The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 246

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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 246

Tiller did not pause even as he watched Raon grip his sword.

‘I knew it would come to this.’

That cold bastard would never go down so easily. Unlike his expectations, Raon had drawn a longsword rather than a dagger, but I was prepared for any contingency.

No rotation.

Unlike before, I did not channel rotation through my spear and aura. Instead, I relied solely on raw power and speed to target Raon’s heart. I unleashed a spear strike that contained nothing but pure force itself, devoid of any technique.

‘And there’s this too.’

By obscuring my upper body with the Cheongru Tribe’s form, I had compressed the interval for Raon to swing his sword to an extreme degree. It was a flawless attack accounting for every possible scenario.

Raon drew his blade just before the spear touched his heart. A crimson blade erupted silently, rising diagonally from his waist. It appeared to target the right arm holding the spear.

Tiller smirked.

‘Too slow!’

His draw technique was masterful, but in this fleeting instant, it moved like a snail. I was certain I could pierce his heart before his blade could block my spear.

‘Die cursing your own stupidity!’

I clenched my teeth hard and thrust the spear forward with all my might. Yet the spearhead froze in midair, unable to pierce Raon who stood directly before me.

My senses… they’re fading.

My hands lost their strength, my legs buckled, and my body felt beyond my control. For some reason, my entire sensory perception had deteriorated drastically.

Is it from the wound? No, that can’t be it.

A mere sword cut couldn’t cause such a phenomenon. Raon must have done something when he drew his blade.

I gritted my teeth so hard I thought they might shatter.

I don’t know what he did, but…

I’m faster!

Even with my five senses diminished, my spear reaches faster than his blade. Besides, I’m protecting myself with the Cheongru Tribe’s power. This was a fight I couldn’t lose.

I pressed the attack. Just as I felt the spearhead touch his skin and smiled in triumph—

It’s over… wait?

A faint pain erupted from my left arm, the one holding the Cheongru Tribe’s power.

What… what is this?

I turned my head. My left arm had been severed with a cleanness that made my skin crawl, now floating through the air, and the Blue Demon I’d been gripping tumbled into the river below.

‘What in the….’

It felt like a dream rather than reality. I couldn’t comprehend why my own arm—the one I’d attacked with first—had been severed, nor could I understand why my left arm was gone when he’d aimed for my right.

*Screeeech!*

As a sharp ringing pierced my ears, sensation flooded back. Excruciating agony drenched my spine.

“Gaaahhhhh!”

Tiller’s scream tore from his throat as his jaw trembled violently.

“What—what the hell!”

The searing pain consumed all thought. I staunched the bleeding from my entire severed left shoulder and stumbled backward in a frenzy.

“What did you do to me!”

*

*

*

“Are you all right?”

I ignored Tiller’s anguished screams and extended my hand toward Garam, who was drowning in the water.

“Ugh….”

Garam grasped my hand, his head bowed low.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“You did well.”

“What?”

“Because you were his hostage, he let his guard down. Thanks to that, I was able to sever his arm.”

I pointed at Tiller, whose eyes were still darting about in confusion, unable to grasp the situation.

“You’ve saved the people and weakened Tiller. You’ve done everything you needed to do.”

I spun the Celestial Sword once before sheathing it.

“Now I’ll finish this and return.”

I offered a faint smile and stepped forward. Tiller swallowed hard and retreated.

“What are you! What exactly are you!”

“The one who will take your head.”

I thrust my chest forward and bent my legs, assuming the classic stance of a draw. I kicked off the river’s surface.

Screeeech!

The azure river filled my vision, streaking past like starlight, and I caught sight of Tiller’s contorted face—demonic, twisted with fury.

“Damn ghost! Just die already!”

Tiller thrust the spear he’d been gripping at his waist. The second Haramcheon Spear. He’d poured every ounce of aura into it—blood erupted anew from his left arm, the one he’d staunched moments before.

Boom!

I planted my feet in True Form and drew the Jecheon Blade to meet the tidal wave of force crashing toward me. The silver blade emerging from its sheath gleamed with the profound mysteries of Silver Sword Dream.

The moment the Jecheon Blade fully revealed itself, an inaudible resonance rippled outward, and Tiller’s senses compressed to their minimum. He felt it too—his lips trembled.

I extended the blade with exquisite precision, as though to cleave his very heart. He detected the trajectory and shifted the aura dwelling in his spear.

‘He’s fallen for it.’

But that was merely the illusion blade’s deception. The true strike came from below—a vertical slash rising upward.

“Ugh!”

Tiller spun his spear with desperate speed, refusing to fall for the same trick twice, but the Jecheon Blade had already reached its destination.

Slice!

Tiller’s right arm tilted diagonally and fell away, the spear still clutched in his hand. Torrents of blood erupted from both shoulders.

“Krraaaaaaagh!”

The moment sensation returned, he unleashed a horrific shriek like hundreds of birds crying out at once.

“Ugh… uuugh!”

Tiller knelt in the river, lacking even the strength to flee, his anguished wails echoing as pain robbed him of consciousness and he began to sink beneath the water.

Crack!

I froze the riverbed to prevent him from falling into the depths. He couldn’t be allowed to die so easily.

“They say the pain of losing parents and siblings feels like having your limbs torn from your body.”

I shook the blood from the Heavenly Sword and lifted my chin.

“That is what you have done all this time.”

In truth, it barely sufficed.

Tiller, who had slaughtered innocent Blue Demons, plundered their treasury, held children hostage while commanding their parents to commit murder—he was a wretch who deserved to be killed, revived, and killed again.

“Especially as a unit commander.”

Raon gripped the Celestial Blade firmly and approached Tiller.

“They say losing a child is a pain akin to having one’s entrails torn out.”

I aimed the Celestial Blade at Tiller’s abdomen.

“Wait, just a moment!”

Tiller shook his head, his jaw trembling.

“I’m a disciple of the Nambuk Alliance Lord! If you kill me, the Nambuk Alliance will move! Can you handle that!”

He screamed as if making one final desperate plea.

“I already told you it doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, yes, you can just return to Zigheart, but what about those people behind you! The moment you leave, they’ll become meat for the bandits!”

“Your concern is unnecessary. As of today, Doran Village will belong to Zigheart.”

“Kekeke! Do you have the authority to decide that? Will Zigheart really accept a village that will be at war with the Nambuk Alliance, not just any village!”

Tiller sneered as if absolutely certain of his position.

“Think carefully. This is your last chance. If you let me live… Ugh!”

“Shut your mouth.”

I cut off Tiller’s words and drove the blade into his belly.

“Ugh…”

“The Lord fears no one.”

The Glen Zigheart I had witnessed thus far was a man who would obliterate an entire faction the moment they dared challenge him. He would never cower before the name of the Nambuk Alliance.

“But if—by some infinitesimal chance—Zigheart were to abandon its protection of Doran Village, then I would plant my flag upon this land and river.”

“W-what…”

“Not under Zigheart’s name, but under Raon Zigheart’s name, I would protect this land.”

I twisted the blade of the Heavenly Sword, inflicting exquisite agony upon Tiller.

“Aaaahhhhh!”

Hearing his screams, I withdrew the blade.

“That is my condition.”

“W-wait, there’s still something I haven’t—guk!”

The blade of the Heavenly Sword caught the sunlight reflected off the river’s surface as it passed through, and Tiller’s head sank into the water.

Until the very end, he could not accept his own death, his eyes wide open as he vanished into the darkness.

“Guk… ugh…”

I turned around at the sound of a suppressed groan, as if my throat were being squeezed. Garam’s hands trembled as tears streamed down his face.

The time I had spent with Tiller and the suffering I endured at his hands seemed to overlap, and my emotions erupted.

“It’s all over now.”

I approached Garam and steadied his trembling shoulders.

“Let’s go back.”

*

*

*

“Raon is clashing with the Nambuk Alliance?”

Glen Zigheart narrowed his eyes, resting his chin on the Jade Throne.

“Yes. Whether the changes in the Cheongru Tribe are artificial or natural, the Nambuk Alliance is targeting the entire Gazel River.”

Roen continued, reviewing the report from the Bi-Yeon Society.

“They intend to consume not just Doran Village, but Yuin Village as well, so a clash with the Gwangpung Unit is inevitable.”

“Rimer will handle it well enough.”

Glen Zigheart closed his eyes as if the matter held little interest for him.

“Do you truly believe that? Of Rimer as he is now?”

Roen furrowed his brows as if to say the notion was absurd.

“Ugh.”

Glen Zigheart let out a groan and slowly opened his eyes.

“How much longer will that damned fool keep this up….”

He sighed and shook his head slowly.

“In any case, it is Young Master Raon who now leads the Gwangpung Unit, and the opponent is Tiller Seiton. I suspect they will clash head-on.”

Roen glanced at the report and smacked his lips.

“According to the intelligence, Tiller is not a hero at all, but rather a schemer. It is highly likely that the battle will escalate, and they may well reach the point of killing one another.”

“That would be expected.”

“The Nambuk Alliance is not like the White Blood Cult, which fears no death. Tiller will exploit his position as a disciple of the Nambuk Alliance Lord to beg for his life. When that moment comes, how do you believe Young Master Raon will act?”

“He will cut him down, of course.”

Glen Zigheart answered without hesitation, as though there was nothing to deliberate.

“That child is my grandson, the inheritor of my will. He would never be intimidated by such petty renown.”

He laughed coldly, as if it were obvious.

“But what if the opposite happens? What if you lose to Tiller and Young Master Raon returns gravely injured?”

“Then I’ll have to punish that weakling. And….”

Glen clenched his fist with the hand that had been gripping the Jade Throne.

“The location of the Nambuk Alliance’s headquarters was known, wasn’t it?”

“Yes? Ah, yes.”

Roen nodded. Unlike Eden or the White Blood Cult’s headquarters, which were hidden in darkness, the Nambuk Alliance’s headquarters location was at least roughly known.

“I will erase the Nambuk Alliance.”

The words rang with sincerity, and an overwhelming aura that could crush the world began to seep from Glen.

“As expected, the Family Head cherishes Young Master the most….”

“Ahem! N-no, it’s not because of Raon or the other children. I’m simply repaying the debt that Zigheart has been disrespected!”

Glen shook his head emphatically, denying it.

“Are you certain?”

“Of course!”

Roen’s lips twisted slightly as he suppressed a smile.

“Then what did you mean earlier when you said that Raon was the grandson who inherited your will?”

“Huh? When did I?”

“You did. You said there’s no way the grandson who inherited your will would do such a thing.”

“Ugh.”

“Hehe.”

Roen smiled faintly as he watched Glen’s face flush red.

‘Young master, come back soon.’

Your grandfather is waiting with bated breath, thinking only of you.

*

*

*

Rimer chuckled as he watched Tiller’s corpse sink into the river.

“It’s all over.”

I had rescued all the Blue Demons, exposed the atrocities of the Nambuk Alliance’s pirates, and with Tiller’s death—the last remaining pirate—everything had come to an end. It was a perfect victory without a single casualty or critically wounded.

‘The Blue Demons will recover soon enough.’

If the Cheongru Tribe returns the Water Stone, the Gazel River will regain its original color, and they will be able to return to their former lives.

‘Though it will take time to overcome their sorrow.’

Of course, that was only the material and physical aspect. The spiritual recovery would require far more time.

Rimer turned away after observing the Cheongru Tribe weeping at Tiller’s death. Raon knelt beside Garam, who was sobbing uncontrollably, and offered him comfort.

‘He said he would plant a flag.’

Raon had declared that if Zigheart did not protect Doran Village, he would plant a flag bearing his own name.

That magnificent audacity and resolve made my fists clench involuntarily, and every hair on my body stood on end.

‘They’re alike.’

As expected of grandfather and grandson, Raon and Glen Zigheart shared similar temperaments. To be precise, Raon possessed an even more reckless disposition.

Rimer smiled faintly.

‘That boy would be wasted stopping at the rank of Unit Commander or higher.’

Among all the talents Rimer had witnessed in Zigheart, Raon possessed a character and ability closest to that of a family head. With enough experience, he was the kind who would ride the winds and reach for the heavens themselves.

“Unit Commander.”

As I watched Raon return, Burren approached me.

“Hm?”

“Can we also reach such a realm?”

That question wasn’t Burren’s alone. Martha, Lunan, and the entire Gwangpung Unit were all looking at me.

“You know I don’t speak empty words, so I’ll be honest with you. Yes, you can reach it too. However….”

Rimer nodded and smiled.

“Don’t try to follow Raon’s footsteps. Let that bastard forge ahead first, and then observe, learn, and walk your own path in his wake.”

“I see….”

“Your current level is among the fastest in the Six Emperors. One reason is that you’ve traveled with Raon and witnessed and experienced so much. If you climb the stairs step by step, you’ll be able to reach heights even greater than his.”

“Th-thank you so much.”

“We’ll work hard!”

I wasn’t trying to give them false hope—I was simply being honest. Yet the faces of everyone in the Gwangpung Unit brightened.

They conjured hope from my words on their own. It was amusing, but Raon truly was a born leader.

“Tsk.”

“Mm….”

Martha frowned slightly, and Lunan blinked blankly, but they were always like that, so I left them be.

Rimer watched the Gwangpung Unit swordsmen gazing at Raon and offered a subtle smile.

‘There will be plenty of entertaining things ahead.’

My final years won’t be dull.

*

*

*

Splash!

With wet footsteps, Raon and Garam climbed onto the deck.

“It’s all finished here too.”

Raon chuckled softly as he surveyed the deck where not a single enemy remained.

“You’re just too slow.”

Rimer shrugged his shoulders with his arms crossed.

-That’s right.

Wrath, who had been silent, furrowed his brow and climbed onto the bracelet.

“Why did you drag out the fight when you could have captured him more easily and quickly?”

He yawned, saying he’d grown bored watching such a low-level battle.

“I wanted to test out a new swordsmanship technique.”

Raon smiled faintly and tapped his sword lightly.

‘There were reasons for it.’

-Reasons?

‘Right. The harder the battle, the better the rewards, after all.’

Just as Wrath said, if I had simply fought to win, I could have defeated Tiller far more quickly and easily.

But since I hadn’t merely defeated Tiller—I’d completely shattered the martial arts he’d mastered and created a new swordsmanship technique—the rewards that would soon arrive would be far greater.

-Y-you dragged out the fight because of the system’s rewards?

‘I didn’t drag it out. I just fought a bit more difficultly.’

-You cunning bastard! Do you think abilities just sprout from the ground?! They all belong to the True Demon King!

‘I know.’

Of course I knew, so I nodded in acknowledgment.

-Wicked and treacherous! The true demon was you all along!

‘Perhaps that’s the case.’

-Krraaaagh! I want to kill you! I truly want to kill you!

As I continued to respond with a smooth, unbothered demeanor, Wrath trembled and let out a shriek.

“Raon.”

While I was teasing Wrath, Rimer approached and extended his hand.

“You should give it to me now.”

“Give you what?”

“The gold coins you promised.”

“I already gave them to you.”

“Huh? When?”

“When you stole the Suhsin Stone, you must have pocketed the gold coins and jewels as well.”

I tilted my head, pointing toward the deck below.

“H-How did you….”

He forgot he was supposed to lie and stood there with his mouth agape.

“Mercenaries are always predictable.”

“No, that’s an exception. You promised you’d give it to me!”

“I only mentioned gold coins.”

“Huh?”

Saliva dripped from Rimer’s gaping mouth.

‘That’s right.’

Raon truly had only mentioned gold coins. There was no mention of giving them anywhere.

“Y-you demonic bastard!”

-You wicked creature!

An elf and a demon king shrieked and cursed at a single human.

“Well, since that’s settled, let’s clean up quickly. First, we’ll destroy this ship….”

As Raon issued orders while ignoring the two of them, a massive horn blast echoed from the north.

Whoooosh!

A black ship of grand proportions cut through the turbulent waves of the Rabel River and came into view.

“Why is that ship here….”

Rimer’s eyes widened at the sight of the black ship.

“What is that?”

“The Misfortune.”

I heard him swallow hard.

“It’s the Nambuk Alliance’s second flagship, the Misfortune….”

—————
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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