The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 897

 Chapter 897

 

(Changing Aura of Death Resistance to Energy of Death Resistance)

Raon turned his cold eyes and checked the rewards for defeating the DemonBlade.

[You have achieved a great feat.]

[You have brought an era to an end.]

[All stats increase by 50 points.]

[The rank of the trait <Adaptation to Ghastly Energy> has increased.]

[The rank of the trait <Energy of Death Resistance> has increased by two ranks.]

[The rank of the trait <Ascara’s Combative Energy> has increased.]

An increase of 50 points to all stats, along with the rank-ups of three traits. Among them, the Energy of Death Resistance, which was most affected, rose by two ranks at once.

It was unlikely to happen, but if he were to fight the DemonBlade again, he felt he could win even more easily.

Look at this! For someone The King of Essence killed with a single finger, the reward is excessive!

Wrath gnashed his teeth, claiming that the rewards were too generous given the DemonBlade’s level.

‘He's only weak to you. In this world, he’s one of the… hmm, maybe not?’

After thinking about it, he realized that the DemonBlade wouldn't even make it onto a shortlist of the strongest.

Just among the Five Kings and Five Demons, there were already eleven leaders. None of the heads of Five Divine Orders were weaker than the DemonBlade, and there were also figures like the Sword Monarch, who chose seclusion, the War King, and the former Holy Sword Alliance's master. Even counting all fingers and toes, the DemonBlade would barely make the cut.

‘Still, he’s within the top 20 on the entire continent. That should count for something.’

Top 20? Who counts strong warriors up to 20? The most you should count is 10!

Wrath snorted, saying he would acknowledge only ten at most.

‘He might be weak to you, but not to me. Don’t you remember when you said he was dangerous at first?’

Raon lightly waved his hand, reminding Wrath of his earlier words.

T-That was…

Wrath hesitated, seemingly unable to refute that.

Grrr! Damn it!

Wrath scrunched his brow, as if reluctantly admitting that Raon had defeated the DemonBlade through his own strength.

Fine! But in return, you must bring the King of Essence all the food he wants on our way back!

Wrath huffed, demanding compensation in food, as if that would make up for his frustration.

‘That’s easy enough.’

Raon nodded, saying that wouldn’t be difficult.

Consider yourself lucky! If it were any other Demon King instead of the great and magnanimous King of Essence, they would never acknowledge it!

‘That’s not true.’

Excluding Greed, persuading the other Demon Kings didn’t seem all that difficult, so Raon simply shrugged.

Just then—

Woooong!

Suddenly, the Blade of Requiem trembled violently, transmitting pure mana into his body.

[The Blade of Requiem offers the purified energy of death]

[All stats increase by 25 points]

[A new trait <Energy of Death Detection> has been created]

Having absorbed the energy of death from the DemonBlade and what had remained in his own body, the Blade of Requiem was now transferring its purified energy to him.

Ugh…

Wrath trembled, his blue eyes shaking as if he hadn’t sensed this happening.

‘25 points? That’s a lot.’

The Blade of Requiem always kept half of the energy it absorbed and passed the other half to him.

Even receiving only half had granted him a 25-point increase in all stats, indicating that it had absorbed an immense amount of energy of death.

‘But what exactly is the Energy of Death Detection?’

Raon checked the details of his newly acquired trait.

<Energy of Death Detection>

Allows the user to detect subtle energy of death that cannot be sensed through normal senses or aura perception.

‘That’s useful.’

The DemonBlade had mentioned that he found the Black Tower’s passage in Montiro by using his own energy of death.

With this trait, Raon might also be able to find the passage leading to the Black Tower.

‘Of course, I won’t be able to do it as easily as he did.’

Traits grew stronger as their ranks increased. While the Energy of Death Detection had just been acquired and wasn’t strong enough for a full-scale search like the DemonBlade had done, it was certainly better than having nothing.

Kuaaaah!

Wrath screamed and threw his head back.

The moment the King of Essence acknowledges something, a new reward appears! This is truly unbearable! Come out right now! Either the King of Essence dies today, or you do—let’s settle this once and for all!

He swung his fists at the air, challenging the system itself to a duel.

‘Hmm…’

Raon shuddered slightly and took a step back. Once Wrath got into this state, reasoning with him was impossible. It was best to just leave him be.

“Raon.”

Just as he sighed and began checking over Heavenly Drive and the Blade of Requiem, Trevin approached him.

“Congratulations. You have changed an era.”

Trevin patted his shoulder in praise.

“As I said earlier, saying I changed an era is an exaggeration. It’s not that huge an accomplishment.”

“No, it is.”

Standing behind Trevin, Burren shook his head.

“The heads of Five Kings and Five Demons, along with the Five Divine Orders, were an unbreakable wall. You were the first to put a crack in that wall.”

He nodded, as if telling Raon to accept the truth.

"Even before I joined Zieghart, I knew the names of the heads of the Five Kings and Five Demons, as well as the heads of the Five Divine Orders. Well, back then, the Five Divine Orders didn’t exist yet, but I still knew each of them individually."

Martha let out a short laugh and twirled her finger.

"From newborns to old folks on their deathbeds—everyone knew their names. And you erased one of those legends. If that doesn’t count as changing an era, I don’t know what does."

She stomped her foot heavily, saying this was Raon’s greatest achievement yet.

“Yeah. You’re handsome.”

Runaan raised her thumb and said it, regardless of the situation.

"Come on, division leader! Quit pretending to be humble! Your heart’s probably racing right now!"

Krein burst into laughter, claiming that Raon’s excitement was obvious for everyone to see. “I’m not.”

Raon struck the back of Krein’s head and shook his head firmly.

“Guh….”

Krein couldn't withstand the strength of Raon’s hand and collapsed face-first onto the ground.

“I knew that was coming.”

Dorian clicked his tongue, muttering that Krein deserved it.

Still, as a proper supply officer, he immediately pulled out medicine and ice packs.

“I’m serious. The DemonBlade you saw today is weaker than the other heads of the Five Divine Orders.”

Raon spoke calmly as he looked at Trevin and the Light Wind Division.

"Because there was no harmony in his essence, qi, and spirit." (essence: physical body, qi: mana/aura, spirit: upper energy center, soul level, mental world.

For warriors who reached the realm of Transcendence, maintaining harmony between essence, qi, and spirit was essential.

No matter how strong one’s body was, how stable one’s spirit was, how abundant one’s aura was, having just one in excess was meaningless. Only through the proper harmony of all three could one wield their power without flaw.

The DemonBlade had obtained an enormous energy that surpassed the level of the other heads of the Five Divine Orders, but with his essence, qi, and spirit in complete disarray, he was unable to wield that power properly.

When Raon had said the DemonBlade had become weaker than before, it wasn’t just provocation, it was the truth.

“As expected of Raon Zieghart.”

Trevin took a step closer, nodding as if this answer was just like him.

“I have something to say to you.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“If the Light Wind Division gets promoted to a palace, I want to bring myself and the Warring Steel Division under your command.”

Trevin drew his sword and flipped it upside down, holding it before his chest.

“At first, we only accepted the Central Martial Palace master's proposal with the meaning of us helping you.”
“But after today, my perspective has changed.”

Trevin’s eyes burned with determination as he held his sword upright before his chest.

“Now, it’s my own will to support you and the Light Wind Division. Please give us the chance to walk alongside you.”

He bowed his head, performing Zieghart’s sword salute.

“We wish to stand with the Light Wind Division as well!”

The Warring Steel Division swordsmen, standing behind Trevin, also showed the same will and presented the sword salute.

“…Are you certain?”

Raon narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Trevin and the Warring Steel Division swordsmen.

“I’m a human with a lot of shortcomings. You might come to regret this later.”

As Wrath had said, Raon still lacked certain human aspects. Seeing Trevin and the Warring Steel Division reveal their sincerity, he wanted to respond with equal sincerity.

"Family is meant to make up for each other’s shortcomings. I don’t know what you think you lack, but if there’s anything I can do, I’ll help however I can."

Trevin smiled softly, telling him not to worry.

"Since he’s saying that, shouldn’t we accept them?"

"Yeah. From the beginning, the only division that matched our style was the Warring Steel Division."

"Mm. I have no complaints…."

Martha, Burren, and Runaan, as team leaders, nodded in agreement, accepting the Warring Steel Division into their ‘palace’.

"Then, I understand. To be honest, that’s part of the reason we came here in the first place."

Raon nodded as he said that he would accept the Warring Steel Division.

"Thank you. And also, thank you for saving us. This will probably be the last time I speak informally to you."

Trevin awkwardly smiled, saying that once they returned to the family, he would have to start addressing Raon with formal speech.

"When it’s just us, you can speak the way you used to."

Raon smiled and nodded. Since they had official positions, they needed to speak formally in official settings, but outside of that, it didn’t matter.

"I like this. More people to suffer with us."

Burren glanced at Trevin and the Warring Steel Division, grinning.

"Welcome to hell."

Martha waved her hand, as if inviting them to face death together.

"Mm. No quitting now…"

Runaan also gave a cold glance and tilted her chin.

"Khhuhuhu…"

"Ehehehehe…"

"How many will survive, I wonder?"

Dorian and the other Light Wind Division swordsmen let out eerie laughs as if they were looking forward to what was to come.

"Why, why are they like that?"

Trevin’s eyes trembled as he looked around in confusion.

"Don’t mind them. It’s just their way of welcoming you. Heh."

Even Mark Goetten let out a shadowy chuckle, shaking his head.

*   *   *

Leaving the others behind, Raon approached the village chief of Bodry.

"Chief."

He glanced at the plains and river, now ruined by the DemonBlade’s energy of death, and shook his head.

"This land won’t be inhabitable for a while."

"That’s… true."

The chief bit his lip deeply, already understanding the situation.

"So why not come to Zieghart?"

"Z-Zieghart? But we have no money. Most of our livestock have died, and we’ve lost our food supply…"

The chief lowered his gaze, saying they had been unable to protect their livestock and food from the monsters and energy of death.

"Zieghart’s territory has expanded quite a bit recently. There is still uninhabited land where you can settle. I’ll help you secure a place to live, and we’ll grant you a tax exemption period, so you don’t need to worry."

"A-Are you serious? But why…?"

The chief stuttered, the offer was too generous to be real.

"The strength of a faction ultimately comes from its people."

Raon looked at the chief and the villagers behind him and nodded calmly.

'A group without people will wither away.'

These people hadn’t committed crimes or criminals on the run, they had simply sought refuge from the oppression of the world and the flames of war.

If Zieghart protected them with its strength, they, in turn, could contribute to the family using their own skills and knowledge.

With the war against the Five Demons still ongoing, steadily increasing their numbers and strengthening Zieghart’s forces was the right move.

"Not only did you save our lives, but you’re also giving us a place to live… thank you. Truly, thank you."

The chief dropped his staff and knelt, bowing his head as he sobbed with gratitude.

"Thank you! Our benefactor…"

The other villagers, following the chief’s lead, also bent at the waist, shouting their thanks.

“Seems like we get called benefactors wherever we go, doesn’t it?”

"Yeah. Just before this, we became the benefactors of the dwarves."

Krein and Dorian exchanged glances and chuckled, as if they felt the mission had been worth it.

"My heart feels… warm and fuzzy…."

Runaan lowered her head slightly, seemingly happy about helping others.

"Then, we should start preparing to head back."

"We have a lot of people to escort, so we should move quickly."

Burren and Martha returned to the Light Wind Division swordsmen, issuing orders to prepare for their return.

‘Hmm.’

Raon watched as everyone busied themselves with preparations to head back.

‘I gained a lot this time.’

He cut down the DemonBlade, received various rewards as a result, and even found a clue to the Black Tower’s location.

This was a bigger success than most of his previous missions.

‘Grandfather will probably be pleased too.’

Just as he wondered how Glenn would react, he turned his head—

Kuaaaaaah! Show yourself already!

Wrath suddenly let out a furious scream, hurling frost into the air.

‘He’s still at it…’

*   *   *

Raon, along with the Light Wind Division, Warring Steel Division, and the villagers of Bodry, returned to Zieghart.

Since they had so many people, the cost of using the dimensional gate was enormous.

However, thanks to the dragon nests he had emptied out not long ago, his personal finances barely took a scratch.

"Why do you always bring back more people every time you return?"

Illiune, the Foreign Minister, let out a sigh of disbelief.

"And this time, you’ve brought the most yet."

"They are people I wish to welcome into Zieghart."

Raon explained, bowing slightly. He went on to say that he intended to settle the Bodry villagers within Zieghart’s territory.

"Nomads, huh… Well, if that’s your plan, I trust you know what you’re doing."

Illiune nodded, showing his full trust in Raon before opening Zieghart’s main gates.

"Come to think of it, I won’t be speaking informally to you anymore. If you become a palace master, your rank will surpass mine."

Illiune smirked.

"You can continue speaking to me as you do now. When I became a division leader, you said the same thing, but then went back to informal speech."

"I did? Hmm… Well, then, I suppose I’ll keep talking as I always have."

Illiune gave a broad nod, as if he had been waiting for that response.

“Please do. Hm?”

Just as Raon returned the nod, he felt the ground trembling beneath his feet, like an earthquake had struck.

"Ahem. Seems I delayed you too long. Hurry inside."

As soon as the ground started to quake, Illiune quickly gestured for Raon to go inside.

"Understood. Then, I’ll be going."

Raon gave a small nod before stepping past the gates and heading toward the main building.

Strangely, the tremors in the ground subsided the closer he got to the lord’s manor.

It was as if the earth itself was welcoming him home.

"Since there are too many people, only the chief should enter the audience chamber."

Since he couldn’t bring all the villagers inside, he decided to take only the village chief, whose face had already paled with nerves.

"No need to be so nervous. Despite the rumors, the head of house is a kind person."

Raon reassured him before opening the doors to the audience chamber.

"We greet the head of house."

"We greet the head of house!"

Raon stood at the center, giving his formal greeting, while the Light Wind swordsmen and Warring Steel swordsmen knelt behind him.

Their posture was perfectly synchronized, as if they were already one unified force.

"Rise."

Glenn’s deep, powerful voice echoed through the chamber.

"Thank you."

Raon bowed once more before straightening his back.

“Your report this time only said you’d be returning soon, with no further details. Did something happen?”

Glenn furrowed one eyebrow, seemingly intrigued by the unusual lack of details in the report.

“There were matters that were difficult to convey in writing.”

Raon apologized for making personal judgments on the spot and bowed his head.

“It doesn’t matter. You can explain now.”

Glenn, indicating he was ready to hear anything, leaned forward slightly, lifting his back off the throne.

“Then, I’ll begin. When the Light Wind Division arrived in Bodry village, the plains and the village were already completely engulfed in a purple energy of death. We first focused on rescuing the Warring Steel Division…”

Raon looked up at the platform as he began recounting the events, starting with how they saved the Warring Steel Division. Glenn's lips twitched slightly, and his red eyes gleamed with anticipation.

“Hmm….”

As Raon spoke, Chapran, the chief of Bodry village slowly lifted his gaze.

His eyes traveled up the red carpeted platform to the golden throne.

There sat a man, about the same age as himself, yet standing at the pinnacle of the world—Glenn Zieghart.

Raon had said Glenn was a kind person, but all the rumors Chapran had heard about Glenn painted him as a cold-blooded tyrant. His heart pounded with enough tension to make him feel sick.

‘He said he was kind, but… his gaze is terrifying… hmm?’

He swallowed nervously and looked at Glenn, only to notice something strangely familiar about the trembling of Glenn’s lips and the look in his eyes.

‘That expression…’

It looked exactly like the face I make when watching my grandson.

‘Ah, I see.’

People really were all the same.

Chapran let out a faint smile and nodded.

Now that he understood what kind of person Glenn was, the suffocating tightness in his chest gradually eased.

“…After breaking through the energy of death and slicing the rock, the one who appeared before us was the DemonBlade Derek, the leader of the Black Snake Coalition.”

Raon paused briefly after mentioning that he had encountered the DemonBlade.

“DemonBlade?”

The golden armrest of Glenn’s throne, gripped tightly in his hand, crumpled like paper.

"Yes. Through the Black Tower’s sorcery, he had become a monster of the energy of death, surpassing even the rest of the heads of the Five Divine Orders. He attacked us in that state."

"The DemonBlade, with an overwhelming energy of death…."

“S-so, what happened next? How did it end?”

For the first time, Serena, the Void Sword division leader, and Lattein, the Warring Sword division leader, broke their usual silence.

Their intense gazes urged Raon to continue.

“Someone must have helped, right? No matter how far my nephew has progressed in Transcendence, defeating the DemonBlade would be impossible alone.”

Balder clicked his tongue, clearly wondering who had assisted Raon.

“The DemonBlade…”

Raon swept his gaze across the now silent audience chamber before slowly parting his lips.

“I was the one who cut him down.”

KUUUUUUUNG!

The moment those words left his mouth, a thunderous crash erupted from the platform, as if something were shattering.

Behind Glenn, who had a stunned smile on his face, the golden throne, its legs ripped off, was soaring through the air.

 

 

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