The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

“Is that the end?”

“It is.”

At Kundel’s grand gesture, an uncomfortable cough escaped from the investigator’s lips.

“It’s fine to grant the boy the royal crown in the name of His Majesty the Emperor Dionne. However, according to some instructors and students, it has been said that Cyan Vert has been granted leniency, not receiving disciplinary actions even for skipping classes, in addition to having regular meetings with the Chancellor. Surely, there must be a reason for this? I would appreciate it if you could enlighten me on this matter.”

The investigator sought to inquire about the relationship between the two that had been ongoing within the academy.

However,

“He wasn’t an ordinary lad, that’s why. There’s no further reason.”

“So, the Chancellor knew nothing about Cyan. Is that what you mean?”

Kundel looked at the investigator with a subtle smile.

“No matter how many days you interrogate me, you won’t get the answer you seek. But still, I’ll tell you one thing.”

“…?”

“Don’t approach him with half-hearted intentions. If you really want to catch him, perhaps the entire empire, no, the whole continent should unite…”

Under Kundel’s relaxed demeanor, the investigator felt somewhat pressured and shrunk his shoulders.

The investigation concluded blandly, and Vice Chancellor Satwell entered the empty Chancellor’s office.

“Approximately 30% of the entire student body has declared leaves of absence or withdrawals. It doesn’t seem like it’ll be resolved as quickly as the banquet incident.”

“It’s inevitable. Well, let’s have each facility inspected during this opportunity.”

Although he spoke as if it were a trivial matter, this was the greatest crisis the academy had faced since its establishment.

The periodic meetings and leniency between the head of the academy and the worst criminal in the empire had caused significant backlash, even among the students and nobles.

“In due time, everything will return to normal. However, it shouldn’t be the same as before when that time comes.”

Kundel unfastened the brooch on his chest and placed it on the desk.

“From now on, you will be in charge of this academy, Satwell.”

“…!”

Satwell jumped up in protest.

“Ch-Chancellor! There’s no need to make such a sudden decision! Even so, this academy still has…!”

“If you know it’s time to leave but don’t leave, then it’s not affection but mere sentimentality. My role here ends at this point.”

Kundel lightly dismissed Satwell’s protest and stood up from his seat.

“Where is Arin?”

“She should be in the academy training grounds…”

“I see.”

Without delay, he headed straight to where Arin was.

The training grounds of the academy were quieter than usual.

“Hya!”

In the center, Arin wielded her wooden sword, emitting a somewhat urgent aura.

“…?”

But there was something peculiar about her movements.

Instead of simply practicing swordsmanship against the air, she repeatedly swung her wooden sword towards a large, solid-looking rock.

It seemed reckless and foolish, but in Arin’s eyes, there was a strong determination to break it.

The knights, including Ressimus, could only watch her with pity, unable to intervene.

Approaching Arin, Kundel asked her.

“What are you doing?”

“As you can see, I’m swinging my sword to break the rock!”

Before Kundel could respond with a remark about her recklessness, the wooden sword broke with a loud noise.

But Arin didn’t hesitate for a moment; she immediately picked up another wooden sword and repeated the same action.

Already, her hands were stiffening from the blood flowing, hardening firmly.

“Why are you doing this?”

“To move forward.”

“Did Cyan tell you to do this?”

“…”

Whether she couldn’t answer like that or not, Arin relentlessly swung the wooden sword.

“Just moving forward isn’t enough. I know that nothing will come of it without strength. I’ll hesitate and falter without strength.”

-Thunk!

The reckless strikes yielded nothing but meaningless pain.

Despite the surging pain, Arin continued to grimace but never gave up.

“I need strength. The impossible strength to break rocks with this insignificant wooden sword.”

“The world doesn’t move solely by strength.”

“I know. But without even that level of strength, I won’t be able to do anything. Let alone face Cyan again.”

The state of turning the impossible into possible.

Arin thought that without reaching that state, she couldn’t face Cyan confidently, neither as a princess nor as a woman.

“I don’t know when it will happen. Perhaps it may never come. But if the moment of meeting Cyan again comes someday…”

She choked up momentarily, unable to finish her sentence.

“I will catch him then.”

As if trying to suppress the surging emotions, she tightened her grip on the wooden sword in both hands.

“I will catch him and save myself!”

She closed her eyes tightly, trying to hold back the flowing tears.

Because she wouldn’t shed foolish tears anymore.

To confidently face the moment of reunion, whenever it might be,

Arin began swinging the wooden sword again.

* * *

At the rear camp of the western border of the Empire, in the territory of Velias.

Senior knight Eulken kneeled before Duke Vert, reporting to him.

“Is the content written in this letter… all indisputable facts?”

“Well, we’ll need to conduct our own investigation on our side, but for now, the announcements sent by the palace to each territory, including Velias, are identical to what you’ve received.”

Beside Duke Vert, there lay the wanted poster with Cyan’s name written in bold red letters.

“I see. You may leave.”

Eulken left the room without saying another word.

“Hah…”

A deep sigh of anguish escaped the Duke’s lips.

To think that his youngest son, whom he thought was simply talented, was actually part of a group following the black mist.

What did that young boy know to go to such an unforgivable place?

The Duke couldn’t understand it at all.

And it wasn’t just his youngest son.

The second child, whose whereabouts are unknown after quitting the Knights of Light.

His third, whose life or death couldn’t be confirmed.

Even the eldest, who went to Brenu to stop the youngest but returned with severe psychological trauma.

Where did it all go wrong?

His children, whom he thought would follow the family’s ideals, were all drifting away.

The father’s heart, watching over this, felt like it was crumbling.

The Duke was deeply perplexed.

“….!”

Meanwhile, the duke sensed something unsettling and abruptly rose from his seat.

Grabbing his sword hastily, he exited the chamber, scanning his surroundings and quickly detecting the source of the disturbance.

“Your Grace? Where are you going all of a sudden?”

“Don’t follow me!”

With that command, the duke swiftly dashed towards the direction of the ravine.

It felt highly unfamiliar, yet strangely familiar at the same time—a sensation he had encountered before.

Following the aura, Duke Vert continued deeper into the unknown depths of the ravine, unsure of what awaited him.

Along the way, the scent of demonic beasts, as if freshly killed, permeated the air.

Eventually, he arrived somewhere within the ravine.

Here, there was no sense of life amidst the silence.

Unperturbed, the duke stared straight ahead with a candid gaze.

Upon further contemplation, he realized this place was quite familiar.

It was the same spot where, a few years ago, the carcass of the elite beast, Death Worm, was discovered, a rare sight even at the entrance of the ravine.

This was the place where the elusive presence, shrouded in black mist, believed to have slain the Death Worm, was encountered.

Duke Vert drew his sword silently, aiming it forward.

In the desolate ravine devoid of vitality, as the mist swirled before him, it gradually began to transform into the eerie form of a humanoid figure.

“What is the reason for summoning me here?”

The duke spoke as he gazed at the mist.

Almost as if finally realizing the presence before him, a faint expression of disappointment appeared on his face.

“If you have come here to defend yourself, you must abandon such thoughts. Even if you are a child born from my bloodline, you should not be where you don’t belong…”

“I have always thought of you as being full of regret.”

A familiar voice echoed from within the black mist like an echo.

“Wrapped in the noble ideals of our family’s legacy, the so-called guardianship of the continent is nothing but endless sacrifices for others. You have valued the hollow reward of honor and forced sacrifices onto your children.”

“Wh-what are you talking about?”

“That’s as far as it goes. Someone had to do it. And if one had strength and ability, they shouldered the burden even more. But there is a part that I truly cannot comprehend.”

As the gaze of the mist, which had been directed towards the empty space, finally met the duke’s eyes, a strong tremor ran through the hand holding the sword.

“Why did you obsess over the eldest? Why did you impose further sacrifices on other children, as if the eldest were everything to the world? At the time, it seemed natural, but I can’t understand it now.”

Drops of sweat formed at the tip of the duke’s chin, his heart pounding nervously.

“But I no longer wish to entertain doubts. How can I understand your heart when I, as a human being, cannot even understand myself? But please understand this much.”

Finally, the fog surrounding his being completely disappeared, revealing his hidden true self.

“If you want your children to bring about the peace on the continent that you so desire….”

A fleeting moment that felt like an eternity.

The sound of swallowing dry saliva resonated clearly from within his body.

“Please let us go.”

“…!”

“Just as you do your duty, I will do mine for myself. You don’t need to offer any help or concern. Furthermore, you don’t need to trust me.”

The word “trust” carried an unusually strong sense of determination.

The duke didn’t even consider opening his closed lips to respond.

“Then, farewell, Father…”

With those words, the mist enveloped the boy’s body once again.

Soon after, without a trace, he disappeared, leaving behind only the hollow wind swirling in the place where the boy had been.