The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 697

“So instead of postponing the date, you’re moving it up?”

Rimmer’s jaw dropped as he looked into Raon’s calm eyes.

“Yes. Usually, when something dangerous happens, the schedule gets postponed. It’s rare to think about moving it forward.”

Raon nodded as he observed Rimmer’s surprise.

“That’s exactly what I intend. We’ll conduct the life-and-death duel on December 31st.”

As he said those words, he wrote the date down on a note.

“Well… I suppose that makes sense.”

Rimmer rubbed his smooth chin, letting out a deep breath.

“After all, the family head, Ogram, and even Lord Chamber told you to delay it.”

He nodded, emphasizing that no one had advised him to move the schedule forward.

“Moreover, I’ll ensure that only Zieghart members and North-South Union warriors can attend, strictly maintaining secrecy.”

“Yes, that way the man who wields the power of death won’t be able to show up.”

Rimmer clapped his hands, seeming impressed by the idea.

“You really are sharp.”

“No. He’ll come.”

Raon bit his lip as he gazed at the violet sky, painted by the setting sun.

Although Roman Laycal would not betray them, Derus Robert’s agents had undoubtedly infiltrated the North-South Union. This information would inevitably leak.

“He’ll definitely come.”

Derus likely already considered both him and Glenn as threats, but after today’s Six Kings Conference, they would surely become prime targets for assassination.

“Because I rescued Ogram.”

Raon had not only chased after the White Blood Religion to rescue Ogram but had become a thorn in their side. To Derus, Raon was a bothersome obstacle, and Glenn a dangerous enemy who could neutralize the power of death. They would stop at nothing to kill them both.

“The best opportunity for him to eliminate me and the family head will be…”

This life-and-death duel.

Whether Raon or Roman emerged victorious, Derus would unleash his assassins immediately after the duel concluded. The winner, weakened by the fight, would be vulnerable to a sudden ambush.

Once the honorable duel collapsed, war would inevitably break out between Zieghart and the North-South Union, forcing Glenn to act personally. Derus would take advantage of the chaos at its peak to launch a surprise attack on Glenn.

“Knowing that he’ll come, are you still going through with this duel?”

Rimmer approached with a furrowed brow.

“That man is dangerous! Even the arrogant Beast King admitted he could have lost to him in a one-on-one fight!”

He shook his head vehemently, gripping Raon’s shoulder as if trying to dissuade him.

“That’s why we need to be prepared.”

Raon nodded calmly. Given that the chance of Derus showing up exceeded ninety percent, it was essential to prepare for his arrival.

“Prepare? How?”

“First, I need to write a letter to the Beast King.”

He tied a note, detailing the location and conditions, to the leg of the azure messenger bird.

“All right, you can go now.”

The bird gave a slight nod and soared into the darkening sky.

“I’m planning to borrow the strongest sword on the continent.”

Raon tightened his grip on the hilt of the Heavenly Drive as he watched the bird fly southward, trailing a streak of blue light.

“Even if I have to sacrifice every gold token I have.”

—

Without even eating dinner, Raon went to the reception hall and knelt before Glenn.

“I greet the family head.”

“There’s no need.”

As Raon tried to lower his head, Glenn gestured for him to rise, saying there was no need to bow twice in one day.

“What brings you here at this hour?”

“I just received word from the Axe King.”

“From the Axe King?”

“Yes. He sent a message through an azure bird.”

“What did it say?”

“He wrote that he will fight me anywhere, anytime, so I shouldn’t even think about running away. And so, I…”

Raon repeated the plan he had shared with Rimmer in the training hall.

“December 31st…”

Glenn stroked his chin, narrowing his eyes.

“You thought it through well.”

Sheryl nodded, saying she hadn’t anticipated moving the duel date forward.

“Most people won’t even suspect the duel will take place on that day!”

“Hahaha, it’s true. No one expects an earlier schedule.”

Roenn smiled lightly, agreeing that moving it up might be advantageous.

“No.”

Unlike Sheryl and Roenn, Glenn shook his head calmly.

“The man what wields the power of death understands Ogram’s movements and tendencies well. While Raon’s plan is clever, it’s highly likely he’ll see through it.”

He frowned as if he had already predicted the swordsman wielding the power of death.

“You’re right.”

Raon met Glenn’s gaze and nodded.

“That’s why this life-and-death duel will serve as the perfect bait to lure him in.”

He opened the dimensional pouch and pulled out every gold and silver plaque he had collected so far.

“I will be the bait. Please, take him down.”

Raon slid the plaques toward Glenn and pressed his forehead to the ground.

‘This is my chance.’

If Glenn acted, Raon could strike back at Derus just as Derus had targeted him. At the very least, he needed to obtain undeniable proof of Derus’ identity.

“Raon!”

“Young master Raon?”

Sheryl and Roenn gasped, clearly shocked by Raon’s actions.

“Hahaha!”

Leaning against a pillar, Rimmer swept his hair back, laughing aloud.

“So this is what you meant by borrowing the strongest sword? As expected, you really are the craziest guy in our family!”

He even clapped, thoroughly entertained.

Raon bit his lip as he glanced at the gold and silver plaques gleaming before him.

‘They’re useless to me now.’

If he won the duel, Sylvia would become a direct descendant without needing the plaques. At this point, they meant nothing to him.

“Raon Zieghart. I am not a mercenary.”

Glenn’s crimson eyes turned as cold as ice.

“Ugh…”

Raon trembled under the weight of that terrifying gaze.

‘So it’s not going to work?’

He had thought their relationship had grown closer recently and believed Glenn’s anger toward Ogram might sway him. It seemed that was a mistake.

“I apologize. I didn’t mean to…”

“However.”

With a slight gesture from Glenn’s finger, the plaques floated back into the dimensional pouch.

“I cannot ignore the insult of someone meddling with our family and interfering in a sworn duel.”

His noble gaze hardened as he nodded.

“Now, tell me your plan.”

Raon clenched his fist against the floor and raised his head.

“This is what I need you to do…”

—

The Next Day

Raon arrived at the fifth training ground early in the morning. He intended to finish his basic sword techniques and dive into intense training when the doors to the hall swung open, revealing Burren, Martha, and Runaan.

“As expected, you’re already here, you traitor!”

Martha scowled, glaring at Raon.

“Traitor?”

Raon blinked, repeating the word with confusion.

“She’s calling you a traitor because you attacked the White Blood Religion by yourself without telling us.”

Burren sighed, shaking his head.

“Ah…”

Raon let out a small groan, glancing at Martha, who pouted her lips.

‘I can understand why she feels that way.’

The White Blood Religion was Martha’s sworn enemy, and with the cult leader involved, it made sense she felt disappointed at not being able to join.

Still, Raon didn’t regret not taking her. If Martha had come along, things could have turned out much more dangerous.

“I’m sorry, but…”

“Don’t apologize! I know why you did it.”

Martha shook her head firmly, cutting him off. Though her black eyes, which resembled those of the cult leader, gleamed with determination, they held no resentment.

“I couldn’t go because I was weak.”

She bit her lip, frustration seeping into her voice.

“I’m not angry at you, traitor.”

“You’re still calling me a traitor…”

“I’ll become stronger. Strong enough to crush everything in my way and rescue my mother.”

“…”

Raon let out a quiet breath, watching as Martha suppressed her anger and talked about growth.

‘She’s changed.’

The reckless girl who used to charge in blindly without thinking was gone. In her place was a disciplined swordswoman, concealing her emotions and focusing on the bigger picture.

“Still, there’s something I want to ask. Is my mother… is the cult leader’s body still intact?”

Martha lowered her head, as if scared to hear the answer.

“Yes. She seemed unharmed… for now.”

Raon nodded, recalling how the cult leader had pursued him relentlessly, her disheveled hair whipping in the wind.

“Ah…”

Martha slumped to the ground, caught between the relief of knowing her mother was safe and the eerie reality that the cult leader remained active.

“And…”

Raon raised his hand, focusing his energy.

“There’s a way to save your mother.”

“What…?”

Martha shot to her feet, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“What do you mean? How?”

“There’s a martial art called *Fierce Sea Art*…”

Raon explained how Ogram had told him that the Fierce Sea Art wasn’t just a technique that pierced through auras but one that could affect souls as well. If Raon mastered it, he could strike the cult leader’s soul directly, leaving her body unharmed.

“Remember what I told you. I’ll help you save your mother.”

Raon nodded, meeting Martha’s trembling gaze.

“I intend to keep that promise.”

“…”

Martha turned away abruptly, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand.

“Thanks… really.”

Her shoulders trembled slightly as she struggled to find the right words, overwhelmed by emotions. Raon silently placed a hand on her shoulder, understanding the unspoken weight she carried.

“Haa…”

After a long moment, Martha exhaled deeply and straightened up. With her eyes still red, she picked up her sword and began swinging it.

“Martha?”

“I can’t just sit around. I need to get strong enough to buy you time while you use the Fierce Sea Art.”

She declared that next time, she would fight alongside him, her blade already moving in determined arcs.

“…I’ll join too.”

Runaan, her expression unusually solemn, stood beside Martha and began swinging her sword in sync. Having experienced her own struggles with her brother Syria, she could empathize with Martha’s pain.

“I always thought you had this strange way of pulling people toward you.”

Burren gave a small smile as he looked at Raon.

“You’ve got that thing people call… the charisma of a hero.”

“You used to hate me back then.”

Raon tilted his head curiously.

“I did. But that changed when I saw your shoes.”

“My shoes?”

“Yes. Just win this duel, okay? You’ve got a lot to do.”

Burren didn’t elaborate further. Instead, he joined Runaan and Martha, drawing his sword.

Raon watched the three captains train, feeling a strange warmth in his chest.

‘They’ve changed, but some things never do.’

He had thought they would each go their separate ways, but seeing them train together again stirred something deep within him.

With a light smile, Raon stepped forward, gripping the Heavenly Drive. He stood beside them, raising his blade as well.

As the four warriors trained in silence, the rising sun began to warm the cold morning air.

—

Roman Laycal slowly opened his eyes. The fierce energy that had always surrounded him was gone, replaced by a serene calmness.

What greeted him was the setting sun, its golden light painting the river in warm hues.

“Now… I see.”

For a year, Roman had watched countless sunsets by the riverbank.

It had always been the same sky, yet today felt different.

The sunset, stretching deep and wide, seemed to divide the heavens and earth, as if reflecting the course of his life.

As the sky turned violet and the river shimmered with blue light, the twilight that filled the space between felt as though it had shattered the burdens he had carried for years.

Boom!

The energy within Roman surged, filling the newly opened realm inside him. Red streams flowed like molten metal, carving vivid impressions into his mind.

Roman slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the sky had darkened, but the twilight glow lingered in his gaze.

Rumble!

Grasping his axe, the Red Dragon’s Axe, Roman stood. The dragon’s eye embedded in the axe handle glowed with a fiery light.

He gripped the weapon with both hands and struck toward the river.

Swoosh!

An overwhelming force surged forth, splitting the river in half. The water didn’t just stop—it reversed its flow, defying nature itself.

Thud!

Satisfied, Roman smiled as he drove the axe into the ground.

“Raon Zieghart.”

He gazed into the river’s reflection, as if searching for Raon within its depths.

“You’ll be able to follow me… won’t you?”

—

As the last stars faded and the sky darkened, a reddish glow began to rise over the black horizon.

“Haa…”

Standing atop a lake, Raon let out a slow breath and lifted his eyelids.

‘Still not enough.’

Despite a month of intense physical and mental training, his swordsmanship, aura, and techniques remained incomplete.

It wasn’t a matter of time—it was the complexity of the training itself.

‘I was too ambitious.’

He had tried to create a new sword realm, combining not only his own techniques but also the insights of Glenn, Wrath, and Ogram. It was only natural that the process would take longer and be more difficult.

‘I don’t regret it, though.’

The life-and-death duel with the Axe King wasn’t the final destination; it was just another step toward defeating Derus Robert.

Swish.

Raon drew the Heavenly Drive and slashed lightly at the lake’s surface.

It was a basic downward strike, one of the simplest sword forms. But the result was anything but simple.

Crash!

The lake parted smoothly, as if welcoming a god, the water flowing gently to reveal the lakebed.

Shhhh…

As the two halves of the lake slowly rejoined, the surface returned to its serene state, as if nothing had ever disturbed it.

‘I’m not there yet…’

But there was no choice but to move forward.

The duel was today, and whatever enlightenment he sought could only be found in the battle to come.

Swish.

Raon flicked the moisture off his blade and slid it back into its sheath.

The crimson sun began to rise over the northern mountains, chasing away the darkness and heralding the dawn.

“Wrath. If you don’t wake up…”

Raon tapped the ice flower bracelet on his wrist.

“…I’ll eat all the delicious food by myself.”