The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 244
Tiller Seton left the conference room and immediately headed toward the front lines.
“What’s the matter that you called me?”
The vice-captain Hackil, who had been guarding the deck, approached with a smile.
“It’s gone wrong.”
Tiller glanced back over his shoulder and frowned.
“Raon Zieghart has figured out the location where we’re hiding the Chungru tribe.”
“W-what…?”
Hackil’s eyes widened. ‘That can’t be right?’
The place where we hide the Chungru tribe is a corner that no one would ever go to, and we’ve even given orders that they must never come out under any circumstances. How could that location have been discovered? I couldn’t understand it at all.
“Are you mistaken?”
“From the way he mentioned it’s between the Rable River and the Gazelle River, it seems certain.”
Tiller shook his head firmly. ‘That guy wouldn’t make a mistake.’
A person like Raon wouldn’t fail to confirm the most important thing. Hoping that he’s mistaken here is just plain stupid.
“What exactly happened?”
“Inside….”
Tiller told Hackil what had happened in the conference room.
“How…?”
Hackil frowned, unable to comprehend.
“It doesn’t matter now.”
Tiller clicked his tongue shortly. ‘I got what I deserved.’
In a war of words, the one who knows more and prepares more wins. Because we came here without knowing anything, this time we had no choice but to be devoured by that young bastard.
“Then, what are you going to do?”
“There’s something they don’t know.”
“Ah! The Water God Stone!”
“Raon is probably guarding against me. You command with the Water God Stone. Tell the Chungru tribe to stay put and not come out. Then… no!”
Tiller shook his head and leaned his face close to Hackil’s.
“Only five. Send only about five in front of me.”
“Five?”
“We made a bet on who would catch more Chungru tribe members. If I catch five Chungru tribe and the rest flee, I get to eat Doran Village for free.”
Even if Raon is well-prepared, he wouldn’t know about the Water God Stone. If we control the Chungru tribe with the Water God Stone, the bet would be easily won. ‘It’s even better.’
If this one thing ends well, we can eat Doran Village without consuming the Chungru tribe, and furthermore, we can get Yuin Village as well.
“You dug your own grave. Raon Zieghart.”
Tiller smiled as he looked at Raon and the Light Wind Squad approaching from the bow.
“Let’s eat the Gazelle River well.”
***
Raon saw the sunken ship parts in the water before boarding the ship. No one knew, but Rimer and Garam were hiding down there right now. [Laugh?]
From underwater, Rimer’s aura message flowed in. [Master, laughing while throwing his master into the water and sunbathing in the warm sunlight?]
Looking at the direction the aura message was coming from, it seemed like he was leaning against the ship like a shark. [I’m laughing because Master is reliable.] [It’s funny! Because of you, I…] [Gold coin.] [Ugh!]
The moment “gold coin” was said, Rimer shut his mouth. [Garam! The scariest thing in the human world isn’t the sword, it’s gold. Gold! Be careful with money the most!]
Rimer sent aura messages to both Garam and himself simultaneously with his mysterious technique.
Garam seemed to nod instead of answering. [People become shabby whether old or young if they have no money! Look at my state. At this age… ugh!] [When it’s over, you’ll properly earn your share.] [Oh? Really?] [Please take care.]
Raon slightly lowered his head as if clearing his throat. [Okay!]
Even though Rimer seemed light-hearted, he was the kind of person who would definitely handle the request. I trusted him more than anyone.
Raon imagined Garam comforting Rimer and boarded Tiller’s ship Baekchang with the Light Wind Squad. ‘It’s bigger than I thought.’
Compared to when seen from below, the deck was larger and more ornate. It looked like a warship, not a merchant ship.
“Wow!”
“It’s huge.”
“This is the South-North Alliance’s warship…”
The Light Wind Squad swordsmen exclaimed in admiration, scanning the ship here and there. They weren’t really admiring it; they were checking the entire ship to prepare for any battle that might break out here.
“How is my ship?”
When Raon was exploring the deck of Baekchang like the others, Tiller approached with a smile.
“I’m worried it might not appeal to the Frost-Flower Sword Hero.”
“It’s a splendid and elegant warship. However, compared to the fame of the Blue Chivalrous Hero, it’s quite small.”
“I can’t help it since my position in the alliance isn’t that high.”
Tiller dismissed the provocation that the ship was a bit small with a gentle smile. Rather, he even revealed his own position was small.
Raon smiled faintly while watching Tiller’s reaction. ‘He’s found some leeway.’
Tiller’s relaxed appearance was because he thought he could win the bet by controlling the Chungru tribe with the Water God Stone. ‘He’ll lure out a few Chungru tribe with the Water God Stone.’
He planned to pull out about three to six Chungru tribe with the Water God Stone, give orders to hide the rest, and catch the Chungru tribe alone to end the bet. ‘Too obvious.’
From the beginning when thinking of this operation, he had predicted Tiller’s movements, so it was clear what thoughts he would have. ‘He wouldn’t imagine that I know about the Water God Stone.’
Thanks to the information Garam provided, this bet, no, the winner of this war was decided from the start.
“You say you’re not high? You have the title of Blue Chivalrous Hero and have reached Master, yet you’re too humble.”
Raon praised Tiller and opened the Sea of Senses with Glacia. ‘Then who will move?’
Since Tiller was in a commanding position, he wouldn’t leave the deck. To issue commands with the Water God Stone, he had to be in the area where the Chungru tribe was visible, so he must have hidden them inside the ship, and someone else would move to use it. ‘That guy.’
A middle-aged man with a sturdy build was scanning here and there as if inspecting the ship. His aura in the dantian was solid and massive. That man was probably Hackil, the vice-captain of this ship. ‘His appearance matches what I heard.’
“Now that you think you don’t have to see the Chungru tribe’s faces, you feel good, don’t you?”
Tiller muttered with a relieved expression and smiled.
“Yes. The monster will disappear now.”
Raon nodded, remembering Hackil’s presence clearly.
“Raise the anchor!”
“Raise the anchor!”
“Set sail!”
In response to Tiller’s command, all the sailors replied and raised the ship.
Kugugugugu!
The huge ship moved, but the sway wasn’t large. Looking at the mana felt from the entire ship, it seemed a magic was cast to withstand waves.
“Do we really need to bring this ship all the way?”
Tiller pointed to the merchant ship following the warship, Doran Village’s. The ship was large enough to be comparable to the warship, filled with village chief and villagers.
“There won’t be any traitors among us who won’t admit defeat.”
“Rather than the bet, since you’ve suffered a lot too, I wanted to show you clearly the sight of ‘removing the monster’.”
“You’re more ruthless than I thought.”
“Maybe so.”
Raon smiled faintly. Of course, it wasn’t for that reason. It was to show the villagers what kind of people Tiller and the South-North Alliance were. ‘That ship over there must disappear.’
After dealing with Tiller, he planned to destroy this warship, so that merchant ship had to follow anyway. …
The Chungru tribe’s residence that Garam told them wasn’t far. While checking the plan, they had arrived at the place.
“Here?”
“Yes.”
Raon pointed to the river mouth full of sharp rocks where a large ship couldn’t enter easily.
“First, the Chungru tribe doesn’t seem to be visible. Are you sure they’re inside there?”
At the same time as Tiller’s words, Hackil, who had marked the spot, began moving to the captain’s room.
It was the expected movement, but it couldn’t be like this. He had to make Tiller and Hackil and the others panic.
“Of course. Dorian.”
Before the man moved, Raon called Dorian to his side.
“Bring that out.”
“Got it!”
Dorian approached and put his hand into the belly pouch. From the slightly round palm, a white bead the size of a human head popped out.
“Eh?”
“Huh!”
Both Tiller and Hackil, who had been opening the captain’s room door, groaned at the same time.
“W-where did this come from?”
Tiller’s jaw trembled as he couldn’t hide his emotions.
“This is a gift I received from the person who told me the location.”
Raon received the fake Water God Stone from Dorian with a faint smile.
“He said that with this bead, I could take out the Chungru tribe.”
“W-who…?”
“I don’t know either. A small-built person in a black robe, and his speech was quite mumbled. But since he showed me controlling the Chungru tribe directly, I couldn’t believe it wasn’t true. Thinking about the strong water aura, he might not be human…”
“Ugh…”
Tiller’s expression crumpled like crumpled paper. ‘He must have realized.’
Now, deep in Tiller’s mind would be the question of whether Garam was alive and if this was the real Water God Stone. What he would do next was decided.
“Then, shall I move once?”
“Okay.”
Raon extended the fake Water God Stone towards the river and operated Glacia. The Water God Stone flashed white, and blue mana stretched out in threads.
Bububububu!
Bubbles rose between the sharp rocks, and dozens of Chungru tribe appeared at once.
“Huh!”
“I-I’m real!”
“It’s real!”
“What the hell is this bead!”
The Doran Village people on the merchant ship opened their mouths wide at the sight of the Chungru tribe coming out.
“Ah!”
“Huh…”
“M-mad…”
Tiller and the sailors had eyes as if their souls had left them. ‘Garam did well.’
This wasn’t the power of the Water God Stone, but Garam’s ability. The guy had pulled out the Chungru tribe stuck to the bottom.
Raon perceived Tiller’s aura subtly moving through the Ring of Fire. He must have instructed Hackil to find the Water God Stone quickly. ‘Now it starts.’
***
Tiller swallowed dryly while looking at the Water God Stone in Raon’s hand. ‘It’s the Water God Stone. It’s the real one.’
He seemed not to know how to use it properly, but that Water God Stone was real. [Hackil! When did you check the Water God Stone!]
He sent an aura message to Hackil right away, strengthening his trembling hand. [J-just yesterday…]
[Go right away! Go right away and check if that guy stole the Water God Stone or if that’s the second Water God Stone!]
[I-I don’t know what to do if it is…]
[If it is, issue commands as planned! Send five to me, and have the rest flee to the upper reaches of the Gazelle River and hide!]
[O-okay!]
After hearing Tiller’s instructions, Hackil entered the captain’s room. He silently opened the hatch on the floor and climbed down the ladder to the very bottom, opening the round door.
“Creak…”
“Kyaaa…”
Inside, young Chungru tribe were locked in cages, their scales raised and skin cracked like dried rice paddies because they couldn’t touch water.
“Shut up!”
After spitting at the young Chungru tribe, Hackil approached the wall. When he tapped the wall here and there with his fingers, the wall split in half, revealing gold coins and jewels inside.
He didn’t care about the others and stared at the transparent bead in the middle. Blue currents flickered inside the bead.
“It’s here! Then what does that guy have…”
“Fake.”
“W-what… kuhk!”
At the languid voice from behind, Hackil tried to turn around urgently, but the opponent was faster.
Puk!
A blade shining coldly pierced his left chest and protruded.
“Ugh…”
Hackil vomited blood and turned his head. An elf with red hair smiled and waved his hand.
“W-when…?”
“Since the moment you opened the hatch.”
Rimer twisted the sword stuck in Hackil’s heart.
“Kuwaaak!”
“Raon. Because you and Tiller panicked as if you didn’t notice my guidance and followed quietly, I came along.”
“G-goddammit…”
Hackil collapsed on the dry floor, clutching his chest without being able to resist once.
“Tsk.”
Rimer frowned while looking at the young Chungru tribe trembling in the cages. Every time their bodies shook, dry scales fell, and green fluid flowed from the cracked skin.
“Trash bastards.”
Garam had said that the Chungru tribe valued their children. Locking the young Chungru tribe here was clearly hostages in case the Water God Stone malfunctioned. ‘It reminds me of dirty memories.’
Looking at the eyes of the young Chungru tribe filled with fear and despair, the time he first came to the human world came to mind.
“Everyone step back.”
The Chungru tribe shrank at Rimer’s gesture.
Cha-aaang!
When he lightly swung his sword, the entrance of the cage split like tofu.
“Creak…”
“Ky…”
The Chungru tribe, frightened, widened their eyes at the open entrance.
“It’s time to go home.”
Rimer picked up the real Water God Stone from inside the warehouse and smiled at the bewildered Chungru tribe.
“Before that…”
He glanced at the sparkling jewels behind him and clicked his tongue.
“It’s okay to take a few gold coins, right?”
If you have no money, it’s pitiful…
***
Raon smiled coldly while looking at Tiller’s eyes rolling around. ‘His head must be in turmoil.’
The questions of whether this was the real Water God Stone or the second one, whether Garam was alive, what he heard from Garam, etc., would be mixing and about to burst. ‘And the most frustrated one is.’
The broken connection with Hackil. He must be going crazy with anxiety because the one who should return after issuing commands with the Water God Stone isn’t coming back.
Twung.
A large vibration that everyone in the ship could feel occurred from inside the ship. It was Rimer’s signal that everything was over.
“That was just now…”
“Tiller-nim. Actually, there’s one more thing I heard about this bead.”
Raon felt it was time to start here and spoke to Tiller.
“W-what did you say?”
Tiller’s expression was soaked with anxiety, obvious to anyone who looked.
“If I break this bead in front of the Chungru tribe, everyone’s souls will be cut off.”
“N-no way…”
“No harm in trying, shall we?”
“Wait!”
Raon threw the fake Water God Stone into the air. When Tiller urgently jumped up to catch the Water God Stone as he tried to draw his sword to cut it.
“You might be able to use it in another way!”
He spun his body in the air while hugging the Water God Stone. This was also an expected movement.
Snap!
Raon flicked his finger.
Kwa-aaang!
The fake Water God Stone exploded, covering Tiller’s entire body with frost.
Trududuk!
He managed to use aura in that moment to freeze his skin like a Master, but his clothes and equipment were all shattered.
“You bastard…”
Tiller ground his teeth while crushing the remaining fake Water God Stone pieces.
“Running to catch a bomb is ridiculous.”
Raon turned his head and snorted.
“You attacked me, so you must be insane…”
“It’s not over yet.”
Before the words ended, a huge impact occurred in the center of the ship.
Kwa-aaang!
The lower part of the ship exploded endlessly, and Rimer appeared.
“Hey, village chief! Come closer to the ship!”
He gestured to the village chief and Doran Village people who hadn’t yet grasped the situation.
“What the hell is this…”
“What happened?”
“Why is Rimer-nim over there…”
“Explain.”
Rimer sent the frightened young Chungru tribe to the merchant ship of Doran Village using the wind and finally stepped onto the ship.
“These sailor bastards used this bead and the Chungru tribe children to control the Chungru tribe until now.”
“Eh?”
“W-what did you just say…”
“Why would they do such a thing…”
The villagers clicked their tongues in disbelief. Because the goodwill shown by the South-North Alliance and Tiller had been too great, they couldn’t believe it was fake.
“Then how do you explain that these guys came out like this from their ship.”
Rimer pointed to the young Chungru tribe with their skin peeled off and the broken cages in the center of the ship.
“And this bead is…”
He briefly explained to the villagers what had happened until now.
“Huh!”
“Such a thing…”
“P-people aren’t even human…”
The villagers chewed their lips while looking at the clear eyes of the young Chungru tribe and their skin covered in wounds. In their eyes looking at Tiller and the sailors, hatred welled up.
“Those demons!”
“How can humans do such a thing…”
“Chungru tribe doesn’t do things like you!”
The Doran Village people, who had lived with the Chungru tribe since childhood, poured out curses at Tiller and the South-North Alliance with extreme anger.
“Huu…”
Tiller spat out a rough breath. His powerful aura burned, shattering all the frost embedded in his body.
“How… how can this be. What the hell is your true identity.”
“Your friend told you.”
“Friend? What nonsense…”
“Ah, I should say former friend. Garam!”
At Raon’s call, Garam in a black robe climbed onto the deck.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
Garam nodded and threw the robe he was wearing.
“You, you!”
The moment the black robe floated on the wind, Tiller’s red eyes shook violently as if hit by blue.
“How are you alive!”
“U…”
Garam bit his lips tightly and glared at Tiller’s devilish eyes.
“I came to save my family!”
He trembled all over as if about to cry but didn’t avoid Tiller’s gaze.
“Huu! Now I understand. It was all because of you.”
Tiller gripped the spear he had slung over his back with a trembling hand. He nodded as if he understood everything.
“You sold me out.”
“I-I didn’t sell you. I was doing what I had to do…”
“Shut up! You, a monster who can’t side with either side!”
The spear in his hand shot out like a flash with extreme qi.
“You’re quick-tempered.”
Raon smiled coldly and drew Cheonggeom. He overlaid the sword with the qi and strength of Tiller’s level and drew Mad Fang Sword.
Jjejejeeng!
A powerful shockwave erupted, shaking the deck as if it would collapse.
“You idiot!”
Tiller rolled his beast-like eyes as if the polite and obedient appearance was a lie.
“Challenging me because of such beasts!”
“Beasts are you?”
Raon snorted and pushed Tiller’s spear shaft.
Kugugugu!
Tiller retreated with strength and aura beyond human limits. Every time he retreated, the entire deck shook because he couldn’t release his energy.
“I am the disciple of the South-North Alliance Leader!”
Tiller raised his spear shaft and shouted.
“Even if a war breaks out between Zieghart and the South-North Alliance because of those not human!”
“Garam is my friend who joined hands with me.”
Raon pressed the spear shaft with cool eyes. He pushed Tiller back with terrifying weight.
“It’s only natural to draw a sword for a friend.”
Recalling the things he couldn’t do in his previous life and the true swordsmanship he heard from Sylvia, he straightened his waist proudly.
“Ah…”
Garam’s tears fell as he trembled with his lips bitten.
“Didn’t you say there’s no meaning in a name that isn’t called? Garam. From now on, we will call your name.”
The Light Wind Squad attached behind Raon drew their swords. A frosty spirit qi spread across the deck.
“Ugh!”
“T-that’s Zieghart…”
“What kind of momentum do children have…”
The sailors swallowed dryly and trembled while holding their weapons.
“You crazy bastard! You crazy bastards! I am Tiller Seton, the Blue Chivalrous Hero! The moment you touch me, the South-North Alliance moves! I am the disciple of the South-North Alliance Leader!”
“I don’t care about your name or the South-North Alliance Leader.”
“W-what?”
“The one in front of me is just a pathetic bandit bastard.”
Raon raised Cheonggeom and aimed at Tiller’s heart. The majestic sword qi from the silver blade silenced everyone.
“Die.”