The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

It was careless of me.

I had never used any special techniques, let alone infused it with mana.

I just thought it would appear as a somewhat gloomy sword to others, but this person clearly stated he wanted me to sell him a demonic sword…

“What are you talking about?”

I naturally played dumb in response.

“There’s no need to beat around the bush. In this city, the only ones who know your sword is a demonic sword are the two of us.”

If he had decided to buy it, he wouldn’t go around spreading the word.

The question is, how did he recognize that Kaeram is a demonic sword?

I casually moved one hand behind my back.

-Wooong

If necessary, I would use ‘Shadow’s Persona’ to obliterate everything and then kill him.

“Ha-ha! You’re very cautious of me. I understand completely. Well, I should tell you why I’m convinced that your sword is a demonic sword.”

-Pat

I extinguished the burgeoning magical power in an instant.

If he was going to talk, there was no need to use it.

“Let’s hear it then.”

Morris immediately continued as if he had been waiting.

“I originally worked for a large merchant guild called the Albas Merchant Guild. Two years ago, after the guild’s leader, Zickerman Albas, was assassinated by a mysterious assassin, I left the organization and started my own merchant guild. Since then, I’ve established myself in this city to the extent that I’m called a ruler of sorts.”

Zickerman Albas.

That was a familiar name to me.

The man who had tried to sell Nana off while she was still in her egg.

I had no idea he was a merchant under him.

Ironically, he was facing the very assassin who had killed his former leader.

“I’ve always been interested in weapons, including swords, and continued my activities in that area. As a result, I’ve seen all the renowned swords on the continent. To exaggerate a bit, I’ve seen all the famous swords made by human hands.”

“And?”

“There are exactly two swords I have not seen. The holy sword and the demonic sword. Weapons made not by human power but by the power of gods. Although their very existence was uncertain, I believed these swords definitely existed on this land and collected information about them.”

There was a considerable amount of pride in his tone.

“Then today! I finally saw it! A demonic sword that had been sleeping in the unknown mists for hundreds of years and has finally appeared in the world! My eyes are not mistaken! Because it’s what I’ve longed for!”

Not that I’m trying to judge but, this man, Morris, might just be the ideal human type that a demonic sword would love the most.

He is mad enough to be perfectly devoured.

“Even if you didn’t know it was a demonic sword, it doesn’t matter! Please sell the sword to me! I will pay whatever price you ask! If you desire another sword, I can provide several of the highest quality famous swords! Just say the word! If only you would give me the demonic sword, I can give you anything!”

-Ssssss

A black mist rose from within and wrapped around my body like embracing it.

For the record, this wasn’t my doing.

It was a precursor phenomenon for the other party in this conversation to materialize themselves…

[It’s been a while, hasn’t it? A lowly human recognized me?]

Without giving him any chance to respond, Kaeram materialized and draped her arm over my shoulder.

“Hoooo…”

Morris looked up at Kaeram with a face full of reverence.

“Indeed! It’s true that divine weapons possess souls! It is a great honor for me, Morris, to behold the esteemed presence of the marvelous demonic sword.”

Is he now blatantly putting me in a difficult position?

“What are you doing?”

I asked her, annoyed.

[As much as I’d like to stay quiet, I can’t stand being talked about behind my back.]

Fortunately, there were no others around, but this could lead to a very troublesome situation.

[Alright. Then let me ask you something. Looking at you, you don’t seem capable of wielding me properly to swing brilliantly, so what do you want to do with me?]

I was curious, too.

It didn’t seem like he could swing around a sword with his bulky body, and from the looks of it, he didn’t seem to intend to sell it anywhere else.

What does he plan to do with a demonic sword he can’t even use?

“You’re right. Since I am not a warrior who wields swords, I won’t be able to handle the demonic sword freely. But let me ask you the opposite question. Do I need to be able to wield the demonic sword?”

“…?”

Both she and I expressed our confusion almost simultaneously.

“Would it not suffice for Lord Magus to handle me instead of anyone else? You can take everything I have. My money, power, even my body! All I ask is for a small favor from you, Lord Magus!”

[A favor? What exactly do you mean?]

To Kaeram’s question, Morris responded with a smile full of ecstasy.

“Nothing much! After all, you are a god, are you not? A noble god! All it would take is for you to kindly pat this insignificant creature called a human……!”

-Thud!

“Kack!”

The neck of the man, who had been excitedly babbling away, was suddenly seized and lifted in an instant.

Did Kaeram grab him?

No, I did.

I think I roughly understand what this bastard’s intentions were in approaching us.

[……?]

Kaeram seemed quite surprised by my actions.

Do you know what one of the things I hate the most is?

It’s when someone spouts such contemptible words with a face full of bliss, as if they do not doubt that those events will happen to them.

How can one live their life in such a way that such a nonsensical value system takes hold?

After everything, a favor from the Magus?

What do they see me as, and how do they view her, to say something like that?

It’s enough to make me want to give them a chance to live their life over again because of how infuriating it is.

“Pl-please spare me……”

Despite the man’s desperate struggles and pain, my grip did not loosen.

“What’s going on?”

Guards rushed in from the corridor, having detected the commotion.

Kaeram naturally concealed herself, and I let go of the man’s neck just as he was about to run out of breath.

“Haah Haah……!”

“Lord Morris!”

Guards, who appeared to be his escorts, rushed to support him.

Some, wary of me, drew their swords in response,

“Enough! Put away your swords……!”

Morris, having barely regained his senses, stopped the guards’ actions.

His loathsome smile still remained.

“It seems the owner has gotten a bit excited. It looks like he holds you in very high regard……”

I did not respond.

“I’ll come to visit again. Please consider my offer carefully……”

I agonized for a whole second over whether to rip this detestable trash’s throat out right then and there.

In the end, I concluded that it was better not to kill him too easily, which extended the guy’s life a bit longer.

Morris fled from the scene as if escaping from a cage.

* * *

-Creak-

The iron door opened hastily, and Lisa entered with an urgent expression. Inside the room, as if waiting for her, was a woman.

“You seem to have a lot to say, Lisa?”

Unlike the woman who wore a leisurely smile, Lisa’s expression seemed anxious.

“You don’t have to say it. You’re curious about why the rules of the game changed without you knowing, aren’t you?”

“…Yes, that’s correct.”

Lisa did not deny it.

“Is there a special reason why Lady Rin changed the rules herself?”

At the mention of a reason, the woman’s smile grew even wider.

“Well, in a situation like this, it might be better to talk about the certainty gained from that reason, rather than discussing the reason itself.”

Her words were somewhat cryptic.

“What do you mean?”

“Weren’t you curious? How that infamous Gunther lost an arm without throwing a single punch. Who is this boy, and where did he come from, to show such unbelievable movements?”

Cyon was an existence that clearly defied the bounds of common sense.

A boy of barely thirteen years old was knocking down men thrice his size with a single punch, and exhibiting movements too fast for a normal person to even imagine.

What’s important is that the appearances shown so far were absolutely not all there was.

By this point, it was a question that not only she, but everyone who had seen him would have.

“Have you found an answer to that, Lady Rin?”

Lisa asked, looking directly at her with clear eyes.

“Let me ask you in return. Lisa, can you remember his face?”

“His face?”

It was impossible not to remember.

Wasn’t it the face she had seen every day for the past week?

She had even seen him just before.

Unless there was some memory impairment, it should be impossible to forget, yet Lisa’s face soon twisted in seriousness.

“I, I can’t remember…”

She clearly remembered everything from his head, eyes, nose, mouth, voice, and even his way of speaking, but she couldn’t conjure up the overall image of his face.

The woman smiled with a knowing, mysterious glint in her eyes.

“It’s a secret technique called ‘Amwu’ (Dark Fog).”

It was the first time Lisa had heard of such a technique.

“Simply put, it’s using a certain power to cast a spell that prevents others from remembering his face. So, even though you clearly remember, you can’t recall it.”

“I’ve never heard of such a technique!”

“That’s to be expected. It’s a skill that can only be used by beings not allowed on this land called ‘Mist’…”

In that moment, Lisa’s pupils shook violently.

“Did you just say… Mist?”

* * *

“Aaaah!”

-Bang Bang Bang-

A scrapyard where a man’s scream of agony and unidentified loud noises intermingled.

The members of the area could do nothing but silently watch, unable to open their mouths.

Anxiety was evident in their eyes, uncertain when sparks might fly.

-Crack! Thump! Squelch!

This time, it wasn’t a loud noise but a very unfamiliar sound that rang out.

It was a gruesomely chilling sound, enough to make the listeners’ skin crawl.

Indeed, the area members watching the scene felt such fear that they all averted their eyes from the sight.

“Haah…”

Just when it seemed like the fury might have subsided, Gunther, glancing down and seeing his non-existent right arm, roared again in anger.

“Cyon!”

Gone was Gunther’s previous frivolous demeanor.

Now, he was filled with intense anger, driven by an immense sense of humiliation from a defeat he had never experienced before.

“Calm down, Gunther! You might worsen your wounds if you’re not careful!”

“Shut up!”

Despite the area member’s attempt to calm him, he paid no heed.

“I have to kill him! I feel like I’ll die if I don’t kill that guy!”

However, he knew.

No matter how he approached it, defeating Cyon was utterly impossible.

The throbbing pain in his arm seemed almost like a warning.

“…!”

Suddenly, he spotted a crumpled pack of cigarettes.

Seeing it, Gunther was reminded of his encounter with Cyon in the district’s alley.

The little kid selling cigarettes who was being bullied by the area members, and Cyon who saved him.

He had heard that the kid was now living in the Lambusta Cage, doing odd jobs.

Soon after, Gunther’s face broke into a meaningful smile as if he had thought of some strategy.

“Right, whatever method I use, I just have to kill him. If you’re dead and I’m standing in front of you alive, that in itself is the greatest victory!”

He rubbed his severed arm, bursting into maniacal laughter.

The ground had become soaked with bright red blood.

(To be continued)