The Reincarnated Assassin is a Genius Swordsman - Chapter 872
Chapter 872
“Uh….”
Raon groaned softly as he watched the corner of Glenn’s mouth twitch like a freshly caught fish.
“What’s wrong with him?
He’d seen the corners of Glenn’s mouth twitch before, but never so much as today. I was afraid his mouth was going to fall off.
-You’ve got some serious meat on your bones.
Lars snorted, thinking that Glenn finally seemed to be revitalised.
“Mmm!”
Glenn, realising he’d been twitching, raised a hand to cover the corner of his mouth.
“…Right. I’ve heard vague reports of your capture of the dragon, but no details. Perhaps you can tell me for yourself?”
He lowered his chin, as if to explain not only to himself, but to the other officers in the room.
“Hey, nephew, is it true that you’ve beheaded three dragons?”
Valder waved his hand wildly, as if to say, “Hurry up and tell me.
“Two of them, they said, were great dragons. Probably with the help of a guardian.”
Denier narrowed his eyes to thread-thin slits, as if it were impossible to catch them alone.
“….”
Karun didn’t speak, but he looked at her, his eyes sharper than usual. I don’t know if it was her mood, but it felt like she was glaring at me.
“Three dragons….”
“That’s quite a feat, even with the Guardian’s help.”
“I’m curious to know how you captured them, because we’re going to have a lot to contend with.”
The three lords, as well as the masters, fixed their gazes on him with curiosity and anticipation.
“I’ll give you a verbal report then. When we arrived in Seifia, we spotted a gold dragon leaving the Great Forest, and since then….”
Raon told Glenn and Sieghardt’s officers the details of the war in Seifia.
“…And that’s how I was able to ring Matirus at the end.”
He didn’t exaggerate, like Shiyan’s books, just recited the facts of what happened.
“So the rumours have been diminished! It’s our nephew after all!”
Valder flashed a cool smile and gave a thumbs-up.
“So the rumours have been diminished….”
Denier blurted out in surprise.
“….”
Karun glanced at him, his eyes even sharper than before.
They weren’t filled with the same disgust as before, but they were strangely cold.
“Ha, you really are a monster.”
“I should have spent a fortune to bring him to us for the selection ceremony….”
“I’d say he’s reached a stable transcendence, and now he can’t even keep up with the pitching.”
The officers were so awestruck by Raon’s performance that they forgot Glenn was on the podium and chattered as loudly as a marketplace.
“Breathe!”
Glenn’s lips twitched, and not just the corners of his mouth, but the hand covering his mouth began to tremble, as if he were too satisfied with the situation.
“Go, my lord?”
Raon’s eyes narrowed as he watched Glenn flail his arms and legs.
“Humph, huh, good!”
Glenn raised a finger and forced the corners of his mouth to turn down.
“Three dragons. Two great dragons, and to save Seifia from them is a feat beyond description.”
He nodded vigorously, pleased to be able to offer praise in public after so long.
“Even the jester struggled. If it weren’t for you, Seifia would have fallen, even with Raon.”
Glenn praised the troupe’s performance in the Great Forest, not forgetting to mention their performance in the fight.
“There are still a few things I need to tell you.”
Raon raised his hand again when Glenn finished.
“More? More here?”
Valder pursed his lips as if to say, “Go ahead.
“Yes. Go ahead.”
Glenn leaned forward, expectation in his eyes.
“After we captured Matirus, the Guardian of Seafia told me that his rares were close at hand, so….”
Raon went on to explain the events that cemented the alliance with Sephiroth, including the taking of Matirus’ Rare after the war with the dragons, and the giving of the Dragon Heart to Sterin.
“De, you stole a dragon’s rarity?”
Valder clutched his forehead and laughed so loudly that it drove the real world away.
“Of course he does! He’s my nephew, after all, and he’s got a way with things!
He even applauded Raon’s work ethic.
“Shut up. Valder.”
Karun muttered something about Gazoo’s front, shutting Valder’s mouth.
Curiously, his sharp glare softened, if only slightly.
“Good choice.”
Glenn looked at Raon and clasped his hands in front of him.
“No, it’s not. Rare is nearby….”
“That was good, but what I’m talking about is the part where you gave the Guardian the Dragon Heart.”
He nodded, his eyes filled with a sense of grandeur.
“You can go fast if you run alone, but you can go farther if you run together. Helping the Guardian, and having Seifia as an ally, is a greater reward than slaying ten dragons.”
Glenn chuckled softly, as only a jester could.
“Hmm.”
Karun cupped his chin, as if in sympathy with Glenn’s words. For the moment, it was harder to read this man’s mind than Denier’s.
“It wasn’t something I thought much about, I just felt it was the right thing to do.”
Raon shook his head at Glenn. Honestly, he was more concerned about taking care of Sterin, Rimmer’s grandfather, than he was about accepting Sephiroth as an ally, so he didn’t feel comfortable accepting the compliment.
“I see.”
Glenn smiled softly, a job well done, no matter what.
“And it’s a good thing you turned a Dragon Rare, too. There hasn’t been another one like you in a thousand years.”
“Ah, that was Dorian, not me.”
Raon gestured to Dorian behind him.
“He found all the places where Mathirus hid his gold bars and treasure.”
“What? Oh, no, just by accident!”
Dorian waved his hands in a cold sweat, not unlike a madman searching for treasure.
“Yeah. You worked hard, too.”
Glenn nodded at Dorian, saying good job.
“Heeheehee….”
Dorian slumped to the ground, stunned by his master’s praise.
“The dragon’s carcass has been divided into parts, and there’s a lot of it, so if we can find craftsmen, we can outfit each of the Sigthard swordsmen with swords forged from the dragon’s bones and uniforms made from its scales.”
He said he had also contacted the dwarves in Seifia.
“Does that mean I get to use a sword forged from dragon bone?”
“Sure. Three dragons are enough to supply the entire swordsmen!”
“I’m more excited about having a dwarf make it for me!”
The officers looked at Raon and the jester with favour and gratitude.
“That’s good, because the dragon you built was so shattered there was no use for it!”
Valder snorted, nudging Karun with his elbow.
“Shut up if you don’t want to die….”
Karun gritted his teeth in his lord’s direction.
“Mm!”
Denier looked at himself and Marta with a painstakingly good-natured smile.
Not the slightest trace of negativity in his expression. If that was an act, he must be a monster beyond himself.
“I have to tell you something.”
Glenn raised a finger at the officers.
“The Cyclone’s trip to Seifia was not technically an official mission. It was an unofficial mission to deliver the Berserker’s memento mori, which means that any loot taken there is yours, not Siegfried’s. Nevertheless….”
He lowered his eyebrows, looking not just at Raon, but at the entire Berserkers.
“You mean to say that you will use the gold bullion and dragon bones to outfit Siegfried with weapons and equipment?”
“Of course.”
Raon nodded without the slightest hesitation.
“Why?”
The question came not from Glenn, but from Denier, whose eyes were as dark as a lake in the night. It was a strange thing for him to do, since he was usually so reserved.
“I did. No, we….”
Raon glanced from the fanfare to Denier to Glenn and back again, touching the flaming sword symbol on his chest.
“Because we are Siegfried’s swordsmen.”
He bowed his head, as if he needed any other reason.
“Ah….”
Glenn let out a thin groan and dropped the hand covering his mouth, the corner of his mouth curling up to almost touch his earlobe as he began to shake.
“Bad question, but I like your answer.”
Karun nodded with pleasure, all the sharpness in his eyes gone.
“Yes! A sense of belonging makes a man stronger!”
Valder clapped his hands in approval.
“Siegfried’s test. Isn’t that right….”
The questioner, on the other hand, simply stroked his chin with an indecipherable glance.
“I suppose we can’t fail to reward a clown for such a feat, no matter how unofficial.”
Glenn snapped his fingers, as if he didn’t need to ask for the other officers’ approval.
“Yes, sir. I’ve already made arrangements.”
Roen smirked and stepped up to the podium with a wide board lined with gold plaques.
“I will award each of the minstrels with a golden plaque, and the master, Raon Sieghardt, will receive his martial arts training from me personally.”
For the first time, Glenn spoke publicly of teaching Raon the martial arts.
“Oh, my father?”
Valder’s eyes widened, as if he hadn’t expected Glenn to teach him in person.
“The lord himself…?”
“It’s a performance. The best one ever!”
“I think I deserve it, don’t you?”
“So do I. This could change the history of the continent, not just Siegfried and Seifia.”
The officers looked back and forth between Glenn and Raon, rolling their eyes in surprise.
“You have a problem with this?”
Glenn stared down at the podium with eyes that would kill you if you spoke up.
“Uh, no, I love it!”
Valder raised his arms in the air in approval.
“I think it’s a fair reward, too.”
Karun clasped his hands in front of him, surprisingly calm, as if he didn’t mind being paid that much.
“….”
Denier didn’t even open his mouth, as if he had no interest in this.
“Excuse me, father. I’m sure your nephew will be tired today….”
“Today!”
At Glenn’s tirade, Valder craned his neck like a sieve.
There was no one to stop the old man who now boldly declared that he would teach his grandson martial arts.
* * *
The realisation after everyone had left.
“Khhhhhh! Hmph!”
A rain of laughter rained down from Siegfried’s throne.
“You like it that much?”
Cheryl blurted out in disbelief.
“Of course it is, because all of your grandchildren are offering, and you, Master Raon, are special among them.”
Roen chuckled, saying that his grandchildren’s farming was booming.
“I know that, but I hate it when he laughs like that!”
Cheryl frowned, thinking it was a gross laugh.
“Mmmm, ooh, I’m getting used to holding back my laughter.”
Glenn coughed and crumpled up his mouth.
“I don’t know about laughing, but I do understand being happy.”
Cheryl looked at the carpet where Raon had been standing and smiled weakly.
“Because I didn’t expect Raon to grow like that, either.”
She shakes her head, saying she knew she’d be overtaken, but she didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.
“I didn’t think he’d break the wall in his twenties either, but that’s not why I’m happy for him.”
Glenn shook his head slowly.
“I’m just fascinated by the way she hasn’t changed since her ascension, and the way she looks out for others along the way.”
He smiled faintly at Raon for looking out for Sterin and Seifia.
“You’re right, the vessel as a person is more than a martial talent.”
Cheryl raised her eyebrows slightly in acknowledgement.
“I still can’t get over the way Raon looked out for Sylvia at the Judgement Ceremony.”
Roen chuckled, saying she could still see the young Raon protecting Sylvia.
“It’s times like this….”
Cheryl clicked her tongue briefly as everyone drew a soft laugh at the memory of Raon.
“If you were that damn lazy, you would have told him to go and tell me the truth, right?”
Cheryl smirked as she brought up Remer’s name, as if she’d managed to clear her mind somewhat.
“And….”
Roen grinned back and nodded.
“That would have been the lord’s thunderbolt.”
“And after that….”
Glenn wagged a finger at Roen.
“I’d have gone on a rampage asking for paid leave.”
The three of them shared a wistful smile, remembering Remer, who was no longer here.
* * *
“Hey, nephew!”
Valder, who had been leaning back against the wall when Raon left the kazoo, waved.
“That was great! Your nephew’s coolness is just like mine!”
He patted himself on the shoulder, as if the praise from the kazoo wasn’t enough.
“Ahaha….”
As Raon laughed awkwardly and shook his head, Karun walked out from behind Valder.
“Lord Zhongmujeon?”
Valder’s mouth fell open, not expecting Karun to be waiting for him.
“Come this way for a moment.”
Karun motioned for him to follow, and he headed for the back of the kazoo.
“What’s wrong with him?”
Valder shook his head, as if he hadn’t realised that Karun had been wearing an impression from the real world.
He was the best at being clueless.
“Let’s go.”
Raon gave a short pause and followed Karun.
“Did you bring Mathirus’ head with you?”
Karun turned around as they stood near the entrance to the North Rim, his eyes glowing eerily, as if ready for war.
“Yes. I didn’t remove the teeth and horns, so I brought the whole head.”
“Can you show me?”
He cleared his throat as if it were of great importance.
“If I don’t have it with me, may I call for an attendant?”
“Of course.”
Karun nodded as if that was fine.
“Dorian!”
Raon nodded and gestured to Dorian, who was watching from a distance.
“What happened, did Mathirus do something to your brother?”
Valder frowned, as if finally realising the seriousness of the situation.
“….”
Karun didn’t answer, just waited for Dorian to approach.
“Hey, what’s going on over there?”
“I need you to get Matirus’ head out of here.”
“Matirus’ head. Uh…ah!”
Dorian stared at Karun, then nodded in surprise.
“Oh, I see.”
He rolled his eyes nervously and pulled Matirus’s head out of his belly pocket.
The sight of a dragon’s head emerging from such a small pocket was a mystery in itself.
“Mmm….”
Karun examined Matirus’s head, his eyes even more intense than before.
He didn’t just look at its appearance, but examined it in great detail, measuring the length from the tip of its nose to its horns with his fingers.
“My lord. What is it?”
Raon swallowed dryly and looked at Karun, his posture so serious, it must be something very important.
“Hmm!”
Karun measured the length, and for the first time today, he smiled a deep smile.
“The one I caught is two inches longer.”
He jerked his chin as if he’d won.
“….”
Raon’s eyes narrowed as he watched Karun, who was still smirking as if he had won.
“What is this human….
-What the hell, another one of those idiots….
Rath shook his head, every human around him was broken somewhere.