Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 37

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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 37

Episode 37. Corpse Exhibition (3)

I hadn’t provoked Camillo recklessly without any plan.

From the beginning, I intended to wound his pride.

That was the only way I could move to the next stage.

‘If an ordinary visitor had committed such rudeness, they would have met death immediately, but…’

Lich.

An archmage who transcended death.

That was the true identity of the corpse artist ‘Camillo von Taribas’.

Few could survive against his wrath. Especially when Camillo’s art had been insulted.

Perhaps only one of the Twelve Sword Masters could stand a chance?

‘However, I’m not an ordinary visitor.’

Camillo had acknowledged me as a proper artist.

Through the grotesque sculpture I had created in the front yard of the Corpse Exhibition.

Therefore, he accepted my words not as criticism from an ignorant fool, but as legitimate critique from a fellow artist.

…Of course, there would need to be one more confirmation process before that.

“If you have such keen insight that you’d be disappointed by my collection.”

Swoosh-.

Camillo von Taribas pointed his finger somewhere.

Toward the darkest corner at the end of the corridor where corpses displayed in glass cases were lined up on both sides.

“What do you think of that work?”

“…”

Lurch-!

As I stared in the direction he pointed, every cell in my body reacted with rejection.

Sikan Bauer and Adelia looked puzzled as if they couldn’t see anything, but it was all too clearly visible to my eyes.

‘Something’ twisted into a form that human reason could never comprehend.

Ding-!

〔Mental Power ‘MAX’ resists ■̏̏͑̌̆͆͂̍̄͞■̇́̃͊̕■҇̆̑̓̌̂̚ madness.〕

〔The ■■■ created by the immortal corpse artist reveals itself.〕

…■■■ not permitted to humans pierced through the censorship and formed on my retina.

Though my mental power should have made me unaffected, I felt like vomiting.

I tried my best to observe ‘that thing’ as coldly as possible.

“It’s difficult to make out the exact form.”

“…”

“But I can see the intent contained within it.”

Twitch-.

The curve drawn on Camillo’s face trembled slightly.

Regardless, I continued speaking.

“Faces distorted by pain, bodies struggling desperately to endure until the last moment. And even that fleeting instant when the soul escapes.”

Swallowing down my churning stomach, I described exactly what I saw.

While spouting praise I didn’t mean.

“It’s admirable. That’s different from other mediocre works.”

“…!”

The next moment, Camillo’s emotions began to change rapidly. This time to joy rather than anger.

“Really… you can see that?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, excellent! Absolutely excellent commentary!”

Camillo’s cold voice was instantly covered with excitement and madness.

“Ahh, magnificent! How magnificent indeed! How did you recognize art containing the will of ■■■ at a glance? You truly are someone deeply versed in art!”

Fortunately, Camillo seemed pleased with my answer.

I took the opportunity to flatter him even more.

After all, praise was most effective when the other party’s mood was elevated.

“You’re the amazing artist here. To create such an artwork.”

“Heh, heheheh…”

At this, Camillo let out a low laugh.

“Naturally, high-ranking undead like myself love art. Having transcended the boundary between life and death, we can glimpse the true aesthetics that bloom within.”

“…”

“Some fool plays the violin all day long calling it art, but ha! I hate to even call such lowly things art!”

I nodded as if in deep agreement.

“All true words.”

While subtly leading the conversation.

“That’s why I’m saying… I want to see more collections comparable to that work. No matter how I look at it, the other artworks on the first floor don’t seem to be your full effort.”

“…!”

Camillo nodded and readily accepted my proposal.

“Ah, of course! It’s entirely possible! You have no idea how much I’ve longed for a day to have in-depth conversations with someone who truly enjoys art like you!”

I was inwardly relieved at those words.

Whoosh-!

But the very next moment, Camillo looked around at the other party members.

The guy who had been bursting with maniacal laughter suddenly went quiet.

“However…”

Camillo tilted his head.

He had witnessed Sikan Bauer and Adelia’s faces looking slightly stiff.

From the moment they set foot in the Corpse Exhibition, their expressions had been quite poor.

Naturally so. Any normal human would feel revulsion toward this place.

“Your companions don’t seem to enjoy my art very much?”

“…”

“Won’t this make it difficult to properly appreciate the true value of my collection?”

An eerie aura flowed from Camillo’s voice once again.

Hearing this, I could only sigh inwardly.

‘Why is this undead bastard so picky?’

Damn it.

Can’t he just let it slide?

Grumbling internally, I began making excuses.

“My subordinates still lack artistic cultivation. I was thinking of using this opportunity to teach them what high-level art is…”

“Subordinates?”

Camillo seemed to tilt his head, then snapped his neck sharply.

The emotion in his voice gradually became hollow.

“You call Middle Temple’s hunting dog and a Noble Family’s wench your subordinates?”

…Damn.

‘He knew all along but was just pretending not to.’

Right.

It made no sense for a high-ranking undead like Camillo not to sense the divine aura.

Rather, it was stranger that he hadn’t questioned this until now.

The eerie killing intent that penetrated to the bone began to envelop the surroundings once more.

“Yes. I had a vague suspicion.”

Thud-.

Camillo approached slowly, exuding an eerily hollow atmosphere.

As he drew closer, Adelia and Sikan Bauer hesitantly stepped back.

They had already realized that their opponent’s level was overwhelmingly superior.

“As expected, you are…”

“Camillo von Taribas.”

Nevertheless, I didn’t retreat. I even took a step forward toward him.

Cutting off Camillo’s words, I replied with a deliberately cold voice.

“I came here to discuss art, not to fight you.”

“…”

“But if you try to oppose me by bringing up factional relationships…”

I gripped the handle of my sword.

“I’ll have to show you an attitude befitting such behavior.”

Would he reveal our connection to Middle Temple and treat me as an enemy?

Or would he continue our conversation as artists, as if nothing had happened?

That choice belonged entirely to Camillo von Taribas.

“…”

Faced with these two options, Camillo fell silent for a moment.

Before long, the curves drawn on his face softened once again.

“…You’re not wrong.”

Camillo nodded as if he understood.

“It’s proper to pause conflicts momentarily before beautiful art.”

“…”

“Mediation, harmony, and love. That’s also one of the benevolent influences that art can bring, isn’t it?”

Camillo didn’t seem afraid of fighting me.

He was simply reluctant to let go of someone who shared his artistic values after such a long time.

He chose to temporarily join hands with a mortal enemy to satisfy his own artistic desires.

‘Hah.’

I let out a sigh of relief in my mind.

‘Thank goodness that bastard is an undead obsessed with art…’

What would have happened if I hadn’t created that thing in the exhibition hall’s front yard?

I guarantee I would have had no choice but to fight Camillo.

It would have been a horrific situation just to imagine.

Indeed, at least in the current situation, there was no way to kill him.

‘…The time to fight Camillo is not now.’

While I was having such thoughts alone.

Camillo bowed gracefully at the waist.

“Please forgive my rudeness.”

“…”

“Then please follow me. Let’s forget the unpleasant memories and appreciate more perfect art together.”

I nodded calmly.

It was finally time to enter the ‘real dungeon.’

* * *

Thud, thud-.

Following Camillo’s guidance, I became lost in thought.

Originally, to enter the 「Special Gallery」 of the Corpse Exhibition, one had to break through countless barriers.

‘…Every corpse sculpture in the exhibition hall is a monster.’

This was evident just from seeing the level windows floating above the artworks.

【Lv. 58】

【Lv. 59】

【Lv. 59】

If I had entered the Corpse Exhibition through normal means?

I would have had to deal with all those artworks lined up in the corridor… that is, all the undead chimeras created by Camillo.

Without doing so, there would have been no way to enter the Special Gallery.

“Here is the entrance.”

But thanks to entering through the hidden route via Camillo’s favor, I was able to safely arrive at the entrance to the Special Gallery under his guidance.

“The Special Gallery is not a simple exhibition hall.”

The double dungeon Special Gallery. Located on the third floor of the exhibition hall, this place had given nightmares to countless players.

“You could say it’s art that you experience directly? It’s a space where visitors become part of the artwork and complete the art.”

“…”

“It consists of four rooms in total. Each room has a different ‘theme.’ And those who reach the final room…”

The dark curves drawn on Camillo’s face twisted eerily.

“Will earn the right to appreciate the greatest masterpiece I’ve devoted my entire life to creating.”

He turned his head toward me.

“So far, not a single visitor has reached the final room. But you seem like you could do it.”

I nodded expressionlessly.

My real purpose for coming here was also in that final room.

“Then I’ll be waiting in the final room. Enjoy your viewing.”

* * *

Upon entering the first room of the Special Gallery, Camillo’s twisted artistic vision began to unfold before my eyes.

Countless meat hooks hanging from the ceiling, corpses hanging like butchered meat, and even a terrible stench that assaulted the nose.

Unlike the existing exhibition hall that packaged cruel scenes as art, the Special Gallery presented blatant unpleasantness from the very entrance.

“Ugh!”

Adelia’s expression crumpled. She began expressing her anger as if she could no longer bear it.

“This place is utterly disgusting. I’d like to perform a requiem and burn this entire place down…”

“Stop.”

I quickly restrained her.

“All the corpses here are connected to Camillo. If their souls find peace through a requiem, he’ll notice immediately.”

Clench-.

Upon hearing my words, Adelia bit the inside of her lips.

Performing a requiem would be tantamount to directly denying Camillo’s art.

Doing such a thing carelessly could invite his wrath and bring about greater danger.

Adelia and Sikan Bauer couldn’t be unaware of this fact. They had simply expressed their outrage at such a horrific sight.

Adelia let out a deep sigh and muttered.

“So we have to leave these poor souls as they are.”

“Wait. An appropriate time will come later.”

“…?”

Adelia tilted her head in confusion.

Taking advantage of that moment, Sikan Bauer asked a question.

“You can perform requiems?”

“Yes.”

“…Then when exactly is this ‘appropriate time’?”

Swish-.

I slowly turned my head to look at both of them.

Then, without a moment’s hesitation, as if stating an already determined fact, I spoke in a cold voice.

“In one hour.”

“O-one hour? Why specifically then…?”

To Sikan Bauer’s follow-up question, I answered once more.

“By then, I’ll have killed him.”

Thud-.

As soon as my words ended, a cold silence began to flow through the Special Gallery.

At the same time, Sikan Bauer and Adelia looked at me with shocked expressions.

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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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