Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 33

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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 33

Episode 33. Cutting Out the Rotten Flesh (3)

‘As expected, someone from Middle Temple was waiting.’

【Lv. 85】

A level window visible from outside the reception room.

The moment I witnessed that, I could guess who the opponent was.

In this current situation, there was only one level 85 who would show themselves in Bertas.

‘Sikan Bauer.’

Middle Temple’s heretic inquisitor and investigation team leader.

A hunting dog who takes on all the dirty work for the nobles.

‘In other words…’

…He was nothing more than a loyal hound of the Noble Families.

“…!”

Was that why?

As soon as he faced Adelia, Sikan Bauer’s eyes widened in shock.

As if he never imagined he would meet her in this place.

“What did you just babble about?”

Crack-.

But Brickwood hadn’t noticed that situation at all.

Partly because the bastard was dull, but also because he was completely distracted by the words I had just uttered.

“You killed all the knights? Do you think I’d believe such bluster…”

Thud-.

I ignored Brickwood’s words and settled into the sofa.

Adelia also stood behind me as usual, taking on the role of guard.

Seeing this, Sikan Bauer became even more agitated. He was flustered seeing the young master of the family he served acting like a subordinate to a complete stranger.

‘Wait.’

I gave a subtle signal to the bastard who was looking at me with confused eyes to stay put.

Sikan Bauer, who had been panicking not knowing what this situation was about, nodded briefly as if he understood for now.

As expected of a character with quite sharp instincts.

‘I can’t reveal Adelia’s identity yet.’

Of course, revealing that Adelia was from a Noble Family would solve everything at once, but…

I had to wait until the end. At least until I could create a justification to deal with Edmon Brickwood for certain.

Having finished that thought, I quietly recited the bastard’s name.

“Edmon Brickwood.”

Stop-.

As I opened my mouth, a chilling silence flowed through the room.

Even Brickwood, who had been furious, had no choice but to shut his mouth for a moment at the eerie voice.

“I clearly said it. I killed all the knights you sent.”

“…”

“Can’t you understand this simple thing? Or are you just struggling because you don’t want to believe it?”

Brickwood’s eyes wavered.

I didn’t miss that opening and continued speaking.

“Hakun Durdamel is an intermediary who made a contract with me. But you sent knights to torture him and destroy his business.”

“…”

“This is clearly an act that infringed on my interests. It’s also something that should never happen in Bertas, where everyone’s legitimate commercial activities and freedom are guaranteed.”

I glared at the bastard as I spoke.

“So now explain to me. Give me a reason why I shouldn’t execute you.”

* * *

‘What?’

Brickwood frowned.

His mind was in confusion.

‘Why is that bastard so relaxed?’

Slide-.

His gaze, which had been directed at Gaon, shifted to the female swordsman standing behind him.

A skilled fighter who clearly emanated an extraordinary aura.

Judging by the blood stains slightly smeared on various parts of her sword and armor, she seemed to have had direct conflict with the knights.

These were traces that hadn’t been visible until just before due to his panic.

‘Ah.’

Only then did he begin to roughly understand the situation.

‘That woman must be the secret weapon Durdamel had hidden.’

It seemed they had hired a master swordsman to try to pressure him.

That must be why Gaon was showing such a confident attitude.

‘Foolish bastards.’

Snicker-.

Having finished that thought, Brickwood let out a sneer.

Should he say it worked out well? Blasphemy plus the crime of murdering knights. There couldn’t be a worse charge than this.

The bastards had even confessed all their crimes. And that in the presence of Middle Temple’s investigation team leader.

‘They fell into their own trap.’

In the end, this would return to Durdamel as the worst possible result.

No matter how strong a fighter they hired, it couldn’t surpass Middle Temple’s authority.

Sensing victory, Brickwood opened his mouth with a bitter smile.

“Ha, how well you spout such nonsense.”

He continued in a leisurely voice.

“Filthy trash that should be executed for blasphemy. Do you even know what crime you’ve committed?”

Then, Gaon nodded with a calm expression.

“Of course I know.”

“…?”

“I killed a divine beast, specifically a Celestial Dragon.”

Flinch-.

In an instant, Brickwood’s eyes widened.

He never imagined that bastard would know the identity of the Celestial Dragon.

But it was still too early to be surprised.

“However, I didn’t know that a mere guild master had the authority to punish a divine beast killer. Unless there’s going to be a heretic inquisition trial at Middle Temple.”

Even more shocking words flowed from Gaon’s mouth.

“H-how do you know such information…!”

* * *

Jump-!

Edmon Brickwood’s face turned pale as he rose from his seat.

It seemed he had belatedly realized that something was seriously wrong.

“D-did Durdamel tell you even that! It seems you’ve really planned this conspiracy thoroughly, you trash!”

The bastard who had hesitated for a moment shouted in a trembling voice.

“B-but nothing changes!”

His fat body began to tremble uncontrollably.

“There was a revelation from the Saintess! That a Sword Master killed the dragon! It makes no sense for you to claim ownership of the Celestial Dragon’s corpse! Surely you’re not claiming to be a seeker of the sword yourself?”

I tilted my head in confusion.

“Then it’s even more puzzling. If a Sword Master killed the Celestial Dragon, why are you discussing that punishment with me?”

“Th-that’s…”

He hesitated.

Brickwood froze again. He realized the contradiction in his own argument.

He never had legitimate grounds to begin with.

He was just planning to pin false charges to devour Durdamel’s merchant guild.

“H-how dare you play dumb!”

When all logic collapsed, Brickwood chose his last resort. The madness and venom he had been suppressing burst forth.

“Didn’t you clearly say just a few days ago that you personally slayed the Celestial Dragon! Your words contradict each other! How dare you speak lies!”

Brickwood whirled around and shouted at one of the knights guarding the reception room.

“What are you doing!”

“…?”

“Why aren’t you executing that lying bastard right now!”

At this, an armored man hesitated.

【Lv. 59】

Better equipment than other knights, and a higher level.

He was Edmon Brickwood’s escort knight.

In the game, he appeared as a slightly strong mob, a character not worth remembering.

It was the moment he grasped his sword hilt to follow his master’s command.

“Think carefully.”

I looked at him with cold eyes and spoke.

“If you draw that sword, both you and your master will die.”

…And the knight who heard my warning froze in place.

He flinched.

His hand trembled slightly.

A knight stagnated before the level 60 barrier. But that was enough to gauge Adelia’s power.

At least he seemed to have much better instincts than those four incompetents we met in Labyrinth Village.

“Eeeeeek!”

When the knight showed no signs of moving, Brickwood exploded.

He jumped up from his seat and punched his escort knight in the face.

Thwack!

The escort knight staggered briefly but soon regained his composure.

Watching this scene quietly, I clicked my tongue.

‘Pathetic fool. His reason has completely shut down.’

It wasn’t incomprehensible.

After all, Eastern Bertas was Brickwood’s kingdom.

For someone who had spent his life trampling others and ruling over them, the very act of challenging his authority was unacceptable.

It was simply disgusting. His irrational behavior, thrashing about consumed by rage, looked worse than a beast.

“Hah, hah… this fucking bastard…!”

After venting his anger on the innocent escort knight, Brickwood glared at me, seething.

“How dare… how dare you commit such disrespect! Don’t you know who has come to this place…!”

He pointed at Sikan Bauer and cried out almost wailing.

“Here! The holy sword of Middle Temple has come! To judge you! And yet you still dare to act so shamelessly to the end!”

The reason he had been so confident was revealed.

He firmly believed that Sikan Bauer was on his side.

Brickwood had been secretly dealing with the Noble Families all along.

He had done all sorts of dirty work to please them, and in return, he was able to control Eastern Bertas.

So this time too, he must have mistakenly thought Middle Temple would naturally be on his side.

But…

“Your subordinate and you act exactly the same way.”

As I said when we clashed with the knight earlier, that method wouldn’t work on us, regardless of others.

“I hate most those who mention their backing without achieving anything themselves.”

“What…”

“A coward who has lived his whole life hiding behind others, borrowing their authority to show off.”

“…”

“A parasite who can’t accomplish anything with his own power, yet hopes to crawl in just by dropping someone’s name.”

Brickwood’s face turned bright red, but I continued speaking without concern.

“You don’t even know shame, living like that is pathetic. Well, I suppose that’s why you can still hold your head high even in a situation like this.”

“…”

“But since you seem to like this method, I’ll indulge in that vulgar game just this once.”

Swish.

I turned to look at Adelia. Then I gave a very simple and clear command.

The final move that could overturn this entire situation at once.

“Deploy your aura, Adelia.”

Whoosh!

At that very moment, blue-green aura filled the reception room.

It was the symbol of the Noble Families and a power that only the chosen could wield.

“…!”

Witnessing this, Brickwood’s legs gave out.

He collapsed onto the floor with a thud.

The last remaining color drained from his face as he continued to deny reality to the end.

“Th-this can’t be…”

Right.

You’re denying reality to the very end.

It wasn’t particularly surprising. This was the character ‘Edmon Brickwood’ I had seen for 12 years.

A small fry who luckily connected with the Noble Families and obtained an undeserved position.

Yet with such a status, he brutally trampled those weaker than him and groveled before those stronger—a typical cockroach of the strong-against-weak, weak-against-strong variety.

How many people must have shown such terrified expressions before that bastard?

It was simply regrettable that such trash had been controlling Eastern Bertas.

‘And on this continent, there are countless pieces of trash worse than him.’

It didn’t matter.

As I said before, the real purge was just beginning.

Since I had fallen into this damned game, I planned to hunt down and execute the parasites eating away at this world one by one.

If the head was rotten, the world’s destruction would only accelerate.

“…”

Swish.

Having finished that thought, I slowly rose from the sofa.

A suffocating silence descended.

Each of my footsteps echoed through the reception room.

Step—.

I slowly approached Brickwood.

The escort knight didn’t even dare think of stopping me.

Soon, stopping in front of him, I continued speaking in a chillingly calm voice.

“I am the master of Adelia von Goldhart, a member of the Noble Families.”

Thud-.

I threw the Tyrant Dragon’s scale that was in my pocket at his feet.

The proof that every swordsman would desire gleamed with a brilliant light.

“And the leader of a swordsman recognized by the Tyrant Dragon.”

Brickwood’s face turned pale beyond description, becoming ashen blue.

For his sake, I continued speaking slowly, putting strength into each and every word.

“The 13th Sword Master chosen by great beings, Gaon.”

Swoosh-.

Brickwood trembled his lips as he looked up at me.

With eyes swirling with fear, anxiety, confusion, and countless other emotions.

It was such a despairing expression that it was hard to believe this was the same guy who had looked down on a vagrant just minutes ago.

I put an end to this childish game with a low, subdued voice.

“Now you try bragging about that impressive background of yours.”

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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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