The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 258

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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 258

I spent a considerable amount of time soothing Wrath, who was throwing a tantrum in Roengrin’s Laboratory. Dorian had even hidden under a desk, asking if the ghost had gone berserk.

‘Have you calmed down now?’
-Silence, thou art.

Wrath’s brow furrowed, but he refrained from cursing. It seemed the promise to let him eat shrimp pizza and pineapple pizza simultaneously when we returned had worked.

I chuckled softly and summoned the message I hadn’t properly examined before.

‘Water affinity is a different concept from resistance.’

The affinity I’d just acquired seemed specialized for offense, unlike the resistance I’d possessed before.

-‘Tis true to its name.

Wrath’s eyes narrowed as if he still wasn’t satisfied.

-Water resistance blocks the frigid air attacking thee from without, whilst water affinity strengthens the cold within thy body.
‘Strengthen?’
-Aye. The power, speed of execution, range, and intensity of thy cold shall all become mightier than before. Ah….

His hands trembled violently as he spoke.

‘What’s wrong? Are you hurt?’
-Thinking about it. I’m furious again! I cannot bear it!

Wrath’s second outburst began, but fortunately he regained control faster than the first time.

-Huff! Huff!
“Hmm….”

I watched Wrath breathing heavily as if he’d just finished a run.

‘I should avoid bringing this up for a while.’

Every time the message appeared, I felt like I’d have a seizure, so I turned away and examined it alone.

‘Roengrin’s knowledge….’

The second message, Glacial Knowledge, contained everything Roengrin had researched and mastered about wielding frigid energy.

‘I can’t remember all of it.’

The fundamentals came to mind easily enough, but the detailed theories remained hazy, as if my mind were shrouded in fog. It seemed to be because I had suddenly inherited another person’s knowledge.

‘Even this alone isn’t bad.’

As time passed, other theories would surface, but with just the knowledge and principles I had grasped now, I could elevate Glacial Knowledge’s intensity and power.
A smile crossed my face at the certainty that Frost Bloom and Azure Rain would advance to the next level.

‘My stats increased too.’

Finally, I checked the message about my increased stats. Roengrin must have left behind all his energy—my stats had risen by six points. I could only feel gratitude toward him.

‘And….’

The greatest gain was undoubtedly the Artificial Dantian and the Spirit Flow Cycle.

Whether Rimer would break through his current dantian and use the Artificial Dantian, or simply recover his mana circuits with the Spirit Flow Cycle, I wasn’t certain. But at the very least, he could return to his former self. Now I could finally feel at ease.

‘I came here for the Unit Leader, but I’m gaining far more.’

I tapped the Soul Reaper Sword and smiled wryly. Since the stat points I should receive after the Soul Reaper Sword purified the blood energy couldn’t possibly be less than what I’d obtained from Roengrin, I couldn’t suppress my laughter.

-Damn it….

Wrath must have sensed it too, his expression twisting sharply.

‘But why can’t you remember names properly?’
-What are you talking about.
‘You keep calling Merlin “Mil-dae” or “Mil-dae” instead.’
-Hmph. Why should the True Demon King remember the name of such a trivial thing.
‘She’s not actually Merlin, but we’ve met that witch wearing Merlin’s mask when I was with you.’

I had encountered Merlin’s mask from Eden twice—once at Habun Castle and again when saving the Saint.

-I haven’t even seen the True Demon King himself, so how would I know that?
‘You’ve really never seen him? Not even when Roengrin was fighting?’
-Why would there be any enjoyment in watching him deal with such lowly creatures? I need only savor the blossoming rage, nothing more.
‘Hmm….’

I narrowed my eyes.

‘That’s not like him at all.’

Watching Roengrin depart today had confirmed my suspicion. Once Wrath decided someone belonged to him, he watched over and protected them without fail. There was no way he’d skip watching a battle just because he called it pathetic.

‘Ah! Could it be….’

Was he acting like an anxious parent?

During my trainee days, when families attended the examination, there were parents who couldn’t bear to watch their own children—closing their eyes tight or stepping outside to pray instead.
Of course, it wasn’t because they disliked their children, but rather because they cared so deeply and wished so earnestly for their success that they couldn’t bring themselves to watch.

I wondered if Wrath was the same way.

‘Could it be…’
-Hmm?
‘You didn’t watch because you were afraid you’d die from the tension if you saw Roengrin fighting? That’s why you can’t even remember his name….’
-W-what nonsense are you spouting!

Wrath’s pointed ears trembled slightly.

-Why would I be concerned about that fool! I simply had no interest, that’s all!
‘Heh…’

His overreaction confirmed it. This creature’s heart had been racing too much to watch his subordinate’s battle.

-I’m telling you, it’s not like that!
‘Sure. Sure.’
-Listen here! It’s not! Really, it’s not!

I chuckled and waved my hand. Both Wrath and Roengrin seemed to have found worthy companions in each other.

“So the ghost has left, hasn’t he?”

Dorian approached as Wrath let out a sharp cry.

“How did you know?”
“It’s hard to explain, but the air in this space became warm yet cool at the same time.”
“Warm yet cool?”
“I know it sounds strange, but the temperature itself rose, yet there’s this… lonely feeling to it.”

Perhaps because they had been together, even briefly, Dorian could sense Roengrin’s departure.

“Yes. He’s gone to a good place.”
“Thank you for everything until now.”

Dorian finally stuffed the white-wood desk into his spatial pouch and bowed respectfully toward Roengrin’s skeleton.

‘What should I do? Should I at least gather his remains…’
-That’s enough.

Wrath waved his hand.

-He was always a homebody who disliked wandering about. He’ll be more comfortable staying here.
‘You were watching closely after all.’
-N-No, that’s not it!
‘I understand.’

I smiled faintly and straightened Roengrin’s clothing.

“Then let’s organize the rest.”

I clapped my hands and turned to Dorian.

“Dorian. Sweep up all the books and items here!”
“A-All of them?”
“Yes.”
“Awesome!”

Dorian bounced excitedly and dumped the books from the shelves into his spatial pouch. His face was the brightest I’d seen in recent days. True to his nature as a quartermaster.

-Why are you taking that?! It belongs to Roenyello!
‘Roengrin would be happy with us using it. He already gave permission earlier.’

I wasn’t just making excuses. When I said I’d collect all the artifacts, Roengrin had smiled softly and nodded his approval.

-You didn’t get an answer! Stop that brat right now!

This was pure spite. Wrath knew full well that Roengrin would have told me to take it, yet he was still picking a fight.

‘Then I have a solution.’
-A, a solution?
‘Just a moment.’

I closed my eyes with my hands clasped together. After a brief moment, I opened them and nodded.

‘Yes, I understand.’
-What, what did you just do?

Wrath’s eyes trembled with anxiety.

‘I resolved it with the person in question.’
-Resolved? With the person in question?
‘Yes. Roengrin says you can take it.’
-W, what insane nonsense are you—
‘I just prayed and asked him.’

I grinned and pointed at the sky.

-You damned devil!

*

*

*

Zing!

A space filled with subtle darkness rippled open, and the Evil Goat Demon entered—his lower body that of a mountain goat, his upper body clad in a knight’s armor, crowned with a goat’s helm.
Blood dripped steadily from the pitch-black greatsword strapped across his back.

As the Evil Goat Demon moved to walk deeper into the dark corridor, space tore open on his left, and a snow-white hand shot out.

“It’s been a while.”

Following the hand came an elongated nose pocked with age spots. Merlin revealed herself, wearing the mask of an ugly old woman.

“Ah, right. This is our first meeting since that forest, isn’t it? What was your name again…?”

The Evil Goat Demon chuckled, arms crossed.

“I’ve been calling for you repeatedly. Why did you take so long?”

Merlin’s voice was soft, yet an eerie chill seeped through her tone.

“Naturally, I’ve been busy. I haven’t escaped the Ingyae yet, so I have to come and go. Please be understanding.”

The Evil Goat Demon clasped his hands together, smiling beneath his helm.

“I see. That’s possible. But…”

Merlin’s old woman mask suddenly floated toward the Evil Goat Demon.

“Why did you let Raon go?”
“Let him go? Why would I do such a thing?”

The Evil Goat Demon shook his head firmly in denial.

“I appreciate your high regard, but there was a Saint there too. If both attacked, it would be dangerous. I had no choice but to make a wager.”
“You lost? You?”

Merlin let out a cold scoff.

“Even if Raon reached Master rank and the Saint was in his own body, he couldn’t withstand your blade. You could cut him down or capture him in a single strike, so why did you let him go?”
“I told you, that’s not it. And my mission was to block the path. I risked my life to hold the line, so it’s unfair to push me like this.”

The Evil Goat Demon tilted his head. He still smiled, but a heavy aura began to emanate from him.

“You saw something in that child too, it seems.”

Merlin lifted the mask’s chin and smiled softly.

“Of course. He’s a special child.”
“….”

The Evil Goat Demon didn’t answer, simply staring intently at Merlin.

“Thanks to you, I’ve decided to prepare properly as well.”
“Prepare, you say?”
“Yes.”

Merlin withdrew a hexagonal box from within her robes. It resembled a wooden case containing elixirs, but its surface was covered in strange horn patterns, and wisps of black haze coiled from it.

“Hah….”

The Evil Goat Demon, who had maintained his smile until now, exhaled sharply.

“That’s a single-use artifact, isn’t it?”
“Correct.”
“Surely you’re not planning to use it on Raon?”
“Of course.”

Merlin nodded immediately, as if questioning the obvious.

“What exactly did you see in Raon that you’d use the Spirit Jade Orb?”
“It seems what you saw and what I saw are different after all.”
“What?”
“At first, I only regarded him as a child who would greatly aid our grand cause. Since he was capable of wounding me, I desperately wanted to possess him.”

She slowly wiped the face beneath her mask.

“But I was mistaken as well. Raon is the real thing. No one here could ever replace him.”

Merlin spread her hand wide, gesturing toward the entire Eden headquarters.

“To that extent….”
“You wouldn’t understand. The power that dwells within that child—what it truly is.”

She gripped her own throat tightly, strangling herself while wearing a radiant smile.

No one but me….

*

*

*

Chad, the leader of the Bi-Yeon Society, rushed through the corridors of the Patriarch’s Hall with urgent strides. It was something his usual temperament would never permit, but the circumstances left him no choice.

Thump, thump.

Standing before the Audience Chamber, he knocked with his fist as if demanding the door be opened quickly. Before the sound could even fully reverberate through the floor, Roen opened the door for him.

“Chad?”
“It’s urgent. Is the Patriarch…?”
“He is. Please, come in.”

Roen nodded and opened the door wider.

“Thank you.”

Chad offered his gratitude and quickly stepped inside.

Glen Zigheart, seated upon the Jade Throne atop the platform, gazed down upon the Patriarch’s Hall with listless eyes—or rather, upon the world itself.

“I greet the Patriarch!”

Chad knelt before him, his lips trembling. The overwhelming presence was suffocating. Having only recently assumed leadership of the Bi-Yeon Society, his heart always raced whenever he stood before this man called Glen.

“What is the matter?”

He cut straight to the point, as if he had overheard the conversation with Roen.

“There has been a collision between the Gwangpung Unit and the Nambuk Alliance at the Gazel River, or so it is reported.”
“A collision?”
“A report came in from our branch. It involves Burren, the third captain of the Gwangpung Unit, and Tiller, a disciple of the Nambeop Leader.”

Chad pulled out a single document from his pocket.

“The Blue Demons that were there actually….”

He recounted what he had heard from Burren and organized himself, explaining the events that had occurred at Doran Village and the Gazel River through the document.

“How severe are Rimer’s injuries?”
“The wounds from combat are minor, but the backlash from forcibly drawing out his power caused significant damage to his core and mana circuits. He won’t die immediately, but his lifespan has been shortened, and it may be difficult for him to operate aura again….”

Chad bit his lip as if he himself bore the guilt.

“Rimer. That foolish bastard, really….”

Glen frowned.

“Not even the Nambeop Leader, but he collapsed after receiving three strikes from the Demon King—he’s still weak.”

The Heavenly Sword Master, leaning her back against a pillar, clicked her tongue.

“Huh….”

Chad’s eyes widened in surprise.

‘What… what is this?’

Despite Rimer, his closest confidant, being gravely injured, Glen, Sheryl, and Roen showed barely any reaction. Rather than concern, their tone was almost mocking.

“Is Burren at the Branch?”
“Yes. He’s on standby. And….”
“And?”
“He requested a healing elixir to save the Gwangpung Unit Leader. If it’s difficult to provide….”

Chad drew a golden token from his pocket.

“He asked for an elixir to restore the core and mana circuits, even using this golden token if necessary.”
“That golden token is?”
“It belongs to Raon Zigheart, the Vice Leader of the Gwangpung Unit. He sent it by transmission.”

He gripped the golden token tightly and swallowed hard.

“No matter how urgent the situation with the Unit Leader, to make such a decisive choice and hand over the Golden Medallion immediately… Raon, Vice Unit Leader, you truly deserve the epithet ‘Cooperation.’ I’ve reassessed you.”

When he sent the Golden Medallion through the transmission device, I honestly thought he’d lost his mind.

“Krhm….”

When Glen heard that the Golden Medallion belonged to Raon, he covered his mouth with his hand. Seeing his eyes widen slightly, it looked like he was forcibly suppressing laughter.

“Hmm.”
“Hehe.”

Sheryl and Roen watched Glen with satisfied smiles on their faces.

‘What… what is this?’

Is Glen actually laughing?

I’d lived my entire life in Zigheart, but I’d never once seen Glen Zigheart laugh. I couldn’t believe he would laugh over something like this.

“The Golden Medallion is settled.”

Glen snapped his fingers, and space split in a cross pattern. From a dimension filled with golden flames, a rectangular wooden box shot out.

“It’s Shetty’s Tears. It’s remarkably effective at stabilizing damaged mana circuits. Send that along with the Golden Medallion back.”

At his gesture, the wooden box slowly rose and fell into the hands of the Bi-Yeon Society Leader.

“Ah, there’s one more serious matter besides the Gwangpung Unit Leader’s injury.”
“A serious matter?”
“Yes.”

The Bi-Yeon Society Leader nodded. He deliberately withheld one matter to avoid dividing focus when presenting two important issues at once.

“When everything was settled, the Demon King of Ill Fortune….”

He explained that Raon and the Demon King had agreed to a life-or-death duel three years hence.

“I believe we should hold talks with the Nambeop Leader and… Ugh!”

Chad swallowed hard and fell silent. Or rather, he couldn’t speak. A terrifying aura of demonic energy erupted from the platform, pressing down upon the world itself.

“Chad.”
“Y-yes….”

He forced his mouth open with all his strength.

“Have you pinpointed the location of the Nambuk Alliance?”
“W-we’ve identified their approximate position. With just a bit more time….”
“Continue the investigation and get me the exact location. Heavenly Sword Master.”

Glen narrowed his eyes and turned his head.

“Can you strike the Nambuk Alliance?”
“Of course.”

Sheryl bowed without the slightest hesitation. The eyes that had mocked Rimer moments before now blazed with fury as intense as molten fire.

“I’ll tear apart every last one of those wretched thieves.”
“I’ll handle the Nambeop Leader myself. He failed to manage his subordinates properly—I’ll start by taking his hand.”
“Then I shall behead the Demon King. He dared reach for something he should never have touched.”

Glen and Sheryl exchanged smiles, their murderous intent flaring as if they would march on the Nambuk Alliance that very moment.

Rumble!

The tremendous aura emanating from the two of them sent tremors through the ceiling and floor of the Audience Chamber.

‘W-what is wrong with this person!’

Chad’s teeth chattered.

‘War! They’re talking about war!’

This wasn’t a game!

And not against some insignificant faction either—but against the Nambuk Alliance of Oma, the strongest force in the mountains and rivers. The most influential people of Zigheart were about to launch a war from the Nambuk Alliance’s headquarters.

‘A-are they insane?’

The situation was the complete opposite of the Gwangpung Unit leader, who had been mocked for failing to capture the Demon King. It was such a stark contrast that the fallen Rimer would have jolted awake and protested if he’d heard it.

“W-wait, let me think about this for a moment….”
“Both of you have become far too excited. Please, let us calm down first.”

As I tried to intervene, Roen stepped forward first.

“Y-yes, that’s right. We must remain composed.”

Chad nodded his head eagerly.

‘This is my chance.’

I needed to side with Roen, the only one thinking clearly, and restrain these two.

“From what I understand, Young Master Raon has overcome every crisis and grown stronger each time. Given that three years will pass, I’m certain he will achieve tremendous growth in this period as well.”
“Huh?”

Chad turned his head toward Roen, his eyes widening.

‘This man too?’

Roen wasn’t trying to prevent war—he was suggesting they let it happen, thinking of Raon’s growth.

“But the Demon King is a Grand Master. This is on an entirely different level from the crises he’s faced so far. It’s impossible for Raon to reach Grand Master within three years.”

Sheryl slowly shook her head.

“I share that concern, but he can make significant progress over three years. And if worst comes to worst….”

Chad stared at Roen’s mouth with his fists clenched, hoping to hear that war was impossible. But what came next exceeded his imagination.

“I will step forward. The Demon King? A single night would suffice.”

He said this while making a throat-cutting gesture.

“What? I wanted to kill the Demon King myself.”
“Hehe, assassination is faster and more convenient, is it not? The Heavenly Sword Master can handle what comes after.”
“True, killing the Demon King and then striking the North-South Alliance would certainly reduce our losses. Then I’ll take the vanguard.”

Sheryl smacked her lips and nodded in satisfaction.

“Not bad at all.”

Glen nodded with evident approval.

“Heh heh.”
“What….”

Chad’s jaw trembled as he watched Glen, Sheryl, and Roen exchange cold smiles.

‘W-why are these people like this!’

Terrifying!

—————
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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