The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

The issue of the tribe.

Naturally, this was an extremely sensitive issue to mention for the elves.

During the transfer, it was not disclosed to anyone other than the Saintess, so it was impossible to know that there was a problem.

However, the princess in front of them asked what the problem was.

Regardless of how she knew, judging from her voice, gaze, and posture, everyone couldn’t help but think the same.

As if she were asking as if she would solve it herself,

Roel was the first to speak up.

“I’m not sure how you knew that we have a problem, but the words you just said, Princess, sound like you can solve our problem.”

“I still don’t know what problem you are facing. So I can’t say that I can solve it yet. However, whatever the problem is, as a member of the imperial family, I can confidently say that I can help you.”

Roel, of course, and all the elves’ eyes widened.

“Weren’t you elves here to ask for help from us humans in the first place?”

Pierced by his sharp question, none of them could answer.

The imperial princess helping to solve the tribe’s problems?

Despite being a situation worthy of rejoicing, the faces of the elves were filled with suspicion and doubt.

There were reasons.

Why?

How could someone, a princess no less, who had no contact with them, help with their problems,

Elves simply couldn’t understand.

“You said you would help us?”

Garnian broke the silence and asked again.

“Yes.”

“Unless you’re a fool, you wouldn’t just help us for no reason. What do you want from us?”

This world is about give and take.

There is no such thing as a favor without a price, and it was the same in elven society.

Until they knew what the price was, they couldn’t accept the helping hand offered by the princess.

As if she had come to offer, Arin breathed out shortly and spoke as she was.

“I heard that elves have some power to access records from ancient times.”

“…!”

The faces of the elves froze for a moment.

“As a reward for helping you, could I have access to those ancient records?”

-Suddenly

Garnian was the first to rise from his seat.

“There seems to be no need to hear more. Please leave this place at once!”

His face was flushed with unrestrained emotion.

“I won’t say it twice! Leave this place at once!”

“Calm down, Garnian!”

Despite Roel’s protest, Garnian paid no attention.

In his eyes, beyond denial, there was now a threat of violence.

“Enough.”

At this, from behind Arin, her knight Ressimus stepped forward,

“Even though you are a foreigner who knows nothing about this place’s laws, please at least observe basic courtesy. This is the Ushif Empire, and she is the princess who rules this empire.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“She is not someone to be glared at with such suspicion….”

A powerful presence that wouldn’t lose to even the tribe’s greatest warrior.

The two emitted a fierce atmosphere, as if they were about to draw fists and swords at any moment.

They seemed on the verge of drawing fists and swords as if they were going to kill each other.

“Stop it, Ressimus!”

“Stay calm, Garnian!”

Both sides intervened to stop each other, but the momentum that had already ignited didn’t easily die down.

‘Please, everyone leave….’

A faint voice echoed in Arin’s mind amidst the urgent situation.

Arin involuntarily flinched, not just Arin but all the elves, including Garnian, turned their attention to one place.

Seated somewhat aloof, a white-haired girl who had been calmly listening to the conversation.

She suddenly stood up and looked at everyone.

‘I will personally have a conversation with her.’

There was a slight tension in her eyes, and a slight tremor could be seen.

* * *

Garnian and Ressimus, who had been teasing each other as if to kill, as well as Roel and the other elves who were mediating, all left the room.

Now, only Arin and Hastia remained in the room.

[I’m sorry. I seem to be unable to speak, so this type of communication seems to be the only option.]

Hastia wrote down what she wanted to say on paper and handed it to Arin.

Arin couldn’t help but be surprised when she received the paper.

Can’t speak?

Then what was the voice she heard just now?

It was a voice so clear that even the pitch could be distinguished.

It seemed like not only she but also other elves heard it…

‘Can you hear my voice?’

“Yes. I can hear you well.”

Arin replied abruptly and immediately lifted her head.

‘Can you really hear me?’

“Yes. Very well…”

Hastia, too, asked again as if she couldn’t believe it.

‘Wow, that’s amazing. We’ve heard that humans have weaker sensitivity than us and find it difficult to accept mental communication… It feels like I’m meeting only those who can do it.’

“Is that so?”

Although it felt slightly different from the mental communication magic she was familiar with, Arin felt much lighter knowing that communication was now much easier.

‘First of all, my name is Hastia. Can I call you Princess Arin?’

“Of course. Please feel free to call me that.”

With a slightly more relaxed mind, Hastia also began the conversation.

‘Princess Arin, you said you wanted access to records from ancient times from us, but to be honest, from the beginning, that’s impossible. Even if I wanted to, I can’t do it right now.’

She drew a clear line, saying that it was something she couldn’t do at all at the moment, even though it might not be easy.

“May I ask why?”

‘Well, it’s true that I have the power to access records from ancient times. But I can’t activate that power alone. The reason it was sealed in the first place reflects the god’s intention not to reveal those records to the world.’

It was a not-so-simple but clear reason.

The records from ancient times were sealed by the gods, something that humans of the present age could not know.

Ultimately, what Arin wanted to do was no different from defying the will of the gods.

“So, what on earth was Saintess Nephrodite thinking…..?”

‘…!’

Hastia’s body momentarily shrank.

Realizing that it was a sensitive topic for her, Arin hurriedly apologized.

“I-I’m sorry! I unintentionally brought up unpleasant memories!”

Hastia waved her hand to deny it.

‘It’s okay! It seems like the Saintess herself was thinking about transferring the power of the hidden key sealed in my body to herself. But as I said earlier, just because there’s power doesn’t mean it can be opened arbitrarily.’

“Then does that mean there must be another force?”

“Yes. As it is a record sealed by the power of the gods, another force that rivals the power of the gods is needed.”

Another force that rivals the power of the gods?

Isn’t that logically impossible?

No matter how much potential humans have for advancement, there are basic limitations.

A force comparable to the Creator’s.

Where in the world could such power be sought?

“Of course, it would be impossible for ordinary people like us to possess such power. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist at all. At least, if someone possesses the Divine relic, it should be quite possible.”

Arin’s face suddenly turned cold.

“D-Divine relic?”

“Yes! In fact, I met someone who owns it not long ago. The kind owner of the kindly Demonic Sword who helped our tribe….”

-Suddenly

A reaction from the body, not the head.

Arin unknowingly stood up and looked at Hastia with a serious gaze.

“Haah, haah….”

In the heat of the moment, rough breaths escaped her lips.

‘Pr-Princess? Are you okay?’

“I-I’m sorry, Hastia! I momentarily lost my composure….”

Sitting back down, Arin grabbed her head and desperately suppressed her excitement.

“By any chance, is that person who owns the Demonic Sword named…?”

-Suddenly

This time, it was Hastia, not Arin, who stood up and looked into the air.

As if feeling a familiar aura, she looked around and suddenly pulled something out of her embrace.

It was a white stone of indeterminate use.

If there was one peculiar thing,

It was that something black, like smoke, kept swirling around the stone.

It even looked like mist.

‘Soul Stone….’

Hastia thought.

The mist surrounding the Soul Stone seemed thicker than usual.

She knew what this meant.

The traces of someone engraved on her second soul were becoming denser.

In other words, that someone was very close now.

‘It seems like they’re nearby….’

“Who are you talking about?”

‘The owner of the Demonic Sword. Cyan!’

* * *

A dilapidated building not far from the inn.

Despite its worn exterior, the interior was filled with quite neat furniture and decorations such as desks and chairs.

To an unfamiliar person, it might seem like a classroom where students are taught.

At the front desk, an old man with a neatly trimmed white beard was reading by the light of a single candle.

-Knock knock

Eventually, at the sound of unfamiliar footsteps from beyond the door, the old man’s gaze turned.

For a moment, he seemed to be on guard, but then he frowned slightly.

-Knock knock

As the knocking sound to gain entry rang out, the old man reluctantly spoke up.

“Come in.”

Soon, the door opened and a dark-haired man entered the room,

None other than Cyan.

“Still maintaining your manners, I see, even bothering to knock.”

Despite the old man’s sarcastic tone, Cyan paid no heed and asked indifferently.

“You seem to be spending your old age very fruitfully.”

“Well, it may not be lavish, but it’s a satisfying life.”

“Even though you’ve abandoned the life of a noble, you haven’t abandoned the life of an educator, have you?”

“You’re no different, are you? Just as you haven’t abandoned the life of an assassin even though you’ve abandoned the life of a noble….”

Without further retorts, Cyan simply plopped down on a chair a bit away from the old man.

“I doubt you’ve come to see the face of a teacher you don’t respect, so what brings you here?”

“Are you admitting me as your student?”

“I considered it, but seeing you come empty-handed made me change my mind.”

Cyan chuckled as if expecting that, then his gaze shifted to the book in the old man’s hand.

The old man, aware of the attention, smiled and said,

“Ho, surprising to see you interested in books, considering your past. Do you want to read it? After all, it’s a book that everyone in the Empire knows these days.”

“I finished reading it a long time ago. I didn’t want to disturb my esteemed teacher’s sleep, so I’ll get straight to the point.”

The old man shrugged as if to say,

“Go ahead, speak.”

“Do you know who the author of that book is?”

“And if I do?”

“I’d appreciate it if you could tell me everything you know about that person.”

“Surprising. Even if I set aside why you’re curious, did you come here just to ask me about that?”

“Well, nobody seems willing to talk to me, so I figured I might as well ask the most knowledgeable person on the continent, right?”

“….”

“Chancellor Kundel….”