The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 662

“Wh-what about my mother?”

Martha’s fingertips trembled. The sword she had been holding fell from her grip and stuck into the ground.

“Yes, your mother. No, the leader of the White Religion has been spotted.”

Denier furrowed his brows, as if uncertain what to call her.

“…Where?”

Martha clenched her chest, which felt like it was being torn apart, and bit her lip.

“To the south. She caused chaos in the Kingdom of Call, near the Beast Alliance.”

Denier massaged his forehead, letting out a deep sigh.

“Three knight orders were annihilated, and even the king has been killed.”

“Ugh…”

Martha clenched her trembling fist.

“That demon…”

The body controlled by the leader of the White Religion was her mother’s.

Even though her mother had lived tenaciously, she had never wielded violence recklessly. The thought of her mother’s body being used to massacre hundreds filled Martha with a rage that felt like her heart was about to burst.

“Why did she attack the Kingdom of Call?”

“Although it hasn’t been fully confirmed yet, it seems she aimed to steal the kingdom’s relics. Considering the king is dead, it appears she succeeded.”

Denier shook his head, indicating it was a grim situation.

“Where is the leader of the White Religion now?”

“The leader of the Beast Alliance immediately set out to track her down as soon as they heard about the attack, but it seems she had already disappeared.”

“I suppose so…”

No matter how powerful the leader of the Beast Alliance was, catching up to the White Religion’s leader from a long distance would be nearly impossible.

“Are you alright?”

Denier placed a hand on Martha’s shoulder as she hung her head.

“You asked me to investigate the leader of the White Religion’s whereabouts, but I wasn’t sure if this was the right decision.”

“No, this was something I needed to know. Thank you, Father.”

Martha clutched the pendant around her neck, her lips trembling.

“Yes, I had to know.”

She needed to know what the leader of the White Religion had done with her mother’s body, whom she had killed, so she could seek forgiveness someday.

I haven’t given up on saving my mother yet.

“But there is some good news.”

Denier raised a finger, looking at Martha.

“Good news?”

“Yes. You mentioned that the leader of the White Religion still wears your mother’s pendant, right?”

“That’s right. That’s how I recognized her.”

The leader of the White Religion resembled her mother but had a much more delicate and youthful appearance. Without the pendant, it would have been hard to identify her.

“Grand Magus Balam has responded. He said the reason the leader of the White Religion wears that pendant is that she hasn’t completely erased your mother’s soul.”

Denier nodded, glancing at the pendant Martha was holding.

“If fortune favors, we might be able to expel the leader’s soul.”

“R-really?”

“Yes, though the chances are very slim.”

“That’s enough. That’s all I need.”

Martha nodded as she picked up the sword that had fallen to the ground.

“I can save my mother…”

Although she had been determined to kill the leader of the White Religion, she hadn’t known how to save her mother.

Hearing something that could solve her greatest dilemma made her heart race.

“What do I need to do to save my mother?”

“You, being of her blood, are essential, along with an artifact imbued with the magic of creation. I’ve already made the arrangements for that artifact.”

Denier paused, watching Martha’s trembling eyes.

“Balam is known to be obsessed with money, but he gets the job done. You can trust him.”

“Thank you, Father.”

Martha lowered her head, unable to meet Denier’s eyes.

“I’ll repay you someday.”

Balam was known as the greediest sorcerer on the continent. The amount of money involved must have been astronomical, so a mere ‘thank you’ wouldn’t suffice.

“As your father, it’s my duty.”

Denier shook his head and hugged Martha, whose shoulders were trembling.

“…Thank you so much.”

Martha closed her eyes, feeling his warmth.

“Meeting you has been the greatest fortune of my life.”

If it weren’t for Denier, she wouldn’t have survived on the streets, let alone come to Zieghart. Thanks to him, she had gained Zieghart’s name and met Raon and the Light Wind Division, a debt she would have to repay for life.

“But Martha?”

“Yes?”

“If I didn’t see it wrong, it looked like you were using wind techniques…”

Denier tilted his head, puzzled.

“That’s right.”

Martha nodded, looking up at Denier.

“Raon created a new martial art called the Light Wind Style…”

She explained to Denier about the Light Wind Style Raon had created and how the entire Light Wind Division had entered a trance.

“Light Wind Style…”

Denier muttered the name while examining the sword marks Martha had left behind.

“Could you show it to me?”

“Of course, but I don’t have much energy left, so I won’t be able to show you for long.”

Martha stepped back from Denier and activated the Light Wind Style.

With the aura of Titan and the wind of the Light Wind Style swirling around her, she unleashed the martial sword techniques Denier had taught her.

*Boom!*

The heavy weight of her sword strikes combined with sharpness and speed, creating a higher level of power.

“How was it?”

Martha lifted her chin after demonstrating a series of martial sword moves.

“Is it a martial art utilizing heightened senses?”

Denier’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Yes. It moves as I want, but the wind itself also carries its own will, imbuing the sword.”

“Hmm…”

Denier gulped, genuinely astonished.

“Raon really created this martial art?”

“He did, and in just a week. We were all amazed. Even that gambler stopped going to the gambling den and started training.”

Martha smiled, mentioning how even Rimmer, who usually frequented gambling dens, had been drawn to train by the martial art.

“Hmm…”

She tilted her head, looking at the wind that had disappeared from her hands.

“The wind’s gone now. I need to go and train.”

“Alright, go ahead.”

Denier nodded, and Martha bowed before turning away.

At that moment, Denier’s eyes darkened, as if a shadow had fallen over them. The interest, love, surprise, and confusion he had shown his daughter faded like a watercolor painting washed away by rain.

* * *

Raon headed to Sylvia’s room after finishing an uncomfortable meal with Glenn.

“Raon!”

Sylvia was wearing training clothes instead of patient clothes, standing by her bed.

“Mom, why are you wearing training clothes…”

“Today is the day Madam is discharged.”

Helen smiled as she folded Sylvia’s patient clothes.

“Your only son didn’t even know his mother was being discharged and only visited once a week…”

Sylvia sniffed, pretending to be sad.

“I-I told you it would take some time to teach the division the martial arts…”

Raon scratched the back of his neck, looking at Sylvia’s eyes.

– Tsk, tsk!

Wrath clicked his tongue and shook his head.

– This is why raising a celestial is useless!

He wagged his tail as he clung to Sylvia.

– Don’t worry, Mother! This king will serve you till the end!

Wrath grabbed Sylvia’s shoulder, insisting he was her real child.

“I was just joking.”

Sylvia waved her hand with a bright smile.

“I know better than anyone how busy you are. So, how did the training go with the Light Wind Style?”

“Yes, it went surprisingly well…”

Raon explained how the entire Light Wind Division had entered a trance after learning the new martial art.

“All of them went into a trance? Is that even possible?”

Sylvia widened her eyes, saying she had never heard of such a thing before.

“I didn’t expect it either.”

Raon shook his head, sitting down beside Sylvia.

“Just hearing that they went into a trance makes my body itch to start training.”

Sylvia rotated her shoulders, expressing her eagerness to train immediately after her discharge.

“Yes. You should train and also teach them the Light of Annex technique.”

“Hmm…”

At Raon’s words, Helen twirled a strand of her hair around her finger.

“Young master, can we also learn it?”

“Yes, I designed it to be easy to learn, even if you’re starting martial arts late. It shouldn’t be too difficult.”

Raon smiled, saying they just needed to trust Sylvia.

“Phew, I never thought I’d be learning martial arts at this age. I’m both excited and nervous.”

Seeing Helen’s trembling hands, Raon was reminded of his encounter with Glenn earlier.

“Oh, there was something else unusual today.”

“Something unusual? More unusual than the entire Light Wind Division going into a trance?”

“Yes, the head of the family…”

Raon explained his encounter with Glenn before arriving at the room.

“Gasp…”

Helen was the first to react, gasping in shock.

“A m-meal with the head of the family! Madam, doesn’t this mean he wants to get closer?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure…”

Contrary to expectations, Sylvia didn’t seem surprised and gave a soft smile.

“Raon.”

“Yes?”

“If something similar happens again, please be kind to him.”

“Ki-kind?”

“Yes, kind.”

She squeezed his shoulder, asking him to please do so.

“I-it’s impossible…”

Just as Raon was about to express his difficulty, the door to the room swung open.

Entering were Encia and Siyan, who had been away with the Yonan family, writing a biography of Raon Zieghart.

“Mother!”

“Are y-you okay?”

The two rushed over to Sylvia and Helen, examining them closely.

“I’m fine. I’m all better.”

Sylvia raised her arm with a bright smile.

“We’re so sorry! We were in seclusion and got the news so late!”

“W-we’re sorry.”

Encia, teary-eyed, said she didn’t even know her friend from the non-sword meeting had sent information. Siyan also apologized, bowing her head.

“It’s alright. It’s actually a relief that you were away.”

Sylvia smiled, saying she was glad they hadn’t gone through any trouble.

“Mother!”

“S-Sylvia…”

Encia threw herself into Sylvia’s arms, while Siyan sniffled, her long hair covering her face.

Raon watched this, smiling faintly.

“Yes, it was a relief they weren’t around.”

Encia was set to inherit the Yonan family, and Siyan was a high elf of Sephia and a contracted spirit king.

If Kyluan had harmed those two, it would have been troublesome.

“But still…”

Don’t they see me?

Normally, they would have greeted me before Sylvia, shouting my praises, but now they seemed so sorry that they didn’t even glance in my direction. It was precisely what I wanted, yet I felt a bit bitter.

– Pathetic.

Wrath seemed to notice Raon’s thoughts and shook his head.

“So, did you finish the book?”

“Yes! It’ll be published across the continent soon!”

“Can I see it?”

“Of course!”

Encia pulled out a book with a very luxurious cover and handed it to Sylvia.

It was titled “Raon Zieghart Biography, Volume 2,” with a dark green cover. Just looking at the book sent chills down his spine.

“Could I take a look too?”

Raon swallowed nervously as he approached Encia and Siyan.

“Oh? Lord Raon! Since when have you been here?”

“Ah!”

Encia smiled brightly as she approached, and Siyan hid behind her.

“You look handsome today, too! I love that slightly scraped forehead!”

She blushed as she covered her cheeks with her hands.

“I heard everything! The Sea Sword battle!”

Encia smacked her lips.

“I’m planning to write about the Sea Sword battle in the next volume! It’s perfect for the biography! It’s truly legendary!”

“Yes, yes.”

Siyan nodded as if it were a given.

“Oh, um…”

“Ah, you asked for the book? Of course, I’ll give it to you.”

Encia pulled out Volume 2 of the “Raon Zieghart Biography” from her spatial pocket and handed it to him. It was another brand-new book.

“…Thank you.”

With trembling hands, Raon opened the book with his name on it.

[As Raon Zieghart roared, the Light Dragon Kaibar shivered in fear, trembling its reverse scales and hiding deep in the ocean.]

[When Raon Zieghart drew his divine sword imbued with the breath of the sun, the sea split in two, revealing the Light Dragon Kaibar hidden beneath the ocean.]

[Light Dragon Kaibar, sensing defeat, knelt, offering all the treasures it had accumulated thus far, begging for mercy.]

[Raon Zieghart wasn’t swayed by the Light Dragon’s temptation. With a single stroke of his demon sword, he decapitated the Light Dragon. At that moment, as if blessed by the gods, the treasure Kaibar had hidden rained down like a shower.]

Raon clenched his eyes shut after reading the part about the Light Dragon.

“Trembling with fear and hiding, the sea splitting, a dragon kneeling, and treasures raining down?”

Nothing about it was normal.

“Why did it get worse even with Siyan there!”

* * *

In a region where mountains and rivers met, sunlight gently shone.

Axe King Roman plunged the handle of an axe into a gravel field filled with stones large and small.

He picked up a pebble, smoothly gliding it along the red axe blade. The pebble was split into four pieces before he could even sharpen it twice.

Roman picked up another pebble, sharpening the axe blade again. This time, it took five strokes for the pebble to turn into dust.

He sharpened the axe blade with the pebbles as if it were an important task, focusing so intensely that his breath was barely audible.

Even as the sun in the sky dipped below the horizon and the sparks from the pebbles igniting against the blade lit up the darkness, Roman’s hands did not stop.

Only after turning over a thousand pebbles into sand did Roman finally pause. He nodded in satisfaction and gestured with his chin.

“You may come out now.”

“When did you notice?”

From the shadow of the mountain, an old man with ash-gray hair emerged.

The old man’s face was deeply lined with wrinkles, but his body was solid, as if filled with rocks.

However, what truly defined him was his fierce, lightning-like presence. A tremendous wave of energy, spirit, and will combined enveloped the space like a cloud.

“What brings you here, Vice Leader?”

Roman turned his gaze calmly without answering the old man’s question.

“I was curious about how well the preparations were going, so I came to check.”

The old man called Vice Leader shook his head briefly.

“Whether the preparations are going well or not, I cannot say. But it’s been a long time since I’ve looked forward to a life-and-death duel this much.”

Roman calmly rotated his wrist, saying he would simply enjoy himself.

“I heard that young kid obtained the martial arts of the Sword Saint?”

“I heard that too.”

He nodded indifferently.

“But it has nothing to do with me.”

“How is it unrelated when you’re having a life-and-death duel with that young kid?”

“What matters is not him, but myself.”

Roman picked up another pebble with a serene gaze.

“So, you’re confident you’ll win?”

“Of course.”

He declared his victory without a moment’s hesitation, befitting his title as the King.

“Confidence is good. Yes, you should win, then.”

“What do you mean?”

“You are the third spear of the North-South Union. If you lose to a kid from Zieghart who just reached maturity, it would be disgraceful.”

The Vice Leader’s lips twisted upwards.

“If that happens, I won’t be able to just stand by.”

“Vice Leader, you’re not…”

“I’m not a fool like the elder. I don’t move out of grudges. I only act for the sake of the Union.”

He nodded, saying he would look forward to it.

“The life-and-death duel is between me and Raon Zieghart. Even if I lose, do not act!”

Roman threw a fierce gaze at the Vice Leader, almost as a warning.

“You just need to win, don’t you?”

The Vice Leader lightly waved his hand as if to say focus solely on the duel, then turned his back.

“Let’s go.”

At his words, a young man with red hair emerged from behind a tree to the right.

Unlike the Vice Leader, the young man’s energy was calm and subdued, almost as if he didn’t exist in this place, like a faint drizzle.

But upon closer look, he seemed to exude an eerily intense radiance. It was a light that simultaneously emanated warmth and chill.

“Beorn…”

The young man called Beorn bowed with a calm gaze like a dying ember and followed the Vice Leader.

Roman furrowed his brows as he watched Beorn’s back.

“I don’t like him, just like I don’t like the Vice Leader.”

It wasn’t because Beorn had ruined the Rector. He couldn’t understand what Beorn was thinking at all.

“They’re similar but different.”

Both Raon and Beorn had extraordinary talent and blood-red eyes.

However, their gazes were entirely different.

Looking into Raon’s fiery eyes naturally made one feel expectation and fondness, but Beorn was the exact opposite. His calm gaze felt eerie and unsettling.

“Whew.”

To clear his mind, Roman let out a short breath.

He picked up another pebble and sharpened the axe blade. Perhaps his focus had waned because the pebble turned to dust after only two strokes, as it had in the beginning.

Roman clicked his tongue and grabbed a new pebble. The sound of the axe blade being sharpened continued alongside the gentle flow of the river until dawn.

* * *

Raon sat at a luxurious round table, as if draped in shadow, and licked his lips.

“There aren’t any decent missions today.”

He had hoped to choose a mission for the Light Wind Division to gain practical experience during the council meeting, but nothing seemed appealing.

“Reconnaissance, investigation, search…”

A few significant incidents had occurred recently, but most were in the south and center, which didn’t concern Zieghart much.

“Isn’t there anything else?”

Hoping for a mission involving combat, even a bandit subjugation, Raon glanced at Chad.

“Then I will announce the next mission.”

Chad opened the document and glanced briefly in Raon’s direction.

“It has been reported that various monsters are gathering around Mount Dibarun. Considering there are even ettins among them, it seems a powerful king has been born.”

“A king…”

Most monsters moved in tribes. Even if they were the same species, if they belonged to different tribes, they would fiercely compete for territory.

However, there were times when monsters moved together, regardless of their tribe or species. A king—a creature capable of uniting all species—was born.

“This is it.”

Considering there were even ettins, a type of powerful monster, it seemed likely a strong king had indeed been born, just as Chad said.

“Those who wish to undertake the monster subjugation mission in Mount Dibarun, please raise your hand.”

Since it was the most significant mission thus far, all the leaders who hadn’t been assigned a mission raised their hands.

Raon also raised his hand without hesitation.

“Is there time for the leader of the Light Wind Division to take on a mission when he has a life-and-death duel to prepare for?”

“Indeed. It would be better to focus on personal training.”

The direct lineage leaders sent subtle looks, implying Raon should lower his hand.

Unable to overwhelm them with force as he once did, they now subtly provoked him with words. The absence of Aris seemed to play a part too.

“I’ll handle my affairs myself, so don’t worry about it.”

Raon gave the direct lineage leaders a cold stare.

“Uh…”

“Th-that…”

The direct lineage leaders couldn’t meet Raon’s gaze and lowered their eyes.

However, they didn’t seem to have given up on obstructing him, immediately approaching Lord Balder of the True Martial Hall.

“Wouldn’t it be best if Lord Balder personally stepped in?”

“Yes. If Lord Balder takes action, that boy will have no choice but to lower his hand.”

“Among the missions available today, this is the most suitable one.”

The direct lineage leaders clung to Balder instead of Karun, bowing their heads as if asking him to take action.

“Hmm…”

Balder licked his lips and raised his hand. As soon as he did, the other leaders sighed and lowered their hands.

“As expected! Lord Balder!”

“Everyone will be moved by your leadership!”

The direct lineage leaders smirked, mocking Raon.

Raon frowned. The assignment of missions was determined by rank and strength, so there was no way around it if Balder got involved.

He clicked his tongue and was about to lower his hand when Balder pointed at him with the hand he had raised.

“If everyone steps back, this mission will go to the leader of the Light Wind Division.”

Balder smiled broadly and winked with one eye.

“Huh…?”

Raon’s mouth dropped open as he saw Balder’s wink.

“What’s gotten into that blockhead?”