The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Boris thought to himself how curiosity is a fascinating emotion among humans.

Once something piques their interest, they pursue it fervently, a trait that’s quintessentially human.

Perhaps this is what enabled humans, despite their physical vulnerabilities compared to beasts, to overcome and dominate this land as its rulers.

Now, he found himself intrigued by a student named Cyan.

Although merely a janitor by title, the information he provided was anything but trivial.

‘Spends most of the day within the dormitory. Exercises with a guardian knight either early in the morning or at dusk.’

‘The total number of residents, including the guardian knight, is three. However, the amount of food consumed daily exceeds six portions.’

‘Does not allow outsiders into his room. Refuses regular cleaning.’

‘Occasionally, he is absent for three days to a week at a time. The principal has generously overlooked this without any action.’

He wasn’t looking at Cyan’s grades or sparring records, which would be the norm.

Instead, he delved into more sensitive areas, possibly even his private life.

However, Boris seemed somewhat dissatisfied, as if the facts were not satisfying enough.

“It’s well-known in the academy that Cyan Vert receives special attention from the principal. But it seems there’s another party who’s also showing considerable interest.”

“Who might that be?”

“Well, it’s still speculative…”

The man hesitated to speak, but his demeanor suggested he was expecting something in return.

After Boris silently handed over two gold coins, the man smiled contentedly and continued.

“Instructor Silica!”

Boris’s expression subtly changed.

“As you know, it’s uncommon for an instructor to visit a student’s dormitory personally. Regardless of the reason, it can lead to negative speculation. If it happened once or twice, maybe, but if it’s been going on for two years, it strongly suggests there’s something between them.”

“Are you certain?”

“Absolutely! I heard it directly from the Royal Hall’s administrator!”

The man affirmed confidently that his information was not fabricated.

“And there’s another crucial piece of information I have…”

As if he had more intriguing news, he continued.

“Do you know Barrett Luymil?”

“The son of Duke Luymil from the Kingdom of Garam?”

He was also a student currently attending the academy.

“Correct! While collecting information on Cyan Vert, I coincidentally came across him! He said he’s willing to reveal secrets about Cyan that no one else knows, provided his conditions are met!”

Boris frowned slightly.

“What conditions?”

“Well, it seems there was some friction between him and Cyan Vert before. He said as long as his safety is assured, he’s willing to disclose everything.”

Requesting safety instead of money or favors for the deal?

This implied that the informant was deeply afraid of the repercussions that might follow the disclosure of such information.

“What do you think? The informant mentioned they are more than willing to arrange a meeting if you’re interested!”

Despite the seemingly pressing atmosphere, Boris remained unperturbed.

“Very well. It seems worth meeting once.”

Rising from his seat, he took a book from the shelf and tucked it into his belongings.

“Is it possible to do it right now?”

* * *

A rendezvous, as one would naturally assume, must take place in a secret space where no one else, apart from the concerned parties, is present.

Typically, it would occur in places where one can hide, such as a warehouse full of supplies or a forest dense with foliage.

However, the place a man guided him to for the rendezvous with Barrett was a quiet wilderness a little distance from the academy.

-Whoosh-

An emptiness so profound it seemed unlikely to find even a single insect, let alone a person.

It was, without a doubt, an excellent location for a meeting.

“How much longer do we have?”

“We’re almost there! Just a little further and the agreed place will appear!”

Boris chuckled derisively at the response, which was as mechanical as it was prompt, and asked again.

“It seems I’ve asked the wrong question. Let me ask again.”

“Yes?”

“How much longer until that detestable guise of yours is stripped away?”

Before the man could even begin to ask what he meant, a bright radiance flashed above his head.

-Flash-

Light attribute magic: Lightning Strike.

A magic that can char the entire body black with just a touch, and if hit from behind, avoiding it is impossible.

“……”

The man, far from being hit by the magic, had widened the distance between himself and Boris significantly, showing a movement impossible for a mere janitor.

Without seemingly wanting to retort, the man leisurely dusted off his clothes.

Along with this, a thick fog began to envelop his center.

-Swish-

“……!”

After a moment, as the fog cleared, masked figures that had not been there before appeared.

Despite the murderous aura emanating from behind the masks pressuring the surrounding air, Boris observed the process smoothly, without a hint of change in his expression.

“First, I’ll ask. Where do you hail from?”

Despite the polite inquiry, the response was nothing but indifferent silence.

“If you won’t speak, I’ll have no choice but to guess as I please. Would that be alright with you?”

The masked figures remained motionless even at the question filled with warning, watching his movements with a restrained demeanor, as if waiting for someone’s command.

“Should I assume you expected this? Or should I take it you’re pretending not to be surprised?”

Suddenly, a woman’s voice could be heard from somewhere in the space.

As if responding, a smile formed on Boris’s lips, which had been straight a moment ago.

“It seems I should say it’s half and half.”

The response was as if he had been waiting for someone who had just arrived.

Soon, the figure of a woman, both familiar and unfamiliar, began to appear in front of him where he was gazing.

“For someone who says that, your reaction is quite uninteresting! It almost makes those who prepared feel embarrassed…….”

To the average person, upon encountering her, two thoughts might come to mind:

Either she was a twin who resembled her but wasn’t her,

Or it was indeed her, but not the personality originally known, rather a different personality that had taken over her body.

It was a feeling unavoidably familiar yet alien.

Silica Nigriti.

The academy’s gentle and dignified scholarly instructor, who was once respected by all, now appeared before him as a strange woman with a chilling murderous intent, devoid of any warmth.

However, Boris’s response to this was exceedingly calm.

“Excessive interest often breeds suspicion. To call it a surprise gift would be too blatant.”

No matter how much one might be an overseer capable of observing everything from a third-party perspective,

The idea that a mere janitor could monitor a student’s every move was preposterous.

Even before Barrett’s story came out, Boris had noticed.

That this unknown group was luring him in.

“The principal was right. He said to be wary of a person’s unseen side, and it seems like he was referring to someone like Miss Silica.”

“It’s the same either way, isn’t it? You, Instructor Boris, also have more than one or two things you’re hiding…”

She said, laughing as if it was ludicrous.

“Some say that the perpetrator who summoned marionettes and monsters at the recent royal banquet was none other than you…”

Boris’s expression momentarily froze over.

“Don’t misunderstand! It’s just baseless speculation without evidence. As if someone could infiltrate this sacred academy as a vile dark wizard. That would be absurd~!”

For the first time, he showed a flicker of disturbance, maintaining his composure until then.

But it did not last long, and he retorted.

“I still can’t believe it. That in this sacred academy…”

“……”

“There would be followers of the Black Mist.”

-Whoosh-

The desolately blowing wind seemed to reflect their current psyche.

After a moment, Boris naturally took out a book he had been carrying and opened it.

“Among some assassins that exist on this continent, they define their actions like this, don’t they?”

Silica’s face subtly contorted at that moment.

“Purification operations……”

As soon as he spoke, the gazes of the other masked figures around them also cooled and settled.

“To cleanse the dirty and ugly aspects of the human world, they don’t hesitate to resort to violence and murder… Do I fall within the scope of their operations?”

It was a bold and direct question.

The silence that ensued, where no one dared to speak, was brief.

“Do you know?”

Silica, who had been silent until now, spoke again.

Her tone had changed, as if a different personality had emerged.

“There’s one rule that those assassins you mentioned must follow no matter what…”

Boris involuntarily swallowed as her smile became more sinister and murderous.

“It’s simple! They must never show their faces to anyone except their allies. To do otherwise is akin to revealing their entire being…”

For assassins who thrive on secrecy, this was a matter of course.

“But, they’re also human and can’t always hide. Sometimes they show their faces to their targets. Like now! What do you think that means?”

Faced with a question that seemed almost like a pop quiz, Boris didn’t immediately respond.

It wasn’t because he didn’t know the answer.

From the moment she appeared, she had unveiled the true face that she had kept hidden within her without any filter.

If she was truly an assassin, there was only one meaning behind such an action.

“It means they intend to kill you…”

Suddenly, an aura of black mist exploded from Silica’s body.

It was the moment her dormant desire for combat, her fighting spirit, stretched and revealed itself to the world once more.

Although it was an energy so vile that it was difficult to even face directly, Boris’s lips were, for some reason, curved into a peculiar smile.

“The existence that cloaks the light with fog… must be referring to people like you.”

-Boom!

Simultaneously, a vast amount of mana latent within Boris erupted as if going berserk.

“Show me the full extent of your power!”

In his hands, along with mana, an indescribable altruistic energy began to gather.

(To be continued)