The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

People say that one’s nature doesn’t change with age, right?

Yet here we have someone who should be enjoying the fresh air somewhere, still occupying a position in academia.

Though it’s not a grand institution like the Royal Academy, just a small classroom with about ten students, if it’s what they desire, who’s to say anything against it?

Well, that’s partly why I’m here.

“Thinking about it now, it’s quite amusing, isn’t it? Why would you assume I know the author of this book?”

“I didn’t come here with absolute certainty. I simply thought, given the Chancellor’s keen observational skills to remember every student who passed through the academy, there might be a chance someone resembling the name had crossed paths.”

“You still have that annoyingly persistent demeanor.”

The Chancellor said, seemingly unchanged.

“It doesn’t have to be the author of that book specifically. If you know anything about the name Hafenkus, just tell me.”

“Ah, yes. There was one. A student at the academy named Hafenkus…”

They say there’s nothing more frustrating than wasted effort in life,

But it seems I won’t leave empty-handed after all.

“Coincidentally, it might have been around the time you dropped out. A commoner elevated to noble status, right? I recall she entered through a special transfer process, not as a regular freshman.”

“What was the name?”

“Mia Hafenkus.”

A name I’ve never heard before, naturally.

“What kind of student was she?”

“How would I know that? I resigned not long after you dropped out, and even if you hadn’t, I wouldn’t remember her.”

The Chancellor gave me a displeased look, as if questioning the relevance of my inquiry.

Well, at least I got a relevant name, but there’s still more to find out.

“Did she graduate?”

“Well, how would I know? If you’re so curious, why don’t you go back to the academy and ask? I doubt Satwell would readily offer information, but I’m not inclined to make an effort for a disciple who’s not particularly endearing.”

He was probably teasing me with that last remark.

Since I never expected any help in the first place, I’ll just let it go.

Anyway, to find more clues, I’ll have to go back to the academy, which seems like a hassle.

Maybe I should ask Brian…

“But, isn’t the order of your inquiries a bit off?”

“What do you mean?”

“What you wanted to know, ultimately, seems to be about this book’s author, Dio Hafenkus. Shouldn’t you have first sought out the one who distributed this book before me?”

“….”

“You’re not suggesting you didn’t know, are you? It’s inconceivable that the most formidable intelligence network in the continent would be unaware of a fact even known to some old man teaching in a corner room.”

“We can’t just enter the lion’s den for uncertain information, can we?”

I replied casually.

Although it was just an act of indifference,

“Good at talking, aren’t you? Then how about this?”

“What else do you have to say?”

“That girl, Arin, she’s in this city right now.”

“….!”

My mouth twitched involuntarily for a moment.

“I saw her passing by the window earlier. Judging by the atmosphere, it doesn’t seem like she’s here for official business. There was no one else besides the knight who usually accompanies her.”

If it’s the knight accompanying her, it must be Ressimus.

It’s truly frustrating, beyond words.

Bringing only one guardian knight to Aquiel?

Amidst the hundreds of blades lurking nearby, it’s hard to imagine that the princess here isn’t someone with a strong will.

“Indeed, life is something you have to live through. Who would’ve thought she’d be exerting so much effort in the royal court to improve people’s perception of the mist? Isn’t now your chance? She hasn’t gone far yet, so go and ask directly. What was she thinking, doing something like that…”

Does it sound more like coercion than persuasion?

Maybe it’s just my mood.

But it’s not wrong.

If I wanted to know about the author of the book Dio Hafenkus, I should naturally seek out the person who distributed the book.

Moreover, if that person is now very close by, I have no reason not to go.

However,

*Taptaptap*

The sound of someone’s footsteps reaching through the floor.

It’s not far from the door.

Not the heavy steps of a man, but the confident steps of a woman.

Even though I don’t know who the owner of those footsteps is,

“…!”

For some reason, my heart raced and sweat trickled down my forehead.

As if my body was telling me who the owner of those steps might be,

that encountering them would definitely not be a good thing.

*Knock Knock*

After a moment, the footsteps stopped at the door, and the door was tapped gently.

“Are you there, Chancellor?”

* * *

If there wasn’t anything special happening, it would already be time to retire for the night.

Coming at this hour itself is a breach of etiquette, but Arin had no choice but to come.

“Are you there, Chancellor?”

She cautiously knocked on the door and called out, but there was no answer.

It didn’t seem like there was no one there.

As she could faintly feel warmth and presence from beyond the door, just as she was about to knock again,

“Come in.”

A gentle reply came from inside.

Upon this, Arin, accompanied by Ressimus, slowly opened the door and entered.

“Aren’t you surprised at all?”

“I saw you passing by with your knight earlier. I was surprised then.”

Arin smiled softly at the cheerful response that relieved her tense heart.

“Hello, Chancellor.”

“It’s been a while, Arin.”

Kundel greeted his long-absent student warmly.

“I apologize for coming at such a late hour. Did I interrupt something you were doing?”

“No need to worry. It wasn’t anything cheerful.”

Kundel quietly tucked away the book he was reading under his desk.

“Did you come here for business?”

“Yes.”

“Seeing as you came without sending any official notice, it doesn’t seem like it’s for official duties, but rather personal matters, not related to the royal family?”

“Sort of… Yes.”

Arin didn’t deny Kundel’s inquiry.

After all, there was no point in denying it.

“I don’t have much time, so I’ll just ask directly.”

Kundel nodded silently.

“Has Cyan come here by any chance?”

Before answering, Kundel furrowed his brow slightly, showing a somewhat puzzled reaction.

“Why are you looking for that guy directly from me, out of all people?”

“It’s a bit difficult to explain, but I happened to find out that Cyan is around here. So, out of curiosity…”

“He hasn’t come.”

Arin couldn’t continue speaking after the resolute response.

Though she wanted to steer the conversation elsewhere, her already closed lips wouldn’t easily open again.

“They say that despite seeming to change, the human heart doesn’t easily change. Hasn’t your desire to save him remained unchanged?”

“What’s the point? It’s useless if I don’t have the power to make that desire a reality…”

Despair flickered in Arin’s eyes.

“At first, I thought that as long as I had the strength to break rocks with a wooden sword, it would be possible. I thought that having the power to turn the impossible into possible would be enough. But I was naive. The impossible I need to change is far more than that…”

It can be said that learning always simultaneously reveals how foolish one’s past self was.

Seven years of relentless pursuit towards the goal of saving someone.

Although Arin had undoubtedly achieved meaningful growth during that time, she realized multiple times how grand and futile her dreams had been in the past.

Now, it felt like she had to become a god or something…

“It’s embarrassing to come back after a long time and start complaining. Next time, I’ll bring lots of gifts for the students.”

As if she didn’t want to linger any longer, Arin bid him farewell.

Just as she was about to leave with Ressimus,

“It’s almost laughable to ask now…”

Kundel stopped her once again.

“If you were to meet him now, what would you say?”

Without turning around, Arin spoke with a small smile.

“Just… ask if he’s been well, maybe?”

It was the best thing she could say as she was now.

“Of course, even that might be something, as a princess, I can’t say…”

With a tremble in her head and a clenched fist,

Still,

She still couldn’t do anything even if she met him.

Maybe with more time,

Actually, she didn’t know how much time it would take,

But for the day when she could face him without any shame,

Arin would continue to run endlessly down the path that seemed shrouded in unknown mist.

“If Cyan comes, please tell him for me.”

“Tell him yourself.”

“…?”

Arin instinctively turned her head.

“After all, aren’t you here not as a princess? So tell him yourself. As Arin Sevellerus, not as a princess…”

“W-What do you mean?”

As she asked in confusion,

*Snap!*

Kundel flicked the mana he had conjured from his hand with his finger.

Instantly, with a faint resonance, a transparent magical barrier spread around them.

Ressimus, who had been watching from behind, hurriedly rushed forward at the sudden situation.

“Why the sudden barrier…?”

In an instant, Arin felt it.

At the left edge of the space.

A dark space untouched by the light of candles.

The presence of someone, whose presence had been there for who knows how long.

Oddly, it wasn’t a stranger’s presence.

It was a very familiar, unforgettable energy from seven years ago until now.

The energy she had yearned for so desperately was now vividly felt before Arin’s eyes.

*Creak*

With distinct footsteps, a man gradually emerged from the darkness.

A tall man with sharp eyes as keen as a blade amidst his thick black hair.

Even after seven years, his indifferent gaze remained unchanged as he faced her.

“Cyan?”

* * *

I could have done it when I heard the footsteps or the knock.

Whether through magic, trickery, or simply breaking through the window, I could have escaped somehow.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I just hid in the darkness and eavesdropped on their conversation.

Was it more like my mind decided for me rather than my own will?

The chancellor closed his eyes to my presence and lied to her about my arrival.

Well, it’s not like he was considering my feelings.

It was probably just his own plan to lay the groundwork for a bigger scheme like this.

* * *

Her eyes that met mine were deeply unsettled.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing.

If anything, it would be more surprising if she were indifferent.

Still, compared to seven years ago, her gaze, posture, and demeanor showed quite a remarkable growth.

An admirable member of the imperial family who contributes to the empire.

Now, I feel like I could say those words without difficulty.

.

.

.

So, what’s the big deal?

Do I really need to know?

Can’t I just ask if she’s been well?

Does she truly believe that’s something I would say?

Cyan Vert, the traitor who defied and insulted the empire?

I’m speechless with incredulity.

They say human nature doesn’t change.

Well, it seems the stubbornness of this princess won’t change even after decades or centuries.

A feeling of long-suppressed rage surged within me.

And then, a thought naturally surfaced in my mind.

Since she’s soon to be executed by the hands of the leader and her men,

Why not just end her life right here, right now?

“…”

In my hand, the embodiment of the demonic blade filled with murderous energy, gathered at the edge of its sharp edge.

—————