Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 108

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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 108

 

Episode 108. The Haibrunn Subjugation War (2)

 

Hiss, hiss-.

 

The situation was confirmed – we would deal with Corrupted Zack von Haibrunn first.

 

Even so, the Tyrant Dragon continued to glare at me and voice his complaints.

 

“What a cunning little rat bastard.”

 

“….”

 

“This guy’s always like this, damn it.”

 

“….”

 

“Come to think of it, he’s been like this since Labyrinth Village. Making all sorts of excuses to avoid fighting.”

 

“….”

 

“This time he said he’d really fight, but when the time comes, he brings up sacred pacts and rambles about the end of the world….”

 

Grumble grumble-.

 

The Tyrant Dragon continued muttering to himself in a sulky voice.

 

Seeing this guy’s behavior, I couldn’t help but make an exasperated expression.

 

‘This is ridiculous.’

 

Why is this guy whining so much?

 

I don’t see how he’s any different from a brat throwing a tantrum because he can’t get what he wants.

 

Well, at least he said he’d help subjugate Corrupted Zack von Haibrunn, so I guess it doesn’t matter?

 

Having finished that thought, I turned my gaze to Heukgol.

 

“You help us too, Heukgol.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

Heukgol tilted his head and pointed to himself.

 

“Me? Why should I?”

 

“….”

 

Anyway.

 

This guy’s just as damn uncooperative.

 

Still, since I had anticipated that he wouldn’t immediately accept my proposal, I didn’t panic and calmly continued my persuasion.

 

“If you don’t help us, the Holy City will be reduced to ruins.”

 

“What? Even with you and the Tyrant Dragon joining forces?”

 

“Those who contract with Evil Gods become stronger than you can imagine. Especially if that person is Zack von Haibrunn, one of Middle Temple’s pillars.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

After pondering for a moment, Heukgol shrugged his shoulders.

 

“But I don’t really care whether the Holy City becomes ruins or not? In fact, wouldn’t it be better for me if those guys who pointlessly summon me all the time disappeared?”

 

“….”

 

“And I don’t think the Holy City is particularly helpful to begin with. Silkroad protects humanity? No. I actually think humanity is becoming weak because of that barrier.”

 

“….”

 

“Look. What if that protective shield didn’t exist? The weak would have been weeded out long ago, and only the strong would have survived and reproduced diligently. Then by now, all of humanity would be much stronger, right?”

 

Damn it.

 

‘What kind of bullshit is that supposed to be.’

 

It was ridiculous sophistry. I couldn’t hide my bewilderment at this script I’d never seen even in the game.

 

At this point, I was genuinely wondering if this guy was really on humanity’s side.

 

‘…This is really dizzying.’

 

Actually, the insane tendencies of Sword Masters were something I’d already known well from playing the game.

 

There was no point in talking to them about public interest or greater causes.

 

Unless it was a direct revelation from the Elders, they only moved when there was direct benefit or when it connected to their personal interests.

 

In fact, Heukgol probably didn’t really think his argument was right either. It was closer to nonsense he was spouting because he found dealing with Zack bothersome.

 

In that case….

 

“You don’t care if the Holy City falls?”

 

…instead of pointlessly talking about greater causes, I just needed to target Heukgol’s personal side.

 

“That violin you keep preciously stored inside your ribcage. How many craftsmen on the Continent do you think can properly maintain that centuries-old antique?”

 

“…?”

 

“Especially when it comes to the bow. There aren’t many who can properly handle that material.”

 

Heukgol’s expression gradually hardened.

 

“For the past few centuries, whenever there was a problem with your instrument, who repaired it?”

 

“…Wait. Hold on.”

 

Naturally, the person who had been maintaining Heukgol’s violin was a craftsman residing in the Holy City.

 

Only then did Heukgol realize the seriousness of the situation.

 

He had been boasting that he didn’t care what happened to the world, but he realized that the things he treasured most depended on that very ‘world.’

 

“Don’t act stupid, Heukgol. Zack von Haibrunn knows the structure of the Holy City better than anyone.”

 

“….”

 

“If he escapes from here and cooperates with other Evil God worshippers, it’s only a matter of time before Middle Temple falls.”

 

If nothing else, this wasn’t a lie.

 

Actually, when playing the game, there was also a scenario where Evil God worshippers led by Corrupted Zack invaded Middle Temple.

 

‘Of course….’

 

That won’t happen in this playthrough.

 

Zack von Haibrunn will lose his life at the very beginning, before he even contacts the Evil God worshippers.

 

To be precise, today, by our swords.

 

“Ugh, I can’t even imagine life without my violin.”

 

“Then help us.”

 

“….”

 

After pondering for a moment, Heukgol eventually had no choice but to nod.

 

“…Tsk, fine. I got it.”

 

With this, both the Tyrant Dragon and Heukgol joined the Haibrunn subjugation war.

 

Pean, who had been watching the situation from the side, smiled.

 

“Ahaha, I’d like to help too, but….”

 

“No need.”

 

I cut off Pean’s words.

 

I hadn’t expected help from that guy to begin with.

 

‘Who would have thought Pean would be among the three Sword Masters summoned to Middle Temple.’

 

Pean was famous for not revealing himself to the secular world. Why he responded to Middle Temple’s summons was still a mystery.

 

Well, either way, it was fortunate enough that the guy who had made a 「Sword Master’s Pact」 with the Haibrunn family wouldn’t interfere with us.

 

“That aside.”

 

While I was having these various thoughts, the Tyrant Dragon spoke up.

 

“If the goal is to eliminate Zack, shouldn’t we quickly pursue him now?”

 

“….”

 

“There’s no one outside the Holy Sanctum to stop Zack’s escape. If we leave it like this, he’ll easily slip out of the Holy City, won’t he?”

 

The Tyrant Dragon’s words weren’t wrong.

 

Councilors, high-ranking clergy, Paladins, and even the core members of the Investigation Team. Currently, all the major figures of Middle Temple were gathered in the Holy Sanctum.

 

It meant that the greatest forces had assembled in one place for the Sacred Inquisition. That also meant the defenses elsewhere had become considerably weak.

 

‘There’s no way anyone outside the Holy Sanctum could stop someone who contracted with an Evil God.’

 

As the Tyrant Dragon said, that guy would be able to escape the Holy City without much resistance.

 

“No.”

 

So….

 

That would be the case if everything flowed according to the official history.

 

“There’s still one person left.”

 

“What? Who the hell… Ah.”

 

The Tyrant Dragon, who had been slightly frowning, soon let out a sigh with an expression as if he had realized something.

 

“You don’t mean to tell me….”

 

* * *

 

Huff, hufff-!

 

Jark von Haibrunn burst through the doors of the Holy Sanctum, breathing heavily.

 

Without even a moment to look back, he sprinted down the corridor.

 

With each step he took, cracks spread across the marble floor.

 

‘What the hell is going on?’

 

His mind was in complete chaos.

 

He definitely hadn’t made a contract with the Evil Deities. He thought he had rejected their temptation and returned to Middle Temple.

 

But then why had Pean declared with such certainty that the contract had already been completed?

 

‘Could it be that without my knowledge….’

 

One possibility flashed through his mind.

 

Dorico Shiro’s proposal to arrange a contract with the Evil Deities if he stood by and watched Haewolsumo’s corruption.

 

Could that trivial agreement have been considered part of the ‘contract’?

 

─My child.

 

Just then, a familiar voice pierced his ears once again.

 

A seductive yet sweet tone.

 

But now Jaque could sense the poison hidden within it.

 

─You have already crossed a river from which there is no return.

 

“Shut up…!”

 

While running, Jaque swung his arm at the empty air. But the voice whispering in his ear showed no signs of quieting.

 

─There’s no need to deny it. The stigma is already deeply carved into your soul. Rather, offer up more. If you stop halfway, you’ll only face ruin without gaining anything.

 

“Such shamelessness… Urgh!”

 

Kuuung-!

 

Jaque’s vision shook.

 

The walls and ceiling appeared distorted, and even the floor rippled like waves.

 

He wasn’t in his right mind. Anger, confusion, and indescribable fear mixed together, paralyzing his reason.

 

‘First… first I need to get out of here.’

 

Jaque ran down the corridor with staggering steps.

 

The farther he got from the Holy Sanctum, the more his sanity began to return. But at the same time, the weight of reality pressed down on him.

 

‘What should I do now?’

 

He couldn’t return to Middle Temple. His identity had already been exposed to the world.

 

A fallen one who had made a contract with Evil Deities. He had fallen from a pillar leading the Traditionalist Faction to a criminal who would be executed instantly.

 

Kugugugu-!

 

Suddenly the building began to shake.

 

It was a sign that pursuers were closing in from behind.

 

‘I need to hurry.’

 

Jaque quickened his pace.

 

He sprinted toward the outskirts, weaving through the complex alleyways of the Holy City.

 

Having lived here his entire life, he knew every path in the Holy City inside and out.

 

He knew exactly which alleys had guards stationed, which routes were fastest—everything was clear as the palm of his hand.

 

‘The pursuers chasing me must surely be Sword Masters.’

 

In that case, time was life.

 

His corruption had undoubtedly already been communicated to all the guards through telepathic transmission. He couldn’t afford to get entangled with Paladins and be held back.

 

So Jaque chose to move only through back alleys and detours that patrol units normally didn’t frequent. Sometimes he traveled across building rooftops, sometimes through underground waterways, evading pursuit.

 

How long had he been running like this?

 

Finally, the outskirts of the Holy City came into view.

 

Beyond the gates stretched the Uncharted Wilderness. Once he crossed that threshold, he would be safe for the time being.

 

Buuuuuuung──!

 

“…!”

 

But at that very moment.

 

A spine-chilling killing intent swept over his entire body.

 

Though he couldn’t see his opponent, his instincts detected danger.

 

Chaeng-!

 

He reflexively swung his beheading sword to deflect the attack.

 

If he had been even a moment slower, his head would have flown off.

 

‘What the…!’

 

It was an invisible enemy.

 

He couldn’t sense any presence or killing intent, yet swords kept flying at him.

 

Chaeng-! Chachaeng-!

 

While barely managing to block the attacks, Jaque fell into confusion.

 

What kind of situation was this? Invisibility magic? Or perhaps illusion techniques?

 

It was right then.

 

Flutter-!

 

Something fluttered in the wind, and for an instant his opponent’s form was revealed.

 

Platinum hair and blue eyes.

 

…It was Adelia von Goldhart.

 

A translucent cloak was draped over her shoulders.

 

‘That thing is…!’

 

Jaque instantly recognized the identity of that object. Tristan’s Cloak. A Sacred Artifact possessed by the Shadow Conclave.

 

“You!”

 

Jaque’s face contorted with rage.

 

“Get out of my way right now! Do you think someone like you can stop me!”

 

Buuung-!

 

He swung his sword roughly in a threatening manner.

 

“Even if you use petty tricks with that Sacred Artifact, it won’t work! Get lost if you don’t want to die!”

 

But Adelia didn’t retreat a single step.

 

Rather, she gripped her sword even more firmly.

 

“…I know that as well.”

 

Standing against a pillar of Middle Temple.

 

This was quite a reckless act.

 

Jaque was one of the finest swordsmen on the verge of transcendence, and practically the closest to Sword Master level in skill.

 

“However.”

 

Adelia raised her sword high. Then she flipped the transparent cloak over herself, concealing her form once again.

 

“I am simply following The Protagonist’s orders.”

 

Something no one else had accomplished. A challenge everyone deemed impossible.

 

Even so, Gaon had always instilled faith in Adelia.

 

And as a result of living up to that faith.

 

Adelia had achieved explosive growth over the past few months.

 

‘If this is a task The Protagonist has entrusted to me….’

 

There was no doubt.

 

Even if her opponent was a pillar of Middle Temple.

 

Even if there seemed to be no chance of victory whatsoever.

 

If he believed in her, that alone was enough.

 

‘…I will definitely accomplish it.’

 

Crack-!

 

Strength entered the hand gripping the sword.

 

Above the sharply honed blade tip, not even a trace of trembling could be seen.

 

* * *

 

“Huh.”

 

Pause-.

 

The Tyrant Dragon, who had stopped walking, let out an exclamation of admiration.

 

“You were right.”

 

“….”

 

“I thought there was absolutely no way that kid could stop Jaque with her current skill level….”

 

I followed the Tyrant Dragon’s gaze.

 

【Lv. 87】

 

Adelia came into view.

 

She was engaged in fierce combat with Jaque, wearing Tristan’s cloak half-draped over her body.

 

Confirming this, the Tyrant Dragon quietly burst out in admiration.

 

“…This monster of a kid, to think she’s grown again in such a short time.”

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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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