Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 51

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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 51

Episode 51. Sacred Covenant (1)

* * *

As I placed my hand on Heukgol’s shoulder, I could feel him flinch in surprise.

The bold momentum that seemed ready to attack at any moment completely dissipated.

The killing intent I had endlessly stacked while 【Ritardando True】 was active had properly overwhelmed him.

“So it was real…”

After a long silence, Heukgol finally spoke.

“You really… could kill an immortal…”

Tremble tremble tremble-.

Heukgol looked down at his two hands shaking uncontrollably.

For some reason, his voice carried a tone of self-loathing.

It was probably because he realized that despite boasting about enjoying the fear of death, he was nothing more than a coward.

‘That’s understandable.’

High-level undead like Death Knights and Liches hadn’t ‘overcome’ death in the first place.

Rather, they chose the path of immortality precisely because they feared death more than anyone else.

They might have forgotten that fear over the past hundreds of years, but it was only natural to cower before the threat of true death.

‘This is why I judged the Black Bone Swordmaster to be the optimal opponent.’

It was obvious that if I intimidated him appropriately, he would back down on his own.

Especially when I had skills like 【Immortal Slayer】.

“Go.”

Just then, Heukgol muttered in a powerless voice.

He stepped aside and pointed to the place behind him.

The highest point of the Holy Sanctum.

Above the stairs where hundreds of torches blazed, a magnificent altar made of white marble revealed itself.

“You have passed my test.”

“…”

“Now ascend the altar and prove your qualifications to the great ones.”

The final stage to be recognized as a Sword Master.

Ascending the altar of the Holy Sanctum to forge a 「Sacred Covenant」 with the Elders.

I began to move my steps to perform that final ritual.

─What on earth just happened?

─Was there an exchange of attacks and defenses so fast we couldn’t notice?

─That can’t be possible…

─Surely neither of them moved even a finger…?

Murmur murmur-.

Unrest arose among the council members.

With each step I took toward The Conclave, their suspicious voices reached me through the mist.

But I paid no attention at all.

I knew that the moment I forged the 「Sacred Covenant」 up there, all doubts would turn to certainty.

─Wait a minute!

“…?”

That was when it happened.

Someone beyond the mist began shouting loudly.

Though I couldn’t see their features clearly, I could identify them just from their voice and silhouette.

The level window floating above their head gave me further confirmation.

【Lv. 69】

─I! Sedric von Haibrunn cannot accept this situation!

Sedric von Haibrunn.

One of the holy knights protecting the Holy City.

Among Roel’s players, he was much more famous for his nickname ‘Middletemple’s Troublemaker.’

‘…He’s one of Roel’s representative unlikeable NPCs.’

Setting aside his frustrating personality, he was someone who had risen to a high position through his family’s political influence rather than actual skill.

─The content of the test must be acceptable to all council members! However, this test ended without even swinging a sword once!

“…”

─Such an absurd test that simply ended with staring at each other! How can we possibly recognize this person as a Sword Master like this!

As Cedric finished speaking, commotion began to grow from various places.

The silhouettes of some council members nodded as if his words were correct.

In contrast, those with high levels only glared at Cedric as if he were pathetic.

“Haah…”

Naturally, Heukgol belonged to the latter group.

“Hey.”

Heukgol spoke in a coldly subdued voice.

“Blame your own level, you idiot. Stop making such a noisy racket.”

─What, what…!

“Look around you. Don’t you see that the ones stronger than you are staying quiet?”

Whoosh-.

I could see Cedric’s silhouette looking around with a flustered expression.

As I mentioned before, the other skilled fighters in the Holy Sanctum were all keeping their mouths firmly shut.

“If you were stronger, you definitely would have felt something just now.”

─…

“But while others were training hard, you were probably just sucking up to the higher-ups. That’s why you couldn’t feel anything in the previous situation. Am I wrong?”

Upon hearing those words, Cedric seemed genuinely hurt in his pride.

He shot up from his seat and began shouting at Heukgol.

─Even so, this is an important ceremony! We cannot allow a test that determines a seeker’s qualifications to end so anticlimactically…!

It happened in the blink of an eye.

The zweihander that had been stuck in the ground was instantly gripped in Heukgol’s hand.

Whooom─!

Along with a dark red flash, Cedric’s silhouette was split in half.

The unbearable shouting was cut off in that very moment.

─…

─…

─…

Thud-!

The Holy Sanctum immediately fell silent. Not even a scream could be heard.

The sound of a corpse hitting the floor.

And only the splashing sounds of gushing blood pouring out like a fountain could be heard.

“Seriously, damn it.”

The massive sword let out an eerie cry.

As smoke rose from the white-hot metal, Heukgol shouldered the two-handed sword.

Sigh-.

He let out a deep breath and shook his head with an extremely annoyed voice.

“Just like those narrow-minded religious fanatics, making such a fuss. Huh?”

This was Heukgol’s true nature.

He usually seemed cheerful, but when what he’d been suppressing exploded, he would blow up without thinking of the consequences.

If you underestimate him based on his usual carefree attitude, you’ll end up thoroughly beaten like that fool just now.

“You can’t bear to see an important ceremony end in vain?”

─….

“Well, I can’t stand watching a bastard like you act up. Got it?”

Murder had occurred within the holy sanctum.

But no one could question Heukgol’s crime.

He was an agent carrying out the will of the great ones, an existence with higher authority than anyone else present.

Moreover, Heukgol had a legitimate reason to cover up this impulsive crime.

“Now, everyone listen carefully. I’ll only explain this once.”

Heukgol spoke in a mocking voice.

“That friend there has passed through all the legitimate procedures set by the Middle Temple. He perfectly completed the trial given by the Sword Master.”

─….

“I personally verified his qualifications. So what more do you want?”

─….

“Raising objections here means denying the will of the Elders! Got it? That’s complete blasphemy, blasphemy! It’s grounds for immediate execution like that guy earlier!”

Heukgol looked around at everyone.

“So, any bastard who has complaints about my testing method, raise your hand.”

─….

“I’ll kindly explain until you all understand. Hmm?”

The last words sounded light enough to be taken as a joke, but Heukgol’s eyes gleamed ominously.

No one dared raise their hand at the sincere warning from the Sword Master.

“Good, no complaints then?”

After taking one last look around at the council members, Heukgol turned to me and urged.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and go finish the final stage.”

“….”

“I don’t want to stay in this damn sanctum any longer either.”

Thud-.

Saying that, Heukgol carelessly sat down on the bare floor of the sanctum.

I silently began walking toward the altar.

To forge a sacred covenant with the Elders.

And toward the end of my ‘true purpose’ for visiting this Holy City.

* * *

The Sacred Covenant.

This was a contract forged between the ancient god Elder and Sword Masters.

This contract was a form of binding that both recognized one’s qualifications as a seeker while restricting power under specific conditions.

There were user speculations that it was modeled after the Geas setting from Norse mythology.

‘It’s a means to keep Sword Masters in check.’

A device to limit the overwhelming power possessed by Sword Masters.

While the principle wasn’t much different from prohibitions, the content itself was far more powerful and strict.

For example, in Heukgol’s case, he had to entrust his Life Vessel to another’s hands. This was to ensure he could meet death at another’s hands at any time.

That’s why he showed such ‘relatively’ cooperative behavior.

‘Though it’s funny that killing someone outright in a sanctum counts as being well-behaved by his standards…’

Anyway.

Lost in thought, I walked toward the altar.

The white marble altar where torches blazed. In this place imbued with thousands of years of history, many Sword Masters had forged covenants with the Elders.

Through the hazy mist, countless gazes turned toward me.

Some with reverence, some with suspicion, and others with hostility.

“….”

There were various types of covenants.

Some gave up their sight, or refrained from using one arm in battles between Sword Masters, or avoided using specific sword techniques.

There were even extreme covenants that limited breathing frequency and heartbeat.

Usually, such restrictions were sufficient.

“But….”

I stepped onto the altar.

“Existing restrictions cannot stop me.”

As soon as my words ended, a voice echoed from the heavens above.

“It is truth.”

The Saintess.

It was her voice from somewhere in the Undercroft of the Middle Temple.

An existence that represented the oracles and will of the sacred ones.

The moment she acknowledged my words as ‘truth,’ the interior of the sanctum began stirring again.

─It’s the Saintess’s voice.

─Restrictions don’t work? Just how powerful must he be…

─He only looks like an ordinary mercenary on the outside?

Ordinary prohibitions cannot stop me.

The reason was the existence of the skill called 【Soul of the Sword Master】.

No matter how powerful the restrictions, the moment I use this skill, no shackles have any meaning.

For 0.01 seconds. During that brief moment, I become an omnipotent being capable of destroying any bonds.

Therefore….

“I need much stronger restrictions.”

As soon as my words ended, the Saintess’s voice echoed through the sanctum again.

“Then reveal the restriction you have in mind.”

The heavier the restriction, the greater the power that follows.

This was the basic principle of both 「Sacred Covenants」 and 「Prohibitions」.

I would place upon myself a restriction that no one else could bear.

And this was also a great undertaking that only I could accomplish.

“I, Gaon, swear.”

Hadn’t I said it before?

Though I couldn’t reveal any justification as a seeker, or even any mission during this trial process…

It was still fine.

The moment I forge this covenant, all doubts would inevitably turn to certainty.

“I swear that all my future actions will follow this premise.”

A world where the blessings of the great ones are fading.

A world where the domain of evil gods grows ever wider.

A world where humanity slowly marches toward destruction.

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

Lost Elder.

In that desperate world, a promise that would inevitably receive everyone’s support.

And a covenant that would justify all my future actions.

“I will….”

A great achievement that no other Sword Master could dare accomplish.

The goal I set from the moment I possessed this world.

Without fail.

A destiny that must be fulfilled.

“…I will save this world from its end.”

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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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