Episode 7. The First Test (1)
Another year has passed.
It was the night before the first selection, the winter I was nine years old. It was a once-in-a-lifetime selection ceremony. It could be called the eve of a storm, but there was no one by my side.
Of course, I didn’t expect it. It’s natural that I wouldn’t receive any support from my mother, who maintains a strict attitude as the head of the household. It was the same for Dorian and Maphis, and it was the same for me before the return.
‘Still, Puree, who was very worried, stayed by my side.’
As expected, Puree, with a face full of anxiety and nervousness, opened the door and came in. The nanny sat down in the chair opposite me.
“Master Rubin, the ninth winter that the successors face in the Assassination House is more severe than ever before. This is especially true for the Roinen children.”
Puree’s voice trembled slightly. Snow was falling outside the window, and I got up from the bed and looked out the window with curious eyes.
“Wow, Puree! Look over there, it’s snowing!”
Puree chuckled at that innocent look.
“You seem a bit different today than usual, don’t you?”
“I was originally a child.”
Puree frowned, suddenly becoming worried about me.
“While the children of other collateral families may have experienced the outside world relatively freely, this is Young Master Rubin’s first time going out. The alleys, the houses, the people, the objects… how unfamiliar it all is!”
As Puree worries, the children of the collateral family and the children of the Roinen family have slightly different growing up environments.
Children of the collateral families do not live in isolation. Only the children of the Roinen family grow up in secrecy within the foggy walls.
The reason Dorian and Mafis failed to perform well was not only because they did not have the skills to begin with, but also because they had never experienced the outside world before the first selection.
For a child who is new to the outside world, everything he sees is not only new but also confusing. In such an environment, it is difficult for him to get good grades at home.
“Puree, where is the test location?”
“I don’t know. It could be a small village, a fortress, or even a jungle where there are no people. Only the ‘Imperial Command’ knows.”
The first selection of the Assassin Sword Masters was as secretive as this. However, it was a large-scale event held every year.
The head of the secret organization ‘Imperial Command’, which relayed the Emperor’s assassination orders to the assassin swordsmen, also personally attended every year to observe the children who would become the Emperor’s future swordsmen. It was by no means a light event.
I estimated my target score.
‘Realistically, 3rd or 4th place would be appropriate. It wouldn’t be good to already have the Emperor’s decree stamped on you.’
Common sense tells you that it’s correct.
But I knew that that kind of result wouldn’t do. Even if it would attract the attention of the Imperial Order, there was a reason why I had to get first place this time.
‘In order to get revenge, there is a treasure that I absolutely must obtain.’
At my attitude that showed no sign of tension at all, Pure sighed deeply and got up from her chair.
“Go to sleep, Master Rubin. Tomorrow will be a hard day.”
Perhaps worried about the storm I was about to face, Puree bit her lips and looked at me with sad eyes.
I answered with a childish, bright smile.
“Don’t worry, Puree. The results will be surprising.”
* * *
Grandbird.
Literally a giant bird.
Its beak is as long as a watchtower on a castle wall, and a single feather can cover a person. With its wings spread wide, it is a huge bird that can cast a shadow over the entire grounds of the Roinen Mansion.
To some, it is a legendary creature, a divine beast that grants wishes, or an auspicious sign that foretells good things… … .
To me, Grandbird has a slightly different meaning.
Grandbird brings back tragic memories, like a cold blade digging into my flesh.
Before the return, when everything in Roinenga had fallen apart.
On that day, when the existence of the Assassin Sword Family was revealed to the world, and the noble families summoned by the Emperor’s command raised the banner of fabricated justice.
Our assassination squad fought desperately against the entire world.
The battlefield was an unfamiliar place for the Assassins, but we had to step up. We took up our weapons and wore armor. We spread our shadows to create our own territory, and fought within it.
But no one survived.
Even though I had beheaded countless enemies, broken their collarbones, and stabbed them with my sword, there was one being I could never overcome.
The moment when a shadow suddenly appeared over the blood-soaked battlefield.
It was the appearance of the Grandbird with its wings spread.
I gritted my teeth as I watched the giant bird gliding by.
There were thirteen Grandbirds. The birds ruled the sky and were eradicating all assassination swordsmen from the world.
That must have been the moment when I first felt a sense of despair that I wouldn’t survive.
“Are you okay?”
The man standing next to me asked with a worried look on his face.
I was sweating without realizing it. Maybe I looked like a scared little kid after seeing Grandbird.
“It’s okay. I’m just a little dizzy.”
“It’s like that at first. Even though it looks so wild, it’s safe. It’s a well-trained Grandbird. You’ll be fine.”
The one who spoke to me was a ‘guide’ who led us to the examination room. No one knows their true identity. They are simply servants of the Emperor.
The guides had their faces covered with black veils. Their purpose was nothing more or less than to guide the children of each family to their destination.
“Thank you for your concern.”
I said with a slight smile.
Children from other families began to climb onto the Grandbird one by one.
Croquison, Raincroquis, Galliotrick, Stone, Krieger, Kalkrid, Kunitli, Bonedog.
And Roinen.
This time, there are nine assassins who are making their first selection. It was the same as before the return.
I was the last to board the Grandbird. As I appeared, the children of each family bowed to me.
The one farthest from me was Kun. Kun was bowing his head toward me. I laughed when I thought about how much he must have been cursing in his mind.
Wheeeeeeeeing.
Soon the Grandbird took flight.
The sound of the wind following the huge flapping of wings.
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Above the sky where dawn ends and day breaks.
Everything feels new.
The fluffy feathers of the Grandbird give it a sense of stability as if it were standing on the ground. It is hard to believe that this giant bird is flying hundreds of meters above the ground.
Suddenly, I felt like looking down at the ground. I got up from my seat and walked to the edge of the bird’s back. A few children cautiously got up and followed me.
“Wow… … .”
The elasticity of some children.
The forests, rivers, and cities on the ground looked like tiny dots. It must have been a sight that all the other guys were seeing for the first time.
The wind was so fierce that it felt like it was going to knock us off our feet, but the children, like the children of the Assassin’s Creed, held their balance without fear.
“We will soon be giving you instructions on the exam. Please concentrate.”
Following the instructions of the guide next to me, I turned my gaze toward the bird’s shoulder. There was a man standing there, silently.
‘The author is an examiner for the Imperial Department.’
The Imperial Decree was a huge and powerful institution directly linked to the Emperor.
By now, the heads of the participating families, my mother, and the head of the Imperial Department will be waiting for us at the examination site.
“Little kids, listen up.”
The examiner who put us on the Grandbird and took us to the examination room was a mid-level official in the Imperial Department. He was someone who could easily treat the children of the Assassin Sword Family poorly.
“I won’t explain it twice.”
Of course, the Assassin Sword Master’s attitude toward the imperial edict is far from submissive. They are simply relaying the emperor’s words.
But the assassins currently riding on the Grandbird are just nine-year-old children about to take their exams.
It was natural for the children to look anxious, as they had never seen an outsider act so arrogantly towards them before.
Looking at such children, the examiner of the Imperial Department smiles arrogantly.
“Don’t be happy that you’re on the Grand Bird. This isn’t a playground. If you misstep and someone falls, we won’t land to pick up the corpse.”
Even the expressions of the middle managers show annoyance. Every year, they burn the children with the assassination sword and threaten them.
“Do you know where you are taking your exams this time? It’s Trumbel. Trumbel is a peaceful and optimistic city located in the south-central part of the Empire. The only thing that has happened in the last 100 years is that it has become the testing site for you little ones today.”
As expected from someone belonging to the Imperial Order, he has no respect for the Assassination Sword Master.
“You may be only nine-year-olds now, but you will grow up to be assassins who will leave a lasting impression on the Empire. All of the nobles of Trumbel have taken refuge in the neighboring fortresses so that you, His Majesty’s loyal and sharp assassins, can run and play to your heart’s content.”
So that you can run around to your heart’s content.
It’s a funny expression. Other nine-year-olds might not understand what it means, but I don’t.
This meant that there were no particular restrictions on actions unrelated to the test.
It means that they will turn a blind eye to killing, looting, and even worse.
“But I guess you haven’t all been properly trained yet. I guess you start training after you’re eight years old? I know that’s a long-standing tradition of yours.”
He continued, placing his arms on his hips.
“Think of this exam as a quenching to become His Majesty’s sword. Here, you will not be competing on skill, but on intelligence, talent, and instinct. I wonder how many good seedlings there will be this year.”
At that moment, the Grandbird folded its wings and dived sharply toward the ground. A huge, wind-torching roar echoed from all directions.
Hooooooooo.
My whole body swayed. The kids held onto feathers as big as their bodies to keep themselves from flying away. Up until this moment, only Kun and I were holding our balance with our bare hands.
The examiner looked at the two of us one by one. When his gaze fell on me, I didn’t look away.
The Grandbird spread its wings again at an appropriate altitude and entered gliding mode.
“You managed to survive without being blown away. I’ll explain later. This test is also the same as it has been for hundreds of years.”
The examiner reached into the pockets hanging from his thighs. After some searching, he pulled out a small glass bottle and a red mouse.
Kicking. Kicking.
Despite the roar of the Grandbird’s massive wings, the cry of the mouse in the test tube’s hand pierced my ears sharply.
I figured it out easily.
That’s not just any rat.
“The thing in my left hand is what is called a ‘ghost rat’. It is a very vicious tracker. This rat covered in red fur is small, but it is not cute at all. It will not be friends with you little ones, so don’t make any unnecessary fuss when you get home.”
The nine-year-old of the Assassin’s Sword is not an ordinary nine-year-old. Just as the word death has a different resonance in the Assassin’s Sword.
The expressions of the children of the Assassin Sword Family crumpled one by one as the test tube continued to mock them. However, they could not step forward and turn the situation around.
The children listened to the explanation silently.
“As soon as you land on the ground with your guide, you will be covered in this glass bottle. This is the process of thoroughly covering your body with the special powder contained in the glass bottle. Because of this powder, you will be pursued by ghost rats.”
True to his word, the Ghost Rats were vicious trackers.
The chase will continue until one of the targets covered in the special powder or the ghost rat dies. The ghost rat will follow the special powder to find the participants anywhere in the city.
“Each of you will be followed by five ghost rats. There is a ribbon sewn into the back of your clothes that the ghost rats can easily tear off. The moment the ghost rats tear off that ribbon, that little brat is out.”
The examiner looked over the participating children and then continued speaking.
“Run away from the ghost rat as fast as you can. That’s how you score your first point on this test.”
Then, Kun raised his hand and asked the examiner a question.
“Do I just have to run away from the ghost rat?”
“What does that mean?”
“I wonder if it’s possible to deal with ghost rats without losing points.”
I turned my head and observed Kun.
Kun’s physical growth over the past year has been amazing. He’s much bigger than a nine-year-old, and his sense of balance seems great. If things go his way, in ten years he’ll have a body that’s even considered perfect.
I was curious about how much Kun’s dark side had grown, but I couldn’t rashly reveal it in front of the imperial edict. I promised myself the next time.
The examiner turned around and faced Kun.
“What is your name?”
“This is Kun Crokison.”
“Ah, you are the heir to the Crokison family. First, let me tell you that the head of the Imperial Department is also expecting you.”
The test tube’s satisfied expression.
“Just don’t let the Ghost Rats tear the ribbon. You’re free to deal with the Ghost Rats, but don’t think it’ll be easy. If you attack the Ghost Rats, you might lose a part of your body. But you might be able to do it without any problem, Kun Crokison.”
After expressing my expectations for Kun, the examiner’s eyes turned to me. His gaze did not even show a hint of favor. He must have known that I was the son of the original family.
“Just because you have good blood doesn’t mean you’re outstanding.”
A provocative word from the examiner. It must not have been a coincidence that he said it while looking at me. As if to prove this, the examiner laughed bitterly.
Beyond that, I could see Kun’s face. It would have been refreshing to see the examiner mocking me. Kun’s expression as he looked at me was not bright. As if he was thinking back to that day a year ago, Kun’s expression became more serious.
The examiner continued his explanation in a raised voice.
“Don’t let the Ghost Rat tear the ribbon. This is your first chance to score. Plus, you have another chance to win the final.”
Conditions for final victory. This is the key.
At that moment, Grandbird folded its wings towards the ground again. Even though some children lost their balance, the examiner did not even blink an eye.
“Right now, all the citizens of Trumbel are wearing the same uniforms according to the lord’s order. There is only one person among them who has a small red mark on his collar. That person is the target. Even he doesn’t know that he is the target. He just goes about his normal daily life.”
Discovering that person before anyone else and removing that red mark were the winning conditions for the first choice.
No information is provided about where he is, what he does, or what his job is.
but.
“I’ll give you just one clue about the target. Listen carefully, kids. Use your brain and think carefully about this riddle.”
The examiner cleared his throat.
“When I call your name, you disappear.”
One line of riddles. That was it.
The children were commotion. There were faces that looked like they had no idea and faces that looked like they knew the answer.
“Now, feel free to guess the target using this riddle!”
Grandbird soon arrived above Trumbel and stopped next to the floating clouds.
“Are you scared, little ones? Don’t you know what to do? Becoming His Majesty’s sword is not an easy task! However, it is a blessing that your family cannot afford to miss. Do your best, struggle, and do your best to pass the test. Do you understand?”
Starting with me, the children of the Assassin’s Sword Family stood up. We each chose different directions and walked to the edge of Grand Bird.
“Kids, get down to the ground now! The test has begun!”
