The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

The accident came to a momentary halt.

Was it because I never expected to see or witness such a sight?

The leader, covered in blood and bruises, lay before me.

It was a completely unfamiliar sight to me.

I even considered the possibility that the leader might be disguised, or perhaps someone insane had impersonated the leader, but no.

That was unmistakably the leader.

Silica Nigriti, the leader of Mist, and my only master, was now on the verge of death before me.

[……!]

The rough trembling of my right hand snapped me out of my daze.

Kaeram, trembling even more violently than before, almost uncontrollably.

It wasn’t just because of seeing the leader covered in blood.

Right in front of the suspended leader, there was another figure emitting a faint white radiance, its identity unknown.

Strange.

The pure white color covering its entire body looked extremely eerie.

Sure, white is one thing, but… it’s repulsive.

Even looking at it made me feel nauseous.

It’s disgusting enough to question why such a being exists in this world.

What is it?

Certainly not human.

Nor is it a soulless entity like Kaeram or Durandal.

It’s like a divine being in its own right…

[Lu, Lumendel!]

Kaeram provided the answer.

Lumendel?

So, this repulsive figure’s owner is named Lumendel?

Odd.

As far as I know, there’s only one being in this world who could bear the name Lumendel.

Could it be referring to the omnipotent god of light, Lumendel?

The one even considered the supreme deity among gods?

Well, whatever.

What matters now isn’t that.

What truly matters now is that regardless of who that repulsive figure is, that thing has brought the leader to such a state.

I glanced at the leader to confirm her condition.

She hadn’t lost consciousness, and were breathing steadily.

She probably didn’t suffer any fatal injuries.

So, what should I do in this situation?

Carry the leader and leave the scene?

That’s out of the question, isn’t it?

What I must do is undoubtedly…

Tear apart that repulsive figure until it’s unrecognizable!

-Snap

The leader, suspended in the air, fell to the ground with a thud.

“…….”

As the repulsive figure turned its gaze toward me,

-Swish!

I rushed towards it without hesitation.

I aimed to slash through its lower body first, but before I could swing my blade,

-Swish!

I was just two fingers’ distance away from its leg.

A transparent barrier rippled and blocked my blade.

It seemed to be some kind of restrictive barrier, but it was exceptionally sturdy.

Judging that a simple strike wouldn’t penetrate it, I stepped back for a moment.

At the same time, I corrected Kaeram and said,

“Shadow Arts: Solid-rooted Strike!”

I swiftly cast the technique of the Mist Blade, channeling the surging mist’s power into Kaeram and thrusting it straight towards the creature’s face.

-Crackle!

With a clear sound, the barrier began to crack.

As the crack widened like roots sinking into the ground, and just as I was about to thrust my blade into the gap,

-Thunk

“……!”

It was blocked.

Stopped right in its tracks, just one finger’s distance away from its nose.

Blocked by what?

A finger.

Stuck between the creature’s index and middle fingers, my hand remained frozen in place.

“So, you wield the Demonic Sword,”

The creature remarked, giving Kaeram a quick glance.

“That means you’re nothing but a remnant of Aeru.”

-Whoosh

Not willing to entertain its mockery any longer, I thrust my fist through the gap instead of Kaeram.

-Thud!

Even hitting a rock with my fist wouldn’t feel this way.

Nothing blocked it.

I landed a solid blow to the creature’s left cheek, exactly as I aimed.

In a normal situation, it should have been sent flying backwards, perhaps even slamming into a wall due to the impact, but,

“…….”

It remained unscathed.

Not only did it not fly back, but there was no recoil, not even a twitch of an eyebrow.

“How peculiar,” it spoke again.

“You possess a power that doesn’t befit creations modeled after our essence.”

As it spoke, it grabbed my wrist that I had thrust forward.

Then, as if sensing something, it began to twist and turn my arm.

“Indeed. This dynamic flow couldn’t possibly be human. You, you’ve consumed the blood of the demons.”

-Thwack!

In an instant, an incredible force emanated from its body, pushing me away.

Pushed back along with Kaeram, I quickly regained my balance in mid-air before landing on the ground.

“Kuwek!”

As I landed, a wave of nausea surged from within me.

Disgusting.

An utterly repulsive force.

It wasn’t particularly powerful or imposing, yet it made me incredibly uncomfortable just by coming into contact with me.

Why?

Why does it make me feel this way?

What right does that arrogant god of light have to make me feel…!

“Disgusting.”

Unconsciously, my face contorted at its words.

“Why does merely looking at you evoke such a repulsive feeling? Your kind hasn’t changed at all from before. You’re an existence that shouldn’t exist in this world.”

“…….”

“It’s agonizing to know that I can’t erase you with my own hands.”

Disgusting?

It seems the emotions I felt upon facing it were reciprocated through me.

It could be possible.

It could.

But even so, to that extent…?

“You don’t even appear human.”

Right.

It had to spit out those words.

Why is it that those who view me negatively never treat me as human?

I’m definitely human.

I’m doing all this right now to stand proudly as a human in this world,

Haha.

A dry laugh escaped my lips, tinged with a slight sense of disappointment.

[…….]

Kaeram’s trembling hadn’t ceased.

Glancing at the empty space, I asked.

“Hey, Kaeram.”

[……Why?]

Though somewhat reluctant, fortunately, it responded.

“Why are you trembling?”

[What?]

“Why are you trembling? Is that repulsive figure so terrifying to you?”

It was a very straightforward question.

[Are you kidding me?]

The unexpected response came.

[Do I look like I’m trembling right now?]

No?

Wasn’t it trembling since it sensed its aura before me?

Like the man who scolded me for not feeling the lady’s fear, surely the trembling I’ve been feeling…?

Oh.

Wait.

I was mistaken for a moment.

She wasn’t trembling.

Just like me,

[She’s shuddering from disgust!]

She simply felt repulsed.

Shivering from an indescribable revulsion.

[I told you, didn’t I? That thing seems to consider you a target for complete erasure now.]

“Yeah, it did.”

[It’s none other than that creature.]

Her voice still carried a tremor.

Not from fear or apprehension,

[It’s not because of fear or terror, it’s because even the great Lumendel, whom everyone praises, thought about erasing you from this world!]

but from exhilaration.

[Our master seems to have grown as much as us outside of the eyes of the gods, doesn’t he? I want to stroke your head as if I’ve gone mad, but unfortunately, I don’t think I can do that right now.]

She felt it so intensely, almost bordering on madness.

[That face is so repulsive that I feel like I have to suppress it right now or else!]

The true nature of the Demonic Sword that I momentarily forgot surged through the sword and spread throughout my body.

[You have to control me well, don’t you, Master? Otherwise, I might really go on a rampage today! To the point where I might even devour you without hesitation!]

But warning like that might not be very effective, right?

Because,

Right now, I don’t feel much different from you.

Before erasing that thing from this world, it seems like I won’t be able to leave this place.

“Mist 9th Technique: Demonic Sword Manifestation.”

I drew out all the mist energy within me and manifested my power.

“…….”

The creature’s face slightly furrowed upon sensing my energy.

“Don’t be so insolent.”

Along with the furrow, it emanated a sense of discomfort.

“Although I have to erase you, I don’t particularly want to dirty my hands by doing it directly. There’s no reason to give you the tremendous honor of meeting your end by my hands. If I linger, it feels like only my insides will be turned upside down, so let’s call our face-off here.”

What an repulsive thing to say, again.

Why does it feel like you’re trying to escape by neatly wrapping up the situation with your words?

Aren’t I the one who should be judging that entirely?

With determination and at the same time maximizing the power of the mist, I charged toward it.

-Swish!

A familiar sensation.

The same sensation I felt just a few minutes ago, stimulating my entire body.

The golden lance blocking Kaeram’s blade.

Similar to the lance that blocked Aschel’s path,

It reappeared before me.

Along with the knight clad in the same golden armor.

-Thwack!

The moment I sensed the knight’s presence, the surrounding area was quickly engulfed in white light, soon consuming the entire space.

As if my body had been transferred to another dimension.

“I’ll grant you some mercy instead.”

“……!”

“A chance to realize your insignificant position… ”

* * *

The trembling throughout her body didn’t stop.

Feeling a strange sensation for the first time in her life.

As Arin, who had witnessed the entire process from when Silica, who had been perfectly fine carrying the box, turned into a mess,

She didn’t dare think she could do anything.

In the midst of that, Cyan suddenly appeared, somehow knowing about the situation.

Without any hesitation, Cyan rushed towards the unknown entity and disappeared along with unfamiliar light.

“Wake up, Arin!”

The shoulder wound, which had been spouting blood, was now neatly stitched up.

It was Violet who had urgently healed the wound.

“T-Thank you, Sister…”

Uncomfortable with expressing gratitude after healing herself, Violet turned her head away.

Leaning against the wall, Arin naturally shifted her gaze towards Silica.

Despite her body being covered in bloodstains, her condition was critical.

In haste, Mia generated healing light, but…

“Get rid of it.”

Silica rejected, pushing away Mia’s hand.

Instead…

-Thud!

“…!”

Not just Mia and Violet, but even Arin, everyone present except for Silica doubted their eyes.

“W-What are you doing?”

Even Mia’s question was ignored by her.

-Thud! Thud! Thud!

Despite being in a state where a simple healing could have easily restored her, Silica, instead of getting better, worsened her condition by ruthlessly stabbing her own body with a sword.

“Stop it, Teacher!”

Startled, Arin ran to restrain her, despite her abnormal condition.

*Gurgle!*

However, Silica had already deteriorated to the point of spitting up blood uncontrollably.

“H-Hurry, use healing magic…!”

-Swish

Swiftly, Silica aimed the sword at Arin’s throat as she tried to generate healing light.

“Don’t do anything and just step back.”

“B-But…!”

“Even in this state, I still have the power to kill the Princess. I don’t have the strength to warn you twice, so please, just step back.”

Amidst her pleading appeal, Silica continued to spit up blood uncontrollably.

“What’s the reason? Are you trying to atone for your sins with your life now? This method is absolutely…!”

“Who’s talking about atonement?”

Silica snickered as if the idea was absurd.

“This isn’t about atoning for sins. So, there’s no need to look at me with those delicate eyes, Princess Arin.”

A faint smile appeared on her lips, stained red.

At this moment, she wasn’t the assassin accustomed to killing, but rather, she was the gentle Silica, an instructor at the Royal Academy.

“It’s all for that child…”

—————