Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 99

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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 99

Episode 99. Trial Preparations (1)

* * *

Startled-.

Tyrant Dragon, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, slightly furrowed his brow.

Turning his head to the side, he could see that Pean’s Sword Master was also staring outside the dungeon with a serious expression.

Tyrant Dragon slowly rose from his seat and picked up his sword.

“Don’t tell me you also…?”

Pean nodded and answered.

“Yes. It’s a summons from Middle Temple.”

Tsk-.

Tyrant Dragon clicked his tongue low.

Grabbing the back of his neck as if annoyed, he grumbled his complaints.

“There are more than ten Sword Masters, so why do they specifically point us out?”

“Well. Perhaps it’s because we’re closest to the Holy City?”

“Haa…”

Tyrant Dragon sighed and shook his head back and forth.

“This is annoying as hell. If I knew this would happen, I should have just trained somewhere else.”

At any other time, he would have ignored Middle Temple’s summons.

Unless bound by special contracts like Heukgol, there was no ‘compulsion’ to answer the priests’ calls.

However, there was just one thing.

There was one situation where a Sword Master could never refuse a summons…

“Damn it. What kind of crazy bastard caused trouble this time?”

“Ahaha. That’s what I’m wondering too.”

…That was when another Sword Master was designated as a defendant in Sacred Inquisition.

“Well, what can we do? To subdue a Sword Master, Heretics of equal rank have no choice but to step forward directly.”

“That’s true, but…”

When Sacred Inquisition was held with a Sword Master as defendant, it was regulation for at least three Heretics to be summoned to the Holy City.

“…Still, there’s nothing we can do about it being annoying. Tsk.”

While Tyrant Dragon continued grumbling complaints to himself, Pean wore a gentle smile and chuckled.

“Don’t you think the world has been quite bustling lately?”

“What?”

“Think about it. Camillo von Taribas died, and just weeks after a new Heretic was born, Sacred Inquisition is being held again, haha.”

“…You’re laughing? Do you find this situation enjoyable?”

“It seems like good timing since things were boring. After all, neither you nor I really have anything to do, so we just hole up in dungeons and train, don’t we?”

Pean shrugged his shoulders and continued speaking.

“Well, that aside… I didn’t expect the revelation given by the Great Ones to be fulfilled this quickly.”

“Revelation?”

“I told you earlier, didn’t I? That I received a revelation that I would soon meet a very strong opponent.”

“…Ah.”

Pause-.

At that very moment, Tyrant Dragon’s eyes became drowsy.

Right.

Why had he forgotten?

The reason Pean’s Sword Master had come to this place was to train one last time before fighting a powerful enemy.

Though it was still only circumstantial evidence, Tyrant Dragon suspected that powerful enemy’s identity was Gaon.

Considering the current situation, it was also the most plausible guess.

That guy had traveled across the Continent causing waves of change. Unlike other Heretics who remained secluded in their respective domains.

At this point, there was virtually no other Sword Master who would commit acts worthy of Sacred Inquisition.

‘If that’s the case…’

Grin-.

In an instant, a spirited smile bloomed on Tyrant Dragon’s lips.

‘…We’ll meet again, Gaon.’

The irritation that had been clearly visible on his face just moments ago had vanished without a trace.

“Good. Then let’s move right away.”

“Huh? Already?”

Pean asked back with a surprised expression.

He looked like he hadn’t expected Tyrant Dragon, who had been so annoyed, to head to Middle Temple so obediently.

“Why are you in such a hurry? It’s been less than five minutes since we received the summons, so we could leave more leisurely…”

“Then you come later. I’ll go ahead first.”

“…What?”

Thud, thud-.

Tyrant Dragon’s footsteps grew more and more distant.

An attitude that showed he didn’t care at all whether the other followed or not.

Pean, who had been sitting cross-legged, burst into laughter as if absurd and slowly rose from his seat.

“Alright. Let’s go together.”

Gripping Seorineul along with its sheath, he began to move his steps lightly.

* * *

“A total of three Heretics responded to the summons.”

“…”

“Heukgol, Tyrant Dragon, and Pean’s Sword Master are said to be heading to Middle Temple.”

A conference room inside the Sacred Temple.

As soon as one priest finished speaking, silence descended upon the hall.

The senior council members sitting in their seats all had to wear dumbfounded expressions.

How much time had passed like that?

The council members who had been reading each other’s expressions began to speak one by one. The hall was instantly covered in commotion.

“That’s strange? They’re responding to the summons right away like this?”

“Just like during the last Sacred Inquisition, why have the Sword Masters suddenly become cooperative?”

“Rather, it’s more unsettling that they’re complying so obediently.”

Murmur murmur-.

Various conversations went back and forth.

The fact that Sword Masters, who acted more selfishly than anyone else, had responded to Middle Temple’s summons with unusual swiftness actually stimulated the council members’ anxiety.

Because they couldn’t gauge the intentions hidden behind their cooperative attitude.

While other council members whispered among themselves, the priest who had been quietly watching the scene finished his words.

“All three are scheduled to arrive within two days.”

“…”

“Therefore, Sacred Inquisition for Sword Master Gaon will be held three days from now in the morning, so please take note.”

End-.

With those words, the report concluded.

However, even though the meeting had ended, not a single council member left their seat.

An atmosphere where no one could easily move.

Bewilderment had been dwelling in the council members’ expressions since earlier.

“Haa…”

“So you’re saying four Sword Masters will be staying in the Holy City for the time being?”

“I’m already tired. There won’t be a single quiet day.”

Clench-.

Arwen kept his mouth tightly shut as he quietly observed the situation.

From the moment he received the official document from the butler, his mind had been boiling with confusion.

First of all, he couldn’t understand how the Sacred Inquisition came to be held.

It wasn’t enough that a Sword Master had formed an alliance with the Five Nightmares, who were called the axis of evil, but he had even been active as the leader of the Shadow Sect.

However, more shocking than any of those facts was that Gaon, who was accused of such charges, had been appointed as a Sword Disciple barely two weeks ago.

‘…What exactly are you scheming, Lord Gaon?’

He couldn’t fathom Gaon’s true intentions.

He also couldn’t understand why he had confessed to an incident that could have passed by unnoticed.

Of course, before he left Middletemple, he had given some hints about his plan… but even then, he hadn’t mentioned such ‘radical actions.’

Inhale, exhale-.

As his thoughts continued in an endless chain, Arwen took a long breath in and let it out.

He raised his head and looked across the conference room.

“…”

Jark von Haibrunn.

The old man who served as the head of the Traditionalist Faction sat quietly in his seat.

Though he appeared expressionless on the surface, Arwen immediately noticed the deep confusion hidden behind that face.

Shallow breathing, fingertips trembling slightly, and even the habitual gesture of turning his ring with his thumb.

These were evidence that Jark was consumed by anxiety.

The unpredictable actions of the Sword Master were putting even greater pressure on him as the head of the Traditionalist Faction.

─You there.

At that moment, Jark, whose eyes had met his, quietly moved his lips.

─Come outside with me for a moment.

While the council members were still in confusion and murmuring, Jark von Haibrunn silently left the conference hall.

Arwen stared at the spot where he had disappeared for a while, then quietly rose from his seat.

Whoooosh─!

“…”

The wind sweeping across the observatory on the upper floor of the spire lightly scattered Jark von Haibrunn’s hair.

With both hands resting on the railing, he silently looked down at the panoramic view of Middletemple, the Holy City.

White marble buildings sparkling in the sunlight came into view, but his gaze seemed to rest emptily somewhere beyond them.

After staring at that scene for a moment, he carefully opened his mouth.

“Did you hear anything separately from Sword Master Gaon?”

“No. Nothing.”

At Arwen’s answer, Jark unconsciously touched his right arm.

It was the very spot that had been severed by Gaon’s sword.

“So he didn’t give even you any hint…”

After pondering for a while, Jark spoke again.

“I need to meet with Gaon once before the Sacred Inquisition is held.”

Arwen said nothing. He simply gazed at the distant scenery of the Holy City.

Understanding the meaning of that silence, Jark continued speaking.

“Of course I know. Contacting the defendant before trial goes against regulations. But this isn’t simply a ‘trial.'”

“…”

“Why did Sword Master Gaon confess? Why is he trying to publicize his crimes at this point, in this manner? I simply cannot understand his choice.”

Jark looked at Arwen as he continued.

“Sword Disciples are unpredictable beings. Just look at the last Sacred Inquisition, where my nephew Cedric was killed in that unfortunate incident.”

“…”

“No one knows what kind of disaster might occur this time either. Especially in Gaon’s case… I simply cannot read his intentions. I can’t even guess what he might do.”

After pondering for a moment, Arwen nodded. He too was dying to know what Gaon was thinking.

“Let’s go. I’ll accompany you.”

* * *

Step, step-.

The sunset light seeped between the marble buildings, dyeing all of Middletemple red.

Arwen and Jark walked silently along the corridor.

Both were deep in thought. Knowing this, neither tried to break the other’s silence.

As they walked, only one thought circled in Arwen’s mind.

‘A Sword Disciple receiving a Sacred Inquisition.’

Even searching through Middletemple’s history, it was difficult to find a precedent for this. It was a major event that had happened only once in hundreds of years.

Yet Gaon had initiated the Sacred Inquisition himself. And by revealing all facts unfavorable to him without concealment.

‘It’s clearly deliberate and intentional behavior. If it’s Lord Gaon, he must be aiming for something.’

Lost in various thoughts, they were able to reach the top floor of the spire.

Despite being a defendant facing Sacred Inquisition, Gaon was staying in the guest hall rather than a dark, narrow prison.

The reason was simple. The opponent was a Sword Master. They couldn’t carelessly show disrespect to a disciple who conveyed the will of the Great Ones.

‘Of course, that’s only the surface reason.’

It was simply impossible to confine a Sword Master in an underground prison, so they had no choice but to house him in the guest hall…

“We’re saved! The two great stars are here!”

“Thank goodness!”

Pause-.

That was when it happened.

The investigators guarding the door let out sighs of relief as soon as they saw Arwen and Jark.

Even Sikan Bauer, famous for his lack of emotional expression, was sighing in relief and patting his chest.

‘What?’

Just as Arwen was confused by this completely unexpected reaction, Sikan Bauer stepped forward and spoke.

“You must have come after hearing the news. Thank goodness. I was just wondering whether I should go find you two…”

“…?”

Arwen slightly furrowed his brow.

Then he whispered quietly in a voice that others wouldn’t hear.

“News? What happened?”

“…You didn’t come here knowing everything?”

Shake, shake-.

Arwen shook his head.

Then Sikan Bauer, looking slightly flustered, explained the situation in a deliberately calm voice.

“Well…”

After pausing briefly, he finished his statement.

“Lord Tyrant Dragon and Lord Pean suddenly appeared and trespassed into the guest hall without permission.”

“…What?”

* * *

“You damn fraud!”

A loud shout echoed through the guest hall.

“Draw your sword right now! You have the strength to cause trouble all across the continent, but you don’t have the strength to fight me?”

Whooom-!

Tyrant Dragon threateningly swung Pokryeomdo while squawking loudly.

And the blind elf standing beside this guy was just grinning as if he found this situation thoroughly entertaining.

‘Ah.’

In this incredibly troublesome situation, I pressed my throbbing forehead firmly.

‘…I’m really going to lose it.’

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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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