Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 101

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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 101

Episode 101. Trial Preparations (3)

The Tyrant Dragon frowned.

“Didn’t you hear our conversation? Don’t even think about interfering.”

“Ah, but still, just in case you might be in danger…”

“Even if I were to die by Gaon’s sword.”

Cut-.

The Tyrant Dragon, who had interrupted Pean’s words, growled.

“Absolutely do not interfere in the battle.”

“…Oh?”

Pean raised his eyebrows as if finding it interesting.

The Tyrant Dragon, who had been glaring at him for a while, soon turned his body around.

“Phew… That’s enough. Good work.”

Thump, thump-.

The Tyrant Dragon, carrying his sword on his shoulder, slowly walked toward the door.

Having finished his business, he seemed ready to leave. Pean also quietly moved to follow behind him.

“Are you leaving now?”

“Yes.”

To Arwen’s question, the Tyrant Dragon nodded briefly and answered.

Arwen, whose expression brightened considerably, began to escort the two Sword Masters out the door.

“Thank you for your cooperation, Lord Tyrant Dragon. Until the Holy Judgment begins, you may stay in the guest villa prepared in the West Wing of the Spire.”

“Where is that?”

“The priests waiting outside will guide you.”

Click-!

Creeeeak-.

When Arwen turned the handle, the tightly closed door opened, revealing the corridor’s scenery at a glance.

Outside the Guest Hall was filled with a tension different from usual.

Heavily armed Paladins and Investigators were lined up on both sides of the corridor, exchanging uneasy glances.

Forces had been deployed in preparation for any unexpected situations involving the Sword Master.

“Ha…?”

Seeing this, the Tyrant Dragon let out a short laugh as if finding it absurd.

“Pointing swords at someone who came to help with the Holy Judgment. Anyone would think an intruder had entered.”

“…”

“…”

You are an intruder, Tyrant Dragon.

If you didn’t want to be treated like a criminal, you shouldn’t have barged into the Upper Floor at least.

Others seemed to have the same thought as me, looking at the Tyrant Dragon with rather bewildered expressions.

“So, are you planning to try attacking me?”

Grin-.

The Tyrant Dragon smiled boldly, his eyes gleaming.

Then, Sikan Bauer, confirming there was no problem, immediately gave an order.

“Everyone put away your weapons and show proper respect to the Protagonist.”

Sheath-!

As soon as Sikan Bauer finished speaking, the soldiers all sheathed their weapons in unison.

Their retreating movements showed no hesitation, making the tension that had filled the corridor just moments before seem meaningless.

The Tyrant Dragon snorted as if deflated and withdrew his gaze.

He had seemed ready to fight at any moment, but looked quite disappointed that the situation ended without him being able to use his strength even once.

“Tsk. Boring fellows… Hm?”

Pause-.

That was the exact moment.

The Tyrant Dragon, who had witnessed something, slightly frowned.

After staring at someone for a long time, he opened his mouth.

“Hey, platinum hair. Who are you?”

Soon after, someone mixed among the soldiers answered.

“It’s an honor to meet you again, Lord Tyrant Dragon.”

“…”

“I am Adelia von Goldhart.”

Right.

The person the Tyrant Dragon was staring at intently was none other than Adelia.

“Do we know each other? Why do you seem so familiar?”

“We met last time at Labyrinth Village. Together with Lord Gaon.”

“…?”

The Tyrant Dragon’s eyes widened upon hearing the answer.

“That was you? The one who blocked my fist by a hair’s breadth?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“Ha… You’ve grown beyond recognition in such a short time.”

The Tyrant Dragon exclaimed with genuine admiration in his voice.

“This is truly surprising. No matter how much Noble Family blood you have, for a mere human to become this strong so quickly.”

“…!”

“…!”

It was praise bordering on the extreme.

Undisguised joy appeared on Adelia’s face.

The other soldiers also looked at Adelia with envious eyes.

Indeed, receiving recognition from a Sword Master was like a cherished wish for all swordsmen.

Adelia, trying to calm her excitement, answered in a deliberately composed voice.

“It’s all thanks to Lord Gaon’s teachings.”

“That damn Gaon, Gaon, Gaon…”

The Tyrant Dragon grumbled while glancing at me sideways.

Soon he nodded as if he had decided something.

“Fine. At least you follow me.”

“…Pardon?”

“Your master doesn’t want to spar with me. Then at least his disciple should fill that role. Don’t you think?”

“…!”

An opportunity to spar with a Sword Master.

This was a dream-like situation for anyone walking the path of the sword.

Adelia’s eyes instantly filled with joy.

She turned to look at me and asked in an earnest voice.

“Would, would that be alright, Lord Gaon?”

Of course.

Why are you asking for my permission?

I nodded without a moment’s hesitation and answered.

“Go and learn from him.”

“Yes!”

Adelia nodded with a bright expression.

“…Hmph.”

The Tyrant Dragon snorted and strode ahead first, while Adelia began to follow closely behind him.

Watching that scene, I thought to myself.

‘I’m looking forward to Adelia’s growth.’

Even inside the game, after obtaining the 【Reflective Surface】, sparring with strong opponents had always served as the catalyst for her growth.

So this time as well, without a doubt, Adelia would surely surpass her limits once again.

‘Speaking of which….’

Swish-.

I slowly turned my gaze to the side.

While everyone was looking at Adelia with pleased expressions, only Jaque was showing signs of discomfort.

It was understandable. After all, the guy had received such harsh criticism from the Tyrant Dragon just a few minutes ago.

─How is it that you seem no different now than you were back then? Have you been neglecting your training?

‘…That’s definitely the face of someone who’s properly pissed off.’

Jaque’s eyes were blazing.

The guy was staring at Adelia’s back with a gaze burning with inferiority complex.

He too must have noticed that Adelia had achieved explosive growth.

She had been level 80 before leaving the Holy City, but had already reached level 85, so that said it all.

For someone who had been stuck in place for decades, it was natural that his mood would be twisted.

Watching that scene intently, I continued my thoughts.

‘The story’s progression is accelerating.’

Jark von Haibrunn.

His 「Fall」 was an inevitable event that occurred in every playthrough without fail.

Specific conditions had to be met to trigger it, and usually it would activate only in the mid-to-late stages of the game.

But now the situation was different.

Due to my intervention, even though we were still in the very early stages, some of those conditions had already been met.

Of course, there was nothing to worry about.

Because….

‘I can actually use this situation as an opportunity.’

…That was precisely why I had come to Middle Temple in the first place.

* * *

Creak, thud-!

Before long, the door closed.

Silence settled over the guest hall.

But what was this about? Though the two Sword Masters had left, Arwen and Jark von Haibrunn were still remaining in the room.

As if they had some remaining business with me.

“Lord Gaon.”

Just then, Arwen spoke up.

“May I dare ask the reason you induced the Sacred Inquisition?”

“….”

Right.

The reason Middle Temple’s two pillars had come to see me wasn’t just to drive away the Tyrant Dragon.

They too had another purpose for being here.

“Currently, there exists no evidence to prove the allegations that Lord Gaon formed an alliance with the Five Nightmares or acted as the leader of the Shadow Sect.”

“….”

“Yet why did you confess? In my humble opinion… it appears you deliberately induced the Sacred Inquisition.”

With those words, Arwen closed his mouth and waited for my answer.

Jark von Haibrunn also simply stared at me in silence.

‘The reason I induced the Sacred Inquisition….’

Arwen’s guess was correct.

I had induced the Sacred Inquisition for my own purposes. The unnecessary confession was also for that reason.

But I had no intention of revealing my true intentions here.

“Everything will be revealed at the trial.”

“….”

“….”

As soon as my words ended, silence began to circulate in the room again.

After a moment, Jark von Haibrunn spoke up.

“Sword Master Gaon. No matter how much you may be a seeker following the will of The Great Ones, remaining silent without a word after throwing the Holy City into such chaos is irresponsible….”

“Why are you so anxious?”

I calmly interrupted Jaque’s words.

“Remember the 「Sacred Covenant」 I made with The Great Ones.”

“….”

“All my actions carry the premise of ‘saving the world.’ Forming an alliance with the Five Nightmares, acting as the leader of the Shadow Sect, and inducing the Sacred Inquisition are all part of that course.”

Jaque was left speechless.

I could see the veins bulging on his neck twitching.

“Therefore, if you truly follow The Great Ones and wish to prevent the world’s end, there’s no need to doubt my actions.”

“….”

“If that’s not the case….”

Swoosh-.

Trailing off my words for a moment, I stared at Jaque.

Recognizing my cold gaze, his pupils began to shake endlessly.

“Perhaps, are you afraid of a ‘different situation’?”

* * *

Flinch-.

For a moment, Jaque’s hand brushing back his bangs trembled slightly.

Anxiety, restlessness, bewilderment, fear, and so on. Intense emotions began to overflow beneath the expressionless mask he was trying to maintain.

“Damn it….”

Jaque let out a hollow laugh as if incredulous and hung his head low.

Gaon’s two eyes held unwavering conviction.

“…You already knew everything.”

Right.

His intuition had been correct.

The person who had driven away Dorico Shiro and purified the Forest of the Heavenly Sea was none other than Gaon.

And since the 「Memoirs of Aiter」 had fallen into his hands, having his crimes exposed was a foregone conclusion.

“So what?”

Nevertheless, Jaque didn’t back down and sneered.

“In the end, was the reason you opened the Sacred Inquisition also to condemn me? To create a stage where you could expose what I did in the Forest of the Heavenly Sea?”

Gaon neither affirmed nor denied it.

He simply gazed at Jaque with calm eyes.

As if further enraged by that silence, Jaque’s voice grew louder.

“But what’s the problem with that? Succumbing to the temptation of Evil Deities is something anyone can experience. However, I didn’t cross the line! The contract with them fell through!”

Jaque’s breathing became rough. Like a cornered beast, he began to defend himself violently.

“In contrast, you formed a direct alliance with the Five Nightmares! On top of that, you even took control of the heretics’ leadership! With what shameless conviction are you trying to condemn me!”

“….”

“All your actions carry the premise of saving the world? All of this is the will of The Great Ones? Nonsense! If that’s the case, then my attempt to contract with Evil Deities can be justified just as easily!”

As soon as Jaque’s words ended, silence once again filled the room.

Tick, tick-.

How much more time passed like that?

While the sound of the clock’s second hand echoed endlessly, Jaque, having regained his composure somewhat, growled threateningly.

“Sword Master Gaon.”

“….”

“I don’t know what you’re aiming for by inducing the Sacred Inquisition, but things won’t go according to your will.”

Jaque continued speaking.

“Moreover, since three Sword Masters are scheduled to participate, any unexpected actions during the Sacred Inquisition will be even less tolerated.”

Gaon had already confessed his crimes.

He had formed an alliance with the Five Nightmares and acted as the leader of heretics.

Though it was a serious crime, it was certain that some consideration would be given based on the contents of the “Sacred Covenant” he had made.

However, if that happened, Jaque wouldn’t need to worry about his own mistakes either.

He too had plausible justification, and since his contract with the Evil Gods ultimately wasn’t completed, he could receive similar mitigating circumstances as Gaon.

Snicker-.

At that very moment, Gaon suddenly burst into mockery.

“I was wondering what made you so triumphant.”

He finished his words while looking at Jaque with a contemptuous expression.

“In the end, you’re just another coward who can only talk big while hiding behind others’ backs.”

“What do you…!”

“Since the heretics summoned by Middle Temple are stationed in the Holy City, you judged that I wouldn’t be able to treat you carelessly, so you’re acting up like this, aren’t you?”

“….”

Flinch-.

A cold voice filled with certainty echoed through the air.

At the words that hit the mark, Jaque couldn’t help but step backward involuntarily.

Gaon smiled as if he had expected this.

“Wake up from your dream.”

“….”

Suddenly, his breath caught in his throat.

Clearly, no intimidating aura or killing intent could be felt from Gaon.

What Jaque could sense was nothing more or less than the presence of an ordinary mercenary. However, that very ordinariness was what strangled Jaque’s breath.

The sensation of facing an existence whose true nature couldn’t even be known beyond a black veil.

The unknown fear of being unable to gauge his abilities began to amplify Jaque’s terror even more.

“It seems you’re thoroughly mistaken about something.”

Swoosh-.

Gaon’s eyes turned toward Jaque.

His infinitely sharpened gaze contained boredom as if everything was tedious….

But at the same time, it also held the determination to mercilessly eliminate anyone who dared block his path.

“If you believe that a mere three Sword Masters can stop me, then you’re still underestimating me.”

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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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