Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 107

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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 107

 

Episode 107. The Haibrunn Subjugation War (1)

 

Screams echoed from all directions.

 

Beyond the teal mist, flashing lights and tangled shadows writhed endlessly.

 

Though visibility was hazy, it was clear that fierce combat was raging beyond.

 

Desperate cries, sharp clashing sounds of metal striking metal, rough breathing, and violent shouts intertwined to fuel the chaos even more.

 

─Seal the entrance! We must execute the evil deity worshipper here!

 

─Th-this is impossible! How could Middle Temple’s great fortress make a contract with evil deities…!

 

─Ha, hahaha… Th-this must be a dream…

 

Some immediately faced reality and tried to resolve the situation. Others denied the reality before their eyes.

 

─Kyaaaaaaak!

 

─Call a healer immediately! Treating the wounded is urgent!

 

─Catch him! He’s escaping!

 

Pandemonium.

 

It was truly pandemonium.

 

Cornered, Jark von Haibrunn tried to break through the crowd and escape outside the Holy Sanctum, but several councilors and paladins risked their lives to stop him.

 

Kwaaaaaang-!

 

The quiet and sacred Holy Sanctum had transformed into a terrible battlefield covered in screams and the stench of blood.

 

Passsseuk─.

 

‘Ah.’

 

That was the exact moment.

 

When Aiter’s sacred flame, which had been burning quietly, began to lose its power and slowly extinguish.

 

As the blue flames gradually died down, the Holy Sanctum was plunged into even deeper darkness.

 

The sacred flame, which was the flame that illuminated truth and the sole judge of the sacred trial, had been extinguished.

 

Yes.

 

Now that all my claims had been proven true and Jark von Haibrunn’s corruption had been revealed to the world.

 

The Sacred Inquisition was essentially over.

 

“Lord Gaon…!”

 

Then, a figure rushed urgently toward me.

 

【Lv. 85】

 

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

 

Whoosh-!

 

He tossed the Feather Sword to me like throwing it.

 

As I reflexively extended my hand, a cold yet familiar sensation wrapped around my palm.

 

‘…It’s been a while.’

 

Sring-.

 

The Feather Sword drawn from its sheath emitted a sword cry while giving off a subtle light.

 

The first sword I’d held since entering the Holy City. As always, I felt no weight at all.

 

“The situation is urgent! We must hurry!”

 

Sikan Bauer moved his steps frantically.

 

Quite an urgent appearance, unlike his usual calm demeanor.

 

I followed behind him, cutting through the mist toward the councilor seats.

 

‘What a mess.’

 

Thud, thud-.

 

With each step, the devastation around me became clearer.

 

Marble floors stained with fresh blood. Chairs shattered to pieces and scattered documents. People who had collapsed unconscious. And even the debris of half-collapsed pillars.

 

However, no matter how much I looked around, Jaque was nowhere to be seen.

 

Looking toward the main entrance, I could see traces of fierce battle and the entrance completely destroyed.

 

‘…He’s already succeeded in escaping.’

 

As befitting someone with level 99 skills, he had apparently broken through the encirclement and fled.

 

Swish-.

 

I quietly turned my gaze.

 

Even in the midst of that chaos, the three Sword Masters who had been sitting in the front row remained motionless.

 

Tyrant Dragon, Heukgol, Pean.

 

They paid no attention to anything else, keeping their gazes fixed solely on me.

 

“There was no choice.”

 

“…?”

 

Before I could say anything, Tyrant Dragon shrugged and began making excuses.

 

“We had no choice but to let Jark von Haibrunn go. According to Middle Temple’s regulations, we cannot intervene arbitrarily except to subdue the defendant during a Sacred Inquisition.”

 

“…”

 

That’s right.

 

There was only one reason those Sword Masters had been summoned by Middle Temple.

 

Precisely to restrain any unexpected actions from ‘me.’

 

Any other intervention was strictly forbidden. I couldn’t blame them for not stopping Jark von Haibrunn.

 

Well, I had no intention of reproaching them in a situation I hadn’t expected anything from anyway.

 

“But…”

 

Glance-.

 

Then, Tyrant Dragon looked somewhere.

 

Following his gaze, the defendant’s seat where I had been just moments ago came into view.

 

“…Aiter’s sacred flame has been extinguished.”

 

The meaning of those words was clear.

 

It meant that my innocence had been proven and the Sacred Inquisition was over.

 

Ha-.

 

Confirming this, Tyrant Dragon let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.

 

“I thought it would be absolutely impossible, but you managed to achieve acquittal.”

 

“…”

 

Forming an alliance with Dorico Shiro and devouring the Shadow Sect while still achieving acquittal.

 

It must have been a situation no one could have imagined.

 

For Tyrant Dragon, who had hoped to engage in a life-and-death duel after I received a guilty verdict, this must be an endlessly disappointing situation.

 

“Well, still…”

 

Crack, crack-!

 

Tyrant Dragon began loosening up his body, cracking his neck and hands. With momentum as if he would enter combat immediately.

 

“You haven’t forgotten what you said, have you?”

 

“…?”

 

“That if someone tried to kill you after you were acquitted, you would do your best to survive?”

 

No.

 

Wait a minute.

 

“It’s perfect timing since you’re already holding a sword.”

 

Grin-.

 

A refreshing smile spread across Tyrant Dragon’s lips.

 

He gripped Pokryeomdo with both hands and stared directly at me.

 

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long, Gaon.”

 

“…”

 

“Please don’t disappoint my expectations.”

 

I could only stare at this Tyrant Dragon with a bewildered expression.

 

‘Is this guy insane…?’

 

Even in this situation, he wants to fight me?

 

Really?

 

I know he has battle maniac tendencies, but I didn’t think he’d be this much of a lunatic.

 

…Of course, that bewilderment was only momentary.

 

I immediately regained my composure and calmly prepared my next move.

 

Clang clang clang clang──!

 

A clear metallic sound echoed across the floor.

 

Freeze-.

 

At the same time, the Tyrant Dragon who seemed ready to charge at any moment froze solid.

 

“What the hell… are you trying to do…?”

 

He growled threateningly.

 

Regardless, I paid no attention and spread both arms wide.

 

“Kill me.”

 

The feather sword I had thrown was rolling around on the floor.

 

“Come on, kill me.”

 

“This bastard is now…!”

 

Crack-!

 

The Tyrant Dragon looked at me with an expression full of rage.

 

With his body heated up from battle, it was understandable that his opponent had put down his sword first.

 

‘But my friend.’

 

Today, no matter what you do, you won’t be able to fight me.

 

Why?

 

Because the reason I called you all to this place was…

 

* * *

 

“What, what did you say?”

 

A few days ago.

 

The special ward at Wintershield Magic Academy.

 

Strawberry Latte… no, Taragon, who heard my plan, made an expression mixed with shock.

 

He swept back his pink hair with one hand and asked again.

 

“You’re going to deliberately accelerate Jark von Haibrunn’s corruption?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

I sat on the edge of the bed and began explaining calmly.

 

Jark von Haibrunn.

 

He’s a character designed to become corrupted when the world is already half-collapsed.

 

Appearing in the latter half when major factions have already crumbled and things are too messed up for the player to handle is the official history.

 

But actually, the situation becomes more dangerous then.

 

“Corrupted Jaque becomes a disaster comparable to the Five Nightmares.”

 

By then, crises will be erupting simultaneously all over the world, and we won’t have the capacity to respond.

 

“So it’s much better to eliminate him now, when the political situation is relatively stable.”

 

“Hmm…”

 

Taragon, who heard my explanation, nodded with a half-believing expression.

 

“Okay. Alright.”

 

Taragon looked at me and asked.

 

“But can you handle that alone, bro? No matter what, he’s designed as a late-game boss, right?”

 

“Of course it’s impossible alone.”

 

I admitted honestly.

 

Of course, killing him with the Soul of the Sword Master itself is possible.

 

The problem is the damage that occurs in the process.

 

‘Considering Corrupted Zack von Haibrunn’s patterns, countless casualties will inevitably occur during battle.’

 

Especially since he has a self-destruction technique that devastates the surroundings immediately upon death.

 

If a subjugation battle unfolds in the city center, the surroundings will definitely become a wasteland. Major facilities of the Holy City will be destroyed, and countless civilians will be swept up.

 

“Then how…”

 

“Simple.”

 

I smiled.

 

“If my power alone isn’t enough, I just need to bring in allies.”

 

“…Allies?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Taragon asked with a puzzled expression.

 

“There are allies who can face corrupted Jaque in the early timeline? Who?”

 

“The other Twelve Sword Masters.”

 

“…?”

 

Pause-.

 

Taragon, who heard my answer, frowned for a moment.

 

His expression showed he couldn’t understand what I was talking about at all.

 

“No, wait. Those crazy bastards would never willingly help you…”

 

“They wouldn’t. That’s why I’m holding a Sacred Inquisition.”

 

“…?”

 

“If I confess my crimes myself and become the defendant, at least three Sword Masters will be summoned to the Holy City according to regulations.”

 

It was the most reliable way to gather them in one place.

 

If it’s corruption that can’t be prevented anyway?

 

It’s better to just trigger the incident at the time and place I want.

 

An opportunity to sever future dangers in advance, eliminate the Middle Temple Traditionalists, and even imprint my skills on the other Sword Masters.

 

It was truly killing two birds… no, three birds with one stone.

 

“…”

 

Taragon, who heard this plan of mine, remained silent for a while before speaking.

 

“…Bro, are you insane?”

 

* * *

 

I still haven’t forgotten.

 

That look in Taragon’s eyes as he stared at me like I was a lunatic.

 

‘But, Latte… no, Jeongho.’

 

Originally, the greater the risk, the greater the reward that comes back.

 

If you only pursue safe and certain paths every time, you’ll face an ordinary ending… that is, ‘the apocalypse.’

 

‘Now you understand, right?’

 

That’s why you couldn’t break out of 2nd place in the rankings.

 

That’s why you couldn’t break out of 2nd place in the rankings.

 

“…”

 

I said the last part twice because it was important.

 

‘Anyway.’

 

The reason I confessed my crimes.

 

The reason I thereby induced a Sacred Inquisition and called three Sword Masters to one place.

 

That’s right.

 

All of this was a plan to corner Jaque at an official venue, reveal evidence of his corruption, and then bring him down.

 

‘There’s no need to unleash a great catastrophe in an already chaotic endgame.’

 

If we could accelerate that tragedy, we would be able to minimize future damage.

 

Ah, of course….

 

“Do you intend to mock me to the very end, Gaon?”

 

…all of this was only possible under the premise that the situation would flow according to my plan.

 

“Draw that sword right now. Stop playing these petty games.”

 

The Tyrant Dragon growled menacingly.

 

He was so enraged that hot steam began rising from his nostrils.

 

I answered bluntly without batting an eye.

 

“Tyrant Dragon.”

 

“….”

 

“Did you forget the 「Sacred Covenant」 I made with The Great Ones?”

 

─I will… save this world from its end.

 

That’s right.

 

I must save the world from its end.

 

And all my actions must follow that premise.

 

“But what would happen if I leisurely engaged in sword fights with you while Jark von Haibrunn runs wild?”

 

“That would….”

 

“Naturally, it would be breaking the covenant. Then the penalty of the prohibition would take effect.”

 

I shrugged my shoulders and continued.

 

“Either way, death is the same. In that case, it’s better to just be executed by your hand.”

 

“….”

 

Of course, this was sophistry.

 

After all, the core of the sacred covenant I made was survival… that is, protecting my own body well.

 

It meant there would be no problem at all if I fought back when the opponent came at me with killing intent first.

 

“Grrrrrrr…!”

 

The Tyrant Dragon wasn’t foolish enough not to know that fact.

 

It’s just that his thoughts couldn’t reach that far due to his extreme agitation.

 

“Damn it!”

 

Crash-!

 

The Tyrant Dragon vented his anger by striking the wall.

 

The marble shattered into pieces and dust scattered in all directions.

 

“Fine! Then once I deal with that Jaque bastard, I can fight you to my heart’s content!”

 

Crack, crack-!

 

The Tyrant Dragon cracked his neck once more and looked at me with a menacing expression.

 

“Prepare yourself, Gaon.”

 

“….”

 

“The moment I cut off that bastard’s head, you’re next.”

 

I chuckled.

 

‘We’ll see.’

 

Let’s see if you can actually do that.

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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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