The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1289

 Chapter 1289

 

After meticulously finishing the head of house’s work he had put off during his training, Raon entered the room to the right of the audience chamber.

Beyond the warm scent, like sun-dried cotton blankets, stood a plain bed without a single ornament, a stiff-looking chair, and an old wooden desk and bookshelf.

This quiet little room, reminiscent of a countryside cottage, was the bedroom of the current head of House Zieghart.

Of course, there was another lavish chamber befitting the name of Zieghart’s lord, but Glenn spent most of his time here instead

It’s strange no matter how many times the King of Essence sees it.

Wrath swept his gaze across the room and frowned.

That geezer has mountains of wealth, so why does he sleep in a run-down place like this?

He shook his head vigorously, unable to understand Glenn at all.

‘I don’t know. But…’

Raon sat down in the chair so hard it nearly made his back ache and let out a faint smile.

‘It suits grandfather.’

At first, he had been blinded by Glenn’s noble and dazzling exterior and failed to see the man for who he truly was.

But now he finally understood. The real Glenn Zieghart was modest, sincere, and the kind of man who could devote everything he had to his family and house.

You’re just as incomprehensible as that geezer!

Wrath twisted his lips in irritation, like merely looking at Raon annoyed him.

How is it that every time you swing a sword, you end up growing stronger? Even the Sword Demon King who ruled the ancient Devildom couldn’t have been this ridiculous! No, forget that! Why the hell did those damned energies suddenly explode like that?!

He let out a murky sigh, saying that even though Glacier was a power he himself had created, he still couldn’t understand why it had run wild.

‘They were probably pushing me forward.’

Raon smiled softly as he felt the perfectly stabilized energies of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier within him.

‘I think they were telling me it’s fine to have confidence in myself now, believe in myself. That I should trust who I am.’

Like Heavenly Drive, the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier had always stayed by his side like brothers.

The two auras of heat and frost had clearly caused that outburst, not truly going berserk, but something close to it, to instill in him the confidence that he would never lose even against absolute beings.

What a load of absolute bullshit!

Wrath snorted in utter disbelief.

Aura isn't alive! How can mere energy encourage you?!

He waved his hand dismissively, telling Raon to stop talking nonsense. Since Glacier was originally Wrath’s power to begin with, he found it even harder to understand.

‘No.’

Raon placed a hand on his chest and slowly closed his eyes. Feeling the flames of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and the frost of Glacier pulsing like heartbeats, he opened his eyes once more.

‘The Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier are alive.’

He smiled faintly as he said that, to him, those two energies were far more than mere aura.

Not only the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation, but even Glacier had grown alongside him, evolving in a direction different from Wrath's Glacier, so perhaps it was not so strange after all.

You've truly gone mad!

Wrath let out an exasperated groan.

Then again, it's not like your madness is anything new! Enough of this! Let us go eat! The King of Essence has waited long enough!

Saying he was starving, he wagged his tail impatiently.

‘She’ll be here soon.’

Raon gestured for him to wait.

What do you mean? Even the King of Essence has limits to his patience! Hurry up and let’s eat already—oh?

Wrath frowned, about to complain more, but suddenly his mouth fell open.

Hng? Hngh!

As he sniffed the air and smacked his lips, a soft knock echoed through the room, and the door opened. Judiel stepped inside with her head bowed.

Huh? Why is your maid here?

Wrath blinked in surprise at the sight of Judiel, who should have been at the annex building.

“Acting head of house.”

Judiel entered the room with the same calm eyes she always had at the annex building. She untied the cloth bundle in her hands and placed the dishes inside onto the table.

“I prepared what you requested. Please eat while they’re still warm.”

She dipped her head politely, urging him to eat before the food cooled, then stepped back.

Ooooooh!

The moment Wrath saw the familiar dishes from the annex building, drool poured from his mouth.

W-When did you prepare all this?!

He burst into a bright grin, apparently having noticed nothing at all.

‘Right after the awakening of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier. I asked Sir Roenn.’

Raon smiled faintly at the still-steaming food.

‘You probably didn’t hear me because you were too busy whining about being hungry.’

He had asked right in front of Wrath, but the demon king had been too busy venting his frustration to notice.

“Thank you.”

Raon accepted the knife and fork from Judiel with a nod.

“It’s nothing. In fact, everyone was delighted to hear that the acting head of house wanted food from the annex building again.”

Judiel smiled gently, explaining that Sylvia and the maids of the annex building had worked together to prepare the meal before him.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

As though she did not wish to disturb his mealtime, she bowed her head and quietly left the room.

Hehehehe!

Wrath licked his lips slowly and let out a villainous laugh.

So this is how you’re going to play it! You’ve finally decided to submit yourself beneath the King of Essence, haven’t you? Very well! he shall accept you!”

Completely misunderstanding Raon’s intentions, Wrath smugly assumed Raon had finally decided to serve under him, then immediately started ordering him around, telling him to hurry up and eat the steak and butter-grilled shrimp.

‘The dining hall already closed, and… I wanted something to look at while eating.’

Fine, fine. Look at whatever you want and do your work!

Wrath nodded absentmindedly, already no longer paying proper attention to what Raon was saying.

‘Alright.’

Raon spread butter over the warm bread and took a bite.

Kuhh! Now this is real bread! Anything that tastes like rubber doesn’t deserve to be called bread!

Wrath’s blue tail swayed happily as he enjoyed the moist, savory bread for the first time in a while.

But what exactly are you planning to look at while eating?

Only after taking a few bites did he snap back to reality and look at Raon.

‘This.’

Raon grinned and raised a finger.

[You have received the acknowledgment of <Pride>.]

[You have received the acknowledgment of <Incarnation of Martial Arts>.]

[You have achieved a great feat.]

[All stats increase by 100 points.]

[The rank of the trait <Bleeding Curse> has increased.]

[The rank of the trait <Wrath Release> has increased.]

[The rank of the trait < Authority Amplification> has increased.]

[The rank of the trait <Authority Control> has increased.]

[The rank of the trait <Ascara’s Combative Energy> has increased.]

[The rank of the trait <Crisis Detection> has increased.]

[The rank of the trait < Soul Transfer Transformation> has increased.]

Raon called up the rewards he had obtained after being acknowledged by Pride, the Monarch of Pride, and the Heavenly Demon, then stuffed the rest of the bread into his mouth.

Uh…?

Wrath’s jaw trembled as he stared at the long chain of reward messages.

Th-This is…

‘I didn’t check them before, remember?’

At the time, more important matters had demanded his attention, so he brought the rewards up again.

Woooooong!

As all his stats rose by a hundred points, fresh vitality flowed into a body that had already surpassed human limits. It was not as dramatic a transformation as before, but his body was still steadily growing stronger.

‘A lot of traits ranked up too.’

Raon smacked his lips in satisfaction after confirming that seven traits had advanced.

Urgh!

Wrath’s lips trembled thinly, as if he suddenly felt sick to his stomach.

M-My appetite’s disappearing, so maybe check that stuff later…

Just as he tried to say he should look at the messages later and eat the meat first, Raon called up the next reward.

[Your great accomplishment spreads across the entire continent.]

[The level of your soul and your fame rise dramatically.]

[All stats increase by 50 points.]

[The title <Hero> has been created.]

‘This one’s no joke either.’

Raon stroked his chin as he checked the reward he had gained thanks to the Black Market’s master, Roseline.

Huuurk…

Wrath gagged as if he were about to choke from indigestion, his mouth twitching open and shut.

A-another fifty points, and a title like that...?]

Wrath chewed down hard on his lips as though he were struggling to breathe.

Fwoooosh!

After the additional fifty-point increase on top of the earlier hundred, the changes in Raon’s body felt far more distinct than before. It seemed there truly was no limit to how much his body could be strengthened.

<Hero>

A title obtained when a great deed accomplished for the sake of others spreads throughout the world.

When fighting while risking one’s life for others rather than oneself, your might and mental strength increase significantly.

‘Hero…’

Raon lightly bit his lip as he read the description of the title.

‘Does a title like this really suit me?’

It was true that he had sought out the Heavenly Demon to demand justice for Birdnew village, but he had also secured plenty of benefits for himself along the way.

Because of that, he could not honestly say he deserved such a title.

It doesn’t suit you at all! Of course it doesn’t!

Wrath ground his teeth, insisting that Raon and the word “hero” clashed like oil and water.

You should be earning titles like fiend, swindler, scammer, or thief instead!

He trembled with rage, muttering that Raon was still stealing power from him even now.

‘Maybe you’re right.’

Raon chuckled and nodded.

Haaaah…

Wrath let out a ragged sigh, his shoulders drooping.

E-Every time the King of Essence looks at those messages, he feels the life draining out of him. Just hurry up and eat the meat already…

Saying his head was starting to hurt, he raised a hand again and urged Raon to focus on eating.

‘Alright.’

Raon pierced a perfectly cooked piece of meat with his fork, just as Wrath wished.

‘After I check the last one.’

With a flick of his left index finger, he brought up the final batch of reward messages.

[The rank of the trait <Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation> has increased.]

[The rank of the trait <Glacier> has increased.]

[The rank of the trait <Water Resistance> has increased.]

[The rank of the trait <Fire Resistance> has increased.]

[The rank of the trait <Water Affinity> has increased.]

[The rank of the trait <Fire Affinity> has increased.]

[All stats increase by 50 points.]

Raon smacked his lips in satisfaction after confirming the details of the reward he had received today.

‘So the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier finally reached 11-star.’

After reaching 10-star long ago, only their proficiency had risen little by little without any actual rank increase, but today they had finally broken through that wall.

‘If it's now...’

Raon clenched his fist as he felt the flames of the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and the frost of Glacier quietly boiling within him like lava beneath a volcano.

‘I might finally be able to recreate those golden and silver lights.’

The flawless golden flames displayed by the first head of house, and the pure silver frost Wrath had personally shown before him. Just imagining himself reproducing those dreamlike martial arts with his own hands made his heart pound violently.

Ghuuugh!

Wrath let out a bizarre groan, his face turning red as if his patience had finally reached its limit.

M-My power is disappearing again…

His eyes trembled violently as he muttered that another huge portion of his authority had probably been siphoned away this time too.

‘Ah, there was another stat increase too.’

Only after checking the fifty-point increase to all stats that appeared at the very end did Raon finally dismiss the messages.

‘That’s enough checking. Let’s eat.’

Saying he was finally done checking the messages and would focus on the meal, Raon lifted the meat on his fork.

To hell with eating! He has completely lost his appetite!

Wrath bared his teeth and raised his head.

Forget Pride, the King of Essence will kill you first!

Unable to endure any longer, he screamed and lunged at Raon.

‘If you’re offering me more stats…’

Raon grinned as he popped the meat into his mouth.

‘I won’t refuse.’

*   *   *

Rumbleeeee.

The swordsmen of Zieghart gathered within the head of house’s training ground, which was still undergoing repairs.

Aside from those out on missions or standing guard, nearly every swordsman in the house had assembled, making the enormous training grounds feel crowded.

“What’s going on?”

“No idea. Isn’t this the first time the acting head of house has summoned everyone?”

“Forget the acting head of house, even the head of house himself has never gathered this many people at once.”

That’s true. They usually leave some swordsmen behind.

“Did a war break out or something?”

The swordsmen tilted their heads in confusion, chatting among themselves as they tried to figure out why Raon had called them all here.

“Is it because of what happened in Eden?”

Burren slightly lowered his brows, apparently unable to grasp Raon’s intentions either.

“Maybe. Maybe not. Nobody ever knows what that guy is thinking.”

Martha crossed her arms and smacked her lips as though it made no difference to her either way.

“……”

Runaan simply stood there quietly with her eyes lowered, as if the reason did not matter so long as Raon had called them.

“Haa…”

Dorian hugged his arms and trembled like someone suffering from a fever.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Krein blinked while staring at him.

“I-I’ve got a bad feeling. Whenever my whole body shakes like this, something terrible always happens…”

Dorian swallowed dryly, saying that Raon was definitely about to cause trouble.

“Trouble? Come on! No matter how strange our palace master is, he’s acting head of house right now. Even if he wanted to stir up trouble, he can’t!”

Krein waved his hand dismissively, saying there was nothing to worry about.

“He’s probably just trying to encourage everyone to train hard before the war—”

Right as he said that—

“The acting head of house is entering!”

The guards at the training ground announced Raon’s arrival and lowered the enormous swords blocking the entrance.

Kuuuuung!

With the heavy crash of the giant blades striking the ground, Raon walked into the training ground wearing a black coat.

“See? It’s just our usual palace mas—huh? Huhhh?”

Krein staggered backward after seeing the twisted smile hanging from the corner of Raon’s lips.

“N-No way…”

That expression was one he knew better than anyone.

It was the same sinister look Raon always wore whenever he enjoyed tormenting the Light Wind swordsmen to the brink of death under the excuse of “training.”

“What?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Why are you freaking out all of a sudden?”

The swordsmen from the other armed groups beside him helped steady Krein while staring at him in confusion.

“Y-You guys… No, all of us…”

Sensing the horrifying moment about to descend upon them, Krein let out a dry breath, his face pale as a clown’s makeup.

“We’re dead!”

 

 

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