Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 127

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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 127

 

Episode 127. Auction Preparations (1)

 

Saaaa-.

 

As soon as my answer ended, silence descended upon the corridor.

 

Heukgol stared at me blankly, and the Tyrant Dragon closed his mouth.

 

Even Arwen, who rarely doubted me, frowned and alternated between looking at my face and the scabbard. As if trying to verify the truth.

 

‘Well, that’s actually a normal reaction.’

 

Custom-made divine artifact.

 

This was the reward given to challengers who passed through the Forge of the Single Flame.

 

Usually, those who passed would receive powerful weapons that maximized the owner’s characteristics and abilities, like the Tyrant Dragon’s “Pokryeomdo.”

 

But a scabbard.

 

To use a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and receive nothing but a scabbard…!

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

Right.

 

Everyone was looking at me with such complicated expressions.

 

Except for Adelia.

 

“…?”

 

For reference, Adelia had a blank expression as if wondering what the problem was.

 

The Tyrant Dragon glanced at her and spoke.

 

“Hey, Adel-whatever.”

 

“…”

 

“You received a perfectly fine new sword, but your master only got a mere scabbard, and you’re not bothered at all?”

 

Adelia scratched her head.

 

“Uh… well…”

 

After hesitating for a moment, she answered with a confident voice.

 

“Wouldn’t Master find a useful way to use anything? Even if it’s just a scabbard.”

 

“…”

 

“I don’t really know, but I’m sure my Master has a plan for everything.”

 

Pfft-.

 

The Tyrant Dragon let out a hollow laugh upon hearing that answer.

 

He looked genuinely dumbfounded by Adelia’s words.

 

“Fine. I’ll let it slide for someone whose head is full of flowers…”

 

Swoosh-.

 

The Tyrant Dragon turned his gaze toward me.

 

“Gaon, aren’t you even upset? Despite showing that overwhelming strike, all you received was a single scabbard?”

 

I kept my mouth firmly shut. Without giving any answer or reaction.

 

“Tsk. Looks like you have no intention of answering this time either.”

 

At this, the Tyrant Dragon shook his head and clicked his tongue. The emotion in his eyes as he looked at me was closer to pity than mockery.

 

“You’re the most pitiful among those who passed the Forge of the Single Flame. No, even those who failed might be better off.”

 

The Tyrant Dragon said this while glancing at Heukgol.

 

“Don’t you think so too, Heukgol?”

 

“W-wait a minute…”

 

Heukgol, who had been standing there dazed, answered with a trembling voice.

 

“I really don’t understand this… you’re joking, right? Right?”

 

“…”

 

“A-actually, there’s something inside the scabbard, isn’t there? You’re just hiding the new sword you received to mess with us…”

 

“It’s the Feather Sword.”

 

Thud-.

 

I cut off Heukgol’s words and interjected.

 

At this, Heukgol, who had been staring at me intently, muttered in disbelief.

 

“What…?”

 

“What’s inside the scabbard, it’s called the Feather Sword.”

 

“…”

 

Heukgol stared at me with a speechless expression.

 

Thunk-.

 

After a moment, he suddenly extended his hand.

 

He must have been quite shocked, as his finger bones were trembling.

 

“Q-quickly, let me see. I’ll check it myself.”

 

Swoosh-.

 

I silently handed over the scabbard.

 

Heukgol took the scabbard and examined it from various angles.

 

Rattle, rattle-.

 

After shaking it up and down as if testing its weight, he looked back at Arwen and the Tyrant Dragon with a flustered expression.

 

“T-this weight… I can’t feel any weight at all…?”

 

“Let’s first take out the sword inside.”

 

Arwen helped from the side.

 

Heukgol nodded as if he understood and said.

 

“R-right. L-let’s take a look?”

 

Creak-.

 

Then he grabbed the end of the scabbard with one hand and gripped the sword’s handle with the other.

 

“I’m starting the inspection now? Ta-da-ran, ta, ta… thump-clap-clap, thump-clap…”

 

Shing-!

 

Finally, the sword was drawn.

 

The familiar sword cry and radiance covered the corridor…

 

“…It’s the Feather Sword?”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

After that, no one could deny it anymore.

 

The fact that what I received from the Forge of the Single Flame was truly just one empty scabbard.

 

“Phew…”

 

Swoosh-.

 

Heukgol returned the scabbard while sighing.

 

His usual playfulness was nowhere to be found, replaced by a genuinely sympathetic expression.

 

“I’m sorry, friend.”

 

“…”

 

Pat pat-.

 

He patted my shoulder.

 

Though it was meant to be comforting, the sensation of his bony fingers touching me wasn’t very pleasant.

 

The Tyrant Dragon, who had been quietly watching the situation, also cautiously interjected.

 

“Still, it’s supposedly a divine artifact… doesn’t it have any special abilities?”

 

I shrugged and answered.

 

“The Feather Sword is also a divine artifact.”

 

“…”

 

“But it has no abilities other than being weightless.”

 

“Then this scabbard couldn’t possibly…”

 

The Tyrant Dragon trailed off. As if the words were too difficult to speak aloud.

 

“Right.”

 

“….”

 

“This is also just a weightless scabbard. That’s all there is to it.”

 

When I finished the sentence for him, everyone looked at me with even more pitiful expressions.

 

Faces hesitating, not knowing how to comfort me.

 

It was understandable.

 

Anyone would feel bitter if they thought I had wasted such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like this.

 

‘Of course, it’s a lie.’

 

The true awakened form of Feather Sword boasts the most outstanding ability among any blade. Even more so than Pean’s Seorineul or Adelia’s Meteor Sword.

 

Of course, to people who don’t know this, it would only look like trash, but I knew the value of Feather Sword better than anyone… ah, I’m getting tired of saying this so many times.

 

‘Anyway.’

 

The same was true for the Silent Sheath.

 

The true value of this scabbard wasn’t its ‘0’ weight or the silence effect.

 

The core of cores was the authority engraved within it – the ability to temporarily borrow Pean’s supersense.

 

But the engraved authority could only be used by the divine weapon’s owner. Others couldn’t even sense its existence.

 

So to others’ eyes, it could only appear as a truly useless scabbard.

 

‘How surprised would they be if they knew I could temporarily borrow Pean’s 【Supersense】 through this scabbard.’

 

Of course, there was no need to reveal that fact.

 

Rather, it seemed better to leave the misunderstanding as it was.

 

Hidden cards shine brightest when used at decisive moments.

 

‘No, but wait….’

 

Come to think of it, it was funny.

 

Even Heukgol and Tyrant Dragon, who were famous for their normally eccentric personalities, were genuinely sympathizing with me this time.

 

The ridiculous expressions before my eyes almost made me burst into laughter.

 

Since these guys only had fighting and swords in their heads to begin with, maybe they reacted more sensitively to things like this?

 

Anyway, they were amusing fellows.

 

“A, ahem!”

 

Just then.

 

Heukgol cleared his throat awkwardly, trying to change the uncomfortable atmosphere.

 

“But Adelia, what divine weapon did you receive? It looks like quite an unusual weapon?”

 

“…Ah.”

 

Shing-.

 

Adelia lifted the Meteor Sword and said.

 

“This is… called the Meteor Sword.”

 

“Meteor Sword?”

 

“Yes. I heard how to use it from the great one, but I’ve never actually used it, so I don’t know its detailed abilities well.”

 

“Then let’s move to the training ground and test it out.”

 

The person who made the suggestion to Adelia was Tyrant Dragon.

 

Though he made the recommendation with a deliberately blunt expression, there was subtle anticipation in Tyrant Dragon’s voice.

 

Seeing how he kept sparring with Adelia, he seemed to find enjoyment in combat with her.

 

Of course, he was probably also curious about the new divine weapon’s abilities.

 

‘But still….’

 

Tyrant Dragon’s gaze was sinister.

 

How should I put it?

 

It was exactly like how Strawberry Latte looked at newbies who first appeared at Lost Elder’s official meetings….

 

‘…That bastard seems to keep coveting Adelia?’

 

Well, there was nothing strange about it.

 

Actually, in the original work, Adelia had received Tyrant Dragon’s teachings before.

 

Though it wasn’t a formal master-disciple relationship, I remember they maintained a decent relationship as ‘sparring partners.’

 

But….

 

‘Sorry, Tyrant Dragon.’

 

─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.

 

‘This cycle seems like the situation will be a bit different.’

 

Adelia had already sworn loyalty to me down to her bones.

 

“….”

 

Well, still, Tyrant Dragon didn’t need to be disappointed.

 

There happened to be a disciple who was perfect for him.

 

‘It’s about time to go find that child….’

 

Sisterhood of the Forsaken.

 

A secret community that embraces girls expelled from the Order of the Holy Maiden.

 

There was someone there who would bloom tremendous talent in the future.

 

A genius who would grow like a monster if Tyrant Dragon took her as a disciple.

 

‘…I must somehow draw her to our side. Before she falls into 「their」 grasp.’

 

Ah, of course.

 

There was something I had to resolve first.

 

The illegal auction in Dungarrd, the Dark City.

 

Only after the plan there was successfully completed could I unfold the next plan related to the Sisterhood of the Forsaken.

 

* * *

 

Time passed quickly.

 

While staying at Middle Temple, I was able to observe the Council’s constantly changing appearance.

 

Middle Temple, led by Arwen and the Reformist Faction, was changing day by day.

 

Clang, claaaang-!

 

Meanwhile, Adelia immersed herself in sparring with Tyrant Dragon.

 

The training ground was packed every day with Paladins wanting to watch their sparring matches.

 

“Kahahaha! Not bad…!”

 

“Ugh!”

 

Three days of continuous practical training.

 

Thanks to this, Adelia had somewhat mastered the basic abilities and applications of the Meteor Sword.

 

I mixed in among the people and watched the battle between Tyrant Dragon and Adelia.

 

‘Oh, not bad.’

 

Of course, she hadn’t fully drawn out the Meteor Sword’s potential yet….

 

Actually, even this level would be more than expected as combat power at Dungarrd’s illegal auction house.

 

“Kahaha, how about it! Your skills have explosively improved over the past three days, right?”

 

“Thank you, Sir Tyrant Dragon. I learned a lot.”

 

“Yes, yes! Your talent is truly outstanding! How about abandoning Gaon and formally studying under me….”

 

“I don’t want that.”

 

“….”

 

Though Tyrant Dragon often persistently attempted courtship(?), Adelia firmly rejected his proposals every time.

 

Heh-.

 

I smiled faintly and fell into thought for a moment.

 

Though I was currently staying at Middle Temple, I had to continuously coordinate the outside situation as well.

 

Not only preparing for the Dungarrd auction, but also maintaining contact with connections scattered across various places, and mentally reviewing the plans that would unfold in the future.

 

Especially, I frequently exchanged messages with Strawberry Latte through the private messaging function.

 

Of course, since Strawberry Latte still couldn’t use the reply function, it was common for me to unilaterally send instructions…

 

Well, still, some degree of communication was possible using the empathy function.

 

‘She just read what I sent.’

 

[The Protagonist]: I’ve arranged for you to join. I also sent transportation, so take that and come to Dawnguard ☑

 

The check mark next to the message.

 

This meant Strawberry Latte had answered ‘understood’.

 

As I’ve said many times, various factions would definitely gather at this illegal auction.

 

Since it was the first time a divine beast’s corpse would appear.

 

Wintershield Magic Academy was also one of those factions.

 

By the way, Strawberry Latte was included in the delegation Wintershield would send. This was because I had sent a messenger bird to Chancellor Biyolf with those instructions.

 

[The Protagonist]: But hey, Latte.

 

[The Protagonist]: How’s your second round of graduate school life treating you?

 

Tick-.

 

As soon as I sent the note, a ‘read’ notification appeared.

 

Coincidentally, it seemed Strawberry Latte also had her message window open.

 

Not long after, a new empathy symbol appeared.

 

(ﾟДﾟ#)

 

Hmm.

 

Well, what…

 

‘Still, seeing that she has the energy to reply, I guess it’s somewhat livable?’

 

Usually graduate students shouldn’t even be able to reply to stuff like this.

 

I should tell them to work her harder while I’m at it.

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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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