The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Blood scattered everywhere, the body divided into dozens of pieces.

The horrific scene was too gruesome for some knights, who turned away, unable to bear looking at it.

Could a human truly have done this?

It’s a natural law that the dead do not speak.

However, sometimes, without hearing or experiencing it directly, one can still indirectly experience the unimaginable pain the deceased must have endured.

“…….”

Aschel picked up a longsword lying next to a body with a vacant look in his eyes.

The sword, once radiating a brilliance that could blind, was now drenched in scarlet blood, having lost all its light.

The name engraved on the hilt hinted at the identity of the body’s owner.

That such a capable knight, who could even take on a fearsome higher demon alone, was found as such a ghastly corpse.

“Ha…….”

With a heavy heart, Aschel sighed deeply.

He felt a humiliation he had never experienced in his life, as if it was consuming his entire body.

What was more unpleasant was not knowing who had inflicted this sense of humiliation upon him.

However, he could never forget those hideous eyes.

It was as if he was facing a murderer who had climbed out of the pits of hell,

The memory of that chilling encounter still vivid in his mind.

“Please take care of the body. I will report to the Duke…….”

Aschel delegated the task and turned away from the scene.

Without a moment to organize his disturbed thoughts, a man ran towards him.

It was Kellin, his loyal follower.

Silently, Kellin handed Aschel a letter.

“What is this?”

“A letter left by Lady Alice.”

At the mention of Alice, his eyes sparkled.

“She entrusted it to a maid at her home before leaving Vellias, asking it to be delivered to you…….”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Aschel tore open the letter, and as he read, his expression subtly shifted.

“…….”

Aschel silently looked up at the sky.

Soon, with a crumpling sound, the letter was mercilessly scrunched up.

Kellin cautiously asked,

“May I inquire about the contents……?”

Aschel responded as if it was nothing significant.

“She says she will quit being a Knight of Light.”

“……!”

Shocked, Kellin immediately asked for the reason.

“Suddenly, you say? What is the reason……?”

“She says the position is still too much for her to handle, she wishes to take more time for training, and asks that her father be informed on her behalf.”

As if the actual matter of concern was not what was previously discussed, Aschel opened up again with a more restrained expression.

“She’s telling me to give up…….”

Unable to contain it any longer, a scoff of disbelief escaped him.

“What do you mean, ‘give up’?”

“I’m not sure myself. Just to give up. Regardless of the circumstances, she just wishes that all of us brothers could live happily. The concern of a younger sister for her unworthy older brother is too commendable for me to bear.”

However, contrary to his words, his hands trembled violently with emotion.

“Where did Alice go?”

“Well, it seems she headed to the royal capital at first…….”

Kellin hesitated to continue.

“After leaving Vellias, her whereabouts became unclear.”

“Is that so?”

Unexpectedly, Aschel did not react much.

He remained silent for a while, letting a long silence pass.

“From the academy…….”

Kellin’s pupils suddenly shook as he bowed his head.

“Has there been no other contact?”

Kellin lifted his head and calmly stated,

“There hasn’t been.”

At this, Aschel grimaced, showing a markedly displeased response.

“Understood. You may go now.”

Kellin bowed his head and promptly left the scene.

Aschel, left alone, still had his eyes fixed on the sky.

“Keke……!”

It felt as if fog had rolled over the bright future that lay before him.

Anger and annoyance were overwhelming, yet strangely, laughter spilled from his lips.

“It wouldn’t be the first time…….”

The gaze that had once looked down on him, as vivid now as if he had never seen it before in his life, did not feel unfamiliar.

It was a sense of alienation he had undoubtedly experienced before in his fleeting life.

“Kahaha!”

A laughter devoid of joy, yet filled with exuberance, echoed under the crimson sky.

The sight was so bizarre, it resembled a demon reveling in ecstasy.

“…….”

Kellin, who had been secretly watching, suddenly burned a letter he was holding.

On one side of the paper was the Royal Academy’s emblem along with the name Boris.

It was a letter he had not shown to Aschel.

“Please be cautious, Lord Cyan…….”

With that, Kellin promptly left the scene.

* * *

[You managed to hold back? I thought you’d be slashing away by now.]

“I wasn’t hoping for that.”

[What’s with the disappointment? Anyone would think I’m a wicked demonic sword obsessed with killing if they heard you.]

Doesn’t it bother her to say such things?

“One must exercise restraint to remain human. Without it, one is no different from a beast acting on instinct.”

[Oh, how admirable! It feels like just yesterday you were charging in like an untamed colt, but look how much our master has grown?]

I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t even respond.

[So, are you planning to just let your sister go? Without watching over her anymore?]

“I’ve done all I can. What happens next is entirely up to her. She’s the one who can run the best path I’ve pointed out, better than anyone.”

It’s a kind of independence.

Honestly, no matter where she goes, I believe she’ll live better than me.

Just wait and see, a letter will come eventually.

[…….]

Was there something more she wanted to say?

Kaeram, who had been staring at me, eventually looked away.

“Is there something else you want to say?”

Her eyes slowly turned back to me
.
[You better not be too relaxed.]

The moment I heard those words, my muscles, which had been relaxed, tensed up again.

[Life, you see, is incredibly full of ups and downs, much more than you might think…]

“Are you giving advice?”

[Well, if you want to put it that way, yes.]

Advice on life to someone living their second life…

While I wondered where else you could find such a considerate demonic sword, her bringing this up made me instinctively more vigilant.

[Who knows? Maybe there’s another place out there, somewhere in this land, that you’ll need to dash off to…]

Someday, if another successor to this capricious divine weapon appears, I’d like to tell them this.

Be wary when she smiles.

If, within that smile, you find advice that seems to imply you’re the only one out of the loop, then it’s not just caution you need, but vigilance.

It’s surely a warning that something else is going to happen to me.

Knowing that all too well, I couldn’t possibly smile now.

* * *

The news from the front lines was delivered first not to the Imperial Palace, but to the office of the Academy’s Chancellor.

The incident of Princess Violet’s disappearance.

Alice’s return after single-handedly slaying a superior demon beast.

And the mysterious death of Cecilia, a high-ranking knight of the Order of Light.

Each piece of news was significant enough to cause a major stir in the Empire, yet Chancellor Kundel’s face remained impassive as he read the report.

As if these were all events bound to happen.

Not even a slight tremor appeared on his lips.

-Knock knock

Amidst this, a knock sounded from beyond the door.

“Come in.”

As it was a prearranged visitor, the Chancellor permitted entry.

“I came because you summoned me.”

It was Boris L’Hellem, the academic instructor newly appointed this semester.

“Have a seat.”

The Chancellor gestured for him to sit, and the conversation began naturally.

“It’s been about a fortnight since you joined us. Is there anything you find uncomfortable in your daily life?”

“Thanks to your consideration, Chancellor, I am adjusting well. The other faculty members have been very helpful too.”

Boris showed no sign of trouble.

“That’s good to hear. Honestly, it would be a lie to say there’s no cliquishness among the nobles who’ve been raised on pride from a young age. But looking at you, I don’t get the impression that you’re lying. I take that as a fortunate thing.”

“I am grateful for your kind view of me.”

Chancellor Kundel then continued with a curious smile.

“Although it’s been a short time, there’s something I’ve felt about you since I first saw you.”

“What might that be?”

“Before I answer, let me ask you. Why did you come here?”

Seemingly puzzled by the question, Boris didn’t respond immediately.

“What’s so hard to understand? Naturally, your master sent you here. To work as an instructor at this Royal Academy. But, is that really all there is to it?”

“You want to know my personal reasons…”

After a brief moment of confusion, Boris replied with a calm smile.

“To tell you the truth, Chancellor, I came here looking for someone.”

“Someone?”

The Chancellor’s eyes sparkled with interest.

“Yes. Not someone connected to me personally, but someone my lord wishes to find urgently.”

“Well, I suppose it’s not my place to ask who, but I’m curious nonetheless. Have you found this person?”

Boris shook his head.

“Unfortunately, I haven’t found them yet. Not even a clue to start with.”

“Heh, that’s a lie. Your eyes are saying otherwise. It seems you have some suspicions about someone.”

Boris was momentarily lost for words, unable to respond.

“Ha-ha! Don’t take it too seriously. Just an insignificant guess from this old man.”

The Chancellor laughed heartily, and Boris also smiled awkwardly.

“Let me tell you one thing. When trying to understand someone, you should be wary of what they hide behind their outward appearance.”

“Behind their appearance?”

“Yes, even if they seem to be smiling at you, behind that smile, they might be hiding either a flower for you or a knife.”

Boris felt that the words sounded more like a warning than advice.

“I will heed your words, Chancellor.”

After the meeting,

Boris, who had left the Chancellor’s office and was descending the stairs, soon encountered a familiar woman at the entrance.

“Coming from the Chancellor’s office?”

It was Instructor Silica.

“Yes. I was just on my way back from receiving some good advice from Chancellor Kundel.”

At the mention of good advice, she showed a surprised reaction.

“Good advice? It’s not often that he gives advice easily. It seems he must think very highly of you, Instructor Boris.”

“Ha-ha. If that’s the case, I’m fortunate. Truthfully, I’m quite worried about how he actually perceives me.”

“There’s no need to worry. Just be yourself. He’s very perceptive, so any attempt to deceive him will likely be caught quickly.”

Silica reassured Boris, patting his shoulder.

“Is that so? Then you must be quite impressive yourself.”

“Me? Why all of a sudden?”

She was confused by the unexpected compliment.

“Well, you’re also hiding something, aren’t you?”

“……!”

Silica was internally startled but did not show it.

“It’s not nice to speak of a woman’s secrets. You’re more mischievous than I thought, Instructor Boris.”

“Ha-ha. My apologies if I’ve offended you.”

Boris smoothly brushed off the situation with a playful laugh.

“Well, I have some personal research to attend to……”

“Yes. See you later, Instructor Boris.”

After exchanging a few more words, Silica turned and climbed the stairs.

The moment she confirmed Boris had completely left the main building,

“…….”

Silica’s eyes turned cold, filled with killing intent.

“Should I hurry the order?”

A small blade, hidden within the book she was holding, flashed with a red glow for a moment.

(To be continued)