The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1243

 Chapter 1243

 

“Head of house….”

Raon lifted his head just a little and swallowed hard.

“What are you so shocked about?”

Seeing the dazed look in Raon’s eyes, Glenn let out a quiet chuckle.

“You knew that once you left this place, you’d be taking over as head of house in Karoon’s place, didn’t you?”

He waved a hand as if to ask what the big surprise was.

“I knew, but…”

Raon forced himself upright and wiped the blood off his face.

“Now that the day’s actually here, it just feels… awkward.”

Honestly, he’d been thinking only about helping with Glenn’s training. Becoming acting head of house hadn’t really sunk in, so hearing it out loud felt sudden.

Just as Glenn had stepped down from the position of head of house Zieghart and returned to being Glenn Zieghart the swordsman, Raon himself had also lived for two months as just a single swordsman after casting aside the titles of Light Wind Palace master and Sword Emperor. Because of that, his first thought was whether he could really handle the duties of head of house.

Get out there! Even if you screw it up, just go!

Wrath rushed up to his ear and shrieked.

I’m sick to death of eating nothing but Nadine bread in this hole! Even if it kills you, we are leaving!

After being stuck underground for two months, Wrath must have been at his limit, he even threw away his Demon King manner of speech and burst into a shriek.

‘Even if you tell me not to, I’m going out. So relax.’

Raon told him to wait just a little longer and brushed him aside.

“You look worried.”

Glenn nodded calmly, as if he’d read Raon’s thoughts.

“It’s certainly not an easy seat.”

He wore a faint smile, as if recalling the throne he had sat on his entire life.

“Depending on the head of house’s decisions, the family can rise to great heights, or get dragged straight into the gutter.”

He said he’d experienced both, then turned his gaze to Raon.

“You’ve been in the gutter too?”

Raon let out a hollow breath. He’d always assumed Glenn had been perfect from the very start. Hearing that he’d once driven the house into the gutter caught him off guard.

“Yes. Early on after becoming head of house, I made a single wrong judgment, and the Ocean Kirin Division was annihilated. I tried to mobilize the house’s entire armed organization based on what I thought was a perfect plan. It was a catastrophic failure.”

Glenn exhaled deeply, as if the regret still lingered.

“With the Ocean Kirin Division’s annihilation, Zieghart’s honor and credibility hit rock bottom overnight. It happened right after I became head of house, so the despair was overwhelming.”

His lips trembled slightly at the memory.

“So I personally led the armed organizations and completely erased the ones who annihilated the Ocean Kirin Division. Of course, even then, the honor and trust that were lost did not return. Still, people’s eyes changed, just a little. So I kept repeating that process, again and again, until Zieghart’s name was raised back to the skies.”

Running a hand through his hair, Glenn said it had been exhausting.

“After that, I stopped acting carelessly and would only move the armed organizations once I had a clear grasp of the situation. Even so, there were still many dangerous moments, but because I had capable subordinates, most of those situations were ultimately resolved.”

As he said “good subordinates,” Glenn looked steadily at Raon.

“A head of house doesn’t stand alone. You already have outstanding people around you. No matter what comes your way, you’ll be able to handle it.”

He told Raon to trust those around him and smiled softly.

“That’s true.”

Raon nodded, brushing dirt and dried blood from his clothes.

“I’ve got people who are almost too good for someone like me.”

Burren, Martha, Runaan, the Light Wind swordsmen, the Warring Steel Division who’d followed me after I became palace master. And the bonds I had formed while fighting my way through countless battlefields.

For someone as lacking as myself, it felt like unbelievable luck to be surrounded by people like that.

Lacking, huh…

Wrath narrowed his eyes to slits.

You’re still selling yourself short. Then again, that’s probably why you built that kind of might at such a young age.

He clicked his tongue, saying he was getting used to Raon’s annoying humility by now.

‘I’m not selling myself short.’

Raon shook his head calmly.

‘I really mean it.’

Not in terms of might or willpower, but when it came to the kind of charm that draws people in, I still felt I fell far short. The reason such good people were around me now was because I was a swordsman of Zieghart.

Ugh, this idiot really is…

‘Still…’

Cutting Wrath off mid-sentence, Raon rose to his feet.

At first, I had been afraid. But after hearing grandfather’s words and realizing who stood beside me, the position no longer felt frightening. With everyone together, I felt confident he could get through anything.

“I understand.”

Dragging his exhausted legs, Raon stepped forward until he stood before Glenn.

“I’ll do my best to lead Zieghart.”

Saying he’d start immediately, he bowed deeply.

“I believe in you. But…”

Glenn rested a hand on Raon’s shoulder and opened his subspace pocket. From his hand reaching into the subspace, a large liquor bottle came out.

“At least make time for a drink with your grandfather before you go.”

Glenn sat down on the training ground floor, suggesting they take a moment to breathe after two months of nothing but hellish training.

“That sounds good.”

Raon smiled and sat down beside Glenn.

“I’ve got a lot I want to say, too.”

Absolutely unacceptable! When the only thing for snacks is Nadine bread, how is this even a drinking session?!

Wrath barged in between Raon and Glenn and glared.

You lunatics with thorn-filled tongues!

*   *   *

Martha stood in front of the lake behind the annex building, rolling a small pebble in her hand. She stared at the tranquil lake, then forcefully threw the pebble she was holding.

Pababababak!

The pebble, thin like a plate, kicked off the surface of the lake again and again like a warrior’s footwork, then flew on and embedded itself in the dirt on the opposite shore.

“Haa…”

Martha sucked in a sharp breath, watching her distorted reflection ripple across the lake.

“Why is she taking so long?!”

She looked around the annex building as if she’d been waiting there forever, grinding her teeth.

“At this rate, I won’t even get any sleep before we have to leave—”

“I’m here.”

Just as Martha furrowed her brow and raised her fist, a sultry female voice tingled against her ear.

“Kyaaah!”

Unlike her usual ferocious self, Martha let out a shrill scream and stumbled back toward the lake.

Ssssss—

The shadow she had left behind slowly peeled itself off the ground, rising and reshaping itself into Evelyn.

“What’s with that reaction?”

Evelyn smiled lightly, as if it had only been a harmless prank.

“Do that twice and I’ll die of a heart attack!”

Martha glared at her, white breath puffing angrily from her mouth.

“I wasn’t even letting my guard down. How did you hide in my shadow?!”

She hadn’t relaxed her senses precisely because she thought Evelyn might pull something like this. That was what made it so hard to understand how she’d slipped into her shadow anyway.

“Secret.”

Evelyn raised a finger to her lips and lifted an eyebrow.

“Secret?”

Martha let out a disbelieving snort.

“A woman needs a few secrets to seem mysterious.”

Evelyn shook her head, clearly telling her not to ask any further.

"I'm not even a—ugh, whatever. More importantly, is it done? The thing I asked for?"

Martha smacked her lips, as if that was all that mattered.

“You’re asking pretty confidently.”

Evelyn narrowed her eyes, looking incredulous.

“Have you already forgotten how you came to me before? Crying, begging me to save Runaan?”

She wrinkled her nose, annoyed.

“It hasn’t even been a month, and your attitude’s already flipped completely.”

“Hey, you’re the one who said you wouldn’t help, so we made a deal!”

Martha shot back, eyes wide with disbelief.

“I’m just asking for what I’m owed as part of that deal! And who was crying, anyway?!”

She scowled at Evelyn, as if telling her to stop exaggerating.

“…Fair enough.”

Evelyn shrugged, as though she’d forgotten that part.

“Tch…”

Martha lifted a hand, looking exhausted just from talking.

“Anyway, it’s finished, right? If you couldn’t make it and still ran your mouth—”

“Just barely.”

A peculiar smile touched Evelyn’s lips as she slipped her hand into her sleeve.

“It was rushed, but I finished it in time.”

She drew out a golden bracelet, formed from two snakes entwined into a closed loop, their mouths and tails seamlessly joined.

“Here.”

She held the bracelet out toward Martha, urging her to take it.

“…Hmm.”

Martha swallowed, her throat dry, eyes fixed on the bracelet.

“Thanks.”

She nodded firmly and took the bracelet from Evelyne’s hand.

“No need for that.”

Evelyn shook her head lightly.

"Don't thank me. Like you said, it’s just a deal."

“Yeah. Right.”

Martha ran her fingers over the bracelet, her expression complicated.

“But that sleepyhead must really mean a lot to you, huh?”

Evelyne’s red lips curled into a wide grin.

"I was honestly surprised you’d come and beg someone you hate so much."

“Precious, my ass! It’s just….”

Martha clenched her teeth, glaring at Evelyn.

“I just can’t stand the sight of her sleeping like an idiot!”

She spat out the words and stormed off, her footsteps sharp with irritation.

“She really is terrible at lying.”

Evelyn let out a soft laugh, finding Martha oddly endearing for the first time.

“That thing is so stubborn I thought it wouldn’t be resolved until Raon showed up…”

She stretched, gazing at the thinning dawn mist.

“At this rate, maybe the two of them will sort it out on their own?”

Smacking her lips in anticipation, Evelyn added,

“Well, whether they live or die is up to them. As long as Raon comes back safe, that’s all I care about.”

Yawning sleepily, Evelyn headed back into the annex building.

With a dull thud, the annex building door shut, and strange patterns spread across its surface.

Whoooosh—

Countless magic circles installed to repel intruders blended with the pale dawn mist, emitting a soft, constellation-like glow.

*   *   *

"That's enough for today."

Burren stopped walking and turned around.

"Light Wind, prepare to make camp."

With that, he signaled the end of the day’s march and motioned for everyone to prepare to rest.

“Yes!”

“Understood!”

The swordsmen moved with practiced efficiency, pitching tents and starting meal preparations.

“Vice palace master.”

Novo, the team leader of the Shadow Agents, stepped forward and bowed.

“If we keep going, we could reach Birdnew village before dawn. Wouldn’t it be better to push on and rest there?”

He slightly lowered his eyebrows, as if he wanted to rest near Birdnew village rather than camp here.

“Under normal circumstances, you’d be right.”

Burren turned his gaze toward the horizon, his tone steady.

“But if Eden’s demons are lying in wait near that area and launch an ambush, our swordsmen, already fatigued, won’t be able to fight at full strength. The terrain there is also familiar to them, which puts us at a disadvantage.”

He paused briefly.

“Since the incident itself is already over, it’s better to move only when we’re fully prepared.”

Even though Novo’s rank meant Burren could have dismissed his suggestion outright, he still took the time to explain carefully.

“Ah, that makes sense. My apologies.”

Novo clapped lightly, as if agreeing that Burren’s words were correct under the current circumstances.

“No apology needed. I understand the Shadow Agents want to investigate quickly, before Eden’s traces disappear.”

Burren drew a gentle smile, saying that he understood the feelings of Novo and the Shadow Agents members as well.

"I appreciate your understanding, sir."

Novo bowed deeply, looking moved.

“As an apology, we’ll handle dinner tonight.”

After saying that the Shadow Agents would handle preparing the Light Wind Palace’s meal, he stepped back.

“You really don’t have to—”

Burren waved it off with a smile, then his gaze caught Runaan walking behind Novo.

“…Hmm.”

Runaan, her complexion even darker than yesterday, headed toward a tree off to the side. It seemed like she intended to skip the meal and go to sleep.

‘Maybe it would be better not to let her sleep, like Martha said.’

Seeing Runaan, who could sleep anytime and anywhere, reduced to such a wreck like that, it seemed better to try not letting her sleep at all, just as Martha had suggested.

‘Not that she’d listen to me.’

On the surface, I, or even Martha, might seem stubborn. But the one who truly never listened was Runaan. Unless Raon spoke to her directly, she probably wouldn’t listen to her parents… or even the head of house.

‘…I need to get stronger. Faster.’

Strong enough to stop her, if it came to that.

Burren frowned and shook his head.

“Hey!”

Martha caught up to Runaan and grabbed her by the shoulder.

“…Huh?”

Runaan turned, her exhausted eyes blinking slowly.

"No sleeping tonight..."

Martha bared her teeth in a fierce, predatory grin.

“You’re playing with me.”

 

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