Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 140

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

One-Strike Kill Swordmaster Episode 140

 

Episode 140. Ruins of Rashutku (2)

 

* * *

 

Rustle-.

 

I looked down at the scattered pieces of paper on the floor with a calm expression.

 

The map showing the location of the Rashutku Ruins had been torn to shreds, but my expression remained utterly indifferent.

 

Of course, the Koshat siblings who witnessed this were unable to hide their shock.

 

“Th-this is… what on earth…!”

 

“…”

 

“H-how could… we, we trusted you completely, so why would you do this…?”

 

Natalya Koshat seemed to be at a loss for words.

 

She glared at me with resentful eyes, but ultimately couldn’t continue speaking.

 

Even as anger welled up inside her, she was acutely aware of exactly who she was dealing with.

 

A Sword Master.

 

And an ancient being.

 

Those two titles seemed to barely hold Natalya’s reason in check. No matter how angry and wronged she felt, she couldn’t dare openly express her fury in this situation.

 

“Ugh, ughhh…”

 

Natalya’s shoulders trembled violently.

 

She had mountains of things to say, but couldn’t voice them, creating a frustrated expression.

 

Meanwhile, Markus was…

 

“Ah.”

 

Thud-.

 

…his legs gave out, and he collapsed right onto the floor.

 

The way he stared blankly into space with empty pupils clearly showed he hadn’t yet accepted reality.

 

‘That’s understandable.’

 

The only clue leading to the Rashutku Ruins had been shattered to pieces.

 

Moreover, I was the only person who remembered the contents of the undeciphered map.

 

“Ahhh… we’re doomed… completely doomed… the leader is going to kill us… ahhhhh…”

 

Now I had become an existence the Relic Exploration Society could never touch.

 

I was in the perfect position of power where they couldn’t dare refuse any demand I made.

 

At least as long as they harbored the desire to reach the Ruins of Rashutku.

 

‘And there’s no way the Relic Exploration Society would give up on that long-cherished wish.’

 

I could see that desperate realization slowly spreading across the Koshat siblings’ faces.

 

The fear that if I kept my mouth shut, Rashutku, which they had searched for decades, would disappear back into the labyrinth.

 

And the harsh reality that from now on, they would have no choice but to depend on me completely.

 

“R-really… we… we trusted you and entrusted the map to you…”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

…Well, at least the Koshat siblings seemed to think I had pulled this malicious move with such intentions.

 

Of course.

 

This was all a misunderstanding.

 

‘It’s not like I tore up the map with that kind of thinking…?’

 

The timing was just a bit coincidental.

 

I hadn’t expected the Koshat siblings to arrive at such a perfect moment. So I ended up showing them the ‘performance’ of tearing up the map right before their eyes.

 

In truth, my recent action was merely a prerequisite for entering Rashutku… that is, one of the procedures for unlocking the 「Opener」.

 

I hurried to calm Natalya Koshat down.

 

“Don’t get excited, and look around, Koshat.”

 

“…?”

 

Pause-.

 

Hearing my words, Natalya looked around.

 

Biyolf and Selena, Taragon and Isaac Beriloff.

 

Even Pean and Adelia.

 

Everyone was heavily armed with their belongings packed as if they were about to embark on an adventure at any moment.

 

They had truly finished all preparations, carrying backpacks, weapons, potions, and so on.

 

Despite the map being torn to shreds, their expressions remained utterly calm. Because they had already heard all the explanations from me.

 

“Huh…?”

 

Natalya seemed to finally sense something strange.

 

Why had all these people finished preparing to depart somewhere?

 

She had that kind of expression on her face.

 

“What, what is this?”

 

Natalya looked at me with a bewildered face.

 

And then…

 

“We are now going to head to the Rashutku Ruins.”

 

“…!”

 

…the moment she heard my following words, her eyes widened in shock.

 

Markus, who had been lying face down on the floor, also jerked his head up.

 

“Y-you’re leaving right now…?”

 

* * *

 

‘What is he talking about?’

 

Natalya Koshat’s mind went blank.

 

Because Gaon’s words made no sense at all.

 

‘Going to the Rashutku Ruins…?’

 

She had expected help with deciphering, but never imagined they would start a full-scale exploration so directly.

 

‘Would it be okay to proceed with exploration without the leader’s permission?’

 

The Relic Exploration Society needed headquarters approval to conduct explorations. This was especially true for large-scale ruins like this.

 

‘No, but… how does he plan to find the way there after tearing the map to shreds?’

 

Does he remember all the complex structure and routes hidden by various codes?

 

That’s not within the realm of human capability, is it?

 

Besides this, countless question marks arose in her mind, but Natalya ultimately couldn’t say anything. Because of the fact that her opponent was an 「Ancient Being」.

 

Then, Gaon asked in a calm voice.

 

“Do you perhaps need more time?”

 

“Huh? No, that’s not it.”

 

Shake shake-.

 

Natalya shook her head.

 

She was a true adventurer. The type who always kept full preparations ready to embark on adventures at any time.

 

Therefore, there would be no problem leaving for the Rashutku Ruins right now.

 

However…

 

“…If we leave so suddenly, what about the auction?”

 

The Rashutku Ruins were certainly important, but the Celestial Dragon corpse auction was equally important.

 

Missing that auction was unimaginable.

 

But hearing this, Gaon only answered in his usual calm voice.

 

“There’s no need to worry. We’ll return before the auction begins.”

 

“…What?”

 

Markus questioned those words.

 

“The location of the Rashutku Ruins is surely somewhere in the Uncharted Wilderness beyond the ‘Silkroad’… wouldn’t it take several days just to get there?”

 

Most undiscovered ancient ruins lurk in perilous uncharted territories.

 

After all, if they were in safe places, they would have been discovered long ago.

 

The Ruins of Rashutku, which had slumbered in the erosion of history for hundreds, no… nearly thousands of years, would be no different.

 

Snicker-.

 

But Gaon smiled faintly as if finding it ridiculous.

 

With an expression as if he knew ‘something’ that the Koshat Siblings didn’t.

 

“…?”

 

Seeing this, the Koshat Siblings couldn’t help but be even more flustered.

 

Could it be that the Rashutku Ruins were right near Dawnguard? Or could he teleport or something?

 

“It would be faster to see it with your own eyes rather than an explanation.”

 

Swish-.

 

At that very moment.

 

Gaon gathered the torn map pieces in one place, then handed them to Selena.

 

Receiving them, Selena scattered the map pieces into the air and chanted in a low voice.

 

“…’Flowing Fire’.”

 

Whoosh-!

 

Flames that rippled like waves wrapped around each piece of paper and blazed.

 

Soon smoke and ash intertwined, and the outline of something gradually emerged.

 

And…

 

“Wh-what?”

 

Between the charred paper pieces and ashen smoke, a shape that looked like some kind of ‘keyhole’ began to slowly reveal itself.

 

“I hope everyone is ready.”

 

Swish-.

 

Gaon took out an old key from his chest.

 

Then quietly, he inserted it into the ‘keyhole’ floating in the air.

 

Click-!

 

A clear, distinct metallic sound rang out.

 

It sounded like something that had been in deep sleep was finally about to open its eyes.

 

Crrrrrack─!

 

The next moment, the rift in the air began to split open.

 

As if reality had cracked, the world tore in two and a ‘door’ began to open.

 

Beyond that gap, a completely different landscape from inside the room unfolded.

 

Lush vines and giant leaves covered the view, with damp humidity and dense greenery spreading out.

 

Beyond that, moss-covered stone steps that appeared to be part of ancient ruins led into the forest darkness.

 

“Wh-what on earth…”

 

Natalya Koshat trembled all over, muttering in a voice filled with shock.

 

The others in the room were the same.

 

Amazing emotions rose on the faces of everyone, including Selena.

 

It wasn’t teleportation magic. It was the work of an even greater mystery… truly a supernatural phenomenon that twisted space itself.

 

Then, Gaon opened his mouth with a somehow melancholy expression.

 

“In the ‘Ancient Era’ when The Great Ones roamed the Continent, mysteries and magic beyond current imagination were prevalent.”

 

“…!”

 

“What you have seen is only a fragment of that greatness.”

 

Everyone’s eyes wavered.

 

Gazes mixed with respect and awe, fear and confusion.

 

“Now let us go see the last remnants of the empire directly.”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

Thud, thud-.

 

Gaon began to move his steps and pass through the rift in the air.

 

Ancient winds from beyond brushed past his hair.

 

Everyone stared blankly at his retreating figure. Then, as if enchanted by something, they began to follow Gaon one by one.

 

The Koshat Siblings also passed through that mysterious gateway with trembling hearts.

 

And finally, the moment they crossed the rift in the air…

 

“Wow.”

 

…The Ruins of Rashutku, awakened from thousands of years of silence, revealed itself before them.

 

* * *

 

Ding-!

 

〔You have entered the Ruins of Rashutku: Entrance. 〕

 

As soon as I passed through the rift in the air, a system notification appeared. Glancing at it briefly, I looked forward again.

 

‘It’s exactly the same scenery as in the game…’

 

Steps made of old stone stretched endlessly. They were steps that extended so high it created the illusion of reaching toward the sky.

 

Thud, thud-.

 

We began climbing the steps without anyone telling us to.

 

While silently moving our steps, Pean carefully opened his mouth.

 

“How strange.”

 

He said while turning his head left and right.

 

“I can’t feel the breath of life from the forest at all. It seems we are the only living beings in this vicinity.”

 

That was natural.

 

This ruins site was no different from another world.

 

Another dimension… so it would be easy to think of it as a similar situation to when entering a ‘Trial’.

 

Would it be understandable if I said it was a dungeon that ‘recreated’ ancient ruins?

 

“Wow.”

 

“What a spectacular sight.”

 

Before long, a magnificent fortress revealed itself along with an open, wide space.

 

Although there were traces of rust and partial collapse before the flow of time, it still boasted preservation power that was hard to believe for an ancient era structure.

 

Everyone stood with their mouths agape in admiration before the enormously scaled building.

 

“That seems to be the entrance.”

 

Markus, who came to his senses first, pointed somewhere and began moving. The group followed him, moving their steps toward the massive gate.

 

Before long, we stopped in front of the city gates.

 

The main gate leading inside the fortress was tightly closed, and its surface was densely carved with complex characters and various geometric figures.

 

“This is…”

 

Markus, adjusting his glasses, muttered.

 

“From what I can see, it appears to be a riddle written in ancient language. It seems we need to solve this to open the door.”p>

“…”

 

“It has an extremely complex sentence structure, so forget about solving the riddle – it would take at least a week just to decipher it…”

 

Whoosh-.

 

Markus trailed off and looked at me.

 

At the same time, the gazes of the others began to turn toward me as well.

 

“The Protagonist…?”

 

Adelia called my name quietly.

 

With an expression as if expecting something.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————