The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin - Chapter 1

———

Chapter 1: The Revelation and the Return

Father had always said.

“Do not try anything, just live comfortably with the life you have been given.”

“The family will be taken care of by your brothers, do not bother with anything.”

“That i how you can be of help to the family.”

These were his words when he didn’t expect anything from me.

However, the words of people often change over time.

Since I gained power, he started saying things like.

“Live for the sake of the family.”

“Your brother, Eschel, is everything to the family.”

“Live for Eschel’s sake.”

Not a life for me but for the master of the family.

For Eschel Vert, the eldest son and heir of the family.

It meant simply sticking around like a shadow, supporting him in every way possible for his success.

Someone else said something similar.

That a life spent serving others is as futile as it gets, but I did just that.

And through it, I helped him achieve everything he started.

The struggle for the Imperial Throne.

The suppression of the Demon Army.

The war for continental unification, and more.

Sometimes as a hero, sometimes as a savior, ultimately as the sole protector of the continent.

To me, he was everything and more.

Was it futile?

Others said so.

Was there really a need to live a life so dedicated to others?

I answered,

“A life for my brother is a life for me.”

Eschel Vert’s success is Cyan Vert’s success.

Wealth and power are luxuries to me.

Even if they call me a shadow and point fingers, if I can bring some peace to this harsh world, then that is the greatest wish.

But then, someone else said,

Wishes, by nature, aren’t easily fulfilled, even the small ones.

I didn’t believe those words.

I thought my wish, being by my brother’s side, was already being fulfilled, and I denied it.

That’s how it was. That’s how it used to be.

But why am I facing such a situation right now?

“Cough!”

Bright red blood spurted out of my mouth.

It feels like my heart is being struck.

My vision is getting blurry.

There are still over twenty enemies in front of me, thrusting their swords at me.

They may be few in number, but their skills surpass ordinary assassins.

From knights to mages, the best warriors from across the Empire, all gathered to end me; it couldn’t be anything less than spectacular.

“What a sight to behold, a knight fighting off the strongest warriors of the continent on his own…This might even be impossible for Sir Eschel.”

Even though his figure was obscured by my bloody vision, I could tell from the voice who it was.

“Boris…”

Ushif Empire’s Head of the Magic Society, Boris Rehelim.

One of the core powers responsible for the heart of the Empire along with the Knights of Light.

Despite not liking his actions, I excluded him from threatening forces as he once ruled as my brother’s right-hand man.

But now he’s doing this?

“It’s very interesting. So, you’re the brother Sir Eschel trusted.”

Even though I already disliked him, seeing him smirk like that made me even more irritated.

Regardless of the surroundings, should I just use my trump card and escape?

“If you’re thinking of using tricks to escape, then forget it. There’s a Ninth-Grade Magic Barrier here. Using it will only deplete your already limited life force.”

Ha, looks like he prepared quite a lot.

“Are you the Emperor’s messenger?”

“The Emperor knows nothing. It’ll be reported that you were killed by unknown assassins.”

Killed by assassins?

It’s pathetic, really.

Who’s talking about assassination in front of whom?

Now, the barriers and whatever else didn’t matter.

Harnessing all the power within me, I will escape from this situation.

Black mist surged from the dagger in my hand.

-Whoosh!

The mist enveloped my entire body, seeping through my limbs.

As my overall abilities enhanced, the wounds that had opened began to heal gradually.

“It’s just as it was said in the rumors, you are an assassin of Mist. Now that things have come to this, I’ll have to report to His Majesty that I’ve found out you were affiliated with the heretics and dealt with itt.”

“Sure, go ahead and try. Only if you even have a mouth left to report with after this. But I can assure you, you won’t even have a tooth remaining after I’m done with you.”

Suppressed anger was bursting forth.

When was the last time I expressed such rage?

First, I’ll eliminate all these traitors around me, then I’ll go to my brother and report on the current situation and our future course of action…

“That’s enough, Cyan.”

A firm yet gentle voice cut through the tension.

I knew the owner of that voice.

But beyond knowing, why was he even here?

Even through my blood-soaked vision, he stood out clearly.

“E-Eschel?”

My superior, the Commander of the Knights of Light, the Guardian of the Continent, and the wielder of the Holy Sword.

Eschel Vert. Why was he here?

In one hand, he held the Holy Sword blessed by the gods, and he walked steadily toward me.

The knights surrounding me all made way for him, and I couldn’t make any move until he arrived.

Even the rage that surged through me was turning into despair.

“You must be confused why I’m here, Cyan. You have served your duty admirably all this time. For the family, for the people, for the nation, and for me… It’s time to relieve yourself of the burdens.”

What nonsense is this?

Relieve myself of burdens?

Isn’t that just a fancy way of saying you’re going to kill me?

Why? What did I do wrong?

I’ve been running tirelessly for 20 years.

I never once acted out of selfishness, always stuck by his side like a shadow, and achieved everything for him!

And now he wants to kill me?

I didn’t feel this betrayed even when Boris appeared.

The moment I truly realized the betrayal, an indescribable fury boiled within me.

“Wh-What did I do wrong?”

“Wrong? You know better than anyone, don’t you? Humans kill each other over a piece of bread they hide from each other. Haven’t you hidden yourself in places you shouldn’t have been, and kept it a secret from everyone? Surely you’re not pretending to be innocent?”

My teeth ground together.

Blood dripped from my lips, tainted with anger and injustice.

Hide? Did I ever cause you harm?

In the end, were you just using me for your own gains?

Oh, I see.

It doesn’t matter what I did, does it?

They were just afraid.

Afraid of the unknown assassin who had kept the peace of this world and the secrets associated with it.

“The most dangerous thing in the world is blind trust.”

I recalled the words of that wretch god.

Back then, I thought it was nonsense, but I never dreamed it would come back as a dagger to stab me.

“Haha…”

Somehow, laughter escaped me.

To think I had been a coward like this, believing in my brother with all my heart and dedicating everything to him!

Even the damned souls of hell would have laughed.

“Why are you laughing?”

“How amusing, the greatest hero in the world is trying to kill his own little brother cause he’s afraid. Isn’t that hilarious?”

Pity flickered in his eyes.

“Truly pathetic. You’re nothing more than a vile murderer, I can’t even call you human. And yet, during all the time we spent together, I never once trusted you.”

The golden strike of the Holy Sword pierced my heart.

“Keuk!”

The mist that permeated my entire body gradually dissipated. My legs, devoid of strength, barely managed to hold my crumbling balance.

“Farewell, Cyan. Let us never meet again in the next life.”

Never meet again? If it weren’t for me, he would have perished during the Empire’s civil war, yet now he’s spouting such nonsense?

The fleeting sense of regret turned into pure rage.

I steadied my trembling hands and barely picked up the fallen dagger. Even if my body ruptures, it doesn’t matter.

I will gather every last shred of mana that composes my body and cast my ultimate technique.

Just once. Just one time is all I need. If I can strike the fatal point of someone for whom resurrection is impossible…

Swish!

Amidst the cruel sound, within my blurred vision, Eschel’s Holy Sword appeared. Beneath it lay the dagger, surrounded by a dark aura, pitifully abandoned. Together with my hands gripping the hilt…

“What a truly dangerous individual you are, to the very end.”

I felt no pain, not even a scream. At this final juncture, where there is nowhere else to go, I felt a rush of all the world’s disappointment and emptiness. My face buried in the rough ground, tears of blood fell beneath. A lonely silence engulfed me.

In the fading breaths, I felt the shadow of death drawing near. What a spineless life it had been. If. If I were given another chance at life. Then, I would live a different life. A life where I serve only myself, where I can achieve everything on my own…

“…”

Breath ceased, senses dulled. The cold embrace of death enveloped my body. I accepted that embrace without resistance.

* * *

“…Young Master.”

Huh? What’s going on?

I sensed someone shaking my body in the pitch-black darkness.

“Young Master!”

Even though I couldn’t see, I felt someone shaking me.

What’s this strangely familiar yet uncomfortable feeling?

It’s like the scolding of a maid who used to wake me up from oversleeping in my childhood…

“Young Master Cyan!”

At the booming call that felt like drum beats, my body involuntarily rose.

As I regained consciousness, I was met with the face of a woman, one I recognized.

“Emily?!”

She was the maid who had cared for me from a young age, an eight-year difference between us.

Even though it had been almost 20 years since we last met, she hadn’t aged a day.

“Why are you here…?”

I asked her absentmindedly.

“What are you talking about? Are you dreaming or something?”

Dream? Dreaming?

What absurdity…

I absentmindedly pinched my cheek, and I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror on the table.

It was unmistakably my younger self from the days when I lived in the Vert Manor, during the worst time of my life.

“Stop dawdling and get ready quickly. You have a duel with the Fourth Young Master today, remember?”

“…What duel?”

“What duel? It’s the usual sparring match within the house. You need to toughen up today; it’s not just anyone, it’s the infamous Fourth Young Master Cranz…”

Not only had my body regressed in age, but the daily sword sparring matches that used to happen in the estate were also being replayed.

Is this really a dream?

Or was everything that happened just a dream?

Is my entire life just an illusion?

My brain felt like a pea, and I was overwhelmed with a sense of overload.

As I sighed and pressed my forehead, my gaze fell on Emily.

“…?”

As she tidied up the room, a sculpture precariously perched on a shelf swayed dangerously.

One wrong move, and it could fall on her head.

“It’s dangerous…”

Instinctively, I jumped up and rushed toward her.

Thud!

“Look at how messy this is. Who would call this the room of a noble… Haah!”

“…?”

As she turned her head while cleaning, she found herself face to face with me, her expression slightly startled.

“Wh-What is it, Young Master?”

“Hmm? Oh, that…!”

My hands reached out to support the sculpture, something impossible for a 10-year-old boy’s body to do.

I finally realized.

This situation was definitely not a dream.

I had regressed.

With the memories and senses of my past life…

Emily’s bewildered face was something truly worth seeing.

————