Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 120

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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 120

Episode 120. The Anvil of Solitary Fire (1)

“….”

“….”

“….”

The Second Apostle.

The moment that name was mentioned, an icy silence descended upon the room.

Such was the tremendous weight that the existence known as an Apostle carried.

“Fi, finally… one has truly descended….”

The Coward muttered in a trembling voice.

He and the other Five Nightmares were all natives of ‘this world’.

Camillo von Taribas and Dorico Shiro, the Golem Knight, and even the Tentacle-Haired Woman—all of them were beings born and raised on land blessed by the Elders.

But the case of the 「Apostles」 was completely different.

Evil Deities.

More precisely, beings who had invaded from dimensions beyond alongside the Outer Gods.

Apostles born outside the boundaries set by the Elders possessed power of a different caliber from beings native to this world.

This fact could be understood simply by knowing that the being who granted immortality to the Five Nightmares was the First Apostle, the 「Necromancer」.

Of course, the source of that power lay with the Outer Gods, but the mere fact that they could mediate contracts between gods and mortals revealed the transcendent nature of the Apostles.

“The Celestial Dragon’s corpse will be auctioned off piece by piece at Dungarrd’s auction. Scales, bones, claws, tendons, organs… among them, there’s only one thing we need to target.”

Tap tap-.

The Golem Knight drummed his fingers on the round table.

Then he looked around at everyone and spoke in a low, sunken voice.

“Specifically, the Celestial Dragon’s heart—the Thunder Core.”

Whoosh-.

Right then, Dorico Shiro shot her hand up into the air.

Everyone’s gaze turned toward her.

“Wait! I have a question!”

“…Speak.”

With the Golem Knight’s permission, Dorico Shiro grinned and lowered her hand.

“Wasn’t the Celestial Dragon killed by Gaon? So why does the Ruin Guild possess the corpse?”

“Good question.”

The Golem Knight answered calmly in a tone one might use with a child.

“Ownership of the Celestial Dragon’s corpse still belongs to the Thirteenth Sword Master. The Ruin Guild has merely been entrusted with the auction rights.”

“….”

“So there’s a high probability he’ll appear at this auction as well. To verify his spoils of war and oversee the sales process.”

“…!”

Instantly, a gleam flashed in Dorico Shiro’s eyes.

Dorico Shiro jumped up from her seat and bounced around shouting.

“Me me me me me me! I’ll go! I can do well this time too!”

“….”

“….”

“….”

The Golem Knight, who had been watching her silently, firmly opposed.

“You cannot go.”

“What? Why!”

“No matter how much Dungarrd, the Dark City, may be a lawless zone, it’s not a place where we can act freely.”

“I’ll just be careful! I won’t do anything weird and I’ll behave! Okay?”

The Golem Knight shook his head.

“I’m not doubting your abilities, Dorico Shiro.”

“….”

“It’s just that this mission requires someone who can infiltrate Dungarrd, the Dark City, a bit more secretly.”

“Bu, but…! I can move quietly too…!”

Dorico Shiro protested desperately, but the Golem Knight ignored her words.

At least for this mission, excluding her was the right choice.

If Dorico Shiro, who harbored deep affection for Gaon, became involved in the auction, the situation would obviously become complicated.

She had just returned from the last mission having become friends with Gaon—how much worse would it be this time?

The others seemed to share the same thought, as no one paid any attention to the frantically jumping Dorico Shiro.

“….”

Plop-.

Finally realizing that her tantrum wouldn’t work, Dorico Shiro sat down with a dejected expression.

Thus, silence began to circulate in the room once again.

“Hmm.”

Hiss-.

Then, the Tentacle-Haired Woman let out a soft sigh and curled the corners of her mouth as if amused.

Soon after, a sweet yet sticky voice echoed through the conference hall.

“Actually, I’d like to go myself… but we have someone among us who’s the absolutely perfect candidate, don’t we?”

Slide-.

The woman’s gaze turned somewhere.

Dorico Shiro and the Golem Knight naturally followed her line of sight.

At the end of it sat the Coward, hunched over with his robe pulled over him.

“Uh, uhh?”

Instantly, the Coward’s face turned pale.

His small body began to tremble.

“Wha, what…? Why is everyone staring at me…?”

“Because you’re the ‘perfect candidate’ for this job.”

“Bu, but….”

“Shh. It’s already been decided by majority vote. Can’t you see all the other friends are looking at you too?”

“….”

The woman spoke in an endlessly gentle tone.

A voice so warm it was actually chilling.

Gulp-.

In that eerie atmosphere, the Coward unconsciously swallowed dry saliva.

“Don’t be too scared. You can do this.”

Slide-.

The woman approached the Coward and gently placed her hand on his shoulder.

The tentacles on her head brushed across the Coward’s cheek.

Bringing her lips close to his ear, the woman whispered softly.

“Well then, I’m counting on you, Puppet Master Batu.”

* * *

Ding-!

〔Hidden Message: Causality is being twisted.〕

〔Hidden Message: The encounter with Puppet Master Batu has been moved up.〕

* * *

Middletemple, the Holy City.

Beneath its Holy Sanctum lies a hidden vault.

‘It’s not simply a place for storing sacred artifacts.’

Ancient documents related to the Five Nightmares, corpses and belongings of executed heretics, ritual implements of worshippers of Evil Gods, and so on.

It was a place where all sorts of dangerous objects that should never see the light of day were isolated and contained.

Recently, the corpse of Jark von Haibrunn was also sealed here, or so they say.

“….”

Thud, thud-.

Anyway.

The path leading to the deepest part was narrow and dark.

Endless stairs stretching downward.

The deeper we descended, the higher the surrounding temperature became and the more stagnant the air flow grew.

【Forge of the Single Flame】

This was the place we were heading to.

A legacy left by The Forge and the Flame in the Holy City.

A trial left behind directly in the final era when The Elders walked the earth.

Those who pass this trial are given tremendous rewards.

‘Divine artifacts.’

And not just any divine artifact, but a unique divine artifact perfectly suited to the challenger’s own characteristics as a reward.

“The Protagonist.”

Just then, Adelia, who had been walking alongside me, spoke up.

Though she tried to maintain a calm expression, an unavoidable tension leaked into her voice.

“May I really challenge this trial now?”

“….”

The Forge of the Single Flame was famous for being a safe trial.

Unlike other trials where one might lose their life, it posed no physical danger to challengers.

Nevertheless, the reason Adelia was anxious was none other than this.

‘Well, this trial can only be challenged once in a lifetime.’

That’s right.

It wasn’t for nothing that this trial was named the Forge of the Single Flame.

The opportunity to obtain a divine artifact comes only once.

Therefore, most challengers saved their opportunity until the very end. They wouldn’t rashly step forward until they were certain their growth had reached its limit.

In that sense, it was natural for Adelia to feel anxious. She probably still felt there was plenty of room for her own growth.

‘Of course, Adelia doesn’t need to worry about missing her chance.’

Because….

【Lv. 88】

…in the original work, the point when she passed the trial and received the most suitable reward was exactly now.

Level 88.

Plus the situation where she had acquired the special skill 【Reflective Surface】.

Yes.

Now is the optimal moment.

Adelia at other levels had also passed the trial before, but if you asked which moment’s reward was best, everyone’s answer was unanimous.

Level 88 Adelia.

Having finished that thought, I reassured Adelia.

“Don’t worry.”

“….”

“I brought you here because I had sufficient confidence in doing so.”

I looked at Adelia and added.

“If that weren’t the case, are you perhaps doubting my judgment?”

“Th-there’s no way I would…!”

Adelia startled and waved her hands dismissively.

I chuckled and replied.

“Then that’s settled. You’re more than qualified, so you’ll do well.”

“….”

Adelia’s expression began to change subtly after hearing my words.

Her blue eyes, which had been shaking with anxiety, gradually regained their stability. I could see the tension weighing down her shoulders slowly melting away.

Inhale, exhale-.

Adelia took a deep breath.

When she exhaled again, she had returned to her usual confident self.

* * *

How much further did we travel like that?

We were finally able to reach our destination.

A massive door blocked our path. On its bronze surface, an antique design was engraved in relief.

A pattern depicting an anvil, hammer, and flame.

A sacred piece left behind by The Forge and the Flame. It was the entrance leading to the Forge of the Single Flame.

“Ah, we’ve finally arrived.”

“…?”

Wait-.

What was this about?

Completely unexpected guests were waiting for us.

It was Tyrant Dragon and Heukgol.

‘What the…?’

Adelia’s challenge was kept secret.

After all, there would be no benefit if rumors spread throughout Middletemple.

The only ones who knew this fact were me, Adelia, and Arwen who had guided us to the trial.

‘…But how did those guys find out and come here?’

As if reading such doubt from my expression, Tyrant Dragon opened his mouth with a cynical look.

“Pean told us. He said he accidentally overheard your plan while passing by.”

“….”

“Though the person who gave us that information didn’t come here himself.”

Tyrant Dragon shrugged as he finished speaking. Hearing his words, I could roughly understand how the situation had unfolded.

‘Ah.’

Damn supersenses.

A few days ago, he must have eavesdropped on the conversation I had with Adelia in the guest hall.

Really, what a fraudulent ability.

And Pean’s personality of eavesdropping on others’ conversations was equally sinister.

‘But well….’

If there had been an uncontrollably large number of spectators, it would have been quite troublesome, but with just two, there wouldn’t be any particular problem.

No.

Beyond that, this was actually a good situation.

It was a perfect opportunity to show Adelia’s potential to those two Sword Masters, Heukgol and Tyrant Dragon.

Through what Adelia would show in the trial, they would naturally come to realize how outstanding the master who raised such a swordsman must be.

If that happened, my standing among the Sword Masters would rise even higher.

‘Though I haven’t actually done much for Adelia myself.’

This is what you’d call getting something for free.

Haha.

“Tsk….”

Right then, the Tyrant Dragon clicked his tongue with a displeased expression.

“…By the way, is there really a need to be so hasty? It wouldn’t be too late to challenge this after training a bit more.”

“No.”

Adelia shook her head.

“The Protagonist said now is the right time.”

“…?”

The Tyrant Dragon let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.

“This is ridiculous. Do you blindly believe everything Gaon says?”

“Yes.”

“Ha! Then if he told you to die, would you….”

“Of course I would die.”

“….”

Thud-.

At Adelia’s immediate response, the Tyrant Dragon gave up on the conversation.

Ah, of course….

‘…Why is she being so scary?’

I was equally flustered by Adelia’s blind loyalty.

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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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