System's POV
chapter-28

Just as Thirteen was nearing Terence, he suddenly took a few swaying steps back and looked at the Butler, who served as the referee of their sparring match.

"Mr. Butler *hic* I forgot the conditions for this sparring match," Thirteen said. "How do I win again?"

Hans looked at the boy who was looking at him with unsteady eyes before shifting his gaze to Terence.

"State the condition of this duel again," Hans stated. "Since the Patriarch has agreed to give a reward to this boy if he wins, it is best If the rules are clarified first."

In the eyes of the adults in the party, a Mid Silver-Grade Weapon did not hold that much value. However, for the kids who still hadn't started their First Wandering, such a weapon was considered a treasure that would help them in their future journeys in Solterra.

Terence became flustered because his original plan to attack Thirteen had to be set aside.

If the rules were clarified, yet he still attacked the child, people would think that he was making light of the intelligence of the people around him.

Since the Patriarch is present, he was now duty-bound to answer Hans' question and state the condition of the duel.

"He will win if he manages to land an attack on my body or make me move from my spot," Terence replied. "I will also not attack him in any way and only use one of my hands to protect myself."

After stating the conditions for how Thirteen would win the duel, the drunk boy finally nodded his head in understanding.

He had felt Terence's intent to hit him earlier. Although there was no killing intent, it still allowed the five-year-old to know that the older boy was going to retaliate against him if he came within striking range.

Because of this, he asked Hans to confirm the rules of victory first, to ensure that the boy would be forced to re-state the conditions of their spar.

Just as expected, Terence's stance had changed. Thirteen no longer felt that the older boy wanted to attack him, which made him smile internally.

However, since his opponent dared to even think of harming him, he also changed his plan accordingly.

The little drunk boy then moved toward the table and went to the utensil area. He then picked up a dozen steak knives, making Terence's eyes widen in shock.

"O-Oi! What do you think you're doing?!" Terence shouted as Thirteen wobbled toward him, holding the bunch of steak knives in his hands.

"Hm?" Thirteen frowned as he stood three meters away from Terence.

He then dropped the knives on the floor and picked two of them.

"Just stand still," Thirteen said as he pulled back his arm, preparing to throw the steak knife in his hand.

"Wait!" Terence shouted. "Why are you using steak knives?! I didn't tell you that you're allowed to use that."

"That's right *hic*," Thirteen replied. "You didn't tell me that this was not allowed *hic*. Oh? Why are there suddenly two of you? No matter, I'll just hit one first, and figure the rest later."

Without another word, Thirteen threw the steak knife, which brushed past Terence's left shoulder. Due to the barrier that stood at the edges of their sparring arena, it didn't hit anyone else and fell harmlessly on the floor.

"I see, so that's a fake one," Thirteen chuckled before throwing the other steak knife in his hand. "Okay, here's the second one."

The knife throw was fast, cutting a small tear on the right shoulder of Terrence's tailor-made suit.

"I missed again *hic*," Thirteen smiled. Before picking up four steak knives and looking at Terence with a devilish smile on his face. "This time *hic* I won't miss it, so prepare yourself. *hic*."

Just as he was about to throw the four steak knives in his hand, Thirteen felt an adult's hand rest on his shoulder.

"Okay, that's enough," Michael said, stepping into the arena in order to stop the boy from actually hurting one of the members of the Leventis Family.

He had seen how the five-year-old threw the two knives. That was enough for him to understand that he was very proficient in what he was doing.

The fact that the second knife tore Terence's suit without drawing blood proved his accurate control over his throws.

"But, Uncle, I still haven't managed to make him move away from his spot."

"It's fine. I'll give you the prize instead of Father, so be a good boy, okay?"

Thirteen nodded and handed the knives in his hands to his Uncle.

He then slowly laid on the ground and closed his eyes.

A few seconds later, he fell asleep, making the adults unable to decide what to think of the five-year-old boy, who was always getting in the way of their entertainment.

Hans sighed in his heart before picking up the sleeping boy off the floor and walking in the direction of Lady Callista.

The old lady smiled and patted her lap.

The Butler understood what his Mistress wanted, so he obeyed and made Thirteen sit on her lap sideways. Lady Callista tenderly held her grandson, letting him rest his head on her shoulder.

Perhaps, recognizing that he was in his Grandma's arms, the boy mumbled innocently in his sleep.

"I love you, Grandma."

Lady Callista looked at the troublemaker before shaking her head helplessly.

"Let's go back, Trisha," Lady Callista ordered.

The maid nodded. "Yes, My Lady."

Trisha then pushed her Mistress' wheelchair toward the exit of the Main Hall. No one barred their path, and Hans swiftly followed behind them.

When they could no longer be seen, Gideon looked at his wife, Sandra, and smiled.

"Your Nephew sure is something," Gideon whispered. "It seems that he played everyone in this party, including your Father."

Sandra sighed and didn't bother to reply to her husband's words. She decided that, a few days after the party, she would go visit Alessia and tell her about the events that had transpired at the party.

Arthur didn't say anything and acted like nothing had happened.

But for the first time since he saw the boy, a feeling other than mild annoyance emerged from his heart.

'That little rascal,' Arthur thought. 'Just what kind of bullsh*t is he teaching his son?'

Somewhere in Solterra, a man with short black hair and blue eyes sneezed.

"Alessia must be thinking about me," Gerald thought as he dissected the monster he had just killed.

Since Thirteen had asked him to bring back a lot of Jinn Cores, as well as Monster Parts, he intended to collect as many as he could before returning home to his lovely family, whom he treasured very much.