The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 1078
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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 1078
“Mmm….”
I opened my eyes, releasing a faint groan.
‘Did I lose consciousness?’
I remembered completing the Heart Sword through my training, but everything after that was a blank. It seemed I’d collapsed immediately after manifesting the Heart Sword.
-That’s exactly what happened!
Wrath materialized before my eyes, his brow furrowed.
-How many times did I tell you to sleep while doing this? You fragile fool!
‘There was no choice.’
I pushed myself up from the bed and shook my head.
‘My mind was tingling with anticipation.’
I’d grasped the thread that would allow me to achieve the Heart Sword, and I’d already organized how to create it. There was no room for leisurely rest.
The desire to sleep vanished entirely, consumed by the yearning to forge a Heart Sword of the highest caliber. I poured every moment I would have spent sleeping into perfecting my mental blade, channeling all my focus into its refinement.
‘Where am I….’
This isn’t the Annex Building.
The clean, high ceiling told me I was in the Dormitory at the Training Ground where I’d been staying temporarily.
“Ahhh!”
I stretched and climbed out of bed.
‘Actually, this worked out well. I’ve recovered not just physically, but mentally too.’
The fatigue accumulated from training with Glen and Darkan seemed to have vanished through sleep, leaving both my body and mind refreshed.
[Your resolve strengthens.]
[The power of the Demon Lords grows stronger.]
[Your soul’s rank has increased.]
[The grade of the trait 【Heart Sword】 has risen by two levels.]
I nodded as I reviewed the messages I had seen before losing consciousness.
‘Perfect timing.’
Through training with Glen and Darkan, my resolve and swordsmanship had grown, and the level of Heart Sword had risen dramatically. It felt as though I had achieved everything I desired.
‘Should I head back to training then?’
I wanted to test out Heart Sword and resume training with Glen and Darkan, so I fastened the Heavenly Sword and the Wood Wheel Sword to my waist and headed straight outside.
-Forget training and eat first!
Wrath blocked my path, his brow furrowed.
-It’s not that the True Demon King wants to eat, but rather your body will deteriorate if you don’t take care of it. You’re still growing.
‘I’m already fully grown.’
I shook my head as I observed my tall, well-proportioned frame reflected in the mirror.
‘If I grew any more, I’d be a troll.’
I lowered my hand, saying this was just right.
‘And you should wipe the drool from your mouth before saying such things.’
I wiped the drool trickling from Wrath’s mouth and sighed.
-W-well, let’s just eat anyway! It’s morning time!
‘Fine, fine.’
Unlike usual, Wrath hadn’t complained even after seeing the reward messages and had acknowledged them, so I decided to listen to him today.
I finished washing up lightly and headed toward the Dining Hall of the Main Mansion.
“You’re awake?”
Darkan picked up food from his plate with his hands and ate it, nodding his chin. From his manner, it seemed he still hadn’t broken the habits from his days as a beggar.
“Youth is certainly wonderful. Recovery is fast.”
He smiled wistfully with his twenty-something face, as if envious.
“What are we doing for training today?”
“Of course I’ll participate.”
I received food onto a wide plate and sat across from Darkan.
-Ugh.
Wrath furrowed his brow while looking at the Main Mansion’s Dining Hall menu.
-Why does this place repeat the same menu every day! Chicken stew is always followed by beef stir-fry the next day, and then pork cutlet the day after that!
He sniffled, missing the varied meals from the Annex Building.
‘He certainly has many complaints.’
I left Wrath to his whining and finished my meal quickly.
-Smack smack….
Wrath savored his taste after finishing his rice.
-Still, it’s fortunate that it tastes good.
He nodded his head in satisfaction. Truly a demanding Demon King.
As Darkan and I headed to the Training Ground, Glen was waiting as if he already knew I would come.
“Let’s begin.”
Glen set aside the sense of pride he’d felt last night at the Training Ground, drawing the True Demon Sword with the same cold, measured gaze as always.
“Yes.”
Since that was what I wanted, I nodded calmly and raised the Heavenly Sword.
“I’m coming.”
Glen issued a brief warning before closing in, bringing the True Demon Sword down in a devastating arc. I felt an intensity of will far greater than yesterday.
‘I can block this.’
I resolved not to retreat, summoning both my will and the Demon Lords’ authority simultaneously to meet the Heavenly Sword’s blade.
CLAAAAAANG!
The rising Heavenly Sword collided with the descending True Demon Sword, and a violent crash erupted. It was a sound similar to yesterday’s, yet there was one crucial difference.
SCREEEECH!
I held my ground against Glen’s blade strike, lifting my sword hand upward without yielding an inch.
“Huh?”
Glen’s eyes narrowed in surprise.
“What, what is this! His will has grown that much? Is he not a swordsman but a mage?”
Darkan also clicked his teeth in shock at the development, caught off guard by his own blade’s resistance.
GRRRRGH!
I pressed my lips together as I watched Glen’s True Demon Sword being pushed back by the Heavenly Sword.
‘I never thought it would come to this….’
Thanks to yesterday’s enlightenment, my will had grown stronger, and the Demon Lords’ authority had developed, providing tremendous assistance.
But the greatest force at work right now was the harmony between my will and their authority.
A single crimson thread connected to my soul intertwined with the authorities, unfurling a formidable will.
Crack crack crack crack crack!
For the first time during training, I had forced the Heavenly Sword to retreat.
‘That’s it!’
Glen was naturally controlling his strength, but having passed his test, a smile bloomed across my face unbidden.
“You’re absolutely insane!”
Darkan leaped to his feet in astonishment, clapping his hands.
“What on earth happened?”
His eyes trembled as he insisted this couldn’t be explained by merely honing the Heart Sword.
“Did you achieve an enlightenment different from the Heart Sword?”
Glen’s eyes narrowed with intrigue.
“No. I was able to do this because I realized that the Heart Sword and my will are connected.”
Just as my will manifests my desires into reality, I discovered that the Demon Lords’ authorities seek to draw out my desires.
By carefully combining these two forces—similar yet different—I was able to unleash the power you see now.
“Teach you one thing and you perceive a hundred.”
Darkan’s lips curled upward, satisfied that his instruction bore fruit.
“You’ve grasped the thread of the power you seek.”
Glen nodded with a deep smile, having instantly grasped my state.
“This level won’t suffice anymore.”
He summoned an even more formidable will and aura over the Heavenly Sword than before.
“Ah, I’m not ready for that level yet….”
I watched Glen’s Heavenly Sword blazing with fierce intensity, my jaw trembling slightly.
“We shouldn’t train at a level the Gwangpung Jeonju can barely endure.”
Glen chuckled coldly and shook his head. He seemed to know full well that he was tormenting—no, training the Gwangpung Corps.
-Puhehehehe!
Wrath mocked me while clutching his round belly.
-I knew you’d say that!
The creature laughed at my misfortune.
“Stop wasting time. Let’s go at it like we’re fighting for our lives.”
Glen brought his Heavenly Sword down savagely, declaring he would train me with the same brutal intensity he used for the Gwangpung Hall swordsmen.
“Karma….”
I clenched my teeth as I watched Glen’s Heavenly Sword descend like lightning.
“I accept it gladly!”
*
*
*
After finishing the grueling training with Glen, I sought out Darkan.
“Forget about enlightenment—let’s see how much your swordsmanship has improved.”
Darkan nodded, ready to begin immediately.
“The first technique is the Defensive Sword, the Rosary Wall.”
I nodded and unfurled the Manhwagong’s sword technique, the Flame Barrier Wall.
Whoooosh!
A shield of crimson flames blazed fiercely, as if to protect my entire body.
“Huh…?”
Darkan’s eyebrows furrowed as he observed this.
“What, what is this? Why hasn’t your sword technique improved?”
He tilted his head as if questioning why my sword mastery hadn’t grown.
“Your will grew so much, so why hasn’t your sword technique changed!”
“That’s only natural.”
I let out a dry laugh as I looked at Darkan.
“What I realized yesterday was will and heart sword, not sword technique.”
It was true that my overall power had strengthened after realizing that heart sword and will ultimately converged, but naturally there was no significant change in my sword technique itself.
“Ugh!”
Darkan let out a groan of disappointment.
“I wanted to marvel at something too…”
He clicked his tongue regretfully.
“Aren’t you marveling at something every day?”
I chuckled and swung the Heavenly Sword.
“Your learning speed is getting faster and faster.”
“That’s true. I’ve never seen a monster grow as quickly as you.”
Darkan laughed, noting that only two people had ever called him a monster.
“Second? Then the first one is….”
“Over there.”
He pointed backward with his finger, indicating Glen.
“Your grandfather is also a troublesome monster. Of course, not quite as much as you.”
Darkan shook his head, muttering about what a cursed family this was.
“Let’s start again.”
“Understood.”
I took my stance and unfurled the Flame Barrier.
Whoooosh!
Unlike the first time I had deployed it, I created a square shield capable of protecting a much wider area.
“Again!”
Darkan shook his head as if that wasn’t it.
“I know.”
I said I could feel it myself and unfurled the Flame Barrier once more.
Whoooosh!
This time, the flame shield curved in a graceful arc like a curved blade, rotating with the finesse to not merely block a sword, but to deflect it.
“So it’s not completely unchanged.”
Darkan let out an exclamation of admiration, as if he hadn’t expected me to find the answer so quickly.
“But it’s still crude! Again!”
“Understood.”
Despite having no time to rest, I smiled and repeatedly unfurled the Flame Barrier.
“Is it the will and desire to grow stronger?”
Glen smiled softly as he watched Raon extend his sword without hesitation.
“I’m curious how far you’ll go.”
He lowered his gaze, a hint of bitterness threading through his radiant smile.
‘Whether I’ll live to see it, though… I’m not certain.’
*
*
*
After dinner, Raon stood before Glen and Darkan.
“Now we can finally have a conversation worthy of the occasion.”
Darkan chuckled and lowered his chin.
“Sit.”
Glen waved his hand, gesturing toward the chair behind Raon.
“Yes.”
Raon bowed his head and took the seat across from Glen.
“You understand now that the Sword of the Heart manifests the will dwelling within one’s soul, yes?”
“Yes. I comprehend it.”
Having realized it only yesterday, the understanding still burned vividly in my mind.
“I desired a sword that could cut down any enemy, you yearned for an unbreakable blade, and this madman sought a place where he could fight.”
Glen pointed to himself, then to Raon, and finally to Darkan in turn, explaining the Sword of the Heart each had honed.
“That mysterious power bears a striking resemblance to Sword Realm Manifestation.”
“Huh?”
The moment Raon heard Glen’s words, his eyes widened.
“Now that you mention it….”
The Sword Realm, too, manifested differently in form and expression depending on what the swordmaster desired, appearing in the Direct Line of Zigheart.
Thinking about it now, the Heart Sword—which unfolds the will dwelling in one’s soul through the blade of the heart—and the Sword Realm seemed remarkably similar.
“I agree as well.”
Darkan playfully rode his fingers across the waves.
“I continued researching the Sword Realm, but nothing worked no matter what I tried. However, the moment I grasped the Heart Sword, I felt something within me transform.”
He nodded calmly, as if he’d already discussed this with Glen before.
“That’s why I believe I could harmonize the two.”
Glen nodded his chin, suggesting that by harmonizing the Heart Sword and the Sword Realm, a new form of martial art could be created.
“Then….”
“Perhaps a swordsmanship that transcends even causality itself would be born.”
His eyes gleamed with quiet certainty about that outcome.
“Power that transcends causality, you say….”
Darkan slowly licked his lips with his tongue.
“I want to test it. I want to endure it with my own body directly!”
His hand trembled as he gripped the black sword, speaking with absolute sincerity.
“Die. You demon….”
Raon shook his head in exasperation, telling him to come to his senses.
“Can you reach that level, Head of House?”
I turned my gaze away from the increasingly unhinged Darkan toward Glen.
“No, I cannot reach it.”
Glen lowered his eyes heavily.
“My vessel is already full. I will fade before I can touch that realm.”
He waved his hand as if to say that path was not his own.
“Then….”
“You will be able to walk it in my stead.”
Glen placed his hand on my shoulder as if to express his faith.
“What? How could I possibly do what you couldn’t, Grandfather….”
“Your talent and vessel are far greater than mine. In no distant time, you will surpass me as I am now.”
He smiled gently, as if he was looking forward to that moment.
“I… how could I possibly….”
My lips trembled as I met Glen’s eyes, which shone with trust.
“That’s why he and I are here.”
Glen pointed his finger to indicate himself and Darkan.
“Training in the Heart Sword is simple. It’s nothing more than endlessly refining and honing your soul to sharpen its edge.”
He continued speaking while gripping the hilt of the Heavenly Sword.
“The problem is that it takes time and mental exhaustion prevents prolonged training, but there is a way to solve that.”
As Glen nodded, a chilling shiver ran down my spine.
“Ah….”
My jaw trembled as I watched Glen’s serene eyes.
‘It’s right in front of me now.’
Though invisible to others, I could sense Glen’s Heart Sword hovering before me.
“Draw your sword.”
“Yes…”
I swallowed dryly and summoned my Heart Sword, still in its short blade form.
Invisible to others’ eyes, but to me, the Heart Sword blazed with flames and frost in brilliant clarity.
“Excellent.”
As Darkan smiled and nodded, I felt the magnificent and grand presence of his Heart Sword manifest before him.
“Bring them closer.”
Glen extended his Heart Sword slightly further forward.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Darkan and I nodded, then positioned our Heart Swords beside Glen’s.
Uuuuuuuung!
As the three Heart Swords converged in one place, a mystical resonance bloomed, and white mist spread outward from the Training Ground.
“Soul resonance.”
Glen watched the white currents unfold like a barrier, his expression calm and composed.
“Within this space, the soul loosens, allowing us to hone our Heart Swords far more rapidly.”
He raised a finger, explaining that since this space was created by converging Heart Swords, the soul inevitably became more sensitive.
“Then….”
“Yes. It means not just you, but all of us can accelerate the growth of the Heart Sword.”
Glen drew a faint smile as if asking what I thought.
“Even though it’s small, having one more gathered here changes the space itself.”
Darkan smacked his lips, saying the sensation felt far better than when it was just the two of them with Glen.
“Refine your soul as you normally do and hone your Heart Sword.”
Glen offered his counsel to ignore the outside world and focus inward, then closed his eyes.
“Mm….”
I sat beside Glen and lowered my eyelids. Just as I normally did when training my Heart Sword, I summoned my aura and will, tapping against my soul.
Zzzzzzzzzzang!
Just as Glen said, my soul flowed far more smoothly than before, becoming the blade of my Heart Sword. Within this space, the boundaries of the soul seemed to loosen remarkably.
-What kind of absurd training is this?!
Wrath’s mouth fell open in disbelief.
-This doesn’t make sense! It doesn’t!
‘After all that hard work, I deserve this much, don’t I?’
I chuckled and pushed away the struggling Wrath.
‘Let me taste some sweetness too.’
-You’re always the one eating it! Sucking yesterday, sucking today!
Wrath covered his own mouth with his finger, saying I had no conscience.
-At this rate all your teeth will rot!
‘Ah, so sweet.’
-Arrrgh!
*
*
*
Another week passed, and the month I had promised Glen was finally complete.
“I’m ready.”
I bowed my head to Glen, who stood with his hands clasped behind his back, and to Darkan, who was picking at his ear, before drawing a slow, measured breath.
‘I’ll do exactly as I’ve learned.’
Over the past month, I had cultivated my mental discipline, swordsmanship, and heart-sword technique, elevating my martial prowess to an entirely new tier.
With thorough preparation complete, I felt confident I could overcome the trial Glen had personally designed.
“Then let’s begin.”
An invisible, formless aura materialized before Glen—a supreme heart-sword technique that mercilessly severed the souls of enemies.
“Hah.”
I closed my eyes calmly, then opened them. Extending my hand as if grasping a blade, I summoned the heart-sword I had honed through my very soul.
Before my eyes materialized a heart-sword grown slightly longer than before. The flames and frost dancing along both edges of the blade blazed with an even more radiant luminescence.
“Don’t worry about what’s behind you. Do as you wish.”
Darkan, having summoned his own heart-sword to prevent any unforeseen accidents, gave a subtle nod of his chin.
“I’m coming.”
Glen released a low voice as he unleashed his heart-sword toward me.
Crash!
The heart-sword he had cultivated transcended time and space, erupting before my very soul—a blade as sharp as it was swift, wielded as though he truly intended to strike down his own grandson.
Whoooosh!
The moment Glen’s Heart Sword moved, I lowered my own Heart Sword and positioned it before my soul.
‘I can never win in a direct confrontation.’
Even though Glen was holding back, there was a stark gap between his Heart Sword and mine. I wouldn’t even be able to endure a normal exchange of blows.
‘But there is a way.’
The instant Glen’s Heart Sword thrust toward my soul, I unfurled the Rosary Wall with my own Heart Sword.
Hummmmm!
The curved shield formed from my soul rotated its curved surface as if blocking had never been its true purpose, smoothly deflecting Glen’s Heart Sword.
Clang!
Glen’s Heart Sword, which had been aimed at my soul, sliced through empty air and dissipated pathetically.
“Haaah….”
I fell to my knees, cold sweat pouring down my face.
‘Did I… actually block it?’
Until now, Darkan had protected me in dangerous moments, but this was the first time I had directly deflected Glen’s Heart Sword myself.
After hundreds of attempts, I succeeded just once. And only because Glen was holding back considerably, but it was a tremendous achievement for me.
“You actually pulled it off!”
Darkan slapped my back in disbelief.
“You’re truly insane!”
He showered me with praise in a voice loud enough to burst his vocal cords.
“The harmony of ten thousand swords learned from Darkan, the strengthening of will gained from me, and the growth of your Heart Sword achieved between them.”
Glen extended his hand toward me.
“You’ve poured everything you’ve learned over this past month into that. Magnificent!”
He transformed his rigid expression into a radiant smile, genuinely moved by what he’d witnessed.
“It’s all thanks to both of you for teaching me so well.”
I grasped Glen’s hand and rose to my feet, bowing my head respectfully.
“I enjoyed it too. Teaching was its own reward. I gained plenty from this myself.”
Darkan chuckled, saying he’d obtained interesting things from the experience.
“I too have felt the benefits. Though this training was for you, it has aided me as well.”
Glen smiled faintly, clearly satisfied with himself.
“You’ve worked hard. Sylvia and Sia have been lingering about so much wanting to see you that you should return to them now.”
Glen nodded his chin, declaring the month-long training complete.
-Finally, I’m going home!
Wrath began dancing with jubilation.
-Home-cooked meals! I can finally eat home-cooked meals!
The creature’s eyes reddened as he lamented nearly dying from missing the Annex Building’s cuisine. Crying over food—still an unadapted Demon Lord, this one.
“Thank you for everything.”
I bowed respectfully to Glen and Darkan.
“Drop the formality. Honorifics make me cringe.”
Darkan waved his hand dismissively, clearly uncomfortable with the formal speech.
“Wait. I should tell you this beforehand. Starting tomorrow….”
Glen continued in a light tone, as if suggesting we could discuss it over drinks tomorrow instead.
“We will begin the selection of a successor.”
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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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