The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

“Welcome to Luwen, the city of harmony!”

The announcement, more disciplined and dignified than ever, echoed at the city gate.

The return of Kundel Quisel, the chancellor of the Royal Academy and the true master of this city.

His indifferent yet spirited gaze overwhelmed those around him.

“You must be tired from your journey, Chancellor.”

Vice-Chancellor Satwell, who had been waiting for him, appeared to greet him.

As if by agreement, they walked side by side towards the Royal Academy.

“As you instructed earlier, all classes and extracurricular activities for the students have been suspended, and everyone has been ordered to stay in their dormitories.”

“Without exception?”

“Except for Set Shaharkan, who was reported to have gone out without permission two days ago, the whereabouts of all others have been confirmed.”

Kundel frowned as if asking what that meant.

“When asked, the knights in charge mentioned that he went on a field trip.”

“A field trip?”

“Yes. It seems he applied for a field trip to visit a ruin in the Kingdom of Spania, claiming that Instructor Silica had approved it. However, Instructor Silica said she had never given such approval. We’ll need to hear from the student for details, but it seems…”

“He decided on his own that the approval had been granted and left the academy without permission.”

Considering his usual behavior, it was entirely plausible for him to do so.

“One peculiar thing is that Cyan Vert was also listed among those who had applied for the field trip.”

“Cyan Vert?”

The chancellor’s gaze suddenly changed.

Satwell informed him that although Cyan had applied for the field trip with Set, unlike Set who had gone out without permission, Cyan had continued to appear within the academy.

It had only been a short while since he had applied for a temporary leave due to Alice’s incident.

Though he had been forewarned several times about that issue, he was somewhat aware, but the application for a field trip during his absence?

The Chancellor had never believed that the application for field experience was made with a purely innocent heart.

“So, who located Cyan Vert’s whereabouts?”

“It was Instructor Silica.”

It was a perfectly coincidental occurrence that made one tilt their head in curiosity.

Although somewhat intricately entangled, now was simply a matter of meticulously unraveling each element, one by one.

Just as they were continuously heading towards the academy to meet Arin and Resimus, who first discovered the scene,

“……!”

Kundel’s gaze suddenly whipped to a particular spot.

It was an expression of panic, uncharacteristic of the usual demeanor of the Chancellor.

‘This energy?’

An energy that a human, born with limitations, could never possess.

Having lived nearly half of his life in Luwen, it was an extremely foreign energy that he had never felt before—an energy that made his flesh quiver and his bones ache.

‘Magic?’

Without anyone stopping him, Kundel immediately ran towards the source of the energy.

“Chancellor!?”

The calls of those around him had long since faded away.

Soon, Kundel’s feet brought him to the middle of a deserted alley, slightly off the main road.

A gloomy space where only dust swirled around.

Yet, the faint warmth that lingered proved that someone had been there.

As Kundel slowly turned his gaze downwards, at his feet, he found something both familiar and unfamiliar,

“……?”

“Hair?”

It wasn’t the common human hair that one could see anywhere.

It was fine, pink hair with a slender gloss.

Despite priding himself on having met many people over his decades of life, he had never seen such a strangely colored hair.

He was momentarily captivated by the unusual energy, but soon came to his senses and tried to sense the remaining energy again.

“…….”

The energy he was searching for had already vanished without a trace.

* * *

“Miss Arin, may I come in?”

“Yes, come in.”

As Resimus entered the room with a somewhat worried heart, Arin, who looked a bit haggard, lifted her head to welcome her.

“The Chancellor has just arrived at the Academy. It seems he will be coming this way soon?”

“Is that so? He came sooner than I thought. Alright, I’ll get ready right away.”

“Are you really okay?”

“Just, better than yesterday, and better than five minutes ago, I guess.”

Arin expressed her honest feelings while looking at herself in the mirror.

The 13-year-old girl who had not yet fully matured mentally witnessed a mutilated corpse.

It goes without saying that it was an incredibly shocking experience.

Even though two days had passed, the scene was still vividly painted in Arin’s mind.

“There’s no need for you to go through this trouble. I can speak to them myself…”

“I can’t do such irresponsible things. It’s not something you need to worry about.”

The reason Arin acted more okay than she was due to Resimus’s influence.

Although she had also witnessed the scene, having lived a harsh life from a young age, she didn’t seem to be as shocked as Arin.

Seeing Resimus overcoming it so easily, how could she allow herself to be the only one to despair?

To sort through her complicated feelings, Arin took a deep breath calmly.

Seeing this, Resimus cautiously asked.

“Do you have any thoughts on what to tell them about Nana and Cyan?”

Arin replied with a light smile as if it was nothing.

“After all, Nana and Cyan have nothing to do with this incident, right? I think I’ll just put it in a good light for everyone.”

This meant, in essence, that she also intended to hide the fact that Cyan was not currently at the Academy.

Resimus nodded in respect of Arin’s decision.

“The Chancellor has arrived!”

Just then, news arrived that Chancellor Kundel had reached.

As the host of the room, Arin personally went to the entrance to open the door.

“Arin Severus, a third-year student at the Royal Academy. I greet Chancellor Kundel.”

Arin greeted him with one hand on her chest, showing full respect.

Behind Kundel were Vice-Chancellor Satwell, Instructor Silica, and other major figures of the Academy.

“Given the circumstances, I hope for your understanding.”

“Of course. Please come in, Chancellor.”

This place is undeniably a dormitory of the Academy.

They were conversing not as a princess and a chancellor, but rather in the hierarchical relationship of a student and a chancellor.

“Everyone, leave us.”

“Please, step outside for a moment.”

For a private conversation between the three of them, Arin and Kundel had everyone else sent out of the room.

“It won’t take long. Tell me everything you saw.”

Without beating around the bush, Kundel demanded an explanation of what had happened to Arin and Resimus the previous day and how they came to witness the scene.

Arin started with her walk with Cyan at night, and how, on their way back to the Royal Hall, she felt a presence in the forest and found parts of a horribly mutilated corpse. She explained everything to the chancellor.

“…and so, we immediately informed the academy and reported the scene, and since then, we’ve been following the measures issued by the academy and staying in the dormitory.”

It was a perfect delivery without the slightest tremor or hesitation.

Kundel softened his sharp gaze and asked in a kinder tone, “Weren’t you shocked to see the scene?”

“It would be a lie to say I wasn’t, but I’m getting through it.”

Arin conveyed her feelings honestly.

Kundel closely observed Arin’s sincere eyes. There was still a hint of lingering anxiety, but her will to resist and not show it was admirable.

He then shifted his gaze slightly towards their hair.

“Why… why do you ask?”

Arin asked cautiously at the unfamiliar look in his eyes.

“Did you not feel any other presence at the scene?”

“Other presence, you mean…?”

“Like that of a being other than a human. For example… a dragon.”

“…!”

Both women’s hearts sank.

Kundel immediately waved his hand as if to dismiss his own words, “Never mind. Don’t worry about what I just said.”

Whatever his reasons for asking, Arin and Resimus quickly calmed their minds.

“It’s surprising, really. That someone who only cares about himself would go for a walk with you. Was it his idea?”

“Ah! That, well, I was the one who asked him to go out!”

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a lie.

“Speaking of which, there was something surprising I heard during my private audience with His Majesty the Emperor.”

“What might that be?”

“That you told His Majesty you wanted to be emperor?”

Arin’s face turned red with embarrassment.

“Oh, please don’t misunderstand! It was just about setting a high goal, not that I really meant to become the emperor!”

Arin frantically denied it, to which Kundel chuckled softly.

“There’s no need to belittle yourself. Even if you aspire to the throne, it’s not my place to comment.”

“Really?”

“Your engagement to Cyan is also a part of His Majesty’s consideration to protect you. So, don’t hesitate to make good use of him. If each can fill what the other lacks, there’s nothing better. I’m sure it will lead to meaningful growth.”

At a point where the First Prince, closest to the throne, had his grandfather say such things to her, Arin could only be stunned.

“Then, I suppose it’s time to meet your fiancé, whose thoughts are now beyond anyone’s guess.”

Kundel, having offered words of precious encouragement, promptly rose from his seat.

Though things ended on a relatively positive note, the problem lay ahead.

In Cyan’s room right now, not the real Cyan, but Nana transformed into Cyan, was supposed to be present.

An inexperienced person like herself might have been easily deceived, but the Chairman was different.

With years of experience shaping his discerning gaze, how could he not see through Nana’s true form?

Wondering if it was necessary to be there herself, she too, stood up.

“If it wouldn’t be a problem, may I accompany you…?”

“…!”

At that moment, the Chairman’s eyes flashed open, and he hurriedly turned his gaze towards the door.

A tremor, perhaps sensing something ominous, ran through his body.

“Silica!”

Then, with a voice as booming as thunder, he called out to Silica, the instructor waiting outside.

“Did- did you call for me, Chairman?”

Silica entered, her face marked with confusion.

“I heard you’ve located Cyan Vert. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“How many are in his room right now?”

“There are three in total, including Cyan Vert himself and two personal knights.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes, at least that was the case when I checked.”

Despite the heavy atmosphere, Silica calmly continued her answers.

However, Kundel’s eyes were filled with distrust.

“You will be responsible for your words…”

With a meaningful warning directed at her, the Chairman left Arin’s room.

‘This energy is unmistakable. It’s the same one from before.’

The same strange, otherworldly energy felt just a few minutes ago on the main road was now distinctly present in the royal residence’s second floor, at the end of the left corridor.

Soon, the Chairman’s heavy footsteps reached the door, which opened as if it had been waiting for him.

The man who opened the door hurriedly bowed his head in confusion.

After a brief glance,

Kundel stepped into the room without a word.

Upon reaching the living area, the first person he saw was a brown-haired woman with a confused look, clearly not knowing what to do.

She, too, bowed her head upon seeing Kundel.

Obviously, he wasn’t here to see this clueless knight and maid in disguise.

His gaze slowly moved downwards towards the sofa.

“……”

Then, a boy sitting on the sofa slowly turned his head to meet his gaze.

As always, with an inscrutable calm expression, the boy exuded an extraordinary energy.

Seeing the Chairman’s stern face, the boy tilted his head in confusion and asked,

“Did you come looking for me?”

(To be continued)