Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 34

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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 34

Episode 34. Cutting Out the Rotten Flesh (4)

* * *

I headed to the basement of the manor.

Through the dark and damp prison, I could see Hakun Durdarmel’s figure.

The guy who had been hanging his head low looked up at me with a grin and spoke.

“I’ve been waiting for you, young master.”

“…You’ve been through a lot.”

Clang-!

The thick iron shackles fell to the floor.

Hakun Durdarmel rubbed his wrists and slowly stood up from his spot.

How severe was the torture he endured?

His condition was so terrible it was beyond description.

Even so, Hakun Durdarmel showed no signs of pain and maintained a calm demeanor.

“Ugh…!”

Of course, even if he tried to act fine, his battered body wouldn’t obey him.

“Are you alright?”

“…Yes. I’m perfectly fine.”

Wobble-.

I supported Hakun Durdarmel as his legs gave out and he nearly collapsed.

After catching his breath for a moment, he turned his gaze toward the prison.

“Phew, by the way…”

Swoosh-.

Through the iron bars, I could see Edmon Brickwood’s figure.

The guy was sitting there blankly with a look of despair.

He who had been the master of this prison until just moments ago was now a helpless prisoner.

“What will happen to Guild Master Brickwood now?”

I immediately answered Hakun Durdarmel’s question.

“Soon we’ll judge him through a trial. He committed all sorts of corruption while sitting in the guild master’s position.”

“…I thought as much.”

When we searched Brickwood’s office, countless pieces of evidence emerged.

Records of how he had sabotaged merchant guilds over the years and illegally increased his wealth.

All of this was handed over to Sikan Bauer.

The matter was immediately reported to the Bertas city council, and a trial was scheduled to be held soon.

After hearing my explanation, Hakun Durdarmel muttered with a melancholy expression.

“Then the Celestial Dragon’s corpse auction will be delayed even further. With the Eastern Guild Master position vacant, all administrative work will be paralyzed.”

Snicker-.

Hearing those words, I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

As expected of a money-obsessed merchant, even in this situation he’s worried about the auction.

I looked at Hakun Durdarmel and spoke.

“Speaking of which, we’ve decided to entrust that Eastern Guild Master position to you for the time being.”

“What?”

“It’s a decision made by the Middle Temple’s inquisitor. It’s only a temporary position, but there shouldn’t be any problems proceeding with the auction.”

“…”

Hakun Durdarmel gaped with a dumbfounded expression.

“Why would you… give such a position to someone like me…?”

There were sufficient reasons for that choice.

First, Durdamel was a skilled individual who became a premium merchant at a relatively young age.

His information network, built through traveling the Silk Road over a hundred times, was among the best in Eastern Bertas.

Second, he had suffered great damage due to Brickwood’s corruption.

There was no one better suited to root out the guild’s corruption and reform it.

‘Lastly…’

The fact that he was one of the few merchants who knew about the existence of the Noble Families also played a part.

It meant he was the right person to maintain smooth relations with the Middle Temple.

‘Anyway.’

With this, I had cut out the rotten flesh of Bertas.

The free city would find its proper course much earlier than in the original story.

I smiled. Everything was flowing smoothly.

‘Now I should gradually move on to the next stage…’

─Headquarters is sending more people.

The words Adelia had said earlier flashed through my mind.

According to her, the Middle Temple was planning to send additional people.

To verify whether I was truly the 13th Sword Master.

‘There’s nothing to worry about.’

All of this was part of my plan.

The reason I revealed myself as a Sword Master in the first place was to attract the Middle Temple’s attention.

Because there was a hidden piece that could only be obtained there.

‘Did she say it would take about two weeks for the person sent by the Middle Temple to arrive?’

Two weeks.

I had no intention of just sitting around twiddling my thumbs during that time.

Rather, I planned to use this time to become even stronger.

Through a method to maximize the effects of the ‘Heart of the Toryong’ that I had obtained.

Of course, to do that…

‘Sikan Bauer.’

…I absolutely needed that guy’s help.

* * *

“Phew…”

Sikan Bauer let out a sigh.

While the mysterious man named Gaon went to lock up Brickwood’s gang in the underground prison.

He chose to remain alone with Adelia in the reception room.

Because he wanted to somehow resolve the numerous questions swirling in his head.

“Where have you been all this time, miss?”

Adelia von Goldhart.

Her sudden departure from home had caused a great commotion throughout the city.

Indeed, she was the one who inherited the most noble bloodline among the members of the Noble Families.

When she, who had lived her entire life protected in a cage, disappeared with just a single note, naturally the Middle Temple had to be turned upside down.

“No, setting that aside… what reason did you have for leaving home?”

“That’s…”

Adelia, who received the question, hesitated.

That she had learned the ugly truth about her family by chance. That she felt disgusted and attempted to escape.

She wanted to confess her inner feelings like that, but…

Unable to speak so directly, she told a lie.

“…I’ve been stagnant in front of a wall for the past few years, and feeling so frustrated, I sought an escape. I’m sorry for causing you worry.”

Huuuu-.

Sikan Bauer let out another sigh and shook his head back and forth.

With an expression that said he couldn’t stop her, he muttered in a voice mixed half with worry and half with relief.

“Even so, you shouldn’t disappear with just a single note. Do you know how worried Lord Arwen and I were?”

“….”

“It’s fortunate that you’re safe, but if something had happened to you by any chance….”

Sikan Bauer trailed off as if the mere thought was horrifying, then continued speaking.

“Now please return to the family, my lady.”

“I don’t want to.”

“…?”

“Not now. I still have things I need to do.”

Pause-.

Sikan Bauer looked at Adelia with a bewildered expression.

Why was that?

She was already wearing a resolute expression as if she had made up her mind.

Sikan Bauer couldn’t help but be inwardly surprised by Adelia’s stubborn appearance, which he had never seen before.

“Is this because of that person called ‘Gaon’?”

“…Yes.”

Adelia nodded her head.

“He is the master I serve. It’s only been about two weeks, but I’ve truly gained great teachings during that time.”

“Great teachings….”

Sikan Bauer narrowed his eyes as if trying to gauge his opponent.

“…?”

The next moment, Sikan Bauer’s mouth fell open with an expression of disbelief.

“Wh-what in the world is this….”

It seemed as if tremors were flowing through his entire body.

“You’ve broken through that thick wall and achieved great growth.”

“Yes.”

“How could this be… I knew your talent was outstanding, my lady, but I thought it would take at least another 10 years to reach your current level….”

Adelia answered briefly.

“It’s all thanks to The Protagonist’s teachings.”

“….”

Gaon.

Upon hearing that name again, Sikan Bauer pressed his lips tightly shut once more.

A person who felt no aura on the surface, yet claimed to be the 13th Sword Master.

A figure who had gained Adelia’s deep trust in less than two weeks.

How should he accept this veiled figure?

“Sir Bauer.”

Just then, Adelia spoke to him again.

The Protagonist is undoubtedly a seeker of the sword. This is the conclusion I’ve reached after seeing his deeds with my own eyes….”

“No.”

Upon hearing those words, Sikan Bauer shook his head back and forth.

“The council’s approval has not yet been obtained.”

“But….”

“Procedure is procedure, my lady.”

Sikan Bauer spoke in a firm voice.

“You know well that the title of Sword Master is only granted to those who have officially passed Middle Temple’s ‘trial’.”

“….”

Adelia could no longer make any rebuttal.

Because there was nothing wrong with what Sikan Bauer said.

The Twelve Sword Masters who had risen to the position of seekers over hundreds, perhaps thousands of years.

Even if countless records had been lost in the distant ages, the fact that they had all taken Middle Temple’s trial had been passed down unchanged.

“Nothing about that man has been confirmed yet. If you blindly trust him, there’s no telling what danger you might face.”

“….”

“So until the council’s approval comes through, I earnestly request that you treat that man with a cautious attitude….”

Knock knock-.

It was at that very moment. The sound of knocking came from outside the reception room.

Sikan Bauer, whose words had been cut off, let out a deep sigh and opened the door.

“Sorry to interrupt the conversation.”

Gaon was standing in front of the door.

Along with a muscular, bald merchant whose face was swollen.

Gaon, who had been wearing an expressionless face, soon opened his mouth.

“Sikan Bauer. I need your help.”

* * *

The Uncharted Wilderness where darkness had fallen.

In that place filled only with the howling of beasts and the sound of bitter wind, a man was breathing heavily.

Around him were scattered the wreckage of a broken carriage and the corpses of brutally murdered companions.

“Sp-spare me! What did we do wrong…!”

The man cried out desperately.

As an employee of Durdarmel’s Golden Guild, he had simply come to collect items as ordered by the Guild Master.

But he never imagined he would face such a horrific situation.

“Damn it! Why are you doing this! We’re just guild employees! We’ve never had any grudge against you!”

The sole surviving guild employee screamed desperately.

But it was useless.

The footsteps of the massive figure approaching from the darkness grew closer and closer.

“Get away! Get away from me…!”

Whooom-!

Crack-!

As the man frantically swung his sword, the giant body collapsed helplessly with a horrible sound of tearing flesh.

But seeing this, the man despaired even more instead of feeling relieved.

And for good reason, since they had already ‘killed’ that monster more than ten times.

Crack crack crackle─!

With a horrific sound, the giant’s neck began to regenerate.

The severed flesh, blood vessels, and spine writhed and connected as one again.

“Hi, hiiiiek…!”

Witnessing this, the man’s legs gave out and he collapsed on the spot.

“Sh-shit! What do you want! Why are you attacking us! At least tell me the reason, damn it!”

The man shouted as if struggling desperately.

Thud-.

The giant paused for a moment and moved its mouth.

“Dark blue hair… Golden eyes… Pale skin….”

A deep bass voice flowed from between its foul-smelling mouth.

The giant’s voice was tinged with mad obsession.

“I am… looking for that little rat….”

“…!”

In that instant, the guild employee’s eyes widened.

Dark blue hair? Golden eyes? And pale skin?

Suddenly, one person’s face flashed through his mind.

A few days ago, a man named ‘Gaon’ who had visited the headquarters together with the Guild Master, who had returned battered and broken.

“That, that bastard! You mean the gaunt man with the fierce expression?”

“….”

“I, I know! Right now he’s in Bertas with our Guild Master….”

Crack-!

The Giant’s axe crushed the man’s head.

Looking at the corpse growing cold, the Giant grinned wickedly.

“…Bertas.”

Thump, thump, thump-.

Under the black night sky, Barbarian the Slayer of Men began to move slowly.

Splash, splash-.

With each of his heavy steps, pools of dark blood formed.

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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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