Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 5

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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 5

Episode 5. Divine Artifact (1)

“Everyone, step back. I need to have a private conversation with this man for a moment.”

Karayan, the head of the Ruin Guild.

Very few knew her true identity.

Except for a few high-ranking officials who resided on the upper floor, extremely few knew her real appearance, which said it all.

But suddenly, a mysterious man who appeared had seen through the Ruin Guild head’s identity.

Moreover, Karayan had even accepted a private meeting with this mysterious man.

‘What? She’s allowing an audience this easily?’

Naturally, as her guard knight, Roren couldn’t help but worry about the situation.

Reading the atmosphere, he immediately volunteered to guard Karayan.

“Master, just in case something happens, I should at least remain here…”

“No.”

But Karayan, head of the Ruin Guild, shook her head without a moment’s hesitation.

“What he says is right. If he had malicious intentions, he would have killed us all already.”

“But, that’s…”

“It’s fine, so please leave now. I’ll handle the matter with him myself.”

“…”

Nod-.

Reluctantly nodding his head, Roren followed behind the others.

But no matter how much his master said it was fine, as a guard, he couldn’t help but feel worried.

‘…This won’t do.’

Slip-.

Unable to bear his anxiety any longer, Roren decided to use his trump card.

One of his secret techniques, 【Shadow Infiltration】.

This was a skill that stored his clone in a specific target’s shadow, preparing for any unforeseen circumstances.

Roren usually utilized this technique to guard Karayan when he was away from her.

“Ha.”

But at that very moment.

The man’s mocking laughter echoed through the room.

“I clearly requested a private meeting with the Ruin Guild head.”

“…!”

Swoosh-.

As soon as he finished speaking, the man’s gaze turned toward him.

His two eyes gleamed sharply as if he had instantly seen through Roren’s scheme.

‘Wh-what…!’

Startled, Roren quickly canceled his technique.

His body stiffened like a rabbit facing a lion.

Creeeeak-.

A suffocating silence flowed.

Even as the door to the upper floor slowly closed, the man’s two eyes continued to stare piercingly at Roren.

Though his body was gaunt as if he hadn’t eaten for days, the dignity flowing from the man was extraordinary.

Completely overwhelmed by this, Roren swallowed his dry saliva.

‘In that brief moment, he saw through my skill…?’

A cold sweat trickled down his spine.

Not only had he killed Barbarian the Slayer of Men with a single strike, but he had also instantly seen through his 【Shadow Infiltration】.

Just what level had he reached to make such things possible?

Roren couldn’t dare gauge that man’s martial prowess.

Creak, thud-!

But such questions were brief.

The door to the upper floor closed firmly, and quiet silence flowed through the corridor.

The high-ranking officials who had been suddenly kicked out all wore bewildered expressions.

…Now no one would know the conversation between the strange man and the Ruin Guild head.

* * *

‘Phew.’

Confirming the door had closed, I let out a sigh of relief in my mind.

‘I was just testing the shadow knight Roren just in case…’

It seemed he really was planning to use 【Shadow Infiltration】 on the Ruin Guild head.

It was fortunate I had blocked that possibility in advance.

Otherwise, that guy would have hidden in the shadows and interfered with everything I was about to do.

While interfering with our conversation through sound transmission techniques.

‘Such a thing must never happen.’

Anyway.

Having successfully driven away the troublemakers, I turned my gaze back to Karayan.

Karayan was still looking at me with a half-believing face. An expression that seemed uncertain whether I was really the benefactor who had saved her life.

I opened my mouth to dispel Karayan’s suspicions.

“When that vagrant girl said she would become a big shot who ruled this world, I just laughed it off.”

“…!”

“I never thought she would actually realize that ambition.”

Karayan’s eyes widened.

Having heard a story that had only passed between her benefactor and herself, she finally cast aside her doubts.

“I have been waiting only for your arrival, my lord…!”

Thud-.

Karayan prostrated herself flat on the floor and began bowing her head at my feet.

Her voice dripped with indescribable emotion.

She seemed extremely happy to finally meet her benefactor.

“I won’t ask what business brought you to me, or why you’ve only come now.”

“…”

“But whatever you desire, anything… within what I can handle, I’ll truly do anything for you.”

Strictly speaking, for Lea de Karayan, this current situation wouldn’t make logical sense.

Why was her benefactor among the slaves?

Why did he kill Barbarian the Slayer of Men?

No, setting that aside… just what did that person come here for?

Well, probably hundreds of other curiosities were tormenting her as well.

‘But none of that matters anyway.’

Usually endlessly calculating and cold-headed, but when it came to anything related to her benefactor, she became completely devoted.

That was precisely the setting for Karayan, head of the Ruin Guild, who appeared in the game.

Actually, when progressing through the game, there comes a moment when Karayan learns of her benefactor’s death.

A few days later, she loses her will to live and gives up her life.

‘Honestly, the character setting is a bit excessive, but… it was a game setting, so whatever.’

At least for Lea de Karayan, reuniting with her benefactor was tantamount to her life’s purpose.

‘In that sense…’

Having saved Karayan’s life.

No, to be precise, as someone currently impersonating that benefactor, I could now demand anything from her.

There was no need for pointless small talk. I should quickly get what I needed while Karayan’s judgment was clouded and leave this place swiftly.

From the first moment I set foot on this upper floor, I had one thing I wanted in mind.

“Lea de Karayan.”

“Yes.”

“I understand that almost all stolen goods on this continent flow into the Ruin Guild.”

“Th-that’s correct.”

“Perfect.”

I nodded and continued speaking.

“A few years ago, my precious weapon was stolen.”

“…!”

“I happened to hear rumors that the Ruin Guild has a Secret Collection Warehouse where they store ‘divine artifacts.’ I’d like to take a look around there. My sword might be there.”

The Secret Collection Warehouse.

Originally, this was a space that only the highest-ranking officials of the Ruin Guild could access.

And for good reason—each item stored in the warehouse was an extremely valuable object worth billions of shillings.

Even VVIPs known as big players in the black market didn’t know this secret warehouse existed, which said it all.

‘They would never show this warehouse to outsiders under normal circumstances.’

But….

“…Yes. I’ll guide you to the secret warehouse right away.”

As I mentioned before, Karayan couldn’t refuse my request right now.

To her, my worth as a person was far higher than those mere pieces of equipment.

‘It’s not just because I’m her benefactor.’

A skilled individual who easily killed Barbarian the Slayer of Men and instantly saw through shadow knight Roren’s 【Shadow Infiltration】.

She must have judged that gaining the favor of such a person could only benefit her.

Lea de Karayan was originally infinitely skilled at such ‘calculations.’

* * *

『Overflowing monsters. A world where all of humanity’s great civilizations have fallen.』

This sentence was the catchphrase that ran through LoEl’s worldview.

As you can tell from this, the game’s worldview was utterly bleak, like any hardcore open-world RPG.

‘…Humanity is no longer the master of the continent.’

Unable to build great civilizations because of monsters, humans huddled together in closed cities, living in hiding.

Fewer and fewer people ventured outside the cities—that is, into the ‘Unexplored Territories’ teeming with monsters.

As exchanges naturally decreased, the isolated cities began to develop strong individual characteristics, with laws and regulations varying drastically according to their geographical features.

It had been several hundred years since the world had flowed this way.

This world was slowly racing toward its end.

‘Simply put, think of it as a dark fantasy apocalyptic setting.’

Anyway.

The reason I’m suddenly explaining all this in detail is….

‘…Because I need to clearly decide what kind of relationship I should maintain with Karayan going forward.’

Ruin Guild Master Lea de Karayan.

She was someone who reigned like a queen in the shadows of this chaotic world.

In this bleak worldview where all kinds of crimes occurred daily.

There was no need to elaborate on what kind of influence the Ruin Guild under her command wielded.

‘If I establish an official friendly relationship with Karayan, I could receive tremendous help from the Ruin Guild.’

Financial support.

Procurement of rare items.

Even assassinating NPCs that would be difficult for me to handle directly.

Besides these, I could utilize the Ruin Guild in countless other ways.

‘But I can’t blindly form a friendly relationship with the Ruin Guild just because I’m blinded by that convenience.’

Where there are advantages, there are corresponding disadvantages.

After all, the Ruin Guild was clearly an evil-aligned guild.

If I rashly formed an alliance with them, there was a high risk of my relationships with other NPCs becoming complicated.

‘I’d become enemies with all the good-aligned forces….’

Middle Temple.

Noble Families.

Order of the Holy Maiden.

Relic Exploration Society.

Besides these, various other forces hostile to the Ruin Guild would become my enemies.

‘…Most importantly, the moment I form a friendly relationship with the Ruin Guild, I’d be stuck in the shadows for life.’

Why do you think noir movies often feature the line that the only way to escape from an organization is through death?

The Ruin Guild was the same.

Once you formed a deep relationship with them, severing that connection was nearly impossible.

Because the Ruin Guild’s mark would be permanently left on my body.

The moment that mark was carved, the areas I could travel to and the NPCs I could meet would be limited.

It would be like drastically reducing my freedom of action.

This would be an enormous penalty for my future.

‘Therefore, the action I need to take is simple.’

I shouldn’t go out of my way to antagonize the Ruin Guild, but I needed to form an ambiguous relationship where I could cut ties with them at any time.

Meaning I should exploit them only to the extent that I could handle the consequences.

And the edge of the ‘line’ I set was right here—the Ruin Guild’s Secret Collection Warehouse.

“We’ve arrived.”

Following Ruin Guild Master Karayan’s guidance to the secret warehouse, I looked around.

A warehouse lit with soft magical lights.

Inside display cases protected by security spells, dozens of brilliant weapons were exhibited.

Seeing items I’d only viewed through a monitor implemented in reality, I couldn’t help but admire them.

‘These are the divine artifacts.’

Divine artifacts.

True to their meaning as weapons bestowed by gods, each of these weapons possessed special effects.

For example, this blue spear before me, ‘Fang of the Heavenly Dragon Bird,’ had the tremendous effect of creating lightning around the player each time it was swung.

‘But things like this are useless to me.’

After stroking the spear’s shaft, I shifted my gaze to other weapons.

‘There’s only one type of weapon I need right now.’

I briefly recalled my encounter with Barbarian the Slayer of Men.

Right after I used my skill, the one-handed sword couldn’t withstand the impact and cracked all over.

Even that didn’t last long before crumbling to powder.

‘…I need a sword with good durability that can withstand 【Soul of the Sword Master】.’

If I used a mediocre sword, my weapon would break every time I used the skill.

That would drain a lot of money.

Weapons should never become consumables.

Especially considering LoEl’s worldview where few blacksmiths capable of making proper weapons remained.

Therefore, I planned to obtain equipment here with specs that could last until the ending.

“I don’t see my sword.”

“…!”

Lea de Karayan’s eyes trembled.

“Then please take any divine artifact you desire.”

“…Any of them?”

“Of course. Please consider it compensation for saving my life. No divine artifact is more expensive than my life.”

Perfect.

Everything was flowing according to the scenario I had planned.

Of course, some might criticize me for sucking Ruin Guild Master Karayan dry to the bone, but….

I was her benefactor who had saved her life.

No, at least Karayan believed that to be true.

‘Well, considering that, this is quite a bargain.’

With such shameless thoughts, I took another quick look around the warehouse.

‘…Huh?’

Right then, a longsword entered my field of vision.

‘Holy shit.’

The moment I saw that weapon, I couldn’t hide my surprise.

“…Why is this weapon here.”

I muttered to myself and approached the longsword as if entranced.

A blue blade emanating a cold aura.

But as it went down toward the handle, it was a sword with a peculiar appearance that contained reddish metal.

There was no mistake.

Among the various divine weapons, it was 「Seorineul」, one of the most highly rated weapons by players.

It had once ranked first in sword-type item preference in a survey targeting high-level players, which said it all.

“You have good taste.”

Just then, Karayan, who was beside me, quietly spoke up.

“This is a divine weapon called Seorineul that we acquired a few days ago. It’s a peerless famous sword. It’s also the most expensive weapon in our collection.”

“….”

“Do you happen to like it?”

Gulp-.

Hearing Karayan’s words, I swallowed dry saliva and rolled my eyes around.

Seorineul.

This divine weapon’s usage effects were always considered top-tier among all weapons.

Just finding this sword here made it worthwhile to have come to the secret warehouse.

‘But there’s something I don’t quite understand….’

…Originally at this point in time, was Seorineul owned by the Ruin Guild?

This is strange.

If my memory is correct, this weapon should be in the hands of a different owner by now.

Swoosh-.

I had such idle thoughts for a moment and slowly lifted Seorineul that was placed on the display stand….

Clang, clang clang clang clang──!

“…?”

That was the exact moment.

Seorineul began making ear-splitting noise and rolling wildly across the floor.

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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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