The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Chapter 288. Last Chance (2)

Xian sat opposite Bellkarion, with the lethal magic sword generating a deadly aura between them. Bellkarion scrutinized Xian’s face with suspicious eyes.

“Is it really you?”

Xian didn’t feel the question was worthy of an answer and merely chuckled.

“Well, judging by those familiar yet sinister eyes of yours, I guess it’s you. Do you have any idea how surprised I was? Out of nowhere, in the midst of the fight, some strange woman appears, claiming she’s your sister or something…”

“There won’t be a next time, so you can relax.”

“It’s not about being relaxed. Regardless, what’s done is done. We’re yet to finish what we started. The fact that your people trespassed my land and committed a massacre won’t just vanish because you and I stopped our bloodshed.”

Xian had no intention of denying that.

“But rationally speaking, those humans weren’t related to your kind, were they? Plus, there’s evidence of those girls trying to evacuate the demons and prevent the slaughter. There’s no reason for me to use my power on your behalf.”

If that were the only issue, there wouldn’t be a problem, but Xian knew it would never be so simple.

“So, just hand over Eshel Vert to me.”

“…”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“No need for further cooperation. I’ll deal with the rats hiding here myself. Your troops can stop prancing around on my territory and get lost.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Don’t reject the best decision I’ve come up with. I won’t yield any further here either.”

Bellkarion’s eyes now contained a fierce and venomous intent, indicating his unwavering resolve to judge Eshel Vert personally.

Sian, without showing any reaction, crossed his arms and spoke calmly.

“There are two reasons why I can’t hand him over.”

“Speak then. I’ll at least listen.”

“First, I have no idea where he is. I can’t hand over someone when I don’t even know their whereabouts. Second…”

Xian leaned in slightly, narrowing the distance between himself and Bellkarion.

“Eshel Vert is akin to the purpose of my life.”

Bellkarion frowned, not understanding his words.

“I was born to kill that man, to inflict upon him a pain so vile it doesn’t exist in this world. He’s my life’s mission. If you think I’d simply hand him over to you…”

Xian’s gaze then shifted to the magic sword embedded in the ground.

“…you might as well pull out this sword and kill me now. Until then, you won’t have him.”

Even if it were the Demon King or a deity demanding it, it would be futile.

As long as he lived and breathed, Xian had made several vows to put an end to Eshel Vert personally.

“Did you say to pull out this sword?”

As if accepting his challenge, Bellkarion gripped the hilt of the magic sword.

“It’s been crying out since earlier, telling me not to entertain any more nonsense and to just slaughter everything in sight. Honestly, it’d be easier that way, not having to think at all.”

Bellkarion demonstrated that executing such a deed was well within his power.

“But doing that would be playing right into Eshel’s hands, wouldn’t it? There’s no reason for me to make things better for him.”

With that, he flashed a smirk as if none of it mattered.

“Since you also don’t know where he is, let’s make it simple: first one to find him gets to kill him. Everyone else in your party can go back except you.”

“I accept.”

Xian nodded, accepting the proposal.

The hunt was on, and whoever found the prey first would claim the right to deal with it.

Should they both encounter their target simultaneously, the recent confrontation could easily resume.

“Well then, I suppose I should take my leave first. But remember, I’ve also given up on that man. Be sure…”

– Swoosh –

Bellkarion stood up, retrieving the magic sword in one swift motion.

“Let’s hope there won’t be a need for me to draw this sword on you again.”

Xian watched Bellkarion, silent and indifferent, as the negotiations concluded.

As Bellkarion turned to leave,

“What happened to the humans who fought you before I arrived?”

Xian reopened the conversation.

“They were here before you came? Why? Did they involve someone you knew?”

Xian didn’t respond.

“Do you even need to hear the answer? You probably already suspect it, don’t you?”

“They’re all dead. Understood.”

Ending the conversation, Xian stood up and turned to leave.

Bellkarion watched Xian walk away, his gaze tinged with complexity.

“My name is Willerius Vert! As the guardian who protects the continent, I swear my honor to confront you, Demon King!”

“Willerius Vert. And now Xian Vert…”

Bellkarion often couldn’t remember what had occurred previously when his true nature took over.

However, this time, the name proudly declared against him lingered in his mind, incessantly echoing.

“Just how rationally do you live your life?”

While contemplating, Bellkarion couldn’t help but look upon Xian with a hint of profound amazement.

* * *

[Are you going to say something now?]

“What?”

[Can’t you hear this? My insides are boiling like lava! All eager to devour when it suited you, and now how did you come back?]

“It must be because you didn’t manage my soul correctly.”

[How dare you! Do you think this is the first time I’ve done this? Even if it weren’t you, back in the past…]

Keram cut off his words and ground his teeth angrily.

[I made no mistakes! I thoroughly shredded your soul until nothing was left and then I fully possessed your body! You have no idea the panic I felt when those shattered pieces of your soul reformed. If you had some kind of last resort, you should’ve warned me beforehand…!]

“It wasn’t my doing.”

[What?]

“I said it wasn’t my doing. My last resort was to surrender everything to you.”

Keram looked at me, clearly incredulous.

[Then who brought you back? A god?]

“God… I suppose. That’s something I’ll have to figure out now.”

Perhaps the situation was even more significant than I realized.

At this moment, I didn’t need to rack my brain over complications. If I just carried on with what I was meant to do, everything should naturally come to light.

For now, I began walking back to the ones who were awaiting my return.

“…”

Halfway there, I encountered Princess Arin standing alone.

Since I didn’t see the others around, it appeared she had been waiting for me by herself.

“Why are you here alone?”

“Lunab is resting, and Nana has fallen asleep. She must’ve been really exhausted from the journey from Velias to the demon world on my behalf.”

As she replied, she reached out and handed me something familiar.

“I thought I should return this to you.”

It was the one true Guardian’s Sword in this world, my father’s sword.

“I couldn’t find anything else. I’m sorry.”

The traces of hastily wiped-away blood and dirt were evident on it.

I didn’t take it, instead fixing my gaze on her as I asked,

“Why are you returning a sword that belonged to a traitor of the Empire to me?”

“You might not believe it, but when the Demon King threatened us while you were gone, Duke Vert bought time for us to escape.”

“What does that mean?”

My eyes flashed involuntarily.

“Although he was under some spell, his determination to stay loyal to the Empire and protect the continent seemed unchanged. That day, I saw Duke Vert, or rather your father, with the same eyes of the Guardian I once admired. As a princess, I commanded him to survive and atone for all his sins instead of dying but…”

Princess Arin hesitated to continue, but I already knew.

Duke Vert, my father, could not fulfill her order.

Now, the sword she offered was likely the last remnant of my father’s presence in this world.

After a moment of thought, I reached out and grasped my father’s sword.

“…!”

Suddenly, my mind went blank as if I’d been struck,

‘May I entrust the tasks I couldn’t complete to you, my dear son.’

A voice that sounded unmistakably like my father’s resonated clearly in my head.

‘May you create the world you desire, Xian…!’

What was this? Hallucination?

My body and mind were frozen as if bewitched by petrification magic, unable to move.

“What’s wrong, Xian?”

“Nothing of concern.”

Only after hearing Princess Arin’s voice did I snap out of it as if the illusion shattered. Maybe I wasn’t in my right state of mind yet, hearing all sorts of things.

“Doesn’t it sadden you?”

“What do you mean?”

“He was still your father, wasn’t he? To have your father suffer such a misfortune, even someone like you would…”

“Why is that unfortunate?”

She hesitated, confused.

“Ah?”

“If what you say is true, then my father met a death befitting the honorable title of a Guardian. He would have had no regrets, even at the moment of his demise. I see no reason to mourn a father who chose death without remorse.”

“Are you being sincere?”

“I have no reason to lie to you, Your Highness.”

I knew all too well how foolishly honorable our father was.

But now, I felt I could somewhat understand that foolishness.

Once you decide to protect someone, regardless of your own fate, you’re compelled to protect at all costs. Wasn’t I, too, experiencing that same chilling determination?

Blood ties are inescapable, it seems.

“Please return to your empire with Nana and Lunab once she wakes up. I will deal with the remaining matters by myself.”

“What? But!”

“What if Nana insisted on coming along alone, Your Highness? I never requested support, did I?”

“I know that even without your telling me. But we did manage to help, didn’t we? Nana and I did everything we could to help you. In the end, Lunab provided the most aid, but…”

Nobody asked for their help.

They came unbidden and proclaimed they were there to assist me, as if I should be overwhelmed with gratitude.

I didn’t want to point it out; it would only be tiring for me.

It was time to send them all back where they came from.

“If you truly wish to assist me, please return immediately. I’ve made myself clear.”

I turned and walked away.

“Wait! There’s one last thing I need to tell you!”

I hesitated but reluctantly looked back.

“What is it this time?”

“You might already know, but there was another reason I could come here with Nana.”

Now that she mentioned it, I’d almost forgotten. Nana should have been in the Empire—how did she come to Velias and meet the princess? Someone must’ve brought her…

A particular thought suddenly flashed through my mind.

“How much do you know about Emilie?”

(To be continued)