The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 389
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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 389
Bicorn Lake lay nestled between Zigheart and the Arian Family estate.
Though not as vast as Forban, it had earned its reputation as a tourist destination for its elegant silver waters.
The Gwangpung Unit entered a restaurant built at the edge of Bicorn Lake to have lunch.
“Wow….”
Burren let out an exclamation of wonder as he gazed at Bicorn Lake, its surface glimmering in the sunlight.
“I’d heard it was magnificent, but I never imagined it would be this beautiful.”
He couldn’t tear his eyes from the lake, a gentle smile playing across his face.
“A lake is just a lake, no matter how beautiful.”
Martha pulled her gaze from the water with obvious disinterest and handed Burren the menu.
“Everyone order your food and gawk later!”
She barked at the Restaurant Staff not to be bothered and to hurry up with taking their order.
“Mmm….”
Lunan stood gazing at the lake, her mouth hanging open in a daze.
“I think it would feel wonderful to sleep there.”
She wiggled her feet at the thought of lying down in the center of the lake where warm sunlight poured down. Just thinking about it made her eyelids grow heavy.
“It may look warm, but it will be cold once you enter.”
Crain shook his head, pointing out that it was still a cold season.
“Well, we’ve trained enough that we wouldn’t easily fall in anyway.”
He flashed a confident smirk, tilting his chin upward with a self-assured grin.
“Hmm?”
I looked up from the menu, my eyes finding Crain.
-What are you doing?! Ordering food is a sacred duty! Follow the beef girl’s advice and focus on the order at once!
He studied the menu with the reverence of one offering a prayer to the divine.
-The True Demon King desires roasted pork jelly and cucumber-pepper lamb ribs!
‘These names are unsettling… roasted pork jelly and cucumber-pepper lamb ribs…’
-Food is a new frontier, after all. The True Demon King shall broaden your horizons, so place the order at once!
‘Sigh…’
Fearing he would whine endlessly if I refused, I ordered the dishes Wrath had mentioned.
When three Restaurant Staff members had taken down all of the Gwangpung Unit’s orders and departed, I gestured to Crain.
“Crain.”
“Yes?”
“You said earlier that you don’t sink easily in water, didn’t you?”
“Huh? W-well, I did say that….”
Crain’s lips trembled as he sensed something ominous, and he nodded hesitantly.
“That confidence is admirable.”
I rose to my feet with an exhilarated smile. I approached Crain and placed my hand on his shoulder.
“M-Master?”
Crain looked up at me, his fingers moving to his lips as he gnawed at his nails nervously.
“Since the food will take quite a while to arrive, shall I conduct some training?”
“Pardon?”
“If you can remain perfectly still on the lake’s surface for thirty seconds, I won’t make you train during our journey to the Arian Family.”
“Gasp!”
“No training at all?”
“Is… is that truly what you mean?”
Because I had been conducting drills relentlessly throughout our journey to this lake, not just Crain but the entire Gwangpung Unit widened their eyes.
“However, if you fail to endure it, all of you will train in this lake until tonight.”
I smiled and nodded.
“Thirty seconds….”
“That’s easily manageable!”
“We can do it!”
The Gwangpung Unit declared that thirty seconds was simple and shot intense gazes at Crain.
“Ugh….”
Crain shrank back under the Gwangpung Unit’s crazed stares, his shoulders trembling.
-You foolish wretches!
Wrath thrust his head forward and shouted at the Gwangpung Unit.
-This wretch is a hundred-year-old serpent! Do not be deceived! He surely has ulterior motives!
I pushed aside Wrath’s cries of deception and looked down at Crain.
“Will you do it?”
“I will. Just give me a moment to prepare—”
“Preparation isn’t necessary.”
I smiled coldly and tightened my grip on Crain’s shoulder.
“Wait just a moment—”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
I grabbed Crain and hurled him through the window without hesitation. Using strength that transcended human limits, he flew like a projectile and plummeted into the center of the lake.
“Gyaaaaaahhh!”
Even as he screamed, Crain managed to regain his balance mid-air with the grace of a swordmaster, landing on the lake’s surface with his feet.
Splash!
But my brutish force had driven him so deep that his lower body sank completely beneath the surface, preventing him from using the water-walking technique he’d been training. He went straight down.
“Gaaahhhhh!”
Crain thrashed about, screaming and flailing his arms desperately.
“C-cold! I’m f-freezing to death!”
“Well, that’s a failure.”
I turned away, looking down at the Gwangpung Unit with a smile colder than the lake itself.
“Wait, you never said you’d throw him!”
“If you suddenly throw someone with your crude strength, no one could survive it!”
“Raon, you’re being cruel.”
Burren, Martha, and Lunan all frowned, calling it unreasonable.
“Would you say I’m being cruel in actual combat?”
“Ugh….”
“That’s….”
“….”
The moment I mentioned actual combat, all three squad leaders fell silent.
“Besides, I never said I wouldn’t throw anyone.”
As I spoke, I grabbed Dorian by the scruff of his neck—he’d been sitting right beside Crain.
“Wh-what? I’m not ready yet….”
“On three, I’m throwing you.”
“Ugh….”
“Three.”
I shouted “three” the moment Dorian caught his breath and hurled him out the window.
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
Dorian screamed and managed to flip his body mid-air before plunging into the lake. Still, as an expert of the highest caliber, unlike Crain, only his ankles sank into the water.
“Ugh! I-I’m freezing to death!”
“You’ve grown accustomed to water, but when external force is applied, you still can’t endure it.”
I clapped my hands as I listened to Dorian’s wails.
“In other words, your training is far from sufficient. Start training on your own before I throw you.”
“Please throw me too, sir!”
Mark Goeten rushed over, asking to be thrown just like Crain and Dorian.
‘That’s why I like him.’
Since he pledged to follow me, he had never once slacked in his training. He was someone worthy of climbing higher.
“Very well.”
I nodded and threw Mark Goeten with all my strength. Despite the tremendous power infused in the throw, he controlled his body masterfully in mid-air and landed on the lake with his feet, like a true master.
Splash!
Though water erupted from the surface, unlike Crain or Dorian, he landed safely on the water’s surface.
“Come on!”
“Kyaaaah!”
“Damn this Gwangpung Unit….”
“Curse it!”
The Gwangpung Unit swordsmen cursed and leaped into the lake, unwilling to be thrown like Mark Goeten.
“Let’s go too!”
“Ugh….”
Yua and Julius also leaped through the window into the lake.
All the members of the Gwangpung Unit who had been sitting at ten tables jumped into the lake, leaving only me behind in the dining hall.
The people in the restaurant stared wide-eyed as the Gwangpung Unit waded and ran about in the lake after diving in.
“What… what are they doing?”
“Jumping into a lake in this weather? Are they insane?”
“Who in their right mind would do something so reckless?”
“They must be mad.”
As the people panicked, the middle-aged man who appeared to be the restaurant owner let out a hollow laugh and nodded.
“Those are the Mad Dog Squad of Zigheart.”
“Mad Dog?”
“Zigheart has a unit like that?”
“Oh! That’s right! They said the Gwangpung Unit is called the Mad Dog Squad!”
“Indeed.”
The owner nodded while watching my back.
“Because of the fierce madness they displayed in the dueling tournament held in the Owen Kingdom and their insane training methods, people call them the Mad Dog Squad instead of the Gwangpung Unit.”
“Whoever named them certainly got it right….”
“Indeed. ‘Mad dogs’ fits them perfectly.”
The people nodded in agreement.
“Who are you calling mad dogs!”
Martha must have heard what the people were saying, for she glared back at the restaurant and shouted.
“Is… is that woman the Asura Woman?”
“Yes. You can tell just by looking. Her eyes burn with madness….”
“Asura… even her name….”
“It’s not Asura Woman—it’s Asura Blade!”
Martha immediately rolled her feet as if to chase after me, raising a massive wave.
-The rumors about the Mad Dog Squad have spread all the way here! Stop tormenting the kids.
‘I have no choice.’
I twisted my lips as I watched the Gwangpung Unit struggling to endure even in the frigid water.
‘It’s something I must do.’
Since I couldn’t predict what would happen in the Swamp of Death, conditioning their bodies to survive even in dangerous situations was a bare minimum safety measure.
‘Besides, the situation there isn’t looking good either.’
The Arian Family had forgotten their former glory and fallen into complacency.
Since I didn’t want to show them any weaknesses, I wanted to perfect the technique for escaping the swamp at least.
I turned around and waved my hand at the bewildered Restaurant Staff.
“I’m sorry, but could you bring the food an hour from now?”
“Ah, yes!”
The Restaurant Staff nodded quickly and headed into the Kitchen.
-Ha, an hour from now?
Wrath came rushing at me, his jaw trembling.
-Stop tormenting the True Demon King too!
*
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*
Thanks to consistent training, the Gwangpung Unit was able to master the footwork technique to float on water before arriving at the Arian Family.
While remaining completely still was impossible, by executing the footwork, they could avoid sinking and endure for quite a long time.
Raon furrowed his brow as he gazed upon the waterlogged path stretching before him, though he had yet to arrive at the Arian Family estate.
‘As expected, the water level has risen here too.’
When he had heard that the water level in the Swamp of Death had risen, he’d suspected the same would happen elsewhere—and his prediction had proven correct.
“What, what?! There’s no path!”
Burren stared at the swamp-filled terrain with his mouth agape.
“I never heard this place was a swamp from here on?”
Martha’s eyes narrowed in confusion as well.
“I wonder if it’s soft?”
Lunan tilted his head as if contemplating the swamp as a bed.
“So we have to walk through this swamp from here on?”
“That’s right. The path is gone.”
“Got it.”
The three of them, already accustomed to walking upon water, stepped onto the swamp with serene expressions.
“This is easy.”
“Right?”
“We trained on water, so a swamp like this is simple.”
“Truly, our training bears fruit. My heart swells with pride.”
The Gwangpung Order members followed behind Burren, Martha, and Lunan, stepping onto the swamp. They smiled in admiration at how effortlessly they stood upon the marshy ground.
“This is still difficult for me.”
“Ugh….”
Yua and Julius could barely stand upon the swamp with Mark Goeten’s assistance.
Raon moved forward and turned to face them, meeting the Gwangpung Order’s gaze with a smirk.
“You all realize whose help you have to thank for being able to stand on this swamp, don’t you? I told you I’d be useful.”
At those words, golden madness ignited in the eyes of the Gwangpung Order.
“Ugh!”
“We really went through hell….”
“This is infuriating. What infuriates me more is that I have nothing to say back!”
“That irritating bastard….”
The Gwangpung Order bit their lips at the countless memories of being bested by Raon, yet they swallowed their rage, unable to refute his words.
“Let’s go.”
Raon chuckled softly and gestured toward the west.
“The Arian Family will likely come to greet us, but there’s no need to wait for them.”
Following his gesture, the Gwangpung Order began moving toward the Arian Family estate.
Despite the burning heat rising within them toward Raon, the Gwangpung Order’s steps across the swamp were as smooth as if they walked on level ground.
*
*
*
The Patriarch’s Hall of the Arian Family.
A swordmaster in a yellow uniform walked into a crimson chamber more ornate than Zigheart’s and knelt.
“Head of House. The reinforcement unit dispatched from Zigheart has entered our family’s territory.”
The swordmaster gazed at the platform, his sharp eyes gleaming.
“Please grant us permission to send the Rangers to receive them.”
“….”
No answer came from the platform above, only a cold gaze pierced through.
“You called them here, so why not handle it yourself?”
“Head of House….”
“The water level in the swamp rising and the monsters multiplying—these are common occurrences! Yet you had the audacity to summon Zigheart!”
An angry voice erupted from the platform above.
“I am grateful it may prove to be nothing serious, but should something unfortunate occur, the people would suffer greatly. I merely wished to prevent the problem before it escalated.”
“I am the one who knows this family and the swamp best! You swing your sword from the outside and call it a day, but I am the one who must receive them! Do you have any idea how exhausting it is to butter up these young brats?”
“…I apologize.”
“Tsk.”
The man on the platform clicked his tongue and waved his hand dismissively.
“I did not start this, but I suppose I must see it through. Take the rangers and a carriage to greet the Zigheart swordsmen.”
“Thank you.”
The swordsman bowed and rose immediately, departing the Audience Chamber. Behind him, small voices whispered.
“I really don’t understand why he creates such troublesome situations.”
“Indeed. The inspections alone are irritating enough….”
“As if he truly understands this swamp.”
“Wendy has always enjoyed causing problems.”
The swordsman pretended not to hear, biting his lip firmly as he left the Patriarch’s Hall. Outside, two rangers awaited him.
“Freica.”
“Yes.”
At his call, the red-haired ranger bowed her head.
“I’m counting on you. Bring them safely.”
“Don’t worry.”
The ranger called Freica nodded with a faint smile.
“Wellis, no pranks.”
“How could I possibly prank the Zigheart delegation? Though I wonder how many will survive nature’s initiation….”
The black-haired ranger called Wellis chuckled darkly.
“Don’t do that.”
“Even if I don’t touch it, won’t it come out on its own?”
“Freica. I’m counting on you.”
“Don’t worry.”
Freica lowered her head and led Wellis and the Rangers toward the eastern gate.
Behind them followed horses with webbed feet.
“Let’s go!”
The Rangers loaded large supplies onto carts pulled by horses, then departed the Arian Family estate.
“Sigh….”
The female swordmaster watched the departing Rangers and exhaled softly.
Whenever Wellis left with that expression, several of them always returned covered in mud.
Looking at their faces, it seemed they were planning to play pranks as some kind of initiation this time.
‘They’ll need to keep it reasonable.’
*
*
*
Freica frowned as she surveyed the swampland that had risen to floor level.
“The water level here has risen too.”
“They won’t be able to move forward or backward.”
Wellis nodded and gestured backward with his hand. The Rangers following on horseback accelerated their pace.
“Do you think someone will come?”
Freica pushed aside the thicket that hung down to her forehead and glanced to the side.
“Hard to say. Zigheart won’t consider us that important, so probably just one unit will come.”
Although the Arian Family was a vassal family of Zigheart, they rarely exchanged visits, and since nothing particularly significant had occurred on their end, it seemed unlikely that any particularly important people would be sent.
“Still, considering the tribute we send them, they should dispatch someone of consequence. Isn’t the recently famous Gwangpung Unit supposed to come?”
“They wouldn’t send such valuable people to a place like this. They probably sent an appropriate unit instead.”
“You never know. Well, whoever comes will have a rough time regardless.”
Wellis scratched his cheek with a smile.
“That’s certainly true.”
Freica nodded in agreement.
‘This place is different from the central Continent.’
The Arian Family Estate was surrounded by marshland on all sides. Now that the water level had risen, even the Rangers who had lived here for years found it difficult to move without marsh boots.
It was nature’s true trial. Even for warriors from Zigheart, moving through this place now was nearly impossible.
“Increase your pace a bit more. We’ll escape the eastern marshland by today.”
“Yes!”
At Freica’s command, Wellis and the Rangers ran without rest toward the eastern edge.
As afternoon gave way to evening, multiple figures appeared before them.
“Stop!”
Wellis, who had been leading the charge, raised his hand and brought everyone to a halt.
“What is it?”
Freica narrowed her eyes as she looked ahead.
‘Was there another Scout Unit that went out besides us?’
No, that couldn’t be.
The Arian Family Estate had only three Scout Units. Since she had never heard that the other two had gone out, these people couldn’t possibly be from a Scout Unit.
“They’re not merchants either.”
Wellis shook his head, saying there were no merchants who would move in such circumstances.
“Stay alert and wait.”
Freica took up the bow slung across her back and steadied her breathing.
At first, I thought they might be swordsmen from Zigheart, but watching them walk across the swamp with such ease made it clear they knew this place well.
As the rangers lowered their stances and remained vigilant, the mist parted and figures emerged.
The man at the front was a strikingly handsome blonde with red eyes, yet he emanated no presence—as if he weren’t human at all.
When I lowered my gaze, thinking him a ghost, the emblem of a burning sword emblazoned on his chest caught my eye.
‘Zigheart?’
Then this person was….
It struck me immediately. The White Sword Dragon Raon Zigheart and the Gwangpung Unit—one of the most renowned young warriors on the Continent right now.
‘But, why….’
Raon Zigheart was at the Master realm, so walking through this place posed no problem for him, but the other swordsmen behind him were also traversing the swamp as naturally as if it were flat ground.
The two young children looked somewhat strained, but all of the Gwangpung Unit walked through the swamp more serenely than we did in our specialized boots.
“Uh….”
“What, what is this?”
“They’re walking through the swamp that easily?”
“What in the….”
Wellis and the rangers were equally stunned, their mouths hanging open.
“Huh!”
Freica lowered the hand holding her bow and swallowed hard.
‘What on earth are these people….’
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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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