The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman

》”S-Say something! I’m scared!”

Wrath grabbed Raon’s chin and shook it, telling him to start rambling like he usually did.

‘Move.’

Raon pushed Wrath, who was hovering in front of him, aside and looked at Glenn again.

“Head Of House. There is one more thing I wish to ask.”

“Speak.”

Glenn nodded as if he were willing to listen to anything Raon had to say.

“Denier Zieghart.”

Raon murmured the name, recalling the desperate look in Denier’s eyes on the battlefield.

“No, what exactly happened to Denier?”

He was just as curious about Denier’s story as he was about the condition of the other Transcendents. He felt like he wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight unless he heard the reason Denier had betrayed the Five Kings and later betrayed the White Blood Lord.

》”M-Me too!”

Wrath raised his hand high.

》”I’m curious why that betrayal-betrayer did something like that!”

Calling Denier, who had betrayed twice, a betrayal-betrayer, Wrath gulped.

“That is…”

Glenn’s lips trembled before he closed his eyes.

“I know the truth, but it is difficult for me to say it with my own mouth. Hear it directly from Martha.”

He let out a heavy sigh, saying that the owner of this story was not himself, but Martha.

“I understand…”

Raon nodded, recalling Denier’s final moments.

‘Denier treated Martha like his own child.’

It seemed he had committed two betrayals to save Martha and her mother, and to kill the White Blood Lord.

“What I can tell you is…”

Glenn gazed for a long time at the second pillar, where Denier had always stood.

“Denier Zieghart. That man is my son.”

He nodded calmly, as if declaring that he would not cast Denier out of the Zieghart family.

“I understand.”

Raon bowed, saying he understood.

‘In the end, I’ll have to meet Martha.’

He thought it worked out well, since he had to see Martha’s mother anyway.

“Darkhan.”

Glenn shifted his gaze and called Darkhan.

“It seems your physical wounds have almost completely healed.”

“Yeah. The healing arts of the beggar in your house were quite useful.”

Darkhan nodded, saying he had recovered quickly thanks to Saint Fedrick of the Rags.

“What do you plan to do now?”

“I’ll look around this neighborhood for a bit and then leave.”

He brushed off his hands, indicating he would be leaving the Zieghart estate.

“Wouldn’t it be better to stay here?”

Raon narrowed his eyes at Darkhan. He was a bomb that could go off at any moment, but he was also a useful card, and Raon did not want to let him go.

“There are certainly many interesting people here. However…”

Darkhan curled his lips and rested his hand on the black sword.

“My sword comes first. I need to recover my weakened martial power and clean up the mess I made.”

He bared his white teeth, saying he would be the one to kill Derus, who had obtained the Heart Sword.

“He uses a boring sword, but I feel like things will be different the next time we meet.”

Darkhan smacked his lips in anticipation.

“When do you plan to leave?”

Raon let out a short sigh.

“After I have a bout with you and your Noona.”

Darkhan grinned as if to say he had already mentioned it.

“Were you serious about that?”

Raon let out a hollow laugh.

“Of course I’m serious! I always speak only the truth!”

Darkhan babbled about speaking only the truth despite having lied just a moment ago.

“Haa…”

Faced with a genuinely deranged human, Raon was so dumbfounded that he lost his words.

“His Noona? What is the meaning of that?”

Glenn narrowed his eyes, unable to understand.

“This man asked to spar with Sia Noona. More than ten times.”

Raon shook his head.

“He’s completely insane.”

Glenn frowned and placed his hand on Heavenly Tremor.

“Very well. I shall be the one to face you.”

He lifted his chin as if telling Darkhan to attack right away.

‘He’ll probably jump at the chance.’

But contrary to Raon’s expectation, Darkhan did not move from where he stood.

“Ah, I’ll pass.”

For the first time since arriving at Zieghart, Darkhan showed seriousness in his eyes.

“Because a fight with you would require me to risk my life.”

He lowered his hand, which was trembling with excitement, saying he wanted to fight after climbing to a higher peak.

Rumble!

It felt as though invisible blades were rising behind Darkhan’s back. Even with his soul weakened, he still burned with a fighting spirit worthy of Glenn’s rival.

“Yes. I suppose so.”

Glenn nodded slightly and sat back on his throne.

“Since we have finished everything we needed to say, you may now withdr—”

Just as he was about to tell Raon and Darkhan to leave—

Whoooosh!

A blue dimension opened in the air, and Jaina’s face appeared.

[Greetings, Northern Extermination King. Now… Ah!]

Jaina, who had been about to deliver her report, widened her eyes when she saw Raon and Darkhan.

[My apologies. I did not realize you had guests.]

“No. I accepted the call on purpose. It is fine, so speak.”

Glenn nodded, indicating it was alright to speak as long as it was not a critical secret.

[Lady Chamber has awakened. She asked me to tell you to wait, as she will contact you soon.]

Jaina let out a sigh of relief, announcing that Chamber had safely awakened.

“That is good news.”

Glenn also wore a faint smile, saying it was a relief.

“…Is there any news of Lecross?”

[There are still no changes.]

Jaina’s expression hardened again as she bowed her head.

“I see. Understood.”

Glenn lowered his brows, understanding the situation from Jaina’s expression alone.

[Yes. Then…]

“Wait.”

Raon approached Jaina, who was about to cut off the communication.

“I heard you pushed yourself to open a long-distance Dimension Door. Thank you for your hard work.”

He bowed his head, telling her she had done something truly important.

[Ah…]

Jaina’s face flushed red, and her pupils trembled as if a surge of emotion had struck her.

[I-It’s thanks to you.]

After steadying her breath, she slowly spoke.

“What do you mean by that?”

[When I lost to you at the Underground Auction House, I was furious because my pride had been wounded, and when I was treated like a slave, I truly wanted to carve you to pieces. But looking back, the humiliation and the experience from that time made me who I am now.]

Jaina smiled, saying that thanks to the hardships she endured then, she was able to avoid collapsing under pain and adversity in her magic. Moisture seemed to gather in her pink eyes.

[Thank you. For allowing me to live not as an arrogant princess, but as a hardworking Mage.]

She sincerely thanked him, taking off her hat and bowing her head.

“I will accept those thanks with gratitude. I also apologize to Princess Jaina for my rude words and actions until now.”

Raon bowed back to Jaina, apologizing for all the rude words and actions he had shown her.

[I accept your apology as well.]

Jaina smiled and readily accepted it. To be honest, he had not tormented her specifically to fix her habits, but seeing her change like this made him feel strangely proud.

“You two suit each other. Get married.”

(T/N: Oh man, I need Darkhan to appear more hahaha.)

Darkhan clapped loudly, saying they would make a good pair.

“What?”

[What on earth!]

Raon and Jaina turned toward Darkhan with wide eyes.

“Don’t big families or kingdoms like yours have arranged marriages all the time? You suit each other, so just get married.”

Darkhan looked at Glenn as if asking whether it was not a good idea.

“Arranged marriages are common, but I believe the will of the children is most important.”

Glenn took Darkhan’s words seriously and looked down at them.

“First of all, we are not in that kind of relationship. Besides, I…”

As Raon waved his hand in denial, the squirrel doll inside his inner pocket began vibrating violently. It was almost at the point of bursting through his clothes.

》”T-The madwoman! She heard everything!”

Wrath screamed as if he had sensed Evelyn’s presence.

“I-I’ll be taking my leave now.”

Afraid that Evelyn might burst out of the doll if he stayed any longer, Raon turned around at once.

“See you next time.”

Raon bowed to Jaina as well.

[Next time, I will prepare myself so that I can properly fill in for Lady Chamber.]

Jaina nodded with a flushed face, determined to work even harder. Seeing someone he had once thought would remain his enemy for life become such a reliable ally made him feel a sense of reassurance at his back.

‘Is this what they call…’

Raon curled his lips as he watched Jaina disappear, wiping away a transparent tear.

‘…a fated connection?’

===

After leaving the Head Of House’s palace, Raon visited the Black Tortoise Palace, where Martha was staying.

“Why are you following me?”

He narrowed his eyes at Darkhan, who was trailing behind him like a baby bird.

“I’m curious.”

Darkhan whistled, saying he was curious about Martha and Denier’s circumstances as well.

“This has nothing to do with you.”

Raon waved his hand, telling him to go back.

“It’s disappointing when you say it like that. I’m a comrade-in-arms who fought alongside you.”

Darkhan shrugged like a kicked puppy, acting as if Raon were being too harsh.

“Haa…”

Raon shook his head. While it was true that he liked Darkhan, it was also true that he had used him, so he had no grounds to argue that point.

“Fine. But if Martha says she doesn’t want to tell us, you leave immediately.”

“I’ll do that.”

Darkhan nodded, showing no intention of forcing the matter.

Knock, knock.

Raon wet his lips briefly and knocked on the door of Denier’s residence within the Black Tortoise Palace.

“Who is it?”

After a refreshing voice echoed out, the door opened, and a woman with black hair and black eyes stepped out. It was an elegant face he could never forget. Martha’s mother, whose body had once been taken over by the White Blood Lord.

“Ah…”

Raon took a step back and clenched his fists.

Because he had only ever encountered that face as an enemy for so long, tension rose within him even though he knew she was Martha’s mother.

“Everyone freezes when they see me.”

Martha’s mother clasped her hands together, sounding apologetic.

“Raon Zieghart. Correct?”

She nodded as if she already knew who he was.

“You knew of me?”

Raon relaxed his tense body and stepped forward again.

“How could I fail to recognize the benefactor who saved me and my daughter?”

Martha’s mother smiled, saying she wanted to thank him. She was far more energetic than he had expected.

“I’m Elena. Greetings to my benefactor.”

Revealing her name, she attempted to kneel before him.

“Please, don’t do that!”

Raon hurried forward and pulled Elena up.

“I haven’t even properly thanked you yet. Please let me do at least this much.”

“Martha is my friend before she is my subordinate. I do not want to see my friend’s mother kneeling.”

He shook his head vigorously, saying a verbal greeting was more than enough.

“Please speak casually to me. It’s more comfortable.”

“Should I?”

Without the slightest hesitation, Elena immediately switched to casual speech. It felt as though she had been hoping for this from the start, but it was indeed more comfortable.

“Please do.”

Raon smiled and lowered his hand.

“You’re even more straightforward than I heard! The more I look at you, the more you seem like a perfect fit…”

“Huh? A perfect fit for what…”

Just as he was about to ask what she meant, he heard another person’s footsteps from inside.

“Mom! Why are you taking so long? The food’s going to get co— huh?”

Martha approached Elena, then widened her eyes when she saw him.

“You’re awake? Since when?”

“Yeah. Since this morning.”

Raon nodded at the startled Martha.

“Thank goodness.”

Martha let out a sigh of relief, glad that nothing had happened. It seemed she had visited him often.

“Martha. Is your friend really human? How can someone look like this?”

Elena let out a breath of admiration, saying his beauty was breathtaking in person.

“What do you have to eat to grow up like this? Your mother must have nothing to envy.”

She beamed, saying Sylvia must be very proud of him.

“M-Mom!”

Martha covered Elena’s mouth and shook her head.

“How can you speak casually! Even if he looks like this, he’s a direct descendant of Zieghart and a Palace Lord!”

She slapped Elena’s back, telling her to come to her senses. More than anything, Raon was curious what she meant by even if he looks like this.

“Ow! Raon told me I could speak casually!”

Elena brushed off Martha’s hand, saying she had permission.

“Really?”

Martha’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Because she’s your mother. And…”

Raon shook his head while looking at Martha.

“You don’t treat me like a Palace Lord either.”

“W-When have I!”

“You’re speaking casually to me right now.”

“T-That’s just because we’re close! I’m the one who follows you the most in the Light Wind Palace… ugh.”

Martha shut her mouth in embarrassment and turned her reddened face away.

“A-Anyway, thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to save my mom.”

She bowed her head from the side, saying her thanks were late.

“Let’s not stand here. Since you’re here, stay and eat.”

Elena waved her hand, inviting them to breakfast.

“That tall young man too. Come in.”

“Sounds good!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Darkhan entered the Black Tortoise Palace residence before even the hosts did.

》”Food made by the Beef Girl’s mother? I’m looking forward to it!”

Wrath shot forward like a blue bolt of lightning, determined not to lose to Darkhan.

“Why did you invite that man?”

Martha let out a sigh of disbelief.

“He said he wanted to come.”

Raon sighed and headed toward the dining room with Martha.

Fwoooosh.

Elena had already set a lavish meal on the table. There were not many dishes, but every one of them looked appetizing.

》”Oooooh!”

Wrath let out an exclamation and lifted his head.

》”The smell is wonderful! Sit down quickly!”

For the first time since waking up, he wore a happy smile.

“Eat before it gets cold.”

Elena raised her hand, urging them to eat as if she were confident in her cooking.

“Thank you for the meal.”

Raon bowed to Elena and, as always, tasted the stew first.

‘It’s warm.’

The sweet yet clean broth melted through his body. Beyond its taste, he could feel the sincerity that had gone into it.

》”Kyahaaa! This is great!”

Wrath waved his hands vigorously in delight.

》”It’s a stew you can feel the heart in! Next, that meat! Bring me that perfectly grilled lamb!”

He immediately pointed to the next dish, clearly taken with Elena’s cooking.

“It goes down well! This is good food!”

Darkhan began stuffing food into his mouth, saying it was excellent for filling the belly. To him, meals seemed to be a ritual for replenishing the strength needed to swing a sword.

》”You uncultured brute! One should not chatter at the dining table! Hey! Bring over that beef next! Since she’s the Beef Girl, we have to eat beef! Kyahaha!”

Wrath laughed greedily, shouting for the beef. He was an uncultured Demon King whose words and actions were completely contradictory.

“This reminds me of the old days.”

Martha wore a faint smile as she looked at the steak on her plate.

“When your mother treated me kindly, it made my heart feel fluffy and warm, but at the same time I felt guilty because it reminded me of my own mom. I remember going home and crying by myself.”

Her hand holding the fork trembled as if she were recalling her childhood.

“It was a very long journey, but now I can be with my mom without any guilt.”

Martha put down her utensils and looked at him.

“Thank you so much. You saved me.”

She bowed her head, her eyes reddening with sincerity.

“Let’s only do the greetings once.”

Raon waved his hand after cutting and eating a piece of steak from Martha’s plate.

“Fufu.”

Elena let out a gentle laugh, as if the friendship between Raon and Martha were a beautiful sight.

“You came because of my father, right?”

Martha still called Denier father.

“Yes. I was curious what happened.”

Raon nodded, asking if she could tell him.

“But you can send that man away.”

Elena pointed at Darkhan, who was cramming down the carefully prepared food.

“It’s fine. It isn’t a secret anymore.”

Martha shook her head calmly.

“Father wasn’t human. He was an experimental subject born from the White Blood Lord’s blood. However…”

She told him everything, all the memories Denier had shared with her.

“…And that’s how we drove back the White Blood Lord. Father died together with the Blood Pact placed on my soul.”

Martha seemed to have emptied out much of her emotion. Instead of tears, she wore a smile filled with longing.

“I see.”

Raon let out a long sigh and nodded.

‘Now everything makes sense.’

He finally understood why he had never been able to fully grasp the man named Denier, and why Denier had stabbed both enemies and allies alike.

》”Kkeueuk…”

Wrath stopped eating with food still halfway to his mouth. His eyes trembled, and tears streamed down his face.

》”Denier Zieghart was a true father! He wasn’t born human, but he was a father!”

He sniffled, lamenting that if he had known it would end this way, he would have found a way to save him.

“That man was a swordsman!”

Darkhan slammed his fist on the table, declaring that Denier’s life had been magnificent. Since he called him a swordsman, it seemed to be the highest praise he could offer.

“Father was grateful to you.”

Martha pressed her lips together as she looked at him.

“He said that not only my mother and I, but he himself had been saved.”

She smiled, saying that thanks to Raon, Denier had been able to leave as a human.

“Please tell him I accepted his thanks.”

Raon nodded with a smile.

“I will.”

Raon and Martha looked at each other and shared a pure, clear laugh, as if they had returned to childhood.

“You two suit each other. Get married.”

Once again, Darkhan abruptly suggested marriage, clapping his hands with palms greasy from the meat. Just an hour ago he had been rooting for Jaina, and now he had already changed his mind.

“What on earth…”

“…”

Raon furrowed his brows, and Martha’s face turned red even as she narrowed her eyes.

“Martha is a Zieghart, but since they aren’t blood-related, would marriage still be possible?”

Elena tilted her head as if she were curious too.

“Please don’t take this man’s words seriously.”

Raon waved his hand, but at that moment, his body suddenly shivered.

Vrrrr.

The squirrel doll inside his inner pocket began vibrating even more violently than before. It felt as though purple mana were blazing inside the doll’s eyes.

“I-I’ve eaten well! I’ll be going now!”

Raon said he would return soon, cleared the table, and stood up.

》”Y-you’re leaving already?”

Wrath shook his head, saying there was still food left.

‘Evelyn might come charging here!’

》”D-damn it…”

As if he didn’t want that either, Wrath fell silent and could not argue.

“You too. Come on.”

Raon grabbed Darkhan by the shoulder while he was still tearing into the meat and hauled him up.

“I’m not done eating yet!”

“We’re leaving because of you!”

Gritting his teeth, Raon dragged Darkhan out of the dining room.

“What a storm of a child.”

Elena laughed, saying it was enjoyable just to watch him.

“You’re right. A warm storm.”

Martha traced Raon’s retreating back with a tender smile.

“One who embraces anyone.”

===

The next morning.

“I hope training is going we— huh?”

The moment Raon entered the Fifth Training Hall, he froze like a statue.

“That’s it! That’s how you swing it!”

“That swordsmanship looks delicious. Show me more!”

“No! Lower your stance there! Imagine you’ve become a rhinoceros beetle. Spread your legs and bend your waist!”

“Have any of you ever lived as beggars? It’s worth trying once. It changes your perspective!”

“Hoh!”

Darkhan was teaching the Light Wind Palace Swordsmen as if he were their instructor.

“P-Palace Lord!”

Dorian’s eyes widened when he saw Raon.

“The Palace Lord has arrived!”

“We are glad you are safe!”

“W-we’ve been waiting for you!”

At his words, the Light Wind Palace Swordsmen rushed toward Raon and bowed.

“What were you all doing?”

Raon blinked, looking at the swordsmen and Darkhan standing behind them.

“This man suddenly showed up and started giving us advice on our swordsmanship.”

“Yes. He said he’d kill us if we didn’t listen to him…”

“We had no choice but to follow, but strangely, our swordsmanship is flowing better than usual.”

“Yes. It’s hard to believe, but I can feel my skill improving.”

The swordsmen let out sighs of amazement, explaining that although Darkhan had threatened them into training, the results were unexpectedly effective.

》”Training through threats…”

Wrath chuckled as he looked at Raon.

》”Isn’t that exactly what you do?”

‘That’s different!’

Raon whipped his head around to look at Darkhan.

“Are you planning to become an instructor?”

“How could I leave these rough gems alone! Their skill and talent are meager, but their swordsmanship is alive, and I like that!”

Darkhan grinned, showing his teeth as he found the swords of the Light Wind Palace Swordsmen intriguing.

“Does everyone who learns from you end up using Sword Control? Well, thanks to you, I’ve learned what a true beggar is!”

He tilted his chin, calling it a peculiar talent.

“Didn’t you use to care only about innate talent?”

“I did. However, my thinking changed after I discarded these eyes.”

Darkhan smiled, saying there were things in the world that could not be seen.

“May I watch over these children a little longer?”

“Just don’t overwork them.”

“I shall keep that in mind.”

Nodding in satisfaction, he led the Light Wind Palace Swordsmen back to the center of the Training Hall.

“Ah, the direction of the left hand was important too.”

“I should have swung it past the shoulder.”

“Now this is real teaching!”

Contrary to their earlier words, the Light Wind Palace Swordsmen listened to Darkhan’s guidance with smiles on their faces.

》”The kids look much brighter than when they train with you.”

Wrath nudged him, pointing out their expressions.

‘…No way.’

Though he denied it, even he could see that the swordsmen looked happier.

‘Well, it’s for the best. I needed time to prepare anyway.’

》”Prepare? Prepare for what?”

‘Prepare for a trip.’

Raon dusted off his hands and licked his lips.

》”A trip? What kind of trip are you taking in a time like this?”

‘Precisely because it’s a time like this, I have to go. There are some people I need to find.’

》”People you need to find?”

Wrath’s eyes widened in curiosity.

‘Yeah. Your friends.’

Raon flashed a chilling smile at Wrath.

》”N-no way… You’re using this King again!”

Wrath’s face turned pale as he finally realized what Raon was planning.

‘Correct. The name of this trip shall be…’

Raon beamed at the trembling Wrath.

‘The Demon King of Wrath’s Friendship Trip to Find His Friends.’

(T/N: Man, I love Darkhan. hahaha. )