The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

-Clank-

With the opening of the iron bars, the full figure of the Hellhound was revealed.

The multitude of chains restraining its neck.

If these chains were released, it would rush at me without hesitation.

“Now, the monster before you is a Hellhound, a creature from the demon world. It’s utterly ferocious and driven solely by the instinct to kill. However, the front lines are overflowing with even more monstrous creatures than this.”

I know. Moreover, the Hellhound is considered the lowest class among the demonic creatures inhabiting the Lemea Valley.

“So, prove yourself by defeating this Hellhound right here! If you do, I will permit you to accompany us to the front lines.”

To think he personally captured a creature from the demon world for this audacious child.

Honestly, I am slightly more than impressed.

Indeed, Eulken’s judgment was accurate.

With a vision befitting the title of the continent’s guardian, my father is a man of high discernment.

As a child of the Vert family, if one wishes to go to the front lines, this trial clearly defines the qualities one must possess.

A creature from another world, not found anywhere on this continent we live in.

Humans inherently feel the greatest fear when faced with the unknown.

An ordinary person would lose strength in their legs or even wet themselves just by seeing a demonic creature.

I was like that at first, too, and it took a significant amount of time to adapt.

But what about now?

It is just a rampaging mutt.

Just a bit bigger, a bit more agile, and with slightly tougher and sharper teeth?

Even the senior knights defending the front lines could sweep away dozens of such puppies with a single stroke of their swords.

However, if I were to encounter this demonic creature for the first time, it could be said to be a more difficult trial than facing ten senior knights.

It shows how challenging it is to overcome the fear of this unknown creature and that only by surpassing it can one truly be deemed qualified, through this trial.

-Swish-

I drew my sword without hesitation.

The knights maintained a certain distance, prepared for any eventuality.

Probably to act as the last line of defense to prevent an irreversible situation.

Even if my personal safety is guaranteed, if those knights move, my journey to the front lines would be in vain.

Of course, that is something that will never happen…

-Clank-

With a signal, the chains restraining the Hellhound were released.

“Argh!”

As if proving it is not just any dog, it charged at me with a single roar.

-Clang!

I tilted my sword upwards to strike its fangs forcefully.

Even though I have been doing strength training these past few days, it is still not enough to withstand the power of a Hellhound.

I slightly twisted my body to dodge to the side, and the creature tumbled forward.

“Grrr…”

Despite the presence of other knights around, its gaze was already fixed on me.

It instinctively understood that I was the weakest here.

But that is the limit of such an inferior creature…

I did not want to show any signs of struggling.

What does age or being a demonic creature matter?

The goal of this trial is to draw out the maximum from what I can show and prove myself.

I will cut off its breath with the next strike.

“Argh!”

I moved faster than the Hellhound.

Running with my sword drawn down, its mouth opened wider as I got closer.

When the distance between us was reduced to 1m, I stepped sideways to change direction.

At the same time, I raised my sword diagonally to slash across the Hellhound’s face.

-Slash-

A deep cut was made from its jaw to its nose.

“Kuahh!”

It crashed to the ground, screaming as if its throat would tear.

The pain must be intense, but it would only be for a moment.

-Thud-

I thrust my sword into the neck of the creature trying to rise again.

With a single moan, it writhed mightily but not for long.

A large amount of blood flowed from between its neck and mouth, and soon its body slackened.

The moment its death was confirmed, I withdrew my sword.

I wiped the blood splattered on my face and could not help but taste it a bit.

As expected, it is fresh since it was just slain…

* * *

Eulken, a Guardian Knight of the Order of Light.

Watching Cyan’s trial, he was genuinely taken aback.

‘He defeated a Hellhound?’

Over the past month, he had been ordered by the Duke to protect Cyan and had been faithfully carrying out that mission.

There was also the task of making additional reports if there were any special movements, but in fact, there was not much he had reported to the Duke about observing Cyan.

At most, it was about Cyan having a swordsmanship duel with Alice who had visited the mansion.

It was not that he had not noticed anything; there was just nothing to report.

At least during his observation, all Cyan did was consistent strength training and swordsmanship practice.

If there was anything to report, it was about being a sparring partner for a brief moment three days ago.

However, even that was not disclosed due to Cyan’s command.

When Eulken learned that Cyan’s trial involved facing a Hellhound, he thought Cyan would pass it without much trouble.

The exceptional swordsmanship shown in the sparring with himself, and the confidence.

To face the monsters of the demon world, one must possess unwavering confidence, not fearing anything.

He thought that even if Cyan struggled a bit, as long as he did not get intimidated and kept fighting, he would surely be able to defeat it.

But was this not too quick?

It took Cyan just about a minute to cut off the Hellhound’s breath.

During that time, no negative emotions like fear or terror were visible in Cyan’s eyes.

He simply recognized the creature before him as an enemy and killed it.

To put it bluntly, he played with it like it was nothing.

Eulken quietly watched Cyan drawing his sword and thought.

A child has emerged who not only matches but surpasses the first and second…

* * *

Seeing the blood soaking the floor, I could not help but think it was a waste.

At least 5 liters could have been extracted…

I am probably the only human who would salivate over the corpse of a demonic creature.

While the knights were clearing away the body, the Duke approached me.

“Well done, Cyan!”

The Duke, who seldom applauds, praised me with a deep exclamation.

“Weren’t you afraid of the Hellhound?”

“I just thought of it as an enemy I had to defeat; I didn’t entertain the thought of fear.”

It would be strange to fear a Hellhound, a common stray in the demon world.

“Very well, as promised, I will allow you to join us on the front lines. I have no doubt it will be a very good experience for you!”

“Thank you, Father.”

“Is there anything else you desire? If you wish, I will grant you new weapons and armor.”

“I’m not yet knowledgeable about weapons and armor. I would be grateful for whatever you deem fit.”

“Then, I will make sure to prepare something that you will surely like.”

What use would other weapons and armor be now?

In my possession already is a divine demonic sword, comfortably taking its rest…

It might not be needed, but receiving it would not be bad either.

With the trial over, there was no reason to stay in this barren land any longer.

I returned to the mansion in the carriage I had arrived in, while the Duke and the rest of the knights went back to the front lines.

After making some simple preparations at the mansion, I too would head to the front lines.

It was not exactly a place I missed, but it was a place of memories, if you could call it that.

Somehow, it made me feel nostalgic.

[It seems quite an interesting event took place while I was asleep?]

Kaeram, who had awoken from her sleep, materialized.

[Judging by the smell of blood, you killed a Hellhound, but it looks like you struggled more than expected?]

“Well, I had to fight while holding back my power, so it was somewhat challenging.”

[Putting on a show, huh. So, it’s decided that you’re going to the front lines or whatever? Can I finally run wild as I please?]

“Hmm… Perhaps?”

I responded with a half-hearted question, but Kaeram was already consumed with anticipation.

The truth is, I would have to see how things go there to know for sure whether we could really let loose as much as we would like.

[Hey, but Master. I was thinking while I was asleep…]

“What?”

[When you died in your previous life, what was I doing?]

“What else, you were firmly grasped in my hand.”

Though, in the end, that hand was cleanly severed…

[So what was I doing in my previous life? And you said the one who killed you was the owner of a holy sword? If that was the case, there’s no way I wouldn’t have sensed their malice.]

Hmm, where to begin explaining?

Certainly, if Kaeram’s personality had existed at that time, I would not have died so easily.

I would have been slapped awake to fight if necessary. “First of all, in your previous life, you and I fought fiercely.”

[Why?]

“Why? Because you kept trying to swallow me whole without any warning, so we fought to suppress that. Back then, I contemplated throwing you into a lava pit dozens of times.”

[You think handling a charming demonic sword like me is easy? So what happened then?]

“When I found you, it was during the height of the war with the demon race. I was on the brink of life and death when I tamed you. Thanks to your rampaging, I was able to adapt quickly, though…”

Honestly, if we were to count the number of demons Kaeram slew at that time, it would easily be in the hundreds of thousands.

In a way, their sacrifices prevented me from being consumed by Kaeram.

“By the way, it was also you and me who pushed the Demon King to his death. Well, in the end, it was the holy sword that beheaded him, but…”

[You call that a bragging right? Why did you lose it at the end?]

“It’s not so much that it was taken from me; I gave it away. At that time, I thought that was the right thing to do.”

Looking back, it seems like such a foolish act.

[That’s ridiculous!? The thing I hate the most in the world is having my prey taken from me! And you allowed that? Me?]

“There wasn’t much about allowing or not. You disappeared after engaging in a death struggle with the Demon King’s death sword.”

[What?!]

His sudden exclamation made me instinctively cover my ears.

Of course, the knights outside could not hear any of it.

[What kind of nonsense is that? Why would I disappear?]

At that time, the Demon King possessed the most dreadful weapon known as the Death Sword, which enhanced his power by gathering the souls and thought entities of humans and demons who died in the war. Aschel, who had not yet fully unleashed the power of the Holy Sword, was no match for him.

In the end, it was essentially all up to me from start to finish.

Kaeram decided that even at the risk of her own demise, she must take him down with her and directly confronted the soul of the Death Sword. As a result, she successfully halved the power of the Death Sword.

It was the result of her firm will to kill him, even at the cost of her own personality.

Although we succeeded in killing the Demon King, I lost the greatest companion I would never meet again in my life, so it could hardly be called a success.

After hearing the whole story, Kaeram wore a complex expression.

[So, I didn’t lose in the end, right?]

“Right, ultimately, the Demon King died, and the Death Sword was destroyed.”

[Then that’s fine. Given my nature, I can’t stand losing. If it was such a situation… But!]

Just as she seemed to agree, she suddenly leaned her face towards me.

[If such a situation arises again, never sacrifice me. I can’t accept seeing my master die in my absence.]

A sincere anger lingered in her eyes.

“Oh? I didn’t know someone so eager to devour me would have such feelings.”

[Don’t be mistaken. It’s because I don’t want my prey taken by someone else.]

(PR: she’s a tsundere lol)

As expected.

Well, I also do not wish for her to be sacrificed again.

“Even if the Demon King appeared before me now, that would not happen.”

[Be careful with your words. What if that Demon King actually shows up?]

“Who knows? Wouldn’t that be somewhat interesting?”

Seeing me laugh carelessly, Kaeram shook her head.

However, it is said that people should be careful with their words.

Thoughtless words sown can bear fruit,

And at that moment, I had momentarily forgotten that important principle.

(To be continued)