The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 222
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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 222
“Are you truly certain you can do this?”
Pedrick approached with furrowed brows, concern etched across his face.
“It’s slightly different from what I anticipated, but I believe it’s possible.”
I nodded and withdrew my hand from Ensia’s wrist. As the chill of Glaceia faded, she began to whimper once more.
“Heavenly Sword Master.”
“Yes?”
“I apologize for the trouble, but could you procure a single transparent glass bottle with a lid?”
“Understood.”
Sheryl departed without even asking why. It seemed the trust we’d built through this ordeal had grown considerably.
“Saint, please monitor Ensia’s condition. I need to gather my aura for a moment.”
“That’s no problem at all.”
I watched Pedrick grasp Ensia’s wrist, then settled onto the floor and closed my eyes.
‘I’ll need to use both the Ten Thousand Flower Demon technique and Glaceia.’
To absorb the Hell Worm’s essence and extract it alive, I would need the Ring of Fire, the Ten Thousand Flower Demon technique, and Glaceia all at once. It would be difficult to employ, but by utilizing the Eye of Wrath, I could pinpoint exactly where the Hell Worm was concealed.
With my eyes closed, I visualized the process of removing the Hell Worm while channeling the Ten Thousand Flower Demon technique. Every power was vital, but today’s star was the Ten Thousand Flower Demon technique, now ascended to five stars.
A resonant hum filled the air.
As I activated the dormant Ten Thousand Flower Demon technique and opened my eyes, Sheryl had returned, and the glass bottle sat upon the table.
“Is… is it beginning now?”
“Yes. Once you fall asleep, it should all be finished by the time you wake.”
I smiled gently and pressed lightly at the base of Ensia’s skull. She released a soft whimper, closed her eyes, and let her head droop.
“Then I shall begin. Saint, please draw out Ensia’s life force.”
“Assisting in treatment… it has been quite some time since I’ve done this.”
Pedrick, having decided to trust completely once he committed, stood across from Ensia and placed his hand on her shoulder.
Whoooosh!
I gently wielded Glacial’s chill as if handling a child, pushing it into Ensia’s mana circuits.
While cooling her body from below was the same as before, I didn’t completely fill her mana circuits with the cold—I left some space empty. This void would serve as a passage to absorb the Hell Worm’s energy.
Shhhhrick!
The moment Glacial’s pure chill cooled the heat in her mana circuits in sequence and reached toward her neck, the Hell Worm that had been hiding burst forth and began spreading its heat.
“Ugh…”
Even though I had put her into slumber, Ensia’s body trembled violently. I could feel the Hell Worm’s heat even while only holding her wrist.
‘Now it begins.’
I resonated the ring of fire to heighten my concentration, then activated the Ten Thousand Flower Demon technique. The fifth-star Ten Thousand Flower Demon technique seeped gently through the empty spaces in the mana circuits filled with Glacial.
Whoooosh!
I sent the Ten Thousand Flower Demon technique to Ensia’s head mana circuits, disguising it as heat created by the Hell Worm. The Hell Worm, believing the pure heat of the Ten Thousand Flower Demon technique was its own, only remained vigilant against the chill.
‘Perfect!’
Everything had proceeded as expected so far. Now I needed to advance to the second phase.
Whoooosh!
I activated the Devouring Seal, a technique I could now use after reaching the fifth star of the Ten Thousand Flower Demon technique.
‘With this, I can consume that creature’s heat as well.’
The Devouring Seal of the Ten Thousand Flower Demon technique was an art capable of absorbing heat. While it couldn’t accept massive amounts of energy at once, it was perfectly suited for creatures like the Hell Worm that slowly emitted heat.
A deep, resonant roar echoed through the air.
I slowly activated the Breath Absorption technique, beginning to draw in the scorching heat radiating from the Hell Worm.
As I reached the Master realm, my lower dantian expanded generously, and the Hell Worm’s heat began accumulating within it layer by layer, accelerating my body’s recovery.
A brilliant flash of flame erupted.
The Hell Worm, oblivious to the fact that its heat was being siphoned away, continued to emit scorching energy to resist the encroaching cold.
‘It’s no different from a frog in boiling water.’
When a frog is thrown into boiling water, it leaps out immediately. But in water that heats gradually, the frog fails to recognize the danger and remains until it’s cooked alive.
The Hell Worm was no different. By forcing it to expend its heat bit by bit, it would exhaust all its strength and become utterly depleted.
‘All I need to do is absorb it.’
The heat the Hell Worm wasted accumulated in my body without the slightest loss, transforming into aura and vitality while even elevating my Ten Thousand Flower Demon technique. It was no different from naturally absorbing a spiritual elixir.
As my body’s wounds healed and my Ten Thousand Flower Demon aura accumulated, I felt an exquisite pleasure while leisurely accepting the Hell Worm’s heat.
After three hours had passed, the heat the Hell Worm emitted had noticeably diminished, and my dantian was brimming with Ten Thousand Flower Demon energy.
‘I’ve accumulated more than before.’
A hollow laugh escaped me. Despite being injured, my dantian now contained far more aura than it had before fighting the Masters.
‘If I’d known, I would’ve asked for some heat.’
The Hell Worm that Derus Robert had spent decades researching and developing had become an exquisite spiritual elixir. The joy of completely dismantling his plans brought an involuntary smile to my face.
-What in the world is happening!
Wrath burst forth from the bracelet, grinding his teeth.
-How are you gaining power even from a worm! Why does the world seem so eager to shower everything upon this bastard!
He pounded his chest as if deeply wronged.
“Take care of me too!”
‘I’ll handle it later, just stay still for now.’
I halted the Demon Devouring Suction Technique while leaving Glaceia’s cold energy on one side.
‘It’s time to finish this.’
I halted the Demon Devouring Suction Technique while leaving Glaceia’s cold energy on one side.
‘Phew….’
I steadied my breathing internally and drew up Wrath, letting it fill my eyes.
Crackle, crackle!
The moment I thought to see the Hell Worm inside Ensia’s mind, the interior of her skull began to enter my field of vision. A tiny crimson worm stretched its legs across some indeterminate membrane inside the cranium.
‘It’s become even more grotesque than before.’
The Hell Worm had four teeth protruding from its snout and ten spiky, razor-sharp legs—a truly repulsive sight. Exhausted, its body heaved and trembled like a panting human.
‘Its energy has depleted significantly, so it must be hungry.’
The Hell Worm had consumed most of the heat it possessed. Unable to bear that emptiness, it would surely be drawn to the heat.
Raon drew the increasingly refined heat of the Mana Crafting up to the mana circuits near Ensia’s head. He monitored Hell Worm’s condition with 【Wrathful Magic Eye】 and controlled the movement of the aura.
It moves.
Sensing the heat from the mana sphere, Hell Worm lifted its leg slightly in a cautious manner. It moved toward where the mana sphere was located while keeping watch on Glassia in the mana circuit on the opposite side.
“I’m glad I took it out beforehand.”
The Hell Worm lifted its legs from where it had been rooted for years and descended downward, following the aura of the cartoon craftsman.
Raon slowly lowered the creature downward by manipulating the aura of the martial artist like he was luring fish with a fishing rod. Thanks to 【Wrathful Evil Eye】, it wasn’t difficult to guide the Hell Worm toward the exit.
“Hmm…”
My head throbbed intensely from the discord between Wrath’s demonic eye and my body, but I gritted my teeth and maintained my concentration until the very end, guiding the Hell Worm toward Ensia’s nasal passage.
‘Almost there.’
I opened my eyes and looked at Ensia’s nose. The moment her nostrils fluttered briefly, I inserted my finger and grasped the Hell Worm within.
“Heavenly Sword Master!”
“Got it!”
Sheryl immediately understood and threw the glass bottle she had brought. I caught it, placed the squirming Hell Worm inside, and sealed the lid.
Tick-tick-tick!
Only then did the Hell Worm realize it was trapped, and it scratched relentlessly at the glass bottle with its ten legs. Watching all ten legs twitch simultaneously sent chills down my spine.
‘Thank goodness I put it to sleep first.’
I exhaled deeply while looking at Ensia. Even with her straightforward personality, she would never have endured a worm emerging from her nose. It was the right call to sedate it beforehand.
“This… this was inside Ensia’s body?”
Pedrick approached with wide eyes, examining the Hell Worm.
“Yes. This worm is what was emitting heat from Ensia’s head.”
I nodded and held out the worm to Pedrick and Sheryl.
“Huh…”
“Eek!”
While Pedrick stood dumbfounded, Sheryl shrieked and stumbled backward.
“Could the Saint take this worm and research it for us?”
“Research?”
“Considering that Themurs targeted Ensia, there are certainly more of these. He may have planted them in others as well. We need a reliable method of removal—something more certain than what we’ve done here.”
That was precisely why I had extracted the Hell Worm.
“Hmm, I’m sorry, but I can’t give you a definite answer. This is the first time I’ve seen something like this.”
“That’s alright. And could you also look into a way to deal with the Raging Worm?”
“The Raging Worm. This is because of Themurs as well.”
Pedrick had heard the full circumstances, so he knew that Themurs had died because of the Raging Worm.
“I’ll do my best.”
Despite his expression suggesting difficulty, he nodded firmly.
“Ah, just one more thing.”
“Again. There’s more?”
Now truly burdened, Pedrick wiped cold sweat from his forehead.
“The maidservant who placed that worm in Lady Ensia was likely under brainwashing.”
“Brainwashing?”
“I want to find a way to break that brainwashing as well.”
A crimson flame ignited in my eyes.
‘This is the most necessary step to dismantle Derus Robert’s plan.’
To crush Derus Robert, I had to first deal with the people he controlled. If I destroyed the Hell Worm, the Raging Worm, and the brainwashing, a third of his forces would vanish.
The greatest expert capable of accomplishing this task stood right before me—the ragged saint Pedrick.
“You’re concerned about the mastermind behind this incident.”
“That’s correct.”
“I understand. I’ll do my best to investigate.”
Pedrick nodded with a grave expression.
“I have an expert I know regarding brainwashing, so I can consult with them.”
He was already formulating several plans, his eyes gleaming as he gazed at the Hell Worm in the bottle. He seemed quite intrigued as well.
“Then, lastly.”
I grasped Ensia’s wrist once more, drawing out every trace of residual heat from the Hell Worm within her body before purifying her entire mana circuit with Glacial.
Once Pedrick completed his additional treatment, Ensia’s skin—which had been swollen and flushed like an overinflated balloon—gradually returned to its natural hue.
“Ensia.”
I stood beside her and called her name.
“Mmm….”
Ensia slowly lifted her eyelids and gradually pushed herself upright.
“Wow, even lying on your side, you’re incredibly handsome. How is this even possible?”
She gazed at my face and let out an exclamation of admiration.
“Truly, you could call this a work of art… huh?”
She raised her hand to gesture, then abruptly froze.
“This… this is….”
Ensia stared at her own thinned and pale arms and hands, then turned her head away.
“What… how….”
With her hand still raised, she looked back and forth between me, Pedrick, and Sheryl, her lips trembling.
“I… it doesn’t hurt anymore. There’s no pain at all! My body feels so light!”
Tears welled up in Ensia’s large eyes and spilled down her cheeks.
“Am I… am I healed? Does this mean I don’t have to suffer anymore?”
Her lips quivered with emotion.
“I can work again. I can chase my dreams again!”
“You’re going to be fine now.”
I nodded as I watched the waves of emotion pouring from Ensia’s eyes.
“Th-thank you. Thank you…*sob*!”
Ensia buried her face in her hands and broke down in tears. It was a wail that seemed to release all the emotions she had been holding back, a torrent of feelings overwhelming her at once.
Pedrick, Sheryl, and I smiled faintly as we quietly watched Ensia cry out as if her heart would break.
*
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*
“Patriarch! Patriaaaaaarch!”
Rimer burst through the doors of the Audience Chamber like he was kicking open the Training Ground, his voice echoing through the hall.
“It’s true! It’s really true!”
“What!”
Glen Zigheart shot up from the Jade Throne. It was an extraordinarily rare reaction, but neither Rimer nor Roen paid it any mind.
“Raon has ascended to Master rank and slain the Gwahyeolgwi, the Red Wolf Demon, and the Black Wing Demon, rescuing the Saint! The Bi-Yeon Society has confirmed it!”
Rimer waved the letter in his hand frantically. At first, the news seemed so extraordinary that I thought it must be false or exaggerated, but it wasn’t.
Raon had truly ascended to Master rank, slain three of Eden’s Masters, and rescued the Saint—an absolutely astounding feat. His name was spreading not just throughout the Zigheart clan, but across the entire Continent.
“Hmm!”
As Glen Zigheart narrowed his eyes, the letter in Rimer’s hand rose into the air of its own accord and flew to the Jade Throne. He opened it and examined its contents. Just as Rimer had said, it detailed Raon’s deeds, and bore the confirmation seal of the Bi-Yeon Society Master.
“I knew he would ascend to Master rank eventually, but I never expected it to happen so quickly, and certainly not that he would slay three Masters the moment he did!”
Rimer, seemingly at a loss for words, stumbled backward and fell.
“Honestly, there’s no word for it but madness.”
Even Roen, who was always smiling, stood dumbfounded with his mouth agape.
“Eighteen years old! Our Raon is the youngest Master in the history of the Continent!”
Rimer danced with joy as if it were his own achievement.
“Settle down a bit.”
Glen Zigheart narrowed his eyes and waved his hand, but he couldn’t hide the corners of his mouth rising all the way to the ceiling.
“Wipe that smile off your face before saying such things.”
Rimer giggled and pointed at Glen Zigheart’s mouth.
“Ahem!”
Glen Zigheart cleared his throat and forced a frown, but a faint smile bloomed on his face without his knowledge.
“There are no injuries, I hear?”
“I saw that part too—he was badly hurt, but there shouldn’t be any aftereffects! With a Saint beside him, it’s only natural.”
Rimer spoke immediately, as if he had already looked into that as well.
“Honestly, we all knew Raon would become a Master.”
“That is true.”
Roen nodded in agreement.
“But no one could have imagined he would slay Gwahyeolgwi before becoming a Master, and then simultaneously cut down the Red Wolf Demon and Black Wing Demon after achieving Mastery. He transcends not just common sense, but imagination itself!”
Rimer bounced up and down with excitement, like someone who had won big at gambling.
“Patriarch. When he returns, you must welcome him with great fanfare! He’s the youngest Master to have slain three of Eden’s Masters and even saved your dear friend, the Saint!”
“Of course. A sufficient reward—”
“No, not that! Not as Patriarch!”
Rimer thumped his chest in frustration.
“As his grandfather, I should praise my grandson for his accomplishments! How much longer do you expect me to merely watch? If you care so much, why won’t you say anything!”
“Hmm….”
Glen closed his eyes without responding. After a moment, as if organizing his thoughts, he shook his head.
“That child is indeed my grandson, and he has certainly achieved something remarkable. I will provide sufficient rewards commensurate with that achievement. However, that is as the Patriarch. I have never shown special treatment to any of my children, sons or daughters alike.”
“Ugh! Seriously!”
Rimer shook his head vigorously.
“I give up! My blood’s boiling—I’m going gambling today!”
He waved his hand dismissively and left the Patriarch’s Hall.
“Well, I must agree with Rimer on this occasion. Even if not entirely, it would be good to express your feelings a little.”
Roen bowed respectfully and followed Rimer out of the Patriarch’s Hall.
“Hmm.”
Glen watched the door through which the two had departed for a moment, then leaned back against the Jade Throne. He frowned as he gazed at his right hand, marked by a long scar.
“As if I don’t understand. But….”
When Sylvia suffered as an outcast within the family, and even when she abandoned everything and left—he had done nothing for her. He had erased his youngest daughter’s existence from his mind, focused only on increasing his power and witnessing the blood of his enemies.
Later, after escaping the demonic madness, he had sought out Sylvia, but it was far too late. By then, he had already lost a granddaughter he had never even seen and a son-in-law.
For someone like him to now treat Raon and Sylvia with warmth was impossible.
“Sigh….”
Glen closed his eyes—not with the cold gaze of an emotionless god of war, but with the troubled face of a man wrestling with his own regrets.
*
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*
Lunan and the Gwangpung Order members had all gathered in Raon’s Room. Unlike usual, they all gazed at Raon intently, their expressions calm and focused.
“Once you become a Master, the Middle Energy Center opens. You’ll feel as if a small wall inside your body shatters, and your aura solidifies to a new level.”
I pointed to the Middle Energy Center in my solar plexus.
“How does it feel when the Middle Energy Center opens? Is it refreshing?”
Dorian asked with wide eyes.
“It’s less refreshing and more like a thrill. It’s as if lightning strikes you from the crown of your head to the tips of your toes.”
“So once that Middle Energy Center opens, you can immediately use Strong Aura? Does knowledge about Strong Aura suddenly appear in your mind?”
Burren Zigheart leaned forward with intense eyes.
“Knowledge doesn’t appear. Instead, you become able to operate the Middle Energy Center instinctively.”
“Doesn’t operating through the Middle Energy Center slow things down?”
“You might think so, but the moment the Middle Energy Center opens, the mana circuits throughout your entire body activate to a higher degree, actually making the operation speed faster.”
“How much faster does the aura operation become?”
Martha, who had pretended to be uninterested, stepped forward and asked.
“More than twice as fast, and the quantity and quality of aura actually increase. The difference between one barrier is so vast that you feel like a completely different person.”
Since I had been curious about what a Master was like when I was an Expert, I answered each of their questions one by one.
“What’s your favorite ice cream?”
Lunan seemed to think he had heard enough about becoming a Master, so he posed an odd question.
-Mint chocolate!
I ignored Wrath’s interjection and looked at Lunan. His expression was serious. It seemed he was asking genuinely.
“Well, I prefer cookies and cream….”
As I was about to answer, a knock sounded at the door and it opened, revealing Pedrick.
“Your Holiness?”
“I heard you’re leaving tomorrow.”
Pedrick walked inside with a faint smile.
“Yes. Since Ensia’s treatment is complete, I must return to Yonan.”
“The war here is over as well, so I’ll come with you. I need to monitor Ensia’s condition further, and I should also verify the maidservant said to be there.”
“Thank you.”
I nodded in acknowledgment.
“Ahem, and there’s something I wanted to tell you….”
Pedrick cleared his throat and averted his gaze.
“I’ve heard all I need to hear. Let’s go.”
Martha caught that look first this time and rose to her feet.
“But I haven’t heard everything yet? Ice cream….”
“You’ll hear it later!”
She led the dazed Lunan out of the room first, with Burren, Dorian, and Crain following behind.
Click.
Once the door was completely shut, Pedrick straightened his hunched back and approached me.
“Now that I think about it, I never said it formally.”
“Yes?”
“Thanks to you, I was able to save this old life of mine, and I could save Julius as well. I’m truly grateful.”
He bowed respectfully, heedless of his own status and position.
“Please, don’t do this!”
I jumped to my feet in alarm. I never expected the Saint to act this way.
“I merely repaid a debt from my childhood. No, I haven’t even fully repaid it yet. There’s still much left.”
I wasn’t being modest. Every year he came to me, activated my body, and provided elixirs that allowed me to reach Master rank at this age. This time was merely repaying a small debt.
“Yes. I should tell you that as well.”
Pedrick exhaled deeply and sank to the floor.
“I have something to tell you about your childhood.”
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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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