The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman
Chapter 882:

Raon first closed the reward messages and turned around.

Burren, Martha, Runaan, and Sheryl were looking at him with puzzled eyes.

‘Not surprising they’d look at me like that.’

It was one thing to have a conversation with Askarai, but the repeated mentions of Demon Kings and the Devildom were bound to raise questions.

– “What will you do?”

Wrath licked his lips nervously, seemingly more tense than Raon.

‘What else? I’ll just have to explain.’

Glenn and Rektor already knew that Wrath was his friend and a Demon King. These people could be trusted as much as those two, so telling them now seemed like the right thing to do.

– “R-Really?”

Raon smiled faintly as he looked into the eyes of the slowly rising Burren, Martha, and Runaan.

‘They have the kind of eyes that believe no matter what.’

Though confused, the three captains of the Light Wind Division didn’t avert their gaze. It meant they trusted him no matter what. Even though Dorian was still unconscious, he likely wouldn’t be any different.

‘And…’

He looked at Sheryl, who had lowered her twin swords. Since she had heard the most, she appeared more shaken than the others, but she didn’t speak up. That meant she intended to listen first—she was someone Raon could also trust.

– “Th-Then…”

Wrath trembled as he looked at Runaan and Martha.

– “Finally, I get to meet the ice cream girl and the beef girl!”

He bounced in the air, excited. It hadn’t been long since he was cursing the system, but his mood had already improved—a truly consistent Demon King.

“Raon…”

Sheryl approached him with heavy steps.

“Can you explain what’s going on? Why were you speaking so strangely, and why did that demon call you a Demon King?”

Despite her confusion, she looked at him with trust in her eyes.

– “How dare she!”

Wrath threw a pudgy punch at Sheryl.

– “How dare she say my speech is strange! It’s magnificent!”

He grabbed her collar and shook her, demanding an apology.

“I heard it too.”

Burren nodded, holding his burned shoulder.

“He called you a Monarch and a Demon King.”

He looked at Raon with calm eyes, asking for an explanation.

“Don’t pressure him. He’ll explain when he’s ready.”

Martha, who usually spoke first, instead remained calm and suppressed her emotions.

“Yeah. Definitely.”

Runaan also blinked quietly, seemingly deciding to wait like Martha.

“Just as I thought.”

Raon looked at Sheryl and the three captains with a faint smile.

“Just as you thought?”

Martha tilted her head, confused.

“It’s not hard to explain. Actually…”

As Raon was about to speak, stones and dirt began to fall from the ceiling.

“Let’s wake the others and get out of here.”

The overwhelming Fighting Spirit Askarai released had shaken not just this underground chamber but the entire tunnel—it was about to collapse.

Even with Sheryl and himself there, getting trapped underground would be dangerous. Escaping took priority.

“Right. That comes first.”

Sheryl nodded and started waking Borgos and the dwarven craftsmen.

“Hey! Dorian! Get up!”

Martha kicked the drooling Dorian.

“Hup!”

Dorian shot up like someone electrocuted.

“What! I swear I saw some crazy monster pop out…”

He mumbled, looking dazed.

“Enough! Carry the others!”

Burren smacked Dorian on the forehead and pointed at the injured craftsmen.

“Huh? What’s going on all of a sudden—”

“The ceiling…”

Runaan pointed up. Her temporary ice pillars were cracking, and stones and soil continued to fall.

“Gah!”

Only then did Dorian realize the situation. He nodded and picked up three severely injured dwarves at once.

“Sir Borgos, please get on my back.”

Raon tried to carry Borgos up, but he stopped. The pain from his internal injuries had intensified now that the adrenaline wore off. With a damaged energy center and torn mana circuits, he could barely walk, let alone carry someone.

“O-O benefactor! I’ll walk on my own, so please put me down.”

Borgos, realizing Raon’s condition, flailed to get down.

“I-I’m fine.”

As Raon struggled to walk, Sheryl stepped forward.

“I’ll carry him. You just follow.”

Already shouldering two people, Sheryl lifted Borgos with her arms. Though small in stature, she looked like a giant carrying two adults on her back and one in her arms.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be. We’d all be dead if not for you.”

Sheryl told him to just follow and took the lead.

“Yes.”

Raon sighed and followed her from behind.

“Did you take down that monster?”

Dorian recalled Askarai emerging from the dimensional rift and inhaled deeply.

“As expected of you! I believed in you!”

“I didn’t defeat him. What belief, you were unconscious.”

Raon snorted at Dorian.

“Even unconscious, I believed in you from the bottom of my heart!”

Dorian insisted, nodding.

“Whatever. Just take care of the injured.”

“Yes, sir!”

He smiled confidently and tightened his grip on those he was carrying.

“Hmm…”

As Raon forced his heavy legs to move, his brows twitched. Despite calming down, his body didn’t feel worse—it actually started feeling lighter and more at ease.

‘What’s going on?’

No matter how many traits or how strong he was, he couldn’t recover this fast from injuries to his energy center. It felt good, but it was too strange—it made him uneasy.

– “It’s because of that damn Fighting Spirit.”

Wrath frowned at him.

‘Fighting Spirit?’

– “The one you got from that damn act! Askarai’s Fighting Spirit!”

He clicked his tongue.

– “Balrogs, being demons of battle, can adapt to fight anywhere, anytime. You gained the King’s Fighting Spirit, so an injury like that is nothing.”

Wrath sighed as if disgusted by the power Raon had obtained.

‘I see.’

He examined his inner energy and saw Askarai’s Fighting Spirit moving on its own, patching up the torn energy center and mana circuits.

– “It’s not quite healing, but it’ll keep you going.”

‘That’s how it feels.’

– “Tch! To think such power was given to someone who doesn’t even understand it!”

Wrath swung his fist through the air in frustration.

‘Maybe that’s why I got it.’

Raon smiled faintly and picked up the pace.

“Huh? Are you okay?”

Dorian looked worried.

“I can manage.”

Raon nodded and followed right behind Sheryl. Thanks to his faster pace, they managed to reach the Gray Hammer Guild’s base before the entire underground space collapsed.

“This place is collapsing too. We need to leave.”

Sheryl shook her head as she saw rocks falling over the scorched workshop.

“L-Let’s go! We’ll be crushed!”

Dorian trembled.

“Wait!”

Martha grabbed Dorian’s collar and shook her head.

“Huh? But it’s dangerous—”

“We should let them say their final goodbyes.”

She pointed behind them.

“……”

Borgos and the craftsmen stood silently, biting their lips as they looked at their burned comrades and the destroyed workshop. Even if they were to die here, they wouldn’t stop mourning their fallen comrades.

Ssssss…

Runaan cast a cold barrier to protect them while they paid their last respects.

“Ha…”

She too coughed blood from overexertion, but she didn’t dispel the barrier.

“Let’s go…”

Borgos picked up a charred hammer and nodded. The craftsmen silently followed him toward the exit.

“Thank you.”

Borgos bowed deeply to Sheryl and Runaan for shielding them.

“I understand how you feel.”

Sheryl nodded with a faint smile.

“Yeah…”

Runaan also blinked quietly, agreeing.

“We should say our goodbyes outside. It’s really dangerous now.”

Burren gulped as he watched the rocks pressing against Runaan’s ice wall.

“Understood.”

Borgos nodded and led the craftsmen to the surface.

“Let’s go too.”

Raon nodded and waved to Burren, Martha, Runaan, and Dorian.

“Yeah…”

“Sigh, we saved people, but it still doesn’t feel good.”

“Rest in peace…”

Burren, Martha, and Runaan paid their respects and headed up.

“……”

Just as Raon was about to head up last, a faint ominous energy rose from the collapsing depths and drifted toward him. He tried to repel it, but it slipped behind him and seeped into the [Soul Requiem Sword].

‘What is that?’

It was clearly negative and ominous energy, yet he didn’t feel any threat from it. It felt like the lingering spirit of a soul bound to the [Soul Requiem Sword].

‘I’ll look into it later.’

Raon took a short breath and climbed out. The moment he left, Sheryl’s aura faded, and the entire underground base of the Gray Hammer Guild collapsed. A chunk of the mountain crumbled away.

“That was close.”

Dorian sighed as he looked at the now collapsed underground entrance.

“Hmm…”

Borgos bit his lip at the sight of the now inaccessible tunnels. The craftsmen, overwhelmed with emotion, shed tears they had held back.

“Haah…”

Borgos grabbed a blood-stained patch of ground with his thick fingers. After taking time to collect himself, he approached Raon.

“Could you tell us what happened?”

He bowed, asking Raon to explain.

“Of course.”

Raon nodded and explained about the King of the Balrogs and that the one who summoned him was a demon from the Black Tower.

“I see… So that’s what happened…”

Borgos nodded, then suddenly knelt.

“Borgos of the Gray Hammer bows before his savior.”

“Our savior!”

The craftsmen bowed with him.

“Please, don’t do this.”

Raon shook his head, saying it would worsen their injuries.

“You saved our lives and avenged us. If we can’t even give you thanks, we don’t deserve to live!”

Borgos pressed his forehead to the ground.

“Accept it.”

Sheryl came over and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“You’ve more than earned this gratitude.”

She nodded, saying it would be ruder not to accept it.

“…Understood. Then please rise.”

Raon accepted the gratitude and helped Borgos up.

“I will repay this favor, no matter what.”

Borgos thumped his chest.

“Yes. I’ll be waiting.”

“No.”

He stood and shook his head.

“You won’t have to wait. I’ll start immediately.”

He clenched his teeth, determined to begin work at once.

“Huh? In this situation…?”

Raon exhaled and raised his hand in disbelief.

“No, it’s actually better to work right now.”

Borgos said this emotional state would help them make better weapons and clenched his fist.

“We feel the same!”

“We want to work too!”

The other craftsmen and dwarves nodded eagerly.

“Please entrust us with the task.”

Borgos bowed again.

“Understood.”

Raon smiled and nodded.

“But where will you work?”

This place was too dangerous due to the Black Tower’s proximity.

“We’ll head to Zieghart.”

Borgos licked his lips.

“But… do they accept refugees?”

—

Because the dwarves and craftsmen had serious burns, they returned to the Seiphia household to receive treatment.

Thanks to Adis’s foresight as an experienced merchant, healers and priests were already on standby, so everyone, including Borgos, received prompt care.

“That’s a relief.”

Burren nodded as he closed the treatment room door.

“Yeah. Luckily, no lasting damage.”

Martha wrapped a bloodstained bandage and nodded.

“It’s all thanks to you this time.”

She looked at Runaan, who was standing blankly, and nodded.

“Me…?”

Runaan tilted her head.

“You kept that ice barrier up, sweating the whole time. If you hadn’t, we might’ve lost limbs or worse.”

Martha nodded again.

“A compliment from the Raksasha…?”

Runaan looked genuinely stunned.

“Who’re you calling a demon! I step up when I need to!”

Martha grit her teeth at Runaan.

“Hmph! No point complimenting you!”

She snorted in irritation.

“Let’s not fight. Let’s rest for now. I’ll guide you to the guest rooms!”

Dorian stepped between them and nodded.

“Before that.”

Raon looked at the three captains and Sheryl.

“I need to talk to you somewhere quiet.”

“Huh? Ah, yes!”

Dorian nodded and guided everyone to the parlor. Though fancy, it was soundproof—perfect for a serious talk.

“What’s this about?”

Dorian shook his leg impatiently.

“Got something urgent?”

Raon asked as he sat at the front.

“Yes. I need to clear out some other stock before Father arrives…”

Dorian said he had to finish his deliveries.

– “No matter how you look at it, this guy’s crazy in his own way.”

Wrath shook his head, saying Dorian was as mad as he was.

“Then sit still.”

Raon gently pushed Dorian’s shoulder and sat down.

“Heavenly Sword Division Leader—no, Sheryl, please sit too.”

“Alright.”

Sheryl sat across from him, already knowing what he intended to say.

“Hu…”

Raon looked each person in the eye: Burren, Martha, Runaan, Dorian, and Sheryl.

‘Yes. I can trust them.’

There was no need to explain to the three captains and Dorian, and Sheryl had once risked her life with Rimmer to save the Light Wind Division. If he couldn’t trust these people, he couldn’t trust anyone.

“You heard what happened. Mentions of the Devildom, demons, Demon Kings.”

Raon brought his hands together and nodded.

“Yeah. That flaming monster called you a Demon King.”

Burren nodded.

“But didn’t you call yourself one first?”

Martha shook her head, saying Raon said it first.

“……”

Runaan just looked at him, as if silently expressing her trust.

“Hmm…”

Sheryl also waited silently.

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

Dorian tilted his head.

“I’m not a Demon King or a demon. I’m just a human. However…”

Raon glanced at Wrath sitting on his shoulder and shook his head.

“The guy with me is a Monarch of the Devildom.”

He explained Wrath’s identity.

– “Ugh…”

Wrath trembled slightly, nervous about how the people he’d grown fond of would react.

“A-A Demon King…?”

“Is on your shoulder?”

“……”

Burren and Martha widened their eyes. Runaan quietly listened.

“I see. Then all those strange events make sense now!”

Dorian nodded, now understanding everything.

“He’s not dangerous, right?”

Sheryl was more concerned about Raon’s safety.

“No. He’s actually helped a lot.”

Raon smiled faintly and nodded.

“All this time…”

After a short breath, he explained everything that had happened.

“A-All that?”

“Ah…”

“Then I’m alive thanks to the Demon King!”

Martha, Runaan, and Dorian were shocked.

“He’s the one who helped us escape the Flame Demon Army too…”

“Yeah. It was him.”

Raon nodded to Burren.

“W-Wait a second!”

Burren jumped up.

“That thing on your shoulder wasn’t a sea spirit—it was a Demon King?”

He looked at Wrath, who had created his artificial eyes.

“Yeah. Thanks to him, you can see again.”

Raon lightly poked Wrath and smiled.

– “Finally revealed! I’m the one who gave you those eyes!”

Wrath raised his chin proudly.

“…Ugh.”

Burren bit his lip.

“I used to think Demon Kings were just beings to be defeated… but to think all this was going on behind the scenes…”

He made eye contact with Wrath and then nodded.

“Thank you. For helping me. For helping all of us.”

Burren dropped to one knee and bowed.

– “T-The shitty-eyes guy is bowing?”

Wrath’s eyes widened.

– “Of all people, I thought he’d hate demons the most…”

He trembled in surprise.

‘He’s not a narrow-minded kid anymore.’

Burren wasn’t blinded by prejudice. He valued the help he received more than labels like ‘demon.’

“If there’s anything you want, I’ll do it.”

Burren nodded.

– “R-Really?”

Wrath’s eyes widened.

– “You mean it?”

‘I’ll relay it.’

Raon nodded at Wrath, whose lips curled into a smile.

– “Then obviously food! Tell him to bring me every kind of cuisine I haven’t tasted!”

Wrath said Burren, being rich, must know lots of delicious dishes and demanded them all.

“My friend says this.”

Raon smiled.

“He wants mysterious and rare sword techniques. The rarer, the better.” (T/N: Damn, your the worse Raon. HAHAHA)

– “Huh…?”

Wrath blinked blankly.

– “I didn’t say that! I said food! Not sword techniques!”

He jumped around, shouting.

“Not just sword techniques, but footwork and martial arts are good too.”

Raon grinned as he spoke.

“This guy’s really into human martial arts.”

“O-Okay. I’ll gather everything I can.”

Burren clenched his fist.

– “Are you even human!”

Wrath clutched his head and screamed.

– “Even the Angels weren’t this bad! Where did you come from?!”