The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 882

 Chapter 882

 

Raon first erased the reward message and then turned around.

Burren, Martha, Runaan, and Sheryl were looking at him with questioning eyes.

‘It's understandable that they'd look at me like that.’

Talking to Ascara was one thing, but the constant mention of terms like demon king and devildom was bound to raise suspicions.

What will you do?

Wrath licked his lips as if he was the one feeling nervous.

‘What else can I do? I have to tell them.’

Glenn and Rector already knew that Wrath was his friend and that he was a Demon King. The people here were just as trustworthy as those two, so it felt right to tell them now.

I-Is that really okay?

‘See for yourself.’

Raon glanced at Burren, Martha, and Runaan, who were slowly getting to their feet, and gave a faint smile.

‘They have the kind of eyes that would believe anything I say.’

The three Light Wind division team leaders were clearly confused, but they never looked away. It meant they trusted him no matter what happened. Even Dorian, though unconscious, was no different.

‘And….’

Raon turned to Sheryl, who had lowered her twin swords. Since she had overheard more than anyone else, she was understandably more shocked, yet she wasn’t jumping to conclusions. It showed she intended to hear him out first. That alone proved she was trustworthy.

Th-Then….

Wrath’s hands trembled as he looked between Runaan and Martha.

Finally, the King of Essence will be able to meet the ice cream girl and the beef girl!

He seemed to be in a good mood, jumping around in the air. Not long ago, he had been cursing out the system with all his might, yet now his mood had completely changed.

“Raon….”

Sheryl approached with heavy steps.

“Could you explain what happened? Why are you speaking in such a strange way, and why did that demon call you the Demon King?”

Though she was clearly confused, she still looked at him with trust in her eyes.

How insolent!

Wrath threw a punch at Sheryl.

How dare you say the King of Essence’s way of speaking is strange! It is nothing but magnificent!

He grabbed Sheryl's collar and shook her, demanding an apology.

“I heard it too.”

Burren nodded while clutching his burnt shoulder.

“He called you monarch, and demon king as well.”

His calm gaze urged Raon to explain.

“Don’t rush him. If we wait, he’ll tell us.”

Surprisingly, Martha, who usually would have been the first to demand answers, instead suppressed her emotions and kept calm.

“Yeah, he’ll definitely tell us.”

Runaan also blinked quietly, as though deciding to wait just like Martha.

“As expected.”

Raon looked at Sheryl and the three team leaders with a gentle smile.

“As expected?”

Martha tilted her head, not understanding.

“Telling you everything isn’t hard. Actually—”

Just as Raon was about to speak, rocks and dirt began to crumble from the ceiling.

“For now, let’s wake everyone up and get out of here.”

Even now, Ascara's combative energy was so intense that it sent chills down their spine, causing not just this underground area but the entire tunnel system to collapse.

Even with himself and Sheryl present, if they got trapped underground, there would be no way out. Leaving this place was the top priority.

“You’re right. That comes first.”

Sheryl nodded and began waking up Borgos and the dwarf blacksmiths.

“Hey! Dorian! Wake up!”

Martha kicked Dorian, who was unconscious and drooling.

“Ugh!”

Dorian jolted up as if he had been electrocuted.

“What the—? There was definitely a weird monster….”

He muttered about a strange monster, looking dazed.

“Enough. Hurry up and carry whoever you can!”

Burren smacked Dorian’s forehead and pointed at the blacksmiths who were too injured to move.

“Huh? What’s happening all of a sudden?”

“The ceiling….”

Runaan raised a finger, pointing upward. The pillar of frost she had temporarily created was cracking, and rocks and dirt continued to fall.

“Gah!”

Finally realizing the situation, Dorian nodded and hoisted three severely injured dwarves onto his back.

“Sir Borgos, please get on my back.”

Raon tried to carry Borgos and head upward, but after just a few steps, he faltered. The shock of his injuries, which he’d managed to ignore in the heat of the moment, came crashing down on him. His energy center and the mana circuits around it were torn, carrying anyone—let alone walking on his own—was excruciating.

“O-Oh, benefactor! I can walk on my own, so please put me down.”

Borgos, realizing Raon’s condition, struggled to get down.

“I-It’s fine.”

Just as Raon was about to force himself to walk, Sheryl stepped forward.

“I’ll carry him. You just follow me.”

Despite already carrying two people on her back, Sheryl easily lifted Borgos into her arms. Though small in stature, she seemed like a giant as she bore the weight of three grown men.

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? Don’t be ridiculous. If it weren’t for you, we’d all be dead.”

Sheryl told him to just follow her from behind and moved ahead.

“…Understood.”

Raon let out a deep sigh and followed behind her.

“So, did you defeat that monster, division leader?”

Dorian, recalling Ascara that had burst through the dimensional rift, inhaled sharply.

"As expected of the division leader! I believed in you!"

"I didn’t defeat it. What do you mean you believed in me when you were passed out?"

Raon snorted as he glanced at Dorian.

"Even though I was unconscious, I still believed in you in my heart!"

Dorian vigorously shook his head, insisting he was sincere.

“Enough. Just focus on carrying the wounded.”

“Yes, sir!”

Grinning as if to reassure them, he tightened his grip on the people he was carrying.

“Hmm….”

Raon forced his heavy legs forward but furrowed his brows slightly. Even though his adrenaline had subsided, rather than worsening, his body actually felt more at ease.

‘What’s going on?’

Even though he is a Transcender and with various traits, healing from direct damage to his energy center should have been impossible this quickly. It was a good thing, but it felt so unnatural that he began to suspect it might not actually be a good sign.

It’s because of that damn combative energy.

Wrath furrowed his brows as he looked at him.

‘Combative energy?’

The combative energy you gained through that insane act of yours!

He clicked his tongue with irritation.

Balrogs are demons of battle, capable of adapting to combat anywhere, anytime! And you absorbed the combative energy of their king, so injuries like this are nothing!

Wrath sighed heavily, grumbling about how Raon had obtained such an absurd ability.

‘So that’s what it is.’

When he slowly examined the energy within his body, he sensed the Ascara’s combative energy settling into his energy center, naturally moving to mend the torn energy center and damaged mana circuits.

It’s not exactly healing, but it’ll help you endure.

‘That does seem to be the case.’

Ugh! To think that kind of ability was given to someone who doesn’t even understand this!

Wrath swung his fist at the air in frustration.

‘That might be why I got it.’

Raon smirked and quickened his pace.

"Huh? Are you sure you're okay?"

Dorian, concerned at Raon’s increased pace, spoke up.

“I can manage.”

Raon nodded and moved right behind Sheryl. With his increased pace, they managed to reach the Gray Hammer Guild’s base before the underground tunnels completely collapsed.

“This place is going down too. Let’s get outside.”

Sheryl shook her head as she watched rocks crash down onto the ashes of the ruined workshop.

"I-If we're going, let’s hurry! We’ll get buried at this rate!"

Dorian’s chin trembled in fear.

“Wait.”

Martha grabbed the back of Dorian’s neck and shook her head.

"Huh? But it’s dangerous—"

"We need to let them say their final goodbyes."

She gestured toward the back.

“…….”

Borgos and the blacksmiths bit their lips as they looked at their fallen comrades and the burnt-down workshop. Even if it meant dying here, they wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye.

Chiiiiiing!

Runaan created a shield of ice, shielding them so they could bid farewell one last time.

“Haa….”

She was also breathing heavily, as if she had overexerted herself, and was bleeding from her mouth, but she never let go of the shield.

“Let’s go….”

Borgos nodded, picking up a hammer charred black—no one knew whose it was. Without a word, the blacksmiths followed him toward the exit leading outside.

“Thank you.”

Borgos bowed deeply to Sheryl and Runaan, who were holding back the collapsing ceiling and walls.

“I understand how you feel.”

Sheryl gave a faint smile and nodded.

“Mm….”

Runaan also blinked slowly, as if agreeing with her.

“It would be better to finish your farewells outside. It’s really dangerous now.”

Burren swallowed dryly as he saw the rocks and dirt pushing down against Runaan’s ice shield.

“I understand.”

Borgos nodded and exited to the surface with the blacksmiths.

“Let’s go, too.”

Raon nodded and gestured to Burren, Martha, Runaan, and Dorian.

“Yeah….”

"Haa, even though I saved people, I don't feel good."

“Rest in peace….”

Burren, Martha, and Ruunan each consoled the dead in their own way before going upstairs.

“…….”

Just as Raon was about to be the last one out, he sensed a faint, sinister energy rising from the depths of the collapsing underground and approaching him. He tried to repel it, but it slipped behind him and seeped into the Blade of Requiem.

‘What was that?’

Even though it was clearly a negative energy, he didn’t sense any harm from it. It felt similar to the lingering souls already residing within the Blade of Requiem.

‘I’ll have to look into this later.’

Raon exhaled briefly and went up to the surface. The moment he emerged, Sheryl withdrew her energy, and the entire underground base built by the Gray Hammer Guild collapsed, even causing part of the mountain to collapse.

“That was close.”

Dorian exhaled sharply as he stared at the now completely caved-in entrance to the underground base.

“Mmm…”

Borgos bit his lip as he gazed at the now-inaccessible tunnels. The blacksmiths, too, unable to hold back their emotions any longer, let silent tears fall..

“Haaah….”

Borgos clenched a handful of blood-stained earth with his thick fingers. After taking a long moment to gather his emotions, he stepped toward Raon.

“Can you tell us what exactly happened?”

Borgos bowed his head slightly, asking him to share what he knew.

“Of course.”

Raon nodded and explained about the Balrog King, also telling them that the one who had summoned him was the Black Tower’s demonized human.

“I see… so that’s what happened.”

Borgos nodded, then suddenly dropped to his knees.

“Borgos of the Gray Hammer Guild humbly pays his respects to our benefactor.”

"We pay our respects to our savior!"

The blacksmiths also bowed deeply beside him.

“Please, don’t do that.”

Raon shook his head, saying it would worsen their injuries if they kept bowing like that.

"You saved our lives and avenged us, if we can't even offer this gratitude, then we don’t deserve to live!"

Borgos lowered his head all the way to the ground, pleading for Raon to accept their thanks.

"Accept it."

Sheryl stepped beside Raon and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You more than deserve this level of gratitude."

She nodded slightly, implying that refusing would be even more disrespectful.

"...Understood. I will accept it, so please, stand up."

Raon accepted Borgos’ gratitude and helped him to his feet.

"I will make sure to repay this debt."

Borgos pounded his chest, vowing to fulfill any request Raon had.

“All right. I’ll be waiting.”

“No.”

He straightened up and shook his head.

"There's no need to wait. I'll begin the task our benefactor requested right away."

Gritting his teeth, Borgos declared that he would start working immediately.

“What? But in this situation….”

Raon exhaled in disbelief, his hands trembling slightly.

"No, in times like this, it's actually better to work."

Borgos tightened his fist, saying that he could forge even better weapons by channeling his current emotions.

"The same goes for us!"

“We want to get to work right away!”

The other dwarves and blacksmiths nodded in agreement, saying that they would start working right away.

“Please.”

Borgos bowed again, asking Raon to entrust the work to them.

“Understood.”

Raon smiled faintly and nodded.

“But where will you work?”

This area was too dangerous because of the Black Tower, so leaving them here wasn’t an option.

“We’ll have to go to Zieghart.”

Borgos licked his lips as he looked at Raon.

“But… do they accept refugees there, by any chance?”

*   *   *

Since the dwarves and blacksmiths had severe burns, they all returned to House Sephia to receive quick treatment.

Thanks to Adis, the president of Sephia Company, who had prepared doctors and priests in advance, everyone, including Borgos, was able to receive treatment quickly.

"I'm relieved."

Burren nodded as he closed the door to the medical room.

“Yeah, thankfully, they won’t have any lasting injuries.”

Martha wrapped fresh bandages over her wounds and nodded.

“It’s all thanks to you this time.”

She turned to Runaan, who stood quietly nearby.

“Me…?”

Runaan tilted her head as if she didn’t understand.

“You kept maintaining that frost barrier despite sweating buckets. If you hadn’t, they might have had to amputate arms or legs.”

Martha nodded, telling her she had done well.

“The Rakshasa Woman is giving me praise…?”

Runaan’s eyes widened in shock.

"Who do you think I am, a demon? I give credit where it’s due!"

Martha ground her teeth at Runaan.

"Ugh, see? Even when I compliment you, it’s pointless!"

She snorted in frustration.

"Please don’t fight, and get some rest first! I'll show you to the guest rooms!"

Dorian quickly stepped between them and nodded.

“Before that.”

Raon shook his head and looked at the three team leaders and Sheryl.

“There’s something I need to say. Let’s go somewhere quiet.”

“Huh? Oh, okay!”

Dorian nodded and led them to a reception room. It was an extravagant space that showed off the company’s wealth, but more importantly, it was soundproof—perfect for a private conversation.

“So, what do you need to talk about?”

Dorian bounced his leg, looking impatient.

“Are you in a hurry?”

Raon asked, sitting in the front seat.

“Yes. I still need to grab a few more supplies before my father arrives…”

Dorian explained that he had to finish stocking up, nodding all the while.

No matter how you look at him, he’s not normal, either.

Wrath sighed, saying Dorian was just as crazy as Raon, only in a different way.

"If that's the case, just sit still."

Raon pressed Dorian's shoulder and sat back in the front seat.

“Heavenly Blade division leader, no, Lady Sheryl, please sit as well.”

"Okay."

Sheryl also sat in the opposite seat, as if she knew what he was going to say.

“Haa….”

Raon met the gazes of Burren, Martha, Runaan, Dorian, and Sheryl one by one.

'Yeah. If it's them, I can trust them.'

He didn’t need to explain much to Burren, Martha, Runaan, or Dorian. As for Sheryl, she had once risked her life alongside Rimmer to save him and the Light Wind division. If he couldn’t trust these people, then there was no one in this world he could trust.

"It's about what happened earlier. The terms devildom, demon, and demon king came up."

Raon folded his hands together and nodded.

“Yes. That burning monster called you the demon king.”

Burren nodded.

“No, wasn’t it that Raon called himself the demon king first?”

Martha shook her head, correcting him.

“…….”

Runaan simply gazed at him in silence, her eyes filled with nothing but trust.

“Hmm….”

Sheryl also said nothing, quietly waiting for his next words.

“Huh? W-What are you talking about…?”

Dorian tilted his head, as if he didn’t understand what Raon was saying.

“I’m not a demon king or a demon. I’m fully and pure human. It’s just…”

Raon glanced at Wrath, who was perched on his shoulder, and shook his head.

“The one with me is a monarch of devildom.”

He explained about Wrath, who was attached to his side.

Hmm….

Wrath trembled slightly, as if nervous about having himself introduced. He had grown attached to these people, and the uncertainty of how they would react made him tense.

“A-A demon king….”

“Is… right next to you?”

“……”

Burren and Martha widened their eyes, as if doubting their own ears, while Runaan simply remained silent, listening.

"-S-So that’s how it is… Then all those unbelievable events until now…"

Dorian nodded, now finally understanding the absurd events they had experienced.

"Is he dangerous?"

Rather than anything else, Sheryl lowered her head slightly, worrying about him first.

“No. In fact, he’s been a great help.”

Raon nodded with a faint smile.

“All this time….”

Taking a short breath, he recounted everything that had happened so far.

“Y-You mean he did all that?”

“Ah….”

“Then the fact that I’m even alive right now is thanks to that demon king!”

Martha, Runaan, and Dorian trembled, their jaws quivering in shock at the realization that Wrath had helped them.

“So the one who saved us from being wiped out by the Demonic Monarch of Azure Flame was….”

“Yes. It was him.”

Raon nodded toward Burren.

“W-Wait! Then!”

Burren suddenly stood up.

“W-Wait just a second! Then that thing on your shoulder wasn’t a pet spirit… It was the demon king?!

He exhaled sharply, staring at Wrath with the eye that Wrath had created for him.

"That’s right. He’s the one who gave you a new eye, allowing you to see like you do now."

Raon poked Wrath lightly, smiling faintly.

Finally, the truth is revealed! It was none other than the King of Essence who gave you that eye!

Wrath tilted his chin up proudly, demanding reverence.

“…Ugh.”

Burren bit his lip as he looked at Wrath.

“I always thought a demon king was just something to be defeated, but to think that so much was happening behind the scenes….”

He locked eyes with Wrath, then nodded resolutely as if he’d made up his mind.

“Thank you. For saving me. For saving all of us.”

Burren knelt on one knee and bowed his head.

T-The shitty eyes is thanking me?

Wrath’s eyes widened in shock.

He thought that guy, out of everyone, would despise demons the most….

Wrath’s jaw trembled as if he were genuinely surprised.

‘He’s not a stubborn child stuck on just one belief anymore.’

Burren was no longer a child trapped by a single belief. Rather than focusing on demons as inherently evil beings, he prioritized the help he had received.

“If there’s anything you want, I’ll do my best to make it happen.”

Burren nodded firmly, declaring he’d do whatever he could.

F-For real?

Wrath’s eyes widened further.

You really mean it?

‘I’ll relay it for you.’

Raon nodded, watching Wrath’s lips twitch with excitement.

Th-Then obviously, it’s food! Tell him to bring the King of Essence every single dish he hasn’t tried yet— as many delicious foods as he can get!

Wrath shouted excitedly, saying that since Burren was rich, he must have knowledge of the finest cuisine.

"My friend here has spoken."

Raon smiled and nodded.

"He wants rare and unseen sword techniques. The more valuable, the better."

H-Huh?

Wrath blinked in confusion and stared at Raon.

W-When did the King of Essence ever say that?! He said food! Not sword techniques!

He flailed around, stomping in frustration.

Oh, not just sword techniques—he’s also interested in footwork and martial arts.

Raon smiled again, stretching out his words.

“He seems to have a great interest in human martial arts.”

“R-Really? Alright. I'll gather everything I can.”

Burren clenched his fist, as though telling him to wait.

Are you even human?!

Wrath clutched his head, screaming in frustration.

Damn it! Even those wretched celestials aren’t as bad as you! Just where the hell did you come from?!