The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 100

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 100

“A different test?”

Raon tilted his head in confusion. The graduation exam for Zigheart trainees typically involved sparring matches between trainees or passing through a simple course designed by instructors.

Looking at Rimer’s sly expression, it seemed this was no ordinary test.

“You all have far more experience than other trainees.”

Rimer clicked his tongue and wagged his finger.

“Duels fought for honor, battles fought for survival, combat techniques using aura—you’ve experienced everything that formal swordsmen go through.”

He was right.
The trainees of the 5th Training Ground had accumulated far more experience than the Robert Family or trainees from other training grounds, though not quite as much as my past self.
If I gave them an ordinary test, they would all pass without much difficulty.

“An exam is an opportunity to accelerate growth beyond your usual pace. A mediocre test would be of no benefit to you, so I’ve changed the exam content.”
“I see….”
“That makes sense.”

Everyone nodded at Rimer’s explanation. Having witnessed my accomplishments and trained alongside me, the trainees naturally wanted to reach greater heights rather than become ordinary swordsmen.

“So what kind of test will we be taking?”

Burren Zigheart raised his hand and leaned forward.

“Survival.”

Rimer’s expression shifted dramatically. The playful neighborhood elder vanished. A weighty yet sharp aura emanated from his frame.

“Survival. You will abandon your identity as Zigheart trainees and venture into the outside world with nothing but your names and a single sword to live on.”
“S-survival….”
“Gasp!”
“Just our names and a sword to go out with?”

Survival—a test no one had anticipated, leaving every trainee with their mouths agape.

“I understand your shock. This is quite different from the graduation exam you expected. But make no mistake—this trial is necessary.”

Rimer settled onto the platform, gazing down at all the trainees.

“You’re brimming with confidence right now. You’ve defeated the Owen Kingdom’s training knights, survived the war against Eden, consumed elixirs that strengthened both your aura and body, and even clashed with the 6th Martial Grounds. Well, someone’s strength was rather overwhelming, admittedly.”

He glanced sideways at Raon.

“Now go out and see with your own eyes how vast and boundless this world truly is, overflowing with such confidence as you are.”
“Hmm….”

The trainees stood bewildered, unable to speak, but Raon alone nodded in understanding.

‘He’s right.’

Just as Rimer said, what the trainees needed most now—having grown stronger in both body and spirit—was real combat experience.

Real battle, fought with their own strength independent of family backing, would elevate them to greater heights.

“However, I will accept refusals.”

Rimer raised his eyebrows with a slight smile.

“Surviving in the outside world is no simple matter for those who’ve eaten meals prepared by the family and slept in beds the family provided. This time, neither I nor the instructors will accompany you. You could genuinely lose your lives.”

He nodded slowly.

“So for those of you who are frightened, I’ve prepared an alternative graduation exam. If anyone wishes to decline, think it over carefully and tell me tomorrow.”
“Hmm….”
“Wait, another exam?”
“We don’t need any of that.”

Unlike the trainees rolling their eyes in contemplation, Martha flicked her hair dismissively and shook her head. Her dark eyes gleamed as she stepped forward.

“Survival? I’ve been doing that since I learned to walk. Bring it on.”

Martha scoffed, as if no test could faze her.

“I’m fine with it as well.”

Burren Zigheart stepped forward, his voice steady and composed. His deeply set eyes showed no hesitation.

“A graduation exam with the theme of survival. As you said, Instructor, I believe this is indeed an opportunity to grow to the next level. I accept.”
“Already two of you?”

Rimer grinned and held up two fingers.

“I-I’ll do it too!”
“Me as well!”
“Please include my name!”

Once Burren Zigheart and Martha stepped forward, the trainees raised their hands one after another, clamoring to participate.

“Excellent. Excellent indeed.”

Rimer clapped his hands and smiled each time a trainee volunteered.

“Lunan.”

I turned around and called out to Lunan Slion, who stood there in a daze. She tapped her foot to the rhythm of Rimer’s applause as if nothing mattered.

“What will you do?”
“What about you, Raon?”
“I have to go.”
“Then I’ll do it too.”

She stepped forward and declared her participation. Thus all forty-two trainees raised their hands, leaving only me.

“Raon. What about you?”
“Of course I’m going.”
“Hmm, even you, the top student, answer so thoughtlessly? Do you know where I’m sending you all?”

Rimer’s face twisted into a cunning smirk as he thrust his chin forward.

“It’s fine.”

I smiled without falling for his provocation.

“It will certainly be grueling, but you wouldn’t give us trials we couldn’t overcome.”
“You….”

Rimer’s expression shifted sharply at my confident words. It was less approval than a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

Rimer understood the strengths and weaknesses of each trainee, and he had tailored his instruction accordingly.

I’d only learned this recently, but most of what he did was for the sake of his students.

His manner was light, his tone casual, but his mind ran deep—there was no reason not to trust him.

“I agree.”

Burren Zigheart stepped beside me and nodded.

“He’s lazy, he breaks his promises about time, and he’s addicted to drinking and gambling, but when it comes to instruction, he’s uncompromising.”
“Hmph.”

Martha Zigheart turned away but said nothing particular. It was her way of agreeing somewhat with what Burren Zigheart and I had said.

“So my students think of me that way? It touches my heart.”

Rimer made sniffling sounds and pretended to cry. He seemed to be brushing it off as a joke, but his mouth curved into a crescent moon—he was clearly pleased.

“But don’t expect any leniency because of it. You’ll need to prepare yourselves thoroughly.”

He extended his hand backward, and an instructor handed him documents.

“Normally I’d tell you a week from now, but since everyone agreed, I’ll tell you where you’re going right away.”
“Are we all going to the same place?”

Burren Zigheart raised his hand and asked.

“Of course not.”

Rimer shook his finger.

“You all pretend otherwise, but you have a strong tendency to rely on one person.”

His gaze turned toward Raon, and the trainees followed suit.

“Hmm….”
“Y-yes, that’s right….”
“It’s certainly true, in a way.”

The trainees smacked their lips, showing some agreement with Rimer’s words.

Though they had initially envied and despised Raon, through training together, facing real combat, and overcoming crises, the trainees now followed him with genuine hearts.

“It’s encouraging that your relationships have improved, but one-sided reliance is not ideal.”

Rimer smiled gently and examined each trainee carefully.

“Through this trial, become swordsmen who can be a reliable support for others.”
“Yes!”
“Understood!”

Feeling the sincerity in their instructor’s words, the trainees raised their voices so loudly the Training Ground seemed to shake.

“Now then….”

Rimer unfolded the booklet he had received from the instructor.

“Burren Zigheart.”
“Yes!”
“You’re heading to the Rebun Desert to the west.”
“Understood.”
“Martha Zigheart. You’re going to the Sian Gorge to the east. And….”

Rimer rattled off their destinations without waiting for the trainees’ responses.

“…Lunan Slion. You’re heading to the Katam Jungle to the northwest.”
“Yes.”
“Now for the last one. Raon Zigheart.”

All the trainees’ names had been called, and now only Raon remained.

“Yes.”
“You’re heading northeast. Habun Castle.”
“Habun Castle….”

I narrowed my eyes.

‘They’re sending me to a harsh place.’

Habun Castle was a fortress located even further north than Zigheart, and it was one of the battlefields where they fought monsters from the Northern Sea and Sturrin Mountains every single day of the year, 365 days without rest.

‘It will certainly be beneficial.’

No matter how much I possessed the Ring of Fire and had mastered the Ten Thousand Strikes, I still hadn’t fully recovered the senses from my previous life.

If I threw myself into that battlefield, I might gain killing intent and instincts that surpassed even my previous incarnation.

“You have one month before departure. Gather information about where you need to go, decide how to prepare and what to bring—all of it is a test.”

Rimer closed the document and lifted his chin.

“Yes! Understood!”

The trainees’ eyes gleamed with both anticipation for growth and anxiety about the unknown.

“You’re going to have a rough time, like the others.”

Rimer descended in front of me, his gaze turning fierce.

“That place is called the hell of combat because there’s no room to even sheathe your sword.”
“Eeeek!”

Dorian, who was also assigned to Habun Castle, trembled in fear. I chuckled at his reaction.

“If it’s hell, that’s fine.”
“Huh?”
“If I overcome hell and return, how much stronger will I become? And….”

I nodded, my eyes brimming with anticipation.

‘I’ve already experienced true hell, after all.’

*

*

*

“Do… do we really have to do that?”

When we returned to the Annex Building with talk of the graduation exam, Helen shook her head, trembling visibly.

“I heard Habun Castle is one of the Zigheart’s barriers, and that powerful monsters pour out endlessly. They said they’d prepare other tests too, so is it really necessary to go there…?”
“This is for me to—”
“We’re going.”

Before I could finish speaking, Sylvia set down her fork and knife, nodding firmly.

“But that place is incredibly dangerous…”
“We’re still going.”

Sylvia shook her head at Helen, then looked toward me.

“It’s an opportunity for Raon to grow.”

Ever since my duel with Rayden, she no longer saw me as a child. She regarded me as a swordsman—a qualified swordsman.

Of course, that didn’t mean Sylvia was without worry. Her hand holding the water glass trembled ever so slightly.

“Mother’s right.”

I lowered my eyes under the concerned gazes of Sylvia, Helen, and the attendants.

“Like the instructor said, this is less a test and more an opportunity to grow. When an opportunity comes, you have to seize it.”
“That’s right. Well said.”

Helen and the attendants still seemed to have much to say, but Sylvia was different. She had lived the life of a swordsman, and now she gave me her clear acknowledgment.

‘It feels good.’

Helen, the head maid, held considerable sway, but even she couldn’t override Sylvia’s decision. With her consent secured, my future training sessions would become far more manageable.

“Then I’ll head off to train.”

I pushed my empty plate aside and rose to my feet.

“Raon.”

As I turned to leave, Sylvia looked up.

“If you’re going to do this, prepare thoroughly. Make sure you’re ready for anything that might happen.”
“I will.”

I nodded reassuringly and entered my room.

“My lady, are you truly certain about this?”
“Sigh… how could I be?”

Sylvia’s hands trembled as she gripped her water glass. Her only son was heading into danger—there was no way her heart could be at ease.

‘But…’

Unlike Helen, she understood what a swordmaster truly was and the magnitude of what swordsmanship could achieve. So despite her reluctance, she had no choice but to let Raon go.

Even if she tried to stop him, he would go anyway. Sending him off willingly was the right choice for his sake.

“Still, I can’t help but worry. It’s such a dangerous place…”
“Worry is only natural.”

Sylvia nodded.

“That’s why we have our duty.”
“Our duty?”
“Yes. When Raon returns, we must do our best to maintain everything as it is now, so he can rest peacefully.”

She swept her gaze across the maids and offered a gentle smile—a mother’s and the Annex Building’s mistress’s smile that concealed her anxiety.

“My lady…”

The maids nodded silently in agreement with her words.

Judith clenched her fists quietly as she looked at Sylvia and Helen.

*

*

*

Even knowing I would depart for the place called the Battlefield a month hence, my daily routine remained unchanged.

I trained at dawn as always, attended instruction from Rimer and the instructors at the 5th Training Ground, and continued my cultivation late into the evening, lingering long after others had departed.

Yet the intensity had escalated to an entirely different level than before.

Burren and Martha grew weary watching, and even Lunan exhausted himself and withdrew.

“Haah….”

After a week of grueling training that wore even my formidable mental fortitude thin, I returned to the Annex Building.

Since everyone was asleep, I opened the window and slipped into my room.

“Mm….”

The room was immaculate, not a speck of dust visible, and a gentle fragrance drifted from the clothes and bedding.

‘There was no need for this.’

Despite my thoughts, a smile bloomed across my face. I was grateful to Sylvia and the maids for ensuring I could return to comfort whenever I arrived.
I was grateful to Sylvia and her maids for making sure I could spend comfortable time whenever I returned.

“Sigh…”

Raon exhaled and sat on the edge of the bed. The recent training had been tough on him too, so sleep came pouring down on him.

When I tried to lie down as I was, I felt something on the bed.

“What is this?”

I tilted my head and pulled back the blanket, revealing a small booklet.

“This is….”

My eyes widened as I read through the booklet. It contained information about Habun Castle, the place I needed to go.
Geographic details, information about the monsters that appeared there, and even data on the people present—it was abundantly clear who had given me this.

‘Judith.’

She had prepared this information after learning I was heading to Habun Castle.

I clicked my tongue.

A bittersweet taste lingered on my tongue at the realization.

“I need to settle things properly before I leave.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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