Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 43

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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 43

Episode 43. Immortal Slayer (2)

* * *

“We’ve arrived.”

Clatter, clank-.

At Gaon’s single utterance, everyone quickly raised their heads.

Had it been about a day since departing from Merirose? Before they knew it, the party had arrived at Bertas, the Free City.

“Ah…”

Sikan Bauer unconsciously let out an exclamation mixed with emotion.

The calls of merchants hawking their wares and the delicious aromas flowing from street stalls – he could truly feel the vitality of the free city.

Perhaps because they had come from the ruined Merirose, this lively atmosphere felt all the more precious.

“Sikan Bauer.”

Just as he was enjoying the refreshing air of the free city to his heart’s content.

Gaon, who was sitting in the seat across from him, spoke up.

“I kept my promise.”

“…Pardon?”

“The promise to return before the investigation team arrived.”

“What do you mean by…”

Sikan Bauer hesitated.

“…Ah.”

Soon understanding Gaon’s meaning a beat late, he let out a hollow laugh.

“That’s right. We really did return to Bertas before even two weeks had passed.”

“…”

“Honestly, even when you said you were leaving to conquer a dungeon, I was dumbfounded…”

─Are you serious…? You’re leaving to conquer a dungeon? Right now?

It had been just three days ago.

When the man who had turned the Eastern Merchant Guild of Bertas upside down suddenly declared he would conquer a dungeon.

How flabbergasted he had been at the time?

When he should have quietly waited for the investigation team, his appearance stubbornly insisting while talking about divine revelation had been utterly absurd.

‘But…’

Who would have thought that dungeon was the hideout of Camillo, one of the “Five Nightmares”?

Much less that he would defeat an immortal who had reigned as a nightmare for hundreds of years in just one day.

“…I’m truly sorry.”

Sikan Bauer bowed his head deeply.

To this, Gaon replied dryly.

“There’s no need to apologize…”

“No.”

Sikan shook his head, cutting off Gaon’s words.

“Unlike you, I’m apologizing in advance because I don’t think I’ll be able to keep my promise.”

“…Promise?”

Gaon’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

“What do you mean by that?”

“The oath to keep silent about the dungeon conquest.”

Before leaving to conquer the dungeon, there had been something Gaon requested.

That he needed his help. That if only he kept his mouth shut, no one would know about the dungeon conquest.

Sikan Bauer had accompanied Gaon on the condition of agreeing to this.

But…

“Instead of keeping silent about the dungeon conquest, I will actively speak to the council.”

“…”

“That you defeated one of the ‘Five Nightmares’. That you subjugated Camillo von Taribas, whom the Middle Temple has been pursuing for hundreds of years.”

Sikan continued speaking in a voice without the slightest tremor.

“I will report all of this to the council and help ensure you are recognized as a Sword Master.”

Heh-.

At those words, Gaon let out a laugh.

Adelia, who was sitting in the seat next to him, also wore a faint smile on her lips.

The rattling cart of the old donkey driver passed through the checkpoint and headed toward the center of Bertas.

* * *

‘I didn’t expect to gain Sikan Bauer’s trust this quickly.’

The thoroughly principled Sikan Bauer.

Originally, I had planned to slowly make him my ally over time.

But to not only gain his trust in one fell swoop, but even secure a promise that he would actively support me.

Everything was going smoothly. So much so that I wondered if things could possibly go any better.

‘Well, thinking about it, he directly witnessed me defeating Camillo, so it would be stranger if he didn’t react this way.’

I had defeated the Middle Temple’s long-standing nemesis, yet he would grit his teeth and refuse to acknowledge me?

That wouldn’t be stubborn – that would just be low intelligence.

Creak-.

Before long, the cart stopped in front of Madame Durdamel’s inn.

After briefly greeting Dano and seeing him off, I climbed the inn’s stairs and turned to Adelia.

“Adelia.”

“Yes.”

“Guard the door. Until I come out, absolutely no one is to be let in.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

Entering the room, I took a quick wash in the bathtub and then sat on the edge of the bed. Finally, ‘that time’ had arrived.

“Phew…”

Thud-.

I let out a sigh and calmed my mind.

On my knees lay two items that had been truly difficult to obtain.

The Heart of the Toryong and the Corrupted Chalice.

The combination of these two would instantly elevate my physical abilities several levels higher.

‘The Corrupted Chalice doubles the effects of consumable items.’

Because of this, players would often combine the highest-grade elixirs with the Corrupted Chalice.

Mage characters would use the “Tears of the Great Spirit”.

Priest characters would use the “Holy Water of the Sunken Temple”.

And for warrior and martial artist characters, the “Heart of the Toryong” which greatly increased physical stats.

‘Among them, the Heart of the Toryong is the ultimate elixir whose value increases the earlier it’s consumed.’

The reason was simple.

Because it improved the user’s constitution, the earlier you consumed it, the more exponentially steep your growth trajectory became.

But in the game, there was no way to obtain this item in the early stages no matter what you did.

You needed to be at least level 80 to defeat the Toryong, and by the time you reached that level, the item’s effects were already nearly halved.

And if you wanted to combine it with the “Corrupted Chalice” that could only be obtained by destroying Camillo’s Life Vessel…?

‘…It would be absolutely impossible to obtain in the low-level stages.’

But I had accomplished that impossible feat.

At a point when only two weeks had passed since the main storyline of Roel began.

I obtained the Heart of the Toryong from the deepest layer of the Labyrinth Village and even destroyed Camillo’s Life Vessel.

And my level after achieving this tremendous accomplishment was….

【Lv. 11】

…I had just barely reached the average ability stats of a healthy adult.

‘Even that was only level 3 until I entered Camillo’s trial.’

A hollow laugh escaped me.

Even though I had accomplished it myself, it was an absurdly unrealistic situation.

If I hadn’t had the 【Soul of the Sword Master】, I would never have even dared to attempt such a thing.

‘That aside.’

I gazed at the Heart of the Toryong again with serious eyes.

‘Now, while my level is still low, is the perfect timing to enjoy the effects of this item.’

Until now, I had been desperately struggling to survive.

I had barely managed to overcome crises by utilizing skills at the right moments.

Although I possessed overwhelming swordsmanship skills, I couldn’t properly demonstrate that power due to my pathetic stats.

There had been several critical situations where my movements became sluggish and I was gasping for breath due to my pitiful stats.

‘But….’

Now things would be different.

If my physical abilities increased significantly, I would be able to fully utilize my swordsmanship talent.

Then I would be able to reproduce skill-embodied movements even more perfectly.

“….”

Having finished that thought, I grasped the Heart of the Toryong in my hand.

Crack-!

When I crushed the hard orb with both hands, red powder poured out. I sprinkled it into the corrupted chalice.

Soon the powder transformed into liquid inside the cup and created a red whirlpool.

‘Now, I need to drink this….’

I swallowed dry saliva.

‘…Certainly, terrible pain is supposed to come immediately after consumption.’

When playing Lost Elder.

When you consumed the Heart of the Toryong, a cutscene would play showing the character writhing in agony.

Even characters with fairly high-level 【Pain Resistance】 skills would often faint, unable to endure the pain.

That was understandable, as the Heart of the Toryong completely transforms the consumer’s physical structure.

The agony of bones, muscles, and organs twisting during that process would be indescribably harsh.

‘…Still, I have no choice but to endure it.’

I didn’t know how painful it would be, but the reward would be proportionally great.

Gulp-!

Having made my decision, I squeezed my eyes shut and downed the chalice.

The next moment, I felt hot, viscous liquid flowing down my esophagus.

“…!”

Crack, crunch-!

The bones and muscles throughout my body screamed simultaneously.

Terrible pain that felt like my internal organs were being torn to shreds engulfed my entire body.

I wanted to scream, but I held it in.

I gritted my teeth until blood came from inside my lips. The moment I opened my mouth, I felt like I would vomit everything up.

As my consciousness grew distant, new notification windows began pouring out from the corner of my vision.

Ding-!

〔You have consumed the ‘Heart of the Toryong’.〕

〔Due to the effect of the ‘Corrupted Chalice’, the item’s effect is amplified by 2x.〕

〔Reconstructing your body to inherit the characteristics of the Dragon Body.〕

〔Strength greatly increases. Agility greatly increases. Stamina greatly increases. Senses greatly increase….〕

* * *

“What are you doing here, miss?”

On the second floor corridor of the inn.

Sikan Bauer, having finished his bath, approached while drying his wet hair with a towel.

Adelia, who had been guarding the door, scratched her cheek and answered.

“The Protagonist asked me to guard the door for a while.”

“…Pardon?”

Sikan Bauer’s eyes widened.

“I’ll take over and guard it instead. Miss, you should go inside and rest quickly….”

“No. It’s fine.”

Adelia declined with a gentle smile.

“The Protagonist personally asked me to do this.”

“But….”

“I rested plenty in the carriage on the way back to Bertas. So you don’t need to worry.”

Sikan Bauer, who had been looking at Adelia with a complicated expression, let out a sigh.

He realized that no matter what he tried, he couldn’t break Adelia’s stubbornness.

“…If that’s your will, miss.”

Adelia continued speaking with a subtle smile.

“By the way, I never expected you to acknowledge The Protagonist as a Sword Master.”

“….”

“Especially you, Sir Bauer, who values principles and procedures above all else.”

Hearing those words, Sikan Bauer chuckled.

“I’m not so inflexible as all that. To witness The Protagonist’s actions with my own two eyes and still not acknowledge him as a Sword Master would be….”

Aaargh, grraaaah─!

“…!”

Just then, a desperate scream came from inside the room.

“What the…!”

Startled, Sikan Bauer reflexively tried to open the door, but….

“You can’t!”

Click-!

Adelia grabbed his arm.

“The Protagonist said that no matter what happens, absolutely no one should be let in!”

“But….”

“We have to wait until he comes out of the room first! This is an order from The Protagonist!”

“….”

Sikan Bauer hesitated.

Just as he was moving his lips, about to say something more to Adelia.

Thud thud thud-!

Then, the sound of someone urgently running up to the second floor corridor could be heard.

“Y-young master…!”

“…?”

Hakun Durdamel, who had become Bertas’s temporary eastern guild leader, was gasping for breath, completely terrified.

“W-where is the young master…!”

“He’s currently attending to other business, but what’s the matter?”

Hakun Durdarmel swallowed his dry saliva and shouted.

“…H-Help is needed! Right now at the city gates, some unknown assailant is attacking!”

* * *

“Kraaaagh…!”

Whiriririk-!

Crack-!

A massive axe flying at terrifying speed split the guard’s head like a watermelon.

With several corpses staining the ground red, the guards holding halberds hesitantly stepped back in retreat.

Their spear tips were pointed toward the giant walking from far away.

“Rat bastard…”

From the giant’s mouth, an eerie voice leaked out.

“…Quickly hand over the blue-haired rat.”

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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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