The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Around 300 freshmen would be gathered in the auditorium.

There might already be some nobles who know each other, and even if they don’t recognize faces, they might have heard of each other’s names.

They’d probably be trying to strike up conversations with those around them, trying to make friends right from the first day of orientation.

As time passes, the atmosphere would get chaotic, and the hall would become noisy.

It would be around that time when the headmaster appears on stage.

Using mana to amplify his voice, he would likely start off by saying something like this:

“You are all beings born with obligations. I’m talking about moral duties commensurate with your high social status.”

Then the students would react with confusion, wondering what kind of nonsense this is.

And then the headmaster would continue.

“The title of nobility is never a trivial matter. The power you possess is akin to what the gods have bestowed upon you. Therefore, you must undertake the responsibilities and duties that come with it, and you must set an example befitting the upper class in society.”

Some naive students might be moved by his words.

To bear the responsibilities and duties befitting the names of nobility and the upper class.

How cool is that?

It’s so cool that it almost doesn’t make sense.

Such superficial words, I figure it’s more worthwhile to just stay holed up in my room and work out.

As I was doing pull-ups on the horizontal bar, Brian, who had now been promoted from servant to steward, approached me.

“Sir, are you really not going to attend the entrance ceremony?”

I asked in return, “Why do you think I should go?”

“Wouldn’t it be an important foundation before starting your new life as a noble? You could also build camaraderie with other students, and perhaps hear some good words from the headmaster or professors…”

I chuckled at the mention of ‘good words’.

“Good words? Yeah, right. So good that I remember them like it was yesterday.”

“Really?”

“Do you know what the norms of the Royal Academy are?”

“I’m not sure, but…”

“Lead by example. It’s about refining what you learn here and using it for the benefit of the country and its people.”

“…Isn’t that a good norm?”

He shrugged, not understanding what the problem was.

“How many nobles do you think actually uphold that here?”

“….”

“By the way, the Duchess who initially bought you is also an alumna of this academy.”

“Oh…”

Brian nodded in understanding.

If these nobles, without greed or arrogance, truly led by example for the country and its people, how harmonious would our land be?

There wouldn’t even be a need for mist to spread.

Though there are some exemplary nobles, nobility is fundamentally not about seeking mere livelihood but about holding power and wealth, being of noble birth where worries about survival are nonexistent from the start.

Yet, in this aristocratic world already steeped in tradition, notions of sharing and benevolence seem nothing more than hollow tales.

Furthermore, there’s even less reason to attend a ceremony where such stories are told.

It’s not like I’ll be kicked out for not going anyway.

“Hmph!”

As soon as I finished my set, I immediately moved on to the next exercise without pause.

Besides the horizontal bar, my room was equipped with various exercise equipment reminiscent of a training ground, including potions to aid in muscle strengthening.

As someone who has consumed demon blood, those potions probably wouldn’t have much effect on me, but I thought it’s better to have them than nothing.

I was gradually getting used to the convenience and comfort that noble spaces provided.

– Knock, knock, knock.

A knock at the door in the midst of the entrance ceremony…

Whoever it is, they probably don’t realize I’m inside.

I sent Brian to check who it was.

Brian quickly returned and handed me a piece of paper.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a notice from the administration. They’re planning to conduct an elemental examination at the magic training grounds today at 4 p.m., so they’re asking everyone to gather without using mana if possible…”

I sighed.

Students may be in the auditorium, but the disguised guards are probably inside the dorms, as indicated by the advance distribution of the notice.

“It’s bothersome…”

“Pardon?”

Brian’s eyes widened.

“Well, even so, isn’t the elemental examination important? It helps you understand which direction to refine and develop your magical abilities…”

“Yeah, it’s really, really important.”

But I already know what my magic attribute is.

There’s no way it changed during the regression, and it would just be a meaningless examination anyway.

Can’t I just quickly jot something down on paper and send it in? Of course not.

Even though I’m annoyed, I still think it through.

* * *

A large, iridescent magic circle positioned at the center of the space.

A prepared student with a tense expression stood on the magic circle.

– Humming.

Underneath their feet, a small circle appeared, slowly rising from their toes to their head, scanning their entire body.

After the examination, red letters appeared on the blue parchment placed in front of the magic circle.

[Ein Krieger]

『Magic Grade: 1 Star

Physical Grade: C

Attribute: Fire 31%』

The student who finished the examination left the room along with the parchment, and the next student immediately entered.

The examination process was the same, and just like before, letters appeared on the parchment.

[Serena Einris]

『Magic Grade: 2 Stars

Physical Grade: D

Attribute: Water 37%』

Some students cheered upon confirming their grades, while others expressed disappointment.

There were also some who were puzzled by unexpected attribute values.

“These freshmen overall seem to have higher scores?”

Rodin, the instructor checking the results, remarked.

“But it’s a bit disappointing that the attributes seem mundane. Mostly limited to fire, water, wind, and such.”

Silica, who was nearby, seemed somewhat disappointed.

“It’s unavoidable. It’s not like we can expect special attributes just because we want them. This year, there might not even be any students chosen by the gods.”

Everyone is born with mana in their bodies, along with a magical attribute.

While mana is the energy needed to use magic, attributes are inherent qualities that determine what kind of magic one can wield.

Fire 31%, Water 37%, Wind 42%.

In this training ground, the magic circle confirms the highest attribute value possessed by the subject and transfers it onto parchment imbued with magical power to display the results.

Of course, the values inscribed on the parchment only show the highest attribute value of the subject, so just because an attribute is revealed doesn’t mean they can’t use other types of magic.

For example, if the highest value is Fire 31%, the remaining 69% could consist of various attributes like Water, Electricity, Wind, Earth, Light, Darkness, etc., allowing the individual to wield a variety of spells.

However, the higher the value, the wider the range of development for that particular attribute.

Most commonly, individuals enhance their magical abilities based on the attributes revealed through this examination.

“Next student, please come in.”

As Silica, the instructor, called out the next examinee, a petite girl with silver hair entered.

Both instructors immediately recognized her.

“Princess Arin, is it?”

“Yes. Let’s proceed with the examination first.”

Approaching Arin, Silica instructed her on the procedures.

“Take off your shoes and step onto the circle. Don’t come down until the examination is over. Just stay still, and everything will be taken care of.”

“Yes…”

Arin followed Silica’s instructions and stood on the magic circle, and the examination began shortly after.

– Humming.

The examination took about a minute longer than the others.

Soon, distinctive white letters appeared on the parchment.

[Arin Sevellerus]

『Magic Grade: 2 Stars

Physical Grade: B

Attribute: Light 52%』

“Light attribute?”

Arin was taken aback by the unexpected attribute.

The instructors were equally surprised.

“Wow, who would’ve thought Princess Arin would have the Light attribute…”

“And with a value of over 50%. This might indicate she’s chosen by the gods?”

Chosen by the gods.

During attribute examinations, there are occasionally students whose values exceed 50%.

As mentioned earlier, the higher the attribute value, the greater the potential for increasing one’s magic grade.

If the value exceeds 50%, it enters a completely different category.

Depending on the level, one can even wield transcendent-grade magic of the corresponding attribute, rivaling the power of the gods.

As such, some refer to this as receiving a divine blessing, believing that the gods directly bestowed their power upon them.

“Even Emperor Dionne had the Light attribute, didn’t he?”

“Yes. We can consider it as the daughter inheriting her father’s attributes. Moreover, her physical grade is quite exceptional.”

The instructors meticulously recorded the information of the first student to display the Light attribute among the freshmen.

Princess Arin bowed to the instructors with a somewhat pleased expression before leaving.

The examinations continued.

“Next student, please come in.”

A burly man with rough skin emerged from behind the curtain, his size somewhat mismatched for his age, causing the instructors’ shoulders to tense slightly.

“Yes, take off your shoes and step onto the circle. Don’t come down until the examination is over.”

The magic circle conducted the examination just like it did for the other students.

[Set Shaharkhan]

『Magic Grade: 3 Stars

Physical Grade: A

Attribute: Sand 71%』

“Sand 71%?!”

The two instructors exclaimed in disbelief upon checking the results.

It wasn’t just the numbers that surprised them.

“I-Is this a mistake? Magic Grade 3 Stars with Physical Grade A? Is this really a freshman who just enrolled this year?”

Silica approached the new student directly and asked.

However, the boy named Set remained silent, holding the parchment with his information as he left the room.

“Goodness, his character grade is an F.”

She muttered sarcastically under her breath, eyeing his retreating figure.

“Are there just one or two students like that…? But more importantly, that student, now that I think about it, was Set Shaharkhan.”

“Are you talking about the 1st Prince of Spania? Known as the Prince of Sand…”

“Yes, with his physical grade being high and possessing the relatively rare Sand attribute. He might be the student with the highest scores among this year’s freshmen.”

The instructors meticulously recorded his information, just like they did for Arin.

“Next student, please come in!”

As time passed, the last student entered the room.

As soon as the black-haired boy entered, he removed his shoes and stepped onto the magic circle without waiting for any instructions.

Silica was momentarily speechless at his natural behavior.

“Um, well, let’s begin then!”

She quickly rushed out from behind the curtain, and the examination started promptly.

“The last student is the youngest son of Duke Vert.”

“Oh! So, he’s the young master who lived on the front lines for a year! No wonder his gaze was so sharp, as if he was looking at demons!”

“Originally known as the incompetent of the family, I wonder what attribute he’ll have.”

-Whirrr!

The magic circle, unlike before, didn’t finish the examination quickly.

The two instructors anxiously waited for the characters to be inscribed on the blank parchment.

Finally, as the examination ended, characters began to appear on the parchment.

[Cyan Vert]

『Magic Grade: 1st Grade

Physical Grade: S

Attribute: Darkness 92%』

“???”

The two instructors, upon checking the parchment, couldn’t say a word.