The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 21

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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 21

“You didn’t forget, did you?”

I flicked Wrath, who was hovering above my shoulder.

-I am the Lord of Wrath who dominates the Demon Realm.

A blue chill emanated from Wrath. It was a cold so piercing it made my bones ache.

-Since gaining existence, I have never uttered a single falsehood.

His words meant he had never lied once since coming into being.

-You and I are bound by a contract of wager. Even if you refuse, you will have no choice but to accept. Do not worry.
“Then stop dragging this out and just do it.”
-Before that, I have one question.
“What?”
-How did you pierce through that pointed-eared one’s momentum, and how did you replicate that arrogant fool’s martial technique?

Wrath asked exactly what I had anticipated.

“Give me the reward first. That comes before anything else.”
-Understood.

As Wrath’s blue flames fluttered like butterflies, a message materialized in the air.

[You have achieved victory in the wager with 【Wrath】.]
[Victory rewards are being granted.]
[All stats increase by 2 points.]

I bit my lip as my body surged with exhilaration from the rising stats. But the reward was far from over.

[One of 【Wrath】’s traits will be randomly generated.]
[【Sense of Legend】 has been selected.]
[Trait 【Sense of Legend (1-Star)】 has been created.]
“Sense of Legend?”

Raon tilted his head upon seeing the trait’s name.

-You’ve obtained a fine trait that hardly befits your mediocrity.
“What’s the ability?”
-It expands your sensory range. Since it’s 1-star, roughly a 10% increase in distance.
“10%….”

If I could currently perceive 10 meters through aura sense, that range would expand to 11 meters.

It seemed trivial at first glance, but as the sensory range increased, the trait’s utility would skyrocket exponentially.

-In my case, I could sense over ten times my original perception range.
“Really?”

Now that I thought about it, the trait 【Mythical Sense】 had a 1-star designation attached to it. That meant this trait would grow like the Ring of Fire.

“Not bad.”

I nodded. Having lived as an assassin, I had always valued perception over raw power. With my sensory range expanding, I envied no other trait.

“But why Mythical Sense?”
-It’s my preference. Respect it.
“Heh.”

The frost flower bracelet was a preference, the name Mythical was a preference. His taste was truly dreadful.

-Now that our wager is concluded….

As Wrath moved to approach, a new message appeared.

[You have achieved your first victory in the wager with 【Wrath】.]
[The title 【First Victory】 has been created.]
[All stats increase by 1 point due to the title’s effect.]

“Huh?”
-What?!

Unable to view the status window, Wrath could still see messages, and upon reading the contents, his eyes widened in shock.

-You damned rat! You’re taking away my stats again!
“I didn’t do anything. Your own system is handling it automatically. Besides, compared to your true body’s power, losing 1 stat point is less than a speck of dust, isn’t it?”
-W-well, of course!
“Then it shouldn’t matter.”
-That’s true, but….

Wrath rolled his eyes with an awkward expression, then sighed.

-Fine, fine. That’s enough. Now it’s your turn. Tell me what you really are.
“I don’t want to.”
-What? What did you just….
“I said I don’t want to.”

Raon shook his head expressionlessly, as usual.

-Are you mocking me! You clearly said you’d reveal your power….
“I never said that. I only asked for compensation first.”
-Ah….

Wrath’s mouth fell open as he recalled the conversation.

“Right? I never promised to give you answers.”

Raon smiled faintly.

‘I can’t speak about reincarnation.’

To explain the caliber I’d drawn from Assassin Raon, I would have to discuss reincarnation. Since I couldn’t predict what Wrath might do, I couldn’t reveal that secret.

‘The Ring of Fire is the same.’

Beyond its effects of protecting and strengthening body and spirit, the Ring of Fire possessed a special ability—the capacity to perceive the flow of martial arts.

Because it allowed me to sense not only my own martial arts but also my opponent’s, I’d been able to replicate Burren Zigheart’s Gongho Technique during our sparring match.

Of course, it was only possible because the enhancement effects of the status window and Baren’s cooperative achievement were lower than those of the Ring of Fire.

I had no intention of giving Wrath information from the start anyway.

‘He’s an enemy, after all.’

We may have grown slightly closer, but Wrath still covets my body and soul. I couldn’t afford to divulge even the smallest piece of information.

-You dare mock the King!

Unable to contain his rage, Wrath unleashed flames of glacial fire. Thousands of ice blades pierced my skin, and the pain was exquisite.

‘Still bearable.’

I was fortunate to have acquired water attribute resistance before meeting Wrath. Had I lacked it, or had Wrath possessed fire attribute instead, I would have collapsed long ago.

I suppressed Wrath’s chilling aura that threatened to boil my chest and smiled.

“Your learning ability is quite poor. Attacking in such a calm state only damages you.”
-Silence!

Wrath’s flames intensified further. The cold seeped into my very bones. My limbs trembled violently from the chill.

Ahhhhh!

The external cold was so overwhelming that even the glacial energy embedded in my mana circuits awakened, making it absolutely unbearable.

“Huff…”

I drew breath slowly and activated the ring of fire. The pain gradually began to subside.

-Stubborn wretch! How are you enduring this!
“Willpower.”

I answered lightly, but internally I was struggling.

Even with the ring of fire and water attribute resistance, it was nearly unbearable. Without the experience of surviving hellish training in my previous life, I might have lost consciousness.

Gritting my teeth and enduring with every ounce of strength, a blue window suddenly appeared before my eyes.

[You have displayed extreme willpower against the attack of 【Wrath】.]
[Agility has increased by 1 point.]
[Stamina has increased by 1 point.]

As the notification of increased stats appeared, vitality surged through my mind and body. The chill that had been pressing down on my mana circuits began to subside.

—Damn it!

Wrath shrieked in fury and tore himself away from my body. His rage remained undiminished, but he had clearly realized he was only harming himself.

—What in blazes are you?! In all the ages I have witnessed, there has never been a human like you!
“I’m not entirely sure myself.”

It wasn’t mockery.

I knew nothing—not why I had been reincarnated, not why I was born into the Zigheart family, not why I was entangled with Wrath.

—Do not underestimate me. By whatever means necessary, I shall uncover your true nature and devour both your flesh and soul!
“You’ve said that before. Try if you can.”

I smiled and settled onto the edge of the bed. The goose that laid golden eggs had delivered once more today.

“But….”

My gaze drifted toward the window, and my eyes grew cold as frost-covered glass.

“What is that.”

*

*

*

In the Central Martial Hall where Karun Zigheart resided, the ornate chamber was filled with silence.

“Ugh….”

After nearly four hours of standing in a ready stance, a suppressed groan finally escaped Burren Zigheart’s lips.

Only then did Karun’s eyes, which had been fixed on his book at the desk, shift toward him.

“Burren Zigheart.”
“Y-yes.”

Having remained silent for so long, Burren’s voice emerged hoarse and strained.

“What did I instruct you to do?”
“T-to claim the position of top trainee, sir. And you said I m-mustn’t lose to anyone!”
“Yes. I asked for little enough. I told you to crush the girl from the Slion Family, trample Raon, and claim the top rank.”

Karun Zigheart’s eyes blazed crimson.

“Yet you lost? Not to that girl, but to a worm cast out from the direct line? And before everyone’s eyes?”

My heart seemed to shrivel at the low, chilling voice that filled the chamber.

“How far do you intend to humiliate me? Do you wish to become like the third or fourth?”
“N-no, sir!”

Burren shook his head frantically, trembling. He had no desire to become like his two elder brothers—names no longer even spoken.

“You have already squandered your first opportunity.”

In Karun’s gaze lay no warmth for the son he had not seen in some time—only fury and contempt.

“Y-yes, I understand.”

Burren could not meet those sinister eyes and instead gnawed at his lips, staring at his feet.

“Once basic training concludes and the trainees graduate, I will evaluate your accumulated performance and select a new top rank. Claim that position.”
“Y-yes…”

Burren swallowed hard and answered as though coughing blood.

“If you wish to live as befits a direct descendant of Zigheart, do not squander this final chance.”

Karun waved his hand, dismissing him.

“Th-thank you, sir.”

Burren couldn’t even properly look at his father’s face after six months apart. He left the room with his head bowed.

“Damn it!”

Burren Zigheart exited the Central Martial Hall and struck the wall with a curse.

“Because of that bastard….”

My teeth ground together. Having heard nothing but praise my entire life, Father’s rebuke hit all the harder.

Especially that it had come to this because of a single vermin named Raon—the rage was unbearable.

“Sigh…”

I exhaled the frustration that filled my chest in a long breath, but it brought no relief. To shift my mood, I wandered aimlessly.

“Why am I even here….”

When I came to my senses, I had already arrived at the 5th Training Ground. The gate was locked. I climbed over the wall and entered.

“Just as I thought.”

I let out a scoff. The outer gate was closed, but the doors to the Indoor Training Hall and the Rest Room remained open.

“Incompetent instructors.”

I pouted and headed toward the Rest Room. As I went to close the open door, I noticed a locker with Raon’s name on it.

“Hmm.”

“Just looking,” I muttered to myself as I opened Raon’s locker. The inside was neat. There was nothing except for a box placed at the bottom.

“What kind of box is this here… huh?”

My mouth fell open as I opened the box.

“What, what is this! How many shoes are there!”

Inside the box were training shoes with worn-through soles or torn fabric. And not just one or two pairs—more than ten.

‘He wore through all of them in six months?’

I examined the shoes in disbelief, but they were all identical in size and shape. Every pair was the standard-issue training footwear distributed to Raon.

“Hah.”

Burren Zigheart let out a hollow laugh. He’d received the same training shoes as Raon, yet he’d only replaced his twice.

‘How is this even possible?’

The thought that Raon had replaced his shoes more than ten times in the span it took him to change his twice was simply unbelievable.

“Crazy…”

Seeing shoes worn as though by years of use, it felt as though I’d been struck across the back of the head with a club. The shock reverberated through my entire body—more devastating than any scolding from Father.

‘It’s like waking from a dream.’

As my mind cleared like cold water had been poured over it, the things I’d willfully ignored began surfacing one by one.

How Raon arrived at the Training Ground earlier than anyone and left later than anyone else.
How he never once abandoned his training, even while drenched in cold sweat and breathing frost from his lips.
One by one, the images came back to me—how he ran alone through the darkened Training Ground after finishing his strength conditioning in the Indoor Training Hall.

‘While I was swinging a sword for show and resting in the Dormitory, he was pushing past his limits every single day….’

That was precisely why Raon’s momentum surpassed every other provisional trainee.

‘That’s what it truly means to be a Zigheart.’

It was Raon who had demonstrated the most authentic Zigheart swordsman in the 5th Training Ground.

‘And I, on the other hand….’

I had mocked him, ridiculed him, refused to accept the test results, and then suffered a pathetic defeat.

“Ugh…!”

My face burned with shame. Blinded by jealousy, I felt revulsion toward myself for the contemptible and filthy things I had done.

Burren remained seated in the empty Rest Room for a long while before lifting his head. His green eyes, unlike when he had entered the Training Ground, now gleamed with clarity.

“Never again….”

What had already passed could not be undone. What mattered was not repeating the same mistakes going forward. That was the way of Zigheart, and it was the stance he must pursue even now.

“Phew!”

Burren exhaled deeply, emptying the stubborn pride that had accumulated in his heart. His footsteps as he left the Training Ground were as light as Rimer’s.

*

*

*

Two days had passed since I returned to the Annex Building and began resting. My daily routine remained identical to what it had been at the Training Ground.

I ran around the Annex Building from dawn, and after breakfast, I trained my strength through bodyweight exercises instead of using equipment.

Since I had spent time with Sylvia yesterday, there was only one nuisance to contend with.

-Training again? How tedious this grows. Perform some other trick for your king instead.

Just as I was about to ignore Wrath’s generous offerings and continue training, someone came to find me.

“I am Roen, the head butler of the Patriarch’s Hall.”

He was an elderly man with a kind expression, half his hair tinged with cloud-gray.

“The Patriarch has summoned you, young master.”

He bowed respectfully with perfect courtesy.

“A summons? But why….”
“To bestow upon you the badge of the Zigheart Family.”
“I see.”

I narrowed my eyes. I had assumed he would simply send someone to give me the badge, but I hadn’t expected him to summon me directly.

“Gasp!”

Sylvia leaped through the window of the building, landing gracefully outside.

“R-Roen.”
“Sylvia.”

The two naturally knew each other, so they bowed simultaneously.

“Did the… the Patriarch himself summon you?”
“Yes.”
“Is it perhaps…?”
“Nothing special. It’s merely an award ceremony, as I understand it.”

Roen smiled kindly, as if to reassure her.

“Raon…?”
“It’s fine. I’ll be back soon.”

I brushed the dust from my clothes and threw on my outer robe.

“Wait! Change into clean clothes first!”
“This is fine.”

Glen is a born warrior. He wouldn’t mind if I showed up straight from training.

“Then let us depart.”

Roen smiled and took the lead, while I exchanged a glance with Sylvia before heading toward the Patriarch’s Hall.

*

*

*

“…”

My fingertips trembled as I gazed up at Glen seated upon the golden throne.

My mouth had gone dry as I stood face-to-face with Glen Zigheart in the Audience Chamber—a space vast enough to accommodate hundreds without crowding.

-That bastard’s just measuring whether I’m slightly strong. I’d love to gouge out those crimson eyes.

Of course, Wrath, who had completely lost his mind, was an exception.

“Even if I’m displeased, a promise must be kept.”

Glen spoke unnecessary words first, then gestured to Roen.

“Yes.”

Roen nodded slightly and brought forth a bronze token that gleamed with a soft luminescence.

“Thank you.”

I accepted the bronze token from Roen’s hand. At its center was engraved the Zigheart family crest—a sword wreathed in blazing flames.

“I bestow upon you a bronze token. You may return it and request an item of appropriate value or ask a favor in exchange.”
“May I speak my request immediately?”

I gripped the token tightly and looked up at Glen. I had already decided how to use this token.

“…Speak.”

Glen fell silent for a moment, but then nodded.

“Sylvia Zigheart.”
“Hmm?”
“What must I do to restore my mother to her original position?”

Not expecting such words, both Roen and Glen stared down at me with widened eyes.

“By original position, you mean direct lineage?”
“Yes.”

Glen closed his mouth. He scrutinized me from head to toe as if trying to discern my true intentions. Being subjected to his gaze alone made my heart feel as though it were being wrung out.

“Results.”
“Results, you say….”
“If not just I, but the entire family acknowledges your accomplishments, then it’s not impossible.”
“So it is possible, then.”
“It is.”

Glen Zigheart nodded. His eyes brightened slightly as he continued.

“However, it borders on the impossible. Earning recognition from diverse people would be harder than plucking stars from the sky.”

He curled his lips in a mocking smile, as if guaranteeing that I would never achieve it.

-Insolent whelp. If the King finds his true body, I could slay you within thousands of exchanges!

Wrath glared at Glen Zigheart with blazing eyes. Yet the fact that he spoke of thousands of exchanges suggested Glen Zigheart was a transcendent master even by his standards.

“Then it is settled.”

I returned the token to Roen.

“Thank you.”

Building accomplishments was something I had done as naturally as breathing in my past life. I rose to my feet, resolved to complete whatever tasks lay ahead and restore Sylvia to her rightful place.

“Wait.”

As I turned to leave, Glen Zigheart’s voice called out from the platform.

“You haven’t stated your reward yet.”
“Pardon?”
“You merely asked a question. That’s something I could answer without a token.”

I turned back to see Glen Zigheart regarding me with the same cold gaze, yet something indefinable had shifted.

‘What is this?’

I had never imagined Glen Zigheart would say such a thing. I thought he would seize the token regardless, but this was unexpected.

“State your wish.”
“….”

I gazed at the bronze medallion held in Roen’s hand, my eyes gleaming with interest.

‘I’ve already decided what comes next.’

Ever since Sylvia’s question about my return, I had already contemplated what I would need.

‘An aura cultivation method.’

The Ring of Fire was undoubtedly a celestial cultivation method, but it only tempered the body and soul—it could not create an aura.

I needed an aura cultivation method superior to the Shadow aura technique I had mastered in my previous life.

“I require an aura cultivation method.”
“An aura cultivation method? The instructors will teach you that during basic training.”

His words held truth. The cultivation method provided during basic training was, by the standards of the entire Continent, of intermediate to advanced quality.

But that level would not suffice.

To restore Sylvia’s position and sever Derus’s neck, I needed something greater.

“I require an aura cultivation method of superior quality. I wish for you to grant me a cultivation method equivalent to a medallion of the same rank.”
“….”

Glen Zigheart closed his eyes. I continued to sense it—his emotional expression was even more sparse than my own, despite being an assassin. The epithet “Cold Blood” truly suited him well.

Snap!

With his eyes still closed, he flicked his finger, and the floor of the Patriarch’s Hall trembled as though struck by an earthquake.

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

Golden flames erupted from the ground. Within the spiraling inferno, a circular bookshelf rose endlessly skyward.

“This is….”

My eyes widened. The bookshelf was colossal, reaching toward the soaring ceiling of the Audience Chamber, with countless volumes of vibrant hues arranged in each compartment.

“It’s one of the Zigheart family’s bookshelves. Place your hand on the center, and the book you need most right now will descend.”
“Understood.”

I steadied my mind and approached the bookshelf. Looking up, my neck ached from the angle, and the sheer number of books was beyond counting.

‘As long as it’s better than the Shadow aura cultivation method.’

Hoping for an aura cultivation method superior to the Shadow aura technique, I placed my hand upon the shelf.

Whooooom!

The bookshelf trembled. The volumes shuddered and quivered as if seized by bitter cold.

The shelf spun as though caught in a whirlwind, then came to an abrupt halt.

Crack!

The first book from the first compartment—barely visible—ejected itself and flew open.

Roooar!

It erupted with a torrent of golden flames so immense I couldn’t open my eyes.

“What in the—!”

Glen Zigheart, who had been observing, crushed the armrest of his throne and shot to his feet.

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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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