The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1119

 Chapter 1119

 

“What…?”

Brigit, the Queen of Swords, widened her eyes as if she hadn’t even considered the possibility.

“Why would you say you’ll participate in the Divine Sword Gathering! A Transcender. And someone stronger than me at that!”

She shouted so loudly the surroundings trembled, demanding to know what he was thinking.

“Sir Raon. Are you serious?”

The Thespian Emperor narrowed her eyes at Raon.

“The Divine Sword Gathering is a festival for the swordsmen belonging to the Martial Blade Pavilion, so it won’t be of any help to you, Sir Raon.”

She shook her head, saying the opponents would be far beneath his level.

“I know.”

Raon gave a faint smile as he looked at her.

“I’m well aware of what the Divine Sword Gathering is.”

The Divine Sword Gathering was a swordsmanship tournament held once every ten years at the Martial Blade Pavilion.

All the swordsmen of Martial Blade Pavilion participated, and because the top four who reached the semifinals were given permission to enter the special swordsmanship library, I had always been interested in it.

“Even if it’s a swordsmanship tournament where no one uses aura, there’s no one who can match your level!”

Brigit furrowed her brows, demanding to know what in the world he was thinking.

“No, more than that, you don’t even have the right to participate in the Divine Sword Gathering….”

“Aren’t the White Whale’s swordsmen also participating in this Divine Sword Gathering?”

Raon cut her off, tilting his chin slightly.

“Th-that’s true, but…”

Brigit trailed off, shifting her eyes toward the Thespian Emperor.

“It was Lady Brianna’s suggestion. Since there are skilled swordsmen in the White Whale too, she said to let them participate. But how did you…?”

The Thespian Emperor gave a hollow laugh, saying that wasn’t public information.

“I happen to have an informant who takes terrifyingly good care of me.”

Raon touched the inner pocket where he kept Chad, the Shadow Agents master's letter, and let out a faint smile.

“It must be the Shadow Agents master.”

The Thespian Emperor nodded as if realizing why he knew about the Martial Blade Pavilion’s affairs.

“Well, there have been plenty of stories about how much he cares for you.”

Even though she was an outsider, she knew things that only insiders of Zieghart should know.

“How do you know that?”

This time, Raon widened his eyes in disbelief.

“It wasn’t widely spread, but there were quite a few rumors. That the Shadow Agents master was backing you as the successor.”

The Thespian Emperor calmly nodded, saying it was something most informants already knew.

“Ah….”

Raon blinked blankly.

Even outsiders knew, and you were the only one who didn’t!

Wrath sneered, calling him the continent’s worst at reading the mood.

Just gouge out those eyes like that sword-crazed idiot!

He waved his hand, saying he didn’t need eyes anyway.

“A-anyway, since Zieghart has also allied with the Five Divine Spirits, I ask that you grant me the chance to participate in the Divine Sword Gathering.”

Raon bowed his head to Brigit, saying it as a request.

“We don’t mind.”

The Thespian Emperor nodded calmly, as if Raon’s participation was no issue.

“Fine. Since Zieghart is an ally, let’s say you can participate. But it won’t do you any good!”

Brigit pounded her chest in frustration.

“No one in the Martial Blade Pavilion can push you to fight at your true level.”

She shook her head vigorously, saying that among all the disciples of the pavilion, not one could withstand Raon’s true sword.

“The ones behind you might gain something at least, but for you it’s just a waste of time.”

She flicked her finger, telling him to just put Martha and Dorian in instead.

“And that so-called special library you want to enter, sure, it’s a great place for our disciples, but to you it’ll mean nothing. Someone who learned Glenn Zieghart’s swordsmanship and walks the path of the versatile sword, what need do you have…?”

She tilted her head, genuinely unable to understand.

“That’s not entirely wrong.”

Raon chuckled and nodded.

‘Since there are hardly any who surpass me in swordsmanship now.’

Aside from Glenn, Darkan, Rector, Derus Robert, King Lecross, and the Sword Sovereign, there was almost no one on the continent whose swordsmanship realm was higher than mine, so her words weren’t strange.

“Except for just one person.”

Raon slowly raised his hand.

“If it’s the master of the Martial Blade Pavilion, wouldn’t you be able to face me?”

He curled his finger and pointed at Brigit.

“M-me…?”

Brigit’s eyes went wide in disbelief.

“Yes. Both you, Lady Brigit, and Lady Brianna.”

Raon nodded, telling the sisters to show all the effort and talent they had built up until now.

“Since quite some time has passed, I’d like to see how much you’ve changed…”

“I like the sound of that.”

As Raon smiled and was about to continue speaking, Brigit’s atmosphere changed drastically.

Woooooong!

She met Raon’s gaze with eyes that had clearly changed.

Brianna—Brigit’s older sister, a swordswoman of heaven-bestowed talent, smiled without hiding her anticipation.

“Let’s have a proper match for the first time in a while.”

*   *   *

“You’re really going to participate in that Divine Sword Gathering thing?”

As soon as they entered the lodging, Martha went straight to Raon and asked.

“From what I’ve learned, it might mean something to us, but for you it’s pointless, isn’t it?”

She tilted her head, unable to understand why Raon would want to join.

“Even when people look at the same thing, what they feel and think is different.”

Raon waved his hand with a faint smile.

“Even if others say it’s meaningless, I have the ability to gain something from it.”

Every swordsman of the Martial Blade Pavilion trains in a different swordsmanship.

Now that I had reached a high realm of the versatile sword, even by watching the disciples’ crude swordsmanship, I could discern their end points and find things worth learning.

“And it’s not just me, you two will also participate.”

Raon pointed his finger toward Martha and Dorian.

“The swordsmen of the Martial Blade Pavilion are similar to those of the Holy Sword Alliance. They focus all their mind on improving swordsmanship rather than outside affairs or personal desires, so there are many skilled ones.”

He smiled, saying it would be of great help to Martha and Dorian.

“I don’t have to do it, right? Since I’m a mage.”

Evelyn lightly waved her hand, saying she’d sit this one out too.

“Mages really do have as many excuses as they have brains.”

Martha scrunched her nose in displeasure.

“But couldn’t you just request a spar with the Queen of Swords instead?”

Dorian scratched his cheek, wondering why he’d go through a whole tournament just to face her.

“Because I need to enter the library said to contain special sword techniques."

Raon clicked his tongue lightly.

“Library?”

“Yeah. I want to spar with the Queen of Swords, but I also want to enter the pavilion’s special library.”

While I could arrange a spar with the Queen of Swords, the special library was not somewhere even pavilion members could enter easily. As an outsider, entry was impossible without proper procedure. If not for this Divine Sword Gathering, I would have no chance at all.

“Didn’t she say there’s nothing that great in there?”

Martha narrowed her eyes, recalling Brigit’s words.

“You don’t know until you see for yourself.”

Raon waved his hand lightly.

“I might find a sword technique or martial art that suits me.”

Even a small new sword technique would help one who pursued the path of the versatile sword. Before the war, I wanted to see and learn as many martial arts as possible to grow my strength even a little more.

‘And…’

That martial art might be there.

The sword technique I had wanted to see since my previous life wasn’t in Zieghart or the Holy Sword Alliance, so the chance of it being preserved in the Martial Blade Pavilion was very high.

“But there are plenty of sword manuals in Zieghart.”

Dorian turned his head, as if telling him to finish those first.

“I’ve read all the sword manuals in Zieghart. The ones left are only martial arts that don’t suit me.”

Raon waved his hand lightly, as if it were nothing, despite saying something others would find hard to believe.

“Y-you’ve read all of Zieghart’s sword manuals?”

Dorian’s jaw trembled as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Yes.”

Raon nodded calmly, as if it really were nothing.

“What’s got you so surprised?”

Martha tapped Dorian’s forehead lightly.

“He’s the guy who trains from dawn till night and even sleeps in the library.”

She shrugged, saying it wasn’t strange.

“You even read most of the books in Zieghart’s treasury too, didn’t you?”

Evelyn nodded, saying it was admirable how he always read books whenever he entered Zieghart’s treasury.

“Th-that’s really true?”

Dorian’s mouth dropped open, saying he really hadn’t known that.

“Hah, you read even the books in the treasury? I didn’t know that either. You’re really insane….”

Martha also widened her eyes in disbelief.

“Ah….”

Raon swallowed dryly as he looked at Evelyn smiling sweetly.

“H-how do you even know that?”

To know not just from the outside, but even about what happened in Zieghart’s treasury in another dimension was frightening, and I felt goosebumps rising along my back.

Hrrrk!

Wrath also seemed to feel the same thing and drew in a sharp breath.

“Hee-hee.”

Evelyn, instead of answering, let out a bright smile that didn’t suit the situation.

L-let’s just go to devildom already!

Wrath clutched his head, saying he was going to lose his mind.

On this continent, there’s no escaping that madwoman!

‘If you ask me…’

Raon averted his gaze from Evelyn’s purple eyes and let out a deep sigh.

‘She’d probably chase me even into the devildom.’

…..

Wrath, as if in agreement, said nothing, just let his drool dribble.

*   *   *

A week later.

The Divine Sword Gathering was officially held at the Martial Blade Pavilion.

‘This isn’t bad.’

Raon looked at the five arenas set up at the pavilion’s center and smiled faintly.

‘You can tell they spent money on this.’

Other areas of the Pavilion were old and shabby with age, but the arenas and training grounds looked like a lot of money and effort had been poured into them. It was a look befitting a swordsmanship faction.

Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at the Martial Blade Pavilion swordsmen gathered around the training grounds.

‘Their energy is well contained.’

The Blade Martial Pavilion swordsmen’s aura realms weren’t that high, but their eyes were sharp and upright like those of top swordsmen. I was already looking forward to what swordsmanship they would display.

Paaah!

As Raon licked his lips while observing them, Brigit, the Queen of Swords, leapt boldly into the arena like a hawk pouncing on prey.

Gooooong!

Standing tall in the center, she looked down on the gathered swordsmen.

“From this moment, the Divine Sword Gathering begins! Show all the swordsmanship you’ve built up over the past ten years!”

“Uooooooh!”

At the Queen of Swords’ cry, the swordsmen of the Blade Martial Pavilion and the White Whale raised their swords to the sky and let out cheers. It was dueling, yet Raon understood why they called it a festival.

“Ooohhh….”

“Uraaaaaaah!”

Dorian let out a groan that sounded like his strength was leaving just from hearing it, while Martha roared as if she intended to devour them all herself.

“This Divine Sword Gathering has a special guest!”

Brigit turned her body, looking at Raon standing before the second arena.

‘Hmm?’

Raon furrowed his brows as he met her gaze.

‘Is she going to reveal who I am?’

There wasn’t a single swordsman on the continent who didn’t know me.

Most swordsmen, upon hearing the nickname “Sword Emperor,” would feel their soul crushed and be unable to even swing their swords. That was why I had asked her to conceal my identity and even wore a wig. Yet Brigit seemed intent on revealing who I was after all.

“Sword Emperor Raon Zieghart!”

Brigit burst into a broad grin and pointed at Raon.

“The master of the Light Wind Palace of Zieghart will participate in the Divine Sword Gathering by the authority of our allied forces”

She stamped her foot vigorously, urging everyone to learn much from Raon.

Thud.

The moment his name and nickname, Sword Emperor Raon Zieghart, were spoken, silence fell over the once-noisy arena.

Every gaze snapped toward Raon. Their eyes trembled violently, filled with shock and confusion.

“Haa….”

Raon removed the wig he had borrowed from Dorian and let out a deep sigh.

‘I wanted to properly see the swordsmen’s swordsmanship here.’

Each swordsman in Martial Blade Pavilion practiced a different sword style. By encountering new swordsmanship, I could raise my proficiency in the versatile sword even slightly. But now that Brigit had exposed my identity, it felt like they’d all forfeit.

‘Then this really is a waste of time…’

As Raon shook his head in regret—

“Uwaaaaaah!”

“Sword Emperor Raon Zieghart?”

“I’ll be the first to challenge him!”

“No, me first!”

“Move me to the second arena!”

Contrary to his expectations, the Martial Blade Pavilion swordsmen raised their hands one after another, wanting to fight him.

It wasn’t to gain Brigit’s favor. Their eyes burned with fierce fighting spirit as they rushed toward the second arena.

“And also….”

Brigit slammed her fist against her own chest.

“I too will participate in the Divine Sword Gathering!”

She nodded vigorously, saying she would enter not as the master of the pavilion, but as a swordsman.

“Waaaaaaah!”

“Even the master is joining!”

“Isn't this the first time we get to fight master in the tournament?”

“Crazy—this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance!”

“My skills will improve just by displaying the swordsmanship I've learned.”

The swordsmen trembled with joy as they shouted the names of Raon and Brigit, clutching their swords.

‘What is this….’

Raon let out a hollow breath at the sight of the ecstatic Martial Blade Pavilion swordsmen.

‘They really want to spar with me or the Queen of Swords?’

Putting Grandmasters aside, even Masters and those who weren't yet Masters were rejoicing at the thought of sparring with me.

Having only seen people who feared sparring with me until now, seeing these people who were about to charge at me with madness in their eyes was a bit dumbfounding.

“Hmph.”

Brigit smirked and shrugged, as if asking what he thought.

“There was truly no need to worry….”

Raon gave a faint smile as he looked at Brigit, proud of her Martial Blade Pavilion swordsmen.

“The swordsmen of Martial Blade Pavilion are all crazy for swordsmanship. The Holy Sword Alliance reveres the sword as something sacred, but for us, it is only about the swordsmanship.”

Brigit nodded, saying this was a natural reaction.

“T-they’re like that because they don’t know how scary Sir Raon is.”

Dorian’s lips quivered, saying that since they had never faced Raon in a spar, such wild excitement was only to be expected.

“Right. After getting smacked around a few times, they’ll all run later.”

Martha nodded, agreeing with him.

“I don’t think so.”

Raon lightly shook his head.

“They were just as happy to hear Lady Brigit was participating.”

The Martial Blade Pavilion swordsmen even raised both arms in joy when Brigit, who had surely been hard on them, said she’d participate.

They simply rejoiced at the chance to fight strong swordsmen.

“You two especially will gain much from this.”

Raon curled his lips upward as he sensed the quiet presence of Martial Blade Pavilion’s true experts observing him, unlike the other noisy swordsmen.

“And of course….”

He placed his hand on Heavenly Drive while meeting the excited eyes of Brigit, no, of the Brigit and Brianna sisters becoming true Queen of Swords.

“I will as well.”

With certainty that he too would gain new lessons from Martial Blade Pavilion, Raon lifted his chin.

 

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