The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 255

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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 255

I decided to assassinate the 4th Apostle and turned back to call Dorian.

“Dorian.”
“Eek!”

Dorian, who had been holding a gleaming, luxurious desk, flinched and trembled. He thrust the desk forward like a sword, assuming a defensive stance.

“W-what’s the matter?”
“…What is that supposed to be?”

Why was he carrying a desk around?

A hollow laugh escaped me. I could understand if he were holding a sword, but why he was wielding a desk like one was beyond my comprehension. The fact that the desk was unnecessarily beautiful made it even more absurd.

“It’s… a desk…”
“I know that. Why are you carrying a desk around?”
“Ghosts…”
“Ghosts?”
“Since this is a desk made of white wood, I thought it might be effective at warding off spirits.”

Dorian lowered his head, his face flushing slightly with embarrassment.

‘A desk made of white wood…’

White wood was a timber with exceptional power for driving away deception and malevolent spirits. In fact, it was quite common for priests’ artifacts and weapons to be crafted from white wood.

‘Did I scare him too much?’

Setting aside the fact that a white wood desk had emerged from his pocket, I found myself amused by Dorian’s attempt to ward off spirits with the desk.

“Isn’t it heavy?”
“N-no, it’s fine.”

Given his considerable strength, he lifted and lowered the desk as easily as a twig. Though his complexion was pale, clearly from fear.

“Will that work?”

I pointed at the white-wood desk and looked at Roengrin.

[That’s impossible. I’m not an evil spirit.]

Roengrin shook his head and chuckled softly.

-Don’t treat the True Demon King’s servant like an evil spirit!
‘But Dorian is your subordinate too.’
-That fool lacks sense. You have to be understanding.

Wrath frowned, apparently thinking Roengrin was being looked down upon. Even in this situation, he was concerned for his subordinate—a curious creature indeed.

“It won’t work.”
“Oh no!”

Dorian grabbed the back of his neck and collapsed. Yet even in that state, he refused to let go of the desk with one hand—he must have been truly terrified.

“Well, that’s not what matters right now.”
“If ghosts don’t matter, what does?”
“First, this person isn’t a ghost. And beneath this place….”

I raised my finger and pointed to the floor of the corridor.

“There’s an Apostle of the White Blood Cult.”
“Ugh….”

The desk that seemed to be clinging to Dorian’s hands finally came loose.

“An, an Apostle?”
“Morel of Salamander is there too, and that rude Princess.”
“So Balcar and the White Blood Cult are clashing right now?”
“That’s right.”

I nodded.

“We, we should sneak past them. Since they’re fighting, let’s ask the ghost to guide us through a different route….”
“There’s no way to sneak past. The Research Laboratory is directly below, so it’s better to deal with this properly. That’s why….”
“Wh, why is that?”

Dorian swallowed hard.

‘If it’s the Master, he could create a way even where none exists.’

Until now, Raon had never panicked in any situation and always devised the best solution. This time too, he would surely find a way to descend without confronting the White Blood Cult and Balcar.

“I’m planning to assassinate the Apostle.”
“…Pardon?”

Assassinate?

His heart felt like it had plummeted. It was far more absurd than suggestions to dig a tunnel or take a detour.

“Y, you’re saying you’ll assassinate the Apostle right now?”

His voice trembled like wind through a hollow space, utterly bewildered.

“Yes. At this rate, the White Blood Cult will annihilate Morel and Balcar and reach the Research Laboratory first. I intend to kill the Apostle before that happens.”
“Ugh….”

Saliva dripped from Dorian’s gaping mouth.

‘Is the Apostle some kind of insect?’

Can he just be killed like that?

If he’d said he would win through a one-on-one duel, I could understand. But suddenly assassinating him—it made no sense.
What was even more absurd was Raon’s composed expression. Having observed him for so long, I could tell. He genuinely believed he could assassinate the Apostle.

“H, how many Apostles are in the Cavern?”
“The 4th Apostle.”
“Th, that one is known to be an intermediate Master….”

After meeting the 10th Apostle and 7th Apostle in Forban, I had investigated information about the White Blood Cult’s Apostles.

Most of them kept their identities and power concealed, but the 4th Apostle’s strength was somewhat revealed. Mid-Master tier. He’d been Mid-Master two years ago, so he might have surpassed that by now.

“That’s probably right.”

I nodded while observing Roengrin’s sphere. Judging by the aura I sensed and his movements, the 4th Apostle was an elite who had reached Mid-Master tier.

“How are we supposed to assassinate such a monster! If we can’t avoid him, shouldn’t we at least form an alliance with Morel and the others…?”
“That’s an option, but it would be wasteful to squander this situation where the enemy doesn’t know about us. Besides, if we form an alliance, even if we win, my voice won’t carry as much weight. If I kill the Apostle when everyone’s in danger, I can control the situation here myself.”
“But that’s… I mean…”

Dorian’s mouth gaped open like a goldfish, as if questioning whether such a thing was even possible.

“Don’t worry. Everything will work out fine.”

I smiled and tapped my scabbard lightly.

“I’ve even prepared countermeasures for emergencies.”
“So this assassination thing means sneaking up on the enemy and cutting off their breath in one strike, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Then how are you going to deceive the senses of a 4th Apostle who’s reached Mid-Master tier and stab him with your blade!”
“Well.”
“Huh…?”

At my answer of “well,” Dorian’s jaw dropped so far it nearly touched the ground.

“I knew it! That’s just a headfirst charge into bare ground! And you’ve never even attempted a proper assassination before!”
“You’re right. I’ve never done a proper assassination.”

I smiled faintly and nodded.

“But I can still do it.”

Because I’d done it countless times in my previous life.

*

*

*

The members of Team 2 left behind in Doran Village sighed as they gazed up at Lunan standing atop the Spire erected in the village center.

Her eyes, which surveyed the entire village, remained vacant, yet they carried a resolve unlike her usual demeanor.

“How long has it been now?”
“A little over two days.”
“Not sleeping a wink for two days….”

After Raon and the other teams departed, Lunan had climbed that Spire and guarded the village without a moment’s sleep. Even when told to rest and return afterward, she refused to listen.

“She seems to be pushing herself too hard….”
“I know. I’ve never seen her like this.”
“And she’s the one who loves sleep the most….”

In the Gwangpung Unit, Lunan slept nearly as much as Rimer. It was astounding that someone who often dozed off during dawn training or morning assemblies would endure such sleep deprivation.

“It must be exhausting. It’s not simple surveillance.”

Lunan wasn’t merely keeping watch with her eyes—she was actively manipulating subtle aura to perceive her surroundings, which meant she must be thoroughly drained.

“I’ll try talking to her again.”

Ebi, the vice-captain of Team 2, released a faint sigh and climbed toward the top of the Spire.

“Captain.”

At Ebi’s call, Lunan turned her head. Despite her lack of sleep, her eyes showed no signs of fatigue.

“Please rest for even a moment. If you push yourself too hard, you might not be able to perform at your best when we truly need to fight.”

Since Lunan wouldn’t listen to concerns about her physical health, Ebi appealed to the mission instead.

“I’m fine.”

Lunan slowly shook her head.

“I’ve trained myself to endure without sleep.”
“What? When did you ever train for that….”

Ebi’s mouth fell open. She had never heard that Lunan Slion practiced holding back sleep.

“Raon said it. Things can’t always stay the same.”

Lunan Slion gripped Seolhwa’s sword tightly and closed her eyes.

‘I can’t keep burdening him forever.’

Despite holding the prestigious position of Vice Master, Raon always stood watch and kept vigilant during missions so that other swordsmen could rest.

Seeing him unable to rest while only considering others’ comfort, she had asked her father to teach her a surveillance technique that consumed less stamina—spreading her energy perception to observe her surroundings while reducing sleep. She had learned this vigilance method.

At first, it was so difficult she wanted to give up. After all, sleep was something she loved as much as bead ice cream.

‘That’s why I couldn’t quit.’

Realizing that Raon must have endured this same hardship, her resolve only grew stronger.

Thanks to consistent practice every time she returned home, she had mastered the surveillance technique of reducing sleep and carefully observing her surroundings—’Unsa’.

“I can do a little more.”

Lunan Slion shook her head and surveyed the village’s panorama.

“I’ll protect this place no matter what happens.”

A fierce determination to complete the mission Raon had given her bloomed in her violet eyes.

*

*

*

Raon came to a halt before the 6th Cavern where Morel and the 4th Apostle were locked in combat.

Though invisible to sight, he could feel the shockwave of Morel’s magic and the 4th Apostle’s blood energy colliding.

‘Evenly matched? No. Morel is being pushed back.’

Though magic and martial arts differed in nature, Morel’s raw power was superior. The reason he was being pushed back despite his advantage seemed to be that the 4th Apostle’s blood energy and the long sword he wielded could cleave through magic itself.

‘That long sword….’

Through Roengrin’s orb, I observed the blackened long sword the 4th Apostle wielded. The blade that effortlessly severed Morel’s flame magic even now was infused with Sihan’s power.

‘Does it interfere with magic? Or is it aura as well….’

What I could see through the orb wasn’t precise enough to determine exactly what power dwelt within the sword.

‘I need to analyze this properly.’

Even with time running short, accurate analysis of the enemy increased the likelihood of assassination success. I needed to know whether the problem was the sword or the 4th Apostle’s blood energy.

Whoooosh.

I activated Glacia and opened the sea of senses. I connected my perception to the chill spreading throughout the entire dungeon and activated Seolhwa’s senses as well, observing the flow of blood energy the 4th Apostle was generating.

Roooaaar!

Dozens of flame serpents, thick as building pillars, extended from both of Morel’s hands.
Flame Serpents—a fire-attribute magic bearing the same name as his epithet. The snakes, adorned with scales of fire, writhed as though alive, targeting the 4th Apostle’s throat.

Crunch, crunch, crunch!

The 4th Apostle twisted his waist to the side and drew his long sword downward. From the black blade, pale blood energy flared up like embers.

Boom!

The power of the sword strike and magic were evenly matched. But the moment a strange vibration erupted from the sword, the snakes’ heads were cleanly severed, triggering a massive explosion.

‘What was that just now….’

I narrowed my eyes.

‘The blood energy blooming from the sword intertwined with the magic’s flow.’

The blood energy that had erupted from the 4th Apostle’s sword moments ago didn’t sever the magic—it interfered with the mana’s flow, weakening Morel’s spell.
After that, the 4th Apostle effortlessly dissolved the barrage of flame magic Morel unleashed.

‘So that was it.’

I nodded as I watched the 4th Apostle’s long sword cleave through the magical threads.

‘It wasn’t blood energy—it was the sword’s ability.’

While blood energy itself was strong against aura and magic, I’d never heard of an ability like that. The ease with which it severed magic was a function of that blade itself.

‘It shouldn’t be too difficult then.’

If it was the weapon’s power rather than the 4th Apostle’s inherent ability, there would be no major obstacle to assassination.

[Hmm, God of Wrath.]

Roengrin let out a short groan and approached from the side.

[That blood energy user’s combat power exceeds yours. Since you’re unprepared, wouldn’t it be wise to reconsider the assassination?]

Perhaps because of the power difference, not just Dorian but Roengrin as well showed concern.

-The demon speaks truth. Don’t waste effort and die without resolving that spectacled fool’s regrets. Even you worthless things should pool your strength and fight. Assassination is no simple matter. You weasel, swindler, demon spawn!

Wrath furrowed his brow and opened his mouth. Seeing all the curses piled at the end, it seemed his anger still hadn’t subsided.

“It’s fine. I’ll finish it quickly.”

I pushed Wrath aside and shook my head. Assassination was, by definition, a one-hit kill. If it failed, the risk would come crashing back, so their worry was natural.
But there was no need for such concern. With this dungeon filled with frigid cold, it was as good as having made preparations beforehand.

Goooooh!

I awakened Glacial. I completely suppressed the Ten Thousand Calamities’ energy and filled my entire mana circuits with Glacial’s chill.
I resonated the cold spreading throughout this entire dungeon with the Glacial energy blooming from my dantian, making them flow as one.

‘A bit more…’

Still not enough. I needed to erase my presence so completely that the 4th Apostle wouldn’t sense me. I assimilated Glacial’s energy into the surrounding cold until I felt like a single frost crystal suspended in the air.

“What… what is this…?”

Dorian swallowed hard as he watched Raon’s back.

‘Why is there no presence?’

Even though Raon stood right before him, his existence felt completely absent. Had Dorian not seen him with his own eyes, he would never have known he was here at all.

[Hah!]

Roengrin sensed Raon’s presence merging with the dungeon’s cold air and let out an exclamation of admiration.

‘My worries were unfounded.’

He could never make a mistake.

The God of Wrath would never choose a fool who didn’t even understand his own abilities as a priest. I was ashamed of my own baseless suspicion.

Shhring.

I drew the Soul Reaper Sword. Over the crimson blade, a demonic aura shimmered with an eerie glow.

Whoooooom!

Excited at the thought of slaying an Apostle, I released a darker sword aura than usual and unleashed a potent demonic energy.

‘No, that won’t do.’

I gripped the Soul Reaper Sword tightly and shook my head.

‘If I make so much noise, I’ll be discovered. Hide your killing intent within the enemy’s killing intent and lower your aura.’

I controlled the Soul Reaper Sword’s demonic energy, which had been surging like a tidal wave, and synchronized it with the flow and wavelength I had achieved.

Whooom.

The demonic energy that had burned fiercely like an erupting volcano began to flow gently like a stream.

I lowered the Soul Reaper Sword’s demonic energy to a level where it could be concealed by Glaceia’s cold aura, then nodded.

I calmed my mind and stood at the entrance to the 6th Cavern. My presence had vanished entirely, so no one would pay attention to this place.

Morel and the 4th Apostle, along with the mages of the White Blood Cult and Balcar, poured aura and magic at each other, their eyes burning with murderous intent.

Raon closed his eyes as he observed the scene.

When does a beast have the most openings?

When it sleeps? When it feeds?

No.

Right before it severs the prey’s lifeline.

With the thought that missing this chance means starvation, all focus converges on the opponent—never more so than in the moment before delivering the killing blow.

Exhale.

I steadied my breathing and draped the sensations of my past life—my prime—over my soul, naturally adjusting my grip on the Soul Reaper Sword’s blade.

Cold sweat dripped as I lowered my stance, my gaze fixed on Morel, who was retreating before the 4th Apostle’s blood aura.

“Ugh!”
“Kyaaaah!”

Inild and Princess Jeina couldn’t withstand the blood aura the Archbishop unleashed and crashed to the ground. The Archbishop seized the opportunity, conjuring dozens of blood spears.

“Damn it!”

Morel gritted his teeth and unleashed a tremendous wave of flame. A sphere of terrifying firepower. But this was magic that shouldn’t emerge now.
Desperate to end the battle quickly and save the Princess, he fed his prey—offering an opening to his opponent.

Crackle!

With the 4th Apostle’s sinister laughter, a savage blood aura erupted from the black sword, distorting the flow of Morel’s magic.

“Impatient, aren’t you! Flame serpent, rise!”

The Apostle bent his waist diagonally and brought the sword down. Morel’s flames tangled with the blood aura of the blade, beginning to lose their power.

‘Not yet.’

Raon shook his head.

If I moved now, he would notice. I had to wait a bit longer.

Clang!

The 4th Apostle’s blade cleaved through the massive sphere of flame and pierced Morel’s shoulder.

Splurt!

A vicious spray of blood erupted from Morel’s collarbone, and the 4th Apostle’s killing intent intensified. In one fluid motion, he adjusted his curved blade’s trajectory to sever the neck.

‘Now!’

I gritted my teeth and kicked off the ground. Extreme Tai Hwa Step. I shattered the air itself and closed the distance to the 4th Apostle in an instant.

I suppressed my emotions and held my breath. Like the blue frost drifting through the dungeon, I stood in the 4th Apostle’s shadow, my presence erased.

Whoosh!

The moment the 4th Apostle’s black curved blade was about to pierce Morel’s throat, I stepped into perfect alignment and thrust the Soul Reaper Sword forward.

Sizzle!

The blood-stained red blade tore through the flow of blood energy and embedded itself in the 4th Apostle’s left chest.

“What—what is this!”

The 4th Apostle gritted his teeth and tried to wrench himself free, but it was already too late.

Boom!

The demonic energy and cold force condensed within the Soul Reaper Sword’s blade surged forth in an instant, detonating with catastrophic force from the 4th Apostle’s chest.

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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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