The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1320

 Chapter 1320

 

“The head of house?”

The moment Raon heard Chad, the Shadow Agents’s master, say that Glenn had returned, he immediately turned toward the lord’s manor.

Whoooosh.

From the lord’s manor, where he had been staying just a few hours ago, an indescribably massive presence began to emanate.

‘Compared to when I left the training ground…’

Glenn had changed greatly.

The aura Glenn radiated now was completely different, as if he had reached an even higher realm than when Raon had last seen him.

Hmm…

Even Wrath stroked his chin while looking toward the lord’s manor.

Has that geezer Nadine bread ascended or something?

Even he seemed to sense that something was unusual, narrowing his eyes.

"So he's finally come out?"

Sheryl frowned slightly, saying he seemed to have taken far too long.

"It took him long enough."

She shook her head, saying she had never expected Glenn’s training to last this long.

“That only means the opponent he has to face is that strong.”

Roenn chuckled softly. Though his words acknowledged the Heavenly Demon’s strength, they also reflected his unwavering faith in Glenn regardless of who the enemy might be.

“That’s true. Even I think so…”

Sheryl’s shoulders trembled as she recalled the Heavenly Demon’s energy wave.

“Because he was a monster.”

As if she wanted to banish the memory itself, she squeezed her eyes shut before opening them again.

“Of course, I still can’t imagine the head of house losing.”

A faint smile touched her lips. She, too, trusted Glenn completely.

"E-Excuse me, the head of house ordered me to bring the acting head of house."

Chad exhaled quickly and pointed toward the lord’s manor.

“Understood.”

Raon lightly brushed the dust from his clothes after finishing his training.

“Let’s go.”

After telling Chad, Sheryl, and Roenn to accompany him to the lord’s manor, he stepped forward first.

‘How much has changed?’

While Glenn had been in seclusion, Raon had gone through countless experiences of his own.

He had traveled to Eden and confronted the Heavenly Demon face-to-face. He had obtained <Pride> from Pride, slain the archangel Sariel, and even clashed with Uriel. Those experiences had allowed him to achieve growth that could never have been attained within the training ground alone.

He found himself wondering how much the gap between Glenn and himself had narrowed.

‘Hoo…’

With anticipation for Glenn and confidence in his own growth alike, Raon stopped before the audience chamber.

“This is acting head of house Raon Zieghart.”

He bowed his head toward the doors of the audience chamber, a place he had entered as freely as his own home over the past several months.

“Enter.”

A familiar voice came from beyond the sturdy doors.

“Yes.”

After calming his breathing, Raon opened the doors and stepped inside.

Fwaaaaaa!

Before the golden throne, which had finally regained its rightful master and shone brilliantly atop the raised platform, stood the true king of this land.

Glenn Zieghart, the Destructive King of the North and the Sword God.

Yet his appearance was somewhat different from before.

The magnificent blond hair that had always made him seem like an unshakable wall protecting the house had faded almost completely white, and the wrinkles on his face had deepened.

His once-powerful physique appeared slimmer as well, as though even some of his muscle mass had vanished. The image of an indomitable old swordsman who would never break had disappeared, replaced by that of a kind elderly grandfather waiting peacefully for his grandchildren in the countryside.

“H-Head of house …?”

Raon’s jaw trembled as he stared at Glenn’s unexpected appearance.

“What in the world happened…?”

Up until Raon completed his seclusion training and emerged, Glenn had merely looked stern. His skin had remained smoother than that of many men in their thirties, and his physique had been as robust as ever.

He could not understand how Glenn could have changed so drastically in only a few months.

Hmm, that geezer…

Wrath narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he were seeing something entirely different.

‘What is it?’

Raon looked at him while letting out a rough breath.

To the eye, he’s certainly aged a great deal. He finally looks his actual age.

Wrath continued while stroking his chin.

But his soul and aura have become unbelievably pure. Cleaner even than yours with that damned Ring of Fire.

He tilted his chin, telling Raon not to look at Glenn’s aged exterior, but at what lay within.

‘Hmm…’

Activating the Ring of Fire, Raon expanded his senses. As all ten rings began to rotate, his perception spread outward like a web and swept through Glenn’s entire being.

‘What…? Grandfather’s aura and soul really have changed!’

The Glenn of the past had done whatever was necessary to become stronger. Because of that, neither his aura nor his soul had ever been particularly pure.

But now he was completely different.

His soul and aura were clear and tranquil, like those of an ascetic monk who pursued martial enlightenment through meditation alone.

That transformation was far more striking than the aging of his outward appearance.

‘How is this possible?’

Now that he had confirmed it himself, the internal change was so much greater than the external one that he was dying to know what had happened in the first head of house’s training ground.

“H-Head of House!”

“Good heavens…”

Sheryl and Roenn stared at Glenn in shock, their jaws trembling at the drastic change in his appearance.

“What happened to you?”

“If you're unwell, I'll bring Sir Federick here immediately!”

Both of them bit their lips, seemingly convinced that something had gone wrong with Glenn's health.

“Hmm…”

Even Chad's hand trembled around the documents he was holding, concern evident on his face.

“There’s no need for that.”

Glenn waved a hand with a faint smile.

“I am more at ease now than I have ever been.”

The corners of his lips curved gently upward as he assured them that nothing was wrong.

“But…”

“You mean this appearance?”

Standing before a mirror, Glenn looked directly at his own suddenly aged face.

“It is the price of enlightenment. One must discard what should be discarded and keep what should be kept. As long as we are human, we cannot have everything.”

A faint smile touched his lips as he ran his fingertips through his faded blond hair.

“Come to think of it, my previous appearance was the stranger thing. When a person grows old, their hair turns gray and wrinkles appear. That's only natural.”

He waved his hand again, telling them there was no need to worry.

“N-No, that's not true!”

Sheryl shook her head firmly.

“Everyone wants to stay young!”

Her face had turned red. Since she herself looked remarkably youthful for her age, Glenn's words seemed to have struck a little too close to home.

“Huhuhuhu.”

Roenn let out a knowing laugh, as though he understood exactly what Glenn meant.

“Well, if you wish to remain young, that's fine too.”

A thin smile appeared on Glenn’s lips, as though telling her to do as she pleased. Unlike before, he openly burst into laughter, seeming to have become much more easygoing by nature.

“Then…”

Raon stepped closer to the platform and narrowed his eyes.

“How much stronger have you become?”

After everything Raon had experienced, he had thought he might finally be able to gauge the realm Glenn had reached.

But that had been an arrogant assumption.

The gap between them seemed just as vast as it had been before Glenn entered seclusion. Even now, Raon could not perceive the extent of Glenn’s realm.

“Well.”

Instead of answering immediately, Glenn stroked his chin with a gentle smile.

"I believe I have reached a point where I will not lose, no matter what realm the Heavenly Demon has achieved."

Rather than claiming he would win, Glenn firmly declared that he would not lose regardless of what realm the Heavenly Demon had reached. Somehow, those words sounded even more reassuring than a straightforward promise of victory.

“And…”

Glenn nodded softly while looking at Raon.

“You should be able to sense it yourself, shouldn’t you?”

A warm gaze filled his eyes, as though he believed Raon could perceive his might.

“Hmm?”

Raon frowned slightly at those words.

“I don't think I've reached that point yet...”

Raon frowned again.

“It seems you have been through quite a lot during this time...”

Glenn nodded to himself and stepped down from the platform. His height had originally been about the same as Raon's, forcing them to meet each other's gaze directly, but now he had shrunk slightly, allowing Raon to look down on him just a little.

“I can tell that you've grown stronger physically, mentally, and even in your swordsmanship.”

Glenn raised a wrinkled hand and patted Raon on the shoulder, as though acknowledging all the hardships he had endured.

“I was right to entrust the position of acting head of house to you.”

He slowly closed and reopened his eyes, as though he had always believed in Raon.

“However, you're still not properly using what you've gained.”

The hand resting on Raon’s shoulder moved down to his chest.

“Change the way you breathe. If you can breathe not only with your body, but with your soul as well, you will begin to perceive an entirely different domain.”

He nodded while offering advice that was difficult to understand at the moment.

“Breathing with the soul…”

Raon lightly bit his lip as he repeated Glenn's words to himself.

“Think on it. Then think on it again. You are still young.”

Glenn clasped his hands behind his back, saying there was plenty of time.

Ah! So that's it!

Wrath suddenly clapped his hands while staring at Glenn.

That’s why your soul was boiling!

He twisted his lips, finally understanding.

‘What do you mean?’

Raon turned toward Wrath.

Even your grandpa won't tell you. Why should the King of Essence?

Wrath snorted, telling him to figure it out himself.

‘Hmm...’

Raon closed his eyes and examined both his body and soul.

‘What exactly is different?.’

Raon could not understand either Glenn’s words about breathing with the soul or Wrath’s claim that his soul was boiling.

"Even you won't be able to grasp it right away."

Glenn smiled faintly, as though it was something that would require time.

“For now, more than swordsmanship or training, I would rather hear what my grandson has been up to.”

He licked his lips, genuinely curious about everything Raon had accomplished during his seclusion.

“Yes. I’ll tell you as much as you’d like to hear.”

Setting his concerns aside for the moment, Raon nodded.

“After becoming acting head of house—”

“No.”

Glenn calmly waved his hand.

“Those are hardly ordinary matters. How could I hear them like this? Since no one knows about the most recent events yet, this actually works out well.”

He shook his head, saying he had no desire to hear such good stories by himself.

“Gather all the swordsmen tomorrow!”

Despite his gentler, grandfatherly appearance, the corners of Glenn's mouth twitched as though he still couldn't give up his desire to show off his grandson.

“Your exploits should be heard in front of everyone!”

He rubbed his hands together, seemingly curious to see how others would react when they heard about Raon's accomplishments.

“Uhhh...?”

“Huhuhuhu...”

Sheryl and Roenn stared at him with their mouths hanging open in disbelief.

T-This geezer...

Wrath deeply furrowed his brow as he looked at Glenn, whose cheeks had turned slightly red.

The King of Essence thought he'd changed, but he's still the same doting fool! Why is that the one thing that stayed exactly the same?!

*   *   *

“Ahem!”

Glenn cleared his throat and straightened his formalwear.

‘It's been a while.’

Ever since Raon became a swordsman, my absolute favorite pastime has been listening to his exploits alongside others.

I enjoy hearing stories I already know retold in Raon's own voice, and nothing makes me happier than watching others stare in disbelief at his accomplishments. It's a pleasure I doubt I could give up even in death.

‘Especially this time.’

Raon had personally gone to Eden and confronted the Heavenly Demon. He had slain the archangel Sariel and even weakened the archangel Uriel. Just imagining hearing those incredible feats directly from Raon while watching everyone else's stunned expressions was enough to make the corners of my mouth twitch uncontrollably.

'No. First, I must calm down.'

Glenn waved a hand and settled his excited breathing.

‘It's been a long time since I've met with the members of the house. I should at least show a bit of dignity.’

No matter how at peace I feel now, I am still the head of house of Zieghart. Before anything else, I need to reassure the swordsmen ahead of the coming war with Eden by showing that my might remains intact.

“Let's go.”

After nodding to Sheryl and Roenn behind him, Glenn headed toward the head of house’s training ground. Countless swordsmen had already gathered there, and judging by the sharp sword energy rising from them, none had neglected their training.

“The true sky of Zieghart arrives!”

The gatekeepers respectfully bowed to Glenn before striking the ground with their swords and opening the main gates of the training ground.

“Hmm.”

Maintaining a dignified presence, Glenn stepped inside.

‘What should I say first? The war is not far off, so perhaps something that will put everyone at ease....’

Just as he was considering his opening remarks—

“H-Head of house!”

“You've finally returned!”

“Please save us! Please save us!”

"Please never leave again!"

“P-Please, could you hand the position of head of house over to Sir Karoon instead?”

“The Light Wind Palace master can't be allowed to become head of house! We're all going to die!”

The swordsmen broke formation and rushed toward Glenn. Their eyes were bloodshot, as though they were speaking with their lives on the line.

“Huh?”

 

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