Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 183

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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 183

Episode 183. Puppet Master (6)

Saaaa-.

After the battle with the puppets ended.

The streets of Dungarrd where Gaon and Adelia had left reeked of death.

“Hmm.”

Professor Biyolf leaned against his staff and looked around with a troubled expression.

Having lived for many years and witnessed countless wars and disasters, this was the first time he had seen such a bizarre sight.

“Huuuu…”

Shake shake-.

He shook his head and let out a sigh.

Thousands of puppet corpses scattered throughout the streets.

What had once been living, breathing people were now broken marionettes covering the ground.

Faced with that horrific scene, practical concerns arose in the old mage’s mind.

“How are we supposed to deal with this?”

If the puppets were left alone, they would obviously become a breeding ground for plague.

But there were too many for the Wintershield expedition to handle the incineration work directly.

Just as Biyolf was tapping the ground with the tip of his staff, troubled by the situation.

At that very moment.

Selena, who had been watching the situation from the side, interjected with a calm voice.

“The cleanup is something Dungarrd, the Dark City, should handle themselves. It’s not really a problem for us outsiders to worry about.”

“…?”

Biyolf frowned and turned to look at her.

“What?”

How could she say something like that in this situation?

At Selena’s overly rational response, Biyolf immediately objected.

“What on earth do you mean by that?”

“Biyolf.”

Selena gestured with her chin as if telling him to look around.

“This is Dungarrd, the Dark City. A city where dark mages run rampant.”

Swoosh-.

Selena paused for a moment and pointed into the distance with her finger.

Some suspicious-looking figure was already taking away one of the corpses.

“What the…”

At that absurd situation, Biyolf muttered as if dumbfounded.

“What’s that bastard doing? Why is he taking the corpse?”

“He’s a dealer who makes money from corpses.”

“…Dealer?”

“Yes. Since Dungarrd is a stronghold for dark mages, there’s always high demand for corpses.”

Selena shifted her gaze toward the Ruin Guild headquarters visible in the distance. The massive structure rose ominously against the backdrop of the blood-red sunset.

“Once the auction ends, those corpses will be treated as ‘merchandise’ by the Ruin Guild. Especially with the history of being a puppet master’s marionettes, it would be easy to package them appealingly.”

“Ah…”

A complex expression crossed Biyolf’s face upon hearing this.

While acknowledging the Ruin Guild’s ruthless skill and efficiency, there was a deep sense of rejection toward their methods that he could never accept.

“By the way, you know the ecosystem of Dungarrd quite well.”

“Th-that’s…”

Selena’s expression stiffened for a moment.

In truth, as someone who had to procure sacrifices for the Shadow Conclave’s rituals, she had no choice but to frequent Dungarrd.

As a result, she naturally came to know the dark affairs of this place inside and out.

But since she couldn’t reveal such facts, just as she was trying to think of some plausible excuse.

“Hm? Wait a minute.”

At that moment, Professor Biyolf’s expression hardened.

“I feel like I’m forgetting something.”

He stroked his chin, trying to recall.

“Damn, what was it? At my age, my memory isn’t what it used to…”

“Professor!”

Then, Isaac Beriloff, who was beside him, shouted with a pale face.

“The brain core! We need to bid on the brain core!”

“…!”

At that moment, Biyolf’s eyes widened. Like someone struck by lightning.

“Aaaaagh! Damn it!”

His face turned pale in an instant.

“Come to think of it, the auction is still ongoing! I can’t believe it wouldn’t stop even in the midst of this chaos!”

Biyolf hurriedly turned around and shouted.

“Hey! I’m going in first! Follow me slowly!”

Hurry hurry-!

He disappeared toward the auction house in a fluster.

It was surprisingly fast movement for a 212-year-old mage.

The sound of his staff tapping grew more and more distant.

As Biyolf hurriedly left, those remaining also began to move one by one.

Taragon and Selena Servich analyzed the mana circuits scattered on the ground, while Dungarrd’s guards checked the surrounding situation according to their captain’s orders.

However, among all the people busily moving about their assigned tasks, only one man didn’t budge.

“…”

Shadow Knight Roren.

He still stood in place, staring intently at one spot.

The very place where Gaon had drawn his sword through the air. And the traces of the strange phenomenon that had begun from that moment.

‘This is…’

He recalled the first time he saw Gaon at the Underground Arena.

The essence of the swordsmanship Gaon displayed against Barbarian the Slayer of Men was none other than swift sword technique.

It was marvelous.

Along with a flashing light, a strong gust swept through the arena, and when he came to his senses, Barba’s head was already gone.

It was an unrealistic sight, but he could understand it then. No matter how overwhelming, it was still within the category of ‘swordsmanship.’

The sword reached the enemy, inflicted wounds, and as a result, the match was decided. The cause and effect were clear.

That’s why Roren could harbor hope that someday he too might reach such a level.

‘But…’

What he witnessed today was completely different.

Gaon cut through empty air.

And with just that, thousands of puppets collapsed all at once.

He couldn’t understand at all what process occurred in between, what principle was at work.

Rather than an extension of swordsmanship, it seemed like an entirely different dimensional realm.

“…”

Roren smiled bitterly.

Having handled a sword for decades, he had prided himself on reaching quite a high level.

In fact, he had a record of lasting four whole minutes against the Sword Master of the Tyrant Dragon, and had even received scales from him.

After that battle ended, Roren had mustered the courage to ask a question. Whether he too could someday become a Sword Master.

The answer he heard then, he still remembered vividly even now.

─You handle a sword well. But that’s all there is to it.

At the time, I couldn’t understand the meaning of those words.

Being skilled with a sword wasn’t enough? What more could be needed?

I felt frustrated, unable to know what I was lacking.

But now I thought I understood a little. After witnessing Gaon’s swordsmanship, those words finally resonated in my heart, even if faintly.

There was an unbridgeable, enormous gap between the sword I knew and the sword of a Sword Master.

I still couldn’t tell what that gap was, but I could feel its existence down to my bones.

That was Roren’s limit.

Being able to sense the difference but not truly understand it. Like being able to see the peak of a high mountain but not knowing what was there.

However, there were those in the world with greater talent than himself. Roren knew this fact well.

‘If only.’

If there was someone who could fully feel and understand that difference…

‘That person would surely have the makings of a Sword Master.’

* * *

“What do you mean?”

Pean asked in a bewildered voice.

“There are no more puppets left outside? Surely you didn’t defeat all those thousands of marionettes…”

“I defeated them all.”

Thud—.

At my words, Pean shut his mouth tight for a moment.

He stared at me intently.

His expression showed he couldn’t tell if what he’d just heard was real or a joke.

He looked like he couldn’t believe that I had defeated thousands of puppets in such a short time.

“Perhaps… does this place have a different time ratio?”

After pondering for a while, Pean asked cautiously.

“This place, Batu’s Hideout, is practically no different from the shadow world, so space-time itself might be distorted. Maybe days have passed outside but only a few minutes here…”

“How long has it been since we entered this place?”

“About 15 minutes.”

“Then the time ratio is the same.”

“…”

Ha—.

Pean let out a hollow laugh.

Though he shook his head as if finding it hard to believe, he was clearly filled with deep admiration.

“Then you really defeated all those thousands of puppets in such a short time…”

Pean’s expression turned worried as he muttered to himself.

“But Gaon, do you still have strength left to face Puppet Master Batu? No matter how capable you are, you must be tired after facing so many enemies.”

It wasn’t wrong.

After all, Batu was one of the Five Nightmares.

Facing such a dangerous being while exhausted could be risky even for a Sword Master.

However.

“No problem.”

I answered with a confident voice.

From the beginning, stamina management and skill distribution had all proceeded according to plan. It meant everything needed to face Batu was already perfectly prepared.

Most importantly, didn’t I just acquire a new skill?

【Mana Thief】

There couldn’t be a more suitable ability for dealing with him.

“Well, if that’s the case…”

Inhale, exhale—.

Pean took a deep breath and looked ahead.

A passage glowing faintly in the darkness.

An ominous aura was seeping out from its end.

“Now… let’s enter the hideout’s interior.”

Tension crept into Pean’s voice.

Finally, the time to hunt Puppet Master Batu had arrived.

* * *

Step, step—.

We walked along the passage shrouded in darkness.

The sound of footsteps echoed through the narrow stone walls.

“By the way.”

Pean, who had been walking in silence for a while, suddenly glanced at Adelia and spoke.

“It seems you’ve gained new enlightenment, Miss Goldheart.”

“Ah.”

Adelia’s eyes widened. She was surprised that he had immediately noticed her change.

‘As expected of Pean.’

With his characteristic sharp senses, he instantly perceived the change that had occurred in Adelia.

Indeed, the level floating above her head had risen another stage.

【Lv. 92】

“That’s right.”

Adelia put away her surprised expression and nodded calmly. Her eyes held a clear radiance that only one who had gained enlightenment could possess.

“Thanks to the swordsmanship The Protagonist showed me, I was able to gain enlightenment.”

Her voice became even more serious.

“I was able to understand, even if just a little, what it means to cut through concepts themselves rather than matter.”

Listening to Adelia’s words, I couldn’t help but feel deep admiration inside.

‘A true genius really is different.’

I had accomplished that feat with the help of the 【Soul of a Sword Master】 skill and sword stat power, but Adelia had grasped those profound mysteries purely through her own talent.

“Watching these wondrous sword techniques by The Protagonist’s side, I’m truly growing rapidly.”

Adelia looked at me and smiled. Her expression contained pure gratitude and respect for her teacher.

“I’m always grateful to my master.”

“Ahaha, I’m truly envious.”

Pean laughed in response.

“If I had an excellent teacher like Miss Adelia, I could have reached much higher realms than now…”

He muttered somewhat wistfully, then looked at me and asked.

“How about taking on a new disciple, Gaon?”

“…”

Thud—.

At that moment, Adelia’s face turned cold.

Her gaze toward Pean changed. Cold and sharp like the stare of a predator eyeing one who had invaded its territory.

It was the most murderous expression I’d ever seen from her.

‘…What?’

* * *

“Ah, fuck.”

Crash-!

The girl who had been sitting on the cafe terrace on the 2nd floor watching the situation threw her teacup.

She let out a deep sigh as she spat out curses in annoyance.

“Batu, that fucking idiot can’t do anything right….”

Stop-.

Right at that moment.

The whispers of ‘Those Ones’ echoed in the girl’s ears.

Before long, a sinister smile began to spread across the First Apostle’s lips.

“Aha….”

Writhe writhe-.

The ‘Black Star’ in her hand began to thrash wildly.

As if rejoicing at the fact that she could finally make her move.

“…They were the first to betray the 「Heavenly Laws」, right?”

* * *

Ding-!

〔Hidden Message : Causality is being twisted.〕

〔Error : Heaven■!̴̛͍̑͊͐̂#̶̨̰̮̣̝̔̔̐͒̍̌̀̎$̸̛̣̓̉͒͘■ #̸̛̪͉͕͍̣̝̗̃͊̓̎̅͘ͅ■Laws@̴̷̢͖̟̤̲̼͔̥͓̖̤͕̙̆̋̓̈́̐̂̋̇̎͂̕͝ violation■…〕

…

〔@̴̛̬̪̭̖̼̤̹̦̻̖̟̜͖̃͗̿̌̚͜͠*̵̡͍̘̯̞̮̜̹̥̬͔͉͍̊͗͆̈͗̽͐͑͋̕ͅ&̵̡̨̝̫͓͍͙̯̖͉̼̭͚́̈̋̃̈́͘͝(̸͉͎͛̾̅̾͐̓̔̊̈́̋̄̕͝#̴̬̐́́̊̂̑&̶̜̗̲̞̼̽͑̈́̆̇̆͗̑̃̎̆̒*̵̢͎̯̦̯͉̼̟͉͉͆̔̔͝!̴͓͔̙͊̏̃̋̔̏͒̀͒̌̊^̵̝͖̩́̅͛̔̐̓̇̈́̇̆̋̚̕̚͝*̶̧̫̽̅́$̵͚̬̮̼͉̌̿̃͌͠ͅ!̸͚͉̠̹̺̽̽͛͗̂̈́$̷̧͍͓̍͗͐(̶̢͕͎̘͍͍̯̼̰̲͚̏̈̕̚͘̚͜*̷̢̲̻͓̦͈̤̾́̋͒͋̊ͅ〕

〔Hidden Message : The First Apostle intervenes in the scenario.〕

〔Hidden Message : The Second Apostle 「#̷̢̑@̷̜̯̋̔&̷̼̐̔͆^̷̮̹̼̊̆!̶̝̓̂̈%̷̸̵̡̛̣̭͙̳̓̂̌̎̔̌̂#̵̍̌̕」 intervenes in the scenario.〕

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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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