Episode 10. The First Test (4)
What happened to Rubin before he arrived at the concert hall was a ‘surprise’.
Rubin was moving quickly towards the concert hall.
It was a ‘moderately’ fast speed. I could have moved three times faster if I had used the dark smoke, but I didn’t do that on purpose.
As a nine-year-old from the Assassin’s Sword Family, I was able to show decent body movements. Anything more would be enough to stand out, so this was enough.
The vassals of each Assassination Family were hiding throughout the examination hall. The vassals would relay every single detail of the examination hall without fail.
Of course, the other children wouldn’t notice the presence of the hidden vassals. It was natural, since most of them had not been able to overcome the darkness they carried within them.
Even though Kun, who is said to be gifted, has blossomed into a dark side, it is still only at a minimal level.
But Rubin was different.
The wide-spread dark smoke showed where the vassals were hiding and watching the test situation. Dark smoke’s level was still lower than theirs, but its handling skills were far superior.
But I didn’t reveal it openly. It’s not a good idea to show everything I’ve accumulated since I returned. I shouldn’t be classified as a dangerous person already.
‘The Emperor wants great talent, not dangerous talent.’
The moment Rubin thought that.
Something aggressive entered Rubin’s darkness.
‘fast.’
The distance is narrowing sharply.
As soon as an unidentified person jumps out of the alley, he extends his arm and aims for Rubin’s head.
Swoosh.
An attack he had anticipated since he sensed the movement. Rubin twisted his waist and deflected the flying fist.
In that moment, I saw a look of confusion spread across the face of the girl who had attempted the surprise attack. Her eyes widened and her lips trembled.
‘Was it the Kunitli family?’
Hamil Cunitli, the only daughter of the Cunitli family.
Hamil was the child of the Kunitli family with great difficulty. If Hamil had not been born, this family of assassins might have disappeared without a successor.
Fortunately, Hamilton was smart and very talented.
He was right behind Kun, who had earned the highest score with an overwhelming difference in skill, enough to record a 2nd place result in the ‘1st selection’ before regression.
At that time, Rubin’s score was only 4th place. And that score was achieved by luck.
‘Long time no see.’
We couldn’t talk on the Grandbird because it was in front of the imperial decree and there were many children’s eyes on it.
Surprise and evasion. Although it was a hostile situation, this brief encounter was a reunion for Rubin.
The Cunitli family lost their daughter a dozen years later, on the day that Hamil, who they had hoped for, went on his first mission.
It was more a matter of lack of experience rather than lack of talent. And… … .
‘There were many gaps in the information provided by the imperial edict.’
It was a poison that no one had expected. If only the imperial edict had given information about the poison in advance, Hamil could have lived.
Hamil, who was fighting while poisoned, was ultimately unable to break through the siege.
The news that a talented child had been killed by dozens of arrows and spears was a shock to me in many ways at the time.
Tadah.
Rubin, who had avoided the ambush, stood at a distance from Hamil and faced her.
If it was something that could be overcome with speed, it would have been possible to do so. It would have been possible to subdue it with force as well.
But I thought it might be a good idea to talk for a while after a long time. Hamil also seemed to sense Rubin’s thoughts and softened his stance.
“Master Rubin, aren’t you amazing?”
“Hamil Cunitli. Where did you start targeting me?”
“You know my name? I wasn’t aiming for it. I was trying to surprise whoever it was. I didn’t think you’d dodge so easily.”
Hamilton took a deep breath and then took up an attacking stance again.
“Are you still free?”
Hamil asks Rubin, who is staring silently.
Since there is no threat, we can be relaxed.
Instead of answering, Rubin sensed his surroundings through the dark smoke. He immediately identified the locations of the vassals who were watching from a hidden position.
Four people.
Around the narrow alley where Rubin and Hamil were facing off, four vassals were recording the test situation.
Considering that five vassals were following the promising star of the year, it was quite a large number. If not careful, it could easily attract the attention of the Imperial Order.
‘But it’ll be okay there.’
There was a gap in the formation where the vassals were scattered and hiding. It was a kind of blind spot.
According to Rubin’s calculations, this was the only place where they could escape the sight of the vassals.
“You’re not going to send it anyway, right?”
“It would be the honor of my life if I could eliminate a contestant from my home country.”
“Okay. I won’t let you see it either.”
Tatt.
However, Rubin started to run away hurriedly, contrary to what he said. Hamil, who was preparing for the next attack, snickered and chased after him.
Rubin changed direction at every bend in the alley and weaved his way through the streets. The mysterious distance difference that seemed so close yet so far away made Hamill anxious.
“Haa, haa… You’re in good shape.”
Dead end.
Not even realizing that he had been lured in, Hamil exhaled sharply. Rubin, who had been looking at the wall, leisurely turned around.
“Can you fight?”
“Of course.”
Rubin waited for the attack with his arms outstretched.
Hamil was stimulated by Rubin’s easygoing attitude while still maintaining courtesy towards the Roinen family.
“Haat!”
Rubin smiled at the sight of Hamil rushing towards him with his eyes wide open. It was easy to dodge such an emotionally charged attack.
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Swish.
Due to Rubin’s movement that was easily avoided, their first close combat ended blandly without a winner being determined.
“… … .”
Although she didn’t show it, Hamill was surprised. It was only for a moment, but she clearly missed Rubin’s movement. But she soon took up a position for a second attack.
Rubin also maintained a defensive posture.
‘This time, it starts with deflecting the attack.’
“Haat!”
Rubin jumped up, kicking the ground to avoid Hamil who was rushing at him again. He lightly stepped on Hamil’s shoulder as he lost his balance and fell.
“… … ?!”
As the attacks from earlier continued to fail, confusion spread across Hamil’s face once again.
And then. Rubin, who was floating in the air, twists his waist and heads back to the ground.
A strange flexibility.
Hamil couldn’t understand what had happened in an instant. Rubin, who had landed in front of her, lightly extended his arm.
With a bang, Hamil is pushed back and falls.
“Are you okay? Come on, wake up.”
Rubin held out his hand.
There was no animosity towards Hamilton.
There was no need to use darkness to instill fear like I had done to Kun a year ago, nor was there any need to attack the fallen opponent again.
It was the same with Hamilton.
“I don’t know what happened. It felt like it stepped on my shoulder and jumped backwards. And then it was in front of me… … ?”
It was pure admiration, out of competition. But Hamil didn’t take Rubin’s hand. Instead, he asked an unexpected question.
“Master Rubin. What kind of powder did you sprinkle on yourself when you started the test? Yellow? Blue? Or brown?”
“Why do you ask that?”
Then, Hamilton’s shoulders, which had been tense with strength, slumped.
“Honestly, I was impressed by you, Master. I don’t know about anything else, but I thought I was the best in terms of speed.”
“however?”
“All Kunitli respect the strong. You deserve better than me. If you tell me the color of the powder, I can shake off your ghost rat.”
Rubin stared into Hamil’s eyes, trying to discern the truth, but he soon stopped.
Yes. In his previous life, Hamil respected and followed the strong. It wasn’t in Rubin’s plan, but joining hands with Hamil wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Rubin said, holding out his hand.
“brown.”
“As expected, it was brown. Phew, that’s good.”
Hamilton’s arm, which was resting on the floor while he was crouching, suddenly moved. I thought the attack would continue, but that wasn’t the case.
Hamilton took something out of one of his pockets and threw it at Rubin.
Kicking, kicking!
‘Ghost rat?’
Rubin’s vision fills with ghost rats flying quickly out of Hamilton’s hand. And not just one, but two.
In that moment, Rubin realized her intentions.
According to the rules of the test, each participant was tracked by five ghost rats, which were supposed to react to a special powder sprinkled by the participant at the beginning of the test.
‘So that’s why you asked about the color of the powder.’
To anyone who isn’t chasing a ghost rat, it’s just a rat.
‘I never thought I’d have a ghost rat in my pocket.’
Hamilton kept the ghost rat he had captured in his pocket and used it as a detector.
Every time the ghost mouse reacted by making a loud noise, it realized that another participant was nearby.
At first, I didn’t know what color powder the ghost rat was reacting to, but I was sure of it through Rubin. It was also thanks to that ghost rat that I was able to surprise Rubin.
Get in, get in!
The angry ghost rats move so fast that it’s hard to follow even with your eyes, aiming for Rubin’s back.
And there’s Hamilton.
Hamil, who was taking advantage of the gap while Rubin was striking the ghost rat, attempted to attack again.
Although rough, his fighting skills are nimble and clever.
‘They use ghost rats not only as detectors but also as weapons.’
But the situation was not good enough to admire Hamilton’s cleverness, because the moment the ribbon on his back was ripped off by the ghost rat, he was eliminated.
Although they are only nine years old, they are clearly the rising stars of the Assassin Swordsmanship. This level of cunning should have been expected.
Besides, wasn’t Hamilton the runner-up this time?
‘I let my guard down.’
Two ghost rats rush in with a rough and vicious momentum. Hamil’s attacks become sharper as he continues to miss.
Anyway, I had to avoid them both and find an opening.
Rubin twisted his body with all his might.
“Uh… Huh?”
It was a very brief moment for Hamilton. In that brief moment, what Hamilton encountered was the afterimage of Rubin.
In that brief moment when you are unaware of anything, a sharp wave runs through the center of your body, like a spike driven into ice.
“Ahh!”
So Hamilton lost consciousness.
And after a while.
“… What happened?”
I looked around, but Rubin was nowhere to be seen. The two ghost rats that were supposed to be chasing Rubin were also lying unconscious next to me.
“… … ?”
I don’t understand. It was like something flashed. I lost consciousness and when I woke up, everything was quiet.
I couldn’t understand it, but I thought I knew one thing.
The difference in skill between him and Rubin is so great that the end is not in sight.
‘That movement… I just couldn’t keep up with it.’
Hamilton had no choice but to admit defeat.
“ha.”
Take a deep breath.
“I said that people from my family only look flashy on the outside, but they won’t do well on the test.”
It was so different from what she had known.
As Hamilton put the two unconscious ghost rats back into his pocket, he was surprised by something inside.
“What is this?”
It is a unique flower with black and red leaves crossing each other. It is the trumbel flower that has become the symbol of this city.
Looking down at the trumbell flower, Hamil guessed at Rubin’s intentions.
‘What did you give me this for?’
And then a thought passes by.
“Ah, this… what could it be?”
The flower language of the trumbell flower is ‘silence’.
Hamilton already knew that the answer to the riddle the examiner posed, ‘When I call your name, you disappear,’ was silence.
But it’s not like the traces were left just to tell us this. There must be something more.
“Is the target related to this flower? No, more than that… … .”
Why are you helping me?
Little did Hamil know that this was also part of Rubin’s plan for victory.
