The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 908

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

Chapter 908

Thump!

I trembled as I gazed upon the pulsating black heart protruding from Lencia’s waist.

‘What is that…?’

The black heart breathed with life, emanating a faint rage.
Merely witnessing it caused my chest to constrict painfully.

“Ah…”

Dorian, visibly shaken, dropped the bag he’d been holding and fell to his knees.

“Lencia, you…”

Crain, too stunned to speak, could only murmur her name repeatedly.

“You saw it, didn’t you?”

Lencia pulled her upper garment down to conceal the black heart protruding from her waist.
Her flushed cheeks betrayed her embarrassment, despite the confidence in her tone.

“As you said, Kayden, there is no such thing as a life of perpetual happiness. Montiro appears radiant with laughter and joy on the surface, yet beneath it churns a darkness so profound it cannot be erased by wealth or power—a shadow of truly immense proportions.”

She shook her head, acknowledging that neither she nor anyone else could resolve it.

“…Can you tell me what that is?”

I pointed to the black heart still visible at Lencia’s waist.

“You know what a Guul is, don’t you?”
“Yes. I even bought one when we visited your family estate.”

Lencia hadn’t particularly wanted to purchase it, but thinking one of her siblings might enjoy it, she had brought it herself.

“Oysters have water purification abilities, so they’re called the ocean’s cleaners. If you put them in a dirty tank, they turn the water clear in just a day.”

She suddenly brought up oysters, her smile appearing murky and forced.

“We’re the same.”
“What…?”

I couldn’t accept Lencia’s words and asked her to clarify. In truth, I sensed what she meant, but I didn’t want to think about it.

“Our black hearts absorb the malevolent energy flowing from this land and send it elsewhere, or so I’ve heard. Cayden. We’re not human.”

Lencia grasped the black heart protruding from her waist with trembling hands.

“Montiro is a massive tank. We’re merely the oysters that purify it. We can only survive here by consuming the filthy energy.”

She pressed her lips firmly together, a single tear clinging to the corner of her eye.

“If that’s the case, then surely…?”
“Yes. Just as you saw, every resident of Montiro except those with status bears this same heart. My siblings too.”

Lencia lowered her head, mentioning that even her youngest sibling, who had just turned six, had received this heart transplant.

“That’s why I made the clothes. So their skin wouldn’t hurt…”

She let out a hollow laugh, explaining that knitting the clothes was for that reason.

“These goddamn bastards!”

Crain couldn’t hold back, clenching his fists so hard blood dripped from his palms.

“How could humans…?”

Dorian’s hands trembled, his eyes filled with disbelief.

-Summon the True Demon King at once.

Wrath struck my shoulder, his brow furrowed.

-I’ll tear apart every single one of those wretches using demonic energy like that.

Wrath seemed to be in severe anger as well, with powerful energy bursting from his blue eyes.

“….”

I took a deep breath while looking at Lencia. I wanted to be angry like the others, but now was the time to extract as much information as possible.

“If they have positions, are they the hotel manager or those so-called heroes?”
“That’s right.”

Lencia nodded, saying those people were Watchers.

“And everyone else is carrying a black heart….”

I closed my eyes tightly, recalling all the residents of Montiro I had met so far.

‘Now everything makes sense.’

The Black Tower had used the residents here to establish a barrier to conceal demonic energy, which is why even the slightest demonic energy or malice couldn’t be felt.

-That’s right. Having sacrificed humans on this scale, there wouldn’t be even a speck of demonic energy or malice remaining.

Wrath let out a hollow laugh as if in disbelief.

-Those Black Tower bastards aren’t worth living.

He emanated a silver frost tinged with murderous intent, eager to storm the Black Tower immediately.

“But the residents don’t have such hearts protruding like that, do they?”

I narrowed my eyes, looking at the black heart still protruding from Lencia’s waist.
Since we were at the beach, many shirtless men were around, yet I had never seen such a heart before.

“Most of them are attached right next to their real hearts. But I’ve had two surgeries, so when I get angry, my heart protrudes like this from my waist.”

Lencia shook her head, saying she was the only one whose black heart emerged this way.

“Then when I met Felix….”

It seemed the anger that had flowed out when she encountered Felix, the captain of Hocangdae, was also because her heart had protruded like this.

“That’s right. That person….”

Lencia nodded, grasping her trembling wrist.

“He implanted this heart into me and my siblings….”

She lowered her gaze as she explained that Felix was the one who transplanted the black hearts.

“So that’s why he carried that backpack around. To hide the black heart in case it suddenly burst out.”
“Yes….”

Lencia nodded, confirming that was correct.

“That bastard! I didn’t like his condescending attitude from the start….”

Crain clenched his teeth, his murderous intent directed at Felix.

“I’m more angry than scared this time.”

Dorian clenched his fists tightly, sharing the same sentiment.

“Does it hurt?”

I held back the urge to rush out and cut down those so-called heroes, focusing my gaze on Lencia.

“There are times once a month when it hurts quite severely, but otherwise it’s not terribly painful unless the heart bursts out like this.”

Lencia nodded as if it were fine. By her own account, she was experiencing intense pain right now, but there was something I absolutely had to do for what lay ahead.

“I’m truly sorry, but would it be alright if I touched that heart?”
“Pardon?”

Lencia’s eyes widened in confusion at the unexpected request.

“This is my final request.”

I lowered my head, indicating this was something I absolutely needed to do.

“…Then I’ll set a condition. I’ll let you touch it, but you must leave this place immediately.”

Lencia said that was the condition and lifted her top again. The child shut her eyes tightly from shame and pain.

‘There’s no choice.’

I had to examine that black heart directly to understand where the Black Tower was and how to remove it.
Even if I didn’t know, I could relay the information to Chamber, making this an essential task.

“I’m sorry.”

I reached out with an unwavering hand and grasped the black heart protruding from Lencia’s waist.

“Ugh….”

Lencia bit her lip in pain, but said nothing.

‘Demonic energy and deception energy.’
-Yes. Now I can sense the demonic energy. But it’s moving from this child’s body to somewhere else.
‘Is the direction downward?’
-It is downward, but this isn’t physical. You should think of it as a different dimension.

Wrath shook his head, saying that even digging into the ground wouldn’t reveal anything.

‘In the end, it all depends on Chamber’s hands.’

This wasn’t something I could solve alone. I would need to return to Headquarters and consult with Chamber.

‘So what I need to do is….’

I operated the Upper Dantian and the Ring of Fire at full capacity, perfectly memorizing the movements of the black heart and the flow of mana.

“Thank you.”

I stroked Lencia’s head and took a step back.

“Yes….”

Lencia exhaled a long, weary breath and lowered her top. Sweat trickled down her forehead—she had endured much.

“Are you alright?”

Dorian pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped the perspiration from Lencia’s forehead.

“You’ll leave now, won’t you?”

Lencia raised her trembling hands, pleading for me to keep my promise.

“Why do you keep telling me to leave?”

I narrowed my eyes as I gazed into Lencia’s emerald irises.

“There was someone like you before. When they tried to save the sister who raised me, that person and their entire family were erased from existence. And my sister too….”

Lencia covered her eyes and forehead with her hands as the memories of the past resurfaced.

“Don’t tell me you’re taking care of those children because of that….”
“That’s right. Just as my sister helped me, I’m taking care of the children. So please, just leave us alone.”

Lencia bowed her head in supplication. Her emerald eyes wavered with conflicting emotions and concerns.

“Tch!”
“Lencia….”

Crain twisted the hilt of his greatsword, struggling to contain his anger, while Dorian finally let tears fall from the corners of his eyes.

“It’s not just us who could disappear. You and the Merchant Guild could vanish too. No matter how much wealth you have, you can’t stand against those who rule Montiro.”

Lencia bowed deeply, now desperately pleading for me to leave.

“I see.”

I clenched my jaw and rose to my feet.

“Since I made a promise, I’ll keep it. The moment morning breaks tomorrow, I’ll leave this place.”
“What? I… No, Young Master!”

Crain’s lips trembled, clearly not expecting me to agree to leave.

“Young Master!”

Dorian also called out the old title, his eyes widening.

“Keep your mouth shut.”

I ignored Crain and Dorian’s objections and pulled a gold coin from my upper robe pocket.

“You’ve worked hard all this time.”

I gave a slight nod and flicked the gold coin toward Lencia.

“….”

Lencia placed the gold coin I’d given her into her pocket and lowered her head.

“Thank you. Please leave tomorrow without fail.”

With those words, she left my room.

“Phew….”

Lencia leaned her back against the wall and took out the gold coin I’d given her.
She gazed at the coin tenderly, placed it carefully in her inner pocket, and shouldered the backpack she’d set down.

‘This is right.’

This is the path to save everyone.

Lencia painted on a smile as if she’d never been sad, and hummed softly as she walked down the corridor that sparkled with brilliant light.

*

*

*

As promised with Lencia, I left Montiro and took a roundabout route back to the Headquarters that Chamber had established.
The swordsmen who had infiltrated Montiro around the same time as me had all returned and were resting.

“You’re back.”

Chamber drew a bitter smile and summoned a chair for herself to sit in.

“…You’ve worked hard.”

Karun nodded slowly, acknowledging that I too had endured much.

“You both saw it, didn’t you?”

I clenched my fist, pointing to the necklace Chamber had created for me.

“Yes. Thanks to you, I’ve come to understand everything.”

A cold aura of killing intent bloomed above Karun’s crimson eyes.

“I’ve realized once more that not a single demon from the Black Tower deserves to be spared.”

He flicked his long fingers as if he wanted to march out immediately and annihilate the Black Tower.

“I knew the demons were filthy bastards, but I never expected them to exceed even my darkest predictions.”

Chamber bit down and snapped the lollipop she’d been holding in her mouth.

“Damn it! I want to go out right now and kill them all!”

Martha thrashed her head wildly and stamped her feet.

“I should freeze them so they can never escape….”

Lunan Slion lowered his brows, uttering harsh words he normally wouldn’t speak.

-I agree! Our ice cream girl truly understands!

Wrath raised his hand, declaring that the ice cream girl was indeed the best.

“I’m usually the one who holds you all back, but this time I have no desire to do so.”

Even Burren Zigheart couldn’t suppress his emotions and let out a bitter laugh.

“Raon. Did you confirm the movement of that black heart?”
“Yes. It’s difficult to explain in words, so I’ll convey it to you using aura.”

I took Chamber’s hand and transmitted everything I had felt when touching the black heart.

“As expected.”

Chamber nodded while pulling out a lollipop stick from her pocket.

“That black heart is a tiny dimensional gate that absorbs negative energies like demonic power and death energy, then sends them to the Black Tower.”

She smiled deeply as she looked at me.

“Then can you open that dimension?”
“Normally it would be impossible, but thanks to you showing me the movement and flow of the black heart, I should be able to trace it back and reach the Black Tower.”

Chamber drew a large circle with her finger, saying it seemed possible now.

Crack!

As she clapped her hands, the mages of Valcar, including Jeina, gathered with their eyes gleaming with dizzying intensity.

“Are you ready?”

Chamber smiled deeply as she turned to face the mages.

“Now it’s our turn to move.”

*

*

*

Creak!

Lencia carefully opened the door with a blue backpack slung across her shoulders.
Though she hadn’t applied any force, the house was so dilapidated that she couldn’t avoid making a sound.

“Sister?”
“Are you leaving already?”

At the sound of the door opening, my younger siblings stirred awake, rubbing their eyes as they sat up.

“Yes. I need to work. I’ve prepared breakfast, so eat slowly.”

Lencia waved lightly to her siblings and left the house.
As I was heading out of the Shantytown toward the entrance of Montiro, a crimson spear suddenly thrust into my path.

“Ah…”

Lencia’s lips trembled as she stared at the spear blocking her way. She felt the black heart protruding from her waist pushing against the straps of her backpack.

“Fortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

Felix, the commander of the Hocangdae and the dark physician who implanted black hearts into the residents, slowly shook his head.

“Pardon? What do you mean…?”
“That guide, Cayden, whom you escorted a month ago—the moment he returned to the Merchant Guild, he threw a party and indulged in a dissolute life. I was worried he might have said something unnecessary, but fortunately, he hasn’t.”

Felix’s eyes narrowed to slits.

“After all, he witnessed your sister dying firsthand, so he wouldn’t be foolish enough to cause trouble.”

He lowered his spear as though it were obvious.

“Continue living diligently for us going forward. You have much to protect, after all.”

Felix left those parting words and disappeared toward the Hill.

“Yes…”

Even after Felix departed, Lencia remained frozen in place for a long while.
I forced myself to craft a puppet-like smile for work, then descended from the Shantytown.

“Sigh…”

Today, suppressing my emotions felt particularly difficult. When I reached into my inner pocket and touched Cayden’s gold coins, my heart eased slightly.

‘It’s fine. This is the best I can do right now.’

A month had already passed since Cayden left Montiro.
At first, I worried he might suddenly force his way back, but fortunately, that never happened.

‘A relief… I suppose.’

To be honest, part of me hoped he would return.
He appeared indifferent on the surface, yet showed tenderness when it mattered, reminding me of the older sister who raised me—I wanted to see him again.

That’s why I wanted him not to come. The darkness that had consumed Montiro was too vast for anyone to erase.

‘Nothing has changed. I’ll protect the children in my sister’s place.’

Lencia wiped away the moisture gathering in her eyes and rushed toward Montiro’s Main Gate.
There was far too much to protect to spend time drowning in sorrow.

She approached the tourists crossing through Montiro’s Main Gate and bowed her head, asking them to hire her as a guide.

However, those who frequented Montiro showed no interest in hiring a guide, and most of them employed children even younger than her.

“Welcome!”

Despite her chest growing heavier, Lencia maintained a bright smile as she approached what appeared to be travelers.

“Is this your first time in Montiro? I’m a native of this place, so I can show you all the best spots!”

She greeted them with the same cheerful demeanor as when she’d met Cayden, calling out for them to hire her.

“You can guide us anywhere?”

The golden-haired, blue-eyed man who appeared to be the center of the group tilted his chin.

“Yes! There’s nowhere in Montiro I don’t know!”

Lencia patted her own chest with anticipation in her eyes.

“Very well. I’ll hire you.”

The Golden-haired Man nodded and tossed a silver coin.

“Thank you!”

Watching him flick the coin like that reminded me of Crain, and my chest tightened—but I maintained my smile and bowed my head.

“Please accept this first.”

Lencia distributed the flower necklaces she had made by hand to all six of them, then laughed with a cheerful hehe.

“Where would you like to go first?”
“I’d like to see the sea first.”
“Yes! I’ll show you the way!”

Since most tourists headed to the sea first, I nodded and guided them to the nearby beach.

“This is Montiro’s pride—the emerald sea! You can see right through it, can’t you?”

Lencia spread both arms wide as she spoke of swimming, surfing, and fishing all being possible here.

“Nothing’s really changed.”

The Golden-haired Man muttered that it wasn’t interesting and clicked his tongue.

“How could it change in that time?”

The slightly heavier man let out a hollow laugh.

“Huh? Have you been here before?”
“Yeah. I came a month ago.”

The Golden-haired Man said he had come a month ago and lifted his gaze.
His eyes were a blue that resembled the emerald sea, but strangely, I recalled someone I had seen a month ago.

“Could it be…?”
“It’s been a while.”

Crain. He had returned to Montiro—the one I had wanted to let live even after showing him my secrets.

“Why….”

Lencia trembled in confusion, dropping the gold coin she’d been clutching in her pocket onto the sand beach.

“Why did you come! You promised you would leave!”

She cried out, demanding to know why he had returned, her laughter hollow and doll-like.

“I promised to leave. I never promised not to come back, did I?”

The man whose name I no longer even knew smiled gently.

“Are you insane? I told you this place is dangerous. I said so clearly….”
“I am strong. No—we are strong.”

Golden flames ignited within his azure eyes.

“We shall destroy this aquarium called Montiro for you.”

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