The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

———

Chapter 9: The Duke’s Trial (1)

[Hey, Master.]

Kaeram sat on the hard rock with a playful posture.

After yawning repeatedly, she looked at me and asked.

[Why did you come looking for me?]

“To use you.”

I replied dryly.

[Do you realize that the legendary Demonic Dagger is like a kitchen knife on a chopping board to you? Are you just neglecting such a precious artifact?]

“I told you. It’s going to be difficult to bring you out for a while. Besides, it’s not wise to casually show off a valuable artifact like you to others, right?”

In the distance, I could see Eulken, who had been monitoring me for 24 hours.

Of course, only Kaeram’s soul was visible to me, but I still needed to refrain from acting rashly.

[Ever heard the saying that a man’s weapon rusts if unused? It’s probably the same for you, isn’t it?]

“You should say nice things in front of children.”

[Now come on, don’t be like that! I also want to taste blood soon after waking up for the first time in a while! When are you going to bring me out?!]

She pouted like a petulant child demanding snacks.

“If you’re tired of waiting, I’ll use you until we get to the battlefield. So just hold on until then, Kaeram.”

[If that’s the case, you should have come to me right before heading to the front line! Ugh! Waking up after centuries only to meet such a strange master… Anyway, if you don’t need me, I’m going back to sleep. Don’t wake me up!]

Kaeram, now transformed into mist, disappeared in an instant with the dagger that was in my embrace.

Clearly, she spends half of her days asleep, like a nocturnal creature. Continuing this pointless materialization only drains my energy, but there’s no avoiding it for the time being. At least until we enter the Remea Valley, there will be no need to use her.

I resumed honing my swordsmanship once again.

The promised month with my father was now just three days away.

During this time, all I’ve done is consistent strength training and superficial swordsmanship practice. Given the uncertainty of what the trial will entail, all I could do was this light training.

Honestly, aside from the trial, to hunt monsters on the front lines, I needed to develop more practical combat skills. I even tried to utilize Cranz, but lately, he’s nowhere to be seen. He recovered from his injuries rather quickly, but it seems he’s avoiding me quite skillfully. I

t’s frustrating that even a tiny bit of help seems impossible to come by when needed. Should I have handled things differently?

Repeating the boring training routines made me sigh unnecessarily.

Taking a momentary break, I laid down on the floor, setting aside my sword.

Considering that my last sparring session with Elise was quite some time ago, my body must have dulled somewhat, but I still didn’t feel like sparring with someone mediocre.

I pondered if there was anyone suitable nearby.

Hmm?

Come to think of it, there’s someone very close by, isn’t there?

“Hey, Eulken! Are you there?”

I leaned back and looked towards the other side of the forest.

3 seconds later, Eulken emerged from the bushes and hurriedly approached me.

“W-what’s the matter, sir?”

He seemed surprised to see me staring precisely at his location.

“It’s nothing serious, but could you do me a favor?”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Would you spar with me just once?”

“What?”

Eulken’s face broke out in a cold sweat.

It was an odd request, especially in the middle of the night, and it might sound a bit childish.

But I was genuinely serious about it.

“Are you saying… you want to spar with me?”

“Yeah! The day I made a pact with my father is only three days away, and I feel like swinging a sword aimlessly into the air isn’t going to cut it. I want to sharpen my combat instincts a bit, and I thought you could help.”

“If you need a sparring partner, aren’t there other knights besides me? My duty is to protect you, not to train you.”

“That’s exactly why I’m asking. This is separate from my father’s orders. I’m not asking for a real sparring match. Just block my attacks if I come at you. It shouldn’t be too difficult, right?”

Just blocking without retaliating. What kind of sparring was that? But Eulken seemed to agree nonetheless.

Moreover, if all he had to do was block the attacks of this young noble, what could possibly go wrong?

“If that’s what you wish, I understand. However, I’ll use the sheath of my sword instead of the blade. I promise to focus solely on defense, as you desire.”

Eulken nodded respectfully and drew his sword from his waist.

His sword was a high-quality longsword used by the knights of the Light Order, boasting a sheath that rivaled even the finest blades.

“Thank you. And there’s one more thing I’d like to say…”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Don’t report anything about what’s happening right now to my father.”

“Understood?”

Eulken’s expression subtly changed.

His duty from the duke was to protect me while also keeping an eye on my activities.

Surely, my bold declaration of wanting to go to the front lines would pique my father’s curiosity about what kind of training I was undergoing. There was no reason not to report today’s sparring match to the duke.

“This sparring match with me is nothing to be ashamed of. Surely, the duke would view it favorably? There’s no need to…”

“This time it’s not a request, it’s an order. As a member of the Vert family, I command you not to disclose anything that happens from now on to anyone. Got it?”

Another bead of cold sweat trickled down Eulken’s cheek.

Did he think I, not even a duke, had the authority to command him?

Throughout past and present lives, he was the most upright knight I had ever seen. His loyalty to the duke was unmatched, and he had a firm resolve to do whatever it took for him.

If I proceeded with the sparring match without saying a word, he would surely report the process and outcome to the duke. That’s why I issued this order.

Eulken’s primal duty is to protect the duke, and I am somewhat of a delegate to whom the duke has directly issued protection orders.

In other words, it implies that I have authority equivalent to the duke’s. Others might laugh it off as nonsense, but not to the knight standing before me. He truly is an upright knight.

“I understand perfectly, my lord. I swear on the honor of a guardian knight that I will not disclose anything about this sparring match.”

Eulken declared, placing a hand over his chest, making his oath as a knight.

Having taken such an oath, if he were to break it, he would have to pay with his life. So, I was absolutely sure he would not speak a word about it.

“Thank you, Eulken. Shall we begin now?”

As I raised my sword, Eulken positioned his sheath for defense.

With such a firm promise, it seems like I can have a bit of fun, right?

Honestly, my body has been itching for some action these past few days. Cranz is not even worth mentioning, and during my sparring with Ellis, I couldn’t help but feel restless. With my decision made, I dashed forward.

-Clang!

As the first strike occurred, I twisted my body freely to execute the desired sword moves.

Eulken accepted all my strikes without a single miss. The exhilarating harmony of blades clashing and the thrilling sensation that surged with each collision. The dormant longing of a swordsman was awakening once again.

While my enthusiasm seemed to rise with each passing moment, Eulken’s expression grew darker. He had no trouble defending, but it was clear that he couldn’t be considered a ten-year swordsman.

After about ten minutes of intense sparring, I felt a refreshing sense of accomplishment as if I had completed a set workout. With a downward swing aimed at his head, I ended the bout.

“Good job, Eulken! Thanks for the help!”

“T-Thank you, my lord…”

Eulken awkwardly nodded in response to my cheerful smile. However, his gaze was fixed on his sword hilt. The sheath of his renowned sword, which surpassed most in quality, was quite damaged.

“It seems like I unintentionally damaged it, huh? Should I compensate for it?”

“Oh, no, my lord! I can repair it myself, so please don’t worry!”

There might be more than a couple of things he’s curious about, but I knew he would never ask.

Besides, I won’t disclose anything to anyone.

He truly can’t be anything but a faithful knight.

“What do you think, Eulken?”

“What do you mean?”

“The trial that Father is preparing. Do you think Eulken knows something?”

“U-Unfortunately, I’ve also been by your side recently, so I don’t know about that part.”

Even if he knows, he won’t tell…

“What could Father be preparing? Did he arrange a sparring match with several senior knights like Eulken? Or maybe, is Father planning to face you himself?”

As the day of the pact approached, my curiosity only grew.

What qualifications did the Duke mention, and what did he prepare for him? Along with curiosity, there was also a strange sense of anticipation.

“…It’s probably not something like that.”

Unexpectedly, Eulken, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.

“It’s just my guess, but I don’t think the Duke would prepare something like a sparring match against people. The Duke sees much more than we do, so I think he would have prepared a trial suitable for him.”

Is it really different from what I think?

Having spent much more time with Father than I, he would know him better.

“But as for you…”

“…”

“You probably think that you can overcome any trial without any problem…”

He, who hadn’t loosened his stiff expression, smiled for the first time and said.

To receive recognition from a senior knight.

It’s enough to make me want to dance with joy.

It was a strange feeling, but not a bad one.

***

Time quickly passed, and before I knew it, the day of the appointment arrived.

Knights who had come from the front lines to take me away were waiting in the courtyard since dawn.

With nothing to prepare, I followed them as soon as I finished breakfast.

Hundreds of eyes were watching me from the windows of the mansion as I left.

No one else was allowed to accompany me, and I was the only one protected by dozens of knights.

After riding in the prepared carriage for about 30 minutes…

We arrived in a quiet wilderness where not a single residence could be seen.

The moment I stepped out of the carriage, I found myself face to face with the Duke who had been waiting there.

“Cyan, youngest of the Vert family, I greet thee.”

“Welcome, Cyan. Are you prepared?”

Without any unnecessary words, he immediately asked if I was ready to undergo the trial.

“Of course. I am ready to proceed at this very moment.”

“Once more, I ask. If you wish to reconsider, I will send you away without a word. Are you truly sincere about wanting to go to the front lines?”

“I have never wavered in my words since the beginning. My heart still yearns for the front lines.”

With even the final opportunity denied, the Duke nodded in acknowledgement.

He realized that he couldn’t sway my determination.

“In all things, there must be responsibility, and one must possess the qualifications to bear it. If you wish to uphold the ideals of the Bergh family as its offspring, then I shall now test the strength of your resolve.”

Having finished speaking, the Duke then commanded the knights.

“Release it.”

Upon receiving the command, the knights immediately brought forth something massive.

It looked like a huge prison used to confine someone.

After a while, they removed the large covering around it, revealing the truth behind the trial that the Duke had prepared.

“Grrrr….”

From within the prison, eyes filled with madness glared at me.

No, it couldn’t be called a beast.

Because it wasn’t a creature native to this land.

I couldn’t help but wonder why he had prepared such a trial.

Struggling to maintain composure, my lips couldn’t help but tremble.

A Hellhound.

The cruel predator from the abyss seemed ready to devour me at any moment, its tongue lolling out disgustingly.

————