The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 531

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

Chapter 531

I rolled my eyes naturally, observing the movements of the man called the Work Foreman.
His hands clasped behind his back, his gait waddling—the very picture of a middle-aged man, yet his expression carried a veil of suspicion toward outsiders beneath an air of familiarity.

But the Work Foreman kept his heels slightly raised, ready to execute a footwork technique at any moment, and his torso—thick as a wagon wheel—remained perfectly straight, poised to evade any incoming attack.

‘The hallmarks of a Shadow assassin.’

The characteristic traits of Shadow assassins—trained to perform false personas while remaining perpetually ready to assume their lethal role—emanated unmistakably from the Work Foreman.

“Then please keep our Village Chief company for a while.”

The Work Foreman flashed an affable smile and nodded. His gaze narrowed as if probing, searching—but it was all an act, of course.

“Alright, everyone take a break and come on out. We need to wrap things up!”

As he clapped his hands and shouted into the factory’s depths, the doors swung open and workers poured out in a torrent.

I stood behind the Village Chief, opening my perception to swiftly assess the workers’ movements.

‘Seven.’

Among the roughly fifty workers who emerged, seven were assassins—all masters capable of completely concealing their presence.

‘So this really is a Soulstone factory.’

There was no way they would station seven assassins in an ordinary, unremarkable factory. They were undoubtedly hiding a Soulstone production facility somewhere nearby.

‘Where could it be?’

I deployed the Ring of Fire and Seolhwa’s senses to search for the factory’s location. I shaped mana into countless thread-like strands and scattered them across the ground, invisible to any observer.

Even probing quite deeply, I sensed nothing. Either they had installed specialized magic to block detection, or they had constructed it far deeper underground—or perhaps both.

A low rumble echoed.

As I spread my mana not just downward but throughout the entire factory, a young woman who appeared to be a secretary emerged from the Work Foreman’s office.

“Foreman, sir. Instead of assigning others work, why don’t you handle your own tasks first?”

The secretary, whose calm demeanor was marked by freckles across the bridge of her nose, waved the documents in her hand and gestured for him to enter the office quickly.

“I’m more comfortable just standing in front of the furnace….”
“Then you’ll only be leaving work late, sir.”
“Sigh, where’s the joy in life….”

The Work Foreman exhaled deeply and entered his office. The secretary bowed to the other workers before following him inside.

‘That woman is an Assassin too.’

And stronger than the man.

I could tell just from her gait. The secretary’s combat prowess and experience far exceeded the Work Foreman’s. On the surface she was a secretary, but within Shadow’s internal hierarchy, her rank was considerably higher.

‘And….’

The path to the Suwhwagaek’s factory lay inside that office.

When the secretary had stepped outside just moments ago, I’d felt a faint breeze flowing from within. There was no window in the room, so there was no way a damp breeze like what rises from underground should be flowing through—it was clear that place was connected to the factory where Suwhwagaek was produced.

‘They’ve set this up well.’

Rather than stationing Assassins separately, they’d embedded a significant number of them among the workers, which naturally allowed for surveillance of the surroundings. The scale of the Suwhwagaek factory seemed to be larger than I’d initially thought.

“What do you think?”

As I gazed downward with narrowed eyes, Village Chief Berurik approached me.

“It’s a bit awkward for me to say, but it’s truly a wonderful place to work. You’ll gain much if you come here.”
“It certainly seems that way.”

I nodded, meeting the Village Chief’s benevolent gaze.

‘Indeed, I’ve gained much thanks to you.’

I had discovered how I was kidnapped, identified the Shadow’s assassins, and found that there was a corridor in the Work Foreman’s room leading elsewhere.

The Village Chief called it meddlesome, but thanks to his interference, many tasks that would have required considerable time were completed swiftly. I was grateful in many ways.

“Thank you.”

I bowed my head to the Village Chief with sincerity.

“Heh heh, if you’re that grateful, you must visit again. People who listen to me as well as you do are rare these days.”

The Village Chief gestured, saying that when one grew old, conversation partners became scarce.

“Come now, let’s visit the mine before it gets any later. The miners will be coming out soon—the timing is perfect.”

He led me toward the mountain, insisting we visit the mine as well.

*

*

*

“Must we really leave at this late hour?”
“My schedule is quite tight.”

I offered the regretful Village Chief a composed smile.

“So, what did you think of our village?”
“The people are kind, and it seems like a comfortable place to live. It’s a wonderful place.”
“Isn’t it?”

The Village Chief’s expression brightened at the praise for his village, his lips curling upward.

“Then come back soon and settle down here. I’ll be waiting.”
“I understand. I will certainly return.”

I spoke words with a different meaning than what the Village Chief intended, my lips pressed firmly together.

“I’ll be waiting for you.”
“Then I’ll be going.”

I bowed to the Village Chief before departing Capoli Village.

‘He’s a kind person.’

The Village Chief had shown me around the mine, offered me a room to sleep in, and was the sort of benevolent and approachable man you’d find anywhere—his only flaw being his chattiness.

‘I need to ensure they suffer as little harm as possible.’

As I walked down the darkening path, contemplating how to eliminate only those creating Shadow and the Assassins while sparing the village from damage, I sensed a faint presence behind me—subtle as the chirping of insects.

‘So they are following me after all.’

It was the same gaze and movement I’d felt earlier—unmistakable. The Work Foreman was trailing behind me.

‘He’s positioned himself perfectly.’

He wanted to strike down Derus Robert and those Shadow bastards right then and there with an iron hammer—they were putting on a friendly facade of a Village using ordinary people who didn’t even know what mana was on the surface, while secretly doing the despicable work of creating Assassins using corpses.

*sigh*

‘They’re more suspicious than I expected.’

They’d kill me instantly if I did anything strange.

Recalling that all the Assassins at the Iron Ore Factory possessed squad leader-level abilities and extensive experience, it seemed they were investing considerably in the Assassins.

‘I’ll reduce all your investments to nothing.’

I twisted my lips, imagining the expression Derus Robert would wear when we eventually met. I continued walking, pretending ignorance, and eventually passed Haro Mountain and came upon an unnamed lake beyond it. Only then did the presence of the Work Foreman trailing me completely vanish.

‘How bothersome.’

The distance had grown greater than expected, but it didn’t matter. With the stepping technique, it wasn’t far at all.

The distance had grown farther than expected, but it didn’t matter. With the lightness technique, it wasn’t such a great distance after all.

Raon slipped into the thicket. After opening his perception to confirm no one was around, he removed his robe. He fastened a plain dagger to his waist and covered his face with a mask.

As I prepared to infiltrate the Factory, I caught sight of Wrath hovering silently in the air.

‘Why are you so quiet today?’
-What words are necessary?

Wrath replied with eyes that had grown distant.

‘You’re not even asking me to eat, and you must be curious about something?’

When memories of my mother and father surfaced, my emotions spiraled beyond my control. He must have felt that turbulent surge, yet Wrath said nothing.

-I believe I mentioned this before.

Wrath’s sky-blue eyes narrowed to slits.

The True Demon King does not exploit the weaknesses of others.

He turned his gaze away with a slow nod.

-Should a day come when you wish to unburden yourself, speak it from your own lips.

Wrath’s voice carried a gravity that made his usual gluttonous antics seem like a distant lie.

-The True Demon King will simply listen.
“Ha!”

I exhaled sharply, my hand shielding my eyes.

‘I never expected you to make my nose sting like this.’

After a quiet sniffle, I looked at Wrath.

‘I could really use a drink.’
-The True Demon King does not enjoy alcohol.
‘Once this is over, maybe I’ll have a glass.’
-I said I don’t like it!
‘You pick the side dish then.’
-Deal!

*

*

*

Darkness had settled over the Work Foreman’s office.

The room’s master, the Work Foreman, lay prostrate on the floor, while his secretary sat in a chair with legs crossed.

“Has he left?”

Lecia, the squad leader who ostensibly served as secretary but actually controlled the Shadow operatives in this facility, tilted her chin in acknowledgment.

“Yes. I confirmed he had moved away from Shur Lake before returning.”
“Anything unusual?”
“Nothing remarkable aside from his pace being slightly faster than normal.”

The Work Foreman reported while keeping his head bowed.

“Did he seem to notice you at all?”
“Not in the slightest. He appeared to have never learned martial arts in the first place.”
“Hmm….”

Lecia narrowed her eyes and stroked her chin thoughtfully.

“What troubles you?”
“When I saw that man, something felt off, but it seems I was mistaken.”

She waved her hand dismissively.

“You’ve done well. You’re dismissed.”
“Yes.”

The Work Foreman bowed and left my office.

“….”

I remained seated in my chair for a long moment before walking toward the left wall. When I tapped the wall beside the bookshelf with mana-infused fingers, a section of the floor silently slid open.

Shhhhh.

Only a single staircase was visible directly below, with an abyss of darkness stretching beneath it, but I descended without hesitation.

The stairs were tall and deep. Even as I moved at a pace that ordinary people could scarcely follow, they seemed endless. Only after descending for more than ten minutes did the stairs finally terminate, and my feet touched solid ground.

It was a peculiar space filled with gloomy violet light and bizarre patterns that covered both ceiling and floor.

Hummmmm.

I stepped sequentially on the patterns etched into the floor, navigating through the space before entering a long corridor. After walking for some time, I reached the corridor’s end, where a brightly illuminated cavern came into view.

“That corpse hasn’t been processed yet. Bring it over here.”
“It still isn’t complete?”
“Move faster, will you!”

Within the vast, deep cavern, Necromancers in violet robes bustled about, surrounded by decomposing corpses, flesh, and bones piled high and reeking of putrefaction.

Some appeared to be intact humans on the surface, but when flipped over, their spines were entirely absent, replaced instead by molten metal infused with necromantic power.

Even a person who had endured war would find the sight nauseating, yet no one here seemed disturbed. Some tore flesh apart like toys and reassembled it, while others ate beside them.

“….”

I walked expressionlessly into the chamber at the center of the cavern.

“Schupel.”

I approached the young man in the black robe and bowed my head.

“What’s the matter?”

The man operating the grotesque magical formula turned his gaze with a smile. Despite his neat appearance, his voice was gloomy and sharp.

“The traveler who arrived in the village earlier has left. Nothing unusual was observed, but….”
“I told you to handle such matters on your own. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t waste my time with trivial reports.”

He shook his head, dismissing the bothersome interruption.

“There is one more thing.”

Lecia maintained her expressionless composure as she parted her lips.

“Reinforcements are arriving in two days. It’s the largest shipment we’ve received so far, so we’ll need to prepare in advance.”
“Hmm!”

At the mention of their arrival in two days, Schupel’s face broke into a smile.

“Two days, you said?”

From the opposite side of Schupel’s desk, a gaunt old man rose with a sinister aura. His voice was honeyed and sweet.

“So you were here as well, Juran.”

Lecia bowed her head toward the old man.

“The largest shipment—how substantial? Corpses? Are any alive?”
“Both experimental subjects and materials are arriving in triple quantities.”
“Triple? Finally, they’re showing some sense! Yes, that’s the proper scale!”

Juran broke into a broad smile, clearly pleased.

“Juran, do maintain some decorum. A figure known as the Grotesque Necromancer shouldn’t be so frivolous.”

Schupel frowned as he regarded Juran.

“Unlike you nobles, I never had the chance to learn. Don’t bother me about it.”
“It would serve you well to learn even now. If our plans proceed as intended, you’ll have the opportunity to walk in the world again.”
“The more you talk like that, the less I want to go out there.”
“….”

The two Necromancers glared at each other, their brows furrowed, while Lecia remained silent—a sight she’d grown accustomed to.

Yet all three remained unaware of the crimson eyes gleaming above their heads.

*

*

*

I stood upon the ceiling, my eyes narrowing to slits.

‘So Schupel and Juran were here all along?’

Both the Pale Specter Schupel and the Grotesque Lord Juran were high-ranking Necromancers who had made their names known decades ago.

I’d assumed they were dead since they’d vanished from sight, but I never imagined they’d been hiding in a place like this, continuing their research.

It was irritating that Derus Robert commanded two such high-ranking Necromancers, but his abilities were undeniably genuine.

‘Regardless, they mentioned a large supply arriving in two days….’

That supply couldn’t possibly be mere provisions or weapons. Given that they’d even mentioned test subjects, it was clear they were talking about living people.

‘Striking then would be optimal.’

If I attacked this Factory after they’d received all their supplies, I could deal Derus the greatest possible damage.
For now, despite my anger, patience was the wisest course.

“I’ll take my leave now.”

Lecia bowed to the two Necromancers and left the chamber.

I followed her out of the room and surveyed the Cavern once more.

‘There aren’t many masters, but there are plenty of high-caliber Assassins.’

Only Necromancers were visible in the Cavern now, but in reality, far more Assassins were hidden throughout the space.

‘I need to understand this entire place.’

Since I didn’t know whether I’d face direct combat or an assassination duel, more information was always better.

I maximized my aura perception by utilizing the Ring of Fire and Seolhwa’s senses.
I meticulously identified where Assassins of varying skill levels were hiding, and precisely located where concealment magic and protective barriers were installed.

I surveyed the entire Cavern in far greater detail than those who actually lived here, then shifted my gaze downward.

‘There’s empty space below as well.’

I sensed either that the concealment magic carved into the ceiling didn’t function downward, or that another space existed in the Underground.

While I waited for someone to guide me, I spotted a middle-aged Necromancer moving along the right wall. When he manipulated the wall, a staircase leading downward opened.

‘That’s the way, as expected.’

I followed the Necromancer. Unlike the descent from the Factory to here, the staircase had few steps and was remarkably wide.

The Necromancer descended the stairs and immediately walked down the Corridor with practiced ease. People were imprisoned behind iron bars on both sides of the Corridor, and they all seemed lifeless—no vitality emanated from them.

-To desecrate the dead—even the Demon Realm would condemn such wickedness!

Wrath couldn’t contain his fury, trembling as his fists clenched.

-Vile creatures!
‘You may be right. Humans might indeed be more evil than the Demon Race.’

I nodded briefly, sharing in Wrath’s indignation.

“Come out.”

The Necromancer gestured toward empty air, and two Assassins erupted from the ground.

“How much material do we have left?”
“There are no living ones at the moment. Forty-four corpses.”

The Assassin answered without the slightest hesitation.

I bit my lip hard.

‘So “material” really does mean people.’

The way they distinguished between living and dead made it clear—they viewed humans as nothing more than experimental specimens.

‘Damn it….’

I clenched my interlaced fingers hard, fighting the urge to beat them to death on the spot.

“A large shipment arrives in two days. Send half of it upstairs.”
“Understood.”

As the Assassins opened the iron gate and gestured, the corpses walked out on their own legs and stood there, swaying.

‘They’re moving?’

The corpses’ eyes moved as if they were alive, and there was no stench. They appeared to be manipulated through Necromancy.

‘How vile.’

This Facility was a nest of fiends who didn’t see humans as human. I suppressed my rising nausea and gathered intelligence.

The Necromancer watched the corpses walk toward the stairs, then turned his back. Rather than heading down the stairs he’d come from, he walked into the opposite corridor.

I didn’t follow the corpses—I followed the Necromancer.

The Necromancer had cast a speed enhancement spell on himself and walked for quite some time before stopping in front of a wall that looked as though it had been dug out and abandoned. When he placed his hand on the wall and infused it with mana, the ceiling cracked open, revealing a hazy night sky as if reflected in water.
As he placed his hand on the Wall and infused mana into it, the ceiling cracked open, revealing a hazy night sky that shimmered like a reflection in Water.

“This is tedious. How much longer do I have to stay here?”

The Necromancers looked up at the night sky and began to light firecrackers at the start of the year.

I kept my presence suppressed to avoid detection by the Necromancers’ senses as I gazed upward.

That lake?

Based on the location, it appeared to be the unnamed lake that had emerged right after passing Haro Mountain.

So this was the place.

They’d been transporting supplies here all along.

By establishing a supply route through the center of the lake, no one would ever discover it.

I’ve gathered all the information I need.

A crimson flash of lightning flickered across my eyes, which reflected the transparent night sky.

In two days, I’ll end this.

“I’ll see how this ends in two days.”

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