Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 104

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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 104

Episode 104. The Second Sacred Inquisition (2)

Crackle, crackle-!

The sound of torches burning tickled my ears.

A sound I’d heard sickeningly often throughout the day.

I couldn’t tell how long I’d been waiting in front of this damned door for the Holy Sanctum to open.

‘What’s taking so long?’

Of course, when you’re standing still in one place with both eyes covered, time naturally feels like it’s crawling by.

But this time it definitely wasn’t just my imagination.

After all, I’d been counting seconds in my head ever since I first stood in front of this door.

Right now it was exactly 3,619 seconds… now 3,620 seconds. I’d been standing here motionless for a full hour and 20 seconds.

‘Something’s definitely wrong.’

Was it thanks to my heightened sensory stats?

Even with my vision blocked, I could feel the subtle confusion spreading among the paladins.

Even when I played the game, the waiting time for Sacred Inquisitions was rarely this long.

I needed to know the reason.

The moment that thought occurred to me, I opened my mouth without a moment’s hesitation.

“How much longer do we have to wait?”

“…!”

Flinch-.

I could sense the paladin right next to me startle in surprise.

He was already tense, but when I spoke up, he seemed even more flustered.

It was understandable.

Though packaged as a seeker of the sword, I was a Sword Master – famous for being selected from among the continent’s greatest madmen… and among them, the leader of heretics who had formed an alliance with the Five Nightmares and been brought before the Sacred Inquisition.

It would be stranger if he wasn’t nervous.

“How much longer must we wait endlessly? I didn’t know Middle Temple’s discipline was this sloppy.”

“Th-that is…”

The paladin trembled as he tried to say something, then ultimately closed his mouth.

Just then, a familiar voice came from behind me.

“Lord Gaon.”

It was the voice of Sikan Bauer, Middle Temple’s investigation team leader.

“I’m terribly sorry to say this, but the Sacred Inquisition has been temporarily postponed for certain reasons.”

“…?”

Hearing his response, I slightly furrowed my brow.

‘The trial’s been postponed?’

Strange.

What reason could there possibly be for that?

Tyrant Dragon, Heukgol, and even Pean’s Sword Master. All three seekers needed for the Sacred Inquisition had arrived in the Holy City.

Moreover, I’d already been escorted to the front of the Holy Sanctum. This meant the trial proceedings were supposed to begin immediately.

But for the schedule to suddenly be postponed meant something had happened that even Middle Temple’s councilors hadn’t anticipated.

While I was thinking this, Sikan Bauer continued.

“They’ve determined that three Sword Masters alone would have difficulty dealing with Lord Gaon, so they’re discussing calling for additional reinforcements.”

“…?”

Huh?

Wait, what did you say?

‘What kind of nonsense is that… ah.’

Pause-.

Right then, a conversation flashed through my mind.

─If you believe a mere three Sword Masters can stop me, then you’re underestimating me.

“…”

Yesterday afternoon, the warning I’d given to Jark von Haibrunn.

That was nothing more than a bluff meant to pressure him.

‘…No matter how much I have [Soul of the Sword Master], realistically it’s impossible to face three transcendent-level seekers alone.’

One-on-one might be possible, but taking on three at once would be reckless.

Even if I used a skill to kill one in 0.01 seconds, the other two wouldn’t just stand there and watch.

Reacting to that 0.01 second was what made them transcendents, and not missing that brief opening was what made them Sword Masters.

Seekers who had reached such pinnacles were never easy opponents.

But…

‘…Don’t tell me Jark took my bluff seriously?’

To think he’d postpone the trial for such an absurd reason.

This guy was more of a coward than he looked?

“How curious.”

“Which part do you mean?”

“Did the other seekers just sit quietly after hearing that?”

“…”

“They’re naturally proud people, so they couldn’t have agreed that three of them couldn’t handle me.”

“…Pardon?”

Sikan Bauer responded as if asking what I meant.

“Lord Gaon, it was the seekers themselves who made that claim.”

“…?”

“Lord Heukgol strongly argued that subduing Lord Gaon would be impossible, and due to that, the councilors had no choice but to postpone the trial.”

I stand corrected.

The coward wasn’t Jark von Haibrunn but Heukgol.

Heukgol, why did this guy get so scared?

Was the combination of [Soul of the Sword Master] and [True Ritardando] that frightening last time?

“And Lord Tyrant Dragon also agreed with that opinion.”

“…”

I stand corrected once again.

The cowards weren’t just Jark von Haibrunn, but Heukgol and Tyrant Dragon.

‘But why would Tyrant Dragon…?’

Heukgol was one thing, but I couldn’t understand Tyrant Dragon’s attitude at all.

Just a day ago, he was burning with desire to fight me, so why was he suddenly backing down?

Did he have a change of heart after sparring with Adelia? Did witnessing her explosive growth make him evaluate me, her teacher, that highly?

If not that, then…

‘…Aha.’

Pause-.

Right then, one possibility flashed through my mind.

Right.

I was getting a rough idea.

Why those seeker bastards were deliberately delaying the Sacred Inquisition.

‘Anyway, cunning bastards.’

Though their personalities were twisted and they acted like reckless lunatics on the surface…

There was no group on this continent as calculating and shrewd as Sword Masters.

‘So they’re trying to use this situation that way, is that it?’

* * *

Hissss-.

Silence lingered within the Holy Sanctum.

How much more time had passed like that?

One councilor carefully opened his mouth, representing everyone.

“What do you mean by that, Pean?”

“….”

“It sounds like you’re saying that even if Gaon causes a disturbance during the trial, you’ll just leave the situation alone… Surely I must have misunderstood?”

Pean neither affirmed nor denied it.

He just stared at his opponent with an expressionless face.

Rather, that silence made the councilor even more anxious.

“Of, of course I understand Pean’s position. But we have a duty to protect the Holy City and maintain order.”

“….”

“No matter how much Gaon has made a ‘Sacred Covenant’ with The Great Ones, we cannot allow disorder, can we? That would threaten Middle Temple’s stability…”

“Order and stability.”

Pean interrupted the councilor’s words with a meaningful smile.

“Those two are merely ‘means’ to prevent the end times. But if those means become obstacles to achieving our purpose, what choice should we make?”

“….”

“And who established Middle Temple’s regulations? The Great Ones, or ourselves?”

If a Sword Master’s actions go against regulations, but if those actions align with The Great Ones’ will.

Should Middle Temple follow the regulations established long ago?

Or should they follow The Great Ones’ new will?

“….”

“….”

“….”

The conference hall fell into complete silence once again.

The question Pean posed revealed the contradiction the Holy City had been ignoring.

Middle Temple exists to serve The Great Ones’ will, but at the same time, the regulations and order they created could sometimes obstruct The Great Ones’ will—a paradox.

At the same time, the councilors had no choice but to interpret Pean’s argument as a ‘threat.’ He was declaring that he wouldn’t intervene even if Gaon caused a disturbance.

The other Sword Masters were also silently watching the situation without saying anything.

Considering Tyrant Dragon and Heukgol’s personalities, that silence was tantamount to agreeing with Pean’s will. If they had any objections, they would have intervened long ago.

‘This is…’

Jark von Haibrunn, who had been watching the situation, frowned.

The reason the Sword Masters, famous for their lack of unity, were joining hands to make such threats was clear.

‘…They must want something.’

Having reached that conclusion, Jark spoke on behalf of all the councilors.

“Heretics.”

“….”

“What do you want us to do?”

Jark immediately asked for their demands.

Heh-.

Hearing that straightforward question, Pean smiled faintly.

It was a completely different expression from his previous meaningful smiles.

“You catch on quickly. Truly befitting the head of House Haibrunn, how cunning.”

Pean’s eyes suddenly turned cold.

“Just as expected from the descendant of that swindler who tricked me into passing down the ‘Sword Master’s Seal’ through generations.”

* * *

3,921 seconds.

3,922 seconds.

3,933 seconds…

“The trial is scheduled to begin in three minutes.”

“…!”

Oh!

Finally!

At Sikan Bauer’s words announcing the start of the trial, I stopped counting.

When conquering Roel, counting numbers to not miss a single variable was one of my long-standing habits.

Time, position, conditions… All of these had to be organized numerically before a strategy could be completed.

For reference, this was the first time a Sacred Inquisition had been delayed this much.

“Will the trial proceed without reinforcing the Sword Masters?”

“Yes.”

Hmm.

That’s a bit disappointing.

If there had been more Sword Masters, my plan would have gone more smoothly.

‘No, wait.’

Would it have just delayed things longer for no reason?

Then, Sikan Bauer continued speaking.

“The trial resumed on the condition that two demands from the Heretics were accepted.”

“….”

As expected.

The Sword Masters had intentionally delayed the trial.

It was a calculation to seize control at the negotiation table by arguing that subduing me would be difficult.

“The first demand was to respect Gaon’s testimony as much as possible. They requested that we listen carefully without pressuring him like an ordinary defendant or applying unreasonable pressure.”

“…?”

“Under the judgment that since you made a Sacred Covenant, you probably had no intention of harming Middle Temple.”

Wait.

This was unexpected.

They were worried about my safety first when they could have been securing their own interests?

Especially in Tyrant Dragon’s case, it seemed like he wanted to use my guilt as an excuse to fight me somehow…

‘…I can’t figure out what they’re scheming.’

Anyway.

Whatever it was, this was an infinitely beneficial situation for me.

“And the second demand is…”

Sikan Bauer trailed off and spoke in a subdued voice.

“…I’m sorry. I don’t think I can tell you about this one.”

Mm.

Well.

No matter how much Sikan Bauer trusted me, my current status was still that of a defendant in a Sacred Inquisition.

In that state, explaining the Heretics’ negotiation details would be imprudent.

I was already grateful that he had told me this much.

“This trial is closer to a formal procedure.”

Sikan Bauer continued carefully.

“As you can tell from the first demand the Heretics made, everyone will listen to Gaon’s claims. So you don’t need to worry too much.”

He glanced around at the surrounding gazes once, then added quietly.

“Telling you about the meeting contents was my decision alone. Please keep it secret from the other councilors.”

“Just keep your subordinates’ mouths shut.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Sikan Bauer answered with an unwavering expression.

His tone carried the conviction that his subordinates would absolutely never speak.

I could glimpse just how strong his command authority was, and how thorough the loyalty he received was.

“Then, we shall now enter the Holy Sanctum.”

Whoooosh-.

The doors of the Holy Sanctum leading to the second Sacred Inquisition opened.

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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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