The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Aschel Vert, the eldest son of the Duke’s family, a guardian of the continent.

To Arin, his first impression was very special.

A beautiful appearance and gentle smile that anyone, regardless of gender or humanity, could fall into.

He was a very meaningful person to Arin, who had been trapped in the well called the royal family and had never seen the world, who had offered her advice for the first time.

No matter what others say, continue being a proud and upright princess.

At first glance, to those unaware, it might seem like sincere advice, but to those with a bit of worldly knowledge, it would quickly become apparent.

It was nothing more than a meaningless illusion.

There was no guidance on what to feel, which direction to head, or how to proceed, just empty hope.

At the time, Arin did not realize this, believing those words to be the truth and intending to follow them.

But not anymore.

Arin was no longer foolish enough to be intoxicated by an illusionary smile.

What was important to Arin was not the illusory light but the reality of darkness.

The existence of the darkness, which showed her the way out from being a frog in the well, was much more valuable.

Whoosh!

Arin’s gaze shifted away from Aschel.

At the same time, she felt a rough sensation in her right hand.

Just before, Cyan, who had been facing Arin from afar, had suddenly run up and grabbed her hand.

However, Cyan’s eyes were not on Arin.

His eyes were fixed on Aschel, who was lifting the holy sword with a face full of ecstasy.

Cyan pulled Arin’s hand and pushed her away.

“Kyaa!”

At the moment when Arin was pushed away by the force and safely caught by the knights,

Boom!!

A violent explosion occurred as the golden holy sword and the black magic sword clashed.

The two men, sword against sword, showed no emotion, as if their meeting had been predetermined.

After a continuous battle of auras, Cyan was the first to retreat, stepping back.

Aschel, with a leisurely smile, sheathed his holy sword.

Then, he slowly walked towards Cyan.

An unfamiliar, empty wind blew, calming the heated atmosphere around.

In front of the being of despair that plunged the world into chaos, appeared a being of salvation.

In the immense tension where even breathing was cautious, people swallowed their dry saliva and watched their confrontation.

The distance between the two narrowed to just three steps,

At this, Aschel broke the silence first.

“Do you remember the day we met at the mansion two years ago, Cyan?”

Cyan did not answer.

“I still can’t forget the eyes I saw that day. A very impressive gaze that I had never seen from my father or His Majesty the Emperor. So impressive that I could hardly think of you as human….”

Aschel conveyed his honest feelings from that time to Cyan.

“I’ll admit it. I didn’t pay much attention to you from the beginning. Despite being of the Vert lineage, you lacked any talent, so I didn’t care. But after hearing that you won a duel against Cranz and saved the princess at the front lines, I became interested in you. The youngest I knew wasn’t someone with such a grand vessel; what could have changed him so drastically? I thought there must have been some tremendous event in your life.”

Cyan remained silent, not opening his mouth.

“So, I approached you with interest. But the more I tried to learn about you, the more questions I had. You did not reveal anything, like the fog that blankets the night sky. It felt as if you knew I would approach and blocked everything in advance.”

As Aschel spoke, he gently touched his neck.

“Princess Violet said the same. That the one who had brandished a sword at us in the mansion was likely you. That moment, I experienced a helplessness I had never felt in my life. It wasn’t bad; it was interesting. That there was someone in the world who could make me feel this way was fascinating!”

Cyan’s expression, which had been like a statue, slightly twisted.

“The world rejects the existence of fog. That is the biggest reason you are facing this situation now. But I don’t want to abandon you, Cyan.”

Matching the twist in his expression, Aschel continued with an even brighter smile.

“I won’t ask about your past—where you were, what you did, or what you thought. What’s important is not the past but the future. And what you must do for that future is to take my hand.”

Aschel reached out his hand to Cyan in a movement so natural.

“Cyan. Your power can surely be used in many places. For the empire, for the continent, for humanity, and for me.”

Like the warm sunlight clearing the dark dawn sky,

“I will lead you to the path of salvation.”

Behind the extended hand of Aschel, a gentle golden glow beautifully shimmered.

“……”

Cyan’s mouth remained closed, but his gaze was fixed on Aschel’s hand.

His eyes appeared indifferent, not showing much serious contemplation.

Without any rush or insistence, Aschel patiently waited for Cyan’s next move.

After a not-so-short period of silence,

Cyan finally raised his hand, not the one holding the magic sword.

But the hand was not directed towards Aschel’s.

Instead, it reached into his own pocket.

The moment something long hidden within was revealed to the world,

“……!”

Aschel’s face contorted in dismay.

On the other hand, Cyan’s face lit up with joy and exhilaration.

In Cyan’s hand was the gem of a holy sword, its light faded from not seeing the world for a long time, barely emitting a pitiful glow.

* * *

The subspace of the magic sword, being eroded by pitch-black fog.

A woman stepped into Kaeram’s space, who was comfortably lying on a bed made of fog.

Upon her entry, Kaeram turned with an inexplicably pleased smile.

[Seems you’ve slept a lot? Your skin is so red. Why not go get some treatment?]

Despite Kaeram’s mockery, she didn’t respond.

She just glared at Kaeram with a look full of anger and murderous intent mixed with contempt.

[What’s the matter with our savior today? Why aren’t you speaking? Like a statue made of stone, not even budging.]

[…….]

[Have you lost so much power that you can’t even open your mouth?]

Eventually, unable to contain her anger, the woman yelled with a lit fuse.

[What on earth have you done, Kaeraaam!!]

Kaeram’s smile widened even further.

[Must you always plunge this world into chaos to be satisfied? Where did such an absurd successor come from!]

[You’ve lost your power, but not your spirit? Did you feel this way when you looked at me before? There’s something to be said about choosing the right master for an easy life, isn’t there?]

[Stop wagging your tongue and answer my question! It must be you or Aer! Unless you’ve been up to some strange trickery, such a perfect successor from the start is……!]

[Yes, that’s right. Too perfect for even me to lay a hand on. That’s why it’s so annoying!]

Kaeram’s previously broad smile twisted cruelly.

[I’m so angry, where did such a successor come from, I wonder? I want to know too! Where did such a pestering brat appear from that I can’t devour!]

With a slight stick out of her tongue and a smack of her lips, a smile once again spread across Kaeram’s lips.

[Don’t think too hard. Let’s enjoy it slowly, as we always have. The sight of the successor chosen by your master crumbling miserably in the hands of the successor who chose me!]

In the space of black fog slowly consuming the pathetic light named salvation, the joyous laughter of the magic sword spread far and wide.

* * *

The jewel that could also be considered the source of the holy sword’s power,

Three years ago, on the day I reclaimed Kaeram, I detached it from the holy sword, significantly diminishing its power.

For an incredibly fun event to come.

No,

For today.

“Why do you wear such an expression? Did you not come to me to reclaim this?”

I’m not sure how I appear to others right now,

But I’m desperately trying not to burst out laughing.

It might be the first time in my current life, I suppose.

That dumbfounded expression on your face!

“You might wish that this jewel in my hand would pass into yours, brother…”

“……!”

“Regrettably, I do not wish to do so.”

His gaze was not on my eyes but on the fist that held the jewel.

The moment I saw his eyes filled with unease and confusion, I realized.

The moment I had long awaited,

Had finally arrived.

I slowly stepped forward towards the almighty savior.

“There was a man.”

His puzzled gaze returned to my face.

“Born into a wealthy and noble family, but since he was of poor lineage and inherently incapable, no one sought him out.”

Suddenly, I thought about the last moment of my previous life,

Wasn’t his last sight of me exactly like this?

“That man gained power one day. He honed and grew that power desperately. Eventually, the man’s efforts were recognized, and he devoted his life under the person he had longed for. But what returned to him was…….”

As I continued the story, I found myself unexpectedly choked up with emotion,

“A painful betrayal!”

Only after I finished speaking did I realize my heart was racing madly.

If I had a mirror instead of a knife in my hand, I would want to hold it up right now.

Your bewildered face, unable to grasp the situation, is just too pitiful to see!

“The person, he thought worth giving everything for, only considered him disposable. Without even a shred of faith, the man ended up regretting his foolish life and closed his eyes in desolation!”

“What on earth… are you talking about?”

Of course, our savior wouldn’t understand a word of my story.

But there’s no need to think too hard about it.

“If you think about what I, who would have become your person would be like 30 years from now, you will easily understand.”

Before I knew it, the distance between him and me had closed to the point where a punch could reach.

I deliberately raised a finger in front of him.

“This is where my story ends. Now, you must make a choice.”

“Choice?”

“To become the true savior of light, you will need the power of the holy sword and to obtain the power of the holy sword, you will need this jewel that contains its power. So, make your choice.”

I slowly bent my waist, pushing only my face forward.

“Will you kneel before me to reclaim it peacefully, or will you draw your sword against me once more to take it by force? Choose. O savior of light.”

His pupils shuddered, and his lips quivered several times.

It’s a spectacle too precious to buy with money.

“How can you hesitate? Do you not need this jewel?”

Despite kindly providing him with options, no response comes back.

I internally counted to three.

“Perhaps the savior of light doesn’t need such a worthless stone. Then, just…”

-Swish!

A second, no, even half a second later, and it would have been over.

He couldn’t bear to see the power of the holy sword disappear before his eyes, it seems.

He drew his sword with desperate speed to slash at me, but

Such a speed, embarrassingly enough for him to deliberately get hit by, was nowhere near sufficient.

“So, you’ve chosen the latter.”

“Must it really come to this?”

“Wouldn’t it have been better to kneel and beg? Even if it were shameful, at least that would have had more possibility.”

“This will only lead to your regret. Cyan.”

Regret?

The last of my regrets was when you stabbed my heart.

And then I resolved.

Never to let such a dreadful moment happen again.

“As the eldest son of the Duke of Vellias, the guardian of the continent, and not to tarnish the reputation of being the savior of light…”

So, you too should feel it.

The feeling when everything you believed was right in the world,

Crumbles in an instant!

“I hope you can entertain me, Aschel Vet!!”

(To be continued)