Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 267

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

One-Strike Kill Swordmaster Episode 267

Episode 267. The Relic Investigation Team and the Assembly (7)

* * *

Thud, thud-.

Only the sound of footsteps walking along the corridor broke the quiet silence.

Adelia followed behind me, one step back. Still with her head deeply bowed.

A heavy silence flowed.

I didn’t break that silence.

I knew it was better to tell her the proper story in the right place, rather than offering half-hearted comfort right now.

‘Lost Elder.’

A game I had devoted 12 years to.

That world was far more complex, cruel, and unpredictable than I could even think of as a simple game.

There was no binary structure of good and evil.

‘Those who follow the Elders are good, and those who serve the Outsiders are evil?’

Absolutely not.

In reality, it was far more tangled.

Someone who stood on the Elders’ side could suddenly become an apostle of the Outsiders one day, and conversely, a worshipper of evil gods could repent and walk the path for salvation from the apocalypse.

‘In the end, only one thing matters.’

Whether they’re friendly to the player or not.

That was everything.

Whether Sword Master or worshipper of evil gods. Anyone could betray.

Even.

‘Adelia is no exception.’

In several playthroughs, she crossed an irreversible line while consumed by vengeance.

She became sword-crazed and indiscriminately cut down people, and eventually there were cases where the player had to personally execute her.

『Filthy and hypocritical things. Put aside your excuses and humbly accept death.』

That’s Lost Elder.

A world where no one can be trusted. A game where no one is safe.

“….”

Creak-.

I entered a room in the Middle Temple Tower.

The scenery of the Holy City came into view at a glance through the open window. The sunset light was dyeing the sky red.

I leaned against the window and looked back at Adelia.

She was still biting her lips. The signs of self-reproach were evident because of the dangerous thoughts she had harbored just moments ago.

‘You’re standing at a moment of crisis right now, Adelia.’

When Adelia first came to find me.

Her purpose was clear.

Revenge.

That was the only thing.

To become strong. To gain the power to defeat the enemy she wanted to kill.

That blind desire and desperation led Adelia to me.

But….

‘…As time passed, that purpose also changed little by little.’

She who once held the sword only for revenge began wielding the blade for other reasons at some point.

To save the world.

And to help me.

‘Revenge is a highly volatile purpose.’

The moment you get your revenge, the reason to hold the sword disappears.

The meaning of all the time you’ve lived evaporates. Only emptiness remains in that vacant space.

If you hold the sword only for revenge, that blade will eventually turn toward yourself.

Fortunately, Adelia now had reasons other than revenge. Other justifications for holding the sword.

Revenge was gradually being diluted. That was certainly a good change. It was also healthy growth.

But.

‘The problem is the speed.’

Adelia was becoming strong too quickly.

Level 94.

She who was level 77 when I first saw her had achieved ridiculous growth in just four months.

A height that an ordinary swordsman couldn’t reach even dedicating their entire life, she had breathlessly run to and grasped in her hands.

Of course.

‘I deliberately made it that way.’

Adelia’s explosive growth wasn’t coincidental.

From the beginning, I planned a route so she could become strong in the shortest time possible. It was the result of pouring out all the know-how I had accumulated playing Roel for 12 years.

‘But even considering that, Adelia grew much faster than expected.’

Adelia’s actual genius far exceeded the numbers I had calculated.

Natural talent.

When that combined with the planned growth route, it created explosive synergy. It was the reason for the result of level 94 in four months, which defied common sense.

‘As a result, Adelia also developed a misconception.’

That this speed was natural.

That this growth would continue.

That if she pushed just a little more, she could reach the next level.

Inertia had set in.

Like a galloping horse, she had forgotten how to stop.

‘And today.’

That inertia shot out in a dangerous direction.

‘She almost killed Jeungmu.’

She tried to cut down a Sword Master who was showing her kindness and trying to teach her.

She had unconsciously judged that such sacrifice was acceptable if it meant reaching a higher level.

Now.

This very moment was the crossroads that would determine Adelia’s future.

If left as is, she would fall into heart demons. She would transform into a monster that pursued only strength and cut down everything.

But.

If I could set her in the right direction.

‘Finally… she could become a true Sword Master.’

Swoosh-.

Having finished that thought, I looked at Adelia.

And then for her sake.

I began to bring out the words I had prepared all this time, one by one.

* * *

“….”

The sunset light seeping in from outside the window dyed the room red.

Adelia looked at the back of her master standing leaning against the window. Gaon was still maintaining his silence.

Only silence flowed.

That heavy silence rather pressed down on Adelia’s chest. Something in her throat seemed to be tightening.

‘What is he going to say?’

Anxiety welled up inside her.

Was he perhaps disappointed? Was he going to say he wouldn’t teach her anymore?

Clench-.

Adelia clenched her fists.

Her nails dug into her palms, but she felt no pain.

Just then.

“When we first met.”

Gaon opened his mouth.

His voice was calm.

“Do you remember what you said?”

“…”

Hesitate-.

Adelia’s eyes wavered.

It was just four months ago.

The memory of that day came back vividly.

Though it was a short time, it was the moment that completely changed Adelia’s life.

“I… remember.”

Adelia slowly nodded her head.

Her voice was hoarse. After wetting her lips once more, she carefully continued.

“That I was fine with losing an arm. That I was fine with losing a leg… That’s what I told you.”

“That’s right.”

Gaon slowly nodded. His eyes, receiving the sunset light, glowed golden as they gazed directly at Adelia.

“But don’t you think those words were strange?”

“Pardon? What do you mean…?”

“If you lose an arm, you can’t hold a sword. If you lose a leg, you can’t support your strength.”

“…”

“In the end, you said something contradictory – that you could do anything to learn the sword, but in that very process, you might have to give up the sword.”

Hesitate-.

Adelia’s eyes widened.

Why was he suddenly saying such things? What was his reason for bringing up the story from four months ago, when they first met?

Adelia couldn’t understand Gaon’s intention at all.

Silence flowed.

Gaon didn’t break that stillness. He simply turned his gaze toward the window and seemed lost in thought for a moment.

The sunset gradually deepened.

The red light turned orange, and the orange light turned purple. Eventually, Gaon opened his mouth again.

“People often live lives where their purpose and means become reversed. Like you, who said you could give up the sword to learn the sword.”

“…”

“Sometimes what we start to achieve something becomes a purpose in itself. The original goal becomes blurred, and only the means before our eyes becomes everything…”

There was a strange weight in Gaon’s voice.

“There are those who fall into such a quagmire. Those who took up the sword for revenge, but eventually became obsessed with the sword itself. Those who trained to become strong, but ended up obsessed only with strength.”

“…”

“They no longer ask themselves. Why they took up the sword. What they wanted to become strong for.”

Gaon, who had paused briefly, slowly turned his head.

His gaze fixed on Adelia.

“Adelia.”

“…Yes.”

Her voice trembled. Because Gaon’s eyes were so serious.

“What are you walking the path of a swordsman for?”

“…”

Adelia closed her mouth. Because he had never asked such a question before.

When they first met, when he taught her the sword, when they fought countless battles together, Gaon had never once asked Adelia about her purpose.

He had simply taught her the sword silently.

But now.

He asked for the first time. Why do you hold a sword? What are you walking this path for?

“I am…”

Actually, the answer was already decided.

Revenge.

That was everything. The reason Adelia wanted to learn the sword. The reason she sought out Gaon. The starting point of all this.

Slide-.

Her lips parted. The word revenge rose to her throat.

But.

“…”

The words wouldn’t come out.

Because doubt suddenly bloomed.

‘Really…?’

Had she really taken up the sword only for revenge?

Had she run so blindly only for that?

Memories came back.

The countless moments she had walked behind Gaon. The sight of him saving someone. The sight of him blocking the world’s evil. The sight of him sacrificing himself for a greater cause.

While watching that back.

At some point, Adelia had thought.

‘I want to become like that too.’

She wanted to live a noble life.

Like Gaon.

Like someone who saves others and blocks the world’s evil.

She wanted to become someone who carried the heavy task of a greater cause on her shoulders, but never collapsed despite it all.

And in that process.

She wanted to lighten her master’s burden, even a little.

Thump, thump-.

Her heart began to beat rapidly.

At some point, revenge had become blurred. Instead, something else was filling its place.

Having finished thinking that far, Adelia opened her mouth.

“I…”

Her voice trembled.

“I want to become like you, Lord Gaon.”

It was sincere.

The target of revenge was still hateful. She had no intention of forgiving that person.

But.

It no longer felt like the fuel that moved her.

Adelia simply wanted to live like the person standing before her.

“…”

Gaon was silent.

His eyes looked at Adelia. It was a gaze that seemed to be weighing something.

How much time had passed?

Slowly.

Gaon shook his head.

“You must be careful of that too.”

“…”

“Resembling me. That itself must not become your purpose. If you lose yourself in the process, then it has no meaning at all.”

“….”

“Your attempt to attack Jeungmu today was also in the same vein. The thought that you must resemble me. The obsession that only then can you catch up. The impatience to become strong quickly. All of this has devoured your purpose.”

Gaon’s gaze deepened.

“If that happens, you’ll only drift further away from the very person you admire.”

He approached closer and placed his hand on Adelia’s shoulder as he spoke.

“Don’t try to resemble me. Don’t make anyone a subject of comparison.”

“….”

“Walk your own path. You have the right to do so.”

* * *

This single conversation wouldn’t completely change Adelia.

People don’t change that easily. Even if one gains enlightenment overnight, it’s difficult to change ingrained habits and ways of thinking.

But.

‘It will certainly become the foundation for change.’

The seed had been planted.

Even if it doesn’t sprout right away, it will surely grow someday.

‘And.’

This expedition to the Rashutku Ruins would also serve as a turning point.

Because there…

Adelia would encounter the target of her revenge.

Thud, thud-.

“Lord Gaon.”

A voice accompanied by footsteps.

I raised my head.

It had already been five days since I finished my conversation with her at the tower.

“We’ve arrived.”

Adelia pointed straight ahead with her finger.

As I turned my gaze, I could see a massive building in the distance.

It was our destination, the headquarters of the Relic Investigation Team.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————