The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman

Raon quickly closed the lid of the bead ice cream container and went outside the annex.

– “T-thank you.”

Wrath seemed genuinely concerned about the ice cream, muttering his thanks.

‘It’s nothing.’

Raon waved his hand and walked around to the back of the annex. As always, Glenn stood by the lake, gazing up at the night sky.

“Grandfather.”

Raon approached and bowed deeply.

“I’ve been thinking since you returned….”

Glenn slowly turned around.

“I felt the reward I gave you was too small for defeating the Demon Slayer Spear and The Fallen One, and saving Evelyn.”

He smiled faintly, saying he’d come to make up for the insufficient reward. But judging by his flushed face, it seemed he’d been waiting for this moment from the start.

“Thank you.”

Unlike usual, Raon didn’t act humble. He simply thanked him and bowed his head.

– “What’s gotten into you?”

Wrath’s eyes widened as if he found it strange.

– “Normally, you’d be stammering nonsense like, ‘I, it wasn’t me. I just got lucky!’”

He tilted his head, finding it unexpected.

‘That kind of attitude would be disrespectful to the Head of House who came all the way here. Besides….’

Raon licked his lips as he looked at the Soul Requiem Sword in his hand.

‘I can’t miss the opportunity to learn about the Heart Sword.’

Even with the Ring of Fire resonating at full power, he still couldn’t fully grasp Glenn and the Heavenly Demon’s battle.

He had stepped into the realm of the Heart Sword, but it was still an unknown world to him.

“It seems you’ve guessed what I’m going to do, so it’s best to start right away.”

Glenn nodded calmly, as if he’d read Raon’s thoughts.

“What I want to teach you today is, of course, the Heart Sword.”

He continued, placing a hand on the hilt of the Heavenly Drive Sword hanging at his waist.

“Honestly, I haven’t grasped everything about the Heart Sword yet either. And it’s not something you can learn just by being taught. But you will be able to.”

Glenn looked at him with warm, trusting eyes.

“Because you’ve already reached that level.”

He nodded, as if reading his mind.

“I used the Heart Sword with the power of this Soul Requiem Sword, not my own power. Can I really learn it?”

He had imitated Glenn’s Heart Sword, but he was still uneasy because the essence was different.

“It doesn’t matter whether you open the front door or the back door, as long as you get inside the house.”

Glenn smiled, as if it didn’t matter that he had used the Soul Requiem Sword.

– “That’s right. Whatever you do, once you reach that level, the past doesn’t matter much. However….”

Wrath tilted his head.

– “Even if you imitated Old Man Nadine’s Heart Sword, you won’t be able to unleash the same sword.”

He shook his head, saying the sword would inevitably be different because their souls were different.

“I see.”

Raon tightened his grip on the Soul Requiem Sword and raised his red eyes.

“It would be best to see your sword first. Can you wield it now?”

Glenn pointed to his chest, as if telling him to stab him with the Heart Sword.

“Understood.”

Raon took a deep breath and drew the Soul Requiem Sword. Anyone else would have hesitated, but he trusted Glenn, so he could unleash his full power.

Whooooong!

He resonated the Ring of Fire and initiated a soul conversation with the spirits dwelling within the Soul Requiem Sword.

‘Wind….’

The moment he asked the spirits for help, a cool, green wind rose from the Sword energy of the Soul Requiem Sword. It was an Aura he couldn’t mistake.

Rimmer’s Garanua.

‘Are you helping me?’

A part of Rimmer’s soul hadn’t scattered into the void, but had seeped into the Soul Requiem Sword.

He hadn’t noticed it when he fought the Heavenly Demon because everything had been too rushed, but it seemed Rimmer was helping him even in death.

‘It’s been a while since I’ve fought alongside my teacher.’

Raon smiled gently and raised the soul sword forged with the spirits over the red blade.

“I’m going.”

He moved the Heart Sword, which had sprouted like an awl, and shot it toward the enormous soul reflected within Glenn’s body.

Taaack!

Glenn raised his index and middle fingers and snatched it, as if he could see the Heart Sword Raon had created.

“I can feel the power of your soul and the spirits contained within the Soul Requiem Sword together. The reason the Sword Force is weak must be because the yin and yang souls are mixed.”

He frowned, saying it was no different from having impurities mixed into a masterpiece.

“However, the form of the Heart Sword is being stably maintained thanks to this wind. What a persistent bastard.”

Glenn sensed Rimmer’s wind rising from the Soul Requiem Sword and chuckled. He closed his eyes for a moment, as if recalling a friend he could no longer see, then opened them again.

“Raon, what do you think the Heart Sword is?”

Glenn erased the Heart Sword held between his fingers and spoke.

“A sword that cuts the enemy’s soul, not their body. An absolute sword that can cut anything in the world.”

Raon told him what he had been thinking.

“I thought you’d think so. Then what must you do to create a sword that can cut the enemy’s soul?”

Glenn asked, and then opened his own magnificent soul, as if giving the answer directly.

‘It’s there….’

Raon swallowed hard as he met Glenn’s calm eyes.

‘The Head’s Heart Sword is right in front of me.’

Though he couldn’t see it, Glenn’s Heart Sword was scanning his entire body. A chilling shiver ran down his spine.

“Just as you need a sword made of iron to cut the enemy’s body, you need a sword forged from your own soul to cut the enemy’s soul.”

Glenn raised his right hand and placed it on his left chest.

“There’s only one piece of advice I can give you, now that you’re already on the path. Forge your soul. Make it sharper and stronger than it is now.”

He nodded, telling him to raise an unbreakable sword of the soul, like the vow he had made in childhood.

“A sword forged from my soul….”

Raon looked down at his hands and bit his lip. The stronger and more solid his soul became, the sharper the Heart Sword would be.

“The quality of your soul is surprisingly high, considering your power. But it’s still just a raw stone. It will only have meaning if you properly polish and forge it.”

Glenn said the foundation was solid enough, so all he had to do was set his mind to it, and he calmed the Energy Wave that had been spreading grandly.

– “The quality of his soul has no choice but to be high!”

Wrath gnashed his teeth as he glared.

– “He ate not only this King’s Divine Authority, but also the Divine Authority of other suckers, so it would be strange if it wasn’t high! And that damn Ring too!”

He shook his head, saying it would be more of a problem if it were low.

“From now on, try to talk to your soul while raising the level of your sword. Then you will naturally be able to achieve your own Heart Sword.”

Glenn smiled gently, as if he could already see that future.

“…Understood.”

Glenn didn’t give detailed advice like before—only vague teachings—but strangely, Raon felt he understood what the words meant.

“Still….”

Glenn lifted his gaze slightly.

“I was quite proud when I realized that your Heart Sword had a similar flow to mine.”

He smiled with admiration, as if watching a child take their first steps.

“Grandfather is always someone I want to emulate.”

Raon spoke honestly, voicing the sincerity rising in his heart.

“…Is that so.”

Glenn stared at him with dazed eyes, then nodded warmly.

“Even if it’s just flattery, it makes me feel good.”

He smiled as if satisfied with this moment and looked up at the moon.

“It’s not flattery. Grandfather is always… um.”

Raon shook his head, then bit his lip as he looked at Glenn, faintly outlined by the moonlight.

‘Right. There was that….’

He let out a deep sigh and took another step closer.

“Grandfather.”

Raon swallowed hard and met Glenn’s eyes, the red seeming faded.

“There’s something I want to ask you.”

“Tell me.”

Glenn nodded, as if he would answer anything.

“When Grandfather used the Heart Sword against the Heavenly Demon, you looked blurry, as if you were disappearing from this world.”

Raon continued, biting his lip.

“And the Heavenly Demon also said that Grandfather was about to disappear. I want to know why.”

He had already heard about the law of causality from Wrath, so he had some expectations, but he wanted to hear it directly from Glenn.

“To think you can already sense that, you’re amazing.”

Glenn maintained a faint smile and nodded.

“There is a law called causality in this world. If there is a cause, there is also a result. Everything in this land is organically connected, and there is a future determined by the past. You can think of it as determinism, where human lives are already determined, or Celestial Omen.”

Glenn explained the basis of causality in detail.

“However, even in a world where everything is determined, there are sometimes beings who deviate from causality. This world interferes with that being and sends them to another dimension so that they can no longer exist on this land. That’s what people commonly call ascension.”

He flicked his fingertips, saying the reason martial artists in myths and legends disappeared was because of that ascension.

“I am standing on that boundary now.”

Glenn planted his feet on either side of the thinly split ground carved by the Heart Sword.

“If I reach a level that I didn’t intentionally realize, this world will regard me as a being who has deviated from causality and send me to another world.”

He smiled, saying that was why his body had looked blurry when he used the Heart Sword.

“Then why is the Heavenly Demon….”

Raon frowned, recalling how the Heavenly Demon looked fine unlike Glenn.

“He has someone else who takes on the law of causality in his place. I couldn’t see it properly, but it seemed like a great being.”

He seemed to have already felt the Divine Authority of Pride dwelling in the Heavenly Demon’s soul.

“You’re probably similar, Raon.”

Glenn nodded, as if recalling Wrath.

– “That old man is right!”

Wrath quickly waved his hand.

– “You’re even ignoring that law with this King’s power!”

He gnashed his teeth, saying only he was constantly losing out.

“Honestly, I’ve been training my sword with the goal of ascension. I wanted to transcend humanity and become a true Sword God. However….”

Glenn’s eyes, flickering with a divine glow, held human affection.

“I don’t want to go there now.”

He smiled at Raon with warm eyes, as if telling him why.

“But you don’t have to worry. I’ll stop the Heavenly Demon and Derus Robert no matter what.”

Glenn nodded, saying he wouldn’t leave until those two disappeared. Even with the dream he’d longed for since childhood right in front of him, he was still putting Zieghart first.

“Ugh….”

Raon chewed his lip as he looked into Glenn’s affectionate eyes.

‘I don’t want to let him go.’

He had only just grown close, only just been able to call him Grandfather, and he didn’t want to lose him.

More than anything, he didn’t want Glenn to sacrifice himself because of someone like Derus.

“The Heavenly Demon said that.”

Raon took a deep breath and lifted his gaze.

“He said that I might have Celestial Omen. The power to change fate.”

He clenched his fist, recalling the title.

“I will change it. I will shatter fate so that Grandfather doesn’t have to leave this world even if he reaches a higher level.”

Raon grit his teeth and told him to wait.

– “Good!”

Wrath landed on his head and clapped loudly.

– “If you’re going to be this King’s vessel, you need that much spirit!”

He smiled, as if finally satisfied.

“Hahahahahahaha!”

Glenn stared blankly at Raon, then burst into laughter, clutching his forehead.

“G-grandfather?”

Raon blinked like Runaan at Glenn’s unexpected reaction.

“I’m not laughing at you. It’s just….”

Glenn stepped forward and stroked Raon’s head.

“Your words. Your sincerity. It made me happy.”

He said he was truly grateful and held his trembling hand.

“Okay. I’ll be waiting. Until you change my fate.”

Glenn smiled gently and took an old booklet from his chest.

“I brought this because I thought it might help your Heart Sword. Read it when you have time.”

He handed over the old book and turned back toward the lake.

“I think I’ll sleep well tonight. No, maybe I won’t be able to sleep at all.”

Leaving those cheerful words behind, Glenn swaggered off and disappeared.

“…….”

Raon bowed, holding the book that still carried warmth.

‘I don’t know if I can do it. No, I have to try.’

Even after Glenn left, Raon stared at the lake for a long time. Then he vowed to protect this house, Glenn, and Zieghart, and went back into the annex.

– “You’ve always shown a weak side when it comes to family, but today was the first time I was satisfied!”

Wrath patted his shoulder, as if Raon had done well.

– “That’s right! It’s the first time I feel so relieved!”

He frowned, saying it had been too frustrating up until now.

‘Then can you help me with my training too?’

– “Well, I’ll do it sometimes!”

‘Is right now okay too?’

– “Good! I’ll do it after eating ice cream!”

‘A family blessed by the Demon King—our house has no choice but to prosper.’

Raon chuckled, opened the door, and went inside.

But the room was cooler than usual, and a sweet scent lingered.

– “N-no way!”

Wrath screamed and flew to the bead ice cream container.

– “This! Open this quickly!”

He wagged his tail, telling Raon to open it.

‘Hmm….’

Raon swallowed hard, opened the lid, and found all four bead ice creams melted and mixed together.

‘I-I think the lid wasn’t closed properly?’

He must not have shut it all the way because he’d been in such a hurry to leave.

– “You frustrating bastard! The ice cream that’s more precious than your life!”

Wrath’s face turned red, as if truly furious.

‘N-no, this….’

Wrath flew at him like a ghost as Raon cautiously stepped back.

– “Blessing my ass! All I’ll feed you is a curse! I won’t even help you with your training!”

Wrath cursed him sincerely until Raon bought new ice cream the next day. Of course, it didn’t mean anything.

===

“Hmm….”

Raon unwrapped the bandages covering his chest and shoulders.

‘It’s almost healed.’

The wounds on his body had healed, and the mental pain had clearly decreased too. It seemed he could start training again.

– “To think you’d be completely healed in a week after all that… it’s absurd.”

Wrath scoffed, saying Raon’s body and mind were sturdier than the Demon race.

‘Aren’t there Demon races with good regeneration like Trolls?’

Raon waved his hand.

– “No matter how strong the regeneration is, the impact remains inside the body. Especially the mind doesn’t recover. But….”

Wrath frowned as he looked at Raon.

– “There’s no impact left on your body or mind at all. It can’t even be expressed with the word ‘strong’.”

He gnashed his teeth, saying it was because Raon had too many cheat-like traits.

– “Ugh… it’s all this King’s power….”

‘It’s not all your power. There’s also the Divine Authority of other Demon Kings.’

In truth, what had given him such power was the Divine Authority of the Demon Kings. They all had special abilities, so it wouldn’t be strange to call it luck on the level of the Ring of Fire.

‘Come to think of it, there’s something I’m curious about.’

Raon gestured to Wrath as he put on his uniform.

– “What is it?”

‘Is the Monarch of Pride attached to the Heavenly Demon like you?’

Wrath had said the Heavenly Demon—not The Fallen One—was the one who truly inherited Pride’s power. Raon wondered if a Demon King might be attached to his side as well.

– “That’s not likely. He probably won’t even be watching.”

Wrath shook his head firmly.

‘Why?’

– “Because that’s the kind of guy he is. A crazy bastard who seems to have personified that word.”

He frowned, as if annoyed just thinking about Pride.

– “But why are you asking about Pride? Don’t tell me you’re….”

Wrath’s eyes trembled, as if a bad feeling struck him.

– “Are you trying to get Pride’s Divine Authority too?”

‘Well, it would be nice to have it.’

Raon awkwardly averted his eyes.

‘I didn’t think I could get Greed’s Divine Authority either, but I got it before.’

Wrath treated Greed and Pride as equals to himself. Now that he had obtained the Divine Authority of one of them, Greed, he wondered if he could obtain Pride’s as well.

– “Impossible!”

Wrath shook his head.

– “Pride is on a completely different level from the other Demon Kings. He’s a madman who thinks only he exists in this world!”

He shook his head, saying it would never work.

‘Then why did he hand over his Divine Authority to the Heavenly Demon?’

– “This King doesn’t know either!”

Wrath snorted, saying Pride was someone he couldn’t understand no matter how hard he tried.

‘Then I’ll think about that later.’

Raon stood up, fastening the Heavenly Drive, Wooden Wheel Sword, and Soul Requiem Sword to his belt.

“As soon as you recover, where are you trying to go?”

Wrath frowned, as if asking why he wasn’t eating.

‘The Heavenly Demon said a war would start soon. Before that, I need to bring the remaining Transcenders over to our side.’

Raon licked his lips as he looked at the brightly burning sun.

“I’ve given them plenty of time. Now it’s time to yank on their leashes.”