The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

Chapter 261: Contact (4)

I was feeling anxious and scared.

I hadn’t realized that the fear of facing an unknown presence from another dimension could run this deep.

Moreover, I felt utterly at a loss in how to deal with the current situation.

In doing so, I had naturally forgotten one fact.

On this royal inspection tour,

there was a particularly special attendant.

“What took that guy so long to show up?”

Relief and comfort.

Excluding the sputtering Seth, everyone’s attention unanimously turned to Sian’s indifferent back.

“Do you think he’s trying to fight that unidentified demon?”

“Everyone on the inspection tour, stay alert! It’s still too soon to be relieved!”

Arin urged the inspection team to keep watch over the situation.

Although his face was not visible from the back,

his sturdy and solid frame allayed much of the inspection team’s anxiety.

* * *

From when the inspection team crossed the boundary gate, passed the rear camp, up to reaching the campsite.

I had followed the inspection team the entire way.

I had been quietly observing as they exited my father’s tent, encountered the Demon King, and until Luna made that strange request.

There were two reasons for this.

One was to confirm whether this demon really was the Demon King I knew.

Memories stored in the body are more vivid and stimulating than those of the mind.

No matter how much time has passed or lives have been altered, the sensations and recollections learned from my blood battles with the Demon King remained imprinted within me.

Yet, the aura was markedly different from 10 years ago, near the Blood River.

Back then, I questioned whether he truly was the Demon King I knew,

But now, he seemed to embody the very essence of malice, an incomprehensible entity of negation.

His appearance was strikingly similar to the Demon King I remembered.

“That brat has grown up quite a bit in 10 years.”

The Demon King also recognized me and expressed his delight first.

“You’ve changed.”

“Have I? I can’t deny it. My mood isn’t exactly pleasant right now.”

The Demon King tried to maintain his smile, repeatedly twitching his lips.

“To be honest, I have been hesitating until just a moment ago. It seems that region beyond that wall is the human realm. You told me 10 years ago, didn’t you? To refrain from crossing into your territory, whatever happens…”

“You kept that promise?”

“What else could it be? I’m a man who keeps his word. I don’t go back on it.”

The second reason I wanted confirmation was precisely this.

Did the Demon King remember the promise, the deal we had?

This was crucial.

Depending on this, I would decide how to treat this Demon King.

In truth, after reaching this boundary gate, he had been conflicted for quite some time.

That meant he was debating within himself.

So, I made my presence known.

To ensure that he would honor our deal fully.

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“Then as the Demon King, I have kept my promise to you. Now it’s your turn.”

At the very moment the words “Demon King” slipped from his mouth, a stirring began beyond the boundary gate.

“The Demon King? That demon is the Demon King?”

“That’s impossible, right? Why would the Demon King appear on the front lines?”

“Does he have some sort of relationship with Sian Bertrand?”

Of course, now was not the time to focus on such murmurs.

To close the distance, the Demon King slowly started walking towards me.

“Keep it. The promise you made to help me…”

I had put forward a bold proposition that I would do anything for him as long as he did not cross into our realm.

That meant that I was in a situation where I had to do anything for him.

Regardless of whether it was possible.

The Demon King suddenly crossed his arms and smirked mischievously.

“You’re probably curious, right? Why I came here all of a sudden, despite being perfectly fine in the Demon Realm…”

I responded with silence.

“I am looking for a man named Eshel Bertrand.”

“…!”

“I need to find that human, Eshel Bertrand, and bring him to my castle immediately. That’s why I’ve come this far.”

Unable to ignore his words, I narrowed my eyes and questioned him.

“Why are you looking for that man?”

“He played me for a fool, that’s why!”

As the Demon King ground his teeth, his dark anger towards Eshel flickered in his eyes.

“Oh, now that I think about it, it seems like he has quite the relationship with you too, doesn’t it? He told me, you are an entity of negation that should not exist in this world.”

Finally.

Has he finally reached beyond this realm, stretching his hand out to the Demon Realm？

At the same time, my laughter spilled out and my head bowed deeply.

It seems his ugliness truly knows no bounds.

“I was going to keep out of it, you know? Whatever happens in your lands, it’s not my realm, so I was going to stay out of it. But that guy crossed a line. He tried to mess with something that even I thought should never be touched!”

Something that should not be touched?

That moment the words were spoken, a familiar memory surfaced.

This feels similar.

The past situation I faced in my previous life…

“Excuse me for interrupting the conversation.”

Amid the heated exchange, once again, Luna crossed the boundary gate and approached my side.

“Do you happen to know anything about this pendant?”

Without hesitation, she brought out something she had kept inside her clothing and presented it before us.

“…!”

The color noticeably drained from the Demon King’s face when he saw the item.

It was a pendant, no ordinary one.

At least to my eyes.

“Where did you get that?”

“This was found by chance in the camp barracks before we met you. The reason I was warned not to touch it was because of the power contained within this pendant.”

“Power?”

“Yes. Inside this pendant is a force that causes confusion in one’s heart. Whoever wears this pendant will unknowingly long for it, almost as if enchanted…”

With the Demon King silent, Luna continued her explanation.

“What else?”

“…!”

“Is there no other power within it?”

The Demon King spoke again, asking about any other power that the pendant may possess.

“It seems to have an absorbing force that drains life, although more investigation is required to say for sure. In other words, if one continues wearing this pendant…”

Pausing briefly, Luna seemed hesitant to continue.

“You will die. The wearer will die.”

As soon as she mentioned death, I quickly turned to gauge the Demon King’s reaction.

To others, it appeared he simply stood in silence, but I could clearly see.

“You will die?”

The Demon King was trembling.

Not from fear or horror, but from an intense shake that stemmed from anger and numerous negative emotions.

“There’s no need to say more.”

The Demon King halted his trembling, and made up his mind, speaking out once more.

“If you don’t want me to cross into your realm, bring Eshel to me right now.”

His voice was even more agitated than before.

“Don’t bother asking me to wait! I’m really holding back right now! If I take one more step, you won’t believe what’s about to happen! Do you understand what I mean?”

I certainly understood.

If we are unable to bring Eshel, he would cross the boundary gate himself and search for him.

At that moment, I had a premonition.

If that truly happens, a calamity will once again descend upon this land.

I see, so that devil sought the power of the Demon King.

Provoking the Demon King to cross over, inducing chaos?

Someone has committed an act beyond anyone’s capacity to manage.

I can assert that if I step back now and let things take their own course,

I would become a bystander who willfully ignored millions of deaths.

Why?

Because only I exist to prevent that,

The only human who can stop the existence known as the Demon King.

My hands unconsciously released the cross they were holding, and Keram softly landed in my right hand.

So, I really have no choice but to stop him?

Was it fate that no matter the change in life, I would always collide with him…

“Perhaps…”

Amidst the chaos, Luna stepped forward once more.

“Just in case, would any of your acquaintances happen to be wearing a similar pendant?”

Her daring eyes didn’t blink as she asked the Demon King.

“Exactly! Our talkative steward said something like that! The power contained in this pendant seems similar to the magic wielded by witches! If it’s them, they would know how to undo it, so either bring those witches or the person who gave this pendant,” she urged eagerly.

“Then take me with you.”

“…!”

Everyone, including the Demon King and myself, stared at her in surprise.

“What are you doing?”

“Isn’t this an inevitable situation?”

Luna calmly responded as if it was a matter of fact.

The Demon King asked again.

“Do you know how to undo the pendant’s curse?”

“I can’t give you a definitive answer yet. I need time to analyze it precisely. But I’m sure I can be of help.”

I grabbed her shoulders without hesitation.

“There are times to take action, and times you should not. This is not your time.”

“Do you think I’m spouting baseless nonsense? I thought you knew me better than that.”

I know.

All too well.

And that’s exactly the problem.

“How about we put out the most urgent fire first? If you’ve come to find someone who can undo the pendant, it doesn’t matter whether it’s me, right?”

Her boldly reasonable offer seemed to cause the Demon King to contemplate deeply.

“Excuse me a moment.”

In the middle of this, another human approached us from beyond the boundary gate.

It was Princess Arin.

“I am Arin Sevelus, the fifth princess of the Usif Empire and the representative of this frontline inspection tour. May I ask the name of the self-proclaimed Demon King?”

“…?”

The Demon King answered not with words, but with a vexed look directed at the princess.

Is this the time for representatives to negotiate?

Please, understand the situation…

“Belcarion.”

Contrary to my expectations, the Demon King easily revealed his name.

“Before we start talking, I would first like to express that we are in a similar predicament. The Eshel Bertrand you seek is a serious criminal in our empire and a man with bounties issued across the continent.”

“A serious criminal?”

“Yes. Whatever he has told you, it is all lies. He has caused great turmoil by belittling our royal family and empire, and now he has sought refuge with the lord of this front, engaging in an unimaginable grand scheme. That plan will likely involve you, Belcarion.”

The princess, without a hint of hesitation or tremble in her voice, succinctly summarized the intentions of the inspection team and conveyed them to the Demon King.

“So, what are you proposing?”

“Will you cooperate with us?”

It wasn’t just the Demon King but also I who doubted what I heard.

“What do you want to do?”

“Let’s join minds for a common goal. Since the affairs of the mortal realm have unfortunately extended to the Demon Realm, we want to take responsibility and assist you, Demon King.”

I could hear clearly the sound of her dry throat as she swallowed.

“Will you join us, Demon King Belcarion?”

The Demon King pondered for a while.

“Princess, or should I call you Your Highness? That would be proper, wouldn’t it?”

Then with a light smile, he responded to her offer.

“Given your standing, I’m sure you understand.”

“Understand what?”

“How heavy it is to take responsibility for one’s own words…”

While a flustered Arin was caught off guard, the Demon King pointed his finger at Luna again.

“Take those two. What a story, ending up cooperating with humans.”

The Demon King agreed to cooperate if he could take Luna and me.

He turned his eyes to me and said,

“I can tell, he was lying to me.”

“…?”

“All this about an entity of negation…”

It took me a moment to interpret his words.

(To be continued in the next chapter)