episode_0010

In the end, Ivan raised his hand first, indicating his cautious willingness to share information. Regardless, he needed to save Priscilla, who was being held hostage. (Of course, it wasn’t just about Priscilla’s life. Ivan didn’t have confidence in defeating Enrique.)

“I heard you are raising disciples.”

“Oh?”

Enrique smirked deeply and cocked his head.

Ivan momentarily gripped the axe handle tightly, then forcibly relaxed his grip. That expression is what that monster makes when it’s in a bad mood.

“Go on.”

“He’s planning to enroll at Jansc University this time.”

“Hmm… So?”

“Somebody was worried. They said if he gets hurt, it would be a great loss for the nation.”

Ivan’s words meant the following:

-Elisabeth was worried about your disciple. So, she told me to protect him.

-That’s what I’ve been doing lately, you know? Elisabeth’s nature.

-But if you don’t understand this… You’ll think I’m siding with Alexander, won’t you?

On the other hand, Ivan’s words sounded like this to Enrique:

-I’ve already figured out your disciple’s identity, location, and personal details.

-I was paid a hefty sum.

-If he gets hurt anywhere… It will be sad, so take good care of yourself.

-Dare.

-Dare to threaten the back of a sky-like grandmaster?

-Who commissioned you? Alexander? Is that bastard trying to push me aside in the end?

-No, this guy too.

If I had received an assignment to kill this guy, I would have refused or given advance notice!

But he suddenly comes to threaten me and blackmails me using a disciple?

And this is a ‘disciple’…? What kind of monster did I raise?

If the only surviving disciple from the last war is these guys, then what in the world…?

Enrique nodded with a smile on his face.

“Indeed, that’s true.”

“Yeah. Nothing special.”

“Hmm… Not… special?”

“Yeah.”

Short answers were exchanged in a chillingly cool atmosphere.

However, Ivan felt somewhat relieved. Even though he seemed to be in a bad mood, it seemed like he had understood the current situation well enough.

Well then, what now… The problem is solved.

Having given this much of a warning, even if the “tutorial” proceeds, Enrique’s disciple wouldn’t fall into a great threat. Enrique would personally watch over it.

Lucky me.

Encountering Priscilla due to her kidnapping was unexpected, but I earned income more smoothly than expected.

The “protagonists” have only three of them left for the tutorial, and the one who will finish earliest still has two more weeks to go…

“Lucia!! Lucia! Come in!!”

“Yes, Master!”

With a bright voice, someone opened the reception room door and entered.

She was a late-teenage girl with glossy chestnut-colored hair.

Enrique smiled at Ivan as if testing him.

“Well, greet her. She’s your executioner.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Petrovich-nim! Master always told me to follow only half of what Petrovich-nim says!”

No, don’t praise him. This kid is impertinent.

Enrique forced a smile, grinding his teeth.

“A human…?”

“Yes? Yes. Of course…?”

“Of course…? Do you know your master’s race?”

“Master is a human!”

With a confident expression, Lucia spoke, puffing out her chest.

“Master has to live with a slightly unique diet, but he cherishes me and protects this country. He’s a true hero! If you ask what defines a race, I would answer ‘humanity,’ Petrovich-nim!”

“Oh….”

Ivan marveled without realizing it.

Since the war with the demons, the United Kingdom had an extremely hostile stance towards the “heterogeneous” and “fae” races.

It’s natural. Most of the citizens walking the streets have lost their immediate relatives to the demons. (Elves are excluded. Despite being part of the United Kingdom, they are shunned due to their detestable nature.)

Amidst this, the open-minded notion that the condition for ‘race’ differentiation is not inherent to the race itself was a mindset more akin to 21st-century Earth rather than this tiresome otherworld.

And upon hearing this fresh response (quite radical by this world’s standards), Enrique’s expression loosened with amusement. “Well, look at that. I’ve taught you everything. It might take some time to master, but the learning part is done. If there’s another hero party in the future, this lad will be fit for it.”

Certainly, that would be the case. Since he can roam under the sun, he would actually be even more suited for a hero party. Furthermore, that statement, “I’ve taught everything but mastery takes time,” was instilling a certain confidence in Ivan.

“Is he talking about a skill tree?” In typical games, as characters level up, they automatically acquire skills. Clearly, this was odd. Whether adventuring or doing anything else, did it mean suddenly something popped into his head?

However, this game seemed to be like that.

“The knowledge is already acquired, but experience and proficiency are lacking.” Isn’t that the most fitting expression?

Ivan nodded his head. “Proud disciple. A person better than me, no, better than ‘us’. A precious one obtained in my later years. So… I don’t want to kill you, Ivan.”

“Hmm…?”

Suddenly? Ivan trembled and once again placed his hand on the axe handle.

Enrique alone is burdensome, but can he guarantee victory inside Enrique’s dungeon with a 2-on-1 situation, including his disciple, and being captured as a prisoner?

It’s a difficult situation. Ivan gazed carefully at her hand.

“I’ll ask you to use our memories as collateral. Keep your hands off this world. This is my territory.”

Enrique spoke with sincerity.

Operating an assassination organization in this city is enough for oneself. Don’t earn money through dirty means in the city’s back alleys. Isn’t that why you retired?

Alexander is an unbelievable guy. Rather, if you’re going to dip your hands into politics, follow Elizabeth’s principles.

With such meaning, very earnestly.

And.

“Did it end up like that after all?”

Ivan stood up, gripping the axe handle tightly.

Enrique, did he ultimately take Alexander’s side?

Dealing with the heroic party members was clearly overtime, but it was an inevitable duty.

“What did Alexander offer in return? People? Blood? Territory?”

“…What?”

“If Alexander is still in league with the Krasilov royal family, I too would pledge our memories. Where does a courtier’s loyalty lie?”

“Huh…?”

After staring at Ivan’s eyes for a while, Enrique opened his mouth, sweating coldly.

“You didn’t join hands with Alexander, did you?”

“What are you talking about? I’ve never met that man with a smiling face.”

“Me neither.”

“Hmm…?”

A moment of silence fell.

“So, um… gathered orphans and taught them assassination techniques?”

“Our orphanage adheres to a regular curriculum.”

“So what then? They were well-versed in ambush tactics!”

“That’s the effort of the students. They trained hard in various fields to find employment after graduation.”

“And you didn’t teach them?”

“No.”

Silence fell again.

So, was he just a sneaky ten-year-old orphan who walked around quietly?

And they just kidnapped him, called him out… threatened him…?

Wait a minute.

“Why is my disciple being mentioned? Why is his name suddenly coming from your mouth?”

“Elizabeth asked. Many ‘hero party’ children are enrolling this time, so she requested escorting them in secret. Haven’t you heard?”

“No! That brat! Why did she ask you? I’m perfectly fine! Why treat someone like trash!”

Enrique shouted, then slumped onto the sofa.

“This is really frustrating. It’s always like this when I talk to you. Why is God so fair? It would have been nice if He gave you some eloquence. That’s the only thing you lack.”

“That’s not true.”

Where did a ghost from the previous century come up with such nonsense for a 21st-century graduate?

Inner Kim Sunwoo burst out, only to be subdued by Ivan, then fell silent again.

“You saw that, right? This is how your execution will be. When people spew broken words, conversation doesn’t connect. How absurd.”

“Uh… um.”

Lucia, who had suddenly become excessive, hesitated in the abruptly fading atmosphere of the reception room.

“It suits you well!”

“Not at all.”

“What are you talking about!”

With a laugh, Lucia cautiously closed the door and slipped away.

After a moment of silence, Enrique, holding his tea, spoke.

“Shall I bring more tea?”

“It’s okay.”

It had cooled, but it still tasted good. Ivan, originally from a country where people drank espresso with ice, didn’t pay attention to the temperature of the coffee.

The meeting with the parents of the prospective students of Saint Jansc University ended successfully.

*

“Director Saeaeam!!”

Priscilla burst out terrifyingly as the door opened and hugged him tightly.

Ivan carefully gestured and patted her shoulder before pulling away.

“Don’t seek work in deserted places from now on.”

“Yes, yes! It was really, really scary!!”

“It’s okay now. Don’t worry.”

He took out a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped Priscilla’s cheek, then changed his steps.

From the reception room, through Enrique’s dungeon, past the underground passage, back to the surface.

Out of the alley and straight onto the main road.

After a long while of walking without a word, their steps suddenly halted.

“Um, sir.”

“Yes.”

“Maybe, just maybe.”

Under the flickering magic light of the street lamp, Priscilla tightly gripped her handkerchief and spoke.

“Are you… getting ready to leave…?”

“Probably.”

Once the preparations were complete and the new semester at Saint Jansc University began in earnest, he would inevitably have to leave the orphanage.

As a new member, as a “gardener,” to protect the children of the hero party.

About three years. For him, it wasn’t such a long time.

But for the orphans who had lived their whole lives as war orphans, they couldn’t afford to miss this newfound sanctuary.

It was barely a family. Barely a place to sleep, and hard-won “our home.”

From the perspective of orphans who have always been abandoned, even though it was only two years. This orphanage was their last refuge, where they didn’t want to be abandoned anymore.

Priscilla spoke hesitantly with a voice mixed with sobs.

“I hope you don’t leave. If Teacher, sniff, if Teacher disappears, we will be left alone again. Sniff….”

“Um….”

Ivan took off his coat and draped it over Priscilla’s shoulders.

He fell silent for a moment.

He had no memory of consoling a young child.

He didn’t even have a memory of consoling a young ‘girl’!

Even digging through Kim Sunwoo’s old memories was the same. Kim Sunwoo was a monster who spent all day writing 5,700-character hate comments while reading webtoons and web novels every day.

After that, there was no need to mention. Having dedicated more than half of his life to military service, Ivan couldn’t easily recall how to talk to someone in a way other than with an axe or a bullet.

“Don’t worry. I’ll come visit often.”

“Where… where are you going…?”

It should be okay to say this much. She’s like my ‘child,’ and it’s not particularly classified information.

Ivan stammered in response to Priscilla’s tears.

“Saint Jansk University.”

“Do you have to come back…?”

“I’m not leaving right away, and I’m not leaving for life.”

How much effort and attachment he put into the orphanage.

The orphanage was no different from a home to him. The director’s office was his only sanctuary in his heart.

He made a firm resolution, patted Priscilla’s shoulder twice, then turned around.

And,

‘Saint Jansk University. I heard the entrance exam is difficult… next year’s entrance exam is in November….’

Basilisha Orphanage residents.

Embarking on a test-filled life for admission to Saint Jansk University!

Episode 4: These orphans need the director.