The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 373
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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 373
“Commander.”
I tossed the pebble in my hand into the air and smacked my lips.
“Is it an urgent summons?”
“No. There’s a bit of time.”
Rimer shook his head, indicating it wasn’t urgent enough to rush off immediately.
“Then I’ll finish what I’m doing and head over.”
I smiled faintly and caught the pebble lightly in my palm.
“What exactly are you doing?”
Since Rimer had only just arrived, he couldn’t tell what training I was conducting.
“Simple cliff climbing training.”
“Simple?”
As he tilted his head in confusion, I hurled the pebble downward.
Whoooosh!
The moment a sharp piercing sound cut through the air, a scream erupted from a Gwangpung Order member on the cliff face.
“Kyaaaaaagh!”
With a sound like a pig being slaughtered, one of the Gwangpung Order members plummeted to the ground.
Mark Goeten, who had been waiting below, caught him gently, allowing the Gwangpung Order member to land safely without injury. Though the psychological trauma seemed considerable.
I turned back and looked at Rimer with a grin.
“It’s fundamental training that will benefit everyone.”
“I have no idea where you picked up such insane methods. But….”
Rimer furrowed his brow as he watched the Gwangpung Corps member who had just fallen.
“This looks fun!”
He grinned and picked up a stone from the ground.
“Can I give it a try?”
Rimer was true to form—he understood what fun really meant.
“It’s not just about hitting them. The goal is to develop their sensory awareness and response capability by targeting their vital points.”
I wasn’t putting the Gwangpung Order members through this training simply to torment them.
By hurling stones at their weak spots, I was cultivating their ki perception and building their experience in responding to threats.
“Huh…?”
Dorian’s mouth fell open as he listened to my explanation.
‘So it wasn’t just harassment?’
I’d assumed he was just amusing himself by constantly throwing stones and branches around, but hearing this now, it seemed everything had purpose behind it.
‘Now that I think about it….’
When I faced Crain earlier, I could sense his weak points.
When Crain raised his sword to defend himself, I could somehow feel the vulnerable spots in his stance.
When I brought my training sword down on that exact spot, Crain couldn’t withstand it and ended up offering his forehead in surrender.
‘He had a plan for everything.’
That’s our unit commander for you.
‘I apologize for doubting you.’
Dorian inwardly marveled at the sight before him and bowed his head to me.
“Why are you suddenly bowing? Did you just curse me?”
I squinted at Dorian, who had abruptly lowered his head.
“Oh, no! Absolutely not!”
Dorian shook his head so vigorously that his eyes, nose, and mouth disappeared from view.
“Stop thinking strange thoughts and just give the stone to the Unit Commander.”
“Ah, yes….”
He sighed and handed the stone to Rimer.
“Back in the day, I was called the flying squirrel of Zigheart.”
Rimer caressed the stone and lifted the corners of his mouth in a smile.
“Why?”
“Because I escaped so well!”
“That has nothing to do with the current situation, does it?”
“I just wanted to say it!”
He straightened his twisted waist and hurled the stone. The pebble, infused with wind aura, crashed down upon Burren’s forehead and shattered.
“Gack!”
Struck in the forehead for the second time, Burren let out a sharp cry and tumbled backward. He plummeted helplessly, his strength completely drained.
“Burren noooooo!”
“Ahhh! Lord Burren is falling!”
“Raon! You demon!”
“We’re all going to die! We’re all dying!”
The members of Squad Three, having lost their commander, shrieked in panic.
“How was that?”
Rimer raised his arm and laughed refreshingly.
“Not bad at all.”
I nodded and handed Rimer the split stone.
“Let’s begin.”
“You got it!”
The Unit Commander and Vice Commander—who were master and disciple in private—cheerfully hurled stones to knock the Gwangpung Order members climbing the cliff.
Crash! Crash! Crash!
Though the Gwangpung Order members scaled the cliff with their trained bodies as if it were their own home, they lost their balance under the barrage of stones raining down upon them and fell one by one.
“Ugh!”
Martha evaded over a dozen stones with fierce concentration, but ultimately fell victim to our combined assault.
“You bastards!”
Her scream echoed across the frigid cliff.
“Only Lunan remains now.”
Rimer let out a hollow laugh as he watched Lunan clinging to the center of the cliff like a cicada.
“Wait, is he actually sleeping?”
“He was doing the same earlier.”
“At this rate, he’ll develop a sleep sword technique.”
He shrugged and hurled a stone toward Lunan.
Whoosh!
The stone infused with wind aura streaked forward like lightning, but Lunan evaded it with his eyes closed, twisting his shoulder.
“Impressive!”
Rimer hadn’t expected me to dodge so effortlessly. With his sleeves rolled up, he hurled stones in rapid succession, while Lunan, eyes still closed, crawled like a lizard to evade them.
I watched Rimer throw with such dedication and curled my lips into a smile.
‘Throw with all your might now.’
Starting tomorrow, the Head of House will have to climb the cliff too.
Rimer had grown stronger, it was true, but since he’d only been cultivating, his stamina and physique still fell far short.
By tomorrow, he would find himself clinging to that cliff as well.
“Ah.”
As I was imagining Rimer’s anguished cries tomorrow, a short scream erupted from Lunan.
It seemed one of Rimer’s stones had finally struck him, sending him tumbling to the ground.
“By the way, who’s that man catching them down there?”
Rimer tilted his head, apparently just now curious about Mark Goeten’s identity.
“He will become my vassal.”
“A, a vassal? But that man’s a master!”
“It just happened to turn out that way.”
“A master becoming a vassal? What exactly are you really?”
Rimer’s lips trembled faintly as confusion washed over him.
“It’s truly coincidence. I’ll explain it to the Head of House later.”
I waved my hand at Rimer and walked toward the cliff’s edge, peering down below.
“Everyone’s fallen now! Come back up!”
I shouted downward, infusing my voice with aura.
“If you want to stop training, then have at least one person climb back up! Either that or wait for sunrise!”
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
The moment my words ended, anguished wails echoed from below.
“You bastard!”
“Just wait! When you come up here, I’ll kill you!”
“I won’t let this slide!”
“Let’s go! Kill that bastard!”
The Gwangpung Order members, furious at being pelted with stones, let out fierce cries as they began scrambling up the cliff.
“See, the Gwangpung Unit really comes alive when you’re around.”
Rimer chuckled as he watched the Gwangpung Order members climbing rapidly, oblivious to his own fate tomorrow.
Raon observed Rimer for a moment, then placed a hand on Dorian’s shoulder.
“Dorian.”
“Yes? Yes!”
Witnessing the madness in both their eyes, Dorian’s lips trembled as he nodded frantically.
“Did you see how it’s done?”
“Th-throwing stones?”
“Right. I’m going to see the Head of House. This time, you throw.”
“H-how am I supposed to…”
“Besides, Mark Goeten is down there anyway. You can throw anything—it’ll all hit.”
“That’s right. Just throw it. They’ll all hit regardless.”
Not only Raon but Rimer too smiled, assuring him it would be simple.
“Then I’m counting on you.”
The two of them waved casually and descended the cliff via the opposite path.
Dorian watched the Gwangpung Order members rushing up the cliff and swallowed hard.
“W-will this work?”
The ascending Gwangpung Order members terrified him, but Raon, who had driven them to this state, frightened him even more.
“Oh, what the hell!”
I shook my head vigorously and pulled a long, thick log from my ship’s storage, rolling it down the cliff.
Crash!
With a thunderous sound like the cliff was being crushed, the log sent three members of the Gwangpung Order tumbling down.
“Ahhhhh!”
“Damn it!”
“Curse you, Raon Zigheart!”
The Gwangpung Order members cursed at Raon even as they fell.
“Wait, this is actually fun?”
It was far more entertaining than I’d expected.
Since it was Raon who bore the brunt of their curses as they fell, I felt no guilt whatsoever.
Dorian grinned and dumped square rocks, pointed rocks, and round rocks from his ship’s storage.
“Fall, all of you!”
The way he pelted the Gwangpung Order members with stones and debris somehow resembled Raon.
“Kehehehe!”
Wrath, who had been stretching his body to its limits to maintain his position, shook his head at the sight of Dorian.
-Is this what humans are like…?
Or do they all go mad whenever they meet that bastard?
*
*
*
I stepped through the door that Rimer had opened and entered the Audience Chamber.
‘How cold.’
Every time I came here, I felt it—the Audience Chamber was the coldest and most unsettling place within the Zigheart estate.
I walked across the central carpet and lifted my gaze.
Roen stood on the left, Sheryl on the right, and Glen sat upon the Jade Throne on the platform above. His dry eyes surveyed the world with their usual indifference.
I clicked my tongue silently and turned my attention to Rimer.
‘A gift, he said?’
The atmosphere suggested I’d be fortunate if fists didn’t start flying, let alone receiving any gift.
-Why does that old man always wear the same expression? His face is set in stubborn displeasure.
‘I have no idea.’
I took a deep breath, then knelt and lowered my head.
“I greet the Head of House!”
“Rise.”
Before I could even complete the proper salutation, a heavy voice commanded me to stand.
“Thank you.”
I straightened my back and lifted my head. Glen’s gaze was colder than usual.
“Why didn’t you come see me immediately upon your return?”
“I thought it would be disrespectful to visit at such a late hour.”
I had planned to come tomorrow, thinking a late-night visit would leave a poor impression, but it seemed that hesitation had backfired instead.
“Raon Zigheart.”
Glen rested his chin on his fist, his arrogant eyes piercing through me.
“I found you because there’s something I’m curious about.”
“Please speak, sir.”
“The Sepia Commerce Lord mentioned he’ll be visiting soon to secure infrastructure and road networks. What did you do at the Trading Company?”
His eyes grew cold, as if he still didn’t know what had happened at Sepia Trading Company.
‘Now I understand why he’s upset.’
He seemed irritated that I’d decided to expand the infrastructure without reporting it first.
‘I should have asked first, after all.’
Even if it was good for the family, Glen was still the Head of House. Reporting first was the proper thing to do.
“It might take a while to explain. Is that acceptable?”
“Go ahead.”
Glen nodded slowly, indicating it was fine.
“When I returned to Sepia Trading Company, Adis Sepia, the Commerce Lord, said he was holding a succession test….”
I told Glen and his men everything about the succession competition that had occurred at Sepia Trading Company.
I mentioned the battle with the Black Tower, but I didn’t bring up Shadow—I only mentioned assassins and the Poison Clan.
“…And so it seems the Commerce Lord is coming to Zigheart directly to inspect the infrastructure and road network conditions.”
The Audience Chamber fell silent at the mention that Sepia Trading Company would stand behind Zigheart, and their first request was to expand Zigheart’s infrastructure and road networks.
“Wait, did Sepia Trading Company really say they’d stand behind Zigheart?”
Sheryl’s mouth fell open in astonishment.
‘Sepia has always remained neutral until now….’
Countless organizations had tried to maintain close ties with Sepia Trading Company, but none had succeeded.
It was unbelievable that a place which had only maintained customer and merchant relationships with everyone would extend their hand first to Zigheart.
“…That’s quite remarkable.”
Roen also let out a hollow laugh, seemingly unaware that Raon would return with the backing of the Sepia Trading Company.
“And on top of that, Nakhwado is a Master-level warrior! You’ve come back having acquired a Master!”
“Indeed. People truly are different from one another.”
The two men continued to marvel, astonished at the acquisition of Nakhwado.
“That’s my money source for you!”
Rimer gave Raon a thumbs up and nodded with confidence, his expression suggesting he had accomplished something remarkable himself.
As Raon listened to the three men’s praise, he bowed his head toward Glen Zigheart.
“I apologize for not informing you in advance.”
“Raon Zigheart.”
As I gazed at the crimson carpet, Glen’s voice called out to me. I lifted my gaze. Unlike the three others, his face carried a chilling coldness.
“Why did you ask the Sepia Commerce Lord to support Zigheart’s development?”
Glen’s eyes gleamed with a piercing sharpness that seemed to see through my very soul.
“He lost his heart not to Zigheart, but to you. You could have simply looked after your own interests, yet why did you desire Zigheart’s advancement?”
The question was not long, but answering it was far from simple. I turned the matter over in my mind, but honesty seemed the best path forward.
“To be honest, I never particularly cared for Zigheart. I gave my affection to the Gwangpung Unit, but I held little emotion toward the family itself. However, a certain incident changed that perspective.”
I closed my eyes, recalling that miraculous day.
“When I witnessed people I barely knew by face risking their lives and drawing their blades to rescue me from captivity, something within me transformed. I began to understand what a family truly meant, what power and influence could be.”
I continued speaking while gazing at the crimson moonlight pouring through the window.
“From that moment on, I began to think not of myself, but of the family’s affairs. When the family was disrespected, I felt anger. When the family faced defeat, I wanted to step forward and claim victory for them.”
“Hmm….”
Glen stroked his chin with an unmoved gaze, yet he did not interrupt my words.
“This request was also an extension of that same goal. Currently, the Zigheart family is built on the most barren land among the Six Emperors—no, among all named powers. It’s cold year-round, storms rage constantly, monsters are abundant, and it’s utterly isolated.”
I pointed my finger at the floor of the Audience Chamber.
“Isolation applies not just to the outside world, but within as well. The family’s swordsmen and servants have nowhere to rest or enjoy themselves, so they remain confined to the Dormitory even on weekends. Entertainment districts exist, but they’re all the same, so people grow bored and don’t venture out, and money just accumulates.”
“Exactly! Exactly! All the taverns are identical!”
Rimer suddenly interjected, waving his hand.
“When searching for our unit leader, we only need to check one tavern and one gambling house—there are so few places to go.”
Since Rimer always frequented only the Old Tavern and Dogyae’s Gambling House, finding him was as easy as taking candy from a baby.
“Huh? So that’s why you found me so easily? I thought you’d planted some kind of location-tracking artifact on me….”
Rimer shook his head, startled by how uncannily I’d managed to track him down.
“If infrastructure expands around the family estate, the swordsmen will venture outside on their days off and spend money, which will gradually develop the surrounding commerce. The swordsmen will relieve stress, and the merchants will earn profit. People attract people, and money attracts money—eventually, this would lead to the family’s own expansion.”
As my words finished, the Audience Chamber fell silent as if no one existed within it.
“To think such thoughts… you’ve truly changed so much.”
Sheryl smiled softly, raising both hands to applaud.
“If it truly comes to pass, many swordsmen and servants will be delighted.”
Roen also clapped beside Sheryl, his characteristic laugh escaping.
“….”
Rimer said nothing, simply gazing intently at me.
“Hey! What are you doing! Aren’t you going to applaud?”
Sheryl struck Rimer’s ribs with her elbow.
“Ugh! I’m moved by my disciple’s growth!”
Rimer rubbed his bruised ribs and winced.
“Disciple? Isn’t he the master instead?”
“Well, I hear that a lot.”
He smiled faintly as he looked at me.
“That guy had shut everyone out except the Annex Building and the Gwangpung Unit, but the way he keeps saying Zigheart… it seems he’s finally started thinking about the family with genuine care.”
From the moment I first met him, I possessed exceptional mental fortitude and talent, but I kept my heart firmly sealed away.
It took considerable time to narrow the distance with the Gwangpung Unit, but after the kidnapping incident, my perspective seemed to have undergone a significant transformation.
“Raon. Build just one more gambling house!”
Rimer beamed with a broad smile and clapped along with Sheryl and Roen.
I received their applause and looked up at Glen.
“Sigh….”
Glen seemed to be deliberating, his gaze lifting upward as he exhaled softly. His jaw appeared to tremble slightly.
“I wish for the people of our family to live more comfortably and joyfully, and for our family’s reputation to spread wider and higher. To achieve that, expanding our infrastructure would be the most optimal path. Please accept this.”
Glen remained an inscrutable man. Even now that I’d revealed my true intentions, I couldn’t tell if they’d resonated with him.
Glen covered his mouth with his hand and closed his eyes. His voice wavered slightly, suggesting he was genuinely conflicted.
I kept my mouth shut and bowed my head, giving him sufficient time to think.
“Ahem. I didn’t realize your thoughts extended that far. You’re right—the family can’t remain stagnant forever.”
Glen cleared his throat as if reluctantly granting permission and nodded.
“Thank you.”
I placed my hand over my heart and bowed respectfully.
“Ahem!”
Rimer let out a hollow laugh as he watched Glen repeatedly clear his throat, forcibly pressing his lips together.
‘Here he goes again.’
Though he was suppressing his expression and gestures using every muscle and aura in his body, his control was slipping—the corners of his mouth were already rising toward the heavens.
If he simply removed the hand covering half his face, he would undoubtedly be grinning like a puppy.
‘It’s a miracle he hasn’t fainted.’
His grandson had not only brought one of the Continent’s Five Major Trading Companies into the fold, but had made a request that considered the family’s future—what grandfather wouldn’t lose his mind at such news?
Looking at him now, Glen’s eyes were half-glazed over. I had never seen him in such a state before.
‘I can’t let this opportunity slip away.’
Rimer sprang up onto the platform. From the side, I could see Glen forcibly pulling down the corners of his mouth.
His lips were moving busily, like a squirrel chewing on an acorn.
“Ahem! Why have you come up here?”
“Surely you understand better than anyone how significant this matter is, Head of House?”
Rimer raised his hand slightly as he continued.
“Since we cannot simply let Raon go after he’s brought such tremendous benefits to the family, wouldn’t it be fitting to bestow something upon him?”
He looked toward Sheryl and Roen as if seeking their support.
“That fool has finally spoken sense. I too believe this matter warrants sufficient compensation.”
Sheryl smiled as she gazed at Raon.
“I share that sentiment.”
Roen nodded with a wry chuckle.
“Ahem! If three speak thus, I have no choice.”
Glen straightened his posture as if he had been waiting for this moment, lifting his chin with pride.
“I shall bestow a gold medal upon Raon Zigheart for achieving trade with the Sepia Trading Company on behalf of the Family.”
The moment the order was given, Roen ascended the platform. A wooden board bearing a gold medal was already in his hands.
“Raon. Come up.”
“Deputy Head. Please come this way.”
Sheryl and Roen gestured for me to climb onto the platform.
I climbed toward the platform, my head tilted in confusion as I struggled to keep pace with how rapidly the situation was unfolding.
‘What is this…’
Why was everything moving so quickly?
Normally, when completing a mission or achieving something significant, there would be thorough discussion before receiving a reward. But this time, everything was proceeding as swiftly as popcorn popping in hot oil.
‘Well, it doesn’t matter.’
Glen was meticulous when it came to distributing merit, and the fact that he was presenting the gold medal meant I had accomplished what was expected. I decided to be pleased that I had taken another step closer to making Sylvia part of the Main Lineage.
I decided to be happy for now, since we’ve come one step closer to making Sylvia part of the Main Lineage.
Glen’s eyes remained cold, but he held out the gold badge as if he had no intention of asking for compensation.
“Thank you.”
Thank you.
Raon raised both hands to receive the gold medal. Whether it was his own hands or Glen’s hands that were trembling, he almost dropped the gold medal.
“Where are you going?”
“Where are you going?”
As I was about to greet Sheryl, Roen, and Rimer, who had helped me obtain the gold badge, and head down, I heard Glen Zigheart’s voice.
“Huh?”
When I turned around in confusion, Glen was looking at me with a slightly heated gaze.
“I’m not particularly inclined to give it, but if I brush them off with just a gold medal, I’ll be the one getting cursed at by those guys. Tell me what you want.”
He waved his finger dismissively, as if whatever I said didn’t matter.
“I….”
“Name two.”
Why does this keep happening?
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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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