The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Still attached but unstable enough to be severed at any moment, the situation was precarious.

Princess Arin looked so precarious at the moment.

Unknown assailants were aiming their swords at her neck.

Although their identities had not yet been revealed, most had already made their assumptions.

That they were the continent’s top assassination organization, followers of the Black Mist.

“M-Mist!”

Interrupting the confusion, Schurz hastily took out his communicator and informed Luna of the situation.

“L-Luna! Princess Arin and individuals presumed to be Mist have appeared at the stage!”

Soon Luna’s voice came through the communicator.

“How is senior Arin’s condition?”

“It’s extremely serious! She’s covered in blood from head to toe! If she doesn’t get treatment soon, she might die!”

“And Senior Cyan? Is Senior Cyan there too?”

“Well, um, about that…”

Schurz quickly examined the faces of the assailants on the stage.

“He’s not here! Master Cyan isn’t visible!”

Brian responded urgently.

“It’s not just Lord Cyan. Even Silica and high-ranking members are nowhere to be found!”

A crucial moment when Mist had revealed themselves directly in front of the crowd along with the kidnapped princess.

However, the key figures of the organization were nowhere to be seen.

Upon receiving the situation, Luna immediately organized her thoughts.

Even if the leader of the organization were to appear and demand what they wanted, without even high-ranking members, it was clear to anyone that this was not a normal situation.

Quickly organizing the hypotheses arising from all directions and reaching a conclusion,

“Princess Arin there may not be the real one!”

There was nothing else to say.

“Please look more carefully around the stage. Are there any other individuals around…”

‘Luna, look at this!’

Just as she was about to give additional instructions through the communicator, Hastia called out to her in a desperate voice.

Luna turned her gaze immediately.

‘The Soul Stone is reacting! It seems to have detected a misty aura similar to Cyan’s!’

The Soul Stone was gathering a thicker and more intense mist than usual.

“Step back.”

Pushing Hastia behind her, Luna immediately manifested mana in her hand.

Then, concentrating all the mana at her fingertips, she made an incomprehensible gesture towards the empty space.

-Chiik

With a brief flash of light, a small gate appeared in the mist.

“The gate has opened!”

Without hesitation, the two women entered the gate.

The space beyond the gate was no different from the previous one.

A gloomy space surrounded by unknown black mist.

At first glance, one might mistake it for the same space, but Luna was sure they had found the right place.

‘Luna, over there!’

Looking around anxiously, Hastia pointed to one side.

She pointed to where an old chair was sitting alone.

Quickly approaching and placing her hand on the seat, she felt lingering warmth, indicating someone had been there not long ago.

“…!”

Underneath, there were scattered ropes that were presumably used to tie the chair.

“At least 5 minutes…”

Certainly, someone had been here just a moment ago.

But this was the only trace they could find immediately.

To confirm the situation, they needed more solid clues.

So Luna tried to use magic again by manifesting mana, but as soon as she manifested it,

-Sputter

The mana disappeared as soon as it was manifested, as if extinguished by fire.

“Is magic not allowed in this divine space?”

Although there were other ways to exert power, considering the high risk involved, Luna decided to take a different approach.

-Crunch

She suddenly bit her finger hard.

‘Luna, what are you doing?’

Surprised, Hastia tried to stop her, but Luna paid no attention and let the flowing droplets of blood fall around her.

Then, the black floor covered in mist began to gradually be stained with red blood.

“If Princess Arin had been here, there should have been at least traces of blood…”

Schurz had clearly stated that Arin was covered in blood from head to toe.

“But there’s not even a drop of blood?”

But the surroundings were too clean to suggest that a princess in such a condition had been tied up here.

(I guess it’s a step too late.)

Just as Luna was lost in thought, a strange voice suddenly came from behind.

“…!”

An unexpected presence appeared.

Wrapped in black mist, his figure was not clearly visible.

But he unmistakably had the shape of a person.

A faint smile could be seen through the mist, indicating his interest in the two women.

(The child who was here a moment ago has gone somewhere else.)

“Who took her?”

(I can’t tell you that. If I do, I’ll be breaking a promise with that person as soon as I speak.)

While Luna boldly questioned the mysterious presence without bowing down, Hastia faced him with a mixture of confusion and excitement.

‘Ah, uh…’

She seemed to realize who he was.

(Even though he’s my successor, he still manages to impress me. How does he keep meeting such extraordinary girls…)

The mysterious presence uttered a satisfied admiration as he looked at them.

(An imperial princess, an elf under the protection of the god…)

“Are you Aeru, the god of the Black Mist?”

Ignoring his trailing words, Luna continued with her bold question.

(That grand title has been gone for a long time. Right now, I’m just the owner of this humble space.)

Aeru confirmed himself without denying.

Even in the face of such a majestic presence, Luna showed no signs of shrinking.

“I’ll apologize for suddenly intruding. We were in quite a hurry.”

(No need for apologies. If it were a man, I might not be as welcoming, but if it’s lovely ladies like you, you’re always welcome.)

“When did Princess Arin leave here?”

(She left exactly one minute before you arrived here. It was a very close timing.)

Luna bit her lip, expressing regret.

With no reason to stay here anymore, she immediately turned around.

‘Are you leaving?’

“There’s no reason to stay any longer. We didn’t come here to have a conversation with someone expelled from the divine realm.”

Despite her somewhat rude remark, Aeru didn’t seem to mind much.

As Luna tried to open the gate to leave again,

“…?”

She hesitated for a moment after manifesting her power.

‘Why are you hesitating, Luna?’

“This is… What kind of energy is this?”

She blinked in astonishment, unable to discern an expression through her surprise.

The energy overflowing from the divine realm of the mist.

A completely different new energy sensed from beyond.

It was undoubtedly the energy emanating from another divine realm.

(As expected, the owner of a relic can recognize the energy of another relic.)

Aeru commented as he observed her reaction.

“What does that mean?”

(What else could it mean? Apart from you and me, there’s another divine realm nearby, isn’t it?)

Luna’s pupils momentarily flickered with subtlety.

She could designate it as a space that felt extremely repulsive, even to her.

Not hers, not Cyan’s, not divine, but another divine realm.

It might have nothing to do with the task at hand, but Luna didn’t feel like she could ignore it.

-Whack!

Manifesting her mana power once again after a brief pause, a gate was soon created with a bright white light.

‘W-What is this place?’

Hastia looked bewildered by the unfamiliar energy sensed beyond the gate.

‘Luna, where are we?’

“It’s not a very good place for me and Senior Cyan to go.”

However, opening the door meant expressing the intention to enter already.

“On the contrary, it’s a space that should disappear for us…”

The pure light that illuminated the darkness, so contrasting to the pitch-black void, was a force that made her feel nauseous.

“How can I not enter?”

With that statement, Luna threw herself into the gate.

* * *

If she were to roughly recall, it’s been about a week.

Out of that, she seemed to have been unconscious for about five days.

Her body was so battered that even moving a finger was impossible, and her vision was obscured by cloth.

Occasionally, someone would come and force-feed her water and food, ensuring she didn’t starve to death.

But such actions only intensified Arin’s anxiety.

Why did they kidnap her?

Instructor Silica, or rather, Assassin Silica, had clearly stated that she would use her as a pawn for some event’s beginning.

The problem was that this beginning seemed to be related to Cyan,

and for Arin, who still didn’t know anything properly, her mind was in turmoil.

As Arin struggled with increasing anxiety and fear, suddenly, her body’s restraints were released, and someone lifted her up.

Still dazed from the sudden movement, Arin soon felt herself being engulfed by an unfamiliar energy, indicating she was being transported somewhere.

Upon arriving at this unknown location, she felt a strangely familiar aura and heard a familiar voice.

“Are you awake?”

The owner of the voice asked as they removed the cloth covering Arin’s eyes.

After nearly a week of being unable to see, Arin blinked her eyes widely.

“C-Cyan?”

She couldn’t believe her eyes and blinked again to confirm.

It was indeed Cyan standing before her, with his usual indifferent gaze that could make anyone feel insignificant.

“What happened? I was sure…”

As Arin tried to get up, she lost her balance for a moment and twisted her body.

Thud!

Before she could fall, Cyan caught her.

“It’s not advisable to move suddenly after being immobile for quite some time. Please adapt as quickly as possible. I don’t intend to catch you a second time.”

Cyan addressed her with his usual indifferent tone.

Arin raised her head again and looked around.

The sight of numerous books and shelves filled the space, a place that was all too familiar to her—The Imperial Library.

“Did you rescue me?”

“Yes.”

“Why? You’re supposed to be with Instructor Silica…”

Arin unintentionally paused mid-sentence.

“You wanted to know the truth, didn’t you?”

“…”

“Follow me. From now on, Princess, you will see the true nature of light and mist with me.”

Arin found herself at a loss for words.

What was this about the true nature?

Cyan gazed at her more seriously than ever before.

“After you see the true nature, judge for yourself.”

“What…?”

“Decide for yourself what order the Princess should follow…”

There was no time to hesitate with such a sudden proposal.

Despite the confusion, Arin realized she had no choice and soon nodded.

“Alright.”

As soon as Cyan heard her answer, he turned and began to walk.

Just as the two were about to leave,

“…?”

Cyan, who was about to turn the library door handle, stopped abruptly.

“What’s wrong, Cyan?”

“Step back three paces.”

Arin did as he said and stepped back from the door.

About a minute passed.

Cyan stood still, his hand still on the door handle, showing no other reaction.

However, Arin couldn’t bring herself to ask what was happening.

From his eyes fixed on the door, she could feel an intense readiness and wariness emanating.

Clang!

Finally, as if making up his mind, Cyan forcefully swung the door open.

Clang!

A fierce sound of metal clashing echoed throughout the library.