The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1152

 Chapter 1152

 

“Hmm.”

Raon shut his mouth again as the scorching, almost burning heat of the swordsmen’s gazes concentrated on him.

‘I feel like I’m going to suffocate from their expectations.’

For the past month, the swordsmen had poured their entire bodies and minds into training, so of course they were looking at me with eyes full of expectation, certain that they would be the ones chosen.

‘I feel bad that I can’t take care of all of them.’

Most of those shining, expectant gazes would soon fade, yet I still felt sorry, even though it wasn’t my fault.

Especially since it wasn’t only effort that mattered, talent and luck were factors too, which made it even harder for me to speak.

‘What level they’re currently at is important as well.’

If Glenn were to instruct them personally, the odds of breaking through their wall were incredibly high. Because of that, choosing those at the highest Master level rather than those at novice Grandmaster or intermediate level was the correct approach.

Because of that, there were bound to be people who had both skill and talent but still wouldn’t be chosen. I decided that I would take care of them separately later.

The world has always been unfair.

Wrath waved his hand, saying there was no need to think this deeply.

Luck matters even more.

He tilted his head, saying that even reaching the peak of their current realm at this timing was luck.

You of all people should know best. Just how important luck is!

Wrath emphasized the word “luck” twice as he stared hard at Raon.

‘Well, that’s true.’

Raon let out a faint laugh and lifted his head.

“Nephew! Hurry up and say it already! I feel like I’m gonna die from the suspense!”

Balder thumped his own chest with his fist, saying he needed to at least win this one thing.

“He’ll say it when he wants! Leave him alone!”
Aris smacked the back of Balder’s head, telling him not to rush Raon.

“L-Light Wind Palace master! Quickly! Please!”

Krein was practically drooling as he begged Raon to hurry like Balder. He seemed half out of his mind with anticipation.

“Stop embarrassing yourself.”

Burren blocked Krein’s mouth with a sigh. Yet even he couldn’t take his eyes off Raon, clearly nervous.

“Wait. The results are already decided anyway.”

Martha said they should wait calmly, though her hands were trembling slightly as she forced an awkward smile.

“Kororong….”

Runaan was nodding off again today, dozing away with her head bobbing. Raon had no idea how she could sleep that well while standing. Saying she got along well with Sloth wasn’t enough anymore, she looked like she had practically become the Queen of Sloth herself.

“……”

Karoon stood with his arms crossed, simply looking at the platform without a word. It seemed he wasn’t expecting to be chosen at all.

“Huuu.”

After quietly steadying his breath, Raon lifted his chin.

“First, Karoon Zieghart and Aris Zieghart. You two. I chose you because I believe that if you break through the wall before you, you’ll be able to defeat even the Transcenders of Two Demons.”

He spoke Karoon and Aris’s names first and even explained the reason for choosing them.

“As expected of my nephew!”

Aris clapped loudly, as if he knew he would be selected.

“Me…?”

Karoon widened his eyes as though he had never imagined being chosen.

“Why…?”

He let out a faint groan, saying he couldn’t understand why he of all people, Raon’s rival, was being selected no matter how he thought about it.

‘Why, he asks.’

Raon let out a small laugh as he looked at Karoon, who was completely taken aback.

‘It’s because you changed.’

When Karoon reached Transcendence, he didn’t just shake off envy and stubbornness, it was as if he were reborn as a fair and upright person. And since he had changed that much, it was only natural that the way I treated him would change as well.

“Them being picked was only natural.”

“Yeah. It would be strange if they weren’t chosen.”

“These two were guaranteed. Let’s hear the next!”

The swordsmen nodded, as if they had all expected Aris and Karoon to be chosen.

“Next…”

Raon continued without answering Karoon’s question.

“Sword Sovereign Sieran and War King Huber. As instructors of the Light Wind Palace, and as Transcenders at the very top even among Transcenders. With further growth, I believe they will become the greatest strength in the coming war, so I have selected them.”

He announced the Sword Sovereign and War King next, again explaining his reasons clearly.

“Woooooow! It’s me!”

“My efforts have paid off.”

Sword Sovereign Sieran hopped like a child and raised her hand, while the War King nodded, saying his all-night training had been worth it.

“Of course the Sword Sovereign and War king should be chosen.”

“Right. Those two could probably stop an archangel.”

“Just having them join Zieghart is our good fortune.”

The swordsmen lined up in the training ground nodded, saying the reasons were completely understandable.

“Ahem!”

Glenn nodded broadly, looking pleased that everyone was accepting Raon’s choices so readily.

“Looks like you can do whatever you want now,”

Sheryl sighed as she watched him.

“Huhuhu.”

Roenn simply chuckled, clearly enjoying the atmosphere.

“Next are Burren Zieghart of the Light Wind Palace, Martha Zieghart, Runaan Sullion, Mark Goetten, Trevin Zieghart, Torivis Zieghart of the Central Martial Palace, Sifren Reorn of the True Martial Palace…”

Raon announced, as the third group, the names of those who held executive positions in each armed organization.

“These individuals currently possess might at advanced Grandmaster or higher.
Since they are guaranteed to reach peak Grandmaster, and, if luck favors them, even touch Transcendence, I selected them.”

The difference between advanced Grandmaster and peak Grandmaster was an entirely different realm in itself, and some among them truly showed the possibility of breaking past the Grandmaster wall and reaching Transcendence. That was why I had chosen them.

“Next, I’ll tell you about the promising ones who are still inexperienced, but may soon bloom. Dorian Sephia of the Light Wind Palace, Krein…”

Raon called out each name with care, their current might was weak, but they possessed great potential and talent.

“…and finally Utaben of the Void Sword Division. Some of you may be wondering why these people were chosen. But once you see the results later, you will understand.”

He nodded lightly, saying he would show it through results.

“So it wasn’t only the Light Wind Palace.”

“Right. There are quite a few from Central Martial Palace and True Martial Palace too.”

“He didn’t only look at the palace, he picked one person each from the divisions and squads.”

“Torivis and Siphren are famous, sure, but someone like Utaben isn’t. When did he even have the time to see all of them?”

“He’s the Sword Emperor for a reason.”

The swordsmen stared blankly, nodding in admiration at Raon’s wide perspective.

They were especially surprised that Raon not only knew the talents within the Light Wind Palace, but also those within other armed organizations with precise accuracy.

“How disappointing…”

“Yeah. I really worked hard.”

“But looking at who was chosen… I’ve got nothing to say.”

“Same here. They’re worthy of receiving the head of house’s instruction.”

Most of them clicked their tongues in regret, but admitted the choices made sense.

“Damn it! I even quit drinking!”

The Gambling Monster trembled his once-shaky hands, as though regretting the month he had stayed sober.

“M-Me? I’m not on the list? What do you mean I’m not!? How am I not!?”

Balder, unlike Karoon, was shocked that his name wasn't called, whipping his head around frantically.

“……”

Serena nodded calmly, as if she had expected this.

“Originally….”

Raon took a deep breath and drew his chin in tightly.

“…I had no intention of selecting more. But after seeing the sincerity, effort, and potential shown this past month, I chose a few more.”

At those words, the eyes of the swordsmen who had given up lit up once more.

“The Gambling Monster Herrian Zieghart, Serena Calvin of the Void Sword Division, and Balder Zieghart of the True Martial Palace.”

Raon spoke the three names with firm eyes.

“These three possess deep loyalty to the house, and though the remaining distance is different for each of them, they have all drawn close to the wall of Transcendence. I chose them because of the future I believe they can reach.”

Balder, despite his arrogant-looking attitude, had spent all his recent time in training. The reason he hadn’t gathered many supporters was largely because of that.

Serena’s loyalty to the house surpassed anyone here. She always fought with her life on the line and always considered others before herself. With that kind of will and resolve, I felt she could certainly break through the wall.

The Gambling Monster, too, no longer wasted his days on alcohol and gambling. He devoted himself to training the Light Wind swordsmen and sharpening his own skills, and his might had risen at a rapid pace. At this point, breaking the wall was no longer impossible for him.

“There it is! That’s my nephew!”

Balder clenched his fist tight, saying Raon had finally acknowledged him.

“Thank you.”

Serena bowed to Raon, her face slightly flushed from excitement.

“R-Raon….”

The Gambling Monster, who had given up and then been chosen, teared up in overwhelming gratitude. It was an expression Raon had never seen from him.

“Lastly, I have chosen two more purely based on talent.”

Raon drew a deep breath and shifted his gaze away from the training ground toward the spectators’ seats.

“Sylvia Zieghart, Sia Zieghart.”

He called out two names that nobody here could have predicted.

“Huh? Sylvia and Sia...?”

“They’re the mother and sister of the Light Wind Palace master!”

“Why those two?”

The swordsmen blinked blankly, as if they had never even considered the possibility.

“Talent, huh. Well….”

Aris nodded understandingly.

“Those two have talent that surpasses anyone here, aside from Raon himself.”

She nodded again, saying she understood Raon’s reasoning.

“That’s right!”

Balder also jerked his fist, saying he now understood why Raon had chosen those two.

“R-Raon! What are you….”

“Oh? I got chosen?”

Sylvia stammered in confusion, while Sia shot her hand straight up, delighted at the thought of training alongside Raon.

Are you seriously out of your mind?

Wrath shoved his face forward, sounding utterly dumbfounded.

Why are you calling mom and that child!

‘Derus is definitely going to spread the sparks of war all the way to Zieghart.’

Raon quietly shook his head.

‘Most of the swordsmen will be outside on missions, so there won’t be many left who can protect this place.’

If it were Derus Robert, he would attack Zieghart no matter what, even in the middle of receiving surprise attacks.

And when most of the armed organizations were out, the only ones capable of protecting this place would be Sylvia and Sia.

If those two grew stronger in advance, they would be able to save many of Zieghart’s residents. So that choice was only natural.

Well… that is true.

Hearing it phrased that way, Wrath let out a groan, saying he could understand.

“There are quite a few from the Light  Wind Palace, but way more from other armed organizations than I thought, too.”

“I think he chose well, but isn’t it still too many?”

“Right. Can he even look after all of them?”

“It’ll probably be difficult to receive instruction even once a day.”

The swordsmen frowned, saying the people themselves were fine, but the number felt too large.

“That is all.”

Saying he was finished, Raon stepped down from the platform and looked toward Glenn.

“Ahem!”

Glenn let out a satisfied cough, his earlobes reddening, as if Raon’s choices pleased him.

“Though the Light Wind Palace master chose more than expected, I never set a limit from the start, so it can’t be helped.”

He rose from the throne and walked to the edge of the platform where Raon had stood.

“Do not worry. As I promised, I will personally look after them and give instruction to every single one.”

Glenn nodded, saying that even with many, he would still be able to instruct them each day.

“And those who were not chosen, do not be too disappointed. This opportunity will not end with just this one time.”

He reassured the swordsmen that there would be another selection in the future.

“Ooooooh!”

“We’ll work hard until then!”

“I’ll definitely get chosen next time!”

The swordsmen raised their swords and shouted, vowing not to miss the next chance.

“Light Wind Palace master, well done.”

Glenn praised Raon openly in front of everyone for his hard work in selecting the swordsmen.

“I only did what I should do.”

Raon pressed a hand to his chest and accepted Glenn’s praise with humility.

“Hmph!”

Glenn’s lips trembled upward again, looking even more satisfied with that attitude.

“Then, we end here.”

As he clapped his hands, signaling the end of the day’s schedule, the gates of the training ground opened again.

“Haa.”

Raon let out a sigh and wiped the sweat rolling down his forehead.

‘Somehow, it ended well.’

I had nearly failed the successor test, but thanks to Aris’s help I barely passed, and the selection of those who would receive Glenn’s instruction also seemed to have gone well.

It was a relief that the results of what I had prepared for so long turned out well.

You call that ending well?

Wrath half-opened his eyes at him.

Among all the humans the King of Essence has seen, you were the most pathetic today.

He frowned, saying he kept recalling the way Raon had been counting with his fingers.

‘…I couldn’t help it.’

I know it was pathetic, but for the sake of the people who supported me, I really didn't want to fail like that. Thanks to that desperate struggle, I managed to pass somehow, so it's a relief.

Hmph. Do it properly next time.

Wrath clicked his tongue and turned his head away.

The King of Essence cannot stand his vessel showing such pathetic behavior.

He snorted, saying if Raon acted like that again, he’d kick him out.

“I kn—ugh!”

Raon, about to pat Wrath’s head, flinched as his shoulder trembled.

‘I can feel mother’s gaze….’

From the spectator seats, Sylvia’s sharp stare was stabbing into my spine.

Of course she’s mad! You didn’t say a single word about selecting her!

Wrath knit his brow, saying Raon should’ve at least mentioned it during breakfast.

‘It was a secret. I had no choice.’

I hadn’t been allowed to tell anyone before the announcement, so I hadn’t said a word even this morning.

I would have to explain everything properly after returning to the annex building.

“Sigh, it never ends. Let’s go back.”

Raon lowered his shoulders and was about to leave the training ground with the Light Wind Palace swordsmen when—

“Light Wind Palace master.”

Karoon approached from the side and addressed Raon by title. With a serious look, as if bringing up something of utmost importance, he extended his hand.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

 

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