The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 820

 Chapter 820

 

“Hah…”

Raon let out a hollow laugh as he stared at the blazing golden flame door.

‘Is this the reason they're here?’

The flame humans that had wandered the library all day seemed to exist solely to open this door.

He felt almost apologetic for realizing it so late.

‘If I had looked here from the start…’

No, that wouldn’t have worked.

Spending over half a day in this library was what allowed him to notice that the flame humans near the wall didn’t move. Even if he had seen the wall from the beginning, he wouldn’t have thought something was hidden there.

W-what is this?

Wrath also seemed able to see the flame door, his eyes wide with surprise.

For something like this to happen with no signs at all….

Judging by his reaction, Wrath’s senses couldn’t detect the space behind the wall either.

‘There was a sign.’

What sign are you talking about?

‘I told you earlier. There were flame humans moving here, and they’re the ones who opened this door.’

T-that was real? Not just nonsense?

Wrath trembled in disbelief.

‘It was real.’

Grr, even in my spirit form, for me to fail to notice such trickery….

He pressed his lips tightly, his pride seemingly hurt.

‘I don't feel any harmful energy.’

Like the flame humans, the door radiated a gentle warmth. There was no ominous energy or malicious pressure, so it seemed safe to proceed.

Raon exhaled slowly, then stepped into the blazing door.

Whoosh!

As soon as he entered the door, the world turned dark as if the stage lights had gone out, and his vision became pitch-black.

‘What’s this?’

He was definitely in reality, yet he felt his body floating as if he had fallen into a dream.

Wrath, who had been perched on his shoulder, was nowhere to be seen, and his body began to blur like mist.

As he cautiously looked around, his vision brightened again, as though a light had been turned back on.

It was a familiar space—the underground library of the Shadow Agents where he had spent the entire day.

‘No, it’s different.’

It was undoubtedly the same library, but it looked significantly different from the one he had seen.

The number of bookshelves, records, and documents was much smaller, and scribes in formal attire were bustling around the library.

‘Are those people…?’

The flame humans?

Their actions—writing in books, organizing them, and stacking documents—were identical to those of the flame humans he had seen earlier.

‘Then…’

Raon swallowed dryly and turned around. He saw the far wall he had entered through, and in front of it stood two swordsmen, motionless like statues.

As expected, they were guards stationed to protect the wall.

‘They’re strong.’

Even though he was watching a memory, he could feel the martial power of the two swordsmen.

They weren't as strong as he was now, but they were seasoned Grandmasters. It was astonishing to see swordsmen of such caliber guarding a wall.

‘Should I try going there again?’

As he was pondering where to go, it became noisy behind him.

Turning his head, he saw a blond swordsman and a mage in a blue robe descending the stairs.

The guards at the wall and the scribes who had been working stopped what they were doing and bowed deeply. Their eyes were filled with deep respect and trust.

[You don’t need to greet me.]

The blond swordsman waved his hand with a soft smile.

‘The first head of house….’

Though his face wasn’t entirely visible, his gestures alone confirmed his identity as the first head of Zieghart.

[Keep up the good work.]

After politely greeting the family members, the first head of house approached the wall.

When he placed his hand on it, a door of golden flames, similar to the one Raon had entered, appeared.

[It works well.]

The first head of house nodded in satisfaction.

[Well, it should. With you and me working together, it would be stranger if it didn’t.]

The mage in the blue robe grumbled as she stepped through the door first.

[I suppose so.]

The first head of house chuckled lightly and followed her.

‘I should follow… huh?’

As Raon tried to follow the first head, his perspective shifted, and he found himself standing in a small room made of red bricks.

Fwoosh.

He noticed the first head and the mage in front of him and realized he’d been drawn into the flaming door’s interior against his will.

[It’s done.]

The first head of house placed a book on a small shelf in the center of the room. Its cover looked stiff, as though it had just been made.

[Why are you making it so complicated?]

The mage in the blue robe frowned as she looked at the nameless book.

[You could just verbally pass it down to the direct line or include it in the head of house’s reports, like the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.]

She shook her head in disbelief.

[That won’t work.]

The first head of house shook his head firmly, his tone warm yet resolute.

[Don’t tell me you don’t trust them? The people here would lay down their lives for you without hesitation.]

The mage wrinkled her nose as if asking him to understand.

[I know that. But the future will be different.]

The first head of house smiled gently, asking for understanding.

[In the future, our achievements will be forgotten, and many martial arts and treasures will leak out. Among them, the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and the Ring of Fire might be included.]

[L-leak out?]

The mage widened her eyes as if she hadn't even thought about such a thing.

[Yes. Likely many things.]

The first head of house nodded calmly.

[If you know that, you should prevent it!]

[Fate isn’t something that can be stopped.]

He revealed a serene gaze as he used the word 'fate'.

‘Leak out….’

Raon swallowed dryly as he looked at the first head of house’s back.

‘Come to think of it….’

In his previous life, he had obtained the Ring of Fire in a cave far removed from Zieghart.

It was a place entirely devoid of the presence of the ancestor he had encountered so far, leading him to think that someone might have leaked it.

‘Yes. That's highly possible.’

The Dancing Sword found in the Holy Sword Alliance could be explained, but it made no sense for the Ring of Fire to have vanished from Zieghart entirely. Something must have happened.

[What exactly are you seeing?]

The mage raised an eyebrow at the first head of house.

[No different from you. I’m just preparing for various possibilities.]

The first head of house shrugged as though it were nothing.

[Then let’s go.]

[Are you really leaving just like this?]

The mage adjusted her staff and tilted her head.

[Not saying goodbye to everyone?]

[The foundation has already been laid. Farewells are better when kept dry.]

The first head of house flicked his finger, signaling it was time to leave.

[Sometimes I can’t tell if you’re cold-hearted or just deeply considerate.]

The mage sighed, tapping her staff on the ground.

[So where are we headed?]

[The south for now. That’s where ‘he’ appeared last. I also need to plant something there.]

[You sure live a busy life.]

Clicking her tongue, she summoned a surge of blue mana that enveloped the first head of house.

Whoosh!

Amidst the surge of blue mana, the first head turned to look back. His red eyes met Raon’s gaze.

He gave a deep smile, one that seemed to encourage Raon or perhaps to say he was doing well.

Flash!

With a flash of light, the first head of house and the mage disappeared, and the room went dark.

When Raon opened his eyes again, he saw the ceiling of red bricks.

‘Huh? This ceiling….’

Hey!

As Raon stared blankly at the ceiling, Wrath popped into view.

Why are you just lying there after falling over?

Wrath waved his arms in a panic.

‘Lying on the floor?’

Raon blinked and looked around. He was indeed lying on the floor, and when he turned, the flame door was still blazing behind him.

‘I see.’

It seemed he had rolled onto the floor when he was sucked into the first head of house’s memory. Thankfully, his body was tough, so he didn’t appear to be hurt.

‘Thank you for worrying about me.’

W-Worry, my foot!

Wrath widened his eyes like a startled rabbit.

If you break down, the King of Essence won’t be able to eat meals and ice cream! That’s the only reason!

He gritted his teeth, telling him not to talk nonsense.

‘Is that so.’

Raon let out a small laugh. If he were to die or lose consciousness, Wrath could simply take over his body, yet seeing him worry like this, it was clear that his personality was nothing like that of a Demon King.

But…

Wrath narrowed his eyes.

Where did you go just now?

‘What do you mean, where?’

For a brief moment, your soul disappeared from your body.

Wrath nodded his chin as if to say that’s what had startled him.

Come to think of it, something similar happened before.

‘It did.’

Raon nodded calmly. The last time he entered the memories of his ancestor, Wrath had said something similar. Of course, even then, unlike a typical Demon King, he hadn’t laid a hand on his body.

‘I went to see the memories of Zieghart's ancestor.’

The memories of your ancestor? You mean that dream thing?

‘Yes.’

Raon nodded. Since Wrath trusted him, he decided to trust Wrath as well and tell him the truth.

There’s no way something like that could happen without an artifact or some special object.

Wrath swallowed dryly, still struggling to believe it.

‘I’m not completely without a medium.’

The mediums connecting me to my ancestor were the Ring of Fire and the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation. Those two martial arts had drawn me into my ancestor’s memories.

Even so, it’s impossible! If martial arts alone could make that happen, anyone could learn from their ancestors!

Wrath shook his head firmly, saying that no matter how talented Raon was, such a thing shouldn’t be possible.

Your ancestor… Are you sure they were human?

‘Of course. What else would he be, a demon?’

Hmph! True, judging by your personality, there’s no way you have demon blood.

Wrath clicked his tongue, convinced that Raon had no connection to the Devildom.

‘Never thought I’d hear that from a demon king.’

Raon chuckled and turned to the bookshelf in front of him.

The book he’d seen in the ancestor’s memory still looked brand new, its cover stiff and crisp as though less than an hour had passed.

‘Why did he leave this book here?’

Unlike the mage, Raon had no prior knowledge about the book, so he couldn’t guess its purpose. He would have to open it himself.

“Whew.”

Raon steadied his rapidly beating heart and opened the book. Immediately, the Ring of Fire and the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation activated, and the book began to burn with golden flames.

‘This isn’t a book….’

It’s memories and energy.

As the book burned, its contents engraved themselves into his mind, much like the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation had done.

Whoosh!

The vivid energy of fire from the book surged through his body, connecting the Ring of Fire and the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.

At the same time, the principles engraved in his mind acted as a bridge, seamlessly linking the two energies.

Although both the Ring of Fire and the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation were martial arts of the first head of house, their essences were different.

The Ring of Fire nurtured both the body and soul, helping a warrior grow and maximizing the soul’s caliber and perception (sense), while the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation was a cultivation technique that encompassed various sword techniques.

The two now merged as though they had always been one, forming a deep and intense circle of flames.

Whoosh!

Raon clenched the ashes of the book in his fist and nodded.

‘So that’s what it was.’

The contents of the book left by his ancestor were simple:

It described the synergy between the Ring of Fire and the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation. Rather than forming a crude harmony as before, it explained how to use the Ring of Fire to maximize the power of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.

To others, it was an obscure phrase with no effect, but to him, it was a more special opportunity than anything else.

‘I've become stronger again.’

No, I will become stronger.

Thanks to the first head of Zieghart’s arrangements, he felt certain that he could reach the realm of Transcendence and grow even stronger.

W-what’s going on?

Wrath narrowed his eyes at Raon.

Suddenly, the two types of fire within your body are connecting so naturally.

He seemed to immediately grasp the change in Raon and trembled.

‘It’s still faint, but I’ve connected the fire of the Ring of Fire with the fire in my energy center.’

That ring isn’t the flame of martial arts, is it?

‘You’re right. Its effect on aura amplification has increased.’

Raon felt the movement of the Ring of Fire swirling from his heart and smiled.

Grr….

Wrath bit his lip.

Why is it that you’re the only one devouring such fortunes? Other people might not even get one in their entire lives, but you inhale them like they’re air!

He shouted, complaining that the world was unfair.

‘It might not be entirely a good thing.’

What?

‘Because my enemies are likely to grow stronger too.’

Enemies? Are you talking about that blue bastard who summoned Uriel?

‘He’s one of them.’

Raon lowered his eyebrows and shook his head.

‘But I’m talking about the Anima who fought against my ancestor.’

They’re probably still alive.

*   *   *

After leaving the Shadow Agents’ building, Raon didn't return to the annex building but headed to the lord's manor.

Since he had discovered a new space in the underground library, it was his duty to report it to Glenn first.

Rumble!

As he opened the grand door of the audience chamber and entered, he knelt before Glenn, who was looking at the moon outside the window.

“I greet the head of house.”

“Rise.”

Glenn waved a hand dismissively, much like the first head in the memory, saying there was no need for unnecessary formalities. Now that he thought about it, their gazes were quite similar.

“I heard you went to the Shadow Agents. Have you already found something?”

He seemed to notice the change in Raon, as his eyes quivered slightly.

“Yes. I found something unexpected.”

“Unexpected?”

“Well…”

Raon explained how he had seen the flame humans through the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, observed them, and eventually discovered the new space in the underground library.

“Hah, to think such a thing existed….”

Even Glenn, who didn’t seem to know about the space, let out a faint sigh of surprise.

“There was only one book inside, and when I held it, it crumbled into ashes like the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation you bestowed upon me.”

“Then, its contents have been engraved in your mind?”

“Yes.”

Raon nodded solemnly.

“What was the content?”

“It detailed a way to make the fire of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation burn hotter and stronger. It also described improvements to the sword techniques, which were similar to what I had in mind.”

The book left by the ancestor not only explained how to enhance the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation but also contained refinements to the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation’s sword techniques, nearly identical to what Raon had already envisioned.

“It means your path hasn’t deviated from the will of the ancestor. Impressive.”

Glenn smiled softly and nodded.

"Most people in the world just sit idly, hoping for fortune, but true fortune follows those who work for it. You’ve done well."

He smiled, saying it seemed his efforts had produced that result. However, his expression didn’t look all that good.

“Grandfather.”

Raon addressed him not as the head of house but as grandfather, bowing his head.

“You don’t look well. Is it because of my sister?”

Even during training, Glenn took time every day to visit Sia, yet she still hadn’t awakened.

Not only was his granddaughter still unconscious, but there had been no news about the soul stone, leaving him visibly frustrated.

"Yes. It's so hard to find that I'm starting to wonder if something like a soul stone really exists."

Glenn sighed, lamenting how powerless he felt despite his position as the head of House Zieghart.

“Have all the responses come in?”

“Most of them know nothing about its existence. Some said they’d search but haven’t reported back since. Ah….”

He trailed off, lowering his chin slightly.

“There’s one place that hasn’t responded at all.”

Glenn furrowed his brow in irritation.

“Who is it?”

“Aris. That idiot, as always, hasn’t given any reply at all.”

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