C45 - 46
The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin Chapter 45
Chapter 45: Purification Work (3)
“Get off! Get off me!” echoed the violent beating noise throughout the dungeon.
Zickerman ruthlessly trampled over the woman clinging to the box.
“You filthy thing! How dare you get in my way…!”
“Ah… Ahh!”
Despite the bone-crushing and gut-wrenching pain, she remained unwavering.
He had tried kicking her, even striking her with chains, but she showed no signs of letting go of the box.
Panting heavily as if drained, Zickerman eventually pulled a small dagger from his bosom.
“This is why scum like you can amount to nothing! You should’ve known your place instead of involving yourself in matters beyond your reach!”
-Slur
Realizing he couldn’t remove her with beatings alone, Zickerman aimed the dagger at the woman’s nape.
“Aren’t you lucky? Rather than growing up disgracefully under the likes of you, I am graciously helping you leave for a better place. You’ll be thanking me even in the afterlife!”
Zickerman, with a laugh tinged with madness, mercilessly brought the sword down.
-Swish
-Clink
However, what the dagger’s point met was not the woman but the dull metal floor of the box.
Feeling something was amiss, Zickerman, with trembling eyes, slowly looked at his right hand.
“Hyiiiieeek…!”
Blood gushed from his severed wrist. Before he could even scream, something blunt struck his vocal cords.
“Gurgh!”
Losing balance, his body tumbled forward.
“Zickerman Albas, one of the continental magnates and a significant power in the Ushif Empire…”
A young boy’s voice came from somewhere, an unfamiliar voice that surely didn’t exist in his memory.
“Through murder and threats, monopolizing the empire’s commerce, conducting bribes to silence the officials, and illegally operating slave markets prohibited by the empire…”
Those were the evils Zickerman had committed.
He wanted to speak, but only guttural moans emerged.
“Is that reason enough for death?”
Zickerman desperately shook his head summoning all his remaining strength.
However, the enigmatic voice continued without care.
“I’ll give you one minute…”
“…?”
“Just one minute. Spend it repenting for your misdeeds and wrongdoings. After one minute, the pain you feel now will completely vanish…”
Zickerman well understood the meaning of those words.
Once the minute passed, his life would be extinguished without mercy.
“But in that minute, no matter what happens, you shall not die. Of course, pains far worse than what you’re feeling now might be inflicted…”
The situation was beyond comprehension.
Despite his weakness, Zickerman managed to lift his head slightly.
“…?”
The enigmatic boy gazed down impassively.
But Zickerman immediately knew he was no ordinary boy.
‘Mist…?’
In a moment of utter hopelessness, all that was left for him was the worst minute of his life that would feel the longest.
* * *
Was it luck?
Never did I imagine he would come to me willingly.
With the target right before my eyes, there was no need to waste time.
After allowing him his last moments of repentance, I immediately severed his heart and ended his life.
I stood up, turning my attention toward the woman.
“Huuuh…”
She was gravely injured but not yet dead.
Clinging to the box with yearning eyes, she caressed it incessantly. Perhaps the child she so desperately called for was inside the box?
I approached her.
“I’m sorry… truly sorry…”
Her frail voice and the tears streaming down her face revealed her intense emotions.
She was acutely aware her end was near.
Do I pity her?
Well?
To be honest, I’ve grown numb to it long ago.
When I first started this work, rage was all I knew as the world revealed its heinous side beyond the protection of the Duke’s house.
Accustomed and desensitized to the world’s cruel reality, before I knew it, my gaze and lips drew a straight, indifferent line.
Because too many like her have met with miserable ends.
This woman before me – she happened to catch my eye, nothing more, just another life passing through my hands.
“Please… my child…”
I was taken aback as she pushed the box towards me, a keepsake she seemingly would never let go of.
In an instant, when I hesitated, confused, looking into her eyes,
-Thud
Her face lifelessly hit the ground – drawing her last breath.
Her body would be left unattended, unnoticed by anyone.
I gently laid my hand over her head.
-Swish
Mist emanating from my hand wrapped around her body, enveloping it warmly. Soon enough, it turned to smoke and dissipated.
[Why not pray for her peaceful afterlife?]
“That might be too much…”
I couldn’t guarantee that the other side was any better than this world.
My cleansing task complete, all that was left was to report back to my master.
[Are you leaving this behind?]
A trophy, though somewhat peculiar.
[Since outside, I’ve sensed a distinctive energy emanating from this box. That idiot mentioned a special item, could this be it?]
Zickerman, the target, held it, and the woman fought so desperately to protect it.
Ceyram felt a distinct energy too, so perhaps it contained the special item mentioned at the auction…
I reached out to uncover what lay within when suddenly –
-Writh
“…?!”
The box stirred unexpectedly.
“What’s going on?”
Clearly feeling something alive inside, I hesitated, wary of carelessly touching something mysterious.
[Is this… could it be…?]
Ceyram seemed just as surprised by the movement detected.
[Well, aren’t you opening it already?]
Regardless of how I felt, Ceyram urged me to open the box.
Alright, I’ll look, but could a real child be living in a box without air holes? What could it possibly contain?
-Thud
Upon lifting the golden lid, something wrapped in a vibrant cloth lay inside—slightly larger than a human head.
I cautiously unveiled the cloth, wondering if perhaps the relic was a Death Knight’s head or worse…
“…?”
[….?]
Both Ceyram and I were astonished.
The contents of the box were unlike any speculated item.
“An egg?”
An egg, it was. But this was no ordinary egg.
It shone with a brilliant luster – a white egg radiating an ethereal glow.
If it emitted such divinity, surely it must be…
[A Dragon’s egg?]
* * *
In my past life, I only once glimpsed a dragon’s egg.
I didn’t experience any particular fascination at the time;
merely a thought that it was a large and mystical egg.
Even such huge and mighty dragons start as embryos no different from a human’s, I had mused without much emotion.
And what about my sentiments upon this second sighting?
All other thoughts aside, just this one kept coming back to me:
Why is this here?
“It seems we underestimated this man Zickerman. Who would have imagined he planned to auction off a dragon’s egg?”
The master also appeared surprised, absentmindedly stroking her chin.
“Was there anything else?”
“There was nothing else of note.”
Nothing could stand out next to this egg.
“Hmm…”
Her gaze shifted sharply toward me.
“You seem quite composed, considering.”
“About the egg, you mean?”
“No, about killing Zickerman. That must be the first human you’ve killed with your own hands since joining the Mist, yet you appear so naturally unfazed.”
The master wore a strange smile, twisted between curiosity and approval.
I had nothing to say in return.
“Well then, our target Zickerman is dead, all the slaves at the other locations have been released, and we’ve accidentally secured the special item mentioned by Lord Aaer. You’ve done well, Siyan.”
A Mist’s mission only goes that far. Once the target is assassinated, the cleansing task ends, and it’s not our responsibility to care for the lives of the freed slaves. We are assassins, not saviors.
“What about the egg?”
“Why ask me?”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s your prize, so you should take responsibility. We have no authority over it!”
“…”
I felt duped. It was only meant to be confirmed, not looted.
[Why not try raising it since it came to this?]
Now, this perverted magic sword was throwing out madness. Could the egg even be hatched?
For dragons born with immense lifespans, even the gestation periods match, much longer than any human’s life.
At the least, 50 to 100 years.
Moreover, I had no idea when this egg came into existence. If luck was poor, I might die without seeing even a single crack form. No matter how holy and noble a dragon’s egg might be, for now, it’s just a weighty stone.
“What do you know? Might it hatch sooner than expected, and one day it just “suddenly” hatches?”
[Yeah, maybe look forward to it when you’re around a hundred? Kah kah kah!]
“…”
At this point, might as well just eat it. Containing the dragon’s essence and blood, wouldn’t consuming this egg be akin to feasting on a dragon’s flesh? I immediately dismissed the ludicrous thought.
-Twinkle
As if the egg sensed my gaze, the immaculate shell gleamed with a light that was otherworldly.
* * *
“Master, what is this?”
“A dragon’s egg.”
“Excuse me?” Brian scratched his head as if hearing incorrectly.
“Leave it anywhere it’s convenient. It’s unlikely to break.”
I handed Brian the egg that I had been holding.
“Ugh!”
Caught off guard by its weight, he staggered.
“Where did you get this…?”
“Just found it while out for a drink.”
I might never see this egg hatch in my lifetime. Best to forget about it and focus on other matters.
Fresh from a shower and feeling revitalized, I was toweling off my hair when suddenly,
“Ma, Master…!”
Brian called out urgently, his voice fraught with panic. He hastily ran to me without waiting for me to approach.
“What’s wrong?!”
“It’s hatching!”
For a moment I doubted my ears.
“What?!”
“The egg is cracking! Just when I thought I saw a fissure. It’s shaking and breaking apart…!”
“The egg is hatching?”
Wasn’t there a long time until hatching?
I rushed to the living room with Brian to see for myself.
-Crack crackle!
It was true!
The egg wasn’t merely cracked, it was shaking violently as if struggling to emerge.
[What’s this? Is it really hatching?]
Even Ceyram, in a hurry, materialized beside me in her physical form.
She had not expected the hatching to happen so soon. “…!”
We all held our breaths, watching the egg. No one dared touch it, instead, only sweat poured down our faces.
-Crack… pop!
[A chick has come out!]
Finally breaking free of its shell, a sacred new life appeared.
With the cracking of the shell, a bright light shone forth, which gradually receded as time passed.
It seems regression truly brings the most unexpected experiences.
To witness the birth of a dragon…
“…?”
Abruptly, everyone tilted their heads, momentarily confused.
“Master… Is this truly a dragon?”
Two horns protruded above the forehead.
A set of wings spread from its back.
With a long tail dangling below, it was undoubtedly a dragon’s body…
[What kind of dragon is this? It looks more human to me!]
Ceyram voiced the very thoughts I had been having.
The skin was devoid of scales, pure white.
Tiny, curled hands and feet.
A face that didn’t seem out of place on a human.
It wasn’t a dragon at all, but instead…
“A Draconian?”
(To be continued)
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The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin Chapter 46
Chapter 46: The Half-Blood
There are myths in the continent about creatures that are half-human, half-beast.
A monster, half human and half beast, born from the union of a human and a non-human creature.
In other words, a unique existence born with the characteristics of both sides.
But conversely, it can be said to be an existence that is rejected for not fitting into either side.
Let me explain more logically why they are inevitably shunned.
You are human.
You are human but have a special power to transform into a dog.
Even though you can transform into a dog, would you mate with one?
No matter how much someone loves and cherishes dogs, it is only as a human loving a pet, not as an object of sexual desire.
The same goes for not just dogs but also cats, cows, chickens, etc.
Unless one is mentally disturbed, no one would commit such madness.
When even humans think this way, what about our almighty race, the dragons?
They disdain humans to the point of considering them less significant than the dirt beneath their claws.
For such a race to share an intimate moment with a human and conceive a child.
(By the way, dragons can transform into humans.)
Even a passing dog would bark in disbelief at such an absurd notion.
But that absurd event was now unfolding… right in front of me.
The child shook her head in refusal and brushed off the fragments from her hair.
Silence filled the unfamiliar space while her bright, wandering eyes looked around.
From head to toe, I scrutinized the child.
Horns, wings, and a tail that a human couldn’t possess.
And, long pink hair that reached down to her hips.
Moreover, her gender… she was a girl.
Her wandering eyes finally settled on us.
We were all startled, without saying a word, and simply accepted her clear gaze.
For some reason, I felt she was especially looking at me.
Then, as if she had drilled into me with her gaze, she suddenly started crawling towards me.
What, is a newborn already crawling around?
I didn’t know if this child was special or if it was the fast growth due to dragon’s blood, but she was crawling directly towards me with a straightforward gaze.
Seeing this, Brian and Ceyram moved discreetly to the side.
At an arm’s reach, the child looked at my flustered face with puzzlement and then smiled.
“Papa!”
For a moment, I was so stunned that I blinked in disbelief.
My mind went blank, and I couldn’t think of anything.
Ceyram’s laughter broke the silence.
[Ha ha ha! Papa! Really, our master who is only eleven years old has become a father! Kyahahaha!]
Brian, too, couldn’t hide his laughter and chuckled softly.
For a moment, I considered silencing those mouths with magic or a cursed sword…
But looking into her pure and shining eyes, I couldn’t bring myself to exert any force.
The child tilted her head as if wondering what the problem was.
* * *
In my previous life, I never married.
Not having married, I also never had the chance to have children.
So when I heard a newborn calling me ‘Papa’ for the first time, I had no idea how to respond.
“Truly, you live and you learn. To think I would ever see the hybrid offspring of a dragon and a human…”
Silica commented with interest as she observed the child.
“Putting everything aside, why does she call me ‘Papa’?”
“It must be the effect of imprinting,” Brian hesitantly offered.
“Imprinting?”
“All creatures, upon being born, naturally recognize the first living being they see as a figure to rely on. Since the young lady here saw you first after hatching, she may have naturally recognized you as family, but…”
“You seem quite knowledgeable?”
“Well, when I was with Belias, I had some experience raising livestock…”
An experience in raising, I see.
“That does seem plausible. The child doesn’t even know what existence she is right now. She just hatched and saw Sir Sian first, so we can conclude that’s it.”
It was so clear that I was left speechless.
Oblivious to my inner turmoil, the daring young half-dragon had already nestled into my lap, taking sweet slumber.
She woke from her sleep and sat up, rubbing her eyes.
“Papa, I’m hungry.”
I was no longer surprised.
So, a child that has barely been born for two hours starts crawling and even begins to speak clearly?
And now before you know it, she’ll just start walking…
Before I could even finish that thought, the child stood up and walked steadily towards the kitchen.
[The dragon’s blood really seems to speed up her growth, doesn’t it?]
She naturally sat down at the dining table and began eating the prepared food.
“Her appetite seems quite good…”
The dishes for at least two adult men were quickly emptied in the blink of an eye.
She belched in satisfaction, showing off her belly with joy, and then became sleepy, soon falling asleep.
“She’s just like a newborn, eating and sleeping,” I muttered.
My head was a whirl of confusion.
I thought she would just remain a rock until death.
Suddenly born out of nowhere, calling me ‘Papa’ to boot.
What am I supposed to do with this little one?
Looking back, I now understood why that woman at the slave market was obsessed with the egg.
She must have been this child’s mother.
Meaning that woman was the one who had shared a passionate moment with a nameless dragon…
In the end, she entrusted her child to me, offering the egg as a pretext.
What does she expect me to be? A foster parent for a half-dragon?
“What does Sir Sian want to do with this child?”
The head of the household asked me, apparently noticing my complex feelings.
“Honestly, I’m not sure.”
“I’m not trying to rush a decision, but for now, the child cannot leave the dormitory. If her existence becomes known, the Academy will be turned upside down. She’ll be captured immediately, and Sir Sian’s safety will also be endangered.”
Not just for me, but it could also harm Brian and the head of household.
“For a while, she might be able to stay here, being a newborn. But once she grows into a toddler, she might begin to showcase a true dragon’s talents. Depending on how potent that is, at the very least, the headmaster-level figures are bound to notice. That there’s a dragon within the Academy…”
Perhaps, using my dark attribute magic, I might manage to cope until she reaches the vicinity of the Royal Hall.
The problem is, if people beyond a certain level of magic proficiency come by, they will immediately notice.
The most dangerous one would indeed be the headmaster.
“Also, as you know, dragons basically belittle humans. This half-dragon existence might be a deeply humiliating presence for them. They may want to eliminate her from this world… so much so…”
I know.
If her existence became known to the dragons as well, they would stop at nothing to eliminate her.
They’d likely even seek to kill anyone associated with her.
“But there’s also potential merit. Having the traits of both humans and dragons, the possibilities for her development are boundless. The organization could raise her, or Sir Sian could guide her growth in any desired direction. Whatever happens, she’s bound to exhibit extraordinary growth.”
The desired direction of growth…
As I’ve said before, I’ve neither raised a child nor trained a disciple.
I can’t guarantee whether it would end up good or bad, no matter the direction I take.
[Why? I think she’s worth raising. Right now, she may just be a hatchling, but if she grows, turning into a full dragon is also possible, right? Then she could fly, which would be great!]
I’m not sure what that would mean.
First of all, I have no idea how long it will take for this child to reach adulthood.
Moreover, I do not really desire conspicuous acts like dragon riding.
To be honest, from what I’ve seen so far, there seems to be no reason to adopt this child.
Above all, I’m not prepared to pursue an uncertain future by shouldering such great risks.
“Um… Young master? If you are worried about raising her…”
Brian, who had been quietly listening, suddenly raised his hand and spoke up.
“I believe I could take on the responsibility of raising her as long as we’re within these walls.”
In other words, he offered to be a nanny.
“Raising pets is a different feeling, wouldn’t you say?”
“It’s fine. After all, that child is still a human, isn’t she? I had a lot of younger siblings at home, and I’ve raised babies from newborns. I can’t promise to raise her perfectly, but at least I can ensure the young master’s daily life isn’t disturbed.”
A human…
Yes, that child is also a human after all.
Born from a human mother, unquestionably human.
Admittedly, this harsh world will not see her for either side…
“I’ve said before, we have no authority over the child. It will be entirely up to Sir Sian’s decision.”
As when with the egg, the head of the household stated they would not get involved.
I approached the child, who was sleeping peacefully as if being guided by some mysterious force.
Her innocent sleeping face.
Although not a drop of blood between us was shared, she recognized me as family the moment she was born.
What would happen to her if I abandoned her?
She’d be entirely rejected by the world without any affection.
I can assure that she wouldn’t integrate into any group, either humans or dragons.
In that case, maybe it would be better to spare her from any pain right here and now?
Yeah, that might be better.
Rather than suffering in this indifferent world, it might be better to shorten this life quickly and let her live a full next life for her own sake.
As I decided, I felt a murderous intent in my eyes.
Those around me seemed to have noticed what I was about to do.
However, no one took action.
They knew that, at the end of the day, the act was my responsibility.
Carefully, I reached for her neck to ensure she wouldn’t wake.
Not rough and coarse but soft and delicate to the touch.
With this, it wouldn’t take much power to simply snap her neck.
I felt no remorse.
I’ve said over and over, this is all for the child’s sake.
To ease her pain in this cruel world ahead of time was a gesture of care…
Just as I was about to exert force, she awoke from her sleep.
She looked earnestly into my eyes, blinking.
At that moment, no more strength would flow into my hand.
In fact, it was trembling.
What is this?
Am I hesitating?
I, an assassin?
While I hesitated for 10 seconds, the child looked at me once more and smiled brightly.
“Papa!”
And she naturally embraced me.
The child in my arms fell asleep again shortly after.
I could feel it.
The beat of her heart against my own skin…
“Yo-Young master?”
For the first time, combining my past and present lives, a new emotion took over my mind.
How should I express it? I became indifferent to the potential consequences of what may follow.
A vague idea blossomed – whatever happens, I would just handle it.
Lifting the child with ease, I looked at them and calmly declared.
“Let’s raise her.”
(To be continued)
Editor’s musings:
How to raise a draconian daughter???