Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 106

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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 106

 

Episode 106. The Second Sacred Inquisition (4)

 

* * *

 

“….”

 

Whoooosh—.

 

The barrier that had been blocking my path vanished.

 

The moment my hand touched the veil, [Barrier Destroyer] had activated.

 

And the councilors who witnessed this scene all began staring at me with shocked expressions.

 

‘Exactly the reaction I wanted.’

 

As I always said, seizing control was the most important thing in situations like this.

 

The Sacred Inquisition wasn’t simply a place for fact-checking.

 

‘Since it’s a political stage where authorities clash, victory depends on who controls the situation.’

 

The Middle Temple councilors, well aware of this fact, had tried to corner me with questions containing elaborate traps.

 

But their calculations had one fatal flaw.

 

Namely, that I was already thinking several moves ahead of them.

 

—How, how did he destroy the barrier so easily?

 

—Good heavens. That barrier the High Priests spent days and nights creating, destroyed with just a single gesture….

 

—Did anyone see how the spell was broken? I certainly didn’t sense any interference whatsoever.

 

Murmur murmur—.

 

The moment the barrier collapsed in an instant, the atmosphere in the Holy Sanctum completely changed.

 

The councilors, shocked, hurriedly questioned the cause and exchanged opinions with each other, but ultimately couldn’t uncover the reason.

 

In the end, all they could do was stare at me in silent bewilderment.

 

Yes.

 

Now it was Middle Temple’s turn to listen to my words.

 

“Someone might judge me as arrogant.”

 

—….

 

“However, I have no intention of blaming them.”

 

—….

 

“Dorico Shiro, and the Shadow Conclave. I know full well how presumptuous it must sound to dismiss these two as non-threats and guarantee complete control.”

 

Swoosh—.

 

I turned my gaze to look at the blue-glowing flame.

 

Then continued speaking in an infinitely calm voice.

 

“But just now, I proved myself.”

 

That’s right.

 

Aiter’s sacred fire had verified that all my words were true.

 

Not only that, but I had even used [Barrier Destroyer] to display my abilities before everyone’s eyes.

 

Dorico Shiro’s illusions and the Shadow Conclave’s spells were essentially the same. And I had shown that I could easily see through and destroy all of it.

 

Acknowledging that those two were unstable, while proving they posed no danger to me whatsoever.

 

Rather, demonstrating clearly that under my control, they would become ‘tools’ to save the world.

 

Having succeeded in this, I had broken through head-on all the traps Middle Temple had secretly laid within their questions.

 

—….

 

—….

 

—….

 

A quiet stillness flowed through the Holy Sanctum.

 

The one receiving questions is passive, while the one asking questions is active. The one making excuses is weak, while the one making declarations is strong.

 

The one desperately explaining is cornered, but the one boldly expressing their will captivates everyone’s attention.

 

Perhaps that’s why?

 

Though I couldn’t see the expressions beyond the mist, I could be certain of one fact.

 

The center of gravity in the Sacred Inquisition was quietly beginning to tilt toward me.

 

“I passed Demarion’s test.”

 

—….

 

“By instantly breaking through the challenge he had prepared, I reached the Great Sage whom no one had approached for hundreds of years.”

 

It was quite a shocking statement, but this time no disturbance arose.

 

Since rumors that Demarian’s Chamber had opened had already spread throughout Wintershield, Middle Temple would naturally have heard about it too.

 

Then what I needed to do was simple.

 

Just like during the last Sacred Inquisition, I wouldn’t lie but would only reveal truths favorable to me.

 

“There, I heard many things and saw many things.”

 

—….

 

“The World Tree’s whispers. The Great Sage who sees through all secrets of this continent through them. Eyes deep as the universe and the countless insights and wisdom dwelling within.”

 

Pause—.

 

I stopped speaking for a moment.

 

I had described my meeting with Demarion the Great Sage vaguely to leave room for the listeners’ imagination.

 

‘In reality, all I accomplished was learning Pean’s true name….’

 

I guided them to think I had discussed Middle Temple’s future, the coming apocalypse, and even solutions for salvation with him.

 

This was one of the reasons I had specifically sought out Demarion in Wintershield. Just as important as Pean’s true name was borrowing the Great Sage’s ‘authority.’

 

“Yes. I examined every possibility. Cooperation with Middle Temple. Improvement within the existing system. Even gradual change through traditional methods.”

 

After catching my breath briefly, I continued.

 

“But truly, could that be an alternative when the very order itself has already rotted away?”

 

My voice gradually lowered.

 

“Middle Temple’s core has already begun to decay.”

 

—….

 

“Those who advocate minimizing discord have become the greatest source of turbulence, and the cause of preserving tradition has degenerated into an excuse to protect power.”

 

At those words, the air in the Holy Sanctum froze.

 

Regardless, I fixed my gaze in a specific direction.

 

“Then this time, let me ask in return.”

 

Beyond the mist. Specifically staring at the seat where Jark von Haibrunn would be sitting.

 

“Can you truly assert that no one in Middle Temple has attempted to join hands with the Evil Deities?”

 

—…!

 

—…!

 

Murmur murmur—.

 

Disturbance arose again among the councilors.

 

The question I had thrown wasn’t a simple counter-question.

 

It was a blade-sharp accusation and a direct threat aimed at someone sitting in this Holy Sanctum.

 

—How contradictory.

 

Just then, a low voice echoed from beyond the mist.

 

A tone clearly different from the Chairman’s voice. A voice that seemed roughened with age yet still carried a sharp edge.

 

Rustle—.

 

The silhouette of a well-built elderly man became faintly visible beyond the mist.

 

Jark von Haibrunn.

 

He began to speak, representing the Traditionalist Faction.

 

—Even if there were seeds of corruption in Middle Temple’s core, you would join hands with the Five Nightmares to root them out? Do you think that’s a reasonable choice?

 

“….”

 

—Claiming to prevent corruption while joining hands with greater corruption. If this isn’t true contradiction, then what is….

 

Bang, bang, bang—!

 

That was the moment. The short, heavy sound of the gavel cut off Jaque’s words and seized control of the Holy Sanctum.

 

—Silence.

 

The Chairman’s voice was firm and cold.

 

─Aiter’s sacred flame burns solely as payment to hear the defendant’s truth. Unauthorized statements in the Sacred Inquisition are acts that wastefully consume that flame.

 

At the Chairman’s following words, Jark von Haibrunn clamped his mouth shut. He couldn’t offer any rebuttal to the warning that invoked Middletemple’s regulations.

 

─Please continue with your response, Sword Master Gaon.

 

Once the Holy Sanctum had quieted, the Chairman, having organized the situation, passed the speaking rights back to me. I immediately countered Jaque’s words with a calm voice.

 

“Claiming to prevent corruption while joining hands with greater corruption is contradictory, you say…”

 

Sneer-.

 

I deliberately showed an unpleasant smile. As if I were mocking Jaque in front of everyone.

 

“How amusing. To hear such words from someone who grasped Dorico Shiro’s hand before I did.”

 

─…!

 

─…!

 

Murmur murmur-.

 

The Holy Sanctum began to be engulfed in commotion once again.

 

The shocking revelation that Jaque had joined hands with one of the Five Nightmares. This was enough to throw the Councilors into confusion… especially those belonging to the Traditionalist Faction.

 

Among them, Jaque’s silhouette trembled particularly. As if he never expected I would publicly expose his misdeeds to this extent.

 

“The Memoirs of Aiter already contain all of Jark von Haibrunn’s misdeeds.”

 

─What do you…

 

“Making contact with Evil Deities in the Forest of the Heavenly Sea. Making secret pacts with Dorico Shiro. Turning a blind eye to Haewolsumo’s corruption. All those truths are recorded intact in the sacred artifact.”

 

I continued speaking calmly.

 

“If you can’t believe it, feel free to check for yourself.”

 

Unfortunately, the “Memoirs of Aiter” wasn’t present at this gathering. It had been confiscated along with the Feather Sword the moment I entered Middletemple, the Holy City.

 

Flicker, flutter-!

 

Still, it didn’t matter much. Aiter’s sacred flame was still burning. Once again proving there was no falsehood in my words.

 

─It’s true that Evil Deities tempted me!

 

Just as my words ended, Jaque raised his voice.

 

─I was tormented by the Evil Deities’ voices that came at all hours, and I admit I nearly succumbed to temptation!

 

Jaque turned toward the other Councilors and protested.

 

─But I didn’t make a contract! In the end, I rejected that temptation and returned to Middletemple!

 

After catching his breath, he added sharply.

 

─I’ll accept punishment for making contact with Dorico Shiro! But shouldn’t the heretic who formed an actual alliance also pay the price!

 

Twitch-.

 

That was the moment.

 

When the three figures seated at the very front reacted subtly.

 

An extraordinary aura felt even through the mist. And an overwhelming presence. From just their silhouettes glimpsed faintly, I could be certain they were Sword Masters.

 

The three heretics’ gazes turned toward Jaque in unison. Like predators spotting prey. With gleaming eyes.

 

A suffocating silence flowed.

 

Amid the tense standoff, Jaque, unable to bear it any longer, opened his mouth.

 

─What? Why are you all staring like that…

 

─Hey.

 

The Tyrant Dragon growled.

 

─Speak properly, brat. You were tormented by Evil Deities’ voices that came at all hours?

 

─…?

 

Flinch-.

 

Jaque’s figure visibly shrank for a moment.

 

He looked as if he couldn’t understand why the three Sword Masters were reacting so sensitively.

 

─Hmm.

 

At this, Pean began to add explanation in a calm voice.

 

─Jark von Haibrunn. Have you ever directly heard an Elder’s voice?

 

─I am…

 

─Of course not. The Great Ones don’t let just anyone hear their voices.

 

─…

 

─Their voices are permitted only to those who have made ‘direct contracts’ like the Saintess or heretics.

 

The Great Ones’ revelations weren’t simple ‘sounds’. They were blessings, commands, and simultaneously part of divine beings.

 

In reality, those who heard the Elders’ voices were extremely rare.

 

Only the Saintess and Sword Masters, essentially.

 

As such, how revelations worked, how they were transmitted, was barely known. Most publicly known facts were mere ‘speculation’.

 

‘This is why Adelia looked at me with such shining eyes whenever she heard about revelations.’

 

Even the thousands of ancient texts stacked in Middletemple’s library only dealt with the results of revelations, remaining silent about the process.

 

Much less could knowledge about how Evil Deities’ whispers eroded souls, about those subtle boundaries, be found.

 

Therefore, it wasn’t unreasonable that Jaque failed to properly recognize his condition.

 

No matter how much he was the Traditionalist Faction’s leader, he could only access fragmentary knowledge recorded in ancient texts.

 

Well, thanks to that…

 

─Evil Deities are the same. Though their essence may be opposite, the way they send whispers isn’t much different from the Elders.

 

…he ended up confessing to his own corruption.

 

─Therefore, your claim that you ‘heard’ Evil Deities’ voices means… without knowing it yourself, you had already made a contract with them.

 

Thud-.

 

And the moment those words ended, silence fell over the entire Holy Sanctum.

 

Even breathing sounds disappeared.

 

The Councilors’ silhouettes, frozen as one, began staring directly at Jark von Haibrunn.

 

And…

 

─…Fucking hell.

 

Along with the quiet curse that flowed from Jaque’s mouth.

 

KWAAAAAAAANG──!

 

A massive explosion swept through the Holy Sanctum.

 

* * *

 

Ding-!

 

〔Hidden Message : Causality is being twisted.〕

 

〔Hidden Message : The second apostle「#̷̢̑@̷̜̯̋̔&̷̼̐̔͆^̷̮̹̼̊̆!̶̝̓̂̈%̷̸̵̡̛̣̭͙̳̓̂̌̎̔̌̂#̵̍̌̕」has descended.〕

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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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