The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

With her arms folded, the leader eyed me uncomfortably and asked,

“Having emerged into the world after three years, why did you choose to come to the academy first?”

“When I stepped out of the void, this was simply the closest place. But I didn’t expect you to be here as well.”

The leader’s gaze, which had been uncomfortable up to that moment, suddenly turned sharp as she grabbed the front of my shirt.

-Snap!

My shirt tore open in an instant, revealing a torso marred by scars and sword cuts.

To an outsider, it might have looked like a scene ripe for misunderstanding, but I wasn’t concerned.

What the leader wanted to verify wasn’t the scars.

It was the crimson sun emblem, carved into my chest right above my heart three years ago by Lumendel—a sign of prophecy.

However, part of the emblem had been covered by the fog energy Aer had infused, turning it black now.

After examining the emblem, the leader asked again,

“Is it being properly suppressed?”

“The master of this craft mentioned it’s his first time too, so it’s not quite familiar yet. He said the time I can stay in this realm would gradually increase as we continue.”

“How long?”

“For now… it’s a day,” I said.

Her eyes, which had been fixed on the emblem, moved back to my face.

“A day?”

I shrugged and nodded.

“How long have you been out already?”

“Since about the time when the curtain of dawn was drawn?”

It was just past midnight now, with the dark sky fully opened to the moonlight.

Dawn was still far off.

A tremor began in the hand of the leader that was still holding my shirt.

“Cyan, don’t tell me…?”

I drew my beloved violet-bladed sword, radiating murderous intent, and showed it to her.

“My body has been rather itchy,” I said with a smirk.

Beyond the window behind me, not just the moonlight, but another golden light was seeping in.

* * *

It was only natural for a student who had graduated from the academy to leave it behind.

Arin, now a graduate, could no longer stay in the Royal Manor dormitory.

Although Chancellor Kundel had offered to make arrangements if she wished, Arin politely declined and instead purchased a suitable mansion near the academy.

Arin wanted to live as a commoner, not as a princess, and had wished for a smaller house, but the royal family did not permit this.

Regardless of her circumstances, she was undeniably a member of the royal family.

For a princess, who was the face of the empire, to live in a humble house and mingle with the common citizens would, by itself, tarnish the honor of the royal family.

Thus, Princess Violet got involved in arranging her residence, even sending knights and servants to accompany her.

In reality, though they were called servants, they were watchers keeping an eye on Arin, but she did not refuse and gladly accepted Violet’s kindness.

A clumsy refusal might instead lead to a forced summons to the royal palace.

The first night after graduating from the academy.

Despite a day filled with graduation ceremonies and receiving congratulations from many, which would have tired anyone, Arin did not sleep but continued with her personal research as she always had.

“Princess, it’s Resimus.”

“Come in.”

Entering the room, Resimus approached Arin, who was looking at a book, and whispered quietly.

“Just now, Lady Silica was seen leaving the chancellor’s office at the academy.”

Arin responded calmly.

“Was there anyone with her?”

“It seems she was alone. She passed the checkpoint by herself.”

“I’ll be able to see her tomorrow? I should go to the academy early in the morning.”

To an outsider, it might look like a typical student eagerly anticipating a reunion with an old teacher, but what Arin expected from Silica was not merely a simple reunion.

“I wonder if she still has her short hair?”

As she recalled the last time she saw her,

“…!”

Suddenly, a sharp headache struck Arin, stimulating her mind.

Losing her balance, she fell, but Resimus quickly supported her.

“Are you alright, Princess?”

Arin didn’t respond immediately, her mind blanking out for a moment.

This headache was familiar.

It was eerily similar to the pain she had experienced three years ago, an unforgettable day.

Regaining her senses, Arin hastily ran to the window and flung it open.

It was late, the darkness was settling in, and even the moonlight wasn’t bright enough to illuminate anything properly.

But soon, Arin could see something.

Off in the distance, near the Royal Academy’s private research offices, something was rising up like a mirage.

The mirage became clearer, and as it did, the headache intensified.

Following her, Resimus asked, “Princess, why all of a sudden?”

“It’s the same as three years ago! Something is about to emerge from there, Resimus!”

As Resimus looked in the direction Arin was pointing, her expression turned puzzled.

“What are you seeing that you’re saying this?”

“Over there, by the academy research offices! There’s something like a golden mirage rising up! Can’t you see it?”

“Yes, I cannot see it…”

Though Arin shouted excitedly, Resimus truly saw nothing.

Not even a golden mirage, only deep darkness filled her view.

“Really… you don’t see it?”

Flustered, Arin rubbed her eyes and looked towards the academy again.

The mirage that had disoriented Arin had disappeared as if it had never been there.

“What? I was sure I saw it…”

The headache also subsided as suddenly as it had come.

She regained her composure and looked around quickly, but the mirage was nowhere to be seen.

“Perhaps your body is very exhausted. Wouldn’t it be better to go to your chambers now?”

“Yes, let’s do that. It seems necessary…”

Arin, supported by Resimus, moved towards her bedroom.

While Resimus soothed her, suggesting that the visions were due to lack of sleep and fatigue, Arin didn’t believe that.

‘I definitely saw it.’

With that thought, another naturally occurred to her,

‘Could it be, no, surely not…’

Arin shook her head, hoping it was not what she feared.

* * *

The reason I needed three years was nothing trivial.

It was to meet the physical conditions necessary to neutralize the mark of revelation.

That condition was none other than the age of sixteen.

Only when one’s body has undergone full secondary sexual characteristics can one infuse the power of restraint, as Aer had said.

So for three years, I wasn’t holed up in the hideout of Mist, but in another subspace that I had created.

It might be called free time, but frankly, it was just isolation.

What did I do during that time?

I played.

And by my standards, playing means subjecting my body to brutal and harsh training to the limits of endurance.

(E/N: so edgy)

Some might find this story absurd.

How can that be considered playing?

But from my perspective, it’s by confronting pain and experiencing the extreme thrill that I feel myself becoming stronger,

And wouldn’t I carefully cherish that given time to look forward to the moment I could step out into the world after three years?

Truth be told, three years wasn’t really enough time for dazzling growth.

Aer said again.

The reason I couldn’t defeat the Nephilim was that I couldn’t surpass the power of light they possessed.

In other words, my impotence meant that the power of mist fell short against them.

Therefore, I had to grow this damn power I received from my benefactor by any means necessary.

Naturally, the process was not easy.

Training to handle divine power to its limits with a human body—how could that be simple?

I experienced the agony of flesh being torn and bones splitting thousands of times, and pushed my body to the brink of death’s shadow repeatedly.

Through these gruesome trials, I finally achieved accomplishment,

And at last, I was ready to face them again.

Of course, I had no intention of immediately showing off the power I had gained as soon as I emerged into the world.

Overjoyed by the long-awaited reunion, I casually joked with the leader,

But taking my words seriously, the leader immediately grabbed me by the collar and dragged me straight to the Mist’s hideout.

This just shows how our leader can be too earnest for her own good.

It was indeed a close call.

Had I stayed there a little longer, given the time limit set by Aer was nearly up, I would have reunited with the Nephilim right then and there.

[Quite an intense greeting for a joyful reunion.]

Upon arriving in the subspace, it seemed Aer had anticipated this situation; he giggled from the altar as he watched us.

The leader, paying no heed, glared at me again and asked,

“Did you intend to turn Luwen into a disaster area?”

“Of course not. It was just a joke, but it seems you still lack a sense of humor, leader.”

“You’ve become more shameless with age.”

I felt a momentary murderous intent in the leader’s piercing gaze.

“Show more of your body.”

Once again, the leader carefully scrutinized me.

At first, she scowled repeatedly, but soon, she stroked her lips, inspecting every corner of my body.

-Ssssss

There was no way someone would just stand by and watch this scene.

[It’s not polite to stare at another man’s body like that! Keep looking, and those eyes might just pop out.]

The leader retorted without missing a beat.

“Despite what you say, I don’t feel any negative energy here.”

Her fingers were already caressing below my navel.

Kaeram’s lips twisted slightly.

[Our leader has become even more cunning in the time we haven’t seen each other? Should I cut off those fingers and block your throat with them?]

Even though they had just reunited, instead of sharing their joy, they growled at each other as if ready to devour one another.

Since I was still glad for the reunion, I felt no need to intervene.

“I checked just to see if she were alive because you said to do as I liked, but now I see I can’t even do that anymore. If you cross the line this time, I won’t be able to just watch over that child anymore.”

“……”

“Does that not matter to you?”

My answer was the same as it had been three years ago.

“Do as you like.”

The leader nodded, and didn’t ask further about it.

“Aren’t you curious about how the others are doing?”

“Is anyone dead?”

“No. Everyone is fine.”

“Then that’s enough.”

The leader furrowed his brow as if surprised.

I smiled again at the leader.

“What do you think is the reason I came to you first as soon as I emerged after three years?”

“Because you wanted to see me first?”

“That’s partly true, but it’s also because I have no intention of revealing my existence to anyone else besides you, leader.”

The reason I endured thousands of near-death experiences in the subspace and grew stronger was for one single purpose.

I had emerged again to fulfill that one purpose.

Thus, I couldn’t afford to care about the trivial affections I had formed three years ago.

No matter what happens, I must,

“I will kill Lumendel.”

destroy the god.

(To be continued in the next episode)