Master Swordsman’s Stream - Chapter 305

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 305

Day 9 begins.
Mount Cabero.
Three Participants from Darahn gathered in front of the Field at Mount Cabero, one of the starting points of the central mountain range, keeping watch on their surroundings.
They were all Darahn nobility.
“The enemy will try to interfere with us. Or rather, hunt us down.”
The enemy they spoke of was one person. It was clear now.
There were no other Participants who had entered Darahn. A possibility they’d snuck in?
There was, but they judged it not worth considering.
And besides, they’d agreed that any stranger outside their group would be treated as an enemy regardless, so it didn’t matter.
No matter how they looked at it.
Kael would show up eventually.
“If we spot him, we run first. Our GPS can show us the locations of the four of us and the Hounds, but if he’s the Black Mask, his location might be marked as well.”
The distinction wouldn’t be clear.
They could go hunting a nearby Hound only to find that the thing standing there is Kael instead.
“Ugh, how scary.”
All three of them swept their arms nervously.
“We won’t be able to tell if something is a Hound or the Black Mask. Besides, we still don’t know if the real Black Mask even shows up on the GPS. So checking the GPS to confirm that fact and sharing information is essential. We all need to work together.”
Shen continued explaining the strategy.
They wouldn’t bunch up.
Even if they did, they’d lose.
Skill.
That was what mattered most—the Black Mask’s specs, everything.
And they fell short in skill compared to Seo Jun.
Of course, complaints had surfaced.
“Why do we have to play like cowards? Why don’t we just fight the Black Mask? If we beat him now and manage to escape alive, we’d have a huge advantage in future fights. Why don’t we group up? Why don’t we use Aura?”
His name was Bradley.
He’d been the one pushing this Quest from the start.
There had been disagreements with the two pros from Atura, and they still hadn’t been resolved.
To be precise, he hadn’t been convinced.
“We’ll have to spread out anyway. We won’t be able to gather enough Energy within the time limit otherwise.”
The number of Hounds they needed to catch was substantial.
“We can spread out so we can regroup whenever needed—one person holds the line while the other three gather. Not spread too wide like we are now.”
“That won’t work.”
“What do you mean?”
“Holding the line.”
……
Bradley cursed with his eyes. The conversation had flowed like this yesterday too.
Five minutes later, the Hermit Ava arrived at their location.
“The GPS Device will activate five minutes from now. You’ll be able to see it through the system. Then just hunt the creatures called Hounds and collect the Energy that comes from their corpses. You can gather it later.”
It didn’t matter whose corpse it was—if the Energy hadn’t been extracted, it was fine.
So it wouldn’t happen that the opponent would catch all the Hounds.
“What if someone dies? Didn’t you get any additional explanation from the Guild NPC?”
“If you meet him, hold out. I’ll come help.”
Bradley’s words went in one ear and out the other for the two of them.
They had no intention of holding out at all.
Ava was uncertain. Were these two really scared enough to act like this?
If they held out, wouldn’t they eventually gather, and with all four of them together, couldn’t they at least drive the enemy away?
But then again, there had to be a reason those who’d faced him before acted this way.
“I didn’t receive any additional explanation. If someone dies, I suppose we’d have to go to the corpse ourselves and pick up items.”
“Yes. Then let’s go in. Up the mountain.”

* * *

Bradley moved quickly toward his predetermined position while murmuring.
“He could’ve tailed us. But he didn’t.”
It was about Seo Jun.
Mount Cabero was located north of the territory’s center, and its area was quite vast.
Since there were no hiking trails or roads from the City to the mountain, they believed the probability of meeting from the start was low.
Unless someone tailed anyone coming from the City to the mountain.
‘If he’d tailed and ambushed us, we’d have caught him right then.’
Everyone was too scared, but Bradley believed. When they actually fought, they’d fight well, and they absolutely wouldn’t lose.
What mattered was skill.
The Black Mask’s stamina? Ability Stats? Damage?
None of it was effective unless you could land the attack.
‘If I meet him, I’ll call for support right away and grab his ankle.’
Then kill him with those who come to help.
The opponent would confidently hunt them down.
So Bradley prayed to meet Kael soon in this vast mountain.
‘Come on then!’
Green dots scattered across the mountain map moved ceaselessly.
The map was large and the dots were small.
He needed to zoom in on the area around him to check properly.
So as he did that, he moved continuously toward where the green dots clustered.
‘Of course, the opponent wouldn’t have a tracking function on us. So with us scattered in multiple directions, the odds of me meeting the Black Mask are low.’
So the green dot approaching from the direction he was heading must be a Hound.
He’d catch it right away.
‘Lucky me.’
The reason he’d deduced the Black Mask couldn’t know their positions was simple.
If an attacker far more powerful than them knew their locations, wouldn’t the game become too easy?
Three hours still remained.
So.
This bastard—he’d stopped approaching!
“Huh?”
Bradley, who had been holding his sword ready to fight just before meeting the green dot, stopped in bewilderment as well.
There, in the sunlight seeping through the gaps of the dense forest, was someone praying.
‘A madman?’
There was a madman.
Soon he realized the one praying in the forest wasn’t a lunatic NPC.
Soon after, he realized it wasn’t an NPC at all—it was a Participant, and the Black Mask.
He was startled, but the distance wasn’t yet dangerously close.
Nothing catastrophic would happen, and like encountering a dangerous predator in the wild, he began circling without looking back.
Quietly, carefully.
‘Does he know my location? Or is it just coincidence?’
It was suspicious.
But he couldn’t be certain yet.
And he quietly turned on his Radio.
“I’ve found him.”

-Already? That fast?
-I’d better not go that way then.
-Aren’t you going to help?

Ava spoke with curiosity. The situation was on a knife’s edge, but.
“No fight has started yet. He’s praying.”

-My, my. He’s praying to atone for his murders in advance.
-Isn’t that like crocodile tears?
-Wait, so why aren’t you going to help! Everyone, why are you all continuing in the same direction?

The situation was on a knife’s edge, but.
“What is this exactly?”
A mission? Only for the Black Mask?
Had there ever been anything like this before?
“His eyes are closed.”
But why.
He didn’t feel like approaching closer.
His instincts were warning him—don’t touch.
Back away.
But he was rational.
“Have you logged out?”

-Thank heavens. Get out of there right now!
-That’s right. What a relief.
-Wait, why am I the only one going that way! Shen!
-Ava, just give up and go hunt Monsters.

“Yes. Ava, why don’t you go hunt Monsters?”
He touched his Radio. He laughed in a situation where no more words could be transmitted.
“I’ll try catching him. If it’s an AI, I’ll do it alone.”
If logging out means dying, if it means the History Book ends, he knew how much the opponent would be cursed.
And yet this was the obvious choice.
It would be stranger to let him be.
Unprecedented.
And then.
Kael opened his eyes.
“Ah.”
And approached him like lightning.
There was no time to create distance.
Already within range, their swords clashed in an instant.
Since Bradley had also reacted.
Clang!
“Brother.”
“Ha. Hello to you.”
With swords locked and gazes crossed, he opened the Interface in his mind and turned his Radio back on.
“Send reinforcements immediately! Just kill him!”
“Brother, that’s not it.”
Clang!
Bradley, parrying Seo Jun’s sword as it swung again, had this thought.
‘I can handle this?’
The attacks weren’t beyond reason—they were within expected range.

-My apologies.
-Really, we won’t go. Please escape.
-No, why won’t anyone go! If you all don’t go, what can I do!?
-We already agreed!
-That’s right.

While his Darahn teammates squabbled on the Radio, Seo Jun and Bradley exchanged several more blows, and Bradley became certain.
“Kael. This won’t work?”
Kael paused.
“What’s the matter, brother?”
“If you get captured like this, how will you play the game?”
Allies weren’t necessary.
No matter how much stamina.
“Hahaha. Good point.”
“Let’s do this properly. Support won’t come.”
Just wear you down to nothing.
Kael looked at him with interest, then let out a light laugh.
“Brother. How about we do it properly like this?”
“Properly how?”
“No Skills. Just Swordsmanship training—whoever lands six hits on their opponent first wins.”
“Is it a bet? What’s the stakes? I won’t accept things like Quest forfeiture or suicide.”
“Ah, is that so? What a shame. Well, you don’t need to put anything up, Brother. I’ll be the only one with stakes.”
“What?”
“If you tell me to forfeit the Quest, I will. If you tell me to die, I’ll die.”
“Hmm. Are you serious?”
There was no reason not to accept.
No stakes on his end.
“Yes. I’m serious.”
“Fine. Let’s not talk anymore.”
He’d probably run away if he lost anyway.
Bradley laughed soundlessly.
“Yes.”
He picked up his sword again.
Six hits.
‘Is he saying six because of my Skill? Whatever.’
I’ll catch him!
The two blades clashed and separated.
Pure attacks followed with no Skills employed.
‘Attack speed is the same.’
The stat advantage lay in stamina and attack power, and if they’d made a bet with a condition where it ended before either died anyway.
‘I’ll win!’
Bradley widened his eyes and began pushing Seo Jun back.
The attacks he kept trying broke through by mere fractions of a margin, but it felt manageable.
And then that moment came.
Suddenly.
So suddenly and naturally that swords tangled, and the hunted prey became him.
His attacks from moments before when he was pushing forward now unfolded from the other direction.
Returned from the opponent’s hands.
“Ugh.”
He couldn’t block them. Those attacks he’d only barely managed to parry before.
“What kind of Damage is this!”
I’m dying!
Swiiing!
Each time the blade passed through him, great chunks of his stamina were carved away.
Gasp.
A thrust that twisted the blocking blade.
Shatter!
The sound of breaking glass.
A Vital Point struck amid the chaos.
“Six hits. It’s over.”
Defeat came without a moment to regain composure.
‘I got careless because of the Damage. The sudden turn of events too!’
The opponent had aimed for this.
To kill him. To fight cleanly and shave away blood.
He’d dangled sweet bait and caught him in the trap. Knowing full well he would.
‘If I’d won, it would’ve just ended. I actually thought that too.’
Bradley laughed as if absurd and sat down.
An acceptance of death.
The History Book was over now.
But.
Seo Jun simply watched him, with no intention of ending him.
“Kael? Why not kill me?”
“I’m waiting.”
“Pardon?”
“Recovery is faster if you stay still. Just rest.”
“Hmm…. You’re really not going to kill me?”
“Yes. Why would I kill you?”
“You mean it?”
“Of course I mean it.”
In that instant, a single hypothesis flashed through his mind.
Can’t he kill?
If so, it would all make sense. His overwhelming power. His quick ability to find their location.
If everything was constrained by an inability to kill.
Then.
The moment Bradley quietly picked up his sword.
“Ah. Once you’ve recovered, shall we have round two?”
Seo Jun flashed a devilish smile at Bradley like a work of art.
And Bradley immediately discarded that hypothesis.
What was happening now.
Was psychological torture.
“Do recover soon.”
Seo Jun sat beside Bradley and began praying again.
It seemed.
That he’d gotten tangled up in something very, very inescapable.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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