The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 854

 Chapter 854

 

“It’s delicious!”

Sia gripped the fork with her fist and slurped down the pasta. Her enthusiastic way of eating, licking the sauce off her lips, was enough to make anyone watching feel hungry as well.

"Hmm..."

Raon watched Sia gulping down the pasta, then shifted his gaze to Sylvia and Edgar.

“What exactly happened?”

He had expected it would take a long time to get close to Sia, yet somehow, he found himself sitting at the dining table with her, led by her hand.

He couldn't comprehend what had happened in just a day.

"She wanted to get close to you as quickly as possible, so I told her all about you yesterday."

Sylvia gently wiped the pasta sauce from Sia's lips and smiled softly.

"And then, she was so excited about having a younger brother that she barged into your room right away. It’s lucky you weren’t there."

Edgar let out a deep sigh, saying how exhausting it had been to calm Sia down and put her to bed.

"Ah..."

Raon chuckled awkwardly, glancing at Sylvia and Edgar, who looked worn out.

Judging by the situation, Sia seemed thrilled by the idea of having a younger sibling and had wanted to meet him immediately.

“But how does she believe I’m her brother?”

It was one thing to suddenly have a sibling, but accepting an adult over 20 as her younger brother without question was astonishing.

" Well, from Sia’s point of view, her own body grew up suddenly too, didn’t it? So, we told her that lots of time had passed while she was asleep."

Sylvia nodded, saying that although it wasn’t the whole truth, it was the only way to explain it.

"I see."

Raon exhaled softly, looking back at Sia.

‘Is it because she has no preconceived notions as a child?’

Since Sia’s mind was still that of a child, she seemed to believe Sylvia and Edgar’s words without doubting them.

"Then, from now on—"

"Stop!"

Sia set down her fork and raised both hands in protest.

"You shouldn’t talk so much while eating!"

She shook her head, insisting that all food in one’s mouth must be swallowed before speaking.

"Mom taught me that!"

"Ah..."

Sylvia’s lips trembled as she looked at Sia.

"She’s repeating something I told her before I had to let her go…"

Her voice cracked as tears welled up in her eyes.

“Don’t cry either!”

Sia gestured lightly, telling Sylvia to eat instead of crying.

"That's right. If mom taught it, you have to follow it."

Edgar nodded, wiping the tears brimming in Sylvia's eyes.

"Sorry."

Raon clasped his hands and apologized for talking too much.

"No, no! Call me sister!'"

Sia, evidently pleased, requested that Raon add 'sister' to the end of his sentences when addressing her.

‘How fascinating.’

Raon complied, a smile tugging at his lips.

‘That's fascinating..’

The red eyes that once chilled him to the bone when she wore her helmet now shimmered like a lamb’s, soft and gentle. The only things reflected in her sparkling gaze were soft, warm and curiosity.

“Raon, what do you like to eat?”

Sia twirled another forkful of pasta and popped it into her mouth before cocking her head.

"I…"

Meat! Tell her you love meat!

Wrath interjected with his preference, loudly proclaiming his love for meat.

"I’m not picky, but I like stew the most."

Ignoring Wrath, Raon answered. Having eaten only cold food in his previous life, he’d always been drawn to dishes with broth.

"Then take this!"

Sia slid the untouched stew Sylvia had served her toward Raon.

"What about you, sister?"

“A big sister always shares with her little brother!”

Sia flashed a radiant smile, waving her sauce-stained hand.

"Mom said so! Now that I’m a big sister, I should share!"

She turned to Sylvia, nodding earnestly.

"That too..."

Sylvia gripped her trembling hands tightly and let out a soft gasp.

“That was something I told her…when I was pregnant with you.”

Finally unable to hold back, she rushed over to Shia, hugging her tightly as if she never wanted to let her go. She didn’t care at all that food was staining her white clothes.

"Mom?"

Sia’s eyes went wide, clearly confused as to why Sylvia was suddenly hugging her.

"How unfair! Just the two of you!"

Edgar couldn’t take it anymore and stood up, wrapping his arms around both Sylvia and Shia all at once.

"What are you doing? You shouldn’t stand while eating!"

Sia furrowed her brows, pointing out that her mom and dad were not following proper table manners. However, she didn’t seem to dislike being hugged, as she made no effort to push them away.

"Raon, you too!"

Sia waved her hand at Raon, urging him to join.

"Uh… Me too?"

Raon blinked in surprise, pointing to himself.

"Yes, Raon. Come here."

Sylvia sniffled as she reached out her hand.

"That's right! It's not often that the whole family gets to hug like this. If not now, we might not get another chance! Later, if Sia tells me not to mix her laundry with mine, I might just die!"

Edgar gestured for Raon to come quickly, saying this might be the only chance to hug Sia.

"I’m fine, really…"

Raon was about to decline with an awkward smile when—

“Raon, come here too!”

Sia pouted and her eyes glistened, as if tears were about to spill from her soft, doe-like gaze.

Are you going to make her cry? Are you going to make a sister who accepts a weirdo like you as her brother cry?

Wrath wagged his tail in the air, clearly delighted at the drama unfolding.

"Raon…"

Sylvia, Edgar, and Sia all gazed at him with puppy-like eyes, waiting expectantly.

"Young master?"

"Young master, please…"

Even Helen and Judiel clasped their hands together, signaling that he should go to Sia.

"Ugh…"

Raon sighed deeply, letting his shoulders slump before stepping between Sylvia and Edgar to hug Sia.

"Alright! I’ll let it slide today!"

Sia declared that she would overlook their lack of table manners this time, patting Raon’s head as though granting forgiveness. Though it was the second time she'd done it, oddly, Raon didn’t mind at all.

Puhehehehe.

Wrath burst into laughter, darting wildly around the room as if he'd expected this outcome.

Raon frowned, glaring up at Wrath.

'You are not getting any more bead ice cream…'

*   *   *

After what felt like the most exhausting breakfast of his life, Raon headed to the guest room where Merlin was staying.

‘Her breathing seems stable now.’

Yesterday, her mana had been entirely depleted, causing her breathing to falter. Now, her steady breaths suggested her mana was recovering and her condition improving.

However, she was still unconscious, likely due to extreme exhaustion.

She must have really overexerted herself. Normally, she’d have woken up the moment you entered.

'Indeed.'

Raon nodded slightly. Although he was worried about Merlin, what he had felt yesterday was only his intuition. Since Federick had assured him she was fine, all he could do now was wait for her to wake up.

"Mm…"

As he turned to leave the room, a faint voice reached his ears. Looking back, he saw Merlin slowly opening her eyes.

"Raon? Is this a dream?"

Upon waking, Merlin blinked as if doubting her reality.

"Are you awake? How do you feel?"

Raon approached the bed, gazing at her.

"Oh no! It's real!"

Merlin's eyes widened as she pulled the blanket over her face.

"Merlin?"

"Go away!"

For the first time, she told him to leave.

What’s going on? Why is that madwoman acting like this?

Even Wrath seemed baffled, his eyes widening in confusion.

"I can’t let you see my just-woke-up face!"

Merlin protested, kicking beneath the blanket.

"But you’re wearing a mask—"

"This mask is my face!"

She shouted, insisting the mask was her face and telling him to move further away.

"Uh…"

Scratching the back of his head, Raon exhaled awkwardly.

"Then, are you feeling okay?"

"Huh? Are you worried about me now?"

Merlin let out a silly chuckle and pulled the blanket down just enough to reveal only the forehead portion of the wrinkled mask. Raon couldn’t fathom what she considered her face or why she was embarrassed.

"…You passed out suddenly, so of course I was worried."

"You don’t need to be. I’m perfectly fine."

She assured him not to worry, sticking her fist out from under the blanket. Though she looked okay, Merlin was someone who never really cared much about her own well-being, so Raon couldn’t fully trust her words.

"Even though I’m embarrassed to show my ‘bare face,’ I do like it when you worry about me."

Merlin rolled from side to side, saying it made her happy.

"Merlin."

Raon clasped his hands in front of him and bowed slightly toward her.

"Thank you. Thanks to you, my mother and father could smile again after such a long time."

"It’s nothing. After all, we’re not strangers."

"Huh? Oh… uh…"

Sometimes, her jokes left him speechless, sending chills down his spine.

Is that even a joke?

Wrath tilted his head, doubting it.

"And don’t worry about my condition. It was just exhaustion and mana depletion combined."

Stretching her arms, Merlin yawned.

"Ah, I need more sleep. I still feel a bit tired."

She waved her hand, saying she’d greet Sia later and asking him to introduce her properly.

"Alright, rest well."

Raon left the room after watching her wave. Before leaving, he asked Judiel to take care of Merlin, then headed to the open area outside the annex building.

As he warmed up with light exercises, he noticed a gaze from behind. Sia was peeking at him from behind the door.

‘It’s like having a cat around.’

She probably thought she was hiding well, but her tall frame was too conspicuous to miss.

Raon sighed softly and started practicing his basic swordsmanship without channeling any aura. However, as someone who had reached Transcendence, the mana in the air naturally followed his movements, creating blue lights like constellations.

"Wow!"

Sia, completely forgetting she was supposed to be hiding, rushed out and grabbed a stick lying near a pile of firewood.

"I know that! Dad taught me!"

Before Raon could stop her, Sia smiled brightly and swung the stick.

Kuwaaaaaa!

With her gesture, the aura in her energy center surged violently, splitting the ground and cleaving the lake in half.

“Darn it!”

Raon stepped forward with the Supreme Harmony Steps to block the energy wave she unleashed. If he hadn’t intercepted it, the impact might have reached the foot of North Grave mountain.

'I forgot.'

He felt chills run down his spine. It had completely slipped his mind that Sia still possessed the physique and aura of a Grandmaster.

‘How am I supposed to handle this…?’

It was as if a child had been handed a demonic sword capable of killing anyone. He needed to figure out how to control it.

"Sister…"

As Raon approached Sia, she furrowed her brows.

"Huh? It’s not coming out…"

She tilted her head, saying the aura wouldn’t come out anymore.

"Hm?"

Raon used aura perception to examine her body. Just as she said, her energy center was blocked, and the aura wasn’t moving.

'What’s going on?'

As he blinked in confusion, Sia waved her hand.

“Why are you doing that?!”

She glanced at the air above her.

"Sister?"

Raon called out to her, lowering his eyebrows.

"Who are you talking to?"

“Huh? Can’t you see her? Ravera says she knows who you are.”

Sia blinked innocently, as if puzzled that Raon didn’t know.

"Ravera?"

Raon repeated the name, clearing his throat.

That’s the name of the soul inside that Soul Stone!

Wrath clapped his hands in realization.

'That’s right.'

The soul of a girl who had died tragically resided within the Soul Stone. Once filled with malice, her curse was lifted simply by playing with her, and she revealed her name as Ravera.

‘So they really met?’

Raon had hoped that purifying Ravera’s soul would allow her to become a friend to Sia, and it seemed that wish had come true. A deep sense of joy and relief welled up in his chest.

"Ravera said you’re a really good person! She said you’re fun to play with!"

Sia giggled, saying it was because of that she could approach Raon so easily.

"But she’s bothering me right now."

She scrunched her nose in displeasure, clearly annoyed. From the looks of it, Ravera seemed to be suppressing Sia’s aura.

"Sister."

Raon met Sia’s gaze and nodded.

"You mustn't use that shimmering power recklessly."

Raon said firmly.

"Why?"

"Because it could hurt someone. From now on, I'll keep an eye on it more often. Can you promise to only use it when I'm around?"

He extended his pinky finger toward her.

"Okay, I promise!"

Sia eagerly hooked her pinky around his.

"But... you'll have to play with me every day, okay?"

"Alright."

"Then let’s start now! You’re ‘it’!"

She declared a game of hide-and-seek and immediately ran off. The sudden shift in topic was so abrupt it was almost comical. She truly was a child through and through.

"One, two, three…"

Without time to refuse, Raon turned around and began counting to sixty. He planned to avoid using aura perception to make it fair, but Sia was clearly visible, hiding behind a tree right in front of him.

'What am I supposed to do with this…?'

Sia, believing she was well-hidden, grinned mischievously, her white cheeks flushing red. But her tall frame made her completely visible.

Pffft…

Wrath stifled his laughter, wheezing audibly.

"Oh, where could she be hiding?"

Raon deliberately turned his head away from the obvious spot, pretending to search.

“Pfft!”

“Heh…uhuhuh…”

Even the maids watching couldn’t hold back their laughter.

Puhehehehehe!

Wrath cackled maniacally, as if making up for every humiliation he’d ever suffered.

‘You’re only getting Nadine bread for dinner tonight….’

 *   *   *

The next day.

Raon was summoned by Glenn and headed to the lord’s manor training ground.

"You came quickly."

Glenn nodded approvingly.

“I greet the head of house.”

"This isn’t an official summons, so there’s no need for formalities."

He waved off the greeting, motioning for Raon to come closer.

"What’s Sia doing?"

Glenn’s gaze shifted slightly.

"She fell asleep after having a snack."

Raon smiled lightly, saying he had put her to bed before coming.

"She truly acts like a child."

"Yes, it seems she’s reverted to that age."

"That’s fortunate."

Glenn said, nodding as he gazed into the distance.

"Five is the cutest age. Missing that would’ve been a shame."

He smiled softly, as if cherishing the thought.

"That’s true."

Raon nodded slightly. Although Sia’s body was that of an adult woman, her behavior was so childlike that it naturally brought smiles to those around her.

"Mother and I have spoken to her about you, so you could visit her soon. She has such a bright personality that you'll get along with her in no time."

"Really?"

Glenn's eyes widened in anticipation.

“Yes, she’s the opposite of me in personality.”

Raon nodded, assuring him.

"Ahem. Then I suppose I'll visit tomorrow."

Glenn said, his lips trembling slightly with excitement.

"But why did you call me here today?"

Raon glanced around the training ground, blinking. Since Glenn had postponed their spar, he couldn’t fathom the reason for his summons.

"There’s something I want to show you."

As Glenn spoke, the doors to the training ground opened, and Karoon entered. His gaze was as sharp as that of a general marching into battle.

"I’ll be sparring with him today."

Glenn gestured with his chin, a curious smile playing on his lips.

"Let’s see how far you can keep up"

 

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