The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Still, it was more than I expected.

Given that he always had a talent for swordsmanship, it’s no surprise that his fundamentals are exceptional. Moreover, he was quite adept at handling the divine weapon he acquired not too long ago.

-Clang!

Of course, being commendable does not mean he can compete with me.

Even in his prime, he couldn’t be sure of victory, let alone now, with the dulled holy sword that’s less useful than a knife for cutting meat in front of me.

Wait, perhaps being able to cut meat would actually be fortunate?

“Ugh!”

After a few forceful swings, Aschel soon stepped back.

He realized that no matter how much he tried, it was futile.

Indeed, a wise move.

If there’s no confidence in success, it’s wise not to cling foolishly but to give up quickly.

Not exerting force on a hopeless endeavor is wisdom itself.

But what can one gain if they simply retreat without any possibility?

You need to fight me more desperately.

“Why does the savior, who should give hope to everyone, hesitate? People are watching. With that noble holy sword, you must eliminate the existence of evil that is me.”

Aschel just glared at me without a word.

I see it.

The doubt and skepticism in his eyes, filled with denial,

toward me.

“How can you, aiming for the highest place that a human being can aspire to, fear someone like me?”

“You dare refer to yourself as a human with that ridiculous mouth.”

At least I don’t attempt to deny my own existence like you do.

Even if everyone here sees me not as a human but as a hideous demon, I can proudly say that I am indeed a human.

“Power is honest. The more you use it, the more it grows, and if not used, it simply dulls endlessly. If you are truly the savior who will bring light to the world, shouldn’t you carve out your own strength, not rely on pre-existing power?”

Aschel did not respond.

“You’re in denial. I can see it in your eyes. Do you see it as an inevitable situation? Do you think I rely solely on the power of a demonic sword? If you believe that you can easily suppress someone like me once you regain the power of the holy sword, it would be better for you to retract those thoughts now!”

“… you seem different.”

“Different, indeed.”

I am unmistakably different.

Simply seeking the power that’s been given, unlike you.

I’ve built everything on my own.

-Thunk-

I threw the Kaeram I had been holding in my right hand forward as if to show it off.

To a swordsman, throwing one’s sword at the opponent can be interpreted in two ways.

Respect or mockery.

In my case, it’s obviously the latter.

A profoundly insulting mockery that I can subdue you, who wields a holy sword, even without such a divine weapon.

“How foolish, Cyan.”

Aschel’s eyes, having caught on, were ablaze with fierce killing intent.

“No matter how deep and vast the darkness, it cannot sweep away a small, serenely shining radiance.”

Aschel summoned all the mana dormant within him and transferred it to the holy sword.

“Your fog cannot cover my light. That’s how this world was created to be…….”

Contrary to thinking he would just stand there, raising his eyes in vain, it seems he intends to do something after all.

-Whirring-

Wow.

I couldn’t help but let out an exclamation of admiration inwardly.

Transferring the mana drawn from his own body to the holy sword to fill up its lacking power,

the holy sword’s energy responded, lifting Aschel’s body into the air.

Light wings spread beautifully on both sides as if to embrace the sky.

The calm yet splendid light scattered in all directions, reminiscent of a god descending to this world.

“Where the light leads, there lies the truth…….”

A prayer was recited towards someone watching this scene from the sky,

and from the faded holy sword, a golden radiance sprouted like the sun.

Judgment of Salvation.

The secret technique of the holy sword that marked the end of the strongest demon king in the underworld in my previous life.

So magnificent and brilliant that no adjective of this world could fully express it, it was also called the human judgment on behalf of God.

Yes, for me, it was a rather precious scene I was seeing for the first time in nearly decades,

But as they say, humans are learning creatures, and there’s a clear difference between watching something knowing versus not knowing.

To me now, this noble secret technique of the holy sword is…

“Keek!”

Nothing but a childish prank that only brings laughter.

A perfect show-off technique that’s all flashy on the outside but lacks any real power.

A technique that couldn’t be more suited to its master.

Having completed the preparation for judgment, the holy sword advanced towards me without a moment’s hesitation.

“It’s the end, Cyan!”

The moment the tip of the holy sword was about to make contact with my neck.

-Swish-

I slightly tilted my head and easily dodged the strike of the holy sword.

Even pretending to go along with it seemed pointless.

The tip of the holy sword had already missed my neck by a wide margin.

Without stopping there, I grabbed his wrist holding the holy sword and twisted it with all my strength.

“Argh!”

A groan of pain erupted from his contorted face, ugly in its agony.

“Did you say that mist cannot cover the light?”

“…!”

“Such a bold claim, that this is simply how the world is structured, is nothing but sophistry.”

Unable to withstand my grip, Aschel eventually let go of the holy sword.

“If the world is structured that way, then all we need to do is change the world anew.”

At that moment, the dark mist energy lying dormant within me exploded outward, enveloping all the scattered light energies around.

-Bang!

I grabbed Aschel, who was writhing in pain, by the neck and slammed him into the ground.

“That’s why I am here now.”

Then, a strange artifact hidden in his bosom rolled helplessly onto the floor.

A marionette doll.

I didn’t need to see it to know who gave it to him.

It was clear that this was an attempt to stage a downfall for me with such a paltry deception.

Was I angry? Not at all!

It was so blatantly obvious that it almost elicited pity.

I picked up Kaeram that was lying beside me and held it to his neck.

Aschel’s complexion turned pale in an instant as he faced the blade of Kaeram.

I asked him.

“Are you afraid?”

I asked again.

“What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of dying at my hands? Or are you afraid of a future where the world is covered in mist? If not that, then…”

And I asked once more.

“Are you afraid that the firm belief you had, that would never falter, might crumble because of me?”

Despite being asked three times, no answer came back.

“What should we do if you, with your good judgment, hesitate to answer three times? Don’t you already know? What the most correct answer should be in this situation.”

He must have known the answer from the moment the first question was asked.

But he couldn’t easily utter it.

Yet, you must do what is necessary.

More valuable than the lives of the many people watching this situation,

To save your own life!

“Release me, Cyan.”

The expectation was not misplaced this time either.

“I concede. Your power has already far surpassed mine. I will give everything up. The family, the empire, and even you….”

Power, honor, and even family.

Look at this desperate, pitiful begging to spare their life, willing to give up everything.

What a profoundly human moment.

“Did you say you would put everything down?”

“Yes, yes!”

“Even this sword?”

His pupils noticeably shook.

I presented the holy sword’s jewel in front of him again.

And then, I firmly crushed it.

Fragments of the shattered jewel beautifully scattered over his face.

“If you’re putting everything down, shouldn’t you give up this symbol of your brotherhood as well? Is it too precious to hand over this divine artifact, even though it’s only half left, to your brother?”

For a moment, Aschel’s face, which had been submissive, twisted unpleasantly again.

Eventually, he grabbed me by the collar.

“Do you think you are worthy of possessing this noble divine artifact? Don’t be mistaken, Cyan! Killing me and taking the holy sword won’t make you a savior!”

It seems the delusion is more on your part.

Such a shallow servant of the gods,

I have no interest in being one.

“Think about it, Cyan! Killing me won’t be the end! If you kill me, a new owner of the holy sword will appear to judge you over and over! You have already angered the almighty Lumendel! No matter how transcendent a human being you are, you cannot defy a god!”

Even though it looks like the desperate flailing of a person close to death, he’s actually right.

Even if I end his life here and put an end to our past life’s vendetta, the world’s esteemed master will always find a new proxy to clear away my mist.

Not this false representative,

But a proxy who can utilize the divine artifact as well as I can.

In that case, keeping this fake might actually be better.

It’s irksome, but I have to admit it.

His offer is somewhat appealing.

“If I let you go, what will you do with the holy sword?”

“I will do nothing!”

“Nothing?”

“Yes! I will erase my existence from you and this world so that I can be completely forgotten!”

“…”

“Do as you wish, Cyan! If you want… I can even help with your goals…!”

“But that would be boring, wouldn’t it?”

-Thud!

I plunged Kaeram’s blade into his chest, which I had momentarily lowered.

“Doing nothing? What a weak statement.”

Blood spurted from his mouth, drenching my face, but I paid it no heed and continued.

“Do not hesitate to use any means necessary to kill me! Without doing so, the merit of sparing your life would be in vain!”

“Cy… Cyan, you…!”

“There’s nothing left to do but for you to prepare thoroughly once more, only for it to crumble down completely because of me! Then, you must realize, no matter what you do! Even with the power of a god at your disposal! You cannot defeat my existence!”

“Yo… You! Demonic bastard!!!”

Demon.

Yes, that’s right.

I never pursued the false virtue that you do.

From the beginning to the end, I’ve only sought true evil.

Isn’t that why we’re in this situation now?

“Did you say that killing you would bring forth a new owner of the holy sword?”

-Thud!

I pulled out the dagger from Aschel heart and plunged it into the opposite side of his chest.

“Come, I welcome it! If there exists anyone who seeks to deny my being, be it the owner of the holy sword or a god! I will face them all!”

Demon,

Murderer,

Servant of the black mist.

It doesn’t matter what you call me.

Whoever comes, I can confidently say.

I am merely a being that moves according to emotion and instinct, yet can control reason,

A perfectly ordinary human.

“But since you’ve decided not to do anything and acknowledge me….”

-Crack!

“It’s time for you to step down from this stage.”

“Cyaaaan!!”

A bitter cry of hatred erupted from him as he neared the end of his life.

I, unbothered, offered my last farewell.

“Farewell, brother.”

“……!”

“I hope we do not meet in the next life.”

It would be better still if you were not born at all.

Aschel’s grip on my collar loosened, and his hand fell powerlessly to the ground.

My hands and face were smeared with his blood, but it didn’t feel unpleasant.

On the contrary, it felt refreshing.

The wind from the blue sky brushed my face, and the heat from my body gradually subsided.

Have I ever felt the air to be this clear and refreshing in my life?

This is the sense of achievement that only those who have achieved their ancient goals can feel.

Finally,

I could feel that I was alive as a human.

(To be continued)