The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 102

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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 102

A flame of exhilaration ignited in Raon’s eyes as he closed the swordsmanship manual.

‘It was Sensory Swordsmanship.’

Sensory Swordsmanship was a form of sword technique that didn’t rely on repetitive drilling of sword forms, but rather elevated one’s mastery through actual combat experience.

The very technique that had nearly allowed the trainees of the 6th Training Ground to defeat Burren was Sensory Swordsmanship.

It could be applied in real combat immediately upon learning, and its progression was remarkably swift. A superior-grade Sensory Swordsmanship was a treasure that couldn’t be obtained even with vast wealth.

‘This is among the highest tiers of Sensory Swordsmanship.’

I could discern this because I had studied Sensory Swordsmanship in my previous life. Fang of Madness was a technique of such elevated caliber that it deserved to be called superior-grade Sensory Swordsmanship.

‘But it’s savage.’

Though it was a treasure beyond price, it was extraordinarily ferocious.

Fang of Madness—true to its name, the technique carried an overwhelming intent to drive the blade straight into an opponent’s throat.

‘I need to be careful.’

Mastering Sensory Swordsmanship incorrectly could result in the blade finding my own throat instead of my opponent’s. I would need to study it with utmost caution.

Raon opened the manual again and resumed reading, meticulously examining each passage to ensure nothing escaped his notice.

‘Something feels off.’

Each time I read through the manual, a tingling sensation crept across the back of my head. This Fang of Madness technique seemed to contain more than just Sensory Swordsmanship—something else was woven into it.

‘Though I can’t determine what it is.’

I examined every illustration and character meticulously, yet I couldn’t identify what I was overlooking.

“Regardless, I’ve obtained something valuable.”

When I arrive at Habun Castle, I must wield my sword as naturally as I breathe. If I find myself in combat there, I may finally complete this Sensory Blade.

‘First, the stance.’

I set the sword manual on the floor and stood. Gripping my blade, I practiced the fundamental posture of the Sensory Blade one by one, just as the book showed.

In any swordsmanship, the foundation is paramount. Without perfecting the basic stance, one cannot advance to applications. The simpler the form of a sensory blade, the more critical the fundamentals became.

I studied the manual and practiced until I achieved a flawless stance, then sheathed my sword.

Now that I had the stance down, it was time for actual combat. There was no point in learning a sensory blade alone.

‘Real combat, then….’

I tapped the sword at my waist with a slight smile.

“It wouldn’t be bad to spar with those guys again after so long.”

*

*

*

The next day.
After finishing my dawn cultivation, I headed to the 5th Training Ground. The training ground was empty.

I warmed up lightly and was releasing the stances and incantations of the Sensory Blade I had learned yesterday when the training ground door opened and Burren walked in.

“I thought I was the first one here….”

Burren frowned and began warming up. Since training was voluntary, few people came even as time passed.

I refined the basic stance of the Sensory Blade thoroughly and observed Burren. Seeing him practicing an unfamiliar sword technique, it seemed he too had learned a new swordsmanship.

After watching Burren’s training for a moment, I resumed practicing the Sensory Blade. About two hours had passed when the training ground door opened roughly. Rimer walked in with his hands clasped behind his back.

“You two are as consistent as ever.”

He walked with a lazy gait, yawning—the very picture of an unemployed vagrant. Yet his left eye was slightly darkened, as if bruised.

Did he get beaten up at the Gambling House?

“I’ll be fine. If anything comes up….”

As he walked toward the Chief Instructor’s Office, Raon stepped into his path.

“Would you spar with me?”
“Spar? With whom?”

Rimer turned his head, searching for his opponent. But no one raised their hand.

“With Burren.”
“Huh? Me?”

Burren’s eyes widened like a full moon in shock.

“Out of the blue?”
“Do you refuse?”
“No, no! I don’t!”

Burren shook his head rapidly.

“I’ll do it! Yes, I will!”

This was an opportunity he couldn’t miss.
Since the temporary trainee exam where he’d been thoroughly beaten, he’d never fought Raon again. He knew Raon was strong, but he desperately wanted to test himself against him once more.

“Tch, what a bother.”

Rimer scratched his cheek and frowned.

“Instructor.”
“Fine, fine. Get ready.”
“Yes!”

Burren nodded and sprinted toward the center of the Training Ground.

“Aren’t you going?”
“Instructor. Just in case I end up hurting Burren, please stop me.”
“Stop you?”
“Yes.”

This was precisely why I hadn’t requested a sparring match with Burren until Rimer arrived.

Sensory Blade was a sword technique difficult to control. One misstep could inflict serious wounds on Burren.

“Ugh, what a hassle….”
“I’m asking you, please.”

I lowered my head and made my way toward the makeshift sparring arena. Even with such a request, Rimer was someone I could trust to intervene decisively.

I picked up a practice sword with its edge unsharpened and faced off against Burren. All the trainees who had been training stepped back to observe the two of us.

“Sigh, let the match… begin.”

Rimer raised his hand while making it abundantly clear he didn’t want to be here.

“Don’t use lethal techniques. Swing your blades for the sake of improvement.”
“Yes!”
“Yes.”
“Anything you want to say to each other?”

He flicked his fingers as if to hurry things along.

“I’ll be using a new sword technique. It could be dangerous, so be careful.”
“I’ll use what I’ve been training with. Today will be different from back then.”

I mentioned the new sword technique, and Burren said he would use the technique he’d been practicing.

“That’s settled then? Begin!”

With those words, Rimer lowered his hand, and both Burren and I kicked off the ground simultaneously.

*

*

*

Grrk!

Burren Zigheart clenched his teeth.

‘This is my chance.’

Ever since his defeat at Raon’s hands, he had dreamed of facing him in combat every single day.

The boy’s growth was dazzling, but I had not stopped striving either. I would not fall as pathetically as before.

“Hraaaaah!”

Burren Zigheart drew upon the Kirin Swordsmanship he had learned in his direct lineage training, not the newly acquired technique.

Whoooosh!

His blade gained speed, infused with the will to victory. The sword edge reached toward Raon’s brow in an instant.

‘What?’

Burren Zigheart’s eyes widened. Before his blade could touch Raon, the boy’s sword rose like lightning.

Clang!

A violent collision erupted, and both blades’ trajectories twisted simultaneously.

“Ugh….”

Burren Zigheart retreated swiftly, biting his lip.

‘He’s attacking first?’

Raon had always fought by analyzing his opponent first, then moving accordingly. For him to strike first—it was unexpected.

“Good! I’ll meet your challenge!”

As Burren Zigheart regained control of his retreating blade, Raon stomped forward and charged.

I unleashed the second form of Kirin swordsmanship against Raon’s blade cascading down in diagonal slashes.

Clang!

My hand trembled under the raw power contained in Raon’s strike. But what truly unsettled me wasn’t the blade’s force alone.

It was Raon’s ferocious momentum. The savage intensity radiating from him—so unlike anything I’d witnessed before—sent chills crawling down my spine.

Clang! Crash!

I gritted my teeth, desperately parrying the storm of blade strikes pouring down from Raon.

‘I didn’t train all this time just to lose like this!’

I drew every ounce of aura I possessed. The rotational force beginning from my lower body flowed through my arms and into the blade I wielded, releasing it with full force.

Kirin swordsmanship. Absolute Laceration.

The spinning blade shot toward Raon with devastating rotational power.

“Hah….”

Raon didn’t retreat. Instead, he charged forward with even more savage ferocity, meeting my Absolute Laceration head-on.

Clang! Crash!

He brought his sword down repeatedly, tearing through the vital points as if a beast were savagely mauling with its fangs.

But even after eating Raon’s black flesh, it couldn’t satisfy its hunger. It charged toward Burren to chew on larger prey.

“Profit!”

Burren Zigheart ground his teeth sharply. He lowered his center of gravity and thrust his sword forward, imbuing it with the sharpness of the wind.

Cuckoo!

He unleashed the most powerful sword strike he could muster at that moment, but Raon’s blade was drawn with even greater ferocity.

That’s crazy!

The vicious momentum embedded in Raon’s blade tore through Burren’s final strike with contemptuous ease.

‘What… what is that sword!’

Burren’s jaw dropped. Raon’s blade moved like a viper, seeking only the gaps in his swordsmanship. It was fast, relentless, and overwhelming—there was no escape.

“Hgh!”

Burren tried desperately to swing his sword, but Raon’s blade was faster.

A flash of steel erupted before his eyes. The blade surged toward his face.

‘Not yet!’

In the past, he would have closed his eyes. But Burren was different now. He twisted his body forcefully and retreated. Yet Raon’s blade pursued as if anticipating every move—like a living predator.

Clang!

Raon’s sword pierced through the hastily erected defense and surged toward his throat. The momentum showed no sign of relenting.

‘Insane! This is supposed to be a sparring match!’

As Burren screamed internally, a blue wind erupted.

Crash!

With a violent metallic screech, Raon was sent flying backward.

“Tch…”

Rimer stood before Burren with an annoyed expression.

“Thank you.”

Raon staggered to his feet and bowed to Rimer.

“You bastard! Were you trying to kill me!”

Burren pointed a trembling finger at Raon.

“I told you to be careful since you’re not used to the sword yet.”
“That’s just a normal greeting!”
“I was serious.”

Raon brushed the dust from his clothes and spoke matter-of-factly.

“This crazy bastard….”

Burren Zigheart, still not fully composed, was using the crude language he normally despised most.

“Well, that’s it then?”

Rimer sheathed his sword and yawned.

“I’m going to bed then….”
“Not yet.”

Raon blocked Rimer’s path and shook his head.

“Huh? There’s no one left to spar with. And Burren doesn’t seem willing?”
“There are people over there.”

He turned and pointed to the trainees who had been watching from the sidelines.

“U-us?”
“Why us?”

The trainees who had suddenly been singled out took steps backward, retreating.

“I’m supposedly the chief trainee, yet I’ve paid you all too little attention. It would be good to assess your abilities before we depart.”
“No, I….”
“Huh? What?”
“Wait, just a moment! I have something at the Dormitory….”
“I reject your rejection. Crain, you go first.”

Raon rejected their refusals outright and dragged over Crain, the easiest target.

“Wait, are you really serious about this?”

Crain’s lips trembled. After witnessing that ferocious swordplay, the thought of actually fighting seemed insane.

“S-someone help! Burren Zigheart!”
“Hmm….”

Crain pleaded for assistance, but Burren Zigheart simply turned away, pretending not to hear.

“Instructor?”
“Well, it is a bit troublesome for me, but facing such swordplay will definitely sharpen your skills.”

Rimer also urged him to hurry and pushed Crain’s back forward.

“Don’t worry. The instructor will stop it if things get dangerous.”

Raon smiled and drew his blade.

“Then let’s begin.”
“Aaaahhhhh!”

That day, the screams of trainees echoed endlessly through the 5th Training Ground.

*

*

*

“Tsk.”

Raon sat sprawled across the Training Ground, clicking his tongue. The vast arena lay empty, with only him remaining in solitary silence.

“It’s becoming difficult to even find sparring partners now.”

For two weeks, I had been coming to the Training Ground daily, continuously sparring with the trainees.

I had thought it was a brilliant strategy—raising the trainees’ skills while simultaneously advancing my Wrath Sword mastery. But it seemed that was merely my own wishful thinking.
Now, two weeks later, no one would face me anymore.

Burren Zigheart hadn’t returned to the Training Ground after seven matches, and Martha had vanished after her tenth defeat, screaming something unintelligible.

And Lunan Slion was watching me from halfway behind the doorframe of the Training Ground.

“Aren’t you sparring anymore?”

The way he asked suggested the shock had been quite significant.

“No.”

I nodded, and Lunan Slion entered the Training Ground. He approached with quick steps and sat beside me.

“Sigh…”

I shook my head.

‘Sparring with the trainees has become impossible.’

While they feared me, the gap in our abilities had grown so wide that it no longer held any meaning.

‘Still, I’ve learned something.’

Through sparring with the trainees, I had come to understand the nature of the Fang Sword.

‘A ferocious wolf.’

The Fang Sword was a terrifying technique that hunted for disruptions or weaknesses in an opponent’s swordplay and tore them apart with relentless precision.

The trainees feared not just the brutality of the Fang Sword itself, but that instinctive ability to find their weaknesses.

Of course, Burren Zigheart and Martha would occasionally return to challenge me again before fleeing.

‘But…’

I glanced sideways at Lunan Slion sitting beside me. Unlike Burren Zigheart and Martha, she had not asked to fight again after our single match.

In fact, she seemed uncomfortable with sparring against me altogether.

“Lunan Slion.”
“Yes?”
“Would you spar—”

Before the word “sparring match” even left his lips, Lunan Slion slid smoothly away. He demonstrated a remarkable footwork technique while keeping his buttocks firmly planted in his chair.

“I’m not doing it. I won’t.”

The moment I refused, Lunan Slion pressed himself back against my side.

‘It must be because of Siria Slion.’

Siria Slion. That madman had apparently made Lunan Slion so wary that he didn’t even want to spar with his close friends.

-If it were I, I could face you all night long. Of course, you would be crushed to death beneath my pinky finger.
‘You could face me?’
-That’s right. Hand over your body. I shall create a mental realm and—
‘Rejected.’
-You, you wretch! I was being sincere….

I waved my hand fan and sent Wrath flying far away. The creature cursed as he drifted on the wind, but I ignored him. He’d be back soon enough anyway.

“Sigh….”

I exhaled deeply.

‘Setting that aside, how should I train now?’

Just as I was pondering how to increase my proficiency with the Radiant Sword, the Training Ground door burst open with a bang.

“Hey, I can hear your sighs all the way from my room!”

It was Rimer. He scratched his head vigorously as he approached and stood before me.

“You don’t have a sparring partner, right?”
“That’s correct. They’ve all fled.”
“Well then….”

He grinned wickedly and pointed at himself with his finger.

“Let’s fight.”

—————
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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