The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman 1339

 Chapter 1339

 

Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched the bow of the Azure Wind cut through the waves.

'The war really isn't far off now.'

Once this mission is over, I have to return to Zieghart immediately and begin preparing for war before it's too late.

'Hopefully this ends well.'

Truthfully, I also want to give the swordsmen some time to recharge, so it isn't absolutely necessary to persuade the Viking tribe to join the war. Still, if they really are warriors who can command the sea as naturally as Aris described, they'll be an enormous asset in naval battles. If possible, I want to persuade them to fight alongside us.

'Because it's not just Eden. No... there are enemies even more dangerous than Eden.'

Raon frowned as he gazed at the dark, shadow-like patches scattered across the blue sea.

'The archangels and the celestials.'

I've killed several archangels, including Raphael, but powerful ones like Uriel still remain on the continent. There's no telling what they might do, so the best way to prepare for the coming war is to strengthen the Five Kings' combined forces as much as possible.

Archangels...

Wrath clicked his tongue softly as he looked up at the clear sky stretching above the sea.

There's no doubt about it. They'll definitely appear during the war against Eden!

He wrinkled his nose, insisting that the archangels would undoubtedly interfere in the war between the Five Kings and Eden and throw everything into chaos.

'I think so too.'

Raon gave a calm nod.

'That'll be their last chance.'

Things might have been different back in the era of the Six Kings and Five Demons. But now that even Derus was dead and only Eden remained, the only way left for the archangels to achieve their objective was to intervene in the war against Eden.

'And the Heavenly Demon...'

Raon let out a low sigh as he recalled the Heavenly Demon's dark crimson eyes he had seen at Eden's headquarters.

'There's a high chance he'll ally himself with the archangels.'

In truth, calling it an alliance wasn't quite accurate. The archangels, who had always been part of Derus's faction, and Eden had been allies from the very beginning.

More importantly, the Heavenly Demon was the kind of man who cared about nothing so long as he could fight grandfather to the death. Whether the continent was destroyed or heaven reduced it to ruin meant nothing to him, so accepting the archangels' assistance was only natural.

'A lot of people are going to die.'

Zieghart swordsmen have grown stronger, but our enemies are a band of madmen who employ bizarre, unimaginable methods, alongside celestials who view humans as nothing more than insects. The massive loss of life is all too easy to foresee, and I want to reduce those casualties as much as possible.

So that's why you're making this move.

Wrath nodded, saying he understood completely.

The King of Essence can even guess how you're planning to win over that Viking tribe.

He chuckled, as if he already knew everything.

'That's right.'

A faint smile spread across Raon's lips.

'If they're truly people who carry the scent of warriors, just as aunt said, then the best way is to meet them head-on.'

Just as Wrath guessed, warriors have greeted one another through clashes of martial skill since ancient times. If I go to the Vikings' island myself and cross blades with them, we could become friends.

Though this time, we're short on time, so I'll have to be a little more aggressive.'

He smiled faintly, thinking that he'd have to handle things a bit more forcefully than usual.

A little more aggressive?

Wrath blinked blankly.

You're already aggressive all the time! What in the world are you planning to do?

He let out a low groan, unable to imagine what Raon had in mind.

'Besides, if we lose this war, even a tribe living in the middle of the sea won't survive.'

Eden's goal is to resurrect the Demonic Dragon of Destruction, while the celestials seek humanity's complete annihilation. Both want to kill or subjugate mankind, so simply explaining that fact alone should go a long way toward persuading the Vikings to join us.

'After that...'

Just as Raon was thinking about what would come after bringing the Vikings into the war—

"Excuse me..."

Krein approached him and lowered his eyebrows slightly.

"Where exactly are we going?"

He swallowed hard, as though something felt terribly off.

" I thought we were going to enjoy a vacation on the beach, so why did we suddenly board the Azure Wind and head out to sea? And we've been sailing for quite a while now..."

His eyes darted back and forth, trembling with obvious unease.

"D-Don't tell me... this isn't a vacation... it's training, is it?"

After exchanging glances with the other swordsmen, he slowly parted his lips.

"You saw it too. The western beach is packed with people."

Raon smacked his lips briefly.

"I guess everyone wants to ease their anxiety before the war, because there were even more people than usual. If we joined them, neither we nor the tourists would be able to enjoy ourselves properly."

He nodded, saying that if a bunch of burly men like the Light Wind Palace swordsmen showed up all at once, ordinary people would naturally be intimidated.

"So..."

Raon let out a small chuckle and raised a finger.

"I rented an entire island, so you can all enjoy yourselves as much as you want."

Without so much as blinking, he delivered the lie as smoothly as silk.

"An... an island?"

"Whoa! He said an island!"

"That's crazy! As expected of the richest man in Zieghart!"

"Well, it makes sense. The Sword Immortal can't exactly hang out with ordinary people!"

The swordsmen nodded vigorously, as if all their uneasiness had finally vanished, breaking into relieved laughter.

"Ugh..."

Dorian shook his head as if to say that's not it, but he kept his mouth shut.

"Hmm..."

Martha narrowed her eyes deeply.

"That sounds like a load of crap."

She tilted her head, unable to believe a word Raon had said.

"It is a lie..."

Runaan nodded calmly, as if she had known from the very beginning that Raon was lying.

"But it isn't for a bad reason..."

A faint smile touched her lips as she said that although Raon had lied, he was doing it with everyone's best interests in mind.

"What do you think?"

Martha jerked her chin toward Burren, who was leaning against the mast.

"Who knows?"

Burren replied without taking his eyes off Raon.

"I don't think it matters anymore. We've already boarded the ship and set sail."

He waved his hand, as though it made no difference whether Raon had lied or not.

"Huh?"

Martha frowned at Burren.

"What's gotten into you all of a sudden? Normally, you'd be clutching your head trying to figure out what that guy was really thinking."

She tilted her head slightly, sensing the change in Burren.

"I've started to understand what's truly important to me now."

As if he had no intention of saying anything more, Burren folded his arms and closed his eyes.

"Burren..."

Runaan gazed intently at him, her fingertips trembling ever so slightly.

"Ha! Our ever-serious vice palace master is acting strangely for once."

Just as Martha let out a disbelieving laugh—

Swaaaaaash!

An enormous wave erupted before the bow of the Azure Wind. Rising like a massive fortress wall, it blocked the ship from advancing any farther.

"Gah!"

"W-What is that?!"

"What the...?!"

The Light Wind Palace swordsmen cried out in alarm as the ship lurched violently without warning.

The crew aboard the Azure Wind, however, merely looked calmly at the wall of water blocking their path, as though they had expected this all along.

"We're here."

Aris smiled brightly as she walked toward the bow.

"I didn't know my nephew was that good at lying. Even I was almost fooled."

Saying he was impressive, she gave Raon a pat on the shoulder.

"I've had plenty of practice."

Raon smiled faintly as he looked at the wall rising from the sea.

"Uh...?"

Krein's jaw trembled as he stared at him.

"N-No way... right?"

His eyes darted around frantically, refusing with all his heart to believe what he was beginning to suspect.

"Actually..."

Just as Raon smiled and was about to answer Krein—

Rumble!

A shadow shaped like a demon's horn fell over the deck of the Azure Wind.

Looking up, they saw men standing atop the towering wall of sea. They wore helmets adorned with the horns of sea bison. The eyes visible beneath those helmets were as fierce as sharks, and the beards hanging from their jaws looked as tough as rope, as though not even a sword could sever them. In their rock-like hands were axes and hammers rarely seen on the continent, each appearing sturdier than an iron fortress from having been hammered countless times. They gave off both the stench of savagery and the sweat-soaked scent of steadfast warriors.

"Who are you?"

The middle-aged man standing at the center tilted his chin, his voice cold.

"This is a sacred sea where no uninvited outsider may enter."

His icy gaze flashed, making it clear they would be allowed no farther.

"We weren't invited, but I do know someone here."

Aris looked up at the Vikings with a smile.

"Back when we met at—"

"I came to see your might for myself."

Cutting Aris off, Raon stepped onto the bow.

"What did you say...?"

The brows of the middle-aged man, who appeared to be one of the Vikings' executives, knitted together deeply.

"R-Raon...?"

Aris had been about to mention the name of the Viking who had invited her, but Raon's sudden provocation left her staring at him in shock.

"I've heard the Vikings are warriors of the sea, living legends. I came to see whether that reputation is truly deserved."

Raon arrogantly tilted his chin, as though he doubted the Vikings' legendary reputation itself.

"Hah..."

The Viking Executive let out a disbelieving scoff.

"So you came to see whether our reputation is truly deserved?"

He ground his yellowed teeth together, seemingly unable to contain his anger at Raon's sheer arrogance.

"Let's kill him right now!"

"I didn't like the look of him the moment I saw his face!"

"If we bury them beneath the sea here, they won't even have time to scream!"

The Vikings standing behind him gnashed their teeth, shouting that not only Raon but everyone aboard the Azure Wind should be buried beneath the sea.

"And who are you?"

The Viking Executive narrowed his eyes, as though questioning whether Raon was even qualified to judge the Vikings' might.

"I am Raon Zieghart, the Sword Immortal, successor to the Destructive King of the North."

Raon calmly declared his title, revealing his tranquil gaze.

"A war that could bring about the continent's destruction is about to begin, so why are those who call themselves warriors hiding away in this corner of the sea?"

He narrowed his eyes as he voiced the very question that had been on his mind ever since Aris first told him about the Vikings. No matter how well they had concealed themselves, there was no way they could have failed to sense the ominous signs of the coming war.

"Prove your might, and show that you're worthy of standing on the battlefield."

The moment he laid eyes on the Vikings, Raon declared the very purpose that had brought him here as he gripped the scabbard of Heavenly Drive.

Whooooooom!

A terrifying presence surged up from beneath his feet, causing the colossal wall of sea supporting the Vikings to tremble as though it were about to collapse.

"W-What is this?!"

"Why is the sea wave wall shaking?!"

"J-Just who is that human...?"

The Vikings broke into cold sweats and staggered backward, aghast at the overwhelming energy wave emanating from Raon.

"..."

The Viking Executive was equally shaken by Raon's presence. He bit his lip until it bled, yet despite his trembling legs, he stubbornly held his ground, his pride refusing to let him retreat.

"The Destructive King of the North..."

As though he recognized Glenn Zieghart's title, he quietly repeated it.

"If you have no intention of explaining your existence or proving your might..."

Raon looked at the Viking Executive, leaving the decision entirely in his hands.

"Then I'll leave."

With those words, he drew Heavenly Drive. The sword descended in a silent, dignified arc, cleaving the towering wall of sea where the Vikings stood cleanly in half.

"Aaaagh!"

"H-He... he's a monster..."

"He's so young... no, just a boy. How can he possess such might...?"

The Vikings' lips trembled once again as they stared in shock at Raon's might.

"Knut."

The Viking leader spoke a single word.

"What?"

Raon lowered his eyebrows, unable to understand what he had said.

"My name."

The Viking named Knut closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again.

"You gave your name. It's only proper that I give you mine in return."

He lowered the towering wave, which had risen far above the Azure Wind, and nodded.

"Follow me."

He gestured for them to proceed.

"Sword Immortal Raon Zieghart. I welcome you to the land of our tribe."

 

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