The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1072

 Chapter 1072

 

“Raon! You woke up?”

Sia ran to Raon with a smile as bright as spring flowers.

“Yeah. Just a moment ago.”

Raon carefully caught Sia, who leaped into his open arms.

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

Sia hugged him tightly, saying she had been really worried. Her warmth naturally brought a smile to his lips, but there was something he had to ask first.

“Sister, why are you with that person?”

Raon pointed at Darkan, who was still standing in front of the lake.

“I don’t really know either. He suddenly showed up and gave me advice on swordsmanship, and he explained it just as easily as you do.”

Sia bowed her head, saying her skills had improved thanks to learning from Darkan.

“Of course! There’s no one in this world who’s learned more swordsmanship than me!”

Darkan burst into a cheerful laugh, saying he could only teach well because he knew so many sword techniques.

“Why? Is he a bad person?”

Sia tilted her head, as if she had a good impression of Darkan.

“He’s not a bad person. But….”

Raon shook his head as he set Sia down.

“He’s not a good person either.”

The most fitting word to describe Darkan was chaos. Neither good nor evil. He was a madman who could do anything for the sake of swordsmanship.

“Well, I thought so too. His eyes look fine, but it seems like he wears eyepatches just to act pitiful.”

Sia shook her fist, insisting she was sure Darkan could see.

“N-no, that’s not it.”

Raon’s shoulders flinched. It was a bit uncomfortable to tell her that he had done the insane act of gouging out his own eyes in order to grow stronger.

“Anyway, learn what you can from him, but don’t get attached. He’s the kind of person who could point his sword at you at any time.”

He placed his hand on Sia’s shoulder, warning her to be cautious of Darkan.

“He already kept asking me to fight. He said my sword was fun.”

Sia folded her fingers, saying Darkan had asked her to spar more than ten times.

“Are you insane? What kind of spar would you have with my sister!”

Raon frowned at Darkan.

“You underestimate your sister too much. That child already has her foundation set. Since it’s come to this, why don’t you be the referee?”

Darkan flicked his hand, ignoring Raon’s words and instead asking him to preside over the fight. He was a true lunatic.

Hmph! He knew it would be like this.

Wrath sighed, saying he hadn’t changed.

“Sister. Ignore him when he asks. Don’t ever cross swords with him.”

Raon shook his head, telling Sia to keep refusing the spar requests.

“Okay. I got it.”

Sia smiled softly, saying she would follow his words. Even during puberty, and even now, she always treated his words as her top priority.

“What a shame. It would’ve been fun for sure.”

Darkan smacked his lips, regretting that he couldn’t fight Sia.

“You’d be the only one having fun.”

Raon shook his head firmly.

“I’m the one who taught her. I’ll face you once I recover from my injuries.”

Raon pointed to himself, saying he’d spar in Sia’s place.

“That wouldn’t be so bad either.”

Darkan raised an eyebrow slightly, looking intrigued.

“Now tell me. Why are you in Zieghart?”

Raon narrowed his eyes at Darkan, who was smiling faintly.

“What a strange question. I came because I was called.”

Darkan pointed at himself with his finger, saying he had been formally invited.

“You were invited?”

“Yes. I nearly died, after all.”

He lifted his shirt, revealing pitch-black scars carved into his chest and shoulder.

“The energy of death….”

Seeing that it had pierced through Darkan’s aura and conviction to carve such a gruesome sword mark, it was clearly the energy of death that Derus used.

“That’s right. It was completely different from the normal energy of death.”

Darkan frowned, saying that although the two were born from the same root, the difference in power was like heaven and earth.

“Honestly, it was really dangerous. Your grandfather saved me, and that beggar living in that manor treated me. Thanks to them, I barely survived.”

He clicked his tongue shortly as he touched the scar on his chest.

“It was that dangerous? For you?”

Raon swallowed dryly as he watched Darkan lower his shirt again.

‘Was Derus really that strong?’

No matter how much stronger Derus had become, I thought Darakan would still be able to hold him back.

Especially since he had the mental world of the Heart Sword, I even thought that if it went well, he might be able to defeat Derus. I never imagined he would have suffered like that.

That madman….

Wrath furrowed his brows deeply as he looked at Darkan.

He has weakened.

‘Weakened?’

That’s right. Those physical wounds are nothing but the tip of the iceberg. His mind and soul suffered a heavy blow.

‘Now that you mention it….’

Following Wrath’s words, Raon bit his lip as he looked at Darkan.

‘The level of Darkan’s soul has decreased.’

Except when he was playing the beggar, Darkan always openly revealed his own energy wave. Since he was someone who always showed his strength before everyone, I could clearly feel that his soul had become smaller than before

“Looks like you’ve noticed.”

Darkan chuckled faintly and nodded.

“As you thought, I’ve grown weaker. I fell into Derus’ trap and made a huge mistake.”

“A huge mistake?”

“Well, rather than a trap or mistake, it was more like bad luck.”

“Is it about the Heart Sword?”

“Exactly.”

He snapped his fingers, saying Raon was correct.

“Derus was certainly strong, but at the time, my strength was enough to block him. However, the moment I used the Heart Sword to truly clash with him, I realized something had gone wrong.”

Darkan’s complexion turned pale.

“Derus’ soul was not just one. Beneath the soul we know, there was a gigantic soul of unimaginable size….”

Darkan told everything that had happened in the mental world of the Heart Sword.

“After that, if Glenn Zieghart hadn’t come, both I and that muscle old man would have died.”

Darkan let out a short breath, saying it was thanks to Glenn that he survived.

He referred to Federick as a beggar and Ogram as an old muscle man, it seemed he didn’t even properly see people who weren’t swordsmen.

“A gigantic soul made of shadow-like things….”

Hearing Darkan’s words, Raon pictured in his mind the soul that Derus had been hiding.

A massive conglomeration of soul that covered the entirety of the mental world, with thousands of eyes blinking within it. Just imagining it made his hair stand on end.

Do you know what it is?

‘No, I don’t either.’

I thought I knew Derus better than anyone, yet I hadn’t known there was another massive soul existing within his.

‘He said it was a shadow-like soul, didn’t he?’

Could there be a connection between Derus and shadows?

Derus favored the name shadow enough to call his most important assassination organization by that name.

Now, hearing that even his soul rippled pitch-black like a shadow, it felt like there must be some relation.

‘Of course, I shouldn’t think too deeply about it.’

There were too few clues regarding Derus’ soul. For now, it seemed best to accept only the information at hand.

“So it was because the mental world you built with the Heart Sword collapsed that you weakened.”

Raon nodded, saying he understood now.

“Yeah. Since I took a blow that nearly shattered my upper energy center, I couldn’t help but weaken. But that isn’t all.”

Darkan raised his finger and tapped his own temple.

“Derus had an ability to seize the power of others.”

“What?”

Raon swallowed dryly as he looked at Darkan’s stiff expression.

‘Seizing martial power?’

I knew Derus had various abilities, but stealing someone else’s power during battle, that was something I had never even heard of.

Now I finally understood why he had grown so quickly.

“Wait a second….”

Raon swallowed again as he stared at Darkan.

“In the mental world created by your Heart Sword, if you were defeated by him, then….”

“That’s right.”

Darkan nodded calmly as if to say Raon was correct.

“He took my Heart Sword. He didn’t steal it completely, but surely enough that he’ll be able to reach the realm of the Heart Sword.”

He furrowed his brows, saying that the next time they faced Derus, he might well be able to use the Heart Sword.

“If he forges a Heart Sword with that gigantic soul, no one would be able to withstand it.”

Darkan twisted his lips, saying even Glenn might have difficulty.

“Of course, not me though!”

He clenched his fist, as if to say he still had confidence in defeating Derus.

“That’s all I have to say, so….”

Darkan smacked his lips and stepped closer.

“Now let’s have a match!”

He drew his sword, saying they should fight right away.

Isn’t that guy just a dog?

Wrath let out a dumbfounded laugh.

Like how a dog drools when it sees a bone, that bastard clearly goes into heat the moment he sees a sword.

He made a disgusted expression, saying that lunatic was truly insane.

“I told you, I haven’t recovered yet.”

Raon shook his head, saying his wounds hadn’t fully healed yet, and that his stamina and mental strength were still not recovered.

“Then I’ll wait. Will five minutes be enough?”

“…….”

Five minutes, he says. It really seemed this man’s sense of time was different from ordinary humans.

“About Derus taking your Heart Sword—our head house must know as well, right?”

Raon tilted his chin toward Darkan, who was gripping and releasing his sword repeatedly.

“He probably doesn’t know.”

Darkan shook his head as if it were obvious.

“Huh? Why?”

“Because I didn’t tell him.”

He lowered his hand, saying he didn’t tell him because he didn’t ask.

Tak!

Raon slapped his own forehead with his palm and shut his eyes tightly.

‘This man is really….’

He’s a lunatic I can’t deal with!

*   *   *

At daybreak, Raon left the annex building.

“Let’s go together!”

Darkan followed along, saying it looked fun, and entered the audience chamber of the lord’s manor with him.

“I greet you, head of house.”

“Shall we have a match?”

Unlike Raon’s respectful greeting, Darkan tilted his chin, suggesting they fight immediately.

But unlike when he asked Sia or Raon to spar, this time he didn’t seem to be serious.

“I’ll decline.”

Glenn waved his hand, saying now was not the time to fight.

“Stand.”

At Glenn’s word, Raon’s knees naturally straightened, and his back lifted. Glenn’s aura control was touching the heavens.

“It doesn’t seem you suffered any serious injuries.”

Glenn nodded calmly, saying he had worried since he hadn’t been able to visit, but was relieved he was fine.

That old man sure lies ridiculously well!

Wrath shook his head firmly, as if denying it outright.

He came every single day, taking shifts with the madwoman, and now he dares say he never visited? He should at least lie in moderation!

He furrowed his brows, saying Glenn’s obsession rivaled Evelyn’s.

“It’s thanks to your concern, head of house.”

Since Darkan was beside him, he addressed him as head of house instead of grandfather, bowing his waist.

“Ahem! Kehehehem!”

Glenn’s lips twitched faintly upward, satisfied with just those words.

“Are you sick? Why are you coughing like that?”

Darkan furrowed his brows at Glenn.

“Just go spit out your phlegm!”

Darkan bluntly pointed out something no one else had ever dared to.

“…It’s nothing.”

Glenn averted his gaze sharply, looking embarrassed.

“Well then. You were unconscious, so you must be curious about what has happened.”

He spoke to Raon as if trying to change the atmosphere.

“Yes. I’ve heard from Darkan about Derus, but I don’t know the rest.”

Raon lowered his hand, saying he would listen carefully.

“Hmm? I’m pretty sure I told you not to say anything?”

Glenn frowned at Darkan.

“I don’t need to listen to your words. If it’s about swordsmanship, that might be different.”

Darkan shrugged, as if to say why should he obey. Strictly speaking, he wasn’t wrong.

“Haah….”

Glenn massaged his temple as though his head ached, letting out a deep sigh.

“I’ll just explain everything from the beginning. After you lost consciousness….”

He explained in detail everything that had happened while Raon was unconscious.

“Thanks to Princess Jaina, I was able to go to the Beast Union and rescue Darkan and Ogram.”

“Princess Jaina went that far….”

Raon alternated between recalling Jaina when they first met and her eyes during the recent war, and a gentle smile spread across his lips.

‘She really has changed a lot.’

There’s a saying that people can’t change, but looking at Jaina and Karoon, it didn’t seem like that was absolutely true.

“I have one question.”

Raon raised his hand toward Glenn.

“How strong was Derus Robert?”

“Other than the Heavenly Demon and myself, no one would be able to face him.”

Glenn shook his head, saying that Darkan in his current state would not be able to stop Derus.

“That’s….”

“There’s no need to worry.”

Darkan let out a snicker and looked at Glenn.

“Even after he devoured my power, your grandfather just smacked him around! What a magnificent sword it was!”

Darkan revealed ecstatic eyes, saying he wished he could have received Glenn’s sword in his place. He really wasn’t normal. Truly unhinged.

“And I can win too. Fights aren't just about martial power.”

Darkan thumped his chest with his fist, full of confidence.

“Head of house, there is something I must tell you.”

Raon bit down on his lip as he looked at Glenn.

“Speak.”

“It seems Derus reached the realm of the Heart Sword after devouring Darkan’s mental world.”

With a heavy sigh, he conveyed to Glenn what he had heard from Darkan.

“I see.”

But Glenn’s expression showed no change, as if he already knew.

“You already knew?”

“Derus stole Darkan’s power, and since it happened in the mental world created by the Heart Sword, it’s only natural to think so. And besides….”

Glenn raised his finger and pointed at Darkan.

“That bastard came and told me himself. He was mumbling about how he wanted to fight a Derus who has learned the Heart Sword too.”

“What?”

Raon’s eyes widened as he turned to Darkan.

“You said you didn’t tell him!”

“That was a lie.”

Darkan chuckled and waved his hand. Perhaps because of the shock to his upper energy center, he seemed even crazier than before.

“Unless it’s about swords or swordsmanship, don’t believe a word I say.”

He openly declared that he shouldn’t be trusted.

“This is about swordsmanship!”

“……”

Darkan clamped his mouth shut, as if he had nothing to say to that. A madman.

“You must be worried that Derus might use that hidden massive soul to wield the Heart Sword.”

Glenn nodded, as though he were reading Raon’s thoughts.

“Yes…. If, as Darkan said, he forged a Heart Sword with such a massive soul, no one would be able to stop him.”

“There is no need to worry about that.”

He rose from his throne and stepped to the edge of the platform. Sunlight streaming through the window fluttered around him like a golden cloak.

“The Heart Sword is not a martial art that becomes stronger simply because the soul is large. Just as one must hammer a blade thousands of times to forge a masterpiece sword, in order to temper a Heart Sword, one must undergo the time of anguish that strikes upon their own soul.”

Glenn lowered his hand, saying there was no need to be impatient.

“Since it’s not Derus’ own soul but another’s, forging it into the Heart Sword would take a long, long time, so there’s no need to worry about him.”

He nodded, saying that would only slow Derus’ growth.

“Focus only on establishing the Heart Sword imbued with your soul. For a single masterwork sword, sharply forged, can pierce through hundreds of greatswords.”

Hearing Glenn’s words, the shadow of Derus that had seemed to press down on Raon’s shoulders vanished in an instant.

“Yes, understood.”

Raon lowered his head, saying he would focus on himself.

“I watched your battle from beginning to end. There must have been many difficult moments, but thank you for enduring.”

Glenn nodded with a solemn gaze, saying it was thanks to him that they had won this war.

“Soon, an official ceremony of rewards will be held. You may look forward to it.”

He flicked the corner of his lips like a freshly caught fish, saying a reward befitting Raon’s achievements would be given. He truly seemed pleased.

“Thank you. But it wasn’t something I achieved alone, it was thanks to the help of others.”

Raon bowed his head, recalling everyone who took part in the war, starting with Darkan beside him.

“Ah, what of the wounded?”

Thinking of others made him recall the Transcenders of the Five Kings who had suffered grave wounds.

“Fortunately, no one has died since the war. Not only Darkan, but Ogram is alive and well. However….”

Glenn lowered his gaze and rubbed his temple.

“Lecross’ condition is not good.”

He let out a heavy sigh.

“It’s not just about whether he can wield a sword. They say he may never wake again.”

“Ah….”

In the White Blood Religion’s headquarters were Federic, the Ragged Saint, and Saintess Olga. The fact that even with their power they could not heal him meant his condition was truly grave.

“I see….”

Raon bit his lip deeply.

‘I expected it, but hearing it directly….’

My head feels dizzy.

Even though Lecross’ heart had been cut by Denier’s sword, he stayed until the very end to hold back the White Blood Religion’s leader.

Because he fought with not just his body and mind, but staking his very vitality, even if he does wake, he will not be able to wield the strength of the Silent Sword Sovereign.

‘We may have killed the White Blood Religion’s leader, but the losses are great.’

Lecross’ life was in danger, Chamber, Larian, and Aris were in no state to fight, and though Ogram had recovered his strength, his injuries meant he couldn’t fight immediately.

‘And on top of that….’

Raon turned his gaze to the side and looked at Darkan.

‘Even Darkan, who could have been a card to stop Derus, has fallen.’

Since Darkan had taken a great shock to his upper energy center, he would need a long time of recuperation.

The allied forces of the Five Kings hadn’t suffered many casualties in numbers, but the serious injuries of the Transcenders were a bitter blow.

Still, there are only two bastards left now, aren't there!

Wrath snorted, saying it would be over once they killed Eden and Derus.

‘Eden, maybe. But Derus still has great power left, doesn’t he?’

Great power? Ah!

Wrath’s eyes suddenly flared with icy blue as if he had just remembered.

Those damn celestials!

‘Not just celestials. Archangels.’

Seeing how one Archangel after another appeared after Uriel, it was clear that even though the White Blood Religion’s leader and the Fallen were dead, in terms of Transcenders, we would still be at a disadvantage.

‘I have no choice….’

Raon let out a deep sigh and shook his head.

‘I’ll have to begin that plan.’

That plan? What plan are you talking about?

Wrath’s eyes rounded wide with curiosity.

‘Who knows?’

Raon gave him a chilling smile as Wrath looked at him in wonder.

Wh-why are you smiling at the King of Essence? It feels disgusting!

‘Because I can’t help but smile when I see you.’

He deepened his smile at Wrath, whose eyes went round in panic.

Why are you smiling! Say it!

Wrath trembled his tail and backed away, as if sensing ominousness in that smile.

‘Heh heh.’

Stop smiling, it’s scary! What are you trying to do to the King of Essence!

‘Heh-heh-heh.’

Raon twisted only his lips upward, leaving his eyes as they were, making a chilling smile.

Madwoman, sword maniac, all were ordinary compared to you!

Wrath panted as he screamed.

You’re the greatest lunatic in all dimensions!

 

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