The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Belkaryon smiled gaily while Rogers had a stern face.

“Lord Demon King. Please calm down for now.”

“Hey. Anyone would think I’m the one getting excited. Or am I about to commit some misdeed right away?”

“Can you assure that you are not?”

“That will be for me to decide after I hear what you have to say.”

The Demon King spoke as gently as ever, no different from usual.

However, Rogers was not ignorant of the truth that his heart was not as calm.

After a moment of contemplation, Rogers finally spilled everything about what had happened at Lake Myeong.

“Hmm, so that happened? It’s truly fortunate, isn’t it? If it hadn’t been for that Lunabran person, things could’ve taken a really bad turn.”

Rogers cautiously observed the Demon King’s reactions, which were changing by the second, with a nervous heart.

“So, you just let Ascalon go without any responsibility?”

“We secured a promise of cooperation. In addition to pursuing that Asher fellow, they’ve agreed to share any and all information they obtain with us.”

“What cooperation? We’d be lucky if they don’t get in the way!”

Belkaryon seemed less than enthused.

“Hey. Rogers.”

“Yes, Lord Demon King.”

“How long must I be patient?”

Rogers swallowed his dry spit as if the expected had come.

“You and Besti would want me to lead with reason even in this situation, but honestly, isn’t it really difficult given the current circumstances? What’s going to be resolved by me controlling my nature?”

Annoying situations were repeating themselves, and what would be resolved by just patiently suppressing my anger like a fool?

The Demon King truly wondered.

“They want this. They even tempted Ascalon, thinking to provoke your temper. I know it’s hard to endure, but you can’t act according to their will, right……”

Rogers spoke firmly, but suddenly stopped.

In his wide-open eyes, a vivid red current ebbed.

As if waiting for the moment to emerge from the Demon King’s body, it exuded a deadly presence.

“Yes, I know. That’s why I’ll be patient to a point. The problem is that the limit is almost upon us.”

“……!”

“I’ll go meet Besti for a bit.”

Left behind, Rogers could only stare helplessly at the receding figure of Belkaryon.

“This is bad……”

He realized that a much bigger issue had arrived than the Demon King failing to control his reason.

The tremor that started from his fist soon spread throughout his body.

“The Sword of Death is opening its eyes!”

* * *

The busy streets bustled and clamored with people, no, demons.

Understandably, there was no sign of Sian.

“I do want to praise you for making it this far without wandering off… But now, how do you plan to find that friend?”

“I’ll think about that now.”

Remiharam internally let out a wry laugh.

While motivated by the thought of finding Sian, he had come to Arem without much planning, and the likelihood of Sian still being here was indeed very slim.

Whether Lunab knew his thoughts or not, she gazed down the streets of Arem for a moment with an indifferent look.

“Is this really the demon world?”

“That’s so, isn’t it?”

“I feel like I’m in the human realm. What could be the reason?”

“Our lady must not be able to feel. The difference between humans and demons……”

Realizing what she had to do, Lunab shook her head.

She sniffed the air as if hunting a scent, perhaps left behind by someone, but…

“It’s not there.”

She couldn’t detect Sian’s scent.

“What is that woman doing? Why is her skin so pale?”

“I can’t see horns, is it my imagination? She looks just like a human?”

“I heard rumors that humans are wandering the demon world nowadays, could it be true?”

Instead of Sian’s scent, whispers about her could be heard from all around.

Despite being cloaked in a hood and robe, every demon passing by took a glance at her.

“I’ve come up with a plan.”

As if an idea struck her, Lunab headed towards the center of the crowd.

Then, she abruptly sat down on the ground.

“Excuse me, lady, what are you trying to do…”

“Keep quiet, please.”

Remiharam promptly silenced himself.

Lunab then quietly closed her eyes, perking up her ears like a rabbit, and murmured softly.

“Amplification…”

The magic converted her mana into hearing to amplify the surrounding sounds, the same spell she used when eavesdropping on the conversation between Besti and Lunab in the Demon King’s Castle.

As her hearing was maximized, voices from the entire street began to funnel into her ears.

Mostly, due to the sheer volume and overlap, nothing was heard clearly.

However, just for a moment,

(Are you asking me to believe that speech? Our members were taken down by a mere human?)

Lunab swiftly opened her eyes wide and perked her ears.

(As unbelievable as it sounds, it’s true! All of our members were taken down by one human with a strange sword! I thought I was going to die too!)

It’s uncommon for conversations among demons living in the demon realm to revolve around humans.

In other words, the chatter about a human happening here was very rare.

But nevertheless, discussions around that human were indeed occurring…

“We might have found him.”

Lunab rose swiftly from her seat and ran towards the source of the voice.

“Really, you never fail to surprise.”

Remiharam marveled at her extraordinary magical prowess.

Their destination was a secluded alley amidst the shadows.

Two demons were engaged in a secretive conversation.

“……!”

Upon noticing Lunab, they stiffened in surprise.

“What’s that, she’s not getting away…?”

At a glance, it was clear she differed significantly from the demons.

The demons attempted to turn her away but stumbled in their speech.

“Is, is she human?”

She was viewed with the same shock as one might look at a mythical beast.

Caught off guard by their unexpected reaction, Lunab tilted her head.

“I overheard you discussing humans…”

The two demons jerked nervously at the mention.

“Will you share with me?”

One demon vehemently waved his hand, denying it.

“We, we have nothing to do with you anymore! I’ve said all I’m willing to say!”

“What were you talking about? I haven’t heard anything from you?”

“Are you with that filthy human man?”

That inquiry made Lunab’s eyes widen.

“The filthy human man?”

“Yeah! Not only did he kill all our members, but he also caused me to reveal everything, even the most trivial details!”

“Were the human man using a dagger perhaps?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

Realizing she had found the correct person, Lunab flashed a mysterious smile.

“What’s been broken once can be broken again, no difference, right?”

“What?”

“Would you mind telling me? Everything you said to your superior, just as it is……”

* * *

Not too far or too close, exactly ten steps away.

Maintaining that perfect distance, Devil Dragon led me deeper into the demon realm.

-Swish

A sharply discarded leaf grazed my face.

Though it didn’t bleed, it stung more than a knife wound.

Leaves like these were relatively harmless.

In between, some were spotty or entirely dyed red, indicating potency with poison.

Regardless of what this place was for,

“The aura of the Holy Sword?”

[Completely unnoticeable. And you?]

Predictably, no trace of human presence, aside from myself, could be found.

Instead,

“Screech!”

Something attacked from a clump of bushes.

-Scritch

Without even making eye contact, I instantly severed its throat.

I gave the bisected creature a serious glance.

A demon beast I hadn’t seen in Lemea canyon.

Roughly speaking, by comparing to the creatures of the human realm, it resembled a snake, much larger than average—thick as a grown woman.

-Trickle

From the severed neck, blood mixed with green fluid seeped out.

Crimson was blood, green was poison.

They flowed separately, like water separated from oil.

“Your taste in food remains unchanged, I see.”

I looked up immediately after the remark.

“Don’t eat that monster. The poison is lethal enough to leave you hungry for days if consumed.”

That instant deciphered the mystery for me.

“It seems as though you’ve seen me eat a demon beast before.”

“……”

“Have you actually seen me before?”

“Shut up and follow! I don’t want to mingle with a human!”

The creature evaded answering and continued on its path.

During our journey, there were a few more attacks by nameless demon beasts, which strangely only targeted me, never casting an eye at the picky dragon.

Creatures instinctively recognize their apex predators; no foolish demon beast would dare attack a dragon.

But something felt eerily unsettling.

As if the dragon wasn’t avoiding me but rather commanding the beasts to attack.

While dealing annoyingly with these encounters, we arrived at a destination.

“We’ve arrived.”

Amidst a forest void of any human or even the numerous demons we had encountered, not a single life-force could be detected.

“What kind of place is this supposed to be?”

“How would I know? I’m simply following Master Nagel’s orders to bring you here. Asking me won’t offer any information.”

The creature’s response was curt, implying I should figure out the rest myself.

“Isn’t that nose and those eyes just for decoration?”

“What?”

“Are you really suggesting that the human I’m looking for is in such a heart of darkness? Did your leader truly pass on that information? Or did you misunderstand?”

“Would you dare to insult Master Nagel?”

“You are the one I’m insulting.”

Enraged by the unexpected affront, the creature reared up fiercely.

Its momentum hinted it could return to its true form and devour me at any moment, but,

“My role here is done. The rest is up to you!”

It haughtily retreated.

Transforming back to its original form with haste, it spread its wings wide.

“You’ve seen me before, right?”

I repeated my earlier question.

“Again with that? Why would I answer…!”

“Ten years ago, atop the Blood River cliff of Lemea canyon.”

The creature’s expression twisted instantly.

“The Devil Dragon I met across the river stream back then. It’s you, isn’t it?”

“Dr, dragon mistake! I’ll be on my way now! I’m going back!”

-Woosh

A whirlwind kicked up as it shrieked frantically.

Flapping its vast wings, it soared into the sky and hurriedly flew away from me.

A dragon fleeing in the presence of a human.

But then, it had already fled once, so what’s stopping it from fleeing a second time?

At that time, too many eyes were around; I had no choice but to let it go,

But not this time.

That dragon still has more to do for me.

“Dark Art Third Form: Mist Gliding.”

-Whoosh!

With the incantation, I wrapped myself in the emanating mist and followed the creature into the heights of sky.

(To be continued)