The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

It’s more than I thought.

Given his swordsmanship background, it’s needless to say his fundamentals are outstanding, and he’s handling the Holy Sword, which he hasn’t had for long, quite well.

– Snap!

Of course, just because he’s handling it well doesn’t mean he can beat me.

In the current state, the faded Holy Sword in front of me is not even worth a dull knife.

No, considering that the power of the Holy Sword is severely diminished, it might not even be reasonable to expect him to handle it to that extent…

“Argh!”

After swinging several times, he stepped back before long.

He realized he shouldn’t keep clashing like that.

He’s indeed a clever man.

If he’s not confident it’ll work out, he won’t cling stubbornly but will quickly give up.

He’s someone who doesn’t exert effort unnecessarily on things that won’t work out.

To put it nicely, he’s quick to grasp the situation; realistically, he’s quick to give up.

But what can you gain by backing off when it’s not working?

Not even crumbs fall, let alone jewels.

“Why are you hesitating, the savior who should bring hope to everyone? People are watching. Shouldn’t you use that noble Holy Sword to vanquish me, an evil existence?”

Aschel stared at me with eyes as hard as stone, without saying a word.

It shows.

The doubt and suspicion in his denying gaze toward me.

“Should someone like you, who sees the highest place an existence can aspire to, fear a human like me?”

“With that disrespectful mouth of yours, you dare call yourself human.”

At least I don’t try to deny my own existence like you do.

Even if not just me but everyone here sees me not as a human but as a vile demon, I can proudly say that I’m a respectable human.

“Power is honest. The more you use it, the stronger you become, and if you don’t use it, it will only dull endlessly. If you are truly the savior who will bring light to the world, shouldn’t you pioneer your own power rather than relying on the power already perfected?”

“……”

“You’re denying it. I understand just by looking at your eyes. Do you see it as an unavoidable situation? Do you think I’m just relying on the power of the Demonic Sword? If you think that you can easily suppress someone like me once you regain the power of the Holy Sword, please reconsider it now.”

“That sounds like you think you’re different.”

“I am different.”

Clearly different.

Unlike you, who just seeks to take the given power.

I have forged everything myself.

– Flick

“……!”

I dropped the Kaeram I was holding in my right hand as if to show it to him.

For a swordsman, throwing one’s sword at the opponent can be interpreted in two major ways.

Acknowledgment or mockery.

In my case, it’s undoubtedly the latter.

Even without this Demonic Sword, it’s a highly insulting mockery to think that I can easily overpower someone like you who’s wielding the Holy Sword.

“Foolish. Cyan……”

In Aschel’s eyes that caught that, a fierce vigor was burning like flames.

“No matter how deep and vast the darkness may be, it cannot remove the faint gleam that shines.”

He guided all the mana dormant within him to bequeath it to the Holy Sword.

“Your mist cannot remove my light. Cyan. That’s how this world is made to be……”

Contrary to what I thought, that he would just stand there like a statue, he seems to be still trying to do something.

– Giiing

Hmm.

An exclamation escaped my lips involuntarily.

As he transferred mana from his own body to the Holy Sword to replenish its lacking power, the reaction from the Holy Sword lifted Aschel’s body into the air.

Wings of light spread gracefully on both sides as if to embrace the sky.

The gentle yet dazzling scattering of light reminded me of the appearance of a god descending to earth.

“Where light leads, truth follows……,”

As a prayer was whispered towards someone watching this spectacle from the sky, a golden radiance akin to the sun emanated from the faded Holy Sword.

‘Judgment of Salvation.’

The secret technique of the Holy Sword that adorned the end of the previous life of the Demon King, the strongest being of the Demon Realm.

A sacred spectacle that seems impossible for anyone, even humans, to behold without kneeling in awe.

Some around me were shedding tears due to their emotions bursting forth.

Well, even for me, it’s quite a rare and precious sight to see after almost dozens of years,

as it’s said that there’s a clear difference between seeing the same spectacle with knowledge and ignorance.

For me now, the sacred, if not noble, secret technique of the Holy Sword……

“Kick!”

Laughter followed my admiration.

This is just basic, without even needing to discuss the value of power.

A perfect display technique that looks dazzling on the surface but lacks any real power.

It made me feel pity for the Demon King who should have perished even without this worthless sword.

Having completed the preparations for judgment, the Holy Sword advanced towards me without hesitation.

– Shooook

At the moment when the tip of the Holy Sword was about to make contact with my neck.

I slightly tilted my head and lightly evaded the Holy Sword’s strike.

– Snap

“……!”

I thought about pretending to be hit, but it seemed futile.

The tip of the Holy Sword had already brushed far past my neck, and my left hand was firmly grasping his right hand holding the Holy Sword.

– Kwaak!

“Groan!”

As I gently squeezed his hand, he let out a groan of pain.

“You said the mist couldn’t remove the light, didn’t you?”

“……!”

“Claiming that it’s unavoidable because the world is made like this is just a feeble excuse.”

– Clang

Unable to withstand my strength, he eventually let go of his own hand, and the Holy Sword he was holding fell to the ground with a thud.

At the same time, the aura of the mist hidden within me all this time spread out in all directions, covering up all the scattered light.

“If the world itself is made like that, then changing that predetermined world is all there is to it.”

– Thud!

I grabbed Aschel’s neck, writhing in pain, and slammed him to the ground.

“That’s why I’m here now……”

As I did so, a strange artifact hidden in his embrace fell to the ground powerless.

The Marionette’s doll.

It’s obvious who gave it to him.

He intended to orchestrate a situation to bring me, a being, down to the bottom with such a petty deception.

I don’t particularly feel angry.

It’s not worth getting angry over such a thoroughly you-like behavior!

I casually picked up the Kaeram stuck beside me and held it against Aschel’s neck.

The moment he faced Kaeram in front of him, his complexion paled instantly.

“Are you afraid? Don’t worry. The sword of this hatred in my hand will not cut your throat. Why? Because the moment of suffering you should feel has not yet arrived!”

“You, who are you…?”

You must be curious.

You must be desperate to know.

But you won’t be able to know.

So you’ll keep pondering, suffering, and eventually, you’ll revolt.

“You can bury me, calling me an unparalleled villain in the world, or gather mercenaries from across the continent to form an assassination group to kill me! Whatever it is, don’t hesitate to use all means and methods available to you! I am prepared to accept anything!”

As there seemed to be nothing more to do beyond this point, it must be thoroughly prepared.

“And then despair! When you realize that even after employing everything, you still cannot defeat me, that’s when the moment I desired will come to you!”

Beyond doubt, his eyes, now engulfed in fear and terror, trembled like an earthquake.

You probably don’t see me as human anymore.

But more importantly than anything else, there’s a very important fact that must be engraved in your mind.

“Don’t forget! I am just a mere human living on this land! A very ordinary human who knows and intensely hates your essence!”

You must clearly remember this point.

Unless you surpass me, your truth of reaching the highest place reachable by humans will never be realized.

“Until then, please be well……”

With a sincere prayer for him,

I rose from my seat without hesitation.

* * *

People thought.

They hoped desperately that the scene unfolding before their eyes was just a dream.

Now, even the people of this world are beginning to doubt whether creators have abandoned the human race altogether.

Who on earth is this boy named Cyan Vert??

After incapacitating dozens of elite knights in an instant, summoning mysterious villains shrouded in mist, and ruthlessly demolishing the savior who appeared to purify them, Cyan no longer seemed like an ordinary human to them.

A demon who set foot on this land to bring about the destruction of the world.

There seemed to be no other way to explain it.

– Swoosh

The mist entity, having concluded a deep conversation with his brother, finally rose from his seat.

The knights, already devoid of their will, could not stop him from advancing recklessly.

Louisnel, who was blinded by the need to restore his prestige, who had moved forward without discrimination, remained silent as if struck dumb, and Kundel, with tense eyes, merely stared at Cyan without attempting to intervene.

Everyone else in the way retreated, except for one person who stood firm and blocked Cyan’s path.

“……”

Fists clenched with determination and eyes filled with complex emotions.

Arin stood alone in the middle of the road, silently waiting for Cyan to approach.

It was a very short distance, barely a few steps, but to Arin, it felt like an eternity.

Cyan didn’t even bother to meet Arin’s gaze.

As if it wasn’t worth the effort, he continued his indifferent steps without any guard or defense.

Finally, when the distance between them was completely closed, at the moment when it arrived unexpectedly and meaninglessly.

– Snap

Cyan’s footsteps abruptly stopped.

Arin’s right hand firmly gripping his wrist, holding the demonic sword, the moment just before the feelings explode.

The trembling, desperate effort to control the emotions just before they exploded was being transmitted directly to Cyan’s body.

“Do you have something to say?”

Cyan opened his mouth first and asked gently.

“No. Nothing….”

Questions, inquiries, confirmations.

Just a few minutes ago, there were mountains of things she wanted to say, but now they seemed meaningless.

Arin knew that even if she tried to say something, it would be meaningless, as she couldn’t even remember what she wanted to say in the first place.

“Then please let go. If you’re not planning to stop me….”

Although he could let go himself, Cyan instructed her to release his hand.

Although there were no words to say, and no power to stop him, Arin couldn’t bring herself to let go of Cyan’s hand.

“I know it’s a meaningless gesture. I know it’s foolish….”

Arin’s voice was so shaky that it could burst into tears at any moment, she was in a terribly anxious state.

“I’m really sorry and shameless…. Can you grant me one request, Cyan?”

At this, Cyan chuckled as if he found her pathetic.

But he didn’t express any dislike, and his right hand was still held by Arin.

“Any words… Really, any words will do. Advice, insults, anything is fine. Can you just say one word to me?”

Not more or less than one word.

The content didn’t matter.

Just the fact that Cyan would say it was important.

Arin desperately wished for another sincere word from him, which might be the last.

“Move on.”

“….!”

As always, Cyan spoke with an unwavering tone, without a hint of hesitation.

“You must never forget the emotions that you harbour in your heart. Don’t forget what the helplessness of being unable to do anything can lead to, and continue on the path given to you. So….”

Cyan closed his eyes slightly.

“Please make sure that such a being never appears in this world again.”

“….”

“This is the last word I can give to the Princess….”

With that, Cyan lightly brushed off Arin’s hand.

Cyan’s footsteps gradually faded away, but Arin couldn’t turn her head.

Not even Brian and Emily, who were cautiously following behind Cyan, could bring themselves to meet her eyes.

Not meeting her eyes was the least they could do for her.

– Swoosh

The tears that had been barely held back finally burst, streaming down her cheeks hotly.

Unable to show that sight to Cyan, Arin simply sobbed desolately, gazing at the indifferent sky.

That’s how Cyan, like the mist that appeared and disappeared without warning.

He abruptly left Arin’s side.