The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1272

 Chapter 1272

 

“A wager…?”

One of Pride’s eyebrows arched at an odd angle.

“So <Wrath> is proposing a wager to the King of Essence?”

He let out a disbelieving laugh, resting a hand on his waist as though the very idea were absurd.

“That insignificant <Wrath> dares?”

Pride frowned like he didn’t even consider Wrath a true rival. Just the crease of his brow unleashed a suffocating heat that seemed capable of warping the entire world as it spread in every direction.

“How ridiculous! That fool has never defeated the King of Essence even once!”

Pride let out a loud, mocking laugh, openly belittling Wrath. Ironically, the more he acted like that, the more obvious it became that the two demon kings truly were rivals.

What nonsense is that?!

Wrath shook his head furiously.

The King of Essence has never lost to that bastard either!

His face flushed red as he angrily insisted he had never once been defeated by Pride. Judging from what both demon kings were saying, all of their battles had probably ended in draws.

“That’s right.”

Raon nodded calmly while enduring Pride’s overwhelming pressure head-on.

“He says he wants to make a wager with you. And…”

With an arrogant gesture, Raon pointed toward Pride.

“He also says he has never lost to you even once.”

Raon repeated Wrath’s words and tilted his chin slightly.

“Hmph.”

Pride snorted while looking at Raon as though he were pathetic.

“That idiot says the same thing every time. But in our hundredth battle, the King of Essence clearly won.”

Despite being the demon king of Pride, he was oddly fixated on such petty details, repeatedly bringing up the outcome of a single battle as he curled his lips into a smug grin.

Bullshit!

Wrath screamed at him.

If we’re counting things that way, then the King of Essence nearly killed him during the ninety-ninth battle!

Wrath flailed both arms wildly, demanding Raon argue back immediately.

‘Good grief…’

Raon let out a quiet sigh inwardly.

‘Are these two really Demon Kings?’

The demon king of Pride had made one of the most overwhelming entrances imaginable, yet the way he behaved was no different from the usually pathetic Wrath. Rather than demon kings, they looked like two children stubbornly fighting over their pride.

‘Then again, they embody wrath and pride.’

Neither wrath nor pride were emotions that could tolerate losing to anything else, so perhaps it was only natural they argued like their lives depended on it.

“Lord <Wrath> says that during the ninety-ninth battle, he spared your life after nearly killing you.”

Contrary to what he actually thought, Raon calmly relayed Wrath’s words with an indifferent expression.

"He’s sure of it now."

Pride’s eyes gleamed so fiercely they felt capable of scorching someone blind just by meeting them.

“So the toy of <Wrath>… It seems that fool truly is nearby after all.”

As though he had merely been testing Raon until now, Pride once again unleashed his terrifying authority and raised his chin proudly. However, he still did not seem to realize Wrath was attached directly beside Raon.

“Who in this world would dare lie while invoking his name?”

Raon elevated Wrath higher than anyone else as he slowly closed and reopened his eyes.

...Huh?

Wrath’s jaw dropped.

Who would dare lie?! You're doing it right this second! You have absolutely no shame!

He shouted in disbelief at how shameless Raon was being.

“You should know that better than anyone, shouldn’t you?”

Raon gazed calmly at Pride, implying that Pride understood Wrath's personality better than anyone.

“Well, that’s true.”

Pride nodded with his arms crossed.

“That bastard was always respected by his subordinates.”

A faint grin appeared on his lips, as though he genuinely acknowledged Wrath’s qualities where they deserved recognition. True to the name Pride, he seemed perfectly willing to acknowledge what he considered worthy.

“However…”

Pride’s enormous eyes narrowed thinner than threads.

“The King of Essence has no reason to entertain his request. If he wants a wager, tell him to come here himself.”

He ground his white teeth together as though he would tear Wrath’s throat out the moment he appeared.

“Are you afraid?”

Raon murmured while staring into Pride’s savage crimson eyes.

“He says that if you’re too afraid to accept the wager, you may walk away.”

Wrath had never actually said that, but Raon deliberately chose the sort of words the monarch of Pride could never ignore.

W-When did the King of Essence ever say that?!

Wrath grabbed Raon by the collar, screaming at him to stop inventing things he had never said.

“What did you just say…?”

Pride’s presence changed instantly.

Dark flames, thicker and fiercer than molten lava, erupted beneath his feet and incinerated the lively atmosphere in an instant. Once again, it felt as though all the heat in the world had gathered here solely to crush Raon.

“Say that again.”

Pride pointed two fingers toward him. At his fingertips burned seeds of heat so intense they looked capable of reducing the world itself to ash, staining the surroundings black and gray.

“I said you’re afraid of his wager.”

Even under heat intense enough to melt skin and bone, Raon’s expression never changed. It was pressure powerful enough to make even Transcenders break into a cold sweat and collapse, but he could withstand it because he had reached the absolute realm and because the Ring of Fire had reached the tenth star.

“Ha!”

Pride extinguished the crimson flames dancing at his fingertips and proudly raised his chin.

“Very well. If you had been lying, he would have erased you with these flames. But it truly does seem like <Wrath> is speaking through you, so he’ll let it slide this time.”

He smacked his lips, seeming oddly pleased by the look in Raon’s eyes.

K-Kill him! Just kill him already!

Unlike earlier, when he’d offered to help, Wrath was now yelling at Pride to kill Raon instead.

This scheming bastard will suck you dry and pick your bones clean! This is your only chance! Kill him!

Of course, those desperate screams could only be heard by Raon.

“Speak. What is the wager <Wrath> proposed?”

Pride crooked a thick finger, signaling for him to continue.

“Lord <Wrath> says…”

Without even glancing at Wrath, Raon spoke slowly.

“He wishes to see a duel between the human he has raised and the human you have raised.”

As he declared that Wrath wanted a duel between himself and the Heavenly Demon, Raon rested a hand upon Heavenly Drive.

...Huh?

“W-What?”

Both Wrath and Pride widened their eyes at the exact same time, dumbfounded.

“Has that fool lost his mind? He should know there’s no chance of winning.”

Pride frowned deeply, as though genuinely questioning whether Wrath had truly made such a proposal.

You idiot! Have you actually gone insane?!

Wrath rushed right up to Raon, eyes bulging.

No matter how much stronger you’ve become, that Heavenly Demon bastard is still impossible for you to handle!

Just like Pride, he insisted there was absolutely no way Raon could win.

“Lord <Wrath> said what he said…”

Raon looked at Pride with calm, unwavering eyes.

“…and I merely follow his will.”

He nodded as if telling Pride to believe it or not, it made no difference to him.

Haah….

Wrath let out a deep sigh of total exasperation

Wow. There truly are monsters in this world who can spew lies without batting a single eye.

He shook his head, still amazed no matter how many times he saw it.

“A wager he’s clearly destined to lose… and one that would get his precious toy killed at that.”

Pride slowly looked Raon up and down while smacking his lips thoughtfully. Suspicion began to openly appear in his eyes. As expected, he truly was different from the other demon kings.

You fool! Pride isn’t an idiot.

Wrath seemed to notice Pride’s growing suspicion as well and let out a sharp snort.

He’s the King of Essence’s archenemy, which means he understands the King of Essence better than anyone! Right now, that bastard is thinking about how to kill you!

Wrath waved his hand mockingly.

In the end, there is only one choice left for you now!

He grabbed Raon by the sleeve, urging him to use the Demon King's Advent already.

“Lord <Wrath> also said that if he loses this wager, he will fully acknowledge defeat.”

Without avoiding Pride’s gaze for even a moment, Raon once again borrowed Wrath’s name.

“It may very well become his first victory… or his first defeat.”

Hmph! He’s telling you, that won’t work—

Just as Wrath waved his hand, telling him not to underestimate Pride—

“Is that true?!”

Pride stomped forward and raised his voice.

“Did <Wrath> really say that?”

He thrust his bronze-colored face closer, demanding to hear it again.

W-What…?

Wrath stared at Pride with his mouth hanging open in disbelief.

‘Just as I thought.’

Pride was certainly smarter than the other Demon Kings, but his biggest vulnerability was his lingering frustration over never having defeated Wrath. By poking at that exact spot, all his suspicions evaporated in an instant. Truly fitting for the Demon King of Pride.

“That’s right.”

Raon slowly lowered and reopened his eyes.

“Lord <Wrath> says that since the two of you never managed to settle things between yourselves, the outcome should be decided through a battle between the subordinates who carry your respective convictions.”

He deliberately phrased it in a way that would stab directly at Pride’s pride, leaving him no room to refuse.

“Ha! Well said! It’s true, we never settled our score. Though…”

Pride narrowed his crimson eyes and looked Raon over from head to toe.

"I still don't understand why he'd make a bet he's bound to lose. Just what exactly are you hiding?"

He tilted his head as if no matter how much He tilted his head, unable to wrap his mind around it no matter how hard he thought.

“So? Are you accepting or not? Give me a clear answer.”

Raon jerked his chin slightly, telling him to stop dragging things out and decide already.

“Of course he accept. The King of Essence has never refused a challenge from anyone!”

Pride clapped his massive hands together, declaring he would accept Wrath’s proposal.

Have you really gone insane?!

Wrath shoved his pale face right in front of Raon’s, shaking him furiously as he demanded to know what he was thinking.

‘Who knows?’

Raon gave no answer to Wrath and slowly exhaled instead.

"Then I'll bring him here."

Pride clicked his tongue and snapped his fingers.

A gate of flames rose behind him.

Ruuuumble!

The fiery gate opened, and violent heat poured out from within, yet no one appeared.

“Hmm…”

Pride frowned while staring at the empty gate.

“Wait a moment.”

Furrowing his brow again, he created another gate of flames.

KUUUUUUNG!

This time the gate opened immediately.

From within emerged a gigantic man wearing a black-red dragon helmet.

KUGUGUGUGUGU!

He possessed a massive physique rivaling even Pride’s, along with an even more overwhelmingly domineering combative energy.

Rather than a mere human, he looked like the incarnation of martial power itself, an absolute being who stood at the pinnacle of the mortal world. The Heavenly Demon strode forward, shattering the flaming gate apart behind him.

“What is it?”

The Heavenly Demon frowned at Pride, clearly irritated at having his training interrupted.

“Fight this man.”

Pride raised a thick finger and pointed at Raon.

“This man is the toy of my archenemy, <Wrath>—”

He had just begun explaining the situation.

“I refuse.”

The Heavenly Demon coldly cut him off with that single sentence before immediately turning around and disappearing back into the flames.

“...Huh?”

...Huh?

Pride and Wrath both stood there with their mouths hanging open in stunned disbelief.

‘I knew it.’

A faint smile spread across Raon’s lips as he watched them both.

‘Exactly as I thought.’

 

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