The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Gunther’s demand was simple.

If you want to save that little kid named Roy, come to the waste disposal site by the time I’ve specified.

If you don’t come, think about the consequences yourself.

The intention was blatantly obvious.

It was an attempt at revenge for the incident at the arena.

However, knowing it was not possible through normal means, he resorted to such a futile trick.

It’s so ridiculous it’s beyond words.

“Just when I thought it was getting too quiet, he pulls something like this, that trashy bastard Gunther!”

The person who was actually the most agitated was the manager.

“I’m sorry, sir! We will take care of this matter ourselves. Please don’t worry and…”

Without responding, I headed towards the door.

“Wh- where are you going right now? You’re not thinking of actually going there, are you?”

“I’ll leave the kid’s matter to you.”

She was shocked and quickly blocked my way.

“Are you crazy? This is obviously a trap! Who knows what will happen if you go!”

A trap… a trap, huh…

If I were to define it, it’s a scheme intended to ensnare someone into difficulty, right?

Surely, going there won’t result in anything good.

But on the other hand, I don’t believe that going there will lead me into any trouble.

Ignoring her words, I headed to the waste disposal site.

* * *

There was a similar incident in my past life.

During the height of the war between the Ushif Empire and the Garam Kingdom,

The Garam Kingdom, which had been at a disadvantage, executed a plan to turn the tides.

It involved kidnapping Larshel Vert, the eldest son of the Vert family.

What does being the eldest son of the Vert family imply?

It meant he was the son of Aschel, the head of the family at the time.

Though not of royal blood, he was worth capturing as a hostage, being the child of a powerful figure in the empire.

There were various debates within the empire about whether to rescue him, but I didn’t say a word.

I just quietly waited to see what Aschel would decide.

Contrary to my expectations, he asked me what he should do.

He asked for my opinion.

I said, if you send me, I will not only rescue Larshel but also annihilate those who conspired against him.

I hate to admit it, but I was very angry at that time.

I was furious that they dared to use such petty tricks to put him in trouble, and I couldn’t stand it.

Looking back, it seems my desire to kill them was stronger than the desire to save his son.

Regardless, it was a pitiful incident.

But life has a way of coming full circle, and now a similar situation has presented itself in front of me.

A cigarette-selling kid?

Honestly, I couldn’t care less.

He has nothing to do with my current mission, and his death wouldn’t change anything.

He’s just one of the many street urchins who wouldn’t surprise me if they died at any moment.

Although I offered him a bit of help, that was the end of it.

I have no obligation to do anything more for him.

Yes, I have no obligation, but…

Strangely, my current feelings are not any different from what I felt back then.

Reasons, concerns, none of that matters now.

Right now, the thought of killing that worthless trash in the waste disposal site dominates my mind.

“……”

With each step I take, smells waft towards me.

Two kinds of smells, to be precise.

One is the foul stench of discarded waste.

And the other is the very familiar smell of human blood to me.

But the acrid smell was much stronger than usual.

I didn’t particularly want to know why.

It wasn’t very important to me.

Unconsciously, I realized that quite a few people were watching me as I passed by.

But not one dared to confront me.

It’s ironic, isn’t it?

Even those worthless thugs feel fear and shiver behind my back, yet the one who’s lost an arm still doesn’t grasp his situation and dares to act up.

As I continued with these meaningless thoughts, I eventually arrived at the invited space.

“You came?”

Gunther, sitting arrogantly atop the waste, showed a satisfied smile.

“Honestly, I’m surprised! I did tell you to come, but I never thought you’d actually come here just for that kid! You’re more compassionate than you look.”

Ignoring the guy for a moment, I looked around.

A space piled high with metal waste of indeterminate use.

The strange thing was, there were familiar-looking white pieces scattered everywhere, not waste but something else.

I already knew what it was.

Human bones.

Not just one or two, but seemingly hundreds.

Why human bones were here, in a place that wasn’t a cemetery, he probably knew.

“Looks like you’ve figured it out from your expression? Curious why there are human bones here?”

I tilted my head up as if to say, go on, explain.

“Do you know what ‘waste’ means? It’s simple! It means to throw away what can no longer be used. This place is for disposing of such useless things.”

He proudly spread out his remaining arm.

“As I said before, I dominated the Lambusta Cage, but I was expelled for killing someone during a match. I had no regrets. I thought I had my fill of fun! So, I left with a happy heart!”

His eyes gleamed wickedly.

“But as soon as I got out, some strangers welcomed me! One guy had lost an arm, another had a crushed knee, and another’s face was completely smashed! I don’t remember, but they all said I did it?”

Well, living like that and not having enemies would be the strange thing.

“They said they wanted revenge! That their lives were ruined because of me! Hearing that, I thought! If they’ve become useless, shouldn’t they just disappear from this world? Like these pieces of waste? What’s so different about humans?”

He threw a skull he was holding into the midst of the other waste.

As if they were no different from the rest.

“And then I thought, what about disposing of other useless humans? What’s the point of them living any longer? Maybe I’m doing them a favor?”

Listening to him go on, I couldn’t help but throw in my two cents.

“Isn’t that just according to your own standards?”

“Then let me ask! Who sets those standards in the first place? Some unknown gods? If we go by that, in this waste disposal site, am I not a god? Who’s to stop me if I decide to dispose of humans on my own judgment? Right?”

I had roughly guessed this from the nonsense he spouted in the arena.

Useless trash should be disposed of.

Thus, humans who have become useless should also be disposed of from this world.

Truly, it’s a simplistic and contemptible logic.

“According to your logic, since you’ve lost an arm, you’ve become a useless human. Shouldn’t you be disposed of just the same?”

“Lost an arm? Who? Me? What are you talking about!”

-Whoom

He manifested mana with his remaining hand and brought it over to his empty shoulder.

“Creation: Hands of Nature!”

-Creak, creak

A magic circle appeared, and from it, fine dirt materialized.

It slowly formed a shape, like molding a clay figure, and created a new arm.

Ridiculous.

The one who argues that the useless must be disposed of is casually using creation magic.

It was a moment where it was too wasteful to even shake my head.

“I had no ill will against you from the start. I just thought you’d be a good match to wake me up from being covered in trash! But after seeing the look in your eyes, my mind changed! That look of disdain, as if looking down on your opponent! Exactly like that annoying woman!”

He stretched out his newly created arm as if to show it off to me.

“Did you think creating a new arm would make you capable of facing me?”

“Of course not! As much as I hate to admit it, you are among the strongest men I’ve ever seen! I couldn’t think of a way to beat you no matter how I fought!”

And you’re the one who created this situation knowing that?

“But you know what? The outcome of a fight ultimately depends on who lives and who dies! If I live and you die, then I’m the final victor!”

-Click

At his signal, the thugs hiding around started to gather, each holding a metallic device of unknown purpose.

Without hesitation, they activated the devices.

-Whirring

Suddenly, the air around me felt heavier, and soon, an immense pressure that seemed to crush my body was felt.

If I remember correctly, this isn’t magic but the ability of an artifact known as ‘Gravity Zone.’

It increases the gravity in a certain space to extremely limit movement.

Ordinarily, a human would find it impossible to stand, suffering immense pain.

“Oh? You’re holding up quite well? It wasn’t intended for you, but I guess it’s not a waste to use it on you.”

I had to acknowledge it.

He had prepared quite a decent trap for me.

“Now, I’ll turn you, who are still intact, into useless waste! Then you’ll sleep peacefully like these skeletons piled up here! But I don’t want it to end too easily, so try your best to resist with all your might!”

All my might?

I couldn’t help but laugh.

It’s funny, isn’t it?

The idea that I should expend all my energy against such people?

After all, this place is neither Vellias nor the Academy.

Even if he calls me Cyon, no one here knows I’m Cyan Vert.

“Except for just one person.”

[Shall I help?]

Kaeram asked with a seductive smile.

“No.”

There’s no need to use her, after all.

Didn’t you say to give it my all?

Regrettably, there is only one person in this land whom I wish to confront with all my might.

But I can still do my best.

I will bestow upon him the most extreme pain a human can feel, with all my effort.

As always.

-Tat

Finally ready, he kicked off the ground and charged in.

Certainly, his movements were at least two, if not three times faster than what he had shown in the arena.

With a body as big as a bear but speed like an arrow, it’s indeed destructive movement.

But what of it?

Before me, they’re just wriggling worms.

I grabbed the mana sphere created in my palm and drew it back.

-Swish

What I’m about to do is nothing special.

The most basic stance humans take when training their bodies. Punching.

I threw a punch with a calm face towards the guy charging at me like a bulldozer.

-Bang!

Our fists naturally collided.

A strong shockwave spread in all directions, but soon, it leaned one way.

“……!”

-Crack

There was no need for a crack to form.

The moment his arm touched my fist, it turned to dust and scattered.

Unable to withstand the shockwave, his body was immediately thrown into the trash.

-Thud

The lesson is over.

The expression on his face, now stuck in the trash, said it all.

Just 5 seconds ago, it was a distinctly different expression, one twisted in despair.

“What, what is this? How can this be?”

Humans, when faced with their limits, are animals that despair more easily than any other.

Perhaps he knew this and asked me to give it my all.

Intending to show the insurmountable wall, to impart extreme despair and a sense of futility.

As you can see, it was a futile effort.

I slowly walked towards him.

“You, what exactly are you? This is a whole different level! How can I do nothing against you?”

A face mixed with despair and questioning.

All those I’ve seen while on cleanup duty had that same expression.

Although this guy wasn’t on the list given to me by the clan leader, adding one more wouldn’t hurt.

I looked down at him and asked softly.

“How many were there?”

“…….”

He said nothing.

“The humans you’ve disposed of until now. How many were there?”

I couldn’t tell if he couldn’t remember, or if he had become mute in the meantime,

But judging by the number of scattered skeletons around, it seemed like it could be a thousand.

-Humming

I pulled out Kaeram and said.

“I’ll divide you into exactly a thousand pieces.”

Then throwing him into the trash would take care of it, presumably.

Soon, the screams of a man writhing in pain echoed throughout the dumpsite.

(To be continued)