The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 20

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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 20

“Hah….”

Rimer covered his mouth with his hand without thinking, but he couldn’t hide his gaping jaw.

‘What is this now.’

The duel between Raon and Buren had unfolded exactly as I intended from the start.

I had anticipated that the moment I appointed Raon as top trainee, Buren would lodge a protest, leading both of them to a sparring match.

A situation where Buren’s habit of thinking only he was exceptional would be corrected, and Raon’s extraordinary nature would be revealed to everyone. That was the development I had wanted.

But Raon had shattered all those plans.
No, the story arc remained the same, but the content was far too shocking.

Raon didn’t rely on mere strength, agility, or technique—he reversed the principles of Buren’s fist technique and sent him flying.

‘How is this even possible….’

No matter how little aura he possessed, Buren’s exceptional talent had properly utilized the subtleties of his fist technique.

Yet Raon had grasped the flow of the fist Buren created and reversed its rotation.

A child who hadn’t learned any martial arts displaying such a feat—it was a story so unbelievable that even saying it in a back-alley tavern would earn you a slap.

“Mm….”

Rimer swallowed dryly and looked around. Not just himself, but everyone here was staring at Raon with a dazed expression.

‘Even the Patriarch?’

Even Glenn, who had stubbornly maintained an expressionless face like a statue, was narrowing his eyes in astonishment.

“Raon.”

Rimer swallowed hard and approached Raon.

“Yes, Instructor.”
“What did you just do?”

That simple question carried immense weight. It was asking whether I had merely imitated what I saw in the Spiral Fist, or if someone had taught me, or if it was an entirely different technique altogether.

“I saw rotation in Buren’s fist. It was spinning in a spiral pattern, like a whirlwind.”

That was correct. The very essence of the Spiral Fist was its spiral rotation.

“The rotation was so fast that even my fist and the back of my hand defending against it were being pushed back. I realized I couldn’t simply fight head-on.”

Rimer nodded. He had arranged the sparring match precisely because he expected me to figure out how to overcome it, so he naturally understood.

“I was confident in my stamina, so I considered retreating while fighting, but as I kept watching Buren’s fist, I felt something.”
“You felt something?”
“Yes. The flow occurring in his fist became vividly clear to my eyes. For some reason, I felt I could replicate it, so I applied a counter-rotation to erase Buren’s rotation.”
“Ah!”

Rimer let out an involuntary exclamation.

‘This kid is the real deal!’

My heart pounded as if struck by a drumstick. One earns the title of genius simply by observing an opponent’s martial technique and grasping its flow.

But Raon had transcended that level entirely.
To take an opponent’s flow and make it his own—it was a talent I had never witnessed, a gift for the ages.

“Nonsense!”

Karun Zigheart, Buren’s father and Glen’s second son, shot to his feet. Fierce flames burned in his eyes.

“No matter how low Buren’s level is, there’s no human who can grasp the Spiral Fist at a glance!”
“Yet it happened right before your eyes.”

Rimer gestured toward Raon with a shrug.

“He must have spied on Buren’s training beforehand and known about it! Or someone taught him!”

Karun Zigheart’s cold gaze shifted toward Sylvia and Raon.

“First of all, I’m too lazy to teach anyone such things, and how could Raon, who lives in the Annex Building, have possibly learned about counter-rotation techniques from anyone? It makes no sense. And Buren isn’t the type to let someone steal and learn counter-rotation techniques without consequence.”
“Hmm….”

He frowned deeply. It seemed he had something to say but kept his mouth shut, watching Glen’s reaction carefully.

“Is there anyone who wants to challenge Raon?”

Rimer raised his hand as he looked at the children. Having seen what happened before, no one raised theirs.

“Lunan?”
“….”

Lunan shook his head and approached Raon’s side, mimicking the counter-rotation technique he had demonstrated.

“Heh.”

Rimer chuckled softly and turned away. The situation had unfolded quite differently from expectations, but the outcome was far better.

“Raon. Your victory.”
“Thank you.”

Rimer smiled brightly, and Raon bowed his head respectfully.

“You don’t owe me thanks. You did this yourself. The Patriarch will take good care of your rewards.”
“Yes.”

Rimer briefly observed Raon as he answered. He checked his condition just in case, but as expected, there was no aura present.

‘This is truly unbelievable.’

He let out a small sigh and turned away.

“Patriarch. It’s finished.”

Glen nodded and stood up. He briefly examined Raon, Buren, Lunan, and the other children before leaving the Training Ground.

“At least give us one piece of advice before you go.”

Rimer smacked his lips and called out to the trainees.

“Those who passed, take a week of rest and return here next Monday. Those who didn’t pass, don’t be too discouraged. A second opportunity will come soon enough. Dismissed! Go spend quality time with your families.”

Rimer clapped his hands together and vaulted over the Training Ground’s wall.

“Raon!”
“Young Master Raon!”

The moment he left, Sylvia and Helen rushed over and embraced me.

“What on earth happened to you!”
“Young Master, are you injured anywhere?”

They were consistent. Rather than asking how I’d managed such a feat, they tediously inquired whether my body was unharmed.

“I’m fine.”

I smiled and waved my hand.

“Let’s head home now. I’ve been craving stew for a while.”
“Stew? Ah, understood! Let’s go!”
“I’ll go ahead and prepare it!”

Helen hurried out of the Training Ground, and I grasped Sylvia’s hand as we followed in her wake.

“Hah….”
“What exactly happened over these six months?”
“Raon Zigheart….”
“Such talent existed….”

The remaining trainees stared at our retreating figures with stunned expressions.

“Ugh….”

And Varen, now removed from everyone’s attention, kept his gaze fixed on the ground, his lips bitten raw with blood.

*

*

*

At the far edge of the Training Ground’s outer wall, five men and women stood atop a narrow ledge barely wide enough for a bird to perch. Emblazoned across their chests was the symbol of a sword engulfed in crimson flames.

“What’s your assessment?”

The long-haired man in the front row spoke first.

“A prodigy. There’s nothing else to say.”
“If that’s true, his talent surpasses even that one.”
“Transcending momentum itself and manifesting it anew. It’s absurd.”
“….”

The four others answered honestly with their own impressions.

“We came to scout Leunan and Varen, but we got quite the show.”

Everyone nodded in agreement with his words.

“You all know the Red Cloud Squad has taken considerable losses recently. So here’s what I’m thinking—you can each recruit Varen or Leunan as you see fit, but Raon, I’ll be claiming him for my—”
“Do you have a death wish?”
“You’re going to swallow that once-in-a-thousand-year talent for yourself?”
“Choose your words carefully if you don’t want blood spilled here.”
“…!”

The atmosphere among the four shifted instantly to something frigid. They looked ready to draw their blades on the spot.

“No, I was joking. Just joking.”

The long-haired man waved his hands with a strained smile.

“Regardless, that child will change many things.”
“….”

The four watched Raon’s departing figure as he left the Training Ground, their silence a wordless affirmation.

Even in the eyes of the Red Cloud Squad—the very core of Zigheart’s martial might—Raon was beginning to take shape as a force to be reckoned with.

*

*

*

Rimer left the instructors to handle the aftermath and followed Glen into the Patriarch’s Hall.

“Why did someone growing weaker by the day bother to step in personally?”

Glen sank into his jade throne, his expression darkening.

“Still, as the chief instructor, I have my duties to fulfill.”
“Rimer.”

Roen, the butler who had been waiting in the Patriarch’s Hall, handed him a cup of tea.

“It’s been a while, Roen.”
“Yes, sir.”

Though Roen appeared older in appearance, Rimer was actually far his senior in years, so he spoke to him informally.

“What were you thinking?”

Glen asked, resting his chin against the golden armrest.

“Why did you pit Raon against Varren?”
“Well, it just happened that way….”
“It unfolded exactly as you predicted, so what do you mean ‘it just happened’?”
“Wow, as expected, Patriarch, you’re impossible to deceive.”

Rimer scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

“Varen possesses outstanding talent, but his perspective is narrow. Raon has something special, though it remains hidden. I wanted to provide both of them with a sparring match that would benefit them.”
”
…
….”
“As the Patriarch has witnessed, Raon’s body is still dominated by the chill. However, his mental fortitude rivals that of a master swordsman who has already reached enlightenment.”
“I’m already aware of that much.”
“But there was something neither you nor the Patriarch knew.”

Rimer continued, lifting a sword-callused finger.

“It’s genius. In truth, what I wanted to observe was Raon’s mental fortitude. I was curious to see how he would respond against Varen, who has trained in superior martial arts.”

Rimer’s eyes gleamed like stars embedded in his gaze.

“But what Raon displayed this time wasn’t mental fortitude—it was talent. Transcendent talent at that. To grasp the flow of an opponent’s martial technique from a single observation and launch a counterattack? How is that even possible? I’ve witnessed countless battlefields, but this is the first talent of its kind I’ve ever seen!”
“That charlatan mentioned something like that before. He said the child cursed with the bitter cold possesses a special gift.”
“Do you mean the Saint of Rags, sir?”
“Yes.”

Glenn nodded and continued speaking.

“He said they would either possess exceptional talent in cold magic or aura, or gain beauty of peerless perfection.”
“That’s exactly it!”

Rimer stamped his foot with a thud.

“That talent has manifested! That boy was born with absolute genius in martial arts!”
“Hmm….”
“Varen, Runan, and my other grandchildren are all exceptional, but Raon surpasses them. He has the makings to stand at the very pinnacle of the Continent!”

Unlike the excited Rimer, Glenn’s expression remained composed.

“I too have never witnessed such a thing. It’s a talent I haven’t seen even among the Patriarchs.”

Roen, who had also observed the sparring match with Glenn, spoke with wonder in his voice.

“That child must be properly nurtured. Though Raon has received a bronze badge, if you were to grant him a reward of silver rank or higher….”
“That won’t happen.”

Glen shook his head, his eyes firm and resolute.

“Thanks to your childish scheme, I ended up giving Raon a gift, but raising his rank and rewarding him doesn’t make sense.”
“Ugh! But….”
“You don’t need to look after that child hand and foot either. Treat everyone fairly.”
“He’s really cold-hearted…ugh!”

Rimer flinched at Glen’s chilling gaze and closed his mouth.

“Regardless, Raon is genuine. Don’t coddle him just because his body is weak—you need to nurture him properly. He might surpass even the Patriarch’s second grandson, who’s called a genius once in a hundred years, or the Slion family’s firstborn, so please think carefully about this.”
“You’ve become quite talkative.”
“Because I’ve seen the real thing.”
“Regardless, there will be no favoritism. Unless that child brings honor to the family name.”
“Come on, at least a supreme-grade elixir that can dispel the cold, or a cultivation method….”

Rimer fell silent as Glen raised his hand.

“The quack said so. Using fire-attribute elixirs any further isn’t the right approach—he must overcome it himself.”
“Wow! You pretended not to care, but you’ve been watching everything!”
“Nonsense. That talkative fool was just muttering to himself.”
“Oh….”
“Hmm!”

Rimer and Roen gazed at Glen with knowing smiles.

“Anyway.”

Glen clicked his tongue and snapped his fingers. Golden flames blazed behind his back as the iron doors of the Zigheart Repository rose with a thunderous sound.

“I’ll organize the Repository, so you two head back.”

Glen said that and entered the Repository.

Rimer and Roen, left in the Patriarch’s Hall, exchanged knowing grins. There was no way he was actually going to organize the Repository now.

“He’s still so indirect about these things.”

*

*

*

I returned to the Annex Building and caught up with Sylvia on everything that had happened.
Though I didn’t speak much, Sylvia was so curious about everything that our conversation stretched on endlessly.
By midnight, I finally retreated to my room—it felt like I’d done nothing but talk for over six hours.

‘Exhausting.’

I closed the door and exhaled deeply. Time with Sylvia was comforting, yet it drained me more than any training session.

-Ahem, a satisfying meal after so long. From now on, you shall prepare meals here daily, worm.

Wrath seemed pleased with the Annex Building’s cuisine and snacks—for once, he wasn’t raging.

-That swill they serve at the Training Ground is beneath my sight now.
“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to keep eating it.”

Now that I’d become an official trainee, I couldn’t leave that place for years.

-Cursed nuisance!

Wrath gnashed his teeth. A parasitic demon king who fussed over taste—the absurdity was staggering.

-By the way, I have something to ask you.
“Ask me what?”
-Raon Zigheart. What exactly are you?

Wrath transformed from the form coiled around my arm into blue flames.

-I have witnessed countless humans and lived in human flesh for over centuries. Yet I have never encountered one like you.

Wrath’s flames surged and blazed—fiercer than when we first met.

-I can sense it. There’s something special about you. Speak. Reveal your true identity….
“Hey, Wrath.”
-A mere human dares address me by name so casually?
“My identity and your name—there’s something far more important than either.”
-What….”
“Your memory seems worse than I thought.”

Raon looked down at Wrath, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

“Our wager is finished. Stop spouting nonsense and bring me my reward.”

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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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