The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

A day after the unexpected reunion with Cyan, Arin woke up in the mansion of Duke Kundel.

Gazing out at the scenery outside the window, Arin unconsciously rubbed her neck.

The sensation of his grip tightening around her throat the previous day still felt vividly real.

In a situation where her troubled mind was refusing to settle down, Arin sighed miserably.

“Princess. It’s Ressimus.”

Startled by the sudden voice from beyond the door, Arin quickly rushed towards it.

“I apologize for leaving you alone for a while.”

“Are you crazy? Ressimus!”

Despite the princess’s scolding, Ressimus showed a defiant attitude.

They had told her that she needed to rest and recover for a few days, even though her life was not in danger, but she had returned in less than a day as if she didn’t need it.

“The basic recovery has already been fully completed by the healers of the territory. Even Duke Kundel said that this is enough…”

“Did I say that?”

Kundel, the owner of the mansion, followed behind Ressimus and entered the room.

“You might not know it now, but in the long run, it’s like eating away at your body. It’s good to serve your lord, but strictly speaking, your body comes first. That’s the only way you can protect your lord.”

“There are many knights who can protect the princess in my place. But my lord is the only one I have. From the moment I made up my mind to be the princess’s sword, I didn’t care about my own well-being.”

“It’s a very good attitude for a knight, even though it’s a bit old-fashioned.”

Arin was in a situation where she couldn’t just laugh.

Would her connection with Ressimus have continued like this if Cyan hadn’t been there?

Arin shook her head immediately at the negative thought that popped up for no reason.

“For now, I’ve made sure to tighten security. The incident that happened to you two in Aquiel will not spread to the Imperial City. In fact, shouldn’t you be returning as soon as possible?”

“Yes. You’re right.”

“I’ll help you. You should be able to reach the outskirts of the Imperial City before the end of the day.”

“I will never forget this favor.”

Arin bowed her head and thanked Kundel personally.

“Aren’t you curious about that guy?”

At that moment, the eyes of the two women flickered simultaneously.

“Did you… find him?”

“We’re working hard to find him. I told you I’d look for him, but it’s best not to expect too much.”

Arin pressed her lips tightly together as if trying not to show her emotions.

“It may not be much consolation, but he didn’t intend to kill you from the start.”

Kundel said, looking at Arin like that.

“At least, he didn’t seem to have any intention of doing so while we were talking. In fact, when you knocked on the door, he looked very anxious. Maybe he was just trying to protect you in the first place.”

Arin looked dazed as if she couldn’t believe it.

“I guess if I hadn’t been meddling unnecessarily, things wouldn’t have turned out this way. It’s entirely my fault. If you want, I can go to the Imperial City and face the consequences of my sins.”

“You know I’m not going to do that, right?”

As Kundel gave a sly smile, Arin couldn’t help but smile faintly as if giving in.

Then her gaze soon turned to Cyan’s cloak, neatly placed on the bed.

“Is that his?”

“Yes.”

“He covered your face with it so that people wouldn’t see it, right?”

“I think so…”

“He was so thoughtful when he was about to kill you. He’s a man I can’t understand even after seeing him again.”

Kundel stroked his beard and expressed his doubts about Cyan.

Arin also agreed softly, as if to agree.

“What on earth is Cyan living for?”

This was the question she had been asking herself since the moment she first met him.

What path is he trying to take by following the black mist that negates light?

The current Arin had no idea at all.

* * *

Nine years ago.

I did something called regression, which is going back to the past with the memories of my miserable previous life.

From the moment of my regression, the purpose of my life thus far has been one and only one:

Revenge.

Aschel Vert.

Despite the rumors that he was not human, I lived my entire life for him, not myself, but he abandoned me.

So I tried to destroy everything he wanted to do.

I shattered all the plans he was pushing forward with my own hands.

That’s why I didn’t kill him.

I wanted him to realize that despite everything I could do, he couldn’t bring me down, and to despair from that fact.

And so I said:

“I am an ordinary human being who knows your true nature and hates you beyond measure.”

Yes, a human being.

I am a human being.

I know how to be happy, angry, and sad.

I am a human being with emotions, just like any other.

For an assassin, hesitation is akin to death, but I, the one who once possessed such emotions, have become a true human being, capable of feeling hesitation.

The leader told me.

I need to know how selfish I’ve been.

A selfish existence that doesn’t care about what happens around me because of the arrogance that I can handle everything.

A foolish existence that could ruin the cause because of a little warmth.

That’s me now.

Is it pathetic?

Not at all.

It was just that it was a strange situation that I had never experienced before, so I just needed some time.

If I spend a few days or weeks agonizing over it, there is no human more foolish than that.

At the end of the long mist.

Sitting on the familiar altar, looking at me approaching is a familiar face.

As if it was a bit surprising to find me now, he had a sly smile on his face.

(The child who always growled at me when she saw me is not visible today for some reason.)

It was about Kaeram.

(Did you two fight?)

“If that’s the case, it’s rather fortunate.”

Since she suddenly became upset, I’m still like this because I don’t know what to do.

(I’d like to give you some advice on what to do to comfort a woman’s heart, but looking at your expression, it doesn’t seem like you’re in the mood to hear something like that.)

“Since when have you cared about that kind of thing?”

I raised my chin and showed a reaction of disbelief.

“Do you remember when I first met you in the past?”

(Are you talking about the present?)

“Of course?”

Aeru laughed and continued speaking.

(Of course, I remember everything without missing a single thing. Where exactly do I need to remember?)

“The part where you said you would do whatever I wanted.”

At that moment, the corners of his mouth, which had been smiling, moved slightly.

(Yes. But didn’t you say you didn’t know what you wanted?)

“I know. Actually…”

Aeru pursed his lips and let out an exclamation of admiration as if he was interested.

(Is it what my previous self told you?)

“No. You haven’t said anything, either before or now, at least not to me…”

(…….)

“Until now, it was just speculation, but now I’m sure. If you think about why this Mist organization was created, you can easily understand that part.”

(That’s interesting. Then tell me once. What do you really want?)

I crossed my arms nonchalantly and continued speaking.

“A retired knight I met recently asked me. Is the black mist that the world is talking about really its true form? If I had to answer that question, I would have answered like this.”

(How would you?)

“I don’t know.”

(…….)

“And I would have said again. Before you call the mist evil, can you be sure that the light is good?”

His eyes changed subtly for a moment.

“You want to change that concept, don’t you?”

This world is ultimately a world created by the victor called light.

The defeated mist has been despised and despised in this world as an existence of injustice.

There will be only one thing in the hearts of those in such a situation.

“To a new world order centered on the mist, not the light…”

Then Aeru frowned and tilted his head and asked.

(Isn’t that a superficial reason?)

Right.

This is like the most basic creed you can hear first when you join Mist.

What this god truly desires cannot be done.

What this crazy god wants is not the changed world, but what comes next.

“You want the Holy War to happen again, don’t you?”

(Why do you think that?)

“Because the world centered on the mist will not be tolerated by other gods.”

Then they will naturally intervene in the succession, and when they intervene, they will not do meaningless table talk.

They will once again carry out their own purification work to erase the existence of mist in this world.

This god will try to reign over them through that process.

It’s not hard to think about.

As an analogy to human history, think of it as the cliché story of a prince who was expelled from a civil war, sharpened his teeth at the bottom, raised his forces, and eventually ascended to the throne.

Haven’t I told you many times?

Humans are the creatures that most resemble the nature of God.

What we do is no different from what they’re do.

(Kihahahaha!)

Aeru showed the most unrestrained reaction I had seen from him so far.

(So, you’re saying you followed me even though you knew that? It couldn’t have been very pleasant for you either, could it? Why would you help someone like me?)

“It’s nothing. It’s because you guys took me in.”

After all, if it weren’t for you guys, I wouldn’t even exist now.

I cannot live dignifiedly as a human in a world centered on light.

So I will create a world centered on the mist.

Even if God does not allow it.

In the world created in that way,

I will live with dignity.

For no one else, but only for myself.

“So I will clearly tell you as the successor who must fulfill your purpose.”

(What are you talking about?)

“Just watch.”

(…….)

“Don’t interfere with anything, just observe as you are now. If you keep observing like that, what you want will be realized someday.”

(That’s what I do best.)

Aeru showed a confident reaction, saying that it was no problem.

(Leader, are you going to stop your leader?)

“I wasn’t a very obedient student in the first place.”

(I don’t think she will like it very much?)

“That’s why I’m saying. Don’t interfere.”

I thought carefully.

Is it because the leader excluded me from this mission simply because I couldn’t kill Princess Arin?

In conclusion, no.

She is not only killing Princess Arin, but also preparing for a great change in the mist through this incident.

And that wind will surely have a great impact on me.

I don’t intend to watch the whole process.

I turned around with that word.

Aeru did not stop me or talk to me as I walked away.

Although I don’t have eyes on the back of my head, so I can’t see what expression he has on his face,

He’s probably smiling.

With a few more steps, my body was no longer in the subspace, but outside in the sunlight.

Then, in front of me,

‘Did you finish the conversation well?’

Hastia was standing there with a bright smile.

“Well, roughly.”

‘That’s not a good answer! But looking at your face, it doesn’t seem like you had a big problem!’

I replied by raising one corner of my mouth.

‘Then where are we going now?’

Hastia asked with pure eyes full of expectation.

As always, I spoke calmly.

“The Imperial City.”