Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 100

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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One-Strike Kill Swordmaster Episode 100

Episode 100. Trial Preparations (2)

The reason the Tyrant Dragon was having such a fit was simple.

It was because I kept refusing his requests for a sparring match.

“Explain yourself properly! Give me a convincing explanation for why you’re avoiding a duel!”

“….”

Explain the reason?

Well, if I spar with you, one of us will definitely die.

Of course, compared to when I first encountered the Tyrant Dragon in Labyrinth Village, I had grown considerably now….

【Lv. 100】

…but sparring against a level 100 transcendent was still beyond my capabilities.

‘I took an abnormal growth path from the beginning anyway.’

Skills that were excessively superior compared to my level and physical abilities.

My combat style was entirely focused on utilizing the 【Soul of the Sword Master】 in various ways.

Since it was a style that bet everything on a single opportunity to aim for a critical hit, sparring with the Tyrant Dragon was impossible from the start.

All my techniques were meant for ‘killing.’ If I used them on the Tyrant Dragon, he might actually die.

‘I must not kill the Tyrant Dragon.’

As I’ve said many times, losing a Sword Master who would someday become my ally would be far too great a loss.

‘More importantly, I’m not confident I can fully block the Tyrant Dragon’s attacks with my own skill.’

Of course, there was the method called 【Ultimate Auto-Parry】, but this was just a one-shot skill with a 24-hour cooldown.

It couldn’t be used in a sparring match where offense and defense continuously exchanged.

Therefore, there was only one thing I could say to the Tyrant Dragon.

“I’m sure I told you. I want to fight in my optimal condition.”

“….”

“It’s not time yet. There’s no special reason beyond that.”

No, and besides….

Come to think of it, I came here to undergo the Sacred Inquisition.

But as the defendant, I shouldn’t be noisily fighting with other Sword Masters.

Isn’t that right, Tyrant Dragon?

“What nonsense!”

“….”

Right.

As expected, you don’t agree with my opinion.

‘…Well, if the Tyrant Dragon was the type to consider such things, he wouldn’t have gotten an attribute like “Battle Maniac” in the first place.’

Just as I was thinking that, the Tyrant Dragon began repeating the same words like a parrot.

“Draw your sword! Stop making excuses like a coward and let’s have a match!”

“I don’t have one.”

“…What?”

“I said I don’t have a sword.”

“Why!”

“It was confiscated when I entered the Holy City.”

“Why!”

“Because I’m a defendant in the Sacred Inquisition.”

“Why!”

“It should all be written in the summons, right? That I formed an alliance with the Five Nightmares and acted as the leader of the Shadow Sect.”

Upon hearing those words, the Tyrant Dragon burst out shouting.

“Yes! That’s exactly what I’m talking about!”

“….”

“You have the power to pull off such things, but you don’t have the power to fight me!”

Somehow it feels like the conversation keeps going in circles.

Is it just my imagination?

“So stop making excuses and come at me! Hurry!”

It was at the moment when the Tyrant Dragon’s anger reached its peak due to my continued refusal.

Creak-.

Just then, the door opened and two people entered the guest hall.

A neat and dignified young man. And a well-built, white-haired old man. They were Arwen and Jark von Haibrunn, called the two pillars of Middle Temple.

Arwen, who had surveyed the situation, began restraining the Tyrant Dragon.

“Heretic, it would be troublesome if you continue this here.”

“What?”

“Making contact with the defendant before the Sacred Inquisition is held is an act that violates regulations. Please refrain from unnecessary disturbances….”

“Who are you to interfere! You mayfly, don’t butt into Sword Masters’ affairs and get lost right now!”

When the Tyrant Dragon burst out shouting angrily, Arwen, who had a dumbfounded expression for a moment, began revealing his identity.

“My introduction is late. I am Chief Paladin Arwen von Goldhart.”

Bow-.

Arwen lowered his waist.

Then he continued speaking in a deliberately calm voice.

“I repeat, making contact with a defendant of the Sacred Inquisition is strictly illegal. I understand that Lord Tyrant Dragon has private business. However, since you have set foot in the Holy City, please respect our position as well.”

“….”

“If it wouldn’t be rude, may I ask the reason you sought Lord Gaon? Although direct contact with the defendant is impossible, if it is the Heretic’s will, I will take measures on your behalf.”

“Oh…?”

At the words that he would fulfill his request, the Tyrant Dragon showed an interested expression.

“Then arrange a sparring match between me and that guy.”

“Pardon?”

At the unexpected demand, Arwen hesitated with a bewildered expression.

“That’s enough, Lord Tyrant Dragon.”

Unable to watch any longer, Jark von Haibrunn stepped forward and joined the conversation.

“If you are a Heretic who follows the will of The Great Ones, you should possess the dignity and restraint befitting that. No matter how much of a Sword Master you are, shouldn’t you observe the etiquette of the Holy City?”

“…And who are you?”

“I am called Jark von Haibrunn. A swordsman who received your scales in his youth.”

“….”

The Tyrant Dragon stared at Jaque intently. Then he let out a sigh as if something had occurred to him.

“Wait a minute. You’re that brat who used the decapitation sword?”

“That’s right.”

“But why have you aged so much?”

“Well, it’s been 40 years since we last met.”

“….”

A brief silence flowed.

The Tyrant Dragon’s vertically slit pupils began scanning Jaque up and down.

How much time passed like that?

The Tyrant Dragon let out a hollow laugh and shook his head.

“Ha, 40 years ago. So much time has already passed.”

“….”

“But somehow it seems like nothing about you has changed from then to now? Have you been neglecting your training?”

Flinch-.

In an instant, cracks appeared on Jaque’s expressionless face.

You could see all sorts of complex emotions crossing his features.

Regardless, Tyrant Dragon scratched the back of his neck and let out a deep sigh. He seemed to instinctively realize that throwing a tantrum here wouldn’t change anything.

“Fine. Speak plainly, Gaon.”

Tyrant Dragon, having calmed his emotions considerably, growled as he looked at me.

“When exactly will this ‘prohibition’ you mentioned be lifted?”

* * *

Freeze-.

At Tyrant Dragon’s words, Arwen and Jaque were simultaneously shocked.

Jaque in particular looked at Gaon with an expression of shock while gripping his right arm tightly.

‘A prohibition… he said…?’

Prohibition.

So there existed another shackle binding Gaon besides the sacred oath.

‘Then…’

Jaque’s mind was filled with confusion.

‘…does that mean he cut off my arm in one strike even while under this prohibition? At a speed I couldn’t even react to?’

It was difficult to comprehend.

That day, the strike Gaon had demonstrated was nearly impossible to follow with the eyes.

But if even that was an attack unleashed while under the influence of a ‘prohibition’…

‘Just how strong would Gaon be with his shackles removed?’

While Jaque was having such thoughts, Gaon answered in an indifferent voice.

“I don’t know exactly when the prohibition will be lifted either. Still, a promise is a promise, so I’ll let you know as soon as the shackles disappear.”

“No.”

Tyrant Dragon shook his head back and forth.

“I refuse promises without a set date. If it’s going to be like that, I’d rather just fight now.”

“…”

“You blocked my strike, killed Camillo von Taribas, and recovered enough to neutralize even Heukgol, so it seems like we could have a proper fight right now, don’t you think?”

Gaon, who had been silently staring at Tyrant Dragon for a moment, reluctantly nodded.

“If you really want to fight, wait just two more days.”

“…Two days?”

“That’s when the Sacred Inquisition will be held.”

“…”

Swoosh-.

Tyrant Dragon’s pupils narrowed slightly.

Like the vicious gaze of a predator that had spotted prime prey.

It was a chilling sight that would make anyone’s knees weak, but Gaon continued speaking calmly without even blinking.

“If I’m found guilty, you’ll be the one tasked with executing me. More precisely, the Sword Master summoned by Middle Temple.”

“…”

“Then you’ll be able to enjoy not some trivial sparring match, but a battle where life and death are at stake. Isn’t that what you truly desire?”

After swallowing briefly, Tyrant Dragon smiled.

“Yes. That makes sense. As you said, if I’ve been active as the leader of heretics and even colluded with the Five Nightmares, I’ll definitely be found guilty. We were destined to fight each other anyway.”

“…”

“But this will never happen, but… what if, by any chance, you’re found innocent?”

Gaon answered briefly.

“Then I would get back the sword that Middle Temple has been keeping.”

“…”

“And if someone comes at me trying to kill me in that state, I’ll have no choice but to do my best to survive.”

In other words, from the moment the Sacred Inquisition ended, he would fight Tyrant Dragon as much as he wanted under the excuse of self-defense.

“I promise. When that time comes, I’ll give you a battle that will satisfy you.”

“…!”

* * *

Tyrant Dragon’s eyes widened at my words.

He seemed quite excited after hearing the promise that I would give him a satisfying battle.

“As a seeker of the sword, you wouldn’t go back on your word, would you?”

Tyrant Dragon asked as if to confirm.

I nodded as if to say, what’s there to talk about.

“Yes.”

Swoosh-.

After finishing my answer, I slowly looked around.

Arwen and Jaque were looking at me with meaningful gazes.

Their eyes seemed to think I had been caught up in Tyrant Dragon’s pace.

‘They seem to think I got played…’

No.

I hadn’t been caught up by Tyrant Dragon.

Rather, it was the other side that had taken the bait completely.

‘If everything at Middle Temple flows according to my plan.’

─As a seeker of the sword, you wouldn’t go back on your word, would you?

‘Those words you spoke will become shackles that bind you.’

Whether he knew my inner thoughts or not, Tyrant Dragon just burst into an unpleasant laugh.

“Kahahat!”

“…”

“Kahahahahat!”

“…?”

Wait, hold on.

Is this really something to laugh that much about?

While I was having such thoughts.

Pean, who had been watching the situation from the side, smiled slightly.

“Seeing you happy like a child just because you got a sparring promise, your body must be quite stiff?”

“What?”

“Should I help you out if needed, Tyrant Dragon?”

“…”

Stop-.

Tyrant Dragon’s laughter disappeared in an instant.

He firmly rejected Pean’s proposal with a resolute voice.

“No need.”

“How decisive.”

“…Didn’t I clearly say I don’t even want to cross swords with you?”

Even in the setting, Tyrant Dragon hated fighting Pean the most.

No, to begin with, among the other Twelve Sword Masters, there wasn’t a single person who liked fighting Pean.

He was a character so troublesome to deal with that even Tyrant Dragon, who had battle maniac tendencies, avoided him.

‘Pean, the Sword Master.’

An elf who had lived for ages.

A blind swordsman who continued battles relying only on hearing.

“…”

“…”

Hesitate-.

At that very moment, my eyes met with Pean, the Sword Master.

Of course, it was nothing more than an illusion.

Pean was completely blind and even wore a blindfold over his eyes. The very situation of ‘making eye contact’ couldn’t possibly exist in the first place.

But… for some reason, I felt as if the gaze from beneath that blindfold was staring directly at me.

The corners of his mouth, curved upward slightly, held an air of leisure.

“How disappointing.”

“…”

“I was hoping to warm up a bit myself before we began fighting in earnest, haha.”

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