The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Somewhere, in the grim air,

The foul stench of decaying corpses,

And the unpleasant sound of wailing that makes your spine tingle.

At first glance, it’s a dangerous place where one shouldn’t step foot.

-Dook

Underneath a giant vine tree, a Devil Boar was tearing apart its recently caught prey with gusto.

Around it, regardless of whether they were allies or not, Big Mantises treated anything in sight as food,

Below them, a Death Worm with a slender body writhed endlessly as if patrolling its territory.

In this terrifying place deep in the demon realm, within an unnamed marsh where fearsome creatures roamed,

A man with sharp red eyes boldly revealed himself.

Sensing his presence, the creatures all turned their attention towards him.

Considering their predatory nature that never let prey escape once discovered, they would normally rush at him immediately.

“Kiiik….”

The creatures only emitted warning cries, as no one dared to approach easily.

They sensed the immense aura of power emanating from the man’s body and were afraid.

“Aren’t you coming?”

The man provocatively addressed the creatures.

Provoked, the creatures bared their teeth and front paws and rushed towards him, but

-Shuffling

Exactly one minute later,

All the creatures that had rushed towards the man were scattered around with their limbs severed, and five minutes later,

“Ah! Finally, my body feels a bit relaxed.”

The creatures in the marsh were completely annihilated.

The man nonchalantly stretched his body as if it were no trouble at all.

“You’re here.”

Just then, another middle-aged man with neatly groomed beard appeared behind the man.

“Didn’t I tell you? It’s fine if you want to go out, but at least leave a word before you go.”

“Do you have to keep nagging about being careful with this and that? Listening to your nagging makes me lose my appetite for anything.”

“Isn’t my advice for the benefit of the Demon Lord? Having the right attitude of learning is important to become a true ruler.”

The man turned a deaf ear, indicating he didn’t want to hear more.

Despite being the strongest being in the demon realm and the absolute ruler, Demon Lord Velcarion, in front of Rogers, his advisor and the overall commander of the demon castle, he seemed utterly powerless.

“Hey Rogers. I’m fine with everything, but do I really have to listen to your nagging even after doing good deeds? Can’t you just give me a compliment and move on?”

“Although I’d like to, when I look around, it seems impossible. Even though this marsh is a good habitat for creatures, I didn’t expect habitats to form so close to human settlements.”

Rogers looked around with a troubled face.

“That’s why I have to wander around more often, right? For the sake of the peace of our demon realm residents!”

The reason Velcarion annihilated the creatures in the marsh was simple.

It was for the safety of the residents living near the marsh.

For him, it wasn’t something done once in a while but a daily routine of patrolling various parts of the demon realm.

“Anyway, let’s hurry back. Lady Bestia is waiting.”

“Just a moment! Shouldn’t we deal with these corpses before leaving?”

“I’ll take care of it.”

Leaving Velcarion behind, Rogers confidently stepped forward.

He extended his hand, gathering mana.

-Swoosh

Soon, along with a crimson magic circle from his hand, scorching flames spread out like pillars, engulfing the torn corpses.

The corpses soon turned into ashes without a trace.

After completing the clean-up, the two demons headed towards the demon castle.

“Hey Rogers. Do you know what I’ve been thinking lately?”

Velcarion, who was following behind, suddenly smirked and asked.

“You’re thinking about that little human we met ten years ago.”

“How did you know?!”

“You’ve mentioned it at least a hundred and forty-two times. Don’t you always bring it up whenever you feel like it?”

“Really?”

Velcarion, feeling awkward, looked up at the sky, lost in thought.

“By now, that human would have grown up, right?”

“He should have. Physically, he would be around the Demon Lord’s age.”

“I mean, that guy’s audacious words still haven’t faded from my memory.”

The Demon Lord recalled that moment with a slight smile.

“He said we should make a deal.”

“Right. He asked us not to cross into their territory no matter what and promised to help us. He was truly a strange fellow, wasn’t he?”

“Indeed, it didn’t feel like he said anything just to survive.”

Rogers nodded in agreement with Velcarion’s thoughts.

“Sometimes I think about it now…”

Velcarion turned his head suddenly, looking in a different direction.

It was the direction of Lemea Valley where they had met that boy.

“If, and that’s a big if, I ever have to agree to that deal, what should I ask of him?”

“Do you have any specific thoughts about that?”

Velcarion didn’t answer immediately and paused for a moment.

“If I were to ask for the ultimate battle that could quench my boiling spirit, would it be impossible?”

“It seems absolutely impossible. That’s too demanding for just one human man to handle, isn’t it?”

Rogers denied the Demon Lord’s thoughts outright.

“But didn’t you say? Humans are a race with tremendous potential for growth! With continuous growth and development, it might be possible, right? Besides, that little fellow…”

“…?”

“His gaze was quite threatening!”

It could be just a mood, but Velcarion felt that if it were that boy, he might fulfill his demands.

“Speaking of the handover, they say the atmosphere around Lemea Valley isn’t quite right these days.”

With that, Rogers changed the topic.

“Lemea Valley? Isn’t it common for creatures to rampage there?”

“Although that’s true, this time it seems like a different problem. Recently, creatures have been crossing over from the valley and Blood River into the demon realm itself.”

Velcarion stopped abruptly, surprised.

“Do you mean the creatures were driven out of their territories?”

“There’s a possibility. A new superior creature may have appeared in the valley, or…”

“Or?”

“Human settlements beyond the valley may have launched a large-scale extermination of creatures.”

Rogers suggested several other possibilities.

“Human settlements.”

The Demon Lord touched his chin, deep in thought.

Coincidentally, their current location wasn’t far from Lemea Valley.

Having made up his mind, Velcarion immediately spread his wings.

“You go back first, Rogers. Since I’m already here, I might as well visit Lemea Valley.”

“What should I tell Lady Bestia?”

“Hmm… Tell her I went to buy a gift!”

With that, Velcarion flew high into the sky.

As Rogers watched him disappear beyond the horizon, he sighed softly and turned back towards the demon castle.

After about 30 minutes of flight, Velcarion arrived near Lemea Valley and landed on the ground.

-Thunk!

As if waiting, a Death Worm emerged from the ground with its mouth wide open.

Without hesitation, Velcarion grabbed both sides of the worm’s mouth and

-Crunch!

With tremendous strength, he tore its mouth apart right there.

“Seems like what Rogers said was true.”

Velcarion spoke calmly as he looked at the torn worm’s corpse.

For a Death Worm from deep within the valley to reveal itself outside, something strange indeed was happening.

Convinced that something unusual had occurred, Velcarion hastily made his way into the valley.

“…”

Quiet.

Normally, there would have been at least six attacks by creatures, but for some reason, there wasn’t a single bug in the valley.

Puzzled, as he continued forward, he soon heard the flowing water and saw Blood River ahead.

Just as he was walking absent-mindedly, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Exactly ten years ago, in that exact spot.

Velcarion had first seen that boy from twenty steps away.

But now, ten years later.

In that place, instead of the dark-haired boy Velcarion had seen,

there was another human.

For some reason, just looking at him evoked a sense of repulsion, a certain blond man.

“Nice to meet you for the first time, Lord of the Demon Realm…”

Naturally, he was a stranger Velcarion had never seen in his life.

However, upon seeing Velcarion, the man confidently addressed him as the Lord of the Demon Realm.

As if he knew who Velcarion was from the start.

“Do you know me?”

“Whether it’s the dignity emanating from your body or the strength subtly emanating, there can only be one person in the entire Demon Realm who possesses this aura. If I’m mistaken, I apologize.”

With an unwavering demeanor and a certain arrogance, the man was quite irksome.

Nevertheless, Velcarion had realized one thing from his words just now.

Whether he was the Lord of the Demon Realm or not, that man wanted the Lord of the Demon Realm to appear.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have shown such anticipation in his expression.

For now, Velcarion decided to play along.

“Well, well. Nearby creatures, have you dealt with them all?”

“It was impossible for me alone. I drove them out with the knights who follow me. It’s a matter of clearing the dead end.”

After giving a seemingly incomprehensible answer, the man kneeled before Velcarion.

“Lord of the Demon Realm. No, Demon King! Please, grant our request!”

“Request?”

“Yes! In our realm, a presence of darkness that goes against the order of the gods has appeared, causing chaos in the world. However, with our limited strength, we couldn’t stop it. So we came to the demon realm to seek help.”

“Are you asking me to deal with that negative existence you’re talking about?”

“No matter how urgent our situation is, we wouldn’t make such an audacious request. What we want to ask of you is simply to come to our realm and cause a small disturbance.”

Velcarion’s eyes narrowed for a moment.

“You want me to come to your realm?”

“Yes. Please come and cause a very minor disturbance. That’s all I’m asking of the Demon Lord.”

“And what do you gain from that?”

The man didn’t answer immediately but tilted the corners of his mouth upwards.

Then, slowly opening his mouth, he said,

“We will make the whole of our realm aware that such a negative existence should not exist in this world.”

“…!”

“Will you help us?”

Velcarion couldn’t help but burst into a bitter laugh at the absurdity of it all.

Making everyone in their realm aware of how dangerous the negative existence is through him?

Wasn’t that just them using him as a puppet for their own amusement?

To dare make such a bold request of the strongest in the demon realm,

Rather than feeling angry, Velcarion was simply dumbfounded.

“Hey, human friend.”

Feeling uncomfortable, Velcarion forced a wry smile and spoke.

“What’s your name?”

“Aschel. Aschel Vert.”

Upon hearing the name, Velcarion’s lips twitched slightly.

“Vert?”

Although his memory wasn’t great, there was one name that had been firmly etched in his mind for the past ten years.

Aschel Vert.

Whether it was a coincidence or not, Aschel had a name that was strangely similar to the one Velcarion remembered.

“Perhaps, by any chance…”

Velcarion looked at him and asked again.

“The negative existence you’re talking about right now. What’s their name?”

Asking for the name of the negative existence, the man seemed to hesitate for a moment.

However, as if he couldn’t keep it to himself, he casually answered.

“Cyan.”

“…!”

“Cyan Vert.”

As soon as he heard the answer, a cold silence filled the air,

And soon, a sincere smile of joy appeared on Velcarion’s lips.

“Cyan Vert, you say?”