Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Glass Cannons Have Their Own Charm
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"Ten thousand coins? Call. I'll buy him as is. Hand over the contract."
"What? This one-armed freak! Are you blind or something? You're buying this? His body's all wrecked—he won't last long! What the hell makes you think you should buy him?!"
The moment I blurted out that I wanted to buy the one-armed swordsman, the clown panicked hard and started grilling me on why I'd make such a weird choice.
"What do I trust? Your reaction. I went with it because of how you were yapping like I shouldn't buy him, and that price you set—looks like you deliberately tanked it to keep me from spotting his value."
I'd decided to buy him precisely because of that clown's consistent attempts to screw me over. The way he'd trashed the one-armed swordsman like it'd be a huge loss to buy him, and then dropping what felt like slave rock-bottom at ten thousand coins—that's when I clocked the slave trader bluffing.
This is a must-buy. Might be a chance to snag a massive powerhouse for just ten thousand coins.
Plus, out of the other three candidates, two didn't click with me at all, and after comparing the last one to the one-armed swordsman, I picked him.
The rose knight or whatever looked so gay it turned my stomach on sight, and that barbarian—Ulatan or Zlatan or whatever—didn't sit right either...
From dragon slayers like Mer to Cheshire, true powerhouses reek of power. My eyes have gotten sharp enough to spot it. But those two? No such aura. The one-armed swordsman, though... he had it.
That left just the toad woman. Honestly, I hesitated a bit. Her speech and movements were painfully slow, but for some reason... she gave off the same vibe I'd felt buying Hellas.
An aura like she was hiding her real strength. Hellas had seemed like just some alchemist who could whip up basic potions at first. But he turned out way bigger than that.
And the toad woman had a similar scholarly vibe, so I debated ditching her just for being slow.
Still, with Hellas and an engineer already at my base—and a jeweler possibly joining soon—I went for the one-armed swordsman as immediate combat power over the scholar-type toad.
"Damn... ten thousand coins... Can't we bump it to eighty thousand?"
The sleazy clown tried jacking up the price the second I said I'd buy. In that instant, Cheshire—who'd been silently waiting for my decision—stalked up to him with a growl.
"Hey, once you throw out a price, it's set in stone, right? Should've played straight from the start."
"Damn it... Mind your own business. This is between me and the customer—why do you keep butting in..."
The clown and Cheshire started hurling insults at each other. Things looked about to turn into a knife fight, so I jumped in quick to stop it.
"Hoo... damn it... Fine. Ten thousand coins. This is the last time I get played like a sucker."
"Should've done that from the jump. Joon! Nailed it, huh!"
"Yeah! Jackpot! Goddess of haggling!"
I high-fived Cheshire.
The clown had let slip eighty thousand coins, so yeah—that was probably the real price. Snagging him for ten thousand felt amazing.
As Cheshire and I spun around, jumping and mocking the idiot clown in our joy, his face soured even more. He scowled, lips twisted down, and shoved the contract at me.
"Just sign and get lost..."
"Hold up. Cheshire!"
"Yeah!"
Cheshire snatched the contract from the clown, scanned it quick, then handed it back.
"Looks good!"
"Signing now!"
"Damn pests... Matching pains in the ass..."
"Throwing in some clothes too. Two thousand coins, right?"
"Yeah... whatever. Take it all. You rotten bastards."
The clown, looking like he'd given up, tossed over a decently worn red outfit for the one-armed swordsman. The swordsman dressed with one arm like a pro—probably been at it for years.
"Damn cultist scum... Next time, only the worst stock for you... Brace yourself..."
"Sure~"
The slave trader fumed, trembling with rage. I waved goodbye to the clown with Cheshire and slipped out of the circus tent. With her by my side, nothing scared me.
The one-armed swordsman trailed silently behind. Seemed like the quiet type by default.
"Thank you... That was hell... You got me out."
We'd left the tent and spent a good while in the twisting alleys hunting for a door with a keyhole. That's when the swordsman, who'd been watching us quietly, bowed his head in thanks.
"Huh?"
I yelped in surprise at his sudden politeness. He must've thought I was nitpicking his speech, 'cause he started rambling an explanation.
"Ah, this is just my natural way of talking... If formal speech doesn't suit you... I'll change it for my lord."
Switching speech patterns ain't easy, and his comfy style seemed fine, so I let it slide.
Feels like a historical drama. Kinda unique.
"Nah... Talk however's easy."
"Grateful... A kind master is a blessing..."
He thanked me again, then clammed up.
We found the door after about twenty minutes. As I jammed the key into the white iron door, Cheshire and I shared a farewell hug.
"See you next week."
"Yeah. Bet you won't be alone then. Can't wait to meet Joon's other girls. Stay safe. Come back in one piece!"
I finished hugging Cheshire and stepped through. About two minutes till the black market shut down.
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"Whoa... bro... New teammate?"
"Uh... his eye and arm..."
Everyone greeting the one-armed swordsman reacted the same. Nobody got Jojun's choice.
Makes sense—Jojun, who'd always persecuted the disabled, shows up with a one-eyed, one-armed cripple. Totally understandable.
Some even wondered if he'd finally lost it. Ha Jin-seong, mostly.
"Uh... still, got him cheap?"
"Yup."
As Jojun brought the swordsman to the first-floor principal's office and waited for the girls, Gang Hwa-young—the first to arrive—couldn't hold back and asked the price.
Her "how much?" made Jojun feel like a kid who'd bought a cheap toy from the corner store and was about to get chewed out by Mom.
The swordsman, quietly soaking in everyone's lukewarm reactions, spoke up politely to Jojun.
"Seems... nobody's thrilled about me."
"Yeah... no track record yet..."
Jojun hadn't fully gauged the swordsman's strength either—just went off the vibe. Reading Jojun's face, the swordsman thought:
Earning trust from the start is tough. Especially with a life full of finger-pointing... This is nothing.
He flashed back to the distant past—people pointing fingers, wandering the streets.
Lost an eye young, an arm to a rival at his peak. He was used to it. The disdain, the sneers—they'd always shadowed his life.
Humans are like that... Hurts a bit, but talk's cheap. Better to show than tell.
He knew demonstrating once convinced faster. Despite his deep injuries making movement hard, he'd give a tiny show to stake his claim.
"My lord. Lend me a sword?"
"Yeah, hold on."
Jojun handed over his Ghost Cry Blade at the swordsman's serious tone.
"Thanks. Let's step outside. Dangerous indoors."
"R-Really?"
Seong Ha-rin and Han A-reum joined from the office, and they headed to the sports field.
"Then..."
The swordsman drew the sword one-handed, fluidly. So smooth that Jojun, watching intently, thought it was like a sword dance.
Made him wonder if the Ghost Cry Blade was meant for this guy all along... Just the draw convinced Jojun he'd chosen right—even blind to swords as he was.
Han A-reum, the Sword Dancer beside him, gaped slightly.
"Hoo... Can't show much in this state... Just a tiny demo..."
The swordsman's voice with sword in hand carried an eerie sharpness. Everyone nodded, overwhelmed.
"Here goes."
In an instant.
Killing intent spread, skin prickling.
"Ugh...!"
Gang Hwa-young—who'd questioned his value—dropped to one knee. Even as a vampire, the overwhelming pressure crushed her; she could barely stand. He'd aimed extra at her.
"W-What the...!"
Jojun staggered, staring. Seong Ha-rin steadied him quick. Having lived months with Blue Moon beasts, she held up.
Jackpot...!
Jojun marveled inwardly. The swordsman's aura lifted field dirt slightly.
This should do it...
Seeing Jojun's satisfaction, he prepared to end the demo. Trust earned, he figured.
"What the hell are you?!"
Then Mer leaped from the roof, sensing trouble. Mid-jump, she clocked staggering Jojun, protective Ha-rin, seated Hwa-young, and toppled A-reum.
She couldn't parse it. Heard Jojun was back and was heading down when it hit—guessed only that the sword-wielding one-armed guy was a slave.
But... why? Slave status broken?! Makes sense for that level... Dangerous...
No time to think. To Mer, he was a deadly foe. Had to remove the threat from her lord fast.
She assumed slave binding broke somehow, attacking the lord—must stop him.
Protecting Jojun first, even if scolded later. She swung her scythe without hesitation.
And figured someone emitting that killing intent could block her strike.
"Hrah!!!"
"Huh?"
Arm numb, focus broken, the swordsman locked eyes with Mer diving scythe-first.
What... the hell...?
Fallen angel plummeting—no dodge in mind. Her massive scythe crashed down.
"Ah! Mer! Wait!!!"
Too late by the time Jojun yelled.
💥 CRASH!!! 💥
"Damn it...!!!"
"Grahhh!!!"
Caught off-guard, the swordsman took the full scythe hit.
"Cough..."
Blood trickled from his mouth. Jojun grabbed Mer's arm as she wound up for more.
"Mer! Stop!!"
"Huh? Lord?"
"Just a demo! Wasn't attacking me!! Stop!!"
"Oh..."
Mer backed off. She got the story from Jojun, then approached the bowing swordsman to apologize.
"Sorry... killing intent too strong... Thought... you okay?"
"I-It's... f-fine... co... kuhk..."
The demo had exhausted him plenty.
Mer’s strike tanked his condition; he spat blood.
As blood poured nonstop, A-reum—who'd just stood—freaked.
"Kyaaah!!! Oppa!! That old guy's puking blood!!"
"W-What?! Hey!! One-Arm!! What's wrong!! Uh oh!! Shit!!"
"Gaaahhh!!!"
Shocked, Jojun used Rising Flesh on him. The swordsman convulsed, screaming.
"W-What the... T-Thought he'd tank that much..."
"Mer unnie!! What did you do?!"
"N-No! Wasn't on purpose...! I-I'm innocent!!"
Mer babbled defenses, clueless how to help the bleeding swordsman. Hwa-young scolded her.
He passed out fully; Ha-rin piggybacked him to Hellas's workshop.
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"Hm... insides are a mess. Not Mer's fault... Sigh... Born frail like this..."
"What?"
"Talking to myself. This man's body should've died before ten."
"What? Looks at least thirty... Past twenty for sure?"
"Exactly—defied fate. Way past his allotted lifespan. Organs wrecked... Meridians all tangled... No way he should swing a sword... What kept him going..."
"Whoa..."
Hitomi the cleric and Ji Tae focused healing on him. Hellas, examining closely, deemed him long overdue for death.
"Damn... shit..."
I felt totally conned by the trader. No wonder so cheap... Didn't expect a walking corpse.
As I lamented, the swordsman stirred, speaking to me.
"Kuhk... ahem... My lord..."
"Awake?"
"As the healer said... broken body."
"Yeah... looks that way. Sigh..."
"Don't despair too much."
"Huh? Nah, not despairing! Makes sense. Ten thousand coins!! Happens!!"
My obvious disappointment flustered him; he rushed on.
"Three times a day!"
"What?"
"Up to three full swings... sincere swordplay."
"Three serious swings a day? You messing with me?"
"N-No! You saw! I'm strong! Few block my sword three times!"
"Yeah... seems strong..."
Talent-wise, top-tier. Glass cannon aside...
"True value not in frontline fights..."
"Then?"
"Deep sword knowledge... Can teach. Raise disciples. Pays for rice, no?"
"Disciples...?"
"Yes... Up to ten at once. Pick one talented disciple for private lessons... Could make Sword Master."
Turn ten non-awakened into sword-related awakeners... plus a Sword Master disciple?
A-reum the Sword Dancer's got the talent.
Sword Master had to be one of my girls. A-reum fit best, direct sword class.
No way she'd cheat, but... still uneasy leaving her alone with a guy...
I slyly thought of feeding him that gender-swap Scotch whisky 'Confusing You' from the drug dealer.
"Looking forward to working with you, One-Arm."
"Likewise... my lord."
I shook his hand smiling. Serious glass cannon, but feminize him as sword instructor? Goldmine.
If Hellas's experiments pan out... prosthetic arm and organs later.
I grinned at One-Arm, then called Hellas aside.
Time to show him the smuggled beasts from the poacher.
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