The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman

“Why are you…”

Glenn’s eyelids trembled, as if he had never imagined Darkhan would suddenly step forward.

“It’s not as if this is a place I’m forbidden from entering. I also played a very important role in this war.”

Darkhan popped an entire grape from the table into his mouth, as if asking whether Glenn didn’t know that better than anyone.

“Delicious. As expected of fruit prepared by a prestigious house.”

True to his nature, he smiled faintly, saying that even a single piece of fruit was luxurious.

“……”

Karoon stared at Darkhan, his eyes narrowing as sharply as a blade.

“Ah, that crazy bastard…”

Aris muttered in disbelief and smacked her forehead with her bandaged hand.

“Is… is he really allowed to do that? This is a formal occasion!”

“Do you think that man cares about something like that?”

“I suppose he is one of the few people who can speak informally to the Head Of House.”

“He was standing right next to me a moment ago, so when did he get over there? Everything he does is unpredictable.”

The Light Wind Palace Swordsmen, who knew Darkhan’s true identity, let out deep sighs as if the inevitable had finally happened.

“Who is that blind man? Who is he to speak so casually to the Head Of House?”

“I don’t know either. I saw him traveling with the Light Wind Palace Swordsmen, but…”

“He was at the annex too. Is he a guest of the Light Wind Palace Lord?”

“Why would a guest of the Light Wind Palace Lord speak informally to the Head Of House and ask to join the training!”

Meanwhile, those who didn’t know Darkhan stared with wide eyes, unable to understand the situation.

“Hmm…”

Raon lowered his brows as he looked at Darkhan’s straight back.

‘He definitely has the right to say that.’

If Darkhan had not stopped Derus Robert, Ogram might have died, and the kingdoms of Owen and Balkan might have fallen.

Assuming the worst-case scenario, Derus could have invaded Zieghart together with the Heavenly Demon, and everyone present here might have died.

Darkhan had undeniably played a crucial role, and Raon felt that having him join the training would benefit him as well, so he could not bring himself to object.

》”That sword-crazy lunatic really has no idea how to read the room.”

Wrath let out a hollow laugh, wondering how such a person could even exist.

》”If the word ‘willful’ were made into a person, it would be exactly that guy.”

He nodded, saying the man was a talent perfectly suited for the Demon Realm.

‘No, Darkhan reads the room very well.’

Raon shook his head and looked at the plate where Darkhan had been eating grapes.

‘He said they were delicious grapes befitting a prestigious house. He’s implying that, since this is a renowned family, they should reward him as well.’

Darkhan was pressuring Glenn by bringing up the prestige of the family and the name of Zieghart. It was his way of demanding compensation for stopping Derus.

‘That man looks foolish, but he’s wiser than anyone.’

Darkhan acted as if he knew nothing and simply did as he pleased, but buried within those actions were deep trust in his own skill and instinctive calculation.

“Everyone, pay him no mind.”

Glenn raised his hand with a calm gaze.

“He is a man who has the right to say such things.”

He nodded, showing no intention of ignoring Darkhan’s presence.

“Come over here.”

Glenn beckoned Darkhan as if he wanted to speak privately.

“No.”

Darkhan shook his head without moving from where he stood.

“Give me a clear answer right here.”

He smiled faintly, saying he wanted to hear the answer in front of everyone.

‘As expected.’

Raon let out a hollow laugh when he saw Darkhan’s smile.

‘Darkhan is using the atmosphere of the banquet.’

Since Glenn was presiding over the banquet as the Head Of House, once he spoke publicly, he had no choice but to keep his word.

It seemed Darkhan had deliberately declared his desire to train together precisely because he intended to exploit that.

“Reward for merit. A reward given according to contribution. Since I stopped Derus Robert, I believe I am qualified to receive one.”

Darkhan even used formal speech, rubbing his hands together like a fly. He was a bizarre human who truly would do anything for the sake of swordsmanship.

“T-that man stopped Derus Robert?”

“The Transcendent who saved the Beast King was that man? He’s so young?”

“W-who exactly is he?”

The swordsmen attending the banquet gasped, their curiosity about Darkhan’s identity reaching its peak. That curiosity, too, seemed to be part of Darkhan’s intent.

“Sigh…”

Glenn let out a long sigh as he looked at Darkhan’s mischievous smile.

“Fine. Since you have reached that realm, you will likely be of help.”

He nodded, though his brow remained furrowed.

“A wise decision!”

The moment he got what he wanted, Darkhan stomped his foot loudly and clapped his hands.

“Let us strive for mutual development!”

He stared intently at Raon as if expressing gratitude. If he had any eyes left, he probably would have winked.

“Now then, I shall enjoy the festival.”

Darkhan waved dismissively and returned to the table covered with food.

“E-excuse me, may I ask your name?”

One of the swordsmen approached Darkhan and bowed.

“I have already forgotten my name. Just call me the Blind Swordsman.”

Darkhan waved his hand, saying he had discarded his name.

“Wait, do you use the Chain Sword?”

“Y-yes. How did you…?”

The swordsman’s jaw dropped in surprise at Darkhan’s words.

“I want to see it. Let’s go.”

“What?”

“Follow me!”

Darkhan left the banquet hall while dragging along the swordsman from the True Martial Palace, right in the middle of eating. He truly lived like a wild beast.

“There was someone even worse than me.”

Balder snorted, saying he felt tired just from watching.

“W-what was that?”

“I don’t know. He’s like a storm…”

“Did he really stop Derus?”

“The Head Of House acknowledged it, so it must be true.”

The swordsmen’s chins trembled, and their curiosity about Darkhan’s identity grew even stronger.

“My apologies.”

Glenn approached Raon and let out a short breath.

“You likely wanted to learn one-on-one.”

“That is fine.”

Raon shook his head calmly.

“I’m sure Darkhan has his own reasons.”

Darkhan was a madman who wanted his enemies to grow stronger just as much as he wanted to grow stronger himself.

He wasn’t merely thinking about what he could take from Raon and Glenn. He certainly intended to give something in return as well.

‘Besides…’

Since both Grandfather and Darkhan could use the Heart Sword at a high level, he would be able to learn a great deal.

The nature of Glenn’s Heart Sword and Darkhan’s Heart Sword was different.

Unlike Glenn’s Heart Sword, which had been sharpened keenly to kill powerful enemies, Darkhan’s Heart Sword had been forged for his own desires.

Because the characteristics of the two Heart Swords were so different, Raon clenched his fist, vowing to absorb the strengths of both.

“I am glad you think so.”

Glenn nodded with a faint smile, as if he had read Raon’s thoughts.

“However…”

Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Glenn.

“Why did you say it would be wise to gather Gold Badges?”

Sylvia had returned as a direct lineage member, and he had become a Warrior Lord, so he did not understand why it would still be beneficial to collect Gold Badges.

“It is still a secret. However…”

Glenn smiled faintly and covered his mouth with a finger.

“You will find out soon.”

===

“Whew.”

After the banquet ended, Glenn returned to the audience chamber and leaned back on his throne.

Wooooong!

As soon as he lowered his hand onto the armrest, a blue window descended from the ceiling of the audience chamber.

[It has been a long time, everyone.]

Chamber, the Archmage of Illusion, waved her hand. Her fingers trembled slightly, as if her head still ached.

[Cough! A-are all of you alright? Cough!]

Larian, the Magic Tower Lord, also let out a string of dry coughs, as if her physical and mental strength had not yet recovered.

[I’m perfectly fine!]

Contrary to his words, Ogram had thick bandages wrapped around his abdomen and chest. The injuries inflicted by Derus remained, but he seemed satisfied that his martial power was recovering.

[…I am also fine.]

King Lecross, lying in bed, struggled to speak.

[You’re the one who shouldn’t be saying you’re ‘fine,’ aren’t you?]

Chamber let out a hollow laugh as if it were absurd.

[I thought I would die, so surviving means I am fine.]

Lecross nodded heavily, as if he had already been prepared for death on the battlefield.

“Are you truly alright?”

Glenn bit the inside of his lip as he listened to Lecross’s faint breathing.

[…Actually, I am not.]

Lecross’s voice came out in fragments.

[I barely survived, but I think it will be difficult for me to stand on the battlefield again.]

He closed his eyes tightly as if he had attempted to move even a single finger and failed.

[Don’t be so certain. All kinds of things happen in this world.]

Chamber shook her head, suggesting that she might be able to heal those injuries.

[Even if I can no longer swing a sword, I do not think I have much time left. Before that…]

Lecross smiled faintly, his eyes still firm.

[I intend to make the Third Prince into a king worthy of Owen’s throne.]

His blue eyes flashed, as if he had already chosen his successor.

[The Third? Greer? You’re really choosing him?]

Chamber’s eyes widened in surprise.

[His martial power is still lacking, but his capacity is growing. I am glad I sent him to Zieghart.]

Lecross smiled, saying that Owen’s Third Prince, Greer, had changed for the better after meeting Raon.

[Come to think of it, I survived thanks to Raon as well. Please convey my gratitude to him.]

“I see…”

Even as he heard praise for Raon, Glenn frowned deeply.

[Actually, I was considering retirement too…]

Chamber bit down hard on the lollipop in her mouth.

[But that brat did it first, so now I can’t rest either?]

She wrinkled her nose, feeling that she had missed her chance.

“Are you in serious condition as well?”

Glenn narrowed his eyes at Chamber.

[Not as bad as Lecross. However, the wound in my Upper Dantian does not seem like it will heal easily.]

Chamber held her forehead, admitting that she had pushed herself too hard before the injury in her Upper Dantian had fully recovered.

[I think I’ll have to focus solely on recovery for a while. Besides, the battles that come next will be even fiercer, so I should prepare a successor as well.]

“Do you already have someone in mind?”

[Jaina. If I had met that last disciple sooner, I would have passed it to her, but right now Jaina is the right choice.]

She chewed the broken lollipop, deciding to choose Jaina as the Archmage’s successor and pass much of her knowledge on to her.

“Yes. I also believe that child is trustworthy.”

Glenn nodded, recalling Jaina, who had completed the long-distance teleportation magic even while shedding tears of blood.

[I am still hale and hearty. This is only the beginning!]

Ogram pounded his chest with a fist the size of a pot lid, saying he would leave the matter of a successor to later and focus only on the battles ahead.

[I-I am still fine as well…]

Despite her trembling voice, Larian revealed a clear light in her eyes, saying she could still continue to fight.

“You have split into two sides.”

Glenn narrowed his eyes, looking at the two who intended to choose successors and the two who had no such thoughts yet.

[What about Zieghart? Don’t you think it’s time for you to start thinking about it too?]

Chamber shrugged as if the answer were obvious.

[I-it would unconditionally be Raon, wouldn’t it?]

Larian drew a circle with her fingertip, admitting that even as the Magic Tower Lord, she had no choice but to acknowledge a swordsman like Raon.

[In both martial power and character, Raon is perfect!]

Ogram raised his fist in agreement.

[Ummm…]

Lecross let out a low groan, as if even just looking their way was exhausting.

[Let’s stop here for today. I contacted you all to celebrate Lecross waking up.]

Chamber waved her hand, saying they would contact one another formally again later.

[P-please avoid the daytime. I need to sleep…]

Larian folded her hands, asking them to contact her at night, as if her sleep schedule had completely reversed.

[Lecross. Focus on your treatment and return. I’ll keep your seat warm.]

Ogram nodded heavily, saying he would hold the line until Lecross recovered his martial power and returned.

[Yes. I’ll count on you.]

Lecross drew a faint smile, as if Ogram’s warm words had given him a little strength.

[Then, goodbye.]

With a gesture from Chamber, the four blue windows floating in the air vanished.

“A successor…”

Glenn turned his gaze toward the moon floating in the middle of the sky.

“Of course, I have thought about it. However, I will not hand it over easily.”

He curled his lips, thinking of the son and grandson who were probably swinging their swords even in the middle of the night.

“Climb upward. I will remain here until all of you possess the qualifications.”

===

Raon headed toward the Head Of House’s training hall, breathing in the dawn air.

Creak.

Instead of the massive main gate, he opened the side door and entered, finding Glenn wrapped in the white dawn mist like a cloud.

Glenn did not move even though he sensed Raon’s presence, as if he were meditating.

Not wanting to disturb him, Raon walked silently, closed his eyes, and cleared his mind.

Just as he had calmed his heart and spirit and was about to begin his Aura-linked cultivation, the ground suddenly shook.

K-boom!

The main gate of the training hall, used only for official occasions, was forced open, and Darkhan entered through it.

“Why is this door so hard to open!”

Darkhan frowned, saying the training hall door needed oil.

“No…”

Raon’s jaw trembled.

“There’s a door right next to it that opens easily!”

He pointed vigorously toward the side door.

“A swordsman does not use a small door. He enters through the great gate!”

Darkhan shook his head violently as if that were only natural.

“Who decided that?”

“The Dark Night Sword Saint, Darkhan!”

He was so confident, as if he owned the place, that Raon was left speechless.

Moreover, despite having claimed he had forgotten his own name and title, he was now proudly using them to introduce himself. He was simply a madman.

》”I am curious about the structure of that fellow’s brain…”

Wrath also let out a hollow laugh, unable to understand Darkhan.

“You’ve arrived.”

Glenn opened his eyes calmly, as if he had anticipated Darkhan’s eccentricity.

“This training is only for Raon. I have no time to accommodate you.”

“I know. I just want to watch.”

Darkhan smiled faintly, saying he simply wanted to see how Raon was taught and how he learned.

“Of course, I have no eyes.”

He tapped his black blindfold as if saying he would feel it well enough.

“Raon. Before we begin training, first show me the swordsmanship you have mastered.”

Glenn stepped back with his arms crossed, intending to see how much Raon had grown.

“Yes.”

Raon stood at the center of the training hall and drew Heavenly Drive.

Wooooong!

Facing Glenn and Darkhan, he unleashed with all his strength the swordsmanship he had learned so far.

Clang!

Even without using Aura intensely, the sheer quality of his swordsmanship was so high that the floor of the training hall was gouged out, and a red vortex descended from the sky.

Bang!

Raon’s heavy yet fierce swordsmanship tore through the atmosphere with sounds as if a war had begun, shaking the entire training hall.

Whoosh!

After unleashing Wuthering Wind with the Wooden Wheel Sword, Raon sheathed both blades.

“I am finished.”

He bowed to Glenn, saying he had shown everything he could.

“Excellent.”

Glenn nodded, as if the result had exceeded his expectations.

“It is swordsmanship that shows just how much effort you have put in…”

“It’s on a completely different level from when we met while I was pretending to be a beggar! What exactly happened in the meantime!”

Darkhan let out a hollow laugh as if it were absurd.

“Urgh…”

Glenn was annoyed at having been interrupted, but because it was praise for his grandson, he barely endured it.

“The word genius is not enough to describe this. I think a separate word should exist just for you.”

Darkhan continued speaking without caring about Glenn’s reaction.

“Ahem…”

Glenn’s furrowed brow relaxed, as if his heart had melted at Darkhan’s sincere praise of Raon.

“I will listen carefully to any shortcomings.”

Raon bowed to Glenn, asking for his guidance.

“Your direction of growth is correct. You are focusing on the Thousands Sword, you have not overapplied the subtle principles, and your improvisation according to the situation is sufficient. However, the Will you instill in your sword is slightly lacking.”

Glenn shook his head, saying that while the swordsmanship itself was moving toward completion, the Will was not keeping pace with it.

“Huh? I think the opposite.”

Darkhan raised an eyebrow and stroked his chin.

“There is plenty of room for technical improvement! You are mastering the Thousands Sword, but there are differences in the level of each subtle principle, so the harmony is incomplete. The swordsmanship itself can still be refined. On the other hand, his soul doesn’t even lose to mine. He can resolve the matter of Will on his own.”

Having seen Raon’s soul within the Mental World, he waved his hand, saying there was no need to worry about the Will.

“I never said the swordsmanship was perfect. I only said the Will is more important.”

Glenn frowned deeply.

“I think the same. It is true that the Will is lacking, but the swordsmanship can still be developed further.”

Darkhan simply smiled as if he enjoyed speaking with Glenn itself.

“I believe I told you not to interfere?”

“It is interesting that our opinions differ.”

The two Transcendents looked at one another’s swords, their expressions sharply contrasting.

“Um…”

Raon stepped forward, placing himself between Glenn and Darkhan. Seeing the two of them reminded him of the time Glenn and Rektor had clashed.

“I think it would be best if Grandfather teaches me about Will, while I learn the technical refinements of swordsmanship from Darkhan…”

He looked at the two of them in turn, suggesting that it would be more efficient to learn from each of them in the areas they specialized in.

“I’m fine with that! I’ll also gain my own insights while teaching you.”

Darkhan agreed, resting his hand on the black sword.

“Besides, your grandfather is far above me when it comes to the realm of Will.”

He nodded, acknowledging Glenn without the slightest hesitation.

“…Very well.”

Glenn closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again.

“There is no one on the continent who knows swordsmanship better than that fellow, so he will be of some help.”

Though he did not seem pleased, he nodded as if accepting the arrangement.

“Oh, then how about we discuss the Heart Sword together as well?”

Darkhan leaned in beside Glenn and shrugged.

“For the sake of all three of us.”

“…Let us do that.”

Glenn gave a calm nod, seemingly interested in hearing about Darkhan’s Heart Sword as well.

“Then before we begin the real training, shall we hear it first?”

Darkhan turned his gaze back to Raon.

“Have you decided what you will instill into your Heart Sword?”

He flicked his fingers, signaling Raon to answer.

Raon looked at Glenn and Darkhan, whose eyes were full of curiosity, and slowly opened his lips.

“I…”