The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 586
Raon blinked as he looked down at the baby fox.
“Leave here?”
“Yes! Immediately!”
The baby fox scraped at the ground with her front paws as she yelled.
‘Is this really Merlin…?’
If this were the usual Merlin, she would have said she missed him the moment they made eye contact, but instead, she was urgently telling him to leave Sepia. A sense of unease caused Raon to swallow dryly.
“Can you explain what you mean in detail…?”
Just as Raon was about to ask for more clarification, he sensed the presence of elves approaching from behind. Their voices were growing louder, indicating they were coming this way.
“Let’s go inside first… huh?”
Raon stopped trying to pick up the baby fox to bring her into the dormitory. The fox possessed by Merlin seemed like an illusion, as his hands couldn’t grasp her.
‘Come to think of it…’
Surprised that Merlin had made it this far, he hadn’t properly observed the fox. The baby fox lacked the presence of a living creature, giving off a feeling similar to that of a spirit.
“I don’t have much time… just leave! Return to Zieghart…”
Merlin couldn’t finish her sentence before she dissipated into a light mist.
“What was that?”
Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched Merlin disappear.
‘Did she take that form to break through the barrier?’
Raon turned his head to ask Wrath.
- Krrrrr…
Wrath, seemingly shocked by Merlin’s appearance, was foaming at the mouth. Utterly useless.
‘It must be because of the barrier.’
Both Rimmer and Erian had mentioned that only beings invited by elves could enter Sepia. Unless someone could outright break the barrier, no one could quietly pass through it in such a short period, not even Merlin. Given that the bushes had moved on their own, it seemed she had used some method to temporarily turn into a spirit.
‘She must have disappeared due to exhaustion.’
Impressive.
In just one day, Merlin had devised a new method to bypass Sepia’s barrier. Her magical skills and persistence were both awe-inspiring and frightening.
‘But why did she tell me to leave?’
‘Could it be that an attack from Eden is imminent?’
There was no other plausible explanation. It seemed likely that Eden, among other forces, was preparing to strike.
‘Did they time their attack to coincide with the purification ceremony?’
It wasn’t just a suspicion. Attacking just a day after Sterin began the ceremony suggested they knew the timing. It implied they were confident enough to fight without Sterin.
Raon quickly gathered his thoughts and headed towards the Guardians’ quarters where Rayran was. As he entered, the Guardians, who were about to eat, stared at him blankly. Their gazes were sharp, perhaps because he had interrupted their meal or because they had been on high alert.
- Sniff!
Wrath, who had fainted, lifted his head and sniffed the air.
- Food?
Ignoring both Wrath and the elves’ stares, Raon approached Rayran and Erian at the table.
“Raon. Do you want to eat? As the contractee of the Spirit King, I can prepare something for you.”
Erian, now even addressing Raon by name, offered him a seat.
“Actually, I need to ask if anything unusual has happened outside Sepia recently.”
“Outside? You mean the Great Forest?”
“Yes.”
“I just returned from patrol, and there was nothing out of the ordinary.”
He shook his head, explaining he had checked before their meal.
“Could you check again?”
“Raon.”
Rayran stood up, her eyes sharp.
“Erian and I patrolled the forest and secured the perimeter before Sterin settled into the ceremony. We were just about to have our first meal in two days. Your interruption…”
“Erian. Is it your instinct as the Spirit King’s contractee?”
Erian put down his fork, interrupting Rayran.
“Erian!”
“Quiet. That guy hasn’t eaten or slept either.”
Rayran glared at Erian in disbelief, but Erian mumbled that Raon was in the same situation.
“Spirit King…”
Raon bit his lips as he looked at Erian’s calm eyes.
‘Persistent guy.’
Erian’s stubbornness was overwhelming, but it was something Raon could use at the moment.
“Yes. It’s my intuition.”
“Alright then.”
Erian nodded and stood up.
“If you say so, we must check.”
“Erian!”
“Everyone, follow me.”
He told his subordinates they would eat after the patrol and gestured for them to follow. The elves glanced at Erian before rising. Their expressionless faces indicated how accustomed they were to following his orders.
Raon watched Erian leave the quarters, narrowing his eyes.
‘Is he better than I thought?’
He had seemed like a madman when they first met, but now Raon could see he had his merits.
- That one!
Wrath reached out a plump hand towards the fruit pie Erian had left behind.
- If he’s not eating it, give it to me! I haven’t eaten in two days!
‘Absolutely not.’
Eating the elves’ food after stopping their meal would be worse than being called insane. No matter how hungry he was, he couldn’t touch it.
- I’ll take responsibility! Just a taste…
‘Follow me.’
Raon grabbed Wrath’s head and followed Erian.
“Siyan!”
Rimmer knocked on Siyan’s door, shouting for her to let him in.
“I’m going to sleep! Go away, brother!”
Siyan blocked the door, pressing her back against it, and shouted at Rimmer.
“Raon must be hungry! Go and make sure he eats.”
“He’s not a child; he can feed himself. Just open the door!”
Rimmer threatened to force his way in if she didn’t open the door.
“I’m undressing to take a bath! Don’t come in!”
Siyan shook her head, insisting he not enter.
“Ugh…”
Rimmer paused and stepped back. As adults, he couldn’t just force his way in.
“Siyan.”
“What?”
“Don’t let them get to you.”
Facing the door that seemed too light to support his sister’s weight, he continued.
“They’re just spewing whatever comes to mind. I don’t know why they hate humans but mimic them in that regard.”
Rimmer clenched his fists, frustrated he couldn’t confront the elves while Raon was in a trance.
“I know.”
Siyan stepped away from the door, biting her lips.
“But they’re not wrong.”
She murmured quietly, so Rimmer couldn’t hear the last part.
A High Elf who was worse than regular elves, a useless being born with flaws.
Those words made her furious, but she couldn’t refute them.
‘I didn’t ask to be born like this.’
If she had been lazy or didn’t try hard enough to earn the World Tree’s favor, she could understand, but she had no talent from birth. It wasn’t her fault or anyone else’s, yet she was treated like this due to her innate lack of talent, which felt both absurd and despairing.
“Siyan…”
“Go away, brother.”
“But…”
“I’m really fine. Go and make sure Raon eats.”
“Let’s eat together.”
“I have this.”
Siyan opened the door slightly and showed a piece of Nadine bread.
“Ha.”
Rimmer sighed at the sight of the bread.
“Right, you made that to avoid going outside.”
He nodded briefly and turned away.
“I’ll be back with Raon tomorrow.”
Once Rimmer’s footsteps faded, Siyan threw off the blanket. The area where her face had been was slightly damp.
“Phew…”
She wiped the tears from her eyes and shook her head.
‘It didn’t work this time either.’
Seeing Raon gain enlightenment had motivated her to practice resonance, but the world still didn’t open up to her. Yet, she wasn’t disheartened.
‘Reality isn’t like heroic tales.’
She had always liked heroic tales.
In books or stories of heroes, the protagonist easily overcomes crises and always wins, achieving great feats. They are portrayed as never giving up and always achieving victory.
‘But…’
The tales never mentioned how hard those hardships were or how much effort was required.
The world doesn’t show the effort and struggles, only the success. She realized this after seeing Raon in person compared to the stories.
The stories claimed he easily defeated all his enemies, but his hands and arms were covered in scars. She couldn’t imagine the pain and effort he went through to become a Grandmaster.
‘I don’t want to say something as cliché as I won’t give up. But…’
I want to try as much as I can.
She wanted to put in the effort, at least to see those who scorned her kneel as Raon had suggested.
Siyan sat down and closed her eyes. Her breath flowed warm and cool at the same time as if driven by a wind deep underground.
“Then I’ll check the west.”
As soon as Raon left Sepia’s barrier, he turned right.
“The Great Forest is complicated. You might not find your way back.”
Erian frowned with concern.
“It’s alright. I remember the path.”
“As expected of the Spirit King’s contractee!”
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t see how that related to the Spirit King.
“Anyway, if anything feels off, don’t fight; send a signal immediately.”
“Got it. I’ll check the east. Rayran, you go south.”
“Understood.”
Rayran nodded and headed south. She seemed displeased but focused on the task.
“Then I’ll go too.”
Raon gave a slight nod to Erian before stepping right, moving with the Supreme Harmony Steps. Once Erian and Rayran’s presences disappeared, he stopped.
“Merlin. Merlin.”
He softly called her name, knowing she would be nearby. But despite expecting her to appear immediately, there was no response.
‘What?’
Raon furrowed his brows as he walked west.
‘Did she really overdo it?’
Knowing her, it was likely she had overexerted herself and was now unconscious.
‘So I have to find her.’
Sighing lightly, Raon used the Ring of Fire and Glacier simultaneously.
Wooong!
The heightened sensitivity from becoming a Grandmaster extended his senses, reaching through the forest. He could even sense the movement of plants, but there was no sign of any threat or human presence.
‘Wrath?’
- Nothing!
Wrath shook his head.
- Nothing but a ruined meal!
If Wrath, essentially an automatic sensor, said there was nothing, it meant there truly was no threat.
“Still, just a little more…”
It seemed his trust in Merlin had grown significantly.
He trusted Wrath, but since Merlin could teleport, he checked the northern part before returning to Sepia’s entrance.
Erian, Rayran, and the Guardians were already back, waiting.
“You’re back quickly.”
“Elves are connected to the forest. We can sense any issues without checking everything.”
Rayran explained it was as simple as breathing, shaking her head.
Raon nodded at her.
‘Indeed…’
When they first arrived, Rayran and the Guardians had already been waiting, so her words made sense.
“Did you find anything?”
“Nothing.”
“Your expression doesn’t look good.”
Erian nodded, looking at Raon with concern.
“Does it really feel that bad?”
“Yes.”
“Alright.”
He turned to Rayran, gesturing.
“Strengthen the outer perimeter.”
“What? We’ve already fortified it. Many are guarding the World Tree as well…”
“If this place falls, that will follow. Do as I say.”
“Erian! No, brother!”
Rayran grabbed Erian’s sleeve, unable to hold back.
‘Brother?’
Raon blinked at the two of them.
‘Now that I think about it…’
Their names were similar, and there were subtle hints in their interactions. It seemed they were siblings.
“I told you not to call me that during missions.”
“This is too much. Why are you listening to this human…?”
“Whether it’s from a human or not, strengthening the perimeter won’t harm us. It’s just a bit harder. Accept it.”
He waved his hand, saying he’d take the first watch and take responsibility.
“Tsk.”
Rayran clicked her tongue, glaring at Raon. The other Guardians seemed equally displeased.
Raon licked his lips, watching Erian return to Sepia.
‘First impressions were terrible, but he’s solid inside.’
Surprisingly genuine.
Seeing this, he couldn’t leave. If there was a significant problem, he wanted to help.
- My stomach isn’t fine! Let’s eat!
‘Okay…’
Raon looked at the darkening sky, licking his lips.
‘I should contact Aris.’
Even if Merlin’s warning was false, Aris might come out of curiosity. He decided to ask Dorian to contact her as soon as he returned.
- Feed me first!
‘…’
- Stop ignoring me!
The training ground of the Golden Martial Hall bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun.
Daneir watched Marta, Burren, and Runaan practice with their swords, his hands clasped behind his back.
“Marta. Your courage to attack first is commendable, but think about the follow-up. Enemies are not scarecrows.”
“Yes!”
Marta immediately adjusted her stance, positioning her sword to counter potential attacks.
“Burren. Your balance between offense and defense is good. You’re versatile. But that’s not always an advantage. It’s good to have a definitive move to finish off your enemies.”
“Understood.”
Burren perked up, eager to absorb the advice.
“Runaan. You’re the opposite of Marta. You focus too much on defense, making your attacks weak. Not every fight is about protecting someone, so try adopting a more aggressive stance.”
“Okay.”
Runaan’s usually quiet tone had a sharpness as she adjusted her sword strikes.
“Marta. When using that technique, lower your upper body more. The enemy could counter…”
Daneir returned to Marta to correct her stance.
Bang!
The door to the training ground flew open, nearly breaking, and Aris stepped in.
“You’re training? Let me join.”
Aris squeezed into the group as if joining a gambling game.
“Lady Aris! Welcome!”
Marta’s eyes sparkled as she approached Aris.
“Is it true you’ll guide us?”
Burren asked, his mouth agape.
“Aunt.”
Aris frowned at them.
“Call me Aunt.”
The first to comply was not Marta or Burren but Runaan. She hugged Aris, calling her Aunt again.
“Fine…”
Aris swallowed dryly, patting Runaan’s head.
“Anyway, it looks fun. I’ll give some pointers.”
Ignoring others’ opinions, Aris joined Daneir, wiggling her fingers.
“Hmm…”
Burren, Marta, and Runaan turned to Daneir.
“Go ahead.”
Daneir nodded, indicating it was okay.
Burren, Marta, and Runaan resumed their training, and Aris observed them calmly.
“Marta. You’re like me. Can’t wait to draw your sword?”
“Yes.”
Marta nodded happily.
“That impatience can sometimes be a drawback, but if you overcome it, it’s fine.”
“How do I overcome it?”
“Spar with me.”
“Uh…”
The idea of sparring with Aris seemed to shock Marta.
“Next.”
Aris moved to Burren.
“You think too much. To change that, you need experience. Spar with me.”
“Ah…”
Burren was equally taken aback.
“Runaan, you’re too kind. Your swordsmanship prioritizes others. Be more selfish. So, spar with me.”
Aris suggested sparring to all three, smiling.
“We’ll spar right now. Prepare as if it’s real.”
“Yes!”
“Got it.”
“Okay.”
At her command, Burren, Marta, and Runaan rushed to gear up.
“Sister.”
Daneir approached Aris, narrowing his eyes.
“What are you planning?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re not usually one to look after the kids. You even leave your own son alone…”
“Because he’s my son. Nephews and nieces are cute.”
“That’s illogical…”
“And you? What are you planning?”
Aris’s smiling eyes flashed with a sharp light.
“You’re not one to care for kids either.”