The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman

“A successor…?”

Raon froze, his body half-turned.

“Are you serious?”

The way Glenn spoke of something as momentous as selecting a successor as lightly as a feather made Raon wonder if he had heard correctly.

“Why would I lie about the matter of a successor?”

Glenn nodded, as if it were obvious that he was sincere.

“Why are you suddenly choosing a successor?”

Raon swallowed hard and looked Glenn straight in the eye.

“Nothing has even started yet.”

He was bewildered. Glenn was still perfectly healthy and capable, so he could not understand why the topic of a successor had been brought up so abruptly. An inexplicable sense of anxiety crawled down his spine.

“I am choosing one precisely because nothing has started yet.”

Glenn calmly lowered his hand.

“Once things erupt, there will be no leisure to select a successor.”

He wore a thin smile, as if telling Raon there was no need for strange thoughts.

“It is a fact that everyone knows war will break out in the near future, so this peaceful moment is the best time to decide.”

Glenn looked up at the darkening sky with his hands behind his back, as if reading a celestial omen.

“I agree.”

Darkhan suddenly raised his hand.

“In the coming war, that human over there might die. It’s right to decide in advance.”

He smacked his lips, suggesting that even Glenn was in danger.

“Stop talking nonsense.”

Raon frowned and glared at Darkhan.

“There are some things in this world you just shouldn’t say.”

“I don’t wish for that human to die either. Because I want to kill him myself. However…”

Darkhan smiled faintly and brushed his eyepatch.

“From this point forward, it is a fight decided by a hair’s breadth.”

He raised his hand blade and carved a thin line in the ground between himself and Glenn.

“Glenn could die and Derus could survive, or the opposite could happen, or everyone could die.”

Darkhan released a chilling aura, warning that the future battles would be entirely unpredictable.

“……”

Raon bit his lip as he looked at the line Darkhan had carved into the floor.

‘That is a wall I cannot cross.’

The only people capable of entering that realm were Glenn, Darkhan, Derus, and the Heavenly Demon.

“Even so, stop saying such unlucky things.”

Raon shook his head, telling Darkhan to shut up.

“No.”

Glenn shook his head calmly.

“He is correct. One never knows what will happen in the future. However…”

He nodded in acknowledgment, then looked at Raon.

“I intend to stay until I see you and the other children marry and have children of your own.”

Glenn wore a faint smile, vowing that he would absolutely not die until then.

“I must see who you marry and what kind of children you have.”

He tightened his grip, determined to be present for all those moments.

“But it is tiring to guard the throne alone until then, so I intend to pass this position over before that time.”

Glenn shook his head, telling Raon not to be anxious, as he was simply selecting a successor in advance.

“I see…”

Raon let out a long sigh of relief.

‘I thought Grandfather had seen something, but it seems that’s not the case.’

Given Glenn’s power, it would not have been strange if he could actually see the future, which was why Raon had been worried. Fortunately, it did not seem to be that.

“Hmm.”

Darkhan tilted his head slightly, as if interpreting Glenn’s words differently.

“Actually, there is one way.”

He curled his lips into a long smirk as he looked at Raon.

“If you get strong enough to enter this realm, the probability of your grandfather surviving increases.”

Darkhan flicked his finger toward the line he had carved on the floor.

“……”

Raon frowned, staring at the line.

“I will cross it soon.”

He spoke his resolve aloud and placed his hand atop Heavenly Drive.

“Kwahahaha! I knew you were something special!”

Darkhan nodded vigorously, clearly pleased with the declaration.

“How will you choose the successor?”

Ignoring the laughing Darkhan, Raon looked at Glenn.

“That is…”

Glenn started to speak, then stopped.

“Come tomorrow and hear it. I will announce it in front of everyone.”

He gestured for Raon to come to the audience chamber tomorrow.

“…Understood.”

Raon nodded.

‘That is definitely the right way.’

Just being told that a successor would be selected was a huge favor. If he heard the specific details now, it might have been biased in his favor.

“I will see you tomorrow.”

Raon bowed to Glenn and left the Head Of House’s training hall, where he had stayed for a month.

“I’ll be leaving soon too.”

Darkhan waved to the departing Raon.

“What do you think?”

Glenn gestured with his chin toward the spot where Raon had stood.

“I told you. He’s a monster.”

Darkhan chewed his lip thinly.

“In the long history of the continent, talent of that level has not existed.”

He shook his head, noting that while he knew the entire history of swordsmanship and swordsmen, there was no talent like Raon’s.

“If I had to compare, perhaps the nameless swordsman who created the sanctuary of our Holy Sword Alliance.”

Darkhan narrowed his eyes, thinking of someone.

“No, there is one more. The first Head Of House who established Zieghart.”

Glenn also shook his head, mentioning one person with talent similar to Raon’s.

“Regardless, if Raon continues to grow as he is now, he will surpass both you and me in a few years. No matter what Derus or the Heavenly Demon do, they will be blocked by that child.”

Darkhan smacked his lips, wanting to see the swordsmanship the future Raon would display.

“However, it is certain that war will break out before that time comes.”

He clenched his fist, veins popping on the back of his hand, stating that it could not be stopped.

“Is that why you are strengthening your resolve by selecting a successor? Because you might die.”

Darkhan tilted his chin, as if he had read all of Glenn’s thoughts.

“It is as you say.”

Glenn nodded, admitting it honestly.

“One never knows who will die or how.”

He was well aware that he could die during the battle against the Heavenly Demon or a fully grown Derus.

“Still, don’t die.”

Darkhan released his hands from behind his back and raised a fist.

“You must either die by my sword or kill me. One of the two must happen.”

He grinned and beat his chest, as if he wanted to die by Glenn’s blade.

“If I can.”

Glenn nodded with a faint smile.

“Ah, can I ask one question?”

Darkhan’s aura surged forward like the blade of a heavy black sword. It seemed to be a very important question.

“Of course.”

Glenn nodded peacefully, feeling a small amount of affection for Darkhan.

“Can I apply to be the successor too?”

Darkhan casually raised his hand, as if asking if it was okay.

“Sigh…”

Barely suppressing the urge to draw Heavenly Tremor, Glenn uttered the word Raon often used for Darkhan.

“You crazy bastard!”

===

Returning to the annex, Raon looked at Heavenly Drive hanging at his waist.

‘I’ve definitely gotten stronger, but…’

Just how strong had he become?

Through training with Glenn and Darkhan, he had reached a realm that would have taken him over a year of solo training to achieve.

However, because he had grown too quickly and his partners were Glenn and Darkhan, he could not accurately gauge his own level.

》”You are still far too weak!”

Wrath floated down in front of him, wagging his tail.

》”You are a weakling who would collapse with a single flick of this King’s finger!”

The creature waved his plump hand, insisting Raon still had a long way to go.

‘That answer isn’t helpful.’

Raon chuckled and shook his head.

‘There are very few people who can withstand your finger.’

There were almost no beings who could withstand the finger of a Demon King, whom even Glenn claimed he could defeat.

‘But you said you’ve become much weaker. Is that even possible?’

Raon looked up at Wrath with genuine curiosity.

》”That is…”

Wrath grabbed Raon by the collar and lifted him up.

》”Is that something that should come out of your mouth?! Who do you think caused me to become like this?!”

The creature gnashed his teeth, telling him to have some conscience.

‘No, I was just curious.’

Raon pushed Wrath away with a serious look.

‘Just how weak have you become?’

Since he only ever heard that Wrath was getting weaker or that his spine was being drained, he wanted to know the extent of the weakening.

‘Could you return some of the power I took from you?’

He looked at Wrath with sincerity.

》”Hmph!”

Wrath snorted as if Raon were being arrogant.

》”Are you worrying about this King, you brat?”

He tapped Raon’s forehead with a round hand, telling him to stop talking nonsense.

》”Get a grip! Even if this King became several times weaker than I am now, I could still thrash someone like you!”

Wrath spent every day angry, but when asked seriously, he refused to give a straight answer.

‘Right. That’s the Demon King of Wrath for me.’

Raon chuckled and nodded.

‘Even if I train for a lifetime, I probably won’t reach your level.’

Since Wrath seemed unwilling to talk, Raon praised him and let the matter slide.

》”…That is not true.”

Wrath shook his head stiffly.

‘What?’

Raon’s eyes widened.

》”In the end, you will be able to reach this King.”

The blue light in the creature’s eyes brightened, as if he could see it.

‘Uh…’

Raon’s lips trembled. He was actually flustered because Wrath had taken him seriously.

》”There is no need to be flustered. This King does not lie.”

Wrath tilted his chin, suggesting that Raon just needed to keep doing what he was doing.

‘Are you sick?’

》”I am perfectly normal! Except for being hungry!”

‘Hmm…’

Now that Wrath had acknowledged him, Raon’s heart beat violently as if it would burst. He felt so good that he felt he could achieve anything.

》”But why did you suddenly ask about this King’s power? It’s not like you’re actually going to return my [stats]!”

Wrath narrowed his eyes at him.

‘If I can use you when I call the Demon Kings later, I should, but it’s no help if you’re just whimpering because you’re weak.’

Raon shook his head, saying he did not want to see Wrath getting beaten up by the Archangels alone.

》”Eeeeek…”

Wrath gnashed his teeth.

》”I thought you were worrying about me, but you’re just thinking of how to use this King again? And using this King himself at that? You rotten brat!”

The creature emitted frost from his entire body, appearing truly enraged.

‘Oh!’

Raon pointed to the smoke rising from the annex chimney.

‘Seeing the smoke like that, it looks like they’re in the middle of making dinner. If I put it right, I might be able to decide the menu now.’

》”Oh? Ohhh!”

As soon as he heard he might be able to decide the menu, Wrath calmed his anger and flew toward the annex.

》”What are you doing?! Hurry up!”

He gestured for Raon to run.

‘Why do you think I asked that?’

Raon smiled faintly, watching the excited Wrath.

‘Since it’s power I’ll have to return someday, I asked.’

He had grown strong thanks to Wrath, but he had no intention of keeping the creature’s powers forever.

Once his revenge was complete, if he were to part ways with Wrath, he intended to return everything.

》”Hey! What are you doing?!”

Wrath looked back and gnashed his teeth.

》”Hurry up and set the plates!”

‘Yeah. I’m coming. I’m coming.’

Raon chuckled and ran toward the annex.

‘You soft-hearted Demon King.’

===

The next day.

Having received a summons from Glenn, Raon headed to the audience chamber of the Head Of House.

Upon entering the audience chamber, there was hardly any room to step, as it was filled with executives who had been called by Glenn just as he had.

It was not just the internal executives of Zieghart. External executives and the heads of the vassal families were also present.

Seeing the External Governor, who had set up quarters at the Holy Wall, as well as the Tower Master and Vice Tower Master of the internal Magic Tower, it was clear that every single Zieghart executive had been gathered.

》”There are disgustingly many of them. To think they are all executives.”

Wrath lowered his eyebrows, noting that this seemed to be the largest gathering of people he had ever seen in the audience chamber.

‘True.’

Raon nodded and walked toward the pillars where the Palace Lords stood.

“Nephew!”

Balder waved happily. It seemed the wound in his abdomen had fully healed, as he was wearing his usual uniform, which looked like it was about to burst.

“You’re a bit late.”

Karoon nodded calmly. Judging by his gaze and aura, it was clear he had undergone intense training over the past month.

While he could not be compared to Raon, it could be felt that he had grown in power.

“It’s exactly on time. What do you mean late?”

Aris gave him a thumbs-up, saying he had arrived perfectly.

“I greet the Palace Lords.”

Raon bowed to Aris, Balder, and Karoon, then stood before the pillar of the Light Wind Palace Lord.

“You have arrived.”

Burren bowed calmly.

“Exactly on time, as expected…”

Runaan nodded, as if she had believed it.

“Our Palace Lord is always punctual with his promises.”

Martha laughed brightly, as if it were obvious.

“Palace Lord. Why haven’t you come to train lately?”

Trevin smacked his lips, saying he wanted to do even more grueling training. Wanting to be trained by him—this man seemed like a masochist who enjoyed pain.

The four of them stood behind him with straight backs. This meant they knew how the Palace Lord was being evaluated through them.

“You can just relax for now…”

Just as Raon was about to wave to the executives of the Light Wind Palace behind him.

Thump.

The inner door of the audience chamber opened, and Glenn, Roenn, and Sheryl walked out.

“I greet the Head Of House.”

“We greet the Head Of House!”

Starting with Karoon’s greeting, every swordsman in the audience chamber bowed and knelt before Glenn.

“Hmm.”

Unlike usual, Glenn formally accepted the executives’ greetings before ascending the platform and sitting upon the throne. An absolute presence that overwhelmed the surroundings emanated from his gaze.

Rumble!

Pressed down by Glenn’s Energy Wave, the executives bent their waists so low that their heads touched the ground.

Yet not a single person dared to make a sound.

“Rise.”

At Glenn’s heavy voice, the executives straightened their bodies, breaking into cold sweats. Their eyes were filled with reverence for the Head Of House.

“It has been a long time.”

Glenn stroked the armrest of the throne and looked up.

“Since the seat to succeed me became vacant.”

At his low words, the executives’ expressions changed. Everyone realized what Glenn was about to say.

“I shall select the successor who will one day sit upon this throne and stand at the pinnacle of Zieghart.”

Glenn tilted his chin, declaring that the time had come.

“A… a successor?”

“Hmm!”

“Then, could it be…”

The executives’ gazes shifted all at once. At the edge of their trembling eyes was Raon, standing calmly.

“There is no need to look around. The successor has not been decided yet.”

Glenn shook his head firmly, as if reading the executives’ thoughts.

“It means that anyone can ascend to this position.”

In that instant, rough and powerful auras erupted from the executives, shaking the atmosphere of the audience chamber.

“Please tell us the method of selection!”

Balder was the first to raise his hand and ask.

“Right. That’s the most important part.”

Aris nodded, smacking her lips.

“……”

Karoon’s eyes flared with fire, as if he wanted to devour Glenn.

“The first is…”

Glenn scanned the eyes of the executives, which were filled with various emotions and thoughts, and then lifted the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Badges beside the throne.

“Performance.”