The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 367

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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 366

I left the Black Market and headed toward the Sepia Trading Company. As I passed through the merchant shops affiliated with the company, the merchants’ gazes pierced down like arrows.

“They’re… staring pretty intensely, aren’t they?”

Dorian felt the weight of the merchants’ eyes and swallowed hard.

“Why are they all looking at us like that?”
“They’re checking if you brought Drake.”

The information that Adis Sepia had issued a test requiring the retrieval of Drake to select his successor had spread throughout the entire company.
Since it concerned the decision of the next master of the company, it was only natural that the merchants stared like this.

“I didn’t bring anything.”
“It must be in a spatial pouch.”
“Then maybe just claws, nails, or bones like the third young lady?”
“He might not have even brought those.”
“Still, he went with the White Sword Dragon, so he should have at least obtained something like that.”

The merchants watching Dorian and me head toward the Headquarters were convinced that I had brought only certain parts of Drake, not Drake itself.

“So the position of successor goes to the second young master?”
“It seems so. I never imagined he’d obtain Drake in just a week!”
“His connections truly are remarkable.”
“A treasure that cannot be bought with money.”

The merchants who followed Dialun, Dorian’s second older brother, smiled as though the battle was already decided.

“What nonsense.”
“The first young master hasn’t even arrived yet.”
“Don’t celebrate too early.”
“That’s right. If it’s Jeseor, he’ll bring something even greater than a taxidermied Drake.”
“Don’t cry about it later.”

The merchants supporting the eldest, Jeseor, glared at those standing behind Dialun.

“The eldest young master might even bring back the entire Drake.”
“Right. And it would be incomparably larger than a stuffed specimen.”
“I’m curious how the succession test will end.”

Some merchants laughed at ease, having heard that Jeseor would capture and bring back Drake, confident in their victory.

“In the end, it will be decided between the eldest and second young masters.”
“It was predetermined from the start.”
“It’s a shame the third young lady fell out so easily. She didn’t seem like the type to lose so pathetically.”
“I had slight hopes for young master Dorian since he brought the White Sword Dragon, but it seems he’s just too inexperienced.”
“It can’t be helped. He’s only trained swordsmanship at Zigheart.”

The merchants already chattered only about Jeseor and Dialun, as if the succession had narrowed down to those two.

“Ugh….”

Dorian stopped in front of the Headquarters and trembled with his hands.

“Why aren’t you going in?”
“I can’t stand this! We need to show them what we caught too!”

He turned around, his hand reaching into his pouch, determined to show the merchants the Drake.

“Sigh.”

I exhaled and flicked Dorian’s head with a sharp tap.

Crack!

A refreshing sound burst forth like a watermelon splitting, and Dorian clutched his head and collapsed.

“Kyaaaah!”

He looked up with a tearful expression.

“Why, why did you hit me!”
“We went through all that trouble hiding the information. Why would you show them?”

I unfolded my mana barrier to block the sound from escaping and shook my head.

“Huh?”
“No one thinks you’re winning right now, do they? Even though the test isn’t over, everyone’s already decided your brothers will take the successor position.”
“Y-yes. So I should go and tell them…”

Dorian rubbed his belly pouch and narrowed his eyes.

“No.”

I clicked my tongue briefly at Dorian.

“Picture this: the moment your brothers are certain of victory and the other merchants are about to congratulate them, that 35-meter Drake emerges from your belly pouch. How do you think they’d react?”
“They’d be completely stunned.”
“Don’t you want to see that dumbfounded expression?”
“I-I do! I really do! Please let me see it!”

Dorian nodded eagerly, his eyes wide and round like a hungry Wrath.

“Exactly. Be patient. The humiliation you’re enduring now is nothing compared to the satisfaction that will come later.”

I patted Dorian’s shoulder and smiled.

‘I need to deliver that kind of shock to take over this company.’

On the day the successor test results are announced, not only the Headquarters staff but also all the nearby merchants will gather.

If I reveal that Drake at the moment when everyone is certain Jeseor will become the successor, I can leave a powerful impression on the merchants who have been ignoring Dorian until now.

In other words, it will be a major step toward taking over this company.

-The way you talk, it’s already as good as your company, isn’t it?

Wrath frowned at me.

‘It will actually be mine. Well, Dorian’s company, technically.’
-There you go again, calling it yours!
‘You’re back to normal for once. Did those macarons taste that good?’

Deningrose had handed Wrath macarons at the Black Market, asking him to share them with me. Apparently they tasted good enough to bring him back to his usual self.

-Impressive work. If not for that incident, I would have made that child serve the True Demon King.

Wrath clicked his tongue regretfully, lamenting that the Village Chief’s granddaughter Lucy had given the macaron first.

‘He really can’t describe flavors.’

I sighed while watching Wrath.

‘If you’re going to describe taste, do it like Deningrose did earlier. There’s satisfaction in giving food when someone appreciates it properly.’

Deningrose had described the wild berry pie and macaron with the refined eloquence of a true connoisseur.
Her words resonated so well that I felt inclined to gift her more desserts.

-The True Demon King can do it well too!
‘Then do it.’
-Ugh….

Wrath scratched his chin with his round fist, then suddenly lifted his head.

-The macaron’s cookie was crispy like tree bark, and the wild berry cream was soft like cloth!
‘….’

He seemed to have remembered what Deningrose said and tried to follow her analogy, but the result was worlds apart. I couldn’t even figure out where to start criticizing.

‘You have no talent for this.’
-Ugh….
‘Give it up.’

*

*

*

I told Dorian to rest and made my way to Pallen’s room.

Knock, knock.

As I knocked lightly, an irritable voice came from inside.

“Who is it!”

Footsteps, equally irritated, echoed before the door swung open.

“I told you not to come looking for me—gasp!”

Pallen, her hair loose and disheveled, started to shout but clamped her mouth shut the instant she saw my face.

“Oh, you’ve arrived.”

The savage beast that Pallen had been moments before transformed into a meek herbivore, her shoulders shrinking inward.

I surveyed the surroundings. Thanks to Pallen’s habit of biting people, the corridor was empty. I entered her chamber as if it were my own.

“D-did your journey go well?”
“I’ll be asking the questions.”

I cut off Pallen’s words abruptly.

“I-I’m sorry.”

Pallen’s eyes remained clouded with fear.

“Has there been any contact from Black Death since my departure?”
“No, nothing at all. I hung cloth over the window as instructed, but they never came….”

Pallen shook her head, explaining that all communication had ceased after she sent the information.

“As expected.”

I let out a soft chuckle and nodded to myself.

‘He’s erasing Black Death.’

Typically, when an assassination organization fails a contract, they must either pay a penalty or send additional assassins after reporting the failure to complete the task.
The fact that Derus Robert was doing neither meant he intended to erase Black Death entirely.

‘His next move is painfully obvious.’

He’s suffered three defeats at my hands, so he’ll hold back for a while.

Having lost three times to me, and with the Orphanage and Underwater Dungeon seized, Derus Robert’s temperament would make him so furious that he’d actually become cold and calculated instead.

The fact that he’s trying to eliminate Black Death suggests he won’t interfere with me for now, but will gather information and then exploit my weaknesses or blind spots with a surprise attack.

‘Still, I can’t let my guard down.’

Derus Robert is a relentlessly persistent and cold-blooded man. No matter how well I understand his thinking, I must remain vigilant.

After organizing my thoughts, I turned my head toward Pallen.

“Did you bring the items for the examination?”
“Yes. But it seems everything is already finished.”

Pallen bit her lip.

“My second brother is bringing Drake in its entirety, and my eldest brother will bring something no less impressive. There’s no way we can win.”

She seemed to think that Dorian had come empty-handed and failed to capture the Drake that was in the Zamari Mountain Range.

“That’s likely.”

There was no need to tell Pallen the truth, so I nodded and stood up.

“From now on, there’s no reason for anyone to seek you out separately. Do you understand what I mean?”
“You mean… forget everything that’s happened so far?”
“Smart.”

I smiled and grasped Pallen’s chin.

“You’ll need to forget so thoroughly that your mouth won’t open even if you drink or are brainwashed. If problems arise, she’ll come looking for you again.”
“Eeeek!”

The moment I mentioned that Merlin would come looking for her again, Pallen shrieked and thrashed about before falling backward.

“I-I absolutely won’t! Please! Please…!”

Pallen dropped to her knees and wrung her hands desperately.

“Just watch your tongue.”

I covered my mouth with a finger and looked down at her.

“Yes. Yes! Absolutely!”

Pallen nodded frantically, her eyes bloodshot with fear. The sheer terror etched across her face suggested she would never breathe a word of this for the rest of her life.

‘What on earth did Merlin do to frighten her this badly?’

I left Pallen’s room with a hollow laugh.

-Master, I’d rather not know.

Wrath trembled violently at the mere thought of Merlin.

-Ignorance is bliss when it comes to that mad woman!

He shook his head vigorously, insisting he neither knew nor wanted to know.

‘You’ve had a similar experience, haven’t you?’
-Indeed! A most leeching sort of experience it was.
‘A leech, you say….’

As I conversed with Wrath and made my way to the Dormitory, I found Dorian and Adis’s Butler, Rigwin, standing before the entrance.

“Raon. The Merchant Guild Master wishes to see you. Do you have a moment?”

Rigwin bowed respectfully.

“Of course. Let’s go.”

I nodded. I’d anticipated this to some degree, so I followed Rigwin toward the Merchant Guild Master’s Office.

Upon entering the office, I found Adis Sepia seated at his desk, reviewing documents. He maintained the same posture, the same appearance as always—as if cast in stone.

“It’s been a while.”

Adis set his pen down on the documents and lifted his gaze to meet mine.

“Did the task go well?”
“You should ask the person involved rather than me.”

I smiled and gestured toward Dorian.

“Hmm….”

Adis nodded and turned his gaze toward Dorian.

“Did you obtain the item?”
“Y-yes….”

Dorian nodded weakly, clearly understanding what had been said moments before.

“Your voice lacks conviction. It seems you failed to acquire what you sought.”
“Um….”

His refusal to answer properly revealed his nature—someone poor at deception, he had chosen silence instead.

“Drake is formidable, but it is a rare monster. There is no shame in failing to obtain a specimen or capture one. However….”

Adis fixed Dorian with a cold, piercing stare.

“Such excuses are fit only for ordinary trading companies. To stand at the pinnacle of Sepia, you must produce a Drake even if one does not exist.”
“Y-yes, of course.”

Dorian nodded, fidgeting with his fingers. His flushed cheeks betrayed his eagerness to pull out the Drake and show it off immediately.

‘Of course he would.’

He was the type to pull items from his spatial pouch at every opportunity, and with a chance to impress his previously dismissive father, he was surely itching to do so. But restraint now would yield greater rewards later.
But if you endure now, you can gain something greater later.

“Take out the things you brought. Let me see how much it is.”

Adis’s voice was cold, but his gesture was gentle. It seemed like he was trying to give advice.

“Oh, that won’t work.”

Dorian shook his head while gripping the pouch at his waist.

“Why?”
“I need to fulfill expectations….”
“Expectations?”
“N-no, that’s not it! Ugh!”

His lips trembled as he looked at me.

‘Sigh….’

I exhaled inwardly and narrowed my eyes.

“I need to know what you’ve prepared….”
“The Merchant Guild Master might see my items and leak information to other successor candidates! I can’t allow that!”

Dorian lifted his head and blurted out loudly.

I turned to look at Dorian and offered a faint smile.

‘That works.’

It seemed like something he’d said on impulse, but it was actually a rather effective refusal for Adis.

“Are you saying I could be your enemy?”
“Y-yes, sir.”
“Hmm….”

Adis stroked his chin and nodded. His gaze had grown more subdued than before, yet the fervent heat burning deep within his eyes blazed even more intensely. It seemed Dorian’s answer had pleased him.

“I see. Then you’re dismissed. We’ll meet on the day of the trial.”

Adis waved his hand dismissively.

“Ah….”

Dorian’s lips trembled at that cold response as he rubbed the pouch at his waist.

“Over there….”
“Let’s go.”

I greeted Adis before Dorian could cause trouble, then dragged him out of the office.

“Hmm….”

Rigwin smiled faintly as he watched the door close behind Dorian and me.

“The youngest master has certainly grown.”
“Indeed. To regard me as an enemy and speak with such confidence. He’s changed considerably.”

Adis tapped his fingers lightly on the desk and nodded.

“It seems the company one keeps is truly important. The White Sword Dragon—he’s not someone to be judged by age or martial prowess alone.”

Rigwin nodded, his eyes gleaming with pride.

“That’s what destiny is, then.”

Adis picked up the pen he’d set down and smiled with satisfaction.

“I’m looking forward to the trial day. It seems he’s prepared something quite entertaining.”

*

*

*

The day the Grey Hammer Guild arrived, and the final day of the successor trial.

I made my way to the Training Ground with a light step.
The Training Ground was filled with countless people, all appearing to be merchants from the Sepia Trading Company gathered from across the Continent.

“Seeing it like this, there really are a lot of merchants in the company.”

Dorian swallowed hard as he looked around at the merchants filling the Training Ground.

“Of course you should attend. This is the test to determine the next Merchant Guild Master.”

Since selecting a successor was a crucial matter that could determine the future of all merchants belonging to the Sepia Trading Company, everyone had carved out time from their busy schedules to attend.

“If I become the Merchant Guild Master, all these people will be under me?”
“That’s right. You’ll be responsible for all of them. Think you can handle it?”
“H-honestly, I’m not confident. But….”

Raon turned his gaze toward Dorian. The man stood with his head bowed, trembling at the nape of his neck.

“Wouldn’t it be fine to receive help from others?”

Dorian lifted his face slightly. Though his voice wavered, his eyes held a subtle gleam of trust and sincerity.

-Finally, this cowardly brat is saying something sensible.

Wrath, rarely impressed, smiled with genuine pride at Dorian.

‘Indeed.’

Asking for help took courage too.

“A good answer.”

Raon nodded with satisfaction.

“When your strength falls short, seeking help from someone you trust is a wise approach.”
“Th-thank you! You’ll help me too, won’t you, Vice Guild Master!”
“But I’m expensive. Very expensive. Understand?”
“Ah….”
“And you should pay me friendship fees in advance.”
“Y-yes, of course….”

Dorian’s eyebrows drooped, and his lips turned pale.

-Why do you keep crushing the spirits of the True Demon King’s subordinates!

Wrath seized my sleeve and cried out in protest.

‘This is fun.’

I gave Dorian’s shoulder a light pat before heading toward the center of the Training Ground. Dialun and Pallen, my second and third siblings, were already there.

Before Dialun lay an entire Drake, just under twenty meters in length, while before Pallen were neatly arranged Drake claws, fangs, and horns.

‘Jeseor hasn’t arrived yet.’

My eldest sibling, Jeseor, still hadn’t reached the Sepia Trading Company. I could guess what he was plotting, and I couldn’t help but smile.

I stood beside Pallen alongside Dorian.

“Ah, hello.”
“It’s been a while.”

Pallen greeted me awkwardly, while Dialun lowered his head with a slight frown. Despite both having secured materials, neither looked pleased.
It seemed everyone already knew what Jeseor was bringing.

“We’re just supporting cast. The outcome is already decided. My brother’s victory.”

Dialun stared down at the Drake’s taxidermied form, biting his lip.

“Why does Young Master Dialun look so gloomy?”
“Right. He brought a Drake intact, so why does he already look defeated?”
“The rumors are spreading late. Young Master Jeseor is bringing a Drake far larger than that!”
“Really? But why hasn’t he arrived?”
“He’s waiting. For the perfect moment.”

The rumors had spread among the crowd as well—everyone seemed convinced that Jeseor, the eldest, would become the successor.

Whoooosh!

Before the sun reached its zenith, the Training Ground doors swung open with a crisp sound, and Adis, the master of the Sepia Trading Company, entered.
He walked with measured but commanding strides, positioning himself before the three successor candidates.

“Guests from the Grey Hammer Guild will arrive shortly. Let us examine what you’ve brought before they do.”

Adis stood with his hands clasped behind his back, surveying the three successor candidates in turn.

“Merchant Guild Master.”

Dialun raised his hand and narrowed his eyes.

“Jeseor still hasn’t arrived.”
“Punctuality is an essential virtue for any merchant. If he doesn’t arrive by noon, no matter how magnificent a Drake he brings, he’ll be disqualified….”
“Please be patient with us.”

Adis frowned, and just as Dialun’s face began to flush, Jeseor’s calm voice echoed through the air.

“What, what is that!”
“Where is it?”
“Up there!”
“It’s coming from above!”

At the merchants’ cries, everyone lifted their heads. A black speck that had clung to the sun like a star visible in daylight grew larger and larger before plummeting into the center of the Training Ground.

Boom!

Whether magic had been used or not, the impact wasn’t as severe as expected, but a thick cloud of golden sand rose densely over the Training Ground.

Whoosh!

As Rigwin gestured, the sand settled, and what had fallen in the center of the Training Ground came into view. Something massive resting atop a gray platform exceeding thirty meters was wrapped in thick cloth.
A massive something sat on a gray plank that seemed to stretch over 30 meters, wrapped in thick cloth.

“It’s not noon yet, so it’s not too late, right?”

Jeseor, who had been riding on the plank, went and stood in front of Adis.

“Hmm…”

Adis nodded slowly.

“Thank you.”
Thank you.

Jeseor bowed respectfully, but his posture and expression were already overflowing with the composure of one who had won.

“It seems the others have already revealed their offerings. I suppose I should show you what I’ve brought as well.”

He turned and lifted the black cloth draped over the wooden platform, flinging it skyward. The fabric billowed like a flag, rising high into the air, and beneath it emerged Drake, who had been concealing his form.

Jeseor’s subordinates approached and stretched out Drake’s head and tail to their full length. A magnificent creature that filled half the Training Ground. It was a colossal Drake, easily exceeding twenty-five meters.

“Woooooow!”
“Is… is that a Drake?”
“Why is it so massive? Isn’t that a Dragon?”
“This is… insane. The outcome is already decided. It’s over!”
“Young Master Jeseor will become the successor.”

The merchants filling the Training Ground erupted in cheers. Hearing the thunderous roar that shook the heavens, it seemed that those merchants following Jeseor from the start vastly outnumbered the other successor candidates.

“Tch….”
“Damn it….”

Dialun and Pallen bit their lips upon seeing the Drake Jeseor had brought. The disparity was so overwhelming that they didn’t even consider attempting to compete.

“Hmm.”

Jeseor stood confidently, savoring the attention that focused solely upon him.

Raon smiled faintly as he observed the scene.

‘Just as expected.’

This is why I haven’t arrived until now.

With Jeseor’s connections, he could have arrived quickly even through magic, but his absence until today made it clear he intended to use this spectacular display to captivate the merchants’ hearts.

‘Impressive, though….’

In the end, you’ll be the supporting actor.

Thanks to the situation he had orchestrated, an even more entertaining scene was about to unfold.

“The outcome is decided, it seems.”

Jeseor gazed down at the other successor candidates with arrogant eyes.
Just as in the Dining Hall, Dorian didn’t even look at him. It seemed he wasn’t even considered a younger brother or a competitor.

“What if we let the other children in…?”
“No.”

Adis raised his hand, cutting off Jeseor’s words.

“Dorian hasn’t brought his yet.”
“He didn’t bring anything?”
“I’m not sure either.”

Adis looked toward Dorian and Raon standing behind him.

“If you’ve brought something, show it.”
“Yes.”

Dorian swallowed hard and stepped forward.

“Everyone, please step back a bit.”

He gestured to Pallen, Dialun, Jeseor, and his subordinates behind him. That wasn’t enough—he made even the spectators who had come forward to watch retreat.

“What’s he trying to do?”
“Is he just showing off?”
“Could be. Like a final desperate attempt.”
“He needs to draw attention somehow.”

The people stepped back since they were before Adis, but they shook their heads mockingly at Dorian.

“Hah….”

Dorian slowly steadied his breathing and looked toward Raon.

“Go ahead.”
“Yes!”

Seeing him smile as if granting permission, I reached into my pouch. The first thing that emerged was the head of a small reptile, like a lizard.

“Kahahaha!”
“What the—! What is that?!”
“I said bring Drake, not some lizard!”
“It’s all over… huh?”
“Gahhhhh!”

But the moment the reptilian creature emerged from Dorian’s dimensional pouch, its head swelled to an absolutely colossal size—a Drake’s skull so massive it could swallow several humans whole.

“Ahhhhh….”
“That… that’s….”
“Gaaahhh!”

When the Drake’s body, exceeding thirty-five meters in length, fully emerged from Dorian’s dimensional pouch, Jeseor and the other successor candidates and merchants stood slack-jawed in utter disbelief.

The Training Ground, which had been filled with cheers both loud and small celebrating Jeseor’s victory, fell into silence as if it had transformed into a library.

Raon gazed upon that profound quiet with both eyes and smiled.

‘This is exactly the expression I wanted to see.’

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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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