Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 262

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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 262

Episode 262. The Relic Exploration Team and the Assembly (2)

* * *

Clench-.

Arwen tightened his grip on the teacup handle.

Gaon was controlling information due to concerns about traitors within the Middle Temple.

Perhaps even at this very moment, someone might be leaking information to the worshippers of evil gods.

“….”

Of course, Arwen was also aware of this fact.

After Jark von Haibrunn’s death, the truth discovered while interrogating the traditionalist councilors who had followed him.

Countless traitors existed within the Middle Temple.

It was truly a horrific situation.

It meant that the Holy City, which had followed Elder’s will for hundreds of years, was crumbling from within.

But….

‘There are still more traitors remaining?’

It seemed that dealing with Jark von Haibrunn and his followers wasn’t enough.

All sorts of thoughts began swirling around.

Who were the traitors? When did they start their activities, and how much information had they leaked? How exactly should they root them out?

However, Arwen suppressed all those questions and brought up a completely different concern first.

“I understand the core of your plan, The Protagonist.”

“….”

“Relocating the dwarves first to prepare for the defense of Wintershield. That justification is quite convincing.”

Arwen’s voice became cautious.

“But one question arises. Even if we relocate the dwarves to Wintershield, would it be possible to recreate the defense system established in Vilopozy there?”

“….”

“If my memory serves me correctly, I believe that technology was lost long ago….”

Right.

The true purpose of the great migration plan wasn’t simply to move the dwarves to a safe place.

The core of this plan was to establish a defense system in Wintershield that could block the all-out offensive of the worshippers of evil gods.

The problem was that this technology was lost tech.

The manufacturing method had completely disappeared. None of the existing dwarves knew how to recreate it.

But at that very moment.

“I know that manufacturing method.”

“…?”

Freeze-.

Arwen’s hands froze in mid-air upon hearing the words that came from Gaon’s mouth.

‘What?’

His eyes widened.

‘He knows the manufacturing method of lost technology…?’

Vilopozy’s defense system wasn’t simple technology.

A legendary defense system that had protected the tunnel villages of the Outer Citadel for hundreds of years. A miraculous system that enabled an isolated village to survive by blocking endless waves of monsters.

That’s why countless forces across the Continent had tried to recreate that technology.

The Middle Temple was no exception.

Of course, all those attempts ended in failure.

After all, even the dwarves of Vilopozy didn’t know the manufacturing method, so how could other forces get their hands on it?

‘But.’

Arwen’s lips went dry.

‘The Protagonist knows it?’

To think he possessed knowledge that the entire Continent had been searching for hundreds of years.

“Perhaps….”

Just as Arwen was about to ask more questions.

Knock knock-.

At that moment, the sound of someone knocking on the door was heard.

The gazes of everyone in the reception room turned toward it at once.

Creeeeak-.

Soon after, the door opened carefully and the Goldhart Family Butler entered. He placed one hand on his chest and bowed politely.

“I apologize for the rudeness of interrupting your important discussion.”

“…What is it?”

“Well….”

The butler, who had hesitated for a moment, revealed the reason.

“Meister Zengmu has visited the Middle Temple.”

* * *

‘Finally, Jeungmu has arrived.’

The manufacturing manual for the lost technology that could recreate Vilopozy’s defense system.

It lay dormant deep within the Ruins of Rashutku.

And to completely clear that place, there were two essential beings needed….

‘Precisely, the Relic Exploration Team and the Sword Masters of Jeungmu.’

─Then I’ll contact you before departing with the Relic Exploration Team.

─I would be truly grateful if you would do that.

During the last assembly.

Jeungmu had promised to depart with me to the Ruins of Rashutku.

The bait to draw him out was simple.

Precisely, the rare metals that would be sleeping in the ruins. That alone was sufficient.

Thud, thud-.

In front of the Goldhart Estate.

I came outside together with Adelia, Arwen, and Muwolcha.

In the estate’s garden where warm sunlight was streaming down, the Sword Masters of Jeungmu were already waiting.

“Gaon.”

Pshhhh-.

With the sound of steam, the mechanical gentleman slightly lifted the tip of his bowler hat.

Jeungmu in neat tailcoat attire. His gaze visible through the monocle was staring directly at me.

“I was waiting for your contact every day, but I didn’t expect you to call me this quickly.”

It was a gentlemanly and formal way of speaking.

Shortly after, his gaze turned to those standing beside me.

I naturally introduced the companions for this journey.

“This is my disciple, Adelia.”

As soon as those words ended, Adelia politely bowed.

I looked at Muwolcha beside me and continued speaking.

“And the second hero, Muwolcha, will also join this mission.”

“Oh?”

Pshhhh-.

Steam leaked from somewhere on Jeungmu’s body. It seemed like a reaction of curiosity.

“Greetings, Meister Zengmu. I am the hero from the Haslpart Highlands… called Muwolcha.”

Muwolcha placed one hand on her chest and bowed politely.

“It is an honor to work alongside the noble Protagonist according to the will of the Great Ones.”

Jeungmu looked over Muwolcha with curiosity.

His gaze stopped on something covering Muwolcha’s face. A softly glowing rainbow-colored jelly that wrapped around everything except her eyes and breathing passages.

Whoosh-.

After observing for a moment, Jeungmu carefully opened his mouth.

“Excuse me, but is what you’re wearing on your head perhaps a divine beast?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“Huh. Seeing a divine beast so intimately attached shows just how deep the Elder’s favor runs. Truly remarkable. It seems the hero’s qualification wasn’t granted for nothing.”

Jeungmu muttered admiration that was almost like talking to himself.

Of course, the reason Mukyoo was clinging to Muwolcha’s face wasn’t just to hide her appearance, but to maximize the synergy between the Martial Artist class and the divine beast Mukyoo.

That combination would be of great help in this Rashutku exploration as well.

“I heard from the High Priest earlier. You suffered terrible experiments at the hands of Ataraxy’s Black Mage…”

“…”

Muwolcha fell silent for a moment. Jeungmu offered comfort that was both formal and sincere.

“Don’t worry. That officially designated Black Mage will definitely be eliminated by Middle Temple. The pain you suffered will surely be repaid.”

Muwolcha quietly bowed her head.

Swish-.

Jeungmu soon turned his gaze to me.

He had been observing me intently from earlier.

His eyes seemed to have caught something different.

“But Gaon.”

Whoosh-.

He stepped closer with a steam sound.

His eyes behind the monocle became slightly narrowed.

“…Somehow, your aura seems different?”

* * *

Haaaaah-.

Hodupayi let out a sigh.

In the end, he had to follow Dorico Shiro to attend the gathering.

What choice did he have? If he didn’t participate, the First Apostle would tear him apart.

That single threat crumbled all his resistance.

“…”

Trudge, trudge-.

The place they arrived at was a deep underground cave.

It was a space surrounded by rough rock walls on all sides.

Humid air pressed against his lungs, and the sound of water dripping somewhere echoed.

The ceiling had holes here and there, letting moonlight seep in. In that dim light, the silhouettes of people wearing black robes were faintly revealed.

A gloomy atmosphere.

Those wearing robes were wary of each other, glancing around furtively.

No one approached first. Only distrust filled the silence.

‘Wait, hold on.’

Suddenly, Hodupayi’s eyes widened.

‘There are this many Outer God worshippers…?’

Actually, he thought Outer God worshippers would be as few as the Five Nightmares, countable on one hand.

They were beings that Middle Temple was so desperately trying to hunt down – how many could possibly survive?

But reality was different.

Hundreds of people.

A full hundreds of people had attended the gathering.

“Um…”

Hodupayi, who had been cautiously reading the mood, whispered to Dorico Shiro.

“D-did this many Outer God worshippers exist on this continent…?”

“So many!”

Dorico Shiro answered cheerfully.

“Of course, they’re not all Immortals like us Five Nightmares! Most of them are just insignificant bugs!”

“I-I still don’t understand. Just worshipping Outer Gods makes them targets for elimination, so why are there so many Outer God worshippers? Middle Temple wouldn’t have left them alone.”

“Don’t know? How would a dummy like me know that?”

“…Excuse me?”

Pause-.

Hodupayi looked back at Dorico Shiro with a bewildered expression.

Then Dorico Shiro smiled with her eyes as if it was a joke and continued her explanation.

“Just kidding. I’ll explain properly.”

Dorico Shiro began counting on her fingers as she listed the circumstances that lead people to become Outer God worshippers.

“The reasons are various. Receiving blessings from Outer Gods, witnessing miracles, being directly gifted with supernatural abilities…”

“…”

“Or there are quite a few gloomy, dark-loving narcissistic psychopaths! They become Outer God worshippers for no reason other than thinking Outer Gods look cool!”

“Then you are…”

“Me? I belong to the narcissistic psychopaths! Uhaha!”

“…Ah, yes.”

Hodupayi decided not to ask any more questions.

Regardless, Dorico Shiro continued explaining about the ecology of Outer God worshippers.

Among Outer God worshippers, some operated solo, while others formed teams like the Five Nightmares.

But most were only at the level of petty criminals. Four or five Middle Temple Paladins would be enough to wipe them out.

That’s why Outer God worshippers never gathered together. If they gathered, they’d be noticed, and if noticed, they’d be eliminated.

“It’s a kind of cell organization.”

Dorico Shiro said while looking around.

“They don’t know who each other are, and connections are minimized. So they can cut ties anytime.”

Her finger pointed here and there.

“Outer God worshippers only cooperate when necessary, and abandon each other whenever it’s dangerous. That’s our survival method.”

Dorico Shiro’s voice became lower.

“In that sense, having all the Outer God worshippers from across the continent gather in one place today is truly meaningful. Something like this… might be the first time in history?”

But then.

Murmur murmur-.

“…?”

Hodupayi hadn’t been able to focus on her words from earlier.

Because people around them kept looking this way and whispering.

“I-it’s Dorico Shiro!”

Someone muttered in a trembling voice.

“My goodness… to see the Jiangshi Queen, a member of the Five Nightmares, in person…”

“Shh. Don’t make eye contact. If we accidentally displease her, we might become her jiangshi too.”

Tremble tremble-.

People shrank back, trembling with fear.

The Five Nightmares.

That name alone was an object of terror even among Outer God worshippers.

Though they were supposedly on the same side, their power was on a different dimension.

Right then.

“The person next to her is…”

“Hodupayi!”

Someone cried out in a voice filled with shock.

“Mi, Middletemple’s merit holder Hodupayi? Don’t tell me you mean that Chimera Master?”

“Th, the madman who created the Thunder Zombie Dragon…!”

“Damn it… why are there so many terrifying people here?”

The gazes directed at Hodupayi contained fear, just like when they looked at Dorico Shiro.

“…?”

Hodupayi found this situation absurd.

‘What the hell is this.’

He was just a loner who had quietly lived holed up in his research lab, so why was he being treated like such a scary person?

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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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