Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 201

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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 201

Episode 201. Summons (4)

* * *

Sword Master.

Those called seekers of the sword were beings who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts.

Transcendents who had built their own worlds through martial arts alone over hundreds of years.

Therefore, there could be no absolute hierarchy among Sword Masters. Since they were all transcendent masters, it was impossible to rank them.

‘Someone who’s a troublesome opponent to one person could become an easy prey to another.’

However.

Even so, there was one person who received the highest evaluation among Sword Masters…

‘…Pean.’

Swoosh-.

Bloodlust’s gaze turned toward the elf with silver-white hair.

Bandages completely covering both eyes, lips curved in a relaxed smile, and an indescribably deep and quiet aura enveloping it all.

That bastard was different.

While other Sword Masters had their respective strengths and weaknesses, only Pean was completely free from such compatibility constraints.

‘No weaknesses.’

Right.

Pean truly had no weaknesses.

He didn’t pursue the path of dominance that crushed opponents with overwhelming power.

He simply wielded swordsmanship that ‘never loses’ through thoroughly analytical and calculated techniques and cool judgment unswayed by emotion.

When others engaged in rock-paper-scissors-like compatibility battles, Pean would throw the same thing as his opponent, maintaining an eternal draw.

‘Above all…’

Pean wasn’t just someone with outstanding skills.

He possessed overwhelming experience and wisdom.

He was backed by undeniable martial prowess.

But the most important thing was something else.

Namely, that he was a symbolic figure to all seekers.

Having entered the seeker’s pilgrimage since ancient times, he was the senior who had maintained his position the longest among the Twelve Sword Masters… no, now thirteen.

Therefore, while there was no official hierarchy, the Sword Masters had tacitly accepted Pean as something like a representative.

He too recognized this and appointed himself as the leader of the Sword Masters.

But then…

“Stop it. You’ll really die if you continue.”

“…!”

…the moment Pean delivered that warning in a cold voice.

Flinch-.

Bloodlust couldn’t help but instinctively hesitate.

Her hand moving toward the dagger’s handle froze momentarily.

The weight behind Pean’s words was extraordinary. Not a light joke or empty threat, but a cold and clear warning.

‘What?’

Bloodlust’s brow gradually furrowed.

It was strange.

Pean was someone with a dignified and gentle personality.

She had watched him for hundreds of years, but he had never thrown such a direct and stern warning before.

No matter what conflicts arose, he would always wear a warm smile while mediating, defusing situations with gentle words – that was his consistent approach…

‘…Why is he going that far?’

She couldn’t understand why Pean was stopping her while even mentioning death.

Was he acting this way because seekers shouldn’t clash carelessly within Middletemple, the Holy City?

Or had he become more sensitive than usual due to the special circumstances of an emergency summons?

While Bloodlust was lost in such thoughts.

“I am the person who has walked the pilgrimage path the longest among existing seekers.”

“…”

“As such, I believe I have a responsibility to mediate disputes between other Sword Masters. My predecessors did the same.”

Pean briefly turned his gaze to survey the entire waiting room.

His expression as he looked at colleagues he had been with for ages held meaningful emotion.

“However.”

Swoosh-.

Pean turned his head back toward Bloodlust.

His coldly changed expression spoke to the seriousness of the current situation.

“Unfortunately, I have no confidence in controlling this particular fight.”

“…”

“With my current abilities, I cannot stop Gaon’s sword.”

Pause-.

At that moment, something began to go awry in Bloodlust’s mind.

‘…Wait a minute.’

Her gaze naturally turned toward Gaon.

The blue-haired young man standing quietly in one corner of the waiting room.

The Thirteenth Sword Master watching the situation with a calm expression.

“…”

She had thought there was no way such a brat could do anything to her.

She had concluded that only Pean could pose a threat to her here.

─You’ll really die if you continue.

Therefore, she had understood those words to mean Pean himself would step forward…

‘No way.’

…Was it a warning that she might die to Gaon?

“No, wait a minute.”

Bloodlust raised her hand high and spoke.

“I’m having trouble accepting this right now.”

Ha-.

A bitter laugh escaped without her realizing it.

At this point, it was so absurd she couldn’t even get angry.

“Have you all gone collectively insane? What exactly did you see to defend that guy so much?”

“Hey, you mosquito bastard!”

Tyrant Dragon shouted as if frustrated.

“Haven’t I told you dozens of times! Gaon killed Camillo von Taribas!”

“…”

“That’s not all! When he entered the Anvil of the Single Shoe, the Guardian directly declared it! That no challenger in history could defeat Gaon!”

“No, fuck. That’s such nonsense…”

Just as Bloodlust was about to retort.

Pean’s calm voice cut off her words.

“It’s all true.”

“…?”

“He even killed Puppet Master Batu in Dungarrd, the Dark City, just a few days ago.”

Pause-.

And as soon as Pean’s following words ended.

“What?”

“You killed Puppet Master Batu?”

Whoosh-.

Everyone in the room, including Tyrant Dragon and Heukgol, turned to look at Gaon.

Even they had expressions showing they didn’t know about this.

“….”

The wrinkles etched between Bloodlust’s brows deepened even further.

When Tyrant Dragon claimed Gaon’s achievement, it just seemed like exaggerated nonsense.

But now that even Pean was asserting it so definitively, those outrageous words began to gain credibility.

Bloodlust knew better than anyone that this thousand-year-old elf wasn’t the type to lie.

“Bloodlust.”

A calm voice reached her ears.

Pean looked directly at Bloodlust and began to continue speaking.

“It’s only been three months since Gaon was recognized as a Sword Master.”

“….”

Three months.

The shock of that short timeframe struck Bloodlust’s chest.

If all those claims were true.

Achievements that no Sword Master had accomplished in hundreds of years, that bastard had achieved in just three months.

“That’s why I dare to assert this.”

“….”

“Gaon is an existence that has transcended even the limits of a Sword Master.”

Pean slowly continued his words.

“Even Sword Masters, who were considered the pinnacle of martial arts or the end of the martial way… to Gaon, they’re merely a realm to be surpassed. No, he shouldn’t be confined to such categories in the first place.”

* * *

‘Hmm.’

I leaned against one wall and quietly observed the entire situation.

On the way to the waiting room, I heard the general circumstances from the High Priest.

The Great Ones had declared they would reveal the reason for the assembly through direct communication with me, and Bloodlust, unable to accept this, had erupted in anger.

‘Well, that’s understandable for Bloodlust.’

Bloodlust.

She had a belligerent personality rivaling Tyrant Dragon’s, and was unnecessarily prideful too.

The fact that I, who had just ascended to Sword Master, would represent everyone must have felt like an unbearable insult.

‘That’s why, until arriving at the waiting room, I was wondering if I should personally break her arrogance…’

A completely unexpected situation unfolded.

Tyrant Dragon, Heukgol, and even Pean stepped forward to defend me.

‘This is quite unexpected.’

Pean aside, I never thought even Tyrant Dragon would step up to defend me.

Considering his personality, he would have stayed put just to watch me fight with Bloodlust.

“Ah, seriously…!”

Meanwhile, Bloodlust was scratching her coral-colored hair roughly while venting her frustration.

It was natural.

Her stubbornness wouldn’t be broken by just this much.

She had simply realized that continuing to rebel blindly in a situation where the other three Sword Masters were unanimously supporting me would be meaningless.

She was belligerent and hasty, but not stupid.

But I knew well. Glossing over things like this would only backfire.

If Bloodlust wasn’t properly convinced, she would only harbor greater resentment toward this situation.

The same would be true for the Heretics who would arrive at the Holy City.

‘Well, Sword Masters have absolute pride in their abilities.’

Even Tyrant Dragon, Heukgol, and Pean, who were taking my side now, weren’t originally this cooperative.

They only changed after getting thoroughly beaten once for defying me.

‘In the end, I need to draw a clear line.’

Having finished that thought, I pushed off from the wall and opened my mouth.

“Pathetic.”

“…What?”

Whoosh-.

Bloodlust, hearing the sudden criticism, turned toward me.

She bared her fangs with a menacing expression.

Regardless, I continued speaking.

“A Heretic should be one who upholds the will of the Great Ones.”

“….”

“Yet there’s someone who complains like this even after hearing the Elder’s revelation.”

I finished speaking in a completely condescending tone.

“Truly deplorable. Since when did the level of Sword Masters become so vulgar?”

Hah-.

Bloodlust shook her head in disbelief.

“Have you completely lost your mind? Just because the Great Ones chose you as representative, you’ve become completely arrogant?”

“….”

“But fuck, there’s a limit to everything. How can someone like you lecture about a Heretic’s duty in front of a senior with hundreds of years of experience…”

Shing-!

Before those words could finish.

Without giving anyone time to intervene, I drew the Feather Sword.

The entire waiting room fell silent as if holding its breath.

Even Tyrant Dragon and Heukgol showed signs of momentary tension, and Adelia, standing in one corner, reflexively stepped back.

[Oh, a Sword Master! This time it’s a Sword Master? It’s not the first time, but cutting down a Heretic is always an enjoyable experience…]

‘Yeonwoo, be quiet.’

[Yes.]

It was a moment when I felt momentarily dizzy from Yeonwoo’s nonsense.

“Hey.”

Just then.

Bloodlust growled in a low, dangerous voice.

A different dimension of killing intent emanated from her entire body.

Blue veins bulged over her pale skin, and red eyes began to flash dangerously.

“You dare draw a weapon? You thought about the consequences of that action before doing it, right?”

“That’s what I want to say.”

“…What?”

I took a step forward while holding the Feather Sword. A calm yet cold voice echoed through the waiting room.

“Despite the Great Ones’ revelation being given, you doubt my qualifications and don’t hesitate to make disrespectful remarks. Weren’t you even aware that such behavior is blasphemy?”

Bloodlust’s face contorted. It was a complex expression mixing anger and bewilderment.

“Those who commit blasphemy should have their sins dealt with by immediate execution, but since the situation is urgent, it’s regrettable that we can’t carelessly reduce the number of Heretics.”

“Wow, fuck. Now you’re talking as if you can naturally kill me?”

Clang-!

She too swiftly drew twin swords from her waist. The red blades glowed eerily with blood-colored aura swirling around them.

I looked at such Bloodlust calmly.

In the past, when facing a duel with a Sword Master, my head would get complicated calculating all sorts of variables.

I would analyze the opponent’s abilities, seek countermeasures, and worry frantically trying to find any chance of victory.

But now it was different.

Such troublesome concerns didn’t come to mind at all.

That’s because a powerful conviction was settled within me.

The conviction that no matter what happened, I would win.

“Not just you.”

“….”

“Even if everyone in this room came at me all at once, it would be the same.”

* * *

‘No!’

Sikan Bauer’s face turned pale.

He wore an expression of betrayal as he screamed inwardly.

‘You said you’d stop this, The Protagonist!’

So why are you escalating the fight even more!

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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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