The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman

Thirty minutes before Raon returned to Zieghart.

“Haaaaa…”

Glenn let out a sigh so deep it felt as if the ground might cave in.

‘When on earth is Raon coming back?’

It had been over a month and a half since Raon left Zieghart.

Normally, he would have waited for Raon’s return with composure, but the family’s sword masters were collecting badges faster than expected.

They were accumulating achievements in bulk, as if they had been holding onto completed missions and processing them all at once. At this rate, Glenn feared Raon might be dropped from the successor candidates.

“Ugh…”

Glenn pressed his lips tight and began to shake his left leg.

Rumble!

His anxious Will spread through his leg, causing a powerful vibration to ripple through the Head of House’s palace—no, through all of Zieghart.

“Hahaha…”

Roenn let out a low chuckle as he entered the audience chamber.

“You’ve started again today, I see.”

He nodded, as if he had expected this.

“Still, you endured a bit longer than usual today,” Sheryl sighed, glancing at Glenn’s shaking leg.

“This is an ominous feeling…”

Glenn muttered, his brows furrowed deeply, sensing that something unexpected was about to happen.

“He’s not actually coming back without a single achievement, is he?”

Imagining a scenario where Raon failed to even make the cut for the successor candidates, he began to shake both legs simultaneously.

Rumble!

Dust rained down from the ceiling of the audience chamber, and the screams of sword masters could be heard from outside the palace.

“I’d give him a badge even for a minor achievement like catching a wanted criminal…”

Driven by desperation, Glenn bit his lip, even considering the use of foul play.

“You can’t do that!”

Sheryl rushed to the front of the platform, waving her hands.

“You know very well how hard the sword masters, including the Central Martial Palace Leader and the True Martial Palace Lord, have been running around to build their records!”

She shook her head, stating that while she also liked Raon, such blatant favoritism was unacceptable.

“I know. I was just thinking out loud…”

Glenn waved it off as a joke, but his complexion remained pale.

“A joke that doesn’t sound like a joke,” Roenn chuckled softly, brushing away the dust that had fallen from the ceiling.

“Please do not be so anxious. If it is Raon-nim, he will surely bring good news.”

He nodded, believing he knew Raon better than anyone.

“That may be so, but there isn’t much time. If Raon doesn’t return now…”

Glenn looked out the window, his brow furrowing deeper.

“He really might not make the successor candidates.”

He narrowed his eyes, mentioning that there were monsters out there who moved solely to build achievements without sleeping or eating.

“R-really?”

“Hoh…”

Sheryl and Roenn gaped, unable to imagine Raon failing to place within the top five successor candidates.

“It was a test designed to select candidates while growing the martial power and mental fortitude of the sword masters, but it’s caught fire beyond my expectations,” Glenn sighed briefly.

‘It’s certainly a good thing, but I can’t bring myself to be happy because of that brat Raon.’

The sword masters had been accumulating achievements, both large and small, inside and outside the family to avoid missing their only chance to become the successor.

It was exactly the situation he had wanted, but now that the moment had arrived where Raon might be eliminated, a chill of dread ran down his spine.

‘Wait. The reason the sword masters started moving so actively was because of Raon.’

Most had given up on the position of Head of House, but because of Raon’s advice that there was nothing to lose by participating, the majority of the family’s sword masters had entered the trial.

Thinking about it, it was no exaggeration to say that Raon had brought this crisis upon himself.

“What are you doing! Call Raon right now!”

“I’ll try to contact him.”

Sheryl and Roenn, now feeling the dread, began to shake their legs just like Glenn, calling out Raon’s name.

“That won’t do.”

Glenn shook his head with effort.

“I told Raon that I trust him. What would become of me if I called for him now?”

He bit his lip, stating that as painful as it was, endurance was the only way.

“Ugh!”

“Hahaha…”

Sheryl and Roenn also began shaking their legs in worry for Raon.

===

“Aaaagh!”

“W-what! The earthquake is worse than usual!”

“The ground is splitting! Everyone run!”

As cracks formed in the frozen earth and the buildings shook violently, the sword masters screamed and fled.

Rumble!

Just as Glenn, Sheryl, and Roenn were splitting the earth in half while letting out sighs as murky as cigarette smoke.

Screeeech!

The doors to the audience chamber swung open, and Chad, the Shadow Agents Division Leader, entered.

“F-Family Head. I am told the Light Wind Palace Lord has returned and is on his way.”

Chad bowed, reporting that Raon had passed through the castle gates and was heading toward the main building.

“Raon? Why are you telling me this only now!”

Glenn’s face twisted instantly.

“I-I only found out a moment ago. He traveled via Evelyn’s magic, so he didn’t trigger our information network.”

He fidgeted with his fingers, explaining that he had come the moment he heard the news.

“Is there any problem with Raon?”

“There are no problems, but he is reportedly arriving with three people we’ve never seen before.”

Chad lowered his brows, noting that these individuals did not exist in the Shadow Agents Division’s records.

“People we’ve never seen…”

Glenn rested his hand on the armrest and licked his lips.

“Whether they are wanted criminals, martial artists from a prestigious family who will help in war, or reclusive eccentrics—all are welcome!”

He clenched his fists and nodded.

“I pray they are people who can count as achievements for Raon!”

Glenn clasped his hands in prayer, hoping they weren’t just ordinary people.

===

“G-Grandfather!”

Raon shouted the title Glenn loved most toward the man whose soul seemed to be drifting out of his body.

“Hup!”

At the word “Grandfather,” Glenn seemed to snap back to consciousness, inhaling sharply and swallowing his escaping soul back in.

Light returned to his vacant eyes.

“Are you alright?”

Raon looked at Glenn with a worried gaze.

》”That old geezer. He almost left this world for real!”

Wrath shuddered, amazed that the strongest power of humanity had almost vanished so absurdly.

》”Why is an old man with such immense martial power so weak-hearted!”

He frowned, unable to understand why Glenn became so fragile in front of his grandson.

‘Ascending to heaven…’

Raon blinked blankly.

‘Was he really that surprised?’

He knew Glenn would be flustered, but he hadn’t expected such a violent reaction. Raon himself was so startled that he felt his heart might jump out of his chest.

“I-I am fine. So…”

Glenn swallowed hard and looked at the Sword Monarch standing to the left.

“The first person is Sword Monarch sunbae-nim, the second is Blade Monarch sunbae-nim. And the third is an Ancient Dragon of the Gold Clan, is that correct?”

Even as he spoke, he blinked several times, as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Exactly.”

Raon nodded calmly.

“The Sword Monarch and the Blade Monarch…”

Karoon narrowed his eyes, probing the energy of the two Transcendents.

“It is true.”

He pressed his lips tight, sensing the Energy Waves the Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch were concealing.

“T-the Sword Monarch and the Blade Monarch? Weren’t they both dead?”

Balder’s mouth hung open so wide his tongue nearly poked out.

“Neither the Black Market nor the Shadow Agents Division had any trace of them, so I thought they had already passed away…”

Chad breathed rapidly, as if paralyzed.

“To think they were alive and looking so youthful.”

His eyes trembled, shocked that the Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch remained so young.

“Of course we’re alive! We haven’t even had children yet!”

The Sword Monarch shook her head vehemently, stating she had no intention of dying for a while.

“Right?”

She nudged the Blade Monarch next to her with her elbow.

“Indeed…”

The Blade Monarch blushed slightly in embarrassment but answered calmly.

“You have grown much younger than when I last saw you.”

Glenn’s eyebrows twitched, amazed that he was even meeting the Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch.

“Because I have gained many realizations since then.”

The Sword Monarch smiled brightly, thanking him for the compliment.

“The Northern Extermination King has far surpassed us. I congratulate you on your great achievement.”

The Blade Monarch bowed politely, having sensed Glenn’s realm.

“Thank you.”

Glenn returned the greeting. It was extremely rare for the Head of House of Zieghart and the pinnacle of the continent to show such formal courtesy.

“However, you two…”

Glenn swallowed hard, his lips trembling.

“Is it true that you are accompanying Raon?”

He let out a deep breath, finding this part the hardest to believe.

“It just happened to work out that way.”

The Sword Monarch nodded with a smile.

“My Lord is the one who fulfilled the longing of our sect, so it is only natural that we follow him.”

The Blade Monarch clasped his hands, referring to Raon as “My Lord.”

“M-My Lord?”

“Heh. Heh. Heh.”

“T-this is a dream, right? I’m having a midday daydream, right?”

Sheryl, Roenn, and Chad all gaped simultaneously.

“R-Raon is the Lord of the Sword Monarch and the Blade Monarch?”

Aris gripped the hair falling over her forehead with both hands, unable to believe it.

“Nephew! What on earth did you do this time!”

Her expression became strange, a mixture of intense curiosity and bewilderment.

“My Lord…”

Glenn placed a hand on his forehead, repeating the word “Lord” that had come from the Blade Monarch’s mouth.

‘This is madness.’

It was shocking enough that Raon had brought the Sword Monarch and Blade Monarch to Zieghart, but hearing them call him “Lord” made him wonder if this was actually reality.

‘Am I being bewitched by an angel or a ghost?’

He even felt a surge of vigilance, wondering if this was a scenario concocted by Derus.

“Raon. How did you come to accept those two?”

Unable to hold back, Glenn asked Raon about the circumstances.

“I will explain from the beginning. At the tomb of the previous Sword-Blade Master…”

Raon told them everything that had happened at the tomb and his experiences on Stehrin Mountain.

Of course, since there were many listeners, he slightly twisted the parts regarding Sloth.

“A fortuitous encounter. No, this should be seen as the guidance of fate.”

Glenn let out a loud exclamation, finally understanding the situation. He nodded, his doubts completely erased.

“In the name of Glenn Zieghart, I accept the Sword Monarch and the Blade Monarch. Welcome.”

Glenn lowered his chin, asking them to take good care of Raon.

“We’ll take good care of him too!”

The Sword Monarch winked her left eye at Glenn.

“I am grateful for the Northern Extermination King’s consideration.”

The Blade Monarch extended his hands forward in a polite greeting unique to him.

“However…”

Glenn’s gaze shifted to Gold Dragon Parateus, standing next to the Blade Monarch.

“A dragon…”

He narrowed his eyes deeply, looking concerned about Parateus.

“I understand the Family Head’s concern. However, he is a dragon who can be trusted.”

The Blade Monarch stepped beside Parateus and nodded.

“He’s an eccentric who cut off contact with other dragons long ago. He even ignores the Lord’s words,” the Sword Monarch added, slapping Parateus on the back with a grin.

“If Parateus were to betray you, I shall offer my own head.”

The Blade Monarch bowed, stating he trusted Parateus more than his own life.

“I’ll bet my sword as well.”

The Sword Monarch agreed, tapping the sword that was more precious to her than her life.

“Y-you guys…”

Parateus’s eyes reddened, seemingly moved by the support of the Sword Monarch and the Blade Monarch.

“…”

Raon narrowed his eyes, observing the emotions between the three that went beyond mere friendship.

‘What is their relationship?’

Usually, they acted as if they wanted to eat each other alive, yet in a critical moment, they staked their lives on trust. It seemed to be a relationship that the word “friend” alone could not explain.

“You can trust him. He won’t leak information or betray you.”

Raon also gave a faint smile of support for Parateus.

“L-let’s get along well?”

Parateus shifted his eyes, his pronunciation slurring like a middle-aged man who had a few drinks. He still seemed intimidated by Glenn.

“Very well. Parateus of the Gold Clan. You are also welcome.”

Glenn nodded, deciding to trust the words of the Sword Monarch, the Blade Monarch, and Raon.

“Sword Monarch! I look forward to getting to know you!”

Sheryl shot a gaze toward the Sword Monarch that was so passionate it could have caused burns. As a female sword master who had made a name for herself before her, she seemed deeply interested.

“Haaaah…”

Mark Gorton panted as if he were about to die from the thrill of having the greatest martial artist of the blade before his eyes.

“T-this means I can redraw the plan! The bread—no, the sausage bread just rolled right into my lap!”

Chad’s blue eyes flashed like a beast’s, delighted that the number of Transcendents had increased.

“H-how many Gold Badges should he receive for this?”

Burren swallowed hard, turning his gaze toward Raon.

“The Sword Monarch, the Blade Monarch, and even an Ancient Dragon. Surely he deserves at least five Gold Badges, doesn’t he?”

Martha licked her lips, honestly stating that even five were not enough.

“I agree with five, but the Family Head has only given exactly one badge so far.”

Trevin lowered his brows, noting that giving five at once seemed unlikely.

“No! At least five is the right amount!”

Balder raised his right hand, insisting that five Gold Badges were appropriate.

“Since when did you start speaking sense? However, it’s not enough. Gold Badges aren’t enough; other rewards are needed!”

Aris shot a fierce gaze at Glenn, as if pressuring him.

“…”

Karoon remained silent, simply looking at the Sword Monarch, the Blade Monarch, and Raon in turn.

His gaze did not seem vacant; rather, it looked as if it were burning more intensely.

“Raon.”

Glenn gestured lightly toward Raon.

“Is there anything else you’ve done?”

He held his head, asking him to speak now if there was anything else.

“…Nothing.”

Raon shook his head calmly.

》”Nothing? You also received the support of Sloth and the endorsement of the dwarf of Habun Castle!”

Wrath shouted, asking if he had already forgotten, and tapped Raon’s head.

‘This isn’t something to mention right now.’

Because the stereotypes regarding the existence of a Demon King were too strong, he couldn’t bring up Sloth just yet. Similarly, the support of Habun Castle Lord Miland wasn’t the best option to reveal at this stage.

“I see.”

Glenn licked his lips briefly, looking into Raon’s calm eyes.

‘Then how many Gold Badges should I give?’

He had intended to throw a badge even for a small achievement, but since Raon had returned with accomplishments far beyond imagination, he was conflicted about the reward. He was happy, yet his head began to ache.

‘Five Gold Badges…’

In his heart, he wanted to hand over all the Gold Badges he possessed, but he couldn’t do that.

‘Because I’ve given exactly one to everyone so far.’

During the successor trials, he had established a rule of giving only one badge. Even those who achieved outstanding results that warranted two or more badges were given only one, making it awkward to increase the number now.

‘Especially…’

Glenn glanced down at Karoon.

‘A few days ago, it wouldn’t have been strange to give Karoon three badges.’

Not long ago, Karoon had succeeded in hunting an Ancient Dragon, rescuing numerous kidnapped people and recovering a massive amount of artifacts and gold bars. It was an achievement that wouldn’t have been wasted on three Gold Badges, but following his own rule, he had given only one. Thus, he couldn’t suddenly give Raon many.

“Ahem…”

Glenn let out a low cough and bit his lip.

‘It can’t be helped.’

He would give one as planned and take care of him in other ways.

Just as he was about to raise his hand with a sigh of regret.

“One Gold Badge for the Light Wind Palace Lord—”

“Five.”

Karoon interrupted Glenn and stepped forward to the platform.

“At a time when the departure of two Transcendents of the Five Kings is almost certain, the achievement of bringing in the Sword Monarch, the Blade Monarch, and an Ancient Dragon—who are no less significant—is priceless.”

He raised his right hand wide toward Glenn.

“Please grant five Gold Badges to the Light Wind Palace Lord.”

Karoon bowed calmly, stating that this was the right thing to do.

“That man…”

》”That eyeball’s father…”

Balder and Wrath blinked blankly, staring at Karoon.

“Did you… eat something wrong?”

》”Did he eat something wrong?”

(T/N: That’s why Im a firm supporter of Karoon being the head this time. I think Raon is far too young to lead and would be nice to have someone with more experience to become the head. )