The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 587

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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 587

“What do you mean by that?”

Denier asked back, his gaze serene and composed.

“What do I mean? I’m talking to you.”

Aris Zigheart let out a soft laugh and leaned her back against the wall.

“Karun is a greedy man who would rather destroy a treasure he cannot possess. If he fails to become the Head of House, he might even burn down Zigheart.”
“….”

Denier said nothing, simply observing Aris Zigheart with a steady gaze.

“Valdemar is simple-minded yet a loyal fool. Because the family is precious to him, if Zigheart grows beyond its current state, he could accept anyone as the Head of House.”

Aris Zigheart continued, brushing her wind-swept hair back.

“Sylvia is a cowardly woman with courage. She made a choice even I couldn’t make. I still think she’s remarkable.”

She spoke Sylvia’s name and then turned her gaze to Denier.

“Finally, you are an observer. You don’t involve yourself in anything, and you don’t waste your emotions on any situation. To be honest, I still don’t know what you’re thinking.”
“An observer, you say….”

A faint smile formed at the corners of Denier’s lips.

“Is that not accurate?”
“No. I think it’s an apt description. You observe us better than I expected.”
“Still, you are my siblings.”

Aris Zigheart’s voice carried a distant quality, as if echoing from far away.

“So you’re saying it’s strange for a bystander to look after children?”
“Precisely.”
“People change, you know. You of all people should understand that better than anyone.”
“True. People do change. I thought the same thing when you took Martha as your adopted daughter.”

She nodded calmly.

“But even after taking Martha as your adopted daughter, you practically left her alone. It seemed like you were helping her from the shadows, but it was never obvious.”

Aris Zigheart frowned as she looked at Denier’s pristine hands.

“You’ve barely taught Martha directly, have you?”
“I suppose the excuse of not having time won’t work?”
“Of course not.”

She furrowed her brow, telling him to stop spouting nonsense.

“Surprising. I thought you were focused on your pirate games.”
“My eyes aren’t limited to just that.”

Aris Zigheart pointed to her own eyes with her fingers.

“You’ve always been different from how you appear, haven’t you?”
“You’re noisy. What are you thinking? Why are you suddenly abandoning your position as a bystander and acting out?”
“Didn’t I tell you? I’m changing a little too. Those children came back from their mission and immediately began training, so I was impressed and wanted to help them.”

Denier waved both hands, asking her not to misunderstand.

“You’ll die if you’re caught doing something pointless.”

Aris Zigheart seized Denier by the throat with a voice so chillingly cold that it sent shivers down the spine. The aura that emanated from her, entirely different from moments before, pressed down upon the space around them.

“You’re being harsh with your younger sibling.”
“Do you think I can’t do it?”
“No. If it’s you, you would. However….”

Denier received Aris Zigheart’s weighty presence with ease and offered a thin smile.

“Trust me a little, won’t you? Despite appearances, I would never do anything to harm Zigheart. I was the one who uncovered all of the Family’s traitors.”
“That’s the only reason I’m not throwing this fist at you right now.”

Aris clicked her tongue sharply and shook out her right fist.

“Those old days come back to me. I took quite a beating back then.”

Denier gazed at Aris’s fist and offered a faint smile.

“Aris!”
“We’re all set.”

Martha and Burren, fully equipped, called out to Aris.

“Auntie!”
“Auntie!”

Once again, Lunan was the first to cry out the word.

“I can’t tell if that kid’s cheerful or just insane.”

Aris shook her head and pushed off from the wall.

“Final warning. Don’t touch the children, and don’t stir up any unnecessary trouble.”
“You’re not listening to reason.”

Denier sighed and shrugged his shoulders.

“Hmph.”
“Sister.”

As Aris snorted and walked toward Burren, Martha, and Lunan, Denier called out her name softly from behind.

“Earlier, you assessed us—my brother as a tyrant, Valdemar as a man of honor, Sylvia as a coward.”
“And?”
“What about you, Sister?”
“Me? I’m a madwoman.”

Aris pointed to herself with her thumb and raised her voice.

“If I were stronger than Father, I would’ve seized the Head of House position.”
“That sounds about right. It fits perfectly.”

Denier nodded with a refreshing laugh.

“Is that an insult or a compliment?”
“A compliment.”
“I don’t like the way you smile.”
“Sister.”
“What now!”
“It would be better if you didn’t concern yourself with only me.”

Denier shook his head, his voice carrying a hollow resonance.

“What do you mean by that?”
“….”

He remained silent, simply gazing at Aris Zigheart.

“Tsk.”

Aris Zigheart glared at Denier, clicked her tongue, and turned away. Her steps toward the Gwangpung Corps leaders wavered slightly.

“I really don’t like this.”

*

*

*

“This child must pursue music!”

The Blue-haired Elf, whose heavy gaze seemed immovable even if the world crumbled, had vanished, replaced by an Elf whose eyes trembled as though possessed by spirits, pointing at Yua.

“Her ear for music, her voice, her technique—she was born with them all! This is a child destined for music from birth!”

She shook her head insistently, declaring that Yua’s path was not that of a warrior, but of a musician.

“You must be Syra, correct?”

I raised my hand in a calming gesture and called out the female elf’s name.

“Yes!”

Syra nodded vigorously, her voice rising with enthusiasm.

“I’m aware that Yua possesses talent.”

Given that Eden had once coveted her as a vessel for a Siren, it was only natural that I understood Yua possessed exceptional gifts.

But I hadn’t expected an accomplished musician among the elves to offer such extravagant praise.

“No. You don’t understand.”

Syra shook her head with firm conviction.

“There is no one—not among humans, nor among elves—who could match her.”
“Not even you, Syra?”
“I’m not even worthy of comparing myself to her fingernails!”
“Ah….”

She bit her lip, recognizing that such comparisons were beneath the dignity of the moment.

“Ahem!”

Yua held her head high with pride at such praise, letting out a self-satisfied cough. She scratched her head with a hint of embarrassment, which only made her appear more endearing.

“Then what exactly are you asking me to do?”
“She must train here. I wish to impart everything I know to her.”

Syra clenched her fist with determination, resolved to elevate Yua to the pinnacle of musical mastery.

“Hmm….”

I stroked my chin thoughtfully as I observed Syra’s clenched fist before me.

‘I’m delighted that she praises Yua’s talent, but….’

Leaving her here so suddenly feels hasty.

Since I was acting as her guardian in place of Yua’s Grandfather, it wasn’t a decision I could make lightly.

“Yua, what do you think?”
“Hmm, I’m not sure. I like the sword, and I also like singing and instruments.”

Yua shook her head, saying she wanted to do everything.

“We still have time to stay here, so let’s decide that later.”
“Ugh, what a waste of time….”

Syra’s shoulders trembled as if she wanted to stay up all night teaching.

“Then, while we’re here, would it be alright if I kept her with me?”

She lowered her head, pleading for permission. Her demeanor was so different from her first impression that I was more taken aback.

“You decide.”
“That sounds great!”

Yua raised her hand, saying she wanted to learn more about playing the grass flute.

“Then let’s go right now! I’ll prepare the meal!”

Syra rushed off to her home with Yua before I could even stop her.

“It’s like looking at myself.”

Rimer emerged from the Kitchen carrying a tray, a faint smile crossing his face as he watched Syra and Yua’s retreating figures.

“Pardon?”
“I had quite the struggle catching you back then too.”

Rimer set the food he’d brought onto the table, raising his eyebrows slightly.

“Is that so…?”

I couldn’t recall him making any such effort, but I found it bothersome to dwell on it and let it pass.

“What about me?”

Dorian raised a finger, asking what he had done.

“You tried to capture me too, no question about it. Without you as the quartermaster, there would be no Gwangpung Corps!”

Rimer forced a smile alongside a lie anyone could see through.

“As expected!”

Yet Dorian nodded enthusiastically at Rimer’s words, clearly pleased. Though he was the heir to the Sepia Trading Company, I doubted he should ever go into business.

-Slurp!

Wrath extended his tongue at the sight of the food spread across the table.

-F-Food! And such strange preparations I have never witnessed before!

The creature swallowed audibly, clearly delighted by the elven cuisine.

‘Everything truly is novel.’

The fruit pie’s color and aroma suggested it wasn’t made with ordinary flour.
It felt less like bread and more as though the fruit itself had been puffed and risen.

-Hurry and take up the fork! Bite into that pie first!
‘Understood. Just a moment.’

I calmed Wrath’s unusual impatience and lifted the fork. As I brought the pie toward my mouth, an icy chill raced down my spine.

“Hmm?”

Rimer felt it too, his eyes widening as he rose from his seat.

“What? Why are you two acting like that?”
“Wait.”

I didn’t answer Dorian’s question, instead bolting outside the Dormitory with Rimer.

Crackle, crackle, crackle!

The night sky tore open. The barrier protecting Sepia, maintained by the World Tree’s power, shattered like paper and scattered into the wind.

Yet strangely, it didn’t feel as though someone had forcibly broken through the barrier. It appeared as if the barrier had naturally faded away after countless years had passed.

“Dorian. Look after Yua.”

I draped the black dragon robe I’d set aside across my shoulders and gestured to Dorian.

“You should head straight to the World Tree. We need to protect the Guardians.”
“What about you!”
“I…”

I bit my lip as I gazed at Sepia’s entrance, now clearly visible as if the barrier had never existed at all.

“I need to go there.”

Merlin had told me to flee, but the Grand Forest now had many Elves standing guard at my request. I couldn’t simply abandon them and run.

Boom!

I stamped the ground fiercely, watching flames beginning to spread gradually through the Grand Forest.

-Damn it all! Why does trouble always erupt the moment the True Demon King tries to eat! This cursed sky! Can’t you stop pestering me!

Using Wrath’s anguished cry as a springboard, I ran faster and plunged into the Grand Forest.

*

*

*

“Standing guard without rest is absolutely killing me.”

The Blue-haired Elf sighed as he gazed at the darkening forest.

“Why does Erian trust that human so much?”

The Green-haired Elf with a small wound near his eye furrowed his brow.

“Isn’t he supposed to be the Spirit King’s contractor?”
“That doesn’t make sense. If he were truly the Spirit King’s contractor, he would have summoned the Spirit King when he saw the World Tree.”
“I don’t believe it either. But what can we do when the head of the Guardians says so?”

The Blue-haired Elf clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“Sigh, maybe that human just doesn’t like us?”
“What?”
“Maybe he’s doing this just to make our lives difficult. Why did enemies suddenly attack out of nowhere?”
“Now that you mention it… he seemed close with Siyan…”
“That’s it then! He’s retaliating against us for teasing Siyan a bit…”
“Is this really the time for idle gossip?”

Leiran, who had returned from reconnaissance, narrowed her eyes as she observed the Guardians standing at the entrance.

“L-Leiran.”
“That’s not the point…”
“This mission comes from Erian’s orders, not that human’s. If you’re unwilling to follow, then step down as a Guardian.”

Cold sweat trickled down the foreheads of the Elves at her icy words.

“N-No, that’s not it!”
“We have no complaints!”

The Elves shook their heads and straightened their posture, their gazes fixed forward.

Leiran sighed inwardly as she watched them.

‘I understand their frustration.’

Normally they should have rested for at least half a day, but because of Raon’s request, they had been sent to stand watch immediately. I could understand why the Guardians were reacting this way.

‘I’m frustrated too.’

I could accept standing watch, but what irritated me was that the cause of all this stemmed from a human’s words.

However, since it was Erian who made the decision, as I had told the other Elves, I had no choice but to comply.

‘Hm?’

As Leiran closed her eyes and shook her head, I sensed the presence of my kin emanating from the passage connecting the Grand Forest to Sepia.

‘Whose aura is that?’

It was unmistakably the presence of my own kind, yet the mana felt damp and unfamiliar—as though I had never encountered it before.

Moreover, the location where I now sensed this presence was a place I had recently scouted.
There had been no one there before. I had no idea what could have happened.

Just as Leiran carefully raised her bow, the barrier erected ahead of us snapped like a severed rubber band and dissolved effortlessly.

Whoooosh!

It was not merely the forward barrier. The entire primary barrier enveloping Sepia unraveled all at once, and the hidden world of the Elves nestled within the Grand Forest began to reveal itself.

“What… what is this…?”
“Why did the barrier suddenly…!”

The Elves standing guard trembled in bewilderment, their lips quivering.

“Hold your position here.”
“Leiran. You remain as well.”

As Leiran swallowed hard and nocked an arrow to her bowstring, Erian stepped forward.
He rested his hand upon his sword hilt, his gaze fixed upon the thicket ahead.

Swiiiiish!

With a desolate sound like a phantom brushing across the earth, the thicket parted of its own accord, and figures clad in black robes emerged.

“Who are you?”

Erian drew his blade in one fluid motion, his eyes narrowing as he fixed them upon the robed figures.

“Has so little time passed that you have already forgotten?”

A frail-framed human in the center cast off her robe. A female Elf with brilliant golden hair and ashen skin like rain-soaked sky revealed eyes that gleamed with a sickly yellow light.

The others had also removed their robes, revealing themselves to be elves with pointed ears and beautiful features—yet their skin bore an unsettling hue, ranging from ashen gray to deep black.

“C-Cassandra….”

Erian trembled as he gazed upon the ash-skinned elf, his lips quivering as though witnessing something forbidden.

“Who… who are they?”

At Leiran’s question, Erian tore his gaze away, his eyes still trembling.

“Defectors. Elves who abandoned Sepia. But….”

He swallowed hard, admitting he had never witnessed skin transformed in such a manner.

“D-Defectors….”

Leiran’s fingertips trembled as she stared at Cassandra.

‘Could these be those defectors….’

She had heard tales of elves who departed Sepia before her birth, driven by ideological conflict.
The Guardians had supposedly sent them away with grace, yet she could not fathom why they had suddenly appeared and dissolved the barrier.

“What possessed you to suddenly appear and dismantle the barrier?”

Erian’s teeth clenched as he fixed his gaze upon Cassandra.

“You must know you survived because of the Guardians! Why return and undo their protection?”
“We came to express our gratitude to them.”

Cassandra waved her hand dismissively and nodded with a light smile.

“They are far too virtuous for this harsh world. It is only right that we hasten their departure.”

She made no effort to conceal her true intent—she was openly targeting the Guardians.

“Do you truly believe that is possible? The Guardians will arrive soon!”
“Even during the purification ritual?”

Cassandra’s lips curled into a long, satisfied smile.

“I know everything, Erian. Have you forgotten that I was once your superior?”
“….”

Erian bit his lip without responding. Just as I had initially anticipated, they had clearly seized this moment while the Guardians were occupied with the ceremony.

“Things are different now. I won’t let you through!”
“That would be entertaining, but we’re short on time….”

Cassandra snapped her fingers, and the ashen-skinned Elves standing behind her shattered the spheres they held.

Kyaaaang!

The moment brilliant light erupted from the spheres and shot skyward, a colossal magic circle materialized on the ground where the barrier had vanished.

Kuwaaaaaa!

A wave of crimson flames blazed forth from the magic circle, spreading outward and beginning to consume the Forest.

“Come forth!”

Erian extended his hand forward, summoning a supreme-tier wind spirit. The spirit spread its wings as if taking flight, attempting to suppress the inferno with fierce winds, but instead it was driven back by the sheer force of the flames and slammed into the ground.

“How… how is this possible?”

Even accounting for wind and fire’s poor compatibility, I should have been able to control the atmosphere and suppress the flames, at least temporarily. Yet the crimson fire spread without regard for the wind itself. The firepower was so overwhelming that the thickets and trees surrounding Sepia were already engulfed in roaring flames.
The firepower was so intense that the bushes and trees around Sepia were already burning to ashes.

“Do you really think you can stop the crimson flames with a breeze like that?”

With a scornful laugh mixed in, the surging flames began to take shape into the form of a person.

Goooooal!

A sturdy, muscular body is revealed, with fists as large as boulders clenched despite the scattered, bulky frame.
Kugugugugu!

Cuckoo cuckoo cuckoo!

The Lizard Helmet Wearer’s terrifying aura of power caused the highest-tier wind spirit to tremble and shrink back, as if facing Raon himself.

“Crimson Flame…?”

Erian’s lips quivered as he gazed upon the helmet worn by the man.

‘A lizard’s face, a single horn, and crimson flame….’

If only one of those three existed, he might have been confused, but all three combined could only mean one thing.

“…Could it be Ifrit?”
“Correct.”

Cassandra snapped her fingers and nodded.

“The Fire Spirit King you all desired so much has returned.”
“Why is Ifrit in Eden!”
“Because this is where I belong.”

The Ifrit Helmet Wearer extended his hand forward. Crimson flames burst forth as if piercing through his palm, engulfing Erian and the Elves.

“Grrgh!”

Erian bit his lip as he watched the vortex of flames rushing toward him.

‘If I dodge, I can fight longer.’

Though he wore the Ifrit Helmet, the aura he emanated didn’t seem to reach the transcendent realm. If I evaded this assault and fought back, I could endure.

But the moment I dodged, my younger brother and the Elves would perish, the entrance to Sepia would be sealed, and this place would become a hellscape of fire. I had to block it somehow.

Clang!

Erian drove his trembling legs into the ground and thrust his sword forward.

“Rise!”

He reached out to the highest-tier wind spirit that was being crushed by the aura. His desperate cry seemed to reach it, and the spirit, which had been dispirited, struggled to its feet and conjured a mighty wind.

Kwaaaaaaaa!

A tremendous storm of flames halted before the wind blade. It was the force of will enduring the worst of circumstances.

“Gaaahhh!”
“Ugh….”

But the flames were so fierce that the two Elves standing nearby melted away in the inferno.

“Leiran….”

Erian called out Leiran’s name as if spitting blood.

“Please, summon the Elder and Raon, and evacuate everyone….”
“B-brother….”
“I’m fine, now go!”

His eyes burned with unwavering resolve, as though he had already accepted death.

“Everyone, retreat!”

Leiran issued the order to the Guardians and turned away. She forced strength into her trembling legs and ran toward Sepia.

‘I….’

I killed my brother.

If I had heeded Raon’s counsel properly, if I had observed every detail until the end, if I had scouted beyond the Grand Forest, my brother would never have needed to stand in the way like this.

I wanted to kill the version of myself from hours ago—the one who had dismissed Raon as merely human.

Whoooosh!

As Leiran ran toward Sepia through her dimming vision, a clear yet warm wind blew from the opposite direction.
The breeze that brushed past her carried its fragrance undiminished even through the scorching heat that consumed all around.

Leiran clasped her hands together, watching the wind’s back.

‘Please….’

*

*

*

Erian’s hands trembled as he held back the inferno.

‘This is relentless….’

From blocking the crimson flames, burns had already spread across both his arms, the flesh beginning to char and blacken.
The excruciating pain made his vision swim so violently that collapsing would have been no surprise.

But he couldn’t fall now. He had to hold on, even if just for a moment longer, to give the others time to prepare.

“I’m sorry. Hold on for me.”
Whimper…

He forced a smile as he met the eyes of the spirit, which continued to shrink. The spirit let out a low cry, as if to say it was fine.

Roooar!

As he endured with every last ounce of strength, arrows from both left and right pierced through both his arms.

“Ugh!”

Erian lost his balance and doubled over. His arms wouldn’t respond—the arrows must have been laced with paralytic poison.

“You’re stalling too long.”

Cassandra curled her lips and shook her head.

“We’re in a hurry.”

She gestured with her chin toward the Ifrit Helmet Wearer, signaling him to finish it.

“Hmph. I didn’t need your help anyway.”

The Ifrit Helmet Wearer flicked his fingers, and Erian’s wind and blade strikes shattered as the inferno engulfed him.

“Ha….”

Erian let out a hollow laugh as he gazed upon the inferno’s prison, its walls closing in from all sides.

‘Is this how it ends….’

But that was fine.
Raon would save Sepia for him.

As the Spirit King’s contractor, Raon would surely be able to save Sepia.

‘Please….’

It was the moment Erian, trusting in Raon, gazed toward the only opening in the void above.

A light utterly unlike the flames that engulfed the Grand Forest descended—a silvery-white radiance as if the moon itself had melted, consuming the sky.

Roooaaarrr!

Within a world frozen solid, where charred trees, gray smoke that had drenched the night sky, and even the crimson flames it had boasted so proudly were all locked in ice, a black cloak embroidered with a dragon fluttered with noble grace.

“You held on well. From here on….”

The crimson eyes that had been watching over Erian turned forward, wreathed in a chilling, piercing light.

“I’ll take it from here.”

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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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