C47 - 48
The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin Chapter 47
Chapter 47: Duel (1)
In the eastern district of Belias, the mansion of the Duke Vert’s family.
Margaret Erzes, the mistress of the mansion, walked the corridors with an exceptionally anxious expression.
“…….”
Hands and feet trembling like aspen leaves.
Lips quivering as if covered in frost.
She seemed like a sinner hiding a grievous wrongdoing.
“Mother?”
“Huh!”
The unexpected touch of a stranger made her body ripple like a wave.
It was the firstborn son of the house, Aschel.
“Are you alright? You look very pale.”
Margaret, reassured by Aschel’s presence, calmed her startled heart.
“Ah, ah… no. I, I’m fine, really fine……”
Aschel, with a gentle smile, reassured her by taking her hand.
“Please tell me if there’s anything troubling you, Mother. As your son, I will do everything within my power to assist you.”
“Tha-thank you, Aschel……”
Although he was not her biological son, he was by far the most charming child in the house.
As if enchanted by his gaze, Margaret cautiously caressed Aschel’s cheek.
After she departed, Aschel, now alone, was approached by the head retainer, Kellin.
“Bodies were discovered in the mountains near Belias. All of them belonged to knights of our fiefdom.”
“How many were there?”
“Six bodies were found in total. However, the Duchess had dispatched seven men, so one is presumed missing. Furthermore…”
Kellin hesitated for a moment.
“Continue, don’t stop now.”
“Well, amongst the party led by the youngest master to Rowen, we confirmed there was a knight from our fiefdom……”
Aschel turned his head towards Kellin without a word.
“It is assumed that the missing knight might have been him……”
The Duchess’s failed assassination plot against Sian Vert.
However, the plan ended in failure, and Sian safely enrolled in the academy.
Upon discovering this truth, the Duchess desperately covered it up, but Aschel, who had detected her unease, came to know of these facts.
Despite the gravity of the report, Aschel laughed heartily.
“How amusing. So you’re telling me, one of the knights who went to assassinate my brother might have ended up enrolling in the academy with him?”
“Yes……”
Aschel’s maniacal laughter continued.
Kellin waited silently for his laughter to subside.
When it came to a sudden halt, Aschel asked with a composure in his tone.
“What happened to the agents we dispatched?”
“That, well……”
It was the question Kellin least wanted to answer.
“The last contact indicated they had been given residence in the Royal House after academy entry, but since then there’s been no further communication……”
“No communication?”
“Yes! So I dispatched additional informants, but there’s been no news from them either to this day……”
In fact, Kellin had sent a total of three additional informants after the initial spy had infiltrated the academy, but after notifying they had arrived, they vanished without a trace.
It was enough to drive him to madness.
He couldn’t help but wonder if they were cutting their ties or if something more sinister was at play.
“……”
Aschel turned away, silent.
Perhaps Kellin felt he had let down his master?
Disheartened, Kellin clenched his fists tightly.
“I shall go myself.”
“……”
“It won’t take long. I’ll just ascertain what’s happening around the youngest master and promptly return. I assure you, I will not lose contact!”
Kellin spoke with confidence, then bowed his head towards Aschel.
“Look at me, Kellin.”
Aschel, with a bright smile, said.
“Your misguided concern leaves you no need to struggle so. Let us put aside matters regarding my brother for now. You’ve worked hard thus far.”
Though it seemed like a gesture of gratitude, Kellin did not take it that way.
He knew his master well.
Once Aschel set his mind to something, he would see it through to the end.
For him to suddenly give up on a task?
Aschel’s message was clear.
He no longer wanted Kellin to handle matters concerning Sian.
To Kellin, such disgrace was unbearable.
“I pledged to serve you for life, Master Aschel! This matter is not a burden for me. Please, allow me to go to Rowen!”
With the resolve akin to facing death, Kellin conveyed his sincerity to his master.
The response he received was Aschel’s warm laughter.
“Haha. As expected, I cannot prevail against you, honored Kellin. Very well, your wishes shall be respected. But make haste. I have need of you as well.”
“I will follow Master Aschel’s command!”
Kellin’s face spread with a smile, feeling validated.
“……”
In contrast, Aschel’s expression, as he turned away, was utterly emotionless.
* * *
“Papa, open this for me!”
She handed over a glass jar filled with candies, each as big as an eyeball.
It seemed she was too young to have the strength to open the lid.
“Do you even have teeth for sweets?”
“Yep! Look, my teeth are all grown!”
She widely opened her mouth, proudly showing off her newly sprouted white teeth.
With incisors and molars fully grown, there were even sharp canines characteristic of a dragon.
I easily opened the lid and handed the jar back to her.
“Make sure to brush after eating. Otherwise, your teeth will rot.”
“Yep, got it!”
She cheerfully stuffed a handful of candies into her mouth.
[Father of the year, are we?]
Ceyram remarked, half teasingly.
“Kids are always like that.”
[To an observer, they’d think you’re an old man who’s lived 40 years or more.]
I didn’t deny it given that it wasn’t inaccurate.
The little draconian had been with me for a week already.
In that brief period, she displayed a terrifying rate of growth.
From birth, she climbed, walked, and spoke immediately,
and her stature had grown more than twice in size.
What’s more, she adapted remarkably quickly to the sprawling dorms, already confidently navigating them as if it was her own home.
[Draconian growth is known to be rapid, but she might even outpace you at this rate.]
“Growing quickly is a good thing.”
[Is that so? You’re aware of what that implies, right?]
I was fully aware.
It meant that her time with me was growing ever shorter.
But conversely, it also meant she’d reach a day when she could stand on her own sooner.
In the end, she would live hundreds of years longer than me.
The sooner she adapted to this world, the more capable she’d become to live on her own.
Well, for now, she’s happily sucking on candy with innocent joy.
“I’m back, sir.”
Brian returned from shopping for groceries, with the head of the dormitory at his side.
“What brings you here on a day without classes?”
She wore an unusually frustrated expression.
“Well done. You’ve caused quite a stir, student Sian.”
“What kind of trouble do you mean?”
Suddenly accused of causing trouble, I was perplexed.
She silently handed me a piece of paper.
‘Approval for Duel’ was written boldly at the center of it.
The moment I saw the words, I immediately understood the situation.
That muscle-brained prince actually got approval for a duel.
“How could you even think of this? Instead of remaining unobtrusive, you arranged a duel with the Sand Prince? The rumors are already flying around the academy!”
“He initiated the request…”
“That’s not the point! This duel is the first face-off between freshmen and it’s attracted a lot of attention! The key academy officials will all be present, even the chancellor is rumored to be attending!”
[What are they all lacking in things to do? What’s so interesting about eleven-year-old freshmen swinging at each other?]
Ceyram shook his head, unable to fathom.
Indeed, her point wasn’t invalid.
Duels to measure student abilities were common in the academy, and it could happen daily as long as both parties agreed.
Though it might be odd to say out of my own mouth, I had become quite a celebrity at this academy.
Noble origins as a duke,
Glamorous past on the battlefield,
Unprecedented attribute scores and physical grades at the academy.
Now, the moment had come for me to show my abilities for the first time.
It was inevitable I would garner attention.
And against the Prince of Sand? The case spoke for itself.
I shifted my gaze and asked frankly.
“So when is this duel set to happen?”
“In two hours.”
“……?”
That’s unexpectedly soon.
– Bang, bang, bang.
A loud knocking erupted from the door.
There wasn’t a need to check; It was fairly obvious who it could be.
“Sian Vert! I have secured approval for our duel as you requested! Why wait? Come forth and show your power!”
A headache began to surge.
* * *
The rooftop of the academy’s main building, transformed into a magical dueling arena.
Large enough to accommodate a thousand students.
Students, from all grades and genders, huddled together.
It was unusually crowded; not a single seat was empty compared to the norm.
“Princess, this way.”
Resmus, having secured a spot, guided Arin to her seat.
“Thanks, Resmus!”
Once seated, Arin slowly scanned the surroundings.
Freshmen, upperclassmen, a diverse group of students had gathered.
Instructors responsible for lectures and high-ranking researchers were present.
Even Kundle, the head chancellor of the academy, was there.
The upcoming duel between the two students had evidently piqued significant interest.
“Princess, have you ever seen Sir Sian fight?”
Resmus inquired to the somewhat distracted girl.
“Huh? No, I’ve never had the chance. Now that I think about it, there was never an opportunity to see him in action. We met in a frontline wartime zone, after all.”
Arin suddenly recalled the time when Sian volunteered as a decoy when they fled the military camp to save her.
His audacity in the face of dire beasts, showing no sign of fear or cowardice.
Thinking back, he had never exhibited fear or dread from the very beginning.
“That’s why I don’t know much! We’ll see today. We’ll find out just how powerful he is!”
“Indeed.”
Resmus seemed somewhat disappointed with his reply.
“What do you think?” Arin prodded.
“Pardon?”
“It’s okay. It’s just between us. Who do you think will win today’s duel, Resmus?”
He hesitated briefly before cautiously answering.
“While I’ve never directly observed Sethra, I can’t make claims without knowledge… but as far as freshmen go, I believe there is no one who could best Sian.”
His response was bold.
Taken aback, Arin asked again.
“Why, why do you think that?”
“From the moment I first saw him in the park, I felt it. It’s hard to describe, but… not like a swordsman or a warrior, but more like a ruthless predator. As if I was facing an assassin who could easily take my life right here, right now…”
“That, that serious?”
“Yes, but this is solely my opinion! Please, take it lightly!”
Resmus quickly waved his hands, urging her to dismiss the thought.
Shortly after, instructors appeared at the center of the dueling arena to create a massive magic circle.
-Woosh
A four-star magic barrier suitable for the students’ abilities was erected.
Soon after, the two contenders rose from their seats on either side of the arena and confidently walked towards the center.
A strange tension filled the air.
(To be continued in the next part)
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The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin Chapter 48
Chapter 48: Sparring (2)
As I mentioned before, this sparring match is quite interesting.
It’s a duel between two students whose attendance rates are almost zero since the semester began.
In other words, it is a spar between those who haven’t been influenced by the academy in the slightest—purely unlearned students.
How dare these no-show students organize their own sparring matches?
Honestly, even the instructors and staff can’t complain, even if they found it disagreeable.
But look at the people gathered around.
Students and instructors alike, the audience fills the sparring grounds.
Even in the VIP seats, the headmaster of the academy, Condor Quizzel, is present.
That’s how much the academy is anticipating this duel.
Considering that, I can’t help but let out a slight chuckle.
Am I supposed to meet their expectations?
“I’ve been waiting for this moment, Sian Vert! You must feel the same, right?”
Seth, facing me, spoke with a joyous expression.
I simply nodded noncommittally.
“I initially wanted to request a hand-to-hand combat spar, but, unfortunately, I was told that here only swordsmanship and magic duels are allowed. Do you plan to use magic?”
“If you’re not using it, then there’s no need for me to do so, either.”
Even with my indifferent reply, he laughed heartily.
“Hahaha! That’s what I like to hear, Sian Vert! Okay then, we’ll just fight with our swords, no magic involved!”
-Slring
He drew the curved sword at his waist.
Its blade arced like a crescent moon.
Though it resembled the scimitar used by the Mist members, it was longer and its tip less pointed.
In response, I also drew my sword.
Since I couldn’t use my magic sword in front of everyone, I had to use a regular long sword this time.
As I’ve explained before, the purpose of a sword-duel is to measure each other’s skills and establish superiority.
The criterion for superiority is to target the opponent’s neck with a sword.
For me, it was the first duel in a year.
-Dang Dang Dang
With the sound of the bell indicating the start of the duel, Seth kicked off the ground and rushed forward.
-Thump Thump
Faster than expected.
If his physicality is combined with strength and speed, his sword strikes would be inescapable even if blocked.
“Haat!”
Intent on splitting me in half, he swung his sword without hesitation.
Taking it head-on would likely cost me my weapon and potentially break my bones.
But that was never my plan.
-Slring
I took Seth’s full force head-on.
His curved sword began to slide away from my blade, and soon the edges of our swords crossed and slid apart.
“……!”
An assassin doesn’t need brute strength but precision and refinement.
Such a simple physical difference was a lightweight element for me, something that didn’t require magic or secret techniques to overcome.
“Whoa!”
Seth lost his balance as his weight shifted forward when his attack missed its mark.
Not missing the opportunity, I swung my sword at his exposed back.
-Chang!
It seems the nickname “Prince of Sand” wasn’t for nothing.
Most would have lost their weapon and opened their neck by now.
However, in the brink of disaster, Seth twisted his waist with the flexibility of folding paper, barely parrying my sword.
-Whoosh!
Then, he quickly regained his posture and swung his sword at me once more.
A slight dodge, and Seth hurriedly created distance between us.
It was a situation that could have ended in a single move, and his expression was clearly flustered.
“Ha!”
He gave off a short laugh and started to loosen his body.
-Crack Crack
The sound of his bones echoed ominously throughout the sparring grounds.
Taking a different grip on his sword, he rushed at me again.
-Swat!
This time, though, he didn’t come recklessly.
Using the reach of his curved sword, he maintained a distance, unleashing a series of strikes from a range that didn’t allow for counterattack.
-Chang Chang Chang
The sound of clashing swords was all that could be heard in the hall.
Seth continued a relentless offense, but sadly, none of his strikes were effective.
He seemed to realize this too, as his once confident face began to twist.
-Slring
The slash aimed at me diagonally once again slid off my blade.
“A second time won’t work!”
As if he anticipated it, Seth changed the trajectory of his blade with a quick step.
Initially swinging from bottom to top, the sword suddenly shifted into a thrust toward my neck.
-Swish
I stepped aside with a concise movement, avoiding the blade and then…
-Clang!
I aimed my sword at the perplexed Seth’s neck.
His curved sword had already slipped from his hand and was rolling on the ground.
“Ha ha……”
Seth let out a sound that was somewhere between a laugh and a sigh.
The duel was over.
What remained was for him to fully accept his defeat.
Those with high self-esteem typically also have strong pride, and they can hardly accept the fact that they lost.
This muscular friend here probably assumed winning was as natural as eating.
Whatever was on his mind, he simply twitched his large frame without a word.
I withdrew my sword and stepped back a bit.
“Indeed, you’re remarkable, Sian Vert. I acknowledge my defeat.”
Contrary to my expectations, he accepted the loss with sportsmanship.
“It’s clear that in terms of swordsmanship, you’re on a higher plane than me. For now, it seems I can’t beat you.”
In truth, apart from meeting the wrong opponent, his sword skills were far from ordinary.
Having the insight to effectively use his natural strength, rather than simply overwhelming his opponent with it, was not a simple feat for an eleven-year-old boy.
Was he more open-minded than I thought?
With a stern expression, Seth picked up his blade and said,
“I don’t like to be clingy, but I don’t feel like ending it here. Would you allow me another challenge if it’s alright?”
Is that it? He doesn’t think it’s over with just one attempt?
Well, it’s certainly better than him whining over failure to accept his defeat.
I nodded in agreement, indicating my acceptance.
-Ching clang!
“……?”
Why is he throwing his sword away?
I thought it meant he wanted another challenge with the sword, but apparently not.
Mana surged from his body, and along with it, a storm of sand began to rise.
“What is this about?”
“This much is certain, I must beat you by any means, Sian Vert! I’ll pour all of my power into this, so I expect you to do the same!”
For a moment, I considered myself foolish for thinking he could remain cool.
It turns out he’s an incredibly sore loser.
* * *
The headmaster, Condor Quizzel, who was watching the duel from the VIP seats, thought the two students below were quite audacious.
The academy’s duels aim to assess the students’ skills, mainly through the use of magic.
The physical grades of Sian and Seth were S and A, respectively—undeniably the top amongst the new students.
However, the academy primarily pursues the advancement of magic.
Physical grade? It matters, of course.
But frankly, physical grade essentially supports one in wielding higher-order magic.
If you were to ask which is more important, the physical grade or magic grade, the answer would undoubtedly favor magic, a hundred out of a hundred times.
Seth Shahar Khan’s magic grade was three stars, definitely among the best of the new students.
In contrast, Sian Vert’s magic grade was one star.
Reality dictates that if they were to fight with magic, there wouldn’t be much of a match to begin with.
But look at their demeanor.
There’s no hint they’re going to use magic, just pure swordplay.
‘Have they made some sort of compromise?’
It’s true that Seth, who had applied for the duel, initially wanted a hand-to-hand combat duel, so it seemed they both wanted to base the match on their physical grades from the start.
-Chang Chang Chang
The sweeping sound echoed through the hall like a majestic harmony.
Seth was efficiently applying his strength to the long reach of his curved sword—overwhelming, forceful strikes.
Any ordinary student would likely lose their grip on their weapon at the first strike.
But watch how Sian moves.
He isn’t exerting the strength befitting his S-grade class.
Just the force you’d expect from an eleven-year-old boy.
With that level of strength, he’s been deflecting all of Seth’s heavy blows.
With movements precise and sharp enough to rival those of a senior knight.
The headmaster aside, the expressions of the swordsmanship instructors watching the duel were particularly noteworthy.
-Clang!
It was over.
Deflecting even the most critical move, Sian knocked Seth’s sword away and aimed his own at the opponent’s neck.
Although the outcome was somewhat anticlimactic, the process was not.
Meanwhile, Cirika, who arrived at the dueling grounds somewhat late, quickly took her seat in the stands.
“It’s unusual for you to be late for a duel.”
“I apologize! I had some matters to attend to and was delayed. How did the duel go?”
“It’s over. Although it was a swordfight, that student named Sian practically dominated.”
“I see.”
The headmaster glanced at her face.
Her stoic demeanor showed no sign of agitation or disturbance.
-Whooooosh!
Just then, a strong wind filled the dueling ground as a surge of mana spread out.
“That student! What is he doing…?”
The swirling wind was laden with thick sand grains.
“Sand Hurricane!”
Accompanying the incantation, Seth generated a powerful whirlwind starting from beneath his feet.
The mixing of sand made for a chilling sight, and the whirlwind grew in size.
But the trouble was not the sandstorm itself, but the mana detected within it.
“That Seth student had a three-star magic grade, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right. But this energy I’m feeling now…”
-Thud!
Suddenly, there was a loud noise from the magical barrier.
The magic barrier enveloping the dueling ground was four stars in strength.
It was installed considering the magic grades of the students, but the current state of the barrier was critically unstable.
In other words, Seth was now deploying magical energy exceeding the barrier’s grade.
“Huh, he’s surpassed his own magic grade… While it’s certainly extraordinary to pour all his efforts in, this is indeed a rare caliber.”
With interest, the headmaster stroked his chin and smiled.
“This is not the time to smile, isn’t it? If things go wrong, the barrier might…”
-Crack
Sure enough, the magic barrier soon began to fracture.
Yet Seth, unconcerned, enveloped himself in the sandstorm and charged towards Sian at full speed.
“Reinforce the barrier!”
Startled instructors quickly rushed out to the dueling ground to reconstruct the barrier, but in that instant,
-WHOOOSH!
A mysterious black sphere appeared in Sian’s direction.
“……!”
The black sphere manifested and began to absorb Seth’s sandstorm.
The storm, threatening to engulf everything, gradually lost its strength and dissipated, along with the mana energy.
“The Sphere of Nothingness?”
Condor’s eyes flashed briefly.
He knew exactly what that power was.
Dark attribute magic fundamentally lacks lethality.
It cannot burn like fire, sweep away like water, or shatter like lightning.
This was also the primary reason why dark attribute magic was not well received in the continent.
But lack of lethality doesn’t mean it’s not threatening.
After all, darkness is synonymously referred to as ‘nothingness’ (無)—an attribute with the power to nullify all things that exist.
The Sphere of Nothingness.
A unique spell of dark attribute magic.
There’s no need for a complex explanation; it simply nullifies all magic present before it.
If one’s attribute aligns, even a one-star mage can perform such a simple spell.
However, to be effective, one always needs to be higher in magical prowess than their opponent.
What’s happening in front of us now?
Sian, who’s merely a one-star mage, has just nullified Seth’s magic, which momentarily soared to a four-star level.
“……”
In the dueling ground where the storm raged, only a silent stillness remained.