Master Assassin of the Ronan

Chapter 30. Invitation to the Black Dream Forest (3)

Before the heads of families entered the banquet hall, the participants were still at ease.

They casually picked up sweets from the table and chatted quietly.

Rubin looked around at those children.

“Rainkroki, Kalkreed, Krieger. These three families were taken down by the Ghost Rat in the first test. So, I don’t have much to worry about this time either… but I should be cautious of Blane Krieger.”

Although the circumstances had changed since his return, Blane, as Rubin knew him, was the strongest in long-distance assassination.

Even if Rubin couldn’t be sure how close Blane would get to the figure in his memory, he couldn’t ignore Blane’s potential.

Rubin’s gaze then stopped on two particularly cheerful boys.

“Bondog family and Stone family. They teamed up in the first selection. This time, they’re likely allied again.”

The Bondog and Stone families, whose bases were nearby, had a good relationship.

Even if they were to face off at the end, they’d likely help each other up until that point.

Moreover, the gaze of the Bondog and Stone participants, who had been chatting, turned toward Kun.

It wasn’t a pleasant look.

“Are you two glaring at me? Have you lost your minds?”

Kun glared back.

In the last test, Bondog and Stone had been eliminated by Kun.

Even when Kun’s elimination was certain, he hadn’t shown mercy; he had crushed Stone’s arm, humiliating him.

“They probably want revenge on you.”

“They’re weaklings anyway. I should’ve stomped on them harder back then!”

Then came a sharp remark from Hamil, aimed at Kun.

“It’s just like how you want revenge on Master Rubin.”

“What?”

“Isn’t it? You’ve been grinding your teeth since he utterly destroyed you. By your logic, you must have been a weakling too.”

That single remark was enough to make Kun lose his self-control.

Kun sprang from his seat, about to lunge at Hamil, but Rubin stepped in to stop him.

“There isn’t much time until the test begins. If you want to rage like a mad dog, you’ll have plenty of time to do so then.”

Rubin then emphasized again,

“The heads of families are outside.”

“…Tsk.”

Kun sat back down with a rough motion.

He wasn’t foolish enough to cause a scene in front of the heads of families.

Rubin turned to Hamil.

“Hamil, it’d be wise for you not to provoke Kun either.”

“Yes… understood, Master Rubin. But even if I restrain myself, Kun isn’t going to act politely. You know that, right?”

Hamil had a point.

Kun’s rudeness continued.

He chewed on a snack from the table, acting as if something had just occurred to him.

“Rubin, why don’t you hurry and eat some snacks? Why aren’t you eating? From what I know, the noble Ronan family doesn’t allow such treats before going off to war.”

“See, Master? Kun is going to be Kun, no matter what.”

“Hamil! Let’s see how long that flapping mouth of yours keeps going!”

“Look who’s talking.”

Rubin glanced at Kun and Hamil, each in turn.

Kun, who was only concerned with his own strength and didn’t care how many enemies he made.

And Hamil, who dared to stand up to Kun without fear.

Perhaps these two would be the ones to survive until the end this time as well?

After all, Kun and Hamil were the only participants in this room who had awakened their Dark Ripple, making it seem all the more likely.

Kun had even managed to control his Dark Ripple to some degree, which would further amplify his physical strength.

On the other hand, Hamil possessed the cunning and intelligence to handle problems skillfully and effectively.

“Oh? Blane too?”

For a moment, Rubin sensed another Dark Ripple and turned his head toward Blane.

Just then, Blane, who had been sneaking glances at Rubin, looked back at him.

Although he quickly lowered his head again, even with his burn scars making him appear reserved, it was certain that Blane, albeit faintly, also showed a flow of Dark Ripple.

While not as strong as Hamil’s, it was a sign of talent nonetheless.

“If Blane joins in, things will get even more interesting.”

Before his return, Kun had claimed victory in the second selection, with Blane coming in second place.

Hamil had trailed behind Blane in third, while Rubin had finished a lowly sixth.

Restricted from outside access and unable to train like the other families, the test in the Black Dreamy Forest had been overwhelming for Rubin at that time. Finishing sixth had been an unexpectedly decent result.

However, now that everything was different, the result had to be as well. Rubin was aiming for victory.

“The issue is the unpredictability of this test. Even with my past experiences, I can’t leverage them to my advantage here.”

As Rubin pondered this and took a sip of the drink in front of him,

the doors to the banquet hall opened, and the heads of families appeared.

The relaxed participants immediately straightened their postures.

One by one, the heads of families took their seats on the long chairs opposite the participants.

At the very end, Seiren, the pinnacle of the Assassin Blade Family, made her entrance. With her arrival, the grand banquet began. Food was brought in, and a variety of drinks for the heads of families were placed on the table.

The second selection, unlike before, was a test held without the involvement of the Imperial Edict Office.

This meant the participants could expect an even more private, precise, and ruthless assessment.

During the hour that passed since the start of the banquet,

the heads of families seemed to be leisurely conversing and dining, but the reality was different.

“They’re busy picking out the best horse.”

Smiles and pleasantries were exchanged among the heads of families, but beneath them lay sharp gazes.

The second selection was a contest of family pride under the pretense of evaluating the children’s talents.

The branch families, stifled under the overwhelming presence of Seiren, the most powerful head of the Assassin Blade Family, were hoping for a shift in the atmosphere with the next generation.

“Though that’s not going to happen.”

Then, as if deciding the time was right, Seiren, seated at the center of the banquet hall, stood up.

The chatter in the hall instantly quieted.

Seiren looked carefully at each child’s face.

“At dawn, you all will enter the forest.”

She began to explain the test.

“In a realm where neither I nor the other heads can enter, your test will take place. It’s a space allowed only for you. If I were to give you one piece of advice, it would be this.”

At that moment, Seiren’s eyes met Rubin’s.

“If you can do it, do whatever it takes.”

In other words, anything not explicitly forbidden would be permitted.

With those words hinting at the allowance of risk, a thin smile appeared on Kun’s face.

“I will explain the rewards for victory.”

As Seiren took her seat, the eldest head of the Rainkroki family continued the explanation.

“To the victor of this second selection, three privileges will be granted. First, the victor will get the first choice of the Roincrow.”

The Roincrow, an assassin’s companion.

An excellent Roincrow held more value than a legendary weapon.

As children of the Assassin Blade Family, who had grown up observing the heads of families and their Roincrows, their admiration for a superb Roincrow was natural.

“And second, the victor will have the first pick of a Ronenser.”

The Ronenser, also known as a false parent.

Once the second selection was over, the children of the Assassin Blade Family had to leave their estates to live under false identities.

During that time, the Ronenser would act as their parents.

None of the children were unaware that a Ronenser was more than just a servant.

They were both mentors and teachers to the children.

Consequently, not everyone could become a Ronenser.

Only those who met specific qualifications were eligible.

Only those with four-star or higher abilities who excelled in every aspect of an assassin’s skills—swordsmanship, disguise, stealth, and infiltration—could become one.

“Before coming here, each of you were given information by the heads of families about who is eligible to become a Ronenser.”

Information about the Ronenser candidates had already been provided.

Furthermore, the heads of families had a general understanding of which retainers in each family were exceptionally skilled.

“The final privilege is to choose the city where you will live with your Ronenser in a disguised residence. The cities you can select from have been narrowed down. Keep in mind that the life you lead will differ depending on which city you choose.”

Depending on the choice, one might serve as the butler to an imperial noble, take on the role of a mercenary in a monster-infested region,

or even live under a false identity as a child soldier on the battlefield.

“The test will begin just before dawn.”

As the Rainkroki head took his seat, having finished the explanation, the participants’ tense expressions grew even more serious.

“They probably all know what the test entails. The heads of families must have explained it to them.”

Rubin observed the other participants and thought.

“Not that it matters in the end.”

No matter how much information one had about the test or the location, the second selection was not something one could prepare for in advance.

“A test that makes my return meaningless. This time, the conditions are the same for me too.”

The inability to prepare was the same for Rubin, who had already taken the test once before.

“Master Rubin, do you have any idea what this means?”

Hamil whispered, showing him the spider thread tied around his arm.

Currently, every participant had their arm wrapped in the thread spun by the invitation spider.

Although the children had received some information about the second test from the heads of families, they did not know what role the spider thread wrapped around their arms would play.

“Explaining it as a sort of bookmark might work. Ah, not that they’d understand right now anyway.”

Rubin shook his head as if he didn’t know.

They’d have no choice but to find out after tonight.

“All participants are now requested to move to the waiting area.”

At the guidance of Damon, Seiren’s direct retainer, the participants rose from their seats with determined expressions.