Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 252

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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 252

Episode 252. Descent (3)

* * *

The second Possessed One.

Muwolcha.

Even before she set foot in this world, one question had been circling in my mind.

‘Where and how should I help Muwolcha grow?’

Each class has its own optimal growth environment.

Making the wrong choice would prevent them from properly drawing out their potential, and in the worst case, it would actually hold them back.

‘Strawberry Latte is a prime example of success.’

Due to the nature of the mage profession, his body was extremely vulnerable in the early stages, so I possessed him with The Adversary to achieve explosive growth in one fell swoop.

On top of that, I provided the safe and systematic environment of Wintershield Magic Academy, making it truly the best possible conditions.

But Muwolcha is different.

The martial artist profession itself already guarantees a certain level of survivability, but the growth method is the complete opposite of a mage.

Rather than sitting at a desk learning theory, it’s much more efficient to learn through practical experience and physical training.

So where would be the most suitable place for her?

The answer was clear.

‘Dungarrd, the Dark City.’

This place provides the best environment for a martial artist to grow.

The Underground Fighting Arena. The Back Alley. And endless opportunities for experience.

Everything was optimized for a martial artist’s growth in this city.

Most importantly, there was something else.

‘Establishing a solid base in a major city.’

Dungarrd already has a reliable ally in Karayan.

As the head of the Ruin Guild, she wields considerable influence and shows a favorable attitude toward me.

‘Of course…’

That favor has clear limits.

Karayan is a merchant. And merchants always prioritize profit above all else.

The reason she helps me now is ultimately because all these situations bring her benefits.

The relationship of being a benefactor. The trust gained from dealing with Puppet Master Batu. The bond built through cooperation in the secret auction.

Compensation for the Brain Core lost due to the Ruin Guild’s mistake. And the mutual benefits expected to continue in the future.

These things support the relationship between us.

‘The problem is that balance can be broken at any time.’

The moment Karayan judges that she has repaid all her debts to me.

Or the moment she feels that the proposals I offer are no longer attractive to her.

From that point, the cooperative relationship itself will start to waver.

But…

‘Many of the plans I need to pursue in the future are things that seem meaningless at this point.’

Long-term strategies to prevent the future called the apocalypse, but tasks that show no immediate benefit.

Could Karayan really accept such things at face value? Could she support choices that are difficult to understand with a merchant’s realistic way of thinking?

‘Obviously impossible.’

On the other hand, Muwolcha is different.

She is a Possessed One like me.

She knows the truth of this world and is in the same situation as me.

She’s also someone who can perfectly understand who I am and what plans I’m making.

If I plant such a being in Dungarrd and increase her influence?

‘A perfect base will be completed.’

Maintaining the cooperative relationship with Karayan while separately building my own independent force in the Dark City.

It would be like gaining one more reliable piece to move in the massive city of Dungarrd.

Support from Dungarrd will be essential not only for the future defense of Wintershield, but also for the bigger game that will unfold afterward.

For that time, I need to steadily build the foundation from now.

“Yeah. I understand…”

After hearing my explanation, Muwolcha scratched her forehead with a complicated expression and showed reluctance.

“But Ppakgyu.”

“Yes.”

“Would it be okay for me to go to Dungarrd in my current state?”

Swoosh-.

Muwolcha’s gaze swept down her own body.

The fluorescent purple skin and bizarre appearance were problems, but what was most concerning in the current situation was her level.

【Lv. 1】

‘In the original game, the martial artist…’

Had the setting of starting with nerfed physical stats due to the aftereffects of long experimentation by Black Mages.

Of course, the martial artist profession itself guarantees basic survivability.

High potential can be secured through proper stat distribution, and the growth curve itself is more stable compared to other professions.

‘But that’s only when growth gets on track.’

In the current state where she just woke up and her body’s senses haven’t even properly returned, such professional advantages were meaningless.

Dungarrd is certainly the optimal environment for a martial artist to grow, but that only holds true when a certain foundation is established.

If I just throw her in while all conditions are at their worst like now, not only growth but survival itself would be precarious.

Having thought that far, I calmly continued speaking.

“I never said I’d send you there right away. I’m thinking of moving after building a bit more foundation.”

“Ah, I see.”

Muwolcha nodded as if she understood.

Moreover, I had a more practical problem…

Which was that I didn’t have the time to take Muwolcha to Dungarrd right now.

‘There are mountains of things to do.’

I need to inform Middle Temple about the situation in Vilopozy, establish a cooperative system with Wintershield, and prepare for the great migration of the Dwarves.

On top of that, I need to establish countermeasures against the Intruder in the Holy City, and even go through the process of having Muwolcha officially recognized as a hero.

I’ll be too busy handling all these matters to have any spare energy for other places for a while.

It would be better to take Muwolcha along and let her directly experience these processes.

It would give her time to adapt to this world while gradually learning the roles needed for my plans.

“Shall we head out now, sister?”

“Phew… Let’s go.”

Muwolcha let out a deep sigh and nodded.

Her appearance as she got up from her seat with a body that hadn’t fully recovered yet looked somewhat difficult, but her gait was at least stable.

Swoosh-.

I looked around the laboratory once more.

All sorts of bizarre experimental tools and cultivation tanks, and research materials filling the walls.

I planned to hand over all the meaningful experimental data and resources here to Middle Temple and Wintershield.

It would help in understanding the reality of Black Magic research and preparing countermeasures.

Thud, thud-.

I walked alongside Muwolcha toward the laboratory door. It was time to leave Vilopozy and head to the next destination.

The moment I opened the door and stepped outside.

Stop-.

Both Muwolcha and I had no choice but to stop in our tracks simultaneously.

“Ah, you’re here.”

Keh-hek, kek kek-!

Some unfamiliar man was flailing about in midair.

A man whose face had turned deathly pale as he thrashed wildly, caught by the scruff of his neck in Tyrant Dragon’s grip.

“Some suspicious guy was lurking around the area, so I subdued him immediately.”

“….”

“….”

Tyrant Dragon calmly explained the situation.

And.

The moment I saw that man’s face, I couldn’t help but be flustered.

‘No way….’

A burly build hidden beneath a worn coat.

Small eyes filled with cunning along with a scruffy beard.

And even that characteristic hooked nose.

‘Why is this bastard showing up here?’

Human trafficker Franky.

A merchant who made enormous profits through high-interest lending and various illegal dealings.

He was an NPC far too famous among players.

After all, he was the culprit who sold players to the Underground Fighting Arena every new playthrough in Roel.

Naturally….

Four months ago, I too had been led by his hand and handed over to the Underground Fighting Arena.

* * *

Dungarrd, the Dark City.

Deep in the outskirts of the massive city.

In a secret space untouched by ordinary people’s footsteps, the Western Branch of Ataraxy was located.

Underground passages tangled like a labyrinth connected to various parts of Dungarrd, and there were even secret routes leading to the Uncharted Wilderness outside the city.

Dorico Shiro and Hodupayi were walking through those passages.

Thud, thud-.

“Huff, hufff….”

Hodupayi was breathing heavily while dragging something.

Along with long drag marks, at the end lay the corpse of a massive white dragon.

“Wow….”

Dorico Shiro, who was following behind, spoke with subtle admiration in her voice.

“Are you really that strong? How can you drag something like that by yourself?”

Vilopozy and Dungarrd were relatively close to each other.

But even so, they weren’t close enough for an adult man to drag a dragon’s corpse around alone.

Moreover, Hodupayi appeared to have a skinny build.

The fact that he had transported the massive white dragon’s corpse without much difficulty was surprising in itself.

Hodupayi, who had caught his breath for a moment, answered.

“I’m an enhanced human, you see.”

For black mages whose business was creating chimeras and conducting various biological experiments, their own bodies were merely another test subject.

Hodupayi in particular had repeatedly applied stable enhancement experiments with high success rates directly to himself.

The results of years of self-modification were remarkable.

Contrary to his skinny appearance, his physical abilities had reached levels beyond imagination.

It was thanks to this that he could single-handedly drag a dragon’s corpse that would be difficult to move even with dozens of adult men.

“Oh.”

Hearing Hodupayi’s explanation, Dorico Shiro burst out in admiration.

“I thought you were just a loser, but you’re actually pretty impressive, aren’t you?”

“A loser… Even if it’s true, your words are a bit….”

Hodupayi made a hurt expression, but Dorico Shiro paid no mind and looked around.

The moment they passed through the secret passages and arrived at the Western Branch.

Dorico Shiro witnessed an unexpected scene.

“Have you returned, Lord Hodupayi.”

A black mage they encountered in the dark corridor bowed deeply as soon as he saw Hodupayi. His voice contained sincere reverence.

“Hiiiek…!”

As they went a little further inside, the situation became even more dramatic.

Lesser black mages who had been shuffling around in gloomy robes were startled the moment they saw Hodupayi.

Some knelt down and bowed on the spot, while the rest hurriedly stepped aside.

“…?”

Dorico Shiro gradually felt something was strange.

At first, she thought they were reacting that way because of the dragon corpse Hodupayi had brought.

But looking closely, their gazes were fixed on Hodupayi, not on Zahhar’s corpse.

‘What’s this?’

Dorico Shiro tilted her head and glanced at Hodupayi.

He still had a timid appearance with hunched shoulders.

He didn’t look like someone who deserved such treatment at all.

“Hey, Hodupayi.”

“…Yes?”

“Why are the other guys trembling like that when they see you?”

Dorico Shiro asked with a puzzled expression. Hodupayi hesitated for a moment before giving an answer.

“Ah, that… It’s because my rank within Ataraxy is somewhat high.”

“Your rank is high? You?”

“Yes, well….”

“How high?”

“Just… around high-ranking executive level…?”

“…?”

Freeze-.

At the completely unexpected words, Dorico Shiro froze on the spot.

It didn’t make sense.

After all, Hodupayi had shown a flustered appearance in front of Zahhar.

Naturally, judging by that attitude, she thought he was just an ordinary low-level black mage….

An executive?

A high-ranking executive at that?

‘Ah.’

Right.

Come to think of it, it didn’t make sense for a low-level black mage to have a laboratory of that scale.

“Then why did you grovel like that to Zahhar?”

“Ah, that’s….”

Hodupayi scratched his head with an awkward expression.

“Lord Zahhar handles Ataraxy’s finances and accounting because of his perfect personality. He also manages the enormous budget for the chimera project I’m in charge of.”

“….”

“Even though we’re both executives, all my funding depends on that person’s hands… Yes. For me, Lord Zahhar is scarier than Ataraxy’s leader.”

“Wait a minute.”

Dorico Shiro frowned.

“Even so, does it make sense to grovel like that to a fellow executive? Even using the honorific ‘Lord’?”

“I can’t help it.”

Hodupayi answered gloomily.

“Research positions have no choice but to cower before budgets, you know? If I upset him even slightly, next quarter’s budget could be cut. Then my research would be finished.”

“What the….”

“And to be honest, as you said earlier about me being a loser… I’m a bit scared of intimidating people like Lord Zahhar. I end up trembling just when someone raises their voice.”

“Ah, yeah. I see.”

Dorico Shiro patted Hodupayi’s shoulder encouragingly.

“Still, you’re a hundred times better than Batu.”

“Huh? Oh, yes, well… thank you…”

Thud, thud-.

Walking along the corridor while chatting about various things, Hodupayi and Dorico Shiro eventually stopped in front of a room.

Next to the door, a neatly dressed secretary wearing glasses was waiting.

“Lord Hodupayi, Lord Dorico Shiro.”

The secretary bowed politely and spoke.

“The First Apostle is waiting inside the room.”

“…”

“…”

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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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