The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

[Hey, master.]

Kaeram, sitting on the hard rock in a seductive posture.

As she yawned repeatedly, she asked me.

[Why did you look for me?]

“To use you.”

I replied dryly.

[Do you think the legendary magic sword is as common as a kitchen knife on a chopping board? Isn’t this clear neglect of a relic?]

“I told you. It will be difficult to even bring you out for a while. How can I carelessly show such a noble relic to others?”

I could see Eulken, who was watching me 24 hours a day, in the distance.

Of course, Kaeram’s soul is visible only to me, but rash actions should be avoided as much as possible.

[Have you never heard that a man’s weapon dulls if not used? It’s the same with that, right?]

“Nice thing to say in front of a child.”

[Now the excuse about being a child, anyway, look at this dried skin! I woke up after so long and want to taste blood quickly! When will you finally use me!]

She whined like a child asking for snacks.

“I’ll use you to your heart’s content once we go to the front line. Just wait until then, Kaeram.”

[If that’s the case, you should have come to me right before leaving! Ugh! Waking up after hundreds of years only to meet such a strange master… Anyway, if you’re not going to use me, I’ll go back to sleep. Don’t wake me up!]

Kaeram, turning into mist, disappeared in an instant with the dagger in her bosom.

Despite appearances, she spends half the day sleeping.

Well, it is natural since maintaining a physical form for no reason only drains her energy.

I feel sorry, but there is nothing I can do for now.

At least until we enter the Lemea Valley, there will not be any use for her.

I resumed my swordsmanship practice.

The month promised with my father is now only three days away.

All I have done during this time is consistent strength training and showy swordsmanship practice.

Given the situation where I do not even know what the trial will be, this light training is all I can do.

Honestly, putting the trial aside, I should refine my real combat skills more to hunt monsters on the front lines…

I even thought about using Cranz, but for some reason, he has been nowhere to be seen lately.

He said he had recovered from his injuries long ago, but it seems he is avoiding me quite a bit.

They say when you need it, even crap can be medicine, but maybe I should have been a bit more moderate?

Repeating the tedious training, I start to lament needlessly.

Deciding to take a break, I lay down on the ground, stretching out wide.

Considering that the duel with Sister Alice was the last, I suppose my body has become as dull as it can get. But then again, I do not like the idea of sparring with someone mediocre.

Suddenly, I started to wonder if there was a worthy opponent around.

Hmm?

Come to think of it, is there not someone very close by?

“Hey, Eulken! Are you there?”

I tilted my head back to look beyond the forest.

3 seconds later, Eulken emerged from between the bushes and hurried over to me.

“What is it, young master?”

He seemed surprised that I had pinpointed his location exactly.

“Well, it’s nothing much, but could you do me a favor?”

“Please, tell me.”

“Let’s have a duel!”

“Excuse me?”

Sweat dripped down Eulken’s face.

It was an oddly timed and somewhat absurd request, but I was entirely serious.

“You mean… to have a duel with me, right now?”

“Yeah! The day I promised father is only 3 days away, and I feel like swinging my sword in the air isn’t enough. I want to sharpen my real combat skills. Won’t you help me?”

“If you need a sparring partner, surely there are other knights besides me? My duty is to protect you, not to train you.”

“That’s why I’m asking. This is a personal favor, separate from my father’s orders. I’m not asking for a real duel. You just need to block my attacks. It shouldn’t be too hard, right?”

Just block and not even counterattack.

Such an unequal condition hardly makes for a proper duel, but Eulken seemed to agree.

After all, what could possibly go wrong with just blocking the attacks of this young prince?

“If that’s what you wish, then I agree. However, I’ll face you with my scabbard instead of my sword. You may attack as you wish, and I promise to focus solely on defense.”

Eulken, bowing politely, drew his sword from his waist.

His sword was a high-quality longsword used by the Knights of Light, and its scabbard boasted a strength comparable to that of renowned swords.

“Thanks. And there’s one more thing…”

“Please, speak.”

“From this moment on, please don’t report what happens here to my father.”

“Excuse me?”

Eulken’s face changed subtly.

His duty from the duke was not only to protect me but also to monitor my every move.

The audacious child who declared his desire to go to the front would surely be doing something his father would be very curious about.

For him, there was no reason not to report today’s duel to the duke.

“Dueling with me is nothing to be ashamed of. Surely, the Duke himself would view it very favorably, wouldn’t he? There’s really no need to…”

“This is not a request but an order. As a member of the Berthold family, I command that the events that unfold from now on are not to be disclosed to anyone. Understand?”

Once again, sweat trickled down Eulken’s cheek.

Does he think I, who is not the Duke, have the authority to command him? Among all the knights I have seen through past and present lives, he is the most upright.

Being considered the Duke’s right hand for his exceptional loyalty, he has the resolve to dive into any depths for his sake.

Had I proceeded with the duel without saying anything, he would surely have reported the process and outcome of the duel to the Duke.

That’s why I issued such an order.

Eulken’s primal mission is to protect the Duke, and I am a kind of delegate whom the Duke has directly ordered to protect.

In other words, I also possess authority equivalent to the Duke.

Others might scoff at this, thinking it sounds absurd, but not to the knight before me.

Because he truly is an upright knight.

“I understand, young master. I swear on the honor of a guardian knight, I will not disclose anything about this duel.”

Eulken placed one hand on his chest and took the knight’s oath.

Having taken the oath, breaking it would mean repayment with his life, so I was assured he would absolutely keep his word.

“Thanks, Eulken. Shall we begin now?”

As I lifted my sword, Eulken also raised his scabbard to take a defensive stance.

Now that I had a solid promise, maybe it was okay to play around a bit?

Honestly, these past few days, my body has been itching for action.

Not to mention that scoundrel Cranz, and even during the duel with Sister Alice, I found myself stirring without realizing it.

The moment I made up my mind, I immediately lunged forward.

-Clang!

With the first strike, I twisted my body freely to execute the sword strikes I desired.

Eulken flawlessly caught all my attacks without letting any slip by.

Along with the thrilling harmony of blade meeting blade, a thrilling pleasure surged.

The desire of a swordsman that had been dormant for a while was awakening once again.

As time passed, the corners of my mouth lifted in excitement, while Eulken’s face grew darker.

Although he had no trouble defending, these were not the strikes of a mere ten-year-old.

After about 10 minutes of onslaught?

It felt as if I had completed a set amount of exercise, feeling a refreshing sense of relief.

With a final downward slash aimed at his head, I sheathed my sword.

“Good work, Eulken! Thanks for helping me!”

“Yo-you’ve worked hard, young master…”

At my bright smile, Eulken awkwardly bowed his head.

Yet, he was looking at his sword sheath.

The sheath of the sword, surpassing that of ordinary robbers, was quite damaged.

“It seems I’ve damaged it unintentionally? Should I compensate you?”

“Oh, no, my lord! I can repair it, so please don’t worry about it!”

There must be many things he is curious about, but he would never ask.

Let alone spill it to someone else.

He truly must be a loyal knight.

“What do you think, Eulken?”

“About what, my lord?”

“About the trial my father is preparing. Do you know anything about it?”

“Regrettably, I have been by your side recently, so I don’t know anything about that.”

Even if he knew, he probably would not tell…

“I wonder what he’s preparing. Do you think he’s preparing a sparring match with several senior knights like Eulken? Or, perhaps, my father will personally face us?”

As the day of the promise approaches, curiosity could only grow.

Indeed, what is the qualification the duke spoke of, and what has he prepared for it?

Curiosity, along with a strange sense of anticipation, was rising.

“…I don’t think it will be that.”

Eulken, who had been silent, surprisingly opened his mouth.

“It’s just my guess, but I don’t think the duke would prepare something like a sparring match against people. The duke sees much further than we think, so he must have prepared a trial befitting that.”

Is it really a different perspective?

Having served my father for much longer, he would know him better.

“But if it’s the young master…”

“…?”

“I believe that no matter what the trial is, you will be able to overcome it without a problem…”

For the first time, he showed a small smile, not usually loosening his stern expression.

To receive recognition from a senior knight.

It was so delightful that I could dance.

It was a strange feeling, but not a bad one.

* * *

Time swiftly passed, and before long, the day of the promise dawned.

Knights from the front lines had been waiting in the courtyard since the crack of dawn to take me away.

Having nothing to prepare, I followed them immediately after breakfast.

From the mansion’s windows, hundreds of eyes watched as I departed.

No one else was permitted to accompany me, and I was the only one to receive protection from dozens of knights.

After riding in the prepared carriage for about 30 minutes?

We arrived at a quiet wasteland where no residences could be seen.

The moment I got off the carriage, I was directly faced with the Duke who was waiting there.

“Cyan, the youngest of the Berth family, greets my father.”

“Come forth, Cyan. Are you ready?”

He skipped the pleasantries and immediately asked if I was ready to undergo the trial.

“Of course. I am prepared to undertake it right this moment.”

“I will ask one last time. If you wish to reconsider now, I will let you go without a word. Do you truly wish to go to the front lines?”

“From the moment I first spoke, there has been no change in my statement. My heart is still set towards the front lines.”

After even the last opportunity was declined, the Duke nodded his head.

He recognized that my resolve could not be broken.

“With all things, come responsibility, and one must be qualified to bear that responsibility. If you wish to follow the family’s ideals as a child of the Berth family, you must possess the qualifications for it. Now, I shall see how firm your resolve is.”

Having finished his speech, the Duke then commanded the knights.

“Release it.”

Upon receiving the order, the knights brought forth something massive.

It looked like a large prison designed to confine someone.

Shortly after, the huge covering that enveloped it was removed, revealing the true nature of the trial prepared by the Duke.

“Rrrrr…”

Inside the prison, eyes filled with madness and red as blood glared at me.

No, it would not be right to call it a beast.

Because it was not a creature that belonged to this land.

I never imagined such a trial would be prepared.

Despite my efforts to manage my expression, I could not help but twitch my lips.

The demonic hound, Hellhound.

The cruel predator from the demon world was salivating as if it could devour me at any moment.

(To be continued)