The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

-Thud!

The face of a troll, whose limbs had been severed, crashed to the ground.

“Ugh…”

Though it was breathing, it was as good as dead.

I sat on top of its head and sliced its throat.

-Swish!

The troll’s body slumped like a rag, and a thick, greenish liquid flowed from the sword.

Staring at it, I instinctively licked it.

“Ptooey!”

Disgustingly bitter.

They say medicine that is good for the body tastes bitter, but this is a bit much, isn’t it?

A peculiar, unsettling smell with intermittent fishiness wafted up.

[You think that’s enough taste? Lift its head like a man and gulp it down!]

The head seemed too repulsive to handle, so instead, I sliced the wrist just right to create a hole.

The blood of the troll flowed smoothly from the recessed space.

Closing my eyes tightly, I gulped it down directly into my mouth.

-Gulp, gulp

The pungent aroma that climbed up my throat involuntarily made my skin crawl.

This is much more than I had expected…

“It’s actually edible?”

[…?]

Surprised by the unexpected taste, I sliced the other arm of the troll in the same way.

Wondering if I had sensed it wrong, I took another gulp, and it tasted distinctly different from the blood of lower demons, with a mysterious flavor.

The troll’s wrist shriveled up after not too long.

[You’re practically a demon now…]

The chills on Kaeram’s expression were quite a sight.

It was my first time drinking troll blood, but it seems my taste is becoming increasingly deranged.

That is enough blood; what is left is the disposal…

-Thud, thud, thud

“This damn rain doesn’t seem to be letting up.”

Without bringing a fire mage, it would be difficult to burn the troll’s corpse in this rain.

[Why? Can’t we just leave it and go?]

“Leaving the corpse of a higher demon behind is too risky. There’s no need to leave unnecessary trouble behind.”

Just as I was pondering if there was a good solution,

-Whoosh

Suddenly, a familiar sound echoed in my ears.

It was reminiscent of a fierce water flow.

Come to think of it, if it’s around here…

[Then why not throw it into the water?]

That’s it.

If it is this vicinity, then the ‘Blood River’ should be flowing.

The water flow would be very strong due to the rain that had been falling for a long time.

Whether it settles at the bottom or flows to the demon world, once thrown, the strong current will take care of it.

Having decided, I cut the troll’s corpse into more pieces to make it easier to carry.

“It looks like it’ll be hard to carry it all at once, so I’ll have to make two or three trips.”

I slung the two legs, thick as pillars, over my shoulders.

The legs alone already exceeded my height by a good margin.

Though the two legs combined must weigh over 100kg, consuming the blood of demons had made me more than capable of handling this weight.

-Whoosh

Following the direction of the sound, after about 3 minutes?

A low cliff and the river flowing beneath it, glowing red, revealed themselves.

As expected, the water level had risen significantly due to the heavy rain.

Without hesitation, I threw the two legs I had slung over my shoulder down the cliff, and in an instant, they were swept away by the swift current, disappearing into the distance.

[You said it tasted good, don’t you feel it’s a waste to just throw it away after one taste?]

“What can I do? There’s no way to preserve it. One taste is all there is to it.”

Although I felt somewhat reluctant, there was no helping it.

I threw the rest of the carcass pieces I had brought into the Blood River, one after another.

It was a disposal as perfect as burning them.

Somehow, it feels harder to dispose of them than to catch them.

I took a moment to rest, sitting casually atop the cliff.

Naturally, my thoughts drifted to something else now that the demon was dealt with.

Kaeram, seeing my somewhat vacant expression, asked with a smile.

[Are you thinking about that princess? Are you worried, by any chance?]

“Not really.”

[You were all for her becoming the emperor before, and now you’re playing it cool? But did you mean it when you said she should become the emperor?]

“Well, it wasn’t just lip service, at least.”

I thought it was a far more valuable statement than just ‘become a princess who is beneficial to the empire.’

[Planning to be a kingmaker?]

“Not at all. I merely pointed her in a direction. Everything else is up to her.”

Whether she becomes an emperor ruling the empire or ends up as a beggar on the streets is entirely up to her.

However, now that I have confirmed that Aschel has taken an interest, I will have to keep an eye on her over the long term.

Still, I believe that if I keep watch, she will not repeat the fate of being the unfortunate princess.

Enough time has passed; by now, the reinforcements from the rear should have completed their rendezvous.

If I am found close by, I can naturally join them.

Just as I was about to get up and return to the camp,

“……!”

My face automatically turned towards a sudden, unfamiliar energy.

My eyes, wide open, met with the cliff opposite the one I was standing on, slightly higher and rising above.

It felt like a hungry predator turning at the scent of its prey.

I saw it.

Amidst the swirling storm, majestic purple wings spread wide!

A tail and claws sharp as if they were thrust into the ground!

A spiritual being that, unlike other species that feed on the sacred energy of the continent, thrives on the dark energy of the demon world!

“A… a dragon?”

It was a Demon Dragon, a rare, significant creature of the demon world.

“……”

By its size, it appeared to be a growing specimen, but the magical energy it emitted left no doubt it was a Demon Dragon.

Why would a creature that dwells deep within the demon world appear in the Lemea Valley?

Had it separated from its group?

Even if so, there was no reason for it to come all this way, right?

Could it have come following my scent?

But it did not seem particularly aggressive for that.

My mind became a tangled mess with these thoughts crossing each other.

Stay calm.

There is no need to overcomplicate things.

I just need to take the most appropriate action that I can and should do right now.

Demon Dragon.

Though a growing specimen, it was nonetheless a creature of significant stature.

A creature with a quality of blood incomparable to that of upper-level demons.

So then…

[Why has our master suddenly gone silent?]

Kaeram poked at my statue-like body, but I did not move an inch.

After a moment of contemplation, I grasped Kaeram and murmured softly.

“Dark Art 9th Form: Manifestation of the Magic Sword…”

[Eh? What’s suddenly happening!?]

Before he could panic, Kaeram, turned into mist, was absorbed into my body.

Despite her cries of confusion, I ignored them completely.

Because there was only one thought in my mind…

“I must capture… no, I must consume that dragon!”

* * *

“Kuaaagh!”

A troll, fearless in its charge, was met with the sword of a knight, imbued with sacred light.

-Swish

Struck by the sword filled with the power of light, the troll fell lifelessly.

With the knights nearby delivering the finishing blow, the upper-level monster was easily dealt with.

“Already the fifth one…”

Although the hunt was progressing smoothly, Duke Vert’s face remained grim.

Already five upper-level monsters encountered in such a short span of time. Coming across so many of these beings that were supposed to appear maybe once a month, in such a short period, could not be a coincidence.

“We must hurry, Wilius.”

The Emperor felt the urgency just as much.

With the thought of his daughter surrounded by monsters, there was no time to hesitate. Hoping only that she was safe, at that moment,

“……!”

From a direction not straight ahead but off to the side, urgent footsteps were heard.

Not just one person’s footsteps but many.

The knights, ready to advance, turned their gazes one by one, and soon, a light suspended in the air revealed the owners of the footsteps.

“Ah, Airen?”

The knights of the imperial army, bearing the empire’s emblem, and among them, a girl at the center.

It was Princess Airen, known to have been at the camp.

“Your Majesty, the Emperor!”

The knights, recognizing the Emperor, were the first to kneel.

Then, a maid hiding among them also showed herself.

“Why is Father here?”

Even as she spoke, Princess Airen quickly realized that it was because of her that the Emperor had come all this way.

To have caused worry to her father, the Emperor, was a grave sin for her as both a princess and a daughter.

“I am deeply sorry, Father!”

The princess too hastily knelt and begged for forgiveness.

“It’s alright as long as you’re safe.”

The Emperor consoled her without further reprimand.

For now, a great worry was lifted.

“……”

In an atmosphere that seemed to allow no one else to interject, Emily kept her head bowed silently, realizing the Emperor was right in front of her.

The tremendous pressure made it unclear whether it was rain or sweat that soaked her, making her wonder if it was all over. Just as she dared to slightly lift her head,

She came face-to-face with an unfamiliar figure approaching her.

“Eek!”

It was none other than Duke Vert.

Startled, Emily fell backward.

“Weren’t you the maid brought by Cyan?”

“Yes, Your Grace! I am Emily, serving Master Cyan!”

Given that he had seen her around the mansion on several occasions, it was impossible for the Duke not to recognize her face.

However, for some reason, the maid’s master was nowhere to be seen.

Overwhelmed by a sudden surge of intense anxiety, the Duke found himself unable to continue speaking.

“We must hurry and save him!”

The princess’s pleading cry captured everyone’s attention.

“Who are you speaking of, Your Highness?”

“Prince Cyan! He made us evacuate and then disappeared on his own, saying he would lure the monsters away! We must go to his aid quickly!”

Tears, or perhaps raindrops, glistened at the corners of her eyes.

She looked not like a princess but a young girl, without a doubt.

“……”

The Duke’s right hand trembled severely, struck by shock.

As he remained silent, the Emperor asked in his stead.

“Which way did he flee?”

“We know the direction! Just give the order, and we will go to rescue the prince!”

The knights who had escorted the princess expressed their readiness to return and save him.

“What are you doing, Wilius? Shouldn’t you be saving your son?”

The Duke remained silent still.

Just as the Emperor was about to take matters into his own hands,

“The operation will proceed as planned.”

A voice, soft but clear enough for everyone to hear.

It was a moment that shocked everyone present, including the Emperor.

“Wilius, are you serious?”

“At the moment, dozens of lives at the camp are hanging in the balance between life and death. We cannot afford to deploy a large force just to search for my uncertain son. Ensuring Her Highness’s safety is enough to fulfill my child’s duty.”

Even the Emperor, the guardian of the continent, could not object to the Duke’s cold, decisive judgment.

With the Emperor acknowledging the unyielding will, he quietly turned his head.

“Order to all units, continue the operation!”

The knights resumed their march towards the camp.

Airen, witnessing the entire situation, covered her mouth in disbelief.

“Why? Why all of this…?”

His life was thrown away for the sole reason of her being a princess.

She, in reality, could do nothing to save that life.

“Father! This cannot be right, no matter how you think about it. We don’t have time! We must save him now!”

Princess Airen pleaded earnestly, but the Emperor coldly turned away from her gaze.

“What are you doing? Take the princess away.”

The response was an indifferent command.

Faced with such a cruel reality, she could only feel despair.

The helplessness of being unable to do anything.

It was a moment so pathetic it made her question her own existence.

‘In such a state, you wouldn’t be able to save even a beggar lying on the street.’

Was that not an all too fitting description, impossible to refute with even a single word?

A princess incapable of saving anyone.

That was the current state of ‘Airen Sevellus’.

-Whoosh!

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew from somewhere.

Not only the princess but also the advancing knights bowed their bodies in unison.

With the gust, the rain intensified, and a shadow was cast upon the sky, now consumed by darkness.

The princess slowly lifted her head towards the direction from which the wind had come.

“……!”

At that moment, an unknown creature caught her eye.

With its large wings spread wide, it exuded a nobility different from ordinary monsters.

As everyone on the ground looked up at this being, the princess suddenly saw an unfamiliar figure hanging from the creature’s clawed feet.

“Cyan?”

Her heart was a mix of confusion and relief at that moment.

(To be continued)