The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 381

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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 381

Ten minutes before the match began.
I smiled as I gazed upon the yellow flag planted at the Gwangpung-dan Headquarters.

‘Those old days come to mind.’

Seeing this flag stirred memories of when I was a trainee, battling the 6th Training Ground’s students in a group match.

-That bastard told you only a day before then too, didn’t he?

Wrath chuckled like a mischievous child.

‘That’s true. But this time….’

I furrowed my brow and glanced back at Rimer.

‘Why would he tell me only a day before when he’s participating himself?’

Back then, it made sense to keep it secret for fun since only trainees were involved. But this time, with him participating as well, informing me merely a day in advance was utterly absurd.

“Ugh, yawn.”

Rimer swept back his disheveled hair from oversleeping and yawned. When our eyes met, he grinned and tilted his chin to the side.

“What? Never seen a handsome elf before?”
“…No, I haven’t.”

I exhaled sharply and gestured to the Gwangpung Order.

“Gather.”

The Gwangpung Order assembled around the flag, their eyes gleaming with faint madness.

“I’ve already mapped out the entire Urban Training Ground. I’ll sketch the layout below….”

Just as I was about to formulate a strategy based on the terrain I’d surveyed, the ground suddenly shook violently, and the walls and buildings of the Urban Training Ground began to shift.

[I will reshape the Urban Training Ground for a fair battle.]

Judge Harrison’s voice echoed across the entire city district, rising above the swirling dust and the tremendous surge of mana.

[Now beginning the Urban Training Ground battle between the Gwangpung Unit and the Cheoljeon Unit!]

Thirty seconds after Harrison’s announcement, the walls and buildings that had been moving chaotically came to a halt with a thunderous boom.

“Did you change positions again from back there?”

Burren frowned as he surveyed the training ground, where dust still hadn’t fully settled.

“Even monkeys fall from trees sometimes—I suppose you didn’t think of that?”

Martha looked up at Raon with a smirk.

“We’ll need to reanalyze the terrain.”
“No, it’s fine.”

I shook my head as I drew a map on the ground.

“I already accounted for the possibility of the terrain changing.”
“You accounted for that?”

Burren’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

“I considered the possibility that the terrain might shift once more.”

After confirming that the mechanisms within the training ground could move, I had already anticipated how the buildings and walls would shift.

The Cheoljeon Unit wouldn’t fully understand the newly transformed terrain either, so if I opened Seolhwa’s senses to map out the layout, we’d have an even greater advantage than before.

“Hmph!”

Martha scowled and turned away.

“How boring.”
“Whose side are you even on anyway?”

I let out a hollow laugh as I fully opened Seolhwa’s senses. Along with the sensation of my skin stretching endlessly, I began to perceive everything around me.

“Raon.”

As I slowly began to grasp the layout of the City District from the nearby areas, Rimer raised his hand.

“I’m going to do some scouting.”
“What? Scouting?”

I narrowed my eyes as I looked at Rimer.

‘There’s no way this man would do something like scouting….’

It would be one thing if he just took a nap in the back out of laziness, but for him to volunteer to scout first? A chill ran down my spine.

“No, sir. I’ll go. The commander doesn’t go scouting, after all.”
“What do you know? This Rimer will lead by example!”
“Your exemplary leadership is already sufficient in taking on two sub-commanders of the Cheoljeon Unit.”

He absolutely could not be absent since he had to face two sub-commanders.

“Don’t worry. Wait for this body, who will soon become a commander.”

Rimer made a vigorous gesture before leaping onto a building with a collapsed wall.

“Wait a moment….”
“I’ll be back soon.”

Before I could stop him, Rimer became a green wind and rushed eastward.

“What’s gotten into the commander? Is he apologizing for telling us about the duel so late?”
“That can’t be it. He must have just taken the wrong medicine.”

Burren let out a hollow sigh, and Martha scoffed.

“He seems to be in pain.”

Lunan nodded with a blank expression.

“Could it be that he’s just dreaming?”
“He might have wagered his entire fortune on us.”
“Ah, that’s it! Gambling!”

The other members of the Gwangpung Order offered various explanations for Rimer’s unusual behavior, but none of them made sense.

-That fool’s about to cause trouble.
‘I can feel it too.’

We can’t afford to lose him.

If Rimer doesn’t face those two unit commanders, everything falls apart. I wanted to chase after him, but what’s done is done—now was the time to devise a plan quickly.

I drew out the layout of the city district on the ground, based on Seolhwa’s perception.

“Everyone gather. I’m about to explain the operation. Since the right path is the widest, Team 1 will….”

As I was explaining the terrain and operation to the Gwangpung Order again, I heard Harrison clear his throat.

‘Wait, could it be….’
[Cheoljeon Unit Commander Ores—Combat Incapacitated!]

Contrary to the anxiety that made my heart race, the news came that Ores, the second commander of the Cheoljeon Unit, had been eliminated.

“Whoa! What is this!”
“It’s the Unit Master!”
“Is the Unit Master finally taking action?”
“Tomorrow the sun will rise in the west!”
“Yesssss!”
“Rimer! Rimer! Rimer!”

The members of the Gwangpung Order erupted in cheers so loud that the wild gleam in their eyes vanished.

-Huh? That fool actually did something?
“He defeated a unit commander? The Unit Master did?”

Wrath and I were so startled that we gasped, but Harrison’s announcement wasn’t over yet.

[Gwangpung Unit Leader Rimer Unable to Continue Battle!]
“….”

The moment that announcement echoed through the arena, the swordsmen who had been smiling fell silent in unison.

The same thought crystallized in the minds of Raon and every member of the Gwangpung Unit.

That damned elf threw the match on purpose….

*

*

*

Trevin Zigheart, leader of the Cheoljeon Unit, furrowed his brow as he watched Rimer slumped before the collapsed wall.

“What in the world were you thinking?”
“What do you mean?”

Rimer shrugged his shoulders with a serene expression, as if he were enjoying afternoon tea.

“Why did you forfeit the moment you knocked out Ores?”

That elf had struck Ores from behind while he was out on reconnaissance, knocked him unconscious, and then came over here to forfeit immediately. It was so absurd that all the preparation for battle felt utterly pointless.

“I was tired.”

Rimer exhaled a long sigh and shook his head weakly.

“I’m getting old—my joints ache, and I can’t fight for long.”
“You don’t look like that at all.”

Trevin bit his lip hard.

‘Something was different from before.’

The aura Rimer had wielded when striking Ores was not merely wind. A far more ferocious energy had been infused into his blade.

“What are you plotting?”
“All I’m after is money, what else?”
“Stop spouting nonsense!”
“I’m serious. Don’t worry about me and just move according to plan. Go crush the panicked Gwangpung Unit already.”

Rimer waved his hand, urging them to charge forward immediately.

“Sigh….”

Trevin exhaled deeply.

‘What on earth is this?’

I had devised countless strategies to counter the Gwangpung Unit’s movements, but I had never anticipated a situation like this. I couldn’t fathom why Rimer had forfeited.

“What are you doing! Go capture the Gwangpung Unit already!”

Rimer stamped his feet, insisting they were running out of time.

“Hmm….”

Trevin clenched his teeth as he watched Rimer fidget. Since the situation remained unclear, I couldn’t issue any orders. My chest felt tight and suffocated, as if something were lodged there.
Since the situation wasn’t clear, I couldn’t give any instructions. My chest felt tight and suffocated, as if I had indigestion.

“He is known as a con artist, so he must have ulterior motives!”
“Has he not always been skilled at deception?”
“You were never good at telling lies in the first place, were you?”

Rimer glared at him, insisting that the inspectors of the Cheoljeon Unit must have had other reasons.

“Ugh, this is frustrating! I’m telling you, there’s no such thing! If you guys attack now, you’ll have the advantage!”

Rimer thumped his chest and twisted his mouth.

“Rimer, sir. Eliminated contestants shouldn’t be making such a fuss.”

One of the referees came over and covered Rimer’s mouth.

“You foolish idiots! Go now! Go beat those bastards! This is no time to be careful… ugh!”

He screamed at Rimer to run toward the Gwangpung Unit even as he was dragged away by the referee.

“Ugh….”

Trevin bit his lip as he watched Rimer being dragged away.

‘I don’t understand.’

The more I observed that mad elf, the less his actions made sense. Even the Cheoljeon Unit examiners grew anxious, swallowing hard.

‘It’s definitely a trap….’

The Gwangpung Unit wasn’t a place that relied solely on brute strength and recklessness. There had to be some special strategy at play, yet no matter how hard I thought, I couldn’t discern what it was.

“M-My lord? What if we attempt a charge?”

Kamang, the commander of the 1st Unit, approached and broached the subject of moving forward.

“No. There’s definitely something behind this. Start with reconnaissance first.”

Trevin ordered a small scouting party rather than a full assault.

‘As long as I don’t fall or lose the flag, I won’t lose.’

If I could avoid those two outcomes, defeat was impossible.

“Each unit’s scouts will divide in the directions I designate….”

As I issued orders to the examiners, I wiped away the cold sweat trickling down my forehead.

‘Damn it….’

It felt like sinking into an invisible swamp.

*

*

*

Adis Sepia lowered his gaze from the telescope, his jaw trembling.

“W-what is happening right now? Why did the Gwangpung Unit leader suddenly forfeit…?”

Rimer had defeated what appeared to be an executive swordsman of the Cheoljeon Unit, drawing cheers from the crowd, but instead of fleeing or continuing to fight, the man immediately raised his hand and shouted his forfeit. It made no sense—he didn’t even look exhausted, so why would he abandon the battle?

“Hmph….”

Glen clenched his fists so tightly that his palms turned white.

“It seems that elf no longer wishes to live.”
“Ah….”

At his dry tone, Adis swallowed hard.

“B-but he was once called the Brilliant Sword of Zigheart, a renowned swordmaster. Surely he must have some plan?”
“That fool has a brain, so naturally he’s thinking of something. However….”

Glen turned his gaze toward Adis, and a burning rage flickered in his crimson eyes.

“Such methods deserve punishment. A beating so severe it leaves him begging for mercy.”

His fingers twitched as if he wanted to rush down and thrash Rimer on the spot.

“I-I see.”

Adis forced an awkward smile and raised the telescope again, surveying the area where the Cheoljeon Unit was positioned.
Despite Rimer’s forfeit, they didn’t move immediately—instead, they sent only a small Scout Unit to assess the situation.

“Hmm? Why isn’t the Cheoljeon Unit moving? If they advance now, they could secure their victory.”

Glen clicked his tongue briefly as he looked down at Trevin Zigheart, the Cheoljeon Unit leader.

“Because he thinks too much.”
“Thinks too much…?”
“The Cheoljeon Unit leader has been cautious since childhood and thinks deeply about matters. Right now, he’s shocked by Rimer’s reckless conduct and can’t make a proper judgment.”
“Ah, so because the Brilliant Sword acted without thinking….”

Adis clapped his hands as understanding dawned on him.

“That’s right. The Cheoljeon Unit commander wouldn’t have anticipated such a situation in his pre-arranged plan, so he’s flustered and gathering information first.”

Glen’s eyes narrowed as he observed Trevin biting his fingernails.

‘He still hasn’t overcome that weakness.’

Trevin possessed outstanding skill, focus, and endurance, but his excessive caution sometimes became a liability, as it was now.

Had Rimer simply charged forward boldly as Rimer would, they could have begun the battle with a significant advantage.

“Thanks to that….”

Glen’s gaze turned toward the Western Terrain where the Gwangpung Unit was positioned.

“It seems those children have been given an interesting opportunity.”

*

*

*

-Kehehehe!

Wrath burst into raucous laughter, flailing his round arms.

-Forfeiting on purpose! That fool’s always been insane!

He occasionally ranted about how he actually liked Rimer for this reason.

‘Shut up.’

I pushed away the noisy Wrath and furrowed my brow.

‘That idiot commander’s intentions are painfully obvious.’

Rimer could have defeated Ores, the second division commander of the Cheoljeon Unit, and returned, yet he deliberately forfeited.

‘His reason must be to put us through hardship.’

He was clearly trying to create a situation where he could barely win, so he could get his revenge for being trampled so thoroughly.

‘If we had fought as planned, we would have won for sure.’

Everything would have been simple except for facing Trevin Zigheart.

According to plan, Rimer would handle two unit commanders, consume Saun Hwan, and the half-dazed Gwangpung Unit would bring down the Cheoljeon Unit—we would have won this battle without much difficulty.

But because Rimer only dealt with one unit commander before disappearing, the situation had changed completely. If the Cheoljeon Unit charged at us right now, we’d be in for an incredibly brutal fight due to their numerical advantage and superior skill.

“What are we going to do?”

Burren approached with a heavy sigh.

“What do you mean what? Except for that bastard, we fight among ourselves and crush them!”

Martha answered in his place.

“Let’s go.”

Lunan drew his sword without hesitation, as if nothing was wrong.

“No, we’re done for! Really done for! We can’t win!”
-It’s always amusing to watch humans despair.

Dorian clutched his head and crouched down, while Wrath chuckled beside him.

“Everyone, just stay calm for a moment.”

I flicked Dorian and Wrath on the forehead before walking forward. I expanded Seolhwa’s senses at an enormous aura cost to scout the Eastern Formation.

‘They’re not coming?’

I thought the Cheoljeon Unit swordsmen would charge at full force now that the great mountain that was Rimer had disappeared, but they remained still.

‘No, they are moving. But….’

There are too few of them?

The Cheoljeon Unit was approaching from three directions, three members each. And they were moving extraordinarily slowly.

‘Could it be reconnaissance?’

There was no reason for swordsmen to move so slowly unless it was reconnaissance.

I narrowed my eyes as I observed the swordsmen’s movements.

‘Why not charge directly and instead send Scout Units… Ah!’

As I considered why they had sent scouts and reflected on Trevin’s personality, the fog in my mind lifted.

‘The Cheoljeon Unit is also confused by this situation.’

When the opposing commander suddenly appeared, captured a squad leader, and forfeited, anyone would be shocked. Especially since Trevin Zigheart was a cautious man by nature, it was clear he had panicked and sent out the Scout Unit instead of moving the main force.

‘He’s valuing me quite highly.’

True to his cautious nature, Trevin was placing considerable weight on the name of Raon Zigheart.

‘There’s plenty I can exploit here.’

I gestured to gather the Gwangpung Order and explained the situation I had just realized to all of them.

“R-really? It works out that way?”
“The unit leader’s insane antics becoming a strategy….”
“So we just charge in?”

Burren let out a hollow laugh, Martha laughed as if refreshed, and Lunan fidgeted with his sword, eager to finish the fight and return.

“That’s right.”

I nodded, looking at Lunan.

“This is an opportunity to pressure them in reverse.”

If we moved in a way that shattered Trevin’s expectations, they would surely panic and remain still once more.

“I’ll ambush him with my blunt blade and take care of Unit Commander Kamang. After that, we’ll proceed with the original plan and face them one-on-one.”
“Wait.”

Martha raised her hand. Her eyes held a rare composure.

“Can’t I face that unit commander?”
“It’s impossible.”

I shook my head. I acknowledged Martha’s talent, but facing a Master who had transcended the Wall at her current level was simply not feasible.

“What if I joined in?”
“I want to help too.”

Burren and Lunan both stepped forward and thrust their faces into the conversation.

“You fools! Why are you butting in!”
“You can’t handle it alone.”
“That’s right. Martha’s weak.”
“Shut up!”

I nodded as I watched the three of them growl at each other.

‘This might actually work.’

One or two would be insufficient, but three of them could certainly hold their own. Since this was a sparring match rather than actual combat, it was an opportunity in its own way.

“Let’s go.”

I drew my blunt blade and smiled.

“Let’s show them that straightforward brutality is the best approach.”

*

*

*

Eastern Cheoljeon Unit Formation.
The swordsmen who had gone out on reconnaissance rushed back with urgent expressions.

“M-Major!”
“The Gwangpung Unit is approaching. B-but….”

The swordsmen glanced backward, swallowing hard.

“They’re charging forward without any formation whatsoever, like a swarm of rats.”
“I know….”

Trevin Zigheart bit his lip and nodded.

“I’m aware.”

Through the expansive aura I had spread out, I sensed the Gwangpung Unit’s movements—charging forward like beasts without any rules or order.

‘What on earth is he thinking? Raon Zigheart.’

That wasn’t the only source of my unease. I couldn’t sense Raon among the auras of the Gwangpung Unit swordsmen. He was clearly moving separately.

“W-what should we do?”
“Fortify the defenses.”

Trevin exhaled heavily and ordered everyone to prepare to activate the sword formation at any moment.

‘I must block every avenue they could exploit.’

There were two things Raon would target: the flag at the center of the formation and myself. If I protected those two properly, there was no way they could win no matter what situation they created.

“They’re here!”

Following the direction of Unit Commander Kamang’s finger, I turned my gaze to see the Gwangpung Unit charging forward like madmen. Their eyes blazed with a pale yellow madness as they rushed forward like rabid dogs.

“So it’s not the Gale Wind, but the Mad Dog Squad indeed.”

Trevin frowned and raised his hand.

“Formation!”
“Formation!”

Following his shout, the Cheoljeon Unit began to deploy their formation. In that precise moment when the swordsmen’s auras converged at the center of the formation, a crimson-hot throwing knife flashed from the darkness beyond the wall.

“I knew it!”

Trevin’s eyes gleamed as he watched Raon hurl the throwing knife.

‘That’s no ordinary throwing knife!’

The blade was not only swift and concealed, but it carried an immense force within it.

‘His real target was never me.’

Rather than follow the throwing knife hurtling toward his heart and throat, he turned his gaze to Kamang, the commander of Unit 1.

“Kamang! Heart and throat! Use your defensive technique to block it!”
“Understood!”

Kamang didn’t hesitate for a moment at Trevin’s command, pouring his strongest defensive technique against the descending blade.

Boom!

The tremendous force contained in the throwing knife drove Kamang’s legs into the earth up to his ankles, but thanks to his proper defense, he suffered no serious injury.

‘Good!’

After confirming Kamang’s safety, Trevin deflected the throwing knife that had come within inches of his skin. Because he had been forewarned, he easily redirected the force contained within the blade.

“Resume the formation….”
“Gack!”
“Ugh!”
“Ahhh!”

As he was about to issue new orders, screams erupted from within the Cheoljeon Unit. Three squad leaders lay collapsed, clutching their vital points.

“Surely not….”
“That surely is correct.”

With a chilling voice, Raon Zigheart brought his sword crashing down.

Kwaaaaaaang!

A fierce sphere of flame clinging to the sword’s edge pressed down upon the earth, blocking the completion of the Black Iron Sword Formation.

“Too much thinking becomes poison. Sometimes brute simplicity is the answer.”

Raon locked blades with Trevin, a cold smile playing across his face.

“Mad Dog Squad.”

At their master’s call, the eyes of the Gwangpung Order members gleamed with savage ferocity.

“Tear them all to shreds.”

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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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