The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman

x building.
His insides were still hurt, but he was in a much better condition than when he fought against the seventh apostle.

“You shouldn’t move for the next two days, okay?”

Sylvia laid him in bed to make him rest and grabbed his shoulders.

“I’m going to tie you up if you move around again!”

Raon could see the determination in her eyes, probably because he coughed up a lot of blood.

“You shouldn’t even think about leaving the bed, since the maids are also going to take turns guarding the room twenty-four hours a day.”

Even Helen narrowed her eyes at him, although he thought she’d be on his side.

“Haa, I got it.”

Raon sighed heavily and nodded.

“I’ll rest quietly until I recover.

“I’ll be watching.”

“I believe in you.”

The two left only after Raon gave them his answer.

‘This isn’t too bad either.’

Because no one told him anything like that in his previous life, and he knew that they were worried about him, he didn’t really dislike their nagging.

That’s not how you should be.

Wrath popped up on the bracelet with a frown on his face.

Demons don’t need anything like a family’s love.
Power.
Having all your desires focused on getting stronger is how a demon should be.

“Isn’t that your desire, not a demon’s? I’m sure that not every demon lives like you do.”

Of course! The King of Essence is special.
No one is as focused on getting stronger as the King of Essence.
That’s why I’m revered as the monarch of Wrath, and as the strongest among the demon kings…

“It should be gluttony, not wrath.”

You are wrong! Stop taking me for that weak rabbit!

He screamed, shaking his head violently.

Anyway! You are still far too weak right now, but I took a liking to your personality, your insatiable hunger for power, and your fighting spirit.

Wrath lowered the corners of his lips slightly and nodded.

The King of Essence will take good care of you if you become a demon.

“Can a human being even become a demon?”

Of course.
Many humans have become demons in the past.

“How do I do that?”

You first offer your body to the King of Essence…

“I refuse.”

Raon waved his hand, then closed his eyes.
He wanted to see what he was going to tell him, but it was pointless.

I-It’s true! You will obtain an incomparable power if the King of Essence descends upon you and increases the level of your body and soul!

“Okay, I’m not buying it.”

He shook his hand, as if he were chasing away a door-to-door salesperson.
He thought Wrath had given up because he hadn’t spoken about it for a while, but that was apparently not the case.
He was still targeting his body.

Tsk, it didn’t work.

Wrath clicked his tongue in regret.

“Obviously.
Do you think I’m an idiot?”

However, I wasn’t lying about taking a liking to you.
If you want, I’ll tell you how a human being can become a demon.
First of all…

‘Wait.’

As he was about to tell Raon how to become a demon, messages appeared in front of his eyes.

 

[You’ve achieved another impossible victory.]

 

[The Ring of Fire’s proficiency has increased.]

 

[The Perception of the Snow Flower’s rank has increased to four-stars.]

 

[All stats have increased by 6.]

 

They were the messages from receiving the achievement of defeating a Master while being an Expert himself.
The rank of the Perception of the Snow Flower and all stats had increased at the same time.

Ugh!

“Wow…”

While Raon was admiring and reading the message, a second set of messages appeared.

 

[You’ve realized the true meaning of the Supreme Harmony Steps.]

 

[You’ve achieved something impossible at your current level.]

 

[All stats have increased by 7.]

 

Looking at the points that had increased once again, Raon clenched his fist while inhaling deeply.

Whir!

The change in his body created a burning pain before soaking his entire body in a refreshing vitality, as if he were bathing in cold water.
The pain from his internal injury had also completely disappeared.

“Thirteen points in one go…”

Raon smiled, grasping his throbbing heart.
He could feel his increased power because he had gained so many stats at once.
It looked like he would need to focus on training for a while to get used to the stats.

“And I even got another rank in the Perception of the Snow Flower.”

Perception of the Snow Flower was a trait that increased the range and sensitivity of his aura perception.
He liked it even more because it had a great synergy with him, as he was an assassin in his past life.

D-Damn it…

Wrath was crushed by the rising messages, his eyes trembling.

Do you really believe you deserve to gain so much from an inferior achievement like that? Spit it out, if you have a conscience!

“I don’t have one.”

Raon resolutely shook his head.

“You told me I was like a demon.
Did you ever see a demon spitting out what they already ate?”

Kuh, Aren’t you even going to ask how to spit it out?

“That would be an unnecessary question.”

He had no intention of spitting out a reward like that, not even if his stomach burst.

You are really more demonic than a demon.

“Is that a compliment?”

Kuh!

Raon smiled at Wrath, who was trembling in anger.

“Ah, by the way, what did you say earlier? How do I become a demon?”

I’m never going to tell you!

Wrath violently shook his head.

The whole of Devildom will be sucked dry if you become a demon!

 

* * *

 

One week later, Raon had completely recovered from his internal injury, and went out to the annex building’s open area.

Naturally, he felt excited as he felt the wind for the first time in a long time.

After a light warm-up, he drew Heavenly Drive.
Holding the sword’s grip made him feel alive.
It looked like he’d become a real swordsman.

Whoosh!

He used the Supreme Harmony’s sixth step along with the Star Connecting Sword.
The aura appearing on the white silver blade flew away like an aloof river to engulf the entire open area.

The principle of softness that was already incorporated in the Star Connecting Sword was maximized by the Supreme Harmony’s sixth step.
The way even the dappled sunlight was deflected by his sword was such a mysterious sight.

Screech!

He then used the Supreme Harmony’s fifth step while striking with the Fangs of Insanity.
The untamed beast’s fangs became even sharper, shredding the atmosphere.

“I knew it wasn’t just my imagination.”

Just like he felt during the fight against Garon, the Supreme Harmony Steps were capable of enhancing a swordsmanship’s characteristics and power.

Using the sixth step at the same time as a soft technique enabled a robust defense that could deflect astral energy, and using the fifth step along with a powerful technique created a ferocious blade that could even pierce through a layer of astral energy.

Attack, defense, evasion, and counterattack.
It was an extraordinary footwork that could be used in many ways.

‘It’s giving me internal injuries, though.’

It could strengthen one’s swordsmanship, but the recoil was also significant.
The internal injury he received during the last fight was partly because of the Supreme Harmony Steps.

‘I suppose nothing is perfect in the world.’

There were bound to be demerits if there were merits.
Since the Supreme Harmony Steps were made by Glenn when he was at a higher level than him, it was overexerting his body in his current state.
He would’ve still been lying in bed like a dead man if the stats weren’t strengthening his body.

“Let’s try it.”

Raon gathered all of his aura and poured it into Heavenly Drive.

Cring!

With a majestic sword resonance, a red light appeared on the blade.

The aura blades that were as thin as thread tangled with each other to become aura thread, and the aura threads gathered like flower petals to form a gorgeous line.

Burst!

An extensive light similar to a comet appeared on the blade of Heavenly Drive.
The gathering of vivid aura was astral energy.

Screech!

However, the astral energy didn’t last long and withered like candlelight in front of the wind.

“Tsk.”

Raon clicked his tongue and lowered Heavenly Drive.

“I knew it wouldn’t work.”

The Master wall that was right in front of his eyes certainly collapsed after he refined the martial arts he’d learned so far during the spar against Garon.

However, he didn’t manage to become a Master.
He was in a strange situation where he couldn’t surpass the collapsed wall.

‘I don’t understand.’

He didn’t seem to be an Expert nor a Master.

He had killed Masters in his previous life, but since he had never become a Master himself, he couldn’t understand what state he was in.

‘Wrath.’

What’s up?

‘What is my current level? I don’t think I’m an Expert nor a Master.’

Why are you asking the King of Essence?

‘I’ve recently been eating anything you want to eat.
Can’t you answer that, at least?’

While he was resting in the annex building, he ate every food and snack that Wrath wanted to eat.
And Wrath was praising every single dish to the point that he forgot his stats had been taken away.

Hmm…

Wrath licked his lips, feeling guilty.

You are at the border.

‘Border?’

The thing you humans call the Master wall.
You are currently standing on the collapsed wall.

‘I knew it.’

Just as he expected, he wasn’t currently a Master nor an Expert.

‘How can I advance one step forward from here?’

You need a trigger.

‘Trigger?’

Yes, a trigger that will make you extend your foot.

‘And how can I find that trigger?’

I don’t know.

‘What?’

The King of Essence couldn’t even feel a trivial wall like that.
I leapt over two or three levels at once at the beginning.
Since I’ve never worried about anything like that, I obviously don’t know.

‘How condescending…’

The demon king was completely useless in that aspect.

‘I should try a bit more.’

He tried creating astral energy a few more times, but the aura kept melting down, unable to maintain its form—just like before.

‘I guess I can’t do it right now.’

Raon licked his lips in regret.

‘I shouldn’t try too hard, then.’

In fact, he was already growing at a rate that couldn’t be called human.
If he just kept doing his best at training like he had so far, he should be able to advance before he knew it.

“I’ll continue just as I always have… Hmm?”

As he fixed his grip and was about to practice his swordsmanship, the Perception of the Snow Flower, which had leveled up recently, managed to detect someone’s presence.
It was from above the tree behind him.

“Please come out.”

Since it was a familiar presence, he bobbed his hand towards the person at the top of the tree.

“I know you are there.”

“Damn it.”

A purple-haired woman jumped down, grumbling.
The person, with narrow eyes and a small body, was the Heavenly Blade leader, Sheryl.
She had a noticeable sword on her back.

“How did you notice me?”

“You lost your breath for an instant.”

“Of course, I would! I witnessed something ridiculous.”

Sheryl walked up to Raon with a frown, standing in front of him.
Her eyes were trembling slightly in bewilderment.

“Do you have anything to tell me?”

He thought he wouldn’t need to see her ever again, but he ended up encountering her already.

“How’s your body?”

“I’ve almost recovered.”

“That should be fine, then.”

Sheryl examined Raon’s body from the top to bottom, as if she were trying to confirm his condition, before extending her hand.

“Take care of a matter with me.”