The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 93

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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 93

The Grand Training Grounds of the Zigheart could only be entered by direct descendants, those of count rank or higher, or individuals granted permission by the family head.

There were a few exceptions, and one of them was the Duel of Blades.
For that sparring match where swordsmen staked their pride against one another, anyone who wished to witness it was permitted to enter the Grand Training Grounds.

Though more than an hour remained before the duel commenced, the seats in the Grand Training Grounds were already packed solid—such was the renown of the combatants.
Those unable to secure seats hurried about the outer edges of the Training Grounds, vying for the best vantage points.

The Grand Training Grounds echoed with the din of countless voices, resembling a marketplace floor, yet the conversations all followed a similar thread.

“A duel like this comes once every hundred years, if that. Anyone who misses today’s match will regret it for the rest of their lives.”
“Right. This fight will never happen again.”
“Well, it’s a direct descendant swordsman against a Branch Family trainee.”
“And they’re the two most talked-about names in the family lately.”

A duel between a direct descendant swordsman and a Branch Family trainee. And because both had recently distinguished themselves greatly within the family, the crowd’s anticipation had reached its peak.

“If Raon and Young Master Rayden fight, who do you think will win? It’d be more interesting if they were evenly matched.”
“Well, the duel itself is unusual, but the outcome is already decided.”
“No matter how strong Raon is for his age, he absolutely cannot win.”
“But they say he cut down the Green Warrior….”
“He didn’t do that alone. The trainees from the 5th Training Ground fought together.”
“Meanwhile, Young Master Rayden destroyed a branch of the White Blood Cult entirely by himself. Even if it was a small branch, that’s no easy feat.”

Most of the swordsmen believed Raon’s reputation had been exaggerated, so they naturally assumed Rayden would emerge victorious from the duel.

“Come on, Raon held his own against Gwahyeolgwi, who’s a Master. You don’t know until you fight.”
“That’s just nonsense Rimer spouted. It’s all lies!”
“He might have held on. For a few seconds?”
“I don’t like Young Master Rayden either, and I think he was wrong in this matter, but there’s nothing we can do about it. He’s already an intermediate-level Expert. There’s simply too great a gap between him and Raon.”
“Right.”
“Yeah….”

As the atmosphere solidified, fewer and fewer people predicted Raon’s victory.

The swordmasters gathered at the Grand Training Grounds had already painted a picture of Raon’s defeat in their minds.

“I think it’s fine as long as Raon holds out reasonably well. If he fights decently, the family head might even change the terms of the wager….”
“What a gaping hole you’ve got there—spouting such nonsense so freely.”
“Who… ugh!”

The swordmasters turned their heads at the cold voice that came from behind. Martha Zigheart stood there with her delicate brow furrowed.

“Nonsense? Lies?”

Martha leaned forward with a scoff.

“If that were really a lie, would I or Burren have stayed silent? Your heads aren’t just decorations, are they? Think for once, will you?”

Crude words tumbled from her lips, utterly at odds with her refined appearance.

“Hmm….”
“That’s….”

Rather than argue with Martha, the swordmasters simply groaned and turned away. They had no choice. Even seasoned swordmasters lacked the audacity to provoke the daughter favored by Denier Zigheart.

“Keep your eyes on what happens.”

Martha crossed her arms and leaned back against her chair.

“Something entirely different from what you expect will unfold.”

*

*

*

“Denier has raised his daughter poorly.”

Valdemar, seated on the platform, crossed his legs and let a cold smile slip across his face.

“Or rather, he picked up the wrong child to begin with.”

He muttered under his breath, questioning what talent could possibly reside in someone with eyes like those hollow knots in wood.

However, he showed no interest whatsoever in how Martha had treated the swordsmen so carelessly. The gap between the direct line and the Branch Family—or those beneath them—was simply that vast in this world.

“It’s already a finished fight. Let’s end this duel quickly and hear that arrogant bastard’s screams.”

The outcome of today’s confrontation was already obvious. No matter how talented Raon was, he couldn’t face Rayden without experiencing a blade duel.

After the duel, his dantian would shatter, his mana circuits would tear, and the thought of seeing Raon writhing in agony already brought an eager smile to his face.

“Oh! It’s been a while.”
“Hmm?”

Valdemar’s head turned instinctively at the cheerful voice that clashed so starkly with the solemn atmosphere of the platform.

“Rimer?”

The Red-haired Elf approached with a grin spreading across her face.

“What are you doing here?”
“Ah, I happened to see it while passing by, so I stopped in.”
“Then keep passing.”
“Aha, just joking.”

Despite being told to leave, Rimer didn’t descend but instead positioned herself beside Valdemar.

“Are you and I the kind to exchange jokes?”
“You said something amusing.”
“What?”
“That it’s already a finished fight—who won, then?”
“Even with those broken eyes of yours, you should be able to see the difference in momentum between Rayden and that trash you’ve raised.”
“Hmm, there certainly is a difference.”

Rimer whistled as she looked at Raon and Rayden standing on opposite sides of the Grand Training Grounds.

“But a fight isn’t always decided by momentum and raw power alone.”
“Hmph, that’s only true for fights between insects. Once you reach Expert rank, it’s difficult to overcome the difference in realm. Besides, Rayden is a Sword Master. Your disciple’s flesh and bones will be torn to shreds.”
“Then shall we make a wager, sir?”
“What?”
“If you’re so confident, let’s make a bet.”

Rimer smiled and extended both hands.

“What trick are you planning now, like that baseless rumor about fighting Gwahyeolgwi?”
“The patriarch is watching today, so my tricks wouldn’t work anyway.”
“Hmm….”

Valdemar’s pupils dilated. That was precisely why it was difficult to treat Rimer carelessly—he was still meeting with his father, the patriarch, from time to time.

“Since you’re so confident, let’s both put something on the line. If you’re scared, you can back out….”
“Shut your mouth!”

As Valdemar frowned, the platform beneath his feet crumpled.

“Haha, just joking.”
“What will you stake?”
“This.”

A leaf-shaped dagger emerged from Rimer’s possession. As it caught the sunlight, it emitted a fresh, verdant fragrance and a mysterious radiance, as if it were a real leaf.

“This is….”
“You know what it is, don’t you?”
“You’re really willing to stake this item on a bet?”
“Of course. A bet is all or nothing!”
“…Then what do you want? Are you after my Yonggyeon Sword?”
“No. I don’t need something like that.”

Rimer shook his head with a smirk—the same expression he wore when teasing Burren and Raon.

“I want….”

*

*

*

I rotated my wrists and ankles, loosening my body. It was my first time at the Grand Training Grounds, and countless spectators watched from the stands, yet I felt no tension whatsoever.

‘The medicine works remarkably well.’

Perhaps it was thanks to the Clarity Elixir that Martha had given me beforehand. My mind felt sharp, and my heart beat slowly and steadily, just as it always did.

The medicine I’d received from Burren had also worked wonders, and my physical injuries were now completely healed. I felt capable of performing at full strength, just as I did during training in the Training Courtyard or the 5th Training Ground.

I observed Rayden standing across from me. Despite the duel ahead, he sipped wine with leisurely composure.

‘He’s trying to demonstrate his confidence.’

The reason Rayden displayed such ease was simple: he was deliberately staging this performance to showcase the gap between us.

‘But then again…’

Such theatrics were only performed when there was an overwhelming difference in power, or when victory was absolutely assured.

I smiled coldly as I watched Rayden enjoy a servant’s massage. He would spend the rest of his life regretting what happened today.

“The Sky of Zigheart enters! All rise and show your respects!”

As I was loosening my shoulders, the swordsmen standing before the Grand Training Grounds’ main entrance cried out in unison.

Creak, creak, creak!

The massive gates split in half, and Glen and the Heavenly Sword Squad entered simultaneously.

Though many people were present, only Glen was visible. His overwhelming aura sharpened the very air of the training grounds until it pricked against my skin.

The stronger my power grew, the more I understood just how lofty his position truly was—and each time I beheld him, chills ran down my spine.

“We greet the Family Head!”

I knelt and bowed my head in respect, just as everyone else in the training grounds did.

-Every time I see them, they kneel and offer greetings. Humans are truly bothersome creatures.

Wrath clicked his tongue in annoyance, though a hint of envy colored his voice.

Having descended from a Demon Realm lord to a shabby tenant living in my bracelet, he seemed to resent Glen, who commanded both reverence and fear from everyone.

‘Petty as always.’
-What did you say?
‘Nothing.’

I bowed my head and allowed myself a small smile.

“Rise, all of you.”

Glen, seated upon the jade throne at the center of the platform, finally spoke. Though his voice was soft, it reached every ear in the courtyard with perfect clarity.

“Thank you!”

The Zigheart swordsmen bowed once more before rising to their feet.

“Good.”

Glen’s gaze descended slowly, passing over me on the western side of the Training Ground, then settling on Rayden to the east, before he nodded in approval.

“Let the duel commence.”
“Yes!”

The announcer below the platform bowed deeply to Glen and turned away.

Whoooosh!

As he raised his hand, the flag-bearers stationed around the perimeter of the Grand Training Grounds unfurled their banners, each emblazoned with the symbol of the Heavenly Sword.

The moment the flags rippled in unison, the entire Training Ground erupted into a magnificent display of dancing flames.

“Duelists, advance!”
“Finally.”

Rayden grinned wickedly and extended his hand. A maidservant behind him brought forth a scabbard. From that oversized sheath—longer than a spear—he drew a blade that rippled like liquid.

Shing.

The long, slender flexible blade writhed like a living serpent, emitting an eerie sound.

I ignored Rayden, whose eyes blazed with murderous intent, and turned to look behind me.

Sylvia stood gripping the railing so tightly her knuckles had turned white, her lips pressed into a thin line. I conveyed a message through my eyes—that everything would be fine, and she should wait without worry.

Beside Sylvia stood Helen with her hands clasped tightly together, along with the attendants. They trembled as if offering prayers to the heavens.

I steadied my resolve once more. This wasn’t a fight against Rayden—it was a war to protect them.

“Hah…”

I exhaled deeply to clear my mind, then walked forward to face Rayden.

*

*

*

“Haaah!”

Rayden tilted his head back to gaze at the sky. How long had he waited for this day? A week had felt longer than a year.

‘Now I can finally settle the score.’

The humiliation in the Annex Building. The opportunity to change the eyes of those swordsmen who seemed to suppress their mockery every time they looked at him had finally arrived.

He adjusted his grip on the flexible blade, barely containing the excitement that rose to his throat.

‘Come on then. Right now… that bastard.’

Rayden ground his teeth. Raon wasn’t even looking at him—his gaze was fixed on Sylvia and the attendants behind him.
The indifference displayed just before the duel made his insides churn with nausea.

‘I’ll sever his limbs entirely.’

As he imagined severing Raon’s arms and legs in the duel, then destroying his core and mana circuits as a result of victory, a surge of exhilaration coursed through his spine.

“Prepare yourselves.”

At the announcer’s signal, Rayden rotated his wrist. The flexible blade undulated like a serpent with merely that gentle motion.

“I am ready.”

I nodded without even drawing my sword.

“Ha, I’ve never seen anyone quite so arrogant as you.”

Rayden thrust his face forward, his nose wrinkling.

“I’ll show you just how fortunate you were that day.”
“Fortunate?”

I chuckled softly while adjusting my scabbard.

“This bastard really….”
“Step back.”

The announcer forcibly pushed Rayden away.

“Let’s see if you can keep smiling even after your arm is severed or your core is torn asunder.”
“Then you’ll never get to see it.”

I gripped the hilt while maintaining my smile.

Click.

Rayden ground his teeth as if they might shatter, then stepped back. It was better to begin the duel than to waste time with verbal sparring.

The announcer silently asked with his eyes if both were ready, and we both nodded.

“Then let the duel between Rayden Zigheart and Raon Zigheart commence!”

The announcer raised the hand that had been separating us and stepped back.

“Kahahaha!”

Rayden let out a wild laugh as he brought his ribbon blade crashing down. With a sharp crack, the sword twisted like a ribbon, spiraling toward me.

Whiiiing!

I twisted my body like a fluttering petal, evading the ribbon blade.

“You think you’ve escaped?”

He raised his wrist, and the ribbon blade undulated like a wave, pursuing me relentlessly.

“Tch….”

I furrowed my brow and attempted to evade using the Garam Step, but Rayden had already anticipated every movement.

“I told you. Things are different now! Keep running!”

Rayden smirked and unleashed the third form of the Crystalline Ribbon Blade—Demonic Severing. The blade’s edge bent in jagged patterns, targeting my legs.

Shhiiiing!

I drew my sword and brought it down. It seemed I couldn’t avoid the Demonic Severing, so I attempted to block it with my blade instead.

“Heh!”

Rayden licked his lips with his tongue.

‘Fool!’

Ribbon blade technique was extraordinarily difficult to defend against because the direction of attack changed too rapidly. Guard where your eyes could see, and you’d be cut elsewhere.

Raon was no exception. He brought his sword to his lower body, thinking I was targeting his legs, but that was a grave mistake.

Whiiiiing!

As I twisted my wrist, the ribbon blade that had been aimed at his calf rose upward like a serpent climbing a vine.

‘Just as I warned—I’ll take your arm!’

I could already envision the sharp blade tearing through Raon’s arm, hear his scream of pain.

“Huh?”

Rayden swallowed hard. Before the connecting blade could tear through his arm, the Raon standing before his eyes vanished.

“Wh-where…gasp!”

Rayden cried out, his sword hand trembling. A cool sensation brushed against his throat. Rolling his eyes, he saw the vanished Raon now pressing a blade against his neck.

“What…what just happened….”
“That’s the first one.”
“F-first one? What do you mean the first one!”
“You’re going to die eight times today.”

With those words, Raon’s fist crashed into Rayden’s face.

Crack!

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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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