Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 266

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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 266

Episode 266. The Relic Investigation Team and the Assembly (6)

* * *

Huh-.

Jeungmu couldn’t help but admire as he looked at Adelia before him.

‘…She blocked that so perfectly?’

Just moments ago.

The strike Jeungmu had thrust was an attack that assumed Adelia would succeed in defending.

However, Adelia didn’t stop at simply blocking Jeungmu’s attack.

She accurately read the sword’s trajectory and disarmed her opponent with minimal movement.

‘Truly, an incredible technique.’

Clank, clatter-!

Jeungmu’s body began returning to human form again.

The four legs reduced to two, and his upper body’s balance was readjusted. His centaur-like appearance gradually returned to its original mechanical human form.

Even during this, Jeungmu’s gaze toward Adelia held pure admiration.

‘As expected.’

Gaon hadn’t set his sights on Adelia for nothing.

She possessed natural talent.

Tremendous talent that even made Jeungmu feel envious.

‘At this level, she might someday reach the realm of transcendence…’

Flinch-.

Right at that moment.

A chill ran up his spine.

Jeungmu’s instincts rang alarm bells. Dangerous. He needed to dodge right now.

Jeungmu snapped his head up and looked at Adelia.

‘What…!’

Swoosh-!

The atmosphere had changed.

Adelia’s defensive stance shifted, and her sword tip pointed precisely at Jeungmu.

Wooong, woooooong-!

The spirit swords behind her began vibrating in unison. One, two, three. In an instant, dozens of blades rose into the air.

‘…Damn it.’

Focus disappeared from Adelia’s pupils. The surrounding paladins, spectators, even her own existence seemed erased.

‘She’s completely lost her reason.’

Unity of self and object. A state where the self is erased and becomes one with the sword. A realm where all distracting thoughts are abandoned and one is purely immersed in combat.

Every swordsman pursues it, but she had stepped into that deep domain that few can easily reach.

However.

That was the problem.

Right now, Adelia was only recognizing the enemy before her eyes.

To her, Jeungmu could only be seen as an ‘enemy that must be killed.’

Buuuuung──!

The Meteor Sword was swung fiercely.

The blade rushed toward Jeungmu’s neck.

‘Crazy…!’

Jeungmu couldn’t help but be shocked.

The aura emanating from Adelia’s sword. The pressure created by the spirit swords.

All of it had grown explosively.

‘This is impossible.’

Just minutes ago, Adelia couldn’t unleash such an attack.

But.

During the brief time of their sparring, she had broken through her own limits and ascended to a completely different dimension.

‘Monster…’

Yes.

That was the only word that came to mind.

Clang clang clang clang-!

The spirit swords all adjusted their angles simultaneously, and the blades surrounding all directions created a perfect encirclement centered on Jeungmu.

Every direction was blocked.

Left, right, top, bottom.

Jeungmu reflexively reached out to transform the Thousand Changes into shield form, but his hand only grasped empty air.

The Thousand Changes was stuck far away in the ground. Still not retrieved after being knocked from his hand by Adelia.

‘What should I do?’

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

Blocking that level of attack barehanded was impossible.

Maybe one or two spirit swords, but defending against so many simultaneously was too much even for him.

‘Damn it.’

Jeungmu realized his mistake.

Throughout the sparring, he thought he had accurately measured Adelia’s growth rate. He calculated and controlled everything – how far she could endure, at what moment she would reach her limit.

No.

More precisely, he had been ‘mistaken’ in thinking so.

But.

‘She’s growing this fast…?’

Adelia’s realm had already far surpassed Jeungmu’s expectations.

‘…Too late.’

The spirit swords had already entered their trajectory.

Perfect evasion was impossible.

He wouldn’t lose his life, but serious injury would be unavoidable.

Just then.

The very moment Jeungmu resigned himself.

Kwaaaaaaaang──!

An ear-splitting roar shook the entire training ground.

“…!”

It felt as if the world had stopped.

The spirit swords that had been pouring down like a meteor shower all lost their trajectory simultaneously, and the blades that had been converging on one target scattered in all directions.

Clang-! Clang clang-! Clang clang clang-!

Sharp metallic sounds erupted in succession.

One spirit sword embedded deeply in the training ground floor. Another scraped the wall surface, sending sparks flying, while the remaining swords scattered before losing their blue light and vanishing in midair.

Whirrrrr-!

Even the Meteor Sword slipped from Adelia’s hand.

The blade spun several times in the air before falling powerlessly to the ground.

“…”

Swoosh-.

Jeungmu slowly raised his head.

Someone’s back came into his view.

Dark blue hair. Average build. A man standing quietly with a Feather Sword in one hand.

It was the Thirteenth Sword Master, Gaon.

‘When on earth did he…?’

Just moments ago, he had been standing at the far end of the training ground. At least ten meters away.

But now he was somehow standing right in front of him.

“…”

Jeungmu had completely failed to catch the moment Gaon moved.

No, he hadn’t even realized that he had moved in the first place.

“How dare you.”

Right at that moment.

Gaon opened his mouth.

His voice was low and subdued. But the emotion contained within it was crystal clear.

Anger.

It was a very quietly burning anger.

“To commit such an atrocity against a Sword Master who personally bestows teachings upon you.”

* * *

“I am truly fine.”

Jeungmu said as he set down his teacup.

Psshhhh-.

Steam regularly vented from his body.

The power source of the Ferric Clan was steam.

Therefore, replenishing moisture was essential, and resting in the guest hall after a duel was only natural.

A teapot filled with warm water prepared by the clerics sat on the table. Jeungmu lifted his teacup again and took a sip.

“This incident was my mistake.”

He continued carefully.

“It happened because I underestimated Miss Goldheart’s rate of growth. I failed to properly gauge how rapidly she develops.”

“…”

“Surely that child is also quite shocked and blaming herself. Her attack on me while in a state of unconsciousness was not her complete will.”

Psshh-.

Jeungmu set down his teacup and looked at me.

“So please, do not scold her too harshly. It would be better to comfort her warmly instead.”

“…”

I looked at Jeungmu silently for a moment.

Another Sword Master would not have let this slide.

Bloodlust alone would have flared up in anger and confronted me, and Heukgol or the Tyrant Dragon would not have missed this opportunity to extract something from me.

But Jeungmu was different.

He took responsibility, calling it his own mistake, and was actually worried about Adelia.

‘How gentlemanly.’

Truly befitting a Sword Master who valued formality and courtesy.

Of course, even this Jeungmu had an ‘event’ where his eyes would flip and he’d go crazy like a madman…

Well, that’s something to think about later, so let’s put it aside for now.

“Thank you for saying that.”

I said with a short bow.

“Then it would be best to rest well today. We’ll depart tomorrow.”

“That sounds good.”

Jeungmu nodded.

Having finished our business, I was about to open the guest hall door and leave when.

“Gaon.”

“…”

Pause-.

Jeungmu called my name.

Frozen with my hand on the handle, I slowly turned my head to look at Jeungmu.

Psshhhh-.

Steam quietly leaked from his body.

His eyes visible through his monocle were staring intently at me. His expression suggested he had many things he really wanted to say.

After hesitating for a long while, Jeungmu slowly opened his mouth.

“How much more power are you hiding right now?”

“…”

Silence flowed.

Heavy silence filled the room.

I looked at him for a moment before giving a short answer.

“Get some rest.”

“Wait a moment…!”

Creeeeak-.

Jeungmu urgently tried to call me back, but I pretended not to hear and left the guest hall.

Thud-!

The sound of the door closing echoed through the corridor.

The moment I looked around, I had no choice but to pause.

“…?”

Because Adelia was standing there, leaning against the wall.

Like a criminal.

With her head deeply bowed.

* * *

“I’m sorry.”

The first words Adelia spoke were an apology.

I looked at her for a moment, then answered calmly.

“It’s not something you need to apologize to me for, is it? The one you crossed swords with was Meister Zengmu.”

Pause-.

Adelia flinched for a moment, then immediately bowed deeply and answered.

“I will go see him right away and offer my apologies.”

“…”

Of course, I could tell.

The fact that she wasn’t truly sorry.

Adelia’s expressions were quite transparent. More than anything, I had been watching her for a long time. Both inside the game and now in this reality.

That’s why I knew all too well what kind of thoughts the character Adelia would be having in this situation.

“You say that, but you don’t look sorry at all.”

“That’s…!”

Adelia’s shoulders stiffened once again.

Like someone whose true feelings had been discovered.

“Lift your head and look at me.”

“…”

After hesitating briefly, she slowly raised her head.

Swoosh-.

At first glance it looked like guilt, but the emotion deep in those eyes was none other than regret and lingering attachment.

“Speak honestly. What are you so frustrated about?”

“I’m not frustrated.”

“I told you to speak honestly.”

“Lord Gaon, I absolutely do not find this situation frustrating…”

“Adelia von Goldhart.”

I cut off her words.

My voice sank colder than ever before.

“This is the third time.”

“….”

“I told you to speak your true feelings honestly, as they are.”

Clench-.

Adelia bit her lip.

A long silence flowed.

Her hands trembled. The signs of her struggling over whether to speak or not were clearly visible.

Finally.

“I know this sounds crazy too.”

With a cautious voice, Adelia began to speak.

“But….”

Her voice grew smaller and smaller.

“If Lord Gaon hadn’t stopped me.”

I could feel obsession.

And I could feel madness.

“If you had left me alone to unleash my final strike… I definitely could have reached the next realm. Just a little, really just a little more….”

Stop-.

Adelia couldn’t continue her words. She bit down hard on her lips.

Knowing that her thoughts were wrong, she wore an expression as if disgusted with herself.

After a long silence, she bowed her head deeply and apologized.

“I’m sorry.”

This time, sincerity came through.

Of course, I knew.

That apology wasn’t for attacking Jeungmu, but for the dangerous thoughts she had just harbored.

“You’re impatient.”

“….”

“Follow me.”

I turned my back and spoke to Adelia.

“There’s something I want to show you.”

“…?”

Somehow, it seems like the frequency of managing the mental state of those around me has increased significantly lately….

Well.

‘Roel has always been a game where that was the core.’

I had no particular complaints.

More than anything….

【Lv. 94】

For Adelia at this point in time.

It was also a necessary prescription.

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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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