The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 961

 Chapter 961

 

The lake behind the annex building.

Even though Raon wasn’t there, sharp sounds of sword wind echoed from the clearing in front of the lake.

Fwoooosh!

The one cutting through the lake’s surface with a sharp slash was Sia. Just like Raon had always done in this place, she swung her sword in a similar form to his.

“Ugh!”

Sia, unleashing consecutive strikes of the Fangs of Insanity, let out a frustrated stomp as if something wasn’t going the way she wanted.

“Is something troubling you?”

Judiel, carrying a tray with snacks for Sia, gently smiled as she placed it on the table beside the lake.

“It’s not working...”

With her wooden sword stabbed into the ground, Sia hung her head low.

“What part isn’t working?”

Judiel approached her, offering help in any way she could.

“My sword feels too stiff.”

Sia stuck out her lips in frustration, as if dissatisfied with her own swordsmanship.

“Raon’s strikes fall beautifully, like sunlight or moonlight...”

She let out a sigh, saying the Fangs of Insanity Raon had taught her weren’t unfolding the way they were supposed to.

“I think both of you look amazing, though.”

Judiel smiled faintly as she glanced at the hilt of Sia’s wooden sword, stained with blood and sweat.

‘She really worked hard.’

That wooden sword was a treasure Raon had gotten for Sia himself. For a sword so new to already look that worn, it meant she had been swinging it day and night.

"No! Mine just falls heavily!"

Sia puffed up her cheeks and brought her sword down again.

Whoooouung!

Her strike fell with a weighty yet chilling aura, slicing not only through the surface of the lake, it tore through the bushes beyond it as well.

“Ah…”

Judiel let out a breathless gasp as she watched the strike Sia had unleashed.

‘She’s already come this far?’

She didn’t quite understand what a beautifully falling strike was supposed to look like, but the power and sharpness in Sia’s strike far exceeded her expectations.

Even if Sia’s body remembered the days when she lived as the Green King, she hadn’t imagined she would grow this quickly.

“It still didn’t work…”

Sia shook her head, saying it still wasn’t like Raon’s.

“I don’t think I can do it.”

Despite unleashing a terrifying strike that would’ve left most people speechless, she slumped her shoulders in disappointment.

“That’s not true.”

Judiel gave her a gentle smile and massaged her shoulders.

“Raon young master didn’t use that kind of swordsmanship from the beginning either.”

She had infiltrated the annex building originally to observe Raon, so she had watched him longer than anyone. His current swordsmanship owed just as much to hard work as it did to talent.

“Whether it rained or snowed, young master Raon trained right here every single day, without missing even one. And he enjoyed it, too.”

Judiel nodded softly, recalling how young Raon had grown step by step.

“If you continue training steadily every day, you’ll definitely be able to draw out swordsmanship just as beautiful. Young master Raon said so himself.”

She repeated Raon’s own words about Sia’s talent, her smile tender.

“Raon said that? Did he really say that?”

Sia’s red eyes sparkled as if she wanted to hear those words from Raon himself.

“Of course! He said if you just work hard, you could catch up to him.”

Judiel took Sia’s hand, saying that now was the time for effort.

“Mmm…”

“That’s not right!”

Just as Sia lowered her gaze slightly, a voice rang out from behind a tree to the right, followed by someone waving as they popped out.

“Sir Edgar?”

The person who suddenly appeared was Edgar. Given that they hadn’t sensed him approaching, he must’ve been watching Sia from the start.

“Dad?”

Sia blinked calmly, as if she had already known Edgar was there.

“She’s still young, so maybe you don’t realize it, but that’s not how you talk to a child, Miss Judiel.”

Edgar stroked his chin and muttered as if a little disappointed.

“Huh...”

Judiel rounded her lips in surprise, as if she didn’t quite understand what he meant.

“Watch and learn. Might come in handy when you become a mother someday.”

After lightly tapping Judiel’s arm, Edgar walked over to Sia.

“Sia. It’s frustrating not being able to swing your sword like Raon, isn’t it? But that’s okay.”

He placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled warmly.

“It won’t take you long. I’m sure you’ll surpass him and wield a swordsmanship even greater than his.”

“Really? But Judiel said it would take a long time.”

Sia looked back and forth between Edgar and Judiel, as if trying to verify the truth.

“Come on, whose daughter are you? Before long, you’ll be swinging a sword far more beautifully than Raon!”

Edgar waved his hand dismissively, telling her not to worry.

“Kids don’t have much patience, so you shouldn’t tell them to work hard. You have to fill them with confidence first, spark their interest. There’s nothing more important than that. Once they’re hooked, that’s when you guide them toward effort. That’s the proper attitude of a good parent.”

He leaned toward Judiel and whispered his parenting philosophy so Sia wouldn’t hear.

“I think her interest has already been sparked though…”

Judiel mumbled that Raon had already sparked her interest long ago.

“No, no. It’s different when a parent does it. Now Sia will feel good and we can…”

“Dad. Then I don’t need to practice swordsmanship anymore?”

Sia tilted her head, lowering her wooden sword.

“Uh…”

Caught off guard by the unexpected response, Edgar’s eyes widened.

“W-Well, that’s…”

“So it’ll work out on its own if I just wait a bit, right?”

Sia clasped her hands together and looked up with eyes full of hope.

“Y-Yeah! Our Sia can get better without having to try har—ugh!”

As Edgar stammered through his lie with trembling eyes, a tray came flying from the direction of the annex building and struck the back of his head.

TAAANG!

“Who did that—huh?!”

He reached for his head and turned around, only to freeze like a mouse before a cat.

"D-dear..."

His jaw quivered as he looked at Sylvia, who stood ready in a fighting stance.

“What a fine lesson you’re teaching her.”

Sylvia furrowed her brow deeply as she glared at Edgar.

“I-I just wanted to spark her interest so she wouldn’t feel discouraged…”

Edgar frantically waved both hands, claiming it was a misunderstanding.

“Sia is our daughter, and Raon’s older sister. That kind of fluff isn’t going to shake her. What sparking interest nonsense is that?”

Sylvia kicked Edgar hard in the butt and walked over to Sia.

“Sia.”

She smiled and looked into Sia’s eyes.

“Judiel is right. If you want to wield a sword like Raon, it’ll take a lot of hard work.”

Even back when Sia wore the helmet of the Green King, there was a significant gap between her swordsmanship and Raon’s.

Even if her body still retained the memories from that time, proper swordsmanship would require a great deal of time.

“Do I have to sleep a lot?”

“You’ll have to sleep a whole lot. But…”

Sylvia smiled and gently held Sia’s small hand, still wet with sweat and blood.

“When that day comes, it’ll feel amazing. Just like when we met again.”

She smiled, asking if Sia wasn’t looking forward to it. Sylvia wasn’t just treating her as a child, but also as an adult who had lost her memories.

“I’m telling you, that’s not how you do it. With kids, first you—”

Just as Edgar stood up, still clutching his swollen butt—

Sia raised her wooden sword high above her head.Top of Form

Fwoooosh!

Sia struck downward while channeling the principles of the Fangs of Insanity. Her sword strike shot out like the quills of a porcupine, creating ripples across the lake as if a sudden downpour had fallen.

"That's right. Raon said so too."

She turned around with a bright smile.

“He told me it would take a long time, but that if I practiced consistently, I’d grow stronger.”

She gave a confident nod, recalling the words Raon had spoken to her when he first handed her a sword.

"Raon is swinging his sword right now too."

Imagining Raon training inside the Chamber of Self, Sia brought her sword down once more.

"I told you."

Sylvia, now standing beside Edgar, gave a soft smile.

"Children grow up fast."

She nodded as if proud of how much Sia had grown.

"Heuk..."

Edgar's eyes reddened as if moved with deep emotion, watching Sia's back as she swung the sword.

" Proud, aren’t you? I also feel a little..."

"That's not it."

He shook his head.

"She’s growing up too fast! She should still be playing with me!"

He waved both fists in protest, complaining that he didn’t like how fast his daughter was growing up.

“Sia! Let’s stop for today and go play with Dad—”

"You exasperating man!"

Unable to endure it any longer, Sylvia slammed her fist into Edgar’s stomach.

“Guhhak!”

He collapsed, clutching his stomach, his shoulders trembling.

"Even though Raon’s grown up, looks like I have two kids…”

Sylvia muttered that soon there would only be one left, then slung Edgar over her shoulder and walked back toward the annex building.

"This is..."

Judiel looked away after glancing between Sia’s spirited shouts and Edgar, drooling and being dragged off helplessly.

She turned her gaze to the garden, where her younger sister Juvel was tending to the flowers with a gentle smile, and found herself smiling in much the same way.

“Happiness, huh.”

*   *   *

"Head of house."

Roenn entered the audience chamber and bowed to Glenn, who was standing by the window.

"The team leaders of the Light Wind Palace are here."

He glanced toward the door, saying that Burren, Martha, and Runaan had requested an audience.

“Let them in.”

Glenn nodded and sat on the throne, granting permission.

“Please, come in.”

Roenn personally opened the doors of the audience chamber and led Burren, Martha, and Runaan inside.

"We greet the head of house!"

"We greet the head of house."

Following Burren’s greeting, Martha and Runaan knelt at the same time and bowed their heads.

"You may rise."

Glenn waved his hand, telling them they didn’t need to be so formal.

"Thank you!"

Burren gave one more deep bow like Raon often did, then stepped forward.

“Yes!”

"Thank you."

Martha and Runaan also gave slight bows and stood behind Burren.

"......"

Glenn looked over the three standing before him and smiled faintly.

‘All three are Grandmasters now…’

The image of Burren and Runaan during their judgement ceremony was still vivid in his mind. He could hardly believe those young children had now reached Grandmaster.

‘They’ve all changed so much.’

Burren, who had once expressed his desire to be acknowledged by Karoon as feelings of inferiority, had now become the emotional pillar of the Light Wind.

Martha, who had once tried to ease the pain of losing her mother through violence, had become a seasoned swordswoman, capable of turning even her rage into a strategic weapon.

‘But…’

Glenn clicked his tongue softly as he looked into Runaan’s eyes, which looked as though she hadn’t slept.

‘That child… I still can’t read her.’

Normally, he could glean a person’s thoughts from their eyes to some extent, but Runaan was an exception. Staring into those blank, hazy eyes made even him feel drowsy.

‘Of course, the fact that she overcame Syria was impressive.’

He had to admire the willpower it took to escape the mental shackles set by Syria Sullion and rise to her current level. Despite her gentle appearance, her resolve was stronger than anyone’s.

‘If not for Raon…’

All three of these children would’ve been hailed as once-in-a-generation prodigies.

He wasn't just saying this because they were his grandchildren.

If Raon hadn’t grown at such an outrageous pace, each of them would’ve been remembered as geniuses in the continent’s history.

Neither the Twelve Stars of the Continent nor even the Ten Heavens had reached Grandmaster at their age.

‘And yet, they haven’t shown even the slightest trace of envy or jealousy…’

Glenn looked at Burren, Martha, and Runaan with a warm smile.

‘More than just mature—there’s no other word for it but remarkable.’

Despite living under Raon’s shadow, the three of them had shown neither envy nor jealousy toward him.

On the contrary, they were so eager to lift him up higher that it almost felt like they were competing to do so. It was like watching a true family, siblings who genuinely cherished one another. The sight made even Glenn feel warm inside.

“So, what brings you here?”

Glenn’s tone reflected the affection he felt for the three as he addressed them.

“We wanted to ask when the Light Wind palace master will be coming out of the Chamber of Self.”

Burren stepped forward and lifted his gaze. His brows furrowed slightly, showing clear concern over how long Raon had remained inside.

“He’s the type who always handles things quickly, so… I’m a little—just a little—worried.”

Martha agreed, saying this wasn’t like Raon at all, and gently bit her lip.

“Yeah. He’s been sleeping for way too long.”

Runaan shook her head repeatedly, seemingly thinking the Chamber of Self was a place to sleep.

“And on top of that, the Light Wind Palace was sent on a mission immediately after our promotion, so its organizational structure still hasn’t been properly established.”

Burren lowered his head, adding that their leave had ended, but without the palace master, the palace couldn’t operate as it should.

“That’s understandable.”

Glenn nodded, seeing Burren’s troubled face. With the chain of command still unformed and the master absent, it was no wonder the palace couldn’t function properly.

“I fully understand why you’ve come. However, I can’t give you an answer as to when the Light Wind Palace master will come out.”

"Huh? What do you mean…"

Martha blinked in confusion.

"The Chamber of Self is a mysterious place that shows a different world depending on who enters. I don’t know where Raon is or what he’s doing inside."

Glenn shook his head, saying only Raon could open the door and exit of his own will.

“T‑then… could something have happened to him…?"

Martha swallowed dryly, Raon’s face flashing in her mind.

"That’s unlikely. It’s a relatively safe place. And it’s not unheard of for someone to stay inside for a long time."

Glenn rested his hand on the armrest of the throne, suggesting they wait a little longer.

‘Raon… when are you coming out…’

Though he’d told Burren, Martha, and Runaan to be patient, he himself seemed more uneasy. His grip tightened unconsciously, crushing the armrest under his grip.

“I-I see…”

Burren’s eyes shifted slightly as he looked at the crumbling remnants of the throne’s arm.

“In that case, we’ll take our leave for now…”

“Come to think of it.”

Just as Burren was stepping back, Glenn raised a hand.

“I suppose it’s about time to give you three permission to enter the Chamber of Self as well.”

Glenn nodded, saying that since they’d made great contributions during the Black Tower mission, he wanted to give Burren, Martha, and Runaan permission to enter the Chamber of Self.

“R-Really?”

Burren’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Y-You’ve been surprisingly generous lately, Sir.”

Martha let out a hearty laugh, saying Glenn seemed to have changed a lot.

“I like it too. The place to sleep.”

Runaan mumbled that the Chamber of Self was a place to sleep, either knowing a lot about it—or nothing at all.

“Though not right now.”

Glenn shook his head, explaining that even if they wanted to go in, it wasn’t possible at the moment.

“Of course. Just being granted permission is already an honor!”

“Please call on us anytime!”

“Do they have beds?”

Burren, Martha, and Runaan smiled brightly and clenched their fists, clearly happy just to be given permission to enter.

“Alright. I’ll summon you when the time comes.”

As Glenn looked at the three of them with a gentle smile—

Knock knock.

A sharp knock came from the door of the audience chamber.

“Enter.”

Glenn nodded, and Karoon opened the door and stepped inside.

“…I greet the head of house.”

Karoon bowed at the entrance, looking surprised to see others present.

“There are guests, so I’ll come back another time.”

“Come in. I’m sure you’re here for the same reason.”

Glenn beckoned him in with a casual flick of his fingers.

“Hmm…”

Karoon gave Burren a brief glance, then walked up to stand before the platform.

“You came because Raon’s been inside for too long, didn’t you?”

Glenn gave a subtle smile, as if he could see right through him.

"That's not necessarily the case. I expected him to come out soon, so it's unexpected that it's taking this long, and there might be an issue with the Chamber of Self itself, rather than the Light Wind Palace master..."

Despite his excuse, Karoon kept stealing glances at the right-side door, making it obvious he was worried about Raon.

“I see.”

Glenn let out a soft chuckle as he glanced at Karoon, who kept darting his eyes toward the side.

‘You’ve really changed a lot.’

Karoon, who once coldly abandoned not just others but even his own children, was now worried about his nephew. The sight made Glenn smile without realizing it.

'That child really had a huge influence...'

As he once again marveled at Raon’s influence, Glenn turned his gaze to the door on the right, the one leading to the Chamber of Self.

“Speak of the devil and he shall appear.”

He nodded slightly, the corner of his lips twitching.

“Looks like Raon’s come out.”

They heard a door open and shut inside. Since Raon was the only one within, he must have finished the trial.

“Finally crawled out, huh!”

Despite her words, Martha beamed with a wide smile as she turned to the door.

“I wonder how much stronger he’s gotten this time.”

Burren’s fingers trembled slightly, as if anticipating the level of power Raon would now wield.

“Maybe he even surpassed Transcendence?”

Runaan nodded solemnly, as if wondering aloud whether Raon might have even surpassed Transcendence itself.

“Unfortunately, that won’t be the case.”

Karoon shook his head as he looked toward the right-side door.

“What do you mean by that?”

Martha narrowed her eyes and turned to Karoon.

“The Chamber of Self was created to break through walls. Swordsmen who aren’t facing a wall in their progress won’t gain much from entering.”

Karoon spoke calmly, implying that Raon likely hadn’t undergone any significant change.

“Is that really true?”

Martha quickly turned her head toward Glenn, seeking confirmation.

“…Yes.”

Glenn lowered his eyes with composure.

“One must enter the Chamber of Self while standing before a wall to achieve great change. Since Raon recently broke through the Transcendence wall on his own, he likely wouldn't have obtained significant results.”

He tapped the armrest of his throne and said there had even been swordsmen who came out of the Chamber without gaining anything at all.

“So if Raon comes out having achieved even a small gain, be sure to congratulate him…”

Just as Karoon offered that quiet suggestion, the door on the right side opened, and Raon stepped out.

"Am I a little late?"

Raon bowed politely with his usual calm expression, as if apologizing for coming out so late.

But the heat and cold radiating from his shoulders shimmered with a serene brilliance, like the sun and moon casting their light in harmony.

“Palace master! You’re back!”

“Took you long enough!”

"Handsome Raon!"

Burren, Martha, and Runaan waved and smiled, unable to sense any major change in Raon.

But Glenn and Karoon were different.

"He definitely wasn't facing a wall, so how..."

“This kind of thing has never happened before…”

Karoon swallowed dryly, unable to believe what he was seeing, while Glenn trembled at the jaw, as if he were witnessing the impossible.

“…Haa.”

“He’s pulled off another insane feat.”

The two Transenders stared at Raon with eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

 

 

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