SSS-Rank Engineer: Only I Can Create Legendary Weapons

The serene environment was broken immediately. All eyes in the hall turned on him, and the guard himself was too stunned to stop him from walking past.

A relieved breath left his body as he walked past the rows and towards the steps. He ignored the whispers as he passed, eyes locked onto the pillar.

"Did he just arrive?"

"They shouldn't allow such people on stage, House Amphene shows no respect to the Count."

"This is the genius I've heard rumors of?"

"I've seen his work with my own eyes when I visited Dema recently."

"I hope he shows no affinity. But he is Hecate's son."

"Maybe today is the day Sion can gain the upper hand against them."

"I pray he does. Their existence shames tradition, let them be erased."

Okay, some of those really made him want to turn backwards and pinch a pair of lips. But he ignored them and climbed the stage. The announcer didn't bother bowing to him, so he walked up to the pillar.

He was far different from the well-put-together Vanitas. His black and white hair was a mess, his own black vest was a bit ruffled from his struggle to the front, his face held none of the serenity that Vanitas possessed.

Instead, like his changing eyes, Perseus looked like chaos. Everything about him was unsymmetrical and capricious.

Some in the room couldn't help but find those qualities interesting and eye-catching.

Percy touched the pillar, breathing in tightly.

The pillar remained unchanged. Something rose in the room—the impending ridicule that House Amphene was to endure.

But then it was overshadowed.

The pillar came alive with three distinct colors, each so bright they were blinding.

Ruby red.

Verdant green.

Liquid gold.

For a second, the spiritmancer on stage couldn't believe his eyes, and he murmured something unintentionally that was projected throughout the hall.

"Three affinities. Each at almost the highest order."

His words were like a clarion call. The hall fell into chaos; voices rose in protest, awe, and confusion.

"That's not possible! It must be a mistake!"

"Not just dual affinities like his mother, but three!"

"Has this ever happened before?!"

The nobles broke all protocol, rising to their feet and shuffling closer to the stage. All their children grew pale at the display. Everyone in the room suddenly was assured the myths were true.

"What a great honor it is to see your awakening, Lord Perseus!"

"The king is wise. He has brought a new talent that will protect not just Yarol, but the entire Duchy!"

"I need to invite him to my territory before he returns to Dema!"

Percy stood on top of the stage, bathed in the light of his affinities, feeling somewhat sickened by the display. The entire crowd was on their feet, pointing at the one boy.

The rising energy spread throughout the hall.

It's not a big deal.

All the people that ridiculed him were smiling like it was Christmas. But he could also see his father there, and his genuine smile.

People never change, no matter where you are.

He sighed internally, removing his hand from the pillar. The announcer was still stunned when he walked by the man.

"Call up the next kid," he said before stepping off the platform and searching the front row for any seats.

Thalos was beside him as soon as they walked to the second row on the left side of the hall. That was where all the Viscounts or their stand-ins were seated. Two free seats were left in the middle of the row for them.

The announcer on stage had finally gotten a hold of himself and called up the next child.

"Cough! Um… Eucleps Incar, child of Crona, son of Viscount Imedes, come and let the spirits speak through you."

As Percy took his seat, a brown-haired boy rose nervously, glancing at Percy as he walked to the stage. Everyone in the room was still looking at him, people were even craning their heads to catch a glimpse, so he didn't mind.

What was on his mind were the spells he would imprint on his spirit when the time came. That part of the ceremony would happen after all their affinities were known.

Before that, there would be a short break, one the nobles often used as a time to exchange gifts. They would give out Rank 1 spells that they didn't care about losing and exchange words of encouragement to the young spiritmancers.

Basically an ass-kissing session.

He already knew what he wanted to imprint for his Fire and Earth affinities, but he wasn't sure about Wind yet.

Hecate had given him [Ashmaker] and recommended he take his time learning it, unlike [Fireshot]. So he took that as a sign she thought it was a good spell to imprint.

As for Earth spells, he would imprint [Invisible Grasp]. It was a gravity spell that he derived from the gravity traps in the temple of Gaia. It was almost entirely made by mistake, but he liked the product.

And it worked well with the Scorpion spirit hiding inside him.

As for Wind spells, he would have to see what any of the nobility gave him. If he liked it and could see a way to modify it like he modified [Ashmaker], then he would use it.

He expected he would get a lot of new spells today, but most spells often just did the same thing with some differences.

They would be good for studying and making more efficient spells, but he doubted he would invest much time into learning them.

As the ceremony dragged on, Percy searched for the Ramlos family. Everyone was still looking at him though, so some random person would occasionally think he was looking at them.

No, not you, fuck off.

He waved his hand irritatedly until the man blocking his view got out of the way. Behind that man, the Ramlos family had somehow found a seat for their nine children.

One of the perks of being a knight, Percy guessed. George and Ura were excitedly waving at him; their children, all begrudgingly, did the same. When his eyes landed on Flynn, the most smug look was on his face.

But she didn't return his excitement. The moment their eyes met, she looked down.

He frowned a little but just chalked it up to Flynn being weird. In the meantime, he looked on stage and catalogued every color the pillar made.

He was very interested in learning how it worked, but it was probably something they didn't let people take apart.

What if I ask nicely…

His thoughts were interrupted by the announcer's next call-up.

"Hephaestus Eurides, child of Crona, son of Lord Sion, please come up and let the spirits speak through you."

Both he and Thalos suddenly sat forward, eyes widening. On the right side of the hall, the third row, a boy rose to his feet, shaking his father with a serpentine smile.

And Percy got his first look at Sion Eurides.