Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 196

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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 196

Episode 196. The End of the Auction (5)

* * *

Strawberry Latte absorbed the Brain Core and instantly ascended to the 4th tier.

Naturally, it was a situation that couldn’t help but draw the attention of Biyolf and Selena.

In their common sense, no matter how much of a genius one might be, jumping two tiers overnight was an impossible achievement.

Of course, there was nothing to worry about. I had already prepared excuses.

The enlightenment gained from researching the Brain Core. Even the new dimensional insights brought by witnessing the Apostle’s abilities at the auction house.

Though forced, it was a sufficiently convincing story.

‘Well, Strawberry Latte has been steadily building up with me after all.’

The conversation we had when we first entered the Rashutku Ruins could also be seen as part of that buildup.

When Strawberry Latte perfectly traced the complex ancient characters on the ruins’ gates, didn’t Biyolf marvel at that amazing ability?

At that time, I had defended him by mentioning the remnants of The Adversary and ancient knowledge.

─As long as remnants of The Adversary remain, Taragon also possesses the potential to reach such transcendent tiers. This is what I confirmed last night while examining his body.

─Ah…! I knew it! I knew Taragon had exceptional talent…!

Ta-da.

That’s how all the foreshadowing began to fit together perfectly like puzzle pieces.

Nod nod-.

At this, Biyolf and Selena nodded as if they understood.

Well, everything seemed to be flowing smoothly.

Until Strawberry Latte’s final comment popped out.

“Last night, thanks to The Protagonist organizing those insights for me, I was able to achieve explosive progress.”

“…?”

Freeze-.

At that moment, I couldn’t help but freeze instantly.

‘What is this…?’

I organized your insights? When? Where?

A completely unplanned situation.

Strawberry Latte had started making up stories that weren’t in the script.

“…?”

“…?”

“…?”

Slowly-.

Just then, everyone in the room turned their gazes toward me.

The moment I was speechless without realizing it.

Ding-!

Suddenly, a private message notification rang out.

It seemed Strawberry Latte’s transmission restriction had already been lifted.

[Strawberry Latte] : ヽ(๏∀๏)ﾉ

“…”

A rather annoying emoticon was displayed.

‘Just how many types of emoticons does that guy have…’

I’ll have to ask him sometime later.

‘That aside, this bastard.’

As soon as I saw the emoticon, I could understand Strawberry Latte’s intention.

Swoosh-.

I turned my gaze toward him.

Though on the surface he was acting with a gentle smile, expressing gratitude to me…

The true feelings hidden behind that mask were obvious.

─You ignored my acting earlier, didn’t you? Puhaha! Let’s see how you handle this situation.

Right.

So you’re determined to pass the bomb to me?

‘But, kid.’

I’m not an amateur like you.

I can handle this kind of situation with improvisation easily.

‘Rather, thank you. For setting up the stage.’

* * *

‘How’s that!’

Strawberry Latte looked at Gaon triumphantly.

A petty revenge for dismissing his heartfelt acting as poor performance.

This time it was Gaon’s turn to look flustered.

Sure enough, Selena, who had taken the bait, carefully asked the first question.

“The Protagonist…?”

Her eyes held a mixture of curiosity and surprise.

To think that Gaon, whom she had only known as a master swordsman, had deep knowledge in magic as well.

“Don’t tell me… you have knowledge in magic too?”

Strawberry Latte cheered inwardly.

He naturally thought Gaon wouldn’t be able to respond immediately.

However.

“Why would you think I wouldn’t?”

“…?”

Contrary to expectations, Gaon answered shamelessly while staring directly at Selena.

Instantly, Strawberry Latte realized.

‘That, that’s…!’

It was buying time.

Since Gaon had already shown numerous achievements and mysterious aspects, just by maintaining his composure, people would naturally come up with plausible reasons.

Meaning there was no need to hastily make excuses on the spot.

‘Good heavens!’

The moment he realized this was all an infinitely disadvantageous game for him, despair began to wash over him belatedly.

Regardless.

Gaon continued speaking in a leisurely voice.

“If I had felt nothing after seeing Demarion the Great Sage’s chamber, which opened for the first time in hundreds of years, that would be stranger.”

As soon as those words ended.

“…!”

“…!”

Selena and Professor Biyolf’s expressions hardened with shock.

Demarion the Great Sage.

The weight that name carried was truly tremendous.

The fact that Gaon was a Primordial Being was now known to everyone. By mentioning Demarion the Great Sage, he had subtly expressed his connection to ancient magic.

‘Cr, crazy person….’

Actually, Gaon’s answer itself wasn’t particularly special. With just a little thought, anyone could have come up with that logic.

The problem was the timing.

Most people would have panicked and stammered when suddenly pressed with such questions. They might have made excuses, mumbled incoherently, or been completely speechless.

But Gaon was different. As if he had a prepared answer sheet, he unhesitatingly delivered a perfect response.

‘A bullshit vending machine… that’s a bullshit vending machine…!’

Press a button and pretentious words come flowing out.

Strawberry Latte couldn’t help but be horrified by that mechanical appearance.

Surely he doesn’t calculate even something like this in advance….

‘No.’

Wait a minute.

‘…Does he really calculate even this?’

Somehow it seemed like Gaon might actually do that?

“….”

After pondering for a moment, Strawberry Latte obediently raised the white flag.

‘I lost.’

But that sense of defeat wasn’t entirely unpleasant. Rather, seeing the professors’ surprised expressions, he even felt a subtle satisfaction.

Without realizing it, had there been an expectation in one corner of his heart that Gaon would answer like this?

He even felt a strange sense of pride in Gaon’s actions.

Nod-.

Just then, Gaon also looked at Strawberry Latte and slightly nodded his head. Along with a small smile.

It was a secret communion between fellow Possessed Ones who understood each other.

At least that’s what Strawberry Latte thought.

…Until the next words flowed from Gaon’s mouth.

“By the way, Professor Biyolf.”

“Yes.”

“There’s no precedent at Wintershield Magic Academy of a mage jumping from 2nd Circle to 4th Circle at once, is there?”

“…!”

Gaon spoke in a calm voice.

“Congratulations. You’ve got a truly interesting research opportunity. Along with a very valuable specimen.”

“Ohhhh!”

Instantly, Biyolf’s expression completely changed.

His instincts as a scholar had awakened.

With sparks flying from his eyes, Biyolf began staring intently at Strawberry Latte like a starving beast that had discovered prey.

“Th, that’s right! Exactly!”

Biyolf clapped his hands and shot up from his seat.

“When will such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity come again! To be able to analyze in real-time the process of leaping from 2nd Circle to 4th Circle at once!”

“…Huh?”

“What physiological changes occurred, how the mana circuits expanded, what differences there are in attribute manifestation and concentration – we need to compare everything one by one!”

Step by step-.

Strawberry Latte instinctively backed away.

But that didn’t mean he could escape Professor Biyolf’s madness.

“Don’t worry, Assistant Taragon! I’ll make it as painless as possible! First we’ll start with mana measurement, then brainwave analysis, and a little blood sampling…!”

Strawberry Latte’s face turned deathly pale in an instant.

Completely flustered by Gaon’s sudden counterattack, he didn’t know what to do.

‘W, wait a minute….’

The hellish future that would unfold before his eyes was vividly painted.

He was already busy to death with graduate school work, and now he’d become a lab rat subjected to all sorts of experiments and research all day long?

‘No way!’

That’s when it happened.

In the corner of his vision, he saw Gaon wearing a subtle smile.

He moved his lips and spoke.

─This is your karma, Latte.

“…!”

At that moment, Strawberry Latte made a firm resolution in his heart.

‘Ah.’

Never again, really never again would he carelessly challenge Gaon.

Absolutely not.

* * *

Thud, thud-.

As the sun began to set over the western mountains.

I made my way to the top floor of the Ruin Guild headquarters. The scheduled meeting time with Karayan was approaching.

There were more than a few things to discuss due to what happened at the auction house today. But among them, the core issue was clear.

‘Namely, the responsibility for the Brain Core theft incident.’

The Brain Core being stolen was part of the plan anyway, and I had copied another one with the Mirror of Fragmented Shadows, so there wouldn’t be any problems….

‘But only Strawberry Latte and I know that fact.’

To everyone else, it would appear that the Celestial Dragon’s Brain Core had fallen into the hands of the Worshippers of Evil Gods.

‘Anyway.’

I had already thought through the compensation I would extract from Karayan using that as leverage.

Heavy footsteps echoed on the stairs.

While climbing several floors, I organized in my head the things I needed to draw out from this conversation.

Creak-.

Before long, the door to the reception room opened.

Karayan, who had been waiting inside the room first, bowed deeply as soon as she saw me.

“…I deeply apologize, Benefactor.”

Her usual confident and dignified appearance was nowhere to be seen.

In its place remained only the figure of a merchant consumed by deep self-reproach and regret.

“I have no excuse. I boasted loudly about guaranteeing the highest profits… but in the end, I failed to prevent such a disaster at the last moment. My carelessness and complacent management became the root of trouble, causing enormous losses to you, Benefactor. I cannot even lift my face.”

Actually, she could have made plenty of excuses.

With not just the Five Nightmares but even an Apostle appearing directly, all of this was completely beyond anyone’s control.

From Karayan’s position, it would have been perfectly convincing to argue that it was an unavoidable situation.

Yet Karayan maintained a humble attitude without a single word of excuse.

‘That means she’s measuring my value highly.’

From the skilled fighter who had defeated Barba in the past, I had somehow become a benefactor of the Ruin Guild, and now I was a Sword Master who had single-handedly defeated even the infamous Puppeteer.

For her, my presence must have grown exponentially.

“The value of the Brain Core cannot be measured in numbers.”

Karayan continued speaking.

“No compensation can make up for this mistake… but whatever you demand, Benefactor, I will fulfill it.”

Hearing those words, I smiled inwardly.

It was exactly the answer I had wanted.

─The Third Entity has begun to set foot on this land.

Right.

Just like when Strawberry Latte possessed into this world….

This time too, it was time to prepare a starter booster pack for Muwolcha.

* * *

“So.”

After hearing my request, Karayan asked back with a slightly bewildered expression.

“You’re asking me to create a dedicated residential area for different races that have intelligence equal to humans, but whose appearance is… how should I put it. Quite unique?”

“Correct.”

“….”

Karayan, who had been silent for a moment, asked a question.

“Uh, Lord Gaon?”

“Speak.”

“May I ask the reason…?”

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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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