The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 574

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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 574

I lay sprawled on the ground for a long while, gazing up at the stars, before finally pushing myself to my feet.
I had expended most of my stamina and aura exchanging blades with Glen, yet strangely, my mind felt clearer than ever before.

‘This feels wonderful.’

The knot of tension that had been pressing against my chest vanished completely. It felt as though I had returned to the time before meeting Lectar at the Rakion Family, and a smile bloomed naturally on my face.

-Is that truly so?

Wrath sprang up like a firecracker and thrust his face toward me.

‘What do you mean?’
-You truly feel better now?!
‘Well, yes, but why the sudden question?’
-Then the True Demon King has something to tell you!

A grave light gathered in his sea-blue eyes.

‘Something to tell me….’

I swallowed hard as I met Wrath’s solemn gaze. When the cotton candy suddenly turned serious, I felt a flutter of tension.

‘Tell me.’
-You….

Wrath raised his round fist and furrowed his brow.

-You promised to buy the True Demon King ice cream the moment you arrived at the Family Estate, and you still haven’t kept that promise!
‘….’

My crimson eyes cooled as if all heat had drained from them.

‘Sigh….’
-What is with that look! You made me a promise!
‘I did. I did make one. But why bring it up now? And with such a serious face too. You pest!’
-P, pest?

Wrath’s lips trembled as he lifted his head.

-How dare you call the Lord of the Demon Realm a pest! I have waited for nothing but that promise!

He let out a sharp cry of indignation.

‘Waited for it?’

I narrowed my eyes as I looked at Wrath, whose face had flushed crimson like strawberry-flavored cotton candy.

‘Has he been holding back all this time?’

Now that I thought about it, Wrath had only brought up the ice cream after asking if I was in a better mood just moments ago.

‘In the old days, he would have thrown a tantrum and demanded I buy him ice cream the very day I made the promise.’

Since meeting Lectar, Wrath hadn’t mentioned ice cream once. It seemed he had been considerate of my wounded feelings.

‘Is Wrath changing too?’

Time and fate didn’t only transform relationships between people. My bond with Wrath was gradually shifting as well.

“I understand.”

I chuckled softly and pushed myself up. I brushed the dust from my clothes and nodded.

“Let’s go tomorrow.”
-Huh…?

Wrath’s eyes went wide with surprise.

‘Why are you surprised? You said to go.’
-Why is this contrary fellow suddenly obeying orders?
‘Sometimes it has to be this way.’
-Now you’re finally coming to your senses! Well thought! If you continue to obey me, I shall make you one of the True Demon King’s subordinates!
‘I’ll pass.’

I waved my hand lightly and returned to the Annex Building.
Since it was late, I tried to slip in quietly through the back door attached to the Kitchen, but I sensed someone’s presence in the darkness.

“Oh! Handsome Sir!”

It was Ensia, who revealed her identity with a single word. She bowed her head with a piece of bread clenched between her teeth. It seemed she had come out because she was hungry from her research.

“When did you arrive? Handsome Sir?”

Now it wasn’t “Handsome Raon” anymore—just “Handsome.” My name itself had disappeared.

“I arrived today. It hasn’t been more than a few hours.”
“Aaaah! I was so focused on my research that I didn’t even know you’d arrived! What an idiot I am!”

Ensia struck her forehead against the table in frustration.

“I missed the chance to see you for hours! I should just die!”
“P-please stop.”

I swallowed hard and grabbed Ensia’s shoulders. Every time we met, I felt it—she was truly exhausting to handle.

“But….”

Ensia blinked with the bread still in her mouth. Despite the trickle of blood flowing down her forehead, she paid it no mind and kept her gaze fixed on me.

“Did you dye your hair, Raon?”
“No.”
“Your blonde hair seems a bit darker.”

She murmured to herself with certainty and pulled a thick booklet from her pocket. When she opened it, photographs of me arranged by date were plastered inside.

“Ugh.”

I gazed at countless photographs of myself, my lips trembling.

‘This is rather unsettling….’

I hadn’t realized so many pictures had been taken, and a chill ran down my spine.

-You’ll end up like that Mad Woman at this rate! The seeds of obsession are already sprouting!

Wrath turned his head, saying the seeds were on the verge of germinating.

“That’s right! Your hair color has gotten darker.”

Ensia showed me a photograph from before we left on the mission, pointing it out.

“…Is that so.”

Honestly unsure, I simply nodded.

“What’s going on? Your blonde hair suddenly deepening in color—does that mean you’re becoming even more handsome? If you get any better-looking than this, you’d transcend humanity itself.”

Ensia laughed with a hehe, delighted at this new development.

I watched Ensia lost in her own world and smacked my lips.

‘I was planning to tell her tomorrow, but this works out better.’

I approached Ensia and lowered my head.

“I have a favor to ask of you, Ensia.”
“Just say it!”

She didn’t even ask what the favor was—she simply shouted for me to speak.

“Do you happen to know what this is?”

I pulled out the artificial arm artifact that Cloud had been wearing.

“Hmm….”

Ensia’s gaze finally lifted from me.

“It’s an artifact that can be used as a prosthetic arm. Not an ancient relic—it was made recently.”
“Recently?”
“Yes. The craftsmanship and materials are contemporary. It seems to have been made by a quite skilled artisan.”

She chuckled, musing that whoever crafted the arm must be someone of renown.

“Could you then modify this artifact to suit someone else?”
“It’s possible. Though it won’t be easy.”

Ensia clicked her tongue without taking her eyes off the artificial arm.

“What do you mean by ‘not easy’?”
“In its current state, it would be difficult to use. The design places too much strain on the wearer, so I’d need to completely redesign the blueprints.”

She narrowed her eyes, noting that it had been deliberately crafted for short-term use only.

“Furthermore, since it needs to interface with the arm, I’ll require natural materials. Sourcing them might take some time…”

Despite her words about the difficulty of acquiring materials, Ensia’s eyes gleamed with interest in the project.

“But who is this arm meant for?”
“Rimer.”
“Pardon?”

Ensia’s eyes widened.

“There was an incident during a mission.”
“I see.”

She nodded without pressing further.

“I’ll need to meet with Rimer first to determine the best approach.”
“Understood.”
“Then I’ll take this and examine it.”

With all her attention fixed on the artificial arm, Ensia entered her chamber without even bothering to take the bread she’d been eating.

‘Impressive.’

Though Ensia was usually playful and insisted on calling me by that strange term “handsome,” when it came to her work, she was more serious than anyone else. She was someone I could learn much from in many ways.

I tidied up the somewhat cluttered Kitchen and returned to my Room.

Knock, knock, knock.

As I was preparing clothes for washing, three knocks sounded at the door.

“Come in.”

Since only one person knocked three times, I immediately told them to enter.

Judith carefully opened the door and stepped inside, lowering her head.

“Nothing unusual happened?”
“Nothing special so far.”
“So something just came up?”
“Yes. A message came from the Central Intelligence Agency just now.”
“It must be about me.”

I smiled faintly and nodded.

“That’s correct. However, there was one additional request.”

Judith shook her head briefly.

“An additional request?”
“You were instructed to report any information you discover regarding the Hyunmu Division, no matter how trivial.”
“The Hyunmu Division….”

I lowered my head, my eyes narrowing.

“Isn’t that where Denier Zigheart serves as commander?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Why would they suddenly want me to investigate that place?”

Karun left the Audience Chamber with eyes so cold they sent shivers down my spine. I couldn’t understand why he suddenly wanted to gather information about the Hyunmu Division after showing me his anger.

‘Denier Zigheart….’

Denier had never caused trouble or made strange remarks. He didn’t give Sylvia and me special attention, but he didn’t ignore us like the others did either.

Yet whenever I looked into his eyes, I was oddly reminded of Derus Robert.

“Shall I look into what’s going on?”
“Yes. But be careful. I don’t think we should approach this recklessly.”
“Understood. I’ll also moderate the reports about you appropriately.”
“Thank you.”
“Then please rest.”

Judith bowed her head and rose to her feet.

“Wait.”

I stopped Judith as she turned toward the door.

“What about information on your sister?”
“…There’s still nothing.”

Judith shook her head with an expressionless gaze.

“My lord.”

She turned back around and bowed her head.

“I think it’s time to stop investigating my sister.”
“What?”
“Even with the Black Market’s resources, we haven’t found her yet. It may already be too late.”

Judith continued speaking with an emotionless expression, no different from when she was reporting.

“The costs have grown considerably, and the work seems to be getting more complicated. It would be better to give up here….”
“Are you serious?”

I studied the dimness in Judith’s eyes and scoffed.

….

Judith’s trembling fingers were her only response.

“To be honest, back then I thought I should find your sibling because you came under me. There was no emotion involved—it was merely a condition to accept you. But….”

I smiled faintly, watching Judith’s eyelids begin to waver.

“Now I genuinely wish for you to reunite with your sibling.”

It was no lie.

As I came to understand what bonds truly meant—family, mentors, friends—the value of my promise to Judith had transformed. Now I wanted to find her sibling no matter what it took.

“Don’t give up first.”

I grasped Judith’s shoulder. I didn’t apply pressure, but I wanted to convey the warmth of my sincerity.

“Yes….”

Judith’s shoulders trembled as she lowered her head. It seemed to be the first time since entering this room that she had revealed her emotions.

“Thank you.”

Judith bowed without lifting her head, then left the room.

-You’re becoming somewhat more human, aren’t you.

Wrath nodded with an expression that seemed both sullen and oddly satisfied.

‘I was always human.’
-You were only human on the surface; your insides were far more wicked than any demon!
‘You’re right, I haven’t been very human until now.’

As he said, I couldn’t shed the shadow of my past as an assassin in the beginning.
But meeting many people had been gradually fading the shadow of my previous life.

‘I’ll change even more from now on.’
-Shall the True Demon King teach you a way to become even more human?
‘Is there such a thing?’
-There is nothing in this world that cannot be done.

Wrath chuckled and tilted his chin up proudly.

‘What is that?’
-A promise, it is!
‘A promise?’
-Indeed! One can only be considered truly human if they keep their promises. Therefore! If you bring the True Demon King ice cream right this instant… cough!

I kicked Wrath away and sighed.

‘I’m truly exhausted….’

*

*

*

I leaned my back against the wall of the Annex Building and took a bite of mint chocolate ice cream.

-Ahhhhhhh!

Wrath clutched his chubby cheeks and let out an exclamation as if cotton candy were melting away.

-This is happiness, this is living! The True Demon King shall establish an Ice Cream Shop empire the moment I return to the Demon Realm!

He clenched his fists, declaring he would open a thousand locations across the entire Demon Realm.

‘Do as you wish….’

I set down my empty ice cream container and turned my gaze to the right, where Ensia and Rimer were.

“Mmmmm….”

Ensia let out a groan as if suffering from a toothache while staring at Rimer.
She had brought him along because she needed to see the subject directly to craft an artificial arm, yet she gazed only at his face, not his arm.

“He’s certainly handsome, but it’s a bit ambiguous.”
“What, what is?”

Rimer blinked with a reluctant expression.

“Since Raon has become even more handsome, even looking at the Red-haired Elf doesn’t really appeal to me.”

Ensia clicked her tongue briefly, saying his face had lost some of its luster.

“What nonsense!”

Rimer couldn’t contain himself and shot to his feet.

“I’m the most handsome man of the Yuhua branch! What could possibly be lacking about me! No, that’s right! I’ve even been called the most handsome man in Sepia!”

He shook his head, insisting there was no elf more handsome than himself.

“Raon is ranked first on the Continent, so even if the top elf came, it wouldn’t compare.”

Ensia waved her finger, saying they couldn’t even be placed on the same level.

“Besides, long hair isn’t my taste.”
“How pitiful that you don’t understand the charm of long hair!”

Rimer forced a smile while cold sweat dripped down his face.

“Charm? It’s obvious you just haven’t bothered to cut it.”
“Ugh….”

He trembled as he touched his split ends.

-What are they even talking about?
‘I have no idea.’

I shook my head. I’d brought Rimer here to examine his arm, but suddenly they were critiquing appearances. I didn’t understand what was happening.
And to make matters worse, my name kept coming up in the middle of it all, which was embarrassing.

“Hey.”

I sighed and approached Ensia and Rimer.

“Hey, Raon. This guy is strange! He was always strange, but he’s gotten even stranger!”

Rimer shook his head vigorously, muttering that Ensia had truly lost her mind.

“Raon. You pass for now.”
“Pass for now?”
“Yes. Your appearance was a bit ambiguous, but since you have a connection with Raon, I’ll do it for you.”
“Hey!”

Rimer shrieked and bounced to his feet.

“Ambiguous appearance?! I’ve never heard such a thing in my entire life!”
“Anyone looks ambiguous when standing before Raon. Don’t worry.”
“This cursed Raon-obsessed woman….”
“Oh my. Thank you for the compliment.”
“That wasn’t a compliment!”

Neither the Red-haired Elf boasting about her appearance nor Ensia evaluating that appearance as ambiguous seemed remotely normal.

“Weren’t you trying to attach the arm just now? Why aren’t you looking at the shoulder….”
“Inspiration is crucial for work like this. Your face, Rimer, is precisely on the borderline….”
“B-borderline….”

Rimer collapsed to the ground with genuine shock, his body going limp.

“My face is borderline level?”

He had apparently held some confidence in his appearance, but now his hands trembled with despair in his eyes.

“When your mother asked for a favor, didn’t you help her right away?”

I approached Ensia, who was adjusting the artificial arm, and asked.

“Both of you are blessed with exceptional looks and talent. There’s nothing to ask about!”

Ensia shook her head, insisting that those blessed with exceptional looks and talent should simply have their requests granted without question.

“I see. So it can be done regardless, correct?”

The conversation was spiraling into confusion, so I quickly steered it back to the main point.

“Yes! It’s vague, but I wanted to see Raon!”

Ensia nodded once more, metaphorically killing Rimer in the process.

“Ugh….”

Rimer now lay sprawled flat on the ground. His complexion had turned as pale as a blank sheet of paper.

-What a shame! That foolish woman should have seen the True Demon King’s face!

Wrath furrowed his brow, lamenting that he couldn’t have had a beauty contest.

-With the True Demon King’s appearance, I could have humiliated you just the same!
‘I don’t understand why that bothers him….’

I shook my head and approached Rimer.

“Are you alright?”
“This humiliation is unprecedented….”

Rimer clutched at the dirt, his shoulders trembling.

“I’ve never lost on looks before!”

He ground his teeth in genuine frustration.

“Don’t worry about such things….”
“Wait! Stay right there!”

Just as I tried to console Rimer, Ensia raised her camera.

Click!

She took a photograph of me and Rimer, then grinned widely.

“Wow. When a handsome guy stands next to an average-looking person, he looks even better! Is this the contrast effect?”

Ensia handed one of the two photographs that had emerged from the camera to me.

“Hmm….”

I examined the photograph containing both Rimer and myself, scratching my chin. Perhaps because she had been praised so much for her beauty, Rimer appeared somewhat diminished in comparison.

“Ah….”

Rimer lifted his head with great effort to look at the photograph, then collapsed like a jellyfish.

“I want to die. It hurts more than when my arm fell off. I should have died there!”
He closed his eyes, saying there was no way to argue back.

“Without my right arm, it’s hard to even clean myself, they won’t give me a pension or severance pay, and now I’m ugly too….”
“M-Master. Please hang in there.”

I approached Rimer and began massaging his shoulders. Normally I would have ignored him, but he looked so serious that I decided to comfort him first.

“Would you like me to lend you some money? Or if there’s anything you want to eat, just say the word.”

The moment those words left my lips, Rimer’s left hand gripped my wrist tightly.

“You just said I could ask for anything, right?”

Rimer rose to his feet with a sly grin.

“Huh…?”
“Then let’s go on a trip together. And you’re paying for everything, of course.”
“What? Suddenly where….”

I was astounded that he was haggling over travel expenses, but there was something I needed to ask first.

“The sacred ground of the remaining elves on the Continent. Sepia.”

He waved his hand and chuckled.

“There’s something there you’ll like.”

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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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