The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 309

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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 309

“Glen Zigheart.”

The golden-haired old man called Rodra looked up at Glen and narrowed his eyes to slits.

“You already know why I’ve come here, so there’s no need for explanations.”
“Why you’ve come, you say….”

Glen looked down at the old man and shook his head slightly.

“Your dealings with the dragons should already be finished.”
“Playing word games when you know full well? That’s unlike you.”

A faint anger flickered in the old man’s eyes as he rebuked him.

“What does ‘like me’ mean? Were we ever close enough to discuss such things?”

Glen rested his chin on the back of his hand and laughed coldly.

‘A troublesome one has arrived.’

The golden-haired old man before my eyes was a dragon. More than that—he was the Dragon Lord who commanded all dragons.
Every time he came, he brought nothing but bad news, so seeing that face only irritated me.

“Fine, fine. I’ll tell you myself.”

The Dragon Lord clicked his tongue briefly and straightened his waist and neck. His bearing was elegant, as if the very word “nobility” had been melted into his form.

“As I’ve said before, your power is enough to shatter the balance of this Continent. It even surpasses us dragons, who are the world’s arbiters.”

He regarded Glen with eyes that seemed somewhat resentful.

“Whether it was Zigheart’s ancestors or you, I don’t know how humans obtained such power, but that power is distorted.”
“Distorted?”
“The more you use your power, the more it corrupts the world’s center. It means your strength transcends causality itself.”
“Don’t dragons also break the balance with their power? That’s a laughable thing to hear from the strongest race.”

Glen let out a scoff as he regarded the Dragon Lord.

“We have been building our strength slowly over countless ages. We are not like you, who reached the heavens in a mere hundred years.”

The Dragon Lord drew a long line with his finger, his expression darkening.

“So you’re saying I should sit idle here even as my blood is kidnapped? Despite having the power to save them?”
“You must see the larger picture. Blood relations are nothing but dust in the eyes of the world. What one who has touched the heavens like yourself must consider is the greater good—the flow and balance of the world.”
“That’s nonsense.”
“What do you—”
“I said it’s bullshit.

Glen’s smile deepened as a suffocating killing intent rose from him like smoke.

“When a hatchling is hunted or wounded, dragons swarm forth and obliterate that entire race. Yet you speak such drivel.”

A hatchling was a young dragon under five hundred years old, protected by all dragonkind. There were kingdoms and houses that had been annihilated by dragon swarms for merely touching a hatchling.

“That is… different.”

The Dragon Lord could not respond, his eyes narrowing in frustration.

“We are not human! Dragons have the sacred duty to preserve the balance of this Continent and mediate its discord…”
“So it’s acceptable for you but not for us? That’s a hypocritical stance unbecoming of the Continent’s guardian and mediator. No wonder you let that one slip away before. Or should I say, he escaped?”
“Ugh…”
“The greater good, the balance of the Continent. I was deceived by that silver tongue once before, but not this time.”

Glen fixed the Dragon Lord with a gaze so cold it bordered on chilling.

“My grandson is worth more than hundreds of your hatchlings. I have no regrets for my actions, so close your mouth and leave.”
“You know as well as I do.”

The Dragon Lord did not back down, biting his lip.

“You do not have much time remaining. This incident has shortened that already brief span further.”
“…”
“Glen Zigheart. The cause you have left behind will become a tremendous consequence that will engulf this house. Even now, if you would reconsider—”
“More bullshit.”

Glen Zigheart’s dry voice cut off the Dragon Lord’s words.

“Every sin I’ve accumulated, I’ll carry alone. I won’t pass it to anyone.”
“If you do such a thing, even for someone like you….”
“Even if I can’t ascend to heaven, I don’t care.”

Not the slightest tremor flickered across his grave gaze.

“I’ve never walked a predetermined path, neither before nor now.”
“Hmm….”
“One more thing.”

Glen Zigheart’s eyes fixed on the Dragon Lord. From his hardened gaze, an aura of such piercing sharpness emanated that it sent chills down the spine.

“If you ever lay a hand on my children, you’d better prepare yourself. Whether the Continent crumbles or perishes, I’ll sever the necks of every dragon in existence.”

He moved his hand toward his sword as if ready to draw it immediately.

“Sigh… So it comes to this. We have no intention of fighting you. However….”

The Dragon Lord exhaled deeply and raised his fingers. Behind him, space tore open just as it had when he first appeared.

“If you ignore my advice, you’ll surely come to regret it, Glen Zigheart.”

He shook his head and vanished into the dimensional rift.

“Regret?”

Glen Zigheart gazed at the space where the Dragon Lord had disappeared, a cold smile crossing his lips.

“I’ve always carried regret with me.”

*

*

*

A sharp metallic ring pierced the air.

The black sphere that had covered the Training Ground cracked open, and Raon and Dogyae burst out simultaneously.

“Tch.”

Dogyae frowned as he watched the Sword Realm disappear.

“I increased the number of black blades, yet his adaptation speed has only grown faster….”

He had opened the Sword Realm with far greater seriousness than their first confrontation, yet Raon dismantled it far more easily than before. It was so absurd that he could only laugh bitterly.

‘It’s not just that he’s grown stronger.’

He’s approaching the true essence of the Sword Realm.

The fact that Raon had identified the positions of blades hidden so carefully that even sound couldn’t detect them meant he hadn’t merely elevated his realm and aura—he had clearly taken his first steps toward understanding the true nature of Sword Realm Manifestation.

‘There’s nothing else to call him but a madman.’

Raon was only nineteen years old. While others could barely unleash sword energy, this monster had not only reached the intermediate Master level but had also approached the Sword Realm itself.
It felt as though his very soul was being torn from his body.

“What exactly did you do in Eden?”

No matter how he thought about it, this wasn’t the level of power a kidnapped person should possess. It seemed he had consumed elixirs and received sword training from someone.

“Hmm….”

Raon smiled faintly as he observed the bewildered Dogyae.

“Now that I think about it, I suppose you could call it training.”

I had extracted two elixirs from Merlin, honed my combat instincts through battles with Geummyeonsa, and even absorbed souls while wearing the mask. In truth, the training I underwent there was no less rigorous than anything I could have done here.

“Phew, my head aches. I’m exhausted. Completely exhausted.”

Dogyae muttered that he needed a drink and left the Training Ground.

“Hmm.”

I lowered the Heavenly Sword and exhaled slowly.

‘A bit of a shame.’

Just as my enthusiasm was building, it ended, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. I wanted to swing the blade a little longer.

‘Tomorrow I should track down the Unit Master.’
-The old fool?
‘Yeah. It would be good to loosen up lightly while checking how much my aura has grown.’
-…You’ll hear screams again.

Wrath slowly closed his eyes, offering prayers for the old fool’s well-being.

‘I’ll just keep it moderate.’
-This King guarantees it. The difference between your moderation and the old fool’s moderation is on the level of mint chocolate versus cookies and cream.
‘Cookies and cream is better, right?’
-What nonsense! Obviously mint chocolate wins by a landslide!
‘I don’t think so.’

As I was about to practice swordplay alone while bickering with Wrath, the Training Ground door opened again and Chad entered.

“Chad?”
“Raon. It’s been a while since we last met.

Chad approached with a faint smile.

“Yes, it has been.”

I lowered my head and observed Chad’s condition. He couldn’t meet my eyes properly, and his expression seemed awkward.

‘Now that I think about it….’

When Chad provided information about Granseville, there was nothing about the 7th Apostle, let alone the 10th Apostle. It seemed he had suffered greatly because of the kidnapping incident.

‘It’s not really the Bi-Yeon Society’s fault.’

Deningrose, the Black Market Branch Master in Granseville, didn’t know about the Apostles and Merlin either, so it was natural that the Bi-Yeon Society Master, stationed so far away, couldn’t have known of their existence.

‘But setting that aside….’

I still couldn’t bring myself to trust Chad. His actions contained far too many suspicious elements.

“I apologize.”

Chad lowered his head immediately, his position rendering such deference almost comical.

“I should have investigated more thoroughly. My negligence has caused you trouble, Raon. I’m truly sorry!”
“It’s not your fault.”

I waved my hand. I’d anticipated an apology to some degree, but I hadn’t expected one delivered with such meticulous courtesy.

“Even the Black Market didn’t know about this. It’s unreasonable to expect the Bi-Yeon Society to be aware of the Ten Apostles or Merlin.”
“Regardless! As the head of the Bi-Yeon Society, I failed to handle my duties properly!”

Chad bent his waist at a perfect right angle, his head bowed deeply.

‘I absolutely cannot fall out of favor!’

Through this incident, I’d become certain of one thing: the person the Head of House cherished most wasn’t his son or daughter, but his youngest grandson—Raon Zigheart. One misstep before this man, and even being the head of the Bi-Yeon Society wouldn’t save you from losing your head.

“Please, don’t do this.”

I grasped Chad’s shoulders and forced him upright.

‘This man is definitely strange.’

As I’d said, this incident wasn’t the Bi-Yeon Society’s fault. An apology was warranted, but there was absolutely no need for one this excessive.

‘It seems like he’s doing this to gain my trust….’

The more I thought about it, the more excessive Chad’s behavior and words appeared. Suspicion was inevitable.

‘Could it be Karun or Valdemar? Or perhaps someone from another branch of the Main Lineage?’

With the external war concluded, there was certainly enough possibility for internal disputes or incidents to arise once more.

“Please accept this.”

Chad extended a small wooden tablet.

“What is this…?”
“A tonic. It’s something that bolsters physical and mental stamina. I heard you’ve already recovered, but I brought it just in case.”

He withdrew a booklet from his robes as well.

“I’ve documented the people and situations to be cautious of during this Yukhwanghoe. Please refer to it!”
“Ah…”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”

Chad bowed once more and turned to depart.

‘Excellent. Perfect.’

The initial mistake was unavoidable, but my recovery was flawless. Judging by Raon’s expression, it had worked beautifully.

‘It had to be this way.’

With such an expensive tonic and information about the Yukhwanghoe, there was no way he wouldn’t be pleased.

Chad left the 5th Training Ground, satisfied with the outcome.

…

Raon watched Chad’s receding figure with a furrowed brow.

‘Something’s off.’
-There is no such thing as a free meal in this world. When one who is not even close shows such kindness, he is the first to be wary of, I say.

Wrath also muttered that something seemed strange about Chad.

‘As expected.’

During assassin training, there was a lesson: never trust kindness given without reason.

Raon touched the tonic Chad had given him, his eyes narrowing.

‘Chad…’

He’s someone I need to be cautious of.

*

*

*

A week later.

Numerous swordsmen lined both sides of the Zigheart Main Gate. They were positioned to bid farewell to Glen as he departed for Owen.

‘Hmm….’

I finished my own preparations for departure and stood in the center, watching the Gale Wind Squad from behind.

‘Martha looks fine too.’

Whether my words to Martha had helped, I saw no signs of resignation or despair in her. If anything, she appeared more vibrant than usual.

‘Burren and Lunan remain unchanged.’

Burren grinned with joy at merely the thought of attending the Yukhwanghoe, while Lunan had abandoned his sharp gaze and now gazed upward at the sky with the same vacant expression as before. Even when a small butterfly landed on his head, he didn’t move—a reassuring sight.

‘But these guys….’

Had they been training this whole time?

I’d assumed they’d been idling away the two weeks since they hadn’t shown their faces at the Training Ground, but I was completely wrong.
The swordsmen of the Gale Wind Squad had elevated both their aura and realm in this short span of time.
Seeing their evident progress, it appeared they’d trained without proper sleep.

‘Impressive.’

Witnessing their achievements made me wonder if perhaps I was the one who’d been lazy. I felt both admiration and pride simultaneously.

-There’s no need to be so impressed.

Wrath shook his head from atop my head as he observed the Gale Wind Squad.

Those who recognize their own powerlessness and strive to overcome it naturally grow stronger.
‘Powerlessness?’
Did you not witness that wretch being abducted right before your eyes? The despair you felt in that moment became the driving force that moves those young ones.
‘…I suppose so.’

My heart burned hot as I came to understand why the Gwangpung Unit wielded their blades even during rest periods.

“The Head of House is arriving!”

At the grand voice that rang out from behind, the swordsmen standing on either side and those waiting for departure all dropped to one knee.

“We greet the Head of House!”

I knelt as well, bowing my head. Glen Zigheart passed by my side with footsteps laden with tyrannical presence. The overwhelming power that grew more palpable with each passing moment flowed across my shoulders, raising goosebumps across my skin.

“Rise.”

Glen mounted his horse at the very front once more. It was something I had sensed before, but he was clearly a leader who stood before his subordinates and carved the path forward himself.
The complete opposite of Derus Robert, who always sent his men ahead first.

“I do not ask for much.”

Glen turned to look back. His crimson eyes remained calm and composed.

“Show me what Zigheart truly holds within.”

With those words, he moved forward. Roen followed from the left, and Sheryl moved from the right.
The Heavenly Sword Squad protected him, raising tremendous sword energy.

Their appearance of following Glen without doubt or hesitation reminded me of the Gwangpung Unit watching over me.

I clenched my fists as I gazed at Glen at the very front.

‘I have no intention of becoming a Head of House, but I wish to become like him.’

Not to emulate his absolute power, but to become someone who fights at the forefront of all others, leading comrades with his back.

I etched Glen’s back into my eyes and mind as I moved forward.

*

*

*

“Uwaaaaah!”
“Long live Zigheart!”
“Glen Zigheart!”
“Northern Destruction King! Northern Destruction King! Northern Destruction King!”

When we arrived at Tortin City, situated near the Owen Kingdom, the citizens poured into the streets, their voices rising in jubilation as they chanted the name of Zigheart—or rather, Glen Zigheart.

Every eye was fixed upon Glen alone. It was only natural; he had single-handedly vanquished the White Blood Cult Master and Tacheon, calamities incarnate to the common people.

The Zigheart swordsmen crossed the city with prideful strides, as though the accolades directed at Glen were bestowed upon themselves.

“Yiaaaaaah!”
“Northern Destruction King! Northern Destruction King!”
“Glen Zigheart!”

Glen, who had been walking toward the dormitory without acknowledging the crowd’s cheers and waves, turned back. He gestured for me to step forward beside him.

“You called for me?”

I moved to Glen’s side and matched his pace.

“Do you hear these cheers?”
“Yes.”
“Every shout of Zigheart’s name you hear now—it is all because of me.”

Glen turned his gaze upon the crowd, his eyes cold and piercing.

“These cheers exist only because I subdued the White Blood Cult Master and Tacheon.”

His words were true. Most of the jubilation centered on his name, after all.

“Then tell me—what would become of all this if I were to disappear?”
“That would be….”

I didn’t answer immediately, uncertain of what exactly he was asking.

“That acclaim will be buried in the dirt, crushed beneath Zigheart. No—crushed beneath me. The malice that has weighed upon Zigheart will ignite like wildfire. If they all target Zigheart, what will you do?”
“….”

I closed my eyes slowly. Glen Zigheart seemed to be contemplating what would come after his death.
Though I wasn’t certain why he was asking me this, I organized my recent thoughts and envisioned that future.

‘In the past, I would have left.’

Before my abduction by Eden, I would have taken only the people of the Annex Building and abandoned the house. Zigheart had meant so little to me then.

‘But now it’s different.’

This incident had fundamentally transformed how I perceived Zigheart in my mind.
The house and its people—I had moved beyond the Annex Building and become inseparably bound to the name Zigheart itself. If the house disappointed me, I might excise its rotten parts, but I could not abandon it.

‘Then I must do what I do best.’

I wanted to do something that would benefit this house, however small.

“I will forge them.”
“Forge them? What do you mean?”
“I will push the swordsmen of this house to the brink of death and make them stronger. So that they fear not just Glen Zigheart as Head of House, but the very name Zigheart itself.”

I gazed at the slowly setting sun and offered a faint smile.

“The sun sets, yet it rises again. I believe the same is true for a house’s name. Even if the house dims temporarily with the Head of House gone, I will forge everyone into an unbreakable foundation so it can rise once more.”
“You speak as though you would become Head of House yourself.”
“I have no such aspirations. I simply wish to fulfill my duties in my position.”

I shook my head firmly, for I truly had no interest in the position of Head of House.

“I see.”

Glen Zigheart gave a stiff nod and turned his gaze away, as though he had lost interest.

‘Hmm….’

I smacked my lips and turned back around.

‘Was he dissatisfied?’

There was nothing I could do about it. I had spoken honestly, and I harbored no regrets about what I’d said.

*

*

*

That night.

A tremendous resonance erupted from the rear mountain that encircled Tortin City.

“Hah….”

Glen Zigheart exhaled a shallow breath, his back resting against a massive boulder split cleanly in two.

“How remarkably wise he is.”

When I had asked Raon about the future, I had anticipated only one answer would return.
That he would grow stronger and become a wall for the house. It was a trite response, yet the most fitting for that moment. Anyone would have answered the same.

But Raon was different.

‘To move everyone forward together….’

Not to grow strong alone, but to grow strong alongside others. Not as an individual, but as a house—his words stirred my heart profoundly.

‘That was a goal I only reached after attaining enlightenment.’

I had wandered for so long before arriving at that true objective, yet Raon had already reached it. I could barely contain my laughter at the joy of it. I barely restrained myself from embracing him tightly.

“Truly a remarkable child, is he not?”
“Indeed.”
“Of course.”

At Glen Zigheart’s question, Sheryl and Roen standing on either side nodded simultaneously.

“It seems Raon has come to understand what a house truly means through this ordeal.”

Sheryl offered a gentle smile.

“Indeed. He is growing not only in strength, but in spirit as well. The future holds much promise.”

Roen too let out a delighted laugh as he looked at Glen Zigheart.

“Not just because he’s my grandson, but that boy will achieve great things. Everyone should know what kind of child Raon is.”

Glen Zigheart’s expression darkened with irritation.

“Record what that boy said today. It’s words that can serve as guidance for everyone.”
“Sigh….”

Rimer exhaled deeply as he looked at Glen Zigheart.

“First, let it be known that you cherish your grandson.”

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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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