Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 65

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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 65

Episode 65. Haewolsumo (3)

* * *

“I cannot accept this.”

Inside an office bathed in sunlight.

One of the investigators strongly protested to Sikan Bauer.

He was a newcomer who had recently been appointed as an official investigator of the Middle Temple.

“It makes no sense to hastily conclude the Forest of the Heavenly Sea investigation like this. Strange phenomena definitely occurred there.”

Swoosh-.

Sikan Bauer, who had been sitting at his desk, silently raised his head. In his hands was an investigation report containing the details of the incident.

This ‘Forest of the Heavenly Sea Emergency Investigation’ had been concluded based solely on Jark von Haibrunn’s unilateral claims.

Unable to accept that decision, the newcomer had come to the director’s office without hesitation.

“Sigh.”

Sikan Bauer let out a sigh. Placing the investigation report on his desk, he spoke in a low voice.

“Your name was Matheus, wasn’t it? You’re also the member who first reported this anomaly.”

“Yes.”

“According to this investigation report… you requested emergency support from headquarters. Claiming that there was a high possibility that the ‘Five Nightmares’ had appeared in the Forest of the Heavenly Sea.”

“That’s correct.”

Matheus answered with a deliberately calm demeanor.

However, Sikan Bauer didn’t miss the subtle tremor in his voice.

For a mere member to directly confront the investigation director. This seemingly rude behavior certainly required considerable courage at its foundation.

Sikan Bauer knew this fact better than anyone. He too had once been an ambitious newcomer.

Therefore, Sikan Bauer chose to admonish rather than defend his subordinate.

“I understand your feelings, but there’s no need to worry. Lord Jark von Haibrunn personally investigated the Forest of the Heavenly Sea.”

“L-Lord Haibrunn…?”

“That’s right. According to the investigation results, there were no problems whatsoever. He said that not only were there no Five Nightmares, but no anomalies were discovered either.”

Bewilderment crossed the newcomer’s face.

“That can’t be! What I witnessed directly in the Forest of the Heavenly Sea was…!”

“Matheus.”

Stop-.

Sikan Bauer firmly cut him off.

Sensing that his tone had become much sharper, Matheus shut his mouth tightly and took a step back.

“Because of your hasty judgment, Lord Haibrunn had to leave the Holy City before the important Holy Judgment proceedings.”

“…”

“In the meantime, a new seeker was born, and friction arose between the Reformist and Traditionalist factions.”

“…”

“However, since the head of the Traditionalist faction was absent, things were somewhat left unresolved… but now our Investigation Team, which should maintain political neutrality, is suspected of colluding with the Reformist faction.”

Of course, the last statement was somewhat exaggerated. The council member making such conspiracy claims was dismissed as a nonsense-spouter even within the Traditionalist faction.

“Surely you don’t intend to make this matter even bigger?”

“Th-that’s…”

But these words were sufficient to break the newcomer’s spirit.

Sikan Bauer deliberately created an atmosphere as if things had spiraled out of control, and from the newcomer’s perspective, the situation seemed even more serious.

“…”

Sure enough, the deflated Matheus could no longer show his earlier boldness. The suppressed agitation was clearly spreading through him.

“I suppose that’s all you have to say.”

“…”

“Then you may leave now.”

After hesitating for a long while, Matheus bowed his head deeply and left the room.

“I apologize for causing trouble in many ways, Director.”

Creak, thud-.

With the sound of the door closing, the director’s office was once again enveloped in silence.

Sikan Bauer, who had been staring intently at the firmly closed door, let out a chuckle. He shook his head from side to side.

‘Really, these newcomers are quite bold these days.’

However, the smile lingering on his lips soon hardened.

Because Sikan Bauer also thought the newcomer’s claims weren’t wrong.

‘I share the same thoughts as you, Matheus. But…’

─Lord Gaon will personally head to the Forest of the Heavenly Sea.

‘…there’s no need to worry too much.’

The story he had heard from Arwen von Goldhart several days ago.

That’s right.

That Sword Master was already preparing for everything, as always.

* * *

The Five Nightmares.

Evil deity worshippers who gained immortality by making contracts with Evil Gods.

They were essentially the antithesis of Sword Masters.

While both sides were similar in representing divine will, one protected the world while the other drove it toward destruction.

‘Anyway.’

The reason I suddenly brought up this topic was simple.

The Forest of the Heavenly Sea.

The culprit who corrupted this mystical sanctuary was one of the Five Nightmares.

“…”

Rustle-.

Deep in the forest shrouded in thick fog.

I cautiously moved forward while wearing Tristan’s cloak.

The deeper the forest became, the thicker the dark red aura grew.

The habitat of Haewolsumo, which had once been clear and transparent, was now dyed in an eerie blood-red color.

‘Damn it.’

I cursed inwardly while slowly looking around.

‘This is more chilling than when I saw it on the monitor.’

The ancient trees were twisted in all directions as if writhing in pain.

Thump- thump-.

The roots exposed above ground pulsated like blood vessels.

Kraaaaaaah-!

Just then, a hideous roar echoed from far away.

It was from the direction where Adelia and Isaac Beriloff were engaged in battle.

Was it drawn by that sound? Something moved stealthily in the dark corners.

Soon, bizarre creatures that would only be found in the lightless depths of the deep sea began crawling out.

‘Ugh…’

As befitting a dark fantasy game, each one had an equally grotesque appearance.

Multi-headed eels, and deep-sea fish with transparent flesh revealing their organs underneath.

Of course, those creatures weren’t born looking so hideous from the beginning.

They had simply been twisted by the influence as Haewolsumo became corrupted.

Rustle-.

The monsters passed by without recognizing my presence.

It was only natural. There was no way such trivial mobs could see through an item that was practically a holy relic.

‘But….’

Even Tristan’s cloak, which seemed so overpowered, wasn’t always omnipotent.

Especially in situations like ‘now’, even more so.

Ding-!

〔Item: ‘Tristan’s Cloak’ stealth effect has been dispelled.〕

“….”

Along with the notification window that appeared before my eyes, the cloak lost its effectiveness.

The holy relic that had been concealing my presence until now had been reduced to an ordinary coat.

‘I must be getting close to that domain now.’

Rustle-.

I took off the now-useless cloak and placed it on the forest floor.

The moment I took a few more steps forward, an open lake spread out before my eyes.

“….”

The trees surrounding the lake had transformed so grotesquely that they could no longer be called trees.

Their bark writhed like melted skin, and the tree trunks were covered with talismans inscribed with bizarre characters.

Splash-.

As I carefully stepped forward, the sound of water came from beneath my feet.

The water surface was as calm as a mirror.

Though both feet touched the water, my body didn’t sink. It was thanks to some mysterious buoyant force I felt from the surface.

The lake rippled with each step I took. Quiet waves formed along the water’s edge following my footsteps.

And….

〔You have entered the domain of an Evil God.〕

…At some point, the air changed.

Whoooooosh-!

The terrible stench of decay I had felt in the previous forest was nowhere to be found.

Rather, it was so clear and clean that I felt my lungs being purified with each breath I took.

It felt like stepping into another world, so alien and strange.

〔Some ‘authorities’ are being restricted.〕

Right.

This was the domain of an Evil God.

A distorted space where the power of the ancient deity Elder could not reach.

That was why Tristan’s cloak, imbued with divine authority, had lost its effectiveness.

…Of course, it wasn’t just holy relics that lost their power.

Ding-!

〔Authority Skill: 【Ritardando True】 has been sealed.〕

〔Authority Skill: 【Immortal Slayer】 has been sealed.〕

A feeling of weakness spread through my body.

Through the messages that appeared before my eyes, I could realize that my authority skills had been sealed.

But there was no need to worry. I had already finished preparing for this kind of situation.

〔The power dwelling in the ‘Easter Egg’ resists the ‘Evil God’s Domain’.〕

Hummm-!

The rainbow-colored egg I carried in my inner pocket began to shine brightly.

At the same time, the power that had drained away flowed back into my body.

〔Authority Skill: 【Ritardando True】 seal has been released.〕

〔Authority Skill: 【Immortal Slayer】 seal has been released.〕

‘Seriously, what an overpowered item.’

Heh-.

A faint smile escaped without me realizing it.

The small egg gifted by the Master of Life and Earth had pushed back even the Evil God’s aura with its own life force.

Thinking about it again, receiving the Easter Egg as a reward from my meeting with the Saintess was nothing short of incredible luck.

‘But still….’

I furrowed my brow deeply.

‘…This is a damn well-constructed barrier.’

Was it thanks to my heightened sensory stats?

I could feel the Evil God’s aura emanating densely from this space even more deeply.

Usually, even the most meticulously designed 「domains」 couldn’t seal a player’s authority skills.

That made sense, since authorities were blessings directly bestowed by The Great Ones.

To seal this sacred power required equivalent force.

Especially when it was complete ‘sealing’ that fully suppressed rather than temporary ‘weakening’ that merely diminished the authority.

‘…Not just anyone can create a barrier of this level.’

This was a technique that only beings who had lived for hundreds of years, and had persistently honed only this one field during all those long years, could deploy.

Well, considering the identity of the ‘creature’ that created this domain, a barrier of this level was rather expected.

“Hello.”

Pause-.

Just then, I heard the voice of the culprit behind all this.

I turned my gaze toward where the voice came from.

Just like with Camilla von Taribas, a heavily distorted level window filled with noise was the first thing that caught my eye.

【҉҈̶̸̷L҈̷̸v̴̶̵.̸҈̷̶̴ ■̸̷҉̷̵■҈҉҈̵҈】

Splash, splash-.

A woman was slowly walking toward me from the center of the lake.

Yellow talismans were plastered all over her forehead, and the crimson light visible between them glinted menacingly.

Her long black hair swayed slowly as if submerged in water, and her dark silk shaman robes seemed faded by the traces of time.

“Hehe.”

A gloomy yet eerie smile hung on her lips.

“You arrived earlier than I expected?”

“….”

“I’ve wanted to meet you for a while, but I didn’t think we’d encounter each other this quickly.”

One of the Five Nightmares, a master of necromancy and illusion arts. And the ruler who controlled the shells of the dead like puppets.

The Jiangshi Queen.

Dorico Shiro.

She grinned widely while fiddling with the talisman stuck to her forehead.

“Anyway! Nice to meet you!”

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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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