The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 1146
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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 1146
“You would defy the Dragon Lord’s orders?”
I nodded calmly as I listened to Barthius’s cold voice.
‘Just as I expected.’
Through my duels with Barthius and the other dragons, I had come to understand their personalities and inclinations.
I had sensed they were different from the other dragons I’d encountered before, and as anticipated, they seemed intent on walking a different path.
“You don’t seem surprised.”
Barthius narrowed his eyes as he looked at me.
“Did you know?”
“I felt it in your combat style.”
I offered Barthius and the dragons standing behind him a thin smile.
“That you wish to live differently from the Dragon Lord and the ancient dragons.”
Barthius and the other mature dragons did not rely solely on their innate magical power. Instead, they demonstrated unconventional combat methods using magic and abilities they had developed themselves.
Though they lacked the devastating force of ancient dragons, fighting them was far more difficult and troublesome.
-Damn it all!
Wrath’s clenched fist trembled.
-These lizards are impossible to hate!
He squeezed his eyes shut, frustrated at why these dragons possessed such admirable character.
‘That’s right. They’re different from those worthless Dragon Lords and ancient dragons.’
Unlike the trash Dragon Lords and ancient dragons, Barthius and the mature dragons spread no malice into the world, showed no cowardice by shirking their duty, and did not reveal themselves only when circumstances favored them.
They were beings with no reason to be hated or despised.
“I see.”
Barthius drew a faint smile, as if he sensed the goodwill woven into Raon’s words.
“Of course I have to be different from those old fools! They’re not worth learning from!”
The Red Dragon named Balashiur exhaled a long breath through his nostrils.
“You picked up on that? You’ve got good eyes!”
The Blue Dragon Sirtiren burst into a refreshing laugh and clapped his hands together.
“I too could read your conviction through our duel. This is an emotion only those who have fought directly can understand.”
The White Dragon Busiharabi lowered his gaze calmly.
“Hmph! You came all this way and even challenged us to a fight, so of course we’d understand.”
The Black Dragon Dariauran nodded while rubbing the back of his head where Raon had struck him.
“But I want to know the reason.”
I looked at Barthius and the other dragons in turn.
“Why would you defy the Lord’s command?”
These ancient dragons could remain idle until the war began without suffering any harm, so I couldn’t understand why they would step forward and defy the Lord’s orders.
“Dragons are an individualistic race.”
When Barthius spread his fingers, images of countless dragons materialized and scattered in different directions.
“Even if they are elders of an ancient clan, there is no need to unconditionally obey their words.”
He nodded, saying that their relationships differed from those of humans.
“But the Lord’s command is different.”
The images of dragons that had left Barthius’s hand gathered back toward him.
“The Dragon Lord is the leader recognized by all dragons, so the principle is to follow his orders above all else.”
He explained that this was why he had been hiding himself all this time, following the Dragon Lord’s commands.
“If it’s a principle, then it ranks higher than orders. So why would you break it?”
Raon lowered his chin, telling him to get to the main point.
“Because they are cowards.”
Barthius voiced the emotion he had harbored while observing the dragons over the years.
“Cowards?”
“Yes.”
He clenched his fist so tightly that a sound escaped, as if the very thought irritated him.
“Dragons are the mediators of this Continent, of this Dimension. They are a magnificent race that prevents interference from other dimensions and maintains the natural flow of this world.”
Barthius looked up at the sky and exhaled heavily.
“That’s why they are the first to step forward and risk their lives fighting when the Demon Lords descend. Without such a purpose, there would be no need to be born as strong as they are.”
He spoke of the dragons’ reason for existence, then furrowed his brow deeply.
“Yet the Lord and the elders of the clan ignore that purpose and pursue only their own desires. They flee in fear of the Demon Lords, they pressure humans with their strength, and under the guise of mediators, they have begun committing despicable acts!”
Barthius spoke the word “pressure” while gazing intently at Raon.
“Even so, I could understand it up to that point. Given our race’s individualistic nature, I thought it pathetic, but not enough to disobey the Lord’s orders.”
He gritted his teeth, saying that what came next was truly something to be angry about.
“Right. It’s shameful, but the instinct to preserve one’s life is a fundamental drive of all living beings.”
The Blue Dragon Sirtiren shrugged his shoulders.
“I was annoyed by that too! I wanted to burn it all to ash!”
The Red Dragon Balashiur shook his head firmly, refusing to accept it from that point onward.
“Regardless, the reason we decided to defy the Lord’s orders was not because of the Demon Lords. Rather….”
Barthius raised a finger and pointed toward the sky.
“It was because of the Archangels and the Celestial Race.”
His brow furrowed deeply as he laid bare his fury.
“As I said, dragons serve as mediators and must prevent beings from other dimensions from interfering in this world. In other words, not only the Demon Lords of the Demon Realm are targets for elimination—the Archangels and the Celestial Race must be removed as well.”
Barthius growled like a beast as he uttered the Archangels’ name.
“If the Archangels were also supposed to be your targets for salvation….”
Raon let out a hollow laugh as he listened to Barthius’s words.
“You’ve been pretending not to see all this time?”
The Dragon Lord had not concerned himself with the Archangels’ descent, unlike when the Demon Lords descended.
I had thought he accepted the Archangels’ descent because they were different from the Demon Lords, but hearing Barthius’s words, it seemed he had been turning a blind eye to something he should have eliminated.
“Yes. The elders of the Elf Clan not only turned their backs and fled from the Demon Lords,
but they pretended not to notice even the Archangels’ descent. No—they even spread their arms wide in shameful welcome.
Barthius’s brow furrowed deeply with disgust toward the elders of his clan.
“On top of that, the Lord even made a deal with Derus Robert, who brought the Archangels here. Seeing that, I could no longer bear it.”
He clenched his fist so tightly that blood began to seep.
“It would be better to die fighting. I will not live in such filth.”
The Black Dragon Dariauran emanated such a potent venom that goosebumps rose on the back of his neck as he rubbed it.
“I will curse with poison and die together with him.”
He pressed his lips firmly shut, showing he would sacrifice his life for this mission.
“I agree. Whether you descended from above or crawled up from below, trash is nothing but trash.”
The White Dragon Busiharabi pressed his foot against the Battlefield, lifting his chin toward the sky.
“In truth, we were already aware that a Demon Lord had descended upon the Shuper Holy Kingdom, but we had no choice but to remain still due to the Dragon Lord’s orders.”
Barthius gazed at Raon. His eyes were cold, yet his gaze seemed directed elsewhere.
“However, the moment I heard that it was a human who drove out the Demon Lord—you—I disregarded the Dragon Lord’s command to wait and came here.”
“Does that mean it was because of me?”
“You are different from the Dragon Lord, and different from the elders of our Elf Clan.”
He regarded Raon with eyes that burned with intensity.
“Raon Zigheart. Whether your opponent is a Demon Lord, an Archangel, or a transcendent being, you charge forward without hesitation, burning your very life for your convictions. Watching you, I felt an emotion I had never experienced before—admiration.”
He nodded, saying that was why he wished to fight you directly.
“So, what are your impressions now that we’ve met?”
I read the answer from Barthius and the other dragons’ eyes—words I had yet to hear spoken aloud.
“Beyond my expectations.”
Barthius answered without hesitation.
“Your strength and spirit both lack nothing. It was like gazing upon a colossal pillar that could touch the heavens.”
He said he was far more impressed than the rumors had suggested, and for the first time, a smile graced his lips.
“Now I can make a decision with certainty.”
Barthius nodded calmly, then turned slightly away.
“Wouldn’t you agree?”
He looked toward the other dragons as if demanding their response.
“Having crossed hands directly, we have no choice but to acknowledge it!”
The Red Dragon Balashiur raised his clenched fist.
“I like him! For a human, he’s quite handsome!”
The Blue Dragon Sirtiren grinned and patted Raon’s shoulder.
“He’d make the perfect sparring partner. I agree as well.”
The Black Dragon Dariauran revealed eyes burning with fighting spirit.
“I sensed faith in his blade. A soul befitting a mediator.”
The White Dragon Busiharabi also
nodded his chin firmly.
“I and the dragons behind me are those whom our respective clans have been supporting to become the next Lord. We’re rivals, yet we share a bond.”
Barthius stepped forward as if representing the dragons.
“You may see us as inexperienced, but we hold a position of considerable strength among dragons.”
“I know. You were harder to fight than the ancient dragons.”
Raon nodded as he looked at Barthius and the dragons behind him.
“Your magic is formidable, and your combat methods are novel. If you develop further from now on, subduing you won’t be easy for me either.”
If they became ancient dragons and their mana and physical abilities surged dramatically, they would undoubtedly grow strong enough to be difficult for me to face.
“We no longer wish to live cowardly. As mediators of this dimension, whether an Archangel descends or a Demon Lord manifests, we will stand against all existence.”
Barthius declared that he would walk a different path from the Dragon Lord, lifting his chin.
“Together with the dragons who follow us, we will stand on your battlefield.”
He extended his hand forward as if asking to be accepted.
“C-can we trust what he’s saying?”
Dorian swallowed dryly, as if questioning whether this was truly alright. It seemed memories of what the dragons had done to them surfaced.
“I can trust you.”
I grasped Barthius’s hand without hesitation.
“We’ve fought together.”
When you duel someone, you can sense what they’re thinking and what lies in their heart. Barthius and the other four Dragons were genuinely concerned for this Continent.
-Jenzaaaang!
Wrath shrieked as he watched my hand connected with Barthius’s.
-This means I can’t eat them!
He clutched his head in frustration, lamenting the loss of the tender Dragon skewers.
-Since it’s come to this, go fetch another ancient Dragon!! Hurry!
*
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“Where is the Dragon Lord right now?”
I looked at Barthius, asking him to share what information I knew.
“We haven’t seen the Lord in a long time. Only the ancient Dragons who follow him occasionally relay his orders.”
Barthius shook his head, saying it had been quite a while since the Lord disappeared.
“He’s truly pathetic. He doesn’t live up to his age.”
Red Dragon Balashiur openly poured out his criticism of the Lord.
“You must know where the Lord’s Lair is.”
I extended my hand, asking them to tell me the location of the Lair.
“The Dragon Lord of this age never revealed the location of his Lair. Only a handful of dragons who worship him would know.”
Dariauran, the Blue Dragon, clicked his tongue in disgust at the old fool.
“He’s been hiding, and when war breaks out in the Human Realm, he’ll crawl out and stand behind the Archangel.”
Busiharabi, the White Dragon, furrowed his brow deeply. He seemed offended by the very fact that the Dragon Lord was a dragon.
“That’s exactly right.”
The Black Dragon ground his teeth.
“The Dragon Lord and the ancient dragons intend to stand behind Derus Robert and annihilate humanity.”
He stomped his foot roughly, saying it was something he absolutely should not do as a mediator.
“I want to stop the Dragon Lord immediately, but we don’t know his location either right now. So….”
Barthius raised his clenched fist.
“I will absolutely find the Dragon Lord’s location before the war in the Human Realm begins.”
He nodded, determined to find the Dragon Lord before the war with Derus Robert started.
“You knew about the coming war as well?”
I smiled thinly as I looked at the dragons. I hadn’t expected them to know about the war with Derus either.
“Thanks to observing you, we learned that Derus Robert will begin a war for continental conquest in one year.”
Barthius wrinkled his nose, saying he’d also obtained information that Derus and the Dragon Lord had met because of that.
“To think the Dragon Lord would meet and make a deal with someone trying to summon the Archangel and upset the balance of the world—it seems he regards us as mere pebbles on the roadside.”
He ground his teeth while muttering the names of Derus Robert and the Dragon Lord.
“So that’s how it is.”
I realized that I had gained allies who could become my strength as I looked at Barthius and the other dragons.
“As I said, we will stand behind you humans in this war. And until that war begins…”
Barthius lifted his gaze to the sky, his eyes gleaming with radiant light.
“I will find the location of the Lord
and tell you.”
He struck his chest with his fist as if asking us to trust him.
“Though we’ve only just met today, I find myself trusting you.”
I smiled and nodded.
“I will wait gladly.”
“In return, we have one request.”
Barthius held up a single finger.
“Since we will risk our lives fighting in the Human Realm’s war, eliminate every last Archangel trying to toy with this world.”
His eyes held an unwavering, serene light—the gaze of one committed to their role as mediator.
No, it wasn’t just Barthius. Every dragon
present shared the same conviction.
“Agreed.”
I struck my chest with my fist like Barthius and nodded.
“I swear it. My comrades and I will risk our lives and cut down every last Archangel that has descended into this world.”
I vowed to Barthius and the dragons that I would drive out all the Archangels and Celestial Race.
-W-wait, then shouldn’t we send away the Demon Lords too!
Wrath glanced back at me with a hint of concern.
‘No, that’s not it. Barthius only mentioned the Celestial Race and Archangels. And I answered the same way.’
Barthius seemed more angry at the Archangels than at the True Demon King, bringing up only matters concerning the Celestial Race.
Since he hadn’t asked me to kill the True Demon King, it wasn’t a false oath.
-This, this damned con artist showing up here too!
Wrath narrowed his eyes, muttering that I was truly someone not worth associating with.
‘The other Demon Lords don’t cause trouble. In fact, they’re so trivial in their amusements that it’s bewildering.’
Aside from Grid and Pride, the other Demon Lords had no goals of conquering this world or attacking humans.
They were only engaging in trivial matters like eating ice cream and wandering around searching for romantic partners, so there was no problem leaving them alone.
‘If by any chance
they cause trouble, I can send them out then. Of course, except for you.’
I waved my hand, saying I could send everyone out except Wrath.
-W, why not the True Demon King?
Wrath’s lips trembled.
-Send the True Demon King out too! You’re draining me of everything! Just let me go!
He screamed, saying he was giving up on everything now and pleading to be released.
‘No way. I still have plenty to extract from you.’
-Kyaaaaaaah! Let me go!
‘Nope. We’re far from done.’
I was laughing as I watched Wrath throwing a tantrum.
“Are you alright?”
Olga approached from the side, checking on my condition.
“I’m not injured.”
I said I was fine and raised both arms.
“To face five Dragons in succession without sustaining a single wound… you’ve truly become a monster.”
Olga let out an incredulous laugh, marveling at the sight before her.
“Hmm…?”
Barthius narrowed his eyes as he observed Olga standing beside me.
“Are you human from Shuper?”
“And what of it?”
Olga answered curtly, as if questioning why he’d called her out.
“Wait, you…”
Barthius scrutinized Olga as though he’d mistaken her for someone else, and his pupils trembled.
“What god are you serving?!”
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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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