The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 243

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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 243

“Failed?”

Tiller Seiton turned his head slowly. The subordinate bearing a long scar across his cheek bowed his head in shame.

“Why?”
“I-I apologize.”

The subordinate’s head bowed even lower.

“I didn’t ask for an apology. I asked why.”

Tiller smiled faintly. Murderous intent dripped from his bright expression.

“You had plenty of time to sink the ship before those Zigheart bastards arrived.”

He had timed the attack precisely to sink the vessel and display the drowning sailors to both the villagers and Zigheart’s dogs. The perfect plan had fallen apart, and irritation gnawed at him.

“The Cheongru Tribe suddenly froze while attacking the ship.”
“Froze?”
“For reasons unknown, they remained still in the water without destroying the vessel.”

The subordinate trembled, unable to meet Tiller’s gaze.

“Soon after, the Cheongru Tribe resumed their assault, but the delay allowed the Zigheart forces to arrive and rescue the sailors.”
“A malfunction? These incompetent fools.”

Tiller struck the kneeling Cheongru Tribe member across the face. Despite the blow violent enough to draw blood, the creature made no sound.

“So Rimer came from Zigheart.”
“N-not Rimer. It was Raon.”
“What?”
“Raon dove into the water and froze the Cheongru Tribe in an instant, then rescued the people.”

The subordinate recounted everything—how Raon had driven back the Cheongru Tribe and saved the sailors.

“It’s not like he’s floating through some transcendent state, and does Zigheart even have water-based movement techniques?”
“That, I’m not entirely certain about….”
“No, it’s certainly possible. But it’s strange that Raon Zigheart, who has spent his entire life on land until now, would be mastering such a technique….”

For the first time, he furrowed his brow in displeasure.

“What’s the villagers’ reaction?”
“Not merely floating on water, but witnessing him create islands of ice in the very heart of the river—they were utterly astounded. Some appear to have become quite convinced that the god of water and ice himself has descended.”
“Damn it. Trying to lick candy that someone else has already slobbered on—it’s a transgression worthy of having one’s eyes gouged out. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Y-yes, that’s correct.”
“I disliked him from the moment I first saw him. The arrogant little bastard, gaining a bit of renown and acting so high and mighty—I wanted to tear out his tongue.”

Tiller’s smile was cold and sinister, utterly unlike the composed demeanor he had displayed before the Gwangpung Unit.

“It’s all because of that whelp. If it weren’t for him, I would have already devoured the entire Gazel River.”

He exhaled an irritated sigh, as though lamenting a missed opportunity.

“Are you referring to the Cheongru Tribe member who speaks?”

The answer came from behind—a middle-aged man whose commanding presence was as imposing as an iron tower. This was Heckil, the vice-captain of the vanguard under Tiller’s command.

“Yes. I thought if I educated the Cheongru Tribe, they’d all become like him, but they’re nothing of the sort.”

Tiller clicked his tongue. No matter how much he trained them, the Cheongru Tribe could neither speak human language nor read.
Since communication was impossible, even creating simple maps took considerable time. That particular Cheongru Tribe member, the one who had learned human language on his own, was truly exceptional.

“They’re all just empty-headed idiots.”

He raised his foot and stomped on the head of a kneeling Cheongru Tribe member. The creature’s head scraped against the ground, blood streaming from it, yet it offered no resistance whatsoever.

“If I hadn’t let that one live, I would have already completed maps of every river branching from the lower Rabel River.”

Had he not spared that speaking Cheongru Tribe member, the map of the Gazel River would already be perfect, and based on that, he would have already consumed Doran Village and Yuin Village. Apart from that one, the Cheongru Tribe were useless creatures fit only for combat.

‘I should have kept him alive.’

He had killed the creature thinking everything was finished, but that had been a mistake. The fact that he had handled the matter emotionally was deeply regrettable.

“I’ve been curious about this for a while now, but how exactly did you break that Blue Demon and extract the secret? I’m sure it refused at first.”
“It’s simple, really.”

Tiller kicked away the Blue Demon he’d been stepping on and smiled faintly.

“From the start, I made sure that creature’s world contained only me. I visited it every day, but then I didn’t show up for a week—letting it be consumed by worry and anxiety.”

When the only person you can talk to, the only one who understands you, disappears, anxiety doesn’t stop at the mind—it seeps into your entire body. That suffering gnawed at the creature’s heart for seven days while I stayed away.

“After that, it becomes even easier. I gave the monster gifts and made it feel even more sorry. The pain it felt from my absence, combined with gratitude and guilt from receiving unexpected gifts, naturally opened that creature’s mouth.”
“I see….”
“That thing had intelligence surpassing humans, but emotionally it was worse than a child. Manipulating emotions is child’s play.”

He had guided the Blue Demon to meet only him to control its emotions. Exploiting the psychology of such a naive creature was far too easy.

“As expected, the captain is truly the villain among villains.”

Heckil grinned while gripping the ship’s railing.

“Not a villain—call me a ‘pragmatist.’ Heroes and villains die early, but pragmatists survive to the end, don’t they?”

Tiller rested his chin on the railing. In his calm gaze, a crumbling village was reflected. It was the fishing village where Belga had met his friend.

“But do we really need to annihilate that place entirely? It seems like a waste….”
“We’re pruning the rotten branches. That way, the remaining branches grow clean.”

He gazed at the collapsing village with a cheerful smile.

*

*

*

I returned to Doran Village after dressing Garam in a robe. Since I’d told them to wait, the Gwangpung Unit remained at the Dormitory.

“Why are you so late?”

Burren frowned, asking what I’d been doing.

“It’s obvious. You’ve just come back from training again.”

Martha shook her head with a look of exasperation.

“Raon.”

Lunan called my name without further comment, his gaze fixed blankly on my face. His eyes were blinking heavily—he looked ready to collapse right there.

All three of them were breathing heavily, as though they had been training until just moments ago.

“But who’s that standing behind you?”

Rimer, whose breathing was not merely steady but languid compared to the other swordsmen, pointed toward Garam behind me. His head tilted with curiosity, as though he sensed the aura of water.

“Did the branch leader bring someone?”
“Who is it?”
“Someone from the village?”

The other swordsmen, equally surprised that I would bring someone at this hour, craned their necks forward.

“Everyone, sit down. I have something to tell you.”

Raon spread out a soundproof barrier to prevent sound from leaking out, then looked at Garam.

“I’m ready.”

When Garam nodded, I removed his robe.

“A-a Blue Demon!”
“Why is a Blue Demon here!”
“I-isn’t this dangerous?”

The swordsmen’s eyes widened as they reached for the hilts of their swords at their waists.

“Ugh….”

Garam flinched and stumbled backward.

“Listen. Look at his eyes.”

Rimer pointed at Garam’s eyes.

“They’re so clear and transparent. Not clouded like other Cheongru Tribe members.”
“Y-you’re right.”
“His eyes aren’t red.”
“Is this really a Cheongru Tribe member?”

The swordsmen nodded, having only heard tales of the Cheongru Tribe’s crystalline eyes until now.

“So who is this one?”

Martha’s gaze swept over Garam, her wariness still undiminished.

“I’ll explain that now. This one’s name is Garam. I first met him when I was rescuing people from the river earlier….”

I recounted everything I had learned from Garam to the others.

“What kind of garbage creature is that!”

Burren gnashed his teeth, wishing he could bite off his own lips for having praised Tiller. For someone who prided himself on nobility, such profanity was extraordinarily rare.

“Damn! That bastard….”

Martha’s aura flared as though she might charge forward at any moment. Having lost her mother to the White Blood Cult, her fury was impossible to contain.

“Hmm….”

Even Lunan clenched his lips tightly, anger evident for once. A cold light flickered in his previously vacant eyes.

“Ugh!”

Dorian shed tears with his mouth clamped shut.

“Man, you really went through a lot.”

He approached Garam and pulled out candies and sweets from the ship’s pocket.

“Th-thank you so much.”
“Th-thank you.”

Garam nodded, his hands overflowing with sweets and candies. The awkwardness in his expression suggested he didn’t quite understand what they were.

“This fellow!”

Dorian couldn’t help himself and pulled Garam into a tight embrace.

-That’s right. Since the True Demon King can’t, you embrace him instead!

Wrath clenched his fist in approval. Every time I felt it, these two seemed to possess the softest hearts among those at my side.

“You’re the one who stopped the Blue Demons from attacking the ship, aren’t you?”
“Ah, yes….”

Garam nodded.

“You stopped the Blue Demons?”
“You mentioned that the Blue Demons remained still for several minutes before we arrived. I thought it was strange, so I suspected it might have been him.”
“I can stop my own kind. Though my power is weakened, so I can’t do much….”

He explained that this was an ability he’d gained after being pierced by Tiller’s spear and returning from death.

“To suffer at human hands, yet still seek to save humans….”
“How can one live such a life?”
“Words alone cannot express the hardship he’s endured.”
“But his mistake was too grave. Why would he reveal such a secret….”
“Sigh, I don’t know how to comfort him.”

Some lamented Garam’s mistake in revealing his tribe’s secret, but most simply felt pity for him.

“Setting Garam’s matter aside.”

I met the eyes of everyone in the Gwangpung Unit and spoke.

“Tiller of the Nambuk Alliance covets our territory. We cannot simply hand it over, of course. This is war.”
“That’s what I’ve been waiting to hear.”

Martha grasped her sword as if ready to fight this very moment.

“Even I find it hard to restrain myself this time.”
“Yeah.”

Burren and Lunan Slion nodded in agreement.

“I understand your anger, but we can’t act recklessly.”

Raon shook his head.

“They have the Cheongru Tribe as hostages.”

Now that the truth had been revealed, the Cheongru Tribe were no longer enemies—they were hostages. Without a way to save them, I couldn’t afford to move carelessly.

‘I need to find the communication stone first.’

Without locating the communication stone in Tiller’s possession, there was nothing I could do.

“Do you know where the communication stone is?”
“It’s definitely somewhere on the ship, but I don’t know the exact location.”

Garam shook his head.

“Wait. You said the communication stone can issue commands to the Cheongru Tribe, right?”
“Yeah.”
“And you can temporarily halt the Cheongru Tribe as well?”
“Huh? Yeah.”

Garam tilted his head, as if questioning why I was asking questions I already knew the answers to.

“Do you also know where the Cheongru Tribe are staying?”
“They’re hiding in a place between the Gazel River and the Rabel River.”
“Why are they there?”
“Tiller doesn’t use the Cheongru Tribe only on the Gazel River. He’s prepared a base near the Rabel River so they can move anywhere.”

I nodded as I listened to Garam’s answer. He had made thorough preparations on his own to accomplish his goals, answering each question without hesitation.

“What does the communication stone look like?”
“It’s round and transparent, like a jellyfish.”
“Hmm….”

I shaped Glacia into a smooth sphere in the palm of my hand.

“Like this?”
“No, bigger.”
“How about this size?”
“Yes.”

Only after enlarging the sphere to the size of a human head did Garam nod in approval.

“Inside it, white spheres move like smoke, and pure water mana dwells within.”
“That’s not difficult.”

I infused the ice sphere I had created with Glacia’s highly concentrated chill.

Shhhhiiiing!

The cold within the sphere flowed like ripples, and smoke began to rise just as Garam had described.

“Yes, exactly! That’s precisely what it looked like.”

Garam nodded, confirming it was nearly identical.

“This will work?”

A faint smile crossed my face. If it moved as I intended, Tiller would reveal the location of the Divine Stone himself.

“You can save the Cheongru Tribe?”

Burren’s eyes widened.

“Yes. I have a way to extract the Divine Stone.”

I turned to Dorian.

“Dorian, ask the Village Chief tomorrow to summon Tiller. Choose a time when we have plenty of time.”
“This soon? Isn’t that too rushed?”

Martha narrowed her eyes, urging caution.

“Don’t worry. I can save them for certain. It’s just that your role as the Unit Commander will be quite significant….”
“Hmm, I see.”

Rimer rose to his feet with a slight smile.

“Finally, it’s my turn. All I need to do is cleanly sever that trash’s neck, right?”
“No. I will be the one to kill him.”
“Huh? You think you can handle….”
“I will kill him.”

I shook my head firmly.

“W-well, I suppose so.”

Rimer nodded reluctantly, unable to meet the burning intensity in my eyes.

“Then what am I supposed to do?”
“It’s truly important work.”

I smirked and raised a finger.

“You are the protagonist of this affair.”

*

*

*

Since I had decided to summon Tiller four days hence, I spent that time training my swordsmanship on the mountain. It was routine in a sense, yet there was one difference from my usual practice.

-You idiot! Your sword is too slow! You can’t do that there! The transformation of the circular blade must come later! The sound is far too loud!

Wrath, enraged by Tiller’s atrocities, set aside his irritation and personally pointed out the shortcomings in my swordsmanship.

-So you can actually kill that bastard! You should tear off his limbs, freeze his torso, and make him watch himself die!
“You sound like a demon king when you talk like that.”

I chuckled softly. When Garam’s circumstances weighed on him, he seemed almost human. Yet when it came to Tiller’s death, he became positively demonic. Truly, he was an enigma.

Stop laughing and swing your sword!
“Just a moment.”

I shook my head and gazed toward the mountain path. Moments later, rustling sounds announced the arrival of Belga and Morin.

“R-Raon!”

Belga, still bearing unhealed wounds wrapped in bandages, dropped to his knees, while Morin limped forward and bowed his head.

“Why have you suddenly come…?”

I had already received sufficient thanks from them. Their decision to seek me out and bow their heads remained incomprehensible.

“M-my friend. The friend who told me about the Nambuk Alliance’s atrocities—his village has been… completely destroyed.”
“What?”

My eyes widened.

“It’s a small village called Feren on the Rabel River. They say everyone there died… the day before yesterday.”

Belga’s lips tore from the force of his words, blood trickling down his chin.

“They say the Cheongru Tribe attacked, but that’s impossible! They made an example of him because he told me about the Nambuk Alliance!”

Morin clenched his teeth, his hands trembling.

“Why did they have to destroy the entire village just because of me…?”

Belga clutched his chest, coughing blood, believing himself responsible for this tragedy. But this was not his fault. Under Tiller’s command, this was an inevitable outcome that would have occurred regardless.

“P-please! I beg you, stop them!”
“We implore you!”

Both men clawed at the ground until their fingers bled, their heads pressed low in desperate supplication.

“Hah…”

I exhaled roughly, my eyes closing.

‘Good thing I didn’t kill him outright.’
-Good thing? You mad bastard!
‘That’s not what I meant. I’m glad I didn’t kill Tiller right away.’
-What?
‘A man like that shouldn’t simply be killed. He needs to be thoroughly trampled and destroyed.’

I suppressed the seething rage within me and approached the two men.

“Don’t worry.”

I helped Belga and Morin to their feet, a cold smile playing across my lips.

“I’ll drag that bastard from hero to garbage before I dispose of him.”

*

*

*

Two days later.
I sat across from Tiller in the conference hall of Garam Village.

“I heard you recently saved people with an outstanding divine technique. You truly are remarkable. It seems the rumors don’t do your abilities justice.”

Tiller wore the same bright smile as when we first met.

“Not at all. Compared to the power you’ve demonstrated, my efforts are merely a drop in the ocean.”

I shook my head with practiced humility.

“You’re quite the flatterer as well. So what brings you to seek me out today?”
“First, I apologize for calling you away during such busy times.”
“Not at all. I had nothing pressing today, so I was free.”

Tiller waved his hand dismissively.

“Then I’m fortunate.”

Raon smiled faintly and continued.

“I called for you, Tiller, because I’ve found the Cheongru Tribe’s hideout.”
“W-what? You’ve truly found their hideout?”

Tiller’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“I’ve confirmed it without doubt.”

I nodded with an unwavering gaze.

“And where exactly is this location…?”
“It’s hidden between the Gazel River and the Rabel River. I’ll provide the exact coordinates as we make our way there.”
“Hmm….”

Tiller hesitated, unable to respond immediately.

“You seem displeased about something. What troubles you?”
“Ah, no. I’m simply relieved that we can finally bring this to an end.”
“Then that’s fortunate.”

I smiled faintly and raised a finger.

“Since you mentioned an end, shall we make a wager?”
“A wager?”
“Yes. Whoever slays more Monsters today plants their flag in this village. How does that sound?”
“Haha, wagering over a village seems rather excessive. We have no such ambitions….”
“Then would it be acceptable if we protected it instead?”

Tiller’s laughter froze like plaster at my words.

“In just these few days, the Village Chief and the other residents have grown quite fond of us. If you have no objection, Tiller, I’d like to raise the Zigheart flag in Doran Village. Besides, Yuin Village right next to it is already part of our territory, so there should be no significant disruption or complications.”
“Haha, that’s a bit much.”

Tiller bit his lip ever so slightly and turned his head toward the Village Chief and the village elders.

“I’ve grown quite close to the people here as well, so it would be a shame if I couldn’t visit once the Zigheart Territory is established, wouldn’t it?”
“Hmm….”
“Mm!”
“That is….”

The Village Chief and his officials did not answer Tiller’s words, instead averting their gazes.

“Hm?”

Tiller’s brow furrowed. He hadn’t expected the Village Chief and the village officials to respond in such a manner.

I let out a quiet chuckle as I observed Tiller and the Village Chief.

‘Showing off that technique was the right call.’

After witnessing the underwater technique, the Village Chief and the villagers’ favorable impression of Zigheart had skyrocketed to an extreme.
Thanks to Rimer and Dorian deploying their charm as well, the village’s public opinion was now split evenly between the Nambuk Alliance and Zigheart.

“You’ll be able to visit without difficulty. We don’t exercise strict control over our territory, so you’re welcome to come whenever you wish.”
“Even so, you couldn’t possibly allow us to come and go freely, could you?”
“No, truly, it’s fine. Please, visit anytime.”

I smiled faintly as I watched Tiller’s lips tremble slightly.

‘That’s right. He won’t let things stay as they are.’

Tiller was attempting to control multiple river systems to amass power and resources that wouldn’t fall behind the disciples of other Nambuk Alliance lords. He had invested considerable effort into the Gazel River in particular, so he would never relinquish it.

‘There’s symbolic value in it too.’

Half of the Gazel River belonged to Zigheart’s territory. He was undoubtedly also coveting the prestige of having seized Zigheart’s lands and river.

“By the way, our Unit Lord won’t be participating in this battle due to other obligations.”

I cast out another lure.

“You’re making this quite difficult for me.”

Tiller’s lips curled upward. It was the same smile as before, but the chill emanating from him was unmistakable.

“Setting aside capturing the Cheongru Tribe, it seems far more advantageous for us to protect this village since we’re closer. Zigheart is quite far away, after all.”
“That problem would be solved by establishing a Branch.”
“Hmm….”
“Personally, I dislike prolonged conversations, so let’s keep this simple. Will you accept, or will you decline?”

I tapped my fingers against the table as I posed the question.

“Sigh, I suppose I have no choice. For the sake of this village, I’ll accept your wager.”

Tiller never revealed his true colors, cloaking his acceptance in concern for the village.

“I knew you would. What I didn’t expect was for you to continue with unnecessary words.”
“I—”

As I chuckled and trailed off, Tiller’s expression froze with an unsettling chill for a fleeting moment before relaxing.

“You’re not quite what I imagined, Raon….”
“Then let’s depart immediately.”

I cut off Tiller’s muttering and pointed toward the door.

“R-right now?”
“Yes. It’s not even noon yet, so we should be able to finish today.”
“But we don’t have the time—”
“You just said your schedule was completely clear today.”

I couldn’t afford to give Tiller and the Nambuk Alliance any breathing room. That’s why I’d asked the Village Chief to summon him the moment his schedule opened up.

“Let’s go.”

I gazed down at Tiller with a smile, like a predator eyeing its prey.

“Today, we’ll eliminate all the Monsters and be done with it.”

…

While the two of us engaged in this wordless battle.

“Damn it….”

From beneath the warship’s hull that Tiller had commandeered, someone’s grumbling echoed faintly.

“Does this even make sense? Why do I have to hang here soaking wet like this!”

Rimer clung to the ship’s bottom, grinding his teeth.

“I was the unit commander, and he became the vice commander, so why do I have to suffer? You saw how that bastard glared at me, didn’t you? Huh?”
“C-calm down.”

Garam, submerged in the water, tried to soothe the agitated Rimer with a wave of his hand.

“What kind of protagonist is this!”

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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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