The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 648

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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 648

I watched the dying campfire with calm eyes as I gently closed them.

‘The Sword Saint’s martial techniques are too ambiguous to use as they are.’

Since the Sword Saint was a figure from the distant past and had reached such lofty heights, much of his techniques didn’t suit the Gwangpung Corps.

‘Should I really try to modify them?’

Since I had memorized all of the Sword Saint’s martial techniques and had even fought using them directly, creating techniques tailored to the Gwangpung Corps seemed like a viable option.

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

As I was pondering this, a cheerful voice came from my right. I turned my head to see Rimer emerging from the tent, brushing back his disheveled hair.
Turning my head, Rimer emerged from the tent and swept back his disheveled hair.

“I slept on Dorian’s back during the day, so I’m not tired now.”
“I slept on Dorian’s back during the day, so now I can’t fall asleep.”

He watched the sky gradually brighten, then came and sat down in the seat next to me.

“The Sword Saint’s martial techniques?”
“Yes. I want to pass them on to the Gwangpung Corps as well, but it seems they can’t be used as they are, so I was thinking of creating my own version….”
“That’s a great idea!”
That’s nice!

Rimer nodded as if he thought it was a good idea.

“As you know, just learning the martial arts of Sangseung doesn’t automatically make you stronger. What’s important is finding what suits that person.”

He twirled his fingers in the air.

“I do know the Gwangpung Corps members well. However….”
“I do know the Gwangpung Corps fellows well. However…”

Raon let out a short sigh as he looked at the tent where the Gwangpung Corps was sleeping.

“I’m not sure if I can properly dismantle the Sword Master’s techniques and create something new from them.”

I knew I had grown stronger, but the Sword Master was a warrior who had transcended the mortal realm.
The thought of dismantling his techniques to forge something entirely new weighed on my mind.

“Well, I suppose failure is possible.”

Rimer chuckled softly, gazing up at the sky.

“But what does failure matter?”
“Pardon?”
“If it breaks, you fix it. If it’s completely unusable, you discard it and create something new.”

He patted my shoulder with a smile.

“You have more than enough ability and time. No matter how extraordinary the Sword Master’s techniques are, there’s nothing you cannot accomplish.”
“Hmm….”

I narrowed my eyes at Rimer.

“You don’t have any money.”
“What are you suddenly talking about!”

Rimer let out an exasperated cry.

“Aren’t you just pretending to give advice so you can ask for money?”
“No! And pretending to give advice? That’s too harsh!”

He gnashed his teeth, as if I were calling him a con artist.

“Not a con artist, exactly. A gambler, a lazy bum, someone with no future….”
“Stop!”

Rimer covered my mouth, telling me to quit.

“In any case, if you approach it the same way you created your own swordsmanship, you’ll have no trouble crafting techniques for the Gwangpung Corps.”

He nodded encouragingly.

“Vice-Leader.”
“Hmm?”
“Is something troubling you lately?”
“Why do you ask?”
“When you’re with the others, you’re quiet, but when you’re with me, you offer advice. I can’t seem to adjust to it.”
“That’s simply the role of an advisor.”

Rimer shook his head as if it were obvious.

“But…”
“Yes?”

I leaned in, anticipating another piece of counsel.

“You really have no money? Even something you could repay next month…?”
“I don’t have any. Even if I did, I wouldn’t.”

I turned my head sharply. I’d expected something else, but of course—it was the same old thing.

-Hah, that old fool speaks truth, he does.

As I exhaled in exasperation, Wrath yawned widely and climbed onto my wrist.

-Using it a bit won’t break it, and if you keep experimenting, it’ll work. Unlike the True Demon King, your talent is meager, so it’ll take time, but it’s hardly impossible.

He nodded his finger encouragingly, even as he boasted about himself.

‘Right. Making it myself would be best.’

After all, they weren’t strangers.

Having lived with the Gwangpung Corps for nearly a decade, I’d come to know not just the martial arts they’d mastered, but their preferences and temperaments as well.
Creating martial techniques for them was little different from creating them for myself.

‘First, I should abandon the framework of sword techniques and blade methods.’

I activated the Ring of Fire. Sharpening my focus, I began methodically deconstructing the martial arts of the Sword Saint Legacy, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, discerning what to retain and what to discard.

As I was organizing my thoughts, white light flickered across the night sky.
No, it wasn’t white light. A raven with mixed black and white plumage descended sharply.

“This bird is….”
“Dogyae. The old man’s messenger bird?”

Rimer’s eyes widened as he looked at the raven. As he said, this raven was a spirit creature that Dogyae used for communication.

“What’s the matter?”
“There’s a letter attached to its leg.”

I removed the note from the raven’s leg and unfolded it.

[The Vice-Leader of the Elder Council is causing trouble at the Annex Building. Return as quickly as possible.]

Dogyae’s handwriting. It was definitely a letter from him.

“Causing trouble….”

Rimer furrowed his brow, seeming to anticipate the situation roughly.

-What do you mean, causing trouble! How dare they!

Wrath’s face flushed red with anger at the news of trouble at the Annex Building.

‘They’re probably harassing them using inspection authority or something like that.’

The Elder Council was fundamentally a place for retired executives, but it also served to check that the family didn’t go astray.
It seemed they were abusing their authority to check the family and harassing the Annex Building.

‘The reason is….’

It must be because of me.

The Elder Council wasn’t targeting the Annex Building because they disliked Sylvia—they were clearly causing trouble there to pressure me instead of Karun.

-These old fools! They harass you instead, and dare touch our mother? I’ll pluck out all their beards right now!
‘I want to do that too.’

Wrath was right. If someone wanted to pick a fight, they should come find me directly—not sneak around an empty Annex Building like some back alley thug.

‘I can’t handle this the way I used to.’

The stronger I became and the higher my position rose, the more people would target the Annex Building.
Ending everything alone as I had before wouldn’t solve the problem.

“Raon. You’re going, aren’t you?”

Rimer’s eyes gleamed with knowing certainty.

“Yes. I must leave at once.”

Raon watched the rising sun as he burned the letter in his hand.

‘I’ll make you regret this.’

*

*

*

Upon returning to Zigheart, Raon rushed straight to the Annex Building. The moment it came into view, my teeth ground together involuntarily.

‘They’ve completely demolished the Annex Building itself.’

The flowers and trees in the Garden, which had swayed as if in greeting, lay uprooted and scattered. The carefully maintained earth had been completely excavated, creating a barren yellow hillside. It looked like a battlefield.

The Annex Building structure itself was shattered and crumbling in places. Not a single window frame remained intact, and the walls were riddled with holes—like looking at the tattered rags a beggar would wear.

What was even more infuriating was that the Elder Council’s warriors merely issued orders while the maidservants did the actual work of excavating the ground and demolishing the building.
Sylvia and Helen were even digging up the Garden themselves.

Raon bit my lip as I stared at the old man standing in the center of the Garden. He didn’t even rise at my arrival, simply sipping his tea.

‘Is that the Vice-Leader?’

An old man I’d occasionally encountered at family events. I could feel he regarded me like an insect, so I’d never bothered speaking to him—but I never expected to meet him like this.

-Is that the Vice-Leader?

Wrath raised his fist.

-Summon the True Demon King right now! I’ll carve ice shards into every wrinkle on that old bastard’s face!”

He grabbed the man by the collar and shook him violently, demanding he reveal himself.

“This is ridiculous.”

Aris Zigheart twisted her lips as she surveyed the Annex Building.

“Ha, this is way beyond what I expected.”

Rimer let out a hollow laugh, equally bewildered.

“I can’t stand this. Let me handle it.”

Aris Zigheart rolled up her sleeves and stepped forward.

“No.”

Raon moved ahead and shook his head at both Aris Zigheart and Rimer.

“I’ll resolve this matter within the Annex Building itself.”

This wasn’t the first time someone had come to the Annex Building looking for trouble like this.
Riffraff kept clinging to them because the Annex Building lacked strength, so this time I had to ensure the Annex Building handled it themselves and erected a wall that no one would dare breach.

“Right. That makes sense.”

Aris Zigheart understood the meaning behind those words and stepped back, though she clenched her fists in frustration.

“Then I’ll stay put.”

Rimer also nodded with his arms crossed, saying he would watch.

Whoooosh.

Raon swung the ring of fire in a wide arc. Rather than displaying his overwhelming aura and rage, he instead suppressed it as he approached the Vice-Leader.

“…Young Master.”
“Oh, when did you arrive?”

Judith and her attendants, who had been digging the ground, widened their eyes in surprise.

“Raon.”
“Young Master!”

Sylvia and Helen set down their shovels and approached.

“You’ve returned after completing your mission? You came back faster than expected.”

The Vice-Leader waved his hand with a faint smile.

“I’ve heard the general details. You’ve inherited the martial techniques of the Sword Saint—quite an impressive feat. Well done.”
“….”

Raon didn’t respond to the Vice-Leader’s words and instead looked at Sylvia and the attendants.

Their faces were caked with mud mixed with sweat and dirt, their hands covered in bruises. Their shoes and skirts were completely filthy from how long they’d been digging.

“Are you the Vice-Leader?”

Raon suppressed the urge to immediately draw his sword and cleave the Vice-Leader’s skull in two, turning his gaze away.

“What of it?”

The Vice-Leader remained unperturbed despite the shift in tone, his smile unwavering.

“What is this?”
“Wait, it’s an order from the Elder Council!”

A middle-aged man who appeared to be the Vice-Leader’s subordinate stepped forward.

“We received word that there were criminal activities in the Annex Building….”
“I’m speaking with your master. Begone.”

Raon didn’t even glance at Crisson as he narrowed his eyes at the Vice-Leader.

“This, this is outrageous!”
“Stand down, Crisson.”

The Vice-Leader chuckled softly and waved his hand at Crisson.

“He’s right. We received a report that criminal activity occurred here, so we’re conducting an investigation using the Elder Council’s authority.”
“What illegal activity?”
“I can’t disclose that.”
“Who provided the information?”
“You know we must protect our informants. Naturally, I can’t reveal that either.”

He twisted his lips upward in a mocking smile.

“Looking at this situation, it seems you haven’t found anything. So why are you still here? The inspection period should have ended by now.”
“We might not have found it yet. Besides, the Elder Council’s inspections can extend the period up to three times. We’re proceeding strictly by the rules.”

The Vice-Leader waved the documents in his hand, insisting they were operating within legal bounds.

“Though this matter is unrelated, I am the Vice-Leader of the Zigheart Elder Council. I would appreciate some respect.”
“You’re still breathing because I’ve shown you respect.”
“They say you’re reckless as a thunderbolt, and that’s exactly what you are.”

The Vice-Leader’s expression remained unchanged as he picked up his teacup. Like a seasoned man who had risen to the position of Vice-Leader of the Elder Council, he didn’t fall for the provocation.

“I’ll end it here out of respect for the Gwangpung Corps Leader who completed his mission splendidly today.”

As he snapped his fingers, the Elder Council’s warriors scattered throughout the Annex Building aligned themselves behind him.

“Don’t harbor too much resentment toward us. Rules exist to be upheld, after all.”
“You. You’ll come to regret this.”

Raon approached the Vice-Leader as he turned to leave, narrowing his eyes to slits.

“I’ve already heard that. I thought you’d draw a blade the moment you arrived, but honestly, I’m disappointed.”

The Vice-Leader’s eyes curved with derision.

“I’ll meet those expectations. Don’t worry.”
“I’m counting on it.”

He waved his hand lightly and departed the Annex Building.

-Ugh! You’re really letting him leave like that?

Wrath clenched his teeth.

-Chase after him right now and smash his skull in—that’s what you’re good at!
‘Not now.’

I watched the Vice-Leader’s retreating back, biting my lip. Since those bastards were moving within legal bounds, if I acted recklessly here, I could end up on the receiving end of a counterattack instead.

“Raon.”

Sylvia stepped forward and lowered her head.

“I’m sorry. I promised to protect the Annex Building, but there was nothing I could do….”

Her shoulders trembled as she kept her head bowed, frustration evident in her posture.

“…It’s fine.”

I steadied Sylvia’s trembling shoulders and shook my head. If she had lost her composure and drawn her blade, things would have escalated. Because everyone, including the attendants, had endured, we now had a legitimate path to crush that old fox’s skull.
Because everyone, including the handmaidens, endured it, a legal way to smash that old fox’s head finally appeared.

“Young Master.”

Judith had gone into the Annex Building and returned with a black booklet, which she handed to me.

“What’s this….”
“It’s compiled information from the Black Market and what Lord Dogyae provided.”

I opened the booklet as she spoke. It was filled with shaky handwriting detailing information about the Vice-Leader.
It seemed to have been written during the day while holding a shovel, and at night with trembling hands.

“I hope it proves useful.”
“Thank you.”

Raon quickly read through the documents and nodded.

“Thanks to this, I can see the path forward.”
“The path?”
“Yes.”

Raon twisted his lips as he looked at both Sylvia and the maid.

“A way to ensure those bastards never touch this Annex Building again.”

*

*

*

After arranging for Sylvia and the maids to rest, Raon headed toward the Main Mansion.
The Gwangpung Corps and the Gonggeom Unit were both waiting in front of the Patriarch’s Hall.

“Is it resolved?”

Burren approached with a dry swallow.

“Sigh, I don’t understand why there are so many people acting beneath their station lately.”

Martha furrowed her brow in irritation.

“Are you… alright?”

Lunan too, unlike usual, held concern in his eyes.

“Yes.”

Raon nodded not only to the three of them, but to all of the Gwangpung Corps who were biting their lips behind them.

“What exactly happened?”
“I’ll tell you that later. For now, let’s focus on the report.”

He waved his hand lightly and stood before the Gwangpung Corps.

As I entered the Patriarch’s Hall, the Gwangpung Corps shed their bewildered expressions and hardened their composure as they followed.
It was different from before. Each of them carried the commanding presence of a trustworthy swordmaster.

I offered a faint smile as I made my way toward the Audience Chamber. The massive doors were already open, and inside, the executives of Zigheart stood before the pillars on either side.
The subordinate of the Vice-Leader I had seen earlier in the Annex Building now occupied a position among the Main Lineage.

A low rumble echoed through the chamber.

Glen Zigheart sat upon the Jade Throne as usual, his chin resting on his hand, but his gaze burned with solemn intensity rather than emptiness.

A sharp click of the tongue.

Aris Zigheart gave Glen a nod before stepping forward. She positioned herself beside the Vice-Leader’s subordinate, and from the way she clicked her tongue, it was clear she would cut him down without hesitation if he displeased her.

Chad stood in the adjacent position. His eyes shone with an oddly enthusiastic warmth, as if greeting an old friend.

I closed my eyes briefly to settle my mind, then opened them and cast a glance to the Gwangpung Corps to follow. I entered the Audience Chamber.
I advanced across the pristine crimson carpet, untouched by a single speck of dust, and knelt before the Platform.

“The Gwangpung Corps has completed its mission and returned.”
“The Gwangpung Corps has completed its mission and returned!”

I knelt before Glen Zigheart and bowed my head. Behind me, the Gwangpung Corps echoed my words and the sound of their knees striking the ground followed.

“Rise.”

Hearing Glen’s measured voice, I straightened my back.

“Commander of the Gwangpung Corps.”
“Yes.”
“The mission assigned to the Gwangpung Corps was patrol of the Zigheart Territory, was it not?”
“That is correct.”

It was a question I had anticipated, so I nodded calmly.
The events at the Sword Master’s Tomb had been so significant that we had set aside the original mission, but the Gwangpung Corps’ true duty was patrol and vigilance.

“Why did you go to the Tomb?”
“The villages near Zigheart were suffering severe damage from the warriors who had gathered to find the Sword Master’s Tomb. Since the problem had no end even with continued resolution, I believed it was necessary to first locate the Tomb in order to eliminate the root cause.”
“I see.”

Glen nodded briefly, as if he’d expected as much. Now that he thought about it, the question seemed directed not at himself, but for the benefit of the other executives.

“Then report what transpired inside the Tomb.”
“Understood. We were engaged in combat with Seol Goehu, the 6th Apostle, and the Gwimma Swordmaster when we received word that the Tomb had been discovered, and we immediately….”

I nodded and proceeded to report everything that had occurred thus far.
Of course, I withheld matters like the Ancestor’s memories—knowledge meant for me alone.

“…And so we paid our respects to the Grand Mage of Valcar and King Owen before returning.”

As I finished speaking, only the sound of sharp intakes of breath filled the Audience Chamber.
Though they’d known the general outline, none had anticipated the sheer magnitude of what had been accomplished.

“Hah….”
“He’s grown strong enough to defeat Seol Goehu in a one-on-one match….”
“That’s not all—he withstood the Sword Saint! Even accounting for the weakening from achieving Spiritization, to face and survive against someone who was once a Transcendent….”
“If that’s true, there’s no word but ‘insane’ that comes to mind.”

The executives exhaled in amazement, their expressions betraying their shock.

“Ahem!”

Glen covered the area around his mouth with his left hand and gave a short cough. His face had flushed crimson like a ripe apple.

“Defeating them is remarkable enough, but discovering the Control Room within the Tomb—isn’t that even more astounding?
“Indeed. With proper refinement, it could serve as a training ground for our swordsmen.”
“I think what happened when he emerged from the Tomb was the real madness. After finishing a blood-soaked battle, how did he manage to strike down hundreds of people? What, was he a zombie or something….”
“The Sword Scar Land. To think Zigheart’s Holy Ground would be established in such a place—it’s absurd.”

The executives praised me point by point, their smiles warm despite their scrutiny.

“Hmm….”
“Tsk.”
“What’s all this fuss about.”

The Direct Line executives frowned in displeasure, though perhaps because of how the Annex Building had troubled them, they even let out sneering laughs.

“Zigheart’s Holy Ground! Now that has a fine ring to it!”

Valdemar nodded vigorously, as if relieved.

“What a shame. I wanted to create something like that myself!”

He swung his fist, large as a pot lid, with regret.

“If you had made it, it could never have become a holy ground. It would’ve reeked of blood.”

Aris shook her head, telling him not to say such ridiculous things.

“Sister is right.”

Denier smiled faintly as he looked at me.

“The Gwangpung Corps Commander did not kill a single warrior, which is why it became a holy ground as a mark of respect. It’s not something one can simply replicate.”
“Hmm, I suppose so.”

Valdemar nodded while scratching his nose.

“I would’ve killed them all. Well done.”

He clapped his hands twice for me, as if to say I’d done well.

I nodded to Valdemar, then turned my gaze back to Glen Zigheart.

“Hmm….”

Glen Zigheart still covered his mouth as if deep in thought, but his fingers trembled like a candle flame in the wind, and his eyes darted left and right like lightning, following whoever was speaking.
It was impossible to understand what kind of reaction this was.

“Head of House. There is something I wish to tell you.”

Since waiting seemed futile to discern what Glen Zigheart was thinking, I spoke first.

“Speak.”

Glen Zigheart nodded, his eyes returning to their usual dry gaze.

“The Sword Saint was an ancestor of Zigheart, and his tomb was originally used as our training ground. Since we have unexpectedly created the Sword Scar Land, I believe we must establish ownership of that land as quickly as possible.”

Raon continued, watching Glen’s eyes grow increasingly luminous.

“We’ve received permission from Owen and Valcar. Though the Sword Master’s Tomb is somewhat distant from Zigheart, there aren’t many powerful forces in between, so if we move quickly, we should be able to secure it without difficulty.”

Between Zigheart and the Sword Master’s Tomb, there were no particularly strong factions.
The Valkar Kingdom and the Black Tower were nearby, but with Valcar’s approval, it would be simple enough to persuade the surrounding villagers and claim the territory.

“Hmm….”

Glen smacked his lips and withdrew his hand from his mouth. His face was composed, as if he’d never trembled at all.

“That won’t be necessary.”
“Pardon? But it would be such a waste….”

If that place were used as a training ground, they could systematically cultivate their warriors in stages. It would be too valuable to simply abandon.

“That’s not what I meant.”

Glen shook his head calmly. At a gesture from him, Chad, who had been standing back, stepped forward.

“Lucen Village, Yupil Village, Tuzan City, and….”

Chad unfolded a map in the air, pointing to each village and city between Zigheart and the Sword Master’s Tomb.

“The residents of the villages that the Gwangpung Corps helped have sent word that they wish to pledge themselves to Zigheart.”

He nodded, acknowledging the excellent work that had been done.

“Exactly as he says.”

Glen traced his finger through the air, and a single line connecting Zigheart and the Sword Master’s Tomb appeared on the map.
Lucen Village, Yupil Village, Tuzan City—the neutral territories that the Gwangpung Corps had saved were now bathed in Zigheart’s golden light.

“You and the Gwangpung Corps have drawn Zigheart’s line across the map of the Continent.”

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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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