The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

A magic stone was emitting brilliant, multicolored light,

Yet, the face of Chairman Regens, the leader of the Auram Academy, was shrouded in darkness.

His gaze was as still as a statue, not even blinking.

The only movement was from his fingers, betraying a trace of agony.

During this time, a member of the academy approached him with a report.

“Chairman Regens! As instructed, we’ve captured all the internal traitors listed within the academy!”

“Every single one without exception?”

“We’re currently investigating additional associates they might be connected to, but at the very least, those listed were indeed internal traitors of the Auram Academy. It’s almost surprising how it all fit together so perfectly…”

Aware of Regens’s intense gaze, the academy member couldn’t bring himself to meet his eyes.

“A rat hiding in the house can indeed gnaw on the pillars, so it seems.”

Who would have thought that the rats, deemed foolish beings and ignored, would swell in size and take over every nook and cranny of the house?

For Regens, the feeling of emptiness outweighed any sense of joy.

“They were targeting Luna?”

“Yes. It’s a bit uncomfortable to say, but one of the Auram Academy members we exposed had spewed a curse-like rant, saying that we would never be able to fully unleash her abilities and potential anyway.”

Despite the shameful behavior, Regens’s expression remained unchanged.

“…I cannot deny that.”

He was well aware that the current situation stemmed from his own ignorance and negligence.

Had she not spoken up, he would have remained unaware.

The child had been piercing through everything the academy stood for from within a cramped room for quite some time.

Yet, knowing all along, she had never once opened her mouth.

Why is that?

Putting aside why she hadn’t spoken up before, what prompted her to speak now?

He knew better than anyone the extent of her talent.

Thus, he had almost brainwashed her with education so that she could contribute her talents to the advancement of the academy, but she didn’t even blink an eye.

Not only did she withstand the power of Caron’s seven stars, but she also escaped the ruins by using a large-scale spatial transfer in a state where she couldn’t even stand?

Without divine intervention, such a miracle seemed impossible.

Even if it wasn’t a deity, it was unbelievable without some form of aid by her side.

Yes.

There must have been someone.

Luna explained that she had received help from Set Shaharkan, a senior at the academy and the prince of Spania, but Regens did not believe her words.

She must be hiding some important secret from him.

Solving this secret would finally clear his current curiosity, Regens thought.

“Call the academy members.”

Soon, three academy members who had been summoned bowed to him.

Right upon their return, they had already reported everything that had happened in Nodeli, along with the list Luna had given them.

Yet, despite that, they found themselves having to report on the incident once again in front of the academy chairman, whom they least wanted to face.

“I believe you know why I’ve called you, so I won’t bother explaining.”

“Yes, Chairman…”

“Tell me everything you saw there, without omitting any truth.”

One by one, the academy members reported everything that had happened in Nodeli to Regens.

However, since none of the three were part of the expedition team, their reports did not significantly differ from what Luna had said.

After hearing all the stories, Regens asked with a bold gaze.

“Luna and Set… Were they the only members of the academy you saw?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Can you swear on the academy’s name?”

“Is there anything in our report that seems dubious to you?”

None of the three academy members could answer affirmatively.

“One should carefully consider what benefits the academy.”

Instead of an answer, Regens issued a warning, giving off an atmosphere as if he was offering one last chance.

“…”

After a moment of looking at each other, unsure of what to do, one academy member finally broke the silence with dry lips.

“Actually, there was one more person!”

“There was one more?”

Regens immediately asked back as if he had been waiting.

“Yes! The one we’ve been watching, that Cy…!”

-Spark

Suddenly, sparks flew from the body of the academy member, and with a bang, he collapsed.

“…!”

Everyone present was speechless at the sudden turn of events.

The academy member who had been about to speak foamed at the mouth and fainted.

“What’s going on…?”

-Crack!

Regens, who had approached by then, examined the condition of the fainted academy member.

Just as he was about to reveal something, the mana that had been condensed inside him exploded outwards.

This was undoubtedly caused by mana that was not his own but had been injected by someone else.

The eyes of Regens, filled with certainty, were subtly shaking.

“Oath of Binding Spell!”

A magic that injects a small sphere of mana into the opponent’s body, causing an explosion from within when a designated taboo word is spoken.

“When did this happen?”

The faces of the remaining academy members turned deathly pale, unable to hide their panic.

Their expressions clearly showed they had no idea such a spell had been cast on them.

“……”

Regens gazed at the fallen academy member with calm eyes, neither angry nor flustered.

What lengths were gone to hide whatever it was? Now, it was even questionable whether it was characteristic of her at all.

Moreover, Regens realized that any further half-hearted doubts and speculations would be meaningless.

-Woong

The power of the academy’s leader and a 9-star sage surged, causing a fierce whirlwind to rise around them.

Simultaneously, a resonance occurred from a magic stone emitting multicolored lights located at the center of the space, and soon a gigantic magic circle began to form on the ground.

* * *

The continent’s premier assassination group, Mist, rarely misses its target. Yet, failing to eliminate a target doesn’t mean they abandon the mission. Thus, Mist has been relentlessly tracking Boris’s whereabouts every day, covering the empire’s capital, major cities, various magical academies, and even the frontline region of Vellias.

After about a month, Boris’s trail was unexpectedly found.

“In the slums?”

“Yes. At the edge of Axillium, a city in the northern part of the Ushif Empire, in the slums, we believe we’ve spotted Boris.”

The Leader’s brows furrowed deeply.

“Axillium, his known haunt?”

“Yes. It was one of the suspected locations, so we’ve been closely monitoring it. We cannot be certain he has been there from the start, but the messengers are fairly confident it’s him.”

Despite the long-awaited news, the Leader’s expression remained stern, as did mine.

“It’s like a cat watching a mouse hole…”

The slums are often thought of as rundown, crime-ridden areas, but this place is different. After Emperor Dione’s ascension, this slum, virtually the only one left in the empire, could be considered even worse than a slave settlement, with its inhabitants not even regarded as human.

Why are they not treated as humans?

The reason is simple.

They possess something not found in the abundance of humanity on this land.

The so-called Black Blood lineage.

The residents of the Axillium slums have mysterious black blood coursing through their veins, not the bright red blood common to humans.

And that’s about it.

Having black blood doesn’t grant them any special powers or abilities; otherwise, they are physically no different from anyone else.

But what kind of country is this?

A nation that worships the god of light, Lumendel, and inherently shuns darkness.

How could such a place view black blood in a positive light?

Impossible.

Their mere existence is shunned, and these people congregate in the slums where Boris is now hiding.

As the Leader said, it’s as if the mouse has found the perfect hole.

Honestly, at this point, I too can’t help but wonder.

A month has passed since the incident in Luwen.

He has indeed hidden well.

The fact that the skilled members of Mist couldn’t find a trace for a whole month was unusual. The question arises why there was a need to hide for such a long period.

Whether heading to the imperial capital where the first prince resides, to Vellias where Aschel is, or wanting to reveal the presence of the heir to the demon sword at this peaceful and utterly boring academy, it’s curious that he managed to restrain himself.

After all, wherever he appeared, I would have personally rushed to him.

Was there really a need to hide after achieving such a great feat and not returning to his homeland?

Regardless of the reason, now that his location is known, there’s only one thing for me to do.

“I will go.”

The Leader didn’t even glance my way, let alone acknowledge she heard.

“With my resignation already submitted, there’s no need to be cautious anymore. It’s best if I go alone.”

“Everyone, out.”

She eventually ordered all the surrounding members to leave.

Not expecting to be included in ‘everyone’, I didn’t move an inch.

Once everyone had left, she looked at me intently with a bold gaze.

“You’ve seen it through to the end.”

I immediately understood what she meant by ‘the end’.

She was referring to my withdrawal from the academy and my breaking off the engagement with Princess Arin.

As always, I responded indifferently.

“You didn’t expect otherwise, did you?”

“Just because you broke off the engagement and left the academy doesn’t mean the scrutiny towards you will disappear.”

“It doesn’t matter. It was something bound to happen sooner or later. It just happened a bit earlier.”

“You do know what kind of place Axillium is, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then you should also understand why I cannot allow you to go even more.”

“And yet, sending other members isn’t an option, is it? Who did you send on a solo mission to Lambusta? Why are you so worried?”

“…”

“This is what heirs are for.”

She finally let out a heavy sigh, which I took as a sign of consent.

Without hesitation, I turned to leave.

“I trust you will take good care of my people.”

“You think after causing such a commotion, I would still look after them?”

“Yes.”

Her laughter at my unwavering, sharp response indicated her acquiescence.

“It won’t take long. I’ll be right back.”

Whether she respected my decision or gave up knowing I would go regardless,

The Leader simply watched my retreating figure with a detached gaze.

And so, I left the subspace.

* * *

“Human beings are creatures created in imitation of the appearance and inner nature of the creator gods. It is only natural for humans to emulate the temperament of the gods.”

Beneath the radiant golden glow of a pure white statue, a woman modestly bowed her head.

With her hands neatly joined, she prayed devoutly to the god who brings light to the continent.

“Not only humans, but all creatures created to follow the divine providence, have always existed. However, it is said that humans are the most ideal beings capable of harmoniously navigating the seven virtues and the seven sins, just like you who always watch over us from beyond the brilliant rays of light…….”

As she slowly lifted her closed eyes, she found herself looking directly into the restrained eyes of the statue.

“It is the natural order of things for creatures to follow their creators. However, wherever one goes, there are always those who oppose this fundamental principle and raise objections. What happens then? They are ostracized and eliminated from the group. Only then can the existing order be maintained.”

The woman then rose and gently caressed the statue’s hand stretched out like a gesture of salvation.

“However, given humans’ tendency to fear change, altering the order that has been established over a long time is not easy. Knowing this, did you choose to speak to me because you felt a series of fears that the order might collapse? Curiosity precedes doubt.”

The woman stroked her lips with the fingers that caressed the hand of the statue.

“Yet, have we not learned from past experiences? Only those capable of maintaining the order can judge right from wrong. The voice of the powerless eventually fades and is forgotten, just like 300 years ago…….”

Suddenly, a golden aura twinkled in the statue’s white eyes.

It wasn’t just some optical illusion.

This was a revelation that the heir who received the will of the gods had finally found the truth.

“It seems your heir has finally discovered the truth. However, why does the light of that truth not feel as bright? Could it be that the truth we seek is still out there?”

Sunlight flowing in through the window enveloped her body, creating an aura as if divine grace had descended upon her.

With a serene smile that could be either laughter or tears, the woman simply gazed softly at the statue.

(To be continued)