The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 623

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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 623

Dorian lay prone, peering into the darkening forest. After swallowing hard, I crawled silently behind a rounded boulder, smooth as a turtle’s shell.

“Phew…”

I exhaled the breath I’d been holding, my back pressed against the cold stone.

‘This is absolutely killing me.’

I wiped the cold sweat dripping down my forehead and shook my head. Two days had passed since the concentration enhancement training began, and I had already experienced six deaths.

Once caught by Martha, once apprehended by Dogyae, and four times encountering Raon—and each time I met Raon, I was beaten so thoroughly that dust rose from my body. By now, I barely had the strength to mask my presence.

‘Am I really the one with a life-or-death match scheduled for next year?’

My duel with the Demon King wasn’t far off, yet here I was, devoting all my efforts to the Gwangpung Corps’ training instead of my own cultivation. It was remarkable, in a way.
Every time I felt it—I was a completely different caliber of person compared to him.

‘When the Organization Master pushes like this, I can’t afford to slack off.’

There was one reason Raon carved time from his busy schedule to focus on the Gwangpung Corps’ training: to save even one more person when we went on missions.

Knowing his heart, I couldn’t take this training lightly.

‘I need to move now.’

Staying in one place too long wasn’t wise. I was about to shift my weight and move after resting a bit when a black shadow fell across the ground.

“Huh…?”

My lips trembled as I looked up. Two crimson moons hung above the boulder. No—those weren’t moons. They were Raon’s red eyes.

“Kyaaaaaaah!”

I tried to flee with a scream, but Raon’s foot pinned my shoulder, and my body wouldn’t move.

Whoosh!

Raon planted his feet firmly and thrust his spear directly at Dorian’s solar plexus without hesitation.

“Gaaahhh….”

He tried to defend himself with aura, but Raon’s attack pierced through it entirely, delivering a violent impact deep within his body. The force knocked the wind from him as if he’d been struck by a sledgehammer.

‘What… what on earth is this….’

It wasn’t that the attack shattered his aura—it simply ignored it altogether. The absurdity left him speechless.

“I’m getting used to this.”

Raon examined his own hand with a satisfied smile, as if conducting an experiment.

“Is this the seventh time?”
“Why do you keep coming after me….”

Dorian whimpered while bent over at the waist.

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t looking for you this time.”
“What?”
“Beneath here.”

Raon pointed to the ground beneath the rock where Dorian had been hiding moments before. A faint smile crossed his face as he stomped down with tremendous force.

Boom!

A deafening roar erupted as if the mountain itself were collapsing, and a massive chasm tore open in the earth. Rimer and Crain burst forth from the pitch-black depths below.

“Gasp!”
“H-how did you….”

Rimer and Crain stood slack-jawed, unable to comprehend how he’d discovered them beneath the ground.

“You should sleep quietly. How can you sleep while snoring like that?”

Raon shook his head as he pointed to the drool trickling from Rimer’s mouth.

“You crazy bastard! How are your ears so sharp? Are you an Elf?”
“No, I’m human.”

He rolled his shoulders lightly and drew the Heavenly Sword.

“Crain. There’s no other way now. Let’s fight!”
“Yes, understood!”
“You take the front. I’ll prepare an ambush from behind.”
“Yes!”

Crain stepped forward with his lips pressed together. His eyes gleamed with the resolve of someone prepared for death.

“Sigh.”

I watched Crain and exhaled deeply.

“Look behind you.”
“Those words won’t work on me. I haven’t been idle all this time either!”

Crain gripped his sword with both hands, determined to fight to the end, and drew his aura to its maximum. The sword energy gathered on his blade condensed, creating a sharp sword aura.

“That’s not it. The Elf you trusted ran away.”

I waved my hand dismissively.

“Huh….”

Crain turned around. He widened his eyes as he confirmed that Rimer, who had seemed so reliable, was nowhere to be found.

“That damn Elf….”
“But you really shouldn’t turn around like that.”

I took advantage of the moment Crain turned to strike his abdomen with the flat of my blade.

Whoosh!

Crain was hit by the Heavenly Sword and crashed to the ground. He trembled violently and screamed.

“Grraaahhhhh!”
“It’s true that the Deputy Master fled, but we can’t simply give up. Whether we fight to the end or seize an opportunity to escape, we needed to make a swift decision.”

I inscribed a mark of death upon Crain’s forehead and surveyed the direction Rimer had fled.
As I prepared to follow the trail, Martha burst forth from behind the thicket on my right.

“I’m tired of running now. Come on!”

Martha beckoned with her fingers, eager for immediate combat.

“That temperament of hers never changes.”

I chuckled as if I’d anticipated Martha’s arrival, spinning the Heavenly Sword in a graceful arc.

“If you wish to receive punishment, I’ll oblige.”

I planted the Heavenly Sword at my center and stepped into the Taewhwa Stance. In an instant, I closed the distance to Martha and unleashed the Gwangah Blade. The silver aura clinging to the blade bared its fangs like a savage beast, ready to tear at her throat.
The silver blade’s aura bared its fangs like a savage beast, threatening to tear at Martha’s neck.

Screeeech!

Martha, reading the flow of the Gwangah Blade, unleashed her Berserk Form and extended her sword to meet mine.

Claaaaaang!

Steel clashed against steel, and a violent explosion erupted. Martha poured all her strength into her blade strike, but the flames of Manhwagong overwhelmed her, and her sword technique itself shattered.

“Ugh….”

Just as Martha’s blade began to tilt downward, a wave of frost crashed down from the tree on my left.

Booooom!

Silver-white frigid energy enveloped the surroundings, releasing the pressure from the Heavenly Sword.

“….”

Lunan descended from the tree and took his position beside Martha.

“Didn’t you say this would be a one-on-one duel?”

I furrowed my brow as I burned away the chill seeping into the Heavenly Sword.

“The enemy of my enemy is my ally.”

Lunan declared that he had now become Martha’s comrade and leveled his blade at me.

“….”

I observed Lunan’s beloved sword Seolhwa before extending the Heavenly Sword backward.

Crash!

Burren, who had approached silently, was struck by the Snow Wind Sword Strike and sent flying backward.

“Ugh….”

Burren planted his hand on the ground, his expression darkening.

“Surprise attacks don’t work either.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I was just trying to block your path a little.”

He waved his hand at Crain and Dorian, signaling them to retreat quickly.

“I see.”

I smiled faintly as I looked at Martha, Lunan, and Burren in turn.

‘All three of them understand what this training truly means.’

This concentration enhancement training wasn’t merely aimed at improving focus and combat experience.
It was designed to teach them how to move when a mission fails and they must scatter and flee—and these three had stepped forward to buy time for their subordinates.

“Admirable, though….”

I stepped forward with Tae Hwa Bo, raising a sword aura far greater than the combined strength of Burren, Martha, and Lunan above the Heavenly Sword, watching the shock bloom in their widening eyes.

“I have no intention of going easy on them.”

*

*

*

Glen Zigheart stood atop Tiger Rock, observing the battle between Raon and the three squad leaders.

“Heh heh….”

Roen approached Glen’s side with a hearty laugh.

“To think that the first thing the new Organization Master does is conduct training—Raon’s consistency is truly unmatched.”

His eyes held a soft warmth, as if he found Raon admirable.

“It seems he’s learned something from his own experience and now wishes to teach the younger ones.”

Sheryl nodded calmly.

“Something he’s learned?”
“The insufficiency of power.”

She shook her head.

“Raon and the Gwangpung Corps have survived several missions only because others intervened on their behalf. Since we cannot always rely on such fortune, it seems he’s teaching them how to escape when a mission fails.”
“Indeed, that makes sense.”

Roen laughed heartily, now understanding.

“What’s remarkable is that despite his own struggles, he concerns himself with other swordsmen. His audacity knows no bounds.”

Sheryl’s eyes narrowed, as if recalling the life-or-death duel with the Demon King.

“It’s his virtue. He prioritizes others over himself, thinking of his comrades first. That too is a talent without equal. He truly resembles Sylvia.”

Roen nodded emphatically, affirming Sheryl’s words.

“….”

The two of us fell silent as if bound by an unspoken agreement, lifting our gazes toward the rock above.

“Ahem….”

Glen cleared his throat, his cheeks flushed crimson.

“Well, it’s not that impressive, but… it’s decent enough.”

His lips trembled as they curved upward.

“Now that I’ve become the Organization Master, I should at least possess that level of responsibility and confidence.”

Glen gazed at me with eyes suddenly alight, his smile stretching endlessly across his face.

“Hehe.”

Sheryl and Roen exchanged glances, their laughter light and knowing.

“H-Head of House!”

Rimer climbed onto the rock just as I had defeated Burren, Lunan, and Martha in succession.

“Stop Raon! Why do I have to be here?!”

Rimer cried out, brushing his sweat-dampened hair back from his forehead.

“You chose to live as the Vice-Commander of the Gwangpung Corps, didn’t you?”
“W-well, yes, but….”
“It’s only natural that a Vice-Commander obeys the Organization Master’s orders. What’s your complaint?”

Glen rubbed his fingers together with eyes that promised death to anyone who dared speak ill of me. Crimson lightning flickered in his grasp.

“It’s not that I have a complaint, exactly.”
“If you flee this training, I’ll personally oversee your instruction for a month.”
“Ugh….”

The moment Rimer heard those words, he furrowed his brow and retreated backward.

“Truly! Grandfather and grandson are just alike! This damned Zigheart!”

He cried out in exasperation and retreated backward.

“Khekheum!”

Glen made no attempt to hide the upturned corners of his mouth, clearly delighted despite the insult to Zigheart. His cheeks flushed crimson.

“Wh…?”

Rimer’s eyes widened as he caught sight of Glen’s smile.

“W-wait, did you just enjoy being told that grandfather and grandson are alike? This is absolutely insane!”

He shook his head in disbelief.

“Spare me the nonsense!”

Glen scrunched his nose, his flushed face betraying his true feelings.

“Take that fool downstairs at once!”
“Yes.”
“Understood!”

Roen and Sheryl nodded and seized Rimer by the arm, dragging him back down the stairs.

“I’m sick of this! Sick of it, I tell you!”
“Grandfather and grandson are alike, they say….”

Glen watched Rimer’s retreating form as he cried out, a broad smile spreading across his face.

“Not bad at all.”

*

*

*

Crash!

Burren, Martha, and Lunan collapsed one after another, crashing hard into the ground.

“You’ve definitely improved compared to before.”

I nodded as I met the dazed eyes of the three of them.

“Ugh…”
“Gah!”
“Damn it!”

Lunan, Burren, and Martha lay with their faces pressed to the ground, their fingers twitching weakly as they lacked the strength to respond.

“Still, you must buy time. If you die, it would be a fatal loss to the House. Never stop thinking about how to survive.”

After offering them this counsel, I descended the mountain to search for other members of the Gwangpung Corps. As I spread my senses to detect the presence of swordsmen, I felt a faint movement from the right.
When I spread my perception to sense the prosecutors’ presence, I felt a very slight movement from the right.

Looking like a wild beast, I waited a moment, and a marten with golden fur burst out through the thicket.

Marten?

Were there martens on this mountain?

I knew several animals lived on Bekmang Mountain, but it was my first time seeing a Marten.

Marten ran toward her without any fear of people, as if he had spotted food.

-That suspicion is correct!
That hunch was right after all!

Wrath’s eyes snapped open.

She is surely the Mad Woman!

The guy screamed and hid his body inside the ice flower bracelet.

“Raon!”

A refined voice emerged from Marten’s small mouth. As expected, it was Merlin.
She stood upright with a bright smile, and because she wore Marten’s form, she appeared endearingly cute despite herself.

“Hm.”

I immediately covered my mouth to stifle any sound, then led Marten into the thicket.

“How did you find this place?”
“Because you’re here. And….”

Merlin tilted her head as if questioning why I would ask something so obvious.

“I should congratulate you on becoming Organization Master.”
“Ha….”

I exhaled softly as I gazed into Merlin’s gleaming eyes. Sometimes it seemed she had faster information than the Bi-Yeon Society itself.

“Congratulations on becoming Organization Master. Next, you might even become Head of House!”

Merlin spoke of becoming Head of House of Zigheart as casually as becoming manager of the Pearl Ice Cream Shop. Truly, her mind was difficult to comprehend.

“In any case, thank you.”

Since she said she came to congratulate me on becoming Organization Master, I offered my thanks.

“It’s too early to say that.”

Merlin smiled knowingly and withdrew a ring that glimmered with golden light from within her fur.

“This is….”
“A gift!”
“A gift?”
“A commemorative gift for becoming Organization Master!”

She nodded once more, reiterating her congratulations.

“I prepared it in the same color as your hair.”

Merlin pointed to her golden hair fluttering in the breeze.

“Hmm….”

I blinked as I gazed at the golden ring Merlin had produced.

‘My first gift is from Merlin.’

Since becoming Organization Master, I’d received countless congratulations, but this was my first actual gift. It was absurd, yet I felt genuinely grateful.

Still, receiving information and receiving an actual gift were different matters, so I couldn’t simply reach out and take it.

“Take it. It’s nothing special.”

Merlin shook the ring, complaining that her arm was getting tired.

“Right. Thank you.”

I’d heard it was rude to refuse a gift someone had carefully prepared, and since she said it wasn’t anything special, I accepted the ring with my hand. The plain form without any ornate patterns actually appealed to me.
The simplicity of its design was rather elegant.

“I’ll keep it safe.”
“Don’t keep it safe—wear it. It’s an artifact.”

Merlin smiled as she looked at the ring.

“What? An artifact?”
“An ancient artifact, at that.”
“You said it wasn’t anything special!”
“It’s cheap to me.”

She rolled her eyes and shrugged her shoulders.

“It doesn’t help mages at all.”
“So then….”
“Right. It’s a ring exclusively for warriors. It amplifies the aura concentrated in your hands.”
“Hmm….”

I channeled aura into the ring and narrowed my eyes.

‘She wasn’t lying.’

The aura that had seeped into the ring returned amplified. As she had said, it was a high-grade artifact with an aura amplification effect.

‘But this….’

For some reason, it resembled that ring.

It bore a similar form to the cheap ring I had obtained from the Black Market long ago. I still hadn’t found where to unseal that ring, so I’d left it aside, but this one seemed to be the same type.

‘Could it possibly have the same seal?’

It seemed I would need to find the location of the phoenix sooner rather than later.

‘In any case, this is no ordinary item.’

I carefully secured the ring and looked toward Merlin. She was simply smiling, delighted to have received the gift so well.

“How is Eden these days? Are you managing well?”
“Nothing much on my end. I’m just killing time with assignments.”
“Tacheon must be suspicious of you, isn’t he?”
“He’s not being overtly difficult, so it’s fine.”

She waved her hand dismissively, saying she had even created a new escape route. It seemed she had no interest in Eden anymore.

“But there’s been a lot of activity elsewhere.”
“Elsewhere?”
“Yes. As Oma has been moving, many Neutral Factions have collapsed. It wouldn’t be strange if war broke out. Recently, there’s also been a rumor that the tomb of the Sword and Blade Master was discovered.”
“The tomb of the Sword and Blade Master?”

I widened my eyes.

-What is a Sword and Blade Master? The name sounds delicious.

Wrath poked his head out.

‘It’s not food. He was a martial master who was discussed as the strongest on the Continent hundreds of years ago. I’ve heard he mastered both the sword and the blade, and both were at a transcendent level.’

Though swords and blades may appear similar, they are completely different weapons.
Unlike swords, which are primarily used for thrusting, blades are primarily used for slashing, making it difficult to master both. Yet the Sword and Blade Master wielded both the sword and the blade as naturally as his own limbs.

Even now, centuries later, his legendary name was still spoken of, making it clear he was a warrior who far surpassed the Transcendent rank.

“Yes.”

Merlin scratched her waist and nodded.

“A map marking the Sword Master’s tomb is circulating. I heard some fellow called the Ghostly Visitor has it now. All of the Six Emperors Five Demons are probably chasing after it.”

She shook her head as if she had no particular interest.

“The Ghostly Visitor….”
“I’ve greeted him and given him a gift, so I should be going now.”

Merlin waved her hand, indicating it was time for her to leave.

“I’ll keep watching over you from now on, so don’t worry.”

I wanted to say that worried me even more, but having received a gift, I had to keep my mouth shut.

“And this little one….”

I watched Merlin’s lips intently, swallowing hard. My fists clenched with anticipation as I waited to hear what she would say next, and her lips moved again.

“She wants you to trim her claws.”
“C-claws?”

The unexpected words made my eyes widen.

“Her claws have grown too long and are actually getting in the way of her hunting. Trim them well, file them down, and paint them a bit too.”

Merlin disappeared after asking me to take good care of Marten.

Screech.

Marten approached from the side and extended her front paw, as if asking me to trim her claws quickly.

‘Now I have to trim Marten’s claws too?’

I squeezed my eyes shut as I looked at Marten’s paws.

‘Such is my fate….’

Thanks to Merlin and Marten, a brief period of peace had descended upon Bekmang Mountain.

*

*

*

I stood atop the platform of the 5th Training Ground and turned around.

‘They look like they’re about to collapse.’

The Gwangpung Corps swordsmen hunched their shoulders with expressions of utter exhaustion, like dogs that had spent all day on a walk and just returned home.

“It’s all over now, so straighten up.”
“But that ‘all over’ took three weeks instead of one week.”
“You demon!”
“Wicked….”

Burren and Martha gnashed their teeth, while Lunan collapsed to the ground, swaying.

“What kind of training lasts three weeks? That ghost of a man….”

Rimer lay sprawled on the floor with sunken cheeks.

I chuckled as I looked at the Gwangpung Corps in their pitiful state.
Just as they said, the training had progressed better than expected, so I kept extending it, and before I knew it, three weeks had passed.

Though it had certainly been a long and grueling time, the Gwangpung Corps had grown capable not only of direct combat but also of ambushes and retreats through their accumulated experience.
Now, even if stronger enemies appeared, they wouldn’t have to fight head-on every time—they could flee and seize opportunities, which put my mind at ease.

‘You’ve all worked hard.’

I nodded as I looked at the weary eyes of the Gwangpung Corps.

“Three days of rest.”
“Rest!”
“Finally….”
“We’re free from the demon!”

The Gwangpung Corps looked up at the sky and cried out as if liberated from slavery.

“Before that.”

I waved my hand toward the entire Gwangpung Corps, who were laughing.

“Wait. Don’t tell me there’s more training?”
“That demon would definitely do something like that.”
“Right. Since the sun is still up, he’d probably say we should train….”

The Gwangpung Corps trembled as they looked at the sun still high in the sky.

“You still need to eat, though.”

As I said this and clapped my hands again, people entered from outside the Training Ground, set up tents and tables, and began arranging freshly prepared dishes with steam rising from them.

“Huh…?”
“What, what is this?”
“What’s going on all of a sudden….”
“A celebration meal.”

I smiled as I watched the astonished Gwangpung Corps.

“It’s a reward for completing the training well.”
-Woooooow!

The first to rejoice wasn’t the Gwangpung Corps, but Wrath.

-When did you prepare all of this!

He licked his lips as he gazed at the food and desserts being arranged under the tent.

‘While you were sleeping.’
-You sneaky little brat! The True Demon King believed in you!

Wrath couldn’t tear his eyes from the food as he lavished me with clumsy flattery.

“You’ve worked hard. Enjoy the meal, and make sure to rest well for three days.”
“Ohhh!”
“This Organization Master has such a good side to him!”
“Far better than the stingy previous Organization Master!”

The Gwangpung Corps rushed toward the tables being filled with dishes without even properly bowing.

“Did you bring alcohol too?”
“Wow, it’s all premium stuff!”

Dogyae and Rimer headed straight for the alcohol and raised their glasses.

“Ice cream!”

Lunan’s violet eyes gleamed softly as he dashed toward the Pearl Ice Cream Shop display and began filling his plate with as much ice cream as he desired.

“Hmm.”

Martha approached Lunan’s side and scratched her head.

“What’s so delicious?”

She approached first, grateful to Lunan for helping her during the training sessions.

“This one.”

Lunan nodded calmly and handed Martha a green-hued ice cream.

“The color looks a bit odd. Is it really delicious?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm….”

Martha hesitated at the unusual color, then reluctantly took a bite.

“Ugh! You damned brat! You poisoned me!”

Her brow furrowed in shock at the mint chocolate flavor as she lunged toward Lunan.

“You have no taste.”

Lunan shook his head and began fleeing once more.

“They’re practically sisters now.”

Burren shook his head as he watched Lunan and Martha’s game of tag.

-The beef girl doesn’t appreciate taste. Such a precious thing!

Wrath sighed as he watched Martha spit out the mint chocolate.

‘You’re the strange ones.’

As I watched the Gwangpung Corps enjoying their food with amusement, Rimer approached with an entire bottle of liquor in hand.

“That must have cost you quite a bit.”
“It’s fine.”

I waved my hand dismissively, saying it was nothing.

“But….”

Rimer smacked his lips and shook his head.

“There’s something I haven’t told you.”
“What is it?”
“Once you become an Organization Master, you’ll have to attend executive meetings.”
“I’m aware of that.”

I’d heard before about meetings where various matters concerning the Organization and Units were decided.

“Since it’s my first time, I should prepare. Please explain it well.”
“But that’s the thing….”

Rimer smacked his lips, drained the entire bottle, and continued speaking.

“It’s today.”
“Huh…?”
“That executive meeting is today. It starts in three hours.”

He looked up at the sky and shook his head.

“Really?”
“Yeah. Really.”
….
-Eat first! Eat and then talk!

Wrath shouted to eat the food first, but I set down the plate of food, closed my eyes deeply, then opened them again.

“Why are you telling me this now?”
“Just remembered it now.”

Rimer tilted his chin up teasingly.

“Sigh….”

I bit my lip and picked up the food plate again.

“Actually, I have something to tell you as well.”
“Huh? What is it?”

Rimer opened an expensive-looking bottle of liquor and shook his head.

“Usually the person retiring pays for the company dinner, don’t you know?”

The moment Rimer took a sip, I drew a fishy smile.

“Wh…?”

Rimer’s lips trembled with an ominous glint in his eyes. Liquor dribbled from his mouth.

“I’ve put all the food and drink charges under the Organization Master’s name.”

As I waved my hand, the Restaurant Manager and the tavern owner simultaneously gave Rimer a thumbs up.

“W-why are you bringing that up now?”
“You just asked me.”
“Damn it!”

Rimer’s lips trembled as he was about to explode in frustration, but the memory of what he’d done made him bite down on them instead.

“Everyone, stop! Don’t eat! I said don’t eat!”

He let out a cry of despair and rushed toward the buffet.

“Does anyone want to see someone washing dishes for the rest of their life! Stop eating!”
“An executive meeting, huh….”

I turned my gaze away from Rimer’s frantic thrashing and smacked my lips.

“This should be interesting.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————