The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

“Kek!”

The academy member choked and collapsed without being able to put up any significant resistance.

Although he belatedly tried to raise his hand to cast magic, I am not one to watch idly by.

I grabbed his wrist, where mana was manifesting, and immediately twisted it.

“Aaack!”

Even if they are high-class magicians, possessing magic power of 7 stars or more, there’s nothing to fear.

After all, if they can’t use magic, whether they are 7 stars or anything else, they are just humans who can be overwhelmed by force.

“This- the Flame of Purification…!”

The academy member, shocked, hastily tried to cast magic, but,

-Thwack!

With a crisp hitting sound, he too rolled on the ground several times and fell.

“I just followed you and subdued him, but why are we doing this?”

Set, the person behind the strike, nonchalantly dusted off his hands and asked.

“It’s these guys. They collapsed a perfectly fine ceiling to separate us.”

It wasn’t due to Balrog’s attack, nor was it because we accidentally triggered a trap set up in the ruins.

Without any signs or warnings, the ruins just collapsed.

Do you think this is a natural phenomenon?

Absolutely not.

While that guy, Caron, was diverting our attention by blocking Balrog’s attack, the rest of them were meddling from behind.

And then, they probably were quietly waiting for us to die pathetically, left alone by Balrog.

If we somehow managed to escape, they would just kill us themselves.

“What are you talking about? We were just here to observe the situation…”

Lame excuses do not help in resolving this situation.

Our dear magician seems not to know the laws of the world yet.

What can we do?

In such a peaceful era, being cooped up in a room and researching trivial matters might lead to such ignorance.

I’ve never seen an animal as honest as a human being in my life.

No matter how tough or principled they pretend to be, in the end, everyone becomes the same in the face of pain.

I twisted the arm I was holding once more mercilessly.

“Aaagh!”

A pitiful scream, without a hint of toughness.

There’s no need to torture such individuals.

Though I only dislocated one joint, he screamed as if he was on the verge of death, pleading for salvation.

“Stop! Please stop! You were never our target to begin with!”

He talks as if it’s some huge secret when it’s obvious.

Their primary reason for coming here was to find clues to the demonic scripture.

Our meeting was entirely coincidental, not intentional, and since Lunab already hinted that they have no interest in the demonic scripture, why would they need to separate us and act independently?

There must have been another motive besides the demonic scripture.

“All we ever wanted was Luna herself! We just wanted to take her and leave this place!”

Take her and leave? Luna?

After all, aren’t we going to leave peacefully once this is over? Why take her separately?

Even though the specifics might differ, didn’t we all share the same goal of seeking the clue to the magic?

Unless it’s kidnapping, there’s no reason to do so…

Kidnapping?

A thought crossed my mind so suddenly that I couldn’t help but shudder.

A genius girl of the Garam Kingdom, born once in a hundred years.

Just as flowers attract bees with their fragrance, and shining jewels draw thieves, a genius with infinite potential naturally attracts villains who covet their abilities.

Wasn’t I the one who personally experienced such a kidnapping before?

“The person I hate the most.”

Suddenly, the moment I first mentioned Caron, her face flashed before my eyes.

It was a look not just of dislike but of contempt.

There had to be some other detestable reason for such a look, beyond just being a member of the academy.

“Sigh…”

A sigh escaped me involuntarily as I stood up.

“You’re part of the opposition faction of the Garam Academy, aren’t you?”

“…!”

Their eyes widened instantly.

I didn’t need to hear their answer to know.

“Opposition faction? What’s that?”

Set seemed to be hearing about this for the first time, scratching his head.

I didn’t care and continued to interrogate him.

“Where is Luna now?”

“Well, she ran off to another direction before we could do anything…”

“Which direction did she go?!”

Without wasting any more time, I turned towards the direction he pointed.

“Hey! Cyan! Where are you going?”

Set, startled, chased after me, shouting, but I didn’t pay him any mind and kept running.

[Isn’t this a familiar situation? A senior who truly cares about his junior, how noble.]

I couldn’t even bother to respond to Kaeram’s teasing.

“Really, such a high-maintenance junior.”

I just hoped she would be safe until I got there.

* * *

Feeling as if she had just woken from a midsummer night’s dream, Luna was left in a daze.

Her thoughts lingered on the mysterious man she had met moments ago, unable to shake off the encounter. He had introduced himself as Lemiharam, a being related to the demonic beasts within these ruins, yet for some reason, he had not clearly disclosed whether he was a demon himself.

What exactly could his identity be?

Just as she found herself deep in thought, Luna quickly shook her head.

This was no time to be lost in contemplation.

She had to find Cyan and Set as soon as possible to resolve the situation.

“Will senior be alright?”

Though she felt somewhat anxious, worry did not consume her.

The idea that two academy students had to face a demonic beast that would be a challenge for ten skilled magicians was laughable, but Luna couldn’t help but believe it wasn’t impossible.

There was no solid evidence.

If anything, it was because of Cyan.

Because Cyan was the only person in this world she could truly rely on and trust, she wasn’t worried at all.

When had it started?

Though she had initially been drawn to him due to his pleasant first impression, now, her focus on him was almost obsessive, even in her own opinion.

“……”

The beating of her heart resonated throughout her body.

Had she ever felt such a lively rhythm in her life before?

She had thought her future would be empty, living a life crafted by others without any will or goal of her own, only to meet a meaningless end.

But not anymore.

Her heart, which had been still for so long, was now throbbing with excitement, signifying that there was something she desired, something she aspired to.

Was it said that realizing one’s desires and aspirations was the ultimate truth?

Then, for that truth, she would press on desperately.

“……!”

A familiar scent wafted through the corridor’s end.

A bitter smell that aggressively tickled her nostrils.

There was only one person in this world who could emanate such a scent.

Driven by urgency, Luna bit her lip and sprinted forward.

But soon, she stopped in her tracks as she sensed another familiar presence ahead.

“Lady Luna!”

It was Caron and the academy members who had followed her.

Luna quickly turned around to flee in the opposite direction.

Not wanting to lose her, Caron raised his hand and cast a spell.

-Boom!

A silver wall created by magic blocked her path.

“Please, stop. Lady Luna.”

With her escape route cut off, Luna turned around with a twisted expression.

“This is unlike you, Lady Luna.”

With an indifferent gaze, Luna responded.

“Like me? Was there ever a time at the academy when I was truly myself?”

Caron looked at her with a detached gaze, offering no reply.

“You are an indispensable existence in our Garam Academy, crucial for the advancement of magic and humanity. We cannot simply stand by if something untoward were to happen to you.”

Beyond the wishes of Garam Academy, she was the entity meant to fulfill the long-standing desire of humans born with inherent weaknesses.

To them, Luna was more than a sacred being.

“There are two things in the world I absolutely don’t believe in.”

Having listened in silence, she finally spoke with disdain.

“One is my grandfather’s words that nothing can be done without me. The other is your claim of living for the advancement of humanity.”

Caron’s brows furrowed.

“My grandfather would find someone else the moment I’m gone. He wouldn’t mourn or despair for more than a moment.”

“……”

“But what’s even less believable than him is you, Caron Rains. Living for the advancement of humanity? More like living for your own vain desires.”

Caron did not retort but only scowled.

At that, Luna threw the final provocation.

“Am I wrong? Caron Rains, the heretic of Auram Academy?”

“……!”

The first to react were the academy members who came with Caron.

They hadn’t expected those words from her and were looking at each other, wondering what to do next.

“……”

Caron still looked at her with a stern expression, unchanged.

It didn’t take long for him to speak.

“Since when did you know?”

“For quite some time.”

“And why didn’t you inform the academy president?”

“Because it wouldn’t have made any difference to me. At that time, I had no will to do what I wanted, nor did I care which side I was swayed by. After all, my future was already decided.”

Without feeling the need to delay further, Caron calmly manifested his mana.

“How foolish. To be aware of your own potential and value yet not realizing what the truth is. What exactly made you this way, Lady Luna?”

“Truth? Truth isn’t something grandiose. If there’s a path I wish to take, that is my truth.”

As if refusing to be intimidated, Luna gathered all the mana within her body.

“You dimwits will never understand……”

There’s nothing to hold back.

She gathered all the mana she could draw upon to show everything she was capable of.

Luna then immediately chanted the spell.

“May the grace of the holy light protect me……”

As the spell was cast, light enveloped the relic, and a white wall unfolded in front of her.

The light attribute defensive magic ‘Wall of Resistance’.

Gathering all the magic within, a spell was cast to thwart the enemy’s approach, its potency varying greatly depending on the caster’s magical power.

Yet, upon witnessing this, Caron let out a scoff as if he found the effort laughable.

“What’s the point in delaying like this? Are you hoping for a savior to come rescue Luna?”

“Maybe try breaking through my barrier first? If you’re not confident, feel free to work together to dismantle it. I won’t exactly call that cowardice……”

As if responding to her words, Caron extended his hand towards the wall of resistance she had summoned.

-Crack!

Without even casting a proper spell, cracks began to form in the wall.

Despite her genius talent, there was a clear limit to facing a power as complete as a seven-star magic.

However, Luna did not falter, instead drawing more mana from within to reinforce the wall.

“Do you intend to resist until you fall? It’s becoming not just pitiful but downright pathetic.”

Caron, too, did not stop, but gradually enhanced his mana instead.

Instead of overpowering her from the start, he seemed intent on making her feel the insurmountable gap in their power.

How much time had passed?

As the wall cracked and was reinforced repeatedly, Luna’s mana continued to deplete.

Sweat poured down her body, now reaching its limits, and her breathing grew more labored.

On the other hand, Caron showed no sign of effort, continuing to increase his mana with a stoic face.

-Thud

Finally, Luna, who had been standing firm, lost her balance and knelt on one knee.

Her vision blurred and her mind grew faint, but she did not lose her focus, continuing to maintain the magic.

‘So little time left…’

But she knew she was nearing the end.

Yet, she would not give up.

Even if it meant breaking her body, her inner will would not disappear,

And as long as it remained, she would resist to the very end.

For the truth she desperately hoped and wished for.

“……!”

Suddenly, a familiar scent wafted in from somewhere.

This time, the scent was quickly approaching her, and as it grew stronger, a smile began to form on her lips.

And at last, the moment someone she had been eagerly waiting for appeared in her view,

“Senior…….”

Luna lost consciousness and fell.

(To be continued)