The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 541
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 541
Lunan lifted his trembling eyelids with effort.
‘My head is spinning….’
I had no idea how much time had passed. It felt like more than two days had gone by, but without windows in this Underground chamber, there was no way to know for certain.
“…Thanks to diverting the attention of my subordinates with their blood, I was able to sever the Ogre Lord’s neck without difficulty.”
Sylvia, sitting within arm’s reach, licked her lips with a gaze burning with madness.
“The next mission was a rescue. I was supposed to save those worms who had fallen between the Gorge, but it seemed like a waste of time, so I killed them with my own hands and reported that everyone had perished.”
“….”
Lunan clenched his fists as he watched Sylvia’s twisted pupils.
‘What on earth is she thinking?’
I couldn’t comprehend it.
At first, I thought it was all over, but Sylvia only suppressed my aura without touching a single fingertip to me.
She continued to ramble only about her own story, and I couldn’t predict her intentions.
“Oh! Something interesting happened there. Have you ever heard of human hunting? It’s when people deliberately let others go free, like releasing animals to kill them….”
There was one more strange thing.
Even as Sylvia continued spouting such repulsive and nauseating words, my murderous intent and anger toward her slowly subsided.
What was even more grotesque was that I felt a strange sense of kinship, as if I had been complicit in all the atrocities she had committed.
‘This must be the reason.’
Lunan lowered his gaze to the floor.
In the room that had originally been used as a Warehouse and was rough and filled with dust, a blood-red magic circle was inscribed as if drawn with blood itself.
At first, I didn’t understand the effect of this magic formation, but now I’m beginning to grasp it.
My senses are becoming soft, as if rubbed smooth by sandpaper. It was clearly a spell designed to loosen emotions and the soul.
‘It doesn’t matter what this magic formation is.’
Lunan clenched his teeth firmly.
‘I’ll endure to the very end.’
Whenever his murderous intent and hatred toward Sylvia began to fade, he recalled his parents, Raon, and the Gwangpung Corps.
As he thought of those precious people, his wavering heart felt as though it was solidifying once more with unwavering resolve.
“That doesn’t mean I’ve only committed murders. Sometimes I’ve done good things too. The regions affected by floods….”
“What about Mother and Father?”
Lunan’s eyes blazed with fury as he stared at Sylvia.
“What happened to them!”
“Don’t worry. I adjusted the poison so they wouldn’t die.”
Sylvia recited the chilling words about using poison on his parents in an affectionate tone.
“How am I supposed to believe that? Show me. Prove that they’re safe!”
Lunan bit his lips, declaring that if Rokan and Clara were dead, he would die here as well.
“That’s not difficult.”
At Sylvia’s gesture, the two swordsmen standing behind her opened the door and stepped outside.
When they returned moments later, Rokan and Clara hung limply in their hands. Both were breathing shallowly with their eyes closed—they appeared to be unconscious.
“I have no intention of killing them just yet.”
“Not yet…?”
“The Slion Family isn’t a kennel. If the Head of House suddenly disappears, even Zigheart would find it suspicious. Father and Mother will hand over the position of Head of House to me and retire quietly.”
He said retire, but there was no way it would be an ordinary retirement. He meant he would kill them.
“You….”
I bared my teeth and glared at Lunan Slion with murderous intent.
“What exactly are you trying to do!”
I had clenched my fist so violently that crimson blood dripped from my palm.
“What a waste.”
Sylvia wiped the blood that had fallen from Lunan’s hand with her finger and brought it to her own lips.
“Ah….”
Lunan Slion trembled and stepped backward. I should have felt revulsion, but the formation prevented any emotion from surfacing.
“Because of this!”
She struck the formation violently, but instead the crimson light only deepened.
“You asked what I want to do?”
After sucking all the blood from her fingers, Sylvia lifted her eyes—now gleaming with madness.
“It’s simple. I’m going to pierce Zigheart’s heart.”
“What?”
“Soon the Continent will become a sea of fire. The Slion Family will stand quietly behind Zigheart as we always have, and at the most critical moment, we’ll drive our blade into their heart.”
“Do you think that’s possible?”
“It’s not that difficult.”
Sylvia stretched her hand into the void. Black aura spread like smoke, and a helmet crowned with long horns—a goat’s helm—materialized.
“That, that helmet….”
Lunan Slion’s jaw trembled as he stared at the goat’s helm. It was unmistakable.
“Watch carefully.”
As Sylvia donned the goat’s helm, molten metal poured from within it, engulfing her entire body and forming armor that gleamed with an eerie black light.
Her lower half became that of a mountain goat, her upper half encased in a knight’s obsidian armor, while from within the goat’s helm blazed eyes of an unsettlingly cold violet hue.
“B-Baphomet. Then you’re the Evil Goat Demon…?”
Lunan leaned his back against the wall, grasping his trembling arm.
‘So that’s why he brought up Baphomet.’
Sylvia’s sudden mention of Baphomet in the Dining Hall, his obsessive fixation on me as blood kin—it all made sense now. He had been wearing Baphomet’s helm.
“Yes. I am the Evil Goat Demon.”
Sylvia admitted to being Eden’s Evil Goat Demon, exhaling breath that burned with intensity.
“Give him back! Give our brother back!”
Raon had said that the monster’s soul within that helm devours a human’s soul and seizes their body.
The brother who had been kinder and more gentle than anyone in childhood had vanished—surely because Baphomet inside that helm had consumed his soul.
“That’s not it.”
Sylvia shook his head slowly.
“I devoured Baphomet instead.”
“…What?”
“Restoration. I merely wish to return this peaceful Continent to the golden age when monsters ruled—as that person envisioned.”
He spoke of devouring Baphomet while clutching his belly and laughing.
“Ah…”
Lunan Slion swallowed hard. He was insane. The author was truly insane. He wanted to stop him by any means necessary, but there was nothing he could do.
“That’s precisely where the Continent War began.”
It resembled the Baphomet helm he currently wore, but the cheekbones were smaller, and the horns jutted upward more prominently.
It was similar to the helmet of Baphomet that he was currently wearing, but the clown’s was smaller, and the horns protruded longer.
“You and I will be at the center of it all.”
He covered Lunan Slion’s face with a helmet and curled up the corners of his mouth.
“My dear little brother.”
*
*
*
Even as I realized Martha and Dorian were growing distant, I pushed forward with all my strength, my footwork accelerating.
‘Why is it so far….’
The Slion Family Estate’s Abandoned Annex stood on the outskirts of Zigheart Territory.
Normally, I wouldn’t have given it much thought, but in this frustrating situation, the distance felt impossibly vast.
-You’re too slow! Move faster!
Wrath struck my back, calling my movements sluggish as a snail’s.
“Damn it….”
I bit my lip. Wrath was right—my legs felt painfully slow.
I regretted not focusing more on footwork training alongside swordsmanship.
‘Please, let nothing be wrong.’
I tried to console myself by thinking that I had overreacted and that Lunan Slion had simply overslept, but only bad thoughts kept flooding my mind.
‘That girl would never break an ice cream promise.’
If Burren or Martha hadn’t shown up at the meeting place, I could have dismissed it. Neither of them particularly cared for ice cream one way or another.
But Lunan had never once broken an ice cream promise.
She always arrived an hour early to wait—so something had definitely gone wrong.
-I can see the house! Is that it?
Wrath pointed toward the blue roof descending in an elegant curve.
‘That’s right.’
I nodded and stamped the ground more forcefully. Regardless of my aura consumption, I focused solely on speed and rushed toward the main gate of the Slion Family Estate.
Two swordsmen stood before the main gate, their expressions serene as if nothing were amiss.
“Stop.”
“This is private property of the Slion Family Estate. What brings you here?”
As I approached the gate, the swordsmen blocked my path and inquired about my purpose. Both kept their hands on their sword hilts, their eyes sharp with vigilance.
“I am Raon Zigheart, Vice Commander of the Gwangpung Corps. Squad Leader Lunan failed to respond to the summons without any prior notice, so I’ve come to find him.”
“We greet you, Raon.”
The swordsmen withdrew their hands from their hilts and bowed respectfully, as if apologizing for their rudeness.
“You say Squad Leader Lunan did not respond to the summons?”
“Yes. Even after two hours passed, he did not arrive, and there was no contact.”
I lied, claiming two hours had elapsed when far less time had actually passed.
“Hmm, we haven’t heard anything about this. Please wait a moment.”
The swordsman on the left opened the main gate and entered the central mansion.
“….”
I extended my senses through the Ring of Fire and Seolhwa’s perception to examine the interior of the mansion.
‘There doesn’t seem to be anything particularly unusual….’
I stretched my senses meticulously, but detected no signs of combat or anyone dying. The movements of the servants and swordsmen inside remained calm and ordinary.
Everything felt peaceful within.
Yet nowhere could I sense Lunan’s presence.
‘Where could he have gone?’
As I concentrated my mind to locate Lunan, the mansion door opened and an old man with a weathered expression emerged.
‘That old man….’
I had seen him before. He was the butler standing behind Rokan Slion during the selection ceremony.
“It has been a long time, Raon.”
Rokan’s butler bowed respectfully.
“Miss Lunan is not feeling well, so she is receiving treatment and resting.”
He clicked his tongue briefly, mentioning that she had overexerted herself during training with Rokan yesterday.
“I would like to inform her that you have arrived, but she has just fallen asleep, so I cannot wake her. My apologies.”
The butler bowed deeply, expressing genuine regret.
“Then, would it be alright if I took a quick look at her while she sleeps?”
“Hehe, Miss Lunan is no longer a child, but a young woman. No matter your position as the unit commander, I cannot permit that. I hope you understand.”
He waved his hand gently with a soft smile, as if he had anticipated the question.
“I spoke out of turn.”
I nodded and gazed at the mansion.
“Lunan mentioned that her room overlooks the Training Ground, so she must be in the chamber on the left side there.”
“No, sir. The young lady’s room is on the right side. It seems you are mistaken.”
The butler shook his head, correcting me that it overlooked the Garden where flowers bloomed, not the Training Ground.
“I see. It appears I was mistaken.”
I scratched the back of my head and nodded.
‘He’s right.’
Lunan had indeed said her room overlooked the Garden. I had tested him on the chance he might be an impostor, but he knew exactly where Lunan’s room was.
However, I could not sense her presence in the right-side chamber where he claimed she was sleeping.
‘There’s no way I couldn’t sense Lunan’s presence.’
After nearly a decade of observation, I could say with certainty: Lunan was not in that mansion right now.
“Hey! What in the world….”
“Y-young master….”
Martha and Dorian, who had arrived moments later, stopped before the door with faces twisted in distress.
“It’s nothing serious. Let’s go back.”
“Huh?”
“B-but what does that….”
I placed my hands on Martha’s and Dorian’s shoulders, offering them a smile.
‘Something is definitely wrong.’
Without revealing my true thoughts on my face, I bowed to the Butler.
“I’m relieved to hear Lunan is safe. Please tell her to come to the Training Ground when she wakes.”
“Understood. Thank you for your concern for our young lady.”
I left the entrance of the Slion Family Estate after receiving the Butler’s bow.
“What’s going on?! Are you really sure everything’s fine?”
“Did you even see the captain’s face?”
Martha and Dorian furrowed their brows, questioning why we had come all this way only to leave without even seeing Lunan’s face.
“I’m not entirely sure myself. But something has definitely happened to Lunan.”
I sealed the gap to prevent sound from escaping, then explained the situation to both of them.
“Then we should just break in!”
Martha struck her chest in frustration.
“Let’s smash everything to pieces!”
“If we make too much noise, they might take Lunan hostage.”
I shook my head and turned around.
“If you hear a loud noise from that mansion, come running immediately.”
“L-loud noise? What exactly are you planning to—”
“If Lunan is being held captive, I need to rescue him.”
After explaining the simple plan to the two of them, I concealed my presence.
I lightly vaulted over the stone wall and hid my body behind a tree in front of the mansion.
‘Wrath.’
I called out to Wrath, who stood vacant-eyed, staring into empty space with his chin resting in his hand.
‘Do you sense anything?’
-Not in that house, I tell you.
He trembled his lowered brows, focused on searching for Lunan.
‘Understood.’
I nodded and traced the presence of the butler who had entered through the main gate.
He entered the mansion and had a conversation with a Master-rank swordsman.
After hearing the butler’s words, the swordsman went out to the rear of the mansion and stood in the center of the Small Training Ground. He lingered there for a moment before returning to the mansion.
‘What’s down there?’
-Found her!
Wrath sprang up as I spread tendrils of aura beneath the training ground.
-I was dizzy from all that filthy mana, but the ice cream girl is down there! Her condition isn’t good!
He raised his hand, pointing to a small warehouse on the outer edge of the training ground.
‘Not good? Is she injured?’
-Not her body, but her soul has become hazy!
As I rushed toward the warehouse, Wrath continued speaking.
However, there are many strange contraptions installed on the descending staircase! If you avoid them as much as possible, you should be able to make it in time!
I hummed thoughtfully.
Upon hearing Wrath’s warning, I extended my perception and felt the strange concentration of mana. These were clearly traps designed to waste time.
Traps, then.
I narrowed my brow as I looked at the ground where the swordsman had been standing moments before.
I didn’t have time to play games with such things.
*
*
*
Lunan’s lips trembled as he gazed into the Evil Goat Demon’s violet eyes.
“Don’t resist.”
Sylvia twirled the second Baphomet’s helmet with her finger, her smile wickedly knowing.
“That formation reveals one’s true heart. If you’re drawn to me, then you’ve always loved me….”
“That Formation reveals one’s true heart. If you’re drawn to me, it means you were already in love with me…”
Lunan shook his head and bit his tongue.
That’s a lie.
Sylvia spewed lies as naturally as breathing. This formation didn’t reveal one’s true heart—it shattered the walls between soul and mind.
Even knowing this, I couldn’t endure it. Fog gradually filled my mind, and my resolve loosened like a severed rubber band.
“You’re always so adorable.”
“You’re cute no matter when I see you.”
Sylvia watched Lunan’s furrowed brow and scratched her cheek when a knock sounded and the door opened.
The swordmaster who had brought Rokan Slion and Clara entered and bowed his head.
“Raon Zigheart has come to visit.”
“What?”
“It seems Miss Lunan did not respond to the summons, so he came looking for her.”
The swordmaster recounted everything about Raon coming all the way to the Main Gate.
“Ah!”
Lunan’s trembling hands clenched into fists.
‘Raon….’
He believed in me.
Upon hearing Raon’s name, the turbulent emotions I felt toward Sylvia vanished, and the fog clouding my mind dissipated like water washing it away. My senses cleared as if splashed with cold water.
“Since he’s already left, you can rest assured….”
“Rest assured….”
Sylvia turned around and stroked the swordmaster’s head.
“S-Sylvia…?”
“You don’t know Raon Zigheart. That madman will definitely come all the way here.”
The moment his final words ended, the swordmaster’s head burst, and blood sprayed like a fountain across the walls and floor.
“Ah….”
Lunan’s fingertips trembled as she watched the magic circle turn increasingly crimson. Killing a subordinate so suddenly—it was incomprehensible.
“Let me prepare some defenses.”
Sylvia threw an indecipherable orb into the corner of the room and approached Lunan.
“I prefer natural encounters. I hoped you would love me as I truly am. But time is running short.”
He lifted the corners of his mouth while holding Baphomet’s helmet.
“It’s already too late. If it’s Raon, he’ll surely stop you….”
“Perhaps. But not today.”
“Wait, just a moment!”
“After two days of exposure to the formation, it won’t take long.”
Sylvia held Lunan’s hands in place and placed Baphomet’s helmet over her head.
Kwaaaaaaah!
Black energy flowed from the helmet’s eye sockets, enveloping Lunan.
“When you open your eyes again, a new world will unfold before you.”
“Ah, ah….”
Lunan tried to forcibly remove the helmet, but her hands couldn’t overcome Sylvia’s strength and merely scratched at it before falling away.
“Oh, one more thing. This brother of mine gets jealous quite easily. From now on, don’t speak another man’s name.”
Sylvia smiled as she stroked Lunan’s hair that spilled out from the helmet.
“By the time that Raon reaches this place, it will all be….”
As he laid Lunan on the ground and stepped back, the crimson-stained ceiling trembled and collapsed with a deafening roar.
Kuwaaaaang!
Scarlet eyes gleamed amidst the cascading dust and stone fragments.
Chwaaaaak!
The owner of those crimson eyes drew a razor-sharp blade toward Sylvia’s neck without a moment’s hesitation.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————