Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 240

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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 240

Episode 240. Zahhar (3)

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─Exactly one day from now, at this time, I will return. Until then, prepare yourselves thoroughly.

Before leaving Vilopozy.

Zahhar slowly looked around Tunnel Village and declared to everyone.

His gaze visible through his glasses was as calm as a knight looking down at a chessboard.

─I cannot tolerate an imperfect match. Everything must be fought under the best conditions, against the finest opponent, in the optimal environment to have true meaning.

An obsession with perfection.

The pathological fixation characteristic of the Dragon Clan was fully revealed in those brief words.

Moreover, his determination to thoroughly maintain his own standards even in battle against enemies was nothing short of madness.

─I am expecting a perfect battle. So please, do not disappoint me.

Thud, thud-.

After staring intently at me one last time, Zahhar turned around, and Dorico Shiro, who had snapped back to her senses, hurriedly followed behind him.

The footsteps of the two gradually growing distant.

How much more time had passed like that?

Only after Zahhar’s figure had completely disappeared did someone cautiously approach my side.

“Um…”

It was the Dwarf Village Chief.

His face clearly showed hesitation, as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t easily bring himself to speak.

“The Protagonist, if it wouldn’t be rude, may I ask you just one question?”

“Speak.”

The Dwarf Village Chief, who had been hesitating for a moment, soon nodded with a determined expression.

“Did you really absorb the Ancient Dragon’s Dragon Heart?”

“That’s correct.”

I gave a simple and clear answer.

There was no particular reason to hide this fact. Tyrant Dragon had already openly blabbed about it anyway.

Pause-.

The Village Chief’s expression twisted into a complex grimace upon hearing my response.

Though he had expected this answer, receiving direct confirmation seemed to bring another wave of shock.

He scratched the back of his neck and continued in a weak voice.

“Actually… ever since four days ago, when the two Sword Masters returned alive from the Ancient Dragon’s Lair, strange things have been happening.”

“Strange things?”

“Creating special artifacts has become difficult. No, to be precise, it would be more accurate to say it’s become completely impossible.”

The reason the dwarves had settled here in Vilopozy despite the risk of monster waves was simple.

The magic power emanating from the Ancient Dragon had combined with the magma deep underground to form a special volcano, and thanks to that heat, they could craft special artifacts.

But since I had absorbed the Ancient Dragon entirely, the very source of that specialness had now disappeared.

The volcano had also transformed into an ordinary lava pit, and artifact creation had become impossible as well.

I explained all these cause-and-effect relationships to the Village Chief step by step.

“The Ancient Dragon’s magic power was also the culprit behind the monster waves. Since I eliminated it, monster waves will no longer occur.”

“…Ah.”

And upon hearing this explanation of mine, the Dwarf Village Chief wore a dazed expression.

As if his mind had gone blank from the unexpected news.

‘He really can’t manage his expressions.’

The Village Chief unconsciously stroked his beard and fell into deep thought.

Probably complex calculations were running through his head right now.

“Then…”

Finally, he muttered in a powerless voice.

“…Vilopozy can no longer produce magical artifacts.”

Those words contained indescribable emptiness.

It was a natural reaction. For the Dwarf Village Chief, this situation had to feel incredibly ironic.

Originally, the reason for wanting to eliminate the monster waves was to create artifacts more safely in Vilopozy.

But now, along with the monster waves, Vilopozy’s special characteristics had also vanished.

To use an analogy, it was like promising to eliminate a disease but killing the patient instead.

─Ta-da! As promised, I’ve eliminated the pathogen for you!

─Wow… you really are a renowned physician as rumored! How did you do it?

─I killed the infected host, so the pathogen died too! Haha.

─Damn it! You crazy quack bastard!!

Wasn’t such a conversation probably going on in the Dwarf Village Chief’s head? He just couldn’t show it because he was in front of a Sword Master.

Anyway.

In this situation where purpose and means had been completely reversed, the complexity was clearly visible on the Village Chief’s face.

The shock was too great to accept the fact that land with a lineage spanning hundreds of years had lost its function overnight.

“Since you’ve already become targets of Black Mages and Worshippers of Evil Gods, Vilopozy has no other options left.”

“…”

“Trust me. Rather than letting enemies seize this place, this is the best method.”

In fact, my words were true.

There was no need to explain logically at length or present evidence in the first place.

A Sword Master’s words carried that much authority.

“Then…”

The Village Chief, who had been pondering for a long while, cautiously opened his mouth.

“What should we do now? As a race blessed by The Owner of the Flame and the Blacksmith, we cannot simply live as ordinary blacksmiths who just hammer iron, The Protagonist.”

A voice filled with desperation.

The will to not give up the pride that had continued for hundreds of years crossed with the resignation that reality must still be accepted.

I looked directly at such a Village Chief and answered.

“Vilopozy isn’t the only place that can produce magical artifacts.”

“…?”

“…?”

The gazes of the dwarves around began focusing on me one by one.

Those standing guard on the watchtower and the craftsmen working in the distance were all listening intently.

“I fully understand your feelings. Abandoning land that your ancestors protected for hundreds of years is not an easy choice.”

My voice began echoing throughout all of Vilopozy.

“However, the sun cannot remain up forever.”

“…”

“Night has come. Those who wait for stars that have already set to rise again, intoxicated by past glory in that darkness, cannot survive.”

I continued my declaration in a calm but firm voice. At the same time, I could feel the surrounding atmosphere gradually changing.

“Now, you must become the new pioneers.”

“…”

“Just as your ancestors settled in Vilopozy hundreds of years ago. Now it’s your generation’s turn to become the first beginning of history.”

Several dwarves frowned and looked at each other. They still clearly showed signs of confusion.

“Your ancestors also started on this land with nothing. They built defensive facilities, dug tunnels, and created a village.”

“….”

“You said you couldn’t live as an ordinary blacksmith just hammering iron? Then hammer the future. For your descendants. For the destiny of the dwarf race.”

Pause-.

The Dwarf Village Chief’s eyes began to slowly widen.

One dwarf on the watchtower carefully nodded his head.

Seeing this, his colleague beside him also began to nod along.

“A sword made of iron lasts at most a few hundred years. So engrave your names on the sword of history. So that you’ll be remembered as master craftsmen forever, even after hundreds and thousands of years pass.”

Silence.

A long, deep silence flowed.

However, that stillness felt completely different from the quiet when Dorico Shiro and Zahhar had arrived.

It wasn’t despair or fear, but the quietude of those deeply contemplating something.

Dwarf.

A race born with special senses for flame and metal.

For them, the forge wasn’t simply a workshop but the very meaning of life itself. Becoming an excellent craftsman was both an honor and a symbol of racial authority.

What I had presented to them wasn’t simple relocation. It was an opportunity to write new history. The possibility of becoming pioneers like their ancestors.

Then.

What level of honor would follow those who pioneered new ‘meaning of life’ on a racial dimension?

“The reason The Great Ones called me to this place is.”

Swoosh-.

I paused for a moment and slowly looked around all of Vilopozy.

Dozens of dwarves were holding their breath, waiting for my next words.

“To guide you to a new land.”

An exclamation flowed from someone’s lips.

Starlight began to twinkle in the dwarves’ eyes.

No.

Let me correct that.

That wasn’t starlight.

Instead, it was the reflected light of sparks that fly when striking hot iron with a hammer.

Yes.

Beyond the dwarves’ vision, the new future they were forging was already unfolding.

Murmur murmur-.

The dwarves began to nod their heads. Some exchanged meaningful glances with each other while whispering in small voices.

“The Protagonist.”

In the midst of this, the Dwarf Village Chief, who had barely regained his composure, stepped forward and spoke.

“Then… where exactly is this land that needs us?”

All the dwarves focused their gazes on me. Adelia and Tyrant Dragon, who were completely absorbed in my words, and even Mangnyeom were all looking at my lips.

I took my time and looked at them one by one. Then I slowly opened my mouth and gave the answer to wrap all of this up.

“Wintershield, the Magic City.”

“….”

“That place will become the new sanctuary for the dwarves and the Sisterhood of the Forsaken.”

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[Middle Finger] : You’re preparing well for the Wintershield defense battle in your spare time, right?

It was a personal note that Gaon had left in the past.

Actually, the orthodox method for preparing for the Wintershield defense battle was simple.

It was to move Vilopozy’s defense facilities directly to Wintershield.

Of course, that was never an easy task.

‘Because there are so many prerequisites.’

First, I had to clear the Rashutku Ruins. Then I had to receive the opener leading to the true ruins from Emperor Tarosk.

‘I’ve succeeded up to this point.’

After that, I had to go to the true Rashutku Ruins and find the blueprints for the lost technology.

Then I had to convince the dwarves to relocate to Wintershield, and give them the blueprints to build Vilopozy’s defense facilities in Wintershield.

Naturally, it was no easy task. Especially the part about convincing the dwarves was…

Ding-!

[Middle Finger] : Finished convincing all the dwarves.

[Middle Finger] : These guys are going to Wintershield as soon as this scenario ends.

“…?”

Pause-.

For a moment, Strawberry Latte showed a bewildered expression.

‘No, wait a minute.’

So, this person right now…

After passing Jaque’s trial, then clearing the Ancient Dragon’s Lair to obtain the dragon heart in preparation for the suddenly started Intruder scenario, and in the chaotic situation where the Vilopozy battle had begun, while also having to save Muwolcha, he convinced the stubborn dwarves to mass relocate to the magic city all at once?

“….”

My mind went blank.

That was an enormous wall that couldn’t be described in words.

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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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