The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1169

 Chapter 1169

 

“Hmm!”

Glenn’s lips trembled faintly as he looked at Raon, who was revealing his confidence with a calm expression.

“Dragons are cunning and insidious, but with your current might, it seems you could handle whatever they try to do.”

He nodded heavily, acknowledging that it was a level of might and confidence he had no choice but to admit.

“I think so as well.”

Sheryl slowly curled her lips upward.

“The little boy of the Light Wind Squad whom I took out and trained is gone now. It is both pleasing and regrettable to see that you’ve become a palace master who has felt the weight of responsibility and gone through all sorts of hardships.”

She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, as if overlapping the Raon of his Light Wind Squad days with the Raon of now, her expression filled with affection.

“It’s because I went through those times that I’m who I am now.”

Raon drew a gentle smile as he looked at Sheryl.

“I am always grateful.”

He bowed his head to express his thanks to Sheryl for looking after him during his childhood.

“Haa, I still don’t understand it.”

With one hand on her waist, Sheryl let out a hollow laugh.

“How did someone like you come out from under such an idiot?”

She shook her head, saying the contrast with Raon’s master, Rimmer, was too great.

“You know as well, Heavenly Blade Division leader.”

Raon chuckled softly as he looked at Sheryl’s faintly furrowed eyes.

“That my master wasn’t just a lazy good-for-nothing, a gambler, a liar, and a thoughtless idiot.”

He tilted his chin slightly as he spoke, saying that Rimmer was a person who possessed far more strengths than those flaws.

“I—I didn’t go that far!”

Sheryl blinked, asking if his words weren't too harsh.

“He did do a lot of strange things, but he always had his reasons!”

She raised her voice as if defending Rimmer.

“Is that so?”

Raon twisted the corners of his mouth up as he looked at Sheryl, who was frowning.

“To think I’d see the Heavenly Blade Division leader defending my master.”

He murmured that it was amusing and let out a mischievous laugh.

“Huh? Ugh!”

Only then did Sheryl realize what Raon had been aiming for. She gasped and stumbled backward.

“Hmm….”

Even Glenn narrowed his eyes slightly, seemingly amused by Sheryl’s flustered reaction.

“That’s not it!”

Sheryl let out a heavy sigh and relaxed her twisted expression.

“I hate that bastard of a master of yours. That’s why I absolutely won’t move the way he wants me to!”

She snorted, saying she wouldn’t even listen to Rimmer’s requests.

“I see.”

Raon clasped his hands in front of him as he looked at Sheryl, who had sharply turned her head away.

‘As expected….’

Lady Sheryl loves my master.

Rimmer wished for Sheryl to meet someone else and live happily, but Sheryl, on the contrary, had engraved Rimmer into her heart and intended to live alone for the rest of her life.

‘Is this what love is?’

Through Rimmer and Sheryl, I felt as though I had glimpsed one direction of affection between a man and a woman. Just a little, but I began to understand what love was.

‘Father and mother were similar, though in a different way.’

Sylvia and Edgar also could not share an ordinary love. They had met again after going through countless twists and turns in a situation where the world had torn them apart. The desperate love and reunion of those two people also started to touch my heart bit by bit.

Was it because I had learned about new emotions? It felt as if the sword forged within my soul was becoming sharper and harder.

No….

Wrath stiffened his gaze, as if utterly dumbfounded.

Feel love yourself, you bastard! Stop stealing emotions from other people’s love!

He shouted in irritation, asking why Raon was learning emotions in such a way.

You truly are a human beyond the bounds of comprehension! No, the King of Essence is not even sure you’re still human anymore!

Wrath ground his teeth, saying that just looking at him made his irritation surge.

‘I am human. I might be a bit unusual, but….’

Raon smiled faintly at the furious Wrath, nodding calmly while resolving that one day, he would reveal everything.

“Hmm.”

Glenn’s eyebrows trembled slightly as he examined Raon.

“I think I can entrust anything to you now.”

Like Wrath, he seemed to sense the changes in Raon brought about through emotion, and he nodded slowly.

“The fact that such a relaxed atmosphere can exist even as you’re heading to face the highest-ranking ancient dragons proves your might and confidence.”

Glenn extended his hand, as if telling him to do as he pleased.

“Thank you.”

Standing straight, Raon bowed at the waist toward Glenn.

“I will never disappoint you.”

He lifted his head, saying that he would deal not only with each tribe’s leader, but even the Dragon Lord if necessary.

“So, who will you be taking with you this time?”

Glenn narrowed his eyes, as if curious about who would be going with him.

“Runaan is at a crucial moment right now, so it would be better to leave her behind. I’m thinking of taking Burren and Martha so they can gain experience. Dorian has to come, without question, and as for Evelyn, even without me saying it...”

“Hmm, indeed.”

Raon said no more, but Glenn nodded as if he understood.

“If you should need my strength at any point, don’t hesitate, and tell me anytime.”

Lowering his finger, Glenn seemed to be telling him not to think he had to shoulder everything alone just because he had grown strong. He appeared unwilling to let his grandson go through the same things he himself had endured.

“I will keep that in mind.”

Raon smiled as he said he would not harbor the arrogance of trying to resolve everything by himself.

“Then.”

After saying he would return safely, he opened the doors to the audience chamber.

“Hmm?”

The moment he opened the door, he saw Karoon and Roenn waiting behind it.

“Sir Raon. Please return safely.”

Roenn bowed with a hearty laugh, as if he had heard everything.

“Yes. I’ll see you later.”

Just as Raon exchanged greetings and was about to step outside—

“Work Burren hard.”

Karoon left those words, telling him to put Burren through hardship, and entered the audience chamber.

Yet despite the words work him hard, when he spoke Burren’s name, there was just a faint hint of warmth.

“Yes. I’ll work him thoroughly.”

Raon nodded to Karoon and left the audience chamber.

‘Now it’s not just the annex building… this entire Zieghart….’

He glanced back at the audience chamber Karoon had entered and drew a faint smile.

‘It really feels like a family.’

It felt as though Zieghart had become a true home, a place he could always return to with a smile, and his chest warmed at the thought.

‘No matter what….’

Raon clenched his fist as he stepped out of the lord’s manor and surveyed the entirety of Zieghart.

‘I’ll protect it.’

*   *   *

The next morning.

Wooooong!

After finishing all preparations, Raon stepped out into the garden in front of the annex building. Just like the day before, Bartius’s face appeared alongside a blue-hued window.

“Are you ready?”

Bartius tilted his chin, as if asking whether they could depart immediately.

“Auuu… s-so we’re really going.”

Dorian trembled, his shoulders shaking as if frightened.

“I just barely finished training and wanted to rest a bit….”

Though he muttered about wanting rest, he still checked the supplies in his belly pocket. Perhaps because he had stuffed it with many items in a single day, the energy of gluttony seemed to have grown slightly stronger.

“Dragons. And if they are tribe leader-level dragons….”

Burren drew in a thin breath, then exhaled.

“Just watching the battle alone will be a huge help.”

Clenching his fist, he said he would learn everything he could.

“Just watching? No way! We should fight too!”

Martha snorted, as if asking what he was talking about.

“We have to put what we’ve learned to use!”

She said she really wanted to fight dragons and placed her hand on her sword.

“Life must be easy for an idiot, huh?”

Evelyn brushed Martha’s shoulder and let out a small laugh.

“With your current skill, you can’t take down an ancient dragon.”

She clicked her chin, telling her to get a grip.

“Hmph! Do you think there are only ancient dragons around the tribe leaders? There are obviously weaker ones too!”

Martha slapped away the back of Evelyn’s hand, telling her to get a grip herself.

“Save the fighting for later.”

Raon stepped between Martha and Evelyn and let out a sigh.

“Bartius. Let’s depart now.”

He stepped forward, asking Bartius to guide them.

“We’ll go straight to the leader of the Red tribe.”

Bartius nodded, saying he had already connected the path.

Wooooooong!

When he spread both hands, a dimension gate shimmering in gold opened before Raon.

“Enter through that gate.”

Bartius revealed a calm gaze, telling them to trust him and step into the dimensional gate.

“P–Palace master.”

Dorian swallowed dry spit as if he was worried.

“Sh-should I go first?”

Even amidst his fear, he stood in front of the dimensional gate worrying about Raon.

“I am not a moron who puts his subordinate in front.”

Raon let out a soft chuckle and pulled Dorian back again.

“And if I’ve decided to trust someone, I’ll trust them until a blade is driven into my back.”

Meeting Bartius’s eyes through the blue window, he stepped into the golden dimensional gate.

Wooooooong!

As he felt his body lift slightly before his feet touched the ground again, the summit of a colossal volcano came into view, lava churning and flames erupting violently.

“Woooaaah….”

Dorian sucked in a sharp breath at the volcanic heat and staggered backward.

“A volcano right from the start….”

Burren pressed his lips together, as if tense.

“At times like this, I miss that idiot.”

Martha smacked her lips as if curious about Runaan’s reaction in such a hot place, and missing the ice she made.

“So it really was here.”

Evelyn nodded calmly, as if she had expected this location.

“Hmm.”

As Raon surveyed the entire volcano, the golden dimension closed, and Bartius appeared behind them.

“I like that you don’t hesitate.”

Bartius curled his lips as he looked at Raon.

“That’s exactly why I chose you.”

He nodded, saying it had been worth choosing Raon.

“This place is….”

Raon narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked around the volcano.

“The Sky Fire Volcano, where the leader of the Red tribe, Ignis Cierfang, resides.”

Instead of Bartius, a rough voice that sounded as if it were burning with flames came from behind.

Balasiur. The Red tribe’s adult dragon approached with a furrowed brow.

“I’ll guide you from here.”

Balasiur brushed his hands together and pointed toward a black shadow right in front of the lava.

It was hard to see clearly due to the heat, smoke, and flames, but there was a massive hole large enough for an ancient dragon to enter.

This place, where heat and flames served as a natural barrier, seemed to be the nest of the Red tribe’s leader, Ignis Cierfang.

“Let’s go.”

Raon followed Balasiur into the enormous cave. The heat inside was as intense as the volcano itself, but there was no one here who couldn’t endure this level of heat.

“Grant me a moment to speak.”

Balasiur muttered quietly as he walked ahead. Unlike his previously forthright demeanor, his cautious movements suggested he had not yet fully made up his mind.

“A moment to speak?”

Raon narrowed his eyes slightly.

“If by any chance Ignis Cierfang informs the outside, things become troublesome.”

Giving time for conversation wasn’t the issue, but if information leaked, the entire plan could collapse, so it wasn’t a decision to make lightly.

“That won’t be a problem.”

Bartius calmly raised his hand.

“Dariauran, Sirtiren, and Bursiarabi have created a barrier.”

He nodded, saying the three dragons were blocking Ignis Cierfang’s escape and communication.

“Hmm.”

Raon turned to look at Evelyn behind him.

“If it wasn’t prepared in advance, it shouldn’t be easy to break through.”

Evelyn nodded, saying he could trust those words.

“Then let’s do that.”

Raon nodded calmly.

“Thank you.”

Balasiur thanked him for understanding and quickened his pace as he headed deeper into the nest.

There were many guardians protecting the nest, but perhaps because of Balasiur’s presence, none of them moved.

“Hoo.”

Balasiur caught his breath in front of a vast cavern large enough to hold tens of thousands of people at once.

“It’s here. Now….”

Just as he steeled his resolve and was about to step into the cavern—

Kugugugugugugugu!

This massive cave, no, the entire Sky Fire Volcano shook, and from the darkness, a Fire Dragon’s head massive enough to reach the clouds jutted out.

The sheer, alien scale was enough to make everyone hold their breath just by looking at it.

[Balasiur. And Bartius.]

The leader of the Red tribe, Ignis Cierfang, pushed forward a body larger than a mountain, radiating heat that felt as though it could melt bone and flesh.

[What brings you here? Bringing insects along with you.]

Ignis Cierfang released a faintly wrathful wave of energy as he looked down at Balasiur and Bartius.

“Ugh….”

“So this is the leader of the Red tribe?”

“What a damn oppressive presence!”

Dorian couldn’t breathe properly, Burren clenched his sword and braced his legs to endure it, and Martha bit her lip until it bled as she glared back at Ignis Cierfang.

“…….”

As promised earlier, Raon did not step forward. With his hands clasped behind his back and his presence completely suppressed, he quietly gazed at Ignis Cierfang.

[Tribe leader. At present, our tribe is walking the wrong path.]

Balasiur took a step toward Ignis Cierfang and raised both hands.

[Dragons are a race that exists to maintain the balance of this world. That is why we are called mediators or neutrals, and also why we are born with such great power.]

He spoke in dragon words with a human body while looking up.

[However, the dragons of today are no longer so. The Lord and the tribe leaders, those who should maintain neutrality above all else, are instead taking the lead in joining hands with beings from another dimension and attempting to erase humans, who are members of this world. To try to resurrect the tyranny of the demonic dragons with our own hands, this is an absolutely unacceptable choice!]

Abandoning the domineering stance of the Red tribe, Balasiur attempted to persuade Ignis Cierfang with the most rational posture imaginable.

[Balasiur….]

Ignis Cierfang turned his gaze toward Balasiur and deeply furrowed a brow wider than a hill.

[For you, who have been chosen as the next tribe leader to speak such words! Why can you not understand our will? Humanity has completely rotted away. Only by wiping everything out and raising it anew can the balance of this world be restored!]

He spat the words savagely, as if he hadn’t listened to Balasiur at all.

“Even if that were true, it’s something we must do on our own. Joining hands with beings from another dimension is to lose the very value of our existence as dragons.”

Bartius scoffed as he supported Balasiur’s words.

[Balasiur. Bartius. Is it because you were both chosen as the next tribe leaders and coddled every step of the way that you’ve lost all sense?]

Revealing deep fury, Ignis Cierfang stepped out of the cavern. His full body emerged, releasing pressure so overwhelming it made breathing difficult.

“Ugh….”

“Hhhk!”

“Aaaagh….”

As Ignis Cierfang unleashed his true energy wave, Burren, Martha, and Dorian could no longer breathe properly and fell to their knees.

“Damn it….”

“Hah! So this is how it ends up, after all.”

Balasiur and Bartius also trembled their shoulders and stepped back, seeming tense at Ignis Cierfang’s seriousness.

[Today, I will show you the difference in power, and the difference in will to protect this continent!]

Declaring that he would discipline them as an elder, Ignis Cierfang released his red-burning mana. At the release of such massive mana, the Sky Fire Volcano exploded, and a shaking as if the continent was twisting was felt.

“As expected, it won’t work.”

Raon let out a short sigh and stepped forward. Ignis Cierfang’s rage didn’t seem to reach him at all, his expression calm and unhurried.

“Just listening to your words makes it clear. You’ve already crossed a river you can’t return from.”

[Human? A mere human dares to—]

It was the moment Ignis Cierfang snorted and was about to pour out a breath of flames.

…

Without a single sound, a blue light flashed.

[Uh….]

Ignis Cierfang, who had been preparing his fiery breath, froze like a statue, his entire body trembling violently.

[Th—this is imposs—.]

Before he could even finish saying it was impossible, Ignis Cierfang’s throat split, and his enormous head fell to the floor of the cavern.

Kuwaaaaaaaang!

Though it was only his head, its tremendous weight caused the nest’s floor to collapse, exposing the boiling lava beneath.

Cleanly severed as if sliced by a blade, Ignis Cierfang’s head sank into lava the same color as his scales and began to melt away.

“You don’t even need to repent.”

Raon lightly flicked off Heavenly Drive, which no one had even seen him draw.

“Die as the trash you are.”

 

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