Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 102

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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 102

Episode 102. Trial Preparations (4)

* * *

Murmur murmur-.

A stir arose among the Paladins who had come to the training ground.

The reason they had gathered here was to witness the Sword Master’s blade firsthand.

However, the one who truly captured their attention was not the Tyrant Dragon, but…

None other than Adelia von Goldhart.

“Somehow she seems even sharper than when I saw her last time?”

“Now she looks like she could match Baron Bauer evenly.”

“Soon Middle Temple will have its third pillar.”

The Paladins couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration at her dazzling growth.

Clang-!

At that very moment, a metallic sound rang throughout the training ground.

Adelia’s sword, having clashed with Pokryeomdo, was sent flying far away.

“…Ah.”

Adelia looked down at her empty hands with a hollow expression.

Rather than being disappointed about losing to the Sword Master, she seemed regretful that the fight itself had ended.

“Ha.”

Seeing this, the Tyrant Dragon let out a hollow laugh as if incredulous.

“You’re quite the sword-obsessed fool yourself.”

“…”

“But… this is really unbelievable? This is really that ‘brat’ I met in Labyrinth Village?”

The Tyrant Dragon began examining Adelia closely once again.

Haa, ha-.

Adelia was breathing heavily.

Her entire body was drenched in sweat, and her breath burned hot.

A stark contrast to the Tyrant Dragon, who showed no signs of fatigue.

Nevertheless, there was admiration in the Tyrant Dragon’s eyes.

‘Her growth rate is astounding.’

Just a few months ago, Adelia could barely manage to receive his attacks.

She was so busy defending that counterattacking was beyond her dreams.

But now Adelia was not only receiving the Tyrant Dragon’s attacks, but also looking for openings to counterattack.

“Good work. Thanks to you, my restless body feels somewhat loosened up.”

“…I’m the one who should be grateful for your teachings, Lord Tyrant Dragon.”

Of course, all of this was only possible because the Tyrant Dragon had been holding back.

Even so, considering that Adelia’s achievements had been accomplished in just a few months, her future potential was truly limitless.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that in the near future, an opponent would emerge who could fully enjoy the true ‘battle’ that the Tyrant Dragon craved.

‘This one might be worth nurturing?’

With that thought, the Tyrant Dragon sheathed Pokryeomdo and made a proposal.

“Hey.”

“…Yes.”

“Adelia, was it? How about coming under me?”

“…”

Even during their sparring, Adelia had continued growing moment by moment.

Having witnessed that tremendous rate of development, it was only natural for the Tyrant Dragon to covet the opponent before him.

“You felt it too, didn’t you? How you kept growing during our sparring. Surely if we train together like this for a few years, you too could reach the realm of Sword Master…”

“I’m sorry.”

However, Adelia shook her head without a moment’s hesitation.

“I have already sworn loyalty to Lord Gaon. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have come anywhere near my current level.”

“…”

An infinitely resolute tone.

It wasn’t formal words filled with courtesy toward a teacher or empty pleasantries, but speech imbued with firm respect and conviction.

Looking at such an Adelia, the Tyrant Dragon couldn’t help but think the following once again.

‘Just what kind of person is this Gaon fellow.’

Adelia was certainly a swordsman with outstanding talent.

But even considering that, Gaon’s contribution must have been significant for Adelia to grow so explosively in such a short time.

‘How exceptional must his understanding of the sword be to make his disciple grow this quickly?’

He grew increasingly curious about Sword Master Gaon’s true abilities.

* * *

“…”

A full day had already passed since the Tyrant Dragon, Pean, and Middle Temple’s two pillars had visited the guest hall.

Inside the quiet guest hall.

I moved toward the window, then fell into quiet contemplation while recalling yesterday’s events.

‘Jaque is cornered.’

His emotional fluctuations were unusual. As if he had fallen into a whirlpool of confusion.

The usual Jaque wouldn’t have gotten so easily agitated.

However, judging by his sharp reaction yesterday, he was clearly quite mentally unstable.

‘Well, that’s understandable.’

From the moment he learned that Memoirs of Aiter had fallen into my hands, he wouldn’t have had a single comfortable day.

The reason he kept barking like a frightened dog was probably due to that.

‘Anyway.’

Everything was going according to my plan.

Jark von Haibrunn is a character who’s utterly useless for game progression.

The guy I’d observed during 200 playthroughs of Roel was someone with needless greed and equally stubborn personality.

‘When the player acted to prevent the apocalypse, he would interfere with ridiculous excuses.’

His justification was to prevent actions that went against Middle Temple’s rules and the Traditionalist Faction’s beliefs, but in reality, it was merely checking others out of fear that his own influence would diminish.

Yes.

Jark von Haibrunn was that kind of person.

An egoist who spoke of great causes outwardly while inwardly always focused only on his own welfare.

A contradictory figure who proclaimed sanctuary stability more than anyone, yet was himself the most unstable existence.

And as a result…

『How dare you lowlifes insult God’s representative?』

『Fine. Good. I’ll purify all heretics with death. With my own hands, directly!』

『Tarnished Middle Temple’s name? Don’t make me laugh! From now on, this sanctuary is mine! Anyone who dares interfere with me will be silenced by death!』

…In the end, he fell to become one of the worst bosses in the main story.

‘Since he possessed strong martial power, I thought there was plenty of room to utilize him, so I tried recruiting him as an ally several times, but…’

Those attempts always ended in failure.

Jark von Haibrunn turned his back at crucial moments, and his sword tip pointed toward humanity every time during 200 playthroughs.

A guy with great ambitions but no spirit, who spoke of beliefs but refused to take responsibility.

Cooperating with such a dangerous element was like walking over a bottomless trap.

‘Ultimately, for the stability of Middle Temple… no, for the entire world, there’s no choice but to eliminate Jaque.’

Of course, I know this too.

It’s dangerous to make definitive judgments about a future that hasn’t yet occurred.

I might be jumping to conclusions. If this is still the very early stages, there must surely be things that can still be changed.

Perhaps in this cycle, there was a possibility that Jaque could change.

‘But…’

Investing time in uncertain variables would be foolish.

‘…In Roel, selective focus is everything.’

This game doesn’t wait for leisurely idealists.

A single choice that seemed trivial would later become a massive storm that mercilessly overwhelms the player.

Haven’t I myself faced countless such crises since opening my eyes to this damned world?

Therefore, I had no intention of wasting precious time on Jaque’s conversion, which hadn’t succeeded even once in 200 cycles.

I even questioned whether Jaque was truly worth such effort.

‘Above all, he’s already crossed the line.’

When Dorico Shiro corrupted the Aquamancer, Jaque did nothing. When the Forest of the Heavenly Sea was polluted, he did nothing.

Yet he would only make excuses like this:

Evil’s temptation comes to everyone. But since he didn’t make a contract, he hadn’t crossed the line.

‘Ridiculous.’

He doesn’t realize it, but the very fact that he received the evil gods’ temptation was proof that he had reached toward corruption.

Jaque hadn’t hesitated about the contract—he had calculated.

Because now wasn’t the time.

Because it would still be a loss.

He was simply pushing the line with his toes in secret, all for his own greed.

“…”

Hasty judgments are dangerous. I know this fact all too well.

But this time, I could be certain. Jark von Haibrunn had already crossed a river of no return.

And the evidence was clearly captured in the “Memoirs of Aiter.”

‘The day of judgment has been decided.’

Now it was time to make those who chose irresponsible greed pay the price.

The reason I orchestrated the Sacred Inquisition.

All of this was to create the perfect ‘stage’ for judging Jark von Haibrunn and the Traditionalist Faction.

“…”

All preparations were complete. All that remained was breaking their final wings.

Knock knock-.

Just then, the sound of knocking awakened me from my thoughts.

I slowly opened my eyes.

“Protagonist.”

The priest’s voice came from outside the door.

“Lord Heukgol has arrived in the Holy City.”

“…”

“The Sacred Inquisition is scheduled for tomorrow morning.”

Finally, the last stage for seizing control of Middle Temple had arrived.

* * *

Tap, tap, tap-.

Jark von Haibrunn tapped the table with his finger, wearing a darkly sunken expression.

Since yesterday, a rumor had been spreading through the Holy City at a frightening speed. The story that Middle Temple’s third great pillar would soon be born.

The protagonist of that story was none other than Adelia von Goldhart.

─No matter how noble the bloodline of a sacred family, how can a mere human become this strong so quickly.

“Damn it…”

Grind-.

Jaque cursed under his breath and clenched his teeth.

Moreover, even the Tyrant Dragon had officially recognized her rapid achievements.

For Jaque, who had been stuck in place for decades, this was inevitably quite unpleasant.

As he struggled to suppress the unpleasant emotions rising to his throat.

─Child.

At that moment, someone’s seductive voice echoed in his ear.

─Why do you struggle trapped within limits? Can you not see the true potential sleeping within you?

“…”

─The shackles they’ve placed on you are mere illusions. Even those called the Great Ones are ultimately beings who only seek to protect their own authority.

“…”

─The moment you cross the boundaries set by the old ones, you can reach the same realm as them. Take my hand. I’ll grant you true power that no Sword Master can covet.

“Grrgh…!”

Jaque covered both ears with his palms.

The hallucinations that used to come once every few weeks now persistently burrowed into his ears dozens of times a day.

─Foolish. Do you still think this voice is a hallucination?

“…Shut up!”

Jaque swung his palm at empty air and began breathing heavily.

Haa, ha-.

After glaring at the empty air with bloodshot eyes for a while, the voice echoing in his ears gradually quieted.

Thud-.

Jaque leaned back in his chair, completely drained, and quietly fell into thought.

‘…Gaon.’

Tomorrow morning, the Sacred Inquisition regarding that bastard would be held.

‘He already knows. What kind of things I’ve done.’

That fact alone was enough to make Jaque endlessly anxious. He couldn’t even gauge what that bastard might do at tomorrow’s Sacred Inquisition.

‘Still… there’s nothing to worry about.’

Swish-.

Jaque removed his glove and checked the back of his hand.

A softly glowing sword-shaped pattern.

It was the “Sword Master’s Seal” that Pheahn, who had contracted with House Haibrunn, carved for the current family head.

In other words, anyone who tried to harm Jaque would have to be prepared for a life-or-death battle with Pheahn.

‘Moreover, who would dare touch an existence that even the Tyrant Dragon avoids fighting?’

Jaque approached the window and looked down at Middle Temple’s darkened scenery. Then he tried to comfort himself to hide his anxiety.

‘Therefore, no one can harm me.’

Suddenly, he remembered the words Gaon had uttered yesterday.

That even three Sword Masters wouldn’t be enough to stop him?

‘Ridiculous.’

Such absurd boasting wouldn’t work.

…At least in that moment, that’s what he thought.

* * *

One hour before the Sacred Inquisition began, in the corridor leading to the Sacred Temple.

“Are you guys out of your minds?”

Heukgol scratched his skull and spoke as if dumbfounded.

“The defendant in the Sacred Inquisition was Gaon?”

“…”

“Then you should have called at least five, not three, you idiots. How are we three supposed to stop that guy?”

While the priests showed troubled expressions, a bewildered emotion also rose on Jaque’s face.

‘…What?’

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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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