The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 1042:
“You mean the former Holy Sword Alliance Lord?”
Raon swallowed dryly as he looked at Rektor after hearing the name of the former Holy Sword Alliance Lord.
“You know it too, don’t you.”
Rektor emptied his wine glass with a calm gaze.
“The only warriors who can handle the leaders of the Four Demons one-on-one are the Northern Extermination King and the former Holy Sword Alliance Lord.”
He slowly shifted his gaze as if to say he knew better.
“Of course, it would be different if the reclusive Dark Sword Saint and the former king appeared, but it’s been a long time since those two disappeared.”
Rektor shook his head, telling him not to expect it.
“What were Derus Robert and the White Blood Lord like when you saw them in person?”
Raon clasped his hands together, asking him to explain their martial prowess first.
“The White Blood Lord’s Blood Energy was as vast and stable as it was terrifying. It seemed she had made all of the Beast King’s martial power her own and ascended to an even higher level.”
Rektor let out a heavy sigh, saying that even if he fought with everything he had, he likely couldn’t defeat the White Blood Lord.
“And Derus Robert…”
He furrowed his brow, pressing a finger to his forehead.
“…was completely unreadable. It was clear he had reached a realm that could surpass transcendence—though perhaps not to the extent of Lord Glenn.”
Rektor poured wine with a trembling hand, saying Derus felt like he existed on an entirely different plane.
“I don’t know about the Heavenly Demon since he didn’t attend the meeting, but if anything, he would be above Derus, not below.”
He shook his head, saying that among the Heavenly Demon, Derus, and the White Blood Lord, not a single one was easy.
“I see…”
Raon chewed his lip as he looked at the empty plate.
‘Numerically, the Five Kings are far superior, but when it comes to top-tier Transcenders who can change the course of the war, the Four Demons have more.’
Even if Glenn dealt with the Heavenly Demon once the war with the White Blood Cult began, Derus Robert would remain. Derus had martial prowess enough to overwhelm King Lecross, and there was no one left who could stop him.
‘Lord Ogram and Lady Chamber haven’t fully recovered from their injuries.’
If the Black Sword King and the Archmage of Glory were in perfect condition, they might be able to buy time, but right now, those two couldn’t use their full strength. They wouldn’t withstand even a single strike from Derus.
‘If, when we attack the White Blood Cult, Derus and the Heavenly Demon abandon support and launch a counterattack instead…’
Three of the Five Kings would be wiped out.
Even if Glenn intercepted the Heavenly Demon through spatial movement, Derus would move to annihilate Owen and the Magic Tower—and kill Ogram, who would be left alone.
‘Knowing Derus, he’d definitely move like that.’
‘Derus Robert isn’t the type to support allies. If anything, he’d use them as bait to achieve his own goals.’
‘Especially, he would absolutely try to kill the Black Sword King.’
The moment the White Blood Lord died, her curse would disappear, allowing the Beast King to recover his original power. Since that was something Derus wouldn’t want, he would clearly target Ogram first.
‘Then if we place the Black Sword King next to Grandfather… No. He might be in even greater danger if he faces a combined assault from Derus and the Heavenly Demon.’
Since Derus could move through space using the power of the angel race, formulating a strategy was difficult and complex.
‘And if the Archangels move as well…’
It would be nothing short of a catastrophe.
Derus Robert hadn’t actively moved the Archangels, including Uriel, as if biding his time, but if even one of them appeared, the problem would become much greater.
‘Attacking might actually result in losses.’
His jaw tightened at the thought that all the preparations made so far could be in vain.
“Just as Grandfather said.”
Raon let out a sigh that seemed to sink into the floor.
“There’s no one but him.”
He racked his brain, but aside from the former Holy Sword Alliance Lord, there seemed to be no one who could stop Derus.
“Right. Having seen Derus and the White Blood Lord in person, I could only think of seeking out the old Sword Saint.”
Rektor nodded, saying he wanted to stop Derus even if it came to that.
“Earlier, you said you found him…”
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Rektor.
“…meaning you met the Darkhan, right?”
“Yes.”
Rektor lifted his wine glass as he answered.
“At first, I thought he was around the Holy Sword Alliance’s sacred grounds, but he left quite a while ago. After investing a considerable amount of time, I was able to find Darkhan.”
He downed his wine in one gulp, saying he barely managed it through connections made during his travels.
“However, persuasion didn’t work.”
Rektor twisted his lips, his grip tightening on the wine glass.
“He said my sword wasn’t interesting enough, so he didn’t want to listen.”
He snorted, saying communication was completely impossible.
>> He’s still obsessed with the sword, it seems.
Wrath clicked his tongue, as if Darkhan’s state was obvious.
>> Well, he’s the guy who gouged out his own eyes to reach a higher realm.
He stuck out his tongue, saying the man’s obsession was terrifying.
“Not interesting enough…”
Raon tapped the table with his finger and shook his head.
‘Would it work if I go?’
While Darkhan’s greatest goal was a duel with Glenn, he also took great interest in Raon himself. If he went in person, communication might be possible.
“Where is he now?”
“He’s in the Oskot Kingdom. Since it’s near the sacred grounds, I was able to find him quickly.”
Rektor sighed as he mentioned the Oskot Kingdom.
“Oskot?”
Raon’s eyes widened. He was taken aback because it was the kingdom that least suited Darkhan.
“Why there…?”
“You won’t believe what he’s doing even if I tell you.”
Rektor shook his head as if it were inexplicable.
“Then let’s go take a look.”
Raon clenched his right fist. It seemed better to move and create change—however small—than do nothing and rely on luck.
“It could be dangerous. Darkhan isn’t in his right mind right now.”
“If we can’t take risks, opportunities won’t come. And…”
Raon smiled faintly and took Rektor’s hand.
“…if I’m in danger, Grandfather will protect me, right?”
“Umm…”
Rektor bit his lip hard as he stared at his own hand, his eyes trembling.
“O-of course! Even if I die on the spot, I’ll protect you!”
He nodded firmly as if telling him not to worry.
>> Wow…
Wrath let out a dumbfounded sigh.
>> This damn guy has even bewitched his own grandfather now…
He shook his head, saying Raon was gradually becoming a demon.
“Then will you go right away?”
“No. I need a little time.”
Raon glanced at the darkening window and drew a cool smile.
“I need to look after my kids a bit.”
===
Whoooosh!
The sound of sword wind shattering the dawn air echoed. Even though the sun hadn’t risen yet, the swordsmen of the 5th Training Ground were honing their swordsmanship with heightened focus.
“Five-minute break!”
Martha, in charge of dawn training, raised her hand and called for a brief rest.
“I’ll practice a bit more.”
“I’ll give up my break too!”
The swordsmen refused the break, swinging their swords or practicing footwork.
“Why are you all so enthusiastic?”
Martha furrowed her brow, resting her sword on her shoulder.
“Even when Raon was training you, it wasn’t to this extent.”
She shook her head, not understanding.
“Rakshasa woman, you fool…?”
Runaan looked up at Martha with dull eyes.
“Why? It’s because of you.”
Burren clicked his tongue, gripping his sword with both hands.
“The guys we have to fight this time are the White Blood Cult! Lord Raon’s enemies!”
“We have to get stronger, even if it means saving time!”
Yua and Yulius nodded at the same time, saying it was only natural to train to the limit.
“It’s s-scary, but we have to do what we can…”
Dorian trembled as if the war had already started, but he didn’t stop training.
“For Lady Martha, I can do anything! This time, I’ll behead a priest to—”
Just as Krein was flicking his tongue to flatter Martha—
“That’s good. You can do anything, you say.”
Raon entered the training ground with a grin.
“L-Lord Raon?”
“Aren’t you tired? You came out right away?”
“Did your business go well?”
The Light Wind Palace swordsmen smiled brightly upon seeing Raon again and ran over.
“Thanks to a cute informant, I found the location of the White Blood Cult’s main base.”
Raon briefly explained what had happened during his absence.
“I thought new training was needed since it’s obvious this war will take place at sea…”
He grinned as he looked at Krein, who was trembling with anxiety.
“…and since you said you can do anything, that’s fortunate.”
Raon thanked him and patted Krein’s shoulder.
“Ugh!”
“T-this is…”
“K.re.in.”
“That guy’s mouth, seriously!”
The Light Wind Palace swordsmen sensed something ominous and glared at Krein, grinding their teeth.
“No, you guys said similar things too…”
Krein sniffled, glancing at his comrades.
“No need to worry too much. I’m not asking you to do something difficult—just training in the sea. In a way, it could be like a vacation.”
Raon wagged his finger at the furious Light Wind Palace swordsmen.
“T-the sea?”
“A vacation, you say…”
“Is that true?”
The Light Wind Palace swordsmen widened their eyes as if they couldn’t believe it.
“As I said, the war with the White Blood Cult will take place at sea. So we need to adapt to the sea.”
He drew a faint smile, saying it wasn’t anything difficult—just swinging swords underwater.
“Then it’s fine!”
Krein raised his hand energetically, as if revived.
“The sea around there is clean and warm. It shouldn’t be bad for training!”
He let out a sigh of relief as if all his worries were gone.
“Well, it’s been a while since we fought at sea, so we should adapt.”
Burren nodded, saying it wasn’t a bad idea.
“Yeah. When we were on missions, we couldn’t train properly because of people’s attention.”
Trevin also agreed, tightening his grip on his sword.
“Rakshasa woman…”
Runaan narrowed her eyes, worried about Martha amid the brightened atmosphere.
“Are you okay?”
“Of course I’m okay. We’ve been training rigidly, so loosening up a bit might actually help.”
Martha nodded, saying Raon’s training always had a purpose.
“Then everyone agrees.”
Raon looked at the smiling Light Wind Palace swordsmen and revealed sharp, cold eyes.
“Let’s go right now.”
===
Whoooooosh!
In the northern sea, a freezing wind that seemed to tear flesh and pierce bone raged, and waves surged, splitting the frigid waters like an icebreaker.
On the most treacherous sea known as the North Sea, the Light Wind Palace swordsmen stood in nothing but swimsuits.
“W-what is this…?”
Krein trembled, his lips blue as he stared at the violently churning sea.
“You said it was a vacation! This is hell!”
His teeth chattered as if he would freeze to death.
“We’ve been tricked again…”
Burren shook his head, rubbing his arm, goosebumps rising from the cold.
“I told you not to trust that madman!”
He shouted “madman” at Raon, seemingly forgetting he should call him Lord.
“I like it though?”
Runaan stretched with vigor instead of her usual sluggishness. Since she used the Aura of Coldness, she seemed able to endure this level of cold.
“No wonder I heard the laughter of a demon from Raon’s heart earlier…”
Dorian’s teeth chattered as he said he had predicted this the moment he saw it with his Mind’s Eye Technique.
“D-damn it! I’ll never trust that human again!”
“If it’s this cold on the surface, going under will freeze us solid!”
“If we go a bit to the side from here, it’s the Arctic! This is the North Sea!”
The swordsmen teared up, as if terrified just by looking at the sea.
Splaaash!
While everyone shivered, Martha leaped boldly and dove into the sea where ice floes drifted.
“No time! Get in quickly!”
She couldn’t completely overcome the northern cold either—her lips trembled as she gestured for them to follow.
“Yeah!”
Runaan dove in even more briskly than Martha.
“Just right!”
She gave the swordsmen a thumbs-up as if to say it was better inside.
“Kyaaaaah!”
Burren screamed and jumped into the sea. He also struggled to endure it, panting and trembling.
“Ah, whatever!”
“I’m going too!”
“Uwaaaaah!”
Unable to keep watching as their comrades jumped in one by one, the Light Wind Palace swordsmen entered the sea together.
>> Hoo!
Wrath whistled in surprise.
>> In the past, they wouldn’t have moved until you shoved them in, but they’ve all changed.
‘Because they’re family now.’
Raon smiled faintly as he watched the swordsmen draw their swords even as their teeth chattered.
‘They want to get stronger to help Martha.’
The cold of Glacier he had infused was seeping into this sea as well. It was far colder than the typical North Sea, and he felt proud of the swordsmen enduring it for Martha’s sake.
“Now, then. Dive and practice swordsmanship underwater.”
Raon clapped his hands, telling them to begin.
“D-dive?”
“Here?”
“You’re c-crazy…”
The swordsmen’s eyes trembled as if they were about to pop out, not expecting to be made to dive.
“Right. If you come out without completing one full sword form underwater…”
Raon lifted the sheath of the Heavenly Drive.
“…you’d better be ready.”
He smiled wickedly, saying he’d smack their heads.
“Starting now. Three, two, one.”
As soon as Raon shouted “one,” the swordsmen who had been sticking their heads out all plunged underwater.
“W-wait a moment. Mental preparation—kghuk!”
He smacked Krein’s head as the boy pinched his nose and hesitated.
“It h-hurts like hell!”
Krein cursed, clutching his head as he sank into the sea.
“Hm…”
As Raon smacked his lips and idly turned the sword sheath in his hand, the surface rippled and Dorian popped up.
“Huff! Huff! Just a moment—”
“Again.”
Raon twisted his lips upward and tapped Dorian’s head with the sheath.
“Uwaaaaah!”
Dorian screamed and went back under.
“This isn’t training, it’s torture… Kek!”
“Wait! Water got in my nose… Kghuk!”
The swordsmen surfaced with excuses, but Raon showed no mercy, smacking their heads again and again.
>> Ha…
Wrath let out a dumbfounded sigh.
>> This is just whack-a-mole with moles popping out of a hole!
He trembled his lips, saying only Raon was enjoying himself while it was torture for the swordsmen.
‘No.’
Raon shook his head calmly.
‘It’s threefold training: increasing lung capacity, practicing swordsmanship, and building resistance to the sea and cold.’
>> Wipe that smile off your lips and then say that nonsense!
Wrath ground his teeth, saying not even angels would do something this cruel.
‘Hm…’
Raon raised his hand to press down the corner of his mouth that had crept upward and stared at the sea before him.
Huuuuk.
Unlike the others, Martha hadn’t surfaced even once, enduring and swinging her sword.
‘…’
Raon clenched his fist, feeling the burning will in Martha’s eyes.
‘No matter what…’
‘I have to persuade the Holy Sword Alliance Lord.’
===
“Darkhan is here?”
Raon let out a dumbfounded sigh as he took in the lavish scenery of the Oskot Kingdom, a place that looked like money had been thrown at it without restraint.
‘It doesn’t suit him at all.’
It was hard to believe Darkhan—who seemed like the type to only swing his sword in silence—was staying in a kingdom overflowing with entertainment.
>> Why? What kind of place is this?
Wrath tilted his chin, asking for an explanation.
‘This place is different from ordinary kingdoms. The king is a gambler, and the entire capital is filled with casinos, alcohol, and drugs.’
It wasn’t exactly an uncontrollable lawless zone, but Oskot was a land ruled by money and violence, not humanity and conscience.
‘Darkhan isn’t interested in money, gambling, or entertainment—only the sword. So I don’t understand why he’s here.’
If Darkhan set his mind to it, he could easily conquer this kingdom, but it was strange that someone so obsessed with the sword was staying in a place like this.
“Yes. He is here.”
Rektor walked ahead as if telling him to follow, ascending toward the capital where red and blue lights flickered.
‘I wonder what he’s doing.’
Not knowing whether Darkhan had fallen into alcohol, gambling, or women, Raon smacked his lips briefly and followed Rektor.
However, he began heading not toward the bustling center of the capital filled with gambling dens and taverns, but toward its outskirts.
The dazzling lights and thick scent of money faded away, replaced by foul stenches and filth beginning to squelch underfoot.
“Grandfather?”
Raon’s eyes widened as he called out to Rektor, who was entering a narrow, dim alley.
“Is he really here?”
“He’s right over there.”
Rektor raised his hand, indicating they had arrived. At the tip of his finger, a man could be seen kneeling before a dilapidated gambling den.
“Just a single coin, please…”
The man, his eyes covered by a black blindfold, lifted a trembling hand with a voice drained of all strength.
“What the hell!”
“Won’t you just disappear?”
Young thugs, who seemed to have just emerged from the gambling den, stomped on the blindfolded beggar and spat phlegm onto his head.
“Told you the water’s gone bad around here too.”
They tossed a silver coin at the beggar’s feet, snickering among themselves before vanishing.
“Th-thank you.”
The blindfolded beggar snatched the coin that had fallen to the ground as if he could see it.
‘Sigh…’
Raon swallowed dryly as he looked at the beggar who had the exact same face as Darkhan from the Holy Sword Alliance’s sacred grounds.
‘That lunatic!’
Why is he playing the beggar here!
