The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Translator: FenrirTL
Editor: KYSOIWDI
Editor: Mob

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Arin descended the stairs, her steps heavy and sluggish.

Resimus couldn’t bear to fully watch the pitiable sight of her back and turned her gaze away.

Normally, she might have paused on the second floor, peeking into Cyan’s room on the off chance of crossing paths with him, but now she passed by without even a glance, as if she had always been a stranger.

“…?”

Someone familiar appeared in front of Arin.

“Luna?”

It was Luna, whom she hadn’t seen in a while.

“Heading to class?”

“Yes. It’s been some time. What brings you to the Royal Hall?”

Luna hesitated for a moment at the question.

“I came to see Cyan. I thought I might not see him again soon…”

Hearing that she came to meet Cyan, Arin’s pupils slightly quivered, though she didn’t show it outwardly, maintaining her smile.

“That so. He might be in his room by now. Considering he even submitted his resignation, he wouldn’t be attending classes…”

“You’re okay with it?”

“Hm?”

Arin looked puzzled, not quite understanding the question.

“I mean, even though it’s unusual for another woman to visit the room of someone’s fiancé, you seem to easily accept it…”

Though it was an unusually mature question from a girl only twelve years old, Arin calmly smiled and replied.

“I broke off my engagement with Cyan.”

Luna’s half-closed eyelids snapped open in surprise.

“May I ask why?”

“He just said he couldn’t be by my side any longer. He must have felt too pressured by our engagement…”

It was somewhat expected when Cyan submitted his resignation.

Does not being able to stay by her side mean he will never return?

There’s a saying that sometimes knowing too much can be a problem.

Regardless of who Cyan was, Arin had repeatedly asserted that it didn’t concern her. However, by coming to know the hidden truth about him, it might have led to their current situation.

Although Arin maintained a calm facade, Luna couldn’t help but feel very uncomfortable, knowing that internally, it was far from fine.

“Let’s go together.”

“Huh?”

“The feeling of saying goodbye after seeing each other, and not, is different.”

Was it an invitation to bid farewell one last time?

Seeing Cyan’s face now, in such circumstances, would shatter the last vestiges of her composure in an instant.

Thus, for Arin, it was a situation worse than not going at all.

Yet, before she knew it, her hand was grabbed by Luna, who led her reluctantly towards Cyan’s room.

-Knock, knock-

Luna knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside.

Just as she was about to knock again,

“…!”

The door creaked open on its own, not because someone had opened it, but because it had been left ajar.

The three of them entered the room without hesitation.

“Is no one here?”

The room was completely empty, devoid of any sign of life, not even a hint of someone’s presence.

The feeling of emptiness weighed heavily on their hearts, rendering Arin and Luna speechless.

Was there even a need to speak?

They both knew what the situation was.

He had left.

Without even a final goodbye, without any words at all,

Leaving behind nothing but emptiness.

“…!”

Suddenly, they heard someone behind them.

Was there another visitor to Cyan’s room?

Turning around, they saw a familiar face.

“Princess?”

It was Brian, a subordinate of Cyan’s.

He seemed surprised to see them in the room, his face showing clear signs of shock.

“I’m sorry, Brian! The door was open, so we just walked in.”

“No, no, it’s fine, Your Highness! It’s not our room anymore, anyway…”

Brian waved his hands dismissively.

“Did Cyan… leave?”

“Yes! Last night, he took only a few belongings and left the academy. I came to pack up the rest.”

His departure was just as indifferent as Cyan himself.

“Did he say where he was going?”

“I’m sorry. I can’t disclose that…”

“I see.”

As expected.

Feeling as though even the last bit of courage she had mustered was in vain, Arin sighed in resignation.

Brian couldn’t bear to fully watch her dejected figure.

“Could you deliver this, at least?”

Arin took out a letter from her pocket and handed it to Brian.

“I intended to deliver it much earlier, but it got delayed unintentionally. It’s regrettable that I couldn’t say goodbye, but please tell him to take care and stay healthy.”

“Yes, I will…”

He accepted it reflexively, though a bit bewildered.

Expecting it to be addressed to Cyan, Brian was surprised to see someone else’s name on the envelope.

‘To Nana’

* * *

There’s a saying that places where people live are all the same.

It wouldn’t be any different here.

People wander the streets, each with their own purpose.

To someone like me, who doesn’t particularly enjoy the smell of people, it’s nothing but dirty and noisy.

However, that atmosphere is only temporary.

As I continue down the road, the noisy atmosphere quiets down, and the lively streets gradually become more gloomy.

Instead of the faint smell of food emanating from restaurants and pubs, a foul odor, like that of decaying corpses, began to waft through the air. Instead of people busy showing off themselves in flashy clothes, there were people wrapped in what was embarrassing to even call clothes, collapsed all over the streets.

There were even madmen, clutching worn papers and chanting what seemed like incomprehensible prayers, despite bread lying right beside them.

With every step I took, the number of eyes on me also continued to increase.

Of course, they weren’t friendly gazes.

Ignoring the eyes filled with distrust and caution, I kept moving forward.

-Swoosh

A woman then blocked my path.

She was a woman with a half-crazed look in her eyes, which was quite bothersome.

“What brings you here?”

It was a question filled with wariness of a stranger’s visit.

“If you’ve lost your way, or if you’ve come here without any particular purpose, please turn back now. This is not a place for someone as precious as you.”

Precious, she says.

I hadn’t even introduced myself, so on what basis did she call me precious?

Despite her pleading tone, I remained silent, which caused people to start gathering around me.

Judging by the look of the crowd, it didn’t seem like they had gathered to threaten me or to harm me.

They must have gathered to protect the woman in front of me.

Otherwise, there would be no reason for them to look at me with such anxious eyes.

Not that I hadn’t anticipated this situation.

To the residents here, who have never been treated as humans from the moment they were born, an outsider is nothing more than an object of caution.

I’d like to push aside everyone in sight and thoroughly search the area for him, but causing a commotion and leaving traces would do no good.

It’s best to turn back now and come back when it gets dark…

“…!”

Suddenly, a nauseating odor made me turn my head.

Exactly 100 steps ahead in the direction I was looking.

A familiar yet foul face was clearly visible to my eyes.

“Why are you all gathered here?”

The person who approached where I was smiled brightly at the people.

What?

Am I seeing things wrong?

“It’s not good to be threatening when dealing with people. Let’s all lower our guards.”

Not only did he chide the people, but he also looked at me with an interested smile, holding a large basket in both hands.

“I’m sorry if I startled you. These people are quite wary of outsiders, so I ended up being rude unintentionally. I’ll apologize on their behalf.”

This is almost like being ignored, isn’t it?

To thrust that detestable face in front of me without even bothering to hide it with some trickery?

What kind of confidence is this?

“If it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me what brings you to this slum? My name is Boris L’Hellem…”

-Bang!

Listening to such shameless hesitation is enough once.

Deciding that I can no longer stand by and watch, my hand swiftly caught his neck and slammed him down to the ground.

At this, the basket he was holding shot up into the sky, and various foods such as bread and fruit sprang out from it.

“Lord Boris!!”

People screamed in shock, but I paid them no heed.

I don’t know what kind of scheme he’s plotting with such a worthless act, but now that my hand is clutching his neck, he shouldn’t even think about being released.

Until his head is separated from his body, that is.

“St-stand back!”

Even while being choked, he managed to utter his words with difficulty.

Then, a transparent circular barrier was formed around him and me, stopping the movements of people who were trying to rush towards us.

The response was so pathetic that it wasn’t even worth a laugh.

I immediately drew Kaeram and placed it on his neck.

“Pl-please, spare …”

What?

Did I hear that wrong?

To think I’d ever hear this guy beg for his life?

If his intention was to momentarily freeze my mind, he succeeded.

To an outsider, it might even seem like he’s a different person.

But you know what?

The scars of hatred etched into my heart keep reminding me.

The person I am staring at with eyes filled with murderous intent is none other than!

A minion of the devil, who wouldn’t hesitate to use any means necessary to achieve his goals!

That’s right, Boris L’Hellem!

Sure, even you, deemed as mere trash, wouldn’t feel anything but desperation at the threshold of death.

But worry not, there’s still time for repentance left for you.

Whether it be short or long, it’s time for you to reflect on what remains of your life meaningfully…

“Please, spare them. These people have done nothing wrong…”

The moment I was about to mercilessly draw the blade across his neck,

Hearing his desperate plea once again, my hand automatically stopped.

It’s as if my ears, which could even shame a rabbit’s hearing, are being doubted multiple times today.

Was he not begging for his life, but for those clinging around him?

One might think he’s a true priest, struggling to protect the innocent.

Is this what happens when you pretend to be someone else to evade Mist’s pursuit, and your personality gets switched?

That would be troublesome.

I want to see your detestable true face contorted in…

Wait a minute.

A sinister speculation that crossed my mind for a moment made me frown.

Personality changed?

Thick black blood was oozing down his neck where it touched the blade of Kaeram.

(To be continued)