Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 197

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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 197

Episode 197. Conclusion of the Auction (6)

* * *

Karayan pondered deeply, reflecting on Gaon’s demands.

‘What could his true intentions be?’

Honestly speaking, Gaon could have demanded much more. After all, the guild’s mistake had cost him a brain core of immeasurable value.

The legendary items sleeping in the Ruin Guild’s secret warehouse. The vast information network spanning the entire continent. The connections and influence built up over decades.

Whatever he demanded, Karayan would have been in no position to refuse.

Naturally, she had been prepared for such a scenario.

‘But then.’

What Gaon had actually requested was…

‘…to create a residential area for grotesque-looking heteromorphs?’

No matter how much she wracked her brain, she couldn’t fathom his intentions.

What benefit could a Sword Master possibly gain from such a facility?

Political foundation? The loyalty of heteromorphs?

But someone of Gaon’s caliber would have no need for such things. In a world where power itself was authority, he already stood higher than anyone else.

As Karayan’s thoughts grew increasingly complex.

“Lea de Karayan.”

Just then.

Gaon’s voice instantly cut through Karayan’s contemplation.

“To you, what kind of place is Dungarrd, the Dark City?”

“…”

Pause-.

Caught off guard by the completely unexpected question, Karayan was momentarily speechless.

What was his intention now? Why was he suddenly asking about her thoughts on Dungarrd?

It was then.

Seeing Karayan’s flustered expression, Gaon let out a small sigh and continued.

“I’ll say it again – there’s no need to rack your brain like that in front of me. Don’t calculate, just say whatever comes to mind.”

“…Ah.”

Karayan let out a sigh.

That’s right.

There was something Gaon had always requested whenever they met.

Sincere communication. Honest conversation as a human being, not the pretense of a merchant.

Swoosh-.

Karayan relaxed her tense shoulders and took a deep breath.

Then, setting aside all her calculating merchant mindset, she opened her mouth with a genuine voice.

“Dungarrd, the Dark City is…”

After a brief pause, she slowly continued.

“A den of criminals.”

It was a straightforward confession.

“A lawless zone created by homeless vagrants and exiles who gathered from all corners of the continent. That was Dungarrd’s origin, an undeniable fact.”

“…”

“Since the Ruin Guild seized control, we’ve been trying to establish some order, but the city is so vast that areas outside the center remain shrouded in darkness.”

In the back alleys, murder and robbery still occurred as regularly as meals, and human trafficking and drug dealing took place openly.

No.

Even the Ruin Guild itself was a criminal organization that made such activities its primary business.

Karayan paused and looked out the window.

The landscape of Dungarrd, covered in ominous gray smoke, spread out eerily against the sunset light.

“However.”

Karayan’s expression and gaze changed dramatically.

The cold, calculating merchant’s face gave way to hot, genuine emotion.

“This place is also a land of opportunity with infinite possibilities.”

“…”

“A place where anyone with ability can pursue their dreams, regardless of origin or status.”

Karayan herself was living proof of this.

A vagrant who once wandered the Uncharted Wilderness aimlessly had now become the head of a massive guild that held dominion over the dark city.

Being such a person, she could speak with even greater sincerity.

And.

“That’s exactly it.”

Hearing this, Gaon nodded and replied.

His sharp gaze held a keenness that seemed to penetrate the essence of things.

“Karayan, you’ve led the Ruin Guild and built trade networks across the entire continent. You have relationships with Bertas and Wintershield, and now even with Middle Temple.”

“…”

“Someone like you couldn’t possibly be unaware of the continent’s situation.”

Indeed, that was true.

The Ruin Guild’s network was the most extensive on the continent, and Karayan stood at the center of all that information.

She wasn’t just a simple merchant, but a major player who could see through continental affairs like the palm of her hand.

“The shadow of the apocalypse is falling.”

“…”

“More people will lose their homes in the future, and the outer citadels will disappear one by one.”

Karayan’s expression gradually grew heavier. Gaon’s words matched exactly the concerns she harbored.

The Outer Citadel.

Literally, it referred to those living outside the protection of the Silk Road.

It was different from the Uncharted Wilderness.

These were resilient people who had built independent defense systems, fending off monsters through their own strength without barriers.

But as monsters gradually grew stronger and increased in number, the defense lines of the outer citadels were slowly crumbling.

In just a few decades, the number of outer citadels had been reduced by half.

Karayan herself was a survivor from such a destroyed outer citadel, so she could understand their desperate situation more acutely than anyone.

“The survivors will inevitably have no choice but to seek the Silk Road and flock to the major cities.”

Gaon coldly pointed out the reality.

“Central City Centerium, Bertas, the Free City, and Wintershield… But even those places are already at saturation.”

Nod-.

Karayan could only nod at those words.

Satellite villages were densely packed around each city.

Bertas even had a massive slum called Labyrinth Village.

Without special abilities or connections, settling near such major cities had become like plucking stars from the sky.

“However, Dungarrd, the Dark City, is still an avoided region. Due to its reputation as a den of criminals, population influx is low, and no one readily wants to make this place their home.”

A brief silence fell. Karayan pondered Gaon’s words, trying to guess where he was leading this conversation.

“But someday, people will have no choice but to flock to Dungarrd.”

“…”

“The other major cities no longer have land left to develop. In contrast, this place still has vast unexplored territories spread out. Not even one proper satellite city has been established around the Silk Road here.”

Those words were true.

Around Centerium, Bertas, and Wintershield, dozens of large and small settlements were already densely positioned.

To the point where there was no room left to build new cities.

But Dungarrd was completely different.

Due to people avoiding it because of its notoriety and danger, most of the city’s outskirts remained empty.

“Using the systems and trade networks the Ruin Guild has established, these empty lands could be systematically developed. With planned urban design and efficient district allocation.”

Gaon’s words were thrown out with subtle expectation. Within them was clearly contained a message that he wanted Karayan’s help.

“I can say with certainty.”

Confidence filled Gaon’s voice.

“In the future, this place will become the continent’s greatest center, standing shoulder to shoulder with Bertas.”

Upon hearing Gaon’s words, Karayan fell into deep thought.

It was an analysis that wasn’t wrong in the slightest.

Rather, it was so perfectly aligned with the plans and direction she had been secretly pursuing with her advisors that it was surprising.

‘But still…’

Questions still remained.

Development was one thing, but why would he make ‘a settlement for other races’ the starting point of such a grand vision?

And not common races like elves or dwarves, but for those with bizarre appearances so grotesque they would be despised by others?

Karayan asked about this point honestly.

Then Gaon answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“Because by embracing minorities, we can change the very atmosphere of the city itself. It’s sufficient to serve as the first step of development.”

Karayan nodded her head.

“I understand. You mean it’s a means to build a new image for the dark city.”

“That’s right.”

Chuckle-.

Upon hearing that answer, Karayan couldn’t help but smile unconsciously.

While telling her not to calculate, Gaon himself was hiding his true intentions by presenting plausible justifications.

So what was the core of what Gaon truly desired?

To make Dawnguard a more livable space. And thereby enable it to embrace more people.

Embracing other races was the same.

It was pure philanthropic thinking, far removed from achievement value or practical gain.

“Benefactor…”

Karayan’s voice became much softer.

She remembered clearly.

Gaon’s appearance that day when he saved her and her father, who had nothing, just before they lost their lives in the Unexplored Territories.

“Benefactor, what are you dreaming of?”

Though she could only vaguely remember his face, the memory of that day was clearly etched in her mind.

“What kind of place is the world you dream of, that you would make such a request to someone like me?”

“…”

At those words, Gaon quietly closed his eyes for a moment, then turned his gaze toward the window.

Swoosh-.

At its end was the Underground Fighting Arena with not a single spectator.

The empty arena covered with dust blown by the wind.

Three months ago.

After Barbarian the Slayer of Men died, this place had been closed ever since.

However, Karayan remembered clearly. The thick madness and suffocating heat that had once filled that space below.

People had been ecstatic watching the cruel matches where blood and flesh flew, and thrilled by empathizing with those struggling for survival.

And.

Kwaaaaaaaaang───!

One strike.

With a single sword strike, Gaon had consumed all that madness.

“…”

At the time, there had been countless questions.

Why hadn’t he immediately sought out the Guild Master but instead stayed among the slaves?

Why had he killed Barbarian the Slayer of Men?

‘Now I understand.’

As she quietly watched Gaon’s actions, Karayan felt she could know the answer.

And from the moment she became aware of that fact.

She herself felt somewhat ashamed.

Rustle-.

Just then, Gaon opened his mouth.

And began to recite the aspiration he had long harbored.

“What I desire is…”

* * *

‘Sister Muwolcha.’

I have prepared a space for you.

You should be able to live comfortably there.

Still, just in case…

‘…please don’t go too overboard with the customization. Please.’

Sigh-.

Recalling Muwolcha’s eccentric behavior in the game made me unconsciously sigh.

I was afraid to even imagine how much more bizarre the user who enjoyed decorating her character in all sorts of grotesque ways would possess in reality.

I hoped she would keep it within limits that the dark city could handle.

‘Please let my sincere prayer reach even other dimensions…’

Ah, of course.

The dark city development wasn’t a blueprint for Muwolcha alone.

Everything I said to Karayan was sincere.

In the future, the dark city would become the center of the continent. All 199 futures I had experienced had flowed that way.

‘What I did was merely accelerate that timing.’

Changing Dawnguard first before the apocalypse accelerated. Thereby reducing even slightly the shock when crisis struck.

Yes.

That was precisely my plan.

‘Anyway.’

After that, I continued countless conversations with Karayan.

The detailed direction of development. Future relations with Middle Temple. And coordination between each key faction.

There were endless topics to discuss, requiring just as much time.

Twilight was already seeping in through the window. Though I was utterly exhausted from the long meeting, my mind worked faster than ever before.

By the time the meeting ended, the next morning was already dawning.

“Then I’ll see you next time, Benefactor. I’ll send the remaining payment through Durdamel.”

Thud, thud-.

On the way out of the Ruin Guild building.

Adelia beside me carefully opened her mouth.

“Though it may sound obvious…”

Having served as escort all night long, fatigue was clearly written on Adelia’s face.

But her eyes were shining even more clearly.

“The Protagonist truly deserves to be respected.”

It was sudden praise.

Of course, I could guess what feelings prompted Adelia to say such words.

Since my possession, I had consistently shown actions aimed at making the ideal world she dreamed of into reality.

For her, it was only natural that she would respect me.

Chuckle-.

Thinking of this, a hollow laugh escaped me unconsciously.

‘At first, it was just for survival.’

Because I didn’t want to die. Because I wanted to live somehow. After struggling with my frail body, I had somehow reached this point.

For me, salvation was inevitable.

There was no other choice.

To survive, I had to prevent the apocalypse, and to prevent the apocalypse, I had to survive.

“….”

Certainly.

That’s how it started….

The lies I told to escape immediate crises became reality.

Every step I took while clinging to survival ultimately led me down the path of a savior.

─Benefactor, what do you dream of?

─….

─What kind of world do you dream of that you would make such a request of someone like me?

That question Karayan asked still echoed in my ears.

Why was that?

Perhaps it was because I had become buried under the title of Sword Master.

Perhaps it was the bluffing and acting that had hardened like habit manifesting on its own.

Perhaps it was my true feelings that I hadn’t yet realized awakening.

─What I desire is….

Whatever it was, one thing was certain.

Before Karayan’s question, an answer had flowed out without my knowing.

─A world where those abandoned on this land no longer need to prove their right to survive. A world where existence itself becomes a right.

Yes.

What I wanted was exactly that, and nothing more.

* * *

Ding-!

〔Hidden Message : The forgotten Harmonizers are watching your progress with interest.〕

〔Hidden Message : Preparing ‘additional rewards’ passed by vote.〕

〔Hidden Message : The ‘Master of Latent Potential and Rebirth’ volunteers for an interview….〕

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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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