Resurrection of Duke Werstein ~ I Didn’t Hear Anything About Being A Middle-aged Man ~ 12

A/n: Again, there's a bit of bacon and lettuce component¹. It's a story. Please be careful.

---

I’ve never had a name.

By the time I was old enough to remember, I was already being trained by some unknown organization.

Apparently, I was good at covert action, so I focused on that rather than assassination.

I grew up being told that one of my parents was a demon.

Because it was said that only those who were related to the demon tribe possessed the attribute of darkness.

People have a bad image of the demon race.

I was told that they sip on living blood, that they are hedonistic, that they like to kill, and so on, but I didn't think anything of it.

I didn't think about it, I didn't feel moved by it, I just lived my life without a care in the world.

Honestly... I didn't care.

I had no goals, no reason to live, just something to do, and a job to fulfill.

The other clandestine friends were taking requests from various places, saying that they wanted to find their own master and be named by him, but I thought that I didn't want to be tied down by anyone.

I've never been in trouble without a name.

Besides, I was comfortable with a relationship that was not too deep and only lasted as long as the request was accepted.

I have no interest in other people, and I have feelings, but not as much as other people.

However, it was too much trouble to keep my face expressionless, so I had no choice but to smile in an appropriate manner.

There were no normal people around me, but I knew I was not normal.

I didn't know if it was because I was half demon or not.

I did some research on the demon race.

I mean although it’s only half, it’s about me so.

But I couldn't find anything about it in any of the books I could find.

I even thought that humans must hate demons a lot.　

I had no choice but to hone my skills in order to read the forbidden books that were kept in the royal castle.

I thought they would have a little more information in it.

Fortunate or unfortunate, whether it's the variety of demons, I can't judge, but it seems that my original abilities are very high, a normal guy would apparently it takes over 30 to get there which I could reach in only 15 years.

By that time, I was able to sneak into the library of the royal castle, find a decent book on the demon race, and read it with ease.

However, the content of the book was somewhat fishy.

He looked almost the same as a human, but he had high magic power, long life, and so on.

But the fact that it was imprinted in them an instinct to worship those who were much stronger than them was especially fishy.

That's why I didn't believe in it at all at that time.

I think I got a better understanding of the demon tribe after reading various books in the places I snuck into.

It’s half about me but it feels surreal, I thought my knowledge just uselessly expanded.

The next thing I knew, I was being called “Ash-Silver" because of the color of my hair and eyes, and I seemed to have become famous only second to “Crimson”² in the underworld.

As a secret agent, he could sneak into any mansion or castle as long as he was paid enough money.

“Hai Gin³, infiltrate the Duke of Werstein.”

A old-man different from silver, but just a white-colored hair looked down at me as he ordered.

A cold, mocking look of contempt that would make any normal guy grind their teeth in frustration and want to kill you.

It doesn't matter how much money you're paid, this employer is such a jerk that even I get sick of him sometimes.

He's supposed to be the Prime Minister of this country, but he's an old geezer who can only see short-term gains and his own position.

He is Marquis Ragsdew Reinbach.

He looks down on me as if I were trash or something, with an expression that clearly shows he doesn't care about others as long as he's good, but I ignored his gaze because I simply don't care.

“Uh-, why me?"

Even if I was dealing with my employer, I wouldn't lose this attitude or tone of voice.

This was all that could be used to recognize me as me.

... No, I'm probably overreacting if I say that much.

Maybe it's just a habit that I can't break.

I couldn't figure out my emotions even after a long time.

"Hmm, I hear things have taken an unexpected turn. Go check it out."

“That’s why, I want to know the reason? There’s still some people there”

To be honest, it's a pain in the ass being sent all the way out there just for that reason.

"... One of those idiots got caught."

Really annoying, the old man⁴ muttered with a clear attitude as if throwing away.

Even if it’s like this usually, they call this old man mild-mannered, benevolent, like a saint, and insanely good things, how to say this, the viciousness is really deep.

"What? So you failed to assassinate the head of the family?"

"Well... I was planning to let him die a slow and debilitating death, but he suddenly picked up and I've just been informed that one of the women has been captured."

The old man was trying to get rid of the Duke Werstein, based on the principle that he didn't need pawns who couldn't do what he wanted.

The position was superior to his own, and even if he had become a dark fool since the death of his wife, he was pretty rebellious against him, so he was not needed.

That was the only reason why he wanted to assassinate a man.

But it failed.

And speaking of, that woman, the old man send in, was the strongest he had other than me.

"What's with that? How did that happen?"

"You go check it out."

The old man ordered me in a troublesome manner.

... I understand why, but I don't like it.

It's a pain in the ass for me too.

...... But I guess I'll have to go.

If I refuse, they'll send in the assassins.

It's not that I can't win, but this old man is wasting money and using human tactics.

He has a reputation for paying well, but when he makes enemies, he can be a pain in the ass.

“Ah-, yes yes, I understand. And along the way I should get rid of the dumb ass right"

“Mmh"

“Bounce the reward, alright-"

I left the old man's mansion, thinking that he probably didn't hear my voice.

In conclusion, I failed.

I had snuck in a few times before, so I guess it would be correct to say that I was overconfident.

Still, I wasn't careless, and I acted cautiously.

But that was more than I could handle.

... It was easy to get rid of the idiot.

She was weaker than me, and she was locked up in a cell, so she was easy to find, easy to kill, easy to do anything.

But the Duke's bedroom.

That room was different from all the others.

The moment I entered the room from the ceiling, the magic power was so strong that I thought I was going to die from the pressure.

By the time I realized this, it was already too late.

I couldn't move my body.

I couldn't understand what was happening, but the only thing I knew was that I was being frozen.

I didn't want to die, so I struggled to hold on to the consciousness that was about to be reaped away, and used the magic that would put me into a state of temporary asphyxia, which I thought I would never use on myself.

The next thing I know, I'm in a prison cell, rolled up in a padded cell just like the idiot I took care of.

I was surprised that she was still alive, but I had already taken care of the dumb girl I had captured to get information, so if I killed her, the mastermind would be completely in the dark.

Basically, I was convinced that this was the case.

At that time, a man who seemed to be a member of the duke's private army noticed me and came to question me, but all I answer was that I wanted to see the duke.

I hadn't thought about what I would do if I met him.

I didn't even think I'd actually get to meet him.

"...... So, what's it you want to talk about? If there's no benefit to me, I'll get rid of you right now.”

It was a cold voice, so cold that it made me feel as if I were in the middle of winter.

As I raise my head to this voice, there stood, a middle-aged man more beautiful than anything I’d ever seen before.

Ice blue eyes, silver hair with a hint of blue, and a calm expression.

That was all in my impression of Duke Werstein.

This, who the hell is this person?

However, for some reason, I was happy to meet him.　

... I couldn't understand why.

I wondered if there was anyone who could understand how I was feeling at this moment.

“Don’t say something so dangerous, do you get it if I say exchange condition?

I’ll give you some information in exchange for helping me, I want you to cut me some slack, you can’t?"

Although my voice didn't shake, what I was saying, what I had said,

So confused that I didn't know what to do, I ended up asking the same as usual.

It was the first time I had ever been so emotionally disturbed, so it seemed like a miracle that I was able to speak usual.

"That’s not enough as payment, there's no shortage of rats in this house.

Even if we get rid of you all we need to do is look for another.”

He replied crisply, and his cold gaze shooting through me.

A illusion as if my heart had been grabbed.

But I'm not uncomfortable.

No, I don't have time to think about that.

What to do, what should I do?

I mean, what the hell is this feeling?

While not knowing what's going on, for now I speak.

“My my my don't say that! I'm quite strong and useful? If you want, I'll pledge allegiance to you!"

“Don't see any reason to believe you.”

I was cleanly, dismissed.

I'm really upset inside, but I don't really know how to express it, so I can only smile as usual.

But anyway, I answered carefully, trying not to bite.

"You know, the most famous secret agent in the underworld is 'Ash-Silver' right?"

Wait a minute, I'm so nervous that I'm starting to sound like a self-promoter.

I don't know who I am.

I don't know what I'm doing.

"Hmm, do you have any proof that you are the same person?"

"Well... Isn't the fact that I'm alive against a monster like you proof enough?"

My words which I said reflexively, no matter how you look at it was a gaffe.

I'm not sure what I'm doing here.

I'm not sure what to say.

“I’m offended to be called a monster, I see you really want to be disposed of."　

“Eh-! I'm sorry! That was a misunderstanding! I meant that the Master is as strong as a wiseman! I didn’t say it in a bad meaning!"

No, I can't do this, I'm going to die!

I felt my heart making an unpleasant sound under the pressure, so I apologized with unusual desperation.

“Is that so. I don’t really care.”

However, inexplicably, that person begins to gather magic power with his hands.

Ehhhhhh! Wait a minute, I don't want to die!

"Wait, wait, wait! Evidence! It’s evidence, right! I have it! Look! The hood! Get the hood!"

I couldn't even show the evidence in this state.

Anyway, I did the best I could.

But all I could do was bounce my body.

My body hit the floor and it hurt like hell, but now was not the time to talk about it.

While I was bouncing around like this, the person suddenly moved his gaze somewhere.

As I followed his gaze, I saw a man who seemed to have been waiting for a long time, a butler.

This man is a butler, which means that this man is serving this person in front of me.

The moment I realized this, a feeling hit me that I had never felt before.

It was a thick, ugly, negative feeling.

And what came to mind was why can he serve this person, and I want to serve him, this kind of unworthy thought.

It was the first time in my life that I felt jealousy towards another person.

In a calm corner of my mind, I thought.

Why am I so attached to someone I've never met before, and why am I jealous of another person for the first time in my life?

While wondering, I accept it rather easily.

─── Instincts as a demon ───

I suddenly remembered that knowledge, and I wanted to exhale a sigh.

What is, even if you ask that I can only answer I don’t know.

If I had to say, is it magic power?

No, but I don't think it's just that.

I didn't want to believe it, this instinct.

But I had to admit that everything was so different.

Suddenly, my gaze met the butler’s his serious eyes.

Then he moved closer to me and removed my hood.

Underneath the hood, which I've never shown to my employer or even my peers, is exposed under the magic stone lights that illuminate the dungeon.

My bare face was also exposed, but that didn't matter.

In fact, I felt that I had to show everything to this person in front of me, and I didn't want to hide anything.

“... Hmmm, you sure do have stunning ash-silver hair."

"Right? And there's another piece of evidence: these eyes! Look!"

The result of my desperate plea was that this person in front of me and I were staring at each other.

What should I do, I'm being watched.

No, I said to look, but...!

But when someone stares at you like that, it's hard to understand.

To the truth that those jewel-like ice blue eyes hold me in their sights makes me want to soar like an idiot.

"...... Definitely ash silver, is that all?"

"There's more! Look! Amount of magic! Attributes! Look!"

After saying that desperately appealing, I remembered that there were only a handful of people in the world who could understand attributes.

"............... Hmm, well, you certainly have a high amount of magic power."

The person who stares at me saying, still shining in the dim light of the prison.　

However, this, I wonder what kind of filter is being applied, what is this, it’s seriously glittering.

"Dark attribute. That's unusual."

“Right?"

To that person who easily guessed my attribute, I ended up rolling from my position to stand straight.

This person is amazing.

I knew he was great, but he really is great.

You need to have the right amount of magic power to know the attributes of your opponent.

But this person is able to do it easily.

That is to say, he has the magical power of a sage.

A sage is an extraordinary being, chosen by the gods and even said to be a demigod.

This person is as good as that, or maybe even better.

How could I not respect such a person.

"Is that all the evidence you have?"

Suddenly, the man said quietly and looked down at me.

The cold, unchanging look in his eyes made me feel a sudden understanding.

A, ...... This is it.

Despite the pain, words spilled from my mouth.

“...What more do you need?"

There was nothing more that I could offer.

I mean even if you don't think deeply about it, there is no way that someone like me from the underworld to have anything to prove myself other than ability and appearance.

If I had something like that, it might interfere with my work, so I had no choice, but I didn't expect this to happen.

I had no ID, no family register, nothing but a forged one.

I didn't have anything.

"...... So?"

“Huh?"

I turned my attention to the person in front of me and he looked at me as if it was nothing.

"So what do you want to do?"

To question asked innocently, yet quietly, as if to confirm, I reflexively respond.

"Do you believe me!?"

"... It depends on the information you have."

That meant that I still had a chance to live.

I didn't know if he would actually help me even if I presented him with the information, but I was uncharacteristically happy.

"Thank you, sir! I'll follow you for the rest of my life! I’ll dedicate all of myself to you!"

“I don’t need all of it"　

"Why not!"

Wait a minute, he rejected me so fast!

What should I do? I'm in shock.

“I don’t have that kind of hobby"　

“What?"

For a moment, I didn't understand what he was talking about, but the next moment, when I did, my blood ran cold.

"No! I don't have that kind of hobby either! That's not what I meant!"

My goodness, how could that be!

No, wait a minute, me, what am i thinking, my goodness what?

What are you thinking positively, myself.

I don’t have that kind of hobby?

"Now let's get down to business."

"Don't ignore me, sir! I'm really not into that! I'm not! You're wrong!"

"Noisy, hurry up and talk"　

"Yes, sir."

I tried my best to clear up the misunderstanding, but he brushed me off lightly with intimidation.

I was so scared that my body stiffened, but I knew I had no choice.

‘Cause it's scary, mon~⁵.

Then I told him about my employer's intentions and information.

When I was reluctant to tell him the name of my employer, he threatened me and I got really scared again.

I think it was a good thing that I was able to convince him that I was telling the truth, even though he didn’t fully believe me.

Moreover, he said he would believe me to some extent if I did a simple job of bringing him the evidence of the old man's wrongdoing that day.

If I take this job, I'll be making an enemy of that troublesome old man, but that's okay.

There aren't many people who are stronger than me, and I'll do whatever I can.

I made up my mind, and after being released by the butler, I returned to the old man's mansion.

Perhaps it was because I had been hired just yesterday, but it was easy to sneak in without being suspected at all.

Still, it is natural to be cautious and to act with caution.

"You're back, Hai Gin."

"Yes, I'm back-."

As I landed right in front of the old man from the ceiling, we exchanged proper greetings.

"So, how was it?"

“Even if you say how it was, that thing is impossible. That’s far passing the amount outside the standard.”

As I result, whether its that he wanted to know, he asks nicely and I answer so to the annoying old man.　

Then the old man's face, which was already grim, became even grimmer.

"What do you mean?"

"... I took care of the idiot. But that duke, I don't know what happened, but it was completely out of the standard. And had lost weight too."

For the time being, i decided to provide information you’d find even without investigating.

"What the…!? So he’s become a wiseman or something?"

"I don't know because I couldn't even get close to it. This job is the same as a suicide mission. I’ll drop it."

I ignored the impatient old man and went back to the ceiling, while the old man was still saying something to me.

"... Wait, there's more to investigate."

“I don’t want to be frozen when I’m caught, thanks. I don’t need gold or anything so I’ll stop here sorry.”

"Wait! Betraying me!"

What a persistent old man.

"You're out of your mind. I'm just a paid employee. For me the impossible things are impossible. You can leave it to another reckless person."

"Nuh-uh…"

I suddenly noticed the old man leaking a regrettable growl.　

If I leave it as it is, a assassin or covertness will be sent to that person again, which will cause trouble.　

I can't let that happen.

So, I decided to say one last thing.

"Oh, yeah, I'll give you a heads up."

"...... What?"

"The duke can be a real pain in the ass to make enemies with, so you don't want to do that.

Unless you want to die both socially and physically. Bye."

That's all I said, and I left the old man's mansion with the documents, the evidence of the fraud, as a souvenir.

It was really kind of me to go out of my way to advise him.

As I was requested, I returned to the man the next day and handed him the documents.

I think he understood that it was real and was finally willing to trust my skills.

He asked me why I didn't run away, but there was only one reason for that.

I want this man to be my master.

I talked about my dreams and everything, but that is to say I really thought so.

I even brought up the idea of signing a contract with a messenger to try to get him to trust my feelings, but he looked a little uncomfortable about it.

Well, it can't be helped if they think I'm crazy for wanting to be a slave.

But that's how serious I was about it.

But he didn't seem to agree with me.

"... Let me ask you something."

“What?"

"What is the reason why you want to come to me even after betraying Reinbach?

You can't do that just because you like me."

When he asked that while staring at me like that, I couldn't seem to answer.　

So, after telling him about the lesser-known characteristics of the demon race, I made up his mind and said it out loud.

“... I'm half demon, you know.

That’s why it looks like, … -I fell for you at first sight⁴.”

"Don't use such creepy expressions."

As soon as I said it, the person in front of me said that and his face twitched.

I was shocked by what I saw, so I held my head in my hands and crouched down, sobbing.

“But there’s no other way! There are no other words to describe my feelings! I don't like it either! It's disgusting!"

I really don't know what I'm doing.

I don't know why I'm doing this.

I never thought the day would come when I would feel this much disgust at myself.

I'm really sick of myself, someone please help me.

“What kind, what kind of thing is this."　

"I want to follow this person for the rest of my life, he's so cool, I can't allow anyone to harm him, I want to help him, protect him, be by his side... There's more. Do you want to hear it?"

"......... No, thank you."

Somehow I got a distant look, but it can’t be helped.

I don't like it either, when an old man⁶ like me says things like that.

“Ah- enough-, no more, I feel grossed out by myself, but not being able to escape this feeling…, what is this another time of torture?”

“How would i know."

“That’s right huh”

I couldn't help but complain, but all I got was a curt reply from that person.

Yeah, I knew.

No matter how much of an instinct it is, I feel really bad.

And I'm sure he felt bad too.

I know it's not anyone's fault, but I feel bad.

Oh my god! I really don't like this.

It's really weird, seriously weird.

I want to cry.

I don't want to cry, but I feel like crying.

I've never felt like this before, and I'm not happy at all.

Am I getting teary-eyed? This.

"... Have you ever wanted to serve another wiseman?"

I was reminded of this question when I was suddenly asked.

After gaining that knowledge, I've seen wisemen and those who are famous for their strength from a distance so that they wouldn't mind, and I've been driven by the need to approach them, but it seems that my emotions haven't boiled up to this point. I think.

“Uh-, speaking of which there was no such thing- … .

I mean they surely are strong, and worthy of worship but they’re really not my type.　

... Wait, the other one?"

That, would it mean that.

“Oh, I turned into a wiseman because of something the other day"

As if to affirm my words, the person nodded as if it was nothing.

“...Seriously… ! Wait, what should I do, what’s this feeling, is this what it feels like to be a big fan who met their celebrity… !"

"I don't know."

“Right?"

I knew I would be brushed off, but I was a little sad.

And so, I was given the name Cinza, and began to serve him, Duke Werstein, or rather, my Master.

At any rate, that butler was really annoying, but I wondered if there was anything I could do about it, while I went about gathering information for my husband⁷.

One more, history changed.

Originally, Ash-Silver was a mid-boss character who never met the Duke, but only appeared as a pawn of the Prime Minister.

It was a given that the Duke would come back alive from the poison of his illness.

However, the fact that he came back alive as a wiseman led to this result.

Normally, the Duke would have survived without dying, but due to the effects of the poison, his personality completely collapsed.

As a result, he became such a dark and foolish man that he could only be used as a biter when he appeared in the game.

In order for it to turn out like so, the gods decided that he would need to have high original specs in order to survive.

This can be said to be the reason why the Duke's specs were so high.

The only miscalculation was that the duke's mind and soul were weak.

The contents are different, the setting has changed a little.

It was only that, but it brought about such a change.

God was just looking at it with a grin on his face.

While proclaiming, yikes, that’s too interesting.

---

//Melki: is Author Notes better as "A/n", instead of "AN"? Does it make more sense like this/looks better? Also I swear to god, Cinza simply thinks in the gayest ways.

---

Previous Next

---

[1] : the author uses this before, (B)acon & (L)ettuce

[2] : 真紅(Shinku) - this is the thing he talks about in the previous chapter, it’s someone’s alias I suppose just like his is "Ash-Silver”

[3] : This is the romaji of “Ash-Silver”, I’ll use it like this when they are talking to him)

[4] : ジジイ(jijī) - this is what’s used here, it’s different from what Augusto(Youko) uses, it means old man/grandpa/geezer, the one Augusto (Youko) uses is おっさん(Ossan) - old man/middle-aged man/uncle)

[5] : もん(mon) - this is the one anime girls use to sound cute, Cinza talks like that a lot seriously (´∀｀；)

[6] : The one he uses here is the same as Augusto (Youko) uses to describe him in her thoughts - オッサン(Ossan) and also the one in the title, it can mean middle aged man/old man/uncle

[7] : as someone mentioned, I forgot to say that Cinza uses Dan'na-sama here which can also mean Master, but I left it because it's fun to imagine once in a while that everyone is calling Augusto 'husband' right, teheheh.