The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman
Chapter 884:

“Ugh, what a waste…”

Dorian let out a short sigh as he rubbed his blackened, bruised eye socket.

“If I’d taken everything I stuffed in my pockets, we wouldn’t have to worry about supplies for a while!”

He waved the spoon in his hand, clearly still regretting not being able to steal everything from the Seiphia Guild.

“You were seriously planning to steal all of that? You’re out of your mind…”

Martha shook her head at Dorian.

“I didn’t know your dad could get that angry.”

She gave a disbelieving chuckle.

“Yeah. His face turned all red…”

Runaan nodded, seemingly recalling Adis’s flushed expression.

“No surprise. The stuff he pulled out of his pockets was bigger than the Seiphia Guild building!”

Martha said she’d never seen anything like it and put down her stew bowl.

“Can’t you all just eat quietly? You’re disturbing the other guests!”

Burren furrowed his brow as he wiped down the dining table with a napkin.

“Instead of lecturing us, how about educating that thief over there?”

Martha waved a hand toward Dorian, telling Burren to scold him instead.

“I’m planning to give that thief a proper lesson once we get back anyway.”

Burren ground his teeth, saying he was an embarrassment to the family.

“S-Stealing from my own house isn’t theft! It’s technically mine!”

Dorian rolled his eyes, saying as long as they used it well, there was no problem.

“You didn’t take house items. You took merchandise!”

Sheryl clenched her molars and smacked the back of Dorian’s head.

“Gah!”

“You used to be quiet, but now you’re the craziest one of all. What the hell was that guy thinking raising you…”

She clicked her tongue as she looked down at Dorian, now face-planted on the table.

“Hm…”

Unbothered by the noisy table, Raon stacked his empty dishes to the side.

‘This place’s not bad, huh?’

He had planned to just eat some Nadine bread, but ended up stopping by this small village restaurant to get something more nutritious for the wounded—and the food was surprisingly good.

– “Hmph! The chef’s skills are a little lacking, but I could feel their sincerity.”

Wrath muttered that it wasn’t bad as he patted his rounded belly.

– “But I shall be merciless when it comes to dessert. They better make it right.”

He waved his puffy hands expectantly, looking forward to the dessert.

‘This is just a countryside eatery. There’s no chef or dessert…’

Raon sighed. The cook was just the restaurant owner, and there wasn’t even such a thing as dessert on the menu.

– “Really?”

Even after being denied, Wrath smiled nonchalantly.

– “Then I’ll just go home and eat twice as much dessert!”

He licked his lips like it didn’t bother him in the slightest.

– “I get to eat whatever I want for ten whole days! I can’t wait! It’s going to be wonderful!”

Wrath giggled, saying he’d visit every famous restaurant in Zieghart, not just the outer residence.

‘……’

Raon silently watched Wrath hum a tune.

– “W-What? What is it?”

Wrath squinted at Raon’s silent gaze.

– “Don’t tell me… you’re going back on your promise?”

He trembled, his blue eyes fluttering anxiously.

‘Of course I’m keeping it.’

Raon smiled and shook his head. He had always planned ten days, only offering a week first, so he had every intention of keeping his word.

– “Then what’s with your face?”

Wrath scowled, clearly displeased.

‘My face? What about it?’

– “It’s the look of someone contemplating whether to eat Nadine bread or not! It pisses me off just looking at it!”

He snorted, saying Raon’s face was irritating.

‘Guess he’s feeling better now.’

Raon chuckled, seeing how expressive Wrath had become.

– “The food at that glutton’s house was good, and we’ve eaten well on the road too.”

Wrath nodded, saying he was feeling better.

‘We did get treated pretty well.’

Adis had shown them nothing but the best, save for that moment he caught and smacked Dorian.

Wrath’s improved mood was likely thanks to those luxurious meals.

‘Then I guess it’s time to check?’

– “Hm? Check what?”

‘The reward.’

Raon flicked his finger to bring up the reward he hadn’t checked before.

[You have perfectly deceived the King of the Balrogs.]

[You have achieved a great feat.]

[All stats increased by 40 points.]

[The trait <Fighting Spirit Manipulation> has evolved into <Askara’s Fighting Spirit>.]

[The trait <Askara’s Fighting Spirit> has increased by two ranks.]

[The trait <Demonic Energy Adaptation> has increased in rank.]

All stats up by 40 points, [Fighting Spirit Manipulation] had evolved into [Askara’s Fighting Spirit], and it had immediately risen two grades.

As expected from a [Great Feat] notification, the reward was exceptional.

– “W-What the! All that for tricking Askara a little?!”

Wrath furrowed his brow, unable to comprehend it.

‘Isn’t it obvious?’

Raon shook his head.

‘Because you acknowledged Askara as Demon King-level. That’s why the reward’s so high.’

Wrath had personally said that Askara was a dangerous being who abandoned his Demon King seat.

Since Wrath had certified it himself, the huge reward made perfect sense.

– “When did I—ugh!”

Wrath clamped his mouth shut, remembering what he’d said.

– “E-Even if I did say that, this is still too much!”

His head flushed red with anger.

His emotions changing his complexion—Raon didn’t know whether to call that endearing or just dumb.

– “Damn it!”

‘Enough. Quiet, please.’

Raon ignored Wrath’s tantrum and pulled up the description for [Askara’s Fighting Spirit].

[Askara’s Fighting Spirit]

The fighting spirit personally granted by the King of the Balrogs, who conquered the Devildom’s arena. Possesses strong resistance to light and darkness attributes.

Includes resistance to pain and injury, allowing one to maintain full strength even when gravely wounded.

‘Huh…’

Raon exhaled in awe after reading the description.

‘It’s not quite on the level of a Demon King’s Authority, but this is no joke.’

Askara’s fighting spirit functioned like aura at its base but also granted resistance to pain—a powerful trait.

As he’d experienced, even transcendents weren’t immune to injury. This would be extremely helpful in future battles.

– “Grrrgh!”

Wrath clutched his swollen head in frustration.

– “That damn Askara! When I return to the Devildom, I’ll freeze him solid and bury him in a hole!”

He ground his teeth, vowing revenge.

‘Then you’ll be the one fighting instead of me? Just as expected from you, Wrath.’

Raon smiled and patted his shoulder.

– “Huh? O-Oh, I guess that’s how it is…”

Wrath blinked and punched the air.

– “Damn it! Nothing ever goes my way!”

He shook his head violently, overwhelmed.

‘He’s such fun to watch.’

“Excuse me, Leader.”

As Raon chuckled watching Wrath flail, Dorian scooted over.

“Can’t you ask the Demon King to let me tour his castle? I really want to see it…” (T/N: WTH. HAHAHAHA. )

Though he said “just a tour,” he was already drooling.

‘…He says that.’

– “Why are all the people around you insane?!”

Wrath screamed, saying Raon’s friends were all like Raon himself.

– “There isn’t a single useful one! Why is this place harder to live in than the heavens?!”

—

In a tunnel where dried lava and melted frost still clashed—

Darkness thicker than shadow rippled across the hellish ground where the ceiling had collapsed and the walls had been torn down by Askara’s fighting spirit.

It hadn’t been there from the beginning—it had slithered in from outside, oozing between rocks.

Ssssss—

A woman with pale skin and blue hair rose from the black shadow. Though the space was too tight for even small animals to stand, she moved through the tunnel like an invertebrate.

“……”

After surveying the entire area, the blue-haired woman stopped at the spot where the white-haired man had been crushed by Askara’s flames. She gathered the burnt black ash and dirt into her hands, her gaze cold.

“A Balrog-class Demon King just walked away…”

She nodded slightly as she stared at the end of the tunnel where Askara vanished.

“Raon Zieghart must have a greater secret.”

Cradling the scorched soil soaked in the white-haired man’s blood, she slipped into the crack of the collapsed tunnel.

—

“So many guests today.”

Outer Commander Illiun raised his brow as he looked at Borgos and the craftsmen.

“They’re craftsmen of the Gray Hammer Guild. They’ve come to help with our project.”

Raon didn’t mention the underground village incident—he simply said they’d come to help.

“I’ve long heard of Borgos, the continental master craftsman. It’s an honor.”

Though he knew the full story, Illiun simply welcomed them and personally opened the outer gates.

“Thank you for the warm welcome.”

Borgos seemed to like Illiun’s directness and returned the greeting as he entered the outer castle.

“These roads are wide. No wonder they call it the peak of the Six Kings—no, Five Kings.”

He whistled at the broad road leading from the outer to the inner castle.

“But the heat rising from the ground is low. Typical of the north.”

He frowned, displeased with the weak geothermal energy.

“Where the Zieghart craftsmen work has heat comparable to Blazing Furnace Mountain. You’ll be satisfied.”

Raon said he’d introduce him soon and smiled.

“Is it the Vulcan workshop? That’s something to look forward to.”

Borgos nodded, excited about meeting Vulcan.

“It’s not very large, but you’ll be satisfied with the geothermal heat.”

As he explained the workshop and the inner workings of Zieghart, they soon arrived in front of the Patriarch’s Hall.

“This is the Patriarch’s Hall. Let’s go in.”

“Whoever built this must’ve been no ordinary man.”

Borgos mumbled, overwhelmed by the aura the building gave off, and stepped inside.

Word of their arrival must’ve gotten around, as the audience chamber’s doors were wide open, and the remaining executives were seated beneath the pillars.

Ooooong—

Glenn sat on the throne, exuding even greater pressure than usual, perhaps because it was his first time meeting Borgos.

Just meeting his sunken red gaze sent chills down the spine.

“Phew.”

Raon took a short breath and stepped into the audience chamber.

He stood in the center and confirmed that Borgos and the craftsmen had followed before kneeling.

“We greet the Patriarch.”

“We greet the Patriarch!”

Burren, Martha, Runaan, and Dorian followed his lead and shouted their return greeting.

“…Borgos of the Gray Hammer greets the King of the North!”

Even Borgos, overwhelmed by Glenn’s presence, lowered his head stiffly.

“G-Greetings to the King of the North…”

The dwarves and craftsmen also bowed, crushed under Glenn’s pressure.

“Welcome to Zieghart.”

Glenn nodded gently, as if he hadn’t just been radiating crushing energy.

“It’s unfortunate what happened at Blazing Furnace Mountain. I should’ve acted faster.”

He clicked his tongue in regret.

“Please don’t say that. Just sending the Light Wind Division Leader and Heavenly Sword Division Leader was more than enough.”

Borgos shook his head, saying their survival was thanks to that.

“…I heard you plan to begin work immediately. Are you sure?”

Glenn narrowed his eyes slightly.

“I’d rather work than dwell on things. It helps clear the mind.”

Borgos shook his head, saying he wanted to repay the favor.

“I’ve heard a rough summary. Now tell me exactly what happened.”

Glenn tilted his chin, asking why Borgos and the craftsmen had come here.

“Yes, well…”

Raon stepped forward and explained everything that had happened.

He, of course, left out the part about tricking Askara with Wrath’s performance.

“Hm…”

Glenn gazed at Borgos with a calm yet questioning look.

“Work is fine. But I have a favor to ask.”

Borgos sighed and looked Glenn in the eyes.

“I’d like to stay here for a while. Would that be allowed?”

“Even after the work is done?”

“Yes.”

He nodded, saying he wanted to stay in Zieghart.

“Granting that isn’t difficult, but why would you choose to stay here? Do you trust us that much?”

Glenn tilted his chin slightly, confused.

“To be honest, it’s not that I trust Zieghart.”

Borgos slowly turned his gaze to Raon.

“It’s not Zieghart I trust. It’s the Light Wind Division and Raon.”

He calmly nodded, saying it was Raon he believed in.

“Ah…”

Raon hurriedly shook his head.

‘That’s not good.’

Saying he trusted Raon more than Zieghart in front of Glenn, who held the family sacred, could provoke an unknown reaction. He nervously looked up at the platform.

But Glenn’s reaction was completely unexpected.

“Hmm…”

Rather than getting angry, Glenn’s lips trembled as they curled into a faint smile, like he was genuinely happy.

He even raised a shaking hand to cover his mouth, unable to hide his emotion.

‘Huh?’

– “Ugh, the old man’s at it again…”

Wrath groaned, shaking his head in dismay.