The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 54: Chapter 52 — ...Tch

The next battle that drew Zephyrion’s interest was between Lumi and a large, heavily muscled trainee.

”Wait... why is there a kid here?”

”This isn’t even a fight.”

”He’s going to end it in one hit.”

A chorus of laughter and jeers echoed as the crowd took in Lumi’s tiny frame. In contrast, her opponent was nearly three times her size.

”I am Henon.”

Henon narrowed his eyes when he noticed that Lumi wasn’t even looking at him, but instead scanning the trainee section as though searching for someone.

”...you’re ignoring me?”

He scoffed, his gaze sharpening. Metal condensed around his arm, forming a massive club. With a sweep, he sent a gale of force tearing across the arena, kicking up dust.

”You’ll regret that.”

”Begin!”

Henon exploded forward, cracking the ground beneath him and sending tremors across the arena.

He appeared before Lumi in an instant, towering over her like a giant as he brought his club down with overwhelming force.

”You’re finished.”

”She can’t even react!”

”It’s over already.”

The crowd began to shake their heads, staring at the little girl with pity.

Suddenly, Lumi’s gaze brightened as she locked onto Zephyrion among the iron trainees. She smiled.

As the attack reached her...

Lumi vanished.

”What—!?”

Henon’s eyes flew wide.

In the next moment, Lumi flashed before him in a blur. Every trace of her smile had disappeared, replaced by an icy, emotionless expression.

Her small fist drove forward with terrifying force, the air tearing in its wake.

It struck Henon’s face, breaking through his nose. His massive frame was sent shooting backward, crashing out of the arena.

”Winner!”

”W-what just happened?”

”She ended it instantly!”

”She’s that strong? Who is she?”

”Isn’t she the mute that came with the young lord?”

The crowd stared at her with wide, stunned eyes.

But Lumi simply turned to Zephyrion, her eyes bright as she smiled and waved.

Zephyrion gave a small nod and mouthed, you did good, earning a cheerful nod in return.

’She got stronger.’

Lumi had used a Rune Art to enhance her speed during the exchange. The execution and precision were flawless. Clearly, she had been working hard in the Steel division.

The next battle that caught his interest was Tobias against another steel trainee. It was Zephyrion’s first time witnessing his ward spar.

”Begin!”

Both trainees shot forward, clashing in a flurry of sharp exchanges that sent tremors rippling across the arena.

’He’s not bad.’

Tobias’ movements were refined and precise. He held his ground even against the relentless pressure of his opponent.

Zephyrion’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’But...’

The hesitation was clear. Rather than follow through on certain openings, Tobias would pull back at the last moment. It was much like Fiona, except it wasn’t reluctance to hurt others, but...

’Blood.’

Even the slightest injury would draw blood, and in turn, make him faint.

The exchange continued for some time before an opening appeared. The opponent threw a wide swing. Tobias slipped past it, thrusting forward and stopping his blade just at the boy’s throat.

”Winner!”

Breathing heavily, Tobias turned toward Zephyrion and raised a clenched fists, a proud look on his face.

”...”

Zephyrion gave a curt nod.

Soon, the Steel division evaluation came to an end, and it was time for the Iron division.

The shift in atmosphere was immediate. The crowd’s reactions dulled noticeably. After what they had just witnessed from the Steel trainees, the Iron division fights felt subpar.

Having watched them spar countless times, Zephyrion ignored most of the matches... except Fiona’s.

”Begin!”

Fiona and her opponent clashed in a rapid exchange. She parried and blocked every strike with ease, making it clear she held the advantage.

However, as always, she never pressed the attack, only defended.

’Still the same.’

The fight dragged for several minutes.

It wasn’t long before dissatisfied murmurs began to spread through the crowd.

Eventually, after several more minutes, the overseer stepped in and brought the battle to an end.

Fiona’s gaze flickered toward the trainee section, but she quickly looked away the moment she caught Zephyrion’s eye.

He watched silently as Fiona lowered her head and left the arena.

”...”

More battles followed, and it wasn’t long before the final pair was announced.

”Lord Zephyrion and Kaiden.”

The coliseum fell into a deafening silence as Zephyrion calmly stepped into the arena.

He could feel the weight of countless gazes; those of the thousands in the stands, the sharp gaze of his sister, Ingrid, and those of the other great lines. And finally, the overwhelming gaze of the head of house settled upon him.

Yet, Zephyrion remained unfazed as he knelt respectfully before his father.

”I greet the head of house.”

”I greet the head of house.”

A brief silence followed. Zephyrion felt Kastor’s gaze rest on him for a moment.

”Rise.”

As he stood, Zephyrion lifted his eyes to Kaiden, who stood ahead of him. The world fell silent.

...

Kaiden suppressed the smile threatening to surface as he paid his respects to the head of house.

’Good.’

He had intended to teach Zephyrion a lesson before the entire house, but this... this was better.

Before the head of house himself.

’Nothing’s changed.’

Even after the match had been set, Zephyrion hadn’t trained. Not once.

He had continued meditating, brushing everything aside as though this fight didn’t matter.

As though he didn’t matter.

A faint twitch ran through Kaiden’s jaw.

’He’a looking down on me.’

’I’ll make you regret it.’

”Rise.”

As he stood, Kaiden straightened and fixed his cold gaze on Zephyrion.

”Form your weapons.”

Kaiden formed a large broadsword from metal. A moment later, he frowned when he saw Zephyrion simply standing there, unmoved.

”You’re not forming yours?”

”I don’t need it.”

”...Tch.”

Kaiden’s grip tightened around his blade, his teeth grinding.

’I’ll break that look off your face.’

His eyes turned cold. There was no need to wait, no need for a drawn out clash, he would crush him immediately.

”Begin!”

Kaiden blasted forward, closing the distance in an instant. His broadsword came down with such force that the air rippled around it.

”He’s fast!”

”So the rumors were true... Mark Three!”

Gasps rippled through the crowd as eyes widened.

The strike reached Zephyrion...

”Barrier.”

Whoosh.

”What is—!?”

Kaiden’s eyes snapped wide open. His massive broadsword had halted midair, as though seized by an invisible force.

A wave of shock swept through the coliseum.

”That’s a rune art!”

”He’s Mark Three!?”

Above, Ingrid’s eyes narrowed into slits. Even the Grand Marshal and Grand Forge Master furrowed their brows.

”Hahaha!”

Of all those seated, only Garrick burst into loud, rumbling laughter.

The next instant, Kaiden’s eyes widened as Zephyrion vanished.