The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 41

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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 41

“What do you mean by ‘real’?”

The Third Prince swallowed hard and took a step back. Unable to discern the identity and intentions of the suddenly appearing elf, he created distance as a precaution.

“There is no need to be frightened, Your Highness.”
“I am not frightened.”

I looked up at the red-haired elf and furrowed my brow.

“Answer my question first. What do you mean by ‘real’?”
“That is….”
“Wait.”

Just as the elf was about to respond, Duke Tartan erupted from the ground. It was as though he had burst forth from a shadow cast by lamplight.

“Zigheart’s Radiant Blade. What business do you have here?”
“Gasp!”

Greer’s eyes widened upon hearing the title that Duke Tartan had uttered.

‘Zigheart’s Radiant Blade!’

Now I could finally understand who that elf was. He was one of Glen Zigheart’s trusted subordinates—the one known for wielding the blade at the speed of light.

‘But why would he seek me out….’

I had heard rumors of his retirement due to injury, yet I could not fathom why he had come looking for me.

“Ah, there is no need for such wariness.”

Rimer waved his hand dismissively, as if he harbored no intention of fighting.

“I have witnessed your recklessness more times than I can count. How could I possibly let my guard down?”
“As you can see, I have changed considerably.”
“Hmm….”

Duke Tartan glanced back without lowering his guard.

“Your Highness. What did this mad elf say?”
“He asked if I wanted to see the real thing.”
“The real thing? What does that mean?”
“Well, it’s a bit awkward to discuss here, isn’t it?”

Rimer spread his arms and gestured around. The banquet had fallen silent, and everyone was staring in our direction.

“Truth be told, I am an uninvited guest.”

He brushed off the piercing gazes with a laugh and turned away.

“Prince of Owen.”

Rimer, who had been heading toward the exit, stopped and turned back once more.

“If you wish to see the real thing, tell him you want to visit the 5th Training Ground during tomorrow’s training observation.”

With only those words, he walked out of the Banquet Hall.

Once Rimer, who had called himself an uninvited guest, disappeared, music began to fill the Banquet Hall once more.

But in Greer’s mind, only Rimer’s final words echoed.

‘The real thing is at the 5th Training Ground?’

*

*

*

“Hm-hm-hmm!”
“Mm.”

I frowned as I listened to Rimer’s humming.

‘What’s gotten into him?’

Rimer, who should have been lying down taking an afternoon nap after delegating instructions to the other instructors, suddenly opened both eyes wide and personally directed the training. An inexplicable sense of unease washed over me.

“Why is he acting like that?”
“Right?”
“Did something get into him?”
“Maybe he won big at the gambling den yesterday.”

Burren and the other trainees glanced sideways at Rimer while swinging their swords.

“Chief Instructor. Has something good happened?”

Dorian, timid yet curious, approached Rimer’s side.

“We’re expecting a guest.”
‘A guest?’

Rimer, who despised troublesome matters more than anything, was actually waiting for a guest—it made even less sense.

‘I should just focus on training.’

That Red-haired Elf was far too peculiar; his actions and thoughts were impossible to predict. The right answer was to concentrate on training.

I drew the aura blazing hot from my dantian and extended my right leg.

Boom!

Beginning with a footfall that sounded as though it shattered the earth itself, I unfolded the Garam Stepping Method and the Yeonseong Sword Technique simultaneously.

Between the footwork that flowed as naturally as water, sharp sword light erupted upward.

Whoosh!

Defensive footwork and offensive swordplay merged together, yet because both emphasized flow and connection, no discord emerged.

From the beginning, they linked together as naturally as if they were a single martial art.

I completed the sword technique and footwork while feeling the gazes of the now-accustomed trainees upon my back.

“Haah.”

I exhaled sharply as I lowered my sword, having just executed a seamless combination of swordplay and footwork.

‘Still insufficient.’

Coordinating swordplay, footwork, and aura manipulation simultaneously revealed subtle discrepancies in my execution.

To demonstrate my true capabilities in actual combat, I required far more practice.

“Again.”

Just as I prepared for another round, I sensed multiple presences approaching from the Training Ground’s main entrance.

“Hmm?”
“What is this?”

The instructors reacted a heartbeat after I did, and the trainees soon lowered their blades.

As all eyes turned toward the Training Ground’s door, a knock echoed through the space.

“Go see.”
“Yes.”

Rimer maintained his smile and gestured to an instructor with his chin. The instructor standing at the center opened the Training Ground’s door.

“I am Gesmen from the Administrative Bureau.”

A neat-featured young man in formal uniform poked his head through, with silver-armored knights standing at attention behind him.

“The delegation from Owen Kingdom has requested to observe training at the 5th Training Ground. I realize this is sudden, but would it be possible?”
“Come in. Guests are always welcome.”

Rimer swiftly approached the doorway and opened it wide.

“Th-thank you. Please, come inside.”

Gesmen bowed respectfully, wiping sweat from his brow as he ushered the Owen Kingdom delegation into the Training Ground.

“Huh.”

I let out a hollow laugh as I sheathed my practice sword at my waist.

‘Guests are welcome?’

Rimer didn’t even show his training methods to swordsmen of the same clan. Welcoming guests was absolute nonsense.

Looking around, the other trainees were also rolling their eyes in surprise.

“The delegation from the Owen Kingdom has graciously made time to visit us. Show them what martial arts the Zigheart trainees have learned.”

Rimer, who had been at the door, suddenly appeared on the platform. His movement was ghostlike, transcending the very air itself.

“What are we supposed to do all of a sudden?”
“Hmm….”
“Well, we’ll just do what we always do.”

The trainees began to creak like broken dolls under the piercing gaze of the Owen Kingdom delegation.

“Get your heads in the game! This is exactly when you need to stay composed and show your true strength!”

Burren was no different than usual. In fact, he displayed even sharper movements as he led the trainees forward.

‘It worked perfectly.’

True to his nature as someone who lived and breathed for Zigheart, he understood exactly what needed to be demonstrated now.

“I’m not playing the fool for anyone.”

Martha snorted derisively and crossed her arms. She blazed with an intense aura as if facing an enemy, openly glaring at the Owen Kingdom delegation. Her expression dared them to come at her.

‘She hasn’t changed either.’

Martha had only softened toward me, yet her sharp tongue and fierce demeanor remained unchanged.

Lunan had never been interested in them from the start. Without pausing even once, he continued treading his footwork patterns and swinging his blade.

‘In a way, he might be the strongest among us.’

The ability to maintain focus without wavering in such a chaotic atmosphere was a talent no one else could match.

I scanned the delegation from the Owen Kingdom in turn. The blue-eyed training knight whose gaze I’d met before was now examining Burren, Martha, and Lunan in sequence.

His slightly parted lips suggested he was quite astonished by the three’s martial prowess.

‘As expected, he hasn’t recognized me.’

Though he’d grasped the strength of those three, he seemed oblivious to my own power.

“Then.”

I smiled faintly, spread my legs to shoulder width, and drew my training sword.

‘Shall I begin as well.’

Both the Garam Footwork and the Consecutive Sword Technique were remarkably simple in form and posture.

The advantage of both martial arts was that they didn’t weaken even when observed, so there was no problem being watched.

Whoosh!

Paying no mind to those watching, I naturally melded into the flow of blade and footwork.

*

*

*

Third Prince Griere de Owen had visited two locations before arriving at the 5th Training Ground.

The first was the 2nd Martial Grounds, where those who had already earned the title of swordmaster trained.

‘They were impressive.’

The smasters of the 2nd Martial Grounds possessed martial prowess that did no dishonor to the great name of Zigheart.
In sword form, aura, physique, and spirit alike, they were formidable warriors who lacked nothing compared to the knights of the Owen Kingdom.

‘But the 6th Martial Grounds, where the trainees were, was disappointing.’

The trainees of the 6th Martial Grounds certainly possessed exceptional talent, but their actual training was insufficient.

I had originally intended to request a sparring match, but the outcome was so predictable that I abandoned the idea.

‘That’s right, I remember now.’

As I turned to leave, Rimer’s words came back to me—his question about whether I wanted to see the real thing.

So I asked the Administrative Bureau official who was about to guide me elsewhere if I could visit the 5th Training Ground instead.
He looked flustered, but he couldn’t refuse and brought me to the 5th Training Ground.

Truthfully, I hadn’t expected much.
I thought the 5th Training Ground wouldn’t be significantly different from the 6th.

But that was a grave miscalculation.
The moment I stepped into the training ground, I understood. This place was different.

The talent and level of training among these trainees existed on an entirely different plane from the 6th Martial Grounds.

‘This was the real thing all along.’

Rimer was right. This was the genuine article. The martial prowess of the 5th Training Ground trainees was not inferior to that of the training knights.

Particularly, the blue-haired boy and the silver-haired girl possessed martial strength a tier above the others.
And the black-haired beauty watching this way radiated an overwhelming presence.

All three of them possessed martial power comparable to my current self or Setun, who was said to be the strongest among the training knights.

“This is certainly the real thing.”

Duke Tartan narrowed his eyes as he observed the trainees.

“It appears so.”
“Though the difference in talent among most of them isn’t particularly great. It’s the difference in training.”
“Hmm….”

Greer nodded in agreement. The very air of the 5th Training Ground was different. The trainees carried the scent of fervent dedication—blood and sweat mingled together.

“Those three in particular are truly remarkable.”

Training Knight Setun’s eyes gleamed with competitive fervor. He too was observing the three powerhouses he had identified.

“I’d like to test myself against them.”
“I feel the same way.”

The Third Prince and Setun licked their lips as they regarded the three men and women they considered the strongest in the 5th Training Ground.

“Well? As I said, the real talent is here, isn’t it?”

A voice carrying the freshness of a cool breeze reached us from behind.

“Hmm?”

I turned to see Rimer standing there with the same smile he’d shown yesterday.

“Indeed. Now I understand why you said such a thing.”

Greer nodded in acknowledgment.

“You look like you’re itching for a fight. How about a sparring match with our people?”
“Was this your objective?”
“Opportunities to safely clash with talents from the Six Emperors are rare. It will benefit your side as well.”

Rimer gestured toward the trainees focused intently on their blades.

“Hmm….”

Greer turned his head to look at Duke Tartan. Since he was the actual leader, permission was necessary.

“That should be fine.”

Duke Tartan nodded, but his gaze grew cold as he fixed Rimer with a look that promised swift retribution if he stepped out of line.

“I simply wish to spar. However.”

Rimer raised both hands and smiled faintly.

“A small wager wouldn’t hurt, would it?”
“A wager?”
“Yes. We’ll conduct twenty matches, and the victor receives a reward.”
“Ha, you truly believe you can win?”
“Ho, quite the confidence, I see.”
“Of course. These children are elite training knights cultivated even within the Owen Kingdom!”

Duke Tartan gazed upon the training knights with eyes brimming with pride.

“How fortunate.”

Rimer’s lips curved into a subtle smile, his deep emerald eyes gleaming with clarity.

“I have equal faith in my own children.”

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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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