The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

After the eventful banquet, I returned to the academy, only to be summoned to the office by the chancellor.

Perhaps he wanted some private time with me?

As soon as the door to the chancellor’s office closed, a barrier was immediately set up to prevent anyone from entering.

Anyone would think it was more of an interrogation than a consultation.

“I’ll ask you straight.”

Seeing the chancellor’s determined eyes, I thought he might indeed do just that.

“Did you know in advance that this incident was going to happen?”

I responded calmly.

“If I had known, such an incident would not have occurred in the first place.”

The story of the so-called Blood Banquet had spread not only throughout the empire but across the continent, so it wasn’t unreasonable for the chancellor to be making such a fuss.

After all, there were quite a few from the academy, including the head of the Sirica family, involved in this banquet.

However, considering the magnitude of the incident, the aftermath was resolved quite simply.

Everyone must have their doubts about this.

There were casualties, after all.

A member of the current empress’s family, a major power in the empire, had died, and it would be strange if there were no repercussions.

On the way here, I heard a ridiculous rumor that the former empress’s family, the Quisel, had orchestrated this to get back at the Nephelis family…

I could only laugh at such nonsense.

The dead can’t speak, but there’s always plenty to say about them.

And while this incident wasn’t entirely unrelated to the Quisel family, our chancellor, who knew nothing, must feel quite wronged.

Come to think of it, I feel wronged too.

It’s not like I could say anything, but I was a clear assassination target, wasn’t I?

Not only did I deal with all the marionettes and summoned creatures in the imperial palace, but I also went through hell trying to save the other two, and now I’m being suspected?

As if sensing my thoughts, the chancellor chuckled and said,

“I heard you saved that granddaughter of the head of the Garam Academy, Regens.”

“I did, and I got injured in the process.”

Though I’ve long since healed.

“One would think you’re the type who wouldn’t care if someone else were dying. I was curious because I heard you went out of your way to save that girl. Forget I asked.”

“…How exactly do you see me? As some vile trash?”

I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t argue further.

I almost told the chancellor to manage his own household properly, but I managed to swallow the words.

Instead, I rummaged through my pockets and pulled out a piece of paper.

“Then, since I’m here, I’ll deliver this and take my leave. Please do me just one favor.”

“A favor?”

The dean’s eyebrows slightly furrowed downwards.

It seemed quite unexpected to him that someone like me would ask for a favor.

What I handed over was a document containing someone’s personal information.

“Is this… not a knight’s registration card?”

“Yes. I could have submitted it to the administrative department, but I preferred to have you handle it directly, sir.”

As I’ve explained before, according to academy law, servants’ entry is fundamentally prohibited.

Only knights are allowed companionship and cohabitation.

Thus, most students disguise their servants as knights to grant them entry into the academy.

If additional personnel are to be brought in, a related registration card must be created and submitted to the administrative department, but it’s merely a formality and unlikely to be rejected.

However, if our dean could take care of it, wouldn’t everything proceed smoothly and swiftly?

The dean looked intently at the registration card I handed over.

“Have you brought in a female knight?”

He must have thought so because of the name written on the document.

I shook my head and said, “She’s officially registered as a knight, but in reality, she’s just a servant.”

“A servant? Don’t you know it’s prohibited by academy law to bring in personal servants?”

“Discussing the law at this point seems a bit mean, doesn’t it? You know all about these loopholes, don’t you?”

“Your brazenness is astonishing. I understand your request. I’ll take care of it, so you may leave now.”

With his acceptance, he lightly flicked his finger, and the restrictive barrier that had surrounded the room vanished instantly.

“Just out of curiosity, besides this maid, do you have someone else?”

I felt a twinge of guilt but didn’t show it.

“There’s no one else… But why do you ask?”

“Your meal expenses seem abnormally high. You’re supposed to have only one knight, right? It’s odd not to question why a room for two requires meals for four every day. It’s not the first time the supply department has raised this issue.”

With an uncomfortable groan, I inadvertently averted my gaze.

I couldn’t possibly reveal that there’s a half-human, half-beast with a big appetite in the room.

“Well, my knight just has a big appetite. It’s not strange for knights to eat well, right?”

Blaming it on Brian seemed like the easiest option.

After hastily making an excuse, I quickly escaped from the dean’s office like I was fleeing.

* * *

Bang!

The hand slamming down on the desk conveyed intense anger.

The expression was restrained, but such demeanor only intensified the tension for those watching.

“What have you all been doing while this slippery eel was stirring up the river!!”

Regens Rainriver, the chairman of the Garam Kingdom’s Magic Academy.

As someone associated with the academy, hearing the circumstances of this incident, there probably isn’t anyone who could contain their anger.

The decisive evidence, the Daze Stone, was clearly an item belonging to the Garam Academy, and it was someone affiliated with the academy who had disguised it as a piece of jewelry and delivered it to Princess Arin and Luna.

And that’s all that has been uncovered so far.

The person who delivered the stone bit their tongue and committed suicide. Due to this, whether they were a spy, a defector, or the reason behind such an act remained a mystery.

Truly, not a single aspect could be properly uncovered.

“Well, we urgently investigated the person involved, but there were absolutely no connections found. Their background, relationships, they had no ties to the Ushif Empire whatsoever, and there was nothing unusual about their usual lifestyle or movements! The only explanation seems to be that they suddenly turned traitor out of nowhere…”

For the person responsible for delivering the circumstances, it was an exasperating situation.

Trying to deduce what happened was frustrating, as no clear answers were coming forth, a situation even calculating magicians would find daunting.

“I don’t understand. Not only is the situation problematic, but the Emperor decided to just end the situation when the Empire itself could have made a big deal out of it?

“Yes, the imperial court’s stance is that they don’t want to jeopardize peace over uncertainties…”

“There must be something they find unsettling as well. Perhaps the royal family might even be involved in this incident.”

As Regens flicked through the report with his finger, his gaze suddenly shifted elsewhere.

“Where is Luna?”

“She- she just finished her regular check-up and went back to her room.”

The moment her location was confirmed, Regens got up and left the room.

Walking down the long corridor, he arrived at a girl’s room filled with an immense number of books.

It seemed slightly off to call it a girl’s room.

The room’s owner was deeply engrossed in reading.

“You’re here, Grandfather?”

There was no response to her indifferent greeting.

Regens walked up to her without beating around the bush and got straight to the point.

“During the investigation by the empire, didn’t you find anything suspicious from them?”

Her gaze still fixed on her book.

“At first, they probed as if they were going to devour everything, but soon changed their attitude and released me shortly after.”

“I’m not asking for what we already know. I’m asking if there was any sign that the empire is reluctant to disclose something, any such movements!”

Regens’s tone became somewhat harsh.

The girl, with a steady gaze, closed her book and said,

“There was nothing.”

Her tone was straightforward and firm.

Regens looked at her with a gaze full of suspicion for a moment.

“Alright, then let’s ask about something else. What about that boy I told you to investigate?”

“…”

Her hand holding the book twitched very slightly.

However, she showed no outward reaction and continued with an unchanged demeanor.

“Contrary to what I had heard, he turned out to be someone with a lot of kindness.”

“A lot of kindness?”

“Yes. It’s not easy for nobility to sit at the same table with knights and maids, right? But for him, it seemed naturally part of daily life, without any awkwardness…”

“What else was there?”

Cutting her off, he asked again, apparently not satisfied with the answer.

“It seemed he had more consideration than I thought. Even though he risked his life to save me, he didn’t ask for anything in return, and he even saw me off when I came somewhat recklessly. He didn’t seem like someone who’s indifferent…”

“That’s not what I’m asking!”

A thunderous command stirred a fierce whirlwind in the room.

“What about the magic power you felt from that boy! Whether he has any hidden powers! Who are around him! Those are the important things I’m telling you to talk about!”

“…”

Despite the books falling and her hair fluttering wildly, the girl’s gaze remained firm.

After a brief silence, the girl spoke first.

“Why are you so obsessed with him?”

Hiding all signs of his previous excitement, Regens continued in a calm tone.

“Haven’t I told you? Everything you do for me is for the advancement of our Magic Academy. As long as you were born my granddaughter, you must follow that duty. Luna…”

Follow orders without question, a life imposed on her simply because she was born into the Rainriver lineage.

Luna sighed softly and finally gave the answer he wanted.

“The attribute score is 93%, a bit higher than the figure you mentioned. The magic grade is at least 5 stars, which is much higher than the 3 stars written in the academy’s official records. I’m not sure if he’s hiding any special powers, but I did feel like he was hiding something. I’m not sure what it is though…”

“Are you certain?”

“Positive. I felt it myself when I embraced him.”

“…Understood.”

As if his business was concluded, Regens turned and left the room without any word of thanks or acknowledgment for her efforts.

Left alone, the girl opened her book to resume reading but soon closed it again.

“Boring.”

Eventually, she threw the book aside and flopped down on her bed.

Could every day be this dull?

It had always been boring, but her unrelieved boredom seemed to grow with each passing day since her return from the empire.

“…”

She absentmindedly turned her head to look out the window.

The view was dreary, devoid of any freshness.

It felt like she was looking at her own monotonous daily life.

The girl stared out the window for a long time.

Coincidentally, that direction was exactly where the Royal Academy was located.

(To be continued)