The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 853

 Chapter 853

 

"Light Wind Palace?"

Glenn repeated Karoon's words, narrowing his eyes as if he hadn’t considered such a proposal at all.

"The name doesn’t have to be Light Wind. Judging by how they fight, Mad Dog might suit them better than Light Wind."

Karoon shook his head calmly.

"I simply want you to promote the Light Wind Division to Light Wind Palace."

He straightened his back again, as if to say that was his proposal.

"You..."

Glenn fixed Karoon with eyes as sharp as needles.

“What are you thinking?”

"I always think only of Zieghart."

Karoon replied with a composed expression.

“Rimmer is dead, and even if Aris returns, it will take a long time.”

He clicked his tongue briefly, as if displeased.

“I don’t particularly concern myself with emotional matters, but I understand that those two were the ones who lightened the atmosphere. The heaviness in Zieghart’s mood right now is because of that.”

Karoon pressed his right foot firmly against the marble floor.

"The only way to dispel the heavy gloom hanging over all of Zieghart is to celebrate Raon's achievement of Transcendence and promote him to the position of palace master."

He is a Transcender—moreover, a young Transcender. The appearance and recognition of someone like him, he thought, could be an event capable of revitalizing the entire family, and he raised his chin.

"Soon, rumors of Rimmer's death and Aris losing her strength will begin to spread. Just as talks of Zieghart's decline start to emerge, if it is officially announced that Raon has reached the realm of Transcendence and the Light Wind division has been promoted to palace, Zieghart will once again be able to display its might and grandeur."

Karoon bowed his head, asserting that Raon and the Light Wind division must be promoted for this reason.

"...Is that all?"

"That is all. And..."

He raised his hand to his chest as if saluting with an invisible sword.

“I believe Raon Zieghart has proven he’s more than qualified to become a palace master, not just in terms of martial power but in terms of accomplishments as well.”

Karoon added that if Raon were lacking in any way, he would never have recommended him, his gaze firm.

"Heh, you’ve changed."

Glenn let out a hollow laugh, as if he found it surprising.

“You no longer seem like the man who tried to crush his young nephew by force.”

“No, I haven’t changed. At that time, Raon wasn’t my nephew. Even if I returned to that time, I would act exactly the same.”

Karoon shook his head as he firmly declared that he hadn’t changed.

“That’s exactly why I say you’ve changed.”

Glenn’s lips curved gently into a subtle smile.

"The old you wouldn’t have even admitted that you tried to crush Raon. Instead, you would have resented him and plotted revenge for making you look bad."

Glenn looked at Karoon with warmth in his eyes.

"But now, there isn’t even a trace of such negativity in your gaze. There’s only…"

Glenn rose from his seat and nodded.

"Straightforwardness, just like when you followed me, swinging your wooden sword as a child."

A subdued smile traced his lips as he added that it had been a long time since Karoon’s eyes had looked so clear.

“…I don’t know about that.”

Karoon furrowed his brow with a faintly displeased expression.

"It took me a very long time to overcome my distress. But you and Raon overcame it so quickly, it’s astonishing. You’re both far better than I was."

Glen nodded approvingly toward Karoon.

"Hmm..."

Karoon’s lips trembled slightly in surprise at Glenn’s words.

"It seems you’ve changed a lot as well, head of house…"

"Yes, it seems that I have."

The father and son, once so cold to each other, now looked on with eyes that had turned just a bit more transparent.

"I’ve said all I needed to. I’ll take my leave," Karoon said, bowing his head to Glenn.

"I’ll consider your proposal favorably. Also, come by again soon. It’s been a while since we’ve had a sparring match, and I’d like to see how you’ve progressed."

Glenn gestured lightly with his chin.

"...Then I’ll see you in two days."

Karoon replied, stepping out of the audience chamber with slightly trembling steps.

"Changed, huh..."

Glenn looked at the now-empty audience chamber and smiled faintly.

‘I can’t remember the last time I had a conversation like this with Karoon.’

The changes in me, and the changes in him…

‘It must be thanks to Raon.’

The turning point for Zieghart's transformation began with Raon. As Raon grew, so did Zieghart, navigating through both major and minor events that shaped it.

And the one who nurtured Raon was none other than his dearest friend, Rimmer.

‘Thank you, Rimmer.’

Glenn looked up at the serene night sky and closed his eyes.

'Your disciple is changing this Zieghart.'

*   *   *

Just as Karoon was about to leave the lord’s manor, he locked eyes with Denier, who was coming down the stairs from the upper floor.

"Did you just come back from meeting father?"

"Yes," Karoon replied, stopping in his tracks and nodding.

"I heard you were there when Sia was woken up. That’s unusual."

Denier said, a faint smile on his face.

"I needed to know what kind of person she is."

Karoon explained that he only wanted to see the face of the child who would become a part of Zieghart.

"So, what kind of person is she?"

"I can’t make a judgment yet. Physically, she’s an adult, but mentally, she’s like a five-year-old child."

He waved his hand, indicating he would reserve his judgment for now.

"Hmm, I should visit the annex building soon." Denier smiled, saying he also wanted to meet his new niece.

"Surprisingly, you didn’t show up."

Karoon narrowed his eyes sharply, like the edge of a blade.

"What’s so surprising about that?"

"Balder does whatever he wants, so it’s no surprise if he decided not to come. But you’ve always made an appearance at occasions like this. What were you doing?"

He looked at the books Denier was holding behind his back with a subdued gaze.

"I was doing some research."

Denier brought the books forward, explaining that he was looking for ways to help Aris recover her strength more quickly. The titles of the books were about sorcery.

"And why were you still in the audience chamber? Everyone else has already left."

"I submitted a proposal to father."

"A proposal?"

"I asked him to promote Raon and the Light Wind division to the rank of palace."

Karoon, seeing no need to hide it, shared what had transpired with Glenn moments ago.

"You recommended Raon as palace master?"

Denier let out a short laugh, clearly in disbelief.

"I did."

"Why?"

"Because Raon Zieghart is qualified."

"If Raon becomes palace master, wouldn’t that greatly hinder your goal of becoming the head of house?"

Denier tilted his head in confusion.

"If Raon becomes the head of house after a fair competition, it simply means I wasn’t strong enough. There’s no reason for me to complain."

"Hmm..."

"A faction without competition will eventually rot and crumble. It’s better for me to lose my chance at being head of house than to let Zieghart fall apart. And besides…"

Karoon shook his head, his eyes steady and sharp like a polished blade.

"I have no intention of losing to him."

"Hah..."

Denier laughed faintly, looking at Karoon with a mix of astonishment and amusement.

"You’ve changed so much brother, I’m having trouble keeping up."

"I haven’t cha…"

Karoon started to deny it but stopped mid-sentence, recalling his earlier conversation with Glenn.

"Nobody stays the same forever."

He nodded, acknowledging that he had changed.

"And so, I want to ask you as well."

Karoon turned to face Denier directly.

"What are you looking at, Denier?"

"..."

Denier didn’t answer. Instead, he descended the stairs with a faint, knowing smile.

"I’m the same as you, brother. I always look at Zieghart and follow Zieghart."

With those words, he left the lord’s manor.

"..."

Karoon watched Denier’s retreating figure before clenching his lowered hand into a fist.

*   *   *

"Hmm..."

Federick examined Merlin’s unconscious body, clicking his tongue.

"How is she?"

Raon approached Federick and asked about Merlin’s condition.

"Her body is fine. She’s just exhausted from having all her mana drained."

Federick shook his head, confirming there was no serious issue.

"To have mana drained to this extent, she must have experienced a pain worse than death. Yet she kept smiling. That’s surprising. And…"

Federick furrowed his brows as if something was bothering him.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, I’m not sure yet…"

Federick admitted that something was bothering him, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

"She’s a strange one."

He added that Merlin’s body seemed human, but at the same time, not entirely human.

"Hmm…"

Raon bit his lip as he watched Merlin’s faint breaths.

‘Even the Ragged Saint can’t figure her out completely.’

There’s no one else who hides themselves as thoroughly as she does.

Merlin seemed unbothered by self-sacrifice, as if she lacked the sense of pain or fear. Strangely, though, she was deeply empathetic toward others, despite being indifferent to her own condition. She truly was unusual.

"Unfortunately, all I can do for her now is give her some nutritional supplements."

Federick clicked his tongue apologetically.

"That’s more than enough. Thank you."

Raon bowed his head, expressing his gratitude.

“Thank you for coming, especially when you’re already exhausted from taking care of Sia and my aunt.”

"Since you asked, of course I’d come! But honestly, I would’ve checked on her even if you hadn’t."

Federick waved it off, gathered his medical supplies, and stood up.

“All right, I’m heading out. I could really use some rest.”

With a weary face, he opened the door and stepped outside.

"Hmm…"

Just as he reached the main entrance, he paused, glancing toward Sylvia’s room, where laughter and faint sobbing could be heard.

“Your family’s all there. Shouldn’t you be, too?”

Federick blinked, curious as to why Raon wasn’t with them.

"Merlin said Sia’s mind is still stuck at five years old. If she sees me, she might be startled. It’s better for her to be with just mother and father for now."

Raon looked toward the upstairs room, shaking his head. He wanted to be there for Sia, but from her perspective, it would likely be shocking to see an unfamiliar old man suddenly introduced as her younger brother.

"An old man? There’s no way someone like you could be called an old man!"

Federick shook his head, saying that someone like Balder would fit that term better.

"Well, I suppose you’re right to leave it this way for now."

He left Raon with words of encouragement and opened the front door.

"I’ll be resting for a while, but call me if anything happens."

"Understood."

“Off I go, then.”

With a parting comment about finally getting a good night’s sleep, Federick left the annex building.

"Thank you."

Raon bowed deeply as he watched him leave, then closed the door.

From upstairs, the voices of Sylvia, Edgar, and Sia could still be heard, mingled with laughter.

Hearing that joyful sound brought a smile to Raon’s face.

‘It’s been so long since I’ve heard such laughter in this house.’

Ever since Sia fell into her deep sleep, the annex building had been devoid of laughter. Following Rimmer’s death, the atmosphere had been shrouded in a curtain of darkness. This unrestrained laughter felt refreshing and warm.

A proper home should always be filled with laughter!

Wrath nodded, saying that he, too, felt his own gloom lifting.

‘You’re a demon, though.’

As the King of Essence often says, he’s more human than you’ll ever be!

He gave Raon a playful knock on the head.

‘Not right now, I’d say.’

Raon gave a faint chuckle and re-entered the guest room to look after Merlin.

He thought about removing her mask, but decided against it and lowered his hand.

‘Hey, do you sense anything strange about Merlin?’

Hmm…

Wrath studied Merlin for a moment before smacking his lips.

She just looks like she’s asleep to me. Why?

Wrath shook his head, asking if Raon had noticed something specific.

‘When Merlin finished the magic to wake Sia, her presence felt faint, like she might disappear. It reminded me of…’

He stopped himself, swallowing the thought of comparing it to the last time he saw Rimmer.

‘And Merlin said it wouldn’t be easy to wake Sia, even with the Soul Stone. But then it happened so smoothly. It’s weird.’

The King of Essence was focused on checking your sister at the time, so he didn’t properly watch that madwoman. But he doesn’t feel anything out of the ordinary now.

Wrath shrugged, saying he really had no idea.

‘If you don’t sense anything, that’s a relief.’

Raon sighed, pulling the blanket over Merlin and tucking her in.

‘Still… this is frustrating.’

When you’re frustrated, sleep helps—

‘No. Swinging my sword will help more.’

Raon clicked his tongue and left the annex building, heading for the fifth training ground.

Hey, you! Get some sleep already! Isn’t it about time you stopped messing around in the middle of the night?

*   *   *

After spending the night practicing his swordsmanship, Raon returned to the annex building at dawn.

Thanks to Sia waking up, he had been able to focus on his training without any distractions.

Ugh, damn it, you bastard…

Wrath, who hadn’t been able to sleep thanks to the sound of Raon’s sword all night, groaned and wobbled his chin.

Even if no one else curses you, the King of Essence, will curse you himself…

‘Shall we throw a party?’

Raon crooked his finger at Wrath, who was busy muttering curses.

A… party? Are you serious?

Wrath’s eyes widened in disbelief.

‘Yeah. I promised, right?’

Raon nodded. With Rimmer laid to rest and Sia now awake, he figured hosting a small party to satisfy Wrath wouldn’t be a bad idea.

But there’s still that punk left…

‘My aunt…’

Raon let out a short sigh.

‘It’s going to take a while.’

Aris was still at Federick’s mansion, and whenever she woke up, she fainted again. It would take time for her to stand on her own again.

Hmm…

‘Don’t worry. She’ll recover for sure.’

Raon shook his head, stating his belief in Aris.

Of course, the King of Essence approves! So, how many boxes of bead ice cream are we—

As Wrath salivated, Raon entered the annex building’s front door and froze.

"Huh?"

Sia stood confidently at the entrance, arms crossed.

"You’re late!"

Her clear, childlike voice rang out as she scolded him.

"Huh? Sia, why are you here?"

Raon blinked, looking at Sylvia, Edgar, and Helen standing behind her.

"No, that's not it!"

Sia shook her head vehemently.

“Call me sister! Sia is your sister!”

She stuck out her lower lip in a pout, demanding he call her that.

"Uh…?"

Raon’s jaw dropped, while Sylvia and Edgar clasped their hands together, motioning for him to go along with it.

Didn’t you say she’s mentally still five?

Wrath burst into laughter, telling Raon to just call her “Sister.”

"Ugh…"

Swallowing his dry throat, Raon stepped inside the annex building.

“Si-Sister?”

“Sister Sia!”

“Sister Sia….”

“Good job!”

Sia patted Raon’s head with a satisfied grin.

"Uh…"

Raon’s eyes were as blank as Runaan’s, his lips trembling awkwardly.

Kuhehehehe!

Wrath rolled on his back, clutching his sides as he laughed hysterically.

There’s no party for you…

 

 

 

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