The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 251

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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 251

I gazed down at the river flowing beneath Belga’s fishing boat.

‘A dungeon, then…’

It had been a while.

Generally speaking, dungeons fall into two categories.

The first type is when monsters establish their clan’s territory in underground caverns or caves to evade natural predators or to amass greater power.

The second type is when a mage of exceptional skill creates their own hideout to conduct magical research without interference.

If one were to ask which of the two dungeons posed greater danger, the answer would undoubtedly be the latter.

The former can be conquered easily—one simply identifies what monsters inhabit the dungeon and prepares countermeasures suited to them.

But a mage’s dungeon is different.
Mages are more earnest than anyone in protecting their magical research, installing countless barriers, trap spells, and mechanisms.
Entering without knowledge of what magic they wield or what mechanisms they’ve installed is no different from being a moth drawn to flame.

‘I’ve explored quite a few of them.’

Derus Robert took great interest in collecting artifacts, elixirs, and mages’ research, so he would locate mages’ dungeons and dispatch Shadow operatives to them.

In my past life, I was no exception—I explored countless dungeons. I narrowly escaped death innumerable times, and many scars that would never fade in a lifetime were left upon me.

Through repeatedly risking my life to enter dungeons, I came to understand the patterns of barriers, traps, and mechanisms that mages installed in their dungeons.

The reason I could approach even the dungeon of the renowned mage Roengrin with such composure was thanks to those memories from my past life.

‘There’s a strong possibility elixirs are present.’

Roengrin was one of the heroes who defeated the Betrayal Witch Merlin and the monster legions, and was the greatest water-attribute mage on the Continent, but after his retirement, he became interested in peculiar disciplines such as alchemy, elixir refinement, and astrology.
A dungeon left behind by such a mage would likely contain numerous elixirs and relics.

‘The problem is….’

Too much time had already passed.
Rector and Roman at the Nambeop Headquarters had moved upon hearing the rumors, which meant word of the dungeon had spread to countless people.
Especially since the Noris Region was nearly neutral territory, it was certain that numerous factions had gathered from all directions.

Finding the dungeon’s location and discovering the relics faster than those who entered first was honestly no simple task.

‘But there is an advantage to this.’

With so many people moving about, I could save time by carefully examining their traces and locate the dungeon directly.

-Ugh….

As I was formulating a plan, Wrath’s final groan reached my ears. Glancing to the side, he was resting his chin on the railing and sighing.

‘Are you still doing that? I promised you a pineapple set when we return.’
-That’s not it! Do you think the True Demon King is nothing but a glutton!
‘Huh? I’ve never seen you worry about anything other than food.’

The only time I’d ever seen Wrath contemplating was in front of a menu board. It was surprising that he had other concerns.

-You, you really….
‘Then what’s troubling you?’

I held back Wrath as he was about to throw a fit and asked.

-That Roengrin you mentioned. That name keeps coming to mind.
‘Coming to mind?’
-Yes. It’s strangely familiar.
‘You don’t even call other people by their names.’

Wrath never called people by their names. He called Burren “eye-balls,” Rimer “ear-flaps,” and used nicknames based on their characteristics. The only person he called by name was me.

-Even I don’t understand. It’s clearly a name I’ve never heard before, yet it feels strangely familiar.
‘Did you meet him before?’

There was no way such a name would feel familiar without having met him.

-Hmm, that could be true, but….

Wrath shook his head as if uncertain.

“Master Raon.”

Just as I was thinking I’d seen everything, Dorian approached. Of course, he’d brought a storage pouch to collect every artifact emerging from the dungeon.

-Giving your comrade a pouch….

Wrath exhaled sharply and shook his head in disapproval.

-No matter how I look at it, you’re the real demon.
‘You call me by a nickname like we’re close.’
-Close? Nonsense! You treat me like an actual pouch that retrieves items whenever you call my name!
‘Well….’

I had nothing to say in response to that. Dorian truly did read my mind and pull out exactly what I needed every single time.

“What is it?”

I turned to Dorian after muttering along with Wrath’s complaints about demons.

“Um, are you really sure about this?”
“Sure about what?”
“This is your first dungeon. There must be all sorts of traps….”

Dorian’s lips trembled with concern.

“It’ll be fine. As long as I read the flow of mana carefully and keep my ears open, there shouldn’t be any major problems.”

I wasn’t just saying that. Mages twist the natural mana of the world in incredibly subtle ways to create magical traps and barriers. If I could read even the smallest currents of mana particles, I could navigate the dungeon without issue.

‘And that’s my specialty.’

With the Ring of Fire, I was more confident in reading flows than even warriors at higher realms.

“Don’t worry.”

I patted Dorian’s shoulder as he trembled with fear and turned toward Belga on the deck.

“Ah, you’ve arrived?”

Belga and his sailors bowed their heads.

“It does appear that a dungeon has emerged in the Noris Region as you mentioned. Many warriors and mages have been moving about, it seems.”

He had questioned passing ships and shared what he’d learned about the Noris Region.

“There were renowned factions, and some lesser-known ones as well.”
“That makes sense.”

I nodded. Roengrin was a mage whose name was etched into history. With rumors spreading that his dungeon had been discovered, it was only natural that countless warriors and mages would flock there.

“When did they start gathering?”
“They began arriving gradually from dawn and morning, but from noon onward, there were so many it was difficult to find footing, they say.”
“Dawn, then….”

The factions that moved first at dawn would be those with power and information, while those who arrived after noon would be the riffraff. Looking at the timing, it didn’t seem we were too late.

I clenched my fist as I gazed toward the distant Noris Region.

‘It’s entirely possible.’

*

*

*

The hide of a King Sea Serpent, unmarred by even the smallest wrinkle, ascended forty steps into a grand hall.

Before the blue pillars erected on both sides stood warriors radiating formidable auras in a single line.

“…And so it came to pass that Tiller was slain by Raon.”

Rector stood at the center, recounting the tale of Raon and Tiller to the executives of the Nambuk Alliance.

“Tiller, dead? To that little brat from Zigheart?”
“I heard he was only eighteen… insane.”
“Does that monster have no plateau period? How does he ascend to lower Master rank the moment he reaches Master?”
“Tiller was on the verge of intermediate. There’s a possibility he was already intermediate, not lower Master.”
“What’s more surprising is that he made a three-year promise with the Deputy King. That’s not something an ordinary warrior would conceive. It has the bearing of a hero.”

The Nambuk Alliance executives showed far greater interest in Raon’s martial prowess and character than in the dead Tiller’s fate.

“Chepin.”

A calm voice flowed down from the platform atop the stairs. Though low, it carried a power that sealed the lips of everyone present.

“Yes! Alliance Leader.”

The middle-aged man standing at the third pillar on the right bowed his head.

“Investigate thoroughly whether the story about the Eternal Calamity Master is true.”
“Yes!”

The middle-aged man bowed once more and promptly left the great hall.

“Eternal Calamity Master. What was Raon Zigheart’s actual martial power level?”

The gleaming gaze of the Nambuk Alliance Leader from atop the forty steps turned toward Rector.

“He appeared to be lower Master rank.”

Rector lowered his head, recalling Raon’s martial prowess.

“Tiller was on the verge of intermediate, yet he lost to lower Master rank? And to an eighteen-year-old at that?”
“Not merely a loss, but an overwhelming one. Raon showed no significant injuries.”
“How intriguing.”

A peculiar curiosity tinged the Nambuk Alliance Leader’s voice.

“This martial art called Cheonwoo is fascinating. That impossible existence as well.”
“Why…”

An old man with crimson skin stepped forward from before the second pillar on the left, his lips trembling slightly.

“Why didn’t you kill him!”
“Didn’t I tell you? Zigheart’s Sword Realm was still intact, so if we’d fought directly, we would’ve been in danger too.”
“Tiller is one of the Nambuk Alliance’s successors! You should’ve brought back his head even if you all died! A three-year agreement? Why would you do something so insane!”

The red-skinned old man clutched his head and screamed.

“Tiller was the one who caused the problem first. He moved like a schemer, not a hero. The justification was different, and our strength was evenly matched, so fighting would’ve only brought us losses.”

Rector endured the old man’s murderous aura and finished speaking his piece.

“A problem? The Blue Demons are nothing but monsters, not human beings! What’s wrong with killing a few of them and using them!”
“The problem is using the Blue Demons to attack merchants and residents. That’s cutting off our own livelihood and dragging the honor of North and South through the mud. Siran. Please calm down….”
“Shut your mouth!”

The old man called Siran’s cry made the entire hall tremble.

“Roman! You’re also a problem! With your current strength, you could’ve easily captured that crippled Zigheart’s Sword Realm! You let him go because you were blinded by the talent of that brat Raon!”
“Don’t speak carelessly about things you haven’t witnessed yourself, Deputy Leader.”
“What? Are you talking back to me….”

Roman and Siran simultaneously drew upon their power. The hall began to shake as if it would collapse.

“Enough.”

At the quiet voice from the stairs, both men suppressed their auras and stepped back.

“L-Leader! The alliance’s successor is dead, we can’t just let this pass!”

Siran stepped forward and clasped his hands together.

“This old man will take the lead! Please declare war so we can kill those Zigheart bastards….”
“Impossible.”
“Leader!”
“Zigheart’s footsteps have been silent for quite some time, so the younger ones can speak such words. But those words should never come from the mouth of an Elder Council Deputy Leader.”

The Nambeop Leader’s voice carried a chilling intent. Everyone in the hall trembled.

“You know better than anyone what Zigheart is like?”
“No, those fools stopped while we kept advancing! There’s no need to fear Zigheart anymore!”
“Glen Zigheart is still alive, though?”
“That, well….”
“There’s no guarantee the Northern Destruction King will move just because we kill that boy. But if he does….”

The Nambeop Leader’s voice dropped to a grave whisper.

“Half the Alliance would burn to ash in an instant. Is that what you want?”
“Ugh….”

Siran bit her lip without answering.

“The moral high ground belongs to Zigheart as well. However they did it, if word spreads that they manipulated the Blue Demons to attack ships crossing the river, we’ll only lose the trust of the main Alliance. Wait three more years—that little brat will be torn apart by Roman soon enough.”
“Hah, how cold of you, considering your disciple is dead.”

Siran stared up at the Nambeop Leader’s serene gaze, her teeth grinding audibly.

“I looked upon the Deputy Leader’s face and gave that child many opportunities. I have no desire to console the spirit of a fool who spurned good fortune and dug his own grave.”

The Nambeop Leader’s eyes flickered with a chill as cold as the winds of the Northern Sea.

“I….”

Siran bit her lip.

“I can’t accept this!”

She pushed off from her seat and stormed out of the great hall.

“Should I pursue him?”

Rector bowed his head.

“There’s no need.”

The Nambeop Leader waved his hand slowly.

“The fear of Glen Zigheart is most deeply rooted in the Vice-Leader.”
“Ah….”
“But if he does move….”

I curled my lips upward, watching the door Siran had opened.

“Then I’ll have to acknowledge the price of blood.”

*

*

*

Raon and Dorian disembarked from the ship the moment they arrived at the Noris Region.

“Travel safely!”
“We’ll be waiting here!”
“Take care of yourselves!”

I waved to Belga and the sailors who bowed their heads, then left the riverbank and headed toward the main street.

Not a single person passed by, and gray mist obscured the surroundings from view.

“There’s no one around—how are we supposed to find the dungeon?”

Dorian swallowed hard, staring at the empty street.

“Wait.”

I knelt down and examined the footprints etched into the main street.

‘They must have all moved in one direction.’

Roengrin’s Dungeon became known because someone possessed a map. Since its location has already been discovered, there must surely be a common direction in which many people have traveled.

I walked carefully, identifying the most recent direction in which a large number of people had moved.

‘Northwest.’

The path was crowded with so many people that it was disorienting, but today the most movement had occurred toward the northwest.

I lifted my head to observe the direction the crowds were moving. The fog was so thick that I could barely make out the mountain’s silhouette. Most of those seeking Roengrin’s Dungeon seemed to be heading that way.

“Let’s go.”

I brushed off my knees and stood, calling out to Dorian.

“Huh? Y-you’ve already found it? In all this confusion?”

Dorian’s eyes widened as he surveyed the chaotic terrain.

“There are just too many tracks to sort through, but you can do it too.”

I chuckled softly and sprinted toward the mountain ahead.

“I… I don’t think I can manage that….”

Dorian grumbled under his breath before following after me with quickened steps.

After running for some time, the foot of the mountain came into view. Here, the footprints scattered in all directions across the mountainside, as if people had disagreed on which path to take.

“This is way too confusing, isn’t it?”

Dorian frowned as he examined the footprints.

“It certainly is….”

I nodded in agreement. The large and small footprints were so intricately layered that it was impossible to discern which direction to take.

I activated Seolhwa’s senses and extended my perception across the area. Countless people were scattered throughout the upper reaches of the mountain, moving in every direction.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue. Warriors and mages were dispersed like an ant colony, making it impossible to pinpoint the dungeon’s entrance.

“What do we do in a situation like this?”

Dorian’s brow furrowed as he sensed the same problem.

“We need to look lower.”
“Lower?”
“Yes. Those who arrived first. We need to trace where those with information and power went.”

I swept away the footprints with my hand and examined the traces left by those who had climbed this mountain first today.
Since they had moved with speed as their priority rather than concealment, faint remnants of mana lingered on the ground. I used the Ring of Fire to trace those mana signatures.

‘East, then…’

Most of the footprints, layered at the very bottom and marked by powerful footwork, were oriented toward the east.

I spread my perception once more and examined the east where the footprints led. Near the Gorge where mountains overlapped, more people had gathered than in other places.

‘That’s it.’

I rose with certainty. I headed toward where the people had gathered, bringing Dorian with me.
Warriors and mages were scattered around the Gorge, and the interior was shrouded in such a thick blue mist that nothing inside was visible.

‘A Barrier.’

That blue mist was not natural. It was a Barrier created by twisting the flow of mana.

‘They’ve made it to confuse one’s sense of direction.’

It seemed they had created a mist Barrier using water-attribute mana that made the entrance impossible to find.

‘I can break through it.’

I closed my eyes and grasped the flow of the Barrier. Since it was made of water-attribute mana, it seemed I could pierce through it without difficulty.

-Hmm….

Wrath let out a short groan while looking at the mist.

‘What now?’
-Nothing much.

He furrowed his brow as he swept his gaze across the Barrier, then shook his head.

“Please, just give me a moment of your attention!”

As I reached for the barrier with my sword in hand, the Brown-haired Middle-aged Man standing in the center raised his hand.

“Inside that dungeon right now aren’t just renowned masters—the Six Emperors and Oma are in there too. There’s no point in us checking each other.”
“Hmm….”
“True enough….”

At his words, everyone who had been radiating killing intent toward one another fell silent.

“Now isn’t the time for us to restrain each other—it’s time we pool our strength to break through the barrier and enter! As fellow travelers crossing the Continent together, let us cooperate….”

In essence, he was proposing they combine forces to deal with the powerful ones inside. In reality, when information about dungeons or treasures surfaced, it was quite common for smaller organizations to form alliances.

But this was absolutely not a good approach.

Even in an alliance, power disparities inevitably emerged. The weaker factions would shoulder the difficult and dangerous tasks while the stronger ones conserved their strength from behind, only to betray them later—this happened far too often.

‘And it’s slow.’

The ground was already covered with footprints of those who had entered the barrier. Under normal circumstances, following behind them and using their passage wouldn’t be a bad idea, but time was not a luxury I had.

Whether I revealed my full strength or not was irrelevant—what mattered most was moving with speed.

“Thank you all for your agreement! With our resolve steeled, let us claim Roengrin’s legacy….”

As the gathered people formed their alliance, I moved past them toward the barrier.

“Wait! Where are you going!”

The Brown-haired Middle-aged Man, now the alliance leader, stepped into my path.

“I’m entering the dungeon.”
“This is territory our alliance claimed first! You cannot enter unless you join us.”
“But the ones who found this place originally have already gone in, haven’t they?”

I gestured with my chin toward the inside of the barrier.

“That’s… that’s exactly why we need to form an alliance. Together we’d be safer and could venture deeper!”

The middle-aged man forced a smile and extended his hand.

“It seems you’ve accumulated a decent amount of sword energy, so why don’t you join us….”
“I appreciate the offer, but I have no intention of going far. I simply want to move quickly.”
“Then I cannot let you pass. Only a fool would release someone who could lead the way ahead of us….”

I cut off the middle-aged man’s words and drew the Heavenly Sword. The azure blade that extended forth split the cloud mist filling the barrier cleanly in two.

Screeeech!

The very flow of the barrier tore apart, and the tunnel rising between the gorge walls revealed itself.

“Gahhh!”
“D-did he just tear the barrier apart?”
“What in the….”
“H-he’s insane….”

I turned to look at the warriors whose jaws had dropped so far they seemed ready to split, and clenched my teeth.

“What did you just say?”
“N-nothing at all, sir!”

The quick-witted middle-aged man yelped in terror and waved his hands frantically.

“Don’t waste time—you should leave while you can.”

A crimson gleam flickered across my eyes as I gazed into the pitch-black cave.

“I have no intention of leaving anything inside untouched.”

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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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