The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 578

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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 578

I narrowed my eyes as I watched Wrath floating there in a daze.

‘Did you do this to that superior-grade spirit?’
-Huh?

Wrath scratched his plump belly and tilted his head in confusion. He stared blankly at the terrified superior-grade spirit before clapping his hands loudly.

-That’s it! That bird must have shrunk like this because it sensed the True Demon King’s majesty!
‘….’

Watching Wrath’s reaction, it was clear he hadn’t intentionally revealed his presence. The superior-grade spirit must have sensed something about Wrath on its own.

-Spirits are beings closest to nature, so it’s only natural they’d sense the True Demon King’s majesty!

Wrath chuckled, finally pleased that someone recognized him.

‘Did you happen to visit the Spirit Realm too?’
-It was quite long ago, but yes, I went there.
‘And… did you eat spirits while you were there?’
-Why ask the obvious? They were chewy and delicious.

Wrath smacked his lips, calling them a delicacy.

-Green spirits taste like green grapes, and red spirits taste like strawberries.
‘I didn’t ask about the taste of spirits!’

I pressed my temples while biting my lip.

‘That’s exactly why this happened!’

It seemed the superior-grade spirit remembered Wrath devouring spirits and was terrified because of it.

‘This is hopeless….’

I’d heard that spirits and their summoners don’t truly converse, but they do share a certain level of communion.
If a supreme-tier spirit were to bring up the subject of the Demon King, everyone in this place would be in mortal danger.

-That’s impossible. The Fire Spirit King and Water Spirit King were in the Spirit Realm at that time, so that young one could never have met the True Demon King.

Wrath shook his head, insisting the supreme-tier spirit hadn’t seen him.

-It merely submitted to my very presence itself!

He laughed with a self-satisfied chuckle, demanding my praise.

‘I wish that were true, but I need to prepare for the worst-case scenario. The moment the Demon King is mentioned….’

I’d have to cut down every elf here.

It would be regrettable toward Rimer, but if they brought up the Demon King, I’d have no choice but to kill them all.

I gripped the hilt of the Heavenly Sword tightly and bent my knees, preparing to burst forward at any moment. Then I lifted my gaze toward Erian.

“What?”

He stared at me with wide eyes, his expression one of disbelief.

‘Have I been discovered?’

I bit my lip hard and was about to activate Taewhabo when Erian’s mouth opened again.

“A… a great being?”

He muttered “great being” instead of Demon King, his jaw trembling.

“Huh…?”

I stopped mid-dash and opened my eyes wide in confusion.

‘What is this?’

A great being?

I expected him to mention the Demon Lords, but the sudden mention of a “great being” caught me even more off guard.

“Could this great being possibly refer to the Spirit King?”
Kiii-eee-eee.

The highest-tier wind spirit shook its head slowly. It seemed uncertain itself.

“Ugh….”

Erian lifted his trembling jaw and his sword hand began to shake.

“Human! Did you perhaps make a contract with the Spirit King?”

Even as he asked, his pupils dilated visibly, as though he couldn’t believe his own words.

“….”

Raon blinked blankly at Erian.

‘What nonsense is this….’

Unable to comprehend the situation, my mouth fell open involuntarily.

“The Spirit King?”

Leiran, waiting in the rear, posed the bewildered question on my behalf.

“I sense no trace of spirit essence from this human whatsoever.”
“That’s precisely why he’s the Spirit King! The Spirit King transcends the very hierarchy of spirits! Of course we cannot perceive his essence!”
“That cannot be. The two remaining Spirit Kings are bound to maintaining the Spirit Realm and cannot venture outside.”
“Then a new Spirit King must be emerging—a fire or water spirit destined to become king has taken interest in this human!”
“Such an absurd notion….”
“Why is it absurd? Do not presume to judge the great ones with your limited mind.”

Leiran shook her head in disbelief, but Erian had already clamped his lips shut, convinced of his own theory.

“When did you even contract with the Spirit King? Truly, you are my finest disciple!”

Rimer approached with wide eyes. I couldn’t fathom why this man was so easily deceived.

“A Spirit King?! Fire or water?”

Dorian’s excitement was evident as he exhaled sharply, asking whether I was contracted to a Fire Spirit King or a Water Spirit King.

“I don’t think that’s it….”

Only Yua tilted her head, sensing something was amiss.

-You thoughtless fools!

Wrath shot forward with a sharp cry.

-How dare you compare the True Demon King to mere spirits! Do you have a death wish?!
Kyieeeek….

As he thrashed about in his fury, the supreme-tier spirit’s spirit sank even lower, and it buried its head into the ground with its eyes shut.

I took a measured breath as I observed the chaotic situation.

‘Now I’m starting to understand.’

That supreme-tier spirit wasn’t remembering Wrath from his rampage in the Demon Realm—it had sensed the bone-chilling cold he emanated and the extraordinary caliber of his soul, recognizing him as a being of immense power.

It seemed like something that would naturally occur, given that spirits were the closest beings to nature itself.

‘Not the worst outcome, but far from ideal.’

The fact that my connection to a Demon Lord hadn’t been revealed was a narrow escape from catastrophe, but being known as a Spirit King’s contractor was hardly a blessing either.

“Sigh….”

I exhaled softly and shook my head.

“I’m not a Spirit King’s contractor. This is actually my first time seeing a spirit, so there must be some misunderstanding….”
“That’s it!”

Erian nodded quickly, as if catching onto something.

“Spirit Kings don’t typically form contracts with those who already have contracts with other spirits. A being preparing to become a new king must be observing you!”

He bit his lip, expecting the Spirit King to speak to him soon. He had already fallen into his own world and wasn’t listening to anyone else.

“That guy’s always been lost in his own world, so he doesn’t listen to others.”

Rimer waved his hand dismissively, saying he’d felt this way ever since he first met Erian.

“That does seem to be the case….”

I chewed my lip.

‘This is driving me insane….’

I let out a hollow laugh at the absurdity, then recalled what Wrath had said earlier.

‘But what did he mean about the Fire Spirit King and Water Spirit King being gone?’
-Don’t you know? Those two have been missing from the Spirit Realm for quite some time now.

Wrath nodded calmly.

‘Why?’
-I heard they fought a death match against each other and both died, though I’m not certain if that’s true.

He waved his hand, saying he had no interest in those weaker than himself.

‘How does the Spirit Realm maintain itself without Spirit Kings?’
-Because the Earth and Wind Spirit Kings are working their tails off. Plus, there’s one more who’s entered.
‘Another one?’

I was about to ask who that was when Erian’s mouth opened again.

“I can’t leave a human who will contract with a Spirit King in this state.”

Erian sheathed his sword and sent the highest-tier Wind Spirit back to the Spirit Realm.

“Follow me.”

He gestured for me to enter Sepia.

“What do you mean?”

Leiran blocked the path with the hand holding her bow.

“Even if that human truly is the Spirit King’s contractor, he cannot be allowed into Sepia at this time.”

She shook her head, insisting that bringing an outsider during such a critical period was impossible.

“A Spirit King’s contractor appearing after hundreds of years. Moreover….”

Erian furrowed his brow as he looked at Rimer.

“It’s right to bring him now for the sake of dealing with that bastard.”
“But….”
“I’ll take responsibility.”

He gestured for Raon to follow, fully convinced that he was the Spirit King’s contractor.

“Ha, I really did raise my disciples well.”

Rimer grinned with satisfaction at avoiding a conflict and patted Erian’s shoulder.

I grabbed my forehead as I looked at Rimer.

‘This is no time to laugh, you fool!’

*

*

*

“Hmm….”

A red-haired elf with faint traces of time etched across her face stroked her chin.

“The runaway finally returns.”
“Yes?”

A female elf peeking out from beneath her blankets lifted her head slightly. Hair like molten platinum flowed down softly like spring water.

“W-who’s coming?”

Her red lips trembled not with curiosity, but with worry.

“Your brother.”
“Oh!”

The golden-haired elf’s ears perked up like a rabbit’s. Yet her upper body remained stubbornly tucked beneath the blanket.

“Really, truly?”
“Yes. Though his temperament seems to have changed somewhat.”

The red-haired elf gazed at the female elf with a faint smile.

“Siyan. Won’t you go meet your brother?”
“Ah….”

The female elf called Siyan slowly shuffled her legs and retreated into the blanket like a tortoise.

“I’m… embarrassed.”
“What’s there to be embarrassed about when meeting family after so long?”
“So much time has passed….”
“Family is not something to be measured by time.”

The red-haired elf stroked Siyan’s head and shook her head gently.

“Hmm? Three humans are coming with him as well.”
“H-humans?”
“Remarkably strong. Despite their young age, they’re Grand Masters—such impossible talent.”

The red-haired elf let out a genuine exclamation of admiration.

“What do you say? Won’t you go with them?”
“….”

Siyan didn’t answer the red-haired elf’s words, only blinking her eyes from within the blanket.

“I-I’ll stay here….”
“Sigh….”

The red-haired Elf exhaled softly and lifted her gaze, the fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes trembling delicately.

“Siyan. There isn’t much time left anymore.”
“….”
“I can manage this time, but next time it may truly be impossible. You should prepare yourself mentally.”
“Yes, I understand.”

From beneath the blanket came Siyan’s voice, strained and hesitant.

“Very well then. I’ll take my leave.”

The red-haired Elf waved her hand lightly and departed from the room.

“….”

Siyan remained hidden beneath the blanket, not even breathing audibly. Only after she heard the red-haired Elf’s footsteps fade from The Facility did she throw off the blanket and burst outside.

“I’m sorry. But I never wanted to be born as a High Elf either.”

Siyan sighed deeply and shook her head.

“Worse than an ordinary elf, with nothing I can do well….”

With her shoulders slumped, she grasped the book resting on the bed.

Siyan murmured about wanting to live an ordinary life as she opened the book. The pristine cover bore the name Raon Zigheart engraved upon it.

“I wish I could become Raon Zigheart too….”

*

*

*

I narrowed my eyes as I followed Erian.

‘This one really does seem like a true elf.’

Unlike Rimer, Erian simply opened a path through the forest by walking.
While Rimer possessed superior raw power, Erian’s affinity with nature seemed to run deeper.

When I turned my gaze toward the sharp stare coming from beside me, Leiran was openly fixing her eyes on me.
Her gaze was filled with doubt—as if questioning whether I could truly become the Spirit King’s contractor.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

I awkwardly waved my hand toward Leiran.

“My apologies. It was rude of me to stare so directly at a human.”

Leiran bowed respectfully, admitting her mistake.

“But a Spirit King’s contractor is truly….”
“Didn’t I say it was true?”

Erian turned to face Leiran, his brow furrowing.

“Do you not trust me?”
“This matter is simply difficult to believe.”

True to her nature as an elf, Leiran spoke her doubts directly to her superior without hesitation.

“Hmph. You’ll understand when we arrive. Whose words were correct.”
-That’s textbook begging the question.

Wrath glared at Erian, grinding his teeth.

‘Begging the question?’
-The answer’s already decided. He’s just telling you to accept it. An absolute fossil!

He trembled with clenched fists, muttering that the more he saw of this guy, the more irritating he became.

“Yes, I’ll come to understand.”

Leiran bowed her head to me as if apologizing for the interruption.

“It’s fine.”

I shook my head and furrowed my brow.

‘This is maddening. How am I supposed to clear up this misunderstanding?’
-Summon me at once, the True Demon King!

Wrath beat his chest, insisting he would handle it himself.

-If I freeze all the elves in this place alive, no one will ever dare compare the True Demon King to mere spirits again!

He let out a sinister laugh, threatening to turn every elf in existence into ice statues.

‘My head’s already spinning. Just stay quiet for now.’
-I refuse! Give me control of your body!
‘Just go back inside!’

As I pushed Wrath into the bracelet, Erian’s footsteps came to a halt.

“This is Sepia.”

Following his words, I lifted my gaze, and my eyes filled with a world brimming with verdant foliage.
Golden sunlight cascading from the sky breathed life into the trees and grass, making it feel as though I were gazing upon a realm beyond reality itself.
Though the trees and thickets were as abundant as in the Grand Forest, the open paths prevented any sense of chaos or oppression.

‘Do they live within the trees?’

The elves appeared to dwell within the trees like squirrels.
Yet because humans also traversed this place, I could see structures bearing the marks of their craftsmanship scattered throughout.

‘So that’s why the mana purity is so high.’

The elves lived in symbiosis with nature without despoiling it, which explained why the mana concentration here was far denser than anywhere else.

‘I don’t see the World Tree.’

Whether hidden behind a barrier or not, that colossal tree said to touch the heavens was nowhere in sight.

“Ah….”
“Wow!”

Dorian’s eyes widened in surprise, while Yua burst into laughter at the rich scent of mana.

I surveyed the interior of Sepia and licked my lips.

‘No one’s here.’

I’d heard that some people came and went from Sepia, but not a single human was visible now.
Leiran had mentioned having something important to attend to within Sepia—that must be the reason.

“It’s just as it was.”

Rimer gazed across Sepia’s landscape, his eyes glistening with nostalgia.

“You seem to have changed quite a bit.”

Erian frowned as he looked at Rimer.

“The world never stops changing.”

Rimer laughed, meeting Erian’s fierce gaze.

“Just continue with the guidance.”
“Irritating bastard.”

Erian twisted his mouth and entered deeper into Sepia.

“Hm?”
“…Rimer?”
“That’s right. It’s Rimer.”
“Have you finally returned?”

The elves within Sepia recognized Rimer and widened their eyes. Whether it was an elven trait or not, none of them seemed particularly shocked, but they clearly knew who he was.

“Wasn’t he dead?”
“His right arm seems to be missing…”
“I heard he fled because of the sword. Why has he returned?”
“Hmm. Is it because of that incident?”
“But Rimer isn’t a High Elf, is he?”
“And what about the humans? Why are they here now…?”

The elves stopped in their tracks, looking at Rimer with cautious expressions as they parted their lips.

“It’s been ages! How has everyone been?”

Rimer waved his hand cheerfully toward the elves.

“Why, why is he acting like that?”
“Like some human….”
“How could the dignified Rimer speak in such a manner….”
“His clothes are strange too.”
“Has he been corrupted by humans?”

The elves trembled beneath their eyes, bewildered by Rimer’s frivolous tone.
They seemed more shocked by his manner of speech than by the fact that his arm had been severed.

I furrowed my brow as I watched Rimer’s back.

‘How has this elf even lived until now?’

Judging by the elves’ reactions, the previous Rimer must have been truly composed. His personality was becoming increasingly unpredictable.

“You should prepare yourself. You’ll be going to see Sterin.”

Erian fixed Rimer with a cold gaze before quickening his pace.

“Prepare for what?”

Rimer scoffed and followed after Erian.

‘Sterin….’

Probably a High Elf.

Sterin was the elf Rimer had said was the leader of Sepia. I grew curious about his strength and what spirits he could summon.

As I followed Erian deeper, the path grew narrower and the elves we encountered became fewer.
It was fascinating—when visiting human leaders, the paths grew increasingly ornate and crowded.

“This is it.”

He stopped before a massive zelkova tree with an old door embedded in its trunk. While the tree was quite large, it was hard to believe that a race’s guardian would dwell in such a place.

“Don’t be flippant. Show proper respect.”

Erian dragged his hand across his sword hilt as if to say he’d kill anyone who spouted nonsense.

“I know. Don’t worry.”

Rimer waved his hand, urging him to hurry inside.

Knock, knock.

Erian clicked his tongue and knocked on the door attached to the tree.

“Guardian. We have visitors from outside….”
“Come in.”

Before he could finish explaining, a soft voice flowed from within the tree—a clear, serene tone that seemed to ease both body and mind.

“Yes.”

Erian carefully opened the door and stepped inside. The interior was wider than it appeared from outside, yet surprisingly modest for the dwelling of a race’s guardian.
Still, it made sense given that the inhabitant was an elf.

A red-haired elf lay reclined in a rocking chair that seemed woven from vines. The elf, whose sunken eyes bore a resemblance to Rimer’s, creased the corners of his eyes as he lifted his upper body.

‘So this man is the elf guardian.’

He stood in the same realm as Glen Zigheart and the Holy Sword Master, yet his temperament was entirely different.
Unlike those two who revealed themselves to the world, this elf had harmonized himself with it.
He seemed to have achieved a unique pinnacle, embodying nature within both body and spirit.

“Rimer. You’re quite late….”

Sterin gazed at Rimer with a faint smile.

“Grandfather!”

Rimer rushed toward Sterin and embraced him tightly.

“Huh? Rimer?”

Sterin’s jaw trembled in bewilderment as Rimer suddenly embraced him.

‘That man was even the bloodline of a leader?’

I stood frozen, my mouth agape in shock.

“You absolute madman!”

Erian forcibly pulled Rimer away, his brow furrowed in irritation.

“His return isn’t what matters right now. The missing Spirit King’s contractor has appeared!”

He shoved Rimer aside and pointed toward me.

“You two….”

Sterin’s eyes narrowed as he looked between Rimer and Erian in turn.

“Did Satan possess you?”

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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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