The Reincarnated Assassin Is a Genius Swordsman

Chapter 1356 After leaving Zieghart, Raon visited Habun Castle without hiding his true appearance for the first time among the forces he had visited. "It's been a while." Raon drew a subtle smile as he looked at the castle walls of Habun Castle. Seeing the walls stained with monster blood over the pure white eternal snow reminded him of when he first came to this castle during his trainee days. 'But...' Raon narrowed his eyes as he examined the inside of the castle. 'It seems like there are other people here as well.' Looking at the mana inside the castle, it seemed other guests had come. However, their aura also felt somewhat familiar. -Haa! Wrath nodded his head and let out a sigh. -Back then, just looking at you was frustrating! The guy clicked his tongue, saying Raon had been such a novice that just watching him was irritating. 'But I've gotten a bit better now, right?' Raon poked Wrath with his elbow and laughed. -Well, your martial prowess isn't bad. Wrath jutted his chin calmly. -However, your spirit is still not fully mature! You need to go to the Devildom to grow more! Even in this situation, the guy smacked his lips while promoting the Devildom. 'Yes. Yes. Let's go later.' Raon casually brushed off Wrath's sales pitch that had become annoying. -Oh? Really? Wrath's blue eyes sparkled. -You definitely said it! 'Do whatever you want.' Raon stood before the gates of Habun Castle without even nodding his head. He grabbed the cold metal ring that was freezing to the touch and struck it against the thick castle wall. Thuuuung! The sound of rusted metal striking thick wood resonated as clearly as a bell in a surprisingly clean manner. "Who could it be at this time?" "Did anyone say guests were coming?" "No, there were no visitors scheduled for today?" The reconnaissance troops of Habun Castle peeked their heads down from the castle walls. "Huh?" "T-That person is..." "It's Lord Raon!" "Lord Raon has come!" "Sword Sage Raon Zieghart!" The reconnaissance troops confirmed Raon's face and screamed in surprise. "Is it really Lord Raon?" Along with a familiar voice, a welcome face filled with mischief despite being middle-aged popped out. "Wow! It's really him! It's been so long!" Radin, the captain of the 3rd reconnaissance team he had belonged to. The man who had now become the overall commander of the reconnaissance troops waved his hand. "It's been a long time. Commander. Could you please open the gate first?" Raon pointed to the gates of Habun Castle and drew a subtle smile. "Of course! What are you waiting for! Open it right away!" Radin kicked another reconnaissance member's butt, telling them to quickly open the gate. Kuguuuuuu! The reconnaissance troops who received his orders began opening the gates of Habun Castle. The main gate of Habun Castle opened wide with the sound of massive chains breaking through ice. "There's no need to open it this wide." Raon blinked as he looked at the main gate of Habun Castle that had opened with ground-shaking force. He let out a hollow laugh at them opening the main gate that was normally used only when delegations from other forces or large transport carriages came. "What are you saying! Of course we should open the big gate!" Radin vigorously shook his head, saying that Raon's visit was more significant than delegations from other forces. "What's going on! Why is the main gate... Huh?" Terian Milland, the vice-commander of Habun Castle, was approaching angrily when he saw Raon and his eyes widened. "L-Lord Raon?" Terian also trembled his voice in surprise at Raon's sudden visit. "Have you been well? Vice-commander." Raon bowed his head to Terian. "What brings you here without any notice?" He blinked his eyes, saying he never thought Raon would come. "I stopped by to pay my regards. Is the castle lord inside?" Raon drew a subtle smile as he looked at the central tower of the castle where the lord of Habun Castle always stayed. "Where else would he be but there?" Terian nodded, saying he was watching the monsters from that tower as always. "Let's go. I'll escort you." He bowed his head politely. "Thank you." Raon nodded and followed Terian. He drew a subtle smile as he remembered going to see the lord of Habun Castle with Terian's guidance just like now during his trainee days. Upon entering the building, the knights and reconnaissance troops were still moving around quickly, carrying out their daily duties. "It's a nostalgic sight, isn't it?" Terian said nothing had changed from then to now as he climbed the stairs. "Indeed." Raon said it was really good to see as he followed Terian up to the fifth floor. "Castle lord." Terian knocked on the door made of black wood and called for the lord of Habun Castle. "A welcome guest has come from 'that place'." He referred to Zieghart as 'that place' just like on that day in the past and drew a faint smile. "Come in!" The heavy voice of the lord of Habun Castle came through the black wooden door. Even though much time had passed, the Iron Wall King seemed not to have aged. Kuguuuu! Terian opened the door for him, and Raon nodded and entered the castle lord's office. Unlike the spacious room, the empty interior remained the same. He still thought it felt like a soldier's room rather than a commander's, but there was something different from before. He no longer felt that the room was empty. 'The reason is...' Raon curled his lips as he looked at the gray-haired old man sitting behind the desk where maps were spread out. 'It's because of that man.' Milland Brydon. Short in stature, but a giant of the snowfield whom no one could look down upon. The master of Habun Castle who overwhelmed thousands of monsters with just his gaze was sharpening an even sharper sword. 'I thought he had reached his limit...' Raon let out a hollow laugh as he felt Milland's presence. 'To think he's become even stronger.' At Milland's age, the body would deteriorate and the mind would weaken, making it difficult to even maintain one's original martial prowess. But rather than just maintaining his strength, he had broken through barriers and become even stronger. "You seem quite surprised." Milland twisted his lips into his characteristic expression as if finding Raon's reaction amusing. "Yes. I didn't expect you to have become this strong." Raon said it was unexpected and trembled his chin slightly. "Didn't I tell you?" Milland raised his rock-like fist and pounded his own chest. "That I would support your back. I must endure until you become the head of house, mustn't I?" He snorted, saying he had trained with his life on the line in response to Raon's request to participate in the war. "Ah..." Raon trembled his fingertips as he recalled the words Milland had said in the past. 'That promise until now.' When he returned to Zieghart, Milland had always told him to remember that Habun Castle was behind him. He was still keeping that promise even now. 'He has always helped me.' Whenever Raon had requested help, Milland had come running with Habun Castle's knights. He was a true knight who kept his promises to the end. "...Thank you. Castle lord." Raon felt a surge of emotion welling up in his chest as he bowed to Milland. "Don't carelessly bow your head when you're called the Sword Sage!" Milland waved his hands, telling him to get up quickly. However, there was a subtle smile drawn on his lips. "So what brings you here?" "I'm visiting the forces that formed alliances before the war to pay my respects in my own way." Raon nodded, saying that Habun Castle was the last stop. "Kahahaha!" Milland slammed the desk and burst into a big laugh. "The shy guy who couldn't even talk properly with others is now going around encouraging people! You've really grown a lot!" He giggled as if remembering the old Raon. "I can feel that your vessel has been completed." Milland's eyes grew hot with intensity. Raon could feel directly that he regarded him with pride. "Vessel?" "A king's vessel. The parts you were lacking have been filled to overflowing." Milland nodded vigorously as if his choice had been correct. "Ah..." Raon smacked his lips, thinking he had been hearing those words quite often lately. -You have gotten a bit better. Wrath also nodded, saying he would acknowledge it somewhat. "But what do you mean by paying respects in your own way?" Milland narrowed his eyes as if curious about that part. "Obviously..." Raon immediately drew the Heavenly Drive. "Greetings with the sword." He jutted his chin, saying he was conversing with swords rather than words. "Conversation of swords? A greeting I very much like!" Milland licked his lips and picked up the sword that was leaning against his desk. "You know, right? I won in our last duel." He raised his finger, referring to the sparring match they had before leaving Habun Castle. "Of course I remember." Raon drew a subtle smile and brought down the Heavenly Drive that he had raised to the upper stance. A sword path that struck down to the earth like lightning splitting the sky. The Crimson Slash from Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation drew a red line as it fell as if to split Milland's head. "Ha!" Milland let out a short shout and raised his thick sword like a shield. His sword exuded majestic grandeur like a castle wall as it met the red blade. It could be felt that this was a sword imbued with the life of an old swordsman who had protected these cold castle walls his entire life. Zzeeeeeng! However, the current Crimson Slash was not simple swordsmanship. True to its name as a red flash, it had become an invincible sword strike that pierced through enemy defenses. Kuuuuung! Unlike his small body, Milland made a loud sound as he was slammed into the wall. "Kuhuk..." He coughed violently and raised his body with trembling legs. "C-certainly it was swordsmanship I had seen before, but it has truly changed greatly." Milland let out a hollow laugh as if he couldn't believe that simple swordsmanship had grown to this extent. "Your swordsmanship has also changed greatly, castle lord. I can feel the sword will that refuses to be pierced." Raon nodded, saying he was impressed by Milland's swordsmanship. "Praise from the Sword Sage? I lost, but it doesn't feel bad!" Milland grinned and brushed the dust off his shoulders. "You know, right? It's still one to one." He shrugged his shoulders, saying Raon needed to beat him one more time to settle the match. "Of course." Raon said he naturally knew that and drew a subtle smile. "Now that I've faced you head-on, I understand. You've certainly become amazing. The name Sword Sage is not wasted on you." Milland looked at Raon with eyes full of pride. "Just having you come here seems like it would boost morale." He drew a refreshing smile, saying that Raon visiting allied forces before the war was the best encouragement of all. "I simply did what I could do." Raon waved his hand, saying it was nothing special. Unlike with other people, not a trace of arrogance appeared before Milland. "Ah! Come to think of it, there are more people here that you should meet and encourage." Milland raised his finger, saying there were people Raon still needed to meet. "Yes? People I should encourage?" Raon's eyes widened at Milland's words. "That's right." Milland curled his lips, saying they would be welcome faces. "They'll be people you know very well."