The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 387

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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 387

I watched Roen with his subtle smile and licked my lips.

‘Finally, it’s here.’

Three months had passed since the first test—the group battle against the Cheoljeon Unit—without any word, and now it seemed the second test had finally been scheduled.

‘It took long enough.’

Normally the test should have been set within a month, but the waiting period had stretched due to the Black Tower targeting us and Rimer refusing to leave seclusion.

-Tedious it was, yet joyful as well, I say.

Wrath touched his plump cheeks and chuckled. Despite being in spirit form, he had gained weight from how delicious Yua and Helen’s cooking was.

“Do you happen to know what kind of test it will be?”
“I’m afraid I don’t have much information either.”

Roen shook his head with his usual expression. Whether it was genuine or false, I couldn’t tell. True to his nature as an assassin, he was the hardest person in this family to read.

“Are the children making good progress?”

Roen stood at the edge of the cliff and looked down below.

“Thanks to your excellent instruction, they’re learning at a rapid pace.”

I nodded and threw the dagger in my hand. The blade shot forth like a beam of light, targeting Martha’s shoulder as she climbed up from the right.

“Damn it!”

Martha frowned and pushed off with both arms and legs simultaneously, kicking away from the cliff. She tried to dodge the dagger by bouncing her body like a beast, but it was a movement I had already anticipated.

Whoosh!

The dagger’s trajectory curved fluidly, rotating back to strike Martha’s waist as she tried to grab the cliff again.

“Ugh!”

Yet Martha did not release her grip on the cliff face, even as the blade strike landed squarely on her. It was a testament to her iron resolve.

‘She’s holding up well now.’

As befitted a unit leader, Martha had cultivated the stamina and mental fortitude to withstand more than a single blade strike. It was admirable, though somewhat unsettling.

“Your blade technique has grown quite refined.”

Roen approached from the side with a smile.

“I’ve been practicing consistently.”
“Would you permit me to offer some counsel?”
“I’m listening.”

Roen was an assassin who had earned the epithet “Slayer King.” He would surely have insight into blade techniques, so I leaned in attentively.

“You’re currently throwing your blades primarily with your arms—from shoulder to fingertip. If you were to utilize your entire body in the throw, your blades would travel faster and strike with greater force.”

Roen demonstrated the technique himself, releasing a blade with fluid grace.

“From shoulder to fingertip….”

I recalled Roen’s movements and began to recite the incantation of the Flawless Blade technique.
Channeling the same level of aura into the blade as before, I launched the strike using Roen’s guidance as my foundation.

The blade descended in eerie silence, hurtling toward Martha with devastating speed.

Crack!

Martha had no time to react properly. The blade struck her right arm, and she plummeted toward the ground.

“Why did you suddenly increase the difficulty?! You damned bastard!”

As always, she offered her blessing and vanished.

“Ah, my apologies.”

I waved at Martha and turned my gaze toward Roen.

“You’ve certainly changed. Thank you.”
“I merely reminded you of the fundamentals you had momentarily forgotten.”
“That’s what matters. I think I understand why those children have grown so rapidly.”

I smiled as I looked down at Yua and Julius far below.

“Yua possesses exceptional talent, but beyond that, she finds joy in everything she does. Her personality itself is her greatest gift.”

No matter how grueling the training, Yua completes it with a smile, and she has the talent to make those around her smile as well.
Her sense of rhythm and keen eye for reading opponents made her perfectly suited to master the Sensory Blade.

-Cough! Of course she’s the True Demon King’s pineapple girl!

I don’t understand why this cotton candy does nothing yet acts so superior.

“Julius, despite his rigid personality, absolutely despises losing. He accomplishes tasks he normally couldn’t by treating Yua as his rival, pushing himself to complete them.”

In terms of raw talent alone, Yua held a slight edge, but Julius, true to his nature of hating defeat, relentlessly pursued her footsteps.
It was a talent suited to the rigid yet systematic Righteous Blade.

“Both are fascinating individuals.”
“Hehehehe.”

Roen stroked his beard and let out a benevolent laugh.

“You truly see them clearly. It was worthwhile sending them when the Deputy Patriarch came, not Rimer.”
“Since I brought them here, I must naturally take responsibility for them.”

I intended to take responsibility not only for Yua and Julius, but for all those children raised as assassins.

“I would be grateful if you could offer them guidance whenever you have time.”
“Of course.”

Roen smiled as he looked at Yua and Julius.

“Then I shall take my leave… Hmm?”

He turned around and widened his eyes upon seeing Mark Goeten, who had climbed closest to the summit.

‘Is it an illusion? No, something has changed.’

Mark Goeten’s realm, which had been stuck at the very bottom of the Master-level lower tier, had risen ever so slightly.

“…You’ve grown.”
“As expected, you noticed right away.”

Raon nodded with confidence.

“I’ve climbed a little higher. From now on, I’ll reach even greater heights.”
“Remarkable.”

Genuine admiration arose for both Mark Goeten, whose potential had finally awakened, and Raon, who had made him this way.

‘A person who transforms others….’

The words that Adis Sepia and Glen had spoken finally resonated within him.
Raon Zigheart was truly a being capable of exerting a tremendous and profoundly positive influence on the lives of those around him.

At first, he had felt pity for Raon; now, he simply felt pride. Suddenly, Raon began to loom larger in his perception—as if his vast capacity was becoming visible before his eyes.

‘If such a person becomes the Head of this House….’

*

*

*

After asking Roen to assist with the Gwangpung Unit’s training, Raon entered the Patriarch’s Hall.
He walked through the cool chill that permeated the entire Audience Chamber and knelt at the center.

“I greet the Head of House.”
“Spare the unnecessary formalities. Rise.”

Glen waved his hand dismissively, as if swatting away a fly.

“Thank you.”

I bowed my head and rose to my feet.

“You’re still continuing that insane training, I see.”

Pedrick, the Saint of Nenma, leaning against a pillar on the right side, waved his hand.

“It’s not insane—just a bit challenging, that’s all.”

I let out a faint laugh and shook my head.

“Vice Commander of the Gwangpung Unit.”

Glen cut off the conversation between me and Pedrick with a heavy voice.

“The Commander of the Gwangpung Unit has not yet emerged from his closed-door training, so I called you instead.”
“Understood.”

I lowered my gaze.

‘It’s taking longer than I expected.’

After his sparring match with the Cheoljeon Unit, Rimer had suddenly decided to enter closed-door training and disappeared into a cave behind the Main Mansion, where he remained to this day.
Everyone had been shocked when he didn’t emerge even after three months, though I’d initially expected him to return within three days.

“Normally, we would wait until the Commander of the Gwangpung Unit emerges, but we cannot postpone the second trial indefinitely.”

Glen’s eyes grew cold and sharp as he lifted his chin.

“Proceed with the second trial using the current Gwangpung Unit.”
“Understood.”

I had anticipated this from the moment I was summoned here, so I nodded without hesitation.

“May I ask what the trial will be?”
“You will be given one of the actual family’s missions and assessed on how you handle it.”
‘As expected.’

I applied pressure with my fingers, using the exact method Dogyae had taught me before.

“Do you know anything about the Arian Family?”
“I only know they are one of the Vassal Families of Zigheart.”
“The Arian Family began alongside Zigheart and has been holding back the place known as the Swamp of Death ever since.”
“The Swamp of Death….”

Hearing the name brought it all back to me. The Arian Family was located at the Western End of Zigheart Territory, and their role was to guard the Swamp of Death, from which lower-tier undead emerged.

-The Swamp of Death?

Wrath climbed up onto the bracelet and licked his lips.

-Quite a grandiose name. I like it.
‘You’ll be disappointed when you actually see it.’

Despite its ominous name, the monsters that actually emerged from the Swamp of Death were nothing more than low-tier creatures like zombies and skeletons.
The Arian Family itself was not particularly renowned for military prowess either.

-How pathetic!

Wrath, deflated, retreated back into the bracelet.

“Recently, we received word from the Arian Family.”
“What kind of….”
“The number of undead monsters has increased, and the water level of the swamp has risen. They requested support from our swordsmen to investigate the cause.”

Hearing this much, I could already predict what Glen would say next.

“Your second trial is to go to the Swamp of Death, investigate the cause of the increased undead population, and resolve it.”

Glen rested his chin on his fist, his brows furrowed.

“Speak now if you think you cannot do it.”
‘Is he showing consideration?’

With Rimer absent and having shown good performance in the battle against the Cheoljeon Unit, it seemed Glen had deliberately made the second trial relatively easier as a gesture of consideration.

“I will do it.”

I nodded. There was no choice anyway. To move forward, this was a path I had to walk.

“This mission must be completed using only the Gwangpung Unit’s strength, without the Family’s support.”

Glen’s gaze grew sharp and cold.

“If the Gwangpung Unit’s power proves insufficient to protect the Arian Family and you request the Family’s assistance, the mission ends at that moment.”
“Understood.”

I answered calmly, for it was only natural.

“When shall we depart?”
“That is your choice.”
“Pardon?”
“A Unit Commander has greater autonomy over missions than a regular Unit member. Complete the mission whenever you depart, and that is all.”
“Hmm….”

Greater freedom was not necessarily a blessing. If problems arose, it meant I would face greater accountability.

‘I must be careful.’

It seemed I would need to think and plan far more thoroughly than before.

“Understood.”

I bowed my head and looked at Glen. I expected him to dismiss me, but he remained motionless, his eyes narrowed.

“Raon Zigheart.”
“Yes.”
“…Do you happen to enjoy alcohol?”
“Pardon? Well….”

The unexpected question from Glen left my mind momentarily blank.

‘What does he mean?’

I couldn’t understand why he was asking if I enjoyed alcohol.

‘Alcohol….’

In my past life, I naturally couldn’t have drunk it, and in this life, I haven’t particularly enjoyed it either.
I’ve only consumed it twice—once as a wager with Dogyae, and the first time I properly drank was with Rimer.

“Well, it’s not that I can’t drink it….”
“Mm.”

Before my words could finish, the chill of the Audience Chamber seemed to thaw as if a warm breeze had blown through.

“I simply don’t care for it much.”

I nodded, thinking that keeping distance from alcohol as a warrior was the proper answer.
The moment those words left my lips, the slightly softened atmosphere plummeted into a cold far more severe than before.

‘What is this?’

Something seemed to have gone wrong, yet I couldn’t fathom the reason.

“….”
“….”

Glen and I exchanged glances in silence, and the meaning behind it grew increasingly incomprehensible.

“Then Ri….”
“Yes?”
“Never mind.”

He shook his head, his eyes turning hollow.

“Let’s go.”
“Yes….”

I lowered my head with a bewildered expression and left the Audience Chamber.

‘Suddenly asking about alcohol—what could he be thinking?’

I scratched my chin and racked my brain.

‘Does the Head of House enjoy drinking?’
-You fool! That’s not it!

Wrath emerged above the bracelet and let out a scoff.

-If that cold-blooded old man suddenly asks about alcohol, it’s obvious what he wants, isn’t it!
‘Obvious?’
-Of course! He’s telling you to bring back delicious alcohol and appetizers from around there!

He wagged his finger as if I didn’t even know that.

-The True Demon King will find you the most delicious appetizers, so first you should stop by the famous restaurants in that area….
‘Just go.’

*

*

*

Glen bit his lip as he gazed down at the center of the Audience Chamber where Raon had been standing.

‘He doesn’t like alcohol?’

The drinking session with Dogyae had been a wager and thus void, and while he could excuse Rimer as his teacher, he had wanted to share a drink together at the next opportunity—but he never expected to hear that his grandson didn’t enjoy alcohol.

‘If that’s the case, I shouldn’t have clinked glasses with Rimer either….’

The thought that his precious grandson had fallen under that elf’s influence made his fists clench involuntarily.
He wanted to march straight into that cave and tear off Rimer’s ears.

Crunch!

Unable to control his strength, the armrest of the Jade Throne crumpled, and red sparks began to scatter into the air.

“Haah….”
“Good grief.”

As Glen forced himself to steady his breathing, Pedrick climbed onto the Platform.

“If you want to drink that badly, just say it directly.”

Pedrick clicked his tongue as he watched Glen furrow his brow.

“You criticize him constantly, yet expect him to understand your indirect hints?”

If Glen had treated Raon kindly from the start, he might have interpreted the invitation to drink as a simple gesture. But when someone who always intimidated him asked if he enjoyed alcohol, there was no way to discern the true intention.

“Ahem!”

Glen cleared his throat and shook his head.

“That’s not it. Drinking is something one should learn from a proper adult, and since he drank with Dogyae, who’s a drunkard, and Rimer, who’s frivolous, I was merely concerned. It’s nothing serious!”

He waved his hand dismissively as if it were trivial.

“Well, you’re right about that much. Neither of them are exactly ideal role models for learning to drink.”

Pedrick stroked his beard, acknowledging the point.

“Then shall I arrange a drinking session with Raon?”
“Really, truly?”

Despite claiming he had no interest, Glen stretched his neck like a giraffe.

“Yes.”
“Before we depart?”
“You’ll be busy with mission preparations, so that won’t be possible. I’ll arrange it once we return.”
“Ahem! Yes, of course.”

Glen nodded awkwardly, then descended from the Platform and headed toward the room where he had previously drunk with Adis.

“Hmm….”

He began humming softly as he examined the various bottles of alcohol.

“For a first drink, this one should do. No, this one is smoother. Actually, perhaps the finest….”

A faint blush had crept across his face as he searched for the perfect alcohol to share with Raon.

“Really now….”

Pedrick chuckled at the sight.

“I’ve never seen a grandson quite so foolish before.”

*

*

*

Rather than depart immediately for the Arian Family, I first led the Gwangpung Unit to the Indoor Training Ground with Swimming Pool to teach them how to traverse the Swamp of Death.
Since we couldn’t know what awaited us upon arrival, it was prudent to make adequate preparations.

“The technique for walking through swampland is similar to walking on water. You maintain your body’s balance by synchronizing the aura emanating from your feet with the flow of the water.”
“Is… is that really as simple as it sounds…?”

Burren Zigheart frowned while submerged in the water.

“Only someone at Expert rank or higher could walk on water!”

Martha trembled her fists in frustration.

“Water feels nice…”

Lunan Slion wasn’t stepping on the water at all—he was doing backstroke and had drifted off to sleep.

“Hehe!”
“Hey! That’s not fair!”

Yua was swimming around playing, while Julius was busy trying to stop her.

“Listen up.”

I clapped my hands to gather everyone’s attention.

“You’re right that walking on water requires Master rank. However, swampland is a mixture of water and sand, so you should all be capable of traversing it.”

Since swampland sinks more slowly than pure water, the Gwangpung Unit at their current level could definitely walk through it.

“Start over from the beginning.”

After issuing training instructions to the Gwangpung Unit swordsmen, I stepped back. Their strength had improved considerably, and they managed to resist the external aura a bit longer than before, though they eventually fell into the water.

‘With about four more days of training, they should be able to withstand the Swamp of Death.’

A little more training and they would be capable of walking through the swamp.

‘Mark Goeten could always do it.’

My master Mark Goeten could naturally walk on water, so navigating the swamp would be as easy as walking on solid ground for him.

‘We can depart next week.’

Just as I nodded in satisfaction and was about to issue the next training directive, Dogyae entered the training ground.

“Items that arrived for you and the young master.”

He set down two wooden boxes he had brought.

“Thank you.”

I smiled upon seeing the two grey hammers engraved on the surface of the boxes.

‘They’ve finally arrived.’

These were gifts from Borgos, the master craftsman of the Grey Hammer Guild, and his apprentice.

“Dorian!”

I gestured to Dorian, who was submerged upside down in the water, and opened the first box.
Inside was a single sword of substantial weight, crafted exactly as Dorian had ordered.

“Did you call for me?”

Dorian approached, breathing heavily.

“Your sword.”

I handed him the sword that had been inside the box.

“Oh! Ohhh!”

Dorian immediately drew the blade. The sword, flowing with a blue light like water from a swimming pool, radiated intense aura.

“It’s heavy and fits perfectly in my hand! But the sword feels a bit cold….”
“Your instinct is right. The Drake we caught possessed cold aura, remember?”

When crafting weapons from monsters with inherent attributes, those attributes naturally become embedded in the weapon. Dorian’s sword carried quite a powerful cold aura.

“Th-thank you so much!”
“Not me—you should thank the Grey Hammer Guild.”
“But I received this sword because of you, Master!”

Dorian bowed his head again in gratitude.

“It’s fine. Contact me later…hm?”

I stopped as I opened the second box. My eyes widened like lanterns.

‘This is….’

Inside the box lay a secret dagger—something entirely different from what I had expected.

—————
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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