Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 53

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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 53

Episode 53. Sacred Covenant (3)

* * *

Adelia looked around with a worried expression.

‘Wh-what should I do…?’

The meeting hall was filled with heated arguments.

As soon as Arwen left his seat, the atmosphere grew increasingly worse.

The opposition members raised their voices, questioning The Protagonist’s qualifications.

“We cannot end it like this! Additional verification and restrictions are necessary!”

“Does it even make sense to recognize a Sword Master in just one day? Huh?”

The grounds presented by the opposition were as follows.

First, some of Gaon’s answers during the sacred trial were too inadequate.

Hadn’t he answered that the Elder chose him for his ‘unparalleled swordsmanship talent’?

His answer was far too different in nature compared to the responses other Sword Masters had given before.

“Why are you raising objections about that now? People who couldn’t even make a peep when Heukgol was here…”

“Ah, right! Since we’re talking about Heukgol!”

Second, the test given by the Black Bone Swordmaster was far too sloppy.

It was a strange test that ended with them just glaring at each other without even crossing swords.

“Council members, I will explain that.”

Sikan Bauer, who had been listening to that claim, cautiously interjected.

“The Protagonist and Heukgol, these two Sword Masters have already reached the ultimate realm. Therefore, they have reached a level where they can know the outcome of battle through mental imagery alone…”

“Baron Bauer, be quiet! Can’t you see we council members are talking right now!”

“…”

And third.

The most critical issue was the ambiguity of the sacred covenant Gaon made with the Elder.

The covenant to save the world was too abstract, meaning there were no practical means to restrain Gaon.

“This is dangerous as it stands. Isn’t it clearly problematic that there are no methods to regulate the seeker’s power?”

Clench-.

Every time rebuttals poured out, Adelia bit the inside of her lips tightly.

She couldn’t understand why they opposed so vehemently.

‘No regulations? What’s wrong with that…?’

After all, the premise of all actions would be to save the world, so why would such things be necessary?

The Protagonist was certainly a true seeker.

Adelia had witnessed his skill and nobility with her own eyes.

But in this situation where these stubborn opposition members had their ears completely blocked, she was at a loss for how to persuade them.

“Hey, what are you doing right now?”

…But this frustrating situation was reversed in an instant.

“Who were the opposition members?”

“…”

“Raise your hands. I can’t remember.”

Arwen von Goldhart.

The chief Paladin of Middle Temple and the eldest son of the Goldhart Family.

He had gone out briefly for some fresh air, and upon returning, he suddenly declared he would cut down the opposition members.

* * *

‘Wh-what is this…?’

Adelia couldn’t hide her bewilderment.

As soon as her brother returned to the meeting hall, the tense meeting instantly fell apart.

Moreover, the method he used to end the meeting was absolutely astounding.

─From now on, those who refuse to accept the results of the sacred trial will be treated as heretics.

The opposition has many complaints?

So what? The great ones said it was fine, didn’t they?

From now on, anyone who argues against my words will be treated as heretics who committed blasphemy, got it?

…Thus, Arwen cornered the opposition camp with uncharacteristically radical logic.

And he did so while adding the terrifying threat of murder.

─Arwen von Goldhart! How dare you try to brush off such an important matter so carelessly…!

─Sophistry, council member? This isn’t my opinion, but the will of the great ones.

─…

─The sword seeker and the great Elder have already made their covenant, so why should we have anything to say about it?

No council member could make a proper rebuttal to Arwen’s words.

Eventually, the meeting ended just like that.

Everyone acknowledged that there had been no problems with this sacred trial.

“…”

After the meeting ended.

Adelia returned to the Goldhart Family Estate.

Arwen let out a deep sigh and sat in a chair on the balcony.

Then he looked at Adelia and gave a bitter smile.

“Adelia.”

“…Yes, yes?”

“Even so, how could you just leave behind a single note and disappear? Do you know how worried I was?”

“Ah…”

Adelia hung her head low.

There was no room for excuses.

“…I’m sorry.”

Arwen, who had been quietly watching her, burst into a chuckle.

Shaking his head, he put a cigarette from his pocket into his mouth.

“Still, you came back quickly. In your note, you wrote as if you wouldn’t return for several years.”

“That was…”

“It’s because of The Protagonist, right? You were worried whether he could be recognized as a sword seeker by the Council.”

“…Yes.”

Adelia nodded weakly.

As her brother said, she had followed because she was worried about The Protagonist’s safety.

If it weren’t for him, she definitely wouldn’t have returned to Middle Temple for several years.

“But brother.”

“Yeah.”

“Is it really okay to end the meeting like this?”

Not only did he accuse the opposition of blasphemy, but he even added murder threats to end the meeting.

Of course, it was true that the opposition members had been frustratingly stubborn, but Arwen’s response was far too extreme.

With Adelia’s common sense, she simply couldn’t understand her brother.

Indeed, Arwen usually resolved conflicts with others as rationally and gracefully as possible.

“I-if we end the meeting like this, the Council’s backlash won’t be insignificant either…”

“Hmm.”

Arwen, who had exhaled cigarette smoke, wore a contemplative expression for a moment.

Soon after, he turned to look at Adelia and began his explanation.

“Little sister.”

“…?”

“The real purpose of this meeting wasn’t targeting Gaon, but you.”

“…What?”

While Adelia was flustered, Arwen continued speaking.

“The opposition just wanted to drag out ‘this situation’ as long as possible. Since they can’t invalidate a sacred covenant that’s already been recognized by the Elders, they tried to at least postpone Gaon becoming a Sword Master.”

“…Postpone it? Why?”

“Well, you left the family without a word. During that time, the traditionalists have been trying to use this as an excuse to excommunicate you from the family.”

In an instant, Adelia’s face turned pale.

The Goldhart family wasn’t the only Noble Family.

Even now, various families were constantly fighting over each other’s influence.

Whenever one family’s position wavered, the remaining families would desperately try to increase their own power by taking advantage of that gap.

While maintaining dignity on the surface, fierce political battles were being waged beneath the water.

“However, if the fact that you’ve become a Sword Master’s disciple is officially recognized, their plans would come to nothing. Having a member of the Noble Families receive teachings from a seeker of the sword would actually be an honor.”

“….”

“So they wanted to delay the official procedure of accepting Gaon as a seeker of the sword as much as possible. In order to hurriedly excommunicate you in the meantime.”

“Ah….”

Adelia unconsciously let out a sigh.

Only then did the entire situation begin to make sense.

Why the opposition had denied The Protagonist for such ridiculous reasons.

Why her brother had tried to end the situation even by employing extreme methods.

“….”

Adelia reflected on the situation from a few hours ago.

When she thought about it carefully, the council members who had maintained opposing opinions in the meeting hall were all from houses that didn’t get along well with the Goldhart Family.

And the supporters were all forces backing the Goldhart Family.

“This is what politics is, little sister.”

Arwen gave a bitter smile.

“Those fine gentlemen aren’t acting frustratingly because they’re stupid. Rather, they’re cunning. They wouldn’t hesitate to act like fools if it means securing their own interests.”

Adelia pressed her lips tightly together.

This was why she despised this place, Middletemple, the Holy City, so terribly.

Even though the world was in great crisis, these people turned away from the problems before them and were desperate to secure profits.

It was also the reason she had broken out of her cage to see the wider world.

She wanted to increase her influence by breaking down the walls blocking her path and overturn this rotten system.

She wanted to travel around this vast world and find even one person who shared her aspirations.

‘And….’

Like a miracle sent from heaven, Adelia had been able to meet a true seeker.

A being who truly wanted to save this world.

A person who would stake everything to prove that faith.

“Don’t worry.”

Arwen spoke up.

“The Protagonist will be recognized as a Sword Master by everyone.”

“….”

“Frankly speaking, who would deny a seeker who swears to save the world? Right?”

After thinking for a moment, Adelia nodded.

“…That’s true.”

Hearing her brother’s words put her mind at ease.

“By the way, where is our youngest?”

At Adelia’s question, Arwen scratched his cheek and answered.

“He’s a bit busy right now.”

“…?”

“Tomorrow at dawn, he’s scheduled to visit The Saint’s Domain with The Protagonist.”

* * *

After Adelia returned to her bedroom.

Arwen, left alone on the terrace, stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray and fell into thought.

Suddenly, he recalled the conversation he’d had with Gaon a few hours ago.

“Haha….”

Arwen let out a hollow laugh and unconsciously shook his head.

The reason he had sought out Gaon during the meeting was nothing else.

‘I needed a definitive answer.’

Right.

He wanted to hear Gaon’s definitive answer that he would accept Adelia as his disciple.

Only then would he have grounds to aggressively push back against the opposing side’s arguments.

But….

─So don’t worry about useless things, and hurry up and go finish the meeting.

‘…How did that person see through my intentions at once?’

Gaon had perfectly read his inner thoughts with just one meeting.

The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.

The chilling insight hidden behind his expressionless face was astonishing.

Just how much of this situation had Gaon seen through?

Could he have already grasped all of Middletemple’s complex political structure?

‘He’s certainly different.’

He could understand why Adelia and Sikan Bauer trusted Gaon so much.

‘If it’s a Sword Master like this….’

Cigarette smoke drifted up faintly.

‘…He might really be able to change this world.’

* * *

Knock knock-.

The knocking sound from outside the door woke me from sleep.

The clock was already pointing to 4 AM.

Confirming this, I got up from bed and straightened my clothes.

‘…The meeting must have ended well.’

The fact that the meeting with the Saintess was proceeding as scheduled meant that I had been recognized as a Sword Master in the meeting as well.

It seemed Arwen had played his role well. If the opposing opinions had been dominant, the meeting with the Saintess itself would have been canceled.

Creeeeak─.

When I opened the door, there was a young boy standing in front of it.

Was he just entering his early teens? He was a cute boy who looked exactly like Arwen.

The boy, holding a lantern in one hand, politely greeted me.

“Hello, Protagonist.”

“….”

“I’m Novice Priest Amond von Goldhart.”

Almond.

That was the name of that stoic boy.

A name given because a white almond tree appeared in his mother’s prophetic dream.

Almond, the youngest son of the Goldhart Family, was a genius with tremendous potential as a healer.

Moreover, he was one of the few beings in Middletemple who possessed the “authority” to enter the Order of the Holy Maiden.

“I will safely escort you to the Order of the Holy Maiden.”

“…Right.”

I followed behind Almond, moving my steps.

Almond listed the precautions for the Order of the Holy Maiden in a somewhat blunt voice.

Conversation time must not exceed 6 minutes, one must not try to see the face beyond the veil, and so on.

I listened to the rules while descending the long corridors and stairs.

Though I had already memorized all this content while playing the game, I still focused on Almond’s explanation just in case.

“Oh, and you absolutely must not try to fight the Saintess.”

“…”

“According to records, in the past one Protagonist suddenly challenged the Saintess to see how strong she was… and something quite ‘terrible’ happened.”

For reference, the culprit who committed that insane act was the Tyrant Dragon.

That guy rushed at the Saintess as soon as he saw her, and the Saintess met a terrible death without being able to resist at all.

The Saintess’s shell was just an ordinary person to begin with. It meant she had no particular abilities other than conveying the will of the gods.

“You don’t need to worry about such pointless things. I have absolutely no intention of fighting the Saintess.”

“Yes.”

We descended deeper and deeper.

The corridor that had been made of pure white marble gradually transformed to look like a cave.

Wherever the lantern light shone, the wall surfaces glimmered faintly.

“Take this with you.”

Soon we arrived at the entrance to the Underground Shrine, and Almond handed me an hourglass.

“Please remember. 6 minutes. You must come out before all the sand runs out.”

“…Right.”

Almond stopped in place, holding the lantern.

“Then I’ll wait here.”

After receiving the hourglass from Almond, I moved my steps alone toward the deeper depths.

Thud, thud-.

The sound of footsteps echoing through the cave.

A gentle blue light leaked out from within the darkness.

As I walked deeper and deeper into the shrine, the patterns carved into the walls began to glow one by one.

“Hello.”

Before long, the Saintess’s voice reached my ears.

I saw a girl whose face was covered with a pure white veil.

She greeted me while wearing a faint smile.

“This is the first time seeing you in person, possessor.”

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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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