The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman

“Fara?”

The king of some nameless country rolled his hazy eyes to the left.

“I’ve not heard that name. If it’s a race, are they like the Elves?”

He shook his head, saying it was a race he had never heard of before.

“Your Majesty. The Fara are not a race.”

A priest with a neatly trimmed white beard stepped forward.

“They are humans, just like us, but those who are more sensitive to Mana are simply called Fara.”

He explained that the Fara were humans sensitive to Mana, then lowered his gaze.

“The high priest is correct. I have treated a Fara before, and they were an ordinary human, no different from us.”

The healer nodded, agreeing that the Fara were not a different race.

“I see.”

The king, as if he understood, turned his gaze back to the Sage, who wore the face of The Fallen One.

“But why bring up the name Fara?”

He lowered his whitened eyebrows, as if he didn’t understand the reason.

“Before I explain that part, there is something I must first correct.”

The Sage raised a long, slender finger. Even his fingers resembled the present-day Fallen One.

“The Fara are not human, but a completely different race from us.”

He shook his head, stating that the priest’s and the healer’s opinions were wrong.

“Pardon?”

“No, what does that….”

The priest and the healer swallowed dryly as they looked at the Sage, who seemed to be dismissing their opinions.

“The Fara’s bodies are no different from humans, but their Mana flow is distinctly different from ours. The cross-shaped Mana Hole in their eyes creates a foreign wavelength. They are actually more similar to Elves or Trolls than humans.”

The Fallen One lowered the finger he had been using to explain that the Fara were of a different nature than humans.

“Hmm….”

“The Mana flow….”

The priest and the healer, seemingly unaware of that detail, couldn’t refute The Fallen One’s words and scratched their cheeks and ears.

“It doesn’t matter if they’re human or another race. I asked why you brought up these Fara!”

The king furrowed his brow, as if every second was critical. Even in this moment, his hair and eyebrows were falling out one by one.

“Because the Fara are the answer to stopping Your Majesty’s aging.”

The Sage smiled thinly, saying that the Fara could cure the king’s illness.

“Is, is that really true?”

The king’s chin trembled as he approached the Sage.

“Tell me! What must I do!”

He clasped his hands together, as if he would do anything if only his aging could be cured.

“This is information that no one else knows yet….”

The Sage glanced around as if checking his surroundings.

“Everyone, get out!”

The king understood the Sage’s meaning and waved his hand, shouting for everyone to leave the room.

“Hmm, understood.”

The priest and the healers smacked their lips with reluctance before leaving the audience chamber.

“You too, get out!”

The king stomped his foot at the royal guards standing like statues in front of the pillars.

“Your Majesty. We must remain in case of an unforeseen….”

“Enough, get out! Do you think the Sage is someone who would harm me!”

He cut off the captain of the royal guards and narrowed his eyes, ordering them to leave.

“…Understood.”

The captain of the royal guards bit his lip slightly and led the knights out the door. Judging by his crumpled expression, it seemed this was not the first time something like this had happened.

“Now, speak.”

The king, after confirming that everyone had left, tightly gripped the Sage’s hand.

“The way to cure my illness!”

He bit his lip, as if he would do anything.

“The blood of the race I mentioned a moment ago, the Fara….”

The Sage looked at the king’s hand and nodded calmly.

“Will become the Elixir to cure Your Majesty.”

“What…?”

The king’s hand dropped from the Sage’s.

“Blood, does that mean I have to kill them?”

He stared wide-eyed, as if he had never considered such a thing.

“That is correct.”

The Sage did not erase the smile from his lips, even while saying that humans had to be killed.

“Currently, Your Majesty’s Mana is flowing in the complete opposite direction of nature’s Mana. The body cannot withstand that stress, which is why the aging is progressing so rapidly.”

He shook his head, saying that because it was a deformed illness, it couldn’t be cured with human medicine or treatments.

“However, as I mentioned earlier, the Fara possess a Mana flow different from humans. What makes that possible are the Mana Hole in their eyes and their hearts.”

The Sage raised his finger and pointed to his own eyes and then to the heart in his chest.

“In the past, the Fara tribe built a kingdom called Sirken and enjoyed prosperity, but now they have fallen, and only a very small number remain. Still, there should be enough to cure Your Majesty’s illness.”

He smiled faintly, saying that thankfully, a cure was possible.

“The eyes and the heart….”

The king looked at the Sage’s benevolently shining eyes and swallowed dryly.

“Are you saying you’re going to kill those Fara?”

“We must. No, it is the only way.”

The Sage nodded, saying that killing the Fara was the only way for the king to live.

“But killing people is human sacrifice, is it not!”

The king bit his lip, as if he hadn’t considered living at the cost of others’ lives.

“As I said at the beginning, the Fara are not human.”

The Sage waved his hand as if to say not to worry.

“But….”

“Your Majesty, what emotions do you feel when an Orc, a Troll, or an Elf dies?”

He cut off the king and brought up the names of monsters.

“Hmm, I would feel nothing.”

The king lowered his eyebrows, saying he wouldn’t feel a thing.

“Then what about when you pull an herb growing from the ground?”

“That, I would feel even less.”

“It is the same.”

The Sage smiled gently, as if that was all there was to it.

“The Fara look like humans, but they are not. Just as you pull a plant, you need not feel anything about their deaths.”

He shrugged, as if it were a simple matter.

“The time Your Majesty has left is not long. Are you going to leave all this wealth and glory behind? For the sake of mere monsters?”

The Sage gestured with his chin toward the view of the vast kingdom visible through the window.

“Hmm….”

The king’s wrinkled fingertips trembled as he followed the Sage’s finger, scanning the prosperous kingdom.

“You do not need to suffer. It is no different from ordering a monster subjugation.”

The Sage knelt on one knee and took the king’s hand.

“Please entrust everything to me. If you just grant me the authority to command the knights, I will finish everything and create the Elixir for you.”

He bowed his head, asking for the authority to command the knights.

“The knights?”

The king looked down at the Sage, his eyes narrowing.

“Yes.”

The Sage nodded calmly, as if making a natural request.

“As befits those sensitive to Mana, every member of the Fara tribe, from children to the elderly on the verge of death, can use magic. To capture them, we need strong warriors.”

He smiled faintly, saying that they must use the knights to capture the Fara tribe alive.

“Is, is that all it takes?”

The king, as if mesmerized by the Sage’s words, opened his trembling mouth.

“There is one more thing. I need a little time to prepare a spell to interfere with their magic.”

The Sage raised his gaze, saying that once the preparations were complete, he could capture the entire Fara tribe without significant losses.

His golden eyes began to glint bewitchingly.

“Haaaah….”

The king met the Sage’s eyes and swallowed dryly. He placed a wrinkled hand on the windowpane, looking out at the kingdom’s vista.

“You’re certain?”

His voice deepened, as if he had made up his mind.

“Of course. Only my hands and the knights’ will be stained with blood, so please do not worry.”

The Sage bowed, asking for his trust.

“Alright. If you’re going to do it, do it thoroughly.”

The king nodded, ordering him to capture the entire race called Fara.

“Of course.”

The Sage said he would do as he wished and stepped back. He exited the audience chamber without turning his back.

“……”

Raon chewed on his lip as he watched the Sage’s sinister golden eyes through the gap in the door.

‘I feel like I can see what’s going to happen next.’

His stomach churned, as if the word ‘tragedy’ was about to descend upon that once-affectionate village.

– “This king feels the same.”

Wrath let out a murky breath, as if he felt the same thing.

‘Filthy bastard.’

Raon’s brow furrowed as he looked at the senile king.

‘To think a swindler without the courage to dirty his own hands is sitting on the throne.’

The king had pushed himself away from the responsibility of the murders by saying he would leave it to the Sage. It was like watching the pinnacle of human depravity, and rage welled up inside him.

‘I want to kill him right now.’

Just as Raon was revealing his deep fury toward the king.

‘Screeeech!’

Time stopped again, and a blue dimensional door opened before his eyes.

“I don’t know what you want to show me, but….”

Raon narrowed his eyes at the wavering dimensional door.

“If it’s to save her, I’ll do anything.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, he stepped into the dimensional door.

—

When he opened his eyes again, he saw a large cave carved into the mountainside.

“……”

Merlin was squatting next to the cave entrance, her head bowed.

‘This place is….’

Raon looked around. Judging by the location, it seemed to be the mountain next to the village.

“Hooo….”

As Merlin let out a long sigh with her head still bowed, a rustling sound came from inside the cave.

‘Don’t tell me it’s a bear?’

He tensed, thinking it might be a bear or a monster, but what came out of the cave was a blue-haired knight in silver armor. He was a man who looked familiar from somewhere.

“Princess. Are you crying again?”

The blue-haired man bent at the waist and approached Merlin’s side.

‘Princess? Ah!’

Lokta Deport!

Raon’s eyes widened as he let out a gasp. The blue-haired knight was the Dragonian Lokta Deport, whom he had absorbed while wearing the Helm of Eden.

“I’m not crying. And please don’t call me Princess….”

Merlin shook her head without lifting her face.

“You are crying. And how could I call the Princess by any other name?”

Lokta knelt on one knee, saying he could see everything.

“How am I a princess….”

Merlin sniffled, insisting she was definitely not a princess.

“You are Queen Sella’s daughter, so of course you are a princess.”

Lokta continued to call Merlin a princess.

‘Come to think of it….’

Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Lokta and Merlin.

‘He called Merlin “Princess” in the Mental World, too.’

When they met in the Mental World, Lokta had also called Merlin “Princess” and said he regretted not being able to protect her.

“Sella-nim is the Queen of Sirken, and …-nim is her daughter, so you are naturally a princess.”

“Our village isn’t the Kingdom of Sirken….”

Merlin shook her head, saying that the country of Sirken didn’t exist.

“The legacy of Sirken continues in this village. It is small, but it is a place no one can touch.”

Lokta grasped the sword at his waist, saying that the village Merlin lived in was the incarnation of Sirken.

“And with Queen Sella and Princess … here, even more so!”

He nodded confidently, mentioning the names of the queen and princess.

‘Wait a minute. Princess …?’

Raon looked at Lokta and massaged his temples.

‘Did you happen to hear him say Merlin’s name?’

“No, I did not hear it.”

Wrath shook his head, saying he had only heard the word “princess.”

‘As I thought, I can’t hear it.’

Just like when he talked with Sella, and now with Lokta, whenever Merlin’s real name was about to be spoken, a static-like noise rang out, making it impossible to hear properly.

“But I’m not Sella-nim’s biological daughter.”

Merlin bit her lip, as if saying he already knew everything.

“Whether she gave birth to you or raised you with her own hands, that is not important. Sella-nim considers the Princess her daughter.”

Lokta nodded, saying that was all that mattered.

“……”

Merlin was silent for a moment before slowly lifting her head.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Lokta smiled faintly for the first time.

“Sella-nim is probably waiting for you to call her ‘Mom’.”

He gestured with his hand, suggesting she try it today.

“But the words won’t come out.”

Merlin sighed, as if her tongue had gone stiff.

“Besides, I don’t have the cross in my eyes, and I can’t use magic, so….”

She shook her head, as if ashamed.

“Things like that are not important to a parent.”

Lokta smiled thinly.

“My situation with my parents is a little, no, very different, but anyway, it’s not important.”

He lowered his chin, saying that Sella wouldn’t care about such things.

“Hmm….”

Merlin straightened her back slightly, as if her mood had lifted.

“But Uncle, where are you going?”

She blinked, looking at Lokta, who had a pack on his back.

“Staying here has made my body a bit stiff, so I’m going to go train for a bit. I’ve already received permission from Her Majesty the Queen.”

Lokta nodded, saying he would be leaving for a while.

“Ah….”

Merlin’s chin trembled at the news that Lokta was leaving.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back in about a month.”

Lokta chuckled, saying he was just going to sharpen his practical senses.

“No, it, it doesn’t matter. Have a safe trip.”

Merlin hid her disappointment and nodded weakly.

“Yes. I’ll be back. And….”

Lokta, having completely exited the cave, waved at Merlin.

“Princess, you just need to be honest.”

He smiled brightly, saying that then everything would work out.

“Well then.”

With those last words, Lokta slowly descended the mountain.

“……”

Only after Lokta had completely disappeared did Merlin get to her feet. She clenched her fists as if she had made up her mind and returned to the village.

“Haa….”

Merlin took a slow, steadying breath, opened the door, and went inside her house.

“I told you not to stay out so late!”

Sella placed her hands on her hips, looking angry.

“Umm….”

Merlin, as if remembering Lokta’s words, mumbled as she looked at Sella.

However, the moment she saw the blue cross in Sella’s eyes, she pressed her tongue down.

“…I’m sorry.”

Merlin bowed her head and fled into her room.

“Honestly.”

Sella narrowed her eyes before going back into her study.

“……”

Raon let out a long sigh as he watched Merlin, who had lost all her usual drive.

‘She’s completely different from the Merlin of the present.’

He felt he understood why the same Merlin had such a different personality, and a sense of foreboding filled his chest.

“Haaaah….”

Raon let out a long sigh and looked up at the ceiling, where a single strand of dust hung.

—

“Nngh….”

Merlin let out a pained groan as she sat collapsed in front of Lokta’s cave.

“It failed again.”

She bit her lip, saying she had failed at magic again today.

“Why am I the only one who can’t do it?”

Merlin knew the theory and could feel Mana better than anyone, but strangely, she couldn’t complete a single spell, shaking her head wildly.

“……”

Raon narrowed his eyes as he watched the flame at Merlin’s fingertips fizzle out into nothing.

‘Just as she said, there’s nothing wrong with the flow of magic.’

The Merlin here possessed Mana of a purity that was not inferior to her present-day self, but she couldn’t succeed at even a small spell and had only ever failed.

‘What’s the reason?’

– “Confidence.”

Wrath narrowed his eyes at Merlin.

‘Confidence?’

– “That’s right. That girl lacks so much confidence that she’s unrecognizable from the madwoman of reality.”

He snorted, saying that was the reason.

‘Is confidence that important?’

– “For magic and sorcery, mental strength is even more important than for martial arts. How one thinks of oneself determines the flow.”

Wrath smacked his lips, saying that Merlin’s shattered confidence was suppressing the flow of her magic.

– “Normally, that young madwoman would have been able to wield magic even stronger than the adults here.”

He nodded, certain of it.

– “Though there is something strange….”

‘Something strange?’

– “The talent of the madwoman here seems better than that of the madwoman in the present.”

‘What do you mean?’

Raon narrowed his eyes at Wrath. He couldn’t understand how the Merlin here could have more talent when they were the same person.

– “This king doesn’t know the theory well, so I cannot explain it precisely. However, the very power felt from that young madwoman’s soul is different from the present.”

Wrath scratched his head, saying even he couldn’t explain it accurately.

‘…Is there a problem with her soul?’

The Merlin of the present and the Merlin here looked the same, but there were differences like the cross in her eyes and her drive, so it seemed unexplainable for now.

‘I don’t know.’

After entering this Mental World, Raon had watched Merlin for about two weeks. She was just an ordinary child—quiet, timid, and painfully shy.

She liked Sella, but she didn’t have the courage to call her “Mom.” And though she kept insisting she wasn’t even trying, she spent every day practicing magic in secret.

‘She’s so different from the Merlin I know…’

Raon shook his head, unable to reconcile the Merlin before him with the masked Merlin—the madwoman he remembered.

KWA-KOOOOOONG!

A roar like something massive crashing down echoed through the air, and crimson flames began to rise all across the village.

“Huh…?”

Merlin’s jaw trembled as she stared at the black smoke curling up into the sky.

“W-what is it?”

She swallowed hard, pushed herself to her feet, and ran toward the village.

– “It has begun.”

Wrath let out a short sigh.

‘Yeah.’

Raon exhaled slowly, watching Merlin’s trembling back.

‘It’s truly frustrating to be powerless.’

He could already guess what was coming, yet he couldn’t stop any of it. The helplessness gnawed at him.

It felt like he’d returned to the days when Derus held his leash.

‘But I still have to go.’

Raon chased after Merlin toward the village, then closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again.

‘To see the end of this world…’