The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1039

Chapter 1039

‘I’ve seen Krakens a few times before…’

Raon let out a heavy breath as he looked at the Kraken hiding beneath the brown sand.

‘But I’ve never seen one that big.’

He had encountered Krakens before, once aboard Aris’ ship during the hunt for the Mad Dragon Kaibar, and again while staying in Montiro to destroy the Black Tower.

The krakens he saw at those times were also huge enough to lightly crush a galleon, but they were, at best, at the level of a monster.

‘But that one’s different.’

The kraken coming into his view now boasted a size that was off the charts, to the point of carrying a city on its back.

‘And on top of that, it’s radiating blood energy too.’

The kraken was hiding not only the terrifying power and speed achieved with that massive body, but also a sinister bloody energy that was chilling to the bone.

Even for him, dealing with that thing underwater didn’t seem easy.

And it’s even using stealth techniques on top of that.

Wrath furrowed his brows, saying even someone with Grandmaster-level aura perception would have a hard time detecting that hidden Kraken.

‘That’s not a stealth technique, it’s a natural trait of octopuses.’

Raon shook his head as he looked at the brown sand.

Huh? A trait of octopuses?

‘Octopuses have special pigments and muscles that allow them to change the color and texture of their skin to match their surroundings.’

The Kraken blending in with the sand wasn’t the power of sorcery, it was a natural ability of the creature itself.

‘Well, that one’s definitely harder to detect than a regular octopus.’

He had to activate the Mind’s Eye of the Azure Flower just to see it, so it seemed the creature was also using ocean mana and sorcery to erase even the slightest traces.

[That is a kraken…?]

Roenn swallowed dryly, seemingly shocked by the Kraken’s unfathomable size.

[Is that really a Kraken? I’ve never seen one that huge before.]

Even Evelyn, who had seen many Krakens, blinked vacantly, saying it was the first time she’d seen one that size.

[Whether it was enlarged through sorcery or it was born that way, it’s not something we can consider a normal Kraken.]

That thing didn’t feel like a monster Kraken they knew, it was more like a true monster out of myth and legend.

[And that explains everything.]

This canyon, no, ever since the Turtle Rock disappeared, the absence of ocean monsters and fish, and the fact that the White Blood Religion’s headquarters is located beneath this undersea canyon where it never should have been, could all be explained by the existence of that monster.

[This won’t be easy.]

Roenn bit his lip as he watched the sand quiver ever so slightly with the Kraken’s breathing.

[I’m not even confident I could avoid the Kraken’s tentacles.]

He let out a low groan, saying that to avoid the tentacles, he would have to use aura, and that would likely expose their location to the White Blood Religion.

[Same here.]

Evelyn let out a short sigh as she grabbed her diving suit with her fingers.

[Even if I use magic, it’s impossible to break through that sorcery barrier without leaving a trace.]

She furrowed her brows, saying that the sorcery was so densely linked that even interpreting it was difficult.

Grrrng.

The ocean spirit trembled all over, as if it were terrified of the Kraken.

No, judging by its gaze, it seemed to be more afraid of the White Blood Religion’s leader inside the headquarters than of the Kraken itself.

[Let’s fall back for now.]

Raon turned his head as he gently stroked the ocean spirit’s back.

[Already?]

Evelyn widened her eyes in surprise. It seemed she still wanted to stay and examine the sorcery spells further.

[If their defenses are that thorough, there’s a chance they sensed our presence from the fish I tossed in earlier. We’ve gathered enough crucial information, so retreating now is the right move.]

He wanted to survey the surroundings a little more, but since they didn’t know how the White Blood Religion would react, it was better to back off and monitor the situation for now.

[I am of the same thought.]

Roenn agreed, raising his hand.

[I’ll take the lead again.]

He said to move right away and turned his back to go back the way they came.

[Let’s go too.]

Raon grabbed Evelyn and followed Roenn up the sea canyon.

[Can’t we come here every day?]

Evelyn’s purple eyes turned toward him.

[It feels so nice being able to feel your body warmth.]

She exhaled an excited breath, saying she wanted to stay this close to him every moment.

[Today’s the last time.]

Raon said he wouldn't help support her next time and slightly pushed Evelyn away.

Kyao.

Once they exited the canyon, the ocean spirit let out a soft breath, as if its trembling had finally ceased, and rested its legs across his shoulder.

[You’ve worked hard.]

Raon gave a faint smile and stroked the spirit’s head. Having already decided to retreat, they wasted no time and quickly returned to the beach near the harbor.

“Phew.”

Raon took off his diving suit and ran his hand through his wet hair.

“Is it already morning?”

Perhaps due to the tension of discovering the White Blood Religion’s headquarters and the Kraken, more time had passed than he’d realized.

“Ughhh…”

Evelyn slumped onto the sandy beach and squeezed her eyes shut.

“I didn’t think it’d be hiding that deep down. This isn’t going to be easy, is it?”

She scrunched her nose, saying it didn’t look like something they could break through.

“Yes. No matter how we try to attack, we’re bound to be detected.”

Roenn nodded as he shook off his diving suit.

“Unless we have inside information, infiltration is impossible.”

He scratched his forehead, saying they’d be exposed before they could even enter the headquarters.

“For now, let’s call it a day.”

Raon smacked his lips briefly and then lowered the ocean spirit, still hanging onto his shoulder, onto the sand.

Hmm….

Wrath stroked his chin and let out a deep sigh.

‘Why, are you also worried….’

That thing looked downright delicious. He bet it’d be good grilled or boiled.

Wrath was already smacking his lips, clearly thinking about eating the Kraken.

“…Haa.”

Raon let out a deep sigh and approached the ocean spirit.

“It must’ve been scary. Thank you for going with me.”

He expressed his thanks and gently patted its head.

Kyaang!

As if to say it was fine, the ocean spirit licked his hand. It felt like cool seawater touching his fingertips.

“Wait a minute!”

Evelyn, who had been watching, suddenly raised her hand.

“What’s this child’s name?”

She asked while lifting the ocean spirit, which was shaking off water.

“Name? I don’t know either.”

He had only called it ocean spirit, so he didn’t know its name.

“What?!”

Evelyn’s mouth dropped open in disbelief.

“You don’t even know its name after treating it so roughly?”

“R-Roughly? When did I ever treat it roughly…?”

“You did treat it roughly! That trembling little thing guided you all the way to that dangerous place, and you don’t even know its name…?”

She shot him a sharp glare as if asking how he could possibly do such a thing.

“No, I mean… I didn’t even get a chance to learn its name, and it’s not like it’s a spirit I’ve formed a contract with…”

“A contract? Do you have no sense of decency? That’s seriously too much!”

Evelyn declared she was disappointed and tightly hugged the ocean spirit, whose eyes were wide and round.

“N-No, what I mean is…

Now that he hears it, it is too much.

This time, Wrath cut him off.

For once, the King of Essence agrees with the madwoman.

He hadn’t thought about it either, and now he was muttering that this might be on him too.

“Huhuhuhu!”

Roenn let out a hearty laugh as he tidied up his diving suit.

“Everyone else is completely within your grasp, Sir Raon, but Lady Evelyn seems to be the only exception.”

He nodded broadly, saying it was a very amusing relationship.

“That’s right. It’s a special relationship!”

Evelyn murmured in agreement and gave a soft smile.

“Not at all.”

Raon shook his head firmly and looked at the ocean spirit nestled in Evelyn’s arms.

“Do you, by any chance, have a name?”

“Kyareung?”

The ocean spirit shook its head as if names were not something it had.

“Then…”

The ocean spirit shook its head, as if to say it didn’t have anything like a name.

“How about Haerang? It means wolf of the ocean.”

“Kyaoooooo!”

The ocean spirit let out an adorable howl like a real wolf, lifting its head to the sky as if the name pleased it.

Uuuuuuung!

When Haerang howled three times in a row, a blue light blossomed from its body, and the fur that had looked like cotton fluff grew slightly longer. It no longer looked like a wolf, but more like a fluffy puppy.

Although its outer appearance hadn’t changed drastically, the ocean energy emanating from within Haerang had grown astonishingly deep. It felt as if it had changed from a shallow sea to a deep one.

“What the…?”

Raon let out a hollow breath as he looked at Haerang, who was happily letting out small howls.

‘Just from receiving a name, it changed like this?’

It was surprising that it had grown like this just by receiving a name, even though it hadn't made a contract.

“It seems it’s not an ordinary spirit, after all.”

Evelyn narrowed her eyes slightly as she stroked Haerang’s now softer fur.

“Well, I suppose someone like the White Blood Religion’s leader wouldn’t have used an ordinary spirit in the first place.”

She nodded, saying that the fact it withstood the White Blood Religion’s bloody energy alone proved it wasn’t an ordinary one.

“Haerang. I’ll come back tonight, so I’m counting on you again.”

Raon said to get some rest and placed Haerang back into the ocean.

“Kaooo!”

Haerang nodded, eyes narrowing joyfully as if happy to have a name.

“You’re going back again tonight?”

Roenn widened his eyes, as if wondering if that would be okay.

“Yes. We need to investigate thoroughly. That’s the only way to increase our chances of defeating the White Blood Religion, even if just a little.”

Raon said it as if it were obvious and raised his hand.

“You’re right.”

Roenn gave a gentle smile, as if he had been thinking the same but couldn’t say it outright.

“There’s still a lot I need to confirm regarding the sorcery spell. But…”

Evelyn licked her lips, saying she wanted to analyze the sorcery that protected the White Blood Religion’s headquarters.

“Instead of tonight, how about two days later?”

“Two days later? I don’t mind, but why?”

Raon tilted his head and asked why.

“This.”

Evelyn raised a finger and pointed to the diving suit she was wearing.

“I want to make some improvements.”

*   *   *

Knock knock.

While the Tenth Apostle was handling his work, a knock came from the door to the office.

“Enter.”

At his permission, a blonde woman wearing a white robe opened the door and stepped into the office.

“What is it?”

The Tenth Apostle asked without taking his eyes off the documents in his hands.

“Just now, something was caught by the Kraken’s barrier.”

The blonde woman said there had been a movement from the kraken and bowed her head.

“…An intruder?”

The Tenth Apostle crumpled the document in his hand and lifted his gaze.

“No. According to the sentries, it was already a dead fish. It seems to have been carried in by the current.”

The blonde woman shook her head, firmly stating it was not an intruder.

“Normally, this would be something we’d just take care of ourselves, but since the security level is heightened right now…”

She bowed again, apologizing for troubling him over something so trivial.

“Do fish usually show up around here?”

The Tenth Apostle smoothed out the crumpled documents, furrowing his brow.

“It does happen sometimes, riding the ocean currents, but it’s very rare.”

The blonde woman lowered her voice, saying it was something that only happened on occasion.

“……”

The Tenth Apostle narrowed his eyes as he looked at her.

“Please issue an order to strengthen security even furth—”

“No.”

He cut her off and rose to his feet.

“I’ll personally oversee it for a few days.”

He said he would personally take the place of the sentries and observe the situation, then moved toward the door.

“Pardon? There’s no need for you to go that far…”

The blonde woman’s eyes widened in surprise.

“No, this is the right thing to do.”

The Tenth Apostle shook his head firmly.

“With the Ninth Apostle dead and the Blood Spirit Ship destroyed, it’s possible Zieghart or the Five Kings are on the move.”

Saying it was right for him to confirm things with his own eyes, he opened the door and stepped out.

‘Her great cause is not far off now…’

The Tenth Apostle looked at the sky of the headquarters covered in a hazy fog and clenched his fist.

‘We can’t afford to let even a single rat slip through.’

He bit his lip deeply and headed for the outpost from where the outside could be observed.

*   *   *

“Here!”

Evelyn held out a new diving suit that shimmered in an even deeper shade of blue before they entered the ocean.

“What is this?”

Raon blinked as he looked at the new diving suit Evelyn gave him.

“I added invisibility spell to the suit.”

“Huh?”

Raon let out a puff of air as he examined the diving suit Evelyn had given him.

“You said before the magic was too heavy for it.”

“I made improvements.”

“In that short time?”

“I got a hint from the Kraken.”

Evelyn gave a faint smile, saying that the magic was similar to how the Kraken changed its color for camouflage.

“It’s not a perfect invisibility spell, but in the ocean, it’ll be even harder to see.”

She waved her finger, saying that unless it was a Transcender looking directly, it wouldn’t be easy to spot.

“That’s amazing.”

“Of course it is! Magic is the study of creating something from nothing.”

Evelyn, clearly pleased by the compliment, straightened her back and lifted her chin proudly.

“Thank you.”

“What’s with the thanks between us?”

She waved her hand as if saying there was no need to thank her.

“Then let’s go.”

“Huhuhu. Understood.”

Roenn, seeming quite satisfied with the new diving suit, brushed his shoulder once and descended into the ocean.

Kyaooo!

As Raon and Evelyn followed after him into the water, Haerang shot up like a blue marlin, as if it had been waiting. Ever since receiving its name and growing stronger, it seemed even more energetic.

Kyaang.

Haerang wagged its tail, as if to say it would lead the way, and began moving through the ocean.

“Let’s go.”

Raon gave a faint smile and followed behind Haerang, descending once more into the canyon where the White Blood Religion’s headquarters was located.

‘This place gives me a bad feeling every time I come.’

The bloody energy infused into the water was so discreet that even a Grandmaster would have trouble noticing it, and just coming into contact with the water made him feel filthy.

‘Thankfully, they haven’t moved.’

The Kraken and the White Blood Religion’s headquarters remained in place, seemingly unaware that he had come here two days earlier.

‘Today, I should get a little closer and take a better look today… hmm?’

Having already visited the area once, he was moving more leisurely, until he suddenly stopped, clenched his fist, and signaled Evelyn and Roenn to halt.

‘I feel someone’s gaze.’

It wasn’t direct eye contact, but the presence of a highly skilled individual sweeping the area was unmistakable.

‘Wrath. You sensed it too, right?’

Naturally.

Wrath nodded, as if wondering why he was even asking.

Today, it’s not the octopus…

He raised a hand and pointed toward the White Blood Religion’s headquarters.

There’s someone in there observing this place.

Wrath furrowed his brows, saying it was certain.

‘This gaze wasn’t here two days ago. Which means…’

Raon furrowed his brow as he looked toward the headquarters.

‘They must’ve noticed that the fish entered the barrier.’

It meant the fish he had tossed two days ago had entered the barrier and been noticed, which explained the heightened security.

‘That’s a relief.’

If someone’s gaze could reach this far, they were no ordinary individual. If Evelyn hadn’t enchanted the suit with an invisibility spell, their position would’ve been exposed immediately.

‘Their vigilance is more intense than expected. Whoever it is, a cold-headed apostle must be in charge of defense.’

Even though the area was already guarded by sorcery, barriers, and the Kraken, the fact that they had further tightened security confirmed it, this defense was being handled by a rational, cold-headed Apostle.

[What’s wrong?]

[Right now, someone is monitoring this area.]

Raon explained the situation to Roenn and Evelyn, adding that they’d have to observe the headquarters from farther away than yesterday.

[As expected of a group called the Four Demons.]

Roenn let out a faint breath, acknowledging their capability.

[As long as we haven’t been fully exposed, it’s fine.]

Evelyn waved her hand, saying she could still see the sorcery spells from this distance.

Good…’

Raon nodded slightly as he looked at the faintly glowing White Blood Religion headquarters.

‘We haven’t been exposed.’

If their presence had been exposed, the White Blood Religion’s leader or an Apostle would have immediately rushed out. Seeing that security had been strengthened and that a previously absent gaze had appeared, it was clear they were still at the stage of just-in-case suspicion.

‘Then what I have to do is…’

Just gather information.

Raon moved along the closest distance he could approach, thinking only about how to break through the headquarters’ defensive system.

[…….]

Roenn and Evelyn, too, examined the White Blood Religion’s headquarters and the Kraken lurking beneath it with serious eyes, as if thinking about what each of them could do.

[Let’s head back now.]

Sensing that dawn was approaching, Raon gestured to Roenn and Evelyn to retreat.

[Yeah!]

[Understood.]

The two nodded, seeming to have finished checking what they needed to, and followed behind him out of the ocean.

“…Haa.”

Raon took off his diving suit and let out a heavy sigh.

“We’ve gathered the information, but I have no idea what to do next.”

Returning to Zieghart and delivering the information wouldn’t be difficult, but figuring out how to attack the White Blood Religion’s headquarters still eluded him.

Though it wasn’t exactly in the deep ocean, it was still submerged in considerable depth, and breaking into that ancient fortress, protected by sorcery and the Kraken, seemed utterly impossible.

“…Same here.”

Roenn deeply furrowed his brows.

“No matter how I think about it, I can’t see a way.”

He shook his head, saying that infiltration was out of the question, let alone an assassination.

Chhhk.

Just then, Evelyn and Haerang emerged from the water last, and Raon clicked his tongue slightly as he saw Roenn, rarely, making such a grim expression.

“Thanks, Evelyn. If it weren’t for you, we would’ve been discovered immediately.”

He held out his hand, saying it was thanks to her improvements to the diving suit that they were able to avoid the watchful gazes of the White Blood Religion.

“……”

However, unlike her usual self, she did not rush at him and was just staring blankly at the ocean.

“…I think it might be possible.”

Evelyn nodded her head, saying that something might be possible.

“What do you mean by that?”

Raon widened his eyes and approached her.

“Attacking the White Blood Religion’s headquarters…”

Evelyn raised a slender finger and smiled.

“…I think it’s possible.”

“R-Really? How?”

His eyes widened. It was something he hadn’t even thought to consider.

“As I said before….”

Evelyn pointed at the diving suit she had handed over today and gave a faint smile.

"Magic is the study of creating something from nothing."

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