The Assassin's Seven Principles of Manipulation

Chapter 354: Chapter 349 — Next Reforging

’Enough wasting time. We’re doing the next reforging now.’

Demorian let out a long sigh, staring at Zephyrion as though he were trying to reason with a block of stone. Eventually, he seemed to accept that there was no getting through to him and relented.

’...alright, if you insist. But just so you know, ”she’s my sister, I can apologize whenever I want” is a classic red flag.’

’...what are we reforging next?’

Demorian grumbled something about stubborn bastards before finally answering.

’...look inside yourself. What’s currently suffering the most?’

Zephyrion frowned and did just that. His mind was still a bit foggy from the intense pressure of last night, but he slowly examined his entire body using his blood.

For several seconds, everything appeared normal. Metallic bones, healthy organs, nothing out of place. Then, as he shifted slightly on the bed, he suddenly paused, his brows drawing together.

’...what the hell?’

Countless tiny fissures had appeared across the muscles of his legs and lower torso. They were incredibly small, disappearing almost as quickly as they formed, but Zephyrion could clearly sense that it was his blood healing the damage rather than the muscles themselves recovering naturally.

His expression slowly changed.

Zephyrion stretched out an arm, and several more tears immediately appeared along his muscles. He bent his elbow, twisted his torso, then moved his legs, watching the same thing happen each time. Tiny fissures formed beneath his skin, only for his blood to mend them almost instantly.

Eventually, he stopped moving.

’...this has been happening every time I move?’

It wasn’t difficult to figure out why. His metallic bones had become far too hard for the flesh surrounding them. Every movement placed enormous strain on his muscles, stretching and grinding them against a skeletal frame they were no longer built to support.

’I should be dead.’

Given the extent of the damage, he shouldn’t even be walking, much less moving around normally after his brutal fight with Arcturus. In hindsight, the strange soreness he’d felt afterward suddenly made far more sense.

’Eh, not quite,’ Demorian said after a moment. ’Honestly, I expected this part to be excruciatingly slow and painful for you, but you’ve never been a normal bastard—uh, my talented protege. Your metallic bones are supposed to strain your muscles and create those tiny fissures. They tear, heal stronger, tear again, heal stronger, and the cycle keeps going until your muscles are finally ready for the next reforging.’

Zephyrion’s brows furrowed slightly.

’It should’ve taken much longer, but if I had to guess, that ridiculous blood of yours sped everything up. What should’ve left you crippled and barely able to move ended up as... what? A little soreness?’

’...and at no point did you think this was something I should know?’

’Eh?’ Demorian sounded genuinely confused by the question. ’Of course not. Where’s the fun if I tell you everything beforehand?’

Zephyrion felt his eyebrow twitch.

’Never hide anything from me again.’

There was a long pause.

Zephyrion’s expression had already begun to darken when Demorian finally spoke again, his voice suddenly losing all traces of humor.

’Alright, protege. No more secrets. The truth is... I’ve actually been lying to you all this time.’

Zephyrion immediately went still. The ancestor had been lying to him?

A hint of apprehension crept into his expression. Had Demorian actually been deceiving him all this time? After the revelation with Horus, the possibility somehow didn’t seem quite as ridiculous anymore.

’You see, my protege... remember when I told you this ancestor had always been legendary?’ Demorian’s voice grew heavier. ’That wasn’t entirely true. There was a time when women would take one look at me and reject me immediately. Some wouldn’t even let me introduce myself. It was hell...!’

’.....’

’Gosh! Simply remembering those dark days makes me shudder. But fortunately, the suffering didn’t last long. After I popped my first cherry, I suddenly attained enlightenment in the ways of women. From that glorious day onward, this ancestor became the legendary force of nature you know today—!’

’Demorian.’

’...hm?’

’If you don’t shut up right now, I’m going to seal you inside that rod until I die.’

Demorian went silent immediately.

Zephyrion rubbed his temples, slowly drawing in a breath as he reminded himself why he continued tolerating this man.

’A means to an end. He’s useful. That’s all.’

After repeating the words a few more times in his head, he finally managed to suppress the urge to strangle someone who didn’t currently possess a physical neck.

’Alright. So muscles are next. Does that mean whatever starts suffering afterward is what we reforge next? And how exactly do we know when it’s ready?’ Zephyrion paused briefly before adding the question that had been bothering him for far longer. ’More importantly, why did you insist I finish this reforging before advancing to Herald?’

Honestly, that very restriction had kept him stuck at the same rank for close to a year, so Zephyrion was more than a little irritated by it. Unfortunately, Demorian had fallen asleep before he could ever ask for the reason. Now, at the very least, he hoped there was some genius explanation behind it.

Several moments passed in silence, and Zephyrion’s brows slowly furrowed.

’...Demorian?’

Demorian mumbled something incomprehensible under his breath.

’...what?’

’...you... said... shut up.’

’What? Speak properly. I can’t hear you.’

’You told me to shut up!’

Zephyrion felt his entire body twitch. Never once in his life had he wanted to murder someone this badly.

’...please. Just answer the damn question.’

’Hm...’ Demorian paused for a moment, seemingly considering it. ’Well, since you’re begging.’

’...saying please is not begging.’

Demorian completely ignored him and continued.

’For your first question, yes, muscles are clearly next, and whatever starts suffering afterward tells us what needs reforging next. The strain is part of the process. We just wait until that part has adapted enough that reforging it won’t turn it into useless mush.’

Zephyrion nodded slightly, and Demorian continued.

’As for why I made you wait before advancing... firstly, the higher your rank, the harder and more painful reforging becomes. Wait too long and it might even fail completely, especially with something major like your bones or muscles. It’s an annoying balance, honestly. You need to be strong enough to survive the reforging, but not so far along that your body becomes too difficult to change.’