The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 600

“Hah…”

Rektor laughed bitterly as he looked at his severed shoulder.

‘I didn’t even feel it.’

He hadn’t noticed Raon’s sword strike approaching. This indicated a massive difference in power.

‘If it weren’t for the ledger, I would’ve died from that strike.’

Raon could have aimed for his neck or heart instead of his right arm earlier. It was no exaggeration to say he was alive because of Raon’s mercy.

‘That rumor was true…’

When he first heard that Raon Zieghart had reached the level of Grandmaster, he had scoffed. But the rumor was true. No, it was even understated. Raon had already reached the lower tier of the Grandmaster level.

“Hoo.”

Rektor bit his lip as he met Raon’s calm gaze.

‘Stalling for time?’

What nonsense.

—

Unless one was a monster of Raon’s caliber, a Master couldn’t defeat a Grandmaster. Someone like him, who hadn’t yet escaped the realm of a Master, couldn’t stall for time against Raon.

“You’re truly a monster now.”

Rektor swallowed dryly as he staunched the bleeding from his shoulder. Raon did nothing to stop him, as if he could kill him at any time.

“You still look like the boy I first met, but your swordsmanship has become terrifyingly sharp.”

Raon’s face hadn’t changed much since their first meeting, but his swordsmanship had evolved drastically. It was to the point where he no longer seemed human.

“Did you spare me because of the ledger?”

Rektor awkwardly wiped the blood from his right shoulder with his left hand and forced a smile.

“But what do you plan to do with the ledger? Are you going to try and reclaim all the sold elves?”

“So what if I am?”

“Ha!”

Rektor laughed mockingly and raised his head.

“They are renowned figures on the continent, unlike the riffraff who arrived late. Some of them belong to the Six Kings and Five Monarchs. And you plan to reclaim them all?”

“Yes.”

Raon nodded calmly, as if it was no big deal.

“Even if they belong to the Ziegharts, I will reclaim them.”

His gaze was unwavering, as if he genuinely intended to reclaim all the elves listed in the ledger.

“You may have grown stronger, but you’re still mentally immature. You’re just a dreamer.”

“That may be, but…”

Raon shook his head as he looked at Rektor.

“It’s better than cowering in fear and wagging a thousand tails.”

“What nonsense!”

“It’s exactly what it means.”

Raon clicked his tongue briefly as he looked at the bloodshot-eyed Rektor.

“You weren’t like this before.”

Although he’d only met Rektor twice, he always felt something each time. Rektor was a confident and composed warrior, always exuding a sense of ease and vision. Although an enemy, Raon thought he was a man worth learning from.

In fact, when he met Rektor with his father, Rektor’s help had allowed him to postpone their death duel for three years.

He even felt indebted to him. But the Rektor he saw now was completely different from back then. His attitude was timid, blinded by desire, and his confidence and composure were nowhere to be seen.

“You know nothing about me!”

Rektor bared his teeth in a grotesque smile.

“The ledger? I’ll never give it up! Even if I die, I can’t let you have it!”

He spread his remaining arm wide, daring Raon to do his worst, filled with malice like he was touching a dragon’s reverse scale.

“I didn’t spare you because of the ledger. I thought I owed you.”

Raon sighed softly.

“What?”

Rektor glared, as if not understanding.

“If you’d been determined back then, I’d be dead.”

It was true. Just as with his father, if Rektor had ignored Rimmer and attacked him the first time they met, he would have died or been seriously injured.

But Rektor had shown restraint and even blessed him to become stronger. Among all the crazy monarchs, Raon thought he was a decent warrior. Meeting him like this now filled Raon with anger.

“Do you remember what you said to me then?”

“…”

“I’ll wait to hear your name on Mount Terrukan and the Label River.”

He remembered the words clearly, not missing a single syllable.

“Ah…”

Rektor’s lips trembled as if recalling those words.

“How about now? Is my name being heard on Mount Terrukan and the Label River?”

“…”

Rektor clenched his fist, his hand hanging limply at his side.

“I kept my promise, but it seems the one who made it with me is no longer here.”

Raon raised the Heavenly Sword heavily.

“…”

Rektor bowed his head silently, lost in thought.

“Let’s end this here…”

“The second shelf on the right.”

He slowly raised his head and pointed to a bookshelf on the right.

“What?”

“The ledger you’re looking for is on the second shelf to the right.”

Rektor shook his head as if annoyed by Raon’s questions. The desire in his eyes seemed to brighten slightly.

“Even if you tell me that, I won’t spare you.”

Because of his past life as a slave under Derus Robert, Raon couldn’t tolerate seeing others enslaved. He intended to kill those responsible, no matter who they were.

“I didn’t say it to save myself.”

Rektor chuckled and shook his head. The unique composure he had once possessed seemed to return slightly.

“It just reminded me of old times.”

Raon walked over to the bookshelf Rektor had indicated and pulled out a red book. Inside, the auction details were meticulously recorded. The recent entries listed the elves and those who had purchased them.

“You were right.”

Rektor sighed as he fondled the gold coins on the desk.

“I was just wagging a thousand tails and licking bones here.”

He looked at the black hole in the ceiling and lowered his gaze. Though Raon didn’t know the exact details, it seemed there had been issues within the South-North Union.

“Continue to follow your path to the end.”

“I intend to, whether you say it or not.”

“That’s right. That’s what makes you Raon Zieghart.”

Rektor smiled faintly as he touched the wound on his shoulder.

“I wish I had met you a bit earlier…”

With a heavy voice, he slumped to the floor. The wound on his shoulder, previously staunched by aura, burst open, and blood flowed even more profusely. He had chosen to end his own life.

“Hurry and get out of here. A monster is coming for you.”

“A monster?”

“Do you remember Tyler, the man you killed?”

“Of course.”

Raon nodded, recalling the time he killed Tyler, a disciple of the South-North Union’s leader, to save the enslaved Blue Leaf Tribe.

“Tyler’s grandfather is the vice-head of the Elder Council. No, he’s now the head of the Elder Council.”

“So…”

“Yes. He’s coming here.”

Rektor weakly smiled, urging Raon to leave quickly.

“The chains around the elves’ necks must be broken from the inside with aura. If not, they’ll explode and their heads will fly off.”

He provided unexpected information as if it were his last.

“…And be wary of Beorn.”

“Beorn?”

There was no answer. Rektor, with a bitter smile on his face, had closed his eyes.

“……”

Raon frowned as he looked at the lifeless Rektor.

‘Beorn?’

While mulling over the unsettling name, he felt a tremendous impact from above.

‘Already here.’

—

Rimmer climbed the stairs back to the cabin from the marketplace.

As soon as he stepped onto the deck, the warriors of the South-North Union, who seemed to have received the news, thrust their swords and spears filled with killing intent at him.

With the child in his arms, he shifted to the side, moving with the wind, then raised his left foot and struck all the approaching warriors in the head.

Bam, bam, bam!

The warriors of the South-North Union were thrown back violently and crashed onto the deck, but, true to their seafaring resilience, they immediately stood up and assumed their stances.

“Annoying.”

Rimmer set the child behind him and drew his sword.

“Wait a little longer. I’ll finish this quickly….”

Just as he was about to cut down the warriors of the South-North Union in one fell swoop, the deck exploded and a giant of water emerged.

Roar!

With a single gesture, the water giant sent all the warriors on the deck flying.

“Are you alright?”

Siyan, who was riding on the giant’s shoulder, blinked at Rimmer.

“Thanks to you.”

Rimmer chuckled and nodded.

“We’re almost there. Just hang on a little longer.”

Siyan used the giant’s hands to lift the hidden elves onto the deck.

“Will you wait for Raon?”

Leyran, who had climbed up last, looked towards the auction house and clicked his tongue.

“It’s dangerous in the river. As the host said, the South-North Union’s aquatic warriors are strongest in the river.”

Rimmer shook his head as he looked at the flowing river.

“It’s better for Raon if we leave this place first.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

Dorian poked his head out like a mole from the hole Siyan had made.

“You’re back quickly?”

“The lord and Siyan took care of the enemies ahead, so I just ran.”

Dorian nodded gratefully and climbed onto the deck.

“Raon said he would destroy this ship. There’s no need to wait.”

He pointed towards the riverbank, urging them to leave quickly.

“The elves can walk on water. We can just….”

“That’s not possible.”

Rimmer sighed and shook his head.

“What?”

“The chains around their necks completely block their powers.”

He pointed to the chains around the elves’ necks and frowned.

“The South-North Union warriors say they don’t know, and there’s no keyhole to unlock them.”

“Then…”

“It’s alright.”

Siyan snapped her fingers, and the water giant behind her dove into the river.

Rumble!

Absorbing the surrounding river water, the giant’s body grew larger. When it spread its hands, it was wide enough to accommodate twenty people.

“Everyone, get on.”

Siyan descended onto the giant’s palm first and beckoned, causing the hesitant elves to climb aboard.

Rimmer watched this with a long smile.

‘You’ve really changed a lot.’

Once too scared of others’ gazes to even stick a finger out from under her blanket, Siyan now confidently revealed herself and led others. Her transformation was both miraculous and admirable.

“Come on, quickly get on.”

Rimmer handed the child beside him to Siyan and was about to climb onto the giant’s hand when it happened.

Rumble!

A gray warship was speeding down the upper part of the Label River. It wasn’t just riding the wind; it seemed to be fueled by mana.

“Reinforcements already!”

Rimmer twisted his mouth and drew his sword again. He gathered the wind from the river and created a wall of sword energy.

Boom!

The blue wall of wind blocked the warship’s advance. As the ship’s speed gradually decreased, the old man standing on the mast extended the fishing rod he was carrying.

The fishing line extended endlessly and tore through the wall of wind without resistance.

The warship, undeterred, charged forward as if to destroy the water giant.

Bang!

Rimmer and Siyan moved simultaneously. Utilizing wind and water, they created a new wall together.

However, the warship, moving faster, shattered the incomplete wall and collided head-on with the water giant.

Boom!

The water giant’s upper body collapsed, and the elves riding on its hand fell like autumn leaves.

“Ahhh!”

“Ahhh!”

“Ugh!”

With the chains around their necks preventing them from using their powers, the elves could only flail helplessly as they plunged into the river.

“Damn it!”

Dorian, still on the deck, quickly jumped into the river. He pulled out a boat from his pouch and immediately launched it.

“Over here, get on!”

The boat was large enough to accommodate all the fallen elves, with room to spare.

“Why do you have that? Never mind, now’s not the time.”

Rimmer sighed in relief, then turned to face the old man who had jumped off the warship.

Though the old man’s skin was an unusual shade of red, his eyes were so filled with a storm of malice that it was hard to see clearly.

‘That old man…’

Rimmer had heard about a red-skinned old man who used a fishing rod as a weapon. It had to be Shiran, the vice-head of the South-North Union.

“I didn’t expect the vice-head of the South-North Union to come personally.”

Rimmer twisted his mouth as he looked at Shiran.

“You’re the Light Wind Division’s mad sword.”

Shiran nodded at Rimmer.

“Raon Zieghart is still inside, isn’t he? Good. That’s even better.”

He glared at Rimmer and lightly shook his fishing rod.

“If I kill you all before he comes out, he’ll feel the same pain I do.”

“What do you mean?”

“Raon Zieghart killed my grandson.”

“What?”

“Tyler. That devil killed the boy who should have been a hero!”

Shiran raised his fishing rod with a sinister gleam in his eye. The floating bobber began to spin furiously.

‘River Current…’

As the vice-head of the Elder Council, Shiran had reached the Grandmaster level. Despite his age, his power was overwhelming.

Rimmer glanced back at Siyan.

‘Siyan can’t summon the Spirit King either.’

The Spirit World was barely recovering from its near-destruction, and the Spirit Kings couldn’t leave it.

‘I’m not in top condition either.’

Rimmer still hadn’t fully healed from his battle with the Flame Demon. He could handle a Master, but facing someone of Shiran’s caliber was different.

‘I have to hold out.’

Rimmer made up his mind and looked at Siyan and Leyran.

“Retreat. I’ll hold him off. Head to the riverbank quickly…”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Shiran stomped his foot, and warriors from the South-North Union sprang from the warship and surrounded them. These warriors, from the Elder Council, were far stronger than those in the marketplace.

“Leave no one alive. Kill them all.”

At Shiran’s chilling command, the South-North Union warriors revealed their deadly intent and leapt into the river.

Rimmer bit his lip as he watched them move towards the boat.

‘Damn it!’

Under normal circumstances, Dorian, Siyan, and Leyran could handle them. But protecting the elves made the fight much harder.

“You first.”

Shiran swung his fishing rod down. As his wrist twisted, the rod bent sharply, releasing a wave of powerful aura.

‘To the right!’

Rimmer barely read the direction and raised his sword to block.

Clang!

The terrifying impact drilled into his shoulder. Shiran, full of rage, unleashed his full power from the start.

Crackle!

While the rod itself was blocked by the sword barrier, the fishing line moved like a living thing, aiming for Rimmer’s left arm. The fierce aura chipped away at the sword barrier.

“Persistent old man!”

Rimmer gritted his teeth and tried to kick away the fishing line. But the line was imbued with sharp aura, almost wounding his foot.

‘Annoying.’

The rod, line, and hook all moved independently, making it feel like fighting three opponents at once.

“Raaah!”

With a wild roar, Shiran struck with immense force. The lingering internal injury from the Flame Demon flared up, causing intense pain.

“Can’t you go easier?”

Rimmer feigned nonchalance and smiled.

“You’re a sacrifice. A sacrifice to make Raon Zieghart taste hell!”

Shiran’s rod, charged with furious energy, swung wildly. The swirling aura targeted not only Rimmer but also the elves behind him.

“Hup!”

Rimmer spun in mid-air and lifted his sword. The condensed wind formed a circular barrier against Shiran’s aura.

Clang!

Though he blocked it, Shiran’s aura was so strong that he couldn’t hold out for long. He would have to open the Sword Domain, even at the cost of severe internal injuries.

“Sword Domain…”

As Rimmer prepared to use the Sword Domain, a giant red flame erupted from the hole created by the water giant.

Roar!

A tremendous wave of fire surged up, splitting the sunken ship in half. Amidst the blazing heat, eyes burning more fiercely than the flames glinted.

“Raon Zieghart!”

Shiran kicked Rimmer aside and charged at Raon.

Clang!

Raon calmly extended the Heavenly Sword, blocking Shiran’s fishing rod.

“I’ve pictured your face thousands, no, tens of thousands of times, you devil!”

“Tyler’s grandfather.”

Raon met Shiran’s crazed gaze with a calm one.

“He deserved to die.”

Raon shook his head as he looked into the eyes of the old man filled with madness.

“Tyler enslaved the Blue Leaf Tribe to elevate himself and ruled over their lives. He was not a hero, but trash.”

“Shut up! The one who should die is you!”

Shiran, showing his rage, wildly swung his rod. The river burst explosively.

Roar!

Raon, accepting Shiran’s fury, raised his aura to deflect the rod.

“Indeed, dogs produce dogs.”

“What?”

“If you’re so eager to see your grandson, I’ll send you to where that trash is.”

Raon raised the Heavenly Sword and tilted his head. His red eyes burned more fiercely than the sunset-reflecting river.

“Come.”