The Reincarnated Assassin Is a Genius Swordsman

Chapter 727 With a fierce cry, Raon spread his hands again, infusing the Blade of Death with the Ring of Fire and emotions of wrath. However, this time the Blade of Death couldn't withstand its role as a vessel and shattered like a cracked glass. "Oh no..." Raon frowned as he watched the fragments of wrath scatter from his grip. -It's only natural for it to break! Wrath nodded emphatically, seeming pleased. -If you kept succeeding at fusing powers for the first time, you'd be a demon god! He hummed, suggesting Raon would have to work hard. 'You're right.' Raon nodded calmly. Harmonizing three powers was no small feat; it would have been strange to succeed consistently without practice. -At least you admit your shortcomings quickly. Wrath snorted and lifted his chin. 'But there's one thing you're forgetting.' -What have I forgotten now! As if a crow would offer friendship... (E/N: I'm assuming it is a korean expression...but I didn't find the meaning...) 'I mean you're forgetting, not me. Don't you know I can't eat if I don't succeed at this?' -Ugh... He gaped, apparently not having considered that possibility. 'I'm not leaving until I succeed for certain.' -Y-you vicious bastard... Wrath's complexion turned even more ashen at the threat. 'Shall we try again?' Raon pushed aside the sweating Wrath and wielded the Blade of Death once more. -Not yet! As Raon was about to summon wrath and the Ring of Fire, Wrath, who had been far away, leapt in front of him. -You made the aura acting as a vessel too thin! Make it a bit thicker! 'Really?' -Did I ever deceive you? Just try it! 'Hmm, alright.' Following Wrath's advice, Raon drew out more of the Blade of Death's aura before infusing it with the Ring of Fire and the energy of wrath. As suggested, this time the vessel didn't shatter. Although the balance between the Blade of Death and <Wrath> was quite off, it seemed that with proper control, there wouldn't be a problem. -I'm not helping you because I like you, but because there's pineapple pizza on tonight's menu! Wrath snorted and turned his head abruptly. -Now that we're done, let's go eat... 'Not yet.' Raon shook his head, pushing away the clinging Wrath. 'I need to practice until I don't fail.' Derus is quicker and more cautious than anyone I know. There will be only one chance to use this blade against him. If we miss this opportunity at the Six Kings Conference, we may never reveal his true identity. So, I must practice until I succeed a hundred times out of a hundred attempts. -Damn it all! 'Just bear with it a little longer.' Raon honed the Blade of Death in the deserted training ground until sunset. As the Blade of Death's rank rose to 3 stars, the success rate improved to the point where he failed only once in ten attempts. There should be time until the Six Kings Conference, so it seemed possible to perfect it by then. -Then there was no need to make such a fuss today! Wrath shouted loudly. 'If I hadn't done it today, I wouldn't have received your advice.' Raon waved his hand lightly. It was all thanks to Wrath's advice that he could handle the Blade of Death skillfully in just one day. Without that cotton candy, it would have taken much longer. -Y-you will never die peacefully! This king will chew your flesh and bones... 'We're not late for dinner yet, are we?' -Then what are you waiting for! Run now! Wrath stopped cursing, licked his lips, and flapped his hands like wings. 'Alright. I'll go as fast as I can.' Raon stepped onto the Supreme Harmony Steps, vowing to eat well since Wrath had been so helpful today. 'Hm?' As he ran towards the annex building at full speed, he spotted a man hiding at the end of the darkened garden. "Who's there?" Raon approached silently and aimed at the back of the man's neck. "Huk!" The man, clearly not expecting anyone to approach from behind, collapsed in shock. "I-I'm not an enemy. I'm..." "Sterick?" Raon frowned as he recognized the trembling man's face. It was Sterick from the direct lineage, who had blocked the maids in front of the banquet hall yesterday. "Why are you here?" Raon looked down at Sterick, emanating a chilling aura. "Don't tell me you've come to complain about yesterday's events?" -Such a delicious smell is wafting through the air! This wretch is wasting time! Wrath sniffed the air before shouting loudly. -Just cut his throat and let's go eat! He patted his plump belly, saying he'd take responsibility. 'Should I?' Raon nodded lightly. He placed his hand on the Heavenly Drive, ready to slice off Sterick's mouth if he uttered any more nonsense. "No, absolutely not!" Sterick shook his head vigorously while kneeling. "I'm not here to complain, but to apologize for yesterday!" He expressed his sincere apologies and held out a box he was carrying. "What's this...?" "I-I heard you like beef, so I brought some." Sterick said it was excellent beef as he opened the lid of the box. Inside, premium beef with abundant marbling revealed its brilliant appearance. -He's a good one! Wrath instantly changed his attitude and chuckled. "Did you put poison in it?" Raon twisted his lips as he stared at Sterick's trembling eyes. "T-there's no way. It's top-quality beef I just bought!" Sterick shook his head, asking why he would do such a thing. "Well, putting aside the gift, it seems you're apologizing to the wrong person." Raon removed his hand from the sword hilt and turned his gaze towards the annex building. "Of course!" Sterick quickly nodded, seeming to understand what Raon meant. "If you give me the chance, I'll apologize to the maids as well." "Wait here." Raon briefly stared at the back of Sterick's head before entering the annex building. "Young Master!" "Are you just coming now?" "Dinner preparations are almost done, so please wash up quickly and come." Yua, Judiel, and Helen smiled, saying he had arrived at just the right time. (E/N: Kinda feel bad for Judiel's brother tbh. Oh, and Julius. Isn't gambling monster also affiliated with the annex? I'm starting to see a pattern here...) "Everyone, please come out to the garden." "Everyone?" "Yes. It's important. Everyone." Raon called not just the three, but everyone in the annex building, and led them to where Sterick was. "You're..." Helen recognized Sterick and let out a low groan. "I-I'm truly sorry about yesterday!" Without hesitation, Sterick bowed his head to the maids. "Huh...?" "N-no, it's fine!" "It wasn't something that needed an apology..." The maids waved their hands, saying it was okay, but Sterick didn't straighten up. "......" Raon narrowed his eyes as he observed Sterick's trembling shoulders. 'Is this the power of the Zieghart direct lineage?' Sterick wasn't apologizing to the maids because he was truly sorry. He feared the status of the direct lineage that Glenn had personally bestowed and acknowledged. Even his master Karoon couldn't refute it, so it was natural for Sterick to be this terrified. 'Now I can feel what we've gained.' Yesterday, I was just happy with the satisfaction of elevating Sylvia to the direct lineage, but seeing Sterick's reaction today, I could understand what kind of power I now possessed. "I'm truly sorry..." "Please stand up." As Sterick tried to continue apologizing, Sylvia walked out from among the maids. "L-Lady Sylvia. Thank you..." "No need to thank me. I have no intention of accepting your apology." Sylvia firmly shook her head and returned the box of beef Sterick had offered. "Come back when you can put sincerity into your apology." "Ah..." Sterick's face turned pale, as if his last hope had been shattered. "Don't worry. I have no intention of harming you like you would. However, if you touch our children again..." Her eyes flashed ominously, living up to her nickname of the Red-Eyed Demon Blade. "I'll make you beg for death instead." With those final words, Sylvia turned her back. Her golden hair, which had always conveyed comfort, now seemed to exude a cold chill. -Ooh! It's a bit of a waste of good beef, but our mom is so cool! Wrath blinked rapidly, admiring Sylvia's firmness. 'Indeed. Though she's not your mom.' Raon nodded with a faint smile. 'Mother is changing too now.' Sylvia was still emotional and had the warmest personality of anyone, but when it came to protecting the annex, she had become as resolute as a blade. Raon liked her cool demeanor. "Ugh..." Sterick, seemingly overwhelmed by Sylvia's aura, returned to the main building with weak legs. "It was nothing. Let's go inside!" Sylvia smiled as if she had never been angry and gestured to the maids and Raon. "We should celebrate among ourselves too. I've prepared a feast for today!" She winked, telling them to look forward to it. -Our mom is the best! Wrath cheered "Kiyahoo!" and clung to Sylvia's shoulder. Raon smiled faintly as he watched people entering the annex building. 'Yes. To protect this life now...' I must act. The fight against Derus isn't just for my revenge. It's also a war to protect Zieghart. Raon reaffirmed his resolve and entered the annex building. * * * In a small training ground in a corner of Zieghart. The wind and lightning Rimmer drew with his sword illuminated the dim training ground. He was so focused that heat radiated from him as if summer had come for him alone. "Hm?" Sheryl, who had just opened the door to the training ground, lowered her eyebrows as she saw Rimmer. "Have you been training since dawn until now?" She exhaled sharply after examining the sweat stains on Rimmer's clothes. "Ah..." Rimmer let out a heavy breath and looked up. He chuckled as he saw the night sky with the moon rising. "Has it already gotten this late?" "The king of slacking off didn't even notice the time?" Sheryl frowned as she watched Rimmer laugh awkwardly. "Even I focus sometimes, you know." Rimmer shrugged, stretching out his words playfully. "...Hey." Sheryl called out to Rimmer with a hardened expression. "What?" "You should be gambling like usual! This training doesn't suit you at all!" She twisted her lips, seemingly displeased with this serious version of Rimmer. "All the gambling dens are closed." Rimmer waved his hand up and down. "And even I need to move my body sometimes..." "It's because of Raon, isn't it?" Sheryl lowered her gaze, indicating she knew everything. "The Evil Goat Demon appeared in the river, and then Beorn jumped out from its shadow, right? In that situation, neither I nor Lord Roenn could have protected Raon." She shook her head, saying it was an unavoidable situation. "You were exhausted too. There's no need to blame yourself..." "Unavoidable?" Rimmer let out a long sigh and pressed his hand to his forehead. "For someone who stands guard, there's no such thing as 'unavoidable'. You know that better than anyone." Sheryl might have been trying to offer comfort uncharacteristically, but this incident was his own mistake. If Flumen hadn't saved Raon, he would have spent the rest of his life blaming himself, withering away like a tree that had lost its roots. 'This is my problem.' The excuse of being physically and mentally exhausted from continuous battles, or being caught off guard, doesn't hold. Even if it meant dying on the spot, he should have protected Raon. Having declared that he would make Raon the new king and head of Zieghart, this mistake couldn't be overlooked. "Gambling, teaching the children, saving money to send there - they're all important things to do, but..." Rimmer roughly wiped off the sweat that had gathered in his palm. "Protecting Raon comes before anything else." Even if it costs me my life. He raised his sword, vowing never to experience the same failure again. "Ha! Do as you please!" Sheryl leaned against a tree, wrinkling her nose. "You idiot..." She stayed with Rimmer until dawn when he finished his training. * * * "Raon requested an audience?" Glenn sat up abruptly in the throne of the audience chamber, as if he might break it. "Yes. He said he must see the Head of House." Roenn nodded with a faint smile. "Huh? At this time..." Sheryl wiggled her finger as she looked at the sky, which had not yet passed morning. "Isn't he coming to pay his respects to Grandfather?" "I think similarly. Now that Young Master Raon has become part of the direct lineage, he probably wants to formally call you Grandfather." Roenn chuckled as he stood beside Sheryl. "Head of House. This time, you can't ascend to heaven just because you hear the word 'Grandfather'." Sheryl pleaded, clasping her hands together. "I-I'll try." Glenn licked his lips, feeling his heart start to race. "Then, I'll call him in." Roenn opened the iron door with a gentle smile. Raon, who had been waiting outside, took a short breath before entering the audience chamber. With calm yet weighty steps, Raon stood before the platform. "I am here to see the Head of House." "Hmm..." Glenn narrowed his eyes as he looked at Raon kneeling. Though he wasn't called grandfather, but Head of House, it wasn't disappointing. Raon's eyes were resolute, like a monk facing death. 'Whew.' Glenn nodded calmly, suppressing his rapidly beating heart. "Very well. What is the matter?" "I've come because I have something important to tell you." "Speak." "......" Raon didn't answer immediately, but looked around the audience chamber. After confirming that only Sheryl and Roenn were present, he clasped his hands together. "I've discovered the identity of the swordsman wearing the dragon helmet who ambushed you, Head of House." "What...?" Glenn leaned forward, his eyes widening. 'He says he knows that bastard's identity?' The swordsman with the blue dragon helmet had appeared suddenly, as if springing from the ground. While there were a few suspicious individuals, there was no evidence, and their personalities were too different for Glenn to be certain. He couldn't believe that Raon had discovered the man's identity. "Y-Young Master Raon." "Is it true? Did you really find out who he is?" Roenn and Sheryl called out to Raon, swallowing hard. "Yes. I'm certain." As always, his grandson nodded without the slightest hesitation. "Tell me the name of this person." Glenn clenched his jaw as he read the resolute determination emanating from Raon's entire being. "The identity of the swordsman wearing the blue dragon helmet is..." Raon didn't answer immediately, closing his eyes. He recalled Derus Robert, who had toyed with his life in his past life, and Derus Robert who now mocked the entire continent in this second life. Slowly, he opened his eyes. Above his burning red pupils, blue anger and a grand cause bloomed. "It is the master of House Robert, Sky Sword Saint Derus Robert."