The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1115

 Chapter 1115

 

“Sea salt or rock salt, they’re all different kinds. There’s red salt, blue salt, and yellow salt too.”

Dorian, seeming pleased by Gluttony’s words, took out other salts from his belly pocket. Just as he said, their shapes were similar, but the colors were all different.

“Oooh….”

Gluttony, unusually, let out an exclamation and carefully examined the salts Dorian had taken out.

“Why are the colors of salt different?”

Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the bottle containing red salt.

“It’s because of the types and amounts of impurities in the salt. This black salt here turned pitch black because it contains volcanic impurities.”

Dorian answered right away, as if he not only had salt but also knew all the information about it.

Is it okay to eat salt that has volcanic impurities in it?

Wrath shot Dorian a suspicious glare.

Not everyone has a stomach like lava, like that useless glutton.

He tapped Raon’s shoulder, saying one could get an upset stomach from eating it so it was better to make sure.

‘Are you worrying about me?’

Raon looked at Wrath, feeling a small touch of emotion.

No, if your stomach hurts, you won’t be able to eat for a while! Stop spouting nonsense and ask him!

Wrath tilted his head as if Raon were speaking nonsense.

‘Haa….’

Raon looked at Wrath with exasperated eyes before letting out a sigh.

“Dorian. Is it okay to eat salt that has volcanic impurities?”

He repeated Wrath’s words exactly and asked Dorian.

“It’s only a trace amount, not enough to harm the body, and it’s charcoal, so it’s fine.”

Dorian popped some salt into his own mouth and nodded.

“Impurities….”

Gluttony also began tasting the salt grains one by one like Dorian, searching for the taste she wanted most.

“None of them are bad.”

She smacked her lips as if all the salts pleased her.

“Try this too.”

Dorian, no longer afraid of Gluttony, stepped a little closer and handed her some pink salt.

“This is rock salt I got from the North Grave Mountain. Unlike ordinary salt, the taste is clean!”

With a confident look, Dorian placed the salt into Gluttony’s hand.

“There’s salt at the North Grave Mountain? Even if there is, how did you manage to get it?”

Raon blinked at Dorian.

“Because it’s a necessity!”

Dorian mumbled his usual line and smiled faintly.

Doesn’t that guy spend his days off not resting but wandering around looking for supplies?

‘I know that. I just didn’t expect he’d be crazy enough to go all the way to the North Grave Mountain just to gather salt.’

Everyone in the Light Wind Palace knows that whenever he gets the chance, Dorian goes around here and there collecting supplies.

But I hadn’t thought his obsession would be so strong that he’d go all the way to the North Grave Mountain to bring back salt. That was practically at the level of a compulsion.

“Mhm.”

Gluttony, as if her favor toward Dorian had quickly risen, nodded and ate the pink salt.

“I like this one.”

Waving her hand, she said that among the salts so far, the rock salt from the North Grave Mountain was her favorite.

“I’ll try eating with this.”

Gluttony sprinkled the North Grave Mountain salt over bead ice cream and put it into her mouth.

“Mmm….”

Closing her eyes, she chewed slowly, savoring the flavor deeply.

“Haah!”

Gluttony let out an exclamation and opened her eyes wide.

“It’s delicious. It’s a flavor I’ve never had before.”

Her red eyes sparkled like falling stars, as if she were genuinely impressed.

“What a relief!”

Dorian, more satisfied than Gluttony herself, gave a broad smile.

“I want more.”

As if this flavor suited her best, Gluttony began eating bead ice cream topped with the pink salt again.

Heeeh….

Wrath couldn’t take his eyes off Gluttony’s expression and the bead ice cream going into her mouth, drooling as he stared.

Th-that! The King of Essence wants to eat that too! It’s a flavor you can’t find in any ice cream shop!

He grabbed Raon’s head and shook it, saying he wanted to eat bead ice cream right away.

‘I am curious too.’

Raon licked his lips, pushing Wrath aside.

‘Since it’s the very first bead ice cream made here.’

He had watched the process being made from the very beginning, and since Gluttony’s expression looked so ecstatic, even he, who had no appetite, began to feel tempted.

“Can I have one too?”

Raon reached out to Dorian.

“Ah, yes!”

Smiling faintly, Dorian sprinkled the North Grave Mountain salt over a vanilla bead ice cream and held it out.

“Thanks.”

Raon nodded to Dorian and put the ice cream into his mouth.

Fwaaaah.

At first, because of the salt stuck to the surface of the ice cream, the salty taste filled his mouth, but soon the saltiness disappeared, and the sweetness of the ice cream spread across his entire tongue.

The harmony of salty and sweet. The two intense flavors, as if toying with his tongue, alternated back and forth, spreading their will.

Perhaps because of the clean quality of the North Grave Mountain’s rock salt, there was no unpleasantness at all, instead, only the desire to keep eating kept blooming inside his chest. It was a flavor more than just stimulating, it was truly fantastic.

Huuuh….

Wrath’s blue eyes burst with stars and his mouth fell open, as if he felt the same thing.

T-to think such a flavor existed!

Wrath exclaimed how amazing it was and trembled all over.

He never thought the wallet and the useless glutton rabbit would be able to create such a treasure!

Wrath, as if truly moved, gave applause to the two of them.

“How is it?”

Dorian asked with a face full of expectation.

“Is it delicious?”

Gluttony also looked at Raon with the same eyes.

“It’s good.”

Raon gave a thumbs-up, saying it was very good.

“Hehe!”

“As expected.”

Dorian and Gluttony nodded with similar looks in their eyes and smiled. Seen like this, the tendencies of a Demon King and a human looked alike.

“This time, instead of salt, how about fruit? This is a salty tomato from the south.”

Dorian took the initiative, suggesting they decorate the ice cream with fruit now.

“Good.”

Gluttony, excited, grabbed the tomato and bead ice cream.

‘Leaving aside Dorian gaining new power….’

Raon, watching that sight, stroked his smooth chin.

‘Perhaps demons and humans could build a bond.’

Seeing what seemed like a new possibility between demons and humans, a smile naturally appeared on his face.

Stop smiling and go get more ice cream!

Wrath tapped Raon’s shoulder.

Right now, offer the King of Essence a sweet-and-salty bead ice cream!

He shook his fist, telling Raon to bring the salted ice cream.

‘Haa….’

Raon shook his head as he watched him.

‘You’re hopeless.’

*   *   *

After leaving Gluttony to Dorian, Raon and Martha watched over House Arianne swordsmen’s training.

“Relax your grip on the sword. Holding tightly doesn’t make it stronger.”

Raon gave advice to the swordsman with a big build on what he needed most right now.

“Ah, understood.”

The swordsman who heard the advice nodded with eyes moved as if he had welcomed a god, then swung his sword again. As the strength eased from his grip, the blade extended better.

“You’re not using your lower body enough. Strong swordsmanship comes from a strong lower body.”

Raon told the red-haired swordsman beside him to focus on his lower body and demonstrated the stance himself.

“Yes!”

The red-haired swordsman shouted at the top of his lungs and swung his sword, putting so much strength into his lower body that it was excessive. It was somewhat unbalanced, but it was clear the sword carried more power than before.

Just as Raon was about to move to find another swordsman in need of advice—

Kuuuuung!

From the right side of the training ground came a booming sound like the floor collapsing.

“That’s not it!”

Martha knocked down the swordsman who had rushed at her with a single strike and shook her head.

“Even if it’s just a spar, you have to risk your life in the fight! Only then can you bring out your full strength in real combat!”

She was personally sparring with House Arianne swordsmen, helping them improve their skills.

“Next!”

Martha crooked her finger toward the one standing behind the fallen swordsman.

“I will go!”

The next in line was Wendy, head of House Arianne.

She had set aside her role as the head of house for the moment and was taking part in Martha’s training as just another swordsman.

Fwoooosh!

Wendy dashed forward like the wind, slashing her sword toward Martha’s chest.

Jjeooong!

Martha lightly deflected Wendy’s sword with only a slight twist of her wrist.

“For a head of house, you’re not bad. Of course…”

She smiled with her eyes as she pushed Wendy’s sword away.

“You’re still a long way off!”

Turning her head, Martha brought her sword down toward Wendy’s head.

Tuuung!

Wendy did not retreat, instead, she stepped forward, barely escaping the range of Martha’s slash.

Kuuuung!

Martha’s sword struck the ground instead of Wendy’s head, sending out a powerful shockwave.

Tuuung!

Wendy seized the opening, spinning her body and slashing her sword at Martha’s neck.

“Good judgment.”

Martha gave a thin smile and twisted her shoulder. She brushed Wendy’s strike aside with ease, then extended her sword.

Paaang!

Wendy had anticipated Martha’s counter and unfolded a defensive form, but she couldn’t withstand the power and was blasted backward.

“Urgh….”

Even as she groaned and tried to ready her stance again, Martha’s sword was already at her neck.

“I’ve lost.”

Wendy let out a sigh and lowered her head deeply.

“Not bad.”

Martha smiled faintly, saying she had shown skill beyond her current strength.

“I still have a long way to go.”

Wendy sighed, unsatisfied with her skills.

“No. You did well.”

Raon smiled brightly and patted her shoulder.

“If only there were an opportunity, you might be able to rise to Grandmaster.”

These weren’t just empty words. Though Wendy was only just barely clinging to the wall of Grandmaster, because her talent was outstanding, if she were to awaken, she would immediately be able to surpass that wall and rise even higher.

“Really?”

Wendy’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Our palace master doesn’t lie about this sort of thing.”

Martha nodded, saying it was true.

“If you keep working as you are now, you’ll get there.”

Raon nodded, saying he looked forward to that day.

“Th-thank you.”

Wendy nodded, truly grateful.

“You don’t need to thank me. It means the effort you’ve built up as the head of house has reached that level.”

Raon smiled and shook his head. Since becoming the head of house, Wendy hadn’t let go of training and had steadily grown. I could already picture her reaching Grandmaster on her own strength before long.

“Ah, right. There’s something I should give you!”

Wendy clapped her hands as if she had just remembered.

“It was completed this morning.”

From her inner pocket, she took out a silver-shining emblem in the shape of a swamp.

“It’s the newly completed emblem of House Arianne. I’ll give you the very first one, to mean we support you as successor, Sir Raon.”

She nodded, saying she would give the first emblem of House Arianne to him.

“Are you sure it’s all right?”

Raon’s mouth dropped open as he looked at the emblem resting in Wendy’s hand.

“If you hadn’t come, neither I nor House Arianne would exist.”

Wendy closed her eyes and then opened them, curling her lips faintly.

“What happened that day—even now. No, I won’t forget it for the rest of my life. Please accept it.”

She knelt on her left knee and held out the emblem in both hands.

“Thank you!”

The swordsmen in the training ground, watching their head of house, also bent their knees and bowed their heads toward Raon.

“Thank you, I’ll accept it with gratitude.”

Raon, feeling the preciousness of bonds even within House Arianne, carefully took the emblem resting in Wendy’s hand.

“As much as you wish.”

Wendy smiled faintly, as if to tell him not to feel burdened.

“I have one more request for you, head of house.”

Raon stepped closer to Wendy, looking at the emblem of House Arianne.

“As you know, the war with Derus Robert is near. Could House Arianne join us in that battle?”

He asked Wendy to stand with them in the war to come.

Aren’t these people a bit weak?

Wrath furrowed his brow as if to say it would be better to leave them.

‘It’s more dangerous for them to stay here alone.’

From the fact that Derus had summoned an archangel, it was clear his true goal wasn’t simply eliminating the Five Kings.

Since Eden was also certain to act on a continental scale, it was safer to fight together.

“Of course! By then I’ll have reached Grandmaster!”

Wendy clenched her fist tightly, telling him not to worry.

Ssshhhhh.

As Raon and Wendy exchanged smiles, from behind came a chilling scratching sound.

“Hmm?”

When Raon glanced back, he saw Evelyn carving an unknown mana symbol into the training ground floor with a fierce gaze.

“W-what are you doing?”

Raon swallowed dryly and asked.

“I’m carving a symbol. This place is ours now.”

Evelyn gave a cold smile, saying she was carving a symbol for the future.

“Suddenly?”

“It’s not sudden. I’ve carved them everywhere we’ve gone until now.”

She nodded, saying she’d carved the same symbol at Habun Castle and at Seipia as well.

“W-what kind of symbol is that supposed to be?”

Raon lowered his voice as he asked.

“Heheh.”

Evelyn didn’t answer, only narrowed her eyes and smiled.

“Ah, ahhh….”

Raon felt a chill run down his spine at her smile and stepped back.

Tell her to stop following us around!

Wrath screamed, begging him to keep Evelyn away.

‘I want to do that too. But it’s already too late….’

“Hehehe.”

Evelyn’s smile deepened as she looked at Raon.

*   *   *

Raon avoided Evelyn’s eerie gaze and returned to the lodging where Dorian and Gluttony were.

Creak—!

From in front of Dorian’s door came a sound like a waterwheel turning. Tilting his head in puzzlement at the unfamiliar noise, he opened the door.

Grrk-kkk-kkk!

Inside Dorian’s room was an object he had never seen before.

A cylindrical machine was spinning rapidly, churning out round-shaped ice cream. When Dorian sprinkled fruit over it, the ice cream began to change color.

“The fruit that goes best with ice cream is strawberries. But these strawberries are a little different from the others. Their color is dark, and instead of sourness, the saltiness is stronger. In other words, you can make ice cream that maximizes both sweetness and saltiness.”

Dorian grinned as if to say, “Isn’t it exciting?”.

“Good! Very good!”

Gluttony, as if enchanted, gazed at the spinning bead ice cream and began to hum.

“Oh? You’re back?”

Dorian bowed his head toward Raon, who was standing at the door.

“No….”

Raon’s jaw trembled as he looked at the bead ice cream slowly taking shape.

“Why are you making the ice cream itself? Weren’t you just adding toppings before?”

Before heading to the training ground, he had clearly only been putting things on top of bead ice cream, so I couldn’t understand why he was suddenly making the ice cream itself.

“Lady Gluttony said she wanted to try making the ice cream itself. She’s making it with the finest ingredients.”

Dorian, seeming to have grown quite close with Gluttony, called her name and chuckled.

“You even had equipment for making bead ice cream?”

The thought that such a thing could exist hadn’t even crossed Raon's mind, and his mouth fell open.

“It’s a necessity, of course.”

Dorian nodded as if it were only natural to carry it around.

Why the hell would that be a necessity!

Even Wrath, who couldn’t resist bead ice cream, shouted that it made no sense.

“I like this one.”

Gluttony, rare for her, looked at Dorian with a faint smile.

“Can’t you give him to me?”

She pointed her finger at Dorian as if she wanted to make him her vassal. It looked like she might actually mean it.

“Gluttony. I have a favor to ask of you.”

Raon bent down on one knee so that his eyes were level with Gluttony’s.

“A favor? Let’s hear it.”

Gluttony nodded, as if willing to grant just about anything.

“Soon there will be a war with the archangels in this land. Could you join us in that fight?”

Raon took a small breath and then spoke of the reason he had come to Gluttony.

“Yes. I will. But….”

Gluttony gave a positive answer without a trace of hesitation.

“Because of causality, I can’t use all of my power.”

She shook her head, saying she might not be of much help, like Sloth.

“Then I’ll grant you one request.”

Raon looked straight at Gluttony and nodded.

“A request that can fulfill your greatest desire.”

“A request….”

Gluttony narrowed her eyes as she looked at the strawberry ice cream nearing completion.

“Then let me experience a new taste. The most delicious and new taste I’ve ever had.”

She nodded, saying that if it were such a taste, she could break her own causality and use all her power to join the war.

“Alright. I’ll try, no matter what.”

Raon stood up with a grin.

“And one more thing. Could you grant a little of your authority of gluttony to him?”

Raon lifted his finger and pointed at Dorian.

“A-a-authority? But I don’t have that much of an appetite…”

Dorian waved his hand, saying he wasn’t fit to receive the authority of Gluttony.

“That’s right. This human has no talent for gluttony. But….”

Gluttony’s gaze swept over Dorian’s body and stopped at his belly pocket.

“Something similar exists.”

“Something similar?”

Raon narrowed his eyes at Gluttony.

“Just as I fill my hunger, that human has a compulsion to fill that pocket. In other words….”

Gluttony looked at Dorian’s trembling eyes and nodded.

“He has a talent for compulsion.”

“C-compulsion…?”

Dorian shook his head violently.

“It’s not compulsion! I just carry everything around in case it’s needed!”

To prove himself, he began pulling out all sorts of things from his belly pocket.

“You never know where you’ll have to sleep, so anyone would carry a portable house, a bed, and a bathtub! And this ice cream machine is necessary when you want homemade dessert!”

Dorian shook the bathtub and the ice cream machine, insisting these were items anyone would carry.

“Normal people don’t carry bathtubs on trips….”

Raon shook his head as he looked at the sweating Dorian.

Nor do they carry ice cream machines….

Even Wrath, who loved ice cream, let out a sigh at how ridiculous it was.

“Yeah, that’s a compulsion.”

Definitely a compulsion.

“I said it’s not!”

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