The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Episode 202. Contact (5)

Hastia and I returned precisely at sunset to Aer’s sub-space.

Coincidentally, the head of the household was already back.

Noticing this, Aer discreetly excused himself, and I sat down calmly in front of the stern-looking head, arms crossed.

“I’m sure I told you to reflect on your actions?”

“Isn’t it enough that I didn’t cause any trouble?”

“Maybe start by properly cleaning the blood under your nails before you say that?”

She’s someone you just can’t deceive.

Pretending ignorance, I asked.

“Didn’t you receive an invitation from Princess Arin to accompany her on an archaeological expedition?”

“How did you find out about that?”

“Are you going?”

“It’s not like I can go with Princess Arin anyway. The royal family has denied her request to visit the ruins. Even if it had been approved, I wouldn’t have gone. Boris L’Hellem would be accompanying her.”

I wasn’t surprised since I had already learned this while interrogating a knight named Gale.

However, I was puzzled.

“Boris knows about our relationship. Why hasn’t he exposed us?”

He has known our true identities for a long time.

It would have been normal for the royal family to declare us wanted long ago, forcing the head of the household to live on the run like me.

Why is he still keeping his mouth shut?

“That’s what puzzles me too. After you holed up in the sub-space, I also went into hiding for a while. Yet the royal family hasn’t tried to investigate or dig into our family. Whatever their schemes, they’ve left us alone. But that doesn’t mean we can relax. Boris probably knows I’m currently in Luwen.”

It was only a matter of time before we could be exposed.

In this situation, the head probably wouldn’t want to confront Boris either.

I asked again.

“What’s in those ruins?”

“A way to kill a god.”

My eyes widened, and the head continued.

“…or so Princess Arin told me.”

“Have you become more fond of jokes?”

“I never joke.”

The head answered with a stern face.

That meant Princess Arin had indeed said such a thing.

“At least, you seem to have found some worth in risking your life.”

“What do you mean?”

“Princess Arin is serious. She’s scouring through the history and records of the old era, trying to find a way to kill a god.”

“Why would she do that?”

“It’s because of you, isn’t it?”

I couldn’t keep my expression in check.

The head smirked and continued.

“I thought at first if she crossed the line, I’d have to stop her ruthlessly, but now I’ve changed my mind too. That girl might actually accomplish something big if left to her own devices. Wouldn’t it be good for you to benefit from her efforts?”

“So, what do you mean? If Princess Arin finds that method, should I just swoop in and take credit?”

“That’s up to you to decide.”

I shrugged off the absurd idea.

I don’t like the idea of snatching away someone else’s achievements.

If I have a goal or purpose, I prefer to achieve it from start to finish on my own.

“I’ll go to those ruins.”

The head’s expression subtly changed.

“Just so there’s no misunderstanding, this has nothing to do with Princess Arin.”

I pointed casually over my shoulder with my thumb.

“She told me to go.”

At the tip of my finger, Hastia stood awkwardly, sporting a forced smile.

* * *

In Garam Kingdom’s capital, Gaul. At the main building of the Garam Magic Academy.

As Chairman Regens, who was receiving a report through the communication artifact, the messenger orb, from the Luwen branch, he suddenly shouted in anger.

“Luna went to the frozen lands? Why am I only hearing about this now?”

“I-I’m sorry. Branch Manager Luna told me to report to you around this time…”

The reporter, Mireia, explained that she was merely following orders.

“I clearly said to report every single move of Luna’s…!”

Chairman Regens, his blood pressure rising, grabbed the back of his neck.

Despite Luna being his direct subordinate, this was essentially admitting that she prioritized her own orders over those of him, the head of the academy.

Trying to calm himself, Regens asked again.

“Why did she suddenly go to the frozen lands?”

“She said she would go find the person who used the warp gate without permission!”

Why would the branch manager do this alone?

It seemed pointless to press the reporter further, as it would likely only raise his temper more.

“Understood. Disconnect.”

“Yes! I will report immediately when the branch manager returns…!”

Regens ended the communication first and threw the messenger orb away.

“Just when I thought things were quiet…”

It had been three years since he had assigned Luna to develop the warp gate and manage the branch for it.

When he first heard her say that she would devote her talents to the academy, Regens was skeptical.

He kept a close eye on her, ready to clamp down at the slightest hint of suspicion.

But Luna, as if to mock Regens’s doubts, actively participated in all the academy’s research, achieving dazzling results.

Not just the warp gate at the Luwen branch, but other magical research that had been stalled for various reasons also saw rapid results whenever she got involved.

And that wasn’t all.

She engaged in external activities with the academy, the royal family, and the regions, making the people of Garam Kingdom recognize the name and face of ‘Luna Rainriver.’

It was a reality Regens had hoped for, with his granddaughter contributing to the development of magic and the academy through her innate talent.

However, as this reality unfolded, Regens’s inner unease only grew.

He knew his granddaughter better than anyone.

Even though she appeared to be devoted to the academy on the surface, he was certain she had other motives underneath.

And those motives were undoubtedly…

-Ping!

The thrown messenger orb lit up.

Someone within the academy was requesting another communication.

“Ah, can you hear me, Grandfather?”

It was Luna.

Regens picked up the communication orb in a hurry and responded.

“Are you out of your mind, Luna! Going to the frozen lands alone without reporting to the academy?”

“Didn’t Mireia report? I told her to do it around this time?”

As his blood pressure finally began to settle, it started rising again.

“Given the place, communication might cut off at any time, so I’ll keep it short. I’m currently en route to the main branch of the Auram Academy in the frozen lands. Please prepare just one book for me to receive immediately upon my arrival.”

“A book?”

The audacity of her disappearance was infuriating enough, but her brazen demands were truly exasperating.

However, Regens thought to himself.

Luna usually found the books she wanted to read by herself, visiting the academy or the kingdom’s library without asking anyone for help.

Once she read a book, she remembered every single detail without fail, and there wasn’t a single book in the kingdom that Luna hadn’t read.

And now, she was asking her grandfather, the chairman of the academy, to get a book for her.

Regens unwittingly swallowed his saliva.

What kind of book would this unpredictable granddaughter ask for that she made such a request?

Luna continued.

“I would have gone to look for it myself, but this book is banned in the Garam Kingdom, so I need an official’s approval to obtain it. No one in our academy can authorize this except for you, Grandfather, so I hope you don’t mind the trouble.”

At the mention of a banned book, Regens’s mind went blank for a moment.

There weren’t many books designated as banned by the academy and the kingdom that supported it in the name of advancing magic.

Recalling those few books, Regens hoped that the one in question wouldn’t be the one his granddaughter was asking for.

Having barely composed himself, Regens asked slowly.

“What… What book are you talking about?”

Luna paused for a moment,

And just as sweat dripped from Regens’s forehead and hit the floor,

She spoke.

“A book on necromancy.”

Regens immediately screamed.

“Are you out of your mind, Luna!!!”

Luna promptly replied.

“I’m perfectly sane?”

Regens barely refrained from throwing the communication orb again.

“Do you not understand what kind of magic necromancy is? It’s an extremely dangerous magic, one that not even the Auram Academy, let alone anyone throughout human history, has managed to fully handle! Even those dragons warned against tampering with it!”

Necromancy.

The magic that summons the souls of the dead into reality is a forbidden art that defies the natural order.

Chairman Regens had hoped that any other book would be requested but that grimoire. However, his wish was spectacularly unmet.

Luna responded calmly.

“I want to know what kind of magic it is, that’s why I’m asking you to get it for me. Who would believe it’s dangerous if you keep it secret without disclosing anything? And it’s funny that you’re still keeping it as a forbidden book without destroying it.”

“Stop talking nonsense! Even if it’s you, I can’t hand over that book! Give up and come back to the academy quickly!”

“Ah, is that so? That’s your grandfather’s position. I see…”

Luna’s voice, which had been indifferent, grew heavy.

Silence lasted for about five seconds.

“Then there’s nothing I can do. I’m resigning from the academy as of today.”

“Resign? Who says you can? Who will let you go? Even if you hide, it won’t be hard to find you…”

“I might be found, but not brought back, right? What if I apply for asylum in the Ushif Empire or another country?”

Chairman Regens was left gaping.

Fifteen years old.

Ordinarily, this would be the age to just achieve a 3 or 4-star magic rank, barely participating as a magic research assistant, but Luna was different.

She had already been a key researcher in various studies and experiments at Auram Academy, experienced the entire process, and knew secrets known only to a few within the academy, establishing herself as a leading mage of the Garam Kingdom.

A major talent of the kingdom applying for asylum in another country?

It would be a national disaster-level loss of personnel.

In the Ushif Empire, there’s no reason not to accept a genius mage from another country. They would likely receive treatment befitting a state guest and be thoroughly protected.

Grinding his teeth, Chairman Regens finally shifted towards compromise.

“Come back for now. Let’s talk it over slowly once you’re back. Even if you’re a being who has transcended human limits, I can’t just give such a dangerous book to my only granddaughter…”

“Wow. I didn’t know Grandfather thought so highly of me.”

Luna expressed her indifferent admiration, seemingly unexpected.

“But my stance is firm. If the book I asked for isn’t there when I return, I will immediately withdraw from the academy.”

Despite hearing this, Regens felt relieved inside.

Once she returns to the academy, the situation would change.

They could isolate her to persuade her, or use mind-breaking magic to make her give up.

“You’re not thinking of isolating me as soon as I get back, are you?”

Regens twitched as she hit the nail on the head.

“Then give up on that idea. I’ve already decided to leave the academy, so don’t think I’ll work for it anymore. Even if all the academy members use mind-breaking magic on me, it’ll be useless.”

Having his last resort seen through, Regens had nothing more to say.

Groaning in anger, he almost crushed the communication orb in his grip but asked again.

“Is it because of him?”

“…”

“Cyan Vert. Are you doing this because of him? Are you trying to follow the path of corruption to help that damned man, and that’s why you want to learn necromancy?”

“Half right.”

Luna’s lips curled up on one side as she responded to the message.

“It’s not just necromancy, but everything I’ve done has been for my senior.”

Regens clenched the back of his neck as his blood pressure surged.

“Then I’ll see you when I get back, Grandfather.”

Luna cut off the communication, and for a long while after, Regens’ room echoed with his furious roars.

(E/n: luna’s best girl)

(To be continued)