Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 204

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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 204

Episode 204. Order of the Holy Maiden (1)

Whoooosh-.

The dust from the training ground swirled in the wind.

Though the duel had ended, the spectators couldn’t easily leave their seats.

They all just stood there with their mouths agape, staring blankly at us. More precisely, at Bloodlust lying face-down on the ground and me standing before her.

‘Well, of course they’d react like that.’

I had unilaterally overwhelmed Bloodlust.

By giving her three chances to attack and still completely crushing her, I had demonstrated an overwhelming difference in power.

Now, in the eyes of others, I must appear like an absolute being beyond their reach.

‘But that’s been the case from the beginning anyway.’

I’d been receiving such gazes ever since I defeated Jark von Haibrunn.

However.

What was important this time was that I was receiving those gazes from the other Sword Masters as well.

All the heretics who had come to Middle Temple now acknowledged me. Not only Jeungmu, but also Mangnyeom, and even Bloodlust who had been defiant until just moments ago had bowed her head.

Tyrant Dragon, Heukgol, and Pean had already been on my side from long ago.

Now, even if I were to represent the Sword Masters in negotiations with the Great Ones, the other heretics wouldn’t dare raise any objections.

Swish-.

Having finished that thought, I slowly turned around. Then, in front of everyone watching, I declared firmly.

“As the Great Ones wish, I will personally conduct the meeting with the Saintess.”

“….”

“….”

Thud, thud-.

After finishing my words, I walked toward the exit of the training ground.

The onlookers standing at the perimeter smoothly parted to make way for me. I naturally walked along the path that had been created.

“I will guide you this way.”

A priest who appeared belatedly bowed respectfully and began to lead the way.

I followed behind him without any particular response.

Just then, urgent footsteps could be heard from behind me. Someone had started running after me.

“G-Gaon!”

It was Adelia.

“Are you alright? Are you injured anywhere….”

Adelia, who had somehow approached right beside me, chattered anxiously. Her expression was clearly filled with worry.

“I’m fine, so there’s no need to worry.”

I answered in an indifferent voice while looking ahead. However, Adelia’s eyes were still filled with anxiety.

“B-But didn’t Bloodlust’s sword just pierce through your heart?”

Adelia asked in a trembling voice.

What’s this? Why is she being particularly worried today?

It’s not like this is the first time she’s seen me use 【Avatar Manifestation】.

“Didn’t you see me use this trick when I fought Puppet Master Batu too?”

“…Yes. I saw it.”

“Then why are you worrying about it?”

Gulp-.

Adelia kept her mouth shut and didn’t give any answer.

She looked at me with eyes that seemed to find something suspicious. Her expression suggested she thought I was hiding something important.

Thud, thud-.

We silently followed the priest’s guidance through Middle Temple’s corridors.

Soon we arrived at the lodging.

A guest room different from the previous guest hall.

Befitting Middle Temple, it was a modest yet dignified room. White walls and simple furniture were neatly arranged, and through the window, the scenery of the Holy City could be faintly seen.

“The meeting with the Saintess is scheduled for 4 AM tomorrow.”

“….”

“A novice priest with 「authority」 to enter the Order of the Holy Maiden will visit, so please rest comfortably until then.”

Having finished his explanation, the priest bowed politely and left.

“Then I’ll take my leave now.”

Thus, only Adelia and I remained in the corridor.

Silence flowed.

Adelia hesitated in front of the door.

She looked like she had something she wanted to say but couldn’t easily open her mouth.

Unable to watch this any longer, I spoke first.

“Do you have something you want to say?”

Nod-.

Adelia nodded her head.

After hesitating for a moment, she finally gathered courage and opened her mouth.

“I know it’s terribly rude of me to say such things, but….”

Adelia’s voice was cautious.

But at the same time, it contained firm resolve.

“I wish you wouldn’t push yourself any further, Gaon.”

“…Push myself?”

When I frowned slightly and asked back, Adelia nodded.

“Yes.”

“….”

“Don’t you suffer aftereffects in your body every time you use your strong power?”

Huh?

Me?

“You had a nosebleed right after defeating the puppets in one strike at Dawnguard.”

“….”

“And it wasn’t just then. Even on the day we first met, you coughed up blood in the carriage after killing Peterpan.”

Adelia’s voice became increasingly earnest.

Gush-.

The sincerity she had been suppressing all this time began to pour out.

“Of course, I might be worrying unnecessarily. After all, Almond examined your body and said there were no problems. But….”

Adelia bit her lip for a moment before carefully continuing.

“I just can’t put my mind at ease. I’m so worried. It seems like you’re putting your own life at risk for the greater cause.”

No.

Wait a minute.

‘The nosebleed at Dawnguard was just from the aftereffects of hypersensitivity, wasn’t it?’

And I coughed up blood in the carriage after killing Peterpan? Me? I’ve never coughed up blood, so what is she talking about?

‘Where did things get twisted from?’

Looking at Adelia’s expression, I could tell she was seriously misunderstanding the situation.

Having poured out her heart, she looked at me with her lips pressed tightly together.

I could even feel desperation in those eyes. As if she thought I might collapse at any moment.

From Adelia’s perspective, she was genuinely worried about me, but….

For some reason, I felt an inexplicable fear from those eyes.

‘She’s kind of scary.’

It’s a thought I’ve been having frequently lately, but I can sense madness in her gaze.

The part about Almond examining my body and asserting there were no problems also gave me chills. When exactly did she conduct a health checkup without my knowledge?

“Gaon.”

That’s when I was having such thoughts.

Adelia opened her mouth once again.

“Please be honest with me.”

“….”

“Right now, how much time do you have left?”

The moment I heard those words.

I felt as if someone had struck the back of my head with a hammer.

‘Damn it.’

Now it’s turning into a terminal illness misunderstanding plot?

‘First Pean, now her too – why are all the people around me falling into delusions…?’

This misunderstanding isn’t even my fault this time!

* * *

“Haah….”

A few minutes after Gaon left.

Bloodlust, who had finally come to her senses, let out a deep sigh.

“Shit.”

Though she was normally prone to swearing, today her words were particularly harsh.

And for good reason. She had suffered such a one-sided defeat in front of dozens of witnesses.

Pat pat-.

Bloodlust sat on the ground, brushing dust off her clothes while grumbling.

“Fucking embarrassing, tsk. What was that in front of dozens of people?”

“Hey!”

Just then, someone’s cheerful voice interrupted.

“It’s okay! No need to be embarrassed!”

A bright atmosphere completely at odds with his massive build and fierce appearance.

It was Heukgol.

“I got properly beaten by Gaon too during the Sacred Inquisition in front of all the councilors!”

“….”

“At least you swung your sword! But I couldn’t do anything and got subdued by his aura alone! It was completely humiliating, you know?”

The Death Knight approached Bloodlust and extended his hand in a friendly manner.

Swoosh-.

Bloodlust looked up at Heukgol with an incredulous expression.

“…How proud of you.”

As she’d felt before, he was truly a strange fellow.

What made an undead so bright and optimistic? Usually those who had broken the bonds of life and death exuded a dark and gloomy atmosphere.

But anyway, it was like finding comfort in shared misery. Being consoled by someone in the same situation seemed to improve her mood a little.

Thud-.

Bloodlust grabbed Heukgol’s hand and stood up.

“Yeah, well….”

Standing up, she scratched the back of her head sheepishly.

“Sorry for calling you an idiot earlier. If he’s like that, there’s no need to make him run around for 7 years. He’s worthy of being recognized as a Sword Master right away.”

“Hehe. Right?”

Snicker-.

Watching Heukgol smile brightly, Bloodlust let out a snort of laughter.

Bloodlust had an impatient and belligerent personality. She was proud and hot-tempered too. She knew her own personality well.

But she wasn’t completely thick-headed. She wasn’t so stubborn that she’d refuse to acknowledge Gaon even after being thoroughly beaten like this.

As the one who actually fought the duel, Bloodlust had felt more vividly than anyone how overwhelming Gaon’s skills were.

“I should go apologize to him later, tsk.”

Just then, a cold voice came from behind her.

“Dim-witted mosquito bastard.”

“…?”

“Why didn’t you listen when I first told you? Just like an idiot, you had to experience it yourself to come to your senses.”

Crack-.

Veins bulged on Bloodlust’s forehead.

“Are you done talking, you lizard bastard?”

“What? I’m nowhere near done.”

Tyrant Dragon smiled provocatively.

“If you’re upset, why don’t you have a round with me too.”

“Fine! Come at me, you half-wit bastard!”

“H-Heretics… please….”

The High Priest nearby muttered in a desperate voice.

The old priest’s face was filled with deep fatigue. He was completely exhausted mentally and physically from mediating the tensions between Sword Masters all day.

Originally, heretics typically visited the Holy City once every few decades.

But why did so many Sword Masters have to gather during his tenure as High Priest?

He was almost resentful of the Great Ones who had bestowed such a fate upon him.

* * *

The next morning at dawn.

On the way to the Order of the Holy Maiden with Amond von Goldhart.

While descending the long stone staircase leading to the underground of Middle Temple, Amond asked me a question.

“You look somewhat tired, Lord Gaon?”

“…Something happened last night.”

“Oh my. Was it resolved well?”

Well.

Could that be called resolved?

I decided to continue the conversation after meeting with the Saintess first.

With the meeting with the Great Ones ahead, I didn’t have the luxury to worry about trivial misunderstandings.

Thud, thud-.

Footsteps echoed on the stairs.

As we descended the cold stone steps, the air became increasingly filled with sacred energy.

Unlike the gentle atmosphere of Middle Temple’s upper floors, a suffocating reverence pressed down on my entire body.

Amond didn’t speak to me anymore after my silence.

There wasn’t much to talk about anyway. I had already told him all the precautions during our last meeting.

That’s when we arrived at the entrance to the underground shrine.

Swoosh-.

Amond handed me a small hourglass and said.

“5 minutes.”

“…Wasn’t it 6 minutes last time?”

Even in the game, meetings with the Saintess were always 6 minutes.

“After Lord Gaon overexerted yourself, we replaced it with a 5-minute hourglass.”

“Ah.”

Right.

I thought it was just a joke, but he was serious about that?

“So that means I should come out 1 minute after all the sand falls.”

“…You’re not going to let me heal you this time?”

Amond grumbled.

I chuckled at his expression.

“Got it. Be careful.”

Thud, thud-.

I stepped into the Underground Shrine.

The same scenery I had seen before unfolded.

The damp Underground Cave. The ancient patterns carved into the walls glowed brighter and brighter as I went deeper inside.

And in the center of the Open Field.

The Saintess with her face covered by a pure white veil greeted me…

“We meet again, Upapa.”

“…?”

The words slipped out before I knew it.

“Weren’t you supposed to have disappeared?”

“Upapapapa! How could you say something so rude!”

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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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