The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 44

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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 44

Screeeech!

My aura and the Third Prince’s collided head-on, and our blades shrieked in protest against each other.

Clang!

Power surging from my ankles flowed into my forearms. The weight of bearing stone itself exploded across the blade’s surface.

“Ugh!”

The Third Prince’s hands trembled like aspen leaves as he gripped his sword.

‘This madman!’

I had learned from my single defeat that Raon was strong, but I never imagined he possessed such overwhelming power even in direct confrontation.

“Graaaah!”

The Third Prince gritted his teeth and roared. With the resolve that retreating here meant death, he drove his blade forward with everything he had.

Boom!

The training swords glanced off each other, sending me sliding to the left and the Third Prince to the right.

“Hgh!”

The Third Prince pivoted on his left foot, regaining his stance. His movements were swift and precise—the bearing of one ready to defend against any attack.

But his opponent defied his expectations.

Whoosh!

I stepped into the Garam footwork, steadying my stance while moving fluidly. Gliding like water, I emerged behind the Third Prince.

“Kgh!”

The Third Prince also displayed his full strength, and his reaction speed had become faster than before. He stepped backward and thrust his sword forward.

Ching!

Raon twisted the flat of his blade to deflect the Third Prince’s sword aimed at his wrist.

“Not yet!”

The Third Prince’s sword curved like a living serpent, shooting toward his chest instead of his wrist. His eyes gleamed with an insatiable hunger for victory.

Clang!

Raon’s gaze remained unwavering. He applied a counter-rotation to his training sword, unraveling the rotational force embedded in the Third Prince’s blade.

“Ugh!”

The Third Prince groaned and staggered backward, his jaw trembling with disbelief.

“How… how is this possible?”
“I’ve experienced it before.”

Raon glanced at Burren, who stood behind the Third Prince. He had simply erased the rotational force embedded in the blade, just as he did when fighting him.

“Is he a monster or a genius?”

The Third Prince bit his lip and lowered his stance. He gripped his sword with both hands and angled it diagonally. It was a posture he had shown before, but now it radiated a completely different aura.

‘Peres Swordsmanship.’

It was Peres Swordsmanship, one of the three royal swordsmanship techniques that only the future of the Owen Kingdom could master.

A martial art passed down by Peres, the greatest swordsman of the Continent from centuries ago, it incorporated the flow of the heavens, allowing attack and defense to occur simultaneously in an ascending technique.

“Haaah!”

The Third Prince released a sharp cry and stomped his foot. He rushed forward like a gale and raised his sword to strike.

Boom!

I didn’t meet the Third Prince’s blade head-on, instead employing the Garam Wind Technique. Like a branch swaying in the wind, I let his sword pass by me.

The Third Prince brought his raised blade down and pressed forward. His aura control was refined—his speed was swift yet his balance remained unshaken.

Clang!

I flicked the Third Prince’s sword away using the Resonance Sword Technique and retreated backward.

“Now I won’t let you escape!”

The Third Prince didn’t slow his pursuit, instead unleashing a more refined version of the Peres Sword Art. True to its meaning of “containing the heavens,” his blade carried a majestic yet mysterious energy.

‘Not bad at all.’

I felt the Third Prince’s sword pass over my forehead and let out a quiet chuckle.

‘He’s different from before.’

Both his power and resolve had changed since our last encounter.

‘So this is what a prestigious kingdom produces….’

It made sense that those acknowledged by the Owen Kingdom, one of the pillars of the Six Emperors, were no ordinary fighters. At such a young age, he already understood what mattered in combat.

There was a possibility I might face the Owen Kingdom one day. I intended to familiarize myself with the kingdom’s advanced sword techniques for that day, and this was proving to be excellent training.

Moreover, the Third Prince continued to think and adjust his movements while fighting. He was an entertaining opponent.

Crash!

I violently deflected the Third Prince’s curved blade aimed at my neck. A sharp strike. But I had already analyzed it.

Fighting while operating the Ring of Fire made it easy to grasp his sword techniques. Every technique the Third Prince displayed was being carefully catalogued in my mind.

Clang! Clang clang!

I stopped employing footwork techniques. Instead, I pressed my legs firmly against the ground and received all of the Third Prince’s sword strikes.

“Hah….”
“Insane!”

The Third Prince’s eyes widened as if they might burst from their sockets, and Duke Tartan’s jaw fell slack.

“Whoosh….”

The Third Prince exhaled a long breath and stepped back. He straightened his shoulders and gripped his sword anew.

“Not yet. I have one final technique remaining.”

With those words, he raised his blade. The stance of supporting the heavens—then he drove it into the ground.

‘A secret technique.’

I narrowed my eyes. Advanced swordsmanship possessed secret techniques worthy of their renown. The Third Prince seemed intent on unleashing a secret art of the Peres sword style.

Whoooosh!

A surge of energy emanated from the Third Prince’s entire body, pressing down on him. It was a charging sword technique that blocked the opponent’s escape and brought the blade down head-on.

‘I’ll meet it head-on.’

I tilted my blade to the left. I had seen enough of his swordsmanship—it was time to end this.

Myriad Flower Unified Strike.
Spiral Rotation.

Crimson flames bloomed from my sword’s tip, spinning like jagged teeth as they carved through the heat of the arena.

“Haaah!”

Even as the flames erupted from my blade, the Third Prince did not retreat. He trusted in his own aura and his sword.

Shrieeeek!

The piercing flames tore through the Third Prince’s aura.

“Huh!”

Between the splitting blue aura, the Third Prince’s wide eyes became visible. But he was no mere prince of the Owen Kingdom for nothing.

He drew upon his final aura to seal the widening gap.

“It’s futile.”

Raon’s voice was resolute as I sliced through the training sword completely.

“Not yet! My blade is—what?”

The Third Prince’s trembling jaw halted his descending sword mid-strike.

Rather, he had no choice but to stop. His training sword was already shattered.

My spinning strike had severed not only the Third Prince’s aura but his training sword as well.

“Hah…”

The Third Prince collapsed to the ground. His vacant eyes fixed upon the broken blade.

“I had the advantage in strength and speed…”
“Retreating with footwork does not necessarily mean one’s power is being overwhelmed. Sometimes one deliberately steps back to seize an opportunity.”
“…I felt it clearly.”

The Third Prince exhaled deeply and rose to his feet. He gathered the broken blade, straightened his armor and hair, then stood before me once more.

“Thank you. Because you accepted this second match, I have learned much. The saying that the world is vast—it was true.”

With those words, he bowed. It was a gesture so courteous it befitted a prince.

“I learned much as well.”

I bowed in return toward the Third Prince.

“I apologize for disrespecting you at first. Please forgive this fool for lacking discernment.”
“It is no matter.”
“How old are you?”
“I am fourteen.”
“Alas, I have been defeated by a swordsman younger than myself—in both blade and character.”

The Third Prince laughed hollowly, his true nature finally showing through his expression.

“I believe you would be acceptable.”

He reached into his armor and withdrew a badge emblazoned with a lion that gleamed in brilliant blue light. Engraved on the back was the name Greer.

“Please accept this.”
“This is….”
“Proof that Griere de Owen, Third Prince of Owen, will grant any request you make of me.”
“What?”

My eyes widened. The badge the Third Prince had given me was a symbol of his rank—an object that granted the bearer the right to call upon his favor.

“Why are you giving this to me….”
“I lost, but my mind feels refreshed instead. This is the first time I’ve experienced something like this. It feels as though I’ve grasped something profound.”

The Third Prince murmured that the badge was a bargain compared to what he’d gained.

“Hmm….”

I accepted the badge with a reluctant expression.

“We shall meet again someday. When we do, I hope you’ll remain above me as you are now. It seems it will be enjoyable to pursue you.”

The Third Prince smiled without hesitation. He descended from the Sparring Arena and stood before Rimer.

“Instructor Rimer. We have lost. The wager will be fulfilled as discussed.”
“Understood.”

Rimer nodded with an unchanging smile.

“Duke Tartan.”
“Yes.”
“Let us depart. I’ve just remembered something I must attend to immediately.”
“Yes!”

The Third Prince and Duke Tartan led the training knights out of the Training Ground.

“Hmph! Putting on airs to the very end. How irritating!”

Martha snorted in disapproval and kicked at the rubble of the Sparring Arena.

“Putting on airs….”

I watched the Third Prince’s retreating figure and shook my head. There was no dizziness in his eyes.

‘It won’t be.’

He had changed, and he would continue to change. Just as Burren and Martha had.

‘And….’

I licked my lips as I gazed at the token in my hand. I had simply accepted the sparring match for training. I never expected to receive something like this.

‘How curious.’

Having lived a previous life doing nothing but assassination without compensation, I hadn’t adapted to such sudden rewards.

I didn’t know his intention or why he gave it. But I could tell it wasn’t meant maliciously.

‘This life isn’t unfolding as I planned either.’

*

*

*

The Third Prince made his way directly to the Audience Chamber. When he informed them he would return earlier than scheduled, the Audience Chamber door opened and the head butler Roen stepped out.

“The Patriarch requests your presence.”
“…Understood.”

The Third Prince swallowed hard and followed Roen into the Audience Chamber.

“Hah….”

The moment his eyes met Glen’s, which seemed unchanged from their first meeting, his breath caught in his throat.

“Your eyes have changed.”

Glen’s voice rang out softly as the Third Prince was about to kneel. It seemed he already knew everything.

“It is shameful to admit, but I believed myself to be the greatest. Not only in the Owen Kingdom, but I thought I could overcome the talents of the other Six Emperors.”

The Third Prince continued, lifting his dimmed gaze.

“The same held true here at Zigheart. I surveyed the Training Ground, but found no trainees worthy of my attention. It was no different when I visited the 5th Training Ground. There were three strong warriors, but I believed I could defeat them. However….”

The Third Prince rubbed his right wrist, the one that had taken a beating from Raon Zigheart.

“There was a warrior there whose strength I failed to even perceive. Raon Zigheart. I dismissed the martial prowess of a trainee younger than myself and suffered a one-sided defeat. The second match, which I forced through, ended in defeat as well.”
“Hmm.”

At Glen’s response, the Third Prince lifted his head slightly. The atmosphere of the Audience Chamber seemed to have softened a touch.

How to describe it? As if urging him to continue. As if telling him to speak on.

“I have visited three of the Six Emperors and engaged in matches, but I have not encountered a trainee like Raon. It was as though I were witnessing a warrior already perfected in martial strength, character, and spirit. Rather than feeling bitter about losing to such a child, I felt enlightened instead.”

As the Third Prince continued speaking, the atmosphere of the Audience Chamber grew warm as spring.

“A swordsman younger than myself, yet with much to teach me.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. That is why I wish to depart at once. I want to immediately embody the insights I gained from that child.”
“Then I understand. Convey to the Current King that his letter was received well.”
“Thank you.”

The Third Prince offered Glen a respectful bow before departing the Audience Chamber.

“…Heh.”

In the Audience Chamber where only two remained, a sound of suppressed laughter echoed. Roen was covering his mouth as he looked at Glen.

“Why are you laughing?”
“Seeing the Patriarch smile, I could not help but laugh.”
“A smile?”

Glen touched his lips with his hand and furrowed his brow.

“Ever since the Third Prince of the Owen Kingdom mentioned Young Master Raon’s name, you’ve been smiling. It seems you were delighted that your grandson received praise from a foreign prince.”
“…That’s a misunderstanding.”

Glen let out an unnecessary cough and propped his chin up with his left fist.

“Heh.”
“Don’t laugh.”
“Yes, sir!”

Roen laughed even louder, but at Glen’s words, he clamped his mouth shut entirely.

“You’ve been hanging around Rimer lately, and it seems his bad habit has rubbed off on you.”

Glen sighed and closed his eyes, while the smile lingering at the corners of Roen’s mouth showed no signs of fading.

*

*

*

“Your Highness, we have completed our preparations to depart.”

As the Third Prince emerged from the Patriarch’s Hall, Duke Tartan approached him.

“You’ve worked hard. Since I’ve already paid my respects, I suppose we can return right away.”
“Understood. Everyone, form ranks.”
“Yes!”

At Duke Tartan’s command, the knights and trainee knights fell into line behind him.

“Let’s go.”
“Mm….”

The Third Prince walked at the front, and Duke Tartan fell into step beside him, smacking his lips.

“Is there something you wish to say?”
“It’s about your match with that trainee named Raon. I thought it was perhaps excessive to unleash your hidden power and even employ Peres swordsmanship. It’s better to conceal one’s strength appropriately….”
“I’m aware. It was certainly excessive.”
“Yes. Peres swordsmanship is the kingdom’s highest-tier sword technique. There’s nothing to gain by revealing it. And to display the Divine Blade on top of that—it was far too much….”
“That is not the case.”

Duke Tartan’s words were cut short by the Third Prince’s hand.

“Raon Zigheart showed me kindness. Though I began with disrespect, he treated me with courtesy.”
“Hmm….”
“I merely reciprocated that courtesy. Besides, that friend also displayed swordsmanship worthy of being called a secret technique.”
“…That is true.”
“And giving him the Divine Blade was an investment.”
“An investment, you say?”

Duke Tartan tilted his head.

“With such martial prowess, character, and mental fortitude at such a young age, even as a Branch Family member, he will become a figure of renown across the entire Continent. Building a connection with such a person could prove beneficial to me in the future, would it not?”
“I see. To perceive that much in such a moment—truly remarkable.”
“I was raised in a kingdom where blades hang from both heart and tongue. If I couldn’t make such calculations, I deserve death.”

The Third Prince chuckled and moved forward ahead of him.

“Hmm….”

Duke Tartan scratched his chin. Unlike when he stood beside the Third Prince moments before, his expression now held only coldness.

‘He truly has changed.’

The childish arrogance that had marked the Third Prince before arriving here had vanished entirely. The light now emanating from his eyes spoke only of fervent desire for growth.

“I should really buy him a drink.”

Duke Tartan smiled faintly as he gazed at the 5th Training Ground visible beside him.

“If we meet again, that is. And….”

His eyes grew distant as he thought of Raon, who would be inside the training ground.

‘How intriguing. I wonder what sort of monster he will have become when we meet again.’

—————
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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