The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 182
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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 182
“That’s the pin you gave us earlier.”
Burren Zigheart narrowed his eyes as he observed the red pin resting in Raon’s palm.
“You can track the location with it, right? That’s why you told us to keep it?”
He withdrew a pin from his pocket and grasped it in his hand. The other swordsmen did the same.
“Exactly. My aura is embedded within it, so I can pinpoint your locations.”
I nodded in acknowledgment.
“But how does that help us find where the Princess and Inild are? They don’t have pins.”
“They do.”
“What?”
“They… they do?”
“Truly?”
“Why would the Princess have one!”
At my confirmation, not just the swordsmen but the mages widened their eyes in astonishment.
“I slipped them into their clothes while they were unconscious.”
I chuckled softly and pinned the pin back to my collar.
“Why… why on earth?”
“How did you even think of that?”
The people in the conference room exhaled in disbelief.
“If I were one of the Oma and learned that the Princess and Inild had fallen unconscious, I’d definitely target them. So I thought ahead.”
“You… you predicted that?”
“It’s less about prediction and more about covering all bases—if a kidnapping does occur, we’ll be able to track their location.”
“Wow…”
“Truly…”
At Raon’s calm words, the people shook their heads in disbelief. Only Rimer, sitting alone with his fingers interlaced, smiled while scratching the back of his head.
“Wait.”
Morel, who had been listening quietly, raised his hand.
“The technique you used when placing that pin was so refined that it doesn’t seem like the work of a new recruit. However….”
“Refined?”
“Even at a time like this, you should use formal speech….”
“A contract is meant to be kept.”
“Ugh, r-refined, it was. But my artifact was also removed, so there’s no way your pin could still be intact.”
“No. It remains.”
Raon shook his head firmly and pointed to the pin that Burren was holding.
“That pin is made of Fain Steel. I’ve infused my aura into the heat within the Fain Steel, so unless it’s me, no one would sense anything special about this pin.”
“Hmm, now that you mention it….”
Morel swallowed dryly and nodded.
“I don’t feel any energy from the pin.”
Before Raon spoke, I didn’t even know that aura was embedded in that pin. I had simply thought of it as a red pin.
‘What exactly is this guy?’
Power and capability that don’t match his age, combined with perfect countermeasures. Everything about him doesn’t seem like a new recruit. A veteran. No, he seemed like someone worthy of leading an entire organization.
‘He looks better than that reckless elf bastard.’
Honestly, Raon seemed more like the commander of the Gwangpung Unit than Rimer, who was standing there dazed.
“One more thing.”
Raon raised his finger.
“I’m certain of Inild and Princess Jeina’s exact location.”
“Certain?”
“Yes. The Archbishop of the White Blood Cult who fought me—she’s with Inild and Princess Jeina.”
“What?”
“Y-you know the Archbishop’s location too?”
The moment I mentioned knowing the Archbishop’s whereabouts, everyone’s eyes widened in shock.
“How did you manage that?”
“When I fought the Archbishop, I planted a tracking pin on her clothes as well.”
“W-wait! You planted a pin on her clothes while fighting? And against the Archbishop, no less?”
Burren let out an incredulous laugh.
“That’s right. I could have killed her there, but I deliberately let her go. I needed to find the White Blood Cult’s branch location.”
I nodded. Like a hunter releasing a rabbit to find its burrow, I’d intentionally let the Archbishop escape to locate the White Blood Cult’s branch. The plan had worked perfectly.
“Where are they? We should attack immediately!”
Morel stood up, gathering his robes as if eager to depart.
“Morel and Salamander must remain here.”
“What? Why us!”
“Why us?”
“W-why us!”
“As I mentioned, the Archbishop’s associate possesses teleportation magic. If they escape, they might relocate to the city’s center to evade attention or take hostages. You need to prevent that. Mages handle such comprehensive defense better than swordsmen, don’t they?”
“Regardless, the Princess and my student are there! Of course we should go!”
“We must think of the greater picture now. The assault is our responsibility, and Salamander is better suited for overall protection.”
“But…”
Faced with my objective reasoning, Morel bit his lip, unable to argue further.
“Furthermore, there may be innocent people mixed in with the White Blood Cult members. It will be difficult to use magic while distinguishing between them.”
“Tch…”
“If the Princess and Inild are alive, I will bring them out by any means necessary. I swear it.”
I met their gaze with solemn eyes and assumed the formal swordsman’s stance—a pledge made as a swordsman.
“Phew, understood.”
Morel exhaled a sigh of defeat and lowered his hand.
“Thank you. Then I’ll ask you to protect all of Forban.”
I bowed respectfully to Morel before glancing at the Gwangpung Unit.
“Let’s go. We depart immediately before they learn of Fin’s existence.”
With those words, I left the conference room first.
“Grrr….”
“Yes!”
Martha ground her teeth and rushed out, with the remaining Gwangpung Unit members following close behind, their faces taut with tension.
“Looks like I have nothing to do.”
Rimer rose slowly and flashed a cunning smile.
“Rimer.”
Morel grabbed Rimer’s shoulder as he tried to leave.
“What exactly is that monster?”
I was already astonished when he overwhelmed and struck down Inild, but now it was on an entirely different level. I couldn’t believe that was a seventeen-year-old.
‘Even more than that one….’
Valcar also had a hidden young monster, but it seemed that one could never match Raon’s insight and decisiveness, no matter how much raw power it possessed.
“Is the Northern Destruction King personally raising him? How did such a monster even appear?”
“That can’t be.”
Rimer chuckled softly.
“I gave him some help, but that boy grew on his own strength. He escaped both my hands and the house lord’s grasp, developing himself independently.”
“That doesn’t make any sense….”
“You should keep a close eye on him. The history of Zigheart—no, the history of the entire Continent will be rewritten by Raon.”
He waved his hand dismissively and left the conference room.
“History, he says….”
Morel watched the door through which Rimer had departed and swallowed hard. Under normal circumstances, he would have scoffed at such words, but something about them felt as though they would inevitably come to pass.
“Sigh, let’s go. We have our own work to attend to.”
He led the Salamander mages out of the conference room, his expression weary.
*
*
*
I stood upon a hill overlooking what was suspected to be a branch of the White Blood Cult, accompanied by Rimer and the members of the Gwangpung Unit.
“There it is.”
I pointed toward an antiquated mansion below the hill. It was a merchant family estate in the northern part of Forban, known for its charitable reputation.
A merchant family would have easy access to carriages, making it convenient for abducting people.
“So that’s where the White Blood Cult….”
Martha exhaled sharply, as if ready to charge forward at any moment. What gleamed in her dark eyes transcended the mere concept of killing intent.
‘This is more serious than I thought.’
She carried herself with the determination to draw her blade even if it meant her own death. I would need to observe Martha carefully during today’s battle.
“That’s the place.”
Rimer scratched his chin and smacked his lips.
“But we can’t just attack that place indiscriminately. Not everyone there is part of the White Blood Cult.”
“We can attack regardless.”
I gripped the Soul Reaper Sword, which howled more fiercely than ever before, and answered.
“Everyone in the mansion, except for the people imprisoned underground, belongs to the White Blood Cult.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
The howling Soul Reaper Sword told me the truth—everyone above the mansion was cultivating the White Blood Aura and belonged to the White Blood Cult.
“Unit 1 attacks from the front, Unit 3 from the rear. Unit 2 infiltrates from the right and rescues the hostages in the underground. Always maintain the Gwangpung Formation while moving.”
“What about the left side?”
“The unit leader and I will go. We’ll descend directly below like Unit 2 and engage the executives. I’ll handle Celine, so please take care of the executive using teleportation magic. If we subdue him quickly, we can prevent their escape.”
“That shouldn’t be difficult. But…”
Rimer wore a displeased expression and smacked his lips.
“You don’t sound like a unit leader at all. My presence is completely overshadowed.”
“You were always like that.”
Burren scoffed and waved his hand dismissively. Lunan rose calmly to his feet, while Martha emanated a killing intent so intense it raised goosebumps.
“I’ll launch the first strike.”
I leaped down the hill, gripping the Soul Reaper Sword in reverse. I wove the aura of the Mana Explosion I’d triggered into the spectral flow of the Soul Reaper Sword.
Whoooooosh!
The Mana Explosion flame spirit infused with spectral energy filled the sky and unleashed a crimson bombardment upon the center of the mansion.
*
*
*
Celine donned the Archbishop’s coat with three lines drawn across it and headed toward Daragon’s office. Daragon, also wearing the Archbishop’s coat, was tidying his hair.
“How long has it been since we finished preparing? When on earth is he arriving?”
“He should be here soon.”
“Having to bow to that brat makes my stomach turn.”
“Watch your tongue. Even if he was once beneath you, he is now the Master’s disciple. And he won’t be coming alone.”
“What?”
“The Ten Apostles will be accompanying him as part of his training. Compose yourself.”
“That meticulous bastard? Damn it! Nothing ever goes right.”
Celine massaged her arm, which still hadn’t fully reattached, grinding her teeth.
“You stay here and watch over these two.”
Daragon brushed his hair back neatly and pointed to Princess Jeina and Inild, who were bound to the wall.
“You’re telling me to babysit hostages?”
“Would you rather attend to the Apostle instead?”
“Tch…”
Celine frowned and nodded in reluctant acceptance.
“I’ll bring them here, so don’t you dare be disrespectful.”
“I know, I know!”
“I’m going.”
Daragon pulled a white hood over his head to completely conceal his face, then left the office.
“Damn it. Why must I suffer this indignity…ugh!”
Celine touched the wound on her shoulder where flesh had been torn away, grinding her teeth. Even with the vital energy Daragon had given her, the wound refused to heal. It was a devastatingly deep sword scar.
‘That bastard…’
Raon Zigheart. The thought that she was suffering this pain and humiliation because of that cursed wretch made her blood boil with rage.
“I’ll kill him. By any means necessary, I’ll slaughter everyone connected to him and drink their blood.”
As Celine stared at her wounded arm and swore her vengeance—
BOOM!
A massive explosion erupted from the upper floors, and the entire underground shook as if an earthquake had struck.
“What, what is this!”
Celine’s eyes widened as she looked upward.
‘An Apostle? No! That can’t be.’
Unless they were shutting down the Branch, there was no way an Apostle would suddenly attack this mansion. This emergency was clearly something Daragon hadn’t foreseen.
‘Then… ah!’
Sensing the aura from above, Celine bit her lip until it bled. That overwhelming presence she’d fought directly just hours ago. It was Raon Zigheart’s aura.
“That madman, why is he here!”
She was startled and about to leave the office when it happened.
Boom!
A second explosion tore through, and the ceiling collapsed. From within the pitch-black dust, a voice filled with the greatest rage I’d felt since birth rang out.
“Is this the White Blood Cult Branch?”
“You….”
Through the settling dust, sinister crimson eyes flashed.
“R-Raon Zigheart! Why are you here!”
Standing atop the collapsed ceiling was Raon Zigheart—the one I wanted to devour by any means necessary.
*
*
*
Raon let out a soft chuckle as he looked at the flustered Celine.
“Why? You told me yourself.”
“What?”
“You put on the outer coat, but you didn’t change your clothes underneath.”
I pointed with my finger at the inside of the White Blood Cult coat Celine was wearing.
“My clothes?”
Celine wrinkled her nose and removed the White Blood Cult coat. Her eyes widened when she saw the red pin caught on the hem of her original garment.
“W-what is this!”
“It’s a matching set.”
I smiled faintly and pointed to the pin fastened to my collar.
“Thanks to you, I was able to find the location of the White Blood Cult Branch. I appreciate it.”
“Ah….”
Celine’s teeth chattered as she stumbled backward.
“So you’re saying you….”
“That’s right. I just let you go. If I’d killed you there, I would’ve lost my way to find the Branch. Looking back now, I didn’t really need to do that.”
I smiled faintly while looking at Jeina and Inild hanging on the wall.
“Don’t even think about running. Your allies are being hunted down by our unit commander right now.”
“How clever. Very clever indeed! But there’s one thing you don’t know.”
Celine’s aura surged violently, and pure white energy blazed above her shoulders.
“If you die here, it’s all over!”
“We’ll see.”
The moment she tried to activate her blood technique, I stepped into the Taehwa Step. A straight, piercing stride that crossed space in an instant and brought me before Celine.
“W-what!”
“Your chance is over.”
“Ugh!”
Celine desperately redirected her blood essence from offense to defense, but it was futile. The pale golden flames born from the Soul Reaper Sword’s spectral energy and the Heavenly Circle’s pure aura swept across the space.
Whoooosh!
The formidable aura of the young blade tore through Celine’s blood essence and ripped open her forearm once more.
Ahhhhhhh!
Unable to endure the excruciating pain, Celine screamed. Blood poured from her forearm where the dagger had cut, flowing in a gruesome stream.
How… how is this possible?
I told you.
I spun the dagger and let out a cold laugh.
I was going easy on you before.
D-shut up!
At the last moment, Celine instinctively pulled her arm away, so it wasn’t completely severed. However, regeneration seemed difficult—she couldn’t reattach it and continued to bleed profusely.
Grrr, I’ll kill you!
Celine tore the skin from her own palms and brought both hands together. Blood flowing from her palms and wrists converged at the center, and a tremendous aura began to surge.
Looking outside, I counted over two hundred people being held captive.
I pointed toward the corridor while observing the aura Celine was gathering.
If there are that many, that means you’ve killed and consumed the blood of over two hundred people, doesn’t it?
What are you saying right now!
It means you’re not worth keeping alive.
Nonsense! You’re the one who’s going to die!
Celine unleashed the blood essence she had gathered forward.
Boom!
Dozens of strands of blood essence twisted together like vines, engulfing the space. With nowhere to dodge and nowhere to retreat, my entire field of vision was consumed by waves of blood essence.
Crackle!
I gripped the Soul Reaper Sword firmly and channeled the Manwha Technique’s energy at its peak.
A resonant hum filled the air!
The Soul Reaper Sword’s spectral essence traced a golden arc through the void, following the optimal blade path to cleave through blood energy. I layered the Manwha Technique’s power along that trajectory.
A deafening crack erupted!
The light of resentment surging from the crimson-gleaming blade perfectly severed the radiance of blood energy.
“This… this is impossible…”
Through the torn blood energy, Celine’s eyes widened in shock. She stared at the gaping wound that had opened in her left chest, then spewed forth murky blood.
“Ra… Raon Zigh…”
Celine never finished speaking my name. She collapsed backward, and her breath ceased.
“As expected, the Soul Reaper Sword is unmatched when facing the White Blood Cult.”
I caressed the Soul Reaper Sword as it seemed to drink in Celine’s blood. The Heavenly Sword was a legendary blade in its own right, but against the White Blood Cult, the Soul Reaper Sword reigned supreme.
“Raon.”
I turned at the soft voice from the doorway. Lunan and Dorian had arrived.
“We’ve rescued all the hostages.”
She waved her hand as if to confirm the mission was complete.
“Are there any injured?”
“None.”
“Good work. Now escort the rescued people outside the mansion.”
“Got it.”
Lunan nodded in acknowledgment and headed back toward the corridor.
“Then I’ll go too….”
“You’re staying.”
I waved my hand at Dorian, who was about to follow Lunan.
“Huh?”
“I have something to do.”
I gazed at Princess Jeina, still unconscious, and smiled coldly.
“A dog that barks every time we meet needs to be put on a leash.”
*
*
*
Slap. Slap.
Jeina slowly opened her eyes at the sensation of someone striking her cheek.
“What?”
Standing before her was Raon Zigheart—the most detestable person in the world.
“What are you doing! Why are you in front of me…?”
Jeina’s eyes widened as she tried to move her hands and found them caught on something. When she looked up, her hands and feet were bound by shackles driven into the wall—she couldn’t move an inch. This chamber was unfamiliar, and the ceiling and walls trembled as if they might collapse at any moment.
Looking up, my hands and feet were bound by shackles driven into the Wall, and I couldn’t move an inch. This Chamber was also a place I’d never seen before, and the ceiling and Wall were shaking as if they might collapse at any moment.
“This is a branch of the White Blood Cult.”
“This is a branch of the White Blood Cult.”
Raon swung the short sword in his hand and nodded.
“The White Blood Cult? A branch of the White Blood Cult?”
“That’s right. You’re here because you were kidnapped by them.”
“That’s absurd….”
“Look around you.”
I gestured toward the murky blood pooling on the floor and Celine’s corpse.
“Then what are you doing?! If you came to rescue me, hurry up and free me!”
“Why would I?”
I lifted the corners of my mouth with a cold gaze.
“What—!”
“Why should I save someone whose head is filled with nothing but thoughts of how to kill me?”
“That’s insane!”
“It’s perfect, actually. If you die here, I can pin it on the White Blood Cult.”
“Y-you’re mad! Valcar won’t just stand for this!”
“If the ceiling collapses and kills you, who would know?”
I pointed to the ceiling above, already cracked and trembling as if it would collapse at any moment.
“Why are you like this?! Valcar and Zigheart are allies!”
Princess Jeina’s lips trembled.
“Allies in name only. In reality, we’re sworn enemies—just like you and me. Before you were kidnapped, wasn’t your mind consumed with nothing but ways to kill me?”
“That’s….”
“So farewell.”
I waved my hand and turned away.
“Wait! P-please save me! I won’t touch you again. I’ll pretend not to see you outside, and I’ll do whatever you ask. Please!”
As she struggled, the ceiling and walls began to shake more violently.
“Aaahhh!”
“You’re serious about that?”
“Yeah! Even Shadow won’t look at you! Hurry!”
“I don’t like your tone from the start.”
“P-please spare me! I’ll do whatever you ask!”
“You’re serious about that?”
I smiled faintly and extended my hand to the side.
“A special contract.”
“Sigh….”
Dorian exhaled softly and pulled out a gold-embossed contract and pen from his belly pouch. He muttered that he didn’t have everything as he handed them over.
“A-a special contract?”
“You know about it, right? Your country made this.”
Unlike ordinary contracts, special contracts were imbued with magical power, making it absolutely binding to fulfill the terms written within.
“This should work nicely.”
I wrote on the contract that Jeina Valcar would unconditionally grant three wishes to Raon Zigheart.
“Sign it.”
“H-how am I supposed to sign something like this!”
“Like this?”
“Like this….”
“You said you’d do whatever I ask.”
“But this content….”
“Fine. I’ll add that I won’t ask you to do anything that threatens your life. Is that enough?”
“Ah….”
“No? You can refuse if you want.”
I nodded indifferently as if I had nothing to lose and tucked the contract away. I gestured toward the ceiling, which was bubbling like stew, and offered a thin smile.
“Less than a minute left now. Say your goodbyes to the world.”
“D-damn it!”
Jeina Valcar cursed and snapped her fingers.
“I understand! I understand! I’ll sign it!”
“You’ll sign it?”
“I-I’ll sign it, so…”
“An excellent choice.”
“Ugh…”
I handed the contract to the sobbing Princess Jeina. She used only her fingertip to write her name in the signature section of the contract.
Zing!
Golden radiance erupted from the contract as two threads of light blossomed forth and seeped into both my body and Princess Jeina’s. Should the contract fail to be fulfilled, a powerful shock would strike her heart.
Because of such a sinister consequence, special contracts were extraordinarily expensive and rarely used.
“Well, I suppose I should release you now.”
As I swung my dagger lightly, the shackles and chains restraining Princess Jeina’s body crumbled like biscuits.
“Ugh…”
“Since things have come to this, I’ll reveal a secret of my own.”
While Princess Jeina clutched her wrists and ankles, which throbbed with a sharp ache, I sheathed my dagger and rose to my feet.
“A secret? What secret?”
“What?”
“W-what secret is it?”
“That butterfly you bought at the Auction House.”
I continued speaking as I turned my back to her.
“I took it. My apologies. Actually, now that I’ve confessed, I feel much better.”
With those words, I left the chamber. What made it even more absurd was that the ceiling, which had seemed on the verge of collapse, didn’t tremble in the slightest as I departed.
“Ah, ah…”
Only then did Princess Jeina realize she’d been deceived, and her hands trembled violently.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
I screamed, finally uttering that name that had become my sworn enemy.
“Raon Zigheart!”
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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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