Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 289

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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 289

Episode 289. Ruins of Rashutku (7)

“Do you still not understand what’s going on?”

Jeungmu’s gaze toward me turned coldly distant.

Clank, clatter-!

The Thousand-Change Device in his hands began to transform.

The cube twisted and reconstructed itself into the shape of a massive shield.

At the same time.

Hissss-!

Rough steam sounds erupted from Jeungmu’s body.

His body made of Proteum began to slowly transform. His shoulders broadened, his chest thickened, and his legs planted themselves more firmly.

The stance of a tank standing at the front line to block attacks.

“There were too many contradictions in your words.”

“….”

Thud-.

Jeungmu stepped forward with his shield raised in front.

“The rule of Rashutku Imperial Palace was that no more than 5 people could gather in one room after 10 PM. But you said not to worry since the ‘trigger’ hadn’t activated.”

“….”

“Yet then you suggest we wait for other anomalous phenomena to appear just to check the time. Isn’t that contradictory in itself?”

…Damn it.

A curse slipped out internally.

Does this insufferably rigid mechanical human not know the dictionary meaning of the word ‘trigger’?

Rule violation and the manifestation of anomalous phenomena.

Those are strictly different concepts.

‘The trigger is the gun’s trigger, and the anomalous phenomena are the bullets.’

If the act of breaking rules itself is the trigger, then the bizarre events that result are merely the consequences.

The fact that we haven’t broken any rules now and watching for other anomalous phenomena are separate matters.

But how do I explain this….

‘No, damn it.’

As my thoughts reached that point, my spine went cold.

The more I explained in detail, the more unnecessary suspicion I’d raise.

It was obvious I’d face questions about how I knew the mechanism of Rashutku Imperial Palace’s curse so precisely.

…The silence had gone on too long.

I opened my mouth to somehow defuse this situation.

“That’s….”

“Yes. Jeungmu is right.”

Thud-.

Before I could even finish speaking, Pean interrupted.

“The Protagonist does not give contradictory explanations.”

Pean’s voice remained gentle. But the conviction contained within was cold and solid.

“His explanations are simple and clear enough to understand immediately upon hearing them once. He conveys even complex concepts clearly by pointing out only the essentials.”

Swish-.

Pean slowly turned his head to look at me.

Even though his eyes couldn’t see, his gaze was directed precisely toward me.

“And above all.”

Pean continued.

“If an explanation seems like it will become complicated, The Protagonist doesn’t bother with lengthy explanations in the first place.”

“….”

“You don’t need to know. Trust me. Just quietly follow along. He dismisses situations with such brief words.”

…What?

I had no idea about that fact at all.

Normally, I should synchronize with the body’s owner’s mind.

Then completely read his memories, and wait until I grasp his personality, speech patterns, and behavioral patterns.

‘A kind of incubation period.’

After perfectly absorbing everything like that, only then would I block consciousness and completely seize control of the body—that’s the standard method.

But this damn bastard’s mental barriers were too thick.

I couldn’t see any gaps to penetrate. Whenever I tried to infiltrate even slightly, I was blocked by steel walls, and when I tried to read memories, they scattered like mist.

In the end, I just blocked his consciousness outright.

As a result.

‘I made many errors trying to imitate him with only limited information.’

I had assessed him as having an authoritarian personality.

So in my own way, I acted coldly and bluntly.

‘Just how much more like a bastard did I need to act…?’

That’s when it happened.

“I know The Protagonist all too well.”

Pean’s voice quietly resonated.

“I respect him, and after spending so much time together, I can now see how The Protagonist would react to whatever I say.”

Pean continued.

“If it had been the ‘real Gaon’ who heard my story.”

And then.

His expression changed instantly.

His gentle smile disappeared. His warm atmosphere became sharp as a blade.

Even though he couldn’t see, that gaze alone seemed to freeze the air.

Just looking at it was suffocating.

“He definitely would have reacted like this.”

Pean’s voice was no longer gentle. It was cold, sharp, and a tone that brooked no refusal.

“You think I’m fake?”

Only then did I realize.

That Pean was now imitating Gaon.

“Surely you would have felt with your supersenses that nothing about me has changed from the past.”

“….”

“Yet if you still think I’m fake… How pitiful. Living for thousands of years only to be capable of such one-dimensional thinking.”

A coldly cutting voice.

“Think about it, Pean.”

Pean stepped forward.

Cold air rose from his hand holding Seorineul.

“If I harbored hostility toward you all.”

He slowly surveyed the surroundings.

Jeungmu, Balhwan, Adelia, and even Muwolcha.

“Why would I be wasting time bringing up Rashutku rules like this?”

A sneer spread across Pean’s lips.

A cold, arrogant smile that Gaon would have worn.

“If I wanted to, I could have killed you all long ago.”

In that moment.

The air in the room froze.

Just the aura Pean was emitting was suffocating. If Gaon had actually said this, no one would have been able to refute it.

Overwhelming force.

Absolute confidence based on that power.

The conviction that there was no need for lengthy explanations.

That was truly Gaon’s way.

“….”

I was completely speechless.

Damn.

‘Just how rotten was the personality of this body’s original owner?’

* * *

Kongiabum.

The 4th ranked player.

A man who was often called “Elder” among gamers.

‘Because he’s the oldest among the rankers.’

Being in his mid-40s with an elementary school kid, that said it all.

One day, he suddenly sent me a message.

[Kongiabum]: Hey, Ppakgyu.

[Kongiabum]: I discovered something amazing at the Ruins of Rashutku.

At the time, I replied without much thought.

[The Protagonist]: What is it?

[Kongiabum]: Remember rule number 2 of the Rashutku Ruins Imperial Palace?

[The Protagonist]: That only 5 or fewer people can gather in one room?

[Kongiabum]: Yeah yeah yeah

[Kongiabum]: But I brought Tristan’s Cloak to find a way around it, you know?

[Kongiabum]: And it turns out no anomalies occur with exactly 6 people.

At first, I thought he was stating the obvious.

I had already tried that myself.

Tristan’s Cloak is a sacred artifact that erases the wearer’s presence.

If you wear it in the Ruins of Rashutku?

Even with 6 people in one room, the curse judges it as 5 people, so no anomalies occur.

No.

At first, that’s what I thought.

[Kongiabum]: But turns out a doppelganger had possessed me lol

[Kongiabum]: It was going well at first but then I suddenly died, so I wondered what happened lol

[Kongiabum]: When I gave Tristan’s Cloak to another NPC, this time it possessed them.

[Kongiabum]: I don’t know how the game logic is programmed, but when there are exactly 6 people, it seems to possess whoever’s wearing Tristan’s Cloak.

Doppelganger.

The third apostle of the Evil Gods.

Among the apostles that would descend later, it was the most troublesome one.

‘What’s in the Ruins of Rashutku isn’t the original.’

Just like the pile of Outer Gods I saw at the Ruins of Rashutku, it’s merely a shell imbued with the original’s power.

Of course, even that was troublesome enough to deal with.

‘Being able to guide the possession target with Tristan’s Cloak…’

It was an incredible discovery.

It meant you could force the doppelganger into a predetermined target and prepare to deal with it in advance.

Of course.

[The Protagonist]: I already know that.

Naturally.

I already knew that fact.

[Kongiabum]: No no no no no

[Kongiabum]: That’s not the end of it.

“…?”

But as I mentioned earlier.

Kongiabum hadn’t contacted me to state the obvious.

[Kongiabum]: This is just a hypothesis.

[Kongiabum]: What do you think would happen if a player who learned Avatar Manifestation gets possessed by a doppelganger?

[Kongiabum]: When Avatar Manifestation is activated, would the doppelganger separate due to the “Untargetable” effect? Or would the doppelganger transfer to the avatar? What would happen to the original body?

[Kongiabum]: I think this could be a way to counter it.

[Kongiabum]: What do you think?

[The Protagonist]: ?

[The Protagonist]: Wow

It was pure admiration.

This was an idea even I hadn’t thought of.

This person is really creative, I tell you.

[The Protagonist]: If it weren’t for your physical limitations due to age issues, you probably would’ve surpassed Strawberry Latte and Muwolcha in no time.

[Kongiabum]: Agreed

[Kongiabum]: So please, can’t you tell me how to advance the Feather Sword’s Jinmyeong Geopbang? I really want to test this.

[The Protagonist]: I told you, just go to Rashutku Aquarium with the Feather Sword and slice some live sashimi.

[Kongiabum]: No, damn it, what the hell does that even mean?

[The Protagonist]: It’s premium information, so I can only tell you this much.

[The Protagonist]: Anything more would violate the Heavenly Laws.

[Kongiabum]: You’re talking nonsense about Heavenly Laws you over-immersed otaku bastard I gave you premium information but you’re being ungrateful and responding like this? Fine I’ll definitely get my revenge on you at the next meetup let’s fight you bastard

* * *

Avatar Manifestation is an effective counter to doppelgangers.

Because it completely separates from the player.

Of course, the main body still remains possessed, but the important thing was that you weren’t completely helpless.

‘Just like this moment.’

It was definitely my body.

But it wouldn’t move as I willed.

I couldn’t even twitch a finger, and even blinking wasn’t under my control.

Just like when I first faced Barbarian the Slayer of Men in the tutorial, I was completely stripped of control over my body as if a cutscene was playing.

In the midst of this.

Someone’s voice reached me.

[Shit. Just how fucked up is the personality of this body’s owner?]

It was the doppelganger’s inner thoughts.

The bastard who had stolen my body was grumbling inside me.

“….”

I felt slightly wronged.

I was acting too, you bastard.

Ding-!

Right then, a notification window appeared in the corner of my vision.

〔Mental Power ‘MAX’ nullifies mental interference.〕

The doppelganger seemed to be desperately trying to read my memories to the end. But it would never work.

Body possession was a physical action that couldn’t be defended against.

However, maintaining consciousness and not having one’s mind read was a different matter.

It was possible because of my high mental barriers, and thanks to this, I could activate Avatar Manifestation even while possessed and convey the situation to Pean who had moved to the restroom.

And now.

‘It’s about time to end this.’

[The Protagonist] : You did well, sis.

[The Protagonist] : Persuading and bringing the Sword Masters.

I sent my gratitude to Muwolcha who had moved according to my note.

Now it was time to counterattack in earnest.

Ding-!

〔Authority Skill: 【Avatar Manifestation】 has been used.〕

Whoooosh-!

The air distorted as a new body was created. I moved my main body there. To where the other Sword Masters were standing.

Then I immediately tried to cancel Avatar Manifestation, but.

Ding-!

〔Failed to cancel Authority Skill: 【Avatar Manifestation】.〕

It was as expected.

The body possessed by the doppelganger still remained. Rather than having two avatars, my main body had been split in two.

‘It’s the same whether in the game or here.’

Anyway.

As Gaon suddenly became two people, the air in the room froze.

“…!”

Jeungmu’s eyes widened.

The Bifurcated Siblings also looked back and forth between the two Gaons with bewildered expressions.

But the most shocked was definitely the doppelganger who had stolen my body. That bastard’s face clearly showed an expression of complete inability to understand this situation.

“Phew.”

I let out a sigh.

Doppelgangers copy all abilities of the original. Stats, skills, even authorities.

In other words, that bastard right now was essentially no different from the Thirteenth Sword Master Gaon himself.

Of course.

There was nothing to worry about.

Even in this situation, I knew a clear method to break through.

“Pean.”

…Still, I should say what needs to be said before the fight begins.

“Have you been thinking of me all this time as a lunatic who goes around making murder threats every day?”

“What? No! I absolutely didn’t mean it that way!”

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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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