Ch.411411 – Mere Resolve

# 411 – Mere Resolve

Though she always wears a mask, Zhang is close enough to Oknodie to lower it without hesitation and reveal her bare face.

There have been those who approached Zhang, thinking they too could become friends after seeing her gentle demeanor.

Irene was once among those students who harbored such thoughts.

The barren North is a place talented individuals avoid.

If they could attract even one more capable person, it would be a great help.

After all, the presence of a special assassin who can eliminate an enemy commander single-handedly is no less valuable than an elite army of ten thousand.

But Irene abandoned that dream early on.

Because on the day she went to speak with Zhang, she witnessed it—Zhang slapping a classmate to the ground and effortlessly pressing a dagger to their throat.

“Never cross my path again. Next time, I’ll watch the light fade from your eyes.”

Zhang is an assassin.

She went through a completely different upbringing than ordinary students.

Of course, students who qualify for Gift Academy are no ordinary students, but even among those exceptional individuals, Zhang was especially unique.

‘If I had to compare, she’d be similar to Sing.’

She kills without hesitation.

The line of rules built by law and morality in her heart is far easier to cross than for normal humans.

Because of this nature, Zhang could state clearly.

“Senior, how did you see that child’s face?”

A child with a doll-like, elegant appearance.

The masked Zhang doesn’t have that image.

A blood-covered beast that could pounce at any moment.

Death incarnate standing before them.

A child who summons visions of one’s life flashing before their eyes.

A monster in human form.

There’s no room for elegance there—if the person before them truly was a senior on leave meeting them for the first time.

“You knew Zhang from before, didn’t you?”

“Whoa… no way.”

“Step back, Dorothy.”

Dorothy gasped in surprise while Rockpell moved to block her.

Irene questioned coldly.

Looking at the first-years, the senior with strength unbefitting a student on leave smiled coldly.

“Not bad. The rumors about the 981st class being different weren’t exaggerated after all.”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

“If your guess is correct—if I’ve known Zhang all along—what difference would it make?”

Irene answered while concentrating cold energy in her palm behind her back.

“Depending on your relationship with Zhang, you might try to interfere with us or cause harm.”

This possibility seemed especially high when recalling Zhang during her early days at the academy, when she was almost completely isolated from others.

After all, she wasn’t the type to make friends easily, nor did she seem to have any desire to do so.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

The senior applauded.

Like a parent praising a child for a job well done.

Like someone expressing appreciation after watching an excellent film or play.

Yet the expression on their face was completely emotionless, devoid of any sentiment.

It was truly an “assassin-like” expression.

“Excellent deduction. As expected of the Grand Duchess of the barren North, the land of Mein where demon contractors swarm—your vigilance is remarkable. You’re worthy of following Zhang’s trail.”

“…”

“Don’t rush me with such a frightening face. Men get hurt, you know? When they receive a woman’s contemptuous look.”

“Are you mocking me?”

“Of course. It’s fascinating when an ant, incomparably weaker than me, fearlessly shows hostility. Lingering before me without realizing it could be crushed to death.”

The cold energy in Irene’s hand grew more frigid, and Rockpell widened his stance by half a step.

However, neither of them dared to make the first move.

Just as Dorothy had her intuition, their combat class instincts were unconsciously telling them:

Attacking means certain defeat.

The moment they make a move would be their last.

The senior casually put their hands in their pockets.

Leaning against the wall at an angle.

Unlike the tense first-years, despite voluntarily sealing their hands and adopting a sloppy posture that put them at a disadvantage, the students’ wariness didn’t diminish.

A strength that transcended posture.

An overwhelming power that could threaten their lives at any moment with any method.

They belatedly realized they had unwittingly stepped into the domain of such a formidable opponent.

“There’s something called the Ten Great Thieves of the Continent. It refers to the ten most skilled thieves in the world. But what if there’s someone who’s just barely the eleventh strongest and wants to join the Ten Great Thieves? What do you think they should do?”

“…They would have to steal. The reputation of one of the existing Ten Great Thieves for themselves.”

“Correct. That’s what Zhang’s master, Master Ryung, did. He stole the life of the previous generation’s 10th ranked Continental Thief, the Life Thief—my master.”

“!!”

“In other words, you’ve encountered your classmate’s sworn enemy.”

To think they would meet someone with a grudge against Zhang in this lawless area reserved for students on leave.

Their luck was so bad it was almost laughable.

“Those who inherit the techniques of Bininbujeon carry everything of their master. Techniques, reputation, even the chains of grudges their master bore.”

“…”

“Reclaiming the name of Life Thief by killing Master Ryung is my destiny. If Zhang gets in the way, I’ll have to kill her too. But that day isn’t today.”

No one dared to complain when the man lit a cigarette.

Despite his expressionless face, they could tell he was exercising “restraint” from the veins bulging on the back of his hand.

“I’m still weaker than Master Ryung. If I kill his disciple, I’ll be killed next. So I won’t resort to schemes. I let Zhang go.”

“Should I apologize for jumping to conclusions?”

“No need for pointless lies. I like them, but killing you would be troublesome too.”

“…”

“I neither showed malice nor goodwill toward Zhang. When she chose her path to catch up to that child Oknodie, we closed the easy route that we controlled.”

“We…? Who else is here besides you?”

“The Cheonaedanbyeok Investigation Team.”

As the man tapped the ash from his cigarette, a strange mana wave traveled through the ground.

Boom.

The mana wave dug deep into the sheer cliff, creating a large hole between the rocks.

It would be more accurate to say it removed an illusion that had been concealing an existing passage rather than forcibly digging through the soil.

But beyond the side path, human presences could be felt.

All of them seniors on par with Irene herself, some even difficult to gauge in terms of strength.

“There are multiple paths to the other side of Cheonaedanbyeok. The higher the path you take, the faster you’ll reach your destination, but the danger increases dramatically.”

“!!”

“Zhang took the highest path. I’ll give you clever juniors a choice. Will you risk the danger and follow Zhang, or take the lower, more convenient path that will take longer?”

A ladder appeared between the hole in the cliff and the ground above, which hadn’t been there before.

“It’s not an illusion or trick. And that path really does seem safe. Relatively speaking, of course.”

Even Dorothy with her good intuition confirmed this.

After hesitating, Irene spoke.

“Who was the last person to pass through here before Zhang?”

“They never returned.”

“…Then I’ll take that path.”

The man’s hand twitched.

“Why? I thought I’d warned you sufficiently about the danger. Couldn’t you trust my kindness?”

“No, I believe you. Though our conversation was brief, you may have concealed facts but never lied. So I can believe you. Including that Zhang is in danger.”

“How foolish. Do you think you can be friends with an assassin?”

“Maybe.”

“Even if she doesn’t want that herself?”

“It doesn’t matter. The North isn’t prosperous enough to be picky about who becomes your friend.”

“How calculating. Too practical to even call it friendship.”

The man sighed and put the cigarette back in his mouth.

“Go as you please. While I’m still letting you.”

Irene gave a small bow and ran toward the path on the cliff.

Dorothy and Rockpell followed behind her.

Only when they were far enough from the unpleasant senior did Dorothy express her doubts.

“Why did we come this way, leaving the safe path?”

“Because this is the fastest way to face the danger. Based on the circumstances, Zhang followed Oknodie faster than anyone else. So Oknodie must be ahead. I’m not worried about her. But I am worried about Zhang who’s following her.”

“Because unlike Oknodie, she could get hurt?”

“Yes. If Zhang gets seriously injured or dies because of this, and Oknodie finds out, she’ll definitely be sad. She’ll start moving around making sure no one follows her. Then our plan to recruit Oknodie to the Northern Front will fail too.”

So they would save Zhang.

“It’s a selfish, self-serving reason. It has nothing to do with you two. If you think it’s too dangerous, you can go back.”

“Not really? This level of danger exists even in the Monster Forest. I was just worried about you, Irene. If you have a good reason to go this far, then I’m actually relieved!”

“…”

What exactly is in that Monster Forest of hers?

Pushing aside the thought that had crossed her mind several times today, Irene quickened her pace.

But it was only when facing the third disaster that she truly realized:

“Zhang and Oknodie went in there…?”

The area reserved for students on leave.

A place where countless students on leave risk their lives to find treasures.

Up to the second disaster, even novices can manage.

Students on leave seeking treasures.

A den where the weak band together or deceive those weaker than themselves, extorting them by force just to survive.

From the “third disaster” onward, things were different.

This was no place for such weaklings.

━━━

[Erupting Lava]

A lava zone where extremely high-temperature flames condense on the ground and periodically surge upward.

The desire for treasures burned hot, and the collision of desires created a hell where no one could survive.

━━━

Those who haven’t resolved themselves to die.

Those who have no intention of challenging for treasures.

Those who lack sufficient skill.

Such half-hearted individuals cannot proceed beyond this point.

“Aren’t you going?”

As if questioning what such half-heartedness even means, Dorothy stuck her finger into the hot steam at the entrance, crying out “Ouch!” with a pained expression.

Seeing this pathetic sight, Irene grabbed Dorothy’s hand and opened her mouth.

Whoosh.

Dorothy’s throbbing finger subsided as Irene breathed out air colder than frost.

“Don’t be reckless. I might not be able to help you once we’re inside.”

“Y-yes…”

“Let’s go. Before Zhang and Oknodie turn to ashes while we’re dawdling.”

That mere resolve to risk their lives.

For the three of them, it was something they had carried long before it needed to be mentioned.