The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 758

 Chapter 758

 

"Spar?"

Karoon furrowed his brows deeply as he looked at Raon.

"Why are you requesting a spar with me?"

It didn't seem like he was outright planning to refuse, as he first asked for the reason.

"I want to see how well my skills fare against a Transcender right now."

Raon straightened his back as he met Karoon's unwavering eyes, like a vast, still lake.

"I couldn’t show my full strength during the mission."

During the mission, the Demonic Wolf Monarch was ambushed to prevent him from escaping, so Raon couldn’t show his full strength. The Fighting Demon and the Master of the White Demon Sword weren’t at the peak of Grandmaster, so he cut them down without much difficulty.

He had broadened his perspective through the enemy's swordsmanship and gained combat experience, but he felt incomplete because he hadn't used all his skills and strength.

To fill that void, he had been thinking of requesting a spar with Karoon even before returning to Zieghart.

'Karoon should be more than enough.'

The intuition Raon had built through countless experiences and battles told him he couldn’t defeat Karoon, which is why he wanted to see how much of his strength would work against him.

'There will be many times in the future when I'll clash with Transcenders.'

I need to prepare in advance.

Though it’s difficult for the heads of the Five Demons to make a move right now, there’s a high chance he’ll encounter lower-level Transcenders.

If he clashes with one now and understands his own strength, it will greatly help in future battles.

"......"

"Hmm."

Karoon, seemingly deep in thought about the spar, pressed his lips together, while Glenn let out a low, dissatisfied groan at the situation.

"Nephew!"

Balder stomped his foot loudly, calling out to Raon.

"I can fight you all day. You can challenge me right now if you want!"

He gestured with both hands as if inviting Raon to fight him in the audience chamber.

"...I'll ask you another time."

Raon glanced at Balder with vacant eyes before giving a faint smile of refusal.

'Balder isn't bad either, but Karoon comes first.'

Though Balder was also a good sparring partner, Raon would have to go all out if they fought. However, he didn't think he'd lose. Right now, he wanted to challenge the Transcender Karoon, who could teach him the taste of defeat, and help him aim for greater heights.

"You've got a picky taste, nephew."

Balder clicked his tongue briefly and turned his gaze toward Karoon.

"Just do it. What's so hard about it?"

He shrugged his shoulders as if telling Karoon to grant Raon's request for a spar.

"Father..."

Burren also bowed his head slightly towards Karoon, as if asking him to grant the request.

"Raon Zieghart. I don't know what you're thinking, but..."

Karoon, seemingly finished with his thoughts, finally opened his mouth.

"I consider myself indebted to you."

He glanced at Burren, then shifted his gaze to Raon.

"Indebted? What do you mean by that...?"

Raon narrowed his eyes. He had been assuming that Karoon was harboring thoughts of revenge, but now Karoon was suddenly talking about owing a debt, which left him confused.

"When my planned misdeeds were exposed and I was handed a permanent punishment, I stared at the ceiling of the hospital and had many thoughts."

Karoon slowly lowered his gaze, reflecting on his shameful past.

"I felt that the steps leading me to the position of head of house had collapsed. At first, I cursed you, resented my father, and was angry at my subordinates. I tormented myself, screaming that I had done nothing wrong, but as time passed, I finally realized. That all the causes were me, and I created all the results. Only then did I see."

He tapped his chest lightly with his clenched fist.

"That what I lost was just trivial, and the true treasure still remained within my soul."

"Treasures...?"

"Zieghart."

Karoon raised his head calmly and gazed at Glenn and his throne.

"When I shed the ugly shell I had disgracefully piled up, I saw the Zieghart I had dreamed of since childhood. Only then did I realize how hateful and ugly the path I had walked was. If I had become the family head as things were, I would have regretted it even after death."

He turned his eyes back to Raon.

"It's thanks to you that you stopped me."

A slight warmth began to stir in Karoon's sharp gaze.

"Thank you."

"Hmm..."

Raon swallowed dryly as he faced Karoon's calm eyes.

'Has he really changed this much?'

Raon had thought that Karoon's rise to Transcendence was because he had already reached peak Grandmaster level. But he had been gravely mistaken.

Karoon had not only grown in strength, but also experienced immense mental growth. It seemed that his limit wasn’t simple Transcendence.

"Ce-Central Martial Palace’s master?"

"The-the Central Martial Palace’s master is saying such things..."

"I-Is that really you, brother? Not a doppelganger?"

Even the direct line members and Balder widened their eyes in shock at Karoon's words.

"Father!"

Burren's eyes burned with glowing enthusiasm, as if he had returned to his days as a trainee, when he admired Karoon.

"I'll repay that debt this time."

Karoon nodded calmly, then looked up at Glenn.

"I will accept the Light Wind division’s leader's request for a spar."

He bowed his head as he asked for permission.

"......"

Glenn silently looked at his son and grandson in turn. He slowly nodded, perhaps not even knowing what expression he was making.

"I grant permission."

"Thank you."

Karoon bowed again to Glenn before turning his back.

"Shall we go right away?"

He gestured with his chin as he led the way out of the audience chamber.

"Of course."

Raon nodded heavily and left the audience chamber. It seemed it would be a harder spar than he thought.

"Ce-Central Martial Palace’s master!"

"Palace master!"

"Raon!"

"Can we watch too?"

The executives and the Light Wind division members followed them out of the audience chamber.

"Will it be alright?"

Rimmer frowned, perhaps bothered by Karoon's drastic change.

"......"

As Glenn descended from the platform, he slowly opened his eyes, recalling the look in Karoon’s eyes, which reminded him of his childhood.

"There is nothing to worry about."

***

Standing face-to-face with Karoon in the training ground of the lord’s manor, Raon let out a soft breath.

'I didn't expect this to really happen.'

Since Karoon had no reason to accept the spar, Raon hadn’t expected to actually fight him this soon.

But after Karoon expressed his feelings and said he wanted to repay his debt, Raon felt rather burdened.

"Nephew, don't be too nervous!"

Balder waved his hand widely.

"It's not like he's going to kill you!"

He nodded as if to say, trust your family.

"Raon."

Burren also nodded, as if telling Raon to trust in Karoon.

In my eyes, it looks like that guy is trying to kill you under the pretext of this spar.

On the other hand, Wrath laughed, saying that Karoon seemed like he was planning to kill Raon legally.

'I don't know.'

Raon let out a short sigh. Unlike before, he couldn't read Karoon's intentions at all.

"Begin."

Glenn crossed his arms and announced the start of the spar. He seemed determined not to interfere, no matter how the spar unfolded.

"Raon Zieghart."

Karoon drew his sword, revealing his sharp eyes that could cut like a blade.

"What you seek isn't just a simple spar, but a clue to Transcendence, is it not?"

"That's correct."

There was no reason to lie, so Raon nodded.

"Then one exchange should be enough."

Karoon stepped forward, lowering his sword.

"One exchange?"

Raon widened his eyes.

"What do you mean by that...?"

"The gap between your swordsmanship and mine isn't that significant."

Karoon acknowledged Raon's swordsmanship and nodded.

"But if we were to fight, I would never lose."

"Indeed."

Despite speaking of defeat, Raon’s eyes showed no trace of it.

"I'll show you why."

Karoon lifted his sword to an upper stance, as if one strike would be enough.

It was a basic downward slash, but a majestic wave of energy flowed from him, as if it could split the world in two.

"Ugh..."

"What, what is this…."

"It's hard to breathe…."

The executives stepped back from Karoon, swallowing dryly.

"I, I can hardly open my eyes."

"I can’t straighten my back…."

"Force yourself to watch! You’ll regret it for the rest of your life if you miss this!"

The Light Wind swordsmen had a harder time than the executives, but they leaned on each other and kept their eyes open until the end.

"Raon Zieghart, show me everything you have."

Karoon nodded, as if telling him to pour all his power into a single strike. It seemed he intended to accept it all.

"Understood."

Raon calmly exhaled and drew Heavenly Drive. He pointed the blade toward the sky, he opened his mental world.

Sword Field Creation – Genesis.

The swords filling his mental world descended upon Heavenly Drive’s blade, unleashing an overwhelming will.

Kwaaaaaa!

The sword techniques that sprouted within his mind bloomed into various flowers on the thin blade.

As the principles of countless sword techniques merged into one, a golden flame surged.

Kugugugugu!

Karoon watched Raon's sword strike approach and slowly lowered his sword.

"Sword Field Creation – Emperor."

The vicious energy within his sword began to crush the heavens and the earth. The overwhelming pride and dignity of one who had truly ascended to the throne of an emperor were palpable.

'This is….'

Raon's chin quivered.

'Transcendence.'

He could feel a level of martial art of will entirely different from a Grandmaster. The difference in the completeness of their martial prowess was stark.

'I’m bound to lose, but….'

Still, I have to go forward!

Despite Karoon's suffocating pressure that seemed to bind his hands and feet, Raon didn’t give up and swung Genesis until the end.

Chwaaaack!

But Karoon’s sword didn’t waver. Like a massive pillar rooted behind him, it crushed Genesis without a single tremor.

Kuwaaaaaang!

An enormous explosion erupted, sinking the entire training ground. The sheer power of their clash caused brown whirlwinds to rise from all directions.

Kugugugugu!

When Glenn waved his hand, the whirlwinds of aura that were about to engulf the executives and the Light Wind swordsmen settled down as if nothing had happened, revealing the training ground.

Goooooo….

Raon was kneeling on one knee with Heavenly Drive stuck in the ground, while Karoon stood still, pointing his sword at Raon’s forehead.

Drip.

A drop of blood flowed from Raon's forehead and fell onto the wrecked floor of the training ground.

"Did you see it?"

Karoon withdrew his sword while looking down at Raon.

"I saw it."

Raon met Karoon's calm gaze and exhaled heavily.

"Then that’s enough."

Karoon nodded and turned around, as if saying he had done what he needed to do.

'What is this…?'

It was just a feeling, but Karoon seemed stronger than Orgos the vice master and Transcender of Black Tower, the Demonic Monarch of Azure Flame, whom he had met before.

Karoon didn’t need to use his sword field to show Raon his Transcendence enlightenment, yet he did. Honestly, Raon couldn’t understand why.

"Central Martial Palace’s master."

Raon forced strength into his legs and stood up.

"What is it?"

“Why did you go this far for me?"

"I told you, I'm indebted to you."

"Didn't you previously assert that we would fight for the position of head of house? Why are you doing so much for someone who could become your enemy?"

While he had no interest in the position of head of house now, his thoughts could change in the future.

He couldn't understand why Karoon showed everything to someone who could become his competitor.

"Because you are a Zieghart."

Karoon nodded as if that was all the answer needed, then left the training ground.

"……."

Raon stared wide-eyed at Karoon’s retreating figure. He hadn’t expected such words from him and couldn’t muster any response.

Haah…

Even Wrath seemed surprised as he exhaled.

While the King of Essence has seen youngsters like you change often, it’s the first time even for me to see a human of his age change so drastically.

He stroked his chin, saying humans are truly fascinating.

‘Same here.’

It was the first time he had seen someone of Karoon’s age, power, and status undergo such a drastic change. The surprise hadn't faded yet.

"Father!"

Burren followed Karoon’s back with eyes more passionate than ever.

The direct line executives, filled with emotion, ran out of the training ground as well.

"I never thought Karoon would change like this."

Rimmer laughed, clasping his hands behind his head.

"Thanks to that, you’ve lost your training time with your grandson."

"Enough nonsense."

Glenn snorted, turning his head. Despite losing his time with Raon, a gentle smile formed on his lips.

"It feels like a runaway son has returned after finally maturing."

***

As Raon returned to the annex building, he reflected on Karoon’s sword.

‘It was strong and noble.’

Karoon’s sword carried the aristocratic elegance that Burren hadn’t been able to let go of.

Seeing something Raon had thought unnecessary in actual combat transform into absolute power in the realm of Transcendence was astonishing.

Transcendence seemed to hold something beyond the understanding of those in lower realms.

'It must be related to his change as well.'

Karoon's sword that he saw before was just strong, but after realizing his own faults, it seemed that his original elegance and nobility were imbued in his sword.

‘Do I need to find such a clue too?’

Though he had witnessed Karoon’s Transcendence enlightenment, he still didn’t know what he needed to seek. Finding that would have to come first.

What you need right now isn’t Transcendence, but food!

Wrath waved his hands, urging him to eat.

‘True, you’re right.’

Raon chuckled and nodded. Rushing things wouldn’t yield anything.

He had just returned from a mission, so it was time for rest.

"Hmm…?"

As he passed through the garden and was about to enter the annex building, Raon stopped abruptly.

Behind the lake, something large that hadn’t been there before caught his eye.

"There is a boulder over there... Huh!"

The object he thought was a boulder suddenly stood up and stretched. A bear—a huge grizzly bear at that.

Since there was a mountain behind, he thought there could be animals like bears, but it was the first time seeing one in person.

A bear! A delicious bear!

Wrath wagged his tail, excited about the new menu featuring bear.

Growl.

The bear, seemingly attracted by the light of the annex building, began running toward the lake.

"This is bad."

Raon stepped forward to stop the bear, but the bear suddenly changed direction and charged straight at him instead.

"Huh…?"

"Raon!"

He blinked in surprise, and human words came out of the bear's open mouth.

"Gasp!"

Kuhueek!

Raon and Wrath, seeing the talking bear, immediately turned and started running in the opposite direction.

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