The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1098

 Chapter 1098

 

“Ahem!”

Chad, the Shadow Agents master, did not bring up the name of the fifth successor candidate right away. Instead, he cleared his throat and drew it out.

‘Who is it?’

Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Chad’s slightly trembling lips.

Could it be someone from the Light Wind Palace?

Wrath looked at Chad with eyes full of anticipation.

‘At the very least, it’s not Runaan.’

Since Runaan had crossed over to Stallin Mountain with Evelyn, she absolutely did not have enough time to gather golden tablets.

Then could it be the shitty eyes or the beef girl?

‘It’s possible.’

Burren had been working hard for the successor test to catch up to Karoon, and Martha had been fiercely devoted to the successor test in order to protect the Wise Martial Palace she had been temporarily entrusted with.

Both of them were Grandmasters, so if luck had favored them in their missions, it wouldn’t have been strange for them to become the fifth candidate.

‘It could also be Trevin.’

After taking charge of the Warring Steel Trevin, after taking charge of the Warring Steel Division, carried out many missions and accumulated achievements, so rather than Burren and Martha, his chances were even greater.

‘But I think it’s someone else.’

Burren, Martha, and Trevin were all possible, but there was someone who was more earnest about the head-of-house seat than those three.

Who are you talking about?

Wrath waved his hand, urging him to say it quickly.

‘That person is the Void Sword…’

“The fifth successor candidate is the Void Sword Division leader, Lady Serena.”

Just as Raon was about to speak to Wrath, Chad opened his mouth first.

“It may come as a surprise to you, Sir Raon, but Lady Serena has truly worked tirelessly.”

Chad stuck out his tongue, saying he got exhausted just from watching her.

“In my eyes, her effort has been almost on par with Sir Karoon’s…”

“I know.”

Raon calmly shook his head.

“Even before you said it, I was already thinking it would be the Void Sword Division leader.”

Wrath had wished Burren or Martha would become candidates, but since both were my subordinates, they hadn’t managed to collect as many golden tablets as hoped.

By contrast, Serena had long been leading the Void Sword Division, accumulating tablets, and when I returned, she had been so busy she wasn’t even present in the house. It was far more realistic that she would secure the fifth position.

“You already knew?”

Chad’s eyes widened in surprise.

“How…?”

“She declared she would become the head of house back when I was still a trainee.”

Her determination for the head’s position was on another level compared to the others.

At the selection ceremony, Serena had declared her goal of becoming Zieghart’s head of house and had even invited me to walk that path with her.

The moment an outsider dared to say she would become the head of house, I knew she was no ordinary person. In the end, she had climbed all the way up to become a successor candidate. Calling her amazing wasn’t nearly enough.

“Ah, so that’s how it was!”

Chad nodded, as if it finally made sense.

“She truly is someone brimming with both pride and confidence.”

He too nodded, saying he had come to see her differently this time.

“Then, let me state it once more: Sir Karoon, Sir Raon, Sir Balder, Lady Aris, and Lady Serena—these five are the successor candidates.”

Chad repeated the names once more, then lowered his gaze slightly.

“Sir Raon, do you believe you can be the first among these five?”

“That depends on what the second test is.”

Raon gave a faint smile and shook his head.

‘It won’t be a duel.’

If only two remained, maybe. But with five, there was no way Glenn would simply make them duel. Another kind of test was clearly prepared.

“That’s true. Still, you look confident.”

Chad gave a thin smile as he rose to his feet.

“Having delivered what I needed to, I shall take my leave.”

He bowed, asking Raon to come to the audience chamber the next day.

“Ah, please give my congratulations to the Central Martial Palace master.”

Raon waved with a smile.

“Hm? To the Central Martial Palace master?”

Chad blinked, as if wondering why Raon would say such a thing to him.

“There’s no need to hide it anymore, Shadow Agents master.”

Raon grinned and nodded.

“I don’t understand what you mean….”

Chad tilted his head, still confused.

“Even though it seems your thoughts have changed now, you’ve been continuously supporting the Central Martial Palace master, haven’t you?”

Raon nodded, saying that he already knew everything.

‘It was obvious.’

Chad had often come by under Karoon’s orders, flattering me in order to extract information.

But since he didn’t seem to be following Karoon like before, I brought up the past first.

“Th-that, what are you talking about!”

Chad panicked and shouted.

“I never took the Central Martial Palace master’s side! I only ever helped you, Sir Raon!”

He shook his head wildly, asking why Raon was suddenly accusing him.

“Huh? That wasn’t the case?”

“Of course not! I’ve passed you information from the Central Martial Palace, but I have never once spread information from the annex building!”

Chad, feeling wronged to the point of going crazy, thumped his own chest.

“Then why did you help me from the time when I hadn’t achieved anything?”

Raon blinked in confusion.

“Because I believed in the future of Sir Raon, which the head of house and Sir Rimmer spoke of!”

Chad spread his hands, explaining that he had believed in Raon’s future through Glenn and Rimmer's conversations and had tried to get on his good side in advance.

“I even gave you gifts constantly! And I kept sending you top-grade information!”

He sprawled flat on the floor, protesting that it was unfair.

“Weren’t all those gifts just a way to lower my guard?”

Raon’s eyes trembled slightly.

“I want to slit open my belly and show you the inside! No wonder, I felt something was off! We just couldn’t connect on the important parts!”

Chad finally nodded, saying that his doubts about his relationship with Raon had been resolved.

“Li-listening to you, it does kind of sound that way….”

Thinking back to the past, Raon realized Chad’s words sounded right.

“Sit down right now! I’ll explain everything to you!”

Chad smacked the ground with his palm, saying that unlike with swordsmanship, Raon was so clueless.

“Ah, y-yes….”

For the first time, Raon hunched his shoulders and lowered his head before Chad.

See that!

Wrath looked at the slumped-shouldered Raon and gestured toward the sky.

System! No matter how much you take care of him, that idiot can’t even remember it and instead is doubting you!

He shouted at the system, telling it to stop taking care of Raon.

Like before, follow only the King of Essence…

It was the moment Wrath puffed out his chest, telling the system to follow him.

[You have displayed an innocence unexpected of a warrior, despite possessing overwhelming martial power and a cold, disciplined mind.]

[All stats increase.]

The system, as if finding Raon endearing like that, instead raised his stats.

‘Ah!’

Seeing the message floating before his eyes, Raon nodded.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t checked the rewards yet. I’ll do it later.’

He waved a hand to Wrath in thanks.

Aaaaaargh!

Wrath clutched his head and screamed.

Why only that bastard!

*   *   *

The next day at noon.

Summoned by Glenn, Raon went to the lord’s manor.

Inside the audience chamber, the air was blazing hot like a desert, seared by the energy waves exuded by Zieghart’s executives.

Fwoooosh!

Raon lightly pushed aside the scorching waves of energy pressing in from the swordsmen and stood in front of the pillar, at the spot of the palace masters.

“……”

Raon scanned the division leaders standing on the opposite side, then stopped his gaze on Serena.

“Hoo…”

Serena, seemingly unaware that she had become a successor candidate, was catching her breath with a tense expression.

From the trembling in her eyes, Raon could feel how much effort she had poured in all this time, and a smile formed on his lips without him realizing it.

“Nephew!”

Balder came up beside him and slung an arm over his shoulder.

“How’s your condition?”

“Good.”

Raon nodded, saying he had slept well.

“Gotta be! It’s the day you become a successor candidate!”

Balder laughed heartily, congratulating him.

“But hey.”

He lowered his head slightly and dropped his voice.

“Don’t you think it’s about time you kept our promise?”

He smacked his lips, saying he’d been waiting all this time.

“Of course I remember.”

Raon smiled and nodded.

“Tell me which martial art you want, and I’ll create something to the best of my ability.”

He bent his waist, assuring him not to worry.

“Kya-ha! That’s my nephew! I’ll visit the annex building soon!”

Just as Balder patted Raon’s back in excitement—

Smack!

Aris swung her palm hard across the back of Balder’s head.

“Argh! Why’d you hit me!”

Balder screamed as he turned toward her.

“You idiot! Now you’re extorting martial arts from your nephew?”

Aris ground her teeth, telling him to cut it out.

“I wasn’t extorting! It was a deal between us!”

Balder shouted, asking how he could ever threaten Raon.

“Is that true?”

Aris blinked at Raon.

“It’s true. I asked him for something.”

Raon gave a faint smile and nodded.

“Ahem, so it wasn’t like that.”

Aris clicked her tongue and stepped back.

“No apology? You smack me on the head and just walk away?”

Balder glared at her, incredulous.

“People make mistakes.”

Aris waved her hand, telling him to let it go.

“I can’t let it go! Why should I!”

Balder raised his fist, saying he’d hit her back.

“How dare you raise a hand to your older sister!”

“Eek!”

When Aris furrowed her brow and lifted her palm, Balder sucked in a breath and hurriedly backed away.

Seeing that even with that huge body he was terrified, it was once again made clear how terrifying repeated conditioning can be.

“Be quiet.”

Karoon shook his head as he looked at the empty throne.

“The head of house is coming.”

As soon as his words ended, the door on the right opened, and Glenn, Sheryl, and Roenn walked out.

“We greet the head of house.”

“We greet the head of house!”

Starting with Karoon’s salute, every Zieghart executive in the audience chamber knelt and bowed their heads.

“Hmm.”

Glenn gave a calm nod and stepped up onto the platform, seating himself on the golden-glowing throne.

“Rise.”

At his gesture, the executives stood, not by their own legs, but lifted by a heavy, rising energy.

“As of this moment, the first successor test is concluded.”

Glenn nodded, saying they had all worked hard.

“Phew…”

“It’s finally over.”

“I knew I wouldn’t make it, but I still hoped. It was hard, after all.”

“At least we grew a little, didn’t we? That counts for something.”

“It’s thanks to the Light Wind Palace master insisting we take part. If not for that, I would’ve just lazed around.”

The swordsmen said it had been a good time and looked to Glenn and Raon, who had given them the chance to grow.

“As I said in the beginning, five candidates will be chosen from this first test. Among them, the one who placed first, who accumulated the most points…”

Glenn’s gaze tilted toward the front of the pillar.

“Karoon Zieghart. Step forward.”

“Yes!”

Karoon went up onto the platform as if he had been waiting for it. Seeing his noble bearing, it seemed that the deep envy and obstinacy he once held had instead been replaced with a firm pride in himself.

“Uwoooooooh!”

“As expected of Sir Karoon!”

“Even though the Light Wind Palace master received six golden tablets at once, Sir Karoon is first after all?”

“Palace Master! We believed in you!”

The executives shouted Karoon’s name and cheered.

“Second, Raon Zieghart. Third, Balder Zieghart. Fourth, Aris Zieghart. Step forward.”

Unlike with Karoon, Glenn called the second, third, and fourth candidates all at once.

“Yes.”

“Hahaha! I made it!”

“I got too into it without realizing and ended up fourth.”

Raon, Balder, and Aris went up to the platform and stood beside Karoon.

“Exactly the expected order!”

“Right? That part never changes.”

“Of course the direct line, especially palace masters, would be the ones up there.”

The swordsmen said they had predicted it, cheering for Raon, Balder, and Aris as well.

“Lastly….”

Glenn’s gaze turned the other way for the first time.

“Serena Clavin. Step forward.”

His voice was gentler calling Serena’s name than when he had called his own children and grandchild.

“S-Serena?”

“The Void Sword Division leader is a successor candidate?”

“T-that’s impossible!”

“Even if she’s the leader of an armed organization, the Void Sword Division leader is an outsider! Not even a collateral line!”

The executives’ jaws dropped, stunned at the name they never expected to hear.

“……”

Serena bit her lip, having anticipated this situation to some extent. A thick vein popped on her jaw.

“Head of house! Please reconsider!”

“No matter that she’s a division leader, she’s an outsider!”

“Even if not direct line, at the very least the surname should be Zieghart!”

The executives bowed their heads before the platform, begging him to think again. It looked like they were deliberately trying to block Serena’s way up to the platform.

“I clearly said that anyone had the chance.”

Glenn’s eyes flashed cold as he looked at the direct line swordsmen who raised their voices.

“The Void Sword Division leader carried out important missions, running about tirelessly, while you were stretching out your legs and sleeping in comfort within the house. Merely bearing the name of Zieghart by birth, you are less suited to be the head of house than she is.”

With a flick of his hand, the executives blocking the platform were blown aside like paper in the wind.

“If you’re going to spout foolish talk, then drop the Zieghart name first.”

Karoon glared sharply at the executives who were blocking the way.

“If you wanted to push the Void Sword Division leader out, then you should’ve done as the head of house said and worked harder yourselves.”

Raon clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“I left the house because of people like that, and they’re still the same.”

Aris sighed, saying she would have to educate them soon.

“Serena. Come up.”

Glenn once more called her with warm eyes.

“Yes!”

Serena took a deep breath, let it out, then went up onto the platform stood in the fifth spot.

Her eyes seemed to shine more brilliantly than the head of house’s throne itself.

“These five are not ones I have chosen, but those who have risen to be successor candidates through their own ability. Give them all a round of applause.”

Glenn said it was an excellent achievement and led the applause.

“Waaaaaah!”

“Long live Zieghart!”

The executives shouted their congratulations to the successor candidates and clapped so loudly it seemed their hands might burst.

“……”

“Khuhuhu!”

Karoon calmly accepted the congratulations, while Balder spread his arms wide and reveled in the cheers.

“……”

But Serena’s eyes grew red, as if her past memories had come flooding back.

‘She must have suffered a lot.’

As an outsider daring to dream of becoming the head of this massive house, Serena must have suffered endless ridicule and scorn.

Having overcome those hardships to climb to this place, I could understand her feelings at least a little.

“Then from this moment, the second successor test will begin.”

Glenn curved his lips as if he would immediately announce it.

“Right away?”

Balder’s eyes widened, as if he had expected some time to rest.

“We don’t know when this peace will be broken. We must choose the successor before then.”

Glenn nodded, saying there might not be much time left.

“That’s right. Please tell us!”

Aris grinned, saying she liked how refreshing it felt.

“Hoo…”

Karoon’s exhaled and revealed blazing eyes, as if determined not to let a single word of Glenn’s slip by.

“The second successor test is to gain supporters who can strengthen your foundation.”

When Glenn spread his fingers, a map of the continent shimmering in blue light appeared behind him.

“Of you five, the two who bring back the greatest number of organization leaders pledging their support will be chosen.”

He smiled, saying this test would be even more difficult than the first.

“Gathering supporters?”

“Well, earning support from below is also a virtue of the head of house!”

“It’s nothing new, but it’s absolutely necessary.”

The swordsmen began chattering excitedly, so much that the audience chamber itself seemed to shake.

Huh? H-hey!

Wrath looked at Raon with eyes wide in shock.

“Hmm?”

Raon slipped his hand into the inner pocket of his formal wear. He pulled out an emblem shaped like a white fortress wall and curved his lips.

‘Good start.’

Seriously, why is this bastard so damn lucky!

Isn’t the world cheating here?!

 

 

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