The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1274

 Chapter 1274

 

“He wants you to join in the war against the celestials.”

Raon deliberately emphasized the word celestials as he looked straight at Pride, the Monarch of Pride.

“Hm…?”

Pride frowned as if the condition had never even crossed his mind.

Huh…?

Even Wrath’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at Raon.

The King of Essence thought you were going to demand the authority of pride?

He tilted his head, clearly caught off guard.

‘That matters too.’

Raon wet his lips briefly.

‘No. This is even more important.’

Wrath had firmly stated before that Pride would never participate in the war against the celestials.

To him, there were no allies or enemies. Only himself existed. No one could predict where he would go or whose side he would take.

‘If that monster joins the celestials, we’re in serious trouble.’

Pride’s might rivaled Wrath at his full power. He likely possessed strength so absolute that even Glenn or the Heavenly Demon could not confidently claim victory against him.

If a monster like that chose to fight on the side of the celestials, the damage humanity would suffer would be unimaginable. No matter what, my top priority was to stop Pride from freely taking the battlefield as the enemy.

‘Besides, there are other ways to obtain the authority of pride.’

After talking with him, Raon felt certain that if they met again in the future, he could manipulate Pride into handing it over anyway. It wasn’t that he didn’t want the authority, but right now there was something far more important.

That’s true….

Wrath nodded as though he agreed.

Even if that bastard Derus Robert is dead, the celestials themselves haven’t disappeared.

He clicked his tongue, seemingly convinced the celestials would begin moving independently now.

But there’s one thing you don’t know.

Just as Wrath raised a chubby blue hand—

“Is that really what <Wrath> wants from me?”

Pride shook his head, unable to comprehend what Raon was asking for.

“It is.”

Raon straightened his back confidently despite the stunned reactions from both Pride and Wrath.

“He wishes for you to participate in the war against the celestials.”

Without the slightest hesitation, he spoke as though he were delivering Wrath’s will and gave a solemn nod.

Ah….

Wrath let out a long sigh.

This is driving the King of Essence insane. He needs to kill this brat, but there’s no way to kill him! Heavens above!

Despite being a Demon King, he threw both arms toward the sky in despair.

“Kuhahahahaha!”

Pride burst into booming laughter as he swept back his crimson hair.

“That damned <Wrath> actually wants me!”

He stomped heavily on the ground, clearly delighted that Wrath wanted his power.

Grrrgh….

Unlike Pride, Wrath’s face turned even redder.

This lunatic is destroying my pride!

He ground his teeth hard enough to crack, unable to tolerate seeing Pride this pleased.

“While it’s incredibly touching that <Wrath> wants the King of Essence so badly, he’s afraid he can't grant that request.”

Pride shook his head, still wearing a broad smile.

“What do you mean by that?”

Raon asked slowly.

“Exactly what he said. He already made a prior promise, so he cannot honor <Wrath>’s request.”

Pride spread his massive, rock-like arms as if it could not be helped.

“You mean…”

Raon narrowed his eyes at him.

“If those white doves wage war upon this continent, then the King of Essence will stand behind them.”

Hooking a thumb toward himself, Pride proudly declared that he would fight on the side of the celestials.

“Why?”

Raon let out a heavy breath.

“You are the Monarch of Pride, the king of Devildom. Why would you fight alongside the celestials?”

It made no sense. Pride looked like the type who should be standing at the front of the demons, tearing celestials apart with his bare hands.

“Because the King of Essence gave his word in his own name. When the continental war begins, the King of Essence shall stand against humanity.”

Pride laughed freely, saying he had made that promise as the Monarch of Pride.

“And besides, that side sounds more entertaining.”

His burning gaze fixed on Raon as though he were already looking forward to fighting Wrath.

“The Heavenly Demon.”

Raon rubbed his temple.

‘So he wants to witness the very scene the Heavenly Demon longs to see.’

The Heavenly Demon sought to defeat Glenn and resurrect the Demonic Dragon, the being Eden had always yearned for. Pride seemed intent on standing against humanity for the sake of the Heavenly Demon, a being he considered practically another version of himself.

“That is part of the reason. But as he said before, he already gave his word.”

Pride pointed toward the sky and slowly twirled his finger in a circle. Just from that gesture alone, Raon could roughly tell what Pride truly wanted.

“And there is one more reason.”

Pride’s lips curled upward as cold light filled his eyes.

“The King of Essence can never stand beside <Wrath>. Never.”

Pride shook his head firmly, declaring that even if it cost him his life, he would never fight on the same side as Wrath

After saying that, he glanced back at the Death Sword Spirit behind him. Judging from the look in his eyes, she seemed to be a major reason for it.

He’s right.

Wrath clicked his tongue briefly.

As the King of Essence told you before, that bastard and the King of Essence are like water and oil. We can never mix!

He let out a scoff, saying that anyone could see how fundamentally different they were just from the colors of their powers alone.

“Even if you kill the King of Essence, he will not accept that proposal.”

True to the name Pride, or perhaps contrary to it, he spread his arms wide and exposed his chest, as if openly telling Raon that if he disliked the answer so much, then he should simply kill him where he stood.

“I see.”

Raon nodded calmly.

“So there’s no changing your mind.”

Raon had hoped to convince Pride to fight on humanity’s side in the coming war, but he never imagined things would unfold this way. It was regrettable, but there was no helping it now.

‘Still, I can’t just let everything slide.’

Pride had promised to grant any request if he lost, only to turn around and say he could not honor it because of a prior promise. Naturally, I intended to squeeze far more out of him because of that.

“Pride. For someone like you….”

Raon let out a mocking chuckle as he looked at him.

“The title Monarch of Pride is completely wasted on you.”

He slowly shook his head in open contempt.

“What did you say…?”

One of Pride’s eyebrows rose.

“Am I wrong?”

Raon’s sneer deepened.

“Before you lost the wager, you proudly declared that you would grant any request. But now you suddenly say you can’t honor it because of an earlier promise, then shamelessly tell us to split open your belly if we don’t like it? Even children wouldn’t pull something so petty and immature.”

Raon clicked his tongue, speaking in a haughty, mocking tone. 

“You know full well lord <Wrath> would never kill you over this, which is exactly why you’re acting this way.”

Rather than letting Pride leave peacefully, Raon continued provoking him, crooking a finger mockingly.

“Ugh….”

Pride chewed hard on his lip, unable to argue back even as anger burned across his face.

“If that’s not the case, then explain yourself.”

Raon stretched out a hand as if willing to listen to any excuse Pride could come up with.

“Fine!”

After grinding his teeth in frustration for a moment, Pride suddenly lifted his head.

“You are correct. It is true that my actions do not fully live up to the name Pride. And yes, failing to honor a prior promise would also disgrace that name. Therefore…”

As though he had finally reached a decision after much thought, he raised both hands.

“He will amend the rules we agreed upon at the beginning. Since he cannot grant the request you originally demanded, he shall instead grant you two requests!”

Pride nodded, saying that since he could not fulfill the request Raon had demanded, he would accept two demands in its place.

“You break your promise, and all you offer is two?”

Raon let out a cold laugh.

“So this is all the famed Monarch of Pride amounts to? A petty miser.”

He waved a finger dismissively, making it clear even two requests failed to satisfy him.

“No matter how much you mock me, my answer will not change.”

Pride shook his head, making it clear that this was the furthest he was willing to compromise.

“Once the King of Essence has spoken, he does not go back on his word. The prior promise was made before yours, which is precisely why the King of Essence cannot grant your request.”

He crossed his arms proudly, as though there was nothing shameful about his decision since that earlier promise had also been made under the name of the Monarch of Pride.

‘So this is the limit.’

Raon pressed strength into his fingers as his brows lowered.

‘Too bad. I was hoping to squeeze a little more out of him.’

Pride’s might was simply overwhelming. If possible, Raon had wanted to secure three requests from someone as monstrously powerful as him, but unfortunately it seemed two was the limit.

Ha….

Wrath blinked blankly in disbelief.

You’re bargaining even now? You truly are out of your damned mind!

Wrath shivered, looking genuinely terrified by Raon's audacity.

“Very well.”

Raon gave a reluctant nod, as though he had no choice but to accept it.

“Then allow me to deliver Lord <Wrath>’s words once more. His first command is this: hand your authority over to me. He hopes this will be an opportunity to see what the Monarch of Pride is truly made of.”

Raon had completely ignored everything Wrath was actually saying, yet he deliberately lowered his gaze and spoke in a lofty, solemn tone, acting as though he were personally conveying Wrath’s command. 

Aaaah….

Wrath foamed at the mouth, looking as though his sanity had finally snapped.

“Hmph! Of course!”

Pride twisted his lips into a grin and extended fingers as thick as roots from the World Tree. Crimson flames burst from his fingertips and violently coiled around Raon’s wrist.

Kuwaaaaaaa!

Raon narrowed his eyes to slits as he stared at the scorching heat that felt hot enough to burn through his wrist.

‘This is unbelievable.’

Despite all the ridicule thrown at him, Pride calmly handed over an amount of the authority of pride so immense that even Raon was stunned.

To be honest, the sheer generosity Pride displayed nearly left him speechless.

Hwaaaaaaa!

The authority of pride transformed into blood-red thorns and wrapped around Raon’s wrist. Unlike the other Demon Kings, who had left behind flower-shaped bracelets when transferring their authorities, Pride alone created something entirely different.

“Flowers are for pretty boys. A true warrior wears chains!”

Pride nodded heavily, clearly pleased with the thorned bracelet wrapped around Raon’s wrist.

Hmph! You uncultured brute! You know nothing of art!

Wrath snorted instead, acting as though Pride were nothing more than an uncultured brute.

“Hmm….”

Raon’s jaw trembled slightly as he looked down at the crimson thorn bracelet.

‘This is far more than I expected.’

Pride cared deeply about living up to the name “Pride,” so Raon had expected that, even after being openly mocked, he would still hand over a fairly large portion of his authority.

But this went far beyond anything Raon had imagined.

‘It nearly reaches the sheer amount of <Wrath>’s Authority….’

The authority of <Pride> that Pride had bestowed upon him far exceeded the authority of <Sloth> he had received long ago and was immense enough to nearly rival the amount of authority of <Wrath> he had gained after overcoming Wrath himself.

Raon had expected Pride to hand over a considerable amount, but he had never imagined it would be this overwhelming. The sheer scale of it left him utterly speechless.

‘Once this awakens….’

I might gain something entirely new.

The authority of <Pride> had not awakened yet, but I could already sense it. Once it finally stretched awake like the other authorities, something extraordinary would bloom within me.

No, this was not merely a feeling. It was certainty.

“Are you satisfied?”

Pride arrogantly lifted his chin, clearly confident in himself.

“Yes. You do live up to your name.” 

Raon nodded in satisfaction.

“Then speak your second request.”

“Let me ask you one more thing first.”

Raon tilted his chin toward Pride.

“If I deliver Lord <Wrath>’s command to you, will you obey it no matter what?”

“The King of Essence will, so long as it does not conflict with the promise he already made.”

Pride smacked his lips, sounding willing to do anything within those limits.

“So hurry and state your second request.”

“The second command is….”

Pride continued to call them “requests,” while Raon deliberately referred to them as “commands” from Wrath. Neither side had any intention of backing down when it came to pride.

“…I shall deliver at a later date.”

Raon clenched his fingers tightly, deliberately holding back the second command he would give Pride.

‘If I play this right, I may be able to stop him.’

Honestly, if Pride entered the war, the Five Kings would inevitably suffer enormous losses. More than anything else, stopping that monster took priority. I was not completely certain yet, but I felt the second command might become the key to accomplishing exactly that.

“Hmph!”

Pride waved his hand dismissively, as though telling him to do whatever he wanted.

“Then everything has been settled, yes?”

He turned his back as if preparing to leave.

“No.”

Raon sharply shook his head and raised a hand.

“There is still one thing left.”

He lowered his chin toward the Death Sword Spirit standing behind Pride.

“That woman must die by my hand.”

They had fought a duel with their lives on the line. The outcome had to be brought to its proper conclusion.

Raon gripped Heavenly Drive.

“I know.”

The Death Sword Spirit rose to her feet while biting her lip tightly, as though she had already accepted death.

“You dare…!”

Pride unleashed the same overwhelming wave of energy he had released when he first appeared, making it clear that this was something he would never compromise on.

“If you don’t like that….”

Raon curled his lips into a smile as he glanced toward Burren, who was barely managing to remain standing.

“Then hand over a little more of your pride.”

 

 

 

Advance Chapters