The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 707

“Have they all gone mad together?”

Helgrum ground his teeth with a loud clench.

“Your disciple started this mess, and now you spew this nonsense?”

He swung his arm angrily, demanding Rektor look at the situation objectively.

“Started it? How exactly did Muston start anything?”

Rektor furrowed his brow deeply.

“He insulted the North-South Union, calling us worthless pirates, and blocked our way!”

Helgrum’s eyes gleamed with fury, as if such an offense was unforgivable.

“And that’s what you call picking a fight?”

Rektor scoffed, shaking his head lightly.

“These days, stating the truth counts as starting trouble, does it?”

“You…! How dare you!”

Helgrum bit his lip, seething as he met Rektor’s cold, piercing gaze.

“Raon Zieghart defeated the Axe King Roman fairly, in a one-on-one duel.”

Rektor turned toward the unconscious Raon, a sense of deep pride shimmering in his old, seasoned eyes.

“Even though Roman acknowledged his defeat and ordered that Raon be allowed to leave, you chased him down to kill him. Such behavior is disgraceful beyond measure.”

Rektor’s gaze shifted back to Helgrum, twisted with disgust, as if looking at a vile insect.

“There wasn’t a single thing wrong with what my disciple said. Where’s the fault in calling it what it is, Helgrum?”

He tilted his chin slightly, as if daring Helgrum to offer a rebuttal.

“Stubborn old fool,” Helgrum spat, exhaling heavily as he glared at Rektor.

“You think I came after him just for the North-South Union? This is all for the Five Demons!”

“The Five Demons?”

Rektor’s brow furrowed further, his gaze questioning Helgrum’s meaning.

“That’s right. With the fall of the Beast King Ogram, the balance among the Five Demons has shattered. It’s no exaggeration to say the era of the Five Demons has begun.”

Helgrum tilted his spear downward, glaring at the unconscious Raon.

“And what does that have to do with your disgraceful actions?”

“It’s simple. The greatest threat to the Five Demons ruling the continent isn’t the Six Kings—it’s Raon Zieghart. If he isn’t killed now, he will become a monster far beyond either of our reach.”

His fist clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, his desperation clear.

“The Five Demons, huh? So, you’ve decided to accept those shadow-dwellers among you,” Rektor muttered, his voice tinged with disdain.

“The Holy Sword Alliance didn’t oppose the decision, did it?” Helgrum smirked, narrowing his eyes.

“Even your Alliance’s disciple was defeated by Raon. Offer his head to your Alliance Master—it would be a fitting gift.”

“You misunderstand the Alliance Master completely,” Rektor said, curling his lips into a scornful smile.

“The Alliance Master doesn’t pluck unripe fruit. The only reason he didn’t intervene is because your behavior is beneath him.”

Rektor’s gaze darkened as he added, “He only desires a proper duel with Glenn Zieghart. If he saw the state you’re in now, your head would be the first to roll.”

“That’s nonsense! Everyone knows the Holy Sword Alliance is in league with the White Blood Religion and the Black Tower!”

Helgrum gestured wildly, unwilling to believe Rektor’s words.

“This matter is different.”

Rektor shook his head calmly.

“In any case, you’ve made it clear why the North-South Union is known as a band of rootless thieves.”

He snorted dismissively, mocking Helgrum with a sneer.

“You…!”

“Enough talk.”

Rektor raised his sword, the motion steady and deliberate.

“I’ll say this one last time. Leave.”

“And if I refuse?”

Helgrum took a step forward, defiant.

“Then you’ll learn just how vast the gulf between us truly is.”

“Ha! Hahaha!”

Helgrum clutched his forehead and let out a crazed laugh, as if he’d lost all sense of reason.

“Fine. Show me what your sword, fed by deceit, has achieved!”

He twirled his spear, his sneer full of mockery.

“Yes, at your age, it’s only fitting to drink your fill,” Rektor responded with a calm nod, as if he had already foreseen this outcome.

“Rektor!”

Just as the two transcendents were about to clash, Rimmer’s voice echoed from behind.

“Leave. This fight has nothing to do with you.”

Rektor turned to look at him.

“What nonsense are you spouting? And you…” Helgrum began, but Rektor cut him off.

“I told you already. I didn’t come here to help you. I came because I couldn’t bear to stand by and witness the filth of this old man’s actions any longer.”

For a moment, intense emotion flickered in Rektor’s eyes as he glanced at Raon, but it quickly subsided.

“Go.”

With a subtle wave of his hand, an invisible force gently pushed Dorian’s ship forward.

Despite the creaking of the damaged vessel, the ship glided swiftly along the Label River’s turbulent currents.

“Rektor!”

“Master Rektor!”

Rimmer and the members of the Light Wind Division called out to him, but Rektor didn’t look back.

“A grand hero, indeed.”

Helgrum sneered as he turned his back.

“Beorn. You take command… huh?”

He scanned the pirates around him, his expression turning to disbelief.

“Where is Beorn?!”

“W-What…?”

“He… he was right next to me!”

“He just vanished!”

Even the pirates were baffled, their jaws trembling.

“Rootless thieves, indeed. You can’t even keep track of your own men.”

Rektor chuckled mockingly, flicking his fingers.

“Silence!”

Helgrum trembled with rage, raising his hand.

“Kill all the traitors! I’ll take full responsibility!”

At his command, the *Blue Wolf* surged forward, slicing through the water.

*Kuwaaaang!*

The bows of the two ships collided with a thunderous crash, creating a makeshift bridge between them.

“Kill them!”

“Leave no one alive!”

“You filthy traitors!”

“Swords drawn, you scum!”

Warriors from both the North-South Union and the Holy Sword Alliance leapt onto each other’s ships, swords clashing violently.

Though the Holy Sword Alliance’s swordsmen were more skilled, the North-South Union fighters used the unsteady decks to compensate for their lack of strength.

*Wooooosh!*

Amid the escalating battle, Rektor and Helgrum remained motionless, locked in an unyielding stare.

“Let’s take this somewhere else.”

Rektor stepped onto the water, signaling with a nod toward the river.

“Tch.”

Helgrum followed, reluctant but unwilling to harm his own men in the fight.

“So you’ve come willingly into my domain. Good.”

Helgrum sneered. “Here, I…”

“Helgrum.”

Rektor’s voice sank, cold and heavy, as if rising from the depths of hell.

“You’ve made a grave mistake today.”

The energy radiating from Rektor dried up, devoid of any warmth or moisture, like a parched desert.

“What do you mean…”

“Die.”

Rektor’s expression twisted into something akin to a vengeful spirit’s as he extended his sword. The white blade burned with a brilliant aura, casting radiant light across the river’s surface.

*Kuwaaaaaang!*

—

“Quite the gathering of familiar faces today,” Rimmer muttered, exhaling as he felt the immense wave of aura explode from the center of the Label River.

“Uhm…”

Dorian swallowed nervously, turning to glance behind him.

“Do you think the Sword Demon came to rescue us?”

He shook his head, finding it hard to believe Rektor’s earlier words about not being involved.

“I feel the same,” Burren admitted, uncharacteristically expressing his doubt.

“The Sword Demon had plenty of chances to capture us before, but he always let us go.”

He stroked his chin thoughtfully. “It’s the same with Merlin. My aunt mentioned something similar before—someone stronger than her let things slide and left.”

Martha nodded in agreement. “Aris said the same thing. And today, Rektor seemed genuinely happy to see Raon.”

Runaan gave a small nod, glancing at Raon.

“Hm?”

“He seemed happy to see Raon?”

“How do you know that?”

The Light Wind Division swordsmen exchanged puzzled looks, noting that Rektor’s gaze had appeared cold.

“He had a look of pride,” Runaan said, blinking slowly as she met their gazes.

‘I’m sure of it.’

Because of her difficulty expressing emotions, she could recognize such feelings in others. Rektor’s eyes, even if just for a brief moment, reflected pride and admiration when he looked at Raon. His actions today were undoubtedly for Raon’s sake.

“It doesn’t matter what the Sword Demon is thinking,” Mark Gorton said quietly, his hand resting on his sword hilt.

“What’s important now is ensuring Lord Raon’s safety. Stay focused, everyone.”

He stood at the edge of the deck, steadying his breath.

“Right. The Sword Demon and Merlin are things to worry about later. For now, stay alert until the ship arrives,” Rimmer agreed, nodding toward the river ahead.

‘But it does make me curious.’

Rektor clearly had a deep connection to Raon and Sylvia.

While Rimmer had some suspicions, there wasn’t enough evidence to be certain.

“Dorian, how’s the ship holding up?”

“Not good,” Dorian sighed, adjusting the shaky controls.

“I’ve patched it up with wooden planks, but it won’t last long. Even a minor shock might break it apart…”

He bit his lip, clearly uneasy about their situation.

“Even a small shock?”

“Is it really that bad?”

The swordsmen repairing the leaking deck exchanged worried glances.

“It’s taken a beating—from the breath attack, the ship collision, and hitting rocks… It’s my fault for not steering it well.”

Dorian lowered his head in guilt.

“It’s fine. We just need to hold on a little longer,” Rimmer reassured him, wiping cold sweat from his brow as he scanned the river ahead.

‘Whew, keeping my senses this sharp is exhausting.’

Ever since Raon began his duel with the Axe King, Rimmer had pushed his aura perception to its limit, preparing for any unforeseen danger.

The toll on his aura and mental endurance was severe. His head throbbed, as if it might burst from within.

‘But I have to keep going.’

His heightened perception had allowed him to detect enemies in advance and minimize the impacts on the ship.

“Hang in there,” he whispered, not just to the Light Wind Division but to himself. They had to hold on, no matter what, until they could switch to the next ship.

As Rimmer watched the flowing river with half-closed eyes, he noticed something unusual approaching from the west.

A massive sailing ship, far larger than expected on the river, came into view. It was comparable in size to the *Blue Wolf*, the North-South Union’s flagship. At the top of its mast fluttered a playful flag adorned with a grinning skull.

“It’s here! The *Blue Wind!*”

The *Blue Wind*, the pirate ship of Aris Zieghart, who had sailed around the world. This was the final piece of Raon’s plan.

“Lord Raon!”

“You’re safe!”

“We were about to come looking for you!”

At the bow of the *Blue Wind* stood a bald, middle-aged man with an eyepatch over his left eye, waving cheerfully.

It was *Rabawin*, the former captain of the Blue Wave Fleet [1], who now carried the title of Pirate King.

Several swordsmen from the former Blue Wave Fleet, who had once served under Zieghart, bowed respectfully as they spotted him.

“Dorian, head toward the *Blue Wind* at full speed.”

“Yes!”

Dorian grinned, steering the ship toward the *Blue Wind*.

*Wooooong.*

Since the *Blue Wind* was also on the move, the two ships soon aligned smoothly, gently meeting side by side.

“Rimmer! Why are you so late?”

Rabawin leaned over the side of the ship, scowling.

“Are you really still the Blue Wave Fleet’s captain? You look like you crawled out of a grave.”

Rimmer chuckled, glancing up at Rabawin’s face.

“It’s all part of the act! Aris made me do it!”

Rabawin lifted his eyepatch, wrinkling his brow.

“You’ve been through a lot too, huh.”

Rimmer gave a faint smile and nodded.

“Transfer to this ship quickly. Yours is falling apart.”

Rabawin, the seasoned sailor, immediately recognized the poor condition of Dorian’s vessel and gestured for them to switch ships without delay.

“Hold on.”

Before they switched, Rimmer extended his aura sense to its limit one last time.

Apart from some small animals and fish in the river, there was nothing suspicious.

‘Looks like it’s clear.’

With no enemies in sight and Rabawin, a Grandmaster, standing nearby, Rimmer finally allowed his senses to rest.

“Ugh…”

His legs trembled from exhaustion—he had pushed himself to the limit. Any longer, and he might have collapsed entirely.

“First squad, move over!”

Rimmer forced a calm expression and motioned toward the *Blue Wind*.

“Understood.”

Martha, along with the first squad, climbed aboard the *Blue Wind*.

“All clear!”

After inspecting the deck, the first squad nodded, confirming everything was secure.

“Second squad, transfer Raon along with the Saint…”

Just as Rimmer was about to instruct Runaan and the second squad—

“Enemy!”

Rabawin’s scream tore through the air as he leapt from the bow.

*Fwoooosh!*

At that moment, a sinister figure wearing the helmet of Baphomet surged from the rough waves. It was the evil spirit, aiming a long sword—not his usual greatsword—directly at Raon’s heart.

Both Rabawin and Rimmer reacted, reaching for their swords, but they were too late. The evil spirit’s aura, surging through the blade, was far faster.

However, one person moved with the precision of someone who had sensed the attack beforehand.

Runaan.

She, who knew the evil spirit’s energy better than anyone else here, summoned a wall of frost to intercept the attack.

*Crack!*

The frost wall shattered as the sword’s aura broke through, sending Runaan crashing to the deck. Even as she coughed up blood, she refused to release her grip on her sword.

*Boom!*

The weakened ship finally split in two, throwing the members of the Light Wind Division into the river.

“Raon is safe!”

Frederick, the Saint of Rags, shouted as he held Raon tightly in his arms, waving to reassure them.

“Runaaaaaan!”

The evil spirit let out a monstrous scream, lunging to stab again, but Rimmer and Rabawin, now with time to act, blocked him.

*Clang!*

Their swords clashed with the evil spirit’s, sending him reeling backward, blood spurting from his mouth.

“You filthy bastard!”

“We wondered where you were hiding, Syria Sullion!”

Relief washed over the group as they believed they had dealt with the hidden threat—until a shadow flickered within the evil spirit’s dark presence.

*Swish!*

Emerging from the shadows was Beorn, the cold-eyed swordsman, moving with mechanical precision.

His long, thin blade shot toward Raon, still cradled in Frederick’s arms, like a drill.

“No!”

Frederick raised his hand to block the sword, but Beorn’s blade pierced his arm and drove toward Raon’s chest.

*Zzzzt!*

Just as the ominous blade was about to penetrate Raon’s skin, an invisible light flickered from the Ice Flower bracelet he wore.

– “Uhehehehehe! I’m fully restored!”

A burst of laughter echoed as Wrath erupted from the bracelet in a blaze of manic energy.

– “Five boxes of mint chocolate… Wait, what?”

The Demon King of Wrath blinked, confused as he stared at the thin sword poised to pierce Raon’s chest.

– “A sword? In his chest? What the hell? Why is this the first thing I see after waking up?”

Wrath grabbed the unconscious Raon by the collar, shouting furiously.

– “Raon Zieghart! What kind of trouble did you get yourself into this time?!”

With the Demon King’s outburst, a mist of silver vapor spread across the river’s surface.

– “Why is the first thing I see pure chaos?! Gaaaaaah!”

(TL Note: Gaaaaaadamit! It’s pure chaos! It’s like Avengers : Endgame with all the cameo. Aaaaaand Wrath! It’s about time you show up!)

* * *

Footnotes:

[1] So, while the Blue Wave Fleet is a naval division with multiple ships, Blue Wind is a specific pirate ship that Aris is using.