The Reincarnated Assassin Is a Swordsmaster

Chapter 3

“Lady Sylvia, I’ve brought it.”

Helen, the head handmaiden, handed Sylvia a steaming white bowl.

“Thanks.”

Sylvia looked at Raon, who was asleep, while the elixir chilled in the bowl.

“It won’t be easy to feed him, right?”

“Children don’t like bitter things. You also didn’t like bitter medicine when you were young, Lady Sylvia.”

“Me?”

“You wouldn’t remember, but you even ran away to avoid taking medicine once.”

“Now Raon’s listening.”

“Haha.”

They smiled faintly as they looked at Raon, who was breathing and making a purring sound.

“You’re right. No children enjoy medicine. Raon will definitely hate it. He’s so young.”

“Lady Sylvia, still...”

“I know. I have to give it to him.”

Sylvia nodded with determination.

Uncle gave me this elixir. I should make sure he drinks all of it.

the Ragged Saint must’ve felt bad watching me begging my father that day. He paid a visit to the annex again and handed me three high-quality elixirs.

Since these are supposed to be diluted before feeding, they should last quite a long time. In the meantime, I can search for other elixirs. I’m so glad he came.

“Raon.”

Sylvia stroked Raon’s hair to wake him up gently.

“Woo...”

Raon squirmed his hands and opened his eyes.

“Did you have a good sleep?”

“Gagoo.”

“There’s something you need to do starting from today. You need to eat all of this.”

She scooped the medicine with a small wooden spoon and brought it close to Raon’s mouth.

He’ll eat it, but cry immediately.

She was certain he would eat it by instinct as a baby, then spit it out right away.

“Now, let’s eat.”

She poured the elixir into Raon’s mouth, making sure it didn’t spill.

“Ugh...”

She saw him frowning. She clenched her eyes, waiting for the cry that would burst out shortly.

But she didn’t hear anything.

“Hm?”

When she slowly opened her eyes, Raon was waving his tiny hands as if he was asking for more.

“Helen, is he…?”

“I-it looks like he’s asking for more.”

“Right? Am I seeing this right?”

Sylvia’s eyes widened with surprise and she picked up the spoon once again. She scooped a little more than before and poured it in Raon’s mouth.

“Woo!”

Raon’s eyebrows slanted downward. However, he didn’t cry this time either. Instead, he moved his hands even faster.

“Oh...” Sylvia gaped in amazement. “Did he understand me?”

“I’m certain! He must be tolerating it for you.”

He frowned, so it must taste bitter. But it was evident that what he wanted more was to ease his mother’s feelings.

“Raon!”

Sylvia couldn’t help but hug him tightly.

***

Now, please. Give me more medicine.

Raon shook his hand while tapping on Sylvia’s shoulder.

Bitterness isn’t a problem at all. I can’t miss a great opportunity like this.

It wasn’t just medicine. It was the fire-element elixir that he needed most at the moment. He had to devour all of it, no matter how bitter or hot it was—even if it would ruin his tongue.

“Look at Raon! He even looks adorable when he eats!”

“I’ll say!”

Raon gulped down the elixir, ignoring whatever Sylvia and Helen said.

I don’t know what it is, but it’s incredibly effective.

As soon as he took the elixir, warm energy filled up his stomach as if a blast furnace was being lit. The heat began pushing away the coldness as it flowed through his mana circuit.

Both the effect and concentration is perfect.

A strong elixir could have been harmful to a frail baby’s body. Sylvia and Helen must have paid extra attention, since the concentration level was perfect for him to handle.

“Grrgh.”

Raon closed his eyes after letting out a small burp, having sucked the last drop of the elixir from the spoon.

“Miss...”

“Yeah. We’ll let him sleep for a bit.”

Sylvia and Helen stared emotionally at Raon for a while, then went outside.

“Goo.”

As soon as they left, Raon opened up his eyes.

They probably won’t come back for a while.

Even if they do, they won’t touch me.

Since he had eaten and taken his medicine, there was no reason for Sylvia and Helen to wake him up. It was the perfect moment for him to practice the skill.

Raon pulled in the heat that had filled up his body and began creating the Flame Link.

Thanks to the elixir, I’ll be able to make the Flame Link and remove the cold energy much faster.

Unconsciously, his lips formed a smile.

***

Time passed like flowing water, and before Raon knew it, it had already been more than two and a half years since he had started creating the Flame Link.

His daily schedule was very simple.

He would get up in the morning, play with Sylvia and Helen, eat lunch and take elixir, and then create the Flame Link while pretending to take a nap.

Then he’d eat dinner, go to sleep a little early, wake up around midnight, and do a second practice when everyone was asleep.

He was confident that he was the most hardworking three-year-old on the entire continent.

If I’m lucky, the Flame Link could reach 1-star today.

Thanks to the elixir, his progress went smoothly despite the limited practice time.

If he could secure enough time and focus, it seemed possible he might even complete the Flame Link today.

Anyway, Grandfather really doesn’t care.

Glenn Sieghart never once paid a visit after giving him a name. He also appeared disinterested in his daughter, Sylvia.

Well, who cares.

If he isn’t interested, I don’t have to be either. Like I planned, I’ll simply leave the family once I’ve gotten what I want.

But one thing...

He felt sorry for Sylvia, as well as the handmaidens, including Helen, who would stay behind in this place. Tiny emotions seemed to have sprouted during the three years he had spent living with them.

“Raon. Say mommy!”

As he was fidgeting his fingers while thinking about the future, Sylvia held him up with a smile.

“Mam!”

“Ohh! One more time!”

“Mame!”

“Aaah!”

As he called her “mommy,” purposefully mispronouncing it, Sylvia smiled brightly. Her eyes were filled with deep happiness.

“Raon. Just one more time!”

“Mame!”

“Lady Sylvia, I’ve brought the medicine.”

Helen brought the warm elixir while he was playing with Sylvia, and his face showed a hint of tiredness.

“Oh, thanks.”

Sylvia took the bowl.

“Here, Raon.”

She extended a spoonful of elixir after letting it cool down for a moment.

“Awoop!”

Raon’s tiny lips reached for the spoon.

“That’s my boy!”

Even after two and a half years, both Sylvia and Helen still watched him swallow the elixir with a smile.

“Sleepy...” Raon blinked his eyes as if he was exhausted after finishing the bowl.

“Now that you’ve finished the medicine, shall we take a nap?”

“Yah.”

“Okay. Let’s go to sleep.”

Sylvia put him down in the crib right next to the window and patted his belly.

“Mmhm...”

Raon closed his eyes, pretending to fall asleep. A moment later, he heard Sylvia and Helen leaving the room. This time when he pretended to sleep was their break.

I can start now.

Raon closed his eyes and began to recite the spell of the Flame Link as he inhaled.

“Hmmp.”

He absorbed mana from nature and allowed it to flow through his entire body.

Mana’s flowing smoothly.

He breathed as usual, but he sensed the mana flowing more seamlessly. It felt as if he was going to achieve something.

Let’s calm down.

He connected the lines of mana that were flowing through the circuit as he calmly exhaled. His fingertips trembled as his lungs were too small to practice such a breathing technique, but he endured.

Gaaah!

He shaved the cold energy inside the circuit using the heat from the elixir and the mana from nature, and circulated it throughout his entire body.

Krr.

He could feel the energy of elixir and mana absorbing in his bones, muscles, and skin.

He maintained his concentration, which continued to sharpen, and created the Flame Link as if he were honing a blade.

After a while, an intense, searing heat coursed through his chest with a flash, like a fireball passing through his heart.

Heat spun around his heart, forming a glowing ring. Finally, the Flame Link was completed.

It’s finally comp—

As he was on the verge of opening his eyes and rejoicing, a golden light flashed.

Ding!

[First <Flame Link> has been created.]

[The first achievement is created.]

[Talent <Flame Link (1-star)> is generated.]

Wh-what’s this?

A magic circle-like light appeared right in front of him.

[<Flame Link (1-star)> strengthens your body.]

[<Flame Link (1-star)> increases your Strength.]

[<Flame Link (1-star)> increases your Dexterity.]

[<Flame Link (1-star)> increases your Constitution.]

[Talent <Water-element resistance (1-star)> is generated.]

Other messages besides the one alerting that he had obtained <Flame Link> popped up.

Huh?

Raon pursed his lips.

What are these messages...?

He felt his body becoming lighter as those messages popped up all at the same time.

Although it wasn’t a great difference, since it was a baby’s body, there was certainly a change.

Besides, I feel less pain.

The pain coming from the cold energy that was obstructing his mana circuit had also decreased.

Is this also an effect of the Flame Link?

Even though it was known as a legendary skill, it didn’t have much effect until it formed three rings, and it showed its real power from four.

He had never witnessed these types of changes by only reaching 1-star in his life.

Is it because of a baby’s physique or the elixir?

He tried to think of the reason, but he was still lost.

Or is it because of this message?

Raon tried reading the messages in front of him again.

There were many changes compared to his past life, but these messages seemed like the biggest.

“Sir. You’re already awake.”

He heard Helen’s voice from above. She seemed to have come back into the room while he was practicing.

“Helen! Wook at dis!”

Raon pointed at the messages with his finger.

“What? The crib?”

Helen smiled, looking at the crib as though she didn’t see them.

Are these only visible to me?

Since Helen couldn’t see them, he concluded that he was the only one who could see the messages.

[Check the <Status Window> to confirm the changes.]

“Status window”? Huh?

As he repeated the words in his head without understanding their meaning, a glowing window similar to the messages appeared in front of his eyes.

[<Status Window>

Name : Raon Sieghart

Title : None.

Status : Curse of Bitter Frost (nine strands), poor health, cold energy in the entire body, low athletic abilities, low mana affinity.

Talent : ???, Flame Link (1-star), Water element resistance (1-star).

*Additional abilities have not been unlocked.]

He slowly examined the window that had appeared.

Curse of Bitter Frost, poor health, cold energy in the entire body, and low athletic abilities and mana affinity...

The contents seemed like they were describing his current status.

My body is a total shitbag, as expected.

On top of the Curse of Bitter Frost, his body had poor health and circulation. These were the reasons he got exhausted so easily.

It doesn’t matter though.

Raon closed his lips. Despite all these bad conditions, he wasn’t anxious at all.

He was called the best assassin in the past, and now he knew how to create the Flame Link.

If he could complete it based on the experiences of his past life, those shortcomings were basically nothing.

Besides, I’m a Sieghart.

If he could learn Sieghart’s swordsmanship skills, slicing Derus Robert’s head off wouldn’t be difficult.

But I shouldn’t be fixated on revenge right now.

I’m only three years old.

Derus was one of the most powerful men in the continent. His mentality wouldn’t last if he became fixated on revenge this early.

There was almost no one who was capable of killing him, anyway. Even if it took time, he should steadily build his power and wait for the right opportunity to strike.

Raon clenched his fists, determined, and looked at the status window again.

Anyway, what are these messages?

He was confused about why the messages and the status window had suddenly appeared. He could only sense that they weren’t harmful to him based on an assassin’s intuition.

These are probably related to the reincarnation.

He could only assume that the messages were related to the reason he had been reborn with memories of the past.

He thought he should slowly look into it, much like aiming for Derus Robert’s neck.

Let’s stay calm and not rush it.

***

[Second <Flame Link> has been created.]

[<Flame Link (2-star)> increases spiritual level.]

[<Flame Link (2-star)> increases mana affinity.]

[<Flame Link (2-star)> increases your mental strength.]

[<Flame Link (2-star)> increases your Stamina.]

Raon smiled after checking the message windows.

It’s finally completed.

Because he had trained consistently for two and a half years after creating the first ring, he had already completed the second one.

The first ring spun horizontally, and the second spun vertically around the heart.

After seeing the message that his affinity had increased, he felt more attuned to the mana in the room.

The messages must be giving special benefits.

I can’t believe I made two stars of the Flame Link by the age of five.

It was probably the first time in history that a five-year-old had acquired the legendary skill Flame Link. He was so proud of himself.

Still, I shouldn’t be satisfied yet.

He shouldn’t be relieved just because things were going as planned. He should always be prepared, because disruptions could happen at any time.

Because I don’t wanna cause any inconvenience.

Sylvia and the handmaidens, including Helen, were the only ones who were nice to him.

Even though he wouldn’t be able to help much since he planned to leave soon, he didn’t want to take advantage of their kindness.

“Whew.”

The door opened when Raon was about to start practicing again.

“Son!” Sylvia entered. She was smiling, but her face looked a little sad.

“Mom?”

Since he was over five years old, he had to call her mom, although he couldn’t help mispronouncing it a little.

“Remember when I said we’re going somewhere today?”

Laying the burgundy uniform she’d brought on the bed, she took off his pajamas.

Come to think of it...

A little while ago, she’d mentioned that she’d found out some kind of information after gathering the children of both the direct and collateral families.

“Don’t worry. It won’t take long.”

Sylvia smiled as if she was trying to calm herself.

“Okay.”

“Look how beautiful and kind you are.”

Sylvia rubbed her face against his cheek while changing his clothes.

Ugh, please...

Raon wasn’t sure what to do but shiver.

It was Helen who stopped Sylvia from intense cuddling even after he finished changing.

“Lady Sylvia, we don’t have time for this. The Discernment Ceremony will begin soon!”