The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin - Chapter 78. Lunev Rainriver (1)
The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin chapter 78
Chapter 78. Lunev Rainriver (1)
“……!”
Anyone would think this blanket was a top-grade magic robe.
Huddled under it for protection, trembling in fear, she looked quite pitiful.
“How long do you plan on staying like that?”
I asked, unable to bear the sight any longer.
“Master, what exactly did you bring in? How could you think of keeping such a creature in your room…”
“So you won’t be scared even if a demon stands before you now?”
“That, that’s different! Besides, that thing is not a demon, it’s that dra……”
Her eyes, wide with fear, happened to meet Nana’s, who was in the middle of eating.
“Hiiiek!”
As if frozen, Emily emitted a grotesque whimper and fled to her room.
Nana, looking baffled, approached me and asked.
“Papa. Why is big sis Emily like that?”
“Don’t worry about it. She’ll adapt on her own.”
I gently stroked her head, comforting her.
Nana smiled in contentment.
In the end, I brought Emily to the academy.
Technically, according to protocol, she should return to the Belias mansion.
However, a personal maid to a noble is akin to private property; if the master wishes, the destination can change at any time.
In other words, currently she is classified as my private maid, which means I have the right to decide her whereabouts.
Unless one is the head of the family, no one else can interfere in this matter.
Emily likely has no idea.
That she was used as a disposable pawn to murder me.
Although their plan failed, there was no reason to keep her alive, as that could lead to complications.
Even if she returns to Belias, she won’t meet a kind fate, and I have no intention of simply standing by.
Since no one will question the retrieval of my own maid, they will dare not approach carelessly.
Well, that’s Emily, but…
My gaze returned to Nana, who had resumed her meal.
Is the worry of watching one’s child grow each day and protecting them what parenthood feels like?
I managed to hide well over the past two years, but it wasn’t perfect.
There are suspicions, not only about the cost of sustenance but also from other areas; if these keep accumulating, an eruption is inevitable.
At least she can freely transform into a human now, keeping her magical essence from leaking out…
But it’s likely unsustainable to continue living this way.
If push comes to shove, rather than a covert job like Emily’s, a covert school registration may be necessary.
“I’ve returned, Young Master.”
At that moment, Brian, who had finished his private training, returned.
He immediately handed me two unfamiliar letters.
“Both were received from the official reception of the academy.”
It seems I’ve been receiving letters quite often lately.
I’m slightly uneasy that it could be another weird invitation, but fortunately, it wasn’t.
“Are you doing well, Sian?”
The first was a letter from Sister Ellis.
In her letter, she sent her regards and shared that she had finally decided on her career path.
She’s going for it.
Joining the Order of the Knights of Light to continue the family’s legacy.
It was hardly surprising.
Since childhood, she had heard endless talk of it, and she herself had reiterated the intent dozens of times; her choice was to be expected.
To say that she had chosen the best possible direction wouldn’t be an overstatement.
Even I cannot deny that the Order of Knights of Light is the most fitting place for her innate talent.
The application process normally takes a review and probation period of six months to a year, but for Sister, that period is likely to be significantly shortened.
A special recruitment, one might say.
There’s no need to waste time on a candidate whose reputation is well-known to the entire empire.
At worst, three months; if quick, in less than a month, Sister will bear the title of a Knight of Light.
The problem comes after that.
Despite one incident, her life is moving in the same direction as her past incarnation.
This means that the end of that life will likely be identical to her previous one, too.
Not much time is left.
Soon, another day will come when I must leave the academy again.
After reading Sister’s letter carefully, I sealed it and stored it away.
Then, naturally, I turned to the second letter.
“What’s this?”
The recipient was indeed addressed to me, but no matter where I looked, I couldn’t find any information on the sender.
I opened the letter to check its contents.
“Are you well, Senior Sian?”
The moment I read the awkward title attached to my name, I knew who the sender was.
It was Lunev.
“It’s been over ten days since we’ve parted, senior.”
Anyone would think we had a poignant senior-junior relationship.
The more I read the letter, the more my brows furrowed. Was it just me feeling this?
Even a passing touch is considered a connection, but isn’t this a bit too much?
It’s almost as if one side is forcibly pushing the relationship.
And what goal does this kid have in trying to get close to me repeatedly?
While others might say, “Isn’t it obvious that this girl is showing interest in you?”, my mindset is naturally negative. So even such things stir no emotion in me.
Instead, they only provoke unnecessary wariness.
Just as I read the last sentence, the corners of my mouth inadvertently rose.
“Don’t get me wrong. I laughed because it’s absurd.”
Soon, I’ll come to visit? Is she implying she’ll visit me before the semester begins?
A strong sense of unease about some troublesome event brewing surged within me.
I was seriously contemplating going away for the rest of the vacation when,
-Knock knock
The unfamiliar sound of knocking echoed in my ears.
A visitor during the holiday period…
While I hadn’t confirmed yet, I had an inkling of who was beyond the door.
Hoping it wasn’t her, I cautiously opened the door.
-Creak
“……”
After opening the door, I said nothing.
Not out of surprise, but because the expected sight simply unfolded before me.
The unfamiliar visitor looked at me with unreserved, naive eyes and said,
“It’s been a while, senior.”
* * *
Obviously, I couldn’t take her into the room, so I grabbed her by the wrist and led her outside.
Lunev followed weakly, like a spiritless doll, offering no resistance.
The place we ended up at was the cafeteria, where I had never set foot since my admission.
Of course, there was no one else but us.
“You’re more violent than I thought, senior.”
She rubbed her wrist as she spoke.
“Just get to the point. Why are you here?”
“Because I’m bored.”
A confident and upright expression.
One couldn’t sense even a trace of deceit.
“It seems to me, senior, that you’re meeting someone who looks like they’ve got something to hide.”
Spot on.
I admitted silently with my silence.
“It’s a little disappointing. After all, we’ve even shared a table together.”
To be precise, you joined me while I was eating without invitation.
I don’t want to waste time on trivial talk.
I leaned back and crossed my arms, making it clear from my guarded expression that I was wary.
“Look here, junior. It seems like you’ve misunderstood the appropriate senior-junior relationship. If we only count the direct face-to-face time we’ve had, it’s not even two hours.”
“I thought it was around 20 hours. I didn’t realize it was so little.”
Talk of 20 hours.
“Even if we spent 20 years together, trust in human relationships can fail to develop. Knowing that, don’t you find it strange that I would treat someone I’ve only known for two hours so closely?”
“……”
She paused, as if struggling to find words, but her expression did not show shock.
“Senior, you speak as if you have the wisdom of someone who has lived over 20 years, yet we’re only a year apart in age…”
Finding no retort, I diverted my gaze for a moment.
She’s quick to notice.
“Alright. So you’re saying we need to build trust between us? I already trust you, senior, so all we need to do is build your trust in me.”
She speaks so clearly.
Lunev closed her eyes briefly, as if deep in thought.
It seemed she was pondering how to gain my trust.
“Should I share a secret from our society that senior would like?”
“……?”
“Actually, my grandfather and the high-ranking members of our society are keeping an eye on you. The reason I was sent to the imperial banquet is also to investigate you.”
For a moment, I frowned as if I misheard.
What?
What am I listening to right now?
“It might seem unjust, but there have been several unsavory incidents happening in our society recently.”
“Unsavory incidents?”
“Yes. A knight who supplied demon blood to the frontline was suddenly assassinated one day, and the merchant who provided research materials and human test subjects to our society was unexpectedly found dead. There were also dragons that greatly supported the existence of our magical society, but they too were suddenly wiped out near the academy by someone. Too many critical incidents have happened to our society to be merely coincidental.”
I couldn’t help but be astounded, but I couldn’t laugh either.
All the incidents she’d mentioned were related to me.
For now, I didn’t reveal my emotions and simply asked.
“…So, you’re saying your society, including your grandfather, suspects me as the culprit behind these unsavory incidents?”
“Yes.”
Her response was consistent.
“Do you think I won’t realize you’re lying to get my trust?”
“I’m not lying. I’ve told you everything exactly as it is.”
I know.
I’m certain that the incidents she spoke of are definitely not lies.
The problem is that those incidents are related to the Garam Magic Society she belongs to and they’ve been eyeing me as the culprit.
“What’s your evidence for such claims?”
To me, it was necessary to dismiss it right away as an absurd claim.
“I don’t really think it makes any sense either. But since my grandfather is quite suspicious by nature, he considers all possibilities. He seems to be focusing on you, senior, due to your prior experience living on the frontline and the fact you’re a dark attribute wielder, which would make it easy to erase traces.”
“So, it’s a vague conjecture, not a solid inference?”
“That’s about it.”
Regens, the Society Chairman.
I knew he was a suspicious character, but I never imagined he’d keep me in mind.
And the dragons I killed were actually related to the Garam Magic Society…
This was a fact even I, in my past life, did not know.
Dragons and humans colluding.
How would the other countries and dragons react if they knew of this?
“So, if what you say is true, your grandfather and others in your society are currently suspecting me, and now you’ve told me their suspicions. Why are you going so far to gain my trust? I have nothing to offer you.”
This was not just a secret, it was clearly confidential information.
These weren’t just friendly terms to discuss lightly.
So why? What is she after? Why does she continue to approach me to gain my trust?
Unless she speaks of it, she will never be free of my suspicion.
“……”
The same detached gaze remained steadily focused on me.
Her slightly trembling pupils suggested deep contemplation.
Soon, Lunev began to speak.
(To be continued)