Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 149
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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 149
Episode 149. The Trial of Tarosk (7)
* * *
The Rashutku Empire enjoyed brilliant prosperity under the wise rule of the twin emperors.
The people’s lives were abundant.
Their military strength was the greatest on the Continent, and the citizens’ support for the imperial family reached the Sky.
In other words, it was a nearly perfect, ideal nation.
『S-save me! Guh, guaaaah!』
『Oh gods… have you truly abandoned our Rashutku?』
However, even such an empire became helpless before the sudden ‘calamity’ that struck.
When even The Great Ones fled to the Heavenly Realm to escape the disaster, how could Rashutku remain unharmed?
『Brother!』
But even in this desperate situation, there was a monarch who stayed to the end, trying to protect his people.
『Take the people and retainers and flee immediately! There’s no more time to delay!』
『Th-then what about you, brother…』
『I’ll hold back their advance! In the meantime, you must escape as far as possible! Hurry!』
The Wise Emperor of Rashutuku.
The last emperor.
A guardian who fought with his life for his people.
[You have made a grave mistake that cannot be undone.]
Tarosk XVI.
His seething rage began to turn toward us.
* * *
[Refusing the trial, claiming to be the true master of these ruins.]
“…”
[Yes. How well you spout endless nonsense with that gaping mouth of yours.]
Kuwoong, kung-!
Emperor Tarosk descended the stairs step by step.
With each step, the entire Audience Chamber shook as if struck by an earthquake.
The massive Marble pillars creaked and screamed, while thousands of years of accumulated dust and stone fragments cascaded from the ceiling.
[Our brothers never forgot the people for even a moment while ruling Rashutku.]
Emperor Tarosk’s voice filled the entire Audience Chamber.
A voice mixed with deep sorrow and rising anger.
That voice carried the resentment accumulated over eons of time.
[As the wheel of history turned, how many emperors sat upon the throne? Most of them were blinded only by their own greed and pleasure, treating the people like beasts.]
“…”
[Each time, Rashutku fell into darkness. Hunger and despair covered the streets, and the people’s groans reached the Sky.]
Suddenly, Tarosk’s voice became calm.
Deep longing began to seep into his voice.
[However, our brothers were different.]
“…”
[With one heart and one mind, they raised the empire. Only for the people. They devoted everything only for the glory of Rashutku.]
That’s right.
Even according to the game’s setting, the twin emperors were evaluated as the most nearly perfect monarchs in Rashutku’s history.
Wise, benevolent, and strong, while truly loving their people.
The period when they ruled the empire together was so glorious it was called ‘Rashutku’s Golden Age.’
[The trial of the two branching paths you just passed contained the bond between our brothers in its entirety.]
“…”
[Even in the most difficult moments, thinking of each other first to the end, willingly sharing the burden of pain, never losing trust in each other no matter what trials came…]
“…”
[We designed such trials so that only those with the same mindset as our brothers could pass.]
I know everything.
Not just this branching path…
I also know that all the tests that will unfold ahead are metaphorical recreations of the twin emperors’ life story.
The lives of the Tarosk brothers themselves were trials. And the mental strength and brotherhood that endured those trials were the greatest treasures.
[Yet you were blinded by greed and recklessly plundered the empire’s treasures, and now you even refuse the trials.]
Tarosk’s voice, which had been calm for a moment, began to grow intense again.
[Seeing you perfectly pass the first trial, I was foolish to trust you even briefly.]
Deep disappointment seeped into Tarosk’s voice.
[In the end… in the end, you too were of that breed I so despise! Maggots who defile the empire, consumed by endless greed!]
“…”
[Because of that very greed! Because of that rotten greed that even The Great Ones, no! even the ancient ones couldn’t shake off! The entire Continent was swept by calamity…!]
Kugugugugugu──!
That was the exact moment.
Suddenly, a roar as if heaven and earth were shaking.
At the same time, an indescribably ominous energy covered the hall.
Kurururur-!
The flow of surrounding air began to change eerily. As if this ‘world’ itself was emanating killing intent toward us.
“Wh-what…?”
Whoosh-.
The others looked at Emperor Tarosk in confusion.
They thought he was the source of all this.
But…
‘…No.’
I knew.
This was not a phenomenon that a being from the lower realm could create.
[Damn…]
Emperor Tarosk’s face contorted. Not from anger, but with an expression full of deep concern and wariness.
[…To think ‘they’ would react to just this much #̸̦̼̠̞̳̈́̉͌̄̈́@̸͈͙̞͖̇̉́!̸̡͔̥̮͓̩̾̅$̸̘͋!̸̣̙͍̩͐͋̀.]
Tsk-.
He clicked his tongue and sealed his lips tightly.
How much more time passed like that? The world became quiet again.
The ominous vibrations that had shaken the hall just moments before, and the eerie energy that had distorted the air, all disappeared cleanly.
I knew all too well what this phenomenon was.
─Those bastards are already coming. Go back now. Quickly.
A few months ago.
The exact same phenomenon I experienced when meeting with the Saintess at Middle Temple.
A signal that the Evil Gods had noticed us and were beginning to show interest.
Right.
Emperor Tarosk knew this fact better than anyone.
That’s why he no longer wanted to speak about the past connected to those beings.
“….”
Of course, there was nothing disappointing about Emperor Tarosk’s story being cut short.
‘After all, I already know everything.’
The experience from 200 cycles was never in vain.
What the true identity of the disaster that destroyed the Rashutku Empire was.
The real reason why The Great Ones had to establish the “Heavenly Laws” and abandon this land.
I already knew all of those truths inside and out.
[…Swept up by unnecessary emotions, I wasted time with pointless small talk.]
Seurik-!
At that moment, Emperor Tarosk drew his sword from behind his back.
It was an enormous two-handed sword befitting his massive frame.
“…!”
Seuling-!
Adelia reflexively drew her Meteor Sword, and Biyolf also gripped his staff tightly, preparing magic.
Pean also drew Seorineul and began preparing for battle.
But the next moment.
Cheok-.
I stretched out my hand and blocked everyone.
It was a signal to just stay still.
“…?”
While everyone looked at me with puzzled expressions, I looked up at Emperor Tarosk.
[Did you say you would refuse the second trial? Fine. I’ll grant that wish. So you can’t spout any more blasphemous words, I’ll cut you down right here and now….]
“Aren’t you curious about your brother’s whereabouts?”
[…?]
Pause-.
Emperor Tarosk’s movement completely stopped.
His expression clearly showed confusion at words he never expected to hear.
“Aurellius Tarosk.”
[…!]
“Your brother who fled Rashutku to escape annihilation, and wandered alone on this continent abandoned even by The Great Ones.”
…And at my following words, the Emperor’s eyes widened.
I continued speaking calmly, paying no mind.
“I asked if you weren’t curious about his news.”
[You, how do you know that name…!]
Tarosk’s voice trembled.
A precious name that no one had spoken for hundreds of years.
He began to waver at the fact that a stranger knew it precisely.
Regardless, I continued speaking.
“I heard everything from your brother.”
[That can’t be….]
“How Rashutku was destroyed. Why the Lord of the Dark Abyss fell to corruption. And even about when the ‘Avatars’ from other dimensions invaded this world, before the Heavenly Laws were established.”
Kugugugugugugugu──!
Once again, an ominous vibration shook the audience chamber.
That earthquake was much more intense than before.
A sense of pressure as if giant hands were trying to twist and crush this very space.
‘…Damn.’
Jilkkeun-.
I too quickly shut my mouth tight, just as Emperor Tarosk had done.
No matter how much experience I had from 200 cycles, drawing the attention of Evil Gods was still dangerous.
If I made a mistake, this entire place could be invaded by them.
Kureureureuk-.
Fortunately, that eerie presence began to gradually subside.
But Emperor Tarosk still couldn’t hide his confusion even after the commotion had died down.
[How, how could… you… know that….]
His eyes visible through his helmet were filled with disbelief.
The longing and guilt he had harbored alone for thousands of years. All of it shook his heart in an instant.
I didn’t miss that opportunity and delivered the decisive blow.
“There was a final request your brother left behind.”
“….”
“To keep that promise, I came to find this place.”
Seuik-.
I turned around and looked at Markus and Natalia.
“These siblings are… descendants of your brother, Aurellius Tarosk.”
[…?]
The entire audience chamber was suddenly enveloped in silence.
Tarosk’s gaze slowly turned toward the Koshat siblings.
And….
“Huh?”
“What did you say?”
…The Koshat siblings looked at me with dumbfounded expressions.
* * *
[Muwolcha]: Roel is definitely a god-tier game, you know?
[Muwolcha]: I really felt it after trying the Tarosk trial this time.
[Muwolcha]: I was amazed seeing how they implemented the sensory blocking system lol.
…
[Muwolcha]: (Spoiler warning)
[Muwolcha]: And also….
[Muwolcha]: Their story is really well made too. They hid the foreshadowing brilliantly.
[Muwolcha]: Who would have known?
[Muwolcha]: That the Koshat siblings were descendants of Tarosk.
* * *
Right.
It was a common wordplay used everywhere.
『KORSHAT』
『THAROSK』
The Koshat siblings. And Emperor Tarosk.
From the very beginning, their names were a foreshadowing tied together by anagram.
“….”
When I first encountered the Koshat siblings, wasn’t there something I thought to myself?
That exploring the Rashutku Ruins would probably become much easier.
And that wasn’t all.
─Now open the door. Your master has returned.
Even when I opened the city gates of the Rashutku Ruins.
─Unlike other areas, the Imperial Palace is a space designed so that only those of noble blood may walk through it.
Even on the stairs leading to the Imperial Palace.
─Of course, ‘someone among us’ might have that authority, but for most people, that wouldn’t apply.
I had been repeating the same words over and over.
“I must have said it countless times already, haven’t I?”
Heh-.
I looked up at Tarosk with a smile on my face.
“We committed no crime.”
[….]
In the first place, if the ‘master’ wants to take his own belongings, what wrong could there be in that?
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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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