The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 980

 Chapter 980

 

An unnamed ancient castle untouched by human hands for centuries.

Between the blackened stone walls, a woman dressed in a white maid uniform walked in.

As if familiar with the faded place, she entered the rusted iron door without hesitation.

The moment the maid entered through the door, the surroundings began to brighten slowly, as though stage lights had gone out and then come back on.

Unlike the outer walls, which had crumbled and deteriorated from lack of maintenance, the inner castle was adorned with colors even more vibrant than those of the Balkar royal palace. It was as if the very word splendor had been pasted across the wallpaper.

“……”

Cubara, Derus’ maid and informant, walked gracefully up the carpeted red stairs, heading toward the castle’s highest floor.

Knock, knock.

She exhaled softly, then knocked on the only door on the top floor.

“Come in.”

After hearing the call to enter, Cubara counted to three and opened the door.

Sssss.

The scent of old books wafted through the opening of the door. In front of a bookshelf piled high with nameless ancient books, a man who had sunk deep into a black sofa slowly lifted his gaze.

“What is it?”

Derus Robert. He was not looking with the gaze of a public enemy of the continent or a fugitive, but as an overlord peering down upon the world from within the shadows.

“…A problem has arisen.”

Cubara lowered her eyes and knelt before Derus.

“Speak.”

Despite hearing the word problem, Derus nodded calmly without a hint of surprise.

“Raon Zieghart has…”

“Raon?”

The moment Raon’s name was mentioned, a dull ripple spread across Derus’ otherwise calm forehead.

“Him again?”

“Mmm…”

Cubara pressed her lips together to suppress the chill of death energy seeping from Derus.

“Continue.”

Derus suppressed the energy of death and closed the book he had been reading.

“Yes. Raon Zieghart and his subordinates have completely erased the divine power left in Balkar.”

“What…?”

Derus’ eyes widened sharply, as though he hadn’t even considered the possibility of receiving such a report.

“Is that really true?”

“Yes.”

Cubara gave a heavy nod, saying she had seen it with her own eyes.

“Explain it in detail. What exactly did he do?”

Derus lifted his back from the sofa, raising his upper body.

“As you know, the Five Kings did not send back the people exposed to Raphael’s divine power. They kept them in the capital. Today, they suddenly summoned everyone, so I waited to see what they were planning…”

Cubara paused briefly, brushing her red lips before continuing.

“They sang a song. To everyone in the capital.”

She narrowed her eyes, clearly still unable to believe the method even as she said it.

“A song? Did you just say… a song?”

Derus also furrowed his brow, clearly not understanding.

“Yes. A swordsman from the Light Wind Palace and the Saintess Olga climbed the tower and sang. All the humans who had been enchanted by Raphael’s divine power returned to normal.”

Kubara nodded, saying the capital of Balkar was in an uproar now because of that song.

“A song… When I think about it, I suppose it’s not entirely impossible.”

Derus let out a low groan, acknowledging that it didn't seem entirely impossible.

“But why mention Raon Zieghart’s name in this?”

"Raon Zieghart was standing behind the singers. A blue energy emanating from him seemed to empower the song."

Cubara pressed her lips together, saying it was something you couldn’t truly sense unless you saw it in person.

“She speaks the truth.”

Before Kubara even finished speaking, a brilliant white dimension opened behind the bookshelf, and the Archangel Raphael appeared.

“Hard to believe, but all the divine power I had left behind in that kingdom has vanished.”

Just like when she descended upon Balkar, she stood with a noble figure, not a speck of dust on her.

“Ha…”

Derus’ hand, still holding the book, trembled slightly.

“If not even a trace of divine power remains, then there was no point in going there.”

He let out a cold laugh, genuinely irritated. The ancient book in his hand began to turn into black ash and scatter.

“Do you know what song the humans sang?”

Raphael turned her clear gaze toward Kubara. It seemed she wanted to know the song for future reference.

“Yes. I remember it all.”

Cubara nodded with her gaze lowered. Truth be told, it was such a peculiar song that it embedded itself into memory without even trying to memorize it.

“Go ahead and recite it.”

Derus flicked his fingers, indicating that he too wanted to know what kind of song it was.

“…Haa.”

Instead of singing right away, Cubara exhaled deeply before finally parting her lips.

“Feel the sparkling shining, into the darkness of dark…”

Even while reciting the childish lyrics of <Ode to the Demon King>, she showed no trace of embarrassment, worthy of someone who served as Derus’ informant.

“Huh? Uh… Ah…”

Derus seemed taken aback by the song's lyrics, letting out a series of short groans and averting his gaze.

However, he quickly realized he should focus not on the lyrics but on the melody itself, tapping his fingers to feel the rhythm.

“…Hah?”

Raphael, on the other hand, began to tremble with rage. As the lyrics continued, veins surfaced on her clenched hand, she could no longer contain her fury.

“You’re telling me that kind of garbage song is what erased my divine power?”

Her rage wasn’t merely because her power was erased, it was because the song that had done it was so laughably childish.

“That damned human!”

Grinding her pristine teeth, Raphael recalled Raon’s mocking face.

“Cubara. Are you absolutely certain that was the song?”

Derus narrowed his eyes slightly as he brushed his cleanly-shaved jawline.

 

“I’m certain.”

Cubara nodded without even a change in expression, even after singing the ridiculous song all the way through.

“The lyrics are unbelievably childish, but the flow is unique. It’s a hymn praising a god, layered over the cadence of a military song.”

Derus instantly grasped the flow of <Ode to the Demon King> and nodded.

“That’s why I told you.”

He shook his head as he looked at Raphael, whose beautiful face was twisted in anger.

"Raon is more special than any celestial or demon."

Twisting his lips into a tight line, he warned once again that Raon must not be underestimated.

“That special energy you said was behind the singers, that must have been the Demon King’s authority. Now it all makes sense.”

Derus nodded, saying he now understood why Raphael’s divine power had been erased.

“You look pleased.”

Raphael narrowed her gaze at Derus.

“Do I?”

Derus slowly raised his gaze to meet Raphael's. He was indeed smiling, but beneath that smile, a dark and profound killing intent was stirring.

“The Five Kings summoned the neutral factions and tried to forcibly pull them to their side. To stop that and tilt the situation in our favor, I sent you.”

A ghostly blue flame rose in Derus' eyes.

“That plan has completely failed. And your existence, which should have remained hidden, has now been exposed to the world. And you think I’m pleased?”

He let out a chilling smile, as if asking if he truly appeared so.

“…Hmm.”

Raphael swallowed dryly, sensing the dark and eerie energy of death rising from Derus.

‘Was he always this powerful?’

Because he usually kept his power concealed, she had never fully sensed it before. But now, she could feel an immense force writhing within him, far more than she had expected.

Derus’ energy of death surged so strongly that Raphael’s divine power moved on its own to resist it.

"I am even more enraged than you are right now.

Derus shook his head as he scattered the crumbling fragments of the ancient book to the floor. From inside his leather gloves, blood began to drip, thick and red.

“I’m only enduring this because I’ve had many experiences like this before.”

He furrowed his brow, recalling how often Raon had brought about results that defied common sense.

“I told you not to kill that human, didn’t I?”

Raphael looked at Derus, her trembling fingertips raised. Pure white lightning, as if burning space itself, crackled around her.

“I won’t go after him myself, but if I ever run into him… I’ll kill him. No matter what.”

Leaving those final words, Raphael vanished into a flash of white light.

“…It won’t be so easy.”

Derus waved a hand toward the space where Raphael had disappeared.

“Raon Zieghart is under the protection of heaven’s flow.”

He let out a faint laugh, saying that now wasn’t the right time.

“Cubara.”

Derus quickly calmed his emotions and spoke in a composed voice.

“Yes.”

Cubara bowed her head, feeling a chill run down her spine.

“Keep collecting information on Raon Zieghart and the Light Wind Palace. Where they go, what training they’re doing, every last detail.”

He gave a slight nod, saying it didn’t matter how much money or manpower it took, just keep gathering everything.

“Understood.”

Cubara responded affirmatively and exited the study.

Sssss.

After everyone had left, Derus removed his leather gloves. Perhaps because Raon had made his move, the blood from his wound was pouring out far more than usual.

“Raon Zieghart.”

Derus Robert twisted the corners of his lips into a smirk, his blue eyes carrying a vast, swirling current within them.

“The day we meet again isn’t far off now.”

*   *   *

“So it really happens instantly.”

Raon let out a wry smile as he arrived in the audience chamber of the lord manor, the same one he had been in before departing for Balkar.

There was a reason Chamber had confidently said she’d send them directly to the audience chamber of the lord’s manor. It seemed her teleportation magic had advanced even further.

‘Of course, it’s only possible because Zieghart paved the way.’

No matter how great teleportation magic is, you can’t enter if a barrier is set.

This was only possible because arrangements had been made with Zieghart’s Magic Tower beforehand.

“It’s so damn fast…”

Martha swallowed dryly, saying the dimensional gate was so convenient it was almost scary.

“Just what kind of power is magic, anyway?”

She clicked her tongue, unable to comprehend it.

“It’s definitely something different from what we warriors use.”

Burren shook his head, saying that trying to understand it would only give him a headache.

“I kind of get it…”

Runaan blinked slowly and said that magic had its own unique flow.

“Cut the nonsense. You’re the densest one among us.”

Martha waved her hand dismissively, telling her to stop spouting crap.

“But I’m serious…”

Runaan calmly nodded, insisting she really could feel the flow of magic.

“Ngghhh…”

Krein stretched with both arms raised above his head, letting out a stiff groan.

“Finally, we get to rest a bit.”

“I needed some time to sort out the supplies I restocked in Balkar.”

Dorian chuckled, saying he had to sort the goods he bought in Balkar.

“Alright, the conference’s over. When are we gathering for the next mission?”

Trevin approached Raon and asked when the mission to deal with the dragon would begin.

“When? What are you talking about?”

Raon narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at the Light Wind swordsmen, who had already relaxed their postures.

“You heard the conversation with the head of house just a moment ago, didn’t you? Now that the dragon has been found, we need to move out immediately.”

He shook his head, saying it wasn’t when, they were leaving now.

“Huh…?”

"That 'immediately' meant right now?"

“No break at all…?”

The swordsmen let out disbelieving gasps, clearly not having expected to move out right away.

"Yes. We're going right now."

Raon nodded firmly.

“As expected of our palace master.”

Mark Goetten smiled calmly, as if he expected this.

“I seriously don’t get you guys. Do you still not know how crazy our palace master is?”

Martha scoffed, telling them to get a grip.

“Yup. Immediately meant exactly that…”

Runaan also nodded, saying she had expected Raon to move immediately.

“Everyone, get ready to head to Mirtan Village.”

Raon raised a finger, giving them one minute to get ready.

“Huh?”

“We’re going too?”

“Usually only the palace master and executives go for information gathering…”

The Light Wind swordsmen tilted their heads at the unusual situation.

“There’s a reason for it.”

Raon said they’d understand once they came along, and opened the audience chamber door, stepping outside.

"He must have his reasons."

“Alright, let’s go.”

“Let’s move…”

Martha, Burren, and Runaan followed right after Raon, ready to go wherever he led.

“Something feels…”

“…off?”

“Ugh…”

The other Light Wind swordsmen, having spent more than ten years with Raon, felt an uneasy chill from his smile and stepped out of the audience chamber with heavy, reluctant steps.

*   *   *

Because the entire Light Wind Palace was running at full speed using footwork techniques, they were able to reach Mirtan Village before sunset.

CLANG! CLANG!

Hearing the echoing hammer strikes ringing under the darkened sky, Raon let out a faint smile.

‘That sound always puts me at ease, no matter how many times I hear it.’

The heat rising from Mirtan and the sound of hammers strangely helped calm his mind.

He often visited Mirtan under the pretense of seeing Vulcan, but in truth, he just wanted to hear the blacksmiths' hammering.

‘I’d like to listen more, but… today I have another reason.’

Raon gestured to the Light Wind swordsmen and headed up the main road of Mirtan Village.

As the road gradually narrowed, the workshop at the top of the village came into view, Vulcan’s workshop.

‘They repaired the damaged parts.’

The walls and roof of the workshop looked clean and newly rebuilt. It seemed they had completely repaired the areas that were destroyed when Aris obtained the Black Sword.

Knock, knock.

Raon knocked on the workshop door with his fist, and Vulcan stepped out, his face blackened with soot. Judging by his flushed cheeks, he seemed to have been drinking.

“I heard you were in Balkan. You’re back already?”

Vulcan blinked, surprised by how quickly they had arrived.

“We were able to return quickly thanks to Chamber.”

He bowed his head, explaining that he was able to return quickly thanks to Chamber.

“I see… so this really is something important.”

Vulcan furrowed his brow, seeming to realize that the matter of the dragon was more important than he had initially thought.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Raon nodded and looked toward the inside of the workshop.

“Who is the person that knows about that dragon?”

He licked his lips, already guessing whose name would come out of Vulcan’s mouth.

“Hmph, judging by that look on your face, you already know. Go meet him yourself.”

Vulcan let out a dry chuckle and stepped outside. Behind him, Borgos, the chief of the Gray Hammer Guild with neatly braided beard, raised a hand while holding a mug of beer.

“It’s me.”

Borgos nodded calmly. Just as expected from the letter, he was the one who had information about the dragon.

“But it seems like you already knew it would be me.”

Borgos narrowed his eyes as he looked at Raon.

“Yes. There’s no one else in Mirtan who could know about a dragon besides you, Sir Borgos.”

Raon nodded, stating it plainly.

“Then I suppose I can get straight to the point.”

Borgos took a swig of his beer while glancing not just at Raon but also at the Light Wind swordsmen behind him.

“You humans probably already know this, but dwarves are the most skilled race when it comes to craftsmanship. Not just weapons, we’re also great with gems and gold.”

He suddenly boasted of dwarven talent as he set down his mug.

“But that exceptional talent doesn’t always bring only light.”

Borgos looked up into the air and bit his lip.

“Dragons, like crows, have a strange obsession with anything that shines. Most of them stop at stealing shiny things from others, but… there are a few that are truly vicious to the core.”

His thick fingers trembled slightly.

“The Sky Dragon, Desiuros.”

Borgos clasped his trembling hands together and began to speak.

“He’s an evil dragon who enslaves dwarf tribes and forces them to endlessly produce the jewels and crafted ornaments he desires.”

He swallowed dryly, saying that under Desiuros, dwarves and humans were being raised like livestock for slavery.

“The bastard believes himself to be a god.”

Borgos bit his lip again, saying that Desiuros had long since abandoned his duty as a mediator.

“What a filthy bastard.”

Burren couldn’t hold back his anger, biting down on his lip so hard it bled.

“Seriously. There’s just too much trash among the lizards. No, finding a decent one is harder.”

Martha raised a clenched fist, saying they were an even filthier race than humans.

“Disgusting…”

Runaan furrowed her brow, saying it felt like her heart had turned pitch black just from hearing it.

“Enslaving dwarves and humans? We can’t let something like that go!”

"Exactly! That's no different from the Black Tower!"

"No, he’s worse! At least those Black Tower bastards were aware they were committing evil acts!"

“How could someone who’s supposed to be a mediator do something like that…”

The Light Wind swordsmen shouted in fury, clearly enraged.

“I’m glad to hear you all say that.”

Raon nodded calmly as he looked at the Light Wind swordsmen.

“Of course!”

“Even if it’s a dragon, enslaving weaker races is absolutely unacceptable!”

“It’s a creature that must be slain!”

The swordsmen clenched their fists, saying they would fight no matter what to free the dwarves and humans.

"Alright. Let's fight then."

Raon smiled and lightly tapped Heavenly Drive sword.

“You all will.”

He crossed his arms, saying he’d be stepping back this time.

“Excuse me?”

"If it's you all..."

“W-wait, you mean us?”

“Yes. This time, the dragon…”

Raon nodded calmly, as if they were just heading out on a picnic.

“You’re the ones who are going to take it down. Not me.”

 

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