Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 134

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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 134

 

Episode 134. Auction Preparations (8)

 

In the center of a room carpeted with red velvet.

 

Karayan and I sat facing each other on sofas.

 

Under the soft light of the chandelier, Karayan was the first to speak.

 

“Have you been well, Benefactor?”

 

When I nodded silently, she smiled and continued.

 

“Thank you so much for informing us that Seorineul was a prototype. We almost faced great embarrassment.”

 

Ah, that.

 

I recalled the situation from a few months ago.

 

While touring the Ruin Guild’s secret collection, I had discovered Seorineul and informed them it wasn’t authentic.

 

‘The Ruin Guild acquiring the genuine Seorineul is still far in the future.’

 

Hadn’t they said Pean would die caught up in a terrible disaster?

 

It was precisely at that moment when Seorineul would come into the Ruin Guild’s possession.

 

But well…

 

That wouldn’t happen now.

 

I would somehow prevent the tragedy that would befall Pean.

 

‘Anyway.’

 

I looked at Karayan again and listened to her explanation.

 

“Actually, we had planned to feature Seorineul as our main item in this auction.”

 

“…”

 

“But thanks to you, Benefactor, we were able to verify its authenticity beforehand, and thus prevented a major mistake.”

 

Karayan wore a gentle smile as she bowed her head slightly.

 

“Moreover, thanks to your providing the Celestial Dragon, this auction is drawing higher expectations than ever before. Really… I feel like I’m constantly in your debt.”

 

After expressing her gratitude, Karayan continued her story. Her voice was calm, but there was excitement mixed within it.

 

“The auction is our guild’s core event, held only once a year for four days.”

 

“…”

 

“However, this year we had to move the schedule up a bit considering the condition of the Celestial Dragon’s corpse.”

 

Although the corpse was being maintained with preservation magic and cold storage, it couldn’t remain in perfect condition indefinitely.

 

The Ruin Guild wouldn’t want to miss the benefits that the rarity and symbolism of the Celestial Dragon’s corpse would bring.

 

So they must have moved up the entire auction schedule.

 

“Of course, initially there were complaints from various places about the suddenly advanced schedule.”

 

“…”

 

“But once news spread that a divine beast’s corpse would be auctioned, such opposition completely disappeared. In fact, requests poured in asking us to advance the auction even more.”

 

Hearing this, I asked a question.

 

“You mean many big shots who know the identity of divine beasts will be attending?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Karayan nodded.

 

Middle Temple and the Noble Families, and beyond that, those who knew of divine beasts’ existence were extremely rare.

 

Information that only considerable big shots could even approach.

 

The fact that such people were moving alone gave a sense of how massive this auction’s scale would be.

 

‘I had expected this to some degree, but…’

 

Perhaps forces far more massive than I had imagined were moving beneath the surface.

 

‘Just look at how Puppet Master Batu has already appeared.’

 

The situation was already flowing differently from the original work.

 

But that flow didn’t necessarily have to work against me.

 

I had been moving while accepting variables from the start. Rather, I intended to strategically utilize those variables to gain even greater benefits.

 

Ultimately, the most important thing was to move flexibly according to the changed situation and seize the initiative.

 

And…

 

This was also what I was most confident about.

 

“The main item for the first day is scheduled to be the Seorineul prototype.”

 

“…”

 

“The Celestial Dragon will go up for auction starting from the second day. As you’ve already been informed through Durdamel’s Golden Guild, all parts will be auctioned separately.”

 

Karayan’s explanation continued. She tapped the sofa’s armrest with her fingertips as she spoke.

 

“The most important part mentioned in the product description you sent, the ‘brain core,’ will be revealed on the final day. It’s truly the highlight of this auction.”

 

For reference, the ‘product description’ Karayan mentioned was an official report written by Middle Temple’s Investigation Team.

 

This had been delivered one copy each to Hakun Durdamel, the Ruin Guild, and Wintershield Magic Academy.

 

“The auction hall’s scale is large enough to rival the Underground Arena. Participants are also expected to flock from across the entire continent. The ruling class of major cities, merchants, mages, and so on…”

 

She paused briefly and looked into my eyes.

 

“Of course, we’ve thoroughly prepared security as well. The Ruin Guild’s forces will handle security, and we’ve prepared separate protective measures for each VIP seat.”

 

Karayan continued explaining about the auction after that.

 

I listened carefully just in case, but it was information not much different from the game.

 

Soon after all explanations ended, a brief silence flowed.

 

“By the way…”

 

After catching her breath lightly, she carefully changed the subject.

 

“I heard there was a disturbance at a tavern. Someone claiming to be the Slayer of the Minotaur Dragon caused trouble at The Black Rooster Tavern.”

 

“I hear there are many such people these days. Ever since the Ruin Guild posted that notice.”

 

“Yes. We posted the notice to find you, Benefactor. Though we took it down after Isaac Beriloff visited Durdamel’s Golden Guild and made contact with you.”

 

“…”

 

With those words, Karayan didn’t mention the incident at the tavern in any more detail.

 

She must have received reports about the murder case, but seemed to deliberately avoid that topic. She apparently didn’t want to bring up sensitive matters unnecessarily.

 

Perhaps she intended to skip topics that didn’t need to be touched and bring up more important matters.

 

“Ah, come to think of it…”

 

Sure enough, Karayan began to broach the main point.

 

“I heard Isaac Beriloff will also be stopping by soon to participate in this auction.”

 

The characteristic calculating look I’d felt from our first meeting became even sharper.

 

The conversation up to now had been nothing but groundwork for this moment from the beginning.

 

“Don’t you also have connections with Isaac Beriloff, Benefactor?”

 

“…”

 

“I heard you had conversations at Durdamel’s Golden Guild, and when you visited Wintershield for the dragon subjugation, you received his guidance…”

 

On the surface, it seemed like ordinary conversation.

 

But hidden within was a cunning intention to probe me.

 

‘Merchants are more sensitive to information than anyone.’

 

Moreover, Lea de Karayan was the owner of the Ruin Guild and someone who led one of the continent’s most prominent guilds.

 

A person who quickly absorbed and organized profitable information from any field, whether politics, war, academia, or religion.

 

‘Such a Lea de Karayan couldn’t be unaware of The Adversary incident.’

 

The Adversary, who had been the Shadow Conclave’s de facto ruler, was dead, and the secret organization’s existence had surfaced.

 

The Magic University had formed official cooperation with them and quickly regained stability.

 

And quite coincidentally… all of this perfectly overlapped with the time I had visited the Magic University.

 

“…”

 

Karayan’s deliberate mention of ‘Isaac Beriloff’s’ name was surely to probe all of this.

 

Though Isaac was a spy the Ruin Guild had planted in the Shadow Conclave, that trust was never deep.

 

Given Karayan’s personality, she would also be considering the possibility that Isaac had become a double agent.

 

Therefore, she had subtly probed my reaction using Isaac Beriloff as a medium.

 

The internal situation of the Shadow Conclave, which had lost The Adversary and was reorganizing. Isaac Beriloff’s intentions as he continued his balancing act. And even the relationship between me and the secret organization.

 

It was a cunning move to gauge all of this.

 

Of course…

 

‘How laughable, really.’

 

…I had no intention of being swayed by the bait Karayan had thrown.

 

Smirk—.

 

With a twisted smile on my lips, I stood up from my seat.

 

At this, Karayan asked in a slightly flustered voice.

 

“Are you leaving already?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I continued speaking in a deliberately cold voice.

 

“When we first met, you deceived me by pretending to be a servant, and now you’re hiding your sinister intentions from me.”

 

“…!”

 

“I’m not idle enough to play along with your games. If you truly want to have a conversation, it would be better to be honest, Karayan.”

 

Flinch—.

 

At those words, Karayan’s expression hardened coldly.

 

Her pupils began to shake violently.

 

It seemed my words had struck right to her core.

 

“Do you have anything more to say?”

 

“…No.”

 

After hesitating for a long moment, Karayan finally bowed her head deeply.

 

“You must be tired from your long journey. Please get sufficient rest…”

 

Swoosh—.

 

I silently walked toward the door.

 

Just before my hand touched the doorknob, I stopped and looked back.

 

“Be careful.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

Karayan, who had been keeping her mouth tightly shut, suddenly raised her head.

 

“Dangerous individuals will infiltrate this auction.”

 

“…Dangerous individuals?”

 

She frowned slightly with a puzzled expression.

 

“The Five Nightmares.”

 

“…!”

 

Flinch—.

 

The moment that name left my lips, Karayan’s face instantly hardened.

 

“Puppet Master Batu has infiltrated the Dark City.”

 

“…”

 

“You must have received a report that I committed murder at The Black Rooster.”

 

“Th-that’s…”

 

Karayan trailed off. She seemed slightly flustered that I had directly brought up the topic she had been trying to avoid.

 

“That man was one of Puppet Master Batu’s puppets.”

 

“…”

 

“If you don’t want to see the auction hall turn into a sea of blood, it would be wise to start preparing now.”

 

Flinch—.

 

Upon hearing those words, Karayan looked at me silently.

 

Her expression seemed extremely complicated. Various doubts and emotions were crossing her face.

 

However, Karayan quietly nodded while suppressing all her thoughts.

 

“Yes. I will be careful.”

 

“…”

 

“I apologize for the various discourtesies. Please return safely, Benefactor.”

 

Creak—.

 

I nodded briefly, opened the door, and stepped outside.

 

Soon a servant approached and politely escorted us outside the fortress, and I left the building together with Adelia.

 

‘The next destination is Ruins Stay Hotel.’

 

The place where I had stayed for one night shortly after I had possessed this world.

 

The very place where I had first organized all the threads of my plans and meticulously established the direction I would move forward.

 

And today.

 

This place was scheduled to become another turning point.

 

I planned to make contact with the Wintershield Expedition and then carefully design my next plans.

 

‘But before that…’

 

Pause—.

 

Outside the fortress, guards were waiting.

 

They were the same ones who had escorted us to the Ruin Guild earlier.

 

“Y-Young Master? This corpse is…”

 

“We’ll take care of it.”

 

“…Ah, understood.”

 

Rustle—.

 

One of the guards handed over a heavy sack.

 

Red bloodstains were clearly soaked into the bottom of the sack.

 

It was the corpse of the one who had been used as Puppet Master Batu’s puppet.

 

Thud, thud—.

 

I left the fortress with Adelia and walked along the back alley.

 

Several passersby glanced at us, but soon pretended not to see and quickly turned their heads away.

 

This showed how common such eerie scenes were in this lawless area. Especially in these deserted back alleys.

 

When we finally emerged from the narrow alley and arrived at a quiet open space with no signs of people, Adelia let go of the sack she had been dragging.

 

“First, let’s perform the memorial service.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Adelia nodded quietly with a bitter expression.

 

It was time to give true rest to one who had been controlled for decades.

 

* * *

 

After Gaon left, only silence remained in the room.

 

Breaking the contemplative silence, Karayan’s bitter laugh escaped.

 

“Ha, haha…”

 

A laugh mixed with absurdity, emptiness, and bewilderment that she had tried to suppress.

 

“…As expected, he’s not someone to be taken lightly.”

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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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