The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 986

 Chapter 986

 

‘This is…’

Raon chewed hard on his lower lip, the sender of the short and direct letter could only be Merlin.

‘It’s from Merlin.’

It wasn’t because of that delicate fragrance that always lingered around her. Just reading the words of thanks written on the back made it impossible not to think of her.

T-That’s a letter from her, the madwoman?

Wrath shivered slightly, as if even the letter frightened him.

‘Yeah. Merlin always said she was searching for Eden.’

After she left, Merlin had frequently gone off in search of Eden’s headquarters, which had changed location, and track down the hidden Heavenly Demon.

There had been no word from her for a while, but now, it seemed she had finally discovered Eden’s location.

As expected of the madwoman, her handwriting looks like a worm crawled across the page—an utter mess.

Wrath nodded, muttering that it was exactly what you'd expect from a crazy woman.

No, wait… that’s not it.

He let out a low groan as he looked more closely at the letter.

‘Right. It’s not that she can’t write well. She was in such a rush that this was the best she could manage.’

Raon had seen Merlin’s handwriting back when she stayed in Zieghart.

Her script had the style of old texts from hundreds of years ago, but each letter had been neat and precise, like they’d been printed.

But now, both the writing that revealed Eden’s location and the part that said thank you were slanted and uneven. That could only mean she was in a very dangerous situation.

So she’s being pursued.

‘I think so too. She probably found the headquarters, pushed herself too far, and got discovered.’

It seemed Merlin had located Eden beneath the crater atop White Spirit Mountain, but while trying to gather more information, she had been discovered and was now on the run.

‘If that weren’t the case, she wouldn’t have sent a letter, she would’ve come to me herself.’

Knowing her personality, if she wasn’t being chased, she would’ve come to him in animal form and surprised him.

The fact that she had sent only a letter, not her true form or even an animal, meant she was in a very urgent and dire situation.

‘There’s a chance this is a trap…’

Even so, he had no choice but to go.

If Merlin was in danger, he had to go, even if it was a trap.

Ssssh.

Raon read the letter again, tightening his grip until the yellowed paper crumpled as if it might tear apart.

‘Thank you for treating me like a human?’

I haven’t done anything for you yet.

Since long ago, Merlin had never thought of herself as human.

Instead of exalting herself and seeing humans as insects like dragons did, she thought of herself as something lower, and instead grew close to animals.

In the continent’s history books, Merlin was remembered as a villainess who had forsaken her position as a royal archmage to side with monsters, or as a child possessed by a demon at birth who killed her parents on the spot. It seemed those stories weren’t entirely unfounded.

‘How pathetic.’

All I had to do was touch the wound, let it open up, and heal it together with her.

Not asking about Merlin’s past, thinking it was for her sake, was something I now deeply regretted.

‘I really am a damn coward.’

He had received so much help from Merlin, yet he had never done anything for her. He scoffed at his own cowardice.

You idiot!

Wrath frowned at him as if asking what he was doing.

'I know. I know this isn't the time to be thinking about such things.'

Raon clenched his jaw and nodded.

‘I just… don’t know what to do.’

He knew the location of Eden’s headquarters, but couldn’t come up with a single thing to do, or how to even begin.

There was no dimensional gate that reached near the White Spirit Mountain. By the time he got there, everything could already be over.

No, even if he could arrive at the White Spirit Mountain this very instant, there was no guarantee Merlin would still be there.

‘Wrath.’

Raon exhaled a murky breath and turned to Wrath.

Hmph...

Wrath furrowed his brow and shook his head.

If it were the devildom, maybe. But in the human realm, even the King of Essence can’t do much.

He lowered his gaze, saying the most he could do was scan the area once they got there.

‘Then what should I…’

Raon was grinding his teeth so hard it felt like they might break, when it happened.

“Palace master?”

Mark Goetten approached him.

“Are you alright?”

He must’ve been watching Raon the whole time, his face had gone completely pale.

“Ah, it’s nothing. I’m just….”

Raon began to answer, but then his gaze fell on the entrance to the lord’s manor behind Mark, and he swallowed dryly.

‘The lord’s manor…’

Yeah. That’s the only way now.

If he tried to take a dimensional gate to somewhere near the White Spirit Mountain and run the rest of the way, he’d be too late for sure. Whether it worked or not, he needed to borrow Glenn’s power, and that of the other Five Kings.

“Burren, Martha, Runaan. Please guide them to Mirtan Village.”

Raon said he had something urgent to do and asked the three of them for a favor.

“Huh? What’s going o—”

“Understood.”

Burren cut Martha off and nodded. He must have immediately sensed the seriousness of the situation.

“I’m sorry. I should be the one guiding you.”

“No, it’s alright.”

Latir also waved his hand, seeming to understand from Raon’s expression. Honestly, Raon wasn’t sure what kind of face he was making right now.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

Raon politely bowed to everyone and stepped into the lord’s manor again.

“I’ll come with you.”

Mark Goetten followed behind him and bowed.

“No. I’ll go alone.”

Raon firmly held out his hand. If this were an official mission, that would be different, but this was personal, and the situation was urgent. He wanted to move alone.

“I’m your guardian, palace master. Whether it’s a personal matter or a mission from the house, sticking with you is my duty. If I fall behind, feel free to leave me behind.”

Mark, seemingly reading Raon’s thoughts, bowed again, saying he could be left behind if necessary.

“…Alright.”

Raon let out a short sigh. Since he had chosen Mark as his guardian, he couldn’t refuse.

“Let’s hurry.”

Wiping away the swirling negative thoughts, Raon ran toward the audience chamber.

*   *   *

“…So with that, he’s already killed an ancient dragon and returned. Isn’t it impressive how he keeps his word?”

Glenn tilted his head toward the blue window floating on the ceiling of the audience chamber.

“Who would’ve imagined Raon would move faster than us? And it’s not like he just cut down the enemy’s numbers! He even brought back a solid lead on the Four Demons!”

Glenn stretched his arms wide, declaring that this accomplishment wasn’t just about killing a dragon. The corners of his mouth were nearly touching his ears, he looked completely overjoyed.

“Haa…”

Chamber bit on a candy in the blue window.

“So the emergency communication network was activated, and I thought something serious had happened, but it was just grandpa bragging about his grandson? Seriously, I’m losing my mind here.”

She shrugged, clearly dumbfounded.

“…But Raon didn’t get hurt, right?”

Still, even she raised her brows, a flicker of concern in her voice.

“For results like this, he could brag all day and no one could say a thing! Just accept it already!”

Ogram clapped for Raon, saying he had done something amazing.

“But where is the star of all this? I’d really like to see his face.”

He rolled his eyes around the blue window, clearly wanting to see Raon in person.

“To think he got the Light Wind swordsmen to slay an ancient dragon… The Light Wind palace master isn’t just a warrior, he’s also an exceptional commander.”

King Lecross let out a dry laugh, saying he couldn’t find any flaws in Raon.

“He really is something. I want to see what’s inside him…”

The Magic Tower’s master muttered, almost whispering, that she wanted to see what was inside Raon. Her eyes gleamed strangely from within her hood.

“You even think about anything weird and you’re dead.”

Chamber bared her white teeth, warning her not to mess with Raon.

“T-That’s not what I meant…”

Larian lowered her head slightly, hiding the light that had flickered in her eyes.

“Head of house. This lead about the Four Demons, what exactly is it?”

King Lecross licked his lips, saying that was what intrigued him the most.

“Yes, do tell us. We’ll need to prepare right away.”

Ogram rubbed his hands together, saying he should send a sorcerer capable of moving discreetly.

“The lead Raon uncovered about the Four Demons is…”

Just as Glenn, smiling with the corners of his mouth lifted, was about to speak—

Boom!

The door to the audience chamber burst open, and Raon entered with Mark Goetten.

“Raon…?”

Glenn’s eyes widened at the look on Raon’s face, so unlike his usual self.

“Raon is here?”

Chamber spun her head toward the entrance as if she were about to leap out of the blue window.

“So suddenly?”

King Lecross furrowed his brows in surprise.

“Raon!”

Ogram waved enthusiastically, welcoming him.

“Sorry for barging in like this.”

Raon bowed deeply to Glenn and the heads of the Five Kings.

“I’ve found the location of Eden’s headquarters.”

He stepped forward toward the blue window and raised his gaze.

“Eden’s headquarters…?”

Glenn’s jaw dropped slightly in disbelief, as if this was something he had never even imagined.

“it’s beneath the crater at the summit of the White Spirit Mountain. We’ll need to investigate further, but I believe the information is solid.”

Raon bowed his head as he requested they dispatch a group capable of moving in secret

“H-How did you find that out?”

Chamber blinked in disbelief.

“Someone sent me the information. That’s why I have a request.”

Raon held out Merlin’s letter toward Chamber.

“Would you happen to be able to locate the person who sent this letter?”

There was no known magic that could track the sender of an object, but right now, Chamber was the only one he could turn to.

“Hmm…”

Glenn looked at Raon’s hardened expression, then turned his gaze to Chamber.

“Does such a magic exist?”

“I'm an expert in space magic, but even I’ve never heard of anything like that.”

Chamber shook her head, saying she had never even thought about such a thing until now.

“Ah…”

Raon bit his lip hard enough to draw blood as he saw the uncertainty in Chamber’s eyes.

‘Damn it…’

Did I just waste time?

He regretted not running straight to the nearest dimensional gate from the start.

“I understand. Then I’ll be—”

“Wait.”

As Raon turned to go, legs trembling, Chamber raised her hand.

“I can’t do it, but there is someone who might be able to do that kind of perverted magic.”

She lifted her finger and pointed toward the right side of the blue window, at Larian.

“Isn’t that right?”

“Hmmm…”

Larian slowly raised her gaze and looked at the letter in Raon’s hand.

“You… you received it through magic?”

She twitched her fingers as if that was the key detail.

“Yes. It dropped right onto my head a short while ago.”

“O-One second. Let me take a look.”

As she reached out, the letter in Raon’s hand vanished and reappeared within her side of the blue window.

“‘Eden’s headquarters. Beneath the crater at the summit of White Spirit Mountain.’ And…”

Larian didn’t read the message on the back. She just stared at it for a moment.

“Ah… there’s still a faint trace of mana left. I think I can do it.”

Larian nodded, saying that since not much time had passed since the letter was sent, some of the mana still lingered on it.

“Really?”

He hadn’t expected much, so when he heard that, his heart suddenly pounded like it was about to burst.

“I can probably do it… but I’ll need to prepare quite a bit. It’ll take some time.”

She gently shook the hood that covered her head, signaling it wouldn’t be easy, but it was possible.

“Please. Let me know where she is.”

“I… I might be able to send you there instead.”

She raised her hand, saying she could not only trace the location, but personally transport him to the place the letter had been sent from.

“But… in return…”

The dull light in Larian’s eyes sharpened with a cold gleam.

“Would you be willing to grant me one favor later?”

She nodded, saying that if he agreed to that, she’d make sure to send him, no matter what it took.

“I understand. Whatever it is.”

Raon nodded without a moment’s hesitation.

“No! She’s the most unhinged out of all of us!”

Chamber shook her head fiercely, telling him to refuse immediately.

“She might dissect you, you know!”

“That’s fine.”

He didn’t care about what came after. Even if he had to sell his soul to a demon or an angel, he had to go.

“...It seems that woman is being chased.”

Glenn seemed to realize that the letter’s sender was Merlin and gently lowered his eyebrows.

“In that case, I'll go instead. As long as I don't overdo it, it should be fine.”

He began to rise from the throne, declaring he would go himself.

“N-No, you can’t.”

Larian lowered her gaze as she opened her mouth to speak.

“T-This magic can only send someone I can control.”

She shook her head, saying she couldn’t send Glenn because he was stronger than she was.

From those words, Raon could roughly guess the nature of the magic Larian was about to use.

“Don’t worry.”

Raon looked at Glenn and shook his head.

“I’m not going to do anything reckless like storming the headquarters. I’ll just rescue her and come straight back.”

He placed his hand on his sword’s hilt and asked him to trust him.

“Hmm…”

Glenn looked like he was still deeply worried, his lips parting slightly, yet unable to give his permission right away.

“Y-You don’t have to worry so much.”

Larian shook her head.

“I can’t pinpoint the exact location, but… the place this letter was sent from isn’t anywhere near the White Spirit Mountain.”

She flicked her staff gently, indicating that it was somewhere far from the White Spirit Mountain.

“What concerns me most… is that this could be a trap.”

King Lecross narrowed his eyes, saying the letter itself could very well be bait.

“T-That’ll be fine too. I’ll be watching.”

Larian flicked her finger lightly, saying that if things got dangerous, she’d teleport him back right away.

It was obvious she didn’t want to lose the favor Raon had promised her.

“Since she’s saying that much… please trust me, just this once.”

Raon bowed his head and earnestly asked Glenn.

“Haa… I guess there’s no stopping you.”

Glenn let out a deep sigh, realizing there was no stopping him.

Chiiiiik—

About twenty minutes later, Larian inscribed a red magic circle onto Merlin’s letter as if it had been drawn in blood, then sent it to Raon.

“P-Place your hand on the magic circle, and it should teleport you to where the letter was sent from.”

Larian licked her lips, saying he could depart immediately.

“Such perverted magic...”

Chamber shook her head, impressed yet dumbfounded.

“Then we’ll be going.”

Raon bowed to Glenn once more.

“If you’ve made up your mind, bring her back no matter what.”

Glenn gave him a heavy, firm gaze.

“Because I want to hear you call me grandfather again—it’s been a while.”

He gave a small nod, telling him to follow through now that he was resolved.

“Yes. I promise I’ll bring her back.”

Raon placed a hand over his heart as if making a vow.

“Let’s go.”

He placed a hand on Mark Goetten’s shoulder and unfurled the letter with the magic circle.

“I-If anything goes wrong, just call my name.”

As Larian brought her hands together, Merlin’s letter split into thousands of glowing fragments, swirling around Raon and Mark.

Fwoooooosh!

The letter fragments burned pitch black and vanished, and in the next moment, they were no longer in the audience chamber, but standing inside a forest scorched and blackened.

‘We’ve already arrived?’

Raon had known the Tower Master’s magic was mysterious, but this was beyond expectation. He let out a hollow laugh, stunned.

Looks like the spell worked properly.

Wrath narrowed his eyes, scanning the scorched earth.

That madwoman’s mana is lingering in the area.

He lowered his gaze, saying Merlin had fought here.

‘Yeah. It’s Merlin’s mana.’

Raon nodded, scanning the trees that had turned to ash.

The flow of her mana was scattered and erratic, as if she had been attacked right after sending the letter.

‘But…’

There was no sign of where she’d gone.

It had already been about thirty minutes since Merlin had sent the letter to him. Considering her abilities, and those of whoever might be chasing her, she could be far from this forest by now.

‘Wrath.’

Even with the King of Essence’s perception, he can’t detect her. She must’ve already moved to a completely different place.

Wrath muttered that it was nearly impossible to track her now, though he kept his eyes half-closed, continuing to extend his perception.

‘Damn it…’

Raon pushed both the Ring of Fire and the Perception of the Snow Flower to their limits, even going so far as to draw the emotions of the demon kings.

Fwaaah!

In the midst of a pain so intense it felt like his body and soul were being twisted apart, Raon continued expanding his perception without pause.

That was when, a faint tearing sound echoed from the far western edge.

Found it!

‘I heard it too!’

Before either of them could say another word, Raon and Wrath simultaneously turned their eyes westward.

“It’s to the west!”

Raon shouted to Mark Goetten and dashed forward, shattering the ground beneath him.

“Yes, sir!”

Mark Goetten gritted his teeth and followed close behind, turning into a streak of red light as he chased after Raon.

‘Even if I die, I’ll follow!’

 

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