The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Desire.

An emotion that, no matter how much it is satisfied, can never truly be sated for humans.

However, desire can sometimes become the greatest or the worst power a person can possess.

What do you think is the most dangerous among these double-edged swords of human motivation?

The greed for material possessions?

The lust for sexual activity?

Honestly, it’s hard to determine which is superior, but personally, I’d like to add another one.

The desire to fight, or combativeness.

This might sound a bit unfamiliar, and one might wonder how many people actually harbor such a desire.

But ironically, in my past life, I was nearly killed by someone who was consumed by this very desire for combat.

The yearning for the strong and the joy of battle.

At first glance, it might seem very masculine and spirited, but those who have experienced it would say otherwise.

“Weren’t you going to test me in stages? I haven’t even faced those assassins yet?”

“It doesn’t matter! You’ve already shown the potential to surpass even those high-ranking officials!”

I asked her tentatively, feeling slightly bewildered, but she was already so immersed in her desire for combat that it was impossible to dissuade her.

Silica Nigriti, the leader of the Mist.

By day, she was a respected academic instructor at an academy; by night, she was an outstanding leader who commanded assassins.

She was a skilled expert recognized by everyone.

People often wonder when they see such skilled individuals.

What drives that person? What makes them capable of displaying such exceptional skills?

The answer is simple.

It was because she harbored the desire for combat.

The boiling fighting spirit when facing a strong opponent, the wish to become strong oneself in order to confront such opponents. Driven by this cyclical force, she accumulated power and ability, ultimately reigning as the supreme assassin who commanded brutal assassins.

But as mentioned before, desire is a double-edged sword.

It can become the greatest power, but conversely, it can also become the worst power.

More often for others than for oneself…

“It’s amazing! Even for a successor, I didn’t expect you to show this much! Cyan Vert! You wanted this too, didn’t you, when you approached me?”

Let’s get one thing straight, leader.

I acknowledge that you were the greatest teacher of my past life, but I have no intention of learning your deranged aspects.

I released the mana inherited with the sword along with the mist, pushing her away.

-Whoosh-

The disheveled hair accentuated her frenzied appearance even more.

Without stopping, she even licked her lips while looking at me.

“Do you acknowledge that I am the successor?”

“I was unsure until I saw the magic sword, but I became certain when you used the wave of murderous intent! To be more certain, I should check if you have a Mist Stone in your body, but there’s no need for that! Right now, I must fight you, Cyan Vert!”

Before I knew it, other members of Mist had gathered around us, surrounding me and Silica.

Judging by their generally panicked expressions, it was clear that this situation was unexpected for them as well.

“This place is a divine subspace created by Lord Aer! Any repercussions leaking outside are automatically blocked! Meaning, no matter how much you and I fight and cause chaos here, there will be no trouble outside!”

The leader’s consideration was undeniable.

As she said, this place is Mist’s secret hideout located in the heart of Luwen, but it does not actually exist within the city.

A divine subspace.

A realm created by divine power that doesn’t exist on the surface of the earth.

A perfect hiding place that can’t be detected even by magic.

That’s why she could be so reckless here.

But honestly, I felt a bit of regret too, you know?

I, too, have been someone who has shed and tasted much blood throughout my past and present lives.

I don’t hold the petty belief that ‘the best way to win a fight is to avoid it.’

After leaving the front lines, my body’s craving for action had been itching to be satisfied.

After all, this is Aer’s space.

Whatever we do here, the aftermath can be neatly resolved.

Thinking this, my inherent desire for battle was naturally rising.

-Sssss

“…?”

As my desire for battle boiled over, another energy began to emerge from my body.

“Kaeram?”

A tall woman with flowing long black hair.

Kaeram, who hadn’t shown herself for a while after entering the academy, made an appearance after a long absence.

[I knew this would happen.]

She looked down at me with her usual haughty and sharp gaze.

But something felt different.

Her feet firmly on the ground and the shadow cast by the torchlight.

The atmosphere was completely different from the usual manifestation.

She was no longer existing in a spiritual state.

“This is…?”

The gaze of everyone around, including Silica, turned to her.

A perfect human form without the mist wrapping her feet or the flickering afterimages. Only the cruel murderous intent emitted by the magic sword remained.

[…….]

Kaeram, without saying anything, looked around at them all.

A divine weapon that has inherited the power of the gods.

A noble existence that mere humans cannot approach.

Moreover, she is not just any deity’s sword, but the sword that has inherited the power of Aer, the god worshipped by Mist.

To them, she is an idol, synonymous with Aer himself.

-Click

Faced with the divine weapon, all the assassins knelt before her.

Despite receiving worship from her followers, she seemed not too pleased.

“I thought you were dead since it was so quiet?”

[The air here is so muggy that I didn’t really want to show up.]

Thinking about it, this was the first time I had brought her with me to the academy.

The frontline, rife with the blood and malice of demons, must have been a better place for her to thrive.

But not this place, where countless magical energies intermingle.

It wasn’t unreasonable for her not to want to show herself.

“……!”

I felt a sudden dizziness, as if from anemia.

As mentioned before, Kaeram is not in a spiritual state now but has fully materialized as a person.

To embody a sword’s soul, the owner’s power is absolutely necessary, meaning her current form is entirely composed of my life force.

If prolonged, it could affect the owner’s lifespan, which is why she, even in her previous life, rarely used this method.

Her appearance before not just me but all the assassins here meant…

She didn’t really want me to fight Silica.

“Leader of Mist, Silica Nigriti. It’s an honor to meet the magic sword, the successor of Lord Aer!”

The woman, who had lost her reason just moments ago, now greeted Kaeram with a calm voice.

[You know about me?]

“I’ve heard from Lord Aer. He mentioned that a divine weapon inheriting his power exists somewhere on this continent… I never imagined the successor would already possess you.”

Kaeram looked at Silica with a sharp, unwelcoming gaze.

[I don’t just appear to anyone, you know? The fact that I showed up myself means I’m not pleased with the current situation.]

“What did you find displeasing?”

[You saw me in the room earlier, didn’t you?]

“……!”

A flash of murderous intent sparked in Kaeram’s eyes momentarily.

[It’s impossible that the leader didn’t recognize me, and besides, this one clearly stated he’s the successor. And then you brought him here…]

“Correct…”

[But what is this situation? You, who worship Aer, dare to lay a hand on my master in my presence…?]

A red wave of energy flickered from beneath her feet.

[Should I take this as a challenge against me?]

A whirlwind of murderous intent swirled around, and a fierce wind blew through the area.

Silica answered with a steadfast gaze, unshaken.

“It was merely a verification process. As the leader, I needed to confirm whether he was the true successor or not. Moreover, it was necessary to gauge the extent of the successor’s abilities…”

[So why are you the one to verify that? Just call your god, no need for anything else! Am I wrong?]

What’s this?

Why is she angry now?

This is unlike her usual self.

Given her own desire for battle, I would have thought she’d be more proactive, but this atmosphere feels like…

“If you felt displeased, I apologize. You truly care about your owner’s well-being as a magic sword.”

Though she was apologizing, it didn’t seem sincere.

It felt more like mockery…

Kaeram’s gaze became even sharper, perhaps sensing the insincerity.

“However, it seems to me that the one causing harm to the successor right now is not me but you, the magic sword…”

A cold smile was on Silica’s face as she lifted her head.

[What?]

“Currently, you have fully materialized to show yourself, haven’t you? But that’s an inefficient method that consumes the owner’s life force. In fact, your owner seems to be having a tough time now, isn’t he?”

Kaeram’s gaze swiftly turned to me.

No, it’s true that maintaining you uses my life force, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I’m struggling…

-Drip

“……!”

Suddenly, a trickle of blood ran down my nose.

Seeing this, Kaeram grabbed me by the collar, furious.

[Hey! Are you bleeding just from this little effort? Did you squander the blood of demons for nothing? To think I showed myself, only for you to show signs of struggle…!]

“No! It’s just that my body isn’t used to it after a while…!”

Certainly, the blood of demons is quite effective.

As if to prove she’s not just any being, the strength with which she’s shaking me could send even superior demons packing.

Yet, still not appeased, Kaeram’s gaze turned back to Silica.

[If you like fighting so much, how about you try fighting me?]

Silica stood up eagerly as if she had been waiting for this.

“Leader of Mist, Silica Nigriti! I never back down from a challenge, especially not against someone like you!”

Just when it seemed she had calmed down, her desire for battle boiled over once again.

Matching her, an intense fighting spirit surged from Kaeram as well.

In this divine subspace, all of us, including me, could only watch the fierce intensity of the two women in a daze.

[That’s enough…]

A majestic voice filled the entire subspace.

Everyone’s gaze turned in one direction.

[……!]

“Lord Aer!?”

The previously unyielding murderous intent of the two women instantly diminished at the sound of the voice.

[Send the successor to the altar.]

At the end of the pathway, a sacred space shimmering in black beckoned.

My absolute master, unforgettable and indelible, was calling me once again.

(To be continued)