The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 723

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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 723

“You’ve returned.”

Derus Robert walked through the long corridor and bowed respectfully toward the Blue Dragon Helmet Warrior.

“Derus.”

Based on the man’s appearance and voice, I called the Blue Dragon Helmet Warrior by Derus’s name.

“Beorn and Kubara have returned, but we were worried since you hadn’t come back. Are you alright?”

The fake Derus approached the real Derus, his brows furrowing deeply.

“My body is fine, but something else is broken.”

The real Derus Robert clutched his chest and spat out black blood.

“If it weren’t for the bracelet with compressed death energy, I might have been buried beneath that river.”

He muttered that it had truly been dangerous and spat blood once more.

“What technique could have possibly done this to you…?”

The fake Derus trembled his lips in disbelief.

“It was a swordsmanship style I’d never seen before. It cut past aura and flesh, slicing directly into the soul.”

Derus shook his head, speaking as if bewildered.

“Is it something like Ogram’s Resonance Technique?”
“No, it was on an entirely different level. Resonance Technique can be endured to some degree if one’s soul rank is high enough, but Glen’s sword was different.”

His long, slender fingers traced the path of Glen’s Heart Sword.

“Regardless of my state, it cuts through the soul as if nothing matters. It was a transcendent power that surpassed technique itself. However, there was something far more irritating than Glen’s sword.”

Derus Robert caressed his blood-soaked chest and twisted his lips.

“Raon Zigheart. That damned bastard interfering until the very end!”

He finally lost his composure and unleashed a roar like a wounded beast.

Uuuuuuong!

The fake Derus raised a barrier to prevent his anguished cry from escaping the study.

“I thought he was dead, yet he returns to life and obstructs my work! I should have torn him apart long ago!”

As Derus Robert’s genuine fury erupted, an aura of death began seeping from him.

Huuuuuuk!

The death aura had evolved further, now affecting even inanimate objects.
Books lining the shelves crumbled into black ash and scattered, while fine furniture decayed as though millennia had passed, leaving not a speck of dust.

“Haa….”

After venting his rage for a long while, Derus Robert exhaled a heavy sigh. His grotesquely gleaming eyes regained their usual composure.

“Bardiel.”

Derus Robert gestured to the fake Derus and spoke in a low voice.

“Report on the situation since my departure.”
“Before the war, King Owen contacted me; during the war, the Tower Master did; and after the war, Chamber reached out. All three showed no suspicion before ending communication.”

The man called Bardiel bowed his head as though there was nothing to worry about.

“As expected.”

Derus Robert twisted his lips and folded his fingers.

‘Even if they harbored suspicion, they couldn’t act on it.’

The illusory magic created by Chamber and the Tower Master reflected not just one’s face, but one’s very essence, making it impossible to use a substitute.

However, what Bardiel is currently wearing is an ancient artifact called the 【Doppelgänger’s Hide】, created by slaying hundreds of doppelgängers.
It altered not only appearance but also temperament and aura properties, making it impossible to detect unless one came in person to verify—even if one wanted to be discovered.

‘That Raon fellow won’t be able to carelessly reveal my identity either.’

Even if Raon Zigheart truly was that Raon, he had never seen this helmet.
Without evidence, his attempt to expose my identity would be no different from throwing away his own life.

‘No, actually evidence does exist.’

I observed the scar on the back of my hand, where a sword mark had added another line, forming an X.

‘If I reveal this scar, I can prove that I am Derus Robert.’

But that too was impossible.

With the Doppelgänger’s Hide that Bardiel wore, this scar would never be exposed no matter what was attempted.
If Raon tried to use the scar against me, I could counterattack. In fact, it would become an opportunity.

“Now that you’ve returned, Master Derus, I shall remove the hide.”
“No.”

Derus Robert shook his head as Bardiel brought his hand to the back of his head.

“As I said, all physical wounds have healed, but my soul remains torn.”

Derus Robert calmly shook his head.

“While I undergo treatment, you will take my place.”
“…Understood.”

Bardiel bowed carefully. When he raised his gaze again, his eyes had already taken on the true appearance of Derus Robert.

“The Yukhwanghoe will convene soon. If contact comes by video call, you will attend. If I must go in person, summon me.”

Derus Robert examined Bardiel, narrowing his eyes.

“No matter how transcendent you are or what hide you wear, you cannot escape the eyes of those old men.”
“Understood.”

Bardiel simply bowed, as if to say he would obey.

“Then let us depart.”
“Yes.”

He lowered his head carefully and left the study.

“Sigh….”

Only after Derus Robert was alone did he remove the Blue Dragon Helmet.

“Wounds grant new flesh and experience, after all.”

He swept his silver hair, damp with blood and sweat, back from his face and smiled coldly.

“I will make you regret letting me live. And I will make you regret that you are still alive.”

*

*

*

“So. This is the letter Raon left behind?”

Merlin, wearing a shabby mask fashioned from tree bark, carefully held the paper folded in a cross.

“Yeah. Raon left it.”

Garam nodded while looking at the letter.

“Sigh….”

Merlin exhaled a heated breath as she caressed the letter with her fingertips.

“I’m nervous—it’s my first time receiving a love letter.”

She smacked her lips slowly, as if the nervousness was getting to her.

“Affection…?”

Garam tilted his head, confused by what she meant.

“Never mind.”

Merlin ignored Garam’s reaction and unfolded Raon’s letter.

[I heard you saved me again. Thank you. And I’m sorry. Because of me, you were ambushed by the Phantom Soul Ghost, and you were even driven out of Eden. I have nothing to say but apologies. However, as the saying goes, “a blessing in disguise,” I hope this moment becomes an opportunity for you to settle your past and live anew. From now on, stop your misdeeds and live a life where you can cherish yourself. I’ll be rooting for you, so come find me anytime you need help. -Raon Zigheart.]

The letter was brief, but it contained all the things Raon had wanted to say, written in calm, measured handwriting.

“Ah, ah…”

Merlin sank down, clutching the letter to her chest. Her chin trembled as tears glistened in her eyes.

“W-what’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

Garam rushed toward Merlin in alarm.

“It’s not my wounds…”
“This means he loves me, right? Raon loves me!”

Merlin’s violet eyes twisted in an eerie direction.

“Eh…?”

Garam stepped back, unnerved by the sinister gleam in Merlin’s gaze.

“N-no, that can’t be right…?”

Since he had heard the letter’s contents from Raon, he knew there was nothing about love written in it.

“No, it is. Cheering for me and waiting for me—that means he loves me.”

Merlin muttered to herself, insisting she was right, and shook her head firmly.

“I love you too! I love you too! I love you too! I love you too! I love you too! I love you too! I love you too! I love you too! I love you too! I love you too! I love you too! I love you too! I love you too! I love you too!”

She rubbed her face as if the letter itself were Raon, crying out her endless love.

“I’m going right now! I’ll be there soon! I’m going right now! I’ll be there soon! I’m going right now! I’ll be there soon! I’m going right now! I’ll be there soon! I’m going right now! I’ll be there soon! I’m going right now! I’ll be there soon! I’m going right now! I’ll be there soon! I’m going right now! I’ll be there soon!”

Merlin’s eerie obsession was so intense that even the river itself seemed to tint violet, reflecting the color of her eyes.

“Ugh….”

Garam drew up a water droplet spell, his fingertips trembling.

‘She definitely shouldn’t be allowed outside….’

Should we seal her again?

*

*

*

A small tavern tucked away in a corner of Camelrun, a city known as a commercial or trading hub.

As always, despite the bright daylight, the tavern was packed to the brim with patrons.

Yet there was one thing different from usual.

Unlike the typical gathering where people from across the Continent shared only the rumors that interested them individually, everyone in the tavern now spoke of nothing but the war between Zigheart and the Nambuk Alliance.

“I never thought the Nambuk Alliance would actually fall.”

A middle-aged man with a half-bald head set down his beer mug and sighed heavily.

“I always thought it would end with them doing just enough and calling it a day….”

His lips, still dusted with beer foam, trembled as if he still couldn’t believe it.

“It’s not just the Nambuk Alliance that’s the problem. The White Blood Cult, the Holy Sword Association, Eden, and even Shadow—which just recently joined—all fell to Zigheart.”

A middle-aged man with catfish-like whiskers furrowed his brows.

“The Northern Destruction King alone pushed back five Transcendents? That doesn’t make sense. Wait, they said the Dragon Lord was there too, so that’s six.”
“Exclude the Nambeop Leader.”

The bald middle-aged man shook his head.

“Dranos had his head severed by Raon Zigheart.”
“Honestly, that’s what I find hardest to believe.”

The catfish-whiskered middle-aged man struck the table heavily.

“He defeats the Demon King, gets ambushed while unconscious, survives and returns to save the Northern Destruction King, then kills the Nambeop Leader and the Beast Alliance Master? This isn’t some ancient legend—does this even make sense?!”

He slammed his beer mug down hard, insisting he couldn’t believe it no matter how much he thought about it.

“I don’t believe it either, but the people who saw it say it’s true. No matter how I think about it, Zigheart isn’t a human household. How can both the grandfather and grandson be like that?”

The bald middle-aged man also shook his head, saying it was absurd.

“Raon Zigheart is twenty-two years old right now, isn’t he? Wouldn’t that make him the greatest genius in Continent history?”
“The greatest genius of all time, that’s right. Even the leaders of the Six Emperors Five Demons were only Masters at that age.”

The catfish-whiskered middle-aged man nodded in agreement.

“Oh, by the way, I heard Raon Zigheart got a new epithet?”
“I heard about it too. It came from the South….”

The bald middle-aged man rolled his eyes as he lifted his beer mug.

“Was it the Usurper? It sounds cool, but I’m not sure why.”
“If you look at Raon Zigheart’s deeds, the answer becomes simple.”

The catfish-whiskered middle-aged man drew the shape of a crown with his finger.

“His deeds?”
“Yes. Before this war, Raon Zigheart beheaded the King of the Holy Kingdom who was possessed by demons and passed the throne to the Third Prince. In this war, he killed Demon King Roman, Nambeop Leader Dranos, and Beast Alliance Master Helgurum, then returned that river to the Blue Demons.”

He swallowed dryly and toppled the crown he’d made with his fingers.

“A usurper is one who brings down the throne of kings. For Raon Zigheart, who beheaded a king consumed by madness and toppled the kings of the river, it’s a fitting epithet indeed.”

The catfish-whiskered man shuddered as he spoke, as if chilled by his own words.

“Yes, that fits perfectly.”

The bald middle-aged man exhaled softly and nodded.

“Ah, come to think of it, there’s another person who gained a new epithet besides Raon Zigheart.”
“Indeed. In some ways, it’s an even more chilling name than the usurper’s….”

The catfish-whiskered middle-aged man swallowed hard and lowered his gaze.

“The Demon Sword of the Red Eyes.”

*

*

*

The Sword Tomb erected behind the Zigheart Main Residence.

“….”

Sylvia, dressed in black mourning robes, slowly lowered her crimson eyes. She bowed carefully before the tomb, as if offering solace to the departed.

Following Sylvia’s lead, I offered a respectful bow toward the masterless blades.

‘Thank you for fighting on my behalf. And I am sorry I could not save you.’

Those buried here took to the battlefield to avenge my death.

With Derus Robert involved, war would have erupted regardless, and even had I awakened early and participated, I could not have saved them. Yet still, I wanted to express my gratitude and apologies to those who fought for me.

‘I make you this vow.’

I closed my eyes, my hands clasped together.

‘I will expose Derus Robert’s true identity and take his head.’

Until now, I moved solely for my own vengeance, but through this ordeal, the will and breath of countless people now rest upon my shoulders.
Revealing Derus Robert’s true identity and killing him was a task I had to accomplish even if it cost me my life.

I bowed once more before the Sword Tomb, then stepped back to gaze at the figure standing foremost.

Glen Zigheart. Unlike other ceremonies, he had led the funeral from beginning to end, his eyes never leaving the warriors’ tombs.
It seemed as though an apology for failing to protect them emanated from his very being.

“Sigh…”

I exhaled softly and gently bit my lip.

‘I’ve never seen the Head of House like this before.’

I thought Glen would conduct the funeral with his usual confidence, yet instead he displayed a carefulness and meticulousness beyond anyone else’s.
Witnessing this new side of him felt remarkable.

-That’s only natural!

Wrath raised a round finger while gazing at Glen.

-The higher one’s position, the more one must understand the gratitude owed to one’s subordinates! That old geezer may have a tongue as cracked as a tasteless fool, but he certainly does what must be done!

He nodded, saying the creature was quite impressive. Coming from a Demon Lord who cherished his subordinates, his words resonated all the more deeply.

“The Head of House was always like that, I’m told.”

Sylvia approached from the side and whispered quietly.

“He was always like that?”
“Yes. He became as cold as he is now through the wars, but originally he had many gentle sides like this, or so I’ve heard.”

She chuckled softly, clarifying that she had only heard this secondhand, not experienced it herself.

“I see.”

I nodded slowly. Yet I couldn’t quite imagine Glen possessing such gentleness.

“Then with this, we shall conclude the funeral.”

With Chad, the master of the Bi-Yeon Society, concluding his remarks, the funeral came to an end.

“A small gathering will be held this evening at the Patriarch’s Hall. Those who are not busy are cordially invited to attend.”

He spoke as though attendance was mandatory unless one had pressing matters, then descended from the platform.

“….”

Glen glanced in my direction for a moment before heading toward the Patriarch’s Hall.

‘A gathering, hm….’

I turned away with a grimace.

‘There’s no real need to go.’
-W-What nonsense is this!

Wrath blocked my path in protest.

-A gathering means delicacies beyond measure! Why would you not attend!

He drooled shamelessly, his eyes narrowing with desire.

‘You said you preferred home cooking.’
-U-Uh….
‘And Mother dislikes the Main Mansion.’
-Ugh!
‘You called her our mother—are you saying you won’t think of her?’
-T-That is….

Wrath trembled, at a loss for words. His eyes swung like a pendulum between the allure of the delicacies and thoughts of Mother.

“Mother, let’s return home.”

I pushed past the conflicted Wrath and turned to look at Sylvia.

“Young Master Raon. Miss Sylvia.”

Roen approached with two elegant boxes hanging from his waist.

“The Head of House has commanded that you both must attend today’s gathering without fail.”
“Us?”
“Yes. Both of you must come.”

He emphasized that there was no room for absence, then extended two boxes forward.

Raon and Sylvia exchanged glances before each accepting the box presented to them.

-What is this! Is it ice cream?

Wrath suddenly regained consciousness and flew over, his tongue flicking eagerly.

‘Wait.’

Raon pushed Wrath aside and opened the box for Roen to see. Inside lay something entirely unexpected.

“This is….”

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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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