The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 194

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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 194

Tekri, Vice-Master of the Geumcheom-dan, swallowed hard as he looked at Raon standing directly before him.

‘What is this?’

He rose to strike Raon, but his limbs creaked with resistance. Some inexplicable ominous aura seemed to bind his entire body tightly.

‘This isn’t right….’

Raon wore a mocking smile, as if daring him to strike. There was no way someone with such an expression could manipulate aura to block him.

A grinding sound escaped his teeth.

Tekri clenched his jaw and drew up his aura. He pushed back against the oppressive force pressing down on his body and raised his hand. His body began to move properly now, but the ominous aura intensified until it assaulted his very senses.

‘This… could it be…’

A silent gasp erupted within him. Now he understood. It wasn’t external—it was internal. The force preventing him from raising his hand, the ominous aura emanating from him—it wasn’t from Raon, but from his own instincts.

His combat senses, honed through countless training sessions and battles, were whispering to him. Warning him not to fight Raon.

“Vice-Master, sir!”
“What are you doing!”
“That bastard is looking down on us!”

The Geumcheom-dan swordsmen behind him waved their hands frantically and shouted, demanding he punish Raon.

“Aren’t you going to hit me?”

Raon flashed an insolent smile, urging him on, and brought his face even closer.

“With your subordinates watching, you’re just going to let this slide?”
“You bastard….”

By nature, people find strength and courage they never knew they possessed when standing before those they admire and their subordinates. Tekri ignored his own instincts and clenched his fist.

“Krraahhh!”

Tekri wrapped aura thinly around his clenched fist and unleashed it. The blue aura coiled like a serpent, forming a spear-like shape before his knuckles. It was the pinnacle technique of the Death Seal Fist that I had learned since joining the Geumcheom-dan.

Shiiing!

The fist, extending like a flash of light, struck my left cheek.

‘That’s all there is to it!’

Contrary to my uneasy premonition, I didn’t dodge the Death Seal Fist. I smiled and extended my arm fully.

“Huh?”

But there was no sensation of impact. My fist met nothing but emptiness, as if I had struck a cloth fluttering in the wind.

Zzzzzing!

The moment I thought something was amiss, our eyes met. Eyes burning red like the blazing sun. A chilling dread washed over me, as though I were thrusting my head into the jaws of a beast.

Whoooosh!

I rotated my neck to perfectly deflect the Death Seal Fist, then drove my right fist forward. Immense power swelled within his fist, tearing through the air as it crashed down.

“Ugh!”

Tekri lowered his head and quickly retreated using footwork.

‘Damn!’

After reaching a safe distance and raising his head, the fist had not disappeared. I had read his evasion direction and pursued him. There was nowhere to be seen that could evade the fist filling his entire vision.

‘If I just take this hit… Gasp!’

I urgently tried to manipulate aura to erect a barrier, but my core did not respond. Not just the core. My entire body was immobilized as if bound by rope.

‘This… this is….’

It was the aura suppression I had used when I tripped Dorian’s leg. I wanted him to suffer the same fate as Dorian.

“D-damn… cough!”

Tekri couldn’t finish his curse before my fist connected squarely with his face. There was no time to deflect—the tremendous impact slammed into his head with devastating force.

Crunch!

Tekri lost consciousness as he heard the sickening sound of his own face caving in.

*

*

*

Boom!

An explosive impact echoed through the Dining Hall as Tekri was embedded into the right wall like a portrait frame.

“Ah, my apologies.”

I brushed off my hands with a faint smile.

“It was purely reflexive.”

After saying that, I touched my cheek where Tekri’s fist had grazed me.

“W-what!”
“What is this!”
“Vice Master!”
“Stop.”

The Geumcheom-dan inspectors rushed toward Tekri embedded in the wall, but I raised my hand. At that single word, they froze like wooden statues.

“You there with the sky-blue hair, come here.”
“W-why….”

The inspector with sky-blue hair hesitantly approached.

“What’s your name?”
“D-Dolan.”
“So you’re next in line after that guy? Are you the unit leader?”
“Huh….”

At the question about whether he was the unit leader, Dolan’s expression hardened. He hadn’t expected his position to be discerned so quickly.

‘Just as I thought.’

I chuckled softly. I’d made a guess based on the fact that he possessed the strongest aura aside from Tekri, and I was right.

“Dolan. You know who I am, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Then why are you speaking so casually? I’m the Deputy Master, and you’re the unit leader.”
“Ugh!”

I flexed my fingers as if about to clench my fist, and Dolan’s face went pale.

“I-I apologize.”

Dolan bowed his head and spoke with a trembling voice, raising his tone of speech.

“Unfortunately, since your Deputy Master has ended up like that, I’ll need to discuss the duel with you instead.”

I sat down in the chair Tekri had been occupying. Dolan could only swallow dryly without saying a word.

“The duel will take place in three months.”
“Three months? Three months is too long!”

Dolan’s eyes widened. Garon had told him to set the sparring date within two weeks at the latest. If he conveyed that the duel would happen in three months, Garon would surely be furious.

“This is us being considerate, you know?”
“Pardon?”
“Do you think that could happen within a month?”

I smiled and pointed at Tekri, who was embedded in the wall.

“Ah….”

Dolan stared at Tekri with vacant eyes. Seeing the bizarre shape embedded in the wall, it was clear his face had taken the blow, but it seemed like every bone in his body was shattered. Considering the rehabilitation period, recovering in a month was impossible.

“How is he?”
“He, he won’t be able to get up. So three months….”
“If I showed you consideration, shouldn’t you at least offer your thanks?”
“Pardon?”
“I showed you consideration for your sake. So you should say thank you.”
“Ah, y-yes, thank you!”

Dolan bowed his head while rolling his eyes. Raon was the one who had done this to Tekri, but he wasn’t sure if he was supposed to actually be grateful.

“So the date is set, and the format will be a group duel where thirty-five people face off one-on-one, and whoever wins more matches wins overall.”
“Understood.”
“When you win, what you want is for the Gwangpung Unit to cease operations, right?”
“Gasp!”

Dolan’s face went pale at those words.

“How do you not deviate even slightly from expectations.”

I chuckled. As expected, Garon, the head of the Geumcheom-dan, had indeed picked this fight as retaliation for the Jinmu Hall’s suspension of activities.

“The period would be about two years.”
“…That’s correct.”
“We said we’d accept any condition you set, right?”
“Y-yes, that’s also correct.”

Dolan nodded with a vacant expression, as if he’d seen a ghost.

“Then our condition will be blank for now. We’ll decide it once we win.”
“Y-yes, yes….”

Whether his mind had gone numb or he simply couldn’t think anymore, Dolan repeated only affirmations with glazed eyes.

“Now we need a notary for this duel.”
“I’ll call someone….”
“I’ll do it.”

As Dolan tried to move, the Dining Hall door opened, and a woman with purple hair entered. Though small in stature, she had fair skin and sharp, beautiful eyes.

However, a gray sword was slung diagonally across her back, and she emanated a terrifying aura that clashed with her appearance. In all of Zigheart, there was only one swordmaster who possessed both that beauty and such formidable power.

‘The Heavenly Sword Master….’

She was Sheryl, a legendary hero who had commanded Glen Zigheart’s direct Heavenly Sword Squad for decades and had ascended to the rank of Grand Master—a true powerhouse.

‘But this aura…’

Sheryl’s presence felt familiar. It was the same subtle energy I had sensed during my transcendent state earlier today, and even in moments of deep focus before.

“W-why has the Heavenly Sword Master come here….”

Dolan collapsed in fear, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

“Because no one could enter the Dining Hall with you lot causing a scene.”

She gestured toward the open door. The technicians and swordmasters who normally used the Dining Hall had sensed the situation and vacated their seats.

“Finish this quickly and disappear. Are you dueling or not?”

Sheryl’s voice was gentle, but her tone was blunt and businesslike.

“We will.”
“Y-yes, we will as well.”
“The duel will take place in three months at the Grand Training Grounds. The wager format is one-on-one matches between all thirty-five members. Geumcheom-dan demands the Gwangpung Unit’s suspension of activities for two years, and afterward the Gwangpung Unit can claim anything they wish—is that correct?”
“Yes.”

Raon and Dolan nodded simultaneously.

“In the name of Heavenly Sword Master Sheryl, I hereby notarize the duel between the Gwangpung Unit and Geumcheom-dan.”
“Thank you.”
“Now both of you disappear.”

Sheryl waved her hand dismissively without even accepting our bows, urging us to leave.

“Y-yes!”

Dolan pulled Tekri from the wall and left the Dining Hall with the Geumcheom-dan swordmasters.

“Aren’t you going?”
“I have something to do, Dorian.”

I called out to Dorian, who stood at a distance with his mouth hanging open.

“Could you give me some cleaning supplies?”
“Huh? Oh, of course.”

Dorian, wearing a bewildered expression, pulled a broom, cloth, and bucket from his waist pouch.

-You will be cursed from heaven for throwing away food.
‘Does even the Demon King use that phrase?’
-Silence! A spoiled brat who doesn’t even know the value of food!
‘Yeah. I’m sorry.’
-Oof!

The moment I apologized, Wrath let out a strange sound.

-You… apologizing? Will the sun rise from the west tomorrow?
‘That won’t happen.’

I shook my head. Having lived in hunger in my past life, I knew the value of food better than anyone. But this time, I wanted to repay Dorian for what he had endured.

“I-I’ll help too!”
“I shall lend a hand as well.”

Together with Dorian and Burren Zigheart, I cleaned up all the debris from the floor, tables, and chairs before approaching the bewildered staff.

“I apologize for wasting food, regardless of the circumstances. We will ensure this never happens again.”
“No, no!”
“P-please don’t do this! They were already fallen anyway….”

The Dining Hall staff waved their hands in protest.

“Those people won’t be coming here anymore. We’ll cover the repair costs for the Dining Hall, so please fix everything with the finest materials available.”

After instructing the Dining Hall staff on what to do going forward, I stood before Sheryl.

“Thank you for witnessing the agreement. I’ll take my leave now.”
“….”

She said nothing, her eyes narrowing as she studied me. As if trying to read my very thoughts.

“And one more thing—when you follow me around from now on, could you relax your expression a bit? It’s difficult to train when I’m frightened.”
“Wh-what!”

Sheryl’s eyes widened like full moons.

‘As I thought.’

I’d tested it on a whim, but it was exactly as I suspected. The source of that aura I’d felt only during my transcendent states—it was Sheryl.

“You… how did you…?”

I waved dismissively at the flustered Sheryl and left the Dining Hall.

“Hah….”

Sheryl bit her lip, her expression visibly bewildered.

“That brat sensed my presence?”

*

*

*

“So what you’re telling me is…”

Garon glared down at Dolan, grinding his teeth. His murderous aura spread outward, and the blades embedded in the Master’s Quarters let out an eerie wail.

“Tekri was reduced to this pathetic state by a single punch from Raon, and the duel has been postponed three months?”
“Y-yes, sir.”

Dolan trembled and nodded.

“Are you insane? Did you get a hole drilled in your head?”

Garon’s eyes gleamed with a vicious, demonic intensity.

“What gives a squad leader the right to decide the terms of a duel on his own whim! If you’re going to do this, do it properly! Three months? I’m supposed to watch those damn bastards strut around for three months? Huh?”
“I’m… I’m sorry…”
“And our vice-unit leader comes back a cripple, and you want me to just let it slide? What the hell happened here!”
“He said it was a reflex strike…”
“A reflex? Want me to pluck out your eyes and show you some reflection?”
“Ah, well, you see, in the Dining Hall…”

Dolan told Garon about the battle between Raon and Tekri that had taken place in the Dining Hall.

“So he got completely destroyed by a single punch from Raon and ended up like a puppet with cut strings?”
“Y-yes, sir.”
“This is ridiculous.”

Garon slapped the already-unconscious Tekri across the cheek with a sharp crack. The impact was severe enough that he still hadn’t come to.

“Tch. Let’s go. I can’t accept a duel like this. Regardless of anything else, three months is far too long.”
“But we need time to treat and recover Tekri…”
“That idiot’s presence doesn’t matter. We won’t lose to them anyway. Besides, the notary is on our side, so we can change the terms however we want.”
“That’s… the notary isn’t the person we had prepared, sir.”
“What? What nonsense is this!”
“The Heavenly Sword Master has become the notary for this duel.”

Dolan continued with an expression as if facing death itself.

“Yes, before we could summon the scheduled notary, the Heavenly Sword Master suddenly appeared and took the role.”
“That ageless ghost of a woman!”

Garon ground his teeth. He couldn’t understand why she would suddenly show up and take the notary position when she usually passed by with indifference.

“Damn it. She’s sharp. She’ll never change her mind.”

The Heavenly Sword Master was the most meticulous person in the entire family. Despite her youthful appearance, she was the same age as Glen Zigheart, and no schemes or pressure could sway her.

“There’s no choice then. Intensify the training regimen for the unit members over the next three months.”

Garon clenched his fists as he watched Tekri collapse.

“Don’t end up in such a pathetic state.”

*

*

*

The Heavenly Sword Master left the Dining Hall and immediately sought out Glen to report everything that had transpired.

“Geumcheom-dan and the Gwangpung Unit…”

Glen nodded slowly, his expression betraying little interest.

“I’m uncertain whether Valdemar was involved, but it’s certain that Jinmu Hall initiated the provocation first. They employed rather underhanded tactics to prevent the Family Law Enforcement from intervening.”
“Watching Rayden suffer, they felt compelled to establish justification. The method is crude, but it’s an effective tool for applying pressure.”

He chuckled as if unbothered.

“Regardless, you mentioned Raon struck the vice-commander of Geumcheom-dan with a serving tray?”
“Yes. I never imagined such a sound could come from a serving tray.”

Sheryl exhaled in disbelief.

“He knocked out Tekri, who had reached the highest Expert rank, with a single punch. Raon’s strength, reflexes, and aura control are already beyond Master level.”
“Hmm.”

Glen’s expression wavered between amusement and a grimace before he covered his mouth.

“But why did you step in to verify it yourself? I thought you didn’t particularly enjoy such things.”
“If the situation had dragged on, the Dining Hall staff, technicians, and other inspectors would have suffered collateral damage. That’s why I intervened.”
“I see.”

Glen nodded slowly.

“I simply question whether this confrontation holds any meaning.”
“What do you mean?”
“I understand why the Head of the House asked me to observe Raon. He possesses talent more exceptional than anyone I’ve witnessed before, coupled with sincerity and perseverance. One day, he may reach my position—no, surpass me and touch the heavens themselves. However….”

Sheryl narrowed her eyes sharply as she continued.

“This confrontation isn’t Raon fighting alone—it’s group against group. The Gwangpung Unit against the Geumcheom-dan. Excluding Raon, Rimer, and the three squad leaders, the Gwangpung Unit will suffer total defeat.”

She shook her head, speaking as though the battle was already decided.

“Do you remember what Rimer said?”
“If you’re referring to something he mentioned….”
“That Raon possesses the vessel of a king.”
“Of course I remember. He mutters it every time I see him—it’s tiresome.”

Sheryl frowned. For some time now, Rimer had been droning on like a broken record about Raon being a king’s vessel.

“However, I don’t believe one becomes a king through martial talent alone.”
“I agree. I acknowledge that the boy’s talent is unprecedented, but becoming a king—becoming the master of this house—is an entirely different matter.”

Glen Zigheart raised his hand with a cold smile.

“A king is made through the presence of excellent and capable subordinates. If the Gwangpung Unit defeats the Geumcheom-dan in this confrontation, then perhaps Raon truly does possess the qualities of a king.”
“That is….”

Sheryl didn’t answer, pressing her lips firmly shut. She suddenly recalled how Raon had seen through her concealment today, and the words wouldn’t come.

She hadn’t exerted force in her concealment, but the fact that she’d been discovered wounded her pride.

“You still seem unconvinced. Shall we make a wager then?”
“A, a wager, you say?”

Sheryl’s eyes widened. If it were Rimer the gambler, perhaps—but Glen Zigheart was not the sort to make such proposals.

‘Something is changing.’

*

*

*

Before the afternoon regular training began, I gathered all members of the Gwangpung Unit and climbed onto the Platform.

“Listen up.”

I met the eyes of the swordsmen looking up at me on the Platform before speaking slowly.

“You all know that the Geumcheom-dan has been picking fights with us lately. What they wanted was a duel with us. The Master and I have accepted that duel.”
“Hmm….”
“Sigh!”

The swordsmen bit their lips anxiously or clenched their fists tightly.

“In three months, we’ll have a group duel with them at the Grand Training Grounds. Thirty-five members will participate, and whichever side wins more matches wins overall.”
“Um, um….”

One of the swordsmen from the third squad raised his hand.

“What happens if we lose?”
“Two years of suspended activities.”
“Gasp!”
“S-suspended activities? For two years?”

When I mentioned two years of suspended activities, the swordsmen’s jaws dropped.

“A group duel is fine, but isn’t it hard to beat the Geumcheom-dan?”
“They don’t have rookie swordsmen like us.”
“Two years of suspended activities….”
“We just started, and we’re already doomed!”
“Damn it….”

Their expressions grew gloomy as if they had already lost.

“You idiots! Why are you already whining like you’ve lost? All of you, shut your mouths!”

Martha turned around and ground her teeth.

“That’s right. We haven’t even stepped up to the starting line yet, and you’re already dreaming of the awards ceremony.”

Burren nodded in agreement with Martha’s words.

“….”

Lunan remained as silent as always.

“I appreciate you taking my side, but unfortunately, that’s not it.”

I shook my head as I looked at Martha and Burren.

“If we fight now, we’ll lose for certain. If we train as we are, we’ll still lose for certain in three months.”
“What?”
“W-what do you mean!”
“Huh!”
“Then why did you accept the challenge!”

Not just Burren and Martha, but all the swordsmen widened their eyes and cried out.

“Because we can win.”

I gazed down at them all with calm eyes.

“As things stand, we’ll lose for certain. But if you all train according to the plan the Master and I have devised, in three months you’ll be able to defeat every last one of Geumcheom-dan’s rabble.”
“A plan?”
“Is that… truly the case, sir?”
“We can all really defeat Geumcheom-dan in three months?”
“Yes. If you follow the systematic plan we’ve laid out, I’ll make sure you win.”

At my words—as definitive as a promise—the swordsmen’s expressions brightened. It was only natural; up until now, I had never lied or failed, so their trust in me was absolute.

“Then what are we waiting for! Let’s start right away.”
“What is this systematic plan?”
“Deputy Master!”

The swordsmen called out to me with radiant smiles, their hearts already racing at the thought of growing stronger so quickly.

“So you all agree to follow my plan, then?”
“Yes!”

The swordsmen’s thunderous response was so loud it seemed to shake the Training Ground itself.

“I like seeing you smile. Let’s begin right away.”

Raon descended from the Platform with a faint smile.

Shing.

He drew his blade immediately and pointed it at Burren Zigheart, who stood at the front.

“Huh?”
“What, what is this?”
“You said we’d train, so why the sword…?”

Not just Burren Zigheart, but everyone swallowed hard, their expressions bewildered.

“Your training is sparring with me. Every day, every hour—you’ll fight. Prepare yourselves mentally.”
“Huh? Huh?”
“Sparring? With the Vice Master?”
“Are you insane? Sparring with someone who defeated an Apostle?”

The swordsmen’s lips trembled as if the very notion was absurd.

“And this is supposed to be a systematic plan? Just fighting every day? That’s just brute force training!”
“Growing stronger with every battle—there’s nothing more systematic than that.”
“That’s not what the word systematic means…!”
“Besides, you all answered that you agreed to my plan. There’s nowhere to run.”

At Raon’s cold smile, the faces of the Gwangpung Unit members drained of color. They realized they had fallen into an inescapable trap.

“Come at me.”

I’ll kill you all. No—I’ll make you strong.

-Didn’t you just say you’d kill them?
‘Must be my imagination.’

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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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