The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 272
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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 272
“Before that.”
I gestured, calling back the Gwangpung Order who were about to ascend the mountain.
“Damn it….”
“That was our chance to eliminate them.”
“We’re not eliminating them. We’re just putting them through hell.”
“Ah, right. I misspoke.”
“Count yourselves lucky.”
The Gwangpung Order members grimaced and returned to the Central Martial Hall.
“What’s wrong with these guys?”
Burren swallowed hard, watching the Gwangpung Order—who had transformed into beasts in just a week, their very essence altered. No, that wasn’t quite right either.
“Let’s treat the wounded first.”
I pointed to the Gwangpung Order members who had returned and the Central Martial Hall warriors scattered throughout the estate.
The Jeonmadan might be different, but most of these people probably didn’t even know Burren had been kidnapped.
“Four of us should be enough to report to the Head of House.”
Myself, Burren, Gelmir, and Ollan—those at the center of this incident—would be sufficient to explain the situation.
“Then what about Dogyae and Gomen….”
Terond gauged the mood of Dogyae, the strongest person present.
“Our Chief Steward doesn’t handle such tedious matters. Given his seniority, it wouldn’t be right to have him kneel and report.”
“Ahem! That’s true.”
Dogyae nodded, clearing his throat as if pleased with my words.
“Instead, Dogyae will handle the treatment of the wounded.”
“Me, me?”
“You will, won’t you?”
“Ugh!”
At my smile, Dogyae’s face hardened in an instant. Standing before Glen, the answer was already decided—whether he’d begrudgingly manage the children or not.
“How far are you going to work an old man! You damned brat!”
He answered with a curse instead.
“As expected, the Chief Steward cares most about the Order.”
“Quiet!”
He waved his hand dismissively, urging me to leave quickly.
“Huh….”
Terond stood beside Dogyae with his mouth agape, watching me smile.
‘Is Dogyae really such an easy person to handle?’
Dogyae was famous for being difficult and obstinate. Even when he was in the Elder Council, he was hard to manage, but after becoming a free agent, he was considered an uncontrollable disaster.
Seeing such a monster unable to move against this young swordmaster made him let out an involuntary laugh.
‘He’s not someone to be judged by strength alone.’
Raon’s true nature lay not in the talent and power that made him the youngest Master, but in his decisiveness to perceive Gelmir’s intentions and move swiftly, and his cunning to manipulate situations according to his will.
‘It’s admirable, really.’
To make the decision to strike the Central Intelligence Agency to save a comrade and move forward with such resolve—words like “impressive” fell far short.
He never thought he’d feel this way toward a swordmaster so much younger than himself.
“Then let’s go.”
I dragged the unconscious Gelmir and Ollan along with me.
“Are you really going to carry them like that?”
Terond swallowed hard as he looked at Gelmir and Ollan, who were nearly reduced to rags.
“There’s no need to treat criminals with courtesy.”
“B-but still….”
“Ah, there’s one more person I need.”
“Yes?”
I smiled faintly and raised a finger.
“This person is truly important, so please bring them here.”
*
*
*
Rimer stared to the side with his mouth hanging open.
I could see Raon and Burren, Gelmir with his arm severed, and Ollan with his eyes rolled back.
Slowly, I lifted my gaze. Upon the crimson stairs, atop the golden platform, were Glen’s cold, piercing eyes surveying the world below.
“Huh….”
Why am I here?
I was drinking contentedly at the Training Ground—I have no idea why I was dragged to this place.
To be honest, I have no memory of it. When I came to my senses, I was at the Patriarch’s Hall, and when I opened my eyes, I was in the Audience Chamber.
I chuckled softly as I watched Rimer standing there in a daze. Terond had brought him directly, yet he still hadn’t regained his composure.
“I greet the Head of House….”
“Formalities are unnecessary.”
Glen waved his hand just as I was about to offer my respects. I had known him since I was five years old, but I had never seen such coldness in his gaze before.
“Explain what happened.”
“I….”
“I will explain, sir.”
Burren Zigheart stepped forward before Raon could speak. As the one directly involved, he intended to tell the story himself.
“B-Burren.”
Gelmir gestured toward Burren Zigheart.
“Please….”
His voice trembled as he muttered a plea for mercy, as if he couldn’t afford to miss this final chance.
“….”
Burren Zigheart didn’t look back. He exhaled deeply, his gaze fixed solely on Glen Zigheart.
“On the day I returned from my mission, the commander of the Jeonmadan came to find me. We hadn’t seen each other in a long time, so I went to the Central Intelligence Agency to talk. During our conversation, the commander suddenly brought up the subject of Raon.”
“Raon?”
“Yes. He asked me to tell him Raon’s weaknesses so he could kill him.”
“Kill him….”
Glen Zigheart’s crimson eyes shifted to the right. An intensely chilling aura of energy pressed down upon Gelmir.
“Gasp!”
Gelmir collapsed, clutching his chest with his left hand. Blood seeped anew from his right shoulder, which had been bandaged.
“H-Head of House. P-Please spare me….”
Even as Gelmir prostrated himself begging, Glen Zigheart’s momentum did not diminish.
A roaring surge of power erupted.
Roen and Sheryl, standing on either side of Glen Zigheart, unleashed sharp waves of energy toward Gelmir with cold, rarely-seen expressions.
“Ugh….”
Under the aura emanating from the three of them, Gelmir trembled violently throughout his entire body, unable to move even a single finger.
“They told me to reveal my weaknesses and to lure him out to be killed. When I refused and tried to leave the Central Intelligence Agency, I was ambushed. When I opened my eyes, I found myself in an unfamiliar secret chamber….”
Whoooosh!
Glen’s formidable aura cut off Burren’s words abruptly. The energy that had been as cold as ice was now honed sharp as an awl, crushing the breath from both Gelmir and Ollan.
“Gack—!”
“Ugh….”
The two criminals gasped as though their hearts were stopping, their bodies pressed flat against the ground like dogs.
“Continue.”
“They ordered me to help kill Raon while I was restrained, but I refused. Then Ollan, the second commander of the Jeonmadan, arrived and began brainwashing me….”
Burren recounted the week he had spent in the secret chamber, then turned his gaze toward me.
“Just when I was about to give up, Raon came to me. Without him, I would have fallen victim to Ollan’s brainwashing.”
He clenched his fists as he looked back at Gelmir and Ollan.
“Ugh….”
“Gasp! Gasp!”
Glen’s aura continued to crush Gelmir and Ollan. Both of them bled from their bitten lips as cold sweat poured down their faces.
“Raon Zigheart.”
Glen’s gaze shifted to me standing in the center.
“How did you know Burren had been kidnapped?”
“I had no certainty.”
“No certainty?”
“Yes. It began as suspicion.”
I nodded.
“The Burren I know is more responsible than anyone. If he couldn’t participate in training, he would come in person to apologize to everyone. It seemed strange that he only sent the Butler, so I became suspicious.”
At those words, Burren’s shoulders trembled slightly, and Glen’s momentum subsided.
“Hmm!”
“As expected.”
Sheryl and Roen nodded with slight smiles, as if to say well done.
“I thought the Butler would be the one who knew about Burren’s situation, so I sought him out in secret and asked him for the truth. After that….”
I explained everything that had happened to Glen.
“Ah, no, sir! I….”
“Silence.”
Glen slammed Gelmir’s head to the floor with nothing but a glance. Blood trickled across the marble surface.
“I did not give you permission to open your mouth.”
“I’m, I’m sorry….”
Gelmir’s teeth chattered so violently they made audible clicking sounds.
“Gelmir.”
“Y-yes, yes….”
“Tell me what it was not.”
Glen tilted his chin slightly, as if willing to give Gelmir a chance. Yet the oppressive aura he exuded never wavered.
“It, it was not genuine. I merely played a small prank after seeing my younger brother’s achievements for the first time in so long. I did confine him, yes, but I never laid a hand on Burren!”
Gelmir spoke frantically, coughing blood, unwilling to waste this precious opportunity. His eyes pleaded desperately as he spouted nonsensical excuses.
“When I was about to end the prank and give Burren a gift, Raon appeared and ruined everything. I, I’m telling the truth! Please believe me!”
“That’s quite strange.”
I cut off Gelmir’s words with a slight chuckle. It seemed no one believed him anyway, but it was better to bring things to a definitive end.
“What kind of prank lasts an entire week? Besides, the moment you saw me, you only thought of killing me. When you actually wielded your sword, you aimed for my neck and heart… cough!”
As I spoke, blood that had backed up from internal injuries I hadn’t fully healed spilled from my mouth.
Boom!
The moment Raon’s crimson blood spattered onto the floor, Glen Zigheart’s body trembled violently as he sat upon the Jade Throne.
Sheryl and Roen likewise clenched their fists and surged their momentum upward once more.
Kugugugugugu!
As if bound by an unspoken pact, the three unleashed their terrifying auras simultaneously, shaking not merely the Audience Chamber, but the entire Patriarch’s Hall.
“…Ugh!”
“Grrk….”
Gelmir and Ollan collapsed face-first onto the floor like flattened tomatoes, their entire bodies quaking. Unable to draw breath, they could only emit strangled gasps.
“Terond.”
Glen gestured toward Terond, who stood to his right.
“Yes.”
Terond stepped forward and bowed deeply.
“Which of the two speaks the truth?”
“Time was limited, so my investigation was not entirely thorough.”
“No matter. Speak.”
“Based on the conditions in the Underground Secret Room, the testimonies of the Jeonmadan and Central Intelligence Agency inspectors, and my verification of Ollan’s brainwashing abilities, I believe the Gwangpung Unit Commander’s account is over 95% certain.”
“Well done.”
Glen nodded, and Terond returned to his original position.
“Gelmir.”
Glen’s aura extinguished like a snuffed candle. Yet his gaze sank as deep and fathomless as an abyss.
“You have cast away the final chance given to you.”
“Ah….”
“The Jeonmadan is hereby dissolved. All inspectors belonging to the Jeonmadan are barred from returning to the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Central Intelligence Agency itself shall cease operations for two years, sharing in this responsibility.”
He looked down at Gelmir with emotionless eyes and continued speaking.
“Your right arm can never be reattached, and from this moment forward, I sentence you to twenty years of wall-facing confinement.”
“T-twenty years?”
Gelmir’s jaw trembled as he lifted his head.
“B-but my arm won’t even be reattached, and twenty years? Are you telling me to die, sir!”
“You were the one who kidnapped your brother first and attempted to kill the Gwangpung Unit commander.”
“I only did what everyone else did!”
Perhaps because he knew he would be confined to a cave for twenty years, Gelmir spat venom at Glen.
“Just like those who reached the pinnacle of the family, I was merely trying to eliminate an obstacle! Father did the same! The Head of House walked the same path, didn’t he!”
“That’s true. I walked that path as well. I have no intention of denying it.”
Glen nodded with his jaw slightly open.
“However, I handled my affairs flawlessly. I verified multiple times that no one would know, that it would never reach anyone’s ears. After that, I grew stronger. I cultivated my power so that even if someone discovered my shame, they could not challenge me—so that no one could dare to oppose me.”
A chillingly arid aura emanated from him, piercing through Gelmir’s very soul.
“You are different from me. You failed to even understand your brother’s nature, creating an opening for yourself.”
“Ah…”
Gelmir’s pupils went dull like a rotten egg. His mouth hung open vacantly as he stared into the void.
“Jeonmadan Second Unit Commander Ollan not only failed to stop his misguided superior but participated in the wrongdoing and attempted to brainwash the Zigheart Main Lineage—therefore, execution.”
“Hehehehe!”
Ollan drooled uncontrollably, seemingly driven mad by Glen’s overwhelming presence.
“And Raon Zigheart.”
“Yes.”
“You also bear fault.”
Raon said nothing and bowed his head.
“You should have handled internal family matters through the Family Law Enforcement, not taken the initiative yourself. The result was good, but the beginning was not.”
“I apologize.”
It was a response I had anticipated, so I lowered my gaze.
“I thought that going through the Family Law Enforcement would give Gelmir time.”
“Give him time?”
“Yes. Since Burren’s butler is someone we can use, I thought Gelmir might have connections within the Family Law Enforcement as well. In fact, Gelmir kept boasting that the Family Law Enforcement couldn’t even enter the Central Intelligence Agency.”
“Hmph!”
At those words, Terond’s eyes turned lethal as he glared at Gelmir. His pride seemed deeply wounded.
“You may impose punishment on me and the Unit Commander. We are satisfied with having saved our comrade.”
Raon offered Rimer a faint smile.
“What? Me? Why?”
Rimer’s eyes widened as he pointed at himself with his finger.
“The Unit Commander approved my reckless plan and even sent a letter to the Family Law Enforcement. Without you, I wouldn’t have had the courage to make the decision to storm the Central Intelligence Agency.”
“Ah….”
What is this madman saying now!
It was absurd. He had devised the entire plan himself, yet was trying to shift the responsibility. It felt like irresponsible indulgence.
[You bastard! What are you doing!]
Rimer immediately sent an aura message to Raon.
[You know the Gwangpung Unit members are in the midst of their training growth, right?]
Raon replied without any hesitation.
[I know that….]
[If they receive punishment now, they’ll miss their opportunity to grow. So let me and the Unit Commander take responsibility.]
The Gwangpung Order was now operating at peak confidence and concentration.
A single day of training could yield the results of a month’s worth of ordinary practice, so it would have been a waste to squander this opportunity.
[Ugh….]
Rimer bit his lip. With the order members on the line, there was nothing more to say.
[Commander. You’re close with the Head of House, aren’t you? Could you please ask him to reduce the punishment a bit?]
[W-well, we are close, but….]
The words about taking a beating and living with it never left his mouth—his last shred of pride prevented it.
“The fault in this matter lies primarily with me and the Commander. Please issue us a punishment.”
[Ugh….]
Raon lowered his head with calm eyes, while Rimer bent at the waist with a pained expression.
“I see.”
Glen Zigheart looked down at Raon and Rimer with a cold gaze.
“While there were certainly problems with the process, considering that there were no casualties, that Burren Zigheart was genuinely kidnapped, and that he nearly fell victim to brainwashing—I hereby impose one week of confinement on Raon Zigheart.”
“H-Head of House! Raon is suffering because of me….”
“Enough.”
Burren tried to step forward, but Raon grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back.
“I am grateful for your consideration.”
“The two of you may leave now.”
“Understood.”
Raon rose to his feet and looked at Rimer, gesturing with a nod that he should go. Together with Burren, he bowed to Glen Zigheart and left the Audience Chamber.
“Terond. Handle it according to regulations.”
“As you command.”
Terond also departed from the Audience Chamber, dragging along Gelmir and Ollan, who were still half out of their minds.
“Ah, these young people these days are so spirited. It’s quite refreshing.”
Rimer laughed awkwardly and scratched the back of his head.
“You heard the Aura Message. I actually didn’t do anything….”
“The unit members went to fight, and you’ve been drinking?”
Glen’s gaze grew as cold and dry as when he looked at Gelmir.
“Huh?”
Rimer swallowed hard.
‘I cleared all the alcohol from my system, didn’t I?’
When I heard the summons to the Audience Chamber, I had purged every trace of intoxication, yet somehow I’d been caught.
“It’s the smell.”
Sheryl sighed and shook her head repeatedly.
“The alcohol vapors that escape when you burn off the drink have soaked into your entire outfit!”
“But I don’t smell anything….”
“Of course you don’t—you’re the one who drank it! You idiot!”
“Ugh!”
Rimer’s jaw trembled. She was right. I hadn’t had time to air out the alcohol-soaked clothes before rushing straight into the Audience Chamber, so my drinking had been exposed from the start.
“Head of House, surely you understand. What matters as children grow is the guardian’s trust. I trust our children, I truly….”
I looked up, then clamped my mouth shut. Glen, Sheryl, and Roen standing on the platform had their eyes fixed on the blood that had just dripped from Raon’s lips.
“I, I just wanted to say….”
“Begin.”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
Following Glen’s nod, the three descended from the platform with fury blazing in their eyes.
“Sirs? He’s a patient! He hasn’t fully recovered yet….”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“That’s right. I’m not going to beat him so badly that he suffers lingering aftereffects.”
Glen Zigheart and Sheryl each summoned their auras and clenched their fists.
Rimer swallowed hard and turned around. Roen had already approached and blocked his path.
“R-Roen?”
“Do not worry. I will inflict upon him exactly as much pain as Young Master Raon suffered.”
Roen smiled gently and dusted off his hands.
“So now there are three of you?”
Before he could finish speaking, a crimson bolt of lightning and a blue aura cascaded down from the ceiling.
Ahhhhhhh!
*
*
*
I narrowed my eyes as I watched the Patriarch’s Hall trembling. I thought I heard someone screaming, but it seemed to have stopped just as quickly.
Tilting my head in confusion, I stepped outside to find the Gwangpung Unit waiting after completing their treatment.
“Raon….”
“How did it go?”
Lunan Slion and Martha rushed forward.
“You won’t have to see Gelmir and Ollan anymore.”
Twenty years of sealed meditation with their auras suppressed—in a way, it was a punishment more severe than death itself. I would never see Gelmir again.
“Thank goodness we don’t have to see that unlucky face anymore… mm.”
Martha was muttering away when she caught sight of Burren and fell silent.
“It’s fine.”
Burren smiled faintly.
“All my lingering attachments have been severed. I won’t be going to the Central Intelligence Agency.”
Though he didn’t show it outwardly, Burren had harbored some attachment to the Central Intelligence Agency even after joining the Gwangpung Unit.
That small longing seemed to have completely vanished with this incident.
“I’ll dedicate my bones to the Gwangpung Unit, so don’t worry.”
“Burren….”
“Burren!”
“That’s our squad leader for you.”
“Let’s do this together!”
At his resolute declaration, the eyes of the Gwangpung Unit swordsmen gleamed red with fervor.
“So that means….”
“We can start now, right?”
At Martha’s nod, Dorian pulled out that palanquin again from his waist pouch.
“Wait just a moment!”
“Burren! Burren! Burren!”
The Gwangpung Unit swordsmen placed Burren back in the palanquin and began climbing Bekmang Mountain, which stood directly behind the Patriarch’s Hall.
“Burren! Burren! Burren!”
“You need to suffer a bit too!”
“Grrrrr!”
“The harder we push, the harder it gets!”
“Kyaaaah!”
The swordsmen growled with bestial intensity in their eyes.
“Raon! Please save me! Why have these bastards turned into beasts!”
Burren trembled like a wet puppy, unable to grasp the situation.
“Stop.”
“Ugh!”
As I raised my hand, the Gwangpung Unit—which had been charging up the mountain like wild boars—came to a halt.
-Huh?
Wrath’s mouth fell open in surprise.
-You… have you regained some semblance of human compassion?
‘I need to explain the situation.’
I smiled faintly and approached Burren’s side.
“Burren. You can see how much stronger the Gwangpung Unit has become, right?”
“I… I can see it, but…”
He muttered that he didn’t want things to turn out this way.
“They all achieved this through completing their concentration training. As a member of the Gwangpung Unit, you should naturally do the same.”
“But I was imprisoned for a week! I don’t even have the strength to stand!”
Burren raised his trembling hands.
“Burren. If you reverse ‘crisis,’ what do you get?”
“Op… opportunity? That doesn’t mean anything, does it?”
“Right. It means nothing. Just do it anyway.”
“Uh… uh…”
-You absolute madman!
Both Burren and Wrath stared with their mouths agape in disbelief.
“That’s our acting unit commander for you.”
“Right! That’s what a true Gwangpung Order member looks like.”
“Let’s go! Let’s go!”
The Gwangpung Unit swordsmen nodded with crimson eyes gleaming.
“Alright, let’s move out again.”
I tapped the palanquin lightly and smiled.
“Burren! Burren! Burren!”
The Gwangpung Order chanted Burren’s name like a mantra as they climbed toward Bekmang Mountain.
“Ah, put Burren down, and you all hide too. I need to start the second part of the concentration training.”
“Bur….”
The Gwangpung Order’s cheers came to an abrupt halt. They turned around with eyes devoid of light.
“What did you just say….”
“I said you’ll all participate together.”
I let out a sinister chuckle.
“I’m under house arrest starting tomorrow for a week. Before that, I’m going to drill the training you need to do into your bodies.”
I had no intention of delaying the Gwangpung Order’s training, so I planned to condition them during the remaining time. After that, I could leave them to Dogyae.
“N-now this is too much….”
“We have to kill him.”
“Yeah. That’s the only way we survive.”
The Gwangpung Order set down the palanquin and gritted their teeth. They drew their swords and unleashed all their accumulated momentum.
“Kill him!”
“Aaahhhhh!”
Led by Martha’s cry, the Gwangpung Order formed the Grand Gwangpung Formation and charged forward. A genuine killing intent flowed from their blades.
-Sigh….
Wrath let out a weary breath.
-The others were fakes. True madness belongs to this one alone….
He closed his eyes tightly, as if pitying the Gwangpung Order rushing toward him.
“This makes things easier for me.”
Raon chuckled and lifted the Jecheon Sword still in its scabbard.
“Tonight’s going to be quite long.”
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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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