The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

The magic of Mental Breakdown is a terrifying spell that can completely take over the control of one’s body by infiltrating their mind with immense magical power.

However, if the target counters with a matching force of magical power, the spell can be easily dispelled.

Chairman Regens succeeded in penetrating Luna’s mind with this magic and obtained a full confession regarding Cyan.

He thought there had been no issues during the process,

Yet the intense pain gripping Chairman Regens’s head now denied that belief.

“You seem to be struggling quite a bit? Age can’t be helped, I suppose. If it were the grandfather of the past, you would have brushed this off as nothing…”

Chairman Regens turned his head towards the familiar voice.

As soon as he did, his face scrunched up.

“Lu- Luna! How are you here?”

Luna, with her arms crossed and a defiant stance, calmly responded.

“How I got here isn’t important. Why I came is what matters. As a grandfather who always prioritized results over the process, you should understand this situation, right?”

Chairman Regens’s face turned beet red in an instant, with a fierce tremor in his eyes and lips.

Behind Luna, Ramela and other academy members were seriously contemplating how to take responsibility for this situation.

“What have you done to me?”

“While you were infiltrating my mind with your magic, I also cast a Mental Breakdown spell in your head. Not to induce a confession, as you did to me, but a kind that brings severe side effects whenever you think of something.”

The magic Luna had just described was unheard of, not only in Garam Academy but across the continent, and even Chairman Regens was hearing of it for the first time.

“It’s simple in principle. Just add a bit of the pact’s curse to the existing Mental Breakdown magic. It was a spell prepared in anticipation of you coming to find me. Do you like it?”

It wasn’t a matter of liking or disliking.

It meant that she had known from the start that the situation would unfold like this.

Realizing his granddaughter’s true face belatedly, Chairman Regens gritted his teeth in rising anger.

“You asked if I could use my power for the academy, right? Be happy. I’ve decided to dedicate all my power to the academy from today on. So, for the sake of our Garam Academy…”

Luna’s gaze subtly shifted to Cyan.

“Please let the senior go.”

Cyan looked back at Luna with an ambiguous expression, neither particularly pleased nor displeased.

Chairman Regens bellowed with a tone that dismissed any possibility of argument.

“Do not spout such sophistry, Luna! That boy will lead our academy’s future along with you! If you truly care for the academy, then help me capture that boy!”

“I knew you would say that. I asked out of duty, but it seems it was as expected.”

Without hesitation, Luna manifested mana in her hand.

Suddenly, bright light emerged from beneath Regens’ feet, and a blue magic circle formed around him.

It was another sealing formation that Luna had newly composed with her own magical power.

“Do you think such a formation can trap me?”

“Of course, it’ll be difficult. My intention isn’t to completely trap you, Grandfather. I’m just looking to buy some time. You’ll have to think a bit to break free from this.”

Although it wouldn’t last more than a few minutes,

that was enough for Luna.

Enough time for a final conversation with Cyan.

Luna turned to face Cyan again.

“Why did you come?”

Cyan was the first to ask.

With a slight tilt of her head, Luna responded.

“Do I need to explain? I believe I’ve said it several times before?”

Cyan’s eyes wavered slightly.

“I’m someone who was saved by you, Senior. It’s natural for me to come to your aid when you’re in danger. Not just now, but in the future as well.”

The same unwavering response from their first meeting.

Cyan looked at Luna with an indifferent expression, neither smiling nor angry.

“It seems you don’t entirely dislike it? Your reaction has changed a lot from the initial annoyance.”

“…”

“My feelings remain the same. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done. You are my savior, the one who pulled me from the depths of despair. That alone explains everything.”

With that steadfast heart, Luna gently grasped Cyan’s hand.

“When you first embraced me, it felt utterly cold, but now, I can feel warmth.”

Just as she was softly caressing Cyan’s hand, she suddenly embraced him tightly.

Cyan, now accustomed to her bold physical affection, didn’t react much.

“I’m not sure when the next time will be, but it won’t end like this.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Would it spoil the mood if you took it that way?”

Couldn’t time just stop like this?

Whether lightning struck or a blizzard froze everything in place, it would be wonderful if they could just be together.

But for Cyan’s sake, and for her own, Luna had to let go of the two hands she was currently embracing.

“Take care, Senior.”

With a final farewell, Luna released Cyan.

As if trying not to hold onto any regrets, she turned around first, and Cyan, without any lingering feelings, walked past her.

“Thank you.”

“…!”

Embarrassed by his own words, Cyan couldn’t bring himself to turn his head.

That was enough for Luna.

Suppressing her wildly beating heart, Luna looked back at Chairman Regens.

“How foolish, Luna.”

Regens, having already broken the sealing formation, emanated a fierce aura of magical power.

“Do you really think your actions today are for the best of Garam Academy? Why let him go when you too desire that boy? You will regret this day for a long time!”

Despite Regens’ scolding, Luna didn’t even twitch an eyebrow.

“It doesn’t seem like you’re entirely wrong. In fact, I’m quite conflicted about it right now. Wondering whether to go after Senior again.”

But Cyan had already left the place with his attendants.

Not intending to let Regens go just because the sealing formation was broken, Luna once again drew upon all the mana within her.

“It seems life is unpredictable. I never dreamed that a day like this would come to me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Please watch carefully, Grandfather. The future of the academy you so longed for and desired, let’s see how far it has grown without taking your eyes off it.”

Behind her, elements of five different colors radiated a brilliant glow.

* * *

Unable to control his temper, Luinel finally grabbed the knight by the collar and shouted.

“It’s not like we’re facing a million-man army, just a mere kid! And what? All the knights of the imperial army were defeated by him? Are you trying to make a joke in front of me, thinking I’ll only come to my senses if I see your worthless head hanging in front of the castle gate?”

The dignity of a prince was nowhere to be found in him, already lost to rage.

Who would believe that an advance party sent to capture a mere thirteen-year-old boy was completely annihilated without being able to lay a finger on him?

It was virtually impossible to maintain sanity in such a situation.

“Please calm down, Your Highness! You must face reality! Not only the imperial knights but also members of the Garam Academy are here in Brenu!”

“Garam Academy?”

It was only then that Luinel noticed the currents of magical power soaring into the sky from the center of the city.

“Those sneaky bastards, what are they doing here? No, wait! This could be a good opportunity. They dare come to the empire uninvited and use magic without permission? If used correctly, this could be a great chance to catch Garam Kingdom in the act.”

With a completely changed demeanor, Luinel issued his orders.

“Deploy all the troops in the vicinity to Cyan Vert’s location immediately! I will take all the responsibility! Not just that boy but all the mages from the Garam Academy as well!”

“Moderate yourself, Luinel!”

A thunderous rebuke turned everyone’s heads, including Luinel’s.

Staring sharply at him was the head of the academy, Kundel Quisel, with the academy’s guardian knights standing behind him.

“Even a fool should recognize the situation! Are you planning to annihilate the imperial army you brought along?”

Despite being in an official setting for a military operation, Kundel did not hold back his harsh words toward the prince.

But the knights, overwhelmed by such a forceful presence, couldn’t bring themselves to step forward.

Even Luinel broke into a nervous sweat, taken aback.

“What’s wrong with capturing a criminal who has tarnished the nation’s honor, as the empire’s prince? And to capture the members of the Garam Academy who have invaded imperial territory…”

He was confidently retorting when his gaze suddenly shifted behind Kundel.

Noticing a familiar face, he frowned.

“Why did you bring her here?”

It was his sister and Cyan’s former fiancée, Arin.

“Planning to play on sentiments by dragging along his former fiancée? Too disappointing for a plan coming from grandfather’s mind.”

“Better than you, who couldn’t catch him even with so many knights.”

Without a hint of wavering, Kundel produced a letter from his robe.

“…!”

It was another order, sealed with the emperor’s seal.

“From this moment, the Royal Academy also participates in the capture of Cyan Vert. I, too, am here on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor, so if you think of defying my orders, you better think again, Luinel!”

Luinel was so shocked that he couldn’t close his mouth agape in astonishment.

“If you truly care for the royal family and the empire as a prince, then discard every shallow thought in your head without leaving a single one behind. That is the best course of action you can take in this situation.”

With a final warning, Kundel swiftly passed by Luinel.

Following him were Arin and the rest of the academy’s members, leaving Luinel alone to let out a hollow laugh towards the empty air.

“Ha! Haha… Hahaha!”

Watching from a distance, Aschel noted,

“The stage is becoming more and more colorful.”

With a meaningful smile, he then left the scene.

* * *

“Why are you going to such lengths?”

Arin, following a step behind Kundel, broke the silence with her question.

“What do you mean?”

“The order you showed to brother Luinel… It wasn’t sent by His Majesty, was it?”

“You have keen eyes.”

Forging the Emperor’s order was tantamount to impersonating the Emperor himself—a grave crime that, if discovered, would inevitably lead to severe punishment, even for someone as respected as the Emperor’s former father-in-law.

However, Kundel responded with an unconcerned smile, continuing,

“People, you see, as they age, come to feel the futility and urgency of life at the same time. Everything around them seems transient, yet when something catches their interest, it becomes incredibly pressing.”

For Arin, just at the starting point of her life, it was a sentiment difficult to fully grasp.

“Throughout my not-so-short life, I’ve met many people, but none have grated on my nerves quite like that boy. So, I’m trying to check a bit more quickly. Before I face the moment of death that could come at any time.”

Arin felt a lump in her throat at his solemn and determined gaze.

Now, having reached a point of no return,

For what had she come all this way?

Overwhelmed by complex emotions, Arin hastily shook her head.

After all, this was her choice.

So, she should stand tall and face the consequences.

To be proud in front of others, and more importantly, herself.

Whoosh-

At the end of the desolate road, as the lonely wind blew,

The protagonist of the turmoil they had been so eagerly awaiting began to appear.

(To be continued)