The Failed Swordmaster - Chapter 87
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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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Chapter 87 35. Ryan Fromhart’s Dignity (2)
Kirikororokoro was diligent. Though his personality was rough and violent, he was a true demon who did everything for his master.
That’s why he worked even harder than the researchers below, repeating research and experiments without even a moment’s rest. His concentration was tremendous.
However, his subordinates kept interfering with his work.
Clank!
“Um, Lord Kirikororokoro.”
“What is it. I’m busy, so make it short.”
“The three mid-level demons we sent to eliminate the intruder haven’t reported back. They’ve probably been defeated.”
“Then just send more. Handle it yourself.”
“Yes. I’ll send ten mid-level demons.”
“Go on.”
The demon who finished reporting bowed his head and left.
Kirikororokoro clicked his tongue. They couldn’t even catch some young man. If he wasn’t so busy, he would have turned everything upside down.
But shortly after, a subordinate came to report again.
Clank!
“Um… Lord Kirikororokoro…”
“What now!”
“Well, the ten mid-level demons also failed…”
“Then send someone stronger! Get any idle high demon! Tell them I ordered it!”
“Yes. The high demon Kantusas happens to be available…”
“Fine, hurry up and go.”
“Understood.”
The subordinate finished greeting and left again.
This time too, Kirikororokoro held back his anger.
Something felt good. The research results seemed promising this time.
He didn’t want to waste this opportunity scolding his stupid subordinates. He focused his eyes to concentrate on the experiment again.
However, today wasn’t his day.
Less than five minutes after the subordinate left with his report, he appeared again.
Finally exploding, Kirikororokoro expressed volcanic rage.
“No! Why again! Why! Why! Don’t tell me you still haven’t caught him?”
“Th-that’s… correct.”
“He’s a young man! Not even 20 years old! But you still haven’t caught him? Didn’t you say Kantusas went personally?”
“That’s right. We’ve lost contact with him now…”
“Ah! Damn it! Just die!”
Whoosh-!
A beam shot from Kirikororokoro’s eyes. The subordinate making the report died without even screaming.
Even so, his anger wasn’t relieved. He shouted furiously.
“Graaaah! It’s not like a Sword Master came, so why can’t you catch him!”
He couldn’t understand it. He didn’t want to understand it.
He didn’t want his work interrupted anymore. Closing his eyes, he used magic to broadcast his words throughout Red Mountain.
– Ah, ah, can you hear me? You vermin? Excluding researchers and those on special missions. Stop all current work immediately and search for and eliminate the intruder. The intruder is a young human swordsman under 20 years old. After elimination, only one representative should come to the research lab to report. I repeat. Everyone stop what you’re doing and find and kill the intruder. Only one representative should report. That is all.
Right after the order was given, the entire mountain seemed to writhe.
The high demons under his command, feeling Kirikororokoro’s wrath, lifted their heavy bodies and rose.
Finally satisfied, he smiled comfortably.
Now it was done. Even if that brat was a Sword Expert, he couldn’t survive against over thirty high demons and hundreds of demons.
‘He’ll run around like a rat and die miserably torn apart.’
Nodding his head, Kirikororokoro drank the liquid in his cup. It was a beverage made from human essence.
Sipping this, he threw himself back into research to achieve meaningful results.
Thirty minutes passed, an hour passed, two hours passed.
Finally finishing one experiment, Kirikororokoro gasped “Whew” and stood up from his seat.
It was a success. It was effective. When he administered the newly created drug to a low-level demon, its strength increased greatly for about 20 minutes.
“Its body exploded afterward, but that’s not bad either? It can be used for suicide attacks. Good. It’ll be useful in war of attrition situations.”
He smiled contentedly.
How wonderful it would be if every day had results like today!
While thinking this and stretching, a forgotten thought suddenly crossed his mind.
‘Still no report?’
That couldn’t be right.
No, that shouldn’t be right. No matter how big the mountain was, how many demons were moving. There were over thirty high demons, yet they still hadn’t dealt with the intruder.
“What, this is really unsettling!”
He felt chills. Kirikororokoro jumped up from his seat.
Since he hated having his concentration broken, he had completely isolated the interior from the exterior, so to assess the situation, he had to go outside the research lab. He flung the door open.
Right after, a massive explosion reached his ears.
Boom boom boom boom boom boom!
Crash! Crash crash crash!
Kyaaaaaaah-! Graaaaaaah!
“…!”
It was truly pandemonium.
His subordinates’ screams were endless. Even mixed among them were the voices of subordinates he had quite favored. They were useful enough to walk with authority even in the Demon Realm.
Yet those same demons, even attacking in groups, weren’t gaining the upper hand?
‘No, it doesn’t feel like that! They’re just running away one-sidedly!’
Crack!
Kirikororokoro ground his teeth hard.
His suppressed anger exploded again. His body color changed from blue to yellow, to orange, and finally to blood red.
Thud!
Crash! Crash crash!
Stomping his feet hard, he charged toward the source of the sounds. He smashed everything blocking his path, whether trees or buildings, without care.
‘To cause such disaster before my master arrives! I’ll definitely kill him!’
His killing intent and demonic energy filled the sky.
* * *
“Kehehehe! Young human, how did you get in through a gap in the barrier…”
Whiiiiiing-!
Slash!
“Graaaaaaah!”
He cut down three mid-level demons in one strike.
Lumian withdrew his aura and quietly climbed the mountain.
“Kuhahaha! You! You have skill for your age! But you can’t handle ten of us…”
Whiiiiiiiing-!
Slash slash slash!
“Graaaaaaah!”
He eliminated ten mid-level demons at once too.
Lumian withdrew his aura and walked steadily up the mountain.
Then shortly after, a high demon appeared with maniacal laughter.
It was similar level to the incubus he’d faced at Calard Estate.
This time he killed it quickly before it could even speak.
Slash!
Thud! Roll roll…
“I wish they wouldn’t come one at a time, but attack all together.”
That would be better without wasting time.
Did they hear Lumian’s muttering?
Shortly after, easily three hundred demons appeared before Lumian.
The subordinate who appeared to be the captain of the group opened his mouth.
“You! You’ve built up considerable skill. I’ll praise you for that.”
“….”
“But today is your last day. Don’t hope for a comfortable death! I will give you the maximum pain a human can feel, so look forward to it!”
Hiss, Lumian smiled.
Things had become easier. It seemed most of the demons had gathered in this place.
Of course, there were still some subordinates guarding their posts, but he could go deal with them directly.
‘I was worried they might scatter and run away, but now I can relax.’
He tightened his grip on his sword.
Regardless, the demons were excitedly chattering among themselves.
“What’s with that guy? Has he gone crazy?”
“It seems that way.”
“Kihihi, let’s just pull out his head and make a chimera!”
“Peel off his face skin separately. I want to make an interesting mask.”
It was truly an atmosphere of expecting easy victory, or rather, having no interest in victory or defeat at all.
However, the moment Lumian raised his sword high and drew his Aura Sword, the subordinates couldn’t help but show expressions of shock as if struck by lightning.
‘What is that? That thing?’
‘An Aura Sword? Is it real?’
‘Am I dreaming?’
‘That human brat made that Aura Sword?’
Everyone’s mouths fell open. Everyone’s expressions hardened. But not one of them properly accepted the current situation.
Because it was far too massive.
It couldn’t be helped. The completed thirteen-meter-long Aura Sword soaring high into the sky lacked reality, as if it were something from mythology.
Swoosh!
Lumian moved his wrist.
Then the sword that had been standing vertically instantly aimed at the right side of the demon army.
And it was swung with great force.
It was as fast as lightning.
Kwaaaaaaaang!
Popopopopopopong!
The power was even greater.
The demons exposed to Lumian’s sword strike were erased along with the landscape.
They tore like bursting leather drums, scattered, and burned away. Not even a trace remained. Only the Demonic Stones of the High Demons glittered as they held their positions.
“Huh….”
“…!”
The demons fell into chaos.
They were alive not because they had good skills. It was because they were lucky.
Because they were on the outskirts of the group, because they were outside the range of the Aura Sword Lumian had swung, they could preserve their lives.
Of course, the result would be the same.
Lumian, who exhaled briefly, rushed at the remaining demons with the speed of light.
“Uh, uaaaaaaah!”
“Run away!”
“Damn it! Uaaaaaaah!”
Most fled, and a few remained. It was because they had lost their minds. They disappeared as dust under Lumian’s sword.
Of course, those who ran away were no exception.
There were some quite nimble subordinates, but not enough to escape Lumian’s ki sense.
After a brief time, he was able to deal with all the demons that had come out to meet him.
Even those who had not revealed themselves were no exception.
Like a general pursuing deserters, he thoroughly searched the entire mountain and destroyed both facilities and demons indiscriminately.
“Hah, refreshing.”
Lumian smiled brightly.
Unlike always having to hide his abilities, today he could reveal his power to his heart’s content. It felt refreshing to show off his divine status from his previous life after so long.
He turned his head. At the end of his gaze stood a newly appeared demon.
A bald demon wearing a white robe.
His entire body was red like blood. He could feel demonic energy stronger than all the demons he had dealt with so far combined.
‘This guy seems to be the captain. Hot energy….’
Lumian erased his expression.
Then the atmosphere changed completely. His temperament also changed.
Unlike before when he was heated, now he was calm like water. He even felt slightly cool.
It was a choice to suppress an opponent with fire attributes.
Kirikororokoro spoke to him.
“You, what is your identity?”
“First time seeing a Sword Master?”
“…I’ve never heard of someone like you existing.”
“I don’t know someone like you either. Since we’re both strangers, shall we get to know each other from now on?”
Lumian raised his sword.
No aura was layered on it. But it didn’t matter.
He planned to show it at the most appropriate moment, matching when the subordinate moved, along with a thrust.
‘I have a lot to ask, so I shouldn’t kill him.’
He recalled various questions in his mind. The subordinate also seemed to be using his head, as silence settled between the two.
However, this didn’t last long.
The first to speak was the owner of Red Mountain, Kirikororokoro.
“Do you know?”
“…What.”
“How much great effort I have put in until now to create territory in this place, to contribute to my lord’s great work.”
Lumian shook his head.
He wasn’t curious at all.
He was only filled with thoughts of subduing the subordinate and extracting information.
‘If he doesn’t attack first, I’ll go.’
It was when he was considering a preemptive strike.
The subordinate who had been quietly reciting words began to shout fiercely as if going berserk.
“Do you know how important the subordinates you eliminated were as military power! They were forces that would extract the brains of hundreds of newborns and burst the hearts of thousands of virgins! They were military power that would trample tens of thousands of able-bodied men and dye the world with terror!”
“….”
“Precious chaos was promised, great destruction was scheduled!”
Kirikororokoro continued to ramble.
He spat saliva, and later spat blood. It seemed he had bitten the inside of his mouth while unable to contain his anger, causing wounds.
The subordinate continued speaking for quite a while longer. His anger did not subside and grew hotter and hotter.
He threw out a question in a voice ready to explode.
“Do you know! How glorious and beautiful the future I spoke of would have been….”
Zzzzzzzing-!
Shaaak-
However, Kirikororokoro’s words could not continue to the end.
Lumian swung his sword. Just once.
The moment the sword that drew a U-shape and returned was sheathed, all of Kirikororokoro’s limbs that had been in that path fell off.
The subordinate who belatedly recognized this let out a scream filled with pain.
“Kuh, kuaaaaaaah….”
“I don’t know about glorious and beautiful, but I roughly know.”
Lumian walked step by step. The subordinate was still screaming.
He continued speaking.
“How dog-like the future you want is. I’ve always imagined it.”
Lumian closed his eyes.
It was true. In his previous life, he had always lived with the worst possible future in his mind.
Imagining himself collapsing, his lord falling, and Jenas crumbling.
Golden Dawn passing away, Rhodesia being destroyed, Cairo meeting ruin. And ultimately, imagining the entire continent falling into the Demon King’s grasp.
‘Such a terrible thing. So terrible I never want to think about it.’
That’s why he thought about it every day.
To whip himself into action. To work even harder. To do his absolute best to prevent such a future from coming to pass.
Lumian, who had recalled his past resolve after a long time, suddenly opened his eyes wide.
A chilling voice leaked from his mouth.
“Has a new Demon King been born?”
“….”
“I ask again. Has a new Demon King been born?”
Kirikororokoro did not answer.
No, he couldn’t.
His mouth simply wouldn’t open. Under the pressure that weighed down on him like a mountain, he couldn’t take any action or even think.
Lumian realized this belatedly.
Recognizing that he had gotten too excited, he reduced his intimidating aura.
And he looked at his opponent with a much gentler expression.
That face was terrifyingly frightening. Kirikororokoro thought this moment was a nightmare and desperately prayed to wake up from the dream quickly.
And that wish was granted.
Pop!
His head exploded.
Lumian jumped back in surprise.
It wasn’t something he had done. He frowned.
‘Suicide?’
It seemed likely. He thought the guy was quite ruthless.
‘His loyalty seemed tremendous too… Come to think of it, he did mention having a lord.’
Lumian crossed his arms. And closed his eyes.
In that position, he contemplated various possibilities.
His appearance, deeply lost in thought, looked extremely solemn.
And behind him, far in the distance, a single black eye secretly revealed itself.
* * *
Far away from Red Mountain, there was a building.
It was where the real power of the continent’s greatest criminal organization, Red Moon, resided.
An elderly man with such power and authority that even the boss called him Elder.
He stared somewhere with an expressionless face.
“….”
But the atmosphere was very different from before.
Originally, the elderly man had no presence. He had perfectly concealed his aura to the point where it was difficult to notice him even when standing right beside him.
But not now. From his entire body emanated an intense, sharp, yet sinister aura.
That wasn’t all.
His eyes had also changed. The eyeballs, filled with darkness without a trace of white, were hard to consider human.
“Remarkable.”
He opened his mouth.
His voice was strange. It felt as if two people were speaking simultaneously.
However, he paid no attention to it and continued muttering to himself.
“Neither the Knight King nor Golden Dawn… yet he possesses such skill?”
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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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