The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 101

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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 101

I committed every word from the booklet Judith had prepared to memory, then burned it to ash.

Keeping the booklet around risked exposure to those outside the Annex Building, so it was better to destroy it.

“Hmm….”

I watched the booklet dissolve into nothingness, consumed by flames, and drummed my fingers against the floor.

“I need to learn a new swordsmanship style.”

According to Judith’s booklet, the monsters that appeared in Lower Castle had hides so tough that even swords struggled to cut through them, and their bodies were massive.

Zigheart’s fundamental swordsmanship was a balanced technique with a 5:5 ratio of offense to defense. It wasn’t particularly suited for dealing with swarms of enemies or large monsters with thick hides.

There was Manyeo’s swordsmanship, but each technique was a killing blow, consuming far too much aura.

I needed an offensive-focused swordsmanship that I could use regularly.

‘I’ve mastered the fundamentals well enough, after all.’

Until now, I had only trained in and used Zigheart’s fundamental swordsmanship. The foundation was solid enough—now it was time to build layers upon it.

“Hmm….”

I opened the bottom drawer of the desk and retrieved a silver medallion that gleamed with ethereal light. At its center was engraved the emblem of a flaming sword—a blade wreathed in fire.

It was a silver medallion I had received as a reward for slaying the Green Warrior and saving everyone during the second mission.

Clink.

I turned the medallion over in my hands, running my tongue along my teeth. I had saved it for the day when I would restore Sylvia to her rightful place in the main family, but now it seemed such a measure wouldn’t be necessary.

‘This is no ordinary matter.’

For Sylvia to return from the Branch Family to the main family, a silver medallion would not suffice—she would need gold medallions, and not just one or two, but many.

Now was the time to employ every available means to grow stronger. In other words, this was not a moment to hoard, but to invest.

“I should go.”

I pocketed the silver medallion and rose to my feet. As I made my way from my room toward the lobby, I encountered Judith.

“You’re awake.”

Judith bowed deeply, her posture respectful.

“Thank you.”

“It is nothing.”

As I acknowledged her greeting with my thanks, she shook her head, her expression remaining impassive.

Judith’s faint smile seemed to be her true face after all.

“Where are you headed?”

“I need to use this.”

I pulled out the silver badge that gleamed even from within my pocket.

“If I’m going to extract benefits, I should do it thoroughly.”

*

*

*

I headed straight to the Patriarch’s Hall. The gatekeeper tried to block my path, but upon seeing the silver badge, he guided me all the way to the Audience Chamber.

‘This is why I need to succeed.’

They block the way for the Branch Family, yet a single badge changes how I’m treated. Whether out of frustration or necessity, I’ll have to achieve success and prove myself.

“Hmm….”

As I walked toward the Audience Chamber, I felt piercing gazes upon me. Every swordmaster and clerk within the Patriarch’s Hall glanced at me with keen interest.

Before, they wouldn’t have spared me a second glance, but seeing them regard me this way now suggests their perception has shifted, at least somewhat.

“We’ve arrived.”

As I pondered the gazes of the people around me, the gatekeeper’s footsteps came to a halt. I lifted my head, and before me stood the massive iron doors of the Audience Chamber.

After explaining the situation to the gatekeeper at the entrance of the Audience Chamber, he sent word inside, and a response soon came back.

“You may enter.”

As the gatekeeper placed his hand on the door, the colossal iron gates began to split open on both sides, reaching toward the ceiling. Simultaneously, Glen’s overwhelming aura burst forth. No matter how many times I came here, I never grew accustomed to it.

I walked across the golden carpet on the floor and stood in the center of the Audience Chamber. Glen regarded me with his usual inscrutable gaze.

“I greet the Patriarch!”

“That will do.”

Just as I was about to kneel and bow my head, Glen waved his hand. I hesitated mid-motion before slowly straightening up.

“State your business.”

-Seeing that arrogant, repetitive display reminds me of when I was in the Demon Realm. So many nobles wilted beneath my overwhelming presence….

“Understood.”

I ignored the chattering presence beside me and produced the silver token I had brought.

“I wish to use the silver token I received previously.”

“Using the token is your choice, but didn’t you say there was something you needed to do with it?”

Glen’s upper body leaned forward slightly. The air within the Audience Chamber grew cold and heavy.

“That’s correct. I was gathering support to restore my mother to a direct bloodline position.”

“You intend to use that?”

“After completing this major mission and dueling the direct bloodline, I’ve come to understand something.”

I spoke with a calm, unwavering gaze.

“You’ve come to understand?”

“Yes. Despite showing respectable achievements, not a single word was spoken about joining the direct bloodline. Only then did I recall what you said about it being a difficult path.”

As Glen had said, becoming part of the direct bloodline requires universal recognition. Receiving bronze or silver badges barely registers as noteworthy.

“Rather than accumulating silver badges that won’t have significant influence, I thought it better to use the silver badges to grow stronger and then gather gold badges.”

“You’re saying it’s time to invest?”

“Precisely.”

“Hmm.”

Glen nodded slowly, as if barely interested. His expression and demeanor remained entirely unchanged.

“So what do you intend to obtain with those silver badges?”

“Swordsmanship. The location of my graduation examination is Lower Castle. I need offensive-focused swordsmanship to continuously cut down the monsters that pour forth.”

“Offensive swordsmanship, I see….”

Glen Zigheart nodded and rose from his jade throne. His gaze swept across the collection of books beside him, then halted abruptly on a black tome in the middle.

“This one will do.”

With a flick of his finger, the book drifted upward like a cloud and flew toward me.

“This is….”

I narrowed my eyes. I had expected him to open that circular archive as before, but Glen had selected the book himself. The unexpected gesture sent a chill down my spine.

‘Gwang-a Sword.’

The title “Gwang-a Sword” was etched across the black cover in a fierce, angular script. It was a swordsmanship I had never heard of before.

“Will you take it? Or would you prefer to choose for yourself?”

“….”

I extended my right hand and traced the tome’s rough cover. The coarse texture felt like touching the fangs of a beast.

‘That much was certain.’

Glen’s disdain for me was undeniable, but as the patriarch of a great house, he ensured rewards were distributed fairly. He would not have given me an inferior or flawed swordsmanship manual.

“I will accept it.”

I was pleased with the name of the sword technique manual as well, and nodded immediately.

“It will suit you well.”

“Thank you. Then….”

“Wait.”

As I bowed and turned to leave, Glen Zigheart raised his hand.

“I have one question.”

“Yes.”

“When you heard that the graduation exam would be held at Lower Castle, weren’t you afraid?”

Glen Zigheart stepped forward. Even without releasing his aura, an oppressive pressure emanated from him as if a giant were looking down upon me.

“Seeing that you came to obtain the sword technique manual, you must know what kind of place Lower Castle is. Yet you didn’t consider refusing?”

“I did not.”

I shook my head. I had considered that it might be dangerous, but I felt no fear, nor any inclination to refuse.

‘One cannot grow stronger without trials.’

In my past life, I grew strongest after overcoming moments of crisis.

In this life too, hadn’t I achieved my greatest growth after battling the Green Warrior and surviving the Gwahyeolgwi?

If I grow stronger at an ordinary pace, I can train alongside others in the Training Ground. But to advance faster and reach greater heights than my peers, I must seize crises as opportunities.

“I’ve learned something from my clash with Eden.”

“Learned something?”

“Yes. That brief moment of fighting for my life accelerated my growth as much as a year of training in the Training Ground. If I can gain such experience again, I would be grateful for it.”

I spoke my honest thoughts without reservation.

“And Rimer is not the kind of instructor who would give me trials I cannot overcome. It will certainly be difficult and grueling, but I believe I will grow strong enough to be grateful for the hardship in the end.”

“I see.”

Glen Zigheart’s expression remained unchanged. He didn’t even nod, yet the air in the Audience Chamber seemed to lighten slightly.

“Very well. Go.”

“Yes.”

I rose and gave him a proper bow—the one I had failed to offer before.

“Raon Zigheart.”

As I turned to leave through the door, Glen called out my name.

“There is not just one way to wield the sword. Expand the scope of your thinking.”

“…I understand.”

It was advice, yet I couldn’t discern its true meaning. I nodded my head anyway.

Glen Zigheart waved his hand, signaling me to leave. After offering a final bow, I departed from the Audience Chamber.

*

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*

“Hehehehe.”

A snickering sound echoed from behind the pillar beside the jade throne where Glen Zigheart sat.

“You seem quite pleased.”

“Of course I’m pleased. My disciple understands his master’s intentions.”

Rimer emerged from behind the pillar, making no effort to hide the smile playing at his lips.

“He knows your intentions perfectly. Truly a good and clever boy. Unlike that nagging Burren Zigheart or that foul-mouthed Martha. I can’t help but look after him.”

“Yet you go around speaking ill of your disciples behind their backs. I’d say that doesn’t suit you either.”

Glen Zigheart let out a scoff, seemingly displeased with Rimer’s broad grin.

“Ill-speak? Not at all. They’re all adorable, so I’m just teasing them. I care for all my trainees equally.”

Rimer chuckled softly.

“In any case, Raon has come to understand it now. That life-or-death struggles are instrumental in fostering growth.”

“Many know that truth. It’s rare to find those who, despite knowing it, advance without fear.”

Glen Zigheart gazed down at the center of the Audience Chamber where Raon had stood moments before.

‘There was no fear in him.’

No trace of terror flickered in Raon’s eyes. Contrary to his words, there was no vanity either. Only an icy composure—a calm resolve to assess the situation and do what could be done.

‘How is such a thing possible?’

At such a tender age, to possess such a mindset—it was a talent I had not witnessed in all my long years. Especially gratifying was the fact that this child was my own grandson.

“It seems the Patriarch is quite pleased with Raon. Your lips are twitching, sir.”

As I was contentedly reflecting on Raon, Rimer’s sly voice reached my ears.

“You should keep quiet.”

Glen Zigheart’s brow furrowed. That elf had no sense of propriety.

“That aside, you’ve given him the Gwahyeolgwi Sword.”

Rimer looked at the archive room inside and smiled faintly.

“You even created a library that didn’t exist before, and furnished it with swordsmanship texts of gold-rank quality. Your affection for your grandson truly knows no bounds.”

“Your mouth is remarkably loose.”

“That’s always been my nature. If anything, I’ve actually restrained myself lately.”

“Sigh….”

Glen Zigheart shook his head as though exhausted.

“The Gwahyeolgwi is an excellent swordsmanship text, but it’s extraordinarily ferocious. Do you think Raon will be able to control it properly?”

“Once I’ve given him the text, that’s the end of it. Whether he masters it, loses control, or abandons it—that rests entirely in his hands.”

“Ah….”

Rimer clapped his hands as though impressed.

“For someone speaking so dismissively, you certainly offered sound counsel. Truly, a grandfather’s love for his grandson is—”

“This won’t do.”

Glen Zigheart clicked his tongue and raised his hand.

“Gah!”

Rimer, who had been grinning, suddenly found himself being dragged toward Glen Zigheart as if pulled by invisible threads.

“I showed mercy because you were recovering, and now you’re relentless.”

“Wait, wait just a moment! Patriarch!”

“Since my body has recovered somewhat, I suppose I can take a beating now.”

Rimer struggled, but he couldn’t overcome the force dragging him away.

“Roen! Where did that old man go! Save me…ugh!”

For the first time in nearly thirty years, the sound of Rimer being beaten echoed through the Audience Chamber.

*

*

*

I gathered the sword manual and returned to the Annex Building. Without even stopping by my room, I settled into the Training Courtyard behind it.

‘Let me see….’

As I opened the sword manual, I found a passage written by what appeared to be the author.

-Become a swordsman who devours the sword.

I didn’t understand what it meant, but it felt similar to the advice Glen had given me moments ago.

There was no point wasting time on unclear content. I turned to the next page immediately. Explanations of swordsmanship appeared in text and illustrations.

‘Let me read through this.’

I operated the Ring of Fire while reading the sword technique manual. After five hours had passed in this manner, wonder gleamed in my eyes as I lifted my head.

‘To think they would grant me such exquisite swordsmanship….’

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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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