The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 296

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

Chapter 296

In the Underground Training Ground where sunlight never reached.
A desperate cry of exertion echoed across the fine sand.

The source of that roar was the Gwangpung Unit. Excluding Raon and Dorian, the swordsmen of the Gwangpung Unit had gathered in one place to conduct formation training.

Not much time had passed, and despite all of them carrying injuries both large and small, the momentum generated by the Gwangpung Unit was on an entirely different level than before.

It wasn’t merely that they had grown stronger—their very essence seemed transformed as they endlessly unleashed sharp and ferocious sword energy.

“Twenty minutes of rest.”

After concluding the Gwangpung Formation training, Burren Zigheart instructed the swordsmen to rest.

“Twenty minutes of rest!”

Despite hearing the rest order, the Gwangpung Unit swordsmen did not sit. Instead, they began individual training at a slight distance from one another.

Even during rest time, only the sounds of swords being swung and footwork echoing through the Training Ground could be heard. The swordsmen’s expressions were equally grim—as if they faced enemies before them rather than conducting mere practice.

Burren Zigheart executed the Saber Wind Blade five consecutive times before straightening his waist.

‘Damn it….’

Just for a moment. Even the briefest moment without focusing on the sword allowed unwelcome thoughts to surface.

What if Raon had donned Eden’s mask? What if Dorian had become a blood demon, drinking blood? Or worst of all—what if something had gone wrong and both of them were dead?

‘Just let them both be alive.’

I owed Raon a debt beyond words. Not merely my life, but my very soul had been saved by him—so even if I were to die, I wished for him to live.

‘Please.’

As Burren Zigheart clenched his lips and prayed for the safety of both men, Martha approached.

“It’s time.”
“Right.”

I nodded and looked at Martha. Her complexion was pale. In truth, this wasn’t the time for training—she needed to recover from her wounds—and her condition reflected that.

Still, I couldn’t bring myself to tell her to rest. She wouldn’t listen anyway, and I couldn’t begin to imagine what it felt like to have a comrade kidnapped by an enemy.

“Stop worrying about me. Do something about her instead.”

Martha, as if reading Burren Zigheart’s thoughts, frowned and pointed behind him. There, Lunan Slion was swinging a frost-laden blade, emanating an eerie aura.

“That crazy woman. She’s been swinging that sword without sleeping this whole time. At this rate, she’s really going to die.”
“Hmm…”

Burren Zigheart bit his lip as he watched Lunan Slion. Despite suffering injuries just as severe as Martha’s, she was pushing herself through training so intense it was difficult to approach her.

The girl who loved to gaze blankly at the sky had vanished, replaced by a female swordmaster brimming with killing intent.

“I can’t stop her.”

Burren Zigheart exhaled deeply and shook his head. Not just Lunan Slion and Martha, but everyone else was swinging their blades like madmen, their thoughts consumed by Raon and Dorian.
Knowing what was in their hearts, stopping them was impossible.

“Gather around! We’re resuming Gwangpung Formation training—”
Creak.

Just as I was about to reassemble everyone and restart formation training, the Training Ground door opened smoothly, and Rimer entered. His gaze was unusually composed, chillingly dry.

“We’ve located Raon’s position.”

At Rimer’s quiet words, the movements of the Gwangpung Unit swordsmen froze abruptly. Their exhausted eyes suddenly gleamed with the light of hope.

“Really, sir?”
“Where is he?”
“Raon is alive?”
“What about Dorian…?”

The Gwangpung Unit swordsmen rushed toward Rimer, pouring out questions they’d been desperate to ask but couldn’t.

“The location is near Camelrun, but I don’t have the exact details yet.”

Rimer shook his head.

“The Black Market is preparing a large-scale dimensional transfer. They’ll cross into Camelrun through a dimensional gate. We still have time, so if anyone wants to back out, speak now.”
“….”

No one answered. It meant they were all going together.

“Your resolve is admirable, but your eyes betray your tension.”

Rimer smiled with his usual lightness.

“You’re wondering if you’ll be useful in combat. Whether Raon will be alright. How many enemies there are and how strong they might be. Countless thoughts will plague you. But if you don’t go today, you’ll regret it for the rest of your lives.”

The swordsmen, emboldened by his words, clenched their fists so hard they made audible sounds.

“I can’t ease your other worries, but there’s one thing I can assure you of. It doesn’t matter who the enemy is or how many they number.”

Rimer met the burning gazes of the Gwangpung Unit members with an eerie smile.

“The greatest swordmaster on the Continent has taken up his blade once more.”

*

*

*

I gazed at the red crocodile mask in my hand, my lips curling slightly.

‘A crocodile of some kind.’

Judging by the massive, razor-sharp teeth and the rough, saw-like texture of the skin, it appeared to be a large monster—a Lava Crocodile King.

‘What manner of creature was it?’

Crocodiles were monsters that appeared throughout the Continent, but given the red coloring of the mask, it was likely a crocodile from a desert or hot region.

‘That would be a king, then.’

Eden didn’t craft this helmet from ordinary monsters—they used magic stones left behind by clan leaders or kings. The soul trapped within this helmet was undoubtedly the Lava Crocodile King.

-If you wear that thing and someone else walks in here, won’t everything be exposed?

Wrath gestured toward the Treasury door, his expression darkening.

‘That’s possible, I suppose.’

Wrath was right—if I claimed to have come searching for armor and weapons, then suddenly donned this helmet, anyone would grow suspicious.

‘That’s why I won’t wear it.’
-What? You clearly said you would….
‘I won’t wear it, but there’s another way to make contact with the Mental Realm.’

I slipped my hand into the helmet, a faint smile crossing my face.

-Impossible! That’s madness! You’re human. It’s impossible to manipulate a soul at your own whim!
‘You’re right. I can’t do it alone.’

I nodded, watching Wrath tilt his head in confusion.

‘But I have your wrath.’

Wrath’s fury was currently clinging to my soul. If I awakened that rage, I could collide with the monster’s soul inside the helmet without ever wearing it.

‘You really are the greatest… no, helper, I should say.’

Wrath had likely granted me his fury once to seize this body, but that very rage had become invaluable in countless ways.
To think that power meant to harm me was instead proving beneficial—even the Giving Tree from the stories couldn’t compare to this.

-Gah-gah-gah!

Wrath’s jaw dropped as if he’d never considered such a thing.

-Impossible! This can’t be! That wrath was supposed to be a curse upon you—why is it becoming helpful?! Why are you using it as if it were your own!

He lunged forward, swinging his fists wildly in indignation, but his blows carried no force whatsoever—softer than cotton.

‘Thank you for your continued support.’

Raon smirked and pushed Wrath away.

-Damn it!

I pulled up the anger clinging to my soul as I watched the cotton candy turn blue with melancholy. Sparks flew from my right hand inside the helmet, and my vision flashed white.

“Hmm….”

When I opened my eyes again, the world had transformed.

The quiet Treasury vanished, replaced by a volcanic region erupting with molten lava. The scorching, dry air saturated with heat seared my lungs.

‘I’ve caught it perfectly.’

Raon smiled as I gazed upon the boiling lava. I had thought it was a desert, but it was a volcanic region. The owner of that mask appeared to be the Lava Crocodile King.

Kuguguguguuu!

As I surveyed the volcanic region with a satisfied smile, an enormous surge of lava erupted from the volcano’s center.

Kwaaaaaaah!

Behind the lava that shot up to touch the sky, a colossal shadow loomed. The Lava Crocodile King. A crocodile of unprecedented size I had ever witnessed, its crimson eyes blazing with intensity.

Though its aura fell far short, in terms of sheer size alone, it rivaled Rocta’s true form.

[Are you the human who will become my vessel?]

The Lava Crocodile King tilted its jaw upward, looking down upon Raon.

“No.”

Raon chuckled and shook my head.

“I came here to boil and devour you.”
[A creature devoid of fear, I see.]

The Lava Crocodile King let out a scornful laugh.

[Humans who come to hunt me always wear that same expression. Of course, not a single one failed to end up in my belly.]

The creature arrogantly swayed its snout.

[Humans are nothing but prey. It was true in the past, and it remains true now.]

The Lava Crocodile King pawed the ground with supreme confidence.

‘He has every reason to be.’

The Volcanic Region was the worst terrain imaginable—merely walking through it left one breathless and drained of stamina.
Even exceptional knights and mages would have struggled to capture the Lava Crocodile King, who roamed this volcanic wasteland as if it were his own home.

‘But this place is different.’

This wasn’t a true Volcanic Region, but rather the Mental Realm. The lava here could be held back entirely through sheer force of will.

[Seeing you reminds me of human flesh. I’ll devour your soul and feast on whatever remains. Don’t be troublesome—just surrender quickly….]
“Agreed. Let’s end this quickly.”

I nodded and drew the Heavenly Sword.

“Before something more annoying shows up.”
[Insolent wretch!]

The Lava Crocodile King’s jaws gaped wide open. Brilliant crimson lava erupted from its throat.

Roooaarrr!

I lowered the Heavenly Sword until its blade touched the ground, then swept it upward. Azure frost bloomed across the silver blade, forming a towering wall that collided with the lava.

Shhhhiiiing!

The colossal ice wall stood firm against the Lava Crocodile King’s eruption, unmelted and unchanged. It wasn’t a clash of heat and cold—it was a difference in mental power.

[What—what is this! How can ice possibly—!]

The Lava Crocodile King’s eyes widened in shock.

[Such ice shards should shatter in an instant before lava!]
“It’s not ordinary ice.”

I chuckled softly and stepped forward. Cyan frost surged across the blade of the Heavenly Sword.

“You don’t seem to understand this place very well.”

Since he hadn’t received a proper explanation after the helmet was created, the creature appeared ignorant of battles fought through spiritual force.

I gently stamped the ground.

[Digging your own grave, you fool!]

The moment I rose into the air, the Lava Crocodile King thrashed its feet. Lava erupted from the fractured earth, shooting toward my entire body.

“This pathetic attack is a grave?”

I resonated with the Ring of Fire. Drawing upon the resonance of my soul’s grade, I unleashed the Silver Wind Returning Flow of the Frost Wind Sword Formation.

Whoooooosh!

A blizzard of frost erupted from my blade, freezing all five streams of lava the Lava Crocodile King spewed solid.

[W-what is this!]

The Lava Crocodile King staggered backward. Overwhelmed by the soul’s resonance created by the Ring of Fire, its jaw trembled violently.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

I kicked away the frozen lava and unleashed the Frost Wind Sword Formation consecutively. Sharp winds of frost tore through the Lava Crocodile King’s outer hide, shredding its flesh.

[Screeeeeeeeeech!]

The Lava Crocodile King shrieked in agony.

‘Fortunately, this creature isn’t like Rocta.’

If that crocodile had been a knight like Rocta, I would have hesitated to kill it, but it was nothing more than a beast that viewed humans as prey. There was no guilt in ending its life.

[This bastard….]

The Lava Crocodile King wrapped its body in molten lava.

[I’ll erase you without leaving a single bone fragment!]

It charged forward as a mass of lava. It was a technique that unified body and weapon.

“Unfortunately, that won’t work.”

I stepped into the true angle stance. Crushing the lava that filled the ground beneath me, I extended the Heavenly Sword that I had angled to the left.

Whoooosh!

A silver line, sharp enough to sting the senses, split through the thick lava, and the frost blade that rushed in its wake pierced through the Lava Crocodile King’s skull.

[Grrrrgh….]

The Lava Crocodile King crashed into the ground, letting out a groan.

[How… how could I, the master of the Volcanic Region, be….]

It collapsed without even understanding what had struck it. The light in its crimson eyes slowly faded away.

“Is it weak? Or….”

Have I grown stronger?

After absorbing Rocta’s soul, my mental power had grown far beyond my expectations. Unless it was someone like Wrath, I didn’t think I would lose to anyone.

Rumble rumble rumble rumble!

The Volcanic Region crumbled, and the Lava Crocodile King’s corpse vanished. It meant this world had ended.

Zing!

As I waited to return to reality, a blue dimension opened in the empty space.

“The True Demon King has arrived… Why is it already over?!

Cotton Candy, who was just about to cross dimensions, stared slack-jawed at the crumbling Volcanic Region.

“Hey, you bastard! That was too fast….”

Before Wrath could finish speaking, my vision cut out abruptly.

What is he doing here now?

*

*

*

I opened my eyes. The helmet of the Lava Crocodile King, which I had my hand inside, came into view.

‘The color has faded a bit.’

Perhaps because the soul of the Lava Crocodile King inside had vanished, the red glow of the helmet seemed to have dimmed slightly.

‘Wrath.’

I tapped the ice flower bracelet where Wrath resided.

‘How much time has passed?’
-Krr, even I don’t know.

Wrath turned his head, his voice tinged with slight sullenness.

‘How can you not know?’
-I was too busy piercing through your Mental Realm to focus….

Truly, this one is useless.

‘And here you are, having exhausted all your energy. Why did you even come?’
-W-well, I was curious….
‘Do you really have nothing else to do?’

I shook my head at Wrath and carefully lowered the Lava Crocodile King’s helmet back to its original position.

-What nonsense are you spouting! The True Demon King is busy too! I need to plan meals, calculate nutritional components….
‘Hold on.’

I silenced Wrath’s rambling mouth as a message materialized before my eyes.

[You have absorbed the soul of the 【Lava Crocodile King】.]
[All stats increase by 6 points.]
[Achievement of 【Ring of Fire】 has increased.]
[Achievement of 【Manhwa Palace】 has increased.]
[Trait 【Fire Affinity】 has been created.]

These were the rewards I gained from absorbing the Lava Crocodile King’s soul. Since it was a smaller soul than Rocta’s, the absorption process was faster than before.

‘This is pretty good too.’

All my stats had risen, and the achievements for both the Ring of Fire and Manhwa Palace had increased. Since it wasn’t a humanoid monster, my martial techniques themselves didn’t improve, but I gained an even better trait instead.

‘Fire Affinity.’

Just as Water Affinity enhanced cold energy, Fire Affinity enhanced heat, making it an exceptionally satisfying trait to acquire.

-This… this doesn’t make sense!

Wrath’s eyes trembled as he stared at the message.

-How does everything fall into place so smoothly for you! Why does the world only help you out!

He gnashed his teeth, muttering that even when he used the system himself, it was never this favorable.

-The True Demon King can’t even eat properly, yet why do you get everything!
‘Because I live righteously?’
-Woof woof! That’s complete bullshit!

Wrath barked like a dog, glaring at me with blazing eyes.

-You have the worst personality and demonic nature I’ve ever seen! There’s nothing like you even in the Demon Realm!
‘So that’s how the Demon Realm is, huh?’

Hearing about the Demon Realm so often had made me quite familiar with it. At this point, visiting the Demon Realm someday didn’t seem like a bad idea.

“Hmm….”

I smacked my lips as I gazed toward the exit of the Treasury.

‘It doesn’t feel like much time has passed.’

By my senses, it felt like less than an hour had elapsed, but since the Mental Realm operated on a different temporal axis, that feeling might not be accurate.

‘I should withdraw for now.’

I shook my head as I looked at the other helmets.

‘If I drag this out any longer, they might grow suspicious.’

It seemed better to take just the sword for now and return later to consume the souls from the other helmets.

I picked up a longsword similar in form to the one Rocta had used from the table where the blades lay in a row.

Rumble rumble rumble!

Just as I was about to leave with the sword at my waist, the ground beneath this chamber—no, the entire earth itself—began to shake violently.

‘What’s happening?’

It wasn’t just tremors; I could sense that the area outside the Treasury had become extremely chaotic.

As I furrowed my brow and turned around, the floor of the Treasury opened, and the Goblin-masked Warrior who had been outside rose up through it.

“A problem has arisen. We must seal the Treasury, so please come out.”
“A problem?”
“An intruder has appeared in the Taeeum Barrier.”
“An intruder? Who?”
“I’m not certain of their identity.”
‘Could it be….’

My heart began to pound fiercely at the word “intruder.”

I expanded my senses to their maximum as I stepped out of the Treasury, but my eyes darkened even before I could leave the Great Hall.

“Hah….”

My footsteps halted involuntarily as an overwhelming presence emanated from beyond the Great Hall.

‘What is this?’

I had considered the possibility that Sheryl or master-class swordsmen from Zigheart might have arrived, but this was absolutely not the case.

The mysterious presence radiating outward was not inferior to Glen Zigheart’s in the slightest.

I swallowed dryly and moved toward the exit of the Great Hall.

What kind of monster had come to find me?

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————