episode_0008

During the time serving in the extermination unit, there were legendary generals known as the Demon King’s Seven Commanders. Each of them staked their tribe’s fate and gathered, essentially being called ‘heroes’ of their respective tribes.

Before the appearance of the hero parties, the United Kingdoms were easily overwhelmed to the point of being pathetic. Originally, the demons themselves were physically superior to humans, so there was no way to resist when they gathered by tribe to try to conquer the world.

In essence, the war with the Demon King’s army was, in other words, a war between humans and all other races.

The strategists of the United Kingdoms, who were cornered, came up with a plan to solve this crisis.

– To break the unity of the demons, we must carry out a surgical operation rather than an all-out war.

We will throw our soldiers at them, somehow hold the front line.

Meanwhile, dispatch an ‘assassin’ to assassinate one of the Demon King’s Seven Commanders to dismantle the enemy’s unity.

Since the demons are nothing more than a collection of strong tribal nations, if we take down one of the Seven Commanders, the commanders under their command will each vie for the vacant commander positions and start internal strife.

It was a valid point.

So, from a strategic standpoint, the hero party was nothing more than an assassination squad.

Thrown into battle, but always coming back alive. Therefore, a type that even the kings of all kingdoms couldn’t easily touch.

That’s why Ivan disliked the hero party.

It was very much like the reason why the Krasilov royal family had decided to disband the extermination unit.

We were too sharp a sword to keep in peaceful times.

ep4. These Orphans Need a Director.

Ivan was enjoying his leisure time, having received intelligence on the enrollment schedule of the hero party’s children. His planned timeline was perfect.

First, a few days ago, he rescued Acidis.

Then, Isabelle, the daughter of Hero Maximilian. Affiliated with the Tilles Kingdom, departing in the first week of February.

And soon after, Oscar, the son of Knight Jill Ver. Departing from the Tilles Kingdom within a few days.

These two don’t need to worry. Tylles and Kralislof had decent diplomatic relations even before the war, and their proximity allowed ample time to respond to the train attack. Moreover, they won’t even board the train to reach Elphera, the daughter of the mage Beolgrin. Beolgrin’s homeland is an island beyond the Black Sea, the Kalion Archipelago. They will cross over on a warship, making them safer than anyone else.

As Kralislof was undeterred, he might pass through Tylles, but those who came by warship won’t bring envoys. Lastly, Enrique’s disciple, Lucia. She belongs to the Kingdom of Kralislof, indicating she has already arrived somewhere in the capital. There was no problem checking her last, and he didn’t even feel the urgency to meet her soon.

In other words, if he casually overlooks the February train terror of the two freshmen, the rest will end as issues that can be managed without his direct intervention, as it is a tutorial process.

Through Acidis, he now had complete confidence. There was no reason for him to act until enrollment.

Therefore.

“I want to eat kimchi stew.”

He was now spending his time jotting down the ‘list of things to eat when returning to Earth’ again. The time spent with a cup of coffee and a warm fire in the principal’s office was an invaluable leisure time for him, which he wouldn’t exchange with anyone.

Tteokbokki. Not the rose one. Not even the delivery franchise-style tteokbokki with excessive broth. The tteokbokki he desired was the homemade street-style hipster tteokbokki sold at the school store. He remembered that the most popular one was the house that sprinkled curry powder.

“I want to go home….”

“Are you going to abandon us again?”

“….”

Ivan’s eyes, previously relaxed, sharpened. Kim Sunwoo within him was crushed by Ivan’s ego, leaving Ivan alone as he turned around.

A little kid was clinging to the window.

“Since when were you there…?”

“Since the principal started mumbling about what he wants to eat!”

“We’re on the third floor here.”

“I’m famous for being diligent in class again, aren’t I?”

“…Do we have rock climbing in our school’s curriculum…?”

Ivan walked straight to the window and opened it wide. He playfully lifted the giggling child and carefully placed him back inside the room.

“I won! You know that, right?”

“Don’t compete with that. Go to the hallway next time. It’s dangerous.”

“Ah, but I barely win doing this!”

The St. Basilica Orphanage had a deeply rooted game, approached without the orphanage director’s notice. It was a wildly popular game among the children. Ivan, the enigmatic man who effortlessly caught flying balls from behind without even turning around, was one of the best playmates for the kids, who judged people more by their actions than appearances, despite his rough and sharp demeanor, he was surprisingly harmless.

“I’ll make you a cup of cocoa, so drink it and go out.”

“Yes!!”

Ivan didn’t object to this either. After all, the orphans should have a way to make a living after they graduate, right? If he could deceive his own senses, he wouldn’t starve no matter where he ended up.

He sent the smiling child off and regained his peaceful leisure time.

There were about two weeks left until Isabelle boarded the train.

Until then, he was free.

That was a time when he used to think like that, before an orphan was suddenly kidnapped.

*

“Hey, what group are you with?”

“No, sir, you really don’t understand. If our director finds out about this, you guys are in big trouble!”

“Wow, look at this kid! Anyone would think we’ve been captured!”

The capital of the Kratilov, Prichenkaya, is a renowned metropolis on the continent. Naturally, every city has areas known as “back alleys,” and Prichenkaya also has several “slum areas.”

Even among the gangs and outlaws of the back alleys, there are outstanding individuals, the “assassin organizations” classified as the toughest groups in the chaotic life.

When someone stabs another with a knife, it’s natural for them to face the judgment of the law. The higher up that someone is, the more lenient the law tends to be, but retribution also tends to soar sky-high.

Hence, those who belong to assassination organizations are individuals who think that as long as they get paid, they can disappear into the mist of the executioner’s block after wielding a knife just once.

Assassins like Léon, who stylishly emerge from the darkness, swiftly cut down their target, and vanish, don’t exist in reality.

“So, where on earth is your leader?”

“I-It’s Ivan Petrovich! Y-You’ve heard the name, right? Right?”

“What? Ahahaha!”

Of course, these guys had heard the name Ivan.

They’d heard the surname Petrovich too.

Wasn’t Ivan the most common name in Kralislof, and wasn’t Petrovich the most common surname?

Even the name of the former king, who was elevated to the status of a saint, was Ivan.

It was akin to when you’d say, “Isn’t it Mr. Kim Cheol-soo?” and laughter would burst out first. The low-ranking members of the assassination organization in the back alleys of Freichenka chuckled.

At that moment, a low voice echoed through the darkness of the alley.

“Hold on.”

The members of the organization were startled, lowered their weapons, and stepped back as a figure emerged along the path they had cleared.

“Who are you?”

“I-Ivan Petrov, Petrovich… Sir…!”

The man briefly scanned the captive from head to toe, then grinned broadly.

“So, the audacious lad retires, only to be secretly organizing an assassination squad from behind?”

For the orphans of St. Basil’s Orphanage, sneaking up quietly and startling Ivan was considered a traditional game, but to someone else, it might seem otherwise.

Especially to a specialist among specialists. To Enrique, the most knowledgeable in this field, known as the “Shadow Blade,” it could only appear that way.

He faked his death, announced false rumors, and neatly retired to start a new life.

Ha, sure. Like a dog changing its bad habits. How could the Eradication Division fix such a habit?

Enrique chuckled and nodded.

Ivan Petrovich, identified as the leader of the malevolent organization that gathers orphans and trains them in assassination!

*

“It seems one of the orphans has been kidnapped, doesn’t it?”

“Sure, Headmaster! Umm… Do you remember Priscilla?”

“Every detail.”

Ivan had memorized the personal information of all 300 students, including graduates, in his care.

Priscilla. No last name. 17 years old. A war orphan.

She doesn’t know who her parents are. She remembers being abandoned near a military base during the war and surviving by begging.

Despite her mischievous nature, she was fundamentally bold and talented, so even as graduation approached, Ivan wasn’t overly worried.

These days, it seemed like he was looking into job prospects here and there…

“Who, where, when?”

“I’m not sure about the specifics, but only Priscilla’s coat has returned… This could be a threat, right?”

“Most likely.”

Ivan carefully examined the coat handed to him by the teacher.

Stains on the sleeves, a heavily worn collar. One button loosely hanging on until it falls off.

He skimmed through without finding any other information, then suddenly, his hand stopped.

It was an ordinary fingerprint. Slightly covered in dirt, it wouldn’t have been visible if not closely inspected.

A faint scar subtly remained beneath the dirt-covered fingerprint, located on the palm of the hand.

The mark of Enrique’s ruthless henchmen.

It couldn’t be some foolish kidnapper targeting orphans for money, so this was either a provocation or a warning.

Or… a summons.

Ivan felt the need to rearrange his schedule, pushing back the meeting he least wanted to attend.

Enrique, the Shadow Blade. In other words,

the Grandmaster’s call.

After all, the Annihilation Division was Enrique’s creation.