The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Within the library where silence should flow, a harmonious blend of swords and swords in various colors resonates.

– Ching!

Their swords crossed diagonally, engaging in a continuous struggle.

For a few seconds, a precarious balance that could collapse at any moment was maintained.

“I don’t feel any hesitation, but somehow it feels a bit empty.”

Watching Kaeram’s blade instead of me, the leader threw a meaningful remark.

“Where did Kaeram go?”

“I’m not sure why she’s sulking, but for now, she’s taking a break.”

As I pushed forward with added force against our swords, leader’s balance faltered slightly.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, I swiftly countered, but she had already distanced herself.

“Surprising. Although it’s uncertain when it will explode, I didn’t expect her to go as far as to leave. What have you done that had been so cruel?”

“Why does it sound like it’s my fault?”

“Don’t worry too much. If I push you to the brink of death here, will she still not show up again saying she’ll save you?”

“You still don’t know much about my beloved sword. I’ll be lucky if she doesn’t eat me.”

I adjusted my grip on the sword and shifted my stance, channeling the power of my inherent mist.

Likewise, leader also drew upon both mist and magic simultaneously.

Just as the confrontation was about to escalate,

-Swish

Our attention suddenly turned precisely towards the door at the sound.

A woman entered through the still-open door.

Not a stranger to me, but a face I recognized.

“Continue what you were doing. I’ll just sit here and wait.”

She glanced indifferently at us before calmly taking a seat in the corner.

Has the rumor of interesting sights at the Imperial Palace Library already spread?

Naturally, she wasn’t a guest I had summoned.

Not even a guest leader had summoned, I assumed, but,

“…!”

For some reason, leader’s expression was unusually serious.

“Do you know that woman?”

“Do you?”

leader immediately countered.

“When you attended the meeting the previous day, I saw her in the underground of Imperial Palace. She had a name that I couldn’t just overlook.”

Although leader’s mouth twitched subtly, I remained impassive.

“What was her name?”

“Mia Hafenkus.”

I couldn’t help but flinch.

The moment her name was mentioned, leader’s expression, which anyone would interpret as poker-faced, twisted into one of anger.

Suppressing her rising anger, leader asked me again.

“Have you ever used the Demonic Sword in the presence of that girl?”

Even if one isn’t particularly observant,

Most would immediately understand the significance of leader’s question.

It probably meant an action that should never be done.

But, I,

Didn’t I decapitate Kellen on the spot, ten seconds before I met her?

Strictly speaking, I did use the Demonic Sword.

“Yes.”

Without further explanation, I simply responded with a single word.

Upon hearing my response, leader’s face contorted even more than before, and she muttered something under her breath.

“Now that your business seems to be finished, it’s time for my business.”

Turning abruptly, Mia faced me.

“Cyan Vert. I received orders from Aschel and Boris to kill you.”

Huh?

“I don’t particularly harbor any grudges against you, but since there are things I need to retrieve from you, if you hand them over willingly, I’ll make your death less painful.”

Wow?

What did I just hear?

When something is so unbelievable, it’s common for the mind to momentarily halt.

After staring at her for a moment, I opened my mouth.

“Did you convey the message I asked you to?”

“I did. And here’s the response. If you don’t want to deal with this nonsense, how do you expect to defeat me…?”

Well, even though I should be impressed that she recognized that I was aware she couldn’t make me submit no matter what,

Is this what she prepared as a result?

Hmm, what should I say?

While it’s not right to judge solely based on appearances,

This is beyond disappointing; it’s shocking.

“You’re silent? Then I’ll take it as a denial and proceed to kill you in the usual manner.”

Whether she said it or not, she aimed a sword at me from her bosom.

Huh?

Wait a minute,

What’s that?

For a moment, I wondered if my eyes were playing tricks on me, furrowing my brow as I blinked twice.

Twice wasn’t enough; as I was about to blink a third time,

“…!”

She had already rushed towards me and swung her sword.

– Ching!

Her agile movements were not fitting for a fragile girl’s body.

They were incredibly swift, almost unmatched even against the assassins of the Mist.

But that wasn’t the issue.

– Clang!

Unlike me, who blinked in surprise, her eyes remained indifferent.

Why was I surprised?

Because of her fast movements?

Because she possessed strength that matched my own?

No.

What startled me was not her, but her sword.

A crimson blade emanating vitality and a black jewel exuding gloom.

A Demonic Sword.

My own Kaeram was similar, if not identical, to the Demonic Sword.

And that Demonic Sword, which should only exist in one place,

Why was there now two in front of me?

“Where did you get that?”

I asked, subtly raising my gaze towards the sword, but she didn’t respond.

Instead,

“My name is Mia Hafenkus.”

An unexpected self-introduction began.

“As a descendant of Dio Hafenkus, the former owner of the Demonic Sword, I will take back the Demonic Sword you possess.”

One second.

No, maybe half a second.

For that short moment, I was stunned.

Dio Hafenkus, owner of the Demonic Sword, his descendant, these shouldn’t be things to be surprised about by now, but

What?

Take back the Demonic Sword?

Without realizing it, I burst out laughing.

“Hey, miss. That’s a tremendous joke. Do you think you can wield it properly?”

“I don’t intend to use it. I’m going to destroy it.”

What kind of nonsense is this?

“The Demonic Sword Kaeram is the enemy that destroyed our lineage….”

Her indifferent eyes suddenly turned crimson.

“It must disappear from this world.”

Thicker black mist emanated from the swords they wielded.

It wasn’t just superficially similar to Kaeram.

The power emanating from the sword was clearly that of the mist.

Not mine, but hers.

– Swoosh

In response to that power, mist rose from my own sword as well.

[This despicable wench!]

With a very familiar yet comforting voice.

* * *

In the bright spatial light, Boris stood alone at the center of the light’s space, his lips curled into a smile of joy.

In his hand was a white Bible.

“To incite people’s anger by killing Princess Arin and amplify their negative emotions… Quite the typical idea from you.”

Though his eyes were closed, within his closed vision, the key situations happening in Imperial Palace were unfolding like a dream.

“But unfortunately, whatever you’re trying to do is all written in this Bible. Accepting the given future and leading it is the path of the Bible. Everyone may think they’re doing their best from their positions, but ultimately, it’s all just a process to reach the future revealed by the Bible.”

Finally, Boris opened his eyes and unfolded the Bible in his hand.

The part revealed the prophecy that Cyan would clash with the Mist’s leader Silica.

“When I first saw the changed future in the spatial light, I was disheartened. No matter what we did, we couldn’t defeat you. Cyan. Where on earth did such a being come from? We couldn’t make you submit even with all the power of light we possessed.”

And then, the next part of the Bible revealed that a descendant from the past, who replicated the power of the Demonic Sword, would also appear to confront her.

“However, that didn’t mean there was no way. If we couldn’t defeat you with our power, then all we had to do was create a being with a power similar to yours. The Bible showed us that path.”

Boris covered the Bible and took out another book from his bosom.

The book didn’t have a title written on it, but beneath the cover, the name Dio Hafenkus was written.

“My friend. You said so yourself. You must question everything in this world. But humans prefer conformity over change. Only when doubts are unified into one belief can this world truly progress….”

Boris lifted his head in joyous anticipation, laughing heartily.

Just as the echoes of his tumultuous laughter were about to fill the space,

“What an interesting space, isn’t it?”

Another unfamiliar voice chimed in.

Upon hearing it, Boris quickly turned his head.

A woman with striking blue hair, radiating immense power with just her presence.

As if witnessing something he shouldn’t, Boris’s eyes widened infinitely.

“This is the Space of Light. It’s intriguing, but it definitely doesn’t suit me. I’m starting to feel nauseous already.”

The woman blocked her mouth with one hand, indicating her impression of the space.

Behind her, a white-haired elf grasped her shoulder, looking around with anxious eyes.

“Are you the owner of this space?”

“How did you come here?”

Boris knew who the woman was.

Once hailed as the genius mage of the Garam Society and now firmly established as the central figure leading the Garam Society.

She was Luna Rainriver.

“You said accepting the given future and following it is the path of the Bible, didn’t you? I’d like to ask once. Was I really there in the future the Bible revealed…?”

Boris, who was hastily checking the Bible again, suddenly stopped his hand.

No matter how many times he sees the future, checking it again wouldn’t produce any new content.

She was undeniably absent from the future the Bible showed.

“How did you come here?”

“Should I just call it coincidence? I originally had no intention of coming. I didn’t even know there was such a space. I just followed the energy.”

“Energy, you say?”

“Yes. It’s a space where there’s not a particularly good energy for me and Senior Cyan. It’s a space that can be harmful if present, so I came here with the idea that I should eliminate it myself.”

As she spoke, she took out a book from her arms.

“…!”

Upon discovering the book, Boris’s face stiffened, turning pale.

“Why do you…?”

Contrary to the Bible that reveals the given future, another divine book that negates and reverses the given future,

Another truth that only those who realize it in the endless darkness can possess.

“Do you have the TOME?!”

In Luna’s hand was the Tome, Remiharam.

Standing calmly beside her, the physical form of the tome had somehow materialized.

“….”

Remiharam waved his hand happily, looking at Boris and the Hiscraea Bible behind him.

—————