The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 852

 Chapter 852

 

“Already finished?”

Raon blinked as he looked at Merlin, who was possessing the body of a cat.

“You said it’d take about two weeks.”

Merlin had mentioned that she needed around two weeks to wake Sia, yet the preparations were completed much faster.

It wasn’t that he doubted her abilities, but he was still a bit worried.

“Yup. It’s all done!”

Merlin stretched her back as if waking up from a nap and nodded.

"Are you sure it’s okay?"

Raon knelt down to meet her gaze.

‘Nothing must go wrong for Sia.’

Rimmer was dead, and Aris was in a state where it wouldn’t be surprising if she never recovered. If something happened to Sia as well, it wouldn’t just affect the Light Wind division and the annex building but the entire atmosphere of house Zieghart. Sylvia and Glenn might crumble too. He had to make sure everything was perfect.

“Yup, everything’s perfect.”

Merlin insisted there was nothing to worry about, wrapping her long tail gently around her own ankle.

"The reason it finished quickly isn’t anything special—I just stayed up all night."

She explained that ever since returning to Zieghart, she had been working tirelessly to adjust the magic formulas, pressing the ground lightly with her front paws as she spoke.

“…You’ve been staying up for over a week?”

“Yup. Everyone’s been so down lately. I wanted to bring at least a bit of joy.”

Merlin smiled, saying this was her first time doing something to cheer others up.

“Ah…”

You can trust her. As the King of Essence said before, that madwoman’s talent in magic rivals your swordsmanship.

Wrath popped his face out from the bracelet, nodding solemnly.

But even that madwoman is changing. Trying to lighten the gloomy mood is something the madwoman she was before meeting you would have never said.

He let out a wry laugh.

Still, this is what it means to be human. To influence and be influenced by others…

Wrath smacked his lips, saying it had been a while since he had seen something good about humans.

‘I thought the same thing.’

Hearing that she’d spent sleepless nights trying to brighten house Zieghart’s gloomy mood, Raon realized all he could do now was trust her.

“Thank you, Merlin.”

Raon clasped his hands together and bowed his head to her.

"Thank you? There’s no need for that between us! The young lady isn’t a stranger, after all."

Merlin waved her front paw, dismissing the gratitude.

“It’s still too early now. Let’s begin tonight.”

She stretched all four of her legs, suggesting that it’d be best to wake Sia when everyone was present.

“Then…”

“Yes, I just came to let you know!”

Merlin grinned, saying she wanted him to be the first to hear the news.

“…Thank you.”

Raon lowered his gaze, expressing his gratitude despite Merlin telling him not to. It was the only thing that came to mind.

"Aww, I said it’s unnecessary!"

Merlin shook her front paw, insisting it was fine.

“Then I’ll get some rest. I can’t afford any mistakes later.”

Yawning widely, she said she needed a nap to regain her energy.

“Around seven this evening, come to the lord’s manor.”

“Got it.”

He nodded, memorizing the time.

“And this little one here…”

“Huh?”

Raon’s eyes widened as he looked at the cat.

“Oh, do you have another favor to ask today?”
“Of course. I have to grant the requests of all the ones I’ve made contracts with.”

Merlin nodded, explaining that she always fulfills the requests of the animals who lend her their bodies.

“This one wants a bit of grooming. Even though cats can groom themselves, asking for help like this makes it seem like they’re jealous of dogs.”

She asked him to take good care of it, then hopped into his arms.

“In that case, I’d like a baby seal cut. Boing!”

With a wave of her paw, Merlin’s soul vanished, and the cat’s eyes sparkled with a blue light.

“Meow.”

The cat hopped down to the floor and lifted its head as if telling him to hurry up.

“Seal cut…”

Raon looked the cat up and down, swallowing nervously.

“Your fur’s too short for you to look like a seal…”

“Meow!”                                          

The cat fiercely scratched the floor as if to say, Do it no matter what!

Th-the King of Essence has no idea!

Wrath retreated back into the bracelet, clearly wanting no part of this.

“…Ah.”

For the first time in a while, Raon’s mind went completely blank.

*   *   *

At the appointed time, Raon went to Sylvia’s room.

Knock, knock.

He knocked gently on the door.

“Mother, it’s time to leave.”

“Yes…”

Unlike her quick response, Sylvia didn’t come out for a long time.

“Mother?”

Finding it odd, he opened the door to see her sitting on the floor, hands clasped tightly together.

“I-I’m so anxious…”

Her legs were trembling, and her lips were dry enough to show vertical lines. Even a Grandmaster like her was visibly nervous, as if her heart might leap out of her chest.

“Let me help you.”

Raon sighed softly and put her arm over his shoulder.

“Sorry…”

“It’s okay. I understand.”

After all, she thought her daughter was dead. Now, that daughter was about to wake from what could’ve been eternal slumber. Being this tense was only natural.

Thud!

As they reached the stairs, a loud crash echoed.

Raon looked down to see Edgar sprawled on the floor, legs twitching.

"S-sorry. I was too nervous..."

Edgar awkwardly laughed, explaining that he tripped due to his nerves.

"M-my arm’s not moving well either... Could you give me a hand...?"

“You’re on your own.”

Raon ignored his outstretched hand and continued down the stairs.

“Wow, that’s cold! Raising a son… Well, I didn’t raise him, but still…”

Edgar joked to lighten the heavy atmosphere.

“Oh, seriously…”

Even Sylvia seemed slightly less tense, moving her stiff limbs more freely.

"Is this gender discrimination? Or maybe favoritism between mom and dad?"

“….”

Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Edgar crawling down the stairs.

‘He’s just like him…’

Though Edgar was just as nervous as anyone, he was doing his best to ease the tension. Seeing him act this way naturally brought Rimmer’s face to Raon’s mind.

Though Edgar was more talkative and Rimmer was a bit more carefree, there was an undeniable resemblance between the two.

‘It’s a shame they didn’t spend more time together.’

They could’ve been good friends. It was a shame he never got to witness that.

“…Let’s go.”

Raon clicked his tongue and opened the front door.

They climbed into the carriage he had ready and headed for the main building.

Entering the audience chamber, they saw that the usual red carpet had been removed, replaced by the smooth marble floor engraved with layered geometric patterns.

"You’re here."

Glenn nodded in greeting. His complexion seemed calmer now, as though he had come to terms with Rimmer’s death.

“We greet the head of—”

“That’s enough.”

As Raon, Sylvia, and Edgar started to bow, Glenn waved it off.

“You all look unbelievably tense!”

Federick smirked as he checked on Sia, lying on the bed.

“My sister’s condi…”

“How is Sia?”

Sylvia interrupted Raon, rushing forward.

"She’s in the best condition possible! I worked my old bones to the limit for this!"

Federick reassured her, waving his hand dismissively.

“Ah, thank you.”

Sylvia exhaled deeply, holding Sia’s hand tightly, while Edgar placed a hand on her shoulder.

‘But…’

Raon narrowed his eyes at Karoon, standing on the pillar silently below the platform.

‘Why is he here?’

The atmosphere became fraught with tension because of Karoon, who, in Raon’s mind, had no reason to be here.

Although Denier was suspicious, it couldn’t be completely ruled out that Karoon might not be a spy.

“Master of the Central Martial Palace, you’ve come as well?”

Raon approached Karoon and bowed his head.

“There's no need to think it's strange. I simply wanted to see the child who will become Zieghart’s newest member.”

“…I see.”

Karoon, with an answer befitting someone obsessed with Zighardt, crossed his arms calmly. It didn’t seem like Laon had anything to worry about, after all.

“Oh! Everyone’s here!”

A cheerful voice echoed from above, and Merlin suddenly appeared out of thin air.

“Then let’s not delay and get started.”

Merlin wiggled her fingers, saying everything was ready. The mana surrounding the audience chamber began converging into her grasp.

“Wait!”

Sylvia grabbed Merlin’s wrist and shook her head.

“W-What will happen when Sia wakes up?”

Her lips trembled as though she didn’t know how to face Sia when the moment came.

“Think back to when you were last with her. Your body will naturally know what to do.”

Merlin held Sylvia’s hand gently, her gaze warm, then stepped toward the magic circle.

“Bring the young lady over, please.”

“…Alright.”

Sylvia and Edgar carefully carried Sia and placed her on the magic circle, their hands trembling.

The two stayed close, just outside the circle, ready to act at any moment, hands clasped tightly.

“Let’s begin.”

When Merlin took out the soul stone from her hold, the multiple layers of magic circles drawn on the floor seemed to come to life, naturally rising and beginning to encircle Sia.

Wooooom!

The soul stone resonated with the magic circles, emitting an emerald glow that bathed the entire audience chamber like a sea.

“Unveiling the Soul.”

Merlin chanted, her voice steady, as the swirling magic circles connected into one plane. The soul stone floating midair melted into blue light and seeped into Sia.

Fwoosh!

Like the colossal orbit of a star cutting across a galaxy, a brilliant flower of light blossomed above Sia’s head before slowly sinking.

Hoooo.

Sia slowly descended to the marble floor as the glowing magic circles dissipated.

“Mmm…”

“Sia!”

“….”

Edgar, Sylvia, and Glenn stared at Sia with bated breath, their eyes tense enough to seem like they might burst.

The audience chamber was so silent that even breathing could not be heard.

“How is she?”

Unable to endure the silence, Raon addressed Merlin as she lowered her hands.

“Phew…”

Merlin let out a heavy breath, slowly lifting her eyelids.

“It worked. She’ll wake up soon.”

Her voice trembled faintly as if she were about to disappear. She nodded, her eyes dim.

“Ah…”

As if her strength had left her, Merlin fell backward.

“Are you okay?”

Raon quickly moved to catch her before she collapsed.

“Don’t worry. I just used a bit too much energy.”

Merlin waved it off, saying it wasn’t a big deal, though it was clear she had overexerted herself.

“Merlin, you should—”

Raon began to urge her to take better care of herself, but then…

“Mmm…”

A faint groan escaped Sia’s lips as her eyelids fluttered open.

Her red eyes, identical to Sylvia’s, captured the world for the first time in over twenty years.

“Ah…”

Sia turned her gaze slowly, trembling as her eyes landed on Sylvia and Edgha beside her.

“Mom? Dad?”

Her voice, pure and untainted like that of a child, called out as she stretched her trembling hands toward them.

“Sia!”

Sylvia and Edgar couldn’t hold back their tears, rushing forward to embrace her tightly, as if they’d never let her go again.

“Waaaah!”

Sia sobbed like a child, clutching Sylvia and Edgar with all her strength.

“…Finally.”

Glenn covered his forehead and eyes with trembling hands, letting out a long, deep sigh of relief.

“The young lady has the mind of a child in an adult’s body.”

Merlin said weakly, lifting her head slightly to smile faintly.

"I figured it might be challenging for her to regain her original mental age in various ways, so I adjusted the magic using the soul stone to allow her mind to grow in alignment with her body."

She shook her hand, saying it wouldn’t take long for Sia’s mind to mature.

“And I erased all the evil deeds she was brainwashed into committing while she was the Green King because I thought it would be good for her to live brightly.”

Merlin looked at Sia with eyes tinged with regret, as if she was reminded of her own past.

“Thank you.”

“How many times… I said you don’t need to thank—”

She trailed off, eyes rolling shut. It looked like she had fainted from total exhaustion.

Ungh!

Wrath abruptly turned away, unable to look at Sia and Sylvia.

I-It's so sad. But it turned out well!

He sniffled as though slurping pasta, his eyes darting around.

“….”

Raon looked at Sia, Sylvia, and Edgar’s hands, clasped together as if they would never come apart. Then he lowered his gaze.

One life had ended, and another had returned.

Where there’s a meeting, there’s also separation. This must be what Rimmer meant about the nature of human life. Raon felt that he understood a little more now.

‘You continue to teach me, even at the end.’

Wiping away the tears at the corner of his eyes, Raon gazed out at the starry sky beyond the window.

Even indoors, it felt like the serene wind of his teacher was brushing past him.

‘Thank you, master.’

*   *   *

After the time filled with tears, joy, and sadness came to an end.

“Well then.”

Glenn leaned back against the throne, looking down at Karoon, who stood below the platform.

“What is it you wanted to say?”

Glenn stroked his chin, his expression a bit brighter than before—perhaps thanks to Sia.

"I’d like to present a proposal"

Karoon bowed, stating that it was an official matter.

“If you think I’ll allow anything just because of today, you’re mistaken.”

Glenn shook his head firmly, warning against exploiting the moment.

“I have no such intentions.”

“Then speak.”

With a sharp look, Glenn gestured with his hand.

“Raon Zieghart and the Light Wind division…”

Karoon raised his calm gaze.

“Please promote them to the Light Wind Palace.”

 

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