The Reincarnated Assassin Is a Genius Swordsman

Chapter 1237 "What...?" Runaan tilted her head as if she couldn't understand. "A duel...?" She blinked, saying she couldn't think of a reason to duel even after thinking about it again. "You're hiding something from us." Martha jutted out her chin as if she knew everything. "Since it's obvious you won't tell us even if we ask. Let's have a conversation with our bodies." She clenched and unclenched her fist, suggesting they have a duel after a long time. "......" Runaan silently pressed her lips together slightly, as if she indeed had something to hide as Martha said. "Martha!" Burren stepped between Martha and Runaan and shook his head. "What are you doing all of a sudden!" He also swallowed dryly, saying he didn't understand the reason for a sudden duel. "This quiet kid needs to be convinced by getting beaten up." Martha placed her hand on her sword, saying the only way to understand Runaan now was through a duel. "But Raon isn't even here." "Fine...." Runaan came out to the side of Burren who was blocking the way. "Let's do it...." She nodded as if it was fine to start the duel. "I thought you'd become an idiot, but you understand!" Martha drew her sword while looking at the shadows filling Runaan's face. "The idiot... has always been you...." Runaan sighed and raised Snow Flower. "Hey. It's no use trying to stop us, so just be the referee." Martha tapped Burren's shoulder and stood in front of Runaan. "Whew!" Burren looked at Martha and Runaan in turn and held his head as if feeling dizzy. "What is this all about...." He muttered that these women were truly incomprehensible and frowned. "I'll stop you if it gets too intense. Keep it moderate." Burren clicked his tongue and raised his hand. "Begin!" He shouted to begin and immediately stepped back. It was a movement worried that Martha would charge right away as always. "......" However, contrary to Burren's expectation, Martha didn't rush at Runaan but slowly used footwork as if exploring. "Hmm...." Runaan also slightly raised her eyebrows as if surprised by Martha's change. "You look surprised." Martha smiled as if she expected that. "I've learned several things too, I can't always charge like a wild boar." After saying she wouldn't charge, she immediately circled to Runaan's right side. Martha gritted her teeth and brought down her sword imbued with earth's power toward Runaan's head. The ground vibrated violently from the tremendous power dwelling in her sword. Even though Runaan was flustered by Martha's surprise attack, she calmly used footwork and raised Snow Flower. She blocked Martha's slash filled with immense power using her sword that bloomed with blue frost. Runaan and Martha's sword strikes collided head-on, creating shockwaves and thunderous sounds that shook the entire fifth training ground. However, the two Grandmasters' power was not evenly matched. Martha, who had attacked first and was always at the forefront in terms of raw power, was being pushed back by Runaan's sword. "What the hell!" Martha also widened her eyes in surprise while looking at Runaan, whose sword was clashing with hers. "......" Runaan pushed Martha back with calm eyes as if this result was natural. "Grr!" Martha gritted her teeth and struck away Runaan's sword that was pressuring her. "I don't know what you did, but I'll never lose in strength!" She bit her lips as if her pride was greatly hurt and charged at Runaan again. Goooooooo! Martha stomped her foot with full force. She thrust her sword while channeling the power transmitted from the earth into her body and aura. It felt like she was thrusting with her body rather than just her sword. "......" Runaan lightly lifted her feet as if she knew Martha would come like that, then created a wall made of frost. The blue-tinted cold energy turned silver and created a hardness that seemed like it wouldn't melt even in lava. "Hmph!" As soon as Martha saw the thick wall of cold energy, she sharply twisted her ankle. Instead of charging head-on as always, she turned her body like a swallow and aimed for Runaan's empty left side. Although the power was reduced, the movement itself was agile, making it a sword strike that would be difficult for anyone to avoid. "Hmm...." Runaan's eyes trembled slightly as if she didn't expect Martha to strategize even while being excited. She bit her lips lightly and quickly swung her sword where the silver frost had slightly faded. Martha's weighty sword strike fiercely pierced in as if to break Runaan's urgent defense. "How's that? Can you feel my strength now?" Martha curled up the corners of her mouth while looking at Runaan behind the sword, as if certain of victory. "Since I used tactics, now it's all-out charge!" She drew up her aura and pressed down on Runaan as if she wouldn't miss this barely seized opportunity. It was a tactic that maximized the use of Titan's Aura, which amplified power as long as she was standing on the ground. "Haah...." Runaan let out a low breath as if tired of Martha pushing in roughly. "It's too late to regret now!" "You've gotten stronger...." She cut off Martha's words and nodded. "I'll go all out now...." It was the moment Runaan mentioned going all out. Her beloved sword turned transparent with light and scattered pure white frost around. The floor of the fifth training ground made of fine soil froze, and Martha's sword clashing with Runaan's sword, along with Martha herself, began to freeze. "What, what is this!" Martha's jaw trembled as she watched the white frost climbing up her sword and arm, piercing through Titan's Aura. Even though she gritted her teeth and drew up her aura with full force, she couldn't block the frost that Runaan unleashed. "Damn it!" Martha felt she couldn't handle Runaan's aura and tried to step back. However, her legs were already trapped in white ice along with the ground. "This can't be...." Martha gasped while looking at the transparent cold energy that had frozen her sword, hands, and even legs. Even though she experienced it firsthand, her eyes shook violently as if she couldn't believe it. Runaan raised her sword, which had become transparent like spring water, and aimed it at Martha's neck. "Urgh!" Martha chewed her lips nervously, looking at Runaan's sword which had stopped a paper's width away from her neck. "I lost...." She bowed her head deeply as if she had no choice but to acknowledge defeat. "Yeah...." Runaan blinked as if accepting Martha's declaration of defeat and pulled her sword back. When she placed her hand on the ice that trapped Martha, the cold energy slowly began to fade. "I never thought I wouldn't be able to break the ice." Martha frowned while moving her previously frozen hands and feet. "I wanted to smack that face that acts like nothing happened...." She sighed as if deeply disappointed that she couldn't break Runaan. "Really nothing... happened...." Runaan nodded calmly as if nothing was wrong. "Well, if you say so, I have nothing to say. However...." Martha said nothing and watched Runaan, then slowly parted her lips. "If something happens, be sure to tell me. Anywhere, anything, anyone—I'll help." She nodded heavily as if she would help with anything. "......" Runaan stared intently at Martha, who rarely showed such calm eyes. "Yeah...." She nodded calmly as if she would definitely do so and left the training ground. "Ha!" As soon as Runaan left, Martha swung her fist in the air. "Damn it! She's gotten disgustingly strong!" She screamed at Runaan's growth that was beyond understanding and turned her back. "Uh, where are you going?" Krein swallowed dryly while watching Martha leave the training ground. "You're not going after Runaan...." "I'm not going after her!" Martha snorted while keeping her back turned. "There's nothing I can do even if I chase after her! I'm going to train!" She shouted that she would definitely win next time, then jumped over the training ground wall and ran toward the main building. "......" Burren didn't watch Martha and Runaan leave, but bit his lips while looking at the place where the two had fought. 'What is this....' The gap has widened this much? The duel between Martha and Runaan was far beyond what he had expected. He couldn't understand when those guys, who hadn't been much different from him, had climbed up so high. 'I also did my best....' He devoted all his remaining time except for his role as Vice Palace Master of Light Wind Palace to training. He woke up earlier than anyone and slept later than anyone while swinging his sword, but looking at them, it seemed like he had regressed instead. 'Damn it!' Martha had always charged like a wild boar, but she realized strategy and tactics and developed combat methods suitable for herself. Moreover, in addition to the weight and power of her swordsmanship, her speed had also increased, unleashing terrifying sword strikes that were difficult to dare face. Honestly, if he fought Martha at his current level, it was obvious he would lose without even being able to use his full strength. 'However....' What was even more surprising was Runaan. Runaan literally crushed Martha, who was expected to overwhelm him. Cold energy that could trap a Grandmaster like a child—these were abilities he had never seen before. It was so similar to the frost that Raon unleashed that it gave him chills. 'Do the demon kings' Authority create this much difference...' The only difference between himself and Runaan and Martha was whether they had received the demon king's Authority or not. It hadn't existed from the beginning, and it hadn't been that long since they were chosen, yet such a gap had opened up that his chest felt tight. 'If I had just a little more competitive spirit....' He was clenching his fists while recalling the time Martha was chosen instead of him. "Hmm?" He felt a faint gaze and turned his head to see Karoon, who was serving as temporary head of house, standing at the entrance of the fifth training ground. He seemed to have come here after sensing Runaan and Martha's duel while going out for an external inspection. "Hmm...." Burren calmed his confused mind and approached Karoon. "You've come? But where are the others...." He tilted his head seeing that the attendants who had been beside Karoon were nowhere to be seen. "I told them to go ahead." Karoon shook his head calmly as if it was nothing. "Ah, yes. Since it wasn't anything serious...." "It seems those you consider rivals have moved ahead first." He smiled slightly as if he could see right through his heart. "Well, that's...." Burren couldn't speak due to the embarrassment of being seen through and bit his lips. "I had no choice but to let Raon go, but now that even Runaan and Martha have surpassed me, I feel pathetic. No, to be honest, I didn't want to just let Raon go either." Whether it was because his father had become the temporary head of house, or because he was shocked by the duel between Runaan and Martha that he witnessed, the things he had been hiding inside came out without him realizing it. "I see." Karoon simply nodded calmly. "Your current emotions are not shameful. People can only grow when they have jealousy and envy. However, the moment you voice it out loud, it becomes ugly." He drew a gentle smile while saying it becomes ugly. It seemed like he was reflecting on his own past. "Runaan and Martha seem to have gained mysterious power." Karoon slightly rolled his eyes as if he had somewhat noticed the demon kings' authority. "That's probably why they've opened up a gap with you." "Y-yes, that's right." "Then you should chase after those two without such special power." He gestured with his hand, saying that since things had come to this, he should become strong without special power. "What? How can I...." "Come to the head of house's training ground tonight. You'll feel something by watching my training." Karoon left those words about training together with him and turned his back. "B-but aren't you busy, father! I heard you can barely sleep...." Burren swallowed dryly while recalling what he had heard from Karoon's aide. "How can a father who can't even take care of his son become a father who leads the family." Karoon left those as his final words and exited the fifth training ground. "......" Burren watched Karoon's back as he left with his black robe fluttering and felt the trembling that had been rising from his fingertips subside. * * * Runaan didn't return to the dormitory at the fifth training ground but headed to the Sullion family home after a long time. "Runaan! You've come!" Rokan Sullion, the head of house of the Sullion family, spread his arms wide to welcome Runaan. "I missed you so much that I was going to visit the fifth training ground directly...." "Dad.... I'm tired...." Runaan bowed her head to avoid Rokan Sullion's arms and headed to her room on the second floor. "Uh, uhh...." Rokan Sullion couldn't continue speaking due to Runaan's much colder reaction than usual and only rolled his eyes around. "Sorry...." Runaan slightly nodded knowing that Rokan was disappointed. She wanted to talk with her father after a long time, but she was too tired and wanted to rest right away. "Haah...." Runaan let out a deep sigh and entered her room. Without unpacking her luggage or washing, she lay down on the bed as she was. "It's strange...." Lately, whenever she sleeps, she has the same dream every day. However, she only felt that it was the same dream, but when she woke up, she couldn't remember what the dream was about at all. After having that strange dream, even when she slept, it didn't feel like she had slept, and instead, only her stamina and mental strength were consumed, making it difficult for her to even stand lately. What was mysterious was that thanks to that dream, her growth rate became very fast and the emotion of happiness filled her. 'I don't want to sleep, but....' Runaan exhaled murkily and frowned. 'I have no choice but to sleep.' She had to sleep to become stronger. However, that wasn't all—a desire arose that she had to sleep somehow and enter the dream. Even though she couldn't remember what kind of dream it was, it was strange that such a desire existed, but the happiness from the dream could be felt on her skin, so she only thought that she must enter it. "Phew...." Runaan closed her eyes hoping that her fatigue would be relieved today. The moment she closed her eyelids, she immediately fell asleep and opened her eyes in a strange world. It was a place bigger than a village but smaller than a city. As if it was fertile land, vitality bloomed on people's faces, and smiles hung on the children's lips. "Runaan!" "Big sister!" "Older sister!" The people of the village recognized her and waved their hands as if happy to see her. The children burst into pure laughter and ran to her, hugging her. "Hello...." Runaan embraced the children who ran to her and drew a bright smile. Now that she entered the dream, she remembered. In this world, unlike when she was at Zieghart, she was interacting with many people. 'That's right....' It was always this dream.... She would forget in the morning, but whenever she slept again, she would always wake up in this dream. And the people of this world always remembered her. 'And....' It was when Runaan felt the warmth of the children and closed her eyes. "You came." When she raised her head at the familiar voice, the person she liked most was smiling even more brightly than in reality. "Runaan." Raon. The hero who had been with her since childhood and who had saved her waved his hand with a fresh smile. "Yeah.... I came...." Runaan nodded while drawing a deep smile like Raon.