The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 396

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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 396

Dorian glanced behind him, his lips trembling.

“I didn’t do anything! Really! The Death Knight’s skull shattered on its own!”

He waved his hands frantically, insisting he had nothing to do with the Death Knight’s fractured skull.

Burren pointed at Wigen’s Jade Throne, crumpled like scrap metal.

“Didn’t it break when Raon crushed the chair earlier?”
“Oh, that’s right! The Master destroyed it!”

Dorian nodded eagerly, seizing the opportunity.

“Back when the Master was the Destruction King, he’d smash everything when he got angry! Looks like it caught him this time too!”

He readily agreed with Burren, unwilling to let this chance slip away.

Martha climbed onto the platform, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.

“No.”

She examined the Death Knight’s powdered skull and shook her head.

“That creature’s strength is absurdly powerful, but this was shattered by a different force.”
“Right.”

Lunan, who had somehow made his way onto the platform, nodded in agreement.

“There was an explosion from inside just moments ago.”

Lunan rubbed the powdered remains of the Death Knight’s skull with a twig he’d found somewhere, smacking his lips.

“Ugh…”

Dorian’s face went pale with fear at Martha and Lunan’s testimony.

“Please, spare me!”

He immediately dropped to his knees and bowed his head.

I narrowed my eyes, not at Dorian, but at the skull dust that Lunan was poking with a twig.

‘Lunan was right.’

The aura of death burning from within the skull had incinerated the bones entirely.
But I couldn’t understand why this aura had suddenly erupted.

‘Wrath.’
-Why do you summon me?

Wrath flowed out from the bracelet and yawned as if annoyed.

‘Do you know why that aura of death burst from the skull?’
-There is nothing the True Demon King does not know.
‘Then why….’

Just as I was about to ask the reason, Wrath waved his round hand.

‘Hmm?’
-What comes must go, as the saying goes. I hear this place is famous for grape and blueberry dishes. First, a sandwich with grape jam and a pie with blueberries….

Wrath hummed a tune while listing the famous foods of this place. It was truly remarkable how he remembered all of it from somewhere.

‘I’ll eat it all for you.’

With no other choice, I nodded in agreement.

-Twice!
‘I understand. Now explain.’
-Ahem!

Wrath cleared his throat for no reason and lifted his gaze.

-The reason the Death Knight’s skull burst with energy was because the connection was severed.
‘A severed connection? Then could it be….
-Indeed. It means someone else summoned that Death Knight.
‘Ah….’

I nodded slowly at Wrath.

‘That does make more sense.’

It seemed far more plausible that someone had interfered than for the Swamp of Death—which had remained unchanged for over a century since the first Head of House—to suddenly transform on its own.

‘Who summoned the Death Knight?’
-I don’t know.
‘Then where is the summoner? Is he at that pillar we visited?’
-He could be there, or he could not be.
‘What?’
-Such simple manipulation is possible from very far away. In other words, even I don’t know.

Wrath said that since he had severed the connection with the Death Knight, he couldn’t determine its location.

‘Didn’t you just say you knew everything?’
-I only don’t know this!

He answered with absolute confidence, raising a nose he didn’t even possess.

“Sigh….”

I exhaled and shook my head in disbelief.

‘Starting tomorrow, your meals are plain bread.’
-W-what nonsense is this! What happened to the blueberry pie!
‘Have your plain bread. You know nothing that matters.’

I couldn’t fathom why he pretended to know everything when he understood neither the location nor the identity of the summoner.

-Don’t you understand the importance of knowing what you don’t know! This is a very crucial element….
‘Be quiet.’

I pushed away the struggling Wrath and gazed at the Arian Family crest embedded in the wall.

‘Now that I think about it….’

Upon hearing that someone else had summoned the Death Knight, information I’d learned from Judith came to mind.

‘She said they fought a Lich.’

Hundreds of years ago in the Swamp of Death, the first Patriarch of Zigheart and the first Patriarch of Arian had fought together—not against a Death Knight, but against an Arch Lich.

I recalled that information and approached Wigen Arian, who was huddled in the corner.

“Wigen Arian.”
“W-what is it, sir!”

Thanks to the beating Martha had given him, formal speech tumbled out immediately.

“Tell me about the battle between the first Patriarch of Zigheart and the first Patriarch of Arian against the Arch Lich.”
“Pardon?”
“Speak of the history of how this family was founded.”
“I, I don’t know much about that….”
“Ha.”

I let out a hollow laugh.

‘It’s actually surprising that he knows anything at all.’

Of course the Arian Family had crumbled into this pathetic state—their so-called Patriarch didn’t even know his own family’s history.

“I know of it.”

Bainder, who had been kneeling behind us, raised his hand.

“You know? Didn’t you say you came from outside?”
“That’s precisely why I should know it well.”

Bainder nodded, gently touching the bruises around his eyes.

“To summarize, your words are correct. The first Patriarchs of Zigheart and Arian, along with their subordinates, broke through countless undead and fought the Arch Lich at the end of the Swamp of Death, emerging victorious.”

He continued in a calm voice.

“After that, the first Head of House of Zigheart asked the first Head of House of the Arian Family to protect this place so such a thing would never happen again. And so….”

Bainder shared several more facts about the history of the Arian Family. He knew this clan surprisingly well.

“And someone who knows this never sent out a single scout?”
“Knowing and acting are two different things.”

Wigen, who knew nothing, and Bainder, who knew but did nothing—both were utterly pathetic.

“This fool still hasn’t come to his senses!”

Martha leaped from the platform and unleashed a roundhouse kick.

Crunch!

With the sound of armor crumpling, Bainder crashed into the wall.

“You pathetic wretches!”

I tapped my sword hilt as I watched Martha continue her assault on the executives behind me.

‘Once this is settled, I’ll have to venture into the swamp alone.’

The fact that Wrath said nothing suggested there had been no one summoning the Death Knight in the Swamp of Death at that time.

But seeing that the Death Knight’s skull had been crushed, whoever did it might return to the swamp and cause an even greater problem.
Before leaving the Arian Family, I would need to search the swamp myself.

‘Before that….’

I turned around and clapped my hands.

“Assemble.”

At my command, the Gwangpung Unit scattered throughout the hall gathered with sharp, focused eyes.

“Now it’s time to keep our promise.”
“Promise?”
“What promise?”

Gwangpung Unit tilted their head as if asking what I meant.

“You couldn’t even capture your Death Knight.”
“How could we possibly catch that!”
“It kept growing stronger, and we could barely hold our ground!”
“How petty….”

Burren, Martha, and Lunan shook their heads, saying it was impossible from the start.

“I caught it though. In one hit, no less.”

As I shrugged my shoulders, Gwangpung Unit clenched their jaw and trembled.

“Still, it’s not particularly difficult training.”

I smiled coldly at Gwangpung Unit and Mark Goeten.

“It’s just a survival match where only one side dies.”

*

*

*

Zigheart Family Estate Patriarch’s Reception Hall.
Roen set down a white teacup on the circular table placed before the Jade Throne.

“This is Barens tea, sir.”

He poured the crimson-hued tea water with a subtle smile, and a sweet fragrance spread forth as the leaves dissolved.

“Barens? Did you change the tea leaves?”

Glen narrowed his eyes as he watched the tea deepen in color.

“Yes. Barens tea has the effect of easing the mind, sir.”
“The previous blend wasn’t bad either.”
“You seem to have been sleeping poorly lately, so I thought I would make the change.”

Roen set down the teaspoon he’d been stirring with and offered a faint smile.

“Hmm, is that so.”
“Yes. Once you drink this tea, your worries about the young masters who’ve gone to the Arian Family should ease somewhat.”
“Ahem!”

Glen Zigheart let out a loud, deliberate cough and waved his hand dismissively.

“W-what are you talking about? That’s a test. I don’t care what happens to those brats!”
“For someone who doesn’t care….”

Roen shrugged his shoulders and gestured toward the window on the right.

“Lately, you’ve been staring out that window all day long. If that’s the case, perhaps a visit wouldn’t be such a bad idea.”
“Hmph….”

Glen Zigheart furrowed his brow in contemplation, but when he noticed laughter gleaming in Roen’s eyes, he struck the armrest with a thud.

“Didn’t I say it? I don’t care what happens to Raon!”
“Hehe.”

Roen smiled softly and nodded.

“Truth be told, I’m also curious whether young master Raon will be able to discern the true purpose of this mission.”
“Hmm.”

Glen Zigheart sipped his tea, his gaze dimming.

“A unit leader must make their own judgments and act accordingly. If they can’t handle this task despite being given authority, it means they’re not yet fit to lead a unit.”
“Ah, so you were concerned about whether young master Raon could properly manage the unit once he takes it over.”
“Hmph, I said I’m not!”

He waved his hand as if he truly didn’t care. Yet the perspiration on the back of his hand betrayed him.

Roen smiled thinly as he observed Glen Zigheart’s trembling hand.

“I have a feeling young master Raon will return after completely restructuring the Arian Family….”

Just as he said Raon would complete his mission and return, the arched doors of the Audience Chamber burst open.
The red-haired Elf standing before the entrance strode into the Audience Chamber with confident steps, as though it were her own room.

“Both of you are here!”

Rimer’s hair was disheveled, and his clothes were as tattered as Pedrick’s. Yet his eyes remained as clear and serene as a mountain lake.

“Hmm….”

Glen swept his gaze over the beggar-like Rimer and tapped his fingers against the armrest of the Jade Throne.

‘Now, perhaps….’

Has he found himself again?

Even emerging from that cave, an aura of entirely different caliber emanated from him. The artificial dantian had stabilized, and the nascent energies within it had settled into their proper places.
A faint smile crossed his face—reminiscent of the Rimer once called the Radiant Sword.

“Where did the children go? They weren’t at the Training Ground.”
“Since you took so long to emerge, I issued a second trial.”
“What?”

Rimer gasped and bounced to his feet.

“Truly?”
“Yes. You took far too long….”
“Phew, what a relief!”

He brushed his chest and grinned widely.

“My training was finished, but I really didn’t feel like going on a mission! I was worried about what to do, but it’s all settled now!”

Rimer hummed cheerfully, satisfied that his deliberate delay had paid off.

“Hehehehe….”

Roen withdrew with a knowing chuckle, as if he could already foresee Rimer’s fate.

“Head of House.”

Rimer took another step toward the now-silent Glen Zigheart.

“Actually, Raon can handle most missions on his own. If we leave him be, he’ll come back after resolving everything.”

He smiled while scratching the back of his head with interlaced fingers.

“Sigh…”

Glen Zigheart forcibly stopped his hand from leaving and exhaled heavily.

“Still, you’re the unit commander. Since you said you wanted to go up to the main commander, go check on them now.”
“Huh?”

Rimer drawled his response as if annoyed.

“Well, the Arian Family is far away, sticky, and the humidity is high, so it’s not really my preference…”

As he shrugged his shoulders to make his refusal clear, crimson lightning began to sprout from the ceiling of the Audience Chamber.

“Wha…?”

Rimer’s mouth fell open as he watched the sparks tear through space.

“Right after I came out?”
“I was mistaken. You haven’t changed one bit.”

The moment Glen Zigheart’s cold expression hardened, lightning that filled the entire ceiling of the Audience Chamber poured down.

Boom!

In that instant, Rimer’s eyes widened. With wind in his right hand and lightning in his left, he thrust both palms toward the cascading bolts.

Crackle!

The moment he made contact with the lightning, he spread his hands like a fan, splitting Glen Zigheart’s lightning in half and scattering it across the ground.

Sizzle!

The floor where Glen Zigheart’s lightning had passed turned pitch black from the scorch marks.

“Kyaaah!”

Rimer gazed at his hands, letting out a refreshing exclamation.

“I only imagined it in my head, but it’s actually working!”

He chuckled heartily as he continued to absorb Glen’s brain energy still lingering in his body.

“Heh. Heh. Heh….”

Roen hadn’t anticipated this situation either, his laughter cutting short abruptly.

“Hmm.”

Glen showed little surprise, smiling faintly as he observed Rimer’s hands.

“Now you’re finally worth watching. Though honestly, it’s far too late….”
“The Head of House must be getting old. There’s barely any tingling sensation at all.”

Rimer laughed boisterously with his arms crossed, his arrogant smirk adding to the provocation.

“At this rate, I’ll end up becoming the Head of House myself, won’t I?”

At those words, veins bulged prominently across Glen’s forehead. He closed his mouth and raised his hand.

Rummmmmble!

Brain energy far more intense than moments before began to condense against the ceiling.

“Uh….”

Rimer lifted his head, his jaw trembling.

“N-No, I was joking. I can’t block that….”

He slowly backpedaled, then turned and bolted toward the exit of the Patriarch’s Hall. The instant he moved at full speed, the brain energy flashed.

Booooooom!

Before Rimer could even react, lightning poured down and struck his abdomen.

“Gaaaahhh!”

Rimer rolled across the ground, scorched by the lightning.

Crackle, crackle!

But Glen’s hand had not yet finished.

“It seems one strike won’t do now that I’m old.”
“W-wait a moment….”

Rimer’s teeth chattered as he watched the sphere of lightning energy swell larger and larger.

“There is no waiting.”
“Gaaaahhh!”

That day, the Patriarch’s Hall erupted with endless thunder and screams.

*

*

*

I stood upon the Western Fortress Wall, gazing down at the Arian Family estate below.
Though many moved about busily, the subtle unease that had permeated the air during my first visit was gone.

‘Much has changed.’

A week had passed since the Arian Family’s patriarch changed.

Wendy Arian, who took the temporary position of patriarch, chose apology as her first act. She gathered all the family members, revealed everything that had transpired, and formally sought their forgiveness.

Though Wendy laid bare her own failings without reservation, the family members neither cursed nor disparaged her.

Knowing how she had lived until now, they offered her their support instead.

Of course, those who followed Wigen and the executives tried to resist, but they fell silent before Martha’s fists.

‘I thought I made a good choice watching that.’

Even though all the family executives were being criticized, the fact that Wendy Arian alone received support showed that his character and sense of responsibility were genuine.

Wendy Arian’s second priority was reorganizing the family’s defensive posture.

-That was your suggestion in the first place.

Wrath snorted derisively.

‘True enough.’

I nodded. Since whoever summoned the Death Knight might target this place again, I had the family’s warriors trained and their defensive equipment repaired.

Only a week had passed, so mountains of work remained, yet the faces of those laboring radiated vitality.

Boom!

As I watched the people working while drenched in sweat, a tremendous roar erupted from the Swamp of Death.

I turned leisurely to look. Over the turbulent marsh, the Gale Wind Squad operating the Grand Gale Formation clashed with Mark Goeten, who had unleashed his inner strength.

Clang! Screech!

The Gale Wind Squad and Mark Goeten exchanged full-powered sword strikes as though they were mortal enemies.

‘They’re fighting properly.’
-Of course they are! The losing side trains through the night under your command!

Wrath rolled his eyes as if exasperated.

‘That’s a good thing.’
-Good for you, maybe!

He shook his head, telling me to stop spouting nonsense.

-Humans aren’t obsessed freaks like you when it comes to training!
‘I’m not a freak.’

I chuckled softly and lowered my gaze inward. Yua and Julius were conducting endurance training in the swamp.

‘This place is perfect for training.’

Opportunities to train in a swamp weren’t common. Since we’d come all this way, I intended to acclimate everyone to the marsh and boost their stamina as well.

-Well, that’s not wrong… huh?

Wrath stopped mid-sentence and stared toward the distant horizon.

‘What is it?’
-Call them up. Now.
‘What?’
-Call all those weaklings up here immediately!

I didn’t know why, but if Wrath was alarmed to this degree, it was no ordinary matter. I activated Seolhwa’s senses at full power and looked down below.

“Everyone, get up here!”
“Huh?”
“Master? What did you say?”

Since I’d never stopped training mid-session until now, everyone stared blankly in my direction.

“Get to the castle, now… ah!”

I swallowed hard, staring toward the Swamp of Death. A colossal tidal wave was approaching from the distance. There wouldn’t even be time to open and close the castle gates.

“Damn it!”

I leaped down from the castle wall and grabbed Yua and Julius by the waist.

“If you don’t want to die, run up here now!

After shouting that, I kicked off the castle wall and ascended.

“What, what is that!”
“Why are you suddenly doing this?”
“Just climb up!”

The Gwangpung Unit climbed the castle wall behind me in bewilderment. Less than a minute after everyone descended onto the wall, a massive shadow fell across the pale mist.

“That, what is that….”
“The swamp! It’s the swamp!”
“A tidal wave from the swamp….”

A colossal tidal wave, as if the entire Swamp of Death had been lifted, was surging toward the castle wall. At this rate, the castle itself would be swept away and vanish.

Whoooosh!

I bit my lip and drew upon Glacial’s power to its peak. After condensing the frigid energy until my entire body was tinged white, I stretched out my hand toward the approaching muddy tidal wave.

With Wrath’s technique….

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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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