The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 280

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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 280

A memory surfaced—a conversation between Derus Robert and Matio that I had overheard in passing during my previous life.

[The White Blood Cult Master is truly formidable not because of raw power, but because of her filthy sorcery. It’s nearly impossible to approach her properly when you don’t know where or how her incantations will manifest.]

Derus had said this while clicking his tongue sharply.

[Especially fighting the White Blood Cult Master in a place where she’s already set up her formation is no different than begging for death. Do you remember the Shadow operatives I sent to Riten Village not long ago? They were annihilated.]
[Yes.]

Matio had nodded stiffly, like a wooden puppet.

[That was also the White Blood Cult Master’s sorcery. She infuses blood energy into the humans within the formation, turning them into sacrifices that obey her commands. Then she extracts their blood energy—now purer and more abundant—and consumes them alive. Blood energy parasitism, isn’t it magnificent?]

Derus had called it a beautiful and efficient method, ordering Matio to analyze and study the formation.
Though he had failed, I managed to fill gaps in my knowledge of sorcery and formations by learning over his shoulder back then.

I bit my lip as I recalled that conversation.

‘I’m certain. It’s that sorcery.’

The form and method had changed considerably from what I had heard back then, but the purpose remained unchanged.

The formation installed throughout Granseville was a sorcery designed to infuse blood energy into the humans within it, and then harvest their energy once it had grown larger and purer in the future.

Literally a farm. Granseville was becoming a human livestock farm for the White Blood Cult to cultivate blood energy.

‘How could anyone conceive of such a thing?’

In my previous life, I had lived as a hunting dog, witnessing countless atrocities and committing many myself, but this was on a different level. I couldn’t fathom how someone wearing human skin could commit such acts.

‘All these people will become sacrifices…’

The moment the formation was completed, all the people before my eyes would become prey for the White Blood Cult.
They would believe themselves to be free humans living their lives, but in reality, they would become fish in a tank, following the will of blood energy and waiting to be placed on the master’s table.

‘I can’t just leave this as it is.’

Sylvia’s voice echoed in my mind—her only request, spoken as a true Zigheart swordmaster, that I draw my blade for the weak.

‘No, that’s not it.’

Setting aside Sylvia’s plea, to stand idle and watch this unfold would be a failure not as a swordmaster, but as a human being.

“Ahahaha!”
“The luck’s on our side today. Just one more round!”
“More drinks? Bring it all out!”
“Thank you so much for today.”
“Let’s meet again next time.”

I gazed up at the sky from the central Main Street of Granseville, where the noise was loud enough to make my ears ring. My eyes fixed on the crimson mist of blood energy spreading like fluffy clouds, and I steeled my resolve.

‘I’ll smash it to pieces.’

By whatever means necessary.

*

*

*

Martha knelt down to meet the silent Girl at eye level.

“What’s your name?”

Since she wouldn’t speak about her wounds, I decided to change the subject for now.

“Luna.”
“Luna? That’s similar to the name of a foolish kid I know.”
“A foolish kid?”
“Yeah. There’s an idiot who walks around with vacant eyes 365 days a year.”
“How could such a person exist in this world!”
“They really do. You’ll probably get to see them if you get the chance later.”

Martha chuckled softly, recalling how Lunan always stood there with that vacant expression.

“My name is Martha.”
“Martha….”
“Luna. This is really important—can you tell me how you got that wound?”
“….”

Luna had seemed childlike moments ago, but the moment the subject of her wound came up, her lips sealed shut.

“This wound is fresh. Tell me who cut you.”

Martha’s eyes narrowed as she examined the scar etched into Luna’s arm. The jagged edges suggested a blade—a sword or similar weapon.

“N-no one did this to me. And….”

Luna clamped her lips shut again, as if unable to speak further.

“Sigh.”

Martha exhaled deeply, then tossed the wallet she’d returned to Luna lightly into the air before catching it again.

“Then there’s no help for it. Let’s go.”
“W-where to?”
“Where else? The guard station, obviously. We caught a pickpocket red-handed—I can’t just let that slide. Ah! Actually, I should visit that lunatic first.”
“That lunatic?”
“Yeah. There’s a complete psychopath who turns humans into dogs—rabid ones, at that.”

Martha looked down at Luna with a chilling smile.

“No, please! I have to get back today!”
“That’s not my concern.”
“Please! I have a younger sibling!”

Luna grasped Martha’s sleeve with pleading eyes.

“Hmm….”

Martha bit her lip slightly.

‘So that’s why.’

If a skilled warrior caught a pickpocket, their wrist would be severed on the spot. It was common sense not to target mercenaries or martial artists when stealing. I had thought the child simply didn’t know better, but it seemed she understood the risk and acted out of desperation anyway.

“Is it because of the tribute payment?”
“Yes. It’s due tomorrow….”

Luna nodded, her jaw trembling. The shame and desperation the child carried was palpable against my skin.

“Alright. If you tell me everything, I’ll give you all of this.”

Martha pointed to the wallet she held in her hand.

“All… all of that?”
“Yes. All of it.”
“Hmm….”

Luna’s eyes darted left and right frantically. The pupils that had gleamed with fear, embarrassment, and anxiety gradually stilled.

“…I understand.”
“Good.”

Martha tossed the wallet to Luna without a moment’s hesitation.

“Phew….”

Luna held the wallet, turning it over in her hands as she exhaled deeply.

“Actually, this wound isn’t from being hit.”
“What?”
“I was burying stones in the ground when I cut myself on a sharp rock.”

She winced as she touched the unhealed wound.

“You bury stones?”
“Yes. They pay me to bury stones in designated locations. I got this cut while doing that work. And it’s been a while now, but it won’t heal properly.”

Martha examined Luna’s arm closely. Now that she mentioned it, the wound looked like it came from a thick blade rather than a sword. A sharp stone would certainly be capable of causing such an injury.

“Who told you to install that stone?”
“That was….”
“You promised you’d tell me.”
“A merchant named Tus, sir.”
“A merchant?”
“Yes. He buys food and snacks for homeless children and provides them a place to stay. Sometimes he gives us pocket money in exchange for small jobs.”

Luna spoke of Tus with a faint smile, clearly harboring affection for the man.

“Why did he tell you to bury that stone?”
“He said it was a stone that protects the village from evil spirits.”
“The other villagers don’t know about it?”
“No, they know. But they’ve just accepted it now. He’s quite superstitious, you see. Though lately he’s been telling us not to mention it….”
“I see.”

Martha clenched her fists as she listened to Luna’s words.

‘Got him.’

This man Tus was definitely from the White Blood Cult. He had clearly used the children to carry out his filthy work on this land without arousing anyone’s suspicion.

‘He must have given them a fake stone at first, and now that attention has faded, he’s buried a stone infused with blood energy.’

In the early stages when others might have grown suspicious, he had them bury an ordinary stone. Now that interest had waned, he had given them the real stone infused with blood energy. A cunning bastard indeed.

“Luna. Thank you.”
“Haa….”

Luna’s face darkened with guilt as she bit her lip hard.

“You may have just saved this village.”
“What? Saved it?”
“You’ll understand later.”

Martha smiled faintly and patted Luna’s shoulder.

“Thanks to you, I think I’ll be able to find the real evil spirit.”

*

*

*

I smiled faintly as I listened to Martha’s account.

“I was wondering if I should have restrained you since you were taking so long, but I didn’t expect you to bring back information like this.”

Martha had brought the most significant clue of all. My surprise was all the greater because I hadn’t anticipated it in the slightest.

“You’re different from that loudmouth and the sleepy one over there.”

Martha let out a scoff while glancing at Burren and Lunan.

“Tch!”
“….”

Burren’s face twisted in indignation, while Lunan simply blinked in acceptance.

“This is the stone Luna mentioned.”
“Me?”
“Not you!”

Martha waved her hand dismissively at Lunan, who had turned his head, and extended a palm-sized stone to me.

“I couldn’t sense anything from it myself.”
“Hmm….”

I narrowed my eyes as I examined the stone Martha had given me.

‘It’s definitely there.’

As I actively channeled the Ring of Fire, I detected traces of blood energy embedded deep within the stone. The traces were so faint that I would have missed them if my senses hadn’t grown sharper.
If my senses hadn’t become heightened from the subtle nature of it, I almost wouldn’t have noticed it.

“Using a small child like that.”

He’s a sharp guy.

No one paid attention to abandoned children. Even the Black Market didn’t show much interest, using the excuse that children’s futures branched into countless paths.
Unless they reached an appropriate age or obtained employment, they treated them no differently than beggars—hardly worth their concern.

‘And he exploited human psychology too.’

At first, he had the children bury worthless stones while playing the role of a benevolent merchant handing out pocket money. Only after dispelling all suspicion did he have them plant stones infused with blood energy—a sign of considerable caution.

‘He must have used them for that Formation.’

Tus had clearly used the children to bury these stones in order to supplement the Formation hovering above Granseville.

“I’ve uncovered something too.”

I had Burren, Martha, and Lunan sit down before sharing everything I’d discovered so far.

“How could he commit such madness…?”
“Tch…!”

Burren bit his lips until they bled, and even Lunan, who typically remained composed, grew so enraged he nearly drew his sword.

“I need to go to Luna. If Tus finds out I’ve met with her, she’ll be in danger!”

Martha spun around as if to dash out immediately. I had told her not to inform Luna, and she’d acknowledged it, but now anxiety consumed her.

“Martha, going is fine, but what you really need to watch isn’t Luna.”

I shook my head slowly.

“Tus will summon Luna soon. Watch him instead.”
“Tus will summon Luna?”
“Yes. The Formation is nearly complete.”

Judging by the mass of blood energy hovering in the sky, the Formation wouldn’t take long to activate. Considering Tus’s cautious nature, he would move the children again this time.

“Martha and Unit 1, locate Tus and keep him under surveillance. Burren and Unit 3, provide support to Unit 1. Lunan and Unit 2, continue tracking the White Blood Cult separately as planned.”
“Understood.”
“Got it.”

Burren, Martha, and Lunan nodded and left the room.

‘I need to go as well.’

Raon opened the door without the slightest sound and stepped out of the room.
Though it was dawn, Granseville’s night remained brilliant and cacophonous. Without revealing myself to anyone, I stood atop the Old Tavern and gazed up at the sky.

“How clear.”

From this vantage point, the night sky was so pristine that not even a wisp of cloud marred its expanse. I chuckled softly and activated the Ring of Fire, and immediately the view filled with clouds of blood energy that consumed the clean heavens.

Raon swept his hair back with a scoff at the crimson mist.

“Let’s see who comes out on top.”

*

*

*

A soft luminescence permeated the Underground Cavern.

The 7th Apostle extended his hand and pressed it against the cavern floor, slick with blood. As pristine white light erupted from his grip, the blood began to bubble and boil.

The heated blood moved with the fluidity of a living serpent, tracing a hexagram across the floor. Its form mirrored Granseville itself, save for a slight distortion on the right angle.

The 7th Apostle gazed upon the hexagram drawn in blood and smiled with satisfaction.

“Tus.”
“Yes.”

Tus, who had been standing behind him, dropped to one knee.

“This side is complete. How is yours?”
“All preparations are finished. Once I calibrate the incantation, I need only install the blood stones tomorrow night.”

Tus’s tone was reverent, as though addressing a deity.

“Are you using those brats again this time?”
“Yes. Thanks to the groundwork we’ve laid, it’s the most inconspicuous method.”
“You certainly use that head of yours in dirty ways.”

The 7th Apostle twisted his jaw and chuckled.

“Those children must be brimming with considerable blood energy. They should taste quite delicious.”
“I’m afraid those children cannot serve as food.”
“What?”
“The moment the curse is completed, their life force will be drained into the blood stone, leaving them as mummies.”

Tus spoke of the children’s lives as casually as if they were pebbles on the roadside, bowing his head.

“Kahahaha!”

The 7th Apostle leaned his back against the wall and burst into raucous laughter.

“I was teasing you because it seemed like you cared for the children, but there was no need for that.”

He looked down at Tus with a smirk.

“You are a more devoted follower than anyone else. May the blessing of the Blood God always be with you.”
“You honor me too much.”

Tus trembled with what seemed like emotion.

“What is Raon doing?”
“The same as yesterday. He continues to wander through Granseville, searching for our followers.”
“Perfect.”

The 7th Apostle scratched the wound on his chest and smiled wickedly.

“We’ll open the curse tonight as planned, and activate it tomorrow night.”
“I shall proceed as you command.”

Tus bowed and sank into the ground below.

“Tomorrow. Finally, tomorrow.”

The 7th Apostle’s eyes flashed a vivid crimson, mirroring the blood energy pooling across the ground.

“Raon Zigheart. You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this day.”

I’ll tear your flesh and blood from your living body.

*

*

*

The next day, I traversed every corner of Granseville. After examining the formations scattered throughout the city, I came to a halt in a deserted alley as the moon rose.

‘This isn’t easy.’

An incomprehensible force woven into the blood energy swirled endlessly, obstructing my interpretation of the formation. With it wedged between the currents of blood energy, I couldn’t grasp the proper flow.

‘What exactly is this?’

The energy felt familiar, yet its identity remained elusive. It clung to the blood energy like gum, refusing to reveal its true nature.

I had always known that dismantling formations was difficult, but I never expected to fail at uncovering its identity by this evening.

“Sigh….”

I exhaled deeply and examined the formation once more. Within the crimson haze, a woman with scarlet lips seemed to mock me, as if to say I couldn’t do it.

-This damnable bastard….

Wrath’s jaw trembled as he bared his fangs.

-Enough with the drinking already! Let’s eat something!

He thrashed his limbs about, complaining that the smell of alcohol was suffocating him.

‘There’s no helping it.’

Regrettably, the interpretation of the formation was progressing slowly, and I didn’t have time to sit down for a proper meal.

-Ugh, how can I smell such delicious food right before my nose and yet be unable to eat it! How much longer must the True Demon King suffer like this!
“Hmm….”

I rubbed my stomach. Since I hadn’t eaten properly since yesterday, hunger was certainly gnawing at me.

-Even in the Demon Realm, there’s a saying that ether acid is best after a meal. Let’s eat first. Once you fill your belly, surely a brilliant idea will come to you.

Wrath muttered this strange proverb and kept shouting for food.

‘Understood.’

Since I’d been operating the Ring of Fire for far too long, a brief rest seemed like a good idea, so I nodded.

‘Which place looks good?’
-Really? You’re actually going?
‘Speak quickly before I change my mind.’
-The True Demon King is drawn to the Dining Hall on the right. The barbecue aroma wafting from there nearly made me lose my senses!
‘Barbecue, huh….’

I chuckled softly and walked in the direction Wrath had indicated. Before entering the noisy Dining Hall, I took one last look at the formation.

‘Still no changes… wait?’

Just as I was about to suppress the Ring of Fire, the blood energy in the sky suddenly surged violently, creating a transformation I had never witnessed before.

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

Throughout Granseville, crimson blood energy and golden-yellow qi began to shimmer like heat waves, gathering together into clouds of blood energy.

-B-but the food….
‘Be quiet.’

I pushed Wrath aside and bit my lip as I observed the golden aura seeping between the blood energies.

“Demonic energy.”

It was demonic energy….

The familiar aura woven within the mist of blood energy was none other than demonic energy.

Raon ground my teeth together.

‘These insane bastards.’

When people harboring negative emotions—fear, resentment, anger—died, they left behind a sinister aura. In other words, malevolent energy.

The blood demons had clearly refined that sorcerous formation by harnessing even the malevolent energy of those they’d slain. The malevolent energy woven into the blood aura was precisely why I couldn’t find a way to dispel the formation until now.

Uuuuuoooong!

The Soul Reaper Sword sensed it too, unleashing a formidable resonance. A cry imbued with rage, resentment, and anguish.

-W-we should eat later, right? Mmm…

Wrath withdrew on his own.

I grasped the trembling blade of the Soul Reaper Sword firmly and retreated into an alley where few people ventured.

Zzzziiing!

I steadied my breathing and activated the Ring of Fire. The seven rings, unified with the Soul Reaper Sword’s anguished cry, created a magnificent resonance through my body as their instrument.

My entire body burned like a furnace, my consciousness reaching a fever pitch.

My heightened senses concentrated entirely on deciphering the sorcery. Within that extreme focus, my mind spun with ferocious intensity.

Uuuuoooong!

The previously dizzying flow of the crimson mist became vivid before my eyes. Like aura coursing through mana circuits, the blood energy raced along its predetermined path through the haze.

My heart pounded wildly, yet my mind remained as clear as a still lake.

I read the entire flow of blood energy in a single moment as if sketching a picture, then imprinted it into my mind.
My exhausted body, which moments before had felt foreign to me, suddenly surged with vitality.

The blood energy swelled ever larger, but its interior, every aspect of its flow, poured into my consciousness.

I lifted my fingers and traced a line. The trajectory of the sorcerous flow filling my mind, reversed in direction, spread outward along the crimson luminescence.

A perfect solution. The answer to erase that colossal sorcery at any moment flowed through those fingertips.

“Haah….”

Warm breath escaped from my lips. The moon had long since set, and the rising sun poured forth its crimson rays as if in celebration.

I understood.

The answer to what that formation was and how to destroy it—all of it crystallized in my mind.

‘It’s over.’

Now I could shatter that sorcerous formation whenever I wished. A satisfied smile naturally spread across my face.

“Wrath.”

I lifted Wrath’s neck scruff, the creature drooping like a sleepy puppy.

“Let’s go eat.”
-R-really?

Wrath’s mouth fell open in shock, as if he never expected me to suggest eating right away.

“Yes. I’m hungry too.”

My mind was clear, but I had expended considerable stamina and mental energy—my stomach was demanding sustenance.

-Kuh, now we’re finally on the same wavelength! Then let’s go to that place we were heading to yesterday!
“Alright.”

I smiled faintly. Though I was indeed hungry, I was grateful to Wrath for waiting without complaint, so I decided to indulge his choice for breakfast.

-Now I’m starting to like you. Yes, this is true coexistence, true symbiosis. You’re finally becoming….

As Wrath’s grin widened, a message materialized before my eyes.

[You have deciphered an Absolute-Grade Sorcerous Formation.]
[The title 【Sorcery Interpreter】 has been created.]
[The trait 【Formation Interpretation】 has been created.]
[All ability stats increase by 5 points.]

It was a system reward for interpreting such an extraordinarily difficult sorcerous formation.

“?”
-?

The pupils of my eyes and Wrath’s eyes, which had been smiling, suddenly widened. Our expressions were similar, but the emotions we felt were completely opposite.

‘You’re giving me this?’
-Why are you giving me this!

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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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