The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Arin descended the stairs with heavy steps, looking preoccupied.

Seeing her like this, Ressimus, feeling awkward, turned her gaze away.

Normally, she would pause on the second floor for a moment, perhaps hoping to coincidentally run into Cyan, but now she just passed by without even glancing.

Completely as if he were a stranger from the beginning.

“Huh?”

As Arin moved forward, someone familiar appeared in front of her.

“Luna?”

It was Luna, who hadn’t been seen for a while.

“Are you going to class?”

“Yeah. It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve seen you. What’s going on in the royal palace?”

At the question, Luna hesitated for a moment.

“I came to meet Senior Cyan. It seems like I won’t be able to see him at all soon…”

At the mention of meeting Cyan, Arin’s pupils slightly trembled.

But she didn’t show any signs and maintained her smile as she spoke.

“I see. He should be in his room by now. Since he already submitted his withdrawal, he probably didn’t go to class…”

“Are you okay with it?”

“Huh?”

Not understanding the question, Arin tilted her head.

“Even if you don’t say anything, isn’t it too easy to accept another woman going to the room of your fiancé?”

Although it was a bit excessive for a question from a 12-year-old girl, Arin laughed casually and said.

“I broke off the engagement with Cyan.”

Luna’s half-closed eyelids suddenly widened.

“The reason… Can I ask?”

“He just said that he can’t be by my side anymore. I think he felt a lot of pressure from our engagement…….”

It was already somewhat expected at the point when Cyan submitted his withdrawal.

Saying that he couldn’t stay by her side anymore meant that there was no chance of him coming back again, right?

There’s a saying that sometimes knowing too much can be a problem.

No matter who Cyan was, Arin had repeatedly asserted that it didn’t matter to her.

But as she came to know his true side that had been hidden, she couldn’t help but wonder if the current situation was connected to that.

Arin appeared outwardly calm as if nothing had happened, but knowing that inwardly she must be anything but calm, Luna couldn’t help but feel extremely uncomfortable.

“Let’s go together.”

“Huh?”

“Still, saying goodbye while looking at each other and not looking at each other would feel different.”

Is she saying goodbye at least for the last time?

If she were to see Cyan’s face in the current situation, the last bit of composure she had been holding onto would collapse in an instant.

In other words, for Arin, not going was simply not an option.

However, her hand was already being held by Luna, and she was being dragged toward Cyan’s room without hesitation.

– Knock knock

Luna knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside.

Attempting to knock again, just as she was about to,

“Ah!”

With a creaking sound, the door opened.

Not opened by anyone, but already left open from the beginning.

The three women entered the room without needing to say who would go in first.

“Is… no one here?”

Not a single person, not even the scent of a person, filled the empty room like a heavy stone in their hearts, making Arin and Luna unable to speak.

Was there any need to say anything?

They already knew the situation.

He was gone.

Not even a farewell, just emptiness.

“…!”

Amidst this, they felt movement behind them.

Was there another guest besides themselves in Cyan’s room?

As they turned their heads, someone familiar appeared in front of them.

“Princess?”

It was Brian, Cyan’s servant.

Seeming unexpected that they would be in the room, confusion showed on his face.

“I’m sorry, Brian! The door was open, so we accidentally walked in.”

“It’s, it’s okay, Princess! Anyway, it’s not our room anymore…”

Brian waved his hands reassuringly.

“Is Cyan… gone?”

“Yes! He left last night after packing some simple belongings, leaving the academy first. I came to tidy up the rest of the luggage.”

It was a very Cyan-like gesture, even in his departure.

“By any chance, do you know where he went?”

“I’m sorry. I can’t say that… for now.”

“I see…”

They hoped, but as expected.

Even the courage she mustered to ask one last time felt meaningless.

Arin sighed in resignation.

Seeing her pitiful expression, Brian couldn’t bear to look at her completely.

“Can you at least pass this on to him?”

Arin took out a letter from her pocket and handed it to Brian.

“I was planning to deliver it sooner, but it got delayed unintentionally. It’s regrettable that I couldn’t say goodbye, but please pass on my regards and wishes for his well-being.”

“Yes. I understand…”

He accepted it casually, but his heart felt a bit unsettled.

Contrary to what he thought was a letter for Cyan, a different name was written on the top of the letter.

“To Nana.”

* * *

There is a saying that all places where people live are the same.

No different here, I suppose.

People wandering the streets with their own purposes.

As someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy the smell of people, it all seems messy and noisy to me.

But such an atmosphere is only temporary.

As I continued down the road, the bustling atmosphere quieted down, and the lively streets gradually turned somber.

Instead of the subtle aroma of food wafting from restaurants and bars, there’s a foul stench in the air, reminiscent of decaying bodies.

And instead of people flaunting themselves in flashy clothes, there are individuals clad in ragged garments, embarrassing to even call clothes, lying scattered throughout the streets.

Even amidst bread being laid out nearby, there are those clutching worn-out papers, muttering incomprehensible prayers like they’ve lost their minds.

With each step I took, more eyes fell upon me.

Of course, they’re not friendly gazes.

Covered in suspicion and wariness, these glances were simply ignored as I continued forward.

-Whoosh!

Suddenly, a woman blocked my path.

She was a woman whose blank eyes seemed to be half out of her mind and were quite annoying.

“What brings you here?”

It was a question that made people wary of visits from unfamiliar outsiders.

“If you’re lost or have come here without any particular purpose, please turn back. This is not a place for someone as esteemed as you.”

Esteemed?

She hasn’t even introduced herself, yet how did she deem me worthy?

Ignoring her pleading request with silence, people began to gather around me.

Judging by their demeanor, they didn’t seem to be gathering to threaten or harm me; perhaps they were here to protect the woman in front of me.

Otherwise, there would be no reason for them to cast such anxious glances at me.

Well, it’s not like I didn’t anticipate this situation.

To the residents of this place, who have never received proper treatment from anyone, outsiders are nothing more than objects of suspicion.

Though I’d like to brush aside the visible individuals and thoroughly search every nook and cranny to find the one I seek, causing a commotion and leaving traces wouldn’t be beneficial.

For now, it might be best to turn around and come back when it’s dark…

“…..!”

Suddenly, a nauseating smell filled the air, and I immediately turned my head in the direction from which it came, exactly one hundred steps ahead.

In my sight, clear as day, was the familiar yet repulsive face of someone I couldn’t just pass by.

“Why are you all gathered here?”

Approaching the crowd where I stood, he flashed a cheerful smile at the people.

What’s going on?

Am I seeing things wrong?

“Threatening anyone you meet isn’t a good way to handle things. You should all relax.”

Approaching, he smiled with a curious twinkle in his eyes as he looked at my face.

Holding a large basket whose contents were unknown.

“I apologize for startling you. The people here are so wary of outsiders that they inadvertently behaved rudely. Let me apologize on their behalf.”

This is almost like being ignored, isn’t it?

Without hiding his face behind a disguise or anything, he boldly presents that repulsive visage in front of me?

Where does this confidence come from?

“If it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me why you’ve come to this slum? My name is Boris Ruchelheim…”

-Thunk!

Ignoring him blatantly, hesitating once is enough.

Determined that I could no longer tolerate it, my hand swiftly grabbed his neck and slammed him to the ground.

As a result, the basket he was holding soared into the air, and various foods like bread and fruits spilled out from it.

“Boris!”

Startled cries echoed from the onlookers, but I paid them no mind.

Whatever nonsense performance this cheeky fellow was attempting, once my hand gripped his throat, he shouldn’t even think about being let go.

Not until his head is separated from his body.

“Step back!”

Even as his voice strained from being suppressed, he managed to speak.

Then, a transparent circular barrier formed around us, obstructing the movements of those trying to rush towards me.

It’s almost embarrassing to call this a retaliation.

I took Kaeram from my holster and placed it against his neck.

“P-please… spare me…”

What’s this?

Did I hear him wrong?

After all I’ve been through, now he’s begging for mercy?

If this was supposed to momentarily throw me off guard, it succeeded.

To an outsider, he might seem like a different person altogether.

But that’s not it, is it?

My heart bears the scars of resentment, constantly reminding me.

And you, facing me with those cold, dead eyes!

You’re the devil’s minion, willing to do anything to achieve your goals!

Boris Ruchelheim, that’s who you are!

Sure, you may be a human, but even that pathetic life of yours teeters on the brink of death, so you can’t help but be desperate.

But don’t worry, you still have time for repentance.

Whether it’s short or long, there’s time for you to reflect on the remainder of your life…

“Please, spare them. They’ve done nothing wrong…”

As I was about to mercilessly remove the blade from his throat, his desperate plea once again stopped me in my tracks.

I began to doubt my own hearing multiple times today.

Was he asking for his own life, or was he referring to the people clinging around him?

To an observer, he might seem like a true priest, fighting valiantly to protect innocent bystanders.

What’s this?

Did he pretend to be someone else to avoid being tracked by the mist, but accidentally switched personalities?

That would be troublesome.

I wanted to witness his repulsive true nature distorted with hatred…

Wait a moment.

A sinister conjecture briefly crossed my mind, furrowing my brows.

Personality switch?

From the nape of his neck, where Kaeram’s blade touched, thick black blood began to flow steadily.