Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 115
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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 115
Episode 115. The Haibrunn Subjugation War (9)
Slowly—.
The Protagonist slowly lowered the sword he had been gripping tightly with both hands.
Behind him stretched a long trail left by the dark crimson flames that had passed through.
That trajectory extending all the way to the horizon held the majesty and terror of divine punishment carving through the earth.
“….”
Sizzle, crackle—!
Jaque’s corpse, melted beyond recognition.
No emotion could be read from The Protagonist’s face as he looked down at it.
No joy of victory, no relief, not even fatigue was visible.
Swish—.
The Protagonist raised his head and looked toward the Middle Temple group. His calm gaze swept over the Paladins and councilors.
“Jark von Haibrunn is dead.”
“….”
“….”
Whoooosh—.
His calm yet resolute voice echoed across the wasteland.
As those words fell, the Paladins and councilors could only hold their breath and stare at The Protagonist.
“My sword did not kill him.”
“….”
“Jark von Haibrunn was already dead the moment he joined hands with the Evil Deities. What I did was merely confirm that fact.”
His voice grew increasingly cold.
“According to Middle Temple regulations, his name as a heretic apostate will be erased from all records and history.”
“….”
“House of Heibrunn will be stripped of their status among the Noble Families, and all rights and privileges they have enjoyed for generations will be eternally extinguished.”
There was not a trace of wavering in The Protagonist’s voice.
Like a prophet reading predetermined fate, he pronounced the downfall of House Heibrunn with cold and unwavering tone.
The excommunication of a Noble Family leading the Traditionalist Faction meant the complete collapse of Middle Temple’s power structure.
This was tantamount to declaring that the era of the Traditionalist Faction, which had lasted for hundreds of years, would come to an end and a new order would take its place.
“This is the righteous judgment delivered to traitors.”
“….”
“And this is not merely Haibrunn’s story alone.”
Flinch—.
The bodies of Middle Temple’s high-ranking officials froze in place.
They instinctively understood what The Protagonist’s words meant.
“Remnants of corruption still remain in Middle Temple. Those who claim to follow the will of The Great Ones outwardly, but are inwardly blinded by personal desires.”
“….”
“I have been patient enough until now. I respected Middle Temple’s order and did my best to correct problems within that system.”
The Protagonist’s voice echoed across the entire wasteland.
Though they were at a distance, each and every word reached everyone on the hill clearly.
“But Jark von Haibrunn’s corruption has proven it. That this rotten structure cannot be corrected through existing methods.”
Jark von Haibrunn.
The leader of the Traditionalist Faction and one of Middle Temple’s two great pillars. A figure who had protected the Holy City’s order his entire life, and a swordsman considered more devout than anyone.
The reality that even he had ultimately succumbed to the Evil Deities’ temptation starkly revealed the limitations of the existing system.
“Therefore, I declare here and now.”
The Protagonist’s voice became even more majestic.
“From this moment forward, Middle Temple will change. It will proceed on a path that can face the coming end of the world according to the true will of The Great Ones.”
The Protagonist’s gaze turned once again toward Jaque’s melted corpse.
“Of course, there will be those who cannot accept my decision. There will be some who doubt whether my methods are excessive, whether such change is truly the right path.”
A moment of silence passed. In that stillness, tension flowed as they awaited The Protagonist’s next words.
“When that moment comes, remember the sacred covenant I made with The Great Ones.”
The Protagonist made his final declaration.
“I will save this world from its end. No. I absolutely must save it. This transcends personal vows—it is a sacred contract made with great beings and an absolute duty commanded by the world’s will.”
As time passed, his voice became even colder.
“Having made this covenant, I must absolutely fulfill that purpose. Even if it means employing forceful measures.”
“….”
“All obstacles blocking that path will be eliminated without exception.”
The Protagonist’s words contained something beyond mere warning.
Cold recognition of reality. And an implicit threat that he could repeat the same action anytime if necessary.
“The great work of saving the world sometimes demands ruthless yet painful choices. But that is the mission The Great Ones have bestowed upon me.”
His voice gradually grew heavier. Heavy enough that the weight of responsibility pressing down on The Protagonist’s shoulders could be felt tangibly.
“The path ahead will never be smooth. In the process of destroying the old order and building a new world upon its ashes, we will face countless trials.”
“….”
“Perhaps we may have to deny the truths we have believed in ourselves. We may have to abandon comfortable customs and sometimes face harsh reality.”
The Protagonist surveyed the group on the hill.
“But.”
Then he declared once more in a clear voice.
“Even so, I believe.”
“….”
“That there are still those who will join this arduous journey. That there are still those willing to sacrifice themselves to prevent the coming end.”
Whooooosh—.
Wind blew.
Wind crossing the blood-stained wasteland gently scattered The Protagonist’s hair.
That scene viewed from the hill was like a painting.
Sunset light seeped in from behind The Protagonist, tinting his silhouette golden, and his flowing hair looked like a sacred halo.
The monster’s corpse fallen at his feet. The Protagonist standing alone above it appeared infinitely reverent and sublime.
“…Ah.”
Suddenly a sigh was heard from somewhere.
It was an exclamation born from awe, and a sound that naturally flowed from the hearts of those who had witnessed the moment of true change they had waited for through long years.
In that moment, everyone could realize it. The fact that Middle Temple’s new era had finally begun.
“I will follow The Protagonist’s will.”
Thud—.
The first to kneel was none other than Adelia von Goldhart.
Having witnessed all of The Protagonist’s actions, she pledged her loyalty without hesitation.
And her action became the signal for others to begin kneeling one by one.
“I as well.”
Sikan Bauer stepped forward and knelt.
“I will follow the Sword Master’s will.”
Thoom—.
As soon as the declaration of loyalty was made, dozens of investigators also knelt in unison following him.
Those who usually showed absolute loyalty to Sikan Bauer acted without hesitation, as if the commander’s will was their own.
“The Sword Master’s will is Middle Temple’s will.”
Next was Arwen von Goldhart. As soon as his declaration ended, all members of the Goldhart Family and councilors belonging to the Reformist Faction knelt.
“We too will trust and follow the Heretic.”
“Even if it costs my life, I will follow that great will.”
Pledges of loyalty erupting from here and there in succession. Before long, everyone from both Reformist and Traditionalist Factions had knelt before The Protagonist.
Ruuuumble—!
The sound of the earth trembling echoed continuously.
The scenery atop the hill was so quiet and majestic it left one speechless.
Dozens of Paladins and Councilors knelt in unison, bowing their heads as they prostrated themselves toward one direction.
The sunset light dyed their armor and robes golden. In the midst of that silence, only absolute loyalty and reverence toward Gaon breathed.
“Hah…”
Heukgol and the Tyrant Dragon let out involuntary chuckles as they watched the scene.
The high-ranking officials of Middle Temple who had tried to pressure and control the Sword Masters were now looking at Gaon with genuine awe.
The emotion felt in each of those kneeling postures. It wasn’t forced submission, but true respect welling up from the depths of their hearts.
An achievement that no one had accomplished in hundreds of years. Unifying all of Middle Temple as one. The Holy City that had been endlessly divided between the Reformist Faction and Traditionalist Faction was completely unified by the power of one man.
“…That bastard is something else, indeed.”
The Tyrant Dragon chuckled with admiration.
Among all the members of Middle Temple kneeling, only Gaon stood alone.
As the victor, as the judge, and as the pioneer of a new era.
* * *
Finally, everything was over.
Silence flowed throughout the journey back to the Holy City.
No one spoke first. The people of Middle Temple simply followed behind me wordlessly.
‘Phew…’
I sighed inwardly.
It had truly been a long journey.
From inducing Jark von Haibrunn’s corruption, to killing him, to bringing all of Middle Temple to their knees.
Everything went according to plan, but it was equally exhausting.
As we passed through the City Gates, the Guards hastily cleared the way. Their eyes held a mixture of awe and fear.
People looked out from windows along every street leading back to the Manor.
The sight of dozens of Paladins and Councilors following behind one person.
Witnessing them all walking quietly with their heads bowed, the citizens must have sensed that something extraordinary had occurred.
“This way.”
Arwen led the Councilors toward the Holy Sanctum. It was to begin the administrative procedures related to dealing with House of Heibrunn.
Everything proceeded swiftly.
The initiative had already completely passed to me, and no one raised objections to my decisions.
‘The Traditionalist Faction is finished.’
With Jaque’s death, the faction that had continued for hundreds of years collapsed.
The remaining remnants would either be absorbed into the Reformist Faction or withdraw on their own.
Middle Temple now moves with one voice.
And…
At its center, was me.
* * *
Creak, thud-.
I arrived at the Guest Hall.
As I closed the door, the outside noise was blocked out. Finally, time alone had come.
I lay down on the bed and checked the messages I had postponed one by one.
There were countless notifications, but among them, what first caught my attention was…
〔You have obtained a trial arranged by ‘■@■#!?■%’.〕
‘…Success.’
The biggest reason for killing Jaque.
It was to obtain that trial.
“…”
Swish-.
I took out a dark red orb from my inner pocket.
If I break this, I’ll immediately enter the 「Trial」.
As I’ve said many times, the Evil Deities’ trials were completely different in nature from The Elders’ trials. Rather than testing and measuring the challenger, they existed more like curses meant solely to kill.
However, if one overcame them, they could obtain tremendous rewards corresponding to that achievement.
“…”
Ah, of course.
I had no intention of challenging this trial right now.
Jumping into an Evil Deity’s trial without sufficient preparation would be tantamount to suicide.
‘…Let’s rest for now.’
Swish-.
Having finished that thought, I turned my gaze to look out the window.
The sunset was setting. Red light dyed the entire Holy City.
Much had changed in this one day.
Middle Temple’s power structure, my position, and even my future course of action.
Yes.
Everything was proceeding smoothly.
* * *
“Excuse me, The Protagonist.”
Knock knock-.
The next morning.
Sikan Bauer, who visited the Guest Hall, handed me a sealed letter.
“It’s a letter sent by the Durdarmel Guild Master.”
“…”
Swish-.
Taking the letter, I silently tore open the envelope.
The letter’s contents were concise.
It reported that the investigation of the Celestial Dragon’s corpse was completely finished, and now it would finally proceed to the auction process.
And at the end of the letter was written the name of the force that would handle this auction.
【Ruin Guild】
“…”
The force that operates the largest black market on the Continent.
And the Guild Master there is…
‘…Lea de Karayan.’
The moment to meet her after a long time had arrived.
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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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