The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

There’s a saying that the original perpetrator will reappear at the scene.

Usually, it is to clean up after the mess they’ve made.

Just to clarify, I haven’t done anything wrong.

I’m just returning to the scene to finish what I started.

Of course, it would be troublesome if I encountered an unexpected third party there.

In fact, it would be problematic even if I encountered someone I had anticipated.

“…….”

A chilling coldness was conveyed from the icy gaze that settled.

Our leader was looking unusually somber today, as if her face was laden with waterlogged cotton.

“Explain.”

A short, sharp question conveyed her negative emotions.

The scene of last night’s bloodshed seemed almost too pristine, as if time had been reversed.

Moreover, there was another familiar face in front of the leader.

I spoke without concern.

“His name is Kellin Diego. He is a formal knight affiliated with Vellias. He’s been the leader of the watchers sent to monitor me.”

Kellin lay on the ground, limp, with his eyes and mouth sealed.

Naturally, the cleanup of the site was done by the members of Mist, including Leader Silica.

But it wasn’t just a simple cleanup.

Though I ended up dealing with Barrett and his gang first, they were just the ones who joined later.

The real watchers, the crows who had been persistently following me, were separate.

And surely, they too were present at the scene.

I remember there being five of them at the time,

But now, there’s only one in front of me?

It seems the rest have flown off to the other world.

“It seems you’ve made quite a lot of enemies back home to handle them all by yourself?”

“It seems more accurate to say I had no allies.”

The only ones could have been Emily and sister Alice, maybe.

“What about Barrett?”

“I left him alive in front of a healing center. By now, he must have been discovered by the healers about to clean the yard.”

“Not killing him was merciful of you.”

“If I had tried to kill him, you would have rushed to stop me immediately.”

She did not try to deny it.

No matter how despicable he may be, he still carries the label of nobility.

His position is fundamentally different from that of commoner students like Resimus.

Had I acted on emotion and killed him, it would have not only caused a stir at the academy but also complicated international relations significantly.

To exaggerate, it could have even broken the continent’s peace that had lasted for 100 years.

Of course, I am not so foolish as to be incapable of such rational judgment.

Even though I was momentarily tempted to kill him out of excitement, I opted instead to inflict a pain worse than death, so there should be no need for concern about him speaking out.

“The more I see of your abilities, the more I am amazed. Your strength surpasses that of Mist’s assassins, your eloquence is enough to negotiate with the steadfast Chancellor Kundel, and you even have the mental fortitude to wield a magic sword… You are showing the best version of what a successor can be.”

Who could be happy receiving praise with such a murderous look?

Regardless, she continued with a bland expression.

“I don’t particularly want to pry into what happened in your homeland or how you grew up. Honestly, it would be a lie to say I’m not curious, but I still won’t ask. The same goes for Lord Aer.”

Sometimes, not knowing is more beneficial for both oneself and those around them.

Without being swayed by personal feelings or backgrounds, focusing solely on the target at hand is the essence of being an assassin.

She would know this best.

“However, if these kinds of incidents keep repeating, it will be problematic. With Barrett and now this crow, people who envy and suspect your actions will continue to appear. Wouldn’t that be quite troublesome for you?”

“I agree. However, you need not always clean up after me. I should solve what I have caused on my own.”

Seeing my unshaken demeanor, she sighed.

“It’s not easy to understand the heart of a teacher. It’s fine to want to punish those who cross your lineage. But such extreme methods within the academy will ultimately become a crisis for you, putting not only yourself but also those around you in danger. Can we just stand by and watch? As a chosen successor who appeared, we will protect you by any means necessary.”

Protect me by any means necessary…

I suddenly wanted to ask why such a resolute person had let me leave the organization so coolly in my past life.

But it’s a question that, even if asked, wouldn’t receive an answer.

I shrugged and said,

“Punishment is supposed to give negative stimulation to induce positive development. However, what I did was not punishment. It’s a warning that if they try to climb up after being negatively stimulated, I’ll press them down completely.”

Why would I bother inducing positive development in those bastards?

I don’t expect their rehabilitation.

Just living quietly, unnoticed by me, is enough.

“Jealousy towards me? It’s just the inferiority complex of those without ability. I really don’t care about such gossip. But if, like this time, someone messes with my people…”

I’ve felt it clearly through this incident.

“Then I’ll find and press down all of them. That’s how I choose to live…”

As I promised during my meeting with Aer, in this life, I must correct the things I had to do but failed to do.

Wasn’t it said to look around you at times?

I kind of understand what that foolish god meant to some extent.

This includes the leader in front of me and the other members.

They are all within my fence, belonging to my circle.

Those who would sacrifice their lives for me due to problems caused by me, I will never abandon them.

Well, as long as they don’t stab me in the back.

Perhaps moved by my firm resolve, the leader’s stern gaze seemed to soften a bit.

“I wish we wouldn’t have to be so busy running around.”

“I’ll try my best.”

With a simple smile, I responded with a small smile of my own.

“It seems my task here is done. I’ll leave this crow behind. Looking at your eyes, it seems you have no intention of killing him.”

Leaving behind the body on the ground, the leader left the scene.

As soon as she was gone, a black mist rose from within me.

[All this unnecessary posturing…]

Kaeram seemed displeased, her eyes heavily laden.

“What’s the complaint this time?”

[Would you understand if I told you? Never mind! What about him then?]

Kaeram asked, looking at Kellin lying in front of us, motionless as if he were a dead body.

“……”

He’s pretending to be unconscious.

I can hear his heart thumping all the way over here.

“Stop pretending to be passed out. I know you’re awake.

“……!”

After removing the mist and gag covering his eyes, his sweat-drenched face was revealed.

“Are you Cyan Vert…?”

Since it was our first encounter in this life, such a reaction was expected.

“What in the world are you? How does the youngest of the Vert family have such a force? These people are clearly followers of the black mist…”

“I didn’t free you to ask such questions. I’m giving you 5 seconds to think about what you should be saying in this situation.”

He answered not in 5 seconds but in 1.

“Do you want to know what I desire? Unfortunately, my lips are not so loose. It would be better if you killed me here and now!”

I’ve felt it since my previous life, but this guy is incredibly stubborn.

Even I, who was once crazy about that devil, feel a slight awe towards his unyielding nature.

And yet, he’s quite pitiful.

A foolish guy who can’t distinguish between shit and bean paste, thinking his belief is the most righteous in the world.

You think he looks like me?

Maybe.

But I don’t feel the slightest bit of sympathy for him.

Because.

He was the first one who tried to kill me.

The very person who, out of envy and jealousy, deemed my existence unnecessary for the family and attempted to assassinate me first.

And so, he is a man I killed with my own hands.

“I have witnessed everything you’ve done! It was as if I was looking at a demon, not a human! Perhaps he had realized such aspects of you long ago! Your existence will undoubtedly bring great harm to the Vert family and certainly to him as well!”

By him, it must undoubtedly refer to that bastard, right?

So, he’s already scared and on guard against me, still so young and green?

It’s so ridiculous it’s laughable.

I replied, without showing my feelings.

“What would you do if I let you go now?”

“I would immediately return to Vellias and report everything about you to my lord. No threat or coercion will work on me, and even if you were to cast an ‘Oath Spell’ on me, it wouldn’t matter. I’d rather bite my tongue and die right here!”

“Quite resolute. That’s why that Aschel bastard keeps using you.”

“Do not disrespectfully speak his name!”

“Should I give you a piece of advice? That won’t last long.”

“……”

His glaring eyes made me want to pluck them out.

“If he trusted you that much, you wouldn’t have ended up dying prematurely, especially not by my hand.”

“What are you talking about……”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s said that rolling in dog poop is still better than dying; let’s extend that life of yours a bit longer. It’s about making it more meaningful for me.”

I gathered a massive amount of mana into one hand, inherent in my body.

“It seems you don’t understand what I’m saying. No matter what you do, you cannot change me……”

“I never said I’d change you. I’m just going to recreate you.”

A massive amount of mana, unlike anything before, condensed in my hand.

“This power…? What are you trying to do?”

Consider it an honor, in its own way.

Because I’m about to use a high-class magic spell that’s frankly too good for someone like you.

Just then, the clouds hiding the sun dispersed, revealing the hidden shadows.

I clenched the mana gathered in my hand and struck down towards Kellin’s shadow.

“Creation: Shadow Personality!”

-Whizz!

Along with the spell, a black light surged from the shadow touched by my hand, and the condensed mana was transferred directly into Kellin’s body through the shadow.

Receiving it, Kellin had a vacant expression as if his soul had been drained from his shell.

Phew, doing this after a while sure is damn hard.

9-star dark attribute magic ‘Shadow Personality’.

A magic that creates a new personality from the shadow, which is said to hold a human’s second soul, and bestows it anew on the person’s body.

It was a top-tier spell that I had used only once in my previous life.

After momentarily regaining my dizzy senses, I looked at Kellin again and asked,

“Do you know who you are?”

“Kellin Diego. A formal guardian knight affiliated with Vellias, I came to Luwen on a mission to monitor Lord Cyan.”

His tone felt significantly more submissive.

“Who do you serve?”

“……”

After a moment’s pause, Kellin continued,

“Originally, I served Lord Aschel, the eldest son of the Vert family… but now, I have no desire to do so. Instead, I wish to serve Lord Cyan, who created me, as my new master. Please accept me!”

At this, Kaeram clicked his tongue.

[Nothing but a puppet.]

That’s the point.

“From now on, pay close attention to everything I say. Then return to Vellias and relay it to Aschel, who will be waiting for you. Leave nothing out……”

“New Kellin Diego, at Lord Cyan’s command!”

His face was, as always, filled with determination.

(To be continued)