Note: The Novel Will Be Corrected Until Chapter 98, After That Chapter It Will Be All MTL
C5 - 6
The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin Chapter 5
Chapter 5. The Incompetent Son of the Duke (4)
After their talk, the Duke returned to the front lines immediately.
Though it was tough to convince him to the very end, I managed to leave some room for possibilities.
When I first expressed my desire to go to the front lines, the Duke treated me like a lunatic.
It wasn’t exactly an unreasonable reaction.
A young man, still wet behind the ears, wishing to go where grotesque monsters roamed freely.
It was rather a stroke of luck that he only regarded me as a madman.
The Western territory of the Empire, Belias.
This place is currently the only area on the continent known as ‘the front lines.’
It is not bordered by the regions of other human kingdoms or tribes.
This is rather the dwelling of various non-human races, widely known as the Demon Realm.
Devoted from birth to destruction and slaughter, the demonic race inhabits the continent, with Belias being the territory closest to that treacherous land.
Among them, the ‘Limia Valley’ could be considered the most advanced front, where battles against the demons had been ongoing for hundreds of years, and fierce bloody fights continued to happen daily.
Why they cross over, or what lies beyond them, remains a mysterious world to everyone.
At the present time, nobody would know anything about it.
Except for me.
“Youuuuuung maaaaster!”
Out of breath, Emily rushed in and flung the door open.
She was drenched in sweat, having apparently run all the way from somewhere.
Unconcerned, I continued my strength training exercises.
“Is it true?!”
“What’s true?”
“What do you mean, what’s true! They said you asked the Duke to go to the front lines?!”
Word travels fast.
Who could have started this rumor with no one to spread it?
“Yeah, I mentioned it. I haven’t fully received permission yet though…”
Emily, looking pale, suddenly screamed.
“Have you lost your mind, my lord? Do you even know what that place is? It’s infested with terrifying demons!”
Precisely speaking, it’s not ‘demons’ but rather ‘demon beasts’ that are swarming the area.
There is a common misconception that among the creatures inhabiting Limia Valley, there are no intelligent beings — meaning, only beasts dwell there, not people.
Although not a significant difference, it’s an incredibly important fact.
I mean, would we be happy being considered the same as beasts by those other races?
The same logic applies.
The reason I aim for the front lines is specifically to target these demon beasts, not the demons themselves.
“So what happened in the end? If you haven’t got full permission, did the Duke set some sort of condition?”
Emily sure catches on fast.
As she presumed, my father did set one condition for me.
One month.
In the given month, I must earn the qualifications to go to Limia Valley.
If I meet the criteria, he agreed to allow me to accompany him to the front lines.
He has yet to specify what those qualifications are…
“Phew…”
The moment I completed my target number of reps, I collapsed.
Even though it was my own body, I was reminded once more just how frail I had been at the time.
Just how did I manage to survive with such a weak physique?
Emily brought me water as I was sprawled on the floor.
“It really doesn’t suit you to be exercising like this.”
I wish she hadn’t mentioned that…
I was already deeply troubled about how to rapidly enhance this feeble body.
Given the Duke’s temperament, I suspect he’ll arrange another sparring session.
Perhaps he wants to see if I would survive an encounter with demon beasts on the front lines.
Likely he would have a high-ranking knight like Yulken take me on with some handicaps…
Is that even possible?
If it was not just empty talk, I could handle not just one, but ten senior knights.
I was, after all, a member of the continent’s top assassin organization.
I remember all the techniques and secrets I learned back then and can still use them effectively.
The problem is that my strength is limited.
I still have many things to verify, but using the previous life’s powers in this decrepit body might be too risky.
Even using one secret technique could shatter my body entirely.
Nor can I rely on magic.
At an age barely beginning to produce mana, wielding magic powerful enough to subdue senior knights seems ridiculous.
Last night, I confirmed through mana sensitivity that the mana and magic power I refined in my previous life still reside within me.
Of course, right now, I keep it hidden so no one can detect it.
In fact, not everyone can do this…
Anyway, until I enter the Academy and discover my attribute affinity, I can’t reveal it to others.
In the end, all I can demonstrate is my swordsmanship.
With muscles too weak to lift a vase, I’m expected to defeat a higher-ranked knight.
Honestly, it’s not impossible, but…
Regardless, to increase my chances, I must use the time I have to enhance my strength as much as possible.
I resumed my push-ups, preparing to continue my workout.
-Murmurs-
“It’s noisy outside. Has someone come?”
Maybe the estate soldiers are changing shifts; it’s not something I need to concern myself with right now.
Ignoring it, I carried on with my exercises.
Unable to resist her curiosity, Emily went outside to check.
Now I can finally exercise in peace.
“…”
Five minutes may have passed when suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway.
Though I was exercising, my ears instinctively focused on the sound.
Not heavy enough to be a knight’s, the steps seemed light and thin, probably a woman’s, but not graceful.
With this much pace, it’s not from a noblewoman like the Duchess, so it must be Emily… but why is she rushing back like this?
About 170 cm tall, and around 55 kg…
These steps don’t match a maid’s either.
Emily is significantly shorter; she can’t make such strides.
Then who could it be?
It almost feels like an assertive woman warrior’s…
“Sian!”
My body faltered as the door burst open.
The stranger strode in, a woman unknown to me.
When I saw her face, I was taken aback without realizing it.
“El, Ellis sis?”
My astonishment was brief as she suddenly grasped my shoulders and shook them.
“Have you lost your mind? You asked Father to go to the front lines? Do you even know what that place is?”
“Si, sister, please let go first…”
The sudden reunion had put me at a loss for words.
“What exactly are you thinking, Sian! You want to go there thinking it was some kind of achievement?”
I couldn’t properly respond, being violently shaken with no chance of explanation.
What’s this situation?
Why is Ellis here?
Her eyes, filled with various emotions, looked at me intently.
This warm touch was definitely not an illusion.
To think the day I’d meet my sister again would come…
Despite being reprimanded, my face brimmed with a smile.
Noticing my expression, she tilted her head in confusion.
“Sian, are you feeling unwell?”
She shook her head as she spoke.
“Not really, I’m just happy to see you…”
She paused for a moment, then smiled and patted my head.
“Yes, it makes sense to be happy. I’ve been too busy with graduation preparations to visit. But it’s a relief to see you looking healthy.”
A year it might have been for her, yet for me, it was a reunion after decades.
The Duke’s second child, and beside her older brother Ashel, she was considered the next head of the family.
The only member of the family in whom I, the incompetent, could confide.
The woman I truly wanted to protect in my past life.
“When did you arrive at the mansion?”
“Just now. It will be even harder to come home after graduation, so I came before that happened.”
She was now seventeen.
At the point of completing her six years at the Academy and approaching graduation.
Within the family, or rather in society, people referred to her in this way: The Child of God.
She was the unprecedented recipient of all S grades in all subjects at the Royal Academy, where the genius gathered from across the continent.
Unlike me, the incompetent, she was an exceptionally talented and capable person, excelling in swordsmanship, magic, and academics.
Additionally, her beauty was so enchanting that she was revered as a goddess, earning her the title of the Child of God.
Though she was two years younger than her brother Ashel, within the family, she was also considered a candidate for the next head of the family.
However, she herself showed no interest.
“But more importantly, what about your request to go to the front lines? Did you really ask Father that?”
“Yes, that’s what I did… but where did you hear about it?”
“Oh, that’s not what’s important!
She avoided answering, and at that moment, I noticed Emily peeking through the door.
From her expression, I could immediately tell she was the culprit.
Damn it, that thoughtless maid…
“I wanted to gain various experiences before joining the Academy. And of all places most accessible and where I could sense much, I thought the front lines were it.”
Our estate in the Vert family is located in the most eastern part of the territory.
The furthest point from Limia Valley, the very front lines.
This location choice had undoubtedly been determined by the Duke.
The goal was to keep the family within the territory while ensuring that if an emergency occurred and the front lines broke, they could immediately retreat.
For now, I had given the most appropriate answer I could, just as the Duke had.
However, my sister wore a strange expression after hearing it.
“Sian, are you, by any chance, thinking of carrying on the family’s legacy?”
***
The sun had set, and the moon had risen high in the dark night.
A chilling cold hovered over the training ground as the night fog thickened.
“Must we really go this far?”
“Don’t complain, Sian! All of this is to test you!”
What is this we’re doing, training at night, not even for a jog, but with a sword in hand?
It has been less than half a day since my duel with Kranz, and here I am, in the same kind of situation again.
“Carrying on the family’s legacy. I see your intention as commendable. However, not everything can be resolved with just intent. This is my trial for you to overcome Father’s ordeal.”
The family’s legacy, meaning protecting the peace of the continent from demons.
I’ve said it multiple times already, but I have no intention at all to get involved in such pointless deeds again.
My wanting to go to the front lines has nothing to do with that.
But since I can’t tell the truth, I just said ‘yes’.
I didn’t expect I would be openly challenged to a duel like this.
“The trial is simple. Starting now, for three minutes, either withstand my sword or aim your own at my throat. If you accomplish either, I will let you go to the front lines.”
‘Simple’ what? That sounds more like he’ll never let me go.
I came here on a whim, but I had no clue what to do.
Withstand a sword duel against the Child of God who achieved S grades in all subjects at the Royal Academy?
For someone who has just started strength training…
That would be incredibly easy, actually.
Honestly, I could end it as soon as it starts.
Not only are her movements clearly visible, but my body has also become smaller and lighter, making me more agile.
But what would happen if I did?
Kranz is of a similar age, so there’s no problem winning or losing there, but she’s a grown adult seven years older than me.
Defeating her, who has completed every specialized course at the Royal Academy, all in one go?
That’s an utterly impossible scenario.
There’s no need to mention the possibility to anyone; it’s an outright loss situation.
If I won without thinking, I could no longer justify it as a fluke of talent.
“Draw your sword now! The moment you draw, we begin! Come on, Sian!”
…
Well then, Ellis sis probably doesn’t intend to seriously attack, thinking it’s really serious.
She’ll likely take it easy, watching my abilities and letting things slide.
If I respond reasonably well and stretch out the time, I should be able to scrape through.
Thinking I could manage somehow, I drew my sword, when…
“!”
Her sword thrust like an arrow, aiming for my neck in a flash.
-Clang!
Although I parried it without issue, I realized something from the first clash.
This sister… she was dead serious, with no intention of going easy at all.
(To be continued in the next episode)
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The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin Chapter 6
Chapter 6: The Incompetent Son of the Duke (5)
Ellis Vert, the eldest daughter of the Duke Vert family.
At her father’s command, she had taken up the sword from an early age.
In order to inherit the role of the guardian of the continent following her father’s footsteps.
Although she was pressured with a purpose in life from the moment she was born, Ellis did not complain.
She was indeed the second child and the elder daughter of the Vert family.
As an elder daughter, she thought it was only natural to continue the legacy of her household.
The heavy and difficult responsibilities were enough to be carried by just her and Aschel; nothing more was needed.
If the younger siblings below her could escape the shackles of the family and enjoy a life of freedom, that was enough reason to be content.
Even now as she was graduating from the academy, her conviction had not changed.
But what was this?
The youngest, whom she hadn’t seen for a year, suddenly stepped up claiming to continue the legacy of the household.
What was this little kid, not even dry behind the ears, thinking?
Ellis pondered.
An ignorant child, who showed no interest in the sword or martial arts, seemed to know too little of the world.
Though her heart was praiseworthy, what she was witnessing was truly something she did not desire.
To assign such a tough and difficult task to her delicate younger sister, what kind of older sister would permit that?
Honestly, she was also aware that the current situation was not right.
Fencing with her younger sibling, who was seven years younger, could have subjected her to others’ finger-pointing and criticism as an unreasonable sister.
But studying the ways of the world was always necessary.
Ellis wanted to make Sian feel the wall of the household.
If he experienced a complete sense of powerlessness by being utterly outmatched, it would trigger a major change in his heart.
Although she felt somewhat sorry, if she could soothe him afterwards, she thought it would all be well in the end.
That’s what she believed until her first strike was easily blocked.
“……!”
She had no intention of dragging this out.
As soon as they started, she aimed at his neck, intending to decide the outcome immediately.
The thrust she made was as natural as slicing through water.
Though it was a very fundamental and straightforward action, the technique could lead to vastly different outcomes depending on the swordsman who executed it.
Even Ellis, after mastering the move, had never once failed, such was her confidence in its perfection.
Yet, it was blocked.
And quite anticlimactically at that.
Faced with the unforeseen circumstance, her mind momentarily went blank.
Did this child just block her sword?
And at the exact intended spot without an inch of deviation?
Moreover, Sian’s sword was not a wide-bladed rapier.
This suggested that he had completely read her intended move and adopted a defensive stance accordingly.
Sian, too, appeared flustered.
His expression seemed to suggest that he had blocked instinctively upon sensing the immediate threat.
Ellis retreated for the time being, creating some distance.
“Well, don’t you have a good sense, Sian?”
Sian, without answering, just made a face that seemed unsure of what to do next.
Certainly, his reflexes were exceptional.
Indeed, he would not have beaten Kranz so decisively if they weren’t.
Ellis quickly gathered her wits and launched another attack.
– Thud
Her next target was not Sian’s neck but his sword.
By using her momentum and mass, she thought that inexperienced Sian would not withstand and would drop his sword.
This applied to everyone who had poor swordsmanship, including herself in the past.
– Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Her sword swirled accurately from all four directions—up, down, left, and right.
The blood-red blade danced up a storm under the cold night sky.
“……”
A bead of sweat ran down Sian’s face.
However, incredibly, his sword remained solidly in contact with Ellis’s.
“……?”
It was parried.
A sincere strike was nullified so effortlessly.
Although she was panting heavily as if she had exerted full strength, what mattered was Sian had parried her strike.
Instead of dropping the sword, not even a finger was out of place.
Strictly speaking, Sian, at ten years old, should not have been able to withstand the strength of seventeen-year-old Ellis.
Had even one strike landed properly, he should have lost hold of his weapon, yet he had withstood it?
More precisely, he had deflected it.
Ellis sensed that all of her strength went askew in the four interactions of their swords.
In other words, the moment their blades touched, Sian had redirected all the incoming force.
‘What is this child?’
Ellis was genuinely flabbergasted.
By accident or by talent, the fact remained that he had blocked her sincere strike not just once but twice.
Her blade, once hailed as a divine talent, had now been foiled by a mere child of ten…
A corner of her heart was stirring.
More than just astonishment, it was now a matter of pride.
Her desire as a swordswoman flared up, and now she even harbored the intent to subdue him.
Without a word, Ellis sheathed her sword and created more distance.
At the same time, a blue aura began to sparkle around her blade.
* * *
When had he ever felt such breathlessness in a one-on-one fight?
It must have been almost ten years since his duel with the continent’s top swordsman, ‘Resimus.’
It was uncertain how his sister may view the situation, but he was exerting extreme subtlety and finesse in power control.
During the initial thrust and subsequent quadra-strike, he honestly had opportunities for a counterattack more than ten times.
Aiming for his neck with a sword?
If he had wanted to do so, he would have long since done it.
Even now, if he so desired, he could dislodge and aim his sword at her in a single move.
He was only managing to hold back his true nature with great effort.
But as he focused on deflecting her strikes, the duel seemed like it could persist for three more minutes…
What was his sister intending to do now?
– Swoosh
Her sword flashed with a blue aura.
He knew when he saw that light.
Was she trying to kill him?
This was no longer about continuing the family legacy; it seemed more like an attempt to cut off its sprout.
“Is this a trial too, sister?”
He tried to speak cautiously, but his sister did not reply.
She was deeply immersed in channeling the mana within her to her sword.
But, was all this necessary?
According to his memory, his sister’s current magic level was no less than 6-star.
Even when compared to academy peers of the same age, she was notably a grade higher.
So it was apparent that his sister’s pride had taken quite a blow, as she even tried using mana against a mere child of ten.
As time passed, her sword became increasingly enamored with an enchanting shade of ocean blue.
In any case, having reached this point, there was only one thing he could do.
For the first time since the duel began, he shifted his sword not to the front but to the back.
Then, he quietly touched his free hand to the blade.
– Zing
A brief light shone from the sword, then disappeared as if nothing had happened.
He too transferred mana into his sword.
As soon as the transfer was confirmed, he kicked off from his spot without hesitation.
Her sword was ready, all preparations complete.
If she were to swing it now, his body would be flung a hundred paces away.
Of course, that wouldn’t happen.
That is, assuming that the two possibilities he had envisioned fully occurred.
– Schlick!
Her sword finally cut through the air diagonally, coinciding with the escapement of a blue sword qi.
At the same time, he slightly twisted his sword to meet hers.
“That is far enough!”
At that moment, a familiar male voice, along with a silver longsword, appeared from the sky.
The sword stood between him and his sister, absorbing her sword qi in an instant.
Armor decorated with golden stripes on pure white represented protection far beyond that of ordinary manor guards.
“You have crossed the line, young lady. Even if it is you, Ellis, I cannot allow this to continue.”
“Yo-You are Yu-Yulken, right……?”
The one who stopped his sister was none other than Yulken.
She appeared quite flustered, realizing the high-ranking knight had intervened.
“You would use mana against a ten-year-old boy? Had things gone wrong, it could have been disastrous!”
His sister looked back and forth between the sword and his face for a while.
Then her cheeks flushed with the realization of what she had done.
“Wh-What is going on, seriously? I’m really sorry, Sian! I must have lost my mind for a moment!”
Suddenly, she threw away her sword and hugged him, desperately apologizing.
It was a good thing Yulken stepped in to defuse the situation; otherwise, things could have gotten quite complicated.
He hurriedly dissipated the mana he had transferred to his sword.
Neither his sister nor Yulken noticed.
The spell he had cast was , a 7-star magic—a mental spell that infiltrated specific targets with illusions, showing entwined living entities false hallucinations.
Had his sister’s sword clashed with his, she would have been unable to discern his location correctly and experienced serious confusion.
Most likely, she would have been dancing in an empty space, while he would have simply watched on and waited for time to pass.
His sister, who had been hugging him, turned to Yulken again and asked.
“But weren’t you Father’s guard knight? Why are you here?”
“I was assigned to escort Lord Sian by the Duke’s orders. Since it was an order given in secrecy, I could not inform you, my Lord. My apologies.”
“It’s okay, Yulken.”
He had been aware of Yulken’s presence since his father left for the frontlines.
It would have been odd if he hadn’t noticed his straightforward and bold demeanor.
Frankly, he had been waiting for Yulken to step in all this time.
It seemed that Yulken was hesitant because the opponent was his sister, Ellis.
“Let’s end the spar here. Could you please step aside for a moment?”
His sister politely requested Yulken to move away, maintaining courteous language throughout.
After bowing briefly, Yulken disappeared from the spot.
“Phewww……”
His sister sighed deeply, her emotions appearing mixed.
“Where did you learn swordsmanship?”
“Nowhere. Who in this house would teach me?”
“True, I don’t know your situation either……”
His sister was indeed the legitimate second child of the family, but she was born to a mistress.
There had been a favored female knight when his father was at the battlefield, and Ellis was the daughter born of his affection for her.
In other words, she too was a child of an affair, like him.
Which is why she especially cherished him even more.
Though her status posed disadvantages, she covered those with her talent, and no one dared to confront her carelessly within the household, not even the lady, Margaret.
“But you’re more perceptive than I expected. Why else would I have attempted to use magic?”
“If it hadn’t been for Yulken, I might have been on a stretcher right now.”
She laughed awkwardly and scratched her face.
“I showed such an inappropriate side as your sister. Far from supporting you, I almost stopped you from moving forward……”
“It’s alright now that you realize it.”
His sister clenched her fist for a moment, then relaxed her hand and calmly asked again.
“Are you really serious about taking up the family mantle?”
He nodded in response.
“Yeah, you must have your own reasons for saying that. But it won’t be easy. It all depends on you.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
He said with a smile.
Every aspect of his future was determined by the cause-and-effect he had designed.
Within that future, his sister’s well-being was also included.
In his past life, his sister had died in a battle with monsters three years later.
It was a death far too vain for someone heralded as a child of god and as the future head of the Vert family, but he knew the secret behind her death.
She was killed not by a monster but by a very close human…
The things a person sent back to the past can change are not limited to their own future.
Regardless of what happened over the next three years, he was determined to prevent his sister’s death.
“……”
His sister continued to stroke his hair absentmindedly, smiling brightly.
(To be continued in the next installment)
