The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

“No rules match?”

It’s a story I’ve never heard before.

To be precise, it seems like I’m the only one who hasn’t heard it.

While I looked somewhat puzzled, Gunther, as if he had been waiting, had his iron knuckles ready.

“Your expression is strange. Haven’t you heard that our match is a no-rule match?”

“I haven’t.”

“Hmm, didn’t the news reach you? If you need any weapons, go get them now. I’ll allow it personally.”

There’s no need for that. I haven’t used it for a while, but I have my own weapon in my possession, unlike any other in the world. I pulled out Kaeram from my arms and adjusted my stance.

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

“You’re sharp, aren’t you?”

Honestly, whether there are rules or not doesn’t matter to me.

But facing him, I didn’t really want to use Kaeram.

It wouldn’t feel good to strike him.

“You know what, Zion? I’m going to kill you in this match!”

I couldn’t even laugh at something that didn’t even seem like a joke.

However, from his expression, he didn’t mean it like a joke either.

“I thought it’s not a death match?”

“Of course not! But I’m serious. You’ve ignited my thirst for battle, which has been parched for a long time. This isn’t just about exchanging punches to quench it!”

His body seemed to twitch as if something was about to happen.

“I’ve faced countless opponents here at Cage. Many have fallen to my fists, with broken jaws or limbs. You could be one of them!”

What does he want me to do?

“Do you know why I left Cage?”

“For killing people?”

“That’s right! My fighting grew fiercer over time, eventually leading to killing my opponent during a match. But that’s not the only reason… ”

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

Upon closer inspection, they had a murky brown hue.

“Let me tell you. I believe useless garbage should be eliminated from this world. That’s why I manage the waste yard! Useless trash should be disposed of and eradicated! Isn’t it the same for humans?”

For some reason, my brows furrowed.

No, actually, I might know the reason.

“Enough with the nonsense! Anyway, I’ll do my best to kill you. You should do your best to face me! Do you understand, Zion?”

To an outsider, it might seem like they’re watching an intense match between two hot-blooded men.

But doing your best…

In literal terms, it means to exert all your effort and strength.

Right now, is he demanding that I do my best against him?

Let’s consider it for a moment.

Am I in a situation where I need to show him my best?

No.

Definitely not.

What I can show in this situation is not my utmost effort, but rather, mercy to make him realize his mediocre position.

I think it’s time for me to throw in a word or two.

“Make a choice.”

“Hmm?”

“Left? Or right?”

“What are you talking about?”

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

His shoulders trembled noticeably.

“I don’t understand. I told you to do your best, I never asked for petty arrogance. Are you disrespecting me?”

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

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

“Do you… really want to die?”

Hasn’t he been saying he’ll kill me all along?

I don’t know what’s gotten into him, but his eyes started to show a genuine intent to kill.

“I’ve been holding back, but it’s getting harder. Your eyes, as if looking down on me, infuriates me. I warn you, remove that look from your eyes right now!”

Of course, I’m not going to remove it just because he says so.

I maintained the same gaze without any reaction.

“Let me make it clear. I will make you suffer as much as possible before killing you. I will make sure that you beg for death instead of begging for life!”

This time, I couldn’t help but laugh.

It sounded similar to what I used to enjoy saying.

Sitting here listening to it from such a person, I couldn’t help but laugh.

-Booo

At that moment, the sound of a horn rang out, signaling the start of the match.

As soon as it started, he rushed at me with all his might.

At the same time, mana of brownish hue manifested from both his hands.

“Petrification!”

-Creak

With a cracking sound, his hands gradually began to solidify like stone.

It emitted quite an intimidating presence, as if wearing solid gauntlets, making it quite formidable to ignore.

The Petrification magic, by casting earth elemental petrification magic on oneself, reinforces parts of the body, making it optimized for defense.

Of course, it can also be converted for attack like now.

-Swish

5 meters away.

Seemingly determining the range, he pulled his fist back large.

His trajectory was precisely aimed at my face.

I had no other action to take but to wait until his fist came at me.

At 4 meters, 3 meters, 2 meters.

In the split second between 0 and 1.

Finally, just as his fist was about to connect with my face.

-Swish

Stepping back a pace, I dodged his body,

-Splat

Then I swung the Kaeram I was holding vertically.

-Swoosh

Naturally, as it rose into my view, I saw something gray shoot into the air.

The moment when red liquid spread out from one side and fell carelessly without anyone to catch it.

“Aaaah!”

A loud scream echoed dizzyingly through the arena.

* * *

The arena fell into stunned silence as if doused in cold water.

The spectators were not only shocked but also enveloped in confusion by the spectacle before them.

One-armed Gunther, screaming in agony, while the boy looked at him with an oddly calm expression.

Is that really what a person should look like?

Beyond mere disbelief, a strange sense of terror arose among the audience,

and as the boy’s face turned towards the bewildered spectators,

“…!”

Breath caught, hands and feet trembling, an inexplicable phenomenon began to unfold among the audience.

It was like facing a vile demon, an experience some may have never had but could imagine.

Some even left the cage as if fleeing.

“What, what is this?!”

However, among them, there was one who couldn’t take his eyes off the boy.

Morris Gerik, with his thick mustache, sitting in the VIP section of the arena.

He was one of the rulers of the city, responsible for the Gray Merchant’s Guild in the northern part of Lambert.

Behind his flashy golden spectacles, what caught his eye wasn’t the boy’s face but the crimson dagger he held.

“I, I can’t believe it! But that’s unmistakable…!”

Morris understood.

That the weapon the boy held was anything but ordinary.

With decades of commercial experience, he was absolutely certain.

The sharp aura emanating from the blade,

the mysterious vapor enveloping the dripping blood,

and the black gem exuding madness as if it had gouged out the eyes of a demon.

Considering all these, there was only one conclusion he could draw.

The weapon the boy possessed was undoubtedly…

“The demonic sword!”

* * *

I observed his writhing form in agony for quite some time.

I had no intention of delivering any blows; I simply hoped it would end like this.

Eventually, the referee, who had been watching me cautiously, approached and asked if I wanted to end the match.

I agreed.

The duel ended anticlimactically, just as I had expected.

“Well done, Zion!”

As I entered the waiting room, the little one who used to sell cigarettes yesterday handed me a drink.

“Is this your first day?”

“Yes! Manager Lisa asked me to assist with the arena facilities for now!”

Facility assistance, not a bad job it seemed.

Actually, anything would be better than selling cigarettes outside.

But a manager?

That meant she was directly under the owner, and why would such a high-ranking person be doing menial work in the lobby?

“Zi- Zioni!”

She appeared before I even had a chance to call her.

From her desperate gasping, it seemed she had something important to say.

“Mist- mistake! It seems there was some misunderstanding! I can’t possibly be unaware of something like this…This is a complete error on our part! We didn’t even inform you about such an important matter in advance… I’m really, really sorry!”

She kept bowing, apologizing repeatedly.

I snorted.

“It’s incomprehensible.”

“I’m speechless! Even if I had ten mouths, I wouldn’t know what to say! It’s only natural to think that…”

“No, I mean you. It’s understandable if you didn’t know, but was it necessary to rush over to me? Shouldn’t you be going to that guy whose arm got cut off instead?”

I wasn’t injured at all.

If anything, it would be more appropriate to run to the owner of the waste disposal site.

“What do you mean?!”

Her reaction indicated she hadn’t considered that at all.

“Mr. Zion is our esteemed guest! I am a manager who prioritizes the convenience of such guests! It’s only natural for me, as a manager, to take responsibility and apologize when a guest suffers unexpected harm!”

Hmm.

I momentarily forgot what I was going to say.

To think there was someone here with such a staunch work ethic in a place where rules and ethics were thrown out the window.

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

“May I have a moment of your time?”

He looked like the type who would sell you something fishy.

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

“Morris?”

The little one, who had been dozing off, quickly hid behind my legs.

“I apologize for coming without prior notice. I wanted to meet the person in front of me no matter what.”

It seemed like many people here were frustrated by not being able to find me.

I replied bluntly,

“You mean me?”

“Yes! I am Morris Gerik. I hold the position of chairman of the Gray Merchants Association.”

As soon as I heard the term Gray Merchants Association, my eyes naturally turned to the little one.

From his trembling hands, it was evident that he felt fear from the man in front of him.

“You truly exude more nobility up close than from the spectator seats. You seem like a noble’s retainer.”

However, the label of a merchant wasn’t just casually given.

I maintained an indifferent gaze.

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

“Huh? B-but…!”

“I’d like to propose a deal to Zion. I’ve come alone, without any escorts, so you can rest assured.”

Indeed, there was no one else around except him.

After hesitating for a moment, she reluctantly said,

“I’ll give you 10 minutes…”

“Thank you.”

With an uncomfortable expression, she left the waiting room with the little one in tow.

Two men left alone in the room.

It wasn’t an ideal situation for me.

On the other hand, the man named Morris smiled at me with inscrutable eyes.

He clearly wanted to propose a deal to me.

A merchant proposing a deal meant that he wanted to buy or sell something to the other party.

However, as of now, I don’t have anything I deem worth buying, nor do I have anything worth selling.

“I’ll be straightforward without beating around the bush. I want the Demonic Sword you possess.”

I was stunned.

[Haah?]

The incredulous sigh of the Kaeram echoed in my mind.