The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 391

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 391

The moment I stepped out of the Patriarch’s Hall, I turned back to look at Wendy Arian.

“Our unit members haven’t eaten dinner yet. Would it be possible for us to have a meal first?”
-Oho! What’s gotten into you!

Wrath burst from the bracelet like lightning, apparently not expecting an immediate meal. His face brightened at the prospect of filling his belly.

-Since you’re ordering anyway, demand their specialties! Tell them to serve their finest dishes!
‘Why don’t you support your own belly instead.’

I pushed Wrath aside and requested that meals and lodging be prepared.

“Of course!”

Wendy Arian nodded with eyes burning bright as flames. The strength in her voice suggested she’d overheard my conversation with Wigen and was deeply moved by it.

“M-meals? You’re saying we should eat first, right now?”
“Since when does he care about food? Will the sun rise in the west tomorrow?”
“Is he going to arrange sleep for us too?”

Burren Zigheart, Martha, and Lunan Slion stared at me with wide eyes, apparently having expected me to begin the mission immediately.

“I’ve never starved you.”

I frowned and waved my hand dismissively. I may not have always allowed them sleep, but I’d always ensured they were fed.

-You made us forage for grass on the mountain!
‘That counts as food too.’

In the wilderness, being able to forage for grass at all is a blessing. That’s sustenance nonetheless.

“Freica.”

When Wendy Arian gestured to the side, Freica, the leader of Ranger Unit Three who had guided us here before disappearing, approached.

“I’ll guide the Gwangpung Unit members to the Dormitory and Dining Hall.”
“This way, please.”

Freica bowed carefully before leading the Gwangpung Unit to the right.

I didn’t head to the Dining Hall and instead approached Wendy’s side.

“Commander of the Yellow Sword Unit, let’s have a word.”
“Understood.”

Wendy nodded and pointed to the left.

“Let’s go that way.”

She walked ahead, mentioning there was a suitable place to talk.

-Hey! You devilish bastard!

As I tried to follow Wendy, Wrath grabbed me by the collar.

-Why aren’t you following along!
‘I need to gather information about this place.’

After conversing with Wigen, I realized the Arian Family was far more corrupted than I’d thought. The Head of House and his executives had stagnated and fallen into depravity, burying the entire clan in mud.

‘Is that why he told me to take responsibility on my own?’

Thinking about it now, Glen’s instruction might not have been simply to solve the problems of this swamp, but to transform the broken Arian Family and return.

-Do you know who the most evil being in the world is?
‘I don’t know? A demon?’
-It’s one who gives hope and then takes it away! That’s you!

Wrath shrieked and shook my collar violently.

‘I’ll eat something no matter what today. Don’t worry.’

I flicked Wrath’s forehead with my finger, sending him crashing to the ground.

-Gack!

I ignored Wrath’s scream and surveyed the people within the Arian Family estate.

‘At least that’s fortunate.’

Unlike the family’s executives whose eyes had been stained with sloth and greed, the servants’ condition wasn’t so dire.
They harbored concerns about the current situation, but I could sense the temperament of those who had lived diligently and faithfully.

‘That swordswoman deserves the credit.’

Wendy Arian was the sole upright tree in this family’s garden. Without her, not just the Yellow Sword Unit members but those people too would have become no different from the executives.

As I was organizing my thoughts about the Arian Family, Wendy’s footsteps halted.

“We’ve arrived.”

The place she guided me to was atop the Western Fortress Wall overlooking the Swamp of Death.
Moonlight pouring through the mist intertwined with the soft illumination, creating an atmosphere of its own. Had Burren seen this, he would have murmured something about its picturesque charm.

“It’s not bad, is it?”

Wendy leaned her back against the fortress wall, offering a faint smile.

“It’s lovely.”

I nodded and stood at the edge of the fortress wall. Despite the late hour, my transcendent senses pierced through the Swamp of Death.

‘Only zombies and skeletons, truly.’

Though the thick mist prevented me from perceiving distant areas, the monsters in this vicinity consisted solely of shambling zombies and creaking skeletons.

‘However….’

Their numbers were substantial.

Contrary to Wigen’s claim that the undead monsters’ numbers had increased slightly, I sensed considerably more presences.
If they all converged at once, they would be enough to blockade this western passage.

I pointed at the Swamp of Death and looked at Wendy.

“When was the last time you went on a reconnaissance mission?”
“…Last October.”

Wendy lowered her head in embarrassment.

“Last October….”

More than four months had passed since the year changed, meaning she hadn’t gone on a reconnaissance mission in over half a year. It was a serious matter that couldn’t be laughed off.

“And I never even made it all the way through.”

Wendy bit her lip, admitting she had never reached the end of the Swamp of Death.

“Did the Head of House prevent you?”

I narrowed my eyes as I looked at Wendy, whose face had flushed. Since he said no one could leave without his permission, it was entirely plausible.

“Yes. Normally, when we go on reconnaissance, we need either the Scout Unit and an officer, or the Head of House. I need someone other than myself….”
“No one would go with you.”
“Right. I tried my best to convince them, but the Head of House said reconnaissance wasn’t necessary.”
“It’s not that it wasn’t necessary—he was just too lazy.”

The officers of the Arian Family I’d seen in the Audience Chamber earlier were no different from Wigen, the Head of House.
While the Gwangpung Unit built muscle through training, they accumulated fat through indulgence, so they wouldn’t have moved their heavy bodies.
Wendy standing before me now seemed almost peculiar by comparison.

“That’s right.”

Wendy sighed and nodded.

“That’s why you seem even more impressive, controlling the Head of House the moment you arrived here.”
“It’s nothing special. I’ve just dealt with people like that before.”

I smiled faintly and turned my gaze away.

“What’s the condition of the swamp?”
“The water level has risen more than fifty centimeters from before. If it rises just a bit more, the swamp could seep through the Western Gate.”

Wendy narrowed her eyes, uncertain what problems might arise since she’d never faced an enemy like this before.

“So how much have the undead numbers increased?”
“More than five times compared to last year.”
“Five times.”
“The swamp’s water level rising and undead increasing have happened before, but never to this degree of difference. I had no choice but to ignore the opposition from above and call for reinforcements.”
“You did well.”

I nodded in acknowledgment. To be honest, the Arian Family was weak.
If nothing serious was happening, that would be fortunate, but if a powerful monster had been born in those depths, the people here wouldn’t be able to stop it.

“That’s why I apologize.”

Wendy bowed deeply.

“I requested the reinforcements, but it will be difficult for me to join tomorrow’s reconnaissance. The Head of House will undoubtedly prevent me from moving, saying he needs me to protect this place.”

It was something I’d anticipated to some degree, so I waited quietly for her next words.

“Instead, I’ll send Scout Unit Group 3. I can’t say I have complete control, but since I have significant influence over them, you should be able to move freely.”

Wendy bowed her head once more, expressing her sincere apologies.

“That’s acceptable.”

I smiled coldly, my gaze fixed not on the Swamp of Death, but on the Patriarch’s Hall behind it.

“Because I’ve come to realize there’s more than one thing that needs to be cleaned up.”

*

*

*

The Audience Chamber of the Arian Family.
I had left with Wendy, but Head of House Wigen and the executives remained there.

“Head of House.”

The portly Chief Steward beneath the platform lifted his head, grinding his teeth.

“Are you truly going to leave that arrogant brat as he is?”
“Precisely. If we let him continue, he’ll ransack our family estate as though it were his own home.”

The Finance Minister, his skeletal hands adorned with rings, nodded in agreement.

“We cannot simply ignore this.”
“We must stop him by any means necessary….”
“If there’s any trouble with the swamp, this will spiral into something far worse!”

The other executives gathered beside the Chief Steward and Finance Minister, raising their voices.

“And if we don’t ignore it?”

Wigen furrowed his brow, lowering his gaze.

“Are you all going to face that monster who reached mid-Master rank at twenty years old?”
“That, well….”

The Finance Minister bit his lip, unable to respond.

“Don’t just spout anger—think before you speak.”

Wigen’s cold gaze pierced through as he continued.

“How are we supposed to stop those who possess not only raw power but also legitimate justification!”

Had Raon merely applied pressure through strength alone, I could have endured it somehow, but that bastard possessed Glen’s full delegation of authority as his justification.
With no opening for schemes, there was simply no way forward.

“Did you see the eyes of those men?”
“Pardon?”
“The eyes of those Gwangpung Unit members!”

The gaze of the Gwangpung Unit standing behind Raon sent chills down the spine—a chill that made the heart sink. It was like staring into the eyes of a rabid beast rather than human beings.

“They spoke of holding a banquet, and the moment that bastard Raon refused, they emanated a killing intent so fierce it seemed they’d slaughter us all. They were nothing short of mad dogs.”

Wigen trembled as he recalled the fierce madness of the Gwangpung Unit.

“Hmm….”
“B-but there might be a way….”

As the executives of the Arian Family stood at a loss, the door to the Audience Chamber opened, and a well-built middle-aged man entered. It was Bainder, who commanded the Rangers.

“There’s no need to worry too much.”

Bainder bowed his head to Wigen.

“I’ve already made preparations, knowing full well that the Gwangpung Unit will take three Ranger squads tomorrow.”
“But those preparations didn’t work today either. They arrived without a single one getting wet, completely unscathed. What good is that!”

Wigen clicked his tongue as he looked at Bainder.

“That’s why this time, I’ve persuaded the squad leader.”
“Freica?”
“Yes. I promised her an executive position and instructed her to guide them to a place where there’s nothing. The Swamp of Death is shrouded in thick fog, so even a White Sword Dragon will have difficulty finding their way.”

Bainder smiled, saying that the Gwangpung Unit would return without discovering anything.

“After that, if we send the youngest lady to clean up any unforeseen complications, won’t that be the end of it?”
“Khm!”

Wigen nodded slowly, his thick flesh quivering along with the motion.

“On top of that, I’ve already sent word to that person.”
“Already?”
“Yes. The sooner matters are handled, the better.”

Bainder bowed his head calmly.

“There’s no one else but you.”

Wigen tapped the armrest and broke into a broad smile.

“If this matter concludes well, there will be a great reward for you!”
“Thank you.”

Bainder lowered his head, curling up the corners of his mouth into a smile.

“I look forward to it.”

*

*

*

“Yawn.”

Crain let out a wide yawn and set his fork down on the empty plate.

“Our unit commander doesn’t know the meaning of rest. He absolutely refuses to take a break.”

He sighed, suggesting that a welcome reception would have been fine.

“I deliberately didn’t go.”

Burren Zigheart narrowed his eyes at Crain.

“As you’ve seen, the executives here are different from the leaders we know. There’s no point getting entangled with them, so I cut ties first.”

He shook his head, saying that Raon had made the right call.

“Raon is definitely mad, but he’s mad in the right way.”

Martha rested her chin on her fist and smacked her lips.

“He’ll never do anything that causes problems for us or Zigheart.”
“I know that, but it’s a shame. Not being able to rest….”

Crain frowned, complaining that his shoulders and knees were aching.

“I thought I’d get a day off, but now I just want to fight faster. I want to train too.”

Dorian smiled while patting the pouch at his waist.

“What? You’ve finally lost it! You’re clearly addicted to training like that monster!”
“Didn’t you feel it today? That we’ve grown.”
“Well, that’s….”

Crain nodded slowly.

“You’re not wrong about that.”

Thanks to continuous training not just at Zigheart but throughout our journey here, I could now traverse the swamp as easily as flat ground.

‘And beyond that….’

Perhaps because I’d practiced my footwork on the water’s surface, my progress in movement techniques had skyrocketed. My martial prowess had elevated as well, allowing me to execute swordplay and footwork as if I were a completely different person than before.

“Do you know what that flower is?”

Dorian pointed to the blue flower in a vase at the center of the table. The entire Gwangpung Unit turned their gaze toward it.

“It’s called a Malean flower. In nutrient-rich, neutral soil it blooms red, but in acidic soil it turns blue.”

He smiled gently as he touched the Malean.

“Unlike this flower, we’re growing a vibrant red in soil as abundantly nourishing as Raon.”

Dorian raised a finger while observing the frozen Crain.

“From traveling alongside the Deputy Lord, I’ve come to realize something. That person never does anything without purpose.”

I felt it clearly at Habun Castle and during our recent visit to the Sepia Trading Company.
Raon was someone who provided appropriate rewards and answers to those who simply followed his lead properly.

“I feel the same way.”

Mark Goeten set down the tea he’d been drinking and nodded.

“Though I met Raon much later than all of you, I harbor no regrets. The skills I’ve gained in the short time spent with him surpass a decade and more of my previous training.”

He smiled, speaking of a debt of gratitude he would repay for the rest of his life.

“Well, that’s true enough.”
“Among everyone we saw today, aside from Wendy, there wasn’t a single person who looked stronger than us.”
“I can feel myself growing stronger bit by bit.”

All the members of the Gwangpung Unit nodded with smiles on their faces.

“Then there’s no helping it.”

Burren clenched his fist with a faint smile.

“We just have to keep following that monster so he doesn’t get upset.”

He gestured around at the good-natured Gwangpung Unit as they endured.

“Right.”

Martha rose from her chair with a scoff.

“That damned bastard. Who else would follow him if not us?”

She stood up, signaling an end to the gathering.

“Let’s get some sleep.”

Lunan nodded while wearing a sleep cap on his head.

The Gwangpung Unit rose without hesitation and headed toward the Dormitory, where they had stopped before coming to the Dining Hall.

Once everyone had left and the Restaurant Staff cleared the dishes, I emerged from behind a pillar in the Dining Hall.

‘How admirable.’

I thought they would resent being forced to train, but I never expected them to think like this.

-One can only truly understand people through conversation, after all. Mere thoughts cannot reveal what lies within their hearts.
‘A demon speaking as if he understands humans well.’
-Did I not tell you? The True Demon King is more human than you are!

Wrath snorted derisively, claiming I would never understand humans in my entire life.

-If that’s done, let’s eat now….

Just as he was about to hurry and place an order, the lights in the Dining Hall went out.
I heard the sound of staff members leaving through the back door. It seemed they were rushing to clean up and leave early because of the overtime caused by the Gwangpung Unit.

-What, what?! Why are you leaving! There are still customers here! You bastards!

Wrath shrieked loudly, but of course, no one turned back.

-Hey, you cicada-like fool! You’re the one who dragged out the time, and now we’re starving!
‘Well, at least I have something to eat.’

I smiled faintly and pulled out a piece of bread from my spatial pouch.

-Kugh!

Wrath’s complexion turned deathly pale.

‘Want some Nadin bread?’
-Get that vile thing away from me!

*

*

*

Dawn broke over the Arian Family estate before the sun rose.

The Gwangpung Unit and Rangers gathered in front of the Western Gate.

I gestured with my chin, and Freica, the leader of Ranger Squad 3, nodded and opened the gate mechanism.

Kuguguguung!

The Western Gate opened with a tremor that shook the earth. Dust accumulated over time shot into the air, raising a thick gray cloud.

Because the water level of the Swamp of Death had risen considerably, mud seeped in little by little through the opened gate.

I turned around to look at the Gwangpung Unit. Just as they had shown yesterday, there was no wavering in anyone’s eyes.

“Are you ready?”
“We are!”

Every single member of the Gwangpung Unit answered with a resolute voice. The intense, determined tone made the people around us shudder.

“Raon.”

Wendy Arian approached beside the Gwangpung Unit and bowed her head.

“As I mentioned yesterday, I’ve received orders to stand by. I apologize. However….”

She gestured toward Freica and the three Ranger squads, her eyes brightening.

“These people will do their best to guide you, so please go with confidence.”
“Thank you. Don’t worry and wait for us.”

I nodded while looking at Wendy and Freica.

“Let’s go.”

I stepped into the swamp first and moved forward, with the Gwangpung Unit following behind me. The Rangers, who had lived here, were the last to follow.
The Rangers who had lived in the Facility the longest were the last to leave.

Perhaps because they hadn’t gone on patrol for over half a year, zombies and skeletons began gathering from all directions not long after we started cutting through the swamp.

“Ugh!”
“Zombies, what….”
“I didn’t expect this many….”
“There are quite a lot, aren’t there?”

The Rangers frowned as the undead creatures swarmed toward us.

“Gwangpung Unit.”

I tapped my sword hilt without slowing my pace.

“Erase them.”

Before his words even finished, the Gwangpung Unit guarding his back blazed with golden eyes and burst forward.

Kwaaaang!

With just a single sword strike, the swamp was reduced to scorched earth. Not a single one of the dozens of undead monsters survived.

“Let’s go.”

Raon gestured to the bewildered Rangers.

“We have no time to hesitate.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————