Five years have passed…
This world is called Hazu, the place where I was reincarnated after my death in my previous life.
A death that came after both my body and mind were completely exhausted… worn down by endless desk work, repeating the same meaningless days over and over again.
Before I was reborn, the God of Light granted me a blessing.
A skill that would one day change my fate…
Eyes of Light.
That skill was already embedded within me, even before I opened my eyes in this world for the very first time.
Hazu is a vast world.
It consists of several great continents: Elvaria, Veltrana, and Sylverin, the sacred land where the Elves reside.
However… I am not in any of those magnificent places.
The place I live in now is nothing more than a quiet, forgotten region.
No village name.
No official map.
There is only one thing that exists here…
A single family name.
Akagami.
I live with my family, far away from the noise of the world.
Peaceful… far too peaceful, as if the world itself chose to hide us from history.
In Hazu, there are many elements of magic:
Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Darkness, and Light.
Almost everyone possesses an affinity for at least one of these elements.
But I am different.
I possess none of them.
Not because I am weak…
but because the blood flowing through my veins is not the blood of a mage.
That blood was inherited from my father…
Akagami Zero.
An Assassin.
And because of that inheritance, my path in this world…
will never be the same as everyone else's.
A bright morning light filled Akagami Rio's room in his new world. Sunlight slipped through the curtains, gently dancing across the face of a five-year-old child—who was once an adult man named Rio.
He sat quietly on the edge of his bed, staring out the window. A morning breeze crept into the room, carrying a sense of calm… yet also a strange unfamiliarity he still couldn't put into words.
Tok tok.
A light knock echoed from the door.
"Master, are you awake?" asked a polite voice from outside. It was the personal servant of the Akagami family.
Rio turned his head, his voice sounding lazy yet still courteous.
"Yeah… I'm awake."
"In that case, Master is requested to come to the dining room for breakfast," the servant replied, before walking away calmly, leaving silence behind.
Rio stared at the now-closed door and took a deep breath.
He clenched his small hand. Then, in a quiet but firm voice, he spoke:
"Eyes of Light."
In an instant, everything slowed down. A bird flying outside the window appeared to flap its wings in slow motion, as if time itself had been dragged down.
A faint glow lit up both of his eyes.
Rio smiled slightly.
"So… this is how this ability works," he whispered in awe.
"This'll make training with Father a lot easier…"
After the effect faded, Rio stood up and walked out of his room toward the dining hall. There, two figures were already waiting for him—Akagami Zero, his dignified father, and his mother, Arleya.
Arleya Akagami—an elegant woman with long silver hair, overflowing with kindness, yet carrying the graceful aura of a noble.
The dining table was neatly arranged, filled with warm dishes. Arleya welcomed her son with a gentle smile, while Zero merely glanced at him with sharp eyes—not because he didn't care, but because that was simply how the man showed affection.
Rio pulled out a chair and sat calmly beside his mother.
"Rio dear, did you sleep well last night?" Arleya asked, feeding him a small spoonful of food.
Rio looked at her gentle face and nodded lightly.
"Yes, Mom… I slept well," he replied with a soft smile.
Meanwhile, Zero ate in silence, his eyes closed. But soon, he spoke in a deep voice—still without opening them.
"If that's the case… do you still have the strength to train later?"
Rio immediately turned toward him, his eyes burning with excitement.
"Yes, Father!"
Zero slowly opened one eye and glanced at his son with a sharp look, then nodded faintly. At the corner of his lips, a barely visible smile appeared.
Hmph… this brat. He already looks like a little Assassin, he thought, secretly proud.
After breakfast, Rio walked out into the courtyard. A vast open space specially designed as the Akagami family's training ground—a place where strength and legacy were passed down from generation to generation.
His steps were calm, but his gaze was sharp.
He stood at the center of the field. A gentle breeze blew past as Rio looked up at the sky. He lifted his face slightly and whispered to himself, as if making a vow to the world.
"I… Akagami Rio. The same name I had in my previous world. But now… I will play my role as an Assassin. Everything begins today."
From the other side of the courtyard, his father appeared, walking calmly while carrying two wooden swords. His expression was as usual—serious and oppressive.
"Rio," Zero said flatly, tossing one of the wooden swords toward his son.
"Show me your attack first."
Rio caught it with one hand. His grip was firm. His eyes sharpened.
"Alright!" he answered briefly, full of determination.
Zero raised his chin and shouted loudly,
"MOVE IN!!"
Without hesitation, Rio lunged forward. He didn't activate any skills, relying only on his body and instincts.
Clack!
His first strike was blocked. The heavy sound of wood colliding echoed through the air.
"THAT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH!!" Zero roared, his voice booming like thunder.
Rio stepped back several paces, his breathing growing heavy.
"Haaah… haaah…"
Sweat soaked his face, but his eyes hadn't given up.
Zero stood still, arms crossed over his chest.
"Is that all?" he muttered coldly.
"You're not worthy of being called an Assassin's son yet…"
Then, he slowly opened his eyes. His gaze sharpened. His face turned icy.
"Now… it's Father's turn to attack."
Rio's eyes widened. He braced himself, even though his body was already trembling.
"W-Wait… are you only using physical strength too?"
Before he could think any further, his father's figure vanished from sight.
SWOOSH!
In the blink of an eye, a shadow flashed to his right. A swift kick struck Rio's body.
"Ughh!!"
Rio was knocked back slightly, but he remained standing. His knees trembled as he gritted his teeth, enduring the pain.
"WHAT WAS THAT?!"
Zero appeared beside him, gripping Rio's shoulder with a powerful hand.
"That… is one of the basic techniques of an Assassin.
I mastered it when I was your age."
His words were calm, yet sharp—like a blade piercing straight into the soul.
Rio clenched his teeth. Sweat poured down his face. His breathing became erratic. And finally… he dropped to his knees.
Both knees slammed into the ground. His shoulders rose and fell as his chest heaved violently.
Before him, his father stood firm.
Like an unmovable mountain.
The morning sunlight shone down on them.
One kneeling…
One standing.
Thus…
the Assassin's child and his father..