The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

They say heaven gives humans just three chances in a lifetime, and when Karun encountered Luna in this unfamiliar foreign land, he immediately realized that his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had arrived.

For the past twenty years, he had been a member of the Garam Society with a false heart, trying to escape several times from the society’s idealistic aspirations of applying the significance of magical development even to inferior humans.

The only driving force that allowed him to persevere and eventually rise to second in command in the society was Luna Rainriver, the granddaughter of Regens, Society’s President, who was hailed as the hope of the society.

A glimmer of light appeared in this dark and seemingly hopeless society.

Is there any existence in the world as magnificent and perfect as her?

No metaphor of any flower or jewel could adequately describe her beauty.

She possessed the greatest talent that a human could have.

If only her infinite potential could be properly guided, she would undoubtedly surpass even dragons, demons, and perhaps even gods, becoming the sole mediator connecting us humans.

Karun believed this without a doubt.

However, the society had treated such a hopeful existence too harshly.

If things continued like this, the stem would break before the flower could fully bloom.

That couldn’t happen.

If it did, humans would once again have to endure a long period of suffering.

Now was the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity bestowed by the heavens.

Despite some meaningless resistance, the fact that she withstood against his own mana, equivalent to 7th rank, was a tremendous feat.

Now it was time for him to help Luna realize her potential beyond the confines of the society.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment, Luna…”

A smile of joy, hidden behind his mask for so long, finally appeared on Karun’s lips.

Suppressing his excitement, he finally took the first step towards her.

“…..!”

As Karun and the society members watched, their eyes widened in surprise.

…There was no sign or indication whatsoever.

Indeed, as if opening their eyes after being closed, the mysterious figure suddenly appeared.

The eerie and chilling aura emanating from his back stimulated their senses, a very unfamiliar feeling they had never encountered before in their lives.

Moreover, this presence was not unfamiliar to the society members.

It was none other than Cyan Vert, Luna’s companion and the youngest of the Vert duchy.

* * *

It’s absurd.

Utterly absurd.

I can’t even decide what expression to wear in this situation.

It’s quite clear what happened.

Luna, unleashing the Light Attribute Defensive Magic, the Resistance Wall, and Karun, exerting his mana to crush the wall.

Even though our junior here is a genius to the point of being called a monster, she can’t handle a professional who has studied and trained in magic for decades.

She must have known that himself.

However, she squeezed out every last bit of mana in her body to maintain the wall and buy time.

And when the moment finally came when she met my gaze, she collapsed as if on cue, even showing a strange smile.

Anyone who sees this scene might think I’m a savior of hope.

Honestly, I never thought she would quietly comply.

It would have been better if she just gave up and collapsed without all this resistance.

I wonder why she fought so hard, to the point of torturing herself.

Earlier she was lethargic, saying she can’t live much longer, and now she’s bursting with determination to the point where she could soar into the sky.

“Cyan Vert?”

They couldn’t hide their confusion at finding me here.

The looks in their eyes clearly said they had no idea why I was here.

I don’t care about the bewildered reactions of those strange guys.

I don’t want to deal with them right now.

I cautiously reached out my finger to Luna’s face.

About 1%, no, maybe 0.5%.

She had truly drawn on every last bit of mana in my body, up to 99%, just because it was her.

If it were anyone else, they would have passed out long ago.

She really is someone who surprises people every time they see her.

“Remove your hand…”

The voice sounded rather stern, causing me to turn my head subtly.

Who was it again?

They say the most tempting treasure for a person is not money or jewels, but another person.

A beauty with timeless beauty, a talented individual with innate abilities, and so on.

People are treasures that not only stay by your side but can also change the owner’s life itself.

I thought I was one of those.

Maybe I turned from treasure to trash, who knows.

In the end, even they, perhaps, are engaging in these antics to seize Luna Rainriver, a treasure that could potentially change the world.

“Just pretend you didn’t see anything and quietly leave. Cyan Vert…”

It seems that the situation hasn’t been fully understood yet.

How the demon was dealt with, what happened to the colleagues in the corridor, how I ended up here, and so on.

Rather than asking such pointless questions, it’s better to refrain.

“While it may seem like a misunderstanding, there’s no need to worry about her. Just casually turn around and attend to your tasks. Cyan Vert…”

A tone of voice that implies there’s no need for detailed explanations or curiosity.

It’s the same for both of us.

I didn’t need detailed explanations, nor was I curious.

I had no desire to interfere.

But isn’t it typical of humans?

They have no interest in something until it’s involved with them, then when it is involved with them, they change their tune in an instant.

It’s not a bad thing.

It’s just human selfishness, the selfish nature needed to survive in this messed-up world.

Whatever they want or plan to do in their society, I have no reason to meddle if it doesn’t concern me.

Yeah, that’s right.

It’ll definitely be like that.

I’m usually not interested in bothering with troublesome matters or giving any attention to them at all.

Since turning away would leave it to others anyway, there’s no reason for me to continue bearing the losses and helping out.

“…..”

Strangely, I can’t seem to do that.

Even though my mind denies it, it’s a case where my body moves involuntarily.

It’s just that my personality itself is moving to save her.

Without any resistance.

“If I refuse?”

-Zap!

The answer didn’t take long.

In an instant, a spark flew from his hand, and before long, a white lightning bolt flashed before my eyes.

It’s not just a petty threat; it’s magic used with the intention to kill me outright.

Of course, I’m not someone who would bat an eye at this kind of magic, but…

“Judgement Lightning?”

Though I sprinted like my feet were on fire, to escape this situation with the heavenly girl, I’d need more than the power of an ordinary academy student.

If we were to leave without a fuss, we’d still leave behind several witnesses, causing trouble from various angles.

But dealing with these guys who have already shown me their intentions is pointless.

So, the answer becomes simpler.

Just kill them all.

If I swiftly dispose of every single one of them without leaving anyone behind, wouldn’t that be fine?

It’s said not to dwell too long on urgent situations.

Just go with the flow and deal with the aftermath later.

That’s the simplest course of action, and I’ve always followed it.

Once I made up my mind, I immediately summoned Kaeram.

“Shadow 6th style: Mist Space.”

As the spell was cast, black mist spread from beneath the feet of the society members standing there.

One should consider it an honor.

This place is not just an ordinary human’s sightseeing spot; it’s a divine realm where one faces death.

Isn’t it quite ecstatic to meet one’s end in such a sacred space rather than on mundane cobblestones?

“Nullify the barrier!”

Some had probably created a restrictive barrier, pumping mana into it from a distance.

It’s not a wrong approach.

If their mana exceeds the power of my mist, they can easily dispel it.

But if it doesn’t…

“What, what is this?”

I slowly approached Karun, who still seemed to be keeping his composure.

“Dark attribute magic? No, this filthy and vile aura can’t be mana! This must be…”

They say you get used to the stench if you live in a sewer.

Since I’ve adapted to this dismal aura, I don’t even think about it now, but sometimes I wonder on what basis they label this power as filthy and vile.

“Cyan Vert! What exactly are you? How could someone like you possess such power?”

“Why are you so surprised? You’ve been keeping an eye on me in your society, so you must have had some idea of what I’m hiding, right?”

In an instant, the faces of Karun and the other society members froze like stone.

“H-how did you…?”

“She told me everything,”

I said casually, pointing to the collapsed Luna.

“T-that’s impossible! Why would Luna confide in you? Could it be… Luna betrayed the society?”

Betrayal?

It’s so absurd it’s not even funny.

Did they really trust her enough to feel betrayed?

Her abilities and potential are so outstanding that any qualifier would be meaningless.

But is that all?

She’s so smart and realistic that it makes even a guy like me hold my tongue.

Even if you threw her into the middle of the desert, she could build a kingdom with sheer determination.

Yet, such a woman is simply handing everything over to a worthless person like me just because she likes me?

Why?

It’s because she sees you all as worthless beings who are indifferent to whether you succeed or fail.

This is purely your own doing.

“Garam Society’s heretic, Karun Rains of the Auram Society.”

“…!”

He felt a sense of rebellion against the ideals of the Garam Magic Society, which seeks to apply the advancement of magic to all humans, and joined an organization that opposes it.

Wasn’t it said that magic is a prerogative of the gifted?

“Why would you…”

Why?

If you’re curious, ask your boastful colleagues from your past life.

“In my eyes, you’re all the same. I can guarantee you that even if you take her away, you won’t be able to fully extract her potential.”

“What do you know!”

“I don’t know anything either.”

“…?”

“Even I, who have lived my life recklessly, have potential beyond what I can see. Who knows how much latent potential someone like her holds in that delicate body?”

It’s you guys who have ruined her to the point where no one can see her shine.

The advancement of magic?

The ideals of humanity?

I dare say that if you leave her alone, she might achieve everything on her own.

The most beautiful way for a flower to bloom is when it does so on its own after enduring the hardships of life.

If you force it to bloom prematurely, it will only be ruined without any meaning.

If there is such a thing as a next life for you guys like me, then I hope you remember this truth in your next life.

“Aaaaargh!”

Screams echoed within the ignorant black mist.

Unfortunately, there would be no one in this world to hear those screams.

Except for me…

* * *

It’s pitch black.

Nothing can be seen.

Like a dark night sky without a single star.

Like one’s own future devoid of even a glimmer of hope.

From within this gloomy space, suddenly, a strange mist began to envelop everything.

It felt somber and dreary, yet strangely, there was no sense of aversion.

Carefully raising her hand to feel the flow of the mist, it gently wrapped around her body.

A warmth she had never felt before enveloped her.

What could this black mist be, to make her feel such a sensation?

It was so warm and comforting that she almost felt like surrendering herself to it.

As she surrendered to this feeling and gently closed her eyes, she heard a familiar voice.

“Hey, junior…”

It was a casual call, devoid of any warmth.

Luna blinked open her eyes.

“If you sleep on the stone floor, your mouth will dry up.”

She wasn’t sure if it was meant to be funny, but that wasn’t important right now.

As if realizing something profound, Luna, still wrapped in the mist, asked quietly.

“Senior?”

“What?”

“The person who rescued me when I was kidnapped by the villains, that was you, right?”

Cyan froze with his mouth hanging open.

“Huh?”

At the same time, a slight tremor could be felt in the hand supporting her back.

“It’s you, right? The one who removed the heart curve from my body!”

The surrounding air suddenly became heavy, and an unexpected silence descended.

Luna, with clear and unwavering eyes, faced Cyan’s bewildered gaze without flinching.