The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 223

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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 223

“When you were young?”

I furrowed my brow as I observed the peculiar glint in Pedrick’s eyes. I couldn’t begin to fathom what he was driving at.

“I’m not sure what you mean, sir….”
“Let me explain. I’ve been wrestling with how long to keep this hidden, but perhaps it’s fortunate it’s coming out now.”

Pedrick gestured for me to sit. I took the seat across from him.

“You probably remember me from when you were four or five years old, but in truth, I visited you six times.”
“Hmm….”

I let out a short breath.

‘I remember every single one of those visits.’

Since I possessed consciousness from birth, I retained memories of every encounter with Pedrick. From when I was a hundred days old until I turned five, he would visit every year, providing me with elixirs and treatment.

“From when you were one until you were five, I visited Zigheart of my own volition to check on your condition, but the first time was not my own choice. Naturally, it wasn’t coincidence either.”
“What?”

The first time would have been shortly after I received my name from Glen.

“I told Sylvia I had merely stopped by after hearing news of your birth, but….”

Pedrick exhaled a weary sigh and lowered his head. His eyes dimmed with lingering hesitation as he breathed out once more.

“The Saint.”
“Yes. Since I’ve already started, I might as well finish. I went to the Annex Building at someone’s request.”
“A request?”
“An order disguised as a request—to come to Zigheart immediately, assess your condition, and determine an appropriate treatment method.”

He chuckled softly, remarking that such an absurd request was his first of its kind.

“Who is this person?”
“If I were going to reveal my identity, I wouldn’t have said I was someone in the first place.”

Pedrick offered a faint smile—one that suggested I should know who he meant.

“When I told you that you were cursed with the Frost of Extreme Cold, that there was no certain cure, and that you needed to warm your body with elixirs, ‘that person’ produced a fire-attribute elixir and told me to give it to Sylvia.”
“Ah….”

I opened my mouth in surprise.

‘That elixir from back then too?’

I swallowed hard at the revelation that the elixir Sylvia had warmed and given me came not from a Saint, but from ‘that person’.

“I apologize for telling you this only now. He insisted I keep it secret, so I had no choice.”
“…No, sir.”

I was only grateful that he had shared something he’d been asked to keep confidential.

“So I can only apologize to you. You risked your life fighting to save me, yet it was someone else who truly helped you.”
“Please don’t say such things.”

I shook my head firmly.

“I am simply grateful.”

The Saint was an extraordinary figure—impossible to serve even if one wished to. Even if he had been asked as a favor initially, visiting Zigheart five times to treat a stranger’s child and provide elixirs was an incredibly difficult thing to do. Knowing the truth from Pedrick, I harbored not a shred of regret in saving him.

“I’m grateful you say so. Now I feel indebted to you.”

Pedrick chuckled softly, stroking his beard.

“To repay that debt, I’ll do my best to research and help with your requests.”
“You don’t need to think of it as a debt. Please don’t burden yourself.”
“That makes it even more burdensome, you brat!”

Raon and Pedrick exchanged warm gazes and shared a laugh.

“So you know who summoned me?”
“Yes.”

I lowered my eyes.

“There’s no way I wouldn’t.”

Someone who summoned Pedrick, the Saint of Rags, immediately provided three high-grade spiritual elixirs, and identified my deteriorating condition. With such obvious hints, I’d deserve to bite my tongue and die if I didn’t understand.

-Who? Who was it that wasted spiritual elixirs on you?

Wrath tilted his head as if he had no idea whatsoever.

‘Glen Zigheart.’
-That would be….
‘The Patriarch summoned the Saint.’

I never would have imagined it, but the one who summoned the Saint was undoubtedly Glen Zigheart, the Patriarch.

‘So he knew from that time.’

Glen must have known I was suffering from the bitter cold of extreme frost when he gave me my name.

‘But why?’

I couldn’t understand why he pretended not to know, why he feigned indifference.

‘Did he not despise me?’

It was utterly contradictory—allowing me to suffer humiliation and insult not just from the Main Lineage but from the Branch Family as well, yet summoning a Saint for my sake.

“Hmm.”

Pedrick’s lips twitched as he observed me with furrowed brows.

‘He’s figured out it was Glen.’

This boy possessed not only martial prowess but also keen intellect. He must have deduced Glen’s identity before hearing all the hints.

‘Iron Mask, I’m sorry.’

Pedrick sent an apology in his heart to Glen, who had no idea what was happening.

‘Still, I didn’t tell him that you visited Raon every day to infuse your aura and used the token.’

Glen cared for Raon more than anyone else. He visited daily to push back the cold, and the token he used when summoning me was a divine seal that could only be used once in a lifetime.

‘Now stop doing foolish things and try to get along well.’

Pedrick smiled softly, hoping that the awkward grandfather and grandson, who treated each other like strangers on the surface, would grow closer.

“Saint.”

Raon called out to Pedrick with a face full of questions.

“From the second time onward, wasn’t it him who gave the orders?”
“That’s right. He said nothing.”
“Then may I ask just one thing?”

Pedrick nodded vigorously, as if to say he was welcome to ask.

“Even if the first time was a request, why did you come every year for five years? It couldn’t have been easy for a saint who travels across the entire Continent healing people to visit Zigheart.”

Pedrick didn’t stay in one place but constantly traveled the Continent healing people. The fact that he came every year to check on me was extraordinarily unusual.

“It was because of your eyes.”
“Pardon?”
“How should I put it….”

He scratched his head as if choosing his words carefully.

“You hadn’t been born long, yet when you saw a stranger, you neither cried nor laughed. Your eyes were cold and composed, like an adult’s. It sounds mad, but I felt an emotion in them—as if you’d weathered the storms of countless years, as if you would handle your own affairs yourself.”
“Ah….”

I turned my gaze away and bit my lip.

‘He’s right.’

In my previous life, I was betrayed, and I had resolved to leave Zigheart after growing stronger there—without relying on anyone’s help.
But starting with Sylvia and Helen, I became entangled with many people, and that resolve changed.

“I wanted to change that look in your eyes. I wanted to show you that there are people in this world who help others and care for them without expecting anything in return, and then I wanted to see you smile. Of course, you were too young to understand back then.”

Pedrick scratched the back of his head as if embarrassed.

“Hmm….”

I clenched my fists tightly. My heart resonated deeply with Pedrick’s sincere words.

“You asked me one question, so let me make one request of you.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“Will you hear me out?”
“Yes.”

Having just witnessed Pedrick’s sincerity, I could not refuse.

“Then smile for me once.”
“Pardon?”

My eyes widened at his unexpected request.

“Didn’t I say so? That I wanted to see your smile. I never saw it when you were young, so smile for me now.”
“But….”
“Didn’t you just say you’d do anything for me?”
“Ugh.”

I covered my cheeks with my hands and frowned.

“I didn’t ask you to frown. I asked you to smile.”
“C-couldn’t it be something else?”

I would rather fight Eden again than do this. Suddenly being asked to smile made me embarrassed, and heat rose to my cheeks.

“Ahem!”

Pedrick let out a loud, deliberate cough as if urging me to hurry.

“Phew…”

I exhaled deeply. Now that I thought about it, I couldn’t recall ever smiling while Pedrick treated my wounds.

“Then give me a moment.”

I pinched my cheeks and stretched them out before turning my head. Watching Pedrick’s expectant gaze, I smiled as naturally as I could manage.
It was terribly embarrassing, but I maintained the smile to the end to repay his kindness.

“Heh.”

Pedrick nodded and offered a faint smile.

“Just as Ensia said, you’re remarkably handsome.”

*

*

*

“Sigh…”

Alone in my chamber, I let out a heavy sigh.

‘I don’t understand.’

I could comprehend why Glen summoned Pedrick. It was only natural that he’d call upon an exceptional healer to assess my condition when his grandson was ill.

‘But why hide it?’

He had summoned the Sage, the greatest healer, and provided three high-grade elixirs—yet concealed it all. I couldn’t fathom the reason.

‘Was it to avoid scrutiny from the Main and Branch Lineages?’

That seemed unlikely. Glen was the absolute authority of Zigheart. His influence encompassed the entire clan. No matter how formidable the former lords were, Glen’s single word would have prevented anyone from touching the Annex Building.

‘It’s hard to believe he cherished me that much.’

Glen had never given me anything first. Until I turned twelve, I only met him during the aptitude test, and I had never received a separate gift from him. Since he always gave rewards proportional to my achievements, I had never once considered that he might think of me.

‘No, wait. The Heavenly Sword technique was different.’

Glen had shown me the incantations of the Heavenly Sword technique directly, demonstrating it himself rather than teaching me through books. Now that I thought about it, only then did he seem different.

‘I don’t know.’

I clutched my head in frustration. The more I thought about it, the deeper I sank into confusion.

-Tsk, isn’t it obvious?

Wrath climbed onto my bracelet and clicked his tongue.

‘Obvious?’
-Yes. He intends to use you.
‘That’s….’
-You were born different from the start, as befits my vessel. That old man recognized your talent and clearly intends to use you to elevate the family’s reputation.

He muttered that it was the same in both the human realm and the Demon Realm.

‘Be quiet.’

I frowned. I had naturally considered that possibility as well, but hearing it from Wrath irritated me.

‘I need to return to the family and observe the Patriarch’s reaction.’

Only then would I truly understand what he was thinking. Given my experience from my past life, if he really intended to use me, I would be able to tell.

Knock, knock.

As I organized my thoughts, a soft knock sounded at the door. It was a sound I had grown familiar with since arriving here.

“Come in.”

The door opened immediately, and a child with an appearance that seemed somewhat arrogant but eyes that were calmly composed entered. It was Julius, who had escaped with the Saint.

“Hello.”

Julius bowed respectfully.

“Good. You’re not in any pain, are you?”

I smiled faintly and nodded. Julius had visited me almost every day since I’d awakened, always greeting me with proper courtesy. He was a peculiar fellow—his appearance and demeanor were completely at odds.

“You don’t need to keep coming. Don’t feel burdened just because I saved you.”

Just as Pedrick had shown kindness to me when I was young, I expected nothing from Julius in return. I simply hoped he would grow without being traumatized.

“Ah, I….”

Julius hesitated, biting his lip. It was unlike his usual composed self.

“It’s fine. Say what’s on your mind.”
“Would it be possible for me to come with you as well?”
“What?”
“I wish to travel with you, sir.”

Julius’s eyes were steady as he spoke. There was no wavering in them—his resolve was firm.

“Why all of a sudden?”
“It’s not sudden. I’ve been thinking about it since the day you saved me and the Saint. Since you mentioned leaving the day after tomorrow, I felt I had to speak now or never.”

I’d noticed it before, but the boy had a centered tone to his voice. He’d clearly received proper etiquette training.

“What about your family?”
“I have none. I’ve been alone since my grandfather passed away.”
“I see….”

His voice was so calm it caught me off guard.

‘So that’s how it is.’

From the circumstances, it seemed the war had broken out after his grandfather’s death—around the time I’d decided to take Julius with me.

I observed Julius’s steadfast eyes and drew upon my aura.

‘His body is both flexible and solid. His mana circuits are… wait?’

I examined Julius’s physical condition, which wasn’t poor, and inspected his interior before my mouth fell open.

‘What kind of child’s mana circuits are these…’

His mana circuits were thicker and wider than those of an ordinary Sword User-class swordsman. The interior of his mana circuits was clean, and his dantian was also larger and more solid than others’. If this child learned cultivation techniques, he would be able to gather aura faster than anyone else.

‘So that’s why everyone was making such a fuss.’

His physical condition wasn’t bad, but the real treasure lay within. Julius possessed extraordinary potential to rise higher than most.

But what truly impressed me wasn’t those conditions.

I was drawn to the composure and steadfast spirit that were difficult for a child his age to possess.

“Taking you with me won’t be difficult, but this is your homeland. Are you truly certain you wish to leave?”
“It’s not as though I can never return, and I believe a homeland lives in one’s heart.”

Julius spoke words unbefitting his age once more, his eyes gleaming with conviction.

“I understand. It’s not a difficult matter. I’ll speak with the Heavenly Sword Master about it.”

Raon nodded with a faint smile.

“But why did you come to me? It would have been easier if you’d gone to the Heavenly Sword Master from the start.”
“It’s because of you, swordsman, that I came to wish to go to Zigheart.”
“Ah…”

I could roughly understand what this child was thinking. He clearly saw me as a hero who had come to rescue him from crisis.

“Then it would be better to reconsider. Joining Zigheart because of me isn’t really a good—”
“No, sir.”

Julius shook his head quickly.

“It’s absolutely not a simple thought. When I looked at you, swordsman, I felt not the presence of a hero, but the scent of humanity.”
“The scent of humanity?”
“I wish to become a swordsman like you—one whose will remains strong even without overwhelming strength, one capable of realizing his convictions. I’ve thought deeply about this, so please accept me.”

The words “scent of humanity” and “a swordsman capable of realizing his convictions” struck deep into my heart.

‘Did I really come across that way?’

I wasn’t sure what Julius had seen to say such a thing, but the feeling wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

“Understood. We depart two days from now at dawn. Don’t be late.”
“Thank you so much!”

Julius bowed deeply and left the room.

-Hmm.

Wrath watched Julius’s retreating figure and smacked his lips.

-Why only for this one….
‘Hm?

I glanced down at Wrath.

“Does that boy have something more special about him?”
-I wouldn’t know!

Wrath had no intention of explaining and retreated back into the bracelet with a whoosh.

‘I should look into this….’

*

*

*

Two days later.
I emerged from the mansion where I had been staying to depart Letran. Everyone had finished their preparations in advance and was waiting in front of Ensia’s carriage.

“The protagonist sure does arrive late.”

Sheryl, leaning against the carriage, frowned.

“It’s not time to depart yet.”
“Not a word of complaint.”

As Raon pointed to the sky, Sheryl laughed and walked toward the front of the carriage.

“Raon?”

The carriage window opened, and Ensia popped out. Her refreshed features, now free of swelling, gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight.

“Raon!”

She thrust not just her face but her entire upper body through the window, waving her hand enthusiastically.

“Wow! You’re so incredibly handsome today! The most handsome I’ve ever seen! Your eyes are so much more striking now!”
“Miss!”
“Please, stop!”

Thanks to her attendants holding her back, Ensia barely avoided tumbling out the window.

‘She’s gotten more intense.’

I scratched my cheek. Now that her pain had vanished, Ensia was making an even greater fuss, crying out about how handsome I was.

“Are you experiencing any discomfort?”
“My lower back was aching a bit, but it’s fine now! Your face is medicine, and your face is sustenance!”
“Hmm….”

Though it was burdensome, seeing someone who had been tormented by pain become so radiant eased my heart.

“I thought the infatuation would disappear once the pain was gone, but it didn’t! You’re just genuinely handsome! Handsome and virtuous, handsome and brilliant, handsome and a master!”

Even after being pulled back into the carriage by her attendants, Ensia continued to lavish praise on my appearance.

“Sigh, it’s gotten worse….”
“How can an ugly person even bear to live?”
“I want to die….”
“Not yet. The river’s too cold.”
“I’m ugly and stupid and an expert at it!”

The members of the Heavenly Sword Squad and Gwangpung Unit standing around the carriage clutched their heads and groaned in exasperation.

“Hehe!”
“Wow….”

Pedrick chuckled at the sight, while Julius stared blankly ahead.

“Yeah, he’s got looks, incredibly handsome. Handsome, but Master….”

Lunan Slion repeated Ensia’s words several times and nodded. He seemed intent on committing them to memory.

“Enough playing around! Get ready!”
“Yes!”

At Sheryl’s command, I mounted my horse. The other swordsmen took their positions at the front of the carriage and awaited the order to depart.

“Our destination is the Yonan Family! The mission is not yet complete! Do not let your guard down!”
“Yes!”
“Move out!”

Sheryl led the way as before, driving her horse at the front, and everyone followed in her wake.

As we slowly descended onto the Main Street, crowds of people gathered on both sides like clouds.

“Waaaah!”
“Thank you, Zigheart swordsmen! Thank you for saving us!”
“We are truly grateful!”

The villagers waved their hands and cheered for all the swordsmen. Their eyes were clear, having overcome their sorrow to express their gratitude.

“We will repay this debt of life!”
“Call upon us anytime!”
“We will find you anywhere!”

The surviving swordsmen of the Bashin Family and Trian Family held their blades reversed in salute. It was a gesture signifying they had incurred a great debt and would repay it without fail.

“That will suffice. Return and continue your training.”

Sheryl smiled faintly and waved to the swordsmen.

“Uwaaaaaaah!
“Raon!”
“Seolhwa Swordmaster!”
“We look forward to your future deeds! Seolhwa Swordmaster!”

As Raon passed, a roar erupted that dwarfed all the cheers combined. The deafening sound made everyone’s eyes widen in astonishment.

“Seolhwa Swordmaster?”

Raon tilted his head, hearing the name for the first time.

“They’re talking about you.”

Burren Zigheart stepped beside him and gestured with his chin.

“Me?”
“A righteous swordmaster who unhesitatingly walked into Eden’s trap to repay a childhood debt, slaying Gwahyeolgwi, the Red Wolf Demon, and the Black Wing Demon. Your new epithet, Raon Zigheart.”

He smiled with genuine delight, as if it were his own achievement.

“The highlight was your one-on-one duel with the Evil Goat Demon. The entire Continent was moved by how you never lowered your sword to the end, protecting the Saint and the child!”

Dorian frowned with regret at having missed it himself.

“But why Seolhwa Swordmaster….”
“It must mean a swordmaster who wields fire and ice simultaneously. It also carries a double meaning—the word for flower. Either way, the epithet is truly magnificent!”
“I wish I could earn an epithet like that….”

Crain approached as well, nodding enviously.

Raon waved at the people who were smiling brightly as they called his name and epithet. The louder cheers made his ears ring, and his heart pounded fiercely.

Though he had felt it at Habun Castle, hearing his name cheered and having an epithet created stirred something profound within him.

Roji and the other priests who had been standing before the castle gates emerged and bowed their heads. As their hands rose toward the sky, pure white light cascaded down, enveloping everyone’s bodies.

“May blessings descend upon our heroes.”

Roji and the priests lifted their heads, smiling gently.

“May blessings accompany you all as well.”

I bowed my head to the priests in imitation of Sheryl’s greeting, then departed Letran. Even as we left the village behind, the roar of the crowd continued to echo in our ears.

“My heart was pounding so hard I thought I’d die.”
“Tell me about it. Mine’s still racing.”

Dorian and Crain wore flushed faces and bewildered smiles.

“Tch, as if that’s anything to get worked up over.”
“Get a grip!”

Martha and Burren’s faces were equally flushed, despite their words.

“….”

Only Lunan Slion remained composed, his eyes as vacant as his demeanor was calm.

I smiled faintly at them, then gazed up at the sky. The mission was complete. Now only one thing remained.

‘The reward for completing the mission.’

That much was already decided.

What I wanted from the Yonan Family was no mere artifact.

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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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