The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 129

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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 129

A wave.
In other words, a tide of monsters.

Habun Castle earned its reputation as a battlefield of hell precisely because of these waves that occurred twice a year—once in summer and once in winter.

Fighting monsters that poured forth from the Sturrin Mountains and the Northern Sea for five days and nights without rest was said to drive even the most seasoned veterans who had spent their entire lives at Habun Castle to the brink of despair.

The cause of the waves remained unclear. Some whispered it was Oma’s machination, while others theorized that monsters whose populations exploded during summer and winter instinctively surged forward in search of prey.

I had come to the Commander’s Office to formulate countermeasures against the approaching wave.

“How many?”
“Just counting those we’ve spotted, we’re looking at over ten thousand. It’s only my assessment, but they appear more numerous than last year.”
“Every time, I can’t fathom where they all emerge from.”

Milend crumpled the paper in his hand, his expression darkening.

“When will they arrive?”
“Based on their movement speed, they should be visible from the castle walls by dawn the day after tomorrow.”
“Anything unusual?”
“We’ve spotted many monsters capable of using magic. Ice Troll Warriors, Orc Mages, and near the Northern Sea, Mantakuns, Oxstol Killers, and Krats as well. And….”

Barti, captain of Scout Unit 1, recited all the elite-tier monsters he had identified. His voice carried the confidence of someone who had done this many times before.

“Quite a few elite-tier monsters this time.”
“We’ll need to risk our lives for this one.”
“Yes. We must prepare thoroughly.”

Milend nodded and rose to his feet.

“Maintenance Officer.”
“Yes!”
“By dawn the day after tomorrow, I want a complete inspection of the castle gates and walls. There must be no gaps.”
“Understood!”
“Supply Officer.”
“Yes!”
“Check the weapons and prepare stones and oil that can be hurled from the ramparts.”
“I receive your orders!”

He distributed tasks to the officers assembled in the war room, and those who received their orders hurried out.

“Terian. You will assume overall command in my stead.”
“Yes!”

Once Vice Commander Terian departed, only I remained.

“Raon.”
“Yes.”
“Do you understand what a Wave is?”
“I have some knowledge of it.”
“Each time a Wave strikes, countless casualties mount. We continue sending scouts and launch expeditions precisely to minimize that devastation.”

Milend’s resolute gaze wavered. A melancholy befitting an aging commander descended like a shadow.

“Collapsed walls can be rebuilt, shattered gates can be remade. But the dead do not return.”
“You’re telling me to protect them, sir.”
“Yes. Bring back as many soldiers as you can. That is your duty—and Dorian’s.”
“I will do my utmost.”
“I’m counting on you.”

I bowed to Milend and left the war room. He seemed to possess unwavering faith in me—that I would bring everyone back alive from every expedition and mission.

“Y-Young Master! What happened?”

Dorian came rushing over from where he’d been waiting outside the Commander’s Office, cold sweat streaming down his face. He must have been quite anxious.

“What are you asking? It’s obvious. Our task is to block the monsters climbing the walls and protect the soldiers.”
“Oh no!”

Dorian slumped to the ground and struck the earth with his fist.

-Damn this wave. I’ll avenge the apple meat pie I never got to eat.

In stark contrast to Dorian’s terror, Wrath summoned an icy fury.

“We’re truly finished. How am I supposed to endure this wave!”
“You were told a month ago that the wave was coming.”
“I thought I’d be lucky enough to avoid it! My life is genuinely ruined!”
“I was starting to think things had improved.”

I clicked my tongue and seized Dorian by the scruff of his neck.

“Huh? Where are you taking me?”
“If you keep this up, you’ll endanger the other soldiers. Let’s have a proper attitude adjustment.”
“A-attitude adjustment, you say…?”
“Don’t ask questions. You’re going to spar with me and my Radiant Sword.”
“Wait just a moment! I was just getting better…!”

I shook my head with a cold smile.

“I’m not.”

*

*

*

Clang, clang, clang, clang!

The piercing toll of the bell cuts through the dawn.

I opened my eyes slowly, still leaning against the wall in meditation.

“It’s here.”

This was the first emergency bell I’d heard since arriving at Habun Castle. The urgent tolling alone told me everything I needed to know about the situation outside.

“M-My lord.”
“Prepare yourself well and come out.”

I tapped Dorian on the shoulder, grabbed my sword, and stepped outside.

“Move quickly!”
“Damn it, maintenance isn’t finished yet!”
“Open the gate!”
“Infantry and spearmen to the walls!”

Not just soldiers, but mechanics and blacksmiths alike rushed about in the bitter cold, sweat streaming down their faces despite the freezing air.

“Hah….”

I steadied my breathing and headed toward the castle walls.

-The scent of blood. Today, blood will flow like rivers.

Wrath drew in a deep breath of the cold air, a chilling smile spreading across his face. Ignoring the self-proclaimed Demon King’s demand to avenge Meat Pie, he climbed the castle walls.

Gulp.

My throat constricted involuntarily.

Over the Snowy Plain, blanketed by the night’s accumulation, waves of green and blue undulated. Orcs, trolls, ghouls, Sharkmol, krats, shamirs—an endless procession of monsters stretched to the horizon.

Even with my keen senses, my fingertips trembled at a number too vast to count.

The stench of madness and hunger emanating from the monsters threatened to numb my sense of smell. They regarded the humans within these walls as prey trapped in a box.

“Gasp!”
“Ah….”
“I-Insane!”
“Damn it! No matter how many times I see it, I can’t get used to it….”

The soldiers standing on the walls trembled, their hands gripping their weapons, teeth clenched. Their eyes gleamed with unmistakable terror.

Rumble rumble rumble!

The soldiers’ trembling intensified as the elite monsters—each possessing one head larger than their lesser brethren—radiated an overwhelming killing intent that dwarfed all others.

Clang!

The sound of a blade being drawn rang out from the center of the castle wall. From the steel that seemed to pierce the heavens, an auspicious aura blazed forth. The madness that the monsters had unleashed crumbled away, replaced by a composed and steadying presence.

“There is no need for fear! Any soldier who stands upon Habun Castle can overcome this trial! Form ranks!”
“Form ranks!”

It was Milend. Having ascended the castle wall, he lifted the soldiers’ morale with a voice so grand it made the earth itself tremble.

“Shield bearers and spearmen to the front. Archers, stand ready behind them!”

Emboldened by the sight of their commander taking direct action, the soldiers steadied their shaking legs and steeled their resolve.

“Hold your positions!”

Even as Milend gazed upon the tidal wave of monsters flooding the Snowy Plain, he did not issue the order to attack. He waited, and waited still.

Only when the stench of blood and beast musk wafted so close it stung his nostrils did his blade ignite with flame.

“Fire!”

Tremendous force channeled through the silver blade surged forward in a devastating wave.

Boom!

The sword strike that cleaved through the distance drove back the monsters’ vanguard, and in its wake, the sound of arrows being loosed from the hands of scouts and archers filled the air.

Whistle!

A silver rain poured down across the darkening indigo sky.

Splatter!

The monsters struck by arrows tumbled backward, yet the tide did not cease. They trampled and tore at their own kind, surging ever forward toward the castle wall.

“Fire!”

Crossbows and bows, hastily reloaded, unleashed their fury once more. Even as a second and third volley of arrows cascaded down, the monsters’ advance did not falter. They surged toward the castle walls with frenzied desperation.

“Roooaaarrr!”

When an ogre that had finally reached the castle attempted to smash the gate with its colossal fist, Milend’s blade reversed its trajectory.

Crash!

A relentless barrage of sword strikes, wrapped in aura, tore through the ogres and orcs, shredding them to ribbons.

“Hold the walls! Do not let them breach!”

Emboldened by his overwhelming might, the soldiers clung to the ramparts and swung their blades and thrust their spears at the sea monsters clawing their way up.

Everyone fought with bleeding fingers, wielding weapons and loosing arrows, yet the monsters’ frenzy knew no bounds. They scaled the frozen walls as easily as level ground, raking down with ravenous claws.

“Hnngh!”

When a troll bounded up the wall like a grasshopper and reached for a soldier’s head, I moved.

Slash!

I severed the troll’s ankle with my Radiant Sword and sent it plummeting. I turned to help the fallen soldier to his feet, but a Gnoll was already scaling the hook beside him.

“Shriek!”

I beheaded the Gnoll as it thrust its spear, then pivoted right to cleave the chest of an axe-wielding orc.

Burst!</

Something exploded. I glanced back to see brown smoke spreading across the ramparts—the toxic mist of a Swellfish, a sea monster.

"Argh!"
"Gahhh!"

Soldiers exposed to the poison gas clutched their faces and retreated.

Boom!

I stepped into the poisonous mist and brought my sword down. A crimson blade wind pushed the toxic fog toward the orcs.

"Kraaaagh!"
"Crackle!"

The orcs who inhaled the poisonous mist clawed at their skin and plummeted below the castle wall.

"Th-thank you."

I nodded to the soldiers offering their gratitude and rushed toward another cry echoing across the battlefield.

This was shaping up to be an extraordinarily long day.

*

*

*

The battle that began before dawn continued until the sun hung low on the western horizon. The waves of monsters seemed endless—it was bewildering to imagine where such numbers had been hiding.

The soldiers standing upon the castle walls, who had radiated valor, now flailed their limbs in exhaustion from cold and fatigue, while the archers' fingers, which had mechanically loosed arrows, were slick with blood.

The swordsmen and knights who had been continuously wielding aura to defend the walls also began to show signs of aura depletion, their faces turning sallow as they weakened.

They all bit their lips, saying that this wave was the most severe one that had happened so far.

Ironically, the most resilient person on this hellish battlefield was Raon, who had been at Habun Castle for less than three months.

He dispelled his body's fatigue and recovered his aura through the legendary dual cultivation techniques of the Ring of Fire and the Cartoon Sphere, roaming the battlefield as if it were his own home.

He had rescued over 100 soldiers, and the monsters he had killed or knocked down numbered close to 300.

Oof!

Raon severed the troll's neck as it climbed up the stone wall and pushed it down.

"Phew…"

I straightened my stiffened back. Even as the sun descended, the battle showed no signs of ending. If this continued for several more days as they said, it would be nothing short of hell itself.

"Haaaah!"

Dorian had set down his sword at some point and was hurling the massive log that had been torturing the Sulgyek Swordsmen downward.

He always said he was good at carrying heavy things, and his strength was indeed formidable. The orcs and ghouls struck by the log scattered like autumn leaves in the wind.

Crash!

A sound of the earth twisting erupted before the castle gate. It was Milend. He slaughtered the monsters rushing at the gate with the same unwavering composure as before.

Thanks to the Commander holding firm, the castle gate and surrounding walls sustained not a single scratch.

I lifted my head. The sun sinking toward the horizon. The real battle would begin once darkness fell. I wiped the blood from my sword, hoping everyone would endure what was to come.

"Haah."

I steadied my breathing slowly and activated the Ring of Fire. As I prepared to move again, an unfamiliar presence brushed against my sensory perception.

The right flank where only the Scout Unit and a handful of swordsmen remained, as the knights had temporarily withdrawn to maintain their weapons and armor. Something dark was flying toward that direction.

'What is that?'

A bizarre monster the size of a troll's head, covered entirely in black fur. It charged forward with all its might as if reaching the castle wall were its life's purpose.
The others seemed oblivious to the monster's movement, paying it no attention whatsoever.

'Something feels wrong.'

The fact that it was a monster I'd never seen before. The way it approached our weakest position troubled me for reasons I couldn't quite articulate.

Boom!

I kicked off the ground and sprinted toward the right wall. I unleashed a sword strike toward the dark creature.

Crash!

I cut it down before it could reach the wall, but it was already too late. A sinister aura erupted from its severed body in an explosion.

Crunch!

The cracks that spiderwebbed across the stone burst open, and the castle wall collapsed inward from its midpoint.

"Aaaahhhhh!"
"Gaaahhh!"

About thirty soldiers and swordsmen atop the wall screamed as they plummeted onto the ground slick with monster flesh.

"Ahhhhhhh!"
"M-my legs! My legs!"
"Ughhhh!"
"P-please! My arm is trapped! I can't move!"

Soldiers crushed beneath the rubble or who had failed to land properly shrieked in agony, drenched in blood.

"Tch!"
"Don't go down there!"

As I moved to descend, Milend's voice cut through the chaos.

"The wall hasn't fully collapsed yet! Hold the castle wall! Lose sight of the greater threat, and everything crumbles!"

He bit his lip as he watched the soldiers fall below. It was a choice made not as a swordsman or soldier, but as a commander.

He was right. If I tried to protect them, the half-destroyed wall would shatter completely.

'But I….'

I looked at the monsters baring their fangs and tightened my grip on my sword.

They were all comrades I had fought alongside on missions, soldiers whose stances I had personally corrected.

Their stories, heard in passing, their goals shouted with conviction—they all pounded against my heart.

'I'm not a commander.'

What Milend wanted was an order to save as many soldiers as possible. I chose to follow the mission I had received first.

"Raon!"
"Raon!"

I leaped down from the castle wall, hearing Milend and Dorian's voices calling out behind me like a whip cracking across my back.

-You're insane.

Wrath let out a scoffing laugh, his voice ringing like metal.

'There's always a way.'

I smiled faintly, facing thousands of burning eyes of madness in the darkness.

'I wonder how much I'll grow if I survive this.'
-…You really are insane.

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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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