The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 570

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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 570

I watched the direction Lectar had departed, my lips pressed thin.

‘I can’t fathom what he’s thinking.’

Lectar seemed to want to convey something, yet simultaneously didn’t want to. It was nonsensical—the very words contradicted themselves—but that’s precisely how it felt.

His eyes, parched like a desert before finally revealing moisture, and the way he demonstrated the flow of ten thousand swords during our battle just as he would when instructing in swordsmanship—it all suggested he had come here to complete a lesson he had left unfinished.

‘Even I think I’m talking nonsense.’

Lectar, who had revealed his affiliation with the Holy Sword Association and declared he would abduct me, coming here for swordsmanship instruction? Even to my own ears, it sounded absurd.
Yet my reason, which I had always considered reasonably sound, kept reaching toward that interpretation.

‘Is this self-deception?’

Perhaps my mind was forcing itself toward the favorable interpretation because I didn’t want to believe in Lectar’s betrayal.

“Sigh….”

I exhaled the confusion swirling in my mind and approached Aris.

“Are you alright?”
“That old man. He didn’t show his true strength.”

Aris sheathed her sword, her brow furrowed.

“Pardon?”
“The Sword Ghost. If he’d been serious, he could have severed my arm. He held back and withdrew.”

She too recognized that Lectar hadn’t fought with his full power.

“I underestimated him before, but the Continent truly is vast.”

Aris gazed at the sky reclaiming its blue hue, then turned her gaze toward the collapsed Patriarch’s Hall. She tapped her scabbard as she observed Merlin standing there like one of our own allies.

“I appreciate the help, but ultimately you’re after my niece too, aren’t you?”
“So what?”

Merlin met Aris’s gaze and nodded confidently.

“Wow, I’ve never seen a kidnapper so brazen before.”

Aris let out a hollow laugh, utterly exasperated.

“Of course not now. I know it’s not possible.”
“Then why did you interfere with the Sword Ghost?”
“Because I hate it when someone else takes what’s mine.”

Merlin waved her hand lightly as if asking why she would even pose such an obvious question. The black robe enveloping her body shimmered like a mirage.

“I’ll come back when I get another chance.”
“Who’s sending you?”
“Wait….”

Before she could even finish speaking, Aris drew her blade like lightning. Her strike reached Merlin before the blade had fully revealed itself.

Whoosh!

But Merlin was not her true form—only the robe faded indistinctly, leaving her without a single wound.

“An illusion?”
“Something like that.”

Merlin teased Aris by sticking her tongue out playfully.

“See you next time.”

She waved at Raon, then dissolved into foam and vanished.

“Tch. Damn magic.”

Aris muttered her displeasure and sheathed her sword once more.

-Don’t let your guard down!

Wrath’s head snapped up the moment Merlin appeared, his earlier cowering forgotten.

-That mad woman wouldn’t have just left! She’s definitely hiding somewhere, watching us!
‘Now that he mentions it….’

Wrath’s suspicion seemed sound. Merlin had likely only feigned her departure, possessing some other creature to keep watch over this place.

“What in the world is going on here?”

Rimer approached with his brow furrowed.

“He didn’t seem like the type to betray us….”

He exhaled heavily, equally unable to fathom that Lectar belonged to the Holy Sword Association.

“Your arm….”

Aris’s eyes widened as she finally noticed Rimer’s severed right arm.

“Don’t look at me like that. I merely invested in our future.”

Rimer chuckled softly and waved his left hand dismissively.

“Our future?”
“The Lord lost his arm protecting us.”

I traced my fingertips along Rimer’s shoulder, my gaze lingering on the wound.

“Protecting you?”

Aris’s eyes rolled, silently demanding an explanation.

“This madman lost himself in a frenzy on the battlefield.”
“That’s unavoidable. I didn’t choose to enter that state.”
“He did it on purpose.”

As Rimer shook his head, Aris’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Really? You’re serious?”
“Yes.”

I scratched my head and nodded.

“We were facing total annihilation, so we had no choice but to gamble.”
“Ha!”

Aris Zigheart let out a hollow laugh as if she found it absurd.

“So you fell into a trance on the battlefield, awakened, and then slaughtered everyone left standing?”
“Something like that.”
“Krraahhh!”

She let out an exclamation like she’d chugged a beer, stretching both arms wide.

“That’s our nephew! Yes, if you’re going to wield a blade, you might as well do something insane—that’s what it means to be Zigheart!”

Whether because I was the one who’d done it or because the outcome was favorable, Aris Zigheart repeated her praise and pulled me into her embrace.

“Ugh, w-wait a moment.”

I struggled to break free, but she wouldn’t let go, rubbing her cheek against mine. The turmoil in my chest settled at the refreshing yet crystalline sea-salt scent that only she possessed.

“Aunt! Stop!”
“Huh? Nephew!”

Only after calling her aunt did Aris Zigheart finally release the iron grip of her arms.

“Right, I told you to call me aunt. I finally got you used to it, so why did you go back to calling me Aris?”
“It’s difficult to use that form of address within the Family Estate.”
“Who’s stopping you? I’ll take care of them!”
“The Head of House, sir…”
“…”

Aris Zigheart swallowed hard and shook her head.

“That… that person is fine. He’s our father, after all.”

She only called Glen “Father” at times like this, laughing awkwardly.

“We greet Aris Zigheart.”

The Gwangpung Corps swordsmen bowed to Aris. Since she currently held no position within Zigheart, they addressed her by name with formal courtesy.

“Why so stiff with family? Drop the formalities.”

Aris smiled brightly and waved her hand.

“Just call me Aris. Oh, and I see I have two more nephews and nieces here, don’t I?”
“I-I’m Burren Zigheart.”
“I’m Martha! I admire you so much!”

Burren shuffled forward hesitantly, while Martha, having witnessed Aris’s power, practically leaped forward with sparkling eyes.

“That’s right! Good to see you both!”

Aris embraced Burren and Martha, her warm laughter filling the space.

“You’re both just as impressive as Raon! Masters at your age—that’s far faster than I managed!”

She marveled at their strength and gently stroked both their heads.

“….”

Left alone, Lunan stood dazed for a moment before approaching Aris and embracing her first.

“And who are you?”

Aris seemed flustered by Lunan’s action, her eyes widening slightly.

“I’m Lunan Slion.”
“Ah, Rokan’s daughter!”

She laughed, calling Rokan by his name alone.

“Come here then! Actually, all of you come!”

Aris broke the heavy atmosphere by greeting all the swordsmen of the Gwangpung Corps. Her natural charisma and refreshing personality quickly brightened the mood.

“But….”

Aris furrowed her brow and turned her gaze away.

“What was your relationship with the Sword Ghost?”

Only after greeting everyone did she pose the most sensitive question.

“Well….”
“It’s….”

Since everyone in the Gwangpung Corps had built a rapport with the Sword Ghost and received sword instruction from him, they simply lowered their heads without speaking.

“Lectar taught us many things.”

Raon exhaled a weary sigh before opening his lips.

“When we went to the Arian Family before….”

He briefly explained how he had met the Sword Ghost and how they had spent time together.

“I see.”

Aris nodded, understanding why the atmosphere had become this way.

Surprisingly, she offered neither comfort nor encouragement. It seemed she held her tongue because it was not something she had experienced directly. She was a mature adult who knew precisely when to step forward and when to remain silent.

“You and I need to talk.”
“Huh? Why me! I’m a patient!”

Aris waved goodbye to the Gwangpung Corps and dragged Rimer away with her.

“The Sword Ghost is part of the Holy Sword Association? What in the world is going on?”

Burren exhaled a murky breath as he watched Rimer being dragged away.

“He said it was just for amusement! That he was mocking us!”

Martha bit her lip, clearly resentful that she had shown affection toward Lectar.

“….”

Lunan said nothing, quietly gazing up at the sky. Having experienced what happened with Sylvia, this incident seemed to weigh even more heavily upon her.

“Commander, what do you think? Is this truly a betrayal?”

Dorian, anxious, pulled a pastry from his pocket and chewed it nervously, his jaw trembling.

“I don’t know either.”

I shook my head weakly, unlike my usual self. I was more bewildered than the entire Gwangpung Corps combined and had no words to offer.

“But one thing is certain—Lectar is our enemy. Remember that clearly.”
“Yes….”

The Gwangpung Corps nodded slowly. It was a lifeless response, but I didn’t reproach them.

“Let’s start with the report.”
“Yes….”

As I reached out my hand, Dorian produced the report document. Seeing him take five seconds longer than usual to retrieve it, he seemed equally exhausted.

“Thank you.”

I patted Dorian’s shoulder and set pen to paper. After deliberating on what to write, I documented everything that had transpired here, then tore away the section about the Sword Ghost at the end.

‘I want to tell him about this in person.’

Glen had built a certain rapport with Lectar even while competing with him through sword instruction.
Later, I often witnessed the two conversing, so I didn’t wish to convey such matters through written word.

‘Instead….’

I wrote something I wouldn’t normally include in small letters on the back page and returned it to Dorian.

“I’ll send it right away.”

Dorian handed Sieulren, whom he had been carrying on his back, over to Crain and prepared to place the report in an envelope to send to the Family Estate.

Raon gazed at Sieulren’s rigid expression, even in her unconscious state, and released a quiet sigh.

‘Just a little, but I think I understand how much you’re suffering.’

*

*

*

Chad rushed forward and knocked urgently on the door of the Audience Chamber.

“Head of House!”

Before the knock could even echo inside, the door swung open, and Roen’s face emerged with a faint smile.

“Please, come in.”
“Thank you.”

Chad bowed his head to Roen and stepped into the Audience Chamber. Glen, seated upon the Jade Throne, appeared displeased, his brow furrowed as he bounced his leg restlessly. With each movement of his leg, the Patriarch’s Hall itself seemed to tremble.
Glen Zigheart sat upon the Jade Throne with a furrowed brow, bouncing his leg as if in a foul mood. With each shake of his leg, the Patriarch’s Hall seemed to tremble along with it.

“What’s the matter?”

Glen lifted his hollow eyes as if to say he wanted her to get straight to the point.

“What?”
“What?”

As Chad pulled an envelope from his bosom, Glen’s eyes gleamed with a crimson light. He lifted his back from the Jade Throne and gestured brightly.

“Yes. There are some seriously wounded, but no casualties, according to the report. However, a problem arose during the operation….”
“A problem?”
“Yes. It appears the Yonghyeon Sword Master, who seems to be the Holy Sword Association’s representative, and Cloud, the Holy Sword Master’s disciple, arrived sooner than anticipated. Combat ensued immediately with both of them….”
“Hmm….”
“Hmm…”

Glen frowned, clearly displeased with the pace at which Chad was reading the report.

“Can’t you read any faster?”
“Y-yes, Father! I’ll read faster!”

Chad, flustered by the pressure, wiped his brow and inadvertently let sweat drip onto the report he was holding.

“Blast!”

Glen’s hand shot out in alarm, and the report slipped from Chad’s grasp directly into his palm.

“Hmph…”

Glen evaporated the sweat stains from the report with a sharp glare directed at Chad.

‘How dare he let sweat fall upon something so precious!’

It was rare for Raon to write reports himself—Rimer typically handled such matters. Glen’s fury kindled at Chad’s carelessness toward a document meant to be preserved for a lifetime.
Yet he could not let his anger show plainly, so he merely furrowed his brow and continued reading the report.

Raon’s words were measured yet cold.
He had attempted to preempt the Lakion Family’s betrayal, but because Huan refused to yield, he had summarily executed numerous warriors. The report went on to detail, in calm, measured prose, how he had subsequently eliminated the Holy Sword Master’s disciple and the Yonghyeon Sword Master.

‘The rotten branch I should have pruned myself—that boy has severed it in my stead.’

Decades had passed since the Zigheart’s advance had halted. Problems arising from within and without were inevitable. Having put the internal house in order, Glen had intended to scrutinize the external vassal houses one by one, but Raon had handled the matter himself, as if such caution were unnecessary. Even the highest praise fell short of what was deserved.

“A remarkable achievement.”

Chad lifted his head slightly.

“Had the Lakion Family continued to conceal their true intentions, they would have struck us from behind at some point. Stopping them before that could happen is more than merely excellent.”
“The Slion Family as well. Without Young Master Raon, our clan would have fallen into Sylvia’s hands by now.”

Roen added his own words to the sentiment.

“Hmm…”

Glen nodded, his gaze ambiguous—not quite approving, yet unable to deny the truth.

“In any case, Rimer must feel considerably relieved now.”

He nodded briefly, thinking of Rimer’s vengeance coming to an end rather than Raon’s situation.

“That would be so.”

Roen also nodded with a faint smile.

“Then will he return to his former self?”
“Hmm, I’m not entirely certain. He’s fallen into corruption far beyond our expectations….”
“Um, well….”

Chad raised his hand, his face flushed with embarrassment.

“Did you perhaps not see the back page?”
“The back page?”
“Yes. There’s one more entry on the reverse side.”

He nodded emphatically, insisting it must be seen.

“Hmm….”

Glen flipped the report over. The moment he read a single line, his lips trembled violently.

“A, a Grand Master? That child reached Grand Master?”

Glen crushed the armrests of the Jade Throne and shot to his feet.

“Hah….”

Roen also seemed startled, his laughter coming in broken bursts.

“Damn it!”

Glen stamped his foot so forcefully the Platform nearly collapsed.

“Eek!”

Chad stumbled backward in alarm.

‘Why, why is he acting like that?’

I thought he would be delighted by the news I shared, but I never expected him to be angry.

‘Doesn’t he care for the Gwangpung Corps Commander?’

As I stared at Glen in confusion, his lips slowly parted.

“I thought it wasn’t time yet, but he’s already crossed the Wall! And I missed it!”

Glen, resentful that he hadn’t witnessed the moment Raon crossed the Wall, reduced even the remaining armrest of the Jade Throne to dust.

Crack!

Crimson brain energy erupted on its own, swirling around the Platform. It felt as though a scarlet tempest was about to descend.

“Aris. If not for that cursed thing, I would have witnessed that child crossing the Wall with my own eyes!”
“Ah….”

Chad’s mouth fell open.

‘So that was it?’

Glen wasn’t unhappy that Raon had reached Grand Master—he was bitterly regretful that he hadn’t witnessed it firsthand.

‘I shouldn’t think about this.’

I just need to look good in front of Raon Zigheart.

Chad clenched his fists tightly, vowing to welcome Raon and the Gwangpung Corps more grandly than ever before.

*

*

*

Raon heard that Sieulren had awakened and headed toward her chamber.

“R-Raon!”

Sieulren tumbled from the bed but scrambled to her feet immediately, rushing toward me. The bruises darkening her thighs and forearms caught my eye with painful clarity.

“Where are Father and my brothers?”

Even after enduring torture at the hands of her own family, the child’s first thought upon waking was to search for her father and brothers.

“Sigh…”

I exhaled deeply and knelt on one knee to meet Sieulren’s gaze.

“I’m sorry. I did everything I could, but I couldn’t keep my promise.”
“….”

Sieulren swallowed hard and sank backward onto her haunches.

“Then… does that mean…?”
“The Demonic Sword’s corruption had penetrated to the marrow. There was no other way.”

Huan Lakion had descended into madness so complete that he was draining the life force not only from his subordinates but from his own children—his son and daughter. Even if I could turn back time, there would be no choice but to end him.

“Actually…”

Sieulren’s eyelids trembled as she clenched the carpet with small fists.

“I knew the moment I woke up. That my wishes and reality had diverged.”
“….”
“I still held onto a faint hope, but my bad premonitions are never wrong.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No. You said you did your best.”

The child forced a smile and shook her head.

“What happens to me now?”

Sieulren lifted her trembling eyes. The sorrow seemed to run deeper than the fear.

“Will I be imprisoned in the Zigheart dungeons for being the daughter of a traitor family?”
“That won’t happen.”

I shook my head. Glen would never do such a thing now, and even if circumstances demanded it, I would prevent it.

“What do you want to do?”
“I….”

Sieulren lowered her head, gathering her thoughts for a moment before lifting it again.

“I want to protect this home.”
“This home?”
“Yes. It’s where Father, Mother, and my brothers lived.”

The child bit her lip, determined to preserve at least the memories she shared with her family.

“Hmm….”

I exhaled softly.

‘Can she manage it?’

About half of the Lakion Family’s warriors had survived, but there was no guarantee they would follow Sieulren. Even if they did, it would be a difficult path for such a young child.

“It will be hard.”
“That’s all right.”

Sieulren lifted her head confidently, as if her resolve was already set. In this brief moment, her eyes shone with clarity and unwavering determination.

‘She’s the child who tried to expose her family’s wrongdoings.’

This girl had personally sought out the Zigheart Branch to reveal her family’s secrets in order to save her clan. She would surely overcome the difficulties of restoring her family.

“Then come with me to Zigheart.”
“To Zigheart?”
“Yes. We need to meet with the Head of House.”
“Hmm….”
“Don’t worry. The Head of House is a wise person.”
“Ah, I understand.”

Sieulren clenched her small fist and nodded firmly.

“I’m leaving first thing tomorrow. Get some rest.”

I told Sieulren to rest and stepped out of her room.

-What an admirable little one! Wrath sniffled.

Wrath sniffled loudly.

-This place has madmen like you, but it’s impossible to hate it when there are such wonderful children here!

He offered only praise yet his eyes reddened as he grumbled.

‘He should be a bit more naive at that age.’

Now I finally understood why Sylvia had wished my maturity would come a little later.

I gazed at the darkening night sky and exhaled a short sigh.

‘I’m exhausted.’

My wounds weren’t severe, but Lectar’s betrayal had left me mentally drained. I missed home, yearned to see Sylvia and the family at the Annex Building.

‘And that person too.’

Strangely, I even found myself missing Glen’s face. I wanted to hear him say “well done” in that cold voice of his.

“I miss everyone.”

As I laughed awkwardly, the bushes to the right of the Dormitory rustled, and a raccoon suddenly bounded out, pointing at itself.

“Me?”
“….”

I shut my eyes tightly.

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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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