The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 629

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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 629

Darkness enveloped everything.

A world of deep shadows stretched before me, as if night itself had descended.

I gazed upon the forest, so dim that my eyes grew heavy, and swallowed hard.

‘What in the world is happening here?’

The surface above was bathed in brilliant daylight, so the darkness made sense after descending underground.

Yet what lay before my eyes was a forest of magnificent scale. I couldn’t fathom why such a colossal woodland existed beneath the earth.

I narrowed my eyes, studying the branches and leaves that composed the forest.

‘The forest itself is strange enough, but these leaves… they’re peculiar too.’

One could infer a region’s climate from its foliage and branches.
Thin leaves indicated cold climates, while broad ones suggested warmth—yet this forest contained both varieties intermingled.

‘And then there’s…’

What was that sky?

Underground spaces, no matter how vast, should have a ceiling. Yet when I extended my senses upward, I detected no ceiling whatsoever. Even accounting for the long fall, this made no sense.
But even when he spread his senses upward above his head, he couldn’t feel a ceiling. No matter how long he had been falling, this didn’t make sense.

“Huh?”

Raon lifted his gaze, then his hand trembled slightly.

“Could that possibly be the moon?”

A crescent moon, smaller than a pinky fingernail, hung in the left corner of the sky. Unlike the real moon, it only shed the faintest light, but it seemed to be a real moon nonetheless.

“What on earth is this place?”

I pinched the back of my hand to be sure, and pain shot through it. Not a dream, then. This bizarre land was a place that existed in reality.

‘A Barrier? A Formation?’

Was this a trap after all?

Despite the unease coiling through my mind, my instincts told me otherwise—this didn’t feel like a trap.
For reasons I couldn’t explain, there was something oddly familiar about it.

‘I have no idea what’s going on here.’

I furrowed my brow, recalling the entrance to the Sword Master’s Tomb.

‘If this really were a trap, there wouldn’t be an exit….’
-That’s not the case.

Wrath suddenly burst forth from the bracelet.

‘Not the case? You know where this is?’
-I do not.

The creature spoke as if he knew something, then waved his hand dismissively.

‘Then what did you mean by what you just said?’
-It means that despite thy worries, an exit does exist for thee to leave through.

Wrath pointed toward the moon hanging in the void.

-This place is not a normal space, as thou surely hast discerned.
‘That’s true.’
-Whether it be a Barrier wrought by magic, a Formation crafted by sorcery, or even a space born of martial arts, if an entrance was created, an exit must necessarily exist. It is the law of dimensions that governs a completed space.

He wagged his finger, insisting that while the exit might be difficult to find, it had to exist somewhere beyond this realm.

‘I see.’

At least I’d learned we weren’t in the worst possible situation. Even a parasite of a Demon King could prove useful from time to time.

‘Thank you.’
-If you’re grateful, hurry up and get out of here to buy some ice cream. I heard they released a new flavor.
‘….’

I had no idea how a creature who couldn’t communicate or get along with anyone managed to stay informed about ice cream trends. I was shaking my head in bewilderment when the Gwangpung Corps swordsmen began dropping down one by one behind me.

“What is this place?”

Burren turned his gaze and furrowed his brow.

“It was definitely daytime, wasn’t it? Why is it so dark?”

Crain tilted his head, observing the dim forest.

“Idiot. We descended underground. Of course it’s dark!”

Martha flicked Crain on the forehead.

“There’s a moon.”

Lunan Slion raised her finger. A thin crescent moon reflected in her blank eyes.

“Huh…?”
“How is there a moon when we went underground…?”

Martha and Burren stared at the moon Lunan Slion was pointing to, their jaws dropping.

“This is… quite a mysterious place. I almost want to leave right away….”

Dorian was already trembling with fear, his lips quivering as he thrust his hand into his pouch. A burning torch emerged from his grasp.

“…What is that?”

I blinked at Dorian. It wasn’t that he had materials to make a torch—the torch itself had materialized from the pouch. No matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t get used to that bag.

“It’s a torch. Essential equipment.”

Dorian chuckled and distributed the burning torches to the Gwangpung Corps swordsmen. I had no idea why a burning torch was kept in a pouch, but thanks to it, the darkness receded somewhat.

“But why haven’t the others entered yet…?”

He glanced around, his lips pressing together thoughtfully.

“I don’t see any of the people who went in before us either.”

Burren Zigheart surveyed the surroundings and shook his head.

When we leaped into the Sword Master’s Tomb, there had been many who went ahead and many waiting behind, yet not a single person was visible now.
It seemed that the location where one landed changed depending on when they entered.

“Is this a barrier created by magic?”

Rimer looked around, his brow furrowing.

“I’ve never heard that the Sword Master used magic.”
“That’s correct.”

Listern, who had entered the tomb last, nodded in agreement.

“The Sword Master wielded only his blade throughout his life. He never learned magic or sorcery.”
“Then what is this place?”

Rimer looked up at the moonless sky, dark as pitch, his brow creasing.

“There are a few sorcerers and mages who were acquainted with the Sword Master, but none of them possessed the power to create a space of this magnitude.”

Listern recited the information readily, having clearly conducted extensive research on the Sword Master.

“What kind of person was the Sword Master?”
“You already know he was a transcendent warrior, but beyond that, his nature was close to that of a righteous man. Without any faction, he wandered the entire Continent performing righteous deeds while dedicating himself solely to the refinement of martial arts. And….”
“And?”
“This isn’t confirmed information, but there are accounts that he admired the warriors of Zigheart.”
“Is that truly the case?”

My eyes widened—this was something I hadn’t even heard from Deningrose.

“Yes. However, he apparently never sought out or met with Zigheart. That’s why I mentioned it wasn’t certain.”
“I see.”

Deningrose, as both a disciple of the Black Market Master and a Branch Chief, had refrained from mentioning that story—she could only speak of information she could verify with certainty.

I stroked my chin and lowered my eyelids.

‘Then this place must be one of three possibilities.’

The first: a location created by the Sword Master—who had built no faction of his own—as a legacy for a successor to inherit his martial arts.

The second: a place already constructed by someone else, which the Sword Master simply utilized.

And the third and final possibility: a trap.

At present, the third seemed most probable.

“Let’s move forward.”

I nodded toward the Gwangpung Corps.

“There are people who entered ahead of us. We should catch up quickly.”
“But we don’t even know if there’s an exit. It could be a trap.”

Burren Zigheart approached from the side, his eyes betraying concern.

“No.”

I shook my head calmly.

“This space is already a perfected place. Whether it’s a formation or a barrier, if an entrance exists, an exit must also exist—that’s the rule of the world. However difficult to find, an exit will certainly be there.”

I recited the information Wrath had given me verbatim.

-Hey, that’s what the True Demon King said!

Wrath’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Is there such a rule?”
“I didn’t know that.”
“This is the first I’m hearing of it.”
“As expected of the Organization Master. He has expertise in such matters too.”

The Gwangpung Corps opened their mouth in astonishment.

“W-well, yes. Whether it’s a Formation or a Barrier, if there’s an entrance, there must be an exit. Most wouldn’t notice, but you’re quite remarkable.”

Listern nodded with a bewildered expression, equally surprised.

-You damnable bastard!

Wrath shrieked and seized my collar.

-Take that praise directed at you straight to the True Demon King! Why are you receiving acclaim for the True Demon King’s information!
‘Who cares who gets it.’
-Wow! This shamelessness! I’m left with nothing but admiration! You two-faced bastard!

He trembled with indignation.

‘That’s not what I meant….’

As I was about to wave my hand, a message flashed before my eyes.

[You have received surprise and admiration from 【Wrath】.]
[All stats increase by 1 point.]

‘Huh?’
-…What?

Wrath blinked at the message.

-This isn’t it! Do you have pasta for brains! Are you really being praised like this!

The message vanished as if it had completed its task, regardless of his outburst.

-Come out right now! Either you die today or I die—one of us has to go!

Wrath’s fury showed no signs of cooling as he grabbed his own hair and shook it.

‘Just stop.’
-If it were you, would you stop!
‘Sigh.’

Raon shook his head and entered the forest visible ahead.

“Let’s go this way.”

As I was about to set a direction and move forward, a rustling sound came from deeper within the forest.

‘Not human.’

A heavy stench of blood hung in the air. Not the presence of a human. It was the dull, distinctive movement of a Monster.

Kuooooooo!

With a savage roar that seemed ready to bulldoze through the entire forest, orcs with yellowed tusks bared revealed themselves.

“What? Orcs?”
“Ha, orcs of all things.”
“I tensed up for nothing.”

The Gwangpung Corps chuckled upon seeing the horde of orcs. Though their numbers were considerable, their expressions suggested they were beneath notice.

“Don’t underestimate them.”

Raon narrowed his eyes as he observed the orcs.

“I’m not sure what you mean, sir.”

Burren Zigheart tilted his head, seemingly unable to discern anything unusual about the orcs.

“These aren’t ordinary orcs.”

Though the orcs’ outward appearance matched those found elsewhere, their gaze and aura were different. They were no ordinary orcs. Moreover, their skin was splattered with fresh blood. It seemed they had already slain other warriors and made their way here.
On top of that, their skin was splattered with hot blood. It seemed they had already killed other warriors and come this way.

“Yes!”
“Yes!”

Crain immediately stepped forward upon receiving the order, plunging into the mass of orcs and bringing his sword down in one swift motion.

Ding!

As the aura-infused blade descended toward the orc at the front, the double-headed axe that had been resting suddenly shot upward like lightning.

Clang!

Crain’s sword trembled violently, blocked by the orc’s axe.

“What…?”
“Battle aura?”

Martha furrowed her brow, observing the crimson battle aura rising from the orc’s axe.

“How is an ordinary orc using battle aura?”

She exhaled sharply, her disbelief evident.

Whoosh!

The battle escalated with urgency matching Martha’s shock.
The orc overpowered Crain with brute force, bringing its axe crashing down.

“Tch!”

Crain furrowed his brow and concentrated aura into his blade. Pale light ignited across the steel as both the double-headed axe and the orc’s neck split simultaneously.

“The Organization Master was right! These aren’t ordinary orcs! They can use battle aura, though faintly!”

He steadied his grip on the sword and caught his breath.

Screeeech!

The orcs shrieked with excitement at their comrade’s death, charging forward in a frenzy.
Their movement speed was incomparable to ordinary orcs—it felt like facing the legendary Black Skin, the strongest of all orc-kind.

‘Not a bad training opportunity.’

I raised a finger toward the orcs.

“They’ve killed people. Slaughter them all.”
“Yes!”

The Gwangpung Corps had witnessed Crain’s battle with the Orcs firsthand, so they unleashed their sword aura from the very start.

While each individual Orc was formidable, they were no match for the Gwangpung Corps—warriors who had grown both physically and mentally.

The swordsmen cleaved the Orcs asunder with each stroke, filling the forest with corpses bearing blue-green skin.

“Hah.”

Listern exhaled sharply as he watched the Gwangpung Corps advance like a tempest.

‘How are they all high-tier Experts?’

The Gwangpung Corps were barely in their early twenties. It was unbelievable that every single one of these young swordsmen had reached high-tier Expert rank.

‘What is this?’

A single genius like Raon could emerge, but the fact that all of them had ascended to a level just before Master rank was far more astounding.

“This side is almost finished… Ugh!”

Crain sliced through an Orc warrior before him and shifted leftward, then let out a groan. He retreated backward, limping on his right leg.

“Argh!”
“What, what is it!”

Other Gwangpung Corps swordsmen cried out in pain around the same moment as Crain.

“What’s happening?”

Raon closed the distance to Crain in a single stride.

“There… there appear to have been traps.”
“Lift your foot.”

As he said, the sole of the right boot bore a puncture wound from the trap, and blood dripped steadily from it.

‘An Orc trap?’

A trap with a black needle embedded in it lay among the weeds where Crain had been standing moments before.
Yet beyond Crain’s blood, a violet-hued liquid coated the needle’s surface.

“Is it poison?”
“P-poison? Am I going to die?”
“Orc poison isn’t that potent. You should be able to expel it with your aura.”
“Phew, thank goodness.”
“But this doesn’t look like orc poison to me.”
“Ahhh! Which is it?!”

Leaving the panicked Crain behind, I scraped the poison from the needle with my finger and placed it in my mouth.

“M-Master!”
“What are you doing!”
“Raon!”

Burren, Martha, and Lunan rushed over simultaneously. Martha and Lunan, having forgotten their vow to speak formally, abandoned all pretense and cried out.

“Don’t worry. I can handle it.”

Thanks to the Ring of Fire, my body itself possessed strong poison resistance, and my trait granted additional immunity. No matter how potent the toxin, I could expel it, so tasting it directly was the quickest way to identify its nature.
No matter how strong the poison, since it could be expelled from the body, the best way to identify what poison it was meant directly tasting it.

“It doesn’t affect the organs, but there’s stimulation to the muscles, body, and the Unit.”

As expected, the purple poison wasn’t the paralytic toxin used by the orcs.

Bell’s flower.

It’s a deadly poison I occasionally used in my past life. It wasn’t particularly potent, but it was the type of poison that quickly drained stamina and accelerated aura consumption. I used it to break down the target’s mental state.

“B-Bella’s Flower?”
“Bell, Bella’s flower?”

Listern reacted first, as befitted an Assassin.

“W-what is that?”

Crain let out a startled cry and raised his voice.

“It’s not a particularly potent poison, but it rapidly drains stamina. Treating it is quite troublesome.”
“Phew, well, at least that’s some relief….”
“Don’t be so relieved. This poison can’t be pushed out with aura, and there’s no way an antidote would be here….”

He shook his head, muttering that the situation had become dire.

“Dorian.”

I gestured to Dorian, whose expression had grown tense.

“Do you happen to have Pellen flowers and Roseren leaves?”
“Of course I do.”

Dorian nodded and pulled several flowers and stems from his waist pouch.

“They’re essentials.”
“….”

At this point, I couldn’t tell what wasn’t an essential anymore, but I accepted them nonetheless. I ground the two ingredients together using a mortar for medicinal herbs, then applied the mixture to the feet of Crain and the wounded swordsmen.

“Huh?”
“The pain’s gone, and the trembling in my hands has stopped.”

The swordsmen clenched their fists, ready to move again.

Just as the treatment finished, Monsters appeared once more. This time, it wasn’t just Orcs—medium and large-sized Monsters were mixed in as well.

“Don’t think you’re only fighting Monsters. Think of it as fighting this space itself.”
“Yes!”

The Gwangpung Corps let out a sharp battle cry like the edge of a blade and charged toward the Monsters.

I narrowed my eyes as I observed the corpses of martial artists piled behind the Monsters.

‘Sword Master’s Tomb.’

What exactly do you want?

*

*

*

“What… what are those monsters…?”
“The Gwangpung Corps of Zigheart…?”
“Who doesn’t know that? Even if they’re from Zigheart, they’re only in their early twenties. How are they all at the highest level of Expert?”
“The monsters’ level is high, but those kids look even stronger.”
“Setting aside their combat power, they don’t even seem tired. They’re practically monsters themselves…?”

The warriors scattered throughout the forest clicked their tongues as they watched the Gwangpung Corps slaughter the hordes of orcs and trolls.

“Huh…?”

Listern, watching from the rear, let out a hollow breath as he observed the Gwangpung Corps turning monsters into corpses in an instant.

‘They’re truly monsters, just as the name suggests.’

This place was a small hell. Night had persisted for days, they had no idea of their exact location, and strengthened monsters appeared endlessly. Traps and pitfalls scattered throughout demanded constant vigilance.
Even the most seasoned warriors and assassins could only collapse from exhaustion in such an environment. Indeed, the Black Market operatives, including himself, had their eyes half-closed from depleted stamina.

But the Gwangpung Corps was different.

This was not the mental fortitude one would expect from warriors in their early twenties.
With an air of having just begun combat, he slashed at the monsters and smashed through the traps.
In fact, during their journey, I had encountered quite a few warriors and mages.

There were factions with more personnel and greater experience than the Gwangpung Corps, yet all of them bore shadows in their expressions.

There were forces with more personnel and more experienced battles than the Gwangpung Corps, yet shadows hung over all of their faces.
Only the Gwangpung Corps remained unshaken like a deeply rooted tree, pressing ever forward. At this point, my admiration had transformed into curiosity about them.

Listern approached the swordsman moving at the rear of the Gwangpung Corps. His name was Dorian, a peculiar individual who would produce tables and hearths during meals, and tents when sleeping.

“Hey there.”

There.
“Yes?” or “Pardon?” or “Huh?”

Dorian turned with a faint smile on his face.

“Are you holding up alright?”
“What do you mean?”

He shook his head as if he didn’t understand what I was asking.

“We’ve been fighting in this darkness for days now. Isn’t it exhausting?”
“Of course it is.”

Dorian sighed and shook his head.

“But how are you….”
“Because I’ve endured something far more grueling than this.”
“Something more grueling?”
“Yes. Before coming here, I underwent three weeks of special training under the Organization Master. That was….”
“Hell.”

Crain finished my sentence.

“Exactly. Compared to those three weeks, this place is paradise.”

Burren nodded in agreement.

“Don’t even bring that up. My hands won’t stop shaking.”

Martha bit her lip, urging us not to speak of it at all.

“Ugh….”

Even Lunan, who always maintained a fierce expression, clutched his head.

“What on earth did you all go through….”
“For three weeks, we fought without sleeping more than an hour a day. We had to battle not just the Organization Master and the Unit Commander, but also the other members whenever we encountered them. I nearly died.”

Crain exhaled deeply as he explained the ordeal of those training sessions.

“I don’t even want to remember it….”

Dorian broke into a cold sweat as the memory surfaced.

“Hah….”

Listern blinked slowly, watching Raon walk ahead of the River.

“That’s a trap over there. Don’t step on it.”

Raon pointed out trap after trap, even ones obscured by the darkness. For someone who had lived as an Assassin, it was difficult to detect traps hidden in such shadows, yet he pinpointed them with perfect accuracy.
This was no longer something that could be attributed to mere talent in martial arts.

‘A true monster.’

I knew his martial prowess was formidable, but I never expected him to be so versed in poisons, traps, and Formations, nor to possess such an ability to cultivate his subordinates. There wasn’t a single flaw to be found.

Listern swallowed hard as he gazed at Raon’s unwavering back.

‘The Branch Chief has truly discovered a gem….’

*

*

*

Raon narrowed his eyes as he beheld the largest Zelkova Tree he had ever seen.

‘That is….’

Since entering the Sword Master’s Tomb, this was the first place that emitted its own light. It was an unmistakable marker, obvious enough for even a fool to recognize.

“It appears to be the exit!”

Crain, who was behind, let out a cry of excitement upon seeing the luminous ground.
Though he hadn’t shown it outwardly, it seemed he had grown weary after four days.

“Unfortunately, it’s not the exit.”

Raon fixed his gaze on the luminous ground and shook his head.

“There’s no way they would’ve built this place just to present such a trivial trial.”

The Monsters were formidable, and the traps and snares were diverse. Though they had drained considerable stamina and mental fortitude, the damage inflicted was far from catastrophic for a master.

Since it seemed merely a filter to separate the wheat from the chaff, the luminous opening was not an exit but rather an entrance to the next level.

“It must be the next level.”

Burren nodded, evidently sharing the same conclusion.

“I’ll scout ahead.”

I pulled the Gwangpung Corps back and examined the luminous ground. The opening bore a similar form to when we had entered the Sword Master’s Tomb.

Yet unlike what we had observed from the outside, the rectangular finishing of the aperture stirred a familiar sensation within me.

‘Why does this feel so… familiar?’

As I narrowed my eyes and scrutinized the opening, golden flames erupted from within the white chasm.

I felt my vision flood with golden fire as my hand trembled against the ground.

‘Again?’

No, seriously—has this person left no stone unturned?!

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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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