The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 1082
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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 1082
“A secret of the Holy Ground?”
I narrowed my eyes sharply.
“Which Holy Ground are you talking about?”
“Obviously, the Holy Sword Association Holy Ground.”
Darkan raised both arms as if asking whether there was any other place besides the Holy Sword Association Holy Ground.
“That’s where we met again, isn’t it?”
He tilted his chin, urging me to recall the memory.
“I remember. But…”
I gazed at Darkan’s eye patch, fluttering in the breeze.
“Why are you asking me about the secret of the Holy Sword Association Holy Ground?”
Through memories of the past, I knew that the First Patriarch of Zigheart and his companions had created the Holy Sword Association Holy Ground, but I had no desire to reveal it.
“Hmm?”
Darkan wiped his eye patch while looking at me.
“Somehow it feels like a lie.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Just my intuition.”
He smiled wryly, claiming his senses never lied.
‘Tch…’
I swallowed dryly, watching Darkan tilt his head in confusion.
‘That ghost-like bastard.’
After abandoning his eyes, his sixth sense had supposedly become eerily sharp, but it seemed he possessed an even more formidable spiritual perception than Dorian.
“Stop wasting time with useless talk. What’s the point about that Holy Ground?”
I redirected the conversation back to Darkan’s original purpose.
“Well, it doesn’t really matter anyway.”
Darkan waved his hand dismissively.
“Because it’s you.”
His lips curled upward as if to say he trusted whatever I decided to do.
“Hmm….”
A faint sigh escaped me.
‘That’s genuine.’
There wasn’t the slightest wavering in Darkan’s voice. It meant he truly believed in me. I hadn’t expected to receive such trust from the Black Night Sword God, so I felt somewhat taken aback.
“The Holy Sword Association’s Holy Ground exists for one purpose: to protect.”
Darkan drew a small circle with the fingers holding his black sword.
“Isn’t that obvious?”
I let out a hollow laugh.
“They’ve even laid down the highest-tier barriers to shield the interior from external threats, and given that its location is hidden, there’s nothing more to say about it.”
If that was a secret, then the Annex Building’s breakfast menu was a secret too, I scoffed.
“You don’t understand.”
Darkan clicked his tongue briefly.
“That land wasn’t created to block external enemies. It’s a prison designed to prevent anything inside from escaping.”
He shook his head, saying my very thinking was flawed.
“What…?”
My lips trembled faintly.
“You’re saying it doesn’t block external enemies, but rather prevents something inside from leaving?”
“The Barrier suspended in the sky and the Formation behind Stone Mountain—all of it proves my words. That place exists to contain something.”
Darkan nodded, saying that because he’d lost his eyes, he could feel the difference vividly.
‘Wrath.’
I shifted my gaze toward Wrath.
-B-But the True Demon King didn’t know?
Wrath blinked his massive eyes as if completely oblivious.
-I’ve said it before—the True Demon King doesn’t consider Barriers or Formations as weapons!
He turned away his gaze, disinterested in such trivial matters.
‘So he’s useless here.’
-Y-You rotten bastard!
‘Move aside.’
I left Wrath grinding his teeth and turned back to Darkan.
“Since I barely figured it out myself, your grandfather wouldn’t know.”
Darkan chuckled, saying Lectar would know nothing of this.
“Then who was the being that went so far as to establish the Holy Ground while sealing that land?”
I posed the most crucial question.
“I don’t know either.”
Darkan shook his head calmly.
“You don’t know?”
“That’s right. I have no idea where or how it appears. Truth be told, this place is nearly a thousand years old—the entity that was supposed to be guarded here may have already died or vanished long ago.”
He shook his head, saying he’d searched the Holy Ground thoroughly but found no special presence anywhere.
-The True Demon King sensed nothing there either.
Wrath brushed his hand dismissively, saying that while he couldn’t speak to the barrier, his senses detected no entity within it.
“Then why tell me about something that’s already disappeared?”
Raon narrowed his eyes at Darkan.
“I wasn’t planning to tell you the truth. As you said, it’s already certain that it’s gone. But…”
Darkan twisted his lips into a smile as he looked at Raon.
“I felt something while observing Zigheart, and I wanted to tell you about it.”
“Something you felt?”
“This Zigheart, you see….”
He turned his gaze and swept across the panorama of Zigheart.
“It bears many similarities to the Holy Sword Association’s Holy Ground.”
“What…?”
Raon’s eyes widened as he stared at Darkan.
“These newly constructed things emit nothing….”
Darkan raised his finger, pointing to the Patriarch’s Hall in the Main Mansion and Bekmang Mountain behind it.
“But those ancient structures emanate a scent similar to the Holy Ground. The Training Hall, the Family Head’s Training Ground, and especially that thousand-year-old tree—the aroma is particularly potent there. In my opinion….”
He tapped his temple as if pointing to his mind.
“The person who created Zigheart and the person who created the Holy Sword Association’s Holy Ground are likely connected in some way. They could even be the same individual.”
Darkan nodded, speaking with near certainty.
“….”
I forced my wildly racing heart to settle.
‘Is this madman obsessed with this sort of thing too?’
Tracking the Zigheart Ancestor using nothing but his own senses—it was an ability that bordered on the astounding.
“Well, it could be wrong too.”
Darkan smacked his lips, cautioning me not to take his words as absolute truth.
“If I’m wrong, it’d be embarrassing, so keep this between us. I’ll see you around then.”
He waved his hand as if he’d said all he needed to say, then walked toward the Main Mansion.
“….”
I watched his retreating figure, my lips pressing together slightly.
‘I need to tell Grandfather about this.’
Though I didn’t know exactly what was happening, it seemed wise to relay what Darkan had said to Lectar.
“All done?”
Evelyn approached with her brow furrowed.
“Yeah. All done.”
I nodded in response.
“Huff!”
Dorian arrived late, exhaling heavily. Sweat beaded on his forehead—he’d clearly run at full speed.
“I-I’m sorry for being late.”
“Then why did you do something you need to apologize for?”
I tapped my wrist, reminding Dorian to keep our time commitments.
“S-Sorry! The sudden departure meant I had so much to prepare!”
Dorian wiped the sweat trickling down his forehead, muttering about how exhausting it had been to gather supplies because of a certain someone.
“And that certain someone isn’t me, right?”
“…N-No, absolutely not you.”
“Right.”
I turned my gaze away, pretending not to notice.
-Insane and filthy bastard…
Wrath squeezed his eyes shut, fed up.
“Now that Dorian has arrived, I’ll ask the Chief Steward to open the gate!”
Yua rushed toward the outer wall, saying she’d call Iliun herself.
“M-Me too!”
Julius blinked rapidly before matching pace with Yua.
“The conversation took a while, didn’t it? Sorry about that.”
I waved my hand at Evelyn.
“It’s fine. I heard everything.”
Evelyn laughed, saying she’d heard it all despite Darkan’s barrier.
“Wh-What?”
My mouth fell open as I stared at Evelyn.
“You heard all of that?”
The transcendent being was struck speechless, and I couldn’t fathom how she’d overheard. The true monster was right here.
“I’ll deliver the news to my great-grandfather myself.”
Evelyn knew everything already, so she insisted I leave it to her and wrote a letter directly to Lectar.
“Ah….”
I blinked blankly.
‘How did she find out about that?’
Only Wrath knew about my correspondence with Lectar, yet somehow Evelyn had discovered it. A chill ran down my spine.
-The True Demon King said it himself! That woman is the greatest stalker under heaven! Even your grandfather can’t keep up with her!
Wrath immediately urged me to flee, tapping my shoulder frantically.
‘How do you escape from the greatest stalker under heaven….’
I shook my head, accepting that I’d be caught eventually anyway.
‘But more than that….’
I narrowed my eyes, recalling what Darkan had mentioned about the Holy Sword Association Holy Ground.
‘I’m curious what the First Patriarch created the Holy Sword Association Holy Ground to seal away.’
*
*
*
“I’m here!”
Darkan opened the Audience Chamber door without knocking, his voice booming like a cannon.
“….”
Glen lowered the hand that had been propping up his chin as he watched Darkan approach across the crimson carpet.
“Are you leaving?”
His eyes gleamed with noble composure, as though he already understood the reason for Darkan’s visit.
“To recognize it so quickly—truly, the Head of House is remarkable.”
Darkan nodded, acknowledging Glen’s perceptiveness.
“It seems the time has come to consolidate the insights I’ve gained here.”
He smiled, saying that he might be able to reclaim the martial power he’d lost to Derus.
“Was it not a permanent loss?”
Glen’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“It is permanent. My upper dantian and heart sword still bear those holes. However….”
Darkan’s lips curved upward as he gazed at Glen.
“Thanks to you, Raon, and the swordsmen of this family, I believe I can fill those voids. More than mere restoration—I can grow beyond what I was before.”
He nodded, saying that his instincts spoke to him of this truth.
“Even the ordinary swordsmen?”
Glen’s eyebrows lowered in surprise.
“Yes. The swordsmen of Zigheart may be weak, but each possesses their own unique swordsmanship and breathing technique. When I witness such things, my heart stirs.”
Darkan’s lips curved upward as he spoke of how much he’d enjoyed training alongside swordsmen whose blades were truly alive.
“You truly love the sword.”
Glen drew a faint smile.
It wasn’t a lie.
Darkan, whom I now saw clearly, was merely a madman who loved the sword. Of course, the sword blessed and loved him in return.
“I’m grateful to you and Raon as well. Thanks to a month of training, I’ve rediscovered the path I must walk.”
Darkan extended his gratitude even to Raon, who wasn’t present.
“We’ve simply helped each other. Such formalities aren’t necessary.”
Glen shook his head calmly.
“There’s a significant difference between speaking and remaining silent.”
Darkan tapped his lips with his finger as if to emphasize the point.
“Now that I think about it, Darkan. If we had met in a different way…”
Glen drew a faint smile.
“We might have become better friends.”
“Are you speaking of friendship?”
Darkan let out a laugh similar to Glen’s.
“The definition of friendship I know is someone with whom you can share your heart. Haven’t we already achieved that?”
He shrugged as if to say they had shared their hearts by clashing their swords.
“If you see it that way, you’re not wrong.”
Glen nodded plainly. His regard for Darkan had grown slightly deeper. He even felt a poignant reluctance, as if bidding farewell to a true friend.
“When we meet next time, we’ll settle things once and for all. Until then, don’t ascend to the heavens, don’t die to anyone, and wait for me.”
Darkan spread a cold smile, suggesting that their next meeting would be a battle to the death.
“Don’t you dare die either.”
Glen chuckled and shook his head.
“I won’t die. I survived your heart sword, after all.”
Darkan waved his hand as if to say there was nothing to worry about, then turned away.
“I’m going.”
Despite having no eyes, he drew a vivid smile as though he could see Glen’s laughter, and left the Audience Chamber.
“Well then….”
In the blink of an eye, Darkan ascended to the peak of Bekmang Mountain and felt the wind of the Northern Sea undulating in the distance.
“Where should I go?”
*
*
*
“Habun Castle….”
I gazed at the white castle wall stained with frozen crimson blood and exhaled a plume of white breath.
“It remains unchanged.”
Habun Castle still radiated an imposing majesty that seemed absolutely impenetrable. Seeing the castle wall I had defended alongside the knights, a smile naturally bloomed across my face.
“Was this where we first met?”
Evelyn pulled out a doll wearing a witch’s mask and waved it.
“Those days were wonderful. I was truly happy then….”
She smacked her lips as if reminiscing about that period.
“It c-couldn’t have been pleasant for you….”
I turned my trembling eyes away. It was where Evelyn’s obsession had begun, and it remained etched only in terror.
“Who goes there!”
The Rangers atop the castle wall spotted me and my companions, drawing their arrows while shouting a warning. Contrary to expectations, their guard was remarkably tight.
“Uncles! It’s me! Yua!”
Yua stepped forward, waving her hand.
“Huh? Yua?”
“It really is Yua!”
“Wait, hold on! That person!”
“It’s Raon Zigheart! The Gwangpung Jeonju has arrived!”
The Rangers cried out in astonishment at my appearance.
“Raon came? Where did that nonsense come from… Gasp!”
Terian, the Deputy Lord of Habun Castle standing atop the wall, widened his eyes.
“No, it’s really true! Open the gates at once!”
At his cry, the gates of Habun Castle—which seemed as though they could never be broken—swung open.
“We greet the Gwangpung Jeonju!”
The Rangers and knights of Habun Castle bowed deeply before me.
“I haven’t come in my capacity as Gwangpung Jeonju, so please rise.”
I told them not to burden themselves and quickly turned my gaze elsewhere.
‘What’s this?’
The atmosphere seemed wrong.
Ever since I entrusted the management of the monsters to Sloth, the conflicts occurring in Habun Castle had diminished noticeably, yet most of the people I saw now bore injuries.
“Raon!”
Terian waved his hand toward me.
“Ah, now that I’ve become the Room of Self, I suppose I should speak more formally.”
He lowered his head as if acknowledging his mistake.
“No, please. Treat me as you always have.”
I laughed, asking him to continue speaking to me as before.
“Are you certain?”
Terian smiled, his eyes weary with exhaustion.
“Yes, I prefer it that way. But what happened while I was gone…?”
“Grandfather!”
As I was about to ask Terian a question, Yua rushed deeper into the castle.
“Oh, my precious granddaughter!”
Yua’s Grandfather, the manager of the tavern Frost’s Branch, spread his arms wide and embraced her.
“I can barely lift you now!”
He lifted her slightly with a radiant smile.
“It’s been a long time.”
I bowed my head respectfully to Yua’s Grandfather.
“Please, don’t do that, my benefactor!”
Yua’s Grandfather exclaimed that it was too much, bowing even deeper than I had.
“Oh my…”
He straightened his back, but lost his balance and stumbled backward.
“B-Be careful!”
Julius rushed forward and steadied Yua’s Grandfather.
“You are….”
“My friend!”
Yua laughed, pointing at Julius.
“F-Friend….”
Julius’s expression hardened like dried plaster.
“Yeah. A friend who can do anything for me!”
Yua laughed, emphasizing that he was more than just a simple friend.
“O-Oh….”
The moment Julius heard Yua’s words, his jaw trembled and his face flushed crimson once more. He was an honest fellow whose emotions were written plainly across his features.
“I see. Thank you.”
Yua’s Grandfather thanked Julius and patted his shoulder.
“Come this way. I’ll prepare a hearty meal for you all.”
He rolled up his sleeves, declaring he would prepare a magnificent feast.
-Whoooosh!
Wrath whistled and lifted his head.
-It’s been so long since I’ve eaten at Frost’s Branch!
He licked his lips in anticipation.
“I should meet with the Castle Lord first before heading there.”
I stated that I would meet with Milend, the Castle Lord of Habun Castle, before coming to find him, and bowed my head.
“Ah, that’s right. Understood. Then I’ll prepare in the meantime.”
Yua’s Grandfather nodded and led Yua and Julius toward Frost’s Branch.
“I’ll guide Father there.”
Terian gestured with his chin for me to follow.
“Let’s go too.”
I signaled Dorian and Evelyn before following behind Terian.
“Say…”
Walking shoulder to shoulder with Terian, I turned only my eyes to the right.
“It seems a battle took place not long ago. Was it serious?”
I slightly frowned as I caught the scent of blood and the stench of corpses drifting from various places.
“Father will explain, but the situation isn’t good.”
Terian’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me.
“It’s not just recently—monsters are pouring out every single day. And what’s worse…”
He bit his lip hard enough to draw blood, his expression grave.
“They’re stronger and more numerous than when you were here before.”
“I see…”
My fingertips trembled as I gazed toward the distant Northern Sea mountains.
‘Could it be Sloth?’
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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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