The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 860

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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 860

“What?! That dragon that just disappeared—it was a real dragon, wasn’t it?”

Martha squinted as she gazed up at the clear sky.

“Why is there a dragon in Sepia?”

She bit her lip, as if sensing something ominous.

“A dragon….”

Burren clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with fierce killing intent. He still harbored anger toward the dragons that had shattered the walls of Zigheart.

“A Gold Dragon. And it was far larger than a mature dragon….”

Lunan nodded, saying it was an ancient-tier Gold Dragon.

“Then, then isn’t that the Dragon Lord?”

Dorian gasped, his pupils trembling.

“The Dragon Lord is a Gold Dragon, and he’s the largest!”
“It’s not the Lord.”

I lowered my gaze and shook my head.

“The Dragon Lord is larger than the Gold Dragon that just disappeared.”

I’ve encountered the Dragon Lord in his true form several times, so I have a rough sense of his size.

The Gold Dragon that vanished moments ago was ancient-tier, but not the Lord.

-That is correct.

Wrath nodded rapidly.

-Unlike that old geezer, this one looked quite lively. Slurp!
‘Why is he suddenly drooling?’

I watched Wrath wipe around his mouth and tilted my head in confusion.

-The lizard’s flesh looked so tender that even the True Demon King couldn’t help but salivate. Gulp!

He was already drooling repeatedly, as if imagining roasted dragon meat.

‘Sorry, but that one’s already gone.’

I sighed with cold, weary eyes.

‘Wake up.’

In truth, there were many things I needed to ask the dragons about.

Why they destroyed the castle wall of Zigheart, why they sided with Oma, what hidden purpose they harbored.

I needed to punish the dragons and uncover mountains of secrets, but I had no leisure to chase after one that had already vanished and fight it.
And as Karun had warned, there was no guarantee I would win unconditionally.

-The True Demon King has a feeling he’ll eat—no, meet them again. Gulp.

Wrath blinked his hazy eyes as if yearning for roasted dragon meat.

‘This glutton really…’

I shook my head and turned to look back.

“Let’s go. Once we reach Sepia, everything will become clear.”

I waved to the Gwangpung Corps and stepped onto the path the trees and thickets had opened for us.

Recalling the memory of coming here with Rimer before, I advanced toward where Sepia lay.

“Stop.”

After advancing through the forest for about thirty minutes, I halted my steps.

“What’s the matter?”

Burren Zigheart’s hand remained on his sword hilt as he quickly turned his gaze forward.

“Someone’s coming.”

I lowered my hand and flexed my fingers lightly.

Though still distant, I sensed the faintest presence approaching from ahead.
It was the movement of Elves—those who could harness nature itself like wild creatures.

As we waited in place, the dense thicket across from us parted, and Elves bearing bows and swords emerged into view.

They were the Guardians protecting Sepia.

Their breathtaking beauty, which never failed to astound, now gleamed even more gracefully as dappled sunlight filtered through the forest canopy.

“We greet our benefactor.”

The Blue-haired Elf leading the Guardians bowed toward me.

It was Erian, Rimer’s friend and the commander of the Guardians.
Ever since I summoned Ifrit to save Sepia, he had called me his benefactor.

“We greet our benefactor!”

The other Guardians followed Erian’s lead and bowed to me.

“Hello.”
“How have you all been?”

Dorian and Yua greeted them with warm smiles and waved their hands.
However, since they had come to deliver sad news, neither of them looked particularly cheerful.

“It’s been a while.”

I bowed in return to Erian and the Guardians.

“And I apologize. We waited outside the Grand Forest, but you didn’t arrive, so we came in ahead.”

Even though I had been invited, it was as if I had forced my way in, so I apologized first.

“Not at all. We should have come to you, but we were delayed due to some matters,” Erian said, shaking his head with a formal tone unlike when he had come with Rimer.

I observed the irritation flickering in Erian’s eyes as I asked my question.

“These matters—could they be related to the dragon?”

Erian exhaled a short, embarrassed sigh.

“It appears you’ve already noticed.”

“Yes, that’s correct. We had a visitor for a brief time.”

He admitted the dragon’s visit as if there was no choice once it had been witnessed.

“May I ask what business brought them here?”

“May I ask what this is about?”
Erian shook his head firmly.

“No matter how much of a benefactor you are, it is difficult for me to share our personal matters.”

He clasped his hands together apologetically, indicating this was not something he could reveal.

“No, I shouldn’t have asked in the first place.”

I waved my hand dismissively toward Erian.

“I understand the circumstances.”

Erian’s lips trembled slightly as he gazed at Rimer’s sword sheathed at my waist.

“So there is one thing I wish to know.”

“Rimer. Is he truly dead?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
“Rimer. Is that bastard really dead?”
“Yes, that’s right.”

I took a deep breath and told them that I had personally sent Rimer off.

“I see. Then, as expected….”

Erian’s complexion darkened as if cast in the shadow of a tree, and the atmosphere among the other Guardians grew heavy as well.

‘Something feels off….’

I furrowed my brows, sensing the suddenly oppressive air.
This was different from what Rimer had said about how elves naturally accept death.

-That is indeed strange.

Wrath nodded as if agreeing with my thoughts.

-When that fire demon burst out before and the elves died, the atmosphere wasn’t like this.

He narrowed his eyes, referring to the time of Hongryeom-gwi’s attack.

‘Then my master truly was someone special.’

Looking at Erian’s and the Guardians’ eyes, it seemed Rimer had been someone special to all of them.

“I shall guide you to Sepia. Ah, but before that, may I ask one more thing?”

Erian turned his back as if to lead the way, then stopped.

“What was his final moment like?”

He turned his head back, as if that was the one thing he needed to hear.

“He was smiling. As if he had shed all his lingering attachments.”

I recalled Rimer’s final appearance and smiled bitterly.

“I see. Thank you for telling me.”

Erian nodded with eyes that had grown somewhat brighter and moved forward.

‘This is frustrating.’

I bit my lip watching Erian’s back. If Erian, who seemed sculpted from the very word “Elf,” was in such a state, I worried how Siyan, who was heavily influenced by people, would react.

Sigh….

Raon exhaled a long breath while gripping Rimer’s sword.

‘What should I do, Master?’

*

*

*

The true Holy Ground of Sepia, where the World Tree had taken root.

“This cannot be.”

An Elf whose very existence gleamed golden, as if encircling the sun itself, brought her hand down sharply.

“This is something we must absolutely never accept!”

She shook her head, saying it was something she couldn’t even fathom.

“Siyan.”

Sterin, the guardian of Sepia, called out to the golden-haired Elf and exhaled a short breath.
His muscles had withered as if his body had been submerged in the depths of time itself, and wrinkles were etched across his entire face.

“The situation is dire. If they attack suddenly, there is no way for us to defend against it now.”
“But Grandfather!”

Siyan stamped her foot, her lips pressed firmly together.

“Rather than being so angry, think about this calmly.”

Sterin shook his head with composure.

“I’m growing weaker even as we speak, and you cannot summon Elaim either, can you?”
“That is….”

Siyan bit her lip, unable to refute the words.

“In the last war, Elaim and Ifrit descended while the Spirit Realm remained unstable. Because of that, the two Spirit Kings have been unable to answer your summons until now. Currently, Sepia has lost both sword and shield.”

Sterin shook his head, clenching his trembling fists.

“Then we should request assistance. From Zigheart, or the other Five Emperors.”

Siyan clenched her fists, suggesting they reach out to others.

“For how long?”

Sterin exhaled a short sigh.

“To protect this place, one must be at least a Transcendent. In a situation where war could break out at any moment, there’s no one who can continuously dispatch Transcendents here. And Zigheart’s situation isn’t favorable either.”

He sighed, asking if she hadn’t heard the circumstances.

“Siyan. One must protect one’s own tree with one’s own hands. If you borrow the strength of others, the very earth beneath it will wither.”

Sterin shook his head, saying there were limits to relying on others’ power.

“For now, we should consider various approaches….”

As he was about to continue, Leiran approached and bowed her head.

“Guardian. Forgive the interruption. Raon is approaching.”
“Raon?”

Siyan’s head snapped up like lightning, startled by the news.

“He’s already arrived?”
“Yes. Erian went to greet him while you were speaking.”

Leiran nodded, saying he would arrive shortly.

“Yes…”

Sterin nodded and slowly rose to his feet.

“Let’s discuss this matter later.”

He suggested going to meet Raon and opened the door leading toward Sepia.

“…Understood.”

Siyan nodded with her lips pressed together. She glanced up at the World Tree before stepping outside.

*

*

*

A mystical sight—as if the Forest itself had transformed into a Village rather than being cultivated into one.

I gazed upon Sepia, unchanged from before, and smiled faintly.

‘It remains the same.’

Though many areas had been scorched during my previous battle with Hongryeom-gwi, nature’s power had restored it to its original state.

‘Though not entirely unchanged.’

Unlike before, the essence of nature drew near as if melting into my skin. It felt like a sensation I could perceive now that I had touched transcendence.

‘My aura rises even while I stand still.’

Perhaps because the World Tree was nearby, dense mana naturally seeped into my body.
Pure mana filled the mana circuits throughout my entire being.

Yet I felt no joy. The one person who would have celebrated this most was not by my side.

“I greet my benefactor.”

The Elves standing at the village entrance bowed their heads toward me. Like Erian, they didn’t appear to be in good spirits.

“It’s been a while.”

I bowed my head to the other Elves, my lips pressed firmly together.

“Hello!”
“How have you been?”

Dorian and Yua, who had come with us before, also greeted the Elves.

“Welcome.”
“The atmosphere is different from that person.”
“Hello… there.”

Burren, Martha, and Lunan Slion nodded as they observed the Elves blending naturally with their surroundings.

The Gwangpung Corps, not forgetting that they had come to deliver news of Rimer’s death, maintained a solemn aura without even glancing elsewhere.

As I nodded in satisfaction while observing the Gwangpung Corps, the Elves in front of the village stepped back, and Sterin and Siyan walked forward.

Siyan’s eyes were reddened as she trembled, forcibly suppressing her sorrow, while Sterin appeared to have aged decades in the time we hadn’t seen each other.
Their emotions seemed to transmit directly, and my heart ached.

“We greet you, Guardian.”

I bit my lip and bowed my head toward Sterin together with the Gwangpung Corps.

“Rise.”

Sterin shook his head, his voice calm and measured.

“I was about to call for you anyway. Thank you for coming.”

He waved his wrinkled hand as if to say I was welcome.

“Raon.”

Siyan sent a glance with her sleeves tucked inward. Seeing that the word “honorific” didn’t leave her lips, I felt the reality of Rimer’s death once more.

“Follow me.”

Sterin gestured lightly and turned his back. I felt the weariness in his gait, and my heart tightened as though gripped by an invisible hand.

“…Yes.”

I followed Sterin without managing to voice everything I wanted to say.
He stopped before a small residence that hardly befitted a Guardian’s dwelling.

“Yes.”

Sterin leaned his back against a tree that rose straight as if touching the heavens and nodded.

“I heard that he had died, but the details weren’t properly recorded. It seems you’ve experienced much. Would you be able to tell me what happened?”

He nodded as if he had already sensed my realm, asking me to recount the circumstances.

“Yes. I’ll explain from the beginning…”

I nodded and felt my lips tremble slightly.
Perhaps because I had comforted the children on the way here, my lips wouldn’t obey when I tried to broach the subject again.

As I steadied my breathing, I felt a warm presence at my back. Lunan Slion seemed to have sensed my emotions and placed a supportive hand on me.

“It’s alright.”

Lunan Slion nodded slowly, as if telling me to take my time.

“Thank you.”

I released my pent-up emotions with a small smile.

“I’ll explain from the beginning. In the previous war…”

I recounted everything that had transpired so that Siyan and Sterin could understand the full circumstances.

“Ah…”

Siyan’s jaw trembled as if she hadn’t imagined such events could have occurred.

“I see. Then that certainly means he’s dead….”

Sterin exhaled a short sigh.

“But why did it have to happen this way?”

Erian’s eyes narrowed in confusion as well.

“…I’m sorry.”

I knelt before Sterin.

“If I had only been a bit more composed or stronger, this would never have happened. I’m truly sorry.”

My head hung low as my lips trembled.
Realizing my master’s death and conveying it to his family were worlds apart.
My hands and feet shook as if my heart were being pierced by a blade.

“It’s alright. He died protecting all of you, so he must have been satisfied. That’s why he left with a smile.”

Sterin gently reached out and placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Besides, haven’t you heard before? Elves become one with nature through death. It’s not an ending, but the opening of a new beginning.”

He shook his head, telling me not to worry.

“The reason we’re so grave isn’t because Rimer died.”

Erian sighed in frustration.

“What? Then….”
“No matter where an elf dies, their spirit returns to the World Tree, where it’s purified before merging with nature. But….”

Siyan bit her lip and shook her head.

“My brother’s spirit hasn’t returned yet.”

She shook her head, saying that’s why everyone was so worried.

“Truly a damnable fellow. Even in death, he manages to trouble us.”

Sterin furrowed his brow deeply.

“….”

I observed the people around me with creased expressions, then placed my hand on the Soul Reaper Sword and swallowed dryly.

‘Wait, then….’

Was this elf really trapped here all this time?

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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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