Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 260

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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 260

Episode 260. The Second Hero, Muwolcha (5)

“Wh-why did Middle Temple designate me as an elimination target…?”

“Why the hell are you asking me that, you bastard!”

Grip-.

The Temporary Branch Manager grabbed Hodupayi’s collar even tighter.

“What the hell were you thinking when you kidnapped a monk from Haslpart Highlands and turned him into a monster! Huh? And a hero chosen by the Old Ones at that!”

“What? A m-monk? A hero? I-I never did anything like that…?”

Even as his body was being violently shaken back and forth, Hodupayi frantically searched his memory.

He definitely had never conducted such an experiment. In the first place, it was extremely rare for Hodupayi to experiment on people.

His goal was only one thing.

Creating fantastical creatures.

Monsters that only appeared in legends. Mythical beasts. Creating such beings through alchemy was his sole obsession and goal.

‘There’s no reason I’d turn people into monsters in the first place…!’

Of course, it wasn’t like Hodupayi never conducted human experiments at all.

But that was only for creating enhanced humans.

He would perform procedures on criminals in Dawnguard who paid for enhancement modifications, or ask dying vagrants to become test subjects in exchange for saving their lives.

Whatever the case, it meant he had never once maliciously turned people into monsters.

“I know that!”

The Temporary Branch Manager shouted. His sweat-soaked face clearly showed fatigue and worry.

“That you don’t conduct human experiments in such an unethical way! I know that!”

“…”

“But that’s not what’s important right now! What are we supposed to do about Middle Temple making such a declaration!”

The Temporary Branch Manager’s voice grew increasingly sharp.

It rang in his ears like they might tear.

“No… I-I really don’t know what’s going on either…”

It was unfair. Really unfair.

He definitely hadn’t done anything, yet he had no idea why this was happening.

“Hmm.”

Swoosh-.

Just then.

Dorico Shiro, who had been listening to the conversation from the side, interjected.

“Hey hey, you’re talking about that fluorescent purple monster with 15 eyeballs, aren’t you?”

“…?”

Freeze-.

Suddenly, Hodupayi’s body stiffened.

Fifteen eyeballs.

Fluorescent purple monster.

‘Don’t tell me…’

His mind went blank.

A sense of ‘oh no’ pierced through his entire body. Cold sweat trickled down his spine.

Now he realized.

What had caused this misunderstanding.

“What? What the hell is this purple monster! Stop talking about things only you guys know and explain it properly!”

The Temporary Branch Manager shouted urgently.

“Th-that…”

Hodupayi’s lips trembled violently.

Where should he start explaining and how? His mind went blank and words wouldn’t come out properly.

“Th-that… I really didn’t do it…”

“What?”

“I-I picked up a dying vagrant and put him in a human enhancement cultivation tank… but s-suddenly that guy manifested mutant traits and became like that! I didn’t do anything wrong!”

Swallowing his saliva, Hodupayi continued speaking urgently.

“I-it’s really unfair… What did I even do…”

Then.

“Ah!”

Flash-.

Hodupayi raised his head.

As if he had suddenly thought of a brilliant idea.

“I should just get caught quickly and be handed over to the Holy Judgment! There’s that sacred flame there that distinguishes truth from lies!”

Hodupayi’s expression gradually brightened. It was a face that seemed to have found hope.

“It would be better to reveal everything there! I should turn myself in quickly…”

“You don’t mean Aiter’s Sacred Flame, do you?”

“Ah, yes! That’s it!”

“There isn’t any.”

“…What?”

Stop-.

Hodupayi’s words were cut off.

The Temporary Branch Manager shook his head with a tired expression and sighed.

“Recently there were two Holy Judgments held, so there’s none of Aiter’s Sacred Flame left. And you won’t even go to Holy Judgment. You’ll definitely be executed on sight.”

“…”

Instantly, all color drained from Hodupayi’s face. His lips trembled, and strength left his legs.

A moment of silence.

Then Hodupayi tilted his head.

“But wait…”

“Hm?”

“How do you know how much of Aiter’s Sacred Flame is left? Just how many spies have you people planted?”

The Temporary Branch Manager shook his head.

“All those clerics are corrupt anyway. It’s not hard to pull them to our side. Of course, with the reformist faction leading a purge right now, a few from Ataraxy’s side got cut… anyway.”

Whew-.

The Temporary Branch Manager let out a long sigh and released Hodupayi’s collar.

He seemed to have calmed down slightly.

He patted Hodupayi’s shoulder a couple times and said.

“Right. It must be unfair, but be careful for the time being. Got it?”

Thud, thud-.

The sound of his footsteps slowly faded away down the corridor. Hodupayi stood there blankly until he completely disappeared.

Still with an expression of not knowing what to do. His hands moved meaninglessly in the air, and his gaze wandered aimlessly through space.

“Don’t worry!”

Right at that moment.

Dorico Shiro smiled brightly and put her arm around Hodupayi’s shoulders.

“I’ve been a Class 1 elimination target for hundreds of years and I’m still alive and well, aren’t I?”

“That’s…”

Hodupayi trailed off.

It certainly wasn’t wrong. You could still live even after becoming a Class 1 elimination target. Dorico Shiro was proof of that.

But.

“Aren’t there people who died too?”

“There are.”

Dorico Shiro nodded calmly.

“But they all lived long lives and only died recently.”

“…Recently?”

“Yeah. Once Gaon appeared, they started dying one by one, didn’t they? Until then, there hadn’t been any problems at all.”

“Kyaaaaaaah!”

Hodupayi screamed.

“Then I’m in danger too!”

That was correct.

The fact that Grade 1 elimination targets had survived for so long was only possible because it was before Gaon’s appearance.

Now that he was actively operating as a Swordmaster, centuries of survival meant nothing.

“Friend!!”

Hodupayi clutched his head and wailed.

“I should have made friends with him then!! I should have grabbed onto his pant leg and gotten a definite answer no matter what!!”

* * *

Thanks to the Silk Road’s banner and Professor Biyolf’s testimony, Dano’s abilities had been proven, but that didn’t mean the Great Migration of Vilopozy was confirmed.

They needed to clearly explain why the dwarves should be sent to the Magic University, and they also had to persuade both the Ruin Guild and Wintershield.

‘I can’t finish all of this in one meeting.’

There were too many matters that required discussion. Budget issues, route selection, escort force composition, and more.

I looked around briefly before speaking.

“Let’s properly discuss this agenda item in the next meeting.”

The clerics nodded. They wore expressions showing they fully understood.

“Then, I will present the third agenda item.”

High Priest Belmang slowly turned the pages of the documents in his hand as he spoke. His voice became even heavier.

“This concerns the Abyss monster, the Intruder.”

Wooong, woooooong-.

As soon as he finished speaking, the space in the center of the meeting room began to distort. It was the sound of Aiter’s retrospective eye activating.

Swoosh-.

When the High Priest gestured, a massive image unfolded in the air.

The battle between Heukgol and the Intruder.

A complete record from beginning to end filled the meeting room.

I watched the image while thinking to myself.

‘When I saw this in the game…’

I had just thought of it as a battle scene and watched it mindlessly.

But now it was different.

Watching this battle with enhanced sensory stats and sword talent, I could finally understand.

‘…This is an incredible exchange of techniques.’

Every moment the swords clashed, dozens of options branched out and then converged again. Attack and defense, advance and retreat. Every instant was a continuous series of life-or-death decisions.

And in the midst of all that exchange.

Clang-.

Heukgol’s sword was deflected.

The Intruder’s sharp strike extended straight toward Heukgol’s neck, and the Death Knight’s massive body collapsed helplessly.

Whoooosh-!

The next moment, Bloodlust could be seen rushing over frantically. The image ended with that scene.

Thud-.

Heavy silence descended upon the meeting room.

After a moment, Sikan Bauer rose from his seat.

“Following the council’s orders, the investigation team went to The Recluse’s hideout to confirm Count of Heukgol’s life or death.”

Sikan Bauer’s voice was calm, but it carried weight.

“Fortunately, Count of Heukgol was alive.”

Several clerics let out sighs of relief.

“However.”

Sikan’s expression hardened.

“Due to severe damage to his Life Vessel, Count of Heukgol said he would need to focus solely on recovery for several years to come. And…”

He paused briefly, then looked directly at me and spoke.

“Count of Heukgol conveyed that only The Protagonist has the skill to defeat the Intruder.”

* * *

The discussion about the Intruder ended faster than expected.

Because there wasn’t much they could do.

The conclusion was simple. Send warnings to all Swordmasters, and issue official documents stating that if they ever encountered the Intruder, they should not engage in solo combat.

“The Protagonist.”

Near the end of the meeting, High Priest Belmang cautiously raised his hand.

“Excuse me for asking, but…”

He looked around briefly, then continued speaking clearly.

“How would it be if The Protagonist were dispatched to the Abyss with the investigation team to track the Intruder?”

Murmur murmur-.

The meeting room stirred.

Several clerics nodded and sent agreeing glances.

However.

“There are matters I must resolve first.”

I answered briefly and clearly.

I needed to prepare for the Great Migration of Vilopozy, and I also had to proceed with exploring the Rashutku Ruins.

I needed to lay the groundwork for preparing for Wintershield’s defensive battle, and there was still the matter of settling Muwolcha in Dawnguard.

Most importantly.

‘The Intruder isn’t an enemy you can find just by looking anyway.’

The Intruder was a hostile NPC that appeared suddenly.

An entity that would pop up unexpectedly while progressing through scenarios.

No matter how much players struggled, they could never encounter it until the timing for meeting arrived.

Searching for it would just be a waste of time.

‘That’s why…’

This was also part of why I had increased my mana.

For the day I would face the Intruder.

“Understood.”

The High Priest bowed his head.

He didn’t press further. Respecting a Swordmaster’s decision was Middle Temple’s principle.

Whew-.

High Priest Belmang stood up and looked around the meeting room.

“Then let us conclude all of today’s agenda items.”

His voice echoed throughout the meeting room.

“The Great Migration of Vilopozy plan will be discussed in detail when all three major forces gather together. We’ll coordinate a date when representatives from the Ruin Guild, Wintershield, and Middle Temple can all meet, then convene another meeting.”

“Understood.”

“No objections.”

The clerics and paladins all nodded in unison.

Thump, thump-.

People began rising from their seats one by one and leaving the meeting room.

Relief that the long meeting had ended seeped into their faces.

‘With this.’

I sat quietly organizing my thoughts.

All agenda items were finished.

Muwolcha was recognized as the second hero, and Hodupayi became a public figure of Middle Temple. The Great Migration of Vilopozy was also scheduled to proceed under the cooperation of the three major powers.

‘Until the next meeting….’

Usually in the game, representatives of the three major powers would gather about three weeks later.

It wasn’t a very long time, but it wasn’t short either.

I had things I needed to do during that time.

‘First, after finding the Sword Masters of Jeungmu….’

Swoosh-.

I slowly rose from my seat.

After a long time.

I had to go see the Koshat Siblings.

To explore the true Ruins of Rashutku together with them.

* * *

“D-Director…!”

Natalya Koshat rushed urgently into the Relic Investigation Team’s director’s office, shouting.

“He’s here! The Protagonist has finally arrived!”

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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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