The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman

“Lower your sword a little more. Be fully aware that your target is the enemy’s heart.”

Darkhan pressed down on Krein’s arm, teaching him the correct thrusting posture.

“Yes! Like this?”

Krein sharply thrust his sword as Darkhan instructed. A sound like the air tearing apart rang out as the shockwave blooming from the sword energy burst through the air.

“Hmm…”

Darkhan examined Krein’s thrust from several angles before shaking his head.

“Your sword has no flavor. You’re posing too much.”

He turned away, saying there was no joy in teaching him.

“W-what? I did exactly what you told me to do…!”

Krein’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“In contrast…”

Darkhan licked his lips as he looked at Dorian, who was practicing his swordsmanship in a corner.

“You look somewhat decent.”

He rubbed his palms together as he watched Dorian’s sword, which seemed to lack ambition.

“M-me?”

Dorian’s eyes widened, as if he had never imagined his swordsmanship would be praised.

“I don’t know about the others, but not him! He’s a coward, so he only practices swordsmanship focused on retreating!”

Krein shouted, unable to accept Darkhan’s words.

“That’s why it’s interesting.”

Darkhan grinned and approached Dorian.

“A sword is a tool meant to stab and kill people, yet you retreat? How intriguing.”

He tilted his chin, signaling Dorian to continue his form.

“Furthermore, in actual combat, you maintain a posture that makes it seem as though you’ll advance rather than retreat. Ah, in that movement, rotate your ankle about 15 degrees more.”

Darkhan gave detailed instructions, seemingly pleased with Dorian’s swordsmanship.

“Ugh…”

Krein bit his lip and performed his swordsmanship with all his strength, but Darkhan’s gaze never returned to him.

“I can do it too…”

“Then shall I watch you?”

Raon stood before the frowning Krein, curling his lips into a smirk.

“N-no! Training is something you do alone!”

Krein shook his head violently, as if that were absolutely out of the question, and scrambled away.

“…”

Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Krein.

‘Did I torment them too much before the war?’

Whenever he brought up the word training, the swordsmen panicked and fled. It seemed he had pushed them a little too hard.

‘Of course, I’d do the same thing again if we went back.’

He had no regrets, believing the Light Wind Palace Swordsmen had survived thanks to that hellish training.

》”You simply lack popularity.”

Wrath snorted.

》”When this King offered a single lesson, subordinates would line up for three days and nights!”

He muttered about how good those times were, his eyes growing hazy with nostalgia.

‘Oh.’

Too lazy to argue, Raon clapped once and drew Heavenly Drive.

》”Don’t just say ‘Oh’! Give me a proper reaction! No, more importantly…”

Wrath frowned as he looked at Raon.

》”Tell me exactly what you meant earlier! What do you mean by a journey to find friends!”

He bared his white teeth, demanding a direct answer.

‘Exactly what I said. I mean I’m going on a journey to find your friends.’

》”Do you mean those other Demon Kings? Hmph! This King has no such thing as friends! I am a Monarch who enjoys solitude!”

Wrath shook his head vigorously, insisting that he had no friends.

‘Didn’t you say we were friends? It’s a little disappointing to hear you don’t have any friends.’

Raon let out a low groan and lowered his gaze.

》”Eh? N-no, it’s not that. This King just…”

Wrath’s lips trembled, seemingly flustered by Raon’s disappointed expression.

》”A-ah, no! I almost got tricked by this damned brat again!”

He frowned and told Raon to stop talking nonsense.

‘It didn’t work.’

Raon chuckled and looked back up.

‘It’s true that I intend to find the Demon Kings, just as you said.’

》”I knew it!”

Wrath slammed his hand down as if he had expected as much.

‘Because we’ll need the Demon Kings’ power in the final war.’

The combat power of the Archangels was at least on par with the leaders of the Five Kings and the Three Demon Kings. Among them, there might even be monsters whose strength rivaled Glenn, the Heavenly Demon, or Derus.

If Derus summoned all seven Archangels and waged war, defeat would be certain, so preparations had to be made in advance.

‘If an Archangel appears, will the Demon Kings fight?’

Raon turned to Wrath, seeking an answer.

》”Absolutely not!”

Wrath shook his head.

》”The Demon Kings are creatures more faithful to their instincts than any other of the Demon race. To think they would fight just because an Archangel descended into the Human Realm, which is not even their territory. You are unbelievably naive!”

He sneered, asserting that Raon’s wish would never come true.

‘Then in the end, do I have to borrow your name?’

Raon smiled faintly and placed a hand on Wrath’s head.

‘If the Demon King of Wrath tells them to fight, wouldn’t that somehow work?’

》”I knew you’d say that! You damned brat!”

Wrath gnashed his teeth, as the outcome had not strayed from his expectations by even an inch.

》”Things will not go as easily as you intend this time. A war against the Archangels is something that would require even the Demon Kings to risk their lives.”

He wore an arrogant expression, claiming it would not be that simple this time.

‘Then I’ll have to prepare as well.’

Raon smiled faintly and raised a finger.

》”Prepare?”

‘Since you said the Demon Kings are the most instinct-driven of the Demon race, I should prepare how to persuade them.’

》”Hmph! That is correct!”

‘Thanks for the answer.’

》”Eh? Uh…”

Wrath blinked blankly.

》”T-this brat used this King again!”

He screamed, realizing what he had just said.

‘For now, is Sloth the only one whose location is known?’

Leaving the screaming Wrath behind, Raon recalled the Demon Kings he had met so far.

》”That should be the case. Some will be in the Demon Realm, and some will be wandering the Human Realm as they please.”

Hearing his own muttering, Wrath flew over and nodded. He truly was a cute Demon King.

‘Envy and Greed are in the Demon Realm, and Gluttony is probably diligently visiting every bead ice cream shop on the continent.’

Since he had personally seen Envy and Greed return to the Demon Realm, they were likely still there. As for Gluttony, once she ran out of money, she would come crawling over on her own, so there was no need to search for her first.

‘Next is Lust.’

Raon stroked his chin, recalling Lust’s seductive eyes.

‘Lust probably isn’t nearby either.’

Since Lust hadn’t appeared even when he used his own energy and Wrath’s Authority to the fullest inside the White Blood Cult, it was clear that Lust was elsewhere at the moment.

》”Phew…”

Wrath let out a sigh of relief, as if that were a fortunate thing.

‘Lastly, where is Pride?’

Raon brought up Pride’s name.

》”Hmm…”

Wrath looked up into the void in silence before shaking his head.

》”I do not know. That fellow is an eccentric who might be in the Demon Realm one moment, suddenly invade the Heavenly Realm the next, or cross into another dimension in search of a strong opponent. No one knows where he is or what he is doing.”

He shook his head, saying that while he could feel Pride’s Authority and presence emanating from the Heavenly Demon, it didn’t seem as though they were together.

‘So the conclusion is that only Sloth is available.’

Since Sloth was a gentle Demon King as long as he wasn’t woken up, he seemed like a good choice to visit first.

》”Damn it…”

Wrath wrinkled his nose, complaining that only the stupidest one was left.

‘That’s…’

Raon almost asked whether Wrath wasn’t the stupidest one of all, but stopped himself for fear of a tantrum.

“Hey.”

As Raon organized his thoughts while stretching lightly, Darkhan approached.

“Are you recovered? Then let’s have a bout.”

Darkhan twisted his lips into a smirk and placed a hand on his black sword.

“Is fighting the only thing you know how to talk about?”

Raon sighed and held his head.

“It’s only been one day. Do you think I’m fully recovered?!”

Thanks to his traits and Divine Authority, his physical wounds were almost completely healed, but his mind, which had been strained by the Heart Sword, had not yet recovered. He needed a little more time before he could spar with Darkhan.

“How frail.”

Darkhan chuckled and lowered his hand. Judging by his eyes, he hadn’t actually intended to fight.

“What do you plan to do about the Heart Sword?”

Darkhan looked at him and touched his eyepatch.

“What do you mean, what do I plan to do?”

Raon narrowed his eyes.

“As I told you, beneath Derus’s soul hides a shadow soul more massive than any other.”

Darkhan bit his lip slightly, as if recalling the moment he had used the Heart Sword.

“I’m asking whether you’ve thought about how to cut that.”

“That is…”

Raon let out a faint groan, his brow furrowing.

“Derus Robert will certainly master the Heart Sword and reappear. His soul will become even more massive and even more hardened.”

Darkhan nodded, certain because he had seen it firsthand.

“My Heart Sword is already broken, and even Glenn Zieghart’s Heart Sword would not be able to cut through that soul in a single blow.”

He turned to Raon and gripped the black sword at his waist.

“I intend to deal with Derus somehow, but it would be wise for you to prepare as well. It may eventually become your turn after Glenn.”

Darkhan nodded heavily, as if saying one had to be prepared for death the next time they faced Derus.

“The directions in which the Heart Sword can develop are infinite, so find the sword that suits you and cultivate it.”

Leaving those words behind, he left the Fifth Training Hall.

》”That guy…”

Wrath narrowed his eyes as he watched the door of the training hall sway after Darkhan left.

‘Right.’

Raon gripped Heavenly Drive and nodded.

‘I think he was trying to give me a lesson.’

Darkhan was right. Even if he called on the Demon Kings, if he himself remained weak, he would lose Derus again.

‘While searching for the Demon Kings…’

Raon looked down at Wrath and licked his lips.

‘I must grow stronger as well.’

》”W-why are you saying that while looking at this King?”

‘…’

Raon silently licked his lips as he watched Wrath’s pupils tremble.

》”I’m scared, so say something!”

‘Hmm.’

》”You crazy brat!”

===

“Father. It is time to attend the banquet.”

Burren stood in front of Karoon’s office, dressed in elegant formal attire.

“Father?”

But even after some time passed, Karoon’s voice did not answer.

“Hmm…”

Burren lowered his brows and opened the office door. A chill lingered inside the room, suggesting Karoon had left quite some time ago.

‘Where is he?’

Tilting his head, Burren headed downstairs, only to hear the sound of a sword cutting the wind from the rear training hall.

‘Could it be…’

Just in case, he entered the training hall and saw Karoon swinging his sword with his upper body bare.

“Father?”

Burren’s eyes widened.

“Why are you training here?”

He had never expected Karoon, who valued noble decorum so highly, to be training and sweating right before a banquet. It was so unlike him that it was almost bewildering.

“Hmm…”

Sensing Burren’s presence, Karoon lowered his sword and wiped the sweat flowing from his forehead and shoulders with a towel.

“Is it already time to go?”

“Yes. The banquet will begin soon.”

Burren nodded with a bewildered expression.

“I see.”

Karoon raised a hand as if apologizing and put on the formal attire hanging on a chair.

“Have you perhaps found a clue to your Awakening?”

“Yes. I have grasped the clue of regret.”

He nodded calmly.

“Regret…?”

“Protecting the Ziegharts is important, but I am constantly overcome by the regret that I should have participated in the war against the White Blood Cult no matter what.”

Karoon bit his lip deeply.

“It is regrettable that I missed important experience, but I regret even more that I sent Denier away like that.”

He frowned, believing that if he had been there, the course of the war might have changed at least a little.

“That is why I intend to swing my sword even in moments like these, so that I never feel regret again. I must catch up to that fellow as well.”

Karoon said that from now on he would only look upward, and he sheathed his sword, which flashed silver like his resolve.

“I see.”

Burren smiled as he looked into Karoon’s red eyes, where a gentle yet intense heat had bloomed.

‘He has truly changed.’

The old Karoon would have envied Raon first and thought of ways to drag him down, but the current Karoon acknowledged Raon’s skill and achievements and said he would follow after him. It felt as if he had become a different person.

“We’ll be late. Let’s go.”

Karoon beckoned him toward the banquet hall.

“Yes!”

Burren followed behind him, feeling that Karoon’s back was still as broad and deep as it had been when he was a child.

‘One day, I will too.’

===

The main banquet hall, where golden light poured down from a ceiling embroidered with magnificent chandeliers, and where famous swords and armor once used by the ancestors of Zieghart were displayed.

In that place of honor, where ordinarily only a small number of swordsmen were allowed entry, all the swordsmen who had participated in and supported this war were gathered.

“The fall of the White Blood Cult…”

Glenn stepped onto the podium of the banquet hall and nodded calmly.

“Was not the achievement of any one individual, but was made possible because everyone here risked their lives and devoted themselves.”

He nodded toward the swordsmen in the hall, expressing his sincere admiration.

“We were five, and now only three enemies remain. Furthermore, Eden has been cut in half.”

Glenn placed his hand on Heavenly Drive, saying there was no need to fear the Three Demon Kings. Along with his grand momentum, the golden lights of the banquet hall seemed to blaze like red flames.

Thump!

As if responding to Glenn’s words, the swordsmen pounded their own chests with their fists. Because they did so all at once, a thunderous roar burst out and shook the entire hall.

“I have prepared a banquet for the heroes who destroyed the White Blood Cult. Today, cast off the fatigue of war and enjoy this festival.”

Glenn applauded the swordsmen, telling them they had done truly well.

“Waaaaah!”

“Long live Zieghart!”

The swordsmen celebrated their victory by applauding with Glenn or shouting aloud.

》”Ice cream first!”

Wrath patted Raon’s shoulder and opened his mouth wide.

》”Start with that mountain of ice cream over there first!”

Even though they had not eaten yet, he pounded his own back like a drum, insisting they begin with dessert.

“However, before that…”

Glenn raised his hand toward the smiling swordsmen.

》”Why is that old man so talkative today?”

Wrath narrowed his eyes in disapproval.

》”Being a man of few words was his only good point!”

He flapped his arm, wanting Glenn to stop talking.

“I will now bestow awards upon the swordsmen who participated in the war.”

At Glenn’s signal, Roenn and the attendants brought out trays decorated with silver badges.

“I bestow silver badges upon the swordsmen who helped prepare for the war and contributed to breaching the Holy Wall.”

As he called their names, the participating swordsmen climbed the podium one by one.

“Thank you for your courage.”

Glenn patted them on the shoulders and personally awarded them their silver badges.

“Next, I bestow gold badges upon the swordsmen who entered the White Blood Cult’s main headquarters and stopped the White Blood Lord.”

After the silver badges were distributed, Glenn immediately called the names of those who would receive gold badges.

“Burren Zieghart, step forward.”

“Yes!”

After making eye contact, Burren stepped up onto the podium with confident strides.

“The way you continued to swing your sword until the very end even while being overwhelmed by the White Blood Lord was not unworthy of the title of Vice Palace Lord of the Light Wind Palace.”

Glenn gripped Burren’s shoulder firmly, as if proud of him.

“Thank you!”

Burren pressed his lips tightly together, seemingly moved by Glenn’s great praise.

“Martha Zieghart.”

“Yes!”

Martha took a deep breath and stepped onto the podium. She forced a brighter expression onto her face.

“It would not have been strange for you to collapse, yet thank you for enduring until the end. That man would also be glad to see you as you are now.”

Glenn gently embraced Martha.

“Thank you…”

Martha’s voice trembled. She clenched her fists until they bled to hold back her tears before stepping down from the podium.

“Runaan Sullion.”

“Yes…”

At Glenn’s call, Runaan stepped before him with movements as slow as a sloth.

“Your Ice Sword saved many people. Supporting from the rear is no easy role. Often, it is harder than fighting on the front lines. Thank you for always putting others first.”

Glenn gently gripped her shoulder, as if proud of her.

“Yes…”

Runaan’s earlobes turned faintly red with joy. For her, that alone was a tremendous emotional change.

After the three of them, the Light Wind Palace Swordsmen, along with some swordsmen from the Black Tortoise Palace and the True Martial Palace, also stepped onto the podium and received gold badges from Glenn.

“Those who receive a gold badge will be granted the opportunity to enter Zieghart’s Treasury.”

Glenn nodded as if the rewards had now concluded.

After the silver and gold badges were distributed, the swordsmen’s gazes moved away from Glenn and turned to Raon, who had not received anything yet.

“Raon Zieghart. Step forward.”

As if answering those gazes, Glenn called Raon forward.

“Yes.”

Raon bowed and stepped onto the platform.

“To Raon Zieghart, who discovered the White Blood Cult’s main headquarters and made the war possible, who slew one of the Nine Apostles to breach the Holy Wall, and who used the Heart Sword to sever the White Blood Lord’s soul, I award three gold badges.”

He listed feats so incredible that even those who had witnessed them found them hard to believe, his jaw setting firmly.

“Ahem.”

The corners of Glenn’s mouth twitched like the waves of a great sea. However, hidden by the angle of his head, the swordsmen behind him could not see it.

“Thank you.”

Raon bowed politely and accepted the three gold badges Roenn brought over.

In truth, since he had already made Sylvia a member of the Direct Lineage, these badges were no longer especially necessary.

“You would do well to keep those gold badges safe.”

Glenn covered his lips with a finger, implying that the gold badges would be needed in the future.

“And the reward to be granted to Raon Zieghart is…”

He cast him a soft smile.

“Is it… a two-time access pass to the Treasury?!”

Dorian licked his lips in anticipation.

“No, you idiot! He has three gold badges, so it’s three times!”

Krein waved his hand, telling Dorian to think more clearly.

“A free pass. No, just give him the whole Treasury…”

Runaan blinked, as if suggesting that Zieghart’s entire Treasury should simply be handed over to Raon.

“……”

At that absurd suggestion, the banquet hall fell silent for a moment.

“Ahem!”

Glenn cleared his throat and shook his head, pretending he had not heard Runaan’s words.

“The Palace Lord of the Light Wind Palace shall be granted any Elixir and Martial Tool he desires from the Treasury. And…”

He raised his hand, showing that he was not yet finished.

“For one month, I will personally teach the Palace Lord of the Light Wind Palace.”

Because Glenn had always feared it might appear to be favoritism, he had only taught Raon in secret until now, but this time, he declared it openly. Moreover, he promised to teach him for an entire month.

“Oh! That’s actually incredible!”

“He brought down the White Blood Lord. He deserves at least that much!”

“I’m so jealous. Even just listening to his advice makes me happy…”

“He’ll probably change a lot in a month, right? I want to listen too.”

Since it was instruction from the greatest sword in the world, it was a reward incomparable to anything else, but because Raon’s achievements were so overwhelming, no one objected.

“……”

Karoon also quietly closed his eyes, as if acknowledging that there was no room for disagreement.

“Then, with that…”

Just as Glenn nodded in satisfaction—

Whoooosh!

The brilliant lighting, bright as sunlight, dimmed, and a black sword darker than the night rose into view.

Step.

At the sharp sound of footsteps that seemed to pierce the eardrums, the swordsmen instinctively parted and opened a path.

“That training…”

Darkhan. The swordsman who had not lost his composure even after his Upper Dantian collapsed and his Heart Sword shattered stood facing Glenn, a smirk curling his lips.

“Can I join in too?”