The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 385

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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 385

The Urban Training Ground lay silent after the storm of human fury had passed.

Rimer pushed himself up from the cracked earth, riddled with hundreds of footprints.

“Ugh….”

Rimer’s shoulders trembled as he let out a pained groan.

“I… I almost died.”

No exaggeration. Had I not poured every last ounce of aura I’d conserved during training into defense, I would already be boarding the ferry to the afterlife.

‘The Head of House got off easier than I did.’

Is this what human malice truly feels like?

The fists of the Gwangpung Unit and the Cheoljeon Unit hurt, but the most excruciating pain came from the kicks of the gamblers.

Their fury—having barely recovered their original stakes from a sevenfold jackpot—pierced through my aura and embedded itself in bone and flesh, unleashing unbearable agony.

“Sigh…”

Rimer exhaled deeply and shook his head.

“Aching all over, penniless, and eating hard bread for the foreseeable future.”
“Why on earth did you do such a thing?”

As I tried to rise using my sword as a cane, a quiet voice reached me from the right.
I lifted my head to see Raon approaching, an eerie aura emanating from him.

“Gasp!”

Rimer flinched and stumbled backward.

“Ah, you’re still here?”
“….”

I didn’t answer, instead letting my gaze grow cold enough to send shivers down his spine.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to stomp on me again? You’re not… are you?”
“….”
“I’ve already burned through all my aura! If you hit me any more, I’m literally going to the afterlife! Straight down to the underworld!”

No matter what he said, I didn’t stop walking. I closed the distance until I was right in front of him, my eyes—now tinted crimson—boring down into his.
The moment he saw those eyes, his stomach lurched and he began to hiccup.

“Ugh! R-Raon. I’m sorry. But I really wasn’t trying to cause trouble….”

His jaw trembled with the terror of not knowing what would happen next, but instead of throwing a punch, I simply collapsed onto the ground beside him.

“Huh?”
“Why would I hit you? People might think I’m a thug.”

I let out a soft chuckle and reached into my spatial pocket. I pulled out the round pastries Dorian ate, some jerky, and two bottles of whiskey, setting them down on the ground.

“W-what is this?”

Rimer relaxed his defensive stance and his lips trembled.

“Let’s have a drink.”

I opened one of the whiskey bottles and handed it to Rimer.

“Uh? Um….”

Rimer took the whiskey with an awkward posture, his limbs tangled like an octopus.

I drank the whiskey lightly, as if it were water. Not wanting to get hit again, he followed suit and drank from his bottle.

‘This tastes good….’

It seemed to be quite premium—I could detect hints of vanilla in the whiskey. I also appreciated the intense burn of the alcohol as it went down.

“Not bad.”

Rimer sipped his whiskey as if the alcohol had loosened his tongue, then chewed on the snacks he’d laid out before him.

“The appetizers are cheap compared to the whiskey’s quality, but that’s what makes it good.”
“Commander.”

As Rimer took another sip of whiskey and his mood began to lift, I opened my mouth.

“Were you planning to pass the position of commander to me?”

At my final words, Rimer’s hand, which had been reaching for the jerky, came to an abrupt halt.

I smiled faintly as I watched Rimer’s eyes widen.

‘So he really was planning to hand over the position to me.’

Rimer was different today than usual.

Since this was an important test for the Unit to become a Corps, it was natural that Glen would come, but he employed tactics far too transparent to see through.

Because of his actions, public opinion had shifted so much that when the Unit was promoted to the Gwangpung Corps, it was being said that Raon Zigheart, not Rimer, should take command.

Only after hearing those words could I understand what that foolish elf was aiming for.

Rimer had deliberately destroyed his own reputation while elevating mine, creating a situation where handing over the commander’s position to me would be the natural course of action.

-That pointy-eared bastard pulled off something pointless.

Wrath snorted as if he understood what I meant.

-He’s got good intentions but he’s an idiot. However….
‘What?’
-Are you sure his ears aren’t detachable? Can’t I just pull them off and check?
‘Please stop.’

I flicked Wrath away with the back of my hand as he examined Rimer’s elongated ears from every angle.

“Why are you doing that?”

I chewed on dried meat as I posed the question I’d been most eager to ask.

“Sigh….”

Rimer didn’t answer, just exhaled a short breath.

“It was perfect too. Now you’ve sobered me up. Why are you so perceptive?”

He chuckled and downed his whiskey.

“Raon. You’re growing faster than my expectations. No, faster than anyone’s expectations.”
“That’s an overstatement.”
“It’s not. At your current pace, you’d be more than capable of taking on the role of unit leader.”

Rimer laughed, saying I had both the qualifications and ability.

“I simply thought it was time to stop looking down at you from above and start supporting you from below.”
“….”

I listened to Rimer’s calm words while pouring whiskey down my throat.

Since I swallowed it immediately, my esophagus and stomach burned as if scorched. I opened my mouth, channeling that heat.

“If I become unit leader, I’ll be summoned by the Head of House frequently, which I’d rather avoid. I’ll just teach the younger ones from behind, so you keep handling the annoying tasks and the scolding, Unit Leader.”
“Damn it! I’m exhausted too! That old man strikes me with lightning every time he sees me! My dantian is so flooded with lightning energy now, there’s more of it than wind!”

Rimer shrieked, saying his dantian would tear apart.

“Anyway, I can’t do this anymore! You’ll surpass me soon enough, and the kids are growing like bean sprouts, so when we transition to the Gwangpung Corps, you should take on the unit leader role….”
“Unit Leader. Or rather, Master.”

I lowered the bottle and cut off Rimer’s words.

“I don’t believe a master is merely someone who teaches martial arts.”

In my past life, the one who taught me killing techniques wasn’t a master—he was a handler.
Because I only learned techniques to end lives, the relationship with Rimer, who showed me what a true master really was, remained precious and invaluable.

“I want the Gale Wind Squad and I to continue moving forward while watching your back.”

Becoming the Head of House wasn’t truly important. What mattered was that the Gale Wind Squad would remain, and I hoped my relationship with Rimer as his student would continue far into the future.

“I brought this whiskey because I wanted to share it with my teacher for the first time.”
“Raon. You….”

I drained the remaining whiskey from the bottle in one gulp and rose to my feet.

“I humbly ask for your continued guidance in the days ahead.”

I bowed respectfully and left the training grounds without another word.

“Sigh….”

Rimer exhaled deeply and lowered his head. His shoulders trembled slightly.

“I’ve certainly raised a troublesome disciple.”

He drained the whiskey in one long pull, then his lips curved upward.

“I can’t just sit idle after this.”

*

*

*

-Tsk, what a shame.

Wrath clicked his tongue as if regretting something deeply.

‘What are you regretting?’

I tilted my head curiously as I looked at Wrath.

-I should have verified whether that pointy-eared bastard’s ears were actually modular….
‘….’

As I shook my head and turned toward the Main Mansion, the Gale Wind Squad, who had been waiting at the entrance to the training grounds, came rushing over.

“Vice Squad Leader!”

Dorian, who had managed to avoid elimination until the very end of the battlefield, waved his hand vigorously.

“He’s finally here.”
“It’s all over—why did you tell us to wait!”
“….”

Burren wore a serene smile, Martha furrowed her brow in displeasure, and Lunan nodded off drowsily.

“H-hiccup….”

Crain trembled, his gaze fixed upon the ground like a pheasant confronting its natural predator.

I stood before the Gale Wind Squad, my expression softening into a gentle smile.

“Everyone worked hard today. Despite the considerable trouble caused by someone, you all executed the plan flawlessly.”
“We endured that hell—of course we did!”
“We were able to win because we all became one.”

Martha snorted derisively, and Burren raised his clenched fist.

“We’ve already passed your training, Vice Squad Leader, so this much is nothing.”
“Back then, there were more than a few moments when I thought I’d actually die.”
“So if we pass just one more test, we’ll become a Corps?”
“I’m looking forward to it. Gwangpung Corps!”

The Gale Wind Squad’s laughter brimmed with anticipation at the prospect of being called the Gwangpung Corps from now on.

“Today.”

My cold voice silenced their mirth.

“While everyone else fulfilled their roles, there was someone who made a grave mistake.”

The moment those words left my lips, all eyes turned toward Crain.

“G-gulp….”

Crain trembled as he raised his hand.

“I-I didn’t want to fall, sir….”
“Then?”
“Dorian was focused on commanding and couldn’t watch my back, so I was protecting him and ended up getting hit instead!”

He bit his lip, suggesting that Dorian bore some responsibility for not watching his surroundings.

“M-Me? No way! I moved while maintaining proper defense!”

Dorian waved his hands frantically, his shock barely contained.

“I really got hit while protecting you!”
“Stop lying!”
“I’m serious! You’re the commander, so I had to protect you!”
“I have eyes in the back of my head—I could’ve dodged that easily!”

The two of them shouted back and forth, each insisting they were right.

Clap!

When I clapped my hands, Crain and Dorian fell silent.

“Regardless of who made the mistake, the fact that Crain fell first doesn’t change.”
“Ugh….”
“Hehe!”

Crain’s jaw trembled while Dorian wore an expression of triumph.

“Punishing Crain would be appropriate, but I’m reminded of something Burren said just now.”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yes. That the Gwangpung Unit won by becoming one.”

As my lips curved upward, anxiety flickered in the eyes of the Gwangpung Unit members.

“In other words, one member’s mistake is everyone’s mistake. Today, you’re all doing extra training.”
“Ah….”
“Y-You crazy bastard, again!”

Burren and Martha’s jaws dropped simultaneously.

“We… we won, and now you want to do group training?”
“This guy’s completely lost his mind!”
“He’s got nothing but the word ‘training’ carved into his brain!”

The Gwangpung Unit’s swordsmen trembled, their eyes wide open.

“Well, to be honest, Crain wasn’t the only problem. Martha didn’t consider coordination with her allies during her charge, Burren should have been more aggressive instead of just cushioning in the middle, and Lunan was too focused on defense. If you’d moved faster, you would have caught Kamang more easily. And Dorian…”

I recited the Gwangpung Unit’s mistakes as if I’d been watching from the sidelines rather than fighting Trevin.

“How… how did you see all that?”
“Does he have four eyes instead of two?”
“He’s a ghost. No human could do this…”
“So… we really have to train now?”
“The exam just ended… ugh!”
“Looking at him, a demon would definitely come running to be his friend!”

The Gwangpung Unit gnashed their teeth in frustration.

-I apologize, friend. It’s not friendship—it’s a leash around my neck.

Wrath sniffled, saying we were in the same predicament.

“K-kill him! If we don’t kill him now, we’re really done for!”
“For once, Martha’s right! Let’s go!”
“Now while we’re exhausted is our last chance!”
“Aaaaaaahhhhh!”

The Gwangpung Unit charged forward with a roar.

I smiled with delight watching the Gwangpung Unit come at me with even more fervor than when they’d fought the Cheoljeon Unit.

“This is what makes it fun—when they actually resist.”

*

*

*

Glen’s eyes narrowed as he watched Rimer suddenly appear at the Patriarch’s Hall.

“What is it?”
“Head of House.”

Just as I was considering whether to strike him down with lightning if he spouted nonsense, Rimer lifted his head.

Rimer’s eyes gleamed with a sharpness that seemed to have returned to the time before ‘that incident’—when he was called the Radiant Sword of Zigheart.

“I suspect I may have moved too hastily.”

Rimer offered Glen a faint smile.

“You would have noticed, Head of House, but I intended to send Raon as the successor once this trial concluded, and step back as vice-leader or protector. However, it seems I need to stand at the forefront of the Gwangpung Unit for a while longer.”
“….”

Glen regarded Rimer without a shred of surprise, as though he had known all along.

“You choose your foolish acts carefully, but what wind blows through you now?”
“It’s not a wind from within me, but rather a fierce gale from without—one I cannot resist.”

Rimer nodded slightly while gazing out the window.

“I realized that Raon intended to pass the position of successor to me. That boy’s perception is remarkably sharp.”
“What did he say?”
“That a master is not merely someone who teaches martial arts. He asked me to stand before the Gwangpung Unit for a while longer.”
“Hmm….”

Glen smacked his lips as he studied Rimer. Life flickered back into those eyes that had been dead as rotting fish. I cannot remember the last time I saw him like this.

‘That boy really….’

Raon possessed a coldness that seemed unmatched by anyone, yet warmth that yielded to no one.
I could feel that Rimer had drawn strength from those words.

“So your thoughts are clear—there’s no need to ask.”
“Before, I wished to see the children grow further and watch Raon stand at the pinnacle of the clan. But now….”

Rimer lifted his head with an untroubled smile.

“I would like to be part of that gathering as well. It seems I too need to become a bit more serious.”
“I see.”

Glen nodded with a thin smile. His cherished subordinate had regained his true self, and the fact that it was his beloved grandson who had brought this about made a smile naturally bloom across his face.

“Roen.”
“I’m writing it down. I think this should be recorded in Volume One.”

Roen began to inscribe Raon’s famous words that Rimer had just shared into the Gospel of Raon.

“Drinking with Raon brought back old memories for me as well….”
“What?”

Glen’s cold voice froze the atmosphere that had been gently warming, turning it icy once more.

“Yes?”
“What did you just say?”
“I had a drink with Raon. It was my first time, but he drank quite well… Ack!”

Rimer’s words caught in his throat as his mouth fell open. The largest killing intent yet surged up through the ceiling of the Audience Chamber.

“H-Head of House? What is this sudden….”

The atmosphere had been pleasant just moments ago. He couldn’t understand why such killing intent had erupted, and so intensely at that.

“I-I really didn’t do anything this time! I just had a drink with Raon!”
“That is your mortal sin.”
“Pardon?”

Glen clenched his teeth with an expression he had never shown even when facing the White Blood Cult Master and Tacheon, and unleashed his killing intent.

“W-Wait!”
“Die!”

*

*

*

I finished training with the Gwangpung Unit until midnight, then headed toward the Annex Building.

‘They were all satisfied.’

After the test, I had pushed them relentlessly until their eyes gleamed with murderous intent. When I granted them a week’s vacation, their expressions cleared like the sky after rain.

-Ugh….

Wrath let out a pained groan, looking my way.

-I do not comprehend this. A week’s rest was already part of the original schedule, so why are they so delighted?

He muttered, unable to understand why they appreciated the demon who had made them train even after the test concluded.

‘That’s how you manage subordinates.’

The most important thing when dealing with those under you is knowing when and how to apply the carrot and the stick.

Because of Crain, I had completed training in a single day that I’d expected to take several days, and I provided the week’s vacation that was originally scheduled anyway. Of course everyone was pleased.

-Hmm, so it is a method of tormenting them and then releasing them….

Wrath began writing something on his round palm.

‘What are you doing?’
-I am taking notes on how you train humans.

He turned his head with a broad grin.

-When I return to the Demon Realm or seize your body, I shall put this to use! If I master this education, even dimensional conquest is not merely a dream!
‘…Sure.’

I had no idea what he meant by something as absurd as dimensional conquest, but managing subordinates properly was no simple task.

You had to understand each person’s emotions and state, then take different measures for each. But if the oblivious Wrath tried to apply this, he’d probably knock everyone unconscious before they even obeyed him.

‘Do your best. Just don’t kill the kids…wait?’

I gently patted Wrath’s soft, fluffy head before my jaw dropped open.

A small hedgehog perched on a tree in front of the Annex Building was waving its paw.

-A, a hedgehog is greeting us…?
‘Could it be…?’

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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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