The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

August 12, Year 999 of the Creation Era.

We finally succeeded in expelling the demon army that had occupied Vellias.

However, contrary to expectations, their forces were very strong, and the morale of the allied forces who had experienced this was very low.

In this urgent situation, where it was uncertain when the demon army might invade again, humans felt the limits of their power and for the first time raised the need for the divine relics.

Although the continent had been wiped clean due to the God-Demon War 300 years ago, there were still some remnants that had not been erased scattered about.

Humans painstakingly gathered these scant pieces of information, and soon discovered that relics imbued with the power of the gods were hidden throughout the continent.

Among them, the most needed was undoubtedly the holy sword Durandark, blessed by the protection of the god of light, Lumendel.

Given the demons’ vulnerability to light, Lumendel’s power could be fatal to them, so it was imperative to find it.

The problem was that there was no way to confirm where the sword was resting.

It was merely guessed to be somewhere in the western part of the continent, where the temple of the god of light was presumed to have been located.

Well, it was eventually found.

By me, no less.

It was really a coincidence.

While surveying the area around Vellias that had been recaptured from the Demon King’s forces, I suddenly felt like going to the mountain behind the mansion.

Intending to soothe my weary mind and body after battling the demons and to sort out my thoughts, I had no idea what was in store.

Upon reaching the summit and stretching out on the grass, I felt something unusual.

The flow of mana in the surroundings was not normal.

It felt as if something beneath the mountain was sucking in the energy of the area.

Something I had not noticed when I was younger, I was now certain there was something beneath this mountain.

Could it be that the legendary holy sword was right here?

Driven by a sense of curiosity, I gathered people to check, and sure enough, it was discovered that beneath the mountain lay a temple of light where the holy sword was resting.

It was a truly astonishing coincidence.

Regardless of who found it, the sword was taken by Aschel.

No one objected, and it was universally accepted as if it was only natural for him to possess it.

I felt the same way.

After all, the sword was not suitable for me to use, nor did I consider myself worthy of it.

I was just glad that it could be found, even by chance.

But it did not end there.

As I was about to leave, having completed the mission to recover the holy sword, I felt an indistinct energy leaking from behind the altar where the sword had been placed.

Where there is light, shadows follow.

However, no one pays attention to those shadows.

Another energy existed, hidden in the shadow of the holy sword, coexisting with it.

Drawn by this energy, I ventured into the temple alone and eventually discovered the room that had remained alongside the holy sword, where the demon sword was kept.

That was how I found the demon sword Kaeram.

Along with the holy sword Durandark, it was a sword that governed the dual forces of the world, another divine relic that could only be possessed by those who realize the truth in the endless darkness.

The black gem embedded in the hilt tempted me as if urging me to draw it.

Drawn by its temptation, I pulled the sword, and at that moment, my fate was once again changed.

* * *

[You, you? What are you? How can you touch my body?]

“You know why, don’t you? There’s only one reason this situation is possible.”

A woman with black hair connected to the demon sword stuck in the altar by a trail of black mist.

She is not a living creature but a spiritual being, and it is absolutely impossible to physically grasp her with bare hands.

Yet, my hand was firmly gripping her neck.

This meant that I had a special power that allowed me to control her.

[Why do you, of all people, have the aura of ‘Aer’? Don’t tell me, kid, are you his successor?]

“I was a successor… and technically, I still am.”

[What kind of nonsensical talk is that! The mark he engraved is clearly visible on your body!]

Honestly, my current state is hard to define precisely.

She was furious, not knowing that, but what can I do?

I am simply stating the obvious.

“Let’s keep it simple, Kaeram. I don’t feel like explaining everything in this uncertain situation. Why not just follow me quietly?”

Her brows furrowed deeply.

[Has that fool’s spirit finally shown itself? Hey, kid! If you keep rising above your station, you might actually end up dead…]

“Dark Arts No. 9: Demon Sword Control.”

[Argh!]

As I flicked my finger and chanted, she who had been defiantly resisting now clutched her head in agony.

[Aggh…]

Eventually, she collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

Swoosh

In the meantime, I drew the sword from the altar, and as I did, Kaeram separated from the mist and transformed into a perfect human form.

“Sorry, it’s been a while so I didn’t control my strength well…”

Feeling perhaps I had gone too far, I immediately apologized.

Even as she cradled her face, she yelled at me.

[Kid! You won’t last long if you hurt a woman like that!]

Indeed, she would not be my beloved sword if she came to her senses from something like this.

I refrained from flicking my finger again, this time out of mercy.

This woman is the spirit imbued within the demon sword Kaeram, essentially the living persona of the sword.

“At this point, there’s no need for further proof, right? Following Aer’s successor is your reason for existence. Won’t you take my hand and leave with me?”

Gasping for breath, she suddenly stood up as if nothing had happened.

Then, she haughtily sat on the altar, scanning me from head to toe with a regal gaze.

[You, is that your true form?]

I nodded.

Well, it is not wrong, is it?

[You look like a mere chick who’s hardly lived a decade, but why is your inside so filled? There’s not even a gap for me to squeeze into.]

People are not always as they appear on the outside.

That is a lesson I learned painfully in my previous life.

I looked at my reflection on the blade of the sword.

On one side, there was the ten-year-old boy that I am now,

And on the opposite, the face from my previous life, right before death, filled with regret, was reflected.

Which one could truly be considered my real form?

There is no need to deny either.

After all, both are me.

“I’ll explain briefly. I’m someone who has already died once.”

[Died once, you say?]

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Simply put, you could call it regression? I died prematurely by a blade of betrayal in my past life, but due to some inexplicable phenomenon, I was swept back to the past. In that one lifetime, I was chosen by Aer, and I roamed the battlefields with you.”

[Are you expecting me to believe that now?]

“Does it make sense that a mere chick, not even fully fledged, can control you?”

Kaeram hesitated, unable to continue speaking.

Certainly, it is not a story that one can easily believe just by hearing it once.

However, if we assume my words to be true, the current situation where I can control a divine weapon also becomes clearly definable.

After a moment of contemplation, Kaeram asked again.

[What’s your name?]

“Cyan, Cyan Vert…”

[A name I’ve never heard or seen in my life. You were chosen by Aer?]

“Yes. Otherwise, having this conversation with you now would be impossible.”

The biggest reason why my incompetent past self could control Kaeram.

It was because of the blessing of some god.

Aer, the god of black mist, even ostracized by the divine realm.

He was also the one who had completely turned my life upside down.

[Hmm, as much of an oddball Aer is, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to choose a snotty kid…]

Actions speak louder than a hundred words.

She could not just dismiss my words as complete nonsense.

Especially not after the secret technique I just demonstrated, along with the aura of his that she must be feeling emanating from me right now…

[But I don’t get it. If you can control me with just a flick of your finger, it seems you’ve mastered all of his power. What on earth did you do in your past life to die so young?]

She hit a sore spot.

But now, there is nothing I can not say.

“It’s nothing special. I was just betrayed by someone I trusted.”

[Betrayal? Ah, so you were backstabbed? Quite an undignified end for the master of a demon sword, huh? Well, what can you do against betrayal, being human and all~?]

She waved her hand, mocking me, then suddenly became serious.

[But remember this. I don’t care whether you’ve regressed or whatever. If you show even a slight hint of being pathetic or weak, I’ll swallow you whole! Got it?]

Kaeram’s finger brushed my lips.

Was this her personality coming through, despite trying to move on?

Not a taunt, but her provocation made my heart stir slightly.

Without showing any sign, I smiled and said,

“I can assure you, on this earth, there’s no one but me who can properly handle you…”

[Oh? And on what basis do you say that? Such a great person, why would they die young…]

-Snap!

My empty left hand suddenly caught her by the hair.

Unable to resist, Kaeram was now at my eye level.

“So, climb down a notch, Kaeram. A divine weapon can’t just end up with the wrong owner, cutting meat or something, can it?”

Do not get me wrong.

I am giving her advice with an infinitely merciful smile right now.

This is not a threat or a warning.

As proof, is my face not wearing an endless smile?

[We’ll see about that… Whether you’ll be a satisfactory master for me!]

Kaeram responded with an intrigued smile.

Just like my beloved sword.

[But you know…]

Suddenly, she furrowed her brows, seemingly feeling a great displeasure.

[Is that scrawny guy still out there?]

“Scrawny guy?”

Turning around, I saw the light of the holy sword streaming in through the opened door.

In this empty temple, the only thing that could be referred to as “scrawny” was clearly that.

I stepped outside with Kaeram in my arms.

Emerging from the darkness, the light of Durandark felt much brighter than before.

[Wow! I didn’t expect this, but is he still sleeping? Has his master not appeared yet?]

Seeing the holy sword, she asked with curiosity.

“Perhaps it would be better if it never appears…”

I thought about destroying it right then and there, but decided against it as it seemed like it would cause a lot of trouble.

Kaeram stared at me again, then suddenly threw out a statement.

[The one who betrayed you in your past life, is he the owner of that sword?]

I flinched inwardly but did not show it.

I turned around and asked softly, “Why do you think so?”

[Because probably in all of history, you’re the only one who would look at the holy sword with such a disgusted expression. It’s written all over your face ‘this guy is my enemy from a past life’, only an idiot wouldn’t notice.]

I thought I had maintained a poker face, but it seems I was wrong.

That must mean my hatred for this sword and its owner is that apparent.

“Is this what experience amounts to?”

[Trying to act all nonchalant, huh. So, in this life, are you planning revenge against the owner of that holy sword?]

“No, that would be insufficient.”

A renewed vigor filled me, which had hesitated for a moment.

I walked boldly towards the holy sword in front of Kaeram’s eyes.

Thump!

The holy sword tilted to one side with a loud noise.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The sword, deeply embedded in the altar, did not come out easily.

After a few kicks, the holy sword fell from the altar to the ground.

Whoever takes this sword, whenever they do, I couldn’t care less now.

A savior that leads the light of life?

I am someone who thoroughly understands the face of that savior.

There is absolutely no reason for me to serve this sword and its owner again, even in death.

What I want is not revenge, but submission.

[……?!]

Kaeram, who had been silently watching, widened her eyes in surprise.

“Shouldn’t it be like this?”

Before I knew it, my feet were stepping on the splendid blade of the holy sword.

The golden gem embedded in the hilt looked at me as if it held a grudge.

A true savior does not rely on the strength of others.

Pluck

Despite not using much force, the gem fell out easily.

Simultaneously, the radiant light of the holy sword was halved.

I put the gem in my pocket.

[What are you going to do with that?]

Kaeram asked with a puzzled look.

“Who knows? It might not be useful right now, but it could be interesting later.”

Whether they come to me, bowing their heads for it, or fight with all their might to snatch it away.

Either way, it is an interesting development for me.

Especially if it is the latter, it would be even more fun…

(PR: he’s definitely got some strange tastes, the whole chapter is proof)

(To be continued)