The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

92%.

It was an unbelievable figure, unheard of and unseen in all my years.

At this point, one might wonder if it’s not a matter of divine selection, but rather if a being from the divine realm has directly intervened in the human realm?

I dare say that since the beginning of the attribute inspection, no other student has possessed such a high figure.

“Is this magic circle malfunctioning?”

“It can’t be, it was working fine just a moment ago…”

The two instructors double-checked the writing on the parchment several times.

No matter how many times they confirmed, it was still unbelievable.

“Is it over?”

Cyan calmly descended from the magic circle and checked his parchment.

With an indifferent gaze, he showed no reaction to the 92% figure and simply left the room.

The two instructors left behind could only stare in bewilderment.

“An attribute score of 92% and a physical grade of S… At least he seems to have a conscience, with a magic grade of 1st.”

However, it didn’t seem to hold much significance.

After all, magical grades were just a gradual, enduring factor that increased over time.

“While it’s undoubtedly a historically unprecedented figure…”

Instructor Rodin seemed somewhat disappointed.

“Why does it have to be the Dark attribute… It’s rather unfortunate if you look at it from the opposite perspective.”

The Dark attribute.

While rare as an attribute itself, it wasn’t particularly welcomed in these lands.

Not only were there few possessors of this attribute, but the Ushif Empire, by its very nature, was a nation that worshipped light.

In a country that favored light, there would be little regard for darkness, which stood in direct opposition to it.

This sentiment extended to neighboring countries and other regions, leading to minimal magical research based on the Dark attribute on the continent.

In short, it was like a sweet persimmon without substance, merely a hollow attribute.

“That’s true. With a maximum score of 92%, if we exclude that, the remaining score is only 8%. It seems unlikely that much progress can be made magically.”

“You never know. With such aptitude combined with genius, they could potentially create entirely new magic.”

“A grand magic of the Dark attribute… Honestly, I can’t quite grasp it. At best, it might be limited to spells like concealment or illusion… How could such a stigmatized attribute be developed?”

As she spoke, Silica trembled slightly, her head shaking in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Rodin wore a pensive expression, as if deeply contemplating something.

“It seems like something is on your mind, Rodin?”

“Oh, it’s nothing significant. It’s just that I have a feeling there might be an organization willing to welcome a student like Cyan.”

“Where could that be?”

After a brief hesitation, Rodin scratched his head and replied, “The Mist…”

“…”

“Well, considering you mentioned spells like concealment or illusion… I thought it might appeal to assassins who favor that kind of magic…”

She looked at Rodin with a genuine sense of disdain on her face.

* * *

92%.

It was in the 80s in my previous life, but it seems the number has increased since then.

Well, it would be strange if my mana hadn’t increased much despite all the magic beast hunting I’ve done lately.

Of course, it goes without saying that the current attribute values confirmed now won’t remain constant throughout one’s lifetime.

Just as strength increases if you use it, and becomes dull if you don’t use it.

attributes can also increase or decrease depending on how mana is used and utilized.

While it varies from person to person, the general rate of change is usually within 10%.

Of course, there are cases where the change exceeds that.

Well, even in my past life, I received quite a bit of attention because of these unbelievable values.

Most of the ridicule was about being a family’s incompetent and whether the attributes were just as incompetent…

Ah, thinking about the past again is dampening my mood, isn’t it?

I just shrugged it off in my past life, but it doesn’t seem like I can do that this time.

I have a feeling I might end up catching someone and using them as an example and plunging them into the abyss of darkness, bringing despair and suffering…

Well, in that case, my quiet and peaceful academy life will surely come to an end.

I tried to clear my uneasy mind by drinking the muscle enhancement potion I brought from the dormitory.

Hmm, this is surprisingly palatable, isn’t it?

The sweet yet tangy taste reminds me of the blood of trolls.

Well, it may not have much efficacy, but it serves as a nostalgic reminder of the old taste…

“…!”

As I turned the corner, I came face to face with a familiar face.

“C-Cy…”

Eyes and mouth trembling as if afflicted with acute panic.

It was Cranz.

Well, well, if it isn’t you.

“Do you know this guy, Cranz?”

Next to him was a blond kid with no neck to speak of, his head resting directly on his chest, looking like he’d gained weight since we last met.

Ah, you’re familiar too.

Popper Penelon, the son of Marquis Fenelon of the Garam Kingdom.

Along with Cranz, he was one of the guys who made my early academy life a real mess.

“Uh, well, you see…”

Despite the pig’s inquiries, Cranz continued to stammer like a scarecrow.

Geez, why can’t he speak?

Did he even forget the name of his beloved younger brother?

Surely not.

Our dear Cranz, who begged our mother to make his little brother disappear from the face of the earth because he couldn’t stand the sight of him, couldn’t possibly forget about his brother!

“He’s my, my brother! Cyan Vert, he came to the academy with me this year! S-safely arrived, Cyan?!”

Look at this shameless kid. Despite everything he’s done, he acts like nothing’s wrong because he’s got a friend around?

I wondered how long he could keep up the act as I silently observed.

“Ah, is this the younger brother you said you treated like a slave while you lived in the mansion?”

“…!”

Cranz, who had just regained some composure, turned pale again.

His eyes wandered, perhaps unable to bear looking at my face.

Well, it’s true, isn’t it? Until the swordsmanship duel, he did treat me like a slave.

I’m a forgiving person, so I can tolerate that level of teasing.

“And you called him a bastard child with no idea who his mother was? Yeah! He sure looks like it!”

-Thud

I heard a hefty thud, like something heavy hitting the ground.

As expected, it was probably the sound of Cranz’s heart sinking.

“Oh, no, I mean, what I meant was…!”

-Thunk

Without bothering to hear his excuses, I immediately grabbed the back of his head.

His hair felt surprisingly sturdy, probably from all the sweat, but I wasn’t about to let go.

Sometimes an animal needs to be disciplined, and it seems like another lesson in education is necessary for him.

With a brief moment of bowing my head, I soon lifted it with a bright smile.

“Shall we have a little chat, Cranz?”

* * *

“Attribute score of 92%?”

The white-haired old man, reading a report, stroked his chin.

“Yes. But considering that the main attribute itself is darkness…”

“There might not be much substance to it.”

The old man continued to scrutinize Cyan Vert’s report with a refined gaze.

“Indeed, it seems to be an exceptional score. Wasn’t Alice Vert, who was known as the child of the gods, around 81%?”

“Yes. At the time of graduation, it had risen to 88% in the water attribute.”

“Interesting. I never would have thought that a freshman would have reached a level that even the child who was praised as having the greatest talent of all time could not achieve.”

A subtle smile, rarely seen, graced the face of the headmaster.

Seeing that, Silica felt the current situation to be quite unfamiliar.

She was in the headmaster’s office, located on the top floor of the academy’s main building.

As she had come here today to deliver the report of the attribute assessment conducted, the elderly man reading the report could only be the owner of this room.

The headmaster of the Royal Academy, Kündel Quazel.

A member of the influential Quazel family of the Ushif Empire, the father of Diana Quazel, the first empress, and hence the former father-in-law of the emperor.

He was also the only member of the academy’s staff to have reached the 9th star.

“Do you know that this child named Cyan has been assigned to the royal family?”

“Yes. I’ve heard from other instructors.”

“How do you think someone who is not a member of the royal family got assigned?”

At the inappropriate quiz show, beads of sweat dripped from Silica’s body.

In fact, the answer was already somewhat apparent.

How could a common nobleman, not a member of the royal family, be assigned to the royal family?

This was simply a matter of someone’s influence at work.

The problem was that the person who could accommodate it had to be someone with power greater than the headmaster.

In this case, the only person who fit that description was undoubtedly Headmaster Kündel.

In other words, it could be concluded that Cyan Vert had been assigned to the royal family because Headmaster Kündel had accepted a favor from someone and acted upon it.

“Could it have been Duke Vert who made the request?”

“Hehe, that’s unlikely. Do you know how stubborn Duke Vert is? He’s not the type to ask for favors to accommodate his child.”

“Then who else could it be?”

“His Majesty.”

Silica momentarily doubted her ears.

“Y-You mean His Majesty the Emperor?”

Kündel responded with a raised eyebrow, indicating his silent confirmation.

“Why would His Majesty the Emperor be interested in that child?”

“May I ask what your current magic rating is?”

Kündel unexpectedly inquired about her magic rating.

“It’s 7.”

It was nothing out of the ordinary, just the average rating of academy-affiliated instructors.

“If you’re at 7th rank, you’re at a level where one deadly spell could easily wipe out an entire village. So, what would you do if a dragon suddenly appeared before you?”

“A d-dragon?”

What would you do if the successor of divine bloodline appeared before you?

Well, she doesn’t know why he’s asking such a question, but Silica decided to answer honestly.

“I would fight with all my might… or perhaps try to escape, but soon enough, I’d probably be praying to the gods for mercy.”

“Honesty indeed. Even someone like you at 7th rank would say that, so there’s no need to ask others. Most people would probably come to terms with their mortality and may even give up on life. However…”

The headmaster’s gaze suddenly sharpened.

“That child returned alive. From a dragon, no less…”

“…?”

Silica’s doubts extended beyond her ears; she began to question if she was dreaming or if reality itself was becoming questionable.

“Hard to believe, isn’t it? Surprisingly, this information came directly from His Majesty the Emperor to me. Apparently, the child was abducted by a Demonic Dragon, went missing after falling into a river, and was found two days later with no harm done to him…”

“I-I’ve heard about him living on the front lines, but I never imagined such a thing would happen…”

Kündel continued to speak without pause.

“Perhaps His Majesty was greatly impressed by how he safely escorted Princess Arin from the monsters during their journey at the time. And seeing him return alive from a dragon with his own eyes, well, that speaks for itself. Who knows, maybe in a few years, we’ll hear tales of their union.”

Although said with a hint of jest, if the Emperor was directly involved, then it was a story with enough possibility to be true.

Having learned all the details, Silica asked with a complex and subtle expression, “Is that child truly chosen by the gods?”

Kündel responded casually,

“No need to overthink it. All we have to do is watch. Even if he possesses an apparently useless attribute, do you not understand? He may reach a level that no one else can reach…”

Kündel looked at the report with a satisfied smile, as if observing a flower waiting to bloom.