The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 238
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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 238
-A new sword technique came to you? While eating ice cream?
Wrath tilted his round head in confusion, unable to comprehend.
“I wasn’t devouring it—I was simply eating.”
I smiled faintly as I watched Wrath’s eyes roll about.
-What kind of sword technique did you envision?
“A harmony of illusory and sound swordsmanship.”
While lost in a state of profound focus, a new sword technique had crystallized in my mind—one that harmonized the sound swordsmanship I had recently acquired with the illusory swordsmanship I had cultivated steadily. For now, it existed only within my mental image, but with continued training, it would mature into a technique that only one person in the world could wield.
It exists only in my mind for now, but if I continue to train, I will complete a swordsmanship technique that only one person in the world can use.
“Your words about erasing weaknesses with strengths proved invaluable.”
“Your words about erasing shortcomings with strengths really helped me a lot.”
Raon tapped Wrath’s head lightly while pulling up the corners of his mouth in a smile.
“Because Wrath is the type who gives so generously without holding back.”
Wrath didn’t just pass on his stats and traits; he also scattered hints through his words and actions that allowed for growth.
“Thank you.”
Thank you.
Wrath’s face flushed crimson like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
-This time, I shall teach you properly! Who the True Demon King is!
Through the mana circuit, Wrath’s frigid aura pierced like an awl. The fury that clung to my soul like a leech surged forth alongside it.
Crackle, crackle, crackle!
Cuckoo!
The chill of cold seeped into my bones, and the weight of fury pressed down upon my entire body as if to crush it.
-I shall avenge the Ice Cream Sandwich!
“The Ice Cream Sandwich isn’t even dead yet.”
-Silence!
Whether angered by the lack of ice cream or not, Wrath assailed me with a vicious cold and intense fury that compressed my entire being.
‘This creature grows stronger by the day.’
Not that it mattered much.
I smiled faintly and resonated the Ring of Fire. The solemn aura radiating from my heart pierced through the fury pressing down upon my soul, and the cyan-crimson energy surging from my dantian drove back Wrath’s cold that had burrowed into my mana circuits.
Crackle, crackle, crackle!
With Hockin’s curse dispelled, a tremendous clash of power erupted within the mana circuits now as wide as a main street, yet the victor was already decided.
-Damn it all!
Even as Wrath shrieked and unleashed every ounce of power he possessed, he could not overcome the auras of Manwha Kong and Glaccia.
Like a beast stripped of its territory, he lost his footing and was gradually pushed backward.
-Not yet! I am the True Demon King, sovereign of the Demon Realm and lord of wrath! I shall never surrender!
Wrath rallied his fury once more, refusing to yield.
‘This is indeed proving useful.’
I smiled. Thanks to Wrath’s relentless assault, I was simultaneously training in the operation of Manwha Kong, Glaccia, and the Ring of Fire all at once.
‘And moreover….’
[You have endured the interference of 【Wrath】.]
[Your Stamina stat increases by 1 point.]
[Your Vitality stat increases by 1 point.]
He even distributed stat points so freely. Wrath was truly a demon king who had nothing to spare, giving like a tree that withheld nothing.
-Ugh…!
Wrath clutched his head and staggered backward, grinding his teeth.
-I will have nothing more to do with you! The day will come when you regret this!
He vanished into the bracelet with a curse-like parting words.
“I’m going to the Ice Cream Shop tomorrow. If you won’t associate with me, you don’t have to go, right?”
The flower bracelet trembled violently. Before three seconds had even passed, Wrath’s face emerged from the bracelet.
-I’ll… cancel that.
“Cancel?”
-I shall rescind my words.
“Ha!”
I couldn’t help but laugh. Watching a Demon King sell his pride in three seconds made it clear that the ice cream sandwich must be quite delicious.
‘I should definitely treat him.’
I was the one who broke my promise, and Wrath not only helped me but refrained from interrupting even though he could have broken me out of my trance state.
This time, I needed to repay him with interest.
“Then let’s go tomorrow. Think about what you want to eat from what you saw today.”
-That’s already decided! I shall taste them all, starting with the mint chocolate sandwich!
Wrath’s anger dissolved in an instant, and he waved his hand cheerfully.
“Got it. Do as you please.”
-But…
“Hmm?”
-You won’t fall into that trance state again, will you?
“No.”
Since I had already committed the swordsmanship to memory, I wouldn’t fall into a trance for some time. Probably.
-If you keep eating ice cream and losing yourself in it, eventually you’ll lose yourself while taking a dump in the bathroom. You’ll be stuck there all day!
“That might actually be fun.”
I smiled faintly.
-So what kind of swordsmanship will you create?
I gazed into the mirror and drew the Heavenly Sword. I nodded as I observed the silver blade extending forth without the slightest sound.
“Flash Draw.”
-Flash Draw? That already exists.
“It’s different from that. It’ll be a Flash Draw that cleanly cuts down a single opponent.”
Existing Flash Draw techniques utilized sound to disrupt the opponent’s vestibular system, but what had occurred to me was a Flash Draw that directly severed the enemy.
-I thought you’d use Flash Draw sound to commit mass slaughter.
‘Mass slaughter?’
-Didn’t the Butler mention it before? That the advantage of sound swordsmanship is its application against multiple opponents, that you could sweep them away with a blade of sound. I thought that’s what you’d do, but how disappointing.
‘A blade of sound….’
I savored the words, repeating “blade of sound” in my mind. My crimson eyes began to fade once more.
-Huh?
Wrath’s jaw dropped as he saw those eyes.
-No, right? Tell me it’s not!
“If instead of the vestibular system, we go deeper….”
I didn’t answer Wrath, instead muttering about the swordsmanship.
-Hey!
“Sound swordsmanship targeting the nervous system….”
-Hey! You sword-obsessed maniac!
*
*
*
A week later.
The moment I finished afternoon training, I headed to a corner of the Training Ground. With a full-length mirror positioned beforehand, I repeated only the draw and sheathe stances.
-You’ve done nothing but draw your sword and collapse for an entire week.
Wrath sighed from atop my shoulder. His anger had settled into a languid state ever since I’d treated him to ice cream until his belly was full right after waking from the second Muah.
-Isn’t it boring?
‘There’s no helping it.’
Creating a new sword technique was like drawing a map. I had to traverse countless paths myself to find the optimal route.
The sword technique I was creating now was a harmony of dark and illusory swordsmanship that no one had ever attempted. It had to be difficult and time-consuming.
‘And there are two techniques I need to master.’
Thanks to Wrath’s hint, two sword techniques came to mind. The first was a one-on-one draw technique that harmonized dark and illusory swordsmanship to cut down an opponent in one breath. The second was a multi-target draw technique to suppress or kill multiple enemies at once. To perfect both, even sleep wouldn’t be enough time.
‘The important thing is, it’s fun.’
-F-fun? Drawing your sword in front of a mirror is fun?
‘I can see the progress.’
Thanks to a week of practicing draw techniques, I could now freely control the speed, direction, and sound when drawing my blade.
The illusory swordsmanship was gradually seeping in too, so if I continued training, I’d be able to use it in real combat soon.
-You’re truly obsessed with the sword.
Wrath frowned in displeasure, shook his head as if fed up, and retreated into the bracelet.
Clap!
I chuckled and was about to draw the Celestial Sword again when I heard the sound of applause. It was Rimer, sprawled out flat on the platform.
‘Why didn’t he leave?’
Lately, with Dogyae around, he’d been disappearing before training even ended, so it was strange that he remained. Though admittedly, his posture made it unclear whether this was the Training Ground or his private chamber.
“Everyone, assemble.”
The swordsmen were all engaged in individual training, so all members of the Gwangpung Order gathered before the platform.
“What is the matter?”
I stood before the Gwangpung Order and looked up at the platform.
“A second mission has come down to the Gwangpung Unit.”
“Hmm!”
“A mission!”
Excited breathing echoed from the swordsmen behind me.
I turned to look back. From Burren and Martha, the squad leaders, down to all the members—their eyes sparkled with anticipation. Of course, Lunan Slion remained expressionless, and Dorian seemed somewhat apprehensive.
“Please tell us.”
I nodded toward Rimer.
“Does anyone know about the Gazel River?”
“The Gazel River….”
It was not particularly famous, but it was known as the residence of the Cheongru Tribe and a place so clear and pristine that one could see into the river itself.
“The Gazel River is located adjacent to the Rabel River, which runs through the Continent, and is the dwelling place of the Cheongru Tribe, a non-human race.”
Rimer, as expected, brought up the subject of the Cheongru Tribe.
“It is said that this time, those Cheongru sank a fishing vessel and killed people.”
“I heard the Cheongru have never harmed humans before….”
Burren Zigheart furrowed his brow. True to his words, the Cheongru had never initiated an attack on humans even once.
It was hard to believe that they, who feared humans, had sunk a ship and killed people.
“I too am hearing this for the first time, but it is a fact directly investigated by the Bi-Yeon Society.”
Rimer slowly waved his hand. The gravity in his voice suggested that even he found it unexpected.
“At first, it was just threats, but the aggression grew worse over time. Four days ago, they destroyed a fishing boat crossing the Gazel River and drowned the people inside.”
“Hmm….”
“So….”
The mention of fishermen dying—not just an uninhabited island—hardened the eyes of the Gwangpung Order swordsmen.
“Our mission is to find the cause of the Cheongru Tribe’s violent behavior and restore them to their original nature. However, if that proves impossible, we’ll have to eliminate them.”
Rimer rose, his voice measured and calm. His cool green eyes surveyed everyone present.
“The Cheongru Tribe are formidable. They possess physical abilities surpassing monsters and can wield blood-based sorcery. In water, each one is an expert-level powerhouse, so we must be cautious. However, there are others we should fear more.”
He paused, his brow furrowing.
“The North-South Alliance controls the Rabel River. Those bandits have been spotted in that area recently.”
“The North-South Alliance!”
“Right. The Rabel River is their territory!”
“The North-South Alliance of Oma….”
At the mention of the North-South Alliance, the swordsmen groaned. They were no ordinary bandits but a massive organization with proper martial training and systematic structure, so tension was unavoidable.
“Even if the North-South Alliance is neutral and reasonable to negotiate with, they’re still one of Oma’s organizations. Combat could break out, so stay alert.”
“The North-South Alliance….”
I narrowed my eyes. The mention of the North-South Alliance brought to mind Rector, the young gang leader I’d met during my first mission as a trainee.
‘He must have grown stronger.’
He’d already reached Master rank back then, so I wondered what level he’d attained by now.
“One more thing! The Doran Village we’re heading to lies outside Zigheart Territory.”
“Why are we going all the way there?”
Burren tilted his head in confusion.
“Yuin Village, which lies directly behind Doran Village, is within our territory.”
“I see….”
“We need to stop the problem before it spreads to Yuin Village, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to expand our territory to include Doran Village while we’re at it.”
Dogyae stepped forward instead of Rimer.
“Fighting on a river will be my first time, but thanks to the recent training, I should be able to move reasonably well on a boat.”
“So that’s why you had us do that training….”
Raon nodded. He had found it strange that Dogyae had put him through balance training for a week, but it seemed this mission was the reason.
“Gather whatever supplies you need and meet here by dawn tomorrow.”
Rimer waved his hand as if he had said all he needed to say and left the Training Ground.
“Mm.”
I turned and swept my gaze across the Gwangpung Order members one by one. Some were brimming with anticipation, others were tense, and a few looked somewhat fearful.
“Whether it’s the Cheongru Tribe or the Nambuk Alliance, combat on water will be unavoidable. Prepare yourselves thoroughly while considering what situations might arise and how to respond to them.”
“Yes!”
The Gwangpung Order members bowed their heads and left the Training Ground one by one.
“Then I’ll be going too.”
“Wait a moment.”
I blocked Dogyae’s path as he tried to leave the Training Ground.
“There’s something I’d like to ask of you.”
“The protection of the Annex Building?”
He gazed at me with calm eyes as if he already knew.
“You knew?”
“I investigated everything you’ve done. Inside and out—you’ve made quite a few enemies.”
Dogyae let out a scoff of disbelief.
“Now I understand why you made me Chief Steward of the Annex Building.”
“Well, that is….”
“Don’t worry. I keep my word once I’ve given it.”
As Raon was about to explain, Dogyae turned his body away.
“Come back when you have good news. If it doesn’t suit me, I’ll leave right away.”
He walked toward the Training Ground exit and raised his hand in farewell.
“Thank you.”
I watched Dogyae’s reliable back and bowed my head.
*
*
*
A week had passed since we departed toward the Gazel River.
Since we took the mountain path instead of the usual route, the only notable occurrence was that starving monsters appeared once or twice a day, but otherwise the journey was uneventful.
Throughout the journey, I visualized two sword techniques in my mind.
Lost in meditation, I honed the Dark Sword and Illusory Sword separately, dedicating myself to harmonizing the two and creating an entirely new sword technique.
So absorbed in concentration, I would snap back to find the day had already faded into dusk, and the cycle repeated with each sunrise.
“Hmm?”
I narrowed my eyes at the darkening sky. While visualizing sword techniques, evening had arrived without my notice.
“We’ll rest here tonight!”
I halted in an open area. Since Rimer was sound asleep, draped limply across his horse, I had to fulfill the role of unit commander even while training.
“Prepare camp by squad!”
“Yes, sir!”
At my command, the Gwangpung Order dismounted simultaneously. Led by the squad leaders trained by the Heavenly Sword Squad swordsmen, they swiftly erected tents and kindled fires.
“Ugh, is it already night?”
Rimer, who could sleep soundly even on a galloping horse, approached with a yawn.
“A day really does pass quickly.”
“That’s because you’ve been thinking about swordsmanship all day long. Aren’t you tired of it?
He shook his head side to side, echoing something similar to what Wrath had said.
“It’s rather enjoyable, actually.”
“A born swordsman, truly.”
Rimer chuckled softly and turned his gaze toward the forest to the right.
“There are quite a few bothersome creatures in this direction.”
“Indeed.”
I nodded and tapped the Divine Sword’s blade. Before long, crimson eyes gleamed in the darkness of the forest.
“Grrrrgh!”
“Grrrrr.”
The growls of monsters and the stench of blood carried on the wind toward us.
“This time, we have some creatures worth fighting.”
Rimer whistled and turned his head back.
“Whose turn is it this time?”
“It’s our third unit’s turn.”
Burren, who had just finished setting up the tent, raised his hand.
“Then you all should—”
“No. I want to test something, so I’ll handle it.”
I shook my head and approached the forest, placing my hand on the Divine Sword’s blade as I gazed into the darkness.
The crimson eyes that had finished their reconnaissance revealed themselves beneath the moonlight—a massive group of ice trolls covered in silver fur from head to toe.
‘Eight ice trolls.’
That’s acceptable.
The number and level of enemies were perfect for testing my second blade.
“Grrrrr!”
“Kraaaaaagh!”
The Ice Troll bared its yellowed teeth and charged toward Raon. On the snow, its speed was as swift as that of a trained swordsman.
“Cover your ears, all of you.”
Raon issued the warning and lowered his stance slightly. With serene eyes, he held the Heavenly Sword’s scabbard loosely. The moment the Ice Troll closed within ten paces, he drew the blade.
Tiiiiing!
A resonance unlike any before. The blade’s cry—eerie as a demon drawing a violin bow, yet hauntingly elegant—drenched the air.
“Kruk….”
“Kr….”
The charging Ice Trolls collapsed the instant they heard the blade’s song, their eyes rolling back as they tumbled to rest at Raon’s feet.
Death.
The light drained from the eyes of the trolls that had raged moments before. A single note from the flash-draw technique had severed the thread of their lives.
“Ha….”
Rimer exhaled sharply as he gazed upon the Ice Trolls, their throats severed as if by blade, their breath stolen.
‘What in the….’
He had known that Raon could stimulate the auditory organs with the blade’s cry, but he never imagined it could sever the nerves entirely. His jaw hung open in utter disbelief.
“Ugh!”
“Th-that sound just now….”
“Krr….”
Yet because the technique was not flawless, it had affected the Gwangpung Order behind them as well. Most of them clutched their ears and fell to their knees. When they regained their senses moments later, they trembled at the sight of the fallen Ice Trolls.
“Insane….”
“Wow!”
“That man is really….”
Burren Zigheart was startled, Lunan Slion’s astonishment was written plainly across his face, and Martha bit her lip.
“Gasp!”
“Did he just kill a monster with sound?”
“It’s not just sound. It’s a sword resonance.”
“What kind of insane swordsmanship is this….”
“Was that the quick-draw technique he was practicing in the Training Ground?”
The members of the Gwangpung Order swallowed hard as they witnessed the sword resonance they’d heard moments before and the collapsed Ice Troll. Their expressions suggested they had witnessed something that should not exist in this world.
“Still insufficient.”
Rimer approached from the side and smacked his lips.
“Yes. It’s difficult to distinguish friend from foe, and controlling the power is not easy either.”
“The gap between imagination and reality is always vast, after all.”
“Indeed.”
I nodded and let out a sigh. Just as Rimer said, there was certainly a significant difference between what I envisioned in my mind and what I could execute in actual combat.
“But wasn’t what you were practicing in the Training Ground something different?”
“I thought you were sleeping. Were you watching me?”
“I sleep with my eyes open.”
“Hmm, I’m currently researching two types of swordsmanship. The first is for one-on-one combat, and this one is for dealing with multiple opponents….”
I explained the two techniques briefly.
“Hmm….”
Rimer scratched his chin and nodded.
“Then try that first one on me.”
He chuckled and stepped back to the side.
“I will perfect your swordsmanship.”
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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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