The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1346

 Chapter 1346

 

‘Pride?’

Raon's eyes widened as he stared at the message that appeared before him.

‘It unlocked now?’

The authority of <Pride>, which had not been unlocked no matter what he did until now, was unlocked. Ever since receiving a portion of the authority of <Pride> from Pride, the door had remained firmly shut, like the bars of an iron cage. Seeing it suddenly swing open left him stunned even as he read the message.

Well, the time had come.

Instead of flying into a rage as usual, Wrath calmly nodded, saying it was only natural that the authority of <Pride> had been unlocked.

You've finally thrown away that damned humility of yours.

A faint smile spread across his face, as though he approved of the pride in Raon's words and actions lately.

‘The time had come? Have I really become so full of pride?’

Raon blinked as he looked at Wrath.

Indeed.

Wrath lowered his chin slightly while meeting Raon's gaze.

The confidence you once displayed was nothing more than a facade. You forced yourself to act that way because you had no choice but to win. It was nothing more than false pride born of desperation. But....

Wrath curled the corners of his mouth up as though he liked his current expression.

Now it is different. Confidence in your own martial arts is overflowing from the depths of your soul.

Wrath smacked his lips, saying Raon's expression had become much more interesting.

You have certainly become full of pride.

He nodded, saying that was precisely why Raon had become worthy of unlocking the authority of <Pride>.

‘Pride...’

Raon looked at his own hand while recalling his own martial arts and soul that did not yield even before the Heavenly Demon.

‘Come to think of it, the Black Form Snake said I was full of pride... and the Heavenly Demon said I had found the path to Pride.’

The Black Form Snake, who had struggled desperately to survive, and the Heavenly Demon, who had manifested to save him, had both recognized the pride that had taken root within him. Without realizing it himself, he had come to possess that emotion called pride.
Pride is certainly one of the negative emotions. It is not something inherently good.

Wrath raised his small, bread-like hand. However, true pride lends its power only to those who are worthy of it. You have now earned that qualification.

He nodded, looking genuinely pleased.

‘Hmm, in that case...’

It was when Raon nodded and tried to check the authority of pride.

“Sword Immortal!”

The Viking chief Bjorn called out to Raon and knelt down.

“Thank you. You truly saved our tribe!”

He struck his chest with a fist as large as a boulder, saying he had been deeply moved by Raon's magnificent martial arts and unwavering spirit. It seemed to be a traditional Viking greeting.

“When the Heavenly Demon appeared, I thought everything was over. No matter who you ask, he is one of the strongest beings on the continent. Yet you stood your ground before that Absolute and confronted him with nothing but a single sword. That is the bearing of a true warrior!”

Bjorn's eyes welled with tears as he declared that he had witnessed the back of a true warrior in Raon's stand against the Heavenly Demon.

“You told us to join the Five Kings, and I agreed on the condition that you defeated Arne. I wish to revise those words. Not because you asked it of us, but because I do. Because we Vikings want to follow you! Warrior Raon Zieghart!”

Despite blood seeping through the bandages wrapped around his chest, Bjorn lowered his head in the Viking greeting. True to Raon's first impression, he was an honest man and a true warrior.

“We will follow you as well!”

The Vikings standing behind Bjorn bowed deeply, their lips trembling as though they were still overwhelmed by the sword technique Raon had displayed.

Rumble!

Even the Vikings who had followed Priest Arne were moved by the spirit of the warrior Raon had shown. They knelt of their own accord and bowed their heads.

“Wow! The fight hasn't even been over for a full minute, and they're already declaring they'll follow him?”

Martha let out an exclamation as she looked at the Vikings kneeling before Raon.

“A warrior is a warrior! They never go back on their word!”

She applauded, saying they were refreshingly straightforward compared to the continent's rulers, who were all talk.

“They certainly don't waste any time.”

Even Burren let out a dry laugh, saying he had never expected them to pledge their allegiance immediately after expressing their gratitude.

“That was... incredible.”

Runaan let out a deep breath, seemingly thinking about the sword strike with which Raon had cut down the Heavenly Demon manifested through the Black Form Snake.

“H-He drove back the Heavenly Demon?”

Krein stared at Raon with his mouth hanging open.

“That monster... No, he was already a monster, but now he's become a real monster!”

He swallowed hard, saying he had never imagined Raon could wound the Heavenly Demon, even if he was only possessing the Black Form Snake rather than manifesting in person.

“I-I told you...”

Dorian's shoulders trembled.

“Sir Raon has changed. And I'm not talking about his realm of martial arts.”

He drew a deep breath, saying that Raon's very personality had changed.

“His personality changed...”

Martha narrowed her eyes as she looked at Raon.

“It really has.”

She nodded as she watched Raon remain calm despite the Vikings looking at him with eyes full of admiration.

“Hmm, the old Raon would've been waving his hands, insisting they didn't need to do this.”

Burren lowered his gaze slightly as memories of the Raon of old came to mind.

“He's changed. But not for the worse. On the contrary, it's the attitude that suits his position now.”

He smiled faintly, saying Raon had grown not only in martial arts, but as a person as well.

“However...”

Burren started to say something, then stopped, his brows knitting slightly.

“I like... both.”

Runaan said she liked both the Raon of the present and the Raon of the past, her cheeks turning faintly red.

“Hmm...”

Raon tilted his chin slightly as he listened to the Light Wind swordsmen.

‘They're right.’

The old me would've been overwhelmed if the Vikings had knelt before me and pledged their loyalty like this. After spending my entire previous life living in the shadows as an assassin, I couldn't have reacted any differently.

But things are different now. I've shown them what I'm capable of. I've done something worthy of their respect, and I've gained confidence in myself. Their gratitude and admiration no longer feel like a burden.

There's no denying it. The Raon Zieghart of this life has grown far beyond the Raon of my previous life.

“Vice palace master.”

Raon beckoned Burren over with a flick of his hand.

“Yes, palace master.”

As though he had never been chatting moments earlier, Burren immediately approached Raon and bowed solemnly.

“We will remain here for one week and hold a martial exchange between the Vikings and the Light Wind swordsmen.”

Though he called it a martial exchange, what he truly meant was that they would spar to help one another improve their martial arts.

“This may be our last training before the war. Give it everything you've got.”

Raon nodded as he spoke not only to Burren, but to every member of the Light Wind Palace looking at him.

“A martial exchange?”

“Oh! We get to fight the Vikings?”

“Sparring with them will definitely help us improve.”

“Understood!”

The Light Wind swordsmen laughed, saying this was far better than focus enhancement training or exhaustion training.

“Sparring with the Light Wind Palace?”

“We actually get the chance to fight the swordsmen who follow such a great warrior!”

“As warriors, we'll give it everything we've got!”

The Vikings also clenched their fists, clearly looking forward to sparring with the Light Wind swordsmen. 

“A-Are you truly sure about this?”

Viking chief Bjorn blinked, wondering whether it was really alright for them not to return immediately.

“Things concluded faster than expected. Rather than rushing back, I believe spending some time here exchanging martial arts will benefit both sides more.”

Raon waved his hand, telling him not to worry.

“If you say so, then thank you! This will be an enormous help to our warriors!”

Bjorn bowed his head, expressing his gratitude for such a valuable opportunity.

“It is the same for us as well.”

Raon smiled faintly. The Vikings' sturdy bodies and indomitable spirits were second to none, even compared to the celestials. Sparring with them would undoubtedly prove invaluable in the coming war.

“And if you'll excuse me for a moment.”

Raon reached out and placed a hand on Bjorn's shoulder.

‘His injuries are worse than I thought.’

After examining him with his aura, Raon realized Bjorn's condition was even worse than it appeared. Haerang had probably failed to hold back because Bjorn's might had been far greater than expected.

Woooooooong!

After withdrawing his aura, Raon activated the <Divinity Blooming from the Underworld>. The holy power, whose healing potency had increased along with its rank, now even more potent after its rank had increased, spread throughout Bjorn's body, rapidly healing his injuries.

“Huh...?”

Bjorn's mouth fell open as he felt the wounds covering his body healing before his very eyes.

“Y-You possess healing abilities as well?”

His tone suddenly became much more respectful, clearly astonished by Raon's healing ability.

“Swordsmanship that reaches the sky, and even a healing ability...”

“H-He is a real Sword Immortal! He is the immortal of the sword who has ascended to the sky!”

“Sword Immortal! Sword Immortal!”

The Vikings were stunned once again as they watched Raon heal their chief, erupting into thunderous cheers.

“Ha...”

Raon shook his head as he listened to the Vikings chanting his title.

“I don't think I'll ever get used to this.”

Everything else was fine, but hearing them shout his title was something he simply couldn't get accustomed to.

Then have them chant the King of Essence's name instead of yours!

Wrath thrust his head forward as though this were the perfect solution.

The King of Essence enjoys hearing praise for himself more than anyone!

Rubbing his hands together eagerly, Wrath declared that they should be chanting his name instead.

‘...’

Raon gave Wrath a cold look before turning away.

‘I've changed... but you're still exactly the same.’

E-Exactly the same? That was an insult, wasn't it?!

Wrath pointed an accusing finger at him, but Raon never once looked back.

H-Hey! Get back here, you bastard! He said get back here!

*   *   *

‘Now then...’

Entering the lodging Bjorn had prepared for him, Raon smacked his lips.

‘Let's take a look.’

The Vikings' sudden outburst of cheers had prevented him from properly checking the authority of <Pride>. Wanting to see its details, he headed straight to his lodging.

Tsk.

Wrath clicked his tongue as he watched.

You could at least eat first....

He smacked his lips, seemingly curious about what kind of food the Vikings served.

‘There'll be plenty of time for that after this.’

Raon waved a hand to tell him not to worry before calling up the message announcing that the authority of <Pride> had been unlocked.

[The Trait <Pride> has been unlocked.]

<Pride>

The greater your confidence in the strength of your own martial arts and soul, the more your stats and the level of your soul will increase.

‘This is...’

Raon swallowed dryly as he read the description of the authority of <Pride>.

‘This is insane! Does this mean the more I believe I'm strong, the stronger I become?’

The explanation of Pride was simple. It seemed to be an ability that allowed its owner to grow endlessly stronger as long as they believed in their own strength.

Correct.

Wrath nodded.

However, merely thinking you're strong isn't enough. The belief must come from the depths of your soul.

He snorted, saying there was an important difference.

Though the part the King of Essence was expecting isn't here. Not yet?

Wrath frowned slightly, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

‘The part you were expecting?’

Raon blinked.

‘What do you mean by that...?’

Just as he was about to ask Wrath—

[You have driven back the pinnacle of the continent with your own martial arts.]

[You have accomplished a great feat.]

[All stats...]

[The rank...]

“Ah!”

Raon pointed at the stream of messages flooding his vision.

‘So this is what you were talking about. Thanks. I almost forgot about it myself.’

He said he had nearly forgotten about it himself and thanked Wrath.

W-What nonsense are you talking about!

Wrath shook his head emphatically.

Absolutely not! Definitely not!

Grinding his teeth, he insisted that wasn't what he had meant.

Damn it! Unlocking <Pride> should've been enough! Why are you drawing the King of Essence's blood again just to give it to this bastard?!

Wrath threw his head back toward the sky and cried out, begging for at least an answer.

If you've got a mouth, then open it and say something! 

 

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