The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 133

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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 133

Rimer entered the Patriarch’s Reception Hall with his nose scrunched up in obvious displeasure.

Glen, as always, didn’t even glance at Rimer. He sat with his eyes closed, his chin resting on his hand.

“Patriarch, this is really too much.”

“What nonsense do you want to spout now?”

“If Raon accomplished such incredible feats, you should tell everyone right away! Why are you hoarding him like some precious treasure?”

“Sigh. Roen.”

Glen exhaled a low sigh and turned his gaze toward Roen, who stood to his right.

“It wasn’t me.”

Roen quickly waved his hand, indicating he had nothing to do with this matter.

“Then how did that fool find out? There’s no way unless he went directly to the Bi-Yeon Society and eavesdropped….”

“Bingo! I stuck to the ceiling of the Bi-Yeon Society and read Raon’s report.”

Rimer laughed with a hehe, twirling his finger, and muttered that the Bi-Yeon Society had plenty of gaps in its security.

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll have to send the Heavenly Sword Squad to the Bi-Yeon Society. There’s a red caterpillar crawling around the ceiling.”

“A caterpillar? Are there caterpillars in this weather?”

“I’m talking about you!”

“Ah, come on. I’m a butterfly, flying around all lively like this. How could I be a snail!”

“Tch, fine. Arguing with you will only give me a headache.”

Glen Zigheart clicked his tongue and closed his eyes.

“For now, let’s think about Raon instead of me. That guy really exceeded all expectations, didn’t he?”

Rimer bounced excitedly, his smile radiant.

“To stand against thousands of monsters just to save people who fell from the Castle Wall—there’s no madness quite like that kind of madness!”

“Hmm….”

Glen Zigheart kept his eyes closed, smacking his lips slightly.

“But that guy wasn’t just any ordinary madman, was he? He endured three days and nights, saved everyone, and led the wave to victory. Wow, I really want to see who his master is. I bet they’re quite impressive.”

Rimer chattered on, saying the master must be handsome and warm-hearted.

“I don’t know what you’ll think of me saying this, but watching Raon accomplish the impossible reminds me of the Patriarch in his youth. No, actually—he surpasses the Patriarch.”

“Surpass? That’s going too far.”

Despite his gruff tone, Glen Zigheart opened his eyes. The corners of his mouth curved upward slightly. He seemed satisfied by his grandson’s praise that he exceeded even the Patriarch.

“The warriors of Habun Castle care nothing for politics, but they love battle and overflow with loyalty.”

Rimer chuckled softly, cradling his head in his interlaced fingers.

“Since Raon is now being called the hero of Habun Castle, perhaps the castle itself will stand behind him in the future. Did you perhaps know this would happen and grant Raon his trial for that reason?”

“That’s hardly the case.”

Glen Zigheart shook his head. A faint warmth flickered in his otherwise hollow gaze.

“I simply believed that boy would excel wherever he went. I gave no thought to his background whatsoever.”

“What? You’re acknowledging Raon now? The sun must be rising in the west tomorrow.”

Rimer covered his mouth with his hand, feigning exaggerated shock.

“Be quiet.”

“I chose Habun Castle hoping Raon would gain extensive experience, but when I heard he threw himself into danger for his soldiers, I was honestly taken aback.”

Rimer’s eyes grew serious. The playfulness vanished, replaced by a solemn light.

“The Raon who was once cold and cynical—it seemed he had grown not in power, but as a person. My heart swelled with emotion.”

“Mm.”

Glen Zigheart said nothing, but nodded slowly in agreement.

“I’ve never raised a child, but seeing my own grow so well filled me with tremendous pride.”

“A child who causes no trouble and endlessly develops is rare. And….”

He twisted his lips as he looked down at Rimer.

“That child walks a different path than I do, but he is my grandson. Not your son.”

“Ah! He admitted it! Did you hear, Lord Roen? He just said he’s his grandson….”

“That, that is….”

“I heard it!”

Roen nodded vigorously, his voice rising in rare exuberance.

“Won’t Bekmang Mountain collapse tomorrow? Or perhaps the heavens will crumble….”

“Silence!”

Glen Zigheart barked sharply, and Rimer grinned shamelessly. The Zigheart Audience Chamber, now graced with news of Raon, overflowed with the warmth of accumulated affection.

*

*

*

Unlike the relatively harmonious Zigheart Audience Chamber, the atmosphere in the Habun Castle conference room had grown grave.

“The 1st Scout Unit and the 4th Scout Unit have confirmed it once more.”

Barti, the commander of the 1st Scout Unit, bit his lip as he reviewed the hastily scrawled documents.

“A frame rivaling an ogre, a royal crest embedded in its chest, and a single horn crowning its forehead. Every characteristic of an Ice Troll Lord. I’m certain. The Lord has appeared.”

“Grraahhh!”

“Damn it! A Troll Lord….”

“It’s only been days since the Wave ended….”

The executives in the conference room exhaled heavily or squeezed their eyes shut at the emergence of the Troll Lord.

“Wait, it could be a mutation or perhaps an ogre….”

“The characteristics of a Lord—or rather, the ability to subjugate monsters, a trait of king-tier creatures—has been witnessed.”

“Correct. Not only trolls, but orcs, gnolls, and even sea monsters have bowed their heads to it.”

The captain of Scout Unit 1 and the captain of Scout Unit 4 spoke in turn.

“Damn it!”

“Then it’s real!”

The executives, their last hope shattered, trembled with clenched fists.

“If time passes, the monsters gathering beneath the Lord will unleash a second Wave. No—a tsunami far greater than any Wave.”

Silence fell over the conference room. Only the sound of dry swallows echoed throughout.

“Still, there is one piece of good news.”

“Good news? What meaning could good news possibly hold in a situation like this?”

“This is favorable news for us.”

Barti nodded and picked up the second document.

“The Ice Troll Lord’s fur was not the distinctive blue fur of Ice Trolls, but white fur instead. In other words, it has not yet reached maturity. It remains incomplete.”

“Ah!”

“Then… if that’s the case….”

“We must finish it before it completes its transformation.”

Milend jabbed his finger at the location on the map where the Lord had been sighted. The desk groaned under the force of his pressure.

“We march out tomorrow.”

“T-tomorrow, sir?”

“That’s far too soon! We need time to prepare the soldiers….”

The officers objected, citing the many wounded still recovering and the time needed to mobilize everyone.

“The soldiers will not go.”

Milend rose from his seat. An overwhelming aura of authority radiated from his unimposing frame like that of a giant.

“Only the knights, swordsmen, and Scout Units One and Two will move. We strike with elite forces and sever the Lord’s lifeline as swiftly as possible.”

“I concur entirely. Speed is paramount. We must take the Lord’s head before more monsters converge.”

Terian, seated on the right,’s eyes gleamed with intensity.

“Hmm….”

“That is indeed the only way to minimize casualties.”

“Exactly. Commander, you’re more than capable of subduing the Lord. The rest of us simply need to hold back the monsters and buy time.”

The officers all nodded, apparently agreeing this was the best course of action.

“Begin preparations for immediate deployment. The Sulgyek Swordsmen with heavy casualties and the remaining Scout Units and soldier battalions will stay behind to prepare for any contingencies.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Understood!”

“One moment, if I may.”

As the officers rose to leave the conference room, Raon, who had remained silent until now, raised his hand.

“I will go as well.”

Raon opened his mouth, meeting Milend’s sunken gaze.

“Your wounds have not yet healed. Neither your body nor your spirit are in peak condition.”

“I can still be of help.”

“Yes, your strength would certainly prove useful. But I cannot allow you to push yourself further.”

“Commander.”

“Everyone here knows what’s in your heart from that day. You’ve shown enough. Rest this time.”

Milend slowly shook his head.

“Very well. Leave the Lord to us.”

“I will return with his head severed, so please wait.”

“I will fight with all my strength in Raon’s stead.”

As the wounded Raon displayed his fighting spirit, the eyes of the executives burned with fierce determination.

“The reason I’m leaving you behind is not just that. I entrust the castle to you in my place. Should anything happen, you must stop it at all costs.”

Milend smiled faintly and patted his shoulder.

“I ask this of you.”

“Understood.”

Raon reluctantly nodded and left the conference hall.

‘I’ve missed out on decent prey.’

If I could capture the Lord, my soul’s rank and abilities would surely increase, so I felt a slight regret.

-Fool. You never had a chance anyway. That old man will surely be the one to face him.

‘That’s true.’

As Wrath said, Commander Milend was already designated to face the Lord. Rather than traveling all that way just to stand around, it might be better to fully recover my body here.

-Not even a pig would be as greedy as you. I don’t understand where all this desire comes from.

‘Not nearly as much as your appetite.’

-What are you talking about! The Demon King has no such appetite! I merely possess a refined appreciation for culinary arts….

‘Of course, Your Majesty. Though your salivary glands seem to malfunction whenever mint chocolate is mentioned.’

-Grrgh!

I teased Wrath as I made my way back to the Dormitory.

*

*

*

The next morning at dawn.

The expedition force led by Milend burst forth from the castle, aiming for the Lord’s neck at the end of the Snowy Plain. Since only elite soldiers without injuries participated, their speed was incomparably faster than any ordinary expedition.

I watched the expedition disappear into the white storm before descending from the Castle Wall.

“Ah, what a shame. I should have been the one to sever the Lord’s head.”

Dorian, who had remained behind with me, muttered words that made little sense while swinging his hand through the air. It was ridiculous—he had cheered the moment he heard he was excluded from the expedition, yet here he was saying such things. I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

‘Your number one subordinate. Quite impressive.’

-…I know nothing of this man.

Wrath only pretended not to know Dorian at times like these.

“What will you be doing today?”

“Cultivation. I need to recover quickly.”

“Would you like my help?”

“It’s fine. Just attend to your own duties.”

“Yes, sir!”

As if he’d been waiting for those words, Dorian snapped to attention and bolted toward the opposite end of the Dormitory. He seemed intent on heading to Frost’s Branch to play with Yua.

‘They’ve grown quite close.’

-The pineapple girl and that fool’s mental age align perfectly, don’t they? Actually, he’s the younger one.

Wrath clicked his tongue in exasperation.

‘True enough.’

You’re similar yourself.

I held back the final remark, knowing it would trigger a fit.

-Mental age, you say? That reminds me. I was renowned throughout the Demon Realm as a being of noble spirit. Even when other demon lords engaged in vulgar acts, I alone always conducted myself with elegance….

‘I need to get back and focus on my cultivation.’

-Listen! These are words worth your blood and flesh!

‘I’ve already heard your boasts so many times my ears are bleeding.’

-Ugh, as I’ve said before, you will never die a graceful death!

I ignored the so-called elegant demon lord’s curse and returned to the Dormitory, settling into my seat.

“Sigh….”

I steadied my breathing calmly and closed my eyes. I rotated the Ring of Fire while drawing in the pure natural aura, then activated Infernal Combustion.

As the ring resonated and elevated my physical state, the molten heat surging from my core raced through my mana circuits, beginning to dissolve the remnants of battle.

Whether due to the Focus trait or my increased stats, the flow of aura coursing through my mana circuits felt tangible and precise in my hands.

‘I can push further.’

I drew in more mana than usual. The amount was so great my shoulders trembled slightly, but I controlled the flow using my heightened martial prowess and perception.

Thanks to the fluctuation of mana, concentration heightens. As naturally as breathing, I spun the ring of fire and operated the comic sphere.

When the sunlight pouring through the window faded and the moon rose to the center of the sky, I opened my eyes.

Flash!

Eyes burning red as if a sun that had already set were rising again. Unlike at dawn, they blazed with power and vitality.

‘By tomorrow, I should be able to fully recover my aura.’

I caressed my dantian and smiled. With the significant increases in my stats and martial achievements, my recovery speed had not disappointed my expectations. It seemed I would return to perfect physical condition far faster than anticipated.

-All thanks to this King’s magnificent power, of course. Do not forget to repay me.

‘Yeah, yeah.’

I thrust out my chin and let out a quiet laugh watching Wrath try to maintain his dignified demeanor.

‘I should try operating Glacsia once more.’

Since my body had recovered to a certain degree, I decided to continue my training with Glacsia. I closed my eyes again and unfurled my sensory sea, now broader than the Lake.

Shiiing!

I dove deeper into my sensory sea. By operating even Snowfall’s senses, I expanded the range of my perception. Thanks to my Focus trait, unfurling my senses had become far easier and faster.

Whoooosh!

I shaped the expanding currents of sensation like the tentacles of an octopus to examine the castle’s surroundings. It was training to operate Glacsia through imagery.

‘Hmm?’

I halted abruptly, my senses sweeping through the currents of perception. Multiple waves rippled across the sensory sea—the auras of monsters charging forward with savage intent.

‘But that’s not all.’

Three massive tidal surges rose among the horde of lesser creatures. These were beings of incomparable strength, towering above the ordinary monsters.

Click.

As I verified the auras once more, the door creaked open and Dorian slipped inside.

“Wow, you’re still at it, I see.”

Dorian whispered as he carefully closed the door behind him. The moment he tiptoed toward the bed, my eyes flashed open.

“Gasp!”

“An intruder has arrived.”

“An i-intruder? That’s harsh! I came deliberately late to avoid disturbing you!”

“Not you.”

“Pardon?”

“Actually, not an intruder—prey.”

I rose from the bed and drew my sword.

“Y-young master? Why would you need your sword at this hour…?”

“Go and deliver the message.”

Blue flames flickered across Raon’s eyes.

“Tell them the enemy is coming.”

*

*

*

When the moon rose to the center of the sky, the Black-robed Man stirred to his feet.

“Bingarui. It is time.”

At those words, Bingarui, who had been lying sprawled on the ground, opened his eyes. His pupils, narrowed like a beast’s, trembled with a faint quiver.

“At last, I shall taste blood.”

He rose to his feet, his voice dripping with a chill that sent shivers down the spine.

“Has Milend truly departed?”

“Confirmed through the eyes of the troll we used for reconnaissance. His movement speed is faster than anticipated. He will reach the vicinity of Sturrin Mountains within six hours.”

“Unfortunately, it seems your words have come to pass. I would have liked to clash with Milend once more.”

Bingarui licked his long tongue regretfully.

“Stop wasting time with pointless thoughts and prepare yourself. We need to strike immediately.”

“But no matter how I think about it, it feels wasteful to use the Lord like this. If we raised it properly, it could become a tremendous asset. Tsk.”

“The Lord?”

“Yeah. That creature is far too valuable to use merely as bait.”

“You’re misunderstanding something.”

The Black-robed Man shook his head.

“The Lord is right here.”

He struck the ground with the staff he withdrew from his robes. Strange runes flashed brilliantly, and an Ice Troll Lord—larger than before—erupted forth.

“Grrrrgh….”

The Lord let out a vacant moan brimming with ravenous hunger.

“Royal-tier monsters grow stronger the more blood they taste. I cannot afford to miss this opportunity to safely nurture the Lord.”

“Then… what’s waiting in the Sturrin Mountains?”

“A counterfeit I created through sorcery.”

“But Milend would see through it immediately, wouldn’t he?”

“He would. However, by that time, our work will already be complete.”

The Black-robed Man laughed coldly. To accomplish this, he had shown the Ice Troll Lord to the Scout Unit three times. They would realize the deception upon arrival, but for now, they could only be deceived.

“Then let’s begin.”

He struck his staff down once more. With a deafening roar as if the mountain itself were twisting, the snow-covered hill behind the two figures trembled like a living creature.

Craaaash!

Pure white snow was swept away, and blue fur bristled upward. Trolls and orcs. The white hill had been a deception—a false mound constructed from monsters that had been lying dormant as if dead.

“That hill… you built it up bit by bit so Habun Castle wouldn’t notice, didn’t you? Cheongjugui. Your plan is tedious, but its effectiveness is undeniable.”

“I’ve said it repeatedly. If we proceed according to plan, we’ll complete the mission.”

Cheongjugui twisted his lips upward and fitted the troll shaman’s mask onto his face. With a sound like machinery turning, the mask wrapped around his head.

“Grrrrrowl.”

A bestial cry spilled from Cheongjugui’s mouth. His eyes gleamed with a light more sinister than any monster’s, and an ominous aura seeped from the staff in his grip.

“Krheh! I’m eager to see Milend’s expression when he beholds Habun Castle filled with corpses.”

Bingarui grinned wickedly and placed the shark helmet upon his head.

Zzzzzing!

A blue wave cascaded from the helmet, enveloping his body. Blade-like fins erupted from his back and shoulders, and blue spines bristled from his arms and legs. Armor studded with spines so sharp that mere contact would tear flesh—the armor of Sharksting, said to be the most ferocious of all sea monsters.

“Let’s go!”

“Roooaaarrr!”

“Craaaaaash!”

As Cheongjugui raised his staff, which glowed with a dark verdant light, the monsters that had been standing motionless as if dead let out horrific shrieks and began charging toward Habun Castle. The momentum was several times more vicious than during the previous wave.

“They won’t have time to prepare or defend. We’ll breach the collapsed castle wall immediately.”

“A massacre against such weak resistance—now this is what I call entertainment.”

Cheongjugui had calculated everything down to the last detail, while Bingarui’s eyes burned with malice.

“The castle is in sight! Wait… what?”

“What, what is this! What in the world happened!”

The two grotesque beings charging toward Habun Castle widened their eyes in shock at the sight of the castle wall packed with soldiers, as if preparations had already been completed. Illumination flares shot up into the sky as if to confirm their presence.

“Is this a trap?”

“It’s not a trap. We confirmed Milend’s location with absolute certainty! What in the world could—”

Not only Bingarui but Cheongjugui as well trembled, their pupils quivering in bewilderment.

“How could this possibly—”

“Don’t panic, Cheongjugui. In any case, those remaining in the castle are nothing but rabble. We’ll simply crush them with brute force!”

“Hmph, for once your words ring true.”

Cheongjugui raised his staff and spat out a series of bizarre incantations.

“Kiiiieeeeee!”

“Groooaaarrr!”

Bathed in the light flowing from the staff, the monsters’ eyes blazed crimson as they surged toward the Castle Wall with even greater speed and ferocity.

“To the Castle Wall! Smash it to pieces in one assault!”

“Krhrhrhrhh, this time I’ll be first… huh?”

As the monsters prepared to ram the Castle Wall with their bodies, a man leaped down from atop the fortification. Golden hair streaming in the wind. The hero who had stood alone against thousands of monsters mere days ago stood before them.

“Good thing I didn’t leave.”

Raon flashed an exhilarated smile as he leveled his blade with deadly intent.

“The prey comes seeking me out.”

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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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