The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 651

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

Chapter 651

I draped the black dragon robe across my shoulders and stepped out of the Annex Building.

Sylvia stood alone before the Garden, her composed gaze fixed upon the withered flowers and trees.

“Did Mother ever tell you? That cultivating the Garden was her greatest joy.”

Sylvia spoke without turning around.

“She did mention it.”

I nodded. Sylvia had personally tended and maintained the Garden. For her, it was both a cherished hobby and one of the vital forces that sustained her life.

“The Garden was a treasure to me. I poured my heart and soul into nurturing it.”

Sylvia picked up a single petal, now brittle and discolored from withering.

“But not as much as I cherish our children.”

The children she spoke of were naturally the handmaidens of the Annex Building.

“Watching them suffer, I couldn’t bring myself to care about the Garden or the Annex crumbling away. I wanted to protect them, yet there was nothing I could do. That helplessness was unbearable.”

The petal in Sylvia’s hand crumbled into fine dust.

“I wanted to crush the Vice-Leader’s skull, but I couldn’t. And knowing I couldn’t win in a fight… that grief was overwhelming.”

Her lips trembled as she recalled when the entire Annex had been under the Vice-Leader’s oppressive control.

-Skull?! Not head, but skull?!

Wrath’s jaw quivered as he stared at Sylvia.

-You heavenly bastard! Because of you, Mother’s refined and gentle speech has become crude!

He shrieked that Sylvia’s elegant and soft manner of speaking had transformed into something rough and uncouth.

However, I’m not sure whether I should take that celestial bastard’s words as an insult or as praise.

“Thank you for giving me the chance to vent this frustration.”

Sylvia clenched her fist with the hand that had been holding the petals and turned around. Sincerity radiated from her brilliantly gleaming crimson eyes.

-Tsk….

Wrath seemed to sense Sylvia’s resolve as well, clicking his tongue while wrinkling the bridge of his nose.

“Are you confident you can win?”

I met Sylvia’s crimson gaze as I asked the question.

“Winning will be difficult. But I won’t go down without a fight.”

Sylvia infused her calm tone with the will of vengeance.

“I won’t be the one leaving the Sparring Arena on my own feet.”

She gripped her sword with the determination to fight until she collapsed. Three weeks of relentless training day and night had honed her into a formidable force.

“And….”

Sylvia bit her lip with firm resolve.

“Whether I win or lose today, the training is over, right?”
“Yes? Well, that’s correct.”
“Aaaaaaaaaaah!”

She suddenly looked up at the sky and let out a primal scream.

“It’s finally over! The hell has ended!”
“Uh, Mom?”

In my bewilderment, “Mom” slipped out instead of “Mother” for the first time in ages.

“It was so hard. I even came to resent you because of it!”

Sylvia buried her face in both hands, saying she had nearly died.

“Uh….”

I blinked as I watched Sylvia wail.

‘This isn’t the right atmosphere, is it?’

We were supposed to encourage each other and head to the Grand Training Grounds, but suddenly hearing that I had become hateful to her was bewildering.

-What’s bewildering about that! It’s only natural!

Wrath stroked Sylvia’s hair while grinding his teeth.

-Who would like someone who curses others’ parents and stabs his own with a blade!
‘Anyone listening would think it’s true.’
-Then you didn’t do it?
‘No, I did do it, but….’

The Vice-Leader touched Sylvia first, and I cut Sylvia because of training.
But since both were true, I had nothing to say in my defense.

-Ehehehehehe!

Wrath perched on Sylvia’s shoulder and let out a scornful laugh.

-So there are times when even your tongue grows stiff! This is the True Demon King’s victory!

The creature began to dance, wagging his tail.

‘Ugh….’

I bit my lip watching Wrath prance about. It was frustrating to lose in a verbal exchange with that creature, but even reconsidering it, I had nothing to say.

“…Let’s just go.”

I approached Sylvia’s side and swatted Wrath away with the back of my hand. Leaving the creature embedded with a squawk, I pointed toward the Main Mansion.

“Yes. Now there’s nothing I fear.”

Sylvia nodded with joy, pleased that her training had concluded rather than eager for a sparring match.

“Sigh…”

I exhaled deeply and shook my head.

‘I have no one on my side.’
-You killed them all yourself!
‘….’

*

*

*

The Vice-Leader’s Office.

The chamber, which had been reduced to chaos as though war had erupted, had returned to its original pristine and classical elegance.

The Vice-Leader sat perched upon a newly acquired ebony desk, sipping tea.

Knock, knock.

As he had nearly emptied his teacup, a dull knock sounded from the door.

“Enter.”

The Vice-Leader nodded, the door opened, and Crisson stepped inside. He wore the uniform specially crafted for the gladiatorial matches and bowed respectfully.

“Vice-Leader, the time has come.”
“I see.”

The Vice-Leader gazed out the window. Watching the sun advance toward its zenith, he set down his remaining tea.

“Crisson.”
“Yes, sir!”

Crisson’s voice rose sharply as he straightened his jaw with determination.

“Are you prepared?”
“Of course!”

He nodded with confident excitement in his voice.

“Thanks to the superior elixir you bestowed upon me, Vice-Leader, the very quality of my aura has transformed. I will not disappoint you!”
“Hmm….”

The Vice-Leader smacked his lips as he studied Crisson.

‘Both his momentum and presence have certainly changed.’

The moment I received Raon Zigheart’s challenge to a duel, I provided Crisson with a superior elixir and assigned one of the Elder Council’s martial experts to train him.
Thanks to that, the fool had become an entirely different person from three weeks ago.

‘At this level, defeating Sylvia should pose no problem.’

Dogyae is a man of his word. Since he said he wouldn’t participate, the only one who would step forward as the vanguard from the Annex Building was Sylvia.
Even if her realm was elevated, the long time she’d spent away from the sword meant that if Crisson didn’t let his guard down, they could fight on equal footing.

“Win even if it costs you your life. You are the face of this Sub-Lord’s Residence.”

The Vice-Leader tapped Crisson’s shoulder and smacked his lips. It wasn’t merely an encouragement—there was genuine sincerity behind it.

“Of course! I will win even if I must sacrifice this very life!”

Crisson’s eyes reddened with emotion at being called the face of the Sub-Lord’s Residence.

The Vice-Leader watched Crisson clench his fists and inwardly sneered.

‘Yes. Even if it means mutual destruction, bring that woman down.’

I couldn’t afford to expend strength before fighting that Raon bastard.

In battles between masters, victory and defeat are decided by the smallest of margins. If I wastefully depleted my aura against Sylvia, there was a real possibility I could fall behind against Raon.

‘I’ll likely win nine times out of ten, but it’s better to eliminate any uncertainties.’

Over three weeks, I gathered every scrap of information on Raon Zigheart and studied his swordsmanship and aura.
Wielding both fire and ice was cumbersome, but Raon’s techniques still lacked systematic refinement and completeness.
I was confident I could defeat him if we fought at full strength.

“Yes. If I don’t trust you, who else would I trust?”

I rose from the desk, my lips curving into a serene smile that belied my true thoughts.

“Vice-Leader….”

Crisson’s lips trembled once more, overwhelmed with emotion.

“Let’s go.”

The Vice-Leader patted Crisson’s shoulder and opened the office door. He gazed at the waning sunlight streaming through the corridor, his lips curling upward.

“It would be a waste to bury such a young talent on a day like this.”

*

*

*

Creak, creak, creak, creak!

The heavy iron gates of the Grand Training Grounds swung open, sending tremors across the battlefield.

A flood of spectators poured through the yawning entrance of the Grand Training Grounds.
Though they maintained order as they entered, the moment they passed through the threshold, they burst into movement, employing swift footwork to scramble toward the Spectator Stands and claim the best seats.

The Grand Training Grounds lived up to its name—a vast expanse—yet today it filled so quickly that people were already left standing.

“I barely managed to secure a seat.”

Burren fanned his face with his hand and released a sigh of relief.

“What is this, so many people!”

Martha frowned in annoyance at the cramped space.

“Where in the world were all these people?”
“Not just from the Zigheart Inner Castle, but residents from the outer city have all come as well, or so I heard.”

Dorian shook his head as he watched the crowd surge forward like waves.

“Even the outer city residents?”
“Yes. That insult Raon wrote about the Vice-Leader—well, that post didn’t just spread here. It’s circulated throughout all of Zigheart, and there’s no one who doesn’t know about it.”

He shook his head, noting that the text in which Raon had cursed the Vice-Leader had now become a song passed down through oral tradition.

“That’s why you should age gracefully.”

Martha let out a scoff as she looked at the Vice-Leader’s seat prepared beside the Sparring Arena.

“At that age, all that’s left is honor, but his has been buried in the ground and smeared with filth. How fitting.”

She grinned with obvious delight.

“Right. If he’d just stayed quiet, he might have at least come out in the middle.”

Crain waved his hand dismissively, as if pitying the situation.

“It’s so warm… I’m getting sleepy.”

Lunan began nodding off in the sunlight.

“Hey! Don’t fall asleep! You’ve got to see that old Vice-Leader get beaten!”

Martha grabbed Lunan by the collar and shook him, but he didn’t wake.

While the Gwangpung Corps mocked the Vice-Leader, conversation about today’s duel had also begun in the Spectator Stands.

“Who do you think will win today?”
“It’s a 2v2 captain’s match, right?”
“The Sub-Lord’s Residence will have the Vice-Leader and Crisson.”
“The Annex Building has the Gwangpung Corps Master locked in, but who’s the other one?”
“I’m not sure either, but wouldn’t it be hard for them to lose no matter who comes?”
“Well, even if Raon Zigheart is incredibly strong, it’s difficult to overcome the Vice-Leader.”
“No way. The Gwangpung Corps Master is the one who obtained the Sword Saint’s martial techniques this time. You won’t know the result until you see it!”
“He’s only had them for less than a month. What could have changed? Not yet.”

While some cheered for Raon, the overwhelming majority predicted the Vice-Leader’s victory.

“Hey.”

Martha turned around and wrinkled her nose.

“That old man beats our Master? Are your eyes just for decoration? Huh?”

She gnashed her teeth as if ready to pounce immediately.

“N-no, that’s not what we meant….”
“We were just analyzing the odds….”
“Want me to cut off your heads too?”

Martha licked her lips and placed her hand on her sword.

“Please don’t cause trouble!”
“S-stop it!”
“If you cause a disturbance here, all hell breaks loose!”

Burren, Dorian, and Crain grabbed Martha’s arm and stopped her.

“If you’re confident about who will win!”

A cheerful voice, light as wind, echoed from below the Spectator Stands.

“Why not place your bets accordingly! The Annex Building, the Sub-Lord’s Residence. And even a draw! Your judgment will determine your future fortune!”

It was Rimer. He had set up a gambling den with wooden boards at some point and was gathering people.

“Ah….”
“That human. No, that damned Elf!”
“How… embarrassing….”

The Gwangpung Corps lowered their heads as they watched Rimer, who had even hired a professional Dealer, collecting money.

“Ohhh!”
“The Gambling Den for the duel has opened!”
“Let’s go!”

The people who had been debating who would win descended below and began scattering gold coins.

“Ehehehehehe!”

Rimer’s lips stretched wide as he watched the crowd pour in. His eyes seemed to transform into the shape of gold coins.

“Sigh, isn’t anyone going to stop that guy?”

It was just as Martha exhaled a weary sigh and shook her head.

The sound of a long robe fluttering echoed through the now-quiet City Gate. The murmur of the spectators died down instantly.

Footsteps.

With footsteps that naturally drew the ear, Raon appeared draped in a black robe. Following behind him, Sylvia wore a black martial robe as if they had coordinated their outfits.

Like waves of the great sea glistening with sunlight, her radiant golden hair and his crimson eyes that seemed to draw in one’s soul. The audience momentarily lost for words at the sight of Raon and Sylvia, whose beauty was among the most exquisite even within Zigheart.

Raon savored the hushed atmosphere of the Grand Training Grounds, settling his back against the chair placed before the Sparring Arena with a subtle smile.

“He certainly knows how to set the mood.”

Martha chuckled as she looked at Raon.

“Raon’s so handsome today. Raon’s mother is so beautiful today.”

Lunan, who had woken up at some point, was blinking as he gazed at Raon and Sylvia.

“When did you wake up?”

Martha let out a hollow laugh as if she found it absurd.

“What amazes me more than anything is that Sylvia endured Raon’s training.”

Burren’s lips trembled as if frightened.

“If he told me to do private training with that monster for three weeks, I would’ve fled long ago.”

He shook his head, insisting he could never bear it.

“Come on. No matter how insane our Organization Master is, he wouldn’t treat his own mother the same way, right?”

Martha scoffed at the ridiculous notion.

“Right. Even a Demon King would recognize his own mother.”

Crain chuckled and nodded in agreement.

“Um…”

Dorian’s lips trembled as he looked at Sylvia.

“Sylvia, doesn’t something about your eyes look familiar?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Your eyes?”

The Gwangpung Corps followed Dorian’s gaze to examine Sylvia’s eyes.
Her gaze shimmered like transparent heat waves, and a subtle madness that deviated from normalcy emanated from them.

“Could it be that we…?”
“Y-yes! Those are our eyes from when we underwent concentration enhancement training!”
“Insane…”
“He really put even his mother through it?”

Burren and Martha’s jaws dropped in disbelief.

“…Is that even human?”
“H-he’s a true Demon King. No, even a Demon King would give up!”

*

*

*

“Sigh.”

I exhaled deeply as I watched Rimer opening the Gambling Den and the Gwangpung Corps running wild with excitement.

‘Why is there not a single composed person on our side?’
-Says the one who should know better….

Wrath let out an exasperated sigh.

‘What’s wrong with me?’

As I shook my head briefly, heavy footsteps echoed from the entrance of the Grand Training Grounds.
Turning around, I saw the Vice-Leader and Crisson walking in, both draped in pristine white robes. Their relaxed smiles and confident strides evoked the image of victorious generals.

“Hmph.”

The Vice-Leader let out a short scoff and walked toward the opposite side where his seat was located. As he arrived, a small voice rose from the Spectator Stands.

“There exists an old man who does not know the laws of nature that even children understand. What could be the reason!”
“If one reaches that age without knowing what one ought to have learned, it is surely because the parents failed to educate them!”

The words that had filled Zigheart’s sky three weeks ago now echoed from the mouths of young children like a song.

“Ugh!”

The Vice-Leader’s previously composed expression flushed crimson, blood vessels bulging in his eyes.

“Eek!”
“Ah….”

The children who had sung trembled, their lips quivering as they felt the Vice-Leader’s murderous aura.

“V-Vice-Leader! Please restrain yourself! They are merely children! And the duel is about to begin, is it not!”

The Announcer rushed over and stopped the Vice-Leader.

“Tsk.”

The Vice-Leader clicked his tongue and suppressed his killing intent. Instead, he glared at me as if he wanted to kill me, twisting his lips into a sneer.

I met the Vice-Leader’s murderous gaze and smiled with my eyes. It was refreshing to see the cunning old fox burning with rage.

However, Sylvia didn’t laugh. She simply gazed at the Vice-Leader with a serene presence, as if steeling the resolve she had expressed before coming here.

Kuuuung!

Just as I was nodding in satisfaction, a grand resonance erupted from the entrance of the Training Ground.

“The Sky of the Northern Region. The Head of House, Glen Zigheart, makes his entrance!”
“We greet the Head of House!”

As the gatekeepers shouted Glen’s name until their voices cracked, everyone in the Grand Training Grounds dropped to their knees toward the entrance.

I bowed my head while observing Glen as he entered the Grand Training Grounds. He paid no attention to anyone and headed straight for the Platform, where Sheryl, Roen, and Aris nodded as if wishing us well.

“Begin.”

Glen examined me, Sylvia, the Vice-Leader, and Crisson in turn with the dry gaze he displayed in the Patriarch’s Hall, then nodded.

“Yes!”

The Announcer bowed and climbed onto the Sparring Arena.

“We will now begin the 2-on-2 sword duel between the Annex Building and the Sub-Lord’s Residence!”

As he raised his hand powerfully, a roar erupted from the Spectator Stands that shook the Sparring Arena.

“Normally, a duel is conducted with a wager that the loser must grant the winner a wish, but it seems that wish has not yet been decided!”

The Announcer continued, looking at me and the Vice-Leader in turn.

“Now, let us determine that wish here….”
“Wouldn’t it be better to discuss that after the match is over?”

I gave Burren Zigheart a light nod as I watched him.

“The winner gets everything they ask for.”
“…Very well.”

Burren Zigheart answered decisively, as if he had no doubts.

“Hmm….”

The Announcer hesitated to make a decision and looked up at the Platform. Only after Glen Zigheart gave his approval with a glance did the Announcer nod his head.

“Very well. Today’s loser in the gladiatorial match must grant the winner everything they ask for. However, commands such as ‘take your own life’ are forbidden.”
“Understood.”
“Understood.”

Raon and Burren Zigheart nodded simultaneously.

“Then, the vanguard, please come up to the Sparring Arena!”

The moment the Announcer finished speaking, Crisson climbed onto the Sparring Arena.

Sylvia didn’t climb up immediately. Instead, she gazed toward where the handmaidens stood in the Spectator Seats.

She nodded to the handmaidens, who were biting their lips with their hands clasped together as if in prayer, before stepping onto the Sparring Arena.

“W-Sylvia?”
“Sylvia is the vanguard?”
“I heard she obtained an artificial dantian, but competing in a gladiatorial match?”
“Right. Her dantian hasn’t even stabilized yet—isn’t she pushing herself too hard?”
“The vanguard will definitely lose to Burren Zigheart’s side.”
“Ah, I bet my money wrong!”

The spectators shook their heads, certain of Sylvia’s defeat.

“It’s been a while.”

Crisson narrowed his eyes as he looked at Sylvia.

“Things will be different this time. I’ll shatter your jaw this time.”

He touched his slightly misaligned jaw, muttering that he wouldn’t let his guard down.

“….”

Sylvia said nothing in response. She glared fiercely at the Vice-Leader before stepping in front of Crisson.

“Let’s see how long that expression lasts.”

Crisson flashed a look at the Announcer, signaling him to begin quickly.

“Ahem.”

The Announcer cleared his throat and raised his hand.

“Then let the vanguard match begin!”

He brought his hand down like lightning and retreated.

“Haaaaaaah!”

Crisson stomped the ground with such force it seemed he would shatter the Sparring Arena, charging at Sylvia. His movement was fierce and unpredictable, like a beast pouncing on its prey.

Sylvia stood motionless with her blade drawn. Only when Crisson’s sword thrust up beneath her chin did she suddenly lower her upper body as sharply as a candle flame being snuffed out.

Whoooosh!

She evaded Crisson’s sharp blade by a hair’s breadth, then twisted her right foot and moved to the left.

“Ugh!”

Sylvia pressed forward against the panicked Crisson as he retreated. She pushed away his desperate counterattack with the back of her hand, then swept her blade upward from below.

Crack!

Crisson’s body flew into the air as Sylvia’s blade struck his chin. His jawbone shattered, and blood-soaked teeth scattered from his mouth like rain.

“Cough….”

As Crisson fell, Sylvia whirled her blade and struck his head with a vicious slash.

Splurt!

Crisson collapsed to the ground, a fountain of blood spraying from the crown of his head. He lay motionless—whether unconscious or worse—as blood continued to pour from his mouth and scalp.

“Uh… uh…”
“Ha…”
“Th-this can’t be…”

The spectators were left speechless—astounded both by Sylvia’s victory and by how the duel had ended in a blur of speed.

“Y-your winner… Sylvia Zigheart!”

The Announcer slapped his own cheek to regain his composure before crying out her name.

“Tch…”

The Vice-Leader didn’t spare a glance at the convulsing Crisson, his eyes fixed solely on Sylvia. His expression twisted with barely contained rage.

“Are you able to continue?”

The Announcer asked Sylvia if she could proceed to the next match.

“Yes.”

Sylvia nodded without hesitation, as though it were obvious.

“Then, the captain of the Vice-Leader’s unit, please come forward.”
“Huff…”

The Vice-Leader ascended to the Sparring Arena at the Announcer’s call.

“You think you can continue? Do you truly believe you can defeat me?”

He twisted his lips and furrowed his brow.

“You have no chance against me. Stop this foolishness and withdraw.”

The Vice-Leader’s eyes gleamed with an ominous, threatening light.

“It doesn’t matter if there’s no chance of winning.”

Sylvia shook her head, her eyes serene and unwavering.

“Warriors—no, people must fight even when they know they will lose, because there are moments when fighting is the only choice.”

She stood tall against the Vice-Leader’s fierce momentum, her posture dignified and her gaze unflinching.

“The Vice-Leader may not understand this. Being lowborn, ignorant, lacking a proper upbringing… Ah, I’ll stop there.”

Sylvia covered her mouth and laughed softly, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

“You wench!”

The Vice-Leader trembled with rage, his shoulders shaking as he let out a furious roar—like a dragon whose reverse scales had been touched.

-No, no, no! This can’t be!

Wrath clutched his head, his voice piercing with anguish.

-Because of you, Mother has fallen! This is not what Mother should be!

Meanwhile, Raon applauded Sylvia upon seeing that sight.

“Bravo.”

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