Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 62

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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 62

Episode 62. Secret Contact (3)

* * *

Let me say one thing seriously.

Long live the level window.

Even though it might seem trivial, it’s helped me quite a lot.

In Dungarrd, the Dark City, it helped me notice Adelia’s tail, and even in Labyrinth Village where visibility was poor, it detected monster attacks in advance.

‘But…’

I looked at the level window that appeared before my eyes once again.

‘…I never expected it to even see through “Tristan’s Cloak”?’

【Lv. 71】

At first, I thought Isaac Beriloff was using stealth magic.

After all, stealth magic was his specialty.

But looking at it now, that wasn’t the case.

“…?”

Adelia was still looking around with a confused expression.

She was looking in completely the wrong direction, not where the level window was floating.

‘If he had used stealth magic, Adelia would have noticed.’

Adelia’s talent for detecting mana was at a considerable level.

In a bustling place like the marketplace it might be different, but in a quiet back alley like this, she would have immediately noticed stealth magic.

But if it’s stealth that even Adelia can’t detect at all?

‘It can only be the Shadow Sect’s sacred relic, “Tristan’s Cloak”.’

Tristan’s Cloak.

A fraudulent sacred relic that’s almost impossible to detect in this world.

It had many restrictions, but its pure stealth ability was definitely the best.

Ah, of course.

My game system easily pierced through even that top-tier stealth.

‘But…’

Suddenly, a question arose.

‘…Even if it’s a system, isn’t this a bit excessive?’

Even when playing the game, the convenience wasn’t this outstanding.

Enemy levels were only displayed during combat.

Especially for enemies with large level differences or those in stealth, the system window wouldn’t appear at all.

But after I possessed into the game, everything changed.

‘The system became much more convenient.’

Until now, I hadn’t thought much of it.

I assumed the game rules naturally adapted to reality.

However, seeing the system detect “Tristan’s Cloak” made me belatedly feel something was off.

Doesn’t this seem like someone deliberately improved the game system?

“…?”

Swoosh-.

That was the exact moment.

The level window that had been standing still in one place began to move sideways little by little.

I followed that subtle movement with my gaze.

“…”

Stop-.

The level window stopped moving.

And this time it began moving in the opposite direction, bobbing back and forth.

‘…Are you playing around right now?’

Are you actually testing whether I can really see through it?

I almost burst out laughing. Now even that struggle looked cute.

“This is your last warning, Isaac Beriloff.”

Barely suppressing my chuckle, I grabbed the handle of my feather sword.

Flinch-.

Was I imagining it? I could feel Isaac Beriloff becoming terrified.

Though nothing was visible, I could imagine him trembling.

“That thing you people worship as a sacred relic is nothing more than a toy before me.”

“…!”

Of course, it was a complete lie.

The only reason I could know his identity was thanks to the system.

But there was no need to reveal that fact.

Rather, it would be beneficial to make him think I detected him with some special ability.

“So stop this now and reveal yourself. Before I cut you down along with that cloak.”

Grip-.

I squeezed the handle tightly as if I would draw my sword immediately.

A quiet silence flowed.

Just as Adelia began looking back and forth between the air and me with a confused expression.

“…!”

Swoosh-.

Isaac Beriloff began slowly removing his cloak.

“Unbelievable.”

On his face, trying hard to maintain a calm expression, was bewilderment he couldn’t hide.

“…How did you see through our sacred relic?”

* * *

Isaac Beriloff’s hands were trembling slightly.

Though he was trying to act calm, his body wouldn’t listen.

‘…This is impossible.’

It was none other than “Tristan’s Cloak”.

A sacred relic imbued with the power of The Great Ones. A divine artifact gifted by the Elders for humanity.

To detect this item required abilities rivaling the gods.

‘But…’

Watching Gaon treat the Shadow Sect’s highest sacred relic like a toy, Isaac couldn’t help but feel instinctive fear.

“Lord Gaon.”

Then, Adelia spoke up. Her eyes looking at Isaac were full of wariness.

“Who exactly is that person?”

“Isaac Beriloff. An assistant at Wintershield Magic Academy.”

Gaon answered simply.

“He’s also the client for the Tolong subjugation quest. We met briefly a few days ago in Hakun Durdamel’s office.”

Hearing this, Adelia made a puzzled expression.

“A magic academy assistant? Why would such a person be tailing us…?”

“Well.”

Swoosh-.

Instead of giving an answer, Gaon stared intently at Isaac.

It was an expression as if he too wanted to ask the same thing.

Seeing this, Isaac’s mind began spinning rapidly.

‘Wh-what should I answer…?’

Isaac Beriloff had a total of three identities.

Magic Academy Assistant at Wintershield Magic Academy.

A spy for the Ruin Guild.

And a member of the Shadow Sanctuary.

Gaon was one of the few people who knew all of those identities.

Yet he had deliberately introduced himself to Adelia as an assistant at Wintershield Magic Academy…

‘…Gaon wants me to answer that question as a Magic Academy assistant.’

That made sense.

After all, that woman next to Gaon was a member of the Noble Families.

The Ruin Guild and Shadow Sanctuary.

Both of these were forces hostile to Middle Temple.

There was no need to unnecessarily bring up those backgrounds and raise Adelia’s suspicions.

Having reached that conclusion, Isaac began making excuses.

“I apologize.”

Bowing deeply, he continued in the most respectful voice possible.

“The truth is, the professors at Wintershield Magic Academy ordered me to follow you.”

“…The Magic Academy professors?”

“Yes.”

Though Adelia asked back with a suspicious expression, Isaac calmly continued his explanation without panic.

“A skilled individual who defeated Tolong after three years appeared, but we were concerned about the somewhat unclear identity. The credentials granted through Durdamel Merchant Guild were less than a month old.”

“Ah…”

“As I mentioned to Lord Gaon before, my professor’s research on ‘Labyrinth Village specialty cultivation’ is in its final stages.”

“…”

“So the Magic Academy determined it necessary to learn more about you two who solved the request before beginning joint research.”

Adelia’s expression gradually softened. She seemed to understand the situation.

‘Good.’

Isaac breathed a sigh of relief.

Of course, this excuse wouldn’t work on Gaon…

But at least he could fool Adelia.

Gaon also seemed to want that in the current situation.

‘Even I think that was an excellent and clever excuse.’

With that thought, Isaac continued in a much more relaxed voice.

“Whatever the reason, conducting background checks like this was truly rude behavior.”

“…”

“I sincerely apologize for my discourtesy…”

“You’re lying.”

Thud-.

Gaon cut off his words with a cold voice.

Hearing this, Adelia blinked her eyes.

“…It was a lie?”

Isaac couldn’t help but be extremely flustered.

What?

Hadn’t he introduced him as a Magic Academy assistant earlier?

What kind of answer did Gaon want him to give?

“Just tell the truth.”

“Th-that’s…”

Isaac glanced nervously at Adelia.

Tell the truth?

What would that Noble Family member do then?

‘The moment I say I received orders from the Crimson Empress, she’ll definitely treat me as a heretic and try to kill me…’

Gulp-.

Adelia looked incredibly strong.

Judging by the aura she gave off, she might even be stronger than Gaon.

If she came at him with deadly intent, he had no confidence in surviving.

‘Wh-what should I do…?’

It was truly a dilemma.

Just as Isaac was stuck, unable to move forward or back, continuing to rack his brain.

“Wait a moment.”

Right then, Adelia made an expression as if something had occurred to her. Her eyes narrowed.

“Come to think of it… didn’t Lord Gaon mention ‘sacred relic’ earlier?”

Flinch-.

Isaac’s body involuntarily trembled.

Just before, the words Gaon had casually uttered to threaten him.

─That thing you people worship as a sacred relic is nothing but a toy before me.

Adelia tilted her head.

“As far as I know, there are only three forces that possess sacred relics?”

Middle Temple.

Ruin Guild.

And Shadow Sanctuary.

“…”

“…”

A cold silence flowed.

Adelia’s eyes began glaring fiercely at Isaac Beriloff.

Her expression seemed to be asking:

I’ve never seen someone like you in Middle Temple?

Ah, I see.

Then you must belong to either the Ruin Guild or Shadow Sanctuary?

Shing-!

“Die, heretic.”

Having made her judgment, Adelia immediately charged toward Isaac.

* * *

“Kuh, kuhaaaaak…!”

Isaac Beriloff screamed and staggered backward.

Though he quickly began casting defensive magic, Adelia’s speed was much faster.

Kwaaaaang-!

A fierce wind swept through. Adelia stopped right in front of Isaac’s nose.

Drip-.

A thin drop of blood formed on his neck.

If Adelia had moved just one more step, Isaac would have died instantly.

“Ah, ahhh…”

Thud-.

Isaac collapsed to the ground.

He prostrated himself and began begging for his life.

“P-please spare me. I was wrong. Please…”

That’s right.

Isaac Beriloff.

The guy was an incredible coward.

You might wonder how such a scaredy-cat could be operating as a multiple-identity spy…

‘…It was because he was a coward that he had no choice but to become like that.’

Originally, Isaac Beriloff was just an ordinary Magic Academy assistant.

He only wanted to live quietly in a corner of the laboratory doing research. He had absolutely no desire to get entangled with massive forces like the Shadow Sanctuary or Ruin Guild.

But fate never flows as one wishes.

From the moment he accidentally learned the Ruin Guild’s secrets, his life began to spiral out of control.

To avoid death, he volunteered to be the Magic Academy’s informant, and while continuing espionage activities for the Ruin Guild, he somehow got entangled with the Shadow Sanctuary as well.

In the end, unable to make a decision and wavering back and forth, Isaac’s life became hopelessly tangled.

That’s how he had continued his precarious tightrope walk as a spy for each faction until now, barely managing to preserve his life.

What a tragic life it was.

All of this happened because Isaac was both a coward and uselessly competent.

Well, in that sense…

“If you want to live, follow me.”

“…What?”

Coward Isaac would absolutely not be able to refuse my proposal right now.

“Because there’s something you need to do.”

As it happened, I needed a mage too.

* * *

“Your Empress.”

In the dark underground where purple patterns emitted a faint light, a robed member knelt before the jade throne.

“We’ve received contact from Brother Beriloff.”

A smile crossed the lips of the woman sitting on the jade throne. Her expression seemed to anticipate information about the new Sword Master.

“As expected of Beriloff. It seems our competent and loyal member has already brought good news.”

The Crimson Empress asked with a wicked smile.

“So, what did our Beriloff say?”

“Ah, well…”

The member who had been hesitating for a moment gave an unexpected answer.

“He says he was caught by the Sword Master while tailing him.”

“…?”

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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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