The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1025

 Chapter 1025

 

‘Wrath.’

Raon called out to Wrath, who was yawning as if bored.

‘Do you see that?’

He subtly raised a finger and pointed to the faint light blooming near the hearts of Martha and Runaan.

He can see that the beef girl and the ice cream girl are so exhausted they’re drooling.

Wrath tilted his head, as if asking what exactly Raon was telling him to look at.

‘Am I the only one who can see it?

It seemed that I was the only one who could see the light rising from Martha’s and Runaan’s chests.

‘Then there’s a high chance that light is related to the Soul Transfer Transformation.’

Even when I had pushed Martha and Runaan to the brink of death in the past, no such light had ever appeared. It was clearly the effect of the new trait Soul Transfer Transformation.

That must be it.

Though Wrath still couldn’t see it, he nodded, saying the guess seemed correct.

‘Then…’

Raon clicked his tongue and jabbed at the energy blooming from Martha and Runaan’s chests with the sheathed Heavenly Drive.

“Kegh!”

“Urgh…”

Martha and Runaan, already exhausted, couldn’t react in time and were sent rolling across the floor of the training ground after being struck in the chest with the sheathed sword.

“Ahhhhk!”

“It hurts…”

The two curled up like pill bugs, letting out deep groans.

“He shows no mercy even when they’re that exhausted.”

“Truly a demon…”

“Glad I wasn’t in there. I seriously can’t take any more.”

The Light Wind swordsmen let out dry sighs, shocked that Raon actually jabbed Martha and Runaan, who looked like they’d collapse from the slightest touch.

Even a demon wouldn’t do something like this!

Wrath shook his head violently.

Hey, you crazy bastard! When something strange shows up, you observe it first! Who the hell jabs it with a sword right away?!

He scrunched his nose, saying even a wild boar would sniff an unfamiliar fruit before biting into it.

‘No, I mean…’

Raon scratched the back of his head and shifted his eyes.

‘The Thespian Emperor and the Queen of Swords both entered a trance while sparring with me, so I figured it might be the same for those two… That’s why I hit them once.’

Since the Queen of Swords and the Thespian Emperor had entered trance while fully immersed in sparring with him, he figured these two might as well, and had simply given them a light jab.

Then you should’ve made it soft enough that they could block it! That was too strong!

Wrath ground his teeth, asking why he was showing off his strength when they were so weak. It was clear he still had a soft spot for Runaan and Martha.

‘I did go easy, though.’

He had adjusted the strength because he thought the trait wouldn’t activate if it was too strong or too weak, but it seemed that, in their current condition, it had still been too much for Martha and Runaan to handle.

‘I should stop here for today…’

Just as he was about to lower his sword and call it a day—

“Not yet…”

Martha stood up, not even bothering to brush off the sand that covered her entire body.

“I can still do it.”

She raised her sword, asking him to continue.

“If the rakshasa woman can do it…”

Runaan exhaled a white breath filled with cold energy and lifted her head.

“Then I will too…”

Though she bit her lip from the pain, she straightened her back.

“Hm…”

Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Martha and Runaan taking their combat stances.

‘The light blooming from the two of them has gotten stronger.’

As the two renewed their resolve to fight, the light blooming from their hearts became deeper than before.

‘That light must be the manifestation of their souls being shown to me through the trait Soul Transfer Transformation.’

If that weren’t the case, there was no reason he alone would be able to see it.

‘So what should I do now?’

It was clear he needed to fight the two, but simply beating them down like before wouldn’t be meaningful.

‘Let’s consider the difference between Runaan and Martha, and the Queen of Swords and the Thespian Emperor.’

It’s not just about martial power, there’s an overwhelming difference in the level of their souls.

Based on what the Soul Transfer Transformation trait described, it seemed that the trance didn’t occur because of martial strength, but due to the difference in the level of their souls.

‘Do their souls need to reach the level of mine to connect?’

The Thespian Emperor and the Queen of Swords are high-level Transcenders, so their souls are at a high level too.

In contrast, Runaan and Martha have reached the realm of Grandmaster in terms of martial arts, but they’re still young, so the level of their souls isn’t very high.

Because their souls were small, it seemed they couldn’t connect with his.

‘I think I’ve got a rough idea of what to do now.’

If Martha and Runaan couldn’t move their souls on their own, then all he had to do was approach them first.

“If you still have the strength to stand…”

Raon beckoned to Runaan and Martha with a finger.

“Come at me.”

As he told them to come strike him themselves, he released the level of his soul.

Fwaaaaaah!

The level of soul he released surged up, massive enough to rival even the highest-level Transcenders,  causing Martha and Runaan to break into cold sweat and be pushed back.

“If you can’t reach me, then give up here.”

If they couldn’t move on their own will, they would never be able to enter trance. All Raon could do was remain there, soul fully released, and wait for them.

“Like hell I’ll give up.”

Martha chewed hard on her lips and stepped forward. Even as her mind was being crushed by the weight of Raon’s soul, she took one step at a time.

“I won’t give up either…”

Runaan shrank her shoulders and hunched forward under the pressure, inching toward him. Her stance wasn’t that of a proper swordsman, but her eyes sparkled more like one than anyone else.

“The energy wave is so strong it’s suffocating, even from here…”

“Is… is that really okay?”

“He’s especially intense today… Did he eat something weird or what…”

The Light Wind swordsmen couldn’t even breathe properly from the ever-increasing pressure radiating from Raon and swallowed dryly.

Step.

Even as cold sweat poured from them under the immense pressure, Martha and Runaan eventually stood before Raon.

“Damn, that was far!”

Martha exhaled heavily, saying each step felt like a whole year had passed.

“Ugh…”

Runaan could no longer muster the strength to speak and simply bit her lip with a groan.

“You can’t stop here.”

Raon told them that simply walking over wasn’t enough, and beckoned again with his finger.

“I know that already!”

“I’m starting now…”

With trembling hands, Martha and Runaan raised their swords and brought them down over their heads.

Kyaaaaang!

Raon struck both of their swords roughly away with the sheathed Heavenly Drive.

“Ugh!”

“Ah…”

Martha and Runaan staggered back, nearly collapsing.

“That’s not swordsmanship. That was just swinging.”

Raon shook his head firmly, saying that wasn’t it.

“Put the emotions and soul you’ve built up through all your swordsmanship into your swing.”

He nodded, telling them to try again.

“Hoo!”

“Got it…”

Martha and Runaan raised their focus again and swung their swords once more.

“Again!”

Raon said even the second strike wasn’t enough, and pushed Martha and Runaan back even more fiercely.

Kyaaaaang!

Like spring-loaded dolls, Martha and Runaan kept rising to their feet and unleashed the swordsmanship they had spent their lives mastering.

Chiaaang!

Raon licked his lips slightly as he watched their swords regain a natural flow.

‘They’re almost there.’

Martha and Runaan had begun letting go of the excessive force they were putting in, and were now drawing out swordsmanship that followed the flow of their own rhythm. He could feel that their trance was right in front of them.

“Follow me!”

Martha charged in, blood vessels rising in her black pupils. Even in that moment, she seemed to be thinking of Runaan beside her as she stepped in first and unleashed a heavy strike.

“I’m not following. I’m going first…”

Runaan drew in a deep breath and exploded with silver cold energy. She too, thinking of Martha, stepped forward and stabbed with her sword, cloaked in chilling frost.

‘Now.’

Raon felt the radiance blooming from their hearts become so strong it almost blinded his vision, and drew Heavenly Drive.

Wooooong!

Activating the Ring of Fire to its extreme, he brought down Heavenly Drive, infused with his will, towards their swords.

Paaaaang!

It wasn’t swords colliding, it was as if souls were crashing. A thunderous roar erupted as the light blooming from Martha and Runaan soared into the dim sky.

Wuuuuuuung.

Raon lowered his gaze after confirming that the immense light that had risen all the way to the sky was beginning to subside.

‘Did it work?’

Martha and Runaan were frozen in the exact posture they had struck with their swords, but the flow of aura within them was surging violently, as if hit by a wave.

W-What is this!

Wrath gulped as he looked at the motionless Runaan and Martha.

Did it really succeed?

He let out a hollow breath, as if he had assumed they would fail for sure.

‘It looks like it did.’

Raon exhaled the breath he’d been holding and gave a nod.

How is this possible…

‘To be honest, ‘I didn’t expect it to succeed either.’

He had just planned to test a few things today, but thanks to Martha and Runaan’s strong will, he had managed to draw them into trance.

‘For the Soul Transfer Transformation to activate, they probably need the will to fight even when both body and mind are exhausted.’

That much was clear, judging by how the light blooming from their hearts grew stronger the more exhausted they became.

“N-No way…”

“They both really entered a trance? Both of them?”

“Unbelievable…”

“So it was true that he could lead others into trance…”

The Light Wind swordsmen trembled their jaws in disbelief, clearly, they had never imagined that Raon would actually lead Martha and Runaan into trance.

‘This trait... it’s good, but…’

Raon frowned slightly as he looked at his subtly trembling hand.

‘It’s quite exhausting.’

It wasn’t just about beating someone down, he had to fully release the level of his soul and match it to the opponent’s breathing, so it wasn’t easy for him either.

‘I probably can’t do this for more than a few people a day. And it doesn’t guarantee success.’

Of course you can’t!

Wrath bared his teeth as if asking what nonsense he was spouting.

If you could pull everyone into trance at will, you’d be able to build an army of Transcenders!

He shook his head, saying that once someone had entered trance, the Soul Transfer Transformation likely couldn’t be used on them again for a while.

‘Still…’

Raon looked at Martha and Runaan, who had entered trance, and let out a gentle smile.

‘I feel proud.’

Seeing Martha and Runaan relying on each other and entering trance together filled his chest with a warm sense of pride.

‘Now I’ll just have to wait.’

Raon stood in front of them as if protecting them, and drew a faint smile.

‘Let’s see how much stronger these two will be when they come out.’

*   *   *

“Haa…”

Martha slowly opened her eyes, exhaling a low breath.

“What… was I doing?”

She looked at the sword in her hand and swallowed dryly.

“Finally awake?”

Raon waved a hand at Martha as she lifted her head.

“Raon…?”

Martha blinked blankly up at Raon.

“Oh! Right, I was sparring with you, and then…”

“You entered a trance.”

“Right. As I listened to your words and kept swinging my sword, I ended up entering that world without even realizing it…”

She nodded, as if she had recalled everything now.

“What did you see in that trance?”

Raon looked into Martha’s calm eyes as he asked.

"...I saw my mom. I came back having relived the days when I lived with her."

Martha bit her lip deeply, saying she couldn’t help but smile from happiness for the first time in a long while.

“I see…”

Raon let out a brief sigh.

‘As I thought, it was for her mother.’

Even when the other swordsmen were too exhausted to stand, Martha kept holding her sword, trying to fight to the end.

He had wondered where that strength came from, but just as he expected, it was her determination to save her mother.

“Thank you…”

Martha lowered her sword and bowed deeply to him.

“Thanks to you, I was able to recall a good memory for the first time in ages. And I was able to overcome a wall.”

Her shoulders trembled faintly, as if she was truly grateful.

“Even if I helped, in the end, it was you who did it.”

Raon smiled and shook his head.

“Congratulations. You’ve reached intermediate Grandmaster level.”

Through this trance, Martha broke through the wall of the lower level and ascended straight to intermediate Grandmaster level.

She still had a long way to go, but it felt like she had gotten much closer to her personal goal now.

“Mmh…”

Runaan rubbed her eyes like a child just waking up and lifted her head.

“I’m back…”

She bowed slightly, as if aware that she had just returned from a trance.

“How was it for you?”

Raon turned to her and asked.

“I fought…”

Runaan lifted her gaze, not with her usual blank look, but with clear, intelligent eyes.

“You fought? Don’t tell me… with that guy?”

“Yeah. With Syria.”

She shook her fists, saying she fought and defeated Syria, the one who had traumatized her as a child.

“I beat him down with all the swordsmanship I’ve learned so far…”

Runaan let out a tiny burp, looking genuinely refreshed.

“Well done.”

Raon let out a soft laugh and nodded.

“And congratulations on reaching intermediate Grandmaster level as well.”

Like Martha, Runaan had also reached intermediate Grandmaster level, so he clapped to congratulate her.

“I reached it…?”

Runaan blinked, as if she hadn’t realized she had reached intermediate Grandmaster level.

“You’ll start to feel it when you wake up tomorrow. Everything will be different from before.”

Raon nodded, telling her to try testing herself tomorrow.

“Yeah…”

“Okay.”

Runaan and Martha rolled their eyes and nodded. But judging from their cat-like gazes, it seemed they wanted to test it out not tomorrow, but right now.

“Do as you like.”

Raon waved his hand and told them to do as they pleased.

“Hey. Come at me now.”

“Yeah…”

Martha and Runaan nodded to each other and walked toward the edge of the training ground.

‘This Soul Transfer Transformation…’

Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at their backs.

‘It doesn’t just trigger trance, it seems to have a positive effect on the person’s trauma, too.’

It was a far more useful trait than he’d thought.

As Raon reread the description of the Soul Transfer Transformation with a smile—

“Palace master!”

“Palace master!”

“Please, we’re asking you!”

Burren, Trevin, and Mark Goetten came running toward him, saying they wanted to enter trance as well.

“Me too!”

“I want to get stronger too!”

“I don’t care how hard it is!”

The other swordsmen also bowed their heads and bent at the waist, saying they wanted to enter a trance as well.

“Ehem…”

“…”

Of course, there were some, like Dorian and Krein, who quietly stepped back.

Your path of suffering is wide open now!

Wrath snickered, saying Raon was going to have a hard time from here on.

“Wait for now…”

Just as Raon waved his hand, saying he was tired and they should do it later—

[The level of your soul has increased.]

[The rank of the trait <Heart Sword (Spirit)> has increased.]

[The rank of the trait <Soul Transfer Transformation> has increased.]

Apparently because he had led Martha and Runaan into trance, the reward arrived immediately.

Whaaa…?

Wrath widened his eyes in surprise, clearly not expecting the reward to come that quickly.

‘Soul Transfer Transformation, sure… but even the Heart Sword ranked up?’

Maybe because he had used his soul, not only the Soul Transfer Transformation but even Heart Sword had increased in rank.

‘If it’s like this….’

Not just the Light Wind swordsmen, but I can also grow stronger with them.

“Hmm-hmm!”

Feeling strength returning to his exhausted body and mind, Raon crooked a finger toward Burren.

“Alright. Let’s start right away.”

You’re supposed to make them stronger! What’s with you getting stronger too!

Wrath flailed his arms, saying it was absurd.

This is a scam!

*   *   *

“Haaah…”

Raon returned to the annex building after helping the Light Wind swordsmen train all the way until morning.

‘I’m exhausted…’

Having pushed the swordsmen while keeping his soul fully released, his entire body felt as heavy as if soaked in water.

As he had expected, this training was just as grueling for him as it was for the swordsmen.

‘But still…’

The satisfaction is on a different level from other training.

Watching the swordsmen enter trance through his own efforts gave him a satisfaction so deep he felt full even without eating.

Though so far, only Martha, Runaan, and Burren had succeeded.

‘It seems like just having the will to fight isn’t enough.’

It looked like, just like Martha and Runaan, there had to be a will to overcome one’s past for the light to bloom from the heart.

Enough rambling! Get inside already!

Wrath waved toward the door of the annex building.

The dining room is filled with the smell of delicious food. How long are you going to just stand there!

He opened his mouth wide, complaining that he was hungry.

‘Alright, alright.’

Raon smiled and opened the door.

He turned to head to his room to wash up first, but then—

From upstairs, he heard sounds like someone was fighting.

“Dad! I told you not to come into my room without knocking!”

Sia was frowning at Edgar, who had opened her door without knocking.

“S-Sia. I just came to say breakfast is ready…”

Edgar’s hand trembled at the cold tone of his daughter’s voice.

“You still have to knock first!”

“S-Sorry. I will from now on…”

“No, just don’t come in at all! I’m not eating!”

Sia shouted that he should never open her door again, then slammed it shut and went back into her room.

“S-Sia! I’m sorry!”

Edgar apologized and knocked gently, but the door didn’t open again.

Wh-what’s going on. Why is that innocent girl….

Wrath blinked in surprise at the unexpected scene.

“I-I don’t know either…”

Raon let out a weak breath, his eyes shaking just like Wrath’s.

“She was always the one who treated father the most affectionately…”

He didn’t understand how the two, who used to be inseparable before he left, had ended up like this.

“…It’s finally here.”

Helen approached him with a heavy sigh.

F-Finally here?

“What do you mean by that? Did she catch some kind of illness?”

Raon and Wrath both turned to Helen and swallowed dryly.

“If you can call it an illness, then yes. It’s something quite serious…”

Helen clenched her fist tightly, a bead of sweat rolling down her forehead.

“She’s going through puberty.”

“……”

 

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