The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman

Raon turned his cold gaze toward the reward he'd earned for defeating the Demonblade.

[You have accomplished a great feat.]

[You have brought an era to an end.]

[All stats increase by 50 points.]

[The trait <Demonic Energy Adaptation> has leveled up.]

[The trait <Demonic Energy Resistance> has increased by 2 tiers.]

[The trait <Askarai's Fighting Spirit> has leveled up.]

An overall 50-point stat increase and three trait upgrades—among them, <Demonic Energy Resistance>, which had been heavily affected during the fight, had risen by two tiers at once.

It was unlikely, but if he ever had to fight the Demonblade again, it would surely be much easier now.

Wrath gritted his teeth, claiming the rewards were excessive for someone like the Demonblade.

'That's only true for you. In this world, he was one of the strongest… though maybe not enough to count on one hand.'

Upon reflection, there were already eleven leaders among the Five Demons and Five Divine Order. The Demonblade probably wouldn't even make the cut.

Even among the current Five Divine Order, none were weaker than the present Demonblade. With retired masters like the Sword Saint, the former King of War, and the previous Holy Sword Alliance leader still around, you'd need to count toes just to squeeze the Demonblade in.

'Still, he was probably among the top 20 in the continent. That should count for something.'

– "Top 20? Who counts strong people past 10?! Ten is the limit!"

Wrath snorted, refusing to acknowledge anyone beyond ten.

'He may have been a worm to you, but he wasn't to me. Don't you remember saying he might be dangerous?'

Raon lightly waved his hand, reminding him of his earlier warning.

– "T-That was…."

Wrath had no retort for that and fell silent.

– "Grrr! Damn it!"

Wrath furrowed his brow, unable to deny that Raon had defeated the Demonblade with his current strength.

– "Fine! But on the way back—no, even while we're traveling—you must prepare every dish I want to eat!"

He demanded compensation for acknowledging it.

'That's easy.'

Raon nodded, saying that wouldn't be a problem.

– "Count yourself lucky! If it weren't for me, the great Demon King of Wrath, no other Demon King would accept this!"

'Not quite. Anyone but Greed would be easy to coax.'

Just as he shrugged—

Wooooong!

The Soul Requiem Sword vibrated intensely and began infusing him with pure mana.

[The Soul Requiem Sword offers purified demonic energy.]

[All stats increase by 25 points.]

[New trait <Demonic Energy Detection> has been created.]

Having absorbed both the Demonblade's demonic energy and what remained in Raon's body, the Soul Requiem Sword offered him its purified energy.

– "Urgh…."

Wrath trembled, his blue eyes wide. He hadn't sensed this part.

'25 points? That's a lot.'

The Soul Requiem Sword kept half of what it absorbed and passed the rest to Raon. Getting 25 points from just half meant it had taken in a massive amount.

'But what's Demonic Energy Detection?'

He checked the details of his new trait.

<Demonic Energy Detection>

– Allows detection of subtle demonic energy that cannot be found through normal senses or energy perception.

'That's useful.'

The Demonblade had said he found the Black Tower's passage in Montiro thanks to his own demonic energy.

With this trait, Raon might be able to find the same path.

'It won't be easy, though.'

Traits grow stronger with level. <Demonic Energy Detection> had just formed, so it couldn't match the Demonblade's abilities yet—but it was better than nothing.

– "Aaaaargh!"

Wrath screamed, throwing his head back.

– "Every time I acknowledge something, new things pop out! I can't take it anymore! Come out, damn system! Either I die or you die—let's finish this!"

He swung his fists at the air, as if preparing for a death match.

'Hmm…'

Raon stepped aside with a shiver. Once Wrath got like this, he couldn't be reasoned with—it was better to just leave him.

"Raon."

As Raon sighed and cleaned the Heavenly Drive and Soul Requiem Sword, Trevin approached him.

"Congratulations. You've changed an era."

Trevin patted his shoulder.

"Like I said earlier, that's too much. It's not that big a deal."

"No, it is."

Burren shook his head behind Trevin.

"The Five Demons and the Five Divine Order were unbreakable walls. You're the first one to put a crack in that wall."

He nodded firmly.

"Even before I joined Zieghart, I knew their names. Well, they weren't called the Five Divine Order back then, but I knew them."

Martha chuckled and wagged her finger.

"From newborns to the elderly, everyone knew those names—and now you've erased one of them. That's what changing an era looks like."

She stamped her foot with weight, calling it their greatest achievement yet.

"Yeah. You're awesome."

Runaan gave a thumbs up, unfazed by the situation.

"Come on, Division Leader! Enough with the modesty! I can see your heart pounding from here!"

Krein laughed, saying it was obvious.

"No, really."

Raon smacked the back of Krein's head and shook his head firmly.

"Ugh…"

Krein's face slammed into the ground under the weight of Raon's hand.

"Knew that would happen."

Dorian clicked his tongue, muttering that Krein deserved it, and immediately offered medicine and an ice pack like a true quartermaster.

"Honestly, the current Demonblade was weaker than the other Five Divine Order."

Raon looked at Trevin and the Light Wind Division and nodded.

"His spirit, energy, and mind were all out of balance."

For a martial artist approaching transcendence, balance of body, mind, and aura was crucial.

The Demonblade had gained overwhelming demonic energy, surpassing the Five Divine Order, but his broken mind had made it uncontrollable. When Raon said he'd gotten weaker, it wasn't a provocation—it was the truth.

"As expected of Raon Zieghart."

Trevin stepped forward with a nod.

"I have something to ask."

"Go ahead."

"If the Light Wind Division is promoted to a Palace, I'd like the Iron Division to be placed under it."

He drew his sword and held it inverted.

"At first, we accepted the True Martial Palace's offer to help you. But today changed my mind."

With his sword upright at his chest, his eyes burned with passion.

"Now, I want to support you and the Light Wind Division by my own will. Please give us the chance to walk beside you."

He performed the formal salute of Zieghart.

"We want to join the Light Wind Division too!"

The Iron Division behind him followed suit.

"Are you sure?"

Raon narrowed his eyes slightly at Trevin and the Iron Division swordsmen.

"I'm someone with many flaws. You might regret it later."

As Wrath said, Raon still lacked in many human aspects. Since Trevin was showing sincerity, he wanted to return it with a genuine warning.

"A family fills each other's gaps. I don't know what your flaws are, but if I can help, I will."

Trevin smiled gently.

"With words like that, how can we say no?"

"Yeah. The Iron Division's always been the most aligned with us."

"Mm. All good…"

Martha, Burren, and Runaan nodded, accepting them as captains of the Light Wind Division.

"Then I accept. Honestly, this was one of the reasons we came to rescue you."

Raon nodded and formally welcomed the Iron Division.

"Thank you. And thank you for saving us. This'll be the last time I speak casually to you."

Trevin awkwardly smiled, saying he'd have to use honorifics once they returned.

"You can speak freely when it's just us."

Raon nodded, smiling. In formal settings, titles were necessary—but in private, it didn't matter.

"Feels good. More people to suffer with."

Burren chuckled at the sight of Trevin and the Iron Division smiling.

"Welcome to hell."

Martha waved her hand ominously.

"Mm. No more leaving…"

Runaan nodded with a cold gaze.

"Kuhuhuhuhu."

"Hehehehe…"

"How many do you think will survive?"

Dorian and the other Light Wind Division swordsmen let out eerie laughs, excited for what lay ahead.

"W-What's wrong with them?"

Trevin trembled in confusion.

"Don't mind them. That's just their way of saying welcome. Heh."

Even Mark Gorton let out a dark chuckle and shook his head.

"Village Chief."

Raon stepped past the others and approached the chief of Bodri Village.

"This area probably won't be livable for a while."

He pointed at the ruined plains and river, still tainted by demonic energy.

"I figured…"

The chief bit his lip deeply.

"Would you consider coming to Zieghart?"

"Z-Zieghart? But we have no money. Most of our livestock are dead, and we've lost our food…"

He lowered his gaze, saying they'd lost everything to monsters and demonic energy.

"Zieghart's territory has expanded recently. There's unused pastureland—we can help you settle there. We'll waive taxes for a while, so don't worry."

"R-Really? But why…?"

The chief stammered, suspicious of such generous conditions.

"The strength of a force ultimately lies in its people."

Raon looked at the chief and the villagers behind him.

'A group without people will wither and die.'

They weren't criminals or fugitives—they were simply seeking refuge from the flames of war.

If Zieghart protected them with force, they would repay it in kind.

With the war against the Five Demons continuing, expanding Zieghart's population was the right move.

"Not only did you save our lives… but you're giving us a future… Thank you. Thank you so much."

The chief dropped his cane and knelt, trembling with emotion.

"Thank you, benefactor!"

The villagers bowed deeply with gratitude.

"Feels like we become benefactors everywhere we go."

"Yeah. Last time it was the dwarves."

Krein and Dorian exchanged proud smiles.

"My heart feels fuzzy…"

Even Runaan bowed, pleased to help others.

"Time to prepare for the return trip."

"We've got a lot of people to bring back. Let's move fast."

Burren and Martha returned to the Light Wind Division to give instructions.

'Hmm.'

Raon licked his lips, watching the preparations.

'This time, I gained a lot.'

He defeated the Demonblade, received multiple rewards, and even secured a lead to the Black Tower's location.

It was a greater harvest than usual.

'Grandfather will be pleased too.'

Just as he wondered what Glenn's reaction would be—

– "Aaaaargh! Come out already!"

Wrath screamed and blasted frost into the air.

'Still at it…?'

Raon's eyes grew colder than the ice on his hand.

'Still fighting, huh?'

—

Raon returned to Zieghart with the Light Wind Division, Iron Division, and the people of Bodri Village.

With so many people, the dimensional gate cost a fortune—but thanks to the dragon's lair haul, it barely dented his personal wealth.

"Why do you always bring more people every time you return?"

Commander-in-chief Illyune sighed in disbelief.

"This might be the most yet."

"They're new residents for Zieghart."

Raon bowed, saying he planned to bring the villagers in.

"Nomads, huh… Well, I trust you'll handle it."

Illyune nodded and opened the main gate.

"Now that I think of it, I won't be speaking casually to you anymore. If you become a Palace Lord, you'll outrank me."

"You can keep talking to me the same way. You said the same thing when I became Division Leader—and then went back to speaking casually."

"Did I? Then I'll just keep at it."

Illyune grinned and nodded.

"Please do. Hm?"

Raon frowned, looking down at the ground.

It trembled like an earthquake was coming.

"Ahem, maybe I took too long. Go on inside."

Illyune hurried him along once the vibrations began.

"Understood."

Raon nodded and entered through the gate.

Strangely, the tremors eased the closer he got to the main hall—as if the land were welcoming him.

"There are too many people. Only the chief should come into the audience chamber."

He led the anxious chief into the Lord's Hall alone.

"Don't be too nervous. Despite the rumors, the Lord is kind."

Raon reassured him and opened the audience chamber doors.

"I greet the Lord."

"I greet the Lord!"

Raon stepped into the center and bowed, followed by the Light Wind Division and Iron Division kneeling behind him.

Their unified posture made them seem like a single force.

"Rise."

Glenn nodded gravely.

"Thank you."

Raon bowed again and stood.

"You only wrote that you'd return soon. What happened?"

Glenn raised an eyebrow, curious.

"Some things are difficult to explain in writing."

Raon apologized and bowed again.

"It's fine. Just tell me now."

Glenn leaned forward, clearly ready to listen.

"Then I'll begin. When the Light Wind Division arrived at Bodri Village, the plains and village were already overrun with violet demonic energy. We rescued the Iron Division first…"

Raon looked up at the platform and began explaining from there. Glenn's red eyes sparkled, and the corners of his lips trembled with anticipation.

"Hmm…"

Chief Chaepran slowly raised his gaze as he listened.

Atop the golden platform, sitting on a throne of gold, was Glenn Zieghart.

Though they looked to be of similar age, Glenn was a towering giant at the peak of the world—unlike himself, a lowly commoner. Despite Raon's reassurance, all the rumors of Glenn being a cold-hearted man made his heart pound with fear.

'He said he was kind, but those eyes… hmm?'

As he nervously swallowed and looked up, Glenn's quivering lips and reddened ears felt oddly familiar.

'That's…'

Exactly the same expression I make when looking at my grandson.

Whenever Raon recounted his and the Light Wind Division's deeds, Glenn's mouth twitched and his ears flushed red.

It looked just like the pride a grandfather felt when his grandchild showed talent in farming or herding.

'So that's how it is.'

People really are the same everywhere.

Chaepran smiled faintly, his nervous heart slowly calming.

"…When I cut through the demonic energy and struck the boulder, the one who appeared was the leader of the Black Lotus, Demonblade Dreg."

Raon paused.

"Demonblade?"

The golden armrest beneath Glenn's hand crumpled like paper.

"Yes. Strengthened by the Black Tower's curses, he became a monster who surpassed the Five Divine Order and attacked us."

"A cursed Demonblade…"

"Then what happened? What did you do?!"

For the first time, Serena and Latein, leaders of the Light and Blade Divisions—spoke up.

Their eyes burned, eager to hear more.

"Someone must've helped. Even if my nephew's a Transcendent, defeating the Demonblade alone is too much."

Balder licked his lips, curious.

"The Demonblade…"

Raon looked over the now silent audience chamber and calmly spoke.

"I cut him down."

'BOOM!'

As soon as he said it, a deafening crash echoed behind Glenn.

He looked up.

The golden throne's leg had snapped, and it went flying through the air—leaving behind Glenn's stunned, smiling face. (T/N: Oooops, our tsundere gramps has been caught!)