The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 977

 Chapter 977

 

“Lizard nest?”

Ogram tilted his head as he looked at Raon.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

He furrowed his thick caterpillar-like brows, clearly not understanding.

“If you say lizard…”

Chamber softly bit the candy in her mouth.

“You must mean dragons.”

She instantly understood Raon’s meaning and narrowed her eyes.

“That’s correct.”

Raon nodded as he met the gazes of the heads of the Five Kings seated at the round table.

“Why would you bring up dragons when we’re talking about finding the Four Demons?”

King Lecross unfolded his arms, sensing an explanation was coming.

“To explain that, we need to go back to the war with the Black Tower.”

Raon raised a finger toward Chamber.

“As you well know, Lady Chamber, the demonic energy that sprouted from the Black Tower crossed dimensions and spread to this very continent.”

He raised cold energy with his fingertip and placed it on the map of the continent floating above the round table. The southern region of the continent flickered blue, as if frozen.

“The demonic energy that blanketed the south was so immense that it wouldn’t have been strange if a demon king had descended, yet the dragons, who claim to be the mediators of this world, didn’t show themselves at all.”

Raon gazed at the frozen southern continent with narrowed eyes.

“It was a stark contrast to how they usually come rushing in, screaming ‘Demon King!’ even at the faintest sign of demonic energy. In other words…”

He lowered his eyes to the heads of the Five Kings, who were listening intently, not even blinking.

“They must have known that the Black Tower was in Montiro.”

Raon nodded firmly, his tone filled with certainty.

"I-Is that really true? How could those who are supposed to maintain neutrality..."

Ogram knit his brow, unable to comprehend.

“If what you say is true, then dragons no longer deserve to be called mediators!”

He clenched his fist with a sharp crack, his anger sincere.

“Light Wind Palace master, can you take responsibility for those words?”

Lecross let out a low grunt as he looked at Raon.

“This matter isn’t something we can proceed with lightly. No matter what anyone says, dragons are the strongest race on the continent.”

He tapped the round table with a finger, emphasizing that turning them into enemies must be done with caution.

“I vouch for the Light Wind master’s words.”

Chamber nodded slowly, her eyes closed.

“The dimensional gate leading to the Black Tower remained open, and demonic energy was continuously flowing out of it, yet the dragons never showed themselves even once.”

She bit her lip as she looked at Montiro on the map.

“If those lizard bastards, who instinctively sense demonic energy, just sat still… the reason is obvious.”

Chamber sighed, saying it was time to accept the truth.

"In fact, you already know, don't you?"

Raon gave a small shake of his head.

“The dragons never upheld neutrality to begin with. Even before the Four Demons, back in the time of the Five Demons, they were subtly siding with them. If they were truly fulfilling their role as mediators, the Black Tower would have been destroyed long ago.”

The Black Tower was a faction built by drawing power not from this continent, but from the devildom.

And the fact that the dragons didn’t stop it even though it was spreading thick demonic energy across the continent only proved that their neutrality had long since crumbled.

“And even if they didn’t know the Black Tower was located in Montiro, it doesn’t matter. What’s clear is that they’ve formed a close alliance with the Four Demons.”

Raon nodded, saying it was certain the dragons and the Four Demons had formed a temporary alliance.

“No one can deny that dragons are the strongest race. But if we’re going to get stabbed in the back or ambushed during the coming war, we might as well eliminate them now while we still can.”

Clenching his fist, Raon declared that they shouldn’t leave behind any seeds of trouble.

“In that case…”

Glenn slightly raised his chin.

“How many dragons do you think we should take care of?”

He opened his hand as if asking for a number.

“How many? That’s not the question. Obviously…”

Raon shook his head resolutely.

“All of them.”

Placing his hand on the hilt of Heavenly Drive, he said he didn’t want to leave behind a single lizard that had abandoned neutrality.

“Huh…?”

Lecross let out a hollow laugh, as if he couldn’t believe what he just heard.

“You—you’re saying kill all the dragons?”

Even Xanthos was stunned, his mouth left agape in shock.

“Now that’s refreshing!”

Ogram raised his boulder-sized fist in agreement.

“Yeah! If we’re doing it, might as well do it right!”

Chamber nodded without hesitation, clearly approving of the idea.

"Hmm, dragons don't really interest me that much, but…"

As the conversation about the archangel ended, Larian seemed to return to her usual self, her voice lowering. Judging from her earlier reaction, it seemed like she might’ve already dissected a dragon before.

"Hmm."

Glenn also gave a big nod, as if he was impressed by Raon’s boldness.

“Even a demon king might hesitate to go that far…”

Lecross smacked his lips softly.

“But if you say you can pull it off, then giving it a try might not be a bad idea.”

He raised his hand, agreeing as well.

"However, we shouldn’t target all of them from the start."

Raon shook his head as he looked at the map of the continent.

“Because killing dragons isn’t our only objective.”

“Right. We need to gather information on the Four Demons.”

Chamber nodded immediately.

“Yes. The dragons who’ve been sleeping in their nests for ages probably won’t know anything about the Four Demons. So what we need to do is…”

Raon clicked his tongue again while looking at the map.

“We need to find a dragon who isn’t cut off from the world, one who communicates with others outside their nest, even if not with humans. The stronger and older, the better. Only a dragon like that might have information about the Dragon Lord and the Four Demons.”

The ones who’ve been asleep all this time probably don’t even know that the Five Demons have become the Four Demons.

To obtain accurate information, they needed a dragon who was not only powerful but also trusted by the Dragon Lord.

“Unfortunately, none of the dragons I know fit that description.”

Chamber clicked her tongue, regretful that she couldn’t help.

“M-Me neither… I don’t know any dragons like that…”

Larian raised her trembling hand, in the same boat as Chamber.

“Of course I don’t!”

Ogram shook his head with full confidence.

“Then, while searching for the Four Demons’ location, let’s also look for an ancient dragon who communicates with the outside world.”

Since there was no clear path to the Four Demons yet, they decided to slowly begin by gathering information.

“Alright. We’ll do our best to gather intel on our side too.”

King Lecross lifted his pen, saying he’d contact Owen right away.

“Then it’s decided.”

Glenn did not voice opinions for or against because Raon was his grandson, only nodding after everyone had agreed. His expression was extremely satisfied.

“I’ll help with the search as well.”

Raon nodded to the heads of the Five Kings. Since information from the black market would be shared, it seemed he should also contact his acquaintances.

“So we’ll handle the dragons that way. But what about the people who were enchanted by Raphael? How do you plan to wake them from it?”

King Lecross narrowed his eyes, clearly curious.

“I-I want to know too…”

Larian’s glowing eyes sparkled from beneath her robe, begging to be told.

"In fact, that is as important as this matter."

Xanthos nodded, emphasizing that it was something that absolutely needed to be resolved.

“Raphael enchanted people by infusing divine power into her warm voice. So I plan to use that method in reverse.”

Raon smiled faintly and brought both hands together in front of him.

“Use it in reverse?”

“Yes. I can erase divine power, and my subordinate has a better voice than Raphael. So, probably…”

He glanced out the window, the corners of his lips lifting.

“You’re going to witness something interesting.”

*   *   *

“Hoo…”

Aris exhaled a heavy breath as she looked up at the darkening sky.

“At this rate, he’s going to kill me.”

Karoon had been growing stronger by the day, and it was getting increasingly difficult to handle him.

Even a moment of carelessness would result in a blade at her throat, and every spar left chills crawling down her spine.

‘I never imagined he’d have that kind of fire and passion in him.’

She too had been training seriously, driven by the desire to repay Raon, but Karoon was on another level.

He was swinging his sword as if his life were on the line each and every day.

Karoon used to believe that as a direct line of Zieghart, he had to maintain a flawless image, he wouldn’t even let others see him sweat. But now, he had cast all that aside, driven purely by the desire to grow stronger, regardless of how he looked.

‘And to top it off, his talent surpasses even that passion.’

Aris had thought Sylvia was the most talented among the siblings, but now she had changed her mind.

Karoon’s talent had bloomed late, but it was now surpassing everything.

‘At this rate, he might actually catch up.’

If he kept training like this, he might not surpass Raon, but he could at least stand on the same level.

‘Wait a second! Now that I think about it… This is seriously frustrating. They were all under me before! I can’t just sit here and lose to them like this… Huh?’

Aris was grumbling to herself about how she couldn’t let herself fall behind, when she suddenly blinked in confusion.

“…Why am I here?”

Without realizing it, her exhausted legs had carried her all the way near the annex building.

“I walked over here without even thinking. Guess I really must be worn out.”

Aris gave a dry laugh as she massaged her aching shoulder.

‘Since I’m here anyway, maybe I’ll stop in and see the kids?’

It had been a while since she last visited, and since she was already here, it wouldn’t hurt to see everyone.

‘Maybe even grab dinner while I’m at it… Huh?’

Just as she entered the annex building garden with a grin, her eyes narrowed.

‘Denier?’

Why was he here?

Denier was standing silently before the lake, now shrouded in dusk, gazing at the annex building.

‘And what’s that light…?’

A faint, unidentifiable shimmer of light flickered around him before vanishing.

It was such a subtle, mysterious light that she wouldn’t have noticed it if it hadn’t been reflected on the lake’s surface.

But something else was stranger. Denier’s face reflected in the lake looked different from the real Denier standing there.

“Denier!”

Aris frowned and approached him.

“Sister.”

Denier bowed his head without the slightest hint of surprise.

“Did you finish your training?”

“What were you just doing?”

Aris spread her aura perception to scan his surroundings, but felt nothing unusual.

“What do you mean?”

Denier tilted his head slightly, as if he didn’t understand the question.

“I clearly saw a strange light flickering around you.”

Aris gestured with her chin, saying she saw it with her own eyes.

“Probably just fireflies. I wasn’t doing anything.”

Denier calmly raised both hands, saying he really had just been standing there.

“But…”

Aris was about to press further, but closed her mouth. After all, she wasn’t sensing anything off from him.

“Are you really Denier?”

Aris narrowed her eyes, a low but heavy energy wave beginning to ripple from her.

"Then who else would I be?"

Denier shook his head, saying he didn't like strange jokes.

“Hm…”

Aris studied him carefully, twisting her lips in thought.

‘His physique, his aura, his demeanor, everything’s exactly the same.’

These days, she didn’t trust anyone easily, not even blood relatives.

But there was no sense of strangeness from the Denier before her.

“Do you remember the first gift I ever gave you?”

“A gift?”

Denier smiled and shook his head.

“You’ve never given me anything like a gift, sister.”

He tilted his head, wondering what she was talking about.

“R-Right…”

Aris scratched the back of her head and averted her gaze.

‘It’s definitely Denier. Nothing feels off.’

But that light I saw earlier is bothering me.

There was no strange energy or presence from Denier… but after what had happened with Sif, she wanted to be sure.

“What were you doing here?”

She glanced around and narrowed her eyes again.

“The head of house and the Light Wind Palace master are attending the Conference of the Five Kings, and you and our older brother are focused on training, so I’ve been patrolling Zieghart.”

Denier calmly explained that he was simply doing what he could.

“Hmm…”

Aris narrowed her eyes. With all the Transcenders busy, it wasn’t strange for Denier to be handling the outer patrols.

“You…”

Just as Aris opened her mouth to speak again, the back door of the annex building opened.

“Auntie!”

Sia, with a wooden sword at her waist, came running and waved both hands.

“Sia?”

Aris smiled as she hugged the approaching girl. It seemed she had come out after hearing Aris’ raised voice.

“Sister? Brother?”

Sylvia also came out after Sia, her eyes widening in surprise.

“What brings you two here?”

She bowed with a bright smile.

“My feet just sort of carried me here…”

Aris scratched the back of her head, saying she had come without realizing it.

“I was on patrol.”

Denier gave Sylvia the same explanation.

“Ah, then please come in for a bit and have some tea. Helen baked some really delicious cookies this afternoon.”

Sylvia raised her hand, gesturing for Aris and Denier to come inside.

“Hmm, sure, why not.”

Aris dropped her hand, already sensing that the atmosphere had shifted.

“I’ll pass. I still have a few more places to check.”

Denier shook his head, saying he should get going now that he’d confirmed everything was fine.

“Wait!”

Sylvia stopped him, then quickly went inside the annex building and returned with a small wrapped bundle.

“I packed some cookies. Eat them on your way.”

She smiled as she held out the bundle.

“…Thanks.”

Denier smiled faintly and accepted the bundle.

“It’s nothing. Take care.”

Sylvia smiled and nodded.

“Let’s go inside, sister.”

She nodded to Aris, saying she had tea warming up.

“Alright. Just a moment.”

Aris gave a short nod and stepped closer to Denier.

“Denier.”

She looked into his calm eyes and parted her lips.

“Just one last question. Your path is still aligned with Zieghart… right?”

“Of course.”

Denier nodded without a hint of hesitation.

“In the past and even now, I’ve always thought only of Zieghart.”

He gave a small nod, as if to reassure her, then disappeared into the darkness of THE North Grave mountain.

“……”

Aris narrowed her eyes as she stared at the path Denier had taken.

‘He’s definitely different from Sif.’

Back when she was attacked by Sif, she had sensed something was off. But in that fleeting moment, the emotion of not wanting to doubt her own son made her ignore it, and she was stabbed.
But with Denier just now, she didn’t feel even the slightest sense of wrongness. Nothing at all.

‘Trust, huh…’

She looked up at the crescent moon, as if it had been sliced cleanly by a blade, and turned toward the annex building where warmth now bloomed.

*   *   *

“I can’t do it! No, I won’t do it!”

Olga waved her arms wildly in refusal.

“What kind of ridiculous song is that?!”

She said she’d rather sing a love song than that nonsense, kicking over her chair as she stood.

That punk’s ears must be broken!

Wrath ground his teeth, looking at Olga, whose cheeks were flushed red.

How dare she scoff at a song praising me, the King of Essence!

He snorted, scoffing that she had absolutely no idea what real art even was.

“Sister…”

Yua reached out gently and held Olga’s hand.

“Let’s do it together. We have to save people.”

She looked up at her with cat-like eyes, asking her to do it together even though she knew she disliked it.

“She’s right. Just like you saved me, please save the others too.”

Rensia took Olga’s other hand and spoke softly.

“Uuugh…”

Olga shut her eyes tight, then opened them and nodded weakly.

“Fine.”

She let her shoulders slump in defeat.

“Alright, let’s try again.”

Raon spoke as he looked at Olga, who had returned to her seat.

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

“Aaaagh!”

Olga clutched her head and screamed as she listened to the lyrics.

“Who the hell came up with this goddamned song?!”

She yelled out the window like she was going insane.

She’s at it again!

Wrath’s eyes flared blue with rage.

That poor excuse for ears doesn’t even recognize such a glorious masterpiece!

He shook his head, declaring that Olga clearly had no musical talent whatsoever.

“Just try singing along. I’m sure it’ll work.”

Raon waved his hand and repeated the lyrics.

‘There’s no way this won’t work.’

The song was one of the hymns written to praise Wrath, the Demon King.

If he channeled the authority of <Wrath> and had Yua and Olga sing, they should be able to snap the people under Raphael’s enchantment back to their senses.

“Sh-shining… darkness… dark…”

Olga started mumbling the lyrics with trembling lips. It seemed she was forcing herself for Yua and Rensia’s sake.

‘Seriously, though… who did write this?’

Raon tilted his chin toward Wrath.

‘Honestly… it’s kind of childish.’

Who else?! He did, of course!

Wrath puffed out his chest proudly, saying it was his own creation.

‘…Yeah, that explains it.’

Raon shook his head.

W-What do you mean, that explains it?!

‘Nothing. It’s nothing.’

Say it properly, you insolent brat!

‘Really, it's nothing.’

Raon waved his hand to brush Wrath off.

Just then—

Tap tap.

A white swallow tapped against the window. It was an emergency message from the Shadow Agents.

‘Why now…?’

Raon swallowed dryly and took the letter, unfolding it.

What does it say?

Wrath leaned in, curious.

‘Looks like… we won’t have to wait too long after all.’

Raon smacked his lips as he read the letter.

‘We’ve found the first lizard nest worth visiting.’

 

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