The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin - Chapter 287

Chapter 287. Last Chance (1)

While living the second life no one else had ever experienced,

No, in fact, I had thought several times whether this really was a second life.

It was that much of an absurdity.

However, if we assume that I, who have returned with memories of my past life, have undergone what’s called ‘regression,’ then I had to entertain another question.

Who exactly,

For what reason,

Granted me this absurd second life?

I pondered countlessly, and even thought that I might never know in my lifetime.

But an entity that could unravel that longstanding enigma, akin to my deepest yearning,

Eventually appeared before my eyes.

“How does it feel?”

Without self-introduction or any explanation of the situation, he abruptly asked me how I felt.

“Are you asking for my thoughts on these obscure memories of the past?”

If he truly wanted an answer to that, the only response I could give was one.

‘It feels like I’m going out of my mind.’

That was the only phrase I had.

“What I’m asking is how it feels to be dead.”

However, caught off guard by his unexpected meaning, I was momentarily speechless.

“As the spirit of the demonic sword consumed your body, your soul was split from it, and normally, you would have dissipated without a trace. I momentarily halted that process.”

To have died.

Well, it wasn’t something shocking enough to turn the world upside down.

It would be strange to even regard this situation as being alive.

“What do you want to hear from me?”

“Exactly what I asked just then.”

Despite my direct question, he remained consistent with his answer.

“You had a choice. Although your consciousness was nearly shattered while collapsing the spacetime of the holy sword, it wasn’t necessary to confront the Demon King in such a state. Instead, you needed sufficient time to recover in your own spacetime. Had you approached the blood battle with the Demon King in a normal state, you wouldn’t have needed to sacrifice your body to the demonic sword to defeat him.”

That’s right.

Even I cannot deny that fact.

Had I taken sufficient time to recover and fought the Demon King in proper condition, the current situation wouldn’t have unfolded.

Knowing this, I still proceeded with the blood battle directly against the Demon King.

Why?

Probably this enigmatic being also knew the reason.

“But in the end, you chose not just your own people and your world. You couldn’t bear the thought of your loved ones being ravaged by the Demon King during your absence. Without even completing your own revenge, you gave up your life for them. I want to know how that decision makes you feel.”

The moment he finished speaking, the scenery around me changed.

It was the exact place from a moment ago.

Where Emily and I had been, there was now no one left, just scorched marks on the ground.

“Humans are foolish. It is only upon the brink of death that they harbor late regrets.”

This too was a fact I knew all too well from experience.

“That woman felt the same. She regretted not choosing you and repented too late, only to meet a tragic end. With the same resolution as yours that she would not live the same way in her next life……”

Though I could not remember, being already dead, Emily had spent her last moments with me.

And when I returned, she was the very first person I faced.

Should I consider this merely a coincidence?

“But regardless of that resolution, you once again lived not for yourself. Instead, you lived a life entirely for others. Can you even fathom how many have been saved by you and gone on to forge new lives? Sian Bert. You have once again lived a failed life.”

So, that’s what you wanted to say?

That I had once again led a failed life for the sake of others, following my past life.

You might be hoping to see me contorted in despair because of it, but—

“Are you done talking?”

I have no such intentions.

“Is it now my turn to speak?”

“You’ve been free to speak all along.”

He responded as if he had been waiting for it.

“Then let’s get straight to the point. When are you going to resurrect me?”

A brief silence followed my words.

“What are you talking about?”

“I recognized it the moment you asked if I regretted the end of my second life. Even setting aside my own feelings, you are very much regretting my death, aren’t you? Right?”

As I raised my eyebrow and questioned him, he remained silent, simply gazing at me steadily.

“In this world, there is no such thing as an act of kindness without purpose. You gave me a second life with a certain goal in mind, but I ended that life without fulfilling your objective. That must be frustrating for you, to have taken pains to prevent me from dissipating to the point of throwing these pointless questions at me. Unless there’s a rule that says you shouldn’t do something twice after doing it once…”

With a faint smile, I continued my words.

“Hurry up and resurrect me. Whether you gather and piece together my scattered soul, or this time, you turn back time right back to before I was born—do whatever you can.”

“Do you think I have any reason to again extend my goodwill to you, who have already failed twice?”

“According to whom? Isn’t that just what you think?”

His lips sealed shut once again.

“I do not regard this life as a failure.”

This was but my unadulterated and truthful conviction.

“The battle with the Demon King will be continued by her who has consumed my body, so I’m not overly concerned. Eshel Bert has already played all his cards, and all he has left is ruin. As for the remaining world, the survivors will carry it forward. I believe I have lived my life reasonably for myself. At least better than in my past life…”

Regrets?

It would be a lie to say there are none.

However, I do not regret the choices I have made even now.

But that being may think differently.

“I don’t know what your goal is, but if you still wish for me to fulfill it… send me back to the world.”

Unless I achieve what he desires,

He would not wish for my demise to be permanent.

“You’re quite audacious.”

A certain familiarity struck me with that remark.

“Audacious, yet utterly cunning. Very much like us.”

As to who that ‘us’ referred to, I had no clue yet.

He approached me slowly.

“This is your last chance.”

When he was just a step away, he raised his hand to strike,

-Thump

And suddenly thrust it fiercely towards the area where my heart was.

A sensation, unlike anything I’d ever felt before, made me involuntarily hold my breath while my body tensed up rigidly.

Pain then followed, as if all the blood in my body was converging to one destination, unbearable.

“You must be curious about my purpose, right? The answer lies in what your maid once said.”

Maid? Was he referring to Emily?

“Expand your world based on your order. I will observe how your world flows in comparison to the world where light becomes order.”

As if echoing in my ears, that declaration marked the beginning of another change in my surroundings.

* * *

As the magical energy, once erupting like a volcano, began to dim like a fading candle, Besti in the embrace showed no sign of detaching herself.

Amidst this, Belcarion gazed wearily at the red sky of the demon realm.

Rogers cautiously approached his side.

“Hey Rogers.”

“Speak your command, my Lord.”

“This rationality is truly an enigmatic creature. It acts like it’ll never return, yet at some moment, it reappears out of nowhere. Really hard to control.”

Besti simply tightened her embrace on Belcarion in response to his words.

“But now, even when thinking rationally, I’m not sure what to do. Because of those humans, the demons living on my land have died. I need to exact revenge for them. In this situation, what should I do?”

“…”

“Truly, I am asking because I do not know. What decision should a rational Demon King make now?”

“Take your time, think it through.”

Unable to find an easy answer, Besti spoke instead of Rogers.

“Rational decisions aren’t made alone; they’re made for everyone. If you truly care for the demon realm and its people, you will undoubtedly make a good decision. Whatever decision you make, if it stems from a rational mind, I will respect it, Belcarion.”

“My head hurts…”

Trapped in a dilemma, Belcarion let out a deep sigh.

“It seems worse over there.”

Nevertheless, he naturally turned to look where Sian and Nana were.

“…”

A face twisted with imminent tears, full of anxiety.

Sian just silently looked at such Nana.

“Tell me. Where did Papa go?”

Even with Sian right in front of her, Nana kept on repeating the unknown question.

While Arin watched, she slightly tilted her head with curiosity.

“Why is Nana doing that? Why is she asking where Sian is when he is right…”

-Thump

Just then, a sound emerged as something hit the ground, and a strong shudder passed through Arin’s body.

Having dropped her tome, Lunab shivered, staring at Sian in disbelief.

“Is this what you meant by being prepared?”

“Why, what’s wrong Lunab? Is Sian in bad shape?”

Outwardly, Sian appeared to be completely fine.

“His energy… I can’t feel his energy…”

Yet, Lunab saw something else.

“What?”

“Right now, the being inhabiting Sian’s body isn’t his spirit. Something completely different has taken over.”

“What do you mean? If it’s not Sian, then who…?”

Unable to comprehend, Arin turned her head, and their eyes met.

“!”

And she finally realized what made those eyes she had faced so often,

Those that had reflected herself back at her,

Were no longer present in Sian.

According to Lunab, it felt as if someone else had invaded his body.

“Really. Going his own way until the very end…”

Lunab collapsed as if drained of the strength to stand, and Arin followed suit, sitting down beside her.

“Then who’s in Sian’s body now?”

“It must be the spirit of the demonic sword.”

In response to Arin’s question, Lunab lowered her head and let out a disheartened laugh.

“It’s because Sian judged that he couldn’t suppress the Demon King with his current self, and thus gave his body entirely to the demonic sword.”

“I can’t understand! Why? For what reason?”

“Why do you think? Surely he did that to protect us.”

Immediately, Arin looked towards Lunab.

“If only it were the opposite…”

After saying this, tears streamed down Lunab’s cheeks, dripping onto the floor.

The tears served as proof that Sian no longer existed in this world.

Yet, unwilling to accept this fact, Nana persisted,

“Tell me, Kairam! Where is Papa?”

She cried out to Kairam, who seized Sian’s body, in appeal.

But Kairam remained silent.

There was no use in speaking,

For there was no need to utter a word.

“…”

Kairam, silent, just turned away and left.

Unable to follow, Nana fell to the ground.

The feeling of losing someone she thought was her everything in an instant…

A profound emptiness for not knowing what to do next.

The only sound she heard was the distancing steps of Kairam.

Other than listening to that heartless sound, Nana could do nothing.

-Clunk

“…”

-Clunk, clunk

“!”

But, as the sound of footsteps began to fade, they grew loud once more, drawing closer towards her.

Promptly, Nana sprang up from her seat.

Just a few steps away, Sian approached her again and, without a word, placed his hand atop her head.

Then, with a familiar touch, he softly caressed her.

“When did you come back?”

Only then did a smile bloom across Nana’s face.

“Papa!!”

(To be continued)