The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 139

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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 139

“A wager? What kind of wager are you suddenly proposing?”

I narrowed my eyes as I watched Wrath exhale cold air in jagged bursts.

-A very simple wager, it is.

Wrath didn’t answer immediately, instead gazing up at the sky once more before continuing.

-Was the test that pointy-eared one set forth to survive in this place for one year?
‘Yes. And now less than half a year remains.’

With all the incidents that had occurred, time felt compressed, yet seven months had already passed since arriving here. Less than five months remained until the test’s conclusion.

-That is it, then. I wager that you shall not complete the remaining time and will depart early.
‘What?’

I looked down at Wrath with an expression of utter disbelief.

‘Are you serious?’
-Of course. The Demon King does not speak with a forked tongue.
‘I’ve seen you do exactly that plenty of times.’
-S-Silence! I honor my wagers, at least!
‘Hmm….’

Is this guy actually a fool?

With less than five months remaining, the wave finished, Eden defeated—the situation was straightforward: simply train and return. Why would he propose such a wager?

No. He’s a fool, certainly, but not an idiot.

He clearly possessed some information I didn’t know about, and that’s why he was making this wager.

-Will you accept?
‘Show me first.’
-Understood.

The moment Wrath fully emerged from the bracelet, a message materialized before my eyes.

[【Wrath】 proposes a wager.]
Condition: Do not leave Habun Castle for the duration of the remaining trials.
Success: All stats +5, Title acquired.
Failure: Generate 15 Wrath emotion points.

The Wrath points incurred upon failure were steep, but the reward was equally generous.

‘For him to propose such a wager, it seems Eden’s forces must be closing in.’
-Perhaps.

Wrath offered no further answer. Since he never lied, he simply withheld what was disadvantageous.

“Hmm….”

I studied the wager message, my lips curling thoughtfully.

‘The likelihood of Eden returning is not high.’

After information about Eden’s phantom targeting Habun Castle had been revealed, combat divisions from two of the Six Emperors had positioned themselves nearby.

If Eden’s forces possessed even a shred of common sense, they would not dare touch Habun Castle for some time.

Then again, they possessed no such thing.

I shook my head. Eden’s phantoms were among the most deranged beings on the Continent. Regardless of who stood guard, they would come seeking the Orc Lord’s mana stone in my possession—madmen through and through.

‘Well, this works in my favor.’

Trials and hardships were the fertile soil of rapid growth. Should Eden return, I would simply cut them down with my enhanced strength.

‘Very well. I accept the wager.’
-A surprisingly excellent choice, for you.

As I accepted the wager, a confirmation message appeared.

[Wager with 【Wrath】 has been established.]

I lifted my chin as I watched the message fade away.

-Since the wager has been made, I shall offer you counsel, boy.
‘Counsel?’
-Indeed. We have cultivated a certain… camaraderie through our culinary encounters, so I offer this advice freely.
‘Camaraderie, you say…’

It was a trivial bond, truly.

‘What counsel is this?’
-It would be wise to depart this place at once. Not merely yourself, but take with you the humans you hold dear.

Wrath’s blue eyes grew cold and piercing.

-For this castle itself shall cease to exist ere long.

*

*

*

-Damn it all!

Wrath slammed his frost-forged hand against the floor. Despite his grand proclamations, nothing had transpired in the past month.

Judging by his occasional outbursts—”What?!”, “Why is he sleeping again?!”, “How is this possible?!”—accompanied by heavy sighs, his scheme had clearly collapsed entirely.

‘This is why you shouldn’t have made that wager.’

I clicked my tongue. This fool truly had a talent for being duped. It seemed I would receive my reward without lifting a finger.

-I never imagined that lazy wretch would fall asleep again. He is the very embodiment of slumber itself!
‘Embodiment of slumber?’
-Do not speak of that fool! It only vexes me further!

Wrath turned his head away in irritation. From his reaction, it seemed something was indeed lurking nearby.

‘Though it matters little now.’

Seeing Wrath’s expression of displeasure, I felt I could finally let my guard down.

I loosened my body lightly and drew my sword.

I closed my eyes while touching the mana stone of the Orc Lord embedded in my White Soul Armor. The visions didn’t appear again, but I wasn’t disappointed. The trajectory of the Blonde Swordsman’s swordsmanship was still vivid in my mind.

“Exhale.”

I opened my eyes while mentally tracing that swordsman’s technique. I steadied my breathing calmly and positioned my sword at mid-guard.

Whoosh!

A single slash shot forward like an arrow leaving a bowstring. The flame-wreathed blade pierced through the frigid dawn air.

‘Too slow.’

I bit my lip. The path was similar, but my thrust was slower than the Blonde Swordsman’s, and lacked precision.

‘Again.’

I drew my sword back and extended it along the same trajectory. It seemed slightly faster, but still fell far short of that man’s blade.

‘Again.’

I repeated the thrust over and over until I saw some improvement.

“Exhale.”

After nearly two hours of practicing nothing but the Manwhagong thrust, I straightened my back while catching my breath.

‘I’ve improved somewhat.’

Thanks to the repetitive training, I had drawn slightly closer to that man’s technique. My blade’s speed had increased, and I could now infuse it with more precise aura.

-Slow. Very slow. If it were me, I would have mastered that blade technique long ago.

Wrath pouted his lips in disapproval.

‘Don’t take your frustration out on me.’
-Grr….
‘If it’s already over, then forfeit the wager now.’
-Silence. I am a Demon King who knows no surrender. I will never cry forfeit.
‘Truly an indecisive Demon King, aren’t you.’
-I, indecisive? Did you just call me indecisive?!

Wrath emerged above the bracelet, his icy hand trembling with rage.

‘Wasn’t I?’
-One of my titles when I ruled the Demon Realm was the Resolute Demon King. With unwavering judgment that never looked back once a decision was made, I commanded the reverence of all demonkind….
‘Seems I need to train more.’
-Listen to me!

The moment I repositioned my sword, Wrath shrieked and lunged forward.

Roooooar!

Terrifying cold energy erupted, engulfing his entire form.

It seemed his anger had reached its peak, realizing he would have to give up the reward for free.

‘You’d be better off not attacking, oh so-called Resolute Demon King.’
-Silence! Wager or no wager, I’ll claim your body in this moment!

Wrath gnashed his teeth, his cold energy and fury pouring forth, enraged that his own wager wasn’t playing out as intended.

Whoooosh.

I deployed Glacial to construct a wall of frost within my mana circuits, preventing Wrath’s cold and fury from penetrating.

-Do you think I will repeat the same moves forever?!

Wrath’s cold energy seeping through my mana circuits twisted and warped. It honed itself thin and sharp as a blade, beginning to pierce the wall I’d forged with Glacial.

Crack!

The wall of Glacial began to fracture under the assault of the thin yet formidable spear of cold energy.

—did you see? I’ve recovered enough power to achieve perfect transformations of cold energy. Now you too….
‘Ah, so that’s how it works.’

Raon smiled faintly and wielded Glacial, creating a spear identical to the one Wrath had formed.

Kyaaaang!

The spear of cold energy collided with the spear, and both dissipated simultaneously.

Raon drew the vanished cold energy into his core, amplifying the bitter chill within him.

—This, this bastard!
‘Thanks. I’ve learned something new again.’
—Grrrrgh! Not yet! This king refuses to yield!

Wrath created thinner, more delicate spears to strike at my mana circuits, but each time they were blocked by the spears I generated and simply vanished.

‘This counts as training too.’

To block Wrath’s spears, I needed to create them faster and with greater precision. As I maintained my focus and continued defending, a message materialized before my eyes.

[You have endured the interference of 【Wrath】.]
[Your Stamina stat has increased.]
[Your Perception stat has increased.]

Thanks to the practice of blocking spears with spears, my stats rose in far less time than usual.

—Damn it all!

Wrath cursed at the sky, his voice ringing out.

I was truly grateful that Wrath had returned to being the generous tree he once was, abandoning his pretense of dignity.

That form suited him best, after all.

*

*

*

“Raon.”

When a crescent moon thin as an eyebrow rose into the sky, Dorian pushed open the Training Ground door with an excited expression.

“I finished that task! Let’s go eat!”
“Already?”
“Already? I’ve been on duty all day!”

Dorian frowned and flailed his hands about. He looked ready to pull a chair from his pocket and hurl it.

“Sorry. I didn’t realize how much time had passed.”

I glanced up at the sky and licked my lips. I’d been so absorbed in training that I hadn’t even noticed night had fallen.

“Let’s go to Frost’s Branch today. They just got some excellent apples in, and apparently their apple meat pie is incredible.”
-A-apple meat pie?

Before I could answer, Wrath burst up from the ground like a worm suddenly surfacing.

-R-Raon Zigheart. Let us go! This is our chance to eat apple meat pie!

Wrath’s mouth dripped with icy saliva as he spoke—he hadn’t eaten apple meat pie in four months and had been craving it ever since.

“Wouldn’t they already be closed by now? It’s a weekday.”
“I made a reservation with Yua beforehand!”
“You’re quick when it matters.”
“The moment I heard the apples had arrived, I called in the reservation!”

Dorian chuckled as he tucked the chair back into his belly pouch.

“Hmm….”

Wrath stared at me with his mouth agape, gauging my reaction. I’d gained stat points today, and the bet reward would arrive soon anyway—treating them to dinner seemed like a good idea.

“Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
-Excellent choice, I say!

I led the cheerful human and the Demon King toward Frost’s Branch.

“Welcome!”

Yua, who had been clearing tables, waved her hand with a bright smile. The shop was already empty of customers—business hours had ended.

“Isn’t the shop closed?”
“It’s fine! We have a reservation, and I’ve prepared everything in advance. Please wait just a moment.”

Yua nodded enthusiastically and disappeared into the Kitchen. Only her presence could be felt from within—the Restaurant Manager was nowhere to be found today.

-Krrgh, how long I’ve yearned for this aroma!

A chill emanated from Wrath’s mouth, spreading across the entire tavern floor.

“Brrr, it’s cold today. Yua, bring us some apple chicken stew too!”

Dorian, sensing something odd, shivered and placed an additional order.

-A-apple chicken stew! Apple meat pie and apple chicken stew!

A breath-like chill gushed from Wrath’s mouth.

‘I apologize. It’s because of this food-obsessed Demon King.’

I forcibly closed Wrath’s mouth and sighed. I should have fed him sooner if I’d known he’d be like this.

-Krrgh…
“Your meal is ready!”

Just as Wrath’s chill threatened to break through his sealed mouth, Yua arrived with a large tray bearing the pie and stew. The sweet aroma of apples seemed to wash away the fatigue of the day.

“Where’s the Restaurant Manager?”
“He went out to speak with a merchant who brought apples today, but he hasn’t returned yet. It’s always like this.”

Yua placed her hands on her hips and muttered that she was always the one doing all the work.

“Anyway, please eat while it’s still hot. Actually, I cook better than my Grandfather.”

Yua shook her twin-tails and whispered as if divulging a childhood secret.

-Ugh, apple meat pie, apple stew? Is this the Demon Realm? Have I returned to the Demon Realm!

Wrath bounced through the air like a child who had received a long-desired toy.

-Eat quickly! I’m dying of anticipation!
‘Understood.’

I portioned the pie and stew onto a plate and tasted the stew first.

“Oh!”

The flavor drew an involuntary exclamation from me.
The sweetness of apples intertwined with the savory notes of chicken, creating a taste that stimulated my tongue with delightful complexity. The thick broth possessed a rich umami depth that filled my entire mouth with satisfaction from just a single spoonful.

-M-marvelous! The sweetness and saltiness dance together like wind and flame, swirling across my tongue! This is the true taste of the Demon Realm!
“Wow! Delicious! Really delicious!”

For someone claiming to be a gourmand, Wrath’s vocabulary for describing flavors was remarkably limited. He was on par with Dorian, who merely repeated that something was delicious.

“Then….”

I took a generous portion of the apple meat pie and placed it in my mouth. Despite its rigid appearance, the pie unfolded on my tongue as softly as a carpet. The fruit juice from the diced apples harmonized beautifully with the savory essence of the finely minced meat, enveloping my palate.

A taste that evoked a warm yet refreshing spring. The contrasting textures—the crisp apples and tender meat—added an unexpected pleasure to each bite.

“This is extraordinary.”

I nodded emphatically. Though I had consumed many dishes in this place, this pie surpassed them all. A flavor worth any price. Now I understood why it sold out so quickly.

“Incredible! Today’s apples are absolutely insane!”

Dorian, who had also tasted the apple meat pie before, smacked his lips in appreciation. He raised his thumbs, declaring that today’s version was far superior to the previous one.

-Ah, this is it! The reason I remained bound to you was precisely for this moment! The true taste of perdition!

Wrath trembled with emotion over the apple meat pie, continuously radiating waves of frigid energy. He seemed on the verge of transcendence.

“Is that all?”
“Yeah. It’s really delicious.”
“Hehe, thank you!”

Yua’s face brightened, and she disappeared into the Kitchen with a wide smile. She returned with various dishes, insisting I eat more, and everything was delicious.

-Kugh, I am satisfied. I feel as though I have tasted the world itself.

Wrath nodded emphatically, his expression one of genuine contentment.

It seemed that girl’s talent extended beyond singing alone—she had a gift for cooking as well. Though her pace was slow, her dishes surpassed even the Restaurant Manager’s in flavor.

“That was excellent.”

I finished nearly ten portions of food and placed payment on the table—four times the menu price.

“Eh? That’s more than the food costs!”
“I paid what matched my satisfaction. Besides, we arrived late today. The rest is a tip.”

I smiled and waved my hand dismissively.

-Well spoken. Satisfying food deserves its proper value.
“This was the most delicious meal we’ve had here.

Wrath and Dorian nodded in unison.

“Thank you so much!”
“We’ll be back.”

I waved to Yua as she bowed, then left Frost’s Branch.

-The pineapple girl possesses skill not only in her voice but in her hands as well. Truly befitting my third attendant.
‘Third?’
-The first is the ice cream girl, the second is the beef girl, and there is the pineapple girl. Do you not see?

Ice cream was Lunan, beef was Martha, and pineapple was Yua. Truly, the Demon King lived as he pleased.

“How pathetic…”

I clicked my tongue at Wrath and was heading toward the Dormitory when an elderly man with a stern appearance approached. He was the manager of Frost’s Branch and Yua’s grandfather.

“Why are you so late! Yua is absolutely furious!”

Dorian muttered that this was trouble and made a fuss.

“Heh heh, well, I ran into an old friend and our conversation grew longer than expected.”

Despite his fierce gaze, the Restaurant Manager smiled gently and nodded.

“Thank you for coming. I suppose I should go face my granddaughter’s wrath.”

He bowed and entered Frost’s Branch. From inside, I could hear Yua’s voice demanding why he was so late.

“He’s really getting scolded, isn’t he?”

Dorian chuckled while touching his belly pouch.

“Isn’t he completely different from his appearance? I was scared at first. I never would have thought he was so gentle and kind.”
“Didn’t you notice something odd just now?”
“Something odd?”

The boy tilted his head as if he understood nothing.

Without answering, I turned back to look at Frost’s Branch where the Restaurant Manager had entered, narrowing my eyes.

‘Something is off.’

*

*

*

Hm, hm, hm.

Yua hummed to herself as she cleared the table where Raon and Dorian had eaten.

Squeak!

The hinges of the door creaked open with an eerie sound, far more unsettling than usual. I flinched and turned around—it was Grandfather.

“Grandfather! Why are you coming so late!”

Yua clutched the kitchen towel tightly and let out a disgruntled snort.

“I was talking with that fellow and lost track of time.”

Grandfather smiled benevolently as he locked the tavern door and drew the curtains shut.

“You do this every time!”
“Were you busy?”
“Word got out about fresh apples arriving, and I didn’t have enough hands even if I had two bodies!”
“Heh heh, my apologies. Then tomorrow you should go out and play. Your grandfather will handle the work alone.”

The Restaurant Manager approached with an embarrassed expression, scratching his cheek, and gently patted Yua’s head.

“Oh, it’s fine. Besides, today’s sales were incredible….”

Yua, who had been proudly pulling out gold and silver coins, suddenly froze. She lifted her gaze to examine Grandfather more carefully.

Warm, large hands; wrinkles etched around his eyes; a slightly hunched back. It was the benevolent grandfather’s appearance exactly, yet something felt fundamentally wrong.

‘Gasp!’

The moment our eyes met, I understood. Beneath his gentle gaze lurked a pitch-black darkness.

“W-who are you!”

Yua stumbled backward, her jaw trembling. The instinct honed by a lifetime together screamed the truth: this man was not Grandfather, but something imitating him.

“Yua. Why are you acting this way.”
“Who are you!”
“You’re upset because I came late.”

Thinking she was joking, he shrugged and stepped closer.

“Where did you take our grandfather!”
“Yua. What are you saying.”

It wore my Grandfather’s face and spoke with his voice. The manner of speech, the gestures—all identical—yet this being was not my Grandfather.

“You’re not our Grandfather! Where did our real Grandfather go?!”

Yua stumbled backward, wiping away tears that streamed down her cheeks. A chill ran through me as her back met the cold wall. There was nowhere left to retreat, and the Monster wearing my Grandfather’s skin was already closing in.

“Yua. What on earth is wrong? Your joke has gone too far.”
“G-Grandfather, please! Just tell me!”
….

At her desperate cry, it froze like a statue. The warm, grandfatherly gaze from moments before drained away, replaced by something cold and desiccated.

“How did you know?”

The gentle voice that had carried the weight of years transformed into a metallic screech that scraped against the lungs.

“Ah….”

Yua collapsed to the ground, her entire body trembling violently. Her hair stood on end at the sight of those hollow, emotionless eyes.

“P-Grandfather! Give back our real Grandfather!”

Even in her terror, Yua’s thoughts remained fixed on the missing Grandfather. But the Monster had no intention of answering.

“How did you know? How did you know? How did you know? How did you know? How did you know? How did you know? How did you know? How did you know?”

Its neck twisted in a direction no human spine could endure. The repetitive, rasping words suffocated the air itself.

“Ahhh….”

The Monster’s head—once identical to my Grandfather’s—swelled like a balloon before deflating. The grotesque sight, like mismatched lumps of clay compressed together, threatened to shatter my sanity.

“How did you know?”

The Monster opened its hand. Its massive palm split wide, revealing a gaping maw like a beast’s jaws, black and cavernous. Gray, mud-like substance dripped from within.

“Yua.”

From within that black void, I saw my Grandfather’s form. He smiled gently and waved his hand toward her.

“G-Grandfather!”

As Grandfather drew closer, the black void advanced with him. Yua squeezed her eyes shut.

“How did you know?”

In the instant the grinning Monster’s clawed hand was about to swallow Yua whole, the wall she’d been leaning against exploded outward.

BOOM!

The terrifying heat that erupted through the shattered wall melted the Monster’s clawed hand to nothing.

Yua lifted her trembling head as gentle hands grasped her shoulders and pulled her away.

Through the swirling ash-gray dust, there stood a Blonde Swordsman radiating a chilling aura.

Screech!

As he drew his blade, crimson lightning ignited in his eyes.

“What the hell are you?”

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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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