The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

A strange space where just standing there fills one with a sense of oppression.

Cyan immediately recognized that he was in a divine space.

There was no need for speculation.

There was simply no other explanation.

“….”

From the moment he was transferred to this space, Cyan’s arms and legs continued to tremble incessantly.

It wasn’t just a feeling of discomfort in his stomach anymore; now, even his body lacked strength.

Cyan stepped back, trying to catch his breath.

“It must feel awkward for you,”

Lumendel said, looking at Cyan with a blank expression.

“This place is a sacred space created by my divine energy. If it were any other creature, they would be moved to tears or ecstasy. But you cannot. Just that fact alone should make you realize how wrong you are in this world.”

Cyan didn’t respond.

“I admit it. You have defeated all my successors who have received my power and guidance so far. The Saint, the Prophet, and even the wielder of the Holy Sword. Regardless of the process, the fact remains that they all perished because of you.”

Lumendel showed no denial but rather acknowledged Cyan’s existence.

From any perspective, receiving recognition from a god would be considered a great honor.

However, Cyan’s face, which did not welcome it, began to distort gradually.

“The reason I personally appeared to you is because of that. If my creatures couldn’t handle it, then I would have to step in and resolve it myself. No matter how much you try to corrupt and shroud this world in mist, the order of the world I created will never change. Even if…”

Lumendel raised his hand slowly, giving a signal to the golden knight.

“Even if there’s a need to overturn this corrupted world…”

In response to the signal, the knight advanced towards Cyan at lightning speed.

-Boom!

A thunderous noise reverberated, and violent waves spread around.

“Urgh!”

The force was so overwhelming that Cyan groaned as it pressed against his entire body.

“That’s why you should realize through my knights what the position of a creature is! No matter how much you struggle with the power of a god, you must understand that in front of the origin, you are powerless!”

With those words, Lumendel turned around.

Leaving only his divine knights and the vile presence of mist, he began to disappear abruptly.

“Hey, Lumendel.”

Lumendel turned his head back towards Cyan.

For a moment, he wondered if he misheard or misinterpreted something.

It was impudent and impure.

There’s a limit to everything.

To dare to call out the dignity of a god, even in the context of a mere creature’s subject.

For Lumendel, it was an extremely unfamiliar situation that he had never experienced in his lifetime.

“Mist Sword: Dance of Black Blood!”

A spell that resonated faintly in the ears.

In the blink of an eye,

Just as the black mist’s aura seemed to scatter in all directions in front of Cyan,

With a harsh sound of metal splitting, the knight’s body was torn apart in all directions.

The split body soon turned into dust and scattered lifelessly, and in the place where the knight disappeared, Cyan, in a bizarre dancing posture, took his place.

At that moment, Lumendel became curious.

Is that really the appearance a creature can show?

No.

It was an appearance that almost perfectly matched their origin, the gods.

Among them, it closely resembled the power of someone banished from the divine realm in the past.

As Cyan, who had been momentarily lowering his head due to the aftermath of the dance, raised his head again,

-Thud!

Cyan immediately rushed forward.

-Swish!

Lumendel once again blocked Cyan’s sword with his two fingers.

The strength of the power had clearly changed from before.

But still, it was a power so negligible that it couldn’t even surpass the finger of a god.

“As a creature, just ask me one thing, Lumendel!”

However, as if it didn’t matter, Cyan asked with a lively, cold smile.

“What standard do you have to call me dirty, huh?”

“You keep crossing the line endlessly.”

“Is seeing me as dirty ultimately just your personal perspective?”

“Are you questioning my judgment now? You dare, as a subject of creatures?”

Lumendel sharply glared at Cyan as if it were ridiculous.

“Of course! We are your creatures, aren’t we? It’s only natural for us to think and question like you do!”

There was a momentary tremor in the two fingers that stopped Cyan’s blade.

It was unbelievable to Lumendel.

“Do you just dislike me and Aeru, that’s all? Aren’t you rejecting the mist simply because you’re the embodiment of light? Is there any other grand reason?”

With a question that suggested it might just be due to a single petty reason of disliking, Lumendel merely blinked his eyes, not denying Cyan’s question.

“Think whatever you want. I have no intention of convincing or enlightening you!”

“You can’t even use that as a joke. What right do the likes of you have to tell me…!”

“Just bring you down already!”

Lumendel found himself at a loss for words.

“If you won’t acknowledge me! I’ll just eliminate you and establish someone new who will acknowledge me in your place! Whether it’s Aeru or another god! It doesn’t matter! Even if, there’s a need to overturn this world!”

A bold creature daring to speak of overturning the world in front of the supreme god.

Despite the imminent rise of anger and hostility,

“You’re audacious.”

Lumendel smiled.

“You can’t help but be truly audacious. That’s why it’s entertaining to deal with creatures like you!”

His slightly raised lips soon formed a wide smile on both sides of his ears.

“I’ll give my creatures one more chance. If you make them submit again, I’ll personally open a path for you then! A path straight to me! Come and do whatever you want!”

A revelation from the god of light to the inheritor of mist.

It was a profoundly contradictory situation to the order he had created.

Yet, to Lumendel, Cyan was more intriguing than any other beings he had ever given revelations to.

“I will bring despair to you! When you realize that you are nothing more than a creature in front of me! When you realize the truth and despair! I will enjoy immense pleasure then!”

A momentary glint flashed in Lumendel’s eyes, and soon his body began to fade.

“I hope that moment comes soon.”

With those words, Lumendel completely disappeared in front of Cyan.

Left alone, Cyan looked at the spot where Lumendel had been and muttered softly.

“Just clear your throat and be done with it…”

* * *

Humans are truly simple beings.

And so are the gods who are said to be their prototypes.

He simply spared me and left, all because of a single reason of finding it interesting.

It’s truly absurd.

Just passing judgment here would have been insufficient.

-Thunk

The moment the target I had set my sights on disappeared, all the energy in my body dissipated as if deflating.

“Haha…”

Unintentionally, a hollow laugh escaped from me.

Truly, endlessly challenging.

[Laughing now? Laughing after letting him slip away?]

Suddenly, Kaeram appeared behind me, facing me.

I could tell that she was also quite exhausted from the heat she had built up.

“Well, if you regret it, either eat me up as is or come and catch me.”

[It’s fine. You’ve already ripened too much to be eaten. It’s better to leave you as you are. Besides, even I…]

Kaeram sighed heavily.

[I’m exhausted too.]

I looked at her and chuckled.

Kaeram also smiled back at me.

[What’s your plan anyway? Can you handle what’s to come? There will be greater trials ahead than anything you’ve faced before.]

“Why are you doing this now? Could it be that you’re weakened? I said I’d make it enjoyable, didn’t I? Then you should follow through to the end.”

I said, lifting the corners of my mouth as if there were no problem.

[Then! You should follow through to the end! I’ll make sure to enjoy everything until the very end! However…]

She gently raised her hand and softly touched my rough cheek.

Even though her hand was always cold, today it was filled with warmth I had never felt before.

[Can you endure all that?]

A gentle gesture so unfamiliar that it almost felt repulsive.

I shivered involuntarily.

[It’s not child’s play anymore. Everything that happens from now on will be something you must struggle through to survive. Can you handle it?]

“Why are you doing something you haven’t done before?”

[Why are you worrying about that now? Get up if you’re awake! I don’t want to spend even one more second in this disgusting place.]

Whether she realized it was an inappropriate gesture or not, she immediately stood up and brushed off her body.

I also got up, following her lead.

-Whoosh

With a brief flash of light, the divine space began to gradually fade into transparency.

It seemed that it would soon transition back to the underground palace where it originally existed without even having to struggle to escape.

Although I tried to evade Kaeram’s question by rambling on, honestly, I don’t know.

Hasn’t life always been full of challenges?

Even if it becomes more difficult here, what difference would it make?

Just saying that I will endure it.

Since there’s no way to retreat from here,

I’ll just keep moving forward into the unknown path that stretches endlessly ahead.

With a vow to continue forward on the endless unknown path, Kaeram and I transitioned back to the underground palace where we originally were.

“Hoo!”

I let out a short breath as we returned.

It definitely feels more comfortable than the eerie space we were just in.

Especially the faint scent of blood spreading in my nose right now makes my heart feel even cozier…

Wait.

What’s this smell?

Sensing something amiss, I quickly looked around.

Boris still stuck in the corner.

Princess Violet and Princess Arin sitting hesitantly with faces showing confusion.

Mia standing nearby with a dejected expression.

Even the Mist Knights surrounding them.

No, well, even if other people are like that…

What’s this?

Why is this situation unfolding before my eyes?

“What happened?”

I asked, hoping anyone would answer.

But there was no response.

Neither Princess Arin, who arrived in the underground palace before me, nor the Mist Knights who arrived later, none of them told me what happened.

“Just answer me! What happened?!”

Unable to control my emotions, I screamed out towards my surroundings.

Both hands trembling uncontrollably.

What on earth?

It’s a situation I simply can’t understand.

Did I see it wrong?

No.

Until just before we transitioned to the underground palace, it wasn’t like this.

Even if covered in blood, there wasn’t a significant problem that she couldn’t move again after a short recovery, but…

Why?

How?

Right before my eyes now!

“Are you here, Cyan?”

Is it true that the dying leader is present?

“Stop shouting so loudly, it’s hurting my ears…”

As if inviting me closer, the landlord clumsily moved her fingers, covered in fatigue.