The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 863

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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 863

Sterin left Sepia and ventured into the Grand Forest.
Unlike other Elves, he didn’t move through the forest—he became one with it, walking naturally between the towering trees and thickets as if he were part of the woodland itself.

“Hah…”

I followed behind Sterin, letting out a soft exclamation.

‘So you can move in harmony with nature’s flow like that.’

Sterin breathed in sync with the natural world, as befitted an Elf who had become one with this realm.
It was utterly different from other transcendents who forcibly drew upon nature’s essence.

‘Another lesson to be learned.’

While others might not be able to replicate it, I felt certain that with the Ring of Fire, I could follow his example. I absorbed his breathing and movements with my entire being.

‘But then…’

Where exactly are we going?

I watched Sterin’s back as his pace never faltered, my brow furrowing. I had thought we wouldn’t go far, but he pressed onward endlessly, as if traversing the entire Grand Forest.

-Tch, I figured he’d just hand over some technique book or teach you something, but this is getting annoying.

Wrath furrowed his brow, complaining that we hadn’t even eaten dinner yet.

‘I thought the same thing.’

I too had assumed Sterin would give me a technique book or teach me a technique, but given how far we were traveling, that didn’t seem to be the case.

-That pointy-eared old geezer, though.
‘Pointy-eared old geezer?’
-He’s the grandfather with pointy ears, so pointy-eared old geezer fits, doesn’t it?

Wrath pouted his lips defiantly, as if telling me not to talk back.

‘So what does that mean?’
-You’ve grown considerably weaker. It seems the time for your departure draws near.

Wrath nodded, as if asking whether I could sense it myself.

‘…I know.’

I bit my right lip thinly.

‘I can see it too.’

Unlike Wrath, who needed to sense it through aura, I could see with my own eyes that Sterin’s body had aged. The time remaining for him didn’t seem to be very long.
He didn’t seem to have much time left.

Damn it…

There was really no answer when it came to lifespan.
‘Will Siyan be able to endure this?’

As I worried whether Siyan, who would lose both her brother and grandfather, would be alright, Sterin’s footsteps halted.

Sterin’s steps stopped when he worried whether Siyan, who had lost both her older brother and grandfather, would be alright.
“Guardian. Why are we here…?”

I tilted my head in confusion. I looked around, but couldn’t see anything in particular, which bewildered me.

“Come this way.”

Sterin pointed his finger toward the back of the sloped hill. It seemed he wanted me to look at where he was indicating.

“Ah, yes.”

I nodded and approached where Sterin stood. In the dark shadow behind the hill, I could see something round protruding.

“Fruit?”

Three red fruits, each about the size of a small plum, swayed gently in the evening breeze.

Three red berries, each about the size of a small plum, swayed in the evening breeze.

“What is this…?”
“It’s called the Fruit of Sagorn.”

Sterin gazed down at the Fruit of Sagorn, a gentle smile crossing his face.

“It’s not some elixir that stores vast quantities of mana or boosts elemental power, but it has remarkable effects in stabilizing the human mind and fortifying the soul.”

He carefully plucked the fruit and placed it in his palm.

“I’m familiar with the Fruit of Sagorn as well. But how did something so precious end up here…?”

Raon swallowed hard as he stared at Sterin’s hand.
The Fruit of Sagorn strengthened mental fortitude rather than the body, making it rarer than even the highest-grade elixirs.
He never would have imagined finding it in such a shadowed corner.

“Humans and Elves alike—you all gaze only upward. Sometimes, good fortune comes from looking below.”

Sterin offered counsel that transcended mere talk of fruit, touching upon the philosophy of life itself.

“Though it seems you’re already doing well enough on your own.”

He smiled knowingly, as if aware that he had been observing Raon’s movements from the shadows.

“Ah, my apologies.”
“It’s praise. Praise.”

Sterin shook his head, saying there was no need to apologize.

“At your age, having reached transcendence, you could afford to be arrogant or lazy. Yet you gaze endlessly upward—it’s remarkable. But sometimes, look downward as well. There are things to be gained there too.”

He offered sincere counsel and extended the Fruit of Sagorn toward Raon.

“You’re truly giving this to me?”
“Give it to your aunt and sister. As a warrior, you’ll see little change, but for those mentally exhausted, it will be invaluable.”

Sterin placed the Fruit of Sagorn into Raon’s hands, urging him to deliver it well.

“But why three of them…?”
“One is payment for your errand. Eat it yourself.”

He said the taste was good and waved his hand lightly.

—Wait, it tastes good? Then let me try it at once! The True Demon King is famished!

Wrath cried out that he was curious about the taste, his tongue flicking eagerly.

“…Thank you.”

I elbowed Wrath aside and bowed my head to Sterin.
I couldn’t refuse—the elixir was meant for Sia and Aris Zigheart, after all.

“I thought the Guardian would either teach me martial techniques or propose a sparring match, but I never expected such a magnificent gift. I will make certain to pass it on to both of them.”

I expressed my gratitude once more, speaking from the heart.

“Sigh, you’ve become quite greedy in the time we haven’t seen each other.”

Sterin clicked his tongue at length.

“Pardon? What do you mean….”

I blinked at Sterin, confused. His sudden accusation of greed made no sense to me.

“I gave you three Sagorn fruits, and now you’re asking me to teach you martial techniques too? You have no conscience whatsoever.”
“No, no! That’s absolutely not it!”

I hastily raised my hands.

“I was merely trying to express my gratitude….”
“I’m joking. You’re far too serious with adults. Try to adopt some of your master’s lightheartedness.”

Sterin chuckled, suggesting I should display the same carefree nature as Rimer.

“Well, that’s rather….”

I shook my head firmly.

“Khahahaha!”

Sterin burst into laughter, his lips curling upward.

“Right. That’s possible.”

He nodded his chin, indicating he understood perfectly.

“I know there’s much to learn from you, Master, but I have no desire to inherit your frivolousness and levity.”
-No need to learn that anyway. Your madness is already beyond redemption.

Wrath flicked his finger, saying there was no need to diminish his insanity.

‘That’s not true!’
-Isn’t it?
‘No matter what, I’m not as mad as Master….’

As Raon shook his head, Sterin drew a bow and an arrow from where they’d been resting across his back.

“Good. Then let’s see how much you’ve grown.”

Sterin nocked an arrow to his bow, clearly intending to spar with me.

“No, wait. I was only thinking that….”
“You must feel it too—I don’t have much time left.”

His right hand, gripping the arrow, trembled faintly as he shook his head.

“I can command the forces of nature as I wish, but my body cannot withstand that power. If not now, I won’t be able to teach you anything.”

Sterin gestured with his chin for me to draw my sword.

-You understand, don’t you? If he comes at you like this, refusing would be disrespectful.

Wrath’s eyes grew cold, urging me to draw my blade.

‘Right.’

I nodded, biting my lip.

“Then I’ll gratefully accept your instruction.”

Raon drew the Heavenly Sword and aimed it at Sterin.

“How fortunate that my final sparring partner is you.”

Sterin smiled, his weathered lips curving upward as he spoke of his joy at facing the absolute being of the future.

“Then I shall begin.”

Sensing that Sterin intended to impart his teachings through combat, I moved first.

Boom!

Gripping the Heavenly Sword with a narrow hold, I advanced and unleashed a rising slash toward Sterin’s waist, igniting fierce sparks.
The pristine blade flared with violent flames as if to erase the existence of the aged elf.

“Swift and powerful.”

Sterin exhaled a small admiration as he angled his bow diagonally. The bowstring, shimmering with azure light, extinguished the sparks and gently suppressed the Heavenly Sword.

Boom!

The Heavenly Sword I had raised struck the ground instead of reaching Sterin as intended.

‘His defense is flawless.’

To deflect my blade strike with merely the bowstring—he was truly worthy of being Sepia’s guardian.

‘Then let me be serious.’

I narrowed my eyes and circled to Sterin’s left side. From his blind spot, I thrust a spiraling flame that slid across the blade’s surface. It was the Manhwagong Heavenly Rotation.

Whoosh!

The moment the rotating flames bored in, Sterin vanished like a phantom, then materialized five steps away to the left.
It felt less like footwork and more like a body-splitting technique.

“Now try to block my arrows.”

Sterin drew his bowstring with a serene smile.
An arrow shimmering with azure light streaked toward me in an instant.

Boom!

I stepped back to the right using Tae Hwa Bo, but Sterin’s arrow followed me like it had eyes, unleashing a vicious aura.

Crash!

I drew Frost Chain and deflected Sterin’s arrow aimed at my left chest.

Screech!

Yet the azure arrow struck Frost Chain without breaking or bouncing away—it rose again and continued pursuing me.

‘Sensory Resonance!’

It was the absolute pinnacle of an archer’s mastery—wielding arrows with the freedom of a swordmaster.

‘Then I shall too!’

I released the Heavenly Sword. As my Upper Dantian opened, the Heavenly Sword rose of its own accord, intercepting Sterin’s Sensory Resonance arrow that sought to pierce my throat.

Clang!

The Heavenly Sword and the Sensory Resonance arrow collided at the threshold of transcendence, erupting in a tremendous shockwave that tore a deep blue fissure across the void.

“So that is the Heavenly Sword that avenged that wretch.”

Sterin nodded approvingly.

“Despite blending the techniques of many warriors, there is harmony. A finely honed blade indeed.”

He praised me and nodded in acknowledgment.

“Your teachings have been invaluable, Master.”

I pushed back Sterin’s Sensory Resonance arrow using the Garunua wind techniques Rimer had taught me.

“You’ve absorbed your grandson’s martial knowledge? Then as a grandfather, I can’t afford to lose.”

Sterin smiled thinly and flicked his fingers. His arrows spiraled in a vortex, shooting toward the Heavenly Sword.

Kwaaaaaaang!

The Heavenly Sword and the arrows collided again, and thunder-like roars echoed across the night sky.

‘It seems he can’t go all out right now.’

Sterin noticed his body wasn’t in peak condition—the power contained in his arrows wasn’t particularly strong. He thought he was pushing back overwhelmingly and lifted his gaze.
He lifted his gaze, thinking he had overwhelmingly pushed ahead.

“Huh…?”

However, Sterin’s arrow was not only perfectly blocking the Heavenly Sword that contained Manhwagong’s flames, but was actually pushing it back.

“Isn’t it amazing?”

Sterin let out a thin laugh as he looked at Raon with his eyes wide open.

“Y-yes, that’s right.”
“Y-yes, that’s right.”

Raon opened his trembling lips.

“It’s nature.”

Sterin raised his hand. The entire world seemed to be reflected in his weathered palm.

“Transcendence is a state where you can touch everything in this world. If your own power is insufficient, you simply borrow the energy of nature. For beings like Dragons, this is something they could do from the very beginning.”

He shook his finger, saying that in a transcendent being’s fight, what matters is how far one’s existence reaches.

“At first, it won’t work well. It’s not easy to forcibly pull in the energy of nature, nor is it easy to borrow it. But for someone like you, it shouldn’t take too long… huh?”

Sterin stopped mid-advice and gaped in astonishment. The wind of the Grand Forest was gathering above Raon’s Heavenly Sword.

“I see. It’s a bit difficult, but I think I roughly understand.”

Raon nodded, saying he seemed to understand through his senses.

“Right away?” Sterin asked, his jaw dropping in disbelief.

Sterin’s expression twisted with bewilderment.

“Before coming here, I witnessed a sparring match between our Head of House and the Sword Master. Both of them utilized not only their own aura, but also the natural energy around them. Watching your movements today, Guardian, I think I’m beginning to understand it a little,” Raon said, bowing his head.

Raon explained that he had gained insight by observing how Sterin moved in harmony with nature.

“Krahahahaha!”

Sterin burst into laughter, sweeping back his white hair.

“Still just as that bastard said.”
“That bastard?”
“Your teacher and my grandson.”

He gazed down at Rimer’s sword with transparent eyes.

“Raon always surpasses expectations. It’s truly remarkable.”

Sterin nodded, acknowledging the consistency.

“But you’re still quite rough around the edges. You can do more, can’t you?”
“Of course.”

I raised the Heavenly Sword, saying anything was possible.

“Then let’s try again.”
“Yes!”

Raon felt a strange sense of longing as I savored the all-night training session with Sterin.

*

*

*

Sterin returned to his residence immediately after finishing his sparring match with Raon, which had lasted until dawn, and collapsed onto the floor.

“This is no easy feat.”

Despite having only spent a few hours in combat and instruction, a wave of muscle soreness flooded through my entire body. It was a sign that I had overexerted myself.

In my prime—no, even just a few years ago, I could have fought all day without issue. Yet to feel this exhaustion now… I truly was reaching my twilight years.

‘Still, there’s a certain joy to it.’

Perhaps it was because I had instructed a young transcendent that my grandson had cultivated. Beyond the fatigue and pain came a profound sense of fulfillment.
Just as I was preparing to drift into a contented sleep, a white letter fell before my eyes.

“What is this…?”

Sterin lifted his trembling hand and unfolded the letter. The moment he finished reading it, he exhaled a long sigh, yet his gaze hardened with even greater resolve.

Sterin burned the letter, left his residence, and headed toward the northern edge of the Grand Forest.
As he ascended the Yellow Hill, shrouded in a chilling cold, a woman adorned in a golden coat turned around.
Diamond-shaped eyes like those of a serpent. A dragon wearing human form.

“You’re late.”

The Dragon tilted her chin with an arrogant bearing.

“The sun has not yet risen, so I am precisely on time.”

Sterin clicked his tongue briefly.

“Besides, we agreed to meet four days from now, not today.”
“Upon reflection, there seemed little reason to grant you additional time.”

The Dragon suggested that reaching a conclusion immediately would be better for them both and extended her hand.

“Is your word false? It seems you’ve already reached your own conclusion.”
“Indeed.”

Sterin nodded calmly in acknowledgment.

“So, what’s your answer?”
“Refusal. Sepia will neither stand with the Dragon nor distance itself from the Five Emperors.”

He rejected every proposal the Dragon had offered, leaving no opening whatsoever.

“Sepia currently lacks the ability to protect itself, does it not?”

The Dragon bared its white fangs in a threatening manner.

“Do you truly believe the Five Emperors would stake their lives for you?”
“That is irrelevant. What meaning is there in living shamefully, having betrayed one’s honor? Those who abandon faith inevitably fall into corruption and ruin.”

Sterin shook his head, refusing to live as the Dark Elves did.

“Threaten me if you wish, retaliate if you must. As long as I draw breath, I will shield them all.”

He straightened his spine, his resolve unmarred by even a hint of regret.

“Retaliate, you say….”

The Dragon tilted its head with a thin smile.

“How fortunate. I’m already doing so.”
“What do you mean—”

As Sterin swallowed hard and turned around, crimson flames erupted across the entire Grand Forest surrounding Sepia.

Roooaaarrr!

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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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