The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin - Chapter 79: Lunev Rainriver (2)
The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin chapter 79
Chapter 79: Lunev Rainriver (2)
“I must have been about three years old. It was when my brain had developed enough to understand most things that my grandfather said to me,”
When asked to elaborate, he suddenly began a story from the past.
“As long as you are born into the Rainriver family, you must live for the advancement of the Garam Magic Society. That is the reason for your existence, your duty, and you, Lunev, cannot refuse this. I still vividly remember his words, even though I was only three years old.”
It shouldn’t be unreasonable.
Such words must have been a painful shock even to a young child’s brain.
I have no intention of defending them.
After all, it’s only natural for a noble’s child to put the ideals of their family ahead of themselves.
That’s true for me as well.
“From then on, I was given early education. The textbooks from the academy, the research materials from the empires, not just kingdoms—grandfather did not limit me to anything related to magic.”
“At that time, you wouldn’t even have had mana, right?”
It was like making a child who had just learned to walk run a race.
“That’s why it was early education. Regardless of whether it was beneficial or not, grandfather simply told me to learn. When I was about ten years old and began to generate mana, I immediately received an elemental aptitude test. Do you know what my magic attribute is, senior?”
“I don’t know.”
That was a lie.
I knew very well what her attribute was, even though I hadn’t heard it in this life.
“Fire, water, wind, light, darkness. Each attribute was evenly distributed at 20%. I have a composite attribute that doesn’t lean toward any particular side…”
As I’ve said before, although it’s a valuable attribute, it’s not exactly a welcomed one.
While it allows for a wide range of magic, since all have clear limitations in their numbers, it’s difficult to develop a high ranking, and in reality, it often falls into mediocrity.
I asked, keeping my expression neutral.
“What did your grandfather say after seeing that?”
“He was happy.”
That was a bit unexpected.
“Happy?”
“Yes. It was the first time I saw him so pleased.”
A slight bitterness seeped into her words.
“If you only try, you will become an unprecedented being in this world. You will be a high-ranking multi-attribute holder that no one has mastered. When that happens, you’ll be at the pinnacle of magic, and you could fulfill our Rainriver family’s long-cherished wish. Those words still haven’t changed.”
Theoretically, it’s not impossible.
If we compare the different attributes within her to the ‘vessels’, if her five ‘vessels’ are much larger than the single vessel others have, then it would be possible.
That is, if the 20% of darkness attribute she has is higher than the 90% or more darkness attribute I have, and if the other attributes are the same, then what’s the problem?
As the society chairman said, she would indeed be at the pinnacle of magic.
Of course, it’s just theoretical; in practice, it’s impossible.
There’s a definite limit to how much the human body can be stretched, given congenital limitations.
No matter how much mana you pour into such a unstable vessel, it will eventually overflow and not be contained. This is not something that can be resolved within the realm of human effort.
Regens, the society chairman, must know this too, as well as she does.
“Do you think it’s possible?”
“I’m not sure. Based on the knowledge I know, I think there should certainly be a limit, but grandfather didn’t seem to think so.”
A hollow laugh escaped my thoughts.
There are things that can be done with brute force and things that cannot.
Unless he’s senile, did that old society chairman really think it was possible?
It’s not possible unless you remodel the human body itself…
Wait a minute?
Blinded by the theoretical possibility, I momentarily forgot the group this girl belonged to.
The Kingdom of Garam Magic Society.
They were the sort who wouldn’t hesitate to conduct human experiments for the sake of advancing magic research.
Considering the insane things they’ve done in a past life, it wouldn’t be far-fetched for them to use their own granddaughter as a test subject…
“Could you lend me your hand for a moment, senior?”
“My hand?”
Without realizing, I extended one hand.
Lunev gently grasped my hand, and a faint light of mana emanated from her touch.
“Darkness attribute at 93% and magic rating of five stars. You’re quite adept at other attribute magics as well.”
“…What did you just do?”
“I manifested my mana and assessed your body’s classification.”
“That’s possible?”
“It’s a result of the experiments. Ever since that day, I’ve been subject to several trials at the society. Each time, I gained new abilities.”
Her prediction was precisely on point.
“The ‘scan ability’ I just showed you is one of them. Once I held you at the Imperial City, I checked then, and I’ve relayed all that information back to grandfather.”
Thankfully, it seemed she hadn’t fully detected my magic power.
It appears to be at the level of a typical attribute assessment, but still, this shouldn’t be underestimated.
As her mana grows over time, so too will the range of mana she can detect.
But the current problem isn’t that.
New abilities from experiments?
Nothing special.
Once anyone reaches a six-star status, scanning a subject with a lower rank than oneself is not difficult.
I assert that those experiments have given this girl more than just improved physical abilities.
Something unsettling rests within this girl’s inner being.
“The more the experiments went on, the less I felt accustomed to my own body. I feel like I’m gaining something for sure, but it’s forcefully infused into me without my consent.”
“… Is there a problem with your body?”
Lunev replied with a faint smile.
“I can’t quite say there isn’t. To be honest, it’s quite bad. Although I haven’t shown it to grandfather, I likely won’t live long. Maybe three more years? It could be longer or shorter.”
“What’s your basis for that?”
“I know my body best. It’s already falling apart from the magic being pumped into it through experiments. Estimating from how long I can hold on, that’s about how long I think I’ll last.”
A chill ran down my spine as cold sweat trickled down my back.
This was like a divine prophecy to be scoffed at.
Her prediction was accurate.
Exactly three years later, the granddaughter of the Rainriver household, bestowed by the president of Garam Magic Society, indeed perishes unexpectedly one day.
“You asked if it’s okay to tell me this, right? It’s nothing. It’s of no use to me anyway, so I’m telling you. Rainriver family duty? What does it matter to me if I’m not going to live much longer? It’s better to gain your trust by telling you.”
Listing reasons, she explained meticulously, yet to me, it sounded like a despairing cry for help.
And yet, she managed to maintain an impressively calm demeanor.
“The reason I want to gain your trust? I’m not really sure myself. I was simply drawn to you when I first saw you at the Imperial City. A sense of kinship? I thought we were very similar.”
“Similar?”
“Yes. Do you like your family, senior?”
That was something I couldn’t even lie about.
“No.”
“Then we are similar. I really hate my family too. But unlike me, you’re trying to break free, right?”
“…Somewhat.”
“Then we’re different again. I haven’t even thought about that possibility.”
Similar yet not similar.
Hearing her words, I felt a sudden suffocation in my chest.
So what?
Am I supposed to do something about that?
I’m not a savior.
Busy enough taking care of myself and those around me, I’m not some divine being to attend to the life of a pitiable girl who predicts her own death.
The most I can offer as mercy or salvation is to listen to this conversation.
I spoke with an unaffected face.
“Living life as you wish for the time you have left is good. But you’ve chosen the wrong direction. At least, I’m not as good a person as you might think.”
“You are not a bad person either, right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have risked yourself to save me.”
“I did what was necessary. Nothing more to it.”
That too was not for you; it was for me.
I quietly stood up.
“Where are you going?”
“The restroom. It won’t take long, so wait here.”
Of course, it was a lie.
When I return, she likely won’t be here anymore.
“Take care, senior.”
Accepting my words at face value,
She sat still, her hands neatly folded, like a statue.
* * *
While Sian was away, Lunev thought.
Had she said something unnecessary, burdening him?
The feelings she carried weren’t there when she’d first arrived, but as the conversation progressed, she ended up spilling all her secrets.
She knew.
That she was very attached to Sian.
But she did not understand why.
She explained it as feeling kinship, but the emotions Lunev felt towards Sian were more than that.
Beyond a sense of kinship, she was drawn to him from the first meeting, the desire to lean and rely on him gently blossoming.
Was he just another person?
Sian maintained his distance all the way, pushing off the notion that he wasn’t involved.
Lunev couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
“……”
Suddenly, a group of strangers clad in blue robes appeared before her.
Surrounding her as if they intended to prevent her from going anywhere else.
Without needing to explain, she knew.
They were sent by the academy to take her back.
“We’ve come to escort Miss Lunev.”
“Could I stay a little longer? Two hours or even one hour would be enough, wouldn’t it?”
“Miss Lunev’s unauthorized absence has enraged the society chairman. It’s best for you to return as soon as possible, even a minute sooner is in your best interest.”
Their indifferent response met her futile bravado.
Noticing that she could not sway them, Lunev stood up.
During this, she felt something off and looked around.
“By the way, who are you affiliated with? You all seem different from those who usually monitor me.”
Lunev had lived her life being monitored from birth.
Although Regens, the society chairman, regularly changed the watchers, with hundreds passing by, she remembered faces that she had once seen. So, if she saw them more than once, she’d instantly recall where she met them.
However, these five surrounding her were strangers.
She had never met them, nor did they linger in her memory.
“……”
Despite her questioning, they offered no answer.
Her doubt quickly turned into suspicion, and in response, the man in front of her extended his hand towards her face.
“Sweet Sleep.”
White powder that emanated from his hand entered her nose and mouth.
Soon, Lunev fell into a deep slumber, and the magicians who held her swiftly disappeared from the location, unnoticed.
(To be continued)