Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 35

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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 35

Episode 35. Corpse Exhibition Hall (1)

“Are you serious…?”

Sikan Bauer asked back with a bewildered voice.

“You want to leave to conquer a dungeon? Right now?”

Nod-.

Gaon calmly nodded his head.

Seeing this, Sikan Bauer had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.

It had only been a few minutes since he single-handedly overturned the Bertas Eastern Guild, and now he couldn’t wait and wanted to cause another incident.

What on earth was this man called Gaon thinking when he acted like this?

“I received a revelation from the Elders.”

“…!”

Right then, Gaon revealed his reason in a dry voice.

Hearing this, Sikan Bauer’s eyes widened.

Adelia also jumped up from her seat with a bright expression.

“I’ll follow you too, The Protagonist.”

“…Phew.”

Witnessing Adelia getting all excited, Sikan Bauer sighed and rubbed his temples.

The aftermath of bringing down the Brickwood Family hadn’t even settled yet.

When they should be quietly waiting for the Middle Temple investigation team arriving in two weeks, he was going to cause trouble again?

Naturally, from Sikan Bauer’s perspective, this was a situation that required caution.

“Please reconsider once more. At a time when we should be quietly waiting for the investigators, suddenly wanting to conquer a dungeon….”

“That’s why I need your help.”

Gaon cut him off decisively.

“Sikan Bauer, if only you keep your mouth shut, no one will know about it.”

“….”

Sikan, who had been looking at Gaon with a bewildered expression, continued his persuasion.

“The investigation team will arrive in two weeks. How about leaving for the dungeon conquest after settling everything then?”

“I’m saying this because I don’t know how much those two weeks might stretch.”

“….”

Hesitate-.

Sikan Bauer kept his mouth shut.

There was nothing wrong with what he said.

The Middle Temple investigation team would arrive in two weeks, but that wouldn’t conclude everything.

If you added the process of traveling back to Middle Temple and going through council approval and examinations?

As Gaon said, it was a situation where no one knew if it would take several more months… or in severe cases, even several more years.

“I will definitely return here within two weeks, before the investigation team arrives.”

“….”

“I swear on my name.”

After pondering for a long time, Sikan Bauer opened his mouth.

“…What would you do if I tried to stop you?”

Then Gaon answered without a moment’s hesitation.

With an expression as if asking why he would ask something so obvious.

“There’s no reason to show mercy to someone who defies the will of the Great Elders.”

Flinch-.

At that dry tone, Sikan Bauer was startled without realizing it.

Just a few minutes ago, the sharp gaze that had been directed at Edmon Brickwood was now aimed at him.

“Is that a threat…?”

“It’s a warning.”

Sikan Bauer bit the inside of his lips.

Even at this moment of confronting Gaon, he couldn’t feel any aura whatsoever.

If he had met him on the street, he would have dismissed him as just an ordinary person… but having heard stories about Gaon from Adelia, it was difficult to think that way anymore.

Even if he hadn’t been officially recognized as a Sword Master yet, he was undoubtedly a tremendous expert comparable to one.

A tremendous expert whose level was so high that he couldn’t even grasp that realm with his own abilities.

“…I understand.”

In the end, Sikan Bauer had no choice but to reluctantly nod his head.

It was impossible for him to stop Gaon with his own abilities from the start.

‘In that case….’

He thought it would be better to monitor him from the side and figure out his identity.

“Instead, I will also accompany you on the dungeon conquest.”

“By all means.”

On the other hand, curiosity about Gaon also arose.

If he conquered the dungeon together with him, wouldn’t he be able to see his real abilities?

Taking this opportunity to directly verify whether he truly had the qualifications to become a seeker of the sword wouldn’t be bad either.

Of course….

‘You’re moving exactly as expected, Sikan Bauer.’

…all of this was according to Gaon’s plan.

* * *

♬♪──!

A cabin situated on a high mountain peak.

In front of the entrance of a mansion with a lush flower garden, The Musician wearing a black robe was playing the violin.

The sorrowful melody produced by the bow and strings echoed far and wide across the endless mountain ranges.

“….”

Had about 30 minutes passed like that?

Finally, when one piece ended, The Musician slowly lowered his violin and bow as if the lingering sound hadn’t faded.

The hem of his clothes that had been fluttering with intense movements also settled down with the wind.

The Musician who quietly raised his head smiled brightly toward the only audience member who had listened to his performance until the end.

“Thank you for listening until the end, dear audience!”

“…Audience my ass.”

Tsk-.

The only audience member, the Hybrid Human-Dragon, Sword Master of the Raging Dragon, clicked his tongue.

He who had been lying in the flower garden in a slouched position got up with an annoyed expression.

Then The Musician clung to the Tyrant Dragon’s side and started chattering.

“How was it? Tell me your thoughts on hearing my performance! Huh? This piece was quite wistful and sorrowful, wasn’t it?”

“It was terrible.”

“Hey, that’s a lie! Since you listened until the end, you secretly liked the performance….”

“I waited because if I interrupted in the middle, you’d obviously throw a fit like last time. Now shut up. You’re noisy.”

The Musician who had been joking around asked a question.

“Right, right. What reason brought you here today?”

“…Just give me back my sword.”

“So you came because of that after all! I’ve been keeping it safe for you!”

The Musician rummaged inside his robe.

Shing-!

Soon, a menacing greatsword revealed itself from within his robes.

Raging Flame Blade.

It was a weapon that had roamed battlefields alongside the Tyrant Dragon for hundreds of years.

“How absent-minded must he have been to leave half a sword at my house!”

“….”

The Tyrant Dragon clicked his tongue and then received the sword from his companion.

Even during this, his companion showed no signs of stopping their chatter.

“Oh, right! Did you meet that guy? How was it? Did he live up to your expectations?”

“…Huu.”

The Tyrant Dragon let out an annoyed sigh and scratched the back of his head with the sword’s handle.

After briefly making an expression as if recalling the past, he gave a short answer.

“For now… he was a guy whose identity I couldn’t figure out at all.”

“Hm?”

“He easily blocked a punch I threw with full force. At a speed so fast that even I couldn’t read his movements.”

“…?”

“But what was even more surprising was that I couldn’t sense any aura from him even in that moment.”

It was an incomprehensible phenomenon.

Normally, to display superhuman movements, one had to utilize aura.

The more powerful the force used, the more corresponding energy would overflow from the body, and those aftereffects could never be concealed.

But from The Mysterious Man, not even a handful of energy could be felt. It was just as quiet as the bottom of the deep sea.

In other words, it meant that he had blocked the attack without using any aura at all.

“Oho…?”

An intrigued expression crossed The Musician’s face upon hearing that strange story.

“Just hearing about it sounds interesting? So, who won the fight?”

“….”

The Tyrant Dragon clenched and unclenched his hand.

The knuckles of the fist that had clashed with the sword still throbbed.

“The duel was postponed.”

“Huh? No, what do you mean? ‘You’ postponed a duel? You, the Tyrant Dragon, of all people?”

“…We agreed to have a proper fight later. I had to leave in a hurry and forgot my sword, and that guy wasn’t really in a situation to fight either.”

“Ooooh!”

The Musician shouted in an excited voice.

“Then call me when you fight again! I’ll referee for you!”

“Get lost. I don’t need that.”

The Tyrant Dragon waved his hand dismissively.

“Hm?”

Then, frowning slightly, he asked a question.

“But what were you preparing to go out for?”

“Ah.”

Swoosh-.

The Musician removed his robe’s hood.

A skull-shaped helmet and armor decorated entirely with bones. Even the blood-red patterns visible through the gaps. The skulls hanging from various parts of the armor rattled as if they were alive.

From within the black helmet emanating the aura of the dead, the Death Knight holding a violin spoke in a cheerful voice.

“Middletemple called for me.”

“…?”

“I don’t know the detailed reason. They suddenly said they needed someone to help with a ‘test’?”

* * *

Ding-!

〔Hidden Message : Causality is being twisted.〕

〔Hidden Message : The encounter with the Black Bone Sword Master is being moved up.〕

* * *

‘Things are flowing according to plan.’

Heh-.

I smiled inwardly.

Sikan Bauer, the investigation team leader of Middletemple, had joined the dungeon conquest.

With this, I had completed the 3-person party that was the ‘minimum entry requirement’ for the dungeon I needed to conquer.

‘At first, I thought about persuading him to conquer the dungeon together….’

But thinking about it, I realized there was no need for that.

I’m taking Adelia and heading to the dungeon.

So what are you going to do about it?

In the end, all Sikan Bauer could do was obediently follow me under the pretext of surveillance.

Thanks to that, I was able to bring along an additional bus driver stronger than Adelia without paying any price.

‘Anyway.’

The given time was only two weeks.

I had boasted to Sikan Bauer that it was plenty of time, but honestly, the schedule was a bit tight.

Especially considering the characteristics of the dungeon we were going to conquer.

Since it was better to arrive at the destination early, I used Dano’s cart without a moment’s hesitation.

Since I had given him advance notice, he was waiting in the stable of a nearby inn.

“We’ve arrived.”

Neigh-.

After leaving Bertas and traveling for about a day?

Our party was finally able to reach our destination.

Adelia, who had been riding in Dano’s cart, looked around with a curious expression and spoke.

“This place is….”

“It’s a city called Merirose.”

Sikan Bauer answered.

“It was once the most prosperous among Bertas’s satellite cities. A place filled with art and pleasure.”

He gradually trailed off in a melancholy voice.

“Of course, now….”

Streets paved with pure white bricks.

Here and there stood magnificent buildings made of marble, elegant theaters, and splendid fountains.

But the past splendor no longer remained. The city, unmanaged for so long, was in a state no different from ruins.

The half-collapsed tall clock tower, rusted streetlights, and broken windows proved Merirose’s complete downfall.

“…It became complete ruins when the barrier’s influence disappeared.”

Hee-haw-!

Just then, the donkey stopped firmly in place.

I told Dano to wait in a safe place for a few days, then began to move forward.

‘I think it was around here somewhere….’

Step, step-.

I slowly looked around the city filled with thick dust and fog.

It could have been confusing since it was a place I had only encountered through a monitor, but unlike with the Underworld Arena, this time I could easily find my destination.

And for good reason, since that ‘dungeon’ couldn’t help but stand out.

“Huh?”

Just then, Adelia let out a questioning sound.

There was a huge building standing tall in the city center.

Unlike the other structures, it maintained perfect condition without any damage at all.

A clean exterior as if time had stopped. Seeing this, Adelia tilted her head with a puzzled expression.

“Why is only that building intact…?”

“No one knows.”

Once again, it was Sikan Bauer’s turn to answer.

“Originally, there was no such building in Merirose. It suddenly appeared overnight the day after the barrier disappeared.”

“…?”

“Middle Temple has dispatched investigation teams multiple times, but no one has been able to enter the interior. We’ve tried every possible method, but ultimately failed….”

Step-.

While Sikan was speaking, I began walking toward the Exhibition Hall.

Seeing this, he called out to stop me with an urgent voice.

“W-wait a moment. What are you doing?”

“I’m going to enter this place.”

“…?”

Sikan, with a question mark on his face, let out a sigh.

“Didn’t you hear what I just said? It’s futile. The investigation teams have tried every method for the past few years, but failed to enter.”

“….”

“I guarantee you, no matter what you try, you won’t be able to enter that place, so don’t waste time and let’s just go back….”

“Is that so.”

I ignored his words and continued walking.

From behind me, I could hear Sikan Bauer grumbling quietly.

“…Well, I told you it’s futile.”

* * *

About 10 minutes later.

Rumble rumble rumble─!

The area around the Exhibition Hall began to vibrate as if an earthquake had struck.

The tightly closed main entrance of the Exhibition Hall slowly opened with the sound of hinges.

Seeing this, Sikan Bauer muttered in disbelief.

“H-how did you do it with such a method….”

His wide eyes were staring intently at the entrance of the Exhibition Hall.

Just a few minutes ago, his lips that had been mocking this as futile were now half-open and trembling.

“H-how exactly did you do it? How did you accomplish in 10 minutes what the investigation teams have been trying and failing at for years….”

“It is a revelation, Sir Bauer.”

At that moment, Adelia interrupted his words with a reverent voice.

Once again, her face was filled with emotion and awe.

“The great Elders have revealed to Sir Gaon the method to break the seal of this place.”

“Ah.”

Sikan Bauer couldn’t continue speaking for a while.

Swoosh-.

Eventually, he turned his gaze toward me.

…For some reason, his eyes had changed to become quite favorable.

‘Anyway.’

I chuckled inwardly.

‘Those related to the Noble Families are really easy to handle.’

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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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