The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

The mist of Soul Stone, spreading out in all directions with a dark aura.

This indicated that Luna’s power had been successfully transmitted to Cyan.

But there was no time for relief or relaxation.

Hastia looked around with a worried gaze.

-Kukugung

An uneasy roar echoed in the space, as if it would collapse at any moment.

Has it been only 10 minutes since they entered this place?

During that short time, spatial rifts appeared and disappeared repeatedly, and as they did, the owners of the Scriptures and the Tome drew more mana to overpower each other.

Is that all?

They even sent reinforcements to support the owners of the Holy Sword and the Demonic Sword who were currently in a standoff at the Imperial Palace.

Their powers had already reached their limits, and now they were just waiting for the end.

“I’ll admit it. You didn’t just stumble upon the Tome by chance. Luna, you are more than qualified to handle the Divine Scriptures.”

“Don’t praise me so easily. It’ll just make me uncomfortable.”

There was only one person in this world whom she wanted to receive praise from.

“But even so, nothing will change. Even if you destroy this space, the predetermined ending will never change.”

“It could be the beginning of change. Starting with the destruction of this space, I will gradually change your futures.”

Despite Boris’s repeated warnings, Luna didn’t even bat an eye.

But the situation was not going in her favor.

“Hey, miss. Can you hold on?”

Remiharam, checking on her condition, asked with a slight concern.

“Instead of asking that, why don’t you try to open more rifts?”

“Your mana is dwindling, miss. If this continues, cracks will appear not in the space, but in your body.”

“If I scrape the bottom of the barrel, that’ll be enough.”

Luna, seeming indifferent, released even more mana.

“That should be enough. The space of the Scripture is already so damaged that it’s difficult for it to fulfill its function. Just doing this and retreating should pose no problem, right?”

“I don’t leave room for compromise. Once I start, I have to see it through to the end.”

Remiharam’s concern only stimulated Luna’s determination.

Realizing he had said too much, Remiharam shook his head, refocused on what needed to be done.

The situation was no better for Boris.

While trying to mend the rifts, he glanced at the Scriptures.

The series of writings on the unfolded Scriptures repeated disappearing, indicating that the future guided by the Scriptures was continuously changing.

“Why?”

The appearance of the Tome’s owner was already an event not foreseen in the prophecy.

The only fortunate thing was that the final future written at the end had not changed yet.

In the end, no matter how the process went, he would be the one to laugh last.

Believing firmly in this, just as he tried to erase all the doubts that arose in his mind,

“….!?”

Boris’s face suddenly froze like a rock.

The future written in the Scriptures had changed once again.

It wasn’t the end that changed.

It was just the process leading to the predetermined end that changed.

“Why…!?”

Boris’s face began to contort, unable to accept the given reality.

His eyes trembled, his hands shook as if he were going insane.

His face clearly showed his denial, unable to accept the reality given to him.

-Thunk!

Suddenly, Boris quickly covered the Scriptures he had been channeling mana into,

-Woong

He created a gate abruptly and disappeared somewhere.

Leaving behind the space of the Scriptures to the owner of the Tome.

“….?”

Whether he fled sensing defeat or retreated to preserve his strength, the situation was uncertain.

-Thud

With her opponent gone, Luna slumped to the floor, exhausted.

‘Luna!’

Hastia, startled, hurriedly ran to support her.

“Haa haa….”

Exhausted to the point where even maintaining consciousness seemed impossible, let alone breathing, after exerting her mana to its limit.

‘How did it get to this point…?’

To reach this point required tremendous mental strength and a single-minded determination to be of help to Cyan.

Hastia was not just impressed, but in awe of her.

-Kwakwang!

However, they didn’t even have time to feel that awe-inspiring emotion.

What remained in the space where the owner had disappeared was just collapse.

The space of the Scriptures was gradually heading towards destruction.

If they stayed there idly, they could be engulfed by the destruction as well.

They had to desperately escape, but Hastia didn’t have the ability to open a gate.

“A, a gate…!”

Luna knew this too, so she barely raised her hand,

But her hand, without even a trace of mana, fell weakly without being able to manifest the gate.

In a state where even maintaining consciousness was overwhelming, there was no strength left to open a gate.

Lost in indecision on what to do, Hastia’s gaze soon fell on the Tome that had slipped from Luna’s hand.

‘If I could just transfer my mana to Luna?’

It was power that she didn’t need in the current situation anyway.

Wouldn’t it be better if she transferred it to Luna instead?

Not entirely sure, but with the mindset of trying something at least, Hastia placed her hand on the Tome.

-Zziiing

A large amount of mana flowed through her fingertips into the Tome.

Soon, a blue light emanated from the Tome in response to the mana.

“Good job, ladies. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Using the mana he received, Remiharam created a gate and transferred them outside.

The space of the Scriptures collapsed with a loud noise and completely disappeared.

* * *

My body felt lighter.

My vitality soared even higher.

It feels like wearing clothes that fit perfectly on my body.

Was this the reason why the idiot god told me to find the Tome?

There was no power more fitting for me than this.

Not just me, but the same could be said for others as well.

The members who possessed the power of the mist were ecstatic, and even the knights and mercenaries who had no relevance were getting pumped up with the power, their morale boosted.

I still don’t understand.

Why did the power of the Tome suddenly appear?

Where did Hastia and Luna…?

-Wooong!

With the sound of space splitting, a white gate suddenly appeared behind me.

Naturally, I didn’t create it.

Although not exactly pleasant, a somewhat familiar face appeared beyond the strange space through which a strange atmosphere flowed.

It was Luna.

Without even sparing a glance at Hastia, who had just sent mental resonance to me, she struggled to come out with her support,

“…?”

I frowned at the incomprehensible situation.

“Hastia!”

“Luna!”

Brian and Luna’s knights also rushed to them as they noticed them.

As they approached Luna to support her and check her condition, Hastia’s anxious gaze soon turned towards me.

‘C-Cy… Cyan?’

“Just give me a brief explanation.”

At my indifferent response, Hastia’s eyes trembled for a moment.

She quickly summarized what had happened with Luna up until now.

But I wasn’t looking at Hastia’s face, which seemed to be at a loss for what to do.

Let alone looking at Luna, who was on the verge of collapse.

Then what was I looking at?

Behind Luna, a familiar face with long black hair similar to Kaeram’s, fluttering in the wind,

I was looking at the face of an unknown man.

Of course, he wasn’t human.

Apart from not being human, it seemed like only I could see him.

Even though someone emitting such suspicious energy was right there, no one paid any attention to him.

“….”

He just looked at me, not opening his mouth or anything.

What was he looking at me for?

If I had to guess from his eyes, which were the only thing I could see, he wasn’t looking at me with hostility, at least?

But it wasn’t friendly either.

He just seemed to have a lot to say but didn’t want to say it right now.

That seemed to be the right interpretation.

-Tap

He glanced at me briefly, then suddenly nodded his head as if giving a signal.

-Chin

At the same time, Luna grabbed my hand.

“Haa….”

She seemed to be having a hard time even breathing, let alone speaking.

I bowed my head in the spirit of listening, and as a result, our faces naturally became closer.

“I know roughly what you want to say….”

Barely lifting her head, she whispered into my ear.

“Why did you come to the Imperial Palace? Who asked you for help? You’re going to say something about that tree, right?”

Unable to do otherwise, I closed my mouth.

“Senior always acts selfishly, don’t you? There’s no rule saying I can’t be like that. I just did what I wanted to do.”

Whether it was a good decision or a bad one.

I don’t intend to judge her with such simplistic words as “well done” or “not well done.” I probably don’t even have the right to.

Honestly, I don’t even know what to say.

As if understanding my heart, Luna gradually squeezed my hand tighter.

“But even so, if it’s come to this…”

On the other hand, her voice dwindled, becoming increasingly faint.

But even if her voice became as soft as the breath of an ant,

“Is it okay for me to turn away now?”

It would still ring clear in my ears.

“When I open my eyes again, you should be the first person I see, Senior. If not…”

She paused without finishing her sentence.

I waited silently without urging her on.

“I might really cry.”

It was a bit out of the blue, but that thought crossed my mind.

Although she had been more indifferent, more relentless, and less human than me at times,

Right now, in this moment, she seemed the most human.

Luna buried her face in my embrace as she lost consciousness.

The warmth transmitted through touch.

I could tell how much she had exerted herself for me, even without her saying a word.

Gently embracing Luna, I guided her towards Brian.

“Protect her. No matter what happens…”

There was no need for a long speech, so I gave a brief instruction.

“I will uphold the honor of my lord!”

Brian soon wrapped her warmly in his cloak as he removed his own.

Thinking that I might only stir up bitter emotions if I looked any longer, I tried to turn away,

-Clang!

But the owner of the Holy Sword, who found this scene quite displeasing, personally rushed forward with his sword drawn.

It seems that the time has finally come.

The time to put an end to this long ordeal.

I only turned my eyes slightly and quietly opened my mouth.

“Three minutes. I’ll give you exactly three minutes.”

“…?”

“During those three minutes, including my brother, I will remove those glaring eyes that dare to oppose me from my sight.”

Aschel, thinking he must have misheard, furrowed his brow.

“You’re being too complacent. If I truly wished it, it would be better for you to kneel and beg with a sincere heart…”

“It’s not a request.”

Now it’s time to put an end to his absurd fantasies.

“And it’s not a warning either.”

The time has finally come for our intimate confession.

“This is an order from me to you, and a mercy.”

“I won’t be swayed by your empty words anymore!”

-Woong!

Aschel swung his sword with genuine intent, but

-Clang!

It was a sword that could never reach me.

In a moment that lasted less than a second,

The true form of the Holy Sword rose high into the air, not in Aschel’s hand, but hovering above the ground, and soon fell weakly to the ground.

After a brief period of about five seconds of silence,

I finally met his eyes and whispered softly.

“Ten seconds have passed.”