The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 25

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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 25

Martha Zigheart placed her hand on her hip and lifted her chin. Her gaze was arrogant—an expression that clashed with her refined features, yet somehow felt entirely natural.

‘Is the ground here cursed or something?’

I tapped the Training Ground floor with my foot. Dorian had warned me, but I never expected her to provoke me so directly. Truly, there wasn’t a single decent person around me.

-More insolent than the pointy-eared one, more audacious than the blue-eyed fool. Hand over your body. I shall freeze that wench solid!
‘I knew this would happen.’

Martha’s provocation triggered Wrath’s outburst as well. The surge of rage I felt was far more intense than usual.

“Hmm.”
“Martha Zigheart.”

As I was considering what to do, an unexpectedly cold voice came from beside me.

“What are you doing without any dignity?”

It was Burren Zigheart. He fixed Martha with a chilling gaze.

“What?”

Martha’s lips twisted. Her expression wasn’t one befitting a child of a noble house, but rather that of someone who had stepped into the shadows of the underworld.

“Did you just say that to your older sister?”

She approached Burren with a smile.

“Careless words can get you killed. You’d do well to choose your next words carefully.”
“That’s what I should be saying. Raon Zigheart was acknowledged as first in his position before the instructor and the patriarch. Are you denying that?”

Burren stepped forward as if it were his own matter, blocking Martha.

“If I recall correctly, you were the one who threw a tantrum refusing to accept your test results?”

Martha’s lips curved upward in a thick, contemptuous sneer. Unlike her claim of not knowing the senior, she clearly understood the examination process as well.

“So that’s it.”

Burren Zigheart nodded with an expressionless face.

“I’m blocking your path now because I don’t want to see the ugliness I displayed back then ever again.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t tarnish the Zigheart name. Martha Zigheart.”

I narrowed my eyes as I watched Burren Zigheart’s back.

‘That bastard….’

Burren Zigheart’s gaze was clear. He wasn’t trying to provoke a power struggle—he genuinely seemed intent on preventing the situation from spiraling out of control.
His earlier apology and bowed head must have been sincere.

Snap!

Burren Zigheart wasn’t the only one blocking Martha. Rimer stepped forward to protect me, just as he always did.

“You think the same way?”

Martha’s eyes swept across Rimer and Burren Zigheart as she smirked.

“Go.”

Rimer uttered a single curt word, his expression stubborn.

“Back off, Martha.”
“I already told you.”

Martha’s eyes flashed with intensity.

“I don’t take orders from anyone weaker than me!”

Her fist tore through the air and shot toward Burren Zigheart.

Whoosh!

Just before the aura-infused fist could touch Burren’s face, a gust of green wind erupted upward.

Boom!

Rimer, who had been standing on the platform, appeared in the blink of an eye and blocked Martha’s punch.

“You all really underestimate me, don’t you? Even if I’m easy to dismiss, treating me like I don’t exist is a bit much.”

He smiled faintly and pushed Martha’s fist away.

“Martha. You failed because of that temper of yours, yet you’re still the same.”
“That’s….”
“Whether it’s Burren or Lunan, I don’t know, but Raon hasn’t even mastered aura yet, as you said. Do you still want to fight?”
“I wasn’t planning to use aura anyway.”
“Still, you know well enough that the conditions aren’t equal. There will be another chance later, so let it go for today.”
“Tch….”

Martha pouted and took a step back. However, she didn’t leave—instead, she glared at Burren.

“Burren Zigheart.”
“What?”
“I know your brother beat you so badly you were bedridden for a month. If you’re going to be arrogant, at least build up your skills first.”
“I’m different from my brother.”
“We’ll see about that.”

Martha laughed sharply and turned away. At that, Lunan and Burren relaxed their guard and stepped aside.

Then.

The moment Martha turned around, she kicked off the ground.

“I hate cowards who hide behind others more than arrogant bastards!”

She lunged forward in an instant and threw a punch at me.

“Gasp!”
“Ah!”

Burren and Lunan couldn’t react in time, and Rimer simply watched without moving.

‘As expected.’

My eyes narrowed. I anticipated she would attack the moment she shifted her weight backward by turning her back.

Thwack!

I deflected Martha’s fist aimed at my chest with the back of my hand.

“What?”
“Are you prepared to be hit?”

I drove my clenched fist forward. My punch, infused with the spiraling force of the Empty Palm technique, surged toward Martha’s exposed abdomen.

“Ugh!”

Shock flashed across Martha’s eyes. Gritting her teeth, a brown aura ignited in her left hand.

Boom!

My bare fist collided with her aura-infused forearm, and both Martha and I were sent sliding backward simultaneously.

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t use aura?”

I brushed off my fist, which had turned crimson from the impact.

“You… what are you!”

Bloodshot veins appeared in Martha’s starkly contrasting eyes. The confidence that had defined her moments ago crumbled, and her words began to stammer.

“Hah!”
“Y-you blocked that?”

Rimer chuckled with amusement, while Burren swallowed hard.

“Hiyah!”

Martha drew her brown aura across her entire body.

“That’s enough.”

Just as I was about to charge forward, Rimer straightened his posture and blocked my path.

“I cannot permit this to go any further.”

He was smiling, but the aura radiating from him was sharp and cutting—far different from when he’d been joking moments before.

“But—!”
“Fighting without aura now would only result in incomplete combustion. Wait until Raon has mastered aura, then you can face him properly. I’ll allow it then.”
“Tch….”

Martha ground her teeth and glared at me before turning away. This time, she didn’t look back—just slammed the door shut with a resounding bang as she left.

“Raon.”

Rimer approached and grasped my shoulder.

“How did you block Martha’s attack? It seemed like you knew it was coming.”
“Her center of gravity.”

I answered matter-of-factly, as if it were nothing remarkable.

“Her center of gravity?”

It was Burren who asked for clarification. Lunan’s ears perked up like a rabbit’s, curiosity evident in his expression.

“When she turned her back, her center of gravity wasn’t forward—it was backward. That direction pointed not to Burren or Lunan, but to me in the center. I calculated she would charge in without hesitation.”
“Just from that….”

After hearing the explanation, Burren’s frown deepened, while Lunan’s eyes widened as understanding dawned on him.

“Hmm!”

Rimer let out a soft exclamation of admiration.

‘His observational skills and physical abilities truly are remarkable.’

To discern an opponent’s intent from their center of gravity and immediately counterattack—this was no ordinary talent.

“….”

Burren examined the floor where Raon and Martha had collided, bit his lip, and left the Training Ground.

“I’ve made myself clear, so I won’t bother you for a while. However, once you learn to wield aura, you won’t be able to avoid fighting Martha.”
“I understand.”
“Anyway, you’ve completely made the rotation of the Hollow Palm your own now.”

The punch I threw at Martha contained rotation within it. It was a sight more remarkable than a counterattack.

“It’s not that impressive.”

I shook my head and turned away.

-What have you done? You let that wench who dared strike the King go just like that! I should tear her limbs apart and lock her in the eternal ice….
‘I landed a punch, didn’t I?’
-That’s not enough. I should crush her skull completely!
‘There’s no benefit in it.’

There was nothing to gain from trading blows here and now.

It would be far more beneficial to wager the top seat against her when there was something to gain from her later.

-Tch, I should freeze her solid and shatter her to pieces….
‘Wait. I’ll show you something even more satisfying.’

I smiled and left the Training Ground.

*

*

*

I arrived at the Training Ground before dawn. I had wanted to cultivate alone, but orders had come down, leaving me no choice.

Since most of the trainees were learning aura, only eight people had come to the Training Ground, and all of them were trainees of commoner origin.

“Y-Young Master.”

Dorian approached with his shoulders drooping.

“Oh, is it true that people sometimes die while learning Aura? And I’ve heard that your core feels like it’s about to burst from the pain….”

That wasn’t entirely wrong. There had indeed been cases where people died or suffered severe injuries from practicing poor cultivation methods.

Of course, the cultivation methods provided by Zigheart were stable, and with excellent instructors nearby, there was no reason for problems to arise.

“You’ll be fine.”

I repeated the same words I always said whenever I met Dorian.

“Y-yes, that’s right? Since you say so, I feel a bit more reassured.”

Dorian laughed awkwardly and regulated his breathing. Then, a moment later.

“Wait, are you really sure? Even if it’s stable, there could be someone in danger, and what if that’s me? Then everything’s over! W-what do I do? If I die….”
“….”

I turned my head away. No matter what else I said, Dorian’s anxiety wouldn’t disappear. Besides, there was no reason to concern myself with him.

“You’re not late today, are you? The timing is perfect.”

Rimer climbed over the wall as usual. He smiled as he gazed at the dark sky before sunrise.

“The sun will rise soon, so let’s begin right away.”
“Yes!”

Anticipating the chance to learn Aura, the children shouted with far more vigor than usual.

“Don’t think you’ve fallen behind because other children are already learning Aura. Aura is a discipline you must master for a lifetime. Think of it as the other children being just one step ahead.”
“Yes!”
“Then enter the Individual Cultivation Chambers with the instructors beside you. The instructors will help you until you’ve settled into stable cultivation, so tell them anything you’re curious about or struggling with.”

When Rimer clapped his hands, the instructors who had been standing back led the children into the Individual Cultivation Chambers.

“Hmm.”

I looked around. Unlike the other children, no one stood beside me.

“You’ll enter the Individual Cultivation Chamber alone.”
“Then why did you call for me?”
“Problems can arise when learning cultivation methods through cultivation texts. I’ll be waiting outside, so cultivate without worry.”
“….”

I couldn’t trust him.

Rimer was someone I couldn’t rely on based on everything I’d witnessed. He’d probably be napping even if I were dying in the cultivation chamber.

“What’s with that look? You don’t trust me?”
“No, sir.”

I shook my head and entered the cultivation chamber. I wasn’t expecting his help anyway. As long as he stood guard adequately, that would be enough.

“Whoosh.”

As I closed my eyes and began operating the Mana Circle, brilliant crimson flames flickered and blazed across my shoulders.

‘Let’s begin.’

*

*

*

The moment Raon entered the cultivation chamber, Rimer straightened his posture. He quietly released his aura perception so no one would notice.

‘Let me see what he’s obtained.’

With his expanded aura perception, he read the mana fluctuations occurring around Raon’s cultivation chamber.

‘Fire attribute.’

Hot and dynamic mana swirled violently around Raon.

‘This isn’t an ordinary cultivation method.’

The energy emanating from Raon’s mana circuits far exceeded normal levels. Explosive power like freshly erupting lava. For such mana to move while he was still acquiring an aura cultivation method—this was no ordinary technique.

‘That’s not even a bronze-ranked technique—it’s something you couldn’t obtain even with a gold medal.’

I had told the children learning the Linden cultivation method that it wouldn’t differ much from higher-tier techniques, but Raon’s was different.

It surpassed even what the direct bloodline learned.

My heart raced with anticipation at the thought of what kind of aura would manifest in Raon’s dantian once he properly mastered this cultivation method.

However, the flow of aura was extraordinarily complex. It seemed it would require considerable time and effort to master.

‘…Hmm?’

Rimer furrowed his brow. Within Raon’s mana circuit, where scorching energy surged, a chilling coldness was spreading.

‘Surely not that bastard!’

The moment I sensed the energy Raon was manipulating, my jaw dropped involuntarily.

‘He’s not erasing the coldness in his mana circuit—he’s guiding that energy along with the heat!’

Raon wasn’t simply discarding the coldness that would be wiped away by the heat; he was accepting it into his dantian.

‘And this is someone handling mana for the first time?’

I never could have imagined that someone who had learned the cultivation method less than a week ago could manipulate mana so freely.

‘It’s not the aura cultivation method that’s remarkable—it’s that boy’s talent.’

Raon’s mana control ability was even more impressive than the superior cultivation method itself. Even if I had been controlling mana from my belly all this time, I wouldn’t reach that level.

‘He has talent not just in physical form and martial technique, but in mana as well….’

I had heard that Raon possessed the lowest talent in mana according to the aptitude test. Yet now he demonstrated mana control superior to both Burren Zigheart and Lunan.

‘If that boy truly masters that cultivation method….’

Rimer smiled with anticipation and clenched his fist tightly.

‘A new monster might be born.’

*

*

*

An hour later.
Raon Zigheart emerged from the Individual Cultivation Chamber, breathing heavily.

“Raon.”

Rimer descended from the platform and approached him.

“From tomorrow onward, practice in your Dormitory.”
“Pardon? Yesterday you said I should come here every day going forward….”
“Never mind that. Train in your Dormitory.”

The walls of the Dormitory were magically treated so that aura cultivation couldn’t be sensed from outside.

If others detected Raon’s aura cultivation method, there was a real possibility of severe interference. It was better to practice in the magically treated Dormitory.

“I’ll visit occasionally to check on your progress.”
“You, Instructor? Hmm….”
“I’m not always lazy, you know.”
“Understood.”

Raon nodded expressionlessly, as was his habit.

‘I should report this immediately.’

Rimer smiled faintly as he sensed the lingering warmth of potent mana radiating from Raon’s body.

*

*

*

After all training concluded, Rimer made his way to the Audience Chamber.

“You’ve been visiting quite frequently lately.”

Glen Zigheart, who had remained motionless upon his throne like a stone statue, lifted his head.

“What brings you this time?”
“I came because there is something I wished to report.”

Rimer walked across the crimson carpet at the center of the chamber with a slight smirk.

“Martha participated in the training. Her temperament burns far hotter than I had heard.”
“That child will not change until she is defeated by someone of her own generation.”

Glen nodded slightly, as if he had expected as much.

“Then we may witness that transformation sooner than expected.”
“What do you mean?”
“There was a slight clash between Raon and her.”

Rimer recounted the confrontation from yesterday—the clash between Raon and Martha, as well as Burren and Lunan.

“Is that so? Those children already….”

Glen nodded softly. A faint glimmer of satisfaction seemed to dance beneath his expressionless facade.

“Ah, but that is not the reason I came. What exactly did you give to Raon?”

Rimer raised his voice in genuine surprise, his demeanor quite different from what he had shown Raon.

“I have never encountered a cultivation method so intricate yet so perfectly structured. And for it to be of the fire attribute at that….”
“It is a cultivation method called Myriad Fire Art.”

Glen continued as if it were nothing of consequence.

“Myriad Fire Art?”
“It is the cultivation method of the first family head.”
“Ah, the first family head’s cultivation method. So that explains such a level of… wait, what? What?”

Rimer’s eyes widened in shock, bloodshot with astonishment.

“The Founder’s cultivation method?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I thought you might give him a Gold or Silver rank cultivation method, but I never expected you to hand over the Founder’s technique. You really do cherish Raon, don’t you, Lord Zigheart?”
“The Mana Manipulation Scripture chose Raon. I had no intention of giving it to that boy.”
“I see….”

Glen Zigheart didn’t elaborate further. There were clearly circumstances he wasn’t divulging.

“Is that what you came to ask about?”
“No, it’s about Raon. That boy’s talent is truly abnormal. His gift isn’t limited to martial arts—his affinity for mana is terrifying!”

Rimer explained everything he’d observed about Raon’s mana flow today.

“The Appraisal Sword showed below average results, you said? Isn’t that instrument broken?”
“….”

Glen Zigheart released his grip on the armrest and stroked his chin.

‘So he does have talent for mana as well….’

After everyone left, the golden flames that had blazed from the Appraisal Sword were indeed Raon’s doing.

“How is the boy’s physical condition?”
“His skin still feels cold and clammy, and he exhales frost from his mouth. There’s clearly something wrong with his body, but after training, he seems more at ease.”
“Hmm….”

Glen Zigheart nodded. It seemed Pedrick had been right—vigorous physical activity was the answer.

“Raon possesses exceptional talent in both body and mana. He has keen observation, insight, and composure as well. I believe he has the potential to become another successor.”
“Talent is irrelevant. Even if Raon has such potential, he’s far too young.”
“That doesn’t make it impossible. Truthfully, I’ve never been impressed with your sons.”

Rimer looked up at Glen Zigheart with narrowed eyes.

“I became part of the Zigheart family because I saw the flame that is you. But among your successors, there is no king I wish to follow.”
“Don’t tell me that’s why you became an instructor….”

Glen Zigheart’s eyes narrowed. Even weakened as he was, Rimer had once reached the realm of a Sword Master. It seemed his reason for declining all offers and becoming an instructor was to find a worthy king on his own terms.

“If Raon is given the qualifications, couldn’t he stand as a successor?”
“…That’s true.”
“Excellent.”

Rimer’s eyes gleamed with deep emerald light as he bowed his head and stepped back.

“One more thing. Raon doesn’t possess only talent. Well, you likely know that better than I do, Lord of the House.”

He left those final words hanging before departing the Audience Chamber and closing the door behind him.

“Yes. I know well.”

Glen Zigheart gazed at the empty Audience Chamber, a bitter smile crossing his face.

“What kind of child he is, and what lies in his heart.”

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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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