[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

Chapter 289: That Reason Is Enough

'Wow, I've seen some crazy shit in my life, but this takes the cake.'

I thought to myself as I exchanged blows with the masked man in front of me.

'Why is this bastard using Karzan's sword techniques?'

I asked.

"Where did you learn that sword technique?"

"..."

He swung his sword without answering.

He kicked over a desk, aimed for my lower body and vitals, and threw whatever he could grab like a projectile to create an opening.

'Every single one of those methods is something I used to favor in my past life.'

If my opponent was stronger than me and the battleground was indoors, I'd always discomfort them like that before using unpredictability as my weapon.

'He truly understands the essence of the Karzan style.'

I countered all his moves as if giving a lesson to a promising, yet unknown, disciple.

"Tsk!"

I could perfectly predict what he would do next in a situation like this.

Crash!

Watching his back as he shattered the window and fled, I yelled.

"Ah! Damn it!"

Was my acting good?

I counted to five internally, then pulled all the Dark Star and Dark mana into the Whispering Snow in the Night and melted into the darkness.

'Whoa, I'm getting dizzy.'

Even I found it hard to perceive my own presence.

It was like entering a darkness where there was no difference between closing and opening my eyes, or a fog so thick I couldn't see my own hand when I waved it—

It was a moment where I truly realized that my stealth technique had reached a level where it could deceive even my own perception.

'At this rate, he wouldn't even notice if I followed him directly from behind.'

I chased the masked man leisurely, darting between roofs and walls.

Only after confirming there was no pursuit did he finally catch his breath and mutter:

"Haaah, haaah. Did I lose him?"

It's human nature to want to refute someone who says something like that.

"Where are you off to in such a hurry? If you have allies, lead the way first."

"!!!"

The man, utterly startled, turned and swung his sword, but I was no longer there.

"Over here."

"Where the hell are you, goddammit."

"You're a pathetic man, unable to see me even when I'm right beside you."

I dropped my concealment and asked.

"If you could see me, would you be confident in facing me?"

"Shut up!"

A sharp attack immediately flew my way.

Clang, clang, clang, clang!

Moonlight glinted as it swept between the two swords.

I deliberately responded with similar strength and speed, observing his techniques for a long time.

'It's definite.'

That is indeed the Karzan style of swordsmanship.

More precisely, it felt like he had applied his own modifications to it.

'But he lacks talent.'

His understanding wasn't bad, but he hadn't reached the level of reinterpreting its essence.

'More than anything,'

After my reincarnation, my swordsmanship had already evolved several stages.

'It has progressed even further, you see.'

I continued to parry with orthodox techniques, then subtly shifted the angle, causing the man to grimace as his wrist sharply twisted.

"Ugh!"

"Oh no, what'll you do now? It'll be hard to put strength into your sword swings."

I infused Voyager of the Night with invisible sword energy using the Dark Star's ability.

"Let's say if you drop your sword, you lose."

I lightly flicked my hand, and an invisible slash cut through the air and flew towards him.

"What?!"

The startled masked man hastily gripped his sword with both hands and batted away the slash.

"What the hell is this—"

He mumbled, looking as if possessed by a ghost.

"This? This is a supreme martial art that a bastard like you wouldn't see in a lifetime."

I deliberately closed the distance, extending my left hand.

He flinched, wary of a sword in my left hand, and retreated.

"What are you doing? My hand's empty."

I spread my palm, and the masked man's face twisted in anger.

"Goddamn it, are you messing with me?"

"But this time, it's for real."

"!"

I unleashed fist energy with my left hand, then circled widely to close the distance.

The moment he cut through the fist-wind with his sword, I appeared from his blind spot with exquisite timing, grabbed him by the collar, tripped him, and sent him sprawling.

"Gah!"

Next, I lightly stepped on his vital point, making the masked man gasp and choke, his breath cut off.

"Good, stay put."

I pulled off his mask with the dexterity I learned from my pickpocketing days.

"..."

I looked closely, just in case, but it was indeed not a face I recognized from my memories.

"Who sent you?"

"...You."

The man, whose face I didn't know but who used my techniques, asked.

"Are you truly Karzan?"

"What?"

I unconsciously touched my face.

Of course, I was currently disguised as Karzan, wearing the Mask of Aminicrus.

"Why do you think that?"

Something felt off, so I asked.

"Because we were trying to confirm it."

"What changes if I'm Karzan?"

The answer I got back made me doubt my ears.

"...Brother Zamuel is looking for you."

"What did you say?"

That was the name of the second-in-command who had assisted Karzan in my previous life.

---

The northern wind was cool.

The wind blowing from the high mountains carried a cold chill and brushed across people's foreheads.

"Phew."

A woman gathered the clothes she had hung out to dry and put them into a basket.

"Maria, could you fold these for me?"

"Yes."

"Braith, too."

"Got it!"

She assigned tasks to the older children and taught them, while caring for the younger ones who still needed their parents' warmth. Before she knew it, the day would fly by.

That's how 17 years had passed.

"...Phew."

The woman, who had now transitioned from youth to middle age, suddenly looked up at the sky.

"Adeline."

Adeline replied to the voice from behind her.

"Zamuel, it's been a long time."

Zamuel, the scar-faced enforcer from the underworld, entered the orphanage carrying food for the children.

"Everything alright?"

"What could be wrong? It's always the same."

"That's good news."

Zamuel smiled faintly.

"Are you having a hard time?"

"It's only rewarding if it's difficult."

"Indeed."

Zamuel.

He was Karzan's second-in-command.

After Karzan's death, he escaped the Dark King's grasp and relocated to the northern part of the Litvaleur Kingdom.

In doing so, protecting Adeline under his organization was an act of loyalty, honoring Karzan, whom he had admired and respected more than anyone.

"Are there no new updates from the Grunewald side?"

"Hmm."

Zamuel lowered his voice.

"Their security seems tight, making it difficult to send information. But if we wait, we'll find out."

"I don't know who's impersonating Karzan, but..."

Adeline sighed.

"It's insulting. To keep dredging up the name of someone who lived a hard life and finally found eternal rest."

"Yeah. We need to find out who the hell is doing such a thing and why."

"Please do your best."

Both of them still lived with Karzan's name buried in their hearts.

***

Upon Zamuel's return to his base, urgent news awaited him.

"Boss, a message just came in."

"From Grunewald?"

"Yes, but..."

His subordinate's expression was grim.

"We've been exposed."

"What did you say?"

"And 'that Karzan' claims to know you and is requesting a meeting."

Zamuel furrowed his brow.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Please, take a look at this."

The paper handed over by his subordinate contained the spy's report.

I'm sorry, Boss. It seems he tracked me through Severian. I was suppressed without being able to resist properly. But that man...

The letter described the full story of being captured by Karzan, his apparent memory of Zamuel and Adeline, and the agent's confusion, thinking he might be the 'real Karzan.'

-He spared me without a word. Instead, he told me to deliver a message to you: come to Count Webern's territory. He wants to meet there two weeks after defeating Grimnar Angantyr.

"..."

Zamuel's hands trembled slightly.

***

"This is ridiculous."

Back in my room, I quietly gazed at the night sea, lost in thought.

'I suspected the Black Society, Verdzig, the in-laws, and even Venion.'

But I never expected Zamuel's name to come up.

"...So you were alive, after all."

Before I was caught by the Dark King, I had entrusted Zamuel with my affairs.

'It's true that I stole that bastard's treasure and ran away—'

It was also to buy time for Zamuel to gather his subordinates and escape.

'Thinking about it now, Ivan might have lent a hand to prevent further pursuit.'

I thought about my old rival from my previous life.

'Ivan is the only one who knows I'm Karzan.'

However, if Zamuel is alive, then he too deserves to know the whole truth.

Knock, knock.

With a knock, Severian entered the room.

"Young Master, did you call for me?"

Severian's face was surprisingly calm and composed.

'This bastard, he's a good actor.'

Even I was almost fooled.

"Did Zamuel teach you?"

"Huh?"

At my direct question, even Severian showed a slight flicker of agitation.

"That bastard has grown a lot. He's raised a pretty good spy."

"What do you mean by that—"

"Are you going to play dumb?"

I put on Karzan's mask.

"?!"

As the perplexing situations continued to unfold, Severian seemed to be at a loss for words.

"Severian, I heard the full story from your superior."

"My superior, you mean—"

I sighed.

"Stop playing dumb. Unless you want to get beat."

"..."

When I pressured Severian with my 7th-tier aura, he gasped and lowered his gaze.

"If you know me, you must know my shitty temper, right? If you keep pissing me off, I'm gonna start by beating the living shit out of you, so be aware of that and answer carefully."

"..."

Severian's eyes flickered wildly, then he finally opened his mouth.

"Are you truly Captain Karzan?"

"Do you know me?"

"No, I don't. But I've heard a lot about you from Boss Zamuel."

"What did he say about me?"

"That you were his benefactor, a respected godfather, and a sword genius that the Black Society feared..."

"Hmm, that's certainly true."

I nodded gravely.

'This bastard, I thought he'd be talking a lot of shit behind my back.'

He spoke better of me than I expected.

'...That's a relief.'

Just as Ivan hadn't forgotten me and often poured drinks at my grandfather's grave, it seemed Zamuel and his subordinates had also survived, remembered me, and were living their own lives.

"Just one more thing."

Severian instinctively straightened up.

"Do you know how Adeline is doing?"

"Ah!"

Severian replied, surprised.

"I grew up in her orphanage."

What a coincidence this was.

Feeling a surge of longing, I asked.

"Is she doing well?"

"She's doing very well. She's truly a great benefactor to me."

"...Is that so."

I'd thought I couldn't reveal my reincarnation to anyone.

'But Zamuel and Adeline, they deserve to meet me and hear the truth.'

I felt an inexplicable mix of joy and sorrow at the thought of being able to meet Adeline again.

"Severian, if I am Karzan, will you be on my side?"

"Yes. ...But what's your relationship with Young Master Allenvert?"

"You probably couldn't figure that out either, could you?"

"No."

I let out a small laugh.

"I'll tell you that on the day I meet Zamuel."

Severian asked while maintaining a well-hidden expression.

"Young Master, and Lord Karzan. Even knowing I'm a spy, are you not going to cast me out?"

"If you're Zamuel's subordinate and a child raised by Adeline then I have enough reason to trust you."

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]