The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 973

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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 973

Snap!

As Xanthos flicked his fingers, a blue light surged above the round table, sketching out a complete map of the Continent.

Remarkably, not only massive powers like Zigheart and the Valkar Kingdom were inscribed on the map, but countless smaller organizations as well.

“We should begin with the collapse of the Black Tower first.”

As Xanthos nodded, the black tower that had towered over Montiro crumbled like a sandcastle.

“The Black Tower had hidden itself in Montiro and gradually eroded the territories of Valkar, Owen, and the Beast Alliance by unleashing demons from the Demon Realm.”

His eyes narrowed as he observed the flickering darkness surrounding Valkar, Owen, and the Beast Alliance.

“In truth, the factions that followed us suffered far more than we did. Many organizations relocated to other regions. But the situation has changed with the Black Tower’s collapse.”

As Xanthos lowered his hand, white light seeped into Valkar, the Beast Alliance, and Owen, which had been blackened as if scorched. It seemed to demonstrate that the Black Tower’s influence had completely vanished.

“With the endless assaults from demons and monsters gone, people could finally sleep peacefully for the first time in ages. Even if temporary, peace has returned.”

He gazed at Raon, explaining that this brief peace and happiness were possible only because the Black Tower had fallen.

From the way he spoke, it seemed Xanthos had come to this gathering not as the King of Valkar, but as the moderator of the Five Emperors Conference.

“That’s absolutely right!”

Ogram slammed his palm against the round table in agreement with Xanthos’s words. His physical strength remained undiminished, and the impact resonated throughout the entire conference hall.

“The Black Tower’s demons and monsters kept attacking relentlessly, making it impossible to sleep properly. Now they’ve completely disappeared.”

He nodded emphatically, saying that the people of the Beast Alliance were now living happily.

“Owen is in the same situation.”

King Lecross gazed at the castle inscribed with the name Owen and smacked his lips.

“The Four Demons would have learned of my injuries, yet no attacks have come from anywhere. Rather, they seem too busy hiding their tails.”

He gazed at Raon with warm eyes, noting that the Black Tower’s disappearance had far greater repercussions than anyone had imagined.

“We have destroyed countless forces that followed the Four Demons, but we have never achieved such a result before. In the end….”

Glen’s eyes narrowed as he studied the five stars inscribed on the blue-tinted holographic map.

“To end this war, we must break not the small fry, but the Four Demons themselves.”

He tapped the Round Table with his finger, declaring that this was the only path to end this tedious war.

“Agreed.”

Chamber nodded, withdrawing a lollipop from within her witch’s hat.

“If we don’t cut off their heads, they’ll multiply like cockroaches and throw the Continent into chaos. Countless people will suffer.”

She bit the lollipop harshly, noting that time was running short.

“The problem is, we have no way to find them.”

King Lecross furrowed his brow, his hand pressed to his chest. The wound inflicted by Derus Robert seemed to throb with pain.

“In truth, we could never have discovered the Black Tower’s location without the Gale Wind Hall’s master. Even if we killed Sageomma, extracting information from him would not be easy, and finding the Black Tower in another dimension from Montiro would be nearly impossible.”

He bit his lip slightly, acknowledging that it was only because Raon existed that they could locate the Black Tower so readily.

“We don’t need to find them. We just need to grow stronger! Once I and that old man recover our true power, no one will be our match!”

Ogram clenched his fists, insisting that the Five Emperors should focus on recovering and cultivating their strength rather than hunting the Four Demons.

“Unfortunately, that’s impossible.”

Chamber bit her lip thinly.

“Unlike us, who walk a predetermined path, the Four Demons can walk roads beyond human morality. Growing stronger faster than them is impossible. Have you already forgotten how the White Blood Cult Master drank your blood and achieved absurd rapid growth?”

She tapped her temple three times, urging him to think carefully.

“And….”

Chamber furrowed her brow as she glared at Ogram.

“If you call me old one more time, I’ll rip that mouth of yours clean off. Got it?”

She flashed a vicious smile and jerked her chin.

“Hmm….”

Ogram’s fingertips trembled—whether from Chamber’s threat or from the memory of what the White Blood Cult Master had done to him.

“We don’t have much time.”

Glen interlaced his fingers and placed his hands on the Round Table, closing his eyes before opening them again.

“The Four Demons are growing stronger and expanding their forces far faster than we are. They have no lines they won’t cross.”

He shook his head, noting that while the Black Tower had collapsed, the overall situation was far from favorable.

“So in the end, we have to find the Four Demons no matter what.”

Ogram wiped his forehead in frustration.

“That’s why we’re gathering people through this Five Emperors Conference.”

Xanthos smiled faintly and raised his hand, causing the names of Neutral Factions across the Continent to shimmer into view.

“Just as the Gale Wind Hall master found the Black Tower, we need more people on our side to gather even the smallest clues. We must draw the Neutral Factions to us and collect information that will help us locate the Four Demons.”

He placed his interlaced hands on the Round Table, emphasizing that gathering the Neutral Factions wasn’t solely about military strength.

“But it won’t be easy to draw in factions that have never stood before the Five Emperors.”

Lecross lowered his brow with concern.

“That’s true. Even though the full-scale war began long ago, maintaining neutrality means they’re still deciding which side—us or the Four Demons—offers the better meal.”

Chamber wrinkled her nose in displeasure.

“To be honest, it’s difficult to trust them completely. If the Four Demons presented a better offer, they’d abandon us without hesitation.”

King Lecross furrowed his brow, remarking that these people were worse than merchants.

“Then we can’t simply leave them be! We need to discipline them thoroughly so they don’t even think of testing our resolve!”

Ogram shook his boulder-like fist, insisting that discipline must be established immediately.

“This is something I excel at. If you wait….”

He was about to declare that he would handle it personally.

Boooooom!

A tremor and sound like an earthquake emanated from the direction of the Royal Capital. Though the shaking itself wasn’t particularly violent, everyone present was a transcendent being, so none failed to sense the disturbance.

“What’s happening?”
“Has a conflict broken out?”
“Could it be the Four Demons?”

As tension filled the eyes of those present, Raon stepped forward.

“It’s not that.”

Raon raised both hands to calm everyone.

“The discipline you mentioned just now….”

He smiled and turned his gaze toward the window.

“It has already begun.”

*

*

*

Screeeech!

The Black-haired Man lay motionless on the scarred earth, as if a meteorite had plummeted from the sky and carved deep into the ground.

The crimson hawk embroidered on his martial robes was the emblem of the Syran Family, a powerhouse of the Central Region, but now it seemed utterly meaningless.

“Cough….”

As the Black-haired Man spat blood and attempted to rise, a shadow fell across his head.

Crunch!

It was Martha. She pressed her foot firmly against the Black-haired Man’s back, her lips curling into a cruel smile.

“That’s what you get. Why did you run your mouth so carelessly?”

Martha muttered that he deserved it, grinding her heel deeper into the Black-haired Man’s body.

“Ugh….”

The Black-haired Man finally couldn’t endure the impact and lost consciousness, his eyes rolling back.

“This… this is too much!”

A red-haired middle-aged man wearing the same Syran Family martial robes trembled, his jaw quivering.

“We only repeated rumors we heard around us while drinking!”

The red-haired middle-aged man shook his head, insisting it hadn’t been serious talk.

“Your name?”

Martha tilted her chin toward the red-haired middle-aged man.

“Um, Rotan Syran….”

The red-haired middle-aged man hesitated briefly before stating his name.

“Right. Rotan.”

Martha spoke his name as if addressing someone far beneath her station.

“Do you think I haven’t seen countless wretches like you before?”

She stepped over the unconscious Black-haired Man and approached Rotan Syran.

“The rumors aren’t spreading from the surroundings—you’re the ones creating them. That tavern was quiet until you started wagging your tongue. All they did was praise Raon and Gwangpung.”

Martha struck Rotan Syran’s forehead, telling him not to tell such obvious lies.

“Ugh….”

Rotan Syran bit his lip, unable to find words in response.

“W-well, it’s true we spoke poorly, but isn’t it excessive for a Grand Master to come at us like this? He’s merely a Master!”

He shook his head, acknowledging his slip of the tongue but insisting the retaliation was too much.

“This is just simple violence….”
“You used verbal violence too.”

Martha struck the back of Rotan Syran’s head, telling him to stop complaining.

“Ugh….”

For the first time since his birth into the Syran Family, Rotan Syran experienced such humiliation—drool even dripping from his mouth.

“Our Master is such a gentle person! If Raon had heard the words that came from your mouth just now, he would have buried you alive in sand and boiled you!”

Despite calling him gentle, Martha was painting Raon as a demon without equal.

“N-no….”
“But your words have a point too.”

She smiled thinly as she observed the terrified Rotan Syran.

“There’s no need for a lion to move when slaughtering a pig. As for you….”

Martha pushed Yua forward from where she stood behind.

“Our rabbit will handle it.”
“Huh? Sister?”

Yua’s eyes widened as she looked at Martha, as if this hadn’t been planned beforehand.

“Really… me?”

She swallowed hard, her gaze fixed on Rotan Syran.

“It’s fine! Just fight the way you’ve been trained.”

Martha grinned, assuring her that if she fought as she did during practice, there would be no problems whatsoever.

“Hmm…”

Yua stepped forward slowly, trusting Martha more than her own abilities.

“Are you mocking me?!”

Rotan Syran gnashed his teeth.

“I switched opponents because you said it was too much, and you’re still complaining? Is this some new trend?”

Martha furrowed her brow, exasperated that he found fault no matter what she did.

“Don’t like it? Want me to step in instead?”
“That’s…”

Rotan Syran bit his lip, looking between Martha’s demonic grin and Yua’s rabbit-like appearance. His gaze finally settled on Yua.

“Fine! Don’t regret this later! My blade shows no mercy!”

Rotan Syran raised his sword, ready to begin immediately.

“Sigh…”

Yua slowly steadied her breathing and drew her blade.

“Think of the times Raon beat you. With that memory alone, you can do anything.”

Martha offered no particular advice, simply patting Yua’s back without a trace of concern.

“Haaaaaah!”

Rotan Syran kicked off the fractured battlefield and surged toward Yua. Moving with the grace befitting a Master, he rode the wind and brought his aura-wrapped blade crashing down.

‘This blade is too….’

Yua narrowed her eyes as she watched Rotan’s sword strike descend like a beam of light.

‘Slow?’

It was far slower than Raon or the masters of Gwangpung Hall whom she had sparred with during training, so the rhythm of his blade came into sharp focus.

‘I’ll use that rhythm.’

Yua shifted her footwork to a rhythm entirely different from Rotan’s sword strike.

Thwack!

She tilted her shoulder back, deflecting Rotan’s descending blade, then thrust her sword forward half a beat faster.

Whoooosh!

The rhythm blooming from Yua’s fingertips sent a crimson wave rippling across Rotan’s chest.

Booooom!

The delicate current transformed in an instant into a towering wave that engulfed Rotan.

Crash!

Rotan gasped in shock at Yua’s sudden counterattack and dropped his blade from his grip.

“Wait, hold on! You let your guard down too—”
“There’s no letting your guard down in a fight!”

Yua gave Rotan no respite, pressing forward immediately and bringing the flat of her blade down toward his head.

Cough! Cough! Cough!

Though I had held back my strength, the blade forged from dragon bone drew a brilliant crimson spray from Rotan Syran’s crown.

“That’s it!”

Martha thrust her thumb upward toward Yua in approval.

“Perfect form—striking the head was flawless!”

She chuckled, marveling at how Yua had conceived of such a devastating technique.

“I’ve watched Young Master Raon do it every day….”

Yua scratched her wrist as she recalled the sight of Raon crushing the Gale Wind Hall swordsmen.

“Well, watching it constantly like that, you can’t help but imitate it.”

Martha patted Yua’s head, praising her for learning so well.

“Hnngh….”

Rotan Syran gasped in agony—both from his shattered skull and the shocking defeat at the hands of someone so much younger than himself.

“This is… too much….”

As he struggled to rise, violent aura storms erupted from the west, north, and south of the Royal Capital.

“W-what is that….”
“Oh, that?”

Martha shrugged as she watched Rotan Syran’s trembling eyes.

“We’re cleaning up loose-tongued fools like you. You’re actually lucky you ran into us instead.”
“Ah….”

Rotan Syran now realized this was no mere coincidence, and he sank to his knees.

“Next.”

Martha confirmed that Rotan Syran’s spirit was completely broken before turning to face the audience.

“Not coming out? If your spirit dies this easily, that’s a problem.”

She lowered the sword draped across her shoulder, saying she hadn’t even started yet.

“If you won’t come out, I’ll come to you! Starting with whoever called me a rakshasa!”

Martha charged through the Neutral Factions like an unbridled colt, her eyes blazing with fury.

“All of you, drop dead!”

*

*

*

After concluding the first conference, I made my way to the dormitory assigned to Gwangpung Hall.

The swordsmen appeared to have thoroughly relieved their stress, their faces relaxed as they leisurely enjoyed refreshments.

“How did it go?”

I approached the unit leaders and asked about the situation.

“Just as you said. In every tavern, there was at least one person belittling our achievements or our martial prowess.”

Martha nodded, saying she’d dealt with all the loudmouths.

“Their movements resembled professional agitators. They repeated the exact same remarks they’d made in the first tavern when we visited the second one.”

Burren Zigheart clicked his tongue, noting it was clearly intentional.

“But there was no foul stench…”

Lunan Slion shook his head, saying it didn’t seem like the work of the Four Demons.

“The Four Demons are certainly present, but they wouldn’t engage in such conspicuous actions.”

Raon shook his head while looking out the window.

“The people who tried to tarnish our reputation today were likely more interested in raising their own value than engaging in espionage.”

Even before arriving here, I had anticipated that some among the Neutral Factions would attempt to diminish the achievements of Zigheart or the Five Emperors.

The Neutral Factions who had yet to choose their allegiance naturally wanted to maximize their bargaining power. That much was understandable.

However, instead of raising their value through the military strength or abilities they possessed, they attempted to elevate themselves by denigrating the Five Emperors.

There was no need to treat those who employed such base methods as people, which is why I unleashed the Gale Wind Hall’s restraints.

The coming war would be like walking on thin ice with every step. In such circumstances, those who pursued only money and profit without conviction required firm education.

“The grand conference convenes in four days. I’m counting on you until then.”

I thanked them and nodded to Burren, Martha, Lunan, and Trevin.

“Of course.”
“Leave it to us!”
“It’s rather enjoyable….”
“Who else would we listen to? Obviously we’ll do it.”

Burren, Martha, Lunan, and Trevin nodded firmly, as if to assure me of their reliability.

“Hmm….”

I observed the four of them and the Gale Wind Hall swordsmen spread out behind them, shaking my head.

“Looking at your eyes, it seems you’ve relieved quite a bit of stress out there?”
“That’s for sure!”
“It’s been a while since we faced opponents worth fighting. It felt refreshing.”

Martha and Trevin grinned, clearly pleased.

“That won’t do.”

I sighed and shook my head.

“Huh?”
“What do you—”
“Follow me.”

With cold eyes gleaming, I summoned everyone to the Training Ground attached to the front of the Dormitory.

“Wait, surely you’re not planning to train—”

Burren Zigheart forgot to address me properly and swallowed hard, speaking casually instead.

“Over the next four days, more Neutral Factions will arrive. If I’m to truly command them, I can’t afford to maintain this current atmosphere.”

I drew the Heavenly Sword from its sheath with a chilling smile.

“I’ll make sure the stress that flew away today comes rushing back.”

I beckoned them forward with a flick of my finger.

“You damn demon!”
“So we’re getting beaten down too?”
“This isn’t stress—we’re going to die!”
“If you won’t come, I’ll come to you.”

I rotated my ankle lightly before charging toward the bewildered Gwangpung Hall swordsmen.

Ahhhhhhhhh!

That night—no, until the night before the great conference—dozens of screams echoed through the Training Ground.

*

*

*

Four days later, at noon.
The doors to the Conference Hall opened.

Golden sunlight cascaded over the white Round Table, creating an ethereal current within the chamber.

Unlike before, luxurious chairs now lined the great round table, while the Jade Throne that had previously occupied that space had been elevated onto the platform.

The leaders of the factions following the Five Emperors and those of the Neutral Factions who had yet to choose their path entered the Conference Hall one by one and took their seats before the round table.

Curiously, the demeanor of the two groups was completely opposite.

Those who had already decided to follow the Five Emperors wore bright smiles and engaged in casual conversation at their seats, while those still undecided stared downward with frightened eyes like puppies caught in the rain.

Thud.

When all the seats before the round table had been filled, an oddly striking footstep echoed from the end of the corridor.

As everyone held their breath, their eyes darting about, Raon entered the Conference Hall.

Whoosh!

Those who witnessed Raon’s black dragon robe billowing despite the absence of wind unconsciously swallowed hard.

“Everyone has arrived.”

I walked to the edge of the platform with weighty steps. My eyes, which seemed to shimmer with crimson lightning, gazed down upon those seated before the round table.

Roar!

Though numerous warriors and mages were present, only one dominated the air of the Conference Hall.

“I am the Master of Gale Wind Hall of Zigheart. I am truly grateful that you have come all this way to participate in this conference.”

Unlike my subordinates, who had been violent, I expressed my gratitude first in a calm tone.

“It has been so long!”
“Your complexion has improved even more!”
“I never thought the epithet ‘Sword Emperor’ would suit someone so perfectly!”

Those following the Five Emperors cheered for me and waved their hands.

The leaders of the Neutral Factions, however, were different.

“Ugh!”
“Master of Gwangpung…”

Those who had been beaten by the Gwangpung swordsmen trembled with fear, their dry lips quivering as they tried to hide their bruised faces and bodies.

“The Five Emperors will be arriving soon, but I have something to say before they do.”

Raon approached the Round Table with a faint smile.

“We know each other well enough. Let’s avoid any unnecessary embarrassment.”

As I spoke, I pressed my finger—wrapped in no aura whatsoever—firmly against the Round Table.

Screeeech!

A deep black hole bored through the Round Table, following the path of my slender finger.

“Do you understand?”

As I rotated my finger again, the hole in the Round Table slowly sealed itself. It was a miracle that transcended raw power.

The Military Organizations standing beside the Five Emperors applauded in admiration, but the Neutral Factions who had yet to choose their path lowered their eyes, remembering the beatings they had endured.

“I trust you will all conduct yourselves properly, and I shall now summon the masters of the Five Emperors.”

I smiled thinly and took a step backward.

-Ha…

Wrath exhaled sharply, watching the people trembling in genuine fear.

-What kind of gathering of the Continent’s strongest is this! It’s just a thug’s alliance!

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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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