TSMRG 10

Chapter 10

Reincarnated as a Genius Swordmaster

Ruine was quite satisfied with his revenge.

“From now on, think before you speak.”

Of course, the four people who were already unconscious on the ground couldn’t hear him.

After spending quite some time at the entrance of the Sword Tomb, Ruine clasped his hands behind his back and slowly began walking.

“The choice of the sword, huh…”

He didn’t know exactly how the ritual worked.

But at the very least, the Reinhardt family’s Sword Tomb Ceremony was famous across the entire continent.

It was a rite that evaluated a child’s potential, skill, and character—where swords themselves chose their rightful masters.

For any sword-bearer, it was the kind of place they would long to enter at least once.

“Then… I wonder if there’s a sword suited for me here?”

Carrying his past-life memories intact, Ruine imagined the type of sword that would suit him best.

Not too long nor too short—thin, light, and silent.

Yes.

The weapon he had always wielded was one optimized purely for assassination.

“No… forget it.”

That shadowed life was already over.

Now he was the noble son of Reinhardt and Kapthalen blood.

“Better to just find the best sword here and take it.”

This was the Reinhardt Sword Tomb Ceremony, after all.

The strongest or greatest sword in this place would surely be a masterpiece among masterpieces.

Such a sword might raise his combat power by at least half.

“Though I’ll have to pass the test first…”

Honestly, he wasn’t worried about the test at all.

With Heavenly Seamless already mastered, and with the memories and experience of Subject 1872, passing some sword’s trial would be nothing but a formality.

“Right. Let’s find the best sword.”

Holding that small expectation, Ruine began walking again—only to sense another side of the Sword Tomb.

‘Is it because this place is special? The energy here is overwhelming…’

Ever since mastering Heavenly Seamless, Ruine could feel not only the surrounding mana but also the pure natural qi of heaven and earth.

Here inside the Sword Tomb, he could sense the qi was both powerful and utterly pure.

‘Just training here alone… within ten years I could fully perfect Heavenly Seamless.’

“Wait a second.”

At that thought, Ruine decided to postpone finding his sword.

After all, what did it matter which weapon he used?

‘Best sword or not, I already possess the strongest martial art in legend. Compared to that, some mere weapon…’

“Better to train here as much as possible. That’s far more efficient.”

No sword, however famed, could compare with the level of Heavenly Seamless.

‘I should find a good spot fast—somewhere I can focus on training.’

Just as he was searching for such a place, a voice reached his ears.

“Ah—no!”

“Hm?”

Turning toward the sound, he saw a familiar blonde girl stumbling, about to fall face-first.

“What’s with her?”

Ruine frowned, watching her with disinterest.

‘I don’t have to help her, do I?’

Her pitiful state—about to smash her face on the ground—was a little sad, but…

He had no real connection with her. And Ruine wasn’t the type to offer kindness freely.

But then—

‘Huh?’

Through the senses of Heavenly Seamless, he saw mana violently raging inside the girl’s body.

‘That’s dangerous.’

From his 1872 experience and perception, he quickly grasped that Meylin was in a life-threatening state.

She might lose her life in an instant.

“Sigh.”

Letting out a deep sigh, Ruine moved swiftly.

And—

Thud!

He caught the blonde girl’s arm just before her face could meet the floor.

“Careful. You could’ve been badly hurt.”

It wasn’t out of real concern for her.

Just that—

‘It’d be too pitiful for a kid to die meaninglessly like this.’

Thanks to his support, Meylin avoided the worst.

She silently looked at him for a moment, then spoke.

“…Thank you.”

“No, don’t mention it. I didn’t do it for thanks. Anyway, I’ll be off now.”

Ruine quickly stepped away, intent on resuming his training.

His time here was limited.

But—

“W-wait!”

Meylin’s voice called after him. Ruine closed his eyes slightly.

‘Knew this would happen…’

Feeling a bit annoyed, he replied.

“…What?”

“Your name is Ruine, right?”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

His voice was colder now.

But Meylin didn’t care. She extended her hand for a handshake.

“I’m Meylin.”

Ruine ignored the gesture and just gave a small nod.

“I know.”

“…What?”

“I already know your name is Meylin.”

“Oh… right.”

She awkwardly retracted her hand and scratched her head.

“Anyway, I’m not looking for thanks. Let’s just go our separate ways. We’re not here to make friends, right?”

“….”

Meylin’s eyes darkened. She had felt grateful to him, but his cold attitude was like ice.

‘What the heck? Why’s he so rude?’

But she admitted he wasn’t wrong.

‘Yeah… this is the Sword Tomb Ceremony. What matters is challenging as many swords as possible.’

Maybe he was just feeling pressured too.

So she nodded.

“Fine. I get what you mean. I’ll repay my debt of gratitude after the ceremony.”

“What? No, that’s not what I—ugh, forget it. Do as you like.”

“Then… I hope you find a good sword.”

With that blessing, Meylin left quickly to continue her trials.

“Ugh. What a waste of time. I’ve already lost five minutes of training.”

Grumbling, Ruine shook his head and hurried off to find a secluded place for Heavenly Seamless training.

…

In a deep, shadowy corner where no one would come, a boy sat cross-legged.

Soon—

“Fuu…”

Exhaling, Ruine smiled with deep satisfaction.

‘As expected, the qi here is amazing.’

Though there wasn’t a dramatic leap in his power, the progress he achieved in mere hours equaled months outside.

“If I train here for just a month, I’ll hit 3-stars.”

A step he had thought would take years could be drastically shortened inside the Sword Tomb.

Ruine began to wonder if there was a way to stay here longer.

‘Should I sneak in later?’

That was the easiest thought for someone who had lived as a shadow.

But—

‘No. Impossible.’

He couldn’t hope to evade the senses of North Sword Duke Damon, who resided right below in [Vanafen].

That man’s perception extended even beyond the nearby villages.

‘That’s why top-tier experts can’t be assassinated.’

And the Sword Tomb was a sacred, tradition-bound place, full of mechanisms and magic circles.

Breaking through all of them unnoticed? Nearly impossible.

‘No… it’d be insanely difficult. I’d be risking my life.’

So what other way was there?

“…No matter how I think about it, there’s no good method.”

The Sword Tomb was closed off except during ceremonies.

Only rarely did specially chosen caretakers enter, once every few years.

Meaning—aside from this ceremony at age ten, he’d likely never return.

‘Unless I become head of House Reinhardt… but that’s pointless daydreaming.’

Shaking off the useless thought, Ruine muttered:

“Forget it. If it can’t be done, I’ll find another place. The continent’s wide and full of secrets.”

“Then… shall I try drawing a sword now?”

Having sorted his thoughts, he slowly rose to his feet.

At that moment—

Whsssh!

“Hm?”

A slicing sound split the air as a dark shape shot toward him.

Tap.

Despite the suddenness, Ruine calmly dodged the strike.

“Who’s there?!”

Sharpening his gaze, he focused on his assailant—

And saw—

“…What? A sword?”

A lone sword floated in the air, moving as if alive.

Swish!

It darted about with sharp, murderous intent, flying at him again.

“Damn it, what now?!”

Ruine dodged the attacks and leapt into counteroffense.

Even unarmed, he swiftly gauged the blade’s path and sprang above it.

Swiiish!

The sword lunged again with blinding speed.

“Whoa, calm down!”

Ruine stomped down with force on the oncoming blade—

But—

“…Huh?”

Whoosh! Crash!

His strike hit nothing.

“…It has no substance?”

He realized the sword attacking him wasn’t material at all.

His foot had struck empty air.

Then—

‘How dare a filthy intruder step into my domain!’

A chilling voice echoed in his ears.

Ding!

You have encountered the Sword Soul, Ruler of the Tomb.

The now-familiar system voice rang.

‘Sword Soul? Ruler of the Tomb?’

Before he could think further, another system message appeared.

The curse of the sword rages with fury.
The sword’s curse power increases dramatically.

‘What? The curse is amplifying?’

Effect of Heavenly Seamless: Curse amplification reduced.

Thankfully, the martial art protected him.

But—

The sword’s curse retaliates.
The sword’s curse rebels violently.
The sword’s curse attempts to erode the user’s mind.
Effect of Unity of Body and Spirit: Mental erosion failed.

The system messages screamed wildly.

Ruine realized he was being dragged into a deadly curse-related battle.

Then—

The sword’s curse rebels.
The sword’s curse rages.
The sword’s curse goes berserk!

“Urgh!”

Agonizing pain shot through his body, making him grimace.

Swish! Slash!

“Gah!”

The intangible sword pierced through his body.

At the same time—

External invasion detected.
Heavenly Seamless resists the invasion.

And with those relentless system sounds, darkness swallowed Ruine’s vision.