The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 244

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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 244

Tiller left the conference chamber and headed straight for the front lines.

“What did you need me for?”

Heckil, the first mate guarding the deck, approached with a smile.

“Things have gone wrong.”

Tiller glanced back over his shoulder, his expression darkening.

“Raon Zigheart has discovered where we’ve hidden the Blue Demons.”
“That… what do you mean…?”

Heckil’s eyes widened in shock.

‘That’s impossible.’

The location where the Blue Demons were concealed was a remote corner no one would venture near, and he had issued strict orders forbidding them from ever leaving. The discovery of that position made no sense.

“Are you certain you haven’t misunderstood?”
“The way he mentioned it being between the Rabel River and the Gazel River—there’s no doubt.”

Tiller shook his head with conviction.

‘A man like that wouldn’t make a mistake.’

Someone of Raon’s caliber would never fail to verify something of such critical importance. Hoping he had misunderstood was foolish thinking.

“What exactly happened?”
“Inside that chamber…”

Tiller recounted to Heckil the conversation that had taken place in the conference chamber.

“How could he possibly…”

Heckil’s brow furrowed in incomprehension.

“The reason doesn’t matter anymore.”

Tiller clicked his tongue sharply.

‘I’ve been thoroughly outmaneuvered.’

In a war fought with words, victory belongs to whoever knows more and prepares better. Coming here without any knowledge, I had no choice but to be devoured by that young brat.

“Then… what will you do, sir?”
“They don’t know everything either.”
“Ah! The Communication Stone!”
“That Raon will be wary of me. Use the Communication Stone to send orders—tell the Blue Demons not to come out and hide unconditionally. Then… no, wait!”

Tiller shook his head and thrust his face toward Heckil.

“Just five. Send only five of them to me.”
“Five, sir?”
“We made a wager over who captures more Blue Demons. If I capture five Blue Demons and the rest escape, I win Doran Village without lifting a finger.”

Even if Raon had prepared thoroughly, there was no way he could know about the Communication Stone. If I manipulate the Blue Demons through the Communication Stone, winning this wager will be effortless.

‘This actually works out perfectly.’

If I handle this well, I can claim Doran Village without sacrificing the Blue Demons, and moreover, I can seize Yuin Village as well.

“You’ve dug your own grave, Raon Zigheart.”

Tiller gazed down at Raon and the Gwangpung Unit approaching the ship, a smile spreading across his face.

“The Gazel River will feast well.”

*

*

*

Before boarding the ship, Raon caught sight of the bow submerged beneath the water’s surface. No one else would have noticed, but hidden down there were Rimer and Garam.

[Laughing?]

Rimer’s aura message drifted up from beneath the water.

[You’re the unit leader and your master is stuck in the water, yet you’re grinning in the warm sunlight? Really?]

Judging from the direction the aura message came from, it seemed Rimer was pressed against the ship’s hull like a remora fish.

[I’m laughing because the unit leader is so dependable.]
[You’re hilarious! Because of you, I….]
[Gold coins.]
[Ugh!]

The moment the words “gold coins” were uttered, Rimer fell silent.

[Garam! In the human world, the most terrifying thing isn’t the blade—it’s gold. Gold! Be most cautious of money!]

With a subtle technique, Rimer sent an aura message to both himself and Garam simultaneously.

Garam seemed to nod in response rather than speak.

[Whether young or old, a person becomes pitiful without money! Look at me. At my age… *sob*!]
[Once this is over, you’ll receive a proper share.]
[Really?]
[I’m counting on you.]

Raon bowed his head ever so slightly, as if loosening his neck.

[Alright!]

Despite his lighthearted nature, Rimer was someone who always came through on his promises. I trusted him more than anyone.

Raon pictured Garam soothing Rimer, then boarded Tiller’s flagship alongside the Gwangpung Unit.

‘It’s larger than I expected.’

The deck was more expansive and ornate than it had appeared from below. It looked less like a merchant vessel and more like a warship.

“Wow!”
“It’s incredibly massive.”
“So this is the Nambuk Alliance’s frontline vessel….”

The Gwangpung Unit’s swordsmen let out exclamations of awe as their eyes swept across every corner of the ship. In truth, they weren’t simply admiring it—they were surveying the entire vessel to prepare for combat should it erupt here.

“What do you think of my ship?”

As Raon explored the deck of the white vessel like the others, Tiller approached with a smile.

“I was worried it might not meet the Legend Sword Association’s standards.”
“It’s a magnificent and elegant frontline vessel. However, compared to the Blue Association’s reputation, it seems rather modest in size.”
“My position within the Alliance isn’t particularly high, so there’s little I can do about it.”

Though I had provoked him by commenting on the ship’s modest size, Tiller laughed it off smoothly. He even went so far as to acknowledge his own limited standing.

Raon offered a faint smile as he observed Tiller’s reaction.

‘He’s found his composure.’

Tiller’s relaxed demeanor stemmed from his belief that he could win the wager by manipulating the Blue Demons using the Spirit Stone.

‘He’ll use the Spirit Stone to lure only a few Blue Demons here.’

His plan was clearly to summon roughly three to six Blue Demons with the Spirit Stone, order the rest to hide, and end the wager by capturing the Blue Demons alone.

‘Far too predictable.’

Since I had anticipated this strategy from the moment it was conceived, Tiller’s intentions were transparent to me.

‘He could never imagine that I know about the Spirit Stone.’

Thanks to the information Garam had provided, the victor of this wager—no, this war—had been determined from the very beginning.

“Not high, you say? Yet you bear the title of the Blue Association and have reached Master rank. You’re far too humble.”

Raon offered praise to Tiller while opening the Sea of Senses through Glacsia.

‘So who will make the first move?’

Tiller won’t leave the deck since he’s in a command position. To issue orders through the communication stone, he needs to remain within sight of the Blue Demons, so he’s definitely hidden it somewhere on the ship, and someone else will move to use it.

‘There.’

A sturdy, middle-aged man was inspecting the ship, moving from place to place. The energy dwelling in his dantian was solid and immense. This man appeared to be Heckil, the first mate of the vessel.

‘His appearance matches what I heard.’

They had described him as a man with a robust build but serpentine eyes, and his appearance aligned perfectly. The likelihood that this man would operate the communication stone in Tiller’s stead was highest.

“It feels good to think we won’t have to see the Blue Demons anymore.”

Tiller muttered contentedly and laughed.

“Yes. The monster will disappear now.”

I nodded, having firmly committed Heckil’s presence to memory.

“Raise the anchor!”
“Raise the anchor!”
“Set sail!”

At Tiller’s cry, all the sailors echoed the command and set the ship afloat.

Whoooosh!

The massive vessel moved, but the tremor was not severe. Judging by the mana emanating from the entire ship, it seemed magic had been cast to withstand the waves.

“But was it necessary for that merchant ship to come as well?”

Tiller pointed to the merchant vessel from Doran Village following behind the warship. The ship, nearly as large as the warship, was packed with the Village Chief and the townspeople.

“Surely there’s no swindler among us who would refuse to acknowledge defeat.”
“It’s not so much about the wager—rather, those people have suffered greatly as well, so I wanted to show them clearly that the ‘monster’ is being eliminated.”
“You’re more ruthless than I thought.”
“Perhaps so.”

I smiled faintly. Of course, that wasn’t the reason. It was to show the townspeople what kind of people Tiller and the Nambuk Alliance truly were.

‘Besides, this ship needs to disappear anyway.’

After dealing with Tiller, I planned to destroy this front line, so naturally the merchant vessel had to come along.

…

The Blue Demons’ settlement that Garam had revealed wasn’t far at all. By the time I finished reviewing the plan, we had already arrived at the location.

“Is this the place?”
“Yes.”

I pointed toward the river estuary, which was filled with jagged rocks that made it difficult for large ships to navigate.

“I don’t see any Blue Demons yet. Are you certain they’re really in there?”

At Tiller’s words, Heckil, who had been marked earlier, began moving toward the captain’s quarters.
It was the movement I expected, but this wouldn’t do. I needed to make both Tiller and Heckil, along with all their men, panic.

“Of course. Dorian.”

I called Dorian to my side before that man could move.

“Take that out.”
“Yes!”

Dorian approached and reached into his ship pouch. From his slightly rounded palm emerged a pale orb the size of a human skull.

“What?”
“Gasp!”

Both Tiller and Heckil, who was opening the captain’s quarters door, let out simultaneous groans.

“W-where did you get that?”

Tiller’s jaw trembled as he failed to hide his emotions.

“It’s something I received from the person who told me about this location.”

I smiled faintly as I took the counterfeit resonance stone from Dorian.

“With this orb, they said we could summon the Blue Demons.”
“W-who…?”
“I’m not entirely certain. It was a small-framed person wearing a black robe, and their speech was quite slurred. However, after witnessing them directly control the Blue Demons, I couldn’t help but believe them. Considering how potent the water energy was, they might not even be human….”
“Ugh….”

Tiller’s expression twisted like crumpled paper.

‘He’s realized it now.’

Tiller’s mind must now be consumed with doubts about Garam’s survival and whether this was truly a Water Spirit Stone. His next move was already predetermined.

“S-shall we try using it once?”
“Let’s do it.”

I extended the fake Water Spirit Stone toward the river and activated Glacsia. The stone flashed white as streams of azure mana poured forth.

Burble, burble, burble!

Foam erupted between the jagged rocks as dozens of Blue Demons suddenly emerged from the water.

“Gasp!”
“Th-they really came out!”
“It’s actually real!”
“What in the world is that orb!”

The people from Doran Village aboard the ship stared with their mouths agape at the Blue Demons emerging before them.

“Ah!”
“Gasp….”
“Th-this is insane….”

Tiller and his men had eyes devoid of all life, as though their very souls had fled.

‘Garam did well.’

This wasn’t the power of the Water Spirit Stone—it was Garam’s ability. He had extracted the Blue Demons clinging to the riverbed for me.

Through the Ring of Fire, I detected Tiller’s aura shift subtly. He was clearly signaling Heckil to search for the Water Spirit Stone with urgency.

‘Now it begins.’

*

*

*

Tiller swallowed hard as he gazed at the communication stone held in Raon’s hand.

‘It’s a communication stone. A real communication stone.’

Though he seemed uncertain how to use it properly, that stone was undoubtedly genuine.

[Heckil! When did you check the communication stone!]

With trembling hands clenched tight, he immediately sent an aura message to Heckil.

[I… I checked it the day before yesterday.]
[Go now! Go at once and confirm whether that bastard stole the communication stone or if that’s a second one!]
[If… if it exists, what should I do…?]
[If it does, proceed with the plan! Send five of them to me, and have the rest flee upstream along the Gazel River and hide!]
[Y-yes, understood!]

The moment Heckil received Tiller’s orders, he rushed into the captain’s quarters. He silently opened the hatch in the floor, descended the ladder to the very bottom, and pushed open the circular door.

“Keeeeek…”
“Kyaaaah…”

Inside, young Blue Demons were trapped in cages. Deprived of water, their scales stood on end, and their skin was cracked like parched earth.

“Shut your mouths!”

Heckil spat curses at the young Blue Demons, then approached the wall. As he tapped various spots with his fingers, the wall split in half, revealing gold coins and jewels hidden within.

He paid no attention to anything else, his gaze fixed on the transparent orb in the center. Within it, a blue current shimmered and undulated.

“There it is! So that bastard has….”
“It’s fake.”
“What, what… cough!”

Heckil spun around urgently at the languid voice from behind, but his opponent was faster.

Squelch!

A blade gleaming with an icy sheen pierced through his left chest and protruded from the other side.

“Ugh….”

Heckil coughed blood and turned his head. The red-haired Elf smiled and waved at him.

“When… when did you get behind me….”
“From the moment you opened the hatch.”

Rimer twisted the blade embedded in Heckil’s heart.

“Argh!”
“Raon. Even if that damned bastard’s plan made you and Tiller panic and miss me, I quietly followed along with your guidance.”
“Damn… damn it….”

Heckil collapsed onto the dry ground without a single struggle, clutching his chest.

“Tsk.”

Rimer frowned at the young Blue Demons trembling inside the iron cage. With each tremor of their bodies, dry scales fell away, and green pus oozed from their cracked skin.

“Filthy wretches.”

Garam had said that the Blue Demons cherished their children. Confining young Blue Demons here was clearly a contingency—hostages in case something went wrong with the water stone.

‘A vile memory surfaces.’

Seeing the eyes of the young Blue Demons filled only with fear and despair, I recalled the time I first arrived in the human world.

“Everyone, step back.”

At Rimer’s gesture, the Blue Demons shrank back.

Clang!

As he swung his sword lightly, the iron gate’s entrance split apart like tofu.

“Kiii….”
“Kee….”

The terrified Blue Demons widened their eyes at the sight of the opened entrance.

“Time to head home.”

Rimer retrieved the genuine Soulstone from deep within the warehouse and offered a smile to the bewildered Blue Demons.

“Before that….”

He glanced at the glittering jewels behind him and licked his lips.

“I suppose I could take a few gold coins?”

After all, poverty is a sorrowful thing….

*

*

*

Raon watched Tiller Seiton’s eyes darting about frantically and let out a cold laugh.

‘His mind must be in chaos.’

Questions were swirling together—whether this was the genuine Soulstone or a second one, whether Garam was alive, what words he had heard from Garam—his head must be on the verge of splitting.

‘And what troubles him most….’

The severed contact with Heckil. The man who should have returned after issuing orders through the Soulstone had not come back, and it must be driving him to the brink of madness with anxiety.

Thud.

A tremendous resonance echoed from within the ship—Rimer’s signal that everything was complete.

“What was that just now….”
“Tiller. Actually, I’ve heard one more thing about this orb.”

I sensed it was time to begin my own move and addressed Tiller.

“O-one more thing you’ve heard?”

Tiller’s expression was visibly drenched in anxiety.

“They say that if you shatter this orb before the Blue Demons’ eyes, all of their breath will cease.”
“That’s… that’s absurd….”
“There’s nothing to lose, so let’s try it.”
“Wait!”

I hurled the counterfeit orb into the air. Just as Tiller was about to draw his sword to strike it down, he leaped up desperately and caught the orb.

“There might be other ways to use it!”

He spun through the air, clutching the orb to his chest. It was precisely the reaction I had anticipated.

Snap.

I flicked my finger.

Boom!

The counterfeit orb detonated, engulfing Tiller’s entire body in frigid energy.

Crack, crack, crack!

True to his Master rank, he deployed his aura in that split second to prevent his skin from freezing, but his clothing and equipment shattered completely.

“You….”

Tiller ground his teeth as he crushed the remaining fragments of the counterfeit orb.

“Rushing at a bomb like that—it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

I tilted my head and let out a derisive snort.

“Attacking me? You must be out of your mind….”
“It’s not over yet.”

The moment those words left my lips, a tremendous explosion erupted from the center of the front line.

Boom!

The lower section of the front line burst apart violently, and Rimer emerged from the wreckage.

“Hey, Village Chief! Bring the ship closer!”

He gestured urgently to the Village Chief and the people of Doran Village, who still hadn’t grasped what was happening.

“What in the world….”
“What’s going on?”
“Why is Rimer over there….”
“How should I know.”

Rimer used the wind to send the trapped young Blue Demons onto a merchant ship in Doran Village, then was the last to board the ship.

“Those water bastards used this orb and the Blue Demon children to manipulate the entire Cheongru Tribe all this time.”
“What?”
“Wait, what did you just say….”
“Why would they do such a thing….”

The villagers clicked their teeth in disbelief. The goodwill shown by the Nambuk Alliance and Tiller had been so overwhelming that they couldn’t accept it had all been a deception.

“Then how do you explain these children coming out of their ship in this condition?”

Rimer pointed to the young Blue Demons with their skin torn to shreds and the iron cages that remained in the center of the destroyed ship.

“And this orb….”

He gave the villagers a brief explanation of everything that had transpired.

“Gasp!”
“That’s… impossible…”
“They’re… not even human…”

The villagers bit their lips as they gazed upon the young Blue Demons’ clear eyes and skin covered in wounds. Their eyes, raised to meet Tiller and his subordinates, burned with undisguised hatred.

“Those demonic bastards!”
“How could humans do such a thing…?”
“Even beasts wouldn’t stoop to what you’ve done!”

The people of Doran Village, having believed they had coexisted with the Blue Demons since childhood, hurled curses at Tiller and the Nambuk Alliance in their fury.

“Hah…”

Tiller exhaled roughly, his powerful aura blazing as the frost embedded in his body shattered completely.

“How… how did you know? Who the hell are you?”
“Your friend told me.”
“Friend? What nonsense are you spouting…?”
“Ah, I should say former friend. Garam!”

At my call, Garam emerged onto the deck, draped in a black robe.

“You alright?”
“Yeah.”

Garam nodded and cast off the robe he wore.

“You… you!”

The moment the black robe caught the wind and rose, Tiller’s crimson eyes trembled violently as if struck by lightning.

“How are you still alive!”
“Ugh…”

Garam glared at Tiller with clenched lips, his eyes burning with fierce determination.

“I came to save my family!”

He trembled as if tears might spill at any moment, yet he did not avert his gaze from Tiller.

“Huff! Now I understand. It was all because of you.”

Tiller grasped the long spear strapped to his back with quivering hands. He nodded as if everything had become clear.

“You sold me out.”
“I didn’t sell you out. I was just doing what I had to—”
“Shut your mouth! A monster who can’t pick a side has no right to speak!”

The spear in his grip became a flash of light, infused with the subtle essence of speed and pleasure.

“Impatient, aren’t you.”

I drew the Celestial Sword with a cold smile. I channeled the essence of speed and strength into the blade, executing the Radiant Sword Strike.

Crash!

A tremendous shockwave erupted, shaking the deck as if it might collapse.

“Fool!”

Tiller’s eyes twisted like a beast’s, as if his courteous and reverent demeanor had been nothing but a lie.

“You dare challenge me over mere beasts like those!”
“The beast here is you.”

I scoffed and pushed back against Tiller’s spear shaft.

Boom!

With strength and aura that transcended human limits, Tiller stumbled backward. With each step he retreated, the energy he couldn’t contain reverberated across the entire deck.

“I am a disciple of the Nambuk Alliance Master!”

Tiller raised his spear shaft and let out a roar.

“Would you have war between Zigheart and the Nambuk Alliance erupt over these inhuman creatures!”
“Garam is a friend who clasped hands with me.”

Raon’s eyes turned glacial as he pressed down on his spear, unleashing a suffocating pressure that drove Tiller backward.

“Drawing a blade for a friend is only natural.”

I recalled what I had failed to accomplish in my previous life and the words Sylvia had spoken about becoming a true swordsman. I straightened my posture with unwavering conviction.

“Ah….”

Garam’s lips trembled as tears spilled from his glistening eyes.

“A name that goes unspoken holds no meaning, does it? Garam. From this moment forward, we shall call your name.”

The Gwangpung Unit stepped forward behind Raon, drawing their blades. A cutting aura spread across the entire deck like frost.

“Ugh!”
“That… that’s Zigheart…!”
“What arrogance from mere children…!”

The sailors swallowed hard, their hands trembling as they gripped their weapons.

“You madman! You’re all mad! I am Tiller Seiton of the Blue Association! The moment you touch me, the Nambuk Alliance will move! I am the disciple of the Alliance Lord!”
“Your name means nothing to me, nor does the Alliance Lord.”
“What?”
“Before me stands nothing but a wretched brigand.”

Raon raised his Divine Celestial Blade, aiming it at Tiller’s heart. The magnificent aura radiating from the silver blade silenced everyone.

“Come.”

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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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