The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

After concluding their intimate(?) conversation, Luna walked outside.

Outside, the White Elves, who were eagerly awaiting the end of the conversation, were gathered.

“Anyone who sees us would think I’m torturing someone, wouldn’t they?”

Was their gaze particularly unpleasant?

There was considerable displeasure in Luna’s voice.

“The conversation is over. Whether you go in or not, do as you please.”

As if they had been waiting, the elves opened the door and went inside in a flutter.

Still, only Roel and Garnian remained resolute.

“Sorry for the delay. On behalf of the tribe, I would like to express our gratitude for your consideration.”

Roel bowed politely, expressing his gratitude to her.

“Don’t misunderstand. We haven’t decided how to deal with you yet. You should join hands with the tribe members and hope for good news.”

With a cold reply, Luna turned away immediately.

“Now I understand the importance of never underestimating human potential.”

Roel, who was watching her back intently, spoke in a serious tone.

“I agree. I feel like I understand once again why humans have become the rulers of this land.”

“I earnestly hope that this potential does not fall into the wrong hands…”

There was an inexplicable fear in the eyes of the two elves.

Soon, a member of the society appeared around the corner and bowed to Luna.

“Luna’s prediction was correct. In an underground space not far from the society headquarters, presumed to be a knight of light, several bodies have been found.”

The member handed her a neatly rolled-up letter along with the report.

Luna silently read the contents of the letter.

“They planned to transfer the power of the key embedded in her body through a ritual and dispose of the unnecessary bodies in a remote area of the forest. We’ll have to wait until the priestess Nephrodite wakes up to know more…”

“They just wanted to commit the act and pass the blame onto us, didn’t they?”

The member affirmed with silence.

“We don’t need to investigate who the culprits killing the knights are, right? It’s obvious.”

After reading the letter, Luna carefully placed it in her bosom.

“Nevertheless, the Empire responded faster than we expected. They stated that this incident was solely the decision of the Knights of Light and that the Empire and the Royal Family had no involvement.”

Commonly known as tail-cutting.

It wasn’t particularly surprising, given the very Imperial-like situation.

“However, it seems they’re not denying their fault entirely. They intend to pay compensation for this incident, so they clearly expressed their desire to safely retrieve the priestess.”

It was a complete change from 7 years ago, when they had paid compensation under the pretext of causing an uproar in Brenu.

“How is the priestess doing?”

“She’s still the same. She’s still in a state where she can’t regain her senses and is repeating incomprehensible mutterings.”

“We need to make it clear that it wasn’t us. We don’t know what kind of scheme they might come up with on their end.”

“I’ll convey that.”

Even though the report was over, the member did not leave.

“Is there anything else to report?”

“T-That, well, it’s not confirmed yet, but there’s a rumor that someone unexpected will come as the representative of the dispatch team sent by the Empire.”

“Someone unexpected? Does that mean someone from the Royal Family will come?”

“Yes. None other than Princess Arin is said to be coming…”

At that moment, her brows furrowed slightly.

“…”

…Then, she quietly raised her hand to touch her lips, wearing a subtle expression that was unreadable.

“When is the dispatch team expected to arrive?”

“It shouldn’t take more than a week, I suppose.”

“Then please convey it to Grandfather on my behalf.”

After a brief moment of hesitation, Luna turned her steps in the direction she had come from.

“I’ll be the one to meet that dispatch team.”

* * *

Even on an ordinary day, just like on a difficult and tiring day, night always comes.

The night sky with sparkling white stars embedded like jewels.

Looking at the same sky as in Pruina, Hastia was lost in deep thought.

Roel and other tribe members were called for further investigation.

This unexpectedly gave her some time alone.

‘…’

As Hastia gazed at the sky intently, she soon placed her hand on her chest and shook her head.

She wasn’t important.

Only the secret of the god inside her was important.

Had she been too careless?

Thinking that as long as she bore it alone,

If she showed a strong and confident appearance to others, everyone could live at ease,

But the weight carried by the tribe’s aspiration was heavier than she had thought.

Realizing this now, Hastia felt too ashamed to even lift her head.

-Sigh

Suddenly, she heard a strange sound from outside the room.

If she hadn’t misheard, it was definitely the sound of someone falling.

There should be guardian knights guarding the door right now, so what could have happened to them?

As she approached the door with questions,

-Creak

Before she could even grasp the door handle, it opened from the outside.

Startled, Hastia unconsciously took a step back.

It was a man whose identity was unknown, wearing a blue robe symbolizing a member of the Garam Society.

As soon as he entered, he closed the door, leaving Hastia with no way to escape.

‘…?’

After shaking with anxiety for a moment, Hastia soon tilted her head.

She realized who the man was.

‘Master Cyan?’

It was none other than Cyan disguised as a society member.

Cyan calmly removed his hood, revealing his true appearance to her.

“Take it.”

Then he threw something harshly onto Hastia’s hand from his pocket.

It was the Soul Stone that he had given her when they first parted.

“Wasn’t it supposed to be a talisman protecting the owner? I don’t understand why you gave this to me with such audacity.”

‘How could he…?’

Surely, only the tribe, not humans, would know the significance of the Soul Stone.

Hastia’s face turned as red as an apple in embarrassment.

Even though she was embarrassed to the point of twisting her body, Hastia hastily bowed.

‘I really don’t know how to repay the favor you’ve given me, Cyan! I sincerely appreciate your help!’

“Don’t misunderstand, saving you was purely coincidental. There’s no other meaning to it,” Cyan dismissed casually, saying it wasn’t his intention from the start.

Then, as if there was nothing more to do, he prepared to leave again, flipping his hood back on.

‘Y-You’re leaving?’

“Did you think I came here to sit down and have a chat with you? Instead of getting involved in strange affairs far away from home, you should think about returning safely. Don’t give strange things to strangers.”

‘But the stone isn’t just…’

Hastia couldn’t bring herself to speak, knowing she couldn’t say anything even if she died.

Though she wanted to grab him and ask him many things, Hastia had no grounds to hold Cyan.

Being in a position where she had only received help, could she shamelessly ask anything?

She could only stomp her foot in frustration.

“Since I’m here, I’ll ask one thing before I go.”

Cyan, grabbing the doorknob abruptly, looked back at Hastia.

Hastia raised her head as if waiting.

“What exactly is this crisis that has befallen your tribe?”

‘….!’

“Even if you were deceived, the fact that you, as members of the tribe integrated into human society, tried to ask for help ultimately means that you intended to seek help from humans too, right?”

Hastia reluctantly nodded.

The reason they had to seek help from other races was that they couldn’t resolve it with the tribe’s power alone.

Hastia thought to herself that she could tell Cyan.

Then, as if gathering her resolve, she calmly continued her telepathic communication after taking a deep breath.

‘The eternal snow of Pruina is melting.’

Cyan’s brows subtly furrowed.

The eternal snow of Pruina, which had been maintained since ancient times without melting, was melting?

It was something he hadn’t even heard rumors about in her past life.

‘Our guardian dragon, Marian, has temporarily left her post for personal reasons. Since then, an unknown mana has appeared all over Pruina. Due to that energy, the eternal snow is melting uncontrollably. Although it’s still at a minimal level, if this continues, the entire snow of Pruina will melt soon.’

Marian.

The name was not unfamiliar to Cyan.

Surely, her real name would be much longer than that.

“So, the problem is that your sanctuary is disappearing?”

‘That’s one aspect, but it’s not a huge problem. Once we adapt to the newly changed sanctuary, it’ll be fine. The problem lies with the Dark Elves who will awaken as the eternal snow melts.’

“Dark Elves?”

Cyan vaguely remembered hearing about them.

They were another elf tribe with the opposite nature to the White Elves, who valued nature and harmony.

There were even rumors of them being hybrids with demons, indicating their extremely aggressive nature.

As it was a story that wasn’t even certain, this was the first time Cyan had heard from her that there actually existed a tribe called Dark Elves.

‘Surely, if the Dark Elf tribe wakes up, it will not only affect Pruina but also have a considerable impact on where you live, right?’

In other words, it wasn’t just a problem for the White Elves.

If the White Elves couldn’t stop the Dark Elf tribe from waking up, humans might have to establish a new front line in the north, following Velias.

Realizing that it was a bigger problem than he thought, Cyan’s expression was undoubtedly grim.

“So, how do you plan to stop that problem?”

‘We’re planning to go back and discuss it with the tribe members again. If we put our heads together, we might come up with a good solution.’

Given that their original plan had been disrupted, they didn’t have a clear solution in mind.

‘You don’t have to worry too much! We’ll figure out a way to solve it so that no harm comes to human world!’

Hastia reassured Cyan that there was no need to worry.

But Cyan’s impression, thinking he had heard unnecessary things, was already quite sour.

“Give me back the Soul Stone.”

‘Huh?’

Hastia cautiously approached and handed the Soul Stone she was holding to Cyan.

– Sparkle!

Cyan lightly grasped the Soul Stone he received, and with a brief light, black mist swirled around his hand.

Then, he returned it to Hastia.

‘W-What did you do?’

“Don’t worry about it. I didn’t do anything.”

Hastia tilted her head in confusion at his cryptic words.

With that, Cyan turned away.

‘C-Can we see each other again?!’

Hastia hastily grabbed Cyan, who was about to leave, and asked.

“If coincidences keep happening, we’ll have reason to see each other again.”

Cyan, turning his head once more, responded indifferently.

Someone once said that if coincidences keep overlapping, it becomes inevitable.

If the three meetings that had occurred so far were simply due to coincidence,

Hastia believed without a doubt that their next meeting would be based not on chance but on fate.

‘See you next time, Cyan…’

And so, Cyan left Hastia’s side.

The Soul Stone, filled with memories of their encounters, still retained traces of the mist Cyan left behind.