have you sent to Tatur? Saving a hundred might earn you recognition, a thousand could make you a hero. But isn't the title of king too precious for just that?" Karyl asked.

"Follow me," Karyl commanded.

And for some reason, Suan, who had even rejected the prince, found himself grasping Karyl's hand as if under a spell.

***

I must be crazy... I've gone mad, Suan berated himself as he rowed with all his might, filled with regret. What was I thinking, taking this kid along?

The boat glided through the water with ease, and Karyl stood at the bow, looking pleased with himself.

Judging by his clothes, he seems to come from a noble family... but a barbarian... what's his story?

Unlike Karyl, Suan's expression was far from pleasant. Does he even know what kind of place Tatur is?

Despite his doubts, Suan, gazing at Karyl's back, had a feeling that there was something extraordinary about him.

The emotions he felt in the prison still lingered; even now, he occasionally shivered at the memory. If he can sneak into a baron's prison unnoticed, he's definitely not ordinary.

The aura Karyl exuded was too intense to be described as just charisma. It was something beyond Suan's imagination, like the presence of a conqueror who had survived countless battles.

Is that even possible? Suan mused.

"Suan Hazer."

"Yes, Si– What?!" Startled by Karyl’s sudden call, Suan instinctively responded in formal speech.

"What do you think about the survival of barbarians on this continent?"

"What? Such a pointless question... They are lucky if they don't die, I guess. Nowadays, they aren’t allowed to live as even slaves, thanks to the decree of heretics hunters."

Suan replied, scoffing at Karyl's question.

"Just look at me. Even as a half-breed, I face persecution. It might sound like a beautiful story in a book—a forbidden tale of love between a barbaric woman and an imperial man..."

He said, dramatically raising his hand in the air as if performing on stage, then abruptly stopped.

"Damn it... Don't they know what “forbidden” means? If adults can't handle the consequences, they shouldn't do it. Why go through with it, only to make a mess?"

Anger was evident on his face, but Karyl could sense the bitterness within.

"You're not very good at hiding your true feelings." Karyl spoke softly. "Every time you swear, your eyes flicker. Olivurn must have noticed that too. That's why he didn't give up on you."

The boy even casually mentioned the prince's name.

Suan grew even more curious about Karyl's identity but kept a nonchalant expression as he replied, "I don't know what you're talking about. Just hold on tight. If you fall off here, even I can't save you."

Suan pulled the oar with all his might.