30 Years Have Passed Since the Prologue

10 – 4. These Orphans Need a Director (3)

*

In the end, Ivan raised his hand first.

It meant he was cautiously starting to reveal information.

In any case, they had to save Priscilla, who was being held hostage. (Of course, it wasn’t just Priscilla’s life. Ivan didn’t have confidence in defeating Enrique.)

“I heard that you’re raising a disciple.”

“Oh?”

Enrique smirked, tilting his head with a deep smile.

Ivan momentarily gripped the axe handle tightly and then deliberately loosened his grip.

That’s the expression that monster makes when it’s in a bad mood.

“Go on.”

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

“Hmm… and?”

“Somebody was worried about it. Just in case he gets hurt, it could be a big loss for the country.”

Ivan’s words conveyed the following:

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

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

-But if you don’t understand this, do you think you’ll be seen as siding with Alexander?

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

-I’ve already identified your disciple’s identity and location, as well as his personal details.

-I was paid a hefty sum.

-If he gets hurt anywhere… it’ll be sad, so take good care of him.

Dare he.

Dare he put a knife to the back of a sky-like great master?

Who commissioned him? Alexander? Is that bastard finally trying to get rid of me?

No, this guy too.

If I had received a request to kill him, I would have refused or at least given him a heads-up!

But suddenly coming and threatening, and then using a disciple for extortion?

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

If the only disciple who survived the last war is these guys, then I…

Enrique nodded with a smile on his face.

“Indeed, that’s right.”

“Yeah. Nothing special.”

“Hmm… Nothing special, you say?”

“Yeah.”

Short and blunt responses exchanged in a chilly and tense atmosphere.

However, Ivan felt somewhat relieved. Even if Enrique seemed to be in a bad mood, he seemed to understand the current situation well enough.

Well then… the problem is resolved now.

If he gave a warning like this, even if the ‘tutorial’ proceeded, Enrique’s disciple wouldn’t be in great danger. Enrique would personally see to that.

“Luck is on my side.”

They met by chance in the wind of Priscilla’s kidnapping, but they raised income more smoothly than expected.

The ‘tutorial’ for the ‘protagonists’ now has only three left, and the one with the shortest time remaining is still two weeks away…

“Lucia!! Lucia! Come in!!”

“Yes, Master!”

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

It was a late teenage girl with shiny chestnut hair.

Enrique looked at Ivan with a seemingly testing gaze and smiled.

“Come on, say hello. She’s your disciple.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Petrovich Kyeong! Master always said to follow only half of Petrovich’s lead!”

No, don’t praise him. This kid is a troublemaker.

Enrique forced a smile while grinding his teeth.

“Human… huh?”

“Yes? Yes. Of course…?”

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

“Master is a human!”

Lucia said confidently, puffing out her chest.

“Master has to live with a somewhat unique diet, but he takes care of me and protects this country as a true hero! If you ask what defines a species, I would say ‘humanity,’ Petrovich Kyeong!”

“Oh…”

Ivan couldn’t help but marvel.

Since the war with the demons, the Allied Kingdom had held an extremely hostile position toward both the ‘heterogeneous races’ and the ‘Ainu race.’

It was only natural. Most of the citizens wandering the streets had lost their immediate relatives to the demons. (Elves were excluded. Despite being part of the Allied Kingdom, they were shunned due to their detestable nature.)

Amidst such circumstances, the open-mindedness that the criteria for ‘race’ weren’t inherent to the race itself was a mindset more akin to 21st-century Earth than this tiresome otherworldly realm!

And Enrique’s expression upon hearing this fresh answer (considered quite ‘progressive’ by this world’s standards) relaxed into a pleased grin.

“There you have it. I’ve taught you everything. It might take some time to master, but learning is done. If there’s another adventure party in the future, this lad here will be fitting for it.”

Certainly. Being able to roam under the sun would make him even more suitable for an adventure party.

And that phrase, ‘I’ve taught everything but mastery takes time,’ also gave Ivan a certain assurance.

‘Is he talking about a skill tree?’

In typical games, as characters level up, they tend to automatically acquire skills.

It was clearly odd. Suddenly recalling something in your mind while adventuring or doing anything.

But this game seemed to function in such a way.

‘Taught but lacking experience and refinement.’ Isn’t that the most fitting expression?

Ivan nodded in agreement.

“A proud disciple. Someone better than me, no, than ‘us.’ A precious one gained in my final years. So… I don’t want to kill you, Ivan.”

“Hmm…?”

Suddenly?

Ivan tensed, placing his hand back on the axe handle.

With Enrique alone being a challenge and now facing a 2-on-1 situation including his apprentice, plus being captured as a prisoner, could Ivan guarantee victory within Enrique’s dungeon?

It was a tough situation. Ivan carefully eyed her hand.

“I’ll ask you as a pledge of our memories. Withdraw your hand from this world. This is my territory.”

Enrique spoke with genuine sincerity.

Running an assassination organization in this city is something one person can handle alone.

Don’t earn money through blood in the alleys of the city. Wasn’t retirement chosen for that reason?

Alexander is an unbelievable fellow. If you’re going to dip your hands into politics, follow Elizabeth’s path.

With that sentiment, conveyed intensely.

And then.

“So, it’s come to this.”

Ivan gripped the axe handle and stood up firmly.

Enrique eventually sided with Alexandre.

Facing off against the hero party member was clearly overtime work, but it was an inevitable duty.

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

“…What?”

“If he’s still hand in hand with the Krasilov royal family, I also hold our memories as collateral. Where does your loyalty lie, officer?”

“Iv…?”

After staring into Ivan’s eyes for a while, Enrique, sweating coldly, spoke up.

“You were the one who joined hands with Alexandre, right?”

“What nonsense. I’ve never met that person with a smiling face.”

“Neither have I.”

“Hmm…?”

A moment of silence fell.

“So, uh… did he gather orphans and teach them assassination techniques?”

“Our orphanage’s internal curriculum complies with regular educational standards.”

“Then what was he? He was skilled in ambush tactics!”

“That was the effort of the students. They worked hard in various aspects to find employment after graduation.”

“You didn’t teach them?”

“No.”

Silence fell again for a moment.

So, was he just a ten-year-old orphan sneaking around?

And did they just, what, kidnap him, call him out… threaten him…?

Wait a moment.

“So, what about my disciple? Why is his name suddenly coming out of your mouth?”

“Elisabetta asked. With many ‘Hero Party’ children enrolling this time, she requested protection in the midst of uncertainty. Haven’t you heard?”

“I haven’t! That brat! Why would she ask you! I’m perfectly fine! Who are you treating like trash!”

Enrique exclaimed and then slumped onto the sofa.

“This is frustrating, seriously. It’s always like this when I talk to you. Why couldn’t the gods give you some eloquence? That’s all you lack.”

“It’s not like that.”

Where did this pre-modern nonsense come from, directed at a graduate of 21st-century essay education?

An inner turmoil erupted within Kim Sunwoo, but it was subdued by Ivan, and calmness prevailed once more.

“Hey, did you see that? This is how your execution will be. When people start tearing words apart and spitting them out, conversation just doesn’t flow. True.”

“Um… yeah.”

Lucia hesitated, seemingly bewildered by the sudden and overly charged atmosphere in the reception room that quickly dissipated.

“You seem to suit each other well!”

“Not really.”

“What are you talking about!”

Ahahahaha, Lucia laughed and cautiously closed the door behind her as she exited.

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

“Shall I bring more tea?”

“It’s fine.”

Though it had cooled down, it still tasted good. Ivan, originally from a country where people consumed espresso with ice, paid no attention to the temperature of the coffee.

The meeting with the parents of the prospective student for Saint Jansk University was successfully concluded.

*

“Principal Sam!!”

Priscilla burst out frighteningly as the door swung open, and she leaped into Ivan’s arms.

Ivan gently patted her shoulder with a careful gesture and pulled away.

“Don’t look for 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, and then shifted his steps.

From the reception room, through the underground passage, back to the surface.

Exiting the alley and heading straight for the main street.

After a while, their footsteps, which had been continuing without much conversation, suddenly stopped.

“Sir.”

“Yeah.”

“Um, just, really just in case.”

Priscilla tightly gripped her wand under the sparkling streetlight and spoke.

“Where… should I get ready to leave?”

“Probably.”

Once the preparations were complete, and the new semester at Jansk University officially began, he would inevitably have to leave the orphanage.

With a new status as a ‘gardener,’ he dedicated himself to protecting the children of the warrior party.

About three years. For him, it was not such a long time.

However, it was different for the orphans.

Having lived their entire lives as war orphans, they couldn’t afford to miss out on this haven they had just recently discovered.

It was a family painstakingly constructed. A bed acquired with difficulty, and the ‘home’ they had barely seized.

For the orphans who had always been discarded, though it was only two years, this orphanage was their last stronghold, one they didn’t want to be abandoned anymore.

Frisilla spoke hesitantly with a voice mixed with tears.

“Please, don’t leave. If, hic, if you disappear, we, hic, we’ll be alone again.”

“Umm….”

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

He fell silent for a moment.

He had no memory of comforting a young child.

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

Even digging into the distant memories of Kim Sunwoo, it was the same. Kim Sunwoo was a monster who spent more than half of his life writing 5,700-character malicious comments while reading webtoons and web novels all day.

After that, there was nothing to say. Having dedicated more than half of his life to military service, Ivan couldn’t easily recall how to speak to someone other than with an axe or bullets.

“Don’t worry. I’ll come by often.”

“Where… where are you going?”

It should be okay to say this much. It’s not sensitive information, and she’s practically my ‘child.’

Ivan answered, struggling with Frisilla’s tears.

“Sankt Janz University.”

“Do you have to come back…?”

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

The effort and attachment put into the orphanage were immeasurable.

The orphanage was like a home to him. The director’s office was the only sanctuary in his heart.

He made a firm resolution, patted Frisilla’s shoulders a couple of times as she sobbed, and turned away.

And,

“Sankt Janz University. I heard the entrance exam is tough… next year’s entrance exam is in November….”

All the orphans from Basilisha Orphanage.

Embarking on their exam life to enter Sankt Janz University!

Episode 4: These orphans need a director.