The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 332

—————

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

—————

Chapter 332

“Hmm?”

I tilted my head, gazing toward the window where sunlight streamed through.

‘Thunder from a clear sky?’

The sky was cloudless and pristine, yet a sudden rumble of thunder echoed across it. The old saying about lightning striking from a clear sky seemed oddly fitting.

‘Truly, anything can happen.’

I chuckled softly and clenched my fist experimentally. My physical strength had recovered somewhat, but my aura remained nearly depleted.

‘I’ve exhausted far too much aura.’

Having drained every ounce of aura from my core, recovery was sluggish despite the effects of Sloth. It would take considerable time before I returned to full strength.

‘I should begin now.’

A patient’s greatest asset is time. As I prepared to simultaneously operate the Ring of Fire and Manhwagong to recover both internal injuries and aura, my gaze fell upon the objects arranged on the table.

“What are these….”

The championship prizes I had received from the leaders of the Six Emperors.

The platinum medal from Glen Zigheart, the gloves from King Lecross, the ring from Chamber, the elixir from Ogram, and the martial arts manual called the Secret Spirit Blade from Derus Robert lay before me.

-These are items left behind by the True Demon King’s subordinates.
‘His subordinates?’
-Indeed.

The way he phrased it suggested the Gwangpung Unit members had left these behind.

‘Let me examine them.’

I first inspected the medal. Nothing particularly remarkable emanated from it—merely a commemorative token presented by the faction leader to the victor’s neck.

‘The Head of House would certainly appreciate this.’

On the Continent, platinum was worth ten times its weight in gold. Had Rimer seen it, his eyes would have rolled back in his head.

‘Though perhaps not anymore.’

He’d become a nouveau riche after all.

Having wagered a fortune on this duel and won handsomely, platinum of this caliber would scarcely catch his eye. I could already picture him appearing soon with gold rings adorning both hands, and the thought made me chuckle.
I could vividly picture him showing up soon with gold rings on both hands, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Next is…”

Raon set down the platinum medal and looked at the gloves that King Lecross had handed him.

“Huh?”

Is this possibly made from Terril?

Terril is a special metal that can be drawn into thread, and not only is it highly durable, but it also has strong resistance to magic and deception.
‘To bestow such a treasure upon me….’

I hadn’t expected to receive something so invaluable. I would need to visit him soon and express my gratitude once more.

I steadied my racing heart and turned my attention to the ring Chamber had given me.

‘What is this?’

It clearly contained a considerable amount of mana, yet I couldn’t discern its function whatsoever.

To gift something without explaining its use—Chamber, despite being the leader of the Six Emperors, apparently possessed quite the playful nature, as I’d heard.

‘I’ll set this aside for now.’

I shook my head and opened the arm guards Ogram had given me. A crisp yet bitter fragrance wafted delicately into the air.

‘Black single-ring gauntlets?’

‘A black Unit ring?’

This is Saun Elixir.

Saun Elixir was the Beast Alliance’s supreme-grade spiritual medicine, meticulously crafted by blending premium medicinal herbs and toxic plants.
It possessed effects that strengthened not merely one’s aura, but also bones, muscles, and skin—making it a treasure worthy of its legendary reputation.

‘Just consuming one of these would allow me to recover from my internal injuries with ease.’

By taking the Saun Elixir, I could restore both my internal injuries and aura while simultaneously fortifying my physical body to an even greater degree.

I recalled Ogram’s refreshing laughter and allowed a faint smile to cross my lips.

‘Now for the final item….’

Let me examine his belongings.

I unfolded the martial arts manual Derus Robert had given me—the Secret Spirit Blade Technique.

‘Perhaps not supreme-grade, but certainly high-grade or above.’

The Secret Spirit Blade Technique was an ascending martial art that harmonized close-range dagger combat with long-range blade throwing, enabling adaptation against any opponent.

‘It’s excellent, but….’

I cannot use it as is.

The fact that Derus Robert had given me this technique meant he understood everything within these pages. To employ a martial art that might one day become the blade severing his own neck would be madness.

‘I must refine and master it myself.’

While impossible for others, I possessed the Ring of Fire—allowing me to elevate the Secret Spirit Blade Technique toward greater heights. I vowed to forge a martial art so superior it could pierce through Derus Robert’s very heart, then closed the manual.

-Grrrrgh….

Wrath exhaled sharply, his eyes blazing with intensity.

-Terril Gloves and a supreme-grade spiritual medicine!
‘There’s also a martial arts manual.’

I waved the book teasingly before Wrath.

-That pittance is far too extravagant as a prize for a mere tournament! Hand out bead ice cream instead. What do you mean by giving elixirs?!

Wrath shrieked in protest, claiming that the prize for such a trivial competition was excessively lavish.

‘Bead ice cream, huh….’

I chuckled softly. The only similarity between an elixir and ice cream was their spherical shape, yet somehow ice cream seemed far more befitting for Wrath than any elixir ever could.

-Had I been the True Demon King, I would have merely waved my hand and called it done. Such wasteful extravagance—everyone here has lost their minds….

As Wrath began to continue his tirade with disapproving clicks of his tongue, a message materialized before my eyes.

[You have consecutively defeated opponents of higher realms.]
[All ability stats increase by 15 points.]
[The achievement of 【Ring of Fire】 greatly increases.]
[The achievement of 【Manhwagong】 greatly increases.]
[The achievement of 【Glacial】 greatly increases.]

Having triumphed against two formidable warriors of higher realms, all my ability stats surged by 15 points, and the depths of the Ring of Fire and two auras ascended.

’15 points in ability stats?’

This was the first time I’d received such a substantial increase in a single instance.

While 15 points in ability stats was undoubtedly a considerable reward, the messages were far from finished.

[The grade of trait 【Indomitable Will】 increases.]
[The grade of trait 【Bleeding Curse】 increases.]
[The grade of trait 【Spiral Force】 increases by 2 stages.]

The grades of the traits I had wielded throughout this tournament also ascended in tandem.

‘It was Indomitable Will that kept me standing.’

The reason I hadn’t collapsed even after expending all my vitality and aura was thanks to Indomitable Will, which fortified my spirit whenever I endured a devastating blow.

‘Without it, I never would have witnessed that expression on Derus’s face.’

Indeed, everything proves its worth in the end.

Even the characteristics that seemed trivial proved useful eventually. I could only feel grateful to Wrath for giving me all of them.

‘There’s no one but you.’
-A-all stat points 15? Not 1.5, but 15?

Wrath’s jaw trembled visibly.

‘Unlike you, the system apparently doesn’t consider it wasteful.’

I turned his own words back on him and chuckled softly.

-Grrr….

Wrath lowered his head slightly and clenched both fists tightly.

‘It’s coming soon.’

Seeing Wrath’s shoulders trembling more intensely, I hung a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door and locked it.

-I can’t stand this! What did you do to receive 15 stat points?! You must have a fork lodged in your head!

Wrath shrieked and lunged at me. His eyes were rolling wildly—he was absolutely furious.

As Wrath clung to my arm, I pulled out a Saun Pill and placed it in my mouth.
A bitter taste, like chewing tree roots caked with dirt, spread across my entire mouth as the elixir slid down my throat. A scorching energy surged forth uncontrollably.

-Drop dead!

From outside, a terrifying chill and wrathful energy emanated from Wrath and pressed inward.

‘Heat from within, cold from without.’

Perfect.

I smiled at the formidable energy transmitted from both inside and outside, and activated Manhwagong.

Roooooar!

To withstand the immense chill transmitted from outside, the Saun Pill melted faster, channeling its power into Manhwagong.

The essence of the elixir was being absorbed rapidly, but what I gained was far more than that alone.

‘Wrath’s frigid aura.’

It was a golden opportunity—I could convert Wrath’s icy chill that hammered against my mana circuits into Glacial and absorb it, achieving two goals at once.

Wrath, blinded by rage, remained oblivious, but this situation was no different from a massage that accelerated my aura recovery by more than double.

‘Where….’

I cracked my eyes open slightly. Wrath clamped his arm between his teeth like a baby shark, unleashing an endless torrent of frigid energy. Watching him, I lowered my head just a fraction.

‘Thank you, Wrath.’

You truly are a tree that gives without reservation.

I offered my gratitude silently and surrendered myself to the cultivation.

*

*

*

Gulp.

Matio swallowed hard as he watched Derus Robert and Cardis enter his treatment room. The two had sat in silence for twenty minutes without uttering a single word.

“Cardis.”

Only after thirty minutes had passed did Derus Robert finally speak.

“I-I apologize.”

Cardis dropped to his knees at the mere mention of his name.

“For what?”
“F-for losing to that man….”
“That is not it.”

Derus’s voice remained unchanged from his usual tone. Yet within it lay an absolute absence of emotion. No joy, no sorrow, no anger, no irritation—merely a barren, colorless monotone.

At that inhuman voice, both Cardis and Matio’s complexions grew increasingly pallid. They both understood it well: Derus was far more terrifying when he refrained from anger in situations that demanded it.

“I’ve told you before. Don’t play with your toys—finish it quickly.”
“I, I….”
“I understand why the Azure Cloud Heavenly Sword was pushed back. That monster had mastered the Absolute Sword, which is the perfect counter to the Azure Cloud Heavenly Sword. But with the Saintly Light Sword Technique, you could have definitely ended it.”

Derus’s pupils sank into a murky darkness, and the air in the room began to desiccate like a desert.

‘Ugh….’

Matio barely suppressed the urge to clutch at his own throat, instead clenching his fists until blood seeped from his palms.

‘My throat feels like it’s burning.’

Just as he thought he would suffocate and perish, Derus’s words continued.

“Not only did you suffer a humiliating defeat to a child far younger than yourself, but you’ve elevated his realm as well. The absolute worst possible outcome.”
“I, I’m deeply sorry.”

Cardis lowered his head, his arms trembling at his sides. The confidence he had displayed upon first arriving at Owen had melted away beneath his feet.

“N-next time, I will absolutely sever that monster’s neck….”
“Next time?”

Derus smiled for the first time. It was a smile so frigid it seemed capable of freezing anything it touched.

“There will be no next time.”
“What?”
“At nineteen, he’s already a monster capable of crushing you. In a year, he’ll be standing above your head—do you truly believe there will be a next time?”
“I will exert myself to the point of death! If you grant me the opportunity, I will find a way somehow….”
“You won’t be able to seize that opportunity either.”

Derus’s gaze shifted toward Cardis’s right shoulder, wrapped in thick bandages.

“Your arm is no longer normal.”
“W-what do you mean….”
“That monster’s frigid energy has caused frostbite in your mana circuits and tendons. Even if you recover completely, you’ll never be able to wield your sword as freely as before.”

Derus gazed down at Cardis with the eyes of someone regarding a useless object—not a son.

“Ah….”

Cardis’s pupils trembled violently, like a sailboat battered by waves.

“Leave. Reflect on why you’ve become this pathetic. Think about it again and again.”
“…Understood.”

At Derus’s gesture, Cardis lowered his head and departed from Matio’s treatment room.

“Matio.”
“Yes.”

Matio bowed his head, his face as pallid as Cardis’s.

“What of Raon?”

Following Derus’s orders, despite his injuries, Matio had gone to the Sparring Arena to observe Raon’s movements and reach a definitive conclusion.

He gathered his thoughts before speaking slowly.

“Having witnessed all of Raon Zigheart’s battles thus far, I can say with certainty: he is not the assassin Raon I raised. Not a trace of Shadow’s methods appears in him.”

Matio spoke honestly about what he had felt watching Raon yesterday and today.

“I see.”

Derus nodded and removed his gloves. Crimson blood droplets trickled from the wound—a scar twenty years old.

“How amusing.”

He licked the wound on the back of his hand, a sinister smile crossing his face.

“Hmm….”

Matio wiped the cold sweat trickling down his forehead as he witnessed that grotesque display.

“There will be a final banquet tomorrow evening. Once it concludes, you are to return to your house immediately.”

Derus handed the grimoire he had been holding to Matio.

“Give him this spellbook and begin the dungeon conquest immediately.”
“Head of House, you….”
“I need to attend to a few matters to repair Cardis’s arm. It wouldn’t hurt to stop by the Training Facility on the way.”

He gestured toward the door through which Cardis had exited, his eyes narrowing sharply.

“Understood, sir.”

Matio nodded, his jaw trembling slightly.

‘A terrifying man….’

Derus wasn’t stepping forward to repair Cardis’s arm out of concern for him. He was doing it to present himself as a caring father to the many people who would hear of Cardis’s damaged arm.

Having observed Derus for a long time, Matio found that he had grown increasingly unsettling—a man who sent chills down one’s spine merely by being in his presence.

“Since matters have unfolded this way, I intend to give Cardis another chance. However, this will be his last.”
“Yes….”

Derus retrieved a fresh pair of gloves, donned them, and rose to his feet.

“Matio.”
“Yes.”
“Understand that you have not been granted many opportunities either.”

Derus was a man capable of discarding not only his subordinates but even his own blood. Any further failure would be no different from asking to have his neck severed.

“I shall bear it in mind.”

Matio bowed his head. Yet no words or reaction came from Derus.

“Ah….”

Matio swallowed dryly and lifted his head. Derus remained perfectly still in his original posture, his gaze sending an eerie chill through the air. Matio’s heart felt as though it were being squeezed.

“We shall speak again later.”

Light gradually returned to Derus Robert’s dim gaze. He softened his eyes, patted Matio on the shoulder, and left the room.

“Sigh…”

Matio closed his eyes and collapsed onto the bed. It seemed sleep would elude him this night.

*

*

*

Raon slowly opened his eyes. The sunlit window had given way to the waning moonlight that now hung in the sky.

‘I’ve recovered quite a bit.’

The Saunghwan’s energy stirred within, while Wrath’s cold strikes hammered from without—thanks to both, most of my internal injuries had healed. Seeing my aura more than halfway restored, complete recovery seemed imminent.

“Hmm.”
-Ugh.

As I stretched my arms, Wrath tumbled from my waist like an acorn.

-You… how were you able to endure in such a state…?

Wrath’s arms flailed weakly, all strength drained from him.

‘It’s thanks to you.’
-What do you mean…?
‘Because you struck me from outside, the elixir’s energy released faster. I used all that power to heal my internal injuries and restore my aura.’

I chuckled and waved my hand.

-Ah, I…

Wrath’s mouth fell open as he grasped what had transpired.

‘Thanks for the refreshing massage.’

I ruffled Wrath’s dazed head with a mocking smile.

-Ahhhhh! You wretched little bastard!

Wrath gnashed his teeth and lunged at me, but his strength had completely drained away, leaving him to claw at empty air before plummeting downward.

-Damn it. No wonder my power’s fading so quickly….

He whimpered, tears glistening in his eyes as he complained that I’d only done him a favor.

“Ahh, that feels good.”

I stretched languidly and rose to my feet. As I savored the refreshing sensation, I detected the presence of someone beyond the door.

“Lunan?”

Opening the door, I found Lunan Slion seated in a chair, her head drooping slightly.

“What were you doing?”
“Standing guard.”

Lunan Slion blinked her drowsy eyes as she answered.

“Standing guard….”

It seemed she’d noticed me cultivating and come to keep watch over my cultivation.

“Thank you.”
“Then let’s go.”

Lunan Slion nodded lightly as if it were nothing and grasped my sleeve.

“Where to?”
“The Banquet Hall.”

She gestured toward the Banquet Hall on the West Side from the Medical Office and licked her lips in anticipation.

“I told you to bring him if he came out.”
“Who?”
“The Heavenly Sword Master.”

Lunan Slion said this while lifting a robe that had been draped over the back of a chair—an ornate ceremonial garment woven with threads of gold and crimson.

“Put this on.”
“This is a bit….”
“You’re wearing it.”

Lunan Slion extended the robe with eyes that gleamed with barely concealed amusement.

“Then I’ll pass….”
“No.”
-You shall not refuse!

The moment I tried to decline and remain in the Medical Office, both Lunan Slion and Wrath seized my arms simultaneously.

“I want to eat pearl ice cream.”
-The True Demon King desires pearl ice cream!

They spoke in unison, their eyes narrowing with determination.

“There’s still plenty of pearl ice cream left today.”
-Did your elder not say you should eat plenty of meat? That was an invitation!
“Hmm….”

I closed my mouth, which had been working to form a refusal. Faced with the sparkling eyes of Lunan Slion, who had protected me with her dharma, and Wrath, who had given me a massage despite his reluctance, I found no words of protest could escape my lips.

“Well, I do need to fill my stomach anyway.”
“Yes. Let’s go.”

Lunan Slion waved her hand eagerly, urging us forward.

“Raon’s so handsome!”
-At last, you’ve developed a conscience!

Lunan Slion wore the faintest of smiles, while Wrath snorted with satisfaction, pleased that his instruction had borne fruit.

‘I’d love to put those two mint chocolate fools together.’

They’d make a perfect pair.

Raon smiled as he imagined Wrath and Lunan Slion quarreling over a single mint chocolate.

*

*

*

After washing his face and changing into fresh clothes, Raon made his way to the Banquet Hall. The interior was already bustling with activity, suggesting the event had been underway for quite some time.

“The Cyan Moon Swordsman?”
“The White Dragon Swordsman!”

The knights guarding the entrance of the Banquet Hall recognized Raon and Lunan Slion, their eyes widening as they bowed with far greater courtesy than they had shown at the banquet days prior.

“We were deeply impressed by your duel, Swordmaster Raon.”
“We will continue to support you.”

With slightly trembling voices, they shared their impressions of yesterday’s match, then struck the ground with their spears. With a resounding thud, the Banquet Hall doors swung wide open.

[The champions of the Six Emperors Duel Tournament! The White Dragon Swordsman Raon Zigheart and the Cyan Moon Swordsman Lunan Slion make their entrance!]

The moment the doors opened fully, the knights inside raised their voices in announcement.

The moment the name White Dragon Swordsman echoed through the hall, the clamorous chatter fell into sudden silence.

Every eye—from the leaders of the Six Emperors standing on the Platform to the countless people below—turned simultaneously toward Raon at the entrance.

“Let’s go.”

Raon brushed off the weight of their stares with ease and stepped into the Banquet Hall.

“Yeah.”
-Whoosh! That aroma unmistakably belongs to lamb ribs! Let us first savor the grilled lamb ribs!

Lunan Slion and Wrath showed no hesitation whatsoever, immediately seeking out food the moment they entered.

‘First, let me secure a spot.’

I chuckled softly and turned toward where the Gwangpung Unit was stationed, but warriors from the Six Emperors scattered throughout the venue swarmed toward me like a hive of bees.

“Uooooooo!”
“It’s the Legend Sword Association!”
“The White Sword Dragon now!”
“Swordmaster Raon, I watched every single one of your duels! They were absolutely breathtaking!”
“I was so thrilled I couldn’t sleep last night!”
“Just one handshake, please!”

Countless people of all ages and genders converged upon me, filling the surrounding space completely. There was no room to retreat or escape.

-These fools! I need to eat my lamb ribs!

Wrath, compressed like cotton candy crushed by a hand, erupted in frustration.

“Lord Raon! What are your next plans?”
“Did you truly create that swordsmanship that erased the Saintly Light Sword Technique?”
“I heard you’ve created other techniques as well—if the opportunity arose, could you perhaps demonstrate them….”

So many people were clamoring that their words barely reached my ears.

‘Slipping away quietly won’t be easy.’

There was no choice.

Just as I was about to muster my aura to push the crowd back, a deafening boom erupted from near the center of the Banquet Hall, shaking the entire building.

Boom!

A tremendous shockwave erupted from the point of impact, and an enormous aura surged upward, causing the people standing before me to instinctively split apart and be pushed to either side.

As the crowd parted, a massive figure was revealed. Ogram. The Beast Alliance Master who had been on the platform had descended.

Ogram approached with heavy, deliberate steps and stood before me.

“You were a cunning beast in the Sparring Arena, but here you look your actual age.”
-When is the meat coming….

He flashed a refreshing smile and patted my back. The strikes were firm, yet devoid of any malice—in fact, they felt invigorating.

“Thanks to the elixir you provided, I was able to recover from my internal injuries. I’m grateful.”
-There’s a strong smell of lamb ribs though….

I took the opportunity to express my gratitude to him for the Soul Restoration Pills I had received.

“I still owe thirty more. That’s nothing.”
“Pardon?”

What did he just say?

The sudden mention of thirty Soul Restoration Pills left me speechless.

“I made a wager with your grandfather, and I lost. The price was Soul Restoration Pills matching the number of your children.”
“So you’re giving Soul Restoration Pills to everyone in the Gwangpung Unit?”
“That’s right.”
-But first, let’s just eat….

Ogram spoke of his defeat yet never wiped the smile from his face.

“And….”

He removed the coat he was wearing and held it forward.

“This Black Dragon Coat is yours as well.”
-Black dragon, earthworm, whatever—let’s just eat first!

—————

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

—————