The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 668

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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 668

A dim Secret Chamber where not a single ray of light seeped through.

The man seated before the weathered desk turned away from the black flames blazing against the wall.

“The movements of Raon Zigheart and the Gwangpung Corps have been peculiar.”

He stroked his chin while peering beneath the desk.

“Their eyes are rolling about as if they’re searching for something.”
“It may be because of me. When I first saw that boy, I inadvertently leaked some demonic energy….”

The Black-haired Youth kneeling before him let out a low groan.

“But it was truly a minuscule amount. Even the Pirn or sacred relics couldn’t detect it, so how….”

His lips trembled as if he couldn’t comprehend it.

“Occasionally, those born with exceptional senses do emerge.”

The man’s lips curled into a thin smile.

“Then Raon Zigheart’s participation in the Holy Assembly was to find you? Things are becoming interesting.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to send him away now if they truly sensed the demonic energy?”
“No, it’s better to keep him even closer. The fact that they can’t find him openly means they lack certainty.”

He laughed, saying he should keep him closer than even his few allies.

“Raon Zigheart once earned the epithet of Legend Sword Association, valuing righteousness above all. Such people cannot wield their blades recklessly. He will likely be so consumed with finding you that he sees nothing else.”

The man waved his fingers lightly, saying he could see the movements of Raon and the Gwangpung Corps.

“I’ll handle the upper echelons myself, so you focus on what you need to do.”
“Yes, understood.”

The Black-haired Youth bowed his head before dissolving into a murky shadow.

Tap-tap-tap.

The man turned back to face the wall, his gaze fixed on the black flames dancing across its surface.
The dark fire deepened in intensity, climbing along the inscribed words etched into the stone.

“God is always near… or so they say.”

He let his lips fall slack as black tears dripped from his eyes.

“But where exactly?”

*

*

*

“Pirn was truly a man of genuine virtue.”

Burren rubbed the back of his neck and exhaled slowly.

“All he did was serve others. Watching him felt less like observing a high priest and more like seeing a boy who’d just taken his vows.”

He shook his head, admitting he never expected such a person to exist.

“Kinier, on the other hand, is a Paladin in a completely different sense.”

Martha furrowed her brow in irritation.

“What do you mean by that?”

Burren tilted his head in confusion.

“That bastard doesn’t pray or train—he just goes around seducing women! When he got rejected right in front of me and then tried his advances on me, I nearly drew my blade across that mouth of his!”

She ground her teeth, calling him nothing short of a hoodlum.

“Ugh, I thought I’d die just trying to stop you back then.”

Dorian exhaled a heavy sigh, his shoulders drooping.

“Lunan. How is Lord Danieff?”

I nodded and called out to Lunan.

“Ah.”

Lunan, who had been nodding off against the wall, lifted his head with a vacant expression.

“He follows the king around, chases after the king, and sticks only to the king. During breaks, he swings his sword. And….”
“And?”
“He doesn’t talk.”

Lunan placed a finger to his lips, remarking that he’d never seen someone so silent before.

“What about the Saint?”

I called out to Rimer, who was leaning against the wall and picking at his ear.

“Can’t even see her hair. Is she hiding somewhere shaking down the kids?”

Rimer massaged his temples in frustration.

“The Vice-Master went to the Gambling House instead of working, didn’t he?”
“Obvious.”
“Sigh….”

Burren, Martha, and Dorian all shook their heads.

“Seriously! Even for me, there’s a time and place, you know?”
“Since when?”

Lunan answered bluntly, like striking bone.

“Ugh….”

Rimer clenched his chest, biting his lip as if he had nothing to say.

“Anyway, I really can’t find her. I even searched through the Convent!”
“Pervert.”

Martha ground her teeth in disgust.

“Ugh, complain about this, complain about that… it never ends.”

Rimer dropped his shoulders with exhaustion.

“I followed Valt and Yuson, but I observed nothing unusual about them.”

Mark Goeten lowered his head, admitting he’d found nothing suspicious about the high priest either.

“What about you two?”

Burren gestured toward Raon and Hofen.

“Same here.”

I met Hofen’s gaze and clicked my tongue briefly. Using Hofen’s status as both prince and commander of the 5th Holy Knight Order, we’d managed to meet everyone in the Audience Chamber and all the high-ranking officials, yet found nothing out of the ordinary. Perhaps because we’d experienced it once before, even provoking Wrath’s fury yielded no response.
Using Hofen’s status as a prince and commander of the 5th Holy Knight Order, I met with all the people in the Audience Chamber and high-ranking officials, but I couldn’t find anything unusual.
Even though he had experienced it once before, provoking Wrath’s anger no longer elicited any response.

“Is it really that bitch?”

Martha narrowed her eyes suspiciously, as if she found it odd that the Saint was nowhere to be seen.

“The Saint doesn’t just disappear for a day or two—it’s common for her to hide away for months at a time. In fact, it’s strange that she’s been showing up consistently.”

Hofen shook his head, saying that was just how he was originally.

“In the end, it was all for nothing.”

Burren Zigheart swept his hair back and squinted his eyes.

“Is there really someone who actually uses magic?”

Martha rolled her eyes.

“Yes. I’m certain.”

Had I been relying solely on my own thoughts, I wouldn’t have answered that question properly. But with Wrath’s confirmation, I nodded calmly.

“Sigh…”

I exhaled as I gazed at the pale yellow moonlight brushing against the window.

‘In the end, we couldn’t find them.’

The Gwangpung Corps and I had personally conducted a thorough search of everyone in the Audience Chamber, but whoever had made a contract with the Demon Race refused to reveal themselves.
We had set traps to expose demonic energy, yet seeing how they didn’t even recognize it as a trap made me believe there truly was no human who had contracted with the Demon Race.

‘However…’

I never encountered the Saint.

As Rimer had said, the Saint had disappeared and vanished without a trace since that day.

I had thought she wasn’t the Saint because she acted so brazenly and crudely, but now it seemed I had to place her under suspicion as well.

Especially since she was the only one who had openly told me not to participate in the Holy Assembly.

“What do we do now? The Holy Assembly is in two days.”

Burren Zigheart chewed his lip as if he didn’t know what to do.

“Cancel the search operation.”

I clapped my hands lightly to gather everyone’s attention.

‘This is just wasting time.’

Given the current situation, there was a high probability the enemy knew we were searching for them.
Seeing how they were hiding their identity in this land filled with holy power, finding them before the Holy Assembly was impossible.

“Then what are you planning?”
“We need to change our approach. We must prepare to fight, no matter who summons the Demon Race. Even if there are some sacrifices, we prioritize protecting what matters most.”

I am no hero. Rather than waste time on uncertainties, proper preparation was far superior.

“Dorian. You have holy water, right?”
“Of course. It’s essential.”

Dorian smiled faintly as he spoke of holy water being an essential item in the Holy Kingdom.

“We have plenty of it. If you use that….”
“No. That won’t work.”

I shook my head firmly. Given that high-ranking officials were involved, I had to assume all holy water and sacred relics in this nation were already tainted.

“From now on….”

I explained to the Gwangpung Corps and Hofen what preparations needed to be made and how to execute them.

The plan was complex due to our uncertainty about the enemy, but everyone grasped it immediately like the capable individuals they were and nodded in agreement.

“This isn’t even our land, and it’s such a hassle.”

Rimer gestured with his fingers toward Hofen.

“Once this is settled, you’re rewarding us properly, right? You understand?”
“Of course. Don’t worry.”

Hofen laughed, saying he would treat them to a full course meal.

“I’m looking forward to it!”

Rimer chuckled and exited through the window. There was a door right there—I couldn’t understand why he always insisted on leaving through such places.

“You don’t need to give me anything. I’ll be leaving with nothing anyway.”

Burren Zigheart said there was no need to give him even a single gold coin before leaving the room.

“Right. Just ignore him.”
“Snort….”

Martha snorted as she left, carrying the sleeping Lunan Slion on her back.

“Very well.”

Mark Goeten bowed respectfully before taking his leave.

“I’ll be going as well.”

Hofen offered an awkward smile and followed Mark Goeten out. His footsteps seemed heavier than anyone else’s.

‘Hey.’

I closed the door and gestured to Wrath, who lay with his back against the ceiling.

-What.

Wrath’s tail swished as he lifted his eyelids.

‘Still not going to say anything?’
-How many times must you ask? The contract between humans and the Demon Race was forged through mutual agreement. The True Demon King and those other wretches set the conditions, so how could I possibly break them!

He slammed his hand down forcefully, insisting it was nonsense.

‘For someone saying that, you looked pretty anxious.’
-What, what do you mean anxious!

Wrath shook his head vigorously in denial.

-In any case, I shall not move until the contract is finalized! Absolutely!
‘I see.’

That statement implied he might offer assistance once the contract was complete. At least that was something to be grateful for.

‘King Baurn, Pirn, Guard Commander Danieff, Paladin Kinier, Saint Olga, and the priests…’

I exhaled softly and mentally reviewed everything that had transpired thus far.

‘Hmm? Wait…’

As I recalled when Hofen had explained the high-ranking officials five days ago, a suspicious figure came to mind.

Recalling what I’d heard from Hofen and the recent circumstances, his actions were undoubtedly suspicious. I couldn’t say for certain, but it was enough to warrant heightened vigilance.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Just as I was beginning to retrace my thoughts, someone struck the door. Not a knock—it sounded like a kick.

I opened the door with a furrowed brow. The Saint Olga stood there with purple hair swept behind her left ear, leaning on one leg.
Now I noticed that peculiar tattoo was also etched behind her ear.

“Saint?”

I couldn’t fathom why someone I’d been searching for without success had suddenly come to find me.

“Forget the Saint nonsense. Make some time.”

Not a request—a command.

What was even more amusing was that the Saint said this and left without so much as a backward glance.

‘Quite the personality.’

I shook my head and followed her. She stopped at the Zelkova Tree in front of the Dormitory and leaned her back against it.

“Why did you call me?”

I tilted my head, concealing my probing gaze.

“Why are you speaking informally?”

The Saint tilted her head in confusion.

“Because you are.”
“Your personality is terrible.”
“Would you prefer I didn’t?”
“Kekeke.”

The Saint laughed as if delighted. She was certainly an unusual person.

“Do you smoke?”
“No.”

As I shook my head, the Saint withdrew a cigarette from her bosom and placed it between her lips.

“You all seem to be doing something strange.”

The Saint lit the cigarette and shook her head.

“Stop wasting time and return to Zigheart.”
“What strange thing?”
“Sending that ugly elf to find me.”

She spoke of Rimer with a scoff.

“I’ve seen many faces. You might not understand, but I have no interest in such a pathetic fool.”

The Saint uttered words that would send Rimer into a fit if he heard them, shaking her head.

“How much do you know?”
“What do you know?”

She turned the question back on me.

“What are you searching for, following people around like this?”
“….”

I gathered my fingertips as I observed the Saint’s darkened eyes.

“Oh, are you going to kill me?”

The Saint laughed, placing her hand against her throat.

“There’s no need to glare like that. It’s merely intuition.”

Gray smoke curled languidly from her crimson lips.

—Cough! Cough!

Wrath, floating in mid-air, coughed and furrowed his brow.

-Kill that woman! This is secondhand smoking!
‘Just hold on a moment.’

I pushed Wrath away and turned my gaze toward the Saint.

“Intuition?”
“I’ve had good instincts since birth. I read crises, I read opportunities.”

The Saint smacked her lips lightly.

“My instincts are telling me. Leave this place and stop wasting your time.”
“Does that mean a crisis is coming to Schpern?”
“It could be, or it might not be.”

She waved her hand dismissively.

“If your instincts are so good, why don’t you just tell me directly?”
“I’ve tried a few times before. Whenever I speak of danger from my lips, it becomes an even greater crisis that comes seeking me out. Damn it, so many have died.”

The Saint cursed her wretched life and chewed on the end of her cigarette.

“Then why are you telling me this…”
“Just as you observed me, I’ve been watching you. For some reason, you felt different to me.”

She took a long drag from what little remained of her cigarette and laughed.

“See? Even now, talking with you, I feel no dread whatsoever. It might truly be a sign that I’m meant to save you.”

The Saint extinguished the burnt-out cigarette and shook her head.

“A revelation to save just one person. What a damned unlucky god, right? I’d like to spit in his face.”

She tucked the cigarette butt into her right pocket and ground her teeth.

I narrowed my eyes as I observed the Saint who blasphemed against her god.

‘What exactly is this woman?’

He spoke as if reading the heavens themselves, despite not having transcended to that level. It was remarkable, regardless of how vague his words were.

-Heavenly Conduit.
‘Heavenly Conduit?’
-It’s when the upper dantian opens from birth, connecting one to the heavens. It’s opened far wider than that pineapple girl. However, since it wasn’t intentional, she won’t know the details as she claims.
‘I see….’

Upon hearing Wrath’s explanation, the Saint’s words began to make sense.

“This is my final warning. If you don’t want to die, stop this nonsense and go home.”
“If this place is truly in danger, wouldn’t I and the Gwangpung Corps be of help?”
“Do you know when that crisis will strike? Will it last your entire lifetime?”

The Saint scoffed, saying the timing was unknowable.

“And that blockhead of a king already said it. Even if we’re weaker than you, we have the courage to fight to the very end.”

She clenched her small fist tightly.

“If I’ve heard such words, I have no choice but to fight to the end with our own strength, not relying on the power of others.”

The Saint’s eyes were serene. Unlike calling him a blockhead, she seemed to respect King Baurn deeply.

“If you understand, get out of Zigheart before the Holy Assembly convenes.”

The Saint waved her hand as if swatting away a fly and turned her back.

“Hmm….”

I swallowed dryly as I watched the Saint’s retreating figure.

‘What should I do?’

Revealing the truth to the Saint might greatly aid the plan. Yet this entire situation could itself be her intention, which made my thoughts complicated.

As I bit my lip in contemplation, Wrath clapped his hands while observing the Saint’s arms and thighs.

-Ah, so that’s what it was!
‘What?’
-I thought those markings on that woman were strange, but looking at her ears, I understand now. They weren’t tattoos at all.

Wrath nodded as he observed the square-shaped markings etched upon the Saint’s ears.

‘Not tattoos?’
-That’s right. Those bizarre marks aren’t tattoos—they’re the result of holy power rejection.
‘Holy power rejection?’
-When holy power is used beyond necessity, the skin melts away in that pattern. The Demon Race experiences the same phenomenon.

He trembled at his own conclusion that she was undoubtedly the Mad Woman who felt no pain.

Upon hearing Wrath’s words, Raon clenched his fists.

‘Then….’

*

*

*

The day of the Holy Assembly dawned.

Perhaps because God blessed it, or perhaps because it blessed God—not a single cloud marred the sky.

The Holy Kingdom of Sueper locked its city gates the moment the dawn mist dispersed, wrapping the entire kingdom in a barrier of holy power.

As the sun rose above the pristine castle walls, every citizen of the kingdom emerged from their homes.
They knelt in the streets, holding cups filled with water or holy water in their hands.

I stood atop the Spire, gazing down upon the entire kingdom.
Beneath the sky of holy power shaped like a soap bubble, the countless faithful preparing their prayers formed a sight of breathtaking majesty.

“Thank you for remaining, Master of the Gwangpung Corps.”

Pirn approached from the side and bowed his head.

“No, it will be a good experience for me as well.”

Raon smiled faintly and waved his hand.

“It is certainly a magnificent sight.”

Paladin Kinier rubbed his hands together with his arms crossed behind his back.

“I see it every year, and it’s still magnificent? That’s nonsense.”

Saint Olga pouted her lips. She glared at me sharply as if displeased.

As Raon met eyes with the Saint, heavy footsteps echoed from behind.
Turning around, I saw King Baurn, Guard Commander Danieff, and high-ranking priests ascending.

“Your Majesty, we greet you.”

Raon bowed his head to King Baurn.

“It is an honor that the Gwangpung Corps Master remains with us.”

King Baurn returned the greeting with a smile.

“The other swordsmen did not come?”

He tilted his head as he observed Raon standing alone.

“They said this place was uncomfortable and preferred to remain below.”
“I see—there are many elderly people here, after all. If you find it tedious, Master, you may descend whenever you wish.”

Baurn drew a serene smile and walked forward.

“The sun is rising, so we must begin at once.”

The King stood at the edge of the Spire with calm steps. He sat down in a perilous spot where one more step would mean falling, and set down the holy water he had brought.

Pirn approached his side and poured holy water into the King’s chalice.

Kiiiiiiing!

As the bell rang throughout the entire kingdom, King Baurn raised a chalice brimming with holy water toward the heavens before bringing it to his lips.

The citizens below followed their sovereign’s example, moistening their own lips with water and holy water.

King Baurn smiled with evident satisfaction, then knelt and clasped his hands together.

“The Divine is always near. Even if He does not watch over us….”

As he began to recite passages from the holy scripture, the citizens below joined in, chanting the verses in unison.

Gooooooo!

Light emanating from the highest sovereign cascaded downward through the priests and Holy Knights to the people, and the wall of sacred power enveloping the entire kingdom exhaled a thicker, more magnificent radiance.
A holiness and sanctity so profound it seemed the Divine itself might manifest in this land filled the air.

I felt the sacred power so intensely that my fingertips ached, and my eyes swept across the scene.

‘Such overwhelming sacred power spreading everywhere, yet not a single reaction….’

Sacred power potent enough to affect ordinary people was flowing freely, yet no one showed any sign of suffering.
Whoever had made a contract with the Demon Race possessed an endurance far beyond my expectations.

I calmed my mind and methodically examined everyone present in the Facility.
Yet from the moment the sun rose in the east until it reached the zenith of the sky, not a single person moved.

Ziiiiiiing!

Only after the grand bell tolled to announce noon did everyone open their eyes.

King Baurn drank the second chalice of holy water and recited the scripture once more. The citizens drank the water and holy water they had brought and continued their prayers.

Nothing unusual occurred after that.

Ziiiiiiing!

The third bell rang as the sun began to set.
All the citizens of Schpern moistened their lips with holy water and water just as they had at midday.

I furrowed my brow as I gazed at the crimson sky at dusk.

‘What is this?’

Was it not today?

Despite the Holy Assembly’s prayer drawing to a close, not even a wisp of demonic energy had manifested, let alone a proper appearance.
I had maintained constant vigilance, but my concentration was beginning to fray.

‘Did they sense I was searching and postpone their plan? Though that seems unlikely…’

As I wrestled with this incomprehensible situation, the surroundings fell silent.

King Baurn, who should have been reciting the prayer, held his lips closed while a faint smile played across his face.

“Is this not a beautiful sight to behold?”

King Baurn gazed upon the people with their hands clasped together and nodded serenely.

“Commander of the Gwangpung Corps. Are you familiar with the saying that the divine grants only trials that mortals can endure?”

He turned to regard me with gentle eyes.

“…I am aware of it.”

Raon nodded his head. That story wasn’t unique to The Facility Schpern alone—it was a tale that was common to most religions.

“I believed in that saying more than anyone. I thought every trial, great or small, was an experience that nourished my flesh and soul.”

The king laughed, stroking his own chest.

‘I?’

King Baurn had always referred to himself with formal pronouns. This was the first time he had called himself by such a direct term.

“But it did not work. I begged so earnestly that the divine would not lead me into temptation, yet the divine did not listen. Either I am too weak a mortal to overcome such trials, or…”

The king lifted his head. Above his blue eyes, a dark aura rippled.

“The divine is simply a bastard.”

As that cold voice flowed down beneath the Spire, a deep darkness rose up over the wall of holy power that enveloped the kingdom.

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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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