The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 53

—————

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

—————

Chapter 53

【Bleeding Curse (1-Star)】
When a fatal blow is dealt to an enemy and bleeding occurs, there is a 10% chance to reduce the target’s physical abilities.

“Oh!”

I let out an exclamation upon reading the skill description.

The 10% probability was slightly disappointing, but it was a skill that could prove invaluable.

“This tree really doesn’t hold back with stats and skills. I’m grateful.”

All stats increased by 2, with strength, agility, and stamina rising further. Nearly every stat had climbed by 3, and now a new skill on top of that.

The nickname “tree that gives without reservation” was entirely fitting.

-It’s not even a particularly special skill. That level is the lowest tier among my abilities.
“It all depends on how the user wields it.”

I smiled faintly. Wrath wielded ice, but I wielded a sword and excelled at ambushes.

With the techniques and experience from my past life, I could maximize the effectiveness of Bleeding Curse.

“This is perfect.”

I rolled my shoulders and stood up. After putting my outer robe back on, I opened the dormitory door.

-What is it.
“I’m going to train for a bit.”
-Again?
“I need to confirm the changes in my body and adapt to them.”
-Because of you, I can’t even sleep!
“Later.”
-I’ll fry you in lava and kill you!

In my good mood, even Wrath’s curses and threats sounded like music. Humming a tune, I rushed toward the Training Ground.

*

*

*

Two months later, the Training Ground was shrouded in the desolate chill of dawn.
I was the first to arrive, already drilling my swordsmanship.

Not long after, Burren Zigheart and Martha entered nearly simultaneously.

“Tsk!”
“Does this guy ever sleep?”

Burren Zigheart clicked his tongue and immediately drew his blade, while Martha furrowed her brow and began warming up.

“Yawn.”

Lunan Slion, who was weak in the mornings, arrived late and yawned like a young sparrow.

His eyes had grown noticeably brighter than before—whether he had completely escaped Sylvia’s darkness was unclear, though he still seemed somewhat dull.

The other trainees who arrived afterward chatted casually as they prepared for training.

It was the beginning of another ordinary day.

Crash!

The Training Ground door burst open roughly, and Rimer entered.

“Instructor, doors are meant to be opened, not destroyed.”
“It’s fine. It’s mine anyway.”

Rimer waved dismissively at Burren Zigheart, whose nose was wrinkled, and nimbly ascended the Platform.

“Continue training. Just keep your ears open.”

He clapped his hands to gather everyone’s attention and ordered them to resume their drills. For the younger trainees, it was an impossible task.

“How are we supposed to do that?”
“We’re not experts!”
“Just tell us already!”

The trainees waved their hands, urging him to speak first.

Yet Raon listened intently to Rimer’s voice even as I focused on my swordwork.

“Then I’ll tell you. You’ve all been assigned a mission.”
“What!”
“A mission!”
“A mission?”

At the word “mission,” the trainees’ eyes gleamed like stars. The Branch Family members reacted as expected, and even Burren Zigheart and Martha opened their mouths in surprise.

Of course, I continued swinging my sword, while Lunan Slion stood beside me, yawning blankly.

“That’s right. Your first mission.”
“Woooow!”
“A mission!”
“Finally, real combat?”
“Huff, huff….”

The trainees’ reactions varied widely. Some shouted with anticipation, others clenched their fists, and still others breathed heavily with excitement.

“Of course, you won’t be going alone. We can’t send children to the waterside unattended, so the instructors and I will accompany you.”

As if they’d expected this, the trainees nodded in understanding.

‘My first mission….’

As I listened to Rimer’s words, I recalled my first mission from my previous life.

‘I was eight years old, wasn’t I?’

I had departed alone on a mission at an age far younger than now. It wasn’t assassination, but rather intelligence gathering in enemy territory—a task with tremendous danger where I had nearly died.

For instructors to accompany us on our first mission… Zigheart truly was a less ruthless clan than I’d expected.

“W-what is the mission?”

Dorian’s lips trembled as he raised his hand. True to his reputation as the 5th Training Ground’s greatest coward, he was already gripped by fear.

“Just beyond the Zigheart Protected Territory, there’s a mountain stronghold called Seolho.”

A bandit den built on a mountain is called a mountain stronghold. Since I’d never heard the name Seolho Bandit Den before, it couldn’t be a particularly large operation.

“They’re a group that straddles the Nambuk Alliance, making their living by opening mountain paths and collecting tolls. But recently, their brutality has escalated. They’ve been robbing merchants of all their goods, and there have been many cases of them killing people.”
“So the mission is to eliminate the bandits!”
“Now that’s a real mission!”
“Bandits, huh….”
“They’re part of the Nambuk Alliance, one of the Six Emperors. It could be dangerous.”

The Nambuk Alliance was one of the Six Emperors that stood in opposition to the Zigheart faction.

It was a unified force of bandits—mountain bandits from the Terucan Mountain that filled the southwest, and river pirates flowing down from the Rabel River in the northeast.

Most of the bandits and pirates belonging to the Nambuk Alliance were masters capable of wielding aura. If you charged in thinking of them as ordinary bandits and pirates, your head would be flying off in an instant.

Especially the Nambuk Alliance Master who led them—a supreme expert whose name was inscribed on the Continent’s Top Ten, making the titles “bandit” and “pirate” seem laughably inadequate.

The trainees swallowed hard, their nerves clearly rattled by both the nature of their first mission and the mention of the Nambuk Alliance.

“Hold on, I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

Rimer clapped his hands again.

“Your mission was bandit suppression.”
“…Was? Isn’t that past tense?”
“That’s right. It was suppression, but it changed yesterday.”
“Pardon?”
“W-why?”
“What do you mean? Why was the mission changed?”
“The bandits attacked a village south of the stronghold, slaughtered everyone, burned it to the ground, and fled.”

The trainees fell silent at Rimer’s cold tone—so unlike his usual demeanor.

“Your mission is no longer bandit suppression. It is the pursuit and extermination of the Seolho Bandit Den.”

The trainees swallowed hard as they observed the darkened expression in Rimer’s eyes.

“When do we depart?”

Burren Zigheart raised his hand.

“This evening.
“Isn’t this evening too soon?”
“As I mentioned, we’re not attacking bandits who remain stationary in their den—we must track those who have fled. Time is of the essence. And when it comes to family duties, there is no such thing as fast or slow. When orders come down, we simply obey.”
“…You’re right. My apologies.”

Burren Zigheart nodded, acknowledging the point with rare grace.

“You’re most familiar with training swords, but we cannot use those on actual missions.”

As Rimer signaled with his gaze, the instructors brought forward five real blades each.

“These are the steel swords we provided when you sparred against the orcs. They match the weight, form, and length of the training swords you’ve been using. From today onward, you will use these blades.”
“Steel swords….”
“I’m… a bit nervous.”
“What’s there to be nervous about? It’s a threshold we all must cross.”

The trainees received their steel swords one by one. Though the degree varied, all of them trembled slightly as they took hold.

“Raon. Here is your blade.”
“Thank you.”

I accepted the steel sword with both hands raised. Though they said it matched the weight of my training sword, it somehow felt slightly heavier.

Rimer smiled faintly before ascending the platform once more.

“Though the Zigheart crest is not engraved upon it, this blade comes from our family’s legacy. By accepting these swords, I recognize you—temporarily—as swordsmen of Zigheart.”
“Swordsmen of Zigheart….”
“Recognition, you say….”

The trainees swallowed hard as they gazed upon their steel swords.

“Temporary or not, a Zigheart swordsman is a swordsman. Prepare yourselves thoroughly so that you bring no shame to that title, no matter what circumstances arise.”

Rimer turned back, instructed everyone to prepare for departure, and told them to gather again before dinner.

“What do we need to prepare, sir?”

Burren Zigheart followed after him and asked.

“Figure that out yourself. Not just the mission itself, but this moment of preparation is also part of your growth and experience.”

Rimer waved his hand lightly as he replied.

“Yes, that makes sense.”

Burren Zigheart nodded and stepped back, while Rimer simply entered the Rest Room.

“Hmm….”

Watching Rimer’s expression, I realized his words weren’t sincere.

‘He was just being lazy.’

It was a fine sentiment, but he’d clearly made it up on the spot because he couldn’t be bothered to give a proper answer.

‘Not that it matters to me.’

I had been the greatest assassin, having completed countless missions. I didn’t need to think about what preparations were necessary for tracking and elimination.

Still, I felt a slight tremor.

Perhaps it was because I’d heard the word “mission” for the first time in so long. My heart quickened just a little.

*

*

*

I returned to the Annex Building to gather my belongings. Sylvia and Helen, who had been tending the Garden, jumped to their feet with smiles.

“What brings you here at this hour? Don’t tell me you’re missing your mother?”
“That’s not it.”
“How decisive.”

Sylvia approached with a faint smile, then stopped. Her gaze fixed on the real sword hanging at my waist.

“That sword….”
“I’ve been assigned a mission.”
“What? A mission?”
“A… a mission? What kind of mission would a trainee receive….”

Sylvia’s eyes widened, and Helen dropped the pruning sickle she’d been holding.

“There’s no need to worry. It’s my first mission, and I’ll be going with an instructor.”
“Ah….”

At the mention of going with an instructor, color returned to both Sylvia’s and Helen’s faces. They seemed to understand what that meant.

“My son has grown up so much, already taking on his first mission.”

I dodged Sylvia as she leaned forward to embrace me.

“Did you just avoid your mother?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have much time. We’re departing this evening.”

I shook my head. It was embarrassing, but I genuinely needed time to prepare.

“You’re leaving right away? What kind of mission is it?”
“Pursuing a criminal?”
“What kind of criminal?”
“A thief.”

I said thief instead of bandit, knowing Sylvia and Helen would worry otherwise.

“Even if it’s just a thief, you mustn’t let your guard down. A cornered rat will bite a cat.”
“I understand.”
“If it’s a pursuit, it could take quite a while.”
“That’s true. I should prepare some provisions.”

When I mentioned chasing after thieves, the tension in both of them seemed to ease slightly.

“Then let’s pack some jerky first.”
“Yes. We should also grab some dried fruit and bread for nutrition.”

Sylvia and Helen told me to leave the food preparations to them, then headed straight into the Annex Building.

I smiled as I watched the kitchen become bustling with activity. My heart felt at ease here. The slight excitement and tension about the mission had also subsided.

‘I just need to pack my own things.’

Since Sylvia and Helen always took care of packing food for themselves, I didn’t need to worry about provisions.

‘Then….’

I only needed to pack supplies for tracking criminals, along with clothes, shoes, and a robe.

I entered my room and carefully placed the necessary items for the mission into a light backpack one by one, then set it under the bed.

“Hmm….”

I sat on the floor and operated the Ring of Fire to calm my mind.

‘If they’re not affiliated with the Nambuk Alliance but merely connected to it, they won’t be very strong.’

Since this was my first mission, the bandits’ combat strength wouldn’t be particularly high.

‘The roads must already be blocked, so we’ll end up fighting the bandits hiding in the mountains.’

The bandits’ main territory was the mountains. No matter how strong our forces were, finding and confronting them in the mountains wouldn’t be easy.

Initially, the trainees wouldn’t be able to find the bandits, and eventually, after the instructors led the way, we would meet and fight them.

‘There’s no need for that.’

Regardless of it being part of training, a mission is still a mission. If I captured or killed the criminals alone, there would certainly be a reward. It was a clear opportunity for someone like me who needed to build a record.

“Sigh….”

I opened my eyes, expelling the turbid energy that Raon had purified with the Ring of Fire.

Might as well give it a try.

*

*

*

That evening.
Raon arrived at the Training Ground later than expected because Sylvia clung to him and refused to let go.

The other trainees were already there, most of them rigid with tension like wooden statues.

Burren Zigheart stared up at the sky with his fists clenched, muttering something under his breath. From what I could hear, he was determined to distinguish himself in this mission, but his voice was strained.

Martha sat in a chair across the way, her eyes closed with her legs crossed. Whenever a trainee passed by, she’d glare at them. Her rougher demeanor than usual suggested she was nervous too.

Meanwhile.
Lunan Slion stood vacant, staring only at the ice cream box in his hands. He seemed to be barely restraining himself from eating it.

“If you’re not going to eat it now, wouldn’t it be better to put it in your backpack? You won’t be able to use your hands otherwise.”
“…Yeah.”

Lunan Slion stared at Raon intently for a long moment before nodding and placing the ice cream box into his backpack.

His eyes trembled slightly. He seemed to feel a small anxiety at not having the ice cream box in his hands.

‘Impressive.’

Both Burren Zigheart and Martha were nervous, but Lunan Slion remained as usual. The only thing that seemed to capture his attention was whether the ice cream would break or not.

It was an absurd sight, but I felt relieved that he had clearly escaped Sylvia’s brainwashing.

—Call me later when the boy takes out the ice cream.
‘Ha.’

Just as Wrath was muttering about wanting to try a new flavor, Rimer kicked open the door and entered. Instead of his usual rags, he was wearing proper leather armor.

He ascended the Platform alongside the instructors.

“Fall in!”

As Raon stood before the Platform and issued the command, the trainees aligned themselves in formation.

“Forty-three trainees. All accounted for.”
“Good.”

Rimer nodded with a smile.

“Is everyone prepared?”
“Yes, sir!”

The trainees roared with such force that the Training Ground itself seemed to shake, drowning out their nervousness.

“From this moment forward, this is real combat.”

Rimer rose to his feet. The smile that habitually graced his lips vanished.

“The ones we pursue are heinous criminals who plundered dozens of lives and fortunes, burned an entire village to ash, and fled. Do not regard them as fellow humans. The moment you encounter them, sever their necks without hesitation. I grant you this permission.”
“Mm….”
“Uh….”

The trainees swallowed hard, overwhelmed by the tempestuous aura that surged from him.

“The world beyond these walls is a battlefield and a hell. Do not let your guard slip. Steel your resolve at all times.”
“Yes, sir!”

The trainees raised their voices even louder, their bodies rigid with heightened vigilance.

“Yet do not become tense. Tension stiffens the body and prevents you from moving as you normally would. I said do not let your guard slip—not to become tense.”
“Haah….”

Rimer’s laughter returned. The trainees, their shoulders raised like rabbit ears, slowly exhaled in relief.

“This is why the role of the leader is so vital.”

His gaze turned toward Raon, who stood at the center. A gentle smile. Eyes that gleamed with trust and confidence.

“Raon Zigheart. You can handle this, yes?”
“Of course.”

Raon bowed slowly, his gaze calm and composed—neither tense nor careless. Rimer smiled with satisfaction at the serene clarity in his eyes.

‘There’s no need to be anxious or complacent.’

I’ll finish this myself.

—————

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

—————