The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

At the end of the corridor on the fifth floor of the mansion, there was a silver door.

A man in the mansion’s uniform with a robust physique approached the door.

-Knock knock

“Come in.”

It was a late hour when even the assigned servants would not visit, but the room’s owner permitted entry.

The moment he faced the room’s owner, the man immediately bowed his head.

In front of him, Aschel was seated in a chair, leisurely reading a book.

“I have confirmed the location of the second young lady you inquired about.”

Aschel asked in a calm tone, keeping his gaze fixed on the book.

“Where was she?”

“She has been confirmed to be in ‘Pruina,’ the territory of the White Elves, located in the northern part of the continent. It seems she has settled there quite some time ago.”

“Pruina… To think she has been with races that extremely despise outsiders, indeed, her affinity is something to be acknowledged.”

Closing the book, Aschel looked at the moonlight through the window and smiled mysteriously.

“Just keep an eye on her, and if there seems to be a sign of her returning to the Empire, let me know again.”

“Understood.”

The man, observing Aschel’s mood, cautiously asked.

“Is there something pleasant happening?”

“Why do you think so?”

“Because your face looks much brighter than usual, Aschel. Was the meeting with your younger sibling interesting?”

As his younger sibling was mentioned, Aschel’s smile turned into laughter.

“Hahaha. Interesting, you say… Well, depending on the situation, that might be one way to express it. However, you’re completely mistaken, Kellin. I’m in a very bad mood right now…”

His eyebrows formed a semicircle, and his lips were set in a straight line.

It was a facial expression that contrasted sharply with his appearance when his sister was mentioned just moments ago.

“I apologize for not understanding Aschel’s feelings.”

The man quickly bowed his head again.

“It’s alright. When it’s difficult for even me to hide my own feelings, how much harder must it be to understand someone else’s? Let alone a boy who has just outgrown the smell of milk…”

It’s said that you can know every inch of a river but not what’s in a person’s heart.

Just a few hours ago, Aschel was so annoyed by his meeting with Cyan that it was bothering him.

“May I ask what conversation you had with this brother Cyan?”

“Nothing much. I simply asked about how he’s been and shared a few pleasantries. But… why do I feel so unpleasant?”

His face, now even his hardened gaze, was smeared with negative emotions.

“He was terribly shocked to see me…”

“Oh, it’s natural to be surprised if it’s been a long time since you last met, isn’t it?”

“There’s no ‘long time’ about it. I’ve had absolutely no interaction with that kid to begin with. Facing each other and having a conversation was practically the first time today.”

The age difference between Cyan and Aschel was seven years.

Throughout this time, Aschel had no reason to take any interest in Cyan, and given his character that strictly pursued necessity, it was even less likely.

“How should I put it? It felt as if I was facing an enemy from a past life? That gaze seemed like it could kill me at any moment. It’s strange since that kid shouldn’t have any memories of me…”

A brutal intent to kill.

At that moment, Cyan’s eyes seemed not human but demonic.

“He’s indeed a bothersome brother in many ways. It seems necessary to keep a close watch to ensure he doesn’t go astray.”

The man immediately understood Aschel’ words.

“…I will assign someone to him.”

Aschel responded with silence.

After finishing his business, the man promptly left the room.

Left alone, Aschel stood up and indifferently gazed up at the night sky.

The pitch-black curtain without a single star and the faint mist trapped between them.

The peculiar sight, even obscuring the brightly shining moonlight, seemed to remind him of someone.

* * *

February 18th, Year 986 of the Creation Era.

It was the dawn of the third day since returning to the mansion.

In the courtyard, a carriage and the knights were already prepared for departure.

“Sigh…” The breath visibly fogged in the still chilly dawn air.

This desolate scene contrasted starkly with Cranz’s departure two days ago.

Except for the coachman and the knights, the rest of the mansion’s people thought I would leave around noon.

I didn’t want to depart amidst half-hearted attention like Cranz, so I intentionally lied about the time to leave unnoticed by anyone, except for one person.

“You managed to come out, Emily…?”

Standing in front of the carriage, Emily glared at me with eyes sharp as twin flames.

The mass of dissatisfaction puffed in her cheeks looked ready to burst at any moment.

“I’m really disappointed in you, young master…”

“I told you. From the start, personal servants can’t be brought to the academy. It’s not that I won’t take you; it’s that I can’t take you.”

“Then you should have told me from the beginning! Why did you have to wait until the day before to tell me?!”

Would she understand if I said I was scared of her hysteria?

Honestly, I intended to tell her as soon as I returned to the mansion, but an unexpectedly bitter encounter made me forget.

The claim that personal servants can’t be brought along is actually a lie.

According to academy laws, the entrance of servants is fundamentally prohibited.

However, there’s always a loophole that transcends principles.

If the companion’s status is not a servant but a knight, then the situation changes.

Given that nobles from all over the continent, not just the empire, gather there, and the unpredictability of what might happen, the academy does not limit personal security.

Thus, nobles use a loophole by disguising their personal servants as knights to gain entry.

This route makes it not difficult to bring in servants, and it’s a frequently utilized method.

Emily could have been brought in using such a loophole, but I chose not to.

Perhaps for her, the academy might be a place even more dreadful and vile than a frontline swarming with demons.

“Still, I’m really grateful to you. Without you, I might not have been able to endure staying in this mansion.”

“Save your sweet talk. Just take care of yourself there.”

Emily waved her hands in denial but couldn’t hide her flushed face.

Unknowingly, a faint smile appeared on my face.

Not quite a mother, but perhaps a somewhat lacking yet kind sister?

In both my past life and now, she remained more than just a precious servant to me; she was irreplaceable.

Given the distance, once I depart for the academy, it’s unlikely I’ll return here unless necessary.

I don’t know when we’ll see each other again, but I hope she stays healthy and well.

“Then I’m off, Emily. Don’t get into trouble and take care!”

“You better not get ostracized or end up depressed and contemplating suicide!”

“…”

Typical of my servant.

She has a knack for erasing any lingering sentimentality with her worryingly sharp words.

Without further ado, I boarded the carriage.

“Let’s go!”

With a vigorous pull from the coachman, the carriage set off, followed by the knights.

Our destination is the city of Luwen in the southeast of the empire, where the Royal Academy is located.

As a city at the very edge, opposite the western border of Vellias, it’s practically the furthest place one could go within the empire.

Given the tight schedule, we need to hurry to not be late for the entrance ceremony.

Not that it matters much to me.

It’s not like I’m going to the academy to be a top student.

Apart from its title as the continent’s premier educational institution, I’ve already mastered what they teach long ago.

While revisiting what you’ve learned is important, do I really need to review something as basic as multiplication tables, unless I’ve become senile?

Of course, that’s from my perspective, not to say that’s the level of education actually provided.

I’m headed to the academy for a purpose entirely my own, not for learning.

So, as long as I keep a low profile and focus on my goals, that should suffice…

Yet, this might turn out to be more exhausting than life on the frontlines.

-Thump thump

The carriage had already left the domain, speeding across the vast plains, escorted by precisely six knights.

Hmm…

I wonder if I’ll have to shed blood before this even begins.

* * *

The sun dipped low into the western sky.

The ceaseless sound of galloping hooves stopped, and naturally, I opened my eyes from my doze.

While I was in the midst of a drawn-out yawn, a knock sounded at the door.

“Master Cyan, it seems we must camp here for the night.”

I asked without showing any reaction.

“How far have we come?”

“We are near the central city of ‘Saphern’. We should be able to reach the city by tomorrow morning.”

That’s a lie.

There’s no forest near Saphern that reeks of grass this intensely.

At least another day’s journey is needed.

“Alright, let me know when everything is ready.”

“Understood, Master.”

The knight’s footsteps receded.

Simultaneously, Kaeram emerged from my embrace.

She looked at me intently and said,

[You know, don’t you?]

“Of course. I’ve noticed since before we left.”

[Why do you make enemies on all sides from the start? Living like that, you might get expelled or die young again.]

“One lifetime of genius is enough. It’s strange for an assassin not to have enemies, isn’t it?”

I’m just killing to stay alive.

Honestly, I was expecting this, but I didn’t think it would come so soon.

Camping in a valley forest like this, where trees scarcely provide cover and anyone could disappear without it being strange, was blatantly obvious.

It was so blatant that I couldn’t even muster a laugh.

-Thud thud

A moment later, footsteps of knights sounded from beyond the door.

The steps halted precisely in front of the door, and there was no indication of them moving away.

It would be a mistake to think they came to greet me.

These knights had me surrounded.

“Master Cyan, you may come out now.”

Since they’re asking me to come out, I might as well oblige.

Without any hesitation, I opened the door and stepped outside.

Six knights surrounded me to prevent escape.

Each bore a different expression and gaze as they looked at me.

If they had anything in common, it was a sense of pity.

Are these mismatched individuals pitying me now?

I took a deep breath of the crisp mountain valley air, maintaining an unperturbed facade.

“The air is nice, isn’t it? Was there such a forest near Saphern?”

The knights remained silent.

I smoothly transitioned to my next question.

“Who’s behind this?”

Some of the knights’ eyes wavered, but they still kept silent.

“Turned into a bunch of mute bees after eating honey? Not even responding when a noble speaks?”

“Snicker…”

From where I stood, at a 3 o’clock direction, a knight with unkempt long hair and a black mole under his eye laughed out loud at my remark.

Laughing, are we?

I barely suppressed the slight annoyance that began to stir within me.

“…There’s no personal animosity.”

While I was looking around, one of the knights directly in front of me finally spoke up.

“I don’t recall asking about your feelings. My question wasn’t that, was it?”

“Still, as a last courtesy, we intend to make it as painless as possible for you. Just close your eyes, and you’ll quietly fall asleep.”

What kind of nonsensical reply is this?

Sure, you puppets who must follow orders can hardly be blamed, but conversely, being such puppets is a fault in itself.

After all, being unlucky can be a fault too.

But, shouldn’t you at least answer the question I asked?

“I think I’ve asked four times now, but let me ask one last time… Who’s behind this?”

The answer came from an unexpected source.

“There’s no need for someone about to die to know…”

Really pushing my buttons here.

The knight with the black mole who had laughed at my comment earlier added more fuel to the fire.

At this point, the restraint on my temper finally snapped.

-Swish

In less than a second and within a distance of five steps.

A pleasant sound followed by a spray of red blood across my face.

A sizable head was unceremoniously dropped to the ground, perfectly timed as if it was meant for just such an occasion.

“…!”

The instantly pale faces of the knights were quite a sight to behold.

(To be continued)