The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 454

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

Chapter 454

In the old storage room on the floor above the Interrogation Room where I was torturing Hyeol Unkgyeom and Baek Rangdo, the door quietly creaked open.

Glen Zigheart stepped through the narrow gap, his hair neatly swept back.

“You’ve arrived.”

Roen, who had been leaning his back against the wall, offered a faint smile and bowed his head.

“How is it progressing?”

Glen settled onto the sofa in front of Roen and pointed downward with his finger.

“Hmm….”

Roen wiped the cold sweat trickling down his forehead and lowered his gaze.

“It appears that both the Head of House and I have made a grave miscalculation.”

He sensed my presence in the level below, his brow twitching slightly.

“A miscalculation?”
“Yes. We had judged that young master Raon would be incapable of conducting proper interrogation, had we not?”
“That’s true.”

Glen stroked his chin and nodded.

“Interrogation is no simple matter.”

Interrogation is not something one can excel at merely through superior strength and mental fortitude.
It requires a ruthlessness—a willingness to endure lifelong resentment and curses from one’s subject without hesitation.

Raon is still young. He has not yet experienced the kind of hardship that would forge such ruthlessness within him, so I believed he could not conduct a proper interrogation.

“That was our miscalculation.”

Roen gazed at Glen with a troubled expression.

“Young Master Raon has already perfected not just his physical strength and mental fortitude, but his poison resistance as well. To be honest, I don’t believe I could accomplish it better than you, sir.”
“Is that so? What exactly did he do to….”

Glen’s eyes widened like lanterns as he straightened his back against the sofa.

“He simply remained still.”
“What do you…?”
“The most crucial element of interrogation is demonstrating absolute superiority over the subject. If you reveal your desperation for information, control can shift to the enemy.”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
“Young Master Raon never allowed such a situation to arise in the first place. From the very beginning, he established his absolute position. Since yesterday….”

Roen explained to Glen what Raon had done.

“So he applied torture techniques and has simply left them abandoned ever since?”
“Yes. Truthfully, I don’t believe I could conduct an interrogation in such a manner.”

I could force Hyeol Unkgyeom and Baek Rangdo to speak, but I couldn’t act with the composure Raon displayed now.
Applying torture without asking questions—it defied all conventional wisdom. It was a terrifying interrogation method precisely because the subject received no attention whatsoever, making it devastatingly effective.

“Hah….”

Glen exhaled in exasperation, closing his eyes. He seemed intent on directly observing Raon’s state.

Roen watched Glen and brushed his sleeve with his right hand.

‘His feelings must be complicated.’

Glen believed Raon had not yet descended into the world’s darkness.
He likely hadn’t expected such venom to emerge, so his mood couldn’t be entirely pleasant.

“Hmm….”

Glen slowly opened his eyes and turned his gaze to the right.

“Is Raon reading right now?”
“Yes. He’s reading that martial arts tome the Head of House provided.”
“The mad bastard.”

He displayed a refreshing smile that he rarely showed.

“Head of House?”
“It seems that lazy fellow was observing Raon far better than I was.”

Glen nodded with a smile playing at his lips. Contrary to expectations, he seemed even more intrigued upon witnessing Raon’s venom.

“What do you mean….”
“In the Patriarch’s Hall, he stepped forward bearing losses for the swordsmen who were being used by Airand, and here in enemy territory, he’s conducting interrogations that would make even demons tremble in fear.”

Glen stroked his beard, speaking of how Raon in the Audience Chamber and Raon in this Interrogation Room were polar opposites.

“A Head of House must be an impenetrable yet warm armor to allies, and a cold blade sharp enough to pierce hearts against enemies. I failed to achieve that, but that boy seems capable of it.”

He smiled with an almost excited air, as if Raon would make an excellent Head of House.

“Hehehehe.”

Roen let out a low chuckle upon seeing Glen’s smile.

‘Is he truly sincere now?’

This was the first time Glen had seriously considered Raon as a potential Head of House. It seemed he had genuinely fallen for his grandson.

‘No, it can’t be called mere favoritism.’

My own thoughts were similar.

I too believed that if Raon became Head of House, Zigheart would rise to even greater heights, so I couldn’t dismiss it as mere favoritism.

“Mm.”

Glen narrowed his eyes as he gazed down at the floor.

“So it’s just beginning.”
“Yes. The timing of extraction is perfect.”

Had he prolonged it any further, Baek Rangdo and Hyeol Unkgyeom would have become cripples or died, and had he ended it any sooner, their spirit would have remained unbroken.
This was the precise moment—something that had clearly been done more than once or twice before.

“Impressive.”
“Yes, truly….”

Glen and Roen nodded in admiration, watching me extract information from Baek Rangdo.

The two men, who had been leisurely enjoying my interrogation, froze the moment they heard the information that spilled from Baek Rangdo’s lips.

“A, a dragon. No, a dragon’s mask? Could it be….”

Roen’s jaw trembled as he displayed a rare look of bewilderment.

“The Heavenly Demon?”

Glen nodded gravely.

“Or it could be that one we saw before. Whichever it may be….”

He brushed back his slightly disheveled hair, his eyes narrowing.

“It seems a true age of chaos is beginning.”

*

*

*

I glared at Baek Rangdo and pressed further.

“A dragon for certain? Not a Drake?”
“I only saw its form because of Shadow, but it was a dragon, yes.”

Baek Rangdo shook his head, saying that an overwhelming pressure emanated from it—something incomparable to any Drake.

“A dragon….”

I had gathered considerable information about Eden, but I had never heard of a warrior wearing a dragon’s helm.
It occurred to me that this might not be from Eden.

“Anything else?”
“I didn’t see him meet with any of the other Six Emperors Five Demons. As for that one wearing the dragon helmet, I only caught a glimpse of him by chance at night….”
“What color was the helmet? If it’s truly a dragon helmet, it should have a color, shouldn’t it?”
“W-well, I told you already. The shadows only let me see its shape.”

Baek Rangdo trembled his fingers as he insisted he couldn’t see the color clearly.

Tsk.

I clicked my tongue briefly. Since I hadn’t heard anything about someone wearing a dragon helmet before, the information was too vague to be truly useful.

“Then my next question. About the other Divine Continent Five Regions….”

I kept Baek Rangdo and Hyeol Unkgyeom detained, firing questions at them until evening fell, but the two of them didn’t know much of anything.
It seemed the White Whale’s leader, Heekyuk Je, was hoarding all the information.

“That will be all.”

I knocked Baek Rangdo and Hyeol Unkgyeom unconscious as they gasped for breath from exhaustion, then left the Interrogation Chamber.

-Are we heading back now?

Wrath lifted his head with eyes even more drained than those of Baek Rangdo or Hyeol Unkgyeom.

-Please, let’s go now. There are pearl ice creams floating in the air!

He shouted at me to keep my promise, claiming he was seeing things.

‘Have you decided on a flavor?’
-W-well, I haven’t chosen yet….
‘Sigh.’
-Once we get to the shop, I can choose! Just let’s go!
‘First, I need to make my report.’
-Those guys already heard everything!

Wrath gestured urgently toward the Pearl Ice Cream Shop, insisting that Glen and Roen had already heard it all.

‘They came by?’

It wasn’t strange that Glen and Roen, both of whom possessed higher realms than me, hadn’t noticed my arrival even if I had come secretly.

‘Still, I should report what I found.’

I shook my head and left the Underground Prison. After entrusting Baek Rangdo and Hyeol Unkgyeom to the guards, I headed toward the Audience Chamber.

Just as Wrath had said, Roen opened the door immediately, allowing me to stand before Glen without delay.

“Head of House, I—”
“Formalities are unnecessary.”

Glen waved his hand and instructed me to report first.

“First, it appears that the White Whale and the Black Tower have no connection. However…”

I reported all the information I had extracted from Baek Rangdo and Hyeol Unkgyeom.
Neither Glen nor Roen seemed particularly surprised, but when I mentioned the Dragon’s Helm, the atmosphere grew heavy as if an invisible weight had been suspended in the air.

“Do you happen to know who wears the Dragon’s Helm?”
“…I cannot say at present.”

Glen shook his head slowly. Yet I sensed that he knew exactly who wore the Dragon’s Helm.

“You may go now.”
“Thank you for your time.”

Roen told me to rest, saying the rest would be handled by the Patriarch’s Hall.

“Very well, then.”

I bowed to Glen and left the Audience Chamber.

-Finally, it’s over!

Wrath pounded my shoulder enthusiastically, insisting we go to the Pearl Ice Cream Shop instead of the Annex Building.

‘Hmm…’

I licked my lips and gazed at the sky. If we left now, we should arrive just before closing time.

‘I understand.’

Since it was a promise I’d made myself, I nodded in agreement.

-Kiyao!

Wrath let out a strange cry and threw a thick punch into the empty air.

Raon chuckled softly and left the Main Mansion. As I passed through the Garden and turned toward the Shopping District, a small shadow darted out from beneath a darkened tree root.

“Hm?”

When I turned my head, a ferret with fur as white as snow was standing on its hind legs, waving its paws.

-And, the Mad Woman!

Wrath pointed at the ferret, his finger trembling.

-No! I said no! Please, not today!

*

*

*

“Ahhh!”

Rimer stretched and rose from within a massive pile of blankets and laundry that covered the entire large room.

“Is it morning already?”

He muttered nonsense about it being morning while gazing at the window where moonlight streamed through.

“I heard Raon beat up Airand. I should probably go check it out….”
“It’s not morning—it’s evening.”

At the sound of Burren’s voice from outside the door, Rimer’s head turned.

“Burren?”
“May I come in?”

Burren didn’t even wait for Rimer’s response before opening the door and stepping inside.

“No, why does everyone just barge in without waiting for my answer… huh?”

Rimer let out an exasperated laugh before closing his mouth.
It wasn’t just Burren who had entered the room. Lunan and Martha were with him as well.

“What brings you all here?”

Since this was their first visit since they’d come to check on me before, I tilted my head in confusion.

“Did Raon send you to report something?”
“That’s not it.”

Burren shook his head firmly.

“Make us stronger.”

Lunan stepped forward in front of Rimer and bowed his head.

“Huh? You’re asking me?”

Rimer’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden request, blinking rapidly.

“Then who else is here besides the Master?”

Martha crossed her arms and frowned.

“No, you’re all training hard already. That should be enough. Why do you need to get stronger…”
“I can’t see Raon’s back anymore.”

Lunan crouched down in front of Rimer, pouting slightly.

“Raon?”

Rimer shook his head and sighed.

“I’ve told you before. You’re all eight-horse carriages, but he’s sixteen. No, thirty-two horses. How are you supposed to catch someone being pulled by thirty horses?”

He shook his head firmly, insisting it was absolutely impossible.

“You all have your own….”
“Path.”

Martha cut off Rimer’s words, narrowing her eyes.

“I know what you’re going to say.”
“Then why?”
“Because this fool just said it. It’s not about catching him—his back itself is invisible.”

She pointed at Lunan, who was crouching down.

“We abandoned the idea of catching up to him long ago. We simply don’t want to lose sight of that monster’s back.”

Burren bowed his head pleadingly.

“Hmm, it’s about the Sword Realm Manifestation, right? It’s not that I’m being lazy about it….”

Rimer leaned his back against a pile of laundry and closed his eyes.

“You haven’t even reached Master rank yet. Wouldn’t it be better to focus on sword techniques and aura training to become a Master first?”
“We’ve already done that.”
“Done it.”
“Already done!”

At the three voices crying out, he cracked open his eyes slightly. Looking at them now, Burren, Martha, and Lunan’s training clothes were all in tatters. It seemed they’d been training all day long.

“So you’re going to do regular training and then receive additional Sword Realm training from me?”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”

Burren, Martha, and Lunan nodded simultaneously.

Sigh.

Rimer scratched his tousled hair and smacked his lips.

‘The timing is a bit awkward.’

He was drawing not just wind but lightning essence as well, so time was scarce, but when he met the serious gazes of the three before him, the words of refusal wouldn’t come out.
He found himself missing the subordinates who had once served under him.

“Fine.”

Rimer nodded with a faint smile.

“But it will be quite grueling. It will be different from your training so far. Then let’s begin the first session right away.”

Rimer rose to his feet, waving his fingers dismissively.
Unlike moments before, his eyes now gleamed with an authority that flashed like lightning.

“Hmm….”

Burren Zigheart, Lunan Slion, and Martha swallowed hard as they stared at Rimer.

“Go buy beer and snacks right now….”
“Sigh….”
“Hey! Kill him! I mean, that elf! Trusting that bastard was a mistake!”
“Yawn.”

Martha began stamping on Rimer, Burren Zigheart tried to stop her, and Lunan Slion yawned.

“Ah, let’s fill our bellies first! Even Bekmang Mountain tastes better on a full stomach!”

*

*

*

Raon followed Merlin—or rather, the weasel—toward a corner of the Garden.
Since the sky had grown dark, it wasn’t difficult to avoid the eyes of others.

“It’s been so long!”

Wrath placed a paw on her waist and nodded. It was a sight I never tired of seeing, no matter how many times I witnessed it.

“What in the world did you do?”

I exhaled a long sigh and crouched down in front of Merlin.

“What do you mean?”

Merlin tilted her head. In her ferret form, she was honestly rather adorable.

“Why did you attack the White Lotus Society?”
“They touched you first, didn’t they?”

She blinked her dark eyes as if asking why I would question something so obvious.

“Sigh…”

I covered my forehead with my palm and let out another weary breath.

‘So it was true.’

When I first heard that Merlin had attacked the White Lotus Society, I had harbored a suspicion—and now it was confirmed beyond doubt.
The reason was so absurd that I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

“So you plucked the petals?”
“I did a petal divination with ‘kill them’ and ‘spare them,’ and it came out even—two and two. If only ‘kill them’ had come up, I would have eliminated them all. Sorry about that.”

Merlin stroked her whiskers with a tiny paw, looking regretful.

“But it felt good, didn’t it?”
“Well…”

I glanced back at the Patriarch’s Hall and smacked my lips.

‘It did feel good, I’ll admit.’

Though I had been taken aback, seeing Airand beaten to a pulp had lifted my spirits considerably.
Especially knowing that the innocent White Lotus Society swordsmen had survived—that eased my conscience.

“I’ll handle that one. Don’t touch him.”
“Got it. That’s why I left him alone!”

Merlin tilted her head forward, saying I did well.
She looked like she wanted me to pet her, but I ignored it.

“Sigh….”

Her personality was far too bright for me to adjust to. No one from Eden would ever believe this cheerful ferret was the Merlin they found difficult to deal with.

“Catching two black dogs and a loach—seeing you grow bit by bit makes me so happy.”

Merlin laughed with a hehe. The black dogs seemed to refer to Marun and Binghyang, and the loach to Baek Rangdo.
She must have been observing the Gwangpung Corps from the very beginning.

“Oh!”

Looking at Merlin’s mask, I remembered what Baek Rangdo had said about the dragon mask.

“Have you ever made a dragon mask?”

Merlin had made Drake’s mask before, so she might also know about the dragon mask.

“Drake, not dragon?”
“Yeah.”
“…Where did you hear that?”

Merlin’s atmosphere shifted abruptly. Her eyes, which had been bright like a child’s, took on the same cold gleam as when I first met her.

“I heard you were seen together with Heekyuk Je, the leader of the White Whale.”
“Hmm….”

Merlin silently furrowed her brow.

“It shouldn’t be him….”
“Merlin?”
“I’ll tell you once I’m certain. I need to look into this.”
“Really?”
“Have you ever seen me lie to you?”

Now that I thought about it, she had never lied. She’d even announced her intention to kidnap me before doing so.

“Well then, I’ll be on my way. This child here….”

I clenched my fists as I listened to Merlin’s farewell.

‘Come whenever you want. I’m fully prepared this time.’

Ever since I’d heard that Merlin had struck Airand, I’d anticipated a situation like this.
I’d stocked my spatial pouch with all manner of animal feed—from vegetables to meat to rotting flesh.

“Brush its fur to calm it down. You said there’s plenty of food, right?”
“Huh? W-wait! Brush? How long am I supposed to do this!”
“Of course until this child is satisfied. Make it shine.”

As Merlin waved goodbye, the ferret’s shoulders twitched before it padded toward me.

“Squeak.”

The ferret tapped my ankle as if to say I’d better do a proper job, then stretched out luxuriously across the thicket.

“….”

I squeezed my eyes shut as I watched the ferret sprawl out languidly, its tail swishing back and forth.

-Idiot….

Wrath shook his head in exasperation.

-When are we supposed to eat that ice cream!

*

*

*

I spent the evening brushing the ferret’s fur until late into the night, then returned to my room.

“Sigh….”

I was more exhausted than during training or interrogations, lacking even the strength to stand. I collapsed directly onto the bed.

‘I never knew brushing a ferret’s fur could be this exhausting.’

Though small, the ferret’s coat was incredibly finicky—I was just as tired as when I used to scratch a crocodile’s back.

-Hey.

Wrath lifted his head, blue flames igniting in his eyes.

-Tomorrow is absolutely non-negotiable! The moment you wake up in the morning, we’re heading straight to the Pearl Ice Cream Shop!
‘I know, I know.’
-Then sleep quickly. That way you’ll wake up early and eat ice cream!
‘I was already planning on it.’
-Don’t you dare make other plans! The True Demon King’s promise comes first! You remember it’s two sets, right?
‘I said I know… huh?’

As I waved my hand dismissively, I heard a presence from the window.

Glen’s crimson eyes, cold as ice, reflected in the window where soft moonlight streamed down.

“Head of House?”
-Ah, this is driving me insane….

I stared at Glen with my mouth agape, while Wrath grabbed his own cheeks and stretched them, shrieking.

-The world is forcing the True Demon King to suffer!

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