The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 19

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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 19

Thud.

I took a step forward. As I drew closer to Rimer, the aura radiating from him intensified dramatically.

It was an aura that even the other children, let alone Runaan or Burren Zigheart, would struggle to pierce—yet I found myself smiling.

‘How convenient. He’s setting the stage for me.’

Ever since I resolved to live as Raon Zigheart, there was no need to conceal my abilities.
The stage had opened for me to display my talents and power. All I had to do was step into that arena and play.

“How is it? If it becomes too difficult to endure, just say the word….”
“I’m fine.”

I smiled faintly and rolled my shoulders.

‘This level of aura alone won’t be enough.’

Aura was not merely the body, but rather the vessel of the soul. Within me dwelt not only the aura I had cultivated as Raon Zigheart, but also the aura of the greatest assassin—the Raon who had lived without a single failure.

Whoooosh!

Upon my small yet solid aura as Raon Zigheart descended the aura of the assassin Raon, who had never known defeat.

Thud.

The sound of my footsteps against the Training Ground’s sand changed. The aura settling upon my shoulders radiated resolute determination.

Crackle!

My aura, honed like a blade’s edge, tore through the verdant wind aura that Rimer unleashed—splitting it in two.

“What are you—”

Rimer’s eyes widened. Shock flooded the pupils that had moments before brimmed with composure.

Whoooosh!

I didn’t answer and pressed forward, cleaving through the rough wind before taking five strides to stand before Rimer.

Tap.

I reached out lightly and struck Rimer’s shoulder.

“The test is over.”
“Huh? Ah….”

Rimer could only nod at my confident yet solemn voice.

“Thank you.”

As I lowered my hand, the assassin’s aura I had summoned scattered. My mind felt dazed—perhaps I had pushed too hard.

“….”

Rimer still couldn’t hide his shock, his mouth hanging wide open.

-You! What in the world are you!

Wrath’s voice carried astonishment—a rare sight for one who typically harbored only fury.

“Hmm.”

I waited for Rimer’s response while surveying the quiet Training Ground.

The children of the Branch Family and Vassal Families who had been jeering, those who had cheered with the bonds of shared training, and even their parents—all had fallen silent.

Silence descended upon the entire Training Ground, which had been so grand moments before.

“What, what is this? He broke through it? That guy?”
“No, how is this even….”
“A patient who hasn’t even learned Aura, how could he…!”

The trainees’ parents exhaled in bewilderment, their expressions vacant.

“Raon? Your body!”
“Young master. You’re pushing yourself too hard, aren’t you?”

Sylvia and Helen’s eyes glistened with tears. Their expressions radiated emotion, yet their words continued to fret over my condition.

Glen Zigheart’s expression, however, remained unchanged. That icy composure persisted like a sheet of frozen glass.

‘He’s truly something else.’

I shook my head as I regarded Glen.

*

*

*

“What exactly are you?”

Rimer clicked his tongue as he looked at the composed Raon.

“Haven’t you been watching me for six months? I’m Raon.”
“That’s precisely why I’m saying this. You surpassed the level of aura I released. I was deliberately testing you, yet I never imagined you’d break through it.”

He had unleashed an aura so overwhelming that I would struggle to endure it, all to glimpse the abilities I was concealing.

He had been certain that no matter how much power I hid, I couldn’t pierce through his aura. Yet I had effortlessly cleaved through it. Truthfully, he still couldn’t believe it.

“Hmm….”

Rimer’s gaze swept across the direct lineage and Branch Family members standing behind me.

‘That, at least, is satisfying.’

Their once-clamorous mouths were sealed shut like mine. The entire Training Ground stood speechless, overwhelmed by the astounding display I had just shown.

“Ahem, as the chief instructor, I momentarily lost focus.”

Rimer surrendered himself to the dissipating green wind and ascended back onto the platform.

“With Raon Zigheart as the final recruit, the formal trainee selection examination has concluded. However, one important ceremony remains.”

At the mention of an important ceremony, everyone’s attention fixed upon Rimer’s lips.

“We must now designate the representative and top-ranked trainee among our recruits.”

Since the top-ranked trainee would likely emerge as a pillar of the family in the future, the children’s and parents’ eyes burned with fervent desire.

‘It follows the predetermined path, yet circumstances have shifted considerably.’

In truth, the top rank had been determined from the outset as Raon Zigheart. He had achieved the most remarkable progress during his provisional trainee period, which aligned perfectly with the examination’s purpose. Of course, I hadn’t anticipated such an overwhelming success.

‘Thanks to this, the contingency event I had prepared may very well be rendered unnecessary.’

Rimer chuckled softly, his gaze sweeping across the trainees before passing over Lunan and Burren Zigheart, finally settling upon Raon. And then—

“Raon Zigheart. From this day forward, you are the top-ranked trainee of the 5th Training Ground. I look forward to your continued excellence.”
“Ooh! Lord Raon!”
“….”

Dorian offered his applause, while Lunan clapped precisely three times with an enigmatic expression.

“R-Raon Young Master is the top-ranked trainee!”
“Oh no….”
“Lady Sylvia!”

Helen clutched her head while catching the collapsing Sylvia in her embrace.

“Huh?”
“R-Really?”
“That child is truly the top-ranked? I cannot believe it….”
“Raon surpassed the strongest aura, after all.”
“But he’s Sylvia’s child! That fugitive Sylvia!”
“That has nothing to do with the child’s abilities.”
“Isn’t this a swindle orchestrated with Rimer? He’s certainly capable of such deception!”

Others erupted into argument, insisting such an outcome was impossible.

“This is a lie!”

Burren rose to his feet, his lips trembling.

“This is wrong!”
“What’s a lie, and what isn’t?”

Rimer turned to face Burren with a flat expression.

“Raon is inferior to me in stamina, strength, and talent. How can someone like that be ranked first? I cannot accept this!”
“Didn’t you see it yourself? Raon effortlessly pierced through an aura far stronger than what you barely managed to pass. That’s more than enough to earn the title of top student.”
“He must have used some trick!”
“Burren Zigheart. Are you doubting my judgment right now?”

The smile remained on Rimer’s lips, but the atmosphere shifted abruptly. The breeze that had felt gentle now carried a sharp, cutting edge.

“No, that’s not what I mean. That bastard cheated! It makes no sense that Raon, who couldn’t keep up with me during yesterday’s training, could pierce through such a formidable aura!”
“That’s right!”
“Even you don’t truly believe it, do you, Instructor?”

The Branch Family children who accompanied Burren stood up and gathered beside him.

“Hmm….”

Rimer scratched his chin. Truth be told, he hadn’t expected Raon to pierce through his aura so easily, so he understood their grievance.

“You have a point.”
“How is that even possible while suffering from the Curse of Harsh Winter?”
“He doesn’t even have an aura.”

Looking around, not just the children but the adults as well began to murmur. Despite having witnessed it with their own eyes, they started to doubt the test.

“I can see why you’d think it strange. I was shocked myself, after all.”
“Exactly!”

Burren’s eyes widened with a glimmer of hope.

“We are from the Zigheart Family of warriors. I believe we should test this properly through actual combat rather than such a trial!”
“So you want to duel Raon and take the top spot for yourself?”
“N-not me, but someone else perhaps….”
“Your eyes are full of greed. No need to lie.”

Rimer chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. Burren Zigheart’s face flushed red, but he didn’t deny it.

“However, the examination has already concluded, Lord Zigheart. What do you propose we do about this?”
“Burren Zigheart.”

Glen Zigheart’s gaze alternated between Raon and Burren Zigheart before he spoke with deliberate slowness.

“Yes!”
“To overturn a decision already made requires a corresponding price. Do you have the resolve to pay that price?”
“Of course!”

Burren Zigheart answered without hesitation, confident that he would defeat Raon in any contest.

“Raon Zigheart.”

This time, Glen Zigheart called out Raon’s name.

“Yes.”

I lowered my head while maintaining my stance.

“Those around us cannot accept the outcome. Would you be willing to face Burren in a duel?”
“I would not.”

I shook my head firmly.

“Gasp!”
“What?”
“Wha… what?”
“That… that madman!”

The crowd’s jaws dropped in shock at the unexpected refusal.

“The examination is finished, and the results are clear. There is no reason to duel without compensation.”
“Hmm?”
“You spoke of the main line this and that, of honor here and there—yet you cannot even accept the results?”
“Ugh!”

Burren Zigheart’s face grew even redder at my mockery.

“Then let’s do this.”

Everyone turned to look at Glen Zigheart as his voice, heavy as cast iron, reverberated through the space.

“Stake the position of top trainee in a duel. If you win, I shall grant you a Bronze-rank badge.”
‘A Bronze-rank badge!’

The Zigheart Family awards Gold, Silver, and Bronze-rank badges based on the achievements of its warriors. Even a Bronze-rank badge bestowed directly by the head of the family was a respectable reward.

‘Fortune has fallen into my lap.’

I’d become the top trainee and won my wager with Wrath, and now I was being offered a Bronze-rank badge as well—my rewards had doubled.

Glen seemed to have hoped that Burren Zigheart, being of the direct line, would claim the top position, but unfortunately, he would fail to meet those expectations.

“Understood.”
“R-Raon!”
“It’s fine.”

Sylvia approached before I could even nod, and I smiled at her worried expression.

“Thank you for believing in me, Lord Glen! I won’t disappoint you!”

Burren Zigheart bowed his head to Glen with an expression of gratitude.

“Then begin.”
“Yes!”

Burren Zigheart sprang to his feet and stepped forward toward me.

“So your luck brings you to face me directly. How fortunate—for it ends here.”

He continued with a sneer spreading across his face.

“I disliked you from the moment we first met. Now, in this very place, I’ll show you the difference between the direct line and a discarded insect.”
“A man who can’t even accept defeat, yet his tongue wags endlessly.”

I let out a scoff and rotated my wrists.

“This bastard….”
“Save the fighting for the sparring match.”

Rimer stepped between them and shook his head.

“The match is single elimination. Weapons and aura are forbidden. You may only use your physical bodies.”
“Understood!”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then….”

Rimer raised his hand that had been blocking Raon and Burren Zigheart’s line of sight, then stepped back.

“Begin!”
“Haaagh!”

Before the word even registered, Burren Zigheart lunged forward, driving a vicious punch toward my solar plexus.

Thwack!

I twisted my hand and deflected his fist. The rotational force embedded in his punch sent a sharp sting through my wrist.

“You can’t stop my fist with something so pathetic!”

Burren Zigheart laughed coldly and drove a second punch toward my abdomen.

Boom!

I caught the punch with my palm, but the impact radiated pain all the way up my forearm.

“This is the Spiraling Fist that Father taught me directly. There’s nothing in the rules against using martial techniques, so it’s not cheating.”
“Spiraling Fist….”

The Spiraling Fist was a Zigheart martial technique that infused rotational force into punches to pierce through an opponent’s defenses.

‘What should I do….’

It had power, but his execution was clumsy. I could suppress him without difficulty.

‘But it seems a waste to just win outright.’

It would be a shame to end this match so easily when the stage has been set like this. I wanted to win while proving my abilities to everyone.

“Where are you looking!”

Burren Zigheart thrust his fist forward. I leaned back to evade the punch, then retreated a step.

“I’ll show you the difference in talent!”

He swung his fist while executing footwork techniques. His punches and steps were clumsy, but his superior physical abilities made him a genuine threat nonetheless.

‘Talent, is it.’

I sidestepped while my eyes gleamed. A plan to strike down the arrogant fools of the Zigheart Family who valued only innate talent suddenly crystallized in my mind.

Martial Arts.
As members of a warrior clan, they held talent in martial arts above all else. I decided to demonstrate that very talent to them.

‘I have just the thing.’

I activated the Ring of Fire at full power. The moment three rings spun ferociously, Burren Zigheart’s movements slowed, and the flow of his fist technique became visible to my eyes.

“Have you given up now!”

Burren Zigheart hurled his fist directly forward. A vicious gust of wind grazed my ear.

“Not a chance.”

My hand traced a crescent arc. Burren Zigheart’s fist, meeting that rotation, was deflected to the opposite side.

It was the same rotation as the Hollow Palm technique he had unleashed, but in the opposite direction.

“Ugh!”

Burren Zigheart’s pupils trembled as he was pushed back. He gritted his teeth and charged forward again.

Crack!

I deflected his fist and drove my shoulder into him. With a heavy grunt, Burren Zigheart staggered backward.

Thud!

I kicked off the ground and lunged toward Burren’s chest, catching him off guard.

“You bastard!”

Even in his shock, Burren threw a left jab aimed at my jaw. But I had already analyzed every one of his techniques.

Crack.

I deflected his punch with a counter-rotation and drove my palm strike into his abdomen.

“Gahhk!”

Burren dropped to his knees, gasping and sputtering.

“Y-you… how are you using the Void Palm…?”

He stared at me in disbelief, his jaw hanging slack as drool dripped from his mouth.

“W-what just happened?”
“How did that boy use the Void Palm…?”
“Sylvia and Rimer couldn’t have taught him!”
“What in the world just occurred…?”

The spectators watching the match widened their eyes in shock and astonishment.

“You showed me yourself.”

I looked down at Burren with cold eyes and brushed off my hands.

“I simply mimicked your fist technique.”

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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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