Iris stood beside the white sofa stained with blood from the injuries of the passed-out Ianthe. A grey-haired healer from the Castle was taking care of her injuries—injuries that Iris had inflicted. She regretted that. She had done something inhumane. She should've looked at her opponent more closely.

Iris turned to Ilona, who was standing next to her. Her face bore a frown, her lips pressed in a thin line. Hecate, as kind and warm as ever, looked very angry, her eyes fixated on the bangle. Her hands squeezed the fluffy backrest of the sofa. Hecate looked at her and said, "You decided to have her as your slave?"

"I have no such intention, Hecate," Iris said, her voice tight. She, of course, found her deed equally vile. "It was the demand of the situation. Had the match concluded, the bangle would've killed her."

Hecate turned away, saying nothing. Iris looked at Ilona again. Iris was upset—for as little as she knew of the world, she was aware of the horrors of slavery.

"Were you aware of this?" Iris asked, her voice questioning. She could not imagine Ilona was. Ilona had a terrifying outburst when Iris called herself Inferior. There was no way she would not think the same for Ianthe.

"No… but it is within Isolde's nature. She is quite the believer in a strength-based hierarchy," Ilona replied. "And it seems she escaped Gracia before I could get a hold of her. Something is amiss in this situation."

Iris nodded. This situation was foolish. Isolde should've seen from a mile away where this battle would conclude. Unless this was her intention. Why?

"Isolde is not here. Discussing what her intentions were is a waste. I'll free Ianthe," Ilona said, squatting next to Ianthe and taking her hand. The healer stepped aside. He was mostly done with the healing. Ianthe's wounds were physical and simple, even if delicate. They required no complex healing spell.

"Can you destroy it?" Iris questioned. She could not. No, destroying the bangle was possible, but it would take the bearer with it.

"I can," Ilona said. "It is fascinating. A slavery band cannot be destroyed by someone like you who can alter its command and ownership. Do you know why?"

“No…”

"Soul, this bangle is different from what non-mages are forced to wear. It is created to make even a Level 5 adhere to its command. It is linked to Iantha's soul. It forces her to forgo her free will. Creating an artifact that cannot be destroyed by her strength is more costly than what Isolde might have paid to get her." A single yellow magic circle formed beneath the Purple Bangle. "To destroy this thing, there are three different spells that you would need to cast." Another Circle formed encircling the Bangle. "One that severs the soul link from the Bangle. Another that stops it from destructing. Yet, the most fascinating thing about this bangle is that it is sentient. If it leaves its host, it will devour the bearer's identity."

"Like Winny?" Hecate asked.

"Yes, why that happens? I have not been able to find the reason. It has something to do with how the system is linked to ourselves. However, I have learned how to destroy it." A third, nine-layered, magic circle formed—three encompassing circles at three levels. Iris gulped. It was something she could not do. Her limit was seven layers, and that too drained her dry of mana.

"It is the same way how you destroy the system from yourself, but on a much smaller scale."

"Destroy the system?" Iris questioned. She noticed Hecate's bored face, and most notably her quietness. She was not hearing about this.

"It is something you will learn, eventually," Ilona said with a disappointed expression. "I was expecting you to know that."

"I have not," Iris admitted.

The purple bangle lost colour, decayed, and crumbled into dust.

"That does it, now, Ianthe is free..."

Iris understood Ilona's hesitation. Now, what would Ianthe do? That was the question. At least for the next few hours, Iris knew, Ianthe would sleep.

The next battle began. Iris did not know any of the participants.

Someone knocked on the door. "Come in," Ilona said.

Diantha was not here. Today, she was making visits to a few orphanages and old age homes, and also inspecting the progress of the city's development.

It was the same officially dressed girl that came last night. "This letter is for Lady Iris and Meredith," the official spoke timidly, her eyes landing on Ilona.

"What is it about?"

"All opponents of Lady Iris have submitted a declaration of withdrawal. As such, she has qualified for the one-on-one elimination round."

"And from Lady Meredith's group, only a single opponent has not submitted their withdrawal. As such, if he wins nine battles, you will need to fight him in a tiebreaker, or else you'll be considered qualified."

"You can leave."

"Why would they withdraw?" Iris asked, not understanding. They would get a chance to experience the magic of Level 6, they should be elated.

"Against you?" Hecate laughed and pointed at Ianthe. "Look what you did to her, not to mention your opponent from yesterday. You're as feared as Rian in this tournament. He too would receive the same letter now."

"I fail to see the point of this tournament. Low levels would withdraw, then they should have directly started with an elimination round."

"Naah, the goal of this tournament was to give low-level exposure against stronger opponents in a non-fatal way. But, in every tournament, they note the most vicious high level and withdraw against them. They will still fight others and gain experience against them. The real tournament starts with the 16 people, one on one eliminations."

"I see... does that mean you're considered dangerous against your opponents?" Iris could imagine that. Hecate goes overboard and burns her opponents to a crisp.

"I might've gone a little overboard in the last tournament," Hecate admitted, looking away, her voice not very sure. "But, Hey! I am not like you—cruelly and slowly torturing my opponents. I go full power from the beginning."

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"I can imagine," Iris glanced at Ianthe before turning to Ilona. "I'll take my leave then. Hestia Laurent sent a letter to me."

Diantha had told her about it while dressing her. She, of course, said, "I have no intention of eating." So Diantha sent another letter, and now she was just going to meet her. Her destination was not Laurent's mansion but the waiting room.

"Why are you going?" Hecate asked, not very pleased.

"No particular reason," Iris replied. "Diantha said I should meet new people and see the world as is, instead of staying away from everyone and believing what she says."

"Huh, but that Har—" Hecate glanced at Ilona and cleared her throat, "I mean, then you should hurry."

…

Iris knocked on the door, waited, and knocked again. She received no reply. She could sense people inside. She tilted her head, were they busy? Iris turned, well, she could not just break the door and go in.

Iris turned and noted the man dressed in the same manner as Viktor. Her first impression of him was—Viktor with glasses and even taller. He gracefully bowed, "Pardon my rudeness, Miss Iris. I am Karl. It was my duty to receive you, but I," He coughed, embarrassed, "I saw an insect and made a strategic retreat. Lady Hestia is waiting for you in the next room if you will follow me."

Iris nodded.

"Greetings, esteemed Level 6," Laurent said. Iris found her voice opposite of Diantha. Even her greeting felt like she was looking down on her.

Iris cared little about tone. She was meeting her because she had nothing to do. And now, that Lady Ilona had taken a liking to Winny, she could roam about without tension until the tournament concluded. Then, she would go to the shattered realm.

"Greetings," Iris replied as she took a seat, Karl stood behind Laurent’s seat. Iris's attention already shifted to the unassuming black-haired boy who stood behind Hestia Laurent. His face lacked emotions, expression, or anything that may hinder him from passing as a puppet. "And you're?" Iris questioned.

The boy remained impassive. Laurent looked behind her and then at Iris.

"He is Vin. A servant who attends to my needs."

"I see," Iris did not buy that. He was weird, far more alarming too. His aura was the same as Reed's brother who tried to save his brother from the duel but ultimately succumbed to saving his own life. Yet, it was different.

"I wanted to have a chat with you, after the powerful performance you gave at the castle,"

"Your vassals need to learn when going far is too far."

"Aren't you enthralled by little Lancaster," Hestia smiled, "I'll not waste time on pretentious chatter. I know you're not from Gracia. Much less a vassal of Lancaster."

"I am, or I am not. It matters not," Iris replied.

"But, I am curious… what is it that makes a Level 6 like you, might even be the golden mage of this era, go along with this sad little farce on a small land in a backward corner of the world. What price did she pay?"

Iris had expected falsities, praise, long and confusing questions, and an attempt to portray Diantha as a villain. Yet, Hestia cut past all of that. Iris tilted her head and pretended to be confused by her question.

"I fail to understand why you think I am not Lady Diantha's loyal, but rest assured, my loyalty is not something this small place can really afford to pay for. I am here out of free will."

Hestia grinned and turned to the impassive boy beside her, "Two days ago, in the evening, you went to the Abandoned zone in search of an artefact called 'Edeath.' You paid the bartender five silver and Old Han nine white mana cores. And he pointed you to Lady Ilona." He spoke as impassive as ever.

"Did you lay the rune formation in the tavern?" Iris asked the boy, She was extraordinarily curious about what was this unique existence.

"No, he has not. Did you take a liking to this boy?"

"I have. His existence is bizarre and misplaced."

"Let's forget about him. Now that we are cleared of misunderstandings, let's talk about you."

"Knowing I'm not hers does not change anything. I heard every newspaper has already placed me as her loyal and naive vassal.” Iris was not naive, of course. She just got confused about things. "If you had done this last night, there might have been something to be concerned about."

"Of course, I know that. But that is not the reason I want to meet you. Her image of the world is not my concern... I'm no grand duchess and have little to do with the court of Ira."

"But you want to change that," Iris intoned.

"Huh, what makes you say that?"

"As I see it, Inspector stands to gain something. Lady Diantha stands to defend herself. What of the other two houses? Only a fool would think it is just swallowing Lancaster's estate. The fall of the third house would only create a rift in power. At that time, you want to use the inspector and become Duchess yourself,” Iris stared at Laurent for a moment. “And there must be a secondary goal that this farce would allow you to achieve, something unrelated to Diantha's fall."

"Hmm… What makes you say that?" Laurent leaned in, her eyes shining in anticipation.

"Your lack of panic from my appearance. You are going along with the old plan and targeting Hecate, even though she is no longer crucial for the tournament. It is as if winning the tournament is secondary, or you're just keeping up appearances for the Inspector. I don't know what Lambert is trying to achieve, since he has been mute from the beginning."

"But you, who are actively trying to take Hecate out of the picture, are still pressed to do that. Either you have a way to eliminate me or you have accepted the result already," Iris looked at the boy behind Hestia, "Acceptance of the result and still completely calm as you are means there is a secondary goal. And the secondary goal is most likely related to the fake Level 5 and this boy behind you." Iris was just throwing whatever came to her mind without much thought behind them.

"An astute observation. Perhaps you're smarter than the newspapers gave you credit for."

"I am smarter than you realize. Regardless, why did you call me?"

"I can help you find the Edeath… and you won't have to do anything."

"I'm tempted."

"In return, for the next year, you'll have to swear absolute loyalty to Laurent's house."

"I refuse. I was expecting something much more reasonable."

"Did you? Well, frankly, I wanted to see how different you are from a real Level 6."

"And how different am I?"

"Nothing like what a Level 6 should be. You're almost like a puppet dancing to Lancaster's tune."

"I am not a puppet."

"Of course, of course. I'll give you food for thought—Diantha Lancaster killed every member of Hecate's family and Felix's mother and older brother. Yet, they hold blind loyalty to her. As if puppets. Are you any different?"

Iris went mute at her words. She could not have guessed. But, she was not under any type of magic.

"Of course, I'm not saying she is using magic to control them. Her grandeur is such that they do not realize how much they are entrapped in her warmth."

Those words were concerning—warmth. That's what Diantha always gave off.

"It was a pleasant meeting, Little Lord," Laurent smiled. "I hope you won't become a puppet the next time we meet."

Iris stood and left, a little more curious about Hecate's past and a lot more confused if that information was supposed to make her stay away from Diantha.

"That won't change her perception of Lancaster," the boy said, mechanically.

"I don't expect it to. It was just to divert her attention from you. I did not think she would perceive you instantly. Now, that you've seen her—what do you think?"

"She's a wanderer, a dweller from the Labyrinth." His lips turned upward, ever so slightly.