The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 846

 Chapter 846

 

"Y-you…."

Raon looked at Merlin, his mouth agape.

"What are you doing here?"

Judging by the swaying of the cabin, the Azure Wind was still in the middle of the ocean. They hadn't even arrived at Zieghart yet, so he never expected to see Merlin here.

"I finished the task you entrusted to me perfectly and returned."

Merlin smiled, saying she had delivered the soul stone to Glenn.

“Your mother was with him, and they were both really happy. In particular, she was very proud of you.”

She clapped her hands together in a playful gesture, saying the praise had been so much it almost hurt her ears.

"I see."

Raon thanked Merlin and sat on the edge of the bed.

‘What will grandfather say?’

Receiving Glenn’s praise had become routine whenever he returned to the family after completing a mission, but this time, he couldn’t imagine what Glenn might say.

‘He might blame me.’

The thought of being blamed for failing to protect Rimmer and Aris made his stomach churn, as if he was about to throw up.

Urgh…

From the ice flower bracelet, Wrath’s faint groan could be heard. It seemed he had retreated into the bracelet because of Merlin.

“I heard what happened.”

Merlin let out a short sigh and covered her face with her mask. Her skin was so fair it looked as though it had never seen sunlight, and when she concealed it, the cabin seemed to dim for a moment.

“To be honest, I was nearby, planning to follow the ship by borrowing the body of a nearby animal. But when I heard what happened to Rimmer, I immediately called my real body over.”

Stepping closer, she reached out to wipe the tears pooling at the corners of his eyes.

"Do you want to save him?"

Her voice was calm as she asked if he wanted to bring Rimmer back.

"Is that even possible?"

Raon’s eyes widened as he looked at her.

"If his soul remains, it could be bound to a mask or helmet. But…"

Merlin trailed off, shaking her head with a sad expression.

"Neither you nor he would want that, would you?"

"Yeah, you're right…"

Raon clenched his fists so tightly that blood began to seep from his palms.

It was true—he desperately wanted to see Rimmer again.

He’d do anything to see his mischievous smile or his playful laziness once more.

But as Merlin said, having Rimmer resurrected in another’s body, tied to a mask or helmet, wasn’t what he would have wanted.

Especially after witnessing what happened with Sia and Edgar, Raon could never allow it.

"Right?"

Merlin nodded slightly as if she had expected his answer.

"Then all you can do now is endure or cry. I didn’t have anyone to cry with, but you have plenty. Crying isn’t a bad thing. It just means you’re being honest about your emotions."

She gave him a sad smile, like someone who had gone through the same experience.

'No, she must have.'

Recalling how Rokta called Merlin a princess, Raon realized she must have also suffered the loss of someone dear to her.

"Neither I nor Rokta had what you’d call a good death. That’s why I tried to bring him back, along with others... but now, I regret it all. Still, I’m glad I met you because of it."

Merlin twirled her finger, implying she’d share her story if he wanted to hear it.

"Hmm…"

Raon was curious, but Merlin’s expression suggested it wasn’t something one could easily talk about.

He was already overwhelmed by Rimmer’s death and couldn’t focus on listening to her story right now.

"Maybe later."

Raon said after a moment’s hesitation.

"I’ll definitely ask another time."

"Alright. Then share your story with me instead—it’ll help you feel better."

Merlin sat down on the cabin floor as she said this.

Hmm…

Wrath peeked his head out of the bracelet after hesitating for a moment.

The King of Essence dislikes that madwoman, but she’s right. You’ll feel a bit better if you get it off your chest.

Wrath gestured animatedly, saying Raon could talk to him instead.

Ahem, as the King of Essence’s vessel, he’ll lend you his ears, even if we’re not exactly friends!

“Come on.”

Come on!

Both Merlin and Wrath spread their arms, inviting him to talk.

"Ugh…"

Raon chuckled faintly and shook his head.

"I’ll tell you once I’ve sorted my thoughts. I don’t even know where to start right now."

Looking at the two of them, he couldn’t help but smile, even though he didn’t feel like it. They’d both become comforting presences to him.

“Sure. Whenever you’re ready.”

Merlin clenched her fist and raised it, saying she’d wait.

The King of Essence is always ready to hear it!

Wrath also shouted day and night, telling him to speak, while glaring at Merlin. He seemed to feel a sense of rivalry despite his fear.

"How about Aunt Aris? Is she awake?"

"Aunt? I don’t know."

Merlin shook her head.

"Huh? Didn’t you hear from someone else?"

"I eavesdropped secretly. Since I was in the animal body, I immediately called my real body here."

Merlin smiled slyly, saying no one knew she was here.

See? This is why she’s a madwoman! She still sneaks around when it’s unnecessary!

Wrath’s jaw quivered as he complained that this was exactly why Merlin was scary.

‘He’s not wrong.’

Raon couldn’t argue with that.

Merlin’s words brought another person—or rather, a demon king—to mind.

"Where’s Lust?"

Raon scanned his surroundings. Though he wasn’t in perfect condition, he should have been able to sense Lust’s presence.

"That damned directionless woman…"

Merlin gritted her teeth in frustration. The term "directionless" gave Raon a rough idea of what had happened.

"After giving the soul stone to your grandfather, she said she’d head back to you and insisted she knew the way. Then she disappeared!"

"You didn’t stop her?"

"I did! But she said she had memorized the route and flew off on her own!"

Merlin let out a hollow laugh, saying Lust was overconfident despite her poor sense of direction.

Didn't the King of Essence already tell you!

Wrath nodded.

She’s a stalker who’s terrible with directions, yet she thinks she’s so clever!

Wrath shook his head, saying Lust was always useless.

“Nothing but a nuisance!”

Merlin and Wrath seemed oddly in sync as they complained about Lust.

“Well, with her skills, she’s not likely to get herself into trouble anywhere.”

Not many people even knew Lust existed, so Raon didn’t see much reason to worry about her.

"Haah…"

Raon slowly stood up and grabbed the Blade of Requiem from the table. He couldn’t leave it behind, as Rimmer’s soul might still be inside.

"Are you heading out?"

"I want to check on my aunt’s condition."

Aris was likely in a state worse than death.

Usually, she appeared more resolute than Glenn, but in front of Sif, she became more vulnerable than anyone else, which made him worry even more.

Raon gripped the Blade of Requiem tightly as he headed out of the cabin.

[You have slain two Transcenders.]

[A celestial has been killed for the first time in a thousand years.]

[You have accomplished an impossible feat.]

[All stats have….]

[New trait….]

[New title….]

Once again, he dismissed the messages without reading them.

Ugh! This damn system… Hmm?

Wrath, in the middle of cursing the system, turned to look at Raon.

You’re not going to check it?

‘I don’t feel like it.’

All right then…

Wrath nodded, placing a hand on Raon’s shoulder as if he understood.

‘I’ll check when I can use it to tease you.’

You brat!

Ignoring Wrath’s outburst, Raon left the cabin. Only a few crew members were on the deck, as it was nighttime.

He was heading toward the infirmary where Aris was supposed to be when Dorian, who had been standing at the far end of the deck, walked over.

"You’re awake?"

Dorian bowed and asked if Raon was feeling alright.

“Has my aunt woken up yet?”

Raon immediately asked about Aris’ condition.

“I just checked in on her a little while ago, and she still hasn’t regained consciousness.”

Dorian shook his head, saying that Rabawin was standing guard outside the infirmary.

“I see…”

Raon nodded. Honestly, he thought it was better that Aris hadn’t woken up yet.

He didn’t know what to say or how to face her when she did.

“What about the others?”

“They’ve all passed out from exhaustion, given the situation.”

Dorian awkwardly smiled, mentioning that the crew of Azure Wind were standing guard in their place.

“And you?”

Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Dorian. If anyone should be the most tired right now, it was him, and Raon felt bad that he was pushing himself to stay awake.

“I’m fine. I can’t sleep even if I lie down,” Dorian replied, scratching his head, explaining he had taken on the guard duty instead.

“You’re still bothered by everything.”

Raon leaned against the railing, gazing at the softly shimmering night sea.

“Well, of course you are. I can’t stop thinking about our master either.”

If he didn’t turn his eyes away, the image of Rimmer, smiling even with a black sword pierced through his chest, kept surfacing. It was enough to drive him mad.

If he felt this way, Dorian, who had witnessed everything from the start, would never be able to forget it for the rest of his life.

“Yes…”

Dorian nodded, his voice trembling.

“I keep seeing it in my dreams. I keep thinking—what if I had thrown myself in his place?”

“Don’t say that.”

Raon shook his head firmly.

“It was a fight even a Grandmaster couldn’t interfere in. You did everything you could.”

“No… I don’t deserve to hear that…”

Burying his head on the railing, Dorian started crying, tears dripping down one by one.

For someone who normally cried easily, he had been holding it in all this time, blaming himself. Now, his dam of emotions was finally bursting.

“H-heuk…”

“It’s okay. He didn’t blame anyone.”

Recalling Rimmer’s smiling face until the very end, Raon patted Dorian’s head just as his master had once done for him.

Hoo-oooh.

A clear and refreshing breeze, unlike the sea, briefly lingered at the Azure Wind’s bow, as if to comfort the two, before quietly drifting away.

*   *   *

By the time the Azure Wind reached the northern port closest to Zieghart…

“We’ll go with you.”

After placing the still-unconscious Aris and Rimmer into two separate carriages, Rabawin bowed his head.

"It looks like our days of being pirates are over."

He asked for Raon’s permission, explaining that most of the Azure Wind’s crew were former Zieghart swordsmen, and the remaining members had also participated in the war, so there shouldn’t be any problem with them returning together.

“Understood.”

Raon nodded and mounted his horse, heading toward Zieghart.

Unlike the last time, when they had chatted and laughed on the way back to the Azure Wind from the dungeon, no one said a word this time.

Neither the Light Wind division nor Rabawin or the crew of the Azure Wind said a word as they marched silently, preparing themselves for farewells in their hearts.

At the end of the not-so-long journey, the snow-covered walls of Zieghart came into view.

“…”

Raon bit his lip as he gazed at Zieghart’s walls.

The gray walls that had always felt welcoming now seemed towering and oppressive.

It felt as though those walls were crushing his soul.

He knew the news about Rimmer would’ve already reached Zieghart, but the uncertainty of how everyone inside would react made his hands tremble.

Looking back, he saw the other swordsmen gazing at the walls with the same mixture of fear and worry.

Although fear gripped him harder than anyone else, there was no choice but to keep moving forward. He had to let Rimmer rest as soon as possible.

“Let’s go.”

Raon exhaled quietly and headed toward Zieghart’s main gate.

Normally, the gate would only open after verifying one’s identity, but today, the gate opened as soon as they saw Raon’s face. Illiune, the Foreign Minister, and several swordsmen stepped out to greet them.

Shaaang!

They wore black uniforms, holding their swords inverted in front of their chests, performing Zieghart’s sword salute.

“…”

Raon clenched his teeth and drove the carriage down the main road leading to the main building.

Zieghart’s swordsmen lined up on both sides of the road, also offering their solemn and respectful salute toward them.

It was the gesture reserved for one who had died in battle for Zieghart.

“Sniff…”

“Vice division leader…”

“Why did it have to be him!”

Raon could hear the Light Wind swordsmen’s sobs behind him, but as their leader, he pressed his emotions down and kept moving toward the main building.

Clang!

The Warring steel division, the Void Sword division, the Warring Sword division, and even the swordsmen of the Central Martial Palace, the Wise Martial Palace, and the True Martial Palace all came out, performing the salute for Rimmer.

Seeing even those who usually quarreled with Rimmer paying their respects without a single flaw in their demeanor made Raon’s chest ache even more.

When the two carriages carrying Rimmer and Aris stopped in front of the lord’s manor, Sylvia, Edgar, the Gambling Monster, and Federick were already there.

Even Glenn and Roenn, who usually waited inside the audience chamber, stood in front of the lord’s manor.

Their faces were filled with sadness and grief.

Seeing his father, mother, and grandfather standing there, Raon felt a burning pain in his chest. His nose stung, and tears threatened to fall.

Thud.

Raon dismounted his horse on trembling legs.

He was scared. He didn’t want to go forward.

It wasn’t because he was afraid they would blame him for Rimmer’s death, but because standing before them would make him fully realize Rimmer’s death.

Taking a deep breath, he forced his heavy legs to move forward.

“Head of house.”

To endure to the end. To withstand whatever blame might come, Raon steadied himself and stood before Glenn.

“I’m sorry. This was all because of my poor judgment…”

Before he could kneel, Glenn grabbed him and pulled him into an embrace.

“You’ve worked hard. And…”

Glenn tightened his arms around him, letting out a voice that sounded like grinding bones.

“I’m sorry.”

Raon grabbed Glenn’s long jacket with both hands, finally letting the tears he had fought so hard to hold back fall freely.

 

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