Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 273

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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 273

Episode 273. Bad Karma (6)

* * *

I had momentarily forgotten about the existence called Pean.

More precisely, just how unique this elf’s way of thinking was.

‘Wow, this is really mind-boggling…’

Actually, something similar had happened with the Tyrant Dragon in Vilopozy.

Suddenly being mistaken for his distant ancestor, and even facing the absurd suspicion of coveting a prospective disciple.

Finally, right before the decisive battle with Zahhar, I had to listen to the most ridiculous nonsense ever.

That nonsense about how Gaon was the Sword Master who devoured your mother, so show him proper respect.

‘Well, I mean.’

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t entirely wrong…

But still, doesn’t it sound weird? The nuance, I mean.

Sigh-.

Anyway.

Even thinking about it now, the Tyrant Dragon’s delusions were top-tier.

But.

“…”

Pean was on a different level entirely.

The Tyrant Dragon was child’s play in comparison.

This blind elf’s blind faith and creative interpretations had reached the realm of artistry.

‘As expected, the original restaurant is different indeed.’

The talent to assign profound meaning to every action I took, and to transform coincidence into inevitability.

Perhaps an even more extreme fanatic than Adelia had already been by my side all along.

‘But still…’

The situation really was quite coincidental.

The timing when I used [Hypersense] was when Jeungmu and Adelia were sparring at the training ground.

And mysteriously, at that exact moment, Pean encountered the Intruder.

A perfect coincidence.

Thanks to that, Pean’s misunderstanding solidified into conviction, and at this very moment, that conviction was spreading to Jeungmu as well.

‘Honestly, it’s not necessarily bad…’

It wasn’t a loss. Pean now thought even more highly of me.

However, there was one thing.

The only problem was that Jeungmu was listening to this entire conversation from the side.

“Wait a moment.”

Pshhhhhh-!

Steam erupted violently from Jeungmu’s entire body.

It was different from his usual regular sounds. It was a signal that he was considerably confused.

“Pean.”

His gaze beyond the monocle wavered.

“Please calm down and explain everything step by step.”

Jeungmu was trying to maintain his composure, but the bewilderment contained in his voice couldn’t be hidden.

“You say Gaon stole your hypersense. What on earth does that mean?”

“Exactly as I said, Jeungmu.”

Pean answered in a calm voice.

“When I faced the Intruder in the Abyss, The Protagonist temporarily weakened my hypersense. So that I wouldn’t impulsively draw my sword.”

“So, what exactly is that…”

Pshhhk, pshhhh-.

A brief silence passed.

Jeungmu’s steam emission became even more irregular.

He stared at Pean wordlessly for a long while before finally opening his mouth.

“What I’m curious about isn’t the truth of the incident, Pean.”

“…”

“I’m asking about the ‘method’. How can another person control hypersense that was obtained as the price of a covenant with The Great Ones?”

His question was extremely rational.

Pean’s hypersense was a power carved into his true name and soul through a contract with the Elders.

The idea that a being other than The Great Ones could control it was unimaginable.

“Hmm…”

Pean fell into thought for a moment.

Swish-.

Then he naturally turned his head to look in my direction.

“The Protagonist.”

“…”

“Rather than me explaining a hundred words here, wouldn’t it be better to reveal the truth to Meister Jeungmu as well?”

I didn’t give any answer.

And Pean continued speaking step by step, as if trying to persuade me.

“Meister Jeungmu was the second among the new generation to become a Heretic. He has built trust with me over hundreds of years.”

“…”

“Your abilities and identity will inevitably be revealed during the Rashutku exploration anyway. In that case, wouldn’t it be more efficient to share it in advance?”

Pshhhk-.

Jeungmu quietly released steam.

With that sound as the end, silence flowed again.

‘Well, having come this far, there’s no particular reason to hide it.’

Actually, I had been gauging the right timing too.

There would be countless situations during the Rashutku exploration where Jeungmu would have doubts, so it would be easier to control if I clarified the situation now.

Having finished that thought, I nodded briefly.

“Fine. Tell Jeungmu everything you know.”

Pean’s expression brightened considerably.

How should I put it. It was an expression that seemed somewhat excited.

Could he really be that happy about telling others that I was one of The Great Ones?

“Yes. Understood.”

Chatter chatter-.

After that, Pean poured out everything he knew to Jeungmu.

That I was a Primordial Being. That I was a Heretic who had existed since before the Heavenly Laws were established. And that I was the only Great One remaining on this land.

Not stopping there, he began to unfold one by one the things he had witnessed during the Rashutku Ruins exploration.

The abilities I had shown. And the conclusions Pean had drawn based on them.

The explanation continued for quite a while like that.

And.

Jeungmu just listened silently to that story.

Pshhhk-.

Jeungmu’s appearance didn’t change expression at all. Only the regular steam sounds indicated that he was listening attentively to Pean’s words.

“Phew…”

Not long after Pean’s explanation ended, Jeungmu let out a long sigh and shook his head back and forth.

Swish-.

His gaze turned toward Pean.

It was a look full of bewilderment. A puzzled gaze as if wondering what kind of drug this elf had taken.

“Gaon.”

“….”

“I’ll speak honestly.”

Jeungmu’s voice was as calm and composed as always.

“I cannot fully believe everything Pean has said.”

It was a natural reaction.

In Pean’s case, he had gradually built up his conviction by carefully witnessing the buildup I had intentionally shown him.

However, Jeungmu had no such process at all.

No Sword Master would readily believe after suddenly hearing ‘Ta-da, Gaon is the only Great One remaining in the Lower Realm!’

“But….”

Jeungmu continued.

“I do acknowledge your abilities.”

Pshhhh-.

With a single puff of steam, he slowly nodded his head.

“Your insight, your ability to formulate plans, and even your mastery of swordsmanship. I’ve already confirmed sufficiently that all of these are extraordinary.”

Jeungmu’s gaze became serious.

“I also know that you are a seeker with noble convictions. The will of one who throws himself away to prevent the world’s destruction is more noble than anyone else’s.”

He paused to catch his breath, then reached his conclusion.

“So regardless of whether Pean’s words are true or false… at least for this exploration, I will follow your will.”

It was a brief declaration.

While it wasn’t complete trust, his willingness to cooperate was clear.

Soon, Jeungmu’s expression became even more serious.

“Please.”

He looked directly at me and said.

“I hope you, Gaon, will also resolve well the future conflicts between the spirits and Miss Goldhart.”

Right.

For now, hearing this much of an answer was sufficient.

* * *

Despite various twists and turns, I had resolved all the problems that needed to be solved before the exploration began.

Pean and Jeungmu had agreed to follow my will, and the Relic Investigation Team had also handed over command of this exploration to me.

There was no longer any reason to delay.

“Well then, let’s depart!”

Captain Yaakov’s booming voice echoed.

Seven carriages were lined up in the front yard of the Relic Investigation Team headquarters. It was an incomparable scale to the previous Dawnguard exploration.

‘Over thirty people….’

The Ruins of Rashutku were not a parallel world dungeon. Since there were no personnel restrictions, this time we brought as many elite members of the Relic Investigation Team as possible.

Clatter-.

The carriage departed.

The procession slowly moved forward with the sound of wheels turning.

Clatter, clatter-clack-!

The carriage ran along the bumpy road. Though the vehicle shook violently, the people inside sat quietly, entrusting their bodies to it as if accustomed.

Time passed.

When the sun rose to its zenith, the scenery began to change.

The desolate land gradually became more orderly, and before long, a well-paved road stretched beneath the carriage. The air also felt considerably softer.

“We’ve entered the Silk Road.”

Pean said quietly while facing the window.

Along both sides of the secure trade route, merchant caravans could be seen occasionally.

Swoosh-.

Pean briefly turned his head.

His gaze directed toward the inside of the carriage. Specifically toward Muwolcha, who had Mukyoo covering her face.

Pean smiled and asked in a gentle voice.

“You said you were a monk from the Haslpart Highlands, correct?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Ahaha.”

Pean laughed warmly.

“Even if you’ve branched off from Middle Temple, ultimately you’re comrades walking the same path in following the will of the Great Ones, aren’t you? I’m pleased to meet you like this.”

“I too am honored to meet the sword of the Great One.”

Muwolcha replied cautiously.

Clatter-.

The carriage shook once more. Pean continued speaking slowly while facing the window.

“Actually, I find the existence called ‘Hero’ that the Great Ones send to this land quite fascinating.”

Pean’s voice remained gentle. But somehow, there was a strange weight contained within it.

“When I met Taragon, the first hero, I spent time with him and had various conversations.”

“….”

“His talent for magic was truly outstanding. He was among the best mages I’ve seen in hundreds of years.”

Pean paused briefly, then continued slowly.

“But strangely, I didn’t feel that special aura of being chosen by the Great Ones.”

“….”

Muwolcha flinched slightly.

“And when I met you this time, I received a similar feeling.”

Pean’s supernatural senses carefully examined Muwolcha.

“I can certainly feel the aura of a monk from the Haslpart Highlands. But beyond that… how should I put it, I don’t see any clear sign of being ‘chosen.'”

Clatter-.

The carriage shook.

Pean asked in a tone that was cautious yet simultaneously sharp.

“So I’d like to ask, at the risk of being rude. What exactly does it mean to be chosen as a ‘Hero’ by the Great Ones….”

Whoooooosh-!

That was the exact moment.

Pean’s words were cut short.

Because sacred light suddenly shone down from the sky, piercing through the carriage ceiling.

Brilliant radiance brightly illuminated the inside of the carriage, embracing only Muwolcha.

【Blessing of the Great Ones】

A 7-star buff skill.

It was the technique Muwolcha had used to persuade the clerics during the last Middle Temple meeting.

A clear sign that the blessing of the Heavenly Realm was descending.

Muwolcha’s silhouette glowed sacredly within the halo.

“….”

Pean stopped what he was saying and wore a momentarily dazed expression.

“…I spoke unnecessarily. I apologize.”

Pean immediately backed down and closed his mouth. Even while doing so, he kept glancing at me, seeming to recognize that his recent remarks had been rude.

I looked at such a Pean and let out a short sigh.

“Pean.”

“…Yes.”

“I already explained about the hero, so why are you asking pointless questions?”

My voice contained subtle reproach. At this, Pean hesitated briefly before answering cautiously.

“I detected the face inside Mukyoo through my supernatural senses.”

“….”

“But he doesn’t look like a hero at all from his appearance… I unconsciously asked such a rude question. I’m truly sorry.”

Ah.

I’ll acknowledge that.

* * *

Had we traveled for about two more days?

The carriage slowly reduced its speed, and eventually came to a complete stop.

The vehicle shook once as it came to a halt.

We could hear people moving outside. It was the sound of the Relic Investigation Team members getting off the carriages.

“It seems like…”

Swish-.

Pean drew back the window curtain.

Under the twilight sky, flocks of ravens were flying around above the visible hill.

Caw, caaaaw-!

Ominous cries echoing from all directions.

“…It looks like we’ve arrived at our destination, Ravenhil.”

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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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