The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1105

 Chapter 1105

 

“I should have beaten the hell out of that damned rascal beforehand!”

Sterin shook his wrinkled fist, trembling, saying it was a regret that he hadn’t given Rimmer a proper thrashing while he was alive.

“I don’t understand how he’s causing trouble for others even after dying.”

He gnashed his teeth hard enough to make a grinding sound, as if truly furious.

“No, I’ll go right now and… ugh!”

Sterin tried to kick off the bed and rush out, but he collapsed again. The burst of energy from his anger seemed to gutter out again.

“G-Grandpa!”

Siyan cried out and rushed to support him.

“S-Sorry….”

Sterin’s eyelids trembled as he let out a long sigh.

“No, it’s okay.”

Siyan gave a faint smile, saying it was actually nice to see him lively for once.

“More importantly, is it really true that my brother brought that wind and fog up there?”

She turned to Raon, wanting to be sure.

“…Yes. Master Rimmer’s soul remains within that fog and wind.”

Raon, after a brief pause, nodded.

“What happened in the meantime?”

After carefully laying Sterin back onto the bed, Siyan raised her eyebrows.

“As I told you before, master had entrusted his soul to the Blade of Requiem. When we found the White Blood Religion’s location and began the attack…”

Raon told Siyan and Sterin everything that had happened so far.

“Ah, so that’s why….”

Siyan nodded, saying she finally understood.

“No wonder, whenever I looked at that fog, my chest hurt unbearably.”

She let out a low groan, saying she now knew why her heart had ached.

“I felt something similar.”

Sterin looked out the dim window and exhaled a heavy sigh.

“I felt a faint tremor, like someone poking my withered soul with a finger—that was that damned grandson’s doing, wasn’t it.”

With a trembling hand he brushed back his white, grayed hair.

“To step up even knowing it was beyond what he could handle….”

Sterin closed his eyes and curved his lips.

“Still a fool with nothing but a big heart.”

Though calling him a fool, he didn’t erase his smile. It seemed he liked Rimmer’s upright nature.

“That’s the kind of person brother always was.”

Siyan smiled faintly, saying Rimmer, unlike other elves, had been warm-hearted from the start.

“I have something I’d like to say as well.”

Martha stepped out from behind Raon and stood before Siyan and Sterin.

“Thanks to master Rimmer, I was able to achieve the goal of my life.”

She bowed with a serious gaze, as if wishing to repay to the two elves the warmth she’d received from Rimmer.

“The goal of your life?”

Sterin narrowed his gaze.

“May I hear what that goal is?”

He lifted his brows, wanting to know since it involved Rimmer.

“Of course.”

Unlike usual, Martha nodded with a courteous bearing.

“When I was a child, my village was attacked by the White Blood Religion. The Ten Apostles came in person, so we had no time to resist…”

Even though it was a painful past, she told everything without hesitation.

“Even in death, master didn’t forget my goal. He went as far as to enter my mental world and helped me accomplish my revenge.”

Martha bowed her head, saying that thanks to Rimmer, she was able to save her mother and could accept her father’s sacrifice.

“Truly, thank you.”

In place of Rimmer, who wasn’t here, she conveyed the gratitude she’d carried to Siyan and Sterin.

“There’s no need to thank me.”

Sterin waved his hand.

“Do it when you drag that fool’s soul back down here.”

Unlike when he had said he would beat Rimmer down, he now smiled faintly as if his mood had lifted. Upon hearing of his grandson’s exploits, it seemed as though new vitality was welling up within him.

“Y-You don’t need to thank me either!”

Siyan shook her head quickly. But her face bloomed with a broad smile, as though glad to hear Rimmer being praised.

“Even so, I wanted to tell you, what kind of person your family member is.”

Martha bowed again, saying thank you once more. Since it was rare to see her like that, Raon couldn’t help letting out a thin smile.

“Then, does that mean we shouldn’t erase that damned rascal?”

Sterin pointed a finger toward the ceiling of the hut.

“That’s not it.”

Raon shook his head firmly.

“Master must have come here to purify the malice he received from the vengeful spirits of the Blade of Requiem using the power of the World Tree. In other words, erasing the blood-soaked fog and wind, and setting his soul free, would be the right thing to do.”

He explained to Sterin and Siyan what needed to be done for Rimmer.

“Is there a way to erase only that fog and wind, leaving Rimmer’s soul intact?”

Sterin smacked his lips, saying that was the most important part.

“It’s true the World Tree has the power to purify, but wiping out something that intertwined and vicious all at once is impossible.”

He furrowed his brow, saying the World Tree was already purifying malice across the whole continent, not just this forest, so it couldn’t concentrate its power in one place.

“If it’s near the World Tree, then someday even that malice will disappear.”

Picking up Sterin’s words, Siyan dipped her chin.

“But it would take a very long time. Ten years. Maybe even longer.”

She sighed, saying she didn’t know what to do.

“You’re both right. Even with the World Tree, it takes a long time to erase that malice. And if we just blast it away by force, master’s soul will be harmed too, so we can’t do that either. However…”

Raon touched the leaf-shaped ocarina in the inner pocket of his formal wear, curving his lips.

“This time, there is a way. A way to solve all of it.”

*   *   *

“Grandpa.”

Siyan came beside Sterin and massaged his hand.

“Are you feeling better?”

“After getting angry, I actually feel stronger.”

Sterin nodded, saying he felt better than usual.

“Or maybe it was hearing about that foolish grandson Rimmer that gave me strength.”

He laughed, saying he felt good either way.

“So do I. Brother really hasn’t changed, even in death.”

Siyan raised her arm, saying she too felt strength rising within her, just like Sterin.

“Yeah. Even ending things in a stupid way is just the same.”

Sterin gave a playful smile, saying that doing something good and then causing trouble in the end was just like Rimmer.

“Um, grandpa….”

Siyan slowly lowered the smile that had been rising.

“Can I really do it?”

Unlike Sterin’s expectations, she felt uneasy, not confident she could completely erase the malice Rimmer had brought down.

“Of course you can!”

Sterin nodded without hesitation.

“With your ability, you can push it back plenty. And it seems Raon has something prepared as well.”

He held Siyan’s hand tightly, telling her there was no need to worry.

“All right. I’ll try to believe that too.”

Siyan pursed her lips, saying she would try.

“That’s the way.”

Sterin smiled, as if pleased with her resolve.

“Hmm, strangely I feel tired. I should sleep now.”

He said he had stayed awake too long, and closed his eyes.

“I’ll be going too. Sleep well.”

After tucking a blanket over Sterin, Siyan left his house.

“Huh? Sir Raon?”

As she was about to return home, she saw Raon standing in front and widened her eyes.

“Oh!”

Siyan suddenly grew embarrassed and pulled a blanket from somewhere to cover her head.

“D-Didn’t you go back to your lodging?”

“I did, then came back.”

Raon said that after being guided by Erian, he had returned here, and he gave a faint smile.

“Wh-Why?”

“Because I have something to give you, Lady Siyan.”

With a smile, he took out a leaf-shaped ocarina.

“This… th-this is, spirit power?”

Siyan’s eyes widened as she sensed the immense spiritual energy contained within the ocarina.

“With this artifact, couldn’t you purify that energy by yourself, Raon?”

She trembled at the chin, having instantly recognized the ocarina’s ability.

“That’s right. I could do it myself.”

“Then why are you giving it to me…?”

“Because you can wield spirit power far better than I can, Lady Siyan. It would be much more efficient in your hands.”

Raon shrugged, as if the answer was obvious.

“And there’s one more reason.”

He raised a finger and continued.

“On my way here, I heard the elves’ stories. It seems you still haven’t been fully acknowledged as a Protector, Lady Siyan.”

Raon spoke plainly of Seipia’s current situation.

“Th-That’s true….”

Siyan bit down hard on her lip.

“I still can’t summon Ellaim at will, and I’ve spent my whole life shut inside my room…”

She nodded, saying it was only natural the elves didn’t acknowledge her.

“There’s no such thing as something being obvious in this world.”

Raon shook his head and held out the ocarina to her.

“If it were my master—and your brother, Rimmer—he would surely have said the same thing.”

Imitating Rimmer’s way of speaking, Raon placed the leaf-shaped ocarina in Siyan’s hand.

“You, Lady Siyan, will be the one to save master Rimmer and Seipia.”

Raon nodded, urging her to do it with her own strength.

“T-To be honest, I’m a little scared.”

Siyan voiced to Raon the worry she hadn’t been able to tell even Sterin.

“You can do it. It wouldn’t make sense if the summoner of the Spirit King couldn’t do even that.”

Raon nodded, saying she had already managed to accomplish things far more difficult.

“Thank you. But still…”

Siyan let out a long sigh, narrowing her gaze.

“Even with your help, Sir Raon, there isn’t much I can do for you in return.”

She stroked the ocarina apologetically.

“No, there is.”

Raon waved a finger, firmly denying it.

“Eh? What…?”

“The truth is, I came to Seipia for another purpose. Actually…”

He told her it was to gain Seipia’s support for the successor test.

“In other words, I can only get your support if you, Lady Siyan, take firm control of Seipia.”

Raon pressed his hands together as if in prayer, saying they were practically in the same boat.

“And besides, master also came here to ask for help. He’ll surely be ready to take it.”

Raon gave a faint smile, adding that thanks to Glenn, Rimmer’s endurance had been trained well enough.

“Ahahaha.”

From beneath her blanket, Siyan let out a soft laugh.

“Then I’ll try somehow. For you, Sir Raon… and for my brother.”

Her voice carried strength, as if she had overcome the days when she had been nothing more than a shut-in.

“An excellent choice.”

Raon gave a gentle nod and bowed slightly to Siyan.

“O Protector of Seipia.”

*     *    *

The next day.

Raon entered the hidden space of the great forest where the World Tree was concealed, together with Siyan and Sterin.

Goooooo!

Even though the World Tree had not fully revealed itself, the fragrance of the ancient tree alone made his heart pound violently.

‘Just looking at it is overwhelming.’

The World Tree still possessed a majestic grandeur that seemed enough to cover the entire continent.

The green leaves swaying in the faint breeze were as beautiful and magnificent as an emerald sea.

“Uwaaaaah!”

Dorian let out a rustic, exaggerated cry of awe.

“I-It looks bigger than the last time I saw it! Even though I can’t see all of it yet, it’s terrifying!”

His eyes went wide, saying it seemed as though the World Tree was still continuing to grow.

“…Words can’t describe this.”

Martha let out a dry breath, saying one could only feel such grandeur by seeing it in person.

“Beautiful!”

Evelyn beamed with a bright smile, saying the World Tree was truly beautiful.

But as the World Tree fully showed itself, the crimson fog and wind clinging to it also appeared together.

Whooooom!

The malice tied to Rimmer’s soul poured out a dreadful surge of energy waves, descending slowly as if to devour the World Tree.

“Ugh….”

Siyan’s eyebrows trembled as if she were shaken by the overwhelming malice contained in the wind and fog.

“Do not worry.”

Sterin lifted his trembling hand and placed it over Siyan’s.

“You can do it. You are the Protector to whom I have passed down my place.”

He nodded, saying he believed not just in his granddaughter, but in the Protector.

“Yes. You can definitely do it.”

Raon stepped up beside Siyan and nodded.

“As I said yesterday, master will surely be hoping for this energy to be purified.”

Rimmer must have come to Seipia to erase that malice by borrowing the World Tree’s power.

Seeing how he was controlling the fog and wind, he would surely entrust himself willingly.

“And if things don’t go as planned, I’ll be right beside you to help.”

Raon tapped Heavenly Drive and said she could trust him.

“Understood.”

Encouraged by Raon’s and Sterin’s words, Siyan threw off the blanket that had been wrapped around her and stepped forward.

“Hoo…”

After taking a deep breath, she pulled the leaf-shaped ocarina from her pocket.

“Huh? Why is that….”

Evelyn’s gaze, sharpened like a blade, turned on Raon.

“……”

Raon ignored her and looked only at Siyan.

“I’ll begin.”

As Siyan gripped the ocarina and released her spirit power, highest-tier spirits appeared all around her at once.

Woooooo!

A highest-tier fire spirit in the shape of a hawk, a highest-tier water spirit in the form of a unicorn, a highest-tier earth spirit like a dwarf wielding a hammer, and a highest-tier wind spirit in the form of a butterfly.

Gooooooo!

At the arrival of these highest-tier spirits, each with their own domain, a powerful vibration swept through the entire great forest.

But their appearances were somewhat different from before.

The hawk’s wings burned with blue flames, the unicorn’s horn swirled like waves, the dwarf’s hammer shone with a heavy gleam like solid gold, and from the butterfly’s wings scattered beautiful fragments of wind like jewels.

“Hmm!”

“Wh-What is this?”

“The spirits have changed.”

Martha, Dorian, and Evelyn also widened their eyes at the spirits’ sudden change.

What is that…?

Wrath, too, widened his eyes at the unfamiliar sight.

Wh-what in the world has happened?

He shook Raon’s shoulder, demanding an explanation.

“This is…”

Sterin furrowed his brows, not looking at Siyan, but at Raon.

“Look closely at the shape of that ocarina.”

Raon pointed at the ocarina Siyan held.

“Could it be… a leaf of the World Tree?”

Sterin’s eyes widened as he saw the ocarina’s shape was identical to the World Tree’s leaves.

“That’s right. That artifact has the ability to absorb the World Tree’s power, enhancing both purification and spirit power. Here, with the World Tree so close, it will surely unleash invincible strength.”

He nodded, saying it was thanks to the ocarina’s power that the spirits had grown stronger.

“If she had even played it by blowing into the ocarina, the effect would have been greater, but for now, this much will be enough.”

Since Rimmer would willingly offer himself, even with the current spirits, the fog and wind could be purified.

“Let’s go!”

At Siyan’s gesture, the highest-tier spirits all rose into the air at once.

Wooooooong!

The highest-tier spirits pushed their attribute powers to the extreme and unleashed them toward the raging fog and wind in the sky.

Paaaaaaang!

The energies of fire and water, and of earth and wind, blended harmoniously with the World Tree’s resonance, surging upward magnificently as if to tear apart the crimson fog.

‘It worked.’

Raon clenched his fist tightly.

That should be enough.

Wrath also nodded, saying that at this level, they should be able to purify the fog and wind brought by Rimmer.

But something unexpected happened.

Whooooooong!

The crimson fog and wind brought by Rimmer suddenly changed direction, sweeping aside all of the spirit power unleashed by the four spirits.

“Wha…?”

Raon’s mouth dropped open as he saw Rimmer’s soul faintly revealed within the wavering fog.

‘Why is that damned elf doing this again!’

Please just go quietly!

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