The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Humans seldom visited the cold and barren frozen lands.

I was no exception.

Without even knowing what was there, and knowing that visiting this land was bound to be arduous, there was no reason for me to set foot here.

After having reclaimed Vellias from the demon legion in my previous life,

and desperately needing the divine armaments to prepare for the Demon King’s re-invasion at that time,

I, who had traveled all over the continent in search of the unknown divine armaments, also set foot in the frozen lands to find clues.

I intended to meet the White Elves living deep in the frozen lands of Pruina to gather information from them.

Of course, that was the plan, but in reality, I was driven away from the outskirts of the frozen lands without even setting foot in Pruina.

The dragon that drove me away was none other than ‘Marian.’

“Unclean being. What you seek is not in this frozen land. Leave this place immediately.”

Appearing abruptly and outright denying me entry was utterly ridiculous.

But at that time, I didn’t yet possess Kaeram, so I had no power to counter a dragon emitting such immense divine energy.

Instead, I asked just one thing.

“If we fail to stop the demon legion, won’t these frozen lands also be in danger? Are you going to just pretend it’s none of your business?”

Marian replied with a scoff.

“Don’t underestimate yourself too much. The Demon King might be powerful, but it’s not beyond the capabilities of you humans to stop him.”

When I heard this, I thought the dragon was mocking me.

But then,

“A clan that has killed gods, would they really be unable to stop it?”

Her subsequent words struck me not just as fresh but as a shock.

Humans, mere creations, had killed a god, an absolute being?

It sounded unbelievable.

If she didn’t want to help, she could have just said no; why make such absurd claims?

However, for me now, dreaming of killing a god, her words became like a ray of hope, not entirely impossible.

* * *

The trembling in my hand holding Kaeram became more pronounced.

Throughout all my lives, Kaeram had never once ordered me to kill someone.

It was also rare for it to show such intense emotional disturbance towards anyone.

[Didn’t you hear me? I said kill that woman!]

I gritted my teeth and asked her in a whisper.

“Do you think I’ll just do it because you say so, without any reason or explanation? Shouldn’t there at least be a reason for killing her?”

[Just shut up and kill her! A man who claims he will kill gods, are you trembling before a mere dragon?]

I pressed for a reason several times, but Kaeram was stubborn.

Even as I argued with her, my gaze remained fixed on Marian.

Marian, too, looked back and forth between me and Kaeram with a profound gaze.

“It seems you try hard to hide it, but that distinctive, hideous murderous intent is unavoidable. Is that sword instructing you to kill me?”

If only she would keep her mouth shut.

While I was struggling to calm the moody cursed sword, the dragon began provoking me as well.

Marian approached me, emitting divine energy.

“You haven’t grown at all, Kaeram. Picking up another naive human as your master, repeating the same mistakes…”

Unable to listen anymore, I finally spoke up.

“Look, Miss Dragon.”

Still, with as much politeness as possible.

“I can see you have sharp eyes, but how about you keep your mouth shut?”

Marian’s face contorted immediately.

“As you say, right now, my sword is growling to kill you, and I’m barely holding it back. Since it seems like I should deal with my side first, why don’t you just shut up for a bit?”

Marian chuckled sarcastically and shrugged her shoulders.

I ignored her and pressed Kaeram for an explanation.

-Kugung!

Just then, a vibration came from beneath, and the pressure weighing down on me grew heavier.

Because of that, one of my legs lost balance and gave way.

Marian, now right in front of me, looked down at me as I kneeled.

“No matter if you are the heir possessing the divine armaments, your arrogance has crossed the line. How did the God of the Black Mist come to accept such an oblivious human as its successor?”

With each word she uttered, the pressure intensified.

It seemed she intended to force my other leg to give way and completely subdue me.

Truly, I was being exhausted from all sides.

-Swoosh

As if nothing had happened, I straightened my collapsed leg and stood up.

Marian’s eyes widened in apparent surprise that she had overcome her own mystical power.

Although it was annoying, now was the time to suppress my emotions.

I calmly explained the situation to her.

“I’ve killed the same kind of dragons as you before. Two of them, in fact.”

Dragons that I no longer remember by name,

They have been digested in my stomach long ago and become part of my body.

I recall they tasted quite decent, unlike the demonic beasts on the front lines.

“Why don’t you wait a bit, since I don’t think there’s no way I can’t handle someone like you? But I don’t really want to, you know?”

“Wouldn’t it be a problem if you consider me at the same level as the dragons you said you killed?”

“I shouldn’t be regarded the same as those pathetic humans you know either.”

It was sincere advice.

One corner of her mouth, which had been straight, curved up.

The oppressive pressure that had been weighing heavily on me had somehow vanished, and Marian manifested a sphere blending magic and mystic power in her hand.

It wasn’t just a simple threat.

It was a power filled with sincere intent that she could indeed kill me if she wanted.

Why can’t humans or dragons take things nicely when spoken to nicely?

I don’t know what grudge lies between Kaeram and this dragon, but at this point, it’s becoming hard for me to control my irritation.

Above all, this dragon’s gaze that looks down on me as if I’m less than an insect has been very irritating from the start.

That gaze, not many have survived after showing it to me.

My hand with Kaeram began to rise higher.

‘Calm down!’

Then, Hastia grabbed my right hand, which held the sword.

She stood between me and Marian in that state.

“Move aside, Hastia. This isn’t your place to step in.”

Hastia shook her head.

‘As a prophetess of the White Elves, I have a duty to protect the guardian who will enlighten the future of our realm!’

Guardian? Who? Me?

This elf is starting to talk nonsense again.

By the way, Hastia was only holding my hand, not Marian’s.

“Can dragons communicate without contact because they are special?”

Still, it gave me time to communicate with Kaeram.

Once again, I covered my mouth and whispered to her.

“I’m asking one last time. If you don’t explain the reason, I won’t follow your request. Why should I kill that dragon?”

[…….]

“You’re not answering?”

Even though I asked several times, Kaeram fell into silence.

Is it so difficult to explain the reason?

It was so easy for her to get all worked up and order me to kill, yet now her attitude changes so easily?

“If you’re done talking to the demon sword, can you look at me now?”

I looked up again at Marian’s call.

It seemed Hastia had calmed things down a bit, as the sphere had been dissipated.

“I guess I need to ask the question I asked initially once again. Why are both of you here?”

Hastia answered for us.

‘Sir Cyan has come to search for traces of his older sister, Lady Alice!’

“Alice?”

Marian’s gaze narrowed slightly at that moment.

“Why are you looking for her here?”

‘Three years ago, when Lady Alice revisited Pruina, I heard she tried to find the ruins of Lord Aquanis here.’

“Is that so? I had no idea.”

Her answer carried an inexplicable playfulness.

I crossed my arms and asked.

“Why are you here then?”

“I came to check on an intruder after detecting that the gate of the ruins had been opened. I set up a Relic Serpent, but I felt uneasy about it.”

The serpent glared at me with resentful eyes, hidden in a pool beneath a waterfall.

“I wondered how you came to a place known only by the elders among the White Elves, but it seems that the sword told you.”

Kaeram still had no reaction.

Wanting to avoid answering, I asked something else.

“What’s so special about this ruin that you personally showed up?”

Marian pointed towards one side.

It was just a canal with water flowing through it.

“Are you talking about the water?”

“It’s not just any water. This ruin is where Lord Aquanis first bestowed holy water upon this land. It remains uncontaminated by any impurities and always maintains its pure concentration. All the water in this canal flows from that source.”

The pool where the serpent and I had caused a commotion was now clear of any blood, and its original blue hue was emerging.

This time, Hastia asked.

‘Then, exactly where is the source located?’

“Across the Bridge of Purity.”

‘Ah, Cyan couldn’t cross it…’

It really didn’t need to be mentioned.

Marian smirked slightly.

“It’s difficult to cross that bridge with such a vile stench of blood. I’ve seen many humans, but this is the first time I’ve encountered one with such a diverse smell. From humans to magical beasts, even dragons… I can’t even guess the path you’ve walked.”

Suddenly, I remembered a bold junior.

It seemed they said that if you made perfume with blood, it would have a pungent smell.

Wondering if that was true, I sniffed my hand, but it didn’t smell at all.

Anyway, I had seen everything I needed to here.

“There’s no reason to stay any longer.”

I walked past Marian.

“Aren’t you interested in the source?”

“If I can’t go, why should I care?”

We had a bit of a standoff, but she didn’t seem inclined to press further.

Instead, she issued a warning.

“Hastia has intervened, so I’ll let you go for now, but don’t forget that I’m watching. Leave the frozen lands as soon as you have no other business.”

“I’ll handle it.”

“Still, it seems the magic sword has found a decent master this time.”

At her mocking words, I stopped and turned back.

Then, I returned the words she had given me in a past life.

“Would a clan that has killed a god be unable to handle a divine weapon?”

Her eyes momentarily clouded over in surprise.

‘Le-let’s go together, Cyan!’

Hastia scurried after me, and I picked her up and ascended the waterfall.

We went back up the waterway towards the entrance, and soon the ice bridge I had passed earlier reappeared.

I was just about to pass it with a single glance,

but as if drawn, I went towards the ice bridge and looked beyond.

‘What’s wrong, Cyan?’

“……”

‘Cyan?’

“No, let’s go.”

Cyan and Hastia exited the ruins together.

The sky outside the ruins was still bright.

Since it was about dawn, we hastened our steps.

Hastia, following along, asked.

‘Is it okay to keep going like this? We didn’t find any trace of Lady Alice…’

Hearing that, a thought suddenly occurred to me, and I stopped walking.

Hastia looked at me, puzzled by my halt.

“Now that I think about it, didn’t you say there was something you needed to check in those ruins?”

Hastia avoided my gaze.

I firmly grabbed her hand to prevent her from running away.

‘Did – did I say that?’

“Yes.”

‘It was nothing! I was just curious about the structure of the goddess’s ruins I had heard about and just followed Cyan… Ouch!’

I caught her cheek and lifted it upwards.

‘Cyan, it hurts!’

“So you didn’t have a special purpose, you just wanted to follow me?”

‘I followed because I was worried! I thought Cyan might make a fruitless journey in search of Lady Alice…’

“Why are you worried about that?”

It’s been three years since I decided not to meet anyone from my circle, except the head of the family, upon coming out into the world.

I did come to these ruins in search of traces of my sister, but I have no intention of greeting her warmly even if we meet again.

Still, I was relieved to have confirmed it.

If her being safe and well was confirmed, that was enough.

Hastia, with her cheeks reddened, rubbed her face, making a tearful expression.

* * *

After Cyan and Hastia left the ruins,

Marian, who emerged from the ruins belatedly, stared intently in the direction the two had gone.

“True to what I’ve heard, such an unpredictable child.”

As she murmured to herself, a woman appeared from behind her in the ruins.

Like Marian, the woman looked towards where Cyan and Hastia had gone.

“Are you really okay with not meeting them?”

“… It doesn’t seem like the right time yet.”

“I say this because there might never be a right time. You might never see that child again if you don’t look now.”

The woman clenched her fist as if overwhelmed by emotion, but soon smiled warmly.

“Just as Lady Marian said, you never know where that child might go next. I think it’s okay. And thankfully, they didn’t notice me! I was so nervous, worrying about what I would do if they found me!”

The woman placed her hand on her chest, breathing a sigh of relief.

Marian looked puzzled.

“I doubt that.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean that child must have seen you too. Otherwise, why would he leave so abruptly after coming to look for traces of his sister?”

The woman belatedly recalled the moment that had just occurred.

The time she saw Cyan passing faintly from across the Bridge of Purity,

Cyan suddenly turned direction and came to the bridge, looking towards where she had been.

The woman had quickly hidden herself, thinking she hadn’t been noticed until then.

“Then why, if he saw me?”

“Probably for the same reason as you. Maybe it’s not yet time to meet…”

The woman blinked in bewilderment.

Marian smiled at her.

“Siblings really do resemble each other.”

(To be continued)