The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

After the meeting, the Duke immediately returned to the front lines.

It was tough persuading him until the very end, but ultimately, I managed to leave some room for possibility.

When I first said I wanted to go to the front lines, the Duke treated me as if I were insane.

Not that I blame him.

After all, wanting to go to a place infested with bizarre and monstrous creatures when one is barely blooded seems insane.

It was almost a relief to be considered mad in that regard.

The western domain of the Empire, Vellias.

This place is currently the only location on the entire continent referred to as the ‘front line’.

It does not border areas of other human kingdoms or ethnic groups, but rather, it is adjacent to the habitat of various non-human races, collectively known as the demon world.

It’s a continent inhabited by demonic races born from destruction and slaughter, and Vellias is the territory closest to such a perilous land.

The ‘Lemea Valley’, considered the very front line, has been a battlefield where fights with the demonic races have continued for hundreds of years, with fierce battles still occurring daily.

It is an unknown world, where why they come over or what lies beyond is completely unknown.

At this point, no one knows anything about it.

Except me.

“Emiiiiillly!”

Emily, who had rushed in, burst through the door, sweating as if it had rained.

I continued with my strength training, unbothered.

“Is it, is it true?!”

“What is?”

“That you said you wanted to go to the front lines to the Duke?!”

Rumors spread fast.

I wonder who has been talking when there is supposed to be no one to spread them.

“Yeah, I did. I haven’t gotten full permission yet, though…”

Emily screamed in horror.

“Are you mad, my lord? Do you know what place you’re talking about? It’s filled with terrifying demons!”

To be precise, it is not ‘demons’ but ‘monsters’ that infest the place.

There is a common misconception; among the creatures inhabiting the Lemea Valley, there are no sentient beings.

Meaning, there are only beasts living there, not people.

It might not seem like a big deal, but this is a very important fact.

After all, would we like it if those non-human races, beyond the front lines, considered us the same as beasts?

It is the same context.

The reason I want to go to the front lines is specifically to target these monsters, that are not demons.

“So, what happened? If you didn’t get full permission, did the Duke set any conditions?”

She is incredibly quick-witted, as expected.

Just as she guessed, my father did set one condition for me.

One month.

Within the given month, I must qualify to go to the Lemea Valley.

If I do, I will be granted permission to accompany them to the front lines.

Though what qualifies one has not yet been disclosed…

Sigh…

The moment I completed the target number of repetitions, I collapsed.

It is my own body, yet I am reminded once again how frail I was at this time.

How did I ever manage to live with such a weak body?

Emily brought me water as I lay sprawled on the floor.

“It really doesn’t suit you to be exercising, my lord.”

I wish she had not said that…

As if I am not already worried about how to rapidly improve this feeble body.

Given the Duke’s personality, he will surely prepare another duel for me.

He wants to see if I can survive facing the monsters at the front lines.

He might even arrange a duel with a high-ranking knight like Eulken, giving them a handicap…

Is it possible?

Honestly, not to boast, but I could take on not just one, but up to ten senior knights.

I was once part of the continent’s top assassin group.

I remember all the martial arts and secret techniques I learned back then and can still use them now.

The problem is that my strength is limited.

I need to test it out more, but using the power of my past life with this decrepit body comes with too great a penalty.

Using a secret technique even once could break my body.

Nor can I use magic.

At my age, just beginning to produce mana, it is laughable to think I could use magic powerful enough to subdue senior knights.

Last night, through mana sensitivity, I confirmed that the mana and magical power I honed in my previous life are still present in my body.

Of course, I have concealed this energy so others cannot detect it.

Not just anyone can do this…

Anyway, until I enroll in the academy and identify my suitable attribute, I can’t recklessly show it to others.

So, what I can show is ultimately only my swordsmanship.

To think I have to defeat a senior knight with the strength that can barely lift a vase.

Well, it is not like I can not do it…

Anyway, to increase my chances, I need to maximize my strength as much as possible within the given time.

I resumed my exercise, taking the push-up position again.

-Murmuring-

“It’s noisy outside. Has someone come?”

It must be the soldiers within the domain changing shifts, but that is not something I need to worry about now.

I continued my exercise, paying it no mind.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Emily finally decided to check and went outside.

Now, it seemed I could exercise in peace.

“……”

About 5 minutes had passed?

Urgent footsteps could be heard from the end of the corridor.

Although I was in the middle of exercising, I couldn’t help but listen to the sound.

It was not heavy enough to be a knight’s steps,

and judging by the lightness and pace, it seemed like those of a woman, but not particularly graceful, you know?

Given this, it could not be someone of high nobility like a duchess, so it had to be someone like Emily, but why would she be running so urgently?

The person seemed to be about 170 cm tall and around 55 kg…

These were not the steps of a maid, either.

Emily is much shorter, so she could not produce such strides.

Who could it be?

It was as if a vigorous warrior woman was approaching…

“Cyan!”

The door burst open, and I lost my posture.

A strange woman strode into the room.

The moment I saw her face, I was spellbound.

“S,Sister, Alice?”

My daze was short-lived, as she quickly grabbed my shoulders and shook me.

“Are you insane? You told father you wanted to go to the front lines? Do you even know what that place is like?”

“Si, Sister, can you let go first…”

The encounter was so sudden that I felt utterly bewildered.

“I knew you had won against Cranz, but what in the world are you thinking?!”

Being shaken back and forth against my will, I had no chance to respond.

What is happening here?

Why is sister Alice here?

Her blue eyes, filled with a mix of emotions, looked at me.

This warm touch was certainly no illusion.

To think the day would come when I would meet my sister again…

Despite clearly being scolded, my face was filled with smiles.

Seeing this, my sister tilted her head in confusion.

“Are you hurt somewhere, Cyan?”

Shaking my head, I replied.

“I’m just happy to see you…”

After a moment of puzzled contemplation, she soon smiled and gently stroked my head.

“Of course, it’s natural to be glad. I’ve been busy preparing for graduation, so I couldn’t visit for a while. It’s a relief to see you’re healthy, though.”

A year.

Though it had only been a year for her, for me, it was a reunion after decades.

The second child of the Ducal family and a woman considered alongside my elder brother, Aschel, as a future head of the family.

The only family member I, the incompetent, could rely on.

She was also the woman I wanted to protect the most in my past life.

“When did you arrive at the mansion?”

“Just now. It will be even harder to come home after graduation, so I came to visit before that happens.”

Sister Alice is now seventeen.

She was about to graduate after six years at the academy.

The family, no, the world referred to her as the “Child of God.”

A prodigy in swordsmanship, magic, and academics, achieving unprecedented all-S grades in every subject at the Royal Academy, where the continent’s geniuses gathered.

Unlike me, who was incompetent, she was a versatile genius capable of anything and was as beautiful as a goddess, truly deserving of the title “Child of God.”

Though she was only about two years younger than my elder brother, Aschel, she was considered a candidate to lead the family as the next head, even though she herself had no interest in it.

“But more importantly, what’s this about you wanting to go to the front lines? Did you really ask father that?”

“Yes, I did, but… how did you hear about that?”

“That’s not important!”

She dodged the question.

Meanwhile, I caught Emily peeping through the door, our eyes meeting.

From her expression, it was clear she was the culprit.

Really, that clueless maid…

“I wanted to experience various things before enrolling in the academy. I thought the front lines were the closest yet most profound place for that.”

The Vert household is located in the easternmost part of the domain.

It’s the farthest from the Lemea Valley, the front line.

Such a location was unquestionably chosen by the Duke’s order.

It was to ensure that while the family resided within the domain, they could retreat immediately if an emergency breach at the front lines occurred.

For now, I gave the best answer I could, much like the Duke would have.

However, upon hearing my answer, my sister wore a peculiar expression.

“Cyan, don’t tell me, do you wish to continue the family’s legacy?”

* * *

The sun had set and the moon rose on an ambitious night.

As the night fog thickened, a chilling coldness hovered over the training ground.

“Do we really have to go this far?”

“Don’t complain, Cyan! This is all to test you!”

This wasn’t a casual jog under the moonlight; what on earth were we doing?

It had been only half a day since my duel with Cranz, yet here we were again in the same situation.

And this time, with swords in our hands.

“Your desire to continue the legacy of our family is commendable but some things can be done with just will, and some can’t. Consider this my trial for you, beyond father’s.”

The legacy of our family.

That is, to protect the continent’s peace from the demonic races.

I have said it time and time again, I have absolutely no intention of engaging in such nonsense again.

My wish to go to the front lines has nothing to do with that.

But, unable to tell the truth, I just said “yes.”

I had no idea she would take it to the extent of standing with arms wide open, challenging me to a duel.

“The trial is simple. From now on, you must either withstand my sword for 3 minutes, or manage to point your sword at my neck before then. If you succeed in either, I’ll send you to the front lines.”

Simple, she says, but it’s basically a declaration of refusal to send me.

I came out here without thinking, but now I have no idea what to do.

To withstand a duel in swordsmanship against the Child of God, who achieved S grades in every subject at the Royal Academy?

For me, who has just started strength training…

It is an incredibly easy task.

Honestly, I could end it as soon as it begins.

I can see exactly how to break through, and my movements have become lighter since my body has shrunk.

But what would happen if I did?

Cranz is of a similar age, so winning or losing against him wouldn’t matter, but she’s an adult seven years my senior.

To defeat her in one go, having completed all professional training at the Royal Academy?

The very premise is impossible.

There is no need to mention the possibility to anyone; it’s a situation where I can only lose.

If I carelessly win, it is beyond the level talent can cover.

“Alright, the moment you draw your sword, we start! Hurry up and draw, Cyan!”

Sigh…

Well, surely sister Alice would not seriously attack, thinking it unlikely.

She will probably go easy, just to check my skills.

If I manage to counter decently and bide my time, I might just scrape through.

Thinking it will somehow work out, the moment I drew my sword,

“……!”

Her sword, darting like an arrow, aimed at my neck in an instant.

-Clang!

Though I managed to block it, I could immediately feel from that first strike,

This woman… has no intention of going easy, she is dead serious…

(To be continued)