The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 170

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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 170

I narrowed my eyes as I gazed upon the shattered fragments of the Golden Crystal Stone.

‘It wasn’t just the Crimson Flame Art and Glacial Aura that moved just now.’

Not only the two energies I directly wielded, but even the spectral essence of the Soul Reaper Sword strapped at my waist had seeped into the Golden Crystal Stone.

When those three energies flowed into the depths of the Golden Crystal Stone, the last force to move was the Ring of Fire.

The six rings encircling my heart resonated, attempting to unify the Crimson Flame Art, Glacial Aura, and spectral essence into one, and the Golden Crystal Stone shattered under the weight of that tremendous power.

“Hmm….”

Balkan’s hands trembled as he picked up the gleaming orb.

“In all my years, this is the first time I’ve witnessed a Golden Crystal move of its own accord.”

I watched the iridescent Golden Crystal in his grasp and drew a slow breath. I had never seen Balkan so shaken before.

“So this is the Golden Crystal.”

I narrowed my eyes at the orb held in Balkan’s hand. The gleaming sphere radiated an otherworldly aura befitting something worthy of the title King of Metals.

“Indeed. This is the Golden Crystal that amplifies all energies. The fact that it shines so brilliantly means your power has earned its favor….”
“Ugh!”

As Balkan extended the Golden Crystal and spoke, Haren, who had been lying beside us, suddenly jolted awake and crawled toward us.

“Y-you used both frigid and scorching energy simultaneously? What exactly are you! And how did you break the Golden Crystal Stone!”

His eyes widened as he stared at the finely fractured pieces of the Golden Crystal Stone.

“I thought he was unconscious.”

Since he had been thrashing about in pain where he was struck, I had knocked him out briefly, but it seemed he had awakened precisely when the Golden Crystal Stone shattered.

“Grandfather! What kind of monster did you bring here?!”
“Shut up and sit down!”
“Ugh!”

Balkan struck the back of Haren’s head, forcing him to his knees.

“If you go around telling anyone what you saw today, I’ll crack your skull open with my own hands.”
“Ah, no… you’re being too harsh on your own son….”
“Quiet and answer the question!”
“I won’t! There’s nowhere to tell anyway!”

Haren yelped and shouted not to beat up a patient.

“This fool may be dim-witted, but he keeps his mouth shut. You needn’t worry.”

Balkan rolled the golden coin across his palm with a faint smile.

“Understood.”

I nodded. Given that I had held back the prince of the Tulan Kingdom and his knights alone without even mastering martial arts, there was reason enough to trust him.

“Don’t you dare use someone’s weaknesses against them like a coward!”

Haren grumbled and turned away, still rubbing the back of his head where the pain lingered.

“Then let’s continue. A moment ago, you moved cold energy, heat energy, and something else—three distinct forces, yes?”
“Yes. Though I didn’t move them myself….”

I drew the Soul Reaper Sword from its sheath at my waist and held it forward.

“A demonic blade….”

Balkan recognized at a glance that the Soul Reaper Sword harbored demonic energy.

“Yes. It was forged by Master Kuberard.”
“What? That man created a demonic blade?”

He gazed down at the Soul Reaper Sword with an expression of disbelief.

“How did that stubborn fool manage to forge a Demonic Blade…?”
“There were circumstances. In Siren Village in the Southern Region of the Continent…”

I closed my eyes and explained to Kuberard the story behind how the Soul Reaper Sword was forged.

“I see. That makes sense then.”

Balkan nodded in understanding.

“Is the sword sleeping now?”
“Unless I request it or we encounter the White Blood Cult, it remains dormant.”

Except for today when it moved of its own accord, the Soul Reaper Sword remained perfectly still, as if gathering strength to take revenge on the White Blood Cult.

-A mere insect gathering power? I need only flick a finger to crush something so pathetically inferior.

Wrath twisted his expression as he regarded the Soul Reaper Sword.

Whooooom!

The Soul Reaper Sword trembled, its demonic energy surging as if rejecting the mockery.

-Hmph!

Wrath scoffed and suppressed the Soul Reaper Sword’s demonic energy with his frigid power.

-This is the difference in rank. If you ask me, I shall achieve your revenge in your stead.
‘So if you lose in power, you’re lower rank?’
-Of course. Power is rank, the very tier of existence.
‘Then you’re lower rank than me.’
-Th-that’s absurd! Why would I, the Demon King, ever lose to a mere human!
‘You’re always getting crushed by me though.’
-Ugh…

Wrath fell silent, his mouth hanging open.

‘Low-rank Demon King. Do stay humble.’

I stroked the Soul Reaper Sword while looking down at Wrath.

—You, you bastard!

Wrath could not restrain himself and surged forward with frigid energy and fury, pushing through his mana circuits.

A deafening roar erupted!

I effortlessly deflected that tremendous assault with the Ring of Fire, Manifold Strikes, and Glacial, then sheathed the Soul Reaper Sword.

“A Demonic Blade carries the essence of ‘deviousness’ within it. Yet depending on how it is wielded, a Demonic Blade can become a Divine Blade or remain a Demonic Blade.”
“So it ultimately depends on me, then.”
“Yes. The resentment dwelling in that blade is so thick that even I can perceive it. Do not be consumed by that malevolence, and help it achieve true purification and walk its rightful path, as its name suggests.”
“Understood.”

I grasped the Soul Reaper Sword firmly and secured it at my waist.

“You will be capable of it.”

Balkan smiled gently and patted my shoulder.

“Hmph, anyone watching would think he’s the one who’s your son.”

Haren crossed his arms and pouted his lips.

“Silence!”
“Ugh!”

When Balkan glared, Haren shrank back and retreated to the side.

“Raon. Would you like to touch this?”

Balkan extended the Golden Blade he held in his hand forward. Unlike before, it bore no rainbow light—only a pitch-black hue. I nodded and grasped the Golden Blade.

A resonant hum vibrated through the air!

The moment I took hold of it, the Golden Blade blazed with five brilliant lights, emitting a crystalline ring and trembling like a sword cry.

“Hah!”
“Indeed, as expected….”

Haren trembled in shock, while Balkan let out a hollow laugh.

“Why are you doing this?”
“The Golden Blade has been captivated by your aura. It wants to make you its master.”
“Does it have consciousness?”
“Not quite consciousness. It’s instinctive, like how a flower opens its leaves toward the sun.”
“I see….”

I smacked my lips as I observed the Golden Blade. Right now, I was circulating three different auras within it to hold back Wrath, and the Golden Blade kept emitting light and tremors as if it approved of those auras.

“Could I put this into my sword? I’ll pay any price….”
“No need. You brat.”

Balkan chuckled and waved his hand.

“Since the master is already decided, it doesn’t matter if I give it to you. The problem is the quantity.”
“Quantity….”

He was right. It was a bead small enough to hold in one hand—barely enough material even for a dagger.

“There’s not enough to forge a proper sword, let alone harmonize two metals that match your aura.”
“Harmonize, you say….”
“You use both cold and heat auras, don’t you? To properly manifest both, the best method is to blend two metals and finish the seam with the Golden Blade. There’s Flame Iron for the heat side and Silver Steel for the cold side, but there isn’t enough Golden Blade to bond them together.”

Balkan sighed softly, as if disappointed.

“Instead of Silver Steel, you can use this!”

Lunan Slion, who had been quiet until now, held out the box containing Cold Blood that she had been cradling.

“I’ll give Raon everything left over after making my sword.”
“Wait, are you serious? This is high-grade Cold Blood….”
“It’s fine,”

She offered the Cold Blood without the slightest hesitation.

“If you’re certain….”

Balkan nodded and looked at me, his expression asking what our relationship was.

“A colleague.”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“Hmm, so only the Golden Blade and geothermal energy remain.”

Balkan slowly rose to his feet and straightened his back.

“I’ll look into the Golden Blade myself for now. You all go to Skelay Mountain and find out why the geothermal energy has weakened.”
“Understood. Then we’ll need just one guide….”
“There he is. The one with nothing to do.”

He pointed at Haren, who was crawling toward the exit.

“Ugh!”
“That fellow has been scurrying around since childhood, so he knows the geography well. Take him with you.”
“Ah, why do I have to go! I just had a brilliant inspiration and was about to work on it….”
“Tsk.”
“Y-yes, I’ll go!”

Haren jumped to his feet and nodded eagerly.

“Lunan.”
“Yeah.”

Lunan and I left the Smithy together.

“We’ll be back soon.”
“You don’t need to solve the problem itself, just be careful and return safely.”
“Yes.”

I nodded and turned away.

-You bastard! How much longer will you ignore me!
‘I’m not ignoring you.’

How could I ignore the biting cold piercing through my entire body and the surge of rage constricting my chest? I was simply enduring it all without showing it, circulating the three energies within me.

-Excellent! Today, let us settle this once and for all! I shall demonstrate to you the true majesty of my station!
‘Futile.’

Wrath unleashed the full extent of his aura to assault the barrier I had constructed within my mana circuits, but I reinforced it with Mana Forging and Glacial Aura, blocking every ounce of his power.

Crunch, crunch, crunch!

A simultaneous clash of technique and raw strength erupted within my body, yet Wrath could not overcome either.

-Grraaagh! I do not yield….

As he attempted to detonate his remaining aura, a message materialized before my eyes.

[You have endured the interference of 【Wrath】.]
[Your Perception stat has increased by 1 point.]
[You have borne pain with composure.]
[Your Stamina stat has increased by 1 point.]

The arbiter had declared Wrath’s defeat.

-Again? This accursed—!

Wrath lost consciousness and collapsed backward.

‘If your station is so lofty, perhaps you should remain seated.’

I gazed down at Wrath sprawled across the bracelet and smiled coldly.

*

*

*

“Mmm, mmm.”

Rimer hummed softly as he knocked upon the door of the Patriarch’s Reception Hall.

“My Lord!”

Unlike usual, Glen Zigheart’s voice didn’t reach us from inside. Instead, Roen emerged and bowed his head.

“The Patriarch has stepped out for a brief errand.”
“What? I thought he’d catch a fatal illness if he ever left the estate. Was I wrong?”

Rimer flailed his hands as if the very notion defied reason.

“It has been quite some time since I’ve seen him move of his own accord.”

Roen offered a faint smile.

“Where did he go?”
“He did not disclose his destination, only mentioning he would return by evening after a brief outing.”
“We can’t just let him go! Something might happen to the Patriarch—though, well, nothing could actually happen to him.”

Rimer swallowed hard. No one dared lay a hand on Glen Zigheart, and should anyone foolishly attempt it, they would glimpse the depths of hell itself.

“He departed alongside the Heavenly Sword Master, so there is no cause for concern.”
“Well, in that case.”

The Heavenly Sword Master was a supreme warrior who had stood with Glen Zigheart from the very beginning, much like Roen and myself. With her at his side, there was no reason to worry.

“What brings you to seek the Patriarch?”
“I came to deliver various reports. Raon and Lunan have departed, Burren Zigheart remains secluded, and Martha is training diligently, or so I intended to say….”
“If that is all, I can convey the message for you.”
“And!”

Rimer seized Roen’s shoulder firmly as he turned to leave.

“M-my monthly stipend….”
“That should have been disbursed already.”
“Could you advance it? Or perhaps lend me a bit of coin?”
“Ah, actually the Patriarch did leave a message before departing.”

Roen released Rimer’s hand with a knowing smile.

“A message?”
“Should you happen to ask about an advance or request a loan, he said he would visit you personally for a ‘warm conversation.'”
“A-a conversation….”

Rimer swallowed hard, stepping backward. This was supposed to be a conversation, but it was obvious a fist would come flying first.

“Roen. Surely we can keep this between us?”
“Of course. I’m perfectly willing to keep it secret, but….”

Roen glanced subtly upward.

“What about them?”
“Ah….”

Rimer’s expression darkened as he examined the Heavenly Sword Squad swordsmen concealed in the ceiling. The Heavenly Sword Squad listened only to Glen. They weren’t the sort one could reason with.

“There’s a saying about savoring the present moment. Righteousness comes later; enjoyment is now. I choose to have that conversation later.”

Rimer didn’t retreat. Instead, he extended his hand.

“Hmm, even if I lend you money, it would be impossible for you to win against him.”
“Isn’t challenging the impossible what a warrior does!”
“Hehe.”

Roen seemed pleased by that answer, smiling faintly as he placed a pouch of gold coins into Rimer’s hand.

“Thank you! I’ll bring back news of victory today!”

Rimer turned and fled the Patriarch’s Hall, employing footwork techniques to hasten his escape.

“The Grim Reaper shows himself.”

Roen narrowed his eyes, watching Rimer’s receding figure. For some reason, the shadow of death seemed to be smiling.

“Setting that aside….”

Roen opened the Audience Chamber door again, his voice tinged with amusement.

“They should have arrived by now.”

*

*

*

Haren led Raon and Lunan up Skelay Mountain.

“Climb quietly, please. If the monsters hear loud noises, they’ll swarm us from all directions.”

While I knew the paths where monsters didn’t roam like the back of my hand, there were creatures sensitive to sound, so we had to ascend in silence.

‘Still, that aside….’

I glanced back at Raon.

‘A swordsman directly chosen by the Golden Blade itself.’

Even if it was called the king of metals, it was nothing more than lifeless iron. I had never heard of or witnessed a mere fragment of iron—without any spirit dwelling within it—vibrating with the desire to choose its own master.

“So, what are you going to do about that?”

Perhaps because I had witnessed a sight worthy of legend from a master blacksmith, I found myself speaking formally to the young one now.

“About what?”

Raon tilted his head, as if he didn’t understand what I meant.

“The wager we made earlier.”
“I’ll handle it myself. You promised to grant me anything, after all.”
“B-but even so, if it’s too extreme or takes too long….”
“‘Anything’ includes all of that.”
“No, that’s unacceptable! You can’t put a leash on me over a single bet….”

Just as Haren was about to shake his head, Raon drew his sword. A chilling aura emanated from it as he approached.

“W-wait! Since when do you swing a blade just because someone refuses?! I’ll do it! I’ll do everything… ugh!”

I raised my hands to shield myself and closed my eyes, but there was no pain. Only a few drops of something thick and muddy fell onto my head.

“What….”

When I opened my eyes, green blood dripped from Raon’s blade, and beside me lay three giant fly-shaped monsters, split cleanly in half and dead.

“R-Red Fly….”

Insectoid monsters that dwelled in heat-laden lands like deserts and volcanic regions—vicious creatures that fed on the bodily fluids of living beings.

“Th-thank you.”

Haren bowed deeply. He’d thought I was attacking him, but I’d actually shielded him from the Red Fly behind him.

“If my guide dies, things become inconvenient.”

I spoke the chilling words without hesitation, then smiled.

‘H-he’s terrifying.’

With that single move, I’d saved his life and delivered a warning not to speak carelessly. It was psychological warfare no seventeen-year-old should be capable of.

“But these creatures…”

Haren narrowed his eyes as he gazed at the Red Flies.

“They don’t normally come to this area….”

The path we were taking was a place where monsters hadn’t ventured for over a decade. The appearance of three of them together was highly unusual.

“Just as the geothermal energy has shifted, the monsters’ ecology must have changed as well.”

I stepped forward from behind and continued speaking.

“I’ll take the lead from here on.”
“You don’t know the geography of this place.”
“True, but I can sense the aura. I believe I can discern where the problem lies. It’s quite severe, actually.”

I looked up toward the upper reaches of Skelay Mountain and narrowed my eyes.

“Lunan. Guard our rear.”
“Got it.”

The Silver-haired Swordswoman, so quiet she seemed almost like a doll, gave a slight nod.

“Then let’s set out again.”

Raon took the lead, walking forward without speaking or showing a map, yet he followed the ley line carrying the volcano’s heat straight through this labyrinthine terrain.

‘Huh.’

Haren exhaled sharply.

‘He sensed what the problem was here?’

Even he, who had lived in this place his entire life, couldn’t be certain, yet this newcomer claimed to know where the issue lay—his jaw dropped.

‘That has to be a lie, right?’

He thought it couldn’t be true, but Raon’s footsteps surpassed his own confidence. He climbed the mountain in a straight line without a single stumble.

That wasn’t even the most astonishing part.

Raon seemed to sense every presence around him—whenever a monster appeared, he severed its neck with a single blade stroke as if he’d been waiting for it.

The notorious Zika Orc never even got to swing its axe before its head flew off, and the flame-breathing Flame Snake was cleaved into eight pieces, scattering like fallen leaves.

The boy called Lunan, who followed behind, was equally formidable.

Five Grey Scorpions carrying heat poison rushed at him simultaneously, but he unleashed such intense cold that he froze them all in an instant.

‘At seventeen, this level of skill? Are these really Zigheart warriors?’

Haren swallowed hard. After seeing only eccentric fools like Rimer, witnessing proper Zigheart swordsmen, young though they were, set his heart ablaze.

‘Now I understand why that old man told me to watch them carefully.’

He finally grasped why his father had instructed him not to take his eyes off Raon and Lunan.

Witnessing the martial prowess of these young ones, he immediately wanted to seize a hammer and strike any metal in sight.

For the first time in ages, Haren erased the word “gambling” from his mind and flexed his fingers as if already gripping a hammer.

*

*

*

As I climbed the mountain and cut down monsters, I continued to recall the incantations of the Swift Blade technique.

‘Something is missing.’

From the Mana Forging Sword technique, the Radiant Blade, the Thousand Harmony Sword technique, and even from the swordplay of Tarkan, the prince of the Tulan Kingdom whom I had just encountered, I extracted the essence of swiftness and visualized it in my mind. Yet the Swift Blade at the speed I desired remained elusive.

‘I cannot discern what is lacking.’

It felt as though refining the incantations and sword forms just a touch further would birth the ultimate Swift Blade technique, yet it refused to materialize.

“Crash!”

Four Zika Orcs emerged from the right, charging forward with massive axes raised, their killing intent palpable enough to tear a human asunder in a single breath.

Whoosh!

I drew my blade diagonally with my wrist slightly raised. The aura blooming from the sword’s edge descended as though it would cleave the very space itself.

“Crash…”

The orcs never even reached me before their heads crashed into the earth. By their expressions, they seemed to have died without even realizing they had been cut.

It was a slash so swift that even the keen-sensed Zika Orcs failed to perceive the blade’s touch, yet my eyes held a glimmer of dissatisfaction.

‘Speed is one thing, but the angle was off.’

If I focused only on speed, I would miss the precise target and create an opening for counterattack. Speed and accuracy had to move together like magnets drawn to one another.

I climbed the mountain, combining and weaving the incantations of the Swift Blade technique one by one, following the flow of the earth’s veins.

After climbing for nearly half a day, I finally arrived at the place where that colossal aura I had sensed from below—massive enough to detonate—lay dormant.

“We’ve climbed far too high. The location where the earth vein always had problems was a bit lower down….”
“Be quiet.”

I silenced Haren’s suggestion to head toward the area he usually had problems with and pointed ahead instead.

Crackle, crackle, crackle.

In the center of the mountain ridge where heat shimmer danced, there stood a small rocky hill that appeared to be layered with sharp stones. The hill heaved slowly, as if breathing.

“Hmm? Was there a hill like that here?”

Haren scratched his beard in confusion.

“It’s not a hill.”

I steadied my breath and drew my sword. The moment I released my killing intent, the hill rose to its feet and unleashed a tremendous storm of flames.

Roooaaar!

Across the wave of immense fire that spread throughout the ridge, something lifted its head. It was a colossal fire demon—a dragon’s head crowned with two horns, draped in a turtle’s shell.

Groooowwwl!

Blocking out the setting sun, the aura blazing from its crimson eyes far surpassed that of any ordinary Monster.

“A, a Red Dragon Turtle!”

Meeting the gaze of the colossal creature, Haren stumbled backward without thinking.

“I’ve never seen one this massive before. What kind of Monster just wanders around a mountain!”

His lips trembled as he spoke in disbelief.

“A Red Dragon Turtle wandering the mountain, then….”

A flash of blue light gleamed in my eyes as I rested my sword against my shoulder.

“There’s much to gain here.”

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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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