The Reincarnated Assassin is a Swordsmaster

Chapter 10

An hour had passed since the kids started running the training hall.

Warren and Runan were still running in the front, with the branch and vassal families’ referred kids mixed behind.

Of course, not all 160 participants were running.

The kids who got tired easily were sitting at the corner of the training hall, having given up a long time ago, and more kids were giving up one by one.

Lemaire, lying on the podium, let out a yawn, but his eyes were moving quickly from left to right.

The 61st kid gave up before using up his full strength, while the 62nd one kept running even when his had run out.

He was seeing right through 160 kids with half-closed eyes.

However, he wasn’t just looking at physical strength.

It would be pointless to just measure how strong they are.

People’s physical strength varied depending on their background.

To be honest, they’re all about the same, except for the two main family members and roughly twenty in the top group.

Despite having similar physical strength, some gave up due to shortness of breath, while others continued running even while crying and clutching their chests.

That difference is more important than anything.

Some give up easily and some don’t until the end. That gap of mental strength that looks insignificant at this moment will be immense in the future.

Physical strength can be developed—even talent.

However, developing such perseverance is incredibly hard.

A child who doesn’t easily give up as a kid is likely to display the same trait as an adult, and the same is true for those who give up easily.

Of course, there are some who change after realizing, but that’s as rare as finding a needle in a haystack.

It was easier to pick out a child with outstanding mental strength and perseverance.

I’ve basically made my decision.

Lemaire smiled. About half of the kids had given up already, and the rest were also starting to slow down.

While preparing to end the test, a blonde boy running in the last group captured Lemaire’s attention.

Raon Sieghart.

He was the only one who’d gone beyond his expectations today. His eyes shined like stars.

I don’t understand.

Raon’s physical strength had already run out. Given the painful cold energy and shortness of breath, he shouldn’t have been able to stand straight, but he continued to move his feet with perfect posture.

That isn’t just perseverance. Is it tenacity?

Lemaire had seen fabulous talents on numerous battlefields.

There were swordsmen who could rise to the top of the continent through their swordsmanship and sorcerers who could reshape the world. But none of them would be able to persevere like Raon.

Continuing to run with physical strength that had run out a long time ago? A twelve-year-old who was born with such a chronic health condition?

That was mental strength only attainable after surviving life-threatening battles. He couldn’t comprehend how a boy who was so sheltered possessed such tenacity.

Hm...

The entire training hall filled up in his eyes.

Runan and Warren, still at the front even without using full force, were commendable, but they couldn’t compare to Raon.

Kids from branch and vassal families, who had initially looked down on Raon, were now running with determination, as if they didn’t want to lose to him.

“Huhu.” Lemaire’s lips formed a soft curve. “I’ll have fun teaching him.”

***

“Hmm...”

Warren Sieghart couldn’t focus on running, and he frowned every time looked back at the runners.

How? How’s he still running?!

Raon Sieghart.

Contrary to expectations, that annoying boy who’d talked back to Lord Sieghart didn’t drop out. He was slow, but kept running at a stable speed.

He shouldn’t be able to run with his condition...

He was aware of Raon’s illness. He’d been born with cold energy in his body, preventing him from moving properly and delaying development.

He looked even more pathetic than what the rumors described. He was short and looked like he hadn’t trained at all.

But...

He didn’t give up.

Even branch and vassal family members—and referred kids with approved abilities— were giving up, but he didn’t stop despite his shortness of breath.

Both he and this one next to me are so annoying.

He found both Runan, who was the only one keeping up with him, and Raon, who he had expected to drop out, annoying.

Fine. I’ll show you how I’m different.

Warren ran faster, determined to discourage both Runan and Raon.

Fwoom!

He amplified his thigh and calf muscles using his aura. He looked back while running at a speed that narrowed his sight.

What?!

Both Runan and Raon, who he thought were rivals, didn’t react at all.

They both maintained their respective speeds, while the members of the branch and vassal families rushed to chase him instead.

“Ngh!”

Warren grunted and increased his speed a little more. He was much farther ahead than Runan, who had been running alongside him, and had passed Raon a long time ago.

Still, Runan and Raon maintained their speeds. They maintained their pace as if they didn’t even care about him.

Urgh!

He boiled with anger, thinking he was being ignored by the people he thought of as less than him.

Let’s see how much longer you keep that attitude.

***

“Huu!”

Raon smiled, breathing hard.

I keep feeling the energy.

His physical strength had hit rock bottom a long time ago, like a dry well.

He felt dizzy and close to fainting, but he managed to barely keep up thanks to the vitality provided by the 3-star Flame Link.

This is heaven compared to back then.

When he was raised as an assassin in his previous life, he was chased by wild dogs at a much younger age than this. He used to run the mountains, clenching his heart that was about to explode.

He even had to engage in a bloody fight when the wild dogs caught up with him. Compared to that hellish life, this was basically just a game.

“Huu...”

Raon looked ahead, panting heavily.

Although all the branch family members and referred kids who were still running at full force possessed outstanding talent, Runan and Warren were special. They continued to run the whole time, maintaining a consistent speed.

Just when he was thinking they were called geniuses for a reason, Warren increased his speed. He passed Runan, putting him at the very front.

“Huh?”

“Warren is...?”

“Run! We can’t fall behind!”

The other kids forced themselves to run faster.

“Hmph!”

Warren glared at Runan and Raon, as if he was showing off his speed.

- What are you doing? Are you gonna just let him run faster? Catch up to him and crush those eyeballs.

Wrath ground his teeth, staring at Warren fiercely, but Raon didn’t react.

As I said earlier, this isn’t a competition.

This was a test to show your physical and mental strength. And there was one more who was aware of this.

Runan Sleorn.

The girl with silver hair, running in second place, maintained her speed as if she didn’t even care about Warren’s pace.

She’s actually doing better than him.

He initially thought they were on about the same level, but it seemed as if Runan was mentally stronger than Warren.

Although Warren was acting all mature, he was just a child. If he went to a war like that, he’d die very quickly.

It’s not my business, though.

Raon continued to run the training hall following Runan, instead of Warren.

“R-Raon?”

“How…?”

“H-he’s been running this whole time?”

The kids from the branch families who were forced to follow Warren started falling behind. They were the boys who’d tried to provoke Raon before the test. They were panting heavily.

“W-what did he do?”

“Urgh, there’s no way...”

Once they were overtaken by Raon, they stopped running and sat down on the ground.

Raon kept running, using their shocked looks as a driving force.

How pathetic.

Empty vessels make the most noise. Since he wasn’t even interested in them to begin with, he forgot about them and continued to run.

“Huu...”

Raon constantly spun the Flame Link through calm breathing.

The rings are developing fast.

Even though he hadn’t been running for a long time, the rings were being created quickly. The Flame Link truly revealed its full power when the host exerted their full effort.

Although it’s so damn exhausting.

Even though the rings were spinning, the pain didn’t go away. His heart and lungs were clenching as if they were crumpling, and his sides were sore as if he’d been stabbed.

- How pathetic.

Wrath tsked when he was running with his full effort.

- I can’t accept the defeat of the body that I will soon live in. Hand over your body. I will chase that blue-haired child and freeze it immediately.

Shut up.

The purpose of this test wasn’t to catch up with people. This was a battle within oneself.

- I will not accept your defeat as long as I’m alive.

Then close your eyes. It’s a miracle that I’m even running right now.

He wasn’t lying.

Despite Wrath’s system, removing the cold energy in the mana circuit was not possible. He had only been able to run up until this moment because of the miracle called the Flame Link.

- Then surrender your body to me.

Wrath transformed into the blue flame he’d seen the previous day. His anger provoked Raon’s emotions, making him nauseous.

Of all times...

Raon bit his lip. He experienced twice the pain he’d felt yesterday from Wrath’s attack while he was exhausted.

Still, I can’t act weak.

If he acted exhausted now, Wrath could exploit that weakness. He ran with the calmest face possible.

Quit acting stupid. Go back in and sleep.

He maintained a calm face, utilizing the Flame Link with full force. He kept running, acting as if nothing was happening.

- Urgh, why is my power not working on you?!

Wrath didn’t give up and continued to provoke his angry emotions.

“Huu...”

Raon was forced to use his already-depleted physical strength to withstand Wrath’s attack.

Shit...

Cold sweat dripped down his spine. He felt like he would pass out.

He was barely tolerating it due to the balance of the numerous life-threatening experiences in his previous life and the Flame Link.

- You vile—!

Give up and leave.

“Argh!”

While Raon was battling to push out Wrath’s energy, Lemaire jumped up from the podium.

“All right, enough!”

The kids stopped running.

“Hurgh! Hurgh!

“Urghhh!”

“Mmmp!”

Among the kids, some collapsed with empty eyes, while others panted and clutched their knees.

“Huu...”

Raon also breathed heavily as if he was going to die soon.

- You monster.

Wrath went back into the wristband, grinding his teeth.

I told you. It won’t work.

Raon wiped the sweat dripping down his forehead. The test was hard, but withstanding Wrath’s attack was even worse. He could’ve really died if he’d run a little longer.

This life certainly doesn’t seem normal eith... hm?

A new message appeared as he wet his dry lips.

Ding!

[You demonstrated extreme performance beyond the limits of physical strength.]

[Your stats have increased.]