The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

“A no-rules match?”

This is the first time I’m hearing about it.

To be precise, it seems I’m the only one hearing it for the first time.

While I was somewhat perplexed, Gunther, as if he had been waiting for this moment, was already wearing his prepared iron knuckles.

“Your expression is odd. Did you not hear that our match will be a no-rules match?”

“I didn’t hear about it.”

“Hmm, I guess the news didn’t reach you? If you need any weapons, go get them now! I’ll let that slide.”

There’s no need for that.

I haven’t taken it out because there was no use for it until now, but I have my own unique weapon unlike any other in the world in my possession.

I took out Kaeram from my belongings and took position.

[It seems like you’re taking me out reluctantly?]

“You’re quick to notice.”

Honestly, whether there are rules or not, I didn’t really want to use the Kaeram against him.

I don’t think it would feel good to slash.

“Do you know, Cyon? I’m going to kill you in this match!”

I couldn’t even force a laugh at his words, which didn’t seem like a joke at all.

But looking at his face, it didn’t seem like he was joking.

“It’s not a death match where you have to die to end it, right?”

“Of course not! But I’m serious. You’re the first one in a long time who’s made my fighting spirit boil like this! This isn’t just a thirst that can be quenched by punching each other!”

His body twitched as if something was about to happen.

“I grew up in this cage and fought numerous people. There are more than a few who ended up with their jaws broken or became crippled in their arms and legs from my punches. You could end up the same!”

What is he trying to say?

“Do you know why I left the cage?”

“Because you killed someone?”

“Right! As time went by, my fighting spirit became stronger and I couldn’t contain it, eventually killing an opponent during a match. But that’s not the only reason…”

As if trying to show me, he extended the knuckles he was wearing forward.

I noticed they had a faint reddish-brown hue.

“You see, I believe that trash that’s no longer needed should be eliminated from this world. That’s also why I manage the waste disposal site! Useless trash should be disposed of and eliminated! The same goes for humans, doesn’t it?”

For some reason, my brows furrowed.

No, maybe I do know why.

“Enough with the small talk! Anyway, I’m going to kill you with all my might, so you better do your best to fight me too! Got it, Cyon?”

Anyone who sees this might think they’re watching an endlessly heated battle between men.

But the best effort, huh…

If we discuss its dictionary definition, it means to do one’s utmost with all sincerity and strength.

Is this guy now forcing me to give my best?

Let’s think about this.

Am I in a situation where I have to show my best to this guy?

No.

Let me be clear, no.

What I can show in this situation is not my utmost sincerity, but mercy to make him realize his insignificant place.

It seems like it’s time for me to throw in my two cents.

“Choose.”

“Huh?”

“Left? Or right?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m asking which arm you’d prefer to keep.”

His shoulders twitched severely.

“You don’t understand. I told you to show your best, not to act recklessly. Are you mocking me now?”

“If you don’t want to choose, I’ll just decide for you.”

The somewhat frivolous atmosphere of the guy changed in an instant.

“You… really want to die, don’t you?”

Hasn’t he been saying he’ll kill me all this time?

I’m not sure what got into him, but a serious murderous intent started to show in his eyes.

“I’ve been holding back, but it’s getting harder. Just seeing those eyes that seem to belittle me makes my blood boil. I’m warning you, get rid of that look right now!”

Of course, I’m not one to simply comply.

I maintained the same gaze without any reaction.

“Let’s correct that. I will make sure to kill you in the most painful way possible. So much so that you’ll beg for death, not for life, ensuring you have no regrets!”

This time, I laughed.

It was similar to a phrase I used to enjoy in the past.

Hearing that phrase from such a guy, I couldn’t help but laugh.

-Buuuu

At that moment, the sound of a horn signaled the start of the match.

-Tat

As soon as it started, the guy immediately dashed forward.

Simultaneously, a brownish mana began to emanate from his hands.

“Petrification!”

-Crack

With the sound of something splitting, his hands began to harden like stone.

It was as if he was wearing solid gauntlets, emanating a considerable intimidating presence.

A magic spell of petrification that enhances parts of the body by applying earth attribute magic to oneself. Depending on the magical power, it’s a defense-optimized magic that can’t easily be cut by any sword or weapon.

Of course, it could also be converted for offense such as now.

-Whoosh

At a distance of five steps.

Judging that he was within striking range, he swung his fist out wide.

The trajectory was aimed precisely at my face.

There wasn’t much I could do in response.

Just wait for him to throw his punch.

4 steps, 3 steps, 2 steps.

Between 0 and 1 second.

Finally, at the moment his fist was about to connect with my face.

-Swish

I stepped back and dodged,

-Slash

and swung the Kaeram I was holding vertically.

-Shrrk

As my view naturally rose, I saw something gray soaring into the air.

On one side, a red liquid spurted out, and in the moment it fell carelessly without anyone to catch it,

“Aaaaah!”

A fierce scream echoed throughout the arena.

* * *

The arena became solemn as if cold water had been poured over it.

The spectators were enveloped in confusion beyond astonishment at the scene before them.

While Gunther, who had one arm cut off, was screaming in pain, the boy was looking at him with an all too peaceful face.

Is that really a sight befitting a human?

Beyond doubt, a strange fear began to rise among the spectators, as the boy’s face turned towards those looking at him.

“……!”

Breathless, with hands and feet trembling uncontrollably, an inexplicable phenomenon began to occur among the spectators.

It was as if they were facing an ugly demon, a feeling they had never experienced directly before.

Some even fled the cage as if running away.

“What- what is this?!”

However, among them, there was someone who could not take his eyes off the boy.

A man with a thick mustache sitting in the VIP seats of the arena, Morris Gerrick.

He was one of the city rulers in charge of the Grey Merchants’ Guild in the north of Lambusta.

What caught his eye through the flashy gold binoculars was not the boy’s face but the purple dagger he was holding.

“Unbelievable! But that is undoubtedly……!”

Morris knew.

The weapon the boy was holding was no ordinary dagger.

Decades of commercial activity had honed his judgment to absolute certainty.

The chilling aura leaking from the sharp blade, the mysterious smoke enveloping the dripping blood, to the black gem that seemed to have the madness of a demon’s eye embedded in it.

Considering all these, there was only one conclusion to be drawn.

The sword possessed by the boy was surely…

“A demonic sword!”

* * *

I watched him writhing in pain for quite a while.

I had no intention of delivering a finishing blow.

I just hoped it would end like this.

After a while, the referee, who had been watching, came over and asked me if I wanted to end the match, and I said yes.

As a result, the duel ended anti-climactically.

It was a result I had entirely anticipated.

“Great job, Mr. Cyon!”

Upon entering the waiting room, the kid who had been selling cigarettes until yesterday handed me a drink.

“Did you start working?”

“Yes! Manager Lisa put me to work as an assistant for the arena facilities for now!”

Assistant for the facilities, huh.

It doesn’t seem like a bad job.

After all, doing anything here is far better than selling cigarettes outside.

But a manager?

That means she was directly under the owner, but why would a woman with such a position be working as a mere employee in the lobby…

“Mr. Cyonnn!”

Before I even called, she appeared.

Seeing her rushing over breathlessly, it seemed she had something important to say.

“It’s a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding! There must have been a report and consultation error! There’s no way I wouldn’t know about it…”

“I wish you would explain so I can understand.”

“It’s about this match being rolled out as a no-rule match! Did you know?”

I shook my head.

“Of course, right? I’m so sorry! It’s completely our fault for not notifying you of such an important matter in advance, I am really, really sorry!”

She repeatedly bowed, apologizing over and over.

I snorted through my nose and said, “I don’t understand.”

“I have no excuse even if I had ten mouths! It’s only natural for you to think that way…”

“No, I mean you. It’s understandable you didn’t know, but there was no need for you to rush over to me, right? Shouldn’t you be going to that guy with the severed arm instead?”

After all, I wasn’t injured at all.

If she wanted to remedy the situation, I thought it would be right to rush to the owner of the waste heap, but,

“What do you mean?!”

Her reaction seemed to indicate otherwise.

“Mr. Cyon is our esteemed guest! I am a manager who prioritizes the convenience of such guests above all! It’s only right for me, as the manager, to rush over and apologize when a guest has suffered an inconvenience due to an unforeseen event!”

Hmm.

I was momentarily at a loss for words.

To think that there was someone with such a strong work ethic in this place, where rules and duties seemed to be thrown to the dogs.

Suddenly, my satisfaction with the facility’s service significantly increased.

“Excuse me for interrupting your conversation…”

Suddenly, a middle-aged man’s voice was heard from one side.

“May I have a moment?”

At first glance, he had the look of a merchant who seemed quite capable of making a sale.

Unlike me, who was meeting him for the first time, the manager here showed a rather shocked reaction.

“Morris?”

“……!”

The kid, who had been silent until now, also hid tightly behind my legs.

“I apologize for coming without prior contact. I just had to meet the person in front of me, no matter what.”

It seems there are many people here desperate to find me.

I responded with a sullen face.

“Are you talking about me?”

“Yes! My name is Morris Gerrick. I am the chairman of a small guild called the Grey Merchants’ Guild.”

The moment I heard the words “Grey Merchants’ Guild,” my eyes naturally turned to the kid.

The trembling in his hands told me that he was afraid of the man in front of us.

“You appear even more noble than when I saw you in the spectator seats. Almost like the child of a noble.”

It seems the tag of a merchant wasn’t attached to him frivolously.

I maintained a neutral expression without showing much reaction.

“Could you give us a moment, Manager Lisa?”

“Uh? But…”

“I would like to propose a deal to Mr. Cyon. I came alone without any guards, so you can rest assured.”

Indeed, I didn’t feel the presence of anyone else around him besides us.

After a moment of hesitation, she bit her lip as if she had no choice and said,

“I’ll give you 10 minutes…”

“Thank you.”

With a displeased expression, she left the waiting room with the kid.

The two men were left alone in the empty room.

This situation was not particularly pleasing to me.

On the other hand, the man named Morris smiled at me with an inscrutable look in his eyes.

He had clearly stated that he wanted to propose a deal to me.

When a merchant proposes a deal, it means they want to buy or sell something from the other party.

However, as for me, there wasn’t anything I particularly wanted to buy, nor did I have anything to sell.

“I’ll get straight to the point.”

Yet, his eyes were filled with an inscrutable certainty.

“What are you talking about?”

“The demonic sword you possess… Would you sell it to me?”

“……!”

[Huh?]

An incredulous sigh from Kaeram echoed in my head like an echo.

(To be continued)