The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 168

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 168

The Hwajung Garden within Hyeonmu Hall, where Denier Zigheart held dominion.

In the heart of the garden, where flowers and trees bathed in watercolor light harmonized in perfect balance, Martha and Denier stood facing one another.

“I’m sorry.”

Martha could not meet Denier’s gaze and bowed her head deeply.

“You summoned me to Hyeonmu Hall, yet I joined the Gwangpung Unit instead. You have every right to be angry with me.”

She gazed down at her feet, her clasped hands trembling with tension.

“It’s fine.”

Denier smiled faintly, as though the matter were of no consequence.

“If I, who understand your circumstances better than anyone, cannot extend understanding to you, then who can?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Enough apologies. You’ve come after so long—are you truly going to keep your face hidden from me?”

“Ah, Father.”

Martha slowly lifted her head. Her dark eyes, which had always remained coldly composed, trembled faintly.

“Why do you furrow such a pretty face like that?”

Denier smiled warmly and stroked Martha’s hair.

“Ugh….”

Martha didn’t answer, biting her lip firmly. Denier was the man who had taken her in and raised her like his own daughter despite having nothing. Before him, she couldn’t hide her true feelings.

“It’s unfortunate that my youngest daughter has gone elsewhere, but it’s true that Hyeonmu Hall and the White Blood Cult rarely clash, so I understand well enough why you joined the Gwangpung Unit.”

Denier gazed down at Martha’s eyes gently.

“You want to take your revenge with your own hands.”

“Yes.”

Martha answered with conviction for the first time.

“I want to find my mother with my own hands, and kill those bastards.”

“Even if you take your revenge, it won’t feel as satisfying and pleasant as you imagine. You’ll find yourself lost in many thoughts.”

“I still have to do it. No matter what it takes, I must!”

“I see.”

Denier exhaled softly and drew the sword from his waist, scabbard and all, offering it to Martha.

“It’s a sword called Cheongun. Its sharpness is beyond question, and it carries the essence of Parma, which will keep your mind clear and focused.”

“What? Why would you…?”

“It’s your graduation gift.”

“But Father, I haven’t even entered the Hyeonmu Hall yet….”

Martha’s mouth fell open in astonishment. Cheongun was one of Denier’s most treasured blades. She had never dreamed he would entrust such a precious artifact to her.

“A father giving a gift to his daughter—what does it matter?”

“I….”

Denier placed the Cheongun blade into Martha’s hands and grasped her trembling shoulders.

“The Gwangpung Unit is a newly formed organization, so you’ll undertake not only foundational missions but also provide support across various operations. Each of those tasks will become an experience that elevates your standing, so give your utmost effort to every single one.”

“I understand, Father.”

Martha gazed at the Cheongun blade clasped in her hands, her eyes gleaming with determination.

“It may be presumptuous to call this the price of the blade, but let me ask one thing of you.”

“A promise, Father?”

She swallowed hard, watching his lips. Whatever the price of this blade, she would have to accept it.

“No matter how busy either of us becomes, let us share a meal together at least once every six months.”

“Well, truly….”

“You need to answer me.”

“I understand.”

Martha nodded, her radiant smile blooming so brightly that the Gwangpung Unit would have fainted at the sight of it.

“And never take your eyes off Raon.”

Denier withdrew his hand from Martha and turned his gaze toward the sky.

“That boy’s martial prowess and judgment rival those of a Vice-Leader. You will learn much by observing him. Always watch and contemplate why he moves the way he does.”

He spoke the truth. Raon had defeated the Green Warrior at fifteen and bested Horain, a Vice-Leader, at seventeen. Watching him had taught me countless lessons, time slipping away unnoticed.

“Do you think I can catch up to him?”

Martha gripped the Sword of Azure Cloud tightly, meeting Denier’s eyes. She wanted to stand at the same level as Raon, if only to gain confidence in herself.

“To be honest, it will be difficult. Your talent is not inferior even to the Main Lineage of Zigheart, but that boy possesses a talent so rare even among the Main Lineage that it is exceptional. However….”

Denier smiled faintly and turned his body.

“It is not impossible. As a swordsman of Zigheart, build your foundation through the many experiences you will face. Your rival stands right beside you—if you persevere steadily, the day will come.”

“Yes.”

Martha nodded emphatically. Since her defeat at Raon’s hands, she had observed him daily, so she was confident in her ability to watch him.

“I will never let him out of my sight.”

“But don’t go falling head over heels just from looking at me. We’re family, even if we don’t share blood.”

“Ah, Father!”

“I’m joking. Just joking.”

Denier waved his hand dismissively and entered Hyeonmu Hall.

“Ugh….”

Martha clenched her fists tightly. Her earlobes had flushed a delicate shade of red without her even realizing it.

*

*

*

Raon and Lunan, who had departed for Mirtan, were spending their first night in a small, unnamed forest.

“Lunan. Rest here for now. I’m going to scout the surroundings.”

“Understood.”

I waved to Lunan before venturing into the forest.

-Even cold food tastes delicious. The pineapple girl’s culinary skills grow sharper with each passing day.

Wrath savored Yua’s signature pineapple and salami hamburger, smacking his lips with evident satisfaction. His expression betrayed his deep contentment.

-The quantity is somewhat lacking, I must say. For Hamchoiyeol like myself, it falls far short.

‘Hamchoiyeol?’

-You don’t even understand that? How behind the times you are. It means eating up to ten hamburgers maximum.

‘He abbreviates everything.’

He was no longer a Demon Lord, but rather like a neighborhood brat.

Raon shook his head and took a position in the Training Courtyard, where the trees were spaced appropriately apart, then drew his sword.

-You said you’d scout the surroundings, yet here you are training again. How tedious.

‘I’ve already completed the perimeter check with Glacia.’

I had already finished surveying and searching the area with Glacia. Now I wanted to refine the dual sword strike I had practiced at dawn.

‘Should I try that?’

While traveling, I had extracted only the speed incantation from Resonance Swordsmanship and Radiant Fang Blade. I swung my sword while memorizing the incantation that pursued speed alone.

Whoooosh!

As the new swordsmanship woven from Raon’s formidable physical prowess and the speed incantation alone came together, a sword strike erupted that seemed to twist the dark sky melted by night itself.

‘Fast.’

Even without expending much aura, it was a speed capable of severing an Expert-rank lower-tier opponent’s neck in a single instant. But this wasn’t the level I was aiming for.

A roaring cry tore through the air!

I pulled Glacial upward with explosive force, drawing the blade backward before unleashing it in a sweeping arc. The frigid energy coursing through my taut muscles and mana circuits erupted outward in a devastating slash.

A thunderous boom shattered the silence!

A sword strike so swift that only the eyes could barely track it raced along the horizon, followed by a ferocious wave of freezing cold that embroidered the empty air in its wake.

In a single motion, a horizontal waterfall of ice materialized before me. The force was so tremendous that even with water-type resistance, one’s body would be torn asunder.

“This is more impressive than I expected.”

I had merely refined the sword structure of this newly created technique, yet its speed and power had become incomparably stronger than this morning. If I continued developing it at this pace, I would surely forge my own swordsmanship that could be deployed in actual combat.

‘All those hours spent drilling the fundamentals have finally paid off.’

Fundamental swordsmanship contains shallow traces of most sword attributes. While others were learning advanced techniques, I had dove deep into those shallow waters, and now that dedication bore fruit.

‘What do you think?’

-Ahem, y-you’re… you’re doing a little something. Just a tiny bit! Not enough for this King to acknowledge, mind you—merely a speck of dust!”

Wrath repeated the word “little” as if reluctant to admit anything.

‘Then I’ll turn that speck of dust into a snowball worth acknowledging.’

I chuckled softly and continued practicing the new sword technique until Glacsia’s chill dissipated, then made my way back to where Lunan was waiting.

“Sorry for the delay. I was testing out a new swordsmanship technique.”

“Yeah. I know.”

Lunan nodded as if it were nothing worth mentioning.

“It was interesting, so I wasn’t bored.”

“You could sense it?”

That distance should have been beyond Lunan’s current level of perception. I had no idea how he’d detected it.

“I opened a new eye in the Katam Jungle. I’ll teach you about it later.”

As he spoke, a smile so faint it was barely visible crossed his face.

‘A new eye?’

The inhabitants of the Katam Jungle that Lunan had visited could sense distant presences without relying on aura—it seemed he was referring to that ability.

“Now that we’re done, let’s have some ice cream.”

She pulled out a box of pearl ice cream from her backpack as if she’d been waiting for this moment.

—Ooh! Truly, my king’s first attendant!

Wrath exhaled a continuous stream of cold air as he surveyed the ice creams spread before us.

“You pick first.”

“Okay.”

Lunan Slion selected mint chocolate and popped it into his mouth. His pale cheeks flushed a rosy pink, evidence of his enjoyment.

-Hmph, mint chocolate, of all things….

Wrath stared at the empty space where the mint chocolate had been, his lips pressing into a thin line.

-I only tolerate this because she is the ice cream girl. Had it been anyone else, I would have struck them down on the spot!

‘He’s ridiculous. Freeloading like that.’

I clicked my tongue and placed a new ice cream—swirled with black and white—into my mouth.

“Ah….”

Crispy cookie pieces were embedded within the sweet ice cream, and the contrasting textures of sweetness flooded my palate.

-Ahhhhh….

Wrath’s mouth fell open so wide a fly could have entered, as if he were trembling at this new flavor.

-What divine jest is this! Such a taste remained in the human realm! I would have no regrets even if I perished this very moment!

For once, I understood Wrath’s theatrics. This ice cream truly was delicious enough to make one’s eyes snap wide open.

“What’s this called?”

“Cookie and cream.”

-Cookie and cream… This name shall be etched upon the very soul of this sovereign! Ah, how magnificent….

Wrath clasped his hands together and murmured “cookie and cream” as though reciting a hymn of praise.

“And this.”

Lunan Slion stowed away the ice cream box and retrieved the silver case she had brought to the Training Ground.

“What is that?”

She opened the box without answering. A pristine white metal—as though compacted from snow that had fallen throughout the dawn—gleamed brilliantly within.

“It’s a metal called Coldblood Iron.”

Lunan Slion continued speaking as she tapped the Coldblood Iron with her finger.

“If you forge a blade from this, it becomes tremendously beneficial for swordsmen who wield frost techniques. I’ll share some with you as well, Raon.”

“You’re giving this away?”

“Yes.”

Lunan Slion nodded without the slightest hesitation.

“Why?”

“Because I need to repay you.”

A deeper smile spread across his face as he spoke.

“Hah….”

A hollow laugh escaped me. Even at a glance, I could tell these were treasures of immense value, yet he was offering to share them. No conditions, no ulterior motives—just a simple desire to repay a debt.

‘What have I done to deserve this….’

I had already received far more than enough in return for making Sylvia step back once. I was grateful for Lunan’s continued consideration, but I didn’t know how to reciprocate properly.

‘This is difficult.’

I lowered my head. The more I came to understand relationships between people, the more complex they seemed to become.

Still, I understood one thing: when you receive, you must give back in equal measure.

‘I need to find something I can do for him in return.’

I looked at Wrath and nodded quietly to myself.

*

*

*

Two days later.

Raon and Lunan Slion stood at the entrance of Mirtan Village, gazing upward. The winding hillside path, twisted left and right like grapevines, was lined with Smithies of every conceivable shape—some perfectly round, others sharply angular, and a few bizarrely contorted.

This was Mirtan, the village of master craftsmen, where individualistic Smithies sprawled freely in all their glory.

‘It’s not as hot as I expected.’

Mirtan was built directly beneath Skelay, a dormant volcano, and though it lay in the north, it was said to be warm. Yet the temperature felt no different from anywhere else.

‘There are so many people.’

As we entered the village, Zigheart swordsmen were scarcely visible, just as Rimer had warned. Instead, the streets teemed with villagers, merchants, and swordsmen from distant lands.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

As we climbed the hillside path packed densely with Smithies, the sounds of hammers striking anvils, bellows roaring, and furnaces igniting echoed ceaselessly from all directions.

Watching the craftsmen labor intently, sweat streaming down their faces, I felt an instinctive urge to live with greater purpose.

—Work any harder and you’ll die, fool.

‘I feel like I haven’t given my absolute best yet.’

—Not you—I’ll be the one dying. I can’t sleep, so moderate your training!

Wrath furrowed his brow with a grumble. It seemed he hadn’t enjoyed standing watch and practicing sword techniques during the journey to Mirtan Village.

“Raon. Where are we headed?”

“I’m not entirely sure….”

I glanced around the surroundings. Everyone was working with such intense focus that it was difficult to approach anyone for conversation. As I pondered whom to ask, I sensed movement from my right.

“Hello there?”

Turning my head, I saw a man with a long pipe clenched between his teeth, flashing a crooked smile. His skin was bronzed, whether from the heat of the forge or the sun, but he lacked the rigid demeanor typical of master craftsmen—instead, he carried an air of casual ease. Among everyone I’d encountered here, he appeared to have the least amount of work to do.

“Looking for the Smithy, are you?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

I nodded lightly in acknowledgment.

“Well then, as a native of Mirtan Village, how about I recommend someone? I know a master craftsman overflowing with talent who produces masterpieces with every creation.”

“Hmm….”

Unlike my arrangement with Balkan, I hadn’t yet decided who would forge Lunan’s sword, so it wouldn’t hurt to keep this information in mind.

“Who might that be?”

“Haren.”

“I haven’t heard that name before….”

“It hasn’t become widely known yet. Soon there will be chaos, so it’s best to secure him beforehand.”

“Ah, where is this person located?”

“Right here!”

He grinned and pointed to himself with his thumb.

“I am Haren, the future greatest craftsman of the Continent!”

“….”

Raon, Lunan, and even Wrath regarded Haren with pitying eyes.

“Hey there, beautiful swordswoman. Don’t look at me like that—just give me a chance. Your sword aura is extraordinary, so only someone of my caliber could properly match your level.”

His boast wasn’t entirely baseless; Haren seemed to have discerned Lunan’s true strength despite her concealing her aura.

‘Though he certainly didn’t sense my capabilities.’

I let out a quiet chuckle and surveyed the Smithy he’d emerged from. The furnace was cold, the floor was cluttered, and the ceiling was thick with cobwebs.

“Tsk, that’s enough.”

I clicked my tongue and left with Lunan.

“Wait, hold on! Don’t look at that! There’s no one here more skilled than me, I’m telling you!”

“It’s fine. The person I’m going to meet is absolutely superior to you anyway.”

“You’re hilarious! Who are you? What’s your name!”

“I am Balkan.”

“B-Balkan? Kahahaha!”

Haren clutched his belly and laughed, rolling across the ground.

“Do you really think that stubborn old codger would even meet with you? That man has been waiting only for the head of Zigheart for the past four years. You won’t even get to see his face!”

He continued to ramble on about how they wouldn’t even receive a proper rejection.

“Just leave it to me. The price is a bit steep, but I’ll make you something truly magnificent. If you miss this opportunity, you’ll regret it, I promise.”

“That’s enough. Just tell us where Balkan’s Smithy is located.”

“You’re not listening. I’m telling you it’s impossible. Even the royal family of the Jetuul Kingdom visits every day, and that old man won’t show his face. There’s no way he’ll open his doors to you.”

He waved his hand, telling us not to waste any more time.

“Then shall we make a wager?”

“A wager?”

“If we manage to enter Balkan’s Smithy, I win. If we don’t even see his face as you say, you win. The loser must grant the winner whatever they ask for.”

“There’s no need to bet, but fine!”

Haren nodded eagerly.

-A fool has taken the bait.

Wrath muttered about another victim being added to the list and let out a weary sigh.

“My condition is simple. I’ll forge that female swordmaster’s blade. I’ll decide the materials and the price myself!”

Haren pointed at Lunan Slion, who stood dazed. The way he grinned and rubbed his hands together made him look exactly like a third-rate thug.

“Hmm….”

I didn’t want to forge Lunan Slion’s blade in a place like this, but it was a bet I couldn’t afford to lose.

“Lunan Slion.”

“It’s fine.”

Lunan Slion nodded immediately without even asking for an explanation, as if to say she trusted me.

“Thank you.”

I gave Lunan Slion a gentle smile before raising my finger toward Haren.

“Let’s do it. I’ll tell you my condition later.”

“Excellent! I’ll show you the way. Let’s go!”

Haren led the way up the hill. From his confident expression, he seemed absolutely certain he wouldn’t lose.

“Hey, Haren! What’s the occasion—did you actually wake up before the sun fell today?”

“You’re not drunk at this hour? What’s next—the sun rising in the west?”

“Now get to work properly! The Smithy is falling apart! You fool!”

The craftsmen clicked their tongues at Haren or shouted at him to get his act together. That alone told me everything—this man was the village’s resident troublemaker.

“These friends said they could bring out the old master’s inspiration. I’m bringing them to him, so all of you shut it!”

Haren’s brow furrowed deeply.

“That won’t work. How am I supposed to face the Village Chief?”

“Don’t waste time—come to us instead! We’ll give you a discount!”

“Even royalty who came ten days straight couldn’t catch a glimpse of him. How could I let you in?”

“Stop spouting nonsense!”

The onlookers and craftsmen shook their heads, saying they couldn’t see Balkan either.

“You heard them? Even if you ask to withdraw now, it won’t happen.”

“I won’t say such things, so you should leave now.”

“How presumptuous….”

Haren pouted and stopped before the Smithy built on the village’s highest hill. It was a semicircular structure like an overturned bowl, with a single thick iron door sealed shut at its center.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

From within the Smithy came the rhythmic sound of metal being struck with consistent force and precision. The seasoned ring of the hammer alone—as if performing a musical composition—revealed the craftsman’s mastery.

“Ahem. Aah.”

Haren cleared his throat. Rather than using the voice he’d displayed until now, he raised his pitch and cried out in an entirely different tone. He was clearly attempting to conceal his identity.

“Hey, former Village Chief! You’ve got a visitor! Someone’s here to see you!”

He pounded on the iron door as if he meant to shatter it, but no response came from within.

“A visitor! Open the door!”

“Tsk. Go away. I’m not receiving guests right now.”

Only then did Balkan’s voice emerge from inside. Though deeper than before, his voice was unmistakable.

“See? I told you there was no need to come. Let’s at least collect a deposit first. Hand over that box.”

Haren chuckled and extended his hand toward the box Lunan Slion was holding.

“I knew it.”

“He’s not called a Continent-class craftsman for nothing. His stubbornness is as hard as steel wire.”

“He wouldn’t even open the door for royalty, so how are these little ones supposed to get in?”

“That rogue’s just going to pocket some easy money.”

The onlookers who had followed along clicked their tongues, as if they’d expected this all along.

“I’ll give it a try.”

I stepped past Haren, whose hand was still outstretched, and positioned myself before the door.

“No, it’s useless! Don’t disturb the old master—come this way….”

“Elder.”

I recalled the laughter of Balkan that I had witnessed for the last time on Bekmang Mountain and continued.

“I have come with an unbreakable resolve.”

At those final words, the hammer strikes that had been ringing out ceased abruptly.

Creak—

The iron door, which seemed as though it would remain sealed even if the Continent itself crumbled, swung wide open, and Balkan emerged amid a wave of intense heat.

His face remained deeply lined with wrinkles, yet his eyes blazed with vitality, and his swollen muscles rippled across his entire frame.

“You’ve finally come.”

“It’s been a long time.”

Balkan and I gazed upon each other’s transformed selves, our smiles warm with reunion.

“Wh-what? What in the—?”

Haren alternated his gaze between Raon and Balkan, his mouth gaping so wide it seemed ready to split.

“W-what in the world is happening! Why did that old geezer come out!”

He pinched his own cheek as if unable to believe what he was seeing.

“He… he really came out!”

“Gasp! You said you wouldn’t open the door until a real guest arrived!”

“W-who is that young man? For Balkan to make such an expression….”

The smiles vanished from the faces of the onlookers who had followed behind. Everyone gasped in astonishment.

“That ended rather anticlimactically.”

Raon smiled as he watched the bewildered Haren.

“The wager is my victory.”

“Tch!”

As Haren bit his lip and began to back away, Balkan’s gaze turned toward him.

“Stop.”

“Ugh!”

At those words, Haren froze like a puppet with its strings cut.

“You brat. You’re not working, so why did you come all the way here?”

“W-well, I was just being helpful and—”

“Nonsense! You weren’t thinking about improving your skills at all—you were just wasting time with pointless solicitation!”

“N-no, Father. That’s not it!”

“Silence!”

Hearing him call out “Father,” it became clear that Haren was Balkan’s son.

I had been thinking of either having him run errands or acquiring some of the decent items he’d crafted, but if he was Balkan’s son, he would prove useful in many ways.

‘I’ve gained another tool.’

I smiled as I watched Balkan grab Haren by the collar.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————