Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 142

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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 142

 

Episode 142. Ruins of Rashutku (4)

 

Thud, thud-.

 

After entering the Rashutku Ruins, we freely wandered through the ancient empire.

 

With each step we took, dust that had accumulated for thousands of years rose into the air.

 

It wasn’t uncomfortable enough to make breathing difficult. Rather, it felt like it added an appropriately mysterious atmosphere.

 

The echoes of the past seemed to drift hazily through the air.

 

‘By the way, this is exactly the same as the game…’

 

We continued exploring all day, but all we encountered were empty buildings.

 

Traces of the once-prosperous empire remained everywhere, but naturally, the vitality that would have filled those places could not be felt anywhere.

 

“How strange.”

 

Then, Pean spoke quietly.

 

“As I mentioned when we were climbing the stairs, I can’t detect any living creatures at all.”

 

“…”

 

“Not even those common flying insects. But…”

 

Swoosh-.

 

Pean turned his gaze, and we turned our heads following his eyes.

 

In the distance.

 

A massive imperial palace revealed itself between the various buildings.

 

It boasted overwhelming magnificence that was on a completely different level from the other structures.

 

“All the movements I can faintly sense are concentrated over there.”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

That’s right.

 

The area we were currently wandering around was just a comfortable farming spot.

 

All of Rashutku’s ‘dangerous elements’ were gathered in the imperial palace.

 

‘Of course, the rewards are on a completely different level too.’

 

High risk, high return.

 

As I’ve said many times, Roel was a world where rewards followed precisely according to how much the player suffered.

 

In other words, the treasures inside the imperial palace were incomparable to what we were currently collecting.

 

The items we were gathering now were literally bonus-level, and all the real core rewards were sleeping deep within the imperial palace.

 

Anyway.

 

Our party went in and out of numerous buildings, freely collecting items.

 

In what was presumed to have been used as a research institute for mages, we were able to obtain various skill books, and in what appeared to be an alchemists’ guild, we could get valuable materials.

 

“Th-this is…!”

 

Creak-.

 

Even from the vault of a luxurious manor, all sorts of treasures poured out.

 

Of course, there was too much to take everything, but our pockets became quite heavy nonetheless.

 

“Wooow…”

 

Among them, the Koshat siblings were by far the most excited.

 

Markus in particular was in a completely frenzied state.

 

To him, even old furniture and decorations hanging on walls seemed to feel like living, breathing historical materials.

 

He even regarded stones rolling around on the ground as artifacts worthy of research, so that said it all.

 

“Th-this too… I think we absolutely must take this too…”

 

“Get a grip! We still have so many places left to explore, and you’re already filling half your spatial backpack! Why don’t you throw away the useless stuff?”

 

“…Tch.”

 

Drag, drag, drag-.

 

Still, it was really fortunate that there was a restraint called Natalia.

 

Whenever Markus went crazy, she would firmly grab his collar and drag her brother around.

 

“Now we can finally see the end of our exploration.”

 

“We really wandered around the city without rest. Only that place is left now, right?”

 

We explored the ruins for three days like that.

 

The imperial palace that had been visible in the distance was now completely close.

 

The party, having swept an enormous amount of rewards into their respective spatial backpacks, began their final camp before entering the imperial palace.

 

* * *

 

Three days remained until the auction would begin.

 

There was still plenty of time.

 

Whoosh-!

 

Selena reached out and lit a fire.

 

Making a campfire with firewood gathered from various places, spreading out sleeping bags, and preparing a simple dinner.

 

All these chores were the responsibility of the slave… no, graduate student Isaac Beriloff.

 

‘In the midst of all this, why doesn’t he complain that Strawberry Latte, who’s also a graduate student, isn’t doing any work?’

 

Seeing that he didn’t even think about it, Isaac Beriloff was truly a graduate student to his very bones.

 

“Give that here. You’re not doing it right.”

 

“…Ah.”

 

When Natalia, an experienced explorer, lent a hand, the preparations were quickly finished.

 

We sat in a circle around the campfire.

 

“Lord Gaon, if it’s alright with you…”

 

Then, Markus, adjusting his glasses, spoke cautiously.

 

Believing me to be an ‘ancient being,’ he seemed determined to voice all his curiosities at this opportunity.

 

“Could you confirm whether the content we’ve been researching is really correct? I don’t think there will ever be another chance to hear directly from someone who actually lived through that era.”

 

“…”

 

Since there was no particular reason to refuse, I began to appropriately draw out the Lost Elder settings I had memorized.

 

“The staple food of the ancient era was ‘Ether Grain.’ Unlike regular crops, it contained mana, so just eating it naturally improved mana circulation.”

 

“…!”

 

Markus’s eyes widened.

 

“Was that really true? We analyzed the remains of a grain warehouse we excavated and detected trace amounts of magical reaction! So we formed a similar hypothesis!”

 

In fact, information about the ‘Ancient Era’ and the Rashutku Ruins wasn’t revealed very much even within the game.

 

Details like lifestyle were mostly areas that players had to deduce themselves.

 

Still, I drew out as much knowledge as possible that I had gained from meeting the Relic Investigation Team over 200 playthroughs and answered skillfully.

 

As a result, my testimony and the Relic Investigation Team’s research had no choice but to mostly match.

 

“Uaaaah.”

 

…Of course, Markus, who didn’t know this, was on the verge of dying from happiness.

 

“D-did you hear that, Natalia? Our efforts weren’t in vain! The Relic Investigation Team’s research was truly meaningful!”

 

“Brother. Calm down. You’re too excited right now.”

 

Pfft-.

 

I burst into laughter.

 

At that moment, Pean looked at me with a somewhat meaningful expression… but since there was no particular reason to worry about it, I just ignored it and moved on.

 

If he had something to say, he would start the conversation first.

 

After that, the conversation topics went back and forth between several subjects.

 

We had talked about the Rashutku Ruins to the point of being sick of it over the past three days.

 

Naturally, the topic flowed to the auction in Dawnguard.

 

“What! You’re also targeting the brain core?”

 

When Biyolf jumped up and shouted, Selena answered with an expression as if she couldn’t believe it.

 

“Professor, why are you so shocked by something so obvious? Isn’t it natural that everyone covets the brain core?”

 

“I-is that so…?”

 

“When will we ever have another opportunity to study the heart of a divine beast that has lived for thousands of years? Moreover, it’s a mysterious organ that allows one to freely control thunder and lightning.”

 

Biyolf scratched his head, and Markus slowly nodded.

 

“That’s right. Of course, other parts are tempting too, but no organ is as important as the lightning core.”

 

“….”

 

“If we could analyze how the Celestial Dragon generated and controlled thunder, it would become tremendous research material for the Relic Investigation Team as well.”

 

Biyolf frowned with an inwardly displeased expression and grumbled.

 

“Does the Relic Investigation Team research such things too?”

 

“Yes, well… divine beasts are also creatures that have existed since ancient times.”

 

“Amazing! But we can’t give in either! The Relic Investigation Team only pursues traces of the past, but Wintershield can evolve lightning magic to the ‘next level’ based on that knowledge!”

 

Whoosh-.

 

Biyolf suddenly turned his gaze to Strawberry Latte and chuckled.

 

“Isn’t that right, Taragon? Why don’t you tell them about your excellent research? Kahahaha!”

 

Biyolf burst into loud laughter and put his arm around Strawberry Latte’s shoulder.

 

“Haha, hahaha….”

 

Strawberry Latte could only laugh awkwardly. He seemed burdened by suddenly becoming the center of attention.

 

“….”

 

Crackle, crackle-.

 

Meanwhile, graduate student number one Isaac Beriloff was pitifully roasting marshmallows in the corner.

 

Adelia was staring intently at him from the side.

 

Startle-.

 

Isaac was startled by the sudden gaze he felt and asked.

 

“Wh-what is it?”

 

“…It’s nothing.”

 

Adelia turned her gaze away with a somewhat disappointed expression.

 

“But you know.”

 

Just then, Biyolf, who had been staring at the campfire, spoke up.

 

“Since Lord Gaon owns the Celestial Dragon’s corpse, he can ultimately sell it to whoever he wants, right? It doesn’t necessarily have to go to the highest bidder, does it?”

 

I answered with a faint smile.

 

“Well. Wouldn’t it go to whoever offers the most money?”

 

“Kahahat! Then Wintershield would be quite advantageous!”

 

Biyolf puffed out his chest confidently and laughed.

 

“We brought a tremendous amount of money this time! A whole 25 percent of the university budget!”

 

“…Our investigation team is the same, you know?”

 

Natalia responded as if she wouldn’t be outdone.

 

“Headquarters allocated a special budget for this auction. In terms of amount, it should be no less than Wintershield’s, right?”

 

“Whaaaat!”

 

A subtle war of nerves flowed between Biyolf and Natalia.

 

“Haah.”

 

Selena, who had been watching them, sighed and shook her head.

 

“Whether it’s the Relic Investigation Team or Wintershield, they’ll surely produce meaningful research results in their respective fields once they get the lightning core. It would have been nice if there were two lightning cores instead.”

 

And….

 

Grin-.

 

…Upon hearing those words, Strawberry Latte and I exchanged meaningful smiles when no one was looking.

 

* * *

 

Whooo, whoo-.

 

On a night when everyone had fallen into deep sleep.

 

I volunteered to keep watch with Pean.

 

Because it seemed like he had something to say for the past few days.

 

As the campfire crackled and burned, Pean cautiously spoke up.

 

“You’re carrying something frightening in your chest.”

 

“….”

 

At those words, I immediately realized.

 

The fact that Pean had detected 「Jaque’s Trial」.

 

It made sense. Jaque’s Trial was literally a ‘mass of calamity’ condensed with the energy of an Evil Deity itself.

 

No matter how deeply I had hidden it in my chest, it would have been difficult to fool Pean’s super senses.

 

‘I was planning to organize my new abilities after this auction ends and then challenge the trial….’

 

Of course, I could dive into the trial right now.

 

But it was much safer to first acquire the abilities I could obtain from the Ruins of Rashutku and Dawnguard’s auction.

 

When it came to trials related to Evil Deities, no amount of preparation was excessive.

 

“Well, that aside….”

 

Pean didn’t probe further about 「Jaque’s Trial」. Seeing him immediately move to another topic, it seemed he had something else he was truly curious about.

 

Swoosh-.

 

Sure enough, he began looking at 「Mukgwe」, the scabbard hanging at my waist.

 

“It seems you did something interesting at the Forge of the Single Flame?”

 

“….”

 

The reason he was staring so intently at Mukgwe was none other than this. He definitely knew that I had inscribed 【Super Sense Remnant】 through True Name Resonance.

 

“Are you displeased that I borrowed your authority without permission?”

 

“Not at all.”

 

Pean shook his head.

 

“I won’t ask about the reason or purpose either. After all, all your actions are to prevent the world’s end.”

 

Pean paused for a moment, then quietly added.

 

“I’m just worried whether you’ll be able to properly use a ‘sense’ that took even me hundreds of years to adapt to.”

 

I didn’t answer.

 

Instead, I turned my gaze to look at the Imperial Palace visible in the distance.

 

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

 

Leaving behind that short remark, I turned my head back toward the campfire.

 

* * *

 

Creeeeak, thoom-!

 

The next day.

 

As soon as we set foot in the Imperial Palace, the massive door slammed shut.

 

Soon after, a low and heavy voice echoed throughout the entire palace.

 

[Bear trials corresponding to the weight of the treasures you have taken. Prove your qualifications according to the size of your greed.]

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

A brief but chilling silence flowed.

 

Markus, whose pupils were trembling wildly, suddenly hiccupped. His subspace backpack was already on the verge of overflowing.

 

He looked at me and muttered in a trembling voice.

 

“Should I throw away a few things even now, Lord Gaon?”

 

No.

 

There’s no need for that.

 

Because….

 

‘…I was planning to raise the trial difficulty to maximum from the beginning anyway.’

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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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