The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 449
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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 449
“Good grief….”
Burren Zigheart stared blankly at Baek Rangdo, who lay unconscious with his eyes rolled back.
‘Baek Rangdo is not someone who should fall so easily….’
Baek Rangdo Dunkern was a martial artist who had made his name across the Continent as a prodigy swordsman over twenty years ago.
After honing his skills through countless battlefields and wars, I never imagined he would lose to someone young enough to be his son—Raon—and end up unconscious with his teeth knocked out.
“Hah….”
I caught my breath briefly and looked at Raon. Despite subduing two layer masters from the Black Tower and Baek Rangdo, he still appeared at ease, casually rotating his shoulders.
‘That mad bastard really doesn’t stop.’
Martial arts naturally become more difficult and complex as one ascends higher.
Even reaching the peak of Expert rank, one could feel the growth plateau, yet that theory seemed not to apply to him.
‘A lunatic who continues to grow like an Expert even after reaching Master rank….’
Raon had reached Master rank before turning twenty, and now in his late twenties, he had attained the peak of Master rank.
And not by barely crossing the threshold—he possessed absolute martial power and mental fortitude capable of overwhelming three warriors of the same level.
Incomprehensible. That was the only word that could describe Raon’s martial prowess now.
“Sigh….”
Martha placed both hands on her hips and released a deep sigh.
“That monster’s gone up another level.”
It was a different caliber of martial power than when he fought the Arian Family while twisting his body.
It wasn’t that his aura or physique had strengthened—his swordsmanship had ascended to a new dimension. That absurd sword training he received from the Head of House and the Sword Ghost seemed to be bearing fruit.
“Damn it.”
I should have joined from the start if I’d known it would come to this.
Binghyang furrowed her brow with regret that she hadn’t been able to train alongside Raon from the day he began his lessons with the Head of House and the Sword Ghost.
“This won’t do.”
“Hm?”
“What?”
At the thin, sharp voice, Burren Zigheart and Martha turned their gazes downward simultaneously. Contrary to expectations, the voice belonged to Lunan Slion, who spoke with the deliberate slowness of a sloth.
Her eyes weren’t the usual vacant stare, but gleamed with a subtle, crystalline light as she fixed her gaze upon Raon.
“What won’t do?”
“I can’t keep up with Raon.”
Lunan Slion kept her eyes fixed on Raon’s back as her lips pressed into a firm line.
“You dull thing. You still haven’t given up on catching that monster?”
Martha exhaled with exasperation.
“We’re at the highest tier of Expert, and that monster is at the highest tier of Master. We’re called geniuses in our own right, but that’s an entirely different species.”
“I agree.”
Burren Zigheart nodded in agreement with Martha.
“A drake that chases after a dragon will have its wings torn to shreds. We’re doing our best in training as it is. We’re moving forward—just at a different pace than Raon.”
He extinguished the ambition to catch up with Raon and dimmed his gaze, believing it was the right approach to maintain his own pace.
“That’s not it. The gap is too wide.”
Lunan Slion shook her head calmly despite hearing their words.
“At this rate, Raon will reach Grand Master before we even become Masters. Then we won’t be able to help him at all.”
She gazed at the shimmering lake, expressing that rather than Raon supporting the Gwangpung Corps, sometimes she wished the Gwangpung Corps could support Raon.
“That’s….”
“Hmm….”
Burren Zigheart and Martha furrowed their brows without answering.
Come to think of it, Lunan Slion was right. Rather than helping Raon, they had only been receiving help from him, and it seemed Raon would reach Grand Master before they even became Masters.
“That’s definitely frustrating.”
Martha scowled and clenched her fists so tightly they creaked.
“Regardless of anything else, I won’t stand for that bastard reaching Grand Master before I become a Master!”
“Same here. You said our speeds were different, but this is something I can’t accept.”
Burren Zigheart nodded heavily in agreement.
“So, is there a way?”
“Just telling them to train harder won’t cut it.”
“They need additional training.”
Lunan Slion looked up at Burren Zigheart and Martha with eyes that gleamed faintly.
“Who would provide that?”
“Isn’t there someone?”
“There is.”
She wrinkled her nose as she felt the wind brushing across the Lake.
“They’ll probably do it.”
*
*
*
I smiled faintly as I listened to the conversation between Burren Zigheart, Lunan Slion, and Martha.
‘Those guys are really training fanatics.’
I was impressed that they were already thinking ahead, despite having risked their lives fighting the Black Tower’s demons within a barrier saturated with demonic energy.
What made it even more admirable was that Lunan Slion had been the first to bring it up.
‘But who are they planning to ask?’
Were they going to approach the Head of the Slion Family?
Rokan Slion, the patriarch of the Slion Family, was openly a doting father figure toward Lunan Slion, so it seemed entirely plausible.
‘They could have asked me instead.’
I found their desire to grow stronger—Burren Zigheart’s, Martha’s, and Lunan Slion’s—appealing. Since I could provide additional training whenever they wished, I felt a slight pang of disappointment.
-Those fools want to grow stronger, not die.
Wrath shook his head, warning me against such reckless thoughts.
-If they spent all day training with you, they’d all perish.
He lowered his round hand downward, urging the creature to stay still.
‘Have you finished thinking about ice cream?’
-Sigh, I can’t decide. Two mint chocolate flavors are definite, but then I’m stuck on how to choose the remaining two. If I add this month’s special flavor, that leaves exactly one slot, but there are so many flavors to pick from….
‘Hmm….’
I regretted bringing it up and approached Hyeol Unkgyeom, who was leaning his back against a tree outside the lake.
“So you keep your mouth shut about anything disadvantageous to you and only spout off whatever’s convenient?”
Hyeol Unkgyeom hadn’t mentioned to Baek Rangdo that he had swung his sickle first. The battle with Baek Rangdo had unfolded for no other reason.
“This one’s condition is a result of your foolish tongue wagging.”
I smiled coldly, gesturing toward Baek Rangdo, whose chest bore a gaping wound and whose front teeth had been completely knocked out.
“I, I had no intention of deceiving you. I simply wanted to escape this place quickly….”
Hyeol Unkgyeom shook his head, his remaining arm trembling.
“Escape?”
I lowered my gaze, my voice cutting through the air like ice.
“You, your subordinates, and this fool’s life as well.”
I pointed in turn at Hyeol Unkgyeom, the warriors of the White Whale, and Baek Rangdo.
“All of it belongs to Zigheart. Even if you bite your tongue and die, you won’t escape.”
“Ugh….”
“Ah….”
My voice was devoid of emotion, dry and hollow, and Hyeol Unkgyeom and his subordinates’ faces drained of all color.
“Anything else you’d like to say?”
“N-no, nothing!”
Hyeol Unkgyeom and his men shook their heads rapidly, gripped by a terror deeper than death itself.
Tap.
I tapped the sheath of the Heavenly Sword lightly while regarding Hyeol Unkgyeom and Baek Rangdo.
“I’d love to tear off your legs right now and make you talk, but consider yourselves fortunate.”
I clicked my tongue and turned away. I needed to treat the wounded of the Cheoljeon Unit and the Gwangpung Corps, and there were people shivering from the cold to attend to. Now wasn’t the time to extract information from them.
“Once we return to the Family Estate, I’ll tear open your skulls and see what’s inside, so look forward to it.”
As I spoke, I paralyzed their bodies with my aura so they couldn’t move.
At my gesture, Mark Goeten and the swordsmen of the Gwangpung Corps hoisted Hyeol Unkgyeom and the warriors of the White Whale onto their shoulders.
“Dorian. You have fur coats, right?”
“Ah, of course!”
Dorian nodded immediately at my gesture.
“There are so many people that we might not have enough. Starting with the children….”
“We have plenty, though?”
Dorian reached into his bag and pulled out fur coats, boots, and gloves—enough for everyone present. There seemed to be more than enough, if anything.
“…You have that many?”
“They’re essentials!”
He chuckled and distributed the fur coats to everyone personally.
‘Truly a remarkable fellow.’
I stood dumbfounded, staring at Dorian, when Trevin, commander of the Cheoljeon Unit, approached with weary steps and bowed his head.
“I’m sorry. I never thought our presence would cause trouble with the White Whale….”
“There’s no need to worry about it.”
I shook my head with a smile entirely different from the one I’d shown Hyeol Unkgyeom.
“They were the ones who provoked us first. Even if Heekyuk Je himself came, he couldn’t say a word.”
I grasped Trevin’s shoulder as he looked embarrassed, explaining that all the evidence, circumstances, and justification were on our side.
“Besides, this isn’t the time to worry about the White Whale. We need to look after the wounded and the fallen.”
“…You’re right. Of course.”
Trevin turned to look back and nodded heavily.
“We’ll head back right away. Get ready.”
“Understood.”
I gathered the Gwangpung Corps, the Cheoljeon Unit, and the hostages before turning to look back.
‘He’s still there.’
Airand remained hidden in the trees, watching this place intently.
The fact that he’d come alone without his subordinates seemed to be his last shred of pride.
I cast a contemptuous glance toward Airand before turning my gaze away.
“Keep watching from there for the rest of your life.”
*
*
*
Airand, the leader of the White Lotus Society, bit his lip as he watched Raon and the Gwangpung Corps depart from the lake.
‘That bastard….’
Was he always this strong?
Master-tier peak. Given Raon’s growth trajectory so far, it was a realm he could certainly reach, even if rapidly. It was within the bounds of comprehension.
‘But that combat power far exceeds my expectations.’
The Cheoljeon Unit leader was in critical condition, so only Raon could have faced Marun and Binghyang within that barrier.
It was unbelievable that he had defeated Marun and Binghyang—who stood at a higher realm than himself—within a barrier saturated with demonic energy, and then shattered the barrier itself.
‘And he even defeated Baek Rangdo.’
Unlike Marun and Binghyang, who relied on the formidable power of demonic energy, Baek Rangdo was a true martial artist who had cultivated proper martial techniques, yet he was overwhelmingly defeated by Raon.
To lose due to a gap in martial mastery despite possessing superior combat power—it was utterly shameful for a warrior.
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
Airand clenched his fist with the hand that had been gripping the branch. The thick wood crumbled to dust and scattered.
“It seems fair to say he’s far stronger than anticipated.”
He’s even found me.
Raon glanced in my direction, a faint smirk playing at his lips. His expression made it clear he knew I was hidden here.
“Perhaps….”
If I don’t strike him down now, there may never be another chance.
My growth trajectory had far exceeded normal parameters. Since I couldn’t predict when I might break through the next barrier, Airand wanted to crush my momentum decisively while he still could.
‘I should return to the Family Estate soon.’
As Airand plotted how to trample me beneath his feet, a gaze watched him from behind.
A low, resonant hum echoed through the air.
Upon the Jade Cliff, its verdant thickets teeming with life, stood a woman draped in a black robe. Her face bore the mask of an ancient crone, skin cracked and weathered, as she gazed down at Airand’s back from the hill beyond the tree where he concealed himself.
“Mmm….”
She plucked petals from the flower in her hand one by one, her eyes fixed on Airand’s silhouette.
“Kill him. Spare him. Kill him. Spare him. Kill him. Spare him. Kill him. Spare him. Kill him. Spare him. Kill him. Spare him. Kill him. Spare him?”
Merlin licked her lips as the final petal fell on “spare him.”
“Ah, how irritating. I want to kill him….”
She caressed her lips, barely visible beneath the mask, and plucked a fresh flower.
“Let me try once more. Kill him. Spare him. Kill him. Spare him….”
*
*
*
I gazed upon the towering, steadfast Main Gate of Zigheart and felt a faint smile bloom across my face.
‘My heart feels at ease.’
When I first beheld that noble gate, I had thought it a prison. Now it appeared as a threshold suffused with longing and warmth.
For the first time across both my past and present lives, I felt the true comfort of home.
As the Main Gate began its slow opening, I turned to glance behind me.
‘Fortunately, they’ve kept up well.’
The people who had been kidnapped by the Black Tower’s demons were following diligently, dressed in the fur coats Dorian had provided.
In truth, I wanted to send them straight home, but they had been exposed to demonic energy and sustained injuries, so I wanted to bring them to the Family Estate to treat them.
They seemed to understand my intentions, as not a single one refused and followed me all the way here.
The Cheoljeon Unit and Gwangpung Corps, despite their own wounds, were each looking after one of the people. Both were true warriors—incomparable to the White Lotus Society.
‘I do like them, after all.’
-Then why don’t you take them for yourself?
Wrath, who had been smacking his lips from atop my head, wiggled his fingers.
‘Take them for what?’
-Those ones, of course.
Wrath pointed to the Cheoljeon Unit swordsmen who were carrying or dragging the people along.
-If you like them, accept them under your command.
He waved his hand, saying it was a Demon Lord’s virtue to personally accept talented individuals.
‘I never wanted to become a Demon Lord anyway. And they’re already part of the same unit—what would I be accepting them into?’
-Then move up, can’t you?
‘Move up…’
If the Gwangpung Corps became the Gwangpung Division, I could command other units and corps.
But it seemed excessive to think of promotion to Division Commander when I had only just become Corps Commander.
-Excessive? You’re the one who must descend into the Demon Realm with the True Demon King and become a new Demon Lord. Don’t worry yourself over accepting a mere handful of humans. Show some ambition, will you?
‘Keep that up and you’ll burst like you always do.’
My true goal wasn’t to stand at the top anyway.
I recalled my vow to Derus Robert—to take revenge and elevate Sylvia to the Main Lineage—as I approached the Main Gate.
‘But Gwangpung Division, huh…’
The basic requirement for a Sword Master is reaching Grand Master rank. I hadn’t even touched that wall yet, and since I wasn’t even a Master, thinking about becoming a Sword Master was premature. But after reaching Master, it wouldn’t be a bad goal to pursue.
‘It’s worth considering, at least.’
As I finished organizing my thoughts, the main gate of Zigheart opened and Iliun, the Chief Steward, walked out.
“You’ve done well!”
Unlike usual, Iliun displayed emotion openly on his face and patted my shoulder. Saving a member of the family seemed to bring him genuine joy.
“Head straight to the Patriarch’s Hall. Everyone’s waiting for you.”
He told me to leave other matters to him and pointed toward the Patriarch’s Hall visible in the distance.
-Everyone’s waiting?
The moment Wrath heard those words, he smacked his lips loudly.
-Is it a party? One overflowing with ice cream?
He must have been impressed by the party held at the Main Mansion before, judging by how eagerly he was anticipating it.
‘It’ll be a party, sure enough.’
I chuckled and shook my head.
‘A party where there’s more than enough food for me, not you.’
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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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