The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 263

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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 263

“The Nambuk Alliance pretended to rescue the people of Doran Village from the ferocious Blue Demons, but in reality, they were manipulating the Blue Demons from behind the scenes to orchestrate the incident….”

I continued my explanation while observing Glen’s expression through the corner of my eye.

‘How should I describe that look?’

His neck and shoulders had tensed slightly, his eyes were narrowed and trembling faintly, and the corners of his mouth twitched as if struck by an earthquake.

It wasn’t a smile, nor was it tears or anger. His aura and presence remained as composed as always, yet that expression was utterly unreadable.

‘I have no idea what’s going on.’

Despite having slain Tiller, the Nambeop Leader’s disciple, and the 4th Apostle, the White Blood Cult Master’s disciple, and even acquiring the items needed to restore Rimer, he didn’t appear particularly pleased.

‘That expression is almost like….’

-He looks like he’s holding back a bowel movement.

Wrath’s round head poked out from the ice flower bracelet.

-That’s the expression one makes when tensing the sphincter.

He chuckled, insisting that there was no other way that expression could appear.

‘Hmm….’

I swallowed a groan. It wasn’t that I was holding back bodily functions as Wrath suggested, but it was clear I was enduring something.

-Unable to even control basic physiological responses. Truly, you are no match for the True Demon King. I could easily defeat you in tens of thousands of exchanges.

Wrath waved his hand, saying the outcome was already clear without even fighting.

‘Didn’t he say thousands of exchanges before?’

When I first saw Glen, it was definitely thousands of exchanges, but somehow it had become tens of thousands.

Tens of thousands of exchanges, easily. It was a truly bizarre statement born from his inability to lie and his tendency to boast as a lord of the Demon Realm.

“To save the Gwangpung Unit, I promised King Roman a life-or-death duel three years from now and withdrew from that place. After that, to rescue our unit leader, I ventured into Roengrin’s Dungeon….”

As the story of Roengrin’s Dungeon began, Glen’s eyes and the corners of his mouth trembled even more intensely. It was as if someone beside him was pinching and shaking his skin.

The only fortunate thing was that everyone’s gaze was directed at me, so only I could see Glen’s expression. Honestly, I wanted to signal him to manage his expression better.

“Pfft.”

Hearing Rimer’s laughter, it seemed he had noticed as well.

-You seem quite impatient. Finish quickly.

‘I should.’

I nodded slightly and spoke faster. As my pace quickened, Glen’s oppressive expression seemed to ease somewhat.

“…and so I was able to obtain the artificial dantian and elixirs that were in Roengrin’s Dungeon.”

The moment I finished speaking, Glen’s face returned to its usual cold expression. The twitching at the corners of his mouth and the flaring of his nostrils vanished without a trace.

“You cut down both the Nambeop Leader’s disciple and the White Blood Cult Master’s disciple….”

“Both of them were stronger than the Gwangpung Unit Vice-Commander. How is that possible?”

“Even if it was a surprise attack, that’s quite a feat.”

“To return victorious against enemies stronger than himself each time—it seems he’s been blessed by the fortune of a martial god.”

“Once is coincidence, twice is luck, three times is skill. We should assume the Gwangpung Unit Commander possesses something that allows him to overcome the strong.”

The commanders and unit leaders exchanged words, their expressions filled with astonishment.

“Having cut down two of Oma’s executives and successors, and ending the North-South Alliance’s wickedness, he deserves a gold badge.”

“Isn’t this the first time someone has received consecutive gold badges?”

“Achievement is achievement, so it’s not unusual.”

“Reaching Master rank at eighteen and possessing two gold badges… the future is frightening.”

“I’m more envious of the Gwangpung Unit’s bonds. The moment they heard Rimer was injured, they rushed to the dungeon—only family could think like that.”

“Sigh, we should have brought him over to our side by any means necessary.”

The commanders and unit leaders standing on either side burst into exclamations about the remarkable deeds accomplished. Many spoke of envying Rimer for choosing his subordinates so well.

“Tsk!”

“Damn it….”

“Tiller aside, we caught the 4th Apostle through a surprise attack. What’s so impressive about that?”

“He’s a dead man walking in three years anyway. Don’t bother.”

Since Karun, the Central Intelligence Agency Master, and Valdemar, the Jinmu Hall Master—the two who had initiated the provocation—were absent, the Main Lineage members could not counter. They merely cursed among themselves and muttered ugly words about how this wouldn’t last long.

“Raon Zigheart.”

At Glen’s final words, all the noise echoing through the Audience Chamber ceased. He gestured with his chin, his gaze as cold as always.

“I have one question.”

“Yes.”

“In three years, a life-or-death duel with the Demon King. Are you confident?”

“Of course. I will not bring shame upon the name of Zigheart.”

I answered without hesitation, my voice resolute.

“Hmph, I see.”

Glen offered a faint smile and nodded. He seemed both disinterested and trusting at once.

“Come forward.”

“Yes.”

Raon ascended the platform, treading upon the stairs that seemed to radiate Glen’s authority.

“For brilliantly completing your mission and displaying the courage to conquer the dungeon to rescue the Gwangpung Unit Commander, I bestow upon you a golden badge and a fluorite necklace.”

At Glen’s gesture, Roen approached from the side, holding the golden badge and fluorite necklace on a white platter.

“Thank you.”

Raon stepped forward and knelt.

“Well done… *ahem!* You have done well.”

Glen gazed at Raon’s face, his hands trembling slightly as he held the golden badge and necklace. He presented them with that peculiar expression he had revealed moments before.

‘Something seems odd….’

I truly could not understand why he was acting this way today.

“Let the Gwangpung Unit squad leaders come forward.”

The moment Glen presented the badge and necklace, he swiftly restored his expression and summoned the Gwangpung Unit squad leaders.

He distributed bronze badges to the squad leaders who had resolved the mission to rescue Rimer alongside their unit members.

“Thank you!”

Burren, Martha, and Lunan hadn’t anticipated this, accepting the cards with awkward expressions.

“You’ve all worked hard. The Gwangpung Order will rest and stand by until the next mission.”

“Yes!”

“That is all.”

He gestured dismissively.

“Raon, vice-commander. How about coming to our Training Ground next time for a sparring match?”

“I’d rather share drinks. I’d like to hear detailed accounts of the Roengrin’s Dungeon.”

“Training exchanges are always welcome, so feel free to reach out anytime.”

The commanders and unit leaders—particularly those who had previously extended recruitment offers to me—approached with smiles.

“Of course. I shall do so.”

I nodded, knowing that building connections with the commanders could only be beneficial.

“Ambush and capture, then milk every ounce of credit from it….”

“Can’t stand it.”

“He’ll be crushed by the Demon King in three years anyway. Let it go.”

The Main Lineage members cast scornful glances and muttered curses as they exited the Audience Chamber.

Raon watched the Main Lineage members leaving the Audience Chamber with a cold smile.

‘They won’t have much longer to run their mouths.’

Just as I had silenced those swordsmen with overwhelming force, the day would come soon when I would shut theirs as well. I memorized each of their faces one by one, my fists clenching tightly.

“Why aren’t you leaving?”

Glen tilted his head slightly as he looked at Raon and the Gwangpung Order remaining behind. Since Raon wasn’t moving, the Gwangpung Order couldn’t move either.

“I have something to tell you.”

Raon knelt again and lowered his head.

“Go ahead.”

“The Gwangpung Leader intends to completely destroy his cracked dantian and use an artificial one instead. Since it will take considerable time to gather enough aura to reach combat capability, I would like to temporarily assume the position of Leader until then.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

Rimer crawled forward on his knees, looking flustered, and positioned himself beside Raon.

“Taking on the Leader’s position alone would consume your time and burden you. Please focus solely on your body’s recovery for now.”

“Kuh, Raon!”

He let out an exclamation as if deeply moved, like someone who had just taken a sip of beer.

“…That’s true. I permit it.”

Glen Zigheart narrowed his eyes and nodded. He had granted permission, but his expression suggested something displeased him.

“There is one more matter.”

Raon looked up at Glen without rising from his seat.

“Since childhood, I suffered from a constitution cursed by extreme cold that froze my entire mana circuit. I have since overcome it. Since the Gwangpung Unit Commander’s symptoms are similar, I wish to take charge of his rehabilitation training.”

“Hmm….”

Glen scratched his chin. His frown deepened, looking even more displeased than before, but he eventually nodded.

“Very well. Do so.”

“Thank you.”

Raon bowed his head to Glen Zigheart.

“Raon! You’re the only one who thinks of me!”

Rimer wept with gratitude, but it was premature to celebrate. Helping him was the right thing to do, but it would be quite—no, devastatingly difficult.

‘Laugh while you can.’

-…A loan shark?

*

*

*

Even after the Gwangpung Order had all departed, Rimer remained in the Audience Chamber.

“How pathetic. Rather than helping the children, you’re the one receiving aid.”

Glen looked down at Rimer with a scornful snort.

“From now on, don’t you dare use that ridiculous epithet of ‘Zigheart’s Radiant Blade’ anywhere.”

“Sigh! Perhaps you should focus on your own duties, Head of House.”

Rimer let Glen’s mockery slide off him and released a deep sigh.

“You, you insolent wretch!”

“Your expression!”

He shot to his feet and brought his hands to his lips and the corners of his eyes.

“Head of House, did you know that when you heard Raon’s story, you couldn’t suppress your laughter—your eyes and lips trembled like a fly’s wings?”

“I…”

“Exactly like this.”

Rimer mimicked the expression Glen wore when looking at Raon, displaying it directly for him to see.

“There’s no way I made such an ugly face!”

“Actually, it was even worse! I thought you were holding back a bowel movement!”

He scrunched his face in the same manner as Wrath, his expression contorting.

“Do you know why that expression appeared? Because I’ve reached my limit in holding back.”

“Your limit?”

“My love for my grandson has swelled up to the crown of my head, and when I forcibly suppress it, that grotesque expression emerges. Raon must have been quite startled. To be honest, when I gave you the gold token, I wanted to embrace you and praise your hard work, didn’t I?”

“Ah….”

Glen’s eyes widened as if struck by the truth, his lips trembling.

“I’ve told you repeatedly—suppressing emotions becomes an illness. Now you can speak openly. ‘Oh, my grandson has arrived! My precious one! Come sit on this old man’s lap!’ There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Rimer made that same strange expression Glen had worn moments before, grinning mischievously.

“Rimer….”

“Haha! D-did I go too far?”

Rimer scratched the back of his head as he saw sparks crackling from Glen’s clenched fists.

“In any case, don’t just care for him from the shadows—show it to him openly.”

He sighed and looked at Roen.

“The luminous stone necklace you gave to Raon. It’s not an ordinary item, is it?”

While the luminous stone necklace possessed the effect of solidly protecting the body, there was no way Glen would have given Raon something so mundane. There had to be something special hidden within it.

“I wouldn’t know.”

Roen glanced at Glen and shrugged. That response was all the confirmation I needed. Something extraordinary was concealed within Raon’s necklace.

“I knew it! Instead of scheming behind the scenes like this, why don’t you just show him openly and give him the successor position? Hm? Eat meals together! Provide for him in various ways! Let’s start with words! Try repeating after me! Our little puppy came…”

“Huff….”

With Glen’s low exhale, the armrests of the Jade Throne he sat upon crumpled inward of their own accord.

“Ah….”

Rimer watched as crimson sparks spread across various corners of the Audience Chamber and swallowed dryly.

“H-Head of House? Since this patient is currently….”

“Don’t worry. It’s simple enough to carve pain into you without stimulating your mana circuit or dantian.”

“W-Wait! Where would such a thing even…Krraaaaaahhh!”

Along with a crimson bolt of lightning, Rimer’s scream—the first in a long time—echoed through the Patriarch’s Hall.

*

*

*

I arranged the Gwangpung Order before the Patriarch’s Hall. Meeting the eager gazes of the swordsmen, I spoke slowly.

“As you’ve all heard, I’m now acting as the Unit Commander. From now on, both rest and training will be under my guidance.”

The entire Gwangpung Order swallowed hard at those words.

“You’ve all worked hard, so rest today. Report to the Training Ground by dawn tomorrow.”

“O-one day? Just one day?”

“You bastard! Are you trying to kill us?”

“Ah….”

Burren Zigheart clutched his chest with trembling hands, Martha grabbed at his collar, and Lunan Slion stared up at empty space with vacant eyes.

“One day is too harsh!”

“Even Rimer wasn’t this severe!”

“Y-you’ve truly lost your mind!”

The Gwangpung Order swordsmen trembled with despair, their lips quivering.

“L-looking at how the sun is setting, it’s not even a full day! We’re really going to die at this rate!”

Dorian rubbed his belly anxiously, shaking his head.

“That’s right! We need time to recover from our fatigue!”

“I’m about to collapse right now….”

“J-just one more day, please.”

“Fine. I’ll be generous this time.”

Raon nodded upon hearing Burren’s plea for just one more day.

“Since you all want it so badly, I’ll grant you one more day.”

“Yaaaaaaay!”

“One more day of rest!”

“Finally our voices were heard!”

The Gwangpung Order cheered with joy, even though it was merely a single additional day of rest.

“Then report to the Training Ground the day after tomorrow. Dismissed.”

Raon turned his back as the Gwangpung Order’s cheers echoed behind him.

‘Everything went as planned.’

I had intended to give them two days from the start.

Arduous training demands proportionate rest. If I’d told them two days outright, they would have wanted more, so I started with one day. As expected, it became two days, and their response was excellent.

-Persistent bastard.

Wrath climbed atop the ice flower bracelet, his eyes narrowing.

-You are the most despicable human I have ever beheld. You are malice incarnate, the very demon of this world!

‘Is that a compliment?’

-It is not!

‘Well, good is good. They’re getting their rest anyway, so if they’re happy, I’m happy, and they’re happy too.’

I turned around with a slight smirk. Everyone scattered in different directions, but Burren was conversing with someone in front of the Patriarch’s Hall.

‘That person…’

He was in the Audience Chamber, wasn’t he?

A man who stood with the Main Lineage lords without uttering a single word. Now that I looked at him, he bore a striking resemblance to Burren.

‘A brother, then.’

The deep blue hair, the somewhat fierce gaze, and the ceremonial sword at his waist—it was unmistakable.

It was certainly Gelmir, the commander of the Jeolma Unit and Burren’s second brother.

Seeing Burren smile faintly, it didn’t seem like they were quarreling or exchanging harsh words.

‘The relationship between brothers seems fine.’

Unlike the trash Karun, my relationship with my brother Gelmir appeared to be good.

I watched Burren and Gelmir for a moment before heading toward the Annex Building.

*

*

*

I smiled as I passed through the Garden of the Annex Building. Remarkably, my heart grew lighter with each step. All the accumulated fatigue seemed to melt away.

‘I used to say that coming home just felt good.’

It was a sentiment I couldn’t comprehend in my past life, but now I understood. When you have a truly precious home, a smile naturally blooms the moment you return.

-Hmmm-hum!

Wrath began humming cheerfully and swaying his shoulders.

‘What’s got you so happy?’

-We’ve come home, haven’t we? From the scent wafting this far, the pineapple girl has surely prepared delicious food.

‘Home…’

Is this your home?

A hollow laugh escaped me at the Demon King calling the Annex Building his home.

‘He’s completely lost his humanity.’

I shook my head and opened the door to the Annex Building. Then I froze in place.

“Huh?”

In the lobby stood a person who had no business being here, dressed in a maid’s uniform.

-Huh?

“Why are you here…?”

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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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